[Tiger Fan]

1964 IN FIGMENT BASEBALL
October 15, 1964


LITTLE CHANGES, RIGHT DOWN TO THE PLAYOFF TIEBREAKER, FOR POWERFUL PIONEERS IN '64
St Louis Beats Keystones in Fed Playoff, Then Little Trouble With Stars For 3rd Straight WCS

Do not bet against the St. Louis Pioneers in a one-game winner-take-all playoff. That is clearly the lesson to be learned as the mighty Pioneers won their third consecutive World Championship Series but was perhaps more impressive is that for the second year in a row, and third time in the past decade and a half the Pioneers needed to win a playoff game to claim the Federal Association flag. And for the third time they were successful as Frenchy Mack and a pair of relievers combined on a 4-hit gem to blank the Philadelphia Keystones 4-0. Beating the Continental Association champion Los Angeles Stars 4 games to one in the WCS and improving to 12-2 against the CA over the past three October's looked easier than claiming the Fed flag for the Pioneers.

It was a slow start to the season for the two-time defending champions as by mid-June the Pioneers found themselves in fourth place, trailing front-running Detroit as well as Philadelphia and Boston. That changed quickly as the Dynamos were first to fall off the pace, ruining a 32-20 start with a 14-31 stretch that sent them tumbling to the second division by August. Boston battled for a much longer stretch and the Minutemen were just 2 games back as late as August 15. A 10-16 September ended the Minutemen's pennant hopes.

St. Louis and Philadelphia were separated by no more than a game for most of the final month of the campaign. The Keystones, who finished fourth each of the past two seasons, swept a three-game series in Pittsburgh the final weekend while the Pioneers won just two of three at home against the Los Angeles Suns to leave the two clubs knotted at 96-66 when the regular season was set to conclude on October 4. However, just as it was a year ago when the Pioneers nipped Washington 8-7, a tie-breaker was necessary to claim the Federal Association crown.

*** Mack Leads Pioneers To Tie-Breaker Win ***

Frenchy Mack, the Pioneers ace who won the Allen Award each of the previous two seasons, was set to take the hill while the Keystones were forced to counter with Joe Kienle (15-9, 3.17) because ace and likely 1964 Fed Allen Award favourite Jorge Arellano (22-11, 2.80) was needed in the Pittsburgh series. Mack set the Keystones down in order in the top of the first and was staked to the only run he and his bullpen mates would need when St. Louis went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first on doubles from Jerry Smith (.220,3,24) and Bob Bell (.327,48,121). Smith, now 36, started just 60 games this season after being such a huge piece of the Pioneers previous two WCS winners. Bell (.327,48,121), 26 and just coming into his prime, led the Fed in homers and rbi's and seems a lock to win his third Whitney Award as league MVP. He has led the Fed in round-trippers each of the past four seasons and the 192 he has hit so far is 56 more than the another Pioneers slugging star- great Max Morris- had hit by the end of his age 26 season.

Philadelphia finally got its first hit off Mack with one out in the third inning but it took until the 7th inning before the Keystones moved a man as far as second base and they never would get anyone to third. Still leading 1-0, Mack gave the ball to John Gibson in the seventh and Gibson, along with Charlie Blake, would close out the shutout. The Pioneers bats made the relievers job much easier with a 3-run outburst in the home half of the seventh frame. An error helped load the bases for Bill Bather (.236,10,38) to deliver a two-run single and Danny Davis (.309,29,106) rounded out the scoring with an run scoring knock of his own.

The Federal Association has required four tie-breakers over it's history and everyone of them has involved either the Pioneers or Keystones.

The Pioneers' 97 wins were 8 off the Federal Association record-tying pace set by last years club but did mark their fourth consecutive season with at least 90 victories. It should be noted the 1962 and earlier campaigns only had 154 games while starting a year ago with expansion the slate was hiked to 162. St. Louis strength remained on the mound where there is plenty of depth behind co-aces Frenchy Mack (18-7, 1.53) and Billy Hanson (20-10, 2.61). 22-year-old Harry Johnson (18-8, 1.89) made a case for being considered a third member of the Pioneers aces as the 1960 first rounder followed up a 7-inning audition a year ago with a dominant frosh campaign. Steve Madden (13-12, 3.53) and Danny Daniels (12-10, 3.78) round out a rotation that is tough to top.

