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

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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.)

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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...

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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!

[CatKnight]

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.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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.”

[Overbay17]

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

[3RunHomer]

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.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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)

##	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)

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.

##	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)

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.

##	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)

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

##	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)

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.

##	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)

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.

##	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))

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.

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

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

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!

[bigpapi]

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.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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

PLAY BALL!

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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)