[jmm8356]

August 1, 1948

Though the West won the first All-Star Game ever, the East made up for the defeat by beating up the Western Division during July's interleague play. Five of the six Eastern Division clubs improved their record during July, and only the lowly Miami Meteors are below .500 going into August. Jacksonville stretched its lead over Atlanta to two games, but fifth place Tampa is only 5 1/2 out in a tightening division.

Out West, San Antonio escaped the carnage to take a 2 1/2 game lead over Dallas. Houston continued its slide, losing 8 of 9 before the break, but New Orleans went into freefall, dropping four straight before the break, five straight after the break, and six straight at month's end to take the division cellar. Nashville, meanwhile, went from 6th to 3rd; the Blues were 15-11 in July, best record in the West for the month. (Bad news for Nashville on July 30, however. See below.)

The only deadline deal is a bit of a puzzler. Tampa sends All-Star starter Douglas Agan (7/4/8) (8-1, 2.21, .182 OAVG) to the Blues for closer Herman Partee (8/6/7) (5.62, 18 SV, 7 BS). Are the Tomahawks trying to get the one piece they need for a pennant run, or were they trying to make a little budget room? Tampa did sign the biggest extension of the season, inking SP Dave Haskell (9/5/5) (6-9, 4.60, 131 K in 137 IP) to 3 years at $6.6 million. Atlanta extended veteran SP Tim Steele (7/8/6) (11-7, 2.47, 118 K in 146 IP) for another year at the same $5.7 million he made this year.

Western Division Batter of the Month:

RF Raymond LaVallee (NSH) - Hit .398 with 3 HR and 18 RBI. Pulled his groin running the bases on July 30. Out for an estimated seven weeks.

Western Division Pitcher of the Month:

Jonathan "Crash" Ford (MEM) - Went 4-1 with a 0.92 ERA

Eastern Division Batter of the Month:

LF Bill Danner (TAM) - Hit .429 with 11 HR and 35 RBI

Eastern Division Pitcher of the Month:

Paul Walker (JAX) - Went 3-1 with a 1.18 ERA


Western Division Standings

San Antonio... 56 - 46 .549 -
Dallas........ 54 - 49 .524 2.5
Nashville..... 49 - 54 .476 7.5
Houston....... 48 - 55 .466 8.5
Memphis....... 46 - 57 .447 10.5
New Orleans... 45 - 58 .437 11.5

Eastern Division Standings

Jacksonville.. 59 - 45 .567 -
Atlanta....... 57 - 47 .548 2
Carolina...... 54 - 50 .519 5
Norfolk....... 54 - 50 .519 5
Tampa......... 53 - 50 .515 5.5
Miami......... 45 - 59 .433 14