JULY 14, 1941
CONTINENTAL STARS DOUBLE FED IN ALL-STAR GAME
Fred Galloway had 3 hits and drove in a pair of runs to help the Continental Association outscore the stars of the Federal Association 8-4 in the 9th annual all-star game. The 25 year old Cincinnati Cannons outfielder, who was playing in his third consecutive All-Star contest, was named the game MVP after his performance which was highlighted by a 2-out, 2-run single in the bottom of the third inning off of losing pitcher Jim Whitely of the Philadelphia Keystones. The victory was the third in the past 4 years for the Continental Stars, but they still trail in the series five wins to four.
After Continental starting pitcher Butch Smith of Cincinnati escaped the top of the first inning without surrendering a run despite allowing a single and walk, the CA stars went to work against Boston pitcher Ed Wood, who got the starting nod from Fed Skipper Dan Andrew. Wood was in trouble right from the get go as the Continental's quickly loaded the bases on a lead-off walk to Charley McCullough, a Dave Trowbridge single and then a free pass to Bill Barrett. Wood settled down but did surrender a pair of runs, both on fielders choices and to the delight of the decidedly pro-Continental sold out crowd at Brooklyn's Kings County Park the CA had a quick 2-0 lead.
It would be a short-lived lead as Pittsburgh's Mahlon Strong tied the game with a 2-run homer off of young Chicago Cougars pitcher Harry Parker in the top of the second inning. It stayed 2-2 until the bottom of the third when Galloway had his big moment, delivering a 2-run single to plate Bert Lass and Adam Mullins. Skipper Schneider of the Cougars made the score 5-2 for the Continental's when he followed Galloway with a run scoring triple.
The Feds would get a run back in the top of the fifth to cut the CA lead to 5-3 thanks to an rbi single from Gothams third baseman Billy Dalton but once again the Continental nine answered quickly as Brooklyn's Harry Barrell doubled in Leo Mitchell in the bottom of the fifth to restore the three run lead.
Former Brooklyn King Frank Vance doubled to lead off the top of the 8th and scored on a ground out from Boston's Buddy Schneider - the brother of the Cougars Skipper - to give the Feds some hope and cut the lead once again to two runs but just as in the fifth inning the Continental side immediately had an answer. This time it was the Cougars Mitchell with the big blow, a 2-run double to plate Bill Barrett and John Lawson and give the Continental an 8-4 lead. Brooklyn reliever Del Lyons, who leads FABL in saves this season, took care of the Federals in the top of the ninth, facing the minimum 3 batters tanks in no small part to a Continental twin killing.
ASG NOTES: Pete Papenfus (12-4, 2.97) capped his incredible first half of the season by being named the winning pitcher in the game. Papenfus pitched one scoreless inning that included a strikeout of former teammate Leon Drake but he also allowed two hits including a Billy Dalton double and could have been in big trouble had he not been bailed out by a CA doubleplay - the first of two on the game.....The loss went to Jim Whiteley of the Keystones who was making his all-star debut....Next year's game will be played at Fitzpatrick Park in Pittsburgh.
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UPCOMING ALL-STAR GAME HOSTS
1942: Pittsburgh Miners
1943: Montreal Saints
1944: Washington Eagles
1945: Chicago Cougars
1946: Boston Minutemen
1947: Philadelphia Sailors
1948: Chicago Chiefs
1949: Cincinnati Cannons
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 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
1939 Forester Stadium Continental 6 Federal 3 Art White BKN Fred McCormick TOR
1940 Thompson Field Federal 7 Continental 4 Red Hampton Chiefs Billy Woytek Keystones
1941 Kings County Continental 8 Federal 4 Pete Papenfus Cougars Fred Galloway Cincinnati
BIG WEEK AHEAD FOR BOSTON
The Federal Association leading Boston Minutemen were sluggish coming out of the all-star break, dropping back to back games to the New York Gothams before salvaging the series finale with a 9-7 slugfest victory in the Big Apple. They then moved on to Detroit and won the opener of a 3-game set with the Dynamos 4-3 but it proved very costly as infielder Art Spencer left the game after being hit in the wrist by a Mike Murphy pitch in the first inning. Later that day the Minutemen learned it was a serious injury to Spencer, costing the club his services for the next six weeks. It is a big loss as Spencer was having a career year, batting .342 and challenging for the Fed lead in that category. He was also filling in very nicely for Bob Donoghue, who still has two weeks recovery time from his knee injury.
