[Jiggs McGee]

July 17, 1939

KELLOGG BIDS PREMATURE FAREWELL TO KEYSTONES

Courtesy of The Philadelphia Inquisitor

July 4, 1939 - PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Rankin Kellogg, the marvelous masher who suddenly and prematurely left the game he helped to transform, stood before the gathered crowd at Broad Street Park today. "I stand before you a humble man. Humble for your support over my career. Humble for the fight in front of me. If it weren't for you fans and the love of my family, I don't think I'd have the strength to fight another day."

Kellogg abruptly retired from the Keystones shortly after the conclusion of last season. Shortly after his shocking announcement, his diagnosis was revealed to be Myotonic Dystrophy, also known as Steinert Disease. Kellogg needed assistance up to the microphone from former teammates Bobby Barrell and Carl Ames before he addressed the crowd. It was evident his disease, which is degenerative, has already taken its toll.

It was a special, yet bittersweet, day for the Memphis Mauler. No Philadelphia Keystone will ever wear Kellogg's #30 on their back. Once a pillar of strength and masculinity, his numbers assured his entrance into the sport's Hall of Fame, a .335 batting average with 475 home runs and 1,841 runs batted in. Kellogg led the league in home runs six times and won Triple Crowns, as the league leader in batting average, home runs and runs batted in. He was also a metronome, missing only one game in his first 6 years and a total of 4 games missed in 12 years before missing 10 in season #13 and his finished his career by playing every game this past season. In all, Kellogg suited up in 2,143 out of a possible 2,157 regular season games.

Most importantly, in two of Kellogg's Triple Crown seasons, 1927 and 1933, the Keystones won it all. The current team barely resembles the club that won the World's Championship just six years ago. But, the Keystones turned back the clock in the game that followed the ceremony. First-place Pittsburgh was in town and the cross-state rivals went down in defeat. The Keystones won, 8-1, behind Pepper Tuttle, who scattered 10 hits in 8-1/3 innings for his second major-league win. Only Bobby Many and Grover Lee were members of that 1933 championship club that appeared in the game. Many had a bases-loaded double in the middle of a five-run 8th-inning that put the game out of reach.

In the game, Lee patrolled centerfield, spelling a visibly shaken Barrell. Ames, at this point a bench-player in the twilight of his solid career, also watched silently and pensively throughout Kellogg's speech and seemed dazed during the game. Ames was a teammate of Kellogg's for 14 seasons. Kellogg and Barrell are very close, two franchise cornerstones who helped each other on and off the field. Their reactions speak to how well-regarded he is and how fearful Barrell and Ames appeared on Kellogg's road ahead.

Here is the complete text of Kellogg's farewell address.

ALL STAR TEAMS ANNOUNCED

The rosters have been announced for the 7th annual All-Star Game which will be held next Tuesday at Forester Stadium in Cleveland. Every team except for the St Louis Pioneers, who failed to place a player on the squad for the first time in franchise history, will be represented. St Louis fans can cheer for a pair of former Pioneers who have been to plenty of all-star games when they were with the club as Fred McCormick and Freddie Jones will both suit up for the Continental side.

Here are the 1939 All-Stars:

Three CA stars: Harry Barrell of Brooklyn, John Lawson of the Chicago Cougars and Fred McCormick of Toronto were all chosen for the 6th time in their careers, which is the high water mark for All-Star appearances. The only other player to appear in 6 games is Frank Vance but his streak comes to an end as for the first time ever Vance was not selected for the mid-season classic. Vance, who was recently traded from Brooklyn back to Detroit, suited up for the Feds in 1933 and 1934 during his first stint in Detroit before playing for the Continental side the past four years. Here are the leaders in All-Star games played:

MOST ALL-STAR SELECTIONS
6  Harry Barrell Brooklyn
6  John Lawson Cougars
6  Fred McCormick Toronto
6* Frank Vance Detroit
5* Bobby Barrell Keystones
5  Tom Bird Chiefs
5  George Cleaves Pittsburgh
5  Freddie Jones Cougars
5  Moxie Pidgeon Stars
 *not selected this year

Bobby Barrell of the Philadelphia Keystones also misses the game and for him it is the second year in a row he was not selected after being named to the team for the first five games. With only Harry, this will mark the low-water point for Barrell brothers in the all-star game. The high mark was in 1936 when all five of the ballplaying brothers were selected to the team.

