What a way to start the season!:) Hopefully you can do a bit better than their predicting.
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What a way to start the season!:) Hopefully you can do a bit better than their predicting.
Overbay17: After looking over the lineups and rotations for the other teams, I figure that if I don't beat Cincinnati, then I ought to sell the team (although I won't :D ). The Reds are terrible. My goal is for 6th place, although that may eliminate any chance I have at a top 5 pick next season, with the bottom of the AL being so weak.
APRIL 1943
OPENING WEEKEND
With the Opening Day win, the Phillies are over .500 for the first time in my ownership tenure. Let’s hope we can keep it that way. There is now no doubt in my mind that hiring Bucky Harris was one of the smartest things I’ve done for this team. Even if we don’t play well, the team has rallied around him. Danny Murtaugh has grown especially close to him. I wonder if Danny will consider managing after his playing days are over...
April 1-4: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
1 – See the recap at the bottom of Page 7.
Phillies 9, Pirates 5
W: Tommy Hughes (1-0) L: Max Butcher (0-1)
2 – When your team only manages four hits, you know that it’ll probably be a long day. It wasn’t too long, but it wasn’t long enough for a Phillies comeback.
Pirates 3, Phillies 2
W: Rip Sewell (1-0) L: Jack Kraus (0-1)
In a weird twist of fate, the other 6 National League teams also went 1-1 to start the season, resulting in an 8-team tie for first place! Just imagine the tiebreaking procedures!
3 – Last season’s late standout was Dick Mauney, and the youngster picked up right where he left off when he got injured last season. Mauney went 9 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits, while the Phillies offense, powered by Cecil Tyson (4-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), provided plenty of support for their young pitcher.
Phillies 6, Pirates 1
W: Dick Mauney (1-0) L: Luke Hamlin (0-1)
HR: Cecil Tyson (1)
4 – Johnny Podgajny gets rocked, allowing 8 runs over 5 innings, including a pinch-hit grand slam by Hank Sweeney, as the Pirates offense explodes, and the teams split the opening series.
Pirates 11, Phillies 4
W: Ken Heintzelman (1-0) L: Johnny Podgajny (0-1)
HR: Danny Litwhiler (1)
APRIL 5
HOME OPENING DAY
With Ed Freed struggling at the #2 spot, Manager Bucky Harris moved Pinky May there, and dropped Ed down to the bottom of the order. Hopefully he will start hitting soon, because I don’t have a true centerfielder on my bench.
It was a beautiful (but cold) night at Shibe Park, and the New York Giants were in town to open the Phillies’ home schedule for the second consecutive year. Last season’s co-leaders for wins, Hal Schumacher and Tommy Hughes, would be squaring off, but first there was some festivities to get through. The first pitch was thrown out by former Phillies pitcher Eppa Rixey, who would be going into the Hall of Fame this summer. Rixey began his 21-year career with the Phillies, and won nearly a third of his 266 lifetime wins with the club.
At about 7:18, the game was underway. Both pitchers got through the first inning unscathed, but Babe Young (playing first due to an injury to Johnny Mize) doubled and scored on a single by Harry Danning in the second. Giants 1, Phillies 0. Both pitchers would not allow a run in the third inning.
Hughes retired the Giants with minimal effort in the fourth, and Phillies tied the game with a Phil Rizzuto walk, a stolen base, and an RBI single by Pinky May. Phillies 1, Giants 1. The Phillies tried to keep the pressure on, but Danny Murtaugh struck out with the go-ahead run on third base to end the inning.
Skeeter Newsome led off the Giant fifth with a double, and scored on a throwing error by Pinky May one batter later. Giants 2, Phillies 1. A double play wiped the Giants out of the inning, but the Phillies couldn’t reach base in their half.
Mel Ott led off the 6th inning with a towering home run to right field. Giants 3, Phillies 1. Again, the Phillies couldn’t score. The Giants added a run in the seventh, after a Dick Bartell double and a Sid Gordon single. Giants 4, Phillies 1.
The Phillies would strike back in their half. With one out, Murtaugh singled, Ed Freed walked and Andy Seminick drove in a run with another single. Giants 4, Phillies 2. Ron Northey pinch hit for Hughes, and rapped another RBI single. Giants 4, Phillies 3. Rizzuto sacrificed, moving the runners to second and third, and Dom Dallessandro walked, loading the bases for Chuck Klein. Chuck got under the ball, however, and flied to right, ending the threat.
Both teams couldn’t score in the eighth inning, as Al Gerheauser and Schumacher retired their respective sides. The Giants would add an insurance run in the ninth, thanks to two singles and a sac bunt. Giants 5, Phillies 3.
Hoyt Wilhelm entered the game for the Giants. Known for his devastating knuckleball, Wilhelm led the National League with 22 saves last season, and was only 19 when he did it. The Phillies hopes were growing fainter with each wiggling pitch. However, Wilhelm blew a save in his last outing, so there was no chance that he’d blow two in a row.
