The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Not far off his 37th birthday and Stan Musial continues to absolutely rake. He looks a dead cert for the NL batting title this season and just tears Milwaukee apart here to take his HR total up to 20.

He hung around IRL thru his age-43 season, so still plenty of years left. What will he do with them, I wonder? Will the Cards retain him when his contract lapses at the end of 1960? Next stop is 3000 hits, but could he even run down Ty Cobb's 4125? I doubt it, nevertheless it should make for fascinating viewing in those first few years of next decade. Love to at least see him reach 4000, maybe 500 HR as well - and I reckon Babe's all-time mark of 2013 ribbies is in danger as well.

[luckymann]

Another milestone day, this time for the great Jackie Robinson, who gets his 2000th career hit in typical style with six hits in a doubleheader. Nice to see the reward reaped for giving these guys the career they should have had, although Jackie is in the red zone now and out of IRL stats to be referenced. If he can also get to 200 homers I reckon that's a job well done.

[luckymann]

Into the final twenty games, still holding a narrow lead but definitely getting a touch of the wobbles. Leading is hard!

In the middle of a season-defining stretch, still with five games left to play against the Jints who are hot on our heels - this is the last thing we needed.

We're lucky in that, right back at the start of the season, we signed Ralph Kiner on a MiLB option deal, so he'll come up as a big bat off the bench and we'll most likely use Jim Lemon in RF for the remainder. Given we are past the date, however, I don't think Ralph will be eligible for postseason play, as he wasn't on our 40-man until today.

[luckymann]

If, as it is often said, the greatest achievements are those you undergo the most to achieve, then this has to be one of our club's finest moments indeed.

All through August, ourselves and the Giants go win for win - our 17-9 record and their 18-11 mark putting us 6 1/2 games clear as September comes into being. 25 games remain. We feel anything but safe.

As the new month progresses, they keep winning. We do, too, albeit with less regularity. One week in and our lead is back to 4 1/2. We stabilize and still lead by the same margin a week later. Our magic number creeps into single figures, then stalls. We lose five on the trot and it stops altogether.

Then it disappears.

For the first time this season, we drop out of first place as the Giants pass us with back-to-back wins at Forbes Field. We have almost entirely stopped scoring runs. A gritty win gets us back level, which is how things sit as we head to the Polo Grounds for the final two games of the regular season.

A 4-1 win behind Camilo Pascual in the first of these gives us the one-game edge with one to play. A tiebreak looms. Johnny Podres, 17-5 for the season but 0-3 in his last 5 starts, faces their ace Johnny Antonelli. Frank Thomas's form down the stretch has been so wretched that I bench him for a banged-up Ralph Kiner.

Podres is magnificent, allowing just a run on 4 hits over 7+ as we take a 3-1 lead into the 9th. Thomas, in now as a defensive replacement at 1B, belts a 2-run homer to put them away and we clinch the pennant by two games to set up a rematch with the Red Sox, who see off a dogged Tigers outfit to book their spot in the Fall Classic.





Little time to analyse things just now, but we have learned a lot about ourselves these past few weeks - some good, some bad, all useful for future reference and planning purposes.





Clearly some firepower is needed for our offence. I still have my second trade ticket to use and will almost certainly do so as soon as I am permitted, rather than arb tender a couple guys we have no interest in keeping. Maz has a breakout year. Thomas hits 151 in September.




If we've had a better performance from our pitchers, it doesn't readily come to mind. Three starters with sub-3 ERAs and a BP that ends up with a collective mark of 1.79, led by Morehead's 3 pWAR showing and Aguirre's astonishing debut season.




A huge year for Mickey Mantle as he wins the AL batting title with a 371 mark and misses a Triple Crown by 6 RBI (to Roger Maris, of all people). Stan Musial wins his 5th batting title, while Ernie Banks leads both leagues with 45 HR and Ken Boyer's 119 RBI are the most of all. In a nice touch, Jackie Robinson steals the most bases of any player: 42 (nearly twice as many as our club's total of 22...).

