[Marmel]

1942

April

In the AL East, the Red Sox open the season at 17-8 and lead the Montreal Captials by 1 game. Cleveland and Philadelphia are both 6 back while Washington is 8 games back. In the West, San Francisco is 17-8 and lead the Las Vegas Aces by 3 games. Detroit is just 4 back, while LA is 7 games back.

In the NL East, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are tied for first with records of 13-12. Brooklyn is 2 back, and Syracuse is 3 back. In the Midwest, Houston and St. Louis are tied for first with 16-9 record. Dallas is just 1 back while Chicago is 4 back and the Reds are 5 back.

May

In the AL East, the Montreal Capitals have moved into first place with a 33-21 record. Boston is 3 games back while Philadelphia is 5 back and Washington is 8 back. In the AL West, Detroit and San Francisco are now tied for first place at 33-21. Vegas is the closest team to this pair, but they are 9 back.

In the NL East, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh remain tied for the division lead. Brooklyn is 6 back and Syracuse is 8 back. New York is in the basement, 9 games back. In the Midwest, St. Louis has opened up a 5 game lead over the Astros. Chicago and Dallas are both 7 games back.

June

In the AL East, Montreal has opened up a 7 game lead over the A’s. The Red Sox are now 8 games back. In the West, it is a two team race, with the Westerners up just 1 game on Detroit.

In the NL East, The Phillies have moved into first by themselves, 3 games better than Pittsburgh. The rest of the teams are at least 13 games back. In the Midwest, Houston has moved into first by 2 games over the Cardinals. Chicago is just 3 back. Cincinnati and Dallas are both 7 games out.

In the All-Star game, the NL won, 5-3. Babe Phelps hit a 2 run, pinch hit homer in the sixth inning which turned out to be the game winner. He was named MVP.

July

In the AL East, Montreal has the best record in baseball at 66-40. They lead the A’s by 8 games. In the West, Detroit has moved in front of San Francisco by 2 games.

In the NL East, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are battling it out down the stretch. Currently, the Pirates are 1 game up. In the Midwest, Houston has extended their lead to 6 games over Cincinnati and 7 games over both St. Louis and Chicago.

August

In the AL, the top two teams should just cruise to division titles. In the East, Montreal leads the A’s by 9 games, and in the West, Detroit holds the same lead over the Westerners.

The NL is much more competitive. In the East, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are tied for 1st place, with identical 72-62 record. In the Midwest, Houston slumped and fell out of first, but by months end, they regained the lead and are 3 games up on the Cubs and 4 games up on both the Cardinals and Reds.

September 26, 1942

The Montreal Capitals have clinched the AL East. In the West, San Francisco has cut the Detroit lead down to 3 games, but the Tigers magic number is just 1 with 3 games to play.

In the NL East, Pittsburgh has moved 3 up on the Phillies, and their magic number is also just 1. In the Midwest, Houston is holding off the Reds, and lead by 2 games.

September 27, 1942

The Pittsburgh Pirates have clinched the NL East division. The Tigers and Astros lead their divisions by 2 games with 2 to play.

Chicago’s Atley Donald threw a No-Hitter in a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Braves. Atley struck out 4 and walked 4 on the day.


September 29, 1942

The Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros have clinched their divisions and the playoffs are set!


1942 Final Standings

AL Standings :
(Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA)
East
Montreal 97 65 .599 -- .261 3.72
Philadelphia (A) 93 69 .574 4 .243 3.20
Boston 89 73 .549 8 .246 3.29
Washington 70 92 .432 27 .245 4.07
Cleveland 56 106 .346 41 .227 4.19
West
Detroit 96 66 .593 -- .256 3.52
San Francisco 94 68 .580 2 .244 3.79
Atlanta 81 81 .500 15 .239 3.31
Las Vegas 68 94 .420 28 .247 4.55
Los Angeles 66 96 .407 30 .242 4.35
NL Standings :
(Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA)
East
Pittsburgh 95 67 .586 -- .248 3.56
Philadelphia (N) 90 72 .556 5 .259 3.78
Syracuse 65 97 .401 30 .241 4.45
Brooklyn 61 101 .377 34 .226 4.24
New York 60 102 .370 35 .229 4.17
Midwest
Houston 91 71 .562 -- .244 3.56
Cincinnati 90 72 .556 1 .238 3.88
Chicago 89 73 .549 2 .241 3.52
St. Louis 86 76 .531 5 .235 3.65
Dallas 83 79 .512 8 .244 3.86






