So, we had 81 players at the tryout camp, ranging in age from 19-41. Hall of Famers and fringe players. After tryout camp, we have three groupings of players.
Group 1: 27 players have been invited to Major League Spring training. This does not included the 7 players signed by Kansas City. These are the players who can make an opening day roster.
Group 2: 16 players who have a team holding their major league rights, but will be playing in the Negro Leagues.
Group 3: 38 players who did not get an offer or have their rights held by a CL/PCL club. These players are free agents, but it does little good as long as the NAL is still all white. NAL clubs will start integrating in 1947. These players will be playing in the Negro Leagues as well. (Why no, I haven't figured out the best way to do this yet, but I'm open to suggestions!)
So here are the players in group 1 and how they performed at the tryout camp.
Of our created players, Achilles Brown and Winston Lafayette are in group 1; Joey Bricker is in group 2.
After this, I'm going to finish the Washington roster for that thread. I have one more interlude post, and then I'm going to start working on PCL/CL rosters. After that, we'll start spring training.
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Josh Gibson, C
The only catcher to make the grade, even though a lot of teams need catchers. Scouts were disappointed he did not show more power, and his throwing arm was less than stellar. But Gibson did hit for the third highest average at the camp, even without the power, he would be a great hitting catcher.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
28 87 28 1 1 5 13 13 11 0 0 11 1 0 .322 .398 .529
Right now Buffalo, Cincinnati, Hollywood and Minneapolis are his likely destinations. Is demanding "Paige Money" ($50,000) to sign, giving the Stars a leg up.
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Luke Easter, 1B
Showed good power, but needs a bit more contact to be a middle of the order hitter.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
25 58 15 3 1 4 11 7 8 0 0 17 0 0 .259 .348 .552
PCL bound.
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Buck Leonard, 1B
If he wasn't 38 years old, the .256 average and 23 strike outs would not be as big a worry. Yes he has league leading power, but how close to the end is he?
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
28 90 23 4 0 8 18 15 10 0 2 23 0 0 .256 .324 .567
Buffalo, Cincinnati and Minneapolis are willing to sign Buck, but only if they get Gibson too. Otherwise, probably will go to the PCL.
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Buck O'Neill, 1B
Going to Baltimore to "assist" Ruth as the Babe learns how to manage. Had pretty good camp with the bat too.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
21 30 9 2 0 1 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 .300 .344 .467
But check out his pinch hitting numbers.
AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB K SF SH HP AVG OBP SLG
13 7 1 0 1 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 .538 .571 .846
Defensively a mess, but that's not his job.
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Lazaro Salazar, 1B
Surprised scouts with strike zone judgement and defensive skill. Line drive contact hitter, might be a good No. 2 hitter for someone.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
27 69 19 5 0 2 14 10 12 0 0 12 0 0 .275 .383 .435
Several teams interested.
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Lick Carlisle, 2B
Would add speed, but a 36 year old singles hitter shouldn't be this valued; espcially with substandard defense.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
27 70 19 0 1 1 8 8 8 0 0 2 1 0 .271 .346 .343
Looks to be another PCL signing.
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Martin Dihigo, 2B
If I had to do this over, I would have made him a pitcher, but I needed another infielder in camp, so I took advantage of his legendary versitility.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
30 104 31 6 0 4 13 19 21 0 1 31 0 0 .298 .413 .471
Columbus, Oakland and Phoenix are the only teams interested. His being 40 has alot to do with that.
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Larry Doby, 2B
Played a good defensive second base. Showed the kind of power the scouts wanted from Gibson and is still growing as a hitter.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
30 106 26 3 1 7 20 19 20 1 1 30 0 1 .245 .367 .491
Baltimore would have to be the front runner, with Minneapolis, Oakland and Phoenix on the fringe.
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Sammy Hughes, 2B
One of the plesant surprises at camp. Played all over the field, hit for average and some power.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
23 73 23 9 1 2 9 14 8 0 0 5 0 0 .315 .383 .548
Oakland would be a great fit, but Minneapolis is there too.
