384 to 1 -- Massive playdown to crown Greatest Team of All Time

[rockford]

League assignments for Pool 2 (listed by Quarterfinal seed):

League 1
#2 1911 A’s
#14 1905 Giants
#26 1912 Giants
#38 1912 Pirates
#50 1943 Yankees
#62 1949 Red Sox
#74 1914 A’s
#86 1952 Dodgers

League 2
#8 1910 Cubs
#20 1985 Cardinals
#32 1948 Indians
#44 1971 Orioles
#56 1963 Dodgers
#68 1991 Pirates
#80 1917 Giants
#92 1912 Red Sox

[rockford]

[rockford]

The Dead Ball era takes center stage in Pool 2, with the top seed in each league – as well as the top four seeds in League 1 – all from the early days. Eight of the 16 teams are Dead Ball teams.


The 1911 A’s – seeded second in the Quarterfinals – come in as the favorite in League 1. They’re the middle member of an A’s dynasty that has five squads in the Quarters from 1909-14. (The ’09 squad, however, is almost certainly out after a .464 performance in Pool 1.) The 1914 A's are also in League 1, but are considered a long shot to advance.


The '11 A’s are led by Eddie Collins (.365, 3 HR), who finished fifth in Pool 1 MVP voting while playing with the ’09 team. He’s joined by Home Run Baker, just starting a streak of four remarkable seasons in ’11 (.334, 11 HR). The A’s have other bats, but most importantly they have a couple exceptional arms in Chief Bender (17-5, 2.16 ERA) and Eddie Plank (23-8, 2.10 ERA).


The A’s will have to get by two early Giants teams and a Pirates squad. The Giants teams (from 1905 and 1912) are nearly entirely different outfits, with the exception of Christy Mathewson, who won 54 games in the two seasons.


The pairing of the 1912 versions of the Giants and the Pirates in League 1 sets up a rematch that the Giants won by 10 games IRL (before losing the Series to the Red Sox).


The 1912 Pirates squad caps a dynasty that kicked off in 1901. Eight Bucs squads from 1901-1912 qualified for the GTOAT tourney, and six are still alive. The 1902 Pirates just ran away with Pool 1 behind the pitching of Jesse Tannehill (and a deep, strong staff), but the 1912 team doesn’t appear to have those kinds of arms. In fact, these are nearly two entirely different teams, with the exception of Honus Wagner, who in 1912 at the age of of 38 went .324, 7 HR.


League 2 favorite 1910 Cubs are also the most modern representative of baseball’s other early dynasty. Eight Cubs teams from 1904 to 1912 qualified for the GTOAT tourney, with four still alive. The 1906 Cubs just finished sixth in Pool 1, although their .503 win percentage leaves them in a precarious position as far as advancing in the tourney.


This is the second of six 16-team pools. Each will be put through 10 seasons of play, with the top half of teams (by winning percentage) moving on to the “Great 48” Semifinals.


With pitching expected to dominate in a pool stocked with Dead Ball teams, more modern squads are going to need a couple really outstanding aces in order to stand a chance. The 1943 Yankees may fit that bill, with Spud Chandler (20-4, 1.64 ERA) and Tiny Bonham (15-8, 2.27). And while the ’43 Yanks certainly don’t have the offense of the 1930s teams, they should have plenty more than their Dead Ball opponents. Bill Dickey, who began terrorizing pitchers in 1929, was still going strong at the age of 36 in 1943. It was his last year before leaving for two years of military service, and he made the most of it, batting .351. In Pool 1 MVP voting, Dickey finished second (with the 1937 Yankees) and 12th (1933).


The 1963 Dodgers are another dark horse for the same reasons as the Yanks – outstanding arms -- Sandy Koufax (25-5, 1.88 ERA), Don Drysdale (19-17, 2.63) and Ron Perranoski (16-3, 1.67) -- and a potent offense, led by Tommy Davis (.326, 16 HR) and Frank Howard (.273, 28 HR).

Finally, the 1912 Red Sox will be looking to continue their resurrection. Seeded 16th at the start of the GTOAT tourney, they plummeted to 94th after the First Chance and went just .493 in the Second Chance, after which they were given up for dead. But they received a surprise berth in the Last Chance and responded by finishing eighth in the tourney and making the Quarterfinal.


LEAGUE 1

#2 1911 A’s
101-50-1
1st in AL; won World Series in six games over Giants
HOF – Home Run Baker (.334, 11 HR), Chief Bender (17-5, 2.16), Eddie Collins (.365, 3 HR), Eddie Plank (23-8, 2.10 ERA)
Notable – Danny Murphy (.329, 6 HR), Stuffy McGinnis (.321, 3 HR)
Originally seeded 32; .634 in First Chance, 2nd

#14 1905 Giants
105-48-2
1st in NL; won World Series in five games over A’s
HOF – Roger Bresnahan, Christy Mathewson (31-9, 2.87 ERA), Joe McGinnity (21-15, 2.87 ERA), John McGraw
Notable – Mike Donlin (.356, 7 HR), Red Ames (22-8, 2.74 ERA)
Originally seeded 18th; .596 in First Chance, 14th

#26 1912 Giants
103-48-3
1st in NL; lost World Series in eight games to Red Sox
HOF – Rube Marquard (26-11, 2.57 ERA), Christy Mathewson (23-12, 2.12 ERA)
Notable – Jack Meyers (.358, 6 HR), Larry Doyle (.330, 10 HR), Fred Merkle (.309, 11 HR), Jeff Tesrau (17-7, 1.96 ERA)
Originally seeded 24th; .577 in First Chance, 26th

#38 1912 Pirates
93-58-1
2nd in NL, 10 games behind Giants
HOF – Max Carey (.302, 5 HR), Bill McKechnie, Honus Wagner (.324, 7 HR)
Notable – Mike Donlin (.316, 2 HR), Own Wilson (.300, 11 HR)
Originally seeded 191st; .564 in First Chance, 38th

#50 1943 Yankees
98-56-1
1st in AL; won World Series in five games over Cardinals
HOF – Bill Dickey (.351, 4 HR), Joe Gordon (.249, 17 HR)
Notable – Charlie Keller (.271, 31 HR), Spud Chandler (20-4, 1.64 ERA), Tiny Bonham (15-8, 2.27 ERA)
Originally seeded 88th; .560 in First Chance, 50th

#62 1949 Red Sox
96-58-1
2nd in AL, one game behind Yankees
HOF – Bobby Doerr (.309, 18 HR), Ted Williams (.343, 43 HR)
Notable – Vern Stephens (.290, 39 HR), Mel Parnell (25-7, 2.77 ERA)
Originally seeded 153rd; .545 in First Chance, 77th

#74 1914 A’s
99-53-6
1st in AL; lost World Series in four games to Braves
HOF – Home Run Baker (.319, 9 HR), Charles Bender (17-3, 2.26 ERA), Eddie Collins (.344, 58 SB), Herb Pennock (11-4, 2.79 ERA), Eddie Plank (15-7, 2.87 ERA)
Originally seeded 60th; .554 in First Chance, 61st; .553 in Second Chance, 2nd in tourney