1942 Statistical Leaders

TOP 5 in BATTING AVG :
.318 Taffy Wright(MON,AL)
.318 Bob Seeds(PHI)
.317 Ted Williams(DAL,NL)
.317 Buddy Lewis(MON,AL)
.315 Babe Phelps(SLN,NL)
TOP 5 in HOMERUNS :
55 Bill Nicholson(HOU,NL)
42 Jeff Heath( CHN)
41 Shanty Hogan( SF,AL)
41 Wally Berger(CHN,NL)
40 Ben Chapman( BOS,AL)
TOP 5 in RBI :
141 Bill Nicholson(HOU,NL)
133 Shanty Hogan( SF,AL)
125 Ben Chapman( BOS,AL)
117 Babe Phelps(SLN,NL)
116 Wally Berger(CHN,NL)
TOP 5 in ERA :
2.24 Cliff Melton(HOU,NL)
2.35 Dizzy Dean(BOS)
2.46 Spud Chandler(PHA,AL)
2.51 Ray Prim(PHA,AL)
2.58 Bill Swift(SLN,NL)
TOP 5 in WINS :
27 Johnny Babich(DAL,NL)
24 Cliff Melton(HOU,NL)
24 Roy Sherid(DET,AL)
24 Ray Prim(PHA,AL)
23 Sid Hudson(MON,AL)
TOP 5 in SAVES :
13 Jack Salveson( PIT)
11 Pat Mclaughlin(DET)
11 Allyn Stout(SYR)
10 Ed Fallenstein(HOU)
9 Norm Branch(LV)



ALCS

The ALCS opens in Montreal, and the Capitals put up 6 runs in the first inning en route to a 7-2 game 1 victory. Detroit gets 7 runs in the first 3 innings of game 2 and even the series up at 1 with a 8-3 victory.

Detroit takes care of business in game 3 at home, 7-2, and now they lead the ALCS, 2-1. Game 4 goes 11 innings, and it is the Capitals who score 3 in the top of the 11th to take game 4, 5-2 and tie the Series up at 2 games each. Detroit takes game 5 at home, 4-2 to put them up 3 games to 2. They final 2 games are back in Montreal though, and the Capitals will have to win both.

Montreal trailed 4-2 in heading into the 8th inning of game 6. They put up 2 in the 8th and the game winner in the 9th for a 5-4 victory, and the Series will go 7 games.

In game 7 from Montreal, the Capitals draw first blood with a run in the bottom of the second inning. The Tigers come right back with a run in the third to tie the game up, 1-1.

Montreal puts up a run in the 4th and again in the 6th inning to take a 3-1 lead.

The score remains 3-1 heading into the ninth. Detroit gets a lead off walk in the ninth inning. Montreal walks the second batter as well, so the tying run is aboard with no outs.

Mike Solters doubles up the middle to score 1 run. Detroit has runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, and only trail 3-2 now.

An infield ground out does not score a runner, and then a strike out makes it 2 outs for Detroit.

Tommy Holmes flies out to left, and somehow the Capitals held on for the 3-2 victory and the 4-3 Series victory!


NLCS

The NLCS opens in Pittsburgh, but it is the Houston Astros who rally late to win game 1, 6-3. They scored 5 runs after the 6th inning. Houston takes a 2-0 Series lead by pulling out a 10 inning victory, 8-7 in game 2.

Pittsburgh travels to Houston and lays a 10-1 beating on the Astros to get themselves back in the Series…they still trail 2-1, but now have life in them. Houston puts themselves 1 game from returning to the World Series with a 5-2 victory at home in game 4. In game 5, Houston takes care of business at home with a 4-3 win and a 4-1 Series win. Houston is headed back to the Series for the second straight year!




