To the Beat of a New Drum: The Chicago Chiefs of the FABL

[HerbD]

Loss: Cipolla(9-5)
Cipolla 5.2 IP, 7 HA, 4 ER
Zimmerman 3 RS, 2B


Win: F. Moore(5-1)
Rader(POG) 3-5, 2B, HR(8), 4 RBI
Shearer 2-5, RS, 2 RBI, 2B
Gellatly and Padgett 2 hits each


Loss: Mielcarek(1-1)
Flanagan and Wallace 2 Hits each


We are stuck in a pothole and we aren't making any movement one way or the other. We remain at 11 games back after dropping two
of three with Detroit. A walk-off homer in game two from Gene Rader prevented the Dynamos sweep and gave the 13k fans that
showed up a reason to celebrate. They haven't had much to cheer about over the last month.

Player of the Series

Gene Rader drove in five runs in the three-game series while slapping two doubles and slamming one home run. The home run was the
eighth of the 1962 season for the 27-year-old rookie. "I didn't get a chance to play here the last few years," Rader told reporters, "so now that
I've been given that chance I need to prove I belong."

[HerbD]

Win: Champ(5-4)
Champ 4.1 IP, 9 HA, 8 ER
Len Thomas 2-5, RS, HR(1), 4 RBI
Clifford and Rader 3 hits each, Bloom, Shearer, and Walter 2 hits each


Loss: F. Moore(5-2)
MaGee 8 IP, 9 HA, 2 ER
Shearer(POG) 3-4, 2 RS, RBI, BB, 3B, HR(11)
Bloom 2 hits


Loss: Cipolla(9-6)
MaGee 8.0 IP, 8 HA, 7 ER
Rader 3-4, 2 RBI, BB
Padgett 2 Hits


After another disaster of a series, we find ourselves a season-worst 14 games back of St. Louis and falling. We scored nine runs in
the season opener and still lost by four. GM Herb DeSpain once again stayed behind in Chicago while the team made the trip to
Philly but as the team exited the field after the series finale they could all see him waiting in the manager's office for Dutch Becker to come in.
Will Becker get the ax? No one is safe right now and everyone is keeping their head down.

Player of the Series

Rod Shearer
Veteran Rod Shearer enjoyed a good series at the plate despite the Chiefs being swept. The 33-year-old knocked six hits including
one each double, triple, and homer while driving in two and scoring four times. Shearer, a team legend, appears to be safe from
the wrath of GM Herb DeSpain.

[HerbD]

Philadelphia, PA
As the Chicago Chiefs baseball team filed into the visiting clubhouse at Broadstreet Park there was a buzz in the air. Word had already made its way to the visiting dugout that GM Herb DeSpain was waiting in the manager's office. Even Chicago manager Dutch Becker was moving a little slower than normal. No one knew what kind of change was going to be made but the presence of DeSpain in the clubhouse left no doubt that something was about to change.

Becker, just 44 years old, is in his fifth season as the field general of the Chiefs but he wasn't sure he'd be in that position after tonight. The Chiefs started the 1962 season winning 40 of their first 70 games. A much better showing than OSA thought they could manage. But, as they say, water always finds its level and the clock struck midnight on the Chiefs when the calendar turned to July. Chicago has won just four of their first 15 games in July and they quickly went from having hope at eight games out to now treading water at 14 games out...all in a little more than two weeks.

As Becker sat down with DeSpain you could see the relief come across his face. As if a literal weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was safe, for now at least. Then why was DeSpain here? He usually traveled with the team for all road trips that lasted more than one city but he stayed in Chicago for the last trip through New Yord and Boston. It wasn't abnormal for him to skip a road trip that was just a few day long like this one that was just a three day jaunt to Philly but it was unusually for him to show up on the last day as the last game was ending. Something was up.

The team mulled around the clubhouse, everyone with their head down, but no one was willing to hit the shower. They were all waiting to see what was going to happen. As Becker rose to his feet everyone stopped in their tracks. The door to the manager's office slowly squeaked open and Becker locked eyes with Jack Halbur sitting across the room in front of a locker, uniform still intact. "Jack," Becker said softly, "Mr. DeSpain would like a word with you."

Jack Halbur had been in this situation before. He'd spent eight great seasons in Detroit where he was a part of four championship squads but Detroit then traded him to Chicago where he was supposed to teach these guys how to be champions. In the last two seasons Halbur had seen this team go backwards slipping into fifth place in 1961 and this year, starting with so much promise but quickly sliding in the wrong direction.

