[Marmel]

1947

April

In the AL East, the Boston Red Sox started out 18-7 and have claimed a 4 game lead over the Washington Senators. Both Cleveland and Montreal are 7 games back already, while the A’s are 9 back. In the West, Vegas won their first 12 games of the season and finish the month at 18-7, for a 3 game lead over Atlanta. Both Detroit and Los Angeles are already 8 games back while San Francisco is 9 games out.

In the NL East, Brooklyn and Pittsburgh are tied for first place with 16-9 records. The Phillies are 4 back while Syracuse is 6 back and the Giants are 9 out. In the Midwest, Cincinnati, Houston and St. Louis are all tied for first at 14-11. Chicago is just 2 back while Dallas is only 4 back.

May

In the AL East, Boston is just on fire, and already running away with the division. They are 41-13 and lead both Cleveland and Montreal by 15 games already! In the West, Atlanta has moved into first place and built a 6 game lead over the Las Vegas Aces. Detroit is 9 games back.

In the NL East, Brooklyn has moved out to a 5 game lead over the Phillies. Pittsburgh is 6 games back while the New York Giants are 7 back and the Syracuse Warriors are 9 back. In the Midwest, Cincinnati has taken sole possession of first place with a 31-23 record, and they lead the Astros by 2 games. The Cubs stand 3 back while the Cardinals are 4 back.

June

In the AL East, the Red Sox are still in complete control. They are 58-23 and lead the Cleveland Naps by 14 games. In the West, Atlanta is looking just as good as Boston. They are 56-25 and lead Las Vegas by 16 games.

In the NL East, we have the only real division race left. Brooklyn leads the Phillies by 2 games and New York by 3. Syracuse is hanging around, 8 games back. In the Midwest, Cincinnati has gone on a huge run, and are 52-29, and they lead the Cubs by 11 games. The Astros are now 14 games back.

In the All-Star Game, The AL beat the NL, 6-2. Ray Lamanno was 1 for 2 with 2 RBI and was named MVP of the game.

On June 22, Cincinnati’s Cliff Melton threw a No-Hitter in a 8-0 victory over the Giants. Cliff struck out 5 and walked 2 on the day.

July

Both AL division races were over a month ago. Boston leads the East by 17 games while Atlanta leads the West by 20 games.

In the NL East, Brooklyn is still holding on to first place with a 59-47 record. New York and Philadelphia are both just 3 games back. Syracuse is 9 back. In the Midwest, Cincinnati is 13 games up on the Cubs.

On July 4, Atlanta’s Joe Haynes threw a No-Hitter in a 3-0 victory over San Francisco. Joe struck out 10 and only walked 1 on the day.

August

With 1 month to play in the 1947 season, Boston’s magic number is down to 15 while Atlanta’s is 3!

In the NL East, Brooklyn continues to hold onto first place, now by just 2 games over the Giants and 4 games over the Phillies. In the Midwest, the Cubs have chipped away at the Red’s lead, but it is probably too late. Cincinnati leads the Cubs by 8 games.

On August 17, Las Vegas’s Warren Spahn threw a PERFECT GAME against the Red Sox in a 3-0 victory. Warren struck out 4 batters on the day in his perfect performance.

September 4, 1947

The Atlanta Black Birds have clinched the AL West division. Boston’s magic number is down to 10.

In the NL East, New York has pulled even with the Dodgers, while the Phillies have fallen 5 games back. In the Midwest, the Cubs have chipped the Reds lead down to just 5 games now.

September 15, 1947

The Boston Red Sox have clinched the AL East division.

In the NL East, Brooklyn and New York remain tied for first with 14 games to play. In the Midwest, Cincinnati still leads the Cubs by 5 games.

September 25, 1947

In the NL East, the Brooklyn Dodgers have just a 1 game lead over the New York Giants. In the Midwest, the Reds lead has now been cut down to just 2 games. There are 4 games left in the regular season.

September 29 & 30, 1947

The Cincinnati Reds were able to hold onto that 2 game lead and clinch the NL Midwest Division.

In the East division, the Dodgers are 1 game up on the Giants with 1 game to play. New York will host Pittsburgh in the early game, while Brooklyn will host the Reds in the later game.

New York came back from a 4-2 deficit with 5 runs in the 8th inning to beat the Pirates, 7-4. Brooklyn will now have to win to avoid a 1 game playoff.

