OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

reds1 · 02-12-2019, 11:55 PM

December 31, 1950

Looking Back: The 1940-41 Amateur Draft

It’s been a while since I reviewed a previous draft as I felt that it would be better to let a few more seasons go by before trying to make assessments on subsequent drafts. But it now feels like sufficient time has gone by to look back at the 1940-41 Amateur Draft.

Overall, the draft was by no means a bust, as it produced two bona fide stars: a top-20 position player and a pitcher that is currently the top-rated hurler in the ULB. But beyond them, there was a definite ‘ho-hum’ feeling to the rest of the draft. That said, I suspect this draft will look better when it’s compared to the 1941-42 draft (but that will be for another day).

Cream of the Crop:

C Aaron Skidmore – 1st overall pick originally by the Hespeler Stars.

Career: .271/.416/.427, 1221 H, 212-2B, 16-3B, 154 HR, 719 RBI, 710 R, 1148 BB, 714 K, 4 SB, .844 OPS, 135 OPS+, 141 wRC+, 57.4 WAR

Achievements:

• 9-time All-Star
• 1 Babe Ruth Award (1948-49)
• 2 Top Fielder Awards
• 1 All-Star Game MVP honor (1946)
• Eastern League Pennant Series MVP honor (1948-49)
• 2 selections to the All-Braeland Team
• 1 United Cup Championship (1946)

What the original scouting report said:

“Skidmore has plus contact and power potential to go along with tremendous plate discipline. With a little work, he should be a serviceable defensive catcher.”

Comments: Aaron Skidmore spent all of 5 games and 25 at-bats in AA before being promoted to the majors late in the 1940-41 season. He earned four all-star selections while with the Stars before being traded to the Stratford Barons in July 1945 in exchange for two mediocre pitchers (Hespeler also paid $8,300 to the Barons for the privilege!) The trade immediately paid dividends for Stratford, as Skidmore led the Barons to a United Cup Championship in 1945-46, while the Stars have yet to get a sniff of the post-season. Skidmore established himself as one of very best players (not to mention catchers) in the United Leagues, averaging 6.8 WAR per season from 1944-45 to 1949-50. He was bested only by Kingston Pelicans’ C Danny Trowbridge during that span, who averaged 7.97 WAR. While he may be enduring a bit of down year offensively this season, he is still rated 13th overall among all position players and 2nd overall among catchers (behind only Braeland City’s Christopher Dainty).

--------

RHP Roberto Taváres – 5th overall pick originally by the Sherburn Tigers.

Career: 143-113, 2 SV, 3.27 ERA, 293 GS, 2397.1 IP, 156 CG, 21 SHO, 1.36 WHIP, .286 BABIP, 3.14 FIP, 55.3 WAR, 122 ERA+

Achievements:

• 7-time All-Star
• 1 Satchel Paige Award (1944-45)
• 1 Top Fielder Award
• 1 selection to the All-Braeland Team

What the original scouting report said:

“The 21-year old RHP from Venezuela projects to be another keeper, as Taváres has consistent, above-average stuff, wonderful movement and great command. “

Comments: On October 6, 1941 as he embarked on his rookie season with Sherburn, Taváres was named the No. 1 prospect in the ULB. While he experienced some growing pains that first season (5-10, 2 SV, 5.61 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 4.23 FIP, 71 ERA+), he quickly lived up to that lofty billing. He did so while playing for a team that finished in the second division six times out of the eight seasons he toiled for the Tigers. But along with RHP Jesús Chapa, the Tigers boasted perhaps the most formidable pitching tandem in the United Leagues until he was shipped off to the Fort Richmond Generals after the 1948-49 season. Before that, he won a Satchel Paige award in 1944-45 and was runner-up in 1948-49. Since joining the Generals he shows no signs of slowing down, as he is currently rated the top pitcher in the ULB. And now that he is playing for a playoff-caliber team, his counting stats should only improve. He has more than lived up to his original billing.

--------

There were a few other players selected in the first round that are enjoying fine careers:

3B Jorge Arredondo – 3rd overall pick originally by the Wolseley Unions.

