May 11, 1936
EARLY MOCK TOP TEN OF THE 1936 FABL DRAFT
It is time for Jiggs McGee's annual early look at the upcoming FABL draft class. The final draft class list including their 1936 stats will be announced about a month from now but early indications are this will be a fairly weak draft class. Using the Figment Sporting Journal's secret player assessment checklist there are just 17 players that are rated as four star quality, which symbolizes first or second round talent potential. Last year, by comparison we had 30 players fit that category.
That being said there is still certainly some high end talent available and with 74 more slots to fill, who knows what else we might get. This class may lack a pitcher with quite the pedigree of last season's number one pick, Rufus Barrell II, but it comes close with Johnnie Jones. Jones is one of a number of very good pitchers who might contend for the number one slot on draft day but there are a pair of well publicized hitters also available. However, with the Detroit Dynamos all but assured the number one selection, and having selected a pair of elite hitters early in the draft last year, the expectation is Detroit will make Jones the number one choice which means this will be the fifth consecutive year a pitcher has gone first overall. Before we look at the top ten prospects for the 1926 draft here is the complete history of first overall selections.
Code:
FIRST OVERALL DRAFT PICKS
YEAR TEAM POS NAME SCHOOL
1935 BAL P Rufus Barrell II Macon (GA) HS
1934 WSH P Bobo White St Blane College
1933 TOR P Joe Hancock Henry Hudson Univ
1932 NYG P Curly Jones Henry Hudson Univ
1931 CLE SS Harry Barrelll Atlanta HS
1930 STL C Jack Flint Lubbock State
1929 CHC P Tom Barrell Georgia Baptist
1928 BKN P Tommy Wilcox Liberty College
1927 MON OF Cliff Moss Pierpont Univ
1926 CLE OF Karl Stevens Rainier College
1925 DET OF Al Wheeler Decatur (IL) HS
1924 PHK P Walker Moore Mobile (AL) HS
1923 PHK OF Lee Smith Garden State Univ.
1922 PHK 1B Rankin Kellogg Memphis (TN) HS
1921 PHK 2B Howie Shifflett Houston (TX) HS
1920 PHS OF David Merchant Chicago Poly Univ.
1919 WSH C T.R. Goins Cincinnati (OH) HS
1918 BKN P Dick Dover Dickson Univ.
1917 PHS 3B Elmer Lambert George Fox Univ.
1916 STL SS Roger Landry Detroit (MI) HS
1915 PHS P Dan Waldman Nashville (TN) HS
1914 CHC OF Jim Shelton St. Patrick's Univ.
1913 CLE OF/P Max Morris Cleveland (OH) HS
1912 PHK 2B Eddie Andrews Nashville (TN) HS
1911 PHS SS Mark Robinson Berkeley (CA) HS
Things could change dramatically when the rest of the class is revealed but as of today here are who The Figment Sporting Journal sees as the top ten players available in the 1936 FABL draft
#1 - WALT MESSER 1B: 17 years old McKinley Tech in Washington DC
It will be hard to pass on the two-time first team High School All-American who was also the Adwell Award winner in 1934 as National High school player of the year but do not expect the Detroit Dynamos to draft the first baseman if they do indeed own the first pick of the draft. Detroit already has their first baseman of the future in Red Johnson, last year's second overall pick who was just promoted to Class B Chattanooga after destroying Class C pitching for the first 10 games of the season.
Messer has been earning plenty of attention since his Adwell winning sophomore season in which he hit .613 - the highest average in high school history. He hit .604 as a junior last season and his 25 career high School homers in his first two seasons are 4 more than Red Johnson hit in his prep days. OSA feels Messer "could make multiple trips to the All-Star Game" and he has plus-plus power and contact ability.
