OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

reds1 · 10-01-2025, 12:30 AM

December 31, 1958

Looking Back: The 1947-48 Amateur Draft

Since I overlooked doing an Amateur Draft review last season, I’m going to do two this season to catch up.

The 1947-48 draft class was certainly unique. While it produced a number of very good position players including a few that can be considered outstanding, the draft was utterly void of any standout pitchers worthy of note. The pitching side of things was not a total bust – a few have earned a couple of All-Star selections each during their careers, but none will ever come close to any serious Hall of Fame consideration.

So the following is a summary of the best position players selected, a number of fine later-round selections and one first-round disappointment.

Cream of the Crop:

2B Patrick Lidgate – 1st overall pick by the Braeland City Monarchs

Major League Career: .290/.392/.520, 1502 G, 5585 AB, 1620 H, 247-2B, 156-3B, 241 HR, 836 RBI, 1048 R, 865 BB, 472 K, .911 OPS, 147 OPS+, 147 wRC+, 65.8 WAR

Fielding – 2B: 1337 G, 1319 GS, .978 PCT, 5.39 RNG, +5.2 ZR, .999 EFF
Fielding – CF: 122 G, 116 GS, .976 PCT, 3.18RNG, +1.6 ZR, 1.005EFF

Achievements:

9-time All-Star
1-time EL Babe Ruth Award winner (1953-54)
Rookie of the Year (1948-49)
1-time Ball Hawk Award winner
3-time Batter of the Month
2-time Rookie of the Month
12-time Player of the Week
4-time Top-Rated Position Player in the ULB
6 selections to the All-Braeland Team

What the original scouting report said:

“Lidgate possesses well-above average contact and plate discipline, to go along with solid defense in both the infield and outfield as well as above average speed. He is praised by scouts for his focus and concentration. If he delivers on his promise, he should become a top-tier player in the ULB.”

Comments: ‘Top-tier’ has proven to be a fitting description for this very popular and talented infielder. Lidgate spent just 82 games in the minors before getting called up late in the 1947-48 season. After getting his feet wet playing centerfield, Lidgate moved to second base in his third season and blossomed into the United Leagues’ premier player at the keystone corner. Over the past 10 seasons, he has been the top-rated second baseman seven times. In fact, from 1954 to 1957, he was rated as the top position player in the entire ULB. Thus far, Lidgate comfortably holds three single season records for a second baseman (SLG - .6397, OPS - 1.0701, WAR - 9.94) and 11 career batting records (SLG - .5207, Games – 1386, Runs – 954, Hits – 1485, Total Bases – 2671, Triples – 136, HR – 227, RBI – 771, BB – 789 and WAR – 61.20).

--------

3B Moromao Nakagawa – 5th overall pick by the Embro Suns

Major League Career: .292/.376/.484, 1105 G, 4120 AB, 1201 H, 201-2B, 44-3B, 168 HR, 681 RBI, 687 R, 561 BB, 483 K, 34 SB, 29 CS, .860 OPS, 137 OPS+, 139 wRC+, 40.5 WAR

Fielding – 3B: 1054 G, 1045 GS, .939 PCT, 2.71 RNG, -8.0 ZR, .997 EFF

Achievements:

5-time All-Star
4-time Batter of the Month
5-time Player of the Week
2-time Rookie of the Month
2-time EL Babe Ruth Award winner (1954-55, 1955-56)
1 EL Batting Title (.342, 1954-55)
3 selections to the All-Braeland Team

What the original scouting report said:

“The Braeland City native is blessed with great plate discipline and a quick bat. With a little more work mastering off-speed stuff, he should become a fearsome hitter. If that weren’t enough, Nakagawa should be a solid third baseman with decent speed.”

