The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by CubMariner

I saw your Pyth record wasn't bad and was looking for causes...15-30 in one run games will do it. Ouch.

Our PR was MINUS 7!!

But yeah, that was merely one of the wheels that fell off our rickety ole bus from about mid-August, during which we went a delightful 19-31. So much promise, so little return.

[luckymann]

Cleveland Indians (90-64) v Brooklyn Dodgers (88-66)
Best-of-seven, Indians with the home-field advantage.


CLEVELAND INDIANS S+ PAGE

BROOKLYN DODGERS S+ PAGE

The neutrals don’t quite get the dream Cards-Tribe matchup that would have guaranteed a first-time Champion, but this is a pretty darn good consolation prize. No doubt the Dodgers will consider themselves a little bit fortunate to be here – they weren’t great this year but they have done enough to defend their title and will be tough to dislodge after so long a hike to the mountaintop. All of the pieces from last season remain and Newcombe has been added, which means they are even stronger. They really don’t have a weak spot throughout the group.

For the Tribe it will all come down to which version of their rotation shows up here. On its day, it is one of the league’s best. But both Garcia and Feller also have an extremely wild side, and there’s a fair step down to Wynn and Dobson. It’s no coincidence this maiden playoff appearance is coinciding with Al Rosen’s arrival. He has been superb and should be a shoo-in for the AL RoY. But he is a rookie, and the lack of post-season experience across the group is another concern here. Harry Eisenstat's record 41 saves are a fine achievement, but they are also an indication there were a lot of close games and narrow leads to be protected.

I think, for now at least, these hurdles will prove the difference and we’ll see the Dodgers do this fairly easily—in five for mine.

[luckymann]

Our Wilkes-Barre Barons make it to another AAA World Series but are unceremoniously swept by a dominant Senators side, giving them four titles this decade.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Cleveland

Mike Garcia (16-10, 4.00) v Don Newcombe (13-14, 3.93)

Two flamethrowing young guns get us underway and both teams will be extra keen to set the tone for the series to their liking from the off.

Each hurler does an exemplary job in their first playoff start, and the Tribe shows they won’t be intimidated here as they hold their ground for a tight opening game home win. Garcia allows just a run on five over seven and Eisenstat holds his excellent late-game form with two scoreless, with a 2-run single in the 7th by George Selkirk the decisive blow for the hosts, who manage just four hits themselves.

Game 2 in Cleveland

Bob Feller (14-13, 4.38) v Preacher Roe (15-10, 3.15)

Indians lead series 1-0

A fascinating contrast in styles on show for Game 2, with Feller about as hard-throwing as any pitcher we’ve seen but wilder than a mustang in heat, and Roe a gentlemanly finesse pitcher of the first order.

And in another tight tussle, even though Feller manages to keep his walks down to just two, the Dodgers bats - led by a 3-hit and 3-ribbie game from veteran Pee Wee Reese - do just enough to square the series with a 5-4 win. Roe is his usual effective self over seven and Phil Cavaretta knocks out the Series’ first homer.

Game 3 in Brooklyn

Cliff Chambers (12-12, 4.40) v Joe Dobson (12-10, 4.07)

Series tied 1-1

Two wily campaigners get the ball in this first game at Ebbetts Field, and I expect this to be a bit of a slugfest. Both Chambers and Dobson are good on their day, however, and stranger things have happened than if one or even both of them pitches a beauty here.

Chambers, far from dominant, does indeed go the distance but is never under pressure as the Brooky bats just destroy the Cleveland pitching, scoring a whopping 19 runs on 22 hits. 10 of those runs come via 5-spots in the 1st and 2nd, as the Dodgers make a real statement of intent. All eight position players have at least one hit and one RBI, with Bob Johnson driving in 5 and Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider each having four hits and plating a pair. Finding a way to bounce back from this embarrassment will be a real test for the Cleveland lads.

