Time Warp Baseball

[metsgeek]

Originally Posted by Matt from TN

Retiring Ancestors:

"Fat Gus" Kahle, 3B
New York Yankees, 1921-42



Kahle was a major part of the great Yankees dynasty. With them, he won 5 World Series and two Gold Gloves. In 1927, he won his only batting title and he had a 34-game hitting streak which still stands as an American League record. He retired as the all-time hits leader among third basemen with 3424 (3rd All-Time). He also had a .323 average, 477 doubles (21st All-Time), 194 homeruns, 1501 RBI (15th All-Time), 1556 runs scored (17th All-Time) and 974 walks.

Uncle Gus, you've done the Kahle name proud. A steady work ethic and a love of the game has made you one of the all-time Yankees.

22 years in Pinstripes.....quite a career!

[scprideandms]

Tequila will lead the Sox to the Pennant and the WS!!!!

[jdw]

Matt wrote:

> Actually, 1% of players who left to war in 1943
> spent only 1 year at war. I used that 1% on
> Lutske. Although the reason behind him
> returning would likely be for reasons other
> than strictly the birth of a child.

Cool~!

It's hard to imagine Lutske could get an injury that would send him stateside but still allow him to play ball. Need to think up a major hardship that would send him back. I know we can count on the posters in the thread to think something up.


John

[rogmax11]

Wardrobe malfunction!

[DamnYankees]

Well, maybe his real history can shed some light. His military service was from February to June of 1944, in real life. My uncle's birthday was May 11th, 1944. When my grandfather came home, and in the year before he went off, he was a shipbuilder in San Diego. The only reason I know of that he came home is my uncle...who knows what else. I don't think he was injured in any way, but its possible he couldn't hadle the army and sort of had a mental breakdown. I'm just speculating here. I don't really want to ask my father about it. I don't want to think this sort of stuff about my grandfather, but you raise some points I've never thought of...

So, if you want to be really realistic, he didn't return to normal life until the war was over, although he was in the states. Whether you want to keep him out until '46 I'll leave up to you.

Oh, this reminds me. I have to add my father and uncles to the league.

[scprideandms]

His faterher/mother died and he had to come back to take care of the one alive who is ill.

[fhomess]

If you haven't been over there yet, the Cleveland Indians' history is going up in the forums over at the TWB website. While I've already got a short writeup about every season, I'll gradually add more years so you don't get overloaded all at once!

[Matt from TN]

April 1943

The City of Boston is all aflutter after the first month of the season. Both the Red Sox and Braves miraculously lead their respective leagues. Both teams are the hottest in baseball over the past 10 days, too. The White Sox, Indians and Browns are right on the Red Sox's heels while Washington is a game below .500 and the Yankees are in 7th place.

In the NL, the Braves hold a 2.5 game lead over the favored Dodgers. The Cubs, Phillies and Cardinals are just a half-game behind Brooklyn, and the defending NL champion Giants are another game behind them.

Homeruns seem to be up slightly from last season, but they are still way down from 1941. Brooklyn's Oscar Vancini leads the NL with 5 and now has 484 in his career.

Washington's Jethro Lee threw a 1-hit shutout on Opening Day against the Yankees to tie him with Tim Lopresto for 2nd all-time with 359 career wins. Five days later he moved ahead with his 360th win, a 1-run defeat of the Indians.

Red Sox first baseman Jessie "Bing" Holt set a new Boston record with a 27-game hitting streak that carried over from last season. The streak was just 7 games shy of the AL record set by recently retired Yankee Gus Kahle in 1926.

In The News

On April 6th, Axis forces in Tunisia began a withdrawal toward Enfidaville as American and British forces linked up.

Travel restrictions limited the crowd to 4,000 in St. Louis for the Browns' home opener on April 10th in which they defeated the Tigers 8-2.

Despite going 1-for-4 with a homerun against the Reds on April 22nd, Giants' slugger Dale Lamberty declared that the new baseballs hit like overripe grapefruits. Brooklyn's Jeff Bundy later added, "It was like hitting a piece of cement." Two days later, a spokesman for A. G. Spalding defended the ball, saying the 20 shutouts in April were the result of it being "too wet and too cold. In time the new ball will prove to be just as lively as the old one." A few days later the company admitted that the balls contained an inferior grade of rubber cement, which had hardened. The teams agreed to use up their stock of balls left over from the 1942 season while a new supply of higher-quality balls is made.

