The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Far from the ideal start to the stretch run as we get belted 13-2 by the Cards in our first game and put in one of our worst performances of the year, then lose to them again the next day, and only a late rally the following day against the Cubs stops it from being three straight.

The middling form continues as we swap out an injured Dihigo for the returning Elliott, although Whit Wyatt shows us how it’s done, pitching a 2-hitter against Cincy while also going 4-4 with 3 RBI in a 9-0 rout. It is an altogether messy little stretch we endure, with nothing working how we’d like it to be.

When the Phillies visit for our final series of the season, the gap is back to 6 and we know we can put them away with a good showing or let them right back in it with a poor one. A strong CG by Ray Brown gets us a 7-3 win in the opener and guarantees we don’t lose any ground over these two games, and Whit Wyatt repeats the dose by exactly the same scoreline the next day, to really make it tough for them to catch us. Our 15-7 record against them for the year may well prove the difference.

Three more on the bounce including emphatic 14-0 and 13-1 victories against the Bees lower our MN to 3 and, after we get Dihigo back from the IL, we clinch at the start of the final week in front of our home fans with our 102nd win of the season. We finish the year in stunning fashion, winning our last 7 games to end the year 107-47.

As this is unfolding, the Yankees get a horrible case of the death wobbles. Worst for them, they do so just as the A’s absolutely catch fire, and before you know it Philadelphia – riding an 11-game win streak – has caught, then overtaken, then pulled away from them to eventually win the AL quite comfortably. Over their last 30 games, the A’s go 22-8; the Yanks, 13-17.

It is, to put it mildly, a most astounding turn of events.




Firstly, I want to congratulate the Phillies on their outstanding season. In the end we prove just a bit too good, but they must be commended on their 99-win performance that, in many if not most years, would earn them a spot in the playoffs.

Our lads have applied themselves superbly this season, and our +331 run diff is testament to how well we have played. Gibson's performance should put him in the box seat for his first Wagner-Lajoie and Arky Vaughan has another fine year, while Bill Wright continues to show what a force he is in this league. The pitching took a while to come around, but has been magnificent in the latter part of the season, Brown in particular. We end up ranking top-3 in almost every meaningful stat cat and April's 6-7 is our only losing month of the campaign.







Josh Gibson wins his first batting title by hitting 355, while Hal Trosky sr has another stellar year that sees him also claim this prize for the first time while belting 34 HR and driving in 114. The two of them each finish top 3 across the TC. Hank Greenburg leads the league once again with 41 HR, while Joltin' Joe's 126 ribbies are the highest. Joe and rookie sensation Ted Williams tie for the highest bWAR with 8.2 and that AL MVP race should be one right out of the box. Bill Wright improves upon his own single-season steals record with 74.

Ray Brown notches the most wins with 25, while it's nice to see Paul Dean bounce back from injury to post the lowest ERA with 2.70. Satch racks up another strikeout crown with 265, while Jumbo Brown's 17 saves just edge out Leroy Matlock's 16. Look out for Rosey Davis come awards time - his 10.2 pWAR is the best for the year.

Final Top 20s, awards, news and leaders.








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[luckymann]

Pittsburgh Pirates (107-47) v Philadelphia Athletics (98-56)
Best-of-seven, A's with the home-field advantage.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS S+ PAGE


I won’t lie to you, so convinced was I that the Yankees would win the AL that I have had to do some big-time cramming to familiarise myself with this A’s group.

I am most impressed with what I have gleaned from this exercise.

They might not hit for much average, but the boys from Philly sure do know how to time those big flies for maximum reward, and this may well prove the key for us. With Wells and Moses setting the table for Mize, Johnson and company, we need to make our mistakes on a small scale or else they’re liable to put up some big numbers in a hurry.

On the flipside, they will be throwing three quality 20-game winners at us, with Davis in career-best form and Grove a proven big-time pitcher. So our bats need to get hot and stay hot.

This should prove a massive challenge for us and it should be a fantastic Series for the neutrals.

[luckymann]

Another fantastic season by our AAA Barons, capped off with a 3-1 Series win over Brownsville to lock down their 8th Championship.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Philadelphia

Roosevelt Davis (23-14, 2.75) v Paul Derringer (22-11, 3.35)

Roosevelt Davis has added his name to the list of NeLers who have taken their time but then found their best form after 30, and he will be a tough first hurdle for us here. We know what Duke is capable of at his best, but also how he can all too often be at his worst. We obviously need the former from him today.

We go ahead in the 2nd on a single by Jimmy Brown but they respond immediately as Duke serves up a 2-run gopher ball to Sam Chapman and we’re lucky not to fall further behind when they threaten again in the 4th.

We make the most of it, too, as Vaughan ties it up in the next on an RBI single and then Jimmy Brown, who has 4 career home runs to his name, picks the ideal time to add another and make it 5-2 in the 6th. And when Gibson bombs one out with one on in the 7th, we are suddenly up by five and Davis is done.

