The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

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The Bucs team page can be accessed HERE.


More new faces under second-year Manager Dutch Rudolph, with the addition of Sam Jethroe making this lineup almost certainly the league's fastest. For mine, the 1943 season almost entirely rests with how well or poorly the pitching fares.

Here's how the Bucs will line up on OD:

Payroll of $351k is 4th; $650k budget is tied for the least.

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Opening Day? First game for new club after offseason trade? No worries for Walker Cooper. You might even say it's like riding a bike...

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The Bucs have had a rough old time of it this first section of the 1943 season, although as is their norm they have still managed to keep the wins rolling in. Things begin extremely promisingly as the boys go 25-13 thru April and May, but a bunch of injuries eventually take their toll in June, with their 14-17 record combined with a Cubs hot streak sees them just off the pace a little bit entering July.





A fairly even offensive performance led by Wright and Dandridge, but Gibson and Vaughan have been pretty quite - for them, at any rate. A trade in mid-May sees Hoot Evers swapped for Pistol Pete Rieser, which I find a bit odd given they already picked up Sam Jethroe and are playing him at AAA. I guess we'll see how that works out for them.




Given the decimation through injury the staff has suffered, it has been a commendable effort to this point, with Lanier - a stupendous 9-0 / 2.13 - again the glue holding it all together. The rotation loses Milt Shoffner and then Russ Christopher, while the BP is hit as well with Johnny Rigney and Jim Winford going down - all season-ending injuries.




The Yanks look fairly comfortable atop the AL, with the White and Red Sox their nearest pursuers.




Monthly Award Winners


May

American League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Red Sox): 308 / 9 HR / 21 RBI
• Pitcher – Lon Warneke (Yankees): 6-0 / 1.75 / 22 K / 51.1 IP
• Rookie – Sig Jakucki (Indians): 6-1 / 3.81 / 12 K / 26 IP

National League

• Batter – Wild Bill Wright (Pirates): 333 / 4 HR / 18 RBI
• Pitcher – Max Lanier (Pirates): 5-0 / 1.83 / 33 K / 59 IP
• Rookie – Snuffy Stirnweiss (Phillies): 351 / 1 HR / 15 RBI

June

American League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Red Sox): 374 / 7 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Dutch Leonard (Red Sox): 6-0 / 1.70 / 26 K / 53 IP
• Rookie – Butch Wensloff (Tigers): 2-2 / 1.88 / 26 K / 48 IP

National League

• Batter – Bill Nicholson (Cubs): 359 / 5 HR / 30 RBI
• Pitcher – Whit Wyatt (Cubs): 5-0 / 2.37 / 11 K / 30.1 IP
• Rookie – Preacher Roe (Dodgers): 3-2 / 2.38 / 29 K / 45.1 IP

Other Observations and Points of Interest

• Satchel Paige will miss 2 months with a herniated disc.
• His teammate Ted Williams is having a solid run at the Triple Crown in early running.

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Highest Batting Avg in Final Season (Min 100 ABs)

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Five Bucs again this season.




Charlie Keller wins his first HR Derby, while MVP Marty Marion leads the NL past the AL in the ASG by 5 to 2 - the senior circuit's third straight win.

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All-time Leader: Ty Cobb (4125)

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A really gutsy period from the Bucs, who despite a horror run of injuries, grind away and eventually overhaul the Cubs to set up a grandstand finish in the NL this year. Their combined record for July and August is an impressive 37-24.






Not exactly sure what they are up to, but the Bucs keep adding OFs to their squad, with Babe Young the latest. They have such a surfeit that last seasons's MVP Wally Judnich finds himself at AAA. Wild Bill Wright looks headed for that MVP he's long threatened to grab.




Cannot speak highly enough about how this staff has applied itself in the face of so many players going down hurt. Lanier's effort has been nigh on superhuman and Jim Tobin has really stepped up just when they needed him to.




The Yanks look safe this year, with their 17-10 August kicking them away from a game Red Sox challenge that peters out when they lose their big guy, Ted Williams, for two months. The Yanks aren't without problems as they lose Johnny Mize for a couple months in late July, meaning he’ll be lucky to get back on the field this season. An elbow injury to Ray Brown not long after puts him in the same precarious boat.

