[Tiger Fan]

JULY 21, 1975

WALK-OFF BALK ENDS ALL-STAR GAME
Federal Association Rallies for 6-5 Victory

The 43rd annual FABL All-Star Game ended Wednesday night with a finish so odd it took a moment for the sellout crowd at Atlanta’s Peachtree Stadium to grasp it.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Montreal Saints closer Miguel Hernandez balked, forcing home Sam Forrester of the Los Angeles Suns with the winning run and handing the Federal Association a 6–5 comeback victory over the Continental Association.

The decision marked the Federal stars’ 10th win in the last 12 All-Star Games, though for much of the night it appeared the Continental Association would even the recent score. The Continentals built a 5–2 lead through five innings, getting solo home runs from Toronto’s Phil Story and Seattle Kings slugger Bob Glowacki.

Momentum swung in the bottom of the sixth. Detroit’s Buddy Ensey opened the inning with a single off Seattle right-hander Billy Collins, and Minneapolis third baseman Carl Kilkenny followed by launching a two-run homer that pulled the Federals within a run at 5–4. Kilkenny, enjoying the finest season of his young career, had already homered once in the fourth inning and finished the night with two long balls. The performance earned the 26-year-old the game’s Most Valuable Player award. The longball has been a Kilkenny trademark this season as he has hit 20 for the Millers, trailing only Los Angeles Suns star Tom Lally in the FABL home run race.

The Federal Association drew even in the eighth with a run manufactured on three singles. Philadelphia’s Lew Davison opened the inning with a base hit off Kansas City’s Van Taylor, moved to third on Ensey’s second single of the night, and scored on a groundout by Chicago veteran Joe Siniscalchi. Taylor escaped further trouble by striking out Atlanta pitcher Buddy Thomas, who was left in to hit, but the game was tied heading to the ninth.

Houston’s Bob Young set the Continentals down in order in the top half of the inning, setting the stage for the dramatic finish. Hernandez retired the first two Federal hitters before Forrester singled to keep the inning alive. Davison followed with another base hit, and Ensey was intentionally walked to load the bases. Before throwing a pitch to Kilkenny, Hernandez committed the balk that ended the game on the spot.

Young was credited with the victory, while Hernandez was tagged with the loss in a game that will be remembered less for its stars than for its startling final act.

Williams Becomes 6th FABL Slugger with 500 Home Runs

• It was a beautiful, clear 57 degree day at Seattle Municipal Stadium, and just like any of the game Hank Williams (.263, 9, 43) has been playing recently, everyone in the crowd was on the edge of their seat when he came up to the plate. Fans on the 18th had to wait until the 7th, where the prolific superstar took Gary Preston's (4-6, 4.22, 33) deep with one out. The roar in the stadium erupted with the bat crack, and not a single person stopped yelling until Hank came out for a third curtain call. That was home run #500, as Williams became just the sixth player to do this. A veteran of over 11,000 FABL appearances, it took him 2,645 games to reach the historic mark, and he ended the week with a career .312/.416/.540 (169 OPS+) batting line with 524 doubles, 1,558 walks, and 1,681 RBIs and runs.
• Williams becomes the third player to hit 500 home runs all with the same franchise, joining legendary Keystone Bobby Barrell and legendary Chief Rod Shearer. Barrell hit 639 in Philly, the second most for any player and most with one organization, and he's got little to worry about Williams catching him, but Shearer is next on Williams' ascent. Williams got to 6th by passing Bill Barrett (493) earlier in the season, and he's 8 away from getting past Shearer as well. He is on track for 15 homers this season, which would put him a little short, but the now 42-year-old is hitting well and should be back for 1976. His .263/.390/.416 (125 OPS+) batting line is still above average, and he hasn't posted a WRC+ below 100 since his 96 in 1957.