#2 - JOHNNIE JONES LHP: 17 years old St. Paul High School, St Paul, Minnesota
Not related to St Louis Pioneers Whitney Award winning second baseman Freddie Jones, but Johnnie is the older of a pair of brothers from Albert Lea, Minnesota that have incredible potential. His nickname "The Patron Saint of Groundballs" tells much of what you need to know about Jones. He was an honourable mention as an All-American last season following an 11-1, 1.44 campaign that saw him fan 132 batters in 124 innings while surrendering just 31 walks. He has four pitches led by his sinker and forkball and possesses pinpoint command. As good as Jones is projected to be, some scouts feel his younger brother Donnie (1938 draft eligible) might be even better after a 10-3 freshman campaign last season. If Detroit picks first it will be very hard for them to pass on selecting Jones.
#3 - SAL PESTILLI CF: 21 years old Narragansett University, from Westerly Rhode Island
Last year we had to wait until the Chicago Cougars selected shortstop Hal Wood out of Smithfield College for the first college player to be selected. It should not take that long this season for Pestilli or one of a group of college pitchers to hear their names announced. Considered the best of three outfield playing brothers who's family immigrated to Rhode Island from Sicily when they were children. Sal's older brother Alf was a fourth round pick of Toronto in 1934 but recently traded to Brooklyn while younger brother Tony is presently in his junior season at Westerly High School and will be in the 1937 draft class.
Sal was the Frank Christian Trophy winner as National College Player of the Year as a freshman and, while he lost out on the award to Central Ohio's Al Jones last season, he was named as a first team All-American for the second consecutive season. He led the AIAA in all three triple crown categories as a freshman and was drawing comparison's to former Commonwealth Catholic and current Montreal Saints outfielder Vic Crawford. His numbers dipped a fair bit as a sophomore, particularly in the power department so a big 1936 campaign will be a must for Pestilli to remain a top draft prospect.
#4 - BUNNY EDWARDS RHP: 20 years old Red River State, from Kansas City, Missouri
There are several pitchers that slot in just below Johnnie Jones and Edwards looks like a very safe pick. His numbers are pretty consistent over a pair of seasons with the Rowdies and he was a second team All-American selection last season. He is a real worm-killer with an outstanding curve ball heading his three pitch repertoire. OSA feels he has great stuff and great command and has a chance to be an ace. In addition he was considered a real team leader at Red River State.
#5 - BILLY WOYTEK 2B: 17 years old Loyola High School, Los Angeles, CA.
If previous drafts are any indication there will be a run on pitchers at the top of the draft but it would serve a team well to consider going against the grain and looking at Woytek. Not only does he possess immense talent but the nickname "Blue Collar" says a lot about Woytek as his high school coach raves about his outstanding work ethic. OSA projects Woytek to be an incredible contact hitter who "has the talent to develop into a franchise cornerstone as a second baseman."
#6 - JIM MORRISON LHP: 20 years old Indiana A&M, from Woodbury, Minnesota
Most be something in the lake water in Minnesota with both Jones and Morrison as likely top ten picks. Only 2 pitchers from Minnesota have ever been drafted in the first two rounds of the draft. They were Mel Strom, a 1916 first round pick who was 189-189 over 14 years with Detroit, and Charlie Johnson, who is still active in the Cleveland system and is 25-25 for his FABL career. Strom was taken 15th overall in his draft year and Johnson was the 16th pick of the first round in 1921. The only Minnesota born player to be taken in the top six is Don Summers, a third baseman selected third overall in 1924. So the Doors are open for Jim Morrison (see what I did there) and Jones to make history as the first pair of Minnesota born players to go in the first round in the same year.
In order to do so Morrison will need a strong 1936 season. He was 8-3, 2.78 for Indiana A&M as a freshman but dipped to 5-5, 4.15 a year ago. Control is a bit of a red flag but OSA says if he can sort out his control issues he "projects as a front of the rotation starter."
#7 - LOU ROBERTSON RHP: 21 years old Oklahoma City State, from New Castle, Pennsylvania
Let's stay with the theme of pitchers and the good news this season is there are a number of college arms, which traditionally are perhaps a little more reliable to develop than high school pitchers, available. Robertson had a solid freshman campaign but was even better last year as a sophomore, posting a 10-3 record with a 2.95 era in 17 starts for the Wranglers. While his stuff is just considered ordinary, OSA feels his pinpoint command gives Robertson "front of the rotation potential."
