SO49: Pennant Race News...

The Professor · 02-15-2004, 01:18 PM

Dateline: September 1958

The 1958 campaign is about to come to a close in SO49 and two of the four Major League divisions remain undecided.

The American League Eastern Division features the tightest race. The defending World Champions, the Detroit Tigers, and the upstart New York Yankees are both 86-59. The Tigers, led by manager Hal Newhouser, are looking to cement their claim to "Team of the 1950s" with a third consecutive World Series title. The juggernaut lineup features sluggers like Norm Zauchin, Eddie Mathews, fan-favorite George 'Shotgun' Shuba and the incomparable Willie Mays.

The Yankees, a bottom-dweller in 1957, have jumped on the fast track to contention thanks to the masterful wheeling-and-dealing of team president Gary Graves and the management of Casey Stengel. The addition of rookie Orlando Cepeda has helped balance a solid lineup that also features free-swinging Charlie Maxwell, ultra-slick shortstop Bud Thomas and all-everything catcher Ted Tappe. Former St. Louis Cardinals ace Howie Pollet, acquired in the offseason, has paced the pitching staff this year while knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm has excelled in the late innings.

Waiting to meet the Eastern Division flag winner are the mighty San Francisco Red Sox. Venerable manager Ty Cobb is on what many feel will be his last campaign. As the season winds down the [SO49] single-season win mark of 108 (held by the 1954 Boston Red Sox) is within his team's grasp. The San Fran Sox feature the best pitching staff in the Majors in 1958 with ace-work from Bob Trowbridge, Johnny Podres and Tom Acker. They are the top three winners in the circuit. Sluggers Frank Thomas and Wally Post are, as it has been since 1954, the offensive aces.

The National League Eastern Division, expected to be the most hotly contested division in 1958, was dominated all year by the Philadelphia Phillies, the reigning NL champs. Surprising success from young arms Bob Trice and Don Gross alongside the usual brilliance of Robin Roberts and Whitey Ford has propelled the perennially strong Fightin's pitching staff back into rarified territory - only the Red Sox can claim a more dominant hill corps. The offense, long a team weakness, has benefited from a shot of verve in 1958 thanks to soph slugger Roger Maris. Manager Mel Ott now sets his sights on the NLCS and a third straight NL Pennant (Phillies lost to Detroit in the 1956 & 1957 World Series).

The Phillies NLCS opponent remains to be decided. The Chicago Cubs currently hold a 4 game lead over the injury-plagued Minnesota Giants, but a key three-game match between the two teams at Metropolitan Stadium could change the complexion of the race early in the final week of play.

The Cubs are led by the always strong pitching of 'Windy City Wonderboy' Stu Miller and a powerful offense that features Chicago favorite Andy Pafko, Bill White, Moose Skowron and emerging superstar Mickey Mantle. The Giants have endured a season full of injuries and a mid-season managerial switch but remain confident heading into the final gauntlet. Team president Jim Grimley has, as always, shown his mastery of the trader's art in keeping his team strong. New manager Ossie Bluege also deserves some credit. The offense is buoyed by former Cardinals superstar Stan Musial, in his first Minnesota campaign, and catcher Yogi Berra. Jackie Collum is the best of an unheralded group of moundmen. Fireman Frank Quinn was enjoying another brilliant year when he was felled by injury. The loss of Quinn (in addition to a host of nagging injuries to other players) may prove a fatal blow to the Giant's chances.

Stay tuned for news on the 1958 LCS matchups...

PrestonKaye · 02-15-2004, 01:23 PM

I like the idea of the site like a newspaper.

and that I can afford the 25 cents it costs

woody5254 · 02-15-2004, 04:10 PM

Go Yankees. If the Phillies are fortunate enough to make the WS again, I don't want to see those Darn Tigers

Nate, thanks for another great season. I look forward to the start of the postseason, it should be a blast.

RBLwebguy · 02-15-2004, 04:35 PM

Well best of luck to my rival Tigers, I am hoping Tappe breaks out of his slump for the stretch run. It will be a nail biter, but hopefully my Yankees and their perserverence will pay off! Stengal and Co. have been reviewing scouting reports the past few days. Let the games begin!

RBLwebguy · 02-15-2004, 05:06 PM

I also want to go on record to say, I built this team through the draft and smart trades unlike my real life counterpart!

Go Red Sox in 2004! Take down the "Evil Empire"!

UKSubs · 02-15-2004, 05:32 PM

Don't you mean Go Red Sox in 1958?

holyroller · 02-15-2004, 05:58 PM

Go Angels in '67!

The Professor · 02-15-2004, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Go Angels in '67!

Optimism!!11 Don't get cocky, though.

woody5254 · 02-16-2004, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Professor
Optimism!!11 Don't get cocky, though.

