The Ballad of the Brothers Barrell - A Figment Story

[legendsport]

1957 BARRELL BROTHERS UPDATE

ROLLIE BARRELL
Now divested of his club in pro basketball, Rollie turns his full attention to the Detroit Maroons. Unfortunately, the grid squad continues to frustrate their owner, going 5-7 despite QB Sam Burson winning the MVP award. Rollie has come to view Burson as an extremely mixed blessing - the QB is a phenomenally-talented player, but he has a drinking problem and is a disruptive and unreliable influence on the team. He also has a bad attitude and is frustrated that the team is not contending for championships. Rollie can agree with him there, but Maroons coach Sam Wiggins has grown tired of dealing with Burson and there is offseason talk in the front office of trading him.

JACK BARRELL
Jack's Toronto Dukes squad battles with their nemeses from Detroit for the top spot in the NAHC regular season standings. Coach Barrell exhorts his players to give their all - and they do - but still finish one single point behind the Motors after the 70-game season is completed. Jack's son-in-law Quinton Pollack continues to be phenomenal, scoring 46 goals and adding 47 assists to win the scoring title by nine points over Tommy Burns of Chicago. The Dukes' first round matchup is with the Boston Bees and goes the distance. Unfortunately for Toronto, they drop the series in seven games. It is little consolation that top-seeded Detroit is also knocked-off in seven games against their first round opponent (Chicago). The Bees win the Cup in six over the Packers. Jack is vacationing in Georgia with his wife in June when he gets a phone call - the Dukes have acquired Tommy Burns from Chicago. Burns is 37 years old, but still one of the best players in the sport. Jack briefly wonders if he could move either Pollack or Burns to wing and play them together, but then thinks of how productive his second line can be with Burns centering it. The acquisition gives Jack high hopes for 1957-58.

DAN BARRELL
The Poly basketball team continues to play reasonably well, going 17-14 with Dan's son Steve leading the way. The football squad remains a frustration - posting a 4-6 mark. Coach Ed Webber reassures Dan that the plan is working. Certainly it's working for Steve who has another strong year, but this being Steve's senior year, the team will need a new QB for 1958.

FRED BARRELL
Fred manages to finagle his way into a two-week mission assessing Soviet intelligence capabilities in Alaska, permitting him to visit with his son Mike, who is stationed in Alaska with the 2nd Infantry Division.

TOM BARRELL
Tom continues to work for NARF, which has another successful season.

BOBBY BARRELL
Bobby remains the lead color commentator on NBC baseball telecasts.

HARRY BARRELL
Harry completes his sixth season as skipper of the Boston Minutemen. The team's record improves by one game over the '56 season, posting an 83-71 mark, but that's only good for 4th-place, and 21 games behind the juggernaut Detroit Dynamos. The pitching has improved and the offense continues to hum with a record 206 home runs as every member of the regular lineup hits 10 or more home runs for the first time in FABL history. Rick Masters (.300-49-116) and Jack Denis (.339-36-112) lead the way. Don Griffin (12-6, 2.73) emerges as a potential ace and Harry feels the club could really complete if not for the "800-pount gorilla in the league" - Detroit. On the domestic front, Harry and Ruth celebrate a year of marriage. Harry has some moments of despondence as Sarah also remarries. Barbara grows more distant from her father following his marriage to Ruth. Like her mother, she blames Ruth for the divorce. Reid, thankfully, remains close to Harry and is blossoming as a legitimate prospect in baseball and basketball.

TOM BOWENS
Tom is hired to coach CCLA. He is enthusiastic to coach college football after spending so much time in pro football. The Coyotes are a team in transition, playing in a conference currently led by powerhouse Northern California and archrival Coastal California, both top 10 - potentially top 5 - national programs. Tom's pledge is to return CCLA to national prominence and a berth in the East-West Classic. His first season is a moderate success, posting a 6-4 record. That mark includes a 41-27 loss to Northern Cal in week 9, and a tough 26-23 loss to Coastal Cal in the season's final game. There is no classic invite, but Tom is fired up for the upcoming 1958 season.

DEUCE BARRELL
What a year for Deuce Barrell. He wins his fourth Allen Award as the Continental Association's top pitcher, going 22-11 with a 2.55 ERA and for one season, staking a claim as his club's best pitcher (Adrian Czerwinski goes 19-11, 3.58). Even better, the Foresters win the pennant, edging Cincinnati by seven games with a 94-60 mark. The Foresters face the mighty Detroit Dynamos (104-50) in the WCS and Deuce has a great series. He drops game one despite allowing just two runs as the Dynamos win 2-1 behind Jim Norris (who wins the Fed's Allen Award for 1957). Deuce comes back in game four and tosses a four-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and when the series goes to a game seven, Deuce takes the ball for that one as well. He throws another gem, this one a 3-1 victory where he allows six hits and one run while striking out nine to give the Foresters the World Championship.

ROGER CLEAVES
As good a year as 1957 was for Deuce, his brother Roger's was simply poor. He hit just .212, was replaced as the starting catcher in Philadelphia, managing just 62 starts and 75 total games, 208 at-bats resulting in four home runs. To make things worse - or possibly better - Roger is traded to the Chicago Cougars in early December, along with minor leaguer Charlie Pierre with outfielder Sparky Williams heading to the Keystones. This is a shock for Roger who assumed he, like his uncle Bob, would play his entire career with Philly. Evelyn is hopeful and tries to buoy Roger's spirits - telling him a fresh start with a new team may be just what the doctor ordered. Roger continues to work on playing first base in Georgia, where he and his family spend the winter.

QUINTON POLLACK
Quinton again leads the NAHC in scoring with 93 points on 46 goals and 47 assists. He privately has set himself a goal of scoring 50 goals, telling no one, not even his wife Agnes. He is thrilled to hear that the Dukes pulled off a summer trade with Chicago, bringing veteran Tommy Burns on board to anchor the second line.