#86 1952 Dodgers
96-57-2
1st in NL; lost World Series in seven games to Yankees
HOF – Roy Campanella (.269, 22 HR), Gil Hodges (.254, 32 HR), Pee Wee Reese (.272, 30 SB), Jackie Robinson (.308, 19 HR), Duke Snider (.303, 21 HR), Dick Williams
Originally seeded 130th; .521 in First Chance, 128th; .515 in Second Chance; .566 in Last Chance, 2nd in tourney


LEAGUE 2

#8 1910 Cubs
104-50
1st in NL; lost World Series in five games to A’s
HOF – Mordecai Brown (25-14, 1,86 ERA), Frank Chance (.298), Johnny Evers (.263), Joe Tinker (.288, 3 HR)
Notable – Solly Hofman (.325, 3 HR), Frank Schulte (.301, 10 HR), King Cole (20-4, 1.80 ERA)
Originally seeded 34th; .617 in First Chance, 8th

#20 1985 Cardinals
101-61
1st in NL East; lost World Series in seven games to Royals
HOF – Ozzie Smith (.276, 31 SB)
Notable – Willie McGee (.353, 56 SB), John Tudor (21-8, 1.93 ERA)
Originally seeded 143rd; .584 in First Chance, 20th

#32 1948 Indians
97-58-1
1st in AL; won World Series in six games over Braves
HOF – Lou Boudreau (.355, 18 HR), Larry Doby (.301, 14 HR), Bob Feller (19-15, 3.56 ERA), Joe Gordon (.280, 32 HR), Bob Lemon (20-14, 2.82 ERA), Satchel Paige (6-1, 2.48 ERA)
Notable – Ken Keltner (.297, 31 HR), Dale Mitchell (.336), Gene Bearden (20-7, 2.43 ERA)
Originally seeded 133rd; .569 in First Chance, 32nd

#44 1971 Orioles
101-57
1st in AL East; won World Series in seven games over Pirates
HOF – Jim Palmer (20-9, 2.68 ERA), Brooks Robinson (.272, 20 HR), Frank Robinson (.281, 28 HR)
Notable – Don Buford (.290, 19 HR), Merv Rettenmund (.318, 11 HR), Dave McNally (21-5, 2.89 ERA)
Originally seeded 87th; .563 in First Chance, 44th

#56 1963 Dodgers
99-63-1
1st in NL; won World Series in four games over Yankees
HOF – Don Drysdale (19-17, 2.63 ERA), Sandy Koufax (25-5, 1.88 ERA)
Notable – Maury Wills (.302, 40 SB), Tommy Davis (.326, 16 HR), Frank Howard (.273, 28 HR), Ron Perranoski (16-3, 1.67 ERA)
Originally seeded 203rd; .554 in First Chance, 60th

#68 1991 Pirates
98-64
1st in NL East; lost NLCS in seven games to Braves
HOF –
Notable – Barry Bonds (.292, 25 HR), Bobby Bonilla (.302, 18 HR), John Smiley (20-8, 3.08 ERA)
Originally seeded 278th; .541 in First Chance, 92nd

#80 1917 Giants
98-56-4
1st in NL; lost World Series in six games to White Sox
HOF – George Kelly, Ross Youngs
Notable – Benny Kauff (.308, 5 HR, 30 SB), George Burns (.302, 5 HR, 40 SB), Ferdie Schupp (21-7, 1.95 ERA), Pol Perritt (17-7, 1.88 ERA)
Originally seeded 94th; .545 in First Chance, 78th; .531 in Second Chance, 8th in tourney

#92 1912 Red Sox
105-47-2
1st in AL; won World Series in eight games over Giants
HOF – Harry Hooper, Tris Speaker (.383, 10 HR, 52 SB)
Notable – Larry Gardner (.315, 25 SB), Smokey Joe Wood (34-5, 1.91 ERA)
Originally seeded 16th; .538 in First Chance, 94th; .493 in Second Chance; .540 in Last Chance, 8th in tourney

[rockford]

Standings after three seasons of play (pennants and championships shown in parentheses):



GB
--- 1910 Cubs .600 (3-3)
23 1943 Yankees .550 (1-0)
27 1912 Giants .541 (1-0)
30 1948 Indians .535
40 1971 Orioles .513
41 1949 Red Sox .511 (1-0)
46 1905 Giants .500
48 1952 Dodgers .496
52 1911 A’s .487
57 1991 Pirates .476
58 1912 Pirates .474
59 1917 Giants .472
59 1912 Red Sox .472
59 1963 Dodgers .472
64 1985 Cardinals .461
72 1914 A’s .444



The 1910 Cubs appear poised to run away from the competition after running up a .600 winning percentage and capturing the first three championships. But the rest of the pack is bunched, and some surprises may be brewing.


The Cubs have benefitted from the stalwart pitching of Jack Pfiester, who captured one Pitcher of the Year award (23-8, 2.19 ERA) and finished second and fourth in balloting the other two seasons. And they’re getting enough offense from Frank Schulte, Jimmy Sheckard and Solly Hofman to be formidable.


Meanwhile, the 1943 Yankees lead the rest of the pack thanks primarily to the pitching of 36-year-old Spud Chandler, who’s won three straight Pitcher of the Year awards with a combined record of 61-29 and an ERA below 2.50. IRL Chandler was a late bloomer who didn’t make it to the majors until he was 29, and finished a relatively modest career with a record of 109-43. But he made hay pitching against war-depleted lineups, going 20-4 and leading the majors with a 1.64 ERA in 1943.


The 62nd-seeded 1949 Red Sox are .511 and in fifth place, powered by an MVP turn by Ted Williams (.350, 50 HR).


The 1952 Dodgers, seeded 86th, have crept up into eighth place, but have just a .496 winning percentage. In Pool 1, just six of 16 teams finished with winning records. The relative parity of these pools may lead to some sub-.500 teams advancing to the Semifinals.


The highly regarded 1911 A’s (seeded No. 2 in the Quarters) have gotten off to a poor start and are four games behind the Dodgers with a .487 winning percentage.

[rockford]

Standings after six seasons of play (pennants and championships in parentheses):

GB
--- 1910 Cubs .611 (6-4)
27 1912 Giants .536 (2-1)
76 1952 Dodgers .529 (2-1)
79 1943 Yankees .526 (1-0)
93 1971 Orioles .511
94 1948 Indians .510
102 1949 Red Sox .501 (1-0)
110 1905 Giants .492
116 1911 A’s .486
118 1917 Giants .484
119 1991 Pirates .483
125 1963 Dodgers .476
132 1912 Red Sox .469
133 1985 Cardinals .457
134 1912 Pirates .466
136 1914 A’s .464


The 1910 Cubs are making a bid to claim the top seed going into the Semifinals, racking up three more pennants – and a 102-win season – to push their winning percentage to .611. Jack Pfiester (21-6, 2.41 ERA) won his second Pitcher of the Year award, and Frank Schulte was the MVP runner-up three straight seasons.


