OCTOBER 13, 1963
How Sweep It Is!
Pioneers Bewilder Kings in Quick WCS Mopping
Ha! Imagine thinking the Kings would win this early! Couldn't be me...
In a historical show of dominance, the St. Louis Pioneers pitching staff allowed just 7 runs in a 4 game sweep of the 112-win Kansas City Kings. The series never came back to St. Louis, or even ace Frenchy Mack (20-6, 2.07, 211), as the Pioneers came in and handled business.
Game three saw a duel of young pitchers as second year lefty Danny Daniels (17-11, 3.40, 173) took on first year lefty Johnnie Higgins (15-7, 3.02, 161), though both offenses got off to quick starts. After Higgins got the first Pioneer out, Jerry Smith (.261, 24, 77, 8) singled then stole second, though it mattered little as Bob Bell (.339, 43, 117, 9) drew a walk. Neither stayed there long, as slugger Steve Schultz (.304, 32, 98) snuck a grounder between second and first to plate the game's first run. Bell scored on a sac-fly and then Schulz became the 3rd run on Joe Kleman's (.290, 5, 33; .287, 15, 93) RBI double.
That was all the scoring in the first half, but the hosts quickly battled back with Hank Williams' (.374, 44, 141) first and only postseason home run. It was of the two run variety, and the Kings got two more in the third. Pat Davis (.319, 12, 84, 40) doubled and then Williams singled, giving the Kings runners on the corner with just one out. Instead of trying for the double play, Daniels thought he could pick Williams off, but the throw got away from Smith at scored Davis. Williams got to second, reached third on a grounder, and then scored when Daniels tried to get Al Farmer (.265, 17, 86) to chance a pitch out of the zone. Instead of getting the strikeout, Williams was able to scamper home, and since Farmer ended up grounding out, it was a run that may not have happened.
Lucky for the Pioneers, Daniels locked right back in, and delivered zero after zero. So did Higgins, and after seven the game was still stuck at 4-3 Kings. Glenn Carney went to the pen to start the 8th, turning to the generally reliable Del Lamb (11-4, 24, 2.82, 93) for the final six outs. Instead, the stage might have gotten to him, as he allowed a single to Bell to start the inning, and then a passed ball got the reigning Whitney to second. Lamb got Schultz swinging, but Danny Davis (.350, 40, 130, 11) tied the game with a triple to right. Setting up a double play, they walked Kleman, to bring up center fielder Bill Bather (.282, 13, 44, 12). Lamb tried to get ahead early, and Bather made him pay, giving the guests a 7-4 lead with a 348-foot fly ball to right.
Now in a rough predicament, Lamb quickly got the catcher and pitcher out to end the inning, but the Kings were in major jeopardy. Six outs away from going down 3-0, they finished with more double plays (2) then hits (1), as the Continental champs could not capitalize off the 25-year-old Daniels. Like Mack and Madden, he spun a complete game win, scattering 6 hits, 4 runs, and 5 walks as he struck out 3.
Game four was all Pioneers, as they took an early 1-0 lead on Bob Bell's second inning solo home run. From that point on, they didn't look back, with both Steve Schultz and Jerry Smith hitting home runs of their own. Schultz's was a two run shot, and they got their 4th of 5 runs in the 6, where both Davis and Bell provided back-to-back doubles.
Billy Hasson was dominant, so dominant that he managed to cap off the sweep with a fourth complete game win. The veteran of the staff, he struck out 6 with just 6 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), and a walk. Always in command, it really should have been 5-1, as Hank Williams scored the second run on what should have the been final out of the game. He was just 1-for-4, but aside from doubles from Charlie Rogers (.277, 8, 67, 13) and Pat Davis (.319, 12, 84, 40) they did not do nearly enough to create any runs.
