Trapped in the Basement: The Philadelphia Phillies (1942 - )

OCTOBER 1942
PART II

Free agency starts, and I jump right in. This is the time of year that you can’t lie in wait: only the aggressive get what they want, and I want Hugh Casey. I spoke with the reliever, and he wanted over $20,000 for 2 years! I told him that I’d give him an extra year if he would come down to $14K, but he still wanted $16K per. Finally, I offered 4 years for $16,000 per with a team option of 1 year, $21,000. He agreed, and Hugh Casey is a Philadelphia Phillie! He’ll become the setup man of my dreams if he can hold leads late in the game.

Next, I spoke with 3B Bob Kennedy. My scouts (you remember the 3 Stooges?) tell me that he could be a superstar, and third base is a position that doesn’t have a clear favorite for 1943. I sit down with him and offer 5 years at $10,000. He likes the idea, but won’t climb lower than $11,000. I try to haggle him down to $10K, but it’s no use. I give one last ditch effort, but he won’t budge. I can only hope he survives the onslaught of signings to come.

Lastly, I spoke with Joe Krakauskas and tried to get him under $10K, but he wouldn’t budge, so I just hung up. I’ll have to wait until tomorrow.

I woke up the next morning, made myself a delicious cup of coffee, and drove to work. As I got upstairs, Elizabeth was staring glumly at the Inquirer’s sports page. She didn’t need to say anything. I knew what had happened.

EVERYONE WAS GONE :mad:

Every free agent with some semblance of talent had been gobbled up overnight. At least I got Casey before it was too late, I thought.

FREE AGENCY RECAP

Code:

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PITCHERS
RP Howie Krist: 2 years/$15.6K with the Yankees
SP Ernie White: 2 years/$17.5K with the Yankees
SP Nick Strincevich: 2 years/$20.2K with the Yankees
RP Newt Kimball: 2 years/$9,200 with the Yankees
SP Cy Blanton: 2 years/$24,000 with the Senators

CATCHERS
C Ken O'Dea: 4 years/$6,000 with the White Sox
C Mickey Owen: 3 years/$14.9K with the Athletics
C Bennie Warren: 2 years/$13.3K with the Tigers

1ST BASEMEN
1B Frank McCormick: 4 years/$24.7K with the Cardinals


1B Nick Etten: 2 years/$20.1K with the Pirates
1B Oscar Grimes: 3 years/$7,900 with the Yankees

2ND BASEMEN
2B Charlie Gehringer: 2 years/$14.1K with the White Sox
2B Bill Knickerbocker: 4 years/$16.5K with the Senators
2B Stu Martin: 3 years/$14.1K with the Browns

3RD BASEMEN
3B Bob Kennedy: 3 years/$10.1K with the Pirates
3B Jimmy Brown: 3 years/$13.6K with the Athletics
3B Jack Lohrke: unsigned

SHORTSTOPS
SS Pee Wee Reese: 3 years/$23.4K with the Yankees
SS Johnny Bernardino: 2 years/$14.1K with the Senators
SS Marty Marion: 2 years/$17.1K with the Cardinals

OUTFIELDERS
CF Vince DiMaggio: 4 years/$24.9K with the Athletics
RF Chet Laabs: 4 years/$23K with the White Sox
LF Gee Walker: 3 years/$18.2K with the Athletics
RF Taffy Wright: 3 years/$23K with the Athletics
RF Johnny Rizzo: 3 years/$12.8K with the Senators
RF Paul Waner: 2 years/$16.8K with the Tigers
CF Lloyd Waner: 2 years/$9.4K with the Tigers

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If I wasn't so d*** stingy, I could've had a future Hall-of-Famer. Now, he's playing 300 miles west of me, and going to make my life miserable if he succeeds.

OCTOBER 17
PART I

I was never that good of a public speaker, but I liked to use humor to lighten the mood and get my audience on my side. Standing in front of the Philadelphia City Council, my jokes were falling like lead balloons: I wasn’t getting any grins, and I was getting more and more nervous. I glanced over at Elizabeth, who was sitting patiently against the wall. There was something in her eyes: a calming influence. Suddenly, I felt at home, and all of my troubles vanished. With a wink, I chugged a glass of water like it was hard liquor and continued on with my presentation. “As you can see from the handout, the Phillies made over $27,000 dollars profit this season, and we expect astronomical growth this season, as we have slashed payroll by bringing in younger, cheaper, and hopefully better talent.” I had to stop my hands from shaking. “Are there any questions?”
“Mr. Walsh, I have a question.” The large man with the really bad comb-over began to speak. “Well, actually two. First, you’re not very comfortable speaking in public, are you?”
“No, sir, I guess not.” I had to laugh at myself there.
“My second question pertains to this land you’ve requested along the Schuylkill River. You do understand that the land in question is city park land, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir, my associate Mr. Stephens originally brought that to my attention. However, with the acquisition of the proposed land, we will also make a bid for the Baker Bowl site. On this site, we will create either a new city park or a public school. That is still up in the air at the moment.”
“I actually have one last question, if you don’t mind, Mr. Walsh.”
I turned around and saw Commissioner Landis, grinning that evil grin of his. My friendly smile turned into a dumbfounded stare.
“Mr. Walsh,” the Commissioner continued, “what was your record this season?”
“The Phillies were 66-88, 7th in the National League.”
“7th in the National League”, he repeated. Obviously, he was here to cause mischief, and there was literally nothing I could do but take his abuse.
“Mr. Walsh, can you remember the last time a 7th place team got rewarded with a new stadium?”
“No sir, Judge Landis, but when was...”
“NEVER before,” he had cut me off, “has a team finishing in the second division been rewarded with a new stadium! What makes you think you’re so special, Mr. Walsh? Is it because you’re young? You have new ideas that us established citizens find foolish and absurd, but you parade around like their going to save mankind. Mr. Walsh, by order of the Commissioner of Baseball, you will not be able to take any action toward building a new stadium until the Phillies have a winning record.”
My heart sank into my stomach. It felt that I had just been hit by a wrecking ball. Life couldn’t get worse.
“Now, onto the real reason I came here”, continued Judge Landis. “The Office of the Commissioner would like to purchase the land that the Baker Bowl is currently located on. We will tear down the stadium, and create the Connie Mack Center for Inner City Outreach.”
I was at a loss for words. I stood to the side, with my mouth catching flies. The Baker Bowl plot was the crucial chip for my proposal. With that out of my hands, I had nothing. Landis had destroyed our best-laid plans.
“The Mack Center will be a community center, where youths can stay after school to receive help with their school work. Also, the Mack Center will house a full-scale baseball training center, where the city, in cooperation with Major League Baseball, can offer weekend clinics for underprivileged youths and others that just want to learn how to play the game of baseball. This will be baseball’s contribution toward fighting the growing problem that gangs and other groups organized around violence.”
Naturally, the City Council passed Landis’ measure unanimously, and he presented them with a check for the deed to the Baker Bowl. After the presentation, he called me over into the hallway.
“Son, I just want to let you in on a little saying that I was taught once: fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me...”
SLAP!
The old man had reared back and slapped me with all the force his 75-year-old body could muster. His voice got deep, and his eyes pulsed with rage.
“...but no one, NO ONE, fools me three times.”
With that he walked back towards the door. He turned his head, and glared over his shoulder back at me. He slimed an evil smile, then returned to the room to celebrate.

