The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

All-time leader is Walter Johnson with 609.

[luckymann]

No joy in Mudville this year, as an atrocious August completely derails our season and only a late flurry of four straight wins - with three of them featuring a grand slam by one of our guys - allows us to walk away with a winning record and first division finish.





As you can see from those metrics, it's not as if we're not getting decent production from our guys, but that -5 Pythag is all the corroboration needed to show we simply haven't put it all together on a regular basis - a far cry from just one year prior.

Kiner again leads the bats, but Wertz, Easter and almost all of our starters contribute.




We are reminded about the vast difference between having a lot of pitching and a lot of good pitching on hand. We will need to revisit what's going on here and tighten things right up if we want to give the Dodgers et al a run for it in oncoming years.




No shots heard around this world as we get the first ever Yanks-Dodgers matchup for the WS, with both doing it fairly comfortably in the end.




Batting titles to Pete Runnels (345, 1st) and Stan Musial (363, 4th). Ralph Kiner's 40 HR lead either league, as do Mickey Mantle's 127 RBI. Both he and Willie Mays are decent enough chances to nail down both the RoY and Wagner Lajoie awards.

Billy Pierce is the league's only 20-game winner with 22 and he also posts the low ERA with 2.33, while finishing second - albeit well back - in strikeouts to Mickey McDermott, whose 210 are the most. Brooklyn's Clem Labine is tops with 29 saves.

While on the topic of awards, the league has announced that, effective immediately, the prize given to the best offensive player at each position in each league - formerly known as the Silver Slugger - will henceforth be known as the Ruth-Gibson medal, honouring Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson, who won more than 30 of this award between them in their careers.

Final Top 20s and Leaders







Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – Al Rosen (Indians): 375 / 8 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Virgil Trucks (Athletics): 5-0 / 2.34 / 24 K / 57.2 IP
• Rookie – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 302 / 7 HR / 23 RBI

National League

• Batter – Stan Musial (Cardinals): 402 / 7 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Preacher Roe (Dodgers): 5-1 / 3.31 / 21 K / 49 IP
• Rookie – Saul Rogovin (Cubs): 3-2 / 1.95 / 21 K / 50.2 IP

September

American League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Red Sox): 367 / 9 HR / 26 RBI
• Pitcher – Billy Pierce (White Sox): 5-1 / 1.71 / 19 K / 47.1 IP
• Rookie – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 286 / 8 HR / 23 RBI

National League

• Batter – Willie Mays (Giants): 362 / 8 HR / 37 RBI
• Pitcher – Preacher Roe (Dodgers): 4-0 / 2.86 / 17 K / 50.1 IP
• Rookie – Willie Mays

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 2000 Hits: Bobby Doerr, Monte Irvin
• 250 Wins: Barney Brown
• A torn PCL will keep Giants 1B Preston Ward out of action for the better part of a year.
• Cubs pitcher Bob Rush misses 6 weeks with a biceps strain, while Philly’s Karl Drew has his season ended by a torn rotator cuff.
• Enos Slaughter, out since late June with a concussion, misses the remainder of the season on doctor’s advice.
• The Giants don’t even wait the season out before cutting ties with skipper George Uhle, later replacing him with Oscar Charleston.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Brooklyn Dodgers (93-61) v New York Yankees (91-63)
Best-of-seven, Yankees with the home-field advantage.


BROOKLYN DODGERS S+ PAGE

NEW YORK YANKEES S+ PAGE

It has taken slightly longer than IRL, but these two colossal groups finally get their Waterloo moment. I am almost certain it won’t be their last.

Both have made key adds this season to diverge them from their historical counterparts – Warren Spahn and Earl Torgeson for the Pinstripers; Richie Ashburn and Early Wynn for the Trolley Dodgers, each becoming stronger in the process. Of course, for the Yanks there’s also the addition of Mantle, and his presence may well prove the difference here. As things stand, DiMaggio remains unsigned for next year, which means this might be the only time the two of them grace the biggest stage of all on the same team – an entirely unquantifiable bit of ephemera, but one I still thought bore being raised.

My doing so is a fair indication that I have absolutely no idea who is going to come out on top here. Nor, for that matter, does it bother me. I’ll just be happy to watch the show.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in New York

Leon Day (14-15, 3.56) v Don Newcombe (19-10, 3.83)

A fascinating start to this highly-anticipated contest with two hard-throwing righties at opposing ends of their careers getting things underway. If both are at their best, runs should be at a premium here.

