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

[PotatoOfCouch13]

RedsoxRockies: Only time will tell. I guess you'll have to keep reading!!!

CatKnight: Welcome back yourself! And congratulations! You appear to have hit the nail on the head. Although, it'll probably just be an organizational split. If I know my fellow owners, we're way to competitve to let the World Series go by the wayside.

OregonDuck1989: It's not as hard as you think...

And, if you are truly from the University of Oregon, I must ask you: you excited for the Olympic track events to start?

***

I sat at my desk, taking care of some final business before the season began, listening to the radio. From 100 miles away, the scene sounded chaotic. Even I was confused as to what just happened. Did Ford just threaten to secede from baseball? We never talked about this in any meeting. I had to give him a call.

"Major League Baseball."

"This is Andrew Walsh. Can I speak to Ford Frick please?"

"He's busy right now, can I have him call you back?"

"Sure."

And now, I play the waiting game...

***

[OregonDuck1989]

Ah I am not truly from U of O but my father is and my Uncle and a few people I know at college at Colorado-Denver are from the U of O

but I am excited for track. I love track and swimming in the olympics probably more then anything.

Go Tyson Gay!

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Go Tyson Gay!

Yeah, about that...go Walter Dix!

Usain Bolt was extremely impressive though. If he hadn't slowed up near the end, he could've run a sub-9.6 time!

***

Ford Frick made his way back to his office. The big wooden doors slammed behind him, shutting out the flashbulbs of the cameras. No doubt the Commissioner would be after him. He had, after all, just declared war on baseball. But the owners had left it up to him to solve the problem. He had spent 3 full months trying to figure out the best way to go about it. The conclusion? There was no good way. So he had to go with the most effective.

He got back to the waiting room outside his office.

"Mr. Frick?", his receptionist said, "you have 8 messages."

Uh oh.

[OregonDuck1989]

Dang you Tyson! Dix was impressive too. If he hadn't had such a sloppy start he might have pushed Bolt he came back from last.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

OregonDuck: I don't know. I honestly don't think I could've caught "Lightning" riding a ten-speed!

*

And now for something completely different...

*

1946 OPENING DAY ROSTER

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages: your defending National League champions, the 1946 Philadelphia Phillies!

CATCHER

##	POS	NAME		AGE	OVR/PK	1945 STATS
21	C	Andy Seminick	25	93/96	.261, 22 HR, 69 RBI
9	C	Bill Peterman	24	76/78	.222, 0 HR, 4 RBI

Andy is one of the best in the game, and Bill provides a steady hand in his limited duty. With nothing in the pipeline, this looks to be the dynamic backstop duo for years to come.

FIRST BASE

##	POS	NAME		AGE	OVR/PK	1945 STATS
14	1B	Gil Hodges	21	89/90	.256, 26 HR, 91 RBI
33	1B	Ed Murphy	27	79/80	.257, 0 HR, 10 RBI

Still only 21 years old, Gil has made a name for himself as one of the best power hitters in the National League. Ed is a consistent pinch-hitter and a very capable back-up. Look for Dale Long in a few years.

INFIELD

##	POS	NAME		AGE	OVR/PK	1945 STATS
7	2B	Don Kolloway	27	86	.287, 1 HR, 35 RBI, 15 SB
5	3B	Vern Stephens	25	95	.256, 23 HR, 76 RBI
10	SS	Phil Rizzuto	28	93	.287, 0 HR, 51 RBI, 14 SB
2	2B	Danny Murtaugh	28	79	.229, 0 HR, 11 RBI
8	3B	Ty LaForest	28	80/88	.274, 0 HR, 6 RBI

Kolloway provides much-needed offense to a weak position. Stephens is a complete hitter and a terrific fielder. Rizzuto returns to the top of the order to wreak havoc on opponents. Murtaugh and LaForest are great defensively and can be called on to hit in a jam. Keep an eye on 2Bman of the future, Nellie Fox.