Career: .289/.357/.417, 1455 H, 211-2B, 74-3B, 96 HR, 643 RBI, 797 R, 542 BB, 417 K, 161 SB, .774 OPS, 112 OPS+, 116 wRC+, 33.4 WAR

Achievements:

• 3-time All-Star
• 1 Top Fielder Award

What the original scouting report said:

“The Cuban-born infielder should be a good although not great hitter. There are concerns over his plate discipline and below average fielding. He should be a proficient base-stealer.”

Comments: It took a few seasons, but Arredondo finally made his presence known during the 1945-46 season, when he racked up 5.8 WAR, batting .319/.382/.465 with 13 HR, 91 RBI, 88 R and 66 BB. But the following year, he slumped badly and the Wolseley Unions shipped him off to the Brunswick Legends for RHP Hun Park. Wolseley would win a United Cup a couple of seasons later, but Arrendondo quickly rebounded, averaging 5.6 WAR over the next three seasons. In addition to earning three all-star selections thus far with Brunswick, Arrendondo has settled in as one of the top third basemen, second only to Cobourg’s Alexander Tolmie and 20th overall among all position players in the ULB.

--------

C Heung-su Park – 7th overall pick originally by the Fort Richmond Generals.

Career: .295/.361/.449, 1212 H, 232-2B, 32-3B, 113 HR, 560 RBI, 616 R, 414 BB, 175 K, 4 SB, .810 OPS, 131 OPS+, 132 wRC+, 37.8 WAR

Achievements:

• 4-time All-Star
• Hit for the cycle (1947)

What the original scouting report said:

“The South Korean native is projected to be a very good contact hitter with plus-plus power. Not a good runner, he should however be a steady defender behind the plate.”

Comments: Like Arrendondo, it took Heung-su Park a few seasons to find his groove. But starting in the 1944-45 season, he became a model of consistency, averaging 5.4 WAR over the next six seasons. The Generals traded him to the Cambria Cannons after his break-out season for four players that ultimately made no impact in the majors whatsoever. Cambria on the other hand have been set at the catcher position ever since. And while Park is no longer a Top 20 player and is having a bit of a down year, he still ranks 6th among catchers in the ULB.

--------

LHP Patrick Denman – 11th overall pick by the Kingston Pelicans.

Career: 129-99, 11 SV, 3.45 ERA, 230 GS, 2032.2 IP, 149 CG, 16 SHO, 1.38 WHIP, .277 BABIP, 3.47 FIP, 37.7 WAR, 119 ERA+

Achievements:

• 2-time All-Star
• 1 Satchel Paige Award (1945-46)
• Western League Pennant Series MVP honor (1945-46)
• 1 selection to the All-Braeland Team
• 1 United Cup Championship (1943-44)

What the original scouting report said:

“Great stuff and aggressive, positively filthy movement and superb control. Throws 5 types of pitches, with his splitter and forkball (both 40/50) the best right now. “

Comments: Denman spent a few seasons in the minors before sticking with the big club for good in 1943-44 and winning a United Cup with the Pelicans that season while pitching out of the bullpen. Back in 1941, he was rated the 7th overall prospect and delivered on that promise during the 1945-46 season when he became Kingston’s undisputed ace, setting the record for wins in a single season (27-6, 2.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3.51 FIP, 182 ERA+), a record that still stands. He would win the Satchel Paige Award for his performance and enjoy another excellent season the following year (20-12, 2.92 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 2.75 FIP, 117 ERA+). But while he would finish third for the Satchel Paige Award in both the 1946-47 and 1947-48 seasons, his performance has seen a definite drop-off, coinciding with Kingston’s falling playoff fortunes. While his play has improved this season, it seems his days as a Top 20 pitcher are behind him.

--------

Biggest Draft Disappointments

There were more than a few players from the first round that I could single out as being out-and-out busts. Here are the ones that stood out for me:

OF Ellis Rothwell – 6th overall pick by the Balmoral Giants.

Career: .291/.327/.372, 187 H, 33-2B, 8-3B, 1 HR, 66 RBI, 77 R, 35 BB, 38 K, 7 SB, .699 OPS, 95 OPS+, 100 wRC+, 2.1 WAR

What the original scouting report said:

“Rothwell has the potential of above-average contact and all-star caliber speed on the base paths. He will not be a power threat and he tends to swing at anything that’s near the plate. He should be a serviceable though not a spectacular fielder.”

