JUNE 16, 1941
BOSTON EXTENDS FED LEAD
A three game sweep in St Louis last week helped the Boston Minutemen increase their lead atop of the Federal Association to 5.5 games over second place Detroit. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh and New York are a pair of Federal clubs going in opposite directions. The Gothams have struggled of late and now are 6 games back after being tied with Boston for top spot just 18 days ago. New York caught Pittsburgh at the wrong time as the Miners swept the Gothams in a 3-game set as part of a 6-1 stretch that has seen the defending champs rise from 7th place a week ago to third this time around.
The Continental Association remains a battle between the New York Stars and Chicago Cougars with the Brooklyn Kings trying to crash the party. Since being swept in a 3 game series to end the month of May, the Kings have been the hottest team in the Continental with 11 wins in their last 14 games and are now just 4 games back of the co-leaders. Brooklyn has been the Continental's hottest club in June but despite their success they have not been able to gain a lot of ground as New York and Chicago have been nearly as successful over that span.
Code:
CA IN JUNE
W L
Brooklyn 11 3
Cougars 10 4
Stars 9 5
Montreal 8 7
Cincinnati 6 8
Toronto 5 11
Sailors 4 9
Cleveland 4 10
RICHARDSON HAS 6 HITS AS SAINTS WIN 'FOOTBALL GAME' 25-10
No records are tracked but one has to suspect the Montreal Saints established a franchise high water mark, if not one for FABL as a whole, for runs in their 25-10 win over Cleveland yesterday. Saints catcher Ben Richardson led Montreal's 30 hit outburst, going 6-for-6 with 6 rbi's and 3 runs scored. The 31 year old becomes the first player to have a 6-hit game since Pete Layton did it for the Chiefs just over 3 years ago and the first Montreal player to turn the trick since 1921 when Edwin Segovia also had a 6-for-6 day.
STEVENS DEFERMENT MAY BE 'TEST CASE'
Philadelphia June 11 (INS)- A 60 day draft deferment granted to Lloyd Stevens, star righthander of the Philadelphia Keystones, is threatening to develop into a Selective Service "test case" which may affect the draft status of all other eligible athletes, in baseball and other sports.
Stevens' deferment by his local draft board in Newport News was disclosed when Paul Armstrong, Virginia Director of Selective Service, filed an appeal from the board's action with President Roosevelt, stating Stevens should serve his year in the Army starting at once.
"I am a great Keystones fan and an admirer of Stevens," Armstrong said. "However, regardless of my personal feelings, I am bound to carry out my duties as prescribed by law and laid down by my superiors."
Stevens was granted deferment, his local board explained, after he requested it on the ground that should he be inducted June 20, as scheduled, it would place "unusual hardship" upon him.
The 25 year old pitcher today enlarged on that official explanation. His engagement to Dorothy Meachum, daughter of Edward Meachum, owner of the Keystones, was announced several weeks ago and Stevens said he asked for the deferment because he wanted to be married before his induction "and have enough money saved to provide for my wife during my year of service."
Stevens salary is estimated at $16,000.
PESTILLI CALLED -In other news, Keystones minor league outfielder Tony Pestilli - younger brother of Detroit Dynamos Sal and Chicago Chiefs Alf Pestilli, has been ordered to report to a board in New Orleans for his physical examination. Pestilli, who is currently playing for the AA New Orleans Showboats of the Dixie League, was notified recently of his draft status by his hometown draft board in Westerly, Rhode Island.
BELTON FEARS U.S. BLOW TO BASEBALL
Sam Belton, President of FABL, told the Brooklyn rotary club today that he was "fearful that some well-meaning but ill-advised Government official will try to do away with baseball during the period of emergency."
"I hope you will join with us in trying to keep baseball alive during this time of stress and turmoil," Mr. Belton said. He pointed out that in 1918 the baseball season was cut short, but the game never suspended entirely.
At the same luncheon in the Hotel Bossert, Powell Slocum, Kings manager, predicted Brooklyn would win the pennant. The Kings currently sit third in the Continental Association, 4 games back of the front-running New York Stars.
