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ayaghmour2 · 11-04-2024, 08:27 PM

Okay, let's try this out! Yearly recaps! How many can I get before the return-to-live date? Well, at least one!

Season Summary
We've all heard the stories. Oh this Cougars team is just so good. They're going to compete for a title. They might be the best team on the league on paper. And every year, they'd get off to a decent start and look like they could compete for a pennant, just to blow it in spectacular fashion. Of course, they'd also sprinkle in the slow start and then got too late, as the schedule ran out of games and ended too abruptly.

So which Cougar team do we get this year?

Well, we got the hot start Cougars, as after taking the association lead on May 1st, they went 17-12 to pose as an early contender. Cleveland was hotter, holding a slight half game lead to start June, but the race was wide open and clearly anyone's game. Fittingly, the Cougars picked this time to slump, but as the weather heated up, so did the bats. They were putting up runs like the Cougar offenses of old, as as the deadline approached, they made a big move to upgrade the pitching staff that was allowing a lot more runs then it was used to. The arm of choice was Wally Reif (4-1, 1.98, 24), who was coming off a torn UCL last season. After struggling in a rehab assignment, he was dominant in 6 starts for the Saints, posting a sub-2 ERA and sub-1 WHIP in 50 innings. The 2-Time All-Star would sit in front of Donnie Jones in the rotation, and all the Cougars had to do was trade from their minor league outfield depth, sending Bob Allie across the border. A few days later the Cougars sent another young outfielder, Fred Crawford, to Boston in the Fed, adding former 3rd pick John Edwards (6-8, 4.49, 40) to the pen. He can also function as rotation depth in the case of an injury, as youngsters Bob Allen and Dixie Gaines have looked overmatched in their first full seasons.

Since what came next was crunch time, where the games mattered most, the Cougs cooled down, subpar showings in August and September. Still, 83 wins was an improvement on last season, though 13 games out was a let down considering how close they were for the first half of the season. But above all, the cratering in pitching production for everyone except David Molina was a major concern. Last year, Molina's poor pitching was the reason the Cougars weren't a contender, but the game's finest stopper went 7-2 with 20 saves, a 2.08 ERA (165 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, 34 walks, and 58 strikeouts in an out shy of 100 innings. Conversely, Duke Bybee (12-13, 3.98, 120) and Johnnie Jones (12-13, 3.98, 79) had a matching 86 ERA+, and Allen (2-4, 1, 4.59, 14) and Gaines (3-6, 5.90, 23) struggled mightily in the pen. Donnie Jones (16-15, 3.27, 150) was still solid, and George Polk's (16-9, 3.31, 125) breakout was no fluke, but Pete Papenfus (8-3, 2, 3.16, 61) did not look like the pitcher he was before the injury. His overpowering fastball was down five ticks, and at 34 his best days were clearly behind him. He struggled as a starter, working to a 4.18 ERA (82 ERA+) and 1.33 WHIP, but when he only had to pitch a few innings at a time in the pen he gained some of his mustard back. In 13 innings he walked just one with 8 strikeouts, allowing just 11 hits and 3 runs (2 earned). It's unusual when a Cougar staff is in need of fixing up, but there's a new sheriff in town.

No, I don't mean Jerry Smith, though the Kellogg winner certainly impressed as the anchor of the new lineup. Smith hit a stupendous .265/.372/.482 (143 OPS+) with 101 runs, 25 doubles, 4 triples, 30 homers, 95 RBIs, 100 walks, and 12 steals, appearing in all but one of the Cougars 154 games. Leading the team in most important categories, he also hit was tied for the 3rd most homers in team history. A record he seems destined to break, the graduated #5 prospect is already a top-10 position player, and one of the most exciting young players to build around. He's got some support, including from young guys like Henry Norman (.281, 5, 37, 7) and Elmer Grace (.245, 11, 65), with September callup Frank Reece (.300, 6, 18) expected to play a more important role in the offseason next year. The vets were solid, with production from Leo Mitchell (.274, 12, 52, 9), Don Lee (.245, 12, 53, 19), and George Sutterfield (.254, 7, 55, 16), but aside from Smith and Skipper (.278, 8, 65, 14) there's plenty of spots up for grabs. Former Cougar Bill Bordwell will start his first offseason in charge of the club he debuted with, as he attempts to extend the 80-win streak to six.

