The story of the 1947 Miami Sting

BoSoxFan · 02-15-2016, 02:46 PM

I made a thread a few days ago about a pitcher with a mind-boggling record. There were so many storylines about that whole team, however, that it led me to post this thread. Follow the epic journey of the 1947 Miami Sting!

BoSoxFan · 02-15-2016, 04:12 PM

The Miami Sting were a franchise rich with history and filled with good times, as well as hardships endured.

The Sting's track record was originally humble, winning just one playoff series in their first 19 seasons. However, to begin in the 1920 season, then General Manager Carl Haines had seen enough, and began aggressively spending.

The franchise's payroll went up $90 million in the 1920 campaign, and the team's success quickly changed for the better. The team went 104-64 that season and won its second playoff series in franchise history. The Sting enjoyed sustained success for the next decade, only once not finishing atop the then-eight team American League Eastern division.

However, in that eleven-year run, the club's kryptonite was always the gauntlet of four best-of-seven rounds that were the Fictional Baseball League playoffs. In that run of regular season dominance, the Sting made it to the American League Championship Series only three times, losing to the Sacramento Impalas in six games in their sole Fall Classic appearance in 1921.

The answer to those postseason woes would come however. The Sting signed a four-time Cy Young winner and three-time AL triple crown winner, 29-year-old Gilberto Cruz, to a six-year deal prior to the 1936 campaign. Cruz won two additional triple crowns in 1934 and '35 and racked up five ore Cy Young awards in his six-year stint with the Sting, in which he went 159-45, posting an ERA of 2.24, striking out 2,223 batters and posting a WAR of 79.5.

What the Sting were most thankful for, however, was his uncanny effectiveness in the postseason. Starting 36 postseason games for the Sting, Cruz was a machine, going 26-8, posting a 2.16 ERA, and striking out 341 helpless batters. With the help of international free agent 1B Jose Beltre, who won 2 MVP awards and was named MVP of the 1939 World Series, the Sting made it to three Fall Classics in Cruz's time with the Sting, winning it all in 1937 and 1939.

To promote parity, the FBL instituted a salary cap and held a global draft prior to the 1945 season. The Sting picked three-time Cy Young winner Tom Little, along with five-time Silver Slugger award-winning LF Eugene Assar. Although Little missed several months with shoulder inflammation, causing the Sting to stumble, the Sting were able to right the ship before his September return, and a 36-26 run after the all-star break was enough to secure the eighth and final spot in the AL playoffs with an 80-82 regular-season record.

Assar drove in 22 crucial runs in the '45 tournament, and Tom Little's 7-1, 1.50 ERA performance in the fall proved sufficient to give the Sting their third World Series title in franchise history.

BoSoxFan · 02-16-2016, 02:35 PM

Although Sting faithful were hopeful of a repeat performance after an 82-80 '46 campaign, good for the fifth AL seed, it was not meant to be. The Sting lost to the San Francisco Timberwolves in a tightly-contested six-game ALCS.

Fans continued to be nervous when they realized that the contract of Tom Little, their ace, had run out. The Sting had to seek to either resign or replace the star RHP.

However, Jeff Osborn, general manager of the Sting, was up for the task. In November, Osborn traded several prospects to the Dallas intruders for their ace pitcher, Ralph Baldwin. Although Baldwin was seen as a downgrade from Little, Baldwin was fourth in the AL in WAR in 1946, and was a worthy ace.

Osborn's work was far from over. The Sting proceeded to heavily invest in their lineup. The Sting signed C Mike Atkinson to a one-year deal in January, but the deal that made the most headlines came in early February.

On February 4, the Sting acquired free agent Chae-pong Pak to a six-year, $152M deal. Pak was one of the best hitters in the league, having an MVP and five Silver Slugger awards to his name. These two acquisitions were expected to help a team score runs that was ninth in that department in the 1946 season.

Opening day lineup and rotation, with 1946 stats:

1. RF Ken Evans, age 29, .290 AVG, 22 HR, 65 RBI, 124 OPS+, 3.2 WAR
2. 2B Tim Gaines, 32, .306/14/70/116/4.8
3. 3B Chae-pong Pak, 32, .292/27/91/158/5.7
4. LF Eugene Assar, 34, .258/35/103/142/3.9
5. DH Grant Cook, 36, .291/27/90/133/3.8
6. 1B Johnny Barnett, 34, .233/13/38/101/0.3
7. C Mike Atkinson, 25, .293/18/104/135/2.9
8. SS Anderson Campbell, 25, .136/0/5/7/-0.8
9. CF Bryant Simmons, 22, First year player

1. RHP Ralph Baldwin, age 29, 16-16, 122 ERA+, 259-73 K-BB, 1.19 WHIP, 6.8 WAR
2. LHP Reed Wall, 26, 10-19/94/192-83/1.44/3.6
3. RHP Jay Smith, 37, 13-12/86/186-45/1.35/2.0
4. RHP Milo Jennings, 20, 1-5/43/12-32/2.37/-0.4

02-15-2016, 02:46 PM	#1
BoSoxFan Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 480	The story of the 1947 Miami Sting I made a thread a few days ago about a pitcher with a mind-boggling record. There were so many storylines about that whole team, however, that it led me to post this thread. Follow the epic journey of the 1947 Miami Sting! __________________ 1903 1912 1915 1916 1918 1929 1939 1941 1957 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1968 1969 1970 1972 1974 1976 1981 1984 1986 2001 2003 2004 2004 2007 2008 2011 2013 2014 Go Sox, let's keep this going!