Despite the blistering pace of the Cubs, the 1912 Giants managed to keep up, and moved up into second place, 27 games back – a not-insurmountable deficit with four seasons to go. Chief Meyers (.348, 26 HR) contributed a second MVP season to the Giants’ cause.


The biggest surprise so far may be the 86th-seeded 1952 Dodgers, who put together back-to-back pennants (and one championship) to vault from eighth place to third. Gil Hodges (.296, 48 HR) and Jackie Robinson (.312, 38 HR) won MVPs to fuel the surge.


The 1971 Orioles seem to be solidifying their position in the upper half of the pool. But the 1948 Indians – despite a second MVP performance from Lou Boudreau (.350, 23 HR) -- turned in three straight sub-.500 seasons and slid from fourth to sixth in the standings.


The 1949 Red Sox, seeded 62nd, hover just above the .500 mark in seventh place. A favorable finish will likely make them a surprise addition to the Semifinal field. Ted Williams provided two MVP runner-up performances in the last three seasons.



The 1911 A’s, seeded 2nd in the Quarters, remain mired in ninth place.

[Clovidequano Dovatha]

In reality, the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals lost in the World Series to the Kansas City Royals, at least partly due to the blown call by Dekinger, I believe, though not entirely because of it, after first beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, it seems to me. In your relevant simulation here, though, how did they actually do for that year in it? Just wondering, that's all. CD out.

[rockford]

Originally Posted by Clovidequano Dovatha

In reality, the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals lost in the World Series to the Kansas City Royals, at least partly due to the blown call by Dekinger, I believe, though not entirely because of it, after first beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, it seems to me. In your relevant simulation here, though, how did they actually do for that year in it? Just wondering, that's all. CD out.

CD, you are correct regarding the ’85 Cards in the post-season. I botched that entry in the Pool 2 preview above; I’ve now corrected it.


I’ve completed Pool 2 play, but probably won’t get the reports up for another day or so. But here’s how the ’85 Cards fared:


In two words – not well. I don’t replay each season itself, just insert the teams into pools for 10 seasons. The ’85 Cards averaged just 69 wins per 154-game season. Their best showing was 76 wins, one game below .500.


In the mid-‘80s I worked with a guy from Ottumwa, Iowa, who was a huge Cardinals fan (as well as a fellow Strat-o-Matic addict). There was a lot to like about those Cards teams.


Unfortunately, the ’85 version didn’t have the makeup to do well against a loaded field like the GTOAT Quarterfinals presents. (Although they were a dominant team in the First Chance qualifier, putting up the 20th-best winning percentage.) In their best season in the Quarters, they finished eighth in batting average, ninth in runs scored and 10th in homers. They were seventh in ERA, ninth in defensive efficiency, and dead last (16th) in Ks.


While John Tudor was outstanding – receiving Pitcher of the Year votes in all 10 seasons, and finishing third in the league in total POTY balloting – he was the only Cards pitcher to attract votes.


Offensively, Jack Clark finished sixth in cumulative MVP voting, winning one seasonal MVP award. Willie McGee finished eighth in MVP voting. Ozzie Smith got a couple stray votes.


Cardinals teams from 1982 and 1987 were also in the GTOAT tourney, but failed to make the Quarters.

[Clovidequano Dovatha]

Bruce Sutter, my all-time favorite player in any sport, was on the 1982 Cardinals, and I was so happy when he finished off Game 7 against the Brewers by striking out Gorman Thomas. Lot of good players Herzog had on that team, and several of the later teams. Of course, I wasn't happy to see Bruce leave the Cards for the Braves, but fortunately, he was still a Cardinal in 1984 when I got to see my only MLB game in-person to date, against the Mets, on Father's Day 1984.

Darryl Strawberry hit two home runs for the New York Mets against us that day, but we still won 6-3, with Bruce Sutter closing out the win for us, There's a very long story about that trip to Busch Stadium that day which many may not believe easily, but which I might later relate, if and when the need or desire arises. Unfortunately, I never got to meet Bruce in person, at least on this side of life, but I should still have a Bruce Sutter-model glove somewhere, I believe, amongst my belongings at present.

Anyway, thank you for telling me about how a few of the Cardinals teams did in your scenario here. Very informative, to say the least, I think. But I still have to prefer my 1982 Cardinals, especially seeing as my all-time favorite player was on them in reality. And I think I even started to follow baseball, especially the Cardinals, and certain other professional sports teams, around that particular time in my own life, when I was still around nine or ten years of age, more or less, in it. I was nine in 1982, and have followed the Cardinals ever since from around that time, if not even before 1982. CD out.

[rockford]

Originally Posted by Clovidequano Dovatha

Bruce Sutter, my all-time favorite player in any sport, was on the 1982 Cardinals, and I was so happy when he finished off Game 7 against the Brewers by striking out Gorman Thomas. Lot of good players Herzog had on that team, and several of the later teams. Of course, I wasn't happy to see Bruce leave the Cards for the Braves, but fortunately, he was still a Cardinal in 1984 when I got to see my only MLB game in-person to date, against the Mets, on Father's Day 1984.

Darryl Strawberry hit two home runs for the New York Mets against us that day, but we still won 6-3, with Bruce Sutter closing out the win for us, There's a very long story about that trip to Busch Stadium that day which many may not believe easily, but which I might later relate, if and when the need or desire arises. Unfortunately, I never got to meet Bruce in person, at least on this side of life, but I should still have a Bruce Sutter-model glove somewhere, I believe, amongst my belongings at present.

Anyway, thank you for telling me about how a few of the Cardinals teams did in your scenario here. Very informative, to say the least, I think. But I still have to prefer my 1982 Cardinals, especially seeing as my all-time favorite player was on them in reality. And I think I even started to follow baseball, especially the Cardinals, and certain other professional sports teams, around that particular time in my own life, when I was still around nine or ten years of age, more or less, in it. I was nine in 1982, and have followed the Cardinals ever since from around that time, if not even before 1982. CD out.

I got to my first game around 1970, when I was about the same age as you mentioned. Really will never forget that first view of the diamond from the concourse ... even if it was out onto the relatively low-rent Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minn.

[rockford]

Standings after nine seasons of play (pennants and championships in parentheses):


GB

--- 1910 Cubs .595 (7-5)
94 1952 Dodgers .527 (2-1)
94 1912 Giants .527 (2-1)
95 1948 Indians .526 (1-0)
97 1943 Yankees .525 (2-1)
107 1971 Orioles .517 (1-1)
120 1949 Red Sox .508 (2-0)
137 1917 Giants .496
146 1911 A’s .489
152 1905 Giants .485
152 1963 Dodgers .485
160 1991 Pirates .479
163 1914 A’s .477
179 1912 Pirates .465
186 1912 Red Sox .460
210 1985 Cardinals .443




The 1948 Indians ended the Cubs’ streak of consecutive pennants at six and continued to move up the standings -- from sixth to fourth – behind three straight MVP seasons from Lou Boudreau (best year: .353, 24 HR).