Jim Bunning fades a bit but still finishes top 3 across the TC stat cats, while Johnny Podres leads the NL in both wins (18, one behind Bill Pierce's 19 across in the junior circuit) and ERA (2.67, tied with Milt Pappas for the low mark). Sandy Koufax leads the MLB with 214 strikeouts, likewise Seth Morehead with 35 saves - the third most in history.


Final Top 20s and Leaders







Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 375 / 9 HR / 16 RBI
• Pitcher – Frank Sullivan (Red Sox): 4-1 / 1.51 / 25 K / 47.2 IP
• Rookie – Juan Pizarro (Indians): 3-1 / 3.64 / 33 K / 42 IP

National League

• Batter – Stan Musial (Cardinals): 366 / 6 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Johnny Podres (Pirates): 5-1 / 1.81 / 21 K / 44.2 IP
• Rookie – Seth Morehead (Pirates): 1-0 / 0.96 / 7 SV / 17 K / 18.2 IP

September

American League

• Batter – Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 355 / 7 HR / 16 RBI
• Pitcher – Billy Pierce (White Sox): 6-0 / 1.47 / 34 K / 49 IP
• Rookie – Milt Pappas (Orioles): 3-0 / 1.90 / 21 K / 42.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Ken Boyer (Cardinals): 427 / 7 HR / 30 RBI
• Pitcher – Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 5-1 / 2.70 / 45 K / 43.1 IP
• Rookie – Harry Anderson (Giants): 377 / 5 HR / 18 RBI

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 200 Wins: Early Wynn
• The Giants lose Closer Red Witt for the season courtesy of biceps tendinitis, while a fractured elbow ends Bob Rush’s campaign early.
• No good news for Clan Robinson, as both Brooks (PCL tear) and Frank (fractured wrist) have their seasons curtailed by injury.
• Cardinals hurler Billy O’Dell goes down for the remainder with a torn labrum, as do Detroit Closer Don Kaiser with an elbow strain and Cleveland’s Mike Garcia with concussion after being beaned with a line drive.
• A key loss for the BoSox with Don Buddin ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a severe hip strain.

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[luckymann]

Pittsburgh Pirates (95-59) v Boston Red Sox (89-65)
Best-of-seven, Red Sox with the home-field advantage.


PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

BOSTON RED SOX S+ PAGE

And so these great rivals line up for their sixth World Series meeting, with the running score currently 4-1 our way.

We are expecting a ferocious battle here. Our pitchers need to be on song against a lineup that bats right through and our hitters have to at least generate some runs for them to defend. Without Arriba on board, the latter part of this equation becomes even more difficult, especially against an excellent pitching group led by superstar Billy Pierce. Their home-field advantage is another obstacle to be negotiated.

Still, what our boys have done these past two seasons has been nothing short of outrageous, so how could I ever doubt that they’ll get the job done again here?

[Brad K]

Frank Thomas steps up and nails the coffin shut. Love it.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Frank Thomas steps up and nails the coffin shut. Love it.

Hitting a buck and change down the stretch, he owed us.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Boston

Frank Sullivan (15-12, 3.27) v Connie Johnson (13-10, 2.77)

Little surprise with so many good players involved that this series kicks off with what should be a cracking pitchers’ duel between two guys who can be almost unhittable on their day, Connie Johnson and Frank Sullivan. Connie gets the nod here due to the guys above him in our spin being used over those crucial last few games. I’m not expecting there’ll be many chances, so what we get we will need to take. Al Smith gets the nod in RF over Jim Lemon for Game 1, but this will be a day-to-day decision. I’ll take a split here at Fenway, or even two from two…

The opener doesn’t pan out anything like I expected. Instead, it is a shootout that sees the teams combine for 30 hits as we lead from the front without ever being in control and hang on for dear life and a 7-6 win. Vic Power paces the bats with 3 hits and 3 RBI and Dick Groat also has a 3-hit game, while Seth Morehead is cold as ice with 2 scoreless to close it out. An instant classic to get us underway and I am braced for more of the same.

