The 1946 MLB Sports Page

[SirFozzie]

October 19th, 1945:

Major League Baseball to celebrate end of World War with historic re-draft for 1946 season.

There had been several rumors of sweeping changes coming to baseball for its first season after the surrender of Japan and Germany, but no one expected THIS.

Major League Baseball announced that all contracts would be assigned to a general pool and then re-drafted. This celebration of a World at Peace will continue onwards to future seasons.

[SirFozzie]

1946 AL Preview

Boston Red Sox:

Estimated Lineup (If two names, platoon is estimated)

C: Dick West
1B: Neb Wilson
2B: Bobby Adams
3B: Pete Reiser
SS: Pee Wee Reese
LF: Ralph Kiner
CF: Wally Judnich
RF: Steve Bilko

Rotation: Dave (Boo) Ferris, Red Embree, Mickey Harris, Bob Chipman, Al Gerhauser

Foz Sez: They are certainly strong on the left side, with Reiser at 3rd, Reese at 2nd, and Kiner in Left, but there are holes here, not the least of which is the starting pitching (rated 14th out of 16)

Chicago White Sox

C: Bill Salkeld
1B: Jack Graham
2B: Danny Murtaugh
SS: Johnny Pesky
3B: Augie Galan
LF: Dick Wakefield
CF: Carl Furillo
RF: Tommy Heinrich

Starting Pitching: Johnny Sain, Bob Muncrief, Dick Fowler, Bill Bevins, Allie Reynolds.

Foz Sez: Pretty well rounded, they're in the top half of the positional rankings at every position except first base

[SirFozzie]

Cleveland Indians

C: Saul Yvars
1B: Johnny Mize
2B: Buddy Blatner
SS: George Washington
3B: Bill Rigney
LF: Jeff Heath
CF: Stan Spence
RF: Bill Nicholson

Starting Pitching:Howie Pollet, Jack Kramer, Frank Papish, Dave Koslo, Ken Heintzelman

Foz Sez: They're going to need Mize to hit a ton of home runs, becuase the pitching staff of the Indians is not something you'd write home about. Actually, it is, but it's more like most of the camp-from-hell that was sung in "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah" They're projected to have the worst starting pitching in all of baseball.

Detroit Tigers

C: Ray Muller (against R)/Andy Seminick (Against L)
1B: George McQuinn
2B: Eddie Stanky
SS: Eddie Lake
3B: Sid Gordon
LF: Hank Greenberg
CF: Bobby Estalla
RF: Les FLeming

Starting Pitching: Bobo Newsom, Tiny Bonham, Hank Borowy, Sid Hudson, Johnny Beazley

Foz Sez: Another team with horrible pitching (this seems to be an AL Trend), but they have top 5 positionals at 1B, 2B and LF.

[SirFozzie]

New York Yankees

C: Johnny Burcha
1B: Frank McCormick
2B: Floyd Baker (R)/Cass Michaels (L)
SS: Phil Rizzuto
3B: George Kell
LF: Erv Dusak
CF: Phil Cavaretta
RF: Elmer Valo

Rotation: Spud CHandler, Harry Brechen, Red Barrett, Ken Raffensberger, Ken Burkhart

Foz Sez: Murderer's Row this ain't. But the pitching is better then most AL teams I've seen so far, and in the 23 year old Kell, they have a nice foundation piece for years to come.

Philadelphia Athletics:
C: Hal Wagner
1B: Johnny Hopp
2B: Bobby Doerr
SS: Vern Stephens
3B: Ken Keltner
LF: Eric Tipton
CF: Thurman Tucker
RF: Johhny Wyrostek

Rotation: Schoolboy Rowe, Steve Gromek, Ed Heusser, Kerby Higbe, Jim Bagby Jr

Foz Sez: The Athletics outfielders could use some Lifebuoy soap.. because they all stink.

[SirFozzie]

St Louis Browns

C: Otto Denning
1B: Mickey Vernon
2B: Skeeter Newsome
SS: Lou Boudreau
3B: Eddie Joost (R)/Peanuts Lowery (L)
LF: Peanuts Lowery (R)/ George Case (L)
CF: Dain Clay
RF: Buddy Lewis

Pitching: Warren Spahn, Murry Dickson, Red Ruffing, Early Wynn, Al Hollingsworth

Foz Sez: A definite contender in the AL, can the Brownies actually pull it off? I would not be surprised if they do. Facing Spahn 2-3 times in the World Series is scary.

