What Could Have Been: An Alternate Baseball Reality

[Big Six]

Here are the composite standings for the years 1920-1929. Not only does this period comprise the decade of the 1920s, it also makes up the entire history of the three-division era.

TEAM                W    L    PCT  PS  WC   BEST      MW
Baltimore          902  639  .585   6   4   1st (6)   99
Oakland            836  704  .543   4   2   1st (4)   98
Cleveland          829  711  .538   2   0   1st (1)   98
Cincinnati         820  720  .532   2   0   1st (2)   99
Philadelphia       816  724  .530   5   0   1st (4)   98
Los Angeles        815  725  .529   2   0   2nd (3)   90
San Francisco      810  730  .526   4   2   1st (3)   98
Pittsburgh         800  740  .519   4   0   1st (4)  101
Detroit            787  753  .511   3   1   1st (2)   92
Sacramento         780  760  .506   1   0   1st (1)   85
New York Giants    772  768  .501   0   0   2nd (3)   83
Seattle            772  768  .501   1   0   1st (1)   86
Brooklyn           770  770  .500   1   0   2nd (2)   91
St. Louis          753  787  .489   0   0   3rd (2)   79
San Diego          752  788  .488   2   1   1st (1)   91
New York Yankees   750  791  .487   2   0   1st (1)   89
Chicago Cubs       744  796  .483   0   0   2nd (1)   85
Chicago White Sox  734  806  .477   0   0   3rd (2)   82
Washington         729  811  .473   0   0   2nd (1)   88
Kansas City        721  819  .468   0   0   2nd (1)   84
Milwaukee          717  823  .466   0   0   4th (2)   80
Portland           702  838  .456   0   0   5th (3)   80
Boston             692  848  .449   0   0   3rd (2)   84
Hollywood          678  862  .440   0   0   2nd (1)   84

PS= post-season appearances
WC= World Series championships
BEST= best finish in divisional standings; how many times this 
      was accomplished in parentheses
MW= most wins in a single season

• I was a little surprised to learn that the Orioles have been 66 games better than ANYONE else. In their WORST season, the Os finished 13 games over .500. I knew they were good, but still...
  
• The 1929 Pirates (101-53) are the only team to win at least 100 games in a season. Three teams have lost at least 100 games: the 1926 Stars (54-100), the 1925 Beavers (53-101) and the hapless 1922 Red Sox (50-104).
  
• Every team has had a winning record at least once. In the cases of Hollywood and Boston, it has happened exactly once.

[Big Six]

April 6, 1930

As we get ready for Opening Day, here are the 20 best players, the 20 best pitchers, and the 10 best prospects in the game. Each player is listed with his team, his age, and his position.

Top Twenty Players:
 1.  Al Simmons          NYY   27  CF
 2.  Lou Gehrig          PIT   26  1B
 3.  Chuck Klein         POR   25  RF
 4.  Mark Chappell       PIT   36  3B
 5.  Wally Berger        STL   24  LF
 6.  Cool Papa Bell      SD    26  CF
 7.  Charlie Gehringer   WAS   26  2B
 8.  Bob Fothergill      WAS   32  LF
 9.  John Kinney         PIT   35  LF
10.  Dale Alexander      CIN   26  1B
11.  Tony Lazzeri        PIT   26  SS
12.  Heinie Manush       OAK   28  LF
13.  Jim Bottomley       WAS   29  1B
14.  Mike Dickey         BRO   33  1B
15.  Jimmie Foxx         KC    22  1B
16.  Arnold Burns        HOL   33  LF
17.  Jason Alexander     WAS   32  2B
18.  Francisco Zavala    LA    35  CF
19.  Rick Mar            BAL   34  CF
20.  Earl Averill        STL   27  CF

Top Twenty Pitchers:
 1.  Satchel Paige       BOS   23
 2.  Jim Jessup          CLE   33
 3.  Bernardo Piniella   PHI   33
 4.  Carl Hubbell        HOL   26
 5.  Lefty Grove         SD    30
 6.  Mike Crawford       BAL   33
 7.  Jesse Hester        BOS   30
 8.  Rob Browne          BRO   31
 9.  Jonathon Vance      SAC   32
10.  Colton Blanton      SF    39
11.  Ed Brandt           BOS   25
12.  Eugene Wise         CHW   33
13.  Pat Caraway         POR   24
14.  Rafael Perez        STL   33
15.  Frank Shellenback   HOL   31
16.  Mike Chase          NYG   33
17.  Randall Malone      OAK   34
18.  Larry French        BOS   22
19.  Steve Poe           CHC   34
20.  Rudy Johnson        DET   35

Top Ten Prospects:
 1.  Hank Greenberg      MIL   19  1B
 2.  Jimmie Foxx         KC    22  1B
 3.  Willie Wells        WAS   21  3B
 4.  Dizzy Dean          WAS   20  P
 5.  Whit Wyatt          SF    22  P
 6.  Larry French        BOS   22  P
 7.  Buck Leonard        NYY   22  1B
 8.  Ben Chapman         DET   21  2B
 9.  Joe Vosmik          BRO   21  LF
10.  Lefty Gomez         HOL   21  P

Two players appear at positions that might seem unfamiliar to you. Lazzeri came up to the major leagues as a shortstop, if I recall correctly. Wells was a shortstop, and a good one; the Senators have moved him to third because they'll need him there more than they will at his natural position. They've got Buddy Myer, another good youngster, playing short instead of second because Charlie Gehringer isn't moving anywhere.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Big Six

The Northern Division will be lots of fun. I wonder who a Yankees fan like yourself will love to hate most: the Giants, the Dodgers, or the Red Sox?

Furthermore, in this universe, the Phillies and Pirates have had the most success among the teams in the new Northern Division...as you'll all see when I post the composite standings in a few minutes.

Glad you like the new arrangement, NYY #23.

For me that's easy, the Red Sox! I don't really hate them, but I'm just always going to root against them. I never had much against the Dodgers or Giants, but it does look like it'll be a fun division to watch. Of course, the Yankees and Sox look like they are fighting it out to stay out of the basement!

[ifspuds]

Nice to see Chuck Klein up near the top of the list for the Beavers, but it sure doesn't look like they have much else these days. Or have ever had very much, judging by the rundown of the '20s you gave. What a sad franchise. Vaughn Street Stadium must be a pretty desolate place these days.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by ifspuds

Nice to see Chuck Klein up near the top of the list for the Beavers, but it sure doesn't look like they have much else these days. Or have ever had very much, judging by the rundown of the '20s you gave. What a sad franchise. Vaughn Street Stadium must be a pretty desolate place these days.

