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Editor's Note: Sim accidentally went two weeks instead of one, so this issue will cover two weeks

SEPTEMBER 2, 1963

Pioneers Hold 1.5 Game Lead to Open Final Month
Detroit Close in Second, Washington 4 Out in Third

The Dog Days of August have come and went, and with just one month left in FABL's regular season, there is still a lot to be determined. Sure, most involve the league leaders and All-Time loss record, but the Federal Association is far from settled. Each of the top three have won five of their last ten, and all three enter the week within five games of first place.

St. Louis has the advantage, holding the slim game and a half lead over Detroit, those two don't play again this year, and they'll get their last series against the Eagles this coming week. Just two games, both in St. Louis, it's sandwiched by what should be two easy series wins with the Millers, who are now tied with the Dallas Wranglers for most FABL losses at 98. St. Louis has not gotten what they bargained for with Joe Kleman (.257, 3, 12, 1; 280, 13, 72, 4), who hasn't really done much hitting or pitching since coming over from Boston. Bill Tutwiler (.288, 2, 9, 5; .289, 11, 51, 16) has done what he's needed to, leading off the lineup well, but fellow Bill, Bather (.292, 13, 40, 12), will be returning to the roster this week, potentially re-shaping the Pioneer lineup that could use a bit of a boost. The pitching continues to be great, even if French Mack (17-5, 2.05, 174) no longer holds a sub-2 ERA, but he's leading all three triple crown categories, and will be counted on for multiple, commanding starts as he looks to repeat as an Allen winner, Federal Association pennant winner, and World Champion.

Detroit has the best chance of stopping them, with just one fewer win and two more losses, but they'll have a tougher schedule. They have six more with the Eagles, three in both spots, including their final series of the year from the 27th to 29th. The Dynamos will hope that by then Washington is no longer in the running, as the hosts could take advantage of a talented team that's given up. The flip of the Pioneers, ranked 1st in runs scored and 5th in runs allowed, they can score on anyone, as the 3-4-5 of Ray Waggoner (.369, 32, 106), Joe Holland (.306, 35, 103, 11), and Virgil Ewing (.294, 21, 108) are already all at the 100 RBI mark. All three sluggers were picked up in trades, as it seems like every move Detroit makes ends up working out for them. That's why some were confused when Detroit stayed silent at the deadline, believing they had enough to get to the finish line. Still more then capable of pulling off the pennant, it may have been worth adding an extra arm, as they don't really have a solid #5 and Paul Anderson (12-11, 4.67, 92) has allowed 4 or more runs in each of his last 8 starts and 10 of 11. An upgrade to the pen could have helped too, as they do not have guys who can lock down the late innings.

Ironically, that's something Washington does great, as their team win leader is actually stopper Otto Caudill (15-8, 12, 3.69, 95). The recently turned 24-year-old has been a weapon when called upon, as he's even started 7 of his 56 appearances this season. With a combined 27 wins and saves, he's secured plenty of wins for his club, working to a strong 3.69 ERA (115 ERA+) with 95 strikeouts in 136.2 innings. Having a reliable stopper like that has somewhat made up for the loss of breakout ace Bob Ball (13-3, 3.03, 126), which has opened up the door for veteran journeyman Frankie Raymond (0-0, 3.60, 12). Like Detroit, an extra arm could have done them well, but with games against both of the teams ahead of them, they cannot be counted out. George Whaley (.305, 27, 107) is back and healthy while Tom Lorang (.369, 29, 103, 9) continues to make his case for the Whitney. With loads of talent, a better lineup then St. Louis, and a better staff then Detroit, as well as ample opportunity to take down those ahead of them, part of me wants to believe that the long pennant drought in the nation's capital may finally be finished.

*** Kings Remain Double Digit Clear in Continental Race ***

It's surprising when a team above .500 is already eliminated in early September, but with how good the Kansas City Kings are, that's exactly what happened to the 70-69 Cannons, and is about to be a reality for the 69-68 Wolves. At 94-42, the Kings are the first and only FABL team with 90 wins, and have won at least as many games as every Kings team excluding the Brooklyn squads that won 97, 95, and 98 games in 1934, 1935, and 1936. On pace to shatter the team record, they also have a chance to have less losses then the 98-56 '36 team, as even with 162 teams their current pace has them losing just 50 games, something the Kings haven't done since the Border Association joined FABL.