The Cubs lose a key recruit only weeks after acquiring him, as pitcher Denny Galehouse is knocked out for the season. They, the Bucs and Giants look set for a good old-fashioned dogfight here.




News and Leaders.






Monthly Award Winners

July

American League

• Batter – Elbie Fletcher (Red Sox): 348 / 4 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Lee Grissom (Athletics): 4-0 / 1.15 / 29 K / 39 IP
• Rookie – Ed Hanyzewski (Browns): 2-0 / 0.61 / 3 SV / 8 K / 14.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Stan Musial (Cardinals): 274 / 6 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Ewald Pyle (Cardinals): 4-0 / 1.32 / 22 K / 41 IP
• Rookie – Ewald Pyle

August

American League

• Batter – Charlie Keller (Yankees): 323 / 7 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Joe Dobson (Browns): 6-0 / 1.97 / 26 K / 50.1 IP
• Rookie – Red Munger (Senators): 4-0 / 1.62 / 16 K / 33.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Mel Ott (Giants): 299 / 8 HR / 21 RBI
• Pitcher – Preacher Roe (Dodgers): 5-0 / 1.19 / 28 K / 53 IP
• Rookie – Preacher Roe

Milestones and Observations of Note

• Red Ruffing reaches 250 career wins, Barney Brown 200.
• Obviously not interested in extending his soon-to-expire contract, the Braves trade away ace Mort Cooper to Cincy for a couple prospects.
• The Senators trade veteran Willie Wells, along with 2B Crash Davis, to the Giants for OF Dave Philley, 2B Edward Bachmann and SS Ray Piano.

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Most Seasons Between Ks

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All-time leader: Walter Johnson, 609

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No slip-ups from either the Yanks or Bucs, who ease their respective ways into yet another meeting in the Fall Classic.





While they certainly don't do it all, two performances are predominant for the Bucs this season: Wild Bill Wright's stellar 9.1 bWAR campaign and Max Lanier's 16-4 / 2.39 effort. They get able supporting roles from Ray Dandridge and both Leon Day and Jim Tobin.





The Yanks actually finish on an unbeaten streak of 10 wins to win by a landslide, while the Bucs go 8-2 and nearly match them in the W column.




Battling titles to Detroit's Howard Easterling (370, 1st) and Danny Dandridge (332, also his first). Bus Clarkson charges home late to pip Charlie Keller by one with 31 HR, while the Cubs' Bill Nicholson's 111 ribbies are the only total above the century mark. On top of everything else, Bill Wright extends his own SB record to 85. He now sits at 520 career swipes and must be an outside chance to catch Ty Cobb's all-time mark of 758 before he's done.

No 20-game winners again this season, with Ray Brown's 19 the top. Ray also has the league's best ERA with 2.29 and looks a safe bet for another JW Medal. Bob Feller is King of K with 176 (vs 156 walks!).

Luke Appling reaches 2000 career hits.


Final Top 20s, awards, news and leaders.








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New York Yankees (98-56) v Pittsburgh Pirates (95-59)
Best-of-seven, Yankees with the home-field advantage.


NEW YORK YANKEES S+ PAGE

PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

And so these two great foes meet yet again – their fifth such meeting in the past six years – with the Bucs trying to avoid a third straight loss here. And they’d like their chances of doing so better than in the two previous meetings, one would think, although against this Yankees lineup as always they will have to be at their absolute best and keep their errors to as close to zero as humanly possible. Taking a game or even two in that first set in NYC would help them no end – as is usually the case, I feel that the longer this series goes, the better for the Bucs.

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Game 1 in New York

Ray Brown (15-7, 2.29) v Max Lanier (16-4, 2.39)

The Bucs come out swinging and then some, sending shock waves through the Big Apple with an absolute demolition of the Yankees. Bill Wright leads the way with a home run among his three hits, while rookie Buddy Kerr adds a 3-run double in the 7th to put it to bed.

Game 2 in New York

Paul Derringer (14-9, 3.33) v Leon Day (11-9, 3.44)

Pirates lead series 1-0

The Yanks just get home in a thrilling Game 2 to square the series heading to Pittsburgh. A fine game from Arky Vaughan isn't enough as the hosts come back from an early deficit and hang on for dear life. Charlie Keller leads the NY bats and it looks like we've got a real series on our hands.

