Just a note before I start this. I was using Ctorg's fictional database for the Western Alliance portion of my league. One of the things I like about it is that each fictional player is given a hometown and it just so happened the Andy Webbe was from Cincinnati which makes his story all that much better.
HOMETOWN HERO - ANDY WEBBE
Growing up in Cincinnati, Andy Webbe always dreamed of playing for the hometown Reds, especially since the Reds were the class of the National League during Webbe's early teen years. However, the 5'10" outfielder was considered too slow and too poor a fielder by Reds scouts and they never offered him a contract. In fact, none of the 16 major league baseball teams would take a chance on the rightfielder. However, the New Orleans Pelicans must of saw something in Webbe during his final season at Cincinnati's Runyan High School, as the Pelicans selected the 19 year old with the 8th pick of the first round.
"We liked the kid's power potential and he can sure handle a bat," said Pelicans scouting director Joe Fernandez at the time. Mind you the Pelicans, with the worst career franchise mark in Western Alliance history, have never been a keen judge of talent. Webbe would not immediately prove Fernandez right. His first two seasons were spent backing up another former first round Pelican pick, Daniel Sible, and part of his second season was spent with the AAA Sacramento Solons. However, by 1934, at the tender age of 22, Webbe's was the starting right fielder for the Pelicans.
He would hit 22 homers that season and batted a respectable .271. His defense was weak but he worked extra
hard at it and would surprise everyone 3 years later when he won the first of his 3 straight gold gloves. Webbe would hit a career high 35 homers in 1936 and would make his first allstar team that same year. A hip injury in 1937 would cost him 2 weeks but he still managed 27 homers. In 1938 he hit 34 round trippers and set a career high with 43 the following season.
By the time of the 1940 merger, Webbe now considered himself a New Orleans native and was committed to seeing the Pelicans finally escape the lower division of the Mountain League. Clearly he was becoming a player that New Orleans could build their team around. Then it happened. The Pelicans have never been known for their bright moves and this one has to rank as one of the worst. During spring training 1940 the Pelicans dealt Webbe to Cincinnati in exchange for 3 players who's careers are discussed below.
Pitcher Dee Moore - a 26 year old with loads of potential but a 37-73 career record in 4 seasons with the Reds. Moore would go 9-23 with a career worst 6.27 era in the season after the trade.
2B Tony Robello - The 27 year old has never progressed past AA but he did hit 20 homers at that level in 1939. Injuries have robbed him of a lot of development time and he will likely never play a major league game
OF Pinky Jorgensen - The 29 year old k'd in his only major league plate appearance (with the Reds in 1939). He hit .253 in AAA in 1939 but after batting .the same 253 with just 1 homer in 54 games the Pelicans choose to buy out his contract and cut him in June of 1940. The Pelicans, by the way, would once again finish last in the Mountain League in 1940.
As for Webbe, while he was saddened to be dealt by the only franchise he ever played for, he was even more thrilled that he would be suiting up for his hometown Reds. It was the perfect situation for Webbe, who would bat ahead of slugger Jimmie Foxx. Everything clicked for Webbe and he had 33 homers by the allstar break. Babe Ruth's record of 63 was within sight. Foxx was also on a tear but an August slump by both of them cost them a shot at the Babe. Webbe righted himself with a 12 homer September but at 60 would fall 3 shy of the record.
"It was a dream come true playing here," said Webbe. "I only wish we could have won the pennant. Still to hit 60 homers in the major leagues after every team passed me by is rewarding. To do it in this city is unbelievable." His Reds gave Pittsburgh a fight but finished 5 games off the pace. With no key free agent losses, next season may just be the year the Reds return to glory, If they do, you can bet that Andy Webbe will be one of the main reasons why.
ANDY WEBBE CAREER STATS
Year G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R AVG Teams
1932 56 82 27 4 0 4 18 12 .329 NO
1933 86 200 62 6 0 12 29 33 .310 NO
1934 142 517 140 22 1 22 64 69 .271 NO
1935 144 532 154 33 2 21 79 70 .289 NO
1936 146 554 165 29 2 35 108 96 .298 .NO,ML
1937 135 500 148 29 2 27 103 74 .296 NO
1938 146 571 151 22 2 34 106 91 .264 NO,ML
1939 147 565 156 37 2 43 120 101 .276 .NO,ML
1940 145 548 163 23 0 60 156 114 .297 NO CIN,ML
Total 1147 4069 1166 205 11 258 783 660 .287
Webbe is still just 28 and has a great chance at joining Foxx, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth in the 500 homer club. I will update his progress regularly. Below is Reds slugger Andy Webbe.