Halbur wasn't in the office for very long, a few minutes at most. When he exited he didn't seem mad but maybe a little sad. He was going to Kansas City where the Kings were trying to chase down the Forresters and they were doing a decent job of it. Only three games out Halbur felt he may actually have a shot at another ring with the Kings if he started pitching the way he knew he still could. He was 33 but his ERA was still under four in 1962.

The Chiefs would get back four prospects in return. OF Joe Siniscalchi(OSA ranked #61 prospect), 3B Jorge Vellejo(318), P Benny Wood(404), and C Luther Messer. Sinscalchi was the prize. A true five tool guy who was 23 and in a half season at AAA had amassed a 5.1 WAR thanks to a great eye(45 BB) and pretty good pop(20 HR). The other three kids in this deal are of the "wait and see" variety. They were long shots to ever see the majors but if one or two of them contributed in some way to big league success then everyone would be happy.

As Halbur shook some hands and began to collect his things Becker stopped another player heading to the shower. "Champ," he said, "It's your turn." Champ was Dick Champ. A 31 year old veteran that came from Pittsburgh via trade after the 1957 season. He had four very good years with the Chiefs winning 65 games but he was always chasing that 1957 season where he won 21 games for the Minors and he never could quite live up to that. Champ was heading to the cross-town Cougars who were also looking to chase down a suddenly struggling Cleveland team. After tonight the Cougars were five games back of the leaders and just two game behind the Kings. In return the Chiefs get Bob Starr(51), a hyped up Cougars' prospect who, like Sinsscalchi, considered a five tool player. At 21 Starr is not quite ready to play in Chicago but he is considered to have a better eye and more range than Siniscalchi. It shouldn't be long before you see the two of them playing side by side.

Consider Ricardo Castillo(109) a possibility to hold down that third outfield spot. He also comes over in the deal and although he's been listed as a shortstop his entire career it has been mentioned that a position change could be in his future. The outfield is where he could really shine.

After Champ emerged from Becker's office everyone once again stopped and looked towards Becker. The manager stood up from his chair and approached the door to his office and slowly poked his head out of the doorway. "That's it," he said to everyone listening. "At least for now!"

[HerbD]

Loss: Osbourne(8-6)
Osbourne 6.0 IP, 9 HA, 4 ER
Clifford, Shearer, and Zimmerman 2 singles each


Loss: Jack Thomas(2-1)
Jack Thomas 3.1 IP, 7 HA, 4 ER
Padgett HR(13) 3 RBI
Shearer HR(12)
Gellatly 3 hits


Win: D. Lane(7-4)
MaGee 6.0 IP, 7 HA, 4 ER
Shearer 2-4, 2B, HR(13), 2 RS, 4 RBI
Rader 2-3, 2 RBI, 2B, 2 RS, 3 RBI, BB
Padgett 3-4, 2B, 3 RS, 2 RBI, BB
Zimmerman 2-4, 3 RS, RBI, BB
Gellatly 2-5, 4 RBI


We entered this series with a four-game losing streak that grew to six games before a 15-hit, 16-run performance in the final game. At
45-43 we have three games in Washington before the All-Star break but morale is low after the two trades this week and the team is playing
pretty bad baseball right now. The bats are hit and miss but our fielding and starting pitching has been a lot worse than I expected it to be.

Player of the Series

Rod Shearer
Rod Shearer gets back-to-back Player of the Series Awards but it comes at a time when the starting pitching is horrible and the team has lost five
of the six games. The team slapped 32 hits in the three games with Pittsburgh and scored 24 runs so losing two of three is tough. Shearer
contributed five hits including two homers and a team-high five RBI. He also scored four times and walked twice.

[HerbD]

Loss: Skaggs(1-2)
Skaggs 2.2 IP, 7 HA, 5 ER
Len Thomas 2-5, RS, HR(1), 4 RBI
Clifford and Rader 2 hits each


Loss: Cipolla(9-7)
Cipolla 4.1 IP, 9 HA, 7 ER
Rader 2-5, 2 RBI
Zimmerman 2-3, RS, RBI, 2B
Bloom/Padgett 3 BB each


Loss: Osbourne(8-7)
Osbourne 2.2 IP, 9 HA, 10 RA, 4 ER
Three team errors led to 7 unearned runs
Two team hits(Siniscalchi & Wallace)
Siniscalchi first FABL hit(double)



I hope this is rock bottom. The Chiefs head into the All-Star break one game under .500 at 45-46 and we have just played our worst game
of the season. We had more errors than hits(3-2), lost 18-0, and every player in the Washington lineup had multiple hits...including the pitcher.
Let's hope it doesn't get any worse than this. We have to take a look over the break and see how we want to approach the second half but at
17 games out of first, I think it's time to start thinking about the future.

