AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
Homestead Grays (90-72)
1969 Draftees- OF Bob Thurman
- P Albert Davis
- P Everett Stull
- 2B Ambrose Morris
- P Nivaldo Rodriguez
Riding the EL's best pitching staff, the Grays fell just short of winning it all in '68. That staff should hold its own again this time around and therefore put this club right back in the mix. Amos Otis aside, there's not much improvement in the position player group, but Thurman is a solid enough add to an OF that needs upgrading. Davis is also an interesting type worth keeping an eye on.
Hilldale Athletics (82-80)
1969 Draftees- OF Melvin Nieves
- P Santiago Guzman
- P Emmett Bowman
- 3B JH Hamilton
- SS Frisco Thomas
Highest BA, 3rd most HR, 4th best ERA in the league - so how come the Athletics barely played 500 ball last year? I don't know but I don't see it happening again in '69 with Pops Stargell, Chino Smith, Eric Chavez, Oddibe McDowell and Dave Brown all still on the up. I'm expecting them to make up the 8 games to the Grays and really push them. The addition of Nieves is spot on and Guzman should be in their rotation on OD one would think.
Baltimore Elite Giants (79-83)
1969 Draftees- P Don Newcombe
- SS Sanford Jackson
- OF Art Gardner
- 2B Valentin Gonzalez
- 2B Roy Ford
Looked ready to challenge at the halfway point last season, only to flag and finish with a 23-34 run that left them well off the pace. Some live arms on this club that still need seasoning, to which list can now be added the mighty Don Newcombe. He's a while off his peak so look for this to be more of a consolidation year than anything else for the EGs. George Bell showed flickers of the brilliance earmarked for him and his projection should mirror that of his club. Sanford Jackson joins Bartolo Portuondo as a strong utility IF for down the track a ways.
Philadelphia Liberty Stars (68-94)
1969 Draftees- OF Bake McBride
- OF Fred Boyd
- P Simon Castro
- P Eddy Rodriguez
- P Rube Washington
It's a case of short-term pain / long-term gain for the Libs. So much offensive talent here: Spot Poles, Bobby Bonilla, George Hendrick, Bob Watson and now Bake McBride. But Boyd with their next pick was foolish as they desperately needed some more pitching. Armenteros is strong and Angel Garcia projects well, but that's about it and unless they address this all the offence in the world may well come up short.
New York Lincoln Giants (63-99)
1969 Draftees- OF Rickey Henderson
- P Army Cooper
- 3B Rico Washington
- OF Raul Gonzalez
- 1B Sam Gordon
- OF Jeff McNeeley
99 losses in '68 = 1st pick overall in '69 and they used it wisely on the great Man of Steal. That said, given their underwhelming pitching staff, perhaps Shotime would have been a better option. I guess we'll find out soon enough. And they did get a serviceable enough pitcher in Army Cooper with their 2nd pick. Still, I think it stays flat or perhaps even gets worse for the LGs before it gets better.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Cuban Stars East (90-72)
1969 Draftees- OF Bill Kern
- 3B Carlos Rivero
- P Hector Rondon
- C William Webster
- P Miguel Yajure
A disappointing end to a great season for the East, falling one step short of the Series. No disgrace there, and with the players at their disposal it won't be their only chance to get to the mountaintop. Far and away the best OF in the league, with MVP Ruppert Jones at its heart, which - especially given their profusion of decent backups at the position - makes me question intensely their selection of Kern rather than the 4th SP they so desperately need. Lefty Calhoun is no doubt marked for that role at some stage, but until he's ready they are basically playing for .750. And that could well prove the difference this season.
Detroit Motown Stars (87-75)
1969 Draftees- OF Esteban Montalvo
- C Junior Ortiz
- 2B Elmer Wilson
- 2B Flash Miller
- 3B Andres Ogarzon
I really like the look of this group. Well, their offence at least. 1B Andre Thornton's 1968 campaign (323/398/537 with 30 HR / 101 RBI; 421 wOBA; 179 OPS+; 8.1 WAR) was an understated thing of beauty and I see no reason he won't go well again in '69. SS Tim Anderson is a gun at the plate while offering solid enough defence. Gerry Davis and Xavier Scruggs are real gamers. The Montalvo add is a positive. But the pitching.
Ay caramba! Until this aspect of their play is fixed, I just don't see them acquiring any silverware.
Chicago American Giants (86-76)
1969 Draftees- P Yovani Gallardo
- P Carlos Frias
- SS Allen Cordoba
- OF Eli Chism
- 3B Jimmy Shamberger
Arguably the biggest disappointment of the 1968 season. Which, given they finished 86-76 and just 4 GB, tells you plenty about how good this group can be. Strength at pretty much every slot and they have bolstered their pitching nicely with a couple handy picks in Gallardo and Frias. Should prove the East's main rival these next few seasons.
Indianapolis ABCs (83-79)
1969 Draftees- OF Eddie Milner
- SS Travis Demeritte
- P Daniel Corcino
- OF Mitch Murphy
- P Jonathan Hernandez
Another club who threatened for a good portion of the year before running out of puff a bit down the stretch (11-14 in Sep). The WC National was a blanket finish with just 9 games from top to bottom, so ignore the fact they came 5th and focus on their relative proximity to the top. One would have to presume Reuben Curry goes into the spin at some stage and that'll improve them no end. As far as their offence goes, Carew is godlike and Bill North very good, but they need some of the others such as Brantley, Hidalgo and Brooks to catch up and share the load if they want to be closer again to where it counts.
Cleveland Buckeyes (81-81)
1969 Draftees- P Shohei Ohtani
- SS Damian Jackson
- 2B Nelson Liriano
- 3B AJ Lockhart
- OF Willie Ward
Even before acquiring Ohtani, this group looked almost guaranteed of being dominant from about 1972 onward. Cesar Hernandez, Dolf Luque and Joe Strong all project as elite; Lewis Hampton perhaps just a level under that. Still, a bunch of subpar players means the Buckeyes will need to keep adding quality to their roster at every turn if they want to fulfil their promise.