American League-Pitcher of the Month:
Herb Lineberry (CHA)!
He had a record of 4-1 in 5 games started, with an ERA of 2.20.

American League-Batter of the Month:
Jessie "Bing" Holt (BOS)!
He batted .342 in 79 AB, with 4 homers and 22 RBI.

National League-Pitcher of the Month:
Otto "Kaiser" Kahle (STL)!
He had a record of 2-0 in 3 games started, with an ERA of 0.87 and 1 shutouts.

National League-Batter of the Month:
Dale Lamberty (NYG)!
He batted .403 in 72 AB, with 4 homers and 9 RBI.

American League Standings 
  
Boston (A)       13  8 .619 -
Chicago (A)      12  9 .571 1.0 
Cleveland        11 10 .524 2.0
St. Louis (A)    11 10 .524 2.0 
Washington       10 11 .476 3.0
Detroit          10 12 .455 3.5
New York (A)      9 12 .429 4.0
Philadelphia (A)  9 13 .409 4.5
 
National League Standings 
 
Boston (N)       14  7 .667 -  
Brooklyn         12 10 .545 2.5 
Chicago (N)      11 10 .524 3.0
Philadelphia (N) 11 10 .524 3.0
St. Louis (N)    11 10 .524 3.0
New York (N)     10 11 .476 4.0
Pittsburgh        9 12 .429 5.0 
Cincinnati        7 15 .318 7.5

AL AVG
.412 Mule Beney, Browns
.370 Rem Kelley, A's
.359 Pokey Dorsey, Red Sox

NL AVG
.403 Dale Lamberty, Giants
.389 George Ward, Braves
.388 Otis Sistruck, Reds

AL HOMERUNS
5 Allen March, Yankees
4 Pokey Dorsey, Red Sox
4 Carmack Alford, Browns

NL HOMERUNS
5 Oscar Vancini, Dodgers
4 Dale Lamberty, Giants
4 Jeff Bundy, Dodgers

AL RBI
22 Jessie Holt, Red Sox
20 Ed Rossi, White Sox
20 Carmack Alford, Browns

NL RBI
20 Jeff Bundy, Dodgers
18 John Farnon, Dodgers
17 Elmer Menard, Pirates

AL STEALS
6 John Shears, Senators
5 Ping Hung, Yankees
5 Bart Batch, Red Sox

NL STEALS
12 Fuzz Allen, Giants
10 Jonny Perly, Dodgers
9 Mickey McWhorter, Dodgers

AL ERA
2.20 Micky Guyton, Senators
2.20 Herb Lineberry, White Sox
2.35 Zolly Schoeter, Indians

NL ERA
1.44 Scottie Allen, Braves
1.45 Frank Smith, Dodgers
1.70 Randall Bray, Giants

AL WINS
4 Vance Marx, Red Sox
4 Mark Ponfick, Browns
4 Herb Lineberry, White Sox

NL WINS
5 Remmy Paul, Dodgers
4 Randall Bray, Giants
4 Elmer Finch, Braves

AL STRIKEOUTS
29 Lewis Lamson, Yankees
28 Cotton Simson, Browns
26 Bob Guilderson, Tigers

NL STRIKEOUTS
34 Roy Mills, Reds
33 Frank Smith, Dodgers
30 Remmy Paul Dodgers


I did my first WWII double-take just now while pouring over the league leaders. I was looking at the NL RBI leaders and said, "Who the heck is J. Farnon?" Well, he's a know-nothing 20-year-old rookie who signed with the Dodgers in 1940 and had never made it out of Single-A. And here he is, second to Oscar Vancini in RBI. Things are going as planned with some "nobody's" actually contributing, like Bart Batch of the Red Sox tied for 2nd in AL steals. Then there are guys making a comeback, like Yankees starter Lewis Lamson leading the AL in K's. And some old vets still hanging on, like 39-year-old Mark Ponfick who has 4 wins for the A's. I can only imagine what next season will be like.