First, I have the exact same problem with free agents, if I don't pick them up on the first day, there aren't any there. (Though once or twice I've had a few useful players slip through the cracks, and even be available into the season.).

Judge Landis is scary...gulp.:eek:

I was really angry about the whole FA situation, because Kennedy would've made it extremely interesting this season and going forward, but because of my limitations with negotiations, I could only make two offers.

Don't worry, you haven't seen the last of Judge Landis. He may be turning 76 in November, but he can still put up a darn good fight.

Sorry about Kennedy :( I wonder if that extra $1,000 he wanted after one offer would've been worth it.

And Landis is....quite scary. I wonder if the other teams are feeling his rage too.

:D You really are cheap. Penny wise ...

Just kidding. I suppose $1,000 meant a lot more in the 40s.

CatKnight: I definitely could've afforded it. I guess we'll see if he tears up Forbes Field this year.

As for Landis, he's got this intimidating aura for a man of his age. I had to capture that, and I sort of turned him into a conniving bad guy. Oops. :rolleyes:

3RunHomer: I am cheap. I love to make money, so I don't jack my salaries as high as other teams. I guess that may be my downfall...

And as always, thanks for reading!

OCTOBER 17
PART II

I drove Elizabeth home that night. It wasn’t safe to take public transportation at this time of night, and I insisted that she save the cab fare. As we drove, all I could think about was the vile old man named Landis. How did he manage to show up at just the right time? How did he know about the Baker Bowl? How come my face was still hurting after his slap? I couldn’t think straight. My mind started to wander. I dropped Elizabeth off, and gave her the day off tomorrow. As I drove home alone, I began to daydream. I dreamt that the Phillies were one out away from the pennant, but needed to get out of a bases-loaded jam. I dreamt the batter hit a roller to short. I dreamt the shortstop was in position to field the ball. He reaches down to pick up the ball, and the ghost of Judge Landis materializes before him. He gets spooked and the ball rolls through his legs. The game-winning run scored from second. I turn and see the Judge’s ghost, laughing maniacally. I snapped back to reality.

That night I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about Judge Landis: the beady little eyes, the evil smirk. Every time I fell asleep, I was haunted by his image, his ghost, cursing the Phillies. Wild pitches, muffed fly balls, freak injuries, walk-off home runs. Every time, I awoke in a cold sweat.

The next day at work was h***. Nick called and asked how the presentation went. I told him that it went great, except it was upstaged by an evil genius. He figured it was best to not push it. He was right.

I went back home. I was still depressed about the whole Landis situation. Tomorrow was Friday, meaning I had to pay F. I pulled out $100 and began to put it an envelope, but froze. I dropped the money on my floor and ran to the phone. I needed to call Nick.

OCTOBER 18

“Nick! It’s Andy. Listen I need to talk to you now!”
“Sure thing pal, what’s up?”
“Did you ask F to look into the stadium issue?”
“What?”
“Did you ask F to look into the stadium?”
“Well, I guess...”
“Listen, Nick. I’ve got a crisis on my hands right now. I need to know everyone you told about the new stadium right now. I think we may have a rat.”
Nick got quiet. “Well, let’s see. The only people I told were F and my mother.”
“That’s all I needed. Tell F when you see him that I want to meet him tomorrow downtown.”
“But I don’t find him, he usually finds me.”
“Then he’s going to have to find me.”