It's a shame for the Stars and Cougars, as at 84-52 and 82-54, they're both playing .600 ball. In the Fed, they'd be just 3.5 and 5.5 games out, still manageable with with four weeks to go in the season. Instead, the two teams should avoid just going through the motions until the season ends, as the battle for second can be somewhat entertaining too. The difference between 16th and 18th isn't too much, but neither of these teams play each other. In fact, the Cougars have to deal with the Kings in each of the last two weekends, including three at Prairie Park to end the year. You would hope the team would play for pride, or at least their individual statistics, as they have two guys within single digits of 100 RBI seasons and a pair of outfielders a homer away from 20. And at least in Chicago, Gene Case (.292, 30, 96, 14) has given every indication that he will play in all 162 of the Cougars games this season.

LA won't face the Kings, making it really tough to make up the ten games between them and the leaders. They'll have to rely on the Cougars beating the Kings late in the year, while Lou Allen (.285, 31, 105), Ralph Barrell (.331, 28, 85, 9), and Bobby Garrison (.327, 17, 97, 13) look to feast on Continental pitching. Aside from a slow start in April, the Stars have been winning all year long, losing no more then 11 games in a month. The biggest boost to the stars was the return of Dewey Allcock (11-3, 3.98, 72), as he was outstanding in August. The 25-year-old was 3-1 with a 3.47 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.35 WHIP, 5 walks, and 18 strikeouts, and the Stars have won 9 of his last 10 starts. For the Stars offense, you just need to keep the opponents to 4 or fewer runs, and you'll have someone produce the runs a pitcher needs for the win. It's a shame there's only one postseason spot available in each association, as this team is good enough to be a pennant winner.

*** Millers and Wranglers Hope to Avoid FABL Loss Record ***

With the increase in the schedule to 162 games, it was likely we'd see a new FABL loss record set, and now both the Minneapolis Millers and Dallas Wranglers have a chance to lose more then the 116 games the New York Imperials lost last season. No Federal team has lost more then the 112 the 1890 Pittsburgh Miners lost, and with 98 losses and 24 games to go they'll need to be at their best to avoid it.

To avoid the Fed record, Minneapolis would need to go 11-13, which is similar to how they did in August (13-15). After their miserable start to the year, the Millers need to go 7-17 to finish with 115 losses. Since the now #1 prospect Frank Bradshaw (.276, 7, 26, 6) has went from draft to lineup, Minneapolis has looked like a more complete team, going 25-44 (.313), and once Bradshaw got going in August, they were actually beating teams. He hit .291/.371/.509 (127 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 6 homers, 12 RBIs, 14 walks, 25 runs, 2 steals, and a triple, he was exactly what they were missing. Bradshaw and John Edwards (.265, 3, 43) may one day be a feared combo, but for now the Millers will need more then just Dick Sheehan (.314, 7, 60) and Cecil Cummings (.287, 15, 67) to produce runs.

Dallas has won one fewer game, so they'd have to go 8-17 to avoid the 116 losses their expansion and association counterparts set last season. Dallas has been in a free-fall, losing 25 of their 28 August games before beating the Sailors 4-3 to start September. They went 1-19 against the Sailors, Kings, Cougars, and Stars during August, the lone win a Ken Hudson (.232, 20, 54) walk-off at Norris Stadium. Hudson has given the Wranglers their second 20-homer season in franchise history, matching the mark he hit in 114 games last season. It doesn't look like there will be a third, as Chuck Armstrong (.239, 10, 47) is second on the team with just ten. Devoid of power, their offense doesn't offer too much of anything, and with a patchwork rotation it's no surprise they've lost as many games as they have.

Kings Sweep August Awards

If you could believe it's possible to go better then 21-9, the Kings did just as so, as after a crowded 30 game July they won 21 of 27 August contests. Running away with their association, Kansas City took all three monthly awards, deserved recognition for their special season.