Game 3 in New York

Chet Brewer (14-10, 3.23) v Lon Warneke (19-5, 2.59)

Series tied 1-1

Like two punch-drunk old heavyweights these two fierce rivals just give it to each other the whole nine, with the Bucs getting the decision on a TKO of 9 to 6. DiMaggio and Keller throw everything they've got at the home side, who will like how they took the Yanks best shots and got the job done.

Game 4 in Pittsburgh

Jim Tobin (10-3, 2.44) v Al Benton (4-2, 3.62)

Pirates lead series 2-1

The Yanks surprisingly send reliever Al Benton to the mound but once again this one is settled by the bats and I must say the baseball on display is some of the best I've ever seen. This one features a number of lead changes but in the end the Yanks pretty much fall over the line by a run to get it back to 2-2.

Game 5 in Pittsburgh

Max Lanier (1-0, 1.04) v Ray Brown (0-1, 9.53)

Series tied 2-2

In almost a complete replication of the corresponding game last year, the Yanks flex their many muscles to easily dispose of the Bucs and take a lead back to NYC. Ray Brown is magnificent with a 4-hitter while Charlie Keller adds another 3 hits to put his tally for the Series at 11 and put his BA at an astonishing 579.

Game 6 in New York

Ray Brown (1-0, 3.00) v Max Lanier (0-1, 7.36)

Yankees lead series 3-2

The Pirates show all the heart you'd expect from this proud ballclub but in the end come up agonisingly short, losing an 11-inning classic to hand the Yanks their 5th Championship.

NEW YORK WINS SERIES 4-2

SERIES MVP: Charlie Keller (New York)

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A maiden AAA title for the Austin Senators with a win over Scranton.

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Del Paddock of the Cards is the only manager to lose his job this year.

Looks like there’s set to be some big changes at the Bucs over the offseason, with them buying out the last year of Josh Gibson’s contract and Max Lanier also opting out.

Those finishing up their careers included Lloyd “Little Poison” Waner, Lyn Lary, Red Ruffing, Hilton Smith, Tony Lazzeri and a bunch of guys who’ll receive their own post next.

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The procession of legendary players leaving the league ebbs and flows from year to year - this time around we are again hit especially hard, losing a bunch of HOF locks or near-thereto in one fell swoop.


Lou Gehrig

In sim, as in life, Lou will be eternally interlinked with the Babe. Here, however, it could be argued he ended up slightly shading the big guy. Lou leaves the game, as you would well know if you're following along, as it's all-time leader in HR - in the end finishing just 2 clear of the Sultan on 571. He also holds the single-season record of 58. Other high leaderboard finishes for Lou include SLG (1st, 598), Runs (1st, 2039), RBI (2nd, 1932), OPS (2nd, 1023), OBP (3rd, 425), bWAR (5th, 125.0), Games (7th, 2703), Hits (8th, 2877).

Charlie Gehringer

A typically low-key performance from the Mechanical Man - few individual accolades, but sheer and relentless agglomeration over time. It will be fascinating to see how differently the voters treat him from Lou.

Lefty Gomez

Like Lou with Babe, Goofy kind of gets eclipsed by Grove. Nevertheless, this fine career should get him a plaque without a worry, although it might take a few ballots before it happens. This is a notoriously tough crowd.

And, finally, two guys I had the pleasure of having with me at the Bucs for long stretches.

Paul Waner

Kinda nice that Big P and Little P are leaving together. Sadly, only Paul will get a look-in for C-Town, and even then I'm not sure he's a lock. I'll be voting for him until I either am no longer able or no longer need to.

Jimmie Foxx

For a while there, I thought XX was headed to the top of the HR list. But the precipitous tank he suffered IRL got him here as well and he went from rooster to feather-duster lickety-split and was basically unplayable the last couple years. The power numbers and near-100 bWAR make him a safer bet than PW to get the Call.

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AL 1943 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1943 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Charlie Keller makes it three AL Wagner-Lajoie medals on the trot, while Wild Bill Wright nabs his first.

