The Golden Age Of Baseball

[PhillieFever]

Originally Posted by EMSoccerCoach

Always like seeing the guys you forget were as good as they were...Brecheen, Pollet, Leonard...and as I've mentioned previously, love seeing Musial raking like a madman, since he's always been snakebitten in any OOTP league I've ever done.

Musial has been probably the best overall player in the N.L. over the past 3 seasons, with Johnny Mize and Ralph Kiner behind him.

[PhillieFever]

Monday June 6th, 1949

Sain Blanks Cardinals 1-0, Braves Win 9th Straight

Boston- Johnny Sain was in vintage form today, holding the visiting Cardinals to 6 hits and 1 walk while leading the Braves to a tension filled 1-0 victory.
Sain(9-2) outdueled the Cards Max Lanier(3-5) who gave up 12 hits but just one run, on a 6th inning RBI sac fly from Phil Masi, which turned out to be the lone run of the game. In the midst of a torrid streak, the Braves have now won 9 straight and 19 of their last 21 to improve their record to an unbelievable 34-13, five and a half games better than second place St. Louis, and eight and a half better than Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

Rookie Hurlers Continue Winning Ways

Rookie pitchers Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Bobby Shantz of the Philadelphia Athletics were winners once again on Monday, with Newcombe defeating the Pirates 5-3, and Shantz defeating the Indians 8-5, improving their records to 9-1 and 8-2 respectively.

MLB Trades And Transactions

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been busy over the last 24 hours, trading 34 year old pitcher Kirby Higbe to the Giants in exchange for 30 year old SS Bobby Rhawn and 31 year old pitcher Ray Poat. They then went and claimed 33 year old pitcher Bob Muncrief off of waivers from the Cubs, paying Chicago the $10,000 waiver fee.

Baseball's Big Six

1. Bobby Doerr(Bos) .379
2. Ted Williams(Bos) .372
3. Stan Musial(SLC) .357
4. Dale Mitchell(Cle) .346
5. Andy Pafko(CHC) .326
6. Danny Murtaugh(Pit) .325

MLB Standings

[Questdog]

Beat somebody! Anybody!

[PhillieFever]

Originally Posted by Questdog

Beat somebody! Anybody!

Some very tough times in The Queen City right now, and by the looks of things it's gonna stay that way until a certain rookie comes along in 1956 and infuses some energy into the club.

[PhillieFever]

Monday June 6th, 1949

Pirates To Protest Rackley Deal

Pittsburgh- The Pirates think Branch Rickey dealt them a card from the bottom of the deck in the recent Johnny Hopp for Marv Rackley trade, and they intend to do something about it. President Frank E. McKinney who arrived in New York Saturday night, admitted today that he planned to bombard Rickey with a strong protest. "All copies will go to other parties who may be interested," McKinney added. Asked if Commissioner Chandler might be one of the "other parties," McKinney replied, "you can be sure he is"

Arm Bad Since March

McKinney will leave for Indianapolis tomorrow night. The letters, he said, would be in the mail before the end of the week. The Pirate beef will be based on the fact that Rackley had a sore arm when he reported to the Bucs, still has it, and has had it as early as March, when the Dodgers were training in Vero Beach, Fla.
The trade which involved the payment by the Pirates of a sum of cash that has been estimated at $25,000 was completed in Pittsburgh last month when Rickey stopped off enroute to St. Louis.

Two Hour Talk

"We talked for about two hours arranging the deal" McKinney said. We spent 15 minutes or more explaining that Hopp had a temporary arm condition and told Mr. Rickey that he must understand that before any papers were signed.
"Rickey had every opportunity at that time to tell us about Rackley's arm, but he never mentioned the fact, and we don't like it."
"If a man can be adjudged a shrewd businessman by his ability to deal off crippled ballplayers, I don't want to be that sort of man" concluded McKinney, who was plainly hot under the collar.

