Jim’s Corner
June 9, 2003
The unlimited ERA for TML
2002 will be 4.58. Anyone at 4.58 and over is
limited to 40 starts and 90 appearances.
The longest period of the TML season ended with the New York Woodchoppers (The Atlanta Braves of the TML Current) posting up 23 wins in their 30 games to take over first place by 3 games over the Commack Pink Flamingos. How important is pitching? The Woodchoppers only allowed 80 runs total in 30 games. The Woodchoppers were paced by Randy Johnson (6-0) and Omar Daal (5-0). Johnson extended his record to 9-0 overall.
Kentucky moved out to a 7 game lead over Tarpin Ridge as the WarDogs had their second consecutive 21 win period. In the battle of Lagaces, Scott put another game between himself and Darrell to up the Mudville lead to 6 games. Scott had to contend with both Kentucky and New York at home this period! The closest divisional race (as always) was in the Mays. Gotham City and Rainier both went 18-12 as the Rowdies took over first place from Wild and Zaca's by 2 and a half games.
In what might be TML2002's recurring theme, the top batter was a no-brainer. Barry Bonds created 41 runs in the 30 games with a 1.234 OPS and a .915 secondary average. Runnerup this month was Jim Edmonds of Wild who hit .408 to go along with a 1.233 OPS. In what is rapidly becoming a lost art, Alfonso Soriano of New Britain swiped 18 bases in 23 attempts.
Pitcher was tough again, but Curt Schilling of Gotham City edged out his real life teammate, Randy Johnson for this period's honors. Schilling pitched to a Gibsonesque ERA of 1.12, struck out 64 and held opponents to a .140 batting average (.417 OPS) as opposed to Johnson's 64 whiffs, 1.64 BA and (.431 OPS).
Barry Bonds has drawn 84 walks (14 intentional) in 54 games thus far this season. Do the math!
Period 3 is now underway and the reporting deadline is July 5. Don't let me have to come looking for you!!!
Both drafts were held on schedule and they were a lot of fun. Ernie Banks went to Mudville to lead off the 1953 draft and Thurman "Woodchopper" Munson set up McGraw for the rest of the 60's retro! TML1953 (our 45th season) will kick off on June 15th.
Congratulations to Willie Jelks and the Wild Weasels for their 7 game triumph over George Mowry's McGraw Misfits in the 1929 World Series.
Here are the 1929 All Star Team and Gold Gloves.
1B Jimmie Foxx (BC) Lou Gehrig (AV)
2B Rogers Hornsby (RV) Tony Lazzeri (AV)
SS Harvey Hendrick (NA) Jimmy Dykes (WW)
3B Joe Sewell (DM) Wally Gilbert (WW)
OF Babe Herman (WW) Paul Waner (NA)
OF Hack Wilson (RR) Lefty O'Doul (NA)
OF Babe Ruth (RV) Chuck Klein (DY)
C Mickey Cochrane (WW) Bill Dickey (BC)
SP Burleigh Grimes (WW), Carl Hubbell (AB), Jesse Petty (AT), Ray Kremer (WR), Firpo Marberry (WR)
RP Johnny Cooney (AT), Tom Zachary (AB), Frankie Frankhouse (RV)
Gold Gloves to
1B Bill Terry (DM)
2B Charlie Gehringer (AT)
SS Dave Bancroft (WR)
3B Joe Sewell (DM)
OF Goose Goslin (RR)
OF Lloyd Waner (AV)
OF Paul Waner (NA)
C Mickey Cochrane (WW)
P Red Ruffing (NY)
Player of the year was a runaway for Babe Herman of Wild. He was followed in the distance by Rogers Hornsby of Richmond and Jimmie Foxx of Beach City.
Burleigh Grimes of Wild made it a sweep as he was the easy winner of Pitcher of the Year honors over Kind Carl Hubbell of Auburn.
Again, congratulations to George Mowry and our new champ, Willie Jelks!
In an upset, the New York Woodchoppers grabbed the TML1939 championship on a Ted Williams homer in the top of the 9th inning in game 7 to defeat the Tom Kackley's Beach City Dukes. Congratulations to Tom! For New York, it marks the Woodchopper's 5th TML Crown.
Here are the 1939 All Star Team and Gold Gloves.
1B Johnny Mize (RR) Dolph Camilli (BC)
2B Joe Gordon (NA) Charlie Gehringer (WR)
SS Joe Cronin (MG) Arky Vaughn (RV)
3B Stan Hack (NY) Red Rolfe (RR)
OF Ted Williams (NY) Augie Galan (BC)
OF Joe DiMaggio (NY) Ival Goodman (BC)
OF Mel Ott (MG) Roy Weatherly (NA)
C Harry Danning (WR) Bill Dickey (BC)
SP Bob Feller (SL), Hugh Casey (BC), Bucky Walters (AV), Thornton Lee (AT), Red Ruffing (NY),Cliff Melton (BC)
RP Joe Heving (AT), Johnny Lanning (BU), Clint Brown (AV)
Gold Gloves to
1B Jimmie Foxx (AT)
2B Tony Cuccinello (AT)
SS Frank Crosetti (AT)
3B Kenny Keltner (DM)
OF Jeff Heath (AV)
OF Joe DiMaggio (NY)
OF Ival Goodman (BC)
C Gabby Hartnett (BU)
P Red Ruffing (NY)
Player of the year was a runaway for near Triple Crown winner Johnny Mize of Rainier. Rookie Ted Williams of New York was a distant second.
Bob Feller of St. Louis was an easy Pitcher of the Year winner. Feller grabbed 10 of 12 first place votes to outpoll Hugh Casey of Beach City for this year's honors.
The standard TML series naming convention is HHRRYY (Home team initial, Road team initial, TML Year) when reporting a series.
Next up will be the start of 1953 and we will start preparing for the 1930 and 1940 drafts in July.
That's it for now.
Jim Pertierra
6/9/03