APRIL 17, 1944
IF NO WAR, COUGARS MIGHT HAVE WON 120 THIS YEAR
The Chicago Cougars are the clear favourites to claim the Continental Association crown this season, but one can't help but wonder if -had there been no war- the 1944 edition of the Chicago Cougars might well have posted the best record in FABL history. No FABL club in the history of the sport have won more than the 105 victories claimed by the 1895 New York Gothams and the CA mark is 103 set by the 1929 Philadelphia Sailors and equaled by the New York Stars two years ago. But if the World War never came to be, or never involved the United States, it is not hard to imagine that the current version of the Chicago Cougars could easily become the winningest team in FABL history.
Think about it. The Cougars already have what looks like the best offense in the Continental Association, and while certainly every other team in the CA would be much improved the Cougars would certainly look even better with the likes of Clark Car, Carlos Montes and Ray Ford on their 24-man active roster. However, it is the mound where the Cougars would truly shine. Think what a rotation that included Pete Papenfus, the Jones brothers, Duke Bybee and Joe Brown might accomplish. In their last full season before leaving for military service the quartet went 68-39. Add in current Cougars Art White, Dick Lyons, Harry Parker, Mike Murphy and Rusty Petrick and it is not hard to imagine this club perhaps averaging well less than 2 runs against per game.
Papenfus won a league high 20 games and the Allen Award at the tender age of 23 in 1941 before enlisting in the Navy just days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Three weeks later the Cougars were informed by their outstanding 19 year old lefthander Duke Bybee -currently considered one of the best minor league arms in the sport- that he was enlisting in the Marines.
The following fall Donnie Jones, just 22 years old and fresh off a stellar 15-13 rookie season, was inducted into the Army. Danny Goff Jr., son of the former Brooklyn and New York Gotham star hurler and having made a very impressive debut in a brief callup by the Cougars at age 24, also left to join the Navy.
Then this past fall Donnie's older brother Johnnie Jones, after a breakout first full season of his own that saw the then 24 year old post a 15-8 record, received the call from Selective Service and was inducted into the Army. Joe Brown, at age 30 the elder statesman among this group of soldiers and sailors, followed Jones into the Army after going 18-11 for the Cougars in 1943.
We have not even touched on the pitchers that still remain in Chicago, and there is plenty of talent left. Veteran lefthanders Art White, Dick Lyons and the recently acquired Mike Murphy have combined for 514 FABL victories and all appear to have plenty left to give this season. Then there is Harry Parker, who went 40-20 in 1941 & 1942 and was 6-3 last June before a serious elbow injury ended his season. There are some question marks about his recovery but he has looked strong in spring outings so the outlook is optimistic Parker can return to form. Then there is Rusty Petrick, a 28 year old former first round draft pick who wore out his welcome with both the Cannons and Gothams as each gave up on Petrick ever reaching the potential that was forseen back at Sacramento High School a decade ago.
Here is how the Cougars offensive players would rank according to OSA:
Add in what might well have been the best pitching staff ever assembled in the sport and we could have been witnessing a historic season in the Windy City. The Cougars are still the favourite to win, especially now that Cincinnati has lost Deuce Barrell for the year (with the same injury Harry Parker suffered last season) but this truly could have been a season for the ages in Chicago.
SPRING NOTES FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE
BOSTON- It was a rough spring for the defending Federal Association champs as Boston struggled to a 7-17 Cotton Circuit record. Only the New York Stars won less games than the Minutemen. While Paul Richardson and Duke Hendricks each struggled on the mound there was positive spring news on the pitching performances of vets Walt Wells, Ed Wood and Dean Astle. There is concern in the Boston front office that the Minutemen will have their work cut out for them against Philadelphia and St Louis, but all in the organization are excited to get back to playing baseball after another winter filled with so much uncertainty.
BROOKLYN- It looks like veteran Jake Shadoan may once again find himself in the Kings starting lineup. A key piece of the Brooklyn offense in the early to mid-1930s, Shadoan even won a CA batting crown in 1933. But once the Kings became pennant winners he was a spare part and eventually moved to Detroit in 1937. Shadoan played sparingly for the Dynamos and was waived in 1939. The Kings resigned the two-time second team All-American out of Liberty College and he spent the past 3 seasons playing in the Brooklyn farm system. Now, with Tim Hopkins off to war, Shadoan had a big spring (.375,3,5) and appears to have claimed the everyday first base job in Brooklyn. If so, that makes Shadoan -who will turn 36 in a couple of weeks- a FABL regular for the first time in 8 years. He is a career .327 hitter in 1,081 FABL games.
