[Marmel]

1940

April

In the AL East, Montreal gets off to the best start in baseball at 19-6. They lead the A’s by 5 games already. Cleveland is 8 back while Boston is 9 back. In the West, Detroit is 1 game up on San Francisco. The other 3 teams, Vegas, LA and Atlanta are all 2 back.

In the NL East, Syracuse is in first place for the first time in their history. They lead Brooklyn, New York and Philadelphia by 3 games and Pittsburgh by 4. In the Midwest, Houston is 1 game up on the defending champion Cubs. St. Louis is 3 games back.

May

Montreal continues to lead the AL East with a 32-22 record. They are 3 games up on the Philadelphia A’s and 5 games up on Cleveland. Boston is 6 back. In the West, San Francisco went on a tear and opened up a 7 game lead on Detroit. LA and Vegas are both 9 games out.

In the NL East, Philadelphia has moved into first place with a 28-26 record. They lead the Dodgers by just 1 game. Pittsburgh and Syracuse are both just 2 back while the New York Giants are 4 out. In the Midwest, Houston continues to set the pace with a 33-21 record, 4 games better than the Cubs.

June

The AL East is very competitive this year. Boston, Montreal and Philadelphia are all tied for first at the All-Star break. Cleveland is just 1 back. In the AL West, San Francisco is 4 games up on Las Vegas. The rest of the division trails by at least 11 games.

In the NL East, Philadelphia remains in first for another month, but just by 2 games over Brooklyn. Syracuse is hanging around, but are 7 back. In the Midwest, Houston is still out in front, 2 games better than the Cubs. Cincinnati trails by 4 games.

In the All-Star game, the AL won 3-2. SP Schoolboy Rowe earned the MVP Award by pitching 3 innings of 1 hit ball and earning the win.

On June 8, Las Vegas’ Bill Zuber threw a No-Hitter in a 6-0 victory over Cleveland. Bill struck out 8 and walked 5 on the day.

July

In the AL East, Boston won their last 7 of the month to claim a 6 game lead over the A’s. Montreal and Cleveland are both 8 back. In the West, San Francisco continue to lead, but just by 4 games over Vegas. Everyone else is at least 10 back.

In the NL East, the Phillies are running away with it with a 63-43 record and a 10 game lead over Syracuse. In the Midwest, Houston has widened their lead over the Cubs to 5 games. Cincinnati is 7 back.

On July 17, St. Louis’ Jim Turner threw a No-Hitter in a 4-0 victory over Cincinnati. Jim struck out 6 and walked 2 on the day.

August

With a month left in the season, it looks as though September is going to be academic. In the AL, Boston leads Cleveland by 8 games while San Francisco leads Vegas by 12 games.

In the NL, Philadelphia is 18 games up over Brookyln and Houston is 11 up on the defending Champion Cubs.

September 7, 1940

Bill Nicholson becomes the 5th player to hit 50 homeruns in a season. Ben Chapman will become the second player in history to have back to back 50 homerun seasons. He currently has 46 homeruns.

September 11, 1940

The Philadelphia Phillies have clinched the NL East. The other divisions are all being led by at least 10 games. No excitement this September.


September 14, 1940

The Houston Astros have clinched the NL Midwest and will be making their first trip to the postseason!


September 17, 1940

The San Francisco Westerners have clinched the AL West.


September 23, 1940

The Boston Red Sox have clinched the AL East.