OCTOBER 19

I called Elizabeth and told her I wouldn’t be coming in today. She understood why.
I left my apartment at 6:30 AM. I got in my car and drove down to Independence Hall. I sat on the same bench I had sat on about 2 1/2 months ago. Back in the beginning of August, I had no idea that F was this deeply involved.
Right around 6:55, he showed up. I saw him coming and stood to greet him. No pleasantries were exchanged. “Let’s walk”, I said. We started east on Chestnut Street, towards New Jersey.
“Do you have my money?” asked F.
“We’ll talk money later.” I said. We kept walking.
We got the end of Chestnut, where it doubles back into Market Street. But I stopped. He stopped, and walked back towards me. “Why are we stopping here?”
“Well, F, I wanted to ask you some questions if you don’t mind. I know that you’re the best in the business, but I want to see just how good the business is.”
“Sure, I suppose that I can take some questions.”
“How much do you know about the new stadium?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Do you? Because when I was presenting my proposal, I was surprised to find a visitor I had not expected. Do you happen to know anything about this?”
His eyes started to move back and forth behind his dark glasses. He started shrinking into his coat to try and get away. “I have no idea...”
“Do you?” I cut him off. “So you have no idea that Judge Landis knew that I was presenting to the City Council on Wednesday. You have no idea that Landis is buying the Baker Bowl out from under my nose. You have no idea that Landis was issuing an ultimatum before I can build my new stadium. Am I getting close to something here?”
He was visibly nervous now, shaking and cowering as best he could for a man of his stature.
“Let me make a guess: you’ve been hired by Landis to try and keep me line. You made yourself known to Nick to get in. You’ve been supplying me canned lines for months, while I’ve been spending $100 a week to keep a lackey on the payroll. You set up the meeting with FDR to gain my and Nick’s trust. When we opened up enough to let you in on a big story, Landis would drop his trap, and we’d be up a creek, while you’d enjoy the fruit of our labor as we get tortured for the remainder of Judge Landis’ life. Am I somewhere near the ballpark!?”
“Yes! Yes, it’s all true! It was all a setup to get back at you!”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the envelope. I gave it too him and told him to open it. There was $50 inside, along with a train ticket to New York City.
“The train leaves in one hour: I expect you to be on it. If you tell your story to anyone, I’m going to the other owners immediately with mine. Get the h*** out of my sight.” I started to walk away, but then turned: “Oh, and F? You’re fired.”
I walked back to my car, and drove into work.

OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 1942

With at least one problem out of my way, I could now turn my attention to team issues. First and foremost, we need a manager. After Hans Lobert “retired”, we were left with a big void. I have a few candidates, including Bucky Harris, Lee Riley, and Boom-Boom Beck. If none of these work, I’ll have to pick up my search after the winter meetings.

I sat down with Beck first, primarily because he still worked in the organization. After he retired in May, I convinced him to stay on with the team and become a pitching coach. His given name was Walter, but a forgettable day at the Baker Bowl would give him the nickname “Boom-Boom”. He seemed comfortable as the pitching coach, however, and I pressed no further.

Lee Riley was next. The 35-year-old minor league lifer was excited to be getting back into baseball, but I’m not sure how experienced he was. He knew the game, but as a minor league player manager, he’d only been up to AAA before. I still had an opening for a bench coach though, and he gladly accepted that.

Bucky Harris was the primary candidate all along. He had been managing since he was 27 year old, leading the Senators to their only championship that season. He hasn’t been too successful, and was just cut loose by the Senators. I met with him, and he wants another shot. I sign Bucky Harris to a three-year contract, and the Boy Wonder (now 46) is the new manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The next major order of business was finding new minor league affiliates. Our contract with Fort Worth had run out, and we were looking for a new AAA team. Fortunately, Nick came through with Utica, so the Utica Braves are our new AAA team. Our AA team, the Trenton Packers, was signed through next season, and our R team, the Miami Beach Phillies would be based out of our Spring Training facility. Our A team, the Rome Colonels, went under, however, so we have to look for a new affiliate. Fortunately, the Memphis Chickasaws owner got in contact with me, and Memphis will be our new A home.

With the only vacancy being hitting coach, I prepared for the Winter Meetings, and the inevitable collision with Commissioner Landis. Fortunately, I had a plan.

DECEMBER 1942
WINTER MEETINGS
DAY 1

All the owners and GMs converged on New York City for the 1942 Winter Meetings. I was there, representing the Phillies. There were a few changes as far as the faces at the meetings: the most major was Branch Rickey’s transfer to the Brooklyn Dodgers to become team president/general manager. William Walsingham was the new Cardinals GM, while Larry MacPhail (the former Dodgers GM) was training to enter the military. Also, former umpire Billy Evans received a big contract to become the Tigers GM, but he was absent from the meetings. Finally, this would be my first Winter Meetings, but I’d have to go it alone, as Nick was too busy with the brokerage to come to New York for the weekend. Every major executive in baseball was there. From Commissioner Landis down to the rest of the owners, and a few GMs serving as proxies.

The weekend would be broken down like this: Thursday night would be just an informal gathering of the owners and general managers, while the minor leagues all conducted their meetings. On Friday, the National League and American League would meet independently of each other to discuss league matters only. On Saturday, all 16 teams would meet before the Commissioner, to discuss the future of baseball and report any grievances brought up during Friday’s meetings. Sunday would be a short morning meeting, followed by a press conference.

Thursday night’s cocktail party was really something else. I wasn’t a member of high society, so I wasn’t really acquainted with these types of gatherings. Rich old guys sure know how to live!

I started talking with Philip Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs. I had the perfect icebreaker too: I like your gum. Anyhow, we started talking about the major weaknesses of our clubs. He told me that he would give almost anything to someone who could provide a solid #3 starter for him. After having to rely on 23-loss Joey Lothian this year, it was clear he needed big time help. I told him that if he could spare a couple of relievers and a backup outfielder, we could work something out. At about 12:30 AM on Friday, we finally did.

Chicago (NL) receives:
SP Rube Melton (81/84)
$4,000
Philadelphia (NL) receives:
RP Emil Kush (77/79)
LF Dom Dallessandro (75)
RP Ed Hanyzewski (75/85)

Rube was the most developed of all my young pitchers, and I was able to get the most for him. Kush will help improve our bullpen (the major focus of our offseason), while Dom (a local boy from Reading) will provide a solid bat off the bench and allow Johnny Blatnik to spend another season in the minor leagues developing. I would’ve thrown in $10,000 to get Hanyzewski. If he develops the way our scouts think he should, this trade will become one of the all-time great robberies, like Babe Ruth for “No No Nanette”. (OOC: That's right. As a Red Sox fan, I've come to terms with this. He was traded for a Broadway play.)