[Matt from TN]

Originally Posted by fhomess

If you haven't been over there yet, the Cleveland Indians' history is going up in the forums over at the TWB website. While I've already got a short writeup about every season, I'll gradually add more years so you don't get overloaded all at once!

Yes, this is excellent... I can't wait to see more histories... That's one of the main reasons I started the TWB... Again, if any team GM needs help with history, just drop me a line.

[jdw]

Matt wrote:

> 1. Dodgers (82-72, 4th) - With aces Frank Smith
> and Remmy Paul, Brooklyn has an intimidating rotation.
> Throw in sluggers like Oscar Vancini, and you see why
> they are the early favorite.

Wow! I'm am surprised at the luck the Dodgers have had in not losing Frank. This is huge for Frank's chase of both Muph's record for awards and also the All-time Wins record held by Bourbon and probably soon to be challenged by Kaiser Kahle (I don't think Jed Lee will have enough years left to get there). Frank should flat out eat up current talent base, just like he did last year and probably even moreso. His age is getting to the point where he might just get lucky next year and not get called off.

> 4. Pirates (85-69, 2nd)
>
> Potential Stars:
> 1B Willie Young (.217 in 92 AB, finally
> getting his shot at age 26, Willie is a
> prime breakout candidate)

Go Willie~!


> 7. Reds (69-85, 6th)
>
> Potential Stars:
> SS John Barton (.245 on 208 AB,
> he has looked impressive this spring
> and with a starting job, he could be
> a big player this season)

OH-OH!!! Matt's jinxed Willie and Doc!!!




John

[jdw]

Matt - some record watches:

* Oscar Vancini is came into the year with 479 HR, closing in on 500.

* Sal Rossi is at 1627 BB with Kohse's 1643 just ahead. Steven Bussell will like take it away from him in a couple of years.

Rossi's might not be worth saving the box score on (big fan of BB that I am), but Oscar's has to be a keeper.


John

[Matt from TN]

WEB PAGES UPDATED....


May 1943

The Browns went 21-7 to power into 1st place. They are being led by a pair of 39-year-old veteran pitchers who seem hungry for a shot at a World Series. Mark Ponfick is 8-2 with a 3.34 ERA and Mitchell Haynam is 8-3 with a 3.39 ERA. Along side them is 27-year-old star-in-the-making Cotton Simson who won 22 games last season and is 7-5 with a 3.04 ERA this year. St. Louis is also seing some veteran hitters enjoy a revival. Mule Beney is second in the AL with a .358 average at age 37. 38-year-old Steve "Babylon" Bussell is hitting .331 with 30 RBI. 34-year-old Bootleg Bill Simard is hitting .293 with 5 HR after hitting just .234 with 9 dingers last season. 37-year-old shortstop Tim Frevele is hitting .308, and 34-year-old outfielder Carmack Alford has hit 6 homeruns with 34 RBI.

It looks like anything goes in the NL with the top 6 teams amazingly separated by just a half-game! This is undoubtedly the strangest thing we have ever seen in the standings. An unbelievable four teams are tied for 1st place. No one can seem to pull away, and no one is more than 2 games above .500!

In The News

Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick demonstrated the revised "balata ball" to reporters on May 4th by bouncing it on his office carpet. The ball is supposed to be 50 percent livelier than the 1942 one. When it was introduced in games on May 9th, six home runs were hit in four doubleheaders compared with nine home runs hit with the previous ball in the first 72 games.

May 7, 1943 - Allies take Tunisia.

May 13, 1943 - German and Italian troops surrender in North Africa.

May 16, 1943 - Jewish resistance in the Warsaw ghetto ends.

May 16/17 - British air raid on the Ruhr.

May 22, 1943 - Dönitz suspends U-boat operations in the North Atlantic.


American League-Pitcher of the Month:
Bob "Stretch" Bussman (CHA)!
He had a record of 5-0 in 7 games started, with an ERA of 1.51 and 3 shutouts.

