BVL Action: NEL: BVL


Updated: February 28, 1939 Key/Notes
	Arkansas wins title again
	Arkansas (IND) beats out Henry Street (LES) by one game to win it's second straight title. Billy Butler leads league in batting (.314); Shawn Marcum is tops in ERA (1.42).

FINAL 1939 North Eastern League

    WON LOST   BATTING AVERAGE     HOME RUNS           RUNS BATTED IN

ARK  36  25    B.Butler  ARK .314  J.Drew    BSU   12  T.Colvin  ARK   35

HEN  35  26    A.Jones   HEN .312  A.Soriano STA   12  J.Uribe   BSU   31

SAR  32  28    T.Colvin  ARK .287  J.Uribe   BSU   10  V.Wells   ARK   31

STA  32  29    V.Guerrer BOS .271  A.Ramirez STA   10  B.Butler  ARK   30

BOS  32  29    M.Scutaro BOS .262  P.Burrell SPM    9  A.Ramirez STA   26

GRA  30  30

BSU  30  30    WINS                SAVES               ERA

SPM  22  38    C.Hamels  HEN   10  K.Wood    SAR   11  S.Marcum  HEN 1.42

GRE  22  38    C.Pavano  GRA    8  R.Frankli STA   11  C.Hamels  HEN 1.55

               P.Hughes  HEN    8  K.Gregg   BSU   10  B.Arroyo  SAR 2.32

               S.Marcum  HEN    7  J.Contrer ARK   10  B.Cecil   SAR 2.36

               B.Arroyo  SAR    7  J.Papelbo GRE    9

CUR HIT STREAK      STOLEN BASES        STRIKEOUTS

A.Rosales GRE    9  W.Venable GRA   17  C.Hamels  HEN  128

C.Ross    BOS    6  B.Abreu   GRE   16  C.Sabathi BSU   96

A.Escobar SAR    5  B.Upton   BSU   16  T.Lilly   SAR   89

O.Martine SAR    5  S.Victori GRA   16  OTHERS TIED W   86

OTHERS TIED W    4  H.Pence   SPM   14

AWARDS

MVP AWARD                               CY YOUNG AWARD

B.Butler(ARK) 210                       C.Hamels(HEN) 60

T.Colvin(ARK) 116                       B.Arroyo(SAR) 20

A.Ramirez(STA) 73                       P.Hughes(HEN) 7

S.Victorino(GRA) 53                     S.Marcum(HEN) 3

ALL-STAR SELECTIONS BY POSITION

C  J.Jaso(BOS) 2,635,412                C.Snyder(ARK) 1,974,106

1B B.Butler(ARK) 4,544,579              L.Berkman(SAR) 1,980,489

2B J.Keppinger(BSU) 1,784,002           M.Aviles(GRA) 1,448,464

3B A.Ramirez(STA) 3,458,028             B.Inge(GRA) 1,974,236

SS J.Uribe(BSU) 2,881,353               A.Gonzalez(GRA) 2,227,445

LF A.Soriano(STA) 3,069,206             P.Burrell(SPM) 2,501,890

CF S.Victorino(GRA) 3,251,392           V.Wells(ARK) 2,888,836

RF T.Colvin(ARK) 3,604,510              J.Drew(BSU) 3,229,470

Pi B.Arroyo(SAR) 563,212                C.Hamels(HEN) 969,986

   S.Marcum(HEN) 520,594                P.Hughes(HEN) 521,143

   D.Storen(SPM) 455,626                C.Pavano(GRA) 467,944

   C.Sabathia(BSU) 405,930              J.Papelbon(GRE) 409,072

   B.Badenhop(SAR) 393,926              K.Gregg(BSU) 402,270

GOLD GLOVE SELECTIONS BY POSITION

WINNER                                  RUNNER UP

P  M.Buehrle(GRA)                       B.Chen(SAR)

C  J.Thole(GRE)                         K.Suzuki(SPM)

1B C.Pena(SPM)                          L.Overbay(BSU)

2B J.Keppinger(BSU)                     M.Aviles(GRA)

3B C.Headley(HEN)                       B.Inge(GRA)

SS A.Escobar(SAR)                       J.Uribe(BSU)