With pitching like St. Louis possesses, the club does not need an elite offense but certainly has some key ingredients in all-stars Bob Bell (.327,48,121) and Danny Davis (.309,29,106). Bill Tutwiler (.293,10,42) was acquired from Boston at the deadline in 1963 and fit right in at the top of the order as a table-setter. Also don't overlook the contribution of Ramon Tejada (.218,12,61). In his first season as everyday shortstop, the 25-year-old Dominican stabilized the defense in a key position that has often been a question mark for the Pioneers.

The Philadelphia Keystones won one more game than they did a year ago but still had nothing to show for it. Veteran Jorge Arellano (22-11, 2.80) had his best season since winning 21 games for the 1957 New York Gothams and teamed with William Davis (16-12, 3.23) and Joe Kienle (15-9, 3.17) to give the Keystones three solid starters on the mound but the strength of the club was its power hitting. Lead off man Harry Dellinger (.270,32,72) led the team in homers but any of the top seven in the batting order were dangers to go deep. Veterans Buddy Miller (.248,14,54) and Lloyd Coulter (.209,15,69) endured their struggles this season but youngsters Andy Parker (.310,23,89) and Bobby Phelps (.258,25,81) looked poised to take the baton, or the bat if you prefer, as the Keystones look poised to continue their rich tradition of all-star sluggers.

Injuries cost Frank Kirouac (.310,26,86) much of last season but the 26-year-old bounced back this year with a terrific campaign for the Boston Minutemen. It was another young outfielder injury -this one to centerfielder Frank McCarroll (.247,18,43)- that perhaps doomed the Minutemen to dropping out of contention in August. McCarroll ripped up his knee just after the all-star break and Boston skipper Dick Dunn tried multiple options but could not find an acceptable replacement. Many fans might have wanted the Minutemen to pull the trigger on a major deal to replace their centerfielder since the club was right in the flag mix, but it did not happen as the only July move pulled off by the Minutemen was a minor league deal. There is great hope going forward, especially if McCarroll can recover as well as Kirouac did from his injury. Pitching, often the weakness of the New England nine, looks like it soon may be a strength with a pair of top ten prospects in Bill Dunlop and John McCormick on the way and 21-year-old Bob Scott (9-5, 2.62) looking very good in his big league debut season.

The New York Gothams ended up tied for third with Boston and Washington as they finished over .500 for the first time since 1957. With 21-year-old Ray Stevens (15-9, 2.94), 22-year-old Charlie Walker (13-10, 3.87) and 23-year-old Jack White (15-9, 3.08) on the big club there is plenty of hope for the future. The club needs, offense, in particular some power as despite finishing second in the Fed in batting average and fourth in on-base percentage, the Gothams were 7th in runs scored. 24-year-old outfielder George James (.298,17,74) led the club in homers and rbi's in his first full season so perhaps he holds part of the solution.

It was a disappointing season for the Washington Eagles who went from 104 wins and within an extra-inning loss of going to the WCS for the first time in almost two decades, to slipping into a three-way tie for third place at 85-77. The offense, led by infielders Tom Lorang (.324,36,113) and George Whaley (.290,27,107) was the best in the Fed but the pitching, especially the bullpen, led the Eagles down. Owen Lantz (14-10, 2.87), Bob Ball (16-10, 3.03) and Dick Adams Jr. (13-8, 3.01) give them hope but there is worry a late season elbow strain suffered by Adams might impact his future, especially considering he has had elbow troubles in the past.

Six must be their lucky number as for the third year in a row that is where the Chicago Chiefs finished in the Federal Association standings. The Chiefs are building for the future and somewhat in transition right now as 36-year-olds Ed Bloom (.222,6,43) and Rod Shearer (.233,21,85) start to slow and replacements have not yet arrived. The pitching, led by a strong season out of 33-year-old southpaw Vern Osborne (18-12, 3.04) and 23-year-old Roy Brandt (9-15, 2.72), who made the all-star team in his second season, was the highlight of the Chiefs summer.

