Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
GoSens: I acquired Ruffing the day after his 39th birthday. He was 2-4 with 1 CG (a shutout) for the Braves. For me, he was 16-6 with 16 CG and 6 SO. He has been a really big part of this pennant run.
Charlie has surprised me all year long. A 23-year-old rookie winning the Pitching Triple Crown? Although, I am more impressed by Ruffing's career hitting numbers. 34 career HR for a pitcher!?
Coach: that's not something any self-respecting Mariners fan would say... :D
1944 WORLD SERIES PREVIEW
NEW YORK YANKEES
1944 AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
World Series Appearances: 14
World Series Victories: 10
Last World Series: 1943 (L 3-4 STL)
BATTING ORDER
SS Pee Wee Reese (94) - .293, 6 HR, 57 RBI, 128 R, 13 SB
RF Tommy Henrich (87) - .307, 21 HR, 99 RBI, 97 R
3B Harlond Clift (93) - .281, 11 HR, 98 RBI, 105 R
CF Joe DiMaggio (95) - .333, 19 HR, 120 RBI, 105 R
2B Joe Gordon (93) - .267, 10 HR, 96 RBI
LF Chet Ross (89/93) - .302, 12 HR, 61 RBI
C Frankie Hayes (84) - .259, 1 HR, 23 RBI
1B Oscar Grimes (78) - .255, 1 HR, 28 RBI
PITCHING STAFF
SP Tiny Bonham (84) – 22-8, 3.34 ERA, 94 K
SP Spud Chandler (81) – 22-6, 2.95 ERA, 105 K
SP Bill Bevens (89) – 15-8, 3.14 ERA, 100 K
SR Alex Carrasquel (81) – 5-3, 3.46 ERA, 5/6 SV
SU Howie Krist (83) – 8-4, 1.79 ERA, 15/15 SV
CL Jim Hickey (81/82) – 6-6, 3.72 ERA, 13/18 SV
KEY INJURIES
LF Charlie Keller (93) - OUT
SP Lefty Gomez (77/78) - OUT
***
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
1944 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
World Series Appearances: 1
World Series Victories: 0
Last World Series: 1915 (L 1-4 BOS)
BATTING ORDER
SS Phil Rizzuto (89/93) – .283, 1 HR, 44 RBI, 92 R, 12 SB
LF Johnny Blatnik (80/95) – .296, 6 HR, 37 RBI
RF Ron Northey (88/93) – .291, 15 HR, 74 RBI
1B Gil Hodges (89/90) – .277, 23 HR, 86 RBI
3B Vern Stephens (93/95) – .273, 19 HR, 106 RBI
C Andy Seminick (89/95) – .261, 13 HR, 73 RBI
2B Danny Murtaugh (77) – .277, 0 HR, 28 RBI
CF Larry Doby (83/90) - .235, 14 HR, 76 RBI
PITCHING STAFF
SP Red Ruffing (84) – 18-10, 3.17 ERA, 154 K
SP Charlie Ripple (87/95) – 21-9, 2.89 ERA, 194 K
SP Jack Kraus (85/88) – 14-7, 3.62 ERA, 87 K
SR Ed Hanyzewski (81/86) – 10-5, 3.27 ERA, 2/7 SV
SU Hugh Casey (81) – 4-7, 1.85 ERA, 4/4 SV
CL Ike Pearson (82/85) – 6-2, 2.51 ERA, 18/23 SV
KEY INJURIES
SP Tommy Hughes (84/93) – OUT
LF Nick Goulish (87/88) – OUT
C Mickey Livingston (74) – OUT
***
PREDICTION
Yankees in 6. The Bronx Bombers are just way too strong for us to compete with. For now…
GAME 1 COMING UP NEXT TIME!
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
Coach, how can you cheer for the Yanks, look at how they pounded your poor Mariners
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
1944 WORLD SERIES
GAME 1
It was on to New York for the second time in a week for us. I had the team come home after their series in Brooklyn, just for some deserved rest and recovery. On the train ride from Philly on Monday, I sat with Bucky Harris to discuss strategy.
“Andrew, I just think that we should put our best foot forward. Start the kid (Charlie Ripple) on Wednesday, then come back with Red [Ruffing] in Game 2.”