Little Flatbush

The Bucs have been one of Rickey's best customers during the McKinney regime- so much so that Pittsburgh is sometimes referred to as "Little Flatbush."
In addition to Rackley, present members of the team who were shipped to Pittsburgh by the Mahatma are Hal Gregg, Vic Lombardi, Stan Rojek, Eddie Stevens and Dixie Walker.
Hugh Casey is another former Brook, but he was signed as a free agent. And there have been others who didn't last.

[PhillieFever]

Wednesday June 7th, 1949

Lemon Twirls 5 Hit Shutout; Belts Home Run

Cleveland- In a dreadful 5th inning for Senators fans, starting pitcher Joe Haynes walked three straight batters with the bases loaded, setting the wheels in motion for a 7 run inning for the Tribe who went on to pound Washington 12-0 here at Cleveland Stadium.
Starting pitcher Bob Lemon(6-6) was spectacular for the Indians, allowing just 5 hits and 1 walk for his first complete game shutout of the season. He also belted a home run in the 7th, his 2nd of the year and 6th of his career. As for Haynes(2-2), his line ends like this, 4 IP, 10 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 7 BB, 1 K.

Brooklyn Agrees To Call Off Trade

Pirate president Frank McKinney's threat to protest the recent trade of outfielder Johnny Hopp and 25 grand in cash to the Dodgers for OF Marv Rackley brought results today.
The Dodgers announced they were willing to call off the deal, return Hopp and the money to the Bucs and take back Rackley. McKinney immediately accepted the offer, and Hopp made it to Philadelphia in time to play in this afternoon's game against the Phillies where he went 3 for 5 with a double, a homer, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored in the Bucs 4-0 shutout victory.
Rackley, who said his arm "felt great, never felt better" did not play in Brooklyn's 5-0 loss to Chicago.
Rickey and McKinney met last night, after the Dodgers defeated the Pirates 5-3 at Ebbets Field, and the two owners announced the ending of the trade this morning.
Rackley is the second player returned to the Dodgers by the Pirates within two years. Pitcher Hank Behrman, who was in the original Kirby Higbe, Cal McLish, Gene Mauch transaction, was promptly sent back when he didn't measure up. Rackley has appeared in 14 games as a center fielder and pinch hitter for the Pirates and batted .313. He has collected 15 hits in 48 at bats, including 3 doubles, and 3 RBI.

Braves Win 10th Straight

Eddie Stanky and Bob Elliott each had RBI doubles, and SP Vern Bickford allowed just 4 hits, as the Boston Braves shut out the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 for their 10 straight win.

Rizzuto Wins It For Yanks In 11th

Phil Rizzuto's RBI double in the top of the 11th was the difference in the ballgame, as the New York Yankees went into Briggs Stadium and defeated the hometown Tigers 4-3, for their 10th win in their last 11 games.

[PhillieFever]

Thursday June 9th, 1949

Dark's Rampage Leads Braves To 12th Straight Win
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5 Hit Day For Pesky In Sox 21-4 Rout Of Browns

Boston- The sizzling hot Boston Braves won again today, defeating the Cincinnati Reds by the score of 9-2, thanks to a huge day from SS Alvin Dark, who went 3 for 4 with a homer, 6 RBI, and 1 run scored. The win is the Braves 12th straight, and improves their record to a stunning 37-13, seven and a half games better than second place St. Louis who also won today, shutting out the Giants 7-0 on another strong performance by starter Harry Brecheen(7-3, 1.37)

Red Sox Throttle Browns 21-4

Buoyed by a 10 run 8th inning, the Boston Red Sox went into Sportsman's Park today and destroyed the hometown Browns, pounding out 20 hits in a 21-4 victory.
3B Johnny Pesky was the top bat for Boston, going 5 for 6 with a double, 5 RBI and 3 runs scored.

Newhouser Dominant in Shutout Of Yanks

Starting pitcher Hal Newhouser dominated the first place Yankees today, holding them to 3 hits and 5 walks while striking out 4, leading the Tigers to a 5-0 shutout here at Briggs Stadium.