1940 Final Standings

AL Standings :
(Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA)
East
Boston 99 63 .611 -- .244 3.09
Montreal 89 73 .549 10 .251 3.95
Cleveland 87 75 .537 12 .229 3.54
Philadelphia (A) 83 79 .512 16 .242 3.66
Washington 66 96 .407 33 .232 3.96
West
San Francisco 94 68 .580 -- .237 3.59
Las Vegas 83 79 .512 11 .245 3.93
Los Angeles 72 90 .444 22 .233 3.81
Detroit 69 93 .426 25 .247 4.27
Atlanta 68 94 .420 26 .226 3.57
NL Standings :
(Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA)
East
Philadelphia (N) 98 64 .605 -- .250 3.27
Brooklyn 73 89 .451 25 .239 3.82
Pittsburgh 71 91 .438 27 .235 3.86
Syracuse 71 91 .438 27 .225 3.91
New York 68 94 .420 30 .235 4.38
Midwest
Houston 101 61 .623 -- .253 3.61
Cincinnati 87 75 .537 14 .232 3.68
Chicago 86 76 .531 15 .242 3.56
St. Louis 81 81 .500 20 .233 3.43
Dallas 74 88 .457 27 .238 4.06






1940 Statistical Leaders

TOP 5 in BATTING AVG :
.343 Ted Williams(DAL,NL)
.341 Enos Slaughter(PHI,NL)
.332 Johnny Burnett(CIN,NL)
.308 Buddy Lewis(MON,AL)
.302 Taffy Wright(MON,AL)
TOP 5 in HOMERUNS :
57 Bill Nicholson(HOU,NL)
52 Ben Chapman(LV,AL)
47 Rudy York(PHA,AL)
40 Chuck Klein(CHN,NL)
40 Johnny Mize(MON,AL)
TOP 5 in RBI :
142 Bill Nicholson(HOU,NL)
134 Ben Chapman(LV,AL)
120 Larry Bettencourt(PHI,NL)
119 Rudy York(PHA,AL)
115 Johnny Mize(MON,AL)
TOP 5 in ERA :
1.51 Bruce Cunningham(BOS)
2.32 Bill Swift(SLN,NL)
2.43 Rip Sewell( SF)
2.57 Dick Barrett(PHI,NL)
2.58 Cliff Melton(HOU,NL)
TOP 5 in WINS :
26 Rip Sewell( SF)
26 Dick Barrett(PHI,NL)
25 Bill Swift(SLN,NL)
23 Cliff Melton(HOU,NL)
23 George Cox(CIN,NL)
TOP 5 in SAVES :
17 Bunny Hearn(MON)
10 Hank Johnson(LV)
9 Ed Fallenstein(CIN)
7 Joe Gonzales(NY1,NL)
7 Tom Sunkel(LA,AL)



ALCS

The ALCS opens in Boston, but in the San Francisco Westerners take game 1, 5-1, allowing only 5 hits for Boston. Boston rebounds in game 2 with a 9-5 win to tie the Series up as it heads out West.

The Westerners return home and blank the Red Sox, 4-0, on just 6 hits in the 4-0 game 3 victory. Game 4 is huge for the Westerners, they put up 15 runs, and only allow 6 hits and no runs for Boston. San Francisco now leads the ALCS 3 games to 1. In game 5, Boston lives to see another day, and get the Series back to their hometown with a 5-2 win.

In game 6, San Francisco took and early lead. Boston tried to rally, but fell just short, and lose, 7-5. San Francisco is headed to the World Series!


NLCS

Houston opens their first postseason appearance at home and take game 1, 6-2. Game 2 goes 14 innings, and it is the Phillies who prevail with a 3 run 14th. The Series is now tied going to Philadelphia.

Houston wins their first road game of the playoffs in a 5-0 shutout of the Phillies in game 3. The Phillies get, and needed a 3 run bottom of the ninth to steal a 6-5 victory from the Astros. That ties the Series up at 2 games each.

In the pivotal game 5, the Phillies came to play, shutting out the Astros, 9-0. They are now up 3 games to 2 as the series heads back to Houston.

In game 6, Houston blows out the Phillies 10-4, and that sets up a decisive game 7 in Houston!

In game 7, Houston gets 1 run in the first inning to take the very early 1-0 lead. That score holds until the 6th, when each team gets 1 run across the plate. The Astros lead is now 2-1.