#8 - CLIFF SMITH C: 17 years old Goliad High School, Goliad, Texas
The last couple of drafts have given us some great catching prospects with Smith the latest to join a group that included 6th overall pick Bill Van Ness last year and a pair of 1934 first rounders in Adam Mullins (6th) and Woody Stone (8th). It wasn't always that way and in fact catchers seem to be very under represented over the history of the FABL draft, especially in the 1920's. Here is the complete list of catchers taken in the top ten in FABL draft history.
Code:
YEAR PICK TM NAME SCHOOL
1912 7 NYG Ned O'Neill Wilkes-Barre HS
1915 4 CHI Jim Black George Fox Univ.
1916 6 TOR Rick Riddle Birmingham (AL) HS
1916 9 NYG Jack Rosenthal Baltimore HS
1917 8 DET Dick York Georgia Baptist
1919 1 WSH T.R. Goins Cincinnati HS
1919 6 BKN Mickey Dowell Philadelphia HS
1921 10 PHS Alex Diaz Lynn HS
1922 6 STL Les Dunbar Los Angeles HS
1926 3 CHC Fred Barrel Georgia Baptist
1930 1 STL Jack Flint Lubbock State
1930 10 CHC James Demastus Nashville HS
1931 4 PIT George Cleaves Elmira HS
1934 6 MON Adam Mullins Eastern Oklahoma Univ.
1934 8 PHS Woody Stone Dunlap (TN) HS
1935 6 BOS Bill Van Ness Suffolk (VA) HS
So you can see while there was a real lull on catchers being selected early throughout the 1920's there has been a resurgence of late. Only time will tell if Mullins, Stone, Van Ness and possibly Cliff Smith can ever be mentioned in the same breath as Dick York, T.R. Goins, Fred Barrell and George Cleaves.
Despite not playing for his high school team until his junior season, OSA feels Smith, who was born in Cleveland but grew up in Texas, has "above-average defensive capabilities" and "projects to be a .350 hitter." Smith does not appear to have great power so a comparison to T.R. Goins is out, but the way OSA speaks of Smith he sounds a lot like the second coming of Dick York. The question is will a team in the top ten resist the urge to select a pitcher and go instead with what just might be a franchise catcher.
#9 - HANK BECKMAN RHP: 20 years old Whitney College, from Tonawanda, New York
Two years ago only All-American Phil Gregg, a 1934 4th round pick of Washington, won more college baseball games than Beckman's 11-3 season as a freshman at Whitney College. Last year was a slightly different story as he made five less starts (undisclosed injury perhaps) and struggled to a 6-5 record. He throws 5 pitches, but none are considered outstanding but he is able to throw each of them consistently for strikes. He might be a slightly higher risk than the pitchers listed above him but OSA feels "if everything comes together Beckman has the talent to pitch at the top of the rotation."
#10 - JOE ZELL SS - 21 years old Ferguson College, from New York City
Shortstops are always in demand at the top of the draft and Zell looks to be the best of the bunch this year. He plays his college ball at Ferguson College in Greenville, NC but despite being Great competition level it is a school that has never had player drafted (granted we have only had two years of non-feeder league drafts). That will change this year as Zell is a lock to go in the first couple of rounds and teammates Ray Smith and Jake Creel may also get selected. Interesting is that there were no Ferguson players in the 1934,35,37 or 38 draft classes.
As for Zell, he won't hit for power but looks to do everything else. OSA feels with his plus contact ability and patience at the plate combined with his athleticism gives him "the potential to be an impact big leaguer as a shortstop."
SUMMARY
One thing that is interesting about this class compared to last season is college players figure to play a much more prominent role in the first round. A year ago 11 of the first round picks, including the first 7, were all high school players. This draft seems more likely it will resemble the 1934 class, where 10 of the 16 first rounders including 4 pitchers, were college players. Six of what The Figment Sporting Journal feels are the top 10 players available are college stars, as are nine of the 17 players we gave a four star grade to. One trend that likely will continue, is pitchers will go off the board quickly in the first round. That has been a trend of late with seven of them selected in the first 16 picks a year ago but don't expect it to top 1933 when a whooping 12 of the 16 first rounders were pitchers.