The Joe Nuxhall Scandal

Michael Xavier · 02-12-2003, 03:10 AM

OK, I started this, so I'm going to finish it by explaining what happened.

So'49 is a historical league. We technically started in 1948, and we had our respective rosters to work with, which if you know anything about these recreated historical leagues, isn't all that much to work with.

So, Monday, as I was flipping through my tattered and well-worn Total Baseball encylopedia, I noticed Joe Nuxhall's name, and I thought, "Hey, where is ol' Joe?" Joe is a unique case, because he was the youngest player to ever play professional ball, pitching 2/3rds of an inning in 1944 for talent depressed war-era Cincinnati Reds as a 15 year old kid.

Joe later picks back up his career in 1952, but the Lahman database, the commissioner, and myself all overlooked this possibility. It is a rarity. So rare, that I was hoping to slip it by the commish, league, and all by asking for his addition to my roster.

That all went down on Monday. And I swear, that bulletin board in So'49 is dead most days. So much so, that I figured the three or four owners who seem to check it and post semi-daily would totally over-look my request. Guess what? It almost worked.

By the end of the first day, the commish had signed off on it, and two owners were in support to my catching this hole in the net, and I was on my way to adding a decent to good lefty, which in So'49 is a valuable commodity. We are just overall strapped for good, hard-throwing, moundsmen, period.

Alas, Tuesday, my plan would be foiled by another more observant owner who wished to add this player instead to the next season's amateur draft. A good-hearted flame war erupted, and for a league, where I thought the forum was dead, it suddenly became alive. I actually thought it was a great little controversy.

Anyhow, that was what occurred. Why the thread was deleted, I am not sure. A few thought it was bad press. Might scar the league's reputation. My opinion, any press is good press. Plus, I'm not overtly concerned about looking good to a bunch of rabble on the OOTP board. But I respect the thought, even if I didn't think the censorship was warranted.

I wish to close by commenting about the league's rep. I truly didn't think many knew too much about our league, but it is my favorite. Nathan does an excellent job, and in my opinion, he is the best commish of all my leagues (not meaning to offend Cooley, Bob Monroe, or the tri-lateral commission that runs my other leagues). We've had very little turn-over, and outside of Frank Coppa trying to scam me, I get along excellently with all the owners.

If any of you get the chance, come check us out at www.so49.com

Peace and Grace,

Michael Todd

MannyTrillo · 02-12-2003, 04:14 AM

I have but one question- can we take this as the official line from Moscow, or is this simply your own opinion... as owner of the "Reds?"

(By the way, it's my favorite league too!)

Jake · 02-12-2003, 04:24 AM

Somewhere in there I think he called us rabble!?!?

nycmafiajh · 02-12-2003, 08:38 PM

that rules

darkhorse · 02-12-2003, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Michael Xavier
Joe is a unique case, because he was the youngest player to ever play professional ball, pitching 2/3rds of an inning in 1944 for talent depressed war-era Cincinnati Reds as a 15 year old kid.

Joe later picks back up his career in 1952, but the Lahman database, the commissioner, and myself all overlooked this possibility. It is a rarity. So rare, that I was hoping to slip it by the commish, league, and all by asking for his addition to my roster.

When doing the league file for the PWBL's first season, we found a large number of players who had debuted before the 1946 season and yet missed that season and weren't imported into the game. After pruning the list of players to eliminate those that had minute careers, we have been importing the 46 players who qualified into the league based on the year they made their return historically.

A lot of top flight talent, Gil Hodges; Arky Vaughan; Hank Sauer; Billy Pierce and Sal Maglie for example, would have been missing and the league would have been much the poorer for their absence.

We look forward to Joe Nuxhall's return to the league in 1952 as the last eligible player.

I doubt anyone thinks one bit less of the SO49. Very cool historical league.

Frank7350 · 02-19-2003, 12:12 PM

C'mon know Michael...thats not fair. I only tried to scam you once,and that was after you tried to pawn Babe Adams off on me. I thought we've been through this!

Michael Xavier · 02-21-2003, 01:53 PM

It was Babe Young, and that was a mere reshuffling of talent.

Also, I am convinced that there are at least two types of owners when you are making trades. There are those who will make a simple reshuffling of talent, and then there are those that will only trade if these see some way to advance their re-building project, or if they come somehow come out on top.

If I lack a catcher, and I see a team with an abundance of them, then I will contact that team to see if they will trade one of three they have in the minors, and what do they do? They want an outrageous amount of talent, or choice on the draft, for a 31 year old catcher that is playing triple A, who they do not have room for on their roster.

UKSubs · 02-21-2003, 05:40 PM

There is someone hoarding catchers in the Summer of '49??? This explains why the Red Sox cannot improve from their dismal showing last season, as I have been unable to procure anything remotely resembling a catcher to start 140 games.