Player of the Series


Rader had a team-high four hits and he added two RBI and two runs scored.

[HerbD]

The Chiefs are sending three players to the 1962 All-Star game at Cougars Park. Despite the horrible July that has seen us drop 16 of 21 contests, we
are still on pace to better the OSA predictions of 72 wins for the year. The disappointment comes with being towards the top of the Fed for much of
the first half and then imploding and dropping in the standings.


Rod Shearer
Rod Shearer will appear in his sixth All-Star game representing the Chiefs each time. He'll start in center field and
lead off for the Fed team. He was an All-Star five times during the decade of the 1950s(53, 54, 55, 57, 59) but
has watched from home the last two seasons. He's tied for the team lead with 13 home runs and is second with 62 RBI.


Al Padgett
29-year-old catcher Al Padgett will make his first All-Star appearance in his first season as the full time starter behind the plate for the Chiefs.
Padgett also has 13 home runs heading into the break, already besting his career high of 12 set last season while splitting time with Mickey
Tucker. Padgett will also get the start for the Fed team and bat seventh.


Dutch Lane
Rounding out the Chiefs' trio is 23-year-old relief pitcher Dutch Lane. Lane is in his first full season with the big club after throwing just 19 1/3
innings in 1961. Lane boasts a 7-4 record to go with 16 saves and a 3.02 ERA in his 59 2/3 innings. The youngster has been not only the best
pitcher on the squad this season but also the most consistent. There has been talk of moving him to the rotation but for this year he is an FABL All-Star reliever.

1062 All-Star game recap from the great Jiggs McGee and This Week in Figment Sports:

Shearer played an important role in the Fed victory with two hits and two RBI and by scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. He's been hit
or miss in his six All-Star game appearances but overall he's done well. For his career he has a .375/.473/500 slash line against the best in
baseball. He's also scored two runs and knocked in five in his 19 plate appearances.

Padgett also scored a run following a walk but did not manage a hit in his only other plate appearance.

Lane, perhaps with some butterflies, had a forgettable outing allowing two runs on two hits and three bases on balls.

[HerbD]

Loss: Cipolla(9-8)
Cipolla 1.2 IP, 8 HA, 8 RA, 4 ER
Zimmerman 3-Run HR(9)
Clifford 2 hits


Win: Bud Andrews(1-0) SV: Lane(17)
Andrews(POG) 8.0 IP, 3 HA, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K(First career FABL start)
Shearer HR(14)


Win: Moore(6-2) SV: Joe Campbell(1)
Benny Wood 4.0 IP, 8 HA, 5 ER(First career FABL start)
Flanagan(POG) 4-6, RS, RBI, 3B
Shearer 3-6, 2B(POG)
Gellatley 2 hits
Siniscalchi 2-5, RS, 2 RBI, HR(1)(First career FABL HR)



Nothing like playing the expansion teams to try and right the ship. Winning two of three puts us back at .500 but still 17 games out of
first place and sitting in a tie for fifth. We need to put July behind us and play like we did in May and June if there is any hope of us getting
back into the race. That will be tough as we've made a decision to go with some of the young starting pitchers in the second half of the
season. For good or bad our top prospect Bud Andrews, recent acquisition Benny Wood, and 19-year-old John Thomas will fill out
the rotation behind Osbourne and Cipolla. Andrews looked very good in his first outing but Wood struggled. Thomas will get his first shot
at the FABL this week at home against the Millers.

Player of the Series

Bud Andrews

A few batters put up decent numbers in the series against the Suns but
the team was especially excited about Andrews first FABL start. He
went eight strong innings giving up just three hits and one run. He had some control issues giving up four walks but he managed to stay out of
trouble for the most part and he struck out six. Three of the walks and one of the hits contributed to a first inning run by the Suns but once
Andrews got past the butterflies of pitching in the big leagues he was dominant for the next seven innings.The icing on the cake was his two
singles at the plate.

