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August Brings a Spark to the Chicago Chiefs’ Season

Chicago, Illinois –
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re back to winning baseball—sort of. After a rocky 14-17 July, the Chicago Chiefs bounced back with a 16-13 record in August. Sure, we’re still sixth in the Federal League standings, and the 14-game deficit essentially writes off any pennant dreams, but let’s focus on the good news. The Chiefs will only face the league’s top three teams for one more game the rest of the season, giving them a golden opportunity to climb the standings with pride intact. Around here, tanking for draft position isn’t in the vocabulary—it’s not the Chiefs’ way. Fourth place is still within reach, and that’s exactly the kind of goal this team is rallying around as the 1963 campaign winds down.

Now, let’s talk about August—a month that was equal parts thrilling and frustrating. The Chiefs treated fans to a six-game winning streak, only to stumble with a four-game losing skid, including a humbling three-game sweep by the expansion Minneapolis Millers. Yes, the same Millers the Chiefs had thoroughly dominated to the tune of 12 wins and just one loss before that series. It’s safe to say that sweep left a sour taste in the clubhouse. Still, despite the inconsistencies, there were plenty of bright spots—especially at the plate.

How about Bob Starr? The Chicago native and fan-favorite outfielder put on another show, earning Federal League Rookie of the Month honors for the second straight month. Starr slashed .333/.391/.657 in August, continuing to dazzle with his speed, power, and stellar outfield play. He’s not the only rookie stepping up—Tom Spruill (.333, 12 runs scored, 13 RBIs) and Jorge Vallejo (.342, 6, 6) joined the party, with Vallejo finally finding his rhythm after struggling for much of the season.

Speaking of legends, August also gave us a moment for the history books. On August 23rd, Chiefs icon Rod Shearer drove in his 1,500th career run in a game against the Los Angeles Suns. It happened in the top of the first inning, with two outs and runners on second and third. Shearer laced a double into the gap, scoring Siniscalchi from third and Flanagan from second. With this milestone, Shearer became just the 13th player in FABL history to reach 1,500 RBIs. However, the accomplishment comes amid personal challenges—Shearer, still recovering from injury, remains stuck on career home run number 399. Despite his struggles, the milestone underscores his incredible career and legacy.

Veteran infielder Ed Bloom also continued his stellar season, hitting .343 with a blistering on-base percentage of .466. Bloom crossed the plate a team-leading 24 times and stole 11 bases, setting a new career high—his previous best was just 23 back in 1958. And let’s not forget those 23 walks he drew, leaving him just 15 shy of reaching 100 for the 13th consecutive season. Joe Flanagan chipped in with 15 RBIs, one of seven Chiefs to tally at least 10 for the month, a testament to the lineup’s collective contributions.

On the mound, Vern Osbourne and John Thomas carried the rotation, combining for an 8-2 record in August. Thomas was particularly dominant, posting a sparkling 2.09 ERA, while Osbourne wasn’t far behind at 2.63. Bud Andrews turned his season around, shaving his ERA below 5.00 after allowing just two earned runs over his last 16 innings. It wasn’t all sunshine for the pitching staff, though—rookie Dode Hogan endured a rough month with an ERA north of seven in five starts. Meanwhile, closer Dutch Lane saved five games but struggled with an ERA over five. Lane’s 40 career saves in less than two seasons remain a bright spot, putting him just 15 shy of tying Ernie Espinoza for the franchise record.

With 23 games left and a favorable schedule ahead, the Chiefs have a chance to end 1963 on a high note. The focus is on winning and gaining experience for the younger players, treating the final stretch like a pennant race. The hope is to prepare the next generation of Chiefs for the unique pressures of competing at the highest level.

So, as we head into the home stretch, one thing is clear: this team isn’t rolling over. They’ll fight to the finish, and maybe, just maybe, give us a glimpse of what’s to come in the seasons ahead. Stay tuned, Chiefs fans—the story isn’t over yet.


-John "Scoop" Mitchell, Windy City News Sportswriter








PLAYERS OF THE MONTH FOR August
Hitter of the Month: Bob Starr(.308/.423/.542, 33-107, 5 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 21 RS, 22 BB)
Pitcher of the Month: Vern Osbourne(5-0, 2.63 ERA, 37.2 IP, 22 K, 10 BB, 1.19 WHiP)
Rookie of the Month: Bob Starr(.308/.423/.542, 33-107, 5 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 21 RS, 22 BB)
Minor League Player of the Month: George Wilbur(B/C)(4-0, 0.95 ERA, 38.0 IP, 26 K, 4 BB, 0.79 WHiP)

Game of the Month for August 1963

Chiefs Fire on All Cylinders: Dominant Performance at Fitzpatrick Park

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – If the Chicago Chiefs could replicate their August 10th performance every night, they'd be road warriors. In front of 15,961 fans at Fitzpatrick Park, the Chiefs delivered a masterclass in baseball, dismantling the Pittsburgh Miners 14-1 in what could only be described as a complete game. With stellar pitching, airtight defense, and an offensive explosion, the Chiefs proved that when they’re firing on all cylinders, they’re as dangerous as anyone in the Federal League.

It started with an avalanche in the top of the first inning. The Chiefs sent 12 hitters to the plate, racking up six hits and drawing three walks in an inning that Pittsburgh starter Stan Davis would surely like to forget. Davis recorded just one out while giving up eight earned runs. Joe Flanagan and Rod Shearer ignited the onslaught with back-to-back two-run doubles, putting Chicago ahead 4-0 before fans could settle into their seats. By the end of the inning, the Chiefs had an 8-0 lead, leaving the Miners and their home crowd shell-shocked.

On the mound, Vern Osbourne gave the Chiefs everything they could ask for and more. The right-hander spun eight brilliant innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run. Osbourne kept Pittsburgh’s bats quiet all night, striking out hitters and inducing weak contact with precision and confidence. Meanwhile, Dutch Lane closed out the ninth inning to seal the dominant win.

The Chiefs’ bats stayed hot all night, tallying an impressive 16 hits, including five doubles, a triple, and two home runs. Bob Starr and Jorge Vallejo each collected three hits, with Vallejo driving in three runs—a welcome surge from the rookie, who has found his stride in recent weeks. Catcher Al Padgett matched Vallejo’s three RBIs, capping his performance with a towering home run. Bob Starr continued his sensational rookie campaign, using his speed and power to keep Pittsburgh's defense on its heels.

It was the kind of performance that Chiefs fans have been waiting for, especially on the road—a place where the team has struggled to find consistency this season. “Winning on the road has been a real challenge for us this year,” admitted Chiefs manager Dutch Becker. “But this game shows that we have the talent to do it. When we play the way we did tonight—focused, disciplined, and aggressive—we can compete with anyone, anywhere.”

The only hiccup in an otherwise perfect day was a solo run scored by Pittsburgh in the eighth inning, but even that couldn’t overshadow the Chiefs’ dominance. The team drew nine walks, capitalized on scoring opportunities, and looked sharp in every facet of the game.

With just 23 games left in the season, the Chiefs are looking to finish strong and climb the standings. While a pennant may be out of reach, the focus is on gaining experience and building confidence—treating every remaining game like a must-win. If August 10th was any indication, this team is far from done.


-John "Scoop" Mitchell, Windy City News Sportswriter