World Series

The Series opens in Houston, and the Astros double up the Capitals, 6-3 in game 1 of a World Series featuring two expansion teams.

Montreal comes back in game 2 with 3 runs in the first inning. They never give the lead up and go on to a 4-2 win to even the series at 1 game each.

Montreal puts 2 runs up in the bottom of the ninth inning to break a 5-5 tie and win game 3, 7-5. The Capitals now are up 2-1 in the Series.

Houston comes back big. Cliff Melton pitches a 1 hit shutout in a 5-0 victory for Houston, and now the Series is again evened up.

Game 5 is pivotal in this Series. Montreal, at home, ties the game up with a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Astros take this game in the 10th with a run. The final score is 7-6, and the Astros are 1 home win away from completing a 3 year mission.

Montreal will not go down quietly. Their bats explode for 9 runs in game 6, in a 9-3 win. This sets up a decisive game 7 for all the marbles!

In game 7 from Houston, Montreal takes an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.

That lead holds up until the 6th inning when Houston puts 4 runs up and takes a 4-1 lead!

Houston tacks one more on in the 7th for a 5-1 lead.

The Captials never get another hit in the final two innings and the Houston Astros take game 7, 5-1 and they are the 1942 World Champions! It is their first title in franchise history!

Champion Review

The Astros had a pair of aces to lead them this season. Cliff Melton went 24-8 with a 2.24 ERA. Jim Bagby went 22-10 with a 2.98 ERA.

C Frank Pytlak lead the team with a .289 batting average. RF Bill Nicholson batted .275 on the year and hit a MLB high 55 homeruns this season! He also drove in 141 runs! 1B Elbie Fletcher batted .261 and hit 16 homeruns. LF Mel Ott batted .252 with 18 homeruns. 3B Pete Reiser batted .246 with 16 homeruns. SS Heinei Schubel batted .243 with 19 homeruns. 2 other Astros hit over 15 homeruns as well. They were the premier power hittin gteam in the majors this year.

Ty Cobb Award

AL: RF Shanty Hogan, SF, (570 AB, .272 AVG, 41 HR, 133 RBI, 105 R, 155 Hits, .876 OPS) - This is Hogan’s third Ty Cobb Award.
NL: RF Bill Nicholson, HOU, (527 AB, .275 AVG, 55 HR, 141 RBI, 112 R, 145 Hits, 1.042 OPS) - This is Bill’s second Ty Cobb Award.



Cy Young Award

AL: Ray Prim, PHA, (Record: 24-7, 2.51 ERA, 319.1IP, 278 Ks, 59 BB)
NL: Johnny Babich, DAL, (Record: 27-10, 2.59 ERA, 350.2IP, 495 Ks, 61 BB)




Bob Meusel Award

AL: Hank Borowy, WS1, (Record: 19-15, 3.20 ERA, 332 IP, 180 Ks, 120 BB)
NL: Dick Mulligan, PIT, (Record: 14-12, 4.13 ERA, 264 IP, 165 Ks, 123 BB)




1942-1943 Offseason

Retirees:

Ed Baecht retires ...
Dave Barbee retires ...
Fred Archer retires ...
Fred Brickell retires ...
Charlie Berry retires ...
Ralph Birkofer retires ...
Tom Carey retires ...
Bruce Campbell retires ...
Harley Boss retires ...
Hank Boney retires ...
Ed Carroll retires ...
Alta Cohen retires ...
Ripper Collins retires ...
Leo Durocher retires ...
Bunny Hearn retires ...
Fred Frankhouse retires ...
Ken Jones retires ...
Bill Dunlap retires ...
Hank Johnson retires ...
Liz Funk retires ...
Mark Koenig retires ...
Pid Purdy retires ...
Denny Sothern retires ...
Bill Lewis retires ...
Chief Hogsett retires ...
Hal Lee retires ...
Jack Rothrock retires ...
Carlos Moore retires ...
Bob Garbark retires ...
Randy Moore retires ...
Frank Mulroney retires ...
Jim Moore retires ...
Ernie Orsatti retires ...
Ike Powers retires ...
Roy Schalk retires ...
George Puccinelli retires ...
Lou Rosenberg retires ...
Les Powers retires ...
Pat Simmons retires ...
Gus Suhr retires ...
Sam West retires ...
Lon Warneke retires ...
Bob Weiland retires ...
Ralph Onis retires ...
Milt Shoffner retires ...
Steve Swetonic retires ...
Billy Urbanski retires ...
Claude Passeau retires ...
John Wakeman retires ...
Ray Davis retires ...
Rip Radcliff retires ...
Jim Turner retires ...
Junior Thompson retires ...
CLE: Johnny Allen retires ...
CLE: Marv Olson retires ...
PHA: Curt Davis retires ...
PHA: Bill Phebus retires ...
WS1: Johnny Reder retires ...
WS1: Joshua Brown retires ...
DET: Pinky Whitney retires ...
DET: Cliff Bolton retires ...
LA: Ray Boggs retires ...
SF: Euel Moore retires ...
SF: Art Garibaldi retires ...
BRO: Jimmy Welsh retires ...
BRO: Luke Hamlin retires ...
NY1: Gil English retires ...
NY1: Charlie Bates retires ...
PHI: Art Herring retires ...
PHI: Mul Holland retires ...
SYR: Vic Frasier retires ...
SYR: Johnny Dickshot retires ...
CHN: Hank Erickson retires ...
CHN: George Meyer retires ...
CHN: Buck Marrow retires ...
CIN: Jim Brillheart retires ...
DAL: Johnny Broaca retires ...
DAL: Harry Davis retires ...
DAL: Mace Brown retires ...
HOU: Pat Caraway retires ...
SLN: John Milligan retires ...





League Outlook

I start to get concerned when teams drop below 40 in Fan Interest. Currently, LA, Cleveland and Washington are all below 30. Changes are imminent when FI drops below 30, so these teams better be competitive, if not vie for a division title in the next year or two, or there will be changes coming.

Free Agency, of Note

There are 2 premier pure hitters in free agency this year, and 1 decent power hitter. A big contrast from last season’s loaded FA pool. There are 2 or 3 premier pitchers to choose from as well. Should be interesting.

The Detroit Tigers fell short of the World Series last year, and add SP Schoolboy Rowe (8-7-8) to their staff for 4 years in an effort to get back to the top.

San Francisco fell just short of Detroit in the AL West, and counter the Tiger’s move by signing 3B Bill Brubaker (9-4-6) to a 3 year deal.

Las Vegas signs RF Frank Doljack (9-4-7) to a 5 year contract.

Houston is serious about defending the title as they sign C Walter Stephenson (7-3-5) to a 4 year contract.

The Dallas Braves look to return to their glory days by signing LF George Selkirk (7-5-10) to a 3 year deal.

San Francisco also signs the best power hitter, LF Tommy Henrich (6-6-10) to a 4 year contract.

Montral came just short last year and try to get over the hump by signing 2B Johnny Burnett (8-3-10) to a 1 year deal. Johnny is 38 years old but can still hit the ball.

Montreal also signs SP Russ Bauers (8-7-6) to a 4 year deal.

Brooklyn signs the best SP on the market, Whit Wyatt (9-8-8) to a 4 year deal at over 10 million per year.

Amateur Draft


Here is how the entire first round played out:

Cleveland pick: P Ed Klieman
New York pick: P Ken Trinkle
Brooklyn pick: P John Dagenhard
Syracuse pick: 3B Gil Hodges
Los Angeles pick: P Norm Brown
Las Vegas pick: P Charlie Bowles
Washington pick: P Butch Wensloff
Atlanta pick: P Bud Byerly
Dallas pick: P Frank Seward
St. Louis pick: P Milo Candini
Boston pick: P Al Brazle
Chicago pick: P Stubby Overmire
Cincinnati pick: CF Andy Pafko
Philadelphia (N) pick: P Jim Mains
Houston pick: CF Milt Byrnes
Philadelphia (A) pick: P Cookie Cuccurullo
San Francisco pick: P Don Black
Pittsburgh pick: 3B George Kell
Detroit pick: SS Red Roberts
Montreal pick: P Al Gerheauser