Tag: Lou Gehrig

TWIWBL 2.1: Notes From The Opening 5 Games

On September 4, 2020

All 20 teams opened with 5 game series this week. Some notes from around the league.

First, the WBL Player of the Week went to Indianapolis’ Hal Morris, Morris did hit 450/476/1000 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs. Still, Lou Gehrig of the New York Black Yankees (538/600/1154, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs) and the Portland Sea Dog’s Buddy Bell (412/444/1059 with 3 HRs) had to deserve significant consideration as well.

#Birmingham Black Barons

SP Fred Fussell and DH Emil Frisk will both miss about a month with injuries to start the season, with Greg Maddux returning to the WBL to replace Fussell.

The Black Barons’ starter’s ERA of 11.84 is the biggest contributor to their 0-5 start to the season.

#Brooklyn Royal Giants

Dutch Leonard tossed a 5 hit shutout in his 1st start of the year, and teammates Don Drysdale and Brickyard Kennedy only allowed 1 run in their starts, leading the Royal Giants to a 4-1 start. Dickie Thon–handed the starting SS role despite not playing in Spring Training–hasn’t embarrassed himself, hitting .250 so far.

#Chicago American Giants

Ticky Nichols threw a 3 hit shutout on 111 pitches to start the season.

#Cleveland Spiders

With John Ellis out about a week, the Spiders sent Hardie Henderson to AAA and recalled Harry Bemis to spell Andy Etchebarren at C. Ellis is still on the active roster, but Detroit has a league-leading 7 players on the DL, but Whit Wyatt, Doug Corbett, and Bill Steen should all be back within about a week.

#Detroit Wolverines

OF Oscar Gamble was hot out of the gates, with 3 HRs and 7 RBIs in the 1st 5 games. Hal Newhouser lasted less than 2 innings before his elbow gave out, sidelining him for a couple weeks. With Claude Passeau also injured, it’s not clear who will get Newhouser’s starts between Gene Conley, Johnny Marcum, and Justin Verlander.

#Kansas City Monarchs

Stan Musial is as hot as any player in the league, opening the season at a 455/500/773 clip. Jose Rijo fanned 10 in 8 IP in a strong 1st start.

#Miami Cuban Giants

Camilo Pascual only allowed 3 hits in 8.2 IP in a strong opening start for the Cuban Giants.

#New York Black Yankees

Eric Davis leads the league with 11 RBI. Both Willie Randolph and Mike Schmidt are still looking for the 1st hits on the season.

#New York Gothams

It’s been a rough 5 days to be a Gothams pitcher: Carl Hubbell is out for over a month, Carson Smith for a few weeks, and Al Mays will be out about a week. Mat Latos (freshly returned from the injury list himself), Al Spalding, and Gaylord Perry are on hand to pick up the starts.

Brian Wilson has 2 saves in the Gothams’s 3 wins.

#Portland Sea Dogs

Mike Cuellar is the 1st 2-game winner in the league, picking up 2 victories in relief and Johan Santana leads the league with a save in each of the Sea Dogs’ 3 wins.

#San Francisco Sea Lions

Lefty Grove only gave up 3 hits and 1 run in a complete game win in his 1st start of the year. Jack Clark is hitting 417/417/750 with 10 RBI, leading the Sea Lions to a 5-0 record. Newly acquired Dick Lundy proved a sparkplug off the bench for San Francisco, even managing a steal of home in his first appearance.

Season Preview: New York Black Yankees

By mknn

On August 20, 2020

In Team News

There is so much undeniable talent here that the Black Yankees have to be seen as preseason favorites in the WBL. Maybe the pitching staff collapses, but with all that offense, will it even matter? There is–or course–the 24 year old Babe Ruth, but this is also a team where Don Mattingly bats 8th and where Albert Belle has a hard time finding ABs.

Final Roster

SP: Ron Guidry, Red Ruffing, Dave Righetti, Waite Hoyt, Jack Scott.
RP: AJ Burnett & Lady Baldwin; Dellin Betances & David Robertson; Goose Gossage & Ralph Citarella; Sparky Lyle.

C: Thurman Munson; Manny Sanguillen
1B: Don Mattingly
2B: Willie Ranolph; Craig Counsell
3B: Doug DeCinces
SS: Derek Jeter
LF: Babe Ruth; Charlie Keller
CF: Eric Davis
RF: Mickey Mantle
DH: Lou Gehrig & Albert Belle

Notes

Jack Scott earned the last slot in the rotation … with 17 walks in 23 IP, Whitey Ford punched his ticket to AAA, although he should be back pretty soon … Fritz Coumbe‘s twisted ankle also sends him to AAA … Sparky Lyle and Goose Gossage are both back from injury, with Lyle having the edge as closer to start the season … Manny Sanguillen and Smoky Burgess were almost equivalent offensively, so Sanguillen’s better defense keeps him on the roster … Red Rolfe‘s being sent back to AAA was expected, despite his stellar performance … Aaron Judge‘s was not, as Judge was seen as having a lock on the RF job, but Charlie Keller‘s flexibility and similar Spring performance earned him an opening day spot … importantly, this paves the way for the Black Yankees to get Don Mattingly, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Eric Davis all in the lineup at the same time.

