My 1952 Season Replay
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Just rolled a no-hitter in my 1952 Replay!
The Reds’ Ken Raffensberger (A-Z) shut out the Braves 1-0 on Friday, May 2nd. He struck out three, walked two and hit a batter, en route to a tidy 101-pitch masterpiece.
Cincinnati scored the game’s lone run in the bottom of the 7th, when John Wyrostek led off the inning with a triple, then scored on Ted Kluszewski’s RBI single.
Raffensberger improves his record to 3-and-1, while lowering his ERA to 1.93.
The Reds improve to 6-and-9, while the last-place Braves drop to 5-and-11. -
I love the weird stuff you can stumble across playing this game. Am currently on May 3rd of my 1952 Replay. Cleveland @ Washington.
Was surprised to find that, in real life that day, the Indians sent TWO of their starting-rotation pitchers to the plate… as pinch-hitters. 😲
Bob Lemon batted for Sam Jones in the top of the 8th (Lemon flied out to left), and Early Wynn pinch-hit for John Berardino in the 9th (Wynn singled and was lifted for a pinch-runner).
Cleveland lost the game 7-6.
For what it’s worth, Lemon batted .226 in ‘52, while Wynn batted .222.
But can’t say I’ve ever heard of that happening before, or since. -
Could use some guidance from any of the replay experts here…
I’m on May 8th of my 1952 replay and was surprised to find that Detroit and Washington played to an 11-inning tie that day. Yet when I look at the final AL standings, the Tigers were 50-104 while the Nationals were 78-76. So both still had their full 154 wins & losses during the season.
Do I still replay the May 8th game, knowing that will give each team 155 decisions when my replay ends?
And, out of curiosity, why would they never have simply completed that game later in the season? The Tigers visited Washington again in early June, mid-July and late August that summer. So they had lots of opportunities. Was it a rule back then that tie games were never resumed?
Thanks in advance for any insight.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WS1/WS1195205080.shtml
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So, I just rolled the game using real-life lineups from May 8, 1952. Am glad I did. Washington’s Don Johnson (D) no-hit Detroit 5-0! He walked two, but both runners were erased on double plays. So he faced the minimum 27 batters. I use pitcher upgrades, so Johnson was an ‘A’ by the 8th inning.
He improves to 2-0 in my ‘52 replay, with an ERA of 2.21. Funny how things work out sometimes.
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What a day Willie Mays just had in my 1952 Replay on GO. May 21st doubleheader against the Cardinals, Mays went a combined 6-for-6 with 4 walks.
In the Giants’ previous game (May 19th vs the Pirates), Willie drew a walk in the 8th inning, meaning he’s now reached base in 11 straight PA’s. In all likelihood, that’s a personal APBA record for me (been rolling since 1974).
The all-time real-life modern day record is 16 (Ted Williams in 1957), so Mays still has a little way to go. And he’ll face the Cards’ tough Gerry Staley (B-Z) next time out. But his current hot streak has lifted his batting average to .327 in my replay, with an OBP of .426.
Unfortunately, my replay won’t be able to enjoy 21-year-old Willie much longer. In a little over a week (on May 29th, 1952), he leaves the Giants for service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
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An update on my 1952 Replay, which has now reached the end of May and has seen 311 games played.
One thing I have definitely noticed with the '52 season… the A-ranked pitchers are nearly un-hittable. Batter’s cards with 10’s and 11’s are not very common (but lots of 8’s and 9’s). As a result, of the pitchers with 35+ innings pitched so far, there are eleven with ERA’s south of 2.00. Not surprisingly, nine of those eleven pitchers are A’s.
On the other end of the scale is poor Herm Wehmeier (D-W) of the Reds. He is 0-6 after seven starts, and has given up 51 earned runs in 40 innings (11.48 ERA). The Pirates’ Ron Kline and the Phillies’ Howie Fox (both D’s) have combined to pitch 43.2 innings and are 0-9 between them with a combined ERA of 12.57. The D’s are really tough to watch sometimes.
Anyway, here’s where things stand, as this highly-enjoyable Replay on GO heads into June…
AMERICAN LEAGUE
In real life, the 1952 Yankees were middle-of-the-pack as May ended. But here, they already lead the division by 2.5 games over Cleveland. The bigger story in the Replay has been the pitching woes in Boston. It’s not uncommon to see the Red Sox lose a high-scoring game, as the dice have been painfully unfriendly through the first one-quarter of their season. Will be interesting to see if it continues.
