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AUGUST 12, 1963

Eagles Sweep Pioneers, Pull Within Five
Dynamos Win Series with Gothams and Millers, Move Within Game and a Half

Just when the Pioneers started to put some ground between them and the pack, they let the Bell-less Eagles sweep them out of town. St. Louis had some scoring in the opening double header, 5 runs in each game, which is normally more then enough with their staff. Only problem is errors from new shortstop Joe Kleman (.284, 11, 64, 4) and old shortstop Ramon Tejada (.218, 5, 18) cost ace Frenchy Mack (14-5, 1.85, 151) the game, as 5 of the 6 runs he allowed were unearned. Then in the finale, spot starter Bill Davis (4-2, 4.97, 45) was abused, 12 hits, 8 runs, and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts in 5 innings, allowing the Eagles to cruise to victory. Both Tom Lorang (.364, 24, 88, 8) and Alex Wilson (.320, 8, 61) put in four-hit efforts, with three coming from Al Clark (.315, 12, 63), Al Marino (.278, 9, 48), and Ed Holt (.299, 1, 17). Close wins of 5-4 and 4-2 let the Eagles finish off the sweep, opening the door for their own run at the crown.

Ironically, the next series went opposite ways, as the Pioneers took two of three from the Keystones and after extending their win streak to five, Washington dropped the final two with the new-look Minutemen. Boston quickly debuted lefty Joe Lee (2-0, 3.24, 12), who came over in the Kleman trade. A former 3rd Rounder, he beat the Suns (9 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) and Eagles (7.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6), going well over 100 pitches to pick up the victories. A big addition for the team ranked 10th in starter's ERA, Lee gives Andy Logue (7-11, 3.89, 86) some support in the rotation, while trademate Fred McCarroll took over in center. Not as effective as Lee, the 26th ranked prospect was 4-for-19 with a pair of runs, walks, and RBIs. Other debuts include shortstop Del Robinson (.353, 3) this week and third basemen Adam Byrd (.224, 1, 6) last week, as Boston skipper Bill Freeman has been quick to play with his new toys. Robinson is the only homegrown option, a former 4th Rounder, as Byrd came over at the '61 deadline from Washington. The youth movement has brought some excitement to Minutemen stadium, and the Eagles were the first contender to face their youthful roster.

Detroit was able to make up for their weekend sweep by the Keystones, as they battled back with series wins against the Gothams (2-1) in New York and Millers (3-1) in Detroit. By beating the now 32-86 Minnesota club, they officially eliminated them from the postseason, as on August 11th the season became too short for them to make up their 45.5 game deficit. On pace to pass the Imperials 116 loss season with 119, they're actually 7-4 in August and need just three more wins to tie their season high in 1963. The starters even pitched relatively well this week, with none of the starts seeing more then 4 runs allowed. Most of the offense was the issue, especially in the Dynamo series, but almost-35-year-old Dick Sheehan (.309, 4, 46) has done well to turn things around. One of the top players of the week, he was 9-for-19 with 4 doubles, 7 RBIs, 3 walks, and 2 runs scored, now hitting .309/.378/.415 (108 OPS+) on the season. Of course, it takes more then that to change a team's fortunes, but there is some hope that the Millers can avoid setting a new record for ineptness.

Tales From The Den
Toronto Successful During First Half of Road Trip

The Wolves have not been unsuccessful on the road this year, 30-32, even so this week was a step forward as they took 4 of 6 from the top two teams in the CA, LA Stars, KC Kings. After a long flight to the west coast Colantuono took the mound on a clear Tuesday night. He battled Stars' starter Floyd Warner who left in the seventh with the score tied at four. Fans in Bigsby Stadium were surprised when Colantuono did not come out for the ninth, after only 98 tosses, with Hohlt choosing to go with Jim Jackson. Jackson sat Garrison down on strikes then walked Garrison on 4 pitches before line drive singles by Howard then Ed Moore walked off the Wolves 5-4. The next night Jesse Taylor lead a 13 hit attack with 3 RBI when Charlie Davidson tossed fifth complete game of '63 running his record to 9-7 with final score being 8-3 Wolves. In the series finale Toronto exploded for 2 in the sixth, 4 in 7, two more in the eighth to win going away 11-3. The only downside was that Arnie Smith's tank emptied after 6 with his team leading 5-2, Pepper had to come for the final 3 innings.