CHARLIE BARRELL
Charlie joins the Chicago Panthers for the 1956-57 campaign, again working under a contract that releases him to baseball in time for spring training. He achieves a career-high scoring average of 14.8 points-per-game in 50 contests played while adding 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game as well. He's named to his fourth All-Star Game and is a 2nd Team All-Defensive Team selection as well. With Charlie having moved on to baseball, the Panthers capture the title, knocking off the Rockets & Phantoms behind Luther Gordon's stellar play. In baseball, Charlie suffers a hamstring injury for the second straight year and misses seven weeks, again rehabbing in Salt Lake City. In 89 games and 344 at-bats with the Stars, he hits a career-worst .299 with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs. He does post an .840 OPS but is frustrated with his balky hamstring. Anna Czerwinska shows up in LA in July while Charlie is out of action. She informs him in no uncertain terms that he should give up either basketball or baseball, saying, "It's obvious your legs can't handle this year-round workload." Charlie scoffs and tells her to leave him alone, asking her why she's there. She tells him she is working on her doctoral thesis and can do that wherever she wishes. And she wishes to do it in Los Angeles. Charlie tells her to leave him be and go bother someone else with her unwanted advice; she simply smiles back, tells him she'll visit him later that summer to see how he's doing. After she's gone, Charlie's mother tell him with a sly smile that he'd "better watch out for that one, she has her cap set for you." Charlie throws a pillow at her.

MIKE BARRELL
Mike spends 1957 in Alaska with the 2nd Infantry Division.

STEVE BARRELL
On the hardwood, Steve has another solid year, again starting every game and scoring 13.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. The team posts a 17-14 record and though they don't make the tournament, Steve feels the season was a success. On the gridiron, Steve has a great senior year - though perhaps not quite as solid as his junior season. He runs for 974 yards on 200 carries and completes 48-of-78 passes for 415 yards. He scores seven touchdowns on the ground and throws for two more. His mother tells him that she's heard from Rollie that Steve is now considered a possible 1958 AFA draft selection.

FREDDY BARRELL
Freddy continues to work for James Slocum at NARF headquarters. He also plays in three pro golf tournaments, missing the cut in all three. His uncle Rollie encourages him to "stick it out, improvement will come."

BENNY BARRELL
Though too young (and green) to play in the NAHC, Benny's first season as the property of the Detroit Motors sees him still playing for the Hull Hawks in CAHA. His season gets off to a rocky start as he suffers a broken wrist on November 16, 1956, and misses 51 days. He has a great season despite it being shortened - playing in 39 games, he scores 37 goals and adds 54 assists for an 80-points season, just three off his career-high set in 64 games the previous season.

RALPH BARRELL
Ralph emerges as a top-flight baseball prospect, thrilling his father Bobby. His junior year stats at Bartram HS in Philadelphia include a .476 average with 5 home runs and 55 RBIs. His OPS is 1.223 for the year and scouts rave about his power potential. He is also athletic enough to play the infield, spending time at both third and first base along with the corner outfield spots.

REID BARRELL
Like his cousin Ralph, Harry's son Reid draws attention as a ballplayer as well. He is also a junior, albeit at Boston's Latin High School. He slashes .430/.475/.570 for a more modest 1.070 OPS but as would be expected from Harry's progeny, he is a slick fielder as well, playing shortstop and some third base. He's also a switch-hitter, something Harry worked on with him as a youngster.

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Ralph Barrell, 1957
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[legendsport]

1958 BARRELL BROTHERS UPDATE

ROLLIE BARRELL
The Detroit Maroons return to prominence in the AFA, finishing 8-4 and though they lose in the playoff to the LA Tigers, Rollie considers the season a success. Rollie, despite the advice of his daughter Allie, releases the troublesome QB Sam Burson in the offseason (Burson eventually signs with the St. Louis Pioneers during the preseason). To replace him, the team drafts bespectacled QB Sled Hicks from Valley State. He appears in every game, taking over as the starter in week two, acts like a consummate professional and is a big reason for the team's success.

JACK BARRELL
Jack enters the 1957-58 season with high hopes - the team acquired the aging (38 y/o) Tommy Burns from Chicago in the offseason, adding a second stellar centerman to complement Quinton Pollack. Jack envisions a slew of goals, a first-place finish and a Challenge Cup. But it doesn't work out that way. Burns' play slips a bit, perhaps due to age, perhaps due to playing second fiddle to Pollack - but regardless his finishes with a somewhat disappointing 50 points on 22 goals and 28 assists. Pollack again leads the league in scoring, but his production is down as well - 69 points on 34 goals (2nd in the NAHC) and 35 assists (3rd). As for the team, they go 33-25-12, good for a third-place finish. Worse, they lose the first-round series in seven games to... yep, the Detroit Motors, who go on to win the Cup.

DAN BARRELL
The Chicago Poly hoops squad starts the season ranked #21, drops its first game and remains unranked despite going 20-11. They miss the tournament but are again ranked - this time #22 - at season's end. Dan suffers a bit of melancholia at season's end as Steve's collegiate career ends. He is considered a top 10 pick in the upcoming FBL draft after another solid season leading the Catamounts in scoring (14.7 ppg). With Steve Barrell having graduated, the football team has a disappointing 5-6 season.

FRED BARRELL
Fred elects to remain in his counterintelligence role in Ottawa, turning down offers of postings to West Berlin and Saigon. Family is the reason - his two younger sons are both playing junior hockey and Fred Jr. is a professional golfer. Tillie jokes that by turning down more important postings Fred's becoming a "boring beauracrat" but adds that she loves him for it.

TOM BARRELL
Tom's life has settled into a familiar routine. He spends weekdays in the main NARF office, which means he's home in the evenings to spend time with Marla and their two children Don (age 7) and Maureen (5). His weekends are spent at the various races as the NARF footprint begins to spread out of the southeast and into the midwest and notably, California as well.

BOBBY BARRELL
Bobby remains the color man for NBC's Game of the Week as well as the Keystones' radio affiliates. Bobby is unhappy with the club for dealing his nephew Roger to the Cougars, and goes directly to club owner Ed Meachum to complain about it, but remains professional on-air and does not mention his feelings when discussing the move on the team's opening day broadcast. For his part, Meachum offers Bobby a job working in the front office with an eye towards perhaps being general manager some day. Bobby thinks about it, but enjoys the broadcast job too much to accept.

HARRY BARRELL
Harry becomes a father for the third time as his second wife, Ruth, gives birth of February 18 to a son they name Leland Barton Barrell. Ironically, the baby helps bring Harry closer to his daughter Barbara who is enthralled at having a baby half-brother. Sarah remains distant, but Harry is pleased that his son Reid and now Barbara as well, are still in his life. Harry's seventh season as the Minutemen's manager sees the club post an 82-72 record, their third straight season over .500 and good for second-place behind the Detroit Dynamos. The pitching has improved and the offense is built around power - ironic for Harry, who never hit double-figures in homers in any season and finished with just 54 in 2606 games played.