“Look, Bucky, I don’t want to get into an argument about this, but I’d rather lead with experience. We already have Scooter (Phil Rizzuto) leading off, and he’s the only hitter with Series experience. I think that since we have a former Yankee in the rotation, we ought to start Red in Game 1, then Charlie in Game 2.”
“Andrew, how long have you been a manager? Trust me. Back in 1924, it was obvious who my #1 was: Walter Johnson. I worked him to the bone to try and get us the win. You know what? He did an outstanding job in relief because I started him in Game 5! Not Game 6!”
“We’re not going with a 4-man rotation! We’re using a 3-man rotation! Charlie will be ready in Game 7! Now I am your boss, and I am ordering you to start Red, Charlie, and Jack [Kraus], in that order! Am I understood?”
Bucky nodded as I made my way out of his car.
*
After the usual pre-game festivities, Game 1 was underway.
Phil Rizzuto singled to start the game off Bill Bevens, but was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a double. After a Johnny Blatnik flyout, Ron Northey smashed a towering drive into the leftfield bleachers for a home run! Phillies 1, Yankees 0. Gil Hodges grounded out to end the inning.
Red Ruffing walked to the mound, and calmly retired Pee Wee Reese, Tommy Henrich, and Harlond Clift in order. I was looking pretty good.
After walking to lead off the inning, Vern Stephens gets wiped out on a double play, and the Phillies don’t score.
Ruffing retired Joe DiMaggio, Joe Gordon, and Chet Ross on 3 straight groundouts.
The Phillies get retired in order in the top of the third.
Frankie Hayes led off the bottom of the inning with a single. He was still on first 2 outs later, but that’s when Red started getting wild. He walked Pee Wee Reese, then gave up a bases-clearing double to Tommy Henrich. Yankees 2, Phillies 1. Clift and DiMaggio followed with walks, loading the bases. Fortunately, Ruffing found enough in him to strike out Gordon.
Aside from a Northey double, the Phillies were retired without incident in the 4th. The Yankees went 1-2-3 in their half.
Singles by Danny Murtaugh and Red Ruffing go for naught, as both men are stranded thanks to a popout by Phil Rizzuto. Pee Wee Reese reached on an error by Ruffing and stole second, but the Yankees could not get him home.
A 2-out walk is all the Phillies can muster in the 6th.
With 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th, the Yankees offense exploded. 2 singles, a double, a walk, and another single score 3 runs. Yankees 5, Phillies 1.
Bill Bevens finishes the game for the Yankees, while the Bombers tack on 2 more runs in the 7th inning to provide the final margin.
Yankees 7, Phillies 1
Yankees lead series, 1-0
W: Bill Bevens L: Red Ruffing
Code:
Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees
September 27, 1944
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Phillies (PHI) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 3
Yankees (NYY) 0 0 2 0 0 3 2 0 x 7 6 0
PHILADELPHIA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
P. Rizzuto (SS) 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J. Blatnik (LF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296
R. Northey (RF) 4 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 .291
G. Hodges (1B) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .277
V. Stephens (3B) 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 .273
A. Seminick (C) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .261
D. Murtaugh (2B) 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
L. Doby (CF) 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
R. Ruffing (P) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160
E. Murphy (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J. Page (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
TOTALS 31 7 3 1 1 1 4 0
2B: R. Northey 2
HR: R. Northey
GIDP: D. Murtaugh, A. Seminick
PHILADELPHIA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
R. Ruffing 7.0 6 6 0 7 2 2 143 3.17
J. Page 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 16 6.59
TOTALS 8.0 6 6 0 7 2 3 159
NEW YORK ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
P. Reese (SS) 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 .293
T. Henrich (RF) 5 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 .307
H. Clift (3B) 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 .281
J. DiMaggio (CF) 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 .333
J. Gordon (2B) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267
C. Ross (LF) 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .302
F. Hayes (C) 3 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 .259
O. Grimes (1B) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
R. Derry (PH-1B) 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 .241
B. Bevens (P) 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 .141
TOTALS 31 6 6 7 0 6 3 1
2B: T. Henrich, R. Derry
GIDP: J. Gordon
NEW YORK ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
B. Bevens 9.0 7 3 1 1 1 4 149 3.14
TOTALS 9.0 7 3 1 1 1 4 149
WP: B. Bevens
LP: R. Ruffing
Temperature: 55F
Wind: 8 MPH (right to left)
Attendance: 70,000
Time: 3:24
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
SEPTEMBER 28
I sought out Bucky Harris in his hotel room.