American League Standings:
Yankees 25-10 (-)
Indians 26-16 (2.5)
White Sox 24-18 (4.5)
Athletics 18-16 (6.5)
Nationals 18-21 (9)
Tigers 17-21 (9.5)
Browns 18-27 (12)
Red Sox 11-28 (16)AL Batting Average: .249 (Real life .253)
AL OPS: .698 (Real life .695)
AL Pitching ERA: 4.00 (Real life 3.67)
AL WHIP: 1.36 (Real life 1.37)
AL Fielding %: .977 (Real life .977)AL Individual Batting Leaders:
Batting Average: Mitchell (CLV) .358; Throneberry (BOSA) .356
OPS: Robinson (CHIA) .999; Jensen (WSH) .954
Home Runs: Easter (CLV) 11; Doby (CLV) & Rosen (CLV) each with 10
RBI: Robinson (CHIA) 35; Rosen (CLV) 32
Stolen Bases: Rivera (STLA) 7; Throneberry (BOSA) 6AL Individual Pitching Leaders:
Pitching W-L: Lemon (CLV) 8-1; Wynn (CLV) 7-1
ERA: Wynn (CLV) 1.18; Lemon (CLV) 1.50
WHIP: Wynn (CLV) 0.81; Shantz (PHLA) 0.82
K’s: Pierce (CHIA) 46; Shantz (PHLA) 38
Saves: Kuzava (NYY), Consuegra (CHIA) & Brissie (CLV) each with 5Team Thumbnails: (number in parentheses is +/- wins from real life in '52)
Yankees (+7)
A well-balanced attack, led by Yogi Berra’s 7 HR’s and 26 RBI’s. Mickey Mantle is batting .311 with 5 HR’s and 20 RBI’s. On the mound, Vic Rashi and Allie Reynolds are both 6-2. Defensively, the Yankees have committed a league-low 23 errors in 35 games.Indians (+1)
Three hitters and three pitchers have carried them. Easter, Rosen and Doby have combined for 31 HR’s and 89 RBI’s. Lemon, Wynn and Garcia are a combined 21-3 with a 1.55 ERA. Those three starters will keep them in the race.White Sox (+1)
First baseman Eddie Robinson has been outstanding, leading the league in RBI’s and OPS, while batting .331. Sherm Lollar has contributed with 6 HR’s and 26 RBI’s. Billy Pierce (6-4, 2.50 ERA) leads the pitching staff.Athletics (+3)
The A’s have over-achieved a bit, especially when you consider nobody has hit more than three homers for them. On the mound, Bobby Shantz is 5-2 with a 1.64 ERA. But nobody else on the Philadelphia staff has an ERA under 3.70.Nationals (-3)
Jackie Jensen has starred since coming over in a trade with the Yankees, batting .314 and driving in 21 runs. On the mound, four-game winner Bob Porterfield has been solid with a 1.60 ERA. Reliever Sandy Consuegra has five saves.Tigers (+4)
After an impressive start, the Tigers are starting to fade a bit. Batting only .225 as a team, there is little offense other than Vic Wertz (.248, 7 HR, 26 RBI). Shortstop Johnny Lipon is batting only .138. Dizzy Trout (3-1, 1.82 ERA) leads the pitching staff.Browns (-2)
The Browns have recovered nicely from a dreadful 1-and-13 start. Bob Nieman (.322, 6 HR, 31 RBI) has been a big surprise, as has Clint Courtney (.298, 4 HR, 29 RBI). Ageless Satchel Paige is 2-2 with 2 saves and an ERA of 1.89 out of the pen.Red Sox (-11)
Yikes. An overall team ERA of 6.27 is downright frightening. Once you get past ace Mel Parnell (5-3, 2.35 ERA), it’s a trainwreck. The hitting’s pretty good - Faye Throneberry (.356) has been sensational - but something needs to be done. There are rumors of a big upcoming trade with Detroit in the works.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
In the National League, it’s shaping up to be a good three-team race… or even four, if the Cubs can pick things up a bit. But the Giants will now be without young Willie Mays for the rest of the season. That loss is gonna hurt. The Phils’ Robin Roberts (AC-YZ) is on a blazing pace for a season for the record books, while the Pirates’ pitching (with four D-W’s) is starting to go off the rails.