MLB Trades And Transactions

The Cincinnati Reds will be without 1B Ted Kluszewski for up to 7 weeks due to a broken ankle suffered in Tuesday's loss to the Braves

Detroit Tigers SP Fred Hutchinson will be out of the lineup until September with a torn muscle in his back. hutch's injury is a tough blow to Detroit, who as it stands now, sit just one game out of first place.

The Chicago White Sox have purchased 27 year old 1B Chuck Kress from the Cincinnati Reds for an estimated $40,000 in cash.

Baseball's Big Six

1. Bobby Doerr(Bos) .380
2. Ted Williams(Bos) .365
3. Stan Musial(SLC) .350
4. Dale Mitchell(Cle) .348
5. Danny Murtaugh(Pit) .332
6. Andy Pafko(CHC) .327

MLB Standings

[Questdog]

Big Klu was all I had to cheer for and you went and took that away from me too.....

Hurry up and get through these next 7 weeks....

You should see if these Red Sox can loan CaptainCarl's a few runs....

[PhillieFever]

Originally Posted by Questdog

Big Klu was all I had to cheer for and you went and took that away from me too.....

Hurry up and get through these next 7 weeks....

You should see if these Red Sox can loan CaptainCarl's a few runs....

I have a sneaking suspicion that these Red Sox will be a factor all the way until the end. As for the Reds, their about to trade their other big bopper in two days, hopefully who they get in return can give them a boost.

[PhillieFever]

Friday June 10th, 1949

Newcombe Stifles Reds 2-0; Runs Record To 10-1

Brooklyn- A Pee Wee Reese two run homer in the 5th, followed by a Gil Hodges RBI double in the 6th was more than enough support for Dodgers rookie pitcher Don Newcombe, who ran his record to a Major League best 10-1 with a complete game 3-0 shutout of the Reds in which he allowed just 2 hits and a walk while striking out 5. For the season, Newk has went the distance in all 12 of his starts, twirled 3 shutouts, and allowed more than 3 runs just twice all season. He has an ERA of 2.12, and 69 strikeouts in 106 innings pitched.

[PhillieFever]

Tuesday June 14th, 1949

Nats Trade Masterson To Red Sox
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Reds Get Walker Cooper

Boston- The Red Sox traded two of their former stars to Washington yesterday for pitcher Walt Masterson, and the New York Giants shipped Walker Cooper, once the NL's top catcher, to the Cincinnati Reds for receiver Ray Mueller.
Lefty Mickey Harris, mainstay on the Red Sox 1946 pennant winning team and outfielder Sam Mele, rookie standout of 1947, went to the Senators.
No cash changed hands in the Cooper-Mueller trade, and a Washington official said no money was involved in the deal with the Red Sox. Reports however indicated that once again Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey shelled out plenty of cash to bolster his club.

[PhillieFever]

MLB Players Of The Week For Week Ending June 12th, 1949

[PhillieFever]

Wednesday June 15th, 1949

Waitkus, Shot By Girl, 19, Expected To Recover
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Philly Star's Condition Still Critical After Near-Fatal Wounding

