Thursday, March 22, 2001
1947 Free Agent Draft
First Round
New York Gems--Duke Snider, of
Brooklyn Dodgers--Jackie Robinson, 1b
Boston Minutemen--Nellie Fox, 2b
Houston Buffs--Larry Doby, 2b
Chicago White Sox--Gil Hodges, c
New York Mets--Ted Kluszewski, 1b
St. Louis Cardinals--Larry Jansen, p
Philadelphia Quakers--Mel Parnell, p
Washington Irish [from Detroit]--Ferris Fain, 1b
Milwaukee Gold Sox [from Washington]--Al Rosen, 3b
Pittsburgh Panthers--Vic Wertz, of
Washington Irish--Frankie Baumholtz, of
Second Round
Chicago White Sox--Curt Simmons, p
New York Mets--Willie Jones, 3b
Brooklyn Dodgers--Whitey Lockman, of
St. Louis Cardinals--Earl Torgeson, 1b
Boston Minutemen--Gerry Staley, p
New York Gems--Sam Mele, of
Houston Buffs--Eddie Joost, ss
Philadelphia Quakers--Wally Westlake, of
Washington Irish [from Detroit]--Jim Hearn, p
Washington Irish [from Milwaukee]--Spec Shea, p
Boston Minutemen [from Pittsburgh]--Hank Thompson, 2b
New York Mets [from Washington]--Billy Goodman, of
Third Round
Chicago White Sox--Wes Westrum, c
New York Mets--Chuck Stobbs, p
Brooklyn Dodgers--Lou Brissie, p
St. Louis Cardinals--Clyde King, p
Boston Minutemen--Don Black, p
New York Gems--Spider Jorgensen, 3b
Washington Irish [from Houston]--Arky Vaughan, 3b-of
Philadelphia Quakers--Gene Bearden, p
Detroit Tigers--Harry Dorish, p
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Erv Palica, p
Pittsburgh Panthers--Carl Scheib, p
Milwaukee Gold Sox [from Washington]--Jake Jones, 1b
Fourth Round
Chicago White Sox--Doyle Lade, p
New York Mets--Ray Coleman, of
Brooklyn Dodgers--Andy Hansen, p
St. Louis Cardinals--Allie Clark, of
Boston Minutemen--Buddy Lively, p
New York Gems--Dixie Howell, c
Houston Buffs--Harry Gumbert, p
Philadelphia Quakers--Matt Batts, c
Detroit Tigers--Chuck Diering, of
Washington Irish--Bryan Stephens, p
Pittsburgh Panthers--Clint Hartung, p-of
Washington Irish [from Milwaukee]--Virgil Stallcup, ss
Fifth Round
Chicago White Sox--Kent Peterson, p
Washington Irish (from N.Y. Mets)--Ralph Lapointe, ss
Brooklyn Dodgers--Lucky Lohrke, 3b
St. Louis Cardinals--Ray Poat, p
Pittsburgh Panthers (from Boston)--Tommy Tatum, of
New York Gems--Earl Harrist, p
Houston Buffs--Butch Wensloff, p
Philadelphia Quakers--Walt Lanfranconi, p
Detroit Tigers--Johnny Gorsica, p
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Don Johnson, p
Pittsburgh Panthers--Whitey Wietelmann, inf
Washington Irish--Bob Gillespie, p
Sixth Round
Chicago White Sox--Culley Rikard, of
New York Mets--Hal White, p
Brooklyn Dodgers--Elmer Riddle, p
St. Louis Cardinals--Karl Drews, p
Boston Minutemen--Orval Grove, p
New York Gems--Ed Bahr, p
Houston Buffs--Rick Ferrell, c
Philadelphia Quakers--Sam Dente, 3b
Detroit Tigers--Si Johnson, p
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Ralph Houk, c
Pittsburgh Panthers--John Sullivan, ss
Washington Irish--Al Jurisch, p
Seventh Round
Chicago White Sox--Charley Schanz, p
New York Mets--Cookie Lavagetto, 3b
