Absolute Blockbuster of a Trade in my 42 year old Historical Random Debut

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Are you tying the stats to a particular season or just taking things as they come?

I'm going season to season. Plan is to go season to season to 1984. Will decide then if I lock into 84 forever, or use another method. But, the main goal is to get there.

[David Watts]

Pretty amazed that I'm a full 6 seasons in and the high for home runs is only 33.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Pretty amazed that I'm a full 6 seasons in and the high for home runs is only 33.

Mine started off quite slowly too when I started in 1901 with 1984 settings. For a while I boosted it a little and then I just started to let whatever happened happen.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Mine started off quite slowly too when I started in 1901 with 1984 settings. For a while I boosted it a little and then I just started to let whatever happened happen.

Looking like 1953 might change this up. Only June 22 and Duke Snider already has 25. Joey Bats has 20.

[actionjackson]

1st round of 1954 Amateur Draft:

1. Dodgers: Garret Anderson OF
2. Giants: Everett Scott SS
3. Athletics: John E Briggs OF
4. Senators: Earl Wilson RHP
5. Phillies: Cecil Fielder 1B
6. Orioles: Doc Crandall RHP
7. Senators: Jim A Wilson RHP
8. Redlegs: Dick Redding (Negro Leaguer [Spritze Database]) RHP
9. Tigers: Craig Swan RHP
10. Braves: Dixie E Howell C
11. White Sox: Tim Lollar LHP
12. Pirates: Dexter Fowler OF
13. Indians: Wally Hood Sr. 1B/OF
14. Cubs: Mike Cubbage 2B/3B
15. Pirates: Jimmie DeShong RHP
16. Tigers: Donne Wall RHP

Detroit Tigers also drafted: Rick Sweet C, Danny Salazar RHP, Jim H Devlin LHP, Frank Olin 2B/3B/OF, Mike J Mahoney C, Carlos F Diaz C

[actionjackson]

Arrrgh!!! Sandy Koufax' career is over at the tender age of 24 after setbacks following elbow ligament reconstruction surgery. Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh. He finishes up 42-37 with 15 SV, and a 2.98 ERA, 134 ERA+, and 18.1 WAR. Hitters were only able to hit .222/.294/.335/.628 off him, with a 1.20 WHIP, 0.7 HR/9, 3.4 BB/9, 8.8 K/9. He was well on his way, but you never know with injuries turned on. Ugh.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Arrrgh!!! Sandy Koufax' career is over at the tender age of 24 after setbacks following elbow ligament reconstruction surgery. Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh. He finishes up 42-37 with 15 SV, and a 2.98 ERA, 134 ERA+, and 18.1 WAR. Hitters were only able to hit .222/.294/.335/.628 off him, with a 1.20 WHIP, 0.7 HR/9, 3.4 BB/9, 8.8 K/9. He was well on his way, but you never know with injuries turned on. Ugh.

Oh man, losing Koufax is rough. Hadn't even reached his greatness years yet. But, I still would rather have stuff like that happen than not.

I have around 6 games left to play in 1953. Duke Snider did end up surpassing the 33 home run mark, hitting 40. Sniders season came to an end in September due to his second DL trip of season. The current injury may keep him out of the post season as well. The Birmingham Slammers will miss the post season for the first time in 6 seasons.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Oh man, losing Koufax is rough. Hadn't even reached his greatness years yet. But, I still would rather have stuff like that happen than not.

I have around 6 games left to play in 1953. Duke Snider did end up surpassing the 33 home run mark, hitting 40. Sniders season came to an end in September due to his second DL trip of season. The current injury may keep him out of the post season as well. The Birmingham Slammers will miss the post season for the first time in 6 seasons.

I had 27 20+ HR hitters in 1954. 5 of those eclipsed 30 HR, and two of them eclipsed 40.

Pete J O'Brien is one of four players in history to have the name Peter O'Brien. He goes by Peter James. There was also a Peter J. O'Brien, a Peter Michael O'Brien, and a Peter Robert O'Brien, who's currently active and goes by Peter O'Brien. Confused yet? Anyhow, this Pete O'Brien played second base from 1887-1890 IRL. He blasted 44 HR in my league in 1954.

Ken Williams is one of two Ken Williams that have played in history. Kenneth Roy Williams played from 1915 through 1929 IRL, while Kenneth Royal Williams played from 1986 through 1991 and is now President of the White Sox. Kenneth Royal has gone through already and had a pretty nondescript career from 1929 through 1935 in my league. Kenneth Roy looks like an absolute stud though, and hit 40 HR in 1954, following up on a rookie of the year selection in 1953 with 25 HR and 102 RBI. Kenneth Roy Williams finished 2nd in MVP voting in 1954. O'Brien didn't even finish in my top ten for AL MVP, as he has issues with getting on base (or not making outs) and finished with a putrid .287 OBP.

