1947-1949

While even casual sports fans of this era have heard the refrain of “First we’ll use Spahn, then we’ll use Sain, then an off day, followed by rain.” in reference to a perceived thin 1948 rotation, those who knew about the Boston Braves, knew the truth. Bill Voiselle along with fellow starter Vern Bickford was far more than an afterthought for most of that year.

Bill Voiselle came to the Braves in 1947 from the Giants, along with an undisclosed amount of cash for another struggling young “former ace” Mort Cooper. He was an encouraging 8-7 over the remainder of the season, and in 1948 spring training manager Billy Southworth predicted he could win 20 games.

Voiselle got off to a stellar start, notching a pair of shutouts and a 4-0 mark in his first four games to help the Braves to the top of the National League. Then, as the pennant race moved into its final two months, he suddenly went cold and lost 7 of his 10 decisions.

With Johnny Sain proving the best pitcher in the league and Warren Spahn regaining his own 20-win form of ’47, Southworth had decided to ride these two horses as much as possible down the stretch. Voiselle never drew another start. He was an afterthought as the Braves held off Brooklyn and St. Louis to win the NL championship.

In Game #3 of the World Series in Cleveland, Voiselle was called upon a very tight spot. The Braves trailed the Indians 2-0 in the fourth inning. Voiselle came in, pitched shutout 3 2/3 innings, gave up one hit, and didn't walk anyone.

He matched Indians ace Bob Lemon pitch for pitch in the early going of Game #6 at Braves Field with the score tied at 1-1 through five innings. Then Joe Gordon led off the Indians sixth with a home run to deepest left as Cleveland went on to win the game and the World Series.

Voiselle's ERA over 10 2/3 World Series innings had been a very solid 2.53, and he had made a good case for a return to the rotation in 1949. He beat the Dodgers with a three-hitter on April 25th for his first win, but was shelled by the Giants in his next start and then lost a two-hitter to the Reds. He went three weeks without pitching before picking up a relief victory against the Dodgers on May 28th. Two days later he started and went eight innings for a win against the Phillies.

He then showed his stuff with a four-hitter vs. the Giants, but when he was routed by the same club four days later he was shown the bench once more. By late August his record was just 6-3, with four of his victories by shutouts. When he was back into a regular rotation slot, he failed to make the most of it, going 1-5 down the stretch. In December he was swapped to the Cubs for Gene Mauch and cash.

His number 96 remains Bill Voiselle's claim to fame. This is what he wore on the back of his Braves uniform, a tribute to the tiny town of Ninety-Six, South Carolina, where he was raised and spent most of his life. He was dubbed “Ol’ Ninety-Six” and the nickname stuck for nearly half a century. Even now, years after his death, mentions of Bill’s decorated digit routinely pop up in baseball books and trivia games.