Brooklyn Dodgers--Skeeter Newsome, inf
St. Louis Cardinals--Ernie Erautt, p
Boston Minutemen--Ken Burkhart, p
New York Gems--Russ Meers, p
Houston Buffs--Bama Rowell, of-2b
Philadelphia Quakers--Pete Castiglione, ss
Detroit Tigers--Jack Banta, p
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Cliff Aberson, of
Pittsburgh Panthers--Ralph Hamner, p
Washington Irish--Gary Gearhart, of
Eighth Round
Chicago White Sox--George Dickey, c
New York Mets--Glen Moulder, p
Brooklyn Dodgers--Sherry Robertson, of-3b
St. Louis Cardinals--George Binks, of
Boston Minutemen--Jack Wallaesa, ss-of
New York Gems--Joe Lafata, 1b-of
Houston Buffs--Les Willis, p
Philadelphia Quakers--Tommy Brown, 3b-of
Detroit Tigers--Jimmy Bloodworth, 2b
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Kermit Wahl, of
Pittsburgh Panthers--Eddie Basinski, 2b
Washington Irish--Freddy Schmidt, p
Ninth Round
Chicago White Sox--Pete Gebrian, p
New York Mets--Lonny Frey, 2b
Brooklyn Dodgers--Hank Camelli, c
St. Louis Cardinals--Al Gionfriddo, of
Boston Minutemen--Lennie Merullo, ss
New York Gems--Thornton Lee, p
Houston Buffs--Mel Queen Sr., p
Philadelphia Quakers--John McHale, 1b
Detroit Tigers--Marv Rackley, of
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Al Lakeman, c
Pittsburgh Panthers--Dick Starr, p
Washington Irish--pass
Tenth Round
Chicago White Sox--pass
New York Mets--Lee Handley, 3b-2b
Brooklyn Dodgers--Howie Schultz, 1b
St. Louis Cardinals--Bobby Sturgeon, ss-2b
Boston Minutemen--Mario Pieretti, p
New York Gems--pass
Houston Buffs--Willard Brown, of
Philadelphia Quakers--Gene Mauch, 2b-ss
Detroit Tigers--Jack Conway, ss
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Johnny Beazley, p
Pittsburgh Panthers--Nick Etten, 1b
Washington Irish--pass
Supplementary Round
Brooklyn Dodgers--Tom McBride, of
Philadelphia Quakers--Doc Cramer, of
Detroit Tigers--Cecil Travis, 3b-ss
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Tommy Fine, p
Pittsburgh Panthers--Dick Adams, 1b-of
New York Gems--Duke Snider, of
Brooklyn Dodgers--Jackie Robinson, 1b
Boston Minutemen--Nellie Fox, 2b
Houston Buffs--Larry Doby, 2b
Chicago White Sox--Gil Hodges, c
New York Mets--Ted Kluszewski, 1b
St. Louis Cardinals--Larry Jansen, p
Philadelphia Quakers--Mel Parnell, p
Washington Irish [from Detroit]--Ferris Fain, 1b
Milwaukee Gold Sox [from Washington]--Al Rosen, 3b
Pittsburgh Panthers--Vic Wertz, of
Washington Irish--Frankie Baumholtz, of
Second Round
Chicago White Sox--Curt Simmons, p
New York Mets--Willie Jones, 3b
Brooklyn Dodgers--Whitey Lockman, of
St. Louis Cardinals--Earl Torgeson, 1b
Boston Minutemen--Gerry Staley, p
New York Gems--Sam Mele, of
Houston Buffs--Eddie Joost, ss
Philadelphia Quakers--Wally Westlake, of
Washington Irish [from Detroit]--Jim Hearn, p
Washington Irish [from Milwaukee]--Spec Shea, p
Boston Minutemen [from Pittsburgh]--Hank Thompson, 2b
New York Mets [from Washington]--Billy Goodman, of
Third Round