Ed Freed stood at the plate and worked a favorable count (3-1). He slashed the knuckleball into centerfield for a base hit. When he hit first though, he took a wide turn and started toward second. The centerfielder fired the ball in as quickly as he could, but Freed just beat the tag! Andy Seminick dug in, and blasted the 3-1 pitch high into the night sky! He had hit it down the line, so the only question would be fair or foul. As the ball plummeted back toward Earth, the wind kicked up, and the ball landed harmlessly on the foul side of the pole. The capacity crowd let out a groan as the rookie catcher popped to first on the next pitch. Ed Murphy pinch hit for Gerheauser, and he worked a 3-1 count also. Murphy tapped a bounder toward first that should’ve been routine, but Young (remember: not the regular first baseman) booted it, and everyone was safe! Now Phil Rizzuto, the WINNING RUN, was coming to the plate.
The funny thing about the knuckleball is that it breaks in so many weird directions, that you don’t know where it’s going to go. With a 1-0 count, Wilhelm threw the knuckler, but it got away from the catcher Danning! Freed raced home and scored, but had to be helped back to the bench after hurting his knee on the slide. Giants 5, Phillies 4. With Murphy advancing to second on the wild pitch, the Giants decided to walk Rizzuto and face another rookie, Billy Johnson. Johnson made the decision prove costly, however, and laced a single to right field, scoring Murphy and moving Rizzuto to third! Giants 5, Phillies 5! The Phillies had tied the game, and Chuck Klein was coming to the plate with THE WINNING RUN ON THIRD BASE!!! Klein got way under the ball, however, and popped up to second base. Two outs now, and Danny Litwhiler coming up with the winning run 90 feet away. Danny liked the first pitch, a knuckleball, and swung viciously. The ball dipped just enough at the last minute that the bat caught the very top of the ball. It hit the dirt about 5 feet in front of home plate and shot into the air. Rizzuto raced towards the plate as soon as contact was made. The ball was too far away for Wilhelm’s outstretched glove to reach it. Giant second baseman Mickey Witek charged hard, and gloved the ball after its second bounce. Litwhiler was using every bit of energy he could muster to get to first base. Johnson tried to veer a little out of the basepath to try and hinder Witek’s throw. First baseman Young stretched for the throw. Litwhiler stretched for the bag...
BANG! BANG!
The umpire took a second to process the play, and shot his arms out to the side. “SAFE!”
The stadium erupted! Litwhiler jumped up and pumped his fist at the apex. Rizzuto charged down the first base line and gave Danny the biggest hug a 5’6” man could give. The Phillies stormed the field, while the Giants were left to dejectedly walk off the field, and no one’s head was hung lower than Hoyt Wilhelm’s. In the owner’s box, the champagne uncorked like we had won the World Series. The mayor and several other dignitaries were almost as excited as the players were. In all the excitement, Elizabeth leaned over and gave me a little peck on the cheek. I’ll pass it off as a one-time thing, but something about it was just so...right. Anyhow...
The beauty about baseball, however, is that you get to do it all again tomorrow night, and I’m sure the Giants will be ready to get some revenge.
Phillies 6, Giants 5
W: Al Gerheauser (1-0) L: Hoyt Wilhelm (0-1)
APRIL 5
POSTGAME
Lost among all the delirium was the fact that Ed Freed had to be helped to the dugout. I spoke with the team physician after the game, and the prognosis was not good: Ed Freed will be out for the season (final stats: 4 H/20 AB, 3 R, 3 BB, 1 SB). It seems that he severed his medial collateral ligament (MCL) when Giants catcher Harry Danning landed on it when he made the tag, buckling Freed’s knee and severing the tendon. I had to place a call to our AAA club in Utica to get a replacement.
“Yes, this is Andrew Walsh, president of the Philadelphia Phillies. May I speak with Wally Schang please?”
Wally Schang was a former Major League catcher, and a pretty darn good one at that. In 19 big league seasons, he hit .284 with 59 HR and 710 RBI, outstanding numbers for a catcher. He also was a member of 4 World Series-winning teams, so he certainly knows how to win.
“Mr. Walsh, this is Schang, what can I do for you?”
“Hopefully you can be my personal savior. My starting centerfielder just went down with a season-ending injury and it’s only been 5 games. I need to call up Earl Naylor and have him here for tomorrow. Do you know where I can find him?”
“No can do, sir. I can’t let you take Naylor without taking this kid Hodges too.”
I stared dumbfounded at my receiver. “Wally, are you serious? The kid’s only 19 years old! I have enough trouble getting my 22-year-old catcher to adjust to the big leagues, but Hodges? No offense, but I think it’s way too early for him. Maybe later this season.”
“Listen, Mr. Walsh, if you don’t mind me being frank with you: I’ve been in this game for over 30 years. I’ve only seen a few players that can hit the ball as far as this kid: Jimmie Foxx, Babe Ruth, and your hitting coach Hack Wilson. Put him under Hack’s tutelage and you’ll see the results instantly. Besides, those two have been driving me crazy, always asking about my playing days. I’ve told them every story I know and they still want more! I think it’s time that they get their taste of what the big leagues are all about.”
I thought about it for a minute, and finally spoke again.
“Wally, where can I find Hodges and Naylor?”
APRIL 1943
PART I
After an exciting win, the Phillies sit at 3-2, good enough for a tie of second place, 1 game behind the Dodgers. We still have 3 more with the Giants, however, then 3 more at the Polo Grounds against these same Giants, and 4 back in Philly against the Pirates before our first off day.