OUTFIELD

##	POS	NAME		AGE	OVR/PK	1945 STATS
17	LF	Nick Goulish	29	90	.281, 8 HR, 61 RBI
23	CF	Larry Doby	22	84/89	.278, 19 HR, 95 RBI
4	RF	Ron Northey	25	92/94	.252, 15 HR, 53 RBI
20	OF	Butch Nieman	28	84/88	ROOKIE
24	OF	Leon Culberson	26	79/83	.286, 0 HR, 11 RBI

Goulish remained his consistent self, while Doby is ready to follow his breakout season with another great one, and Northey looks to rebound from a down campaign. Nieman gets his first taste of the bigs, and Culberson is one of the better reserve outfielders in baseball. Down on the farm, Jackie Jensen is proving himself to be a professional hitter.

STARTING PITCHERS

##	POS	NAME		AGE	OVR/PK	1945 STATS
36	SP1	Robin Roberts	19	87/94	25-6, 2.39 ERA, 130 K
28	SP2	Tommy Hughes	26	86/93	14-11, 2.55 ERA, 101 K
18	SP3	Charlie Ripple	25	90/94	12-6, 3.58 ERA, 165 K
31	SP4	Harvey Haddix	20	81/94	ROOKIE

2 Cy Young award winners and a runner-up. Add a highly-touted rookie, and you have arguably the greatest young rotation in baseball history.

BULLPEN

##	POS	NAME		AGE	OVR/PK	1945 STATS
15	MU	Dick Mauney	26	88/90	2-4, 3.54 ERA, 24 K
40	LR	Al Gerheauser	28	85/86	0-0, 4.50 ERA, 3 K
42	MR	Ken Gables	27	84/85	3-4, 4.15 ERA, 5 SV
27	SR	John Fick	24	77/93	2-2, 4.79 ERA, 1 SV
25	SR	Hugh Casey	32	82	5-6, 4.75 ERA, 1 SV
45	SU	Ed Hanyzewski	25	85/86	8-5, 2.74 ERA, 7 SV
12	CL	Ike Pearson	28	84	5-3, 2.68 ERA, 21 SV

Hanyzewski and Pearson form one of the game's most dangerous late-inning combos, while the rest of the bullpen looks to improve on last season's numbers.

COACHES

##	NAME		COACH
21	Andy Seminick	Player-Manager
3	Chuck Klein	Hitting Coach
41	Walter Beck	Pitching Coach
2	Danny Murtaugh	Player-Bench Coach

PROSPECTS TO WATCH
The best at each position

SP – Jake Thies (C Greensboro)
SP - Bill McCahan (A Utica)
SP – Bob Trice (D Clearwater)
C – Bob Finley (A Utica)
1B – Dale Long (C Greensboro)
2B – Nellie Fox (C Greensboro)
3B – Nick Picciuto (A Utica)
SS – John O’Neil (B Wilmington)
OF – Johnny Blatnik (A Utica)
OF – Hal Jeffcoat (C Greensboro)
OF – Jackie Jensen (B Wilmington)
RP – Don Grate (A Utica)
RP – Charley Schanz (A Utica)

[PotatoOfCouch13]

"Ford, what the h*** was that about!?"

I had finally gotten hold of the National League president. Not surprisingly, the other NL owners were just as livid and confused as I was.

"Andrew, relax. I expected you of all people to realize it's a massive bluff."

"A bluff?"

"Yes, like the one you used on Landis to integrate baseball back in '42."

I had forgotten about that. When Judge Landis stepped outside his bounds (in my opinion), I counterattacked with the bluff that I would have the Phillies leave the National League. I was soon followed by more established (read: powerful) owners, putting the Judge between a rock and a hard place. He was forced to cooperate.

"But Ford, that was different. I was fully aware of what I was doing back then. I didn't know what to expect from you at that podium today..."

"Look, it's very simple! All of you [owners] agreed at the Winter Meetings that something should be done to ensure our proposed expansion, and you all agreed to my proposal that I'll take care of everything. I spent the entire winter thinking it through, and guess what? There was no easy way to do it. So I had a decision to make: let down my constituents, or put myself on a limb to get what I wanted. I chose the latter. I have no regrets, but I can't say the same for everyone else."

"Ford, I just don't want to leave the National League..."