The 1971 Orioles followed with their first pennant (and a championship). They slid from fifth to sixth in the standings, but added six points to their winning percentage (.517).

Despite cooling off a bit, the 1910 Cubs have clinched first place in the pool. The teams in the 2nd through 5th position in the standings are within three games of each other.

The 1952 Dodgers continued their march up the standings, moving into second place by a whisker over the 1912 Giants. Jackie Robinson finished second and third in MVP voting.

The 1943 Yankees got a seventh POTY season from Spud Chandler (20-10, 3.01 ERA).

Mel Parnell (16-8, 2.86 ERA) of the 1949 Red Sox ended Chandler’s run of POTY awards at seven, and helped the Sox solidify their position. They pushed their winning percentage up seven points to .508.

The 1917 Giants jumped from 10th to 8th in the standings, and with a winning percentage of .496 they have a real chance at advancing, especially if they perform well in the final season.

[rockford]

Final standings after 10 seasons of play (pennants and championships in parentheses):


--- 1910 Cubs (8-6) .594
98 1943 Yankees (3-1) .530
108 1952 Dodgers (2-1) .523
110 1948 Indians (1-0) .522
112 1912 Giants (2-1) .521
116 1971 Orioles (1-1) .518
132 1949 Red Sox (2-0) .508
149 1911 A’s .497
152 1917 Giants .495
160 1905 Giants .490
169 1963 Dodgers .484
173 1991 Pirates .481
185 1914 A’s (1-0) .473
205 1912 Pirates .460
207 1912 Red Sox .459
224 1985 Cardinals .448

The 1910 Cubs put an exclamation point on their performance by winning the last championship – their sixth – and finishing first in Pool 2 by 98 games with a .594 winning percentage.


The Cubs’ Frank Schulte didn’t win a seasonal MVP – he finished second in his league three times (best campaign: .316, 37 HR) -- but attracted votes in all 10 seasons and finished third in league cumulative MVP voting. Teammate Solly Hofman finished 10th in league MVP voting with one second-place finish (.326, 8 HR). Jack Pfiester (22-9, 2.32 ERA) won his fourth Pitcher of the Year award in the final campaign, but lost the league’s Most Valuable Pitcher award by one vote to Sandy Koufax (1963 Dodgers). The Cubs’ Mordecai Brown finished seventh in the league’s cumulative pitcher voting.


The 1943 Yankees used the last season to win their third pennant -- behind the eighth Pitcher of the Year performance from Spud Chandler (22-7, 2.18 ERA) -- and catapult themselves from fifth place to second in the standings. Teammate Butch Wensloff (18-9, 2.36 ERA) captured one of the two annual awards that didn’t go to Chandler and finished second in league pitcher voting.


The 1952 Dodgers finished third, sustaining their status as the Cinderella story of the tournament. After not qualifying until the Last Chance, the Dodgers were seeded 86th in the Quarterfinals, and have become the lowest seed to advance (so far). Jackie Robinson won a seasonal MVP (.312, 38 HR) and finished third in league MVP voting. Gil Hodges also won a seasonal MVP (.296, 48 HR) finished sixth in league MVP voting. Roy Campanella was 12th.


Lou Boudreau propelled the 1948 Indians to a fourth-place finish, two games behind the Dodgers. Boudreau (best season: .353, 24 HR) won five seasonal MVP awards and finished as his league’s MVP. Teammate Ken Keltner finished fifth in league MVP voting (his best season was an MVP-runnerup – to Boudreau – performance of .297, 44 HR). Joe Gordon finished seventh. Bob Lemon was sixth in voting for the league’s top pitcher, and Satchel Paige was eighth.


The 1912 Giants finished fifth, thanks in large part to three MVP performances from Chief Meyers (best season .357, 32 HR), who was second in cumulative league voting for MVP. Fred Merkle was fifth in league voting, including an MVP-runnerup (to Meyers) campaign of .334, 47 HR). Jeff Tesrau was seventh in league voting for top pitcher.


The 1971 Orioles turned in a .518 winning percentage, good enough for sixth, without receiving any particularly notable individual performances. Merv Rettenmund was 11th and Frank Robinson 14th in league MVP voting. No Orioles hurler finished among the league’s top 10 pitchers.


Ted Williams (best season .350, 50 HR) edged Boudreau by 10 votes for the pool’s overall MVP award, carrying the 1949 Red Sox to a seventh-place finish. The Sox were seeded 62nd in the Quarters, so were not favored to advance. But their .508 winning percentage looks like it will get them to the Semis.


Only two of the eight Dead Ball teams in the pool finished with winning records. The 1911 A’s finished eighth, but their .497 winning percentage leaves them in danger of being eliminated.


Only 48 of the 96 teams in the Quarterfinals will advance. But with the round’s competition one-third complete, it’s starting to look likely some sub-.500 teams may advance.


Most Valuable Players
Ranked by total MVP votes. Number of seasonal awards after team.

1450 Ted Williams (1949 Red Sox) 3
1440 Lou Boudreau (1948 Indians) 5
1312 Chief Meyers (1912 Giants) 3
1249 Tris Speaker (1912 Red Sox) 2
969 Frank Schulte (1910 Cubs)
918 Jackie Robinson (1952 Dodgers) 1
908 Mike Donlin (1905 Giants) 1
783 Barry Bonds (1991 Pirates) 2
766 Ken Keltner (1948 Indians)
652 Fred Merkle (1912 Giants)
514 Jack Clark (1985 Cardinals) 1
493 Gil Hodges (1952 Dodgers) 1
475 Honus Wagner (1912 Pirates)
464 Joe Gordon (1948 Indians)
444 Willie McGee (1985 Cardinals)


Most Valuable Pitchers
Ranked by total Pitcher of the Year votes. Numer of seasonal awards after team.

1000 Spud Chandler (1943 Yankees) 8
714 Sandy Koufax (1963 Dodgers) 4
713 Jack Pfiester (1910 Cubs) 4
402 Butch Wensloff (1943 Yankees) 1
279 John Tudor (1985 Cardinals)
264 Joe Wood (1912 Red Sox)
256 Mel Parnell (1949 Red Sox) 1
252 Fred Anderson (1917 Giants) 1
174 Chief Bender (1911 A’s)
173 Bob Lemon (1948 Indians) 1

[rockford]

[rockford]

League assignments for Pool 3 (listed by Quarterfinal seeding; original seed in parentheses):


League 1
#3 1943 Cardinals (22)
#15 1942 Cardinals (17)
#27 1994 Yankees (166)
#39 1993 Giants (106)
#51 1935 Cubs (64)
#63 1921 Indians (220)
#75 1942 Yankees (34)
#87 1974 Reds (255)

League 2
#9 1932 Yankees (12)
#21 1954 Yankees (35)
#33 1991 Braves (343)
#45 1975 Reds (38)
#57 1913 A’s (129)
#69 1962 Yankees (314)
#81 1905 Pirates (132)
#93 1961 Tigers (156)

[rockford]

Pool 3’s League 1 features a head-to-head matchup of two powerhouse Cardinals teams from the World War II years. (The Cards have four teams from 1939-43 alive in the GTOAT tourney).