Chicago White Sox--Wes Westrum, c
New York Mets--Chuck Stobbs, p
Brooklyn Dodgers--Lou Brissie, p
St. Louis Cardinals--Clyde King, p
Boston Minutemen--Don Black, p
New York Gems--Spider Jorgensen, 3b
Washington Irish [from Houston]--Arky Vaughan, 3b-of
Philadelphia Quakers--Gene Bearden, p
Detroit Tigers--Harry Dorish, p
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Erv Palica, p
Pittsburgh Panthers--Carl Scheib, p
Milwaukee Gold Sox [from Washington]--Jake Jones, 1b
Fourth Round
Chicago White Sox--Doyle Lade, p
New York Mets--Ray Coleman, of
Brooklyn Dodgers--Andy Hansen, p
St. Louis Cardinals--Allie Clark, of
Boston Minutemen--Buddy Lively, p
New York Gems--Dixie Howell, c
Houston Buffs--Harry Gumbert, p
Philadelphia Quakers--Matt Batts, c
Detroit Tigers--Chuck Diering, of
Washington Irish--Bryan Stephens, p
Pittsburgh Panthers--Clint Hartung, p-of
Washington Irish [from Milwaukee]--Virgil Stallcup, ss
Fifth Round
Chicago White Sox--Kent Peterson, p
Washington Irish (from N.Y. Mets)--Ralph Lapointe, ss
Brooklyn Dodgers--Lucky Lohrke, 3b
St. Louis Cardinals--Ray Poat, p
Pittsburgh Panthers (from Boston)--Tommy Tatum, of
New York Gems--Earl Harrist, p
Houston Buffs--Butch Wensloff, p
Philadelphia Quakers--Walt Lanfranconi, p
Detroit Tigers--Johnny Gorsica, p
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Don Johnson, p
Pittsburgh Panthers--Whitey Wietelmann, inf
Washington Irish--Bob Gillespie, p
Sixth Round
Chicago White Sox--Culley Rikard, of
New York Mets--Hal White, p
Brooklyn Dodgers--Elmer Riddle, p
St. Louis Cardinals--Karl Drews, p
Boston Minutemen--Orval Grove, p
New York Gems--Ed Bahr, p
Houston Buffs--Rick Ferrell, c
Philadelphia Quakers--Sam Dente, 3b
Detroit Tigers--Si Johnson, p
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Ralph Houk, c
Pittsburgh Panthers--John Sullivan, ss
Washington Irish--Al Jurisch, p
Seventh Round
Chicago White Sox--Charley Schanz, p
New York Mets--Cookie Lavagetto, 3b
Brooklyn Dodgers--Skeeter Newsome, inf
St. Louis Cardinals--Ernie Erautt, p
Boston Minutemen--Ken Burkhart, p
New York Gems--Russ Meers, p
Houston Buffs--Bama Rowell, of-2b
Philadelphia Quakers--Pete Castiglione, ss
Detroit Tigers--Jack Banta, p
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Cliff Aberson, of
Pittsburgh Panthers--Ralph Hamner, p
Washington Irish--Gary Gearhart, of
Eighth Round
Chicago White Sox--George Dickey, c
New York Mets--Glen Moulder, p
Brooklyn Dodgers--Sherry Robertson, of-3b
St. Louis Cardinals--George Binks, of
Boston Minutemen--Jack Wallaesa, ss-of
New York Gems--Joe Lafata, 1b-of
Houston Buffs--Les Willis, p
Philadelphia Quakers--Tommy Brown, 3b-of
Detroit Tigers--Jimmy Bloodworth, 2b
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Kermit Wahl, of
Pittsburgh Panthers--Eddie Basinski, 2b
Washington Irish--Freddy Schmidt, p
Ninth Round
Chicago White Sox--Pete Gebrian, p
New York Mets--Lonny Frey, 2b
Brooklyn Dodgers--Hank Camelli, c
