The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

AL 1955 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1955 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Ted Kluszewski narrowly beats out Willie Mays for his second Wagner-Lajoie Medal, while Mickey Mantle unanimously wins his third. Two ex-members of our franchise - Billy Loes and Alex Kellner - take out their first Johnson-Waddell Medals. Tom Morgan and Dixie Howell are both first-time Paige Plate winners. Finally, this year's RoYs go to Rocky Colavito and Elston Howard.


S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

For the first time in many years, we actually make a Free-Agent signing - OF Whitey Lockman on a 3/85 deal. Harry Simpson has lost his CF rating and Whitey is a straight-up LH replacement for him.




Onto the Draft.

Quality over quantity this time around with five Legacies including one Marquee in what is one of the thinnest pools we’ve seen so far.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1956 Season:

Brooklyn Dodgers: Don Drysdale (67.1; 518 one-club player MARQUEE 100% (conceded))
Chicago White Sox: Luis Aparicio (55.9; 1511)
Cincinnati Reds: Frank Robinson (107.2; 1502)
New York Yankees: (27.5; 1294)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Bill Mazeroski (36.5; 2163 – one-club player)
St. Louis Cardinals: Curt Flood (41.9; 1738)

Bill White (38.6; 1113) was also eligible for the Cardinals, but Flood’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


A reminder that to qualify as a Marquee, a player needs to have played more than 70% of their games for the club – something Frank Robinson did not do, which is why he is “only” a Legacy. For players like Don D who are so closely associated with a club, if they come close enough then I’ll upgrade them.


There are 89 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1955 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Cincinnati Redlegs (487)
2. Brooklyn Dodgers (641)
3. Chicago White Sox (591)
4. St. Louis Cardinals (442)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (390)
6. Washington Senators (344)
7. Baltimore Orioles (370)
8. Kansas City Athletics (409)
9. Chicago Cubs (471)
10. Philadelphia Phillies (500)
11. Detroit Tigers (513)
12. New York Giants (519)
13. Boston Red Sox (545)
14. Milwaukee Braves (552)
15. Cleveland Indians (604)
16. New York Yankees (623)


Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Washington Senators (344)
2. Baltimore Orioles (370)
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (390)
4. Kansas City Athletics (409)
5. St. Louis Cardinals (442)
6. Chicago Cubs (471)
7. Cincinnati Redlegs (487)
8. Philadelphia Phillies (500)
9. Detroit Tigers (513)
10. New York Giants (519)
11. Boston Red Sox (545)
12. Milwaukee Braves (552)
13. Chicago White Sox (591)
14. Cleveland Indians (604)
15. New York Yankees (623)
16. Brooklyn Dodgers (641)


We get another iconic Legacy and, given the thinness of the gruel, grab the best available for the remainder.

They are as follows:

1. 2B Bill Mazeroski, 20

• Much has been said about Maz not belonging in the IRL HoF, and I don’t disagree with that too strongly. All the same, that doesn’t mean he isn’t a solid player and with Runnels nearing his too-expensive date he’ll come in handy before too long. The biggest issue is that we now have two IFs who are incredibly one-dimensional as our DP combo. Groat might pick up some aux ratings at third and short, but Bill won’t. Which means we’ll need to find one or preferably two really solid utility IFs to back them up around the diamond and transition as smoothly as possible from the guys currently on our club. Tricky, but not impossible.

2. P Mike McCormick, 17

• While the guys we had our eye on were all taken by now, there were still a couple decent enough position players we could have opted for but - especially with the Kurowski signing - none of them were quite what we need and McCormick at 17 can be stashed and developed accordingly, then deployed when the time is right. He projects as a really strong mid-rotation guy.

3. IF Jerry Kindall, 20

• Fringe in the extreme, but might allow us to trade away one of our other IF depth pieces for someone more central to our needs.

4. P Taylor Phillips, 22

• We’re surprisingly thin in the LHRP department, and Taylor beefs it up as much as you can in Round 4 of 5.

5. OF Earl Hersh, 23

• MiLB filler

As good as could be expected, perhaps even marginally better.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

First time in a while nobody has been elected, although Gomez comes within a whisker.