IRL, the ’42 and ’43 Cards won 105 and 106 games and split World Series matchups against the Yankees.


While neither appears to be overloaded offensively in regard to this field, they do have Stan Musial (.357, 13 HR and .315, 10 HR), joined by fellow HOFer Enos Slaughter on the ’42 squad (.318, 13 HR). But what the teams lack in offense, they make up with what has become nearly a prerequisite for success in the GTOAT tourney – two lights-out starters. In this case, it’s Mort Cooper (21-8, 2.30 ERA and 22-7, 1.78 ERA) joined on the ’42 team by Max Lanier (15-7, 1.90 ERA) and in ’43 by Johnny Beazley (21-6, 2.13 ERA).


While perhaps light on star power, both teams were highly seeded and performed extremely well in the First Chance. The ’43 squad racked up a .634 winning percentage, third best in the tourney. The ’42 squad finished 15th at .594.


But a high seed hasn’t guaranteed success in the Quarters so far. The top two seeds – 1933 Yankees and 1911 A’s – finished pool play at .494 and .497, respectively, and are on the bubble as far as advancing. On the other hand, the ’43 Yankees – similar in makeup to the Cards teams (IRL they beat the Cards in a five-game Series) – just sailed to a .530 win percentage in Pool 2.


The 1942 Yankees, who lost their World Series matchup against the Cards, may be considered a dark horse in League 1. Although seeded 75th in the Quarters, the Yanks lineup is littered with HOFers. But Spud Chandler (16-5, 2.38 ERA) and Tiny Bonham (21-5, 2.27 ERA) were not quite as dominant in’42 as they were on the ’43 team which just advanced, and that may be a fatal flaw for this outfit.


The Yankees have seven teams in the Quarters from 1936-43, with the ’37 and ’42 teams already punching their tickets to the Semis.


The 1932 Yankees are favored in League 2 after rolling up a .616 win percentage in the First Chance and capturing the #9 seed in the Quarters. There’s no lack of star power here, with Babe Ruth (.341, 41 HR), Lou Gehrig (.349, 34 HR), Earle Combs (.321, 9 HR) and Bill Dickey (.310, 15 HR) just a few of the HOFers. But is that enough power to carry a team with relatively run-of-the-mill starters – Red Ruffing (18-7, 3.09 ERA) and Lefty Gomez (24-7, 4.21 ERA) – against GTOAT competition? Keep in mind, the 1933 Yankees are in limbo after pool play (although the ’37 squad is advancing).


The 1994 Yankees may be looking to settle some unfinished business after the strike cost them the chance to build on a .619 start. But this may be another case where a daunting offense – Paul O’Neill (.359, 21 HR), Wade Boggs (.342, 11 HR) and Mike Stanley (.300, 17 HR) – may not be enough in a tourney which places a premium on pitching. The Yanks have Jimmy Key (17-4, 3.27 ERA) and Steve Howe (1.80 ERA, 15 SV), but don’t seem to stack up well against other staffs.


The 1991 Braves appear to have the opposite problem – a strong pitching staff, led by Tom Glavine (20-11, 2.55 ERA) and John Smoltz (14-13, 3.80 ERA), but an offense that may be underpowered for GTOAT competition. Originally seeded 343rd, the Braves will have to get the most out of Terry Pendleton (.319, 22 HR) and company to stay alive.


The Yankees had teams in the tournament every season between 1946 and 1958, but only three are still alive. Teams from 1951 and 1955 have already fallen in the Quarters. Now it’s showtime for the 1954 Yankees, who may have the requisite hurlers in Whitey Ford (16-8, 2.82 ERA) and Bob Grim (20-6, 3.26 ERA) to contend. They also have the pop of Mickey Mantle (.300, 27 HR) and Yogi Berra (.307, 22 HR).


Pool 3 also features two teams from the Reds’ 1970s dynasty. The 1976 club has already punched its ticket to the Semis. Now we have the 1974 and ’75 squads, one in each league. The ’75 Reds may be best positioned for success, with hurlers Don Gullet (15-4, 2.42 ERA) and Gary Nolan (15-9, 3.16 ERA), if they can get enough offense from George Foster (.300, 23 HR), Joe Morgan (.327, 17 HR, 67 SB) and company. Morgan turned in a dominating performance with the ’76 team, winning the MVP award for Pool 1.


The 1913 A’s are trying to right the franchise’s ship, which has been buffeted about in the GTOAT tourney. The A’s had seven teams in the tourney from 1905 to 1914, but only three are still alive, and the 1911 squad is on life support after going .497 in Pool 2. The ’13 squad has the arms of Chief Bender (21-10, 2.21 ERA) and Eddie Plank (18-10, 2.60 ERA), and an offense featuring Home Run Baker (.337, 12 HR, 34 SB) and Eddie Collins (.345, 3 HR, 55 SB).


The 1905 Pirates are in a similar boat, but the franchise has had a bit more success. There were seven Bucs teams in the GTOAT tourney from 1901-09, including five who made it to the Quarters. The ’02 team turned in a gaudy .574 win percentage in Pool 1, but the ’06 team faltered and is out. The ’05 squad has Deacon Phillippi (20-13, 2.19 ERA) and Sam Leever (20-5, 2.70 ERA) along with Honus Wagner (.363, 6 HR, 57 SB).



LEAGUE 1

#3 1943 Cardinals
105-49-3
1st in NL; lost World Series in five games to Yankees
HOF – Stan Musial (.357, 13 HR)
Notable – Max Lanier (15-7, 1.90 ERA), Mort Cooper (21-8, 2.30 ERA)
Originally seeded 22nd; .634 in First Chance, 3rd

#15 1942 Cardinals
106-48-2
1st in NL; won World Series in five games over Yankees
HOF – Stan Musial (.315, 10 HR), Enos Slaughter (.318, 13 HR)
Notable – Mort Cooper (22-7, 1.78 ERA); Johnny Beazley (21-6, 2.13 ERA)
Originally seeded 17th; .594 in First Chance, 15th

#27 1994 Yankees
70-43
1st in AL East
HOF – Wade Boggs (.342, 11 HR)
Notable – Mike Stanley (.300, 17 HR), Paul O’Neill (.359, 21 HR), Jimmy Key (17-4, 3.27 ERA), Steve Howe (1.80 ERA, 15 SV)
Originally seeded 166th; .577 in First Chance, 27th

#39 1993 Giants
103-59
2nd in NL West (One game behind Braves)
HOF – None
Notable – Robby Thompson (.312, 19 HR), Matt Williams (.294, 38 HR), Barry Bonds (.336, 46 HR), Bill Swift (21-8, 2.82 ERA)
Originally seeded 106th; .564 in First Chance, 39th

#51 1935 Cubs
100-54
1st in NL; lost World Series in six games to Tigers
HOF – Kiki Cuyler, Gabby Hartnett (.344, 13 HR), Billy Herman (.341, 7 HR), Chuck Klein (.293, 21 HR), Freddie Lindstrom
Notable – Lon Warneke (20-13, 3.06 ERA), Bill Lee (20-6, 2.96 ERA)
Originally seeded 64th; .560 in First Chance, 51st