The Pittsburgh Miners have not won a pennant since 1940 and are now 63 years since their only World Championship Series title. It is hard to imagine much changing in that regard after an 83-79 season. After winning 90 games a year ago, there was finally some excitement in a city that seems to have lost interest in its baseball team, but fate was cruel to the Miners as two of their rising young stars suffered devastating injuries that ended their season prematurely and perhaps will impact their careers. That would be 23-year-old hurler Hank Griswold (5-3, 3.57) who tore his rotator cuff and will likely miss the start of next season along with 25-year-old first baseman Gale Schmitt (.339,18,92), who celebrated winning the Fed batting title and making the all-star team but blew out his knee in September. The Miners are young, and have some talent, so perhaps fate will smile on Pittsburgh and allow both of those players to recover fully and lead the team back into contention - something that has not been a serious focus of conversation since the Lefty Allen, Jack Cleaves years of the late 1930s.

We knew it was coming, just a matter of when but reality set it for the Detroit Dynamos as the team of the 1950s appears to be about to enter a long, and potentially painful rebuilding phase. Sure Jim Norris (15-13, 2.95) is still around from the glory days and there is talent in Ray Waggoner (.299,29,88), Joe Holland (.239,15,70) and the long-running middle infield duo of Dick Tucker (.264,16,70) and Joe Reed (.238,12,51). The 8th place finish also cost long-time Detroit General Manager Harris Dixon his job. Dixon joined the Dynamos in 1946, coming over from Pittsburgh, and played a big role in shaping the club that won 4 WCS and 6 pennants in a seven year span beginning in 1952.

The Minneapolis Millers and Los Angeles Suns each improved upon last year's record but the pair of third year clubs each have a long way to go to gain much respect in the Fed. The Suns went 62-100 and while an improvement on last year's 53 win campaign, it pales in comparison to their 66-88 debut season. Los Angeles does have 5 prospects ranked in the OSA top 100 but all except for 9th ranked Jim Thurman, a 21-year-old outfielder, are still a few years away from the big leagues. A pair of 27-year-old righthanders in Red Burtch (11-12, 2.96) and waiver pickup Joe Cipolla (13-9, 2.73) are the closest thing the Suns have to front of the rotation arms while former San Francisco Sailor Bob Gray (.227,17,53) and promising rookie Sam Forrester (.275,14,47), just 21 and a former second round pick of the Washington Eagles, led the struggling Suns offense.

The Minneapolis Millers finished dead last for the third year in a row but can take some solace in the fact that they won more games (60) than either of their Continental Association expansion counterparts. There is hope for the future in the form of a pair of second year outfielders in 20-year-old John Edwards (.283,24,76) and 22-year-old Frank Bradshaw (.278,12,73). Bradshaw was drafted second overall in 1963 while Edwards was selected with the third pick of the 1962 FABL draft. Another youngster to watch for is Ossie Schrieber, an 18-year-old southpaw selected first overall out of a Nebraska high school in June. Schrieber, ranked #4 overall by OSA in their prospect pipeline, looked solid going 7-3 in his pro debut at Class C this summer.

It was, at least until the WCS, a truly dominant season from the Continental Association champion Los Angeles Stars. They won 108 games and finished 14 ahead of the second place Cincinnati Cannons to claim their first flag on the west coast. There were some lean years after the move west as the Stars, who had won the WCS just two years prior to their 1954 sojourn to Southern California, finished dead last in the CA each of their first six seasons on the west coast. They were second a year ago but a distant 15 games back of the front-running Kansas City Kings but this time around Los Angeles finally gets to celebrate a pennant.

If there is a team that has the depth of young starting pitching that the St Louis Pioneers possess, it would be the Los Angeles Stars. 22-year-old rookie Freddy Bradshaw (16-8, 3.11) joined a group that includes 23-year-old Harry Stout (17-5, 3.01), 25-year-old Cal Johnston (17-9, 3.14), 26-year-old Dewey Allcock 15-4, 2.86) and 27-year-old Floyd Warner (11-4, 3.48). A major back injury suffered by Warner in September dampens the excitement slightly. There is also plenty of offense, the most productive run scoring unit in all of baseball. Don Hall (.297,27,93), a 27-yearo-old outfielder, finally got to play everyday again after two years as a backup and made the most of his opportunity, joining a deep core that includes Ralph Barrell (.318,45,123), Bobby Garrison (.325,29,102), Bob Griffin (.337,17,77) and Lou Allen (.251,30,109). Griffin won the CA batting crown at the tender age of 23 while Barrell, already a six-year veteran at the age of 24, led the loop in homers and rbi's for the first time in his career.

