PLAYER of the MONTH

The Player for the Month of July 1944 is Left Fielder of the Muskegon Thunder Dawgs Dick Wakefield.  Dick 
is showing that he maybe the best fourth round selection in the history of the DBS, no other fourth round 
selection has made this strong and quick of an impact.  Dick led the league in On-base percentage (.527) 
and Slugging percentage (.662), with three doubles, one triple and five home runs.  His average for the 
month was .380 (27-71) with 21 RBI and 23 runs scored.  Dick had over a 2:1 walk to strikeout ratio with 
22 walks and only 9 strikeouts.  This is the second time he has won this award this season having won it 
previously in April.

Other Player of the Month Candidates:

RF	Dixie Walker of Harlem who led the league in average this month at .381 (40-105) with a slugging 
percentage of .533.  He collected 18 RBI and scored 24 times, with eight doubles, one triple and two home 
runs.

RF	Stan (Stan the Man) Musial of St. Louis who is still making it worth while for the Plague fans to 
show up for games.  He batted .376 (35-93) with a slugging percentage of .624, leading the league in 
doubles (9) and triples (4).  He also collected two home runs, scored 23 times and knocked in nine RBI.

LF	Jim Russell on Montgomery a third round pick in 1942 is in his rookie season and had the month of 
his career so far.  Jim batted .361 (35-97) with a slugging percentage of .567 with seven doubles, two 
triples and three home runs.  In addition he scored 19 times, knocked in 13 teammates and was walked 19 
times.

The Pitcher of the Month of July 1944 is the starting pitcher and Cy Young candidate Mort Cooper of the 
Montgomery Burns.  Mort is looking to collect his second Cy Young award in the past three years and is 
now the pitcher of the month for the second time this season.  Mort was 4-0 in July in five starts with 
three complete games and one shutout.  He finished with an ERA of 1.47 allowing seven earned runs in 43 
innings of work, with 31 strikeouts.  His WHIP for the month was 0.93 with only 26 hits and 14 walks 
allowed in those 43 innings.

Other Pitcher of the Month Candidates:

SP	Steve Gromek of Harlem who was 5-0 in July in five starts with an ERA of 1.82 allowing eight 
earned runs in 39.66 innings.  Steve struck out 37 opponents and was helped by his teammates as they 
turned four double plays behind him.

RP	Fritz (Don’t call me Shitz) Ostermueller of Pawtucket who was pulled from the starting rotation 
after starting 2-11 has been reborn in the bullpen.  The career leader in appearances went 4-0 on the 
month with four saves in eleven appearances with an ERA of 1.88 allowing 3 earned run s in 14.33 innings. 

SP	Orval Grove of Pawtucket who was 3-0 with an ERA of 2.70 in six starts with eleven earned runs in 
36.66 innings.  He struck out 37 batters and walked only 12 with 33 hits.