And we get an instant classic to ratchet up the tension even more, as the Yanks go up by 3 early but then blow their lead in the 9th before finally prevailing in 13. Day is controlled over 7 while Newcombe is wild but brave, going 11+ for an eventual no-decision, with Clem Labine giving up the winning run on a single by Wally Flager.

Game 2 in New York

Warren Spahn (12-15, 3.37) v Early Wynn (17-13, 4.33)

Yankees lead series 1-0

Two quality veterans in action tonight, and I certainly don’t expect either to be overawed by the situation. Wynn was, of course, part of that losing ’49 Indians outfit against these very Dodgers, while Spahn has been hardened by years spent toiling fruitlessly for some ordinary Braves sides.

In the end, neither will be happy with the performance in this one, but Spahn picks up the win despite giving up a whopping 14 hits over 7. Thankfully for him, however, his bats are in good form and they tag Wynn for 7 including a grand slam by Yogi Berra. Mantle and Torgeson also go yard as the Yanks head across the East River having done what’s been asked of them to this point and well in control of this series. Roy Campanella has 4 hits in a losing cause and the Dodgers will have to snap to it, pronto.

Game 3 in Brooklyn

Cliff Chambers (17-10, 3.78) v Marv Breuer (0-0, 0.00)

Series tied 1-1

The Yanks are taking a big risk here, opting for Marv Breuer - making his first MLB start since he tore his UCL right at the end of last season - over Allie Reynolds, who has been shunted to the BP. He faces crafty lefty Cliff Chambers, who has had another solid year.

Breuer doesn’t let them down, but Chambers is just a little bit better and the Dodgers get a tight win here to open their series account. Chambers allows just the single run on 5 hits over 7 and Labine gets them home, albeit somewhat nervously after Mantle leads off the 9th with a titanic jack. Gil Hodges also puts one in the seats for the hosts, while Duke Snider goes 4-for-4.

Game 4 in Brooklyn

Preacher Roe (18-10, 4.03) v Eddie Lopat (17-11, 3.04)

Yankees lead series 2-1

Wily veterans all over the place in these two squads, and this one should be a beauty, pitting two of the best southpaw junkballers the game has seen. That means this game is just as likely to finish 15-14 as 1-0, but I’d expect guys with the experience these two have to be bringing their A-game.

And it’s the Yanks who get it done in a game that stays close without ever reaching the heights it promises to. Their big bats deliver big hits at the right moments here, with Berra, Mantle and Bauer each belting a solo homer, while Lopat is effective over 7 before Lou Lucier saves it with 2 scoreless to put the Dodgers well under the pump.

Game 5 in Brooklyn

Don Newcombe (0-0, 2.38) v Leon Day (0-0, 2.57)

Yankees lead series 3-1

On this day two years ago, Newk had the chance to clinch but let the occasion get to him, and while they still got the prize then, he doesn’t have the luxury of any room for error this time around. For Leon Day, that Championship as a 20-year-old with the A’s back in 1937 must seem so long ago and this would be the perfect bookend to his stellar MLB career.

Each can hold his head up high after a superbly pitched game but the Dodgers manage to win it by a run and send the series back to the Bronx. It is Roy Campanella who proves the difference-maker with the bat, tying the game in the 4th with a 2-run single and then putting the Dodgers on top for good with a 7th-frame solo shot.

Game 6 in New York

Warren Spahn (1-0, 5.14) v Early Wynn (0-1, 9.45)

Yankees lead series 3-2

This series so far has seemed to me more like a chess match between two grandmasters than the heavyweight prizefight I think I was expecting. Is there to be another twist in the tale today from the Boys of Summer, or can the Yanks put them away and spare themselves and their fans a decider?

OK, now this one resembles a prizefight, and one of the very best you can imagine, as the game swings from one side to the next before the Dodgers get their noses in front late and hang on to give us a Game 7.

