1948-49 United Leagues of Braeland Awards
Eastern League
Babe Ruth Award
This past season saw a changing of the guard as three new players were in the running for the Eastern League top batter award. Stratford’s 29-year old C
Aaron Skidmore (.311/.488/.538, 33-2B, 21 HR, 98 RBI, 8.4 WAR) has been an all-star in each of the 8 full seasons he has played since he was selected first overall by the Hespeler Stars back in 1940-41. He is considered the No. 1 rated position player in the entire United Leagues and now has a Babe Ruth Award to back up that claim. He led the Eastern League in BB (160), OPB (.488), OPS (1.026), wOBA (.454) and WAR (8.4). He finished in the Top 5 in two other offensive categories (Top 2 once).
This year’s runner ups were:
2nd: Downie’s 3B
Dominic Dudding (.336/.395/.575, 37-2B, 30 HR, 134 RBI, 7.3 WAR)
3rd: Braeland City’s C
Christopher Dainty (.328/.427/.534, 30-2B, 20 HR, 84 RBI, 6.6 WAR)
Dudding led the circuit in HR (30), RBI (134), SLG (.575), ISO (.240), XBH (76) and TB (348). He finished in the Top 5 in eight other offensive categories (Top 2 four times, including K’s).
Dainty, who won Rookie of the Year honors last season, finished in the Top 5 in six categories (Top 2 once).
Previous Winners:
1937-38: Katsunan Chikafuji, Queensland Eagles
1938-39: Paul Hooks, Embro Suns
1939-40: Terence Durney, Embro Suns
1940-41: Jim Friend, Embro Suns
1941-42: Jim Friend, Embro Suns
1942-43: Mark Elston, Brunswick Legends
1943-44: Dean Bishop, Braeland City Monarchs
1944-45: Stuart Bentham, Brunswick Legends
1945-46: Jim Friend, Embro Suns
1946-47: Elijah Sheppard, Queensland Eagles
1947-48: Roberto Ríos, Stratford Barons
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Satchel Paige Award
Braeland City’s patience with
Nicholas Grimes was rewarded this season when the 28-year old southpaw earned his first Satchel Paige Award. The injury-prone hurler, who was selected in the second-round back in 1943-44, lost significant playing time in both the 1946-47 and 1947-48 seasons due to tearing his labrum on two separate occasions. But he managed to hold it together this year to earn his first all-star selection and now his first Top Pitcher Award. Grimes led the circuit (and the ULB) in wins (21) and finished in the Top 5 in eight other categories (Top 2 once).
Incidentally, this marks the 9th straight season and 10th overall that a left-handed pitcher has won the Eastern League Satchel Paige Award. Colm Soper and Lenny Freke are the only RH pitchers on the list.
A previous two-time winner and a new-comer were in the running this season:
2nd: Brunswick's LHP
Anastasio Rodríguez (18-13, 2.92 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 144 ERA+)
3rd: Queensland’s RHP
Pi-ao Quian (14-12, 3.16 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 131 ERA+)
Rodríguez led the League in ERA (2.92), IP (280.0), K/BB (2.25) and WAR (8.5). He finished in the Top 5 in five other pitching categories (Top 2 twice).
Quian led in shutouts (4), HR/9 (0.20) and FIP (2.96). He finished in the Top 5 in two other categories (Top 2 once).
Previous Winners:
1937-38: Colm Soper, Embro Suns
1938-39: Justin Hayhurst, Stratford Barons
1939-40: Lenny Freke, Braeland City Monarchs
1940-41: David Cooling, Braeland City Monarchs
1941-42: Anastasio Rodríguez, Brunswick Legends
1942-43: Anastasio Rodríguez, Brunswick Legends
1943-44: Ryan Borden, Stratford Barons
1944-45: Matthew Monroe, Brunswick Legends
1945-46: Joel Fearn, Stratford Barons
1946-47: Arthur Bence, Wellington Athletics
1947-48: Ryan Borden, Stratford Barons
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Rookie of the Year Award
Despite missing 11 weeks due to injuries, 23-year old CF/2B
Patrick Lidgate (.301/.413/.515, 13-2B, 13 HR, 59 RBI, 4.3 WAR) was the clear choice for Rookie of the Year. The first overall pick from 1947-48 did not disappoint in his first full season. He also finished with 118 hits and 87 runs in 99 games. He represents the fourth Monarch to win the Award and second in a row.
