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02-18-2025, 11:08 AM
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#1081 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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March 18th, 1963
 MARCH 18, 1963  FABL Camp Opens as All 20 Teams Kick off Play to Begin the Week After another long and cold offseason, the 20 FABL clubs are all settling into their spring homes, though this year, their stay will be shorter. Generally a near six week extravaganza, Spring Training was cut to just three for 1963, as Opening Day was moved up for the coming season. With the schedule expanding from 154 to 162, Opening Day was pushed up to April 8th. As always, the Washington Eagles kick things off at home, as our nation's capital will play host to an Eagle/Minutemen game, while in the Conti the Cincinnati Cannons host the second-year New York Imperials. The rest of the league kicks off the next day, as a group of contenders look to get off to strong starts. The goal for most teams this spring is twofold: solve roster dilemmas and stay healthy, but that's easier said then done. With a shorter spring, there's less chance for injury, though with less games to shake off the rust we may see sub-optimal performances in early April. How clubs choose to handle that trade-off is what could be the difference between glory and despair, and I'd expect teams give less time to their younger players, and more to the ones they expect to open camp with. Three weeks isn't long enough to ease veterans and rookies back into the swing of things, and teams may want to have their best guys hit the ground running. Early favorites for 1963 include both pennant winners, but there is room for optimism up-and-down the league. Aside from the four expansion teams, it's anyone's game, as even a team like Montreal or Boston could quickly reverse course. In the Fed, the Pioneers top challenger seems to be the Dynamos, and by adding Joe Holland (.262, 14, 39, 4) and Brad Keylon (.333, 4, 18) they solidified their depth to avoid a repeat of last year, where Bill Morrison (.304, 10, 51, 11) got hurt and they had no one to fill in. Washington and their talented young corner outfield is a legit threat after a slow start to 1962, and the two PA teams will look to finish in the top half as well. The Conti seems more open, as while the Sailors are still really good, a midseason implosion from Cleveland prevented the association from seeing an exciting pennant race. LA, Cincy, and KC all have huge sluggers who can pile on the runs, and now that the Cougars finally have their best hitter back, they'll look to build on their highest win total since they lost a one-game playoff to the then New York Stars in 1946. Making things more exciting, six of the top seven prospects are given 1963 ETAs by OSA, which could lead to another crop of bright young stars opening the season with their big league club. 
 PLENTY UNDECIDED AS NAHC SEASON HITS FINAL WEEK The Valiants have been on fire the past month and a half and are 12-2-6 in their last twenty games, which has allowed them to make up six points on the front-running Motors over that span. Montreal's 2-0 victory at home over Detroit has added to the heat on the Motors. Detroit also lost Sunday, falling 3-1 at home to Chicago as the Packers, with four wins and a tie in their last five games also make a push for top spot and home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Detroit and Chicago will meet in the Windy City on Tuesday evening before the Packers finish off with games in Montreal Saturday and a season ending trip to Boston on Sunday. The Motors have a home and home series with Toronto over the weekend to round out their slate while Montreal visits the Toronto Dukes on Wednesday and the New York Shamrocks on Sunday to sandwich their final home game against the Packers Saturday evening. It is assured that Detroit, Montreal and Chicago will finish 1-2-3 but it could be in any order. Boston and Toronto, meanwhile, are fighting for their playoff lives. The Bees have a one point lead on the Dukes and perhaps a slightly easier schedule with a home and home series against New York midweek before they end the season with a home game against Chicago. Toronto hosts Montreal Wednesday before the weekend pair against the Motors. Boston is hoping to snap a two-year playoff drought while Toronto has not missed the postseason in a dozen years. The only thing we know for sure is that the New York Shamrocks will finish last for the third year in a row and now have missed the playoffs eight of the last nine years.  NAHC RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK THURSDAY MARCH 14 New York 1 at Detroit 3: Detroit won its third in a row to maintain its hold on fist place as Charles Beauregard and Billy Deruelle each had a goal and an assist to lead the Motors past last place New York 3-1. Toronto 1 at Montreal 2: Toronto missed an opportunity to pull even with Boston for the fourth and final playoff spot after the Dukes fell 2-1 in Montreal. Scott Ducek, with his 20th of the season, and Charlie Hamblin scored for the Vals while Andrew Williams had the lone Toronto marker. SATURDAY MARCH 16 Detroit 0 at Montreal 2: A big shutout victory for the Valiants who close to within two points of the Motors for first place with 4 games left to play for each club. Nathan Bannister made 35 saves for his first shutout of the season. Scott Ducek and Roy Fergeron handled the goal scoring duties.Chicago 3 at Toronto 3: Each team claims a much needed point as the Packers move to within five points of Detroit for first place while the Dukes are just one behind Boston for the final playoff berth. Toronto had trailed 3-1 but earned the tie on goals from Ken Jamieson and Spencer Quinn. SUNDAY JANUARY 6 Montreal 1 at Boston 2: All the scoring came in the opening ten minutes as the Bees snapped Montreal's four game winning streak with a 2-1 victory. Jimmy Rucks, with his 24th of the season, and Neil Wilson gave Boston a quick lead with Mark Moggy being the only Val shooter to beat veteran Boston netminder Oscar James.Chicago 3 at Detroit 1: A 3-1 win in Detroit allowed the third place Chicago Packers to move with one point of second place Montreal and just three back of the Motors for top spot. J.P. Morissette, Mike Homfray and Pete Bernier scored for the winners with Joe Broderick notching the loan Detroit goal. Entering the week, Detroit's Hobie Barrell -the NAHC's leading point producer- was red hot with 12 points in his previous five games but he failed to register a single point in three games this week. Toronto 4 at New York 1: A crucial victory for the Dukes, who needed the two points to stay within one of fourth place Boston after the Bees beat Montreal. Quinton Pollack had three assists to help the Dukes to a 4-1 victory over the last place Shamrocks. New York outshot Toronto 35-30 but Mike Connelly had a solid game in the Dukes net. UPCOMING GAMES TUESDAY MARCH 19 Detroit at Chicago WEDNESDAY MARCH 20 Boston at New York Montreal at Toronto THURSDAY MARCH 21 New York at Boston SATURDAY MARCH 23 Chicago at Montreal Detroit at Toronto SUNDAY MARCH 24 Chicago at Boston Toronto at Detroit Montreal at New York END OF REGULAR SEASON  Dukes One Point Out of Playoffs With Three To Play With 67 of the 70 regular season games in the books for the Dukes they trail Boston by a single point. Toronto's last week of games starts with a home game against the Vals then in Gardens Saturday to host Detroit before winding up the season in the Palladium on Sunday. Boston play the Shamrocks back to back midweek before hosting Chicago on the final day of the regular season. This week began with a trip to Montreal on Wednesday. As it the normal order of business in the league this season the netminders were the key to the game. Both teams tested the other goaltender 36 times over the 60 minutes. Andrew Williams gave the Dukes a lead with his 17th at 12:05 before Charlie Hamblin tied the game at 1 in the last minute of the first. After being out 16-7 in the first Toronto held an advantage in shots 12-8 during a scoreless second period. A surprising wide open final 20 minutes had the Toronto test Bannister 17 times while Connelly faced 12 shot off Vals' sticks. Bannister was equal to the task turning aside all shot while Connelly let one behind him off a shot by Scott Dueck in the 11th minute which gave Montreal the game 2-1. Packers came to Toronto on Saturday night. This crucial game, as they all for the Dukes, did not start well with Chicago taking the lead before the game was 80 seconds old when Derek Noel beat Connelly on a rebound. Matt McGrath made it 2-0 at 13:50 in an uninspired period by the home side. Pollack, who is trying to will the team into the playoffs, got the Dukes back in the game at 10:04 of the second with his 27th of the season only to have Bernier restored the Chicago two lead just over a minute later. Jamieson capitalized after Noel was called for hooking to make the score 3-2 at 15:43. Down by one entering the last twenty minutes the Dukes opened up firing 19 shots at Crane while leaving themselves open as Connelly made 14 saves in the third. Just before the 7 minute mark Spencer Quinn tied the game. Toronto continued to press but could not find the winning goal in a game that ended tied at 3. Into Bigsby Garden Sunday to face the Shamrocks. A close tight checking first had Toronto leading 1-0 on Brochu's 21st early the period. Toronto put the game away with 3 in the first 9 minutes of the second with Poulin's 15th at 1:54 followed by Williams at 7:58 then Dan Morrison scored his first of the year 29 seconds later to make 4-0. NY showed some life in the third with 19 shot on Connelly who made 18 saves only beaten by Corb Maybury's deflection with less than 10 to play. Connelly has a losing record for the year, 16-19-2, despite a miserly 2.91 GAA turning back over 91 % of the 1467 shot he has faced for the year. Coach Bear- "Nothing to say, we have 3 to play with Boston ahead of us by a point for the last spot in the playoffs. Everyone knows what we have to do starting Wednesday against Montreal."  
     RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 03/17/1963
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__________________
Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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02-19-2025, 12:16 PM
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#1082 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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March 25th, 1963
MARCH 25, 1963 LATE SEASON STREAK GIVES PACKERS TOP SPOT IN NAHC Strong Finish Also Clinches Playoff Berth for Dukes Chicago will face Toronto in one semi-final while the other will feature a pair of clubs that are struggling entering the postseason. The two-time defending Challenge Cup champion Detroit Motors, who are looking to match the 1941-43 Boston Bees as the only time to win three consecutive Cups, found their path became just a little more difficult after five straight losses to end the season cost the Motors first place. Detroit will still enjoy home ice advantage for the opening round as the Motors, who ended up two points behind Chicago for top spot, earned second place despite being tied in points with Montreal by virtue of more victories. The third place Valiants did finish with a victory over the last place Shamrocks last night but three consecutive losses prior to that doomed them to starting the playoffs on the road. Detroit and Montreal were about as even as you could get during the season. Each finished with 82 points and head to head they each won 5 games with the other four ending in a tie. Chicago, despite finishing with the best record in the league and 18 points ahead of Toronto, had its troubles with the Dukes this season: Toronto won the series between the two, going 7-5-2.  NAHC RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK TUESDAY MARCH 19 WEDNESDAY MARCH 20 Boston 4 at New York 5: A pair of third period goals allowed the Shamrocks to knock off Boston and that loss, coupled with a Toronto win, dropped the Bees a point out of a playoff berth. James O'Reilly had two goals and two assists for the Shamrocks with Fred Gallatin chipping in with a three point effort.Montreal 2 at Toronto 8: A clearly inspired Toronto club moved into fourth place as a four goal first period keyed an 8-2 victory over Montreal. Quinton Pollack, Nick Poulin and Charles Brochu each had three points for the winners. THURSDAY MARCH 21 New York 4 at Boston 8: Perhaps following Toronto's lead, the Boston Bees exploded for four first period goals and doubled the visiting Shamrocks 8-4 to leapfrog Toronto and return to fourth place in the battle for the final playoff spot. Neil Wilson was the hero at Denny Arena, delighting the crowd with a six point night that included five assists. SATURDAY MARCH 23 Chicago 4 at Montreal 3: Dave Cordon scored twice as part of a wild third period that saw the two teams combine for five goals with Chicago holding off the Valiants 4-3. The victory moved the Packers into first place, a point ahead of Detroit, while the Valiants suffer their third consecutive loss and remaining two points behind Detroit. With only one game remaining and Montreal trailing Detroit in wins, the Valiants will finish in third place. Montreal defenseman Mark Moggy, who signed a large contract extension earlier in the day, had two points in a losing effort.Detroit 2 at Toronto 4: Minor league callup Bobby Feasey scored once and added an assist as the Dukes moved closer to securing a playoff spot with a 4-2 win over the Motors, who have now lost four in a row. SUNDAY MARCH 24 Chicago 2 at Boston 2: Conn Maguire's third period goal earned Chicago a 2-2 tie with Boston and ended the Bees playoff hopes while also securing first place for the Packers.Toronto 2 at Detroit 1: Second period goals from Dan Morrison and Quinton Pollack-with his 30th of the season- erased Benny Barrell's goal that had given Detroit the lead. The 2-1 win for Toronto was the Dukes fourth in a row and clinched their 12th consecutive postseason appearance. Detroit will make the playoffs and finish second but the Motors limped home with five straight losses to end their season. Montreal 2 at New York 0: Nathan Bannister stopped 29 New York shots for his second shutout of the season to snap a 3-game Montreal losing streak. Jim Drury and Jocko Gregg were the Montreal marksmen. The Valiants end up tied with Detroit for points but have to settle for third place as the Motors had more wins than the Vals during the season. PLAYOFF SERIES 1st place Chicago vs 4th place Toronto 2nd place Detroit vs 3rd place Montreal Dukes Make Playoffs Toronto hockey fans breathe an audible sigh of relief as the team edges out Boston for the final spot by two points. Despite a losing record of 25-29-16 the team advance to play the Chicago Packers in the semifinals beginning with games in Chicago on dates that have not been announced by the league at the Mail & Empire publication deadline. This was the first time in over a decade that the team finished at less than a point per game pace for the 70 game schedule. Neither the team nor the fans seem to care with the common refrain being "We are in with a chance at the Challenge Cup. Cannot win if you not in." The week of three must win games began at the Gardens on Wednesday hosting their Canadian rivals from Montreal, who will face Detroit in the playoffs, in front of 13691 hopeful fans. The Dukes came out like a house afire storming Ned Bannister in the Vals' net jumping out to a two goal lead before the game was 4 minutes old. Spencer Quinn opened the scoring at 2:27. Then 34 seconds after Roy Forgeron has been whistled for slashing, Owen Green scored on a floater from the top of the circle that handcuffed Bannister. Fans seemed alive but there was a sense of caution as they had witnessed the Dukes jump out to early leads in the past only to see them evaporate as the game played the entire 60 minutes. The caution was not needed on this night as the Dukes kept up the pressure on Montreal defenders all night. Bobby Feasey, who was summoned from Cleveland two weeks ago, made it 3-0 just past the halfway point of the first 20 with another long shot that went off a Montreal defenceman. Fans began to think the Dukes were comfortable when Pollack made 4-0 on a rebound at 16:04. Between periods Brett was told post game that Bear's message was "Bury these guys now, do not give them any hope of a comeback." Lou Turner upped the lead to five with a man advantage tally at 16:03. Vals broke Connelly's shutout bid with just over 2 minutes to go in the second. The score remained 5-1 until Van Tremblay notched his 10th of the year in the 12th minute waking up the fans. Bear was seen to be animated on the bench which seemed to rejuvenate the players. Goals by Archer, Pollack, Poulin made the final 8-2. As the team went into their dressing room at game's end they were informed that the Shamrocks had done them a favour by upsetting the Bs 5-4 with two goals in the last 9 minutes meaning the Dukes were in 4th by a single point. Dukes' grip on the final playoff berth was short-lived as Boston crushed NY on Thursday night at home 8-4 giving them a one point lead on Toronto before Saturday's game at the Gardens against Detroit. The mood pregame was one of cautious optimism for the 14512 paying customers. In a goaltending battle between Dell and Connelly, Poulin brought the crowd to its feet at 17:30 giving the home side a 1-0 lead they took to intermission. Joy turned to concern when the Barrel brothers, who both played their minor hockey in Toronto, each scored in the second with Hobie's league leading 42nd at 5:35 followed by Benny at 11;23 giving Detroit a 2-1 lead. Knackstedt, his 20th, evened the score with just over three minutes to play in the second. Toronto regained the last spot in the post season with two quick goals in the third from unexpected sources. After killing an early 5 on 3 Detroit power play Feasey made it 3-2 with his 2nd of the year at 11:37. With the crowd just settling back into their seats Nick Landry made it 4-2 with his 2nd in 67 games in which he dressed this season. Dukes held on to win 4-2 with Feasey being named first star. Both Boston, Toronto played on the closing night of the regular season with Boston at home to the Packers while the Dukes travelled to the Motor City, The teams both had plenty on the line with Detroit chasing Chicago for first while Toronto was trying to clinch fourth place. There was no scoring in a penalty filled first 20 minutes. A Lou Galbraith hooking call allowed Benny Barrell to open the scoring at 5:16 of the second to the ovation of most of the almost 14000 on hand. Toronto got the goal back when Dan Morrison broke in alone on Goulet after being sprung by Jamieson. The leader of the Dukes for over a decade, Quinton Pollack, gave the Dukes a lead with his 30th on a power play at 11:36. This marks the third straight season Pollack has scored at least 30 times. In a tight checking third neither netminder, Goulet for Detroit or Dukes Connelly, allowed the red light to be lit behind them as the Dukes clinched with Detroit falling to second place. In their room the Dukes found out Boston has tied the Packers meaning the Dukes had two points more than the Bs. Coach Bear- "I am glad that we got into the the post season by winning not backing in with another team losing a game. Now that we are in all the regular season trials and tribulations are behind us we only have to look forward to winning two series. While dates are being set for the two games at Lakeside we have work to do to prepare for Chicago." Next Crop of Young Guns Populate FABL Camps Just like last season, each of the top-3 FABL prospects are in their respective big league camps, but this time we have eight of the games top ten prospects fighting for a roster spot. A few of these guys seem destined for minor league assignment, but I'd expect at least three of these guys will make their debuts on or near Opening Day. CF Bobby Phelps, Philadelphia Keystones, #1 prospect: At print, OSA determined the top prospect in FABL is 20-year-old Keystone outfielder Bobby Phelps. Outfield is no issue for Philly, they have stars Harry Dellinger (.363, 27, 76, 25) and Buddy Miller (.354, 26, 100) in center and right, but left is completely up for grabs. That could make way for a third star caliber outfielder, as the young lefty has all the tools of a multi-All Star. A potential .310 hitter with plus-plus power, he's also got a strong eye, giving him a complete profile at the plate. He may strike out a bit too much now too, but the then 19-year-old hit an impressive .293/.407/.560 (162 OPS+) in AA, logging 18 doubles, 8 triples, 33 homers, 84 RBIs, 90 walks, and 105 runs. Add in the range for center and the arm for right, and it's only a matter of time before Phelps emerges as one of the top players in the game. CF Mark Boyd, Cincinnati Cannons, #2 prospect: Phelps may be the prospect with the most upside, but Mark Boyd may be the one who's best right now. At least average at pretty much everything, Boyd already has an elite eye, and he's got borderline 30 home run potential. Like Phelps, he has the opportunity to join a star-studded outfield, with Dallas Berry (.330, 40, 125, 16) and Bonnie Chapin (.316, 26, 95) two of the game's top players. All lefties, they're hitting 2-3-4 for the Cannons right now, but it's not Boyd who's in the outfield. Instead, he's at first, as the Cannons have a talented 24-year-old outfielder Joe Case (.333, 1, 7, 1), who could be an above average outfielder himself. Boyd is the better hitter and defender, but at 6'4'' he's the tallest of the four outfielders, and the best defensive first basemen. He's probably best in left, but this is a bat you get into the lineup by whatever means necessary, and aside from a major injury, there would be no excuse to not allow Boyd to make his debut against the Imperials on Opening Day. LF Dode Caudill, Chicago Cougars, #3 prospect: Outfielders dominate the prospect list, with not only the top three but also half of the top ten, and while he is listed as a left fielder, Dode Caudill could join Phelps and Boyd in center. With better defenders Jerry McMillan (.328, 18, 65, 22) and Henry Watson (.305, 32, 126, 6) in center and right, Dode is in Cougar camp looking to dethrone incumbent Jim Barton (.317, 11, 80). An athletic marvel, Dode an elite baserunner with great speed, strength, and power, and he'll do everything you ask except bunt to move a runner over. One of the older top prospects, he turns 24 when April ends, and has hit at every minor league level. His lowest WRC+ in a stint was 124, and he hit .291/.400/.493 (142 OPS+) in AA Little Rock. With 24 doubles, 5 triples, 23 homers, 88 RBIs, 92 walks, 101 runs, and 36 steals. Worth an even 5 WAR, it was about as good a season as you can hope for, and it showcased the impact he could make for a FABL team. Without an obvious weakness, it would be hard to bet against him. Word from Cougar camp is that they're expecting him to seize the left field job and not look back, anchoring his lineup for years to come. C Henry Woods, Montreal Saints, #5 prospect: There's nothing harder to find then a top catching prospect, but to get one ranked as high as fifth is almost unheard of. That's the gift the Montreal Saints may get to receive, as 20-year-old Henry Woods has emerged as a potential cornerstone player. Opening the spring as the starting catcher, Woods has a chance to replace Garland Phelps (.279, 16, 90) as the captain of the pitching staff. A skilled defender, Woods is great at blocking pitches, and he's decent when it comes to framing and catching runners. At 19, he worked his way up to AAA and while he can't match Dode's 124 low at WRC+, he's got a 123. The former 3rd pick is more then just a good hitter for a catcher, as he projects to hit over .300 with a good eye and run producing power. Though as good as he is, I'm not sure he's quite ready for hitting FABL pitchers, but with a pair of homers in five spring games, he's doing his best so far to prove me wrong. CF John Edwards, Minneapolis Millers, #6: A guy who's gotten plenty written about him recently, the 18-year-old John Edwards broke camp as the starting center fielder, but he went just 2-for-11 with a walk and strikeout. Another athletic marvel, Edwards has great range, an elite arm, and tremendous power potential, even if for now it's below average. More polished is his discipline, as he'll walk his share and almost never strikes out. In 344 AAA PAs, he was set down on just 7.3% of chances, almost half his 13.1 BB%. A straight shooter and hard worker, he's the type to make continuous improvements as he matures, and he's already the most advanced teen since, well, George Whaley (.321, 21, 63, 5). With so little nailed down in Minneapolis, I'm pulling for Edwards, who seems to be a lock to be the first amateur drafted by an expansion team to make their FABL debut. RHP Marco Middleton, Cincinnati Cannons, #7 prospect: The only team to double-dip in the top-10, the Cannons have the #2 pitcher and position player, with Boyd and Marco Middleton stars in the making. Few have better stuff then the 19-year-old Middleton, who has an elite curveball and a slider that isn't too far away. Even with fastballs sitting in the mid 90s, those two pitches speed up your bat, leading to a lot of strikeouts when he's ahead in the count. Where he lacks for velocity, he makes up for in stamina, as Middleton has the traditional complete game mentality where he believes he can give his team nine solid innings every fifth day. With his youth, he may see his innings kept under control, but he still averaged over 6.5 innings a start in AA last season. After solid numbers there, he got a cup of coffee last season, making seven relief appearances for the Cannons. Charged with 10 hits, 5 runs, and 2 walks in 8.1 innings, he struck out 6 and picked up a save. Starting in the pen this spring, I'd argue he's worth a chance in the rotation, as he's looks to be better then Jimmy Block (7-15, 5.59, 107), and maybe even Red Cunningham (9-10, 4.59, 110) or Jim York (11-11, 5.51, 95). But with young pitchers, there's plenty of factors to take into account, and I can see him getting a few starts in AAA to perfect his craft. RHP Harry Johnson, St. Louis Pioneers, #8 prospect: On literally any other team, Harry Johnson would be no worst then the 5th starter. Instead, he's on the super-stacked Pioneers, so he's probably not even their #7. Getting some innings out of the pen, I'd expect him to return to AAA to start the year, as he had just 5 starts last season, and he's far too good of a pitcher to be sitting in the pen. His six pitch repertoire is unpolished, as his fastball and slider need some work, but his off-speed stuff is excellent. His curve, change, and splitter are all plus-plus offerings, and he commands them well. He's got a sinker that generates a ton of groundouts, and since he doesn't usually hit more then 90, he almost never allows a homer. A surefire ace with a high floor, the sky truly might be the limit, and while he's likely no Mack or Hasson, he might be a Madden, or at least close enough where the defending champs have a fourth ace in a season or two. RF Steve Burris, New York Gothams, #10 prospect: Finishing off the top-10 is Steve Burris, the first of the outfielders you wouldn't trust to play in center. A corner bat, Burris does have the speed of a Dode Caudill, and a solid yet effective bat. He may strike out a ton, and that may not change, but when he makes contact he produces high exit velocities that lead to extra bases. With his speed, any double could be a triple, and if an outfielder makes a poor dive you could see him slide into home once it's all finished. For now, it looks like he'll have to take on Rex Pilcher (.205, 8, 38) for the starting job, and as good as Pilcher's eye and arm are, Burris provides the Gothams with so much more upside. On top of that, the then 21-year-old hit .311/.383/.606 (183 OPS+) in 131 AA games, launching 31 homers with 20 doubles and triples. A 70+ extra base hit season is almost unheard of, and without his time in A and AAA he could have gotten to 80. Likely ready to contribute now, the intimidating 6'4'' slugger could be one of the top hitters on his team, with the potential to be one of the best in the game.
  FEW SURPRISES IN OPENING ROUND OF CAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS The lone exception was in the Midwest Region where seventh seeded Lawrence State upended Redwood University 59-51. The Chippewa, who were champions of the Plains Athletic Association but did not crack the end of season top twenty five, shocked the 6th seeded Mammoths behind a 17 point effort from senior guard Eddie Sand. It was the first tournament victory for Lawrence State since 1921 and the school has never advanced past the second round. For Redwood, it was the second year in a row the Mammoths were upset by a lower seed in the opening round. Lawrence State will next face Mobile Maritime in the Midwest Region. The Middies, a 6th seed, upset Amarillo Methodist 46-39, riding on the back of forward Scott Hoekstra's 16 points and 8 rebounds. Great Lakes Alliance champion Indiana A&M (26-4) is the top seed in the Midwest and after beating Gates University 49-38 in the opening round, the Reapers will face Flagstaff State which set Northern California home early. Number one ranked Carolina Poly, the top seed in the South Region, had little trouble with Alexandria in their tournament opener as the Cardinals outmaneuvered the Generals 61-34. Lane State, second ranked and the top seed in the West had a little tougher time with Brooklyn State, but the Emeralds held off the Bears 59-51. Western Iowa is the top seed in the East Region and the Canaries moved on to face Annapolis Maritime on Thursday following a 51-32 win over Ellery.  RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 03/24/1963
__________________
Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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02-20-2025, 11:31 AM
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#1083 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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April 1st, 1963
APRIL 1, 1963 Previewing the Federal Association In our first of a two-part special, the team at TWIFS is previewing the 20 FABL teams and predicting the order in their association with they will finish, as well as a little information on the team. Today, we'll take a look at the Federal Association: 1. St Louis Pioneers: I feel cheap doing this almost every year, picking the team that won the pennant last season, but I just can't put anyone but the Pioneers first. Even last year I recognized that a pennant was winnable for them, but there was no way to predict just how dominant Frenchy Mack (25-5, 2.06, 288), Billy Hasson (20-9, 3.11, 185), and Steve Madden (16-10, 3.40, 143), or that Danny Davis (.352, 26, 96) would look like a seasoned vet and not a scared rookie. Pair that with the obvious success of Whitney Winners Bob Bell (.386, 46, 120) and Jerry Smith (.304, 27, 100, 14), and it's not hard to see why they were so great last year. This year something will go wrong, that's just how baseball is, but they're so deep that even if Bell and Mack didn't play a single inning this year, they could still compete. Both Danny Daniels (11-13, 4.56, 144) and Charlie Blake (15-10, 4.45, 147) are capable of taking steps forward, and slugger Steve Schultz (.302, 31, 117) may be on the cusp of stardom. Top to bottom, this team is loaded with talent, and they've got four top-50 prospects in the farm, with 20-year-old Harry Johnson ranked 8th, giving them another potential ace just waiting for a big league shot. Dethroning this team is going to be a grueling challenge for the nine teams below them, and if I was a betting man I'd push my coin towards the Pioneer logo as the team known for repeating will capture two Federal Association flags in a row for the third time in four tries. 2. Washington Eagles: Washington is this year's St. Louis, as if they ended up winning the Fed I wouldn't be too surprised. They're not nearly as deep as St. Louis, but Tom Lorang (.386, 35, 125, 6) might actually be better then Bell and all George Whaley (.321, 21, 63, 5) did after being called up is hit 21 homers in 69 games. Jimmy Brown's (.296, 24, 89) rookie breakout was overshadowed by Danny Davis, and parting with Brad Keylon (.333, 4, 18) was easy now that 22-year-old Howdy Oakes (.322, 13, 78) is arguably the best catcher in FABL. All these guys are stars, and none of them will enter the season at 23. Their oldest projected everyday player is Ralph Weatherbee (.271, 6, 60, 9), and the fifth year vet won't turn 27 until August. This young lineup is positioned well for perfectly timed breakouts, and if enough breaks their way, they could outscore everyone else. It will all come down to the rotation, as while talented, it's inexperience may not play as well. There's no Lorang or Whaley, but Bob Bell (13-10, 4.70, 132) is a lot better then the numbers look, and if I had to pick one guy without an All-Star appearance that would get one this year, it'd be him. Former top-10 prospect Owen Lantz (13-8, 4, 3.72, 112) had a productive rookie season, and as long as he keeps the ball in the park the wild Jim Stewart (14-7, 3.76, 157) is someone you want pitching every fifth day. The deck may be stacked against them this year, but this team is built for the long haul, and could be a nightmare for competitors as we continue in the 60s. 3. Detroit Dynamos: Another team that would be little surprise if they finish on top, the Detroit Dynamos came just a single game shy of a miraculous pennant comeback. The scourge of the 50s, the next generation of Dynamos is just as scary, with Ray Waggoner (.355, 30, 109) one of the early favorites for the Whitney. A natural outfielder, he's at first, with young outfielders Ed MacNaughton (.314, 13, 72, 30) and Cecil Gregg (.302, 19, 110, 10) in center and right, and 4-time champ Bill Morrison (.304, 10, 51, 11) in left. Elsewhere, Joe Reed (.293, 31, 114, 8) has established himself as one of the top shortstops, while Dick Tucker (.315, 20, 103) and Virgil Ewing (.285, 17, 101) provide serious thump in the bottom half of the order. That gives you an idea how deep they are there, and they have the distinction of being one of the most well rounded squads. The pitching lacks a Hasson or Mack, or even a Madden, but Jim Norris (18-7, 4.18, 122) and Paul Anderson (16-5, 2.89, 129) are sturdy and reliable arms. The back half is solid too, but I'm not overly confident in a 38-year-old John Jackson (13-14, 3.70, 133), Bud Henderson (8-7, 4.65, 68) seems likely to fall somewhere between the Detroit (6-3, 3.18, 46) and LA (2-4, 7.17, 22) version, and the now $170k man Howie French 13-8, 3, 3.99, 112) ended up in the pen. While not an obvious weakness, they may struggle against a team like St. Louis who can hit and pitch. I wouldn't count them out, they're a serious contender, but in a long season the thinnest of margins can be the difference between glory and an early vacation. 4. Philadelphia Keystones: There are a lot of tremendous 1-2 punches in a lineup, but it's hard to top the Harry Dellinger (.363, 27, 76, 25) and Buddy Miller (.354, 26, 100) duo in the City of Brotherly Love. Three may be a crowd, but Andy Parker (.313, 18, 97) is trying to squeeze into the mix, as the recently turned 23-year-old actually ranks three spots higher then Miller on the current top-20 list. If that wasn't enough, they also have veteran All-Stars Marshall Thomas (.267, 5, 24, 3) and Lloyd Coulter (.278, 43, 132), one of the few teams that has a wide range of ages contributing. With a lineup that good, the pitching is the key, as it's what let them down last year and what brought them a title in 1961. Jorge Arellano (15-9, 4.03, 156) was solid, but William Davis (12-10, 4.65, 148), Tom Robinson (8-11, 5.75, 119), and Joe Kienle (10-7, 5.08, 60) al had significant down seasons. They have a serious spring competition going for spots, as aside from Arellano and breakout righty Tom Elliott (8-5, 1, 3.54, 80), it doesn't seem like anyone is guaranteed a turn. The variability in the rotation makes it tough to see them finishing on top, but give two complimentary stars on offense some support and there's really no stopping them. You just have to hope to score enough runs to survive. 5. Pittsburgh Miners: Part of me wants to call the Miners the first contender that's not really a contender, but they have some serious young talent. 21-year-old Dixie Turner (.282, 12, 69, 8) was a Diamond Defense award winner as a rookie, and with an improving bat he has all the tools to be among one of the most valuable players in the sport. As you know by now, having a Barrell is a plus too, and the 22-year-old Reid (.261, 16, 80) had a productive rookie season, and he's a potential .300 hitter from both sides of the plate you can plug in anywhere on the infield. John Moreland (.309, 10, 75, 8), Frank Selander (.285, 14, 78, 11), and Mike Whisman (.308, 22, 99) are all solid contributors, but until Turner hits his peak, they lack the star power or collection of almost stars to be a true threat. On top of that, the rotation isn't quite where they need to be, but a full season of Jimmy Blair (2-1, 2.57, 29) is a good start, and Pat Simon (16-8, 3.69, 126) did his best impression of an ace last year. It's murky behind that, but they have a deep farm system that could easily acquire an arm or two should one of interest be available. For now, keep an eye on Clay Buddemeyer (7-10, 4.45, 100), who could fill out a dangerous trio of southpaws. 24 in May, he's an innings eater with great stuff, and is just a few command issues away from being a top pitcher. 6. Boston Minutemen: I think this is where things start to level off, and there may be more room between 5th and 6th then there will be between 1st and 5th. The best of the rest, I debated between Boston and New York for a while, but in the end I'm a Frank Kirouac (.279, 21, 90, 8) truther who still believes that Don Griffin (15-6, 1, 3.23, 118) is an ace. And that's enough to make the difference for me! Boston is still a few bats and arms away from contention, but Joe Kleman (.308, 14, 78, 8) continues to be a top shortstop, a healthy Bill Tutwiler (.312, 5, 50, 9) can win you baseball games, and Ed Wise (.247, 30, 97, 7) can change the game with a bomb, a walk, or even a steal. The staff is somewhat of a mess, but Bob Green (6-4, 3.84, 74) has wipeout stuff. Ray Gonyea (11-16, 5.55, 150) does too, except when he's giving up 500 foot blasts, as back-to-back 30+ homer seasons have prevented him from establishing himself in FABL. Conversely, they have his opposite in Bob Hollister (10-14, 11, 4.45, 56), who's all control and no stuff. It's an interesting group of arms, but each guy has a weakness that could sabotage their season. Even Griffin. It's tough for imperfect teams to win, and even tougher when the competition is as good as it is now. 7. New York Gothams: On a different trajectory, the Gothams are a young team on the way up, aside from team legend Hank Estill (.272, 17, 63), most of the guys worth their salt are on the younger side. 23-year-old Tom Brizzolara (.322, 13, 78, 7) has a stake for FABL's top catcher, while rookie All-Star Isaiah Redbird (.324, 12, 78, 7) put together a 5 (5.4) WAR season like it was nothing. And even if he's not a top player at his position, Joe Anderson (.311, 13, 78) is starting to look like John Kingsbury (.350, 22, 113, 13) lite. There's a drop off after that, but 25-year-old third basemen Frank Arnold (.326, 5, 95) gets overlooked for not having the traditional pop of someone at the hot corner, and fellow 25-year-old Otto Pilkerton (.294, 14, 87, 8) had a 113 WRC+ last year and won a Diamond Defense award in center two years ago. Like Boston, the pitching is their weakness, as their best pitcher is a guy coming off a brutal season. Clarence Reimer (8-16, 5.19, 150) is a far better pitcher then the stats suggest, but allowing 29 homers in 34 starts did him in. Someone else needs to step up, my first thought Chuck Kleiman (11-9, 4.35, 116), but they have no shortage of high-upside young arms all waiting for a chance to prove they belong in the big leagues. 8. Chicago Chiefs: Looking to actively sell, the Chicago Chiefs unloaded in the deadline, and I'd expect more of the same in 1963. It won't push them behind the expansion teams, but expect contenders to look at Irv Clifford (.279, 66), Al Padgett (.284, 24, 87), Doc Zimmerman (.312, 13, 87, 5), and Vern Osborne (13-11, 5.30, 126). Ed Bloom (.284, 12, 53, 10) and Rod Shearer (.305, 20, 88, 13) aren't going anywhere, which is enough to keep them out of the cellar, and their rebuild has already harvested some success. Joe Siniscalchi (.311, 10, 42), acquired from the Kings, was great in his 57 game debut, while former Cougar prospect Bob Starr is just 22 and potential elite defender out in center. Both are getting regular reps in The staff has a top young stopper in Dutch Lane (9-8, 24, 3.18, 72), and I'd like for them to place 23-year-old Fred Moore (6-3, 1, 4.43, 45) in their opening rotation. But the most interesting young player is John Thomas (7-4, 2.61, 56), who turned 20 this February. His 12 start debut at 19 was electric, and I'm anxiously waiting in anticipation for his encore. Despite all the promise, it's tough to rely on an unproven staff, and they're destined for plenty of growing pains as the rebuild continues. 9. Minneapolis Millers: There's really one reason why the Millers are 9th and the Suns are 10th. No, not a coin flip. In fact, an 18-year-old. Not your average 18-year-old, John Edwards is already better then at least 75% of the guys that took a PA for the Millers last season. The 3rd pick last season, I believed he could have gone straight to Minneapolis had they wanted, and he managed to hit an alright .223/.326/.334 (89 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 5 triples, 4 homers, 24 RBIs, 36 runs, and 45 walks. The average was low, but he worked at bats well and and struck out just 25 times in 344 PAs. A plus defender as well, he might be their best defender out in center too, as last year's starter Dick Sheehan (.321, 9, 63) belongs in a corner. Him and Hugh Pate (.263, 18, 68, 9) were really their only hitters of value, so if Edwards joins they might actually have a respectable outfield. Looking for talent elsewhere is tough, and I cannot believe just how awful Joe McDowell (6-18, 6.78, 89) was last season. I'd expect better from him and Bill Smith (7-18, 5.36, 157), but their is just not much going for them on the mound. I was surprised Minneapolis didn't take chances on many players in the offseason, but they'll have a long season to try to find the right pieces to finish their puzzle. 10. Los Angeles Suns: Rounding things out is the Los Angeles Suns, though they actually have a talented young player to build around. That would be all-world glovemen Bill Bell (.293, 15, 67, 15), who was named the Suns' lone All-Star in their inaugural season. 24 in July, the Chicago native had an above average 112 WRC+ while playing outstanding defense at second, short, and third. I wouldn't bet on him becoming a top hitter, but his speed and range will more then make up for any shortcomings with the bat. Besides, Gary Romeo (.303, 6, 45, 8) and Mickey McClure (.284, 13, 63) were the best they had, and there's no obvious solutions in the farm. Russ Hawkins (.286, 15, 76) and former #1 pick Stan Czerwinski (.288, 16, 71) are solid role players, but the lineup can't compete with the Minutemen and Miners, let alone the Pioneers and Keystones. What they do have, is a decent enough pitching staff, as while not top arms you can certainly do worse then Doc Carver (12-12, 4.67, 125), Red Burtch (7-11, 4.73, 111), and Grant Davis (8-9, 4.95, 66). They're all on the right side of 30, and could be holding down rotation spots as the rest of the team gets better around them. One guy to watch is the wildly effective Frank Carey (3-10, 13, 4.96, 62), who has some of the best stuff in the game. Whether it's coming in the rotation or pen is yet to be determined, but despite the organization being as young as it is, they've done a good job gathering pitching talent.  Tales From The Den Wolves Prepare For Start of 1963 Toronto's baseball club has started the exhibition season at 11-2. It is a good sign although everyone worth their salt knows spring is time for experimentation, these games do not count where it matters, in the regular season. At the plate there have been good signs from LF Chick Reed's .370/.438/.815 4Hr 7 RBI, 2B Phil Story .500/.538/.708 1.247 OPS. CF Sid Cullen .320/.393/.800 3HR 8 RBI. Still rounding into form are Tom Reed who's main focus this spring has been working on defensive skills at 1B, new acquisition Dick Rabkin who is struggling at the plate against many pitchers who will not be in the FABL come Opening Day next week. On the mound the starters have not been going very deep with Hohlt saying they will ramp up over the next week. If the goal of the spring was to find a supporting cast for Zeke Blake, who is still working on a new pitch, then it has been successful. Two players from last year's Nickels have stepped up in limited innings, Bob Campbell, Charlie Davidson, making for a tough call before the team starts the 162 game schedule next Tuesday in LA. The odds are one of the two will start the season in AAA. The Wolves pared their roster down to 26 one over the limit. Front office officials say the decisions were tough but necessary due to the shortened time span of spring training. With only 3 weeks to prove they belonged in Toronto made evaluation much more difficult than in previous years. The team announced that P's Danny Horne, Sam Morgan, Jimmy Blair, Stan Boone, Wilson Pearson, C Al Curtis, SS Mel Hart, OF Frank Hardin, OF Babe Herman have been sent to Buffalo. Wolves are said to searching for a bullpen lefty as Fred Clark, 34, has been getting shelled all spring. For a team that is full of lefthanded hitters, southpaws for mound duty are a scarce resource. Work on setting minor league rosters will become a major focus for the front office.