Offseason
In a word, the offseason was hectic, as a lot of stuff happened and very little of it made much sense. Joe Hess (5-3, 4, 2.61, 33), Pepper Tuttle (7-15, 3.49, 105), Jim Kenny (7-9, 19, 3.11, 37), and Les Bradshaw (1-2, 4.58, 9), all pitchers, were acquired by trade. Only one of them made it to 1952. Bradshaw was released, Hess waived, and Kenny left unprotected in the Rule-5 draft, so we basically wasted Roxy Hilts, Wally Kirkpatrick, and Phil Boyes while trading Wilson McKinney and Bill Owens for a 23-year-old first basemen George O'Brien who's career highlights involve a 12th Round selection and Class B championship.

For the sake of optimism, I'm going to focus on the trade that might help the Cougars compete for a pennant in 1953. The Cougars acquired the Chicagoan Pepper Tuttle from the Keystones, finally adding a guy that was pretty high on my 1933 draft list that I attempted to trade for a few times in his youth. Now 37, he spent 13 of the last 14 seasons in Philly, as he spent the 1945 season in the Army. A vet of 388 appearances, the former 4th Rounder went 130-138 with a 3.77 ERA (100 ERA+), 3.70 FIP (98 FIP-), and 1.42 WHIP in nearly 2,500 innings. Worth 33.5 wins above replacement, Tuttle struck out 1,187 and walked 1,051, and started more then 27 games for the eighth time this season. A useful depth role, he's been consistently average, and with a quality Cougar defense behind him he could be a useful pitcher.

The cost was rather pricey, as we parted with former 1st Rounder Jack Craft, as well as infielder Dick Coffey, to pry away the Keystones 6th most winningest pitcher. The loss of Coffey is negligible, but Craft was recently ranked as the 35th best prospect and projects to have immense power potential. In 102 games in La Crosse he hit .221/.392/.416 (91 OPS+) with 17 homers and 72 RBIs. That's strong production for a guy who doesn't turn 20 until the 4th of July, and if I was still in charge I'd probably push him to San Jose to start the season. Instead, he'll continue his career with the Keystones, and has a chance to be an above average starter at the hot corner for seasons to come.

I don't have much optimism going into the 1953 season, and with how many acquisitions were made leaguewide I think we are going to be quickly passed up by the better teams. With the #1 farm system and some absolute gems in Pug White (9th), Bobby Crooks (13th), Buddy Byrd (17th), Harry Rollins (20th), Allie Eddy (28th), and Buster Clark (31st), there's a ton of bullets to land a big name star. Instead, they'll probably get traded for relievers, but with five elite pitching prospects there would probably beno player untouchable except for sentimental reasons.

The team will also enter the new year with a new skipper, as Max Wilder was let go after five seasons. Not expected to sign anywhere, Wilder went 498-412 at the helm. Replacing him is former Blues manager Doc Woods, who spent the last six seasons in Milwaukee, and has prior experience with the Fort Worth Cattlemen (Manager) and Cleveland Foresters (Third Base Coach). With Milwaukee, Blues won the Century League in 1951, and finished with a record of .500 or better in each of his seasons. The last four have seen him win more then 80 games, with a .579 win percentage the low point. Woods would be working with a bench coach of his choice, as Pete Morris retired after 15 seasons with the club. His only other experience was as the Nashville Chieftains (AA) manager in the '36 and '37 season. As a player, he just made five starts at second for the Dynamos, four in 1912 and one more in 1914.

He'll be replaced by a guy who spent a few days as a Cougar, as we took Cannons 9th Round pick Sam Barnes in the Rule-5 draft. He was quickly released since I didn't want two second basemen, as we got Mickey Fulton in the 1st Round. He didn't last either, cut before Opening Day, so him and Barnes where both where they returned. "Snow Shovel" got his first taste of AAA for 1940, and spent the next six seasons and part of a seventh with the Cannons AAA team. He never got the call to the show, but they did end up hiring him as their first base coach, serving from 1949 to 1952. The final add to the staff was hitting coach Sam Villalobos, who spent three seasons as the Lions hitting coach. In the most recent season he moved on, starting as the manager of the Charleston Blue Legs.