Game 2 in Boston

Camilo Pascual (15-5, 3.12) v Lew Burdette (14-13, 4.61)

Pirates lead series 1-0

Another day, another two pitching superstars on display as Camilo Pascual and Billy Pierce go mano e mano in this one. Pierce is an out-and-out gun who should be extremely prominent come awards season, while Patato is one of the fiercest competitors I have had the privilege of managing. Let’s see what they have for us today.

We manage to get at Pierce early and eventually win comfortably for our sixth straight victory against the Sox. Jim Lemon, in against the lefty, comes through big time with 3 hits including an early homer that sets the tone, with Thomas and Power also going deep. Camilo is rarely troubled, going 7+ for just 5 hits and a run conceded, as we head home feeling pretty good about where we are at.

Game 3 in Pittsburgh

Johnny Podres (18-5, 2.67) v Paul Foytack (13-9, 3.94)

Pirates lead series 2-0

What a bounceback season for John Podres, who is a short-priced favourite to win this year’s NL Johnson-Waddell Medal. Having missed out last year, he is amped for this one and so keeping a lid on things is the key for him here as he faces the tricky Paul Foytack and we look to fully press home our advantage in front of a huge home crowd.

And this is certainly how things play out as Johnny is wild and wobbly early, falling behind 3-0 early before the bats get to work and then settling right down as we overrun them late to go three games up. Lockman and Thomas drive in a pair each in a hard-fought 5-3 final, while Morehead is again a rock for us to earn his 3rd save with six scoreless outs.

Game 4 in Pittsburgh

Larry Jackson (15-8, 3.75) v Chuck Stobbs (11-9, 3.70)

Pirates lead series 3-0

While he has struggled at times, Larry Jackson’s first season with us has shown us he is an integral part of this franchise’s plans for the future. With Johnny Pod and Camilo already secured away on long-term deals and Mike McCormick, Bob Friend and others in the wings the club looks set for a nice little run into the 1960s. None of which matters much today, as Larry takes on former Pirate Chuck Stobbs with the chance to close this out with a minimum of fuss.

But instead it is Stobbs in total control here to keep the Sox in the game with a really controlled 7-hit shutout win. We never really look like scoring to be honest, and let’s hope this isn’t the start of one of our dry spells because things can turn so quickly in these short series. Jackson does all he can over 8 quality innings but they do just enough to take the game 3-0.

Game 5 in Pittsburgh

Frank Sullivan (15-12, 3.27) v Connie Johnson (13-10, 2.77)

Pirates lead series 3-1

And just like that, the barometer swings back just enough to make things slightly uncomfortable at base camp. A loss today would see us give back all of our advantage and force us to win one more at Fenway with the momentum having done a complete about-face. Obviously, none of these thoughts are ones we want to entertain. Let’s just wrap it up here and now, thanks very much. Game 1 pitchers are back up for this one.

The boys obviously share my sentiments as they get to Sullivan early and control things from there to give us our 20th World Championship with a fine 6-3 win. A great and deserving honour for Connie J in what will almost certainly be his final game for us, and the big guy goes 8+ and never looks like losing. Frank Thomas finds his form just at the right time, adding two more hits and RBI in this one to take the MVP award. Another fantastic effort from this young group.

PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-1

SERIES MVP: Frank Thomas (Pittsburgh)

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[luckymann]

We do close out the double this year as the Barons, who dominate the regular season, need all five to get past the Exporters. Mike McCormick pitches two gems to win the MVP.

[luckymann]

Rather than trading anyone away now, we decide to make a real go at Maris once he is eligible to be traded and retain the guys we're looking at offloading for hopeful deployment in that transaction.

We void the OYs of Whitey Lockman and Chuck Diering and send Frank House and Billy Klaus to arbitration. However, with interest in Red Wilson too low to risk wearing his $30k salary for next season, we end up non-tendering him. We also let Ralph Kiner and reliever Morrie Martin walk.

There’s some managerial blood on the tracks as skippers Hod Eller (Indians), Bob Rice (Cubs), Maurice Van Robays (Redlegs) and Cubs GM Tony Molina all get the chop.