The other three who hit 30+ HR? Negro Leaguer Oscar Charleston blasted 39, while finishing 6th in NL MVP vothing (I pick ten even if the game only keeps track of three of them). Some cat named Steve Hertz blasted 33 for the Yankees, but was nowhere near contention for MVP, while Home Run Baker had a bit of a comeback year and belted 30 HR and 104 RBI, while finishing 4th in NL MVP voting.

[actionjackson]

Top ten AL MVP for 1954:

1. Al Orth, 27, BOS, RHSP
2. Ken Williams, 21, PHA, 3B/DH/RF
3. Red Ehret, 21, BOS, RHSP
4. Wes Ferrell, 19, CLE, RHSP
5. Alan Ashby, 33, WS1, C
6. John Clarkson, 26, DET, RHSP
7. Brook Jacoby, 25, DET, 3B/1B
8. Shoeless Joe Jackson, 35, WS1, RF/DH/LF
9. Tom Sturdivant, 27, BOS, RHSP
10. Roger Bresnahan, 34, NYY, C

I don't usually have so many pitchers in the MVP race, but 1954 was a great year for pitchers and that's reflected in these selections. Seven players in that top ten are 27 or under, so youth was definitely served as well, but there are still some older players that can bring it.

Top five AL CYA for 1954:

1. Al Orth, 27, BOS, RHSP
2. Red Ehret, 21, BOS, RHSP
3. Wes Ferrell, 19, CLE, RHSP
4. John Clarkson, 26, DET, RHSP
5. Tom Sturdivant, 27, BOS, RHSP

Top three AL Mariano Rivera Award for 1954:

1. Charlie Guth, 27, PHA, RHRP
2. Mike J Adams, 31, CLE, RHRP
3. Robb Nen, 28, NYY, RHRP

Top three AL Jackie Robinson Award for 1954:

1. Jack Slattery, 23, BAL, C
2. Kevin Jordan, 25, NYY, 2B
3. Al Oliver, 20, BAL, LF

[actionjackson]

Top ten NL MVP for 1954:

1. Walter Johnson, 20, CHC, RHSP
2. Sixto Lezcano, 24, CHC, RF
3. Charlie Blackmon, 27, ML1, LF/RF
4. Home Run Baker, 34, PIT, 3B
5. Bill Foster (Negro Leaguer - Spritze Database), 22, ML1, LHSP
6. Oscar Charleston (Negro Leaguer - Spritze Database), 24, STL, CF
7. Otto Velez, 24, PIT, LF/1B
8. Frank Howard, 34, ML1, 1B/LF/RF
9. Cesar Cedeno, 22, CIN, CF
10. Earl Battey, 27, STL, C

Only two pitchers on this list, but eight players were 27 or younger, so once again youth is key. Baker and Howard are probably first ballot HoFers, and were still bringing it at age 34.

Top five NL CYA for 1954:

1. Walter Johnson, 20, CHC, RHSP
2. Bill Foster, 22, ML1, LHSP
3. Chien-Ming Wang, 26, CIN, RHSP
4. Mark Gubicza, 25, CIN, RHSP
5. Billy Hart, 23, CHC, RHSP

Top three NL Mariano Rivera Award for 1954:

1. Eddie Hogan, 22, CHC, RHRP
2. Don Choate, 30, STL, RHRP
3. Ron Nischwitz, 28, CHC, LHRP

Top three NL Jackie Robinson Award for 1954:

1. Paul Konerko, 21, PHI, 3B/1B
2. Chien-Ming Wang, 26, CIN, RHSP
3. Billy Hart, 23, CHC, RHSP

[David Watts]

First 3 picks of the 53 draft....Tony Perez, Lou Gehrig and Hal Chase.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by David Watts

First 3 picks of the 53 draft....Tony Perez, Lou Gehrig and Hal Chase.

WHOA!!! That's three great first basemen right there. Although I think Perez started out at third base.

1955 Draft: Ted Williams, Bill Donovan and Ted Kluszewski are in it. Other recognizable folks: Jimmy Ryan, Derek Bell, Sid Fernandez, and Greg Swindell.

I will be sure to "Spritzeify" Ted Williams so he doesn't become a pitcher while he's on the other side of the world fighting in WWII. For some reason, he remains a LF during the Korean War. Whatevs. I know for a fact that he has no neutralized pitching stats in the Spritze Database, so that's the Williams I want.