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Chuck Harmon, 3B
Something about this kid caught the eye of a couple PCL clubs. Plays the outfield too.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
16 25 6 0 0 1 4 7 3 0 0 4 1 0 .240 .321 .360
PCL would be good for him, he'd get a chance to play.
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Lester Lockett, 3B
A very well-rounded camp for Lester.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
22 66 23 7 0 2 7 13 7 2 0 5 0 0 .348 .427 .545
Buffalo is where I think he will end up.
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Minnie Minoso, 3B
This guy had the "wow" factor all camp. Didn't post the best numbers, but was clearly the best player.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
29 87 27 7 4 1 14 16 12 1 0 5 3 0 .310 .400 .517
Perfect for the Yankees, but they aren't intergrating. Whoever he signs with will be very happy for years to come.
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Pat Patterson, 3B
Several good players showed themselves at third, but it is a tight market for thirdbasemen.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
22 49 15 4 1 0 6 9 5 1 0 5 0 0 .306 .382 .429
Brooklyn needs a stop gap 3B to keep the spot warm for some youngsters, but nothing is a given for Patterson right now.
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Parnell Woods, 3B
It is hard to shine when you share the same position as teammate Minnie Minoso.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
24 53 15 3 0 1 4 8 6 1 1 11 0 0 .283 .361 .396
Still he did enough to get a look-see from one of the usual suspects.
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Willie Wells, SS
Overall, the worst performing postion of the camp. Wells could be a good back up and pinch runner for some team.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
30 107 34 6 1 1 15 10 6 2 1 15 1 0 .318 .362 .421
Lots of bad teams need a shortstop. The underperformace of the shortstops was one of the biggest disappointments for scouts.
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Jimmy Crutchfield, OF
He just gets on base. It is what he does. If you've got the thumpers behind him, he'll score 120 runs.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
30 105 34 6 1 0 15 14 20 0 0 21 5 0 .324 .432 .400
Phoenix, Oakland and Seattle are in most interested.
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Sam Jethroe, OF
The Jet had a very good camp. Not the best, but top 5.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
30 101 25 4 1 7 26 18 13 2 0 32 3 0 .248 .345 .515
I can see his middle of the order booming to end up in Oakland or Baltimore.
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Lennie Pearson, OF
Another one of those just all around solid lines.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
29 85 27 4 0 1 13 8 11 2 0 11 0 0 .318 .408 .400
I'm a little surprised there isn't more interest, but Hollywood or Seattle will be there.
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Ted Strong, OF
The low average scares off alot of clubs, but the power numbers are real.
G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB HP SF K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
30 106 25 4 2 3 8 14 15 0 0 16 0 0 .236 .331 .396
Still a decent level of interest, should land into a good spot.
A relative small number of teams (6) are interested in black pitchers. Because of this there could be five or six clubs with half a rotation of black pitchers. Since pitching wins championships, these could be the players who really tip the scales for the team that signs the right two or three pitchers.
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Dan Bankhead, P
G GS ERA IP HA R ER HR BB K CG SHO
8 4 3.29 41.0 28 16 15 1 15 48 3 1
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Dave Barnhill, P
G GS ERA IP HA R ER HR BB K CG SHO
9 9 1.66 70.2 54 14 13 3 16 65 2 0
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Eugene Bremmer, P
G GS ERA IP HA R ER HR BB K CG SHO
9 9 3.30 76.1 61 32 28 2 14 48 5 2
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Ray Brown, P
G GS ERA IP HA R ER HR BB K CG SHO
8 7 3.41 58.0 48 25 22 0 16 51 1 1
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Max Manning, P
G GS ERA IP HA R ER HR BB K CG SHO
9 9 1.67 64.2 46 15 12 7 6 76 0 0
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Don Newcombe, P
G GS ERA IP HA R ER HR BB K CG SHO
8 8 5.13 52.2 54 35 30 13 8 41 0 0
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Hilton Smith, P
G GS ERA IP HA R ER HR BB K CG SHO
9 9 1.74 67.1 38 13 13 8 22 87 1 0
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Luis Tiant Sr, P
G GS ERA IP HA R ER HR BB K CG SHO
7 7 3.38 45.1 38 17 17 5 8 43 0 0