Who else but Hank Williams, as baseball's best hitter is certainly August's best hitter too? Attempting to run away with the triple crown, the soon-to-be four time Whitney winner hit .418/.496/.682 (208 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 6 homers, 18 RBIs, 18 runs, and 16 walks. Now hitting .381/.463/.702 (203 OPS+) with 38 homers and 122 RBIs, Williams has comfortable leads in all three categories, and his resume includes 111 runs, 35 doubles, 79 walks, and 8.3 WAR. What should be a unanimous Whitney winner, he leads plenty of CA categories, and he'll now get a chance to add a pennant to his trophy cabinet.

Pitchers took the other awards, as Beau McClellan (14-10, 3.26, 156) and Johnnie Higgins (11-7, 3.34, 141) were Pitcher and Rookie of the Month. Like Williams, McClellan won in July too, as he was 5-0 with a 3.72 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts. In August he was just 5-1, but the overall body of work was impressive. He had a sterling 1.44 ERA (295 ERA+), 2.25 FIP (52 FIP-), and 0.88 WHIP, striking out 40 with just 4 walks in 50 dominant innings. The reigning Allen winner now has a matching 130 ERA+ in 207 innings with a month to go, but his 4.2 K/BB would shatter his personal high of 2.9 from last season. No longer leading the top ranked staff, he still pitches like an ace, and despite some control problems Johnnie Higgins is too. The rookie was a perfect 4-0 in 6 starts, working to a 3.38 ERA (126 ERA+) and 1.10 WHIP, also striking out 40 in 45.1 innings. He did walk 15, but he's worked around free passes all season, and in a weaker rookie class would be the odds on favorite for a Kellogg. This month he was great, but Henry Woods (.340, 21, 81, 7) is already arguably the best catcher in FABL, while Dode Caudill (.315, 19, 65, 21), Ed Savage (.299, 20, 77), Mark Boyd (.286, 31, 82), and Otis Haldeman (.306, 21, 110, 6) all have serious cases.

*** Fed Leading Pioneers Capture 2 of 3 Awards ***

St. Louis doesn't have any rookies playing serious time, so the best they could do here was win Batter and Pitcher of the Month. If I gave you three guesses, you'd probably get both wrong, as it was Jerry Smith (.271, 21, 66, 7) and Charlie Blake (12-9, 4.36, 150) who won for the Pioneers. A three week injury during the season might have done Smith well, as he struggled before hitting the IL and might have been at risk of losing playing time with Bather returning. Smith had an excellent August, hitting .365/.434/.595 (168 OPS+) as his team finished 17-13. Contributing 8 doubles, 7 homers, 27 RBIs, 30 runs, 16 walks, and 3 steals, he helped his club stay on top, the perfect third for Bob Bell (.347, 35, 92, 8) and Danny Davis (.340, 37, 112, 9).

Blake was then the surprise winner of the staff, as the 25-year-old right won all five of his decisions in August. The Pioneers did lose his 4th start, as Mel Hill (2-3, 2, 2.38, 25) blew the 6-4 lead delivered to him in the 9th. Blake worked to a 3.26 ERA (131 ERA+), 1.25 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts, coming an out away from 50 innings. Like Smith, he had a slow start to the season, and he got some poor bad batted ball luck earlier in the year. A supreme talent, he struck out 14 Dynamos in a 6-3 complete game win, which could end up being one that secures them a pennant. With a 3.63 FIP (84 FIP-) compared to a 4.36 ERA (98 ERA+), his best could be yet to come, and manager Lou Ormsby knows he can trust Blake when it's his turn in the rotation.

Rookie of the Month was again awarded to Bob Starr (.303, 20, 63), who seems to be the next star in the Chiefs lineup. Batting third in a lineup that contains Ed Bloom (.293, 11, 52, 36) and Rod Shearer (.248, 11, 72, 4), Starr hit .308/.423/.542 (154 OPS+) with 5 doubles, a triple, 6 homers, 19 RBIs, 22 walks, and 2 steals. Turning 23 on the 9th, Starr didn't debut until May 14th, yet he's still managed 15 doubles, 20 homers, 63 RBIs, 69 runs, and 55 walks. Acquired last July in a two player package for Dick Champ (8-11, 4.44, 90), Starr graduated as the 61st ranked FABL prospect, and has always been known for his elite eye. If he had enough plate appearances to qualify, his 14.2 BB% would be tied with Minutemen second basemen Ed Wise (.186, 25, 55, 6) for fourth in FABL. He does have his flaws, as strikeouts will always be a part of his game, making him a three true outcome player. His game will see a lot of homers, walks, and strikeouts, but so far he's found enough gaps at Whitney Park.