The visitors stake themselves to a 4-0 lead in the 1st but then Wynn can’t get out of the 3rd as the Yanks chase him with a 5-spot and lead 7-4 after 4. Then the Dodgers bats get to work, with Campanella once again the drink-stirrer, as his 3-run homer in the 6th gets the visitors back in front by a princely run. Dodgers reliever Joe Presko is superb, not allowing a baserunner over 3 shutout innings, and Labine – who is injured in the process and will take no further part here – and then Jack Wilson hang tough to get the Brooky boys home by 8 to 7.

Game 7 in New York

Marv Breuer (0-1, 3.86) v Cliff Chambers (1-0, 1.29)

Series tied 3-3

Considering the circumstances and the participants, simply for this series to be where it is right now puts it in the pantheon of the all-time greats. Can these two superb clubs give it a deserving finale and elevate it even higher?

Sadly not, with this about as comprehensively one-sided a win as is possible by the Yankees, giving them their 6th title. Mantle goes off again with 3 hits including a 3-run homer, his 5th for the series, earning him a most deserved MVP award, while Scooter Rizzuto also has 3 hits. A good deal of the credit, however, must go to Marv Breuer, who pitches all 9 with only a late 2-spot well after the contest has lost its meaning blotting his copybook. Pretty sure he’ll be OK with that.

NEW YORK WINS SERIES 4-3

SERIES MVP: Mickey Mantle (New York)

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Our boys at Wilkes-Barre overcome a sluggish start to storm home and finish a couple games clear, then sweep Brownsville for the club's 13th title.

[luckymann]

A relatively quiet chopping block this go-around, with only Senators skipper Carl Holling - as well as the aforementioned George Uhle at the Giants - receiving his marching orders.

Perhaps the biggest news in the aftermath of the World Series is the Yankees extending Joe DiMaggio's contract thru 1954.

While still well within our budgetary constraints, our payroll is higher than I'd like mainly due to Ralph Kiner's salary spiking to $90k next season. That figure drops back to $50k within a year, so I'm not going to be too bothered about it or, more importantly, let it dictate my roster moves any more than such factors usually do.

And so, despite not thinking too highly of what he's done for us, I decide to offer arb to Larry Jansen for his walk year. We want to tighten our roster up and have a few gaps to plug, so if we can fold him into some deal that makes it to advantage to move him on, we will do so. If not, we'll simply let him walk at the end of '52. We also arb Westlake, Erskine and McCall, while letting Sisti and Fannin walk.

Arky Vaughan heads the list of this year's retirees, and we retire his number 21 in honour of his contribution to our club. Others giving the game away include Tex Hughson, George Selkirk, Frankie Gustine (with exactly 1000 career hits to his name), Joe Gordon, Dick Newsome, Wally Judnich, Charlie Keller (who has his number retired by the Yanks), and NeL legends Barney Brown and Sam Bankhead.


Arky Vaughan




Charlie Keller




Barney Brown




Sam Bankhead

[luckymann]

AL 1951 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1951 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Mays and Mantle do indeed pull off the rare double, with Mantle's AL Wagner-Lajoie win one of the closest I can remember as he, Billy Pierce and Larry Doby finish within a handful of votes. Pierce will have to console himself with his first Johnson-Waddell, with Robin Roberts repeating in the NL. Both Paige Plate winners are first-timers - Monty Kennedy and Scott Cary.


S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

A relatively low-key Draft class this time around, with just five Legacies – including one Marquee – entering the fray.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1952 Season:

Boston Braves: Eddie Mathews (96.1; 2391) MARQUEE
Chicago White Sox: Hoyt Wilhelm (46.8; 361)
Detroit Tigers: Harvey Kuenn (26.0; 1049)
New York Giants: Stu Miller (27.0; 307)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Dick Groat (36.9; 1258)

Stu Miller was also eligible for the Browns, but played more games with the Giants.

Hoyt Wilhelm was also eligible for the Giants, but played more games with the White Sox.