"What's the difference? We're practically separate entities to begin with. If anything, this whole situation will bring the leagues closer together, because Happy will be afraid of a split ever happening. You'll have to trust me that everything will work out."

"Okay, but only because it's too late to back out."

"Great. Now if you'll excuse me, I have 7 other owners I have to appease."

*

[CatKnight]

"Ford, I just don't want to leave the National League..."

"What's the difference? We're practically separate entities to begin with.

Oooh, we're leaving the NL altogether? Hmm...what are our options? Can't be the AL. Federal League was done. Union in the 19th c....no...no....

How about the Frick(ing) League?

[PotatoOfCouch13]

^ A good idea, but that was a typo on my part. I meant to say "Major Leagues". I got a little excited about hearing that "To Rule" might be coming back...

[PotatoOfCouch13]

1946 AMERICAN LEAGUE PREVIEW
All stats are 1945, unless noted

1. NEW YORK YANKEES
1945: 108-46 (1st, World Series Champion)
LAST A.L. PENNANT: 1945 (16)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1945 (11)

1946 PREDICTION: 94-60
MANAGER: Bucky Harris (1st season): 1677-1689 (4 PEN, 2 WS)

SS Pee Wee Reese - .324, 9 HR, 70 RBI, 122 R
3B Harlond Clift - .282, 9 HR, 69 RBI
LF Charlie Keller - .263, 21 HR, 89 RBI
CF Joe DiMaggio - .349, 22 HR, 131 RBI
2B Joe Gordon - .251, 18 HR, 96 RBI
1B Garth Mann - .280, 12 HR, 74 RBI (with Cubs)
RF Tommy Henrich - .283, 10 HR, 63 RBI
C Bill Salkeld - .264, 20 HR, 81 RBI

SP Tiny Bonham – 24-4, 2.14 ERA, 80 K
SP Red Ruffing – 11-11, 3.61 ERA, 105 K (with Phillies)
SP Vic Raschi – 13-3, 3.44 ERA, 91 K
SP Spud Chandler – 15-7, 3.79 ERA, 101 K
SU Bert Shepard – 4-9, 3.11 ERA, 50 K, 4 SV
CL John McGillen – 6-5, 3.35 ERA, 68 K, 3 SV (with Athletics)

2. BOSTON RED SOX
1945: 89-65 (2nd, 19 GB)
LAST A.L. PENNANT: 1918 (6)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1918 (5)

1946 PREDICTION: 91-63
MANAGER: Joe McCarthy (1st season): 1938-1120 (11 PEN, 8 WS)

CF Dom DiMaggio - .309, 9 HR, 53 RBI, 104 R, 20 SB
RF Ival Goodman - .243, 2 HR, 44 RBI
2B Bobby Doerr - .305, 25 HR, 117 RBI
LF Ted Williams - .340, 48 HR, 127 RBI
1B Mike Schemer - .314, 2 HR, 28 RBI (with Giants)
3B Billy Johnson - .241, 14 HR, 67 RBI
C Clyde McCullough - .258, 5 HR, 48 RBI
SS Johnny Pesky - .243, 2 HR, 31 RBI

SP Tex Hughson – 17-9, 3.05 ERA, 114 K
SP Dizzy Trout – 18-10, 2.98 ERA, 144 K
SP Sid Hudson – 12-12, 4.07 ERA, 102 K
SP Gene Lambert – 6-9, 3.86 ERA, 76 K (with Phillies)
SU Jack Robinson – 1-0, 6.35 ERA, 6 K
CL Vern Curtis – 7-4, 2.86 ERA, 64 K, 13 SV

3. CLEVELAND INDIANS
1945: 85-69 (3rd, 23 GB)
LAST A.L. PENNANT: 1920 (1)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1920 (1)

1946 PREDICTION: 83-71
MANAGER: Luke Sewell (1st season): 224-348

2B Steve Biras – .289, 0 HR, 1 RBI
RF Paul O’Dea – .235, 0 HR, 3 RBI
1B Herb Conyers – .314, 4 HR, 47 RBI
LF Jeff Heath – .309, 22 HR, 96 RBI
C Joe Tipton – .215, 1 HR, 24 RBI
CF Roy Weatherly – .316, 7 HR, 44 RBI
3B Ed Wheeler – .283, 1 HR, 12 RBI
SS Jackie Price - .239, 0 HR, 3 RBI