As fair as it would be to just name the entire rotation the WCS MVP, the only thing preventing Frenchy Mack (9 IP, 9 H, 8 K) from receiving the honor was no game five. Instead, it was Danny Davis, who turned 24 during Game 1. That's when he hit a memorable three-run blast, as the Pioneers started the sweep with a 3-0 victory. The reigning Kellogg winner finished the series 6-for-14 with 4 runs, 2 doubles, the homer, 7 RBIs, and a walk. And in a series where St. Louis made an error in every game, he provided steady and solid defense, avoiding any mistakes while making all the plays he should have.
This is now the 5th World Championship Series victory for St. Louis, and the second time in three attempts the franchise repeated. Winning a franchise high 105 games, it's a peaceful postseason after a chaotic regular season, as they dropped four of their last six to fall into a one-game playoff with a red hot Eagles team. Perhaps surviving extra innings prepared them for the intrastate series, as they quickly took care of business in a commanding display.
Tales From The Den
Wolves Top Prospects
Brett, in the third part of his series, takes a look at the system. The system is the future of the team. The Wolves overall are a young team, fifth youngest in the FABL at an average age of just over 27 along with being the youngest team in AAA.
Now a look at players Toronto fans could be seeing in the future (by OSA rankings):
1. Jack Goodman- SS- Ranked at 9 overall Goodman appears to be a wizard at SS. He was the Wolves first round pick this past summer the seventh player selected in June. He split his time between Vancouver where he posted .301/.305/.462 in 35 games before moving to Davenport to finish the summer. His line dropped to .237/.328/.441 in 134 trips in A ball. Goodman, 20, will probably start in A next year as the report is that his bat needs work.
2. Joe Glenn- RHP- His OSA rank is 23rd after being the Wolves second selection in June. He finished the year in Vancouver with 9 starts for 4-2, 3.11 record. Another project who needs further development in the system with promise in a few years.
3. Marty Bean- RHP- The prospect closest to the big leagues Bean was acquired from KC during the off-season 2 years ago. He jumped from A to AAA this year skipping a stop in Chattanooga. After going 5-3, 2.33 in 15 starts Bean should be displaying his talents in Wolves camp next February where he needs work on control. He is ranked #53.
4. Fred Tollefson- C- First of two catchers that OSA likes for Toronto Fred was acquired in a deal with Cleveland in January 1961 after the Foresters had taken him in the first round the previous summer. He still needs work on his bat after completing moving from B to A to AA in '63. He shows some pop in his bat, a decision whether he starts at AA or AAA will have be made in the spring for this currently ranked 57th prospect.
5. Elmer Pierce- C- Pierce was the Wolves first pick in 1959 who seemed to stall in Vancouver spending parts of 3 seasons on the west coast. He moved up to AA this year giving the Reliables a strong catching tandem. At 22 Pierce is probably the choice to go to Buffalo in 1964 to leave Tollefson to take the duties in AA. Pierce, ranked 69th, has the added advantage of versatility, he can play all three OF positions.
6. Mel Bahr- OF- Bahr has toiled in the system for 4 seasons with modest results. His biggest asset is his ability to draw a walk. He needs work both at he plate and in the field before this 88th ranked player can move further than AA in the system.
7. Carl Stefanski- OF- Taken 87th overall in June Stefanski surprised most by posting a .327/.437/.449 line Tuscaloosa. While outside the top 100 he may prove worthwhile in the future if he continues to develop in Vancouver next summer.
8. Willie Day- INF- Day who turn 19 next week was selected 26th by the Wolves in 1962. He has time, his hit tool needs a lot of work before he can move past B ball. He did hit .330 in rookie ball this past summer after struggling in Vancouver.
9. Bruce Hunt- 2B/SS- A former first round pick Hunt has made it to Buffalo where he continue to hit with power but not for average during the last half of 1963. Hunt, 22, needs work on putting the ball into play before he can move any further in the system. Scouts continue to tout his ability to be a utility player as he has ranked as high as 41st by OSA.
10. Bill Carpenter- RHP- Sixth overall pick in 1962 Carpenter seemed to be taking an express train to the FABL before blowing out his arm in second start for Chattanooga this past April. If he recovers from surgery he could move up this season. If not he could join a long list of "What might have been" if not for injury.