But then Derringer gives up a 2-run longball to our old friend Willie Wells to keep it nice and tight, and I go to the pen to try and get us home. They make somewhat heavy weather of it, allowing runners in both the 8th and 9th, but we close it out without conceding for a 7-4 win.


Pirates 7, Athletics 4

Game 2 in Philadelphia

Lefty Grove (24-12, 2.87) v Ray Brown (25-9, 2.86)

Pirates lead series 1-0

What a marvel this Grove fellow is, and I doubt it’s a coincidence his return to the A’s has seen them get where they are. This match-up should be an absolute ripper, with Ray Brown just superb again this year. I doubt there are two fiercer competitors in the league than these two.

As anticipated, scoring opportunities are few and far between, with it remaining scoreless until Foxx goes solo yard in the 6th, only for Wells to return the favour in the home half.

We get in front again in the next as Vaughan knocks in a pair with a double and then Foxx makes it 4-1 with a run-scoring single. Another by Leiber extends our lead to four but we leave two on the deck and may rue our wastefulness.

Brown gasses out in the 9th, giving up a solo HR then a double, and I get him out of there. They bring another one home and put the winning runs on before Hugh Casey fans Wally Moses and we scrape by.


Pirates 5, Athletics 3

Game 3 in Pittsburgh

Whit Wyatt (18-11, 3.18) v Roosevelt Davis (0-1, 9.95)

Pirates lead series 2-0

Home field advantage notwithstanding, we find ourselves in exactly the same position as last year—and we saw then how quickly things can turn around, a point I have been hammering home to the lads almost non-stop since that final Game 2 out was achieved.

Whit Wyatt has been everything we expected him to be, with only that early injury stopping him from a much-deserved 20-win season. The A’s have surprised us by naming Davis as tonight’s starter rather than the scheduled Thompson, and we’ll have to see if that turns out to be a good move or not.

We get to him early with a run on a two-out Gibson hit in the 1st but they come right back at us again in the next frame with a run on back-to-back doubles.

We waste a chance to go back on top in the next, but eventually do so in the 5th on a Vaughan single, only for Wyatt to lose his way in the 6th, giving up the lead as they plate two. That ends his game as I PH for him in the home half as we once again threaten without scoring.

Newsom gives up a solo shot in the 9th and Davis shows the heart of a lion to go 8+ as they close it out.

A poor game by us with our defence and clutch hitting leaving plenty to be desired, and we only have ourselves to blame for losing it.


Athletics 4, Pirates 2

Game 4 in Pittsburgh

Satchel Paige (0-1, 3.38) v Paul Derringer (1-0, 2.25)

Pirates lead series 2-1

Young Gene Thompson has been a revelation in his rookie season and I reckon they’d like their chances here today. We need more of the same as Game 1 from Duke.

A nervy start from both hurlers as we take a 2nd-inning lead on an Elliott SF after a leadoff trip by XX and add three more in the next on consecutive solo jacks by WBW and Arky, followed by a two-out RBI single by Leiber.

Derringer just never gets his rhythm right in this one, and gives up a deuce in the next as their bats keep chipping away at him. But Duke’s courage can never be questioned as he hangs in there for 7 before making way with us still two to the good.

We give the BP one more to spare as a rampant Dandridge triples and scores on a Vaughan single and it proves more precious than we could have anticipated as Matlock gives up a 2-run homer to Johnson before closing it out for a fairly unconvincing 5-4 win.


Pirates 5, Athletics 4

Game 5 in Pittsburgh

Lefty Grove (0-1, 10.80) v Ray Brown (1-0, 0.00)

Pirates lead series 3-1

It somehow feels fitting that it falls to Ray to get us the home clinch against Grove, both of whom seem on their way to Cooperstown. We know the perils of heading back to Philly and the lads assure me they’ll be leaving it all out on the field tonight.

Early trouble for Ray as he gives up a run on two hits in the 1st and then they add a second in the next.

Gibson settles the nerves with a tater to lead off the home 2nd and Dandridge then ties it in the next with a run-scoring double and he scores on a Wright single to give us the 3-2 lead. Another hit to Vaughan extends our lead but Brown is having a rare shocker and they quickly tie it back up on a 2-run double by Moses.

Grove gets the hook but I resist doing the same with Ray in the hope that he can turn things around. He does get two more scoreless, but then with a man on third and one out in the 6th, I pull him out for a pinch-hitter but Paul Waner GIDPs and the tie stays in place.

Tobin comes in to pitch and this one heads into extra innings, still tied at 4.

They bust it open in the 11th with a pair but we rally in the home half as our first two hitters get aboard and another single by Pep Young loads them up, still none down. But Dihigo can only pop out and Dandridge, of all people, GIDPs to kill us off and send the series back to Philadelphia.

Another game we lost as much as they won and this one stings and may well end up stinging a lot more.


Athletics 6, Pirates 4 (11 innings)

Game 6 in Philadelphia

Roosevelt Davis (1-1, 5.52) v Whit Wyatt (0-1, 3.86)

Pirates lead series 3-2

Pretty flat amongst our troops I have to say after that tough loss, a worrying sign indeed particularly on the road. Can this marvellous group lift like they usually do?

