DMB-Blog

1944 Deluxe Past Season with transaction and lineups available now!

1944: Show Me an Exciting Season

by Steve Ehresman

In January of 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sent a “Green Light Letter” to Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, expressing his desire “to keep baseball going.” With that, Our National Pastime continued for the duration of the War, despite the absence of many star players. Gone were Joe DiMaggio, Bob Feller, Hank Greenberg, and Ted Williams, to name but a few of the luminaries who defended our nation. In their place were players, ineligible for military service, who carried on baseball’s legacy. In 1944, the third season of baseball during the War, Missouri found itself home to not one, but two pennant-winners--the perennially powerful St. Louis Cardinals and the improbably successful St. Louis Browns--producing a “Show Me State” World Series that would never be duplicated.

Wartime baseball has assumed a niche in sports history, an extraordinary period in which those who were unable to serve abroad were given an opportunity to serve at home. Suddenly, the sports pages were filled with new names. Among position players, batting average leaders Lou Boudreau (.327) and Dixie Walker (.357), home run champs Nick Etten (22) and Bill Nicholson (33), runs batted in winners Vern Stephens (109) and Bill Nicholson (122) all emerged to set the pace in offense. On the mound, the one-two punch of Detroit Tigers Hal Newhouser (29 Wins and 187 Ks) and Dizzy Trout (2.12 ERA) paced the Junior Circuit, while Bucky Walters (23 Wins), Ed Heusser (2.38 ERA), and Bill Voiselle (141 Ks) led the way in the Senior Circuit.

The story of the year, however, was the St. Louis Browns, capturing their one and only pennant before their move to Baltimore. With shortstop Vern Stephens leading the way, the Browns edged out the Detroit Tigers by a single game. The Browns were steadied all year by a staff of colorful characters--Nels Potter, Jack Kramer, Bob Muncrief, Sig Jakucki, and Denny Galehouse--who won big games throughout the season, until after forty-four years, the American League’s St. Louis franchise found itself in the World Series.

The other occupants of Sportsman’s Park, the St. Louis Cardinals, won their third pennant in a row, establishing themselves as the best team of the World War II era. Led by their incomparable young star, Stan Musial (197 Hits, 51 2B, 14 3B, 94 RBI, .347), the Cards annihilated their National League rivals on their way to a 105-49 season record. With Mort Cooper (22-7, 2.46 ERA), Ted Wilks (17-4, 2.64 ERA), Max Lanier (17-12, 2.65 ERA), and Harry Brecheen (16-5, 2.86 ERA) buzzing through hitters like P-51 Mustangs, St. Louis was never tested, spending only four days out of first place all season and recording the most one-sided National League pennant race in forty years.

Dispatching the overmatched Browns in a six-game World Series, the Cardinals stood atop the baseball world, until outfielder par excellence Musial became Seaman First Class Musial and missed the 1945 season. Musial credited his time at the Bainbridge Training Center in Maryland with helping him become a power-hitter. It was there that Musial altered his batting stance and developed the skills that would make him a Hall of Famer who pummeled National League pitching until his retirement in 1963.

Diamond Mind Baseball is pleased to pay homage to these Wartime ballplayers, many of whom have been forgotten in the twenty-first century. Indeed, the 1944 season was a different world that offered a unique, but exciting, brand of baseball. With our new 1944 season, Diamond Mind allows our customers to travel back to the era of Rosie the Riveter, Victory Gardens, War Bonds, Big Bands, and—most of all--the heroism and sacrifice of America’s Greatest Generation.

The 1944 Deluxe Past Season database contains everything you need to play games using teams and players from the 1944 season -- a full set of ratings and statistics for every player who appeared in the big leagues that year, plus team rosters, manager profiles, ballpark ratings, transactions, and league schedules. Statistics include official batting, pitching and fielding totals with left/right splits for all batters and pitchers.

(The Diamond Mind Baseball - Version 11 game is required to use this product)

Historic Ballpark Database Update Now Available!

An update to the Historic Ballpark Database is now available for download from the Diamond Mind website. The updated database now includes all parks in use through the 2016 season. In addition, we have updated a number of seasons so that the statistical park factors for all years from 1944 to the present are based on our analysis of play-by-play data. You can learn more about the ballpark database here.

Registered owners of the ballpark database are eligible to receive the updated edition for free. All customers who purchased the Historic Ballpark Database in the past two years have been sent a notification email that includes information about the update and a new link to allow you to download a copy of the updated installation file. If you have not received the update email, you can contact us directly at dmb_info@imaginesports.com to request your free update.