Retirees in a quiet year include Virgil Trucks, Vern Stephens, Walker Cooper, Cliff Chambers, Vic Raschi, Andy Seminick and Johnny Schmitz.

And of course it is Westward, Ho! for the league as the Dodgers head to LA and the Giants to San Fran.

[luckymann]

AL 1957 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1957 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Mickey (#5) and Willie (#4) continue their stranglehold on the Wagner-Lajoie with unanimous wins, while Whitey Ford and Johnny Podres are both first-time Johnson-Waddell winners. RoYs go as expected, to Roger Maris and Harry Anderson, while Charlie Beamon and Seth Morehead take out the Paige Plates.


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[luckymann]

We do end up making a late trade after the Sens approach us and seem keen for a deal. What we come up with is the following:




Without it costing us much at all, we manage to plug a couple key gaps in one go.

I've had my eye of Felix for a while because of his ability to play around the diamond and at CF. He'll do so for us in a backup capacity.




Don gives us some necessary depth among our LH relief corps after Taylor Phillips and Hank Aguirre both regress aggressively in the recalc. He has been really handy for them over his three seasons and should do us nicely indeed.

[luckymann]

Much improved on the Legacy Player front and also the regular players coming in this year.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1958 Season:

Cincinnati Reds: Vada Pinson (54.2; 1565)
Detroit Tigers: Norm Cash (52.0; 2018)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Ron Fairly 35.1; 1306)
Philadelphia Phillies: Johnny Callison (38.4; 1432)
San Francisco Giants: Orlando Cepeda (50.1; 1114)
Washington Senators: Bob Allison (34.2; 1541 – one-club player)

There are 107 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 6 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1957 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Cincinnati Redlegs (519)
2. Detroit Tigers (506)
3. San Francisco Giants (448)
4. Philadelphia Phillies (500; dice roll)
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (545)
6. Washington Senators (357)
7. Kansas City Athletics (386)
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (403; dice roll)
9. Chicago Cubs (403; dice roll)
10. Cleveland Indians (497)
11. Baltimore Orioles (500; dice roll)
12. Boston Red Sox (532)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (565)
14. Chicago White Sox (584)
15. Milwaukee Braves (617)
16. New York Yankees (636)


Rounds 2 thru 6

1. Washington Senators (357)
2. Kansas City Athletics (386)
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (403; dice roll)
4. Chicago Cubs (403; dice roll)
5. San Francisco Giants (448)
6. Cleveland Indians (497)
7. Baltimore Orioles (500; dice roll)
8. Philadelphia Phillies (500; dice roll)
9. Detroit Tigers (506)
10. Cincinnati Redlegs (519)
11. Boston Red Sox (532)
12. Los Angeles Dodgers (545)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (565)
14. Chicago White Sox (584)
15. Milwaukee Braves (617)
16. New York Yankees (636)


Our squad is nicely positioned in that we have as defined an idea what our needs are now and what they’ll be over the next couple years. With another nice high pick at our disposal, things are set up nicely and pan out that way.

Here are our new Pirates:

1. OF Felipe Alou, 22

• Frank Howard was available as well but we just see Felipe as being a better fit for us moving forward.

2. OF Gary Geiger, 20

• Gives us some of that LHB CF depth we so desperately need.

3. C Sammy Taylor, 24

• Weak-armed but still a decent enough type who should slot in for Frank House as his price becomes too high for our budget.

4. P Larry Sherry, 22

• We are more in need of lefties but there were none available, so Larry – a nice mid-relief / setup type – will have to do.

5. OF Lou Jackson, 22
6. 3B Benny Valenzuela, 24

• MiLB filler

A great Draft for us.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

Nobody really even came close and I don't see any of the current batch getting a plaque.

[luckymann]

It costs a bunch, but we get our guy.

In the end, it's only McCormick I'm having seller's remorse over, but there was simply no permutation of this deal that didn't involve him. Good lefty prospects are valuable commodities, and let's hope we don't pay exponentially for having dealt him away.

