Out of the Shadows: The Eclipse League

[luckymann]

Very much another one of those "what-if" types, it seems as though circumstances did their deliberate best to sabotage the baseball career of Nate Moreland.

After pitching in integrated college and semi-pro leagues in California during the late 1930s, Nate entered the NeL with the Baltimore Elite Giants in 1940. He spent 1941 and 1944 with Tampico in the Mexican League, sandwiching two years' service during World War II, before returning to the EGs in 1945. Another year in Mexico followed, then a decade in various US minor leagues. Seamheads gives him a career 30-33 across the NeL and Mex leagues, with an ERA+ of 115.

Jim Riley and BBRef have differing opinions on exactly when and with whom it happened, but the general consensus is that at some point Nate was under serious consideration for recruitment by either an MLB or high affiliate club. Whatever the case, nothing ever came of it.

No such problem here in the EL, with Nate taken 5th overall in the most recent Draft by the Cuban Stars West and deployed immediately. Two wins from his first three starts and he is off and running. We'll check back in later to see how he's travelling. Given the ratings he's come in with, big things are expected.

Here are the career stats for all those players so far featured in this manner. I'll be removing them from this list as they retire.

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[luckymann]

Not much to report just yet as we settle into another season.

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Herman Dunlap (Dodgers) 281 / 6 HR / 24 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Connie Rector (Dodgers) 5-1 / 1.56 / 31 K / 52 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Nate Moreland (West) 4-1 / 3.83 / 49 K / 44.2 IP.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: George Bell (ABCs) 262 / 11 HR / 25 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Edsall Walker (Liberty Stars) 4-1 / 1.09 / 29 K / 49.1 IP.
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Guillermo Mota (Liberty Stars) 3-1 / 1.04 / 6 SV / 12 K / 17.1 IP.

• CAC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Dwayne Murphy (Choo-Choos) 407 / 11 HR / 23 RBI.
• CAC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Allan Ramirez (White Sox) 4-0 / 3.08 / 27 K / 26.1 IP.
• FRC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Roosevelt Brown (Black Senators) 424 / 6 HR / 18 RBI.
• FRC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Ray Burris (Black Sox) 4-1 / 2.13 / 30 K / 42.1 IP.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

There have, since 1971, been a number of news items along similar lines to this one from today:

As is the case IRL, there are players in the Eclipse League who, if circumstances fall their way, will get to spend some time in the bigs, but who otherwise will be destined to play mostly in the Transit League.

LD Livingston is one such player.

And, in LD's case, dwelling on the fringe is probably a fair outcome. He played just three full NeL seasons with the Mons from 1928-30, then made a brief appearance for the Harlem Stars in '31 and, after a cameo for the 1932 Pittsburgh Crawfords managed by Oscar Charleston, was heard from no more. SH has his career line at 281/351/455 with 16 HR and 139 RBI - decent enough production indeed - but he rates barely a mention from Jim Riley and doesn't even feature in John Holway's tome. EC does include him in his MLEs, however, allocating him 4 career WAR - but he is a true footnote player, to the point that I cannot for the life of me even find his full name anywhere. There is, along with the more prevalent "Goo Goo", reference in various sources to the nickname "Larry", which one might presume to refer to his first name.

In the EL, as mentioned, LD entered the league via the 1970 Draft, where he was taken 91st overall by Hilldale. he only ever made 97 PA for the A's, hitting 253 with 3 HR in '71 before being traded the following year to the Bacharach Giants. He got his chance that first season with AC, but could only go 3-for-15 with 1 HR before being sent down to AAA Columbus, where he has been ever since. He goes pretty well at that level and has some fair pop, as shown by today's performance, and at just 28 I'm sure he'll get another go around in the top flight. But I doubt he'll ever fell 100% safe up there.

[luckymann]

Another frustratingly slow start this season for the American Giants, 15-18 at the time of writing and 7 GB the Buckeyes in the WC National.

Is this massive game by Oddibe McDowell to be the catalyst for them to get things together?

[luckymann]

Bill Lindsay, AKA the Kansas Cyclone (whose tragic story has already been covered HERE in an OotS feature after performing the same feat a few seasons back) has done it again, no-hitting a LibStars outfit that is travelling well so far this season.

After some tough early years with a Monarchs side that wasn't so good, Bill is proving himself the model of consistency in recent times, notching 15 or more wins the past four seasons and, at 5-1 after this gem, looks set to make that five. This, compared to his premature demise IRL, is all gravy for the Cyclone, and we look forward to him making the most of it in the EL.

[luckymann]

Meanwhile, J-ville's Ralph Bryant sets a new hit streak mark at AAA with 32 games.

Ralph hit a TL-record 417 last season with 36 HR and 135 RBI in an 8 bWAR campaign and is hitting 425 so far in '75. Even with those numbers, however, he just can't seem to break back into the bigs - he has just 8 PA since moving to the BBs in 1973.

As I've mentioned only recently, there are a few guys in this situation, including the mighty Ernie Banks - the EL is a tough league with not many spots to go around. Little wonder we are seeing such fantastic performances in the highly-competitive Transit League each year.

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One of the games of the season so far, with Eric Davis belting 3 dingers in a 17-inning 8-6 walkoff win for the EGs over Philly.