ALL-STARS BY TEAM

Three Federal Association teams along with the New York Stars lead the way with 5 representatives each. The Pittsburgh Miners become the first team to have all three of their starting outfielders named to the squad as Lew Seals and Joe Owens were named starters and center fielder Pablo Reyes was added as a reserve. Owens is injured and will not be able to play. The CA also has an injury to contend with as Harry Barrell got nicked up the other day and is unlikely to play in the game. The CA has just the one shortstop on the team however, as they went with 6 outfielders and 4 corner infielders while naming just 2 second baseman and Barrell as the lone shortstop.

Here are the representatives by team. The managers will be the defending pennant winners so Joe Ward of the Chiefs takes the reigns for the Federal Association while Brooklyn's Powell Slocum manages the Continental side for the third consecutive season.

   FEDERAL
Pittsburgh	5
Detroit		5
Chiefs		5
Boston		4
Washington	3
Keystones 	2
Gothams		1
St Louis	0

  CONTINENTAL
Stars		5
Cougars		4
Sailors		4
Brooklyn	3
Montreal	3
Baltimore	2
Cleveland	2
Toronto		2

It will be the first All-Star appearance for 21 players including four of the five New York Stars named to the club. In all, 11 CA players and 10 from the Federal Association are making their all-star debut:
First All-Star Game: Jack Elder and Leo Proctor, Washington, Jack Richardson and Gil London Detroit, Bob Donoghue and Mel Alvarez Boston, Marshall Strickland Keystones, Billy Dalton Gothams, Cliff Moss Chiefs, Lew Seals Pittsburgh.
Gus Goulding and Fred Galloway Baltimore, Lou Martino Cleveland, Bill Barrett, George Phillips and Ray Cochran Stars, Art White Brooklyn, Red Bond and Howie Snyder Montreal, Leo Mitchell Cougars, Joe Watson Sailors.

The Federal Association leads the series 4 wins to two but the Continental Stars have taken two of the last three games. Both of the past two all-star games have gone into extra innings with the Continental Association prevailing last year 5-4 thanks to a two-out double courtesy of the Sailors Bob Smith to plate Adam Mullins of Montreal with the game winning run in the top of the 13th inning. That came after the 19 inning marathon in 1937 in which the contest was tied 1-1 until the visiting stars from the Federal Association rallied for 3 runs in the top of the 19th and held on for a 4-2 victory.

PAST ALL STAR GAME RESULTS
YEAR  LOCATION		 RESULT     			WINNING PITCHER   	  MVP
1933  Whitney Park       Federal 8 Continental 5	Ben Curtin STL         Pete Asher Pit
1934  Riverside Stadium  Federal 11 Continental 7 (10)	Chick Stout PIT	       Tom Taylor Cougars
1935  Broad Street Park  Federal 5  Continental 2	Art Myers Keystones    Freddie Jones StL
1936  Pioneer Field	 Continental 6 Federal 4	Tom Barrell BKN        Dick Walker Sailors
1937  Dominion Field     Federal 2 Continental 2 (19)	Don Attaway Keystones  Don Attaway Keystones
1938  Bigsby Oval	 Continental 5 Federal 4 (13)   Bob Cummings BKN       Fred McCormick TOR

MINUTEMEN TAKE LEAD IN FED

The Boston Minutemen have had the occasional close call when they challenged for a pennant but it's been a long time since there was this much excitement about the club's chances to win their first crown since 1915. The Minutemen hit the all-star break with the best record in baseball at 50-29 and lead the Pittsburgh Miners by two games and Detroit Dynamos by 3.5 atop the Federal Association standings.