35 year old P AJ Burnett is the elder statesman of the roster with 20 year old Mickey Mantle the youngest to make it to opening day.

Despite rough Springs, both 3B Chris Brown and P Jim Clinton look to be among the first recalled from AAA. 21 year old C Bill Dickey is turning some heads as well. At AA, 20 year old 1B Prince Fielder is the highest touted prospect.

Colophon

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A close-up of Oscar Charleston‘s face.
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King Tut, Oscar Charleston, and Connie Morgan.
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A shot of Lou Gehrig, Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb, and Babe Ruth.

Spring Training Preview: New York Black Yankees

By mknn

On June 20, 2020

In Team News

Most of the questions are in the rotation. Ron Guidry is a lock, and the scouting department are insisting Jim Clinton has a slot as well. But the other 3 slots have 8 contenders in Waite Hoyt, Dave Righetti, Red Ruffing, Jack Scott, Lady Baldwin, Jake Peavy, AJ Burnett, and Whitey Ford. 3 of those make the rotation, 3 make the bullpen, and 2 head back to the minors.
- Guidry has been great. Clinton has pitched his way out of consideration, as have Peavy and Burnett. The rest remains up for grabs, with Ford and Baldwin the most impressive so far.
  - The rotation is pretty open, but in a way that is good for the Black Yankees. Clinton remains the worst of the group, and heads to AAA. Aside from him, though, they’ve all been decent. If the season started tomorrow, it would be Guidry, Baldwin, Hoyt, Ford, and Righetti. But it all could change based on performances for the rest of the Spring.
- Sparky Lyle, Ralph Citarella, and Dellin Betances have yet to give up a run on the bullpen, and Fritz Coumbe has been pretty stout as well.
  - Lyle has been hurt, but he was amazing before that. Citarella and Goose Gossage look like the setup crew, with Coumbe and Betances in the mix as well.
Thurman Munson is the starting C, but Smoky Burgess and Manny Sanguillen are fighting to be his backup.
- Sanguillen has a clear edge at this point.
Both Lou Gehrig and Don Mattingly should make the roster, although it’s not clear which will see more playing time.
- Mattingly has the clear edge here as Gehrig has struggled to find a groove offensively. Moose Skowron has been recalled for the rest of Spring training.
Both Willie Randolph (2B) and Doug DeCinces (3B) have outside shots to unseat the incumbents (Hardy Richardson and Chris Brown).
- Richardson has had a very rough time of it, likely losing out to Randolph if the season started now while neither DeCinces nor Brown are doing anything notable.
  - Richardson doesn’t make the roster as of right now, with Craig Counsell or Aaron Hill backing up Randolph at 2B. That sounds fine until you realize Counsell and Hill are also the best performers at 3B so far. That has led to Red Rolfe being recalled from AAA.
It would take great Springs from Albert Belle, Charlie Keller, or Joe Harris to force their way into the OF picture.
- Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Aaron Judge are playing at an incredibly high level. Eric Davis‘ speed and defense probably earn him a roster spot, and nothing else is clear.
  - Even with Harris, Charlie Keller, and Sam Thompson not making the roster, the truth here is this is probably the best OF in the league.

	Near Definite	Likely	Possible	Long Shot
Starting Pitchers	Ron Guidry	Lady Baldwin Whitey Ford	Waite Hoyt Dave Righetti Red Ruffing Jack Scott Jake Peavy AJ Burnett
Middle Relievers			Fritz Coombe Dellin Betances Bryan Hickerson David Robertson
Setup		Ralph Citarella Goose Gossage
Closer	Sparky Lyle
C	Thurman Munson	Manny Sanguillen	Smoky Burgess
1B		Don Mattingly	Lou Gehrig	Moose Skowron
2B		Willie Randolph	Hardy Richardson
3B			Chris Brown Doug DeCinces	Red Rolfe
SS		Derek Jeter	Aaron Hill	Craig Counsell
OF	Babe Ruth Aaron Judge Mickey Mantle	Eric Davis Albert Belle		Charlie Keller Sam Thompson Joe Harris

Lou Gehrig of the New York Blank Yankees

New York Black Yankees

New York Highlanders / New York Yankees

AAA – Newark Eagles
AA – Hudson Valley Renegades
A – Staten Island Yankees

Bill James Division

The WAR budget limits just how dominant the Black Yankees will be from the get-go. Still, there is so much talent in this franchise. I have a prejudice for “The Bronx Zoo,” and considered both Thurman Munson and Sparky Lyle for the banner, but settled on Columbia-era Lou Gehrig.