Brooklyn got a brilliant pitching performance from John Dagenhard. He threw a 3 hit shutout on the NL Midwest Champion Reds. That means the Dodgers clinch the NL East and will try to defend their crown this postseason.



1947 Final Standings

AL Standings :
(Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA)
East
Boston 100 62 .617 -- .265 3.23
Montreal 89 73 .549 11 .255 3.50
Cleveland 86 76 .531 14 .259 3.87
Washington 85 77 .525 15 .245 3.59
Philadelphia (A) 67 95 .414 33 .241 4.38
West
Atlanta 104 58 .642 -- .252 3.32
Las Vegas 74 88 .457 30 .248 3.39
Los Angeles 73 89 .451 31 .238 3.94
Detroit 67 95 .414 37 .241 4.24
San Francisco 65 97 .401 39 .244 3.83
NL Standings :
(Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA)
East
Brooklyn 86 76 .531 -- .239 3.13
New York 85 77 .525 1 .244 3.19
Syracuse 81 81 .500 5 .254 3.76
Philadelphia (N) 80 82 .494 6 .239 4.11
Pittsburgh 70 92 .432 16 .254 4.11
Midwest
Cincinnati 90 72 .556 -- .244 3.31
Chicago 89 73 .549 1 .260 3.19
Houston 81 81 .500 9 .262 4.07
Dallas 78 84 .481 12 .260 4.19
St. Louis 70 92 .432 20 .238 3.97






1947 Statistical Leaders

TOP 5 in BATTING AVG :
.335 Bill Brubaker(SF,AL)
.326 Dixie Walker(LV)
.323 Ted Williams(DAL,NL)
.308 Tommy Holmes(DET,AL)
.306 Ray Lamanno(CLE,AL)
TOP 5 in HOMERUNS :
46 Bill Nicholson( CIN,NL)
46 Max West( CHN,NL)
43 Johnny Mize(MON,AL)
42 Ted Williams(DAL,NL)
38 Chet Ross(CHN,NL)
TOP 5 in RBI :
122 Johnny Mize(MON,AL)
121 Max West( CHN,NL)
114 Ted Williams(DAL,NL)
114 Roland Beck(PIT,NL)
113 Johnny Lucadello(DAL,NL)
TOP 5 in ERA :
2.26 Jim Bagby(BOS,AL)
2.32 Jake Wade(BOS,AL)
2.33 Ken Trinkle(NY1,NL)
2.39 John Dagenhard(BRO,NL)
2.44 Cliff Melton( CIN,NL)
TOP 5 in WINS :
25 Jake Wade(BOS,AL)
25 Joe Haynes(ATL,AL)
25 John Dagenhard(BRO,NL)
24 Bob Feller(ATL,AL)
23 Cliff Melton( CIN,NL)
TOP 5 in SAVES :
44 Max Macon( MON,AL)
43 Frank Biscan(ATL,AL)
42 Pat Mclaughlin(BRO,NL)
36 Lefty Wallace(CIN)
34 Johnny Hutchings( CHN)



ALCS

The ALCS opens in Atlanta, but the Boston Red Sox double the Black Birds up, 12-6 in game 1. Atlanta comes back in game 2 with a shutout of the Red Sox in a 2-0 win. The Series is evened up heading to Boston.

In game 3, Atlanta rallies from a 6-4 deficit in the final 2 innings to take this one on the road, 7-6 and they are now up 2-1 in the Series. In game 4, Boston scores in the first inning and never relinquishes the lead in their 4-3 victory. That evens the Series up at 2. Atlanta pounds out 8 runs in Boston, in game 5 to take it 8-1 and they also take a 3-2 Series lead as they head back home for the final games.

In game 6, Boston doubles up Atlanta 10-5 to force a decisive game 7!

In game 7, both teams put 1 run up in the second inning. Atlanta gets 3 more runs in the 3rd inning for a 4-1 lead.

Another 2 runs for Atlanta in the 4th put them up 6-1, but Boston comes back with 3 runs of their own in the 5th inning to make the score 6-4.

Each team gets a run in the 7th, so Atlanta leads 7-5.

One run for the Birds in the 8th put Atlanta up 8-5, and Boston has only 3 out left to work with.

