The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

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A slow start puts the Bucs behind the eightball from the get-go as they post a 5-9 April, before getting things headed in the right direction in May and especially June, in which they go 19-8. This leaves them at 42-29 and just a couple games behind Cincy entering July.





Foxx's rebound has, I must admit, caught me completely by surprise. For that early poor stretch he basically carries the offence, and has continued to put together some superb numbers reminiscent of his very best. As the team has heated up, so have the other bats and at the time of writing, the lowest BA of any of the Bucs' starting lineup is 276. Hank Leiber and Stan Spence are both gone for the season, making the Ducky Medwick acquisition most prescient.




While the rotation has been fantastic to this point (with Wyatt and Lanier winning the monthly awards for May and June), the two Freds must be concerned about the leaky BP, whose ERA currently sits at an ugly 5.20, worst in the NL.




In both the AL and NL, while the top two teams are close, there is quite the gap already between them and the rest. No doubt the A's look set to be the Yanks' biggest challenge this year. The Indians flew out of the blocks but were cruelled by a 10-game losing streak and end-May.




News and Leaders. Chet Brewer notches career win number 200.






Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Red Sox): 356 / 5 HR / 11 RBI
• Pitcher – Si Johnson (White Sox): 3-0 / 1.48 / 10 K / 24.1 IP
• Rookie – Hal White (Athletics): 3-1 / 3.09 / 12 K / 32 IP

National League

• Batter – Bill Knickerbocker (Reds): 459 / 8 HR / 12 RBI
• Pitcher – Bucky Walters (Dodgers): 3-1 / 0.77 / 12 K / 35 IP
• Rookie – Roger Wolff (Reds): 3-0 / 3.21 / 9 K / 28 IP

May

American League

• Batter – Charlie Keller (Yankees): 364 / 10 HR / 31 RBI
• Pitcher – Gene Thompson (Athletics): 5-0 / 1.54 / 18 K / 52.2 IP
• Rookie – Hal White (Athletics): 4-0 / 1.58 / 8 K / 45.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Willard Brown (Reds): 359 / 6 HR / 35 RBI
• Pitcher – Whit Wyatt (Pirates): 4-2 / 2.00 / 30 K / 54 IP
• Rookie – Roger Wolff (Reds): 3-2 / 2.22 / 23 K / 52.2 IP

June

American League

• Batter – George McQuinn (Browns): 376 / 6 HR / 24 RBI
• Pitcher – Johnny Gorsica (Athletics): 6-0 / 3.49 / 18 K / 49 IP
• Rookie – Tex Hughson (Red Sox): 3-2 / 2.83 / 11 K / 41.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Stan Musial (Cardinals): 413 / 5 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Max Lanier (Pirates): 5-0 / 3.03 / 24 K / 35.2 IP
• Rookie – Stan Musial

Other Observations and Points of Interest

• May 4: Washington’s big offseason signing Willie Wells is set to miss three months with a hamstring strain.
• May 11th: Pete Reiser of the Phillies hits for the cycle against his IRL Dodgers.
• June 10th: the Browns lose outfielder Wally Judnich for the season with an elbow injury.

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Most HRs in Debut Season (Excludes Inaugural Year)

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569!!!!!

All. Tied. Up. Odds-on he breaks it against us.

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Just 5 Bucs get the nod this year.




Rudy York becomes the first multiple winner of the HR Derby, adding this year's title to the one he won in 1937, while Vince DiMaggio outshines brother Joe to win the ASG MVP as the NL gets a 6-2 victory.

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570!!!!!

He takes his good sweet time, but we finally have a new HR King.

For posterity, here are the specifics:

Mel Ott, currently on 450, is still the likely candidate to take over the clubhouse lead at some stage.

And I have to say, the fact that the game doesn't even mention this momentous occasion in passing is pretty incomprehensible and most disappointing. There's no bigger record for hitters. These are the sorts of elements I feel really need tightening up. Not going to sell you a million copies but sure helps with immersion.

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The Bucs do just enough to maintain their narrow lead atop the NL but Cincy are providing stubborn opposition to any efforts of them pulling away, although a late flurry of wins does stretch their advantage to four games. They post a 17-11 record for each of July and August.







The AL race is done, with the Yanks 13 1/2 clear.




News and Leaders.