Billy Hoeft (20.6; 239) was also eligible for the Tigers, but Kuenn’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 114 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 7 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1951 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Boston Braves (494)
2. Chicago White Sox (526; dice roll)
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (416)
4. New York Giants (624)
5. Detroit Tigers (474; dice roll)
6. St. Louis Browns (338)
7. Chicago Cubs (403; dice roll)
8. Washington Senators (403; dice roll)
9. Cincinnati Reds (442)
10. Philadelphia Athletics (455)
11. Philadelphia Phillies (474; dice roll)
12. St. Louis Cardinals (526; dice roll)
13. Boston Red Sox (565)
14. Cleveland Indians (604)
15. Brooklyn Dodgers (618)
16. New York Yankees (636)


Rounds 2 thru 7

1. St. Louis Browns (338)
2. Chicago Cubs (403; dice roll)
3. Washington Senators (403; dice roll)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (416)
5. Cincinnati Reds (442)
6. Philadelphia Athletics (455)
7. Detroit Tigers (474; dice roll)
8. Philadelphia Phillies (474; dice roll)
9. Boston Braves (494)
10. Chicago White Sox (526; dice roll)
11. St. Louis Cardinals (526; dice roll)
12. Boston Red Sox (565)
13. Cleveland Indians (604)
14. Brooklyn Dodgers (618)
15. New York Giants (624)
16. New York Yankees (636)


And so we get our third Legacy Player on the bounce, and with our middle IF group not getting any younger, things could be worse.

Our entire intake is as follows:

1. SS Dick Groat, 21

• Far from the ideal guy in my playbook, given he is pretty much a straight-up extremely slappy SS who might play a bit of 3B down the road—but he is ours now and forever, all the same.

2. OF Bobby Del Greco, 18

• Pretty much the last decent position player standing and, even then, I’m not sure how much value he’ll end up adding to the group.

3. P Ron Kline, 19

• Young and incredibly raw right now, but he projects to be a solid low-rotation / swingman for a long time to come.

4. P Ray Moore, 25

• Spot-starter who may give us a handful of reasonable seasons.

5. P Willard Schmidt, 23

• Caught the eye and is a real “boom-or-bust” type with outstanding stuff but problematic control; let's see what Dave Brown can do with him.

6. OF Buck Varner, 21
7. P Hal Hudson, 24

• MiLB filler

Being foiled repeatedly in our plans during the early rounds means this ends up being a bit of a nothing Draft for us, even with Groat.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

We get busy trying to do as planned and tighten up this squad with an eye to the future, and swing this deal with the Sens using my first trade ticket.

This is a fairly straightforward trade that I'd think needs little explanation - we have a surplus of 1B / corner OFs / pitching and need younger OFs who can play the middle, catching / left-side IFs. This takes care of those first two needs.

Both Paf and Luscious have plenty left to give, but with Simpson in the wings and Kiner better off being hidden at 1B than LF, they became the odd men out here. Cain was the low fruit on our pitching tree and my dissatisfaction with Jansen is no secret, so we have moved him on ahead of his walk year.

In return we get a huge upgrade to our everyday catcher slot in Burgess, and a couple handy younger guys who'll be much more useful to us than those we got rid of. On top of that, the deal ends up being slightly cash positive, even with Groth being more expensive than I would have liked. We'll try and recover some of that with a reasonable extension, or else he'll most likely move on after his arb years. We shall see.

[luckymann]

The league is abuzz with news of the first player ever elected unanimously to the HoF: Mel Ott. He and the mighty Satchel are this year's enshrinees, with Mickey Cochrane (agonisingly close again), Big Poison Waner and Charlie Gehringer's votes stubbornly remaining insufficient.

[luckymann]

The Yanks, even without Joltin’ Joe, continue their dominance with a fourth straight Championship, this time at the expense of their other crosstown rivals, as the Dodgers turn the tables on the Jints but come up short at the final stage in a seven-game thriller.

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (95-59)
NL CHAMPIONS: Brooklyn Dodgers (96-57)
WORLD SERIES: Yankees 4, Dodgers 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 42-112, last in NL

AL MVP: Bobby Shantz (Athletics)
NL MVP: Hank Sauer (Cubs)

AL RoY: Harry Byrd (Athletics)
NL RoY: Joe Black (Dodgers)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. STAN MUSIAL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .336 average, 105 runs, 194 hits, 42 doubles, 6 triples, 21 home runs, 91 RBIs, 96 walks, 27 intentional walks, .538 slugging percentage.
• Musial justified the $35,000 raise he gave himself when handed a blank check by the Cardinals.

2. HANK SAUER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .270 average, 89 runs, 31 doubles, 37 home runs, 121 RBIs, 77 walks.
• The 35-year-old slugger was the first modern MVP winner for a team that didn’t have a winning record; perhaps the voters gave it to him knowing that the Cubs’ 77-77 record would be their only non-losing campaign between 1946-63.