Lally, Terry, Named Player of the Week in Shortened Week

• Perhaps enraged at his non-unanimous All-Star selection, Tom Lally (.330, 24, 73, 8) took it out on the Copperheads and Eagles, going 11-for-18 with 3 homers, 6 runs, 6 RBIs, 2 walks, and a steal. Now hitting .330/.403/.582 (174 OPS+) on the season, Lally surpassed the 7 WAR mark, up to 7.1 in just 94 games. It's come with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 24 homers, 73 RBIs, 79 runs, 45 walks, and 8 steals. Not much of a triple crown threat anymore, since he gets on too much for Sam Forrester (.306, 19, 80, 24) and with all those homers it's going to be hard to hit over .350, which seems like the magic number for the Fed title this year. Still, he's the obvious frontrunner for the Whitney, and he helped push the Suns lead back up to 5.
• Our other winner had a fully rested week, as 1968 All-Star Phil Terry (.282, 14, 58, 10) of the Imperials took the honor, despite a rough week for his team. The formerly first place Imperials didn't stay there long, as after losing three of four to start the second half, they dropped to a game behind the Foresters and half behind the Arrows. Terry cannot be blamed, he was 8-for-18 with 6 runs, 2 homers, 7 RBIs, and a walk, and both of his three run homers came in one run losses. Terry doesn't offer much defense, but he's one of the best sluggers in the game. On pace for an 8th consecutive 20+ homer season, he's hit a nice .282/.341/.447 (116 OPS+) on the season, and if the Imps want to finish their season with an unexpected pennant run, more weeks like this are needed from their top slugger.

McCarthy, Hayward, Hunter Complete Shutouts

• Houston has had a lot of struggles this season, and it all started with Joe McCarthy (3-2, 2.37, 29) getting a bone spur in the spring. He did come back June, and after a road bump against the Chiefs, McCarthy has been firing on all cylinders. He put together three consecutive starts with just 1 run in 7 or more innings, and capped it off with a 3-hit shutout. In a 7-0 win over the Clippers, McCarthy walked 1 and struck out 5, lowering his ERA to an outstanding 2.37 (165 ERA+). He hasn't got much luck with winning games, but he's pitching like an Allen winner again, and they'll need more form him to erase the seven game deficit.
• Harry Hayward (7-1, 1.43, 50) got injured around the same time as McCarthy, his ailment an oblique strain, so it's only fitting that he got a shutout around McCarthy too. Hayward did come back a little earlier, so he has a few more starts and a 1-run (or less streak of his own. If we're talking earned runs, it goes back six starts, and this is the third without an earned run. It came with 5 walks and 4 hits to just 2 strikeouts, as his Gothams beat McCarthy's Arrows 6-0. Before this injury, Hayward was an iron man, making 32 or more starts for an entire decade, which could be why he's shown little defect in his return.
• The last shutout of the week was the first in the career of Jim Hunter (4-3, 3.90, 25), who disarmed the Saints in his 12th career start. A rookie who debuted in 1973, he was viewed in the past as more of a pen arm, but with Toronto's pitching woes he's instead forced his way to the top of the rotation. A nice bounce back after getting hit hard by the Kings (2.2 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 2 K), he allowed just 3 hits with a walk and strikeout.

Injury Notes: Cleveland, Spruill, Cleves, Alfano

• It was a tough week on the field for the Foresters, as in the first day back, starting left fielder Ken McKinney (.292, 1, 21) suffered a bone spur in his elbow, causing him to miss at least the next five weeks. Potentially sidelined through August, it's been an up-and-down season for the now 29-year-old. He had a nice 117 WRC+ in April and 113 in June, but they were countered by his woeful 60 in May. If it wasn't for a setback, his IL placement would coincide with the return of Orlando Benitez, who tore his PCL last July, and suffered a rotator cuff injury on rehab. He's now got a setback from that injury, with no knowledge on when he can return.
• Cleveland is already without Hal Kennedy (.227, 2, 9), who hyperextended his knee, and may also miss Carlos Jaramillo (.260, 25), who is dealing with back stiffness. The Diamond Defense shortstop turned third basemen will try to play through it, but with all the other injuries it may be worth adding him to the IL too. He's hitting just .260/.345/.312 (80 OPS+), but an 11% BB% has helped him produce a near average 98 WRC+. They did return one player, righty Bob Moore (0-1, 3.86, 3), but aside from making it to first, more went bad for them then good this week.
• St. Louis cannot catch a break in the middle infield, as replacement shortstop Tom Spruill (.257, 2, 15, 1) sprained his knee, and will likely be out until late August. The 34-year-old was filling in for Frank Green (.271, 6, 36, 5), who hurt his elbow in late June. Spruill will now join Green and starting second basemen Larry Cimino (.286, 6, 16) on the IL, who may not make it back until late September. On the bright side, Green is perhaps a week away, but until then they'll again be challenged to tap into depth they do not have.
• Toronto will be sending out a new regular center fielder for the next few weeks, as incumbent starter Dwayne Cleaves (.212, 5, 20, 9) is dealing with an oblique strain. A Rule-5 pick out of the Eagles system lsat year, he's having a dreadful sophomore slump, following up a solid .244/.320/.351 (93 OPS+) season line with a poor .212/.288/.303 (61 OPS+) one. The speedster isn't having success running either, as after 36 in 46 attempts last season, he's just 9-for-16. Cleaves did recently cede playing time to 23-year-old rookie Pat Schmitt (.340, 1, 13, 2), who has been excellent in limited time, and they'll now get a more extended look to see what the natural left fielder can do in center.
• New York welcomed back John Alfano (4-7, 4.99, 35) from the IL, but the Imperials co-ace provided his team with more of the same. Last having pitched on May 31st, he struggled in Seattle, allowing 10 hits, 6 runs, and 4 walks with just one strikeout. Of course, the Kings are never easy, even if you are coming off back-to-back shutouts, so it's too early to sound the alarm. He's scheduled to make his next start in New York against the first place Foresters, thought by time we get to the weekend series any of the top three teams could be leading.

