1938

Pelican · 06-20-2022, 07:07 PM

So, I have started a sim for the 1938 season with the color bar eliminated. Surprisingly, teams were slow to try to sign Negro League players, perhaps due to the $7000 compensation to be paid to the Negro League team. I have been managing the Phillies and the Athletics.

The A's signed Cool Papa Bell, Willie Wells (from the Homestead Grays), Henry McHenry (from the KC Monarchs), and Ray Dandridge (from the Grays). From the Pacific Coast League, then mostly independent franchises, the A's signed pitchers Tiny Bonham (Oakland Oaks) and Ray Prim (LA Angels) and infielders Dario Lodigiani (Oaks) and Pinky May (Oaks).

The Phillies signed Josh Gibson (Grays) and Satchel Paige (as a free agent, after weeks of back-and-forth negotiations, outbidding other teams). Then went on to add young infielder Ted Strong (Monarchs, as a 6-6 SS, an early preview of O'Neill Cruz with the Pirates today), Willard Brown (Monarchs), Buck Leonard (Grays), Roy Parnell (Philly Stars), an aging Turkey Stearnes (Chicago American Giants), and relievers Roy Welmaker and George Walker (Grays). From the PCL, the Phils nabbed SP Ad Liska (Portland Beavers) and catcher Cap Clark (Sacramento Solons).

The Phils and A's were awful teams in 1938. These and other changes have made them competitive, at least, in the early going.

1938 was also the last year the Phillies played in the antiquated Baker Bowl IRL, before moving a few blocks west, to share Shibe Park with the A's. In this sim, the new owners of the Phillies have renovated Baker Bowl, pushing out the notorious right field fence about thirty feet onto the North Broad Street sidewalk (presumably providing pedestrian access underneath the field), and lowering the fence somewhat. The RF fair pole is now 311 feet from home plate, and RF is 338 feet out, with a twenty-five foot fence. This has already reduced the "cheap" flyball doubles, while still allowing many HR to RF. Not quite the bandbox that it was.

Pelican · 07-01-2022, 10:03 AM

Here are the league standings coming into Memorial Day weekend:

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The Yankees (with a healthy Lou Gehrig and a young Joe D) are firmly in control in the AL. The Pirates are similarly dominant in the NL. The other teams are closely bunched, with the exception of the awful Guardians and Dodgers. Thus far, the statistical impact of the former Negro League players has been on the basepaths; although Gibson and Leonard are just beginning to heat up, and Bell has been explosive in the leadoff position.

Pelican · 07-01-2022, 10:17 AM

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Pelican · 08-28-2022, 12:26 PM

One thing I’ve noticed in the 1938 Season is the number of prolific players toiling in the Pacific Coast League. We all know that Ted Williams and the DiMaggio brothers got their starts on the coast. There are other young players that are, in effect, free agents, since the PCL teams were not part of any MLB team organization.

So, for a bad team like the Phillies, this is another source of players, in addition to the Negro Leagues and their own organization. If only they had money to sign these players! That seems to be the impediment to more PCL signings. Plus, the raw figures can look inflated, because of the long PCL seasons, nearly 200 games. And, some of the veterans in the PCL do not translate well to MLB. I gather that in OOTP that is because they have reached their potential, and have no room to improve, and thus suffer at a more competitive level. Whereas the DiMaggios and the Splendid Splinter have plenty of room for growth, to say the least.

Signing the additional players was a gamble for the Phillies, but a competitive team, and the Baker Bowl renovations, have increased attendance. Chuck Klein is not crazy about the notorious RF wall moving back thirty feet onto Broad Street, but the pitchers love it. In this sim, the Phillies won’t move over to Shibe Park on July 4. the improved A’s will, hopefully, not miss the increased revenue.

06-20-2022, 07:07 PM	#1
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,886	1938 So, I have started a sim for the 1938 season with the color bar eliminated. Surprisingly, teams were slow to try to sign Negro League players, perhaps due to the $7000 compensation to be paid to the Negro League team. I have been managing the Phillies and the Athletics. The A's signed Cool Papa Bell, Willie Wells (from the Homestead Grays), Henry McHenry (from the KC Monarchs), and Ray Dandridge (from the Grays). From the Pacific Coast League, then mostly independent franchises, the A's signed pitchers Tiny Bonham (Oakland Oaks) and Ray Prim (LA Angels) and infielders Dario Lodigiani (Oaks) and Pinky May (Oaks). The Phillies signed Josh Gibson (Grays) and Satchel Paige (as a free agent, after weeks of back-and-forth negotiations, outbidding other teams). Then went on to add young infielder Ted Strong (Monarchs, as a 6-6 SS, an early preview of O'Neill Cruz with the Pirates today), Willard Brown (Monarchs), Buck Leonard (Grays), Roy Parnell (Philly Stars), an aging Turkey Stearnes (Chicago American Giants), and relievers Roy Welmaker and George Walker (Grays). From the PCL, the Phils nabbed SP Ad Liska (Portland Beavers) and catcher Cap Clark (Sacramento Solons). The Phils and A's were awful teams in 1938. These and other changes have made them competitive, at least, in the early going. 1938 was also the last year the Phillies played in the antiquated Baker Bowl IRL, before moving a few blocks west, to share Shibe Park with the A's. In this sim, the new owners of the Phillies have renovated Baker Bowl, pushing out the notorious right field fence about thirty feet onto the North Broad Street sidewalk (presumably providing pedestrian access underneath the field), and lowering the fence somewhat. The RF fair pole is now 311 feet from home plate, and RF is 338 feet out, with a twenty-five foot fence. This has already reduced the "cheap" flyball doubles, while still allowing many HR to RF. Not quite the bandbox that it was. Last edited by Pelican; 07-10-2022 at 09:12 AM.

07-01-2022, 10:03 AM	#2
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,886	Here are the league standings coming into Memorial Day weekend: The Yankees (with a healthy Lou Gehrig and a young Joe D) are firmly in control in the AL. The Pirates are similarly dominant in the NL. The other teams are closely bunched, with the exception of the awful Guardians and Dodgers. Thus far, the statistical impact of the former Negro League players has been on the basepaths; although Gibson and Leonard are just beginning to heat up, and Bell has been explosive in the leadoff position. Last edited by Pelican; 07-01-2022 at 10:57 AM. Reason: Image failed to appear

07-01-2022, 10:17 AM	#3
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,886

08-28-2022, 12:26 PM	#4
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,886	One thing I’ve noticed in the 1938 Season is the number of prolific players toiling in the Pacific Coast League. We all know that Ted Williams and the DiMaggio brothers got their starts on the coast. There are other young players that are, in effect, free agents, since the PCL teams were not part of any MLB team organization. So, for a bad team like the Phillies, this is another source of players, in addition to the Negro Leagues and their own organization. If only they had money to sign these players! That seems to be the impediment to more PCL signings. Plus, the raw figures can look inflated, because of the long PCL seasons, nearly 200 games. And, some of the veterans in the PCL do not translate well to MLB. I gather that in OOTP that is because they have reached their potential, and have no room to improve, and thus suffer at a more competitive level. Whereas the DiMaggios and the Splendid Splinter have plenty of room for growth, to say the least. Signing the additional players was a gamble for the Phillies, but a competitive team, and the Baker Bowl renovations, have increased attendance. Chuck Klein is not crazy about the notorious RF wall moving back thirty feet onto Broad Street, but the pitchers love it. In this sim, the Phillies won’t move over to Shibe Park on July 4. the improved A’s will, hopefully, not miss the increased revenue.