Don Newcombe threw 248 innings and went 20-5 in 1955, with an ERA of  3.20, a WHIP of 1.11. Opposing hitters hit .249 against him, and he walked 1.46 batters per 9.  His fielding is listed as D+/C by the WIS database.

In 1956, Newcombe threw 282 innings, had a record of 27-7 with a 3.06 ERA and a WHIP of 0.99. Opposing batters hit only .222 against him, though he did walk 1.54 hitters per 9 innings pitched.

His ERC# is 2.44 for 1956, better than 3.14 for the previous season. 

So other than the slight difference in walks per 9 innings the only difference I can find in which his number are better for 1955 than for 1956 is in strikeouts per 9 innings: 5.51 for 1955 versus 4.67 for 1956. 

Is the K/9 the reason why Newcombe's services cost $8,940,624 for 1955, slightly HIGHER than the $8,922,613  for 1956, ostensibly a better season?

Otherwise I can't see why the 1955 season iteration would cost more than 1956. Any good explanations?  I know that Ks are expensive, so I gather that this is the reason, but for a little less than one strikeout per game more to outweigh WHIP, OAV and the rest seems strange.

You forgot the batting side of the stats good prof. In 1955, Newk hit .359 .395 .632 in 125 real life PAs scorching 9 doubles, a triple and 7 HRs. I imagine that if he were a position player, that would be at least a $1.5 mil season.

In 1956, he had 128 real life PAs but only hit .234 .312 .342 so I'd imagine that's the difference you are seeing.

Holy Cow !  

He would make an amazing pinch hitter if you could draft him in 1955 as a position player. Thanks Frazzman80.

I wanted to put together an all former Negro League players team for the Choose your Own Theme league but there are not enough pitchers for a staff. Amazing position players, 3-4 good pitchers, but not enough on its own. Unless I think of an addendum category that would work. 

Newcombe could also anchor the staff of an all born in New Jersey (the Bruce Springsteen All-Stars perhaps?). Still working on it. Unfortunately you can't set Newcombe as a PH even if he is on your team as a pitcher. Too bad. 

Several years ago they made an adjustment in salaries to reflect the Newcombes, Ruths, Callahans, and Ferrells ability to swing the bat. Prior to that adjustment, these pitchers were commonly used. It was almost like having a DH in the lineup.

Posted by dino27 on 10/21/2015 10:55:00 AM (view original):
it would be great if they could find a way to make at least the all-time great negro league players available...entire career of satchel paige...josh Gibson.....cool papa bell..etc.

Yes it would. I know that the reason given is that the stats are incomplete, but those we have for pre-1900 are hardly flawless and the existence of pitchers with 900 IP who never pitched more than 300-400 in that actual season suggests that if they cared enough to do it, WIS could. 

Some of the unofficial OOTP databases that are available have full career iterations for Negro League players. So some way to include them could be possible if it were a priority.