Random debut is so cool. You put Mickey Mantle in the HoF (HoF class of 1955), and Ted Williams shows up later that year in the Amateur Draft. The distribution of talent turns out so well for long term sims. I love it. Even if Sandy Koufax was lost at 24, it's still the best way to play the game.

[David Watts]

Man is recalc the cruelest bully on the planet or what? So sad to see a guy like Bob Moose be so good and then almost overnight disappear. Of course, it's life that's cruel in reality. Recalc just imitates life.

[actionjackson]

1st Round of 1955 Amateur Draft:

1. Dodgers: Ted Williams OF
2. Pirates: Greg Swindell LHP
3. Indians: Ted Kluszewski 1B
4. Yankees: Bill Donovan RHP
5. Athletics: Jimmy Ryan OF
6. Senators: Del Rice C
7. Pirates: Hal Morris 1B/OF
8. Giants: Sid Fernandez LHP
9. Senators: Max Lanier LHP
10. Cubs: Wayne Gomes RHP
11. Tigers: Derek Bell OF
12. Phillies: Bill Long RHP
13. Redlegs: Red Howell C/OF
14. Redlegs: John Hummel 1B/2B/OF
15. Orioles: Jim Delahanty 3B/SS/OF
16. Cardinals: Cecil Garriott OF

Detroit Tigers also drafted: Hank Thormahlen LHP, Barry Manuel RHP, Will Pennyfeather OF, Larry Carter RHP, Nate Rolison 1B

[actionjackson]

Top ten AL MVP for 1955:

1. Red Ehret, 22, BOS, RHSP
2. Kid Madden, 30, BAL, LHSP
3. Jose Quintana, 24, DET, LHSP
4. Andy Pettitte, 25, NYY, LHSP
5. Joe Rudi, 20, WS1, 1B
6. Frank Olin, 23, DET, CF
7. Bob Shawkey, 30, BOS, RHSP
8. Geronimo Berroa, 30, WS1, LF
9. Stan Williams, 24, NYY, RHSP
10. Wally Hood Sr., 21, CLE, 1B/DH

Whoa! That's a lot of pitchers. Then again, they are involved in more hitter vs pitcher matchups than most hitters are over the course of the average season. Joe Rudi led the AL in OPS at a stunningly low .875. Not a real hitter's year I'm afraid.

Top five AL CYA for 1955:

1. Red Ehret, 22, BOS, RHSP
2. Kid Madden, 30, BAL, LHSP
3. Jose Quintana, 24, DET, LHSP
4. Andy Pettitte, 25, NYY, LHSP
5. Bob Shawkey, 30, BOS, RHSP

Top three AL Mariano Rivera Award for 1955:

1. Bill Hepler, 32, BAL, LHRP
2. Brandon Cumpton, 33, BOS, RHRP
3. Jeff Zaske, 25, KC1, RHRP

Top three AL Jackie Robinson Award for 1955:

1. Joe Rudi, 20, WS1, 1B
2. Frank Olin, 23, DET, CF
3. Wally Hood Sr., 21, CLE, 1B/DH

What a rookie class! All three showed up in the Top ten for MVP, which further underscores how crappy the hitting was in the AL in 1955. The only veteran hitter that made it into the top ten for AL MVP in 1955 was Geronimo Berroa of the Senators. Yuk!

[actionjackson]

Top ten NL MVP for 1955:

1. Oscar Charleston, 25, STL, CF/1B
2. Walter Johnson, 21, CHC, RHSP
3. Mark Gubicza, 26, CIN, RHSP
4. Babe Adams, 37, ML1, RHSP
5. Cesar Cedeno, 23, CIN, CF
6. Earl Battey, 28, STL, C
7. Ned Williamson, 26, STL, 3B
8. Dusty Miller, 23, CHC, CF
9. Frank Howard, 35, PIT, LF/RF/1B
10. John Kane, 24, STL, SS/CF

Top five NL CYA for 1955:

1. Mark Gubicza, 26, CIN, RHSP
2. Walter Johnson, 21, CHC, RHSP
3. Babe Adams, 37, ML1, RHSP
4. Tom Seaver, 24, BRO, RHSP
5. Dennis Burns, 26, PHI, RHSP

Top three NL Mariano Rivera Award for 1955:

1. Reggie Richter, 26, PHI, RHRP
2. Eddie Hogan, 23, CHC, RHRP
3. Mark W Davis, 24, PIT, LHRP

Top three NL Jackie Robinson Award for 1955:

1. Tom Haller, 23, CHC, C
2. Russ Derry, 21, BRO, LF
3. Shane Peterson, 25, BRO, CF/RF

The Cardinals smoked the Orioles 4 games to 1 in the World Series. They are loaded with position players. Four of them in the top ten for MVP, and all of them are 28 or younger. We'll see how they do going forward. Ned Williamson is a free agent now that the season is over, as is Dave Martinez. Charleston, Battey, Kane, Mike Stanley and Sam Thompson are all around through next season when Thompson becomes a free agent. The other four should be around for a while, so maybe they've got something, but baseball's tough to predict.

