GARY - Gerry is correct. The ST-745 bearing is pretty expensive, but the housing that holds it is even MORE expensive. I did that repair a couple weeks ago on a 50C deck on my 982, same parts fit your 44A. New housing top & bottom, bearing & spindle shaft was $170 including sales tax. OUCH!
Kendell is correct, there's things you can do to hold the bearing in the housing better. I tried "deforming" the old housing, making it square instead of round and I think it will work if I have another bad or worn housing. I tried shimming the bad housing last year with brass shim stock and it only lasted maybe ten hours of mowing time, then started scalping real bad.
With normal greasing the bearings actually last a long time, I had a 44A similar to your deck for fifteen years and it was my main mowing tractor, the blades and spindle bearings never needed replacing or servicing. You very well may be able to find a used 44 or 50 deck with servicable bearings/spindles. The whole spindle is only held in with three bolts, takes about five minutes to remove the deck, remove the belt cover, and remove a spindle with common hand tools.
The 44 & 50 decks are a nice mowing deck, but when the spindle bearings get worn, the blade sits crooked and tends to scalp.