Infield: Wonderful Willie Smith (1963-71) will start at first, even though his wonderfulness was pretty inconsistent. At his best he could hit for a decent average and middling power. He’ll also get some work in the bullpen when needed. Second baseman William Suero (1992-93) had fewer than three dozen at-bats in the bigs, but he’s the best we’ve got. Third baseman Will Smalley (1890-91) batted .209 in his brief career, but he was a regular for a year. Shortstop Wally Smith (1911-14) played part-time for three years, and he’s actually the second-best infielder on the team.
Outfield: Hall of Fame left fielder Willie Stargell (1962-82) is going to get a whole lot of intentional walks in this lineup. Stargell hit 475 home runs in his career despite having almost everything working against him - Forbes Field, the mid-1960s pitching era, a series of nagging injuries. He used a big bat and had quick hands and was one of the most feared power hitters of his generation. He won the MVP Award (well, he shared it with Keith Hernandez) in 1979, when he was an old, overweight first baseman, partly because he had hit well but mostly because he was viewed as a great team leader, the "Pops" of the "We Are Family" Pirates. Right fielder Wildfire Schulte (1904-18) was a fine player and a colorful character who starred for the great Chicago Cubs teams in the early part of the 20th Century. (His name was Frank Schulte; the "Wildfire" nickname had to do with an actress whom he was dating and a horse he owned, which was named after the actress' play.) In 1908, when the Cubbies won the World Series, Schulte batted .389 out of the three hole in the lineup during the World Series. In 1911 he had 30 doubles, 21 triples, 21 homers and 21 steals, making him the first player in history to top 20 in all four categories. He led the NL in RBI and slugging that year, too, winning the MVP award. Center fielder Willie Simms was a leadoff hitter in the Negro Leagues. He was very fast, a good bunter and a solid contact hitter who could work the hit-and-run from either end.
Catcher: Wally Schang (1913-31) was a very fine switch-hitting catcher who scored more than 700 runs and drove in more than 700 as well. He was a very consistent hitter who batted for a good average and drew 70 walks per year. A very solid player for several American League teams. He won World Series titles with the A's, the Red Sox and the Yankees. Schang was on six pennant winners; he batted .356 in the three World Series that his teams won, and he batted .224 in the three World Series that his teams lost.
Rotation: Hall of Fame lefty Warren Spahn (1942-65) probably would have won 400 games if it wasn’t for World War II. As it is he won 363 games despite missing three seasons and change to the war. He was incredibly durable and consistent, and he won 20 games or more 13 times. Yes, 13 times. He led the NL in complete games nine times, including a run of seven straight seasons that ended when he was 42. He led the NL in ERA three times - once in his 20s, once in his 30s and once in his 40s. Spahn was smart, clever, funny, and he was an expert at changing speeds and locations to keep hitters off balance. He was also a fine hitter (35 career home runs). One of the best pitchers of all time. Wee Willie Sudhoff (1897-1906) was a 5-foot-7 righty who won 103 games in his career. He lived his whole life in St. Louis and played for both the Cardinals and the Browns. Wayne Simpson (1970-77) was a big kid with a strong arm who went 14-3 as a 21-year-old rookie for the Reds but quickly developed arm trouble. If he had stayed healthy, he would have been a key member of the Big Red Machine, but it wasn't to be. He gave up Hank Aaron’s 3,000th hit. Will Sawyer (1883) had a 2.36 ERA as an 18-year-old and then never pitched again. Walter Silva (2009) was a decent pitcher in the Mexican League, but he got his butt kicked as a 32-year-old major-league rookie in 2009.
Bullpen: Wes Stock (1959-67) was a durable reliever who be the team’s closer until someone else wrestles the job away from him. He was solid and unspectacular throughout his career and he went on to serve many years as a pitching coach. Willard Schmidt (1952-59) had a fine career with the Cardinals and the Reds and will serve as this team's primary set-up man. Will Smith (2012- ) is a flame-throwing southpaw who strikes out 10 batters per nine innings and has consistently good ERAs. He has been used primarily as a lefty specialist, but will get more work out of this bullpen. He's a big fella (6-5, 265 pounds) so we're guessing he can handle the workload. Wayne Schurr (1964) gave up a lot of hits but not all that many runs in his one year in the majors. Walt Smallwood (1917-19) pitched a few games in the bigs. Walter Signer (1943-45)) was in his mid-30s when he was used as a fill-in during World War II. Willie (Not So Wonderful) Smith (1994) did not do anything to distinguish himself in the majors, but he’ll pitch some mop-up for this team.
Bench: Outfielder Wes Schulmerich (1931-34) had many great seasons in the Pacific Coast League before making it to the majors in his late 20s. He then had a few good seasons as a role player with the Braves and the Phillies. Outfielder Walter Sessi (1941-46) had a distinguished minor-league career (1900 hits, including 253 home runs) but barely made a dent in the bigs. Walter Schmidt (1916-25) had a long career with the Pirates but was a very weak hitter. Wally Shannon (1959-60) is a backup infielder, and Wally Shaner (1923-29) a backup outfielder.