SP Jim Bagby – 8-12, 3.13 ERA, 65 K
SP Mel Harder – 15-12, 4.05 ERA, 98 K
SP Allie Reynolds – 12-8, 3.97 ERA, 130 K
SP Al Milnar – 3-3, 3.53 ERA, 26 K
SU Earl Henry – 2-3, 2.70 ERA, 22 K, 2 SV
CL Ed Klieman – 4-3, 1.56 ERA, 20 K, 16 SV

4. CHICAGO WHITE SOX
1945: 78-76 (4th, 30 GB)
LAST A.L. PENNANT: 1919 (4)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1917 (2)

1946 PREDICTION: 75-79
MANAGER: Jimmie Dykes (13th season): 878-942

3B Jimmy Grant - .265, 4 HR, 55 RBI
RF Bud Sketchley - .269, 6 HR, 26 RBI
1B Neill Sheridan - .223, 4 HR, 41 RBI
LF Roy Cullenbine - .256, 8 HR, 72 RBI
CF Vince DiMaggio - .240, 6 HR, 26 RBI (with Phillies)
C Aaron Robinson - .219, 0 HR, 4 RBI (with Red Sox)
SS Eddie Miller - .190, 3 HR, 46 RBI
2B Ray Mack - .220, 0 HR, 14 RBI

SP Ed Lopat – 17-8, 2.62 ERA, 90 K
SP Jim Tobin – 12-8, 3.47 ERA, 67 K
SP Schoolboy Rowe – 10-17, 3.18 ERA, 98 K
SP Lefty Gomez – 14-17, 4.50 ERA, 144 K
SU Johnny Humphries – 7-3, 3.05 ERA, 3 SV
CL Charlie Cuellar – 10-7, 2.41 ERA, 3 SV

5. WASHINGTON SENATORS
1945: 68-86 (6th, 40 GB)
LAST A.L. PENNANT: 1933 (3)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1924 (1)

1946 PREDICTION: 74-80
MANAGER: Ossie Bluege (4th season): 220-242

LF Stan Spence - .251, 14 HR, 93 RBI
RF Chet Laabs - .247, 7 HR, 36 RBI
CF Walt Chipple - .302, 7 HR, 49 RBI, 16 SB
1B Mickey Vernon - .336, 18 HR, 85 RBI
3B Pinky Higgins - .272, 4 HR, 58 RBI
C Phil Masi - .253, 3 HR, 57 RBI
SS Johnny Berardino - .240, 2 HR, 29 RBI
2B Whitey Wietelmann - .235, 3 HR, 26 RBI (with Indians)

SP Early Wynn – 12-11, 3.69 ERA, 139 K
SP Bobo Newsom – 5-6, 3.74 ERA, 67 K
SP Ray Scarborough – 6-5, 3.68 ERA, 27 K
SP Virgil Trucks – 4-4, 3.98 ERA, 54 K
SU Dale Alderson – 7-5, 3.79 ERA, 8 SV
CL Luis Aloma – 4-6, 4.13 ERA, 2 SV

6. DETROIT TIGERS
1945: 70-84 (5th, 38 GB)
LAST A.L. PENNANT: 1940 (6)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1935 (1)

1946 PREDICTION: 73-81
MANAGER: Steve O’Neill (4th season): 392-437

CF Barney McCosky - .353, 1 HR, 27 RBI
RF Bob Elliott - .289, 12 HR, 82 RBI
1B Rudy York - .289, 3 HR, 10 RBI
C Roy Campanella - .240, 34 HR, 128 RBI
LF Ned Harris - .298, 19 HR, 85 RBI
3B Jim Tabor - .354, 4 HR, 38 RBI
2B Red Borom - .293, 0 HR, 30 RBI, 12 SB
SS Bobby Bragan - .229, 1 HR, 27 RBI