I was a little surprised to discover that the Beavers were the only team never to make the first division during the decade. They've had some great draft positions as a result of their poor finishes, but they seem to have had some rotten luck in the draft. I don't have the game in front of me right now, but when I do, I'll list their early-round draft picks for the past few years so you can see what I mean.

Chuck Klein is the one notable exception to that trend. He is a tremendous hitter, and he has time on his side. His raw numbers might drop off a little over the course of the 1930s as the offensive peak of '29 and '30 recedes, but I'm expecting him to remain among the league's best hitters for a long time.

The Beavers have the #2 pick in the June 1930 draft. There's some incredible talent available in this draft, partly due to the fact that some great Negro League players are coming of age. If the Beavs don't blow it, they could come up with a superstar this time around.

[AZTarHeel]

This is a smokin' division:

Northern Division
Boston Red Sox
Brooklyn Dodgers
New York Yankees
New York Giants
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates

Wow...that could be a league in itself...

Just curious -- which database do you use? Thanks ...

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by AZTarHeel

This is a smokin' division:

Northern Division
Boston Red Sox
Brooklyn Dodgers
New York Yankees
New York Giants
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates

Wow...that could be a league in itself...

Just curious -- which database do you use? Thanks ...

You're right, AZ. Placing the New York teams and Boston in the same division made the most sense, both in terms of rivalry and geography. As NYY #23 pointed out, New Yorkers of one generation will naturally find the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry the most intriguing, while their parents and grandparents might consider the contests between the three New York teams to be more interesting. Who knows; West Coast fans might get into the Dodgers-Giants rivalry even more.

As for the database, I'm using the one that came preloaded with v8. Lahman, I believe.

[Big Six]

July 1, 1930

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTHERN        W   L    PCT  GB
Boston          49  30  .620  --
Pittsburgh      43  36  .544   6
New York G      38  41  .481  11
Brooklyn        34  45  .430  15
New York Y      34  45  .430  15
Philadelphia    30  49  .380  19

MID-EAST        W   L    PCT  GB
Cincinnati      51  28  .646  --
Baltimore       47  32  .595   4
Cleveland       44  35  .557   7
Washington      40  39  .506  11
Detroit         35  44  .443  16
Milwaukee       29  50  .367  22


AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS

CONTINENTAL     W   L    PCT  GB   
Chicago C       44  35  .557  --
Portland        43  36  .544   1
Chicago W       38  41  .481   6
St. Louis       38  41  .481   6
Seattle         36  43  .456   8
Kansas City     34  45  .430  10

PACIFIC         W   L    PCT  GB
Oakland         55  24  .696  --
Hollywood       39  40  .494  16
Sacramento      39  40  .494  16
San Diego       37  42  .468  18
Los Angeles     36  43  .456  19
San Francisco   35  44  .443  20

In the first year under the new four-division setup, baseball fans are being treated to lots of offense, some surprisingly successful teams, one runaway, and one very close pennant race.

At midseason, four hitters currently boast batting averages over .400. Oakland's Jimmy Welsh leads the way at .414, with the Red Sox' Buzz Boyle (.411), Portland's Chuck Klein (.404) and Milwaukee's Owen Hall (.401) in close pursuit. Boyle torched the Brooklyn Dodgers for five hits, including three homers, on June 19.

Plenty of batsmen are busting fences, too. Dale Alexander of the Reds (.391-26-82), Mule Suttles of the Senators (.366-26-79), Lou Gehrig of the Pirates (.354-23-84) and Klein (.404-22-72) lead the home run parade. All of these sluggers are driving in runs by the truckload, too.

Two veterans reached the 2000-hit plateau earlier this season. First to the milestone was Seattle first sacker Joe Bazeley, with a May 19 single against the Cardinals. Bazeley, an original Rainier, has a .339 lifetime batting average.

On June 25, the Yankees' Jigger Statz doubled against the Indians for #2000. Ironically, the New York left fielder has the same lifetime average as Bazeley.

The Oakland Oaks are running away with the Pacific Division, riding the powerful arms of four of the league's top hurlers. Randall Malone (10-5, 2.76)leads the way, followed by Stanford Cooper (13-1, 2.85), Byron Farrell (9-6, 3.08) and Ad Liska (4-6, 3.14). Cooper's win total is the best in the American League, and ties him with Reds ace Tom Walker for the major league lead.

The Boston Red Sox have surprised everyone by vaulting to the top of the Northern Division heap. Righthander Satchel Paige (12-3, 3.11, 122 K) continues to improve and is now regarded the best pitcher in baseball.

Long-suffering Portland Beavers fans have had two reasons to smile in 1930. First and foremost, the Beavers are in contention for the first time in the team's history, and appear to be on their way to their best season ever. Then, on June 15, they received what could be a franchise-making gift via the rookie draft.

Eighteen-year-old catcher Josh Gibson has been described as "the best prospect since Lou Gehrig" and as a player who "could turn out to be the best power hitter this game has ever seen." Furthermore, Gibson is an above-average catcher with a good arm.

The Kansas City Athletics held the first pick in the draft, and everyone expected them to quickly choose Gibson. Instead, the A's selected RHP Paul Derringer. When the shock wore off, the Beavers immediately grabbed Gibson.

Derringer, 23, is a far more polished player than the teenaged Gibson, and he's expected to report immediately to Kansas City. The Beavers, however, think they've stolen a future Hall of Famer. Meanwhile, the fans of Minneapolis will get the first chance to see Gibson in action.

Pitchers Ray Brown and Chet Brewer were the #3 and #4 picks, going to the White Sox and Phillies respectively. Another catcher, Ernie Lombardi, went to the Senators at #5.

Note: I don't know how I did it, but I forgot to tell OOTP to schedule a 1930 All-Star Game. I've already reached that point in the 1931 season, so I know for a fact there will be a Midsummer Classic in 1931. (I played ahead for that reason.)

