The Chiefs are sending three players to the 1962 All-Star game at Cougars Park. Despite the horrible July that has seen us drop 16 of 21 contests, we
are still on pace to better the OSA predictions of 72 wins for the year. The disappointment comes with being towards the top of the Fed for much of
the first half and then imploding and dropping in the standings.
Rod Shearer
Rod Shearer will appear in his sixth All-Star game representing the Chiefs each time. He'll start in center field and
lead off for the Fed team. He was an All-Star five times during the decade of the 1950s(53, 54, 55, 57, 59) but
has watched from home the last two seasons. He's tied for the team lead with 13 home runs and is second with 62 RBI.
Al Padgett
29-year-old catcher Al Padgett will make his first All-Star appearance in his first season as the full time starter behind the plate for the Chiefs.
Padgett also has 13 home runs heading into the break, already besting his career high of 12 set last season while splitting time with Mickey
Tucker. Padgett will also get the start for the Fed team and bat seventh.
Dutch Lane
Rounding out the Chiefs' trio is 23-year-old relief pitcher Dutch Lane. Lane is in his first full season with the big club after throwing just 19 1/3
innings in 1961. Lane boasts a 7-4 record to go with 16 saves and a 3.02 ERA in his 59 2/3 innings. The youngster has been not only the best
pitcher on the squad this season but also the most consistent. There has been talk of moving him to the rotation but for this year he is an FABL All-Star reliever.
1062 All-Star game recap from the great Jiggs McGee and This Week in Figment Sports:
Shearer played an important role in the Fed victory with two hits and two RBI and by scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. He's been hit
or miss in his six All-Star game appearances but overall he's done well. For his career he has a .375/.473/500 slash line against the best in
baseball. He's also scored two runs and knocked in five in his 19 plate appearances.
Padgett also scored a run following a walk but did not manage a hit in his only other plate appearance.
Lane, perhaps with some butterflies, had a forgettable outing allowing two runs on two hits and three bases on balls.