[Jiggs McGee]

SEPTEMBER 23, 1940

NOTHING SETTLED WITH A WEEK TO GO

It is going to be a wild final week of the season with both pennant races still wide open. The Continental Association remains a 3 team affair although last week's leaders, the Cincinnati Cannons, stumbled badly with a 4 game losing streak that included a pair of extra innings losses to Toronto. The Wolves needed extra frames in three of their 4 victories last week and the 4-1 showing, which included a split of a 2-game set with the Chicago Cougars allowed the Wolves to vault past the Cannons and into a tie with the Cougars for top spot. Cincinnati is 1 game back with 7 left to play but included in those 7 remaining games are 4 against Toronto. The Cougars perhaps now have the best chance to emerge from the Continental this season, especially if the Wolves and Cannons can knock each other out. The oddsmakers, however favour the Toronto side, giving the Wolves nearly a 50% chance of ending FABL's longest active pennant-less streak. Toronto last won the CA crown in 1911.

The Federal Association champ is also still very much undecided as the Pittsburgh Miners are now just a 1/2 game up on Detroit. The Dynamos made things very interesting by starting the week with back to back wins at home over Pittsburgh including handing Miners ace Lefty Allen (21-13, 3.09) an early ticket to the showers in a 7-1 win on Monday. Allen insists his nagging back injury is not an issue but he has lost his last three starts and has been knocked out of all three of them early. The latest was a 13-2 drubbing at the hands of Washington on Saturday. The Eagles also played spoiler Sunday with an 11-3 win over the slumping Miners, who dropped 5 of their last 6 games while Detroit was winning 5 of 7 last week.

The Federal schedule maker threw a real wrinkle in to add some drama to the final 7 days. The Miners have a full slate of games after an off-day today as Pittsburgh hosts Boston and Philadelphia for two each before ending the season with a pair of games in Boston on the weekend. Detroit, on the other hand, gets a 4-day vacation before the Dynamos play their 3 remaining games, against the New York Gothams starting Friday.

The Philadelphia Keystones are still technically in the mix but at 3 games back and riding a 4-game losing streak it appears the Keystones season, which has been a great surprise with the emergence of so much good young talent, will come to an end next weekend. The Keystones lost 5 of 6 games this week with 4 straight defeats at the hands of the Chicago Chiefs and Boston Minutemen derailing their hopes.

SHADES OF 1927

The outstanding pennant races we are seeing this season are very reminiscent of the amazing 1927 campaign.

Here is how the official FABL recaps describe the '27 season:

Led by Rankin Kellogg the Philadelphia Keystones were the big team in the Fed that season and while they didn't lead wire-to-wire, they nearly did, and the did occupy the top spot on the 1st of every month from May through October. They did need an extra game to get past the Detroit Dynamos with whom they finished in a flat-footed tie at 85-69, but won that contest easily, by a score of 7-0 to claim the FA flag.

While the Fed race was close, and required a one-game playoff, the Continental Association's race was one for the ages. The defending champ New York Stars were in first on May 1st. A month later it was Cleveland sitting in the catbird's seat (they were still there on July 1st too). But August saw the Philadelphia Sailors atop the standings, giving Philly fans dream of an all-Brotherly Love series (it wasn't to be...). September 1st? Toronto was on top. If you're sensing a trend, it was that there wasn't one - no fewer than five teams were in the mix in the season's final month and it was a team I haven't mentioned who ended up winning the flag: the Brooklyn Kings.

