MAY 17, 1943
EAGLES KEEP ON WINNING
Add the Detroit Dynamos and New York Gothams to the list of teams that likely now believe the Washington Eagles are a force in the Federal Association. The Eagles began a 14-game road swing last week with a 3-game sweep of Detroit followed by winning 2 of three in New York. Washington's lead atop the Federal Association is now 5 games heading into a big 4 game showdown with the second place Chicago Chiefs in the Windy City this weekend. No, that is not a misprint but certainly warrants repeating to fully comprehend. The Washington Eagles are 20-6 and lead the Fed by 5 games. Those same Washington Eagles that have not reached the 70-win plateau since 1937 and have finished with a better than .500 record just once since 1927.
Things just feel like they are going the Eagles way right now. They get bad news in learning their top pitcher, Jack Elder, is done for the season with a shoulder injury but that storm cloud comes wrapped in a rainbow in the form of 25 year old Tommy Shafer. Recalled from AAA Kansas City to replace Elder in the rotation, Shafer had a career 1-9 mark and a career era north of 6.00 with the Eagles when he took the hill against Ernie Bowman and the New York Gothams yesterday. All the youngster did was throw 6 shutout innings of 1-hit ball before turning the ball over to Dan Everett who completed the 5-0 shutout victory.
Lou Ellertson, a 36 year old that has been pigeon-holed as a reliever for his entire career, is suddenly doing his best Rabbit Day in his prime imitation at the age of 36. Ellertson is 4-0 with a 2.60 era in 5 starts despite being waived by Montreal a year and a half ago. Yes, indeed, things just feel like they are going the Eagles way. The rotation of Ellertson, Shafer, Del Burns (2-2, 3.26), Les Bradshaw (3-1, 3.31) and Dick Gibbs (2-1, 1.80) hardly strikes fear into opposing hitters- or at least it didn't before the season began- but the Eagles have allowed just 73 runs against in their 25 games - 20 fewer or close to a full run a game less than the next closest Fed nine.
Then you have Paul Wilkerson. A solid catcher to be sure but Wilkerson is challenging for the Fed batting lead with a .382 average - more than 120 points above his career mark entering the season and his .539 slugging percentage is 200 points above his career total before the season began. Add in the terrific start for 20 year old rookie outfielder Jesse Alvardo (.278,4,18) to go along with the likes of Sam Brown (.298,2,17), Sig Stofer (.274,4,14) and Mel Carroll (.329,2,16) and the Washington offense is not one to be taken lightly.
Then you have the Chicago Chiefs. Tabbed by many as the team to beat in the Fed this season thanks to their veteran roster that was for the most part unscathed by the War Manpower Commission and Selective Service. The Chiefs are second but lost a key piece in second sacker Sam Orr (.325,1,11), who was doing a bang up job as the replacement to the traded Hank Barnett in the Chiefs infield. But Orr will miss a month and a half after being injured last week which means he won't be available for the highly anticipated showdown with the Eagles at Whitney Park starting Friday and the rematch in the nations capital the following weekend. Those two series might just give us all a much better indication just how seriously we should take the Eagles sizzling start to the season.
*** COUGARS DRAW FIRST BLOOD ***
The first showdown between the two-anticipated contenders for the Continental Association crown went the Chicago Cougars. The hometown side took two of three from visiting Cincinnati and now are atop the CA, a game ahead of the Cannons. Leo Mitchell, who is having another one of his consistently strong seasons, was the hero of Saturday's lid-lifter with a 2-run homer to help Chicago to a 3-1 victory. Cannons bats got to Chicago starter Johnny Jones early in the opener of Sunday's twin bill, won 9-3 by the visitors and the second game looked like it might be another rout when the Cannons spotted ace Deuce Barrell a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. However, it turned out to be Barrell's worst outing of the season as the Cougars overcame a 6-2 deficit entering the bottom of the 8th and ended up prevailing 8-7 in 10 innings thanks to a walk-off rbi single from veteran Freddie Jones. The two teams will not get a rematch until June 3-6 when they play a 5-game set at Tice Memorial Stadium in Cincinnati.