[luckymann]

At the risk of enhancing our reputation as their quasi-farm club, we engage in the following trade in the early new year with the reigning World Champions.

Man I was torn about this one, between our wanting to try press home our advantage with this current squad and needing to keep ahead of the curve with roster maintenance. In the end, almost certainly because of what happened last season - despite Ray Boone being one of our best - I went with the latter.

In all actuality, we lose very little this year swapping Ray for Al, and obviously we pick up some years and salary. Still, you know what you know and all that. It was the acquisition of Aguirre that sealed the deal - I couldn't believe they threw him into the mix - because, as you may recall, we went very close to drafting him last year. He's still on a MiLB deal, too, so that's a big win for us. Ruben is handy, but we have a surfeit of his type - RH spot starter / long-relievers - and so he could be spared. A nice way to start 1956.

[luckymann]

An emphatic square-up by the Yanks for the previous year’s loss to the Dodgers with Don Larsen’s perfecto its sublime ellipsis and a 9-0 Game 7 triumph its exclamation point. Mickey Mantle wins the only ever Triple Crown by a switch-hitter, while the game loses two of its giants with Jackie Robinson deciding to retire rather than be traded to New York and Connie Mack passing away at 93.

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (97-57)
NL CHAMPIONS: Brooklyn Dodgers (93-61)
WORLD SERIES: Yankees 4, Dodgers 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 66-88, 7th in NL

AL MVP: Mickey Mantle (Yankees)
NL MVP: Don Newcombe (Dodgers)

AL CYA: not given
NL MVP: Don Newcombe (Dodgers)

AL RoY: Luis Aparicio (White Sox)
NL RoY: Frank Robinson (Redlegs)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. DUKE SNIDER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .292 average, 112 runs, 33 doubles, 43 home runs, 101 RBIs, 99 walks, 26 intentional walks, .399 on-base percentage, .598 slugging percentage.
• Snider took public heat for telling a magazine that he only played baseball for the money, but the Dodgers weren’t complaining; to them, he was worth every penny.

2. WILLIE MAYS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 101 runs, 171 hits, 27 doubles, 8 triples, 36 home runs, 94 RBIs, 20 intentional walks, 40 stolen bases, 10 caught stealing.
• Mays became the first National Leaguer—and only the second major leaguer—to collect 30 homers and steals each; he came within four homers of making it 40-40.

3. FRANK ROBINSON, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .290 average, 122 runs, 166 hits, 27 doubles, 6 triples, 38 home runs, 83 RBIs, 20 hit-by-pitches.
• After barely making it through Class-A ball the year before with an ailing arm, a healthy Robinson busted out as an instant star in Cincinnati.

4. HANK AARON, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .328 average, 106 runs, 200 hits, 34 doubles, 14 triples, 26 home runs, 92 RBIs.
• Still yet to be feared as a big-time power threat, Aaron momentarily settled for the stigma of being one of the game’s most complete players, winning his first of two career batting titles.

5. EDDIE MATHEWS, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .272 average, 103 runs, 37 home runs, 95 RBIs, 91 walks.
• Ten of Mathews’ homers were blasted within a 16-day period in midsummer, but they wasn’t enough to get him to 40 overall for a fourth straight season.

6. JOE ADCOCK, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 137 games, .291 average, 38 home runs, 103 RBIs.
• Prone to big days, Adcock—who a few years earlier clubbed four homers at Brooklyn—had the season’s highest RBI count in a NL game with eight against the Giants on July 19.

7. STAN MUSIAL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .310 games, 87 runs, 184 hits, 33 doubles, 6 triples, 27 home runs, 109 RBIs, 75 walks.
• Musial remained as durable as he was effective, continuing a streak of consecutive games played that would be break a NL record in 1957.

8. TED KLUSZEWSKI, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 138 games, .302 average, 91 runs, 35 home runs, 102 RBIs, 22 intentional walks.
• “Klu” was one of four Reds to hit three home runs in a game in 1956; only one other major leaguer outside of Cincinnati (Washington’s Jim Lemon) could claim a hat trick during the season.

