STANDINGS
 

W

L

GB

Last

Washington

54

34

--

6-5

St. Louis

53

34

0.5

5-6

Chicago

52

35

1.5

6-5

Brooklyn

48

38

5

5-6

New York

44

43

9.5

6-4

Los Angeles

41

46

12.5

7-4

San Francisco

39

48

14.5

5-6

Boston

37

51

17

5-6

Louisville

37

51

17

6-5

Detroit

31

56

22.5

3-7

INJURED LIST

BRO

SP Tom Gorman (season)
RF Gene Woodling (3 wks)

DET

RF Ralph Kiner (2 days)

LOU

SP Herm Wehmeier (2-3 wks)

NYG

SP Jim Hearn (4 days)

STL

LF Gil Coan (season)
 C Sammy White (5 days)

WAS

RF Jimmy Piersall (season)
SP Larry Jansen (6 days)
  

TRANSACTIONS

May 8

NYG

Signed MR Alex Kellner to minor league contract
May 16

BRO

Signed MR Morrie Martin to minor league contract
June 1

BRO

Signed SS Lou Boudreau and 2B Bobby Young to minor league contracts
June 16

BRO

Signed SP Fred Hutchinson 
to minor league contract
July 16

                            Trade
BOS gets: SP Lou Brissie ($3.6M)
BRO gets: Boston's 3rd Rd Rookie pick
  


Spahn Finds His Niche By the Bay
SAN FRANCISCO (July 16) -- Lefty Warren Spahn never felt at home in the cozy confines of Boston's Fenway Park.  Spahn was the Beacons' first draft pick ever in 1951, but produced just one winning season in five years with the Charles-Siders.  Boston GM Charlie Qualls was more than happy to hand Spahnie his release papers and free up the $7.5 in payroll devoured each year by his underachieving ace.
   Enter San Francisco GM John Nellis.  The expansion Spiders had the league's worst run differential last season (-167), due in large part to the third-worst pitching staff.  With the lineup peppered with the likes of Vic Wertz, Willard Marshall, and Solly Hemus, Nellis' priority was to go after pitching this offseason, and that's exactly what the struggling Spiders did.  S.F. shelled out big bucks for Spahn, Don Newcombe, and Bobby Shantz.
   Spahn had a slow start.  Let's not mince words, he was downright lousy, with a 6.44 ERA in April, and 5.80 in May.  But as Spahnie acclimated to Seals Stadium, so did his ERA shrink.  In June Spahn trimmed his ERA to 4.06, and so far in July, he's at 2.12, with wins at St. Louis and Chicago.  Spahn leads the Spiders in wins (12) and innings (154), and has already matched in 1955 win total.
   Newcombe is 2-2, 3.26 in a spot starter role, and Bobby Shantz is tearing up the American Association, with a 7-1 record and 2.47 ERA with AAA Atlanta.
   The 39-48 Spiders have climbed two spots from last year's ninth place finish.
   

 

  

United League of American Base Ball Clubs          est. 1951
 
LEAGUE FILE (4/7) · HEADLINES · NEWS LOG · TRANSACTIONS · INJURIES · FINANCES
STANDINGS · BOX SCORES · SCHEDULE · BATTING · PITCHING · FIELDING · LEADERS
LEAGUE RULES · TEAM INFO · ROSTERS · FREE AGENTS · TOP PROSPECTS · TOP FARMS
TOP PERFORMANCES · RECORD BOOK · PAST LEADERS · CAREER LEADERS
BEGINNINGS · CITIES · BALLPARKS · PLAYER PHOTOS
TOTAL UL  · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 DRAFTS
4/5 (Season Preview) · 4/17 · 5/1 · 5/16 · 6/1 · 6/15 · 7/5 · 7/16


      July 16, 1956

NEXT SIM
Sat 4/10 (to Jul 31)
Rosters due 12pm ET

UPCOMING SIMS
Wed 4/14 (to Aug 16)
Sat 4/17 (to Sep 1)
Wed 4/21 (to Sep 10)