St. Louis Cardinals--Al Gionfriddo, of
Boston Minutemen--Lennie Merullo, ss
New York Gems--Thornton Lee, p
Houston Buffs--Mel Queen Sr., p
Philadelphia Quakers--John McHale, 1b
Detroit Tigers--Marv Rackley, of
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Al Lakeman, c
Pittsburgh Panthers--Dick Starr, p
Washington Irish--pass
Tenth Round
Chicago White Sox--pass
New York Mets--Lee Handley, 3b-2b
Brooklyn Dodgers--Howie Schultz, 1b
St. Louis Cardinals--Bobby Sturgeon, ss-2b
Boston Minutemen--Mario Pieretti, p
New York Gems--pass
Houston Buffs--Willard Brown, of
Philadelphia Quakers--Gene Mauch, 2b-ss
Detroit Tigers--Jack Conway, ss
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Johnny Beazley, p
Pittsburgh Panthers--Nick Etten, 1b
Washington Irish--pass
Supplementary Round
Brooklyn Dodgers--Tom McBride, of
Philadelphia Quakers--Doc Cramer, of
Detroit Tigers--Cecil Travis, 3b-ss
Milwaukee Gold Sox--Tommy Fine, p
Pittsburgh Panthers--Dick Adams, 1b-of
Monday, March 19, 2001
1946 Wrapup
Final Standings
Red WON LOST PCT GB
1946 Pittsburgh PIT 101 55 .647 ----
1946 Washington WAS 94 62 .603 7.0
1946 Philadelphia PHI 92 64 .590 9.0
1946 Brooklyn BRK 59 97 .378 42.0
White WON LOST PCT GB
1946 Milwaukee MIL 93 63 .596 ----
1946 Houston HOU 89 67 .571 4.0
1946 Boston BOS 71 85 .455 22.0
1946 Chicago CHI 48 108 .308 45.0
Blue WON LOST PCT GB
1946 Detroit DET 88 68 .564 ----
1946 N.Y. Gems NYG 79 77 .506 9.0
1946 St. Louis STL 65 91 .417 23.0
1946 N.Y. Mets NYM 57 99 .365 31.0
Playoffs
Pittsburgh defeated Detroit, 4 games to 0
Washington defeated Milwaukee, 4 games to 1
Mulcahy Cup Finals
Washington defeated Pittsburgh, 4 games to 3
Leaders
BATTING AVERAGE HOME RUNS
S.Musial PHI .377 R.Kiner STL 40
G.Kell BOS .333 C.Keller WAS 34
J.Pesky HOU .332 H.Greenberg WAS 33
D.Ennis NYM .323 T.Williams WAS 27
M.Vernon CHI .314 OTHERS TIED WITH 24
RUNS BATTED IN STOLEN BASES
S.Spence PHI 117 E.Stanky NYG 35
C.Keller WAS 115 J.Hopp NYG 35
G.Kell BOS 111 P.Reiser DET 34
H.Greenberg WAS 110 P.Reese DET 33
S.Musial PHI 107 S.Stirnweiss NYG 32
WINS ERA
B.Feller MIL 27 H.Newhouser HOU 1.95
B.Bevens WAS 22 S.Chandler PHI 2.08
H.Newhouser HOU 21 J.Beggs PIT 2.14
J.Sain PHI 20 H.Brecheen HOU 2.20
D.Trout PIT 20 E.Blackwell NYG 2.25
SAVES STRIKEOUTS
H.Casey PHI 34 B.Feller MIL 339
E.Caldwell PIT 31 H.Newhous HOU 315
K.Burkhart BOS 30 T.Hughson WAS 210
G.Thompson WAS 22 V.Trucks DET 209
J.Niggeling STL 21 D.Trout PIT 195
Awards
Most Valuable Player
Stan Musial, Philadelphia
Cy Young Award
Bob Feller, Milwaukee
Rookie of the Year
Ralph Kiner, St. Louis
Pepto Bismol Relief Award
Hugh Casey, Philadelphia
Manager of the Year
Pie Traynor, Pittsburgh
Sunday, March 18, 2001
1946 Finals Report
October 23, 1946
Branded as muscle-bound sluggers who inevitably choked in close games, the Washington Irish silenced their critics by capturing the 1946 Hugh Mulcahy Memorial Cup, the coveted symbol of the first-ever Postwar Baseball League Championship.