Another Johnson-Waddell for Ray Brown to make it 5, while Max Lanier wins his second.

RoYs to George Metkovich of the Yanks and Brooklyn's Preacher Roe.

Relief gongs to Ed Heusser of the A's and Cincy's Hank Wyse - the first for each.


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Quiet again with just four Legacies coming in.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1944 season:

Cincinnati Reds: Joe Nuxhall (30.4; 484)
New York Yankees: Eddie Lopat (32.2; 217)
Philadelphia Phillies: Granny Hamner (19.1 conceded; 1501)
Washington Senators: Eddie Yost (35.0; 1690)


There are 154 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 9 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1943 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Washington Senators (549)
2. New York Yankees (636)
3. Cincinnati Reds (565)
4. Philadelphia Phillies (416)
5. Philadelphia Athletics (318)
6. New York Giants (359)
7. Boston Braves (444)
8. Boston Red Sox (447)
9. St. Louis Browns (474)
10. Chicago Cubs (484)
11. Detroit Tigers (506)
12. Pittsburgh Pirates (519)
13. Brooklyn Dodgers (529)
14. Chicago White Sox (532)
15. Cleveland Indians (536)
16. St. Louis Cardinals (682)


Rounds 2 thru 9

1. Philadelphia Athletics (318)
2. New York Giants (359)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (416)
4. Boston Braves (444)
5. Boston Red Sox (447)
6. St. Louis Browns (474)
7. Chicago Cubs (484)
8. Detroit Tigers (506)
9. Pittsburgh Pirates (519)
10. Brooklyn Dodgers (529)
11. Chicago White Sox (532)
12. Cleveland Indians (536)
13. Washington Senators (549)
14. Cincinnati Reds (565)
15. New York Yankees (636)
16. St. Louis Cardinals (682)


The new Pittsburgh Draftees are as follows:

1. OF Russ Derry, 27
2. SS Eddie Basinski, 21
3. C Stew Hofferth, 30
4. P Jim Konstanty, 26
5. P Johnny Johnson, 29
6. C Russ Lyon, 30
7. 3B Buck Fausett, 35
8. P Joe Wood, 27
9. P Barney Mussill, 24


FULL DRAFT LOG


Here are Rounds 1 and 2 in full:

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As WW2 reaches its peak level of intensity, The Lou becomes baseball’s epicentre for one glorious season.

AL CHAMPIONS: St. Louis Browns (89-65)
NL CHAMPIONS: St. Louis Cardinals (105-49)
WORLD SERIES: Cardinals 4, Browns 2

AL MVP: Hal Newhouser (Tigers)
NL MVP: Marty Marion (Cardinals)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. STAN MUSIAL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .347 average, 112 runs, 197 hits, 51 doubles, 14 triples, 12 home runs, 94 RBIs, 90 walks, .440 on-base percentage, .549 slugging percentage.
• Musial kept his power to a minimum—his 12 homers were the fewest he ever hit outside of his rookie year—but continued overall maximum damage on pitchers.

2. BILL NICHOLSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .287 average, 116 runs, 35 doubles, 8 triples, 33 home runs, 122 RBIs, 93 walks, 27 intentional walks.
• Nicholson became the only player outside of Mike Schmidt and Nolan Arenado to lead the NL in both homers and RBIs over consecutive seasons.

3. DIXIE WALKER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .357 average, 77 runs, 191 hits, 37 doubles, 8 triples, 13 home runs, 91 RBIs, 72 walks.
• A myriad of past injuries from head to toe made Walker ineligible for military service, but quite eligible for the NL batting title.

4. AUGIE GALAN, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 96 runs, 174 hits, 43 doubles, 9 triples, 12 home runs, 93 RBIs, 101 walks.
• All but given up for dead five years earlier from a broken knee and a slow recovery back to form, Galan capped a gradual comeback to pre-injury form in Brooklyn.

5. JOHNNY HOPP, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 139 games, .336 average, 106 runs, 177 hits, 35 doubles, 9 triples, 11 home runs, 72 RBIs, 15 stolen bases.
• The center fielder became a premier wartime threat after five seasons of part-time play; he would prove his worthiness when baseball returned to full strength after the war.