CHIEFS- Speaking of former Kings who looked good in spring action, how about Al Wheeler. Hit .206 with a spring high 5 homers while tying with the Gothams Red Johnson for the Cotton Circuit rbi lead with 16. Does this point to a resurgence for the 5-time Whitney Award winner after a dreadful half season in the Windy City? Another old-timer -37 year old Red Hampton- had a solid spring for the Chiefs as well and he will be heavily counted on after all of the pitching losses to the war effort over the winter. The news is not all good as Rabbit Day, who turns 40 years old on May 1, was not overly impressive the past month. However, you have to think the 303 career game winner will have a spot in the Chiefs rotation.
COUGARS- After a 5-6 March, the Cougars finished the spring slate with a 9-4 mark in April. Only Dick Lyons had a spring era above 2.50 among those expected to get starts on the mound this season, but even that is deceptive as aside from one bad outing early against Brooklyn, Lyons was pretty solid.
CINCINNATI- Moxie Pidgeon appears to have made the Cincinnati Cannons Opening Day roster. The Cannons elected to go with 8 pitchers to start the season meaning Pidgeon stays with the big club at least until the team needs to add a 9th hurler once the doubleheaders start to pile up in May. Pidgeon, a career .312 hitter with 290 homeruns in 2003 FABL games, has struggled mightily the past 2 seasons in Cincinnati and did very little this spring, being held homerless in 39 spring plate appearances while slashing .162/.179/.216.
CLEVELAND- It looks like another long year ahead in Cleveland as the Foresters can do nothing but wait for their talented youngsters to return from military duty. The once expcetion is Jim Adams Jr., who is clearly the key piece of the Cleveland future that is on the club now. The 22 year old former St Ignatius star had a nice debut last September and the Foresters hope the shortstop continues to develop playing everyday. Adams slashed just .240/.255/.360 in spring action.
DETROIT- The big news in Detroit this season will likely come from off-field news as many expect Sal Pestilli will be traded. If that happens it won't be until after the June portion of the draft as the Detroit organization will certainly want one or more first round picks in return for the 28 year old 5-time all-star who is presently in the Army Air Corps. The June draft will also be front and center for Dynamos fans as Detroit will have a pair of picks in the opening round (4th round overall) including the third selection. The other question surrounds manager Dick York. A former star player with Detroit, it is unlikely the Dynamos give the 48 year old his walking papers but a slow start might cause pressure from club owner Powell Thompson to make a change. York is just 87-107 since taking over as Detroit skipper late in the 1942 season. In other news, veteran Frank Vance will start the season on the injured list. The 41 year old suffered a muscle strain last week and it is feared he won't be available until perhaps June.
MONTREAL- Saints pitching must be in pretty good shape when you consider the club is able to send Bert Cupid -the only top ten prospect not in the military- back to AAA Minneapolis. Cupid recently celebrated his 21st birtday, so he is young, but his performance at AA and AAA last year probably signals he is ready for a big league shot. Jackie James, who is 23 and ranked in the top 35 by OSA, is a rookie who appears set to make his big league debut with the Saints. James was 9-5 with a 2.69 era in Minneapolis but his ticket to Montreal may only be punched if the Saints are successful in unloading either Eddie Hite or Ed Baker, a pair of veteran lefthanders.
NY STARS- An unusual situation in New York as the Stars may just have 4 side-armers in their 5 man rotation. Billy Riley, Hank Mittan, Ben Watkins and Lyman Weigel all primarily use that unconventional arm slot on the mound. Steve Summers had an impressive spring and may just claim the starting shortstop job in New York. The 31 year old, who was signed as a free agent last summer, hit .381 in Cotton League play. If he can handle shortstop full-time it will allow the Stars to let Mel Hancock Jr. stick to second base, a position he looks much comfortable at than shortstop.
NY GOTHAMS- Gothams fans do have a full season of Red Johnson, but it is hard to get excited about the season given the state of the Gothams rotation and defense. Longtime New York Manager Ed Ziehl was talking the other day about how things have changed from the promise shown just a few short years ago. It's going to be shocking when the troops return and suddenly my kids aren't kids anymore. We got one championship out of them, but who knows when the rosters are full?
KEYSTONES- One of the biggest questions for the Keystones this year is who will replace slugger Hank Koblenz at the hot corner? None of the potential candidates looked overly impressive in spring action but it looks like 28 year old Ron Hansen, who was the Keystones rule 5 pick from Cincinnati a year ago and hit just .174 in seeing limited action, might have the inside track. Other options seem restricted to John Busby, Clyde Duncan or Tim Humphrey -none of whom strike fear into opposing pitchers. One has to expect the Keystones will be looking hard at the waiver wire for a third sacker, or may be forced to deal for one early in the season if they have designs on a pennant.
