WHO IS NUMBER ONE? LOOKING AT THE 1934 DRAFT
By Jiggs McGee
I recently discovered the OSA mock draft is dynamic rather than static and it has been changing with alarming regularity. The 16 FABL General Managers already had their work cut out for them this December with the elimination of feeder leagues and the need to adjust to a new system for scouting and selecting high school and college talent. The mock draft compiled by the so-called experts at OSA is not static as I had originally believed. This reporter's assumption was that the mock draft was created once on draft class reveal day and then updated with a final mock draft on the day of the draft but this fall has proven that is not the case as the top name on the list seems to change almost daily. As a result the Washington Eagles, who own the first pick this year after their 55-99 season in the Federal Association, likely have a larger the normal list of candidates to narrow down from.
The original news article revealing the draft class list these 10 players as ones worthy of consideration:
Many of those listed above have spent time at number one on the mock draft and there are some other fast risers to consider such as outfielder Ruben Sanchez, who has gone from 14th in an earlier mock draft to 7th in today's list. Catchers have been very prominent with Eastern Oklahoma University's Adam Mullins spending most of the past couple of months in the top three slots and has taken over number one in today's rankings. Woody Stone, a high school prospect out of Dunlap High School in Tennessee is rising very quickly up the charts of late.
It is perhaps noteworthy to realize the last time the Washington Eagles picked first overall in the draft they selected a high school catcher by the name of T.R. Goins, who was recently named the Continental Association player of the year. Could history repeat itself and the Eagles once again draft a catcher number one overall?
However, looking at the recent history of the draft you have to think a pitcher will go number one as four of the last six years the first selection has been a pitcher. If this trend continues odds are it will be Bobo White who hears his name called first. The 20 year old righthander posted a 9-5 record with a 2.78 era for St Blane College this season and OSA has suggested he has the potential to be a truly elite arm. White is ranked 6th in the mock draft as of this writing.
It is interesting to note that White is the only pitcher the OSA mock draft considers to be a first round candidate. There are several deemed second round picks but looking at last season when there was a run on pitching with each of the top five and six of the first seven being moundsmen you have to think that Lou Johnson, Gus Goulding, George M Brooks and Lou Barker might all go in the first round instead of the top half of the second as OSA projects.
Here are the all-time first overall draft selections. A lot of big names on this list but also a few that really busted.
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HISTORY OF NUMBER ONE OVERALL PICKS
YEAR PLAYER POS TEAM SCHOOL
1933 Joe Hancock P Toronto Wolves Henry Hudson
1932 Curly Jones P New York Gothams Henry Hudson
1931 Harry Barrell SS Cleveland Foresters Atlanta HS
1930 Jack Flint C St Louis Pioneers Lubbock State
1929 Tom Barrell P Chicago Cougars Georgia Baptist
1928 Tom Wilcox P Brooklyn Kings Liberty College
1927 Cliff Moss OF Montreal Saints Pierpont
1926 Karl Stevens OF Cleveland Foresters Rainier College
1925 Al Wheeler OF Detroit Dynamos Decatur HS
1924 Walker Moore P Philadelphia Keystones Mobile HS
1923 Lee Smith OF Philadelphia Keystones Garden State
1922 Ranking Kellogg 1B Philadelphia Keystones Memphis HS
1921 Howie Shifttlett 2B Philadelphia Keystones Houston HS
1920 David Merchant OF Philadelphia Sailors Chicago Poly
1919 T.R. Goins C Washington Eagles Cincinnati HS
1918 Dick Dover P Brooklyn Kings Dickson College
1917 Elmer Lambert 3B Philadelphia Keystones George Fox Univ.
1916 Roger Landry SS St Louis Pioneers Detroit HS
1915 Dan Waldman P Philadelphia Sailors Nashville HS
1914 Jim Shelton OF Chicago Chiefs St Patrick's College
1913 Max Morris 1B Cleveland Foresters Cleveland HS
1912 Eddie Andrews 2B Philadelphia Keystones Nashville HS
1911 Mark Robinson SS Philadelphia Sailors Berkeley HS
So who will join the list above from the 1934 class? The Washington Eagles have remained mum and given no indication at all of their leanings but you have to think it is one of the following players:
BOBO WHITE - Pitcher, St Blane College: There seem to be a number of very good pitching prospects available, even if OSA feels hitters are worthy of a higher ranking. White was 8-1 as a sophomore last season in the final year of feeders and ranked among the leaders in most pitching categories this season. He has good size (6'1") and can approach 90 mph with his fastball. As much as it would be a great story to see the Eagles get a catcher with this draft to see if he can approach T.R. Goins legacy, you have to think the lure of a potential franchise pitcher is too much to pass up.
ADAM MULLINS - Catcher, Eastern Oklahoma University: Washington could use an upgrade at catcher as I have doubts about their top catching prospect Ben Richardson ever becoming even an average big leaguer, so perhaps the thought of replacing TR Goins with Mullins might creep into the minds of the Eagles brass. Mullins had a terrific season hitting .317 against great competition with the Pioneers and was a first team AIAA All-American selection.
WOODY STONE - Catcher, Dunlap (TN) High School: Has committed to College of San Diego and will likely demand a big signing bonus but Stone is one of several players who have seem their stock rise on the OSA mock draft over recent weeks. A high school All-American, Stone slashed .541/.586/.806 in 23 games this season for the Dunlap Indians. OSA's scouting report calls him "an above average, everyday big league player."
CHARLIE ARTUSO - Shortstop, Lebanon (TN) High School: Like catcher, shortstop is a position of need at the big league level for the Washington Eagles but it is also a position they have used a number of high draft picks on so they are stocked with some shortstop talent in the system. Among those picks are 1930 third overall selection Jim Beard and last season's 6th overall pick Johnnie Sundberg. There are a number of quality shortstops available in this draft with OSA projecting 3 to be first round quality talent in Jim Hensley, Lew McClendeon and Artuso. Artuso is rated the best of the bunch by OSA and presently slots in at #4 on their mock draft. The Coastal State commit hit .477 with 23 stolen bases in 25 games this season for Lebanon High and while scouts speak very highly of his contact potential and his speed, it is Artuso's work with the glove that is said to set him above the other shortstops in this draft class.
BENNIE GRIFFITH - Centerfield. All Hallows College: Centerfield is not a position of need for the Eagles with 29 year old Wally Flowers entrenched at the position in Washington but Griffith has been drawing plenty of attention from OSA of late. Blessed with what OSA calls 'dangerous" speed, Griffith possess an above average ability to put the ball in play and get hits as his .323 batting average, fourth best amongst draft eligible college hitters, attests to. The only thing that might cause teams to shy away from the 22 year old Yonkers, New York native is the school he played it is just an average level AIAA college.
Regardless of who the Eagles pick there will be a lot of excitement throughout the first round as it appears to have a very interesting collection of players to choose from. My bet is half a dozen pitchers go in the opening round but there also could be a run on shortstops as there appears to be a half dozen that might also sneak into the opening round. Centerfield is another position of depth this draft, as are the corner outfield positions but most teams in the league are not lacking at all in outfield talent so expect some to slide due to the anticipated run on pitching.