6. MEL OTT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 120 games, .288 average, 91 runs, 26 home runs, 82 RBIs, 90 walks.
• The 35-year-old slugger did not appear in 35 games and still finished a safe second in the NL home run race.

7. BOB ELLIOTT, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 85 runs, 28 doubles, 16 triples, 10 home runs, 108 RBIs, 75 walks, 10 caught stealing.
• Elliott reached double-digits in home runs for the only time in eight years playing for the Pirates, before constantly racking up 20-ish dingers for the Braves later in his career at the less capacious Braves Field.

8. PHIL CAVARRETTA, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .321 average, 106 runs, 197 hits, 35 doubles, 15 triples, 5 home runs, 82 RBIs, 67 walks.
• The trusty Cub’s wartime star continued to shine as he led the NL in hits and scored 100 times for the only time in his 22-year career.

9. JIM RUSSELL, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .312 average, 109 runs, 181 hits, 34 doubles, 14 triples, 8 home runs, 66 RBIs, 79 walks.
• The further along the season got, the better Russell hit; he averaged .231 through June and .366 after.

10. JOHNNY BARRETT, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .269 average, 99 runs, 24 doubles, 19 triples, 7 home runs, 83 RBIs, 86 walks, 28 stolen bases.
• The National League version of Snuffy Stirnweiss, Barrett was tops or near on all the speed-related stats (runs, triples, steals) in a short tenure enhanced by the lack of quality around him.

AL Hitters

1. BOB JOHNSON, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .324 average, 106 runs, 170 hits, 40 doubles, 8 triples, 17 home runs, 106 RBIs, 95 walks, .431 on-base percentage.
• The growing lack of opposing talent helped give Johnson a bump back to the top at age 38; he even hit for the cycle for the only time in his career.

2. SNUFFY STIRNWEISS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 643 at-bats, 125 runs, 205 hits, 35 doubles, 16 triples, 8 home runs, 43 RBIs, 73 walks, 55 stolen bases.
• Allergies are what kept Stirnweiss from being swooped up by the military, and they’re also what made him one of the AL’s premier hitters for the duration of the war.

3. STAN SPENCE, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .316 average, 83 runs, 187 hits, 31 doubles, 8 triples, 18 home runs, 100 RBIs.
• Echoing Goose Goslin from earlier times, spacious Griffith Stadium likely robbed Spence of a home run title as 16 of his 18 taters came on the road.

4. BOBBY DOERR, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 125 games, .325 average, 95 runs, 152 hits, 30 doubles, 10 triples, 15 home runs, 81 RBIs, .528 slugging percentage.
• When the MVP threat was snatched away by the military at the start of September, decent hopes of a pennant for the Red Sox—already handicapped with the drafting of ace pitcher Tex Hughson a month earlier—quickly faded.

5. VERN STEPHENS, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .293 average, 91 runs, 164 hits, 32 doubles, 20 home runs, 109 RBIs.
• The military must have had a very high threshold for accepting healthy men into the ranks—the only way to explain their denial of Stephens, a true (and young, at 23) talent who was deferred due to a knee issue.

6. JOHNNY LINDELL, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 91 runs, 178 hits, 33 doubles, 16 triples, 18 home runs, 103 RBIs.
• Keeping center field warm for Army-owned Joe DiMaggio, Lindell amassed enough triples to tie Stirnweiss for the league lead—but also became one of just two Yankees to ever hit four doubles in a game.

7. NICK ETTEN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .293 average, 88 runs, 168 hits, 25 doubles, 22 home runs, 91 RBIs, 97 walks, 18 intentional walks.
• Strike-shortened years omitted, Etten’s 22 homers were the fewest hit in the AL since the end of the Deadball Era; he hit seven in September alone just to get the season total that high.

8. LOU BOUDREAU, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .327 average, 91 runs, 191 hits, 45 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs, 67 RBIs, 73 walks, 11 stolen bases.
• Already a defensive star with five straight years leading AL shortstops in fielding, Boudreau proved his worth at the plate by garnering the AL batting crown.

