Cleveland P-I Sports
FABL Trades Column
By Ronald William Apter
GM's across both the Continental and Federal Leagues have been very busy this month as team jockey for the pennant. We have never seen so many trades in one month as we saw in June. While for many it seemed a bit early to make some of these deals, the feeling was the both leagues were wide open this year. While I am not sure that is the case, it made for an exciting month in the FABL.
We will look at and break down the deals, and with July heating up there is likely to be more deals that get down.
Trade #1
St. Louis trades Shropshire to Montreal
In a relatively minor deal, the Pioneers will receive a 7th round draft choice in the December draft in exchange for 1B Frank Shropshire (23). The 1B was once the Pioneers top pick (#3 overall) in the 1928 draft out of Sacramento High. Once he was drafted he seemed to immediately fall out of favor in the Pioneers organization as he sat around and never played in a game in either of his first 2 seasons (29-30). Finally in 1931 he made his minor league debut for the Class C Moline club and hit 279/358/745 in 139 games. He moved up to Class B Charlotte for the 32 and 33 seasons where he hit 330 and then 370. This year prior to the trade he was in AA Nashville where he was hitting 379. He isn't showing usual home run power with a first baseman, but he has 42 doubles and 48 triples during the 32-33 seasons.
For the Saints who are looking for hitters and run producers at just about every position, a 7th round pick is a small price to pay for Shropshire's once considered high potential. The kid can hit for average and has really good speed as based on his doubles and triples. He has also stolen over 100 bases in 3 minor league seasons.
Trade #2
The Chicago Cougars trade Max Wilder to the Boston Minutemen!
In a deal that shocked many, the Cougars traded former Forester SP Max Wilder (36) to Boston for a couple of minor league players including the #60 overall prospect SP Karl Wallace. Boston who is hoping to give the New York Gothams a run for their money is looking to add a veteran presence to their effort.
Wilder who is still pitching well despite his advancing years has gone 4-5 this season with a 4.14 ERA. Whether time is catching up to him or it is just the malaise that the Cougars are in, he hasn't been as sharp as he was last season when he went 15-10 with a 2.70 ERA. Still he is a player that most of his peers look up to and is a guy that is very popular with fans. His career record is 150-123 with a 3.55 ERA.
Boston sent a pair of young SP to Chicago in return and the price has to be 20-year-old prospect Karl Wallace who was 1-2 4.70 in Class B. Wallace is the type of pitcher that Chicago likes to go after as he throws 4 solid pitches and his fastball is now up to 92-94 mph. The other pitcher included in the deal is Johnny Cox (23) who is a RHP with 4 pitches. He doesn't throw it quite as fast topping out at around 89 but he has pitched well since coming out of college as an 11th round pick in the 1932 draft.
The move from Chicago is curious as they have been thought to be a serious contender but have struggled to just get to 500 so far this season. Unless there are some other moves coming (which there are) they might be throwing up the white flag on the 34 season.
Trade #3
Boston Strikes again for a SP getting Stedman from the Stars
In another move to stregthen their starting rotation, the Boston Minutemen traded 2 prospects #151 SS Joe Angevine (18) and SP Earle Killebrew (21) #191 to New York for SP Charlie Stedman (32).
The 32-year-old Stedman is a 7+ year FABL veteran LHSP with a career record of 113-92 3.54 in almost 1950 IP's. Stedman was originally a 1st round pick in 1923 of the Chicago Chiefs in 1923 and was traded to the Montreal Saints in 1925 along with C Ed Pinkham. In 1929 Stedman won the CA Allen Award as the top pitcher in the circuit when he went 21-10 with a 2.99 ERA. Later he was traded by the Saints in July 1931 to the New York Stars for SP Earle Whitten, 3B Ed Smith and CF Bob Worley (all who currently play in Montreal for the big league club). Stedman was 4-4 so far this season for the 500 Stars and he is an extreme groundball pitcher.
The Stars get the pair of prospects. Angevine was draft out of Portland HS this last draft in the 2nd round (#18 overall) and was hitting 229 at Class C. The youngster has a strong arm and impressive speed and loves to swing a bat.
Earle Killebrew was at Class for his 3rd season after being a 5th round pick in the 1930 draft. He was 3rd in the GSL Reliever of the year voting in 1932. He projects as a RHSP with 4 pitches and was 7-4 with a 3.15 ERA at the time of the trade.
Trade #4
SP Milt Fritz (24) packs his bags again!
Montreal traded SP Milt Fritz who is still just 24 years of age to the New York Gotham's for a trio of prospects. Fritz who Montreal acquired just last July will be going to his 4th team since being draft in the 12th round out of Omaha HS by the Chicago Chiefs. He made his Major League debut as just a 19 year old in 1929 and went an impressive 18-8 with a league leading 3.22 ERA. He followed up that rookie season with another fine season going 16-9 with a 3.63 ERA in 1930. During the off-season he was surprisingly traded by the Chiefs (along with a 9th and 10th round pick)to the Brooklyn Kings for a 1st round pick, P Dave Rankin, C Tom Aiello 1B Ron Rattigan, SP Rod Barney, and RP Taylor Hamilton. He went 39-27 in his first 2 seasons in Brooklyn but struggled badly (along with the rest of the Kings in the 33 season) and was dealt again. In his career he is 93-64 with a 3.43 ERA and will likely get his 100th career win before the age of 25. The Gotham's have a loaded rotation with Jim Londaro, Rabbit Day and Harlin Bates already but it just got better.