Notable Transactions
April 15th: Designated CF Clyde Zimmerman, RHP Steve Groves, RHP Charlie Kelsey, RF Jimmy Hairston, 3B Otto Christian, and C Mike Bordes for assignment

April 28th: Released RHP Steve Groves

July 27th: Traded LF Bob Allie to the Montreal Saints for RHP Wally Reif

July 28th: Designated RHP Charlie Kelsey for assignment

July 31st: Traded CF Fred Crawford to the Boston Minutemen for RHP John Edwards

August 1st: Designated RHP Joe Quade for assignment

August 7th: Designated LHP Walt Hill for assignment

August 11th: Designated RHP John Edwards for assignment; Released SS Jimmie James

August 21st: Released LHP Walt Hill, C Johnny Hadley, and LF Buddy Jenkins

August 25th: Released RHP John Edwards

October 10th: Manager Max Wilder and Hitting Coach Rudy Walker leave the team as their contracts were not extended; Bench Coach Pete Morris retires; Scouting Director Dixie Marsh and Pitching Coach Alex Modglin sign 2-year contract extensions; Doc Woods form promoted from Milwaukee to Chicago, signs 2-year contract to become the Cougars manager

October 16th: Traded RHP Lee Parker and LF Delos Williams to the Philadelphia Sailors and LHP Troy Crockett

October 17th: Designated RHP Cliff Wallace for assignment; Signed Sam Barnes to a 2-year contract to become bench coach

October 18th: Traded 2B Roxy Hilts to the Philadelphia Sailors for LHP Joe Hess

October 19th: Designated LHP Bert Rogers for assignment

October 21st: Signed Sam Villalobos to a 2-year contract to serve as hitting coach

October 22nd: Traded 3B Jack Craft and 3B Dick Coffey to the Philadelphia Keystones for RHP Pepper Tuttle

October 23rd: Traded RHP Wilson McKinney and LHP Bill Owens to the Cincinnati Cannons for RHP Les Bradshaw and 1B George O'Brien

October 26th: Traded 1B Jim Campanelli and RHP Aloha Miller to the Philadelphia Keystones for RHP John Grimes

November 7th: Released RHP Les Bradshaw

December 11th: Lost LHP Jim Kenny to the Washington Eagles in the Rule-5 Draft; Lost RHP Joe Quade to the Pittsburgh Miners in the Rule-5 Draft; Designated LHP Joe Hess, LHP Troy Crockett, 1B Charlie Everitt, RF Clyde Parker, and 2B Billy Hunter for assignment

December 24th: Lost LHP Joe Hess on waivers to the Chicago Chiefs, Lost 1B Billy Hunter on waivers to the Pittsburgh Miners, lost LHP Troy Crockett on waivers to the Philadelphia Sailors

Cougars on the Continental Leaderboards:
Homers: Jerry Smith (2nd, 30)
RBIs: Jerry Smith (2nd, 95)
Slugging: Jerry Smith (2nd, .482)
OPS: Jerry Smith (2nd, .853)
WAR: Jerry Smith (3rd, 7.4), Skipper Schneider (4th, 6.6)
Runs: Jerry Smith (1st, 101)
Walks: Jerry Smith (2nd, 100)
Extra Base Hits: Jerry Smith (3rd, 59)
ISO: Jerry Smith (2nd, .216)
OPS+: Jerry Smith (2nd, 143)
WPA: Jerry Smith (4th, 3.36)
wOBA: Jerry Smith (2nd, .383)
Wins: Donnie Jones (t-4th, 16), George Polk (t-4th, 16)
Saves: David Molina (2nd, 20)
WAR: Donnie Jones (4th, 6.0)
Innings: Donnie Jones (5th, 277.2)
CG: Donnie Jones (t-2nd, 19)
Shutouts: Donnie Jones (t-4th, 4)
Strikeouts: Donnie Jones (2nd, 150)
K/BB: Donnie Jones (5th, 1.6)
K/9: George Polk (2nd, 5.4)
WHIP: Donnie Jones (5th, 1.23)
Shutdowns: David Molina (1st, 30)