Comments: In October 1941 Rothwell was rated the No. 5 prospect in the United Leagues. But one year later, he fell to No. 44. While he earned two AAA all-star selections during that time, injuries began to sap his promise in 1945. Torn biceps, fractured ankles, dislocated fingers and partially torn labrums all took their toll before the Giants traded him to the Hespeler Stars in 1948 in a minor deal. He is now playing for Wolseley’s AAA farm team after becoming a free agent in April 1950, but unfortunately it appears any realistic chance of him getting back to the majors is long gone.

--------

OF Sean Murchie – 8th overall pick by the Downie Chiefs.

Career: .275/.303/.350, 637 H, 89-2B, 29-3B, 9 HR, 201 RBI, 232 R, 94 BB, 159 K, 55 SB, .653 OPS, 90 OPS+, 88 wRC+, 5.3 WAR

What the original scouting report said:

“Murchie should be a fairly decent singles hitter with solid defense and an excellent base-stealer. As with many prospects in this year’s draft, patience at the plate is not a strong suit.”

Comments: Murchie was promoted to the major league roster early in his career and became Downie’s starting leftfielder for three seasons starting in 1943-44. But he was never able to live up to his lofty draft selection and when OF Howard Dumbrill, a 2nd overall pick from 1943-44 took over in 1946-47, Murchie went by the wayside. Although his skills have not deteriorated to any great degree in the years since he was drafted, Murchie has never been able to translate them into any sustained success. Since his release by the Chiefs back in 1948, he has tried to reboot his career with both the Stratford Barons and Fort Richmond Generals (twice). But he was released each time and is currently a free agent.

--------

RHP Arthur Collier – 13th overall pick by the Stratford Barons.

Career: No major league statistics.

What the original scouting report said:

“Above-average stuff, positively filthy movement and pretty good command. Throws a fastball (40/50) and a curveball (25/50); but Collier’s changeup is rated as 20/20, so he will need to work on improving it to have a realistic chance of becoming starter.”

Comments: Collier was never able to develop a decent third pitch, and while he remained a Top 100 prospect as late as October 1946, he could never find any consistency, constantly shuttling between Double-A and Triple-A while being part of 5 separate trades between 1941 and 1945. The Fort Richmond Generals have seen fit to sign him to four straight Triple-A contracts, so perhaps there is still an outside chance that Collier will get a taste of the majors before he finally calls it a day.

--------

Later-Round Standout

LHP Arthur Bence – 37th overall pick (Round 3, Pick 5) originally by the Sherburn Tigers.

Career: 87-80, 8 SV, 3.37 ERA, 177 GS, 1537.0 IP, 91 CG, 13 SHO, 1.29 WHIP, .265 BABIP, 3.68 FIP, 23.5 WAR, 121 ERA+

Achievements:

• 2-time All-Star
• 1 Satchel Paige Award (1946-47)
• 1946-47 Triple Crown

Comments: There really wasn’t a late-round pick from this draft that could be called a true sleeper pick. Two players from the fifth round were potential contenders: C Geoff Lemoine (67th overall pick) and IF Neil Boyle (78th overall pick). Lemoine won the 1942-43 Eastern League Rookie of the Year Award while Boyle earned an All-Star selection (1944-45) and two Top Fielder Awards at second base. But neither enjoyed sustained success and have been fringe players for a number of years.

So for this category, I’ll go with Bence. Two years after his selection, the southpaw was rated the 15th overall prospect and earned his first All-Star selection in 1945-46. But it was after his trade from Sherburn to the Wellington Athletics that saw Bence reach stratospheric heights. Going 22-10, 1.93 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 2.89 FIP, 173 ERA+ in 1946-47, Bence not only won the Eastern League Satchel Paige Award, but also the Triple Crown (20 wins, 1.09 ERA, 142 K). Although he has not come close to that incredible performance before or since, he has remained a steady No. 3-type starter. His career continues with the Embro Suns, who acquired him in a trade back in January 1950.

