[Jiggs McGee]

JUNE 11, 1962
FORESTERS EXTEND WIN STREAK TO 11 GAMES
Deuce Barrell Notches Career Win #350 as Foresters Stretch CA Lead

The Cleveland Foresters are heating up and may well be on their way to a fourth straight Continental Association pennant and their sixth flag in the past seven years. The Foresters got out of the gate slowly, with just an 11-9 record after their first twenty games but in their most recent twenty outings they have gone 18-2 including a winning streak that has now reached 11 games.

Perhaps the most memorable of those 11 consecutive victories was last Monday's 6-1 triumph on the west coast over the San Francisco Sailors. The game came a day after future Hall of Famer Deuce Barrell celebrated his 45th birthday and the late present Barrell gifted to him self was 8 innings of six-hit ball that earned Deuce his 350th career pitching victory. Only Allan Allen, with 514, and Charlie Sis, with 395, have ascended to such heights ahead of the Foresters ace who seems to be getting even better with age.

It is a near certainty that no one in the history of the sport has performed as well in his age 45 season as Barrell, who has gone 8-2 with a 2.90 era in his 11 starts for the Foresters. Co-ace Adam Czerwinski (5-3, 3.70) is also heating up with wins in each of his last three decisions while the youngster of the star-studded trio, 31-year-old Jake Pearson (8-1, 2.40), may be all that stands between Barrell and a record 6th Allan Award win.

Led by those three pitchers and a pretty talented offense, the Foresters have stretched their lead to 7 games over a trio of Continental Association teams in Los Angeles, Cincinnati and the Chicago Cougars who are all tied for second place. Must be something in the water in Ohio of late as the Cannons, with nine wins in their last ten games including a current six-game winning streak are the only team keeping pace with the Foresters hot June record.

There is a hot team in the Federal Association as well. That would be the Pittsburgh Miners, who on May 16 were in 9th place with a 10-18 record. Since then, they have gone 19-4 and climbed into a tie for second place with the Chicago Chiefs. Each club has won four in a row but both continue to chase St Louis. They are six games back of the first place Pioneers but the Miners will have a chance to cut into that gap if they can keep up their hot play this week. Pittsburgh begins a 3-game series in St Louis on Tuesday.

The front-running Pioneers had a bit of a stumble early in the week - losing two games each to the Chiefs and the Detroit Dynamos before rebounding with three straight victories.

TURNER IS A RISING STAR IN PITTSBURGH

Edward "Dixie" Turner Jr., the dynamic young second baseman for the Pittsburgh Miners, has quickly established himself as one of the most electrifying players in the Federally Aligned Baseball Leagues (FABL). Born on February 15, 1942, in Live Oak, Florida, Dixie’s baseball pedigree was established early thanks to the influence of his father, Edward "Ed" Turner Sr., who also played second base for the Pittsburgh Miners. While Ed Sr.'s career at the FABL level was brief, his love for the game never wavered, and he became a crucial mentor in his son's development.

Growing up in the small, close-knit community of Live Oak, Dixie’s talent was evident from a young age. Stories abound of him outshining older kids in local sandlot games before he was even a teenager. By the time he reached high school, he was already a star. Playing for the Live Oak High School Lions, Dixie dominated the competition with his smooth glove, lightning-quick reflexes, and a bat that produced both contact and power. Scouts from across the country took notice, and by his senior year, he was regarded as the best high school prospect in the nation.

The Pittsburgh Miners, who held the first overall pick in the 1960 FABL draft, wasted no time in selecting Dixie Turner, believing he could be the cornerstone of their franchise for years to come. The significance of the pick was not lost on anyone, especially since his father, Ed Sr., had donned the same uniform years earlier. For the elder Turner, it was a moment of pride, and for Dixie, it was a symbolic passing of the torch. The younger Turner later remarked, "I’m not just playing for me—I’m playing for my family, my town, and everyone who believed in me."

Upon signing with the Miners, Dixie reported to the club’s Class C affiliate in Jacksonville in his home state of Florida, where he wasted little time proving he was ready for bigger challenges. His first professional season was nothing short of sensational, as he showcased his hitting prowess and defensive instincts. His second season was even better as he shone brightly with both Class B Spokane and Class A Gary. With his blend of speed, bat control, and defensive wizardry, the Miners’ front office accelerated his development, calling him up to the FABL roster ahead of schedule.

At just 20 years old, Dixie Turner is now the starting second baseman for the Miners. He’s quickly become a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, with chants of "Dixie! Dixie!" ringing through the stands at Fitzpatrick Park. His approach at the plate is mature beyond his years. He’s patient but aggressive when he gets his pitch, and his ability to hit to all fields makes him a constant threat in the lineup. Defensively, he’s been a revelation. His range, footwork, and instinctual play have drawn comparisons to some of the game's all-time greats.

Off the field, Dixie remains grounded. He’s known for his humility and strong connection to his hometown of Live Oak, where he frequently returns during the offseason to host youth baseball clinics. He’s also dedicated to his family, crediting his father, Ed Sr., as his greatest influence. “He’s been my coach, my toughest critic, and my biggest fan,” Dixie once said. “Every time I step on that field, I’m representing him too.”