WINTER MEETINGS
DAY 2

I made my way into the meeting room and took a seat next to Bill Wrigley. The rest of the owners soon filed in and took their seats. National League president Ford Frick took roll, and everyone was present. The first order of business would be team presentations. As the newest owner, I had to give mine first.
“The Philadelphia Phillies completed their most successful season on the field in over 10 years. With the first pick in last season’s draft, and another top 5 pick on the way, our already talented farm system is well on its way to becoming one of the best in the game. Despite our losing record, we managed to outdraw the Athletics at Shibe Park, averaging over 2,000 more fans per contest this season. Financially we finished over $27,000 in the black, and look to do even better this season with a much lighter payroll. Any questions?”
“Andrew, I have a question.” President Frick announced. “If things are going as well as you say they are, when do you foresee that the Phillies will contend for the NL pennant?”
“Mr. Frick, I firmly believe, and I don’t mean any disrespect to my peers, that the Phillies could be a contender by the end of this decade. I wouldn’t be surprised if we win the pennant by 1946.”
The last remark drew raucous laughter from the other owners. Even Frick was chucking. I knew that the others considered the Phillies a second-class franchise, but I didn’t know that we were the laughingstock of the league.
“Gentlemen, I would wager my ownership stake that the Phillies will win a pennant by the end of this decade.”
The laughing stopped immediately. The others looked at me like I had three heads.
“Mr. Walsh, there is no need for that. Thank you for the wonderful report”, Frick hurriedly moved on. Team after team reported financial gains, and each said the future was bright in their city. Only the Dodgers had lost money ($22,000, to be exact), but slashed payroll and were looking to make it all back this season. It was a wonderfully unproductive first half of the meeting.
There was a two-hour break for lunch. I tagged along with Wrigley, Rickey, St. Louis’ Sam Breadon, and Cincinnati’s Powel Crosley. As we returned, we were greeted by Frick.
“Enjoy your lunch, gentlemen?” the president tried to make small talk.
“Hey Ford, any word on the American League?” Breadon was out for information on the Browns.
“Well, aside from [Donald] Barnes’ (the owner of the Browns) threats to move the team, everything is normal, for the AL.” We all had a chuckle at that.
“You know what I don’t understand,” I said, “is how they put up with one team continually beating the others.”
“Well, that sounds like something a Philadelphian would say!” Wrigley retorted. “Seriously though, I personally am glad that us National Leaguers have to face the Yankees only once a year.”
The party nodded in agreement. “You know, kid,” Crosley had pulled me aside, “it’s generally not commonplace to talk about the American League. You and I both know that we can’t do anything about it, and that the AL is full of lame-brained losers that can’t build a team for squat. But the Yankee issue will be resolved if they continue winning World Series’. If we can stop them in the Series, it will stay an American League issue, and that’s the way we should look at it, and the way it should be. If it doesn’t concern us, we stay out of it.”
I was left to ponder that for the rest of the afternoon. As the meeting droned on, I thought about the Yankees, and how they’ve continued to stay atop the American League since 1920. I guess I’ll have something else on my mind if they continue to dominate...

WINTER MEETINGS
DAY 3 & 4

Today was a big day. Today all 16 owners at both league presidents would meet with the Commissioner of Baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. The National League got there early, and the American League arrived a few minutes later. At 9 AM, the door swung open, and Judge Landis was wheeled in. That’s right: the powerful intimidating judge was just a shadow of his former self. These meetings were almost as boring as yesterday’s. There was one thing that really caught my eye: Judge Landis told us that we ought to start thinking about where to put a new franchise. With 14 franchises making money last year, Landis wants to capitalize on the success and popularity of baseball by spreading it. I think that it’s a little weird trying to expand baseball during wartime, so I’m not going to put a lot of thought into this.

“Alright, any new business?”
“I actually have some.” I stood and walked to the front of the room. I could see the glares of a few owners and one commissioner when I got there. I certainly wasn’t making any friends in my short tenure as an owner.
“I would first like to congratulate the Yankees for their World Championship. It takes a world-class organization to win as often as you do, and I truly respect that. However, with that being said, I feel as though the years of Yankee victories have led baseball to become somewhat predictable and bland. The average fan will follow the season until the Yankees win the pennant, then forget all about the Series because they ‘know who will win’. That’s why I’d like to propose a minor league draft.”
“What do you mean by this, Mr. Walsh?” a stunned commissioner asked.
“Mr. Commissioner, and my fellow owners, my plan would allow any player over the age of 25 as of February 1 to opt out of their current contract and enter a reassignment draft on that day. However, that player can only be on a minor league team. There will be only one player per team allowed to enter. The order will be based on the previous season’s record. The selecting team must then keep this player on the active roster for at least 90 days, any time from April 1 until the end of the season in mid-September, or else the player will be returned to his original organization. This will allow for a return of the competitive balance of baseball, as well as displacing the talent of a stockpiled minor league system.”

There was a long pause as the owners thought my proposal over. Philip Wrigley was the first to speak. “I actually like that idea.”
Bob Quinn of the Braves agreed. “Yeah, I think that will help. Motion to vote.”
“Denied!” The Commissioner almost shouted as I could see the rage building inside his eyes. “Mr. Walsh, what makes you think that you can come here with your radical ideas to change the game of baseball?”
“Mr. Commissioner, what makes you think that you can employ a spy to keep tabs on me as I try and run an organization?” The other owners all immediately glared at the stunned Commissioner, who sank even lower into his wheelchair.
“Is what he just said true?”
“Well...er...I...”
“Yes, it’s absolutely true. I caught him using out-of-work former ballplayers as informants for him just so he could keep owners like me in check. I’m sure that he’s used them to keep an eye on you at some point.”
The Commissioner was wishing that he could go hide somewhere, but the owners weren’t going to let him.
“Five minute recess, starting now.” The Commissioner slammed his gavel and quickly had his wheelchair pushed out of the room.
“So, how does everyone like my proposal?”