The Cincinnati Cannons were the best of the rest, finishing second for the fourth time since their last of three straight pennants in 1946. They have the pitching to compete perhaps with the Stars but the offense lags a step behind especially with some concern that two-time Whitney Award winner Dallas Berry (.244,21,80) had an off-year by his standards at age 33 and missed the final month of the season with an injury. On the flip side of the ledger, the Cannons have to be thrilled with the breakout season enjoyed by 21-year-old Marcus Middleton (19-8, 2.92) in his second full big league campaign.

The San Francisco Sailors won the CA flag two years ago before dipping to fourth in 1963. This time around the went 92-70 but that was only good enough for third place. The Sailors don't hit a lot of homeruns but they do get on base and scratch out runs -only the Los Angeles Stars scored more in all of FABL. Third baseman Ernie Carter (.304,18,100) and second sacker Heinie Spitler (.332,7,58) are rising young stars to join outfielder John Kingsbury (.311,18,112) and shortstop Carolos Jaramillo (.287,6,54) who are at their peak. The quartet is assisted by veterans Ray Rogan (.300,7,36) and Edwin Hackberry (.233,13,59). The mound staff is led by 32-year-old Hank Lacey (14-11, 2.75) and a pair of 25-year-olds in George Fuller (18-6, .289) and Charlie Lawson (10-12, 3.48) but depth in the rotation is a concern.

The Chicago Cougars claimed fourth spot with a 91-71 record, finishing in the first division for the sixth time in the last seven years. Chicago has seemed snakebit many times in its distant past and has not won a WCS since 1931 nor a CA pennant since 1941. The Cougars have a good nucleus of talent but seem to be still a step away from challenging for a flag as there is a lot of competition at the top of the Continental. 26-year-old Henry Watson (.291,28,105) may not get the publicity of some of the other big name outfielders in the league but he has quietly made the CA all-star team three of the past four years.

Finishing fifth has to be the latest in a series of disappointments for the Kansas City Kings. With a group like Hank Williams (.304,35,101), Ken Newman (.282,21,80), Beau McClellan (16-9, 3.16), Jack Halbur (15-9, 2.97) there is plenty of veteran talent but age is going to catch up to it soon. It may have already arrived for Stan Kleminski (.248,4,44) and Charlie Rodgers (.225,3,24) with the latter seeing his quest for the all-time doubles record starting to slow. Rogers hit 12 two baggers this season and the 35-year-old now has 555 for his career, leaving him 46 shy of Dave Trowbridge's standard.

More pressing to the group of veteran Kings is finally winning a WCS, something that has eluded the franchise since its only series win came when they were based in Brooklyn in 1937. The Kings of the past decade had their chances, capturing the CA flag on four occasions but they came up short against the Fed each time. One might blame injury as the reason they did not compete for the pennant this season as Gene Bailey, the 24-year-old who emerged as the ace a year ago with 21 victories and an Allen Award, made just 11 starts this season before should troubles ended his campaign. One has to think Bailey's full recovery is essential if the Kings are to win another pennant before the window closes on their veteran core.

Sure expansion might have helped pad the wins, but three years in a row over the .500 mark is a big accomplishment for the Toronto Wolves, who finished 6th at 84-78. Prior to this stretch the Wolves had not reached the breakeven point in a season since 1945. Tom Reed (.261,26,71), at 33 is still the leader of the offense but he had help this year from the likes of Ed Savage (.320,23,88), Phil Story (.259,19,90) and Sid Cullen (.238,17,66). There is hope for the future on the mound after Bill Medley's (17-4, 3.36) second straight 17 win season at the tender age of 24. Another 24-year-old, Jimmy Blair (18-12, 3.03) also impressed. The downside is the Wolves minor league system is considered at the moment to be the worst in baseball.

Much like their Canadian compatriots, there has been little to get excited about for the Montreal Saints. The club last won a pennant in 1921 and have only finished second once since then so an 81-81 season, even if it is only good for 7th place, is still considered a slight success around Stade Montreal. John Mullins (14-11, 3.53) had a solid first full season in the big leagues as a 21-year-old and 22-year-old catcher Henry Woods (.268,16,75) failed to duplicate his terrific rookie numbers of a year ago but is still considered one of the best young catchers in the league.

