Season Recap:

 

The Philadelphia Freedom rolled through the 1957 season easily winning the Elvis Presley Division and then dispatching Wild Card Mars Hill Mules and Brando Division winner Lansing Songs in consecutive four game sweeps.

 

Led by MVP winner Mickey Mantle (.382-47-126) the Freedom dominated the league with the best offense (5.3 RPG) and best pitching (2.99 ERA).  Tom Brewer (19-4 2.42 ERA) and Johnny Antonelli

(19-5 3.36) were the top pitchers for Philly but were also joined by double digit winners Connie Johnson (18-9 3.59), Frank Sullivan (16-8 2.89) and Paul Foytack (14-7 2.72).  Rookie Fireballer Turk Farrell (9-7 2.22) led the team with 28 Saves.

 

Overall league performance was very close to MLB totals in real life.  MLB averaged 8.6 Runs Per Game in 1957 while 3RBL averaged 8.9.  MLB BA/OBP/SLG figures were .258/.324/.391 respectively while 3RBL posted marks of .256/.318/.400.  MLB ERA was 3.83 while 3RBL pitchers produced a 3.97 mark.

 

Ted Williams took the batting crown with a .392 mark as compared to his .388 in MLB that season.  Mickey Mantle was second at .382.  Mantle did best Ted in OBP with a .518 to .507 mark and walks with an incredible 147 as compared to Williams' 114.  Mantle was also second in home runs to Henry Aaron 55-47 and Henry took the RBI crown over Roy Sievers by an eleven RBI margin, 151-140.   Henry was the hit leader (232) and one of three batters to record 200 hits along with Schoendienst and Musial.  Musial edged Minnie Minoso in doubles 43-42 but Willie Mays was the triple king with 22.  However, Luis Aparicio's 28 stolen bases topped Willie's 24 for the league crown.

 

Bobby Shantz (21-4) was the league's only 20 game winner and his 2.17 ERA finished third behind Lindy McDaniel and Jim Bunning.  In the closest of races, McDaniel edged Bunning with a 1.9255 season ERA as compared to 1.9316.  Bob Friend was the workhorse of the season starting 38 games and tossing 285.1 innings while Bunning led the league with 216 strikeouts.