SAILORS- At 15-9 the Sailors had the best spring mark in the Continental Association. There is some optimism that after two straight fourth place finishes, the Sailors might move up a spot or two in the regular season standings but they will have their work cut out for them trying to surpass one or more of the Cougars, Cannons or Wolves. Like their cross-town rival Keystones, the Sailors have a big hole to fill thanks to the War Department. Woody Stone, a 4-time all-star and perhaps the most underrated catcher in FABL, is now a sailor of a different type having joined the Navy. And the void behind the plate has to be a major worry for Sailors skipper Steve Basile. The Sailors will enter the season with only one catcher on their 40-man roster in Bill Watson - a 27 year old with only 6 career FABL games under his belt. Watson hit just .183 playing nearly every day in the spring and his back-up was a 23 year old shortstop named Herb Dorsey, who had never caught a professional game before this spring.
PITTSBURGH- Veteran slugger Mahlon Strong had a nice spring, batting .385 with a pair of homers in 15 spring games. The question is, as always, will the 35 year old stay healthy? Strong missed close to 10 weeks last season with various afflictions and was bothered by a sore hamstring earlier this month but says he is now healthy and ready to go. The Miners pitching staff worries me but there are hopes that 28 year old Don Miller, who pitched out of the pen the last two seasons, might be capable of taking up a rotation spot. If so, that gives the Miners three solid arms to front the rotation with vets Karl Johnson and George Phillips being the other two.
ST LOUIS- The Pioneers took no chances with veteran arms Joe Shaffner and Sam Sheppard, giving each just one spring start, something they also did with Buddy Long. Each looked good in his spring debut and all 3 will be counted on heavily if the Pioneers are going to live up to the hype they have generated after a terrific second half last year. It looks like last year's 6th overall draft pick - Homer Mills, has done enough to earn a spot on the 24-man roster. Mills, a 22 year old out of Weston College, hit .300 in spring play after splitting last season between A and AA. There are some gaudy offensive numbers put up by veterans Tommy Wilson, Al Tucker, Gail Gifford and Hal Sharp during a spring that saw the Pioneers led FABL with a 17-7 record but those players, like the veteran arms, did not see much spring action.
TORONTO-The Wolves pennant hopes likely hinge heavily on Chink Stickels regaining the form he showed from 1938-41 with the New York Stars. The 32 year old struggled in 1942 and was dealt by New York to Toronto when the Wolves were looking for outfield help last summer. Stickels improved on his New York numbers after the deal but struggled this spring, slashing .146/.280/.220. The Wolves will need a much better performance from him and fellow outfielder Juan Pomales -who also had a rough spring- if they are going to be a factor in the CA race.
WASHINGTON- Eagles 80-year old owner William Stockdale says his charges have as good a chance as any of winning the first Federal Association pennant, which would be Washington's first since 1925. Conditioned as well as could be expected by a training program at Chesapeake University that was interrupted by cold, wind and rain during its month's duration, the Eagles will field a team that appears capable of providing rich entertainment in organized baseball's third wartime season, but it won't be one approaching the standard of prewar major teams -although that is something that could be said of every team in both associations. Still if the Eagles can get the pitching, their owner thinks the bats of Jesse Alvardo, Mel Carrol and Sig Stofer might just carry the club a long ways. Washington has to be thrilled with the spring showing of 37 year old Lou Ellertson. Given a chance to be a full-time starter really for the first time in over a decade, Ellertson went 12-12 for the Eagles a year ago and was a pleasant surprise to help stabilize a mound situation that always seemed to be in flux in the nation's capital. His spring was outstanding with 4 starts, during which he did not allow a single run and he will be counted on heavily again this season. Not bad for a pitcher grabbed off the waiver wire from Montreal just over two years ago.
NEW DRAFT PLAN SEEN AS OVER LOOKING 4-F BALL PLAYERS
Although there is nothing in the wording of the new draft ruling regarding men over 26 that even hints at the status of ball players, some baseball men who have their ears tuned to Washington wavelengths insist that it means their athletes won't be called. "The Army doesn't want'em and they won't try to force ball players into war jobs," said one. "It's like the limited servicemen. They told us down ther, 'there's only one place for those fellows and that's right on your ball clubs."
