[Driver 8]

After simming 23 seasons, all of the players have been released and this morning we begun re-drafting teams for the inaugural season of the ABF. We've made it through the first six picks so far:

February 16, 1924

#1 Jimmie Foxx, 16, 3B/1B



Foxx is a major talent, setting ABF records in homeruns (53) and RBIs (171) last season. The amazing thing about his record-breaking season was not that he did it as a rookie, but that he was just 15 years old. Having taken the nation by storm, the only real question is whether can he follow-up last season with an even better season, or fall back to mere super-stardom. While the world is his oyster, it does not come without controversy.

First, does employing a 15-year-old amount to exploitation? One GM, who wished to remain anonymous, stated: "Exploitation? I'll tell you what, name one other teenager making $2,500 a year. I dare you. As a matter of fact, my son needs a job. Exploit him!"

Although not necessarily controversial, the Athletics' wisdom was called in question by playing the young phenom at third throughout the season, as Foxx accumulated 103 errors. Athletics manager Connie Mack defends that decision: "Sure, it's easy to knock that decision, but we had nowhere else to play him. We had (Earl) Sheely knock in 100 runs and bat .336 over at first. And I can tell you this, Foxx looks like the second-coming of Wid Conroy compared to Sheely."

#2 Lou Gehrig, 20, 1B



Like Foxx, Gehrig was one of four teenagers to see significant action last season. Also like Foxx, Gehrig proved the gamble was worthwhile. Originally drafted by the Indians in 1922, Gehrig hit .303 splitting that season between AA Dayton and AAA Toledo before earning a late-season call-up with the Tribe. In 19 games Gehrig hit .315 with three homers, one more than he hit in 94 minor league games. The only real knock on him was the fact that he failed to draw a single walk in 73 at bats with the big league club.

Last season, Gehrig developed by leaps and bounds, hitting .342 with 10 homers and 88 RBIs in 146 games. Gehrig also displayed a better approach to hitting, drawing 49 walks to just 13 strikeouts. The young slugger might not contend for any gold gloves, but he does have Triple Crown potential.

#3 Rogers Hornsby, 27, SS/3B



At just 27 years old, Hornsby is already a 10-year veteran of the ABF. Drafted by the Pirates in 1914, Hornsby made the jump to Pittsburgh after just 32 games at Reading that season. Although he struggled, hitting .243 and .258, his first two seasons, he hit .292 in 1916 and seemed on the brink of stardom. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to a mere 56 games in 1917 and 1918, combined. Flash forward to 1921, when Hornsby turned in a .360-27-113 season that made him a household name. Cementing his place among the league's finest, Hornsby followed that season up by hitting .361 in '22 and enjoyed his best season yet, last year, when he set career-highs with a .372 average and 36 homers.

#4 Red Ruffing, 19, SP



Proving youth is king, Ruffing is the third teenager to see regular last season. Like Gehrig, Ruffing was also from the class of '22. He started that season with AAA Independence where he posted a 4-0 mark, with a 2.20 ERA, leading to a quick promotion to the Cardinals, where he went 17-8 with a 2.68 ERA. Although he "struggled" to a 13-8 mark last season, Ruffing has compiled 30 wins prior to his 20th birthday. With solid defense behind him, this groundball pitcher could be looking at a 20-win season.

#5 Goose Goslin, 23, LF



If there's one thing that most of the league's scouts agree upon, it's the fact that Goslin might be the best pure hitter in the league. Drafted 3rd overall in 1920, Goslin stepped right into a starting spot with the Cardinals and hit .318 as a rookie. Although he has yet to win a batting title, he did hit .378 and .381 the next two seasons. Last year, Goslin was off to a quick start, hitting .407 through 81 at bats before a pinched nerve in his neck ended his season.

#6 Al Simmons, 21, OF



Simmons, the second overall pick in the 1923 amateur draft, made the jump straight to Cleveland's starting line-up last season. In 140 games with the Tribe, Simmons hit .306 with 13 homers and 81 RBIs. Although he doesn't have Foxx's power, or Goslin's keen batting eye, Simmons could contend for batting titles and average 25-30 homers on a regular basis by the end of the decade. Simmons is also a hawk in the outfield and seems destined to win several gold gloves.

We're currently looking to fill vacancies with the Cardinals, Indians and Tigers. If you're interested, e-mail me at b_kick(at)yahoo{dot}com