	Yankee Stadium (52,325) HR: 1.092 \| BA: .990
	Washington Park (32,000) HR: .824 \| BA: .989
	Doubleday Field (9,800) HR: 1.445 \| BA: .869
	McCoy Stadium (10,031) HR: .952 \| BA: .952

2000: 2nd Place, .526.

2001 Projections

As of the end of Spring Training.


C	Thurman Munson Manny Sanguillén	Eric MacKenzie	Darrin Fletcher Benny Bengough Josh Thole	Bill Killefer Gary Alexander Eddie Fusselback
1B	Lou Gehrig Don Mattingly Nick Etten	Fred Whitfield Harry Spilman	Ryan Garko Hal Chase Jerry Freeman	anthony volpe
2B	Tom Herr	Willie Randolph Aaron Hill Hardy Richardson	Jack Crooks Devon Travis	Mariano Duncan Ramon Torres
SS	Derek Jeter	Alex Arias Pee Wee Reese	Alcides Escobar Jim O’Neill	Mark Gruzielanek charlie irwin Dansby Swanson
3B	Mike Schmidt Héctor López elliott maddox	Josh Harrison Red Rolve Heinie Groh Doug DeCinces	Lou Chiozza	Harry Bauchman
OF	Babe Ruth Eric Davis Mickey Mantle	Bill Lange Mickey Rivers Roger Maris Jayson Werth Ron Pruitt Ollie Pickering	Julio Borbón Kevin Pillar Hank Bauer Wally Rehg Phil Cavaretta Jim Rivera Nick Swisher	Bob Burda Clyde Milan Gene Moore Jr Bob Meusel Danny Walton brett gardner aaron hicks Nick Evans Steve Hosey
SP	Jack Scott Ron Guidry Waite Hoyt Andy Pettitte Dave Righetti	Lady Baldwin AJ Burnett Whitey Ford Vic Raschi Alex Main	Bill Monbouquette Art Ditmar Sean Newcomb Cal Edlred John Danks	Carlos Rodón Arnie Portocarrero Dave Williams Carlos Silva Don Liddle
RP	Aroldis Chapman Rheal Cormier Goose Gossage Gary Lavelle David Robertson Sparky Lyle	Rick Porcello Tony Brizzolara Hooks Dauss	Erv Palica Herm Wehmeier Paul Shuey Dewey Adkins Danny Coombs Ron Bryant	José Veras Severino González Jeff Nelson Charlie Maloney Kevin Hart Andres Berumen Mark Guthrie
UP	Noah Syndergaard ~~Red Ruffing~~ ~~Jake Peavy~~	Ryne Duren Ben Cantwell Mike Fornieles Clyde Shoun Roy Evans Jesse Orosco	Ed Nunez Mike Fetters Jim Corsi Fred Glade Don Hood	Jack Spring Ralph Citrarella Mike Bacsik scott kamieniecki Jeff Bennett Bryan Hickerson Mike Caldwell

5+ Year Contracts; 2-4 year contracts; future rights; ~~Injured~~

Seed Players: Whitey Ford (P); Lou Gehrig (1B); Ron Guidry (P); Mickey Mantle (OF); Thurman Munson (C); Hardy Richardson (2B); Babe Ruth (OF).
Franchise Rights: Goose Gossage (P); Derek Jeter (SS); Don Mattingly (1B); Willie Randolph (2B).
Future Rights: Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Mariano Rivera, Dave Winfield.

TWIWBL 91.2: Off Season Review – New York Black Yankees (4/15/2026)
TWIWBL 84.5: AL Wild Card Series – Cleveland Spiders v New York Black Yankees (1/10/2026)
TWIWBL 84.2: AL Playoff Previews (1/7/2026)
TWIWBL 83.3: The Final Week! (12/28/2025)
TWIWBL 82.3: Bill James Division (12/14/2025)
TWIWBL 81.4: Bill James Division (11/1/2025)
TWIWBL 80.4: Bill James Division (10/13/2025)
TWIWBL 80.1: Year 2, Week 23 (10/10/2025)
TWIWBL 79.3: Bill James Division (9/27/2025)
TWIWBL 79.2 Spotlight on the New York Black Yankees (9/26/2025)

	Yankee Stadium (52,325) HR: 1.092 \| BA: .990
	Washington Park (32,000) HR: .824 \| BA: .989
	Doubleday Field (9,800) HR: 1.445 \| BA: .869
	McCoy Stadium (10,031) HR: .952 \| BA: .952