OF S.Victorino(GRA)                     W.Venable(GRA)

OF J.Drew(BSU)                          A.Jones(HEN)

OF B.Upton(BSU)                         H.Pence(SPM)

SILVER SLUGGER SELECTIONS BY POSITION

WINNER                                  RUNNER UP

C  J.Jaso(BOS)                          C.Snyder(ARK)

1B B.Butler(ARK)                        A.Dunn(GRE)

2B M.Aviles(GRA)                        J.Keppinger(BSU)

3B A.Ramirez(STA)                       B.Inge(GRA)

SS J.Uribe(BSU)                         A.Gonzalez(GRA)

LF A.Soriano(STA)                       H.Matsui(ARK)

CF V.Wells(ARK)                         S.Victorino(GRA)

RF T.Colvin(ARK)                        V.Guerrero(BOS)

ROLAIDS FIREMAN RELIEF AWARD            MANAGER OF THE YEAR

K.Gregg(BSU) 30                         Arkansas' manager(ARK)

K.Wood(SAR) 27                          Grand Parie's manager(GRA)

D.Storen(SPM) 25                        Henry Street's manager(HEN)

J.Contreras(ARK) 22                     Staten Island's manager(STA)

J.Papelbon(GRE) 21                      Boston's manager(BOS)

TEAM              AVG    AB    R     H   2B  3B   HR  RBI   SB   CS    E

Henry Street     .242  2059  250   499  112  13   48  236   29    7   33

Arkansas         .238  2136  262   508  130  18   53  245   16   11   33

Staten Island    .224  2044  195   457  121   7   53  185   19   12   48

Sarasota         .218  1974  204   430   84  19   44  187   93   24   36

Boston           .215  2019  191   435  121  12   40  174   28   11   43

Grand Parie      .207  1977  179   410   94  11   34  166   51   17   34

Brett-Superior   .205  1952  184   401   97   6   56  176   26    7   24

Greenwich        .199  1984  166   394  105  12   28  151   36   13   51

SP-Macoris       .196  1973  153   386   87   7   30  142   39   18   32

---------------  ---- ----- ---- ----- ---- --- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

LEAGUE TOTALS    .216 18118 1784  3920  951 105  386 1662  337  120  334

SEE COMPLETE 1939 NEL STATS

North Eastern League History

Frank Ruscitti’s idea of a winter league came to fruition in 1926. Mr. Ruscitti (Coney Island Kings), Jesus Diaz (Lewistown Diesels), Jon Simonds (Hartford Hens), and Alan Levine (Cadillac Mountain Whales) formed the original clubs. Todd Greene (Lewistown) became the first player chosen in the draft. On October 24, Coney Island bested Cadillac Mountain, 6-3, in the historic first game. Eric Davis hit the first home run for the Kings. ¶ Without a commissioner, the NEL became renegade in dealing with day-to-day matters. For example, the owners abolished the playoff format with a week left in its inaugural season. ¶ Internal bickering and financial woes forced the cancellation of the 1927 campaign. More changes followed in 1928, including the disbarment of Mr. Levine, who split to Florida. A year later, Billy Prine of the Prine Consortium gained control of the barren franchise, and move to Fly Creek. ¶ Still, the league-where-anything goes remained influential. It beat the established BVL in the technology race. Hal the computer was first introduced and e-mail games were played. ¶ By signing with the MLB, the NEL introduced the Affiliation Draft. Oakland (Fly Creek), Boston (Hartford), Cleveland (Lewistown), and the New York Mets (Coney Island) formed the affiliates. ¶ Despite its negative label, the NEL exhibited conservative tendencies. By promoting loyalty to its fans, the league forbids releasing or trading any of its players. How about that.