SP Hal Newhouser – 7-13, 4.37 ERA, 131 K
SP Brett Mathews – 12-12, 4.83 ERA, 75 K
SP Charlie Wagner – 11-11, 3.94 ERA, 91 K
SP Dutch Leonard – 12-7, 3.04 ERA, 91 K (with Senators)
SU Gordon Maltzberger – 10-8, 3.59 ERA, 6 SV
CL Joe Orrell – 7-3, 2.68 ERA, 11 SV

7. ST. LOUIS BROWNS
1945: 53-101 (8th, 55 GB)
LAST A.L. PENNANT: NONE
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: NONE

1946 PREDICTION: 65-89
MANAGER: Richard Zimmerman (2nd season): 53-101

SS Merl Combs – .207, 0 HR, 28 RBI, 10 SB
RF Al Zarilla – .306, 13 HR, 55 RBI
CF Ed Freed – .252, 2 HR, 45 RBI, 10 SB
LF Ralph Kiner – .262, 23 HR, 88 RBI
1B Don Hanski – .258, 9 HR, 54 RBI (with Yankees)
3B Nap Reyes – ROOKIE
2B Pete Coscarart – .238, 0 HR, 15 RBI (with Cubs)
C Mickey Owen – .271, 1 HR, 35 RBI (with Athletics)

SP Elmer Riddle – 11-16, 4.84 ERA, 74 K
SP Roger Wolff – 9-15, 4.74 ERA, 92 K
SP Butch Wensloff – 8-9, 4.90 ERA, 69 K
SP Arnold Carter – 4-1, 3.70 ERA, 23 K (with Reds)
SU Frank Biscan – 0-1, 6.17 ERA, 1 SV
CL Walker Cress – 5-8, 3.62 ERA, 13 SV (with Reds)

8. PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS
1945: 65-89 (7th, 43 GB)
LAST A.L. PENNANT: 1931 (9)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1930 (5)

1946 PREDICTION: 62-92
MANAGER: Connie Mack (46th season): 3423-3490 (9 PEN, 5 WS)

2B Jerry Priddy - .265, 0 HR, 7 RBI (with Yankees)
3B George Kell - .318, 5 HR, 65 RBI
LF Bill Burgo - .309, 11 HR, 66 RBI, 11 SB
RF Danny Litwhiler - .286, 15 HR, 88 RBI
1B Elbie Fletcher - .274, 10 HR, 73 RBI
CF Sid Gordon - .243, 2 HR, 31 RBI (with Giants)
SS Jack Wallaesa - .233, 14 HR, 58 RBI
C Ferrell Anderson - .213, 3 HR, 22 RBI (with Dodgers)

SP Ted Lyons – 18-14, 3.83 ERA, 85 K
SP Thornton Lee – 11-17, 5.52 ERA, 86 K
SP Greg Hill – 10-21, 5.71 ERA, 79 K
SP Cy Blanton – 3-16, 4.91 ERA, 94 K
SU Woody Crowson – 6-4, 3.43 ERA, 2 SV
CL Moe Burtschy – 1-3, 2.13 ERA, 17 SV

*

AL AWARDS PICKS

AL MVP
1. LF Ted Williams, Red Sox
2. CF Joe DiMaggio, Yankees
3. 2B Bobby Doerr, Red Sox

AL CY
1. SP Allie Reynolds, Indians
2. SP Dizzy Trout, Red Sox
3. SP Ed Lopat, White Sox

AL ROY
1. 3B Nap Reyes, Browns
2. 1B Walt Dropo, Red Sox
3. SP Mel Queen, Athletics

*

[RedsoxRockies]

Red Ruffing has betrayed you!