They start positively enough, as Elliott doubles in a run in the 2nd and a Brown single adds another, but a 2-run jack by Joe Cronin in the 4th squares it up again and suddenly our bats have gone very quiet.

Mize is just monstering us, and he is in the thick of it again in the 6th as they take the lead with two more runs.

Wyatt is done after that inning and we still trail by two going into the 9th, with just four hits to that point.

Vaughan leads off with a bloop hit and a Gibson double puts the tying runs in SP, then Leiber knocks them both in with a long one-out triple and now represents the go-ahead run. They give Elliott the intentional pass to set up the DP but Brown manages to bring him in with a groundout all the same.
I hand the ball to Matlock, so good for us so many times. He lets two on with two out and I leave him in to face Sam Chapman. He gets him to sky one to WBW in CF and, somehow, we have done it.

We looked gone and yet again these astounding ballplayers have managed to find a way to win. Fantastic, just fantastic.


Pirates 5, Athletics 4

PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-2

SERIES MVP: Arky Vaughan (Pittsburgh)

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[luckymann]

Detroit gives both their GM Mike Hutchins and Manager Newt Randall the old heave-ho, while the Browns and Cards also part ways with their GMs and the Senators fire skipper George Uhle.

We execute Duke Derringer’s option year and tender Bill Lee. Jimmy Brown’s defensive ratings take a massive hit and so we N/T him and extend Billy Jurges for 2 years at $10k per. We also non-tender Frenchy Bordagaray and, apart from some MILB guys, let all of our other pending FAs walk.

This year’s retirees include Bill Terry, Newt Allen, Watty Clark, Rev Cannady, Ripper Collins, Babe Herman, Rap Dixon, Heinie Manush, Riggs Stephenson, Waite Hoyt and one more I’ll mention separately.

[luckymann]

One of the true greats is calling time on his storied career as John Beckwith leaves the game better by far for his having passed through. I'll always remember with great fondness the short time we spent together at Pittsburgh - he was a true pro.

A career 309/356/534 batting line, with 2479 hits, 368 HR (currently 5th) and 1668 RBI (5th); 2 Wagner-Lajoie Medals, 4 Championship rings and 86+ bWAR should ensure we see him again in about five years' time.

[luckymann]

AL 1939 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1939 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Well, we suspected this would be an eventful awards season and it didn't let us down.

Josh Gibson is a unanimous NL Wagner-Lajoie winner, while Barney McCoskey takes out the NL Rookie of the Year. Ted Williams does indeed win both the MVP and RoY in the AL, with the latter being one of the tightest-run ballots yet.

Not as tight-run, however, as the NL Johnson-Waddell, which gives us our first-ever tie as both Ray Brown and Ted Trent get 80 votes including 7 firsts. It is Ray's second and Ted's first win. Rosey Davis wins his 2nd in the AL. Leroy Matlock wins his 4th relief award, Mace Brown of Washington his first.


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[luckymann]

The gradual but undeniable decline of Jimmie Foxx's offensive output in recent seasons has been a concern, and it has become clear to me that signing him to such a long deal - he is under contract thru 1946 - was a mistake on my part, one I am keen to rectify.

The other factor at play here is that of the wear-and-tear inflicted upon Josh Gibson by his role as everyday catcher, again one that I am keen to rectify.

There's no point being coy about this situation, these are grown men and professional ballplayers. So I sit XX down, explain where things are at and offer him a choice - either to be traded or to assume the catcher role, with JG moving to 1B. My preference is the former, not just because of the monetary considerations but because the proposed Plan B switch would leave us worse off defensively at both positions.

Regrettably, Jimmie has no interest in moving clubs and - because he is now a 10/5 player - I can't just ship him out.

So Plan B it will have to be, with the use of late and close defensive subs. A less than ideal MO, but an unavoidable one. And while, financially, this will have little bearing for the next few seasons, salaries are jumping and those last few years of Jimmie's contract may cost us more than money.

We shake hands and - at least, I believe - put it behind us and move on. I hope my candour forestalls any degradation of what has always been a good relationship.

Otherwise, for now we keep our powder dry with regard to signings and trades. Let's see what the Draft brings and go from there.

[luckymann]

Just four new Legacies this time around, including one of my all-time favourites as the sole Marquee player for 1940. We also get all three DiMaggio brothers in now, with Dom’s arrival as one of the four.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1940 season:


Boston Red Sox: Dom DiMaggio (33.6; 1399 – one-club player)
Brooklyn Dodgers: Pee Wee Reese (68.4; 2166 – one club player, special dispensation) MARQUEE
Philadelphia Athletics: Elmer Valo (28.8; 1361)
St. Louis Cardinals: Harry Brecheen (42.2; 292)