MOTORS BOUNCE BACK IN BIG WAY Barrell Nets 5 Points in Rout of Montreal Barrell's outburst came with Monette, his usual center, sidelined for the season and ended a slump that saw the NAHC's scoring leader collect just one point in the final six games of the regular season. Barrell scored once on the power play, once shorthanded and the final time at even strength as Detroit dominated Montreal in the series opener. Colin MacMillan and Nick Tardif each had three points for the Motors while Scott Dudek replied with a pair of goals for Montreal. The Motors, who finished tied with Montreal at 82 points during the season, will look to take a two games to none lead in Wednesday's second game before the series shifts to Montreal. Saturday night in Chicago the first place Packers extended their unbeaten streak to nine games with a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Dukes in the opener of their semi-final series. Archer Cook and Guy Bernier gave Chicago a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes and Tommy Gordon extended the lead to three with his goal late in the middle frame. Nick Poulin got one back for Toronto early in the third period but Ken York restored the three goal margin with a powerplay later in the final stanza. Chicago outshot Toronto 39-18. Game two is set for tomorrow night in the Windy City.  FINALISTS NAMED FOR NAHC AWARDS He may not have won another scoring title but 40-year-old Quinton Pollack of the Toronto Dukes is once more a finalist for the McDaniels Trophy, presented annually to the Most Valuable Player in the North American Hockey Confederation. Pollack has won each of the last two McDaniels Awards and he owns nine of them in total, but he will be hard pressed to claim his tenth. Pollack did finish second in scoring with 79 points this season but will be up against the scoring champ. That would be Hobie Barrell of Detroit, as the 22-year-old lead the NAHC in goals with 42 and points with 83. Joining the two prolific scorers as finalists will be another 22-year-old. That would be Montreal Valiants sensational defenseman Mark Moggy. Moggy was rookie of the year two years ago and last season won the Dewar Trophy as the top defenseman in the league.Moggy is the favourite to become the first two-time winner of the Dewar Trophy and is joined as finalists by his Montreal teammate Jean Tremblay along with Robert Ling of Detroit, who was just the second defenseman in NAHC history to score twenty goals in a season. The finalists for the Juneau Trophy, presented annually since 1927-28 to the league's top goaltender are Toronto's Mike Connelly, two-time winner Nathan Bannister of Montreal and veteran New York Shamrocks goaltender Alex Sorrell, who is also a two-time winner with his awards coming in back to back seasons beginning in 1950. The Harvey McLeod Trophy is presented to the top rookie and the finalists are a pair of Toronto Dukes in Andrew Williams and Hank Knackstedt along with Dick Pepe of Montreal. Finally the finalists for the Yeadon Trophy for gentlemanly play are Benny Barrell of Detroit, Chicago's Matt McGrath and Ken Jamieson of Toronto. 
  AIAA CAGE TOURNAMENT MOVES TO NEW YORK CITY None of the Number One Seeds Reach Semi-Finals The two Great Lakes Alliance schools that earned number one berths were the first to fall as both were eliminated Thursday evening. Fifth seed Flagstaff State outscored Midwest number one seed Indiana A&M by 13 points in the second half to give the Firebirds a shocking 51-48 upset of one of the best teams in the nation. At the same time in the East Region, Annapolis Maritime -another fifth seed- knocked off Western Iowa 56-46 to advance to the quarterfinals. The other two number ones would fall on the weekend as Coastal California, behind 21 points from senior guard Bill Mebane, tripped up Carolina Poly 43-39 to advance from the South Region. Meanwhile in another matchup of a South Atlantic Conference school against one from the West Coast Athletic Association the eastern section gained its revenge for the Cardinals loss to the Dolphins and Maryland State had a surprisingly easy time knocking of West Region top seed Lane State 54-42. The national semi-finals will be played Saturday at New York's Bigsby Garden with the AIAA tournament championship game going two nights later. It will see Coastal California face Maryland State in the opener followed by the Cinderella 6th seeded Mobile Maritime Middies facing North Carolina Tech in the nightcap.  RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 03/31/1963
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Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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02-21-2025, 11:48 AM
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#1084 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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April 7th, 1963
APRIL 7, 1963 Previewing the Continental Association Spring Training is now over, with the Keystones (14-4) and Stars (12-6) winning their respective associations, so all focus is on the return of the regular season. Set to begin with two games tomorrow, excitement is fully in the air as rosters begin to trim. But before getting to that, let's take a look at how we think the Continental Association may turn out: 1. Kansas City Kings: Picking t he Kings first is as simple as two words. Hank Williams (.375, 43, 128). He's the best hitter in baseball and a three-time Whitney, coming off his third season where he led the Continental in average, on-base, and slugging, as well as his fourth leading WRC+. 29 until June, Williams enters his eighth season with a .358/.447/.628 (187 OPS+) career line, slugging 216 doubles and 188 homers with 624 RBIs, 636 runs, and 487 walks. The All-Time career King leader in average, on-base, and slugging, he's also 4th in homers, and is a near lock for 200 homers. He needs just 12, something he might do as early as May. Far from a one-man show, he has stars both in his lineup and the rotation, as the Kings bring back reigning Allen winner Beau McClellan (17-10, 3.51, 197) for his thirteenth year. He leads youngsters Gene Bailey (10-4, 3.30, 92) and Allie Boone (10-2, 3.36, 106), and I'd love for them to open with 20th ranked prospect Johnnie Higgins. A potential ace, his fastball/slider combo is elite, and once his control is ironed out he's going to dominate. He's a hard thrower with four great pitches, and with a lockdown closer in Del Lamb (9-6, 15, 3.22, 83) they can rely on the pen if their young hurlers show some growing pains. A deep lineup helps, as they get a healthy Ken Newman (), 9-time All-Star Charlie Rogers (.287, 15, 73, 14), and emerging star Pat Davis (.350, 20, 103, 41). 2-for-2 in All-Star appearances he also has a steal crown, an RBI crown, and back-to-back 200-hit seasons to round it out. He led with 214 and 219, and was worth over 6.5 WAR in each season. Add in Bob Burge (.312, 10, 92), Cal Randall (.287, 11, 54), and a potential breakout from the rangy Tom Hicks (.252, 3, 40, 4), Kansas City has a good shot to take down their division rival in the WCS. 2. Cleveland Foresters: It may turning into a young man's game, but the vets in Cleveland are still good enough to contend for a pennant. After losing two WCS in a row, they collapsed last summer, and will be looking for revenge in 1963. Losing two rotation members is brutal, and I was surprised they didn't make a move during the offseason, but any rotation led by Adrian Czerwinski (16-10, 4.44, 170) can cause problems. He's is for a bounce back season, as his 3.66 FIP (79 FIP-) was close to a run lower then his ERA. Finding a reliable 2 may be tough, but with a young stud closer in Johnny Ogden (6-6, 30, 2.76, 141), they don't need perfection from the non-Czerwinski starters. Their Stan Kleminski (.292, 5, 47, 15) led lineup produces a lot of runs, so they'll just need to keep it close. Paul Williams (.289, 22, 98), John Low (.296, 12, 71), Sherry Doyal (.308, 26, 101, 6),. and Hal Kennedy (.309, 24, 83) are all among the best hitters, and I'd have love to see them add someone like Vern Osborne (13-11, 5.30, 126). That could have made them the pennant favorites, but instead I think they'll come up just short. 3. San Francisco Sailors: After a rough showing in the championship last season, I think it's going to be tough for the Sailors to get back. They had plenty go their way, and I'm skeptical the staff can again have every pitcher finish with an above average ERA+. It's a strong, deep staff, but Charlie Lawson (16-10, 4.02, 169) and George Fuller (17-10, 3.72, 132) are a really strong 1-2 punch. Whoever they line up behind them will do well, but it won't be guys who blow you away. This puts some pressure on the lineup, but they have plenty of guys who can produce runs. It will be a crime if John Kingsbury (.350, 22, 113, 13) is again left out of the All-Star game, and he's paired with the league's best shortstop in Carlos Jaramillo (.291, 8, 45, 27). Ernie Carter (.340, 12, 119, 10) will look to build off a stellar debut season, just like young second basemen Heine Spitler (.333, 4, 81, 27) did last year. Still a threat to repeat. this is a good, consistent team, and if not one comes out and dominates, they can win a long season grind just like they did last season. 4. Chicago Cougars: The best news for the Chicago this year is that Jack Gibson is healthy, and after hitting .438/.441/1.125 with 2 doubles, a triple, 6 homers, and 11 RBIs, they have to believe their young star is the same guy he was before his ruptured MCL. If he was healthy last season, the Cougars could have threatened the Sailors for the pennant, and if he can stay healthy that lineup will be dangerous. Gene Case (.302, 38, 117) had the opposite of a sophomore slump, coming close to a 40-homer season, while Henry Watson (.305, 32, 126, 6) and Jerry McMillan (.328, 18, 65, 22) are among the top young players in the game. They could be joined by another, as 3rd ranked prospect Dode Caudill could break camp with the big league club. He had an unimpressive spring, but Chicago looks to be transitioning Jim Barton (.317, 11, 80) to Dode or top-50 prospect Bobby Martinez (.396, 1, 12, 4). The pitching was good last year, especially the pen, as Pug White (12-8, 18, 3.10, 110) and Arch Wilson (11-3, 11, 2.74, 41) were a lethal late-inning mix, making it much easier on the starters. They have some good ones there too, with Roy Ellis (10-7, 3.83, 147) emerging as an ace and Dick Champ (5-4, 3.80, 52) coming over from their crosstown counterparts. I'd like to see them bring back one of Henry Henderson or Ken Stone, both high upside former top-prospects who spent all of last season in Milwaukee. Both have past FABL experience, but were stuck on a teak with a lot of pitching depth. Both have options and could end up in Milwaukee once more, but if the Cougs are serious about competing, they may want to test their talented young arms. 5. Cincinnati Cannons: Since the Continental is up for grabs this season, the Cannons being 5th doesn't mean that they don't have a chance. In fact, any team with Dallas Berry (.330, 40, 125, 16) can win a pennant, and it's even easier when joined with a co-star like Bonnie Chapin (.316, 26, 96). It could soon be a trio, as 2nd ranked prospect Mark Boyd hit .455/.538/.970 with 5 homers and 12 RBIs. A third potential star, his development will determine how far this team can go, as they are very close to dominance. Art McKinney (.261, 21, 115) is a solid starter, Babe Booth (.312, 6, 67) was a top-10 prospect for a reason, and I like what I've seen from Joe Case (.333, 1, 7) and Milt Senecal (.282, 10, 52, 13) this spring. If a few things go their way, they could have one of the best lineups, and they may need it with their staff. I'm a huge Charlie Warren (17-11, 3.11, 180) fan, and they should give him as many starts as possible, Jack Meeks (16-11, 4.51, 151) is just 22 and is primed for a step-forward, but they need to find more the him. The Cannons haven't given any indication that 7th ranked prospect Marco Middleton (0-1, 1, 5.40, 6) has made the rotation, but I think it's worth giving the 19-year-old a shot. If they think he's only ready for the pen, him and Paul Williams (3-6, 31, 2.01, 103) could be lethal in the pen, allowing them to mix and max starters behind their elite innings eater up front. 6. Los Angeles Stars: I feel bad putting the Stars 6th, but with how crowded the CA is shaping out to be, I can truly see any of the eight original teams taking the crown. Even Montreal. LA had the best spring record in the Conti, and their double-Barrell action could fuel one of the top offenses in the association. Ralph (.305, 35, 114) is already a star at 22, turning 23 in a week, while the 32-year-old Charlie (.266, 20, 77) has yet to produce a below average season at the plate. Most teams have top outfields, and there grouping of Charlie Sax (.328, 8, 50, 10), Ed Moore (.331, 15, 79, 10), and Lou Allen (.290, 27, 93) is just starting to hit their prime. And even though it was just 56 games last season, young backstop Bob Griffin (.325, 8, 38, 2) features an interesting power/speed combo from a position where that just isn't regular. The pitching did take a big blow, but Dewey Allcock (15-7, 3.64, 125) looked just as good as he was pre-injury, and Floyd Warner (12-12, 4.37, 129), Carl Johnston (13-7, 1, 3.65, 126), and Sy Dunn (14-11, 4.60, 153) continue to show improvement. The group may be completed by 22-year-old Harry Stout (9-6, 8, 98), who's fastball/slider mix gives hitters nightmares. If he can step up as a true #2 behind Allcock, the Stars will make plenty of noise, but right now I think they're just on the cusp of being a feared contender. 7. Toronto Wolves: After a rare .500 season, the first since they won 82 games in 1948, the Toronto Wolves will look to get back over that mark, hoping to take advantage of one of the best staffs in the game. Led by "Pretty Boy" Allen Smith (16-9, 3.40, 201), there isn't an easy draw, as he's a two-time strikeout leader, Phil Colantuono (6-3, 3.53, 50) excelled after his lengthy injury stay, and 22-year-old Bill Medley (12-11, 3.54, 167) had an under the radar breakout campaign as a rookie. That trio is already impressive, but if George Hoxworth (5-2, 4.11, 41) again shows signs of the guy who put together back-to-back-to-back 200 K seasons before his 22nd birthday, the Wolves have a legit shot to allow the fewest runs in the Conti. That would be huge, as besides star veteran Tom Reed (.308, 28, 100, 6), the lineup could use some work. It's not devoid of talent, I'm a big Sid Cullen (.304, 17, 69) fan and Ed Savage (.442, 10, 36) put the league on notice last September, but aside from them and the slick-fielding Jesse Taylor (.277, 14, 73, 16), Reed won't have much support. That being said, they have a high quality farm, led by the 12th ranked Savage, and can tap into that to add an impact bat. If they can overperform early, the Wolves front-office could be enticed to make a move, and I really think that if the expansion teams are handing out free wins again, the Wolves can finally finish above .500. 8. Montreal Saints: It feels unfair having the Saints this low, but I just do not trust their pitching staff. The ace is the fireballer Bob Nelson (13-6, 1, 4.46, 134), and while talented, the 23-year-old has major home run issues and Montreal no longer called the spacious Parc Cartier home. Control artist Jim Montgomery (10-15, 5.15, 117) has the same issues, finishing with a league high 37, 38, and 35 home runs, with 33 the last time he didn't surrender the most. On paper, those are two good pitchers, but they haven't been throwing like it, and don't have much room for error. The rest of the staff is a culmination of young pitchers, and they brought in a pair of top-100 prospects to start games for them this spring. No indication out of Saint camp if they'll break with Kellogg winner Ham Flanders (.361, 26, 105, 13), but I'd love to see 19-year-old southpaw John Mullins at some point this year. Ranked 52nd in the league, the stuff is off the charts, and his emergence could make Saints fans feel better about trading Bob Griffen to LA last season. An imposing 6'4'' force, he thrives when he's groundballs, and five of his six offerings are at least plus-plus pitches. With his work ethic, the sky really is the limit, and I don't buy that 51 prospects have more upside then him. If Mullins can emerge as an ace, it'll take the pressure off Flanders, Andy Gilman (.277, 24, 79), and Harry Swain (.301, 12, 79), who were key contributors of one of the Conti's best lineups last year. This team will score runs, but to keep up they need to find guys who can keep the ball in the park. 9. Dallas Wranglers: For a while, it looked like the Wranglers could finish above one of the eight original teams, but with an expansion roster you can only do so much. Hitting on their first three picks of the rookie draft, they've gotten on the right start for emerging from the bottom, but for now the roster relies heavily on veterans. 33-year-old Steve Miller (5-15, 4.38, 104) was a nice find for the rotation, and they can build around the relative youth of Butch Abrams (13-13, 4.31, 98) and Ken Hudson (.243, 20, 66). Finding support behind that is tough, as pretty much everyone else was average. At best. A team with a lot of guys 34 and up, it will be hard to turn them into decent prospects, but they have some really disciplined hitters that could be useful role players. Tom Leisher (.258, 6, 36) is a borderline starter behind the plate, and a more then capable reserve, while Carl Matthews (.215, 11, 48) does a good job working the count. Neither are game changers, but they're useful supplemental pieces who can help instruct the younger guys who will have plenty of shots to earn playing time. 10. New York Imperials: You would think that after losing the most games in FABL history last season, it would be harder to lose more, but with the season expanded to 162 that may be easier said then done in the Big Apple. At 38-116, the New York Imperials were as bad as bad can be, and it's hard to see them doing much better in 1963. On the bright side, I think they did well improving their staff, as deadline acquisition Frankie Sawyer (5-8, 5.59, 73) is starting to look like a real find from Kansas City. His 4.36 FIP (95 FIP-) in 83.1 innings for the Imps impressed, and he's already been worth parting with third basemen Joe Dorch (.303, 3, 32). A five-pitch pitcher, his fastball has real bite, and at worst he profiles as a back-end starter. Southpaw Bob Brown was a huge pickup with the first pick in the Rule-5 Draft, as he's got an overpowering fastball with mid-rotation potential. Scoring runs may still be tough, but they've got a legit slugger in Turk Ramsey (.282, 36, 89), and adding Del Gaines after he was cut from the Eagles could pay dividends as he turned 26 in February. Add in another 26-year-old in Vern Reynolds (.272, 4, 20), and the semblance of a lineup starts to take form. More growing pains are expected, but despite the lofty loss totals, the Imperials are heading the right direction, and they should be able to avoid the large losing streaks better then they did in year one.
MOTORS ONE WIN AWAY FROM SWEEP Dukes Win at Home to Cut Into Packers Lead Hobie Barrell exploded for five points in the Motors 8-3 victory at Thompson Palladium in the opener and Detroit followed that up with another lobsided win in game two. That one was by a 6-1 count as Detroit outshot Montreal 39-19 and once more it was Barrell who took center stage. Hobie had four assists but was overshadowed by his big brother as Benny scored once and added four helpers for a five point evening. The series shifted to the Montreal Arena on Saturday and game three was a much tighter affair but the result was the same - another win for Detroit. The Vals opened the scoring late in the first period when Jack Charest scored a shorthanded marker and Montreal went up 2-0 seven minutes into the middle frame on a Yan Tremblay goal set up by Matthew Muir, who also assisted on Charest's opening period tally. Detroit got one back five minutes later when, like Montreal's first goal, it was a shorthanded tally with this one coming off the stick of Pete Stojanov. The goal that may well have broke the Valiants back came with just one second left in the second period when Darcy Sill was left alone in the slot and wristed a puck over Nathan Bannister's blocker to tie the contest. Detroit would be outshot 12-5 in the third period and 39-19 in the game but Charlie Dell was outstanding in the Motors cage and the game-winning goal came when Sill and Benny Barrell set up Ty Boulet with just over two minutes left in regulation. Dell suffered an elbow injury in the game but stayed in the net. However, he is questionable for game four. If Dell can't go, Sebastien Goulet, who played all 11 games in the Motors Cup win a year ago, will see his first action of this postseason. *** Dukes Get In The Win Column *** Like Detroit, the first place Chicago Packers were terrific on home ice. Chicago won the series opener from Toronto 4-1 and took control of the second game early, building a 3-0 lead and holding on for a 5-3 victory. Pete Bernier was the star of the show for the Packers in the second game as he set up four Chicago goals while John Trumbell scored twice. Quinton Pollack had a goal and an assist for the Dukes but that was not enough to prevent them from falling behind two games to none in the series.Friday evening in Toronto was a different story as the Dukes showed their resilience. The Toronto team had to win its final four games of the season just to make the playoffs and they once more reached deep in the final twenty minutes of game three. Toronto entered the final frame down 3-2 and on the verge of dropping a third straight game in the series but the Dukes, who were outshot 34-11 in the opening forty minutes, rallied with three unanswered goals to earn their first win in the series. Hank Knackstedt tied the game early in the third and a minute later Nick Poulin put Toronto ahead. Nick Landry sealed the win with an empty net goal in the closing seconds. Toronto will look to even the series tonight at Dominion Gardens.  Dukes Claw Back Into Series Toronto keeps there playoff hopes alive by splitting two games with Chicago over the past week. On Tuesday night, after two days off, Lakeside Aud was again packed to the seams with scalpers having a field day on the streets leading to the rink. Tickets were said to being scalped at over five times their face value. Those on hand were treated a fast start from the Packers when Ray Weller lit the lamp before the a half minute had run off the clock. Toronto seemed to have worked out ways to beat Chicago's tight checking umbrella that shut them down in the first game. Dukes' shooters tested Bomberry between the Packers' pipes 11 times in the first without a goal. After the early goal Connelly was solid for Toronto until the last minute when Ken York was setup by Dave Corden with 43 seconds left before intermission. Another early goal, at 1:24 of the middle frame, from John Turnbull made it 3-0. Dukes found their legs in the middle part of the period when Pollack, Knackstedt narrowed the margin to one before Weller with his second of the game made it 4-2 at 17:48 of the second. For all intents and purposes Turnbull ended the game with a goal before the third was 3 minutes old. The ice seemed to get sticky in the third possibly due to the combination of a large crowd along with the unseasonably warm weather in Chicago. The ice was like glue with only a total of 6 shots between the two teams in the final period. Don Morrison made it 5-3 with just over ten minutes to play, that was as close as the game would get on this night. Dukes returned home on Friday night fighting against going down 3 games to none in the series. The game did not start well with the Packers going up one at 2:47 of the opening frame off of Mike Homfray's stick. In a game in which Connelly rob Packers' marksmen time and again the home side managed to escape the first tied at one when Lou Turner beat Bomberry cleanly at 10:36. The Dukes were outshot 18-4 in the first. The second period was more of the same, Chicago firing an unrelenting barrage at Connelly, shots total for two periods were Chicago 34, Toronto 11. Despite that Williams gave the Dukes a 2-1 lead before goals by Matt McGrath, Pete Bernier in the last five minutes has Chicago leading 3-2 after 40. A light of some kind came on for the Dukes in the third. Two quick goals, Knackstedt at 2:26, Poulin 66 seconds later gave Toronto 4-3 lead. In a period where shots we even at 13 Chicago could beat Connelly who made 45 save in the game. Landry's empty netter made the final 5-3. Coach Bear-"We are back in the series thanks to Mike Connelly. Game 3 was one the finest displays of puck stopping I have every witnessed, I told the players after the game they should all give Connelly their game cheques because he earned the money. Time to get ready for Game Four on Monday."
  IT WILL BE TECHSTERS VS DOLPHINS FOR CAGE CROWN It is a meeting of two schools with a rich collegiate basketball tradition. Coastal California had appeared in all but three of those 54 tournaments and with 95 victories and 18 trips to the semi-finals the Dolphins set the standard in both of those categories. Despite all of that success the Dolphins were snakebit for much of their existence and have won it all just one despite 18 semi-final berths and six previous trips to the title game. That tournament win came back in the spring of 1951. Coastal California is also the all-time AIAA leader in total wins with 1,320. North Carolina Tech has won four AIAA tournament titles including three in a row in the early 1920s that included a win over Coastal California in the middle year of that streak. The Techsters remain the only school to win three consecutive tournament titles but have not won one since the spring of 1934 when they claimed their fourth national crown. Tech is fifth all-time in tournament wins with 70 but prior to this year's four only 7 of the previous 66 victories in tournament play have come since the end of World War II. This year's North Carolina Tech team is led by a pair of seniors who are each expected to be first round draft picks in the Federal Basketball League in guard Bob Terwilliger and center Earl Arsenault. There is talk that Arsenault may well be the first name called come draft day. SATURDAY'S SEMI FINALS The two semi-final games on Saturday could not have been any more different. The Techsters, led by 12 points from Terwilliger and 14 boards from Arsenault built a 22-7 first half lead on Mobile Maritime, a surprising addition to the final four after being a sixth seed, and doubled the Middies 48-24. The outcome was never in doubt as the Techsters led 14-1 just over seven minutes into the game.The other semi-final was as tight as they could come with Coastal California rallying to nip Maryland State 45-43. The Dolphins had fallen behind by seven -the largest margin of difference on the day- with a little over 12 minutes remaining but rallied to pull out the victory in what was their toughest test of the tournament. Senior guard Bill Mebane led the way with 14 points for the Dolphins while his backcourt mate Dan Hague added 10. The Dolphins defeated top ranked Carolina Poly in the quarterfinals and now, after beating Maryland State, they look for their third straight win over a South Atlantic Conference power in the championship date with North Carolina Tech.  RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 04/07/1963
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Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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02-23-2025, 06:00 PM
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#1085 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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April 8th, 1963: Special Opening Day Edition
APRIL 8, 1963 Trade Season Erupts on Eve of Opening Day 1960 Allen Winner, 6-Time All-Star on the Move All offseason, it felt like the trade market was about to explode, but very little happened. Sure, there were the two Washington deals, most notably the one sending Brad Keylon (.333, 4, 18) and Joe Holland (.262, 14, 39, 4) to the Dynamos, and a minor deal between the Miners and Cannons, but in just a two day span, the offseason trade count doubled. It started with one of the biggest trades in a while, as the never satisfied Chicago Cougars made what they're hoping is a trade that can bring home a pennant. In a blockbuster move, the Cougars acquired 26-year-old righty Don "Doc" Griffin (15-6, 6, 3.23, 118) from the Minutemen, parting with veteran starter Andy Logue (11-17, 4.11, 126) and former 5th overall pick Bobby Martinez (.396, 1, 12, 4) to get the job done. Griffin, a 6-Time All-Star and winner of the 1960 Allen award, seemed to have fallen out of favor in Boston. Doc debuted in 1955 at just 18, and spent his teen years pitching out of the Minutemen pen. Year two was the breakout, where he was 5-7 with a Fed high 19 saves. In 98.2 innings, he worked to a 2.74 ERA (1449 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, and 54 strikeouts, proving he could pitch multiple innings at a time. This got him into a swingman role at 20 in 1957, where 19 of his 54 appearances were starts. This is when Griffin started to really turn heads, as in 181 innings he went 12-6 with 7 saves, a 2.73 ERA (150 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts. The performance earned him a rotation spot at 21, beginning what could have been the start of a great one. In 35 starts, Griffin earned himself an ERA crown, working to a 2.78 (155 ERA+) mark in 246 innings. His Fed low FIP was even lower, down to 2.67 (61 FIP-), also leading in WHIP (1.04), K/BB (3.4), and WAR (8.7). His 16-13 record didn't match the overall performance, but none of that mattered. The setting was set for Boston to snap their decade plus championship drought. No one is more responsible for Boston's back-to-back titles then their former 7th Rounder, as Doc finished with back-to-back 20-win seasons, leading the Fed in FIP, FIP-, WHIP, K/BB, and WAR in each of his first three full seasons. 1959 had his career high mark of 10.9, going 20-7 with a 3.09 ERA (139 ERA+), 1.11 WHIP, and 199 strikeouts. In a Fed high 36 starts, he tossed 253.2 innings, and his 2.19 FIP (50 FIP-) was the lowest among Federal pitchers since 1920, and his 5.9 K/BB was over twice as high as any other pitcher. But if all that wasn't enough, he took it to another gear in 1960, coming home with the Fed's triple crown during a tough pennant defense. Doc was 21-6 with a 2.01 ERA (213 ERA+), 0.92 WHIP, and 186 strikeouts, starting a Fed high 33 games with 219.1 innings pitched. Worth an even 9 WAR, he finished off his dominant three season stretch with 28.6 WAR, which would rank tied for 22nd among active pitchers. Tied with a pitcher who has almost twice as many career innings as him, and less then a win behind someone pushing three times at much. What came next, no one could expect, as it seemed like the reigning Allen winner must have made someone upset. Despite leading his team to consecutive championships, the then 24-year-old was banished back to the pen, almost cursing the franchise. Going from contender to pretender, they went from a 90 win team to a 69 win team, not once deciding to move their ace back where he belonged. Picking up an outing for each team win, Griffin threw 111.1 innings out of the pen, a respectable 6-7 with 25 saves, a 3.07 ERA (137 ERA+), and 1.14 WHIP. He struck out 74 to just 27 walks, still wroth an impressive 2.7 WAR despite not making a single start. Initially, there was no change in his role, Griffin was back to a stopper role, but a few months into the season, the Minutemen finally caved. Though it was clear he still fell out of favor, Griffin started 22 of his 40 starts, reaching 170 innings. In said innings he had 118 strikeouts to 51 walks, finishing 15-6 with 6 saves, a 3.23 ERA (143 ERA+), and 1.28 WHIP. Quite impressive numbers, it was clear Griffin had the talent, but he was upset with his organization, and was counting the days before he could finally be confident that he'd be on the mound every fifth day. Enter the Chicago Cougars, who General Manager has long been enamored with the now 26-year-old righty. A team that you'd never call conventional, they recently did a reverse Don Griffin, moving ace Pug White to the pen as their starters weren't able to pitch deep enough into games. Unlike with Griffin, Pug fully embraced the role, as he transitioned from an innings eater to a two-pitch pitcher, and it proved to be a winning decision. Coming close to a qualifying season, Pug went 12-8 with 18 saves, a 3.10 ERA (145 ERA+), and 1.20 WHIP, striking out 110 with just 46 walks. He led the Cougars in wins and saves, and his ERA as the lowest among pitchers with at least 75 innings. Often pitching in back-to-back days or for multiple innings, he helped finish off game after game for Chicago, and his skillset should pair perfectly with his new ace. Where Pug has the stamina to go for hours, Doc is someone you don't want going too far past 100 pitches. Paired together, they can complete game after game, as the two arms have excellent stuff, excellent movement, and excellent command. A power pitcher and a groundball pitcher, they compliment each other well too, as once you get used to one look, the other may catch you off balance. While Griffin won't be ready for Opening Day, the Cougars do expect him to front their rotation, pitching on a strict five day schedule to maximize the most out of his starts. With his youth, this could be a deal that solves the Cougar rotation for a decade, especially considering his clean bill of health. Doc has yet to miss more then a week with an ailment, and both times his injuries took him out for precautionary soreness. Combined with the Cougars' medical staff's propensity for prevention, and they could strategically push him to 200 innings. Even with the talent they parted with, adding a top arm could push them closer to being a pennant favorite, as this is an 86 win team who got no production from what will be their top pitcher and hitter of 1963. Prior to the trade, OSA predicted the Cougars to win 99 games, second only to Kansas City, but in a crowded association it would be foolish to crown the Cougars the new frontrunners. Boston, meanwhile, looks towards the future, as they acquire a traditional starter to replace Griffin in their rotation, as well as a promising young outfielder in Bobby Martinez. The 24-year-old now ranks 2nd in the Minutemen system, ranked as the 40th prospect in FABL. Debuting last year, the long-time top-100 prospect burst onto the scene in Chicago, temporarily replacing an injured Jerry McMillan (.328, 18, 65, 22) in center. Though he did get moved to a part-time role when McMillan returned, Martinez was a force at the plate, hitting .396/.434/.443 (133 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a homer, 12 RBIs, 24 runs, and 4 steals, often showing off a cannon in the outfield. The range is great too, and where Martinez really makes an impact is run creating. An elite contact hitter, Martinez could go straight into a leadoff role for Boston, as there were rumors prior to the trade that Martinez won an Opening Day spot in Chicago had he not been involved in this trade. With his speed an ability to put the ball in play, he forces defenses to be on their heels, as he's always able to make things happen. With his speed, defensive ability, and able to lace a liner, his at bats are must see TV, but with a deep, young outfield in Chicago, he was somewhat expendable. Martinez will at least know one of his teammates should he makes Boston's initial roster, as he manned center for a few Andy Logue starts last season. Logue, a 30-year-old lefty, has now been part of two major trades, as the team leader was acquired by Montreal at the 1960 deadline in a trade for Ham Flanders (.361, 26, 105, 13) they might really wish they had back. A reliable starter, Logue was extremely effective for Chicago, going 27-32 with a 3.70 ERA (121 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, and 308 strikeouts. An extreme groundballer, his 56% groundball rate was highest in the Conti, and his 51% career rate is well above average. His overall production did drop a bit last year, as his 4.57 FIP (101 FIP-) and 4.11 ERA (109 ERA+) are both higher then his career norms, but he's a reliable mid-to-back end guy who can keep runs off the board. Despite this, the Cougars were looking to move him most of the offseason, as they have a nice crop of young arms ready to go. *** Kings Add Another Young Arm *** Shortly after the Minutemen and Cougars completed their deals, both teams made separate deals with Continental Association teams. Boston's was more miner, sending 24-year-old southpaw Bob Green (6-4, 3.84, 74) to Toronto for catching prospect Larry Irwin. Green debuted last season for Boston, giving them 13 starts, but his next one is likely to come in Toronto. A former 6th Rounder, he's got four plus-plus pitches, and even though he'll give up a ton of homers, he's got the ability to pitch deeper into games. Toronto has a quality staff, so he might be stuck in the minors first, but almost all their top pitchers have tough injury histories. Green is completely clean, and while Irwin can be an average or better big league catcher, he's not anywhere close to ready yet, and they have a 20-year-old Fred Tollefson who ranks inside the top-50. Chicago's move was far bigger, as after acquiring the 26-year-old Griffin, they were willing to move one of their exciting young pitchers. While not a prospect, 22-year-old Henry Henderson is no slouch, and when he had eligibility he ranked as high as 30th. Taken with the 6th pick of the 1958 draft, he debuted in 1961, making 16 starts and 12 relief outings. Just 20, he was 9-6 with 2 saves, a 3.72 ERA (120 ERA+), and 1.30 WHIP, striking out 66 with 48 walks in 123.1 innings pitched. As nice as that looks, he was much better in the pen, and he went down to Milwaukee the next year to improve his overall body of work. It worked well, he was 11-6 with a 2.65 ERA (144 ERA+) and 1.11 WHIP in 28 starts, and he set down 112 hitters on strikes. A six pitch pitcher, his repertoire is about half developed, as his fastball, curve, and screwball are outstanding pitches, while the change, sinker, and slider are vulnerable to hard contact. Pitching is Chicago is tough when you have flyball tendencies like Henderson, and while Chicago was expecting to break camp with Henderson in the rotation, there were worries about how he could pitch within the small confines of Cougars Park. With the move of Henderson, the 5th spot in the rotation is now Ken Stone's alone, as the 23-year-old righty will look to keep a rotation spot long term. A former top-15 prospect, he pitched out of the Cougar pen in '60 and '61, making just 5 starts in 86 appearances. Like Henderson, he was sent to AAA for all of last season, matching his 28 starts with the Blues. Stone was outstanding, 14-8 with a 3.08 ERA (124 ERA+) and 2,84 FIP (74 FIP-). Showcasing tremendous command, he had a stellar 2.4 K/BB, striking out 137 hitters in nearly 200 innings (292.2). With a 1.14 WHIP, 5.3 WAR, and just 9 homers allowed, the side-armed Stone was difficult to solve. He also brings a different look to the Cougar rotation, as while most of those guys can't got all nine, Stone could go 10 or 11 if it was needed. With three great pitches, all that are located well, he's able to keep the pitch count low, but it can go up to 130 or 140 if his team needs it. He's the perfect guy to pitch when you're up seven or eight runs, as he'll get you the outs you need while saving the pen. At risk of returning to the minors again, his 0.82 ERA and WHIP helped him pitch too good to demote, and his comfortability against tougher competition gave the Cougars confidence to part with their other top young arm. Henderson will now join reigning Allen winner Beau McClellan (17-10, 3.51, 197) and a collection of young arms. Both Gene Bailey (10-4, 3.30, 92) and Allie Boone (10-2, 3.36, 106) were outstanding as rookies, and the midseason callups enter their first full season 22 and 21. Henderson seems likely to fill the 4th spot, and the big question now is what will they do with 20-year-old Johnny Higgins (0-0, 0.00, 3). The 20-year-old debuted at 19 last season, making a 3.2 inning start, and flashed one of the nastiest fastball/slider combo you'll see. Both pitches are elite, but he could end up in the minors if the organization isn't ready to give up on veteran deadline pickup Jack Halbur (7-14, 4.57, 89). Too many good young pitchers is not a bad problem to have, and it's interesting to see how this deal impacts two contenders. Both parted from areas of depth, as the Cougars could afford losing Henderson, while the Kings could afford losing Cal Randall. A top quality infielder, he didn't really have a spot, as 3-Time Whitney winner Hank Williams (.376, 43, 128) will man first, shifting Al Farmer (.302, 22, 99) to second and a now healthy Ken Newman (.336, 19, 87, 8) to third. Randall could have taken short, but KC has dubbed 24-year-old Bill Denney (.301, 14, 64, 7) the everyday shortstop. With an excellent glove and a 124 WRC+, he was worth 4.4 WAR in 114 games, leaving no room for the talented Randall. 27 on the 21st, Randall will suit up for his third team in three seasons, and he'll be in line to take over the third base job in Chicago. A natural shortstop, the Cougars already have the range Tom Halliday (.279, 2, 55, 9) there, and the duo could combine to be the best left side of the infield in FABL. Spending about equal time at third and short, Randall had a solid season at the plate, hitting .287/.336/.443 (105 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 11 triples, 47 runs, and 57 RBIs. A guy who puts the ball in play a lot, Randall owns a career 12.8 K%, helping him maintain a near average .278/.334/.402 (98 OPS+) line in 322 FABL games. While not very fast, his range is impressive, and he's about as sure-fielding a guy you would fine. He's got a .959 career fielding percentage, and is considered a captain in the infield. The Cougars are hoping that Randall can be a noticeable improvement over Mooney Vetter's (.272, 12, 64) bat, as the 28-year-old posted a paltry 71 WRC+ last season. Finishing off the return is a young pitcher, Whitey Gates, who was a 5th Rounder of the Pioneers in 1959. Now 21, the imposing 6'4'' lefty ranks 171st overall, and 6th in the Kings organization. A five pitch pitcher, Gates sits comfortably in the mid-90s, and it looks even faster with his extension. The fastball is expected to be elite, and even if he does give up some flyballs, they don't expect to leave the park. With the ability to eat innings, he profiles as a useful back-end starter, and in a system without much pitching depth, he's set to be the only Cougar arm ranked between 75 and 325 on the prospect list. OSA Releases Preseason Prediction, Anticipates a 108-Win Clash in the WCS These predictions were released before the trade movement that came at the end of the spring, but even after, don't expect any change in the Fed. The scouting outlet doesn't expect either pennant team to repeat, but they expect the Pioneers to put together another amazing season. With Danny Davis, Bob Bell, Frenchy Mack, Steve Madden, and Billy Hasson, this team is loaded with talent, but OSA thinks Danny Daniels will emerge as a fourth ace in year two. They don't expect that to be enough to take out the Eagles, who led by star infielders Tom Lorang and George Whaley, could put up over 900 runs. They won't prevent nearly as many runs as St. Louis, but the gap and offense may be enough to give them the top spot. It won't be easy for either projected 100-win team, as the Miners, Keystones, and Dynamos are all expected to win 90 or more games. The predictions assume healthy, so if one of the top two teams gets hit by the injury bug, things could open up for he next group. Detroit in particular is a team to watch, as they're a deep and talented team who should be motivated after In the Conti, just the Kings are hitting the century mark, but I think if OSA got a do-over, adding Don Griffin is enough to push the Cougars from 99 to 100. Maybe not enough to replace the leaders, as the pickers view the Kings as the best offense and pitching staff in the game. That's a fair judgement, they've got stars on both sides, but OSA thinks the rest of the association will feast on the expansion teams. Just Cleveland, who completely fell off last season, is expected to join the new clubs below .500. With six teams predicted to win over 85 games, it could be a really crowded field at the top, and 1963 should deliver the pennant race 1962 teased, before letting the Sailors run away with it.   OSA wasn't the only group to make predictions, as along with TWIFS, a few local beat writers gave their best guess on how things would shake out. Below you can find a collection of predictions, as well as an aggregate ranking from the prognosticators:  One thing everyone agreed on was the Wranglers and Imperials finishing 9th and 10th in the CA, but no other team received the same rank on each list. The Pioneers and Stars came close, coming 1st in the Fed and 6th in the Conti on all six rankings. As expected, the consensus is St. Louis and Kansas City are the favorites, with half of the scribes picking that to be the WCS matchup. Almost impossible to guess the exact rankings, it will be fun to look back on this in October when the regular season is wrapped up. Tales From The Den Wolves Ready For Season Start In LA The Wolves finished spring training with 5 straight losses to end up with a 11-7 record. As the team heads to LA to open their season with the Stars the biggest questions facing Manager Hohlt is how the shortened spring, down to 3 weeks, coupled with a season extended to 162 games affect the team in the early season? The pitchers, in particular the starters, will face the biggest challenge in April. After 3 weeks in the sunny climates starters are just beginning to stretch out their innings. Now they will be starting games that count. Hohlt communicated with all players over the winter that they would have to do work on their own to come into camp in better shape than in previous years there would not be time to shake off the winter excesses in only three weeks. When ask if players heeded his advice the answer was a short, terse "some but not all". After 2 games on the West Coast the Wolves will fly back to Toronto with two days off to get settled before hosting Montreal for 3 games in 2 days including an early doubleheader on Sunday April 14th. Opening Day starter has been announced as Arnie Smith, who had a miserable spring in his 3 starts posting an ERA north of 6. The other starter facing the Stars will be George Hoxworth making his first start since late last May. He had a good spring in limited action giving fans hope that the two time All-Star has fully recovered from elbow surgery. With two days off Hohlt could go with 3 starters in the first week of play leaving him with eight arms to provide relief as pitchers will be on a short leash. Phil Colantuono could start the home opener on Saturday then go back to Smith, Hoxworth for the Sunday twinbill which promises to be not ideal weather to watch baseball at Dominion Stadium, with cool, clear being the best fans can expect on an early April evening. With an off-day Monday then 7 games in 6 days Hohlt will be forced to go to a more normal rotation during the second week of play. In the field the regulars look to be: C- Rusconi 1B- Tom Reed 2B- Story 3B- Fisher SS- Taylor LF- Chick Reed CF- Cullen RF- Savage On the bench will be Williams providing backup behind the plate or when Rusconi takes a turn in the OF, Rule 5 pick 1B- Tom Sexton, 1B- Charlie Harvey who was said to be on the bubble until he had a .556/.619/1.508 spring with 2HR in 21 PA, 1B/3B Cal Wells, 2B/SS Dick Rabkin who was acquired in a trade with Washington. The Wolves were lucky to avoid the injury bug in March. The only player on the DL in the entire organization on the DL is Jim Jackson still recovering from shoulder surgery that took place over a year ago. He is not expected to be ready to throw the ball in a game until mid-May. Toronto made one more move at the end of spring work when they trade a C/1B prospect Larry Irwin to Boston for LHP Bob Green, 24. Green is a southpaw the team was looking for given the entire rotation are righties. Zeke Blake, who was probably overused last season, Fred Clark, who had a trying spring are the only lefties available to Hohlt. Green will start the season in Buffalo while the team sorts the paper work for a Canadian work visa plus any passport issues. The hope is Green will add a lefty to the team's pitching depth. If he starts well in AAA expect to see him in Toronto before the end of April.
