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KCRoyals15 · 12-15-2024, 12:48 AM

1956

After Skipper Jr. led Denver to the playoffs in 1953, considerable backsliding occurred, leading to a departure after the 1955 season following a 69-93 season, finishing 316-329 with the Bears. With sub-.500 records over his last two tenures and some questioning if he still had his touch, Junior headed to Omaha looking to turn around the Golden Spikes.

The inaugural season of the Texas League as a major league was deemed a success by the existing major leagues, leading to few questions about the TL's inclusion. However, some wondered if maybe some American Baseball League franchises were stronger than some of their big-league cousins...

Meanwhile, defending champion Buffalo had a much stronger season, improving by 20 games over '55, winning an EBF-best 106 games to cruise to the New England League title. The Philadelphia A's took the second NEL playoff spot with relative ease. The Midwest Association was much closer, with Detroit holding off Chicago, who snagged the second spot.

In the postseason, Detroit took down Philadelphia in seven games, while the Bisons cruised through the Northern Conference playoffs, knocking off Chicago in five games, then defeated Detroit in five as well to win the NC.

In the South, Jacksonville won 100 games for the first time as a big-league club, finishing three games ahead of Atlanta for the Eastern League. Meanwhile, St. Louis punched their fifth straight playoff ticket with 101 wins. Kansas City finished comfortably in second for the other Western League playoff bid.

Atlanta pulled off a first-round upset, knocking St. Louis out in the Southern Conference semifinals in six games. Jacksonville, though, took care of Kansas City in five games. The Tars then took down the Crackers in a seven-game bout to win the SC, their first Conference Championship.

In the Pacific Coast League, the San Diego Padres finished in first place in the PCL for the first time since the franchise (then in Portland) won the inaugural PCL pennant in 1900. Though Hollywood's five-year reign on top of the standings ended, the Stars were in second, with Oakland and Portland earning the final two playoff spots.

The Hollywood Stars had won the last five PCL titles, but that run ended suddenly, as Oakland pulled off a stunning four-game sweep. San Diego then breezed past Portland in five games, then dueled with the Oaks for seven games before the Padres earned their first PCL title in San Diego.

Down in Texas, a weak North Division saw Fort Worth win the division, with 80-82 El Paso earning the second playoff spot. Meanwhile in the south, Galveston dominated through a 108-win season, with Wichita winning 97 games to finish second.

While Wichita dispatched Fort Worth in six games, Galveston gutted El Paso in a five-game set. The Hurricanes then shot down the Aeros in a six-game series to earn the TL crown.

That set up the National Championship tournament, which saw the Jacksonville Tars (SOU) defeat the Buffalo Bisons (NOR) and the
Galveston Hurricanes (TL) defeat the San Diego Padres (PCL), as the Hurricanes became the first Texas League team to win a series in the championship tournament. They nearly won another series, but the Jacksonville Tars (SOU) defeat the Galveston Hurricanes (TL), 4-3 as Jacksonville earns their first National Championship.

After not winning anything in 1955, the Philadelphia Athletics' Larry Meyer claimed his fourth MVP in five years, slashing .330/.413/.589 with a Conference-leading 196 hits and 126 runs, while adding 20 doubles, 10 triples, 38 home runs, 94 RBI, and 28 steals.

Meyer's teammate Brian Jenkins surged onto the scene as a 28-year-old rookie, leading the NC with 24 wins, going 24-7 with a 3.31 ERA, 277.2 innings, and a conference-high 189 strikeouts, earning Pitcher of the Year.

Outfielder Jake Larsen spent 20 years toiling aware on mostly bad Birmingham squads, but earned recognition this year, slashing .347/.424/.587 with 163 hits, 28 doubles, 25 home runs, and 100 RBI to take MVP honors.

For a fourth year running, St. Louis righty John Engelhart logged heavy innings, but was effective enough to earn Pitcher of the Year. Though he was just 18-16, he posted a 2.57 ERA worked 300.2 innings and 162 strikeouts, leading the conference in innings for the fourth-year straight, complete games (27) for the third year running, and also led in shutouts (6). Engelhart's feat was punctuated on August 15, when he set down all 27 Newark Eagles he faced, striking out four and throwing 96 pitches in the first perfect game thrown at the big-league level since 1941.

For the second time in three years, Hollywood ace Steve Rednar won the Pacific Coast League pitching Triple Crown, going 22-9 with a 2.26 ERA, striking out 245 over 302.1 innings. He also led the PCL in complete games (20) and shutouts (8). For his efforts, Rednar won his third Pitcher of the Year award (in four years) and also took home MVP. Well on track for all-time legend status, Rednar was just 26 and would log two more strong seasons. However, he never fully recovered from an arm injury suffered in mid-1959 and was finished by 1961, throwing his last pitch at 31.

In the Texas League, Galveston outfielder Joel Zielinski signed with the Hurricanes in 1949, debuted in 1951, and seamlessly made the big-league transition. The 28-year-old logged a huge year, slashing .365/.418/.575 with 220 hits, 126 runs, 33 doubles, 29 homers, and 115 RBI, leading the TL in batting, hits, runs, and RBI to earn a well-deserved MVP.