On to Kansas City for the second time in two weeks. In the opening game gene Bailey again toyed with the Wolves limiting them to 5 hits in another complete game for win number 18 of the season. Bailey threw 145 pitches in this 11 strikeout performance. On Saturday night before 27912 on hand Phil Story hit his 12th of the year driving in Medley to tie the game at 2. The game went into extras with Dixie Williams taking Henry Henderson's offering out of the park when pinch hitting for Taylor. Jim Jackson sealed the 3-2 win with a 1,2,3 tenth. On Sunday Colantuono bettered his Tuesday effort against the Stars by shutting out the Kings, with no help 3-0, making his record 13-6. All three runs came off solo homers by Tom Reed, Chick Reed, Sid Cullen continuing the Wolves surprising long ball parade in 1963. Wolves visit Cleveland then SF this week to complete the trip.

In moves Zeke Blake will rejoin the relievers in Cleveland with Stan Boone heading back to the Nickels. In another move Wolves first round pick Jack Goodman will suit up for Davenport after posting a .301/.305/.462 line in 35 games in Vancouver with no errors in 106 chances at short.

• Chicago may be slipping in the Conti, dropping big road series to both the Kings and Stars in the past two weeks, but it's not for a lack of trying. This week, young first basemen Gene Case (.298, 24, 86, 13) was best in the association, going 12-for-27 with a double, 4 homers, 4 walks, 6 runs, 10 RBIs, and a steal. A 2nd Time All-Star, Case is cruising in yet another outstanding season, hitting .298/.395/.559 (153 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 8 triples, 24 homers, 86 RBIs, 79 runs, 69 walks, and 13 steals.
• Detroit had plenty of help in their hot week, including from the Player of the Week Virgil Ewing (.304, 19, 95). Ewing was 12-for-28, tallying a double, 3 homers, 14 RBIs, 8 runs, and 3 walks. Another big outing came from Jim Norris (14-3, 3.35, 109), who spun a 2-hit, 4-strikeout shutout of the Millers.
• Just two more shutouts, one in both associations, with Gotham's swingman John Herzog (7-3, 1, 2.76, 54) dominating the Suns for second consecutive start. He was an inning away from a shutout in a 5-0 win last week, allowing 3 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts, but this week he got over the hump. Throwing a 4-hitter with just 1 walk and 8 strikeouts, Herzog improved to 7-3 on the season, and has allowed zero earned runs in four of his last five starts.
• The other shutout was a rare misstep for the Kings, as they couldn't solve "The King." Toronto's Phil Colantuono (13-6, 2.54, 109) had his best stuff working at Prairie Park, allowing 7 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts as the guests beat their hosts 3-0. Toronto took 2-of-3 from the Kings, including a tight 3-2, 10-inning game where Dixie Williams' (.234, 4, 24) pinch-hit go-ahead homer making the difference.
• More injuries in New York, as the Imperials will be without outfielder Walt Denny (.268, 4, 33, 4) for the next five weeks with a strained abdominal muscle. The 28-year-old owns just a 83 WRC+ in 430 PAs, but he added 22 doubles, 8 triples, 4 homers, 33 RBIs, and 41 runs. The crosstown Gothams also lost a batter, with bench bat Walker Hardin (.215, 6) suffering an off-field injury. No word on why or how, but he'll miss at least the next two weeks.
• Kansas City added a pair of players on minor league deals that spent the season in the Cougar organization. The first is a reunion of former 4th pick John Morrison (.167, 1), who was a part of the gigantic Ralph Johnson, Bob Arman, and Dan Smith deal. Morrison went 3-for-10 with the Kings across two years, but despite his lofty prospect status made just 110 FABL PAs. He'll make a $3,800 bonus, while long-time Cougar minor leaguer Ivy Loyd will get $2,000. Loyd has yet to debut since being taken in the 3rd Round of the 1956 deal.
• 20 year old George Dunnigan, 14-1 in AAA, has been called up to get some time in the pen in LA. He's pitched 168 innings racking up a modest 5.6 k/9 with a 1.5 k/bb rate. Cruising to a 75 FIP-, an ERA+ of 165 and a WAR of 4.5. Dunnigan was a part of the Stars dominant AAA Salt Lake City team, which is 83-22 with a 25 game lead in the GWL.
• In Boston's roster re-tool, Rule-5 pick Eddie Fox (1-3, 1, 7.22, 28) was returned to the Stars after 28.2 innings with Boston. In 1 start and 24 relief outings, he was hit pretty hard, allowing 34 hits, 23 runs, and 13 walks with 28 strikeouts. The former 10th Rounder has great stuff, but he hasn't been able to put it all together.
• One final roster move, as when activating John Low (.259, 2, 31) from the IL, the Foresters designated Les Hanauer (6-6, 5.80, 95) for assignment. Starting 19 of his 20 appearances, Hanauer has three options, but the Foresters must be ready to move on from his enticing stuff. A former 9th Rounder of the Sailors, he's pitched 281.2 FABL innings across the past two seasons, going 15-18 with a 5.30 ERA (84 ERA+), 1.53 WHIP, and 247 strikeouts, but I'd be surprised if no team takes a chance on his fastball/slider/change mix.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 08/11/1963