Monthly Award Winners

July

American League

• Batter – Buck Leonard (White Sox): 438 / 5 HR / 18 RBI
• Pitcher – Satchel Paige (Yankees): 6-0 / 1.22 / 30 K / 51.2 IP
• Rookie – Tex Hughson (Red Sox): 5-0 / 3.72 / 16 K / 48.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Josh Gibson (Pirates): 347 / 7 HR / 15 RBI
• Pitcher – Luis Tiant (Phillies): 5-1 / 2.10 / 38 K / 51.1 IP
• Rookie – Don Moore (Braves): 355 / 2 HR / 16 RBI

August

American League

• Batter – Bobby Doerr (Red Sox): 413 / 9 HR / 32 RBI
• Pitcher – Thornton Lee (White Sox): 4-0 / 1.26 / 30 K / 35.2 IP
• Rookie – Whitey Kurowski (Athletics): 326 / 4 HR / 20 RBI

National League

• Batter – Jeff Heath (Phillies): 354 / 8 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Luis Tiant (Phillies): 4-0 / 2.28 / 32 K / 43.1 IP
• Rookie – Paul Erickson (Phillies): 4-1 / 0.99 / 14 K / 36.1 IP

Milestones

• Jimmie Foxx 400 HR
• Mel Ott (Giants) 2500 hits
• Ray Brown (Yankees) 250 wins
• Ben Chapman (White Sox) 2000 hits

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Highest % of Wins Saved

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The Bucs, to put it mildly, make heavy work of things before eventually getting home by 4 from the dogged Reds.





You look at these metrics and numbers and, were it any other side you'd be impressed. But, by the Pirates' lofty yardstick, it is more workmanlike than usual. Vaughan's season has been fairly pedestrian for him, same with Elliott, Wright and even Dandridge to some extent. Foxx and Gibson, however, carry the day.

The pitching story remains unchanged: fantastic effort from the rotation, while the BP's struggles continue to the end.





The Yanks cruise and clinch early, ending up with 104 wins.




Batting crowns to Buck Leonard and Barney McCosky, with Charlie Keller's 40 HR and Hank Greenberg's 132 RBI the league highs. Greenberg narrowly misses the NL Triple Corwn, while Ted Williams sets a new single-season mark with 153 walks.

For the first time in MLB history, no pitcher wins 20 games, while Bob Feller is the only one to register more than 200 strikeouts, and him by the barest margin.

Jimmy Foxx makes it to 2500 career hits, Dick Bartell to 2000.

Final Top 20s, awards, news and leaders.








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Most Hits over a 5 year span

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New York Yankees (104-50) v Pittsburgh Pirates (91-63)
Best-of-seven, Yankees with the home-field advantage.


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Hard to go against the overwhelming consensus here, which sees a fairly straightforward Yankees win. They won 13 more games than the Bucs and just look a more dynamic side right now. Keller is a beast, DiMaggio all class, Henrich highly underrated, their IF is among the best there is. Even with Gomez absent, their rotation consists of four absolute aces in their own right, with Satchel at their forefront.

A daunting prospect indeed.

But they can’t take our boys lightly. If the Bucs get on a roll then anything can happen, and fast. The way I see it, the longer this Series goes, the better for Pittsburgh.

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Game 1 in New York

Satchel Paige (18-11, 3.02) v Whit Wyatt (16-14, 3.57)

The Bucs get a strong 8-inning outing from Whit Wyatt and then hang on for dear life to get a dogged road win to start the Series the right way. Josh Gibson has 3 hits including a 2-run homer in the 4th to give Pittsburgh a lead they never relinquish. Satchel Paige gives it his all, going the distance and fanning 11, but the Yanks' bats never get it going.

Game 2 in New York

Ray Brown (18-6, 2.60) v Max Lanier (16-8, 2.85)

Pirates lead series 1-0

No such problems for the New York offence in this one as they get to Lanier after falling behind and chase him with a five-spot in the 4th. Tommy Henrich leads the way, doubling and tripling while driving in 5, and Ray Brown cruises to a complete game win against his former club. Gibson belts his second homer of the series, but it and some excellent pitching from the BP are rare highlights for the visitors.

Game 3 in Pittsburgh

Paul Derringer (15-11, 3.96) v Willie Cornelius (17-5, 2.90)

Series tied 1-1

A three-hit game by shortstop Joe Gordon helps get the Yanks past a gutsy Pirates effort in this one. Gordon’s 3-run homer in the 7th is decisive, while DiMaggio continues to pose massive problems for the Bucs hurlers. Derringer’s poor playoff record continues as he concedes 6 earned over 8+, while Cornelius goes all 9 for the win.

