Fun with Who’s Who: 1942
Who’s Who in Baseball is perhaps my favorite little baseball book. Published annually since 1916, it’s a pocket-sized version of the more voluminous Baseball Register issued by The Sporting News. Both annuals list the year-by-year stats of major leaguers. Because it’s smaller, Who’s Who has the disadvantage of not including as many players, but being smaller it’s easier to use. And also, being smaller, Who’s Who is much easier to secret into your Social Studies textbook and read in your seventh grade classroom instead of paying attention to the teacher—which, um, I’ve been told has happened occasionally in the past.
The most significant way in which both Who’s Who and the Baseball Register are superior to nearly all other baseball reference books, including The Baseball Encyclopedia and Total Baseball, as well as the otherwise spectacular online source, Baseball-Referece.com, is their inclusion of not only the major league stats for each player, but also their year-by-year minor league stats. Major league stats are fine and all, but no summary of a player’s career is really complete without including what he did in the minors. And, more importantly, let’s face it: when it comes to fun, minor league stats have it all over major league stats. Indeed, few things in the world that aren’t dangerous to one’s health, safety, or domestic tranquility are as much fun as minor league stats.
I’ve collected Who’s Whos for years. I fondly remember late winter afternoons on the way home from school, parking my bike in front of the King Bee Super up the street from my house: assiduously checking the newsstand, eagerly awaiting the glorious day when that season’s Who’s Who would finally appear in its cheery bright red cover, nestled among the Archie comics and Mechanix Illustrated magazines. Thanks to the warm generosity of one of my uncles (who bought them annually beginning when he was a kid in the early 1930s—no disclosure on how he conducted himself in seventh grade), my library now includes Who’s Whos going back a very, very long way. They’re an invaluable research tool, of course, but I really enjoy just picking one up from any year and randomly thumbing through it, invariably discovering some amazing feat that an otherwise unremarkable player accomplished in his minor league career. You’ll never find that stuff out in The Baseball Encyclopedia.
Not convinced, are you? Not sure that all that much minor league stat treasure can be found in such a slim little pint-sized paperback? Well, then, prepare your eyes for a treat.
All that follows was plucked out of one little featherweight tabloid, chosen at random from my collection: the 1942 edition of Who’s Who in Baseball, with a photo on the cover of The Yankee Clipper following through on his big sweet swing, above the notation: Price 25c.
I’ll Have a Double
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA George McQuinn 1933 Binghamton N.Y.-P.L. 129 507 88 181 48 12 7 102 14 .357 Jimmy Wasdell 1935 Zanesville M.A.L. 125 510 93 182 54 9 10 92 15 .357 Bill Knickerbocker 1932 Toledo A.A. 160 697 116 234 69 8 5 70 7 .336
Make That a Triple
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Billy Herman 1928 Vicksburg C.S.L. 106 364 63 121 12 15 4 … 18 .332 Luke Appling 1930 Atlanta So. A. 104 374 63 122 19 17 5 75 13 .326 Johnny Lucadello 1937 Fairbury N.S.L. 116 471 84 149 34 20 8 86 8 .316 Joe Kuhel 1929 Kansas City A.A. 161 649 135 211 27 26 6 83 19 .325
