For the first time in their history, the Indians became an affiliated franchise.
They were the last team in the American Association to become a join up with a
parent MLB organization. Indianapolis signed its first PDC in 1939… a three-year
contract with Cincinnati, and instantly saw the team go 10 games over .500 finishing
at 82-72. The Reds placed 24 year old Red Barrett in the Indians rotation
where he put up a 16-12, 3.41 record while Johnny |
Niggeling went 16-7, 3.13 and Don French won 15 games as well, to lift the
Indians back to the playoffs… where they would make it to the finals against a
team who were about to become their nemesis... the Louisville Colonels. The Colonels
would take the series (as they would often do against the Indians in the
post-season), and deny Indianapolis their first Trophy for Bush Stadium. Barrett
would go on to become a 20+ game winner (23-12, 3.00 in 1945) for the St. Louis
Cardinals. More future All-Stars came to town in 1940 as 4 time All-Star starting
pitcher Johnny Vander Meer put up a 6-4, 2.40 record in 1940 on his way
to a fantastic career while Wally Berger and Ray Starr (20-15 in 1941) finished
up their All-Star careers here at Bush Stadium. The Indians however began to flounder
and when the Cincinnati Reds pulled out of town in 1942, they left the
Indians to carry on for themselves as an independent franchise again. Former NY
Giants 6 time All-Star JoJo Moore came to town to finish out his fine career and
batted .281 while "Old Tomato Face", Gabby Hartnett batted .220 with 12 doubles
and 4 homers as he played in the final years of his Hall of Fame career while
managing the Indians. As the war began to really take hold, former and very
successful Indians manager Donie Bush took over the team in 1942 and renamed the
stadium "Victory Field" from its former moniker "Perry Stadium". With Jo-Jo Moore
returning for a second season and batting .305, James Trexler went 19-7, 2.14
on the mound to lead the Indians back to the playoffs. They would push on to
the finals only to lose to the Columbus Red Birds who had won their 3rd Championship
in a row. Donie Bush would return in 1944 but the team was decimated by
the war… with most of the good players heading overseas to fight. The Indians
had one of their worst season ever going 57-93. Most Minor League systems suspended
operations altogether for 3 years, but the American Association, the International
League and the 3rd Triple-A system, the Pacific Coast League continued
on. |