Obviously, on the credit side of the ledger we get an elite bat and the parting with Thomas frees up LF for him and will allow us to get more out of guys like Lemon in the short-term and eventually Alou and even Geiger in the long.

[luckymann]

A new season and a new West-facing dawn for the game and yet, the more things change the more they stay the same as the Yanks – now NYC’s sole representative in the league – exact some revenge on the Braves in a WS rematch that once again goes the distance.

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (92-62)
NL CHAMPIONS: Milwaukee Braves (92-62)
WORLD SERIES: Yankees 4, Braves 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 84-70, 2nd in the NL

AL MVP: Jackie Jensen (Red Sox)
NL MVP: Ernie Banks (Cubs)

AL CYA: Bob Turley (Yankees)
NL CYA: not given

AL RoY: Albie Pearson (Senators)
NL RoY: Orlando Cepeda (Giants)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. WILLIE MAYS, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .347 average, 121 runs, 208 hits, 33 doubles, 11 triples, 29 home runs, 96 RBI, 78 walks, 31 stolen bases.
• Not even a blistering start in which he hit .400 into mid-June could keep Mays, a transplanted “New Yorker,” from becoming adapted by Giants fans who greeted him as coolly as the San Francisco fog.

2. ERNIE BANKS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .313 average, 617 at-bats, 119 runs, 193 hits, 23 doubles, 11 triples, 47 home runs, 129 RBIs, .614 slugging percentage.
• It seemed all too understandable that Banks, who never played in a postseason, would became the first NL MVP recipient to play for a sub-.500 team. (He’d become the second such player the following year.)

3. HANK AARON, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .326 average, 109 runs, 196 hits, 34 doubles, 30 home runs, 95 RBIs.
• A relatively quiet year for Hammerin’ Hank, with a set of numbers that 99% of the other major leaguers would be shouting for joy over.

4. KEN BOYER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .307 average, 101 runs, 175 hits, 21 doubles, 9 triples, 23 home runs, 90 RBIs, 11 stolen bases.
• With sunset approaching for an aging yet still effective Stan Musial, Boyer grabbed the mantle as the Cardinals’ primary, everyday offensive weapon—and with his first of four Gold Gloves, wasn’t all that bad at third base, either.

5. HARRY ANDERSON, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .301 average, 80 runs, 34 doubles, 6 triples, 23 home runs, 97 RBIs, 95 strikeouts.
• The Phillies’ latest one-year wonder at the plate, following Stan Lopata and Ed Bouchee; Anderson shined in what would be his second of only three full-time campaigns at the major league level. He’s also the last player to date (and likely for a long time) to lead the majors in strikeouts with less than 100.

6. BOB SKINNER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .321 average, 93 runs, 170 hits, 33 doubles, 9 triples, 13 home runs, 70 RBIs, 12 stolen bases.
• While Frank Thomas got most of the marquee love at Forbes Field, Skinner emerged as the most complete Pirate at the plate, doing a little bit of everything and a little bit more.

7. FRANK THOMAS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .281 average, 89 runs, 26 doubles, 35 home runs, 109 RBIs.
• The 29-year-old slugger set a career high in home runs—but it could have been far more; Forbes Field’s macro-distant field dimensions limited him to just nine dingers at home.

8. RICHIE ASHBURN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .350 average, 98 runs, 215 hits, 24 doubles, 13 triples, 2 home runs, 33 RBIs, 97 walks, 30 stolen bases, 12 caught stealing, .440 on-base percentage.
• Shades of 1930: The last-place Phillies led the NL in batting average and hits, thanks mainly to Ashburn.

9. ORLANDO CEPEDA, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .312 average, 88 runs, 188 hits, 38 doubles, 25 home runs, 96 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, 9 sacrifice flies.
• One of four everyday rookie Giants, Cepeda became an instant favorite in the Golden Gate City because, unlike Willie Mays, he previously never wore a cap with “NY” upon it.