TOM BOWENS
Tom completes his second year as coach of CCLA, again posting a 6-4 record in the tough West Coast Athletic Association. His record as a top-tier end in pro football -and his time as a pro coach- resonates with his players and he finds that he enjoys working with collegiate athletes far more than he did with professionals.

DEUCE BARRELL
Deuce continues to enjoy a career renaissance as he wins another Allen Award, his second straight and fifth overall, at age 41 after going 19-11 with a 3.29 ERA. He also tops the 300-win mark, finishing the season with 312 for his career. Though he had been considering retirement, he tells his wife that he's having too much fun and will continue to pitch for "as long as my arm holds up." The team has a somewhat disappointing 82-72 mark and finishes third in the Continental Association behind the pennant-winning Kings and the Montreal Saints.

ROGER CLEAVES
Roger finds himself in a new situation as he joins the Chicago Cougars, coming over in an offseason trade. With young catcher Stan Czerwinski the starter behind the dish, Roger is pleasantly surprised when he leaves spring training as part of the Cougs' rotation behind the plate and at first base. He catches 37 games and plays 13 more at first base, getting into 84 games. His batting average continues to disappoint as he hits only .228 and manages to belt seven homers in 193 at-bats. He finishes the year six shy of 250 HRs for his career and privately tells Evelyn that he thinks 1959 might be his final year as he'd "like to get to 250" before hanging it up.

CHARLIE BARRELL
Charlie prioritizes baseball in 1958, though he ignores the unwanted advice of Anna and plays basketball as well. His baseball season see him record his most at-bats since his rookie season with the-then-New York Stars, making 520 at-bats, and hitting .310 with 20 home runs. On the hardwood in 1957-58, Charlie plays 39 games, averaging 14.6 points, 6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His defense continues to be stellar as well. He leaves in mid-February for baseball, noting that his team mates seem more than a little upset with him for putting baseball first. They point out -correctly- that the Stars are a last-place team and would be one with or without him, while the Panthers are a contender. Back in LA, Charlie mentions this to his stepfather, Tom Bigsby (owner of the Stars), who tells Charlie that the Stars are rebuilding around him and "everyone knows basketball is a second-rate sport. Baseball is king." Meanwhile, Anna Czerwinska continues to make surprise appearances when Charlie least expects it, even interrupting a date at the Brown Derby on Wilshire, telling the young lady with Charlie that "Charlie hasn't accepted it yet, but he's going to be my husband." After she leaves, Charlie tells his date that Anna "is nuts" but the young lady breaks up with him later that week, leaving Charlie furious.

MIKE BARRELL
The US Army reorganizes into the Pentomic structure and Lt. Mike Barrell, attached to the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment is sent to Fort Benning, GA where the 2nd Infantry Division is reorganizing - 2nd Battalion of the 9th Infantry becomes the 2nd Battle Group in the redesigned 2nd Infantry Division.

STEVE BARRELL
Steve completes his collegiate career with one final season on the hardwood for Poly, leading the team in scoring at 14.7 ppg. He's a bit disappointed at being played at point guard (he started his career at small forward) but the team goes 20-11 and ends the season ranked #22, the first-ever appearance in the top 25 in school history. He's also considered a potential top 5 pick in upcoming the FBL draft. As for pro football, he is told by several AFA teams that they would consider drafting him... as a halfback. Steve has no desire to change positions and informs the AFA that he will be playing professional basketball.

FREDDY BARRELL
Freddy is now a full-fledged pro golfer, having rolled the dice by resigning his position with NARF and going on the pro tour. He is still feeling his way, though he does work with his uncle Rollie on his swing, and makes the cut only twice in 16 tour events entered.

BENNY BARRELL
1957-58 was a mixed bag for Benny. He saw a bit of preseason action with the Motors, having turned 19 and thus eligible for the NAHC. Ultimately he returned to Hull, where he was enjoying another great season before suffering a fractured jaw in January which sidelined him for nearly eight weeks. At the end of the season, he'd played 44 games, scoring 26 goals and adding 49 assists.

HOBIE BARRELL
Fred's youngest son, Hobie is drafted by the Halifax Mariners of the CAHA and joins his brother Benny as a junior hockey player. Hobie immediately makes an impact. A left wing, he combines speed, power and finesse and despite being just 16 years old, finishes 8th in CAHA with 99 points, 40 goals and 59 assists in just 46 games after breaking his toe in November. NAHC teams are salivating at the thought of adding Hobie to their roster when he becomes draft eligible.

RALPH BARRELL
Ralph Barrell completes his final season of HS baseball by hitting 17 home runs in 166 at-bats and hitting .446 with a 1.328 OPS. This earns him a slot as the 2nd player picked in the draft as the LA Stars draft him, hoping to pair him with his cousin Charlie some day. He signs and joins the Mobile Commodores of Class C, and his .283 with 3 homers in 226 at-bats in 60 games.

REID BARRELL
Like his cousin Ralph, Reid enjoys a solid senior season of HS baseball, posting a 1.280 OPS at Boston Latin. And like Ralph he is drafted in the first round (it is later learned the Stars were hoping to draft him in round two), as he is selected seventh overall by the Pittsburgh Miners. He is assigned to Jacksonville in class C, does quite well there, showing great speed (14 SB in 52 games) while slashing .313/.418/.469, and earns a promotion to Class B Spokane. He plays 19 games there and posts decent numbers for an 18-year-old, .287/.305/.412; it is his defense that coaches feel needs the most work and some in the Miners organization think he may end up at third base rather than following his father as a stellar shortstop.

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Tom Bowens, coaching CCLA, 1958
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[legendsport]

1959 BARRELL BROTHERS UPDATE

ROLLIE BARRELL
As Rollie aged and he began to have health problems, he also began to make fewer decisions about his football club. The Detroit Maroons had a general manager after all (in Francine's words) and he was well-paid, so Rollie let the man do his job. But in 1959 that hands-off metality was difficult to maintain. The team had drafted QB Sled Hicks at #3 overall in 1958 and the kid had performed well, replacing the disruptive Sam Burson under center. But GM Aaron Barkley had drafted a second QB - Tom Griffin - in the fourth round of '58. This got under Rollie's skin and when Griffin was named starter for 1959, Rollie quietly fumed, seeing no reason to replace Hicks. But Francie stressed that Rollie should "let the football people run the team" and so he did. And the team went 4-6 as Griffin struggled, Hicks stewed on the bench, and all this came on the heels of an 8-4 season in 1958. Rollie was very unhappy, his doctor was unhappy with Rollie's blood pressure and Francie was unhappy with Rollie's threats to take over as GM himself, fire Wiggins, and pay "whatever it took" to bring Tom Bowens back as coach.