Two weak grounders and a strike out and Boston is done. The Atlanta Black Birds have won the ALCS, 4-3!


NLCS

The NLCS opens in Cincinnati, and the Reds led 3-1 heading into the ninth inning of game 1. That is when Brooklyn put up 4 runs and stole this one, 5-3. Cincinnati comes back with a 4-1 victory in game 2 to tie the Series up as it shifts to Brooklyn.

The Dodgers get 4 runs in the 8th inning at home in game 3 to rally for the 9-7 victory and they take a 2-1 Series lead. Brooklyn shuts out the Reds, 4-0 in game 4 and now they are up 3-1 with a chance to clinch at home.

Brooklyn cannot finish this Series out at home, as the Reds take game 5, 4-1 and send the Series back to Cincinnati.

Cincinnati needed extra innings, but they got the job done, 3-2, in game 6 to set up a decisive game 7!

In game 7, from Cincinnati, the Dodgers get the first run on the board in the 2nd inning and take a 1-0 lead.

Cincinnati gets 2 runs in the 4th to go up 2-1.

Brooklyn ties the game up in the 7th inning with a run.

We head to the ninth inning with the game tied, 2-2.

Dave Ferriss walks the first three Dodgers batters of the inning! Joe Marty follows that up with a triple to score all three runners and the Dodgers lead, 5-2! The Reds manage three outs holding the score at 5-2, but they are in deep trouble.

Atlanta manages a 2 out single, and then draw a walk to put the tying run at the plate with 2 outs. Bobby Wilkins taps one out in front of the plate and he is throw out to end the game. Brooklyn wins the Series 4-3 and will head back to the World Series to defend their Title!




World Series

The Series opens in Atlanta, but it is the dodgers who check in with a brilliant pitching performance in a 3 hit shutout. Brooklyn takes game 1, 2-0. Atlanta salvages a game at home with a 7-4 victory in game 2, so the Series is tied at 1 heading to Brooklyn.

Atlanta takes game 3 on the road, 6-1 to take a 2-1 Series lead. Game 4 was tied 1-1 heading into the 7th inning, but the Birds put up a run in each of the last three innings for a 4-1 win, and more importantly, they now lead the World Series, 3-1.

Brooklyn cannot even manage a single win at home, and the Birds take game 5, 2-1 in 12 innings to clincht he 1947 World Championship! This is Atlanta’s third Championship. They won back to back titles in 1928 and 1929. Brooklyn failed to repeat.

Champion Review

A pair of aces led the Birds pitching staff. Joe Haynes went 25-9 with a 2.71 ERA. Bob Feller went 24-8 with a 2.89 ERA.

2B Glen Crawford led the team with a .324 batting average in a platoon situation. 2B Babe Young batted .283 and hit a team high 29 homeruns and a team high 104 RBI. 3B Whitey Kurowski batted .282 and hit 28 homeruns. SS Billy Cox batted .278 with 14 homeruns. LF Hank Sauer batted .254 and also led the team in homeruns with 29. RF Charlie Keller only batted .237 but he contributed with 26 homeruns on the year.

Ty Cobb Award

AL: 1B Johnny Mize, MON, (584 AB, .296 AVG, 43 HR, 122 RBI, 108 R, 173 Hits, .961 OPS)
NL: RF Ted Williams, DAL, (575 AB, .323 AVG, 42 HR, 114 RBI, 119 R, 186 Hits, 1.035 OPS) - This is Ted’s second Ty Cobb Award.




Cy Young Award

AL: Jake Wade, BOS, (Record: 25-10, 2.32 ERA, 337.1IP, 204 Ks, 51 BB) - This is Jake’s second consecutive Cy Young Award.
NL: John Dagenhard, BRO, (Record: 25-13, 2.39 ERA, 339IP, 106 Ks, 43 BB)




Bob Meusel Award

AL: LF Gene Hermanski, SF, (556 AB, .306 AVG, 12 HR, 97 RBI, 80 R, 170 Hits, .844 OPS)
NL: 1B Jackie Robinson, DAL, (594 AB, .269 AVG, 18 HR, 61 RBI, 102 R, 160 Hits, .789 OPS)



1947-1948 Offseason

Retirees:

Tom Baker retires ...
Ralph Buxton retires ...
Nate Andrews retires ...
Ken Chase retires ...
Al Benton retires ...
Frank Demaree retires ...
Sol Carter retires ...
Babe Dahlgren retires ...
Charlie Frye retires ...
Zeke Bonura retires ...
Mickey Haslin retires ...
Mel Ott retires ...
Otto Huber retires ...
Gene Lillard retires ...
Bob Kline retires ...
Eddie Morgan retires ...
Amby Murray retires ...
Red Nonnenkamp retires ...
Hal Kelleher retires ...
Red Lynn retires ...
John Mihalic retires ...
Salty Parker retires ...
Nick Strincevich retires ...
Jim Reninger retires ...
Hugh Mulcahy retires ...
Phil Weintraub retires ...
Lee Rogers retires ...
Packy Rogers retires ...
Ben Sankey retires ...
Lou Scoffic retires ...
Dave Smith retires ...
Dib Williams retires ...
Whit Wyatt retires ...
Bucky Walters retires ...
Daniel Stubbs retires ...
James Jones retires ...
Buddy Rosar retires ...
George Selkirk retires ...
Hugh Shelley retires ...
Bernie Snyder retires ...
Birdie Tebbetts retires ...
Johnny Peacock retires ...
Eddie Wilson retires ...
Skeeter Scalzi retires ...
Johnny Welaj retires ...
Lefty Wilkie retires ...
BOS: Jack Peerson retires ...
CLE: Maury Newlin retires ...
PHA: Harry Gumbert retires ...
DET: Vallie Eaves retires ...
DET: Carl Doyle retires ...
LA: Harry Danning retires ...
LA: George Mcquinn retires ...
SF: Lonny Frey retires ...
SF: Bill Lee retires ...
SF: Joe Martin retires ...
SF: Morrie Arnovich retires ...
BRO: Hank Mcdonald retires ...
BRO: Tommy Fine retires ...
BRO: Bob Cooney retires ...
NY1: Billy Herman retires ...
PHI: Francis Healy retires ...
CHN: Andrew Willer retires ...
CHN: Atley Donald retires ...
CIN: Bill Patton retires ...
DAL: Tom Sunkel retires ...
HOU: Pinky Jorgensen retires ...
SLN: Lefty Gomez retires ...





League Outlook

The only team in trouble right now is the LA Waves, and they are in deep trouble. If they do not show signs of improvement this year, a move may be imminent. They have also lost quite a bit of cash. FI is at just 28 and their payroll before free agency is only 39 million. They can afford maybe 7 million in new salary just to break even next year, barring a dramatic turn around in their results.

Free Agency, of Note

A very weak free agent market for teams to improve. Just a couple of nice hitters and maybe 1 or 2 pitchers, at best.

The Phillies sign 3B Frankie Gustine (6-5-7) to a 3 year deal.

The A’s sign SP Dick Mulligan (7-8-6) to a 4 year deal.

Pittsburgh signs one of the better hitters out there in 3B Johnny Lucadello (6-7-10). He signs for 3 years at 10 mil per year.

Syracuse gets SP Manny Salvo (7-8-6) for 5 years.

The Reds sign the best SP on the market in Howie Pollet (8-8-8). He signs for 5 years at 7 million per year.

Atlanta gets the other really good hitter in free agency this year, CF Tommy Holmes (8-5-10). He signs for 5 years at 11 million per year.

Like I said, pretty weak crop of guys this off season.

Amateur Draft


Here is how the entire first round played out:

San Francisco pick: P Robin Roberts
Detroit pick: P Ned Garver
Philadelphia (A) pick: P Red Webb
Pittsburgh pick: P Bob Porterfield
St. Louis pick: C Stan Lopata
Los Angeles pick: P Bob Rush
Las Vegas pick: P Windy Mccall
Dallas pick: C Roy Campanella
Philadelphia (N) pick: P Carl Erskine
Syracuse pick: P Elmer Sexauer
Houston pick: CF Richie Ashburn
Washington pick: P Bob Chesnes
New York pick: SS Ray Boone
Brooklyn pick: P Al Porto
Cleveland pick: CF Jim Delsing
Montreal pick: RF Dick Kokos
Chicago pick: CF Clint Conatser
Cincinnati pick: RF Joe Collins
Boston pick: LF Hank Bauer
Atlanta pick: LF Hal Rice