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Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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02-25-2025, 12:05 PM
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#1086 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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April 15th, 1963
APRIL 15, 1963 Lorang, Weatherbee, Provide Power in Offensive Explosion to Begin 1963 Most of the 18,554 fans that attended the annual festivities in Washington were there for the anthem, and for their punctuality they were treated to a Bill Tutwiler (.312, 5, 50, 9) RBI single and Bill Newhall's (.297, 13, 87) two-run double. Between there was an error, so Jim Stewart (14-7, 3.76, 157) was only charged with two of those runs. Lucky for him and everyone else in attendance, it was all Eagles from then on out. They scored runs in all but one of the eight innings they batted in, including a 4-run 4th capped off by Tom Lorang's (.386, 35, 125, 6) two-out double. The reigning runs, hits, and average leader in the Fed then ruined Rule-5 Pick Mario Saucedo's debut, crushing a 2-run homer in the 6th. The potential Whitney candidate finished the opener 2-for-4 with a walk and four RBIs, but a team effort led to 11 runs and 16 hits. 26-year-old Ray Weatherbee (.271, 6, 60, 9) quickly registered the first three hit game this season, 3-for-4 with a triple, walk, RBI, and pair of runs scored. A nice debut for the leadoff hitter, he was one of nine players to get a hit, as even the pitcher Stewart was 1-for-3 with a run and RBI. George Whaley (.321, 21, 63, 5) tripled, Al Marino (.226, 8, 52) was 2-for-2 with two walks, a run, and an RBI, and 22-year-old Alex Wilson (.267, 14, 83, 5) was 2-for-5 with two runs and two doubles. They also got a nice FABL debut from offseason acquisition Al Clark, who was 2-for-5 with a run scored and driven in. Acquired from Toronto for infielder Dick Rankin (.293, 10, 69), Clark was brought in to fill a defensive hole in center field, but it was the bat that impressed early. Boston didn't have the same luck with their trade acquisition, as Andy Logue was roughed up in his debut. The Lorang homer ended his day with two outs in the fourth, allowing 7 hits, 6 runs, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts. Saucedo followed that with 7 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout, laboring through three innings of relief. Both arms came from the Cougars organization, but even with better debuts the offense didn't do enough after the first inning. Of course, there's no need for manager Bill Freeman to panic, as this year he gets 161 more tries after drawing the low side. Washington is one of the better teams in the league, and beating them at their home field with the president in attendance is far from an easy task. *** Imperials Survive Cannons, Open Season with Victory *** It might not have happened all that much in 1962, but if Opening Week is any indication, the New York Imperials may be better then expected. Despite being on the road, they did well in Cincinnati, doing just enough to beat Cannon ace Charlie Warren (17-11, 3.11, 180), who led the Conti in both wins and ERA last season. He impressed here, tossing 8 innings with 8 hits, 2 runs, a walk, and 7 strikeouts. But it wasn't enough, as somehow the team that lost more games then any Continental team ever has managed to work a few runs off a top pitcher while keeping a lineup with Dallas Berry (.330, 40, 125, 16) in check all game. It helps when you have a slugger like Turk Ramsey (.282, 36, 89), as the 27-year-old lefty homered off Warren in the 4th to get the scoring going. As crazy as it sounds, he came close to hitting more homers then his team won games last year, as he finished 4th in the Continental. A piece to build around, he doesn't have much support around him, tough at least on Opening Day defensive specialist Jay Ziegler Jr. (.226, 6, 42) was 3-for-4 and 25-year-old leadoff man Walt Bantle (.306, 3, 32, 6) won the game in the 5th with an RBI single. Whenever it's a new season, excitement is always in the air, and I'm sure Imperial fans can see pennants flying in their near future. Most surprising may be the pitching, as Milt Payne (6-15, 4.57, 92) and the Webb relievers combined for 9 hits, 5 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Payne covered most, going 6.1 innings, and the only run was charged to him. A 32-year-old sophomore, Lane has really benefitted from expansion, as he got to make 24 starts as a rookie. It took him a while to get his first win last year, and he's already five away from his total one day in. New York does have their work cut out for them, but they split two with the Kings and their other two with the Cannons, a surprising 3-2 to start the season. Their win over Kansas City is the only one so far, and even if they weren't 4-1 most people would expect the Kings to be among the top teams in the standings. I don't want to get carried away, the season is still young, but for a team that hasn't Eagles, Dynamos and Suns Start 5-0 to Open Federal Race Yes. You read that right. The Los Angeles Suns are 5-0. You can thank third basemen Bill Burke (.303, 14, 56) quickly showed why he should have started more then 67 of his appearances last season. In one of the most unexpected Player of the Weeks, Burke was 16-for-20, piling on 3 doubles, a homer, 2 walks, 6 RBIs, and 8 runs scored. An .800 average in any week is absurd, but coming from a guy who hit .257/.293/.393 (83 OPS+) before the founding of his team is a surprise no one could have predicted. The former Eagle was even better then the guy he was stuck behind, Tom Lorang, and the two teams will face off in LA this Tuesday and Wednesday. A matchup that wasn't expected to be of interest, Grant Davis (8-9, 4.95, 66) and rookie Jim Foster are scheduled to take on Bob Ball (13-10, 4.70, 132) and Otto Caudill (13-8, 2, 4.37, 119), a matchup that leans heavily in favor of the Eagles on paper. His debut was amazing, as he came two outs away from shutting out the Millers. Eventually getting the win in a 2-0 victory, he finished with 4 hits, 5 walks, and 5 strikeouts. The Eagles lineup is far tougher, and will be a true test of his true grit and talent. Can't forget about the Dynamos, who like the Suns beat up on the winless Millers. They also knocked off the Keystones, as their pitching was beyond dominant. Doing their best Pioneer impression, four of the five starters allowed two or fewer runs, with 38-year-old John Jackson (8 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, BB, 2 K) the only one who failed. Both Jim Norris (18-7, 4.18, 122) and Bud Henderson (8-7, 4.65, 68) allowed just a single run in complete game wins, while Paul Anderson (6 IP, 4 H, ER, 4 BB, 4 K) and Earl Shields (9 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K) kept their game ERAs low. With how good their starters pitched, only four scoreless innings were needed from the pen, and quickly showed the rest of the association that they mean business. Tales From The Den Wolves Open Season 2-3 While most Toronto sports fans were hanging on the edge of their seats watching the Dukes comeback from a 3-1 deficit to the Chicago Packers the baseball team opened their 1963 campaign. In a odd schedule that has many in the front office upset Wolves started with short two game series in LA. The shortened spring training was immediately evident as the Wolves won the opener 8-3 after scoring 2 in eight, 4 in nine with the bullpen shutting down the Stars for the last 3 innings after Arnie Smith gave up all 3 LA runs in his six inning outing. The next afternoon, before heading home to Toronto, George Hoxworth did not make it out of the second before he touched up for 5 runs. The bullpen gave up 4 more as the Stars, led by Sy Dunn's complete game, Tom Clement's 3 run shot won 9-2. The flight home was long, the team has two days to workout at Dominion Stadium before the Saints came to town for 3 game two day weekend series. If Manager Hohlt had written the script for the home opener this would not have been his script. The teams played an 18 inning game taking 5:34 on a crisp afternoon turning into evening before a Sunday doubleheader. Wolves used 7 pitchers in the game that they lost 7-5 before over 23000. Toronto pitching got more bad news when Arnie Smith injured his calf only 4 pitches into the first game on Sunday pressing George Adams into service. Smith's injury was minor, he will not miss a start, Adams was not sharp giving up 4 in 4 IP. After being down 4 Wolves scored 3 in seven but could not get any closer. The bats woke up in the first inning of the nightcap, the team plated 5 on HRs by Tom Reed, Clyde Fisher to win a 6-2 decision with Hoxworth going 6 to recover from his shellacking in LA. Team is off Monday, thankfully, to allow pitchers to rest before hosting the Imperials for 3 then into Montreal for 4 games from Friday to Sunday. This starts a second long road trip as the team goes from Montreal to Cleveland then SF before a stop in Dallas to end 11 games in 10 days away from home. An early test for the Wolves, After NY the next home game is April 28th when the CA favourites, KC, cross the border.
DUKES RALLY TO BEAT PACKERS IN SEVEN Toronto to Face Hobie-less Motors For Challenge Cup Toronto is nothing if not playoff-tested as the Dukes have qualified for the postseason for twelve consecutive years- the longest active streak in the NAHC. Toronto has won three Challenge Cups during that span and reached the finals on two other occasions. The Dukes, who will face Detroit in the finals this time around, are just 1-3 all-time against the Motors with the Challenge Cup on the line but Toronto did beat Detroit for its most recent Cup win four years ago. Since then the Motors have won back to back titles and after sweeping Montreal four straight, are looking to become just the second team ever to win three consecutive Challenge Cups. Detroit will have its work cut out for it as the Motors star player and McDaniels Trophy favourite Hobie Barrell suffered a leg injury and may not be available until game three of the series. *** Dukes Rallied From Brink *** The Chicago Packers seemed poised to reach the finals for the third time in the past four years after blanking the Dukes 5-0 in Dominion Gardens last Monday to take a commanding three games to one lead in the series. Toronto clearly had other ideas as the Dukes won three in a row beginning with a 5-3 victory in the Windy City Wednesday evening that saw the visitors overcome a 2-0 first period deficit. Rookie Hank Knackstedt, a 20-goal man during the regular season, had the hot stick with two goals and an assist in the victory.The series shifted back to Toronto for the sixth game on Friday and once more Knackstedt keyed a rally from an early deficit. Chicago led 1-0 after forty minutes thanks to a John Trumbell goal in the opening frame but the Dukes scored three times in the final 16 minutes to even the series. Bill Archer tied the game before Knackstedt set up first Jimmy Cooper and then Don Roeszler to make it 3-1 before Chicago got one back in the dying seconds but could not get the equalizer in a 3-2 Toronto win. Game Seven was a 4-0 victory as Knackstedt enjoyed another two point evening but the big story was Toronto goaltender Mike Connelly, who stopped all 37 Chicago shots in a series clinching 4-0 victory. *** Motors Have Montreal's Number *** Detroit had very little trouble with Montreal in the other semi-final series. Despite the two teams finishing the regular season tied with 82 points, the Motors dominated the four playoff games. Hobie Barrell had 5 points in an 8-3 game one victory before his brother Benny Barrell matched that output with 5 points of his own as Detroit took the second game by a 6-1 count. Game three was the only tight contest as Ty Boulet's third period goal proved the difference and lifted the Motors to a 3-2 victory. Detroit would complete the sweep with a 7-4 victory in game four led by a pair of goals from Colin McMillan.The Motors victory marked the third year in a row that Detroit had ended Montreal's season with the Motors winning in six games in last year's finals after upsetting the first place Vals in 5 games in the semi-finals two years ago. The finals will get underway Wednesday evening in Detroit with game two slated for Saturday before the series shifts north of the border for games three and four. Detroit may have won each of the last two Cups but the Dukes, with 11, are the all-time leader in Challenge Cup wins.  Dukes Advance To Final After a 7 Game Thriller Toronto's NAHC franchise advanced to the league championship series after a tough fought series with the Chicago Packers. The series was full of drama beginning two nights after a 5-3 victory for the Dukes had made the series 2-1 for Chicago. On a Monday evening a full Gardens tried to will their team into a series tie. Many who left the building that night were thinking that the next time they would see the Dukes would be in the fall. Before Game 3 was 9 minutes old the Dukes were down 2-0 on goals by Matt McGrath, Ken York. The shot total suggested that the period was even with both teams testing the other's keeper 11 times. The difference was in the quality of the test. Connelly faced the higher danger shots with Bomberry in the Chicago cage making saves on shots from distance. A hush fell over the crowd when Guy Bernier made it 3-0 at 15:18. Up by three the Packers attempted to check the home squad into submission, thwarting any puck movement. There was no scoring in the middle frame. Forced to open up the final frame was more wide open than the Chicago team would have scripted with Bomberry facing 13 shots after only seeing 6 in the second. It did not seem to matter as they only scoring in the third came off of Chicago sticks. York's second of the night at the game out of reach at 6:45 when he found a loose rebound in the crease. Mike Homfray sealed the 5-0 win with a goal in the last 5 minutes giving Bomberry a 29 save shutout. Dukes headed to the dressing room knowing another loss to Chicago would be their last game of the 1962-63 season. Teams suited up again to do battle in Lakeside Auditorium two nights later. Chicago fans were anticipating a matchup with Detroit who had dispatched the Valiants from Montreal in 4 straight games. In the first it was looking like the fans were about to get their wish when the Packers left ice with a 2 goal lead on goals by Guy and Pete Bernier. Bear must have given an inspiring between periods speech as the Dukes came out in the second like a house on fire with Jamieson scoring 61 seconds in then an equalizer by Knackstedt at 7:05. Homfray restored the Packers' lead along with fan confidence when he made it 3-2 at the 15 minute mark. The jubilation was short lived when Knackstedt's second of the night, 4th of series, tied the game at three 90 seconds later on a pass from Andrew Williams. Going into the third tied with their season on the line the Dukes played one of their best periods of the year. In a turn of events Toronto shutdown any offense from the Packers while being all over Bomberry in the Chicago end. Toronto had 16 shots in the third but were unable to find the twine until there were less than 4 minutes to go in regulation. After hitting the post at least 3 times Brochu finally notched his first of the series at 16:25. Chicago got caught pressing for the tying goal. With 63 ticks on the clock left Archer was sent in alone on Bomberry, on passes from Quinn, Turner, then sild the puck 5-hole on a deke making the final 5-3. Back in Toronto on Friday night for Game Six the 14512 cramming the Gardens were treated to an epic goaltender battle between Bomberry, Connelly. There were a total of 73 shots on goal with Chicago holding a 37-36 edge. The only scoring in the first was John Trumbull's third of the series at 12:31. The score remained 1-0 after 40 minutes despite both teams having numerous chances only to be turned aside by the goaltenders. Toronto forced a deciding game with two goals in 96 seconds in the third. Bill Archer tipped a Brooks point shot past Bomberry at the 4 minute mark to tie the game at 1. A roar that could be heard throughout the city erupted at 5:36 when Jimmy Cooper lit the red light behind Bomberry. Dukes, led by Connelly between the pipes. held Chicago at bay. With Bomberry on the bench for an extra attacker Don Roeszier slid the puck into an empty net with 19 seconds left in the third. Chicago was not done when McGrath made it 3-2 eight seconds after the puck drop. Dukes held on forcing the the series to deciding seventh game. Two best words in sports, Game 7, occurred Sunday night in Chicago with 16920 on hand. Dukes had the momentum going into the game, They stunned the crowd less than 2 minutes in when Lou Turner's shot from a sharp angle found its way in off of Bomberry's shoulder. Both teams went up and down the ice in a game not typical for a series deciding game. Bomberry made 11 saves while Connelly turned aside all 14 he faced in the opening 20, a sign of things to come. Before the second was a minute old Jamieson took a Knackstedt feed to double the advantage for Toronto. At the end of a power play Brochu buried a Pollack feed to make the score 3-0. Chicago had two man advantages in the second but could not find a way to beat Connelly who made a number of spectacular saves. Toronto played the the third close to the vest more intent to shut down the Packers than rush into the Packers' zone. "Nobody gets caught deep" was the way the Dukes played the third with only a one-man forecheck content to bottle up the Chicago rushes in the neutral zone. That along with Connelly standing tall worked, Knackstedt sent the fans heading to the exits with goal at 12:20. The stands were almost deserted when the team mobbed Connelly who shutout the Packers on 37 saves to allow his team to advance with a 4-0 win. Coach Bear-"Give these guys credit, after barely making the playoff dance then being down 3-1 to the 1st place team they dug deep to beat the Packers. Chicago is an exceptional team, they could not throw rice by Connelly after Game 4. Now on to Detroit, we have to come out full bore against a team that has not played a game in almost two weeks."
DOLPHINS WIN AIAA CAGE CROWN Mebane, a local product out of Los Angeles, has been the Dolphins starting point guard each of the past three seasons and made sure the final game of his collegiate career would be one of his best. The senior shot 9 of 18 from the field and led all scorers with 18 points while still finding time to add six assists -also a game high total. While Mebane started slow, missing five of his first 6 shot attempts, the Dolphins did not, building a nine point lead at the break. In the second half Mebane took charge, pouring in 14 of his 18 points and putting a quick end to any comeback hopes the Techsters might have entertained. Mebane's backcourt partner Dan Hague, a junior, added 13 points for the winners while the Techsters two potential first round FBL draft picks in center Earl Arsenault and guard Bob Terwilliger, were not enough to overcome the Dolphins shooters, who were successful on 46% of their attempts compared to just a 35% success rate for NC Tech. The win is just the second AIAA title for a Coastal California outfit that has reached the national semi-finals a record 18 times. The Dolphins only previous AIAA crown came a dozen years ago.   RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 04/14/1963
__________________
Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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02-26-2025, 03:48 PM
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#1087 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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April 22nd, 1963
APRIL 22, 1963 Undefeated No More! 5-0 Teams Flounder as Pioneers Capture First After one week of play, the Eagles, Dynamos, and Suns all led the Fed with a perfect 5-0 record, but it didn't take long for their early high to fall back down. Detroit did the best, splitting with the Gotham and the Miners, but after the Suns and Eagles split their two game set, LA dropped three of four in Boston, and Washington got swept by the new first place Pioneers. The question remains: Will they keep it? It's really no surprise they've gotten off to a hot start, as after losing their third game of the season, they've won each of the last seven. The sweep in Washington was huge, starting with dominant complete game wins from Billy Hasson (7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) and Danny Daniels (6 H, ER, BB, 6 K). Daniels in particular has impressed, as the 24-year-old is an out away from two complete game wins, allowing just 13 hits, 2 runs, and 4 walks with 14 strikeouts. Dominance is expected from the top of the rotation, but the early returns on his sophomore year have gone quite well. St. Louis showed real grit in the finale, as even after blowing a big lead, they fought to capture the win. After going down 3-0, the Pioneers rallied for 4 in the 6th and 6 in the 7th, fueled by homers from Bob Bell (.415, 4, 8, 1), Steve Schultz (.368, 4, 13), and Sam Ruggles (.242, 2, 5). Up 10-3 heading into the bottom half of the 7th, that's when things started to fall apart. Charlie Blake (1-0, 3.68, 13) was pushed out in the 7th, leaving with 7 hits and 6 runs, though 7 strikeouts to 2 walks was nice. What wasn't was Al Grabner, as while he finished off the 7th, he got just one out in the 8th, with all four runners he put on scoring. Neither team scored in the 9th, but Bell got things going in extras, with his second homer of the game giving St. Louis the lead back. Up 11-10, John Gibson (2-1, 3, 0.93, 4) returned for the 11th, already providing the Pioneers 1.2 shutout innings. Perfect again, he set the Eagles down without a whimper, as the defending champs dispatched one of their top contenders for the season. It's been the pitching getting the job done, as while the Pioneers can score, a lot of it is because of Bell, Schultz, and Danny Davis (.333, 1, 5, 1). Frenchy Mack (1-0, 1.20, 8) has been great, but it's Steve Madden who's really shown through. The talented righty has won both his starts, picking up an 8-hit shutout of the Millers in a game where he needed to be at his best. With just one run of support, a Schultz RBI single sending Danny Davis home, the only way to win was a shutout, and having arms like Madden are critical. *** 2,500th FABL Hit for Stan Kleminski *** Accomplishing something only 48 people ever have, Foresters leadoff man Stan Kleminski (.333, 3) recorded his 2,500th career FABL hit, the second of three in a 3-2 loss to the Wranglers. Finishing 3-for-5 with a double and run scored, the milestone hit came in the 7th, where he singled off Butch Abrams (1-2, 5.30, 9). The celebration was short-lived, he was quickly erased on an inning ending double play, but the moment before will be cherished for a long time. Still a top second basemen at 36, the talented lead-off hitter is off to a 15-for-45 start, drawing 10 walks to 5 strikeouts in a quick start to the season. He's coming off 5 seasons in 6 years with a WAR above 4, and he's had an above average WRC+ in nine consecutive seasons. A career .284/.374/.369 (103 OPS+) hitter, he's set to cross the 60 WAR, as he's been one of the most consistent players of his time. With a career dating back to 1946, he won four Championships with the Dynamos, and it's really a surprise he's only been to two All-Star games. Pretty much since his 21st birthday, he's been one of the better starting second basemen, and now he has a chance to really climb the All-Time hit ledger. He's less then 100 hits away from 38th, and as a guy who's hit almost exactly 151 base hits in each of the last three seasons, he could be four seasons away from 3,000. That's when you start to get to the truly elite level, as so far every FABL athlete with 3,000 or more base hits currently resides in the Hall of Fame.   Tales From The Den Wolves Finish Second Week at .500 Toronto completed its first short homestand with three hosting the Imperials winning two. All three games were one-run affairs with a 3-2 win in the first game then a 2-1 loss in a game that 3 errors, all by infielders, proved to be costly giving NY the game. In the series rubber match Toronto surrendered a 4-0 lead then walked it off 5-4 on a pinch hit HR in the bottom of the ninth by Charlie Harvey who is vying for more playing time. Into Montreal begin a 11 game 10-day road trip. Over the weekend in Quebec the team was buried 9-2 Friday on Hoxworth's second poor start in his first three. Wolves won on Saturday 2-1 despite only managing three base hits, one of them being a HR by Dixie Williams. Colantuono was the difference in the game striking out 4, walking none in 8 IP before handing the ball to Blake who saved his first game of the year. The teams split a Sunday twinbill with a Montreal win the opener 4-1 when the 'pen could not protect a 1-0 lead. Pepper got Bob Vernon to ground out before Hohlt went to Blake who gave up singles to Gilman, Jim Johnston. Hohlt then called in Loeffler who promptly walked Ham Flanders on 4 pitches then grooved a fastball to Harry Swain who deposited in the CF seats 420 ft from home plate. Wolves bats woke up in the nightcap, they had 15 hits including Savage's second HR , in a 5-1 win to even their record at 6-6. In the way too early analysis of the team the Wolves are dead last in the CA hitting with a team slash line of .228/.283/.371 striking out better than once in five times to the plate. The pitching has been solid even while giving up 11 balls that ended up in the seats. Fielding has been iffy with 7 errors in 12 games, given three were one game, a signs of concern are only 4 double plays in 12 games with base stealers converting at 70% rate on Toronto catchers. Tom Reed is very slow to start the season going 3 for 43 with 12 Ks, Hohlt expects the line of .086/.256/.171 to soon be a thing of the past. Now that the schedule is evening out Hohlt hopes the bullpen performance evens out.
DUKES ESCAPE MOTOR CITY WITH SPLIT Detroit played both games without its top player as NAHC scoring champ Hobie Barrell was sidelined with a leg injury but Barrell is expected to suit up for Tuesday third game. While the Motors will get their scoring star back, the will be without their top defenseman as Anthony Beauchemin suffered a rib injury in game two and his status for the remainder of the series is uncertain. The series opener was a tight-checking affair in which Motors goaltender Charlie Dell faced just 17 shots from his former team. Dell stopped all 17 for his first career playoff shutout. Mike Connelly was nearly as effective in the Toronto net but one of the 29 shots he faced eluded him. That would be Nick Tardif's second period marker that would prove to account for all of the scoring on this night as the Motors held on for a 1-0 victory. Conversely, the second game had a wide open start as the two clubs combined for 28 shots in the first period alone. Only one of those shots found the back of the net and it would come from Nick Poulin of the Dukes a little over five minutes into the game. The play settled down in the middle frame but the two clubs exchanged goals with Charles Bozek, who had been inserted in the lineup after Hobie Barrell's injury, scored his first career playoff goal to tie the game at the four minute mark. Toronto regained the lead with a minute to play in the second period when Tim Brooks' point shot eluded Dell. Toronto rookie Hank Knackstedt, who leads all playoff point producers with 11, drew an assist on what would prove to be the game winning goal. Charles Brochu added an insurance marker for Toronto with a little over seven minutes remaining in the third period to complete the scoring in a 3-1 Dukes victory. The series not shifts to Dominion Gardens for games three and four on Tuesday and Friday before returning to Thompson Palladium for the fifth game.  Toronto Comes Home From Detroit With A Split Dukes start their quest for a Challenge Cup, first since 1959, with a loss then a win at the Palladium. This is coming off the first season that the team lost more games than they won in over a decade. The first two games were low scoring, tight checking affairs. Starting Wednesday night with the Motors playing for the first time in 8 days both teams were stressing defense over goal scoring. The first period was a dump and chase twenty minutes with no scoring along with neither Connelly nor Dell forced to make any overly difficult saves. Both goaltenders controlled any rebounds well not giving opposing forwards any high quality second chances. Detroit started to carry the play during the second getting better chances around the Dukes' net. Nick Tardif's goal at 5:55 came one of the only shots that Connelly did not steer to a corner or a defenceman clear after the save. This was to be the only marker of the game. Detroit then ground out the game giving Toronto no time or space to move the puck. Charlie Dell, whom the Dukes sent to Detroit in an off-season trade, was equal to every one of the 17 shots on net managed by Toronto. Tardif's goal was the only one of 29 shots to elude Connelly in 1-0 game. After two days off the final resumed on a warm Saturday evening on the other side of the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor. Bear's practices on the off days concentrated on quick puck movement to overcome the Motors' stifling checking game. The quick movement of the puck was rewarded when Brochu found Poulin with a cross ice feed in the slot who deposited the puck into the net over Dell's shoulder with quick one-timer at 5:37. Toronto killed off two Motors' power plays in the period to keep the score 1-0 after twenty minutes. Like the first game Detroit started the second with more tempo. Charles Bozek knotted the score on a goalmouth scramble with his first of playoffs at 4:05 much to the delight of the 13794 in the crowd. Detroit again frustrated any Duke that had the puck limiting Toronto to only 4 shots on Dell in the second. One of those four was at the 19:00 mark when for one of the very few times in the first two games a defensemen decided jump into the play. The Dukes had possession when Knackstedt took a Roeszler pass then fed Tim Brooks who was coming in from his point position to snap one into the open side with Dell just a little late coming across the net. Toronto returned to the quick puck movement in the third along with an aggressive forecheck in the third which seemed to surprise Detroit. Brochu's goal at 12:35 made the final 3-1. Coach Bear- "Two exciting games in Detroit. Low scoring as is to be expected when playing the Motors. We came away with a split which gives us home ice advantage starting Tuesday in the Gardens. We seemed to surprise them with the change in the forecheck on Saturday. They will be ready next game, I have a few other subtle changes we may try in future games."   RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 04/21/1963
__________________
Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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02-27-2025, 02:29 PM
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#1088 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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April 29th, 1963
Editor's Note: Baseball's sim went a few extra days (to May 1st) on accident, so this issue includes the extra games that were simmed
APRIL 29, 1963 DYNAMOS, FORESTERS RISE TO TOP Each Win Twice Over Key Rival Last Week The two clubs are once more neck and neck atop the Fed table and the renewed acquaintances with a pair of very brief one game series over the past week. The Dynamos prevailed in both of them, taking an 8-6 win in 12 innings at Pioneer Field early in the week before clobbering Pioneers number five starter Charlie Blake yesterday at Thompson Field in a 9-4 Detroit victory. That leaves the Dynamos, at 13-4, with a half game lead on the Pioneers atop the Fed. Two other clubs, Washington and hard-charging Pittsburgh - winners of five straight- sit two and a half games off the pace. The Continental Association has a new leader as the Cleveland Foresters won six straight before falling 11-10 in an extra inning slugfest with the New York Imperials yesterday. Included in those six wins were a pair at home over the Kansas City Kings. The Kings dropped four of their last six games and now find themselves looking up at the Foresters, a game and a half back.  Tales From The Den Wolves Home After Road Trip, Finish April 9-11 Toronto finishes the first month of 1963 FABL season two games under .500 at 9-11. During a month in which the team made two trips to the west coast Hohlt is said not be too worried, at the moment. He expects the team to round into form in May. Returning home 4-7 after a 10 day road trip the team won its last game of April on Tuesday 5-2 over KC who was in town for only one game in a strange scheduling anomaly. The team was 4-3 to start the 4 city trip before losing the last 4 games including being swept by Dallas. One of the 3 losses to Dallas was a pitching gem by Steve Miller who only allowed one hit by Tom Sexton in the 5th. Smith only needed 86 pitches in 1-0 victory. Hohlt was more upset with the Saturday loss when his team rallied with 4 in the top of nine to take a 7-6 lead before Blake gave up a walkoff single to Ed Thompson in the home half. Blake along with many other pitchers have been very inconsistent through the first month. Only Phil Colantuono has be consistent with 3-0, 1.67 in 27 IP. The supposed staff anchors Arnie Smith, George Hoxworth both have early ERAs approaching 7. With the exception of Chick Reed's .361/.356/.556 9 RBI, Ed Savage at .323/.432/.532 9 RBI the offense has been dormant in twenty games. Of particular concern is Tom Reed who has struggled mightily with a very un-Tom Reed like line of .121/.257/.241 with a mere 3 XBH. Ty Rusconi is also underwater at .137/.154/.216 which will spell more playing time for for Dixie Williams. Wolves are by far the most impotent team at the plate in the CA with an OBP under .300. Hohlt has been muttering that many on the team did not heed his advice regarding doing off-season work to come into Florida in shape therefore are paying the price now. He has has been unabashed in his criticism of the early season schedule.
DUKES ONE WIN AWAY FROM HOISTING CUP Detroit took the series opener 1-0 keyed by veteran goaltender Charlie Dell's first career playoff shutout but Toronto rebounded with a 3-1 victory in game two. The series shifted to Dominion Gardens and the hosts pulled ahead in the series thanks to their second consecutive 3-1 victory. Quinton Pollack had a goal and an assist to pace the Dukes, who won despite being outshot 36-22 by the Motors. Darcy Sill had opened the scoring with his third of the playoffs early in the second period with an assist from regular season scoring champ Hobie Barrell, who has missed the first two games of the series with a leg injury. However, Toronto pulled even ten minutes later when Pollack set up Nick Poulin. The score would stay knotted at one until just shy of eight minutes into the third period when Pollack lit the lamp for just the second time in this season's playoffs. A late empty-net goal from rookie Hank Knackstedt rounded out the scoring. Game Four became the first of the series to require overtime as Detroit defenseman Robert Ling scored the game winner unassisted at 4:13 of the first overtime period. Toronto had led 4-3 after forty minutes on two goals from Charles Brochu as well as singles from Poulin and Ken Jamieson. Benny Barrell got the equalizer for the Motors early in the third period. It was his second of the game with his brother Hobie Barrell and veteran Nick Tardif also scoring for the Motors. Tied at two wins apiece, Toronto jumped out quickly in the crucial fifth game. The Dukes silenced the Palladium crowd just 1:43 into the game when Knackstedt, who leads all playoff scorers with 15 points, set up Mitch Moran. A little over ten minutes later the Dukes lead was doubled to 2-0 when Knackstedt once more assumed the playmaker role on a Jamieson goal. The Motors quickly showed they would not simply roll over as Zack Roy cut the lead in half fifty seconds after the Jamieson goal and before the first period had ended the Motors tied the game on a Jack Chapman goal. Toronto restored its two goal lead with a pair in the middle stanza. Andrew Williams set up Tim Brooks with the first one before doing the honours himself for the Dukes second goal. Nick Tardif closed the gap to one goal when he scored just before the midway mark of the third period but that would be as close as the Motors would get and Quinton Pollack added some breathing room by scoring for the second time in three games, this one on the powerplay, to put Toronto ahead 5-3. It would end that way as the Dukes, despite being outshot once again, pulled ahead three games to two in the series. Toronto can wrap up the Cup win with a victory on home ice tomorrow night. If not the series will return to Detroit for a seventh game.  Toronto On Brink Dukes returned home to the Gardens on a Tuesday evening for Game 3 of the Challenge Cup final. A raucous crowd was treated to another tight checking game in which goaltending decided the final score. The Motors came into town looking to take back an advantage in the series. They seemed to solve the Dukes change to the checking pressure being able to breakout with the puck easily from their own zone. After a scoreless first in which Detroit held a slight advantage in shots, 11-8, Darcy Sill gave the visitors the lead at 1:11 of the second when Hobie Barrell found him alone in the slot to cleanly beat Connelly. Connelly stopped the other 14 shots he faced in the period. Charlie Dell was not tested as often although some the 8 shots he faced forced difficult saves. Poulin pounced on loose rebound off a Pollack shot to tie the score at 1 just over 10 minutes after Sill's goal. The teams left the ice tied after a fast paced second with very few stoppages. The turning point of the game came early in the third when Toronto killed off a Detroit 85 second 5 on 3 man advantage with both Knackstedt, Cooper sitting in the sin bin. Connelly was big part of the kill robbing Detroit time after time in what look like a shooting gallery in the Dukes' end. Toronto seemed to get some jump when Cooper returned to the ice. The eventual game winning goal came on a tip in by Pollack, who has tightly marked in the playoffs, off a Brochu shot. It was only Pollack's second goal of the post season. The Motors continued to swarm the Toronto net where Connelly stood tall, any rebound was quickly cleared to safety by his mates. Knackstedt sealed the deal with an empty net goal at 19:47. Post game, a frazzled Ari Bear, credited Connelly's 35 saves for the win. Game 4 of the series two nights later was a totally different style of game. The game started with both teams playing what has become normal for games between these two teams, tight checking with no time or space to move the puck. That all changed just past the halfway point of the first period, Nicholas Poulin opened the scoring on a feed from Pollack, Brown at 12;25. Before the fans has settled back into their seats Hobie Barrell tied the score 22 seconds later, then on the next Barrell brothers shift Benny gave the Motors a 2-1 lead. The brother's each assisted on the other's goal. Fans saw a goal scoring explosion in the first 8 minutes of the second with four goals. In the first minute Brochu tied the game from Pollack, Brochu before Nick Tardif restored the Detroit lead at 5:06 while up a man. Seventy seconds after Tardif Ken Jamieson made it 3-3, then Brochu sent thew crowd into a frenzy when he gave the Dukes their first lead of the game at 7:39. Pollack picked up his third helper of the night on Brochu's goal. After this the game returned to a more normal looking game between the Motors and Dukes. There was no further scoring until Benny Barrell's second of the night squared the score at 4 at 2:34 of the third. Both Connelly, Dell shut the door for the balance of the third with Toronto's netminder being the busier of the two between the pipes. With nothing solved in 60 minutes the teams headed to overtime. Detroit ended the game, tied the series, on a slap shot from the point off Robert Ling's stick, that a screened Connelly never saw, making the final 5-4. Sunday afternoon in Detroit Mitch Moran, recently returned from shoulder injury, gave the Dukes an early lead with Game 4 hero Ling in the penalty box for tripping. Jamieson extend the lead at 12:30 before Zack Roy, Jack Chapman scored to send the teams to intermission tied at 2. Bear was incensed at the Chapman goal claiming offside going into the zone. Tim Brooks gave the visitors the lead again at 3:17 of the second followed by Williams with Broderick off for tripping at 11:21. The third was far more wide open than either coach would have wanted with the goaltenders forced to hold the fort. Tardif got the Motors back to within one when he found a loose puck in the crease off a Ling shot at 9:06. Pollack's 3rd of the playoffs made the final 5-3 on a goal that was a carbon copy of Tardif's, loose puck off a Moran shot. Connelly was again outstanding facing 44 shots. Coach Bear-"We have to stay in the moment. Do not thinking ahead, if we play the game one shift at a time we will be fine. Even better if Connelly continues to rob Detroit at every turn."