#63 1921 Indians
94-60
2nd in AL (4.5 games behind Yankees)
HOF – Stan Coveleski (23-13, 3.37 ERA), Joe Sewell (.318, 4 HR), Tris Speaker (.362, 3 HR)
Notable – Steve O’Neill (.322, 1 HR), Larry Gardner (.319, 3 HR), Elmer Smith (.290, 16 HR)
Originally seeded 220th; .545 in First Chance, 79th

#75 1942 Yankees
103-51
1st in AL; lost World Series in five games to Cardinals
HOF – Bill Dickey (.295, 2 HR), Joe DiMaggio (.305, 21 HR), Lefty Gomez (6-4, 4.28 ERA), Joe Gordon (.322, 18 HR), Phil Rizzuto (.284, 4 HR), Red Ruffing (14-7, 3.21 ERA)
Notable – Charlie Keller (.292, 26 HR), Tiny Bonham (21-5, 2.27 ERA), Spud Chandler (16-5, 2.38 ERA)
Originally seeded 34th; .552 in First Chance, 64th; .549 in Second Chance, third in tournament

#87 1974 Reds
98-64-1
2nd in NL West (4 games behind Dodgers)
HOF – Johnny Bench (.280, 33 HR), Joe Morgan (.293, 22 HR), Tony Perez (.265, 28 HR)
Notable – Don Gullett (17-11, 3.04 ERA)
Originally seeded 255th; .553 in First Chance, 63rd; .508 in Second Chance; .560 in Last Chance, 3rd in tourney



LEAGUE 2

#9 1932 Yankees
107-47-2
1st in AL; won World Series in four games over Cubs
HOF – Earle Combs (.321, 9 HR), Bill Dickey (.310, 15 HR), Lou Gehrig (.349, 34 HR), Lefty Gomez (24-7, 4.21 ERA), Tony Lazzeri (.300, 15 HR), Herb Pennock, Red Ruffing (18-7, 3.09 ERA), Babe Ruth (.341, 41 HR), Joe Sewell
Notable – None
Originally ranked 12th; .616 in First Chance, 9th

#21 1954 Yankees
103-51-1
2nd in AL (8 games behind Indians)
HOF – Yogi Berra (.307, 22 HR), Whitey Ford (16-8, 2.82 ERA), Mickey Mantle (.300, 27 HR), Phil Rizzuto, Enos Slaughter
Notable – Bob Grim (20-6, 3.26 ERA)
Originally ranked 35th; .583 in First Chance, 21st

#33 1991 Braves
94-68
1st in NL West; lost World Series in seven games to Twins
HOF – Tom Glavine (20-11, 2.55 ERA), John Smoltz (14-13, 3.80 ERA)
Notable – Terry Pendleton (.319, 22 HR), Ron Gant (.251, 32 HR, 34 SB), David Justice (.275, 21 HR)
Originally ranked 343rd; .569 in First Chance, 33rd

#45 1975 Reds
108-54
1st in NL West; won World Series in seven games over Red Sox
HOF – Johnny Bench (.283, 28 HR), Joe Morgan (.327, 17 HR, 67 SB), Tony Perez (.282, 20 HR)
Notable – Pete Rose (.317, 7 HR), George Forster (.300, 23 HR), Ken Griffey (.305, 4 HR), Don Gullett (15-4, 2.42 ERA), Gary Nolan (15-9, 3.16 ERA)
Originally ranked 38th; .562 in First Chance, 45th

#57 1913 A’s
96-57
1st in AL; won World Series in five games over Giants
HOF – Home Run Baker (.337, 12 HR, 34 SB), Chief Bender (21-10, 2.21 ERA, 13 SV), Eddie Collins (.345, 3 HR, 55 SB), Herb Pennock, Eddie Plank (18-10, 2.60)
Notable – Stuffy McGinnis (,324, 4 HR)
Originally ranked 129th; .551 in First Chance, 65th

#69 1962 Yankees
96-66
1st in AL; won World Series in seven games over Giants
HOF – Yogi Berra (.224, 10 HR), Whitey Ford (17-8, 2.90 ERA), Mickey Mantle (.321, 30 HR)
Notable – Elston Howard (.279, 21 HR), Bill Skowron (.270, 23 HR), Tom Tresh (.286, 20 HR), Roger Maris (.256, 33 HR), Ralph Terry (23-12, 3.19 ERA)
Originally seeded 314th; .537 in First Chance, 96th

#81 1905 Pirates
96-57-2
2nd in NL (9 games behind Giants)
HOF – Fred Clarke (.299, 2 HR, 24 SB), Honus Wagner (.363, 6 HR, 57 SB)
Notable – Ginger Beaumont (.328, 3 HR, 21 SB), Deacon Phillippi (20-13, 2.19 ERA), Sam Leever (20-5, 2.70 ERA)
Originally seeded 132nd; .556 in First Chance, 56th; .530 in Second Chance, 9th in tourney

#93 1961 Tigers
101-61-1
2nd in AL (8 games behind Yankees)
HOF – Jim Bunning (17-11, 3.19 ERA), Al Kaline, (.324, 19 HR)
Notable – Norm Cash (.361, 41 HR), Rocky Colavito (.290, 45 HR), Don Mossi (15-7, 2.96 ERA), Frank Lary (23-9, 3.24 ERA)
Originally seeded 156th; .510 in First Chance, 166th; .539 in Last Chance, 9th in tourney

[rockford]

Standings after three seasons of play (pennants and championships in parentheses):

GB
--- 1943 Cardinals .578 (2-2)
2 1954 Yankees .574 (2-0)
7 1942 Cardinals .563 (1-1)
18 1932 Yankees .539 (1-0)
25 1942 Yankees .524
28 1961 Tigers .517
33 1935 Cubs .506
34 1905 Pirates .504
40 1993 Giants .491
41 1991 Braves .489
43 1994 Yankees .485
47 1975 Reds .476
59 1913 A’s .450
59 1962 Yankees .450
63 1974 Reds .442
76 1921 Indians .413

It looks like Pool 3 may provide something new -- an actual race. While the first two pools produced runaway winners, Pool 3 has three teams at the top within seven games of each other after three seasons of play.


And it appears some surprises may be brewing a little further down the standings.


The pool-leading 1943 Cardinals have relied on a strong pitching staff led by Howie Pollett, who has one Pitcher of the Year award (21-12, 2.08) along with runner-up and third-place finishes. Max Lanier has been among the top five pitchers in the league all three years, and Mort Cooper has two third-place finishes. Offensively, everything relies on Stan Musial, who finished in the top six for MVP voting each season, including a runner-up performance.


The 1954 Yankees are just two games behind the Cards, thanks primarily to their pitching staff. Whitey Ford has a couple third-place finishes for Pitcher of the Year, and Bob Grim has attracted votes all three seasons.