9. STAN LOPATA, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .267 average, 96 runs, 33 doubles, 7 triples, 32 home runs, 95 RBIs, 75 walks.
• Something of a one-year wonder, the part-time catcher became full-time Phillie by providing back-up at first base and set a team record for homers by a right-handed batter that would stand until Dick Allen surpassed it in 1966.

10. KEN BOYER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .306 average, 91 runs, 182 hits, 30 doubles, 26 home runs, 98 RBIs.
• The young third baseman, in his second season, emerged as worthy, long-sought protection for Stan Musial while earning the first of seven All-Star roster spots.

AL Hitters

1. MICKEY MANTLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .353 average, 132 runs, 188 hits, 22 doubles, 5 triples, 52 home runs, 130 RBIs, 112 walks, 10 stolen bases, .705 slugging percentage.
• The year Mantle would call his greatest represented the only triple crown triumph by a switch-hitter.

2. MINNIE MINOSO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .316 average, 106 runs, 172 hits, 29 doubles, 11 triples, 21 home runs, 88 RBIs, 86 walks, 23 hit-by-pitches.
• In the first year that the AL made batting helmets mandatory, Minoso probably felt more at ease getting plunked at league-high rates.

3. AL KALINE, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 96 runs, 194 hits, 32 doubles, 10 triples, 27 home runs, 128 RBIs, 70 walks.
• In a worthy encore to his impressive rookie breakout of the year before, Kaline set career highs in triples and RBIs.

4. TED WILLIAMS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 136 games, .345 average, 28 doubles, 24 home runs, 82 RBIs, 102 walks, 11 intentional walks, .479 on-base percentage.
• The big victory for the Red Sox is that they were able to get Williams close to a full season; his 136 games played were the most of any of his final nine seasons (1952-60).

5. YOGI BERRA, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .298 average, 93 runs, 29 doubles, 30 home runs, 105 RBIs.
• The veteran catcher had some of the most impressive numbers of his Hall-of-Fame career, but a shot at MVP #4 never hit the target as teammate Mickey Mantle was just too good. (Berra finished second in the vote.)

6. CHARLIE MAXWELL, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .326 average, 96 runs, 163 hits, 28 home runs, 87 RBIs, 79 walks.
• Maxwell couldn’t squeeze into a monopolized Boston outfield of Ted Williams, Jackie Jensen and Jimmy Piersall, but his first-year effort in Detroit elated a Tigers team that had plenty of vacancy.

7. JACKIE JENSEN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .315 average, 80 runs, 182 hits, 23 doubles, 11 triples, 20 home runs, 97 RBIs, 89 walks, 11 stolen bases, 23 grounded into plays.
• For the only time in a six-year period, Jensen failed to knock in 100 runs; he might have gotten there had Ted Williams, typically hitting in front of him, not been reduced to pinch-hitting with a foot injury.

8. HARVEY KUENN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .332 average, 96 runs, 196 hits, 32 doubles, 7 triples, 12 home runs, 88 RBIs.
• Never known for his power, Kuenn muscled out a career-high 12 homers, with five of them belted in July alone.

9. LARRY DOBY, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 140 games, .268 average, 89 runs, 24 home runs, 102 RBIs, 102 walks.
• Doby was traded to the White Sox for two common players before 1956, but made more than good on the Chicago side of the deal.

10. MICKEY VERNON, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 119 games, .310 average, 28 doubles, 15 home runs, 84 RBIs.
• The 38-year-old hit machine was practically the only player of a nine-man trade between the Red Sox and Senators who did anything of worth for his new team.

NL Pitchers

1. WARREN SPAHN, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 2.78 ERA, 20 wins, 11 losses, 3 saves, 39 appearances, 35 starts, 20 complete games, 281.1 innings, 52 walks.
• Aging but hardly fading, Spahn embarked on a six-year run winning 20 games in each.

2. LEW BURDETTE, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 2.70 ERA, 19 wins, 10 losses, 39 appearances, 35 starts, 6 shutouts, 256.1 innings, 52 walks.
• Take away his appearances against the NL pennant-winning Dodgers and (oddly enough) fifth-place Phillies, and Burdette’s league-leading ERA plummets to 1.91.

