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AAA – Cincinnati Steamers
Union League
The Steamers have a proud history and have been more successful than their big league affiliate the Foresters. Cincinnati has won the last 3 Union League Championships and appear well on their way to winning a 4th straight crown. The teams record since GM Martin has taken over has been
1926 70-70 10GB 4th
1927 84-56 --- League Champions
1928 88-52 --- League Champions
1929 97-43 --- League Champions
1930 48-14 --- *Leading league by 9 ½
Overall 387-235 .622
Fans in Cincinnati have wanted an FABL team for years and even some say that they and Cleveland should switch spots as Cincinnati is the better market. That hasn’t happened and under former owner the late Harold Marshall it wouldn’t have been considered. But with Harold’s son Elmer in charge now, there is speculation that he might consider moving the team to Cincinnati if he felt the climate was right in the league office. Last year the Steamers outdrew all of the Federal League teams except the league champion Philadelphia Sailors and outdrew their parent club by over 394,000 fans.
This year the Steamers started the year rather slowly by their standards sitting in 4th place at 13-10. Since that time, they have gone a remarkable 35-4 to grab control of the league lead. They are led by a strong pitching staff and also have a fairly good hitting cast as well. Several players on this team are knocking on the door to be called up to the big-league club and it could happen very soon.
Key Hitting Prospects on the Steamer Club are
#5 Cleveland Prospect – CF Leo Clark B-L Age-23 (Not on 40-man roster)
Clark was the Forester #1 draft pick (#12th overall) in the 1928 Draft. He split his rookie season Class A Reading (105 games) and then was promoted to AA Portland where he played in 28 games. He actually had greater statistical success at AA where he hit 376 compared to 292 at Class A. As he matures the scouts feel that he will develop above average power, but and so far this season he has hit 7 homeruns compared to just 1 all of last season. This season he is hitting 299/417/879 at AAA Cincinnati and if he continues on that pace, he is likely to be a late-season callup. Depending on his continued development he could be the opening day CF for the Foresters in 1931.
#15 Cleveland Prospect – RF Mike Williams B-L Age-25 (Not on 40-man roster)
Williams was the Foresters #1 draft pick (#13th overall) in the 1926 draft. His climb has been a little slower than that of Clark but his hitting has really begun to show. He spent his rookie season in Class A in 1927 and a large part of the 1928 season there as well before graduating to AA. He again split time in A/AA early in 1929 before moving up to the Steamers. Last season his power really began to emerge as he hit 34 homeruns last year and has hit a staggering 33 this season. The corner OF is crowded in Cleveland so he will either have to learn a new position or could become a trade candidate. Rumors have it that Cleveland might try him at 1B the 2nd half of the season.
#30 Cleveland Prospect – CF Frank Moseley B-L Age 25
Moseley was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Saints on November 5th 1928 and was figured to be the heir apparent in CF for the Foresters. He made the opening day big league roster out of spring training but then struggled at the plate hitting only 207 before his demotion. Since his demotion where the organization hoped he’d regain confidence and his swing, he has struggled at Cincinnati hitting only 188 in 21 games. His star has really fallen in the last few months but he will be given every opportunity to regain his form.
Key Pitching Prospects
#4 Forester Prospect LHSP Karl Johnson age-22 (not on 40-man roster)
6th Round draft pick in the 1925 draft #94 overall. Johnson appears headed to the rotation late during this current season. Right now, he is pitching well with the Steamers and since his call up to Cincinnati mid-way through last season he is 17-2 with an ERA below 2.85. His strikeouts this year are up, but so are his walks which is a little alarming. He had a shot to make the opening day roster with the Foresters but struggled a bit in the spring games so came back to Cincinnati. He throws a solid fastball (90-92) and likes to nibble on the corners. Cincinnati eventually sees him as a mid-rotation starter.
#9 Forester Prospect LHSP Rick Walther age-22 (not on 40-man roster)
Walther was a minor league signee after he was undrafted following the 1925 draft. He started his career at Class B and really wasn’t distinguishing himself as much more than an upper minor league pitcher potentially. But then something clicked for him in the 1929 season. He was 4-0 at Class A, then was quickly promoted to AA and went 3-0 there and then came up to Cincinnati where he went 8-1 with a 1.94 ERA down the stretch. This season he is 6-1 and his ERA sits at 3.24, but he appears to have a future in Cleveland. His strikeouts and walks like Johnson are both up some from last season. Where these raised numbers are the umpires in the Union League, the hitters or something they are doing remains to be seen. Cincinnati is pegging him as a future #4 starter.
#10 Forester Prospect is LHSP Rube McCormick age-25
The Foresters acquired him in one of GM Martin’s first early trades in June of 1926 from Brooklyn. He has had limited time in Cleveland last season where he went 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA. McCormack is 6-2 with a 3.06 ERA in Cincinnati. His time as a prospect is running out and the hope was that he would already be in the top 3 in the Cleveland rotation by now. He will get a shot this year and then in the spring to nail down a spot. He could also end up in the bullpen but the expectation is his time is very soon.
Other Players to watch
1B Joe Smith B-L age-26 minor league FA signing
No longer a prospect, Smith is still a very intriguing player and one that the Foresters hoped would be on the big-league roster to start the year. He is an excellent hitter and has played a bit of OF to offer some versatility to his game. The intrigue is he has some speed in his game which is something the Foresters don’t have much of. He has stolen 43 bases the last year and a half. If he wasn’t blocked by George Simpson and recently acquired Luke Nixon, he would be up with the big league team Many are speculating that he will be up in July one way or another.
SS Marty Smith B-R age-25
Was acquired in the Rule 5 draft last season in the never-ending search for middle infielders for the Foresters. He didn’t play a lot with the Foresters last year but had to remain on the roster, so this year the thought was to have him play everyday in Cincinnati. He hasn’t responded as well as the Foresters were hoping hitting on 238 so far this season. He has shown surprising power this year though with 17 homers in his 61 games played. The power angle is intriguing but the team wants him to continue to work on his defense. He is preforming fairly well with a RF of 4.41, ZR +2.5 and eff at 1.022. If he could squeeze out a few more base hits and raise his average he might have a shot next spring.
RP Frank Phillips LHRP age-23 (not on 40-man roster)
The recently turned 23-year-old is part of the young group of pitchers that Cleveland hopes will take over next season. Phillips was a 14th round pick in the 28 draft and went from Class C to AAA early last season. He has notched 22 saves in his 87 appearances in Cincinnati since last season.
RP Bill Beier LHRP age-26 (not on 40-man roster)
Beier was a 5th round pick in the 1925 draft and after a bit of a slow start moved to a reliever and seems to have found more footing. Again, his strikeout numbers are up in the strikeout happy Union League but he is 3-1 with 6 saves and a 3.41 ERA. Another pitcher that likely will be called up by September if not sooner.
Final Notes – The speculation is that GM Martin and Forester Owner Marshall want to keep Cincinnati competing at a high level and secure that 4th championship. Since the Foresters are rebuilding this season and not a playoff factor, keeping this winning attitude in Cincinnati seems to be carrying some importance to them both.
Next - Class AA Portland
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