Who are these All Stars?
This summer--in celebration of Chicago's 1933 World's Fair--baseball is trying something unique. On Thursday, July 6th, both the Federal Association and the Continental Association will pause their normal games and play a so-called "All Star" game between teams that represent the best (the "stars") of the two leagues. This will attempt to answer the unanswerable: which league is better?
Which players should make up these "All Star" teams? The following is but one baseball writer's opinion.
Federal Association
C -- T.R. Goins (Washington), .319, 4 HR
Philadelphia's Carl Ames, Pittsburgh's Jim Pool, and young Bobby Gentry in Boston are all having fine seasons, but for my money I'm going with the player who has been the class of the league for a while.
1B -- Rankin Kellog (Philadelphia), .381, 9 HR
Is there even an argument? By July 6th, Rankin could very well have hit his 300th FABL home run.
2B -- Freddie Jones (St. Louis), .349, 3 HR
The dynamic youngster who will lead the Pioneers out of the darkness.
3B -- Frank Vance (Detroit), .305, 5 HR, 2 SB
You could probably flip a coin to decide between Vance and Pittsburgh's Ed Stewart, so I'll go with the veteran Vance.
SS -- Pete Asher (Pittsburgh), .366, 10 2B
Here's where a Miner finally gets the nod. Asher is having a fabulous breakout season.
LF -- Jim Hampton (Chicago), .312, 7 HR, 7 SB
Detroit's Henry Jones is leading the FA with 10 home runs, but I'd go with Hampton's power/speed combination.
CF -- Dan Fowler (Boston), .266, 7 HR, 10 SB
Although Pittsburgh's Tony Henderson is having his best season at age 30.
RF -- Bobby Barrell (Philadelphia), .426, 3 HR, 3 SB
It's a tough blow for Frank Lightbody (Pittsburgh)--who is having a fine season--but Barrell's is simply playing at another level.
SP -- Bill Ketterman (Pittsburgh), 7-1, 1.84 ERA
SP -- Jim Lonardo (New York), 7-2, 3.68 ERA
SP -- Ed Baker (Philadelphia), 7-2, 3.48 ERA
Here you are missing Roy Calfee who has won 6 games for Detroit, and Ernie Newman, who has won 6 for Chicago.
Continental Association
C -- Mickey Dowell (Montreal), .326, 1 HR
The 32-year-old is leading an offensive awakening in Montreal.
1B -- Max Morris (Cleveland), .245, 8 HR
I cannot not cast my vote for the player who just hit his 600th career home run. And he is currently leading the CA in home runs.
2B -- Hank Barnett (Montreal), .284, 6 HR, 2 SB
Pete Layton (New York) and Jack Cleaves (Philadelphia) are both worthy of consideration. Barnett is having a breakout season and is currently 2nd in home runs to Morris.
3B -- John Lawson (New York), .382, 5 HR
A great third baseman who appears on his way to his finest season yet.
SS -- Woody Armstrong (Montreal), .314, 3 HR
19-year-old Harry Barrell is certainly demonstrating that he isn't fazed by playing in the FABL. The only thing keeping him from getting my vote is that he has played only 26 games. Armstrong has been one of the better defensive shortstops in the CA for a while, and this season he has upped his offensive game to match.
LF -- Art Summers (Brooklyn), .359, 6 HR, 2 SB
You also couldn't go wrong with one of the Bobbys: either Bobby Allen (Cleveland) or Bobby Sprague (Chicago). Or the rookie in Baltimore--Joe Watson.
CF -- Bob Worley (Montreal), 4 HR, 2 SB
Not to slight Ab Thomas (Brooklyn) or Gordie Loftus (New York), but I went with the kid who flashes a great glove in center. Another of the youngsters leading a renaissance in Montreal.
RF -- Moxie Pidgeon (Cleveland), .344, 5 HR
In other years this is perhaps Doug Lightbody (Brooklyn) or Lou Kelly (Baltimore) or Tom Taylor (Chicago), but Pidgeon is proving he belongs in that company.
SP -- Johnny Jacob (Brooklyn), 7-3, 2.76 ERA
SP -- Dick Luedtke (Chicago), 7-1, 2.56 ERA
SP -- Tommy Wilcox (Chicago), 8-2, 2.70 ERA
A lot of deserving pitchers in the CA, but Luedtke and Wilcox are the cream of that great Cougars staff.