The 1942 Cardinals are just seven games off the pace, also thanks to excellent pitching. Mort Cooper has two POTY awards (21-11, 2.19 ERA and 18-12, 2.37) and Johnny Beazley has a runner-up finish.


Pitching is something of an afterthought for the 1932 Yankees, lurking 18 games off the lead. Lou Gehrig has been among the top five in league MVP voting all three seasons, while Babe Ruth was a runner-up (.318, 55 HR) and Sammy Byrd has received votes in each season.


Each of these four teams were expected to be among the leaders, but the same can’t be said for several teams in the second echelon.


The 1942 Yankees, seeded 75th in the Quarters, are holding in fifth place with a .524 win percentage, without the benefit of any standout performances so far.

But an even longer shot are the 93rd-seeded 1961 Tigers, in sixth place at .517 despite not qualifying until the Last Chance and having to survive the Quarterfinal’s initial play-in round. Norm Cash – who finished second in MVP voting in the play-in – has one MVP (.311, 53 HR) and two fourth-place finishes.

Another longshot – the 81st-seeded 1905 Pirates – are in eighth place with a good chance at advancing after getting off to a .504 start. Homer Hillebrand has three straight POTY trophies, running up a record of 55-32 with an ERA just under 2.50.

[rockford]

Standings after six seasons of play (pennants and championships in parentheses):

GB

--- 1943 Cardinals .576 (4-3)
18 1942 Cardinals .556 (2-2)
34 1932 Yankees .539 (2-1)
39 1954 Yankees .534 (2-0)
54 1942 Yankees .517
65 1961 Tigers .505
65 1905 Pirates .505
66 1975 Reds .504 (2-0)
70 1993 Giants .500
74 1994 Yankees .496
75 1991 Braves .495
88 1935 Cubs .481
104 1913 A’s .463
111 1962 Yankees .456
113 1974 Reds
142 1921 Indians


The 1943 and 1942 Cardinals continue to monopolize League 1 pennants, with each team claiming a championship in the past three seasons. The ’43 Cards have built an 18-game lead, with Howie Pollet winning two more Pitcher of the Year awards (20-8, 1.60 ERA and 20-10, 2.20 ERA) and teammate Harry Brecheen finishing as the runner-up twice.


The ’42 Cards banked a POTY award by Johnny Beazley (21-11, 2.31 ERA).


The 1932 Yankees captured their first championship and moved up to third place. Lou Gehrig (.342, 45 HR) won an MVP.


The 1954 Yankees have slid from second to fourth in the standings, but their .534 win percentage leaves them well-positioned to advance to the Semifinals.


After starting pool play with four straight sub-.500 seasons, the 1975 Reds came to life and captured two pennants while improving their overall win percentage from .476 to .504. Joe Morgan powered the surge by winning one MVP (.315, 31 HR) and finishing second in the other season.


The Reds are one of four teams – along with the 1961 Tigers, 1905 Pirates and 1993 Giants – with win percentages hovering between .500 and .505. While no guarantee, a .500 win percentage is a likely ticket to the Semifinals. Only 48 of the 96 teams in the Quarterfinals will advance.


Homer Hillebrand of the ’05 Pirates has won five Pitcher of the Year awards (20-8, 2.44 ERA and 22-10, 2.69 ERA), and was runner-up in the one season he didn’t win. That POTY award went to teammate Deacon Phillippe (18-11, 2.51 ERA). Honus Wagner added an MVP runner-up season (.348, 19 HR) for the Bucs.


Barry Bonds has helped keep the ’93 Giants afloat with an MVP (.343, 46 HR) and a runner-up finish in the last three seasons.

[rockford]

Quarterfinals - Pool 3, third check-in

Standings after nine seasons of play (pennants and championships in parentheses):

GB
--- 1943 Cardinals .561 (5-3)
18 1942 Cardinals .548 (3-2)
26 1932 Yankees .543 (3-1)
34 1954 Yankees .537 (2-0)
50 1942 Yankees .525 (1-1)
75 1961 Tigers .507
80 1905 Pirates .504 (1-1)
81 1993 Giants .503
85 1975 Reds .500 (2-0)
87 1994 Yankees .499
91 1991 Braves .496 (1-1)
122 1935 Cubs .473
135 1974 Reds .464
138 1913 A’s .462
149 1962 Yankees .454
185 1921 Indians .428


Howie Pollet continues to dazzle League 1 hitters, winning two more Pitcher of the Year awards (22-11, 2.62 ERA and 20-7, 1.94 ERA) and finishing second another time as the 1943 Cardinals maintained their 18-game edge headed into the final season.

The entire ’43 Cards staff dominated one season, with Pollet winning the POTY, Max Lanier finishing second, Mort Cooper fourth and Harry Brecheen fifth in voting.

The 1942 Cardinals hung in second place, still within striking distance of first. Lanier (19-10, 2.51 ERA) won a POTY with the ’42 team.

The 1932 Yankees increased their winning percentage from .539 to .543, closing their gap behind the frontrunning ’43 Cards from 34 to 26 games. Lou Gehrig won an MVP (.329, 47 HR) and also had a second-place finish. Babe Ruth finds it impossible to win an MVP, but finished second twice, including one season where he hit .314 with 61 HR.

Ruth lost out that season to Honus Wagner, who went .378, 23 HR to lead the 1905 Pirates to their first pennant and championship, and likely clinch a spot for them in the Semifinals. Deacon Phillippe won the POTY, with Homer Hillebrand second in the championship season.

The Pirates stand at .504, and along with the 1975 Reds and 1993 Giants need just one more winning season to clinch a spot in the Semis. Bonds won two more MVPs (.325, 45 HR and .329, 44 HR).

The 1961 Tigers are in a slightly more comfortable position, increasing their win percentage from .505 to .507 over the last three seasons. Jim Bunning (21-12, 2.95 ERA) won a POTY.

The 1994 Yankees have improved from .496 to .499, but need an impressive final campaign to advance.

The 1991 Braves won a pennant and championship, but are at .496 and are at risk of bowing out without a spectacular finish.

[rockford]

Final standings after 10 seasons of play (pennants and championships in parentheses):


GB
--- 1943 Cardinals .563 (6-4)
25 1942 Cardinals .547 (3-2)
30 1932 Yankees .544 (3-1)
36 1954 Yankees .540 (3-0)
55 1942 Yankees .527 (1-1)
89 1905 Pirates .505 (1-1)
92 1961 Tigers .503
92 1993 Giants .503
101 1975 Reds .497 (2-0)
106 1994 Yankees .494
109 1991 Braves .492 (1-1)
135 1935 Cubs .475
147 1913 A’s .468
151 1974 Reds .465
170 1962 Yankees .453
209 1921 Indians .427

Stan Musial (.332, 14 HR) was the MVP runner-up for the third time as the 1943 Cardinals used the final season to capture their sixth pennant and fourth championship, and leave little doubt who rules Pool 3. The Cards’ staff dominated League 1 throughout pool play, with Howie Pollet, Max Lanier, Harry Brecheen and Mort Cooper finishing first, second, third and sixth in voting for the league’s top pitcher award.

