Baseball...numbers, stories and analysis: February 2026

1945…Hollywood endings and missed opportunities

“Baseball has come through four years of war conditions with flying colors. Well may it be proud of its achievements in this period of great stress.”

Leslie M. O’Connor,

Editor, Official Baseball Guide 1946,

A.S. Barnes and Company

The tumult of the Second World War was coming to an end across the country, and around the world. The early season concerns were allayed by the Victory in Europe in early May and cemented by the Victory in Japan in mid-August.

In the baseball world, players were returning to their teams, some in time to help secure a pennant, some to the minor leagues never again to smell the rarified air of a major league clubhouse.

And the only Commissioner that the game had known would pass away.

Kennesaw Mountain Landis, who was appointed commissioner in November of 1920, ruled the game for twenty-four seasons, leaving his indelible mark on the game, some of which are still felt today. His firm stance on gambling is still widely enforced (except that now, mot televised games are sponsored by online gambling interests). But whether fair or not, the belief that he was responsible for not allowing the assimilation of Negro League players into the major leagues also looms large over his legacy. But more on that at a later time.

Former Kentucky Senator Albert “Happy” Chandler would be chosen to lead the game through this next era of baseball. He remained in the Senate until his term was completed in November, 1945. Chandler was thought of as a ‘players’ commissioner, and would only serve five and a half years before the owners chose to not re-sign him.

It was a tenuous time. The Major League season was in jeopardy due to the ongoing wartime travel restrictions. Teams were instructed to cut their travel by at least 25%. As it was, the usual Spring Training warm weather sites were abandoned in favor of more economical localities, most of which were not ‘warm weather’.

Some of the Spring Training sites included French Lick, Indiana; Cairo, Illinois; Bear Mountain, New York; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Muncie, Indiana.

In the early spring, there was still the possibility of expanding the troop numbers by adding 4-F men, and previously discharged service members, and deploying them.

In fact, the 1945 All-Star Game, which was to be held at Fenway Park in Boston was canceled shortly after the season started, again due to the travel restrictions. The game was originally scheduled for July 10. But, as things happen, the German’s surrender in May actually eased the travel restrictions so much, that though was given to go ahead and play the Game in July, as the schedule kept the three-day All-Star Break intact. After much consideration, the decided against it, scheduling the 1946 game to be played at Fenway Park instead.

There was also a unique idea floated to play the All-Star Game in Europe, to signify the Allies victory, and considered playing the Mid-Summer Classic in Nuremberg, in a newly renamed “Soldier Field”, where baseball was played during the war, but newly appointed Commissioner Happy Chandler decided against the idea, following the suggestion of several military leaders.

What did happen, however, was there were exhibition games played over the break, sort of All-Star Games but without the glamour, and these were charity events that raised money for the American Red Cross, and the National War Fund They were played in Boston, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Washington.

There were other non-war related things of historical note, whose groundwork was laid for future advancements. And it started with New York Governor Thomas Dewey. (The pride of Owosso, Michigan)

Dewey signed the Ives-Quinn Act, which was the most comprehensive ban on racial and religious employment discrimination in the United States. Following that move, Harlem journalist Joe Bostic pressured the Brooklyn Dodgers to try-out Negro League stars Terris McDuffie and Dave “Showboat” Thomas for a spot in the organization. Branch Rickey was angered by what he considered and ‘ambush’ by Bostic, and reluctantly agreed to the try-outs. Neither was signed.

In Boston, where there was political pressure put on the Red Sox by councilman Isidore Muchnick, the team decided to hold a try-out for three Negro League stars. The three in question were Marvin Williams, Sam Jethroe and Jackie Robinson. Robinson later said that it was “…a sham. We knew we were wasting our time.”

One unnamed scout reportedly said of Robinson, “What a ballplayer. Too bad he’s the wrong color”

Neither of the three, obviously were signed, but Jackie Robinson did sign before the 1946 season with the Dodgers, and was assigned to Montreal. He would eventually make his historic debut in 1947. In Jackie’s ten years with the Dodgers, he appeared in the World Series six times.

Over that same span, the Red Sox finished in second place twice, third place three times, fourth place four times and sixth place once. It makes one wonder how much of an impact that Robinson would have made with the Red Sox.