While many young players might struggle with the pressures of being the #1 overall pick, Dixie has embraced it. His mental toughness and self-assuredness are traits that have set him apart from his peers. Those close to him describe him as fiercely competitive but also thoughtful and introspective. He’s quick to credit his teammates for his success and approaches each game with a sense of purpose and joy.

As the face of the Miners’ increasingly bright future, there’s a palpable sense of excitement surrounding Dixie Turner’s career trajectory. Some scouts believe he’s destined to be the best second baseman in the league within a few years. Others think he’s a generational talent capable of rewriting the record books. One thing’s for sure—with his blend of talent, work ethic, and charisma, Dixie Turner’s star is only beginning to rise.

DYNAMOS HOPE THEY HAVE LANDED A GEM IN DRAFT

Plenty of excitement at Thompson Field headquarters after the club announced its first round draft pick. Always take it with a large grain of salt when ballclubs begin to extoll the virtues of a top draft pick as first rounders always come with a healthy dose of hyperbole but the Dynamos feel this pick could be extra special.

That youngster anointed in a club press release as potentially the next Jim Norris, is a monster of a man-child by the name of Skipper Atkins. Just 17, the Philadelphia-born righthander towered over Scouting Director Harry Flannery but the diminutive Flannery, who is 5'7" on a good day, had a smile as wide as Atkins mammoth wingspan during the presser.

The Pennsylvania native won't turn 18 until August but he has tremendous work ethic, is a monster at 6'4" with a sidearm delivery that hits 96 miles an hour and will likely see plenty of righthanded hitters leaning closer to the on deck circle than the plate as they bail out on his delivery. Atkins has 7 pitches including 4 that are already rated as 4 out of 5 ability. He already has great stuff and solid movement and dominated the high school ranks going 43-0 with 623 strikeouts in less than 450 innings over his four seasons at Shenandoah High. The only concern is his control, which lags far behind his other abilities, but if all breaks right the Dynamos see him as perhaps the best pitcher in what looks like a very good crop of arms in this draft.

For his part, Atkins said and did all the right things in a brief meeting with reporters over the weekend before boarding a train back to Shenandoah, PA., to finish out the final couple of weeks needed to obtain his high school diploma. From there it will likely be a trip to Chattanooga where he is expected to make his pro debut with the Class B Dynamos.

Do not expect to see Atkins in a Federal Association Dynamos uniform anytime in the near future. While the club has seen some first round picks debut on the mound as teenagers, with Carl Potter being the most notable, it is likely that Atkins will need at least two and perhaps as many as four years on the farm in order to harness his control.

The raw stuff is certainly there but high school pitchers have a low success rate when it comes to meeting lofty expectations doled out by gushing club executives on draft day. Detroit, which reportedly had its sights set on Bill Carpenter from the College World Championship bound California Catholic Crusaders before Toronto gobbled him up one spot ahead of the Dynamos selection, has high hopes for their latest prodigy. There looks to be plenty of gifted players at the top of the draft. Let's hope the Dynamos guessed right on this one.

Tales From The Den

A Look At The Wolves After Two Months -After just over two months into the 1962 season the Wolves are showing signs of improvement following a decade of disaster. At 24-21, the team led by Tom Reed's .409 batting average is currently in fifth place, six games behind the Continental Association leaders from Cleveland. This Wolves team has been plagued with hard luck in the pitching staff with injuries having lost three pitchers for the season. Jim Jackson, 25, who was being targeted for the bullpen's lefthanded specialist injured his shoulder in spring training, he is out for the year. Phil Colantuono, 25, suffered an arm injury late in the preseason after a 15-10 record in '61, he may return to the team late this season. A cause for major concern was the season ending injury to George Hoxworth last week. Hoxworth at 24 seemed to bouncing back from a poor 1961, 5-16 with an ERA north of 5, when his elbow gave out after he started this season 5-2 in 9 starts. The team that was going to have rely on pitching is managing to keep its head above water with hitting thus far, they may have to bring up more young arms from Buffalo to add to a staff whose best arms are already under 25.

Now a quick look at the team by position along with the next in line from the system:
C- A pleasant surprise is the early going is switch hitting Ty Rusconi who at 24 has recorded a line of .321/.367/.514 while splitting duties with vet Dixie Williams. Expect Rusconi to get the majority of the starts behind the plate over the summer. Coming through the system is highly regarded Fred Tollefson who started the year in Vancouver in such fine fashion he may soon be moving to Davenport in A-ball.

1B- This was an area of concern in camp when Charlie Harvey had a poor spring. Harvey, 34, has rebounded nicely during the early season hitting at a .324 clip with 20 RBI. So much so that insurance package the team kept around, Ray Words, 35, has been placed on waivers, Words may be done with Toronto even if he passes through the waiver process. Harvey does not possess the power or glove associated with 1B but will stay in the lineup with his bat to ball skills. This is a position that needs an upgrade if the Wolves are move forward. the system seems bare at the moment unless Larry Irwin, 19, can rapidly move up the system which is a tall task.