JACK BARRELL
1958-59 was a great season for Coach Jack Barrell. His Toronto Dukes were the class of the NAHC, posting a 43-16-11 record (good for 97 points, 11 more than second-place Boston). Things went even better in the postseason as the swept Montreal and followed that by sweeping Detroit for the Cup. Jack had spent decades in the NAHC as a player and then coach and could not remember a more satisfying season in his career. He was well aware that the magic of 1958-59 would be hard to repeat: Tommy Burns was a key part of their success (23 goals, 41 assists) but he was now 39 years old and likely to not last much longer. Even Quinton Pollack, Jack's son-in-law and a man generally considered the best player in the league (he finished second in scoring to Detroit's young star Alex Monette). was now 36 years old, and though he showed no real signs of slowing down, he did miss 13 games (probably costing him another scoring title). But those were worries for the off-season, and Jack celebrated the Cup win as if he hadn't already won several before.

DAN BARRELL
It was a middling year for Chicago Poly and their Athletic Director Dan Barrell. The baseball squad won a national championship, but the football team went 4-6. Ed Webber was gone and Gardner Rosso was now the coach, so the head man had changed, but the results had not. On the hardwood, the Catamounts maintained the balance of the school's three major sports by going 16-15, about as middle-of-the-road as they could get. Dan wasn't satisfied by any stretch, but the school did win one title, and that was certainly a welcome boost to the athetlic department.

FRED BARRELL
With Hobie turning 18 in early April (and playing junior hockey in Halifax anyway), Fred and Tillie were down to one child living at home - their "surprise" baby was now ten years old. Loretta was more and more like her mother every day and the apple of Fred's eye. And when his superiors offered him the position of Chief of Station in West Berlin, Fred knew it was something that could be managed. So he spoke to Tillie about it and to his surprise, she agreed. "I'll miss the boys, but they're men now and doing well. And we'll visit whenever we can," Tillie told Fred. Loretta was less than thrilled about the idea, but didn't have much choice with both her parents in favor of the move. So Fred Barrell because the CIA's Chief of Station for Berlin in July of 1959. He was surprised at the state of the city's eastern sector, still filled with rubble as the Soviets hadn't bothered to rebuild thmuch of the city. Fred realized that whatever else could be said about it, working in a city divided into four sectors where American, French and British soldiers, civilians and diplomats brushed up against their Soviet counterparts was never going to be boring.

TOM BARRELL
Tom continued to work with James Slocum, helping to run the day-to-day operations of the National Automobile Racing Federation from its headquarters in Charlotte.

BOBBY BARRELL
Bobby continued to be a prime target of several FABL clubs for either a front office or coaching role. This time it was the Los Angeles Stars who pushed the hardest. By midseason Thomas X. Bigsby was unhappy with the hotshot young manager he'd just hired and offered Bobby the managerial job during a reception at the All-Star hotel in Montreal. Bobby was sorely tempted - the Stars had called his son up just three weeks before and the kid was off to a fantastic start (see more on that below), but Bigsby and Bobby had both been drinking and Bob wasn't sure the offer was real. He wanted to ask his nephew Charlie (who had made the Continental All-Star team) but the kid was engrossed in what looked like a serious discussion with a young woman Bobby thought was Adrian Czerwinski's sister. Regardless, Bobby turned it down and Bigsby didn't mention it the next day. Bobby did have one source of irritation in '59: his younger son, Bobby Jr., decided to stop playing baseball and concentrate on football. Annette was firmly against this, fearing a serious injury. Bobby Jr. was much like his mother athletically - fast, much faster than Bobby had been, and thinner than Bobby who had always been "big-boned" and strong. Junior was strong, but he was built like a track athlete. Bobby told his son that if he was going to play football he'd need to be an end where his speed and athleticism would benefit him most. Annette included a requirement of her own - he had to remain a part of the track team in high school and also in college (assuming he made the team, and she told him she'd be there to ensure he gave it his all).

HARRY BARRELL
1959 was the year in which the Boston Minutemen put it all together. With Harry enjoying the most peace in his life since his marriage to Sarah had fallen apart, his positive attitude seemed to infect his team too. Boston got off to a hot start and never really cooled off all season long. They posted a 96-58 record to capture the club's first pennant since 1943. The pitching was strong with both Don Griffin (20-7, 3.09) and Dick Wilson (22-6, 2.51) having great years and Harry patching together enough behind them to make it all work. The lineup produced enough homers to lead the Fed again (173) with Rick Masters (.301-34-108) and Jack Denis (.309-21-90) leading the way as usual, and 3B Ed Wise hadded 30 homers of his own, and covered shortstop during an injury to Joe Kleman (.320-12-51). In the WCS the Minutemen faced the Cleveland Foresters, won the first three games, and took the title in five. After the game, Ruth Barton Barrell hugged her husband and tearfully said, "I wish Dad could have lived to see this!"

TOM BOWENS
Tom's third year as the head coach of CC Los Angeles went very well. The team finally began to reflect Tom's professional approach that prioritized personal responsibility. The Coyotes went 9-2 and grabbed a spot in the Lone Star Classic on New Year's Day. Their lone losses were at #12 Redwood and at #5 Northern Cal. In the Lone Star, they took on Penn Catholic and defeated them by a score of 37-14. Their performance earned CCLA the #7 ranking in the final poll.