Game 4 in Brooklyn

Johnny Vander Meer (10-13, 4.75) v Early Wynn (15-9, 4.53)

Dodgers lead series 2-1

Nice to see The Dutch Master get his time to shine after all those years toiling away for some pretty dreadful Reds teams. He has been integral to the Dodgers getting back here and I’m expecting him to acquit himself well today. He and his boys will have to get past one of the league’s more enigmatic pitchers in Early Wynn. One never knows what will happen with Gus on the mound—you’re as likely to get a no-no as you are a two-out blowout from him.

In the end we get neither, instead we get a gem from Vander Meer and more incisive hitting from his teammates as the Dodgers cruise to a 6-0 win and take a stranglehold on this series. Vander Meer fans 4 on his way to a 5-hit CG shutout, with the Indians bats never really going close to solving him—all 5 of those hits are singles. Swish Nicholson goes deep twice and Duke Snider has a nice game as well.

Game 5 in Brooklyn

Don Newcombe (0-1, 2.25) v Mike Garcia (1-0, 1.29)

Dodgers lead series 3-1

And so it falls to their star rookie to get the Dodgers a much-desired home clinch in a rematch of that close-fought Game 1.

Sadly he is just ever so slightly overcome by the pressure of the occasion and Garcia steps up yet again to keep the Tribe alive. All the scoring comes in an early flurry from inning 1 thru 3 but the Dodgers never really look like mounting a late challenge and the Indians get to go home and see if they can complete a miracle comeback.

Game 6 in Cleveland

Bob Feller (0-1, 5.62) v Preacher Roe (1-0, 3.00)

Dodgers lead series 3-2

Anyone who has met Rapid Robert Feller would know he isn’t wanting in confidence with regard to his pitching abilities. Well, those abilities get the ultimate test here as he tries to send this Series into a decider.

In the end, he’ll be disappointed in how he measures up as the Dodgers are patient and Feller reverts to his wild ways and the Dodgers run out convincing 6-1 winners to successfully defend their title and win a second Championship. Roe shows him how it’s done with a very controlled complete game win in which he gives up just 4 hits, while Duke Snider goes solo yard and is eventually named MVP.

BROOKLYN WINS SERIES 4-2

SERIES MVP: Duke Snider (Brooklyn)

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[luckymann]

Three axings among my ranks this year as Detroit offs Jing Johnson, the Browns cut Ad Brennan and the mighty Oscar Charleston gets the green slip from Cincy.

We void Frankie Gustine’s final year but will need to be on the hunt for a decent IF utility. We non-tender Clyde Kluttz and let Don Moore walk, while we send both Hugh East Bruce Edwards to arbitration. We’ll also need to shore up our catching stocks at some point.

We retire two numbers this season: Paul Derringer’s #25 and Leroy Matlock’s #54. Players joining them in post-career beatitude include Benny Frey, Augie Galan, Denny Galehouse, Monty Stratton, Schnozz Lombardi, Cecil Travis, Bobo Newsom, Van Lingle Mungo and Mel Almada.

[luckymann]

AL 1949 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1949 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


A jam-packed awards season this year with plenty of talking-points. Ken Raffensberger's first Johnson-Waddell win being foremost among them, capping off a dream year for the vet. Harry Brecheen wins his second across in the senior circuit.

The AL Wagner-Lajoie is one of the tightest in years, with Vern Stephens just edging out Joe DiMaggio for his first-ever win. Our hopes for Bob Elliott are dashed when Big Klu wins the NL award convincingly, with mine being the only dissenting vote.

RoYs to Al Rosen and Walt Dropo, while Harry Eisenstat's record year culminates in his maiden Paige Plate, with Dutch Dietz also winning his first.


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[luckymann]

And, just like that, another decade is behind us. Here's the summary of the 1940s in this timeline.

While this has been the least successful decade so far for our club, with just the 1940 title coming our way, it's nice to see that the league itself can be declared a fully-fledged democracy, with every franchise now having made the playoffs at least once. Only the Reds, Cards and Indians enter the 1950s without a title to their name.