Game 4 in Pittsburgh

Leroy Matlock (11-4, 2.36) v Bill Walker (13-7, 2.89)

Yankees lead series 2-1

The Yanks bust open what has until then been an enthralling pitchers’ duel with four runs in the 6th, and Bill Walker eventually pitches a 4-hitter to move New York to within a game of the title. Red Rolfe clears the bases with a triple and then scores himself in that key inning and it looks to be a long road back from here for our Bucs. Defensive lapses have punished Pittsburgh, with 9 of New York’s 21 runs to this point unearned.

Game 5 in Pittsburgh

Whit Wyatt (1-0, 2.25) v Satchel Paige (0-1, 3.00)

Yankees lead series 3-1

The Pirates dig deep behind an outstanding all-round performance by Whit Wyatt to send the Series back to NYC. Wyatt allows just 3 hits to earn his second victory, and also doubles and homers to pretty much win it by himself.

Game 6 in New York

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

Yankees lead series 3-2

The Yanks take control early and never let go to lock down the club’s third Championship with a relatively comfortable 7-3 win. Max Lanier will want to forget this Series in a hurry after another horror game sees him unable to make it through the 2nd inning, conceding 5 runs by the time he’s gone. Joe Gordon has 4 hits and Red Rolfe 3 ribbies in a typically even hand from the New York lineup, but it is Joltin’ Joe who is named MVP.

NEW YORK WINS SERIES 4-2

SERIES MVP: Joe DiMaggio (New York)

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A modicum of compensation for the Pirates organisation as the Barons win title number 10.

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Well, the owners make up somewhat for last year as Les Hennessy is cut by the Dodgers (along with GM Tony Molina), Rivington Bisland by the Braves, Dorsey Riddlemoser by the Jints and Tommy Sheehan by the Phils.

Many retirees of note this time around, including Red Kress, Wes Ferrell along with brother Rick, Wally Berger, Earl Averill, Tony Cuccinello, Mark Koenig, Danny MacFayden, Freddie Lindstrom and six guys I think deserve a separate post.

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Six of the best we have seen are taking their leave of the game, a vacuum that will take some filling with more than 500 WAR walking out in one fell swoop.

Willie Foster's #86 is retired by the Pirates, for whom he won 255 of his 305 wins and with whom he won eight titles.




Lefty Grove leaves the game as its fifth-most winningest pitcher and also has his #10 retired by the A's.




Chick Hafey and his close buddy Chuck Klein struck fear into NL pitchers during the 1920s and '30s. He ends up with a lifetime 312 BA and 341 HR, and his #70 is retired by the Phils.




Al Simmons' career line finishes at a superlative 318/363/533 to go with 385 homers and over 1500 ribbies. His number 49 is retired by the A's.




Turkey Stearnes is really the first NeL position player I think I did full justice to; certainly among the first, anyway. His place in C-Town seems assured by dint of his stellar all-round game.




And, finally, El Inmortal himself - Martin Dihigo. I don't know that it is possible to fully and accurately replicate Martin in the simulated form. He's just too unique. Certainly beyond v22, although I am having much better luck with him in 23 courtesy of the changes Ohtani-san has wrought. Still, Martin did OK and I loved having him with us these past eight years or so. I doubt he'll get a plaque, but that doesn't bother me so much. He'll be getting my vote for as long as he's on the ballot, that's for sure.

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AL 1941 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1941 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


A first Wagner-Lajoie win for Charlie Keller, while Josh Gibson edges out Hank Greenberg by a narrow margin for his third.

Ray Brown gets Johnson-Waddell #3 in a Yankee trifecta, with Max Lanier's excellent season garnering him his first.

RoYs to two future superstars from St. Louis - Vern Stephens and Stan the Man Musial.

Joe Beggs repeats as best AL reliever, while in Leroy Matlock's absence the NL award goes to Cincy's Marv Breuer.