“Hey Buck, I, uh, just wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday. You’ve been in the game for almost as long as I’ve been alive, and I shouldn’t have questioned your judgment. I’m sorry.”
“No problem Andrew. I suppose that if no one doubts you, you have no one to prove wrong!” A wry smile crossed his lips. “But it takes a big man to admit his mistakes. Apology accepted. Just let me run the team for now, okay?”
“You got us here. Absolutely. Hey Buck?”
“Yeah?”
“Give ‘em h***.”
*
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
Ouch. You outhit them and still lost 7-1. The errors absolutelyt killed you.
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
Come on, dont lose to New York!
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
GoSens: Yeah, errors tend to do that. But there really isn't a worse time than Game 1 of the World Series (perhaps Game 7, but who's counting)
RedSoxRockies: Okay, but this is a really good team!
1944 WORLD SERIES
GAME 2
Game 2 would be a match-up of two 20-game winners.
The Yankees would trot out their #1 starter, Ernie “Tiny” Bonham (22-8, 3.34 ERA). Bonham’s nickname is an ironic one, as he stands at 6’2”, and weighs over 200 pounds. He has one of the best forkballs in baseball, to go with an above-average fastball and a poor curveball.
The Phillies would counter with 23-year-old rookie southpaw Charlie Ripple (21-9, 2.89 ERA, 194 K). Charlie had won the NL’s Triple Crown in his first season. He has an electric fastball (clocked on occasion at 99 MPH) and an average sidearm curve.
With one out in the first, Johnny Blatnik slashed a double down the first base line, but is stranded as the Phillies can’t bring him around.
Charlie Ripple set down the Yankees in order in the first.
Tiny Bonham followed suit, retiring the Phillies on 10 pitches.
A one-out double by Joe Gordon is all that the Yankees can muster in the 2nd, and the game remained scoreless.
Both teams were retired 1-2-3 in the third inning. Ripple and Bonham were certainly up to the task.
Johnny Blatnik lead off the 4th for Philadelphia. He drove a fastball down the left-field line for a double. Ron Northey stepped into the box, and took the first pitch he saw into the short porch in right-field! Phillies 2, Yankees 0. Northey’s 2nd home run in as many games put the Phillies on top, but they couldn’t get any more, as Bonham rebounded to retire the side.
The Yankees get a 2-out walk, but can do nothing with it. Charlie Ripple is in charge.
Both offenses go down 1-2-3 in the fifth inning. Bonham has allowed only 3 hits, Ripple 1.
The Phillies are set down in order again in the 6th inning. The Yankees notch a 2-out single, but leave the man at first.
Bonham quickly got 2 outs in the top of the 7th. However, he walked Andy Seminick on 4 pitches, and that came back to bite him, as Danny Murtaugh lined a double into right-center, scoring the Phillies’ catcher. Phillies 3, Yankees 0.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, the Yankees started to get to Ripple. Joe Gordon doubled to left field, but Chet Ross popped out. However, Ripple walked Frankie Hayes. Just like the walk had come back to haunt Bonham in the top half, Ripple would be haunted by this walk in the bottom half. Pinch-hitter Hank Sauer worked a 3-2 count, then drove a 98-MPH fastball into the left-centerfield bleachers. With one swing of the bat, the game was tied. Phillies 3, Yankees 3.
But not for long. As they had so many times during the course of the season, the Phillies battled back in the top of the 8th. Pinch hitter Ed Murphy drew a walk against reliever Howie Krist, then advanced to second on a sacrifice. After another walk, Ron Northey stepped up to the plate. He didn’t hit a home run, but he drove in Murphy with an RBI single. Phillies 4, Yankees 3. Gil Hodges picked the perfect time for his first World Series hit, smashing a single back through the box for an RBI. Phillies 5, Yankees 3. Krist would retire the side, but the damage was done.
Hugh Casey came on for the Phillies, and allowed only 1 baserunner over the last 2 innings. The Phillies had hung tough, and taken a game at Yankee Stadium!