Chicago- Eddie Waitkus, star Philadelphia Phillies first baseman, was shot and seriously wounded early Tuesday by a teenage baseball fan who had a secret crush on him.
Waitkus, 28, was shot near the heart with a .22 caliber rifle bullet. The girl had lured him to her room at the fashionable Edgewater Beach Hotel.
Illinois Masonic Hospital described his condition as "fair to poor." Waitkus' physician said his condition was "serious" but that the bleeding was under control and he was getting along "as well as can be expected." He said he expected Waitkus to recover unless there were unusual complications.
Later Tuesday night, a lung specialist called in on the case said Waitkus' condition "was much improved but still guarded." He said the crisis might come any time during the night. The ballplayer was getting oxygen through a tube.
Ruth Steinhagen, 19, 6 foot, dark haired typist, gave a lengthy statement in which she related an urge to kill Waitkus "kept occurring to me all the time" for about two years. Friends said she had a crush on Waitkus, although the girl admitted she never met him. The only times she saw him before was on the baseball field. She was booked by police on a charge of assault with intent to murder. She will appear in felony court on Thursday.
Miss Steinhagen gave a statement relating the details of the shooting to Assistant State's Attorney and Police Captain John T. Warren. Later as it was read back to Miss Steinhagen, State's Attorney John S. Boyle commented to her: "Young lady I hope you realize this is a serious offense." "Oh" she replied, "it's just a simple shooting."
Ruth's mother, Mrs. Edith Steinhagen, said the girl had visited psychiatrists who told her "nothing was wrong except that she should forget about Watikus."
She said that when Waitkus was traded from the Cubs to the Phillies last winter, Ruth threatened to move to Philadelphia to be near him. She said that Ruth was "so crazy" about Waitkus that she tried to learn to speak Lithuanian when she learned he was of Lithuanian extraction.
Waitkus was extremely popular with Chicago Cubs fans. The Phillies, who stay at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, began a series with the Cubs here yesterday.
Ruth packed a suitcase, a .22 rifle and a paring knife with a three and a half inch blade and checked into the hotel on Monday morning. She gave a bellboy $5 to deliver a note to Waitkus' room.
Text Of Note
The note said:
"Mr. Waitkus-it's extremely important I see you as soon as possible.
We're not acquainted, but I have something of importance to speak to you about. I think it would be to your advantage to let me explain it to you.
As I'm leaving the hotel day after tomorrow, I'd appreciate it greatly if you could see me as soon as possible. My name is Ruth Anne Burns and I'm in room 1297-A. I realize this is a little out of the ordinary, but as I said it's rather important. Please come soon I won't take up much of your time, I promise."
Waitkus, returning to his room on Tuesday night, found the note and telephoned Miss Steinhagen, but she said that she insisted that he see her in person.
Shooting Re-Enacted
She later re-enacted the shooting for police and gave this version:
Waitkus knocked on her door. She put the paring knife in the pocket of her skirt and opened the door, intending to stab Waitkus as he entered. But he hurried past her, sat in a chair and asked her what she wanted. She said, "I have a surprise for you," reached into the closet and grabbed the rifle.
"For heaven's sake, what's going on here?" Waitkus asked as he jumped from the chair.
"For two years you've bothered me. Now you're going to die," she answered. She shot him at close range. She said she started to reload the rifle to shoot herself, but then she "blacked out."
She notified hotel authorities that ":I just shot a man." She surrendered to hotel detective Edward Purdy.
Waitkus regained consciousness about two hours later at the hospital. Police said Miss Steinhagen, brought into his hospital room, did not answer when Waitkus asked her, "Why did you do it?"
Waitkus, a classy fielding first baseman and a good hitter is leading the Nationwide poll for the National League first baseman to play in the All-Star game between the two Major Leagues.
A resident of Melrose, Mass, a Boston suburb, he broke into organized baseball in 1931 with Miline in the Three I League. He later played with Tulsa in the Texas League and Los Angeles in the Pacific Coast League. He served three years in the Army with the amphibious engineers.
He became a Cub regular in 1946 and played with the Cubs for three years before being traded to the Phillies last winter.


Braves Win 17th Straight!

Pittsburgh- Third sacker Bob Elliott was 4 for 5 with a walk, a double, 5 RBI, and 2 runs scored, leading the Braves to a 12-7 defeat of the Pittsburgh Pirates here at Forbes Field. The win was the 17th straight for the Braves who have now expanded their lead in the Loop to an astounding ten and a half games over second place St. Louis.

Trade Deadline Tonight

At midnight eastern time, Major League Baseball's non waiver trade deadline will pass, meaning that beginning tomorrow, any player involved in a trade or sale must clear waivers before any deal can be made.