Maybe he meant 2067

02-15-2004, 01:18 PM	#1
The Professor Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East of East Posts: 3,020	SO49: Pennant Race News... Dateline: September 1958 The 1958 campaign is about to come to a close in SO49 and two of the four Major League divisions remain undecided. The American League Eastern Division features the tightest race. The defending World Champions, the Detroit Tigers, and the upstart New York Yankees are both 86-59. The Tigers, led by manager Hal Newhouser, are looking to cement their claim to "Team of the 1950s" with a third consecutive World Series title. The juggernaut lineup features sluggers like Norm Zauchin, Eddie Mathews, fan-favorite George 'Shotgun' Shuba and the incomparable Willie Mays. The Yankees, a bottom-dweller in 1957, have jumped on the fast track to contention thanks to the masterful wheeling-and-dealing of team president Gary Graves and the management of Casey Stengel. The addition of rookie Orlando Cepeda has helped balance a solid lineup that also features free-swinging Charlie Maxwell, ultra-slick shortstop Bud Thomas and all-everything catcher Ted Tappe. Former St. Louis Cardinals ace Howie Pollet, acquired in the offseason, has paced the pitching staff this year while knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm has excelled in the late innings. Waiting to meet the Eastern Division flag winner are the mighty San Francisco Red Sox. Venerable manager Ty Cobb is on what many feel will be his last campaign. As the season winds down the [SO49] single-season win mark of 108 (held by the 1954 Boston Red Sox) is within his team's grasp. The San Fran Sox feature the best pitching staff in the Majors in 1958 with ace-work from Bob Trowbridge, Johnny Podres and Tom Acker. They are the top three winners in the circuit. Sluggers Frank Thomas and Wally Post are, as it has been since 1954, the offensive aces. The National League Eastern Division, expected to be the most hotly contested division in 1958, was dominated all year by the Philadelphia Phillies, the reigning NL champs. Surprising success from young arms Bob Trice and Don Gross alongside the usual brilliance of Robin Roberts and Whitey Ford has propelled the perennially strong Fightin's pitching staff back into rarified territory - only the Red Sox can claim a more dominant hill corps. The offense, long a team weakness, has benefited from a shot of verve in 1958 thanks to soph slugger Roger Maris. Manager Mel Ott now sets his sights on the NLCS and a third straight NL Pennant (Phillies lost to Detroit in the 1956 & 1957 World Series). The Phillies NLCS opponent remains to be decided. The Chicago Cubs currently hold a 4 game lead over the injury-plagued Minnesota Giants, but a key three-game match between the two teams at Metropolitan Stadium could change the complexion of the race early in the final week of play. The Cubs are led by the always strong pitching of 'Windy City Wonderboy' Stu Miller and a powerful offense that features Chicago favorite Andy Pafko, Bill White, Moose Skowron and emerging superstar Mickey Mantle. The Giants have endured a season full of injuries and a mid-season managerial switch but remain confident heading into the final gauntlet. Team president Jim Grimley has, as always, shown his mastery of the trader's art in keeping his team strong. New manager Ossie Bluege also deserves some credit. The offense is buoyed by former Cardinals superstar Stan Musial, in his first Minnesota campaign, and catcher Yogi Berra. Jackie Collum is the best of an unheralded group of moundmen. Fireman Frank Quinn was enjoying another brilliant year when he was felled by injury. The loss of Quinn (in addition to a host of nagging injuries to other players) may prove a fatal blow to the Giant's chances. Stay tuned for news on the 1958 LCS matchups... __________________ History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are." Last edited by The Professor; 02-15-2004 at 03:41 PM.

02-15-2004, 01:23 PM	#2
PrestonKaye All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cape Cod, Mass Posts: 849	I like the idea of the site like a newspaper. and that I can afford the 25 cents it costs __________________ --Championships aren't won on paper, they are won in a computer simulation!-- Vipors Baseball.... BITCHES Xenoz http://img184.exs.cx/img184/219/keblarsig2xy.jpg Flow Storm http://img47.exs.cx/img47/328/ab1copy8hs.jpg

02-15-2004, 04:10 PM	#3
woody5254 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hector, NY Posts: 6,130	Go Yankees. If the Phillies are fortunate enough to make the WS again, I don't want to see those Darn Tigers Nate, thanks for another great season. I look forward to the start of the postseason, it should be a blast. __________________ Check out: You Pick Tourney Version 2.0 Standings Thread You Pick The Teams Tourney: Main Thread The Colossal 20th Century Tourney:Main Thread Chicago White Sox(Original Owner:2001-) Baseball Maelstrom -2001,2011,2013 World Series Champions -2002,2010 Maelstrom Tourney Champs Arizona Diamondbacks(2003-) NAHHBL Indianapolis Racers(Expansion Team:1993-)ABC

02-15-2004, 05:32 PM	#6
UKSubs Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 272	Don't you mean Go Red Sox in 1958? __________________ Counter Culture Baseball Commissioner/Houston Astros RANZBA Adelaide Crows

02-15-2004, 05:58 PM	#7
holyroller Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: OTBL Forums Posts: 3,532	Go Angels in '67! __________________ Back to work, but not drawing a paycheck. TonyJ et. al.'s alias “I confused it with the chicken’s neck,” Mocanu, who was admitted to the emergency hospital in Galati, was quoted as saying. “I cut it ... and the dog rushed and ate it.”

02-15-2004, 04:35 PM	#4
RBLwebguy Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Canuckistan Posts: 5,162	Well best of luck to my rival Tigers, I am hoping Tappe breaks out of his slump for the stretch run. It will be a nail biter, but hopefully my Yankees and their perserverence will pay off! Stengal and Co. have been reviewing scouting reports the past few days. Let the games begin!

02-15-2004, 05:06 PM	#5
RBLwebguy Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Canuckistan Posts: 5,162	I also want to go on record to say, I built this team through the draft and smart trades unlike my real life counterpart! Go Red Sox in 2004! Take down the "Evil Empire"!