***

After yesterday’s fiasco, Commissioner Landis returned and we voted that while the “reassignment draft” looked like a good idea on paper, we should put it off until 1945, when we can vote on it again. At the press conference today, Judge Landis looked worse than yesterday, but managed to get through the event. Afterwards, I shook hands with the others and drove back to Philadelphia, looking to get a full night’s sleep for the first time in weeks.

DECEMBER 1942
I certainly took a lot of heat for admitting that I had hired F, but it was nothing compared to the heat that Landis was taking. Looks like I had taken another bite out of the Judge’s credibility...
After this hectic weekend, I took a well deserved vacation to Miami Beach. I beat the team to Spring Training...by about 2 months. No matter. I’ll take one month off, and get back to work in mid-January.

OOC: Don’t expect too many updates for the next few days. I’ll be working late, and I’m also trying to get a Phillies Record Book going on Excel, so that will take some time. Don’t worry, the dynasty isn’t dead, not by a long shot. There’s just going to be a little bit more time between posts than usual. Once again, thanks for the comments and thanks for reading!

I'd be very interested in what you put in your record book. I've put together some notes for the Royals but would like to organize it somewhat :)

Good show embarassing Landis. Sick or not though (and he appears to be), he's still a dangerous man and you've just become his number one enemy.

FEBRUARY 1943

Ah, the first days of spring training! It was a massive countdown until the 12th, when the first player reported: rookie C Andy Seminick. I spoke with Andy on why he got down here so early.

“I’m just so eager to play for the big club, Mr. Walsh. I’ve paid my dues in the minor leagues, and now I’m ready to play everyday. I’m not going to lie to you, sir: I grew up rooting for the Pirates, but deep down I know that Philly’s my kind of town. And the fans here are far too good to have suffered through this much losing. I personally want to make it up to them. I know you caught a lot of heat about brining me up to start, but I guarantee that I won’t let you down.”

Compared to the heat I was getting from other GMs, that was nothing. But it was nice to finally have some players that wanted to be a part of this organization. If only I had a team full of Andy Seminicks...

FEBRUARY 28, 1943

I went into a local drinking establishment to cool off and refresh myself. I pulled up to the bar and ordered a beer. Nothing fancy, I still had work to do after all. There was only one other person at the bar, a short, stocky man with arms the size of trees, that had holed up inside a beer bottle. I had to look twice, before I asked him: “Are you Hack Wilson?”
“Yeah, well, I used to be.”
“I knew you hit the sauce, but I didn’t know it was that bad. I’m sorry, where are my manners? I’m Andrew Walsh, owner and general manager of the Phillies.”
“The Phillies? You know I ended my career with them back in ’34.”
“I did know that. But I want you to know something: the baseball world misses Hack Wilson.”
“But Hack Wilson loves his booze.” He smiled as he took another gargantuan gulp. “Besides, I’m gonna be 43 this April, why the h*** would anyone want me on their team?”
“I have a proposal for you, Hack. It seems clear to me that you want to get back into baseball. So I’ll cut you a deal: I’ll hire you as my hitting coach, provided that you stay off the creature until the end of the season.”
“No alcohol for 6 months? You know I’m not a very good teacher, right?”
“All I know is that you drove in 190 runs in 1930, so you had to do something right. Come on, I’ll show you around your new job.”

Man, just keep pissing the old man off, and he'll hire an assassin next time instead of a spy!:D

Your reassignment draft should be interesting. I just did something similar, but with age 27+ players. You'll have a much bigger supply of good players available using the lower 25+ age limit.

Overbay17: Perhaps that may be sooner than you think... ;)
3RunHomer: Yeah, I wanted to strike quickly and effectively at the run of Yankee dominance. The reason I decided to push it off is because the amateur draft was designed to prevent dynasties, so I'll give that a few years to see if that slows down the Pinstripers. If not, then I'll have to do the reassignment draft and other drastic measures.

As always, thanks for reading.

Status update on the Phillies record book: it's coming along. Getting year-by-year data from the records is a lot harder than I expected, but it should be ready sometime this week.

1943 ROSTER

1943 Philadelphia Phillies (* denotes starter; ^ denotes injury – will miss season opener)

Code:

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##        POS        NAME (OVR)                LAST SEASON
21        C*        Andy Seminick (79/95)        .290, 7 HR, 81 RBI for AA Trenton & AAA Fort Worth
6        C        Mickey Livingston (72)        .222, 1 HR, 11 RBI for Philadelphia (NL)

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Andy had a fantastic Spring Training, giving him the starting nod over Mickey. The 22-year-old Seminick doesn’t have the arm that Bennie Warren has, but can make up for it at the plate.

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##        POS        NAME (OVR)                LAST SEASON
23        1B*        Turkey Tyson (75/77)        .282, 1 HR, 14 RBI for Philadelphia (NL)
33        1B        Ed Murphy (72/78)        .273, 3 HR, 28 RBI for Philadelphia (NL)

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These two will make a solid platoon until Gil Hodges (72/93) is ready, and that shouldn’t be too far away (read: September at the latest). Hodges played at 3 levels last season, hitting .383/.467/.561 with 8 HR and 60 RBI.

Code:

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##        POS        NAME (OVR)                LAST SEASON
2        2B*        Danny Murtaugh (74)        .271, 31 2B, 44 RBI for Philadelphia (NL)
26        3B*        Pinky May (79)                .236, 34 2B, 41 RBI for Philadelphia (NL)
7        SS*        Harry Marnie (71/72)        .242, Gold Glove for Philadelphia (NL)
24        IF        Billy Johnson (73/84)        .343, 26 RBI for AAA Fort Worth
27        IF        Al Glossop (71)                .195 for Philadelphia (NL)

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May survived camp, but should he struggle, Johnson will be ready. Marnie returns after a Gold-Glove campaign in 1942, and Murtaugh remains steady.