Tales From The Den
A Look At The Wolves

As the final 4 weeks of the 1963 season play out Brett takes a look at this season then speculates of the moves forward for Toronto. This season has been neither a step forward nor a step back although the team has not made as much headway as the fans, front office, Randy Hohlt hoped for in the spring. At 69-68 with 25 games to play the Wolves have been a middle of the pack team for the entirety of 1963. The team has been, to use one of Hohlt's favourite terms, inconsistent going on short winning streaks followed by losing streak of equal or longer length. A perfect example of this was when the team went on their longest undefeated string of the year from May 2- 8, 7 games, then 8 of 9 before dropping 2 to the Imperials followed by two more to the Kings. Wolves have dropped 5 straight on three different occasions that killed any momentum the team had before the losses. Fans are glad to see that the years of "Swoon in June, die in July" should be behind the Wolves, now the expectations are that the team stays in a pennant race during September. That is not going to be the case this year with the team 25 1/2 games behind KC. Part of the problem with the team is they are not taking advantage of the teams below them in the standings. For the year Wolves have a combined record of 24-22 when playing Dallas, New York, Montreal where they should be making up games on the CA leaders. Are they taking these teams far too lightly?

The Wolves did not expand their roster by much when the rosters expanded to 40 in September. This makes sense for the young team as they will continue to go with their regulars in the field down the stretch building their experience in the FABL. The only roster additions were made in the area of most need, the bullpen, with Wilson Pearson, Stan Boone summoned from Buffalo where the Nickels are trying to repeat as Union League champions. Buffalo has a couple of bats that could be upgrades in the future, management has decided that they are better off fighting for a league title with regular play than playing sporadically for the Wolves. They will given a chance to highlight their talents for the brass next spring.

Brett will now look at the team's performance in the three major categories, hitting, pitching, defense:

Hitting: Overall the team has fared better than expected at the plate. They are still in the bottom half of the CA in most stats in the CA with a team line of .264/.317/.425 with the pleasant surprise being the long ball. Wolves have knocked 165 balls over the fence in fair territory third most in the CA. Sid Cullen .309/.364/.490 20 HR 64 RBI, Ed Savage .299/.389/.502 20 HR 77 RBI have performed to projections. The surprises this season have been Chick Reed .307/.317/.513 32 HR 83 RBI along with Phil Story's .295/.374/498 49 RBI 13 SB. Reed has cooled a little in August he may get a little rest in September as Hohlt experiments with lineups. A disappointment this year has been Tom Reed's .233/.314/.406 16 HR 64 RBI. Many are wondering if the transition to 1B has caused the 4 time All-Star troubles in the batter's box. Or is he slowing down at age 32? This is his worst year at the plate since becoming a regular in 1952.

Pitching: What was supposed the leading force in the Wolves move forward has been in one word, bewildering, to everyone that follows the team. A team that overall was supposed to at or near the top of the league in pitching has been anything but, the Wolves are near the bottom in most pitching statistics. A SP ERA of 4.27 with the bullpen at 4.74 is not even near the expected contributions from the staff. Walks have been the biggest issue, opponents have received a free pass 469 times in 1963. Three pitchers have been at or above early season conjecture, Phil Colantuono 13-7, 2.62, Bill Medley 14-11, 3.65, Charlie Davidson 11-8, 4.03 are leading the rotation. The problem has been the two projected leaders, Arnie Smith 11-9, 4.55 and George Hoxworth 3-7, 8.45 have fallen far short of the mark. Smith has been raising concerns all season that he tires after 5 or 6 innings forcing Hohlt to the 'pen. Many have speculated that Smith's future may be as a relief arm. Hoxworth has been sent to AAA twice in '63 has had a season to forget from Opening Day. Colantuono is currently injured with a biceps strain not responding to treatment. He may be shutdown for the balance of the season. The bullpen is a disaster form bottom to top. For the Wolves to progress the entire staff must be better in the future.