Marty Marion (31.9; 1502) was also eligible for the Cardinals, but Brecheen’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 105 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1939 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Brooklyn Dodgers (549)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (601)
3. Boston Red Sox (589)
4. Philadelphia Athletics (362)
5. St. Louis Browns (279)
6. Philadelphia Phillies (298)
7. Boston Bees (417)
8. Washington Senators (425)
9. Pittsburgh Pirates (444)
10. New York Giants (510)
11. Detroit Tigers (526)
12. Chicago Cubs (545)
13. Chicago White Sox (555)
14. Cleveland Indians (569)
15. Cincinnati Reds (630)
16. New York Yankees (701)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. St. Louis Browns (279)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (298)
3. Philadelphia Athletics (362)
4. Boston Bees (417)
5. Washington Senators (425)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (444)
7. New York Giants (510)
8. Detroit Tigers (526)
9. Chicago Cubs (545)
10. Brooklyn Dodgers (549)
11. Chicago White Sox (555)
12. Cleveland Indians (569)
13. Boston Red Sox (589)
14. St. Louis Cardinals (601)
15. Cincinnati Reds (630)
16. New York Yankees (701)


Another one of those Drafts in which the order preceding our pick – an unusually high one for us this year – will play a huge part in how we attack it.

Here are our picks in full:

1. OF Stan Spence, 24

• With Lloyd Waner out of contract at the end of next season and Bob Elliott headed for the IF at some point, we had our eye on Pete Reiser before he went early. Stan is an excellent fallback—solid on D at the corners and plus on offence. He looks fully-formed and Little P may well find himself spending his last year in our organization at AAA.

2. IF Sherry Robertson, 20

• Billy Jurges and last year’s NLAAA MVP Bill Nagel will almost certainly get the call to fill backup IF roles, but if either of them doesn’t pan out Sherry will be next in line. Plays 3B and SS well, but is a bit light-batted.

3. P Orval Grove, 20

• Fairly well-stocked in the pitching ranks for now but with Ray out of contract soon and him, Duke, Whit Wyatt and Leroy all into their 30s, that can change oh so fast and we need to start building the next generation of Pirates hurlers. Orval looks like he’ll take a while to hit his straps and, while he's no Overall, he should prove a handy pick-up all the same.

4. IF Hal Marnie, 21
5. P Yank Terry, 28

• Two for AAA.

A nice Draft for us.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

Hard to believe we've covered four decades of this epic reimagining of baseball history already. Only 8 more to go!

Here's how each club's W-L looks entering the 1940s and how they fared in the decade just past.

And here are the individual and team stats for the 1930s.

INDIVIDUAL HITTING

INDIVIDUAL PITCHING

TEAM HITTING

TEAM PITCHING


Mel Ott gained the most bWAR with 70.4, ahead of Arky Vaughan's 64.4, while Satchel Paige's 88 pWAR led the way ahead of Lefty Grove's 76.8.


Finally, here are the season and career Leaderboards thru 1939.

As always, you can dive as deep as you please via this league's Stats+ page, using the links below.

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[luckymann]

Well, Ted Williams certainly let the baseball world know there is a new Kid in town with that outrageous rookie season. The question is, will the Red Sox be able to do in this timeline what they couldn't in the real one and build a squad around him to lock down a Championship or two? Or will the Yanks' IRL dominance translate here as well. Over in the NL, with Campy and now Pee Wee we are starting to see the foundation for that great Dodgers dynasty of the 40s and 50s being built. Can they finally see some post-season action? Can the Tribe? Will the Cards ever come good?

So many unanswered questions and so many amazing players doing astounding things it is hard to know where to look sometimes, which seems set to continue. All eyes are on Lou Gehrig this year as he approaches the Babe's HR mark, while Satchel Paige should pass Walter Johnson's strikeout record over the next few seasons. Most of the other records look fairly safe for the time being.

Only two more NeLers to come into the league - Larry Doby in '42 and then the great man himself: Jackie Robinson in 1945. After that, the exodus of these superb ballplayers is fairly quick, with all gone by 1960 at the latest and most well before that.

While I'll miss having them in the league, their absence will free up a lot of the settings I've had to impose to enable me to properly track them and keep their ratings where they should be. This in turn will continue to increase the challenge for yours truly to keep the Bucs competitive.

As it is, I've made a few key settings changes to usher in the new decade. We're moving from 4- to 5-man rotations, with Pitcher Stamina now ticked down from HIGH to NORMAL. The Active Roster has been increased from 24 to 26, with Position Player Fatigue now set to HIGH. I'm a bit concerned about depth across the franchises at both the MLB and AAA levels, especially with no Historical Minors, so I will almost certainly increase the number of Draft rounds to the max that can be had for the 16 teams, thereby ensuring they are getting their fill of new players each year.

FYI, this save is still on v22 and will remain so until 1950.

With regard to our franchise, I am keeping our payroll at the very bottom for the league. For example, while our owner allotted us $1.1m for 1940, I have reset it to half that. Only Cleveland's $540k is less than ours. I have also tinkered with Market Size and the other financial metrics, greatly handicapping us in comparison to the other clubs. As I do each new decade, I have reset our Fan Interest to 50. We have the league's smallest market at 5 and I have also set our Owner Spending to an MLB-low 3. I'll keep moving these around in parallel with the IRL until the two meet exactly or close enough to as full FA kicks in for the real-life side of things and salaries start going exponential. I will eventually relax my house rules on FA signings and trades, once I feel the financials are in place to handle the level of difficulty and verisimilitude I am seeking.

