The 1940 Brooklyn Dodgers (85-69, 2nd place)

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Tuesday Sept 10. We begin a 17-day homestand by hosting the Cubs. VanderMeer (9-10, 3.93) vs Passeau (14-13, 3.14). 69 degrees. The Cubs win 8-7. WP, CG: Passeau LP: Strincevich
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Wednesday Sept 11. Hudson (16-11, 3.76) vs Lee (10-12, 3.30). 75 degrees, with a 10 mph wind blowing in from CF. The Cubs win 8-3. WP, CG: Lee LP: Hudson

The Reds lose, but we drop to 3rd place. St Louis is now in 2nd place, 2.5 GB Cincinnati.

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Thursday Sept 12. The Pirates visit. Smith (11-11, 3.82) vs Bowman (13-12, 3.81). 84 degrees, with a 5 mph breeze in from LF. We win it 6-4. WP: Smith LP: Bowman

Personal note: I was a veteran of the USMC in the World War of 1914-18, serving with the 5th Marines as a company commander in 1918. I retired as a Captain. I've made contacts with old friends. My contract with the Dodgers ends after 1941. Given the current international situation, I am giving consideration to petitioning for re-instatement. More about this later.
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Friday Sept 13. Casey (15-8, 3.69) vs Tobin (8-14, 4.36). 77 degrees, with a 7 mph breeze in from RF. In the bottom of the 15th, York singles and drives in Reiser. We win 5-4. WP: Strincevich LP: Swift
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Saturday Sept 14. Johnson (2-2, 1.44) vs Brown (8-12, 3.17). 64 degrees, with a 7 mph breeze blowing out to LF. The Pirates win 12-8. WP, CG: Brown LP: Johnson

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Sunday Sept 15. It's do or die time as we face the Reds in a doubleheader.

Game 1. VanderMeer (9-10, 4.11) vs Walters (16-14, 2.85). I take a gamble by resting my regular OF starters. Paul Waner will be in LF, rookie Stan Spence in CF and Gene Moore in RF. 65 degrees, with a 6 mph breeze out to LF. In the 2nd, Bobby Doerr hits his 17th HR. York homers in the 3rd. VanderMeer pitches a 6-hit shutout as we win 3-0. Walters loses.

Game 2. Hudson (16-12, 3.90) vs Hamlin (14-10, 2.63) . 77 degrees, with a 20 mph wind in from RF. Hudson pitches a 7-hit shutout. The Dodgers win 4-0. Hamlin loses.

These victories pull us to within 3 games of the Reds. We are still alive.

We have Monday off.

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Tuesday Sept 17. The second-place Cardinals come to town. Casey (15-8, 3.69) vs Cooper (13-10, 3.20). 73 degrees, with a 20 mph wind blowing out to CF. In the bottom of the 10th, Doerr hits the GW RBI! Dodgers win, 3-2. WP: Mills LP: Dean
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Wednesday Sept 18. Johnson (2-3, 2.87) vs Warneke (13-13, 3.09). 67 degrees, with an 11 mph wind blowing out to CF. Slaughter hits the GW RBI in the bottom of the 11th, and we win it 7-6! WP: Strincevich LP: Bowman
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We have Thursday off. The Reds win, but we are in 2nd place, 3.5 GB, with 10 games left to play. The Cardinals are in third, 5 GB.

In the AL, the Yankees' magic number is 3. The Indians are 5 GB.

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Friday Sept 20. The sixth-place Phillies visit. VanderMeer (10-10, 3.95) vs Higbe (11-16, 3.75). 74 degrees, with an 11 mph wind out to CF. The Phillies win it 12-9. WP: Higbe LP: VanderMeer SV: Head
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Saturday Sept 21. Hudson (17-12, 3.75) vs Smith (1-5, 2.87). 66 degrees, with a 15 mph wind out to RF. Ted Williams becomes the hero, hitting a 3-run HR in the bottom of the 10th to give us a 10-9 victory. WP: Strincevich LP: Beck
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Sunday Sept 22. Casey (15-8, 3.63) vs Schott (10-5, 2.57). 75 degrees, with a 3 mph breeze out to LF. We rout the Phillies 11-1. WP, CG: Casey LP: Schott

The Pirates defeat the Reds, so we remain 3 GB Cincinnati. We have 7 games left to play.

The Yankees clinch the AL pennant.

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Monday Sept 23. Here come the Giants. Smith (12-11, 3.78) vs Gumbert (15-9, 3.50). 73 degrees, with a 4 mph breeze in from CF. The Giants win 4-3 in 11 innings. WP: Melton LP: Strincevich

In Pittsburgh, the Reds win 3-1.
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Tuesday Sept 24. VanderMeer (10-11, 4.02) vs Salvo (8-6, 2.95). 72 degrees. We win 6-2. WP, CG: VanderMeer LP: Salvo
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Wednesday Sept 25. Hudson (17-12, 3.79) vs Hubbell (10-11, 3.43). 80 degrees, with a 4 mph breeze in from RF. The Dodgers win 3-1. WP, CG: Hudson LP: Hubbell

The Reds get shutout by the Cardinals.

[KG Erwin]

Brooklyn, Thursday Sept 26. We host the sixth-place Braves. Casey (16-8, 3.53) vs Lanning (2-7, 6.94). 70 degrees, with a 9 mph breeze out to LF. The Dodgers win 4-1. WP, CG: Casey LP: Lanning
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Friday Sept 27. Smith (12-11, 3.74) vs Errickson (8-14, 4.57). 77 degrees, with a swirling 20 mph wind. The Braves win 5-1. WP, CG: Errickson LP: Smith

The Reds clinch the NL. They will face the Yankees in the World Series.

In Brooklyn there are many broken hearts, and once again, the refrain is "wait till NEXT year".

We pack up and head to Philadelphia, as we will face the Phillies in the last two games of the season.

The defending champion Yankees are already heavy favorites to win the WS.

[Wrathchild]

I'm starting to think I might just be a crappy manager, as I've already succeeded in putting my version of Brooklyn in last place. Your team kicks butt!

[KG Erwin]

Philadelphia, Saturday Sept 28. VanderMeer (11-11, 3.94) vs Higbe (13-16, 3.74). 77 degrees, with an 8 mph breeze out to CF. The Phillies win 5-3. WP, CG: Higbe LP: VanderMeer
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Sunday Sept 29. Hudson (18-12, 3.69) vs Smith (1-6, 2.73). 76 degrees. Hudson closes our season with a 5-hit shutout. We win 5-0. Smith takes the loss.

[KG Erwin]

The final standings:

[KG Erwin]

The Cincinnati Reds upset the Yankees in the World Series, winning 4 games to 1!
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AL MVP: Charlie Keller, NY Yankees

NL MVP: Ted Williams, Brooklyn Dodgers

Other notable achievements by Brooklyn players:

NL Best Rookie Player: Pee Wee Reese
NL Best Rookie Pitcher: Sid Hudson
Most Stolen Bases: Pete Reiser (55)
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The Dodgers had a good run, and we have reason to expect improvement in 1941, as my young team has gained experience.

For the loyal Brooklyn fans, the cry, once again, is "wait till next year".

[Wrathchild]

You were so close!!!