[luckymann]

Well, that didn't last long! Bob Oliver erases Ralph Bryant's newly-set hit streak record.

[luckymann]

Nice little breaks for Newark and Cleveland as we enter the midseason period. CSW is perhaps the biggest surprise of all, riding some excellent starting pitching to be just behind the defending champs in the FCN.

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Barry Bonds (Red Sox) 294 / 8 HR / 21 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Oscar Estrada (West) 6-0 / 1.58 / 31 K / 51.1 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Nate Moreland (West) 361 / 4 HR / 11 RBI.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Eric Davis (Elite Giants) 312 / 10 HR / 30 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Deacon Meyers (Elite Giants) 4-2 / 1.95 / 44 K / 52 IP.
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Frank Castillo (American Giants) 5-0 / 2.70 / 34 K / 50 IP.

Still fairly evenly-poised in all four TL groupings.

• CAC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Ernie Banks (Black Crackers) 440 / 9 HR / 30 RBI.
• CAC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Carlos Frias (Eagles) 6-0 / 3.77 / 28 K / 43 IP.
• FRC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Bob Oliver (Cubans) 413 / 3 HR / 21 RBI.
• FRC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Roberto Ramirez (Black Sox) 5-1 / 3.15 / 28 K / 40 IP.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Led by a resurgent Cool Papa Bell, rookie John Beckwith et al, the Buckeyes are looking back to their best this year. But, as always, there is one guy front and centre for them - as is the case here.

[luckymann]

While it does contain an opt-out after the second year, it would seem that this move by the CSW will go very close to allowing David Ortiz to remain a one-club player for his entire career.

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[luckymann]

Clint Thomas had the perfect response ready to tell the AGs what he thought of being sent down to AAA Milwaukee, taking out in a big way his obvious frustrations on the poor old Cubans in a 22-4 smashing.

Seems like the perfect opportunity to tell you a bit more about the "Hawk".

Born in Greenup KY toward the end of the 19th century, Clint Thomas enjoyed a long and prosperous NeL career that spanned almost the entire 1920s and '30s - and yet, for whatever reason, is nowhere near as well known as some of his contemporaries.

Seamheads gives him a career slash of 302/362/455 (slightly better just in the NeL) with 69 homers, 645 RBI, a 115 OPS+ and more than 20 WAR, while EC rates him even higher with 26 career WAR. Those are handy numbers indeed, and they were integral to the success of Hilldale through the mid 1920s, when they won three straight ECL titles. In fact, the 1923 version of this club is widely-regarded as one of the best ever, featuring four future HOFers in Pop Lloyd, Judy Johnson, Biz Mackey and the mighty Louis Santop (who I am sure will be in one of these pieces sometime soon, given he is one of my all-time faves).

A subsequent move to New York saw Hawk spend time at both the Lincoln Giants and Black Yankees franchises, at the latter of which he became known among the fans as the "Black Joe DiMaggio".

Many years after his retirement in 1938, Clint's 80th birthday party back in Greenup turned into the first of several NeL annual reunions. he passed in 1990 at the ripe old age of 94.

In the EL, Clint was signed as a FA by the American Giants in 1973. Since then the majority of his time has been spent with the Bears, but he did come up to the parent club earlier this season, hitting just 208 and generally struggling before being sent back down. He is another guy who seems destined to ride the bus between bigs and smalls with great regularity, although if he ends up at one of the smaller clubs that may change - especially given his speed and defensive prowess at all three OF slots.

A quick note for any of you interested in finding out more about some of these guys, one of my favourite resources is the Center for Negro League Baseball - with the "Pioneers" and "Forgotten Heroes" series on here especially useful and informative.

[luckymann]

Different courses on the two sides of the EL, with the FC races remaining tight but the EGs and Buckeyes taking control of their divs in the WC. Despite Juan Encarnacion putting together one of the best months I've ever seen, the Red Sox remain sluggish and well within the West's sights.

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Juan Encarnacion (Red Sox) 471 / 8 HR / 17 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: CC Sabathia (Black Yankees) 5-0 / 4.07 / 39 K / 48.2 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Harry Simpson (Giants) 341 / 6 HR / 22 RBI.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Willie Upshaw (Buckeyes) 301 / 11 HR / 26 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Louis Dula (Elite Giants) 6-0 / 1.93 / 42 K / 46.2 IP.
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Ervin Santana (Motown Stars) 5-1 / 2.25 / 38 K / 44 IP.

Top 20s - overall

Top 20s - NeL

Brooklyn are making a run for it in the TL's Catto American, while the other three remain tight.

• CAC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Dwayne Murphy (Choo Choos) 370 / 9 HR / 23 RBI.
• CAC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Cardell Camper (Browns) 5-0 / 2.28 / 31 K / 47.1 IP.
• FRC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Vic Rodriguez (Bears) 410 / 5 HR / 27 RBI.
• FRC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Porter Moss (Wolves) 4-1 / 2.22 / 21 K / 48.2 IP.

[luckymann]

Leo Gomez wins the HR Derby, while his Atlanta teammate Bill Hoskins leads the Catto to a 4-1 win over the Lewis in the ASG.

[luckymann]

The best and brightest future EL stars are freshly re-rated, with Roy Campanella at the top.

[luckymann]