Fielding: As has been Hohlt's demand from Day One on the job the Wolves will be sound in the field. They now are with the exception of Savage in right. Hohlt has him constantly working on his defense, progress has been excruciatingly slow with every ball hit to him becoming an adventure usually with not a good result. Savage's bat is needed but at what price in the field? The old laments from the fans that he defense was killing the pitchers is now gone. The pitcher's are causing their own woes in 1963.

• Rosters are now expanded, allowing FABL clubs to bring up an
  y player on their 40-man roster. With minor league seasons ongoing, teams aren't likely to bring up everyone all at once, but expect some clubs to add an extra arm or two to their pen, with a few guys filling up the edges of the bench. Another opportunity to add players is from the injured list, as healthy players returning no longer means someone else needs to get sent down.
• Keystones outfielder Buddy Miller (.303, 22, 83, 5) saw his hit streak end at 21, as he was 0-for-3 with a walk in a 2-1 loss in Washington. During the 21-game hit streak, Miller hit .424/.474/.682 with 10 doubles, 4 homers, 18 RBIs, 17 runs, and 8 walks.
• Perhaps his selection to the All-Star game was a sign of things to come, as Elmer Piper (.375, 6, 37) became the first Wrangler to record five hits in a game. It did come in extras, but the 29-year-old was 5-for-6 with a run scored in Dallas' surprising 7-6, 11-inning winner over Kansas City. Since the All-Star break he's hit .361/.370/.438 with 3 homers and 18 RBIs, and he's now started 57 of his 99 appearances.
• Cougar first basemen Gene Case (.292, 30, 96, 14) had a perfect game on August 31st, 3-for-3 with a walk and three homers in Chicago's 7-3 win over Cleveland. Driving in 5 of the 7 runs and recording 3 of the 5 hits, Case made hitting his 30th homer of the season adventure, as he homered in each of his first three plate appearances. He's still ways away from his career high of 38 from last season, but the 2nd Time All-Star has been just as good this year as he was last year.
• Eight teams were eliminated in August, and the Cleveland Foresters became number nine with their 6-4 loss to the Cougars. Cleveland slumped in August, going 10-16 as series with the Kings (1-2) and Cougars (0-3) ruined the end of their month. They are one of five Continental teams out of contention, as Dallas, New York, Montreal, and Cincinnati have met the same fate. In the Fed, the math tells Minneapolis, LA, Boston, and New York can no longer make it. All four teams have lost 75 or more games, with the six place Chiefs about as far away from seventh (13.5 GA) as they are from first (14 GB).
• New Imperial Les Hanauer (0-1, 1.29, 10; 6-7, 5.32, 105) has embraced his change of scenery, delivering his new squad with two excellent starts. Because he pitches for the Imps, he didn't get any wins, but he kept the Saints and Stars in check. First in Montreal he went 7 with 5 hits, a run, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts, picking up a no decision in his New York debut. Then at home his Imps couldn't get a run on the Stars, so 7 innings, 6 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts ended in a loss.
• Kansas City signed an old friend from Brooklyn, as the Kings added "The Cornhusker Crusher" to a minor league deal, with the expectation that he'd finish the season with the Kings and play in the postseason. Now 39, Ralph Johnson is no longer the guy that won three Whitneys in Brooklyn and a 4th in Detroit, and he hasn't really been effective since the 1957 season. Still, his veteran experience will be appreciated, as Johnson has appeared in 1,755 regular season games and 32 postseason ones. In the regular season, Johnson has collected 308 doubles, 236 homers, 965 RBIs, 1,028 runs, and 803 walks, and may get a few more chances to add to those totals.
• Another potential reunion involves former King Harley Dollar, as the 35-year-old will return to the Cougars, who drafted him in the 9th Round of the 1947 draft. Dollar, who will get $2,000 of them to sign a minor league deal, is reporting to AAA Milwaukee with the hopes of earning a return to FABL. He debuted for the Cougars in 1952, and until 1962 appeared in at least one FABL game for them or the Kings. A career .292/.367/.402 (114 OPS+) hitter, he was disciplined and walked more then he struck out, but as he aged his defense went, making it tough for him to hold down a regular job.
• Pittsburgh may be without the recently turned 23-year-old Reid Barrell (.218, 10, 54, 10) for the rest of the season, as the former 7th pick is dealing with elbow tendinitis. What could be the end of a traditional sophomore slump, Barrell saw his WRC+ drop from 89 to 64 as his K% jumped from 15.6 to 19.4. A switch hitter, the son of Hall-of-Famer Harry Barrell is still expected to play a big part in the Miners future, as they look to build around an intriguing front four of Dixie Turner (.333, 11, 54, 13), John Moreland (.295, 12, 70, 5), Gale Schmitt (.320, 10, 70, 7), and Mike Whisman (.302, 21, 91, 18).
• Inter-state rival Philadelphia lost a bat too, with the versatile Andy Parker (.311, 27, 71, 7) suffering a concussion in their 5-3 win over the Gothams. The 23-year-old will miss the next three weeks, a quick detour in what has been an outstanding season. Somewhat overshadowed by star sluggers Harry Dellinger (.353, 36, 104, 38), Buddy Miller (.303, 22, 83, 5), and Lloyd Coulter (.266, 30, 90), Parker has quietly developed into one of the top hitters in the game. Batting between Dellinger and Coulter, he's appeared in 135 games and hit a robust .311/.394/.532 (146 OPS+) in a career year.
• #400 still proves to be elusive for Rod Shearer (.248, 11, 72, 4), but the veteran outfielder continued his milestone tour with his 1,500th career RBI. Almost a month after his 2,000th hit, it came in a 5-4 loss to the Suns where Shearer had 3 of the team's 4 RBIs, including a two-run double in the first. Now with 1,507 RBIs, he ranks 12 All-Time and was the 13th player to reach the milestone.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 09/01/1963