[Big Six]

November 1, 1930

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTHERN        W   L    PCT  GB
Boston          99  55  .643  --
Pittsburgh      81  73  .526  18
New York G      71  83  .461  28
Brooklyn        70  84  .455  29
Philadelphia    64  90  .416  35
New York Y      59  95  .383  40

MID-EAST        W   L    PCT  GB
Cleveland       91  63  .591  --
Cincinnati      87  67  .565   4
Baltimore       84  70  .545   7
Washington      80  74  .519  11
Detroit         73  81  .474  18
Milwaukee       65  89  .422  26


AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS

CONTINENTAL     W   L    PCT  GB
Chicago C       85  69  .552  --
St. Louis       81  73  .526   4
Kansas City     78  76  .506   7
Seattle         78  76  .506   7
Portland        75  79  .487  10
Chicago W       66  89  .429  19
 
PACIFIC         W   L    PCT  GB   
Oakland        107  47  .695  --
San Francisco   75  79  .487  32
San Diego       74  80  .481  33
Sacramento      71  83  .461  36
Hollywood       69  85  .448  38
Los Angeles     65  89  .422  42

Could anyone beat the Oaks?

That's what baseball fans across the nation wondered as the 1930 regular season drew to a close. The mighty champions of the Pacific Division shattered the all-time record for wins in a season, winning their division by a ridiculous total of 32 lengths. "If this had been a prize fight, they'd have stopped it after five rounds," said one rival player.

In a year dominated by hitters, the Oaks pitching staff was superb, allowing nearly a run per game less than any other team in the majors. Randall Malone (17-10, 2.99) won the AL Outstanding Pitcher Award, but it could have just as easily gone to teammates Stanford Cooper (19-5, 3.21) or Byron Farrell (17-10, 2.89). Ad Liska (14-9, 3.08) rounded out the rotation, and he was named the league's Rookie of the Year. The Oaks' bullpen was also fearsome, led by Brandon Watts (10-1, 2.90, 8 saves) and Ken Smith (9-2, 3.49, 20 saves)

The Oaks were no slouches at bat, either. RF Jimmy Welsh fell short in his quest for .400, but still hit .380 with 15 homers and 101 RBI. LF Heinie Manush (.361-14-71, 118 games) and C Tim Stephens (.332-2-79) were also tough on AL pitchers all year long.

In the American League Championship Series, the Oaks faced the Continental Division's best, the Chicago Cubs. 1B Gus Suhr (.350-28-128) and 3B Ed Morgan (.316-21-121) led a potent Cubs offense, and Syl Johnson (15-10, 3.93) and Tommy Thomas (17-10, 4.44) gave them solid pitching. Nevertheless, most experts figured the Oaks would take care of them with little trouble.

Not so fast! The Cubs upset the Oaks in a great seven-game series, and went on to face the National League champion Cleveland Indians in the World Series.

The Tribe's heroes were familiar ones to Cleveland fans: P Jim Jessup (19-8, 3.30, 142 K) and LF Ken Rich (.380-2-83 at age 38). They got great support from Gold Glove catcher Gabby Hartnett (.294-8-88) and P Alvin Crowder (16-7, 4.48). Still, many fans believed they, too, had stolen the pennant from a better club.

The Boston Red Sox, winners of the intriguing Northern Division, were a better club on paper. Their batting order featured four hitters with at least 100 RBI: LF Buzz Boyle (.380-22-100), 2B Jay Green (.343-28-136), 1B Joel Hopper (.309-24-129) and 3B Paul James (.327-15-106). Their young pitching rotation contained Ed Brandt (20-9, 4.25), Larry French (19-8, 3.97) and the inimitable Satchel Paige (19-6, 3.10, 193 K), the senior circuit's Outstanding Pitcher. Despite these stars, the Sox lost the LCS to the Indians in seven games.

After the thrilling upsets in the LCS, the World Series seemed anticlimactic. The Cubs won in six games, and none of them were close.

The other huge story of 1930 was written by the booming bats that resounded throughout the league. Offensive records fell right and left, as the game's best sluggers teed off with abandon.

No slugger had a better year than the young star of the Portland Beavers, Chuck Klein. While Klein couldn't keep his Beavers from staggering home with another sub-.500 record, he managed to keep his batting average above .400, breaking Mitsuo Nakada's record with a .412 mark. Klein also hit 52 homers and drove in 159 runs, both of which would have set new records if not for another great slugger's performance. Klein's 1.230 OPS and 132.1 VORP were, however, new league standards.

The Cardinals' Wally Berger hammered 57 home runs and drove in 175 runs, setting new major league records in the process. However Berger, who hit .356, lost the Outstanding Batter Award to Klein.

The National League's Outstanding Batter was Al Simmons of the New York Yankees (.394-31-130), and his young teammate, Buck Leonard (.335-15-100, 55 2B) won the Rookie of the Year prize.

The home run king of the NL was Lou Gehrig, who went deep 51 times; he also hit .363, drove in 152 runs, and scored 155 more. Other sluggers who hit 40 or more homers included the Senators' slugging duo, Mule Suttles (44) and Jim Bottomley (43); Cincinnati's Dale Alexander (43); and Jimmie Foxx of the American League's KC Athletics (48).

Two other pitchers deserve notice for keeping the savage sluggers of '30 under control. Baltimore's veteran ace Mike Crawford (15-7, 3.04) won the National League ERA title, while San Diego fireballer Lefty Grove (18-15, 3.51, 194 K) held American League batsmen at bay.

[Celtic Forever]

What a great writeup! Really enjoying it.

[Big Six]

Thanks, Celtic. I'm enjoying your new dynasty very much, too; it's currently leading my smiles-per-post standings by a wide margin.

[Big Six]

April 1, 1931

I think I'll make an updated list of the best players and prospects in the game into a regular preseason feature. Here's the list for 1931, with their rankings for 1930:

PLAYER                 TEAM  AGE POS  LY
 1.  Lou Gehrig         PIT  28  1B    2
 2.  Al Simmons         NYY  29  CF    1
 3.  Chuck Klein        POR  26  RF    3
 4.  Wally Berger       STL  25  LF    5
 5.  Cool Papa Bell     SD   28  CF    6
 6.  Tony Lazzeri       PIT  27  2B   11
 7.  Jimmie Foxx        KC   23  1B   15
 8.  John Kinney        PIT  37  LF    9
 9.  Jason Alexander    WAS  33  SS   17
10.  Jim Bottomley      WAS  31  1B   13
11.  Francisco Zavala   LA   37  CF   18
12.  Bob Fothergill     WAS  33  CF    8
13.  Mel Ott            BKN  22  RF   NR
14.  Mark Chappell      PIT  37  SS    4
15.  Arnold Burns       HOL  34  LF   16
16.  Dale Alexander     CIN  28  1B   10
17.  Rick Mar           BAL  35  CF   19
18.  Charlie Gehringer  WAS  28  2B    7
19.  Buck Leonard       NYY  23  1B   NR
20.  Mule Suttles       WAS  30  LF   NR