Boston has won 16 of it's last 20 games and just recently saw a 10 game winning streak, one that included 5 victories over the Pittsburgh Miners, come to an end. It is those five wins, 2 at Cunningham Field two weeks ago and 3 more in enemy territory this past week, that have New Englanders in a frenzy about their ballclub. Minutemen fans have a new favourite son in Bob Corvin, a 25 year old who had played just 107 games prior to this season and spent much of the current season as a backup outfielder, was the hero of the two wins at home and was back to breaking Pittsburgh hearts again this past week. In the opener of last Tuesday's doubleheader Corvin had two hits including a run scoring double to lead Boston to a 4-2 win powered by some solid pitching from recent pickup Art Myers. In the nightcap the Minutemen spotted the Miners a quick 3-0 lead before rolling back to again double Pittsburgh, this time by an 8-4 count. The series sweep was completed the next day as Ed Wood (10-5, 3.72) tossed a 6-hit shutout in a 3-0 victory. Pittsburgh did get back on track once Boston left town and Washington arrived, but even a Miners sweep of the weekend series with the Eagles was not enough to catch the front-running Minutemen who took two of three in Philadelphia.

The Detroit Dynamos had a busy week with 8 games and won 6 of them to improve to 12-4 for July and their offense is showing signs of waking up. Besides the hitting of catchre John Wicklund, who was named Fed player of the week, it appears 1B Red Johnson is starting to figure out the adjustments that pitchers might have made on him. In July he is 23-for-65 with 4 doubles, 5 home runs and has driven in 17 RBI's . RF Leon Drake also appears to be coming out of his mini-slumber as well hitting 345 with 4 doubles and 2 triples. Detroit has moved up to 4th in total runs scored instead of in the bottom 2-3 which is where they have been all season and finally are starting to show some signs of the team that won 94 games last year.

It will be an exciting second half in both Associations as the Continental has 6 teams within 6.5 games of first place including a tie for top spot between Cleveland and the surprising New York Stars.

TRADE WINDS CONTINUE TO BLOW THROUGH DETROIT

There are plenty of rumblings throughout the league as we approach the July 31st trade deadline but it is the Detroit Dynamos who continue to make the most noise on that topic. The Dynamos have already been busy with 3 deals that would all be consider big moves done over the previous 2 weeks and they made two more moves at the start of the all-star break although neither was anywhere near as earth shattering as their previous work.

Detroit added bullpen depth with a minor deal with the Philadelphia Keystones that brings Don Attaway to the Dynamos. Attaway is a 4 time all-star and was the MVP of the marathon 1937 game but was waived by the Keystones. Philadelphia sources explain the club is looking to get younger, as Gene White is back from injury and Pepper Tuttle, who was promoted when White was hurt, is sticking around. White is taking Attaway's bullpen role. Detroit wanted to ensure they landed the 31 year old before he went fully through the waiver process so they sent a 10th round pick to Philadelphia for him. Attaway was 2-0 with one save and a career worst 6.09 era in 22 appearances this season.

The Dynamos then decided to do business with the other Philadelphia club, by acquiring 2B Chick Wilhelm from the Sailors. The Dynamo management team has liked Wilhelm for several seasons and with the logjam on the Sailors roster, they were able to make a deal work. The move saw pitcher Jack Wood and catcher Dave Doolittle, who were both in AAA Newark this past week, head to the Sailors. What this deal means for struggling 2B/3B Ed Stewart in Detroit remains to be seen but the acquisition of Wilhelm could mean the end of the run for homer happy Claude Merrill who burst on the scene several seasons ago hitting a lot of home runs and that's about it. Interesting note on Jack Wood, who was 3-4 with a 3.75 era during a stint in Detroit this season that included a no-hitter against the Keystones. Wood is quite likely the first pitcher to have thrown a no-hitter in the current season and have been traded 2 months later.