• In Moscow, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union signed the first Nuclear Test Ban treaty. The ceremony took place at the Kremlin with U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk, British Foreign Secretary Alec Douglas-Home, and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko signing on behalf of their respective nations.
• Craig Breedlove set the record for fastest driver in the world, reaching 428.37 miles per hour (689.39 km/h) "for a measured mile" in a jet-powered vehicle, Spirit of America, on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. His average for two runs was 407.45 miles per hour (655.73 km/h).
• The Great Train Robbery of 1963 took place at Ledburn, Buckinghamshire, England, when a gang of bandits halted a train ferrying mail between Glasgow and London. At 3:00 a.m., the group caused the train's engineer to stop by activating the red signal and covering the green signal. When the train came to a halt, engineer Jack Mills and his assistant were overpowered, while others in the group boarded the first two coaches hauling mail and tied up the four employees on board. The group then uncoupled the engine and two coaches from the other ten cars on the train, and forced the engineer and assistant to move one mile down the line to the Bridego Bridge, where the mail bags were dropped into automobiles waiting beneath. The haul was estimated at £2,600,000.
• American dissident Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested in New Orleans while distributing leaflets for the Fair Play for Cuba Committee at the corner of Canal Street and Baronne Street, after getting into a scuffle with three Cuban men (Carlos Bringuier, Celso Macario and Miguel Mariano), who were also arrested. Oswald spent the night in jail, and was then released. A week later, on August 16, Oswald again passed out Fair Play for Cuba leaflets with two hired helpers, this time in front of the International Trade Mart.
• Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, two-day-old son of President John F. Kennedy, of infant respiratory distress syndrome. A funeral mass for the child was held the next day in the private chapel of Cardinal Richard Cushing in Boston.
• Estes Kefauver, American politician who almost won the 1952 Democratic presidential nomination and then served as running-mate for nominee Adlai Stevenson II in 1956, died at 60.
• Lieutenant General Song Yo-Chang, former Prime Minister of South Korea, was arrested on orders of the President and his former superior officer, General Park Chung-hee.
• Two teams of surgeons, at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, carried out the successful separation of a pair of conjoined twins, Daniel Bartley and David Bartley, 27 hours after their birth. The two were joined at the abdomen.
• Clem Bevans, American vaudeville star and film actor, died at 83.