[PotatoOfCouch13]

RedsoxRockies: Red's actually going home. After spending his first 6 seasons with the Red Sox, he was traded to the Yankees in May of 1930 for OF/1B Cedric Durst (.244, 15 HR, 122 RBI career) and $50K. He would spend the next 14 seasons in pinstripes, returning after the 1944 season to Boston, this time to the Braves as a free agent. Again, he was traded in May (of 1944) to the Phillies, and after going unsigned, decided to return to the team that gave him 241 of his 309 career wins.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

1946 NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEW
All stats are 1945, unless noted

1. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
1945: 91-63 (1st, National League Pennant)
LAST N.L. PENNANT: 1945 (3)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1944 (1)

1946 PREDICTION: 86-68
MANAGER: Andy Seminick (1st season)

SS Phil Rizzuto - .287, 0 HR, 51 RBI, 14 SB
LF Nick Goulish - .281, 8 HR, 61 RBI
1B Gil Hodges - .256, 26 HR, 91 RBI
CF Larry Doby - .278, 19 HR, 95 RBI
3B Vern Stephens - .256, 23 HR, 76 RBI
C Andy Seminick - .261, 22 HR, 69 RBI
RF Ron Northey - .252, 15 HR, 53 RBI
2B Don Kolloway - .287, 1 HR, 35 RBI, 15 SB (with White Sox)

SP Robin Roberts – 25-6, 2.39 ERA, 130 K
SP Tommy Hughes – 14-11, 2.55 ERA, 101 K
SP Charlie Ripple – 12-6, 3.58 ERA, 165 K
SP Harvey Haddix - ROOKIE
SU Ed Hanyzewski – 8-5, 2.74 ERA, 7 SV
CL Ike Pearson – 5-3, 2.68 ERA, 21 SV

2. NEW YORK GIANTS
1945: 84-70 (3rd, 7 GB)
LAST N.L. PENNANT: 1937 (13)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1933 (4)

1946 PREDICTION: 83-71
MANAGER: Freddie Fitzsimmons (2nd season): 84-70

3B Bobby Rhawn – .260, 4 HR, 41 RBI
CF Wally Judnich – .318, 9 HR, 59 RBI
RF Enos Slaughter – .328, 10 HR, 76 RBI
1B Johnny Mize – .298, 27 HR, 107 RBI
LF Monte Irvin - .246, 11 HR, 65 RBI
C Harry Danning – .247, 4 HR, 52 RBI
SS Eddie Joost – .233, 4 HR, 48 RBI
2B Eddie Stanky – .296, 0 HR, 49 RBI, 10 SB

SP Max Lanier – 12-16, 3.96 ERA, 148 K
SP Hal Schumacher – 12-13, 4.05 ERA, 90 K
SP Larry Jansen – 15-9, 3.27 ERA, 100 K
SP Van Mungo – 14-17, 4.11 ERA, 133 K
SU Ken Trinkle – 9-6, 2.33 ERA, 12 SV
CL Hoyt Wilhelm – 2-6, 4.62 ERA, 27 SV

3. BROOKLYN DODGERS
1945: 80-74 (4th, 11 GB)
LAST N.L. PENNANT: 1941 (2)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: NONE

1946 PREDICTION: 79-75
MANAGER: Leo Durocher (8th season): 626-450 (1 PEN)

SS Arky Vaughan – .252, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 15 SB
CF Pete Reiser – .270, 14 HR, 75 RBI, 10 SB
2B Jackie Robinson – .292, 13 HR, 87 RBI, 22 SB
1B Jack Graham – .222, 19 HR, 87 RBI
RF Carl Furillo – .269, 17 HR, 63 RBI
3B Ken Keltner – .283, 13 HR, 69 RBI
LF Joe Medwick – .279, 10 HR, 50 RBI
C Ernie Lombardi – .248, 4 HR, 30 RBI (with Indians)

SP Kirby Higbe – 12-5, 3.12 ERA, 102 K
SP Mort Cooper – 11-13, 3.80 ERA, 107 K
SP Johnny Vander Meer – 9-14, 4.83 ERA, 107 K
SP Louis Benz – 9-9, 4.65 ERA, 45 K
SU Cy Buker – 11-10, 2.61 ERA, 13 SV
CL Jim Hughes – 6-3, 3.29 ERA, 20 SV

4. CINCINNATI REDS
1945: 85-69 (2nd, 6 GB)
LAST N.L. PENNANT: 1940 (3)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1940 (2)