Partial-Season Wonders: Fewer than 300 At-bats
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Moose Solters 1932 Binghamton N.Y.-P.L. 39 145 34 57 16 4 10 40 8 .393 Hank Leiber 1934 Nashville S.A. 45 191 31 81 19 1 2 49 3 .424 Pete Reiser 1940 Elmira E.L. 67 249 55 94 15 12 7 46 28 .378 Hal Trosky 1932 Quincy I.I.I. 68 260 55 86 14 6 15 … 1 .331 Dick Siebert 1934 Dayton M.A.L. 66 270 57 99 16 13 3 48 9 .366 Danny Litwhiler 1938 Alexandria Evang. L. 76 295 62 109 17 4 10 71 2 .369
Partial-Season Wonders: 300-something At-bats, Line Drive Division
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Walker Cooper 1935 Rogers Ark. St. 91 334 64 120 26 4 14 79 11 .359 Al Simmons 1922 Aberdeen D.L. 99 395 91 144 26 16 10 … … .364 Gee Walker 1929 Wheeling M.A.L. 81 332 65 124 31 8 10 50 33 .373 Gee Walker 1930 Evansville I.I.I. 84 347 77 131 21 16 10 78 50 .378 Bruce Campbell 1931 Little Rock S.A. 79 300 59 115 26 13 10 93 4 .383 Buddy Rosar 1938 Newark I.L. 91 323 80 125 26 2 15 79 5 .387 Dixie Walker 1930 Greenville S.A.L. 73 307 80 123 17 10 11 63 22 .401 Doc Cramer 1929 Martinburg B.R.L. 104 366 75 148 31 13 5 … 6 .404
Partial-Season Wonders: 300-something At-bats, Big Fly Division
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Pete Reiser 1938 Superior No.L. 95 387 78 117 27 10 18 59 21 .302 Bill Nicholson 1939 Chattanooga S.A. 105 383 82 128 29 8 23 85 6 .334 Vince DiMaggio 1932 Tucson A.T.L. 94 398 90 138 22 9 25 … 14 .347 Rudy York 1934 Bmnt-Ft.Wor T.L. 100 316 69 105 21 6 26 75 0 .331 Chuck Klein 1928 Fort Wayne C.L. 88 359 85 119 29 4 26 … 8 .331 Jimmy Wasdell 1939 Minneapolis A.A. 102 387 79 125 23 3 29 90 18 .323
Partial-Season Wonders: 300-something At-bats, Line Drive and Big Fly Division
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Johnny Mize 1933 Greensboro P.L. 98 378 108 136 29 10 22 104 3 .360 Ray Mack 1938 Frgo-Mrhead No.L. 94 378 77 143 32 6 24 96 20 .378 Stan Musial 1941 Springfield W.A. 87 348 100 132 27 10 26 94 16 .379 Sammy West 1925 Muskogee W.A. 80 320 82 122 33 5 25 91 8 .381 Chet Laabs 1935 Fort Wayne I.I.I.L. 87 362 90 139 22 10 24 96 4 .384 Joe Medwick 1930 Scottdale M.A.L. 75 332 75 139 18 13 22 100 3 .419
Near-Full-Season Wonders: 400-something At-bats, Line Drive Division
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Mike Kreevich 1930 McCook Neb. S.L. 116 469 114 164 30 15 15 … 23 .354 Pete Fox 1932 Beaumont T.L. 115 446 103 159 23 11 19 78 30 .357 Babe Phelps 1930 Hagerstown B.R.L. 114 466 84 175 38 15 19 … 5 .376 Johnny Rizzo 1934 Elmira N.Y.-P.L. 106 438 82 166 27 13 8 87 10 .379 Roy Weatherly 1934 Opelousas Eva. L. 103 402 56 139 16 9 8 62 … .396 Barney McCosky 1936 Charleston M.A.L. 108 407 66 163 28 19 7 77 17 .400 Babe Phelps 1931 Youngstown M.A.L. 115 436 71 178 29 9 15 88 9 .408
Near-Full-Season Wonders: 400-something At-bats, Big Fly Division
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Arky Vaughan 1931 Wichita W.L. 132 494 145 167 21 16 21 81 43 .338 Buddy Rosar 1935 Norfolk P.L. 128 453 80 157 29 6 26 97 11 .347 Phil Masi 1937 Wausau No.L. 113 433 88 141 25 8 31 102 8 .326 Hal Trosky 1933 Toledo A.A. 132 461 86 149 25 5 33 92 2 .323
Near-Full-Season Wonders: 400-something At-bats, Line Drive and Big Fly Division