Code:

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##        POS        NAME (OVR)                LAST SEASON
9        LF*        Danny Litwhiler (87)        .262, 14 HR, 61 RBI for Philadelphia (NL)
30        CF*        Ed Freed (71/88)        .276, 6 HR, 57 RBI for Philadelphia (NL)
3        RF*        Chuck Klein (84)        .288, 19 HR, 85 RBI for Philadelphia (NL) (All team highs)
4        OF        Ron Northey (77/93)        .344/.421/.472 with 6 HR and 83 RBI in AA & AAA
46        OF        Dom Dallessandro (77)        .239, 5 HR, 34 RBI for Chicago (NL)

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Will this be the last hurrah for Klein? Already the team record holder in most major categories, this might be his final year, with talented youths like Northey nipping at his heels. Litwhiler returns after a late season injury and Freed tries to avoid a sophomore slump.

Code:

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##        POS        NAME (OVR)                LAST SEASON
28        SP1*        Tommy Hughes (77/90)        18-14, 3.13 ERA, 3 shutouts for Philadelphia (NL)
19        SP2        Jack Kraus (80/87)        6-2, 2.44 ERA in 1942 (AA Trenton, AAA Ft. Worth, Philadelphia)
15        SP3        Dick Mauney (70/82)        4-1, 2.68 ERA in 5 starts for Philadelphia (NL)
20        SP4        Johnny Podgajny (71/84)        3-11, 4.91 ERA with Philadelphia (NL)

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Hughes returns to anchor an unproven rotation. Without real veteran leadership, the youngsters will look to the reigning NL Wins co-leader. However, this young group has tons of potential.

Code:

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##        POS        NAME (OVR)                LAST SEASON
31        MU        Izzy Leon (61/64)        0-2, 4.91 ERA for Philadelphia (NL)
40        LR        Al Gerheauser (75/88)        0-1, 9.41 ERA for Philadelphia (NL)
8        MR        Paul Masterson (66/71)        2-7, 6.84 ERA for Philadelphia (NL)
29        SR        Emil Kush (77/79)        7-4, 4.30 ERA, 9 SV for Chicago (NL)
11        SR        Joe Page (68/75)        2-0, 6.75 ERA for Philadelphia (NL)
25        SU        Hugh Casey (79)                5-5, 3.17 ERA, 4 SV for Brooklyn
12        CL^        Ike Pearson (77/82)        2-1, 2.13 ERA, 15/17 save chances for Philadelphia (NL)
45        INJ        Ed Hanyzewski (75/85)        6-2, 2.79 ERA in minor leagues (Chicago (NL))

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The major focal point in the off-season. If this unit doesn’t perform, I’m going to lose it (like we did all those leads last season).

Pearson will be out until mid-June with a broken elbow. Ed Hanyzewski will be replacing him, and Hugh Casey will take over the closer role.

Code:

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COACHING STAFF
##
37        Bucky Harris (manager)
34        Hack Wilson (hitting coach)
41        Walter “Boom-Boom” Beck (pitching coach)
48        Lee Riley (bench coach)

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Code:

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TOP PROSPECTS
AAA – Utica Braves
1B Gil Hodges (72/93)
CF Earl Naylor (72/93)
LF Johnny Blatnik (67/93)
SP Charlie Ripple (66/88)
SS Ralph LaPointe (66/87)
2B Ray Hamrick (73/88)

AA – Trenton Packers
RP Deacon Donahue (71/84)

A – Memphis Chicasaws

R – Miami Beach Phillies

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As you can see, my system is very top heavy in extraordinary talents. I do have a lot of ordinary talents in my lower levers, but the well is pretty much dry after these guys.

COMING SOON: AL & NL PREVIEWS FOR 1943!

Just got caught up, excellent read so far! However, I needed to speak up on this:

I would’ve thrown in $10,000 to get Hanyzewski. If he develops the way our scouts think he should, this trade will become one of the all-time great robberies, like Babe Ruth for “No No Nanette”. (OOC: That's right. As a Red Sox fan, I've come to terms with this. He was traded for a Broadway play.)

It's not true!
http://www.americanpopularculture.co..._sox_myths.htm

Dan Shaugnessey is a turd. He created the "curse."

I look forward to seeing how your draft works. I have found myself becoming more and more involved each year making sure that teams don't hoard talent and stuff them in the minors.

bigpapi: Thanks for reading! And for pointing out a mistake that's been continually perpetuated over the years!

I should start the season soon, as the single-season record book is nearly finished. The career one, however, is taking a little more time.

1943 SEASON PREVIEW
AMERICAN LEAGUE

1. New York Yankees – 100-54 (last season: 106-48 – World Champions)
KEY HITTERS
CF Joe DiMaggio (94) – .323, 14 HR, 116 RBI
SS Pee Wee Reese (90/94) – .241, 0 HR, 11 RBI
LF Charlie Keller (92) – .302, 26 HR, 115 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Lefty Gomez (90) – 19-6, 3.73 ERA, 135 K
SP Red Ruffing (86) – 21-7, 3.33 ERA, 147 K
SU Johnny Murphy (77) – 1-3, 1.88 ERA, 16 SV

T-2. Boston Red Sox – 96-58 (last season: 92-62 – T-2nd)
KEY HITTERS
LF Ted Williams (96) – .346, 41 HR, 125 RBI
1B Jimmie Foxx (93) – .359, 21 HR, 65 RBI
CF Dom DiMaggio (92) - .317, 12 HR, 55 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Tex Hughson (86/87) – 15-2, 2.77 ERA, 78 K
SP Schoolboy Rowe (82) – 11-11, 3.73 ERA, 94 K
CL Mace Brown (79) – 8-3, 3.71 ERA, 17 SV