Can't wait to see what this new decade has in store and will be fascinated to see how the multi-year recalc handles player performance over the War Years.

Thanks for following along, hope you are enjoying the ride!

G

[luckymann]

Two more plaques in C-Town as Rajah and the great Andy Cooper take their place among the immortals.

[luckymann]

The Reds overcome the tragic midseason suicide of catcher Willard Hershberger to cruise to the NL pennant while the Tigers take advantage of a rare down season by the now Gehrig-less Yankees to overhaul the Indians late in the season. The Reds prevail in an epic seven-game World Series, despite a commanding performance by Bobo Newsom, to earn just their second Championship and the first since the tainted “Black Sox” win in 1919.

AL CHAMPIONS: Detroit Tigers (90-64)
NL CHAMPIONS: Cincinnati Reds (100-53)
WORLD SERIES: Reds 4, Tigers 3

AL MVP: Hank Greenberg (Tigers)
NL MVP: Frank McCormick (Reds)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. JOHNNY MIZE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 111 runs, 182 hits, 31 doubles, 13 triples, 43 home runs, 137 RBIs, 82 walks, 24 intentional walks, .636 slugging percentage.
• Mize had two things in common with future Colorado slugger Andres Galarraga: The same nickname (“Big Cat”) and statistics worthy of Coors Field. He became the only player until Mookie Betts (in 2018) to have a pair of three-homer games and a cycle in the same season.

2. DOLPH CAMILLI, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .287 average, 92 runs, 29 doubles, 13 triples, 23 home runs, 96 RBIs, 89 walks.
• In his third year at Brooklyn, Camilli barely failed to reach triple-digits in runs, RBIs and walks for a third straight year—but at least he didn’t strike out 100 times for a third straight season as well.

3. ARKY VAUGHAN, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 156 games, .300 average, 113 runs, 178 hits, 40 doubles, 15 triples, 7 home runs, 95 RBIs, 88 walks, 12 stolen bases.
• The typically agile shortstop used his bat to make up for a major league-high 52 errors committed on the year.

4. FRANK MCCORMICK, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .309 average, 618 at-bats, 93 runs, 191 hits, 44 doubles, 19 home runs, 127 RBIs, 20 sacrifice hits, 23 grounded into double plays.
• The unsung star crooned MVP voters into giving him the honor after peaking along with the Reds and leading the NL in hits for the third straight season.

5. ELBIE FLETCHER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .273 average, 94 runs, 22 doubles, 7 triples, 16 home runs, 104 RBIs, 119 walks, 9 hit-by-pitches, .418 on-base percentage.
• Reaching the top of his game, Fletcher managed to reach base almost as often via walk, hit batsmen or error (134) as he did by hits (139).

6. BILL NICHOLSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 135 games, .297 average, 78 runs, 27 doubles, 7 triples, 25 home runs, 98 RBIs.
• After bouncing around the A’s and Senators’ organizations through the late 1930s, Nicholson made a firm everyday splash after former Cubs star Kiki Cuyler helped perfect his stance.

7. ENOS SLAUGHTER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 140 games, .306 average, 96 runs, 25 doubles, 13 triples, 17 home runs, 73 RBIs.
• Three of Slaughter’s nine career multiple-homer games took place during the 1940 season—20 days apart in July.

8. STAN HACK, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .317 average, 101 runs, 191 hits, 38 doubles, 6 triples, 8 home runs, 75 walks, 21 stolen bases, 22 caught stealing.
• By today’s rules, Hack would have been the NL batting champ—but there were no official such rules in 1940, so they gave it instead to the Pirates’ Debs Garms, who hit .355 despite playing just 103 games.

9. MEL OTT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 89 runs, 27 doubles, 19 home runs, 79 RBIs, 100 walks.
• A relatively sedate showing but still efficient effort for the future Hall of Famer; who knows how much lower his home run count would have been had it not for the micro-distant lengths to the Polo Grounds’ foul poles.

10. HANK LEIBER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 117 games, .302 average, 17 home runs, 86 RBIs.
• A near-Xeroxed campaign in which the outfielder’s season was once again shortened by injuries, reducing the potential for some awesome numbers.

AL Hitters

1. HANK GREENBERG, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .340 average, 129 runs, 195 hits, 50 doubles, 8 triples, 41 home runs, 150 RBIs, 93 walks, .670 slugging percentage.
• Closing out the prodigious pre-war stage of his career, Greenberg pocketed an extra $10,000 to relocate to the outfield and make room at first base for all-hit, no-glove catcher Rudy York; both excelled.

2. TED WILLIAMS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .344 average, 134 runs, 193 hits, 43 doubles, 14 triples, 23 home runs, 113 RBIs, 96 walks, .442 on-base percentage.
• Despite outstanding sophomore numbers, the honeymoon was over for Williams at Fenway Park, going nose-to-nose with local fans and press before demanding (and being denied) a trade to Detroit.

