Now Available: Diamond Legacies 1948

Volume 4 of the Diamond Legacies series is published! Rosters are provided for all of the major league teams in 1948.

Diamond Legacies 1948 is available as a paperback and as a Kindle e-book.

Indians vs. Yankees

On Friday, August 27, 1948, the Cleveland Indians arrived in New York to start a three-game series against the Yankees. With the season about to enter the home stretch, these two teams and the Boston Red Sox were all within one game of each other for the lead in the American League standings. For this replay, I used the lineup from the series opener with Bob Feller starting for the Indians and Vic Raschi starting for the Yankees.

Both pitchers were sharp out of the gate, each allowing only one hit and zero runs over the first three frames. Feller even struck out the side in the third. In the top of the fourth, Cleveland shortstop (and manager) Lou Boudreau connected for a solo homer into the left field seats. In the bottom of the frame, Yankee first baseman Tommy Henrich singled with one out. Joe DiMaggio followed with a double down the left field line to tie the game.

Tension mounted over the following innings as neither offense could break through with the go-ahead run. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Charlie Keller and Phil Rizzuto delivered back-to-back singles. Feller then walked catcher Gus Niarhos to load the bases. Yankee skipper Bucky Harris summoned Johnny Lindell to pinch hit for Raschi. With the game on the line, Lindell slapped a grounder to first. Eddie Robinson fielded it and threw home to force out the runner and keep the game tied. Feller then retired Snuffy Stirnweiss to end the threat.

The game remained tied heading into the ninth. With one out in the top of the frame, Cleveland centerfielder Larry Doby lifted a fly ball to right that would not have cleared the wall in most ballparks. But it found the front row of the short right field porch at Yankee Stadium to give the Indians the lead. With Feller starting to tire, Boudreau called on Satchel Paige for the bottom of the ninth. The move looked like it might backfire when Berra led off with a single, but Paige rebounded to strike out Keller and Rizzuto. Harris then brought in lefty-batting George McQuinn to pinch hit for Niarhos. The veteran Paige retired McQuinn on a grounder to first to save the Cleveland victory. Feller picked up the win with seven strikeouts and only six hits allowed in his eight innings.

Cleveland 2, New York 1

Historical Note: Cleveland won the real game that Feller and Raschi started 8-1. It was actually the first game of a doubleheader and the Yankees won the second game 7-2.

Dodgers vs. Yankees

The Dodgers and Yankees are the next two teams from 1948 to take the field. These clubs faced each other in the 1947 World Series and both placed third in their league a year later. Ralph Branca took the mound for the visitors from Brooklyn and Eddie Lopat got the nod for New York.

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Yankees opened the scoring in the bottom of the third. Snuffy Stirnweiss led off the frame with a double. After Lopat struck out trying to bunt, leadoff hitter Bobby Brown singled to drive in Stirnweiss. Tommy Henrich followed with a single and then Joe DiMaggio delivered the fourth hit of the inning to send Brown across the plate. Brooklyn got on the board in the top of the fifth when Roy Campanella doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Pinch hitter Bruce Edwards, batting for Branca, singled to drive in Campanella. 

Dodger reliever Paul Minner created trouble for himself by walking the first two batters in the bottom of the sixth. Yankee first baseman George McQuinn made him pay by drilling an opposite field homer that increased New York's lead to 5-1. Lopat allowed only one more hit the rest of the way and the Yankee fans went home happy.

New York 5, Brooklyn 1

Red Sox vs. Cardinals

For my next game with the 1948 teams the Red Sox took on the Cardinals at Sportsman's Park. These two teams met in the World Series two years earlier and finished second in their respective leagues in 1948. Boston actually finished in a tie for first in the American League but lost a pennant-deciding playoff game against Cleveland. St. Louis started its 20-game winner Harry "the Cat" Brecheen (2.24 ERA) and the Red Sox gave the ball to Mel Parnell (15-8, 3.14 ERA). 