Jackie: 'Don't Count Us Out'
Gothams Blast Monuments; Loes, Ditmar Hot
NEW YORK (July 16) -- Despite the deepest slump of his career and the rocky beginning to his managerial career, New York Gothams player-manager Jackie Robinson insists that his club can still capture the flag in 1956.  The Gothams have been a troubled franchise in recent years.  Robinson is the third manager in four years, and the club plummeted from third place in 1954 to a franchise-worst 73-81 last season.  When no suitable replacement could be found for departing manager Don Carrington, the club hired from within, making 37-year-old second baseman Jackie Robinson the first player-manager in UL history.  The move, though initially popular with Gotham fans, was immediately second-guessed, as Jackie slumped and club went 9-15 in April.  But since May 1, the club is seven games over .500 (35-28), and with a series win over Washington this week, the club climbed over .500 and within 10 games of first place.  
   Robinson himself is batting just .196 (20-102) since June 6, and has moved himself to the bottom of the batting order.  But the club is 18-13 during Jackie's slump, and Robinson continues to sound an optimistic tone.  "We have a long way to go, but Billy (Loes) and Artie (Ditmar) are throwing strikes, we're getting Jimmy (Hearn) back, and we're getting base knocks when we need them.  Color me crazy, but don't count us out," said Robinson at Yankee Stadium after the Gothams beat Washington for the third day in a row, 12-10.
   Billy Loes (8-8, 6.82) is 3-1, 2.43 in his last four starts, and the loss was a four-hit complete game in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Monuments.  New York swept the last three games of the series, including a three-hit shutout by rookie Art Ditmar on Thursday.  Ditmar, who filled the injured Jim Hearn's spot in the rotation, has exceeded all expectations with a 3-1 record and 3.35 ERA in five starts since June 9.  Hobie Landrith and Larry Doby have carried the offense in July.  The two have driven in 24 of the Gothams' 53 runs, and have six of the club's nine home runs.

Woodling Back Injury Worries Reed
BROOKLYN (July 16) -- Brooklyn's repeat bid suffered another setback this month when outfielder Gene Woodling pulled a muscle in his back running the bases on July 5.  The 32-year-old stayed in the lineup, though the injury is hampering his swing.  Woodling, who was 3rd in batting last season, hit .353 in the first half, and leads the Superbas in batting, hits, RBIs, and total bases.  The injury comes on the heels of Tom Gorman's season-ending setback on May 31.  Earlier in the season, left fielder Minnie Minoso was hit in the face by a pitch and missed five weeks.  Despite the rash of injuries, Brooklyn is in the heat of the race, just five games behind Washington.  The Bas just went through the toughest week of their schedule, an eight-game home stand against Washington and St. Louis.  They were 3-5 in the two series, and four of the five losses were by two runs or less.

Banks Sparks Offense, Colts Stay Close
BROOKLYN (July 16) -- Ernie Banks put on an offensive clinic, as the Colts won three straight against San Francisco to pull within 1.5 games of first place.  In his last five games, Banks hit .524 (11-21) with 12 RBIs.  "Mr. Colt" is hitting .398 since June 1, with 29 RBIs in 29 games.
   Teammate Gus Zernial maintained his torrid home run pace in early July.  "Ozark Ike" walloped four more round trippers, and drove in 13 runs in 10 games.  Zernial has 30 home runs, and needs just 11 in the last 67 games to tie Ralph Kiner's United League record (41).
   Chicago's pitching has wilted in the Windy City's muggy summer heat.  The staff has allowed 5.5 runs per game since the Break.  Robin Roberts (5.00), Joe Presko (5.66), and Whitey Ford (7.11) have served up their share of July gopher-balls.  Yet despite a team ERA of 4.96 in July, the surging offense has kept the team above .500, barely (6-5).
   Manager Lance Mueller is banking on a quick turnaround for the pallid pitching.  The Colts' pennant hopes hang largely on the next fortnight.  Ten of Chicago's next 14 games are against fellow contenders Washington, St. Louis, and Brooklyn.

