Out of the Shadows: The Eclipse League

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Eclipse League

Fairly close across all four races as we near the midpoint of the EL 1982 season. The MoStars don't seem to have hit top gear as yet, enabling their rivals to at least stay within reach, while the Mons are looking super consistent this year.

Monthly Award Winners

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Keston Hiura (Black Barons) 388 / 10 HR / 36 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Darltie Cooper (Monarchs) 4-1 / 1.72 / 29 K / 52.1 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Matty Alou (Black Barons) 308 / 1 HR / 13 RBI.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Miguel Cabrera (Lincoln Giants) 318 / 7 HR / 26 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Martin Dihigo (Grays) 4-0 / 1.76 / 26 K / 46 IP.
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Kal Daniels (Lincoln Giants) 367 / 2 HR / 11 RBI.

Points of Interest

• All quiet on the extensions / trades front for the most part
• Key Injuries: SS Monte Irvin (Bacharach Giants) hamstring, 6 weeks; P Deacon Meyer (West) elbow, season; P Steel Arm Tyler (Grays) RC, 9 weeks.

Top 20s - overall

Top 20s - NeLers

Transit League

Nothing decided or even close to it yet in the TL with Dayton's 5-game lead in the CAC National the widest of any.

Monthly Award Winners

• CAC BATTER OF THE MONTH: James Kemp (Blue Birds) 420 / 10 HR / 22 RBI.
• CAC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Josias Manzanillo (Eagles) 4-0 / 1.42 / 4 SV / 34 K / 25.1 IP.
• FRC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Ben Taylor (Black Sox) 371 / 4 HR / 24 RBI.
• FRC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Ray Burrus (Black Sox) 4-0 / 3.58 / 23 K / 37.2 IP.

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Herman Andrews of the Black Sox wins the HR Derby, with Dayton's Chico Hernandez winning the MVP as the Catto Conference beats the Francis Conference 1-0.

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Ted Strong is currently rated the EL's top prospect ahead of Willie Bobo. Nice to see these NeL position players coming through so strong (pun not intended...).

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The stars of today:




And tomorrow:

HR Derby winner

Carlos Delgado (Monarchs) def Ryan Howard (ABCs)

ASG result

Fleet 3, Weldy 2

ASG MVP

Fernando Tatis jr (Monarchs)


Prospects Game result

Fleet 13, Weldy 3

Prospects Game MVP

Marquis Grissom (Choo Choos)

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He coulda been a contender.

While Jim Riley's seminal book has been the backbone for much of the ensuing coverage of NeL players (and is my absolute go-to resource on the subject), he does tend to assign questionable behaviour to an inordinate number of Negro League players. Some of it is undoubtedly true, some of it is merely a product of the times and circumstances. The stuff those guys went through is something a white middle-class Australian such as myself could never fully - or even remotely - comprehend. Men have hit the bottle harder under less strenuous conditions. I don't know where I'm going with this, but today's OotS subject is one of those many JR mentions as having not fulfilled his promise and describes him as "having trouble staying in playing condition", whatever that might mean.

The elder brother of fellow NeLer Anthony (not Andy, as JR erroneously claims), Darltie "Dolly" Cooper was born in Arkadelphia AR in 1902 and arrived on the NeL scene with a bang some two decades later, going 14-4 for the Indy ABCs.

He plateaued a bit after that, but managed a couple more top-notch seasons, particularly in 1927 with the Harrisburg Giants of the ECL, which saw him go a superb 16-7 with a 2.51 ERA (high wins, low ERA for the league). But he only ever won 10 games one other time and generally struggled relative to these highpoints, finishing with a career 71-58 record and 4.20 ERA (109 ERA+) over 13 seasons spent with nine clubs. He only won 13 of those games over his last seven campaigns, including one final go-around in 1940, his first appearance at the pro level since 1934.

Little is known of him after he retired for good other than he died at just 41 in Schenectady NY.

The EL timeline has been a bit kinder to Dolly since he entered the league in the 1969 Draft, taken 24th overall by the Crawfords. He's managed to outdo his IRL self with 17 wins for the ABCs in 1976 and currently sits at age-33 with a 157-132 record and 3.62 ERA (ERA+ 111), good for about 45 rWAR. He has made it to the All-Star Game twice, in 1978 and just recently again this year, in which he is playing for the Mons and enjoying a fine season. At the time of posting, he is 13-5 with a 2.12 ERA and 4.3 rWAR already, putting him on course for a career-best year. One thing he doesn't have yet is a Championship ring, but his KC boys are travelling quite nicely to this point so that might well be on the cards as well.

As always, we'll check back in over the remainder of Dolly's career to see how things play out.

[luckymann]

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Eclipse League

All four races still well and truly alive after a late slip-up by the Motown Stars drags them back to the pack after they looked set to break free.