The trio of prospects heading to Montreal include #29 overall prospect C Heinie Zimmer (19) who was hitting 303 in class C. Zimmer was a 2nd round pick (#17 overall by New York) in 1932 and scouts like his makeup. He projects to be sure-handed and reliable behind the plate he should be an excellent hitter. Zimmer has great potential to be a future starter behind the dish.
3B Gary Carmichael (20) is the 96th rated FABL prospect and was drafted in the 4th round of the loaded 1932 draft. He started the 34 season in Class B and hit 388 earning a promotion to class A prior to the trade and was hitting 296. He is a good defender and has a top flight contact potential that should translate into a very good 3B.
Finally LHSP Billy Stall (20) who was at AA at the time of the trade and is the #129th overall FABL prospect is coming to Montreal. Stall throws 4 pitches and has strong control which should limit the free passes. His velocity has been steadily improving and is up to 92-94.
Trade #5
Montreal continues to search for hitting landing OF Bobby Sprague from the Cougars.
27-year-old OF Bobby Sprague comes to the Saints who send SS Woody Armstrong (29) and #122 SP Joe Foote to Chicago. Sprague is a solid 300 hitter with a 350 or so OBP and is a player who is always hustling on the field. While not possessing a lot of power he can hit doubles at a good clip and has good speed. He is an elite contact hitter and a plus runner who could steal 25 bases a season. He has played all 3 OF spots and is very good in LF and CF defensively.
Woody Armstrong was once a Forester 1st round pick in 1926 (16th overall). He was sent to Montreal in June of 1927 long with C Frank Haab for SP Wayne Robinson (who the Forester's GM foolishly traded away later, but that is another story). Armstrong is capable at both SS and 2B and while not a superstar is a capable hitter who has on occasion shown so pop in his bat hitting 10-15 homers.
SP Joe Foote (19) was a 6th round pick in 1932 who has 3 pitches and has seen his pitch velocity (something the Cougars love) go up rapidly the last several years up to 92-94. He should generate a high number of ground balls and his command should help him keep the ball in the park.
Trades #6 and #7 (software rules)
Just when you think Chicago has thrown in the Towel....
The Cougars acquire one of the best hitters in the history of the FABL in grabbing 3B Joe Masters from their crosstown rival Chicago Chiefs. Also coming to the Cougars from the Chiefs is Dave Rankin. Heading to the Chiefs are a bushel of prospects and VP SP Jim Crawford (28).
Masters (35) is the headliner of this whole deal. He is a career 336 hitter who has hit 247 home runs which is 4th on the career list behind Max Morris (653), Rankin Kellogg (347) and the retired Hal Eason (269). This season for the Chiefs he was having another outstanding campaign as he was hitting 349/420/974 with 11 home runs and 61 RBI's. How he fits in with the Cougars and long time 3B John Kincaid will still be seen.
Dave Rankin (28) is a SP who hasn't had a ton of success in the big leagues, but has been on the Chiefs who have not been in many pennant races the last few years. He was 5-9 this season with a 4.19 ERA and is 24-47 with a 4.94 ERA. Rankin on a better team might be able to turn things around as he is viewed by scouts to be a polished 4-pitch SP with the stamina to go deep into games. His acquisition will hopefully help offset the loss of Crawford going to the Chiefs.
Speaking of Jim Crawford (28) who was picked up in an indy league trade in 1930 with AAA Sacramento. He burst onto the scene with the 1931 Cougars going 18-11 with a 3.15 ERA and had a 59-38 3.98 overall mark with the Cougars. I think the Cougars are really going to miss this guy, but they have a lot of arms in their system to make up for it if they pan out.
The Prospects trade by the Cougars to the Chiefs
SP Bill Ross #84 (21) (A 5-3 4.46)
SP Walker Pierce #81 (19) (C 0-1 3.00)
LF Ed Reyes #80 (21) (AA 423/471/559)
2B Red Moore #113 (22) (AA 295/338/386)
CF Ernie Carson (20) #87 (B 316/350) (out with a fractured ankle 3-4 months)
RF Joe Joseph (20) #214
2B Elmer Hutchins (23) (AAA 323/366/434)
The Cougars gave up a lot of young talent for one of the best hitters in league history. Will this move provide the jolt the Cougars need for the 1934 season 2nd half? The reviews on the deal are mixed but prospects don't always pan out, so who knows.
There are rumors of more deals that are being worked on and with the All-Star break coming up next week you can expect a couple of more deals (that's called foreshadowing) that will likely take place. Will the Cleveland Forester's be in the mix for anyone, or will GM DD Martin just continue to talk? The Foresters are stated that they are "all in". We shall see if that is true.