1927 was also one of just three times a playoff tiebreaker has been needed. In that season the game was a rout as the Philadelphia Keystones blasted the Detroit Dynamos 7-0 to claim the 1927 Federal Association pennant before going on to beat Brooklyn in the Series. Coincidently the other two playoffs also occurred in years ending in '7'. The first one in FABL history occurred in 1917 when Cleveland beat Montreal in a 1-0 thriller ending the Saints string of two straight pennants. Records are spotty but it is likely a good guess that 22 year old Max Morris (his name comes up so often doesn't it) played a key role. Still pitching as well as playing the outfield at that time, Mighty Mo was 21-17 on the hill and led the league with 13 homers. The only other tiebreaker was needed just 3 seasons ago when the Brooklyn Kings beat the Philadelphia Sailors in a one-sided affair by an 8-0 score. After the win, which earned Brooklyn it's second straight pennant the Kings went on to win the first World Championship Series title in team history, by topping Pittsburgh in the 1937 Series. Perhaps we will see a fourth playoff tie-breaker being required when the dust settles next weekend?

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Jiggs McGee takes a look around FABL with a quick comment or two on each of the 16 clubs. This week with the minor leagues now done for the year Jiggs talks minor league systems and prospects:

BOSTON- Duke Hendricks finally got the call to Boston. After 3 seasons in AAA Columbus the former Baton Rogue State pitcher made his big league debut last week. He has had some control problems in the minors and they showed up in his 7 innings against St Louis as Hendricks walked 9 while allowing 4 runs on 7 hits in a 4-2 loss. The 24 year old has been considered a top 50 prospect ever since joining the Minutemen organization. He has gone 33-32 with a 4.31 era for the AAA Titans, including 13-13, 3.84 this season. Next one in Columbus waiting for the call is Ray Dalpman, a 23 year old who has spent a year and a half in AAA and is a top 70 prospect. Word is Dalpman will be promoted and given a start against Washington this week.

BROOKLYN- You have to wonder if the Kings are going to move Chuck Adams over the winter. Adams has made little secret of the fact he is unhappy after finding himself demoted from the big leagues all the way down to Class A in June. Yes, playing time was sparse for Adams with the Kings collection of first baseman and corner outfielders and his .250 average with 0 homeruns in 20 games did not turn any heads but Class A just seemed extreme, and it adversely affected his production, as he hit just .283 with 13 homers in 89 games as a 23 year old top ten prospect who should have tore up the Heartland League, had he wanted to be there.

CHIEFS- The Chiefs have sacrificed much of their system over the past couple of years, but it was well worth it with WCS titles in 1936 & 1938. They are paying the price now at the minor league level as four of their affiliates finished 7th or 8th with AA Memphis' 5th place showing in the Dixie League being the only exception. It hasn't hurt the big club yet as they have done very well picking up veteran cast offs from other teams.

COUGARS- Another solid season for the Cougars minor league system as none of their five affiliates finished worse than third place. Class B San Jose won it's third straight title in the COW League while La Crosse just missed winning a third consecutive pennant in the Upper Mississippi Valley Association, ending up two games off the pace. The Jones brothers both had decent seasons at AA and perhaps will step up to AAA together next season. 22 year old Johnnie went 8-10 with a 4.66 era while little brother Donnie, age 20, was 10-10, 4.32. Both were acquired in deals last season and both were high first round picks.

CINCINNATI- Mixed results for the Cannons top two draft picks in their pro debut. 1st overall selection Dick Blaszak had a terrible time, hitting just .103 in 19 games at Class B before being demoted to C ball, where he did not fare much better as the 18 year old outfielder hit .191 with 1 homerun in 40 games. However, former Lane State pitcher Bill Sohl had a decent season at AA Erie as the 21 year old righthander went 6-6 with a 3.82 era. He needs to cut down on his walks and longballs, but the Cannons see Sohl starting at AAA next season and perhaps being a mid-year callup to the big club.

CLEVELAND- Despite little success at the big league level this season, the Foresters may have some hope for the future with a first (Class C), two seconds (AAA and B) and a third and a fourth place finish for their 5 feeder clubs. Despite the strong showings the Foresters are currently considered the weakest team in terms of prospects, with only pitchers Dick Lamb (33rd) and Connie Upchurch (99th) ranked in the top 100.