Those flat run differentials in the FC American show just how evenly-poised that group is, while the Lincoln Giants must be the sentimental favourite and find themselves in relatively unfamiliar territory heading into August: close enough if good enough in the WCA.

Monthly Award Winners

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Eric Davis (Red Sox) 354 / 8 HR / 23 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Darltie Cooper (Monarchs) 5-0 / 2.11 / 27 K / 47 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Nelson Dean (Royal Giants) 3-1 / 1.42 / 13 K / 31.2 IP.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Carl Everett (American Giants) 419 / 4 HR / 14 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Dolf Luque (Buckeyes) 5-0 / 2.54 / 30 K / 49.2 IP.
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Kal Daniels (Lincoln Giants) 310 / 6 HR / 19 RBI.

Points of Interest

• Keston Hiura is on pace to tick up his own single-season RBI record of 136 set last year, his 91 thru end July projecting him to finish with 147.
• Key Extensions: 3B Minnie Minoso (Lincoln Giants, 5/8400); OF Candy Maldonado (Elite Giants) 4/4320; 1B / P Shohei Ohtani (Grays, 3/4700).
• Key Injuries: 2B Luis Garcia (Monarchs) hamstring, 5 weeks; SS Artie Wilson (Lincoln Giants) ankle, 5 weeks.
• Here are a few notable trades made ahead of the Deadline:

Transit League

The Marcos have the CAC American under control and look the team to beat. The others are still up for grabs and look set for big finishes.

Monthly Award Winners

• CAC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Vic Harris (Marcos) 355 / 9 HR / 32 RBI.
• CAC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Oscar Owens (Marcos) 5-0 / 2.38 / 27 K / 41.2 IP.
• FRC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Glenn Burke (Cubans) 373 / 4 HR / 19 RBI.
• FRC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Al Preston (Black Senators) 2-0 / 0.54 / 6 SV / 17 K / 16.2 IP.

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Eclipse League

While the Motown Stars are all but assured of another playoff run, there's still everything to play for in the other three divisions.

In the FC American, a 10-game winning streak helps the Crawfords move to the top of the standings, but the RGs and BGs are still in the hunt.

It looks like it is down to the Mons and West in the FC National, with the third-placed MeSox' deficit now in double figures.

A super close tussle in the WC American, with the LGs making a nice move to join the Grays and LibStars in contention. a 10-game losing streak ends the Athletics' chances and they now find themselves in the cellar, albeit only 9 1/2 off top spot.

Monthly Award Winners

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Dave Parker (Giants) 384 / 5 HR / 21 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Darltie Cooper (Monarchs) 5-1 / 1.97 / 28 K / 50.1 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Dave Parker.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Kal Daniels (Lincoln Giants) 348 / 6 HR / 17 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Dolf Luque (Buckeyes) 5-0 / 2.54 / 34 K / 46 IP.
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Kal Daniels.

Points of Interest

• Hosken Powell (Hilldale) has a 5-hits, 3-HR game v Indy, registering a 111 GSc, the season’s highest.
• Dolf Luque – all for the Buckeyes – and Jesse Houston make it to 200 career Wins.
• The Crawfords extend OF Earl Gurley for a year at a cost of $721k.
• Some key injuries: OF Garry Templeton (American Giants) rib, 5 weeks; OF Cliff Floyd (Athletics) ACL, 6 weeks; P Jesse Houston (West) shoulder, uncertain; 2B Bill Hall (Grays) neck, 4 weeks; P String Bean Williams (Monarchs) shoulder, 5 weeks; P Bronson Arroyo (Giants) forearm, season.

Top 20s - overall

Transit League

Similarly to the EL, the Marcos look all but home but the other three races still have plenty of life left in them.

In the CAC American, the Harlem Stars post an 11-game win streak to take a tilt at the division-leading Browns, with the Blue Birds not out of it yet.

The Cubans are hanging on for dear life in the FRC American, with the Grays and Black Senators nipping at their heels.

And finally, the FRC National is a race in two between the Clowns and Wolves, with Indy two to the good entering September.

Monthly Award Winners

• CAC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Reggie Jefferson (White Sox) 417 / 9 HR / 27 RBI.
• CAC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Diego Segui (Browns) 4-1 / 1.96 / 29 K / 36.2 IP.
• FRC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Calvin Murray (Grays) 368 / 4 HR / 29 RBI.
• FRC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Tyson Ross (Clowns) 5-0 / 2.62 / 31 K / 44.2 IP.

[luckymann]

Some incredibly tight finishes in the TL this year, the closest being the CAC American where, despite a loss on the last day, the Browns sneak home by a game from the Stars, who also lose their final contest.

Just the one record set this year - the 2.72 ERA posted by Carlos Eduardo Hernandez.