April 5-8: New York Giants (2-2, T-2nd, 1 GB) at Philadelphia Phillies (2-2, T-2nd, 1 GB)
5 – See exciting recap above
Phillies 6, Giants 5
W: Al Gerheauser (1-0) L: Hoyt Wilhelm (0-1)
6 – Today’s game really made me wonder if Carl Hubbell is immortal. The 39-year-old lefty certainly doesn’t have the same zip on his pitches, but his still has that devastating screwball. He holds the Phillies to 4 hits in a masterful complete game victory.
Giants 5, Phillies 2
W: Carl Hubbell (1-1) L: Jack Kraus (0-2)
7 – What can be said about Dick Mauney that hasn’t already been said? I think I’m developing a man-crush on the guy! Another 8 innings of fantastic work (0 runs on 4 hits and 3 strikeouts), and Paul Masterson records the save despite a shaky final inning. The win manages to tie the Phillies for the National League lead!
Phillies 2, Giants 1
W: Dick Mauney (2-0) L: Van Mungo (1-1) SV: Paul Masterson (1)
HR: Cecil Tyson (2)
8 – Did I say that Carl Hubbell was immortal? Let me amend that: Freddie Fitzsimmons is immortal. The 41-year-old holds us to 1 run on 8 hits as he rolls to a complete game victory. It’s starting to get hard to watch Andy Seminick. He went 0 for 4 last season, and now he’s started this year in a 5-31 funk. Needless to say, the loss knocks us from our share of first place.
Giants 5, Phillies 1
W: Freddie Fitzsimmons (1-0) L: Johnny Podgajny (0-2)
April 9-11: Philadelphia Phillies (4-4, T-4th, 1 GB) at New York Giants (4-4, T-4th, 1 GB)
9 – Tommy Hughes has not looked like the pitcher he was last season. He hasn’t been giving up hits (opponents are only batting .215 against him in his three starts), but he has been surrendering extra bases when he does give up hits (opponent slugging percentage: .418). Needless to say, we lost this one.
Giants 5, Phillies 3
W: Hal Schumacher (1-0) L: Tommy Hughes (1-1) SV: Hoyt Wilhelm (1)
10 – Jack Kraus gets another chance to battle Carl Hubbell, and this time the younger lefty induces 3 double plays on the way to a big first win of his season. Joe Page makes his first appearance and records the save.
Phillies 5, Giants 3
W: Jack Kraus (1-2) L: Carl Hubbell (1-2) SV: Joe Page (1)
11 - Well, even the best pitchers have off days. Dick Mauney, however good I may say he is, is no exception. He gets knocked around in four innings of work, and the Giants coast to the victory.
Giants 7, Phillies 3
W: Van Mungo (2-1) L: Dick Mauney (2-1)
April 12-15: Pittsburgh Pirates (7-4, 2nd, 1 GB) at Philadelphia Phillies (5-6, 5th, 3 GB)
12 – After another bad outing, Johnny Podgajny apparently doesn’t realize how precarious his starting position is. I tell Bucky Harris to let Johnny Pod know that he won’t be starting his next turn, just to scare him.
Pirates 7, Phillies 2
W: Bob Klinger (2-0) L: Johnny Podgajny (0-3)
After losing 4 of 5 after a promising start, I feel that we need a little jolt. Hope Gil Hodges is ready, because he’s going to be starting the next three games for us.
13 – Gil Hodges provided the spark. He made his first Major League hit a home run. However, he also made a costly error that tied the game in the top of the ninth, an inning where Tommy Hughes had walked the bases loaded. Naturally, the Pirates push across the go-ahead run, and are now tied for first place. Meanwhile, the Phillies keep going in the wrong direction.
Pirates 4, Phillies 3
W: Bill Brandt (2-0) L: Tommy Hughes (1-2) SV: Diomedes Olivo (2)
HR: Gil Hodges (1)
14 – There are just some days where I hate having a young, inexperienced team. Jack Kraus pitches a beautiful game (2 runs on 6 hits over 8 innings), but loses because my offense can only manage 1 run against Max Butcher. Un-freaking-believable.
Pirates 3, Phillies 1
W: Max Butcher (3-1) L: Jack Kraus (1-3) SV: Diomedes Olivo (3)
15 – A familiar culprit to last season’s woes makes its first appearance of the new season. Quite frankly, it wouldn’t be a Phillies April without the bullpen blowing the game in the late innings. Paul Masterson’s four-run eighth-inning blowup victimizes the Phils, who have now lost 5 straight.