QUICK HITS
- The Pioneers continue to come crashing back down to earth, riding a 6-game losing streak that has dropped St Louis 8.5 games back in the Federal Association and ahead of only struggling Philadelphia. St Louis was 19-14 and tied for first in the Fed on May 17 but have gone 9-18 since.
- An almost unbelievable stat regarding the Pioneers. St Louis has played 60 games this season and have yet to steal a base. First place Boston leads the Fed with 31 thefts while the last place Keystones, with 8, are the only club other than St Louis that has yet to hit double-digits in steals. Last year the Pioneers stole 50 bases, which was 8th overall in FABL.
- Worried about an offense that has gone 9-5 in June but six of those wins were by just 1-run, the New York Stars have moved Lew Seals (.231,4,22) to second base and Clark Car (.245,2,22) to the bench, hoping the addition of Howie Smith, a recent callup from AAA Los Angeles, in the outfield will give them a jump start.
- Another indicator of why they are co-leaders in the CA. In one run games this season the Stars are 17-9 while the Cougars are 11-4. At the other end of the spectrum you can see why Cincinnati and Toronto are struggling this season. The Cannons are 8-13 and the Wolves 7-13 in one run games. Then there is Montreal at 4-11.
- The Cannons have been awful on the road at 14-22 but decent at home (14-9). They, along with Cleveland have played the most road games in the CA this season: 36 for each club away and just 23 at home. Cincinnati just started a 15 game homestand with a weekend split against the Stars so if the Cannons are going to get back into contention one has to think now is the time.
- Adam Mullins has been a big help, as expected, since his return. Mullins is hitting .420 in 18 games this season after missing 6 weeks with an injury.
- Wally Doyle is certainly living a charmed life. He is 9-4 for Montreal this season despite the fact the Saints are 9 games under .500 as a club. Only 3 pitchers in either association are getting better run support than Doyle is so far this season...of course 25 runs yesterday against Cleveland certainly aided in that regard. Doyle gave up 8 runs but still got the win. Perhaps that helps offset his last two losses when his Saints were shutout both times.
- The Saints are benching (.268,0,15) center fielder Heinie Billings. Not so much for what the 24 year old has accomplished this season but rather because Bill Greene (.287,0,13) forced their hand. Greene, also 24, is a top ten prospect and former third overall draft pick.
- After going over 2 years without a cycle we had them on back to back days as Joe Herman of Brooklyn turned the trick against Cincinnati on Monday and then the Keystones Hans Wright did it vs the Chiefs the next day. Maybe the struggling young Philadelphia hitters are starting to wake up as the Keystones Davey Robicheaux also had a big day at the plate this week. The 24 year old rookie went 5-for-6 with 5 rbi's in a 16-4 win over Detroit Saturday. In true Keystone fashion this season they were then hammered 14-2 by the Dynamos the next day.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 6/15/1941
- Using bayonets to scatter pickets, the US Army took over the North American Aviation plant near Los Angeles after civil authorities had resorted to tear gas in an unsuccessful effort to reopen the strike-bound airplane factory.
- The chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee says Nazi collaborators and communists were responsible for inspiring the strike at the airplane plant.
- The strike situation grows even darker for the US with work stoppages in the aluminum industry resulting in the cessation of all bomber production.
- Mussolini says Italy and Germany will smash Great Britain in spite of American aid. The Italian leader also declares the United States is already in a 'de-facto' state of war with the Axis.
- The United States confirmed that a US freighter sunk in South Atlantic waters May 21st, was torpedoed by a German submarine as had been suspected. In response Berlin claims the destroyed ship was carrying contraband bound for Britain and the Nazis vow to continue to sink ships sailing for Britain with supplies.
- Reacting to that news FDR elects to freeze all German-Italian assets un the United States- including patents - in the dual objective of waging an economic counterattack against the Axis and to curb espionage and sabotage of vital American defenses.