  LEACH POISED TO DEFEND WELTER CROWN AGAINST FORMER CHAMP Leach, the 29-year-old from New York City, has been on a torrid pace since capturing the crown last September in a rousing upset over Britain’s Lenny Shafto. He wasted no time proving his reign was no fluke, dispatching John Wallace in just two rounds in his first title defense. With a career ledger of 33-6-2, Leach is as confident as ever, but he knows he’s in for a different kind of battle against a man who has lived at the top longer than he has. For Ellis, this is not just another fight. The Seattle native spent half a decade as the division’s undisputed ruler, capturing the title in 1956 and holding it, save for a brief four-month lapse against Lonnie Griffin, until 1961. Now 32, Ellis has heard the whispers that his best days are behind him. Since losing the title to Griffin two years ago, he has fought just four times, winning three and losing once by disqualification. The man they once called the most complete welterweight of his era now has a chance to prove he still belongs among the elite. At 46-6-1, Ellis brings the weight of experience into the ring, having engaged in sixteen world title fights. The question looming over this bout is whether his legs still have the same spring and whether his hands can still dictate the tempo against a younger, sharper foe. The bookmakers see this one as near-even, with neither man a clear favorite. Leach has youth and momentum on his side, while Ellis boasts the wisdom and grit of a man who has already conquered the summit once before. Will the night belong to the hungry champion looking to carve out his own era, or will it be a glorious return for a veteran still clinging to past greatness? Come Friday night in Houston, the answers will unfold under the hot glare of the arena lights. The bell rings at 9 o’clock. Don’t blink—this one has all the makings of a classic.  RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 04/28/1963
__________________
Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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02-28-2025, 05:24 PM
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#1089 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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May 6th, 1963
MAY 6, 1963 DUKES WIN CHALLENGE CUP Three goals in a span of less than three minutes early in the third period proved the difference, lifting the Toronto Dukes to a 4-3 victory over Detroit in game six of the Challenge Cup finals and clinching the Cup for Toronto. The Dukes entered game six with a three games to two lead after upending the Motors 5-3 in Detroit to take the fifth game. The difference, as it was all series, was the netminding of Toronto goaltender Mike Connelly. The 31-year-old had a sparkling .925 save percentage in the playoffs and regularly held off the Motors offense despite seeing his club outshot in every game of the series including by a 48-27 margin in the deciding contest. Toronto struck first in game six with the only goal of the opening period when Ken Jamieson beat Motors goaltender Charlie Dell just over four minutes into the contest while Toronto was on the power play. The second period was all Detroit as the Motors, hoping to force a seventh game, fired 21 shots on Connelly and scored three times. Hobie Barrell, who missed the first two games of the series with an injury but still finished as the leading scorer in the playoffs, factored in on all three of the Detroit markers, scoring once and assisting on the other two. Up 3-1 with twenty minutes to play the Motors seemed poised to stay alive in the series and perhaps tie a record with their third consecutive Challenge Cup win, but they needed to survive the third period before evening thinking about a seventh game. Detroit did not survive as Toronto quickly found holes in Charlie Dell, beating their former teammate three times in a span of 2:54 early in the third period to take the lead. First it was Lou Turner, whose bad angle shot snuck between Dell's pads and the post at 3:26. 29 seconds later it was almost a carbon copy shot from the opposite side of the ice off the stick of Mitch Moran that eluded Dell to tie the game. Just over two minutes later Toronto defenseman Charlie Brown picked the perfect time for his first goal of the playoffs, stepping in from the point and wristing shot from between the circles past a screened Dell and giving Toronto a lead. The Motors would press but could not beat Connelly again and the Dukes celebrated their 12th Challenge Cup in franchise history.  Dukes Claim Challenge Cup At Home On the last day of April, 14,512 came to the Gardens to see if the Dukes could claim an improbable NAHC title by upsetting both the first and second place finishers during the regular season. The Dukes had eliminated the Packers on April 14th in a seventh game at Chicago before meeting the Motors who had swept Montreal in the other semi-final. Detroit had won the first and fourth games of the series while Toronto has emerged victorious in the second, third, them a fifth game two nights ago in Detroit. This set the stage on a Tuesday night in Toronto. In the first period the visitors held a slight advantage in play outshooting the home team 14-10. Mike Connelly continued to be stingy in allowing pucks past him making 14 saves. Charlie Dell has been almost Connelly's equal in the series in holding Toronto skaters off the scoresheet. Ken Jamieson scored his 5th of the playoffs at 4:02 of the opening period with Colin MacMillan serving time for a roughing infraction. The Motors entering the the second setting out to prove why they were the most feared team for most of the regular season. Young, rising star of the NAHC, Hobie Barrell tied the game at one before two minutes had expired in the period on a tic-tac-toe passing play with Landry off for slashing. Detroit laid siege to the Dukes, the puck never seemed to leave the Toronto end in the second period. Connelly was forced to make many spectacular saves, he faced 21 shots in the second. Try as he might Connelly could not stop everything, two more got past him. Sill gave the Motors the lead at 10:25 with Boulet extending the lead to two with just over three minutes before the ice was resurfaced after 40 minutes of play. Hobie Barrell figured in on all 3 goals. Toronto retreated to their dressing room fortunate to only be down by only two goals. Toronto showed signs of life in third. They only managed 6 shots in the second. Most in the stands were starting to prepare their plans for Game 7 when the inexplicable happened to the usually sound Detroit defense. Lou Turner gave the fans hope when he put a wrist shot past Dell at 3:26 followed 29 seconds later by Mitch Moran to knot the score at three. The comeback, as unexpected as it was, was completed when Charlie Brown snapped home a shot from the high slot at 6:20 giving the Dukes 3 goals in 2:54 along with a 4-3 lead. Connelly along with the rest of the team knuckled down for the last 13 and a half minutes as the Motors pressed desperately to send the game to overtime. Connelly was equal to the task, he was helped went three shots that seemed to beat him rang off the iron. Dukes held on, the party began immediately after the bell sounded the end of the game. Fans went wild both inside and outside of the Gardens while the team took turns carrying the trophy around Gardens ice. Coach Bear- "I have no words. For a team that struggled to make it into the dance we finally put it together in the playoffs after a disappointing regular season. I will tell you one thing, when these guys cash their playoff bonus cheques they should all thank Mike Connelly. In the final he faced 230 shots in 6 games allowing only 14 goals for a 93.9 save percentage. We don't win without the stellar goaltending. After the parade I will get out of town for a week or so before we prepare for the draft then get ready for the camp up north." Pennant Leaders Cling to Razor Thin Leads To the surprise of almost nobody, the Pioneers, Dynamos, and Eagles are the top three teams in the Fed, and very little separates these high-powered squads. Right now it's St. Louis on top, up by a half game over the Dynamos and a game and a half above the Eagles, but all that can change in a hurry. St. Louis has Washington to thank for their slim lead, as after getting crushed 13-4 in the game one of the double header, the Eagles battled back to crush the Dynamos 14-3. St. Louis had just one game, reigning Allen winners Frenchy Mack's (4-0, 0.87, 28) overpowering 6-hit shutout, as the Pioneers avoided a sweep at the hands of the now fourth place Miners. It was a rare setback for the champs, as a third of their season losses came in that series. An impressive 15-6, they've played a lot fewer games then the competition, so pulling ahead now is huge. Their 21 games played is the fewest so far, while elsewhere teams have played 26 and 27. They've got six off days here in May, but a pair of double headers will help catch them up. For Detroit and Washington, this coming week is important, as the Pioneers get the Millers (2-22) and Minutemen (10-15), the two worst teams in the association. In Boston's defense, they're at least within single digits of first, but the historically bad Millers are somehow 14.5 games out on May 6th. That should be three of the easiest FABL wins, but between the three teams only one plays a team over .500. That would be Detroit, who gets the 15-12 Keystones at home. With a day off on Thursday, they'll have a chance to reset their rotation, and send their best and most rested into battle. One guy it won't be, however, is their best performer, as lefty Bud Henderson (2-1, 2.16, 18) fractured his coracoid -- a part of the shoulder most probably never knew existed -- likely ending his season. Just when Bud was looking like his old self, the injuries struck again, his third major injury in the last five seasons. The Dynamos do have the pitching depth to replace him, but it will nonetheless be a big blow for a team already down two arms. In the Conti, things are even tighter, as in terms of games the Kings (16-10) and Foresters (17-11) are tied. Here, the difference is percentage points, as with one fewer win and one less loss, the Kings hold a .008 percent lead. Both teams are off to start the week, but Kansas City will play host to the third place Sailors. At 15-12, they're a game and a half back, but as the team with the most runs scored and tied for the fewest allowed, they probably should be the team in first. The team they're tied with is the Kings, setting up what could be three top-notch pitching duels. The Sailors are likely to go with their top three, as Charlie Lawson (2-2, 4.50, 20), George Fuller (1-2, 2.93, 22), and Hank Lacey (3-0, 2.75, 21) will be ready to go. KC won't get their ace, though like the Sailors ace Charlie Lawson, Beau McClellan (0-5, 4.15, 21) has struggled to start the season. In fact, the ERAs in the rotation drop as you go down, as Allie Boone (0-2, 3.55, 20), Gene Bailey (4-0, 2.20, 30), Jack Halbur (2-1, 2.09, 28), and Johnnie Higgins (4-0, 1.95, 22) have all impressed. What could be the difference is the offense, as while Hank Williams (.340, 12, 24) is Hank Williams and the first FABL slugger with double digit homers, the vet need some help. He's homered in four straight games, including the 200th of his career, but he needs Bob Burge (.233, 6), Al Farmer (.214, 2, 11), and Bill Denney (.275, 8, 1) to pick up some of the slack. Right now, Williams and Pat Davis (.294, 4, 17, 2) are doing all the run producing, which contrasts with the Sailors strategy. They've got almost everyone going, and it all starts with John Kingsbury (.371, 2, 17, 3). An early Whitney candidate, him and Heinie Spitler (.372, 4, 24, 2) have been hitting everything in sight, with plenty of support from Edwin Hackberry (.280, 3, 16, 4), and Otis Haldeman (.312, 5, 18, 1). All four have WRC+ over 145, providing plenty of production whenever they're in the box. Unfortunately, they will be without first basemen Rip Rogan (.282, 3, 11, 1), who was a useful part of their pennant team last year. He's hit even better in 1963, but a torn hamstring will cost him a good chunk of the season. He could be back in August, but there is no obvious in house replacement, and it will be interesting to see if they look outside the organization to replace him. Meanwhile, Cleveland will get it easier, as their week starts with the last place Cannons (9-16), and ends with the 7th place Cougars (12-14). Despite the poor records, both teams actually have a positive run differential, with the Cougars (+21) the only team other then San Francisco (+40) above +15. Their old habits of faltering in one-run games is back, 3-8 so far, but if a guy like Adrian Czerwinski (4-0, 1.30, 21) is on the mound, they'd be lucky to even plate a run. Without old pals Rufus Barrell and Jake Pearson, "The Mad Professor" quickly quashed any "washed" rumors, as he's a perfect 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA (307 ERA+), 1.15 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts. It shouldn't be too big of a surprise, real ball knowers saw his 3.66 FIP (79 FIP-) from last season and realized he was way better then the ERA (4.44, 104) looked. With him, Paul Williams (.357, 2, 18), and Tom Carr (.324, 1, 12, 7), they're going to be a handful, and any lineup lead by Stan Kleminski (.302, 1, 10, 4) is going to be able to score runs. The only problem is the pitching, as they are tied for 8th in runs against. Even with Czerwinski's dominance. A lot is the defense's fault, they are pretty awful at making plays in the field, which has saved a lot of pitcher's ERA. Eight of the eleven pitchers on the active roster have at least one unearned run, though no one can match Frank Young's 7 in just two thirds of an inning. Unless they shore up this defense, good offenses will be able to win just by putting the ball in play against them. It just so happens that both the Cannons (2nd) and Cougars (5th) rank top five in batting average, so if the Foresters underestimate their opponents, they could be in for a sour surprise. *** Minneapolis Mistake? Millers Start with Historic Levels of Losing *** For most, FABL expansion was seen as a good thing, but baseball purists were worried that his would water down the overall talent of the league, perhaps adding too many They might have been right. Last year, the Imperials set the Continental records for most losses in a season, and this year it looks like Minneapolis is going to have no problem blowing by the 116 losses they collected. While expected to be bad, they did lose 105 times last season, it's hard to even fathom just how inept the Millers have looked so far. Losers of 22 of their first 23 games, it took them 13 times for their first win, and the second came on May 3rd Ed Power (1-2, 2.12, 19) finally got his first win of the season. Despite allowing two or fewer runs in four of his first five starts, it took zero runs to get him the win, allowing 7 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 7 innings. After a brutal season last year, Power has a 2.12 ERA (187 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP in 34 innings, one of the few bright spots on the season. The only other might be 26-year-old Bill Smith (0-4, 2.78, 24), who has lost four of his five starts despite not allowing more then 3 runs in a game so far. He's got 24 strikeouts to 12 walks, throwing 7 or 7.1 innings in each start this season, and at least they seem to have got a nice arm to build around. When you look at the offense, you may want to shield your eyes, as no one with more then 25 at bats is hitting over .240. For comparisons sake, there are 17 pitchers (min. 10 PAs) hitting over .240, and if you drop the Millers bats to that same qualifier, just backup catcher Ernie Frost (.364, 3) manages a .240 average, and he's a 34-year-old rookie who's not going to be here very long. To be fair, that probably applies to all the guys on the roster who aren't John Edwards (.207, 1, 1) and maybe Clarence Jackson (.149, 2, 6, 1), but the early returns have been rough. Guys like Hugh Pate (.239, 1, 5, 1) and Dick Sheehan (.226, 5), who were both above average hitters last year, haven't been producing like they could, and now they'll be without veteran Otis O'Keefe (.183, 1, 1) for five to six weeks with a concussion. New blood needs to be brought in, but it's already looking like a nightmare season for one of the four new teams.   Tales From The Den Wolves Start May Hot After losing their first game of the new month Toronto's baseball team has stitched together a 5 game winning streak while the city sports fans are still celebrating the a Dukes' championship. Chicago Cougars were in town for a two game set staring Wednesday on a day better suited for hockey than baseball with the temperature at 37 degrees. The cold did not bother the Cougars as much as it seemed to affect Bill Medley, he gave up 6 runs, all earned, just getting into the seventh. It could have have been worse, Medley was helped by 2 OF assists to keep the score down. Chicago cruised to an easy 6-2 win. The next day was even better hockey weather with scattered snow flurries in a 13 inning marathon that Chick Reed walked off when he put a Bob Allen fastball in the LF seats for a 4-3 win in an almost deserted stadium. Wolves went into Cincinnati after a sort stay at home to sweep 4 from the Cannons including a Sunday double header. The games were close 4-2 on Friday, 6-4 Saturday, 4-2 again in first game Sunday then a 9-6 win in the nightcap. In that game Toronto won despite Joe Case hitting 3 HR, 1 off Medley, 2 on George Adams' offerings, Case drove in all 6 runs for the Cannons. Toronto now has a 14-12 record, 17 of the games have been on the road, The scheduling in the early season has been a constant source of irritation for the club. Bats have seemed to awaken slightly in May although still have a long way to go to be even average in the CA. Pitching and defense have acceptable early on, Hohlt expects much better performance in all three phase of the game sooner rather than later, in his terms "tomorrow". The team is 2 games over the breakeven mark even with allowing 7 more runs than they have scored in 26 games.
   LEACH OUTLASTS LEGEND ELLIS TO MAINTAIN WELTER TITLE MAY 3, 1963 – Houston City Auditorium, Houston, Tex. – Matt Leach (33-6-2, 5 KO) vs. Eugene Ellis (46-6-1, 25 KO) – Referee: Bill ClancyThe legend was in the building. Eugene Ellis may be past his prime, but there he was in his boxing trunks, there he was in the blue challenger’s corner. Ellis had been in the red champion’s corner 14 times with two different reigns at the top of the welterweight class. Ellis was inextricably linked with Lonnie Griffin, the four-time champion, but Griffin has been reduced to undercard fights at two-bit venues. One thing Lonnie Griffin never won was the Bologna Boxer of the Year, which Ellis won twice in 1957 and 1959. Matt Leach has a reputation of a guy who hangs in there. With only five knockouts on his 41-fight card in the professional ranks, he knows how to handle himself in the late rounds and make them count, which made it all the more surprising when his last bout ended the way it did. Leach made quick work of John Wallace, earning a second-round knockout to retain the welterweight title. Pundits are quick to point out Leach’s six professional losses, so there is some proving that still needs to be done. Leach has a chance to greatly increase that reputation and quell those pundits if he could defeat Ellis, a great champion, albeit on the other side of that greatness. Veteran official Bill Clancy was in the ring for this fight, undoubtedly because of his experience navigating a couple of Hector Sawyer title bouts. This will be Clancy’s fifth title fight, but first in the welterweight division. Ellis was ready to start fast. At the opening bell, Ellis did not stay near his corner. Leach was also ready to meet him at ring center. Leach wildly missed with an uppercut before they locked horns and clinched inside. Ellis quickly fired a hook and an effective uppercut that might have taught Leach a lesson in being too eager. Later in the round, Ellis found Leach with a cross that sent the champion back violently. Leach rebounded in the second round, as he went to work with his jab and an upstairs-downstairs move with a couple of light punches high to bait Ellis to leave his midsection wide open for a cross. A right hand by Leach stung Ellis. After Ellis controlled the third round by nailing Leach with a couple of well-placed hooks, Leach had a similar outcome in the fourth round, keeping Ellis at bay with light punches before connecting on a big shot. In the fourth round, it was a right cross, as Ellis was forced to lock arms with Leach. In the seventh round, Ellis tried to turn the match around. Leach was starting to build a lead, and Ellis has been in enough of these to know he could not Leach build a large lead that would be insurmountable in the later rounds, save for a knockout. Ellis connected on a combination and a cross that staggered Leach and the challenger was able to see the punches coming. After an underwhelming eighth, it was more of the same from an eager Ellis in the ninth round, with the highlights of an early uppercut, a hook to the ribs, and another hard shot to Leach’s ribs. Ellis sensed it was time to unleash his arsenal. In the tenth, it started with Ellis landing another uppercut, but Leach turned the tide with the single biggest punch in the entire bout. After stumbling from an Ellis uppercut, Leach collected himself quickly and tangled at the center of the ring. Ellis raised his hands to defend, but Leach pierced right through the defense and caught Ellis clean in the temple with a right cross. Ellis pitched forward and landed on the canvas. Referee Clancy began to count, and Ellis struggled to find his footing. Ellis was up to one knee early but wobbled to his feet at the count of eight. Ellis was able to continue, but Leach put his signature on the match with the knockdown. At this stage of the fight, Leach was content to trade rounds, confident he had a lead. Ellis tried to provide a last stand in Round 13, as he was very effective in the final minute of that round. Ellis was cornered by Leach but punched his way out and he did so quickly. Leach stumbled back, but Ellis could not get him off his feet. Though neither boxer looked like he had been in a fight, Leach was a little livelier and had the confidence of a champion. Ellis was trying to make his mark and while he got in a punch here and there, he could not change the judges’ minds. Two judges had Leach winning comfortably by a few rounds, but one judge had Leach ahead, 143-142, with the difference being the 10-8 round for Leach in Round 10. Leach (34-6-2) had the only dominant round for either fighter in that round, which produced the bout’s only knockdown. But more than that, Leach won by winning more rounds than Ellis, pure and simple. Leach did not dominate those other rounds. In baseball, it would be the equivalent of Leach winning a close game and Ellis leaving runners on. Ellis is 32 and even in the declining years of his boxing life, he went the distance. But sometimes, going the distance is not enough. BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS Round 1: Ellis, 2-0 (1:43 cross, 2:12 cross) Round 2: Leach, 1-0 (1:49 right) Round 3: Ellis, 2-0 (1:35 hook, 2:26 hook/midsection) Round 4: Ellis, 1-0 (2:02 uppercut/head) Round 5: Leach, 1-0 (2:35 cross) Round 6: None Round 7: Ellis, 2-0 (0:52 combo, 1:27 cross/face) Round 8: None Round 9: Ellis, 3-0 (0:14 uppercut, 1:59 hook/ribs, 2:59 right/ribs) Round 10: Tied, 2-2 (L: 1:03 left hook/body, 2:03 cross/knockdown #1; E: 0:49 uppercut, 1:24 uppercut) Round 11: Ellis, 1-0 (1:18 right) Round 12: Ellis, 2-0 (0:28 hook/midsection, 1:44 uppercut) Round 13: Ellis, 3-2 (L: 1:20 right/head, 1:51 hook/head; E: 0:11 uppercut/head, 2:33 combo, 2:59 hook) Round 14: Leach, 1-0 (1:07 uppercut) Round 15: Ellis, 1-0 (2:25 cross) TOTAL: Ellis 19, Leach 7  RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 05/05/1963
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Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-19-2025 at 12:02 PM. |
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03-02-2025, 05:46 PM
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#1090 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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May 13th, 1963
MAY 13, 1963 Pioneers Catch Fire, Win Seven Straight Taking full advantage of a weak schedule that saw them in Minneapolis and Boston, the first place Pioneers beat up on the 9th and 10th place teams, sweeping both three game series to up their win streak to seven. Calling the pitching dominant is an understatement, as the front four in their rotation is 17-2 with a 1.62 ERA in 182.1 innings pitched. 5th starter Charlie Blake (2-2, 5.57, 29) has struggled, but even with his elevated ERA, the rotation has an easily league best 2.22 mark through 27 games. Even Blake pitched well this week, as all starts by Pioneers this week ended in a win. Blake went 8 in Boston, scattering 8 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 9 strikeouts. Probably the "worst" start of the week, Frenchy Mack (5-0, 0.72, 36) had the best, with his third shutout in six starts. It was second in a row, allowing just 3 hits with no walks and 8 strikeouts. Steve Madden (5-0, 1.82, 21) had a three hit shutout himself, though it came with 5 walks and just 1 strikeouts, but he beat Minneapolis to start the week too. Another complete game, it came with 5 hits, 2 runs, a walk, and 2 strikeouts, while Billy Hasson (4-0, 2.51, 34) had the fourth complete game win of the week. He allowed 8 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks, striking out 8. That leaves just Danny Daniels (3-2, 1.59, 36), the only member of the front four with a loss. Unearned runs cost him a bit, just 1 of the 4 runs he allowed was charged to the now 25-year-old, who went 7 with 5 hits, 4 walks, and 8 strikeouts on his last start at 24. With how great the rotation was, only three innings of relief was needed, and by staying perfect they expanded their divisional lead to three. St. Louis' four big bats had major weeks, with 10 homers between their dangerous sluggers. Steve Schultz (.376, 9, 25) has caught fire, as the third basemen was 9-for-19 with a double, 3 homers, 4 runs, and 7 RBIs, upping his season line to .376/.427/.673 (192 OPS+). That comes close to Bob Bell (.381, 9, 21, 3), who after a 9-for-22 week with a double, 2 homers, 5 runs, and 5 RBIs, slashing an extremely above average .381/.458/.686 (204 OPS+). This equates to a 1.144 OPS, 218 WRC+, and 2.3 WAR, as he's looking to make it three Whitneys in a row. Can't forget about Danny Davis (.340, 6, 19) and Jerry Smith (.216, 4, 11, 2) either, as like Schultz and Bell they had weekly OPS+ and WRC+ above 200. Davis matched Schultz's three homers, 7-for-22 with 2 doubles, 6 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Smith hasn't done great this year, hitting just .216/.327/.371 (88 OPS+), but a bruised knee seems to have gotten him back on track. The 10-Time All-Star was 9-for-23, adding a triple, 2 homers, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. After hitting .153/.296/.271 (54 OPS+) in April, there was some worry the 34-year-old was starting to show signs of age, but the veteran outfielder has quickly quashed that notion. Detroit and Washington both picked up four wins during the week, now 3 and 4 games out respectively, but with a double header for both on Sunday, they ended up losing 2.5 games. On the bright side, both of those squads get series against Boston and Minneapolis. For Washington, that's all they face, as they're off before three hosting Boston and four hosting Minneapolis, with a double header set for the 17th. Detroit meanwhile finishes a rare five game series with the Keystones first. They split the first four, and if the trend continues, win five will be for the Dynamos. Then it's two hosting the Millers, an off day, and three in Boston. This sets up a big series for both Detroit and Washington, as after the bottom feeders they get each other. The game will start next week, as from the 20th to 22nd the two squads will be in our nation's capital, hoping St. Louis stumbles at home with the Miners and Keystones. The PA teams are solid, both 5.5 out of first, but compared to the Pioneers, anyone looks beatable. *** Chick Clubs Five Homers, Holds Share of Triple Crow *** Sure, it's way too early to be thinking about the end of season totals, but when anyone is hitting like Hank Williams (.350, 13, 28), you have to take notice. Right now, that the Wolves left fielder Chick Reed (.392, 13, 28), who has matched Williams' homer and RBI total while hitting a funky .392/.389/.708 (185 OPS+) in 131 PAs. As we all know Chick(s) dig the longball, so Chick Reed sacrifices walking for slugging, realizing he can do way more damage with the bat in the zone, then the bat on his shoulders. Walkless in 30 games, it hasn't impacted his overall production, ranks top-5 in numerous non-OBP related statistics. He's coming off his best week yet, going 13-for-28 with 5 homers, 8 runs, and 12 RBIs, including a two-homer game in a tough 12-11 loss to the Imperials. Reed also matched Williams' four game homer streak, homering in both halfs of a 5/5 double header in Cincinnati, before knocking a two-run homer and grand slam against the Wranglers, as his Wolves won all four games. If it wasn't for a pinch-hit appearance, Reed would also be riding a 13 game hit streak, with 10 of those multi-hit games. A former top-50 prospect, it took him a while to get a chance playing regularly, even moving from Cleveland to Toronto, but at 27 all his hard work has paid off, and it's positioned Toronto into a pennant race. At 18-15, they're tied with the Stars for 2nd, just two behind the first place Kings. That may not be the case for long, as Toronto will be in KC for a three game tilt. With an off day, both teams can adjust their rotation, and it will be a huge test to see if Toronto is legit. The struggling George Hoxworth (2-4, 7.24, 22) is set to start the series, with Phil Colantuono (5-0, 1.43, 27) and Bill Medley (3-3, 3.45, 31) expected to finish it. Both arms have been great, but Colantuono did his best Frenchy Mack impression this week, a 4-hit, 10-strikeout shutout of the Imperials to match Mack's perfect 5-0 record. It's his first shutout of the season, but "The King" has allowed two or fewer runs each time out, including when he hosted the Kings and flexed with 7 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Kansas City will be without their top two guys, as Beau McClellan (0-5, 4.29, 26) and Allie Boone (0-3, 3.51, 34) got no decisions in a double header split, setting up Gene Bailey (5-0, 2.16, 32), Jack Halbur (3-1, 1.97, 30), and Johnnie Higgins (4-1, 3.32, 30) to take the starts. If all goes as planned, this could be a thrilling series for neutrals, as excellent baseball is expected at Prairie Park. Tales From The Den Toronto Has Uneven Week Early lookers at the 1963 schedule would have circled this week's games as a week that the Wolves could make some progress in the standings. The team had seven games this week playing both of last year's expansion franchises, home for 3 with Dallas then into NYC for a 4 game in 3 days series at the Imperial's home Dyckman Stadium. The week started well with Chick Reed leading the team to an 11-8 win, going 3 for 5 with 4 RBI. Reed brought his total RBI to 8 for the series with a grand slam in Wednesday's 7-4 win under threatening skies. Wranglers prevented a sweep with a 7-4 win when George Hoxworth had his third straight sub-par outing on the hill. Hoxworth has been struggling with control issues all season with 19 BB in 32 1/3 IP. Into NYC where the weekend series started well only to end poorly for the Wolves. Phil Colantuono, Bill Medley tossed back to back shutouts in the Friday, Saturday games. Colantuono ran his record to 5-0, 1.43 during a 10K, 2BB, 4 hitter 4-0 whitewash aided by 3 double plays. Medley continued to frustrate Imperial hitters on warm spring Saturday afternoon in easily his best outing of the season. Wolves batters gave him 9 runs while Medley had a team second straight CG giving the 'pen needed recuperation time surrendering only 5 hits. The week and series fell apart on Sunday when NY won both ends of a double header. After not being able to push a run across in the first two games the Imperials scored early then often in the first game with 4 in their half of the first to tie the game at 4 after only one inning. The scoring continued unabated in a game where there a total of 23 runs on 29 hits in a game that took 3:15. The home side scored 2 runs each in bottom of eight then nine to walkoff a 12-11 win. Hohlt closed the locker room between games although he could be heard to ask his team how they could possibly lose a game that they had led 9-3 in the fourth. The nightcap had less scoring with NY's Fred Williams pitching around 9 hits, walk to run his record to 4-2, 3.17 with 2-1 complete game decision. The flight back to Toronto was a quiet one as the team is off Monday before KC is in town Tuesday for 3 before heading to Cincinnati next weekend. Chick Reed was POTW in CA after going 13 for 28 5 HR 12 RBI giving him a .464/.464/1.000 week. His season totals are .392/.389/.708 13 HR 28 RBI. The average leads the CA with the HR, RBI totals place him in a tie for the league lead with Kings' Hank Williams. On the farm Joe Parker was POTW in the Union League for the 9-8 Nickels with 3 HR 9 RBI in 27 PA. Parker is 1B who is blocked in trying to make it to big club.
NAHC HANDS OUT AWARDS The McDaniels Trophy, presented to the league's Most Valuable Player, went to Hobie Barrell of the Detroit Motors after the 22-year-old led the NAHC in scoring with 83 points and became just the eighth player in league history to notch at least 40 goals in a season. Barrell becomes just the second Motors player ever to win the 39-year-old award, joining teammate Alex Monette who was the winner four years ago. Finalists for the McDaniels included 40-year-old Quinton Pollack, who has won the trophy a record nine times. The long-time Toronto Dukes star finished second to Barrell in the scoring race with 79 points and this season surpassed Tommy Burns as the NAHC's all-time scoring leader. In 1,072 career games Pollack has amassed 1,266 points. The other finalist for the McDaniels was Montreal defenseman Mark Moggy. The rearguard may not have won the McDaniels Trophy but he did claim the Dewar Trophy as the loop's top defenseman for the second consecutive year. It was a tight vote with Moggy, thanks to his premier skills in his own end, narrowly edging out Detroit's Robert Ling, who tied a longstanding record for defensemen with a twenty goal season. Moggy, who like Barrell is just 22 years old, had 10 goals and 49 points this season. The Juneau Trophy for top goaltender was also a close race with veteran Montreal netminder Nathan Bannister (24-17-8, 2.77) getting the nod over Toronto's playoff hero Mike Connelly (19-19-10, 2.84). For the 32-year-old Bannister it was his third Juneau Trophy, having previously won back to back awards in 1958 and 1959. Hank Knackstedt, who had a terrific playoff campaign to lead the Dukes to the Challenge Cup, was named the league's top rookie and winner of the Harvey McLeod Trophy after the 22-year-old scored 20 goals and collected 50 points in 55 regular season games. Knackstedt's Toronto teammate Andrew Williams and Montreal's Dick Pepe were finalists for the award. Finally the Yeadon Trophy for gentlemanly play was presented to Detroit's Benny Barrell. The older brother and teammate of McDaniels winner Hobie Barrell scored a career high 54 points this season, his fifth in the NAHC. Ken Jamieson of Toronto, who won the Yeadon three years ago, and Chicago's Matt McGrath were the other two finalists. 
  RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 05/12/1963
__________________
Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-02-2025 at 09:13 PM. |
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03-04-2025, 02:03 PM
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#1091 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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May 20th, 1963
MAY 20, 1963 The Boston Centurions finally did it. In 26 years toiling away in the ABC and the FBL, the Centurions have won their first title. Boston qualified for its first Finals in 1955, when it lost in five games to the Rockets. Five years later, the Centurions returned, only to lose again – in five games – to the Rockets. The only difference was that the Rockets moved from Rochester to St. Louis in that time. After the 1960 loss, Boston pushed Toronto to a Game Seven for all the marbles in 1962. While Toronto did not return for a rematch, Boston made it out of the East for the third time in four years and faced its nemesis. After leading the FBL Finals, 2-0, the Rockets made it a series by taking care of business on their home court. St. Louis was down by 12 points through three quarters and blew Boston away in the fourth quarter, 25-10, to win Game Three, 75-72. The team was on the precipice of being down 0-3 in the series and St. Louis pulled itself up, getting 22 points from Bill Melton in the comeback win. The Rockets made it a new series with a win in Game Four to deadlock the series at two games each. Melton scored another 22 points in the win and added 14 rebounds. The Centurions still held home court advantage in the series, as Game Five was the last game in St. Louis. Back in Boston, Centurions fans must have been wondering, “here we go again”. Enter Steve Barrell. Barrell led Boston in the Game Five 63-50 win with 16 points, but he matched that with 16 rebounds. The Centurions only committed nine fouls all game and held St. Louis to 30% shooting. The series returned to Denny Arena with one win needed in the final two games to crown the Centurions as champions. Barrell scored a triple-double and Boston won the title in an 83-59 thumping. Barrell had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. St. Louis had hope after tying the series but never reached 60 points in the final two games of the series. Boston took St. Louis’s best punch in the Game Three Rockets comeback, but the Centurions proved they could lock it down when it mattered. Boston’s leading scorer in the playoffs was Bert LaBrecque, who only finished seventh in playoff scoring at 17.1 points a game. It was not about the high-end scorers, though. Boston won with a balanced attack. The Centurions were the only team with three players in the top ten, as Playoff MVP Steve Barrell finished ninth at 14.5 points a game and Wally Moorehead was right behind in tenth at 14.4 a game. Barrell finished fifth in rebounds (10.7/game) and fifth in assists (6.3/game). You would expect the latter from a point guard, but the rebounds were a bonus that gave Barrell that extra third dimension no other player in the playoffs could offer.   Another Perfect Week: Pioneer Streak up to 13 It must really suck being the Detroit Dynamos. 25-12 is a pretty great record, sporting a win percentage over .660, and if Detroit was in the Continental, it would be good enough for first. Instead, they're in the Fed, and despite winning 9 of their last 12, they're four games out of first and have only lost ground in the past two weeks. Blame the St. Louis Pioneers, as they're hotter then a volcano and pounding everyone in their way. Everyone expected sweeps of the Millers and Minutemen, those two teams combine for just 16 wins, but both the Miners and Keystones were over .500, and they were outscored 41-20. Winners of 13 straight, they're 15-2 in May, and are the only FABL team left to allow less then 100 runs. A lot of that is due to Frenchy Mack (5-0, 0.94, 43), the undisputed best pitcher in baseball, as with two runs in a no decision he raised his ERA to 0.94 (435 ERA+) in 57.1 innings pitched. Steve Madden (6-0, 1.70, 27) has been elite, Danny Daniels (4-2, 1.66, 44) has been elite, and Billy Hasson (6-0, 3.20, 42) has provided ace level production as their fourth most effective starter. Even then, his 3.02 FIP (73 FIP-) is elite, and a 6-run clunker against the Keystones inflated his ERA. Then in the pen, John Gibson (3-1, 7, 1.64, 11) has been tough as nails, securing multiple leads for the stars in the rotation. Offensively, they haven't really lit the world on fire, but they have seen another star born in third basemen Steve Schultz. A month away from 28, St. Louis' former 4th Rounder has hit an astronomical .405/.441/.675 (194 OPS+) -- even higher then the .378/.455/.646 (191 OPS+) line from back-to-back Whitney winner Bob Bell (.378, 9, 25), and Schultz has more homers (10) and RBIs (32). A bit of a late bloomer, last season was his first year with more then 425 PAs, but even in limited time before hand he produced above average offensive productions. Ironically, his 2.5 WAR in 32 games is already a career high, and the Dayton native seems poised to set many personal bests in what should be his first season as an All-Star. Schultz emergence has made up for Jerry Smith's (.239, 4, 15, 3) average stats, and at the top Bill Bather (.301, 4, 15, 6) and Danny Davis (.342, 8, 24) have set the table for Bell and Schultz, though Davis has done some damage himself. The bottom three in the lineup is a relative weakness, but with their pitching and star power, they can more then handle without upgrading there. Eventually, this torrid pace has to slow down, but they continue their twelve game homestand with two against the Gothams (16-22) and four against the Eagles (26-14). New York may not give them much trouble, but Washington is another legit contender, who like Detroit, has fallen back despite playing well. At 26-14, they're 4.5 back, and would also lead the Conti. Winners of six of their last seven, it's crazy that they lost half a game despite it. The top offense in FABL, they've got five regulars hitting over .300, including young superstar Tom Lorang. The 21-year-old has more homers (11) and RBIs (42) then Schultz, and his .375/.470/.697 (210 OPS+) is even better. Sure, Schultz has the higher average, but Lorang is an elite defender, and on an absurd 14.6 WAR pace. The Whitney frontrunner picked up another Player of the Week award. 12-for-28, he added a double, triple, 3 homers, and 3 walks, both scoring and driving in 10. That's now three in a row, as he's hit an absurd .456/.532/.899 (277 OPS+) in May, and unless a meteor takes out the entirety of Earth, he's going to be named Batter of the Month in May. What makes him so good is that he makes everyone around him better, and it's helped his RBI numbers that Ralph Weatherbee (.340, 2, 17, 2) and Jimmy Brown (.342, 7, 26) have been knocking the ball around. Plus, with George Whaley (.316, 5, 36, 2) behind him, there's no way to pitch around Lorang. If anyone can solve the Pioneer pitching, it's this lineup, but Pioneer Field is one of the more spacious parks, and it could keep this high powered offense under control. If that's the case, they'll need their pitching at it's best, with a ton of pressure on 24-year-old Bob Ball (6-0, 1.56, 46). Putting up Pioneer level numbers, I was wise to name him a breakout candidate, as he's allowed 3 or fewer runs in 6 of his 7 starts. That's the only one of his starts the team lost, though he got a no decision, and he's got the tough task of facing the Dynamos and Pioneers. One of Washington's biggest weeks of the season, they're lucky they have their top guys available, and they'll need big starts from Jim Stewart (5-2, 2.65, 40) and Owen Latz (6-0, 3.49, 40) too. That trio can keep up with anyone, and Washington is set up well to make things tough for their fellow 25 and up win teams. *** Continental More Crowded, Three Teams Withing Two *** In the junior circuit, four games out is sixth, not second, and each of those top six teams has either five or six wins in their last ten. A congested top of the association, Kansas City is still on top, as they were able to take two of three from the Cougars, pushing them into that sixth spot. It continues to be the Hank Williams (.342, 14, 35) show, he's back on top for both homers and RBIs now, and reigning Allen winner Beau McClellan (1-5, 3.92, 37) finally got his first win of the season. Though the talk of the staff is Gene Bailey. After a commanding 8-2 win in Chicago, Bailey improved to a perfect 7-0, as the 22-year-old lowered his CA best ERA to 1.72 (237 ERA+), and with 9 strikeouts he's within two of the CA lead. The 7 wins are the best as well, so he's got an early chance for the triple crown. It will be tough with his command issues (30 walks, 10.3 BB%), but even without a triple crown, he can be a key part of the Conti's best rotation. Jack Halbur (4-1, 2.18, 36), Johnnie Higgins (4-2, 3.60, 37), and Allie Boone (0-3, 3.51, 34) have been great, and spring acquisition Henry Henderson (3-1, 2, 2.42, 15) has done well in his two starts. You can never have too many pitching, and with plenty of teams set on the crown, having a spare arm in case of injury or double header is crucial. Just ask the Stars, who despite winning four straight, suffered a big loss that doesn't show up on the standings. Opening the week, ace Dewey Allcock (3-1, 4.10, 26) strained his triceps, and is expected to miss a month. It's a tough blow for the team currently 8th in runs against, compounded by Floyd Warner's (5-1, 4.01, 35) strained back. He shouldn't need an IL stint, as they have a few off-days this coming week, but that's their 1 and 2 dealing with ailments. As the top offense in the CA, they can try to rely on their 3-4-5 of Ralph Barrell (.304, 8, 25, 4), Lou Allen (.280, 10, 32), and Bobby Garrison (.320, 3, 19, 7) carrying the load. Them, Kansas City, and Cleveland, the top three teams at print, don't have any games against each other this week, but there's few easy games in the CA this year, which should make for an exciting pennant race. *** Eagles, Kings Agree on Four Player Swap *** While it was somewhat expected that Kansas City would trade a pitcher, the deal Fred Washington (0-1, 1, 15.43, 3) was looking for is still yet to be found. Instead, the Kings parted with minor league arms Les Wilson and Fred Smith, acquiring Eagles FABL infielder Frank Caldwell (.250, 1, 4) and AAA infielder Henry Gordon. While not a major deal, it allows two contenders to move from areas of strengths to improve their overall depth as they prepare for the long and grueling season ahead of them. Like with Washington, Caldwell has been made available, as the 23-year-old was passed up by former Cougar 3rd Rounder Alex Wilson (.331, 4, 26, 2). A former 2nd Round pick, the out-of-options Caldwell is a serviceable bench player, and with his youth can put pressure on the struggling Bill Denney (.241, 10), and serve as insurance for the 37-year-old Al Farmer (.260, 3, 19, 2). Caldwell hasn't hit much this year, batting just .250/.263/.333 (60 OPS+) in 36 PAs, which has moved his FABL career line to .231/.265/.397 (74 OPS+). KC adds another depth option in the 23-year-old Gordon, who's hitting .217/.308/.380 (101 OPS+) with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 10 RBIs, and 11 runs scored. A former 14th Rounder, Gordon was passed up in the offseason's Rule-5 draft, but his versatility attracted the Kings interest. With experience at third, short, and all three outfield spots, he provides plus or better defense, and with some work first and second should be easy to pick up too. Expected to remain in the minors, he was the Eagles' 12th ranked prospect, checking in at 300 in the league's list. Washington will add a pair of young arms in the league's top 500, starting with one that's approaching the majors. Just 20, right hander Les Wilson (#267) is already up in AAA, and the former 5th rounder looks more then capable of handing the competition. Sure, it's just 6 starts, but Wilson is 3-1 with a 1.85 ERA (202 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts, providing the Seattle Thunderbirds with 43.2 excellent innings. A five pitch arm, he highlights a nice breaking change, and despite some issues with his command, projects as a useful back-end starter. Washington has a young rotation, but their back two guys aren't off to the best starts. 23-year-old Otto Caudill (1-4, 4.62, 31) has had some issues keeping guys off base, and while their top prospect (#68) Tom Arencibia (1-1, 4.50, 18) had two nice starts trying to bring stability to the five spot, he allowed 12 hits and 7 runs in 6.1 innings out of the pen. Wilson could be another option, as Washington has already started ten different pitchers this year. Further down then is 19-year-old Fred Smith (#466), a diminutive reliever pitching in A ball. Last year's 9th rounder, he's moved up the ladder quick, and has a 2.12 ERA (243 ERA+), 2.43 FIP (56 FIP-), and 1.12 WHIP with 12 punchouts in 17 innings pitched. A one inning guy, he has a decent fastball/slider mix, but is more of a throw in to entice the Eagles in parting with their infielders.  Tales From The Den Wolves Go 3-3. Roster Moves Being Made The bigger news of the week is about the roster. After Sunday's loss the team announced a number of roster moves, the biggest of which was that George Hoxworth has been sent to Buffalo to as one of Brett's insiders who said anonymously "To find himself. George has been getting hammered this year ( 9GS, 2-5, 9.08, 2.09 WHIP, 22 BB, 27 K in 38 2/3 IP). George is in a downward spiral, he presses when he gets hit, the more he presses the harder he gets hit. Hopefully a little time in AAA will get him straight." Bob Green who was acquired in early April from Boston for C/1B Larry Irwin will join the rotation. He was 2-2, 2.84 in Buffalo, giving the Wolves a lefty in the rotation. In another move Tom Sexton, a Rule 5 selection, was returned to Pittsburgh. Sexton's line of .185/.214/.185 was not proving to be the RHB the team was hoping he would be in December. The team then promoted Joe Parker from the Nickels. Parker, 27, is a RHB who is good defensively at first along with being off to a .343/.395/.714 4 HR 10 RBI start in Buffalo. Insiders thing he may be the first bat of the bench against southpaws. His move will allow George Marsolek, who can play any infield position, to play full time at first instead of platooning with Parker. Marsolek, an Oshawa native was selected 54th in the 1960 amateur draft. Although OSA thinks little of him (461st) he has hit well at B in '61, A, AA in '62 then AA for 11 games before going to Buffalo in early May. Brett has heard that the team is exploring the trade market while preparing for the upcoming draft. The Front Office believes they have a number of young, live arms that could be dealt for the proper return, probably another RHB for the infield or behind the plate. A Look At Toronto's Future The Toronto Wolves farm system is ranked 4th in the 20 team FABL with 10 players within the top 100 OSA ranking. Brett will now take a look at the players as well as the teams that will provide the Wolves with the next generation: 1. Carlos Rivera- 23- OF/INF- OSA Rank 9. A versatile player who can play all 3 OF positions plus 1B, 2B, 3B was selected 4th overall in 1961. Rivera has struggled at the plate since moving to A ball in Davenport last summer. In 200 PA last summer he posted .167/.283/.286. This has not improved much early this season when he was moved to 3B due to the number of OFers ahead of him in the system. Rivera is a work in progress with hope his bat will come around in Davenport. 2. Bill Carpenter-22- RHP- OSA Rank 32. Carpenter was selected 6th overall last summer. He started in Davenport then moved to Chattanooga in AA. It was hoped he would moved to AAA Buffalo this summer until he blew out his elbow during his second start in AA this year. 1963 will be lost as Carpenter will not return to action until early in '64. All eyes will be on him to see if he lost anything in terms of velocity or movement on his pitches. 3. Jimmy Blair- 22- RHP- OSA Rank 35- Blair was a 7th round pick 5 years ago out of high school. He has moved through the system relatively quickly as he is beginning his second season in Buffalo after going 13-9, 2.53 in 1962. Blair was in the main camp this spring, he was one of the late cuts from the Wolves staff. 4. Fred Tollefson-20- C- OSA Rank 46- Tollefson was acquired in a trade with Cleveland after being the last first round selection in 1961. He is progressing steadily through the system, Starting this year in AA Fred has shown a steady bat along with above average defensive skills behind the plate. 5. Bob Campbell- 22- RHP- OSA Rank 47- Right behind Tollefson in the ranking Campbell to Toronto via trade with the Stars tow years ago. The former 6th round pick seems to have found his calling in the bullpen, He was, like Blair, one of the last sent down at the end of spring training by the Wolves. Do not be surprised is either Blair or Campbell, possibly both, are toeing the rubber at Dominion Stadium this summer. 6. Marty Bean-21- RHP- OSA Rank 58- Another trade acquisition from KC at the end of the 1961 season he was selected 63rd overall by the Kings in 1959. Bean is in his second season with Davenport, he has a 4 pitch arsenal that plays well. Bean must solve control issues to continue moving up the system. 7. Mel Bahr- 21- OF/1B- OSA Rank 68- A 3rd round pick in 1960 is a speedy OF who covers a lot of ground. Like his teammate in A ball, Rivera, the Wolves are awaiting on his bat to to show up. Bahr is expected to have some pop in his bat if he develops in the future. 8. Elmer Pierce -21- C- OSA Rank 75- Pierce was the Wolves pick, 6th overall, in 1959. He has been slow to progress through the lower levels of the system, Things appeared to have changed at the start of this year as Pierce has started .388/.400/.731 6 HR in 70 PA with Vancouver. Pierce is said to be on his way to Davenport in the near future. 9. Willie Day- 18- INF- OSA Rank 80- Day has the defensive tools to move up. There was talk of sending him to start the season in Vancouver, the fear was he progress would slow if he could not handle class B pitching. Day was selected in the 2nd round, 26th overall last summer. Bruce Hunt- 21- Hunt was selected again 6th overall by the Wolves in 1960. He is opposite of most Toronto prospects, good bat, questionable glove. He is currently in AA with Chattanooga where his bat is saying that he may be ready for Buffalo. Not included in this list is the #9 OSA prospect, Ed Savage, who is starting RF for the Wolves. An early look at minor league team records: Buffalo Nickels- 12-12, 4th in Union League 2GB Chattanooga Reliables- 12-12, 4th in Dixie league 4GB Davenport Dusters- 9-15, 7th in heartland League 9GB Vancouver Mounties- 15-10, 5th in C-O-W 4GB Tuscaloosa Tomcats- Rookie league season's begin in July.