And for the record, the Red Sox were the last team to integrate, with Elijah “Pumpsie” Green joining the team in 1959, a dozen years after the color line had been broken.

Some other off the field things to mention:

The “Barrow Regulation” was put in place, and it prohibited teams from renting their ballparks to football teams while the baseball teams were still in contention.

In the National League, if a player or manager was ejected from the game by an umpire, they were permitted to play, or manage, in the second game. In the American League, the player or manager was disqualified for the second game.

The 1945 season itself had many interesting side notes, and the way to a very unique post season.

St. Louis Brown’s outfielder Pete Gray makes his big-league debut, after being voted the Most Valuable Player of the Southern Association in 1944. Playing for the Memphis Chickasaws, he batted .333 with 5 homers, 60 runs batted in and 68 stolen bases. He would appear in 77 games for the Browns, hitting just .218. It would be his only season in the majors.

Oh, and he had only one arm.

Teammate Vern Stephens becomes the first shortstop to lead his league in homeruns. He hit 24.

Red Sox player/manager Joe Cronin breaks his leg in a game against the Yankees, essentially ending his playing career. His career ended with a .301 batting average and 1 Most Valuable Player Award in 1930.

Cronin would manage another two years, before moving into the Red Sox front office, acting as the General Manager until 1959, when he became the 4^th President of the American League, a position he would hold until the end of 1973. Cronin spent a total of 48 years involved with major league baseball, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.

Cronin broke in with the Pirates, but played sparingly. His contract was sold to the Kansas City Blues in the spring of 1928. He was spotted by Joe Engel, who at the time was a scout for the Washington Senators. The Senators purchased his contract that July, and he appeared in 63 games during the remainder of that season.

He became their regular shortstop in 1929, and became a star. Finishing in the top 10 in MVP vote four times in seven seasons. He met and married his wife, Mildred, who was the niece of Senators owner Clark Griffith.

Griffith, who seemed to always be suffering from monetary issues with his club, was offered a reported $250,000 and shortstop Lyn Lary by the Red Sox in exchange for Cronin, but did discuss the deal with Cronin before all parties agreed. So, Mr. and Mrs. Cronin moved on to Boston, where Cronin was given an unheard of five-year-contract to become the new player/manager of the Sox in 1935.

Sometimes, as a player is nearing the twilight of their playing days, they don’t see it themselves, and manage to hold on too long to that glory. And in most cases, the deterioration of skills Is apparent toa all, except for that said player.

The story goes that the signs were becoming apparent as early as 1938, when Cronin was 31 years old. While Cronin was batting .325, and earning a 7^th place MVP vote, grumblings about a search for a new shortstop was heard throughout the Red Sox front office. There was a youngster whom in the minors that some felt was the heir apparent to Cronin. He was playing for Louisville Colonels in the American Association.

The Colonels, who were an independent team, unaffiliated with any major league team, would finish last in the standings, with 100 losses. This up and coming nineteen-year-old shortstop led the team with 23 steals, while batting a respectable .277.

This young man named Harold was such a prospect that a scout convinced Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey to purchase the Louisville team, essentially to have Harold under a Red Sox contract.

The front office then sent Cronin to scout this young man. Form what I have read, Cronin got wind that he was looking for his replacement, the youngster, now twenty, failed to impress Cronin, who returned some less than glowing reports.

At the end on 1939, Cronin had batted .308, finished 16^th in the MVP vote, and led the Red Sox to a second-place finish. The youngster batted .276 and led the team in steals again, with 35. The Colonels finished in 4^th place.

Given Cronin’s report, the Red Sox traded the young shortstop to Brooklyn for four players to be named later. Considered one of the most lopsided trades in history, if fates had fallen differently, Hall of Fame shortstop Harold “Pee Wee” Reese could have been teammates with Jackie Robinson in Boston, not Brooklyn.

Red Sox center-fielder Leon Culberson performed and unassisted double play in a game against the Browns on May 25^th.

Rookie pitcher Boo Ferriss reeled off 22 consecutive scoreless innings, which is the record for the start of a career. The Red Sox rookie also won 20 games on the season.

Between May 14^th and May 17^th, every single American League game was postponed due to rain.