[HerbD]

Win: John Thomas(1-0)
John Thomas(POG) CG, 3 HA, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 2-4, 2 RS, RBI, 2B(First career FABL start)
Rader 3-run HR(9)
Bloom 2-3, 2 2B, 2 RS, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Shearer 3-4, RS, RBI


Loss: Osbourne(8-8)
Osbourne CG, 9 HA, 5 ER
Wallace 3 hits
Clifford & Siniscalchi 2 hits each


Win: D. Lane(8-4)
Cipolla 7.0 IP, 7 HA, 4 ER
Lane 2.0 IP, 2 K
Shearer 3-4, 2 HR(16), 3 RS, 4 RBI(POG)
Zimmerman 2 hits


Winning two of three from the Millers has us back over .500 again at 49-48 but no one is feeling too good about that due to the impending trip
to St. Louis for a three-game set. Two of the three rookie starters put together great first outings with John Thomas pitching a three-hit shutout
in his debut in Minneapolis. The veteran Vern Osbourne continues to struggle but the team hopes he can get back on track.

Player of the Series

John Thomas
We know it's just an expansion team but the Chiefs are giddy about the outing that 19-year-old John Thomas had in his first FABL start. Three
hits and just one walk in a complete game shut out is more than anyone could have hoped for from the youngster. He allowed a runner in each
of the first three innings but kept his composure each time. He didn't allow a runner past second base for the entire game. On top of that,
like Andrews in his debut, Thomas was handy at the plate punching two hits while scoring two runs and knocking in one.

[HerbD]

Loss: Andrews(1-1)
Andrews 6.0 IP, 7 HA, 4 ER
Rader 3-run HR(10)
Padgett 3-5, RS, 2 RBI
Zimmerman 2 hits


Loss: Wood(0-1)
Wood 2.2 IP, 8 HA, 7 ER
The Chiefs gave up 10 HR to the Pioneers
The Chiefs had only three hits



Win: John Thomas(2-0) SV: Lane(18)
John Thomas 7.0 IP, 6 HA, 3 ER(POG)
Rader HR(11)
Wallace 3-5, RS, RBI, 2B, 3B
Flanagan and Siniscalchi 2 hits each


We were completely embarrassed in the second game of this series with the Fed leading Pioneers. Chicago pitching gave up 10 homers
to just four players in this game. We did bounce back in the series finale behind rookie starter John Thomas. The 19-year-old won his
second consecutive game to start his FABL career. It was not as impressive as his complete game shut out to start his career but to
give up only three runs a game after the Pioneers put up 16
against us is not too bad.

Player of the Series

John Thomas
19-year-old John Thomas took the mound in game three of this series against the best team in the Fed. After the Pioneers scored 16 runs and
hit 10 homers in game two, the rookie allowed only three runs in his seven innings of work. This performance earned him his second consecutive
Player of the Series award. After his first two FABL starts Thomas is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 16 innings.

[HerbD]

Loss: Osbourne(8-9)
Osbourne 3.2 IP, 13 HA, 8 ER
Rader(POG) 3-4, 2 RS, 4 RBI, 2 HR(13)
Siniscalchi 3-5, RS, 2 RBI, HR(2)
Clifford, Flanagan, and Siniscalchi 2 hits each


Win: Cipolla(10-8)
Cipolla 8.0 IP, 8 HA, 4 ER....HR(4) from the plate
Bloom(POG) 4-6, 3 RS, 3 RBI
Tucker grand slam(5)
Gellatly 3-6, 3 RS, 2 RBI, HR(8)
Clifford, Padgett, Wallace, Zimmerman two hits each



Loss: Andrews(1-2) SV: Lane(18)
Andrews 2.2 IP, 7 HA, 7 ER
Padgett(POG) 4-5, RS, 3 RBI, HR(15)
Bloom 2-3, 3 RS, RBI, 2B, HR(6)
Clifford and Flanagan 2 hits each



The Chiefs lose two out of three for the second straight series and are now one game below .500(51-52) as we prepare to host Boston for
a three-game series. Our starting pitching continues to disappoint with random good outings thrown in just to keep us on our toes. We did
manage to win POG for all three games which is odd when you lose two of those games.

Player of the Series

Al Padgett
Al Padgett hit .600 for the three-game series and knocked in five runs including a double and a home run. He was named Player of the Game
in game three of the series where he tallied four of his six hits.