Fellow Hurricane Larry Miske had a more circuitous route, posting a solid 1953 rookie season in Galveston, then going down to the Lone Star League for part of 1954, all of '55, then the first five starts in '56. Returning to Galveston, he went 19-5 with a TL-best 2.44 ERA, earning a surprising Pitcher of the Year award, along with exactly a third of his 57 big-league wins.

Galveston swept all three major awards as first baseman John Maynard took Rookie of the Year after batting .329 with 25 home runs and 70 RBI after being acquired early in the year from Boston, who barely used him in three-plus seasons. Maynard then made eight Texas League All-Star teams in a decade. Oops.

---

Once again, Brooklyn (111 wins) and Spokane (105 victories) dominated the American Baseball League, with Salt Lake City and Austin earning the other playoff spots, both out of a stronger West division. Brooklyn and Spokane took their first-round series to reach the ABL Finals, where the Indians downed the Dodgers in six games for their second title in three years.

Brooklyn shortstop Kevin Jenkins earned MVP, batting .325/.434/.454 with 187 hits, 108 runs, 37 doubles, 11 homers, and 62 RBI. Teammate Josh Harding led the ABL in ERA (2.04) for the second straight season, also winning a league-high 23 games and striking out 257 batters in 268.2 innings to earn Pitcher of the Year.

---

Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Jackson Junebugs, 84-70, defeats Baton Rouge
Colonial League: Pittsfield Colonials, 82-58, defeats Worcester
River Valley League: Des Moines Demons, 95-45, defeats Evansville
Rocky Mountain League: Great Falls Explorers, 67-59, defeats Butte (3rd straight)
Coastal League: Columbia Roosters, 107-47, defeats Wilmington
Northern League: Sioux Falls Packers, 81-59, defeats Davenport
Great Lakes League: Rochester Red Wings, 91-49, defeats Akron (2nd straight)
Southwest League: Bakersfield Conquistadors, 94-60, defeats Long Beach (2nd straight)
Southern Association: Beaumont Exporters, 81-59, defeats Shreveport
Northwest League: Yakima Tomahawks, 81-59, defeats Tacoma (3rd straight)
Can-Am League: Portland Lobsters, 76-50, defeats Waterbury
Mid-Atlantic League: Altoona Engineers, 79-61, defeats Asheville
Lone Star League: Rio Grande White Wings, 96-44, defeats Laredo
Great Plains League: St. Paul Saints, 83-57, defeats Thunder Bay