[actionjackson]

I've been doing top ten MVP, top five CYA, top three Mariano Rivera Award, and top three ROY since 1941, so I'm going to post the results here. Should be an interesting way to look back on who has dominated my league from 1941 through 1955. 1954 and 1955 have been posted already above, so this will run from 1941 through 1953.

Top ten AL MVP for 1941:

1. Sam Leever, 27, PHA, RHSP
2. Shoeless Joe Jackson, 22, WS1, LF/CF/RF
3. Jorge Orta, 23, PHA, 2B/DH
4. Bill Stoneman, 27, PHA, RHSP
5. Ray Demmitt, 25, SLA, RF
6. James Burke, 27, NYY, RHSP
7. Baldy Louden, 23, CLE, SS/2B/3B/DH
8. Dazzy Vance, 36, SLA, RHSP
9. Ed Beatin, 22, WS1, LHSP
10. Speed Martin, 27, SLA, RHSP

Top five AL CYA for 1941:

1. Sam Leever, 27, PHA, RHSP
2. Bill Stoneman, 27, PHA, RHSP
3. James Burke, 27, NYY, RHSP
4. Dazzy Vance, 36, SLA, RHSP
5. Ed Beatin, 22, WS1, LHSP

Top three AL Mariano Rivera Award for 1941:

1. Mike A Schultz, 28, PHA, RHRP
2. Ralph Caldwell, 21, BOS, LHRP
3. Dutch Henry, 27, NYY, LHRP

Top three AL Jackie Robinson Award for 1941:

1. Kerry Wood, 19, NYY, RHSP
2. Solly Drake, 25, NYY, RF/CF/LF
3. Donie Bush, 19, PHA, SS/DH

Both the Athletics and the Browns had three top ten MVP candidates in 1941, and they ended up matching up in the ALCS with the first place Athletics defeating the 2nd place Browns 4 games to 2. The A's would go on to get spanked 4 games to 1 by their crosstown rivals, the Phillies in the World Series that year, but they had a very solid year.

[actionjackson]

Top ten NL MVP for 1941:

1. Ted Breitenstein, 25, CIN, LHSP
2. Carl Yastrzemski, 27, BRO, LF
3. Gene Tenace, 30, STL, C
4. Mickey Mantle, 32, PHI, LF
5. Earl Moseley, 25, BSN, RHSP
6. Harmon Killebrew, 29, PIT, 2B
7. Corey Kluber, 28, PHI, RHSP
8. Mike Blowers, 27, CHC, 3B
9. Mark McGwire, 26, CHC, 1B
10. Claudell Washington, 20, PHI, CF

Top five NL CYA for 1941:

1. Ted Breitenstein, 25, CIN, LHSP
2. Earl Moseley, 25, BSN, RHSP
3. Corey Kluber, 28, PHI, RHSP
4. Ramon J Martinez, 27, CHC, RHSP
5. Bill Wight, 27, BSN, LHSP

Top three NL Mariano Rivera Award for 1941:

1. Buck J Freeman, 20, BRO, LHRP
2. Dave Pagan, 30, CHC, RHRP
3. Brett Cecil, 30, PHI, LHRP

Top three NL Jackie Robinson Award for 1941:

1. Paul Mitchell, 30, STL, RHSP
2. Jim Mooney, 23, BSN, LHRP
3. Tot Pressnell, 31, CIN, RHSP

The Phillies kind of coasted along all year, going 88-74, and going into the NLCS as heavy underdogs to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Then they got hot and took apart the Pirates 4-1, and took down the Athletics in five games in the World Series. Looks from here like Mantle, Kluber, Claudell Washington, and Brett Cecil led the way, but they also got a huge season out of 23 year old catcher George Mitterwald. They got hot right at the right time and took down two teams that probably should've beaten them, but that's postseason baseball for you.