American League-Batter of the Month:
Bootleg Bill Simard (SLA)!
He batted .348 in 112 AB, with 5 homers and 17 RBI.

National League-Pitcher of the Month:
Frank Smith (BKN)!
He had a record of 7-0 in 7 games started, with an ERA of 1.43 and 1 shutouts.

National League-Batter of the Month:
Anson Morgenstern (NYG)!
He batted .384 in 99 AB, with 3 homers and 21 RBI.

American League Standings 
  
St. Louis (A)    32 17 .653 - 
Boston (A)       28 20 .583 3.5
Chicago (A)      26 23 .531 6.0 
Washington       25 23 .521 6.5
Detroit          24 26 .480 8.5
Cleveland        23 26 .469 9.0
New York (A)     21 27 .438 10.5
Philadelphia (A) 16 33 .327 16.0
 
National League Standings 
 
Chicago (N)      25 23 .521 -
Pittsburgh       25 23 .521 - 
St. Louis (N)    25 23 .521 -
Brooklyn         26 24 .520 - 
Boston (N)       25 24 .510 0.5  
New York (N)     25 24 .510 0.5
Philadelphia (N) 23 26 .469 2.5
Cincinnati       21 28 .429 4.5

AL AVG
.360 Blake Crocitto, Senators
.358 Mule Beney, Browns
.355 Carl Kahle, Senators

NL AVG
.352 Otis Sistruck, Reds
.335 Elmer Menard, Pirates
.330 Anson Morgenstern, Giants

AL HOMERUNS
10 Jessie Holt, Red Sox
7 Daniel Lutzke, Indians
7 Allen March, Yankees

NL HOMERUNS
8 Oscar Vancini, Dodgers
7 Dale Lamberty, Giants
7 Jeff Bundy, Dodgers

AL RBI
42 Jessie Holt, Red Sox
36 Carl Kahle, Senators
34 Carmack Alford, Browns

NL RBI
38 Elmer Menard, Pirates
34 Rocky D'Urso, Braves
33 Jeff Bundy, Dodgers

AL STEALS
13 John Shears, Senators
11 Ping Hung, Yankees
11 Ray Dimeo, Tigers

NL STEALS
24 Fuzz Allen, Giants
20 Bud Breckenridge, Pirates
16 Jonny Perly, Dodgers

AL ERA
2.42 Herb Lineberry, White Sox
2.48 Bob Bussmann, White Sox
2.50 Zolly Schoeter, Indians

NL ERA
1.44 Frank Smith, Dodgers
2.04 Schoolboy Emberling, Reds
2.05 Domenic Picotti, Pirates

AL WINS
8 Mark Ponfick, Browns
8 Bob Bussmann, White Sox
8 Mitch Haynam, Browns

NL WINS
9 Frank Smith, Dodgers
7 Buck Anderson, Braves
7 Domenic Picotti, Pirates

AL STRIKEOUTS
62 Cotton Simson, Browns
52 Bill Finley, Senators
52 Bob Guilderson, Tigers

NL STRIKEOUTS
80 Frank Smith, Dodgers
70 Remmy Paul Dodgers
67 Scottie Allen, Braves

[jdw]

# TOP 10 BB
1. 34 - J. Barton (CIN)
2. 33 - A. Liao (CIN)
3. 31 - O. Vancini (BKN)
4. 30 - D. Lamberty (NYG)
5. 29 - J. Perly (BKN)
5. 29 - C. Osborne (CIN)
5. 29 - M. Misisca (PHI)
8. 27 - B. Martin (NYG)
9. 24 - D. Mickelsen (CHN)
9. 24 - N. Barker (PHI)

I can't express how warm&fuzzy that makes me feel, especially seeing Doc on the list with greats like Oscar and Lamberty and Dewey along with fellow Class of '34 mate Speedy Perly. The 22 BB in 27 games in May is ultraswank. But...

.247/.344/.312/.656 - Mar/Apr
.205/.364/.273/.636 - May
.224/.355/.291/.646 - Overall

Jimminy Crickets!