POLLACK HEADS NAHC ALL-STAR SELECTIONS Pollack finished second in league scoring this season with 79 points while his teammate Brochu, who is a debutant on the first team but was recognized as a second team all-star six years ago, had 54 points this season including a career best 21 goals. Like the Dukes, both the Detroit Motors and Montreal Valiants placed two players on the first team. Hobie Barrell, the 22-year-old Motors star who won his first McDaniels Trophy as league MVP while also leading the loop in scoring with 83 points is joined by defenseman Robert Ling. The 24-year-old rearguard had an improbable journey, going from being waived by the New York Shamrocks prior to the season to tying a defenseman goal scoring record with 20 this season and being named to the postseason all-star team for the first time in his career. The two Montreal players named to the squad each also won individual trophies this season. Nathan Bannister, 32, led all goalies in wins and was named the Juneau Trophy winner as the top goalie in the NAHC for the third time in his career while defenseman Mark Moggy, who won't turn 22 until July, is already a major star in the league and has won the Dewar Trophy as top defenseman each of the past two seasons. The second team featured Challenge Cup hero Mike Connelly of Toronto in net with Montreal's Jean Tremblay and Christopher Boivin of Boston on the blueline. Up front it is another Boston Bee in Jimmy Rucks along with a pair of Chicago Packers in Ken York and Peter Bernier.  RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 05/19/1963
__________________
Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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03-05-2025, 12:28 PM
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#1092 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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May 27th, 1963
MAY 27, 1963 Stars, Kings Enter Final Week of May Tied for First While St. Louis and their inability to lose may be threatening to run away with the Fed, the Conti is tighter then ever. The top five teams are separated by just two and a half games, while both Kansas City and Los Angeles sit on top. LA actually held the top spot for a moment, as the Kings' pitching was hit hard by a talented Cannons offense, but they rebounded with a sweep of the Imperials, returning to a tie with the Stars after a chaotic 15-13 win over the Imperials. It was a rare rough outing for Gene Bailey (8-0, 2.54, 50), who still picked up the win, allowing 8 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks with 4 strikeouts. With help from Pat Davis' (4-6, 2 R, 4 RBI, 3B, HR) near cycle and multi-hit efforts from Hank Williams (3-3, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, HR), Ken Newman (2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR), Charlie Rogers (2-6, R, RBI), and Bill Denny (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2B) they were able to survive Turk Ramsey's (3-5, 3, 6 RBI, 2 HR) two homer game. Kings management will hope this offensive explosion can get the sputtering offense back on track, as they matched that total in three games with the Cannons. Now up to 4th in runs scored, they're looking more like the Kings offense of recent years, and this could be trouble for the rest of the Conti. For LA, they've gotten on a roll, winning eight of their last ten to join the Kings on top. This all happened after losing ace Dewey Allcock (3-1, 4.10, 26) for a month, and they're hoping 28-year-old Earl Wright (0-1, 4.74, 9) can keep a rotation spot warm for them until Allcock returns. It's a tough loss, but lucky for the Stars they're an all offense team who probably wins and loses games regardless of who's pitching for them. It's all about how many runs they can pile on. Having the next iteration of Bobby Barrell makes a huge difference, as his son Ralph clearly got the same power gene of his legendary father. After bashing 35 homers in each of his last two seasons, he's on pace to come near that again, mashing 11 in 46 games so far. Just 23, he got there in April, so we may not have seen the best version of this Barrell yet. His .330/398/.595 (162 OPS+) batting line should be more then good enough for a second All-Star appearance, and he's driven in 31 runs while scoring 31 times. Add in 8 doubles, 4 triples, 5 steals, and 19 walks, and it's hard to pinpoint an area for much improvement. All was expected from a 2nd pick and son of Hall-of-Famer, but less was expected from guys like Bobby Garrison (.302, 4, 21, 7), and he and every batter behind Barrell in the lineup has an above average WRC+. They could get more production from Tom Clement (.228, 4, 18, 10) and Charlie Sax (.251, 11, 2) at the top of the order, but if things keep working, manager Charley McCullough won't want to change anything. Within striking distance are the Sailors and Cougars, both two out, while Cleveland is the fifth team and 2.5 back. San Francisco and Chicago have the top two run differentials in the CA, sitting at +50 and +43, but they haven't gotten the wins to go with it. Both are below .500 in one-run games, but the Cougars are the only CA team with double digit losses, dropping 11 of their 16 one-run games. Only the Millers (1-10) are within a loss of them, while both the Kings (9-3) and Stars (11-3) have excelled in the tight contests. Still, both San Fran and Chicago are starting to heat up, winning 4 and 5 straight. San Francisco is the only team in the top five that doesn't play each other this week, as the Stars host the Cougars in LA to start the week, while Cleveland will be in Kansas City to finish the week. This opens up an opportunity for the defending pennant winners, as they can take advantage of the Cannons (21-24) and Wolves (24-22). Both teams are capable, with Cincy sporting a positive run differential and the Wolves of winning record, but there seems to be a gap between those two teams and the top five. It hasn't quite taken shape yet, but the Sailors have a chance to prove that on the field. *** Hackberry Records 2,500th Hit *** It's been a good year for former Dynamo draftees, as both Stan Kleminski (.280, 1, 18, 8) and Edwin Hackberry (.267, 3, 23, 7), who spent the 1946 to 1958 seasons in Detroit, before both being shipped out to the Continental shortly after the Dynamos won the 1958 World Championship Series. For Kleminski, it was to the to Cleveland for John Jackson (4-2, 2.85, 32) and an outfielder, while Hackberry went to the Sailors for former #1 prospect Ray Waggoner (.299, 10, 27) righty Ed Patterson. While the trades were seen as a shock at the time, they've seemed to work out well for everyone, and the two longtime teammates continued to have success with their new organizations. This year was big for both, as on April 20th Kleminski collected his 2,500th hit, and now this week on May 25th, Hackberry joined his old friend to become the 49th player with at least 2,500 FABL hits. The milestone came in the 8th inning of a 12-9 victory, has "Huck" laced Hank Berkowitz's (1-3, 6, 9.00, 20) first pitch for a single, driving in one of five runs in the 8th, extending a 7-6 lead to 12-6. He scored too, his third run of the game, finishing 1-for-4 with a walk. Hackberry got 3 more runs the following night, a nice 1-for-2 with a double, two walks, and an RBI, and the 36-year-old has maintained a solid .267/.361/.430 (112 OPS+) batting line in year 18. A veteran of 2,398 games, he owns an impressive .276/.377/.473 (130 OPS+) career line, logging 442 doubles, 122 triples, 363 homers, 1,442 RBIs, 1,471 walks, 1,609 runs, 245 steals, and 90.3 WAR. One of the most disciplined hitters of all time, he just passed Fred McCormick on the career walk leaderboards, currently 7th All-Time and second among active players. An 8-Time All-Star and 4-Time Champion, Hackberry is all over the Dynamo leaderboards as well, ranked top-10 in OBP (10th, .380), slugging (5th, .487), OPS (4th, .867), WAR (2nd, 74.9), games (3rd, 1,760), runs (2nd, 1,154), hits (6th, 1,829), doubles (2nd, 327), and triples (5th, 91), while currently the All-Time Dynamo leader in homers (294), RBIs (1,110), and of course, walks (1,104). He's also got a Kellogg, WCS MVP, and a pair of Diamond Defense Awards in right, with tie to add a few more accolades out west. The sting of losing a franchise icon may still hurt, and perhaps one day Hackberry returns for a swan song, but for now he'll turn his focus on climbing the hit leaderboard. In his four full seasons in San Francisco, he's recorded 140 or more hits, giving him a reasonable chance of 3,000 if he can stay effective until 40. The defense still looks good, which will allow him to stay in the lineup, and he's the type of guy to give 100% until the last pitch, and it's that mentality that's enabled him to carve out a historic career and meet the lofty expectations placed on a 3rd overall pick and 2nd ranked prospect.  Tales From The Den Wolves Continue Uneven Performance Toronto continues to look good on the field one day then look like a totally different team the next day. This week began in Cougars Park with this year's early leader of the staff, Phil Colantuono, raising his record to 6-1 with a 1-0 gem holding Chicago to 7 hits. The Wolves only managed 4 hits off Dick Champ, one of them ended up in LF seats off Jesse Taylor's bat. Colantuono was lifted in the 5th of second start of the week that sent a chill through the stands and dugout, After the game the team announced that Colantuono will not miss his next start, the injury was minor back stiffness. the last two games in the Windy City were not as successful for the Wolves, Medley got roughed up early and often in 6-4 loss. On Friday Toronto had a 3-1 lead going onto the home half of the 8th. After Arnie Smith gave a walk then a single Hohlt went to Loeffler out of the 'pen who promptly gave up a 3 run HR by Gene Case to give the Cougars a lead in a game that ended 5-3. Hohlt is continuing to search for a shutdown option out of the bullpen. The team came home for 4 games in a three day weekend series with the LA Stars. Charlie Davidson removed the relievers from the equation on Friday by tossing his first FABL CG, in a 136 pitch effort with the Wolves winning 5-3. Saturday when Colantuono was removed in the fifth the bullpen again faltered when a close game turned into a 8-4 LA win when they scored 4 in their last 4 times to the plate. Bill Medley recovered from his rough outing in Chicago to lead the team to an 8-2 victory in first game on Sunday. The game was close until Toronto scored 5 times in their half of 8 capped off by back to back to back HRs by Taylor, Charlie Wells, Phil Story when pinch hitting for Medley. In the nightcap with Bob Green, making his first Wolves start, had things under control early then the roof fell in on him. Leading 3-1 Green was touched up for 3 in the fifth before Wolves restored his lead by scoring 4 in their turn at the plate. Leading 7-4 Green came back out for the sixth. Two outs later the score was 9-7 Stars with 8 runs, all earned, being charged to Wells. Wells appeared to be in a state of shock post game. Toronto ends May with trip to Cleveland then SF with a record of 24-22 good enough for 6th place in the CA. On the farm Hoxworth was a winner in first Buffalo start despite only going 5 innings giving up 3 runs on 3 hits, 5 walks.
RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 05/26/1963
__________________
Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-05-2025 at 04:15 PM. |
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03-06-2025, 01:19 PM
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#1093 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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June 3rd, 1963
JUNE 3, 1963\ Stars Sneak Ahead of Kings, Open Half Game Lead Sometimes FABL is tough, as even when you go 5-1 for a week, there's times when you still lose ground. That's what happened to the Kansas City Kings, as because the Los Angeles Stars had an extra game, they were able to break the tie at the top of the Continental. Equal parts luck and skill, the Stars were actually outscored by the visiting Cougars 15-9, they were able to take the series due to Chicago's utter refusal to win close games. The Conti's top offense then showed up against the Imperials pitching staff, scoring at least 7 runs in each game of a four game sweep. LA got big weeks from Bob Griffin (8-18, 2 2B, 3B, 2 BB, 2 R, 5 RBI), Ralph Barrell (7-23, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 7 R, 4 RBI), Charlie Sax (13-28, 2B, HR, BB, 7 R, 2 RBI), Bobby Garrison (8-24, 2 2B, HR, 5 BB, 7 R, 5 RBI), and Lou Allen (10-31, 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 R, 11 RBI), as after getting shutout by Cougar righty Ken Stone (6-2, 2.82, 38), the bats went on a tear. Scoring 35 runs in four games, they built a ton of momentum for one of the biggest series of the season. Kansas City will head to the west coast for a quick two game series, as both teams are off before and after the clash for first place. It works very well for the Stars, as they'll have use of both Floyd Warner (6-2, 4.20, 42) and Sy Dunn (3-3, 3.95, 51), the current 1 and 2 as Dewey Allcock (3-1, 4.10, 26) recovers from his triceps injury. Kansas City gets to go with their top two, giving them a huge advantage on the mound. Beau McClellan (2-6, 4.06, 50) is starting to win games, while Gene Bailey (9-0, 2.53, 57) hasn't stopped. Still, with an offense as strong as the Stars, even two elite pitchers could be light work, which could be what the lefty-heavy Kings do to the Stars pitching. No one can stop Hank Williams (.342, 16, 44), and now pretty much everyone else is joining in on the fun. Second year outfielder Tom Hicks (.317, 2, 16, 6) as been great on the field, at the plate, and on the bases, while Pat Davis (.305, 6, 32, 8) and Ken Newman (.273, 9, 27) continue to display why they're among the top players in the game. This series has all the makings of must-see baseball, and it will have significant impact on who finishes the week on top. The Kings and Stars have started to separate from the competition, as the only other team within five games is the Sailors. Now 4.5 back, they've got themselves a tough road week, facing the 4th place Cougars and the 5th place Foresters. 2nd in runs against and 3rd in runs allowed, the defending champs are still a threat, as they continue to find new talent to inject into their lineup. This year it's Otis Haldeman (.339, 9, 34, 3), who took home this week's Player of the Week award. A 25-year-old rookie, Haldeman stretched his hit streak to 14, and was an impressive 12-for-23, adding 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, walk, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. This includes a 5-for-5 game in the Sailors' 6-5 win over the Cannons, where the outfielder doubled, scored a run, and drove in a run. Acquired with Ernie Carter (.286, 2, 35, 4) from the Kings in the Bill Guthrie (.355, 1, 3), he ranks as the 18th best prospect, and has hit an impressive .339/.371/.575 (149 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 4 triples, 9 homers, 24 runs, and 34 RBIs. If Haldeman can maintain this level of play, the Sailors can keep on competing, joining talented bats like John Kingsbury (.332, 6, 38, 3), Heinie Spitler (.364, 4, 30, 6), Edwin Hackberry (.262, 4, 28, 9), and Carlos Jaramillo (.286, 2, 21, 12). Despite the lower record, they have a better run differential then the two teams atop them, but their mediocrity in one-run games (8-9) has kept them lower in the standings. *** Pioneers Start to Slip, Dynamos Pull Within Two *** Losers of 6 of their last 9, the Pioneers have almost doubled their loss total in the past eight games, opening up the door for the rest of the association. In those last nine games, Frenchy Mack (7-1, 1.10, 61), Steve Madden (7-1, 2.19, 33), and Billy Hasson (6-1, 4.04, 54) all lost their first games of the season, allowing both the Dynamos (2 GB) and the Eagles (3 GB) to get right back into the pennant race. It was the Chiefs and Suns that tripped them up, as they were 1-2 in Chicago and 1-3 in LA, with a dominant outing from Mack (8 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 8 K) in game two of a double header preventing a sweep. That 4-0 win got them back on track, though three in Boston and Minneapolis could do wonders to the lead they saw shrink. Sure, the Millers finally cracked double digits, as after 48 games they finally recorded their 10th win, but these two teams are a combined 28-72, and 1-10 against St. Louis so far. Detroit is now one of the hottest teams in the Fed, as while St. Louis struggled with the Chiefs and Suns, they swept the Suns and took three of four from the Chiefs. They had plenty of help from from their star Ray Waggoner (.320, 13, 39), who went 13-for-30 with a triple, 3 homers, 5 runs, and 12 RBIs, now hitting an excellent .320/.369/.584 (150 OPS+) through 50 games. Ironically, there best pitcher has been John Jackson (5-2, 2.56, 37), so while Hackberry and Stan Kleminski (.267, 1, 22, 8) picked up their 2,500th hit this year, the guys the Dynamos got back could make a huge impact on their pennant run. Trades have worked well for them, as offseason pickup Joe Holland (.281, 12, 32, 3) has mashed all year, and last year's deadline, Jack Halbur (6-2, 2.59, 52) return piece Cecil Gregg (.312, 3, 23, 3) is on pace to lead the Fed in doubles again, and Virgil Ewing (.294, 8, 36) is hitting like he did back in 1961. That's not to say they don't have good homegrown talent, 1st Rounders Ed MacNaughton (.307, 7, 26, 5), Joe Reed (.300, 6, 28, 4), and Dick Tucker (.276, 4, 31) are all legit pieces of the lineup, and 2nd Rounder Jim Norris (7-2, 3.68, 47) is back to pitching like an ace. They'll spend most of the next three weeks on the road, before a crucial series against the Pioneers to start the last week of June. Washington is right behind them, and they'll get the two teams that the Pioneers and Dynamos just finished with. Washington hosts the Chiefs and Suns, and then start next week with a home double header against the Pioneers. No Player of the Week for one of their two starts, but both Tom Lorang (10-22, 2B, 3 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 12 R, 6 BB, 2 SB) and Alex Wilson (9-20, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB) had strong cases, as the infield duo is red hot. The pitching, especially the top three of Jim Stewart (6-3, 2.54, 47), Bob Ball (8-1, 2.51, 65), and Owen Latz (6-1, 3.45, 55) have impressed, and just when it looked like St. Louis was going to run away with things, a pennant race broke back out. *** OSA Hands Out May Awards *** There was little surprise when OSA announced the best batter, pitcher, and rookie for each association in May, especially when it came to Batter of the Month. In the Fed, it was the three-time Player of the Week Tom Lorang, while in the Conti it was Imperial slugger Turk Ramsey (.300, 16, 41). Lorang had one of the best months you can ask for, as the Eagles 21-year-old superstar appeared in all 32 games, slashing a colossal .427/.507/.790 (241 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 6 triples, 9 homers, 20 walks, 37 RBIs, and 40 runs. As crazy as it sounds, only six non-Lorang players have 50 runs on the season, with eleven non-Lorang players driving in more then 37 runs so far. A tremendous effort, he's the obvious Whitney front-runner at this point, but there's plenty of ball to go. Ramsey, managed to hit 13 homers in just 24 games, as the now 28-year-old had an excellent birthday month, slashing a healthy .358/.367/.789 (198 OPS+) with 23 runs and 32 RBIs. For pitchers, the still undefeated Gene Bailey got the award in the Continental, going 6-0 with a 2.74 ERA (153 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts. He won all six starts, and nine of ten, holding a pristine 2.53 ERA (165 ERA+) with 57 strikeouts in 81.2 innings pitched. His counterpart was the Eagles' Bob Bell (8-1, 2.51, 65), who like Bailey, won all his starts in May. For Bell, it was just 5, as he held a 2.68 ERA (155 ERA+) and 1.28 WHIP with 15 walks and 39 strikeouts. Also like Bailey, he was undefeated at the time of his award, though the 24-year-old was beat by the Gothams on June 1st, allowing 7 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 8 innings. Washington finished off the award sweep, as offseason pickup Al Clark (.288, 7, 27) was named the top rookie. Unlike the Fed's first Rookie of the Month, Clark won because he was good and not because he was the least bad of the bunch, slashing .337/.398/.574 (157 OPS+) with 4 doubles, a triple, 6 homers, 2 steals, 19 RBIs, 13 runs, and 11 walks. Initially a 9th Rounder of the Keystones, Clark came over from the Wolves in exchange for shortstop Dick Rabkin, and because of the glove they stuck him in center from the start of the season. Appearing in 50 games, he's been worth 1.4 WAR, hitting .288/.340/.446 (109 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 7 homers, and 27 RBIs. As good as his month was though, it paled in comparison to Saints' catcher Henry Woods (.371, 9, 29, 3), who just got unlucky that Ramsey hit as many homers as he did or else he'd be Batter of the Month too. The now 3rd ranked prospect, as former #2 Mark Boyd (.294, 11, 29) just graduated, Woods hit an absurd .449/.490/.730 (222 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 7 homers, 17 runs, 21 RBIs, and 3 steals. Just 20, he owns a lethal .371/.435/.609 (176 OPS+) season line, leading all Continental hitters in batting average. A strong defender too, he's showcased why he is such a highly touted prospect, and it soon might be time to declare him FABL's best backstop despite him being less then half way through his rookie year.  Tales From The Den Toronto Closes Out May Losing 3 of 4 Wolves finish the month of May then start June by going 2-4 at home to leave the team at 26-26. Starting the week with Cleveland who came across the border on a 4 game losing streak, the Foresters won 2 of 3. Tuesday night's game was a wild scoring affair with Arnie Smith holding on to a 5-4 lead going into the sixth. Smith, then George Adams got shelled by the Foresters when Cleveland scored 5 runs on 6 hits in the sixth followed by 4 runs on 4 hits in their half of the seventh making the score 13-5 going into the eighth inning. Toronto scored 3 meaningless run in nine to make the final 13-8. The next night the home team won 4-3 in 12 on a pinch hit single by Cal Wells after Loeffler blew a save chance in the ninth. Thursday night Ike Johnson shutout the Wolves 5-0 scattering 4 hits enroute to a complete game. With SF in town on the last day of May Bill Medley fell victim to his own miscue in the fifth. While covering first he dropped a toss from Tom Reed leading to 4 unearned runs in a game the Sailors won 6-5 when they snuffed out a Toronto rally in the eighth, LF Otis Haldeman slid to catch a sinker liner off Taylor's bat. Bob Green's second start with the Wolves was not much better than his first. Green made it into the sixth, he start was undone by a Sailors' 4 run third that started with a free pass to P Zane Kelley, a former member of the Wolves. SF banged out 14 hits in an easy 6-1 victory. Toronto salvaged the final game of the series when Smith picked up a W 4-2 helped by solo homers by Taylor, his 8th, and Cullen's 7th with Loeffler picking up his sixth save. Rumours around the club are that Green may be heading back to Buffalo soon as George Hoxworth had a good outing during his second AAA outing going 8 in a 4-0 win while only surrendering 2 BB. Insiders are telling Brett if Hoxworth can backup that performance in his next start he and Green may switch teams. Jim Jackson joined Hoxworth last week in Buffalo on a rehab assignment. Jackson has been out since March 1962 recuperating from shoulder surgery. The team has said they will probably leave Jackson in AAA for the full 30 days to insure he ready to rejoin the Wolves who need help in the bullpen. There have discussions about moving Bob Campbell to the big club. Campbell has saved 7 of the Nickels 24 wins in 20 appearances this season. While on the homestand Brett visited the Dukes offices where they are working on the upcoming draft, like the Wolves, plus trying to negotiate some contract extensions with existing players.
RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 06/02/1963
__________________
Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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03-07-2025, 01:05 PM
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#1094 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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June 10th, 1963
JUNE 10, 1963 Kings and Stars Flip-Flop, Kansas City Now Up Half a Game After splitting their series to start the week, Kansas City managed to pull ahead of LA, sweeping the Imperials in New York to retake first place as the Stars could only win three of four against the Wolves. The Kings/Stars series in LA did leave a little to be desired, as Charlie Rogers (3-6, R, 2 RBI, 3B), Hank Williams (2-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, HR), Al Farmer (3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, HR), and Bill Denney (2-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR) dismantled the Stars pitching staff, as Allie Boone (8 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, BB, 5 K) cruised to his first victory of the season. The opener was far more exciting, as the Stars won 4-2 in a pitcher's duel between Beau McClellan (8 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) Floyd Warner (9 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K). The difference in the game was three swings, two by Ralph Barrell (.325, 16, 42, 5) with an RBI double and solo homer, and a third on Ed Moore's (.288, 6, 43) two-run single. Ironically, Denney (.227, 2, 19) homered in this game too, his first two longballs of a season, but he had the team's lone RBI in the loss. With both teams playing at such a high level, it's been tough for the rest of the pack, as even with the Sailors and Cougars going 4-3 and 5-2 respectively, they're stuck more then five games out. These two took each other on in a 3rd vs. 4th battle, and like the two leaders, they split there series. It was four in Chicago, where the Sailors won 5-2 and 14-6 while the Cougars picked up 3-1 and 4-2 wins. It was an anti-Cougar series, as the close game challenged team won two of the three games decided by less then three runs, while getting walloped by Otis Haldeman (2-4, 2 R, 6 RBI, 2B, 3B, SB), John Kingsbury (2-5, 3 R, RBI, BB, HR), and Edwin Hackberry (3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB). The two teams meet again this week in San Francisco, though it's a two-game midweek series that seems likely to end in a tie. It coincides with another Kings/Stars series, as the two meet in LA this time. For the Stars, it's going to be tough, as it comes before and after series with the Cannons. One of the hottest teams, they've won four straight and 9 of their last 12, improving to 6th at 30-28. The unluckiest team in baseball, they've had very positive run differentials while under .500, and at +55 they're expected to be 34-24. With one of the best offenses and the top pen, they boast a deep team with a ton of talent. 24-year-old Joe Case (.327, 11, 32, 6) is somehow the Conti's WAR leader, up to 3.2 in 57 games, and he leads off a dangerous top four with Bonnie Chapin (.317, 11, 38), Dallas Berry (.280, 12, 43, 3), and Mark Boyd (.294, 13, 33). A threat to any pitcher, they've got talent in the rotation, with young ace Charlie Warren (4-4, 3.51, 62) and ERA leader Jim York (4-3, 2.24, 46) off to impressive seasons, while the now 4th ranked prospect Marco Middleton (6-3, 4.13, 62) sports a 20.1 K%. Paul Williams (3-8, 6, 3.66, 28), Moe Powell (2-1, 3, 2.49, 18), and Hal Adams (3-0, 1, 2.95, 15) can all be counted on late in game, so if they can hit their stride they can work their way right back into the pennant race. *** Pioneers Remain Two Up, Open Week With Double Header in Washington *** Not much movement in the Fed this week, as the Pioneers, Dynamos, and Eagles all went 4-2 this week. St. Louis struggled with the Minutemen, dropping two of three, but they went out to sweep the Millers in Minneapolis. Detroit dealt with the Keystones and Gothams, taking two of three from both on the road, while Washington did the same to the Chiefs and Suns, just at the beautiful Columbia Stadium. That plays host to a big Monday double header, as with a sweep the Eagles can pull within a game of St. Louis. Both teams have played six games in a row, so for the double header they'll need to rely on a spot starter or a starter on short rest, with the latter a likely option considering an off day for both on Tuesday. Regardless of pitching choices, 22-year-old Owen Lantz (7-1, 3.30, 59) will pitch one of the games for Washington, while the 28-year-old Billy Hasson (6-2, 4.02, 60) is ready to go for the Pioneers. But regardless of the pitching matchup, fans will be treated to two of the leagues brightest and boldest stars, with Tom Lorang (.378, 15, 55, 4) and Bob Bell (.373, 13, 35, 3) likely spending the next ten plus years of their career competing for Whitney's in the Fed. Far from the only stars on these two teams, there should be plenty of theatrics, but Washington may be a man down. The Robin to Lorang's Batman, George Whaley (.311, 8, 48) was already dealing with some knee soreness, and he left the Eagles' 5-4 win over the Suns with a strained oblique. The 20-year-old did play the next game, but even if he avoids an IL stint, it will be tough to have him play both halves of the double header. In a series of such tight margins, it could be the difference, but this offense can score on anyone, and they have someone of quality like George Fox (.327, 4) on the bench who can fill in when needed. Detroit doesn't play on Monday, so they can't take first even if the Pioneers lose. With double headers on Wednesday and Sunday, they still get a full slate of games this week, while St. Louis and Washington play one more. By avoiding those two teams, they have a chance to make up ground, getting one with the Miners (29-27), two with the Keystones (32-28), and four with the Gothams (21-34). All at home, they should have the advantage, and the early off day can help Ray Waggoner shake off his back spasms, though it didn't stop him from his second consecutive Player of the Week award and third on the season. The All-Star went 13-for-23 with 5 doubles, 3 homers, 4 walks, 6 RBIs, and 10 runs, now hitting .345/.401/.645 (175 OPS+) on the year. Waggoner has collected 14 doubles, 16 homers, 45 RBIs, and 47 runs, while walking (20) more then he strikes out (18). Not quite on the level of Lorang and Bell, he's still one of the top players in the game, and will allow Detroit to be a force the rest of the way.  Tales From The Den Wolves Struggle On The Road Toronto went 2-4 on a quick trip to Montreal then out to the west coast for the third time this season. Many fans would say that 2-4 away from home with tough travel would not be the end of world. As Manager Hohlt said on the plane coming home "It is not that we lost games, it is how we lost games. Losses happen, this team lacks consistency so far this season. We have to avoid being embarrassed in what seems to be every second game." The week started well when Phil Colantuono rebounded with a quality outing pitching into the ninth, allowing one run scattering 6 hits, before giving way to Loeffler who secured his 7th save in a 2-1 win over the Saints. Both Wolves' runs came off long balls by Wells in the first then Cullen in the ninth to make it 2-0. Roger Nelson the Saints the started was hung with a hard luck loss giving him a record of 4-7. The next day was one of Hohlt's embarrassments when Montreal scored 5 in the second, 3 in both the third, fourth innings to humiliate Toronto 15-4. Both Davidson, Adams were pitching 'chuck and duck'. Davidson gave up 8 in 2 2/3 on 6 hits, 5 BB. Adams also walked 5 when 4 more Saints' runners crossed the plate. Hohlt closed the room to the press after the game before boarding a silent flight to LA. The first game of 4 in three days was a stinging loss. Leading 5-4 going to the middle of the ninth Hohlt decided to take the ball from Smith, sending in Loeffler who promptly gave up single, single, double to tie the game at 5. After striking out Ed Moore, Ed Howard blooped a single to score Bob Griffin for a LA walkoff 6-5. That was Loeffler's 6th blown save of the season. The red hot Stars came play Saturday afternoon, Medley barely got into the second before giving up 9 earned on 10 hits 2 BB. Stars scored 12 in the first innings in a game Toronto was never in, it end 12-3. Post game all Hohlt could say was "We are in a bad place at present. Things looked up a little during the first game of a Sunday doubleheader. Trailing 3-0 the Wolves bats came alive in the fourth. Aided by an error charged to Lou Allen the Wolves scored 5 on three singles, 2 BB. Wolves stretched their lead to 3 before hanging on to win 6-5. Bob Green, who it was learned later will be returning to Buffalo, picked up his first win as a member of the Wolves. Any momentum the Wolves hope to capture before the long flight home was quickly quashed by Fred Warner. Warner only surrendered 4 hits, all singles, no walks in a whitewash of Toronto 3-0 for his 8th win of the year. The Wolves have now played 33 of 58 on the road. Hopefully some home cooking will allow the team to start a winning streak. Toronto now has a 16 day homestand with 16 games. The front office made a number of moves before the team opens a series on Monday with the Imperials. George Hoxworth was recalled with Bob Green sent back to Buffalo where he will work out of the bullpen. In another pitching move George Adams will join the AAA rotation after less than satisfactory relief work in for Hohlt. Bob Campbell will join the relievers for the Wolves as Hohlt looks for the right combination. Rumours are that Loeffler will no longer be used in high leverage roles for the time being due to inconsistent performance.
