2B Red Schoendienst

82. Kirby Higbe (P)

83

cmcafeeky - (BRO)

-

Brooklyn Dodgers

Ellis Kinder

P
nickname: "Old Folks"

INTERSTING oddball submission on wiki: On May 17, 1947, a seagull flew over Fenway Park and dropped a three-pound smelt on Kinder while he was pitching for the St. Louis Browns. Nevertheless, Kinder beat Boston 4–2.




Ellis Raymond Kinder (July 26, 1914 - October 16, 1968) was not only one of the most beloved players in the Majors, by his teammates and fans, during the 1950s, but was also one of the first effective and successful relief pitchers the game had ever seen. The Arkansas native rejected working in the cotton fields in favor of baseball, though he eventually drawn back to the farm when both of his parents died in 1937 and he was obliged to raise his three siblings as well as his own family. But kinder was a natural and went 21-9 in 1940 with the Jackson Generals of the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League and then 19-6 with the Memphis Chickasaws of the Southern Association in 1944. After spending 1945 in the United States Navy during World War II, Ellis was purchased by the St. Louis Browns even though he was 31 years old. He spent two seasons with the Browns (1946-1947) and was then shipped to the Boston Red Sox where he enjoyed his best years.

Though he had a reputation for boozing and chasing women, manager Joe McCarthy had confidence in the 6’0” lefthander. Boston used Kinder as a starter during his first years in Beantown and in 1949 he went 23-6 with a league leading winning percentage (.793) and league high six shutouts. Though the Cy Young Award was not awarded until 1956, Kinder won The Sporting News’ American League Pitcher of the Year Award, the accepted top-pitching award of the era. But, it was out of the bullpen that Kinder earned his greatest respect as he led the American League three times in games finished and games pitched and saves twice. Three times with the Red Sox, Ellis was considered for the league’s top honor of MVP finishing a career best 5th in 1949. Ellis played eight seasons in Boston (1948-1955) and finished his Major League career with the St. Louis Cardinals (1956) and Chicago White Sox (1956-1957). Ellis Kinder pitched until he was 42 compiling a record of 102-71 with 749 strikeouts, 56 complete games, ten shutouts, 104 saves and a 3.43 ERA in 484 games.

In his 12-year career, Kinder compiled a 102–71 record with 749 strikeouts, a 3.43 ERA, 56 complete games, 10 shutouts, 102 saves, and 1479.2 innings pitched in 484 games.

Ellis Kinder died in Jackson, Tennessee, at the age of 54, after undergoing open-heart surgery.

Reds select P Al Brazle 4 yr contract

Posted by Rino65 on 7/18/2025 7:43:00 AM (view original):
Reds select P Al Brazle 4 yr contract

good pick (It was between Kinder and Brazle for me at #83)

3 yr contract

Reds select 1B Eddie Waitkus

86

Brooklyn Dodgers

Barney McCosky,

Of

McCosky was born in Coal Run, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, the last of nine children. His mother died when he was one year old, and McCosky moved to Detroit at age 4 with his older brother Tony McCosky. McCosky grew up in Detroit in the midst of the Great Depression. He later recalled: "Nobody had any money. We took mustard sandwiches and ketchup sandwiches to school."^[1] McCosky attended Southwestern High School in Detroit, where he was All-City and captain in both baseball and basketball. McCosky had a .727 batting average his senior year — a Detroit public school record.^[1]


William Barney McCosky (April 11, 1917 – September 6, 1996) Barney McCosky broke into the majors with style, batting .311 as a Tigers rookie in 1939. He followed that up with a .340 average and a league-leading 200 hits and 19 triples in 1940. Detroit won the AL Championship that season, and McCosky batted .304 in the World Series loss to the Reds. In 1941, McCosky batted .324, but his road to stardom was halted by a three-year stint in the US Navy.

McCosky returned to Detroit in 1946. After a disappointing .198 start in 25 games, he was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics in mid-May for George Kell. In his autobiography, Kell recalled being shocked that the Tigers would trade a "legitimate star" and "hometown boy" like McCosky for an "unknown third baseman." At the time of the trade, McCosky told Kell: "You'll be better off here in Detroit. You're going to love it here. I hate to leave because this is home. I've had good years here."^[6]

Playing for manager Connie Mack, McCosky broke out of his early season slump and hit .354 for the A's. In 1947, McCosky batted .328 (2nd best in the AL) for the Athletics and finished a career-best No. 11 in the AL MVP voting. In 1948, he hit .326 (5th best in the AL), had a .405 on-base percentage (6th in the AL), and scored 95 runs.

McCosky missed the entire 1949 season after a back injury, and was never the same batter afterward. He returned to the Athletics in 1950, but his average dropped 86 points from .326 in 1948 to .240 in 1950.

The affable McCosky was popular with fans and teammates. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 and passed away a year later at age 79.

almost blew a gasket trying to make that last pick -
it may be the end of Brooklyns title hopes

PAGE ONE UPDATED
(alpha - draft - rosters)

87. Cleveland Indians Ralph Branca Pitcher

Posted by riftonapple on 7/18/2025 11:06:00 AM (view original):
87. Cleveland Indians Ralph Branca Pitcher

GREAT pick -

I guess now Im going to have to draft Bobby Thomson

Posted by cmcafeeky on 7/18/2025 11:15:00 AM (view original):

Posted by riftonapple on 7/18/2025 11:06:00 AM (view original):
87. Cleveland Indians Ralph Branca Pitcher

GREAT pick -

I guess now Im going to have to draft Bobby Thomson

I remember that............ yup ...............I was 4

P Dick Fowler