Comments: The scouting reports proved accurate as Nakagawa has been everything the Embro Suns could have hoped for. After being drafted in December 1947, Nakagawa rose steadily in the prospect rankings to as high as No. 2 overall in October 1950, the year he got his first taste of the majors. In 1951 he took over the hot corner for good and quickly established himself as one of the best third basemen in the United Leagues. From 1951-52 to 1953-54, he was rated No. 2 among third baseman, behind only Cobourg’s Alexander Tolmie. But beginning in 1954-55, the season where he won his first Babe Ruth Award, he has ruled the roost. The only knock on Nakagawa has been his personality, which has been characterized as selfish. Some scouts feel that his ‘self-indulgent behavior affects his performance’, but one can make an argument that that has not been the case. He has been playing at an elite level for most of his 8-year career. So far, Nakagawa holds four single season records for a third baseman (SLG - .5921, HR - 36, WAR – 8.36 and completing double plays – 47) and two career batting records (SLG - .4840 and OPS - .8601).

--------

Later-Round Standouts

The later rounds of this draft did not produce an abundance of come-out-of-nowhere players. In fact, it produced a grand total of one. But it was a pretty good one:

IF/OF Rod Dennis – 46th overall pick (Round 3, Pick 14) by the Queensland Eagles.

Major League Career: .313/.385/.515, 1204 G, 4533 AB, 1419 H, 238-2B, 15-3B, 216 HR, 742 RBI, 721 R, 547 BB, 263 K, .900 OPS, 147 OPS+, 149 wRC+, 34.2 WAR

Fielding – LF: 1055 G, 1050 GS, .980 PCT, 2.52 RNG, -62.0 ZR, .963 EFF

Achievements:

7-time All-Star
5-time Batter of the Month
11-time Player of the Week
1-time Rookie of the Month
1 EL Batting Title (.343, 1955-56)
1-time EL Pennant Series MVP (1957-58)

Comments: Rod Dennis started out as a slightly above average prospect (22/58) when he was drafted by the Eagles in December 1947, but he soon began to exceed those modest expectations. In October 1950 his ratings entered the low 60s and was ranked as the 9th-best prospect in the ULB. That was the season he became Queensland’s everyday starting leftfielder. But he took it to another gear in 1955, where his ratings hovered around high 60s and low 70s, where they remain today. Not coincidentally, Dennis earned Babe Ruth Award consideration as the best hitter in the Eastern League twice during that time. In 1955-56 he finished third in the voting behind Moromao Nakagawa and Raymond Williams and second last season behind only Matthew Floyd. He has batted over .300 with 30 home runs or more over the past three seasons and was sensational last season in his first playoff appearance, batting .407/.468/.667, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 9 R. 7 BB in 14 games and 54 AB. Not surprisingly, he was named the EL Pennant Series MVP against the Stratford Barons. Interestingly, the Eagles have moved him to first base this season, a position he has never played before although he does have modest field ratings for it. He instantly became the top-rated 1B in the ULB.

--------

IF/OF Gerard Koerner – 54th overall pick (Round 4, Pick 6) by the Pulberry Trolleys.

Major League Career: .284/.345/.401, 1045 G, 3978 AB, 1131 H, 184-2B, 33-3B, 72 HR, 461 RBI, 543 R, 373 BB, 321 K, .746 OPS, 112 OPS+, 118 wRC+, 21.4 WAR

Fielding – 1B: 916 G, 900 GS, .991 PCT, 9.36 RNG, +34.8 ZR, 1.048 EFF
Fielding – RF: 107 G, 106 GS, .984 PCT, 3.09 RNG, +7.0 ZR, 1.031 EFF

Achievements:

3-time All-Star
2-time Ball Hawk Award winner
3-time Player of the Week
1 selection to the All-Braeland Team

Comments: Koerner enjoyed a very successful minor league career after being drafted by the Trolleys, wining the 1948-50 Josh Gibson Award for best offensive player in Triple-A as well as back-to-back Triple-A Kings Cup championships in 1948-49 and 1949-50 with the Rutledge Red Caps. Promoted to the major league squad in 1950, he took over first base full-time to begin the 1951-52 season. The Downie-native was a solid workhorse, often leading the club in games played and at-bats season after season, picking up two Ball Hawk Awards and two All-Star selections in the process. But Koerner erupted in 1955-56, batting .330/.391/.500, 22 HR, 83 RBI, 92 R, 57 BB, 154 OPS+, 162 wRC+, 6.2 WAR. It was by far his best season, earning him not only his third all-star selection, but the ranking at the top first baseman in the United Leagues and a selection to the All-Braeland Team. He also finished 5th in the Western League Babe Ruth Award voting as best position player, picking up 103 votes. Alas, it appears to have been his final hurrah, as he has severely regressed in the seasons following, to the point that he has reduced to a bench player this season. But he was a solid, if unspectacular player for five seasons.