3. DON NEWCOMBE, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 3.06 ERA, 27 wins, 7 losses, .794 win percentage, 36 starts, 5 shutouts, 268 innings, 46 walks.
• After Newcombe, no pitcher would again win the Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP awards until Justin Verlander. Newk also put together a career-best streak of 39.2 consecutive scoreless innings.

4. JOHNNY ANTONELLI, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.86 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 41 appearances, 36 starts, 258.1 innings.
• A bounce-back season for Antonelli on a team in search of one; after his 20 wins, no one else on the Giants won more than seven.

5. BOB FRIEND, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.46 ERA, 17 wins, 17 losses, 3 saves, 49 appearances, 42 starts, 314.1 innings, 85 walks, 18 intentional walks, 25 grounded into double plays.
• Friend went from part-time starter to full-time workhorse-plus, making the most starts of any NL pitcher between 1917 (Pete Alexander) and 1963 (Don Drysdale, Jack Sanford).

6. BOB BUHL, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 3.32 ERA, 18 wins, 8 losses, .692 win percentage, 38 appearances, 33 starts, 216.2 innings, 105 walks.
• Don’t blame Buhl for Brooklyn’s return to the World Series; eight of his 18 wins came against the Dodgers.

7. SAL MAGLIE, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.87 ERA, 13 wins, 5 losses, .722 win percentage, 26 starts, 5 shutouts, 191 innings.
• Once hated by Brooklyn fans for knocking down Dodgers batters wearing the uniform of the Giants, all was forgiven as “The Barber” set up shop at Ebbets Field and threw a no-hitter against the Phillies on September 25.

8. HERSH FREEMAN, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.40 ERA, 14 wins, 5 losses, .737 win percentage, 18 saves, 64 appearances, 0 starts, 108.2 innings.
• It may have all been about the hitting for the Reds in Cincinnati, but Freeman (14 wins, 18 saves) was just as instrumental in lifting the Reds above .500 for the first time in 11 years.

9. BROOKS LAWRENCE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.99 ERA, 19 wins, 10 losses, 49 appearances, 30 starts, 218.2 innings.
• All but a sure bet to become the Reds’ first 20-game winner in nine years, Lawrence became largely relegated to bullpen duty in September; he later claimed his manager, Birdie Tebbets, did it on purpose because he didn’t want to see a black pitcher get to the milestone.

10. GENE CONLEY, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 3.13 ERA, 8 wins, 9 losses, 31 appearances, 19 starts, 158.1 innings.
• More strong supporting work from the once-and-future basketball pro, performing the reliable fifth man in the Braves’ rotation—especially when on the road (7-1 record, 2.02 ERA).

AL Pitchers

1. WHITEY FORD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.47 ERA, 19 wins, 6 losses, .760 win percentage, 30 starts, 225.2 innings, 13 caught stealing/picked off, 31 grounded into double plays.
• Ford continued to be the AL’s toughest nut to crack for both hitters and baserunners, 11 of whom were picked off base.

2. HERB SCORE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.53 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses, .690 win percentage, 33 starts, 5 shutouts, 249.1 innings, 129 walks, 263 strikeouts, 11 wild pitches.
• The flame-throwing southpaw got better with each start, winning half of his games after August 1. But fate would not be on Score’s side in the years to come.

3. EARLY WYNN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.72 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses, .690 win percentage, 35 starts, 277.2 innings.
• Wynn continued to win early, late and almost every time in between. Along with Score and Bob Lemon, Wynn would be part of Cleveland’s third trio of 20-game winners in a six-year period; only five times would #20 be reached by an Indians pitcher over the next 51 years.

4. BOB LEMON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.03 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 3 saves, 39 appearances, 35 starts, 21 complete games, 255.1 innings, 28 grounded into double plays.
• Lemon won 20 games for the last time; as he turned 36 at season’s end, the injuries began piling up and he never recovered. Within a few years he would embark on a second career as coach/manager.

5. FRANK LARY, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.15 ERA, 21 wins, 13 losses, 41 appearances, 38 starts, 20 complete games, 294 innings, 116 walks, 12 hit-by-pitches, 26 grounded into double plays.
• A year after no one won 20 games in the AL, Lary led a sextet of throwers who reached the milestone in 1956.