[actionjackson]

Top ten AL MVP for 1942:

1. Shoeless Joe Jackson, 23, WS1, RF
2. Randy D Johnson, 31, DET, LHSP
3. James Burke, 28, NYY, RHSP
4. Home Run Baker, 22, BOS, DH/3B
5. Pedro J Martinez, 24, SLA, RHSP
6. Sam Leever, 28, PHA, RHSP
7. Baldy Louden, 24, CLE, 2B/SS
8. Miguel Tejada, 31, NYY, SS
9. Donie Bush, 20, PHA, SS/DH
10. Ryan J Braun, 25, SLA, LF

Top five AL CYA for 1942:

1. Randy D Johnson, 31, DET, LHSP
2. James Burke, 28, NYY, RHSP
3. Pedro J Martinez, 24, SLA, RHSP
4. Sam Leever, 28, PHA, RHSP
5. Mike Smithson, 27, BOS, RHSP

Top three AL Mariano Rivera Award for 1942:

1. Ralph Caldwell, 22, BOS, LHRP
2. Elias Sosa, 26, CWS, RHRP
3. Roger Bresnahan, 22, CWS, RHRP

Top three AL Jackie Robinson Award for 1942:

1. Happy Townsend, 21, CWS, RHSP
2. Len G Gabrielson, 20, BOS, LF/DH/CF/1B
3. Gene Richards, 22, WS1, CF/DH

1942 was a year of fantastic individual performances in the American League. IMHO, Shoeless Joe topped them all with a scintillating .376/.441/.584/1.026 slash line with 119 R, 19 HR, and 140 RBI. He led the AL in PA (746), R (119), H (245), 2B (55), RBI (140), AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS, and WAR (9.2). It was all good for an OPS+ of a ridiculous 188, and a wRC+ of 180.

Randy D Johnson only managed a 15-13 record, but he was on a team that went 59-103. He led the league in ERA (2.36), and strikeouts (a staggering 315), and K/9 (10.2), and pitching WAR (10.0). He posted a 163 ERA+.

All James Burke did was win 26 games to set the all-time record for wins, a record that still stands. He went 26-4, with a 2.75 ERA, and led the league in Wins (26), WHIP (0.97), fewest BB/9 (1.2), and posted a 140 ERA+.

Home Run Baker had a fantastic year as well for the Red Sox. He batted .355/.406/.578/.984 with 28 HR and 125 RBI, and stole 22 bases. Baker put up a 175 OPS+ and a 163 wRC+.

All Pedro J Martinez did was go 21-11 with a 2.51 ERA (153 ERA+), a 0.98 WHIP, and an outstanding 8.5 pitching WAR. 5th in MVP and third in Cy Young? Yep.

Finally, Sam Leever led the league in GS with 36, and IP with 295.2. He wasn't just some durable innings eater type of guy though. Dude went 19-14, with a 2.77 ERA (139 ERA+), and 236 K with 8.9 pitching WAR. Any of these six guys could win an MVP in any other year, but this year it was Shoeless Joe.

[actionjackson]

Top ten NL MVP for 1942:

1. Carl Yastrzemski, 28, BRO, LF
2. George Haddock, 24, PIT, RHSP
3. Javier Vazquez, 27, BRO, RHSP
4. Bob Gibson, 33, PIT, RHSP
5. Harmon Killebrew, 30, PIT, LF
6. Ted Breitenstein, 26, CIN, LHSP
7. Earl Moseley, 26, BSN, RHSP
8. Harry Clarke, 26, BSN, CF/RF
9. Alcides Escobar, 27, CIN, SS/1B
10. Frank Howard, 22, BSN, RF

Top five NL CYA for 1942:

1. George Haddock, 24, PIT, RHSP
2. Bob Gibson, 33, PIT, RHSP
3. Javier Vazquez, 27, BRO, RHSP
4. Earl Moseley, 26, BSN, RHSP
5. Ted Breitenstein, 26, CIN, LHSP

Top three NL Mariano Rivera Award for 1942:

1. Gregg Olson, 26, PIT, RHRP
2. Buck J Freeman, 21, BRO, LHRP
3. Ted Goulait, 25, BSN, RHRP

Top three NL Jackie Robinson Award for 1942:

1. Donovan Osborne, 21, PIT, LHSP
2. Rich Gedman, 20, BRO, C
3. Robbie Ross, 21, STL, LHRP

This time the Pirates would not be denied as they took out the Phillies in six games and the Yankees in seven. Haddock, Gibson, and Killebrew were helped out a lot by C Devin Mesoraco, SS Carlos Guillen and CF Bobby Thomson. They also got help from rookie SP Donovan Osborne and CL Gregg Olson, and a good season from SP Kevin Millwood. All of these players came together to push the Pirates to a 103-59 record and the 4th World Championship in team history. It looks like one of those seasons where they got strong contributions from a lot of different players to put them over the top. Every championship season has a little bit of magic dust, and this one was no different.