--------

OF Hayden Goodale – 65th overall pick (Round 5, Pick 1) by the Braeland City Monarchs.

Major League Career: .265/.350/.490, 853 G, 3110 AB, 823 H, 111-2B, 34-3B, 174 HR, 566 RBI, 475 R, 402 BB, 576 K, .840 OPS, 129 OPS+, 132 wRC+, 22.5 WAR

Fielding – CF: 516 G, 496 GS, .990 PCT, 3.60 RNG, -35.8 ZR, .975 EFF
Fielding – LF: 331 G, 330 GS, .987 PCT, 2.40 RNG, +3.5 ZR, 1.016 EFF

Achievements:

4-time All-Star
2-time Ball Hawk Award winner
1-time Batter of the Month
4-time Player of the Week

Comments: Like Gerard Koerner, Goodale blossomed in the minor leagues after being selected by the Braeland City Monarchs, earning two minor league all-star selections before being promoted late in the 1951-52 season. The following season, he became the Monarchs’ everyday centerfielder. The following year, he picked the first of his four all-star selections. In 1954-55, he led the Monarchs in seven offensive categories, including HR (36), RBI (95) and BB (67) and finished 9th in the Eastern League Babe Ruth Award voting with 48 votes. Two seasons later he became the Monarchs’ full-time leftfielder. He rewarded that move by leading Braeland City in 10 offensive categories including HR (38), RBI (117) and hits (171) while finishing 8th in the EL Offensive MVP voting with 58 votes. That season also saw him ranked third overall among all leftfielders, behind only Pulberry’s Aidan Thirkettle and Wellington’s Matthew Floyd. He continues this season as Braeland City’s starting leftfielder and clean-up hitter.

--------

Biggest Draft Disappointment

IF/OF Bryan Goetz – 6th overall pick by the Pulberry Trolleys

Major League Career: .283/.346/.340, 220 G, 329 AB, 93 H, 15-2B, 2-3B, 0 HR, 20 RBI, 57 R, 30 BB, 26 K, .687 OPS, 97 OPS+, 105 wRC+, 1.0 WAR

Fielding – CF: 84 G, 26 GS, .972 PCT, 3.62 RNG, -2.0 ZR, .984 EFF
Fielding – RF: 55 G, 17 GS, .973 PCT, 2.91 RNG, +0.6 ZR, .988 EFF
Fielding – 1B: 50 G, 9 GS, .976 PCT, 8.38 RNG, -1.6 ZR, .893EFF

Achievements:

3 United Cup Championships

Minor League Achievements:

1-time All-Star
1-time Ball Hawk Award winner

What the original scouting report said:

“Goetz has a compact, clean swing that will help him spray the ball around the field. He has already shown he can work the count and will be a nightmare for pitchers and catchers once he is on the basepaths. Thus, he is projected become an outstanding lead-off hitter and defender.”

Comments: There were a few players taken in the first round that could be regarded as disappointments, but Goetz stands above them all. Despite enjoying success in the minors, the Downie native never delivered on his promise. When he reached the majors late in the 1950-51 season, he was unable to land a regular role with the club, despite being able to play anywhere in the outfield and at first base. Bad timing could have played a role, for the early 1950s saw the ascendency of Pulberry’s mighty outfield with LF Aidan Thirkettle, CF Cooper Tyson and RF Ellis Dibble firmly entrenching themselves. At the same time, Gerard Koerner, who was selected by the Trolleys later in the 5th round and was discussed earlier, easily won the battle for playing time at first base. But it might also be due in large part to Goetz’s severe regression shortly after being drafted. After being rated as high as No. 6 among all prospects in October 1948, Goetz fell to No. 96 two years later while his potential crashed from the high 70s to the low 40s. It has never recovered and neither has his career. It appears he is back in the minor leagues to stay. But he did earn three United Cup championship rings while up in the majors. Not too shabby.

