[abell1198]

The 1950's Divisions are both led by the favorites to win their divisions. Both teams bolted from the starting blocks, leaving the other teams to play catch up. We'll start with the American League.

The leader of the AL 1950's Division, a division featuring eight Yankees teams, are the 1954 Cleveland Indians at 18-10. CF Larry Doby is hitting .343 so far and is one of three players batting .300 or higher. The starting pitchers are the best in the AL with a combined ERA of 2.24. The staff consists of SP Mike Garcia (3-1, 1.25 ERA, 2nd in AL ERA), SP Early Wynn (5-0, 1.38 ERA, 3rd in AL ERA, April Pitcher of the Month), SP Bob Lemon (2-3, 3.65 ERA), SP Art Houtteman (3-0, 1.55 ERA) and SP Bob Feller (1-3, 3.90 ERA). The bullpen is a weakness, however, and needs to improve their 5.77 ERA. The team started 9-3, as they swept the 2011 Texas Rangers to start the season. The team had a four game skid, including being swept by the 2008 Tampa Rays, but have been 8-2 since, including sweeps of the 2006 and 1908 Detroit Tigers.

In second place are the 1955 New York Yankees at 17-11, 1 GB. The Yankees are led by 2B Gil McDougald (.327 avg), who is one of three .300 hitters. SP Johnny Kucks leads the pitching staff at 2-0, 2.17 ERA. The bullpen is 4th in the AL with a 1.99 ERA. The team started out at 11-3, but have struggled since.

The 1953 New York Yankees hold down third place at 16-12, 2 GB. DH Gene Woodling (.333 avg) is the team's only .300 hitter. The entire pitching staff is ranked 8th in the AL. The team had a six game winning streak during the month, which included a sweep of the 1977 Yankees. They also swept the 1959 Chicago White Sox. The winner of Nick Soulis' tournament as The Best Team Of All Time is out to prove they weren't a fluke.

In fourth place are two teams tied at 15-13, 3 GB: The 1957 New York Yankees and the 1952 New York Yankees. The '57 squad is led by DH Mickey Mantle, who is batting .361. SP Bob Turley (5-0, 2.63 ERA) and SP Johnny Kucks (3-0, 2.16 ERA) lead the team in pitching. The team started the season 5-1, sweeping the 1983 Baltimore Orioles, then lost four games, including a sweep by the 1995 Cleveland Indians. This team was also swept by the 1947 Yankees. The 1952 Yankees are led by LF Hank Bauer (.327 avg), who is one of four .300 hitters in the lineup. SP Eddie Lopat (5-0, 1.82 ERA) and SP Allie Reynolds (2-1, 3.00 ERA, 63 K) lead a good starting pitching staff, but the team has no bullpen. Reynolds ranks 3rd in the AL in strikeouts.

The 1951 New York Yankees are 14-14, 4 GB and are in sixth place in the division. RF Mickey Mantle leads four .300 hitters, batting .340. SP Allie Reynolds (4-1, 3.30 ERA) is the lone bright spot on the pitching staff. Reynolds struck out 15 in a 9-2 win against the 1911 Philadelphia Athletics. Yogi Berra made the news when he hit 3 home runs against the 2010 Texas Rangers in a 13-10 loss. The team was also the victim of a no-hitter on April 4th to the 1995 Cleveland Indians.

The 1950 New York Yankees are in seventh place at 13-15, 5 GB. LF Gene Woodling (.333 avg) is the only .300 hitter. SP Whitey Ford (2-0, 2.56 ERA) leads a decent staff of starters, but the team has no bullpen to speak of.

In eighth place are the 1958 New York Yankees at 11-17, 7 GB. LF Norm Siebern is batting .348, but the team's pitching has been poor. The Yanks started the season 4-0 as they swept the 1927 Yankees, but the team has proven to be streaky. They had a four game losing streak, then swept the 1918 Boston Red Sox during a four game winning streak. The team then hit an eight game skid while being swept by the 1998 and 1927 Yankees. The team is currently on a three game skid.

