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1946 Season Recap
To be blunt, the 1946 season did not go quite as smoothly as the GM had envisioned. Maybe he didn’t realize just how messy the situation was. Maybe it was a rookie manager dealing with growing pains and learning on the job. While the Kings record improved over the 1945 clubs 61 wins, it was meager improvement. The 1946 club won just 63 games and a major series of transactions started to unfold. People questioned the owner, the GM, the Manager and would this pairing actually work.
The Kings traded several players who many felt would be key components in the future of the team. CF Rats McGonigle who never had quite lived up to his 1st round billing in Brooklyn prior to the war, had returned and he didn’t like what he saw. So frustrated with the lack of winning throughout his Kings career, the CF became incredibly unhappy. While he didn’t demand a trade publicly, there were whispers of his desire to be dealt. On July 22nd, with the Kings struggling mightily with a 36-59 record the GM pulled the trigger. “Star” CF Rats McGonigle was dealt to the Washington Eagles. While the Eagles historically were not traditional contenders in the Federal Association, they had fashioned a 53-41 record and were just 3 ½ games out of first when the deal was made. In the deal coming back to Brooklyn was not help for the 1946, unless you believe that subtraction of a clubhouse malcontent is an addition. This is not to say Rats was a clubhouse cancer, but his unhappiness had grown and was it was apparent he was not a happy camper. The Kings acquired the Eagles 1st and 3rd round picks in the upcoming draft and AA SP Chet Reed who was 4-9 with a 4.50 ERA on the season. The trade ended up being a huge success for the Eagles, who went on win the FA crown with a 90-64 record. Rats who struggled to a 242/351/724 slash line with 6 home runs and 23 RBI’s in 88 games with the Kings had a resurgence in Washington. Some would say it was the first time Rats looked like the player so many had thought he would be when he was drafted 4th overall in 1939. In just 59 games with his new team, Rats hit 280/388/972 with 16 home runs and 44 RBI’s. The Eagles went 37-23 and went on to the World Series.
The next move by Martin shocked many onlookers and not just the fans of the club. Martin wasn’t finished tearing down the Kings. On the 1946 trade deadline day, in the final hours Martin made another move. This time he traded slugging 1B “Tiny” Tim Hopkins for another 1st round pick and several prospects in SS Herb Keller (#118) and SP Paul Byler (#46). Like McGonigle, Hopkins had struggled with the Kings in living up to his high school hype. Yes, he was a power hitter, but the Kings ballpark was a tough place for flyball sluggers to sometimes play in. At the time of the deal Hopkins was hitting a career high 278/352/785 with 13 home runs and 39 RBI’s in 88 games. Like McGonigle, Hopkins was displeased with the losing nature of the Kings and quietly voiced a desire to leave town. He was sent to the Chicago Chiefs who play in a very slugger friendly ballpark. Hopkins immediately found success in Chicago as in just 48 games he hit 343/406/1069 with 15 home runs and 35 RBI’s. Chiefs found their slugging 1B they desired and Martin had more chips to try and rebuild the Kings.
From that 36-59 record when they traded McGonigle, the Kings finished the season 27-32. Some would say the Kings played slightly better after the deals, but it was not enough. There was a tremendous amount of work to be done before spring training for the 1947 season.
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