DEUCE BARRELL
Deuce Barrell turned 42 in June of '59 and spent that month on the disabled list. He'd suffered a triceps injury in his third start, going on the DL for four months stuck in limbo with a 2-0 record and 1.71 ERA. When he came back, he wasn't quite the same. He made three rehab starts for AAA Rochester, going 3-0 with a 2.36 ERA but AAA was not FABL. He was roughed up in two August starts and September wasn't much better. Ironically, left-handed hitters were killing him. He had a 5.30 ERA across eight starts post-injury and went 3-2. The club won the pennant (in large part thanks to the continued excellence of Adrian Czerwinski, Sherry Doyal and John Low). Deuce was handed the ball in the first game - and lost. The Foresters dropped the first three - Czerwinski held Boston to just one run over nine strong innings, but the Foresters could only score one themselves and Boston took the game in the tenth with a run off reliever Lynn Horn. After a game three loss, the Foresters staved off a sweep with a 6-3 win behind their fourth starter Jake Pearson. But Deuce took the ball for game and gave up four in the first, got into another jam in the second, and left after one and two-thirds with his club down 5-0. Cleveland played Boston even after that, but it resulted in an 8-3 loss and a championship for Deuce's uncle Harry and his Minutemen. After the game, Deuce pondered whether he would try one more season. He'd achieved a lot in his career: he had 317 wins, a lifetime 3.20 ERA and nearly 2500 strikeouts. He'd won five Allen Awards, three championships and been an 11-time All-Star. Maybe that was enough? But after discussing it with Debbie, he realized it wasn't - he was coming back in 1960. He'd debuted with the then-Baltimore Cannons in 1938, so he had a chance to pitch across four decades and he wasn't passing that up.

ROGER CLEAVES
Roger Cleaves saw the end coming and accepted it. Both George and Jack had gone through it - the aging, the degradation of skills, etc. Of course, they were both Hall-of-Fame level players and he wasn't quite on that level, but their advice was welcomed nonetheless. As for his other half-brothers, Deuce was, as usual, mostly interested in himself, and Charlie was too young to understand. Roger read the writing on the wall by May: Stan Czerwinski was embedded at catcher and though first base looked to be a "by committee" situation, Roger wasn't part of that committee. He played six and a third innings across three games at first base, started 27 games behind the plate (and played there in ten more). His knees ached and his bat was slow - he hit just .176 in 108 at-bats and had just two homers. He announced his retirement at season's end, leaving the game with 246 career home runs, a .263 average and 1353 hits in 5140 at bats across 13 FABL seasons. After discussing it with Evelyn, he put himself forward as a managerial prospect and was hired by Toronto in December to be the skipper of their Davenport affiliate in the Class A Heartland League. "One door closes, another one opens," he told his wife and kids. "Hope you won't be too bored in Iowa," he added.

CHARLIE BARRELL
Charlie missed spring training in 1959 because of basketball - not because he was playing, but because he'd broken his ankle early in the season. He'd only played eight games, and with Anna popping up in LA again to chide him about it, he suspected he might not play basketball in the future either. He told himself this wasn't because of Anna, but just because it seemed to make sense: he was running himself ragged and the injuries were just proof of it. Speaking of Anna, she showed up in Montreal at the All-Star game with her brother, cornered Charlie at a reception and talked his ear off all night. Charlie was surprised that he felt admiration for her dogged pursuit of him while still telling himself -and her- that it wasn't going to happen. Charlie was beginning to get frustrated with the losing in LA as the Stars again stumbled to a last-place finish. The only bright spots he could see were that his cousin Ralph had joined the team in late June despite being only 19 and only having a brief spell in AA aside from a half-season in Class C. Added to that, another top prospect -LF Don Hall- was called up later and both #15 prospect OF Frank Kirouac and #26 prospect Don Ferguson were likely to make the club in '60. Bigsby's "wonder boy" manager - John J. Wilson - was only 37 when the season started, and was no better than the skipper he'd replaced at getting wins out of the club. Charlie began quietly hoping they could get a proven skipper to run the team - Wilson hadn't even made the big leagues as a player. He vowed to speak with Bigsby about it, given he had excellent access to the club owner.

MIKE BARRELL
Mike spends his third year in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Benning in Georgia.

STEVE BARRELL
Steve Barrell was drafted as the 2nd overall pick in the 1958 FBA Draft and entered his rookie season of pro basketball with high hopes. He was drafted by the Boston Centurions, and this meant he could visit his uncle Harry as often as he wanted, which was nice. The team itself - as you'd expect from a club picking second - wasn't particularly good. Steve ended up as the starting off guard, played (and started) all 72 games and put up 14.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. The team's coach, Chuck O'Connor, told him that his plan was to have Steve play point guard, a position currently held by Charlie Stark. Stark was 28 years old and a very good passer, but his poor shooting made him something of a liability. He also knew Steve was tapped as his replacmement and made no bones about his dislike for the new kid on the team. This resulted in some dysfunction on the team and Boston finished 33-39 on the year and in last place in the Eastern Division.

FREDDY BARRELL
Freddy turned 27 in 1959 and had established himself as a mid-tier professional golfer. He made the cut in slightly less than half the tournaments he entered. And thanks to his uncle Rollie sponsoring him, he entered about 70% of the tournaments on the tour. He made enough money that he could now support himself and began considering asking his long-time girlfriend, whose name was Evelyn Mae Carter, and whom Freddy figured he loved. She went by Mae and was a Georgia girl, two years young than Freddy. They'd met in Savannah and been dating for two years. Freddy did ask her to marry him in October after months of screwing up his courage. She accepted and the wedding was set for June of 1960.

BENNY BARRELL
Benny Barrell made it to the big time in 1958-59. The Detroit Motors, his favorite team growing up, had finally signed him to a contract after holding his rights for a couple of years. He ended up staying with the team throughout the season, though he was often a healthy scratch. He did play in 41 games, getting little ice time and scoring a measly (to his mind) three goals, with six assists. When his parents left for Berlin, his father told him to "stick it out" and that his time would come. Benny wasn't a patient guy by nature, but he promised his parents that he'd try to keep a positive attitude.

HOBIE BARRELL
Hobie spent 1958-59 with Halifax in the CAHA - or juniors. He managed to stay reasonably healthy, appeared in 61 of 64 games and scored 39 goals with 51 assists. He would be eligible for the 1959 NAHC draft and there was a reasonable chance he could end up being the first overall pick. That pick belonged to the Chicago Packers. If, for some reason, they passed on him, Hobie believed he'd be the #2 pick, and that was owned by the New York Shamrocks. He figured either way he'd end up in a big city and that was exciting. The thought of playing in the minors didn't cross his mind - Hobie believed he'd make the jump right away.