Washington Senators

C: Frankie Hayes
1B: Ebbie Fletcher
2B: Hal Luby (R)/Lonny Frey (L)
SS: Dick Kimble
3B: Al Rosen
LF: Ted Williams
CF: Harry "The Hat" Walker
RF: Roy Cullenbine

Pitching: Nels Potter, Joe Dobson, Bucky Walters, Bill Dietrich, Mel Harder

Foz Sez: Now this is a pretty potent outfield

[SirFozzie]

AL Predictions:

The White Sox are pretty comfortable favorites, the prediction meter has them going 96-58, a full 13 games ahead of nearest rivals, the Yankees and the Senators. St Louis is ranked 4th, and the bottom four of the AL is predictedto be Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit and the lowly Red Sox.

[SirFozzie]

NL Preview

Boston Braves
C: Yogi Berra
1B: Eddie Waitkus
2B: Eddie Mayo
SS: Marty Marion
3B: Connie Ryan
LF: Stan Musial
CF: George Metkovich
RF: Enos Slaughter

Pitching: Fred Hutchinson, Johnny Schmitz, Jesse Flores, Bill Voiselle, Tom Seats

Foz Sez: Yeesh, Musial, Berra, and Slaughter? The pitching staff is average (7th), but they don't really need to be great. This team will own the city of Boston.

Brooklyn Dodgers:
C: Ernie Lombardi
1B: George Binks
2B: Snuffy Stirmweiss
SS: Buddy Kerr
3B: Nap Reyes
LF: Charlie Keller
CF: Bobby Thomson
RF: Goody Rosen

Pitching: Virgil Trucks, Stubby Overmire, Phil Macrchindon, Paul Erickson, Charley Schanz.

Foz Sez: Not a lot of known names, but they have a lot of classic names. Goody, Buddy, Snuffy, Stubby

[SirFozzie]

Chicago Cubs

C: Walker Cooper
1B: Joe Kuehl
2B: Don S Johnson
SS: Eddie Miller
3B: Dutch Meyer (R)/ Jim Tabor (L)
LF: Chet Laabs
CF: Joe Dimaggio
RF: Wally Moses

Starting Pitching: Dutch Leonard, Eddie Lopat, Mickey Haefner, Russ Christopher, Ray Prim

Foz Sez: Any team with Joltin Joe patrolling center field has to be considered a favorite

Cincinnati Reds

C: Aaron Robinson
1B: Eddie Robinson
2B: Jerry Priddy
SS: Claude Corbitt
3B: Stan Hack
LF: Nick Etten
CF: Culley Rikard
RF: Babe Barna

Pitching: Tex Hughson, Thornton Lee, Nick Strinevich, Joe Haynes, Johnny Vander Meer

Foz Sez: Pitching could carry this team to a first division finish. Don't know about top of the league though.

[SirFozzie]

New York (Baseball) Giants

C: Sherm Lollar
1B: Rudy York
2B: Red Schoendist
SS: Luke Appling
3B: Frakie Gustine
LF: Willard Marshal
CF: Barney McCoskey
RF: Pat Mullin

Pitching: Claude Passeau, Roger Wolff, Red Munger, Ray Scarborough, Al Gettel

Foz Sez: Average or above just about everywhere, the Giants look like a pretty good team on paper

Philadelphia Phillies
C: Stan Lopata
1B: Ferris Fain
2B: Joe Gordon
3B: Billy Johnson
SS: Billy Jurges
LF: Jim Russell
CF: Carden Gillenwater
RF: Tommy Holmes

SP: Hal Newhouser, Mort Cooper, Al Benton, Bob Lemon, Art Herring

Foz Sez: That's a pretty good rotation. The Fightin Phils could be a contender.

[SirFozzie]

Pittsburgh Pirates

C: Phil Masi
1B: Tony Lupien
2B: Don Kolloway
3B: Hank Majeski
SS: Billy Cox
LF: Taffy Wright
CF: Dom Dimaggio
RF: Dixie Walker


SP: Bob Feller, AL Brazle, Dizzy Trout, Preacher Roe, Paul Derringer

Foz Sez: Dang, that pitching staff. The game rates it best in the league and I don't doubt it.