Colavito Red Hot, Other Spiders Struggle
SAN FRANCISCO (July 16) -- 

  

AROUND THE HORN
  Washington Monuments
Jay Kaplan		 St. Louis Maroons
Tim Smith

Scored 22 runs in a pair of blowout wins July 5-6 at Fenway, but then just 22 in next eight games. . .  Carl Erskine pitched a five-hit shutout against Boston on July 5. . .  Willie Mays hit 2 homers against Brooklyn June 11.  It was his third multi-homer game in two weeks. . .  Stu Miller continues to struggle.  He is 1-1, 6.41 in three July starts, including an 8-4 drubbing by New York in which he was chased in the sixth inning.

Gil Coan has probably played his last game as a Maroon.  The swift-hitting left fielder tore his ACL on July 5 and is out for the year.  His $3 million contract expires this year.  Coan is a .291 lifetime hitter and won a Gold Glove in 1952. . .  Sam Zoldak is 6-1 with a 1.61 ERA in his last seven starts. . .  Spec Shea is 0-3 in July, despite a 2.42 ERA. . .  Luis Aparicio is hitting .333 with 7 runs and 8 SBs in 11 games since returning from DL July 5.

   
Chicago Colts
Lance Mueller		 Brooklyn Superbas
Glen Reed

Colts lead the league with 106 home runs and a .460 slugging percentage. . .  Zernial is putting up career numbers, slugging .697 with a 1.036 OPS -- both about 160 pts above his career average. . .  Bobby Thomson is hitting .346 in 31 games since June 1.  He had four hits against Boston July 11. . .  Whitey Ford's ERA is getting worse each month, from 3.16 in April to 7.11 in July (3.72 overall).

Lost 3 of 4 to Washington, split St. Louis 2-2 in tough eight-game home stand. . .  Three-run eighth, including RBI single by Lew Burdette, toppled Mons' Carl Erskine 5-3 July 9. . .  Sandy Amoros drove in a pair in Bob Porterfield's 3-2 win over Maroons July 15. . .  Cost-conscious GM Glen Reed sent SP Lou Brissie ($3.6M) to Boston for a draft pick. . .  Gil Hodges has a 16-game homer drought. . .  Minnie Minoso (.353-5-32) is hitting .370 in 33 games since his Apr. 23 beaning.

        
New York Gothams
Jackie Robinson		 Los Angeles Outlaws
Chris McCreight

5-1 in last six games, league-best 4-1 in extra innings. . .  Left fielder Jim Busby is red hot, with a .455 average (15-33) in July.  Busby leads the Gothams in batting, hits (105), and runs (57). . .  Club is first in walks (led by Larry Doby's 54) and second in steals (led by Robinson's 22 and Busby's 20). . .  Pressure mounting to take the 'player' out of Robinson's player-manager job title.  Jackie's batting average was .391 in May, .263 in June, and just .133 so far in July.

1B Dale Long (.382-7-75) is mounting an MVP challenge with his hottest month of the year (.432-1-12, .676 SLG, 1.137 OPS in 10 games).  Long, who had a 25-game hitting streak in April, has hit safely in 25 of his last 28 games.  He leads the league in batting and RBI. . .  Campanella is homerless in last 18 games, and has just 2 in last 39 games (143 AB). . .  Ray Herbert (8-9, 4.02) is 5-1, 1.68 in his last 6 starts. . .  One-time starter Art Houtteman is lobbying for a starting job, with a 3.77 ERA in 24 relief appearances.