3. JOE DIMAGGIO, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 132 games, .352 average, 93 runs, 179 hits, 28 doubles, 9 triples, 31 home runs, 133 RBIs, 61 walks.
• DiMaggio put together the year’s longest hitting streak at 23 games. That, of course, would be nothing compared to what he had in store the following season.

4. RUDY YORK, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 155 games, .316 average, 105 runs, 186 hits, 46 doubles, 6 triples, 33 home runs, 134 RBIs, 89 walks.
• Graciously given the first base job by Hank Greenberg, York graciously gave back with arguably his finest year.

5. JIMMIE FOXX, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 106 runs, 30 doubles, 36 home runs, 119 RBIs, 101 walks.
• Foxx returned behind the plate where his big-league career began 15 years earlier, giving hot-hitting Lou Finney an everyday role at first.

6. JOE CRONIN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 104 runs, 35 doubles, 6 triples, 24 home runs, 111 RBIs, 83 walks.
• An impressive vintage performance by the 34-year-old player-manager, spiked with a career high in home runs.

7. BARNEY MCCOSKY, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .340 average, 123 runs, 200 hits, 39 doubles, 19 triples, 67 walks, 13 stolen bases.
• One of three American Leaguers to co-lead the circuit with exactly 200 hits, McCosky enjoyed his second and finest season at the big-league level; World War II would deprive him of potential peak years (1943-45). He would enjoy four multi-triple games on the season.

8. CHARLIE KELLER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 102 runs, 18 doubles, 15 triples, 21 home runs, 93 RBIs, 106 walks.
• The former minor league player of the year (1937) hit full stride at the major league level—though with only seven of his jacks hit at Yankee Stadium, he still had to yet to take advantage of the park’s short right-field porch.

9. JOE KUHEL, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 155 games, .280 average, 111 runs, 169 hits, 28 doubles, 8 triples, 27 home runs, 94 RBIs, 87 walks, 12 stolen bases.
• Kuhel finally won over White Sox fans who were still angry with the trade that sent him to Chicago for popular Zeke Bonura.

10. JOE GORDON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 155 games, .281 average, 112 runs, 173 hits, 32 doubles, 10 triples, 30 home runs, 103 RBIs, 18 stolen bases.
• The third-year second baseman did his best to pick up the slack from a Yankee roster whose stars of the 1930s were starting to skip gears.

NL Pitchers

1. BUCKY WALTERS, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.48 ERA, 22 wins, 10 losses, 36 starts, 29 complete games, 305 innings.
• Performing a carbon copy of his 1939 effort, Walters again lead the NL in wins, complete games, innings, ERA and opponents’ batting average.

2. CLAUDE PASSEAU, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.50 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 5 saves, 46 appearances, 31 starts, 280.2 innings, 59 walks.
• Thrilled to be exiled from the down-and-out Phillies, Passeau enjoyed the second and best of eight straight years finishing .500 or above at Chicago.

3. RIP SEWELL, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.80 ERA, 16 wins, 5 losses, .762 win percentage, 33 appearances, 23 starts.
• Having finally graduated to the major league stage in his early 30s, Sewell transformed into (mostly) a starter with the Bucs and easily became the team’s most effective arm.

4. PAUL DERRINGER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.06 ERA, 20 wins, 12 losses, 37 starts, 26 complete games, 296.2 innings, 48 walks.
• In a 15-year career, Derringer would never throw a no-hitter but did fire two one-hitters—both of those in 1940.

5. LARRY FRENCH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.29 ERA, 14 wins, 14 losses, 40 appearances, 33 starts, 246 innings.
• French’s solid, steady if not dominant pitching finally earned him his first and only All-Star spot.

6. JIM TURNER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.89 ERA, 14 wins, 7 losses, 187 innings, 32 walks.
• The 37-year-old hurler, in just his fourth major league season, provided the most efficient support in the Reds’ staff beyond the one-two crunch of Walters and Derringer.

7. LON WARNEKE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.14 ERA, 16 wins, 10 losses, 232 innings, 47 walks.
• Now pitching for the Cardinals after his heyday with the Cubs during the early 1930s, Warneke warmed up for his future role as a major league umpire by filling in for an arbiter after a scheduling mix-up.

8. VITO TAMULIS, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 3.09 ERA, 8 wins, 5 losses, 41 appearances, 12 starts, 154.1 innings, 34 walks.
• A goofball personality who would have fit in well with Brooklyn’s Daffiness Boys of lore from the 1920s, Tamulis proved effective out of the bullpen and even beat Rip Sewell to the punch with a variation of his “eephus” pitch.

9. VERN OLSEN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.97 ERA, 13 wins, 9 losses.
• The 22-year-old southpaw looked to be a rising star based on the above numbers, but various injuries and an interruption from world war broke down those aspirations.

10. KIRBY HIGBE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.72 ERA, 14 wins, 19 losses, 41 appearances, 36 starts, 283 innings, 121 walks, 137 strikeouts, 9 hit-by-pitches.
• Higbe awaited his chance for freedom from the moribund Phillies; Brooklyn was ready to oblige him.