DETROIT- It was a nice season for most of the Dynamos system with the highlight being AAA Newark winning it's second Union League crown in the past three seasons. Three other affiliates finished 2nd with only Chattanooga of the Class B Southeastern League failing to finish over .500.

MONTREAL- While most of the Saints affiliates struggled the same can not be said for AAA Minneapolis as the Lumberjacks won their first Century League pennant in 7 years. Bill Greene, the Saints second highest ranked prospect spent part of the season with Montreal but also hit .271 for the Lumberjacks. Much of the attention on the Saints farm system was focused on Class B where their top two pitching prospects spent a fair amount of time. 20 year old Pat Weakley, taken 8th overall in 1938, split the season between B and Class A Evansville. Weakley was very impressive in 5 starts at the higher level, posting a 2-1 record and a 2.87 era. George Wynn, who was also taken 8th overall but this year, was 4-3, 2.73 in 9 starts for Class B Mobile. Weakley is considered the #2 prospect overall by OSA and Wynn slots in at 12th.

NY STARS- The Stars had 5 draft picks in the opening two rounds last January. It took some work to get them all signed so they did not all play a lot and results were mixed: The 3 high school kids all debuted at Class C as 18 year old First baseman Bill 'BB' Barnett, the 5th overall selection, led the way by hitting .279 in 47 games. Bill Grove, one of three Stars second rounders, hit .250 in 42 games but pitcher Wally Hunter, also 18 and taken with the final pick of the opening round, struggled at the C level posting a 1-8 record and a 5.71 era. 21 year old Newt Cooper taken with the first selection of the second round debuted at Class Scranton and hit .281 with a pair of homers in 33 games while Christian Trophy winner Don Bitters, out of Hamman University, was 4-4 with a 5.65 era at Class B Salem of the COW League.

NY GOTHAMS- Ed Bowman, the young man being counted on to help resurect the Gothams pitiful pitching, is getting closer to New York despite being just 20 years old. Bowman pitched at 3 levels this season, looking very good at Class B and A before struggling a bit in limited exposure to AA hitters. Overall, Gothams brass has to be very hopeful for his future following a 16-14, 3.49 season at the 3 stops.

KEYSTONES-With all of the great young talent in Philadelphia already - players like Hank Koblenz, Hank McKay, Chuck Hood, Billy Woytek and all of the their young pitchers you would think the pipeline must be drying up. You would be wrong. First off there is 23 year old Davey Robicheaux, ranked 5th by OSA, who got his feet wet in AAA while learning a new position as the Keystones hope to make an outfielder out of the natural third baseman. He struggled a bit, batting .236 with 6 homer after his big season in AA a year ago but has a very high ceiling. Bud Canfield is another of the solid young group of pitchers and he was outstanding in his debut in the big leagues this season, going 5-2 with a 1.16 era in his first 7 starts. Joe Quade is the one everyone is watching as the 18 year old came fresh off the West Chester High School diamond to go 8-4, 3.46 in half a season at Class A Allentown. The 3rd overall pick in the January portion of last year's draft has the makings of a future ace according to OSA and did nothing to dissuade anyone from that opinion over the summer.

SAILORS- Once again the Philadelphia Sailors minor league system is the class of baseball. Not in the top prospect rankings although they are a very solid 5th in that category led by 22 year old 3B Johnny Zeidman (20th), 22 year old OF Jimmy Chase (27th) and 20 year old pitcher Slick Wesolowski (30th). I am referring to actual success on the field where the Sailors once again completely dominated with each of their 5 affiliates winning a pennant, led by the Gulfport Sailors of the Class C Gulf States League, who won 100 out of 140 games. The only other organization with more than one affiliate to finish first this season was the Philadelphia Keystones, who had AA New Orleans and Class A Allentown come out on top.

PITTSBURGH- Miners first round pick Bill Traylor, a 20 year old taken 15th overall out of Coastal State, started at Class B but after 3 solid outings was bumped up to Class A Gary where he did not look out of place. He was 7-6, 4.04 between the two stops.

