THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL
OCTOBER 27, 1937 OFF-SEASON
DYNAMOS DEALING AGAIN
It comes as quite a shock that the busiest team in the Federal Association on the trade front is the Detroit Dynamos. The Dynamos, who had a strong finish to the 1937 season but certainly should have no illusions about contending in 1938 seem to be acting like a club trying to put the finishing touches on a potential pennant winner as they moved another highly touted prospect. This time it was 18 year old catcher Pete Casstevens, who is considered the number 5 ranked prospect by OSA. Casstevens was dispatched to the New York Gothams for 23 year old pitcher Charlie Wheeler and 30 year old backup shortstop Erv Smith.
The move from Detroit's perspective seems puzzling to say the least. Casstevens, the son of former big leaguer Clint Casstevens, was the big prize at the top of the crop of young high school talent in June along with Roosevelt Brown, who coincidentally is also Gotham property. Casstevens is still a couple of years away from even being considered as a big league call-up but that should fit in nicely with the realistic time line for Detroit to contend. Casstevens did struggle in his pro debut, batting just .169 in 77 games at Class C Biloxi but he is also has been called the best catching prospect to come along since T.R. Goins so it is very shocking Detroit would move him.
The Dynamos do get a pretty good young pitcher back in 23 year old Charlie Wheeler, who posted a 7-10 record with a 4.58 era as a rookie with the Gothams. Originally selected 13th overall in the 1935 draft out of Rainer College by the Chicago Cougars, Wheeler joined New York in 1936 in exchange for veteran pitcher Hardin Bates. He peaked at #43 in the prospect rankings and OSA feels he could develop into the type of pitcher that could anchor a rotation so it may well work out okay for the Dynamos, who have made several big moves over the past week.
Detroit also receives Erv Smith as the Gothams continue to divest themselves of anyone over the age of 30. Smith is a slightly below average shortstop both with the bat (.245,0,41) and the glove but he will be an upgrade on what Detroit has presently, which is basically nothing after sending another highly touted prospect in 21 year Frank Davis to Montreal the other day.
Wheeler is likely destined to be a pretty good pitcher but the move, coupled with the perplexing deal with Montreal to add Hank Barnett, seems forced almost as if the club is bowing to pressure from ailing owner Eddie Thompson and trying to do everything it can to win now. If that is truly the case the unfortunate result of that endeavor is not only going to be Detroit will fall well short of being a pennant contender in a tough Federal Association next season, but the Dynamos also seem to be undoing much of the good they have done in rebuilding their system over the past two years. The Detroit General Manager has had great success building a winner in his previous stop at Cleveland so it could quite well be he knows better than those of us in the media but only time will tell if he still has the magic he displayed as head of the Foresters.
NEW HOME FOR GOTHAMS?
The ink is barely dry on the contract to buy the team but sources indicate there is talk between the new owner of the Gothams, Leland Winthrop, and NYC leadership, including 'master builder' Robert Moses, to build a new stadium in Queens for the Gothams. Possible sites for the Gothams rumoured new home include Flushing Meadow, where the 1939 World's Fair will take place or nearby Astoria Park which has easy access from the recently opened Triborough bridge. This would be a Works Progress Administration project, popularized by President Roosevelt's Second New Deal but the thinking is it is also possibly partial reward for Winthrop as a thank you for ridding the city of the Bigsbys. A formal announcement may hit in the next few days but it certainly sounds like one of the first things real estate mogul Winthrop will do in his new role as owner of the Gothams is to facilitate the end Bigsby Park, which was originally designed by his grandfather.
It also might help explain when the sale of the team seemed to come out of nowhere and was pushed through so suddenly. With the timing of the sale and now the talk of a new ballpark it certainly seems like Winthrop knew of the stadium proposal and the lure of being able to repurpose the land on which the present park stands sounds like a very profitable real estate venture to go along with getting a sweetheart deal from the city to help fund a brand new stadium.
Situated on Broadway, Bigsby Park has been the Gothams home since it's construction in 1876 although it has undergone a pair of renovations since then and with a capacity of 52,450 is the largest stadium in the league.