The loss of Spencer could not have come at a worse time for Boston, as the Minutemen play 11 of their next 14 games against either Detroit or Chicago, two of the three teams within 5.5 games of the front-running Bostonians, who had dropped 7 of 8 games before picking up wins Saturday and Sunday.
CONTINENTAL ASSOCIATION
The Brooklyn Kings are doing their best to make it a three horse race in the Continental Association. The Kings have won 11 of their last 14 games but dropping two of three to Cincinnati after the all-star break while the Chicago Cougars (4-1) and New York Stars (4-0) each came out of the break on fire has set the Kings back. Brooklyn is now 5 games behind the second place Stars and 7.5 off the pace set by the association leading Cougars. It might be tough to make up that ground over the next few weeks as none of the top three playing each other until August 5th when the Kings start a key stretch of 12 games in which they will face either the Stars or the Cougars a total of 10 times.
1942 DRAFT PREVIEW : PART 1 - COLLEGE PLAYERS
We begin our 1942 draft preview series with a look at the top college players eligible for the next draft. It is important to note that this list is very fluid as a number of newcomers always seem to join schools in September and many have displayed terrific skills in sandlot leagues which, combined with winter workout observations, vaults them in to the first round. One of those such players, Orie Martinez, became a first round pick of Brooklyn last January. Last year was a slim one for elite college talent as only Martinez and fellow outfielder Hank Eason, out of Huntington State, were taken in the first round. This time around the crop does seem a little strong at the top.
Here are the AIAA players that make the TWIFB top ten after consulting with sources at the OSA:
1- BOB ARMAN RHP: BLUEGRASS STATE- Arman had a dominant sophomore season with the Mustangs and won the Frank Christian Award as college baseball's top player. He was 11-1 with a nation leading 1.75 era and 156 strikeouts, which also was the top figure in college ball. It was also a nice improvement from what was a decent freshman year that saw the Brooklyn native go 9-4 with a 2.80 era and 128 strikeouts. Arman was the top player in TWIFB's way to early 1942 mock draft last July and has done nothing to dissuade us from keeping him in the top spot when our full list is released in 4 weeks. OSA feels he is a frontline starter with above average stuff, aggressiveness and durability.
2- ERNIE McCOY CF: BLUEGRASS STATE- Like his college teammate Arman, McCoy cracked the top 10 list of 1942 draft candidates we compiled last year. He looks to be a future elite big league center fielder and has been a second team All-American selection each of his first two seasons with the Mustangs. Very consistent numbers over his first two years of college ball going .314,9,49 as a freshman and .311,8,46 this past season.
3- JACK WILSON 2B: NORTH CAROLINA TECH- Finished 5th in the nation with a .321 batting average this past season earning Wilson his second straight appearance on the AIAA first team All-American squad. OSA likes his ability to make contact and he has decent strike zone recognition, predicting that he likely won't be an elite middle infielder but grades out as a second-division starter. He played 3 years of high school ball in Pennsylvania and was a 9th round pick of the Chicago Chiefs in 1939 but elected to go the college route instead.
4- CHICK MacKNIGHT C: EASTERN OKLAHOMA - When you think Eastern Oklahoma the first name that comes to mind is Adam Mullins, the current Cannons star who was taken 6th overall in 1934. MacKnight is no Mullins either at the plate or behind it, but OSA sees him as a decent starter in FABL and perhaps hitting close to .300. MacKnight is a 2-time second team All-American selection, joining Mullins as the only Pioneers to ever be so honoured. Mullins was a first team choice in 1934.
5- DICK CHAMBERLAIN CF: OPELIKA STATE - The Wildcats have a great history as one of the AIAA's original members and they won a pair of National Championships so it be surprising to learn the school has never produced a first team All-American selection. Chamberlain did make the second team last year, joining Joe Foy, Jim Harris, Ray White and Bob Higgenbotham as Wildcats that have earned that distinction. Described by OSA as very patient at the plate, the scouting services sees Chamberlain as a better than .300 hitter. Stole 35 bases last season so might project to being a solid lead-off hitter.
6- MARK SMITH C: DAVIDSON UNIVERSITY- Smith was a finalist for the Christian Award and a first team All-American after leading the nation in hitting last season with a .385 batting average. Only current Dynamos legend Sal Pestilli has posted a higher average in the post-feeder era. The concern about Smith is he plays at tiny Davidson University in Oregon and has not really faced elite competition. OSA is confidant Smith's development as a future FABL catcher looks extremely promising. It will be interesting to see if MacKnight or Smith is the first college catcher selected as MacKnight is likely the safer pick but perhaps Smith has more upside.