ST LOUIS- 21 year old former Boston State catcher Tucker Ness spent most of his first pro season at AAA Oakland. The Pioneers have had great success finding catchers and while this was clearly an adjustment period, Ness did not look completely out of place in AAA, batting .200 in 38 games while also throwing out 47% of would be base stealers. Much of the attention in Oakland was focused on the Pioneers top two prospects in pitchers Mel Bianco (6th overall according to OSA) and Carl Roe (21st). Bianco, a 23 year old lefthander who played his college ball at Maryland State and was the 10th overall pick in 1939, started the season in Class B but worked his way all the way up to Oakland, for whom he went 3-2 with a 4.83 era in 5 starts. OSA sees him as perhaps a future ace and there is likely a good chance he will see time in St Louis next year. 25 year old Carl Roe, the Pioneers first round selection in 1936, had some time with the big club in 1939 but spent all of this season in Oakland, posting a 17-14 record with a 3.77 era. It is a bit of a surprise, given all the Pioneers problems with pitchers this season, that Roe did not make it to St Louis at all.

TORONTO- No Toronto affiliate finished with a record of .500 or better this season but that does not mean the Wolves do not have some very good prospects in the minors. Heading the list is outfielder Hank Giordano, a 19 year old selected 13th overall in 1939. Giordano spent much of the season at AAA Buffalo, hitting .292 with 5 homeruns. 1940 first round John Graves, a 21 year old centerfielder out of Detroit City College, had a bit of an adjustment to pro ball, batting .237 but did smack 3 homers for Class B Vancouver. Second rounder Tommy Anderson, a 21 year old righthander out of Chesapeake State, went 4-5, 3.34 for Class C Tuscaloosa.

WASHINGTON- Each of the Eagles three highest affiliates finished in last place this season. The club was without a first round pick due to a trade and their second round pick, catcher Johnny Thacker, elected to attend a military college rather than start a pro career so the Eagles top pick was 3rd rounder John Dickerson, a 21 year old outfielder out of Eastern State. Dickerson had a nice start at Class A Trenton and even spent some time in AA after signing in June. The 120th ranked prospect on OSA's list ended up playing in 55 games between the two levels and fared quiet well, batting .279 with 8 stolen bases.