St Louis Cardinals
C: Wes Westrum
1B: Hank Sauer
2B: George Hausmann
SS: William Marks
3B: Whitey Kurowski
LF: Ron Northey
CF: Andy Pafko
RF: Bob Elliot

SP: Ewell Blackwell, Denny Galehouse, Hank Wyse, Johnny Niggeling, Blix Donnely

Foz Sez: I have to admit, some of the names sound like they come from a Chapelle Show skit about the KKK's sponsored ball team, but they look pretty good.

[SirFozzie]

NL Preview

Unlike the AL Preview, which looks to be a walk for the Pale Hose, this looks to be a tight race. The predictions have the Phillies winning, but the Cubs, Pirates, Braves and Giants are all within 7 games, with only the Dodgers, Reds, and Cardinals predicted to finish below .500

[SirFozzie]

April 16th, 1946

Opening Day sparked new hopes for all the newly drafted teams across the league. Hope truly does spring eternal, but while some teams will be a promising new beginning, for others it will be a long hot summer with nothing to show for it.

AL

Browns 4-2 Tigers: Spahn scatters hits but Tigers can't plate em

Warren Spahn was not fully on for the browns, scattering 10 hits over 8 and a third innings, but the Tigers could not get the big hit to put them over the top, stranding ten men on base.

St Louis Browns (1-0) 010 300 000 4 Runs 9 Hits, 0 Errors
Detroit Tigers (0-1) 100 000 010 2 Runs, 10 Hits, 1 Error

W: Spahn (1-0), L Newsom (0-1) Sv: Briggs (1)

HR: Lake (1)

Philadelphia Athletics 4-0 New York Yankees: Yanks shut out on road opener

Schoolboy Rowe threw 103 pitches for the complete game shutout on opening day, walking 1 and striking out 3. Spud Chandler was the loser for the Yanks, matching Rowe's 10 hits allowed, but sprinkled in some wildness as well, walking 5 Athletics batters.

New York Yankees (0-1) 000 000 000 -- 0 runs, 10 Hits, 1 Error
Philadelphia Athletics (1-0) 100 200 01x -- 4 Runs, 10 Hits 0 Errors

W: Rowe (1-0), L: Chandler (0-1)

Washington Senators 9-3 Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox make a big boo, Boo

The Senators chased Boo Ferris out of the game early, aided by Red Sox fielding miscues. Ferris only went 1 and 2/3 innings, allowing 7 runs, only 3 of them earned. Nels Potter allowed 5 hits and 4 walks over the nine innings for the complete game win.

Boston Red Sox (0-1) 000 012 000 - 3 Runs, 5 Hits, 3 Errors
Washington Senators (0-1) 340 020 00x - 9 Runs, 11 Hits, 0 Errors

W: Potter (1-0), L: Ferris (0-1)

Chicago White Sox 4-3 Cleveland Indians: Pale Hose tie it in 8th, win in 9th

2 Outs in the Bottom of the Ninth is the best time to come up with a game-winning hit. Not that there's any bad time for a GW hit, but Augie Galan stroked a winning single to right to walk it off for the White Sox.

Cleveland Indians (0-1) 010 010 010 -- 3 Runs, 11 Hits, 1 Error
Chicago White Sox (1-0) 000 000 211 -- 4 Runs, 9 Hits, 0 Errors

W: Sain (1-0), L: Pollet (0-1)

2 Outs when Winning Run Scored

[SirFozzie]

NL

Braves 1-0 Dodgers (10): Stan is the Man in extra innings!

We had two of the best pitching performances of the season. The WHOLE season. After 9 innings, it was still 0-0, and someone's 0 had to go. It was the Braves 0, as Stan Musial hit a walk off home run to right center to lead off the bottom of the tenth. Virgil Trucks was the hard luck loser for the Dodgers, giving up just that one run and 2 hits over 9 innings, but the third hit of the day for the Braves was the walk off. On the other side Johnny Schmitz lived up to his nickname, leaving bear tracks all over the Dodgers lineup, allowing 1 hit and 3 walks, while striking out 7 in a rare extra-innings complete game. Goody Rosen had the only hit for the Dodgers

Dodgers (0-1) 000 000 000 0 -- 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 errors
Braves (1-0) 000 000 000 1 -- 1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors

W: Schmitz (1-0), L: Trucks (0-1)

HR: Musial (1)

None Out when winning run scored.
Cubs 6-2 Reds: Cubs bats smack 14 hits in opening day road win.