PITCHER                TEAM  AGE  LY
 1.  Satchel Paige      BOS  24    1
 2.  Jim Jessup         CLE  34    2
 3.  Carl Hubbell       HOL  27    4
 4.  Bernardo Piniella  PHI  35    3
 5.  Lefty Grove        SD   31    5
 6.  Ed Brandt          BOS  26   11
 7.  Rob Browne         BKN  32    8
 8.  Jesse Hester       BOS  31    7
 9.  Mike Crawford      BAL  34    6
10.  Jonathon Vance     SAC  33    9
11.  Whit Wyatt         SF   23   NR
12.  Gordon Rhodes      CHW  23   NR
13.  Tommy Bridges      PHI  24   NR
14.  Colton Blanton     SF   39   10
15.  Paul Derringer     KC   24   NR
16.  Pat Caraway        POR  25   13
17.  Ray Brown          CHW  23   NR
18.  Eugene Wise        CHW  35   12
19.  Rafael Perez       STL  34   14
20.  Bill Foster        KC   27   NR

And here are the game's ten best prospects:

PLAYER                 TEAM  AGE POS
 1.  Josh Gibson        POR  19  C
 2.  Buck Leonard       NYY  23  1B
 3.  Dizzy Dean         WAS  21  P
 4.  Willie Wells       WAS  23  3B
 5.  Hank Greenberg     MIL  20  1B
 6.  Arturo Reyes       SAC  22  RF
 7.  Ray Brown          CHW  23  P
 8.  Van Mungo          MIL  20  P
 9.  Whit Wyatt         CHW  23  P
10.  Ernie Lombardi     WAS  23  C

• Leonard, the reigning NL ROY, really isn't a "prospect" anymore; he's a bona fide major leaguer.
• Some teams were beginning to run short of players, so I generated some fictional guys to fill out the rosters. Most of them turned out to be "organizational guys," but a few, like Arturo Reyes, ended up being fairly good.

[Big Six]

June 20, 1931

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTHERN        W   L    PCT  GB
Boston          42  29  .592  --
Brooklyn        42  29  .592  --
Pittsburgh      37  34  .521   5
New York G      36  35  .507   6
New York Y      35  36  .493   7
Philadelphia    34  37  .479   8

MID-EAST        W   L    PCT  GB
Cincinnati      42  29  .592  --
Washington      40  31  .563   2
Baltimore       33  38  .465   9
Cleveland       33  38  .465   9
Detroit         29  42  .408  13
Milwaukee       23  48  .324  19
                

AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS

CONTINENTAL     W   L    PCT  GB
Seattle         45  26  .634  --
Kansas City     34  37  .479  11
St. Louis       34  37  .479  11
Chicago C       33  38  .465  12
Portland        33  38  .465  12
Chicago W       29  42  .408  16

PACIFIC         W   L    PCT  GB
San Francisco   44  27  .620  --
Oakland         39  32  .549   5
Hollywood       37  34  .521   7
Sacramento      35  36  .493   9
Los Angeles     32  39  .451  12
San Diego       31  40  .437  13

Three tight divisional races gave baseball fans plenty to enjoy during the first half of the 1931 season. Defending Northern Division champion Boston is locked in a dandy duel with up-and-coming Brooklyn, while the resurgent Cincinnati Reds are barely holding off the hard-hitting Senators in the Mid-East. And, out West, the San Francisco Seals are out to an early lead over last year's regular season sensation, the Oakland Oaks.

The Red Sox are once again reaping the benefits of a talented young pitching staff, with Jesse Hester and Satchel Paige off to great starts. Jay Green, Paul James, and outfielder Maurice Archdeacon key the Sox offense. Archdeacon, one of this season's biggest surprises, has kept his batting average in the neighborhood of .340 all year long.

Brooklyn's hard-hitting attack is led, as usual, by Mike Dickey, who on May 4 became the first player in major league history to accumulate 2500 hits. Mel Ott, who leads both leagues in home runs, and Larry Bettencourt provide first-rate assistance.

Several stars have been bitten by the injury bug this year, some of them very hard. Cincinnati slugger Dale Alexander broke his ankle two weeks ago and will miss the remainder of the season, putting a formidable obstacle in the way of the Reds' path to the pennant. "Moose" was hitting .335, with 11 homers and 36 RBI, when he was stricken.

When the season began, St. Louis' Wally Berger looked like he was picking up right where he left off last year. Berger, who set new ML records with 59 home runs and 175 RBI in 1930, smashed three circuit clouts and drove in 9 runs in the Cardinals' first six games. Then, Berger injured his neck--the initial diagnosis is nerve damage--and he, like Alexander, will be out for the year.

Berger should be back as good as ever, but such is not the case for the Athletics' Max Bishop. Known as "Camera Eye" for his impeccable strike zone judgment, Bishop was up to his usual tricks, with a .408 OBP, when he fractured his elbow. At age 31, Bishop now faces the end of his playing career.

There's happier news out of San Francisco, where veteran pitcher Colton Blanton is still going strong at age 40. On May 29, Blanton became the second pitcher to win 200 games in his career when he defeated the Chicago White Sox. Blanton's record at that point was 200-144, with a 3.34 career ERA. The only pitcher with more wins than Blanton is Hector Orozoco of the Reds, who is struggling to come back from a back injury at age 39.