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Just five Legacies this year, including one Marquee.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1942 season:

Boston Braves: Warren Spahn (100.1; 714) MARQUEE
Boston Red Sox: Johnny Pesky (34.3; 1029)
Cincinnati Reds: Ewell Blackwell (26.7; 221)
Cleveland Indians: Larry Doby (56.5; 1235)
New York Yankees: Allie Reynolds (25.4; 295)

Tommy Holmes (35.5; 1289) was also eligible for the Braves, but Spahn’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Johnny Sain (29.4; 257) was also eligible for the Braves, but Spahn’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 113 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 7 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1941 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Boston Braves (403)
2. Cleveland Indians (487; dice roll)
3. Boston Red Sox (545)
4. Cincinnati Reds (571)
5. New York Yankees (656)
6. Philadelphia Phillies (279)
7. Philadelphia Athletics (416)
8. St. Louis Browns (455; dice roll)
9. Chicago Cubs (455; dice roll)
10. Washington Senators (455; dice roll)
11. New York Giants (484)
12. Detroit Tigers (487; dice roll)
13. Chicago White Sox (500)
14. Pittsburgh Pirates (526)
15. St. Louis Cardinals (634)
16. Brooklyn Dodgers (649)


Rounds 2 thru 7

1. Philadelphia Phillies (279)
2. Boston Braves (403)
3. Philadelphia Athletics (416)
4. St. Louis Browns (455; dice roll)
5. Chicago Cubs (455; dice roll)
6. Washington Senators (455; dice roll)
7. New York Giants (484)
8. Detroit Tigers (487; dice roll)
9. Cleveland Indians (487; dice roll)
10. Chicago White Sox (500)
11. Pittsburgh Pirates (526)
12. Boston Red Sox (545)
13. Cincinnati Reds (571)
14. St. Louis Cardinals (634)
15. Brooklyn Dodgers (649)
16. New York Yankees (656)


This year’s picks for the Bucs are as follows:

1. P Russ Christopher, 24
2. OF Clyde Vollmer, 20
3. C Al Lakeman, 22
4. OF Frankie Kelleher, 25
5. C Marv Felderman, 26
6. IF Ray Hoffman, 24
7. P Len Perme, 24


FULL DRAFT LOG


And here are Rounds 1 and 2 in full:

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A busy time for all involved with Cooperstown as three more are added to the list of inductees.

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With the country now fully embroiled in WW2 and many players enlisting, the game struggles on. The Yanks win 103; the Cards, 106 – then four more to beat the Yanks in five.

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (103-51)
NL CHAMPIONS: St. Louis Cardinals (106-48)
WORLD SERIES: Cardinals 4, Yankees 1

AL MVP: Joe Gordon (Yankees)
NL MVP: Mort Cooper (Cardinals)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. MEL OTT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 118 runs, 30 home runs, 93 RBIs, 109 walks.
• The veteran Giants slugger was given rare and long-sought slugging protection from Johnny Mize, allowing him to extend his streak of seasons leading the team in homers to 14. (He’d stretch that mark to 18.)

2. JOHNNY MIZE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .305 average, 97 runs, 25 doubles, 7 triples, 26 home runs, 110 RBIs, .521 slugging percentage.
• The Big Cat was the only NL player with a slugging percentage over .500; the last time that happened was in 1920 (Rogers Hornsby).

3. ENOS SLAUGHTER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 100 runs, 188 hits, 31 doubles, 17 triples, 13 home runs, 98 RBIs, 88 walks.
• The tireless Slaughter, best remembered as a gritty second banana to Cardinals stars Johnny Mize and Stan Musial, was nearly second to nobody in the NL in 1942.

4. STAN MUSIAL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .315 average, 87 runs, 32 doubles, 10 triples, 10 home runs, 72 RBIs.
• The Man’s first full year at the plate pretty much put an end to the thought that he’d someday be a great pitcher—which is what the Cardinals originally brought him into the organization as.

5. DOLPH CAMILLI, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .252 average, 89 runs, 23 doubles, 7 triples, 26 home runs, 109 RBIs, 97 walks, 22 intentional walks, 10 stolen bases.
• For the last of eight straight years, Camilli—one of the more reliable and underrated players of his time—hit at least 23 home runs. In 1943, at age 36, he would refuse a midseason trade to the Giants and escaped to a life of sunset baseball in the Pacific Coast League.

6. BILL NICHOLSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .294 average, 83 runs, 173 hits, 22 doubles, 11 triples, 21 home runs, 78 RBIs, 76 walks, 8 hit-by-pitches.
• Swish raised his batting average 40 points from a year earlier, but the Cubs would have appreciated had he hit as well against the NL’s top teams, St. Louis and Brooklyn (a combined .199) as he did against the other five (.331).