Boston centerfielder Dom DiMaggio led off the game with a double. Two batters later, Ted Williams sent him home with a single. In the top of the third, the Splendid Splinter drove in his second run with a double that plated Billy Goodman. In the bottom of the frame, Red Schoendienst put St. Louis on the board with an RBI double of his own. He advanced to third on a ground out and then came home on Stan Musial's RBI grounder. 

The game remained tied 2-2 until the bottom of the fifth when a Schoendienst single and walks to Musial and Nippy Jones loaded the bases. Cardinal third baseman Don Lang then singled to drive in a pair. Stan the Man added to the St. Louis lead with a solo homer to lead off the seventh. Later in the inning, back-to-back doubles by Terry Moore and Marty Marion put the Cards up by four. Brecheen held the Red Sox in check the rest of the way to lock down the win for the home team.

St. Louis 6, Boston 2

Elite Giants vs. Monarchs

With the first proof copy for Diamond Legacies 1948 on its way, I'm starting to play games with the 1948 teams. For the first contest, I went with the Baltimore Elite Giants (NNL) vs. the Kansas City Monarchs (NAL) at Blues Stadium in KC. Each of these teams finished first in one of their half-seasons that year, before losing their respective league championship series.

Baltimore started its ace Bill Byrd, who led the Negro National League in wins and innings pitched in 1948, while posting a 1.75 ERA. Kansas City countered with Jim LaMarque, who similarly led the Negro American League in wins and innings pitched, though his 3.20 ERA was a bit less formidable.

The Monarchs jumped out to an early lead when Herb Souell doubled with one out in the first and Willard Brown followed with a triple. Hank Thompson then laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring home his team's second run. LaMarque held the Elite Giants scoreless for four innings, but Baltimore centerfielder Henry Kimbro led off the fifth with a solo home run. Two more hits followed in the inning, but LaMarque worked out of trouble to preserve his team's lead.

Monarchs first baseman Buck O'Neil beat out a slow roller to open the bottom of the sixth. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a single by LaMarque. Baltimore put two men on in the top of the seventh, but could not score. LaMarque retired nine batters in a row to close out a complete-game victory. The Monarchs southpaw struck out eight and walked just one.

Kansas City 3, Baltimore 1

Diamond Legacies Volume 4

We are rounding third and heading for home with Book 4. It should be available by the end of the month.

The year for Volume 4 is 1948! Things to note about this year:

• Cleveland won the World Series. Find out how that great Indians team stacks up against the Gas House Gang, Murderers' Row, and the Big Red Machine.
• Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial were in their primes, while Willie Mays debuted for the Birmingham Black Barons.
• The Homestead Grays won the last Negro League World Series.
• The battle for the American League pennant was a tight three-team race, ending with the first ever playoff game for the Junior Circuit.

Hope to see you on the field with Diamond Legacies 1948.

A's vs. Pirates Series MVP

There were two leading candidates for series MVP, resulting in a tie vote between Pirates outfielder Bill Robinson and pitcher Jerry Reuss. Despite starting only three of the six games, Robinson led all players with 10 hits and a .625 batting average. Originally slated as the Bucs top reserve, Robinson worked his way into the starting lineup, scoring five runs and driving in three. Reuss for his part did not allow an earned run in his 16 innings pitched, while striking out 11. After a hard-luck no-decision in Game 1, Reuss shut down the A's on three hits in a pivotal Game 5 shutout. Pirates hurler Jim Rooker finished 3rd in the MVP voting for his two wins and 1.10 ERA over 16 1/3 innings.

Other key contributors to the Pittsburgh triumph included Dave Parker who belted two home runs and drove in six and Manny Sanguillen who added a homer and three RBI. Leadoff hitter Rennie Stennett scored four runs and drove in three. 

Oakland's offense struggled throughout the series. Joe Rudi batted just .182 but contributed two home runs and three RBI. Gene Tenace added a homer and two RBI, while Bert Campaneris led his team with three runs scored. Though he batted just .143, leadoff hitter Bill North walked three times and stole six bases. Reggie Jackson was the straw that stirred no drink, striking out eight times during his abysmal 2 for 21 showing at the plate. Oakland's pitching staff, on the other hand, accounted well for itself. Vida Blue posted a 2.25 ERA over his two starts and Dick Bosman threw a shutout in his only outing.

A's vs. Pirates Game 6

Facing elimination, Oakland manager Alvin Dark turned to Ken Holtzman to try to extend the series. Pittsburgh started Jim Rooker, setting up another battle of the southpaws.

Rennie Stennett doubled to lead off the game. Bill Robinson followed with a single to put men at the corners. After Dave Parker struck out, Manny Sanguillen singled to put the Bucs ahead 1-0. In the bottom of the first, Bert Campaneris reached on an error and stole second. Joe Rudi advanced the runner to third with a sacrifice fly and Claudell Washington doubled to tie the game.

With both pitchers dealing, the game remained 1-1 through five innings. In the top of the sixth, Rooker reached on an error and scored on a double by Stennett. Robinson followed with a double of his own to drive in another run. After the Cobra grounded out, Sanguillen singled to bring home Pittsburgh's third run in the inning. Looking to answer, Bill North and Campaneris singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth. But Rudi grounded into a double play to squash the rally. The A's would manage only one more hit the rest of the way as Rooker went the distance, allowing just one unearned run.

The Pirates win the series four games to two.

Game 6: Pittsburgh 4, Oakland 1

A's vs. Pirates Game 5

With the series tied at two games apiece, the pitching matchup for Game 5 was a rematch of Game 1: Vida Blue vs. Jerry Reuss. Fans on both sides hoped their southpaw ace could put their team in the driver's seat.

Oakland centerfielder Bill North lead off the game with a single. He then stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Claudell Washington. But Reuss struck out Joe Rudi and retired Reggie Jackson on a ground out to end the scoring threat. Pirates catcher Manny Sanguillen doubled to open the bottom of the second. Two batters later, Richie Zisk laced a single to give Pittsburgh an early lead.

Sanguillen struck again in the fourth; this time he deposited a Vida Blue fastball over the left field wall to put his team up 2-0. Pittsburgh's hottest hitter, Bill Robinson, singled to open the bottom of the sixth. Dave Parker followed with a home run to double the Bucs lead. Reuss meanwhile took care of business from the mound. The Pittsburgh ace struck out six and allowed only three hits in a dominating shutout.

The series heads back to Oakland for Game 6 with the Pirates up three games to two.

Game 5: Pittsburgh 4, Oakland 0

A's vs. Pirates Game 4

Looking to even the series, Pittsburgh manager Danny Murtaugh gave the ball to his promising rookie southpaw John Candelaria (2.76 ERA). Oakland skipper Alvin Dark turned to veteran hurler Sonny Siebert (3.90 ERA) to start Game 4.

The A's struck early when Joe Rudi clubbed a solo homer in the top of the first. Pittsburgh answered in the bottom of the third after Rennie Stennett doubled and then scored when A's second baseman Phil Garner misplayed an Al Oliver grounder that rolled into the outfield. The game remained knotted 1-1 into the bottom of the seventh. Richie Hebner led off that frame with a double and, following a strikeout, advanced to third on a double by pinch hitter Bill Robinson. Stennett singled to drive in Hebner and Oliver sent Robinson home with a sacrifice fly. Reliever Kent Tekulve took over for the Candy Man in the top of the eighth and retired six straight batters to close out the Pirates victory.

The series will return to Three Rivers Stadium for Game 5.

Game 4: Pittsburgh 3, Oakland 1

A's vs. Pirates Game 3

The Pirates hosted the A's at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh for Game 3 of the series. Bruce Kison (12-11, 3.23) started for the home team, while 11-game winner Dick Bosman took the mound for the visitors.

Both pitchers were in top form, posting zeroes through the first three innings. In the top of the fourth, Oakland catcher Gene Tenace connected for a solo home run. Two innings later, Reggie Jackson (who was 0 for 10 thus far in the series) nearly followed suit, but his deep drive hit the wall for a double. The A's could not capitalize though and Reggie was stranded at second. That missed opportunity did not matter because Bosman dominated from the mound. The Oakland hurler retired the last 14 Pirate batters in a row to complete a two-hit shutout. 

Similar to Game 1, the A's prevailed 1-0 in a pitchers' duel. Despite being outscored 9-5 over the first three games, the boys in green and yellow hold a 2-1 advantage in the series.

Game 3: Oakland 1, Pittsburgh 0

A's vs. Pirates Game 2

After being contained in Game 1, both offenses broke out to combine for 22 hits in Game 2. One team made the most of its opportunities, while the other team left 10 men on base.

Oakland started 18-game winner Ken Holtzman and Pittsburgh gave the ball to Jim Rooker and his sub-3.00 ERA. The A's started the scoring in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer from Joe Rudi. The Pirates answered in the second with a solo shot from Willie Stargell. Richie Zisk delivered an RBI single in the fourth to tie the game at two apiece. A two-run single from Bill Robinson in the fifth gave the Pirates the lead. Dave Parker blasted a two-run shot in the seventh to extend the lead to 6-2. The Bucs added three more in the eighth, with two runs coming home on a triple from Parker. Gene Tenace drove in a run for Oakland in the eighth, but it was too little too late.

Rooker picked up the win while striking out 10 in his 7 1/3 innings. With the lefty Holtzman starting for the A's, Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh replaced his regular centerfielder Al Oliver with Bill Robinson for this game. The move worked out splendidly with Robinson collecting five hits, two RBI, and two runs scored. Now tied at one game apiece, the series moves to Pittsburgh for Game 3.

Game 2: Pittsburgh 9, Oakland 3 

A's vs Pirates Game 1

For my next Diamond Legacies series, I'm going with the "World Series that wasn't" in 1975: Pittsburgh vs. Oakland. Those two teams had combined to capture the four previous world championships (1971-1974) and in 1975 they both made the playoffs but were swept by the pennant-winning Reds and Red Sox respectively. Game 1 took place at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The home team started 22-game winner Vida Blue while the visitors countered with their ace, 18-game winner Jerry Reuss.

Both teams put at least one runner on base in each of the first three innings, but neither side could score. Then both pitchers really started dealing, not allowing a hit in innings four through seven. In the top of the eighth, Manny Sanguillen lead off with a walk. Richie Hebner then drew a free pass to give the Pirates two men on with nobody out. Blue, however, retired the next three Bucs to end the threat. 

The Oakland ace then helped his own cause by drawing a walk against reliever Kent Tekulve to start the home half of the eighth. After Bill North grounded into a force out, Bert Campaneris doubled to drive in the first run of the game. The Pirates put two men on with two outs in the ninth, but Sanguillen grounded out to end the game. Blue struck out eight in a masterful four-hit shutout.

Game 1: Oakland 1, Pittsburgh 0 

1934 All-Star Series MVP

It is not often that a player on a team that did not win a series is named series MVP. But it does happen sometimes, and this All-Star Series is one of those times. Mel Ott takes home the trophy after batting .385 with 2 home runs, 3 runs scored, and a remarkable 8 RBI in just three games. Batting cleanup, Ott carried the NL offense throughout the series with all five of his hits going for extra bases. Master Melvin's productive bat reminded Giants fans of his dominant performance a year earlier when he helped New York prevail in the 1933 World Series. Other leading NL contributors included Frankie Frisch, who batted .455 with 3 walks and 3 runs scored. Leadoff hitter Arky Vaughn batted .333 and scored twice. Carl Hubbell tossed a complete-game victory with just two earned runs in Game 2 to keep his team in contention.

There were several key contributors to the series victory by the American League All-Stars. Lou Gehrig batted .556 and scored a couple runs, but his only RBI came on a solo home run. Mickey Cochrane hit .462 and drove in a pair of runs. Earl Averill also batted over .400 and drove in all three runs for the AL in the championship game. Lefty Gomez surrendered only three runs in his complete-game victory in Game 3.

Cool Papa Bell led the Negro National League attack with four hits, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI, and a stolen base in his two games. Ray Dandridge and Oscar Charleston each tallied three hits and combined for three RBI. Satchel Paige gave up only one earned run in six innings to pick up the victory in Game 1.

NL All-Stars vs. AL All-Stars

The top players from the National League and the American League headed to Ebbets Field for a final game to determine the 1934 All-Star Series champion. The Junior Circuit, the home team in this contest (via coin flip), gave the ball to Cleveland ace Mel Harder. The NL sent Cubs hurler Lon Warneke to the mound.

Both pitchers kept the opposing bats in check over the first three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Red Sox third baseman Billy Werber led off with a single. Two batters later, Cleveland centerfielder Earl Averill belted a Warneke fastball over the right field wall. The AL maintained its 2-0 lead through the next three innings. In the top of the 8th, Frankie Frisch drew a one-out walk. Bill Terry followed with a single and Mel Ott tied the game with a two-run double into the right field corner.

Neither team scored in the ninth and the game headed to extra innings. Bobo Newsom, who replaced Harder after the eighth, surrendered a leadoff single to Arky Vaughn in the top of the tenth, but then retired the next three NL batters in order. Phillies ace Curt Davis came out of the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the 10th—this would be his first action of the series. Bill Dickey, pinch hitting in the pitcher's spot, drew a leadoff walk. Werber then hit a slow roller to short that Vaughn barehanded but then threw wildly to first. With AL runners at second and third with nobody out, Davis intentionally walked Charlie Gehringer to load the bases. Averill then singled through the drawn-in infield to drive in the winning run.

The American League claimed the championship in a competitive series that came down to the final at bat.

All-Star Series Game 4: AL 3, NL 2 (10 innings)

NNL All-Stars vs. AL All-Stars

The Negro National League All-Stars controlled their own fate heading into the third game of the series. With a win, the NNL would be crowned champions. But an AL victory would mean that all three teams finished at 1-1 and a tie-breaker (total run scored) would determine the two teams that would play for the title. The venue for this matchup was the Polo Grounds. The American League started Lefty Gomez; the NNL gave the ball to their elite southpaw, Slim Jones.

The NNL scored first when Cool Papa Bell tripled in the top of the third to drive in Chester Williams. The AL answered in the bottom of the frame after two errors and three singles plated three runs. An inning later Jones ran into more trouble after three singles loaded the bases. Bob Johnson of the Athletics then unloaded them with a three-run double. Joe Cronin later doubled home Johnson to put the AL ahead 7-1.

The NNL closed the gap in the top of the fifth after three doubles (Chester Williams, Cool Papa Bell, and Sam Bankhead) tallied a couple runs. An inning later the AL increased their lead to 9-3 after Lou Gehrig homered and Mickey Cochrane delivered an RBI single. Gomez cruised the rest of the way for a complete-game victory in which he surrendered only six hits.

Given that all three teams finished at 1-1, those last two runs by the AL proved far more important than just insurance. Total runs in the series after this game: NL (15), AL (11), NNL (9). The National League will play the American League in a final game to determine the All-Star Series champion.

All-Star Series Game 3: AL 9, NNL 3  

AL All-Stars vs NL All-Stars

The American League all-stars battled the National League all-stars at Ebbets Field in Game 2 of my 1934 series. Thwarted by defensive miscues in their first contest, the NL turned to Carl Hubbell to try to keep the powerful AL bats in check. The Junior Circuit gave the ball to Schoolboy Rowe.

The AL scored in the top of the first when Bob Johnson singled to drive in Billy Werber, who had led off the game with a double. Mel Ott put the NL on top in the bottom of the opening frame with a two-run homer that plated Arky Vaughn. Both Rowe and Hubbell then settled down to toss four straight scoreless innings. But in the sixth, Lou Gehrig tripled and came home on a Babe Ruth groundout.

With the AL leading 2-1, Wes Ferrell relieved Rowe for the seventh. The Boston hurler immediately ran into trouble. After Frankie Frisch singled, his Cardinal teammate Ripper Collins blasted a two-run shot to put the NL in front. Later in the inning, two singles, a walk, another single, and an RBI groundout added three more runs for the Senior Circuit. Lefty Stewart came on to pitch the eighth for the AL and fared no better. NL hitters put up five more runs on a three-run homer from Ott and a two-run blast from Gabby Hartnett. Hubbell went the distance for the National League, while his offense pounded out 20 hits.

The American League will try to shake off this drubbing and right the ship against the Negro National League in Game 3.

All-Star Series Game 2: NL 12, AL 2

NL All-Stars vs. NNL All-Stars

For my next set of Diamond Legacies games, I've created all-star teams from the three major leagues in 1934: American League, National League, and Negro National League. Each team will play the other teams one time. If one of the teams wins both of its games, that team is the champion. If all three teams go 1-1, then the two teams that have scored the most runs will face off in a final game for the championship.

The National League all-stars played the Negro National League all-stars in the first game. Yankee Stadium hosted the contest, and a coin flip determined the NNL was the home team. Dizzy Dean and Satchel Paige were the starting pitchers. The National League took a 1-0 lead in the second when a Gabby Hartnett groundout allowed Mel Ott to score. Arky Vaughn scored on an error in the top of the sixth to increase the NL lead to two.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Cool Papa Bell doubled. The next four NNL batters reached on two errors and two singles, scoring three runs. Bert Johnson drove in another run on a groundout and Sam Bankhead delivered an RBI-single to put the NNL ahead 5-2. Hits from Bell and Ray Dandridge in the seventh plated another run for the home team. Doubles by Bill Terry and Mel Ott in the eighth narrowed the gap to 6-3, but the National League would not score again. Paige pitched six innings to pick up the win, while Dean took the loss despite surrendering only one earned run in six innings.

All-Star Series Game 1: NNL 6, NL 3

Diamond Legacies Book 4

Time for an update about the next volume of Diamond Legacies. Work has begun! The featured year is between the first volume and the third volume in the series. The upcoming Book 4 will include the following new items:

• Hit and Run Rule: Get ready to put those runners in motion!
• Conversion Chart to translate player ratings into 1/2 and 1/3 values. Now you will instantly know what that Elite fielder needs to roll to make a diving stop of a would-be base hit.
• Modifiers List of all the modifiers used in the game. This will make it easier to remember that a batter trying to bunt gets to lower his Strikeout rating by 15.

Diamond Legacies Book 4 will be available later this spring.

1975 World Series MVP

Joe Morgan is the clear choice for my World Series MVP. The Reds second baseman batted .450 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI, and 4 stolen bases. He also drew 3 walks and one HBP, boosting his OBP to .542. The driving force in Cincinnati's offense, Morgan adds this award to the regular season MVP he won in 1975.

Other key contributors to the Reds series triumph include George Foster who hit .364 with 3 walks and a home run. Johnny Bench batted just .182, but still led his team with 5 RBI. Pete Rose also did not hit well (.185), but he did belt a home run and scored 4 runs to lead the Reds. On the mound, Cincinnati starter Fred Norman threw a dominating shutout in Game 4, his only appearance in the series. Don Gullett matched this brilliance in winning the all-important Game 7, but his struggles in his other two starts removed him from MVP consideration.

Carlton Fisk was the top performer in the Red Sox offense with a .435 average, 3 runs scored, and 3 RBI. He also drew 3 walks and led all players with 10 hits. Carl Yastrzemski batted .240, drew 3 walks and scored 3 runs. His 5 RBI paced Boston and his 2 home runs led all players in the series. Dwight Evans contributed .250, but Fred Lynn disappointed at the plate (.125). Luis Tiant pitched well in his three starts (2.11 ERA), while posting a 1-1 record. Rick Wise (1 ER in 10 innings) delivered stellar mound work for the Red Sox as did relievers Jim Willoughby, Jim Burton, and Dick Drago, who did not allow an earned run in their combined 13 1/3 innings.

It was a competitive series, with five of the seven games decided by 2 runs or less.