The inaugural major league All-Star Game will be played today at Cincinnati's Crosley Field. Here are the rosters for the American and National League All-Stars:

NATIONAL LEAGUE

SP  Sloppy Thurston    PIT  13-1, 2.54
SP  Mike Chase         NYG  11-3, 2.94, 85 K
SP  Jesse Hester       BOS  10-4, 2.63
SP  Tommy Bridges      PHI  8-7, 2.66
SP  Claude Jonnard     WAS  10-2, 2.97
SP  Dave Gates         WAS  9-3, 2.09, 1.00 WHIP
SP  Satchel Paige      BOS  9-9, 3.25, 116 K
SP  Joe Heving         CIN  8-3, 3.41, 11 SV
SP  Randy Lynch        NYG  3-4, 2.18, 9 SV
SP  Greg Skinner       BAL  6-2, 2.05, 6 SV

C   Ernie Lombardi     WAS  .336-2-40
C   Gabby Hartnett     CLE  .321-7-44
1B  Mike Dickey        BKN  .360-1-41
1B  Lou Gehrig         PIT  .312-18-54
1B  Owen Hall          MIL  .314-4-36
2B  Charlie Gehringer  WAS  .304-10-41
2B  Jay Green          BOS  .307-10-60
2B  Tony Lazzeri       PIT  .273-11-49
3B  Larry Bettencourt  BKN  .327-13-54
3B  Paul James         BOS  .322-5-37
LF  Mule Suttles       WAS  .357-17-57
LF  Jigger Statz       NYY  .363-3-27
CF  Al Simmons         NYY  .312-14-43
CF  Bob Fothergill     WAS  .366-6-54
RF  Mel Ott            BKN  .313-22-63
RF  Paul Waner         DET  .350-4-34


AMERICAN LEAGUE

SP  Whit Wyatt         SF   11-3, 3.19
SP  Colton Blanton     SF   9-3, 3.06
SP  Hod Lisenbee       SEA  9-2, 2.36
SP  Carl Hubbell       HOL  9-6, 3.74, 82 K
SP  Bill Foster        KC   8-5, 2.90, 92 K
SP  Ray Brown          CHW  6-4, 2.71
SP  Jonathon Vance     SAC  6-5, 2.45
RP  Brennan Thomas     SEA  4-1, 2.49, 9 SV
RP  Alex Carey         SF   1-3, 3.60, 7 SV
RP  Lance Thompson     SEA  4-4, 3.02, 9 SV

C   Mickey Cochrane    STL  .307-7-45, .395 OBP
C   Tim Stephens       OAK  .300-1-21
C   Henry Harris       POR  .352-1-30
1B  Joe Hauser         HOL  .291-14-47
1B  Del Bissonette     LA   .290-11-42
2B  Billy Herman       HOL  .337-5-29
2B  Doc Farrell        CHC  .300-9-46
3B  Bill Akers         LA   .270-10-43
3B  Ed Morgan          CHC  .293-8-32
SS  Jose Garcia        SD   .300-13-36, 19 SB
SS  Jose Carlos        SF   .348-1-28, 31 SB
LF  Heinie Manush      OAK  .299-8-47
LF  Arnold Burns       HOL  .331-3-40
CF  Earl Averill       STL  .352-10-57
CF  Cool Papa Bell     SD   .317-2-26, 41 SB
CF  Earle Combs        SF   .358-1-25
RF  Chuck Klein        POR  .309-18-55

[Big Six]

November 1, 1931

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTHERN
Boston          96  58  .623  --
Brooklyn        80  74  .519  16
Philadelphia    77  77  .500  19    
Pittsburgh      76  78  .494  20
New York Y      71  83  .461  25
New York G      66  88  .429  30

MID-EAST
Washington      88  66  .571  --
Cincinnati      83  71  .539   5
Cleveland       80  74  .519   8
Baltimore       77  77  .500  11
Detroit         68  86  .442  20
Milwaukee       62  92  .403  26


AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS

CONTINENTAL
Seattle         90  64  .584  --
Kansas City     75  79  .487  15
Chicago W       74  80  .481  16
St. Louis       70  84  .455  20
Chicago C       69  85  .448  21
Portland        66  88  .429  24

PACIFIC
Oakland         96  58  .623  --
San Francisco   86  68  .558  10
Hollywood       82  72  .532  14
Sacramento      77  77  .500  19
Los Angeles     73  81  .474  23
San Diego       66  88  .429  30

For a while, it looked like there would be at least one spirited fight for a division championship during the hot summer months of 1931, but in the end, baseball fans were left to entertain themselves with the exploits of individual stars. By late August, the division races were settled for good.

The Pacific contest was the most intriguing one. On August 1, the Oakland Oaks led the San Francisco Seals by a single game. The Seals caught the Oaks within a week, and on August 17, led them by two full games. Then, the Oaks caught fire; a 15-4 record in September allowed them to secure the flag by a ten-game margin.

In the Continental Division, only the Seattle Rainiers managed a winning record, and they cruised to the title by fifteen games.

The National League Mid-East Division was fun to watch for a while. The Washington Senators caught and passed the Cincinnati Reds in mid-July, opened up a five-game lead, and held it to the finish. Meanwhile, in the Northern Division, the Boston Red Sox got hot in July and August while the Brooklyn Dodgers wilted, and the Red Sox won the division with ease.

The NLCS featured a classic matchup between the Red Sox' arms and the Senators' bats. This time the hitters prevailed, as the Senators swept the series in four games. The ALCS was closer, as Seattle fought gamely before falling to the Oaks in six.

The National League champions from Washington led both leagues with 166 home runs and a lofty .813 team OPS. 1B Jim Bottomley, 2B Charlie Gehringer, 3B Jason Alexander, LF Mule Suttles, and RF Bob Fothergill led a robust batting order that came to be known as the "Capital Punishers." Alexander narrowly lost the batting title to the Red Sox' Maurice Archdeacon, while Bottomley and Suttles were among the league's home run leaders.

The Oaks were led by AL Outstanding Pitcher Ad Liska, who led his league in victories and ERA. Liska and his teammats were both saddened and inspired by the loss of Randall Malone, who ruptured his biceps tendon on August 1. Malone, who had a record of 15-7 and a 2.84 ERA at the time, was told by doctors that his career was over. He finished with a lifetime record of 182-154.

With Liska winning twice and young infielder Luke Appling delivering timely hits, the Oaks redeemed themselves for their 1930 postseason struggles by winning the World Series, 4 games to 2. Malone, his arm bandaged but his spirit undaunted, celebrated the victory with his teammates.

Two of the classiest men in the game celebrated landmark victories during the summer of '31. On August 9, the Indians' Jim Jessup took the mound against the Milwaukee Braves, looking for career victory #200. Not only did Jessup pitch well--he allowed two runs on only six hits over nine innings--but he lashed five singles and a triple in six at-bats to spark a 12-2 Indians victory. "I'm as thrilled about the six-for-six as I am about the 200th win," exclaimed Jessup, a lifetime .155 batter who had never hit a triple.

Mike Crawford of the Orioles won #200 on September 17, also victimizing the hapless Braves. The soft-spoken ace received a standing ovation from adoring Baltimore fans as he left the mound. Crawford's lifetime 2.84 ERA is the lowest in major league history.