Here are the individual and team stats for the 1940s.

INDIVIDUAL HITTING

INDIVIDUAL PITCHING

TEAM HITTING

TEAM PITCHING


Unsurprisingly, Ted Williams led all position players with 83 bWAR, ahead of Willard Brown. For the pitchers, Hal Newhouser contributed the most pWAR with 52, while the recently-retired Paul Derringer's 139 wins were the most.

Finally, here are the season and career Leaderboards thru 1949.

As always, you can dive as deep as you please via this league's Stats+ page, using the links below.

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[Brad K]

Speaker must be very close to the top in many categories to lead in WAR.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Speaker must be very close to the top in many categories to lead in WAR.

He's a total WAR hound in pretty much every save I've had him in. I think a lot of it has to do with him playing CF (Man I wish the game would expand its analytical tools...), but still, as you can see here, he had an amazing career in this save. Imagine if he hit for HR power (107 lifetime)!

[luckymann]

Just four Legacies entering the league this year – among them, one for us.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1950 Season:

Boston Braves: Joe Adcock (33.5; 1207)
Boston Red Sox: Jackie Jensen (27.9; 1039)
New York Yankees: Whitey Ford (57.1; 498 – one-club player)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Vern Law (32.3; 483 – one-club player)

Lew Burdette (28.6; 468) was also eligible for the Braves, but Adcock’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 110 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 6 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1949 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):


Round 1

1. New York Yankees (630; dice roll)
2. Boston Braves (487)
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (461)
4. Boston Red Sox (623; dice roll)
5. Washington Senators (325)
6. St. Louis Browns (344)
7. Chicago Cubs (396)
8. Cincinnati Reds (403)
9. Chicago White Sox (409)
10. New York Giants (474)
11. Philadelphia Phillies (526; dice roll)
12. Philadelphia Athletics (526; dice roll)
13. Detroit Tigers (565)
14. Cleveland Indians (578)
15. St. Louis Cardinals (623; dice roll)
16. Brooklyn Dodgers (630; dice roll)


Rounds 2 thru 6

1. Washington Senators (325)
2. St. Louis Browns (344)
3. Chicago Cubs (396)
4. Cincinnati Reds (403)
5. Chicago White Sox (409)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (461)
7. New York Giants (474)
8. Boston Braves (487)
9. Philadelphia Phillies (526; dice roll)
10. Philadelphia Athletics (526; dice roll)
11. Detroit Tigers (565)
12. Cleveland Indians (578)
13. Boston Red Sox (623; dice roll)
14. St. Louis Cardinals (623; dice roll)
15. New York Yankees (630; dice roll)
16. Brooklyn Dodgers (630; dice roll)


Our needs as we see them right now are ones of depth, so to have the first pick handed to us as it is works out pretty well.
Here are the new additions to our club:

1. P Vern Law, 19

• A real nice pickup for us. The plan is to give “Deacon” a season or two to mature at AAA and then let him loose.

2. C Frank House, 19

• A decent enough longer-term project, though doubtful he’s a superstar in disguise. We picked him over Billy Martin.

3. P Billy Loes, 24

• We were hoping to nab a couple more position players but the ranks have been thinned so much by this stage that, rather than take average guys we’re never going to use, we instead opt for the best pitchers and will look to acquire whatever we need around the diamond via the trade route.

4. P Johnny Klippstein, 24

• Add him to our burgeoning stock of mid-quality relief pitching.

5. P Al Aber, 22
6. P George Spencer, 23

• Southpaw Aber might well see action; Spencer is purely AAA.

A pretty good day’s work.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

With nothing doing in either the Draft or FA markets, I go shopping to make some desired tweaks to the group. Without too much of an effort, we strike pay dirt with the Cubs and the following deal is made.