T-2. Cleveland Indians – 96-58 (last season: 92-62 – T-2nd)
KEY HITTERS
SS Lou Boudreau (92) – .323, 8 HR, 87 RBI
RF Jeff Heath (91) – .298, 30 HR, 111 RBI
C Ernie Lombardi (88) - .278, 14 HR, 77 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Mel Harder (84) – 20-10, 3.38 ERA, 112 K
SP Allie Reynolds (89/93) – 7-1, 4.31 ERA, 41 K
CL Tom Ferrick (79/80) – 6-5, 2.98 ERA, 22 SV

4. Chicago White Sox – 69-85 (last season: 64-90 – 7th)
KEY HITTERS
RF Chet Laabs (84) – .270, 6 HR, 55 RBI
SS Luke Appling (82) – .334, 2 HR, 51 RBI
2B Charlie Gehringer (73/74) - .262, 8 HR, 39 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Ted Lyons (78) – 12-15, 3.81 ERA, 107 K
SP Johnny Rigney (82) – 11-11, 3.19 ERA, 104 K
SR Johnny Humphries (81) – 4-1, 3.00 ERA, 2 SV

5. Washington Senators – 68-86 (last season: 72-82 – 4th)
KEY HITTERS
1B Mickey Vernon (88/94) – .283, 20 HR, 87 RBI
LF Stan Spence (88) – .319, 13 HR, 75 RBI
SS Johnny Berardino (77/87) - .284, 1 HR, 31 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Early Wynn (92) – 11-10, 3.36 ERA, 135 K
SP Bobo Newsom (84) – 13-6, 3.92 ERA, 144 K
SU Alex Carrasquel (78) – 10-10, 3.21 ERA, 8 SV

6. St. Louis Browns – 67-87 (last season: 65-89 – 6th)
KEY HITTERS
CF Wally Judnich (88/92) – .284, 21 HR, 74 RBI
LF Roy Cullenbine (88) – .299, 23 HR, 105 RBI
3B Vern Stephens (85/94) - .228, 9 HR, 37 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Elden Auker (74/75) – 9-21, 4.34 ERA, 88 K
SP Fritz Ostermueller (77) – 10-14, 4.20 ERA, 104 K
SU Stan Ferens (76/77) – 10-6, 3.40 ERA, 46 K

7. Detroit Tigers – 65-89 (last season: 55-99 – 8th)
KEY HITTERS
CF Barney McCosky (89/93) - .333, 5 HR, 59 RBI, 15 SB
1B Rudy York (91) - .328, 29 HR, 101 RBI
3B Pinky Higgins (84) - .323, 5 HR, 32 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Hal Newhouser (87/90) – 8-11, 3.91 ERA, 138 K
SP Dizzy Trout (89) – 10-13, 3.72 ERA, 112 K
SP Tommy Bridges (82) – 8-9, 5.04 ERA, 114 K

8. Philadelphia Athletics – 54-100 (last season: 70-84 – 5th)
KEY HITTERS
CF Vince DiMaggio (85) - .261, 12 HR, 63 RBI
1B Elbie Fletcher (84) – .313, 8 HR, 69 RBI
LF Gee Walker (84) - .268, 7 HR, 46 RBI, 17 SB
KEY PITCHERS
SP Roger Wolff (78/79) – 12-10, 3.32 ERA, 109 K
SP Les McCrabb (75) – 7-9, 4.06, ERA, 67 K
SP Dick Fowler (75/90) – 5-10, 4.95 ERA, 60 K

1943 SEASON PREVIEW
NATIONAL LEAGUE

1. Brooklyn Dodgers – 99-55
KEY HITTERS
SS Arky Vaughan (92) - .284, 10 HR, 70 RBI
2B Jackie Robinson (84/94) - .279, 7 HR, 24 RBI
C Roy Campanella (82/91) - .234, 7 HR, 30 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Johnny Vander Meer (85) – 17-7, 3.36 ERA, 161 K
SP Paul Derringer (87) – 11-14, 2.82 ERA, 113 K
CL Jim Hughes (73/82) – 3-2, 3.58 ERA, 18 SV

2. New York Giants – 89-65
KEY HITTERS
1B Johnny Mize (94) – .318, 29 HR, 128 RBI
RF Mel Ott (92) – .317, 27 HR, 104 RBI
CF Sid Gordon (86/92) - .296, 10 HR, 71 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Hal Schumacher (86) – 18-13, 3.59 ERA, 119 K
SP Carl Hubbell (83) – 14-6, 4.20 ERA, 100 K
CL Hoyt Wilhelm (78/91) – 3-5, 3.65 ERA, 22 SV

3. St. Louis Cardinals – 82-72
KEY HITTERS
LF Stan Musial (94) – .348, 21 HR, 127 RBI
RF Enos Slaughter (89) – .282, 11 HR, 63 RBI
C Walker Cooper (88) - .328, 15 HR, 104 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Lon Warneke (88) – 15-5, 3.25 ERA, 78 K
SP Mort Cooper (85) – 16-4, 3.21 ERA, 121 K
SU Clyde Shoun (79) – 9-6, 3.30 ERA, 7 SV

4. Boston Braves – 76-78
KEY HITTERS
RF Tommy Holmes (83/89) - .318, 3 HR, 31 RBI
SS Eddie Miller (83) - .275, 13 HR, 57 RBI
LF Max West (79) - .284, 20 HR, 93 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Jim Tobin (88) – 16-14, 3.85 ERA, 92 K
SP Warren Spahn (93/94) – 12-19, 3.82 ERA, 160 K
MR Johnny Hutchings (76/77) – 7-6, 3.36 ERA, 5 SV