AL Pitchers

1. BOB FELLER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.61 ERA, 27 wins, 11 losses, .711 win percentage, 4 saves, 43 appearances, 37 starts, 31 complete games, 4 shutouts, 320.1 innings, 118 walks, 261 strikeouts.
• Feller delivered his usual heat to rack up a personal high in wins, his only ERA title and his first no-hitter—but also took a lot of heat for his role as co-conspirator in the failed mutiny to oust skipper Ossie Vitt.

2. BOBO NEWSOM, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.83 ERA, 21 wins, 5 losses, .808 win percentage, 36 appearances, 34 starts, 264 innings, 100 walks.
• The often abrasive Newsom had the most satisfying year of his career—statistically, anyway, setting personal bests in wins and win percentage.

3. JOHNNY RIGNEY, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.11 ERA, 14 wins, 18 losses, 39 appearances, 33 starts, 19 complete games, 280.2 innings.
• Strangely, Rigney posted the White Sox’ best ERA despite a losing record on a team with a winning mark.

4. AL MILNAR, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.27 ERA, 18 wins, 10 losses, 37 appearances, 33 starts, 4 shutouts, 242.1 innings.
• A career year for a guy who had 20 wins in his sights before a lackluster final couple of months to the season deprived him of reaching that goal.

5. THORNTON LEE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.47 ERA, 12 wins, 13 losses, 24 complete games, 228 innings.
• Like Rigney above, Lee struggled in his attempts to reach the .500 mark in spite of solid pitching. That would change in 1941.

6. TOMMY BRIDGES, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.37 ERA, 12 wins, 9 losses, 197.2 innings, 133 strikeouts.
• Thank goodness for the Browns; Bridges was 5-1 with a 1.94 ERA against the AL dreg, while he was 7-8 with a 3.80 figure against everyone else.

7. DUTCH LEONARD, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 3.49 ERA, 14 wins, 19 losses, 35 starts, 23 complete games, 289 innings.
• A year after winning 20 games, Leonard finished with a league-high 19 losses—despite a slightly lower ERA.

8. ELDON AUKER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.96 ERA, 16 wins, 11 losses, 38 appearances, 35 starts, 263.2 innings.
• Sold off to the destitute Browns as part of an AL-wide scheme to stand them back up financially, Auker became their first starter since 1935 to produce an ERA under 4.00.

9. MARIUS RUSSO, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.28 ERA, 14 wins, 8 losses.
• An agreeable first full year for the young lefty who preferred to sign autographs right-handed to “rest” his pitching arm.

10. SID HUDSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 4.57 ERA, 17 wins, 16 losses, 38 appearances, 31 starts, 252 innings.
• The tall rookie right-hander won more games than in any of 11 major league campaigns to follow, with some ups (two one-hitters, including one broken up in the ninth) and some downs (a 6.49 road ERA).

[luckymann]

Another big-ticket long-term signing by the Cards is once again nice to see, same goes with the Bees’ splurge. But it is the White Sox making the biggest noise in a relatively quiet market.

Here's all the major action from the offseason:

• SS Sam Bankhead: Bees, 7 years / $212600
• C Harry Danning: Cardinals, 6 years / $177800
• 2B Lonny Frey: Bees, 6 years / $161200
• C Frankie Hayes: Giants, 6 years / $148400
• P Roosevelt Davis: Red Sox, 4 years / $136400
• 1B Buck Leonard: White Sox, 5 years / $136000
• C Bill Dickey: White Sox, 4 years / $123400
• P Ted Trent: Red Sox, 3 years / $100000
• OF Mike Kreevich: Indians, 4 years / $100000
• P Hilton Smith: Senators, 4 years / $97600
• P Lefty Grove: Athletics, 3 years / $89600
• C Gabby Hartnett: Red Sox, 2 years / $72400
• OF Cool Papa Bell: Indians, 2 years / $37200

• 2B Ray Mack from Phillies to Cubs for P Lon Warneke
• P Bud Tinning, C Norm Schlueter and C Mickey Livingston from Indians to White Sox for C Billy Sullivan jr
• P Nick Dumovich, OF Chuck Workman and OF Glenn McQuillen from Reds to Phillies for C Willard Hershberger
• OF Ben Chapman from Yankees to White Sox for C Babe Phelps and OF Harry Kraft
• C Jake Early and 2B Bob Repass from Dodgers to Reds for P Bucky Walters
• P Snipe Hansen and 2B Creepy Crespi from Browns to Yankees for SS Whitey Wietelmann

ALL TRANSACTIONS


We look flat in a 9-9 ST, but get through it with no injuries of note.

The pundits like what they've seen with the White Sox' offseason moves so much that they've tipped them to pip the Yanks. They see us having a far easier ride in another 100-win season.


FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

Our team page can be accessed HERE.

Our core is virtually unchanged from last season, and I retain my FA and trade tickets as at OD.

We enter the season with the 4th-highest payroll ($302k) and equal-smallest budget ($550k). The Yanks are top in both, with $360k and $1.7m.