Team Single Season Records
Home Runs: Jerry Smith (t-3rd, 30)
Walks: Jerry Smith (t-5th, 100)

Team Career Records
Average: Leo Mitchell (6th, .323)
Slugging: Red Bond (2nd, .503)
OPS: Red Bond (3rd, .861)
WAR: Skipper Schneider (4th, 83.2), Leo Mitchell (7th, 44.9)
Games: Leo Mitchell (3rd, 2,185), Skipper Schneider (5th, 1,922), Harry Mead (6th, 1,497)
Runs: Leo Mitchell (3rd, 1,233), Skipper Schneider (7th, 810)
Hits: Leo Mitchell (2nd, 2,688), Skipper Schneider (5th, 1,944)
Doubles: Leo Mitchell (3rd, 340), Skipper Schneider (4th, 381), Harry Mead (5th, 293)
Home Runs: Leo Mitchell (1st, 186), Red Bond (4th, 121)
RBIs: Leo Mitchell (3rd, 1,082), Skipper Schneider (6th, 792)
Walks: Leo Mitchell (5th, 599), Skipper Schneider (7th, 568), Harry Mead (8th, 562)

Notable FABL Events: Current Cougars
Kellogg Award: Jerry Smith
All-Star: George Polk (1st), David Molina (3rd), Leo Mitchell (8th), Skipper Schneider (9th), Jerry Smith (1st)
Batter of the Month: Jerry Smith (April, May)
Pitcher of the Month: Johnnie Jones (April)
Rookie of the Month: Jerry Smith (May, July, August)
Player of the Week: George Sutterfield (1), Jerry Smith (2), Skipper Schneider (1), Frank Reece (1)
Shutouts: Duke Bybee (1), George Polk (2), Johnnie Jones (2), Donnie Jones (4), Pete Papenfus (1), Wally Reif (2)
5-Hit Game: Eddie Howard (1)

Notable FABL Events: Former Cougars
300th Home Run: Sal Pestilli (MON, 9/14)
All-Star: Jim Kenny (1st), Lou Eaker (1st)
Shutouts: Zane Kelley (1, TOR), Mike Thorpe (2, KCK), Danny Hern (1, CLE), Lou Eaker (1, NYG)

Minor League Affiliates
AAA: Milwaukee Blues (82-58, .586, 2nd, 1 GB)
AA: Little Rock Governors (89-51, .636, 2nd, 4 GB)
A: Lincoln Legislators (83-57, .593, t-1st, 0 GB)
B: San Jose Cougars (79-61, .564, 3rd, 13 GB
C: La Crosse Lions (39-23, .629, 1st, 4 GA)

Notable Minor League Events
Batter of the Month: Rupert Heinbaugh (June, AA), Harley Dollar (July, AAA), Bill Doucette (July, AAA)
Pitcher of the Month: Wilson McKinney (1, B)
Player of the Week: Jeff King (1, B), Fred Crawford (1, B), Frank Reece (2, AAA), Doc Zimmerman (1, B), Marv Bennett (1, A), Buddy Jenkins (1, B), 3B Bill Doucette (1, A), Harley Dollar (1, AAA), Johnny Dickinson (1, B), Otto Christian (1, AAA), Henry Sheridan (1, A), John Price (1, B)
Shutouts: Jimmy Isgro (3, B), Al Robison (2, AA), Pug White (2, AAA), Jerry Decker (1, AAA), Bert Rogers (1, AA), Walt Cooper (2, C), Lee Parker (2, AA)
5-Hit Game: Doc Zimmerman (1, B), Garland Phelps (1, AAA), Charlie Artuso (1, AAA), Harley Dollar (1, AAA), Harry Austin (1, AAA), Curt Neville (1, B)
4-HR Game: Doc Zimmerman (1, B)
15-K Games: Harry Rollins (2, C), Walt Cooper (1, C), Allie Eddy (3, C)