[HerbD]

Loss: Wood(0-2)
Wood 4.2 IP, 8 HA, 5 ER
Flanagan 2 hits


Win: John Thomas(3-0) SV: Lane(19)
John Thomas(POG) 7.1 IP, 5 HA, 2 ER
Bloom, Cliffton, Gellatly, and Price 2 hits each



Loss: Lane(8-5)
Osbourne 7.2 IP, 9 HA, 3 ER
Flanagan 4-5, RBI, 3B



A third consecutive series where the Chiefs lose two out of three pushing them to a 52-54 record and a full 20 games behind the Pioneers.
This is probably the moment that it sets in that we are not making the postseason. There are two team goals left to accomplish for 1962.
We want to finish with a winning record and we want to win more than the 72 games that OSA predicted we would win at the start of the season.

Player of the Series

John Thomas
The 19-year-old has won three consecutive Player of the Game Awards in his first three FABL starts. At 3-0 and boasting a 1.93 ERA he's one of the
few reasons to catch a Chiefs game down the stretch. Management is hoping his mojo will rub off on the staff who, except for a few, have been
underachieving all season. Now that the bats have come back down to earth its been difficult for this team to win consistently.

[HerbD]

Loss: Lane(8-6)
Cipolla 6.0 IP, 7 HA, 4 ER
Siniscalchi 2-4, RS, 3 RBI, 3B
Clifford and Padgett 2 hits each


Loss: Andrews(1-3)
Andrews 3.2 IP, 9 HA, 6 ER
Wallace HR(2)
Clifford 2-4, RS, 3B
Rader 2 hits



Loss: Wood(0-3)
Wood 6.2 IP, 9 HA, 3 ER
Bloom 2-3, BB
Zimmerman 2B



Detroit can thank us later. The Dynamos are now just seven games behind the Pioneers thanks to their three-game sweep of the Chiefs.
Two of the three young starters are struggling and Detroit didn't face the one who is not this time around. Wood and Andrews combined for
10.1 innings pitched and nine earned runs. No one is winning a lot with those kinds of numbers but we are at a point where we need to see
what we have for next season so we will keep running them out there.

Player of the Series

Joe Siniscalchi
Siniscalchi gets lost in the shuffle of this veteran team but he has performed very well since being traded and called up to be the fourth
outfielder for the Chiefs. The rookie had a team-high three RBI in this series while batting .333. Since the call-up he's slashed .333/.378/.571
with two homers, eight RBI, and great defense.

[HerbD]

Win: John Thomas(4-0)
John Thomas(POG) CG, 10 HA, 0 ER, 6 K
Rader 2-4, RS, 4 RBI, 2B, HR(14)
Bloom, Gellatly, and Zimmerman 2 hits each


Win: Osbourne(9-9) SV: Lane(20)
Osbourne(POG) 7.0 IP, 9 HA, 2 ER
Siniscalchi HR(3)
Rader 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Flanagan, Padgett, and Zimmerman two hits each



Win: Jack Thomas(3-1)
Cipolla 4.0 IP, 8 HA, 6 ER
Padgett(POG) 3-5, 2 RS, 4 RBI, HR(16)
Zimmerman 3-5, 2 RS, 3 RBI, HR(10)
Bloom 2 hits



Wow! We needed that. Our first sweep since the last week of June and it couldn't have come at a better time. The three wins push us to 55-57 on
the year and some momentum on our side. The starting pitching was very good the first two games with John Thomas and Vern
Osbourne earning wins and the bullpen pick up a struggling Joe Cipolla to close out the series.

Player of the Series


We could have easily given this to John Thomas again after his complete game shut out but the bat of Gene Rader made the most noise in this
series. Rader went 5-9 with two doubles, a homer, and seven RBI for the Chiefs in the three-game sweep. Rader had two hits in each of the first
two games and contributed all seven of his RBI as well before delivering a pinch-hit in his only plate appearance in game three.

[HerbD]

Win: Lane(9-6) SV: Moore(1)
Andrews(POG) 7.0 IP, 7 HA, 3 ER
Zimmerman 2-run HR(11)
Clifford, Rader, and Tucker 2 hits each


Loss: Wood(0-4)
Wood 1/3 IP, 6 HA, 7 ER
Siniscalchi 2B



Win: John Thomas(5-0)
John Thomas(POG) CG, 3 HA, 0 ER, 7 K
Clifford and Gellatly double each
Siniscalchi 2 RBI



We win two of three from the Minors and Andrews pitching his best game so far, Wood pitching his worst game so far, and John Thomas
throwing another shutout and winning another Player of the Game Award.
We are now one game below .500 at 57-58 as we look to host
Washington for three games. The Eagles seem to have our number this year as we haven't been very good against them in either city.