• In the Bristol South East by-election, Tony Benn regained his seat in the House of Commons. Benn had been forced to resign Commons in 1960, when he inherited a peerage, becoming the 2nd Viscount Stansgate (and a member of the House of Lords) on his father's death. Benn had won the by-election on May 4 but had been disqualified by law. When the Peerage Act 1963 took effect, Benn renounced his peerage, ran again and received 79.7% of the vote.
• The Royal Shakespeare Company introduced its performance cycle of Shakespeare's history plays under the title The Wars of the Roses, adapted and directed by John Barton and Peter Hall, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.
• Lee Harvey Oswald, identifying himself as New Orleans representative of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, debated against Cuban exile Carlos Bringuier in a live radio program on the New Orleans station WDSU-AM.
• Lloyd Miller Jr., convicted in 1956 of the murder and rape of an 8-year-old girl, was given a stay of execution seven hours before he was scheduled to die in the electric chair at the Stateville Correctional Center in Illinois. U.S. District Court Judge Bernard M. Decker issued a writ of habeas corpus to halt proceedings while Miller's attorneys continued to pursue an appeal.
• American test pilot Joe Walker made a second sub-orbital spaceflight, according to the international standard of 100 kilometers, piloting an X-15 rocket plane to an altitude of 354,200 feet (67.08 mi; 108.0 km). The record was unofficial, because the X-15 did not take off from the ground under its own power, and was sent up by an air launch. Walker's flight would remain the highest ever achieved by an airplane for more than fifty years, until broken on October 4, 2004, when Brian Binnie would pilot SpaceShipOne to an altitude of 367,500 feet (112,000 m; 112.0 km).
• Einar Gerhardsen resigned as Prime Minister of Norway after losing a motion of no confidence by a two-vote margin.[91] The 76–74 vote came about when two deputies in the Storting (Finn Gustavsen and Asbjørn Holm) broke with the ruling Labor Party to vote against Gerhardsen.
• With conditional approval by President Kennedy, the U.S. Department of State sent what would later become known as "Cable 243" to Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge in South Vietnam. The wording of the message, which was dispatched after the violent Xá Lợi Pagoda raids, included the statement that the Ambassador should "make detailed plans as to how we might bring about Diem's replacement if this should become necessary", and implied support for a coup against President Ngo Dinh Diem.
• John Pennel, who had broken the world record in the pole vault on August 5, became the first person to vault more than 17 feet (5.2 m), vaulting 17 feet 0.75 inches (5.2007 m) in a meet near his hometown, at the University of Miami.
• All 26 people aboard the Greek freighter MV Donald (formerly the U.S. Navy cargo ship USS Cabell) disappeared shortly after the captain reported by radio that he was encountering bad weather in the Indian Ocean. The ship had been en route to Indonesia with a cargo of 5,000 tonnes (4,900 long tons; 5,500 short tons) of iron, and was never found after being reported as missing a month later by the Greek Ministry of Merchant Marine.
• Nearly three years after the December 15, 1960 decision by King Mahendra of Nepal to abolish the nation's short-lived elected legislature, the King held the first meeting of the new "National Guidance Council" as an advisory body.