War hero Hank Greenberg returned to Detroit after his discharge from the U.S. Army and started in the first game of a July 1^st doubleheader against the White Sox. Hank homered in the 8^th inning against Charlie Gassaway. It was Greenberg’s 250^th career homer, and it came in his first game since May 16, 1941.

More on Greenberg later.

The Tigers purchased pitcher Jim Tobin from the Boston Braves in August, and he made his debut on August 12^th, pitching in relief against the Yankees in Detroit. He pitched three shutout innings to earn the win, being helped by his own 3-run walk off homer in the bottom of the 11^th.

Tiger pitchers Hal Newhouser (1.81) and Al Benton (2.02) finished first and second in the American League for the lowest ERA.

In a game in Philadelphia, Tigers pitcher Les Mueller pitches 19 and 2/3^rd innings in what would ultimately be a 24-inning tie game. His mound opponent Rus Christopher pitched 13 innings.

Cardinal’s outfielder Augie Bergamo celebrated Independence Day by rapping out 8 hits in a doubleheader against the Giants in the Polo Grounds. The Cards swept the day, winning 8-4 and the 19-2.

Boston Braves’ Tommy Holmes had a thirty-seven consecutive game hitting streak, which was the modern (post 1900) record. He batted a robust .423 over the course of the streak. The previous record was thirty-three by Rogers Hornsby in 1922. The streak would eventually be beaten by Pete Rose in 1978.

Rose tied the all-time National League streak that was set by Wee Willie Keeler in 1897, but when the last game of the 1896 season is added, the streak becomes 45 games. Not a point of contention, just a note out of curiosity.

Coincidentally, in 1922, George Sisler set the record for the longest American League streak, at forty-one games, later broken by Joe DiMaggio in 1941.

Holmes also has the highest differential of home runs to strikeouts in history. He hit 28 homers, and struck out 9 times. He also set the record for the most at bats in a season to finish with less than 190 strikeouts, 636.

Brooklyn second baseman Eddie Stanky set a new National League record for bases on balls, with 148. His record stood until 1996, when Barry Bonds walked 151 times. Bonds extended his own record in 2004 when he walked an unthinkable 232 times.

What makes Stanky’s all the more interesting is that he was never a big home run threat. He finished with 29 in his career. But he did hit 14 of those in 1951.

Dodgers’ rookie shortstop Tommy Brown hit a triple against Rene Momteagudo of the Phillies on August 28^th. Brown then stole home to help the Dodgers to a 7-1 victory. At seventeen years-old, Brown is the youngest to ever steal home.

On June 9^th, Dodger skipper Leo Durocher got into a fistfight with a fan, John Christian. In an altercation behind the grandstand at Ebbets Field. Mr. Christian suffered a broken jaw, and spent a reported eight weeks at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn.

Durocher, and security agent Joseph Moore were both indicted for assault on September 9^th, and went to trial on April 25^th, 1946. Both men were found not guilty after a jury deliberation which lasted less than an hour.

New York Giants (and crossword puzzle favorite) Mel Ott became the first National Leaguer to reach 500 homers, the third in history to reach that number, behind Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx. He would finish with 511, with 323 coming at his home field, The Polo Grounds.

He also became the first National Leaguer to play twenty-seasons with the same team.

The Giants played a late season game against the Reds in Cincinnati, on September 13^th, losing 3-2. The game is notable because there were only 281 fans in attendance.

From August 1^st through the 5^th, the Washington Senators played five consecutive doubleheaders, winning nine of the ten games during that stretch. For the season, they played a whopping forty-four doubleheaders. Along with the five straight instances, they had a stretch of four straight, 3 stretches of three straight, and nine times when they played 2 consecutive double headers. Overall, the second place Senators went 45-38 with 1 tie in doubleheaders.

Washington first baseman Joe Kuhel hit an inside the park homer against the Browns, at home at Griffith Stadium. It was the only Senators home homer in 1945. For the season, the team hit just twenty-seven homers.

U.S. Army veteran, and former prisoner of war Bert Shepard was called into pitch in a blowout game for the Senators against the Red Sox. He pitched 5 1/3^rd innings, giving up 3 hits, 1 earned runs, and striking out 2 to close out the game. It was his only major league appearance.

