The Boys of Summer 1946

[KG Erwin]

(Restart with 40-man rosters, finances off, player ratings changing during season, and early draft entry.)

The postwar era has brought about revolutionary changes to MLB, with the return of WWII veterans and the integration of black players. Brooklyn has three black players on the roster: 2B Jackie Robinson, C Roy Campanella and P Don Newcombe. For the first time in the 20th century, major league baseball is now a truly national game. The pool of available talent has increased exponentially, so we are anticipating an exciting season in 1946.

The pre-season outlook:

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Prior to opening day, we make four trades.

1. to the Phillies: 3B Cookie Lavagetto for SS Granny Hamner
2. to the Senators: 2B Eddie Stanky for 3B Eddie Yost
3. to the Red Sox: 1B Ed Stevens for 2B Billy Goodman
4. to the Cardinals: P Les Webber for P Howie Pollet

Our opening day roster:

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Using early draft entry, the level of talent is superb:

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The top POT hitters:

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Boston, Tuesday April 16. Howie Pollet vs Johnny Sain. 62 degrees, with a 12 mph wind out to LF. Braves win 3-2. WP: Bill Lee (1-0) LP: Joe Hatten (0-1)
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Wednesday April 17. Don Newcombe vs Mort Cooper. 63 degrees. Dodgers win 6-4. WP, CG: Newcombe (1-0) LP: Cooper (0-1)

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Brooklyn, Thursday April 18. We host the Giants for the home opener. Vic Lombardi vs Bill Voiselle. 61 degrees, with a 7 mph breeze in from CF. Giants win 6-1. WP, CG: Voiselle (1-0) LP: Lombardi (0-1)
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We have Friday off.
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Saturday April 20. Kirby Higbe vs Dave Koslo (0-1, 27.00). 50 degrees, with a 5 mph breeze out to RF. Giants win 3-1. WP: Koslo (1-1) LP: Higbe (0-1) SV: Junior Thompson (1)

Trade news: we send SS Pee Wee Reese to the Reds in exchange for 24-year-old 3B Grady Hatton. We then trade 3B prospect Eddie Miksis to the Giants in exchange for SS Buddy Kerr. While trading Reese is not popular with the fans, we have materially strengthened our infield. We also trade 3B Spider Jorgensen to the Athletics in exchange for P Bobby Shantz. 21-year-old Shantz is assigned to AA.
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Sunday April 21. Howie Pollet (0-0, 3.60) vs Larry Jansen (0-0, 5.00). 58 degrees, with a 5 mph breeze out to CF. Dodgers win 5-2. WP, CG: Pollet (1-0) LP: Jansen (0-1)

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Brooklyn, Monday April 22. The Braves visit. Don Newcombe (1-0, 4.00) vs Warren Spahn (1-0, 4.00). 38 degrees, with the wind swirling @20 mph. Braves win 6-3. WP, CG: Spahn (2-0) LP: Newcombe (1-1)

Trade news: 36-year-old OF Dixie Walker, a fan favorite, is shipped to the Athletics in exchange for 25-year-old 1B Ferris Fain. We then send P Paul Minner to the Indians in exchange for OF Dale Mitchell. Finally, 1B Howie Schultz goes to the Tigers in exchange for OF Hoot Evers. Evers and Mitchell will platoon in LF and Fain becomes our starting 1B.

We send OF Dick Whitman down to AA and call up P Art Herring.

Our lineup is now:


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Tuesday, April 23. Vic Lombardi (0-1, 6.75) vs Ed Wright (0-1, 7.50). 68 degrees. Dodgers win 3-2. WP: Hugh Casey (1-0) LP: Bill Lee (1-1) SV: Carl Erskine (1)

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Philadelphia, Wednesday April 24. Kirby Higbe (0-1, 4.50) vs Robin Roberts (0-0, 5.79). 33 degrees, with a 13 mph wind in from LF. Dodgers win 3-2 in 10 innings. WP: Hank Behrman (1-0) LP: Curt Simmons (0-2) SV: Joe Hatten (1)
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Thursday April 25. Howie Pollet (1-0, 2.57) vs Charley Schanz (0-1, 9.00). 65 degrees, with a 5 mph breeze in from RF. Dodgers win 3-2. WP: Pollet (2-0) LP: Schanz (0-2) SV: Jack Banta (1)