3. JACKIE ROBINSON, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 104 runs, 19 home runs, 75 RBIs, 106 walks, 14 hit-by-pitches, 24 stolen bases, .440 on-base percentage.
• Five years after his debut, did certain pitchers still have something against Robinson? His 14 times hit by pitches were a personal high. Jackie also set a Dodgers record by reaching base safely at least twice in each of his first 10 games. (Adrian Gonzalez will tie the mark in 2015.)

4. GIL HODGES, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .254 average, 87 runs, 27 doubles, 32 home runs, 102 RBIs, 107 walks.
• Despite a subpar average and a terrible April in which he didn’t knock in a single run, Hodges rebounded well and led the Dodgers in home runs, RBIs and walks (a career-high 107).

5. RALPH KINER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .244 average, 90 runs, 37 home runs, 87 RBIs, 110 walks.
• For the seventh straight year, no National Leaguer hit more homers than Kiner, though he was tied during three of those years—including in 1952, with Hank Sauer.
• 6. BOBBY THOMSON, NEW YORK
• Key Numbers: .270 average, 89 runs, 29 doubles, 14 triples, 24 home runs, 108 RBIs.
• With Willie Mays (drafted) and Monte Irvin (injured) largely absent in the Giants’ lineup, Thomson did the best he could to make up.

7. DEL ENNIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 90 runs, 171 hits, 30 doubles, 10 triples, 20 home runs, 107 RBIs.
• The Phillies’ prime power outlet re-energized after an off-1951, helping the Phillies get back into contention. (Robin Roberts had something to do with that as well.)

8. DUKE SNIDER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 80 runs, 25 doubles, 7 triples, 21 home runs, 92 RBIs.
• The Duke of Flatbush ended a modestly potent campaign by muscling up for six homers and a .355 average in September—a hint of an impressive personal reign just around the corner.

9. ENOS SLAUGHTER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 17 doubles, 12 triples, 11 home runs, 101 RBIs, 70 walks.
• With a youth movement soon to dawn in St. Louis, the 36-year-old Slaughter gave one last strong showing before eventually sliding into a part-time existence in the American League.

10. SOLLY HEMUS, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .268 average, 105 runs, 28 doubles, 8 triples, 15 home runs, 52 RBIs, 96 walks, 20 hit-by-pitches.
• The fiery infielder reveled with the arrival of pugnacious first-year Cardinals manager Eddie Stanky; his 20 times hit by a pitch were the most by a National Leaguer since 1910, and before Ron Hunt came along.

AL Hitters

1. LARRY DOBY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 109 runs, 169 hits, 28 doubles, 30 home runs, 126 RBIs, 144 walks, 9 intentional walks, .464 on-base percentage, .556 slugging percentage.
• The AL’s first black player was now established as one of its best; he hit for the cycle for the only time in his career, and his home run on the season’s final day gave him first place over teammate (and fellow African-American) Luke Easter.

2. AL ROSEN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 101 runs, 171 hits, 32 doubles, 5 triples, 28 home runs, 105 RBIs, 75 walks.
• Rosen gave up golf, took up carrots and emulated Ted Williams’ swing in a successful quest to become one of the AL’s premier sluggers.

3. MICKEY MANTLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .311 average, 94 runs, 171 hits, 37 doubles, 7 triples, 23 home runs, 87 RBIs, 75 walks, 111 strikeouts.
• The only regrets regarding Mantle in 1952 were from all those kids who grew up wondering why they latched his pricey Topps baseball card to their bicycle wheel spokes to make funny noises.

4. EDDIE ROBINSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 79 runs, 176 hits, 33 doubles, 22 home runs, 104 RBIs, 70 walks, 16 intentional walks, 12 hit-by-pitches.
• The RBI machine topped off his career before being swapped in a postseason trade for AL batting champ Ferris Fain that did neither any good.

5. YOGI BERRA, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .273 average, 97 runs, 30 home runs, 98 RBIs.
• In one of the years in which he didn’t win the AL MVP early in the 1950s, Berra set a career mark for home runs he would only equal later (in 1956).