Shepard was a pilot who was shot down over Germany, and had some of his lower leg amputated. He remains the only major leaguer that played with a prosthetic limb.

Washington’s season finished their schedule a week before the rest of the league. Their home schedule ended on September 18^th, to make room for the professional and college football games that were scheduled to be played at Griffith Stadium. But they were not officially eliminated until September 3oth, when the Tigers faced the Browns in a doubleheader. More on that in a little bit.

For the last place Philadelphia Phillies, aging slugger Jimmie Foxx was finishing up his Hall of Fame career. He would retire at the end of the season, the second member of the 500 home-run club, Foxx would finish with 534 longballs, which is currently nineteenth in history.

With Mel Ott hitting his 500th homer this season, it marked the first time that 2 members of the 500 homer club were playing in the same season, and on August 5th, in a game in the Polo Grounds, Foxx made a pinch-hitting appearance, striking out in the 7th. That was the first game where two 500 home-run club members met on he field.

He was called back into action by the Cubs, owned by Bill Wrigley, in time for the 1944 season, and returned to the Phillies for 1945, this time specifically as a part-time player, and pitcher. Odd for a player to turn to pitching at the end of their career. Most often it is a pitcher who becomes a fielder. Even odder for a notorious slugger to switch to pitching.

But this was war time baseball. In fact, he pitched a complete 7-inning exhibition game against the troops in a game won by the Phillies 15-2 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. That was on August 7^th, and may well have been a warm-up assignment.

On August 16^th, he was named the starting pitcher in the second game of a doubleheader against the Reds. It was Foxx’s second start of the season and his career. His mound opponent, ironically enough, was Howie Fox. Foxx (or Double X) pitched 6 and 2/3rds innings, striking out 5, and earning the only win of his illustrious career.

I mentioned that Jimmie played for the Cubs and Phillip Wrigley. Wrigley was one of the driving forces behind the AAGPBL, or the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, made famous by the movie “A League of Their Own”, in which Tom Hanks plays a retired slugger named Jimmy Dugan, who was hired by Mr. Harvey, of the fictional Harvey Chocolate Company. Well, in real life Mr. Foxx was hired by Mr. Wrigley of the Wrigley Chewing Gum Company.

Foxx managed the Fort Wayne Daisies in 1952, a season where the Daisies paced the league, winning the pennant by three games over the South Bend Blue Sox, but were eliminated from the playoffs by the Rockford Peaches,

In 1956, he became the head coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes, and led them for two non-spectacular seasons.

Foxx, who was one of the fiercest hitters in the game, finished with a career batting average of .325, and 1922 runs batted in, to go along with the 534 homers. That RBI total placed him fifth all-time at the time of his retirement, and still ranks as tenth all time. His .609 career slugging percentage put him third at retirement, behind Ruth and Gehrig.

And his career slash lines of .325/.428/.609 easily fulfills the 3/4/5 mark of greatness in a career. His list of accolades are miles long, including winning a Triple Crown, becoming the first American Leaguer to win consecutive Most Valuable Player Awards, as voted on by the BBWAA.

Going back to the Phillies, who complied their thirteenth 100-loss season, and their seventeenth last place finish, they had another slugger with a famous name tied a record with four grand slams in the season. Mr. DiMaggio accomplished that feat, but it was Vince, not Joe.

Vince, the eldest of the three brothers, had a respectable ten-year career with a few teams. While he wasn’t as big a star as his brother, he was a two-time All-Star.

Yankees’ infielder George ‘Snuffy’ Stirnweiss led the league n hitting 22 triples, which is the most for an American League second-baseman. He was the fourth American Leaguer to reach 20 triples in a season, and tied the AL record for most triples in a season.

He also led the league in batting by a very slim margin over Tony Cuccinello of the White Sox, .3085 to .3084. Cuccinello would retire after the season.

His .308 is the third lowest average to lead the league in batting. He also led the league in hits with 195, 27 more than the runner-up, Wally Moses of the White Sox. He led the league in both stolen bases and total bases, becoming the only American Leaguer not named Ty Cobb to accomplish this, and it is a feat that has not been repeated.