RALPH BARRELL
After spending the 1958 season in Class C, Ralph Barrell was pleased as punch to get to start 1959 in Double-A. Houston was a far sight better than Mobile - the weather was just as hot & humid, but Houston was a big city, and Ralph had spent his entire childhood in Philadelphia so he figured himself a city boy. Double A was also just a couple steps from Los Angeles and the big time. Ralph put himself to work - he tore up the Lone Star Association in the 33 games he played there. He hit .312, but his on-base percentage was .460 and he had six doubles, two triples and six homers in the 109 at-bats he took, giving him an OPS of 1.029 and earning himself a promotion. But not to AAA Salt Lake City... his promotion was straight to LA. He slid into the Stars lineup hitting cleanup right behind his cousin Charlie. And he continued to rake. His first game, he went three-for-four with a single, triple and his first of what he hoped would be many FABL home runs. He cooled off -some- and finished the year having appeared in 85 games for LA, slashing .305/.357/.523 with 19 home runs to go with seven doubles and four triples amongst his 101 hits in 331 at-bats. He was playing third base - one of the things scouts had liked about him was his flexibility as he could play infield or outfield. He figured he could catch too, but had no interest in doing so; something with which his father had wholeheartedly agreed. Ralph received some votes for the Kellogg Award, but didn't win it. Nevertheless he felt he'd gotten his career off to a great start.

REID BARRELL
Reid Barrell had made it to Class B in 1958 and had been hoping to start at Class A in '59. The Miners brass had other plans, and started Reid right back in Spokane. He played most of the year there, and spent it playing well. He hit .311 and had an .803 OPS. The club reined in his basestealing, and he ended up stealing four bases in Spokane (with six caught stealings). He showed a little pop - more than his dad had shown in his career at least - with ten homers to go with 32 doubles and nine triples. He earned a late promotion to Class A Gary. After being in Spokane which he told his father "felt like a million miles from home," he was glad to be in Indiana. He went 16-for-59 with Gary, adding three doubles, a triple and a homer to his resume. Though he was jealous of his cousin Ralph, who ended up in FABL (and performing well), Reid told himself he'd get there. One thing he picked up in Spokane was a nickname: "J.R." which were his initials as his name was Joseph Reid Barrell. His team mates wanted to know why he didn't go by "Joe" which took a bit of explaining, and in the end he became simply "J.R." to his team mates and the nickname stuck with him in Gary as well.

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Harry Barrell celebrates the Boston Minutemen's
1959 World Championship Series victory
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[legendsport]

1960 BARRELL BROTHERS UPDATE


ROLLIE BARRELL
Rollie turned 64 in 1960, leaving him one more year as President of the Detroit Maroons Football Club, following a promise he'd made to his wife to retire on his 65th birthday. While Rollie would retain ownership of the Maroons, he would no longer participate in running the club's business. This put him on the horns of a dilemma. His original plan had been to put Allie on the club board and promote her as president, but his daughter had been in California for several years, working in the front office of the San Francisco Sailors baseball club. She had also married a Bay Area businessman named Victor Bertram, who ran a midsize shipping business. Rollie considered hiring his other son-in-law—Marty's husband, Jack McCarver—who had played pro football and was now coaching in California, but Jack wasn’t interested in the "business side" of things. Rollie was wary of going outside the family, but Francie was adamant that he retire, and in this, she was supported by Rollie's doctor, who was concerned about Rollie's heart. Therefore, as the year 1960 ended, Rollie faced an ultimatum: find a new president by April or sell the team. As for the team, 1960 had been a pretty good season. The Maroons posted a 7-5 record, tying them for first with the KC Cowboys. Unfortunately, the Cowboys dismantled them 54-10 in the playoffs before losing the AFA Championship Game to New York.

JACK BARRELL
Jack Barrell was tired at the end of the 1959-60 season, so much so that the 62-year-old coach called it quits. "I'm not a spring chicken anymore," he said. "It's time to turn this game over to the younger men." Jack retires with six Cup wins as a coach.

DAN BARRELL
Dan's labors seemed to bear fruit in 1960. Cal Poly's football team posted a 7-3 record, its best in years. The basketball team had a down year (13-18), but the baseball program was doing well. Overall, the Board of Trustees was happy with Dan's performance; he knew they only really paid attention to the football team.

FRED BARRELL
Fred remained as station chief in Berlin, monitoring the Soviets in the divided city. Many East Berliners—and East Germans in general—had been flooding into West Berlin in recent years, seeking a better life in West Germany. A big chunk of Fred's time was spent vetting people to weed out any potential spies.

TOM BARRELL
Tom began to suffer from wanderlust in 1960. His job, working for his nephew James' stock car circuit, mainly involved glad-handing and entertaining various sponsors, automakers, and occasionally disgruntled drivers. NARF enjoyed another successful season, and while Marla and their kids enjoyed living in North Carolina, Tom felt the pull of competition. He mentioned the idea of returning to managing—or even coaching—in FABL. Marla was opposed to this, remembering how moody Tom had been while managing, taking every loss personally. Tom knew she was right but also knew that he would only grow more disgruntled unless he made a change.

BOBBY BARRELL
Bobby's tenure with NBC ended after the '59 season as the network hired Rabbit Day for its broadcasts. However, Bobby wasn’t out of work for long; ABC signed him for their own Saturday telecasts, winning a bidding war with CBS for Barrell's services as all three major networks featured weekend baseball telecasts.

HARRY BARRELL
Riding high after winning the 1959 WCS, Harry's Minutemen repeated, posting a 90-64 record to hold off the Chiefs and Pioneers to win the Federal pennant. They again faced the Cleveland Foresters in the Fall Classic and won the series in five games. Harry was named FA Manager of the Year, claiming his third championship ring, having won one as a player with the 1937 Brooklyn Kings.

TOM BOWENS
Coming off a 9-2 season and a win in the Lone Star Classic that propelled his CCLA Coyotes to a #7 ranking in the final poll, Coach Tom Bowens had high hopes for 1960. Unfortunately, the team took a step back, finishing 6-4 and missing a Classic invite. Tom was unhappy with the state of the defense—he was an offensive-minded coach—and quietly began searching for a top-notch defensive coordinator, likely someone not already working in the AIAA.

DEUCE BARRELL
Deuce turned 43 in June and had an uneven year for the Foresters in his return from an arm injury in '59. He posted a 12-10 record with a 4.25 ERA for the pennant-winning Foresters, pushing his lifetime record to 329-202. The season ended with a disastrous WCS start against Boston, where the Minutemen pounded him for seven hits and three walks, scoring six earned runs in just two and two-thirds innings in his only appearance of the series, which Cleveland lost four games to one. Facing questions about retirement, Deuce said his desire to compete had not waned and that he planned to return in 1961. A 13-win season in 1961 would move him into third place on the all-time win list.

