April 1950
Welcome to the Fifties, all!
The White Sox jumped out to a 2.5-game lead in the AL after some national publications claimed they would be a big disappointment this season. Meanwhile, the Red Sox pitching is costing them games this year, and the Tigers were playing very well before losing their last four games. The team many people are beginning to talk about are the Browns, who find themselves in 2nd place. They are statistically the best team in the AL so far, thanks largely to the presence of
Chubby Allen in the rotation and
Al Arsenault batting 3rd. Allen is providing the first significant pitching help outside of
Cotton Simson since the 1946 pennant-winning team got a 22-10 record and 2.93 ERA out of
Eugene Sprecher. Arsenault recently blasted the Red Sox for trading him after spending 20 years with the organization. "I'm going to go out and prove they were wrong in trading me," said Arsenault. "I'm going to do everything I can to help take the Browns to the World Series. And I hope the Sox never win another pennant as long as I'm alive."
The Cardinals ended a heated month with a 1-game lead over the Phillies and a 1.5-game lead over the Giants.
The Cubs continued to build a contender by acquiring popular slugging catcher
Chuck Rauch, 1B
Ed Rossi, pitcher
Dan Volpe and a minor leaguer from the Phillies for five young players, including bonus player
Walter Davis. Unfortunately, on April 28th, outfielder
Cliff Wynne tore a thigh muscle and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Philadelphia then shipped rightfielder
Nicky Barker, 3B
Ken Pazik and pitcher
Ed Lacivita to the Braves for RF
James Lewis and 2B
Joe Bardo. Many Phillies fans have been outspoken over the appearance of their team trading away most of their good players instead of working for yet another pennant. "If we don't win the pennant this year," one fan said, "that GM should be run outta town."
In The News
April 5: President Harry Truman threw out two balls at the Washington opener—one left-handed and the other right-handed—then watched the Senators lose to Cleveland 8-1. When rain started falling in the 6th, he put on a raincoat and remained to the end of the game.
American League-Pitcher of the Month:
Cotton Simson (SLA)!
He had a record of 5-0 in 6 games started, with an ERA of 1.70 and 1 shutouts.
American League-Batter of the Month:
Cy Helbig (BOS)!
He batted .402 in 87 AB, with 3 homers and 24 RBI.
National League-Pitcher of the Month:
Willard Carte (PHI)!
He had a record of 4-0 in 5 games started, with an ERA of 1.48 and 1 shutouts.
National League-Batter of the Month:
Ogden Wing (STL)!
He batted .469 in 96 AB, with 5 homers and 24 RBI.
Code:
American League Standings
Chicago (A) 16 7 .696 -
St. Louis (A) 14 10 .583 2.5
Boston (A) 13 10 .565 3.0
Detroit 13 11 .542 3.5
Philadelphia (A) 12 11 .522 4.0
Cleveland 11 13 .458 5.5
New York (A) 8 16 .333 8.5
Washington 7 16 .304 9.0
National League Standings
St. Louis (N) 16 7 .696 -
Philadelphia (N) 15 8 .652 1.0
New York (N) 15 9 .625 1.5
Boston (N) 12 11 .522 4.0
Brooklyn 9 14 .391 7.0
Cincinnati 9 14 .391 7.0
Pittsburgh 9 15 .375 7.5
Chicago (N) 8 15 .348 8.0
AL AVG
.402 Cy Helbig, BOS
.398 John Young, NYA
.387 David Castaneda, DET
NL AVG
.469 Ogden Wing, STL
.383 Tom Howard, NYG
.380 Chris Hulliberger, CHN
AL HOMERUNS
7 Ray Kress, DET
7 Luther Ormiston, DET
6 Bobby Johnson, BOS
NL HOMERUNS
7 Ken Chaucer, BSN
7 Ervin Thompson, NYG
6 Chuck Rauch, CHN
6 Herman Dunkel, STL
AL RBI
28 Don Myer, BOS
26 Bobby Johnson, BOS
24 Matt Perly, DET
24 Cy Helbig, BOS
NL RBI
24 Ogden Wing, STL
24 Nick Pursell, NYG
20 Ervin Thompson, NYG
AL STEALS
8 David Oram, CHA
8 Homer Jewell, CHA
7 Hershel Cooley, PHA
NL STEALS
12 Ben Cook, STL
11 Jonny Perly, PHI
8 Ogden Wing, STL
AL ERA
1.70 Cotton Simson, SLA
2.23 Bud Ulrich, DET
2.45 Roy Wolfe, DET
NL ERA
1.48 Willard Carte, PHI
1.54 Hal Lepre, CIN
2.38 Bob Bussmann, PHI
AL WINS
5 Cotton Simson, SLA
4 Chubby Allen, SLA
4 Bernard Homic, CLE
NL WINS
5 Jack Schoonover, NYG
4 Five Players Tied
AL STRIKEOUTS
42 Carpenter Erickson, NYA
39 George Kauffman, CLE
35 Bob Stevens, PHA
35 Cotton Simson, SLA
NL STRIKEOUTS
33 Ron Fleischmann, PIT
33 John Nolting, PHI
31 Scottie Allen, BSN
AL SAVES
6 Herman Curoe, SLA
4 Joe Koppenmeier, CLE
3 Three Players Tied
NL SAVES
5 Doyle Weaver, PHI
4 Bob Rustia, BSN
4 Jacob Walensky, NYG