CENTURIONS WIN AGAIN TO IMPROVE TO 5-0
It has been an awful long time since a Rome State-St Blane football game had as much riding on it as next weekend's tussle between the two traditional college grid powers in New York City. The Centurions and Fighting Saints dominated the AIAA landscape in the years of and just after World War II but both have had some struggles since then. Rome State in particular as the military academy dipped to 4-6 two years ago before rebounding with a seven win season. Now the Centurions are ranked 8th in the nation at 5-0 and a victory over St. Blane next Saturday would leave Rome State well positioned for its first unbeaten season since the 1949 Centurions went 8-0-1.
Even if they do run the table a national title, something Rome State has not celebrated since their back to back wins in 1944 and 1945, is still likely too tall an ask as they would need a number of powerful teams such as Cumberland, Georgia Baptist and Texas Gulf Coast to all get tripped up, but an unbeaten campaign would firmly put the struggling military academy football program back on the map.
The Centurions, led by dependable quarterback Bob Burnett and an electrifying pair of sophomore backs in Paul Gholson and Don Tallent, improved to 5-0 with a 29-13 victory in Florida over Miami State. Tallent and Gholson once more led the way, combining for 261 yards on the ground and are both among the top rushers in the nation.
St. Blane, which improved to 4-1 with a 27-6 win at Latrobe, PA. over Minns College Saturday, will be the stiffest test left on the Centurions slate. The two staged many exciting battles in the past and anticipation is high for next Saturday's contest at Gothams Stadium. Assuming they can get by the Fighting Saints, Rome State should be heavily favoured over three of its next four opponents in McKinney State, Wisconsin Catholic and Eastern Oklahoma on what has been a lighter than usual slate for the cadets. The finale will be the annual game in Philadelphia against Annapolis Maritime. The Navigators are always up for the Rome State game but have won just one of the last six meetings between the two schools and are a disappointing 1-3 this season.
*** No Change At Top as Deep South Powers Win ***
Cumberland and Georgia Baptist remain ranked one-two in the nation after each defeated a non-conference opponent on Saturday. The top ranked Explorers ran their record to 6-0 with a 16-7 victory over Arkansas A&T while Jack Forsythe threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns to lead the number two ranked Gators to a 31-21 victory over Chesapeake State. Georgia Baptist is now 5-0.
Portland Tech was impressive enough in it's 40-13 drubbing of Rainier College in West Coast Athletic Association play that the Magpies climbed two spots in the polls and are now ranked third. Texas Gulf Coast, which beat Wisconsin State 26-18 to improve to 5-0 dipped from third to fourth while the Magpies WCAA rival Coastal California is down one to fifth after the Dolphins needed a late touchdown to barely defeat 1-4 Darnell State 14-13.
COWBOYS CORRALL RAMBLERS
It was certainly not the first choice of sports fans in Kansas City but they could take some solace in the fact that the American Football Association Cowboys gained a small measure of revenge on St Louis for the World Championship Series sweep suffered by their baseball brethren as the Cowboys beat the Ramblers 13-10 yesterday in the first of back to back games between the Missouri rivals.
The baseball Kings were outclassed on the diamond by the Pioneers but on the grid it was a different story as a Kansas City Cowboys club that has had its struggles this season, improved to 2-4 by holding off the Ramblers. It was a defensive struggle and the Cowboys defense was certainly up to the challenge, holding St. Louis to just 147 yards of total offense. The lone St Louis touchdown came on a punt return.
The St Louis loss tightens things up in the West Division but the Ramblers do hold on to sole possession of first place after the Detroit Maroons fell for the second week in a row. The Maroons were upset by the Los Angeles Tigers 17-15 on the west coast, allowing the hosts to claim their first victory of the year after starting the season with 5 consecutive losses. Houston is tied with Detroit for second at 3-2 after the Drillers handed New York its third loss in the past four weeks. Phil Patton ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns while also picking up 60 yards receiving to lead the Drillers to a 21-10 victory.