Player of the Series

John Thomas
As long as he keeps pitching this way we will keep giving him this award. John Thomas is defying logic five starts into his first big league action. In
May he had a 6.20 ERA after three starts in AA but the team saw something and pushed him to AAA despite only being 19 years old. Then
when the trades went down in July he was the third choice to come up and take a spot in the rotation. After just five starts he's by far the best
pitcher this team has. Five games, five wins, five Player of the Game Awards, and three complete game shut outs.

[HerbD]

Loss: Osbourne(9-10)
Osbourne 5.2 IP, 11 HA, 7 ER
Flanagan 4-5, 3 RS, 2B, BB
Shearer 2-4, 4 RBI, BB
Bloom, Clifford, Gellatly, and Siniscalchi 2 hits each


Loss: Cipolla(10-9)
Cipolla 5.2 IP, 11 HA, 5 ER
Zimmerman HR(12)
Siniscalchi HR(5)
Bloom 2 hits



Loss: Andrews(1-4)
Andrews 6.2 IP, 9 HA, 2 ER
Guy Johnson 1-1, 2B



The Eagles seem to have our number late in the year. After winning five of the first six games against them we have dropped seven of nine
including the last six. Washington is on the way up while we are still sliding down the standings now sitting at 57-61. Rookie Bud
Andrews pitched well enough to win his game but the defense just wasn't there to support him.

Player of the Series


Rookie Joe Flanagan has been on the squad the entire season and he's putting together a very good first year. For this series he slapped six hits
in 12 at-bats for a .500 batting average. He scored three times, walked twice, and contributed a double. So far this season he has posted a
.331/.387/.423 slash line and 43 RBI.

[HerbD]

Loss: Wood(0-5)
Wood 5.0 IP, 8 HA, 1 ER
Zimmerman 2 RBI


Loss: John Thomas(5-1)
John Thomas(POG) 8.2 IP, 8 HA, 3 ER, 8 K...two singles at the plate
Siniscalchi 2B, RS, RBI



Win: Osbourne(10-10) SV: Lane(21)
Osbourne 7.0 IP, 7 HA, 3 ER(POG)
Tucker 3-run HR(6)
Rader 2-4, 2 RS, RBI, HR(15)



Losing two of three to the expansion Suns is disappointing but not surprising at all the way we have been playing. Dutch Lane
recorded his 21st save of the year setting a new single-season record for the Chicago Chiefs. The old record was set by Gene Amico
in 1957. At just 23 years old Lane could destroy the career record of 55 saves set by Ernie Espanoza if the teams elects to keep him in
the stopper role. There has been some inside talk of Lane moving to the rotation next year but that will depend on the other prospects and
how they perform.

Rookie John Thomas lost his first game of the year in his sixth start but he still managed to bring home Player of the Game honors for allowing
just one earned run over seven innings in game two of the series. Thomas had a shut out into the eighth inning but he gave up a leadoff
homerun, his first homer allowed in a Chicago uniform, before giving up two more runs in the ninth to lose 3-2. Some would say that the manager,
Dutch Becker, should have pulled Thomas after the homerun but Becker admitted that Thomas has been his "best pitcher over the last month."

Player of the Series

Vern Osbourne
Not a lot of good choices for the Chiefs in this series. The starting pitching was pretty good in all three games but Osbourne actually won
his game so we'll give him the Player of the Series Award. The veteran, who has been a major disappointment this season, pitched seven innings
giving up three earned runs evening his record at 10-10 on the year.

[HerbD]

Win: Cipolla(11-9)
Cipolla CG, 9 HA, 0 ER, 9 K(POG)
Gellatly HR(9)
Siniscalchi 2 hits
Clifford 3-5, 2 RS, 2 RBI, 3B
Flanagan 2-6, 4 RBI
Padgett 4-4, 2 RS, RBI


Win: Andrews(2-4)
Andrews 7.0 IP, 5 HA, 0 ER(POG)
Padgett 2-5, 2 RS, 3 RBI, 2 HR(18)
Zimmerman 3 hits, 3 RBI
Bloom 3 hits
Flanagan and Shearer 2 hits each



Win: Wood(1-5)
Wood 8.0 IP, 9 HA, 0 ER
Wallace(POG) 4-6, 4 RBI, 2B
Gellatly 2-4, RS, 4 RBI
Flanagan and Siniscalchi 2 hits each



Just what the doctor ordered, a series with the Millers. After this three-game sweep of the other expansion team, we hold an impressive
13-2 record against the newcomers. We have some confidence back as we welcome the Fed leading Pioneers into town. We won each game by
at least six runs and had stellar starting pitching in all three starters and none of them were named John Thomas.