The Philadelphia Phillies were a middle-of-the-road team, with a record that landed exactly on the .500 mark. However, their young righthander, Tommy Bridges, was far from mediocre in 1931. He won the Outstanding Pitcher Award, finishing second in the league in ERA and strikeouts, and winning 20 games.

Pittsburgh's Lou Gehrig won his second Outstanding Batter award, leading the NL in home runs, slugging, OBP, and OPS. Chuck Klein of the Portland Beavers won the American League triple crown, with a .360-42-131 line and, not surprisingly, his second straight AL Outstanding Batter prize.

The surname "Dickey" has long brought smiles to the faces of Brooklyn fans, who have cheered the exploits of their beloved first baseman, Mike. Now they have a second player by that name to cheer: backstop Bill, who won the National League Rookie of the Year Award with a .288-10-64 season.

His counterpart in the American League was the Cardinals' Ripper Collins, who played both first base and the outfield and hit .356-9-53.

And, in the year's most unusual development, Pittsburgh infielder Tony Lazzeri was sidelined for two weeks with dead arm syndrome. That in itself didn't seem strange, until Tony revealed he'd hurt himself skipping stones.

[Big Six]

January 1, 1932

From now on, I'll do something a little different with my Top Players lists. Now, I'll reveal them on January 1, and I'll provide the stats for the past season for each player.

Here are the top players and pitchers in Major League Baseball, as we head toward the 1932 season:

PLAYER                 TEAM  AGE  POS  LY   AVG  HR  RBI
 1  Al Simmons         NYY   29   CF    2  .354  29  110
 2  Chuck Klein        POR   27   RF    3  .360  42  131
 3  Lou Gehrig         PIT   28   1B    1  .353  42  127
 4  Jimmie Foxx        KC    24   1B    7  .307  38  106
 5  Jim Bottomley      WAS   31   1B   10  .348  38  133
 6  Bob Fothergill     WAS   34   RF   12  .356  15  112
 7  John Kinney        PIT   37   LF    8  .311  10   58
 8  Wally Berger       STL   26   LF    4  .292   3    9
 9  Charlie Gehringer  WAS   28   2B   18  .319  20   98
10  Mel Ott            BKN   22   RF   13  .319  37  120
11  Mule Suttles       WAS   30   LF   20  .342  38  138
12  Cool Papa Bell     SD    28   CF    5  .314   4   58
13  Buzz Boyle         BOS   23   LF   NR  .356   9   73
14  Buck Leonard       NYY   24   1B   19  .327  19  109
15  Mickey Cochrane    STL   28   C    NR  .313  23  103
16  Jason Alexander    WAS   34   SS    9  .358   3   61
17  Mark Chappell      PIT   38   3B   14  .311   3   69
18  Rick Mar           BAL   36   CF   17  .316   9   78
19  Earl Averill       STL   29   CF   NR  .346  20  113
20  Dale Alexander     CIN   28   1B   16  .335  11   36

PITCHER                TEAM  AGE  LY   W-L    ERA   IP     K
 1  Jim Jessup         CLE   35    2  22-11  3.60  294.2  136
 2  Satchel Paige      BOS   25    1  17-12  3.36  254.2  207
 3  Tommy Bridges      PHI   25   13  20-12  2.59  295.0  190
 4  Carl Hubbell       HOL   28    3  22-12  3.28  313.0  176
 5  Jesse Hester       CHC   31    8  19-13  2.98  298.2   94
 6  Ed Brandt          BOS   26    6  18-15  3.54  304.2  170
 7  Bernardo Piniella  PHI   35    4   13-9  3.41  261.2  136
 8  Jonathon Vance     SAC   34   10   16-9  3.23  242.1   52
 9  Whit Wyatt         SF    24   11   16-9  3.32  249.2  111
10  Mike Crawford      BAL   35    9  14-14  3.04  272.2   97
11  Ray Brown          CHW   23   17   13-9  2.89  208.2  151
12  Bill Swift         NYY   23   NR   6-15  4.36  187.2   71
13  Rob Browne         BKN   32    7  11-13  3.67  294.1  154
14  Eugene Wise        CHW   35   18  18-12  2.66  280.1  121
15  Gordon Rhodes      CHW   24   12  14-13  3.10  247.0  111
16  Pat Caraway        POR   26   16  12-14  3.68  237.0  113
17  Bill Foster        KC    27   20  17-15  2.98  310.2  193
18  Colton Blanton     SF    40   14   13-7  3.51  192.1   62
19  Bob Brown          SEA   20   NR  16-16  3.49  275.2  123
20  Ad Liska           OAK   25   NR  23-11  2.45  286.0  124

You read that right. In December, the Red Sox traded Jesse Hester to the Cubs, in exchange for a 32-year-old outfielder named Jonathan Norman, who had his best years in the mid-20s with the Solons. He's a lifetime .297 hitter, but Hester is one of the best pitchers in the game. Will the Sox regret this trade one day?

And, here are the game's ten best prospects--defined as players who have yet to make significant impact at the major league level:

PLAYER                 TEAM  AGE  POS  
 1  Josh Gibson        POR   19   C   
 2  Arky Vaughan       CHW   19   SS
 3  Hank Greenberg     MIL   21   1B
 4  Joe Medwick        BKN   20   LF
 5  Willie Wells       WAS   23   3B
 6  Frank Reed         BOS   19   SS
 7  Vicente Ortiz      PIT   20   P
 8  Carlos Mena        NYG   18   3B
 9  Frank Demaree      SF    21   CF
10  Arturo Reyes       SAC   22   RF

Reed, Ortiz, Mena, and Reyes are fictional players.

[Big Six]

There's another change in my baseball universe as we move into the 1932 season.

I've been noticing some problems with my minor league system. With 35-man rosters, it's tough for the AI to give playing time to everybody at the AAA level. The computer tends to play veteran journeymen instead of hot young prospects. There's no way, for example, that a human manager would ever play a 33-year-old who's had 55 major league at bats over a 20-year-old Hank Greenberg. That's what the cybermoron who's managing the Atlanta Crackers did last year.

As a result, some players were having problems developing because they were stagnating, languishing on the bench and watching their ratings fall. Others were rushed to the majors before they were ready, panicked when they hit .154, and watched their skills erode along with their confidence.