In other games Sunday the Pittsburgh Paladins, behind a 134 yard rushing, two touchdown day from Swat Deskins, edged the Buffalo Red Jackets 24-10. Boston scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to snap Washington's 4-game winning streak in the Americans 16-6 victory over the Wasps while the Chicago Wildcats outscored visiting San Francisco 37-20.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 10/13/1963
- The very first Learjet, the Learjet 23, took off from an airport in Wichita, Kansas, with test pilots Bob Hagan and Hank Beaird at the controls. The prototype jet, the product of the investment of William P. Lear, inaugurated an era of private jet airplanes, marketed to the wealthiest of individuals.
- Amid worsening relations between the U.S. and South Vietnam over violence against the nation's Buddhist majority, outspoken South Vietnamese First Lady Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu arrived in America for a speaking tour, continuing a flurry of attacks on the Kennedy administration.
- U.S. President Kennedy signed the ratification of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which went into effect on October 10 after the completion of the deposit of the signed instruments by the United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom.
- Black artist Sam Cooke, his wife, and two members of his band were arrested after trying to register at a "whites only" motel in Shreveport, Louisiana. The charge of disturbing the peace came after the clerk told police that Cooke had continuously blown his car horn after being told that the motel was closed. That incident, and the tragic drowning of his 18-month-old son earlier in the year, led Cooke to record the classic song, "A Change Is Gonna Come".
- A cataclysm killed 2,043 people in a valley below the Vajont Dam in Italy, as a wave of water and mud 100-metre (330 ft) high swept over the small city of Longarone, followed by the destruction of the villages of Pirago, Villanova, Rivalta and Fač. Some estimates place the loss at 3,700. Although the dam itself did not collapse, the overflow began at 10:39 p.m. local time, after heavy rainfall led to a massive rock slope failure that caused 260,000,000 cubic meters of rock and debris to slide into the 115,000,000 cubic meters of water in the reservoir that had been created by the damming of a branch of the Piave River in Italy.
- Prime Minister Milton Obote declared Uganda a republic on the first anniversary of its independence from the United Kingdom. The Governor-General, Sir Walter Coutts, stepped down, and the Kabaka (monarch) of Buganda, Sir Edward Mutesa II, became the nation's first president.
- In a statement written before he underwent emergency surgery, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan announced that he would resign on the grounds of ill health, and asked his Conservative Party to select his successor in time for new elections. After his doctors told him that he would be incapacitated until the end of the year, Macmillan made his decision and delivered notes to the Queen and to the Foreign Secretary, Lord Home (Alec Douglas-Home). Lord Home read the surprise announcement at the Conservative Party conference being held at Blackpool.
- After conferring with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy approved wiretapping and other surveillance of the home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the New York City office of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
- The second James Bond film, From Russia with Love, held its world premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square in London.
- The nuclear test ban treaty, signed on August 5th, went into effect on October 10th.
- Jesuit priest Walter Ciszek, an American citizen who had been incarcerated in the Soviet Union since 1940 after being convicted of espionage, was freed after 23 years in prison. Ciszek was part of a four-person prisoner swap between the U.S. and the USSR, and was allowed to leave, along with 24-year-old college student Marvin Makinen, who had served two years of an eight-year prison sentence after being convicted of taking photographs of Soviet military installations. In return, the United States released Russian couple Ivan and Aleksandra Yegorov, who had been arrested for espionage on July 2. Ciszek's whereabouts had been unknown to the U.S. for 15 years, until 1955, when the American government had learned that he was alive and in a prison camp in Siberia.
- The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution (XVIII), requesting the South African government to call off the Rivonia Trial and release all political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela.
- French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau passed on the 11th.
- Originally scheduled to stand in for Prime Minister Macmillan in addressing the Conservative Party conference,[54] British Deputy Prime Minister R. A. "Rab" Butler used the opportunity to attempt the "speech of his life" to urge that he was the best choice to succeed Macmillan as the party leader and as Britain's next prime minister. The speech, however, went poorly, and Butler, originally the favourite of the delegates, was no longer under serious consideration.