1946 PREDICTION: 78-76
MANAGER: Bill McKechnie (9th season): 1770-1701 (4 PEN, 2 WS)

SS Charlie Brewster – .275, 0 HR, 23 RBI
RF Dave Bartosch – .321, 1 HR, 15 RBI (with Yankees)
1B Lonnie Goldstein – .248, 2 HR, 16 RBI
LF Stan Musial – .318, 34 HR, 127 RBI
3B Grady Hatton – .234, 3 HR, 18 RBI
CF Milt Byrnes – .251, 3 HR, 19 RBI
C Ray Murray – .217, 0 HR, 30 RBI
2B Jodie Beeler – DNP

SP Bucky Walters – 16-8, 2.92 ERA, 129 K
SP Ewell Blackwell – 15-6, 2.23 ERA, 134 K
SP Frank Dasso – 14-9, 2.96 ERA, 128 K
SP Pat Scantlebury – 9-11, 3.62 ERA, 146 K
SU Clayton Lambert – 4-4, 4.71 ERA, 4 SV
CL George Diehl – 7-3, 4.19 ERA, 4 SV (with Braves)

5. BOSTON BRAVES
1945: 69-85 (6th, 22 GB)
LAST N.L. PENNANT: 1914 (1)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1914 (1)

1946 PREDICTION: 77-77
MANAGER: Billy Southworth (1st season): 557-409 (2 PEN, 1 WS)

2B Frank Drews – .232, 0 HR, 23 RBI, 10 SB
SS Alvin Dark – .235, 11 HR, 53 RBI
3B Bob Kennedy – .287, 5 HR, 68 RBI (with Pirates)
C Walker Cooper – .305, 21 HR, 83 RBI
1B John Douglas – .278, 0 HR, 9 RBI (with Dodgers)
LF Max West – .277, 15 HR, 60 RBI
RF Tommy Neill – ROOKIE
CF Terry Moore - .271, 5 HR, 38 RBI

SP Warren Spahn – 14-13, 2.94 ERA, 141 K
SP Al Javery – 13-14, 3.59 ERA, 114 K
SP Rob Kelley – 7-17, 5.72 ERA, 73 K
SP Ethan Gornitsky – 7-13, 5.57 ERA, 43 K
SU Elmer Singleton – 5-7, 4.13 ERA, 6 SV
CL Lefty West – 5-10, 4.44 ERA, 9 SV (with Browns)

6. CHICAGO CUBS
1945: 78-76 (5th, 13 GB)
LAST N.L. PENNANT: 1938 (9)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1908 (2)

1946 PREDICTION: 74-80
MANAGER: Charlie Grimm (3rd season): 686-531 (3 PEN)

SS Huck Geary – .272, 1 HR, 15 RBI (with Pirates)
2B Frankie Gustine – .283, 3 HR, 47 RBI, 10 SB
CF Phil Cavarretta – .307, 9 HR, 74 RBI
LF Andy Pafko – .330, 24 HR, 103 RBI
RF Bill Nicholson – .253, 15 HR, 74 RBI
1B Reggie Otero – .200, 2 HR, 18 RBI
3B John Antonelli – .291, 2 HR, 33 RBI (with Cardinals)
C Chico Hernandez - .261, 1 HR, 8 RBI

SP Claude Passeau – 17-17, 2.72 ERA, 132 K
SP Shaun Hale – 18-11, 3.09 ERA, 105 K
SP Vern Olsen – 11-6, 3.30 ERA, 106 K
SP Dick Fowler – 2-1, 2.13 ERA, 4 K
SU Andy Karl – 7-8, 5.50 ERA, 6 SV
CL Ted Wilks – 4-6, 3.13 ERA, 18 SV

7. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
1945: 63-91 (8th, 28 GB)
LAST N.L. PENNANT: 1943 (7)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1943 (4)

1946 PREDICTION: 72-82
MANAGER: Eddie Dyer (1st season)

SS Jeff Cross – .250, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 15 SB
LF Harry Walker – .322, 3 HR, 36 RBI
3B Eddie Kazak – .250, 1 HR, 14 RBI
1B Dick Sisler – .263, 11 HR, 66 RBI
RF Bill Endicott – .272, 6 HR, 18 RBI
CF Bill Howerton – .244, 6 HR, 57 RBI
2B Red Schoendienst – .284, 6 HR, 61 RBI
C Ken Sears - .260, 1 HR, 28 RBI