The wildcard entry in the PWBL playoffs, Washington defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers, their divisional rivals and the league’s winningest team, in seven games. Hank Greenberg was named MVP of the Championship Series after driving in ten runs to lead both teams. Greenberg’s two-run homerun in the ninth inning of a tied Game Seven was the Series-winning blow.
Boasting a lineup that featured Greenberg, Ted Williams, Charlie (King Kong) Keller, Lou Boudreau, and Whitey Kurowski, the Irish were widely expected to run away with the inaugural PWBL season. It didn’t happen, though. Based on their run differential, at least according to the Pythagorean formula, Washington should have won 102 games. Instead, they won 94 and lost 62--still good enough for a .603 winning percentage, but no better than second in the hard-fought Red Division. The Irish finished seven distant games behind Pittsburgh, and manager Ossie Bluege’s job was clearly on the line in the postseason.
The Irish turned things around in the playoffs. After winning only a third of their one-run games during the regular season, they were a perfect 6-0 in close encounters in the postseason. The Irish proved that they were a changed team by taking the first game of the Series by a one-run margin of 6 to 5. Panther centerfielder Joe DiMaggio dropped Mike Tresh’s flyball in the 11th inning. Reserve outfielder Terry Moore followed with a two-out single past Grady Hatton at third base for the gamewinner.
The Panthers came back to salvage a split of the opening two games in Pittsburgh, winning Game Two by 6 to 2 when DiMaggio redeemed himself with two homeruns. Something of a disappointment during the regular season, when he hit only .272 with 24 homeruns and 95 rbi’s, the “Panther Clipper” came back to lead all batters with five postseason homeruns.
Washington grabbed the next two Series games in the familiar surroundings of Griffith Stadium. Their Game Three win was their sixth one-run victory of the playoffs. Once again a Panther error opened the door to the winning rally when shortstop Buddy Kerr fumbled Ted Williams’s infield roller in the bottom of the 12th. Jerry Priddy followed with a walkoff double to hand Washington a 6 to 5 victory. The Irish moved to within one of the Mulcahy Cup by cruising in Game Four by 6 to 2. Panther southpaw Howie Pollet, who had pitched a no-hitter earlier in the season, could not handle the Irish’s lefthanded hitters. Charlie Keller’s two-run triple in the first staked Washington to an early lead, and Greenberg drove in three insurance runs.
Trailing by three games to one, the Panthers came back to knot the Series. They insisted upon Game Five in Washington, prevailing by 7 to 3 behind the pitching of Dizzy Trout. The righthanded Hoosier, a 20-game winner during the regular season, won four games without a loss in the postseason while compiling an ERA of 1.35. Meanwhile, the Irish were done in by the wildness of starter Bill Bevens, who walked five in five innings of work.
Back at home again, Pittsburgh tied up the Series with a 3 to 1 win. Again it was their pitching that boosted the Panthers. The veteran Schoolboy Rowe, ineffective in his first two postseason starts, held the Irish to one unearned run in seven innings. Ancient Earl Caldwell, the 41-year-old closer who had begun his professional career in 1928, pitched two perfect innings for his third save in the playoffs. Caldwell extended his streak of scoreless innings to 11.
But it was Caldwell who served up Greenberg’s homerun in Game Seven. The Irish jumped out to a 4 to 0 lead when, for the second game in a row, Pittsburgh starter Pollet was unable to handle Washington’s lefthanded bats. The Panthers clawed back to tie the game at four runs apiece. Kerr’s two-RBI triple was the most damaging blow to the Irish’s hopes. Pittsburgh could not score again, however. Although it was not a save situation, Pie Traynor brought in Caldwell to start the eighth--to hold the Irish while giving the Panthers a chance to score. Caldwell did his job in the eighth, but after pitching 12 straight innings of scoreless ball, he walked Williams and hung a curveball to Greenberg.
The Irish were the kings of Postwar Baseball.