02-12-2019, 11:55 PM	#486
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,924	December 31, 1950 Looking Back: The 1940-41 Amateur Draft It’s been a while since I reviewed a previous draft as I felt that it would be better to let a few more seasons go by before trying to make assessments on subsequent drafts. But it now feels like sufficient time has gone by to look back at the 1940-41 Amateur Draft. Overall, the draft was by no means a bust, as it produced two bona fide stars: a top-20 position player and a pitcher that is currently the top-rated hurler in the ULB. But beyond them, there was a definite ‘ho-hum’ feeling to the rest of the draft. That said, I suspect this draft will look better when it’s compared to the 1941-42 draft (but that will be for another day). Cream of the Crop: C Aaron Skidmore – 1st overall pick originally by the Hespeler Stars. Career: .271/.416/.427, 1221 H, 212-2B, 16-3B, 154 HR, 719 RBI, 710 R, 1148 BB, 714 K, 4 SB, .844 OPS, 135 OPS+, 141 wRC+, 57.4 WAR Achievements: • 9-time All-Star • 1 Babe Ruth Award (1948-49) • 2 Top Fielder Awards • 1 All-Star Game MVP honor (1946) • Eastern League Pennant Series MVP honor (1948-49) • 2 selections to the All-Braeland Team • 1 United Cup Championship (1946) What the original scouting report said: “Skidmore has plus contact and power potential to go along with tremendous plate discipline. With a little work, he should be a serviceable defensive catcher.” *Comments:* Aaron Skidmore spent all of 5 games and 25 at-bats in AA before being promoted to the majors late in the 1940-41 season. He earned four all-star selections while with the Stars before being traded to the Stratford Barons in July 1945 in exchange for two mediocre pitchers (Hespeler also paid $8,300 to the Barons for the privilege!) The trade immediately paid dividends for Stratford, as Skidmore led the Barons to a United Cup Championship in 1945-46, while the Stars have yet to get a sniff of the post-season. Skidmore established himself as one of very best players (not to mention catchers) in the United Leagues, averaging 6.8 WAR per season from 1944-45 to 1949-50. He was bested only by Kingston Pelicans’ C Danny Trowbridge during that span, who averaged 7.97 WAR. While he may be enduring a bit of down year offensively this season, he is still rated 13th overall among all position players and 2nd overall among catchers (behind only Braeland City’s Christopher Dainty). -------- RHP Roberto Taváres – 5th overall pick originally by the Sherburn Tigers. Career: 143-113, 2 SV, 3.27 ERA, 293 GS, 2397.1 IP, 156 CG, 21 SHO, 1.36 WHIP, .286 BABIP, 3.14 FIP, 55.3 WAR, 122 ERA+ *Achievements:* • 7-time All-Star • 1 Satchel Paige Award (1944-45) • 1 Top Fielder Award • 1 selection to the All-Braeland Team What the original scouting report said: “The 21-year old RHP from Venezuela projects to be another keeper, as Taváres has consistent, above-average stuff, wonderful movement and great command. “ *Comments:* On October 6, 1941 as he embarked on his rookie season with Sherburn, Taváres was named the No. 1 prospect in the ULB. While he experienced some growing pains that first season (5-10, 2 SV, 5.61 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 4.23 FIP, 71 ERA+), he quickly lived up to that lofty billing. He did so while playing for a team that finished in the second division six times out of the eight seasons he toiled for the Tigers. But along with RHP Jesús Chapa, the Tigers boasted perhaps the most formidable pitching tandem in the United Leagues until he was shipped off to the Fort Richmond Generals after the 1948-49 season. Before that, he won a Satchel Paige award in 1944-45 and was runner-up in 1948-49. Since joining the Generals he shows no signs of slowing down, as he is currently rated the top pitcher in the ULB. And now that he is playing for a playoff-caliber team, his counting stats should only improve. He has more than lived up to his original billing. -------- There were a few other players selected in the first round that are enjoying fine careers: 3B Jorge Arredondo – 3rd overall pick originally by the Wolseley Unions. Career: .289/.357/.417, 1455 H, 211-2B, 74-3B, 96 HR, 643 RBI, 797 R, 542 BB, 417 K, 161 SB, .774 OPS, 