[Nick Soulis]

Series #236



1949 Philadelphia Athletics
Record: 81-73
Finish: 5th in AL
Manager: Connie Mack
Ball Park: shibe Park
WAR Leader: Eddie Joost (7.0)
Franchise Record: 6-18
1949 Season Record: 3-3
Hall of Famers: (2)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHA/1949.shtml

The ’49 A’s were Connie Mack’s final full-season club, a team caught between fading tradition and a few bright sparks of talent. First baseman Ferris Fain, a gritty contact hitter, and outfielder Elmer Valo led a lineup that relied on patience and small-ball tactics. On the mound, war hero Lou Brissie provided heart and resilience, overcoming serious injuries to serve as the staff’s anchor. While the A’s lacked depth and were overshadowed in the American League, they embodied determination and the last flickers of Mack’s half-century-long tenure in Philadelphia.

1913 New York Yankees
Record: 57-94
Finish: 7th in AL
Manager: Frank Chance
Ball Park: Polo Grounds
WAR Leader: Ray Caldwell (4.4)
Franchise Record: 17-3
1913 Season Record: 3-0
Hall of famers: (1)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1913.shtml

The 1913 Yankees were a franchise in transition, still struggling for identity in the pre-Ruth era. Under player-manager Frank Chance, the “Peerless Leader” of Cubs fame, the team was trying to build credibility after years of mediocrity. Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh, just 22, already carried the captain’s mantle and symbolized a new foundation. Their pitching staff, headlined by inconsistent but talented arms like Ray Caldwell, gave them potential but also volatility. This was a scrappy, underdog Yankees team — more builders than conquerors — but one eager to prove its place in history long before the dynasty years arrived.
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Heaven’s Dugout – Introductory Show (Series #236)



Panel: Bob Costas (Host), Mark DeRosa, Bruce Levine, Hazel Mae
Matchup: 1949 Philadelphia Athletics vs. 1913 New York Yankees

Segment 1 – Setting the Stage: A Crossroads Series

Bob Costas (Host):
“Good evening, and welcome to Heaven’s Dugout. We are in Dyersville, Iowa, for the unveiling of Series #236 — the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics against the 1913 New York Yankees. This is not your typical Yankees vs. A’s matchup. We’re catching both clubs at very different turning points in their histories. And I think that makes this series a fascinating study.”

Mark DeRosa:
“Bob, what jumps out to me is that Connie Mack is still there in ’49. He’s 86 years old, managing his 49th consecutive season, and he’s still putting on the suit every day. That’s unbelievable. This is not the powerhouse Mack clubs of the ’20s or ’30s, but it’s his last stand. The players knew they were part of something historic, and that’s a motivator.”

Bruce Levine:
“And on the flip side, the 1913 Yankees are before Ruth, before Gehrig, before DiMaggio. This was a franchise struggling for identity. They were playing at the Polo Grounds, still the ‘Highlanders’ in people’s minds. Frank Chance, who had been a great player with the Cubs, was trying to bring legitimacy. It’s a story of two clubs looking for footing at very different ends of the timeline.”

Hazel Mae:
“And I love the visual — Connie Mack in his straw hat, Frank Chance still young and fiery. One man at the end of a dynasty of his own making, the other trying to start one. That contrast is why the Field of Dreams stage is perfect.”

Segment 2 – Key Players & Matchups to Watch



Costas:
“Let’s talk about the players. Because while neither of these teams is loaded with the household names we think of with Yankees or Athletics history, there’s plenty of intrigue.”

DeRosa:
“Ferris Fain jumps out on the ’49 A’s side. This guy could flat-out hit. Two batting titles in the early ’50s. He’s a contact machine, gets on base, and plays with edge. Pair him with Elmer Valo, who could spray the ball around, and you’ve got an offense that can manufacture runs.”