• In a meeting with U.S. President Kennedy, Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin told Kennedy that all Soviet combat troops had been removed from Cuba. In actuality, one brigade of Soviet troops had remained after the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis, at the request of Fidel Castro.
• Less than six hours before the railroads of the United States were scheduled to be shut down by a walkout of railway employees, President Kennedy signed anti-strike legislation that had been passed minutes earlier by the U.S. House of Representatives. The vote in the House, finished at 4:42 p.m., was 286–66 on a bill that had passed the U.S. Senate on August 22. President Kennedy signed the bill into law at 6:14 p.m., ending the strike that had been scheduled for one minute after midnight.
• Eighteen miners were killed in an explosion at an underground potash mine near Moab, Utah, but five men were able to survive the carbon monoxide by finding an air pocket, 2,712 feet (827 m) below the surface, and were lifted to safety by rescue workers.
• At the "March on Washington" (officially, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom), Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to an audience of at least 250,000 people.
• The "Career Girls Murders" were committed as Janice Wylie, a 21-year-old researcher for Newsweek magazine, and her roommate, 22-year-old schoolteacher Emily Hoffert, were stabbed to death in their luxury apartment on New York's Upper East Side.
• John Lyng became Prime Minister of Norway, forming the first government in 28 years not to be led by the Norwegian Labour Party.
• Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., the U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam, sent a top secret cable to the White House, reporting that "We are launched on a course from which there is no turning back: the overthrow of the [Ngo Dinh] Diem government." At noon in Washington, D.C., President Kennedy held a conference with his Secretaries of State, Defense and the Treasury, as well as with the CIA Director, after which Kennedy authorized a reply to Lodge, which included the statement that "The USG [United States Government] will support a coup which has good chance of succeeding but plans no direct involvement of U.S. Armed Forces."
• The Policlínico Bancario bank in Argentina was robbed by members of Tacuara Nationalist Movement, who stole 14,000,000 Argentine pesos (equivalent to US$100,000), and killed two bank employees in the process.
• Gemini Project Office (GPO) reported that it was investigating the use of a parasail and landing rocket system to enable the Gemini spacecraft to make ground landings rather than splashing down at sea. Major system components were the parasail, drogue parachute, retrorocket, control system, and landing rocket. Unlike the conventional parachute, the parasail was capable of controlled gliding and turning. Landing rockets, fired just before touchdown, reduced the spacecraft rate of descent to less than 11 feet (3.4 m) per second or 7.5 miles per hour (12.1 km/h).
• Singapore declared its independence from the United Kingdom, with Yusof bin Ishak as the head of state (Yang di-Pertuan Negara) and Lee Kuan Yew as prime minister.
• An unidentified visitor to Lenin's Mausoleum, in Moscow, entered the shrine with a bomb concealed under his coat, and then detonated the explosive, killing himself and causing an unspecified amount of damage and injuries. The event was not reported in the Soviet press and would not be revealed until after the breakup of the Soviet Union.
• The Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961 took full effect in Australia, creating a national law regulating marriage, divorce and domestic relations and superseding individual state laws.