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Vander Meer’s Special Day
Redleg Nation — ... Vander Meer had no-hit the Boston Braves at Crosley Field, 3-0, on June 11, walking four and striking out three. Catcher Ernie Lombardi had picked off two of those baserunners. Four days later, in the first night game ever at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, no one would have expected Vander Meer to repeat his outstanding performance from his previous start. ...

The All Ernie Team
Blue Heaven — I happen to come across a blog post by Billy Suter of West Virginia Cards. In a post in March he went about the task of putting together a all-Billy team. Which got me thinking that I should do the same. So, without further ado, here is the all-Ernie team. Starters: C- Ernie Lombardi (HOF) - You can't go wrong with the "Schnozz" behind the plate 1st- Justin Ernest Morneau - Yhea, this is cheating, but there are only so many ...

Redleg Trade Review–Ernie Lombardi
Redleg Nation — March 14, 1932—Acquired C Ernie Lombardi, OF Babe Herman, and 3b Wally Gilbert from Brooklyn for 2b Tony Cuccinello, 3b Joe Stripp, and C Clyde Sukeforth. The Reds found catcher Lombardi available from Brooklyn for the Dodgers were committed to another young catcher, Al Lopez. Lombardi went on to become one of the greatest hitting catchers of all time, winning the MVP award in 1938 and anchoring the Reds during their National League championship years of 1939 and 1940. Bill James lists Lombardi as ...

Redleg Trade Review–Completing the Championship Lineups
Redleg Nation — ... on the 1919 World Championship team, four came from a minor league draft; four were selected off waivers, one was purchased from a minor league team, one was a young free agent signee, and one was purchased from another team. Five were acquired through trades with other teams, and three of these were the stars Roush, Daubert, and Groh. For the 1940 World Championship team, which finished 100-53 and beat the Tigers in seven games for the World Series title. C–Ernie Lombardi: acquired in trade with Dodgers 1b–Frank McCormick: 1940 Most ...

Reds WAR Review: Catchers
Basement Dwellers — ... fine hitter in his own right, with good power (28 HR in 1956) and strong on base skills, posting a career line (or close to it) of 0.261/0.359/0.438 with the Reds. Bailey was a 5-time All Star (4 with the Reds), so he clearly was recognized at the time as among the game' elite. Why isn't he in the Hall of Fame, despite his backup/platoon partner Smokey Burgess's membership? My guess is that it's bias against low-batting average players. More on Bailey below. 2. Ernie Lombardi. Reds Hall of Fame. ...

Dennis Hopper Is Warren Spahn
Fack Youk — ... That's how Spahn, who got his first call up before WWII and threw his last pitch in 1965 ends up at the top of the heap. With that four game stint in 1942, Spahn was briefly teammates with guys like Ernie Lombardi, Paul Warner and Johnny Cooney on the Boston Braves, all players who were towards the end of long careers which began in the 1920's and weren't around when Spahn was called up in earnest in 1946. ...

The 99th Percentile or “How About this Line-up?”
Redleg Nation — ... the method can be counted on for a whole lot of reliability. In any case, it’s still interesting. Catcher: Johnny Bench has three of the top 26 catcher seasons of all time. 1) 1970, his first MVP season when he hit .293 with 45 homers and 148 rbi, OPS of .932 2) 1972, 2nd MVP season when he hit .270 with 40 homers, 125 rbi, 100 walks, OPS of .920 3) 1974, 160 games when he hit .280 with 33 homers, 129 rbi,, OPS of .870 Honorable mention: 1938, Ernie Lombardi, MVP season when he hit .342 with 19 homers and 95 rbi and .915 OPS 1st ...

The Greatest Reds: #30 - #27
Red Reporter — ... a 117 ERA+, a stretch that included three separate 20-win seasons, and a ton of leaderboard appearances. Thereafter, Donohue was a bad pitcher, 20 games under .500 in 82 decisions (most of which were with the Reds), and an ERA+ of 83. In his best season of 1925, Donohue went 21-14 with a 3.08 ERA (133 ERA+) in 301 innings (and only allowed three home runs). He also helped himself considerably with the bat, hitting nearly .300 en route to a 78 OPS+ in 121 plate appearances. 28. Ernie Lombardi ...