While I do believe Sain has a couple good years left in him, I do not like the look of his metrics and so, after what was a pretty average stint with us, I decided to move him on. In return for him and Ed Mutryn, who has some pop but struggles to hit with consistency, we get a solid OF in Westlake and a nice enough backup IF in Rigney, with Rogovin for Cain pretty much a wash that just helped grease the wheels while giving us some needed LHP depth.

[luckymann]

The Meal Ticket takes his rightful place in C-Town.

Sad to see Oscar Charleston miss out. He'll get another chance at the end of the season when the Veteran's Committee votes in five additional players to commemorate the league's 50th anniversary. Ten more will be voted in when we hit 100.

[luckymann]

This is, of course, the year of Philly’s Whiz Kids, who grab the club’s first pennant since 1915 in dramatic fashion via an epic extra-inning final day decider with the Dodgers, who rein in the Phillies big lead over the final weeks. Sadly, that seems to take the stuffing out of the Phils and the Yanks easily dispose of them in the WS with a sweep.

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (98-56)
NL CHAMPIONS: Philadelphia Phillies (91-63)
WORLD SERIES: Yankees 4, Phillies 0

AL MVP: Phil Rizzuto (Yankees)
NL MVP: Jim Konstanty (Phillies)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. STAN MUSIAL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .346 average, 105 runs, 192 hits, 41 doubles, 7 triples, 28 home runs, 109 RBIs, 87 walks, .596 slugging percentage.
• Musial remained the NL’s most dangerous hitter by taking his first of three straight batting crowns while also leading in slugging percentage; his 30-game hitting streak was also the longest of his career.

2. RALPH KINER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .272 average, 112 runs, 21 doubles, 6 triples, 47 home runs, 118 RBIs, 122 walks, 19 intentional walks.
• Kiner became the first NL player to belt 100 home runs over two seasons.

3. DUKE SNIDER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .321 average, 109 runs, 199 hits, 31 doubles, 10 triples, 31 home runs, 107 RBIs, 16 stolen bases.
• A year after belting 15 of 23 homers on the road, Snider figured out the atmospherics of Ebbets Field and began a stretch of eight straight seasons in which he’d hit more at home.

4. DEL ENNIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .311 average, 92 runs, 185 hits, 34 doubles, 8 triples, 31 home runs, 126 RBIs, 25 grounded into double plays.
• As the prime offensive mover for the pennant-winning Phillies, Ennis was never better—but he finished fourth in the MVP vote behind teammate Jim Konstanty, Musial and, yes, Eddie Stanky.

5. ANDY PAFKO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 95 runs, 24 doubles, 8 triples, 36 home runs, 92 RBIs.
• The Cubs’ slugger of the day collected more home runs (36) than strikeouts (32).

6. JACKIE ROBINSON, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .328 average, 99 runs, 170 hits, 39 doubles, 4 triples, 14 home runs, 81 RBIs, 80 walks, 12 stolen bases.
• Robinson was in line for a second straight batting title—hitting .370 at the start of August—before a prolonged slump took him down.

7. EARL TORGESON, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .290 average, 120 runs, 167 hits, 30 doubles, 23 home runs, 87 RBIs, 119 walks, 15 stolen bases.
• Torgeson snuck in a quality performance before the painful after-effects of a 1949 shoulder injury quelled the rest of his career.

8. SID GORDON, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 134 games, .304 average, 33 doubles, 27 home runs, 103 RBIs, 78 walks.
• Traded from the Giants as part of a six-player deal, Gordon became a reliable rock in the Braves’ lineup during the team’s final, downward spiral of a few years at Boston.

9. EDDIE STANKY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 115 runs, 25 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, 51 RBIs, 144 walks, 12 hit-by-pitches, .460 on-base percentage.
• One of the other players headed the other way in the Gordon trade, Stanky predictably led the NL in walks, hit-by-pitches—and ejections (a career-high six).

10. BOB ELLIOTT, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 94 runs, 162 hits, 28 doubles, 5 triples, 24 home runs, 107 RBIs.
• The veteran slugger knocked in 100-plus runs for the sixth and final time.