He finished third in MVP vote, after a fourth-place finish in 1944. He still holds the record for the lowest career batting average by a player that led his league in batting, .268.

Red Barrett (who pitched for the Braves and Cardinals), and Hank Borowy (Yankees and Cubs) both won twenty combined games for two different teams. It is the only time that was accomplished twice in the same season.

Red Barett

Borowy actually cleared waivers, being passed on all of the other teams, before being sold to the Cubs in July, for a reported $100,000. He became the first pitcher since Joe “Iron Man: McGinnity to win twenty games over both leagues. McGinnity accomplished his feat in 1902.

Borowy and teammate Ray Prim finished in the top two in Earned Run Average, on their way to the team’s sixteenth pennant. Their pitchers finished with 74 complete game victories.

Pirates catcher, and baseball lifer Al Lopez, established a record for games caught by a catcher, with 1,918 games, passing Gabby Hartnett’s record. Lopez’ record was later surpassed by Bob Boone in 1987.

Speaking of catchers, Indians backstop Frank Hayes continued his record 308 consecutive games caught. The streak would end in April, 1946.

St. Louis Cardinals pitchers finished the season with just five hit batsmen.

On September 30^th, after three consecutive rainouts at the end of the season, the American League pennant is still undecided. Playing the Brown’s at Sportsman’s Park for a scheduled doubleheader, the Tigers needed one win to clinch the title.

With Virgil Trucks making his first and only start of the season, the Tigers pulled ahead for a 2-1 lead over the home team, and starter Nels Potter. Trucks ran into a bit of trouble, and was replaced by Tiger’s ace, Hal Newhouser, who had 24 wins on the way to his second consecutive Most Valuable Player Award.

But Hal struggled, allowing 2 runs, giving up the lead, and allowing the Browns to take a 3-2 lead at the end of eight.

Then came the kid from the Bronx. With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the ninth, Hank Greenburg (who was now playing left-field) stepped to the plate and cleared the bases with a grand slam, his 13^th of the year, and propelled the Tigers to a 6-3 victory, and clinched the pennant for the Detroit club.

Here is how the top teams in each league performed for the season. In pitching, the top three in each league were:

National League	American League
Cubs	Senators
Cardinals	Tigers
Dodgers	Browns

And in pitching, we have:

Dodgers	Yankees
Cardinals	Senators
Pirates	White Sox

As you can see, no real clear cut top team, but the overall rankings were:

Cubs	National League Champions
Cardinals	2^nd in National League
Dodgers	3^rd in National League
Senators	2^nd in American League
Tigers	World Series Champions

The stage was set for a replay of the 1935 World Series, in which the Tigers would win their first World Series title against the Cubs.

The format was a little different, again due to travel restrictions. Instead of the now familiar 2-3-2 game format, this year the first 3 games were in Detroit, and the final 4 (if all were needed) were in Chicago.

The Cubs won the first and third games of the Series, and were returning to Wrigley Field needing to win two of the next four to win it all.

Then a legend was born…

Chicago tavern owner, William Sianis attended game four, with his pet goat. (He owned the now famous Billy Goat Tavern) According to various reports, the goat was being a nuisance, and some of the authorities asked Mr. Sianis to keep the goat under control, or they both would be asked to leave.

Failing that, Sianis took his goat and left, saying, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more.”

And they didn’t. They would lose three of the four at home, losing to the Tigers, again. The second World Series title for the Tigers. But the ‘curse’ continued. From 1945 until 1984, the Cubs were never in baseball’s post season. And when they did, odd things would happen.

· Leon Durham allowing a ball through his legs which helped propel the Padres to the NL title in 1984

· In 1989, their bullpen could not hold a lead, and blew three games helping the Giants to their 1989 pennant

· The Steve Bartman game, when a Cubs fan ‘interfered with a foul ball, preventing Moises Alou from making a catch, helping the Marlins to their NL title in 2003

One could also include the 1969 game at Shea Stadium, when a black cat mysteriously appeared on the field, and walked in front of Ron Santo, who was in the on-deck circle, before strolling past the rest of the Cubs dugout.

Or even former Cub first baseman Bill Buckner making an error in Game 6 of the 1986 Series, saving the Mets from elimination, before wining Game 7 and the title.