SP Johnny Podgajny – 8-15, 3.46 ERA, 90 K (with Cubs)
SP Lon Warneke – 6-9, 3.24 ERA, 77 K
SP Howie Pollet – 6-18, 4.92 ERA, 98 K
SP Hank Bowory – 4-2, 4.16 ERA, 41 K (with Yankees)
SU Al Jurisich – 9-6, 3.24 ERA, 5 SV
CL Art Lopatka – 5-9, 4.98 ERA, 6 SV

8. PITTSBURGH PIRATES
1945: 66-88 (7th, 25 GB)
LAST N.L. PENNANT: 1927 (6)
LAST WORLD SERIES WIN: 1925 (2)

1946 PREDICTION: 68-86
MANAGER: Lou Boudreau (2nd season): 338-278

2B Lonny Frey - .255, 5 HR, 39 RBI, 12 SB (with Reds)
RF Johnny Wyrostek - .263, 9 HR, 77 RBI
SS Lou Boudreau - .322, 9 HR, 78 RBI
CF Wally Westlake - .287, 10 HR, 53 RBI
1B Hank Sweeney - .243, 7 HR, 72 RBI
LF Ben Guintini - .200, 1 HR, 15 RBI
3B Pete Castiglione - DNP
C Hank Camelli - .225, 1 HR, 31 RBI

SP Paul Troughton – 11-21, 4.36 ERA, 89 K
SP Bob Chesnes – 14-15, 3.69 ERA, 91 K
SP Max Butcher – 1-5, 3.82 ERA, 19 K
SP Larry French – 3-3, 4.50 ERA, 24 K (with Dodgers)
SU Emil Kush – 8-7, 3.24 ERA, 3 SV (with Red Sox)
CL Len Perme – 3-3, 1.84 ERA, 20 SV (with White Sox)

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NL AWARDS PICKS

NL MVP
1. LF Stan Musial, Reds
2. 1B Johnny Mize, Giants
3. LF Andy Pafko, Cubs

NL CY
1. SP Warren Spahn, Braves
2. SP Robin Roberts, Phillies
3. RP Hoyt Wilhelm, Giants

NL ROY
1. SP Harvey Haddix, Phillies
2. LF Tommy Neill, Braves
3. 2B Billy Goodman, Reds

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[PotatoOfCouch13]

WORLD SERIES PREDICTION

Phillies in 7. Am I biased? Possibly, but I’m positive it can’t go much worse than last year…

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[RedsoxRockies]

My pick is Pittsburgh versus the Browns, and the Browns will win in 7

[PotatoOfCouch13]

RedsoxRockies: Wanna place some money on that prediction?

BASEBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 1946

SP Lefty Grove - 300-141, 3.06 ERA, 2266 K (99%)
Philadelphia Athletics (1925-1933)
Boston Red Sox (1934-1941)
- 616 appearances (17th all-time)
- 300 wins (9th all-time)
- 3.06 ERA (20th all-time)
- 2266 strikeouts (6th all-time)
- 3940.2 innings pitched (16th all-time)
- 55 saves (16th all-time)

OF Goose Goslin - .316, 248 HR, 1609 RBI (78%)
Washington Senators (1921-1930, 1933, 1938)
St. Louis Browns (1930-1932)
Detroit Tigers (1934-1937)
- 2735 hits (21st all-time)
- 500 doubles (15th all-time)
- 173 triples (16th all-time)
- 248 home runs (14th all-time)
- 1609 runs batted in (9th all-time)
- 921 extra-base hits (12th all-time)

3B Pie Traynor - .320, 58 HR, 1273 RBI (76%)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1920-1937)

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I think the only reason Traynor was elected was so the HOF can field a full team. Check out this lineup made up of HOFers!

CF Ty Cobb
SS Honus Wagner
RF Babe Ruth
1B Lou Gehrig
LF Tris Speaker
2B Rogers Hornsby
3B Pie Traynor
C Buck Ewing

SP Cy Young
SP Walter Johnson
SP Christy Mathewson
SP Grover Alexander
CL Lefty Grove