The two most notable 4-F FABL stars are pitchers Ed Bowman of the New York Gothams and Cincinnati's Rufus 'Deuce' Barrell. Barrell is hurt and out for at least the year but there was worry that Bowman -despite being declared 4-F well over a year ago- could be forced into a war manufacturing job as had been proposed for all men declared 4-F by the Army that could still be capable of working in a factory. Instead, it appears that will not happen, leaving Bowman free to continue to take the mound for the Gothams and other FABL players, married and over the age of 26, may also not be called on by Selective Service.
Meanwhile, service loops are heating up and becoming much more organized in some centers. Six Maryland military outfits have organized the 3rd Service Command Baseball League to operate this summer and six more around Chicago, including two teams from Great Lakes Naval Station, have banded to form the Midwest Service loop. That does lead to the question why other G.I. clubs that are going to play a lot of games against one another anyway, don't adopt the same plan? At least it would lead to fewer (and probably louder) arguments about what outfit has the best club. For instance, Virginia and the Carolinas alone probably will have two dozen strong teams, with former pros and college stars manning most of them, but so far there's no sign of plans for a flag race.
TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN
1944 WOLVES OUTLOOK --As the Toronto Wolves head back to Canada to begin the 1944 FABL season at home against the Sailors it is time to give a quick summary of what to expect from this year's team. The overall winner this season is WWII, every team at every level is feeling the affect of the global conflict. If reports of a imminent second European front are true and players do start returning to their teams this coming summer the entire league will be in a state of flux. Although the exact total is unknown at this time all major teams will be forced to make almost immediate major adjustments there protected 40-man roster. The fallout from these moves along with the trickle down affect is impossible to calculate at this time.
While hope always springs eternal before the beginning of every season rookie manager Bob Call is faced with a number of uncertainties with a team coming off a second place finish in 1943:
Pitching: The loss of Joe Hancock is a significant hurdle to overcome, early season scheduling should allow the team to go with a 4-man rotation but this will quickly change as double headers begin to mount up in May. Will the early season quartet of Johnson, Gibbs, rookie Laurita, Walls be able to get the Wolves out of the gate quickly in April? Or will the team be forced to call on aging Chick Wirtz, who was pressed during spring training by Tommy Anderson, after his disastrous 1943 season? The bullpen has two two-way players available if the early season becomes a hit parade by the opposition. Pomales, Zeller give Call an added degree of lineup flexibility that may be useful during the summer.
Infield: Losing Rollinson to the war will hurt but Hal Woods should hopefully make the the affect minimal. Can the team can use a steady diet of Pack, Woods, Artuso, Holliday? The backups Jensen, Bell, who only made the team because management was not willing to expose him to waivers, Huddleston, who refused demotion, Call hopes will be able adequate relief for tired starting players. The surprise of the spring was Wayne Henderson, he was the final cut due to having available options, expect to see him at Dominion Field this summer covering injuries or forcing his way onto the big league roster.
Outfield: Six men for 3 positions is probably at least one too many but again it came down to the fear of exposing players to the waiver wire. Pomales, Stickels, coming off a miserable spring, will be penciled in on an almost daily basis, Westfall, Hull will battle it out for RF with Call probably riding the hot hand. Vestal, Marshall are veterans that know how to stay sharp in case they are called upon at a moments notice.
With all the unknowns if the Wolves win more than 80 games, are a factor in the CA, it will classified as a successful season.
- Soldiers and Sailors will hear Tuesday's Washington Eagles opener against Pittsburgh live. An hour before game time the overseas broadcast will begin, carrying all of the season inaugural ceremonies and then the game between the Eagles and Miners at Columbia Stadium to our armed forces fighting abroad.
- Montreal Saints farmhand Biff Austin is the latest player to be drafted. The 21 year old infielder, selected in the 16th round in 1941 by the Saints, will report to the Army this week. The Ridgway, Pa. native hit .267 in Class C last year.
MAJESTIC SEASON FOR HARRISON
Gary Harrison capped off his outstanding career with the Rainier College Majestics by being named winner of the AIAA College Basketball Player of the Year Award. The senior from Marion, Il. finished second in the nation with 16.6 points per game and played a key role on back-to-back National Championship Tournament victories for the Rainiers. Harrison scored a career high 27 points in the 67-60 title game win over Annapolis Maritime last week to cement his standing as the best college cager in the nation. He also claimed a spot on the All-American team and for the second year in a row was named the top performer in the West Coast Athletic Association.