What I've decided to do is fill out each team's minor league system by adding a Class AA and Class A league. I've generated enough fictional players to fill a 25-man roster at AAA, a 25-man roster at AA, and a 35-man roster at A. That means some fictional guys will undoubtedly appear on major league rosters in the future, but I can live with that. I actually enjoy having a few surprising new stars to follow, along with players I'm already familiar with, and I hope you who are reading the thread will enjoy that, too.

Over time, as the major leagues expand, the game will generate more and more "real" rookies. There should be less need for fictional players at that point; if the game is generating the players that debuted in a 30-team league, there should be more than a 24-team-league will need. We'll find out.

Anyway, here's a list of each major league team and its affiliates. The teams are based on real minor leagues from the 1940s. I was lazy and let the game determine the affiliations of the AA and A teams, so I ended up changing some nicknames. I almost always used a historical nickname, however.

MLB TEAM       CLASS AAA AFFILIATE    CLASS AA AFFILIATE           CLASS A AFFILIATE
Baltimore      Richmond Virginians    San Antonio Missions         Saginaw Bears
Boston         Birmingham Barons      Hartford Chiefs              Providence Grays
Brooklyn       Montreal Royals        Binghamton Triplets          New Bedford Whalers
Chicago C      Nashville Vols         Beaumont Exporters           Bremerton Bluejackets
Chicago W      Memphis Chicks         Fort Worth Cats              Lancaster Red Roses
Cincinnati     Syracuse Chiefs        Greenville Spinners          Wilmington Blue Rocks
Cleveland      Mobile Sea Gulls       Tulsa Oilers                 Yakima Stars
Detroit        Buffalo Bisons         Des Moines Plow Boys         Hagerstown Owls
Hollywood      Saint Paul Saints      Williamsport Crosscutters    Pawtucket Slaters 
Kansas City    Little Rock Travelers  Albany Senators              York White Roses
Los Angeles    Houston Buffaloes      Scranton Steelmen            Flint Arrows
Milwaukee      Atlanta Crackers       Columbia Rebels              Harrisburg Senators
New York G     Jersey City Giants     Shreveport Sports            Portland Pilots
New York Y     Newark Bears           Lincoln Links                Fort Wayne Generals
Oakland        Louisville Colonels    Oklahoma City Cowboys        Tacoma Tigers
Philadelphia   Toronto Maple Leafs    Savannah Pirates             Vancouver Capillanos
Pittsburgh     New Orleans Pelicans   Denver Bears                 Muskegon Clippers
Portland       Minneapolis Millers    Utica Blue Sox               Lynn Shoemakers
Sacramento     Toledo Mud Hens        Macon Peaches                Dayton Flyers
San Diego      Indianapolis Indians   Pueblo Bighorns              Salem Grizzlies
San Francisco  Dallas Eagles          Augusta Green Jackets        Springfield Rifles
Seattle        Columbus Clippers      Sioux City Soos              Trenton Packers
St. Louis      Rochester Red Wings    Omaha Buffaloes              Spokane Indians
Washington     Chattanooga Lookouts   Jacksonville Tars            Grand Rapids Cereal Kings

[NYY #23]

I keep hoping the Yankees are going to be turning that corner soon, but 25 games out - ouch. Seems like we need some pitching. On a side note, I'm hoping we see a Jesse Hester curse to our rivals!

I'll be interested in seeing how Josh Gibson does. I may have missed it but how are you adding the Negro League stars?

I had to smile when I read about Tony Lazzeri. Nice touch. And I love the term cybermoron, it certainly feels that way sometimes.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

I keep hoping the Yankees are going to be turning that corner soon, but 25 games out - ouch. Seems like we need some pitching. On a side note, I'm hoping we see a Jesse Hester curse to our rivals!

I'll be interested in seeing how Josh Gibson does. I may have missed it but how are you adding the Negro League stars?

I had to smile when I read about Tony Lazzeri. Nice touch. And I love the term cybermoron, it certainly feels that way sometimes.

The Yankees' pitching actually took a big step forward in 1931. The team ERA was 4.16, in a league that averaged 3.99. The team allowed 4.8 runs per game, which was actually slightly better than average.

The team's best pitcher, at least in 1931 was original Yankee Tim O'Neill. A 34-year-old righthander, O'Neill went 14-11 with a 3.38 ERA, appearing in 41 games and starting 26 times. Another veteran, Milt Gaston, posted his first good season (15-11, 3.99) at age 35.

There are two youngsters on the team who look like they'll be very good major league pitchers one day. Bill Swift, whom the Yankees drafted with the #1 overall pick in the 1931 draft, was rushed to the big leagues and pitched better than his 6-15 record would indicate. His ERA was 4.36, and unlike most Yankees pitchers, he struck out many more batters (78) than he walked (26).

Mel Harder is actually a year younger than Swift--he's 21, and Bill is 22--but Mel's been in pinstripes since 1927. It's taken some time, but Harder is showing signs of developing into a first-class reliever. His ERA and WHIP have dropped every year, and in 1931 he posted a 4.34 ERA and saved seven games.

The Yanks also have Bobo Newsom in their system. He has great stuff, but like many young pitchers with lively arms, he doesn't have a clue where the strike zone is yet. If he solves that puzzle, he'll be just fine.

Offensively, the Yankees have a productive core of players that includes CF Al Simmons, 1B Buck Leonard, LF Jigger Statz, and RF Peter Smith (.320-7-81 in 1931, with a .382 OBP). The best hitting prospect in their farm system is outfielder Dixie Walker, who might force his way into the picture soon. Walker was the team's first round draft pick in 1930.

I don't think I ever explained how I integrated the Negro Leaguers into my universe. Several years ago, I found a web site that compared Negro League stars to players from the white major leagues. I jotted down some notes about the players I wanted to include in the dynasty I was working with then, and I fortunately managed to save them.

I begin by importing the historical player who's most similar to the Negro Leaguer I want to include, and then I edit his profile. So, if Buck Leonard is described as "being like Lou Gehrig, but with a little less power and a slightly better glove," I import a rookie Gehrig and edit him to hit fewer home runs and play better defense.

The better a player was, the more unique he was, so it's more of a challenge with a guy like Leonard or Gibson. With Josh, you begin by importing Babe Ruth and work from there.

The Lazzeri story was just too good. I honestly like the off-the-field injuries, because as we know, those things happen in "real" baseball, too.

And I don't understand why the Red Sox would trade Hester, one of the game's better pitchers, for a journeyman outfielder who is two years older than Jesse. Sure, the Red Sox have a lot of good pitchers and need a few bats...but I can't imagine a human GM making that deal. If you trade Hester for a hitter, you get a younger dude. That just seems obvious to me. We'll see how it affects the Bosox' fortunes.