6. TOM BREWER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.50 ERA, 19 wins, 9 losses, .679 win percentage, 32 starts, 244.1 innings, 112 walks.
• Middle-of-the-road starter Brewer slowed up his curve and thus sped up his game to All-Star status.

7. JACK HARSHMAN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.10 ERA, 15 wins, 11 losses, 34 appearances, 30 starts, 226.2 innings, 102 walks.
• Five years after he slugged 47 homers in the minors, Harshman realized success at the major league level as a pitcher.

8. BILLY PIERCE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.32 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses, .690 win percentage, 33 starts, 21 complete games, 276.1 innings, 100 walks.
• Pierce finally got a win total (20) deserving of his ERA.

9. TOM STURDIVANT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.30 ERA, 16 wins, 8 losses, 5 saves, 32 appearances, 17 starts, 158.1 innings.
• The first of two fleetingly glamorous years in pinstripes for the second-year pitcher, who gradually moved from the bullpen to the rotation as the season progressed.

10. JOHNNY KUCKS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.85 ERA, 18 wins, 9 losses, 31 starts, 224.1 innings, 33 grounded into double plays.
• The pitcher who four times between 1955-59 won exactly eight games jumped to 18 in 1956—and might have made it to 20 had he won at least two of his final four starts.

[luckymann]

OK, so this one is the quietest offseason in memory, unworthy even of a preamble.

• 3B Randy Jackson: Cardinals, 7 years / $532000
• P Willard Nixon: Dodgers, 5 years / $405000
• P Bill Wight: Phillies, 5 years / $387000
• 3B Eddie Yost: Yankees, 4 years / $324000
• C Smoky Burgess: Braves, 4 years / $296000

• P Brooks Lawrence and OF Jim Bolger from Cardinals to Athletics for P Ed Roebuck and P George Susce
• 1B Marv Throneberry and P Paul Penson from Dodgers to Phillies for P Cy Buker

Veteran Bob Feller is hurt in ST and will miss the entire season, with a tough rehab road ahead of him.

ALL TRANSACTIONS


14-5 in an injury- and incident-free ST.

BNN has picked the Red Sox and ourselves to win the respective Pennants in tight goes. I think the Redlegs' time is due and am looking for them to make a good run at it this year.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

I trust you'll understand and excuse my matter-of-fact tone and straightforward manner here - fool me once and all that jazz.

Our team page as always can be accessed HERE.


Again, Kiner starts the year - his final one with us - at AAA. Sam Dente - being the salaried player among our options - comes back up as the IF of last resort. Maz will be at AAA until needed or rosters expand. We are running a RHB-heavy group, and pressing that even further against LHP with Sievers at 1B and Lemon in LF.

Law is in the BP on OD but may come in as our sixth starter in the part of the season where the schedule gets hectic and we run an extra one; if not him, then Purkey. Rookie Taylor Phillips gets a crack at the bigs in a middle relief role from the left-hand side.

[luckymann]

Ty Cobb is the all-time leader with 5685; Joe is currently 9th.

[luckymann]

Well it has been a godawful start to the new season as the malaise and sheer incompetence with the bat that plagued us last year worsens and leaves us in the cellar after 20-odd games. Roy Sievers is again the worst culprit and I'm not sure how much more patience I have with a guy who simply hasn't delivered on a consistent basis the entire time he's been with us except for his 3.5 bWAR 1952 campaign, which accounts for nearly half of his total WAR for us over 5+ seasons.

Entering this game he is hitting 177, after his BA touched a low barely in the three digits. Obviously this performance helps him in that regard but only consistent production, not sporadic freak shows, will keep him at this club. He has a PO for next year that I think he's likely to void, so we'll wait see and act accordingly at that time.

[luckymann]

All-time leader is Tris Speaker with 721; Stan the Man is currently 17th.

[luckymann]

There's little chance of Pete Runnels being with us past this season - his walk year, with big money anticipated in the next contract he signs, and with us having Maz locked in for the next dozen years - but I had still intended for us to play him all year and then just watch him leave. And so in a strange way this eventuation kind of forces our hand and I'd say we'll be looking at trading him away while he's recuperating and still retaining some value. If, however, we can't get a decent return for him then we'll go back to Plan A.