Here were the runners-up:
2nd: Embro's 23-year old LF/SS
Keon-chae Cho (.333/.368/.533, 15-2B, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 2.1 WAR)
3rd: Cobourg’s 25-year old RF
Fergus Thackwray (.287/.373/.465, 16-2B, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 1.9 WAR)
Previous Winners:
1938-39: Adam Ashley, Braeland City Monarchs
1939-40: Soren Heinke, Wellington Athletics
1940-41: Dean Bishop, Queensland Eagles
1941-42: Harry Chatwin, Brunswick Legends
1942-43: Geoff Lemoine, Stratford Barons
1943-44: Elijah Sheppard, Queensland Eagles
1944-45: Kyle Pryor, Braeland City Monarchs
1945-46: Jilenko Batiles, Cobourg Red Stockings
1946-47: Ron Gavin, Queensland Eagles
1947-48: Christopher Dainty, Braeland City Monarchs
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1948-49 Western League Awards
Babe Ruth Award
After finishing second in last year’s voting, Fort Richmond’s CF
Dylan Moyne (.349/.419/.543, 38-2B, 19 HR, 114 RBI, 8.8 WAR) breaks through to win his first Babe Ruth Award, ending C Danny Trowbridge’s three-year reign. Up until this season, no former first overall pick has ever won either the top batter or top pitcher awards. With Aaron Skidmore’s win in the East and now Dylan Moyne’s win in the West, suddenly there are two. Moyne was selected first overall back in 1944-45.
Moyne led the Western League in Hits (207), RBI (114), WAR (8.8), TB (322) and tied for first in SB (24). He finished in the Top 5 in nine other offensive categories (Top 2 twice).
Moyne’s runners-up were a couple of Carltons:
2nd: Wolseley’s LF
Carlton Hawking (.349/.468/.562, 36-2B, 22 HR, 86 RBI, 6.8 WAR)
3rd: Balmoral's LF
Carlton Broadbent (.345/.414/.576, 42-2B, 26 HR, 95 RBI, 5.0 WAR)
Hawking led in AVG (.34915), OBP (.468), OPS (1.030) and wOBA (.457). He finished in the Top 5 in ten other categories (Top 2 five times).
Broadbent led in HR (26), SLG (.576) ISO (.231) and XBH (69). He finished in the Top 5 in eight other categories (Top 2 four times).
Previous Winners:
1937-38: Fergus Chitty, Kingston Pelicans
1938-39: Fergus Chitty, Kingston Pelicans
1939-40: Jayden Tennant, Kingston Pelicans
1940-41: Steven Winstanley, Hespeler Stars
1941-42: Jayden Tennant, Kingston Pelicans
1942-43: Ron Westmacott, Cambria Cannons
1943-44: Carlton Broadbent, Balmoral Giants
1944-45: Carlton Broadbent, Balmoral Giants
1945-46: Danny Trowbridge, Kingston Pelicans
1946-47: Danny Trowbridge, Kingston Pelicans
1947-48: Danny Trowbridge, Kingston Pelicans
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Satchel Paige Award
The trade of C Danny Trowbridge from Fort Richmond to Kingston back in November 1943 continues to pay dividends, as perhaps the top prospect the Generals got in return in that trade picked up his first Satchel Paige Award. 26-year old RHP
Nicky Sherlock (18-7, 2.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 165 ERA+) represents just the second pitcher not playing for either the Kingston Pelicans or Sherburn Tigers to earn top honours in the West.
Sherlock led the West in ERA (2.48), IP (279.0) and WHIP (1.15). He finished in the Top 5 in eight other categories (Top 2 four times).
Finishing behind Sherlock this year were:
2nd: Sherburn's RHP
Roberto Taváres (14-10, 2.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 144 ERA+)
3rd: Wolseley's RHP
Kai Tosh (16-9, 3.15 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 134 ERA+)
Taváres led the Western League in HR/9 (0.2). He finished in the Top 5 in three other categories (Top 2 once).
Tosh led in SO (129), K/9 (4.7) and K/BB (1.95). He finished in the Top 5 in six other categories.
Previous Winners:
1937-38: Neil Guerin, Cambria Cannons
1938-39: Brady Murdy, Kingston Pelicans
1939-40: Brady Murdy, Kingston Pelicans
1940-41: Brady Murdy, Kingston Pelicans
1941-42: Francis Slocock, Kingston Pelicans
1942-43: Joey Cumberledge, Kingston Pelicans
1943-44: Francis Slocock, Kingston Pelicans
1944-45: Roberto Taváres, Sherburn Tigers
1945-46: Patrick Denman, Kingston Pelicans
1946-47: Jesús Chapa, Sherburn Tigers
1947-48: Jesús Chapa, Sherburn Tigers
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Rookie of the Year Award
It was a clean sweep for the Fort Richmond Generals, as 23-year old LHP
Gavin Flatt (13-6, 3.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 133 ERA+) won this year’s Rookie of the Year Award. For the third time, a pitcher won the Rookie Award in the West. Flatt actually led the League in H/9 (7.12) and OAVG (2.16) in 189.2 IP. He finished in the Top 5 in two other categories.
