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Game of the Month for May 1963

Chicago, Illinois – Let's cast our minds back to May 1963, a month that will be remembered
as a turning point for our beloved Chicago Chiefs of the FABL. The Chiefs were coming off a
dismal 3-6 road trip and faced the daunting task of hosting the formidable Washington Eagles
for a four-game showdown over just three days. The Eagles, perched in second place in
the Fed standings, seemed unstoppable. Meanwhile, our Chiefs were floundering,
sitting three games below .500 and not resembling a contending team in the slightest.

Over the next three days, something remarkable happened. The Chiefs, fueled by an
unwavering determination, won three out of four games, outscoring the favored Eagles
40-17 in the victories. There was the unfortunate 9-1 drubbing in the first game of
Sunday’s doubleheader, but let's not dwell on that. Instead, let's celebrate the thrilling
football-like scores of 10-6, 13-8, and a resounding 17-5 victory that reverberated
through the Windy City, igniting a newfound spark in our Chiefs.

In the midst of this electric series, Al Padgett emerged as the Player of the Game,
delivering four hits, including his second home run of the 1963 season. However,
if you asked anyone in the Chiefs' clubhouse, they would unanimously declare
pitcher Ed Funk as the true hero. With no prior notice, Funk was thrust into the
starting role after the scheduled starter, Fred Moore, was unable to take the
mound. Funk rose to the occasion, surrendering just one earned run over 6.1
gritty innings, throwing an astonishing 111 pitches. The bullpen took care of the
remaining 2.2 innings, but it was Funk's valiant effort that saved the day for the
pitching staff.

Throughout the four-game series, outfielder Joe Siniscalchi drove in an impressive
10 runs, while the newly inserted Joe Flanagan chipped in with seven RBIs,
accounting for 17 of the team's 41 runs. Remarkably, a total of eleven different
Chiefs drove in a run, a testament to the collective effort and depth of the lineup.
Including the Eagles series, our Chicago team went on to win 15 of their final 22
games in May, catapulting themselves back into the top half of the Fed standings.

The month of May brought its fair share of challenges, but our Chicago Chiefs
demonstrated resilience and potential. As we move forward, the hope and optimism
of the 1963 season are alive and well, embodied in every swing, pitch, and play.
Stay tuned, Chiefs fans, for more thrilling moments ahead!

-John "Scoop" Mitchell, Windy City News Sportswriter