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The Famous "Green Box"

What's a green box and why is it so famous? Well, just like a baseball dugout, that's where the stories are told. The "Green Box" appeared on the Baseball Historian web site during our inception back in 1999 and has been holding kangaroo court ever since. Enjoy the stories...

All-Stars and Veteran Players (1949) National League

Brooklyn Wins Pennant by One Game over Cardinals

The 'Bums of Flatbush' edged out the highly rated St. Louis Cardinals by a single game to capture the National League pennant flag in 1949.

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Final 1949 National League Standings:

Brooklyn Dodgers 97-57... St. Louis Cardinals 96-58, 1 GB... Philadelphia Phillies 81-73, 16 GB... Boston Braves 75-79, 22 GB... New York Giants 73-81, 24 GB... Pittsburgh Pirates 71-83, 26 GB... Cincinnati Reds 62-92, 35 GB... Chicago Cubs 61-93, 36 GB

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1949 - All-Stars and Veterans:

Player Bios:

Warren Spahn, Boston Braves Pitcher LH - did his best to help the Braves hopes alive in '49... He was the NL victory leader with 21, completed a league-high 25 games, pitched the most innings (302) and was the strike out king with 153... in 1949, Spahn was 21-14 with a 3.07 ERA... and, he's certainly one of the best pitchers in baseball history.

Duke Snider, Brooklyn Dodgers Center-fielder Bats LH, T-RH - l949 was his first year as a regular, and he put in a solid season... His long-ball batting included 28 doubles, 7 triples and 23 homers, scored 100 runs and had 92 while batting .292... and Duke Snider's defense in center was spectacular.

Chuck Diering, St. Louis Cardinals Outfielder RH - runs like a deer and is a wizard ballhawk... His main value lies chiefly in superb defensive work... in 1949 Chuck Diering hit .263 in 131 games, lined 21 doubles and scored 60 runs.

Alvin Dark, New York Giants Shortstop RH - an aggressive, swift performer, he and his double play partner, Eddie Stanky, were brought to the Giants in a trade with the Braves... Al Dark batted .276 in 1949 with Boston... he scored 74 runs and lined 23 doubles, 5 triples and 3 homers.

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ERA Leaders: NL -

Dave Koslo, New York Giants 2.50 ERA in 212 innings... Gerald Staley, St Louis Cardinals 2.74 in 171 innings... Howie Pollet, St. Louis Cardinals 2.77 in 231 innings... Preacher Roe, Brooklyn Dodgers 2.79 in 213 innings... Ken Heintzelman, Philadelphia Phillies 3.02 in 239 innings

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1949 Home Run Leaders:

NL - Ralph Kiner, Pittsburgh Pirates 54... Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals 36... Hank Sauer, Chicago Cubs 31... Bobby Thompson, New York Giants 27... Sid Gordon, New York Giants 27... Del Ennis, Philadelphia Phillies 25

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Dave Kolso, New York Giants Pitcher LH - The veteran of manager Leo Durocher's pitching staff, The southpaw has pin-point control and led the entire NL in ERA with 2.50 in 1949... issued just 43 walks in 212 innings of work and completed 15 games... in 1949 Kolso posted a 11-14 record for a team that ended 24 games out of first place.

George 'Red' Munger, St Louis Cardinals Pitcher RH- the fastball ace hurled a one-hitter en-route to a sparkling 15-8 record in 1949... Fanned 82 batters in 188 innings and posted a fine 3.88 ERA... and Red Munger pitched hitless/scoreless ball in one inning of work in this year's 1949 All-Star game.

Ted Wilks, St Louis Cardinals Pitcher RH - one of the top relievers in the game... his .769 winning percentage was best in the league - 10-3 W/L... and he struck out 37 in 118 innings, 59 games.

Ralph Branca, Brooklyn Dodgers Pitcher RH - complied an outstanding 13-5 record in '49... he's has the potential to become one of baseball's top pitchers... Branka pitched in 34 games, struck out 109 in 187 innings and posted a 4.38 ERA.

Bob Chipman, Chicago Cubs Pitcher LH - the lanky 6ft, 2.5 inch ace relieved or started in 38 games in '49 and had the second best ERA on the Cubs staff - 3.98... he flashed excellent form the last part of the season... in 1949 Bob Chipman was 7-8 in 113 innings.

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Pitching Leaders by Winning Percentage - 1949 NL

Ted Wilks, Cardinals 10-3, .769 pct... Ralph Branca, Brooklyn Dodgers 13-5, .722 pct... Preacher Roe, Brooklyn 15-6, .714 pct... Howie Pollet, Cardinals 20-9, .690 pct... Russ Meyer, Phillies 17-8, .680 pct... Don Newcombe, Brooklyn 17-8, .680 pct... Red Munger, Cardinals 15-8, .652 pct... Cliff Chambers, Pirates 13-7, .650 pct... Al Brazle, Cardinals 14-8, .636 pct... Ken Heintzelman, Phillies 17-10, .630 pct.

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Top Fielders National League - 1949

Grady Hattan, 3rd Baseman, Cincinnati Reds - had an outstanding year defensively at the hot corner with a .975 pct in 444 chances, made only 11 errors... getting better every year.

Harry 'Peanuts' Lowery, Cincinnati Reds Outfielder RH - he came to the Reds from the Cubs in June '49... a speedy, sure-handed fielder hit .274 in 1949, cracked 21 doubles, 2 triples and 2 homers, while scoring 66 times.

Jimmy Bloodworth, Cincinnati Reds Second Baseman RH - a rookie in '49, he showed he belongs in the big-leagues... he's a great hustler on defense and has a fine chance to stick around for awhile... in '49 he hit .261 with 27 doubles, 9 homers and drove in 59 runs.

Pete Castiglione, Pittsburgh Pirates Third Baseman RH - he came up from the minors last year ('49) and did an excellent job defensively at the hot-corner... and hit .268, collecting 120 hits in 448 at bats, lined 20 doubles and 6 homers, scored 57 runs and had 43 RBIs.

Emil Verban, Chicago Cubs Infielder RH - a highly skilled fielder who's plays fine ball at all infield positions... he hit a solid .289 in 98 games, lining 99 hits in 343 at bats, including 11 two base hits.