7. PETE REISER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 125 games, .310 average, 89 runs, 33 doubles, 5 triples, 10 home runs, 64 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, 0 grounded into double plays.
• A simple case of greatness lost, as Reiser’s star fell as hard as he ran into the Sportsman’s Park wall in mid-July to neuter what started as another MVP-worthy campaign.

8. ELBIE FLETCHER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 86 runs, 22 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, 57 RBIs, 105 walks, .417 on-base percentage.
• Fletch drew 100-plus walks for the third straight year, helping to lead the NL in on-base percentage—also for the third straight season.

9. STAN HACK, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 91 runs, 166 hits, 36 doubles, 3 triples, 94 walks.
• A slight yet hardly alarming downtick for Hack, despite collecting two of his four career five-hit games.

10. BOB ELLIOTT, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 26 doubles, 7 triples, 9 home runs, 89 RBIs.
• The gradual ascension of Elliott, in his fourth year with the Bucs, continued unabated despite a switch from the outfield to third where he would lead the NL in errors at that position over each of the next three seasons.

AL Hitters

1. TED WILLIAMS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .356 average, 141 runs, 186 hits, 34 doubles, 5 triples, 36 home runs, 137 RBIs, 145 walks, .499 on-base percentage, .648 slugging percentage.
• With his first of two career triple crowns, Williams was undeniably second to none in the AL, except in the minds of MVP voters—who found their excuse in Joe Gordon.

2. CHARLIE KELLER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .292 average, 106 runs, 24 doubles, 9 triples. 26 home runs, 108 RBIs, 114 walks, 14 stolen bases.
• Nicknamed King Kong despite a slight height more worthy of Fay Wray, Keller drove opponents ape by reaching 100 in runs, RBIs and walks for the third straight year.

3. JOE DIMAGGIO, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .305 average, 123 runs, 186 hits, 29 doubles, 13 triples, 21 home runs, 114 RBIs, 68 walks.
• The more potent, ‘pre-war’ chapter of DiMaggio’s baseball career came to a close as he signed on with the Army having batted .339 with a seasonal average of 31 homers and 133 RBIs through his first seven years.

4. JOE GORDON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .322 average, 88 runs, 173 hits, 29 doubles, 4 triples, 18 home runs, 103 RBIs, 79 walks, 12 stolen bases, 95 strikeouts, 22 grounded into double plays.
• The fifth-year second baseman clearly didn’t win the AL MVP because of the numbers—especially given he led the circuit in striking out, errors and grounding into double plays.

5. CHET LAABS, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .275 average, 90 runs, 21 doubles, 7 triples, 27 home runs, 99 RBIs, 88 walks.
• A home run spree in which he belted seven over an eight-game stretch in mid-July helped bump his power numbers out of the annual 10-to-15 range more typical of him.

6. WALLY JUDNICH, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 132 games, .313 average, 78 runs, 22 doubles, 6 triples, 17 home runs, 82 RBIs, 74 walks.
• The young San Francisco native thrived down the stretch with a .365 average and nine homers over the season’s final two months—which made it all the more upsetting to Browns fans that he missed the next three seasons due to military service. (But then again, had it not been for World War II, the Browns might have moved to Los Angeles.)

7. STAN SPENCE, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .323 average, 94 runs, 203 hits, 27 doubles, 15 triples, 4 home runs, 79 RBIs, 62 walks.
• Despite what you might think, Spence hit most (nine) of his AL-leading 15 triples on the road, not at ultra-spacious Griffith Stadium.

8. JOHNNY PESKY, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .331 average, 105 runs, 205 hits, 29 doubles, 9 triples, 12 stolen bases, 22 sacrifice hits.
• The rookie shortstop sensation convinced Joe Cronin that he could sit down and manage full-time—but the war would force Pesky to wait four years to provide an encore.

9. GEORGE CASE, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 125 games, .320 average, 101 runs, 164 hits, 26 doubles, 44 stolen bases, 6 caught stealing.
• The pre-eminent basestealer of his day was successful 88% of the time in 1942, a remarkably high percentage for the day and age.

10. DOM DIMAGGIO, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 110 runs, 178 hits, 36 doubles, 8 triples, 14 home runs, 48 RBIs, 70 walks, 16 stolen bases.
• In his third year at the major league level, DiMaggio proved to be a worthy baseball sibling to star brother Joe, even as he tried enlisting in the Navy during the season (he was initially denied due to eyesight issues, but ultimately accepted after the season).

