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| Courtesy Dan Bretta |
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| Courtesy Dan Bretta |
After the collapse of Pid Purdy's Lincoln team in 1936, Lincoln went without baseball during the 1937 season. The Mitchell franchise was abandoned after the 1937 season and Lincoln picked up the franchise. Pug Griffin, a Lincoln native who played for Philadelphia and the New York Giants in the late teens was the manager of the club. The team was aligned with the St. Louis Browns and a number of young prospects from that organization made it to Lincoln. Dutch Zwilling, a St. Louis native who was a scout for the Browns was the primary contact between the Browns and the Links
Roster:
Like most minor league clubs the Links saw a lot of players come and go during the year. For example, Al Marchi, Howard Eaton, Morgan Ottis and Rodell all tried their hand at short stop during the year.
All Stars
Marion DeJarnett was a Lincoln sandlot player who managed a tryout with the Links. He impressed Pug Griffin and became their regular right fielder for the year. He was one of two Links named to the 1938 Nebraska State League All Star Team. He played in 115 games and averaged .312 for the season. At the end of the season he was moved up a league for the next season. Marion is in the Lincoln High School, Lincoln Nebraska athletic hall of fame.
Pete Radulovich was a catcher for the Links. In June he caught a popped up bunt attempt and started a triple play for the Links. The first triple play at Landis field in ten years. Playing Sioux Falls in front of 750 fans, Mahacel singled to start the inning, Connors walked. Hennessey tried a sacrifice bunt but popped it up. Pete made a diving catch of the pop up, rose to his knees and threw to first to double up Connors. The relay to second then finished the double play as both runners were going with the pitch. He was named to the All Star team for 1938 and averaged .258 for the season.
Regulars:
Ralph "Pete" Cardner was the Links first baseman for 100 games and averaged .238 for the season.
Howard Eaton played in 104 games at short and averaged .281.
Ted Kakoloris was picked up from Meridian in the Southeastern League by Pug before the season started. The Links regular third baseman he was named to the Nebraska League All Star Second team for 1938 as a utility player. He averaged .305 in 105 games.
Gene Gibbons played center field for 56 games and averaged .224.
Nick Gregory The Links stalwart in right field, he was named to the All Star second team. He averaged .315 for the year.
Al Marchi was one of three Californians who took the train to Lincoln for the 1938 season. The light hitting short stop also played some second base. He averaged .177.
Leonard Rice was a twenty year old catcher from Lead South Dakota. He moved up to the majors in 1944 with the Reds and played for two years in the majors. He averaged .276 in the few games he played in Lincoln.
Morgan Otis played second base for the Links. The young man from Oklahoma drew his pay in advance in July, then skipped out on the team.
Joe Jenks was a young ball player from Fort Dodge Iowa who moved into the starting lineup with the departure of Otis.
George Verbeck played in 70 games and averaged .272.
Pitchers:
Al Trapp pitched in 12 games and had a 7-3 record.
Bill Anderson pitched in 33 games in 1938 and had a 13-12 record.
Mickey Kolesar was named to the second team all star team for 1938. He pitched in 26 games and had an 11-9 record.
Tony Johnson was 9-8 in 23 appearances. He led the team with 135 strikeouts during the year.
George Redbird was in 14 games and had a 2-8 record.
Joe Hraba pitched in 19 games and managed a 5-10 record.
Bob Howe was 2-2 in 12 games.
Louie Sims pitched in 15 games and had a 2-8 record.