[luckymann]

Can't remember seeing this before - 7 hits in a game, and by a guy I'd never even vaguely heard of: Alex Grammas.

Here's a list of the most hits in an MLB game IRL.

In the Burnett game, Jimmie Foxx had 6 hits including 3 homers and drives in 8.

[luckymann]

One could never accuse this group of doing things the easy way. After that opening stanza in which we go 8-14, the Sievers game almost marks a line in the sand for him, and us collectively. From that point we go an astonishing 18-4 including one stretch of 13 wins on the trot.




We've already seen both the best and worst of this group on both hitting and pitching, and you can't really say it's been all that convincing. But, it's better than where we were a month ago.




Piersall has again been our most steadfast hitter, with Wertz finally rediscovering his swing and Clemente showing further improvement. I daren't trust what we've seen of late from Sievers as it comes and goes like smoke in a wind tunnel with him.




The pitching - Johnson in particular - has been a bit shaky, but our improvement in May coincided with theirs. Sturdivant has indeed been sturdy once again, and we feel like a lead after 6 is as good as a win right now. He wins the monthly pitching award for his efforts.


I've not seen anything even close to what Willie Mays is doing so far in this season. In fact, we get to see it way too close for my liking when he does this to us in a doubleheader just a few days ago.

Yeah, I know he is little chance of maintaining this but here's his full season projection as it currently sits:

Outrageous.




No idea what's going on with the Yanks but they've set themselves a Herculean task to bridge the gap between them and the Sox.


Monthly Award Winners

May

American League

• Batter – Joe Cunningham (Orioles): 405 / 4 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Billy Pierce (White Sox): 5-1 / 1.99 / 47 K / 49.2 IP
• Rookie – Jackie Brandt (Senators): 352 / 4 HR / 12 RBI

National League

• Batter – Willie Mays (Giants): 343 / 15 HR / 38 RBI
• Pitcher – Tom Sturdivant (Pirates): 5-1 / 2.62 / 7 SV / 31 K / 34.1 IP
• Rookie – Frank Robinson (Redlegs): 314 / 9 HR / 20 RBI

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• 300 HR: Stan Musial
• 2500 Hits: Enos Slaughter
• A huge setback for Cincy as they lose young gun Larry Jackson for what looks like the entire season or close enough to with a torn labrum, while another promising hurler, Washington’s Don Gross, will be out of the game for a year or so after suffering ligament damage in his elbow.
• The White Sox will have to do without CF Jim Busby for the remainder after he suffers a muscle tear in his back, as will the Cards with shortstop Clem Koshorek after he tears his ACL and the Cubs with Ike Delock, who goes down with a torn labrum.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most RBIs over a 5 year span

[luckymann]

Things are still bubbling along OK but I just couldn't resist the chance to solidify our group looking forward while really not giving up all that much in the short- long-term.

And so I make the following move with my final trade ticket for the year, heavily endorsed one would presume by Brad K.




As good as Sievers is supposed to be over the next few years, I just don't see him not opting out at the end of the year and at any rate I don't see him being in our price range or even really worth what he'll likely command after that. Thomas is only a sliver beneath him offensively and better with the glove, and I reckon will be affordable and better value over the long haul.

Stobbs was another who's price was creeping up. We had a $35k team option on him for next year and I question him being worth that, as I think his best is behind him. Still, we needed to not lose a lefty arm and so Kiely was a necessary part of the deal.

For now, it's close to a wash but hopefully it's a net win for us overall and with and things considered.

[luckymann]

The first no-no of the year comes from our own Harvey Haddix against the Braves at Forbes Field in a game we are lucky to win 1-0.

Interestingly, this comes on the same day that Roy Sievers hits 3 homers for his new club against the Jints. Win some, lose some.

[luckymann]

Our improving fortunes are reflected in a tick-up to six Bucs getting the nod here.




Eddie Mathews gets up in the HR Derby and the NL take the main game with Hank Thompson named MVP.

[luckymann]

Another injury to be navigated as Roberto Clemente goes down with back spasms and will be out for the better part of two months.

Harry Simpson gets the call-up for now but Whitey Lockman and Pete Runnels will eventually make their way back in.