AL Hitters

1. WALT DROPO, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 136 games, .322 average, 101 runs, 180 hits, 28 doubles, 8 triples, 34 home runs, 144 RBIs.
• Dropo came within one RBI of tying teammate Ted Williams’ rookie mark of 11 years earlier, and was the last player until George Brett in 1980 to average more than one ribbie per game. All that, and not only did he not win the AL MVP, but he finished second among Red Sox players, as utility guy Billy Goodman (who hit .354 in 110 games) somehow garnered more votes.

2. YOGI BERRA, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .322 average, 116 runs, 192 hits, 30 doubles, 6 triples, 28 home runs, 124 RBIs.
• If Yogi’s world was perfect, it wouldn’t be. It was perfect enough in 1950. In 656 plate appearances, he struck out just 12 times.

3. JOE DIMAGGIO, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .301 average, 114 runs, 33 doubles, 11 triples, 32 home runs, 122 RBIs, 81 walks, .585 slugging percentage.
• At age 35, the Yankee Clipper turned in his last solid set of numbers, and he continued to get hosed at Yankee Stadium with its ultra-distant left field dimensions; only nine of his 32 homers were hit there.

4. LARRY DOBY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .326 average, 110 runs, 25 doubles, 5 triples, 25 home runs, 102 RBIs, 104 walks, .442 on-base percentage.
• It took a few years for Doby, but the forgotten man in the shadow of Jackie Robinson as the AL’s first black player finally earned star recognition. Helping to that end was a three-homer performance on August 2, the first by an African-American player.

5. VERN STEPHENS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 125 runs, 185 hits, 34 doubles, 6 triples, 30 home runs, 144 RBIs.
• Stephens virtually matched Walt Dropo in the power numbers and, like most Red Sox hitters of the time, fully embraced Fenway Park—hitting 100 points higher there than on the road.

6. VIC WERTZ, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 99 runs, 172 hits, 37 doubles, 4 triples, 27 home runs, 123 RBIs, 95 walks, 8 intentional walks.
• Four Detroit hitters scored over 100 runs each, and they had RBI machine Wertz mostly to thank.

7. GEORGE KELL, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 157 games, .340 average, 641 at-bats, 114 runs, 218 hits, 56 doubles, 6 triples, 8 home runs, 101 RBIs.
• Kell became last AL player to date to knock in 100 runs on less than 10 home runs.

8. TED WILLIAMS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 89 games, .317 average, 82 runs, 24 doubles, 28 home runs, 97 RBIs, 82 walks.
• It’s frightening to think what kind of numbers Williams would have put up if he hadn’t missed 61 games due to his All-Star Game elbow injury, but here’s what he was on pace for: 47 home runs, 163 RBIs and 138 walks.

9. HOOT EVERS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .323 average, 100 runs, 170 hits, 35 doubles, 11 triples, 21 home runs, 103 RBIs, 75 walks.
• Along with Vic Wertz and George Kell, Evers—enjoying his third straight year above .300 before chronic injuries derailed his stardom—became part of the last trio of Tigers to each knock in 100+ runs until 1997.

10. PHIL RIZZUTO, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .324 average, 125 runs, 200 hits, 36 doubles, 7 triples, 7 home runs, 66 RBIs, 99 walks, 19 sacrifice hits, 12 stolen bases.
• Rizzuto was usually shortstop first, hitter second—but his superior glovework found a worthy equal in his suddenly hot bat; it was good enough to gain him the AL MVP.

NL Pitchers

1. JIM KONSTANTY, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.66 ERA, 16 wins, 7 losses, .696 win percentage, 22 saves, 74 appearances, 0 starts, 152 innings, 39 walks.
• The stunning, out-of-nowhere MVP reliever would be back to nowhere in the years to follow, never coming close to replicating his 1950 success in a career that would last through 1956.

