PLAYER of the MONTH

The Player for the Month of July 1945 is First Baseman of the North Dallas Forty Phil (Philliabuck) Cavarretta.  Phil who was a second round pick in 1934 (Back when you could get a quality player in the second round) batted .396 (36-91) with an on-base percentage of .500 and a slugging percentage of .637.  He finished with nine doubles two triples and three home runs.  Phil appeared in 22 games in July and had a hit in sixteen of those games with twelve multiple hit games.  He also scored 22 runs and knocked in 23 with seventeen walks and three game winning RBI.  Phil was able to raise his batting average from .348 to .361 to take over the league lead.

Other Player of the Month Candidates:

2B	George (Foghorn) Myatt of Brooklyn a third round pick in 1938 batted .397 (46-116) with a slugging percentage of .517 with seven doubles, two triples and a home run.  George scored 23 runs and collected 13 RBI with six stolen bases..

1B	Augie Galan of North Dallas the 8th overall pick in 1934 batted .373 (38-102) with a slugging percentage of .529.  Augie who won this award last back in April of 1943 hit ten doubles and two home runs with 29 runs scored and 13 RBI.  Augie helped himself at the plate with 27 walks and stole a base.

RF	Mel (Master Melvin) Ott of Brooklyn the 10th overall pick in the inaugural DBS draft back in 1928 is leading by example, showing the young guys he still has the chops.  Mel batted .352 (37-105) with a slugging percentage of .590 with five doubles, one triple and six home runs.  He led the league with 26 RBI and scored 21 times himself.

The Pitcher of the Month of July 1945 is the Starting Pitcher and seventh overall pick in the 1931 draft Van Lingle Mungo of the Harlem Knights.  Van ended June on a loss bringing his overall record to 7-5 and an ERA of 3.38, but turned that around in July by going 4-1 in eight starts with three complete game shutouts and an ERA of 1.20.  This ran his overall record to 11-6 and his season ERA to 2.60.  Van pitched 60 innings in July with eight earned runs and a WHIP of 1.18 allowing 31 walks and 40 hits against 30 strikeouts.  He never allowed more than two earned runs in his eight starts and pitched shutouts against Pawtucket, Brooklyn and Montgomery.  Van was 20 game winner back in 1937 and is closer to being able to repeat that effort, but will need some luck to get there.

Other Pitcher of the Month Candidates:

RP	Mort Cooper of the Montgomery Burns and former CY Young award winner in 1942 appeared in twelve games in July collecting seven saves.  Mort did not allow a single earned run in 13.1 innings of work.

SP	Steve Gromek of Harlem and 12th overall pick in 1941 was 5-2 in seven starts with two complete games and one shutout.  Steve had an ERA of 1.95 allowing twelve earned runs in 55.33 innings of work with 22 strikeouts.

SP	Max Butcher the 8th overall pick in 1936 was 4-0 with an ERA of 2.76 in six appearances with four starts and one complete game.  Steve pitched in 32.66 innings allowing ten earned runs with eight strike outs.