FORGOTTON MAN OF JUNIOR DRAFT HOPES TO MAKE MARK Just like the NAHC does each July, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association is preparing for its annual draft of young talent. The junior loop, created 14 years ago to allow all of the top junior talent in the country to compete head to head and prepare them for pro hockey, drafts 16 year old's and develops them for a potential career in the North American Hockey Confederation. While NAHC clubs are selecting players at the age of 19 after many have three full years of major junior hockey under their belts, it is a much tougher task for the junior clubs, who are forced to scour Canada looking for the best 15-year-old players they can find and once discovered they are then tasked with the challenge of convincing their parents to send the youngsters sometimes across the country to join a junior club. There have been some very talented youngsters to grace the junior ranks the past decade and a half but few will argue that the best junior draft occurred in the summer of 1957. There were a number of talented youngsters, but as NAHC teams would learn three years later with the pro draft, a pair of the then 15-year-olds really stood out. That would be Hobie Barrell and Mark Moggy, and six years later each appears to potentially be on a pace where they both may well be considered among the best of all-time when their pro careers are over. Hobie Barrell, was selected first overall by the Halifax Mariners in the 1957 junior draft and would go on to compile 294 points in 168 career games with the Mariners while winning a CAHA championship and being named to the junior loop's postseason all-star team twice. That was just the beginning for Barrell, who made the jump to the NAHC as a 19-year-old after the Detroit Motors selected him second overall in the 1960 NAHC draft. Injuries limited Barrell to just 30 games as a rookie with Detroit but he scored 20 goals and accumulated 39 points before adding 17 more points in 10 playoff games to help the Motors win the Challenge Cup. A second Challenge Cup came the following year when Barrell put up 79 points and then this past season, while a third Cup did not come as Barrell's Motors lost in the finals to Toronto, he did win the McDaniels Trophy as the NAHC's most valuable player and led the league with 42 goals and 83 points. He just turned 22 and has already scored 96 goals and 201 points in 158 NAHC games. Barrell was not drafted first overall by the Motors in 1960. Detroit had the second selection that year as Mark Moggy was the top choice by the Montreal Valiants. Like Barrell, Moggy's roots go back to the 1957 CAHA draft and while Barrell went number one, the young defenseman from Kerrobert, SK., was drafted third overall by the Sherbrooke Industrials. He had three strong seasons in junior, including a 60-point campaign from the blueline in his draft year. Playing in herbrooke allowed the Montreal Valiants staff to see plenty of Moggy and they called his name first overall, one spot ahead of Barrell, in the 1960 NAHC draft. There is no need to second guess the Vals decision as Moggy has had a similar impact on the sport to what Barrell has accomplished. The 21-year-old joined Barrell in making the rare jump directly to the NAHC at the age of 19 and he had 38 points in 62 games as a rookie to beat Barrell -who was injured for half the season- to win the Harvey McLeod Trophy as the loop's top newcomer. Moggy would follow that up with back to back Dewar Trophy wins as top defenseman in the NAHC and scored a career best 49 points this year giving him 133 points in 202 career NAHC games. *** Fontinato Hopes to Live Up to Junior Draft Hype *** So Moggy was number one and Barrell second in the 1960 NAHC draft while three years earlier Barrell went first overall in the CAHA draft while Moggy was selected third. But what about the player who was selected between Barrell and Moggy in the 1957 junior draft? Who went second that year and what is he up to now you might ask? That would be Perry Fontinato, a forward out of Calgary who was selected as a 15-year-old by the Trois-Rivieres Trappers in the 1957 junior draft. Fontinato was nearly as highly touted as Barrell and valued higher than Moggy heading into junior and still looks like he has great promise but his career has certainly not followed the same path as his two now-famous draft mates. While both Barrell and Moggy each had an immediate impact as 16-year-olds in the CAHA, Fontinato - perhaps nervous about the cross-country move from his native Alberta to Quebec- elected to play another season of tier two junior in Western Canada. He finally joined the Trappers a year later but looked overmatched, scoring just 9 points in 52 games. His numbers would improve to 15 goals and 40 points in 56 games in his NAHC draft year. Fontinato did get selected in the 1960 pro draft, but long after Moggy and Barrell as his name was not called until the third round when Montreal -which chose Moggy first overall- grabbed Fontinato. The Vals elected to leave Fontinato in junior for two more seasons and he has developed, scoring 47 goals and 98 points in 110 games. He also became a leader in Trois-Rivieres, wearing a letter in both of his final two years of junior. Montreal signed him last summer but he was immediately assigned to minor league Syracuse of the Hockey Association of America without even an invitation to the Valiants big league training camp. There was a learning curve in the HAA and Fontnato managed just 10 goals and 28 points in 53 games with the Lancers. However he was impressive in his defensive assignments and was added to Montreal's playoff roster as part of the black aces -the emergency backups ready in case of injury to a regular. The Valiants were swept in four straight games in the semi-finals by the Hobie Barrell led Detroit Motors, but Fontinato made his NAHC debut in game two of the series and impressed Montreal coach Ted Grafton enough that the 21-year-old remained in the lineup for each of the final two games of the series. Fontinato did not record a point, but he also did not look out of place. Now the challenge comes to earn a full-time job in the NAHC and perhaps even join his 1957 CAHA draftmates Moggy and Barrell as a star in the pros. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but one thing appears to be clear - Perry Fontinato will definitely be a part of the Montreal Valiants training camp come September. And perhaps one day we will look back and remember each of the top three picks of the '57 CAHA draft.  RECENT KEY RESULTS
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 06/09/1963
__________________
Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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03-09-2025, 11:32 AM
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#1095 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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June 17th, 1963
JUNE 17, 1963 Kings Sweep Stars, Open 4.5 Lead Things went from bad to worse for the Los Angeles Stars, as after getting swept by the Cannons at home, they got swept by the Kings in Kansas City, and lost the next two in Cincinnati. Thankfully, they battled back and swept the double header, but when the dust settled, they were 4.5 behind the red-hot Kings. Kansas City took advantage of having Gene Bailey (11-0, 2.53, 69) on the mound, as the month-away-from-23-year-old has decided that losing is overrated, and he can only pitch in wins. It wasn't even his best outing, as the Stars got 10 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks, striking out 8 in a complete game win. He was tagged with two homers, both courtesy of Ed Howard (.321, 6, 16), but spot starter Red Richards (3-2, 1, 8.56, 18) was hit hard. The 25-year-old allowed 8 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), and 4 walks with 5 strikeouts, chased out after 5.1 innings. With a healthy lead, Bailey was able to pitch through his issues, getting plenty of support from Al Farmer (2-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B, 3B) and Tom Hicks (1-3, R, 2 BB, 2B), plus a crazy 0-for-0 game from Bill Denney (.228, 2, 22) where he had three walks, a sac-fly, and two runs scored, putting together a solid game despite not having an official at bat. Game two didn't have nearly as much scoring, but early on it looked like it could be. The Kings kicked things off with Bob Burge's (.285, 3, 21) solo shot in the 2nd, while Hank Williams (.345, 20, 59) got his second double in the 3rd, scoring promptly on Ken Newman's (.278, 11, 38, 4) RBI single. LA answered back with single runs in the 4th and 5th, as both Ralph (.312, 16, 43, 6) and Charlie Barrell (.261, 6, 37) had RBI singles to tie it. From then on, the pitching took command, as both Cal Johnston (3-3, 4.58, 54) and Jack Halbur (7-2, 2.46, 59) each went 7 with 2 earned runs. Stoppers Ted Ferguson (7-4, 8, 3.07, 46) and Del Lamb (4-2, 9, 3.08, 48) both threw scoreless 8th and 9th innings, and then Mel Maddox (2-1, 3, 4.64, 19) and Henry Henderson (6-1, 3, 3.31, 24) threw scoreless 10ths and 11ths. The pattern broke with the third reliever, as former Star Fred Myers (2-0, 2, 2.62, 17) decided two innings was light work, and three was better. Abe Kelley (1-2, 2.45, 17) tried to match him, but bench bats Joe Dorch (.340, 4) and Bill Guthrie (.341, 1, 3), setting the stage for leadoff hitter Pat Davis (.297, 7, 40, 11). With two on and one out, the former Kellogg winner put a jolt into one, sending his home fans home happy, and his toughest competitor spiraling. LA will need to get back on track ASAP, and they'll hope that the Canadian teams can help them, or else this pennant race could be decided by the All-Star break. The road trip ends with three in Toronto (33-33), and they'll get an off day after to return stateside. On Friday they start a four game series in three days with the Saints (27-39), giving the Stars two good teams to bounce back against. It's tough facing the two teams with the highest run differentials in the CA in the Kings and Cannons, but instead of getting Dewey Allcock (3-1, 4.10, 26) back, or at least started on a rehab assignment, he suffered a setback and has an unknown recovery. Instead, they'll be aceless at least another week, and with a subpar staff it's a tough hurdle to jump. *** Dynamos Ride Five Game Winstreak, Cut Deficit to Game and a Half *** All the top teams in the Fed are getting hot, while four of the top five teams have winstreaks of four or more, with the fifth winning each of their last two. The Dynamos have the longest one, as their five game winstreak has gotten them with 1.5 games of the first place Pioneers. Detroit took advantage of St. Louis and Washington splitting their series, as the Dynamos won their game with the Miners, split the double header against the Keystones, and won all four hosting the Gothams. 43-20, they're now tied with the Pioneers (43-17) and Kings (43-22) for most wins in FABL, aided by an impressive 12-4 start to June. Despite not winning Player of the Week for the third week in a row, Ray Waggoner (.351, 20, 57) certainly put his best foot forward, going 11-for-28 with a double, 4 homers, 9 runs, 12 RBIs, and 3 walks. His monster week included a 4-for-4 in a 15-4 thrashing of the Gothams. This included 2 homers, 8 RBIs, 4 runs, and a walk, as he reached all five times he got up to the plate. Ed McNaughton (13-28, 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 10 R, 3 BB, 2 SB), Dick Tucker (8-26, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB), and Joe Holland (8-24, 3 R, HR, RBI, 7 R, 6 BB, 3 SB) got in on the fun, as Detroit had no issues scoring runs. Ironically the pitching wasn't great, but 22-year-old Dave Irwin (7-2, 2, 3.19, 27) had about as good a spot start as you can ask for. It was the former Forester fourth rounders sixth career start, and he held the Gothams to 4 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts in an 8-0 shutout. They had about everything working, as they continue to put pressure on the first place Pioneers. St. Louis played an extra game with a pair of double headers, though along with Washington they split with Boston before a four game sweep of the Millers. St. Louis continues to pitch well, with the Frenchy Mack (8-2, 1.18, 77) and Steve Madden (10-1, 2.22, 49) duo continuing to work wonders. Mack had some bad luck, errors cost him his second loss, but over two months into the season and no non-Pioneer pitcher in the Fed has an ERA that isn't more then double his microscopic 1.18 (354 ERA+) in 99 innings. Surprisingly, he's not leading the Fed in strikeouts, Jorge Arellano (3-5, 4.01, 83) and Bob Ball (10-1, 2.54, 81) both have more, but unless things change drastically, Mack should run away with his second straight Allen award. The offense is starting to pick up too, as St. Louis now has four double digit homer hitters in Danny Davis (.356, 16, 44), Bob Bell (.361, 13, 38, 3), Jerry Smith (.226, 10, 32, 3), and Steve Schultz (.333, 15, 50). They've got a tough schedule ahead of them too, as the rest of their June games are against the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams. Tales From The Den Wolves Have Another Up Then Down Week The Wolves start the week hot with 4 straight wins then go cold dropping 3 of 4 at home to the Imperials. The week started with a with quick stop off in NY for a short two game series at Dyckman Stadium. Charlie Davidson was the starter in the first game picking up a 10-3 win to run his record to 4-1 for season. Jet lag was not a factor as the bats were alive, rapping out 16 hits off 4 Imperial hurlers, led by Phil Story's 4 for 5 along with Al Curtis' 3 for 5 2 RBI. The next day Tom Reed's return to form continued the next day as he went 3 for 5 to in a 14 hit 6-2 win. Arnie Smith was effective even though his outing was cut short, he was lifted in the sixth when he was obviously tiring on the mound. Home to the Saints on Wednesday the bats continued their hot streak as the Wolves registered their third straight games in which they had double digit hits. The bats started the game the right way scoring 4 on 3 hits, 3 BB along a critical throwing error by Montreal CF Bill Gilman. That was all the support that Bill Medley would need on this day. Medley shut the Saints down through 8 allowing no runs 4 hits before handing the game to the bullpen. His mates tacked on 3 more runs in 7-0 victory. The second of the two game series was also a Wolves win 11-4 led by Tom Reed who went 2 for 4 with 4 RBI including his 9th HR of the year, a 3 run shot in the first. Toronto has 5 HR in a 16 hit attack against Montreal's staff. The team had be feeling good when NY came into town for 4 game, 3 day weekend series. A crowd of 14539 came out on Friday night to welcome George Hoxworth back from a stint in Buffalo. If management thought that Hoxworth had found his form in AAA they would mistaken on this night. Hoxworth did not make it out of the fifth before giving up 6 runs on 9 hits including a HR. Zeke Blake who is also struggling with the long ball this campaign gave two more HR in his 2 2/3 IP. Turk Ramsey, the CA HR leader, showed no favourites as deposited one in the seats off each pitcher in an easy 8-3 game for the Imperials. An all too familiar scene played out for Wolves fans on Saturday night. Leading 3-2 after 8, Jimmy Pepper, recently promoted to higher leverage situations, could not hold the lead giving up 3 runs on 4 hits blowing a save for second time this year. Sunday's two games started out well for the Wolves with Davidson continuing his strong recent performance with a complete game 4-0 shutout aided by 3 run fifth when Jesse Taylor launched his 11th HR of the year with Charlie Harvey on second after Davidson had helped himself with a sac fly. The nightcap was another a late inning nightmare for Hohlt. In a game where neither SP was effective, Fred Williams gave up 8 earned in 6 1/3 while Arnie Smith was touched up for 7 in 6 2/3. Toronto still held the lead after 7 complete 8-7 until Pepper got caved in for the second time in 3 days when the Imperials came to bat in the eighth. Two singles, two walks, a sac fly led to 2 runs giving the Imperials a 9-8 win taking 3 of 4 from a previously hot Toronto team.
CHAMP GALLESHAW SET TO DEFEND TITLE AGAINST HARD-HITTIN LEIVERS It was just two and a half years ago when these two warriors first squared off for the crown. That night, Leivers was ahead on the cards before an unfortunate series of low blows saw him disqualified in the sixth round, handing Galleshaw the victory. Now, the Manchester mauler is back, and he’s got one thing on his mind—revenge. Galleshaw, the 27-year-old powerhouse from Syracuse, has been a dominant force in the heavyweight ranks. He first claimed the title in 1960 and successfully defended it five times before losing it to Bert Parks in late ’61. But true champions don’t stay down for long—Galleshaw stormed back to reclaim the belt with a bruising stoppage of Walt Phillips last November and followed that up with a February TKO over Will Flowers. With a professional ledger of 36-2-1, he remains one of the most formidable men in the fight game today. Leivers, meanwhile, has done anything but fade into the shadows. The Englishman boasts an eye-popping record of 51-3-1, with a staggering 46 knockouts to his name. He first held the world title back in ’56 but lost it in his second fight on American soil. Since his disqualification loss to Galleshaw, he has returned to Europe, where he has rattled off eight straight knockouts, proving he’s still one of the most dangerous punchers in the sport. But this week, the battle moves back to New York. Can Galleshaw cement his reign with another successful defense, or will Leivers finally claim the title that eluded him two and a half years ago? One thing is certain—Bigsby Garden will be rocking when the bell rings.  UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 06/16/1963
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Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-10-2025 at 10:08 AM. |
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03-14-2025, 08:59 AM
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#1096 |
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June 18th, 1963: Special Draft Edition!
JUNE 18, 1963 1963 Draft Edition Another year, another draft, though for 1963, all 25 rounds will be done in June. With the expansion teams joining, the draft has been adjusted, but there are plans of bringing the lottery back for 1964. For now, the picks will be in order of record, alternating between Continental and Federal. As a reward for breaking the loss record, the Imperials get to pick first in each round, selecting Tony Nava from Valley State to kick off the first round. With a class filled with top-level arms and FABL GMs propensity for selecting pitchers, 12 of the first 20 picks come from the mound, with all 12 coming in the 16 picks between 4 and 19. High schoolers dominated the draft as well, with 14 of the first 20 picks taken from the high school ranks, including 4 of the top 5. This leave room for a lot of variability in the picks that hit, especially with 8 of them prep pitchers. FABL GMs were clearly chasing upside, but the first round came and went without much surprise. You can read a report on each of the twenty players selected in the opening round below: New York Imperials 1st Round, 1st Overall: 2B Tony Nava School: Valley State Gunslingers 1963: .428/.571/.836, 203 PA, 22 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 43 RBI, 54 SB Career: .428/.571/.836, 203 PA, 22 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 43 RBI, 54 SB Expected for a while to be the first player selected, the Imperials made it official on draft day, selecting Cuban superstar Tony Nava with the first pick of the 1963 draft. Moving stateside to Phoenix to become draft eligible, the 19-year-old impressed out in Cuba, and then came over to hit .428 with 10 homers, 43 RBIs, and 54 steals. 20 in October, the speedy Nava has impact potential at the plate, and since he's used to tougher competition, he was able to excel in an unknown environment. The hard worker captured an impressive 42-to-8 walk-to-strikeout ratio, as not only can he hit the ball a mile, but he's not going to go chasing, knowing that if the pitcher isn't going to challenge him, he can just take the free base. With his speed, he can get to second quickly, and aside from his throwing arm, it's hard to find a weakness is his game. He projects to have elite power, an elite eye, and a few ticks below elite contact, as he laces line drives to all fields. As close to a surefire star as you can get, Nava might be better then a few Imperials already, but for the sake of his development, it may be best to let him ease into professional ball this year, before pushing for a debut next season. Minneapolis Millers 1st Round, 2nd Overall: CF Frank Bradshaw School: Plantations College Patriots 1963: .309/.380/.541, 250 PA, 11 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 49 RBI, 37 SB Career: .299/.362/.542, 743 PA, 36 2B, 18 3B, 30 HR, 146 RBI, 98 SB There were some rumblings that the Imperials would take Frank Bradshaw instead of Tony Nava, but instead the most developed prospect of the draft class will go second to the Millers. Bradshaw now has a chance to join John Edwards (.256, 11) in Minneapolis as they look to avoid the FABL loss record. A three-year starter at Plantations College in Rhode Island, Bradshaw hit 10 homers each year, totaling 84 extra base hits with 183 runs, 146 RBIs, and 98 steals. As a junior, he walked (26) more then he struck out (24), and he's about as plug-in-play to the lineup as it gets. A skilled hitter and defender, he's got an extremely high floor and ceiling, even if the ceiling at the plate is a little lower then Nava. Bradshaw projects to be the better contact hitter, with the ability to maintain averages around .330, but the power doesn't compare. It still should be above average, and even now he could probably hit 15 or so homers, but much more then that should not be expected. Still, with an elite hit tool and a great eye, he's going to be a middle of the lineup hitter, unless you want the speedster batting right at the top. His footspeed plays well in center, where he should be among the better defenders even with a more average arm and error ability. In some seasons he'd be the clear cut #1, but this is an extremely deep class where most teams will be satisfied with their first selection. Dallas Wranglers 1st Round, 3rd Overall: CF Joe Clayton School: Richmond Colonels 1963: .429/.535/.886, 172 PA, 13 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 47 RBI, 7 SB Career: .441/.517/.729, 696 PA, 61 2B, 9 3B, 31 HR, 170 RBI, 27 SB Being selected with the 3rd pick in the draft was a nice birthday gift for Joe Clayton, who turned 18 just two days before the draft. More of a project pick then the guys before him, Clayton is an extremely raw prospect, but he's got one of the highest offensive ceilings in the pool. An intimidating 6'3'' slugger, Clayton was a four-year letterman at Richmond High School in Kentucky, and he slugged 16 homers as a senior. It was third among draft eligible prep bats, and his 1.421 OPS was good for second. The type of hitter who can put on a show in batting practice, he puts a jolt into everything he makes contact with, and when he hits the ball it goes high and far. Tape measure home runs are expected, and with a plus eye he knows which pitches to swing at. Despite his youth and raw talent, he has an advanced approach at the plate, allowing him to work the count and frustrate opposing pitchers. There may be some swing-and-miss in his game, something the Wranglers will look to work on, but it's clear to see why he was such a highly touted prospect. While listed as a center fielder, he's going to have to shift to a corner spot, making the development of his bat that much more important. If all goes to plan, he'll be an elite hitter, something Dallas could really use as they look to establish themselves in the Continental. Los Angeles Suns 1st Round, 4th Overall: LHP Pete Meissner School: Youngsville Eagles 1963: 11-0, 113.1 IP, 0.79 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 20 BB, 185 K Career: 11-0, 113.1 IP, 0.79 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 20 BB, 185 K The last expansion team took the first pitcher, as the Los Angeles Suns hope to have gotten their ace of the future in 17-year-old Pete Meissner. A guy who sort of came out of nowhere, Meissner had a near perfect high school season, a perfect 11-0 with a 0.79 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts. The six foot lefty is known for his excellent movement, as nothing he throws is straight, and most of his pitches get beat down into the ground. A four pitch pitcher, he throws a lot of hard stuff, though he doesn't usually hit 90. His sinker is his go-to, and it gets plenty of groundball outs, but he mixes in a fastball, cutter, and change as well. The change projects to be elite, and will determined his FABL success, as it could be the offering that helps him rack up the strikeouts. Right now he has some control issues, but that's expected to improve as he matures. Right now he doesn't always hit the zone, but his command is solid, as when he misses it's not over the plate. A potential rotation fronter, he's not expected to have any attribute that's even average, with plus marks across the board. This includes stamina, where he's already shown the ability to pitch deep into games. With 113.1 innings in 16 starts, it's hard to get him out when he's going, and Suns fans are already salivating over a rotation led by him and last year's #1 pick Joe Conner. Montreal Saints 1st Round, 5th Overall: RHP Roy Wheeler School: St. Gregory Greyhounds 1963: 9-3, 119.1 IP, 1.21 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 26 BB, 182 K Career: 9-3, 119.1 IP, 1.21 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 26 BB, 182 K The first non-expansion club to make a pick, the Montreal Saints added Chicagoan Roy Wheeler with the 5th pick in the draft. A righty with a deep six pitch arsenal, Wheeler stared for St. Gregory, going 9-3 with a 1.21 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. Another high stamina high school arm, he sits in the same 87-89 range as Meissner, also offering a fastball, cutter, and sinker. The difference, of course, is the depth of offspeed offerings, as Wheeler is known to fancy a slider, curve, and change as well. All useful pitches, the change is predicted to be the most lethal, but despite the modest pitch speed his fastball impresses as well. The reason for it is the movement he's able to generate, as his pitches are tough to make quality contact on. He commands the zone well, and with quality stuff he's able to generate a lot of swings and misses on his pitches. A smart kid too, it should serve him well on the mound, and he had an academic scholarship waiting for him if baseball didn't work out. Of course, it's worked out so far, and Montreal has the makings of a future ace. With a rotation ranked 8th in ERA, that's an area in need of upgrade, but they have no shortage of talented young arms, from current rotation mate and 29th ranked prospect Juan Quintana (5-6, 4.04, 61), to last year's first rounder Ellis Porter, who current ranks as FABL's 13th best prospect. Boston Minutemen 1st Round, 6th Overall: RHP Bill Dunlop School: Carolina Poly Cardinals 1963: 11-3, 134 IP, 2.22 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 34 BB, 128 K Career: 11-3, 134 IP, 2.22 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 34 BB, 128 K The run of pitchers continued with pick six, as the Minutemen took the first college pitcher in Bill Dunlop. Nicknamed "The Tobacco Twister," Dunlop was excellent as a junior at Carolina Poly, finishing 11-3 in 20 starts with an impressive 2.22 ERA and 2.27 FIP. That 2.22 ERA is the lowest among draft eligible college pitchers, and he had a nice 1.11 WHIP and 3.8 K/BB to go with it. A hard-worker and durable righty, Dunlop is one of the most advanced pitchers in the draft, and that certainly enticed the Minutemen when they selected him. A four pitch groundballer, his sinker, splitter, and curve are already FABL level, and all four pitches have at least plus potential. His splitter is downright nasty and the change "twists" when thrown, giving him two potential dominant out pitches. He gets plenty of whiffs on everything, and his sinker is useful for generating groundballs. With plenty of movement and great stuff, the only thing left is the control, which for a lot of young pitchers is what stands between them and success. Dunlop's got a head start, he's probably has at worst Gene Bailey (11-0, 2.53, 69) level command, and the two share a lot of similarities. The arsenal isn't the same, Bailey is a fastball/slider dominator, but they keep the ball on the ground, pitch deep into games, and have nasty stuff. Dunlop doesn't throw as hard, the key difference, but he could end up fronting a rotation in no time. Toronto Wolves 1st Round, 7th Overall: SS Jack Goodman School: Western Florida Wolves 1963: .316/.394/.538, 254 PA, 11 2B, 6 3B, 9 HR, 43 RBI, 65 SB Career: .308/.387/.508, 899 PA, 37 2B, 19 3B, 28 HR, 166 RBI, 180 SB One of the most exciting players in the pool, Jack Goodman is an acrobatic shortstop who would probably win a Diamond Defense award if he was on a Fed team. Instead, he and Carlos Jaramillo (.283, 2, 24, 16) will compete for the award once he gets to Toronto. Next to Bradshaw, he's got the highest floor in the class, as even if "Jack Rabbit" never improves his offensive skills, he'd still be a useful starting shortstop. A level above elite at defense, he's also an outstanding base stealer and runner, and he's even faster then Jaramillo. He has more power too, both extra base and home run, but Goodman doesn't have the same high contact tool. The fleet footed Goodman hit 9 homers as a freshman and junior, with 10 bombs in between. The real prize was his base stealing, with 56 or more in each of his three seasons. A captain in the infield too, it's hard to find a weakness with his game, but at the plate he doesn't have the upside of Nava, Bradshaw, or Clayton. Likely a .270 hitter, he should draw some walks, and he has a nice and smooth swing that should lead to a lot of balls in plays. That's where his speed really takes over, as he puts a ton of pressure on the defense. If all breaks right, Toronto will have the shortstop position on lock for a decade, solidifying a position that's been in flux since franchise icon Charlie Artuso was shipped off to the Chiefs during the 1949 season. New York Gothams 1st Round, 8th Overall: RHP Marty Billman School: North Branch Vikings 1963: 9-2, 116.1 IP, 1.08 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 27 BB, 168 K Career: 9-2, 116.1 IP, 1.08 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 27 BB, 168 K Another one-year high school standout, as the New York Gothams went with the almost-18-year-old Marty Billman. A potential innings eater, Billman struck out 168 hitters in 116.1 innings, finishing 9-2 with a 1.08 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. A three pitch pitcher, Billman's best pitch right now may be his splitter, but the change is projected to surpass it. Both potential plus-plus offerings, he's got a useful high 80s fastball too, and he has excellent raw stuff. The control has looked good so far, and it is expected to improve as he matures. Another hard worker, he spends a lot of time perfecting his gameplans, and he's able to adjust to however opposition hitters approach him. While not as flashy as some of the other top arms in this pool, his steadiness could make him one of the better picks. His mix of command, movement, and stamina give him a high ceiling, as he'll have to rely less on his stuff and velocity to succeed. He is still a raw prospect, and any high school arm comes with plenty of risk, but with some work he has all the tools to anchor a rotation. Cincinnati Cannons 1st Round, 9th Overall: RF Edwin Viramontes School: St. Ignatius Lancers 1963: .271/.367/.548, 365 PA, 18 2B, 6 3B, 19 HR, 60 RBI, 4 SB Career: .271/.356/.500, 947 PA, 45 2B, 17 3B, 37 HR, 169 RBI, 11 SB A guys some teams were shocked to see fall, being a right fielder may have caused Edwin Viramontes to slip in the draft. Like Tony Nava, Viramontes is Cuban, but he was born in Ohio and spent most of his life stateside. An imposing 6'4'' slugger, Viramontes bashed 19 homers as a junior, and the three year starter collected 37 homers for the Lancers. A bat first outfielder with a middling arm, he's probably best in left, but in a pinch he could cover center. Power is the most exciting part of his game, but a lot of that is more projection based on his build. His swing is pretty, likely leading to an average around .300, and when he makes contact he's able to put barrel to ball like few others. Though the best tool may be his eye, as he could walk 80 or more times a season when it's all said and done. As a line drive hitter, expect him to make plenty of impact when he's in the batter's box. Even though Cincinnati already has an elite outfield with Joe Case (.322, 11, 33, 8), Bonnie Chapin (.320, 12, 42), and Dallas Berry (.272, 12, 47, 4), the best available strategy is a good one, and the Cannons may have ended up with a star at 9th. Chicago Chiefs 1st Round, 10th Overall: RHP Augie Hicks School: Monroe Hurricanes 1963: 10-0, 104.2 IP, 0.69 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 15 BB, 182 K Career: 10-0, 104.2 IP, 0.69 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 15 BB, 182 K One of the top high school pitchers, Augie Hicks finished 4th among draft eligible pitchers for ERA, an impeccable 0.69 in 104.2 innings. Paired with his 9-2 record, 0.73 WHIP, and 182 strikeouts, he was one of the most dominant young arms in prep ball. A young, 6'3'' righty, his groundball tendencies will work well at Whitney Park, as he tends to attack hitters with his high 80s fastball. The overall stuff isn't great, but he projects to have an elite change, making up for his third pitch, and average slider. Where he excels is pitch movement, as nothing he throws is straight, and it's tough to elevate any of his offerings. This will allow him to get a ton of whiffs, so if he can live on the corners he'll be tough to solve. Command is the key, but with athleticism and height I have to imagine he'll end up comfortably in the 90s. A projectable pick, he's the next in a large line of potential aces, and despite being 17 he looks more developed then your average high schooler. There's a reason he dominated the Georgia prep leagues as a senior, and he could join an excellent future Chiefs rotation led by 10th ranked prospect Roy Brandt (2-0, 3.35, 23) and last year's 13th pick and current #28 prospect Larry Gifford. Chicago Cougars 1st Round, 11th Overall: RHP Hub Russell School: Dupont Manual Crimsons 1963: 6-0, 73.2 IP, 0.73 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 12 BB, 130 K Career: 6-0, 73.2 IP, 0.73 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 12 BB, 130 K Chicago teams will go back-to-back in each round, but I doubt each round they'll go back-to-back with right handed high school pitchers. Splitting time between the rotation and pen, Hub Russell appeared in 15 games (9 starts) as a senior, going a perfect 6-0 with a matching 0.73 ERA and 0.73 WHIP. He had an even lower 0.42 FIP, striking out 130 with just 12 walks and a single home run. A sinkerballer who sits in the 88-90 range, he does an excellent job keeping the ball in the park, and OSA calls his go-to offering "off the charts" with his other three offerings at least decent. What could make him the ace the Cougars are hoping for is his potential command, as he wields each of his pitches well, keeping them away from the center of the plate. Working in his favor, he's one of the more developed pitching prospects, especially when it comes to getting weak contact. He doesn't seem likely to give up too many hits, and with a good defense behind him, he can really shine. Chicago's Continental team is known for strong defense, currently 2nd in the association in zone rating (+25.3) and efficiency (.718), so if Hub can get to Chicago, it could be an excellent fit for him. Pittsburgh Miners 1st Round, 12th Overall: RHP Cy Boyd School: Brooklyn State Bears 1963: 9-5, 132.2 IP, 3.05 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 46 BB, 117 K Career: 19-9, 258 IP, 2.72 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 85 BB, 236 K Back to the college mix, the Miners decided to stick with pitching, selecting Brooklyn State ace Cy Boyd. A two-year starter, Boyd was best as a sophomore, where he went 10-4 with a 2.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 119 strikeouts. Boyd finished his college career with 39 starts, a strong 19-9 with a 2.72 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 236 strikeouts. As a Pennsylvania native, being selected by the Miners might be an ideal location, as his birthplace is just west of Pittsburgh and right by the international airport. He might not have to wait too long to pitch for his hometown club, as the groundballer could be a quick riser up the ladder. The stuff and control could use some work, but he gets a lot of movement on his pitches, and excels at generating weak contact. His arsenal is led by what could be a dominant splitter, and his other four offering project to be solid pitches. Sitting in the mid 80s, he's not likely to put up huge strikeout numbers, if he ends up with control issues he should be able to erase plenty of runners with ground balls. Another top pitcher for the Miners, they're the only FABL team that boasts two top-10 pitching prospect, with recovering 1962 first rounder Dan Wilson at 4, and last year's first rounder Jack Kotarski at 9. Boyd seems unlikely to join them, but he should give them another top-100 pitching prospect as they look to snap their 20+ season pennant-less streak. Cleveland Foresters 1st Round, 13th Overall: RF Andy Babel School: Spartanburg Baptist Rebels 1963: .293/.370/.591, 311 PA, 13 2B, 6 3B, 19 HR, 66 RBI, 4 SB Career: .300/.377/.570, 822 PA, 35 2B, 16 3B, 43 HR, 160 RBI, 12 SB The Ohio teams didn't pick back-to-back like the Illinois ones, but like the Chicago teams they ended up with similar players. Cincinnati got slugging college right fielder, while Cleveland got one of the same in Andy Babel. Babel was tied with Viramontes in homers too, blasting 19 in year three. Where the similarities stop is the defense, as despite spending most of his time in right field, he's an outstanding defender. Babel has outstanding range and a killer arm, and if he gets to a ball, chances are he catches it. Otherwise, these two are pretty similar right now, as they're middle of the pack for speed, boast tremendous power potential, and currently they're pretty similar offensively at this point. Viramontes may have more offensive upside, hence why he was taken a little earlier, as Babel can be too aggressive, leading to a feast-or-famine approach. While he has a lot of time to grow, he seems to be a three true outcomes type, and to succeed as a starter, he needs to meet his lofty power potential. With his defense, he's already at least fourth outfield quality, and he seems like a pretty safe pick for a team that does well with outfielders. Philadelphia Keystones 1st Round, 14th Overall: RHP Jerry Robins School: Admiral King Admirals 1963: 9-2, 118 IP, 1.30 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 29 BB, 190 K Career: 18-4, 235 IP, 1.23 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 56 BB, 359 K Back to the prep ranks we go, as the Keystones went with towering righty Jerry Robbins. A skinny, 6'5'' righty, Robbins sits comfortably in the high 80s, but with his size it looks even faster. On top of that, he's likely to add velocity as he matures and his wiry frame fills out. A four pitch pitcher, he's a raw pitcher with a big gap between ceiling and floor, but he has a few things working in his favor. Along with his height, he's shown the ability to pitch deep into games, and his arm angle is tough for hitters to make contact with, and he often gets them to dribble over or pop up pitches. A guy with no obvious flaw or strength, he does pretty much everything good enough, and that's more then enough to carve out a solid career. While not quite an ace, he's the next step below, and still a very useful member of rotation. He has the profile for major improvement too, so while he's not the most high upside arm now, he could easily pass some of the players taken ahead of him. as high school pitchers are the riskiest draft asset, and impressive physical tools give you a better chance to beat the odds. Los Angeles Stars 1st Round, 15th Overall: 3B Chris Candelario School: Rice Raiders 1963: .440/.517/.640, 174 PA, 17 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 41 RBI Career: .446/.518/.663, 353 PA, 31 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 84 RBI Just the second high school bat taken, switch hitting third basemen Chris Candelario will head to the west coast, joining the Los Angeles Suns at 15. A bit of a surprising pick, Candelario had a nice varsity career at Rice, but he doesn't have the big power you usually associate with a corner bat. It's likely average, but with his size and athleticism he could fill out more as he ages. Where he excels is his approach, as he's got an above average eye and a well above average hit tool. Likely able to maintain high averages, it's really hard to best him at the plate, as not only does he always have the hand advantage, but he's a line drive hitter who doesn't seem to chase. In his two season career he drew 44 walks to 16 strikeouts, and despite his lack of speed he hit a lot of doubles. He's got the arm to stick at third and decent enough range, but he doesn't make enough plays. He's slow on his double play turn and boots a few too many balls, but both of those can be improved on as he develops. A raw hitter, Candelario comes with plenty of risk, but the upside is still evident. I think his success will be all about the pop, as a 10-homer version of Candelario may struggle to find playing time, while a 20-homer version could get quite comfy at the hot corner. Washington Eagles 1st Round, 16th Overall: RHP Sam Cooper School: Downey Grizzlies 1963: 8-1, 90.2 IP, 1.19 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 18 BB, 128 K Career: 15-2, 181.2 IP, 1.09 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 32 BB, 255 K Back to the prep ranks we go, as Sam Cooper starts a run of four consecutive high school pitchers. The newest member of the Washington Eagles spent two seasons on Downey's varsity team, an impressive 15-2 with a 1.09 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 255 strikeouts. A crafty six pitch pitcher, he doesn't throw very hard, but he pitches deep into games, keeps runners close, and generates weak contact. The overall stuff isn't overpowering, though his knuckle curve could be a legit out pitch, as his success will rely more on his control. It's his best asset, as he locates his pitches well, and thrives on the edges of the plate. If everything comes together, the California kid could develop into an impact starter, giving the Eagles a wealth of young pitching. Each of their top two prospects are pitchers, and their top three starters in Washington are 27, 24, and 22. With a lineup led by Tom Lorang (.364, 16, 57) and George Whaley (.323, 9, 53), they have the offense under control, and I wouldn't be surprise if the Eagles continue to target pitchers in the early portion of the draft. Kansas City Kings 1st Round, 17th Overall: LHP Marty Yates School: Kenly Panthers 1963: 9-3, 123.2 IP, 1.16 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 27 BB, 183 K Career: 40-6, 462.2 IP, 1.36 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 102 BB, 661 K Some part of "Big Tex" might have been hoping that he'd become a Wrangler, but it's hard to find a better spot to succeed then on a team that has Hank Williams (.345, 20, 59). A Jacksonville, Texas native, Marty Yates is a big and strong Texas kid, pitching in all four years of his high school career. His record dropped a bit as a senior, but most impressively he saw his ERA decline each season, while his WHIP either stayed the same or fell. A durable innings eater, he's another prep arm who seems destined for a few velocity bumps, though he currently sits in the 86-88 range with both his fastball and sinker. Rounding out his five pitch mix are a curve, circle change, and straight change, with the two changeups his most impressive offerings. Scouts are split on his stuff, some expecting big things while others think it will be more modest, but what can be agreed upon is his talent. Another potential rotation fronter, the lefty has a quirky windup and nice move to first, and he could give Kansas City yet another talented young pitcher. Detroit Dynamos 1st Round, 18th Overall: RHP Sam MacDonald School: West Philadelphia Speedboys 1963: 11-0, 106 IP, 0.93 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 26 BB, 180 K Career: 22-0, 214.2 IP, 0.84 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 48 BB, 360 K A perfect 22-0 in high school, Sam MacDonald will look to keep that winning streak going, joining the Detroit Dynamos with the 18th pick. A hardworking pitcher, MacDonald turns 18 in October, and has a solid four pitch mix. Sitting in the 89-91 range, he throws three types of fastballs (fastball, sinker, cutter) and an off-the-charts change that should be his go to pitch. Able to generate a ton of whiffs, his pitches move a lot, able to fool even some of the more disciplined hitters. When he's on, he's almost unhittable, but the only issue is he's not always on. If his stuff isn't sharp, he can get beat around, and he may end up allowing more then his share of home runs. A raw, projectable pitcher, he's got a large gab between his floor and ceiling, but there's plenty to like about him. With great movement and stuff, he could overcome poor command, and it's clear why OSA thinks he's one of the many future aces available for FABL teams to draft and develop. San Francisco Sailors 1st Round, 19th Overall: RHP Fred Waguespack School: St. Ann's Steamers 1963: 8-0, 86 IP, 1.36 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 16 BB, 93 K Career: 15-3, 192.2 IP, 1.54 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 36 BB, 207 K The first real surprise of the draft, the reigning Continental pennant winners went with right hander Fred Waguespack. One of the older high school players, he turns 19 in August, and spent two seasons pitching varsity for St. Ann's. A soft-tossing groundballer, the stuff is a big question mark, as his arsenal may not be good enough for the rotation. The lack of stuff might be a slight advantage though, as it's really hard to elevate or drive his pitches. Relying heavily on his sinker, he's one of the best available arms in terms of groundball abilities, and if you put a great defense behind him he'll roll up ground out after ground out. The movement is great and the command is impressive, but none of his pitches are expected to be much better then average. Still, the Sailors organization has done a great job developing pitchers, especially pitchers other's tend to doubt. Despite that, I still see stopper instead of starter, and he'll either need to improve his pitches or add a fourth to fill a rotation. St. Louis Pioneers 1st Round, 20th Overall: CF Marty Young School: Tyler Apaches 1963: .460/.524/.921, 164 PA, 21 2B, 5 3B, 11 HR, 44 RBI, 12 SB Career: .449/.510/.733, 729 PA, 78 2B, 13 3B, 25 HR, 176 RBI, 46 SB Finishing off the first round, the reigning champion Pioneers broke the pitching trend, selecting outfielder Marty Young. A guy some scouts thought would go in the top-10, it's shocking Young dropped as far as he did, and it could be a perfect fit for the Pioneers. An extra base machine, Young led all draft eligible players in slugging and OPS (1.445), knocking 37 extra base hits in just 33 games. While his defense positions him for a corner role and not center, the bat is more then good enough, as he should hit around .300 with great discipline and a chance for above average power. Right now, it's more a projection then a likelihood, but the 18-year-old outfielder should be among the leaders in doubles. He's got a lot of room to grow, but his approach and line drive tendencies work in his favor, and with a great outfield St. Louis can take their time with him. With Jerry Smith (.226, 10, 32, 3) now 34, he's nearing the end of his career, which should coincide with Young's projected development. It could be a seamless transition from the 10-Time All-Star to Young, who could be the next All-Star outfielder to grace the grass at Pioneer Field. *** Others to Watch *** 2nd Round, 21st Overall: LHP Gil Hamilton (New York Imperials): A polarizing pitching prospect, some scouts have concerns about Gil Hamilton's stamina, while other's are enamored by his overall body of work. A 21-year-old from Ruston Tech, Hamilton started 27 of his 29 appearances with the Ramblers, finishing 15-3 with a 2.27 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 172 strikeouts. A groundball pitcher, he features a wicked sinker that's already good enough to fool FABL hitters. His fastball and change are nice too, but what really stands out about Hamilton is his command. Ranked third among draft eligible college pitchers with a 3.5 K/BB in 1963, he has a great feel for the strike zone. In a brand new system, he's got a great chance to be the top ranked Imperial pitching prospect right after he signs. 