10. FRANK ROBINSON, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .269 average, 90 runs, 25 doubles, 6 triples, 31 home runs, 83 RBIs, 10 stolen bases.
• In a year where the Reds’ vaunted slugging core went into brownout mode with a 35% drop in home runs, Robinson maintained the power as the only team member hitting over 16.

AL Hitters

1. MICKEY MANTLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 127 runs, 42 home runs, 97 RBIs, 129 walks, 13 intentional walks, 120 strikeouts, 18 stolen bases.
• With the Dodgers and Giants departed, Mantle finally claimed, without argument, that he was the best center fielder in New York.

2. ROCKY COLAVITO, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 80 runs, 26 doubles, 41 home runs, 113 RBIs, 84 walks, .620 slugging percentage.
• Cleveland fans had starry-eyed visions of Colavito, in his breakout year, as the next Mantle—and maybe even the next Whitey Ford; he threw three scoreless innings in an emergency relief stint.

3. JACKIE JENSEN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 83 runs, 31 doubles, 35 home runs, 122 RBIs, 99 walks.
• Jensen added the AL MVP to a résumé that also included appearances in the Rose Bowl and World Series.

4. BOB CERV, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: .305 average, 93 runs, 20 doubles, 7 triples, 38 home runs, 104 RBIs.
• Two years earlier, Cerv was dealt from the Yankees to the A’s when Casey Stengel sidled up to him and said, “Nobody knows this, but one of us has been traded to Kansas City.” After his fantastic year in the Midwest, the Yankees were, for the moment, perhaps wishing that it was Stengel who left.

5. TED WILLIAMS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 129 games, .328 average, 81 runs, 26 home runs, 85 RBIs, 98 walks, .458 on-base percentage.
• Williams enjoyed his last batting title in the same year the Red Sox enjoyed their last winning record for the next nine years.

6. ROY SIEVERS, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 85 runs, 39 home runs, 108 RBIs.
• The Senators’ slugger signed the biggest one-year contract ($36,000) in franchise history to date; if it wasn’t for a mild September, he would have reached 40 homers for a second straight season.

7. PETE RUNNELS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .322 average, 103 runs, 183 hits, 32 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, 59 RBIs, 87 walks.
• Whereas Sievers longed for a trade to the Red Sox and join Ted Williams that never became reality, Runnels ended up living the fantasy and saw his batting average hike up nearly 100 points.

8. MINNIE MINOSO, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 94 runs, 168 hits, 25 doubles, 24 home runs, 80 RBIs, 15 hit-by-pitches, 14 stolen bases, 14 caught stealing.
• Exiled from Chicago and spacious Comiskey Park, Minoso arrived in Cleveland and set a personal mark for home runs.

9. AL KALINE, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .313 average, 84 runs, 170 hits, 34 doubles, 7 triples, 16 home runs, 85 RBIs.
• Though the Tiger star’s numbers continued to trend downward, he was still a viable enough threat that he made his fourth of 15 All-Star Game rosters.

10. YOGI BERRA, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 122 games, .266 average, 22 home runs, 90 RBIs.
• Even as the wear-and-tear of so many years playing everyday catcher began to catch up, Berra was still efficient enough to nearly drive in 100 runs with 30-plus games to spare.

NL Pitchers

1. LEW BURDETTE, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 2.91 ERA, 20 wins, 10 losses, .667 win percentage, 40 appearances, 36 starts, 275.1 innings, 50 walks, 39 grounded into double plays.
• Burdette was 11-2 with 11 complete games over the final two months to publish his first of two consecutive 20-win seasons.

2. WARREN SPAHN, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 3.07 ERA, 22 wins, 11 losses, .667 win percentage, 36 starts, 23 complete games, 290 innings, 1 stolen base allowed, 29 grounded into double plays.
• Spahn became the first nine-time 20-game winner among southpaws; the career .194 hitter even had his bat magic in sync, pushing a .333 mark over 108 at-bats with nine extra-base hits.

