HOW DID ALL-AMERICANS FARE IN 1934 DRAFT
Ten of the 18 AIAA 1934 All-Americans were draft eligible this year but National Player of the Year Sal Pestilli was not one of them. The freshman outfielder, who dominated the college ranks this season, is still two years away from his daft year. Pestilli's older brother Alf, a teammate of Sal's at Narragansett College was drafted by Toronto but he was not an All-American like his younger brother.
Here is where each of the draft eligible All-Americans were selected in the 1934 FABL Draft.
FIRST TEAM
Catcher Adam Mullins: Eastern Oklahoma (.317,3,31)- Mullins was the first catcher taken, going sixth overall to the Montreal Saints after much pre-draft debate on if he, or fellow Tennessee native and High School All-American Woody Stone, would be the first catcher drafted. He became the first player ever drafted out of Eastern Oklahoma
Second base Jack Gunter: Mississippi A&M (.322,1,37)- There was not a lot of depth at second base in this draft and Gunter dropped all the way to the 11th round before the Washington Eagles selected him.
Shortstop Tip Harrison: Bluegrass State (.301,6,40)- The lone senior to be named a First Team All-American, Harrison was selected by the Brooklyn Kings in the second round 29th overall. It was a pretty good crop of shortstops and while Harrison was the first college shortstop to be selected, three high school shortstops went ahead of him in the draft.
Third base Phil McKenna: Coastal California (.306,8,46)- McKenna lasted until the fifth round when the Chicago Cougars grabbed him. He was the the third college third baseman selected following second rounder Harry Bull of Daniel Boone College and senior Frank Covarrubias, a 4th round pick out of Piedmont University.
Outfielder Bob Donoghue: Iowa A&M (.317,15,50)- Donoghue was the first corner outfielder selected, going 11th overall to the Boston Minutemen.
Pitcher Phil Gregg: Redwood University (12-2, 2.38)- Gregg slid all the way to the fourth round when the Washington Eagles called his name. 11 other college pitchers were drafted ahead of Gregg including Bobo White and Gus Goulding, both of St. Blane College, who went first and second in the draft.
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Catcher John McLemore: Tallmadge State (.269,10,43)- The junior from Cape May, New Jersey had a long wait before he finally heard his name called by the Chicago Cougars in the 12th round of the draft.
First Base Harry Pickering: George Fox (.281,6,34)- Another Washington Eagles draft pick as Pickering, from nearby Charlottesville, Virginia was taken in the 6th round and was the second college first baseman to be selected. The first was his George Fox University teammate Willie Jones who went to Cleveland at the end of round four.
Second Base Babe Clark: Marquis College (.301,1,54)- Clark was the final All-American to be selected as he lasted until the 24th round when the Baltimore Cannons finally selected the New Haven, Connecticut native.
Shortstop Bill Sorrells: Adirondack State (.307,9,48)- Sorrells went one selection after the first team shortstop Tip Harrison, as the Brooklyn native was picked 30th overall by Boston.
Third Base Frank Covarrubias: Piedmont Univ.(.338,2,36)- The native of Huntington, West Virginia and only Senior on the second team went late in the fourth round, 63rd overall to the Baltimore Cannons.
Outfielder Dick Smith: Western Iowa (.300,12,43)- Smith, a junior from Saginaw, Michigan was taken in the fifth round, 73rd overall by the Philadelphia Keystones.
Here is one more look at the complete 1934 College All-American selections:
Code:
1934 AIAA ALL-AMERICANS
FIRST TEAM
C Adam Mullins Eastern Oklahoma JR .317,3,31
1B Joe Crosson Miami State SO .277,11,39
2B Jack Gunter Mississippi A&M JR .322,1,37, 35 SB
SS Tip Harrison Bluegrass State SR .301,6,40 31 SB
3B Phil McKenna Coastal Cal. JR .306,8,46
OF Sal Pestilli Narragansett FR .409,16,66 33 SB (college triple crown)
OF Bob Donoghue Iowa A&M JR .317,15,50 11 SB
OF Pete Wood Eastern State FR .366,2,49 32 SB
P Phil Gregg Redwood University JR 12-2, 2.38, 1.16 WHIP 111 K's
SECOND TEAM
C John McLemore Tallmadge State JR .269,10,43
1B Harry Pickering George Fox JR .281,6,34, 40 SB
2B Babe Clark Marquis College JR .301,1,54 32 SB
SS Bill Sorrells Adirondack State JR .307,9,48 39 SB
3B Frank Covarrubias Piedmont Univ. SR .338,2,36 32 SB
OF Izzy Sevilla Murfreesboro Tech SO .314,9,50 39 SB
OF Dick Smith Western Iowa JR .300,12,43 32 SB
OF Larry Ryder George Fox SO .315,12,42 11 SB
P Clarence Linden Frankford State SO 10-3, 2.50, 1.15 WHIP 104 K's