APPOINTMENT OF SPORTS CO-ORDINATOR EXPECTED
Action to co-ordinate sports with the war effort, rumoured in Washington for some time, apparently is moving nearer realization. Whether this will take the form of an appointment of a national sports co-ordinator, or the naming of a three-man committee to fit sports into the war effort, has not been decided, but some definite action is expected within a short time, comment in informed circles indicates.
For some time reports have circulated in the capital that such a move was imminent. In fact, President Roosevelt is said to have on his desk a recommendation from leading sports sources, including baseball, that he name a sports co-ordinator who's task it would be to determine how sports can be handled without affecting the war effort.
Several prominent figures have been mentioned for the appointment with Senator James Mead, Democrat, of New York the leading candidate. Mead would be welcomed by baseball as he does have a small ownership interest in the Buffalo Nickels of the Union League and is said to be very much in favour of sports continuing during the war. Congressman Samuel Weiss of Glassport, Pa. near Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Oh. congressman Max Morris -well known to sports fans of course- are also mentioned as possible candidates.
It is understood that the duties of a national sports co-ordinator would be to synchronize sports with war activities, keep such events from interfering with the combat effort, smooth out any transportation problems, and decide whether any future sports events would be detrimental to military or defense activities. Such an agency might also aid in disseminating sports news to the armed forces.
*** MEAD SAYS HE WILL ACCEPT ***
If Senator Mead, whose home is in Buffalo, accepts the post of sports co-ordinator it will be the case of the author becoming the leading actor in his own play. Mead said on May 14 he would accept the job as a volunteer director of a sports organization to provide entertainment for service men and war workers if the appointment was offered. However, he expressed a belief that no member of Congress, nor any paid executive of a sports industry, should have the post. Instead, he suggested the appointment of "a civilian with a great devotion to the game." In this connection, he mentioned the name of Joseph E. Davies, former ambassador to the Soviet Union, who is now on a special "mission to Moscow," where he will convey a message from President Roosevelt to Premier Joseph Stalin.
Mead pointed out that competitive sports already are doing a patriotic job by providing entertainment, selling War Bonds and collecting contributions to welfare organizations. On April 10th, while in Columbia, SC watching the Toronto Wolves take on the Chicago Cougars, Mead told reporters of a plan for a "baseball co-ordinator" and said he had talked over the idea with officials in Washington, who liked the suggestion.
As a minority owner of the Buffalo ballclub, a Wolves affiliate, Mead holds a great enthusiasm for baseball. Last year he made a speech in the Senate in which he paid tribute to the game for what it has done for the war effort, for the funds it has produced for Army and Navy relief and the Ball and Bat Fund, and also for the benefits it produces in a mental way and it is obvious he would be a staunch supporter for continuing baseball, and likely most other sports, for the duration.
Finishing up Jiggs' month long segment on possible trade ideas he feels could help both FABL teams comes a scheme to add some more youth to Cleveland's system while providing outfield depth in Toronto. Remember these potential trade pairings have no inside information to back them up, or even rumours in most cases, but instead are just pairings Jiggs feels might be a good move for all involved.
CLEVELAND SENDS OUTFIELDER DAN FOWLER TO TORONTO FOR MINOR LEAGUE PITCHER JIM LAURITA
It was clear well before the season started that this would be another long one for the Cleveland Foresters and their 6-17 start to the campaign has done nothing to dispel those thoughts. The Foresters were a powerhouse for much of the last decade but have had 3 straight seasons of finishing 7th or 8th and have already moved most of the remaining veterans that might have much value to FABL rivals. As a result you have to feel for the current management team as they were left a mess by their predecessor with little opportunity to do anything about it in the short-term and are forced to just wait for prospects to develop. The good news is while management's hands are pretty much tied there is a bright future headlined by perhaps the greatest high school pitcher of all time in Hiram Steinberg and a few others with high potential like Richie Hughes and Pete Sigmund. Uncle Sam did the Foresters no favours by tabbing each of those three for military duty but you have to think that if the Foresters just remain patient a payoff will come.
The Foresters will likely be drafting very high for the next couple of years and as such will have plenty of opportunity to draft more high-end talent along the lines of Jim Adams Jr., the shortstop who was their choice first overall in January and will likely join the Foresters system shortly after concluding his college season at St Ignatius next month. Every little bit helps when the focus is solely on the future in Cleveland so they should consider giving their system a small jolt by moving Dan Fowler, who is probably their most tradeable veteran asset. Fowler, won't command a great return, but Cleveland should get more for him than they might for second baseman Brooks Meeks or reliever Don Attaway, who are probably the only other pieces that the Foresters would part with that might have some slight value to someone elsewhere.