11-04-2024, 08:27 PM	#1521
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	1952 Season Okay, let's try this out! Yearly recaps! How many can I get before the return-to-live date? Well, at least one! Season Summary We've all heard the stories. Oh this Cougars team is just so good. They're going to compete for a title. They might be the best team on the league on paper. And every year, they'd get off to a decent start and look like they could compete for a pennant, just to blow it in spectacular fashion. Of course, they'd also sprinkle in the slow start and then got too late, as the schedule ran out of games and ended too abruptly. So which Cougar team do we get this year? Well, we got the hot start Cougars, as after taking the association lead on May 1st, they went 17-12 to pose as an early contender. Cleveland was hotter, holding a slight half game lead to start June, but the race was wide open and clearly anyone's game. Fittingly, the Cougars picked this time to slump, but as the weather heated up, so did the bats. They were putting up runs like the Cougar offenses of old, as as the deadline approached, they made a big move to upgrade the pitching staff that was allowing a lot more runs then it was used to. The arm of choice was Wally Reif (4-1, 1.98, 24), who was coming off a torn UCL last season. After struggling in a rehab assignment, he was dominant in 6 starts for the Saints, posting a sub-2 ERA and sub-1 WHIP in 50 innings. The 2-Time All-Star would sit in front of Donnie Jones in the rotation, and all the Cougars had to do was trade from their minor league outfield depth, sending Bob Allie across the border. A few days later the Cougars sent another young outfielder, Fred Crawford, to Boston in the Fed, adding former 3rd pick John Edwards (6-8, 4.49, 40) to the pen. He can also function as rotation depth in the case of an injury, as youngsters Bob Allen and Dixie Gaines have looked overmatched in their first full seasons. Since what came next was crunch time, where the games mattered most, the Cougs cooled down, subpar showings in August and September. Still, 83 wins was an improvement on last season, though 13 games out was a let down considering how close they were for the first half of the season. But above all, the cratering in pitching production for everyone except David Molina was a major concern. Last year, Molina's poor pitching was the reason the Cougars weren't a contender, but the game's finest stopper went 7-2 with 20 saves, a 2.08 ERA (165 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, 34 walks, and 58 strikeouts in an out shy of 100 innings. Conversely, Duke Bybee (12-13, 3.98, 120) and Johnnie Jones (12-13, 3.98, 79) had a matching 86 ERA+, and Allen (2-4, 1, 4.59, 14) and Gaines (3-6, 5.90, 23) struggled mightily in the pen. Donnie Jones (16-15, 3.27, 150) was still solid, and George Polk's (16-9, 3.31, 125) breakout was no fluke, but Pete Papenfus (8-3, 2, 3.16, 61) did not look like the pitcher he was before the injury. His overpowering fastball was down five ticks, and at 34 his best days were clearly behind him. He struggled as a starter, working to a 4.18 ERA (82 ERA+) and 1.33 WHIP, but when he only had to pitch a few innings at a time in the pen he gained some of his mustard back. In 13 innings he walked just one with 8 strikeouts, allowing just 11 hits and 3 runs (2 earned). It's unusual when a Cougar staff is in need of fixing up, but there's a new sheriff in town. No, I don't mean Jerry Smith, though the Kellogg winner certainly impressed as the anchor of the new lineup. Smith hit a stupendous .265/.372/.482 (143 OPS+) with 101 runs, 25 doubles, 4 triples, 30 homers, 95 RBIs, 100 walks, and 12 steals, appearing in all