Pirates 7, Phillies 3
W: Luke Hamlin (1-2) L: Paul Masterson (0-1) SV: Harry Shuman (2)
HR: Ron Northey (1)
STANDINGS (AS OF APRIL 16)
Code:NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pittsburgh 11-4 -
Brooklyn 10-5 1
St. Louis 9-6 2
New York 8-7 3
Cincinnati 6-9 5
Chicago 6-9 5
Philadelphia 5-10 6
Boston 5-10 6
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston 12-3 -
New York 9-6 3
Detroit 9-6 3
Chicago 7-8 5
St. Louis 7-8 5
Cleveland 6-9 6
Philadelphia 5-10 7
Washington 5-10 7
APRIL 16
If I don’t win the Rookie of the Year award this season, it certainly won’t be because I didn’t offer a candidate. My current lineup includes three rookies starting (Ron Northey, Gil Hodges, and Andy Seminick), I have two more on the bench (Billy Johnson and Earl Naylor), and another two in the bullpen (Ed Hanyzewski and Joe Page). The 7 rookies that are getting regular playing time are the most in the Majors, just nipping Cleveland’s 6. Here are some of the National League rookies (aside from my own) that should be watched this season:
C Bill Salkeld (PIT) - .368, 1 HR, 2 RBI
1B John Corriden (CIN) - .360, 2 HR, 8 RBI
CF Sam Jethroe (BSN) - .235, 3 HR, 4 RBI
In baseball news, old friend Si Johnson made his return to the mound today, after being out 8 months with a torn ACL. He won his AAA start for the Yankees’ affiliate.
You know you’re in bad shape when you’ve played 15 games and are already thinking about packing it in for next season. I just don’t see how a team this young (average age: 25.4) could contend for a title. I’ll wait until the middle of May, but I honestly don’t expect the result to change.
SECOND HALF OF APRIL TO FOLLOW SOON
Fantastic deal there stealing Rizzuto! From all accounts, that Hodges kid can hit the ball a country mile....if he's able to make contact that is. Wonder how he'd do at 19?
bigpapi: Thanks, I thought about making the deal ever since the Yankees signed Pee Wee Reese to play shortstop, so I finally pulled the trigger on Opening Day. I was really surprised at how little I had to give up for a career .303 hitter.
As for Hodges, he certainly can hit for power. It's just that he's inconsistent, although I should be used to that (I'm the Phillies, for chrissakes!). I definitely can't wait until he's 26 and already has 7 years of big league experience.
And, as always, thanks for reading!
APRIL 1943
PART II
April 17-19: Cincinnati Reds (6-9, T-5th, 5 GB) at Philadelphia Phillies (5-10, T-7th, 6 GB)
17 – Gil Hodges certainly has provided a spark. His 2nd home run of the season coupled with an RBI double help Tommy Hughes (7 hits over 8 innings) record a much needed win, snapping our losing streak at 5 games.
Phillies 6, Reds 4
W: Tommy Hughes (2-2) L: Bob Malloy (0-1) SV: Hugh Casey (1)
HR: Gil Hodges (2)
18 – Danny Murtaugh’s 2-run triple gives the Phillies a lead, and Jack Kraus will not relinquish it. Kraus goes the distance for the complete game victory, striking out 5 while allowing only 1 walk.
Phillies 3, Reds 2
W: Jack Kraus (2-3) L: Joe Krakauskas (0-3)
19 – Andy Seminick has the day of his life. The rookie catcher goes 4 for 4, with a double and 2 home runs (his first career), while driving in 3 runs AND throwing out another would-be base stealer (75% RTO on the season).
Phillies 9, Reds 2
W: Dick Mauney (3-1) L: Bucky Walters (0-1)
HR: Gil Hodges (3), Andy Seminick 2 (2)
April 20-22: Philadelphia Phillies (8-10, 5th, 4 GB) at St. Louis Cardinals (11-7, 3rd, 1 GB)
20 – It’s not like the bats weren’t active: Andy Seminick homered again and Danny Litwhiler did also. It’s just that the Cardinals have Stan Musial, who homered, and were just one run better than us today.
Cardinals 7, Phillies 6
W: Murry Dickson (1-0) L: Johnny Podgajny (0-4) SV: Art Lopatka (5)
HR: Andy Seminick (3), Danny Litwhiler (2)
For those of you keeping score, Johnny Podgajny has until the end of the month to prove he belongs in the rotation; otherwise he’ll be relegated to the bullpen.
21 – There certainly wasn’t a shortage of offense today: the teams combined for 30 runs. We could only get nine of them though, as an error opens the floodgates for an 11-run inning. Andy Seminick homers for the 3rd consecutive game.
Cardinals 21, Phillies 9
W: Mort Cooper (5-1) L: Tommy Hughes (2-3)
HR: Gil Hodges 2 (5), Andy Seminick (4), Danny Litwhiler (3)
22 – Stan Musial hit his 3rd home run of the season, as Jack Kraus couldn’t contain the Cardinals offense, and the Redbirds sweep the visiting Phillies.
Cardinals 7, Phillies 2
W: Harry Gumbert (1-3) L: Jack Kraus (2-4)
April 23-26: Boston Braves (10-11, 5th, 5 GB) at Philadelphia Phillies (8-13, 6th, 7 GB)
23 – Jim Tobin allows 1 run on 4 hits to record the complete game victory, as Dick Mauney gets shellacked. And the worst news is yet to come...
Braves 9, Phillies 1
W: Jim Tobin (3-3) L: Dick Mauney (3-2)
After the game, we had to deal with two injuries to starting pitchers. Dick Mauney will be out 3 weeks with a chipped knee cap, after taking a hard shot off his left (plant) knee. Tommy Hughes will be out a month with a separated right shoulder. We call up Dale Matthewson and Gene Lambert to take their roster spots, and Al Gerheauser moves to the rotation with Lambert.