NL Pitchers

1. MORT COOPER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 1.78 ERA, 22 wins, 7 losses, 10 shutouts, .759 win percentage, 37 appearances, 35 starts, 278.2 innings.
• Cooper was nothing more than an average, competent starter until he traded in his screwball for a forkball; he obviously got the better end of the deal.

2. JOHNNY BEAZLEY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.13 ERA, 21 wins, 6 losses, .778 win percentage, 43 appearances, 23 starts, 215.1 innings.
• The war made Beazley a one-year wonder; he hurt his arm in the service and never came close to paralleling his 1942 numbers.

3. JOHNNY VANDER MEER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 18 wins, 12 losses, 33 starts, 244 innings, 102 walks, 186 strikeouts, .208 opposing batting average.
• The fastball artist clamped down on his lack of control (for now), striking out fewer batters but walking fewer as well, while hitters hit for their worst collective average against him over his 13-year career.

4. LARRY FRENCH, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 1.83 ERA, 15 wins, 4 losses, .789 win percentage, 38 appearances, 14 starts, 147.2 innings, 36 walks.
• Using a knuckleball he developed in the spring, the 35-year-old French had an incredible start in which he was 10-0 with a 0.69 ERA through mid-July before wilting; it would be his last major league campaign as he applied for the Navy after the season.

5. CURT DAVIS, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 15 wins, 6 losses, .714 win percentage, 206 innings.
• Like French, Davis continued a late-career revival with the Dodgers at age 39—but unlike French, stuck around through the war years, playing into 1946.

6. BUCKY WALTERS, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.66 ERA, 15 wins, 14 losses, 34 appearances, 32 starts, 253.2 innings, 25 grounded into double plays.
• The Reds’ ace dropped below 300 innings for the first time in three years and continued to receive blasé support from his teammates.

7. WHIT WYATT, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.73 ERA, 19 wins, 7 losses, .731 win percentage, 217.1 innings.
• Wyatt followed up his sterling 1941 effort with a worthy encore.

8. RAY STARR, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.67 ERA, 15 wins, 13 losses, 37 appearances, 33 starts, 276.2 innings, 106 walks.
• The second year back for 36-year-old Starr after an eight-year absence in the bigs made for his finest time.

9. CLAUDE PASSEAU, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.68 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 34 starts, 24 complete games, 278.1 innings, 25 grounded into double plays.
• Passeau lost a shot at a second career 20-win season when he was outdueled by the Cardinals’ Johnny Beazley in his final start of the year.

10. PAUL DERRINGER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.06 ERA, 10 wins, 11 losses, 208.2 innings, 49 walks.
• Like his ace partner of lore Walters (above), the 35-year-old veteran found wins hard to come by as he received even more feeble support (3.2 runs per start) to nearly match his fine ERA.

AL Pitchers

1. TINY BONHAM, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.27 ERA, 21 wins, 5 losses, 22 complete games, 6 shutouts, .808 win percentage, 226 innings, 24 walks.
• Ironically nicknamed Tiny in spite of a 6’2”, 200-pound frame, Bonham produced the AL’s first sub-1.00 WHIP (walks and hits allowed per inning) since Walter Johnson at the end of the Deadball Era in 1919.

2. TEX HUGHSON, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.59 ERA, 22 wins, 6 losses, .786 win percentage, 38 appearances, 30 starts, 22 complete games, 281 innings, 113 strikeouts.
• Red Sox pitchers of recent years greatly benefited from the team’s generous offensive support, but Hughson’s second-year performance would have thrived even with low-rent hitting. His 113 Ks, tied with Bobo Newsom for the AL lead, was the lowest season total for a leader in league history.

3. TED LYONS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.10 ERA, 14 wins, 6 losses, .700 win percentage, 20 starts, 20 complete games, 180.1 innings, 26 walks.
• The well-preserved, 41-year-old knuckler, still pitching every Sunday on six days’ rest, completed every one of his 20 starts and won the only ERA crown of his 21-year career.

4. HANK BOROWY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.52 ERA, 15 wins, 4 losses, .789 win percentage.
• The rookie right-hander’s excellent debut included a September 2 start that he thought was a no-hitter—until informed after the game that the official scorer had given a dubious hit on a play many thought Yankees second baseman Joe Gordon had erred on.