2nd Round, 24th Overall: LF Jim Thurman (Los Angeles Suns): The perks of being bad in a deep draft year is you get at least two chances to nab a first round talent, allowing you to hedge your bets. After taking a risk and grabbing the first pitcher of the draft in potential ace Pete Meissner, the Suns then went out to get a big bat at 24, adding outfielder Jim Thurman. 20 on July 7th, he skipped a grade to attend Mile High State early, and was a starter in all three of his college seasons. Hitting over .300 each time, he ended with a .310/.361/.470 batting line. The highlights of his career include a 12 homer season as a sophomore where he drove in a personal high 59 runs. The power is at least average, but his best asset is his hit tool. He should be able to hit over .300, as while he's not an elite contact hitter he can hit any pitch to any field. He drives the ball with authority, something most Suns can't do, and he could quickly earn a spot with breakout infielder Bill Burke. 2nd Round, 30th Overall: SS John Butts (Chicago Chiefs): There are only four players that OSA states has "5" infield range. There are only two players with "5" infield range. John Butts has both. One of the most interesting prospects in the draft, Butts could be an elite defensive shortstop or center fielder, even if he does make a few more errors then he should. That is what happens when you can get to almost any batted ball as he can, and his speed, athleticism, and versatility give him a very high floor as a utility player. At the plate, he can hold his own too, projected to provide above average contact. In college he spent three seasons with El Paso Methodist, batting .300/.356/.497 with 29 homers, 46 steals, and 171 RBIs. 3rd Round, 48th Overall: SP Angelo Pike (New York Gothams): In some drafts, a pitcher like Angelo Pike would get taken as a reach in the back-end of the first round, but in 1963 he was a value pick in the 3rd Round. A projected mid-rotation starter, Pike burst on to the scene as a freshman at New Miami High School in Ohio, a perfect 10-0 with a 0.82 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts. Pike walked just 14 in 98.1 innings, and finished his four year career 33-6. A three pitch starter, he leads with a low 90s sinker, allowing him to serve up plenty of groundballs. His stuff is a work in project, but he's good at limiting damage and keeping runners off base. Always in the weight room, he's seen his velocity jump four points since freshman year, and with his workout routine he could end up in the mid 90s when he's in his early 20s. 4th Round, 63rd Overall: SS Ernie Pyle (Dallas Wranglers): Quality shortstop prospects were few and far between in this graph, and it took all the way until Bill Williams went 23rd as the Wranglers second round pick. They grabbed a second two rounds later, selecting four year starter Ernie Pyle from Amsterdam High School in New York. Splitting time between short and third, Pyle appeared in 155 games, hitting .444/.490/.713 with 79 doubles, 23 triples, 21 homers, and 184 RBIs. Splitting time between short and third, he's got the arm and range for both positions, but his double play turning needs some work. Since Williams is such a good defender, they could choose to shift Pyle to third right off the bat, as Dallas looks to build the left side of their future infield. 5th Round, 82nd Overall: SS Diego Vazquez (Minneapolis Millers): A natural shortstop, Diego Vazquez was a prospect that garnered a lot of interest from FABL teams, one of the most versatile players available. Eventually going to the Millers in the 5th Round, the Cuban born Vazquez started a game at every position but pitcher and second base in his three years at Ohio Poly. Set for his golden birthday on July 21st, the speedy righty even caught a game, though most of his play came on the grass. Excellent at short and third, and he's looked good in both outfield corners. Already a useful bench piece, he could work his way up to Minneapolis quick, and he's a useful high floor pick for the young franchise. 6th Round, 114th Overall: 2B Sam Carpenter (Philadelphia Keystones): No draft eligible player hit more balls out of the park then Henry Hudson's Sam Carpenter, who launched 22 as a junior. The three year starter logged 49 in his time with the Explorers, hitting a strong ..265/.339/.480 in 963 plate appearances. A big power bat, he's got an all-or-nothing approach, and when he connects he does plenty of damage. Always in the weight room, the 20-year-old will continue to bulk up and add muscle, and his power potential could make up for his other shortcomings. He's not much of a defender and won't hit for a high average, but in the 6th he's more then worth rolling the dice on. 7th Round, 137th Overall: LHP Joe Page (Kansas City Kings): It's not often guys like Joe Page are available in the 7th Round, but with the seemingly limitless choice of high school pitchers allowed a guy OSA calls a "back of the rotation starter" to slip past pick 100. A four year starter in high school, the towering 6'8'' lefty broke out as a junior, 9-1 with a 1.03 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 144 strikeouts. He set many personal bests, and finished his prep career 31-8 with a 1.58 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 464 strikeouts. Big enough to suit up for the Centurions, Page is able to generate an absurd amount of downward movement, giving him the potential to lead in groundball rates. His mid-80s sinker is his best offering, but the four pitch mix needs plenty of fine tuning. Back him with elite infield defenders and he could look like an All-Star. He just has to be willing to put all the tools together. 8th Round, 151st Overall: LHP Alex Perry (Chicago Cougars): If I told you the pitcher with the best stuff right now was a guy with a 8.23 ERA and 2.25 WHIP last season, who then lowered it to 6.54 and 2.09 this season, you'd probably call me crazy. But just hear me out. Alex Perry is that guy. Sure, he can't hit the broad side of a barn, but when his pitches aren't right down the middle, you can't hit them either. Or you get hit. It's an adventure whenever he pitches! A six pitch pitcher, all of them are outstanding, and the hot stuff sits in the 95-97 range. He can overpower guys with his fastball, while mixing five devastating swing-and-miss pitches. You can't sit on anything and that's the best part. You just have to catch up to the fastball or get lucky on a poor breaking ball, otherwise your striking out, walking, or getting hit. 9th Round, 174th Overall: RF Levi Murdock (Philadelphia Keystones): Few had as big of a power jump as Harrisburg State's Levi Murdock, as after two seasons with 6 home runs, the 6'3'' outfielder clubbed 13 with 12 doubles, 72 runs, and 65 RBIs. It was the Jersey natives first .300 season too, as he slugged .310/.335/.478, upping his Hornets line to .301/.327/.432 in 169 games. A guy who never saw a pitch he didn't line, the free swinging lefty won't ever maintain a high on-base percentage, but a 25 home run hitter can be valuable without walks. An aggressive hitter, he generates a ton of bat speed with impressive raw power, but he will be in for a rude awakening once he faces even A ball pitchers. A projectable bat first prospect, he provides a lot of value this late in the draft, providing their envious Phelps-Dellinger-Miller outfield with a force off the bench. 10th Round, 192nd Overall: C Art Lee (Pittsburgh Miners): Gone are the days where high school players hit .500, so when Art Lee hit .484/.530/.642 it turned a lot of eyes. A towering 6'4'' catcher, Lee has a nice swing, and his aggression allowed him to take advantage of lesser pitchers. Combined with good plate discipline, he's never an easy out, as he'll work the count and fight off tough pitches. With his frame you'd think he'd one day be able to hit home runs, but the power potential is all theoretical. On the younger side, he just turned 17 in May, and he has the drive to stay in shape. He has plenty of time for it all to eventually click, and with plus framing and blocking he's the perfect organizational piece. 11th Round, 213th Overall: LHP Chet Bell (Cleveland Foresters): Only one draft eligible pitcher struck out more then 200 batters, but unlike his 207 strikeouts, there were 212 players taken before him. A side-armed lefty, Bell doesn't have the upside of some of his draft mates, as the command isn't great. His 40.6 K% is 6th among draft eligible pitchers with more then 70 innings pitched, finishing his two-year varsity career with 226.2 innings, 395 strikeouts, and a 21-1 record. Scouts think the command will hold him back, but Cleveland will look to harness the young lefties stuff and take advantage of his movement. Below is the complete list of players selected in the first 12 Rounds of the Draft: 
 New York has made it no secret that star slugger Turk Ramsey is available for a trade, looking to part with the lone bright spot of their offense for a collection of young prospects. What they're finding out is that it has always been a great challenge for FABL GMs to find a trading partner when dealing a top level quality veteran hitter, and even more so if he is a first baseman/corner outfielder. First thing I have noticed when teams try to move one is you really only have a small handful of potential trade partners for such a deal. Now at 28, Ramsey is certainly not old, but really only a handful of teams are considered contenders. Among those that are not, rightly or wrongly, will almost never be willing to part with top prospects as they are looking towards the future. If he was a 28 year old pitcher it would be a slightly different story, but even for arms it takes a team with a need and the belief it is a contender. That leaves the Imperials with a very limited number of teams that feel they can win and as such might be willing to deal a good chunk of the future for a star. Star pitchers we seem to move, and pay for, but not as much with hitters. You need to find not only a team that thinks it is in the running, but also one that needs a 1B/corner OF bat, and finally has, and most importantly is willing to, part with the prospects you would want in return. So who do you have right now that might fit that criteria? In the CA lets say there are six contenders as I would not think Toronto considers themselves a contender and Montreal is 12 games below .500. This leaves: Cleveland - a veteran team that is getting old quickly and has limited young talent on the way. If they were right in the mix at the moment maybe a deal for Ramsey makes sense as a sort of last gasp at another title but they are 9.5 games back and maybe a rebuild is in the very near future so it would probably be hard to justify dealing young assets for a 1B-LF, even one as good as Ramsey. Cincinnati - they haven't been as willing to make moves, but even if they would they have a 21-year-old 1B in Mark Boyd who looks really good and three good OFers. You can cross them off the list San Francisco - No doubt Ramsey would help their offense and be an upgrade on John Griffin but are they willing to part with the prospects you would want? Maybe their 1B solution can be found in house in CF prospect Harry Myers, who is likely no more than a year away, and would allow them to move someone like perhaps Hackberry to 1B. Plus they are 7.5 games out with 3 teams ahead of them. It may not be in their best long-term interest to deal prospects unless they feel Ramsey alone is the missing piece they need. Cougars - Their GM has certainly not been afraid to deal for star players and the Cougars are still within shouting distance. He has a good collection of prospects so perhaps there is an opportunity there but if he was interested I expect you would have heard an offer by now. LA Stars - They have some prospects but they also already have two power bats in Charlie Barrell and Lou Allen so they may not feel Ramsey is the piece they add. LA also has a another potential power bat in 25-year-old Miguel Paniagua, who is likely close to ready so perhaps if they need more offense they give him a shot. They already lead the CA in runs scored so I am not sure a bat is their concern. I would think the Stars are buyers as the deadline approaches but likely the need is another starting pitcher, not a power bat. Kansas City - With Hank Williams at 1B and some pretty solid outfielders I would not expect them to want to move a prospect like Johnnie Higgins or Platon Daniels. They would be more likely to want to move a veteran pitcher like Fred Washington, Beau McClellan or maybe even Jack Halbur (unlikely now with his strong start to the season) but you would want youth in return. In the Fed you probably only have 3 teams that fit the bill of contenders unless Chicago or Philadelphia are feeling very optimistic. Washington - they already have George Whaley at first and moved Joe Holland to Detroit because they had no room for another first baseman/corner OF. They lead the Fed in runs right now and if they are going to move pieces from a minor league system that ranks 18th out of 20 I would expect it to be for an arm. St Louis - this is your best bet in the Fed. The Pioneers could use an upgrade at 1B for sure but they have plenty of power already in the lineup in Davis, Bell, Smith and Schultz. Their strength is their pitching and it is so good they may not need to upgrade at first base. They do have some prospects but does it make sense to part with someone like Harry Johnson? Detroit - always active, the Dynamos added Joe Holland, who I would say grades out fairly close to Ramsey, and is a couple of years younger. Now money and the fact he was forced out of a starting role in Washington made the deal more attractive, as Washington sent Holland and veteran C Brad Kelyon to Detroit for a rule 5 pickup, a backup catcher and a marginal pitching prospect ranked around 300 by OSA plus cash. The deal made sense for the Eagles because they wanted to cut expenses and those guys would not start in Washington but I cannot imagine the Imperials would be willing to move Ramsey for such a return. SUMMARY The only likely trade partners I can see are St Louis and maybe the Chicago Cougars. With little demand, the guess for the return would be one very high rated pitching prospect and likely at least one more top 100 guy. Limiting things is the fact the precedent has been set very recently with the return Washington received for Joe Holland. If the price is lowered, maybe a team like the Keystones, who could have a need and a long history of power bats, becomes interested enough in doing a deal. That then changes the calculus, as maybe the lowered price means it no longer makes sense for the Imperials to deal their one real star. I am not arguing that Ramsey is a terrific player, but in this league elite corner outfielders/first baseman have not traditionally received a huge return, and when they do it generally is because a team was willing to go all-in on a pennant push and has a need. This means the right fit is often not there and perhaps this is one of the many cases when someone shopped a very good player but found no takers. Maybe we'll circle back to this one after the All-Star break, but for now it appears new Imperial fans will have plenty of time to watch their favorite player hit tape measure home runs.  DIXON PROMOTED TO GM BY DYNAMOS Long-time Leader Tiger Fan To Take Reduced Role Dixon joined the organization as Tiger Fan's right-hand man in 1946 and has been the AGM ever since, although he did assume the GM role during the Dynamos great run of the 1950s when the league went into a fast forward and Detroit won 6 pennants and 4 World Championship Series titles. Dixon made some controversial moves like dealing fan favourites Edwin Hackberry and Stan Kleminski during the peak of their careers, but it paid off and he added players such Ray Waggoner and Paul Anderson that has kept the club competitive for well over a decade. Dixon is also credited for shrewd drafting that brought players such as Joe Reed and Ed MacNaughton to the Motor City. Tiger Fan has been a general manager since joining the Brooklyn Kings prior to the 1926 season and also made a stop in Cincinnati before joining the Dynamos in 1946. He has a career record of 2316-1907 and steps down as the winningest active manager in FABL history. He is not credited for the Dynamos titles as Dixon was in charge at that point but did win 7 pennants and 3 WCS titles during his time with the Kings and Cannons. He is said to be stepping back in order to focus more on his role as General Manager of the hockey Detroit Motors and there are rumours he may assume a similar role for Rollie Barrell's long struggling Detroit Maroons football club. With Tiger Fan at the helm the Motors have won five Challenge Cups in the past ten years and boast a number of exciting young players led by scoring sensation Hobie Barrell, Rollie's nephew. Tiger Fan will still remain a part of the Dynamos as club owner Powell Thompson Jr. explained what the new Vice-President role will entail. "While Harris (Dixon) will handle all of the day to day activities of the club, Tiger Fan will oversee the organization and have final say on staff hiring and trades as well as play a key role in the draft. Harris Dixon has certainly proved his worth to this organization and has more than earned the opportunity to take on this expanded role. Between Dixon and skipper Verlin Alexander the Dynamos have solid leadership for the future." While Tiger Fan would not comment on the decision making process, it is believed that it was his decision alone to take a step back from the organization. Some suggest he was "burned out" after nearly four decades in the game and had considered stepping away entirely until discussions with his long-time friend Thompson convinced Tiger Fan to remain with the organization in a reduced capacity. Tales From The Den A Look At The Wolves The Lineup With the Wolves season about two-fifths complete Brett takes a look at the 1963 season. Through 66 games the team sits 33-33 which while not an improvement the record is also not a step back. The team currently sits in 7th, 10.5 games behind KC. The team has been, in Manager Hohlt's favourite word, inconsistent not being able to put together an extended winning streak to keep them in the CA race. The team's longest winning streak has been 5 games from May 2nd to 5th. They also had a winless streak of 4 a week later, from May 12th to 15th. The normal routine of '63 has been win 2 or 3 followed by a streak of loses of the same number of games. Offensively the teams is generally sitting in the middle of the CA pack except for one surprising stat. Wolves lead the CA in round trippers with 85 along with being second in total XBH with 191 tied with Chicago, one behind the Stars. The team is definitely swing at the plate, at times at bad pitches, as they are almost dead last in getting on base with walks. Toronto has only gone to first on 4 balls 185 times in 2522 trips to the plate only the Imperials have received less free passes. Early on the team has been led by a Reed, surprisingly it was Chick not Tom, Chick has cooled a little of late with a season line of .307/.365/.519 after hitting over .400 into mid-May. Tom's bat has begun to return to life after an uncharacteristic abysmal start. Ed Savage's bat continues feast on pitchers, enough for Hohlt no to comment on his misadventures in the field. Any ball hit to right has the fans wondering about the result of the play. Jesse Taylor's power has been a pleasant surprise, he is tied for second on the team with Sid Cullen in HR with 11, six behind Chick Reed. Rusconi has been a disappointment behind and at the plate. His line of .222/.249/.305 in 173 PA appears that it will be replaced in the starting lineup at C by Al Curtis. If Curtis stays behind the dish the team has a decision to make on veteran Dixie Williams. Charlie Harvey is another vet who is on thin ice with a batting average below the Mendoza line. An unproductive LHB is not a luxury this team can afford if they want to become a factor in the CA. Going forward the team has to hope Tom Reed improves both at the plate along with in the field at his new position at 1B. *** Wolves select Jack Goodman with 7th Pick *** A brief note on the Wolves' first pick in the amateur draft that is ongoing, Jack Goodman. Goodman was selected 7th overall after spending 3 season playing SS in college at Western Florida. Goodman is touted to be an excellent defender at short who needs time develop at the plate. At age 20 the scouts see Goodman starting in Vancouver after he puts his name on a contract. The team has hopes that Jack along with Willie Day, 18, will become a formidable double play combination in the FABL in the last half of the Sixties. The Pitching If offense thus far in 1963 is achieving over expectations then pitching has been far below the level fans and management had hoped for in the first 66 games. With a staff led by Arnie Smith, Phil Colantuono, George Hoxworth gave the team a supposed strong core that should be able to keep the team in almost every game even with below average hitting. With the exception of Colantuono, 8-4, 2.75 154 ERA+, that has not been the case going into June. Smith, Allen Award winner in 1960, has been hot and cold with cold being more common in his 15 starts. He has winning record 5-3 the ERA of 5.06 is at least 2 runs per game above expected, his strikeout rate is down although the biggest issue has been the rate at which batted balls are falling for hits. Batters are hitting .313 on balls in play up over 30 points from last season. If Smith is an issue the bigger issue has been Hoxworth's 2-6, 9.42, 45 ERA+ in 10 outings. Hoxworth was so bad he was sent to AAA for a period. It looked like he had found success in Buffalo going 3-0, 1.75 in 4 starts giving the team hope that his problems were behind him. He was recalled last week, his start was orchestrated to face the Imperials at home with 5 days of rest. He did not perform well even with what Hohlt thought would be a stacked deck. Hoxworth did not make it out of the fifth before giving up 6 R, 9 H only raising the concern throughout the organization. His next start is at home against the Stars on Wednesday, he will have both Hohlt, pitching coach Max Monell on the top step of the dugout for every pitch. The other two starters Bill Medley, 6-6, 4.20, 101 ERA+, rookie Charlie Davidson, 5-1, 4.32, 98 ERA+ have been at least at an expected level if not a little better for the 9th in ERA CA starting staff. The Wolves need both Smith, Hoxworth to return to form quickly if the Wolves are to move up the standings. Hohlt knew he has a bullpen problem last year, Zeke Blake was effective until he ran out of gas in late July 1962. Hohlt thought the solution was to move Lee Loeffler to relief to give him at least two solid arms to bring in in 1963. Blake has not bounced back, with BB being a problem leading to a 4.50 ERA with 14 BB in 28 IP. Loeffler has not adapted well, so far, to relief work with walks plaguing him along with 6 blown save chances. Hohlt has constantly juggle roles in the 'pen looking for the key to success, which has remained hidden into June. Bob Campbell, a recent recall after being a late cut in the spring, may start getting more high leverage chances for a bullpen that ranks 6th in CA with an ERA of 4.18 which is 7 tenths of run better than the starters. Hohlt would tell you that both ERA's were expected be well under 4 at this point of the season. One thing that Hohlt has definite done in his second season is markedly improve the play behind the pitchers. Many believed that part of pitching problem was porous defense. Hohlt's constant stressing of, working on fielding has yielded positive results, The Wolves have made the least errors, 34, in the CA. They are not elite as a team but lightyears ahead of former Wolves teams that looked like the Keystone Kops in the field, Ed Savage is the biggest liability in the field, the team tried to unsuccessfully move him to first base in the off-season, Hohlt cannot take his bat out of the lineup. Savage continues to work in the field with Miyake, there have not yet been noticeable results from the work. POLLOCK SIGNS EXTENSION WITH DUKES Montreal Goalie Bannister Inks Record Deal The Humboldt, SK., native began his career with the old Brooklyn Eagles in 1946-47 and was named McCleod Trophy winner that season as the loop's top newcomer. Brooklyn folded at the end of that season and Toronto selected Pollack in the expansion draft. He has been the heart and soul of the Dukes ever since, winning nine McDaniels Trophy's as league MVP and leading the NAHC in scoring eight times. Last year he finished second to Detroit's Hobie Barrell in the scoring race but still amassed 79 points. A month ago the six-time Challenge Cup winner was selected to the league's first All-Star team for the record 10th time and last season he surpassed Tommy Burns to become the NAHC's all-time scoring leader. Pollack has 1,266 points and needs to add 27 goals next season to his total of 537 to tie Bruns for the all-time goal scoring lead. *** Bannister Inks Record Deal *** Perhaps surprisingly Pollack is not the highest paid player in the NAHC. The $71,000 deal he just signed with Toronto would not even have been highest this past season either as Boston's Jimmy Rucks was paid $73,000 this year - the first of a three season deal for the Bees all-star winger. Rucks had been the league's highest paid player until last week when the Montreal Valiants signed goaltender Nathan Bannister to a two-year deal worth a record $85,000 per season. The 33-year-old Bannister led the NAHC in wins last season and won his third Juneau Trophy as the top goaltender in the league.Bannister had been pushed hard for playing time in the Montreal net by 30-year-old Tim Burrows, who like Bannister is a former first round draft pick. Bannister has played the vast majority of the games in recent seasons including being in net for 50 of the 70 games in the season just completed. With both goalies looking for large raises this year the Vals backed up the Brinks truck and fully committed to Bannister, so much so that they felt they could not meet Burrows' contract demands and it sounds like the 30-year-old will not be back in Montreal next season. The challenge for the Valiants, who say they do not plan to offer Burrows a contract unless he greatly reduces his salary demand, is to find a trade partner before Burrows signs with a team in the Great Western Hockey League. If that happens Montreal will get nothing in return for Burrows, who despite limited playing time behind Bannister, is still considered one of the best goalies in the league. Teams retain the NAHC rights to a player even if not tendered a new contract but the coast loop does not need to abide by those rights and can sign a player who is not currently under a contract to an NAHC team, whether he is on a protected list or not. 
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03-18-2025, 11:02 AM
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#1097 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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June 24th, 1963
JUNE 24, 1963 Pioneers, Dynamos Set to Settle Score in Detroit Just one game separates the St. Louis Pioneers (46-20) and the Detroit Dynamos (47-23), and after four games at Thompson Field the top of the Fed could look different. Washington (46-29) won't be in first, they're four and a half games out and scheduled to play one in Philly (41-33) and three in New York (25-44), but they'd love to watch the two teams ahead of them beat up on each other. St. Louis has the best pitching in baseball, as somehow two weeks before the All-Star Game Frenchy Mack's (10-2, 1.00, 98) 1.00 ERA in 117 innings is at least half of every other qualified pitcher. The next lowest ERA is Washington's Jim Stewart's (8-4, 2.36, 59) 2.36, as the Pioneer ace has lapped the competition. Almost guaranteed back-to-back Allens, he's coming off shutouts of both the Eagles (3 H, 2 BB, 9 K) and Chiefs (4 H, 4 BB, 12 K), and he'll actually miss the battle for first. Even with Charlie Blake's (5-5, 5.96, 65) high ERA they have four solid starters going, and both Steve Madden (10-2, 2.39, 57) and Danny Daniels (8-5, 2.69, 77) should join Mack at the All-Star game. The lineup doesn't lack for star power either, as Danny Davis (.341, 17, 50), Bob Bell (.368, 14, 39, 3), and Steve Schultz (.329, 17, 54). Detroit has the stronger lineup, but this group can provide more then enough runs needed for the win. Mack isn't the only one the Pioneers will be without, but while Mack will be ready to host the Chiefs (41-29), Jerry Smith (.233, 10, 32, 3) will be out the rest of the week. The 34-year-old outfielder is dealing with forearm tendinitis, opening up time for Ray O'Connor (.115, 1) or Curt Harrington down in AAA Oakland. O'Connor is an excellent defender, and filled in while Bill Bather (.297, 8, 24, 9) was out last season. If they want more offense, Continental Home Run Leader Turk Ramsey (.304, 24, 63) is more then available, and with as many spots locked in as they have most of their prospects could be dispensable. Detroit doesn't seem likely to pursue a bat like Ramsey, as they're tied with Washington for the most amount of runs scored (427). The Ray Waggoner (.356, 20, 59)/Joe Holland (.314, 21, 53, 6) duo has been superb, allowing the rest of the lineup to take a breath and play their game. If Brad Keylon (.307, 3, 26) takes over behind the plate, they won't have a single hole in the lineup, and there is enough depth to survive an injury or two. They've pitched well too, getting solid starts from their front four. Just Paul Anderson (9-4, 3.69, 45) will miss the series, with John Jackson (5-3, 3.46, 49), Earl Shields (7-3, 3.01, 64), and Jim Norris (9-2, 3.74, 65) ready to go. This series is certainly winnable at home, and the increase in games played has caused the Pioneers to slow their pace. *** NAVA REPLACES GRADUATED PHELPS AS #1 PROSPECT *** Somewhat expected, 1963's #1 prospect Tony Nava is now BNN's top ranked prospect, as the top four prospects come from the recent 1963 draft. New York's newest Imperial, Nava looks to be a superstar in the making, and with a smaller system the highest he likely goes this year is Class B. The Imps, and all other expansion teams, only have three minor league teams in year two, as they don't have enough depth to field multiple low minors teams yet. Many thought Frank Bradshaw might have been #2, as the second pick is set to report directly to AAA Charleston. A college standout, Bradshaw could be FABL ready as soon as next season, but he still needs now work finding his position. The third ranked prospect will eventually join 19-year-old John Edwards (.271, 2, 15) is some capacity, as Minneapolis' current center fielder could eventually show case his arm in right. Edwards and Bradshaw both have the range for center, but Bradshaw's speed seems to give him the overall advantage. If he shows he belongs in AAA to finish the season, he can do just what Edwards did this year, and make an Opening Day lineup in his first full seasons. Between Nava and Bradshaw is Boston hurler Bill Dunlop, who snuck ahead four of the guys drafted in front of him. "The Tobacco Twister" is a legit talent nonetheless, boasting all the tools of an ace. The nickname comes from his perfect change up, and he's one of the hardest workers in the class. One of the many top arms, Dunlop could skip some of the low minors and run an expedited trip to the minors, ready in two or three seasons to be the rotation fronter they so desperately need. In total, six of the new top ten come from this years draft class, with Edwin Viramontes the fourth and final member of the top four. An intimidating presence with impressive power, it's fitting he ended up with the Cannons, as he could challenge Joe Case (.317, 11, 34, 8), Bonnie Chpain (.324, 14, 49), and Dallas Berry (.277, 15, 52, 6) once he reaches his lofty potential. 4th pick Pete Meissner (7th) and defensive specialist Jack Goodman (9th) join the top-10, with 7 more in the top 25. Below is a list of all top-100 draftees and the first rounders that rank outside.  Detroit, who just saw the guy in charge of drafting take a step back, led the way with four draftees ranked inside the top-100, though all four are outside the top-50. 4th Rounder Joe Talley is the only one outside the top-100, checking in at 230th. This accounts for all but one of their five top-100 prospects, so their 19th ranked system is lower then everyone except Washington. Continuing to lead the system rankings in the Miners, who have the top ranked prospect to not be selected in this draft. That's the 5th ranked Dan Wilson, who despite recovering from rotator cuff surgery is expected to be one of the game's top pitchers. Pittsburgh enters the week with four top-25 prospects and 8 top-100 prospects. With 164 points, they lead the Imperials (139), Wolves (129), Saints (121), and Gothams (116). Only Montreal lacks a top-10 pick, with 5th pick Roy Wheeler leading the way at 20. A Look at the Graduated Top-10 Prospects: LF Bobby Phelps (#1 Overall): Philadelphia Keystones: The former #1 prospect, Bobby Phelps has been the Keystones everyday left fielder, hitting .238/.329/.431 (105 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 13 homers, 32 RBIs, 40 runs, and 34 walks. What's been most impressive is his outfield defense in left, where he's produced a 6.1 zone rating and 1.098 efficiency. The power is looking great too, but he's not finding the holes he's used to finding. Just 20, he should eventually hit for a high average, but it's clear his game still needs a little work. 1B Mark Boyd (#2 Overall): Cincinnati Cannons: On track for a 30-home run season, the almost 22-year-old Mark Boyd ranks 6th in the Conti in OBP, slashing .290/.410/.494 (138 OPS+) with 15 homers, 38 RBIs, 50 runs, and 49 walks. The 6'4'' outfielder was taken 4th in 1959, but has filled in at first to get his bat in the lineup. One of the most disciplined hitters already, he has four more walks then strikeouts (45), and this is in spite of him batting behind the three guys that took his outfield spots. An early candidate for the Kellogg, Boyd already looks like a star, and he's already an important part of the second ranked offense. Boyd made 21 appearances last year, so he was the first here to graduate, and he's already totaled 24 homers in 92 career games. LF Dode Caudill (#3 Overall): Chicago Cougars): Another starter since Opening Day, Dode Caudill has appeared in 71 of the Cougars 73 games this season. Worth just shy of 2 WAR (1.8), the 24-year-old has hit .289/.347/.487 (123 OPS+), logging 11 doubles, 7 triples, 10 homers, 32 RBIs, 43 runs, 25 walks, and 7 steals. An all-around contributor, Caudill is an impressive athlete, a rare mix of power and strength, he should be able to hit a lot of homers and steal a lot of bases, but it's taken him a little longer then the average star to get to where he is. Not yet among the top at his position, he has a lot of development ahead of, and the Cougars could use a big second half from him to spark their pennant run. C Henry Woods (#5 Overall): Montreal Saints: Arguably the top performer of this group, Henry Woods exploded in May, slashing .449/.490/.730 (222 OPS+) with 7 homers and 21 RBIs. He hasn't quite came near that in the other two months, but the 20-year-old catcher has an elite .352/.423/.601 (171 OPS+) batting line. Knocking 12 doubles and 13 homers with 33 runs and 41 RBIs, Woods has been more then just good for a catcher, and if he maintains this pace he'll win the Kellogg. I think the long season will eventually take it's toll on him, but he should start at catcher for the CA in the All-Star game, and he's already a top-3 catcher at the onset of his FABL career. CF John Edwards (#6 Overall): Minneapolis Millers: It was a slow start to the year for John Edwards, but the now 19-year-old outfielder has celebrated his birthday month with a strong offensive showing. A member of the 54-loss Millers, he's hit .346/.424/.531 (150 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 2 homers, 9 RBIs, 10 runs, and 11 walks in 21 June games. Hitting just a middling .271/.360/.369 (93 OPS+) overall, he'll need to string a few more hits together, but he's walking (36) more then he strikes out (30), and has absolutely no protection in the lineup. The work in center has been rough, and with the addition of the 3rd ranked Frank Bradshaw, they might consider giving him the occasional start in right. RHP Marco Middleton (#7 Overall): Cincinnati Cannons: The only pitcher to start on the active roster, Marco Middleton has started all 13 of his appearances this year after relieving each of his 7 last year. He's been better as a starter, as the 20-year-old is 7-4 with a 4.13 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, and 79 strikeouts in 93.2 innings pitched. Despite how good he's looked, there have been thoughts of moving him to the pen to conserve innings, with graduated 16th ranked prospect Moe Powell (2-1, 3, 2.31, 20) slated for turns in the rotation.   Tales From The Den Wolves Homestand Shows Results Toronto is finishing up a 15 day, 15 game stay at Dominion Stadium. With 3 games left against the Sailors the team is 8-4 after going 5-1 over the past week. On Monday the Stars were in to start a 3 game set, on a chilly evening Bill Medley had an unexceptional outing going the distance, despite a half hour rain delay in the sixth, win run his record to 7-6 with a 3-2 win. Jesse Taylor, who went on to win the POTW in the CA, provided al the offense with a 3 run shot in the 5th off Ted Ferguson. That was his 12th HR of the season. For the week Taylor slashed .474/.474/.947 1 HR 9 RBI continuing to swing a hot bat. The next night, another cool, windy one, the Wolves dropped their only game of the week. Colantuono put his team in a position to win before he left in the 8th leading 2-1. Hohlt handed the ball to Jimmy Pepper who immediately gave up the tying run after a Lou Allen doubled to right followed by a seeing eye infield single by Bobby Garrison then a fielders' choice on a hot smash to third by Bob Griffin scored Allen. Pepper was touched up for 4 more runs in the ninth on a walk, single, double, single before Loeffler came to finish of the inning in which LA ran 7 runs across the plate in a 9-2 win. Hohlt was visibly upset in the dugout when what was a close game turned into a rout before a chilly crowd of under 10000. Toronto won the rubber match of the series in a wild 8-7 win on a more seasonable Wednesday night. Hoxworth was staked to early 4-0 lead when Story, Chick Reed hit back to back homers to start the game. This was not enough for Hoxworth who continues to struggle, he left after 6 giving up 5 runs on 5 hits, 3 walks, which actually lowered his ERA to 8.82. Stars took 7-6 lead after scoring 2 in their half of the eighth before Ty Rusconi singled in Dixie Williams for a walk win after Williams' double had scored Tom Reed from first to tie the game. Hohlt looked stressed but relieved after the 8-7 win brought the Wolves' record to 35-34. After a rare Thursday day off the Wranglers were in town for a weekend series. Charlie Davidson shutout Dallas on 3 hits Friday night although walks were an issue, as he allowed 7 over 9 innings. His mates cashed in for 7 runs on only 8 hits with Al Curtis hitting his second big fly in the fifth. Arnie Smith, who seems to be tiring early of late, left the game before the end of 5 holding a 5-1 lead on Saturday. The Wolves stretched the lead to five before the bullpen almost gave away another game with Pepper bailing out Loeffler to hang on for a 6-4 win. Ed Savage got to double digits in HR with a 2 run blast in the third inning. Bill Medley gave the bullpen a rest on Sunday to complete the sweep with second complete game of the week in a 9-2 win before Sunday afternoon crowd of 13215. Wolves are now 38-34, in 5th place 9 games out. Hoxworth has been sent back to AAA, with Jim Jackson recalled to try to help the relief corps. Jimmy Pepper will be placed in the rotation to see if he can give a boost to the front end. He started 24 games in 1962 going the distance four times. In another move Clyde Fisher has been activated from the DL after missing 8 weeks with a severe hip strain. He will platoon with Cal Wells for at least two weeks. Charlie Harvey was DFA, placed on waivers, on not a surprising move by the front office. Harvey, 35, is another LHB of which the Wolves are overstocked. In 74 trips to the plate this season he is slashing .191/.243/.397, his 4 HR may attract some interest on the waiver wire. Jack Goodman, a SS who Wolves selected 7th overall, will begin his pro career next week in Vancouver. He is the #9 ranked prospect in the FABL. The team's 2nd round pick, Joe Glenn, a right handed starter is ranked #29. Glenn will start with Tuscaloosa in what many expected to be a short stay. The front office predicts that Glenn will be heading to Vancouver in July.