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Ken Keltner 1936 Fieldale B.S.L. 118 486 120 175 37 12 33 116 3 .360 Johnny Hopp 1936 Norfolk Neb. St. 107 446 134 161 24 16 26 79 36 .361 Maurice Van Robays 1937 Ogdensburg C.A.L. 105 432 135 159 28 9 43 150 14 .368 Ernie Lombardi 1930 Oakland P.C.L. 146 473 76 175 32 4 22 105 1 .370 Oscar Grimes 1936 Zanesville M.A.L. 126 473 150 178 39 9 24 122 28 .376
Full-Season Stars: Line Drive Division
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Tony Cuccinello 1929 Columbus A.A. 162 635 136 227 56 10 20 111 2 .358 Johnny Rizzo 1937 Columbus A.A. 150 584 117 209 38 18 21 123 15 .358 Joe Marty 1936 San Fran P.C.L. 164 599 110 215 49 14 17 92 33 .359 Babe Young 1939 Knoxville S.A. 156 613 120 223 50 13 21 137 8 .364 Charlie Keller 1938 Newark I.L. 150 578 149 211 36 8 22 129 9 .365 Ray Radcliff 1930 Selma S.E.L. 132 539 94 199 29 7 15 116 11 .369 Frank McCormick 1936 Durham P.L. 140 554 98 211 49 8 15 138 13 .381
Full-Season Stars: Big Fly Division
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Ernie Koy 1934 Binghamton N.Y.-P.L. 134 520 109 175 24 17 19 100 33 .337 Ival Goodman 1932 Bartlesville W.A. 131 503 105 161 37 23 22 120 15 .320 Bob Johnson 1932 Portland P.C.L. 149 545 105 180 43 1 29 111 9 .330 Rudy York 1936 Milwaukee A.A. 157 619 119 207 25 21 37 148 7 .334 Hank Greenberg 1932 Beaumont T.L. 154 600 123 174 31 11 39 131 11 .290 Chet Laabs 1936 Milwaukee A.A. 157 627 119 203 27 16 42 151 6 .324
Full-Season Superstars
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Joe Medwick 1932 Houston T.L. 139 560 113 198 46 10 26 111 8 .354 Moose Solters 1933 Baltimore I.L. 147 523 123 190 46 7 36 157 17 .363 Ted Williams 1938 Minneapolis A.A. 148 528 130 193 30 9 43 142 6 .366 Babe Phelps 1932 Youngstown C.L. 135 533 117 199 47 8 26 … 12 .372 Enos Slaughter 1937 Columbus A.A. 154 642 147 245 42 13 26 122 18 .382 Jeff Heath 1936 Zanesville M.A.L. 124 543 149 208 47 14 28 187 17 .383
Super-Sized Season Stars: Line Drive Division
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Dolf Camilli 1932 Sacramento P.C.L. 187 727 141 224 56 9 17 107 18 .308 Myril Hoag 1930 Sacramento P.C.L. 188 725 148 244 57 9 17 121 19 .337 Lou Finney 1932 Portland P.C.L. 185 764 125 268 50 7 5 98 15 .351 Augie Galan 1933 San Fran P.C.L. 189 745 164 265 51 22 9 102 41 .356 Dom DiMaggio 1939 San Fran P.C.L. 170 664 165 239 48 18 14 82 39 .360 Paul Waner 1925 San Fran P.C.L. 174 699 167 280 75 7 11 130 8 .401
Super-Sized Season Stars: Big Fly Division
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Babe Dahlgren 1934 Mission P.C.L. 186 735 106 222 34 10 20 136 11 .302 Frank Crosetti 1930 San Fran P.C.L. 189 782 171 261 66 8 27 113 21 .334 Ben Chapman 1929 St. Paul A.A. 168 660 162 222 43 17 31 137 27 .336 Pinky Higgins 1932 Portland P.C.L. 189 721 145 235 51 5 33 132 21 .326
Super-Sized Season Superstars
Player Year Club League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA Frank Demaree 1934 Los Angeles P.C.L. 186 702 190 269 51 4 45 173 41 .383 Joe DiMaggio 1935 San Fran P.C.L. 172 679 173 270 48 18 34 154 24 .398
These Guys Couldn’t Lose
Pitcher Year Club League G IP W L Pct. SO BB H ERA Whit Wyatt 1929 Evansville I.I.I. 35 255 22 6 .786 177 89 217 3.03 Al Milnar 1935 New Orleans S.A. 35 271 24 5 .828 140 95 293 3.85 Joe Beggs 1937 Newark I.L. 34 179 21 4 .840 57 48 160 2.61 Les McCrabb 1937 Lexington N.C.S.L. 32 216 17 2 .895 118 55 228 3.29 Atley Donald 1937 Newark I.L. 28 207 19 2 .905 124 75 189 3.22
