THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL
NOVEMBER 22, 1937 Off-season edition
WINTER MEETINGS COME TO AN END WITH ONE FINAL DEAL
FABL's winter meetings may have ended but the trading is likely to continue as several teams are said to shopping some top players. The most notable name is St Louis Pioneers first baseman Fred McCormick. The 28 year old is a four time all-star who always seems to be among the finalists for the Federal Association Whitney Award (he finished second in 1937 voting) hit a career high .373 with 20 homers and 114 rbi's this past season. Originally an 11th round pick of the New York Gothams out of high school in 1927, McCormick made a rapid progression thru the Gothams system but in the winter before his major league debut he was a key piece in a multi-player trade that saw Max Morris leave St Louis for the Gothams. McCormick had an outstanding rookie campaign as a 21 year old in 1931 and has not slowed down, hitting .352 with 106 homers in 1036 career FABL games.
So why are the Pioneers eager to move the humble slugger known as the 'Reticent Reaper'? The main reason is pitching. The Pioneers have come up short in several pennant runs and more often than not a lack of starting pitching has hurt them. Watching the Boston Minutemen, Pittsburgh Miners and Chicago Chiefs - three of their key pennant rivals - each add to their arsenal of arms over the past couple of weeks is likely what pushed the Pioneers to consider parting with McCormick. In addition, St Louis skipper George Sparkman is said to be very confident that 25 year old Zip Sullivan, who made his FABL debut in July, is ready to take on a starting role at first base. Sullivan, who like McCormick was a late round high school pick (in his case round 23 in 1930), has enjoyed success at each level of the minor leagues and hit .317 in 45 plate appearances for the Pioneers in the second half of the season.
The Pioneers have confirmed they are shopping but insist they will only move McCormick to the Continental Association which severely limits the potential trade partners for the club. The Pioneers want a young big league ready arm or two in return but that also limits their potential trade partners especially with Baltimore having recently moved a great young pitcher in John Edwards to Boston. There certainly is a possibility McCormick gets moved but odds are probably even that he is still wearing a Pioneer cap come spring training.
Early speculation around the league is the Cleveland Foresters would be an ideal destination for McCormick, who is an Ohio native. The cost would be expensive and perhaps more than Cleveland would feel comfortable with as it is expected 25 year old Sergio Gonzales, who finished second in CA Allen Award voting after a 20-6, 3.19 season, would be who St Louis would demand in return. It is also not known just how interested the Foresters would actually be as 26 year old Bill Moore (.321,14,86) had a pretty solid season at first base in his Cleveland debut after coming over from Detroit last winter. Philadelphia might be a good option for McCormick but the Sailors only real pitching options to send to St Louis are both older than perhaps the Pioneers want to go. In addition, one has to question if the Sailors would want to part with either of them as both William Jones (20-8, 3.15) and Doc Newell (20-8, 3.67) were key to Philadelphia forcing a one game tie-breaker for the pennant with Brooklyn last year. That leaves Brooklyn and the Chicago Cougars as perhaps the only other possibilities. The Kings may not have the pitcher St Louis craves other than possibly 21 year old Jack Goff, who made his big league debut last season and is the son of team bench coach and former Kings star hurler Danny Goff. The Cougars have a large contingent of prospects and might have a fit in a package that would probably have to include 24 year old Pug Bryan (8-9, 3.69). Baltimore is likely not willing to part with another young pitcher and it is unlikely that Montreal or the New York Stars would want to move a pitcher to add McCormick when they have Vic Crawford (.300,11,89) and Dave Trowbridge (.315,16,69) respectively at first base. Toronto is certainly in need of a first baseman but Joe Hancock (20-14, 3.74) would likely be the cost and Toronto is almost assuredly unwilling to pay that high a price.
CHIEFS ADD BARNETT
The late move out of the winter meetings saw the Chicago Chiefs acquire infielder Hank Barnett from the Detroit Dynamos in exchange for a pair of pitchers. Barnett's stay in Detroit was exceptionally brief as he was acquired by Detroit earlier this month in a surprising move by the Dynamos considering they just added another veteran infielder in Ed Stewart from Pittsburgh. Barnett, who hit .276 with 19 homers for the Saints last season, will be reunited with manager Joe Ward who was the Saints skipper for the first 5 seasons of Barnett's career before being fired and later catching on with the Chiefs.
Ward recently told the Chicago Herald-Examiner how thrilled he was with the move. I'm "Excited to be reunited with Barnett. He'll play 2nd which means Layton will go back to short. And maybe he'll finally get the 30 HR that OSA keeps predicting for him And so the lineup vs righthanders will be as follows:
3B Bob Martin
SS Pete Layton
C Tom Bird
2B Hank Barnett
RF Cliff Moss
1B Ron Rattigan
LF Jim Hampton
CF Bennie Griffith"
The Chiefs will send SP Ron Coles and P Bob Walls to the Dynamo's for Barnett. New Dynamos assistant General Manager Rankin Trull offered his thoughts on the trade to Fast Freddie Farhat of the Detroit World.
"Even though he’s coming off his first big injury, I’m happy to finally land Ron Coles," explained Trull. "I know our GM has been after him since prior to the 33 season when he was still in Cleveland. The other guy, Bob Walls, will add depth and will allow me not to rush anyone into the starting rotation."
Trull did admit it was somewhat of a reactionary move after the Dynamos lost out to Boston in their bid to try and land John Edwards from the Baltimore Cannons. "So while Coles is older (28) than Edwards," continued Trull, "who we were initially after I think this trade will help us. I guess I look at it that we traded SS Davis, SP Wallace and the pick for Coles and Walls. There will be now be some competition now for the rotation this spring with likely Coles, Wheeler, Murphy and Perry clinching spots with Walls, Wood, Beaman and Spencer looking to compete. And who knows maybe there’s another move up our sleeve, the off-season is still young."