9. ROY CULLENBINE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .284 average, 98 runs, 162 hits, 34 doubles, 5 triples, 16 home runs, 80 RBIs, 87 walks.
• On his sixth team in six years, Cullenbine finally began to find a footing that would stay solid (albeit briefly) even after the war.

10. KEN KELTNER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 41 doubles, 9 triples, 13 home runs, 91 RBIs.
• Bouncing back from a nasty spike wound the year before, Keltner returned to form with the Indians in his eighth season.

NL Pitchers

1. MORT COOPER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.46 ERA, 22 wins, 7 losses, .759 win percentage, 33 starts, 7 shutouts, 252.1 innings.
• Cooper verified his standing as the NL’s wartime ace—but somehow got passed up for the All-Star Game.

2. BUCKY WALTERS, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.40 ERA, 23 wins, 8 losses, .742 win percentage, 32 starts, 27 complete games, 6 shutouts, 285 innings.
• It seemed like old times for Walters, who revived to the ace form he displayed in the Reds’ brief NL dynasty of 1939-40.

3. TED WILKS, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.64 ERA, 17 wins, 4 losses, .810 win percentage, 36 appearances, 21 starts, 207.2 innings.
• Wilks began the season ready to serve the military, then found out he was 4F—and rushed back to St. Louis where he became a rookie sensation for the Cardinals.

4. MAX LANIER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.65 ERA, 17 wins, 12 losses, 224.1 innings.
• The southpaw’s career hit its acme before an induction into the military a year later—and, a year after that, an ill-fated move to the Mexican League.

5. ED HEUSSER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.38 ERA, 13 wins, 11 losses, 30 appearances, 23 starts, 192.2 innings, 42 walks.
• A fringe player over the previous five years, bouncing back and forth between the majors and minors, the “Wild Elk of the Wasatch” grabbed an unlikely ERA title.

6. RIP SEWELL, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.18 ERA, 21 wins, 12 losses, 38 appearances, 33 starts, 286 innings.
• Sewell rode his famed, high-arcing “eephus” pitch to his second straight 21-win season.

7. BILL VOISELLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.02 ERA, 21 wins, 16 losses, 43 appearances, 41 starts, 25 complete games, 312.2 innings, 118 walks, 161 strikeouts.
• The workhorse of the year, after appearing in just six previous major league games, conceded 31 home runs; no other major leaguer gave up more than 18.

8. JIM TOBIN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.01 ERA, 18 wins, 19 losses, 43 appearances, 36 starts, 28 complete games, 299.1 innings.
• Burdened for years by a bad Braves team, Tobin took matters into his own hands—throwing a one-hitter in his second start, a no-hitter in his third, and a darkness-shortened five-inning no-no two months later. He still nearly lost 20 games.

9. ARNOLD CARTER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.60 ERA, 11 wins, 7 losses, 33 appearances, 18 starts, 20 grounded into double plays.
• Another pitcher who was around only because the ‘better’ arms were gone, Carter made the most of it for the Reds in his only full-time season at the top.

10. NICK STRINCEVICH, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.08 ERA, 14 wins, 7 losses, 40 appearances, 26 starts, 190 innings, 37 walks.
• Like Carter, Strincevich was another minor leaguer with previous scant experience (and success) in the majors who nevertheless looked good in this day and age; he was 9-1 at home and 7-1 over his final two months.

AL Pitchers

1. DIZZY TROUT, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.12 ERA, 27 wins, 14 losses, 49 appearances, 40 starts, 33 complete games, 7 shutouts, 352.1 innings, 38 grounded into double plays.
• With eyes too poor for the military but, clearly, still sharp enough for baseball, Trout was equally good against top teams (6-0 vs. the Yankees) and bad (one run allowed over 54.1 innings vs. the A’s).

2. TEX HUGHSON, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.26 ERA, 18 wins, 5 losses, .783 win percentage, 5 saves, 28 appearances, 23 starts, 203.1 innings, 41 walks.
• Hughson easily would have won 20 games for the second time in three years had he not been sent packing to the military in early August; he picked up a save in every relief appearance he made.