24 – Chuck Klein’s first home run of the season was a huge one, as it turned an 8-7 8th-inning deficit into a 9-8 Phillies lead, a lead that Hugh Casey would keep for the save.
Phillies 9, Braves 8
W: Emil Kush (1-0) L: Johnny Sain (0-1) SV: Hugh Casey (2)
HR: Chuck Klein (1)
25 – Two Phillies errors lead to three Braves runs, giving the margin of victory as our heroes drop another game to the Braves
Braves 5, Phillies 2
W: Al Javery (2-3) L: Al Gerheauser (1-1) SV: Jim Hickey (1)
26 – Danny Litwhiler’s bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 10th inning ends the game, and gives the Phillies the split of the series with the Braves.
Phillies 4, Braves 3
W: Joe Page (1-0) L: Jim Hickey (1-1)
April 27-29: St. Louis Cardinals (15-10, T-2nd, 2 GB) at Philadelphia Phillies (10-15, T-6th, 7 GB)
27 – Danny Litwhiler started the scoring in the second inning with a home run, and capped the scoring with a 2-run blast in the seventh inning, as Gene Lambert wins in his first Major League start since 1941.
Phillies 7, Cardinals 3
W: Gene Lambert (1-0) L: Howie Pollet (2-4)
HR: Danny Litwhiler 2 (5)
28 – Johnny Podgajny keeps his rotation spot through May 15, but doesn’t win the game. Why? Because Lon Warneke shuts out the Phillies offense.
Cardinals 3, Phillies 0
W: Lon Warneke (5-0) L: Johnny Podgajny (0-5)
29 – We end April on possibly the sourest note EVER.
Cardinals 16, Phillies 1
W: Mort Cooper (6-1) L: Al Gerheauser (1-2)
END OF APRIL RECAP COMING SOON
END OF APRIL 1943 RECAP
STANDINGS
SEASON STATISTICSCode:NATIONAL LEAGUE
Brooklyn 19-9 -
St. Louis 17-11 2
New York 16-12 3
Pittsburgh 16-12 3
Boston 13-15 6
Chicago 12-16 7
Philadelphia 11-17 8
Cincinnati 8-20 11
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston 20-8 -
Cleveland 16-12 4
Detroit 14-14 6
New York 14-14 6
Washington 14-14 6
St. Louis 12-16 8
Chicago 12-16 8
Philadelphia 10-18 10
Red denotes League Leader
BATTING STATS
PITCHING STATSCode:1943 Batting Team G AVG AB H 2B 3B HR BB K SB CS R RBI SLG OBP
Johnson, Billy PHI 7 .500 6 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 .500 .571
Livingston, Mickey PHI 3 .500 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .500 .500
May, Pinky PHI 28 .323 96 31 9 0 0 12 5 2 0 7 8 .417 .409
Tyson, Cecil PHI 26 .322 59 19 5 0 2 4 10 0 0 9 10 .508 .365
Litwhiler, Danny PHI 27 .317 101 32 7 4 5 6 11 1 1 16 23 .614 .352
Rizzuto, Phil PHI 28 .311 106 33 3 3 0 13 13 2 4 14 10 .396 .387
Klein, Chuck PHI 28 .269 108 29 6 2 1 6 10 3 1 13 11 .389 .308
Northey, Ron PHI 26 .253 75 19 3 2 1 2 10 0 0 9 5 .387 .273
Seminick, Andy PHI 28 .250 100 25 3 0 4 8 14 0 0 14 14 .400 .312
Dallessandro, Dom PHI 18 .227 22 5 1 1 0 1 5 0 0 1 5 .364 .240
Hodges, Gil PHI 21 .213 61 13 1 0 5 6 10 1 1 11 12 .475 .275
Freed, Ed PHI 5 .200 20 4 1 0 0 3 1 1 0 3 0 .250 .304
Gerheauser, Al PHI 5 .167 6 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 .167 .167
Kraus, Jack PHI 7 .167 12 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 0 1 1 .250 .267
Marnie, Harry PHI 12 .150 20 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 1 .200 .150
Naylor, Earl PHI 12 .136 22 3 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 1 .182 .240
Mauney, Dick PHI 6 .133 15 2 1 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 1 .200 .133
Murtaugh, Danny PHI 26 .123 73 9 1 1 0 12 7 3 1 6 3 .164 .247
Hughes, Tommy PHI 6 .077 13 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 .077 .077
Murphy, Ed PHI 2 .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 .000
Lambert, Gene PHI 1 .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .000 .000
Podgajny, Johnny PHI 6 .000 12 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 .000 .000
Page, Joe PHI 8 .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000
Masterson, Paul PHI 5 .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000
LEAGUE LEADERSCode:1943 Pitching Team IP ERA G GS W L SV K BB R/9
Casey, Hugh PHI 2.0 0.00 2 0 0 0 2 2 3 13.50
Kush, Emil PHI 10.2 2.53 6 0 1 0 0 7 5 11.81
Mauney, Dick PHI 42.0 3.64 6 6 3 2 0 15 12 11.14
Kraus, Jack PHI 49.0 3.67 7 7 2 4 0 16 11 11.39
Lambert, Gene PHI 7.0 3.86 1 1 1 0 0 2 3 10.29
Hughes, Tommy PHI 39.0 5.08 6 6 2 3 0 17 12 14.31
Page, Joe PHI 13.0 5.54 8 0 1 0 1 5 10 18.69
Masterson, Paul PHI 10.0 6.30 5 0 0 1 1 7 6 16.20
Gerheauser, Al PHI 21.1 6.33 5 2 1 2 0 10 9 16.88