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 06/23/1963
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Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-18-2025 at 12:39 PM. |
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03-19-2025, 12:05 PM
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#1098 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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July 1st, 1963
JULY 1, 1963 Dynamos, Pioneers Enter July Tied, Begin Month in St. Louis Both the Dynamos and Pioneers are playing some of their best baseball right now, but since the Dynamos were better in Detroit, they've managed to tie the Pioneers atop the Fed. Winning three of four, including a major 16-2 thrashing of Billy Hasson (IP, 7 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, K), they've brought themselves tied with St. Louis, winning two more games and losing two more. Technically, St. Louis has the higher win percentage, so they're technically still in first place, but the entire dynamic of the Fed has shifted with this big series win. It started on Monday in a pitcher's duel, where John Jackson (6-4, 3.11, 62) delivered 8 strong innings, scattering 5 hits, 1 runs, and 2 walks, striking out 9 before Bill Follis' (4-3, 9, 4.59, 49) scoreless 9th earned him his 8th save of the season. It's not that Steve Madden (10-3, 2.31, 71) pitched poorly, he allowed 9 hits with 3 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts, but Ed McNaughton's (.333, 11, 49, 8) RBI double ended up the difference in a close game. After this came the 16-2 thrashing, but St. Louis did avoid the sweep with some late inning heroics. After Danny Daniels (8-5, 2.68, 81) and Dave Irwin (7-2, 2, 3.47, 31) duked it out, as resurgent stopper John Gibson (4-2, 14, 1.27, 23) followed up a scoreless 8th to keep it tied with a scoreless 9th to finish it off. In between was Steve Schultz's (.325, 20, 60) team leading 19th home run, scoring three to give Gibson a 5-2 lead he could keep. One of the many big swings Schultz's has given his team, it seemed that he saved the series. In the finale, St. Louis even got on the board first, with two on Jim Norris (10-2, 3.69, 68) before a Dynamo stepped into the box. The only problem was the bottom half, where Joe Holland (.320, 21, 61, 9) doubled home two, and McNaughton doubled home two more. That wasn't it, they got two in the six on back-to-back homers from McNaughton and Dick Tucker (.301, 10, 60), but it was more then enough to come away with the series win. Norris ended up going all nine, allowing 8 hits, 3 runs, and a walk with 3 strikeouts. Detroit left the series ahead by a game, but after just taking three of four from the Suns at home, they actually lost a game as the Pioneers swept right through the Chiefs, knocking them down to 44-34 and nine out of first. Interestingly, they get one more against the Chiefs, a rare five game series, which sets up yet another class with the Dynamos. This time it's four games, a double header on Thursday to finish the series, but St. Louis will be the one batting second. It's a chaotic week for the Pioneers, as before the break they have to play nine games in seven days to finish off 23 games in just 20 days. If anyone's pitching can handle it, it's there's, as the French Mack (11-2, 1.09, 106) picking staff is not one to be trifled with. Lloyd Coulter Blasts 400th Home Run Long one of the top sluggers in the game, even at 35, Lloyd Coulter (.280, 18, 53) can still hit it a mile, and his 17th home run of the season was the 400th in his 14 year career. Just the 8th player to reach the 400 home run mark, Coulter has been a bastion of consistency, appearing in 150 or more games in each of the past six seasons, and he hasn't appeared in fewer then 145 since 1953 (139), the only one of his full seasons he missed significant time. A rare draft-to-FABL bat, Coulter wasn't even a 1st Round pick, but Cleveland made the 32nd pick of the 1950 draft their starting third basemen right when the ink dried. The power wasn't there yet, just 5 homers in 70 games, but he hit a strong .309/.422/.436 (139) and helped lead the Foresters to a pennant and eventual title. Excluding this season, he's now gone on to hit 20 or more homers each year, all with average or better batting lines. In his first full season, he made a Conti high 701 trips to the plate, hitting 25 homers and 73 RBIs with his .275/.371/.419 (117 OPS+) batting line. He spent the next four seasons in Cleveland, finishing with two All-Star selections and two titles, but in a rather shocking and detrimental trade, he was cast off with Al Dyer and cash for young infielder Parson Allen (.227, 1, 15) right before Opening Day. Allen was ranked as the 62nd best prospect, but it was a strange deal even at the time. Appearing in 808 games for the Foresters, Coulter slashed .258/.369/.431 (123 OPS+) with 141 homers and 435 RBIs. Surprisingly, his 141 homers still rank 8th All-Time for a Forester, and he'd be the club leader by now, as his teammate Sherry Doyal (.341, 7, 25) ranks first with 331. Allen meanwhile hit just 3 as a Forester, shipped away to the Stars that offseason with Hooks Bloomquist for a third basemen. The position they should have had locked up for the next decade. Their loss was the Keystones gain, as they have not had to worry about the hot corners since they placed the now 6-Time All-Star there. In his first year in the Fed, he launched a career high 39 homers, hitting an impressive .270/.373/.515 (145 OPS+) with 96 RBIs, 80 walks, and 92 runs. His homer total dipped to 27 in year two, but in each season since he's knocked 30 or more. This includes a career best 43 last year, where he led the Fed with 132 runs batted in. He's not catching Bobby Barrell for the Keystone home run record, but he's comfortably in 5th with 260, and he recently reached the top-10 for RBIs with 748. The next will tie him for 9th, but even if he spent his whole career with the Keystones, Barrell's RBI record would be unreachable too. Granted, success shouldn't be compared to Bobby Barrell, as Coulter has already done enough to enshrine himself in history with the Georgia Jolter. Having turned 35 this April, Coulter enters July with 1,832 career hits, batting a comfortably above average .260/.363/.459 (124 OPS+) in 1,939 FABL games. Along with the now 401 home runs, he took Miller spot-starter Bill Parkhurst (1-4, 6.05, 28) deep to finish the week, Coulter has drawn 1,008 walks, contributing 180 doubles, 1,110 runs, and 1,183 RBIs. An extremely talented hitter, he's shown no signs of slowing down this year, hitting .280/.368/.459 (132 OPS+) through 76 games. A big reason the Keystones rank 1st in homers and 3rd in runs scored, he's got a skillset that ages well, and an outside chance of the elusive 500 homer mark. We won't have to wait too much longer for a 9th 400 home run hitter, as Chiefs slugger Rod Shearer (.248, 10, 48) is two homers away from joining Coulter. Unfortunately, it won't be in the next three weeks, as he's dealing with both shoulder tendinitis and an elbow strain. Like Coulter, he was a 1928 baby, and will turn 35 in October. Unlike Coulter, his home run rate has come down from his prime, as he had a five season run with 35 or more homers, including a Fed leading 48 in 1953 and 46 in 1954. He's got 10 in 71 games this season, and he hasn't gone above 30 since 1959. Once healthy, it shouldn't take him more then a few weeks to club a pair of homers, though he's had just two since May 22nd. June Monthly Awards Announced *** Waggoner, Williams Named Batter of the Month *** As is the case each month, the FABL sports writers name the top players for the month, and this time it was a double u selection. It was Detroit's Ray Waggoner (.363, 21, 64) and Kansas City's Hank Williams (.356, 22, 72) taking home the main awards. Two Whitney candidates, even if Waggoner has his work cut out with Tom Lorang (.359, 17, 62, 5), these two have been some of the best players not just this month, but all season long. Waggoner's big month coincides with the Dynamos big month, as Detroit went 22-9 to stay tied with St. Louis at the top. Despite back spasms popping up at the end of the month, Waggoner turned a middling May into a June jolt, hitting to the tune of .437/.511/.815 (248 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 2 triples, and 10 home runs. Waggoner scored 32 times and drove in 33 runs, drawing 17 walks to just 9 strikeouts. Doing about everything right, the 1962 All-Star should do the same in 1963, as he enters July with a .363/.424/.657 (184 OPS+) batting line. The 27-year-old is tied for the Fed lead with 21 home runs, adding 20 doubles, 3 triples, 64 RBIs, 67 runs, and 32 walks to his ledger. For Williams, it was his second Batter of the Month, as Kansas City's slugger was named the best bat in April too, batting .333/.409/.747 (201 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 8 homers, and 16 RBIs. Hammerin' Hank hit an even better .376/.475/.673 (203 OPS+) in June, clubbing 6 homers with 10 doubles, a triple, 20 runs, 30 RBIs, and 18 walks. Looking to add a 4th Whitney, the most recent Continental winner is maintaining an elevated .356/.443/.676 (194 OPS+), and his 22 homers are two shy of the association lead. Add in 19 doubles, 3 triples, 64 runs, 72 RBIs, and 46 walks, and the talented vet is continuing to do all the things that makes him great. *** Mack, Czerwinski Top Pitchers *** As it seems with nearly every month, no one can come close to Frenchy Mack (11-2, 1.09, 106), who like Hank Williams, has taken home two awards all ready. Despite one of his two losses, June might have been Mack's best month, as he put together back-to-back shutouts and finished 5-1 with a 0.90 ERA (465 ERA+), 0.94 WHIP, 17 walks, and 53 strikeouts. An impressive 11-2 for the season, his 1.09 ERA (384 ERA+) is less then half as high as any other qualified pitcher, while he leads in WAR (5.2), shutouts (5), strikeouts, WHIP, ERA+, FIP (2.22), opponent average (.190), and quality starts (15), while tied with Bob Ball (11-2, 2.83, 102) for wins and innings (124). Well on his way to a 3rd All-Star selection and a 2nd Allen, Mack will make his 16th start this week, taking on the first place Dynamos in St. Louis. Opposite of Mack, Adrian Czerwinski (10-2, 2.22, 79) continues to show that he's still got it, and like Mack he took home the April and June Pitcher of the Month awards. A second perfect month, "The Mad Professor" was a perfect 5-0, boasting a 1.72 ERA (246 ERA+) and 0.73 WHIP with 33 strikeouts and just 6 walks. Continuing to showcase his elite command, he has an excellent 3.0 K/BB in 130 innings, 10-2 with a 2.22 ERA (191 ERA+) and 1.01 WHIP. A 6th Allen will be tough, but the 38-year-old seems to be a lock for his 12th All-Star selection. Not much has gone right for Cleveland this season, as even with ace-level production from their ace they're just 42-39, and will need a lot of help from the rest of the cast. *** Brandt, Boyd Named Top June Rookies *** Just five of his seven FABL starts came in June, but pretty much all seven of 14th ranked prospect Roy Brandt's (4-0, 2.62, 36) starts have been impressive. That's why he took home the Fed rookie award, 3-0 with a 3.15 ERA (132 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 14 walks, and 28 strikeouts. He was actually better in the May starts, allowing just 2 runs on 11 hits and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts in 15 innings. Now 4-0, the 22-year-old sports a 2.62 ERA (158 ERA+) and 1.20 WHIP, as he looks to establish himself in a rotation that needs a boost. The five pitch hurler has great stuff, headlined by a fastball/curve combo, and all the tools needed to pitch at the front or near the front of a FABL rotation. Mark Boyd (.290, 18, 43) took home the hardware in the Continental, though June has actually been his worst month so far. His .269/.384/.481 (127 OPS+) batting line, while still impressive, is his first in three months with an OPS+ that isn't 150, an OBP of .424, and a slugging of .529, but no award came due to Johnnie Higgins' (6-4, 2.91, 80) perfect April and Henry Woods' (.348, 14, 45, 6) astronomical May. In June, Boyd added 7 more homers, 14 RBIs, and 20 walks, as the 21-year-old opens his birth month with 18 homers, 43 RBIs, and 53 walks. A disciplined slugger, Boyd owns a well above average .290/.409/.511 (142 OPS+) triple slash, contributing mightily to the second ranked offense. Looking right at home at first, Boyd is on pace to crush over 30 homers and draw 100 walks in his first full season, establishing himself as one of the top young stars in the game.   Tales From The Den Wolves Finish Homestand, Now on the Road Wolves wrapped up their two week stay in Toronto then began a road trip that extends to the All-Star game. The week started well at Dominion Stadium with the Sailors in town. On Monday the Colantuono led team wrapped up the game early when they scored 7 in the second on an old teammate, Zane Kelly, who shut the Wolves out in the first then failed to get an out in the second. Tom Reed led off the second with his 10th HR which opened the floodgates. Before the dust settled the Wolves had sent 11 men to the plate scoring 7 times on 7 hits, 1 walk. Colantuono went into the 8 innings for his 9th victory of the season. The next evening Charlie Davidson was bitten by what has been problem all season, the base on balls. Davidson gave up 5 runs, 3 earned, on only 3 hits along with 6 free passes and a critical error by Dick Rabkin going only 5 innings in a 7-3 defeat to the Sailors. Davidson's 6-2 record looks good until you delve deeper, he has walked 48 in 89 IP along with surrendering 9 balls that came to rest in the seats. Davidson needs to work with Max Monell on his control in the second half. In their last home game for two weeks Jimmy Pepper's first start of the year was going well until the 5th when SF scored 3 to take a 4-1 lead into the 6th. After Pepper left with one out in the sixth the Sailors feasted on the Wolves relievers, scoring 2 in 7, 2 more in the seventh, then 5 in their half of the eighth to cruise to 13-1 final for the Sailors 43rd win of '63. Fred Clark was touched up for 5 runs in only two-thirds of an inning. The 12573 on hand were not a happy bunch leaving the park to say nothing of Randy Hohlt. The road trip began in Cleveland with a 4 game series that will wrap on Monday July 1st. Arnie Smith started the Friday game at Forester Stadium against Czerwinski who has not lost anything on any of his pitches at age 38. Smith continued his recent poor performance not making out of the fifth before giving up 7 runs on 7 hits. With 5 time Allen Award winner Czerwinski on the hill for Cleveland 1 run would have been enough as he shutout Toronto scattering 5 hits sending 10 batters back to the dugout after striking out. Wolves only highlight was that Sid Cullen extended his hitting streak to 20 games. The next night Bill Medley continued his hot streak winning his ninth of the year helped by a Chick Reed 2 run HR in the first to win 4-1 in a game in which Cullen was held hitless in 4 trips to the plate. Medley has been as hot lately as Smith has been cold on the mound. June ended with a story that has been repeated far to often this year. Colantuono entered the eighth with the game knotted at 2, Hohlt came to get him after giving up a leadoff single to Sherry Doyal. Zeke Blake then walked Tom Carr on a close full count pitch, then the walls caved in. After a single plus Cullen error made it 3-2 the game was delayed 30 minutes due to rain. Blake was back back on the mound after the delay, single, sacfly, single along with a Savage wild toss, strikeout, single Blake was done with the score 8-2. Haygood finished the inning giving up one more run aided by a Fisher miscue for 3 errors in the inning. Cleveland wins 9-2 to put the Foresters 2 games ahead of the Wolves in the standings. The Wolves head into July with a 40-38 record including a 15-13 June. Going forward the team has to right the pitching staff in order to make some noise in the CA. Colantuono, Medley pitching well is not enough coupled with bullpen that is hit and miss with far more misses than shutdowns late in games. Hohlt, Monell have their work cut out for them in the second half. THE STORY OF SKIPPER ATKINS William James Atkins never knew a time when he wasn’t called “Skipper.” It was a name given to him before he was even old enough to understand why. His father, Henry Atkins, had served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II, patrolling the treacherous North Atlantic as part of convoy escort missions. While Henry was at sea, back home in Philadelphia, his wife, Margaret, gave birth to their first and only child in the summer of 1944. When Henry finally returned home in 1945, he took one look at his nearly two-year-old son—already tottering around the house with the confident swagger of a seasoned sailor—and started calling him “Skipper.” It was part habit, part sentiment. Aboard his ship, the skipper was the one who kept things steady, the one the crew depended on. To Henry, his son was the anchor that had kept his family grounded while he was away, and the nickname stuck. The Making of a Pitching Prodigy Growing up in Philadelphia, Skipper Atkins had an early love for baseball, a sport deeply ingrained in the city’s culture. His father, though more familiar with the open sea than the diamond, recognized his son’s natural athletic ability. When Skipper picked up a baseball for the first time at age five and started throwing with a smooth, effortless motion, Henry knew there was something special there. By the time he was in middle school, Skipper was already throwing harder than kids several years older. He joined the fiercely competitive Philadelphia high school baseball circuit, where his name quickly became known. His fastball had a late life to it, like a wave cresting just before it reached shore, and his screwball had a sharp, biting drop that made hitters look foolish. But it wasn’t just his raw talent that set him apart—it was his poise. Teammates and coaches often remarked on how Skipper never seemed rattled. Whether he was pitching in front of a hostile crowd or facing the city’s best hitters in a championship game, he had the same unshakable presence—just like a true skipper guiding a vessel through rough waters. By his senior year in 1962, Skipper was the best high school pitcher in Philadelphia, a city with a rich tradition of producing pitchers selected in the opening round of the FABL draft. Names like Carl Potter, John Edwards, Joe Quade and more recently Arnie Smith were high opening round picks. It was not just pitchers produced by the city said to have a high school league rivalled only by that of Chicago and New York. Names like Ralph Barrell, Al Farmer, John Wells, Denny Andrews and Jim Adams Jr. all got their start in the competitive Philadelphia high school loop. Scouts, always in abundance it seems in the Philly sandlots, were more numerous that usual as they crowded the stands for his games, radar guns flashing, notebooks filling with notes about his near-perfect mechanics and his advanced understanding of how to set up hitters. He had offers from top colleges, but when the 1962 FABL Draft was held that summer, Skipper’s future was decided. Draft Day: A New Journey Begins With the seventh pick in the 1962 Draft, the Detroit Dynamos attempted to repeat history when they draft Carl Potter out of a Philadelphia High School in 1944 -the same year that Atkins was born- called Skipper's name. The Philadelphia kid with the name that hinted at leadership and a calm under pressure was heading to the professional ranks. As he shook hands with scouts and team executives, his father—standing proudly by his side—couldn’t help but grin. “You’ve always been the skipper, kid,” Henry said, giving his son a firm pat on the back. “Now go take command of the mound.” Skipper Atkins was ready to do just that. Present Day: Skipper Has Company in Dynamos Collection of Young Arms Skipper is currently two months shy of his 19th birthday and is pitching at Class B Chattanooga after getting a quick taste of A ball earlier in the summer. Like when Potter was getting his big league career underway in Detroit and the Dynamos were loaded with young arms as they prepared to embark on a dominant run not since since the Boston Minutemen of the turn of the century, the current edition of the Detroit club has four young pitchers ranked amongst the top 100 prospects in the game. High on that list is Skipper Atkins, who hopes to be helping steer the ship when the next Dynamos Dynasty arrives.
LEIVERS BACK ON TOP WITH FIFTH-ROUND KO OF GALLASHAW JUNE 20, 1963 – Gothams Stadium, New York, N.Y. – George Gallashaw (36-2-1, 28 KO) vs. Steve Leivers (51-3-1, 44 KO) – Referee: Frank Blakeslee Much has changed in the six years since Steve Leivers was the heavyweight champ, not only in boxing, but in the world. Leivers was a vestige of previous era of boxing, the European Invasion. Leivers won the title by defeating a fellow Englishman, Joe Brinkworth. The middleweight belt was won later in 1957 by Yohan Revel of France. Other than Lenny Shafto, who had a small cameo as the welterweight champion in 1962, no European has held any championship in any of the three sanctioned weight classes. Leivers and the current champion, George Gallashaw, tangled two years ago in Philadelphia. Gallashaw won by disqualification in the fifth round in what was an even match to that point. The referee in that 1961 bout, Frank Blakeslee, was picked for this assignment as well. Gallashaw came off a bout with Will Flowers in February and his start was concerning to his trainer. Flowers had dominated a couple of the early rounds, and the fight was even until Gallashaw took over late in the fight. There was doubt on whether Gallashaw was past his prime at 27 years old. Both fighters had something to prove, with Gallashaw showing he is worthy to continue to hold the belt and Leivers a chance to turn back the clock at this stage of his career. It was an enticing matchup, as heavyweight fights usually are, and the venue was upstaged from Bigsby Garden to Gothams Stadium to more than triple the seating capacity. Gothams Stadium used to be a second home for the greatest heavyweight champion, Hector Sawyer, for some of his fights. Gallashaw had the upper hand early, popping his jab and keeping Leivers off-balance. Leivers tasted that jab and held his hands high, but he left his midsection exposed. While it may have been more prudent to work the body, Gallashaw went upstairs again and penetrated Leivers’s defenses on a successful hook and a cross that snapped Leivers’s head back and drew blood. Gallashaw kept going and connected on another cross, but he was content to dodge and clutch the rest of the round. Leivers had a cut above his left eyebrow, but being bloodied in the first round is usually a recipe for a tough evening. His corner went to work to repair the cut and patched him up for the second round. Gallashaw continued with a simple, yet successful game plan. The champion was coming right at Leivers with right hands and hard jabs. Leivers had to adjust and waited until the tail end of the second round, when he connected on a hook to Gallashaw’s jaw at the bell to salvage the round. As the third round began, Gallashaw wanted to start fast again, but Leivers launched an offensive as well. Gallashaw ran to meet Leivers and unleashed a combination to the midsection. Leivers quickly countered with an uppercut, followed by a combo and a cross. About halfway through the round Gallashaw re-opened the cut over Leivers’s eyebrow with a hard right hand. As Leivers bled, you might have expected the former champion to change his style. Instead of taking a defensive posture and covering his face, occasionally peeking from the side of his stance, he turned into a man possessed. Leivers connected on a beautiful uppercut that staggered Gallashaw, who countered with a hook. The two men went toe-to-toe. Gallashaw and Leivers threw more punches than you could see. Leivers landed more of them, including an effective hook, a combination, and he capped off his assault with a crushing uppercut. The bell sounded, but Gallashaw did not let it rest. Both fighters continued to throw punches, as Blakeslee had to get in between them. The last time these two fighters met, Leivers was disqualified and now it was Gallashaw who played the aggressor. In the next round, Blakeslee kept a close eye on both men and stepped in often to ruin any momentum either boxer could have generated in that round. Entering the fifth round, Leivers had a look of disgust on his face. He was angry and he was motivated. Gallashaw tried to open the fifth round as he had in every round, by getting the first punch in. Leivers defended well and hit Gallashaw hard with a hook and an uppercut in nearly the same motion. The champion was against the ropes as Leivers fed him another uppercut. Leivers turned his back the ropes, fearless against any possibility Gallashaw would counter. Leivers unleashed a combination that showed Gallashaw to the canvas. Halfway through Blakeslee’s ten-count, Gallashaw waved away the referee, fine to continue. No sooner had Gallashaw stood up than Leivers spun him back into the corner, offering a combination to buckle the champion’s knees and a right hand that struck Gallashaw’s ribs. Leivers was going for it, incidentally in the same round as he was disqualified two years ago. Leivers landed his shots at will, but he had time left in the round to build up to a crescendo. He circled Gallashaw, popped a jab, and continued to maraud around the ring. When he saw his chance, he threw a hellacious uppercut that sprawled Gallashaw on the floor. He could not even rise to a knee before he was counted out. Gallashaw rolled over on his back, staring up at the starry June sky. His belt was gone. Leivers (52-3-1) may have passed his prime, but he had more than enough on this night. After trading rounds, he dominated the fifth round to take the title back. How long he keeps the belt will be an entirely different matter. Gallashaw (36-3-1) is still only 27 years old and still has a boxing life ahead of him. A completion to a trilogy between the two fighters could be a possibility. Leivers could take his title back with him to England and fight in the European circuit for a while. Title fights have consequences. The fighters who show up in the big moments change the trajectory of careers, the trajectory of lives, the trajectory of history. The fifth round tonight was one of those big moments and Leivers showed up. We will see where the arc of where he goes next. BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS Round 1: Gallashaw, 2-0 (1:32 hook/head, 2:00 cross) Round 2: Gallashaw, 2-1 (G: 0:29 right, 2:19 jab; L: 3:00 hook/jaw) Round 3: Leivers, 3-0 (1:38 uppercut, 2:23 hook/head, 2:58 uppercut) Round 4: Tied, 1-1 (G: 1:58 uppercut; L: 0:34 left hook/body) Round 5: Leivers, 5-0 (0:34 uppercut, 1:02 combo/knockdown #1, 1:22 combo, 1:35 right/ribs, 2:24 uppercut/knockdown #2) TOTAL: Leivers 10, Gallashaw 5 The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 06/30/1963
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Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-19-2025 at 01:43 PM. |
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03-20-2025, 12:13 PM
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#1099 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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July 8th, 1963
JULY 8, 1963 FABL All-Stars Unveiled Only Williams and Dellinger Unanimous It's that time of the year again, as FABL fans, players, and scouts decided who would represent the Federal and Continental Associations at Hennepin County Stadium in Minnesota. As you might expect, no Miller will be in attendance without purchasing a ticket, as they're one of the teams who won't be sending players I'm not sure which is a bigger oversight, no Turk Ramsey (.296, 24, 64) or Frenchy Mack (12-3, 1.29, 117) being left off four ballots, but as with every year there is plenty of controversy with the final selections. Instead of dwelling on that, let's look at some of the brightest stars, including the two unanimous choices. One in each association. Harry Dellinger (.355, 22, 70, 19) was the Fed's lone unanimous, as the Keystones star center fielder was the obvious choice. Sure, Ed MacNaughton (.337, 11, 51, 10) is more then worthy of representing the Fed, but Dellinger has just been on another level. The speedy star has hit an outstanding .355/.382/.606 (163 OPS+) in the first half, adding 17 doubles, 7 triples, 22 homers, 70 RBIs, 70 runs, and 19 steals. The 6.1 WAR he's accumulated in 89 games would be a career best for at least 60% of the league, as the flashy defender is showing everyone just why he's a Whitney and Kellogg winner making his 4th All-Star appearance. Hank Williams (.362, 23, 77) gets the nod in the Continental, as there's no one better to start first base for the All-Star squad then the 3-Time Whitney winner. The best hitter in baseball, no one has driven in more then his 77 RBIs, and just spend one afternoon watching him take hacks with no one else on the field and you'll be amazed beyond your wildest beliefs. A pure hitter with slug, a strong eye, and an ability to put the ball in play, Williams has maintained elite production for six seasons, each so far getting him an All-Star selection. As is, 1963 may only be his fourth best season, as he's hit "just" .362/.450/.676 (195 OPS+) and isn't on track to win a batting title or home run title, but his 1.126 OPS and 4.9 WAR are tops in the Conti. Add in 22 doubles, 23 homers, and 72 runs, and it's just another chapter in the ever-thickening book of Hank Williams accomplishments. Williams and his Kings lead the Conti with 5 selections, but no one has more then the 6 that the defending champion Pioneers brought. The Eagles and Keystones each have 5, while all Continental teams were able to bring at least one player. Along with the Millers, neither the Minutemen or Suns get a representative. Below is a list of the All-Stars and the breakdown between teams:   Among the players selected, 28 were first-time selections. Interestingly, they come from 16 of the 17 teams that brought players, as while all five of the teams with only one representative had a first time All-Star. The 17th team, the Chicago Cougars, sent four players, with Pug White (8-3, 14, 2.48, 58) going for the third time as Gene Case (.288, 17, 54, 9), Jack Gibson (.280, 20, 46), and Henry Watson (.340, 18, 64, 6) are each making their second trip. There were even three double digit All-Stars, with Buddy Miller (.284, 10, 39, 4) making his 10th trip, Ken Newman (.296, 16, 51, 5) made trip 11, and Adrian Czerwinski (10-3, 2.64, 91) made his 12th, the most among active players. He joins former teammate Rufus Barrell and former Gothams Red Johnson and Ed Bowman for the 3rd most selections. Both Bobby Barrell and George Cleaves have both made 13 trips, while Bill Barrett stands a top the rest at 15. Most impressively, the three multi-multi time All-Stars got their selections all with the team that drafted them.  Last year's contest saw the Fed win just their second All-Star game in the last seven years, winners of 13 of the 30 previous contests. Last year's saw 17 runs and 23 hits, as the Fed came out ahead at Cougars Stadium by the score of 10-7. A late rally did the trick, as after Billy Hasson was hit hard early, the Fed kept chipping away at the lead. Eventually, Rod Shearer scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning and drove in two more in the ninth for insurance, allowing Washington's Otto Caudill to finish the Continental off in the bottom half. Here's a look at the Midsummer's Classic past results:  New Leader in the Fed: Dynamos Claim Top Spot After absolutely dismantling the Pioneers in Detroit and St. Louis, the Detroit Dynamos now look down on the rest of the Federal Association, entering the All-Star break with a one game lead. It's often that the team who leads at the break, leads at the end, so even with the minimal separation, it's a big moral victory for the Motor City squad. In both locations, the Dynamos took three out of four, with them leaving St. Louis with a huge series win. In each of the wins they scored 6, winning 6-2, 6-3, and 6-3. The 6-2 was a rare misstep from Frenchy Mack (12-3, 1.29, 117), as the somehow-not-unanimous-to-be-the-first-Fed-pitcher allowed 10 hits, 5 runs, and a walk with just 7 strikeouts. Fear not Mack fans, he was back to shutting opponents out in LA, 8 scoreless with 3 hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts, but St. Louis needed their ace to deliver, and when the pressure was on he let a good offense get to him. Dave Irwin (8-3, 2, 3.76, 34) delivered, Jim Norris (11-2, 3.64, 77), and John Jackson (7-4, 3.10, 69) delivered, as the just Paul Anderson (10-5, 3.46, 59) had trouble with the Pioneer lineup. The 6-Time All-Star was tagged for 9 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), and 4 walks, striking out 6 in 7.2 innings pitched. Last year's All-Star game starter Billy Hasson (10-4, 3.78, 95) was far better, just 3 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), and 5 strikeouts in 8 dominant innings, but even in the 7-2 win it was more singles for the generally potent Pioneer offense. Perhaps in need of some rest, they didn't look sharp until they were in LA, winning three of four on the road to end the first half 56-27. Two wins shy of the Dynamos, they're almost on even foot schedule wise, but they're down in a position they're not all that familiar with. Leading the Fed for almost all of this season and last, St. Louis has a brutal start to the second half, 14 games in 12 days, with the first 8 all on the road. Luckily, they avoid the Dynamos until late August, as they are just 2-8 against the new association leaders. Only two non-expansion teams have a worse head-to-head record, as the Stars are 8-0 against Montreal, and the Pioneers are 7-0 against the Keystones. Lucky for them, the Keystones are who they kick things off against, giving them an opportunity to pick up some early wins. It'll be huge, as Detroit gets Minnesota and Boston in Detroit, and four of their first six series are against those two bottom feeders. Things could get out of hand real quick, as right now the Dynamos look like an unstoppable force.   Tales From The Den Toronto Heads to All-Star Break in Sixth at 44-42 Wolves rallied at the end of a week that started badly to head into the break with a 4-4 record for the week with three straight wins over the the Sailors. Finishing a 4 game series in Cleveland on Monday Charlie Davidson limited giving free passes to the Foresters then got hit early, often, 8 hits for 6 earned in 4 1/3 during 7-2 game that the Wolves were never in from the opening pitch. On to Dallas where the home side took 2 of 3 starting with a game in which Jimmy Pepper's move to the rotation is being questioned inside and outside the organization. Pepper, Fred Clark allowed the Wranglers 7 runs in 6 innings giving Dallas their 24th win of the year 8-3. Wolves captured the next game 11-0 in a score that seemed more lopsided than it actually was, 5 runs in the ninth including Joe Parker's first HR of the year made the score seem worse for Dallas fans. Before heading to SF the teams met Thursday in the rain, in a game Hohlt criticized the umpire crew saying that "We should never have played in those conditions," Medley's hot streak ended after giving up 4 runs in 5 to give the Wranglers a 5-0 lead. Medley tried to help his own cause with a 2 run shot in the 7th when the Wolves scored 4 make it a one-run game, that was as close as Toronto would get on this night. Colantuono turned the game over to the 'pen leaving after 7 with the score 2-2. Zane Kelley, who Wolves knocked around last week, went 8 being relieved by Eddie Chapman who would get credit for the win when Sam Barnes' singled in Allan Griffen in the bottom of 9 off Bob Campbell whose wild pitch had allowed Griffen to take third before the walkoff. Toronto's rally began On Saturday when Davidson was strong for 7, he was helped by 4 HRs in a 6-2 final. The last day before the break was doubleheader at Golden Gate Stadium. The first game was a wild 13 inning affair that ended 13-10 for the Wolves. Chick Reed, who was recently snubbed in All-Star voting, tied a CA record with 3 HR in a game where he went 3 for 7 with 6 RBI in a game that took 4:35. In the second game Chick made his day 5 for 9 4 HR 8 RBI in the sweep with a 7-1 score. He enters the break with a line of .315/.319/.554 23 HR 55 RBI but no invitation to the ASG being held in Minnesota. The other newsworthy item was that Arnie Smith won his second game of the week pitching into the 6th in both starts after his recent struggles with tiring early in games. Although the rest is good, pitching staff is out of gas, the Wolves get right back into the fray Thursday with a short 5 day, 7 game stay at home against the Kings then the Cougars. Brett is learning that Hohlt may have use six starters to cover 6 games in 4 days next week. Changes to the entire pitching staff are said to be coming during the 3 days off.
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 07/07/1963
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Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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03-21-2025, 10:46 AM
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#1100 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,979
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July 15th, 1963
JULY 15, 1963 John Kingsbury Provides Pop in Continental Victory Hosts Take Early Lead, Survive Late Rally Long overdo for his first All-Star game, Sailors outfielder John Kingsbury (.318, 11, 71, 6) showed exactly why he's considered among the top outfielders in FABL. Taken 13th in the 1955 draft, he's been a consistent force in the Sailor lineup, hitting well above .300 with plenty of extra base and home run power. The home run power was in full effect on the 9th, as he accomplished something few may ever do: hit a home run off Bob Ball (13-2, 2.73, 116) and French Mack (12-4, 1.70, 121). Granted, these two will likely never be on the same team, it would be crazy for either the Eagles or Pioneers to let their young studs go, but I think it's safe to say that this will be the only time anyone hits a homer off both of these star pitchers in the same game. In both at bats, Kingsbury hit two-run homers, taking Ball deep in the 2nd and Mack in the 3rd. Ironically, it was his only two at bats, so the outfielder playing third finished 2-for-2 with 4 RBIs, the obvious choice for All-Star Game MVP. Kingsbury's second homer made it 6-1, as the Continental lineup hit Ball (1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, BB, 2 K) and Mack (1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, K), two guys that have forced their will on Federal hitters, pretty easily, Carlos Jaramillo (.267, 4, 34, 20) doubled and Henry Woods (.352, 16, 53, 6) tripled, but surprisingly it was the Fed that had most of the hits. Out hitting their hosts 14 to 8, 10 Fed hitters had at least one hit, with Eagle catcher Howdy Oakes (.306, 10, 63) a perfect 3-for-3. He got their first run, a solo homer in the 3rd, but the guests also got a pinch-hit homer by Mike Whisman (.303, 13, 59, 10) in the 9th, doubles from the Pioneer sluggers Bob Bell (.361, 19, 48) and Steve Schultz (.322, 22, 65), and a triple from the unanimously selected Harry Dellinger (.352, 23, 74, 22). Aside from Ball and Mack, the Fed pitched well, as the trio of Les Freedman (5-5, 4.14, 86), Hank Griswold (10-5, 2.92, 82), and John Gibson (5-2, 15, 1.09, 26) held the Conti hitless for the last five innings. In fact, not a single Continental batter reached base, with Freedman adding a pair of strikeouts and Gibson getting a third. In the end, it was the excess of runners left on base that cost the Fed their chance at back-to-back All-Star wins, now dropping their 7th in the last 9 seasons.  Dynamos Start Second Half Perfect, Open 4 Game Lead A few days of rest did nothing to slow down the Detroit Dynamos, as the rested Fed leaders made quick work of the teams at the bottom of the standings, sweeping the Millers in a three game series and the Minutemen in a double header. Again, they got a ton of production from Ed MacNaughton, as the 22-year-old and recent All-Star won his second consecutive Player of the Week. After going 1-for-2 as a reserve, MacNaughton regained his regular role in Detroit, 10-for-18 with 4 doubles, a homer, 3 runs, 5 RBIs, and 2 steals. Red hot since his slow start to April, MacNaughton is now hitting .348/.384/.522 (139 OPS+) on the season, contributing 24 doubles, 12 homers, 56 RBIs, 61 runs, and 12 steals. Overtaking the Eagles as the top scoring offense, MacNaughton was not alone in providing offense, as his fellow outfielders were just as effective. Reigning Player of the Month and All-Star Ray Waggoner (.368, 24, 72) was 8-for-19, adding a double, homer, steal, 4 RBIs, 6 runs, and 2 walks. Bill Morrison (.316, 6, 20, 2) was a similar 8-for-22, but it came with 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, 5 runs, 5 RBIs, and a pair of walks. They got power from the infield, with Virgil Ewing (7-19, 7 RBI, 4 R), Joe Reed (6-21, 2B, 5 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB), and Joe Holland (6-20, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 6 R, BB) each hitting a pair of homers, while Dick Tucker (.300, 11, 66) was the weak link, just 5-for-18 with a double, triple, homer, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. Even with the pitching not as strong as normal, the offense pulled their weight, and it's hard to ask for a better start to the second half. Conversely, St. Louis started out ice cold, dropping all three to the Keystones in Philly. They had no trouble with the Broad Street club before this roadtrip, but they got revenge with shutouts from William Davis (7-6, 4.40, 74) and Tom Robinson (8-6, 4.73, 63), with Robinson's coming in a 13-0 thrashing. Bob Murphy (.269, 9, 46, 3) hit two of the team's four homers, and while the Pioneers were able to sweep the double header with a pair of close victories, the longtime leaders find themselves four back and questioning if they have what it takes to repeat as champs. *** Paul Anderson Wins 200th Game *** One of those 5 wins this week was a milestone victory, as Paul Anderson (11-5, 3.65, 64) was a Clarence Jackson (.228, 7, 33) home run away from a quality start.. Though all he might remember is the elation of his 200th career victory. A veteran of 392 starts, Anderson has done a lot of winning since his 1951 debut, and he's now the 65th player to win 200 games. Now with nearly 3,000 (2,963.2) innings under his belt, all with the Stars and Dynamos, Anderson owns a career 3.27 ERA (127 ERA+) and 1.39 WHIP, striking out 1,796 hitters with 1,701 walks. He'll never be mistaken for a pitcher with great command, walking 100 or more hitters eleven consecutive seasons, but he's thrived as a groundball pitcher who can generate double plays and keep the ball in the park. Often leading his association in something, Anderson has led in wins (1958), ERA (1952), starts (1953), walks (1952-1954, 1956, 1959), strikeouts (1952-1955), HR/9 (1952, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959), groundball percentage (1955, 1956, 1959, 1961), and BABIP (1957, 1962), and since becoming a full-time starter in 1952 he's started 29 or more games in each season. Anderson came over to the Dynamos in the 1954 offseason, as Detroit picked up the former top-10 prospect for a four player package that includes current Stars ace Floyd Warner (11-3, 3.59, 92) and regular left fielder Charlie Sax (.291, 1, 27, 7). The deal has worked out well for both teams, but in the short term it greatly favored the Dynamos. At the time of the trade, Anderson had just turned 26, and was 67-36 with a 2.91 ERA (133 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, and 687 strikeouts as a member of the Stars. He had also attended three consecutive All-Star games, and appeared to be one of the best young pitchers in the game. His first year saw him split time between the rotation and pen, going 11-7 with a 3.81 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.50 WHIP, and a Fed high 151 strikeouts in 243 innings. Anderson was a crucial part of the Dynamos staff during the season, leading them to a pennant and picking up a win for the 1955 champs out of the pen. After his 1955, he's only started games, and returned to the All-Star game in 1957. Anderson finished that season 19-8 with a 2.57 ERA (159 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, and 156 strikeouts, and then followed his All-Star year up with a Fed high 21 regular season wins. He struggled that postseason, losing two of the Dynamos three games, but Anderson and his Dynamos were able to win the Ralph Johnson Cup in seven games despite his struggles. Those carried on into the next two seasons, but he was back to the All-Star game in 1961 and 1962, and his 2.89 ERA (159 ERA+) last season is the third lowest of his career, though the 159 ERA+ matches his mark from 1952 (2.16) and 1957 (2.57). While not an All-Star this season, Anderson has been a consistent presence in a reliable rotation, 11-5 with a 3.65 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 17 starts. The 34-year-old is also on pace for the 11th 200+ inning season of his career, something he's done each year excluding 1951 and 1960. At print he's tied with Lefty Allen for the 27th most strikeouts in FABL history, and he has a reasonable chance to become the 18th pitcher to reach 2,000 strikeouts. 1,109 of them come with the Dynamos, as he's 5th in team history. He's top-10 in wins (8th, 133), winning percentage (3rd, .633), WAR (9th, 34.9), starts (7th, 271), K/9 (5th, 5.0), and opponents average (5th, .233), and will be remembered fondly for all the great work he's put in for the Dynamos. *** Kings 4-Game Streak Leads to 4-Game Lead *** After dropping both halves of a double header to the Wolves in a tight 3-2 and 4-2 game, the Continental got a little excited that things were starting to turn for the leaders, but they quickly quashed any of those notions over the weekend. They won the next two games against the Wolves to earn the split, before heading to Cincinnati to sweep the Cannons in a double header on Sunday. Now 61-31, they're the first Conti club to 60 wins, and they got a lot of help from their Whitney winner Hank Williams (.373, 26, 85). Named Player of the Week for the first time this season, the April and June Batter of the Month was 10-for-17 with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, 3 walks, 7 runs, and 8 RBIs. He was exceptionally lethal on the weekend, Player of the Game in their 7-1 win over the Wolves and 7-6 win over the Cannons. In Toronto, Williams crushed a pair of homers, 3-for-4 with 3 runs and 3 RBIs. Then in Cincy he didn't homer, but the 6-Time All-Star was a perfect 4-for-4, adding a walk, double, triple, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs in a near perfect game. His 26 home runs now lead all FABL batters, and his .373/.460/.711 (207 OPS+) batting line continues to remain more then twice as impressive as the average hitter. Williams' hitting may have gotten most of the headlines, but the Kings pitching is what let them battle back. First time All-Star Gene Bailey (14-2, 2.82, 101) picked up a complete game win (7 H, ER, 5 BB, 7 K) over the Wolves, while Beau McClellan (11 H, 3 ER, BB, 9 K) picked up a 10-inning win as his Kings rallied for a pair in the 11th, setting up a Fred Myers (3-0, 4, 2.51, 21) save. Jack Halbur (W, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K) and Johnnie Higgins (L, 8 H, 3 R, ER, 2 BB, 6 K) both impressed in strong 8 inning starts, with Higgins an error away from his 7th win of the season. As it stands, the Kings look to be the best the Continental has to offer, and they're offense gets a nice jolt with the return of the almost 21-year-old center fielder Tom Hicks (.303, 3, 23, 7). Likely to replace the now injured Joe Dorsch (.325, 1, 8), Hicks is on a shortlist for best defensive outfield candidates, and he's improved his WRC+ from 78 to 115 in year two. He'll join the club to finish the Cannons series before what could be a big road trip finisher in Chicago, as the talented Kings offense has to face the only CA staff that's allowed fewer runs then them. With a tired squad, this is a chance for one of the outside pennant contenders to sink their claws into the leaders before the Kings return home for a nice, and potentially painless, 16 game homestand.   Tales From The Den Wolves Come Out of Break Hot, Then Cool Off Off a three day break the Wolves were the talk of the town after sweeping a twinbill from the CA leaders KC Kings. In the opener Medley became the first Wolves' pitcher to get to double digit wins with his 10th in a tight 3-2 victory. C Al Curtis, a surprise this season, knocked in 2 one of which was his 4th HR, a solo shot of Johnnie Higgins. In the nightcap the Wolves came back from a 2 run deficit with a 4 run eighth in which the big blow was a 3 run shot by Chick Reed, his 24th of 1963. Chick seems to be on a mission since being overlooked for the All-Star Game, an omission condemned by the Wolves' faithful. Bob Campbell got his first FABL win in relief of Colantuono. The thrill of victory quickly turned to the agony of defeat. Kings won the last two games of the short 4 game 3 day series starting with Gene Bailey winning Friday to run his record to 14-2. Bailey pitched out of constant jams, to win 4-1, stranding 9 runners in scoring position when Toronto bats couldn't deliver in key situations. In last game of the series KC scored 3 early, in the 1st, then 3 late, in the 9th, to cruise to a 7-1 win. Things went from bad to worse when the Cougars came to town on Sunday, then swept a doubleheader, taking the opener 6-3. Jimmy Pepper was the victim of 2 unearned runs on booted balls by the usually reliable Story, Taylor in the middle of the infield. The second game was a Chicago 11-2 thanks to a 6 run ninth when Blake was lit up for 6 runs on 6 hits, 3 BB including a grand slam by Chappy Sanders. Sanders, who was recalled from Milwaukee at the beginning of July, helped balloon Blake's ERA to an unacceptable 6.63 in 38 IP. Blake has saved 6 games, when he is good he is good, when he is bad he is really, really bad in 1963. Wolves hope to salvage the last game of the set with Chicago on Monday. The Wolves are currently 46-46 for the season. Brett will take quick look at the team stats with 70 games to play. The team is 24-22 at home, 22-24 away, a disturbing number is that they have allowed 30 more runs than they have pushed across the plate. At the dish the team is almost as expected ranking in bottom half of the CA stats for the year. Surprisingly the team in tied for second in XBH with 272, Chick Reed has been a big contributor, giving a team line of .259/.314/.425 with 115 HR. If the performance at the plate is as expected the performance on the mound has fallen desperately short of expectations. A staff ERA of 4.63 is, in most eyes at least a run over hopes. Walks are the biggest problem, the 319 surrendered are next to last in the CA. Only Dallas, Imperials have allowed more than the 454 runs score on Toronto. In prior years the pitching woes were blamed on shoddy fielding. This is no longer the case, Hohlt has transformed the defense by being unwilling to except less full attention to play in the field. With the exception of Ed Savage creating a black hole in right the rest of the team hold their own in the field. Hohlt will tell you that the team still can and will get better, Savage is constantly trying to improve in right with limited success, His bat has to stay in the lineup, hopefully he will improve to just a poor fielder from dreadful over the off-season. Going forward the pitching must improve dramatically for the team to continue move forward in 1963.
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 07/14/1963
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Check out The Figment Sporting Journal, a collaborative multi-sport effort that dives into the Figment Sports Universe You can also view my solo project, my Dynasty Report on the Chicago Cougars of FABL, the baseball league in the Figment universe |
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