[Marmel]

1944

April

In the AL East, Boston is tied for the best record in baseball with a 18-7 record. They lead both the Cleveland Naps and Washington Senators by 4 games. The A’s are 5 back. In the West, Atlanta is 17-8 and leads the Detroit Tigers by 4 games. San Francisco is 5 back while Vegas is 7 back. The Waves are in last, 10 games back.

In the NL East, the New York Giants return to the top of the division with a 18-7 record. They hold a 1 game lead over the Dodgers. Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Philadelphia are 6, 7 and 8 games out respectively. In the Midwest, The Cubs are barely over .500 at 13-12 but are in first place by 1 game over Cincinnati. Both Dallas and Houston are 2 back while St. Louis is 3 back.

May

In the AL East, Boston holds onto first place, but just by 1 game over the Washington Senators. Cleveland is right there are 2 games back and so is Philadelphia, at only 3 games back. In the West, Atlanta remains in first, but Detroit is just 1 game back. San Francisco is 4 games out.

In the NL East, Brooklyn is 32-22 and remains in first by 2 games over New York. The Phillies are 4 back while Pittsburgh and Syracuse are only 6 back. In the Midwest, the Cubs hold onto first place by 3 games over the Houston Astros. Dallas is just 4 back while Cincinnati is 7 back.

On May 3, Wally Berger becomes 4th man to hit 500 career homeruns. He trails Ruth, Klein, and Dimaggio in the career record books.

June

Boston continues to lead the AL East with a 50-31 record at the break. They lead the Senators by 4 games and the defending champion A’s are just 6 back. In the West, Atlanta is clinging to a 1 game lead over Detroit, while the rest of the division is 10 games back or farther.

In the NL East, the New York Giants have taken over 1st place with a 48-33 record. They lead the Pirates by 5 games, while the Dodgers have dropped back 7 games. Philly and Syracuse are both 8 back. In the Midwest, Chicago is starting to pull away…they opened a 8 game lead over the Astros.

On June 3, the Philadelphia A’s Joe Haynes pitched a No-Hitter in a 5-0 victory over Detroit. Joe struck out 10 and walked just 1 on the day.

July

The AL East saw a big shake up this month. Washington moved into first place with a 63-43 record, while the A’s are in second place, 2 games back and Boston is 3 back. In the West, Detroit has moved into first place by 1 game over the Atlanta Black Birds.

In the NL East, New York has opened a 6 game lead over both the Dodgers and Pirates. In the Midwest, Chicago is really running away with the division now. They lead the Astros by 11 games.

August

In the AL East, the A’s used a 10 game winning streak to end the month to open up a 5 game lead over both the Red Sox and the Washington Senators. In the West, Atlanta has moved back into first, by 2 games over Detroit.

In the NL East, the New York Giants are in great shape, 8 games up on the Phillies. In the Midwest, the Cubs have locked things up. They lead the Astros by 15 games!

September 14, 1944

The Chicago Cubs have clinched the NL Midwest division. In the NL East, New York’s magic number is just 6.

In the AL East, the A’s lead by 4 games over Boston. In the West, Atlanta leads by 3 games over the Tigers.

September 23, 1944

The New York Giants clinch the NL East division.

In the AL East, the Philadelphia A’s lead is just 1 game over the Red Sox. In the West, the Tigers have moved into first by just 1 game over Atlanta. There are 6 games left in the season.


September 26, 1944

The Detroit Tigers have clinched the AL West division. In the AL East, Boston and Philadelphia are tied for first place with 3 games to play.


September 30, 1944

With 1 game to play, the Red Sox have moved 1 game up on the defending champion A’s. The A’s host the Red Sox on the final day of the season.

Both teams put up a run in the first inning, and the Red Sox put up another in the 2nd to take a 2-1 lead. The A’s come back and tie the game up at 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning.

In the bottom of the 4th, the A’s take a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the 7th, the Red Sox get a run to tie the game at 3.

The Sox add another run in the top of the 8th to go up 4-3.

Heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox still lead 4-3.

A 1 out error by Boston puts an A’s runner on first base. Trosky ground to second but the Red Sox cannot turn the double play, so the A’s have one last out to work with.