You might not think the Dynamos have much left to trade but that is not so says club insiders. Detroit is rumoured to be shopping several players including outfielder Elmer Nolde (.226,3,24) who has struggled this season and lost his starting job with the arrival of Alf Pestilli.

MINERS ADD PERRY

The Pittsburgh Miners made a small move to try and keep pace with the Detroit Dynamos stocking up on arms. The Miners added Roger Perry - a former Dynamos hurler - from the New York Gothams in exchange for a 6th round draft pick. Perry had some strong seasons early in his career with Cleveland and experienced a resurgence in Detroit last season when he posted a 16-5 record but struggled this season after a winter deal to the Gothams. The 31 year old lefthander was just 1-8 with a 5.17 era in New York.

WHEELER COURTED

Word out of Brooklyn is no fewer than three times have asked about Al Wheeler today. The 31 year old 5-time Whitney Award winner is having an awful season (by his standards), batting just .257 with 13 homers and 47 rbi's and stumbled through a 3-for-20 week heading into the break but the Kings have made it clear they are done dealing. Brooklyn Assistant General Manager Jim Golden says the club has not lost confidence in Al and feel he is still going to be a valuable piece to lead the club in the second half of the season and for many years to come.

QUICK HITS

• You can't ask for a doubleheader to go much better than last weeks twin bill did for Detroit. The Dynamos blasted New York by scores of 7-0 and 8-0 in the two games in what was a rough week for the New Yorkers, who went 2-5 and have dropped 17 of their last 21 contests.
• Detroit World columnist Freddie Farhat is worried he will jinx it as he points out that Detroit catcher John Wicklund has been on a tear since starting the season with a below .200 batting average. He won CA player of the week for the first time since April 1936 (3rd time in career) and is now hitting .296 on the season with a solid 7 home runs and 39 RBI's. With his bat heating up the club has put together a nice little streak of 11-3 the last 2 weeks.
• Looks like there is no debate who the FA starting pitcher should be in the All-Star game. Detroit's Frank Crawford is 15-1 with a 1.65 ERA which is almost a full run better than the next closest SP (Eddie Quinn 2.59). Crawford is 35-11 in his Dynamo’s career since coming over from the Keystones. Crawford last lost a game on May 17th to the Pittsburgh Miners by the score of 5-3. Since then in 14 starts (one start he left after facing 1 batter due to a finger blister) he is 12-0 with a 1.26 ERA. Some eastern seaboard media outlets had been clamoring for Eddie Quinn to get the start over Crawford.
• Looking at the All-Star selections the Pittsburgh Miners made history with all 3 of their starting OF's making the team. LF Joe Owens and RF Lew Seals were voted in, and CF Pablo Reyes looks like he was the last OF added to the squad. Quite the achievement for the Pittsburgh starting outfield group. Some might say the construction of the FA stars is a little lacking. With only 1 true SS and 3B on the squad things might get a little dicey.
• In the CA the ageless wonder 1B Dave Trowbridge was selected as a sub at age 40. Trowbridge is hitting .363 on the season and has driven in 51 RBI's matching last years season total at the break for the surprising New York Stars who share the CA lead with the Foresters.
• Boston fans are outraged that Dick Higgins was snubbed but the Minutemen organization say they caught word early that Higgins would be snubbed so he pitched in the last game before the break offering a complete game shutout. Higgins said he would rather help the club win it's first Association title since 1915 over pitching a single inning in a meaningless exhibition game.
• Philadelphia products Ed Baker, Art Myers, and Frank Crawford all made the All-Star team, but only Baker did so while still a Keystone as the others had been traded to contenders with Crawford in Detroit and Myers now toiling for Boston. Marshall Strickland was also named to the team as a sub so the Keystones did finish with 2 representatives.
• 3-3 week in Montreal before the All-Star game. The Saints started by sweeping Baltimore and then get sweep by the revamped Brooklyn Kings. Two of the losses were decided by single run and in the third Brooklyn plated 6th in the 8th inning to put it away. Montreal management is concerned with how the weekend went for the bullpen in giving up runs where normally have not in tight situations. The Saints are happy to see 3 Montreal players heading to the All-Star game. C Adam Mullins (.337,5,59) was a cinch to make his third all-star team, but it was a nice surprise for RF Red Bond (.335,10,53) who is getting out of the shadows and performing better every week. The bullpen squad is also honored to have 32 years old RP Howie Snyder going to the all-star game. For both Bond and Snyder it will be first time appearance at the ASG.
• The Saints are also happy with the start of a pair of their recent draft picks. First rounder Bill Greene, an outfielder from Brooklyn Catholic University was quickly promoted to AA Nashville after a stunning start at the A level. If his hot play keeps up don't rule out a September invitation to Parc Cartier for the 22 year old. 3rd pick 2B Bob Jennings is showing good skills at the B level but it is a different story for SP Ace Adams and SS Jesse Deshazer, who were the two other January selections for the Saints. Both have struggled in the early going at the pro level.
• We Three Kings as Bob Cummings, Art White and Harry Barrell make the all-star squad. As expected no Al Wheeler and the traded Frank Vance misses the ASG for the first time meaning no one will have been named to all 7 games. Harry is close as this is his 6th selection while Cummings makes his second appearance and for White it is his all-star debut.
• Kings have a 5-1 week with Rats McGonigle leading the way going 10-for-20 but then he gets hurt and sidelined 2 weeks. Surprisingly with all of the turmoil and trading Brooklyn is just 6.5 games out so, while it’s a long shot, perhaps the new look Kings might just keep their pennant streak going. However twice before this season the Kings had a 5 win week only in each case to follow it up by losing 5 the following week.
• Lost in all the trade excitement in Brooklyn was news the Kings agreed to a minor league contract with Jake Shadoan. The 31 year old led the CA in batting in 1933 and was an all-star in 1934 before moving on to Detroit 2 years ago. He is a veteran of 1051 FABL games including 908 with the Kings. Shadoan, after not being signed by an Indy League team last week following his release from Detroit, quickly agreed to a minor league deal with the Kings. He potentially could end up as a coach in the organization once his playing days are done. Brooklyn drafted Shadoan 7th overall in 1929 after he was twice named a second team All-American at Liberty College.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 07/16/1939