3. BOB FRIEND, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.65 ERA, 22 wins, 14 losses, 38 starts, 274 innings, 61 walks, 36 grounded into double plays.
• The rest of the Pirates began to get with the program Friend had adopted a couple of years earlier, finishing above .500 for the first time in 10 years; his 22 wins were the most by a Pirate since Burleigh Grimes in 1929.

4. SAM JONES, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.88 ERA, 14 wins, 13 losses, 35 starts, 250 innings, 107 walks, 225 strikeouts.
• Not to be confused with Sad Sam Jones circa 1920, this Sam—who went by “Toothpick Sam” because it always seemed he had one in his mouth—became the first NL pitcher to record 200-plus strikeouts in 17 years.

5. STU MILLER, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.47 ERA, 6 wins, 9 losses, 41 appearances, 20 starts, 182 innings.
• Temporarily safe from the knock-down gusts of Candlestick Park (which had yet to be built), Miller won only six of his 20 starts and none of his 21 bullpen appearances—thus notching the fewest wins by an ERA leader until Joe Magrane in 1988.

6. ROBIN ROBERTS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.24 ERA, 17 wins, 14 losses, 34 starts, 21 complete games, 269.2 innings, 51 walks.
• After two years of taking a constant pounding that suggested a career burnout, Roberts briefly returned to fine form—and for the first time in five years didn’t lead the NL in home runs surrendered.

7. BOB PURKEY, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.60 ERA, 17 wins, 11 losses, 34 starts, 250 innings, 49 walks.
• Grabbed from the Pirates, Purkey immediately established himself as the Reds’ staff ace—a position he would by and large maintain for the next five seasons.

8. JIM BROSNAN, CHICAGO-ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.35 ERA, 11 wins, 8 losses, 7 saves, 41 appearances, 20 starts, 166.2 innings.
• It wasn’t quite the magnitude as Lou Brock-for-Ernie Broglio, but Brosnan’s move to the Cardinals for a fading Al Dark would work one-sidedly in St. Louis’ favor.

9. RON KLINE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.53 ERA, 13 wins, 16 losses, 32 starts, 237.1 innings, 92 walks, 14 intentional walks.
• In a solid but bittersweet campaign, Kline had one of roughest games of 1958—going the distance in a 14-inning loss at Philadelphia in which he walked a major league season-high nine batters while striking out a major league season-high five times in five at-bats.

10. JOHNNY ANTONELLI, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 3.28 ERA, 16 wins, 13 losses, 3 saves, 41 appearances, 34 starts, 241.2 innings.
• Another bounce-back for Antonelli, having something of an up-and-down decade—though as an admitted hater of the San Francisco summer chill, he would have rather been back at the Polo Grounds.

AL Pitchers

1. WHITEY FORD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.01 ERA, 14 wins, 7 losses, 29 starts, 219.1 innings, 0 stolen bases allowed, 13 caught stealing/picked off, 26 grounded into double plays.
• Ford not only cut down on the walks that plagued him early in his career— resulting in a career-low ERA—but cut the number of steals committed on his watch all the way to zero; he’d do it again in 1959.

2. BILLY PIERCE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.68 ERA, 17 wins, 11 losses, 2 saves, 35 appearances, 32 starts, 19 complete games, 245 innings.
• Pierce led (or co-led) the AL for the third straight year in complete games—and one of them, on June 27 against Washington, would have been a perfect one had he just gotten the 27th batter out. He didn’t.

3. BILLY O’DELL, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.97 ERA, 14 wins, 11 losses, 8 saves, 41 appearances, 25 starts, 221.1 innings, 50 walks.
• The Beltway was very generous to the young southpaw, who went 11-4 with a 2.20 ERA in 23 combined appearances at Baltimore and Washington.

4. FRANK LARY, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.90 ERA, 16 wins, 15 losses, 39 appearances, 34 starts, 19 complete games, 260.1 innings, 12 hit-by-pitches, 29 grounded into double plays.
• The ultimate Kryptonite against the Yankees; in eight starts against New York, Lary was 7-1 with a 1.86 ERA. Against the rest of the AL, he was 9-14 with a 3.28 figure.