T-5. Chicago Cubs – 72-82
KEY HITTERS
CF Phil Cavarretta (92/94) - .330, 9 HR, 86 RBI
LF Andy Pafko (85/95) - .251, 5 HR, 31 RBI
3B Stan Hack (84) - .321, 9 HR, 57 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Claude Passeau (92) – 15-11, 3.34 ERA, 105 K
SP Bill Lee (79) – 8-4, 3.37 ERA, 55 K
SP Shaun Hale (73/74) – 11-11, 4.66 ERA, 75 K

T-5. Pittsburgh Pirates – 72-82
KEY HITTERS
RF Bob Elliott (91) – .306, 15 HR, 97 RBI
LF Ralph Kiner (84/90) – .262, 13 HR, 45 RBI
3B Bob Kennedy (72/91) - .254, 0 HR, 12 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Max Butcher (83) – 12-9, 2.82 ERA, 71 K
SP Ken Heintzelman (79/86) – 6-7, 4.11 ERA, 63 K
CL Diomedes Olivo (66/77) – 2-9, 4.46 ERA, 21 SV

7. Cincinnati Reds – 64-90
KEY HITTERS
LF Hank Sauer (82/83) - .245, 9 HR, 33 RBI
2B Lonny Frey (79) - .276, 2 HR, 17 RBI
1B John Corriden (72/82) - .360, 0 HR, 4 RBI
KEY PITCHERS
SP Bucky Walters (86) – 13-11, 3.49 ERA, 101 K
SP Elmer Riddle (78) – 6-15, 4.50 ERA, 78 K
SU Joe Beggs (79) – 8-7, 3.14 ERA, 6 SV

8. Philadelphia Phillies – 63-91
KEY HITTERS
RF Chuck Klein (84) – .288, 19 HR, 85 RBI
LF Danny Litwhiler (87) – .262, 14 HR, 61 RBI
CF Ed Freed (71/88) - .276, 6 HR, 57 RBI, 15 SB
KEY PITCHERS
SP Tommy Hughes (77/90) – 18-14, 3.13 ERA, 129 K
SU Hugh Casey (79) – 5-5, 3.17 ERA, 4 SV
CL Ike Pearson (77/82) – 2-1, 2.13 ERA, 15 SV

Now, time for the two words that everyone looks forward to on Opening Day:

PLAY BALL!

APRIL 1, 1943

With the war effort in full swing, you’d hardly expect someone to announce plans to build a new stadium. That’s one of the reasons why I tried to keep my demands under the table. But that’s what my fellow owner and city sharer Connie Mack is doing. With his Athletics projected to go into massive debt, he’s imploring his fans to come to the ballpark in droves this season. With that story announced earlier in the day, I did my best to put the Phillies on the front pages. I got close, but it wasn’t enough.
New York (AL) receives:
SS Ralph LaPointe (66/87)
C Benny Culp (69/71)
Philadelphia (NL) receives:
SS Phil Rizzuto (81/88)

Hello police? I’d like to report a ROBBERY! LaPointe won’t play so long as Pee Wee Reese occupies shortstop (that’s why I was able to get Rizzuto in the first place: he was on the bench), and Culp is an aging minor-league catcher that’s almost peaking. Meanwhile, Rizzuto is 25, has 2 championship rings, and is one of the better-hitting shortstops of the era. His fielding skills leave something to be desired (50 errors in 2 seasons), but I’m sure he’d rather play here than warm the bench.

My Opening Day lineup, after the trade, looks like this:

SS Phil Rizzuto
CF Ed Freed
RF Chuck Klein
LF Danny Litwhiler
1B Cecil “Turkey” Tyson (he wants to be called by his given name)
3B Pinky May (he doesn’t care)
C Andy Seminick
2B Danny Murtaugh
SP Tommy Hughes

Pretty good if you ask me, but I’m biased.

OPENING DAY 1943

Another baseball season begins today, and what a way to start it off! The Phillies travel to Pittsburgh to play their cross-state rivals, the Pirates. Tommy Hughes duels against Max Butcher, in an ace vs. ace contest that could only be seen on Opening Day!

Tommy Hughes did not look like his old self, however. He looked miserable, laboring through 7 innings, throwing 105 pitches (47 strikes) and allowing 4 walks (against one strikeout). On a positive note, he did keep the Pirates to 3 runs on 4 hits, allowing the Phillies time to come back.

And boy, did the Phillies come back!

In the top of the 8th inning, Dom Dallessandro pinch hit for Tommy Hughes and grounded out. Phil Rizzuto walked, but Ed Freed lined to first. Now, with two outs, Chuck Klein walked, and Danny Litwhiler singled, scoring Rizzuto. Cecil Tyson followed with a walk, and the bases were loaded with the Phillies trailing by two. At this point, Bucky Harris pinch hit for Pinky May with Ron Northey, and the rookie slapped a single into right field for 2 runs, and the game was tied! Andy Seminick followed with his first Major League hit, an RBI single, giving the Phillies the lead. Danny Murtaugh followed with a walk, loading the bases (again) for Dallessandro, who slashed a bases-clearing double to left field, giving the Phillies a 7-3 lead after all was said and done.

Ed Hanyzewski came in and finished the game for the Phillies, as both teams put up 2 runs in the ninth inning.

Phillies 9, Pirates 5
W: Tommy Hughes (1-0) L: Max Butcher (0-1)

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:

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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

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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

Code:

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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

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SEASON STATISTICS
Red denotes League Leader

BATTING STATS

Code:

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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

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PITCHING STATS

Code:

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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

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LEAGUE LEADERS

Code:

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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

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MILESTONES

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.

Code:

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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)

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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!

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

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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

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