Branded as muscle-bound sluggers who inevitably choked in close games, the Washington Irish silenced their critics by capturing the 1946 Hugh Mulcahy Memorial Cup, the coveted symbol of the first-ever Postwar Baseball League Championship.
The wildcard entry in the PWBL playoffs, Washington defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers, their divisional rivals and the league’s winningest team, in seven games. Hank Greenberg was named MVP of the Championship Series after driving in ten runs to lead both teams. Greenberg’s two-run homerun in the ninth inning of a tied Game Seven was the Series-winning blow.
Boasting a lineup that featured Greenberg, Ted Williams, Charlie (King Kong) Keller, Lou Boudreau, and Whitey Kurowski, the Irish were widely expected to run away with the inaugural PWBL season. It didn’t happen, though. Based on their run differential, at least according to the Pythagorean formula, Washington should have won 102 games. Instead, they won 94 and lost 62--still good enough for a .603 winning percentage, but no better than second in the hard-fought Red Division. The Irish finished seven distant games behind Pittsburgh, and manager Ossie Bluege’s job was clearly on the line in the postseason.
The Irish turned things around in the playoffs. After winning only a third of their one-run games during the regular season, they were a perfect 6-0 in close encounters in the postseason. The Irish proved that they were a changed team by taking the first game of the Series by a one-run margin of 6 to 5. Panther centerfielder Joe DiMaggio dropped Mike Tresh’s flyball in the 11th inning. Reserve outfielder Terry Moore followed with a two-out single past Grady Hatton at third base for the gamewinner.
The Panthers came back to salvage a split of the opening two games in Pittsburgh, winning Game Two by 6 to 2 when DiMaggio redeemed himself with two homeruns. Something of a disappointment during the regular season, when he hit only .272 with 24 homeruns and 95 rbi’s, the “Panther Clipper” came back to lead all batters with five postseason homeruns.
Washington grabbed the next two Series games in the familiar surroundings of Griffith Stadium. Their Game Three win was their sixth one-run victory of the playoffs. Once again a Panther error opened the door to the winning rally when shortstop Buddy Kerr fumbled Ted Williams’s infield roller in the bottom of the 12th. Jerry Priddy followed with a walkoff double to hand Washington a 6 to 5 victory. The Irish moved to within one of the Mulcahy Cup by cruising in Game Four by 6 to 2. Panther southpaw Howie Pollet, who had pitched a no-hitter earlier in the season, could not handle the Irish’s lefthanded hitters. Charlie Keller’s two-run triple in the first staked Washington to an early lead, and Greenberg drove in three insurance runs.
Trailing by three games to one, the Panthers came back to knot the Series. They insisted upon Game Five in Washington, prevailing by 7 to 3 behind the pitching of Dizzy Trout. The righthanded Hoosier, a 20-game winner during the regular season, won four games without a loss in the postseason while compiling an ERA of 1.35. Meanwhile, the Irish were done in by the wildness of starter Bill Bevens, who walked five in five innings of work.
Back at home again, Pittsburgh tied up the Series with a 3 to 1 win. Again it was their pitching that boosted the Panthers. The veteran Schoolboy Rowe, ineffective in his first two postseason starts, held the Irish to one unearned run in seven innings. Ancient Earl Caldwell, the 41-year-old closer who had begun his professional career in 1928, pitched two perfect innings for his third save in the playoffs. Caldwell extended his streak of scoreless innings to 11.
But it was Caldwell who served up Greenberg’s homerun in Game Seven. The Irish jumped out to a 4 to 0 lead when, for the second game in a row, Pittsburgh starter Pollet was unable to handle Washington’s lefthanded bats. The Panthers clawed back to tie the game at four runs apiece. Kerr’s two-RBI triple was the most damaging blow to the Irish’s hopes. Pittsburgh could not score again, however. Although it was not a save situation, Pie Traynor brought in Caldwell to start the eighth--to hold the Irish while giving the Panthers a chance to score. Caldwell did his job in the eighth, but after pitching 12 straight innings of scoreless ball, he walked Williams and hung a curveball to Greenberg.
The Irish were the kings of Postwar Baseball.