JAMES SLOCUM
James enjoyed NARF's twelfth season, another successful one. The circuit ran 44 races, most of which drew well, and a few were even televised locally. James had big plans—for one, he wanted to build a second superspeedway after seeing the success of the track he'd built on the large parcel of farmland bequeathed to him by his grandfather Rufus Barrell. He was negotiating with several municipalities in North and South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee, seeking the ideal location. His family life was as rewarding as he could have hoped: he and Rose now had five children. Their oldest, Brenda, turned 11 in 1960; their oldest son, Paul, was born just over a year later. After him came two more boys—James Powell Slocum, a boisterous force of nature whom everyone called J.P., and Edward (Eddie). Their youngest, who turned four that year, was named Claudia after James' mother, but everyone called her Sissy because J.P. refused to call her by name, referring to her only as "Little Sissy."

ROGER CLEAVES
Roger's first season as a manager was spent in Davenport, where he led Toronto's Class A Heartland League affiliate to a middling 69-71, sixth-place finish. It was therefore a big surprise when he received an interview request from the Washington Eagles for their managerial opening. The interview went well, and Roger was hired on October 21, signing a two-year deal to manage in Washington.

CHARLIE BARRELL
1960 was a strong year for Charlie. He established career highs in at-bats (629), hits (201), doubles (41), triples (7), and RBIs (105) while scoring 96 runs for the second straight season and belting 18 home runs. Even better, the Stars improved, tying for fourth place with a 77-77 record, leading the league in home runs, and placing second in runs scored. Pitcher Dewey Allcock took a step forward, emerging as the team's ace with a 19-10, 3.31 season (despite a puzzling second-place finish in the CA Allen race). Charlie hit ahead of his cousin Ralph (more on him below), and together they became a fearsome tandem. FABL introduced a new defensive award—the Diamond Defense Award—and Charlie won the CA award for second basemen. On the personal front, Charlie married Anna Czerwinska in November. He told his mother that the marriage had felt inevitable and that it was only in late 1959 that he realized he had fallen for Anna. His best man was Ralph Barrell, and the groomsmen were Deuce Barrell, Roger Cleaves, Reid Barrell, and two of Anna's brothers: Adrian and Stan Czerwinski. With the wedding held in Los Angeles, newspapers dubbed it "Baseball's Royal Wedding" due to the many FABL players, ex-players, and management in attendance.

MIKE BARRELL
In his fourth year as a member of the U.S. Army, 1st Lt. Mike Barrell began considering his options as his five-year enlistment term neared its end in 1961. He hadn't lost his competitive spirit and was in excellent physical condition, leading him to consider playing professional football or basketball. He had also proven to be an excellent soldier and leader, earning a promotion to Captain in October.

STEVE BARRELL
Steve had a solid 1958-59 season, though he missed 22 games due to a dislocated shoulder and a later concussion. He posted a respectable stat line of 13.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. The Centurions finished with a 39-37 record, securing second place in the Eastern Division of the FBL and earning a playoff berth. They swept Philadelphia in the first round and upset division champion New York in the semifinals, but they fell in the finals, losing 4 games to 1 to the St. Louis Rockets.

FREDDY BARRELL
Freddy had middling success again in 1960, participating in about two-thirds of the pro golf tour events and making the cut about half the time. Though he earned enough to scrape by, he wasn’t sure if he could improve enough to become a true contender.

BENNY BARRELL
Benny spent the entire 1959-60 season with the Detroit Motors, appearing in 58 games and posting underwhelming totals of 5 goals and 11 assists for 16 points, averaging 14:38 of ice time as the left wing on the team's second line. Detroit finished with a 30-28-12 record, missing the playoffs by two points and placing fifth in the six-team league.

HOBIE BARRELL
Hobie Barrell continued to be the most-talked-about prospect in junior hockey. In the season when he turned 18, Hobie scored 46 goals and added 59 assists in 61 games for Halifax. Despite finishing fourth with a sub-.500 record of 23-31-10, Hobie was second in points (105), third in goals, and seventh in assists.

RALPH BARRELL
Things couldn't have gone much better for Ralph Barrell in 1960. At 20 years old, he was an emerging star playing in Hollywood alongside his cousin Charlie. The only blemish on the season was a groin injury in June that sidelined him for six weeks. In his first full FABL season, Ralph played 107 games, hit .325, belted 25 home runs, and showed surprising competence at third base—a pleasant surprise, as he had always assumed he'd play the outfield like his father.

REID BARRELL
Unlike his cousin Ralph, Reid Barrell spent 1960 in the minor leagues. He played half the season in Spokane (Class B) before earning a promotion to Class A Gary. Reid showed great promise at Class A, hitting .299 and becoming an extra-base hit machine with 16 doubles, 9 triples, and 12 homers in 298 at-bats. His defense at second base remained a concern. His father, Harry Barrell, believed Reid’s struggles were due to his "intense desire to play shortstop" rather than second base.


Charlie and Anna Barrell, Wedding Photo, 1960

[legendsport]

If you'd like to become a part of the Figment sports universe and follow the Barrells and all the other personalities in the various sports, this is your chance. With the 1962 expansion of baseball and the addition of the online football league, we are recruiting for new members!

This link will get you to the recruiting post over on the Online Leagues board.

Adrian Czerwinski's Cleveland Foresters are available!

[legendsport]

1961 RECAP

ROLLIE BARRELL
1961 was a challenging year for Rollie. On his 65th birthday, he stepped down as President of the Detroit Maroons. He retained his majority ownership share but, in a decision that enraged his wife, agreed to maintain an advisory role to his surprise successor: his nephew, Fred Barrell Jr. The eldest son of Fred and Tillie Barrell, “Junior” retired from professional golf at the age of 30 to assume the presidency of the Maroons. Rollie and Fred Jr. had grown close during Freddy’s golf career, as Rollie offered encouragement and, in the absence of the young man’s parents (Fred Sr. being stationed in West Berlin), passed on valuable business know-how.

JACK BARRELL
Now retired, Jack Barrell, his wife Marie, and their youngest daughter Vera move to New York City to be closer to their daughter Jean Lee and their grandchildren.

DAN BARRELL
Cal Poly’s football team took a step back in ’61, finishing 5-5, which only added to Dan’s frustration and fueled his desire to take over the coaching reins himself. The basketball squad also finished with a disappointing 15-16 record.