Player of the Series

Al Padgett
Padget gets the nod again after clubbing six hits in 12 at-bats including two homers while scoring four times and knocking in four. For the season
he's hitting over .300 and leads the team with 18 homers and has 72 RBI. His first year as the full-time catcher has been a huge success giving the
team one less position to worry about for the near future.

[HerbD]

Loss: John Thomas(5-2)
John Thomas 7.0 IP, 8 HA, 1 ER
Rader(POG) 3-5, RS, 3 RBI, 2 2B
Clifford, Flanagan, and Walters 2 hits each


Loss: Osbourne(10-11)
Osbourne 7.0 IP, 7 HA, 4 ER
Padgett HR(19)



Loss: Cipolla(11-10)
Cipolla CG, 5 HA, 3 ER
Bloom 3 hits
Siniscalchi HR(6)
Shearer and Zimmerman 2 hits each



The Pioneers make sure we know our place sweeping us once again. John Thomas lost his second consecutive game after winning his
first five and just like his first loss, poor fielding played a huge role. Thomas only allowed one earned run while stopper Dutch Lane
allowed two in the ninth to seal the game. The Chiefs tried to come back but fell just one run short. We head to New York five games under
.500 again and a fresh three-game losing streak.

Player of the Series

Joe Cipolla

Cipolla didn't get the win in his start but he went toe-to-toe with Billy Hasson pitching a complete game but losing 3-2 to the Pioneers.
His record now sits at 11-10 on the year and his ERA is at 5.03.

[HerbD]

Loss: Andrews(2-5)
Andrews 3.2 IP, 7 HA, 5 ER
Gellatly HR(10), 2 RBI


Loss: Wood(1-6)
Wood 2.2 IP, 8 HA, 5 ER
Wallace 3 hits



Win: John Thomas(6-2) SV: Lane(22)
John Thomas 7.0 IP, 4 HA, 2 ER(POG)
Clifford and Gellatly 2 RBI each
Flanagan 2 hits



It's a roller coaster we can't seem to get off of. We win four in a row, lose five in a row...it's been like this the entire season except now,
unlike earlier in the year, the losing streaks are usually longer than the winning streaks. All three rookies started a game this series but
John Thomas made it past the fourth. He won for the sixth time in eight decisions while Andrews and Wood are a combined 3-11.

Player of the Series

Bob Gellatly

The offense was pretty stagnant during this three-game set but SS Bob Gellatly managed three hits and three RBI while slugging his tenth
homer of the season. He doesn't like to take walks and he's not that great in the field but he shows up every day and gives it his all.

[HerbD]

Win: Campbell(1-0)
Osbourne 5.1 IP, 10 HA, 5 ER
Bloom 3-7, RS, 4 RBI, 2B, HR(7)
Clifford, Flanagan, Shearer 2 hits each


Win: Cipolla(12-10) SV: Campbell(2)
Cipolla 8.1 IP, 8 HA, 2 ER(POG)
Flanagan 3-4, RS, RBI, 2B, 3B



Win: Andrews(3-5)
Andrews 8.0 IP, 7 HA, 3 ER
Shearer(POG) 3-5, 2 RS, 3 RBI, 2 HR(19)
Tucker HR(7), 3 RBI
Gellatly HR(11)



This sweep feels good this late in the season and on the road in the Fed. Unless you are St. Louis or Detroit sweeps are hard to come by.
We were tied with Boston with 62 wins when this series started so it was important to take at least two games but three is always
better. The starting pitching has been up and down all season and this series was mostly up as Cipolla and Andrews combined to pitch
16.1 innings and allowed just five earned runs. Osbourne struggled again in the opener but we won in 13 innings.

Player of the Series

Rod Shearer

Shearer hit .545 in the series with two homers, four runs scored, and three RBI to help the team sweep the Minutemen. The veteran is
having another outstanding season for the Chiefs needing just one more home run to reach 20 for the eleventh time in his career.