112 OPS+, 116 wRC+, 33.4 WAR *Achievements:* • 3-time All-Star • 1 Top Fielder Award What the original scouting report said: “The Cuban-born infielder should be a good although not great hitter. There are concerns over his plate discipline and below average fielding. He should be a proficient base-stealer.” *Comments:* It took a few seasons, but Arredondo finally made his presence known during the 1945-46 season, when he racked up 5.8 WAR, batting .319/.382/.465 with 13 HR, 91 RBI, 88 R and 66 BB. But the following year, he slumped badly and the Wolseley Unions shipped him off to the Brunswick Legends for RHP Hun Park. Wolseley would win a United Cup a couple of seasons later, but Arrendondo quickly rebounded, averaging 5.6 WAR over the next three seasons. In addition to earning three all-star selections thus far with Brunswick, Arrendondo has settled in as one of the top third basemen, second only to Cobourg’s Alexander Tolmie and 20th overall among all position players in the ULB. -------- C Heung-su Park – 7th overall pick originally by the Fort Richmond Generals. Career: .295/.361/.449, 1212 H, 232-2B, 32-3B, 113 HR, 560 RBI, 616 R, 414 BB, 175 K, 4 SB, .810 OPS, 131 OPS+, 132 wRC+, 37.8 WAR *Achievements:* • 4-time All-Star • Hit for the cycle (1947) What the original scouting report said: “The South Korean native is projected to be a very good contact hitter with plus-plus power. Not a good runner, he should however be a steady defender behind the plate.” Comments: Like Arrendondo, it took Heung-su Park a few seasons to find his groove. But starting in the 1944-45 season, he became a model of consistency, averaging 5.4 WAR over the next six seasons. The Generals traded him to the Cambria Cannons after his break-out season for four players that ultimately made no impact in the majors whatsoever. Cambria on the other hand have been set at the catcher position ever since. And while Park is no longer a Top 20 player and is having a bit of a down year, he still ranks 6th among catchers in the ULB. -------- LHP Patrick Denman – 11th overall pick by the Kingston Pelicans. Career: 129-99, 11 SV, 3.45 ERA, 230 GS, 2032.2 IP, 149 CG, 16 SHO, 1.38 WHIP, .277 BABIP, 3.47 FIP, 37.7 WAR, 119 ERA+ *Achievements:* • 2-time All-Star • 1 Satchel Paige Award (1945-46) • Western League Pennant Series MVP honor (1945-46) • 1 selection to the All-Braeland Team • 1 United Cup Championship (1943-44) What the original scouting report said: “Great stuff and aggressive, positively filthy movement and superb control. Throws 5 types of pitches, with his splitter and forkball (both 40/50) the best right now. “ *Comments:* Denman spent a few seasons in the minors before sticking with the big club for good in 1943-44 and winning a United Cup with the Pelicans that season while pitching out of the bullpen. Back in 1941, he was rated the 7th overall prospect and delivered on that promise during the 1945-46 season when he became Kingston’s undisputed ace, setting the record for wins in a single season (27-6, 2.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3.51 FIP, 182 ERA+), a record that still stands. He would win the Satchel Paige Award for his performance and enjoy another excellent season the following year (20-12, 2.92 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 2.75 FIP, 117 ERA+). But while he would finish third for the Satchel Paige Award in both the 1946-47 and 1947-48 seasons, his performance has seen a definite drop-off, coinciding with Kingston’s falling playoff fortunes. While his play has improved this season, it seems his days as a Top 20 pitcher are behind him. -------- Biggest Draft Disappointments There were more than a few players from the first round that I could single out as being out-and-out busts. Here are the ones that stood out for me: OF Ellis Rothwell – 6th overall pick by the Balmoral Giants. Career: .291/.327/.372, 187 H, 33-2B, 8-3B, 1 HR, 66 RBI, 77 R, 35 BB, 38 K, 7 SB, .699 OPS, 95 OPS+, 100 wRC+, 2.1 WAR What the original scouting report said: “Rothwell has the potential of above-average contact and all-star caliber speed on the base paths. He will not be a power threat and he tends to swing at anything that’s near the plate. He should be a serviceable