but one of the Cougars 154 games. Leading the team in most important categories, he also hit was tied for the 3rd most homers in team history. A record he seems destined to break, the graduated #5 prospect is already a top-10 position player, and one of the most exciting young players to build around. He's got some support, including from young guys like Henry Norman (.281, 5, 37, 7) and Elmer Grace (.245, 11, 65), with September callup Frank Reece (.300, 6, 18) expected to play a more important role in the offseason next year. The vets were solid, with production from Leo Mitchell (.274, 12, 52, 9), Don Lee (.245, 12, 53, 19), and George Sutterfield (.254, 7, 55, 16), but aside from Smith and Skipper (.278, 8, 65, 14) there's plenty of spots up for grabs. Former Cougar Bill Bordwell will start his first offseason in charge of the club he debuted with, as he attempts to extend the 80-win streak to six. Offseason In a word, the offseason was hectic, as a lot of stuff happened and very little of it made much sense. Joe Hess (5-3, 4, 2.61, 33), Pepper Tuttle (7-15, 3.49, 105), Jim Kenny (7-9, 19, 3.11, 37), and Les Bradshaw (1-2, 4.58, 9), all pitchers, were acquired by trade. Only one of them made it to 1952. Bradshaw was released, Hess waived, and Kenny left unprotected in the Rule-5 draft, so we basically wasted Roxy Hilts, Wally Kirkpatrick, and Phil Boyes while trading Wilson McKinney and Bill Owens for a 23-year-old first basemen George O'Brien who's career highlights involve a 12th Round selection and Class B championship. For the sake of optimism, I'm going to focus on the trade that might help the Cougars compete for a pennant in 1953. The Cougars acquired the Chicagoan Pepper Tuttle from the Keystones, finally adding a guy that was pretty high on my 1933 draft list that I attempted to trade for a few times in his youth. Now 37, he spent 13 of the last 14 seasons in Philly, as he spent the 1945 season in the Army. A vet of 388 appearances, the former 4th Rounder went 130-138 with a 3.77 ERA (100 ERA+), 3.70 FIP (98 FIP-), and 1.42 WHIP in nearly 2,500 innings. Worth 33.5 wins above replacement, Tuttle struck out 1,187 and walked 1,051, and started more then 27 games for the eighth time this season. A useful depth role, he's been consistently average, and with a quality Cougar defense behind him he could be a useful pitcher. The cost was rather pricey, as we parted with former 1st Rounder Jack Craft, as well as infielder Dick Coffey, to pry away the Keystones 6th most winningest pitcher. The loss of Coffey is negligible, but Craft was recently ranked as the 35th best prospect and projects to have immense power potential. In 102 games in La Crosse he hit .221/.392/.416 (91 OPS+) with 17 homers and 72 RBIs. That's strong production for a guy who doesn't turn 20 until the 4th of July, and if I was still in charge I'd probably push him to San Jose to start the season. Instead, he'll continue his career with the Keystones, and has a chance to be an above average starter at the hot corner for seasons to come. I don't have much optimism going into the 1953 season, and with how many acquisitions were made leaguewide I think we are going to be quickly passed up by the better teams. With the #1 farm system and some absolute gems in Pug White (9th), Bobby Crooks (13th), Buddy Byrd (17th), Harry Rollins (20th), Allie Eddy (28th), and Buster Clark (31st), there's a ton of bullets to land a big name star. Instead, they'll probably get traded for relievers, but with five elite pitching prospects there would probably beno player untouchable except for sentimental reasons. The team will also enter the new year with a new skipper, as Max Wilder was let go after five seasons. Not