Phillies 5, Yankees 3
Series tied, 1-1
W: Charlie Ripple L: Howie Krist SV: Hugh Casey
Code:
Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees
September 28, 1944
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Phillies (PHI) 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 2 0 5 6 0
Yankees (NYY) 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 5 0
PHILADELPHIA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
P. Rizzuto (SS) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J. Blatnik (LF) 3 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .296
R. Northey (RF) 4 2 0 1 1 3 0 0 .291
G. Hodges (1B) 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .277
H. Marnie (1B) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
V. Stephens (3B) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
A. Seminick (C) 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 .261
D. Murtaugh (2B) 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .277
R. Hamrick (2B) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
L. Doby (CF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
C. Ripple (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202
E. Murphy (PH) 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 .226
H. Casey (P) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 32 6 3 5 1 5 0 0
2B: D. Murtaugh, J. Blatnik 2
HR: R. Northey
PHILADELPHIA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
C. Ripple 7.0 4 2 1 3 3 4 111 2.89
H. Casey 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 20 1.85
TOTALS 9.0 5 2 1 3 3 5 131
NEW YORK ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
P. Reese (SS) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T. Henrich (RF) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
H. Clift (3B) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J. DiMaggio (CF) 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 .333
J. Gordon (2B) 4 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267
C. Ross (LF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .302
F. Hayes (C) 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 .259
B. Hassett (1B) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
H. Sauer (PH-1B) 1 1 0 1 1 3 0 0 .220
T. Bonham (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .157
R. Derry (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
H. Krist (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
TOTALS 31 5 2 3 1 3 5 0
2B: J. Gordon 2
HR: H. Sauer
GIDP: T. Henrich
NEW YORK ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
T. Bonham 7.0 4 1 1 3 3 0 82 3.34
H. Krist 2.0 2 2 0 2 2 0 37 1.79
TOTALS 9.0 6 3 1 5 5 0 119
WP: C. Ripple
LP: H. Krist
SV: H. Casey
Temperature: 55F
Wind: 6 MPH (right to left)
Attendance: 70,000
Time: 2:46
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
Way to steal one in NYC. Now finish it up at home!
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
So much for a Yankees sweep. Now it's a best of five. You can win a "best of five", cantcha?
Cantcha?
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
EVEN, GoSens, petrel: Thanks guys. Hopefully this won't go back to Yankee Stadium, but it probably will have to in order for me to win. This Yankee team is really good.
But first...
SEPTEMBER 29
PART I
I arrived back in Philadelphia a little early. Who knew that there would be so much planning for a World Series? Shibe Park is in prime condition. It’s been 13 years since the last Series game played here, but the ballpark is ready for whatever the players will throw at it tomorrow.
*
Late at night, there was a knock at my door. I opened it to find two police officers standing outside my door.
“Mr. Walsh, we need you to come downtown with us”, the shorter officer said.
“Let me grab my coat.”
*
I was hoping that one of my players wasn’t going to have to spend the night in the big house. I had brought my wallet, just in case I needed to pony up some bail money. It had to be Northey. He was the only one that had a valid excuse to hit the town. But seriously, before Game 3 of the World Series?
I was prepared for the worst as we approached Philadelphia Police Headquarters. However, the car zoomed past the station, and continued down the road.
“Officers, where are we going?”
“We’re going to the hospital, Mr. Walsh. We got a call for an 11-45 tonight from one of your players’ wife.”
“Domestic disturbance?”
“No sir, attempted suicide.”
*
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
All I can say is, "Holy Schmidt".
This story is going to be very interesting.
--Pet
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
Wow. This could be VERY interesting....
You hold the very slight advantage: It's best 3 of 5, with 3 games in Phil and 2 in New York. If you can take two here, I like your odds.
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
petrel: I figure that if it's ok for you to do a dark turn, then I can too! :D
CatKnight: In a perfect world, I'd like to think that I am in command. However, these are DiMaggio's Yankees, and, well, let's just continue with our story, shall we?
SEPTEMBER 29
PART II
We made our way through the streets to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
‘This can’t be happening. Game 3 is tomorrow! What are we going to do?’ I kept repeating those thoughts in my head.
The car pulled up to the Emergency room entrance. I ran to the reception desk.
“Mr. Walsh, we’ve been expecting you.” The nurse behind the counter said. “Please, follow me.”
For what seemed like an eternity, she snaked her way through the corridors of the hospital. I was never a big fan of these places. The smell of death was constantly around you. Hospitals are more often than not the last stop for a person on their way out.
The nurse finally arrived at the room.
There was a coroner standing over the bed, and a sheet over the body.
*
Re: Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )
You seem to have a passion for killing off people, first Koufax, Landis, and Greenberg, now whoever this is