The runners-up for the Rookie Award were:
2nd: Sherburn’s 2B
Jack Burt (.304/.357/.425, 45-2B, 55 RBI, 2.9 WAR)
3rd: Wolseley's RF
Howard Ockey (.311/.436/.467, 4-2B, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 2.6 WAR)
Burt led the West in doubles (45), triples (14) and SO (90). He finished in the TOP 5 in three other categories.
Previous Winners:
1938-39: Aaron Flanagan, Wolseley Unions
1939-40: Francisco Rodríguez, Balmoral Giants
1940-41: Leon Hankey, Cambria Cannons
1941-42: Brian Pittman, Balmoral Giants
1942-43: Freddie Duran, Kingston Pelicans
1943-44: Rizalino Ringor, Wolseley Unions
1944-45: Hao Wang, Cambria Cannons
1945-46: Ben Currall, Kingston Pelicans
1946-47: Éric Denis, Wolseley Unions
1947-48: Dominic Pipard, Balmoral Giants
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Manager of the Year Award
Toby Reakes earned his second consecutive Eastern League Manager of the Year Award, after the Braeland City Monarchs reached new heights in the regular season. The Monarchs became the third team in United League history to win 104 games – the most any team has won. The Embro Suns first accomplished it back in 1942-43 and the Kingston Pelicans matched it in 1945-46. Although a United Cup victory still eludes the club, Reakes has guided the Monarchs now to two consecutive playoff appearances, matching their other back-to-back playoff appearances of 1940 and 1941. Over five seasons, he has gone 431-340, .559. The 51-year old former major leaguer is considered a tactician and enjoys an excellent reputation.
It took 12 seasons, but Wolseley Unions manager
Tony Fay (899-949, .486) finally grabbed the brass ring, leading his squad to their first United Cup championship. In the process, he also earned his first Manager of the Year Award, as he led the Unions to their third consecutive playoff appearance. Fay has been Wolseley’s field manager for their entire 12 season existence. He is joined in that club by three of his peers: Downie’s 53-year old Bill Bouchet, Cambria’s 62-year old Eddie Frierson and last year’s Western League Manager of the Year, 46-year old Morrigan O’Lonergan of Balmoral.
Fay enjoys an excellent reputation but is not a shrinking violet: he is temperamental to say the least and his anger management issues have rubbed some of his players the wrong way over the years. But the 50-year old Pulberry native’s balanced, conventional approach has paid dividends.
Previous Winners:
1937-38: Bradley Balmforth, Wellington Athletics; Rouke Barclay, Sherburn Tigers
1938-39: Vic Windle, Embro Suns; John Permenter, Kingston Pelicans
1939-40: Warren Paulino, Braeland City Monarchs; Eddie Frierson, Cambria Cannons
1940-41: Bill Quinn, Stratford Barons; John Permenter, Kingston Pelicans
1941-42: Babe Ruth, Brunswick Legends; Eddie Frierson, Cambria Cannons
1942-43: Wesley Leseberg, Brunswick Legends; Ben Houchens, Kingston Pelican
1943-44: Bill Quinn, Stratford Barons; Ben Houchens, Kingston Pelicans
1944-45: Wesley Leseberg, Brunswick Legends; Ben Houchens, Kingston Pelicans
1945-46: Bill Quinn, Stratford Barons; Bradley Balmforth, Sherburn Tigers
1946-47: Reid Saxby, Queensland Eagles; Ben Houchens, Kingston Pelicans
1947-48: Toby Reakes, Braeland City Monarchs; Morrigan O’Lonergan, Balmoral Giants
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New Records Set
As previously mentioned in the team write-ups, Stratford’s C
Aaron Skidmore set two new single-season marks: OBP (.4876), surpassing
Gary Watkinson’s previous mark of .4832 set in 1937-38; and BB (160), breaking the old mark of 147, set by
Héctor Nájera in 1938-39.
Walks were up greatly this past season, as evidenced by four pitchers surpassing the previous mark. LHP
Ah-cy Yao held the previous mark of 149 set in 1945-46. But Balmoral’s RHP
Quintiliano Galeo and RHP
Cris Herrera both set the new mark of 162. They were followed by Pulberry’s
Lee Dowdeswell (161) and Braeland City’s
Robin Medellin (157).