National League Standings:
Dodgers 25-12 (-)
Giants 23-14 (2)
Phillies 22-15 (3)
Cubs 19-21 (7.5)
Cardinals 19-21 (7.5)
Reds 17-22 (9)
Braves. 13-22 (11)
Pirates 16-27 (12)NL Batting Average: .247 (Real life .253)
NL OPS: .688 (Real life .697)
NL Pitching ERA: 3.96 (Real life 3.73)
NL WHIP: 1.30 (Real life 1.34)
NL Fielding %: .975 (Real life .976)NL Individual Batting Leaders:
Batting Average: Snider (BRK) .357; Baumholtz (CHIC) .350
OPS: Sauer (CHIC) 1.037; Mays (NYG) 1.018
Home Runs: Sauer (CHIC) 15; Seminick (CIN) 11
RBI: Sauer (CHIC) 38; Snider (BRK) & Hamner (PHLN) each with 32
Stolen Bases: Ryan (PHLN) & Fondy (CHIC) each with 9NL Individual Pitching Leaders:
Pitching W-L: Roberts (PHLN) 9-0; Roe (BRK) 7-1
ERA: Spahn (BOSN) 0.96; Rush (CHIC) 1.03
WHIP: Erskine (BRK) 0.47; Roberts (PHLN) 0.65
K’s: Roberts (PHLN) 52; Spahn (BOSN) 48
Saves: Black (BRK) & Wilks (PGH) each with 7Team Thumbnails: (number in parentheses is +/- wins from real life in '52)
Dodgers (-2)
Strength up the middle has carried Brooklyn. CF Duke Snider (.357, 32 RBI) has been outstanding. Middle infielders Pee Wee Reese (.309) Jackie Robinson (.305) each have three homers and 20 RBI. On the mound, Preacher Roe is 7-1 with a 1.99 ERA. The Dodgers’ .984 fielding % leads both leagues.Giants (-4)
This week’s loss of Willie Mays (.315, 5 HR, 28 RBI) to the US Army will hurt a lot. But New York still has Don Mueller (.345, 29 RBI) and Davey Williams (.310, 23 RBI). The Giant’s team ERA of 4.06 has been a disappointment, although Hoyt Wilhelm (2-1, 0.64 ERA, 4 Saves) has been stellar out of the pen.Phillies (+5)
Just give Robin Roberts the Cy Young right now. He’s 9-0 with a 1.19 ERA, as the Phils’ team ERA of 3.13 is best in the league. Karl Drews is 5-1, 1.76. Granny Hamner (.340, 6 HR, 32 RBI) has been the NL’s best Shortstop. Over-achieving quite a bit from real life, this team is not going away anytime soon.Cubs (-4)
With the league’s second-best pitching stats, the Cubs should be higher in the standings. Bob Rush (6-2, 1.03 ERA) and Paul Minner (6-0, 2.68) have carried the freight. Hank Sauer (1.037 OPS) has been a machine with his 15 homers and 38 RBI, while Frank Baumholtz is batting .350. Chicago should still climb.Cardinals (+1)
After Stan Musial (.336, 3 HR, 22 RBI) and Red Schoendienst (.320, 4 HR, 25 RBI), there’s not much to brag about offensively. Nor on the mound. Nobody on the pitching staff has more than three wins, and ace Gerry Staley is 2-5 with a 3.03 ERA. The Cards’ 46 defensive errors lead both leagues.Reds (-2)
Catcher Andy Seminick’s 11 homers have been a huge surprise, considering he belted only 14 all year in real life. Joe Adcock (.358, 6 HR, 23 RBI) has been fantastic in platoon duty, but needs to start more often. Pitching ace Ken Raffensberger (5-1, 2.06 ERA) has been excellent.Braves (E)
Boston’s 13-22 record matches what they did in real life. But the Braves simply can’t hit. They’re batting .211 and have scored only 116 runs (the other seven NL teams are averaging 182). Rookie 3B Eddie Mathews is batting .178. Pitching ace Warren Spahn (5-3, 0.96 ERA) could sue this entire team for non-support.Pirates (+6)
Incredibly, the last-place Bucs are the NL’s biggest overachievers. Ted Wilks (3-1, 1.19 ERA, 7 saves) has been outstanding coming out of the pen. Ace Murry Dickson (5-5, 2.32 ERA) has also been very good, but the rest of the staff is weak. Ralph Kiner has 6 homers and 25 RBI, but is hitting only .194. Gus Bell claims Pittsburgh’s best batting average at .261.