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New York, Friday April 26. Don Newcombe (1-1, 5.63) vs Bill Voiselle (2-0, 0.50). 41 degrees at the Polo Grounds. Giants win 5-1. WP, CG: Voiselle (3-0) LP: Newcombe (1-2)

Trade news: we send C Ferrell Anderson to the Red Sox in exchange for P Joe Dobson. Dobson joins the major league roster, and 20-year-old Carl Erskine is sent down to AAA.
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Saturday April 27. Vic Lombardi (0-1, 4.91) vs Monte Kennedy (0-0, 1.00). 32 degrees, with a 4 mph breeze out to LF. Dodgers win 6-1. WP: Lombardi (1-1) LP: Kennedy (0-1) SV: Jack Banta (2)

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Sunday April 28. Doubleheader.

Game 1. Joe Dobson vs Dave Koslo (2-1, 5.85). 59 degrees, with a 15 mph wind in from RF. Dodgers win 3-1. WP: Dobson (1-0) LP: Koslo (2-2) SV: Joe Hatten (2)

Game 2. Howie Pollet (2-0, 2.70) vs Larry Jansen (0-2, 5.57). 67 degrees, with a 13 mph wind in from RF. Giants win 3-1. WP, CG: Jansen (1-2) LP: Pollet (2-1)
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We are off on Monday.

[KG Erwin]

Standings:

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Chicago, Tuesday April 30. Kirby Higbe (0-1, 3.75) vs Hank Borowy (1-1, 1.71). 50 degrees, with a 14 mph wind out to RF. Higbe suffers a minor injury in the 1st. Joe Hatten comes in to relieve. Dodgers win 6-1. WP: Hatten (1-1) LP: Borowy (1-2) SV: Hank Behrman (1)

Higbe has a minor quadricep injury, so he will be unavailable for 6 days. Hatten replaces him in the rotation.
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Wednesday May 1. Vic Lombardi (1-1, 3.92) vs Cliff Chambers (1-1, 5.14). 51 degrees, with a 13 mph wind out to CF. Dodgers win 8-5. WP: Lombardi (2-1) LP: Chambers (1-2)

Minor league news: we sign P Ernie Johnson and assign him to single A. OF Dick Whitman is released.
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Thursday May 2. Joe Dobson (1-0, 1.80) vs Hank Wyse (3-1, 1.97). 51 degrees, with a 8 mph breeze out to CF. Dodgers win 3-1. WP: Dobson (2-0) LP: Wyse (3-2) SV: Don Newcombe (1)

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St Louis, Friday May 3. Howie Pollet (2-1, 2.77) vs Harry Brecheen (2-2, 4.55). 65 degrees. Terry Moore hits a walkoff double in the 11th, and the Cardinals win 1-0. WP: Ted Wilks (1-0) LP: Hank Behrman (1-1)
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Saturday May 4. Joe Hatten (1-1, 1.29) vs Al Brazle (3-1, 3.27). 67 degrees. Cardinals win 3-2. WP: Brazle (4-1) LP: Hatten (1-2) SV: Les Webber (1)

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Pittsburgh, Sunday May 5. Doubleheader.

Game 1. Vic Lombardi (2-1, 4.56) vs Preacher Roe (0-3, 3.10). 52 degrees. In the 2nd inning, Roe suffers a serious back injury. Jack Hallett relieves. Dodgers win 7-6. WP: Lombardi (3-1) LP: Bob Chesnes (0-1) SV: Hank Behrman (2)

Injury report: Roe's injury is serious enough for the Pirates to place him on the 60 day DL. P Al Gerheauser is called up.

Game 2. Don Newcombe (1-2, 4.88) vs Johnny Lanning (1-1, 7.59). 66 degrees. Pirates win 3-2. WP: Ken Gables (1-0) LP: Newcombe (1-3) SV: Paul Lapalme (1)
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We have Monday off.
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Tuesday May 7.

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