2B- New Manager Randy Hohlt stated in Spring Training that the middle infielders would be judged more on glove than bat skills to reverse the trend of pitiful defense of recent years. Phil Story is fitting that bill with good defense at second while not pathetic at the plate slashing .235/.347/.356. He has recently been moved to the leadoff spot. George Marsolek is putting together a good season in Davenport while moving around the infield, he may spend more time at second with the Dusters.

SS- The other half of the double play combination Jesse Taylor, 25, has been an upgrade to the defense at short with an acceptable bat. Overall the defense has progressed leaps and bounds on Hohlt, Tanzan Miyake. There seem to a good number of SS available in this year's draft but Chattanooga's Harry McDonald might be one to watch in the future.

3B- Clyde Fisher has been another surprise early on slashing .353/.389/.529 in 179 times to the plate while providing above average defense at third. Stan Merrick who is tearing the cover off the ball in AA at 19 may soon move to Buffalo then challenge Fisher if not this year then in 1963.

LF- Two words Tom Reed. At 31 he is the most feared bat in the Wolves lineup leading the FABL with a .409 average second in OBP, Total Bases, OPS. Unless Reed moves to first in the future it is not a good time to be a LF prospect, although Bill Rawdon, 20, who can play all 3 OF spots is on the Wolves radar in AA.

CF- Sid Cullen, 25, seems to have this spot locked up for the next number years unless Carlos Rivera, 22, who is struggling in Vancouver can right the ship over the summer, Rivera is interesting as he can play all OF spots plus 1B. 2B. 3B so his future may in Toronto may lay in a position other than CF.

RF- Jim Allen's strong bat has given him the starting role despite his adventures in the field. Ed savage, 24, challenged for the job in spring but was seen as a defense liability so he was sent to AAA to work on his defense. He is still hitting in Buffalo but not making progress in the field.

SP- Until the injury woes mentioned above hit he Wolves the starters were supposed to lead the team forward in 1962. Arnie Smith, 22, who is coming off shoulder surgery is rebounding nicely although the staff has been inconsistent in the first 45 games. The SP ERA ranks 7th in CA far below expectations though leading the CA is batters retired on strikes. Manager Hohlt has to hope for better pitching over the summer. Wolves have young starters in AAA honing their skills for the FABL, Jimmy Blair, 22, Danny Horne, 21, George Adams, 23 if they can solve control issues may come to the big time over the summer.

RP- The addition of Zeke Blake has shored up a long suffering bullpen that still has a long way to go before Hohlt can be confident in going to the 'pen. Especially disappointing has been Wilson Pearson who has blown 5 save opportunities in 9 chance mainly due to walks. Fans are suggesting that Pearson should be sent to Buffalo for some work to give Stan Boone, 23, a chance to show his wares.

Overall the fans have to be happy with this year's team showing signs of moving ahead after years of suffering at Dominion Stadium. Their team is leading the CA with a .291 average which is unexpected, along with being in the top half of the league in almost all offensive categories. If the pitching staff improves fans could be treated some excitement at the ballyard. The nucleus of the team is young, this writer expects many of the older generation to follow Ray Words' path over the summer as team finds out what it has in the system.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

• Veteran Italian welterweight Carl Rondinelli, who was unsuccessful in his North American debut when now former World Champion Lonnie Griffin knocked him out last December in the 14th round of their title bout, was back in action in Europe last week. Rondinelli, who hinted at wanting another shot at the world title, easily outpointed Englishman Spencer Pochin in a ten-round tussle in London.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

• July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 34-7.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 6/10/1962

• In a move made possible by the quick delivery of more soldiers and equipment to NATO, the main allied defense line in Central Europe is being moved forward to the border between the two Germanys. The move is designed, in the event of any invasion, to hold opposing forces at the border of West and East Germany, rather than falling back to a defensive line that would sacrifice some of the largest West German cities to the enemy.
• Anti-American demonstrations are spreading in South Korea to the point where the US Army restricted all military personnel in the Seoul area to base except for official business.
• Laos has agreed on a new cabinet for a coalition government aimed at ending civil war and adding Laos to the ranks of the world's neutral nations.
• Fires triggered by bombs from European terrorists raged through Algiers, destroying schools and public buildings while also damaging the United States embassy.
• A record peacetime defense budget of more than $48 billion was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• 1960 Republican Presidential candidate Richard Nixon has won the party's nomination for the race for Governor of California.
• President Kennedy, calling for a partnership with Government to pump new life into the nation's economy, accused his sharpest critics of spouting "ancient cliches" instead of facing up to the real problems of the teams. Kennedy declared his administration is not anti-business but made it clear that the Government intends to do its part in trying to block recession and generate prosperity.
• The Supreme Court refused to interfere with a lower court ruling that killed the Agriculture Department requirement that meat packers label ham "imitation" if they add water to it.