Podgajny, Johnny PHI 39.0 6.69 6 6 0 5 0 12 29 18.00
Hanyzewski, Ed PHI 11.0 9.00 7 0 0 0 0 6 12 18.82
Matthewson, Dale PHI 2.0 22.50 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 36.00
MILESTONESCode:NATIONAL LEAGUE LEADERS
AVG - Whitey Kurowski (STL) .359
Stan Musial (STL) .359
HR - Dolph Camilli (BRO) 10
RBI - Dolph Camilli (BRO) 30
SB - Sam Jethroe (BSN) 10
W - Whit Wyatt (BRO) 6
Mort Cooper (STL) 6
ERA - Bob Klinger (PIT) 1.61
K - Mort Cooper (STL) 33
SV - Jim Hughes (BRO) 6
AMERICAN LEAGUE LEADERS
AVG - Luke Appling (CHW) .385
HR - Ted Williams (BOS) 16
RBI - Ted Williams (BOS) 43
SB - Bob Dillinger (SLB) 5
W - Jim Bagby (CLE) 5
ERA - Lefty Gomez (NYY) 2.05
K - Hal Newhouser (DET) 38
SV - Earl Jones (SLB) 4
4/3: LF Joe Medwick (BRO): 2000th Hit
4/20: LF Augie Galan (BRO): Hit for the Cycle
MAJOR INJURIES
4/1: 3B Jim Tabor (BOS) out for the season with a severed knee ligament (final stats: 1/5, 2B, R).
4/12: CF Phil Cavarretta out 2 weeks with a pulled groin.
4/14: SP Joe Dobson (BOS) out for the season with a broken wrist (final stats: 3-0, 2.86 ERA, 22 IP).
4/23: 2B Mickey Witek (NYG) out for the season with a torn achilles tendon (final stats: .193, 2 HR, 10 RBI).
4/28: RF Tommy Henrich (NYY) out 1 month with an inflammed rotator cuff.
4/29: CF Wally Judnich (SLB) out 5 weeks with an inflammed rotator cuff.
NOTABLE RETIREMENTS
None
Ouch, two starters down in one day! On the upside, it looks like Hodges will provide some power, if not average.
Overbay: Yeah, it was a rough day, and it looks like it's about to get worse before it gets better. I've learned that the players that I thought would take us to the next level are developing a lot slower than planned, so I'm not improving as quickly as I would like. With the #5 pick this year, and another one (potentially) on the horizon for 1944, though, I should be challenging for the pennant before you know it!
APRIL 30
I grabbed the Philadelphia Inquirer on the way into the office today. I don’t go straight for the business section anymore. I’m now strictly a sports guy, and the Inquirer has the best out-of-town news. No slight against any of the other papers, I just prefer the Inquirer. Anyhow, wedged between the articles on the two baseball losses yesterday (the Athletics lost also) was a little article that caught my eye.
JUDGE LANDIS HOSPITALIZED
Apparently, the Judge had suffered from bronchial pneumonia during the winter of 1941, and the unseasonably cold temperatures in Chicago had caused the illness to bother him again. The hospitalization was merely a precaution, but, as they say, better safe than sorry. I sent him a flowered bouquet and a card. Hopefully he gets it, and when (if) he returns to full health, he won’t be on my tail so much.
*****
I came into the office today, and was met with two smiling faces: one was Elizabeth’s, the other was Nick’s. He followed me into my office and took a seat.
“Well, you obviously have to tell me something if you drove down from Newark. What is it?”
“I sold the firm.”
“How much?”
“2 million dollars!” (Ed.’s note: $27.8 million in today’s money)
I sat there frozen, not sure what to think. “So, that’s a million dollars for each of us, which means...”
“We’re millionaires!” Nick completed my sentence.
After the obligatory champagne toast, everything settled down a little.
“So what are you going to do now that you don’t have the firm to run?”
“Well, since this is our only source of income right now, I was going to ask a favor of you. I’d like to by 20% of your share. You’d still be majority owner, but it would now be 60-40, and I’d get a little more cut.”
“That sounds reasonable. For a good guy like you, absolutely. So what made you sell the firm? I know $2 million is awfully hard to pass up.”
“I’ve always wanted to travel the world, so I’m going to do that. Just avoid Europe and Japan, of course, but I’m going to do that.”
“I bet you can’t do it in 80 days”, I joked.
“I bet I will. What are you going to do with your cut?”
“Well, I’m going to send most of it to the stadium fund, but I’m going keep about $10,000 for a few things I need to take care of.”
“Alright, be secretive. I don’t care. Well, my plane leaves for Casablanca tomorrow, so this is the last you’ll see of me for quite some time. I’ll try and send postcards.”