Baseball's Big Six

1. Ted Williams(Bos) .371
2. Stan Musial(SLC) .369
3. Bobby Doerr(Bos) .369
4. Dale Mitchell(Cle) .342
5. Danny Murtaugh(pit) .332
6. Andy Pafko(CHC) .323

MLB Standings

[PhillieFever]

Wednesday June 15th, 1949

Grimm Out In Chicago, Frisch To Take Over Helm
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Bucs Make A Few Small Deals At Deadline

Chicago- Jolly Charlie Grimm quit the Chicago Cubs' bench for it's front office and Frankie Frisch became his managerial successor for a 3 year term Wednesday. The shakeup was described by owner Philip K. Wrigley as "the best way to get the club ahead." Wrigley said that Grimm, manager of the Cubs for about 14 years since 1932, suggested his own transfer as the club's vice president in charge of baseball operations and Frisch's appointment as his successor.
Frisch, also a veteran pilot in the National League ranks, managed the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates, along with a Boston broadcasting assignment from 1933-1946.

Cubs Trade Lowrey And Walker To Cincinnati

Announced just hours after the signing of Frisch, the Chicago Cubs wasted no time making some more changes, trading 31 year old LF Peanuts Lowery and 32 year old CF Harry Walker to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for 32 year old Lf Hank Sauer and 30 year old RF Frank Baumholtz. No cash was involved in the deal

Pirates Make 3 Small Deals

Buccos President Frank McKinney has been very busy of late, consummating three separate deals in the last several hours. The first deal announced, was the purchase of 30 year old OF Ed Sauer from the Cardinals for a reported $25,000 in cash.
Next, McKinney traded the recently acquired Sauer and $15,000 in cash to the Boston Braves in exchange for 33 year old catcher Phil Masi.
Finally, McKinney sold 30 year old 3B Bobby Rhawn to the White Sox for the waiver price of $10,000.

[PhillieFever]

Thursday June 16th, 1949

Walker Gets 2,000th Career Hit In 4-1 Loss To Braves

Pittsburgh- With a leadoff single in the bottom of the 4th off of Braves hurler Johnny Sain, 38 year old Pirates outfielder Dixie Walker became the 89th player in the history of big league baseball to reach the 2,000 hit mark, unfortunately though, this was the lone source of joy for Bucs fans who saw their team become the Braves 19th straight victim, falling by the score of 4-1. The Braves amazing winning streak is the longest since the Chicago Cubs won 21 straight in 1935, and just 7 shy of the all-time mark of 26 set by the 1916 New York Giants.

Garcia Blanks Red Sox On 1 Hitter

One out away from a no-hit no-run game, Indians youngster Mike Garcia had it broken up by Red Sox 1B Billy Goodman, who's hard ground ball found it's way through the right side of the infield for Boston's first hit of the day. Garcia recovered quickly however, retiring Ted Williams on a fly out to end the game, giving Cleveland a dominating 4-0 victory.

[EMSoccerCoach]

17 in a row...wow.

How about Philadelphia...11-3 in 1-run games...which means they are 16-25 in other games. Keep it close!

[Terpripken]

Holy Cow! The Braves are having an unreal season. 19 in a row is pretty insane. I'd love to see them break the record by the Giants, that would be pretty cool. Especially considering that in real life they went 75-79. There is no Spahn and Sain and pray for rain with this squad!

[PhillieFever]

Originally Posted by Terpripken

Holy Cow! The Braves are having an unreal season. 19 in a row is pretty insane. I'd love to see them break the record by the Giants, that would be pretty cool. Especially considering that in real life they went 75-79. There is no Spahn and Sain and pray for rain with this squad!

I've never seen anything like this streak. They've taken such a huge lead in the league that it's going to be very difficult for anyone to catch them. But, they did blow the pennant last year....

[PhillieFever]

N/m

[PhillieFever]

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