10-01-2025, 12:30 AM	#859
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,924	December 31, 1958 Looking Back: The 1947-48 Amateur Draft Since I overlooked doing an Amateur Draft review last season, I’m going to do two this season to catch up. The 1947-48 draft class was certainly unique. While it produced a number of very good position players including a few that can be considered outstanding, the draft was utterly void of any standout pitchers worthy of note. The pitching side of things was not a total bust – a few have earned a couple of All-Star selections each during their careers, but none will ever come close to any serious Hall of Fame consideration. So the following is a summary of the best position players selected, a number of fine later-round selections and one first-round disappointment. Cream of the Crop: 2B Patrick Lidgate – 1st overall pick by the Braeland City Monarchs Major League Career: .290/.392/.520, 1502 G, 5585 AB, 1620 H, 247-2B, 156-3B, 241 HR, 836 RBI, 1048 R, 865 BB, 472 K, .911 OPS, 147 OPS+, 147 wRC+, 65.8 WAR Fielding – 2B: 1337 G, 1319 GS, .978 PCT, 5.39 RNG, +5.2 ZR, .999 EFF Fielding – CF: 122 G, 116 GS, .976 PCT, 3.18RNG, +1.6 ZR, 1.005EFF *Achievements:* 9-time All-Star 1-time EL Babe Ruth Award winner (1953-54) Rookie of the Year (1948-49) 1-time Ball Hawk Award winner 3-time Batter of the Month 2-time Rookie of the Month 12-time Player of the Week 4-time Top-Rated Position Player in the ULB 6 selections to the All-Braeland Team What the original scouting report said: “Lidgate possesses well-above average contact and plate discipline, to go along with solid defense in both the infield and outfield as well as above average speed. He is praised by scouts for his focus and concentration. If he delivers on his promise, he should become a top-tier player in the ULB.” *Comments:* ‘Top-tier’ has proven to be a fitting description for this very popular and talented infielder. Lidgate spent just 82 games in the minors before getting called up late in the 1947-48 season. After getting his feet wet playing centerfield, Lidgate moved to second base in his third season and blossomed into the United Leagues’ premier player at the keystone corner. Over the past 10 seasons, he has been the top-rated second baseman seven times. In fact, from 1954 to 1957, he was rated as the top position player in the entire ULB. Thus far, Lidgate comfortably holds three single season records for a second baseman (SLG - .6397, OPS - 1.0701, WAR - 9.94) and 11 career batting records (SLG - .5207, Games – 1386, Runs – 954, Hits – 1485, Total Bases – 2671, Triples – 136, HR – 227, RBI – 771, BB – 789 and WAR – 61.20). -------- 3B Moromao Nakagawa – 5th overall pick by the Embro Suns Major League Career: .292/.376/.484, 1105 G, 4120 AB, 1201 H, 201-2B, 44-3B, 168 HR, 681 RBI, 687 R, 561 BB, 483 K, 34 SB, 29 CS, .860 OPS, 137 OPS+, 139 wRC+, 40.5 WAR Fielding – 3B: 1054 G, 1045 GS, .939 PCT, 2.71 RNG, -8.0 ZR, .997 EFF *Achievements:* 5-time All-Star 4-time Batter of the Month 5-time Player of the Week 2-time Rookie of the Month 2-time EL Babe Ruth Award winner (1954-55, 1955-56) 1 EL Batting Title (.342, 1954-55) 3 selections to the All-Braeland Team What the original scouting report said: “The Braeland City native is blessed with great plate discipline and a quick bat. With a little more work mastering off-speed stuff, he should become a fearsome hitter. If that weren’t enough, Nakagawa should be a solid third baseman with decent speed.” *Comments:* The scouting reports proved accurate as Nakagawa has been everything the Embro Suns could have hoped for. After being drafted in December 1947, Nakagawa rose steadily in the prospect rankings to as high as No. 2 overall in October 1950, the year he got his first taste of the majors. In 1951 he took over the hot corner for good and quickly established himself as one of the best third basemen in the United Leagues. From 1951-52 to 1953-54, he was rated No. 2 among third baseman, behind only