In four seasons of managing the Brooklyn Dodgers, Burt Shotton won two National League pennants - 1947, 1949. A likeable, bow-tire wearing, wise-cracker he began his managing career back in 1928 with the Philadelphia Phillies. And, after managing there until 1933, he was employed as a coach for various teams before inking a contract with the Dodgers in 1947.
Four of the eight uniform numbers retired by the Dodgers played on this National League pennant winning team - Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Duke Snider.
1949 Brooklyn Dodgers Batting Stats:
Roy Campanella, C, .287 BA, 22 Hr, 82 RBI in 130 Games... Billy Cox, 3B, .233, 8 Hr, 40 RBI in 100G... Carl Furillo, RF, .322, 18 HR, 106 RBI in 142G... Mike McCormick, OF, .209, 2 Hr, 14 RBI in 55G...
Gil Hodges, 1B, .285, 23 Hr, 115 RBI in 156G... Bruce Edwards, C/OF, .209, 8 Hr, 25 RBI in 64G... John 'Spider' Jorgenson, 3B, .269, 1 Hr, 14 RBI in 53G... Gene Hermanski, LF, .299, 8 Hr, 42 RBI in 87G...
Pee Wee Reese, SS, .279, 16 Hr, 73 RBI in 155G... Jackie Robinson, 2B, .342, 16 Hr, 124 RBI in 156G... Eddie Miksis, IF, .221, 1Hr, 6 RBI in 50G... Luis Olmo, OF, .305, 1 Hr, 14 RBI in 38G... Johnny Hopp, .000 in 8G...
Duke Snider, CF, .292, 23 Hr, 92 RBI in 146G... Dick Whitman, OF, .184, 0 Hr, 2 RBI in 23G... Marv Rackley, OF, .444, 0 Hr, 1 RBI in 9G and .291, 1 Hr, 14 RBI in 54G... Bob Ramazzotti, 3B, .154, 1 Hr, 3 RBI in 5G...
Tommy Brown, OF, .303, 3 Hr, 18 RBI in 41G... Cal Abrams, OF, .083, 0 RBI in 8G... Chuck Connors, 1B, .000 in 1G... Don Newcombe, P, .229, 0 Hr, 10 RBI in 39G... Irv Palica, P, .158, 0 Hr, 2 RBI in 49G... George Shuba, PH, .000 in 1G...
Players Bios:
* Gene Hermanski, Left Fielder, Bats LH, T RH - an excellent fielder, the 5-ft, 11.5-inch, 190-pounder was limited to 77 games in 1949 because of injuries, but still managed to hit one point below .300... the husky, blond-hair fly-hawk broke into the majors with Brooklyn in '43 and then served in the military during the War. Hermanski played nine seasons, the first six and a half with the Dodgers. A well-regarded patience batter, he walked 47 times and struck out just 21 times in 224 at-bats in '49... career stats: .272 in 1,960 games, 85 D, 18 T, 46 Hr, 276 Runs, 259 RBI, .372 on/base/pct., 289 Walks, 212K.
* Bruce Edwards, Catcher, Right-handed - a 10-year major leaguer, the muscular backstop was well-regarded as a team player... a rookie with Brooklyn in 1947, he occasionally played the left-field position... Edwards cracked out 8 homers in 64 games in '49... he was traded to Cubs in early '51 and chosen for that year's All-Star game... Bruce Edwards career stats: .256 BA in 591G, 67D, 20T, 39 Hr, 191 Runs, 241 RBI, .335 on/base/pct., 190W, 179K.
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* 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers Pitching Records:
Jack Banta 10-6, 3.37 ERA in 48 Games... Rex Barney 9-8, 4.41 ERA in 38G... Ralph Branca 13-5, 4.39 ERA in 34G... Carl Erskine 8-1, 4.63 ERA in 22G... Joe Hatten 12-8, 4.18 ERA in 37G... Paul Minner 3-1, 3.80 ERA in 27G...
Don Newcombe 17-8, 3.17 ERA in 38G... Morrie Martin 1-3, 7.04 ERA in 10G... Erv Palica 8-9, 3.62 ERA in 49G... Pat McGlothin 1-1, 4.60 ERA in 7G... Preacher Roe 15-6, 2.79 ERA in 30G... Bud Podbielan 0-1, 3.65 ERA in 7G... Johnny Van Cuyk 0-0, 9.00 ERA in 2G...
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Pitchers Bios:
* Erv Palica, Starter & Reliever, Right-handed - one of Shotton's workhorses, he led the team in relief appearances with 48 in 1949, and registered 6 saves. In 1950, Palica was moved back into the starting rotation and completed 10-of-19 starts en-route to a sterling 13-8 record, 3.58 ERA, and used his high-range fastball to strike out 131 batters in 201.3 innings, and tossed 2 shutouts... Erv Palica career stats: 41-55 W/L, 4.22 ERA, 806 hits in 839.3 innings, 423K, 399W, 246G, 80GS, 20GC, 3 Shutouts, 12 Saves with a .255 opponents batting average.
* Rex Barney, Starter & Reliever, Right-handed - a high-end performer in 1948, he went 15-13, 3.10 ERA in 246 innings, with 4 shutouts. Barney finished '49 with a 9-8 mark, completing 6-of-20 starts in 140 innings. Rex Barney career stats: 35-31 W/L, 4.31 ERA, 474 hits in 597.7 innings, 3.36K, 410W, 6 Shutouts, 1 Save with a low .221 opponents batting average. |