All-Decade Team 1940s AL
Putting together the American League 1940s team was a little challenging due to a certain major event that occurred for the U.S. between 1941 and 1945. We've documented a few instances where military service has hampered a player's career stats, creating a what might have been scenario. Likewise, picking an all decade team when many great players missed nearly a third or more of it proved difficult. Given that, some leeway from our readers would be greatly appreciated.
Some that didn't make the cut but deserve credit include Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, and Hank Greenberg in the field, and Dutch Leonard on the mound. Doerr was seemingly the only back up for Ted Williams during the decade, and his numbers were very close to getting him on this team. Same is true for Johnny Pesky, who put up some great numbers after the war. Indeed, if you value runs and hits over power, then maybe Pesky is on your team. Hank Greenberg may be the most unlucky player we will come across as far as making an all decade team. In the 1930s, he was stuck behind Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx. Talk about tough to crack the lineup. He didn't quite play enough games in the OF to qualify there either. Like many others, he traded baseball service time for military service time. Upon returning to baseball, he was mixed between OF and 1B, and didn't quite qualify (per our requirments) for either position. Finally, Dutch Leonard, despite having a .500 record for the decade, made 4 all star games and had 4 top 20 MVP finishes. Now, onto the team! Here's the 1940s AL team of the decade.
C - Birdie Tebbets
1B - Rudy York
2B - Joe Gordon
3B - George Kell
SS - Lou Boudreau
IF - Vern Stephens
OF - Ted Williams
OF - Joe Dimaggio
OF - Tommy Heinrich
OF - Charlie Keller
SP - Bob Feller
SP - Hal Newhouser
SP - Allie Reynolds
SP - Spud Chandler
SP - Joe Page
Mr. Page has perhaps one of the most unfortunate nicknames in baseball history (The Gay Reliever). Certainly, the term meant something completely different in the 1940s. Boudreau, Williams, Dimaggio, Feller, and Newhouser are all locks for this team. There is some potential for open debate regarding other selections.
Some that didn't make the cut but deserve credit include Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, and Hank Greenberg in the field, and Dutch Leonard on the mound. Doerr was seemingly the only back up for Ted Williams during the decade, and his numbers were very close to getting him on this team. Same is true for Johnny Pesky, who put up some great numbers after the war. Indeed, if you value runs and hits over power, then maybe Pesky is on your team. Hank Greenberg may be the most unlucky player we will come across as far as making an all decade team. In the 1930s, he was stuck behind Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx. Talk about tough to crack the lineup. He didn't quite play enough games in the OF to qualify there either. Like many others, he traded baseball service time for military service time. Upon returning to baseball, he was mixed between OF and 1B, and didn't quite qualify (per our requirments) for either position. Finally, Dutch Leonard, despite having a .500 record for the decade, made 4 all star games and had 4 top 20 MVP finishes. Now, onto the team! Here's the 1940s AL team of the decade.
C - Birdie Tebbets
1B - Rudy York
2B - Joe Gordon
3B - George Kell
SS - Lou Boudreau
IF - Vern Stephens
OF - Ted Williams
OF - Joe Dimaggio
OF - Tommy Heinrich
OF - Charlie Keller
SP - Bob Feller
SP - Hal Newhouser
SP - Allie Reynolds
SP - Spud Chandler
SP - Joe Page
Mr. Page has perhaps one of the most unfortunate nicknames in baseball history (The Gay Reliever). Certainly, the term meant something completely different in the 1940s. Boudreau, Williams, Dimaggio, Feller, and Newhouser are all locks for this team. There is some potential for open debate regarding other selections.
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