QUICK HITS

• The Detroit GM had several thoughts in follow up to the article last week on how a Red Johnson-Deuce Barrell deal in 1935 might have changed the fortunes of the Cannons, Dynamos and several other teams. He confirms had that move happened at the '35 draft the Dynamos would be much different. For one "the Crawford deal likely would not have occurred because I would have waited more patiently for (Hank)Koblenz. (Charlie) Wheeler and his age at acquisition of 24 would have still gone down as we traded (Pete) Casstevens who looks good, but I would have done that sill. I definitely think that deal would have changed the course of where we would have gone. It might have taken us a bit longer to climb the standings, but we would have been younger. Perhaps with our staff in place Deuce might have not struggled as much in his development (who knows for sure). It's an interesting look at a draft that could have changed a lot of things if Baltimore had concentrated more on some hitters to compliment the assortment of young pitchers they had already acquired."
• Congratulations to Dick Lyons of the Chicago Cougars, who beat the New York Stars 4-2 on Friday for his 200th career victory. The 1938 Allan Award winner becomes just the 48th pitcher in FABL history to win 200 games in his career. Lyons was impressive in the Cougars 4-2 win over the Stars, going 7 with 5 hits, 2 walks, and 2 unearned runs. Lyons improved to 18-8 on the season with a 3.47 ERA (111 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, 59 walks, and 40 strikeouts in 31 starts. Lyons has been a mainstay in the Chicago rotation since debuting at 26 in 1926, and one can only wonder if he was brought up a bit sooner, how many more games he could have won. Lyons has appeared in 446 big league games, starting 425 of them, and he's thrown 3,200.1 innings at the league's highest level. The 40-year-old is 200-145 with a 3.93 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 703 walks, and 879 strikeouts and has seen some of his best seasons in the past few seasons. He's won 66 games in the past four seasons and he led the league in ERA and WHIP in the 1938 season.
• A milestone for Moxie Pidgeon as well as the Cincinnati slugger connected on his 20th homer of the season in a 10-8 loss to Toronto yesterday. Pidgeon extended his own mark by making the Cannons the fifth team he has hit at least 20 homers in a season for, joining Cleveland, the two New York teams and Washington. Outside of Pidgeon, only Max Morris, who did it with St Louis, the Gothams and Cleveland, has hit twenty for more than two teams. It is Pidgeon's 10th season with at least twenty homers in his 12 full big league seasons. A six-time all-star Pidgeon has never won a Whitney Award and won't this season because of the way Red Bond and John Lawson are playing, but certainly deserves some votes as it is hard to imagine the Cannons being in a pennant race this season without him.
• Freddie Farhat of the Detroit World says now everyone can see why when former Cleveland owner Elmer Marshall was trying to move to Cincinnati back in the day. The Cannons will break over 1.2 million in attendance which isn't new. Cincinnati’s team during the early 30’s was outdrawing the big league Foresters. It has been a remarkable success story regardless of what happens in the final week for Cincinnati.
• Farhat also fears Detroit has positioned itself once again to finish runner up. With the Miners having 3 games in hand and 2 up in the loss column, despite a tough schedule their chances look pretty good.
• Doc Shaw of the Boston Globe counters Farhat's assumptions. "Your Dynamos have 3 games left on the schedule against the Gothams where they have held a 14-5 advantage thus far this season. Pittsburgh has to play Boston 4 more times. Now the Miners have beaten the Minutemen up pretty good this season but they also play the Keystones twice who they are 8-12 against. Seems like Detroit is actually in a pretty good spot."
• The Miners did have a rough week though and Lefty Allen has lost 3 straight so his back maybe bothering him or at very least he appears to be wearing down after another long season of throwing 300 plus innings.
• It is going to be an interesting week in Fed with the crazy Detroit schedule. Can the Gothams influence the Fed pennant? Pittsburgh has a tough schedule to finish out with 4 vs Boston and 2 against Keystones. Miners did themselves no favors dropping 2 to Detroit last week and limp into final week on a 3 game skid after being swept by Washington.
• Johnny Bologna of the Philadelphia Inquisitor says the Keystones look like they'll come up short with a bad week at the wrong time. Philadelphia is 3 games back with 6 to play (2 against Pittsburgh, 4 versus Washington). Unlike the 85-win 1937 team, which felt like the last gasp of the Kellogg Keystones, this year feels like the start of the next era. The Keystones topped one million fans for only the fifth time in team history.
• Looking ahead to the possible World Championship Series pairings unless the Keystones, who have never faced Toronto or the Cannons, win the Fed the WCS will be a rematch of some sort. Detroit and Pittsburgh have both been there a lot with the Dynamos facing the transplanted Cannons once in 1908 but they were neither in Cincinnati nor known as the Cannons back then as the Baltimore Clippers won that series. Detroit split with Toronto playing them in 1909 and 1911 and beat the Cougars in their only meeting in 1918. As for Pittsburgh they have lost to each of the three CA contenders, falling to the Chicago Cougars twice in 1899 and 1900. The Toronto side was known as the Provincials when they beat the Miners in 1899 while the Baltimore Clippers prevailed over Pittsburgh in 1907, the year before they upended Detroit.