It would be another 71 years before the Cubs would win the National League pennant and play in the World Series. The curse ended with a 2016 World Series victory over the Cleveland Indians

Other things of note:

On October 16^th, the St. Louis Browns trade George McQuinn to the Philadelphia Athletics in exchange for Dick Siebert. The Browns then tried to cut Siebert’s salary, so he abruptly retires, and in 1948 became the head coach for the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers. He led the Gophers to eleven Big-10 Championships, and three National Championships.

He won over 750 games as head coach, and the Gophers stadium was renamed Siebert Field after Dick’s passing in 1978. His son Paul pitched in the major leagues for a few years.

In late December eighty-three year-old Connie Mack, the Philadelphia Athletics owner/manager was quoted at an event in St. Petersburg, Florida, as saying, “Babe Ruth’s record won’t last.” He went on to say “…nor will the other heroic marks will be standing by the year 2000. The players always get better”

In the minor leagues, some standout performances include:

In the International League, Sherm Lollar of the Baltimore Orioles, an Indians affiliate, batted .364 to lead the league, with 34 homers and 111 RBI, along with 101 walks. His teammate Frank Skaff kept him from the Triple Crown, by hitting 38 homes and driving in 126.

The Orioles finished fourth in the league.

Montreal Royals outfielder Elmer Durrett tallied a rarity at the time. He struck out 100 times and walked 110 times for the Dodgers affiliate. For the time, a 100/100 season was not very common. In fact, his 100 strikeouts led the International League.

His teammate Les Webber led the league with a 1.88 earned run average, and other teammate Jean-Pierre Roy won 35 games for the first place Royals.

The Pacific Coast League, whose application to be recognized as a third major league was declined, played a 180-game season. The league had thirteen 20 game winners, and were led by San Francisco Seals hurler Bob Joyce who won 31 games for the Giants’ affiliate.

The Portland Beavers were the regular season champions, earning 112 wins. They lost in the playoff semi-finals to the Seattle Rainiers. And the Seals defeated the Sacramento Solons in the other semi-final. The Seals won the League Championship.

In the Southern Association, Gil Coan of the Chattanooga Lookouts, a Senators affiliate, batted .372 while stealing 37 bases, driving in 117 runs, getting 201 hits and leading professional baseball with 28 triples.

The Little Rock Travelers, a White Sox affiliate had two pitchers who were worth noting. Al Treichel struck out 207 batters, while walking 156. And teammate Earl Embree walked 120 batters in 129 innings.

Getting back to the 1945 season, we’ll look and analyze at the top performers, starting with the National League pitchers. The initial top ten performers were:

Pitcher	Team	W-L	ERA	Saves
Hank Borowy	Cubs	11-2	2.13	1
Hank Borowy TOTAL	Yankees/Cubs	21-7	2.65	1
Harry Brecheen	Cardinals	15-4	2.52	2
Red Barrett	Cardinals	21-9	2.74	2
Red Barrett TOTAL	Braves/Cardinals	23-9	3.00	2
Hank Wyse	Cubs	22-10	2.68	0
Claude Passeau	Cubs	17-9	2.46	1
Boom Boom Beck	Pirates	8-5	2.68	1
Ray Prim	Cubs	13-8	2.40	2
Bucky Walters	Reds	10-10	2.68	0
Van Lingle Mungo	Giants	14-7	3.20	0
Ken Burkhart	Cardinals	18-8	2.90	3

I included the overall stats for Borowy and Barrett, but their performances solely with their new teams was exemplary.

Now, to look and see who were the top performers compared to their teams. That initial list is:

Dick Mauney	Phillies	6-1	3.08	1
Bucky Walters
Andy Karl	Phillies	8-8	2.99	15
Hank Borowy
Van Lingle Mungo
Harry Brecheen
Joe Bowman	Reds	11-15	3.92	0
Preacher Roe	Pirates	14-13	2.87	1
Red Barrett
Ed Heusser	Reds	11-16	3.71	1

So, after analyzing, the top five National League pitchers, along with their MVP vote, is as follows:

Hank Borowy	6^th in MVP vote
Harry Brecheen	12^th in MVP vote
Boob Boom Beck	No votes
Red Barrett	3^rd in MVP votes
Bucky Walters	No votes