Seasonal briefs:
1926 -- The monthly magazine 5e88 folded before its debut. Lewiston won Game 71 over Coney Island to clinch a tie. Three Kings players were called out at home plate. In the season finale (Game 72), Jeff Manto hit a 2-run home run off King reliever Matt Karchner to erase a 7-6 deficit. MVP Jack Howell followed with a solo homer. Lewiston won the first championship. ¶ 1927 -- The BVL raided the talent pool. Former Cadillac Mt. pitcher, Al Leiter, became the second player chosen in its draft. Coney Island lost 10 players, including fan favorite Luis Lopez at #108. ¶ 1928 -- Lewistown dominated the 3-team league, started 13-0 (15 straight wins). David Dellucci hit an amazing .481 (51 for 106). Tony Fernandez (Hartford) finished second, .361. ¶ 1929 -- Billy Prine took over Cadillac Mountain. Twenty-five players were chosen in the first affiliation draft. Heckler Robert Christgau briefly interrupted the draft proceeding. “Would you like to get the (Gary) Giddins proof despite this slave trade that’s taking place?” he asked. Commissioner Joeseph Josef Jesselli allowed the NEL to fight in the 2nd War against Al-leiter terrorists. The Elks Club Tank Unit (John Frascatore, Fly Creek, New York Pick Three #002 and Jeff Shaw, Coney Island, #004) and Brick Church Pistol Brigade (Rob Ducey, Lewiston, #001; F.P. Santangelo, Hartford, #003) return safely after 2 months of service. Luis Sojo (Fly Creek) won the league batting title (.341). Gil Heredia went 6-0, 2.44 ERA for the champion Sea Robbins. ¶ 1930 -- Hartford made David Cone the first-overall selection in the draft. Calvin Pickering became the second player to break the .400 barrier (.416, 57 for 137). Karim Garcia (Lewistown) set the home run mark (16) while batting .372. Jimmy Haynes (Hartford) won the strikeout title (46). ¶ 1931 -- The late Darryl Kile became the latest of Hartford’s number-one selections. The owners agree to use a round-robbin playoff format to determine the league championship. Hartford beats Coney Island in 1-game playoff for the No. 3 spot. Karim Garcia (Lewistown) is the first Triple Crown winner (.394, 21-55) and earns a consecutive MVP trophy. ¶ 1932 -- Lewistown's Eric Karros misses hitting a dramatic 2-run home run (1-18, 19-20 FO) by inches and flies out to end Game 7 of the double-elimination tourney. Fly Creek celebrates its championship. Jimmy Foxx's crew reached the finale by outlasting surprising Hartford, 10-9, in Game 6. 1934 -- Steroids introduced by league owners. Dave Roberts (Lewistown) lead the league in stolen bases (17), but was busted when he failed a drug test. And yet, fans voted him MVP as a result of batting .327, 5th best in league. John Halama (Coney Island) was named Cy Young. He went 5-0 with a 2.38 ERA, including 2 shutouts. John Lieber (Fly Creek) lead the circuit with a 1.48 ERA. Other leaders: Todd Jones finished with a 0.00 in 17.2 innings; Jamie Moyer, 40 strikeouts; Rondell White (Lew), .356 BA; Tony Clark (Har), 8 HRS, 23 RBI. Also. Fly Creek finished with a 2.68 team ERA. 1934 -- As a result of inactivity by the Prine Consortium, Lewistown owner Jesus Diaz decides to strip them both of ownership of Fly Creek and Coney Island, respectively, and of Jon Simonds' rule at Hartford -- without the three owners knowing anything about it. "The NEL is a renegade league," said Diaz. "And I decided to act renegade." Diaz called Tom Lavin and both owners agreed to run the league themselves. But as history showed, both men couldn't agree to even what day it was. Two years later, with Mr. Lavin leaving the BVL, Al Luplow restarted the NEL and completed the 1936 season without fuss. 1937 -- Nothing happens. The four clubs declare bankruptcy and soon end operations. The NEL as we know it is dead. 1938 -- New ownerships buys and owns naming rights; 9 BVL Triple A clubs join latest version. The free agent draft includes all players not on current BVL rosters. No playoffs for the 64-game season. Arkansas beats Henry Street in playoff to gain its first title. Bronson Arroyo (12 wins, 1.65 ERA) won the MVP and CY Young awards. It took 25 frames for Sarasota to beat Grand Rapids, 10-3. 1939 -- Arkansas wins second straight title. Billy Butler named MVP (.314 tops in the league; Cole Hamels, Cy Young (10 wins, 2nd in 1.55 ERA); Shawn Marcum, ERA (1.42).

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