Levine:
“New York’s answer is Roger Peckinpaugh. At 22 years old in 1913, he’s already their captain at shortstop. Smart, steady defender, he becomes a big piece of Yankee lore down the road. And don’t overlook their pitchers — guys like Ray Caldwell, who could dominate when locked in, but also implode. That volatility makes this series unpredictable.”

Mae:
“And the pitching depth matters because the A’s staff in ’49 was thin. They leaned heavily on Lou Brissie, who was a war hero, came back from devastating leg injuries, and still made the All-Star team. That’s a storyline I’ll be watching closely. Can he carry them?”

DeRosa:
“Exactly, Hazel. Brissie’s a gamer. If he gets one of those Iowa nights with the ball moving, he could shut down this Yankee lineup.”

Segment 3 – Legacy, Pride, and Historical Context

Costas:
“One of the joys of this project is the historical resonance. So let’s take a step back. What does this matchup mean in the larger scope of baseball history?”

Levine:
“For the Yankees, this is about proving there was baseball before Ruth. Too often we think the story begins in 1920, but those early Yankee teams were grinding, laying foundations. If this ’13 club can win here, it forces us to remember that heritage.”

DeRosa:
“And for the Athletics, this is a chance to show that Connie Mack’s legacy wasn’t just the glory years. Even late in his tenure, his teams were battling, competing, representing Philadelphia with pride. A win here would validate the players who kept grinding even when the franchise was fading.”

Mae:
“And I think for fans, it’s about connection. Philadelphia lost the A’s decades ago. These games are a reminder of what once was. And for Yankees fans, it’s humbling — seeing the pinstripes before the dynasty, when they were the underdog.”

Costas:
“Well said. That’s the essence of this project — honoring forgotten chapters of baseball’s story.”

Segment 4 – Predictions & Final Thoughts

Costas:
“All right, predictions time. Series #236, who takes it?”

DeRosa:
“I’m going A’s. Fain and Brissie give them enough stability. I think they grind this out in six.”

Levine:
“I’ll take the Yankees. Chance’s leadership and Peckinpaugh’s presence in the infield will stabilize them. Plus, their pitching, if it holds together, can steal games. I say New York in seven.”

Mae:
“I’m siding with Connie Mack one last time. The ’49 Athletics have a point to prove — that they weren’t just a footnote. Philadelphia in five.”

Costas (closing):
“So there you have it — differing views, and that’s what makes this matchup intriguing. The corn is ready, the crowd is gathering, and the past is about to come alive once again. Series #236 — the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics and the 1913 New York Yankees — first pitch is just around the corner.”

Official broadcast team for series:


Russ Hodges:
“Hello everybody, and welcome to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. I’m Russ Hodges, alongside Steve Lyons, and we are thrilled to bring you Series number 236 in this grand tournament — the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics meeting the 1913 New York Yankees. Two teams separated by decades, united here in the cornfields, with history on the line.”

Steve Lyons:
“Russ, this is what makes the Field of Dreams so special. These aren’t the dynastic Yankees we’re used to talking about — this is the scrappy 1913 squad under Frank Chance, still trying to carve out an identity before Ruth and Gehrig came along. And opposite them, Connie Mack’s A’s, a club near the end of the line, but with stars like Ferris Fain and Lou Brissie trying to keep the flame alive. It’s almost like watching the end of one era face the start of another.”

Hodges:
“That’s right, Steve. And don’t let the lack of marquee names fool you. This is baseball in its purest form — two clubs with grit, pride, and the opportunity to prove something across time. The Yankees want to show they existed before the dynasty, and the Athletics want to remind us that Connie Mack’s legacy wasn’t just built in the glory years. Every pitch matters here in Iowa.”

Lyons:
“And I love the setting — look behind us, Russ. The cornfields, the crowd leaning in close, the scoreboard lit up with names you might not know, but who are about to be immortalized in this tournament. This is going to be fun.”

Hodges (closing):
“So stay with us — the first pitch of Game One between the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics and the 1913 New York Yankees is coming up, right here on the Field of Dreams.”