Cooper and Johnny Beazley were the backbone for the staff of the 1942 Cardinals team that finished second with an impressive .547 winning percentage. Beazley and the ’42 Cooper were fourth and fifth in league pitcher voting, with Cooper getting two POTY awards. The ’42 Musial was 12th in league MVP voting, and Enos Slaughter was 14th.

Offense was the name of the game for the 1932 Yankees, who finished just five games behind the ’42 Cards. Lou Gehrig was 2nd and Babe Ruth 5th in league MVP voting.

The 1954 Yankees got several solid performances to finish fourth with a .540 winning percentage, sixth-best overall with pool play half completed. Whitey Ford was 3rd, Bob Grim 4th and Tom Gorman 6th in voting for the league’s top pitcher award. Mickey Mantle was 10th and Yogi Berra 15th in league MVP voting.

The 1942 Yankees were also impressive, finishing fifth at .527. Charlie Keller (best season .276, 37 HR) led the offense, while Hank Borowy (best season POTY runner-up 22-11, 2.65 ERA) and Tiny Bonham (best season 21-9, 2.50 ERA) led the staff.

While the top five teams maintained the status quo in the final season, there were important developments a bit further down the leader board.


Honus Wagner (.333, 24 HR) won his third MVP and Homer Hillebrand (18-12, 2.10 ERA) got his sixth Pitcher of the Year award as the 1905 Pirates finished at .505, guaranteeing the Bucs a spot in the Semifinals. But some controversy is being generated by the hurler’s performance. (More on this later.)

The 1961 Tigers turned in their worst performance of pool play, winning just 72 games, but finished with a .503 winning percentage and are likely headed to the Semis. Norm Cash finished fourth in League 2 MVP voting, and Jim Bunning was fifth in voting for the league’s top pitcher.

The 1993 Giants also staggered across the finish line, failing to crack .500 in any of the last three seasons but still finishing at .503, just below the Tigers via tiebreakers but still likely good enough to advance. Barry Bonds had five MVPs along the way and was voted the pool’s top player. Robby Thompson was fourth in league MVP voting, and Matt Williams was 10th. Billy Swift was seventh in league pitcher voting.

The 1975 Reds collapsed at the finish, also failing to crack .500 in the final three seasons and winding up at .497. If pool play ended today, they’d be the last team to make it to the Semifinals. But they’ll have to see how the final three pools shape up before knowing their fate.

The 1994 Yankees got a fourth MVP season from Paul O’Neill (.328, 28 HR), but managed to win just 70 games in the final campaign and finished pool play at .494 and are likely done. The 1991 Braves, who had the slimmest of chances heading into the last season, won just 71 games and finished at .492.


Most Valuable Players
Ranked by total MVP votes received. Number of seasonal awards follows team.

1717 Barry Bonds (1993 Giants) 5
1521 Honus Wagner (1905 Pirates) 3
1458 Paul O.Neill (1994 Yankees) 4
1325 Lou Gehrig (1932 Yankees) 2
1314 Mickey Mantle (1962 Yankees) 3
1092 Norm Cash (1961 Tigers) 1
902 Babe Ruth (1932 Yankees)
869 Stan Musial (1943 Cardinals)
787 Joe Morgan (1975 Reds) 1
745 Robby Thompson (1993 Giants)
680 Joe Morgan (1974 Reds)
611 Frank Baker (1913 A’s)
487 Charlie Keller (1942 Yankees)
401 Wade Boggs (1994 Yankees)
388 Gabby Hartnett (1935 Cubs)




Most Valuable Pitchers
Ranked by total POTY votes received. Number of seasonal awards follows team.

932 Homer Hillebrand (1905 Pirates) 6
790 Howie Pollet (1943 Cardinals) 6
674 Deacon Phillippe (1905 Pirates) 2
456 Max Lanier (1943 Cardinals) 1
326 Harry Brecheen (1943 Cardinals) 1
281 Johnny Beazley (1942 Cardinals) 1
244 Mort Cooper (1942 Cardinals) 2
235 Mort Cooper (1943 Cardinals)
231 Whitey Ford (1954 Yankees)
185 Bob Grim (1954 Yankees) 1

[rockford]

After watching Homer Hillebrand shred some of the most fearsome lineups in baseball history for 10 seasons, the question arises: who the hell is Homer Hillebrand?


I certainly don’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of baseball history, but I know I’ve never heard of Homer Hillebrand, and that’s extremely unusual for a player who stands out in a simulation like the GTOAT tourney. And Homer was nothing if not dominant in Pool 3, winning six POTY awards and finishing second the other four years.


Surely he’s someone I’ve heard about and just forgotten.


Well, no, that’s not the case. (And sorry for calling you Shirley. )


Baseball Reference tells me that Homer’s storied pitching career spanned a grand total of 18 games (11 starts) and 114.2 innings. Further research shows that he spent much of his adult life on a South Dakota ranch, not far from Deacon Phillippe, a legitimate pitching star with the ’05 Pirates. Homer’s career was cut short by an arm injury he believed he sustained while sleeping.


So, the question is, why the hell did OOTP elevate him to the position of No. 2 starter on the ’05 Bucs, when there were seven other pitchers on the team who had more starts than him?






Six of those seven pitchers started 2-4 times as many games as Homer, and pitched 2-4 times as many innings as he did. And his total workload for 1905 (60.2 innings) shows that he just simply doesn’t belong in a four-man rotation that accurately reflects the capabilities of this particular team.


As I mentioned at the start of this thread, I embarked on the GTOAT tourney to help reacquaint myself with baseball history and OOTP. I began well aware that teams from the Dead Ball era may have an unfair advantage. Another thing I had minor concerns about was if World War II-era teams would also have an unfair advantage, with pitchers racking up gaudy statistics while feasting on war-depleted lineups. Now that we’re well into the tourney, I probably have more concerns about war-era teams than I do about Dead Ball teams.


But one thing I hoped I wouldn’t encounter was OOTP elevating marginal (but effective) players into dominant superstars.


The big question is if this is a simple fix. When the ’05 Pirates resume play, and I manually replace Homer in the starting rotation with a more likely pitcher, will that change stick, or will the program simply swap Homer back in?


I haven’t been monitoring lineup selection, because there were simply too many teams. But this seems like a particularly egregious transgression that just can’t stand … man. ��

[rockford]

League assignments for Pool 4
(Listed by Quarterfinal seeding; original seeding in parentheses)


LEAGUE 1

#4 2017 Nationals (288)
#16 1969 Orioles (31)
#28 1941 Yankees (48)
#40 1939 Cardinals (272)
#52 1962 Giants (138)
#64 1966 Orioles (235)
#76 1927 Yankees (7)
#88 1992 Braves (242)

LEAGUE 2

#10 1939 Yankees (11)
#22 2019 Dodgers (55)
#34 1931 Yankees (197)
#46 1909 Pirates (3)
#58 1910 A’s (25)
#70 1922 Browns (260)
#82 2003 Yankees (141)
#94 1940 Tigers (340)