Boston Braves - The World War II Years (1940-1949)

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1940

1943

1947

Decade

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Titles:

Top Boston Players of the Forties

1948 National League Champs (Lost to Cleveland)

Pitchers:

BallPark:

Johnny Sain (18.04) - 60

Braves Field

Jim Tobin (18.04) - 53

Warren Spahn (20.33) - 48

Team Name:

Al Javery (5.57) - 37

Bees (1940)

Nate Andrews (10.83) - 24

Braves (1941-1949)

Red Barrett (6.77) - 22

Manny Salvo (3.88) - 17

Owner:

Vern Bickford (3.56) - 17

Syndicate led by Charles Adams (1940)

Bill Voiselle (6) - 16

Syndicate of twelve Boston Millionaires (1941-1944)

Dick Errickson (2.67) - 14

Three Steamshovels (Lou Perini, Guido Rugo, Joe Maney) (1945-1949)

Bill Posedel (0.84) - 11

Mort Cooper (4.18) - 11

General Managers:

Ed Wright (3.06) - 10

John Quinn (1945-1949)

Catchers:

Managers:

Phil Masi (11.81) - 48

Casey Stengel (1940-1943)

Bob Coleman (1943-1945)

First Basemen:

Del Bissonette (1945)

Earl Torgeson (7.33) - 22

Bill Southworth (1946-1949)

Max West (8.18) - 19

Hall of Famers:

Second Basemen:

Warren Spahn

Connie Ryan (8.02) - 20

Whitey Wietelmann (1.75) - 13

Rookie of the Year:

Eddie Stanky (7.83) - 8

Alvin Dark (1948)

ShortStop:

MVP:

Eddie Miller (9.88) - 18

Bob Elliott (1947)

Al Dark (7.33) - 14

Dick Culler (2.88) - 11

No Hitters:

Nanny Fernandez - 10

Jim Tobin (1944)

Third Base:

Notable Events:

Bob Elliott (18.38) - 29

1940 - Midway thru the Forties, the Braves become relevant in the NL

Outfield:

for the first time since the mid Teens. Altho' the first half dozen years

Tommy Holmes (32.77) - 85

of the Forties unfortunately look like business as usual for Boston

Johnny Hopp (5.86) - 22

Butch Nieman (4.86) - 18

1940 - Coming into the Forties there are only three players on the 1940

Chuck Workman (2.88) - 16

roster who will contribute significantly during the decade. They are:

Carden Gillenwater (4.33) - 16

RHPj Jim Tobin,27, obtained from the Pirates prior to the 1940 season

Bama Rowell (5.86) - 16

RHP Al Javery, 22, obtained from Evansville prior to the 1940 season

Johnny Cooney (3.19) - 15

C Phil Masi, 24, obtained from Springfield prior to the 1939 season

Jim Russell (2.98) - 13

Jeff Heath (6.03) - 13

1941 - A syndicate of twelve Boston millionaires buys the club from Charles

Gene Moore (4.43) - 11

Adams. The club's name is changed back to the Braves from the Bees

Chet Ross (7.33) - 10

They retain both Bob Quinn and John Quinn in the front office. Smart move.

Notable Events:

1942 - The Braves make a terrific deal, trading Buddy Hassett

to the Yankees for young outfielder Tommy Holmes, 25.

1947 - The Braves obtain 3B Bob Elliott, 30, from the Pirates in a

terrific deal for four lesser lights. He goes on to win the MVP.

1942 - RHP Johnny Sain, 24. comes up as a rookie. He had originally

Altho' he was always a good hitter, Elliott's power numbers were low in

signed with Detroit but was granted free agency in 1940 when

Pittsburgh where Forbes Field was a bad fit for him. He turned into one

Commissioner Landis accused the Tigers of hoarding minor leaguers

of the NL's top sluggers after moving to Braves field.

Sain was obtained from Nashville

1948 - RHP Vern Bickford, 27, is a rookie. He had knocked around the

1943 - Casey Stengel is fired as manager

minors and spent three years in the army since he was eighteen.

1944 - The three steamshovels (Lou Perini, Guido Rugo and Joe Maney)

1948 - 2B Eddie Stanky, 32, is obtained from Brooklyn for two lesser players

emerge as the principal owners among the syndicate of twelve millionaire

Stanky doesn't supply big numbers, but he does supply a winning

Boston owners. The three are willing to spend to make the Braves a winner.

attitude and he's a fiesty, hard nosed, heady player

1946 - LHP Warren Spahn and SS Alvin Dark are rookies. Spahn was

1948 - With all the pieces in place, pitchers Spahn, Sain, Bickford, RHP

signed in 1940 as a nineteen year old.and spent three years in the army.

Bill Voiselle, 29, C- Masi, IF Torgeson, Elliott, Dark, and Stanky,and

Dark was signed as a twenty four year old and brought directly up to the

OF Holmes and Jeff Heath, 33, the Braves win the National League

Braves. He was later farmed out in 1947 to Milwaukee before coming up

pennant. They draw 1.45 million fans.

for good in their championship year 1948. Dark had been in college during

the war where he was also a good enough football player to be

1949 - After the Braves are in first place as late as June 4, it all

drafted by the NFL Philadelphia Eagles.

falls apart for them and they finish at 75-79. Manager Southworth,

who has a 3 year contract, takes a leave of absence in August

1946 - First Baseman Earl Torgeson is obtained from Seattle for two

after the team mutinies.

lesser lights. He is twenty two years old. He becomes the second Earl

of Snohomish, Washington. Earl Averill was the original

1949 - Chief mutineers Dark and Stanky are dealt to the Giants

Interestingly, both end up being long time big league managers after

they retire. You have to wonder who were the real culprits in this incident.