“Nick,” I said as he walked out the door, “have fun, but be careful.”
“Don’t you worry about me, you’ve got an 11-17 ballclub to fix.”
*****
By the way, does anyone know how to take players from other years and add them to this dynasty? I'd really like to bring home Bob Feller and Hank Greenberg (to name a few) from war, but am really lacking in the how-to aspect of that. Any and all help is appreciated.
Unfortunately since you're in mid-dynasty there's no easy way that I know of.
I suppose what I'd do is load up a game for the first year those guys are back (1946?) and look very carefully at their predicted stats, age and background detail, career path and everything. (Commissioner Mode/Edit Player). Copy down everything you can think of.
Then go back to your game, copy a player with the right position, Commissioner Mode/Edit Player THEM, and manually plug in the right data.
Maybe someone else has a suggestion, but I don't think there's an easier way at this point.
I think I have to agree with CatKnight here. Had a similar problem in my 1953 Tigers dynasty, in which Willie Mays didn't appear (petrel had the same problem in Even The Braves which started in 1953 as well, he chose to simply have him be killed in action, and erased from history.), I never got around to doing anything about it before closing the dynasty though.
Thanks anyways. I guess I'll have to find some unique way to deal with this situation. I wonder if F doubles as a hitman... :D
MAY 1
I had a meeting with our top scouts today (you remember the Three Stooges, don’t you?). I commissioned them to look at potential draft picks to see which ones would be worth our pick. In the meantime, they offered a revolutionary new way to look at planning for the future. They suggested that I make a 3 year plan and a 7 year plan, using only players we have at our disposal. This new system (shown below) will really allow me to see who’s supposed to fill each position and when, and help me plug holes in our starting lineup.
I am pleased with both of these. My 3 year plan seems to be set in stone, as I don’t think that I could add too much to it to make it better. The 7 year plan could use some more starting pitching, but then again, who doesn’t need more starting pitching? Heck, I need starters now!Code:3-YEAR PLAN
1946 LINEUP (AGE)
C - Andy Seminick (25)
1B - Gil Hodges (22)
2B - Danny Murtaugh (28)
3B - Billy Johnson (27)
SS - Phil Rizzuto (28)
LF - Danny Litwhiler (29)
CF - Earl Naylor (27)
RF - Ron Northey (26)
C - Bill Peterman (25)
1B - Ed Murphy (27)
IF - Harry Marnie (27)
OF - Johnny Blatnik (25)
S1 - Tommy Hughes (26)
S2 - Charlie Ripple (25)
S3 - Jack Kraus (28)
CL - Ed Hanyzewski (25)
SU - Deacon Donahue (26)
RP - Dale Matthewson (23)
7-YEAR PLAN
1950 LINEUP (AGE)
C - Andy Seminick (29)
1B - Gil Hodges (26)
2B - Ray Hamrick (28)
3B - Billy Johnson (31)
SS - Phil Rizzuto (32)
LF - Johnny Blatnik (29)
CF - Earl Naylor (31)
RF - Ron Northey (30)
C - Bill Peterman (29)
1B - Ed Murphy (31)
IF - Jack Albright (28)
OF - Ed Freed (30)
S1 - Tommy Hughes (30)
S2 - Charlie Ripple (29)
S3 - Dick Mauney (30)
CL - Ed Hanyzewski (29)
SU - Dale Matthewson (27)
RP - Hilly Flitcraft (26)
RECORD WATCH
Chuck Klein has played in all 28 games so far this season. This means that he is 5 games away from setting the all-time Phillies record for career games played. I will keep you posted as Chuck nears another Phillies record.
MAY 1943
PART I
May 1 will always be a special day in the annals of the Philadelphia Phillies. It was on this day, way back in 1883, that the Quakers played the first game in franchise history. They lost to Hall-of-Famer Charley “Old Hoss” Radbourn, that day, and would lose to Radbourn the next two days as well. In fact, the Quakers would lose their first 8 games before finally recording their first win on May 14, 1883. It wouldn’t be until June 6, however, until they won their first home game. However, we wouldn’t be able to celebrate the 60th anniversary (the diamond anniversary, which is slang for a baseball field, ironically) from the comfort of our house. We would be in Chicago, taking on the Cubs. However, all the players and coaches in uniform would be wearing a shoulder patch, similar to the one below, for the rest of the season.
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3...rypatchzq7.png
The team spends it’s next 15 games on the road, and no rest until May 16. If we want to get back into the pennant chase, this will be a huge stretch of games for us.
May 1-3: Philadelphia Phillies (11-17, 7th, 8 GB) at Chicago Cubs (12-16, 6th, 7 GB)
1 – The Phillies are able to overcome a 3-run rally by the Cubs by pushing the eventual winning run across in the 7th. Phil Rizzuto and Pinky May go 5-8 combined with 2 runs scored, as Hugh Casey records the save.
Phillies 4, Cubs 3
W: Jack Kraus (3-4) L: Dale Alderson (0-2) SV: Hugh Casey (3)
2 – Reggie Otero went 3-4 with a home run and a double, and scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Cubs the win.