I can only pray that Doc somehow maintains his starting job despite heading down towards the Mendoza Line. It would be nice to see him make one leaderboard in his career. :P


John

[jdw]

Here's an interesting one to watch:

TWB Strikeouts Record
263 - David Wickersham (1934, CHN)

Frank Smith has 80 at the end of May in 39 starts, roughly a third of the way through the season. It's "only" pace for 240, and Frank has been so lights out that it's hard to imagine him pitching better. But he did take a major jump up in K/9 in May:

K/9 IP
5.30 - Apr
6.71 - May

If he keeps up the May rate, he looks to be in the 250-255 range. Still tough to reach, but it would be an interesting chase if he can get to September with a chance.

The ERA record remains Andrew Murphy's 1.18 in 1917, which was the season Murph broke his finger at the end of the season and missed the World Series... and we all know how that turned out. Frank would need to stand on it with his 1.44 ERA to give that a run. I think he has it in him, but the horrendus Bums offense may be frustrating him.


John

[Matt from TN]

Originally Posted by jdw

I can only pray that Doc somehow maintains his starting job despite heading down towards the Mendoza Line. It would be nice to see him make one leaderboard in his career.

When we get to the late 70's / early 80's, we'll have to find a near-.200 career hitter & rename the Mendoza line

[rogmax11]

Looking at the game-by-game records, I saw that Dad had only lost the one game by a 1-0 score. That got me thinking: what is the consecutive games winning streak? Probably owned by that wanker Murphy, no doubt.

With the diluted talent pool, and league-wide offensive anemia, the likelihood of Frank Smith to have freakishly overpowering stats is quite high. Post season for the Dodgers? We'll have to wait and see, but that is a wretched old team with little offense and no bullpen--if, God forbid!--one of those starters breaks down, it could get ugly.

BTW, Matt, you're doing a really nice job of creating the odd ambiance of WW2-era baseball. I always found this period to be the most difficult to replicate in a satisfactory fashion.

[Matt from TN]

Here are some interesting achievements that happened in May:

Sal Rossi passed Bull Zegri for 3rd all-time in RBI. He also passed Whitey Kohse for #1 AT in Walks!

Kid Fite, having an excellent season at age 39, passed Genaro Nunez for 2nd AT in runs.

Fuzz Allen, finally back on track, became the 3rd player in history to 800 steals and passed the great Frenchie Fournier for 2nd AT.

I already mentioned Jethro Lee passed Tim Lopresto for 2nd AT in Wins, but he also became the 1st pitcher to reach 2900 K's. For some time, 450 CG seemed unattainable anymore, but after Bourbon Allen reached 525, Lee has now moved behind him into 3rd AT with 476, passing Lopresto.


It's becoming obvious that with the loss of so many to the war, the old guys sticking around are able to pad their numbers.

[scprideandms]

I can't imagine what Bourbons #'s would have been if I had waited a few yrs to debut him and he could have pitched during the war with this diluted talent, hell even Whiskey, Jr. may have had a few good years!!!!

[Matt from TN]

Originally Posted by scprideandms

...hell even Whiskey, Jr. may have had a few good years!!!!

Well, let's not go THAT far

[Matt from TN]

June 1943

The Red Sox and Browns continued to slug it out in the AL, and the Senators have finally joined the fray. Boston went 16-11 to tie St. Louis for first place, but both those teams must be nervous to see Washington, the preseason favorite, playing much better lately. The Senators went 18-9 to move just a game back.

The NL logjam has started to thin out. St. Louis went on a 9-game winning streak and took over first place for a time, but it was short lived. Going into the last day of June, Pittsburgh led Brooklyn by a half game as the two teams opened up a 3-game series at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The Dodgers won that first game 7-1 and moved into first place as the series continues in July. Meanwhile, the blanket was pulled from under the Braves as they went 5-22 and plummeted 14 games in the standings.

For perhaps the first time since he became an everyday player, Brooklyn's Oscar Vancini went homerless in a month. That leaves him with 8 dingers on the season and 487 on his career. With the deadened ball, reaching 500 this season gets tougher with each passing week. The Dodgers made a surprising move in trading RBI machine and fan favorite first baseman Jeff Bundy to the rival Cubs. It was a shock to many, but the trade makes sense for both teams. Chicago has been searching for a solid first sacker since the retirement of Cookie Parrish and the enlistment of Dan Troge. With Bundy aging, Brooklyn wanted to get young first baseman Dennis Kitterman in the lineup, and he is hitting .331 on the season. The Dodgers also needed to improve their outfield, and they did that with slick fielding Jeff Tiptmann.