• Respecting the importance of the pennant race the New York Gothams plan on juggling the rotation so that Detroit will face Gus Goulding (13-15, 3.53) and Fred Ratcliffe(14-10, 3.70) on normal rest. The middle game will be Harry Carter who at least has a sub-4 (barely) ERA. Boston wants another look at Duke Hendricks and the debut of fellow rookie Ray Dalpman but will make sure those two face Washington instead of Pittsburgh.
• The only blemish on the Chiefs 6-1 week was the Rabbit Day start. Day had what is likely the worst start of his career in St. Louis on Saturday: 13 baserunners and 12 runs in 2 innings for a game score of -17. Day's September (1-3, 6.92) is putting a damper on what was a nice bounce back season for him. Chiefs skipper Joe Ward had planned on sitting Day for the final week but he will get one more start as Ward says Day "wouldn't want the start against St. Louis to be the one lingering into winter. So hopefully he can redeem himself by facing the Pioneers at Whitney next Saturday."
• The Chiefs will shut down Al Miller (18-9, 3.23) after the 25 year old left his last start early, complaining of a tired arm.
• Ward doesn't want to get too excited but the Chicago Chiefs manager, while admitting it's a small sample size, feel perhaps he has finally found the righthanded side of the right field platoon. Bill Jones is a third baseman who has looked good when he has gotten a chance to play, but with Bob Martin--and now Hank Barnett--manning third, it's been hard for Jones to find playing time. So almost out of desperation, the Chiefs started playing Jones in right field against left handers, and it's looking like he is not overwhelmed out there (as well as hitting .333/.385/.458 for the month). "Over 5 games (Jones) made 100% of the routine catches on balls hit his way," states Ward. "He hasn't made any catches on deep balls, but he's only had a couple of chances there."
• Well, well, well the Wolves step up nicely win a 4-1 week that included 3 wins in extras. Larry Vestal's lengthy stay on the DL does not seem to have totally cured his leg problems as he pulled up lame in first AB this week. Vestal started the other 4 games this week but is listed DTD, Manager Leitzke say Vestal will stay in the lineup down the stretch but may be substituted for in late innings. Looking at the upcoming week the Wolves will face "Deuce" twice in 4 days so Cincy is bringing all pressure to bear, Barrell II has 2-2 record against Toronto this season.
• Fred McCormick is having a September to remember lifting the Wolves slashing .359/.457/.731 with an outside chance to capture another batting title. He trails both Lawson, Trowbridge by .007 heading into the final week of play. The official scorer will have to be careful on the difference between a hit and an error.
• No homerun this week for Red Bond as Saints brass thinks he felt tired so Bond will get the day off on Monday and be playing the next 6 games hopefully to potentially get his 30th HRs of the season. The triple Crown maybe hard to reach as his batting average went down last week by few points and the leader increasing his margin. Bond still doing good piling RBIs for Montreal and is tied with the Cougars John Lawson for the lead in that category with 108. Bond tops the CA by a wide margin homers with 29 but his .339 batting average falls short of Lawson and the Stars Dave Trowbridge, who are both batting .348 on the year.
• Among the many minor leaguers to announce their retirements this week was George Gilliard. He won back to back AIAA titles at Henry Hudson before being selected 5th overall by Washington in 1932. Was a top ten prospect for a while but a bunch of injuries likely factored heavily in his failures, getting just 10 career big league appearances. Funny neither he nor Hudson teammate Curly Jones panned out.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 9/22/1940

• President Roosevelt signed the nation's first peacetime conscription bill into law on Monday, paving the way for the draft to begin. All men aged 21 to 35 will be required to register for military service but there are plans to defer all married men from the first draft call.
• Germany began shelling London with new long-distance 'super-canon 'guns capable of firing over 90 miles and hitting London from the French coast.
• A British sub sinks a German transport ship near the Norway with 4,000 Nazi soldiers believed lost. English military sources estimate perhaps 280,000 German troops are rehearsing landing exercises along the Norwegian coast in preparation for an attempt to land on British soil.
• The British acknowledged that Italian columns are making progress in their advance into Egypt, pushing British forces back a total of 60 miles over recent days.
  [*}US secretary Hull accused Republican Presidential candidate Wendell Wilkie of being 'grossly ignorant of the history of the last few year," in response to Wilkie claiming Roosevelt helped promote the Munich pact which aided the Nazis and "sold Czechoslovakia down the river."