Harrison finished the season with 493 points which is the fifth highest season total ever recorded. The record is 571 set by Val Cortes of Brooklyn State in 1937-38. Harrison also graduates with the 7th most career points at 1,651. Cortes, with 2,036 is also the career leader in scoring. College almost behind him, Harrison will join the Navy next month. He becomes the first player for Rainier College to be named National Player of the Year and joins Ronald Daud (1926-27), Bump Belanger (1920-21), Jerry Buckler (1920-21) and Dick King (1919-20) as Majestics to be named First Team All-Americans.
Joining Harrison as first team All-Americans are Great Lakes Alliance guards Norman Yates of St Ignatius and two-sport star Pat Chappell of the St Magnus Vikings. Rounding out the top team are Carolina Poly forward Terry Flowers and Lambert College center Doug Davis. All but Flowers are seniors and all are first-time All-American selections.
Code:
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
C Doug Davis Sr Lambert College Stags
F Terry Flowers Jr Carolina Poly Cardinals
F Gary Harrison Sr Rainier College Majestics
G Norman Yates Sr St Ignatius Lancers
G Pat Chappell Sr St Magnus Vikings
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
C Larry Yim Jr CC Los Angeles Coyotes
F Dwight Smiley Sr Sadler Bluecoats
F Joe Quintana Sr CC Los Angeles Coyotes
G Trenton Salters Sr Bronx Tech Flying Dutchmen
G Mike German Sr Minnesota Tech Lakers
FRESHMEN ALL-AMERICANS
C Marlin Patterson Alabama Baptist Panthers
F Major Pruitt Mississippi A&M Generals
F Nes Horner St Andrews College Barons
G Jason Boland Meade Terrapins
G Chet Romeo Huntington State Miners
CLEAVER TOP COACH ONCE AGAIN
For the second year in a row Minnesota Tech's Pid Cleaver has been named the AIAA's Coach of the Year. The 58 year old is in his third season with the Lakers after previous stops as the head man at South Valley State and Henry Hudson. He ranks 29th all-time with 420 career coaching victories including a school record 25-7 mark this season. The Lakers had none been to the AIAA tournament since 1911-12 before Cleaver took over and he has led the school to three straight berths in the March event. The Lakers won their tournament opener 68-42 over Oklahoma City State last month but fell to Coastal California 63-60 in the second round.
Cleaver becomes the first back-to-back winner of the coaching award since Pug Johnson won it at Annapolis Maritime in 1931 and 1932. He also becomes the first Great Lakes Alliance coach to win since Indiana A&M's Crow Carlton claimed the honour following the 1925-26 season.
*** WESTGARD MOVES UP TO 6TH ON WINS LIST ***
Long-time coach Sterling Westgard has moved into 6th all-time in career coaching victories after guiding Carolina Poly to a 21-10 record and a berth in the AIAA tournament. The 64 year old Westgard's coaching career traces back to the first season of the AIAA when he was the bench boss at St Martin's College for the 1909-10 season. He has also been the head man at Cesar Rodney, Annapolis Maritime and Rainier College during his 34 year career. Prior to becoming a coach, Westgard spent some time playing pro baseball including 20 games for the Brooklyn Kings in 1904 and 1905.
Code:
[b] CAREER COACHING WINS
# NAME RECORD CURRENT TEAM
1. Art Barrette 789 Retired
2. Jerry Steffes 647 Retired
3. Jack Lough 607 Retired
4. Fred Flora 606 Retired
5. Lee Froehlich 591 Retired
6. Sterling *Westgard 574 Carolina Poly
7. Red Kearney 569 Retired
8. Ed Claus 568 Pittsburgh State
9. Webb Bruner 559 CC Los Angeles
10. By Almquist 553 Whitney College
11. Dick Keegan 527 Detroit City College
12. Parson McKibben 521 Retired
13. Frank Garren 511 Ohio Poly
14. Earl Boon 506 Retired
15. Bunky Mize 483 Retired
16. Pug *Johnson 481 Retired
17. Dizzy Kerley 480 Retired
18. Wimpy Chalker 480 Maryland State
19. Red Bennett 462 Rainier College
20. Vada Goldstein 462 St. Patrick's
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 4/16/1944
- The Allies have agreed on a plan to carve up the Reich after the war. It would see Russian occupation of Germany up to the Oder River, British occupation of northwest Germany to Bavaria and American occupation of Bavaria, Wurttemberg and Saxony after the Reich is defeated.
- The Germans announced the loss of the great Black Sea stronghold of Odessa, biggest Soviet city that had been in their hands, bringing the Russians to complete liberation of the Ukraine.
- Soviet armies continue their advance, sweeping through the Crimea at a pace promising it's complete liberation in a matter of days.
- The Japanese drive into India has been stalled by British defenses.
