SABR Digital Library: Who’s on First: Replacement Players in World War II
Who’s on First: Replacement Players in World War II
Edited by Marc Z. Aaron and Bill Nowlin
Associate editors: James Forr and Len Levin
Publication Date: March 19, 2015
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-933599-91-5, $19.95
ISBN (e-book): 978-1-933599-90-8, $9.99
8.5″ x 11″, 418 pages
During the four seasons the U.S. was at war in World War II (1942-1945), 533 players made their major-league debuts. There were 67 first-time major leaguers under the age of 21 (Joe Nuxhall the youngest at 15 in 1944). More than 60 percent of the players in the 1941 Opening Day lineups departed for the service. The 1944 Dodgers had only Dixie Walker and Mickey Owen as the two regulars from their 1941 pennant-winning team.
The owners brought in not only first-timers but also many oldsters. Hod Lisenbee pitched 80 innings for the Reds in 1945 at the age of 46. He had last pitched in the major leagues in 1936. War veteran and former POW Bert Shepard, with an artificial leg, pitched in one game for the 1945 Senators, and one-armed outfielder Pete Gray played for the St. Louis Browns.
The war years featured firsts and lasts. The St. Louis Browns won their first (and last) pennant in 1944 — a feat made more amazing by the fact that they had not finished in the first division since 1929. The 1944 team featured 13 players classified as 4-F. The Chicago Cubs appeared in the 1945 World Series but have not made it back since.
More than 50 members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) have contributed to this Digital Library volume. We invite you to sit back and relax as you learn Who’s on First.
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- E-book: Click here to purchase the e-book version of Who’s on First: Replacement Players in World War II for $9.99 from the SABR Store. Available in PDF, MOBI, and EPUB/Kindle formats.
- Paperback: Get the paperback edition of Who’s on First: Replacement Players in World War II from the SABR Store ($34.99 includes shipping/tax).
Below: Find player biographies and essays from Who’s on First: Replacement Players in World War II:
Biographies
Essays
Contributors: Marc Z. Aaron, Thomas Ayers, Peter C. Bjarkman, Rich Bogovich, Bob Brady, Ashlie Christian, Alan Cohen, Rory Costello, Richard Cuicchi, Sidney Davis, Greg Erion, Charles Faber, Merrie A. Fidler, David Finoli, Duke Goldman, Rex Hamann, Rachel Hamelers, Tom Hawthorn, Leslie Heaphy, Lou Hernández, Michael Huber, Joanne Hulbert, Jay Hurd, David M. Jordan, Seamus Kearney, Marc Lancaster, Walter LeConte, Bob LeMoine, Barb Mantegani, Jeff Marlett, Mel Marmer, Bob Mayer, Mike McClary, Richard Moraski, Bill Nowlin, Jeff Obermeyer, Gregg Omoth, Armand Peterson, J.G. Preston, David W. Pugh, David Raglin, Chris Rainey, John Shannahan, James D. Smith III, Steve Smith, Lyle Spatz, Mark S. Sternman, Jim Sweetman, Cort Vitty, Charlie Weatherby, Bob Webster, Gregory H. Wolf, and Don Zminda.