Nice to see some new blood in the playoff mix this year and we're a decent chance of a first-time Champion emerging. Apart from the Clowns, who have been here three times previously and won it all in 1972, each of the other three clubs is making only their second post-season appearance with none of them having taken the title.

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We will indeed have a first-time AAA Champion, as the Clowns are knocked out by the Cubans, who'll meet the Marcos after they take all five to dispose of the Browns.

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Our final spotlight for the 1982 EL season falls upon another one of those elusive types who somehow seems to have almost slipped through a crack in the sidewalk of posterity.

Other than his statistical record on both Seamheads and BBRef, none of my sources have even a passing reference to 1930s-40s pitcher Jesse Houston, including - most surprisingly - Jim Riley. He mentions a "Bill" Houston who looks likely to be Jesse in disguise, but this entry consists of but three lines and only mentions his time with the Grays.

What we do know of Jesse is that his birth name was Benjamin and that this birth took place in Montgomery AL on July 17, 1909. He played a couple seasons with the Cincinnati Tigers (1936-37) before moving to the American Giants for the next two, spent 1940 in Mexico with Tampico and then passed his final recorded season at Homestead, in 1941. SH has his career record at 18-15 with a nice 116 ERA+, while Eric Chalek allocates him a modest 6 WAR.

Records show he died aged 58 in Cincy.

The Eclipse League version of Jesse Houston was drafted 46th overall by the Royal Giants in 1970. Since then, in addition to the RGs he has spent time with the Grays and Black Barons along with his current club, the Cuban Stars West, for whom he is currently playing out his first season and with whom he is also contracted for 1983.

Over that span he has recorded 202 Wins against 145 Losses and an ERA of 3.43, exactly matching his IRL ERA+ of 116 and racking up a healthy 67 rWAR, give or take. He has also made two ASG appearances and was a part of the Grays' 1977 Championship team. A definite improvement on the historical.

Sadly, however, Jesse has recently picked up a rotator cuff strain that will keep him out of action for three more weeks and, with his CSW boys making a run at the playoffs, might have more consequence for both player and club than a run-of-the-mill injury.

Now in his age-35 season, Jesse is in the twilight of a fine career and, as always, we'll check in with him again before he takes his leave of us.

On the topic of which, as is tradition in this final OotS report for the year, here's an update of all the players so featured to this point.

ACTIVE PLAYERS - BATTERS




ACTIVE PLAYERS - PITCHERS




RETIRED PLAYERS - BATTERS




RETIRED PLAYERS - PITCHERS

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Not much of a contest as the Marcos lock down their first TL AAA title with a comfortable sweep of the Cubans, with 1B John Lindsay named MVP.

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Still everything to play for in three of the four races (although the Crawfords are making a run for it in the FC American) and I'll be back soon with a full recap.

In the meantime, the following players were rewarded for their excellent on-field performances through September with the monthly gongs:

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Earl Gurley (Crawfords) 361 / 7 HR / 22 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Nate Moreland (Red Sox) 5-0 / 4.06 / 43 K / 51 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Mack Jones (Black Yankees) 397 / 3 HR / 13 RBI.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Cristobal Torriente (Motown Stars) 322 / 8 HR / 25 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Vida Blue (Athletics) 4-2 / 1.85 / 36 K / 48.2 IP.
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Ken Griffey jr (East) 268 / 8 HR / 13 RBI.

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Undoubtedly the game of the 1982 season, even more so in the context of its timing and circumstance, as you'll see in the season recap post.

Another on the same day is perhaps less dramatic in the broader scheme, but equally memorable.

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MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

RELIEVER OF THE YEAR

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Close in all four races without any real late drama. The Crawfords clinch first, then the MoStars and Grays in quick succession. A calamitous collapse by the Monarchs including 10 straight losses sees them opens the door in the FC National and the Cuban Stars West just walk on through with – including that epic one of the previous post – to eventually take it out relatively comfortably, all things considered.

Batting titles to rookie Mack Jones and Cristobal Torriente. Cristo has had another nonpareil campaign (an EL-high 10.8 WAR) and his 121 RBI are second only to Keston Hiura's 126, while he also finishes top 3 in HR for the WC, albeit some margin behind John Beckwith's league-leading 37.

Among the pitchers, Darltie Cooper's 24 Wins leads all others, with only Nate Moreland (21) joining him above 20. Dolly also records the low ERA with 2.50. Gene Collins fans 323 batters to lead that category, while John Brown and Lefty Moses tie for the lead with 36 Saves.

Hank Thompson becomes the third member – alongside Big Papi (currently on 435) and Juan Abreu (410) – of the 400 HR club. At the time of posting, Eric Chavez is next in line with 376.

Leroy Matlock earns career Win number 200. Those 105 losses by the East tie the EL record.

However far the Grays go this year, they’ll have to do it without ace Carlos Zambrano after he suffers a back injury that has almost certainly ended his season.

