April 15, 1948
The White Sox jumped out to an early lead in the AL, thanks largely to some great pitching. Detroit is right on their heels, leading the AL in most offensive categories as expected. The Senators got off to a rough start, as did the Red Sox.
In the NL, the Phillies opened the season with the best record in the majors at 10-2. They seem to be hitting on all cylinders, and
Maurice Misisca looks to be on his way to an MVP-caliber season. 1947 POY
Mickey Lonergan is already 3-0 and is 2nd in the NL with a 1.04 ERA. Even reliever
Doyle Weaver has had an impact by saving an astounding 6 games in 7 appearances and not allowing a run yet. The Cardinals are in 2nd place, thanks to a .297 team batting average, and the Reds seem ready to hush their critics with a major league best 2.69 team ERA that has them just 2.5 games back. The Cubs are having another rough start, but the Braves seem dead set on another disappointing season with a miserable 2-11 start.
In The News
On April 5th, the White Sox lost to the Tigers by an 11-7 score at Comiskey Park with Jack Brickhouse at the WGN-TV mike. This was the first telecast in Chicago history. The Sox scored 5 runs in the 7th to tie the game at 6-6, but the Tigers quickly matched them with 5 in the 8th en route to the win.
Former Negro League great
Chief Harrington became the first black pitcher in the majors but lost his Opening Day start 4-3 at Washington. He was then plastered for 7 runs off 13 hits in 8 innings of what became an 11-9 10th inning loss to the A's in his Yankee Stadium debut. His first victory came in his next start, April 10th at Detroit in which he allowed just 1 earned run over 7.2 innings in a 5-4 victory.
Meanwhile, the A's inserted former Negro Leagues catcher
Hershel Lee into the cleanup spot in their lineup. He has hit .304 so far this season, hitting safely in all but two of his starts. His first career hit was a single off White Sox pitcher
Bob Bussmann on Opening Day, and his first career homerun came on April 10th off
Earl Boyd in a 5-3 loss at Chicago.
On April 6th, Lee faced Chief Harrington in the first ever black pitcher-hitter duel in major league history. Lee went 1-for-5. Harrington is expected to miss another former Negro Leaguer,
Al Jackson, when the Yankees host the Indians on April 19-21 because Chief is scheduled to pitch on the 18th and 22nd.
Code:
American League Standings
Chicago (A) 8 4 .667 -
Detroit 8 5 .615 0.5
Cleveland 7 6 .538 1.5
St. Louis (A) 7 6 .538 1.5
Philadelphia (A) 6 6 .500 2.0
Boston (A) 5 7 .417 3.0
Washington 5 8 .385 3.5
New York (A) 4 8 .333 4.0
National League Standings
Philadelphia (N) 10 2 .833 -
St. Louis (N) 8 4 .667 2.0
Cincinnati 8 5 .615 2.5
Pittsburgh 7 6 .538 3.5
Brooklyn 6 6 .500 4.0
New York (N) 6 7 .462 4.5
Chicago (N) 3 9 .250 7.0
Boston (N) 2 11 .154 8.5
AL AVG
.471 Peaches Badeau, PHA
.423 Carl Sandoz, DET
.412 Emerson Meggs, CLE
NL AVG
.455 Maurice Misisca, PHI
.452 Mike Fellner, BKN
.444 James Lewis, PHI
AL HOMERUNS
4 Ray Kress, DET
4 Frankie Bowers, SLA
4 Vern Piernatzski, SLA
NL HOMERUNS
6 Maurice Misisca, PHI
4 Tom Howard, NYG
4 Dewey Mickelsen, CHN
AL RBI
18 Jimmy Ditty, NYA
17 Ray Kress, DET
15 Luther Ormiston, DET
NL RBI
19 Maurice Misisca, PHI
18 Artie Albrecht, CIN
15 Tom Howard, NYG
AL STEALS
11 Ping Hung, NYA
7 Hershel Cooley, PHA
5 Homer Jewell, CHA
NL STEALS
11 Jonny Perly, BKN
5 Jack Zenisek, BSN
4 Flint Rutty, CIN
AL ERA
1.17 Bob Finley, WSH
1.65 Raul Velazquez, WSH
2.10 Billy Crowell, CLE
NL ERA
1.04 Schoolboy Emberling, CIN
1.04 Mickey Lonergan, PHI
1.15 Ace Shipley, CIN
AL WINS
3 Hal Andrew, DET
3 Billy Crowell, CLE
2 Eight Players Tied
NL WINS
3 Schoolboy Emberling, CIN
3 John Nolting, PHI
3 Mickey Lonergan, PHI
3 Randall Bray, NYG
AL STRIKEOUTS
19 Micky Guyton, WSH
19 Bob Finley, WSH
18 Chief Harrington, NYA
NL STRIKEOUTS
23 Scottie Allen, BSN
17 Ace Shipley, CIN
16 John Nolting, PHI
AL SAVES
3 Ray Seidel, SLA
2 Five Players Tied
NL SAVES
6 Doyle Weaver, PHI
3 Ben Jaroslawski, STL
3 Orval Keefover Jr, PIT