FRED BARRELL
On August 12, 1961, the East German government, with the backing of the Soviet Union, began constructing a barrier around West Berlin, cutting off roads, railways, and pedestrian access between the two halves of the city. As station chief, Fred found himself scrambling for weeks, trying to maintain contact with isolated agents, keep Washington informed, and even assist those trying to escape into the West—often by hanging from apartment windows and dropping into West Berlin. Eventually, the Berlin Wall was completed, replacing barbed wire and makeshift barriers with 12-foot concrete walls, “death strips,” and watchtowers.

TOM BARRELL
Tom’s wanderlust continued to grow in 1961. He briefly spoke with Rollie about succeeding him as the Detroit Maroons’ President, but both men agreed that Tom didn’t have the necessary football knowledge. Rollie instead suggested that Tom consider coaching high school or perhaps college baseball. Although Marla was reluctant to see Tom return to baseball, she realized his discontent would only grow if he stayed away from the game he loved. In 1961, Tom did not pursue a coaching position, but as the new year of ’62 dawned, he began to spread the word that he would be available to coach amateur baseball, ideally somewhere in the South or Southeast.

BOBBY BARRELL
Bobby’s new job at ABC was similar to his old role, except he now worked with a different play-by-play partner. His eldest son was blossoming into a rising star for the Los Angeles Stars, while his younger son chose to attend Coastal California to play football under his uncle, Tom Bowens, and alongside his cousin, George Bowens. With both Ralph and Bobby Jr. now in L.A., Bobby and Annette followed suit, moving there in the fall of ’61.

HARRY BARRELL
After back-to-back World Championships, Harry’s Boston Minutemen fell to earth in 1961, finishing sixth with a 69-85 record. The new ownership saw Harry as a “hold-over” from the previous regime, and after the poor season, it was no surprise that his contract was not renewed. Fortunately, he did not remain unemployed for long: the Pittsburgh Miners quickly snapped him up. An added benefit for Harry was that his son Reid was already playing in the Miners’ organization, albeit still in the minors.

TOM BOWENS
1961 was simply not the Coyotes’ year. Coastal California limped to a 2-8 season, leaving Coach Tom Bowens wondering what had gone wrong. His son, George, was now a junior and among the team’s best players, lining up at end just as Tom once had. George’s solid performance was Bowens’ lone consolation in an otherwise disappointing season.

DEUCE BARRELL
Deuce continued to defy Father Time in his age-43 season, posting a 13-11 record with a 3.94 ERA and helping the Foresters to another pennant. Unfortunately, he lost both of his WCS starts, leaving him with a lifetime record of 5-11 on the FABL’s biggest stage, and his teams were just 3-5 in the Series overall. Despite that, Deuce insisted his arm felt great and, though his fastball wasn’t as quick, he compensated with what he called “craftiness.” He promised to return to Cleveland in 1962 for another go at age 44, though with his son, Tripp, set to start high school that fall, he would not commit to anything beyond the ’62 season.

JAMES SLOCUM
With his uncle Tom taking more of a backseat, James took on an increased business role in running the National Automobile Racing Federation (NARF). This kept him home more often, much to his wife Rose’s delight. Everything with NARF ran smoothly, and the future remained bright.

ROGER CLEAVES
By most standards, Roger’s first year managing at the FABL level was a success. His Washington Eagles finished 84-70 and claimed third place. His players began calling him “Sarge,” referencing his Marine Corps background—Roger pretended to be grumpy about the nickname but was secretly pleased. Meanwhile, his son Dwayne prepared to start high school in the fall of ’62, enrolling at Capital Academy in D.C. and following in the footsteps of many Barrells who had also played there.

CHARLIE BARRELL
To his immense surprise, married life suited Charlie well. Anna was intelligent and beautiful, and though she occasionally tried to boss him around, Charlie was so entranced by her that he sometimes wondered why it had taken him so long to realize it. This new sense of contentment translated to the diamond, where he played 153 of his team’s 154 games, hit .315 with 37 doubles and 28 homers, and played solid (if not stellar) defense at second base. Charlie also found mentoring his cousin Ralph to be rewarding, and the two became close friends.

MIKE BARRELL
Mike served his fifth year in the U.S. Army in 1961. He earned a promotion to Captain, reflecting the high regard of his superior officers. He remained with the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Bragg.

STEVE BARRELL
Steve continued showcasing a fine all-around game in his fourth season with the Boston Centurions of the FBL, adding a career-best 6.6 assists per game to his 9.0 rebounds and 13.4 points. Though injuries limited him to 59 games, he returned in time for the playoffs. Boston entered the postseason as the Eastern Division’s top team with a 56-24 record, earning a bye into the division finals against the New York Knights. After defeating the Knights, the Centurions’ season ended on a disappointing note in the FBL Finals, where they fell to the Toronto Falcons.

FREDDY BARRELL
Freddy played what he believed to be his final season as a pro golfer in 1961. He left the tour at the end of that year to take his Uncle Rollie’s place as President of the Detroit Maroons football club. This new role meant moving to Detroit, where he had lived as a youngster when his father worked for the Dynamos.

BENNY BARRELL
Playing alongside his brother Hobie, Benny Barrell had a solid 1961-62 season, helping the Detroit Motors repeat as Challenge Cup champions. Nagging injuries limited him to 58 games, in which he scored 16 goals and added 31 assists.

HOBIE BARRELL
Hobie cemented his place among the NAHC’s top players, finishing second only to the Dukes’ Quinton Pollack with 34 goals, 45 assists, and 79 points—even after missing nine games. Detroit placed third in the regular season, but knocked off second-place Chicago in five games in the semifinals and then downed the Valiants in six games in the Cup Finals.

RALPH BARRELL
Ralph turned 21 in April and, in his first full big league season, he blasted 35 home runs, scored 112 runs, and drove in 103 RBIs. However, his average dipped from .325 to .267, and he struck out 128 times. He also grew close to his cousin Charlie, whom he considered a mentor.

REID BARRELL
Reid split 1961 between Class A and Class AA. Offensively, he felt he had a lot to improve, and his coaches agreed. Defensively, he played three infield positions—everywhere but first—but saw the most time at second base. Reid still considered himself a shortstop, so the position changes were a disappointment. His spirits lifted in the offseason when he learned his father had been hired to manage the Miners. Being in the same organization as his dad—potentially playing for him—was a dream come true.


Capt. Mike Barrell, US Army, 1961

[legendsport]

The story of the Barrells continues! Check out Same Song, Different Tune - The Barrells in the Modern Era!

We continue the story beginning again in 1968...