How the mighty have fallen. Like the Detroit Dynamos in the Fed, the Cleveland Foresters were the class of the Continental Association for a decade but now have landed on hard times. From 1949 thru 1961 the Foresters won 8 pennants and 3 WCS titles but retirements and age have caught up. Its hard to stay on top when you are drafting in the bottom of the first round so often and the Foresters are no exception. There are some youngsters on the way but it will take time as Adrian Czerwinski (5-11, 4.25), Earl Howe (.233,21,72) and John Low (.251,7,49) among others, are starting to fade.

The Dallas Wranglers won 54 games this season, one more than their expansion partners from New York. The Wranglers best player is probably 32-year-old outfielder Armando Estrada (.283,19,65) who was acquired from the Gothams over the winter. The key for the expansion clubs is to build through the draft and early indications are the Wranglers may have stumbled at least in comparison to the other three newcomers. Dallas ranks 16th in its minor league system and, unlike Minneapolis, the Suns and Imperials, they do not have a prospect ranked in the top 15.

The New York Imperials, unlike Dallas, have what is considered the number one farm system in baseball and it includes four of the top 15 prospects in the sport. The Imperials were beyond awful in their debut year, going 38-116 but they won 54 games a year ago and then dropped slightly to 53 wins this season. There is little talent on the big league roster outside of slugger Turk Ramsey (.312,22,55) and 20-year-old rookie shortstop George Love (.242,10,44) but wins are not the priority at this stage. Getting Love experience, and the same for youngsters like Art Roberts (5-11, 4.63) and top ten prospect Tony Nava, who made his debut in September while still just 20 years old. The key for the Imperials, like the other three newcomers, is to draft well and focus on the future.

MILESTONES

NO-HITTERS
Joe Kienhle of the Keystones no-hit the Chiefs 3-0 July 31. no walks, only baserunner reached on an error
Bud Henderson of Detroit no-hit the LA Suns 1-0 on June 3. Henderson fanned 5 and walked 1.

They were the first no-hitters since 1961 and the first year with multiple no-hitters since 1957 had three of them.

300 WINS
Cleveland's Adrian Czerwinski beat Cincinnati 5-4 at Forester Stadium on April 23 for his 300th career victory. He is 17th player to win 300.

2000 HITS
John Low - Cleveland
Lloyd Coulter- Keystones

1964 FABL ALL-STAR GAME
Fed Finally Gets July Bragging Rights

When it comes to October the Federal Association clearly has the last laugh, as Fed clubs entered the 1964 season with victories in 9 of the previous 10 World Championship Series including six in a row. July, home of the annual all-star game, was a much different story as the Continental Association had won the last three and seven of the past eight all-star games.

This, the 31st annual all-star game was special because it would be contested in the same stadium as the very first game. The Feds won that one by an 8-5 score at Chicago's Whitney Park and would end the Continental streak with a 5-2 victory this time around.

The CA took an early 1-0 lead when Detroit's Jim Norris, the Fed starter on the mound, got himself in trouble early. John Kingsbury of San Francisco singled and moved to second when Kansas City's Hank Williams drew a 4-pitch walk. An error by Fed second baseman Tom Lorang of Washington, normally a third baseman by trade, loaded the bases with nobody out but Norris got out of the jam with minimal damage as the only CA run came on a Bonnie Chapin sac fly.

It stayed 1-0 until the fourth inning when Washington's George Whaley ripped a 3-run homer off of Carl Johnston of the Los Angeles Stars to give the Feds a league they would never relinquish. A fielder's choice scored a run in the 6th inning to cut the lead to 3-2 but the Federal Association put the game away with two runs on three hits in the top of the ninth. Otey Stephens of Boston was credited with the victory while Johnston took the loss. Lorang, who committed that first inning error but also had 4 hits, an rbi and a run scored, was named the game's most valuable player.