expected to sign anywhere, Wilder went 498-412 at the helm. Replacing him is former Blues manager Doc Woods, who spent the last six seasons in Milwaukee, and has prior experience with the Fort Worth Cattlemen (Manager) and Cleveland Foresters (Third Base Coach). With Milwaukee, Blues won the Century League in 1951, and finished with a record of .500 or better in each of his seasons. The last four have seen him win more then 80 games, with a .579 win percentage the low point. Woods would be working with a bench coach of his choice, as Pete Morris retired after 15 seasons with the club. His only other experience was as the Nashville Chieftains (AA) manager in the '36 and '37 season. As a player, he just made five starts at second for the Dynamos, four in 1912 and one more in 1914. He'll be replaced by a guy who spent a few days as a Cougar, as we took Cannons 9th Round pick Sam Barnes in the Rule-5 draft. He was quickly released since I didn't want two second basemen, as we got Mickey Fulton in the 1st Round. He didn't last either, cut before Opening Day, so him and Barnes where both where they returned. "Snow Shovel" got his first taste of AAA for 1940, and spent the next six seasons and part of a seventh with the Cannons AAA team. He never got the call to the show, but they did end up hiring him as their first base coach, serving from 1949 to 1952. The final add to the staff was hitting coach Sam Villalobos, who spent three seasons as the Lions hitting coach. In the most recent season he moved on, starting as the manager of the Charleston Blue Legs. Notable Transactions April 15th: Designated CF Clyde Zimmerman, RHP Steve Groves, RHP Charlie Kelsey, RF Jimmy Hairston, 3B Otto Christian, and C Mike Bordes for assignment April 28th: Released RHP Steve Groves July 27th: Traded LF Bob Allie to the Montreal Saints for RHP Wally Reif July 28th: Designated RHP Charlie Kelsey for assignment July 31st: Traded CF Fred Crawford to the Boston Minutemen for RHP John Edwards August 1st: Designated RHP Joe Quade for assignment August 7th: Designated LHP Walt Hill for assignment August 11th: Designated RHP John Edwards for assignment; Released SS Jimmie James August 21st: Released LHP Walt Hill, C Johnny Hadley, and LF Buddy Jenkins August 25th: Released RHP John Edwards October 10th: Manager Max Wilder and Hitting Coach Rudy Walker leave the team as their contracts were not extended; Bench Coach Pete Morris retires; Scouting Director Dixie Marsh and Pitching Coach Alex Modglin sign 2-year contract extensions; Doc Woods form promoted from Milwaukee to Chicago, signs 2-year contract to become the Cougars manager October 16th: Traded RHP Lee Parker and LF Delos Williams to the Philadelphia Sailors and LHP Troy Crockett October 17th: Designated RHP Cliff Wallace for assignment; Signed Sam Barnes to a 2-year contract to become bench coach October 18th: Traded 2B Roxy Hilts to the Philadelphia Sailors for LHP Joe Hess October 19th: Designated LHP Bert Rogers for assignment October 21st: Signed Sam Villalobos to a 2-year contract to serve as hitting coach October 22nd: Traded 3B Jack Craft and 3B Dick Coffey to the Philadelphia Keystones for RHP Pepper Tuttle October 23rd: Traded RHP Wilson McKinney and LHP Bill Owens to the Cincinnati Cannons for RHP Les Bradshaw and 1B George O'Brien October 26th: Traded 1B Jim Campanelli and RHP Aloha Miller to the Philadelphia Keystones for RHP John Grimes November 7th: Released RHP Les Bradshaw December 11th: Lost LHP Jim Kenny to the Washington Eagles in the Rule-5 Draft; Lost RHP Joe Quade to the Pittsburgh Miners in the Rule-5 Draft; Designated LHP Joe Hess, LHP Troy Crockett, 1B Charlie Everitt, RF Clyde Parker, and 2B Billy Hunter for assignment