This time--1950-59:
*1950*
Well, it's cheaper than hiring better players....
The St. Louis Browns hire hypnotist David Tracy to cure Brownies of defeatist attitude.
I guess they didn't count on the Red Sox on snapping their fingers....
On June 8, the Red Sox spank the Browns 29-4 at Fenway Park.
Great! Now we can afford to sign a situational lefty that *every* team can use!....
TV provides $2.3M in revenue for MLB.
Could you explain the rule to me again?....
MLB institutes a new balk rule. Vic Raschi of the Yankees commits four balks on May 3.
Moneybonehead....
White Sox pitcher Bill Wight gets no hits, and four walks, and 17 strikeouts in 61 at bats giving him an AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS of: .000/.062/.000/.062.
Did he dump ice water on Mel Allen's head?
Jackie Jensen of the Phillies plays in both the Rose Bowl and the Fall Classic.
How to skewer your stats for the month....chapter i pg. i ¶ i
Gil Hodges blasts four HR in a game on the last day of August.
Road worriers....
The A's allow almost seven runs per game away from Shibe Park.
No doubt the A's were helpful in setting this record....
The Red Sox score 625 runs at Fenway Park.
And they did it again against the Blue Jays bullpen in a May game in 2004....
The Red Sox score 216 runs against the St. Louis Browns.
Early to bed Early to rise makes your ERA go sky high....
Early Wynn wins the AL ERA crown with a 3.20 mark.
Some guys just can't seen to hold on to a regular job....
Red Sox supersub Billy Goodman wins the AL batting crown (.354); Goodman plays over 20 games each at the infield corners, 45 games in the outfield, and sees time at both keystone positions.
Watch Bud Selig's head explode....
Four teams in the AL win 90 games. New York: 98-56, Detroit: 95-59, Boston: 94-60, and Cleveland: 92-62. Fifth place Washington finishes 67-87, 25 games out of fourth place.
And they invented some new swear words....
The Cleveland Indians finish fourth place in the American League with a 92-62 record; better than NL pennant winner Philadelphia Phillies' 91-63 ledger.
*1951*
Little Mr. Smug Mug....
St. Louis Browns Ned Garver goes 20-12, 3.73 ERA as the Brownies go 52-102.
How to suck....chapter i pg. i ¶ i
All pitchers who logged over 100 IP on the Browns walk more hitters than they strike out. Garver, Tommy Byrne, Duane Pillette, and Al Widmar walk 377 while striking out just 234.
In one of the innings the infield stayed in the dugout and nobody noticed....
Tommy Byrne who was traded to the Yankees walked 16 in a 13 inning game on August 22.
Why don't you go talk to Tim Wakefield Ralph and you can enjoy a good cry....
The Dodgers lose the NL flag to the Giants on Bobby Thomson's "shot heard around the world." It's the third time in six years that the Dodgers lost the pennant on the last day of the season.
*1952*
The Little Hoyt....
New York Giants pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm homers in his first MLB at bat on April 23. He never hit another dinger--his career ended in 1972.
Another record the Jays bullpen is shooting for....
On May 21, in the first inning, 19 straight Dodger hitters reach base against the Reds.
Maybe the infielders and outfielders could've brought a good book instead of their gloves....
Ron Necciai of the Appalachian League throws a no-hitter while striking out 27 on June 13.
The rest were killed by the AL....
Bob Neighbors of the Browns becomes the only major leaguer to be killed while fighting in Korea.
Heck, Jesse Orosco is still a young buck....
Satchel Paige throws a 12-inning shutout against the Tigers on August 6--he is 47 at the time.
Empty victory....
The Indians have three 20-game winners, the league leader in HR and RBI, and lead the loop in runs, runs produced, slugging percentage, triples, IP, and CG but still finish two games behind the Yankees.
What the Truck is going on?....
Tiger hurler Virgil Trucks goes 5-19, 3.97 ERA. Two of his five wins are no-hitters and a third is a one-hitter.
Rockin' Robin....
Robin Roberts wins 28 games. He goes 3-3 against the Giants, 2-2 against the Cubs, and 23-2 against everybody else.
Of course *everybody* dumps on Expo fans....
The Boston Braves draw just 281,278 for the season.
*1953*
Bobo job....
Brownie Bobo Holloman throws a no-hitter in his first major league start on May 6. He'll win two more games in 1953 and be out of baseball by 1954.
The more things change....
Paul Pettit, the Pirates $100,000 "Bonus Baby" wins his only major league game. Indians $100,000 "Bonus Baby" -- Billy Joe Davidson -- never even makes it to the big leagues.
Didn't Cito Gaston let something similar happen to Mike Timlin to help build his confidence?....
On June 18, the Red Sox almost bat around three times (23 hitters) and score 17 runs. Gene Stephens gets a modern record three hits in the inning.
Home schnookin'....
The Browns lose 20 straight at home.
[you know you who are] take note....
Al Rosen loses the triple crown when he doesn't beat out a ground ball in his last at bat of the season.
*1954*
In Soviet Russia cock smacks you around....
The Braves' Joe Adcock rips 4 HR and a double for 18 total bases on August 1.
Didn't Cito Gaston let something similar happen to Tony Castillo to help build his confidence?....
On August 8, the Dodgers score 12 runs with two out and nobody on.
Pipp squeak....
Braves OF (and hero the 1951 Giants) Bobby Thomson's injury causes the Braves to replace him with former Negro Leaguer Henry Aaron.
If he'd driven in 150 runs per year they might've had him shot....
The Cardinals' Ray Jablonski begins his career with consecutive 100 RBI seasons. He's dealt to Cincinnati at the end of the season.
The reason you've never heard about this before is because of a government conspiracy and cover-up....
Longhorn Leaguer Joe Bauman hits 72 home runs playing while for Roswell
Have you ever wondered who Joe Carter had on the baseball poster hanging in his bedroom?....
Gil Hodges of the Dodgers sets a record with 19 sac flies.
Winning a pennant is as easy as 1-2-3....
Tribe pitchers Mike Garcia, Bob Lemon, and Early Wynn finish 1-2-3 in AL ERA.
*1955*
Pitch count? What's that?....
Rookie "Toothpick Sam" Jones of the Cubs walks 185 and whiffs 198 in 242 IP.
If nothing else, he's exciting....
The same Sam Jones -- in the midst of a no-hitter -- walks the bases full then strikes out the side in the ninth inning.
Relieving yourself at the plate....
Tigers' reliever Babe Birrer (4-3, 3 SV, 4.16 ERA) hits home runs in both his at bats in a four inning relief stint on July 19.
*1956*
Dale Long-ball....
The Pirates' Dale Long homers in eight consecutive games.
Sometimes changing the pitcher involves Pampers and wet-naps....
Jim Derrington of the White Sox becomes the youngest pitcher to start a big-league game. His pitching line: 6 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 3 K. He was 16 at the time.
Ya think?....
Troy Herriage goes 1-13, 6.64 ERA for the Kansas City A's. It's his only ML season.
Why batting average is a dumb stat....
Eddie Yost garners just 119 hits and bats .231. His OBP is .412 after drawing a staggering 151 walks.
This is the only thing the 2004 Blue Jays have in common with the 1956 Yankees....
On September 21, the Yanks leave 20 men on base in a nine inning game against the Red Sox.
*1957*
You again?....
Ted Williams reaches base 16 times in 16 at bats.
Have you ever wondered why Curt Flood didn't want to go to Philadelphia?....
The Phillies finally have an African American player on the major league roster--3B John Kennedy (he received two at bats that year).
Well, it's because they all sucked....
The Kansas City A's don't have a single pitcher with enough IP to qualify for an ERA title as 14 different pitchers make starts.
We're all impressed, but let's see if you can prove it wasn't a fluke....
Pitcher Bob Riesener of the Evangeline League posts a perfect 20-0 record.
What's so amazing is that he pitched half his starts in one of the best pitchers' park in the American League....
Pete Ramos of the Washington Senators serves up a then-record 43 HR. Oddly enough, the current record was set by a pitcher who played for the transplanted Senators in Minnesota in 1987 (Bert Blyleven coughed up 50 in an excellent *hitters'* park).
Like a herd of turtles....
The Washington Senators steal just 13 bases.
*1958*
Youneverknow....
Vic Power steals three bases all season. Two of them were steals of home on August 14.
The first time is the most memorable--especially if you only do it ONE FRICKIN' TIME!!!!....
On September 20, Hoyt Wilhelm who homered in his first ML at bat in 1953 throws a no-hitter in his first major league *start* against the 1958 World Series champ New York Yankees.
*1959*
The ball wasn't loaded by the infield was....
The White Sox score 11 runs on one hit in the seventh inning against Kansas City on April 22.
If "Shoeless Joe" named his bat "Black Betsy," do you think his bat was named Adrienne?....
On June 10, Rocky Colavito slugs four HR.
Don't pinch me....
Oriole Dave Philley collects pinch hits in nine straight games.
Have you ever wondered why Sparky Anderson was fixated with using Milt Cuyler?....
In 477 at bats, the Phillies' Sparky Anderson garners just 119 total bases and has an OPS of .531 (NL OPS: .754, NL OPS for 2B: .686).
The Blue Jays couldn't get this many in a year....
On September 22, the Dodgers collect nine pinch hits.
Although Tampa Bay can make your bullpen sick too, that's not what TB stood for....
The Braves possibly lose the pennant when Red Schoendienst contracts TB and lost for the season.
Best Regards