2017 Projection Season - ZiPS Available Now!

The 2017 Projection Season database includes projected statistics and ratings for over 2500 players generated using Dan Szymborski's ZiPS (sZymborski Projection System) projection system, including many top prospects; the 2017 MLB schedule; opening day rosters; and manager profiles set up with pitching rotations, batting lineups, and depth charts representing our assessment of how the players are expected to be used during the 2017 season.

With the 2017 download, we will be making the product dynamic – we will update the player projections around the All-Star Break to reflect performance in the season to that point and projected through the remainder of the season.  At the end of the season, we update them again for the playoff teams.

The 2017 Projection Season database is available for order in the Diamond Mind online store now. The price is $29.95 and includes the initial Opening Day release, the mid-season update, and the playoff database when they become available.

Note: We have added two new DMB style ballpark diagrams for the 2017 season, Minute Maid Park (removal of Tal's Hill in center field) and SunTrust Park (opened in 2017). These image files are available for free download from our Park Images page.

(The Diamond Mind Baseball game is required to use this product)

1967 Deluxe Past Season with transaction and lineups available now!

1967: The Summer of Love, Music, and Incredible Baseball

by Steve Ehresman

In 1967, America, torn apart by the Vietnam War, experienced an earthquake of social change, musical creativity, and, for those who were still paying attention, fabulous baseball.  While a staggering 475,000 Americans risked death in Southeast Asia, LSD guru Timothy Leary urged disaffected youth to “tune in, turn on, and drop out.”  Riots ignited in inner-cities.  Rebellion simmered on college campuses.  America wobbled on her axis.  Nineteen sixty-seven was an exhilarating, bewildering, and terrifying year to come of age in America.  

A Human Be-In took place in San Francisco, launching the careers of Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, and Big Brother and the Holding Company.  The Doors were banned from The Ed Sullivan Show for their uncensored version of “Light My Fire.”  The Who destroyed their instruments on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.  Jimi Hendrix emerged as a dazzling talent.  Not to be upstaged, The Beatles released both Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour.  Overnight, the 1960s had transformed from “mod” to “psychedelic.”    

Oh yes.  The baseball was pretty good, too.

While the St. Louis Cardinals, led by MVP Orlando Cepeda (37 2B, 25 HR, 111 RBI, .325) stolen base king Lou Brock (52 SB), consummate hitter Curt Flood (.335), and gritty World Series hero Bob Gibson (13-7, 2.98, and 3 complete game World Series victories), made short work of the National League, compiling a 101-60 record to breeze to the pennant by 10.5 games, the American League put on a show for the ages.  Junior Circuit MVP Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox (112 R, 189 H, 44 HR, 121 RBI, .325) won a Triple Crown and powered his team to an improbable pennant.

Only 8,324 turned out at Fenway for Opening Day 1967, demonstrating that the expectations for the Red Sox were low and that their pennant chances were . . . well . . . impossible.  Led by a cast of unknowns, the Sox defied the pundits, delighted their faithful, and edged out the Detroit Tigers, the Minnesota Twins, and the Chicago White Sox “to dream the impossible dream” and create the stuff of legends in Beantown. 

Jim Lonborg led the Red Sox pitchers (22-9, 246 K, 3.16), capturing the American League Cy Young Award.  Tragic figure Tony Conigliaro (20 HR, 67 RBI, .287) helped outfield mate Carl Yastrzemski hammer opposing pitchers, until a horrific beaning on August 18 ended his season and curtailed his promising career.  Youngsters Rico Petrocelli (17 HR) and Reggie Smith (15 HR, 16 SB) combined their talent and energy to push the Bosox across the finish line in baseball’s version of The Great Race.       

The 1967 season witnessed the debuts of Minnesota Twins star Rod Carew (.292) and New York Mets ace Tom Seaver (16-13, 170 K, 2.76).  In addition, reliable anchors like batting champion Roberto Clemente (.357), Cy Young winner Mike McCormick (22-10, 2.85), earned run leaders Joe Horlen (2.06) and Phil Niekro (1.87), strike-out artist Jim Bunning (253), and stolen base king Bert Campaneris (55 SB) all made stellar contributions to the 1967 baseball season. 

The Impossible Dreamers of Boston and the Red Birds of St. Louis made indelible impressions on America’s baseball history, as well as lifetime of memories for their fans.  Amid the swirling confusion of 1967, these championship teams stand out as examples of grace under pressure and consistent excellence.

The year 1967 resists easy interpretations.  America herself has always resisted easy interpretations, consistently emerging from turmoil as a nation greater than the sum of her many parts.  Through it all, baseball has offered a window into our past and a glimpse into our future.  Through it all, baseball has captivated and inspired millions.    

Diamond Mind Baseball is pleased to offer this historic season to its customers.  As the 50^th anniversary of the 1967 season dawns, Diamond Mind invites you to remember our heroes from long ago and to revisit their remarkable achievements in our brand new version of this unforgettable baseball season. 