It was opening day for the Reds, but it was open season for the Cubbies bats, as all 8 fieldsmen for Chicago had at least one hit. Dutch Leonard was good, scattering 5 hits and 1 walk for two runs (only one earned) for the Cubs.


Cubs (1-0) 100 001 130 -- 6 Runs, 14 Hits, 1 error
Reds (0-1) 000 000 110 -- 2 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors

W: Leonard (1-0), L: Hughson (0-1)

Phillies 2-0 Giants: Phils Fight Off multi-hit games from 3 giants players in shutout win

The National League side from Gotham had plenty of hits. Hal Newhouser had four of them. Frankie Gustine had 3, and Rudy York 2. Four times they had a runner in scoring position with two outs. But Hal Newhouser danced his way out of the jam each time, in throwing a 11-hit shutout.

Phillies (1-0) 100 000 010 -- 2 Runs, 7 Hits, 0 errors
Giants (1-0) 000 000 000 -- 0 Runs, 11 Hits, 1 error

W: Newhouser (1-0), L: Passeau (0-1)

HR:Gillenwater (1)

Cardinals 7-6 Pirates: St Louis barely holds off late charge.

It was high drama in St Louis on opening day, as the Cardinals had cruised to 5-2 and 7-3 leads, but the Pirates scored three in the ninth, before super-saver Randy Gampert got Phil Masi to fly out to the deepest part of the ball park, rescuing the game for Ewell Blackwell. Bob Feller only went five innings for the Pirates, giving up all the runs in the fourth.

Pirates (0-1) 000 110 013 - 6 runs, 12 hits, 0 errors.
Cardinals (1-0) 000 050 02x - 7 Runs, 9 Hits, 1 Error

W: Blackwell (1-0), L: Feller (0-1), SV: Gumpert (1)

[SirFozzie]

April 17th, 1946

Tigers 5-1 Browns: Fast start brings Detroit level on year.

A pair of runs in each of the first two innings gave Detroit all the offense they would need. The Brownies only run came on a 7th inning Micky Vernon single. Hank Borowy tried to finish the game for the Tigers, going 8 2/3d innings, but with two on and two out in the ninth, Borowy had thrown his 143rd and final pitch of the evening, and it was up to Milo Candini to finish it off, which he did with a one pitch popout. Borowy cracked wise to the press after the game "Sure, I do all the heavy lifting, and Mil comes in, and throws one pitch and gets credited with the save. Who came up with such a cockamamie stat?"

Browns (1-1) 000 000 100 1 Run, 10 Hits, 2 Errors
Tigers (1-1) 220 000 01x 5 runs, 6 hits, 2 Errors.

W: Borowy (1-0), Lickson (0-1), SV: Candini (1)

[SirFozzie]

Yankees 2-1 Athletics: Michaels 7th inning hit enough for win

As the shadows stretched over Shibe Park in Philadelphia, it had been a well-pitched game. Both starters had let up a run in the first, but it was still 1-1 entering the seventh, but Ernie Dusak led off the inning with his third hit of the contest (a double), and three batters later, Cass Michaels singled him home for what proved the game-winning run. Harry "The Cat" Breechen was the winning pitchers for the Yankees, going 8 and two third innings, only allowing one run on eight hits without walking anyone.

Yankees (1-1) 100 000 100 - 2 Runs, 11 Hits, 1 Error
Athletics (1-1) 100 000 000 - 1 Run, 8 Hits, 1 Error

W:Breechen (1-0), L: Gromek (0-1) SV: Ullrich (1)

[SirFozzie]

Braves 6-1 Dodgers Bostonians score 6 in the second, cruise to win.

Last time, it took 10 innings for the Braves to get a run. This time, they weren't going to wait. A key two-out error by Dodger 2B Stuffy Stirnweiss gave the Braves enough momentum to score six times in the second, as they win their second straight to open the season

Dodgers 000 010 000 1 Run, 6 Hits, 1 Error (0-2)
Braves 060 000 00X 6 Runs 10 Hits, 0 Errors (2-0)

W: Hutchinson (1-0), L:Overmire (0-1)

[SirFozzie]

Senators 5-1 Red Sox: Washington's bats come alive late

This may not be the year where Washington is first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League. Well, the first two are still in play, considering the events of the recently concluded war, but the Senators look good, and got some timely hits, scoring 2 in both the seventh and 8th on their way to the second straight win over the Beaneaters.