Thanks for the comments, NYY #23.

[Big Six]

One of the things I enjoy about semi-historical baseball universes like this one is what I call “realistic unpredictability.” It’s safe to say that many of the players who had great careers in “real” baseball will be stars in a world like this one, and I’m glad. There are just enough surprises, however, to keep things interesting.

If you’ve been reading this dynasty, you’re already familiar with many of the players who have had surprisingly good careers—the “real” major leaguers who have been better in this world than they were in their “real” careers. Sloppy Thurston is an example of a pitcher who would fit into this category. In this world, Sloppy is an ace with an outside shot at 300 career victories and a Hall of Fame plaque. Joe Hauser, who has hit more home runs in this universe than any other player and has a shot at 500 career homers, has had similar success as a hitter.

On the other hand, there have been a number of players whose names any knowledgeable fan wold recognize, but which might not have appeared in this story at all—unless I mentioned them when they were drafted. Which players have been the biggest busts in this universe?

You're about to meet two "real" Hall of Famers whose careers fell far short of that quality standard in my universe.

Red Ruffing was drafted by the Hollywood Stars in 1923. The Stars were happy to use the #9 pick in the draft on the stylish righthander, who looked like a safe bet for stardom. Red moved immediately into the Stars rotation, winning ten games for a decent team. Ruffing was only eighteen at the time.

The Stars decided to send Red down to St. Paul in 1924, and he had a fine season there: 15-8, 2.88, 116 strikeouts. Then, he inexplicably forgot how to throw strikes. The Saints gave him four starts in 1925, and then Hollywood released him. He didn’t pitch at all in 1926, and retired at the age of 21.

Shortstop Travis Jackson entered the 1921 draft with a solid bat, a good glove, and a great nickname that conjured up the Lost Cause of the Confederacy—“Stonewall.” That was enough to entice the Oakland Oaks to draft him #9 overall. Not yet eighteen, Travis was sent to the minor leagues for seasoning, and struggled in his first exposure to professional pitching, hitting .214.

It appears that the Oaks carried “Stonewall” on their roster throughout the 1922 season, but they only allowed him 26 at-bats. He fielded very well at short and hit a home run, but those plus factors couldn’t compensate for a .154 batting average.

Jackson’s Contact and Eye ratings went into freefall, and the Oaks released him in early 1923. He retired before the 1924 season began.

Ruffing and Jackson, both real-life Hall of Famers, suffered through brief, uneventful professional careers in this universe. Two other stars endured a different fate. They still labor away in the minor leagues, quite possibly for good.

You'll meet them in my next post.

[Big Six]

Twenty-two year old Hack Wilson had all the trappings of a future star when he entered the 1922 draft. He had the potential to hit for a high average, and it was easy to project him as one of the greatest home run hitters in the game. The Hollywood Stars drafted him second overall, immediately after uberprospect Lou Gehrig. At the time, most experts thought Wilson was only a little bit less promising.

A decade later, both men are still playing professional baseball. Gehrig is one of the greatest hitters in the major leagues, with two OBA plaques on his trophy shelf and a lifetime .344 average. Still only 29, Lou will almost certainly hit his 300th home run this summer, and he has already driven in over a thousand runs.

Wilson’s saga has been far different.

Hack has played exactly one game in the major leagues, for Hollywood in 1925, and he did not come to bat. “Moonlight Wilson” has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

Perhaps injuries have stalled Wilson’s career. He’s never been injured too badly, but he misses time every year with one boo-boo or another. Could that be why Hack’s talent has eroded or, in some cases, has failed to materialize?

His Contact rating was once predicted to max out at 16. Today, he rates a 9 in that category, and he’s supposedly as good as he’ll ever get. His Power potential, once a sluggerish 16, is now 13…but he’s never developed his talent for hitting the long ball, not at all! His Power rated a 4 when he was 24, and it’s a 4 today. His batting Eye, once thought to be on its way to an eagle-like rating of 17, has stagnated at 9.

So Hack continues to hack merrily away for the St. Paul Saints, for whom he is currently playing his eleventh season. He has a grand total of 34 home runs in his professional career.

Perhaps it’s not fair to bring this up, but at this point in his career, if Lou Gehrig hit 34 home runs some season, we'd call it an "off year."

Wes Ferrell was the Portland Beavers’ prize for finishing with the worst record in baseball in 1925. The righthander was given the honor of Number One Overall Pick in the Draft, and has since done very little to show that he deserved such recognition.

The Beavers certainly gave him plenty of chances. Between 1926 and 1930, they trotted Wes out to the mound for 83 starts, and an additional 55 relief appearances after they decided to try to convert him to a reliever.

However, if a pitcher cannot throw strikes, it doesn’t matter which role he is asked to perform. He’ll stink either way. Wes posted a 36-59 record, with a 5.74 ERA. He allowed 952 hits in 759.2 innings, and walked 482 batters. His WHIP of 1.89 is among the worst I’ve ever encountered for a pitcher who was allowed to throw so many innings.

Before the 1932 season, the Beavers finally released Wes. For some reason, the St. Louis Cardinals signed him a week later. On June 25, he threw a six-hit shutout for the Cardinals’ AA affiliate, the Omaha Buffaloes. Since Wes is still only 24 years old, might it be possible for this Number One Overall Pick in the Draft to resurrect his career?

His Stuff and Control ratings are currently maxed out at 1. I don’t think we’ll be seeing Wes in a big league stadium again.

So, who are the bigger busts? Is it worse to have a career like Wilson and Ferrell, ones that will never materialize into anything resembling what we once thought they’d enjoy? Or, is it worse to have non-careers like Ruffing and Jackson?

There’s one more highly touted player whose career appears to be in jeopardy. That’s Dizzy Dean, like Ferrell a Number One Overall Pick in the Draft (Senators, 1929). Dizzy first injured his triceps as a rookie pro, missing a month of the 1929 season. He ruptured his triceps tendon in April 1931 after pitching four innings.

Dean’s Control and Stuff have been affected by his injuries, and the Senators have sent him to their Class A affiliate in Grand Rapids to get back on track. He’s proven he can dominate Class A hitters (8-0, 0.99, 76 K in 73 IP). Will Dizzy ever be more than the ace of the Cereal Kings? We’ll see.