7- BOB KIRBY CF: MARYLAND STATE- The Bengals are another school with a rich tradition of producing big league players. Kirby is the latest and OSA thinks he will be a second division starter, noting his above average contact potential, great speed and good hands.
8- JERRY YORK RHP: NOBLE JONES COLLEGE- The 20 year old groundball specialist made his AIAA debut as a sophomore last season, posting a solid 8-4 record with a 3.29 era. A native of St. Augustine, Florida, OSA feels he has the makings of a back of the rotation arm and, aside from Arman, is the best college pitcher available.
9- NELLIE WALTERS SS: OKLAHOMA CITY STATE- A 2 year starter for the Wranglers, a school that also produced current Washington Eagles catcher Paul Wilkerson. Walters was among the best college hitters in the nation last season with a .311 batting average. He isn't flashy but does everything well - good hands, good range and a good arm with a solid swing and a decent baserunner. He projects to be solid shortstop according to OSA.
10- PETE WOODWARD CF: CLEVELAND COLLEGE - One of the better power hitting prospects in the college ranks, Woodward hit 9 homers each of his first two seasons of AIAA ball. OSA calls him a reliable hitter in an organization's grand scheme but that is drop off from last year when after his freshman season OSA felt he had the potential to be a first round draft pick in 1942.
Next time we will take a look at the top ten High School pitchers available for the 1942 draft.
QUICK HITS
- Since dropping back to back games in Pittsburgh June 20th and 21st, the Chicago Chiefs have gone a Federal Association best 13-5 and are now second behind only Boston with a big 8 game week coming up for the Chiefs including 3 each against the Minutemen and the Miners. The rest of July for the Chiefs: 6 with Boston, 6 with Pittsburgh, 5 with Philadelphia.
- Cleveland fans can breathe a sigh of relief with news that Hiram Steinberg, the New York City kid who singlehandedly rewrote the high school pitching record book, is under contract and likely to report to Class C Ottumwa of the Upper Mississippi Valley Association this week. The first overall selection received a $20,000 signing bonus and was immediately ranked #2 overall, behind only Gothams pitching prospect Ed Bowman, on the OSA top prospects list.
- Pioneers have signed all of their draft picks. First rounder P Tom Buchanan slots in at #11 according to OSA while second rounder P Gene Madison fits in at a disappointing #193. Third rounder Dick Long(#90) and fourth rounder Lazaro Deleon(#78) slot in the top 100 and fifth rounder Joe Hampton lines up at #138. STL moves up to #2 in the minor league system ranking behind only Montreal.
- All but one first round pick is under contract. The lone exception is outfielder Sid Moulton, who was selected 12th overall by the Philadelphia Keystones. The Cleveland native is weighing a scholarship offer from Ohio Poly but is expected to sign with the Keystones, perhaps as early as this week.
- The Keystones are also still negotiating with their second round pick. Joe Burns, an outfielder from Glen Falls, New York is weighing a choice between the minor leagues or Constitution State. The only other second rounder that remains unsigned is a Toronto pick. That would Harry Phillips, out of a Michigan High School who is being wooed by one of the most prestigious baseball colleges in Central Kentucky. It is expected Phillips and the Wolves will get a deal done.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 7/13/1941
- Disputed reports over who is winning the battle on the Eastern Front as Moscow claims Soviet tanks have counter-attacked and pushed the Nazis back in some areas but Berlin says it has broken thru even further in it's push into Russia.
- Soviet planes target Helsinki in the first air bombardment of the war on the Finnish capital.
- RAF bombers step up night attacks into France and Germany, targeting industrial areas including a large French airplane factory that was set ablaze.
- Peace in the Western Hemisphere is shattered with news Peruvian artillery was bombarding Ecuadorian villages as Ecuador and Peru began to wage an undeclared war.
- President Roosevelt took over military protection of Iceland after reports reached him that Germany was considering attacking to obtain a base from which to control North Atlantic shipping lanes. US forces replaced a British garrison that had been defending the independent island republic.
- Italy claims that the US occupation of Iceland is an "actual intervention" in European waters and would likely result in an Axis-American incident as Axis powers have no plans to relax their blockade of the British Isles.
- Berlin charges that Roosevelt's attitude toward Atlantic bases was "aggression against Europe," in response to the news about Iceland and rumours the Americans will assist in the construction of a military base in Ireland. "The President of the United States evidently is using every means to enter the war zone and is taking no heed whatsoever of the possible dangers that might result," authorized Nazis said.