Cobourg’s Alexander Tolmie. But beginning in 1954-55, the season where he won his first Babe Ruth Award, he has ruled the roost. The only knock on Nakagawa has been his personality, which has been characterized as selfish. Some scouts feel that his ‘self-indulgent behavior affects his performance’, but one can make an argument that that has not been the case. He has been playing at an elite level for most of his 8-year career. So far, Nakagawa holds four single season records for a third baseman (SLG - .5921, HR - 36, WAR – 8.36 and completing double plays – 47) and two career batting records (SLG - .4840 and OPS - .8601). -------- Later-Round Standouts The later rounds of this draft did not produce an abundance of come-out-of-nowhere players. In fact, it produced a grand total of one. But it was a pretty good one: IF/OF Rod Dennis – 46th overall pick (Round 3, Pick 14) by the Queensland Eagles. Major League Career: .313/.385/.515, 1204 G, 4533 AB, 1419 H, 238-2B, 15-3B, 216 HR, 742 RBI, 721 R, 547 BB, 263 K, .900 OPS, 147 OPS+, 149 wRC+, 34.2 WAR Fielding – LF: 1055 G, 1050 GS, .980 PCT, 2.52 RNG, -62.0 ZR, .963 EFF *Achievements:* 7-time All-Star 5-time Batter of the Month 11-time Player of the Week 1-time Rookie of the Month 1 EL Batting Title (.343, 1955-56) 1-time EL Pennant Series MVP (1957-58) *Comments:* Rod Dennis started out as a slightly above average prospect (22/58) when he was drafted by the Eagles in December 1947, but he soon began to exceed those modest expectations. In October 1950 his ratings entered the low 60s and was ranked as the 9th-best prospect in the ULB. That was the season he became Queensland’s everyday starting leftfielder. But he took it to another gear in 1955, where his ratings hovered around high 60s and low 70s, where they remain today. Not coincidentally, Dennis earned Babe Ruth Award consideration as the best hitter in the Eastern League twice during that time. In 1955-56 he finished third in the voting behind Moromao Nakagawa and Raymond Williams and second last season behind only Matthew Floyd. He has batted over .300 with 30 home runs or more over the past three seasons and was sensational last season in his first playoff appearance, batting .407/.468/.667, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 9 R. 7 BB in 14 games and 54 AB. Not surprisingly, he was named the EL Pennant Series MVP against the Stratford Barons. Interestingly, the Eagles have moved him to first base this season, a position he has never played before although he does have modest field ratings for it. He instantly became the top-rated 1B in the ULB. -------- IF/OF Gerard Koerner – 54th overall pick (Round 4, Pick 6) by the Pulberry Trolleys. Major League Career: .284/.345/.401, 1045 G, 3978 AB, 1131 H, 184-2B, 33-3B, 72 HR, 461 RBI, 543 R, 373 BB, 321 K, .746 OPS, 112 OPS+, 118 wRC+, 21.4 WAR Fielding – 1B: 916 G, 900 GS, .991 PCT, 9.36 RNG, +34.8 ZR, 1.048 EFF Fielding – RF: 107 G, 106 GS, .984 PCT, 3.09 RNG, +7.0 ZR, 1.031 EFF *Achievements:* 3-time All-Star 2-time Ball Hawk Award winner 3-time Player of the Week 1 selection to the All-Braeland Team *Comments:* Koerner enjoyed a very successful minor league career after being drafted by the Trolleys, wining the 1948-50 Josh Gibson Award for best offensive player in Triple-A as well as back-to-back Triple-A Kings Cup championships in 1948-49 and 1949-50 with the Rutledge Red Caps. Promoted to the major league squad in 1950, he took over first base full-time to begin the 1951-52 season. The Downie-native was a solid workhorse, often leading the club in games played and at-bats season after season, picking up two Ball Hawk Awards and two All-Star selections in the process. But Koerner erupted in 1955-56, batting .330/.391/.500, 22 HR, 83 RBI, 92 R, 57 BB, 154 OPS+, 162 wRC+, 6.2 WAR. It was by far his best season, earning him not only his third all-star selection, but the ranking at the top first baseman in the United Leagues and a selection to the All-Braeland Team. He also