In another set of trades, the Pirates shipped infielder Eric Teeuw to the A's for prospects. The A's wanted Teeuw to improve their second base position, but they quickly decided to turn the 39-year-old into a trio of younger players by trading him to his original team, the Red Sox. Teeuw has not played for the Sox since a trade to the Braves in 1938. Then he was their third baseman, and now he will be asked to fill in at shortstop.

American League-Pitcher of the Month:
Jeronimo Arsenault (PHA)!
He had a record of 6-1 in 7 games started, with an ERA of 1.60 and 3 shutouts.

American League-Batter of the Month:
Jessie "Bing" Holt (BOS)!
He batted .371 in 97 AB, with 4 homers and 18 RBI.

National League-Pitcher of the Month:
Bill "Tex" Blakemore (PIT)!
He had a record of 5-1 in 7 games started, with an ERA of 1.14 and 2 shutouts.

National League-Batter of the Month:
Otis Sistruck (CIN)!
He batted .398 in 103 AB, with 0 homers and 18 RBI.

American League Standings 
  
Boston (A)       44 31 .587 -
St. Louis (A)    44 31 .587 -
Washington       43 32 .573 1.0
Cleveland        38 38 .500 6.5
Chicago (A)      35 40 .467 9.0 
Detroit          34 42 .447 10.5
New York (A)     31 42 .425 12.0
Philadelphia (A) 32 45 .416 13.0
 
National League Standings 
 
Brooklyn         44 31 .587 - 
Pittsburgh       43 31 .581 0.5 
St. Louis (N)    41 34 .547 3.0
New York (N)     37 39 .487 7.5
Cincinnati       37 40 .481 8.0 
Chicago (N)      36 39 .480 8.0
Philadelphia (N) 34 42 .447 10.5
Boston (N)       30 46 .395 14.5

AL AVG
.357 Carlton Affee, DET
.353 Blake Crocitto, WSH
.349 Carl Kahle, WSH

NL AVG
.370 Otis Sistruck, CIN
.327 Pee Wee Osborne, CIN
.322 William Suggs, PHI

AL HOMERUNS
14 Jessie Holt, BOS
11 Daniel Lutzke, CLE
8 Allen March, NYA

NL HOMERUNS
13 Dale Lamberty, NYG
12 Dewey Mickelsen, CHN
10 Maurice Misisca, PHI (yes, the younger brother of Quenton)

AL RBI
60 Jessie Holt, BOS
52 Carl Kahle, WSH
49 John Shears, WSH

NL RBI
51 Elmer Menard, PIT
46 Otis Sistruck, CIN
45 Jeff Bundy, CHN

AL STEALS
21 John Shears, WSH
20 Ping Hung, NYA
19 Ray Dimeo, DET

NL STEALS
35 Fuzz Allen, NYG
32 Jonny Perly, BKN
25 Mickey McWhorter, BKN

AL ERA
2.44 George Bowers, CLE
2.54 Herb Lineberry, CHA
2.67 Bob Bussmann, CHA

NL ERA
1.57 Frank Smith, BKN
2.12 Randall Bray, NYG
2.34 David Wickersham, CHN

AL WINS
12 Zolly Schoeter, CLE
11 Bob Bussmann, CHA
11 Cotton Simson, SLA

NL WINS
13 Frank Smith, BKN
13 Randall Bray, NYG
13 Abe Dickens, STL

AL STRIKEOUTS
89 Cotton Simson, SLA
84 Jethro Lee, WSH
82 Bill Finley, WSH

NL STRIKEOUTS
109 Frank Smith, BKN
106 Remmy Paul, BKN
94 Max Baxter, BKN


Ancestors:

NYG 2B Bobby Martin collected his 2000th hit on June 18th against St. Louis' Vic Gorin.