02-15-2016, 04:12 PM	#2
BoSoxFan Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 480	The History of the Miami Sting The Miami Sting were a franchise rich with history and filled with good times, as well as hardships endured. The Sting's track record was originally humble, winning just one playoff series in their first 19 seasons. However, to begin in the 1920 season, then General Manager Carl Haines had seen enough, and began aggressively spending. The franchise's payroll went up $90 million in the 1920 campaign, and the team's success quickly changed for the better. The team went 104-64 that season and won its second playoff series in franchise history. The Sting enjoyed sustained success for the next decade, only once not finishing atop the then-eight team American League Eastern division. However, in that eleven-year run, the club's kryptonite was always the gauntlet of four best-of-seven rounds that were the Fictional Baseball League playoffs. In that run of regular season dominance, the Sting made it to the American League Championship Series only three times, losing to the Sacramento Impalas in six games in their sole Fall Classic appearance in 1921. The answer to those postseason woes would come however. The Sting signed a four-time Cy Young winner and three-time AL triple crown winner, 29-year-old Gilberto Cruz, to a six-year deal prior to the 1936 campaign. Cruz won two additional triple crowns in 1934 and '35 and racked up five ore Cy Young awards in his six-year stint with the Sting, in which he went 159-45, posting an ERA of 2.24, striking out 2,223 batters and posting a WAR of 79.5. What the Sting were most thankful for, however, was his uncanny effectiveness in the postseason. Starting 36 postseason games for the Sting, Cruz was a machine, going 26-8, posting a 2.16 ERA, and striking out 341 helpless batters. With the help of international free agent 1B Jose Beltre, who won 2 MVP awards and was named MVP of the 1939 World Series, the Sting made it to three Fall Classics in Cruz's time with the Sting, winning it all in 1937 and 1939. To promote parity, the FBL instituted a salary cap and held a global draft prior to the 1945 season. The Sting picked three-time Cy Young winner Tom Little, along with five-time Silver Slugger award-winning LF Eugene Assar. Although Little missed several months with shoulder inflammation, causing the Sting to stumble, the Sting were able to right the ship before his September return, and a 36-26 run after the all-star break was enough to secure the eighth and final spot in the AL playoffs with an 80-82 regular-season record. Assar drove in 22 crucial runs in the '45 tournament, and Tom Little's 7-1, 1.50 ERA performance in the fall proved sufficient to give the Sting their third World Series title in franchise history. Attached Images __________________ 1903 1912 1915 1916 1918 1929 1939 1941 1957 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1968 1969 1970 1972 1974 1976 1981 1984 1986 2001 2003 2004 2004 2007 2008 2011 2013 2014 Go Sox, let's keep this going!

02-16-2016, 02:35 PM	#3
BoSoxFan Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 480	Lead-up to '47 Although Sting faithful were hopeful of a repeat performance after an 82-80 '46 campaign, good for the fifth AL seed, it was not meant to be. The Sting lost to the San Francisco Timberwolves in a tightly-contested six-game ALCS. Fans continued to be nervous when they realized that the contract of Tom Little, their ace, had run out. The Sting had to seek to either resign or replace the star RHP. However, Jeff Osborn, general manager of the Sting, was up for the task. In November, Osborn traded several prospects to the Dallas intruders for their ace pitcher, Ralph Baldwin. Although Baldwin was seen as a downgrade from Little, Baldwin was fourth in the AL in WAR in 1946, and was a worthy ace. Osborn's work was far from over. The Sting proceeded to heavily invest in their lineup. The Sting signed C Mike Atkinson to a one-year deal in January, but the deal that made the most headlines came in early February. On February 4, the Sting acquired free agent Chae-pong Pak to a six-year, $152M deal. Pak was one of the best hitters in the league, having an MVP and five Silver Slugger awards to his name. These two acquisitions were expected to help a team score runs that was ninth in that department in the 1946 season. Opening day lineup and rotation, with 1946 stats: 1. RF Ken Evans, age 29, .290 AVG, 22 HR, 65 RBI, 124 OPS+, 3.2 WAR 2. 2B Tim Gaines, 32, .306/14/70/116/4.8 3. 3B Chae-pong Pak, 32, .292/27/91/158/5.7 4. LF Eugene Assar, 34, .258/35/103/142/3.9 5. DH Grant Cook, 36, .291/27/90/133/3.8 6. 1B Johnny Barnett, 34, .233/13/38/101/0.3 7. C Mike Atkinson, 25, .293/18/104/135/2.9 8. SS Anderson Campbell, 25, .136/0/5/7/-0.8 9. CF Bryant Simmons, 22, First year player 1. RHP Ralph Baldwin, age 29, 16-16, 122 ERA+, 259-73 K-BB, 1.19 WHIP, 6.8 WAR 2. LHP Reed Wall, 26, 10-19/94/192-83/1.44/3.6 3. RHP Jay Smith, 37, 13-12/86/186-45/1.35/2.0 4. RHP Milo Jennings, 20, 1-5/43/12-32/2.37/-0.4 Attached Images __________________ 1903 1912 1915 1916 1918 1929 1939 1941 1957 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1968 1969 1970 1972 1974 1976 1981 1984 1986 2001 2003 2004 2004 2007 2008 2011 2013 2014 Go Sox, let's keep this going!