2. LARRY JANSEN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.01 ERA, 19 wins, 13 losses, 40 appearances, 35 starts, 5 shutouts, 275 innings, 55 walks.
• Along with Sal Maglie’s 45.2-inning scoreless inning streak, Jansen was one of two Giants on the year with streaks over 30 innings; no pitching duo would do that again until the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke in 2015.

3. ROBIN ROBERTS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.02 ERA, 20 wins, 11 losses, 40 appearances, 39 starts, 5 shutouts, 304.1 innings, 33 grounded into double plays.
• Roberts recorded the first of six straight 20-win seasons, though it took him five starts to get #20.

4. WARREN SPAHN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.16 ERA, 21 wins, 17 losses, 41 appearances, 39 starts, 25 complete games, 293 innings, 111 walks, 191 strikeouts.
• Like Roberts, Spahn began a dynamite decade in which he’d fail to win 20 games only twice; though he’d call Milwaukee home for much of the 1950s, for the moment he was enjoying Boston and Braves Field, where in 1950 he won 14 games (losing five) with a 2.06 ERA.

5. SAL MAGLIE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.71 ERA, 18 wins, 4 losses, .818 win percentage, 47 appearances, 16 starts, 5 shutouts.
• Maglie could thank the Mexican League that had him briefly blacklisted in America for making him a better pitcher, learning the curve from 1920s star Dolf Luque south of the border.

6. EWELL BLACKWELL, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.97 ERA, 17 wins, 15 losses, 40 appearances, 32 starts, 261 innings, 104 walks, 188 strikeouts, 11 wild pitches, 13 hit-by-pitches.
• Blackwell’s 17 wins didn’t include the one he gained credit for in the All-Star Game—making his fifth of six straight appearances in the Midsummer Classic.

7. JIM HEARN, ST. LOUIS-NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.49 ERA, 11 wins, 4 losses, 22 appearances, 16 starts.
• All but ignored in St. Louis, the fourth-year right-hander found attention and happiness with the Giants after being claimed on waivers in mid-July.

8. DON NEWCOMBE, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 3.70 ERA, 19 wins, 11 losses, 40 appearances, 35 starts, 267.1 innings, 34 grounded into double plays.
• Losing the 10-inning heartbreaker at season’s end against the Phillies not only denied Newcombe of a 20-win campaign, it also epitomized his struggles against Philadelphia (2-5, 4.40 ERA in eight starts).

9. MAX LANIER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.13 ERA, 11 wins, 9 losses, 27 starts, 5 balks.
• Curiously, Lanier’s league-leading five balks were his first five since 1941—when he committed a pair to also pace the NL.

10. VERN BICKFORD, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.47 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 40 appearances, 39 starts, 311.2 innings, 122 walks.
• Bickford’s presence in Boston allowed Braves fans to pray less for rain beyond Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain; in fact, he threw the year’s only no-hitter.

AL Pitchers

• 1. EARLY WYNN, CLEVELAND
• Key Numbers: 3.20 ERA, 18 wins, 8 losses, .692 win percentage, 213.2 innings, 101 walks.
• The 3.20 ERA authored by Wynn, who finally hit peak level 11 years after his major league debut, was the highest ever for a league leader.

2. ART HOUTTEMAN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.54 ERA, 19 wins, 12 losses, 41 appearances, 34 starts, 21 complete games, 4 shutouts, 274.2 innings.
• In between a fractured skull, a military leave, the tragic auto death of his baby son and records of 2-16 and 8-20, Houtteman scored a career year in his hometown of Detroit.

3. ED LOPAT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.47 ERA, 18 wins, 8 losses, .692 win percentage, 32 starts, 236.1 innings.
• With everyone else named Ed (or Eddie) racking up the walks in the majors, why not have Ed Lopat, a pitcher, get in on the act? In 82 at-bats, he drew 17 bases on balls.