finished 5th in the Western League Babe Ruth Award voting as best position player, picking up 103 votes. Alas, it appears to have been his final hurrah, as he has severely regressed in the seasons following, to the point that he has reduced to a bench player this season. But he was a solid, if unspectacular player for five seasons. -------- OF Hayden Goodale – 65th overall pick (Round 5, Pick 1) by the Braeland City Monarchs. Major League Career: .265/.350/.490, 853 G, 3110 AB, 823 H, 111-2B, 34-3B, 174 HR, 566 RBI, 475 R, 402 BB, 576 K, .840 OPS, 129 OPS+, 132 wRC+, 22.5 WAR Fielding – CF: 516 G, 496 GS, .990 PCT, 3.60 RNG, -35.8 ZR, .975 EFF Fielding – LF: 331 G, 330 GS, .987 PCT, 2.40 RNG, +3.5 ZR, 1.016 EFF *Achievements:* 4-time All-Star 2-time Ball Hawk Award winner 1-time Batter of the Month 4-time Player of the Week *Comments:* Like Gerard Koerner, Goodale blossomed in the minor leagues after being selected by the Braeland City Monarchs, earning two minor league all-star selections before being promoted late in the 1951-52 season. The following season, he became the Monarchs’ everyday centerfielder. The following year, he picked the first of his four all-star selections. In 1954-55, he led the Monarchs in seven offensive categories, including HR (36), RBI (95) and BB (67) and finished 9th in the Eastern League Babe Ruth Award voting with 48 votes. Two seasons later he became the Monarchs’ full-time leftfielder. He rewarded that move by leading Braeland City in 10 offensive categories including HR (38), RBI (117) and hits (171) while finishing 8th in the EL Offensive MVP voting with 58 votes. That season also saw him ranked third overall among all leftfielders, behind only Pulberry’s Aidan Thirkettle and Wellington’s Matthew Floyd. He continues this season as Braeland City’s starting leftfielder and clean-up hitter. -------- Biggest Draft Disappointment IF/OF Bryan Goetz – 6th overall pick by the Pulberry Trolleys Major League Career: .283/.346/.340, 220 G, 329 AB, 93 H, 15-2B, 2-3B, 0 HR, 20 RBI, 57 R, 30 BB, 26 K, .687 OPS, 97 OPS+, 105 wRC+, 1.0 WAR Fielding – CF: 84 G, 26 GS, .972 PCT, 3.62 RNG, -2.0 ZR, .984 EFF Fielding – RF: 55 G, 17 GS, .973 PCT, 2.91 RNG, +0.6 ZR, .988 EFF Fielding – 1B: 50 G, 9 GS, .976 PCT, 8.38 RNG, -1.6 ZR, .893EFF *Achievements:* 3 United Cup Championships *Minor League Achievements:* 1-time All-Star 1-time Ball Hawk Award winner What the original scouting report said: “Goetz has a compact, clean swing that will help him spray the ball around the field. He has already shown he can work the count and will be a nightmare for pitchers and catchers once he is on the basepaths. Thus, he is projected become an outstanding lead-off hitter and defender.” *Comments:* There were a few players taken in the first round that could be regarded as disappointments, but Goetz stands above them all. Despite enjoying success in the minors, the Downie native never delivered on his promise. When he reached the majors late in the 1950-51 season, he was unable to land a regular role with the club, despite being able to play anywhere in the outfield and at first base. Bad timing could have played a role, for the early 1950s saw the ascendency of Pulberry’s mighty outfield with LF Aidan Thirkettle, CF Cooper Tyson and RF Ellis Dibble firmly entrenching themselves. At the same time, Gerard Koerner, who was selected by the Trolleys later in the 5th round and was discussed earlier, easily won the battle for playing time at first base. But it might also be due in large part to Goetz’s severe regression shortly after being drafted. After being rated as high as No. 6 among all prospects in October 1948, Goetz fell to No. 96 two years later while his potential crashed from the high 70s to the low 40s. It has never recovered and neither has his career. It appears he is back in the minor leagues to stay. But he did earn three United Cup championship rings while up in the majors. Not too shabby. __________________ United Leagues of Braeland