5. JIM BAGBY JR., CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.96 ERA, 17 wins, 9 losses, 38 appearances, 35 starts, 270.2 innings.
• In his fourth of 10 major league years, Bagby came as close as he ever would to the 31 games won by his father in 1920.

6. JOHNNY HUMPHRIES, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.68 ERA, 12 wins, 12 losses, 28 starts, 228.1 innings.
• After four-plus years mostly stuck in the bullpen, Humphries was moved to the rotation in June and convinced the White Sox he should stay there.

7. SPUD CHANDLER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.38 ERA, 16 wins, 5 losses, .762 win percentage, 24 starts, 200.2 innings, 31 grounded into double plays.
• The guy who seldom lost in a Yankees uniform (109-43 career mark) was par for the course.

8. HAL NEWHOUSER, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.45 ERA, 8 wins, 14 losses, 5 saves, 38 appearances, 23 starts, 183.2 innings, 114 walks.
• Rejected by the military due to a heart murmur, the 21-year-old Newhouser re-focused on baseball and halved his ERA from the year before—but also suffered from career-low run support that led to an unattractive record. The wins—lots of them—would come soon enough.

9. RED RUFFING, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.21 ERA, 14 wins, 7 losses, 24 starts, 193.2 innings.
• At age 37, Ruffing posted his ninth straight winning record—adding up to a 161-80 record during that stretch—before taking on pitching duty with the Army Air Transport Command team.

10. JOHNNY NIGGELING, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.65 ERA, 15 wins, 11 losses, 206.1 innings, 11 hit-by-pitches.
• The best pitcher on the Browns’ staff, in a year in which the team would record its first winning mark since 1929.

[luckymann]

The Jints make a big splash early, locking down Hammerin’ Hank on a long-term deal, but this offseason market takes longer than usual to get going and doesn’t last very long. The Tribe make another huge commitment and the Yanks are their usual industrious selves, but it is a fairly low-key offseason.

Here are the major moves of interest:

• P Bill Byrd: Indians, 7 years / $289000
• OF Hank Greenberg: Giants, 6 years / $228800
• P Bill Lee: Yankees, 5 years / $142000
• 3B Cookie Lavagetto: Tigers, 3 years / $100200
• P Luis Tiant: Cardinals, 3 years / $106200
• P Paul Derringer: Yankees, 3 years / $102400
• 1B Elbie Fletcher: Red Sox, 4 years / $100800
• P Leroy Matlock: Browns, 4 years / $96400
• OF Augie Galan: White Sox, 3 years / $86400
• P Bill Walker: Phillies, 3 years / $86400
• SS Billy Myers: Reds, 4 years / $85600
• P Lon Warneke: Yankees, 3 years / $84000
• 2B Frank McCormick: Phillies, 3 years / $80400
• P Leon Day: Pirates, 3 years / $78400
• P Max Lanier: Pirates, 4 years / $71200 (extension)
• P Denny Galehouse: Dodgers, 3 years / $70200

• 2B Bob Repass from Athletics to Cardinals for 2B Howard Easterling
• SS Bill Lillard from White Sox to Reds for P Bobo Newsom
• OF Chet Ross and P Tom Gorman from Braves to Red Sox for P Paul Dean
• P Hilton Smith from Senators to Athletics for IF Hills Layne and OF Dick Burkhardt
• OF Wally Judnich from Browns to Pirates for P Joe Dobson
• 1B Dolph Camilli from Braves to Pirates for 1B Jake Jones and SS George Sutch
• OF Bobby Estalella and 1B Tony Lupien from Browns to White Sox for 1B Eddie Waitkus and 2B Lennie Merullo

ALL TRANSACTIONS

The Pirates look strong in a 14-4 ST warm-up and get through it injury-free.

The status quo will abide as far as the pundits see things, picking the Yanks and Bucs to win yet again. I think the Cards are the team to watch this year, along with the Indians.


FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

The Bucs team page can be accessed HERE.


A somewhat new-look Pirates squad, especially among the pitching ranks with a few stalwarts gone. I really like the moves Fred has made, especially the Day acquisition. Foxx looks to have taken the dive I thought would happen last year, and the Camilli pickup should prove an astute one to cover that. The BP is one area I'll be watching super keenly, they need to be much better than last season.

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

Payroll of $334k is 4th; $630k budget is the lowest.