Tied for last place are the 1956 New York Yankees and the 1959 Chicago White Sox, both at 9-19, 9 GB. The Yankees are led by CF Mickey Mantle (.291 12 HR 26 RBI), who is currently 3rd in the AL in home runs. The team's starters have been bad, but the bullpen has been great, ranking 11th in the AL with a 2.54 ERA. The Yankees, who have won only one series, have had four and seven game losing streaks and were swept by the 1999 Yankees. The White Sox are led by 2B Nellie Fox (.331 avg), who is the team's only .300 hitter. SP Early Wynn is the best pitcher at 3-2, 2.23 ERA. The White Sox have been swept by the 1953 Yankees, 1963 Yankees and 1909 Detroit Tigers.

In the National League, the division is led by the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers at 19-9. This team has won by being consistent, with winning two of three games in nearly every match-up. The Dodgers have only one sweep, as they took three from the 1913 New York Giants and have lost only one series. The Dodgers are led by CF Duke Snider (.358 avg), one of three .300 hitters. Snider is 4th in the NL with 30 RBI. 1B Gil Hodges made news when he hit three home runs against the 1932 Chicago Cubs in a 19-11 loss. Hodges has 10 HR, which is tied for 4th in the NL. This potent lineup is 1st in the NL in HR (40), 2nd in runs (166), 8th in average (.288) and 4th in OBP (.371). SP Russ Meyer (3-0, 3.47 ERA) leads a mediocre staff.

The surprise of the month has been the second place team, the 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers at 15-13, 4 GB. The team was picked to finish last in the division. That may still happen however, as the team has no .300 hitters and sub par pitching. The Dodgers started the season 1-5 when they opened up the season by being swept by the 1913 New York Giants. They won four games, including a sweep of the 1968 Cardinals, but have also had another four game skid.

In third place are the 1958 Milwaukee Braves at 14-14, 5 GB. LF Wes Covington (.346 avg) and RF Hank Aaron (.327 avg) are the leading hitters. SP Warren Spahn (3-1, 3.18 ERA) leads a solid pitching staff. The team has been streaky thus far, losing four while being swept by the 1920 Brooklyn Dodgers, then winning six, sweeping the 1952 Dodgers and 1930 Cardinals. The team is currently on a three game losing streak.

The 1954 New York Giants are one of three teams tied for fourth place at 13-15, 6 GB. The Giants only good hitters are RF Don Mueller (.349 avg) and SS Al Dark (.327 avg). SP Jim Hearn (3-1, 1.60 ERA) leads a starting staff ranked 2nd in the NL with a 2.67 ERA, but the bullpen has been weak. The Giants have had six shutouts so far, but have also been shutout five times.

The 1951 New York Giants are the second team at 13-15. The team was swept by the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals. 3B Hank Thompson (.348 avg) and SS Al Dark (.302 avg) lead the team in hitting. Dark is tied for 1st in the NL with 16 doubles. The team has had poor pitching so far.

The third team in the tie for fourth are the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers. The Dodgers started themselves into a hole when they opened up 1-5. C Roy Campanella (.388 avg) and CF Duke Snider (.387 avg) are two of four .300 hitters in the lineup, which ranks in the top 20 in every offensive category. But what has been really offensive has been the starting pitching, which ranks last in ERA at 6.19. SP Billy Loes (3-0, 3.58 ERA) is the best of the worst. The bullpen is doing their best to salvage the situation.

The 1950 Philadelphia Phillies are in seventh place at 12-16, 7 GB. SS Garnny Hamner leads the way, hitting .355. Another streaky team, they won five while sweeping the 1920 Brooklyn Dodgers. The team then lost seven in a row while being swept by the 1923 New York Giants and 1903 Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies are currently on a three game losing streak.

The 1957 Milwaukee Braves and 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers are tied for eighth place at 8-20, 11 GB. The Braves started out 1-8 and have no .300 hitters. The team has good starting pitching and a great bullpen, but need the bats to win games. SP Bob Buhl is a great example, as he is 1-4 with a 2.22 ERA. The team fell victim to a no-hitter on April 7 by the 1914 Boston Braves. The team has won only one series so far. The Dodgers are led by CF Duke Snider (.324 avg) and SP Carl Erskine (2-2, 2.57 ERA). The team has had terrible pitching and little hitting, which has led to streaks of six and four game losing, followed by a four game win streak. The Dodgers are currently on an eight game losing skid.

In last place are the 1959 Los Angeles Dodgers at 7-21, 12 GB. The team has no .300 hitters and bad pitching. The Dodgers started their season 1-11.