Dizzy Dean throws his 153rd pitch of the game and get the A’s to pop out to end the game. The Red Sox are headed to the playoffs!




1944 Final Standings

AL Standings :
(Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA)
East
Boston 95 67 .586 -- .235 3.04
Philadelphia (A) 93 69 .574 2 .234 3.17
Washington 89 73 .549 6 .242 3.46
Montreal 71 91 .438 24 .226 3.62
Cleveland 70 92 .432 25 .240 3.89
West
Detroit 90 72 .556 -- .240 3.51
Atlanta 88 74 .543 2 .224 3.30
Las Vegas 76 86 .469 14 .234 3.53
Los Angeles 72 90 .444 18 .225 4.07
San Francisco 66 96 .407 24 .223 3.60
NL Standings :
(Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA)
East
New York 97 65 .599 -- .227 2.74
Pittsburgh 91 71 .562 6 .243 3.40
Philadelphia (N) 87 75 .537 10 .236 3.38
Brooklyn 81 81 .500 16 .237 3.46
Syracuse 76 86 .469 21 .231 3.69
Midwest
Chicago 95 67 .586 -- .244 3.03
Dallas 77 85 .475 18 .239 4.11
Houston 76 86 .469 19 .234 3.78
St. Louis 66 96 .407 29 .209 3.56
Cincinnati 64 98 .395 31 .234 4.45




1944 Statistical Leaders

TOP 5 in BATTING AVG :
.314 Enos Slaughter(PHI,NL)
.310 Frankie Hayes(CHN,NL)
.301 Frank Doljack(LV,AL)
.294 Johnny Rucker(CLE,AL)
.293 Bill Brubaker(SF,AL)
TOP 5 in HOMERUNS :
48 Bill Nicholson( PHA,AL)
46 Joe Gordon(DAL,NL)
43 Ben Chapman(BOS,AL)
43 Zeke Bonura(PIT,NL)
38 Max West( DET,AL)
TOP 5 in RBI :
126 Max West( DET,AL)
126 Zeke Bonura(PIT,NL)
119 Bobby Doerr(PHI,NL)
119 Bill Nicholson( PHA,AL)
114 Ben Chapman(BOS,AL)
TOP 5 in ERA :
2.08 Bob Feller(CHN,NL)
2.16 Dave Koslo(NY1,NL)
2.25 Ed Lopat( NY1)
2.28 Ted Wilks( WS1,AL)
2.38 Cliff Melton(HOU)
TOP 5 in WINS :
27 Hank Borowy(WS1,AL)
25 Ted Wilks( WS1,AL)
24 John Dagenhard(BRO)
24 Marius Russo(PHA,AL)
23 Bob Feller(CHN,NL)
TOP 5 in SAVES :
12 Gordon Maltzberger(PHI)
10 Frank Biscan(ATL)
10 Stan Ferens(CHN)
8 Norm Branch(LV)
8 Bob Bowman(SLN)



ALCS

The ALCS opens in Beantown, and the Red Sox take game 1 in 11 innings by scoring 3 in the bottom of the 11th for a 6-3 win. Detroit comes back to crush the Red Sox, 11-3 in game 2 and even the series up as it now shifts to Detroit.

Detroit’s bats still remain redhot as they blow out the Sox, 10-0 in game 3. The Tigers are now up 2-1 in the ALCS. Game 4 goes to the 12th inning. Boston gets 3 in the top half, but Detroit loads the bases in the bottom of the 12. They can only get 2 runs across and end up losing 6-5. This Series is now tied at 2.

Detroit scores 5 runs in the first inning of game 5 and never give up that lead in a 9-6 victory. They now lead the Series 3-2, but need to win 1 of the 2 games back in Boston.

Game 6 goes extra innings, and the Detroit Tigers put up 4 runs in the top of the 11th inning. Boston gets some scoring chances in the bottom of the 11th, but only get 1 run across. Detroit wins, 9-6 and are going to the World Series!


NLCS

The NLCS opens in New York and the Giants trailed 5-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but they get 2 run to take a 6-5 win in game 1. Game 2 goes to extra innings with no score. The Giants get 1 across in the bottom of the 10th for a 1-0 victory and a 2-0 Series lead as the NLCS now heads to Chicago.