Minor Transactions: Ireland, Osborne, Nash

• Continuing to be active on the waiver wire, the Cleveland Foresters made a shocking claim of Don Ireland. Debuting for the Cougars last season, he did throw 7.1 scoreless innings, but he had a 14.14 ERA (32 ERA+) in 14 AAA innings this season. It was a better 3.32 (127 ERA+) in 21.2 innings in AA, but neither really scream pen piece for a contender. That's what Cleveland is, though their vision for the lefty could just be depth. He has been optioned and can be again, and with how many injuries they were dealt this week, the depth could use some help.
• Expected to retire at the end of the year, Vern Osbrone (0-4, 1, 7.04, 14) may have pitched his last FABL game, as the 44-year-old was DFA'd by the Cannons. Inevitable with his performance, the 257-game winner had an awful 7.04 ERA (54 ERA+) in 30.2 innings. The 1.30 WHIP wasn't bad, and he had more strikeouts (14) then walks (9), but I can't see anyone giving the long-time Chief another chance. It was one of many 40-man casualties for the Cannons, as Joe Putnam (1-2, 6.05, 7), Chet Nash, Platon Daniels (.216, 2), and Gil Hamilton (1-2, 6.11, 4) were all waived.
• Nash has already been claimed, though not passed, as the 24-year-old will not stick with the Cannons organization. Whether he ends up a Clipper is up to the rest of the league, but it's no surprise young pitcher with options would not go unclaimed. A former 2nd Round pick, he made 6 starts for the Cannons last year, 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA (150 ERA+), 1.01 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts. 25 in a few weeks, he still has some upside, but without great stuff or command, he may not get too many more FABL starts.

WOLVES START SECOND HALF ON SAME TRACK

Toronto started their second half of the '75 season on the West Coast. It has not been a good year for the Wolves against the CA West with a record of 15-30. Last week's start in Seattle went the way it has gone all season against the Kings, a 3 game sweep with losses by 6-2, 7-3, 2-1 in 11.

The major highlight of the series was a negative one for the Wolves when on Friday Gary Preston became the victim of Hank Williams' 500th career HR. Williams, now 42, was drafted 5th overall by the then Brooklyn Kings in 1951. He began his full time FABL career in 1958, he been a mainstay in the nomadic franchises lineup since the move from Brooklyn to Kansas City and more recently Seattle. The only good thing about these three games was that this is last time Toronto plays Seattle finishing the season with a 1-11 record.

If the team was licking their wounds after being embarrassed by Seattle it was not evident when they visited Golden Gate Stadium on Sunday. Espinosa gave his team 7 strong innings in the first game of the twin bill leaving with a 3-1 lead. Art Gates brought the Sailors within one in the 8th taking Howie Mazzei deep for his 10th of 1975. Evans could only sit and watch as it appeared likely his team would again lose a game that the bullpen could not hold onto a lead. For change that did not happen as in the 9th Phil Story's sac fly restored a 2 run margin allowing Ray Smith to come in to pick up his 9th save of the year.

In the night cap if the bullpen needed rest Jim Hunter took care of that by pitching a complete game shutout 3-0. That was the sixth game of the year when the starter completed the game. Dwayne Cleaves was injured on the base paths, he will be out until early August.

The Wolves have 4 games left on this trip, one in San Francisco and then 3 in Los Angeles before heading home to face Montreal who are now in 4th only 3 games out in a suddenly tight East as Milwaukee has struggled and fallen a half game behind Cleveland with the New York Imperials one game off the lead.

