Connie Mack celebrated his 86th birthday on December 23 1948. And, he stated everyone involved with the team was hopeful the Philadelphia Athletics 1949 would improve on their 84-70 record, 4th place in the 8-team, one division AL of 1948.

Note: Connie Mack retired at age 88. The last few years, Mack was aided in his managing job by several persons.

Coaches: Jimmy Dykes, Mickey Cochrane, Dave Keefe, Bing Miller... Trainer James Tadley.

Defensively the 1949 Philadelphia AÃÔ were second-to-none. first-rate pitching and a stellar fielding team. In 1948 the AÃÔ set a still-unbroken record of 217 double plays.

Speedy veteran outfielders, Sam Chapman, Wally Moses and Elmer Valo were joined by an infield of Hank Majeski at 3rd base, fan favorite Eddie Joost at shortstop, Pete Suder at 2nd, Ferris Fain at first base, and rookie infielder Nellie Fox. Fermin Mike Guerra did most of the backstop duties aided by catchers Joe Astroth and Buddy Rosar.

Pitching ¡¦Rookie lefthander Alex Kellner posted a brilliant 20-12, 3.75 ERA and completed 19-of-27 games, 245 innings. Knuckleball pitcher Dick Fowler had his best year in ¡¦8, going 15-11, 3.74 ERA in 214 innings despite bursitis. Joe Coleman, 13-14 w/l, 3.86 ERA in 240 innings. Lou Brissie sparkled again in ¡¦9, with a 16-11 record, 4.28 ERA in 229 innings. Carl Scheib 9-12 in 183 innings and rookie Bobby Schantz went 6-8 W/l, 3.40 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 127 innings.

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For more enjoyable reading of the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics please read next page - #214.

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‘If ever there was a guy who’d give you 120 percent, it was Elmer Valo. What a hard working son of a gun he was and what a good ballplayer he was,’ said Frank ‘Trader’ Lane, a former White Sox general Manager.

Born in Ribnik Czechoslovakia on March 5 1921, he proudly served in the US Military during World War II.

Playing in the minors in 1939 Elmer Valo played for Federalsburg of the Eastern Shore League. The next year with Wilmington he led the Interstate League in batting, .364, in hits with 159, in doubles with 31 and in triples with 16, then late in ’40 Valo played in 6 games with the A’s.

The 5 ft, 11 inch, left-handed hitting Elmer Valo batted over .300 five times in his 20-year major league career, including .364 for the expansion Kansas City Athletics in 1955. A line drive hitter he struck out just 284 times in 5029 at bats. Valo compiled a solid career .399 on-base percentage.

On May 1 1949 the speedy Elmer Valo lined two (2) bases loaded triples in a single game and on August 2 1950 racked up a cycle, a combination of a single , double, triple and homer.

Late in his long, 20-year career Elmer Valo was a pinch hitting specialist – 90 hits, 91 walks in 386 at bats.

Elmer Valo career stats: .282 batting average, 1420 hits, 228 Ds, 73 Ts, 58 Hrs, 768 Runs, 601 RBIs, 942 Walks, 284 strike outs (Ks) in 5029 at bats, 1806 games.

Philadelphia Athletics Baseball History

Four pitchers won at least 13 games for the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics – rookie Alex Kellner led the staff in innings pitched with 245, Joe Coleman had 240.

Philadelphia Athletics 1949 Pitching Stats:

Joe Coleman 13-14 w/l, 3.86 ERA, 240 innings in 33 games… Dick Fowler 15-11, 3.75 ERA, 214 innings in 31 G… Alex Kellner 20-12, 3.75 ERA, 245 innings in 38 G… Lou Brissie 16-11, 4.28 ERA, 229 innings in 34 G…

Carl Scheib 9-12, 5.12 ERA, 183 innings in 38 G… Bubba Harris 1-1, 5.44 ERA, 84 innings in 37 G… Bobby Schantz 6-8 w/l, 3.40 ERA, 127 innings in 33 G… Bill McCahan 1-1, 2.61 ERA, in 7 G… Jim Wilson 0-0, 14.40 ERA in 2G… Phil McCahan 1-1, 2.61 ERA in 7 G… Clem Hausmann 0-0, 9.00 ERA in 1 G.

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Charles Bubba Harris was used strictly as a relief pitcher in 1949. The right hander was rated by scouts as a having fine control and a sweeping curveball – Baseball History

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1949 American League:

NY Yankees 97-57… Red Sox 97-58 – 1GB… Indians 89-65 – 8GB… Tigers 87-67 – 10GB… Philadelphia A’s 81-73 – 6GB… White Sox 63-91 – 34GB… St Louis Browns 53-101 – 44GB… Washington Senators 50-104 – 47GB

1949 National League:

Brooklyn Dodgers 97-57… Cardinals 97-58 – 1GB… Phillies 81-73 – 16GB… Boston Braves 75-79 – 22GB… NY Giants 73-81 – 24GB… Pirates 71-83 – 26GB… Cinc Reds 62-92 – 35GB… Cubs 61-93 – 36GB.

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