Chicago breaks a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the ninth with a run to win 6-5 and get back in the Series. They still trail though, 2-1. In game 4, New York shuts out the Cubs, 3-0 to take a 3-1 Series lead.

The Giants wrap up this Series in Chicago with a 6-2 victory in game 5. The New York Giants are headed to the World Series!




World Series

The Series opens in New York, but it is the Detroit Tigers who steal game one by scoring 3 runs in the ninth inning to take game 1, 4-2. Detroit puts New York in a 2-0 hole with a 3-2 victory in game 2. The Series shifts to Detroit.

Detroit opens game 3 with 4 runs in the first inning and then cruise to a 5-1 victory to take a 3-0 Series lead. They will look to sweep in game 4.

The Giant bats finally come alive in game 4, and New York lives to see one more game after a 10-1 win. In game 5, New York gets a run in the top of the ninth to break the tie and take the game 2-1. After trailing 3-0, the Giants now trail 3-2 and will play the final games back in New York!

New York fails to win at home though, as the Tigers take game 6, 6-4 and claim the 1944 World Series Title. This is the Tigers 4th title overall, and their 2nd in 4 seasons. Their other titles came in 1920, 1937, and 1941.

Champion Review

The Tigers pitching was led by a pair of 18 game winners. Tommy Dela Cruz went 18-14 with a 4.15 ERA. Schoolboy Rowe went 18-15 with a 3.82 ERA. Johnny Gorsica won 17 games with a 2.39 ERA.

SS Red Roberts led the team with a .293 batting average. CF Tommy Holmes batted .282 with 15 homeruns. LF Max West batted .259 with a team high 38 homeruns. C Tom Turner batted .248 with 13 homeruns.

Ty Cobb Award

AL: 3B Ben Chapman, BOS, (532 AB, .265 AVG, 43 HR, 114 RBI, 113 R, 141 Hits, .952 OPS) - This is Chapman’s 3rd Ty Cobb Award.
NL: C Frankie Hayes, CHN, (509 AB, .310 AVG, 38 HR, 100 RBI, 81 R, 158 Hits, .987 OPS)



Cy Young Award

AL: Ted Wilks, WS1, (Record: 25-12, 2.28 ERA, 344IP, 139 Ks, 122 BB) - Ted won the Cy Young as a Rookie!
NL: Bob Feller, CHN, (Record: 23-9, 2.08 ERA, 320IP, 499 Ks, 71 BB)



Bob Meusel Award

AL: Ted Wilks, WS1, (Record: 25-12, 2.28 ERA, 344 IP, 139 Ks, 122 BB) - Ted was also named the Cy Young winner!
NL: John Dagenhard, BRO, (Record: 24-9, 3.11 ERA, 332.1 IP, 176 Ks, 138 BB)




1944-1945 Offseason

Retirees:

Luke Appling retires ...
Larry Bettencourt retires ...
Al Blanche retires ...
Bob Brown retires ...
Jumbo Brown retires ...
Andy Cohen retires ...
Bobby Burke retires ...
Charlie Butler retires ...
Lindsay Deal retires ...
Earl Clark retires ...
Charlie English retires ...
Cy Blanton retires ...
Jim Gleeson retires ...
Roy Henshaw retires ...
Jonah Goldman retires ...
Willard Hershberger retires ...
Jim Bucher retires ...
Howdy Groskloss retires ...
George Caster retires ...
Jackie Hayes retires ...
Ned Porter retires ...
Ray Harrell retires ...
Hank Leiber retires ...
Flea Clifton retires ...
Syd Cohen retires ...
Frank Grube retires ...
Odell Hale retires ...
John Michaels retires ...
Eddie Mayo retires ...
Chuck Klein retires ...
He will be in the Hall Of Fame!
Myril Hoag retires ...
Johnny Welch retires ...
Ray Prim retires ...
Frank Reiber retires ...
Denny Galehouse retires ...
Pepper Martin retires ...
Jake Powell retires ...
Heinie Schuble retires ...
Tot Pressnell retires ...
Pete Mcclanahan retires ...
Bobo Newsom retires ...
Art Rebel retires ...
Lloyd Waner retires ...
Van Mungo retires ...
Bob Way retires ...
Bill Norman retires ...
Ed Roetz retires ...
Johnny Watson retires ...
Pep Young retires ...
Jo-jo White retires ...
Larry Planas retires ...
Jack Mccaulley retires ...
Terry Leonhardt retires ...
Elias Silvia retires ...
George Vigna retires ...
Lefty Mills retires ...
Al Niemiec retires ...
Chuck Sheerin retires ...
Frenchy Uhalt retires ...
Roy Vaughn retires ...
Whitey Wistert retires ...
Joe Sullivan retires ...
Ray Thomas retires ...
Walter Signer retires ...
BOS: Buster Mills retires ...
BOS: Joe Mellana retires ...
CLE: Herb Hash retires ...
CLE: Tex Carleton retires ...
MON: Red Peery retires ...
PHA: Bill Posedel retires ...
PHA: Adam Comorosky retires ...
PHA: Bill Beckmann retires ...
PHA: Buddy Hassett retires ...
ATL: Joe Cronin retires ...
DET: Roger Wolff retires ...
DET: Sammy Holbrook retires ...
DET: Moose Solters retires ...
DET: Art Shires retires ...
LV: Gordon Rhodes retires ...
LV: Jack Burns retires ...
LV: Frank Doljack retires ...
LA: Bert Delmas retires ...
SF: Rick Ferrell retires ...
BRO: Charlie Devens retires ...
BRO: Coaker Triplett retires ...
BRO: Don Heffner retires ...
BRO: Charlie Gelbert retires ...
NY1: Sammy Byrd retires ...
PHI: Edgar Barnhart retires ...
PHI: Dolph Camilli retires ...
PIT: Herman Fink retires ...
SYR: Lou Fette retires ...
SYR: Ewald Pyle retires ...
CHN: Dee Miles retires ...
CIN: Julio Bonetti retires ...
CIN: Melvin Roche retires ...
CIN: Bradley Benner retires ...
DAL: Pete Fox retires ...
DAL: Slick Coffman retires ...
DAL: Tommy Thompson retires ...
SLN: Earl Grace retires ...





League Outlook

Washington was in the division race all season long and showed a huge increase in attendance and fan interest. They are once again safe. All the other teams are doing pretty good, nobody has dropped below 40 in fan interest.

Free Agency, of Note

The are about 5 very good pitchers in free agency, but one 2 or 3 batters worth a big contract.

The Washington Senators sign the first big name in CF Jeff Heath (5-7-5). He signs for 4 years.

The Pirates get SP Dizzy Trout (8-8-6) for 5 years.

Atlanta signs Orville Armbrust (8-6-7) to a 4 year deal.

San Francisco signs the other good hitter on the market, CG Joe Medwick (7-5-6) for 2 years at 9 million per year.

The Phillies get a real bargin in SP Manny Salvo (8-8-5). He signs for 3 years at just 2.5 million per year.

Atlanta inks superstar SP Joe Haynes (8-8-7, B/B/B) to a 4 year contract at 11 million per year!

Syracuse gets the last good pitcher available in Marius Russo (8-8-8). He signs for 5 years.

Amateur Draft


Here is how the entire first round played out:

Cincinnati pick: P Dave Ferriss
San Francisco pick: P Don Fisher
St. Louis pick: P Johnny Hetki
Cleveland pick: P Vic Lombardi
Montreal pick: P Elmer Singleton
Los Angeles pick: P Otie Clark
Las Vegas pick: P Sal Maglie
Houston pick: P Al Gettel
Syracuse pick: P Jim Wilson
Dallas pick: P Herm Wehmeier
Brooklyn pick: P Ken Gables
Philadelphia (N) pick: P Dick Mauney
Atlanta pick: P Bert Shepard
Washington pick: P Ken Burkhart
Detroit pick: P Adrian Zabala
Pittsburgh pick: P Marino Pieretti
Philadelphia (A) pick: P Frank Dasso
Chicago pick: P Ed Wright
Boston pick: CF Whitey Lockman
New York pick: P Randy Heflin