In the 8th inning, Philadelphia finally ties it up. The game is 2-2 heading into the ninth inning.

In the top of the ninth, the Phillies get a base runner due to an error. With 1 out, a base hit puts runners on 1st and 2nd. The next batter pokes a single through the infield and that scores 1 run for the Phillies. The Astros will get their last ups.

Houston gets a leadoff single, but 2 quick outs later, and Houston is down to their final out. Caithamer grounds out, but the ball is bobbled and both runners end up safe! Back to the top of Houston’s order, with 2 out, but now a man is in scoring position.

Bill Nagel grounds weakly to third and is thrown out to end the NLCS. Philadelphia moves on!




World Series

In game 1, from Philadelphia, the Phillies forge an early 2-1 lead, but the Westerners come back in the later innings and steal game 1 on the road, 3-2. In game 2, San Francisco leads from start to finish. A 4-1 victory give the Westerners a 2-0 advantage heading out to their stadium for the next 3 games of the Series.

Philadelphia, on the road now, throws a 4 hit shutout of the Westerners in a 4-0 victory. A much needed win to get them back into the Series. Game 4 is tied after 9 innings, but just like in every other game in this series, the road team find a way to win. The Phillies get 2 in the 13th to take game 4, 6-4 and tie the World Series up at 2 game each.

A 5 run 7th inning gives the home team in the series its first win. The Westerners take game 5, 5-2 and are now 1 win away from being named champions.

Philadelphia led game 6, 3-0 going into the ninth inning, but the Westerners put up 4 in the top of the 9th, and shut the Phillies down in the bottom to take a 4-3 victory.

The San Francisco Westerners are your 1940 World Champions! This is their second title, the first coming in 1923 when they were the San Francisco White Sox.

For the Phillies, they failed to win their second title in 3 years, but they do have the 1938 title to fall back on.

Champion Review

The White Sox have a real superstar leading their rotation. 2 time Cy Young winner, Rip Sewell won 26 games with a 2.43 ERA this season! Amazingly, for a Series Champ, not one other starting pitcher was better than .500 on the year.

RF Red Nonnenkamp, who was traded mid-season from Syracuse (for Pee Wee Reese) led the team in batting with a .278 average. 1B Jimmy Wasdell batted .275 with 19 homeruns. LF Tommy Henrich batted .269 with a team high 26 homeruns and a team high 79 RBI. SS Lonny Frey batted .249 and stole 22 bases. 3B John Kroner batted .248 and hit 21 homeruns on the year.

Ty Cobb Award

AL: 3B Ben Chapman, LV, (569 AB, .258 AVG, 52 HR, 134 RBI, 117 R, 147 Hits, .945 OPS) - This is Chapman’s second consecutive award.
NL: RF Bill Nicholson, HOU, (527 AB, .249 AVG, 57 HR, 142 RBI, 108 R, 131 Hits, .997 OPS)



Cy Young Award

AL: Rip Sewell, SF, (Record: 26-10, 2.43 ERA, 341IP, 234 Ks, 90 BB) - This is Sewell’s second consecutive Cy Young Award.
NL: Dick Barrett, PHI, (Record: 26-8, 2.57 ERA, 336IP, 202 Ks, 127 BB)



Bob Meusel Award

AL: 1B Dick Siebert, WS1, (509 AB, .179 AVG, 16 HR, 49 RBI, 59 R, 91 Hits, .605 OPS)
NL: Tiny Bonham, PHI, (Record: 18-10, 3.07 ERA, 272.2 IP, 150 Ks, 46 BB)




1940-1941 Offseason

Retirees:

Dale Alexander retires ...
Rabbit Benton retires ...
Red Badgro retires ...
Les Bell retires ...
Josh Billings retires ...
Erv Brame retires ...
Mike Cvengros retires ...
Cleo Carlyle retires ...
Grant Bowler retires ...
George Detore retires ...
Gene Connell retires ...
Jake Hehl retires ...
Spud Davis retires ...
Reggie Grabowski retires ...
Bruce Cunningham retires ...
Roy Hutson retires ...
Roy Mahaffey retires ...
Joe Chamberlain retires ...
Jimmy Jordan retires ...
Hod Kibbie retires ...
Ernie Nevers retires ...
Ralph Michaels retires ...
Al Grabowski retires ...
Alex Metzler retires ...
Buddy Myer retires ...
Cobe Jones retires ...
Flint Rhem retires ...
Vince Shields retires ...
Chad Kimsey retires ...
Lefty Weinert retires ...
Bennie Tate retires ...
Marty Hopkins retires ...
Vern Kennedy retires ...
Henry Peploski retires ...
Al Yeargin retires ...
Dick Porter retires ...
Doug Taitt retires ...
George Susce retires ...
Johnny Watwood retires ...
Hugh Willingham retires ...
Johnnie Tyler retires ...
Isahiko Tsukasa retires ...
Anthony Wilson retires ...
BOS: Charlie Gehringer retires ...
CLE: Eddie Delker retires ...
PHA: Ray Benge retires ...
WS1: Walt Lerian retires ...
ATL: Pea ridge Day retires ...
LV: Earl Averill retires ...
LV: Harlin Pool retires ...
LV: Glenn Chapman retires ...
LV: Harry Taylor retires ...
LA: Randy Reese retires ...
BRO: Johnny Frederick retires ...
NY1: Pete Appleton retires ...
NY1: Chick Hafey retires ...
NY1: Wayne Mcnatt retires ...
PHI: Hal Mckain retires ...
PHI: Lefty Thomas retires ...
PIT: Fresco Thompson retires ...
PIT: Smead Jolley retires ...
PIT: Joe Hutcheson retires ...
PIT: Bill Shores retires ...
CIN: Gil Paulsen retires ...
CIN: Bill Akers retires ...
DAL: Hub Walker retires ...
DAL: Earl Caldwell retires ...
HOU: Lynn King retires ...
HOU: Nels Potter retires ...





League Outlook

All the teams in the league are doing pretty good. Syracuse was a bit more competitive and they drew a few more fans to the stadium this year. Hopefully, the upward trend continues.

Free Agency, of Note

One of the weaker markets in quite some time. There is really only 1 batter that is truly great, and the pitchers are 2nd tier, at best.

Las Vegas signs 2B Lloyd Waner (7-2-6) to a 4 year deal.

The Cubs get CF Terry Moore (6-4-6) for 4 years.

Gordon Rhodes (7-8-6), one of the better pitchers on the market, signs on for 3 years with the Pirates.

SP Bud Tinning, (7-8-8), signs for 4 year with the New York Giants.

Atlanta made 2 big signings in 1 day. First, 2B Joe Cronin (6-5-6) signs for 4 years, and then 3B Jackie Hayes (7-5-7) signs for 3 years.

Amateur Draft


Here is how the entire first round played out:

Washington pick: RF Stan Musial
Atlanta pick: P Howie Pollet
New York pick: P Dave Koslo
Detroit pick: CF Sid Gordon
Pittsburgh pick: P Dick Mulligan
Syracuse pick: P Tex Hughson
Los Angeles pick: P Johnny Beazley
Brooklyn pick: LF Hank Sauer
Dallas pick: P Russ Meers
St. Louis pick: RF Dick Wakefield
Philadelphia (A) pick: P Harry Feldman
Las Vegas pick: P Tommy Hughes
Chicago pick: P Roger Wolff
Cincinnati pick: P Johnny Schmitz
Cleveland pick: P Gene Lambert
Montreal pick: P Red Embree
San Francisco pick: P Walt Lanfranconi
Philadelphia (N) pick: P Fred Caligiuri
Boston pick: P Paul Erickson
Houston pick: 3B Whitey Kurowski