Manager: Willie Stargell never managed, but he gets the shot here (as player-manager) out of respect for his leadership skills.
Outfield: Hall of Fame left fielder Willie Stargell (1962-82) is going to get a whole lot of intentional walks in this lineup. Stargell hit 475 home runs in his career despite having almost everything working against him - Forbes Field, the mid-1960s pitching era, a series of nagging injuries. He used a big bat and had quick hands and was one of the most feared power hitters of his generation. He won the MVP Award (well, he shared it with Keith Hernandez) in 1979, when he was an old, overweight first baseman, partly because he had hit well but mostly because he was viewed as a great team leader, the "Pops" of the "We Are Family" Pirates. Right fielder Wildfire Schulte (1904-18) was a fine player and a colorful character who starred for the great Chicago Cubs teams in the early part of the 20th Century. (His name was Frank Schulte; the "Wildfire" nickname had to do with an actress whom he was dating and a horse he owned, which was named after the actress' play.) In 1908, when the Cubbies won the World Series, Schulte batted .389 out of the three hole in the lineup during the World Series. In 1911 he had 30 doubles, 21 triples, 21 homers and 21 steals, making him the first player in history to top 20 in all four categories. He led the NL in RBI and slugging that year, too, winning the MVP award. Center fielder Willie Simms was a leadoff hitter in the Negro Leagues. He was very fast, a good bunter and a solid contact hitter who could work the hit-and-run from either end.
Catcher: Wally Schang (1913-31) was a very fine switch-hitting catcher who scored more than 700 runs and drove in more than 700 as well. He was a very consistent hitter who batted for a good average and drew 70 walks per year. A very solid player for several American League teams. He won World Series titles with the A's, the Red Sox and the Yankees. Schang was on six pennant winners; he batted .356 in the three World Series that his teams won, and he batted .224 in the three World Series that his teams lost.
Rotation: Hall of Fame lefty Warren Spahn (1942-65) probably would have won 400 games if it wasn’t for World War II. As it is he won 363 games despite missing three seasons and change to the war. He was incredibly durable and consistent, and he won 20 games or more 13 times. Yes, 13 times. He led the NL in complete games nine times, including a run of seven straight seasons that ended when he was 42. He led the NL in ERA three times - once in his 20s, once in his 30s and once in his 40s. Spahn was smart, clever, funny, and he was an expert at changing speeds and locations to keep hitters off balance. He was also a fine hitter (35 career home runs). One of the best pitchers of all time. Wee Willie Sudhoff (1897-1906) was a 5-foot-7 righty who won 103 games in his career. He lived his whole life in St. Louis and played for both the Cardinals and the Browns. Wayne Simpson (1970-77) was a big kid with a strong arm who went 14-3 as a 21-year-old rookie for the Reds but quickly developed arm trouble. If he had stayed healthy, he would have been a key member of the Big Red Machine, but it wasn't to be. He gave up Hank Aaron’s 3,000th hit. Will Sawyer (1883) had a 2.36 ERA as an 18-year-old and then never pitched again. Walter Silva (2009) was a decent pitcher in the Mexican League, but he got his butt kicked as a 32-year-old major-league rookie in 2009.
Bullpen: Wes Stock (1959-67) was a durable reliever who be the team’s closer until someone else wrestles the job away from him. He was solid and unspectacular throughout his career and he went on to serve many years as a pitching coach. Willard Schmidt (1952-59) had a fine career with the Cardinals and the Reds and will serve as this team's primary set-up man. Will Smith (2012- ) is a flame-throwing southpaw who strikes out 10 batters per nine innings and has consistently good ERAs. He has been used primarily as a lefty specialist, but will get more work out of this bullpen. He's a big fella (6-5, 265 pounds) so we're guessing he can handle the workload. Wayne Schurr (1964) gave up a lot of hits but not all that many runs in his one year in the majors. Walt Smallwood (1917-19) pitched a few games in the bigs. Walter Signer (1943-45)) was in his mid-30s when he was used as a fill-in during World War II. Willie (Not So Wonderful) Smith (1994) did not do anything to distinguish himself in the majors, but he’ll pitch some mop-up for this team.
Bench: Outfielder Wes Schulmerich (1931-34) had many great seasons in the Pacific Coast League before making it to the majors in his late 20s. He then had a few good seasons as a role player with the Braves and the Phillies. Outfielder Walter Sessi (1941-46) had a distinguished minor-league career (1900 hits, including 253 home runs) but barely made a dent in the bigs. Walter Schmidt (1916-25) had a long career with the Pirates but was a very weak hitter. Wally Shannon (1959-60) is a backup infielder, and Wally Shaner (1923-29) a backup outfielder.
Manager: Willie Stargell never managed, but he gets the shot here (as player-manager) out of respect for his leadership skills.
No comments:
Post a Comment