Toronto and Cincinnati are a long way behind the leaders. Dunbar thinks 2-2 to finish this trip would be a success. Howie Mazzei has DFA'd with Harry Street recalled from Buffalo. Three more draft choice signed P Ace Middaugh, SS Bill Franzen, OF Brett Mott while 3 highschoolers decide to take the college route. The shifting in the system will now begin which could be the end for some players.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: INDEPENDENTS

When college football independents are discussed, St. Blane is the name that still commands immediate respect. The Fighting Saints have been an AIAA power since the sport’s early days, capturing five national championships, three of them within the past decade. Their late-1940s and early-1950s teams, led by Christian Trophy winners Ricky McCallister and Bobby Leonard, helped define the program before a rare downturn in the early 1960s, highlighted by a 5-5 season in 1962—the low point in St. Blane history.

The recovery was swift. A 10-2 season in 1965 ended a nine-year absence from the Classics, followed by a perfect 12-0 national championship run in 1966. Titles followed again in 1970 and 1972, though the past two seasons—both eight-win campaigns—fell short of the program’s own lofty standards.

The sense around Tyrone is that the 1975 roster stacks up favorably with St. Blane’s championship teams. Experience is plentiful across the lineup, with the notable exception of quarterback. The Fighting Saints enter the season with two sophomores and two freshmen at the position, including Bob Hitt, a top ten recruit who spent his freshman year apprenticing behind Allen McAlister. McAlister took over as a sophomore in 1972, led St. Blane to a national title, earned All-American honors, and started every game for three seasons. If Hitt can follow a similar path, the Fighting Saints could join Georgia Baptist and Noble Jones College as the only schools to claim six national championships.

Service Academies Still a Factor

Few rivalries once burned hotter than St. Blane versus Rome State, as the two programs collided repeatedly through the 1940s and 1950s. Rome State’s Centurions captured back-to-back national titles during World War II, but recruiting challenges over the past decade have led to uneven results. Their last New Year’s Day appearance came in 1967 following a 9-3 season, and they enter 1975 coming off a 5-6 campaign—this time looking up at their naval counterparts.

Annapolis Maritime has often lived in Rome State’s shadow, with notable exceptions. The Navigators’ unbeaten 1961 season produced a Desert Classic appearance and a second-place national finish, while a 9-2 campaign in 1970 launched a stretch of four Classic appearances in five seasons. That run peaked last year when Annapolis entered the Sunshine Classic at 11-0 and ranked No. 1 nationally. Favored against Boulder State, the Navigators instead fell decisively, missing out on what would have been their first outright national title since sharing the crown with Centerville in 1913.

Annapolis is again expected to field a top 20 team, though a demanding schedule includes a high-profile trip to Tyrone, Pennsylvania, to face St. Blane. Elsewhere among the independents, Miami State, American Atlantic, the College of San Diego, and Commonwealth Catholic all bear watching as the season unfolds.

Atlantic Independents

Officially, 28 schools compete as independents at the AIAA’s highest level, but eight operate under a shared umbrella known as the Atlantic Independents. Formed in 1952, the alliance has seen its membership fluctuate over the years, with the Alexandria Generals emerging as the dominant force in recent seasons.

Supporters in Alexandria still lament missed opportunities in 1972 and 1973, when the Generals posted perfect 12-0 records only to be held back in the final rankings by relatively weak schedules—finishing third in ’72 and second the following year. Though they slipped out of the top ten last season, Alexandria still earned a New Year’s Day berth for the third consecutive year, underscoring their continued relevance among the nation’s independents.

As 1975 approaches, the independent ranks remain anchored by tradition, depth, and no shortage of ambition—led, as always, by the Fighting Saints of St. Blane.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 07/20/1975

• Congress approves federal loan guarantees for New York City, clearing the way for emergency financing while imposing strict fiscal controls and oversight.
• President Ford signs New York aid legislation, calling it a necessary step to prevent economic shock while insisting it not become a model for other cities.
• House votes to extend draft registration authority, reigniting debate over military preparedness in the post-Vietnam era.
• Unemployment claims edge downward for first time in months, offering cautious optimism that the recession may be bottoming out.
• Energy officials report localized fuel shortages easing, though warn that refinery bottlenecks could resurface later in the summer.
• Canada prepares mandatory wage and price controls, with Ottawa confirming legislation is being drafted as inflation pressures persist.
• U.S. and Soviet negotiators resume arms talks, signaling renewed effort to keep détente alive after weeks of stalled discussions.
• Vietnam refugee resettlement funding expanded, as Congress approves additional resources to support housing, education, and job placement.