Michael Xavier · 02-22-2003, 03:47 AM

Brian,

I wasn't commenting on the So'49, merely owners in all my leagues. As far as catchers, and the lack there of, 4CBA is deficient, and I can't find anyone there who will part with one, but if you want one for the Red Sox, I will trade good ol' Rube Novotney. He's fair to decent, which is decent to good, when it comes to catchers in the 1950's.

02-12-2003, 03:10 AM	#1
Michael Xavier Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 456	OK, I started this, so I'm going to finish it by explaining what happened. So'49 is a historical league. We technically started in 1948, and we had our respective rosters to work with, which if you know anything about these recreated historical leagues, isn't all that much to work with. So, Monday, as I was flipping through my tattered and well-worn Total Baseball encylopedia, I noticed Joe Nuxhall's name, and I thought, "Hey, where is ol' Joe?" Joe is a unique case, because he was the youngest player to ever play professional ball, pitching 2/3rds of an inning in 1944 for talent depressed war-era Cincinnati Reds as a 15 year old kid. Joe later picks back up his career in 1952, but the Lahman database, the commissioner, and myself all overlooked this possibility. It is a rarity. So rare, that I was hoping to slip it by the commish, league, and all by asking for his addition to my roster. That all went down on Monday. And I swear, that bulletin board in So'49 is dead most days. So much so, that I figured the three or four owners who seem to check it and post semi-daily would totally over-look my request. Guess what? It almost worked. By the end of the first day, the commish had signed off on it, and two owners were in support to my catching this hole in the net, and I was on my way to adding a decent to good lefty, which in So'49 is a valuable commodity. We are just overall strapped for good, hard-throwing, moundsmen, period. Alas, Tuesday, my plan would be foiled by another more observant owner who wished to add this player instead to the next season's amateur draft. A good-hearted flame war erupted, and for a league, where I thought the forum was dead, it suddenly became alive. I actually thought it was a great little controversy. Anyhow, that was what occurred. Why the thread was deleted, I am not sure. A few thought it was bad press. Might scar the league's reputation. My opinion, any press is good press. Plus, I'm not overtly concerned about looking good to a bunch of rabble on the OOTP board. But I respect the thought, even if I didn't think the censorship was warranted. I wish to close by commenting about the league's rep. I truly didn't think many knew too much about our league, but it is my favorite. Nathan does an excellent job, and in my opinion, he is the best commish of all my leagues (not meaning to offend Cooley, Bob Monroe, or the tri-lateral commission that runs my other leagues). We've had very little turn-over, and outside of Frank Coppa trying to scam me, I get along excellently with all the owners. If any of you get the chance, come check us out at www.so49.com Peace and Grace, Michael Todd __________________ OOTP since March 2002

02-12-2003, 04:14 AM	#2
MannyTrillo All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 664	I have but one question- can we take this as the official line from Moscow, or is this simply your own opinion... as owner of the "Reds?" (By the way, it's my favorite league too!) __________________ Poster emeritus "Not butchery, dining!!" obt sk cmh ct President, A-1 Aces OT Posting Club Click here to join Last edited by MannyTrillo; 02-12-2003 at 04:25 AM.

02-21-2003, 01:53 PM	#7
Michael Xavier Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 456	It was Babe Young, and that was a mere reshuffling of talent. Also, I am convinced that there are at least two types of owners when you are making trades. There are those who will make a simple reshuffling of talent, and then there are those that will only trade if these see some way to advance their re-building project, or if they come somehow come out on top. If I lack a catcher, and I see a team with an abundance of them, then I will contact that team to see if they will trade one of three they have in the minors, and what do they do? They want an outrageous amount of talent, or choice on the draft, for a 31 year old catcher that is playing triple A, who they do not have room for on their roster. __________________ OOTP since March 2002

02-21-2003, 05:40 PM	#8
UKSubs Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 272	There is someone hoarding catchers in the Summer of '49??? This explains why the Red Sox cannot improve from their dismal showing last season, as I have been unable to procure anything remotely resembling a catcher to start 140 games. __________________ Counter Culture Baseball Commissioner/Houston Astros RANZBA Adelaide Crows

02-22-2003, 03:47 AM	#9
Michael Xavier Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 456	Brian, I wasn't commenting on the So'49, merely owners in all my leagues. As far as catchers, and the lack there of, 4CBA is deficient, and I can't find anyone there who will part with one, but if you want one for the Red Sox, I will trade good ol' Rube Novotney. He's fair to decent, which is decent to good, when it comes to catchers in the 1950's. __________________ OOTP since March 2002

02-12-2003, 04:24 AM	#3
Jake Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 55	Somewhere in there I think he called us rabble!?!?

02-12-2003, 08:38 PM	#4
nycmafiajh Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 19	that rules

02-19-2003, 12:12 PM	#6
Frank7350 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Jersey Posts: 132	C'mon know Michael...thats not fair. I only tried to scam you once,and that was after you tried to pawn Babe Adams off on me. I thought we've been through this!