Not that it will have any bearing on the post-season, but Cleveland loses Dolf “The Pride of Havana” Luque – in the middle of a nifty 18-4 season at the gentlemanly age of 35 – for the remainder of this year and all of next after he suffers a rotator cuff tear. Tough road back for him at that age, let’s hope he’s got a few years left in him.

Final Top 20s

Hitters - Overall

Hitters - Rookies

Hitters - NeLers

Pitchers - Overall

Pitchers - Rookies

Pitchers - NeLers

Final Leaders

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Fleet Conference

Cuban Stars West (91-71) v Pittsburgh Crawfords (89-73)

Best of seven, West with home-field advantage.


Tough races for both clubs means they'll be primed for this. The Crawfs have to cope with the absence of key infielder Cesar Hernandez, who won't be back this season, while the West will dearly miss pitcher Jesse Houston, who should be back in time for the World Series should they make it through. That's a fairly even swap. Pittsburgh will need to contain the CSW big bats to have a chance here, one would think.

The home side wins the first five games in a real arm wrestle, sending the series back to Nashville with the West needing to continue this streak to prevail. It doesn't work out that way, as the Crawfords knock them out with a strong 5-0 win behind Louis Dula to book their spot in the big decider for just the second time and keep alive their dream of a maiden EL title. Edgar Wesley adds to his highlight reel with the MVP nod.





Weldy Conference

Detroit Motown Stars (94-68) v Homestead Grays (89-73)

Best of seven, Motown Stars with home-field advantage.

What a fascinating match-up this is, with the MoStars looking to become the first EL club to achieve a threepeat and the Grays also looking for their third title. An absolute showcase for the league with two marquee players in Shohei Ohtani and Cristobal Torriente doing battle alongside a host of big names. Queries over the fitness of Smoky Joe Williams and Roy Campanella cancel each other out, but there's no doubt Detroit's chances are helped by the fact that Homestead is without Carlos Zambrano. All the same, this is a blockbuster akin to a heavyweight title fight.

The clubs swap wins the opening two games in Detroit but then the Grays win the next two at home including a huge comeback victory in Game 4 to take control of the series at 3-1 and finish off the unexpectedly flat MoStars with a shutout win behind ShoTime to claim a huge scalp and progress to the WS. Manny Machado is named series MVP.

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Homestead Grays v Pittsburgh Crawfords

Best of seven, Grays with home-field advantage.


Mild upsets on both counts in the Conference Series, you’d have to say, but that only tells me even more that these two clubs deserve to be where they are.

Despite their matching regular season records, the general consensus seems to be that the Grays will just have a bit too much firepower for the Crawfords, and I subscribe to that theorem myself, even without Big Z. Six of their starting lineup had ten or more homers this year, with Bill Wright having 8 and Roberto Clemente 9, so they are a beast with many ways to beat you and with Ohtani and Dihigo at the top of the rotation they have a bunch of big-game experience to call on. Zambrano's absence does leave them a bit vulnerable at the bottom of the rotation and the Crawfords will need to full exploit that if they want to improves their chances here.

Those chances are, at any rate, decent enough. Pittsburgh actually had 41 more homers during the regular season than their opponents for this decider, with Carlos Delgado and big Bul Durham mashing more than 30 taters apiece. They will miss Cesar Hernandez, however, and their pitching can get a bit shaky as the rotation's 4.37 ERA - nearly a full point higher than Homestead's 3.55 - can attest. For mine, Earl Gurley is the key for the Crawfs. Like ShoTime and Martin in the opposition dugout, he is such a unique player seemingly capable of the impossible and if he can fly he'll take the rest of them with him.

As always, a truly fascinating contest awaits us. I am tipping the Grays in six or seven, albeit without much confidence.











An ugly 18-5 blowout sees the Grays take the opening game with Campy belting two homers for the victors and Carlos Delgado doing likewise for the vanquished, then they double their advantage the next day as Ohtani delivers a controlled performance in a 5-1 final.

Another 10-4 rout in Pittsburgh for Game 3 leaves the Crawfords almost down for the count as Campy goes yard again but they manage to stay alive with their first signs of life the following day in a 10-5 win.

The Crawfs look to have clawed another one back in Game 5, leading by two heading into the 9th only to blow the save as the game heads into extras tied at 6. It stays that way until the Grays score twice in the 11th and Pittsburgh has no answer, ending a fairly disappointing series as the Grays join the Buckeyes at the top of the list with their third EL title. For Shohei, who was part of all of those Cleveland Championships, a fourth ring is on its way; for Senor Dihigo, a third.

Homestead shortstop Adam Jones, who has an extraordinary series hitting 571 with 5 homers and 11 RBI (Campy has 4 and 12), takes out the MVP award.



Game 1




Game 2




Game 3




Game 4




Game 5