3. HAL NEWHOUSER, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.22 ERA, 29 wins, 9 losses, .763 win percentage, 47 appearances, 34 starts, 25 complete games, 6 shutouts, 312.1 innings, 187 strikeouts.
• The dominance of Newhouser and fellow Tiger Dizzy Trout were reflected in their 1-2 placement (with Newhouser at #1) in AL MVP voting.

4. JACK KRAMER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.49 ERA, 17 wins, 13 losses, 31 starts, 257 innings.
• The New Orleans native’s season ERA was nearly half that of his 4.57 figure over his 11 other major league campaigns.

5. NELS POTTER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.83 ERA, 19 wins, 7 losses, .731 win percentage, 233 innings.
• Out of the majors two years earlier after five rotten tries at it, Potter suddenly had the look of an A-list hurler against a diminished level of opposition. Perhaps a spitball was part of the reason; he was ejected for using one in a July game.

6. STEVE GROMEK, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.56 ERA, 10 wins, 9 losses, 35 appearances, 21 starts, 203.2 innings.
• Signed five years earlier by the Indians as an infielding prospect, Gromek finally broke through on the mound.

7. JOHNNY NIGGELING, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.32 ERA, 10 wins, 8 losses, 24 starts, 206 innings.
• The most efficient of four knuckleballers in the Senators’ rotation, sporting a career low ERA at age 41.

8. HANK BOWORY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.64 ERA, 17 wins, 12 losses, 35 appearances, 30 starts, 252.2 innings.
• The Yankees’ wartime ace authored his third straight sub-3.00 ERA in as many years since his major league arrival.

9. JOE HAYNES, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.57 ERA, 5 wins, 6 losses, 33 appearances, 12 starts, 154.1 innings.
• Never mind the garden variety record; Haynes was in the neighborhood for a well-deserved ERA title. He’d actually get one in 1947, with everyone back.

10. BOBO NEWSOM, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 13 wins, 15 losses, 37 appearances, 33 starts, 265 innings.
• Newsom managed to stay put in one city for a whole year and found his groove back, though it didn’t translate to a winning year with the lackluster A’s.

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With the talent pool ever-thinning, little surprise there isn’t much action in the trade market and some of those that do transpire tend toward the mega.

Here are the major moves of interest:

• 3B Bus Clarkson: Red Sox, 7 years / $329000
• P Max Lanier: Red Sox, 7 years / $288000
• 2B Benny McCoy: Athletics, 8 years / $279200
• P Mort Cooper: Giants, 6 years / $246000
• C Josh Gibson: Indians, 5 years / $202400
• 1B Nick Etten: Cardinals, 6 years / $194400
• 2B Howard Easterling: Reds, 5 years / $150000
• OF Roy Cullenbine: Cubs, 4 years / $146800
• 1B Stan Hack: Phillies, 4 years / $129600
• OF Mike Kreevich: Tigers, 3 years / $108200
• 1B Buck Leonard: Giants, 3 years / $97800
• OF Bobby Estalella: Cubs, 4 years / $96800
• OF Joe Marty: Red Sox, 3 years / $91800
• P Tiny Bonham: White Sox, 5 years / $81400 (extension)
• C Ernie Lombardi: White Sox, 3 years / $77000
• P Satchel Paige: Giants, 2 years / $68800

• 3B Buddy Blair and OF Marv Rickert from Reds to Red Sox for OF Chet Laabs (retaining 50%)
• C Paul Gillespie, P Hooks Iott and 3B Whitey Wietelmann from Tigers to White Sox for 3B Augie Galan
• SS Jack Louman and OF Tommy Tatum from Giants to Phillies for OF Barney McCoskey
• OF Fern Bell and OF Charlie Gilbert from Cubs to Reds for P Marv Breuer
• 1B Tommy Byrne from Reds to Cardinals for P Luis Tiant
• OF Milt Byrnes and 2B Crash Davis from Giants to Phillies for 3B Sid Gordon and OF Hoot Evers

ALL TRANSACTIONS

The Bucs take a 9-9 split in ST and lose both Leroy Matlock and rookie Russ Derry to short-term niggles that require an IL stint.

The pundits are again liking the Red Sox in the AL, with the Jints, Pirates, Cubs and Reds anticipated to be in a crackerjack tussle for the NL pennant.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

Top 20 players.