Over to the American League, where the pitchers performed 16.9% better than the hitters, and 7.8% better than their National League counterparts, we present this initial top ten list:

Hal Newhouser	Tigers	25-9	1.81	2
Red Wolff	Senators	20-10	2.12	2
Dutch Leonard	Senators	17-7	2.13	1
Steve Gromek	Indians	19-9	2.55	1
Al Benton	Tigers	13-8	2.02	3
Boo Ferriss	Red Sox	21-10	2.96	2
Thornton Lee	White Sox	15-12	2.44	0
Nels Potter	Browns	15-11	2.47	0
Bob Muncrief	Browns	13-4	2.72	1
Al Hollingsworth	Browns	12-9	2.70	1

And now, as compared to their team performances, we get:

Boo Ferris
Thornton Lee
Hal Newhouser
Steve Gromek
Russ Christopher	A’s	13-13	3.17	2
Red Wolff
Joe Barry	A’s	8-7	2.35	0
Dutch Leonard
Nels Potter
Bob Muncrief

We get this result as the top five American League pitchers:

Hal Newhouser	Most Valuable Player
Red Wolff	7^th in MVP vote
Steve Gromek	No votes
Butch Leonard	18^th in MVP vote
Boo Ferriss	4^th in MVP vote

Turning to the hitters, beginning with the National League, our initial top ten is:

Player	Team	HR	RBI	AVG	RCG
Tommy Holmes	Braves	28	117	.352	1.39
Phil Cavaretta	Cubs	6	97	.355	1.40
Dixie Walker	Dodgers	8	124	.300	1.42
Augie Galan	Dodgers	9	92	.307	1.30
Goody Rosen	Dodgers	12	75	.325	1.30
Whitey Kurowski	Cardinals	21	102	.323	1.24
Buster Adams	Phillies/Cardinals	22	109	.287	1.24
Luis Olmo	Dodgers	10	110	.298	1.13
Andy Pafko	Cubs	12	110	.298	1.13
Bob Elliott	Pirates	8	108	.241	1.25

Then, as compared to their team performances, we get this list:

Tommy Holmes
Vince DiMaggio	Phillies	19	84	.257	1.02
Phil Cavaretta
Frank McCormick	Reds	11	81	.276	0.91
Jimmy Wasdell	Phillies	7	60	.300	0.88
Ernie Lombardi	Giants	19	70	.307	0.84
Mel Ott	Giants	21	79	.308	0.97
Whitey Kurowski
Dixie Walker
Dain Clay	Reds	1	50	.280	0.85

Crunching and analyzing gets us this top five National League batters:

Tommy Holmes	2^nd in MVP vote
Phil Cavaretta	NL Most Valuable Player
Dixie Walker	9^th in MVP
Whitey Kurowski	5^th in MVP
Augie Galan	14^th in MVP

On to the American League, where they held a 7.8% statistical advantage over the NL hitters. Our initial list is:

Jeff Heath	Indians	15	64	.305	1.08
Nick Etten	Yankees	18	111	.285	1.12
Snuffy Stirnweiss	Yankees	10	64	.309	1.06
Roy Cullenbine	Red Sox/Tigers	18	93	.272	1.03
Vern Stephens	Browns	24	89	.289	1.04
Lou Boudreau	Indians	3	48	.307	1.01
Rudy York	Tigers	18	87	.264	0.90
Joe Kuhel	Senators	2	75	.285	1.03
Johnny Dickshot	White Sox	4	58	.302	0.98
Eddie Lake	Red Sox	11	51	.279	0.98

And then against their team performances, we get this list:

Jeff Heath
Vern Stephens
Lou Boudreau
Roy Cullenbine
Bobby Estalella	A’s	8	52	.299	0.71
Hal Peck	A’s	5	39	.276	0.76
Rudy York
Eddie Lake
Joe Kuhel
Nick Etten

Hank Greenberg appeared in only 78 games, so I didn’t include him in these rankings. If I did, he would have garnered the top spots on each of these lists, as well as being the top overall American League hitter. He finished 14^th in the Most Valuable Player vote.

With that being said, here are my top five hitters: