NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 23: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies is greeted by Ben Revere #2 after hitting a three run home run against CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees in the fourth inning during their game at Yankee Stadium on June 23, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
In the early 1940s, the Philadelphia Phillies were uniquely awful. They had very few standout ballplayers; and their greatest talent, eventual Hall of Famer Chuck Klein, was worsening with age – eventually retiring in 1944. Their pitching was mediocre, with the hurlers maintaining a 4.