4. BOB LEMON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.84 ERA, 23 wins, 11 losses, .676 win percentage, 44 appearances, 37 starts, 22 complete games, 288 innings, 146 walks, 170 strikeouts, 14 caught stealing, 36 grounded into double plays.
• Lemon led the majors with a career-high 146 walks—but also induced 36 double play grounders, also a major league high for the season.

5. BILL WIGHT, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.58 ERA, 10 wins, 16 losses.
• Hey Bill, they don’t call the White Sox the Hitless Wonders for nothing; Wight’s deceiving record could be tied to awful support (3.14 runs per start).

6. VIC RASCHI, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 4.00 ERA, 21 wins, 8 losses, .724 win percentage, 32 starts, 256.2 innings 116 walks, 6 balks.
• Raschi finished the season with seven wins in a row—despite allowing five runs in four of them.

7. DIZZY TROUT, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.75 ERA, 13 wins, 5 losses, .722 win percentage, 34 appearances, 20 starts, 184.2 innings.
• A solid comeback for Trout, rebounding from a sore arm and life exclusively spent in the Tigers bullpen a year earlier.

8. BOB FELLER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.43 ERA, 16 wins, 11 losses, 34 starts, 247 innings, 103 walks.
• Now came the hard part for Feller: Learning to pitch with a faded fastball. He scored high grades despite striking out six or more in just three of his 34 starts.

9. NED GARVER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.39 ERA, 13 wins, 18 losses, 37 appearances, 31 starts, 22 complete games, 260 innings, 108 walks.
• For all it’s worth; Garver is the last pitcher to date to throw a baserunner out from the outfield. How he got there is the question we’d like to ask, too.

10. MEL PARNELL, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.61 ERA, 18 wins, 10 losses, 40 appearances, 31 starts, 21 complete games, 249 innings, 106 walks.
• Winning eight starts in a row down the stretch catapulted Parnell from a so-so-campaign to something a bit more worthy.

[luckymann]

It takes a while to get going, but once it does this year’s trade market is one of the biggest on record, with some massive money flying about including the following, as the Phillies make some serious investments:

• OF Monte Irvin: Phillies, 7 years / $382800
• 3B George Kell: Athletics, 7 years / $377800
• P Howie Pollet: Indians, 7 years / $354200
• P Leon Day: Yankees, 5 years / $258000
• P Fred Hutchinson: Reds, 4 years / $198400
• SS Lou Boudreau: Red Sox, 3 years / $196000
• OF Enos Slaughter: Phillies, 4 years / $172800
• C Jim Hegan: White Sox, 3 years / $147000
• C Walker Cooper: Athletics, 4 years / $138400
• P Marv Breuer: Yankees, 3 years / $138000
• 2B Cass Michaels: Braves, 3 years / $113200
• P Joe Dobson: Senators, 3 years / $105600
• C Gus Niarhos: Cubs, 5 years / $101800 (extension)
• 3B Grady Hatton: Browns, 4 years / $96400 (extension)
• 2B Joe Gordon: Cubs, 2 years / $67600

• 2B Jerry Coleman from Cardinals to Yankees for SS Solly Hemus and C Rube Walker
• OF Bill Howerton from Reds to Cubs for 3B Bill Serena and P Cal McLish
• 2B Bobby Hofman and OF Edward Moore from Reds to Phillies for 2B Snuffy Stirnweiss
• OF Ron Northey and 1B Jasper Spears from Tigers to Senators for OF Chuck Diering
• P Ken Trinkle and C Del Crandall from Braves to Reds for 2B Arthur Getgen

ALL TRANSACTIONS


We take a 9-9 split from ST but it costs us reliever Cliff Fannin for a good portion of the season. It is some consolation when the BNN bunch picks us as NL favourites just ahead of the Cubs and Dodgers, with the Yanks favoured by a similarly slim margin in the AL.


FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

Our team page can be accessed HERE.


Our squad, despite that big trade, is far more settled entering this season than it was the previous one, with out starting lineup virtually unchanged from how it was for the majority of '49. Vollmer, Rigney and Jeffcoat miss out to start the season but I'm sure we'll see some or all of them throughout the season. Mad Monk Meyer is expected back around mid-year.