Cubs 6, Phillies 5
W: Paul Erickson (2-0) L: Emil Kush (1-1) SV: Whitey Miller (5)
3 – Johnny Podgajny and Emil Kush combine to dominate the Cubs, throwing a four-hit shutout, as the Phillies’ one run in the third is enough for today.
Phillies 1, Cubs 0
W: Johnny Podgajny (1-5) L: Shaun Hale (3-2) SV: Emil Kush (1)
May 4-7: Philadelphia Phillies (13-18) T-6th, 8 GB) at Brooklyn Dodgers (21-10, 1st, 2 GA)
4 – Playing in his record-tying 1555th game as a Phillie, Chuck Klein hit a grand slam home run. That was the only good news that the Phillies Phaithful had however, as the Dodger bats showed up big time today.
Dodgers 13, Phillies 7
W: Pete Wojey (1-0) L: Al Gerheauser (1-3)
HR: Chuck Klein (2)
5 – The record has been broken! Chuck Klein pinch hits for the pitcher in the 6th inning, and breaks the all-time Phillies record for games played. However, Paul Derringer crashes the party with a 3-hit shutout.
Dodgers 4, Phillies 0
W: Paul Derringer (5-2) L: Jack Kraus (3-5)
6 – After the Dodgers jump out to a 5-1 lead, the Phillies come storming back, led by Harry Marnie and Pinky May, to tie the game at 5. However, the bullpen proves to be the culprit again, as Hanyzewski allows 2 runs in 2 innings of relief.
Dodgers 7, Phillies 5
W: Johnny Allen (1-0) L: Ed Hanyzewski (0-1) SV: Jim Hughes (7)
7 – National League wins leader Whit Wyatt escapes with his perfect record intact, but the Phillies sure put a scare into the Dodger bullpen. The effort, however, is not enough to prevent being swept by the first-place Dodgers.
Dodgers 6, Phillies 5
W: Whit Wyatt (8-0) L: Johnny Podgajny (1-6) SV: Kirby Higbe (6)
HR: Chuck Klein (3)
May 8-11: Philadelphia Phillies (13-22, 7th, 12 GB) at Cincinnati Reds (10-25, 8th, 15 GB)
8 – I cannot wait until our starters return from injury. Al Gerheauser is killing me. He allows 3 in the 8th, tying the game, and Emil Kush allows to game-winning run an inning later.
Reds 8, Phillies 7
W: Whitey Moore (1-3) L: Emil Kush (1-2)
9 – The Phillies snap their 5-game losing streak with an outstanding performance by Jack Kraus (8 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 4 K), despite only recording 3 hits.
Phillies 3, Reds 1
W: Jack Kraus (4-5) L: Joe Krakauskas (0-6) SV: Hugh Casey (4)
10 – Despite a three-run first inning, the Phillies can’t hang on to win, as Gene Lambert does a poor job keeping the Reds off the bases (6 ER, 9 H, 3 BB).
Reds 6, Phillies 3
W: Frank Dasso (2-3) L: Gene Lambert (1-1) SV: Walker Cress (2)
11 – A 12-inning marathon ends when rookie Dale Matthewson leaves a fastball over the plate, which turns into the game-winning RBI for Jodie Beeler.
Reds 4, Phillies 3 (12)
W: Joe Beggs (2-1) L: Dale Matthewson (0-1)
HR: Chuck Klein (4)
May 12-15: Philadelphia Phillies (14-25, 7th, 13 GB) at New York Giants (24-15, 2nd, 3 GB)
12 – The offense can only do so much. Often times it takes great pitching to make it happen. Al Gerheauser is not a great pitcher. Therefore, he cannot “make it happen”.
Giants 5, Phillies 4
W: Freddie Fitzsimmons (4-3) L: Al Gerheauser (1-4) SV: Ace Adams (3)
13 – Hal Schumacher stays perfect on the season, and extends the Phillies woes. We have now lost 4 straight and 9 of our last 10.
Giants 8, Phillies 1
W: Hal Schumacher (6-0) L: Jack Kraus (4-6)
14 – I haven’t questioned Bucky Harris all season, but I think 145 pitches is well past the limit of Gene Lambert don’t you? Gene blows the game, 5 straight losses for the Phillies.
Giants 5, Phillies 3
W: Ace Adams (2-2) L: Gene Lambert (1-2)
15 – Dick Mauney returns to the rotation, and pitches 6 scoreless innings. He’s in line to get the win until Hugh Casey blows the save. The Phillies hang tough though, and pick up the extra-inning victory.
Phillies 3, Giants 2 (11)
W: Hugh Casey (1-0) L: Hoyt Wilhelm (3-2)
STANDINGS AS OF MAY 16
Code:NATIONAL LEAGUE
Brooklyn 28-15 -
New York 27-16 1
St. Louis 24-19 4
Pittsburgh 22-21 6
Chicago 22-21 6
Boston 19-24 9
Philadelphia 15-28 13
Cincinnati 15-28 13
AMERICAN LEAGUE
New York 27-16 -
Cleveland 25-18 2
Boston 23-20 4
Detroit 22-21 5
Washington 22-21 5
Chicago 21-22 6
St. Louis 16-27 11
Philadelphia 16-27 11
RACE FOR CITY SUPREMACY
Athletics 16-27 -
Phillies 15-28 1