Garden-Variety 20-Game Winners
Pitcher Year Club League G IP W L Pct. SO BB H ERA Luke Hamlin 1929 Fort Smith W.A. 35 248 20 9 .690 146 88 253 2.50 Bob Muncrief 1940 San Antoniio T.L. 40 275 22 9 .710 160 63 234 2.46 Manny Salvo 1938 San Diego P.C.L. 40 239 22 9 .710 191 82 205 2.60 Bill McGee 1934 Springfield W.A. 41 254 23 13 .639 218 72 263 3.30 Pete Appleton 1935 Montreal I.L. 41 244 23 9 .719 122 80 211 3.17 Jim Turner 1929 Greensboro P.L. 36 291 25 9 .735 106 84 296 3.47
Remarkably Effective
Pitcher Year Club League G IP W L Pct. SO BB H ERA Whit Wyatt 1938 Milwaukee A.A. 33 254 23 7 .767 208 62 194 2.37 Joe Dobson 1937 Troy A.F.L. 39 270 19 12 .613 200 71 217 2.27 Dizzy Trout 1938 Beaumont T.L. 37 233 22 6 .786 115 94 180 2.16 Sid Hudson 1939 Sanford Fla. Sta 29 250 24 4 .857 192 63 207 1.79 Nels Potter 1934 Lincoln N.S.L. 35 216 17 9 .654 200 74 142 1.71 Howie Krist 1940 Houston T.L. 38 253 22 9 .710 109 50 221 1.71 Howie Pollet 1941 Houston T.L. 25 194 20 3 .870 151 62 142 1.16
Then Again, the Minors Are a Learning Experience
Pitcher Year Club League G IP W L Pct. SO BB H ERA Cliff Melton 1934 Baltimore I.L. 45 209 6 20 .231 90 131 240 6.80 Rip Sewell 1935 Louisville A.A. 44 194 6 20 .231 84 102 278 8.12
What on Earth Was His BABIP Allowed?
Pitcher Year Club League G IP W L Pct. SO BB H ERA Al Benton 1931 Lincoln N.S.L. 22 142 8 7 .533 146 85 160 6.14
Heavy-Duty Workhorses
Pitcher Year Club League G IP W L Pct. SO BB H ERA Vern Olsen 1937 Ponca City W.A. 44 295 23 10 .697 212 131 295 3.45 Bobo Newsom 1929 Macon S.A.L. 45 298 19 18 .514 149 173 283 3.87 Bill Posedel 1937 Portland P.C.L. 44 300 21 12 .636 172 87 294 3.09 Dick Newsome 1940 San Diego P.C.L. 39 315 23 11 .676 128 74 319 2.62 Max Butcher 1935 Galveston T.L. 39 317 24 11 .686 142 106 239 2.43 Bobo Newsom 1933 Los Angeles P.C.L. 56 320 30 11 .732 212 124 328 3.17 Charley Root 1924 Los Angeles P.C.L. 55 322 21 16 .568 199 102 316 3.69 Charley Root 1925 Los Angeles P.C.L. 52 324 25 13 .658 211 91 268 2.87 Hugh Mulcahy 1936 Hazleton N.Y.P.L. 46 325 25 14 .641 134 120 313 4.29 Curt Davis 1932 San Francisco P.C.L. 44 326 22 16 .579 122 57 290 2.24 George Caster 1936 Portland P.C.L. 44 339 25 13 .658 234 102 316 2.79
A Soft Tosser
Pitcher Year Club League G IP W L Pct. SO BB H ERA Clint Brown 1928 Harrisburg N.Y.P.L. 36 272 23 8 .742 76 66 260 2.15
And the K Squad
Pitcher Year Club League G IP W L Pct. SO BB H ERA Tommy Bridges 1930 Evansville I.I.I. 20 140 7 8 .467 189 85 102 2.96 Ken Heintzelman 1936 Jeannette Penn.St. 36 243 20 8 .714 229 90 194 3.07 Lefty Grove 1924 Baltimore I.L. 47 236 26 6 .813 231 108 196 3.01 Whitey Moore 1936 El Dorado C.S.L. 34 235 20 5 .800 244 93 172 2.34 Lefty Grove 1921 Baltimore I.L. 47 313 25 10 .714 254 179 237 2.56 Bill Lee 1931 Scottdale M.A.L. 29 228 22 7 .759 256 131 169 2.65 Kirby Higbe 1937 Moline I.I.I. 30 215 21 5 .808 257 141 143 … Johnny Vander Meer 1936 Durham P.L. 30 214 19 6 .760 295 116 151 2.65 Lefty Grove 1923 Baltimore I.L. 52 303 27 10 .730 330 186 223 3.11 Virgil Trucks 1938 Andalusia Ala.-Fla 38 273 25 6 .806 418 125 143 1.25
References & Resources
Who’s Who in Baseball: 1942, Twenty-Seventh Edition, edited by Clifford Bloodgood (Baseball Magazine Company, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 1942).