6. LUKE EASTER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 127 games, .263 average, 31 home runs, 97 RBIs.
• A late arrival for both the majors and the Negro Leagues before it, the muscular 37-year-old slugger noted for hitting the longest-ever home run at Cleveland Stadium set a career high in taters during his third full year with the Indians.

7. FERRIS FAIN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .327 average, 82 runs, 176 hits, 43 doubles, 2 home runs, 59 RBIs, 105 walks, .438 on-base percentage.
• Fain impressed by collecting his second straight AL batting crown, but visions of future titles never materialized after he was traded to the White Sox—where he quickly faded.

8. VIC WERTZ, DETROIT-ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 122 games, .277 average, 23 home runs, 70 RBIs, 69 walks.
• Hitting .346 after a midseason trade from a terrible Detroit team (50-104), Wertz was probably one of the few players to say he was relieved to be traded to the typically woebegone Browns.

9. MINNIE MINOSO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .281 average, 96 runs, 24 doubles, 9 triples, 13 home runs, 61 RBIs, 71 walks, 14 hit-by-pitches, 24 reached on error, 22 stolen bases, 16 caught stealing.
• The Cuban native completed his evolution into becoming baseball’s ultimate disruptor, getting on base however he could—and then fighting for every extra 90 feet from there.

10. BOBBY AVILA, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 102 runs, 179 hits, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 7 home runs, 45 RBIs, 12 stolen bases.
• In his second full season, Avila became the first Mexican-born major leaguer to play in the All-Star Game.

NL Pitchers

1. ROBIN ROBERTS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.59 ERA, 28 wins, 7 losses, .800 win percentage, 39 appearances, 37 starts, 30 complete games, 330 innings, 45 walks.
• The greatest of Roberts’ great years accounted for the most wins by a NL pitcher since Dizzy Dean’s 30 in 1934; his third of a remarkable 28 straight complete games, thrown in early September, lasted a remarkable 17 innings.

2. JOE BLACK, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.15 ERA, 15 wins, 4 losses, 15 saves, 56 appearances, 2 starts, 142.1 innings.
• The 1952 rookie experience would be as good as it got for Black; over five more major league seasons, he would produce an iffy 4.84 ERA.

3. HOYT WILHELM, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 15 wins, 3 losses, .833 win percentage, 71 appearances, 0 starts, 159.1 innings.
• Wilhelm became the first rookie to lead the NL in both ERA and win percentage.

4. WARREN SPAHN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.98 ERA, 14 wins, 19 losses, 40 appearances, 35 starts, 290 innings, 183 strikeouts.
• Despite recording the same ERA as the season before while winning 22 games, Spahn set a personal low with 11 home losses—but with few people showing up to Braves Field a year before the team’s move to Milwaukee, the experience wasn’t so embarrassing. It was the only losing record he absorbed over his first 19 seasons.

5. KARL DREWS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.72 ERA, 14 wins, 15 losses, 30 starts, 5 shutouts, 228.2 innings, 52 walks, 30 grounded into double plays.
• Phillies hitters left their better bats at home when Drews pitched, supporting him with just 3.1 runs per start; hence the losing record.

6. CURT SIMMONS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 14 wins, 8 losses, 28 starts, 6 shutouts, 201.1 innings.
• The young southpaw returned from a military-forced hiatus of one year and change (he also missed the 1950 World Series) without skipping a beat.

7. BOB RUSH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.70 ERA, 17 wins, 13 losses, 32 starts, 250.1 innings.
• The typically frustrated Cubs starter could finally smile on a season where events went mostly his way—including a win at the All-Star Game, and the year’s longest consecutive scoreless inning streak (32.2).

8. KEN RAFFENSBURGER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.81 ERA, 17 wins, 13 losses, 38 appearances, 33 starts, 6 shutouts, 247 innings, 45 walks.
• Exhibit One in the debate to keep players’ names off the backs of uniforms, Raffensberger got rare name recognition as a brief ace for the Reds.

9. WARREN HACKER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.58 ERA, 15 wins, 9 losses, 33 appearances, 20 starts, 185 innings, 31 walks.
• Mixing a fastball and knuckler, Hacker easily enjoyed his best year at the major league level; over the next four years, mediocrity would prevail as he posted a 32-60 record.

10. SAL MAGLIE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.92 ERA, 18 wins, 8 losses, .692 win percentage, 35 appearances, 31 starts, 216 innings.
• No one was hotter to start the year than Maglie, who won each of his first nine starts with a scintillating 1.12 ERA.

AL Pitchers

1. BOB LEMON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.50 ERA, 22 wins, 11 losses, 4 saves, 42 appearances, 36 starts, 28 complete games, 309.2 innings, 105 walks, 35 grounded into double plays.
• After Lemon in 1952, no other American League pitcher threw over 300 innings for the entire 1950s.

2. ALLIE REYNOLDS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.06 ERA, 20 wins, 8 losses, .714 win percentage, 6 saves, 35 appearances, 29 starts, 24 complete games, 6 shutouts, 244.1 innings, 160 strikeouts.
• Reynolds was as good a closer as he was a starter; he completed all but five of his starts, and earned saves in each of his six relief appearances—not allowing a single run over 9.1 innings.

3. MIKE GARCIA, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.37 ERA, 22 wins, 11 losses, 4 saves, 46 appearances, 36 starts, 6 shutouts, 292.1 innings.
• After Bob Lemon (above) and Frank Lary in 1956, Garcia had the third-most innings thrown by an AL pitcher during the 1950s.

4. BOBBY SHANTZ, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.48 ERA, 24 wins, 7 losses, .774 win percentage, 33 starts, 27 complete games, 279.2 innings.
• At 139 pounds, Shantz was certainly the majors’ lightest MVP but an 800-pound gorilla upon opposing hitters; ask Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial, two of the three NL stars Shantz faced—and struck out—at the All-Star Game.

5. JOE DOBSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 14 wins, 10 losses, 25 starts, 200.2 innings.
• The 35-year-old veteran, in his second year with the White Sox after a long tenure with the Red Sox, stifled foes one last time as he placed third among AL pitchers in on-base percentage allowed (.280).

6. BILLY PIERCE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.57 ERA, 15 wins, 12 losses, 32 starts, 255.1 innings.
• A developing ace, Pierce found it difficult competing with the Big Boys—posting a 3-10 record yet still decent 3.35 ERA against the Yankees and Indians. Against the other five AL teams, he was 12-2 with a 1.88 figure.

7. VIC RASCHI, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.78 ERA, 16 wins, 6 losses, .727 win percentage, 31 starts, 223 innings.
• Raschi was 13-2 at the start of August and was looking at the possibility of a fourth straight 20-win campaign before enduring a run of bad luck down the stretch.

8. EARLY WYNN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.90 ERA, 23 wins, 12 losses, 3 saves, 42 appearances, 33 starts, 285.2 innings, 132 walks, 16 caught stealing, 24 grounded into double plays.
• At some point, one had to wonder if Wynn should have had his name changed to “Win”; he paced the Indians in victories and helped make Cleveland field a trio of 20-game winners for the second straight year. Only three other AL teams—the 1920 Indians and White Sox, and the 1931 A’s—had done it once since the end of the Deadball Era.

9. BOB PORTERFIELD, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.72 ERA, 13 wins, 14 losses, 29 starts, 231.1 innings.
• Porterfield pitched well enough to secure a winning record, but he didn’t get enough hitting love from teammates to accomplish that simple task—even in the one year during the entire 1950s that the Senators finished above .500.

10. ED LOPAT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.53 ERA, 10 wins, 5 losses, 19 starts, 149.1 innings, 23 grounded into double plays.
• To keep his fragile arm from falling apart, the Yankees had Lopat pitch every seven days; he responded by collecting a 5-0 record over his last six appearances.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Another extremely uneventful offseason, with club rosters seemingly in a period of relative stability for the moment and only the Giants really making a serious splash.

• OF Willard Marshall: Giants, 4 years / $297000
• 3B Billy Johnson: Giants, 4 years / $288000
• OF Joe DiMaggio: Yankees, 3 years / $184000 (extension)
• OF Hoot Evers: Athletics, 3 years / $165000
• 3B Benny McCoy: Phillies, 3 years / $131400
• OF Tommy Glaviano: Cubs, 4 years / $85600 (extension)

• OF Gene Woodling from Braves to White Sox for P George Barker and 1B Wayne Belardi
• SS Vern Stephens from Browns to Yankees for SS Jack Cusick
• C Stan Lopata from Senators to Red Sox for P Joe Orrell and C Carl Sawatski
• P Joe Presko and OF Jim Bolger from Dodgers to Senators for P Joe Dobson

ALL TRANSACTIONS

We go 9-9 in ST and, more importantly, stay injury-free. BNN are predicting the status quo to hold fast with the Yanks and Dodgers repeating easily. Can't say I disagree.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

As always, our team page can be accessed HERE.


Not quite sure where we're at with this group just for the moment. Certainly ballpark of 500 is our expected venue, with anything north of 80 wins a pleasant dollop of cream. No doubt in my mind, the fundamental issue is the gap between our best and our worst. We are thin around the diamond, most notably at 3B, and I am almost certain I'll be back here before too long advising you of an attempt to remedy this situation.

[CubMariner]

Love the pickup of Smoky. Pretty much the definition of a bat-first catcher, but always loved him back in my Strat-O-Matic days.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by CubMariner

Love the pickup of Smoky. Pretty much the definition of a bat-first catcher, but always loved him back in my Strat-O-Matic days.

Yeah, he takes a while to get good with the bat and compensate for that always-weak glove of his but he's a gun later this decade, so we're hoping to lock him down for a mid-range contract that covers that and is in our price range.

[luckymann]

As I suggested, this happens sooner rather than later as I make sure we don't miss our desired target.




I'm generally a measure twice, cut once sort of guy with my roster management and have a broad idea of how I want our club to look projected seasons into the future, albeit obviously with reduced certainty for each subsequent year. So something invariably has to have changed for me to reacquire someone I have previously traded away. I always liked Ray Boone as a player, but when we Drafted him he was solely a SS and, as I'm sure you have gathered by now, one-dimensionality is anathema to me. He's as good if not better now than he was then, and has added a couple more positions to his skillset, and that's why he is back in a Bucs uniform as our new everyday 3B.

[luckymann]

It could be way worse, but still it's frustrating as we lose two of our hottest guys to this point to injuries on the same day. This is where the importance of a robust and flexible depth chart can shine through - let's hope ours falls into that category. We'll be getting our first look at Harry Simpson and will give him plenty of opportunity to show us what he's got over the next fortnight.

[luckymann]

My darling Nanna drilled into me as a young'un to stay silent if you didn't have something constructive to say. Aside from mentioning that we're still within touch of the lead and actually ahead of the Dodgers, I shall add nothing and let the pictures tell all the stories fit to be told about this insipid start to the season.









Both divs are tightly bunched and delicately poised entering June.




Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Red Sox): 440 / 3 HR / 15 RBI
• Pitcher – Tom Morgan (Athletics): 4-0 / 2.84 / 3 SV / 9 K / 12.2 IP
• Rookie – Ike Delock (Browns): 2-0 / 1.90 / 10 K / 23.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Gus Bell (Cardinals): 364 / 3 HR / 8 RBI
• Pitcher – Bob Rush (Cubs): 4-0 / 2.25 / 26 K / 36 IP
• Rookie – Stu Miller (Giants): 1-0 / 1.42 / 4 SV / 10 K / 12.2 IP

May

American League

• Batter – George Kell (Athletics): 377 / 2 HR / 14 RBI
• Pitcher – Mel Parnell (Red Sox): 5-0 / 1.89 / 17 K / 52.1 IP
• Rookie – Harvey Haddix (Indians): 4-2 / 2.30 / 30 K / 54.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Del Ennis (Phillies): 350 / 5 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Johnny Antonelli (Giants): 5-0 / 1.43 / 37 K / 56.2 IP
• Rookie – Vinegar Bend Mizell (Reds): 4-0 / 2.44 / 36 K / 48 IP

News and Leaders

• The season begins inauspiciously for the Cards as they lose hurler Connie Marrero for the season to rotator cuff tear on Opening Day.
• Boston snaps up unsigned FA catcher Joe Garagiola on a 1-year deal for $69k.
• Detroit OF George Shuba tears his PCL, ending his year, while a torn meniscus has the same result for Cincy’s Willard Nixon. The Athletics also lose Al Javery for the remainder with radial nerve compression, as do the Cubs with Dutch Leonard courtesy of a rotator cuff tear. It is, suffice to say, absolute carnage.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most Plate Appearances without Starting a Game