1964 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
St Louis Wins over Los Angeles Stars 4-1

The St. Louis Pioneers have been almost unstoppable in WCS play. They won their third consecutive WCS title and have a 12 games to 2 lead on their three Continental Association counterparts over that span. Two years ago the Pioneers ousted San Francisco in 5 games and a year ago they swept the Kansas City Kings four straight. This time around it was another new opponent in the Los Angeles Stars but again the Pioneers had a relatively easy time, winning in 5 games.

GAME ONE

The series opened on the west coast, being played in Los Angeles for the first time. The Stars took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning with both runs coming courtesy of a Lou Allen round-tripper off of St Louis reliever Mel Hill. Hill had been forced to take over in the inning after starter Billy Hasson was forced to leave with a stiff back. St Louis got a run back in the 6th when Danny Davis homered for the Pioneers and then tied the game when Steve Schultz hit an rbi single to plate Bob Bell with two-out in the top of the 8th. In the top of the 10th Bill Bather homered off of Stars reliever Jim Schoolfield and that run held as the Pioneers pen took care of business in the bottom of the 10th securing the 3-2 St Louis victory.

GAME TWO

L.A. scored first again with Lou Allen playing the pivotal role, driving in 2-runs with a 2-out double off of St. Louis starter Steve Madden. Stars starter George Johnston allowed just 2-hits over 6 innings and left with a 2-1 lead as Bill Tutwhiler had homered in the Pioneers third.

The Stars blew a tight game open in the bottom of the seventh, plating 3 runs to take a 5-1 lead, which stood up as the final score. Madden created his own trouble in the seventh with a lead-off walk to Bob Griffin. It was followed by a single to Lew Smith and then another single from to Mike Forst that scored Griffin. Ed Moore also delivered a 2-run single before Madden closed out the inning. Against Johnston and two relievers, the Pioneers managed just 3 hits.

GAME THREE

Back in St Louis it was the Pioneers that had the quick start. Starters Dewey Allcock of Los Angeles and Frenchy Mack of St Louis, who was fresh off his win over the Keystones in the Fed playoff tiebreaker, each had quiet first innings. The Pioneers exploded in the second, plating 4 runs on five hits off of Allcock including a Danny Daniels double and a Ramon Tejada three-bagger.

The Stars fought back in the top of the third as Lou Allen hit his second homer of the series, a two-run shot, that was followed immediately by a Ralph Barrell homerun and the St Louis lead was cut to 4-3. An inning later it was tied as Mack continued to struggle on the mound. Bob Griffin led off the inning with a single for LA and he scored on Mike Forst's rbi double.

It stayed tied 4-4 until Bob Bell, who hit a FABL best 48 homers during the season, cranked a 3-run shot off Allcock to put St Louis ahead 7-4. John Gibson, who had relieved Mack in the 7th inning, pitched a perfect 8th and 9th frames to earn the victory.

GAME FOUR

A little better pitching effort from the Pioneers, which was more like their standard method of operation. Danny Daniels went 7 and two-thirds while allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and the bullpen closed it out in a 4-2 St Louis win to put them on the cusp of a third straight series title.

St Louis took a 1-0 lead in the second following an rbi double off the bat of Sam Ruggles. Bobby Garrison's rbi double with two out after Lou Allen had single allowed the Stars to tie the game in the top of the sixth but St. Louis was gifted two runs in the bottom of the inning when LA starter Freddy Bradshaw suddenly couldn't find the strike zone. Two slap singles and an error clearly unnerved Bradshaw and before the bullpen could get ready he had walked Ruggles to plate one run and then issued another free pass to Danny Daniels to score a second run. A Bob Bell homer an inning later added icing to the cake and completed the St Louis scoring. The Stars got a run late thanks to an error but could not get any closer.

GAME FIVE

For five and a half innings it was a scoreless duel between a pair of youngsters with 23-year-old Harry Stout on the mound for the visitors against the Pioneers 22-year-old rookie righthander Harry Johnson. Both teams had base runners early but the kids did the job until St. Louis got to Stout in the 6th. Grady Smith, another St Louis rookie, led-off with a pinch-hit double and scored when the next batter, Bill Tutwiler, singled. Tutwiler would also score before the inning was done, racing home on a Bob Bell sacrifice fly to put St Louis ahead 2-0. The Pioneers would blow the game open with four more runs the next inning and it ended 6-0, giving St. Louis its third consecutive WCS title.