              
San Francisco Spiders
John Nellis		 Boston Beacons
Charlie Qualls

Took two of three from Maroons at Sportsman's Park July 5-7.  Rocky Colavito drove in 6 runs in 9-6 win, and Warren Spahn edged Spec Shea 3-1 on Dick Williams' two-run single in the ninth. . .  Colavito was Player of the Week 7/10 (.556-2-9).  In 10 July games, Rocky is .436-3-14. . .  Rookie LF Wes Covington (.289-12-50) leads the Spiders in hits (88).

Beeks won four straight July 10-13, two each vs. Chicago and at Louisville.  Harvey Kuenn had 5 RBI and Eddie Mathews 4 RBI in 13-7 win over Chicago on the 10th.  Scored 6 runs in first inning off Johnny Antonelli in 7-4 win on the 13th. . .  Eddie Mathews hit 2 HR in 15-9 loss to Washington July 6. . .  Jerry Priddy .591 (13-22) in his last 6 games. . .  Rookie Hank Aguirre (8-11, 5.39) to be replaced by newcomer Lou Brissie in #4 starter spot.

         
Louisville Colonels
Mark Allen		 Detroit Sound
Sean Holloway

Johnny Antonelli struck out 45 batters in four starts June 25-July 9. . .  Tom Morgan is 3-0, 3.09 since joining rotation July 7. . .  Bill "Moose" Skowron leading hitter in July with .400 average (14-35), 12 RBIs and 10 runs. . .  Jackie Jensen emerging from slumpy first half (.261-7-38) with hot July (.394). . .  Righthander Russ Kemmerer has 2.95 ERA in 21 relief appearances.

Lost five in a row July 9-14, including three at Los Angeles.  Broke streak with 8-6 win on the 15th, in which Catfish Metkovich homered and drove in 5 runs. . .  Camilo Pascual pitched a two-hit shutout July 8 in 5-0 win over New York.  Joe Cunningham, "Jabbo" Jablonski, and Davey Williams each homered in the game. . .  Tale of two seasons?  Pascual 6.66 ERA before June 1, 3.15 since June 1. . .  Kiner due to return to lineup July 20.

         

 

L
E
A
G
U
E

L
E
A
D
E
R
S

BATTING AVERAGE

HOME RUNS

RBI

OPS

 RUNS SCORED

Dale Long, LA

.382

Ralph Kiner, DET

 .373

Stan Musial, STL

.370

Gene Woodling, BRO

.349

Hank Thompson, WAS

.328

*Ernie Banks, CHI

.324

*Jim Busby, NYG

.322

Del Crandall, STL

.321

Gus Bell, CHI

.315

*Roberto Clemente, LA

.315

  

  

Gus Zernial, CHI

30

Willie Mays, WAS

25

Stan Musial, STL

22

Ralph Kiner, DET

20

*Eddie Mathews, BOS

19

Joe Adcock, WAS

18

Dick Kokos, STL

18

Frank Robinson, LA

18

Duke Snider, WAS

18

Vern Stephens, STL

18

 

 

Dale Long, LA

75

Gus Zernial, CHI

74

Frank Robinson, LA

68

Stan Musial, STL

67

Ralph Kiner, DET

64

*Hank Thompson, WAS

63

Duke Snider, WAS

60

Willie Mays, WAS

58

*Hank Aaron, LOU

57

   3 tied with

56

  

  

Ralph Kiner, DET

 1236

Stan Musial, STL

1077

Gus Zernial, CHI

1036

Dale Long, LA

 982

Gene Woodling, BRO

 960

Willie Mays, WAS

 952

*Ernie Banks, CHI

 934

Duke Snider, WAS

 934

*Eddie Mathews, BOS

 906

*Frank Robinson, LA

901

  

  

CHICAGO

457

LOS ANGELES

456

WASHINGTON

453

NEW YORK

449

BROOKLYN

446

BOSTON

430

ST. LOUIS

411

SAN FRANCISCO

394

DETROIT

387

LOUISVILLE

371

 

 