Regardless of what BNN thinks, expectations at the club are suitably tempered after last season's letdown. My main concern is our young and fairly raw staff. How they acquit themselves will, for mine, be the determining factor as to where we finish.

[luckymann]

For those with even a passing interest in numerology, I offer up this useless but uncanny factoid.

On 05/05/50, we lost a game 5-11 in 11 innings to put our season record at 11-5.

As you were...

[luckymann]

Please don't tell me it's going to be another one of these seasons.

In the space of five miserable hours, we somehow manage to have three pitchers injured, give up 4 runs in the 9th to let Brooky tie it and then 7 in the 14th to lose it - our fifth on the trot. It feels like the Dodgers have cast some sort of evil spell over us. We simply cannot beat them.

I'll readily concede, as I have already a number of times on these pages, that we've had a pretty cushy run with injuries. But I's really prefer the inevitable square-up to be done in slightly more incremental fashion, if that's not too much to ask? We already had Meyer out, then lost Fannin in S/T and Alex Kellner early on, now this. Ouch.

[luckymann]

An outstanding performance by the group in light of what has been an absolutely nightmarish start for us. Check out our 60-day IL as it has been since the end of April.




We haven't been hitting, our BP is ranked 8th of 8, we have the next-to-worst defence in the NL. And yet somehow, we are sitting at 22-19 and in 2nd place, a small gap behind the Dodgers.





One of the main reasons for this is the contribution from our two big bats in Kiner and Elliott. Ralph is on pace to easily exceed his 44-HR rookie campaign, while Bob has matched him with 1.8 bWAR. This is his walk year and he is putting forward the strongest possible case for us to keep him around a few more years.




The other has been the near-heroic performance of our rotation, led by Vic Raschi, Art Houtteman and Bill Wight. These guys would have had every excuse to lay down and cry uncle, but instead they have been superb, posting a league leading 3.51 ERA.




If we can just keep the gap at around it's current 5-ish games until we get some of these arms back, then anything's possible - especially if underperforming guys like Easter and Joost can catch fire. Across in the AL, the Browns - who have been quietly assembling a really nice little squad - are right amongst it and briefly looked set to run away with things. But they have cooled of late and now only a half-dozen or so games separate first from last.




Monthly Award Winners

May

American League

• Batter – Earl Torgeson (Browns): 424 / 5 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Billy Pierce (White Sox): 5-1 / 2.34 / 34 K / 50 IP
• Rookie – Danny O’Connell (Indians): 340 / 6 HR / 29 RBI

National League

• Batter – Stan Musial (Cardinals): 433 / 5 HR / 21 RBI
• Pitcher – Preacher Roe (Dodgers): 5-0 / 2.42 / 25 K / 52 IP
• Rookie – Willard Nixon (Reds): 4-1 / 2.66 / 27 K / 47.1 IP

News and Leaders

• Fair to say it has been utter carnage in the early going with regard to injuries. The Red Sox lose Mel Parnell for 3 months with a partially-torn labrum, then Dom DiMaggio for the same length of time through a calf tear. The Yanks lose offseason pickup Marv Breuer for 5 months to a bout of shoulder inflammation and Phillies young gun Curt Simmons gets knocked out for 2 months by another soft-tissue injury.
• Rookie Dodgers reliever Clem Labine misses six weeks after tearing a hamstring.
• Joltin' Joe DiMaggio belts HR number 300, while Dixie Walker reaches the 2500 hit mark.

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[luckymann]

Most Hits over a 5 year span

[luckymann]

No-hitters have become an absolute rarity in this MLB timeline, with three years having passed since the last one and just 43 in total over the nigh on 50 seasons, far fewer than IRL.

AAA has been even worse, with this one by Eddie Smith the league's first in more than a decade and just the 9th overall since the competition began in 1920.