[luckymann]

And who by fire, who by water
Who in the sunshine, who in the night time
Who by high ordeal, who by common trial
Who in your merry merry month of xxx July
Who by very slow decay
And who shall I say is calling?


Indeed, Sir Leonard, indeed. A trial by fire is certainly what we are currently undergoing here in mid-1956 with injury after injury - some long, some short, all costly.

• P Johnny Podres (forearm) out 2 weeks
• OF Whitey Lockman (knee) out 5 weeks
• OF Roberto Clemente (back) out 7 weeks
• 2B Bill Mazeroski (knee) out 6 weeks
• C Frank House (knee) out for season
• P Connie Johnson (back) out 2 weeks
• P Bob Purkey (triceps) out TBA eventual diagnosis 6 weeks

And that's not including a host of DtD niggles. Suffice to say, after the debacle of last year this turn of events means we'll be on the hunt for a new trainer. It would appear the current one doesn't know a rectum from a rotator cuff.





Trials by fire are invariably a two-edged sword. No doubt they can make you stronger in the long-term, but they need to be survived in the short-term. After things get unbelievably raggedy in the mid-part of July, we somehow manage to string together five wins to close out the month and steady the ship a wee bit. But the effort must have taken a lot out of us and I just don't know if we've got sufficient gas left in the tank to see this through.




Thomas has struggled since joining us. We are so fortunate to have the depth we do, which means Kiner and Simpson come in when Clemente and Lockman are hurt, while Runnels returns almost coincidental to Maz going down. This is how it always needs to be, as much as can be managed at least. We lose Runnels and Kiner at the end of this year and so guys need to be found who can fill those gaps on our limited budget, although Billy Klaus has been huge as our main IF utility this season and is on the books for a few years yet, same with Simpson. The Wertz and Groat rebounds have been key and Piersall is again our rock, while Smith has gone quietly about it - although would love a bit more pop from him.




Our pitching metrics are most misleading. Exclude Haddix, Pascual and Sturdivant and they are nowhere near as pretty. Friend, Podres and Johnson all with ERAs over 5.




The Red Sox get their own dose of the wobbles after looking ready to run away with it, going 11-18 for July and letting the pack sidle uncomfortably close behind them. The Yanks are an ongoing horror show.


News, Leaders and Top 20s








Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

• Batter – Dale Long (Senators): 375 / 9 HR / 28 RBI
• Pitcher – Jack Harshman (Orioles): 5-1 / 2.02 / 46 K / 49 IP
• Rookie – Jack Sanford (Indians): 3-1 / 2.23 / 40 K / 44.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Bob Nieman (Cubs): 444 / 4 HR / 21 RBI
• Pitcher – Bill Wight (Phillies): 5-0 / 3.53 / 27 K / 51 IP
• Rookie – Moe Drabowsky (Braves): 1-0 / 0.64 / 4 SV / 25 K / 28.1 IP

July

American League

• Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 327 / 8 HR / 24 RBI
• Pitcher – Dick Donovan (Orioles): 5-0 / 2.23 / 29 K / 48.1 IP
• Rookie – Lou Skizas (Athletics): 390 / 6 HR / 22 RBI

National League

• Batter – Willie Mays (Giants): 374 / 11 HR / 28 RBI
• Pitcher – Gerry Staley (Braves): 5-0 / 1.47 / 11 K / 30.2 IP
• Rookie – Frank Robinson (Redlegs): 382 / 11 HR / 23 RBI

Milestones and Observations of Note

• Willie Mays cools off a tad in June but then gets his mojo back with a big July and still looks headed for the Triple Crown and maybe even some broken records.
• More pitchers go down for the count, with Cincy veteran Ken Raffensberger out for the season with an elbow injury and a similar fate befalling both White Sox rookie Bob Smith and Baltimore’s Billy Loes.
• A finger injury knocks Cardinals OF Gus Bell out of action for the rest of the year and another one sidelines Wally Moon of the A’s for six weeks, while Indians rookie Jack Sanford also gets an early holiday after elbow ligament trouble strikes.

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[luckymann]

Highest BA in Final Season (Min 100 ABs)