• Britain has in no uncertain terms warned Hitler that he is forbidden from attempting a coup in Danzig. Prime Minister Chamberlain announced that any attempt by Germany to change the current status of Danzig would be considered an act of aggression, giving Britain and France no alterative but to intervene on Poland's behalf.
• Britain continues to prepare for war, activating 12,000 more reserve forces and boosted her annual war expenditure another $850 million bringing it close to the $4 billion mark.
• More than 50,000 excited and yelling Japanese demonstrated for 2 hours in front of Great Britain's Tokio Embassy. It was called one of the greatest exhibitions of feeling against any foreign nation in Japan's history. They were demanding Britain stop aiding China and withdraw from the Far East.
• A Senate Foreign Relations committee voted for postponement of President Roosevelt's neutrality legislation amendments. The President had hoped the legislation would remain as it allowed the US to assist Great Britain and France with materials in any war against the Axis powers.
• The Mayor of Minneapolis asked the Army to halt WPA strike violence in his city and announced that "in order to avert civil war" the city no longer would be responsible for the operation of WPA projects. President Roosevelt warned WPA workers "You cannot strike against the government" but strikes continued over provisions in the present relief law scrapping some wage payments for workers who did not exceed 130 hours of work per month.
• Some are urging the British government to consider means of boosting that nation's birth rate after the examples of Hitler in Germany and Mussolini in Italy, who's country's populations are both growing at a much quicker rate than Britain's.