5. BOB TURLEY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.97 ERA, 21 wins, 7 losses, .750 win percentage, 31 starts, 19 complete games, 245.1 innings, 128 walks, 14 caught stealing/picked off.
• Leading the AL for the fourth time in five years in opposing batting average, Turley finally got support from his teammates—and recognition from voters who gave him the Cy Young Award.

6. ARNIE PORTOCARRERO, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 3.25 ERA, 15 wins, 11 losses, 2 saves, 32 appearances, 27 starts, 204.2 innings.
• After taking major league life on the chin in four tough years with the Philly/K.C. A’s, the sweet-sounding Portocarrero found relative solace in the spacious confines of Memorial Stadium.

7. DICK DONOVAN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.01 ERA, 15 wins, 14 losses, 34 starts, 248 innings, 53 walks.
• It took a while for Billy Pierce’s faithful sidekick to warm up; he was 3-9 with a 4.52 ERA at the end of June—but 12-5 and 2.00 after.

8. JACK HARSHMAN, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.89 ERA, 12 wins, 15 losses, 4 saves, 34 appearances, 29 starts, 236.1 innings, 24 grounded into double plays.
• As deplorable as Harshman’s 2.7 runs per start was, it could have been worse without his own bat; he was fifth on the team in home runs, with six.

9. DICK HYDE, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.75 ERA, 10 wins, 3 losses, 19 saves, 53 appearances, 0 starts, 103 innings.
• Confusing opposing batters with new a delivery and ball movement, Hyde was Dr. Jekyll compared to the otherwise hideous Senators pitching staff.

10. CAL MCLISH, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.99 ERA, 16 wins, 8 losses, 39 appearances, 30 starts, 225.2 innings.
• A long and winding road for McLish, which began as an 18-year old for the wartime Dodgers (1944) with numerous minor-league stops to follow, finally came to an agreeable destination as a reliable member of the Cleveland rotation.

[luckymann]

Some key extensions lead the way this offseason, with one of the most notable Yogi staying with the Yanks until 1961. A couple of our former charges have reaped big rewards for their efforts. Here are the highlights:

• 1B Joe Cunningham: Orioles, 8 years / $628400 (extension)
• 1B Vic Wertz: Cubs, 5 years / $600000
• P Harvey Haddix: Yankees, 5 years / $489000
• C Yogi Berra: Yankees, 4 years / $488000 (extension)
• P Hal Brown: Redlegs, 4 years / $320000
• C Stan Lopata: Athletics, 4 years / $289000
• P Ike Delock: Giants, 3 years / $249000
• 2B Billy Goodman: Cardinals, 3 years / $243000
• OF Carl Furillo: Orioles, 3 years / $231000
• C Elston Howard: Cubs, 5 years / $225400 (extension)
• P Vinegar Bend Mizell: Cardinals, 3 years / $210000
• OF Larry Doby: Cardinals, 2 years / $112000

• C Earl Averill from Giants to Red Sox for OF Bob Hazle
• OF Wes Covington from Braves to Giants for 1B Harry Agganis
• P Bob Buhl from Orioles to Athletics for C Jack Shepard
• P Clem Labine and 2B Joey Amalfitano from Athletics to Braves for 3B Johnny Goryl and P Jim Constable
• P Gene Conley from Cardinals to Cubs for P Tom Cheney and 2B Wayne Causey
• P Sandy Consuegra and P Don Lee from White Sox to Red Sox for 1B Gil Hodges

9-9 for us with no injuries in a fairly uneventful ST.

ALL TRANSACTIONS


The BNN boffins are expecting Boston-Pittsburgh III, with our pitching again highly-regarded (all five starters in the Top 20) and our projected SB up to a positively scintillating 42!

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

As per usual, our team page can be accessed HERE.

The group seems settled and focused on the task at hand and I think we have our strongest squad in some time. Looking forward to see what they can do. Daley gets the nod over House as backup C purely because he's out of options and Frank will probably be on the move sometime later this year.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

West Coast baseball is upon us!