December 24th: Lost LHP Joe Hess on waivers to the Chicago Chiefs, Lost 1B Billy Hunter on waivers to the Pittsburgh Miners, lost LHP Troy Crockett on waivers to the Philadelphia Sailors Cougars on the Continental Leaderboards: Homers: Jerry Smith (2nd, 30) RBIs: Jerry Smith (2nd, 95) Slugging: Jerry Smith (2nd, .482) OPS: Jerry Smith (2nd, .853) WAR: Jerry Smith (3rd, 7.4), Skipper Schneider (4th, 6.6) Runs: Jerry Smith (1st, 101) Walks: Jerry Smith (2nd, 100) Extra Base Hits: Jerry Smith (3rd, 59) ISO: Jerry Smith (2nd, .216) OPS+: Jerry Smith (2nd, 143) WPA: Jerry Smith (4th, 3.36) wOBA: Jerry Smith (2nd, .383) Wins: Donnie Jones (t-4th, 16), George Polk (t-4th, 16) Saves: David Molina (2nd, 20) WAR: Donnie Jones (4th, 6.0) Innings: Donnie Jones (5th, 277.2) CG: Donnie Jones (t-2nd, 19) Shutouts: Donnie Jones (t-4th, 4) Strikeouts: Donnie Jones (2nd, 150) K/BB: Donnie Jones (5th, 1.6) K/9: George Polk (2nd, 5.4) WHIP: Donnie Jones (5th, 1.23) Shutdowns: David Molina (1st, 30) Team Single Season Records Home Runs: Jerry Smith (t-3rd, 30) Walks: Jerry Smith (t-5th, 100) Team Career Records Average: Leo Mitchell (6th, .323) Slugging: Red Bond (2nd, .503) OPS: Red Bond (3rd, .861) WAR: Skipper Schneider (4th, 83.2), Leo Mitchell (7th, 44.9) Games: Leo Mitchell (3rd, 2,185), Skipper Schneider (5th, 1,922), Harry Mead (6th, 1,497) Runs: Leo Mitchell (3rd, 1,233), Skipper Schneider (7th, 810) Hits: Leo Mitchell (2nd, 2,688), Skipper Schneider (5th, 1,944) Doubles: Leo Mitchell (3rd, 340), Skipper Schneider (4th, 381), Harry Mead (5th, 293) Home Runs: Leo Mitchell (1st, 186), Red Bond (4th, 121) RBIs: Leo Mitchell (3rd, 1,082), Skipper Schneider (6th, 792) Walks: Leo Mitchell (5th, 599), Skipper Schneider (7th, 568), Harry Mead (8th, 562) Notable FABL Events: Current Cougars Kellogg Award: Jerry Smith All-Star: George Polk (1st), David Molina (3rd), Leo Mitchell (8th), Skipper Schneider (9th), Jerry Smith (1st) Batter of the Month: Jerry Smith (April, May) Pitcher of the Month: Johnnie Jones (April) Rookie of the Month: Jerry Smith (May, July, August) Player of the Week: George Sutterfield (1), Jerry Smith (2), Skipper Schneider (1), Frank Reece (1) Shutouts: Duke Bybee (1), George Polk (2), Johnnie Jones (2), Donnie Jones (4), Pete Papenfus (1), Wally Reif (2) 5-Hit Game: Eddie Howard (1) Notable FABL Events: Former Cougars 300th Home Run: Sal Pestilli (MON, 9/14) All-Star: Jim Kenny (1st), Lou Eaker (1st) Shutouts: Zane Kelley (1, TOR), Mike Thorpe (2, KCK), Danny Hern (1, CLE), Lou Eaker (1, NYG) Minor League Affiliates AAA: Milwaukee Blues (82-58, .586, 2nd, 1 GB) AA: Little Rock Governors (89-51, .636, 2nd, 4 GB) A: Lincoln Legislators (83-57, .593, t-1st, 0 GB) B: San Jose Cougars (79-61, .564, 3rd, 13 GB C: La Crosse Lions (39-23, .629, 1st, 4 GA) Notable Minor League Events Batter of the Month: Rupert Heinbaugh (June, AA), Harley Dollar (July, AAA), Bill Doucette (July, AAA) Pitcher of the Month: Wilson McKinney (1, B) Player of the Week: Jeff King (1, B), Fred Crawford (1, B), Frank Reece (2, AAA), Doc Zimmerman (1, B), Marv Bennett (1, A), Buddy Jenkins (1, B), 3B Bill Doucette (1, A), Harley Dollar (1, AAA), Johnny Dickinson (1, B), Otto Christian (1, AAA), Henry Sheridan (1, A), John Price (1, B) Shutouts: Jimmy Isgro (3, B), Al Robison (2, AA), Pug White (2, AAA), Jerry Decker (1, AAA), Bert Rogers (1, AA), Walt Cooper (2, C), Lee Parker (2, AA) 5-Hit Game: Doc Zimmerman (1, B), Garland Phelps (1, AAA), Charlie Artuso (1, AAA), Harley Dollar (1, AAA), Harry Austin (1, AAA), Curt Neville (1, B) 4-HR Game: Doc Zimmerman (1, B) 15-K Games: Harry Rollins (2, C), Walt Cooper (1, C), Allie Eddy (3, C) Attached Images Last edited by ayaghmour2; 11-07-2024 at 03:07 PM.