Fowler is 34 and coming off an injury plagued 1942 campaign that saw him post some fairly poor numbers at the plate. He is a below average centerfielder defensively, but can play center and has been doing so in Cleveland, although he is much better suited on the corner and a team like Toronto, which is in need of some outfield depth, might see a little value in adding Fowler if they feel they can stay in the race for the Continental Association crown. A mid-level pitching prospect such as Tommy Anderson or Jim Laurita might get the deal done.
WHY I LIKE THE DEAL FOR CLEVELAND - The Foresters are going nowhere this season and most of their best prospects are working for Uncle Sam. It is going to be a couple of more long seasons for fans on the southern shore of Lake Erie so if I am running the Foresters, I look to add every possible prospect I can get, in hopes someone surprises. The issue is there is really very little of trade value left so move Fowler and see if there are any takers for Meeks, Dave Rankin, Ben Turner or Don Attaway. Odds are their isn't much interest in the others but at least Fowler might get them a mid-level prospect.
The big league pitching is not good in Cleveland so grab Laurista from the Toronto system and immediately call him up and see if he can have some major league success. The downside is they really have no replacement for Fowler at center field in their organization right now but they need pitching desperately, especially with Johnny Slaney now done for much of the year.
Laurita is a 24 year old righthander who was a 4th round pick out of Redwood University in 1940. He had solid numbers splitting last season between AA and AAA and deserves a chance to show what he can do. His path appears blocked in Toronto, and will be even more so when players return from the war so it is a good opportunity for him as well.
WHY I LIKE THE DEAL FOR TORONTO - The Wolves need some outfield depth, especially if they decide they want Juan Pomales to pitch regularly. So far Pomales has proven to be of much more value in the batting order than on the mound but even if that remains the case a decent depth outfielder is still a need. And the cost of a mid-level pitching prospect is not too excessive. Now perhaps the Wolves like Laurita, and if so then Tommy Anderson is a player that they could substitute and Cleveland would likely still be happy with. Anderson was taken in the same draft as Laurita, but two rounds earlier. He split last season between A and AA and put up decent, but not spectacular numbers.
If I am Toronto and believing I have a chance to contend, I would feel a lot better with another outfielder to give me some injury depth as I am not sure I like my chances should I be forced to play Ed Marshall or Gus Hull everyday in the event Pomales, Reginald Westfall or Larry Vestal was injured.
TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN
Wolves: One month into 1943 -As Victoria Day approaches in Canada it is time for a review of the positives and negatives of the first month of Wolves' season in 1943. At 13-10 Toronto's third place in the standing is acceptable, given that they have played 17 games away from Dominion Stadium, but there are ominous signs early in the season. The Wolves must step up their game a little to not allow the either the Cougars or Cannons to get away from them, both Chicago, Cincinnati are off to hot starts.
Manager Charlie Reed has told the press that Juan Pomales will be removed from the starting rotation for the time being, stating that full time CF duties will be enough on his plate at the present time. Pomales' 0-2, 9.69 ERA is not helping the team on the mound, Jimmy Gibbs has been promoted to the 5th man in the rotation. Toronto pitching, counted on to be the backbone, steadying influence has been not quite up to the high standards through the first four weeks of 1943. Hancock, Johnson have been generally effective as expected, Walls and Wirtz have had both good then bad outings early this season. Lou Jayson has anchored the bullpen, he has not given up an earned run in 16 plus innings while being credited with 4 of the Wolves 13 victories. Phil English continues to defy father time in limited mound work, Ron Coles has been effective when called upon by Reed. Billy Crosby has been lit up in a few appearances with the pitcher's nightmare, walks, being a major factor. Bob McRae is scheduled to finish a rehab assignment in Buffalo before the end of the month so some decisions will have to made about the pitching staff.