The 1967 Deluxe Past Season database contains everything you need to play games using teams and players from the 1967 season -- a full set of ratings and statistics for every player who appeared in the big leagues that year, plus team rosters, manager profiles, ballpark ratings, transactions, and league schedules. Statistics include official batting, pitching and fielding totals with left/right splits for all batters and pitchers.

(The Diamond Mind Baseball - Version 11 game is required to use this product)

1924 Classic Past Season with transaction and lineups available now!

1924: Surprise for Gotham

by Steve Ehresman

When the 1924 baseball season began, the odds-on favorites to return to the World Series were Miller Huggins’ Yankees and John McGraw’s Giants, both located in the baseball capital of the world, New York City. For three consecutive seasons, these Gotham dynasties had clashed in the post-season. Further, each team entered 1924 with virtually the same talent that had allowed them to vanquish their opponents in the preceding years.

What could go wrong?

For the Giants, the answer was stout resistance by Brooklyn and Pittsburgh. For the Yankees, the answer was superb play by a talented Washington team. Whereas McGraw’s Giants survived the challenge to capture the National League flag, Huggins’ defending American League champions, the Yankees, succumbed to the rival Senators.

As the 1920s began to roar, baseball produced its share of dynamic performers, heroes whose grit would not have been out of place in the baseball novels of Zane Grey. Indeed, the 1920s was a decade of larger-than-life baseball legends

In the National League, Rogers Hornsby, despite the dismal performance of his St. Louis team, captured his fifth batting title with an other-worldly .424 average, while banging out 43 doubles, 14 triples, and 25 home runs. In the Senior Circuit, “The Rajah” was nonpareil.

The New York Giants, who edged out Brooklyn by 1 ½ games and Pittsburgh by 3 games, featured outstanding hitting by George Kelly (.324, 136 RBI), Frankie Frisch (.328), Travis Jackson (.302), and Ross Youngs (.355). On the mound, Jack Bentley (16-5, 3.78), Virgil Barnes (16-10, 3.07), and Art Nehf (14-4, 3.66) were reliable starters.

Despite the prowess of the Giants, the Robins, led by Jack Fournier (27 HR, 116 RBI), Zack Wheat (.375), and Dazzy Vance (28-6, 2.16), and the Pirates, paced by Max Carey (49 SB), Rabbit Maranville (20 3B), Kiki Cuyler (.354, 32 SB), Pie Traynor (24 SB), and Mort Cooper (20-14, 3.28), would keep the pressure on the Giants all season.

In addition to the pennant race provided by this trio of outstanding ball clubs, the National League boasted of stars like Ed Roush (.348, 21 3B), Carl Mays (20-9, 3.15), Gabby Hartnett (16 HR), Jim Bottomley (.316), and Cy Williams (24 HR), all of whom contributed to this Golden Age of American Sports.

Above all the rest stood Babe Ruth, enjoying one of his greatest seasons, as he led the American League in batting (.378) home runs (46), and RBI (142) in an effort to turn back the challenge posed by Goose Goslin’s (.344, 30 2B, 17 3B, 12 HR, 129 RBI) and Walter Johnson’s (23-7, 2.72) resolute Senators. Despite the Babe’s historic bating and Herb Pennock’s ace pitching (21-9, 2.83), the Nationals captured the pennant by a slender two-game margin.

Fans outside New York or Washington were entertained by the exploits of Ty Cobb (.338, 23 SB), Harry Heilman (.348, 113 RBI), George Sisler (.305), Baby Doll Jacobson (.318, 19 HR), Ken Williams (.324, 18 HR, 20 SB), Bing Miller (.342), Al Simmons (.308), Tris Speaker (.344), Charlie Jamieson (.359, 21 SB), Eddie Collins (.349, 42 SB), Harry Hooper (.328), and Bib Falk (.352), names that resonate with baseball fans to this day.

In a spirited 7-game World Series, the Washington Senators of player-manager Bucky Harris dispatched the New York Giants of John McGraw and on October 10, 1924 and stood alone atop the baseball world. The Gotham dynasties had been displaced by a new powerhouse.

Diamond Mind is excited to bring you this slice of American sporting history. Our season comes complete with the great pennant races, the powerful hitters, the rising stars, and the stalwart veterans that made 1924 and outstanding year for baseball. In fact, we give you everything you need for a realistic replay. Everything, that is, except bathtub gin, flappers, and gangsters.

The 1924 Classic Past Season database contains everything you need to play games using teams and players from the 1924 season -- a full set of ratings and statistics for every player who appeared in the big leagues that year, plus team rosters, manager profiles, ballpark ratings, transactions, and league schedules. Statistics include official batting, pitching and fielding totals for all batters and pitchers.