12-15-2024, 12:48 AM	#66
KCRoyals15 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: A lot of them Posts: 123	Tar-red and Feathered 1956 After Skipper Jr. led Denver to the playoffs in 1953, considerable backsliding occurred, leading to a departure after the 1955 season following a 69-93 season, finishing 316-329 with the Bears. With sub-.500 records over his last two tenures and some questioning if he still had his touch, Junior headed to Omaha looking to turn around the Golden Spikes. The inaugural season of the Texas League as a major league was deemed a success by the existing major leagues, leading to few questions about the TL's inclusion. However, some wondered if maybe some American Baseball League franchises were stronger than some of their big-league cousins... Meanwhile, defending champion Buffalo had a much stronger season, improving by 20 games over '55, winning an EBF-best 106 games to cruise to the New England League title. The Philadelphia A's took the second NEL playoff spot with relative ease. The Midwest Association was much closer, with Detroit holding off Chicago, who snagged the second spot. In the postseason, Detroit took down Philadelphia in seven games, while the Bisons cruised through the Northern Conference playoffs, knocking off Chicago in five games, then defeated Detroit in five as well to win the NC. In the South, Jacksonville won 100 games for the first time as a big-league club, finishing three games ahead of Atlanta for the Eastern League. Meanwhile, St. Louis punched their fifth straight playoff ticket with 101 wins. Kansas City finished comfortably in second for the other Western League playoff bid. Atlanta pulled off a first-round upset, knocking St. Louis out in the Southern Conference semifinals in six games. Jacksonville, though, took care of Kansas City in five games. The Tars then took down the Crackers in a seven-game bout to win the SC, their first Conference Championship. In the Pacific Coast League, the San Diego Padres finished in first place in the PCL for the first time since the franchise (then in Portland) won the inaugural PCL pennant in 1900. Though Hollywood's five-year reign on top of the standings ended, the Stars were in second, with Oakland and Portland earning the final two playoff spots. The Hollywood Stars had won the last five PCL titles, but that run ended suddenly, as Oakland pulled off a stunning four-game sweep. San Diego then breezed past Portland in five games, then dueled with the Oaks for seven games before the Padres earned their first PCL title in San Diego. Down in Texas, a weak North Division saw Fort Worth win the division, with 80-82 El Paso earning the second playoff spot. Meanwhile in the south, Galveston dominated through a 108-win season, with Wichita winning 97 games to finish second. While Wichita dispatched Fort Worth in six games, Galveston gutted El Paso in a five-game set. The Hurricanes then shot down the Aeros in a six-game series to earn the TL crown. That set up the National Championship tournament, which saw the Jacksonville Tars (SOU) defeat the Buffalo Bisons (NOR) and the Galveston Hurricanes (TL) defeat the San Diego Padres (PCL), as the Hurricanes became the first Texas League team to win a series in the championship tournament. They nearly won another series, but the Jacksonville Tars (SOU) defeat the Galveston Hurricanes (TL), 4-3 as Jacksonville earns their first National Championship. After not winning anything in 1955, the Philadelphia Athletics' Larry Meyer claimed his fourth MVP in five years, slashing .330/.413/.589 with a Conference-leading 196 hits and 126 runs, while adding 20 doubles, 10 triples, 38 home runs, 94 RBI, and 28 steals. Meyer's teammate Brian Jenkins surged onto the scene as a 28-year-old rookie, leading the NC with 24 wins, going 24-7 with a 3.31 ERA, 277.2 innings, and a conference-high 189 strikeouts, earning Pitcher of the Year. Outfielder Jake Larsen spent 20 years toiling aware on mostly bad Birmingham squads, but earned recognition this year, slashing .347/.424/.587 with 163 hits, 28 doubles, 25 home runs, and 100 RBI to take MVP honors. For a fourth year running, St. Louis righty John Engelhart logged heavy innings, but was effective enough to earn Pitcher of the Year. Though he was just 18-16, he posted a 2.57 ERA worked 300.2 innings and 162 strikeouts, leading the conference in innings for the fourth-year straight, complete games (27) for the third year running, and also led in shutouts (6). Engelhart's feat was punctuated on August 15, when he set down all 27 Newark Eagles he faced, striking out four and throwing 96 pitches in the first perfect game thrown at the big-league level since 1941. For the second time in three years, Hollywood ace Steve Rednar won the Pacific Coast League pitching Triple Crown, going 22-9 with a 2.26 ERA, striking out 245 over 302.1 innings. He also led the PCL in complete games (20) and shutouts (8). For his efforts, Rednar won his third Pitcher of the Year award (in four years) and also took home MVP. Well on track for all-time legend status, Rednar was just 26 and would log two more strong seasons. However, he never fully recovered from an arm injury suffered in mid-1959 and was finished by 1961, throwing his last pitch at 31. In the Texas League, Galveston outfielder Joel Zielinski signed with the Hurricanes in 1949, debuted in 1951, and seamlessly made the big-league transition. The 28-year-old logged a huge year, slashing .365/.418/.575 with 220 hits, 126 runs, 33 doubles, 29 homers, and 115 RBI, leading the TL in batting, hits, runs, and RBI to earn a well-deserved MVP. Fellow Hurricane Larry Miske had a more circuitous route, posting a solid 1953 rookie season in Galveston, then going down to the Lone Star League for part of 1954, all of '55, then the first five starts in '56. Returning to Galveston, he went 19-5 with a TL-best 2.44 ERA, earning a surprising Pitcher of the Year award, along with exactly a third of his 57 big-league wins. Galveston swept all three major awards as first baseman John Maynard took Rookie of the Year after batting .329 with 25 home runs and 70 RBI after being acquired early in the year from Boston, who barely used him in three-plus seasons. Maynard then made eight Texas League All-Star teams in a decade. Oops. --- Once again, Brooklyn (111 wins) and Spokane (105 victories) dominated the American Baseball League, with Salt Lake City and Austin earning the other playoff spots, both out of a stronger West division. Brooklyn and Spokane took their first-round series to reach the ABL Finals, where the Indians downed the Dodgers in six games for their second title in three years. Brooklyn shortstop Kevin Jenkins earned MVP, batting .325/.434/.454 with 187 hits, 108 runs, 37 doubles, 11 homers, and 62 RBI. Teammate Josh Harding led the ABL in ERA (2.04) for the second straight season, also winning a league-high 23 games and striking out 257 batters in 268.2 innings to earn Pitcher of the Year. --- Minor League Champions Southeastern League: Jackson Junebugs, 84-70, defeats Baton Rouge Colonial League: Pittsfield Colonials, 82-58, defeats Worcester River Valley League: Des Moines Demons, 95-45, defeats Evansville Rocky Mountain League: Great Falls Explorers, 67-59, defeats Butte (3rd straight) Coastal League: Columbia Roosters, 107-47, defeats Wilmington Northern League: Sioux Falls Packers, 81-59, defeats Davenport Great Lakes League: Rochester Red Wings, 91-49, defeats Akron (2nd straight) Southwest League: Bakersfield Conquistadors, 94-60, defeats Long Beach (2nd straight) Southern Association: Beaumont Exporters, 81-59, defeats Shreveport Northwest League: Yakima Tomahawks, 81-59, defeats Tacoma (3rd straight) Can-Am League: Portland Lobsters, 76-50, defeats Waterbury Mid-Atlantic League: Altoona Engineers, 79-61, defeats Asheville Lone Star League: Rio Grande White Wings, 96-44, defeats Laredo Great Plains League: St. Paul Saints, 83-57, defeats Thunder Bay Last edited by KCRoyals15; 12-16-2024 at 12:53 AM.