EARNED RUN AVERAGE

WINS

STRIKEOUTS

RATIO

 RUNS ALLOWED

Sam Zoldak, STL

 2.42

Carl Erskine, WAS

 2.70

Billy Pierce, STL

 2.85

Johnny Antonelli, LOU

2.89

*Larry Jansen, WAS

3.15

Dave Koslo, WAS

 3.23

*Spec Shea, STL

 3.34

Robin Roberts, CHI

3.35

Joe Presko, CHI

3.39

*Herm Wehmeier, LOU

3.40

  

  

Billy Pierce, STL

 16

Lew Burdette, BRO

 14

Sam Zoldak, STL

 13

Warren Hacker, WAS

 12

Joe Presko, CHI

 12

Warren Spahn, SF

12

Johnny Antonelli, LOU

 11

Gene Conley, BRO

 11

Carl Erskine, WAS

 11

   4 tied with

 10

 

  

Billy Pierce, STL

 228

Johnny Antonelli, LOU

 203

Bob Friend, NYG

 180

Whitey Ford, CHI

 159

Herb Score, SF

 148

Ted Gray, DET

 139

Harvey Haddix, BOS

124

Spec Shea, STL

 116

Bubba Church, NYG

 115

*Johnny Podres, DET

 104

  

  

Sam Zoldak, STL

 9.5

Billy Pierce, STL

 9.9

Carl Erskine, WAS

 9.9

Whitey Ford, CHI

 10.0

Bob Porterfield, BRO

10.2

Robin Roberts, CHI

 10.4

Bubba Church, NYG

10.5

*Lew Burdette, BRO

10.6

Johnny Antonelli, LOU

 10.6

*Herm Wehmeier, LOU

 10.7

  

   

ST. LOUIS

322

WASHINGTON

363

BROOKLYN

374

CHICAGO

383

LOUISVILLE

404

NEW YORK

431

LOS ANGELES

457

SAN FRANCISCO

461

BOSTON

516

DETROIT

543
     
   

 

H
O
N
O
R

R
O
L
L

BATTER OF THE MONTH

 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MILESTONES

APR

Stan Musial, STL

4/10

Stan Musial, STL

7/10

Rocky Colavito, SF

Gene Woodling, BRO
900th hit (July 7), #3 all-time
Billy Goodman, WAS
800th hit (July 10), #8 all-time
Willie Jones, LA
800th hit (July 11), #9 all-time
Gus Zernial, CHI
200th double (July 13), #1 all-time
Clem Labine, DET
150th save (June 26), #2 all-time

MAY

Ralph Kiner, DET

4/17

Joe Cunningham, DET

7/17

Johnny Antonelli, LOU

JUN

Willie Mays, WAS

4/24

Gus Zernial, CHI

7/24

Johnny Antonelli, LOU

JUL

 

5/1

Vic Wertz, SF

7/31

Johnny Antonelli, LOU

AUG

 

5/8

Frank Robinson, LA

8/7

 Johnny Antonelli, LOU

SEP

 

5/15

Frank Robinson, LA (2)

8/14

 Johnny Antonelli, LOU

PITCHER OF THE MONTH

5/22

Larry Jansen, WASOU

8/21

 Johnny Antonelli, LOU

APR

Sam Zoldak, STL

5/29

Ralph Kiner, DET

8/28

 Johnny Antonelli, LOU

MAY

Warren Hacker, WAS

6/5

Ralph Kiner, DET (2)

9/4

 Johnny Antonelli, LOU

RACE TO 1,000: CAREER HITS

JUN

Johnny Antonelli, LOU

6/12

Stan Musial, STL (2)

9/11

 Johnny Antonelli, LOU
Stan Musial 945
Jackie Robinson         910
Gene Woodling      903
Minnie Minoso   891
Jackie Jensen   858

JUL

  

6/19

Ralph Kiner, DET (3)

9/18

 Johnny Antonelli, LOU

AUG

  

6/26

Sam Zoldak, STL

9/25

Johnny Antonelli, LOU

SEP

  

7/3

Nellie Fox, LOU