though not a spectacular fielder.” *Comments:* In October 1941 Rothwell was rated the No. 5 prospect in the United Leagues. But one year later, he fell to No. 44. While he earned two AAA all-star selections during that time, injuries began to sap his promise in 1945. Torn biceps, fractured ankles, dislocated fingers and partially torn labrums all took their toll before the Giants traded him to the Hespeler Stars in 1948 in a minor deal. He is now playing for Wolseley’s AAA farm team after becoming a free agent in April 1950, but unfortunately it appears any realistic chance of him getting back to the majors is long gone. -------- OF Sean Murchie – 8th overall pick by the Downie Chiefs. Career: .275/.303/.350, 637 H, 89-2B, 29-3B, 9 HR, 201 RBI, 232 R, 94 BB, 159 K, 55 SB, .653 OPS, 90 OPS+, 88 wRC+, 5.3 WAR What the original scouting report said: “Murchie should be a fairly decent singles hitter with solid defense and an excellent base-stealer. As with many prospects in this year’s draft, patience at the plate is not a strong suit.” *Comments:* Murchie was promoted to the major league roster early in his career and became Downie’s starting leftfielder for three seasons starting in 1943-44. But he was never able to live up to his lofty draft selection and when OF Howard Dumbrill, a 2nd overall pick from 1943-44 took over in 1946-47, Murchie went by the wayside. Although his skills have not deteriorated to any great degree in the years since he was drafted, Murchie has never been able to translate them into any sustained success. Since his release by the Chiefs back in 1948, he has tried to reboot his career with both the Stratford Barons and Fort Richmond Generals (twice). But he was released each time and is currently a free agent. -------- RHP Arthur Collier – 13th overall pick by the Stratford Barons. Career: No major league statistics. What the original scouting report said: “Above-average stuff, positively filthy movement and pretty good command. Throws a fastball (40/50) and a curveball (25/50); but Collier’s changeup is rated as 20/20, so he will need to work on improving it to have a realistic chance of becoming starter.” *Comments:* Collier was never able to develop a decent third pitch, and while he remained a Top 100 prospect as late as October 1946, he could never find any consistency, constantly shuttling between Double-A and Triple-A while being part of 5 separate trades between 1941 and 1945. The Fort Richmond Generals have seen fit to sign him to four straight Triple-A contracts, so perhaps there is still an outside chance that Collier will get a taste of the majors before he finally calls it a day. -------- Later-Round Standout LHP Arthur Bence – 37th overall pick (Round 3, Pick 5) originally by the Sherburn Tigers. Career: 87-80, 8 SV, 3.37 ERA, 177 GS, 1537.0 IP, 91 CG, 13 SHO, 1.29 WHIP, .265 BABIP, 3.68 FIP, 23.5 WAR, 121 ERA+ *Achievements:* • 2-time All-Star • 1 Satchel Paige Award (1946-47) • 1946-47 Triple Crown *Comments:* There really wasn’t a late-round pick from this draft that could be called a true sleeper pick. Two players from the fifth round were potential contenders: C Geoff Lemoine (67th overall pick) and IF Neil Boyle (78th overall pick). Lemoine won the 1942-43 Eastern League Rookie of the Year Award while Boyle earned an All-Star selection (1944-45) and two Top Fielder Awards at second base. But neither enjoyed sustained success and have been fringe players for a number of years. So for this category, I’ll go with Bence. Two years after his selection, the southpaw was rated the 15th overall prospect and earned his first All-Star selection in 1945-46. But it was after his trade from Sherburn to the Wellington Athletics that saw Bence reach stratospheric heights. Going 22-10, 1.93 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 2.89 FIP, 173 ERA+ in 1946-47, Bence not only won the Eastern League Satchel Paige Award, but also the Triple Crown (20 wins, 1.09 ERA, 142 K). Although he has not come close to that incredible performance before or since, he has remained a steady No. 3-type starter. His career continues with the Embro Suns, who acquired him in a trade back in January 1950. __________________ United Leagues of Braeland