On the other side of the ball the Wolves' offensive output had been a pleasant surprise early in the year. Pomales .303/.361/.408 made the decision for Reed a no brainer. Mike Rollinson has made a complete recovery from last year's season ending broken leg with a slash line of .301/.366/.408 in the first month of play. The brightest star, thus far, has been Clarence Howerton whose 13 RBI lead the team by 3 over Rollinson, Pomales while generally occupying the 8 hole in the lineup, .246/.319/.377, if continued, would be more than acceptable numbers for the defense first catcher. On the other end of the scale the team is hopeful that both Reginald Westfall, Charlie Artuso break out of their early season slumps, post haste.
Defensively the team has not been as bad as pundits led the fans to believe they would be, although not near the top of the CA, is more than expected by management. The biggest area of concern is the 10 errors at 2B by Rollinson accounting for two-thirds of the team total of 15 errors. Writers have noted that although there have not been many errors in the OF the lack of speed in the OF has hurt the pitchers by allowing hits that would have been caught by other teams.
Overall the Wolves have to stay on the same path with some improvements to stay in touch with Chicago, Cincinnati.
- The new balls are here and will be rushed into action beginning today, thereby altering the pasty complexion of the industry's batters. The new, livelier ball will contain more dynamite, which it is hoped will increase offense, as many teams have wearied of socking the current ball, which resembles comouflaged cantaloupes.
- The Chiefs have played 8 extra-inning games, the most of any club. Unfortunately they have lost 6 of the 8, which helps explain their playing 2 games under their Pythagorean pace.
- Not a lot to get excited about in Pittsburgh these days but Pinky Pierce is certainly the exception. The 29 year old outfielder is proving last year's breakout 22 homer season was no fluke as he leads the Fed with 5 already this season while hitting .324. Piece showed power previously in Pittsburgh but never got the opportunity to be an everyday player.
- Chuck Adams of Cincinnati also has 5 round-trippers to top the CA. Bow-wow was hot in the spring and is continuing that so far during the regular season, slashing .341/.372/.588 and showing why TWIFB tabbed him as a potential all-star this season.
- Baseball is doing it's part to fund the war effort but apparently horse racing is not. That according to the lawyer who is the head of the racing commission in California, who says the horse racing industry should be contributing $25 million a year to the war effort instead of the $3 million it turned over in 1942.
GEORGE FOX HOPES TO PLAY A DOZEN GRID TILTS THIS FALL
Balancing Dickson College's decision to stop intercollegiate football competition for the duration is the announcement from George Fox University that it not only will continue the game next fall but that the program will be stepped up to hopefully include 12 games, longest gridiron schedule in the school's modern history.
George Fox's usual schedule is eight games beginning in October. The four additional games this year will be played in September. One of the reasons for this announcement is the Reds hope to give several other veterans squad members a few games in which to play before they graduate in October. With Dickson dropping the sport, George Fox currently has 7 games filled and will attempt to add as many military teams as possible to fill the remaining five dates.
*** Service Teams Get 15 GLA Grid Tilts ***
The Great Lakes Alliance cleared the decks for a full-fledged football program next fall and also announced it has finalized schedules with three big Midwest military establishments. Iowa Naval Pre-Flight, Camp Grant and Great Lakes figure prominently in the schedules of all GLA schools as each of the three was able to card 5 contests with GLA clubs. St Blane also joined in to give the service teams additional top-notch competition as the Fighting Saints lined up season-ending games with Great Lakes Navy and Iowa Pre-Flight to replace their usual end of the season meeting with Coastal California. That is in addition to St Blane's annual tussles with Rome State and Annapolis Maritime, which are to continue.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 5/16/1943
- German occupation forces were reported to have wiped out the last 40,000 Jews in the Warsaw ghetto in a ten-day battle with tanks and guns against feebly armed Polish defenders.
- General Francisco Franco of Spain appealed to the warring nations -Allied and Axis alike- to day down their arms and seek peace. "The world has been at war three years and it is time peace be considered in order to undo hatreds and bring the countries together," Franco said in a speech at Almeria. US and British officials deemed the speech unworthy of comment and a repetition of a Spanish statement from a month ago.
- Britain's top military and naval officers from India met with American leaders in Washington leading to speculation a major offensive in the Pacific was in the works.
- An indication of that strategy perhaps, as days later American forces moved closer to the Japanese base in Kisko. It is expected Kisko is the Americans next target.
- The FBI is still search for over 3,000 draft evaders in the country, it was announced following raids in which G-man arrested 552 dodgers in 20 cities.