Our Opening Day squad will look like this:

Catchers

• C Jimmie Foxx (R)
• C Ken O’Dea (L)

As discussed, XX takes over behind the plate. Don Padgett will again see some time here, and Mike Tresh is in the wings.

SIDEBAR: I had no idea until prepping the First Time Around post that Jimmie actually made this very move IRL.


Infielders

• 1B Josh Gibson (R)
• 2B Ray Dandridge (R)
• 3B Martin Dihigo (R) / Pep Young (R)
• SS Arky Vaughan (L)

• Don Padgett (L)
• Pep Young (R)
• Billy Jurges (R)
• Bill Nagel (R)

If a trade is forthcoming, it will almost certainly be to upgrade at 3B. Hopefully, we’ll get through with our patchwork quilt without needing to do so.

Outfielders

• LF Hank Leiber (R)
• CF Wild Bill Wright (S)
• RF Bob Elliott (R)

• Paul Waner (L)
• Lloyd Waner (L)
• Doc Cramer (L)

Both Padgett and Dihigo will spend time out here, with Stan Spence and Red Worthington ready to be called upon.

Rotation

1. RHP Paul Derringer
2. RHP Ray Brown
3. RHP Whit Wyatt
4. LHP Max Lanier
5. RHP Hugh Casey

Plenty of options here, and Johnny Rigney leads the candidates for a call-up.

Bullpen

• LHP Leroy Matlock (ST)
• RHP Bill Lee (SU)
• LHP Clyde Shoun (MR)
• RHP Johnny Lanning (MR)
• LHP Ken Heintzelman (LR)
• RHP Jim Tobin (LR)

Martin Dihigo has been back pitching and will see some IP if and when needed.

[luckymann]

Unlike the Babe, there was no swansong contract offered by the Yanks to Lou, and for a while there it looked as if he might remain unsigned. But the Dodgers have stepped up and snagged him on a one-year deal, so we'll be watching him closely as he goes for the Babe's HR record. Entering the season, he needs seven to tie and eight to go outright top.

Even when he does belt #570, I don't think he'll be holding onto the crown for all that long. At just 31, Mel Ott must be a chance to assume the mantle at some point. He celebrates Opening Day in fine style, becoming just the third player in history behind these other two to reach 400.

[luckymann]

... the 3-13 Indians needed.

[luckymann]

Lou is yet to add to his HR total this season, and won't be doing so for the next wee while. Could the Curse of the Bambino been transmogrified into a new manifestation?

[luckymann]

Well, early indications are that the BNN boffins were spot on in their high opinion of Chicago this season, with the Sox off to a 24-10 start to the season. They put an absolute whuppin' on the poor old Senators today.

I was understandably concerned that the expansion to 5-man rosters and reduction of stamina would lead to some massive blowouts, but it hasn't been too bad. This is an obvious exception, but I checked and it was simply some usually decent enough pitchers - led by Dutch Leonard - having a dreadful day.

It happens.

Slash line is currently 268/345/389 v last season's 269/336/393; BABIP 281 v 284; ERA is up about 10 points to 4.25.

[luckymann]

Mother Nature plays havoc over the first fortnight, with three rainouts including our Opening Day fixture at St. Louis resulting in three doubleheaders. Still, the guys go about their business and we start strongly by winning seven from ten.

It is, all in all, a pleasantly nice and easy does it sort of opening to the new decade, with our staff in particular looking in good shape. Even Duke Derringer seems for once to have avoided his near-ritual early season shakiness and we eventually go 23-7 for our first 30.

We then lose consecutive games for the first time this year at Boston and I make a move, sending Jim Tobin, who has been poor both last year and so far in this, off to AAA. Young Johnny Rigney comes up and into the rotation, with Hugh Casey into the pen.

Other than that, very little to report as we dominate and end the month at 34-11.





Quite an unbelievable first six weeks from our bats, with all of our starters bar Bill Nagel - who has replaced a cliff-jumpng Dihigo - hitting better than 300 and we lead almost every offensive stat cat. Still down on homers, but with everything else humming along as it is we can live with that.

The net result of the Foxx-Gibson switch is only -2 ZR so far, which is more than acceptable.




While not quite so robust, the pitching has also been pretty solid. Brown isn't his usual sharp self and Rigney's two starts have been dreadful, but Derringer's surprising early form holds and he wins the monthly award, while Wyatt seems to be going from strength to strength and Lanier has been a revelation. The BP has had its moments, but once again Matlock has been superb and held things together in the late innings.




A late surge by the A's has closed the White Sox lead to one, with the Yanks also lurking ominously. The Browns have also started better than in recent years. On our side of the league, only ourselves and the Phillies sit above 500 as some sides are taking a while to adjust to the new requirements of their squads.




Awards, news and leaders. Charlie Gehringer and Willie Wells each reach 2500 career hits, Joe Cronin 2000. Both Buck Leonard and Joe Medwick are killing it so far, hitting 444 and 451 respectively. The last player to hit 400 was Heavy Johnson in 1921 and there have been just five all up.






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