Red Sox 000 000 100 1 Run, 4 Hits, 0 Errors (0-2)
Senators 100 000 11x 5 Runs, 6 Hits, 3 Errors (2-0)

W: Dobson (1-0), L: Harris (0-1)

[SirFozzie]

White Sox 3-2 Indians (10): Two Runs in bottom of 10th snatch victory from jaws of defeat.

It was deja vu for the Pale Hose and the Tribe. The day before, the White Sox won it in the ninth. For a change of pace, they upped the difficulty, coming back from a 1 run deficit in the bottom of the tenth. White Sox twirler Bob Moncrief had looked to be a hard luck loser, as he gave up the baserunner that would break the 1-1 tie in the top of the inning, but the Indians were in a generous mood, and reliever Al Jurisch was wild, walking two batters, and giving up two hits, the last one being a walk off single by Augie Galan.

Indians 000 010 000 1 2 Runs 9 Hits, 2 Errors (0-2)
White Sox 010 000 000 2 3 Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Error (2-0)

One Out When Winning Run Scored

W: Casey (1-0), L: Jursich (0-1)

[SirFozzie]

Reds 8-6 Cubs Reds fast start propels them to 1st win

The Reds bats were red-hot out of the gate, scoring five times in the first frame on the way to victory.

Cubs 001 020 102 6 runs, 12 hits, 2 Errors (1-1)
Reds 503 000 00X 8 runs, 14 Hits, 1 Error (1-1)

W: Lee (1-0), L: Lopat (0-1)

HR: Laabs (CHI) 1

[SirFozzie]

haven't forgotten about this, just having health issues.

[elizabethjdahl]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

NL

Braves 1-0 Dodgers (10): Stan is the Man in extra innings!

We had two of the best pitching performances of the season. The WHOLE season. After 9 innings, it was still 0-0, and someone's 0 had to go. It was the Braves 0, as Stan Musial hit a walk off home run to right center to lead off the bottom of the tenth. Virgil Trucks was the hard luck loser for the Dodgers, giving up just that one run and 2 hits over 9 innings, but the third hit of the day for the Braves was the walk off. On the other side Johnny Schmitz lived up to his nickname, leaving bear tracks all over the Dodgers lineup, allowing 1 hit and 3 walks, while striking out 7 in a rare extra-innings complete game. Goody Rosen had the only hit for the Dodgers

Dodgers (0-1) 000 000 000 0 -- 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 errors
Braves (1-0) 000 000 000 1 -- 1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors

W: Schmitz (1-0), L: Trucks (0-1)

HR: Musial (1)

None Out when winning run scored.
Cubs 6-2 Reds: Cubs bats smack 14 hits in opening day road win.

It was opening day for the Reds, but it was open season for the Cubbies bats, as all 8 fieldsmen for Chicago had at least one hit. Dutch Leonard was good, scattering 5 hits and 1 walk for two runs (only one earned) for the Cubs.


Cubs (1-0) 100 001 130 -- 6 Runs, 14 Hits, 1 error
Reds (0-1) 000 000 110 -- 2 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors

W: Leonard (1-0), L: Hughson (0-1)

Phillies 2-0 Giants: Phils Fight Off multi-hit games from 3 giants players in shutout win

The National League side from Gotham had plenty of hits. Hal Newhouser had four of them. Frankie Gustine had 3, and Rudy York 2. Four times they had a runner in scoring position with two outs. But Hal Newhouser danced his way out of the jam each time, in throwing a 11-hit shutout.

Phillies (1-0) 100 000 010 -- 2 Runs, 7 Hits, 0 errors
Giants (1-0) 000 000 000 -- 0 Runs, 11 Hits, 1 error

W: Newhouser (1-0), L: Passeau (0-1)

HR:Gillenwater (1)

Cardinals 7-6 Pirates: St Louis barely holds off late charge.

It was high drama in St Louis on opening day, as the Cardinals had cruised to 5-2 and 7-3 leads, but the Pirates scored three in the ninth, before super-saver Randy Gampert got Phil Masi to fly out to the deepest part of the ball park, rescuing the game for Ewell Blackwell. Bob Feller only went five innings for the Pirates, giving up all the runs in the fourth.

Pirates (0-1) 000 110 013 - 6 runs, 12 hits, 0 errors.
Cardinals (1-0) 000 050 02x - 7 Runs, 9 Hits, 1 Error

W: Blackwell (1-0), L: Feller (0-1), SV: Gumpert (1)

It was a dramatic victory still remember it.