Opening Day Detroit Dynamos
1938 Season
Position Players
Catchers
Ben Richardson (Age -28 B-R) Acquired on Waivers from Washington June 1936
6'3 200 lbs 4th season
Last year 279/335/769 7-50 Career 258/306/709 15-94
Richardson finally had his best year as a batter in 1937. He started 99 games last season as he emerged from the rubble of spring training in 37. He split time early last year before winning the starting job and catching most of the games after the trade deadline. Can he follow up on it?
Clem Bliss (Age-26 B-S) Acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh October 1936
6'2 200lbs 4th season
Last year (AAA Newark) 250/367/751 7-35 MLB Career 234 in 81 career at bats.
Bliss has the skills to be a top fight on-base type of a guy. While not gifted as a defensive catcher is can be average behind the dish. He has not gotten a lot of opportunities across 4 different seasons to show what he can do. He is scheduled to get around 40% of the starts this season, but he will have to hit well and get on base drawing walks. If ne can't then veteran Curt Squillante (33) is just waiting for a chance to resume his big league career.
Summary - The Catcher position is one that has not been great the last few seasons after Dick York retired. York is now managing class A Terre Haute in the Dynamo's system. With the trade of future catching star Pete Casstevens to the Gothams in the SP Charlie Wheeler deal, don't be surprised if the Dynamo's are scouting the draft heavily at the position but also reviewing very closely any upper end catchers that might become available during the season. The team is hoping that C Ben Richardson's solid season last year was not just a mirage.
Infielders
1B Red Johnson (Age-20 B-R) Acquired as a 1st round draft pick (#2) in 1935 draft
6'1 200 lbs
Last Season 333/385/940 2-10 in 12 games (Rookie)
Rookie
Johnson had a rapid rise through the Dynamo's minor league system after struggling some his first year. He quickly moved through 4 levels last year hitting 30 home runs and continued to show incredible patience at the plate. He is also a very tough man to strike out. He is a legitimate threat to win the Dynamo's 2nd straight rookie of the year (Detroit version since there is no rookie of the year award yet). Just being 20 don't be surprised if he has a few struggles here and there, but his future looks extremely bright.
2B Ed Stewart (Age 29 B-R) Acquired in a November 37 trade with Pittsburgh
6'0 195 lbs 7th season
Last Season 263/301/729 23-101 Career 287/334/779 162-687
There is no doubt Stewart had a somewhat down season despite driving in 101 RBI's. His average was down in Pittsburgh last season and yet he still played a significant role in the Miners rise to the top of the Fed. The Dynamo's felt strongly that Stewart would fit in Thompson Field well and with the sluggers on the team he will hit leadoff to start the season. Not the typical leadoff guy in any stretch of the imagination.
3B Frank LeMieux (Age-24 B-R) Acquired from Philadelphia Keystones in March 1938
5-10 190 lbs 2nd Season
Last season (315/383/799 2-79 Career 290/360/750 2-94
Lemieux emerged as the Keystones starting 3rd baseman last season and the Dynamo's view him as a very solid #2 hitter in the lineup. Not a power hitter by any stretch but with the power bats already in the lineup, the Dynamo's felt they needed something different (average/onbase guy). The team gave up future 3B Hank Koblenz in the deal that brought SP Frank Crawford and LeMieux to Detroit, so obviously it will be important for LeMieux to continue to show the hitting that he did last season.
SS Gil London (Age 24 B-R) Acquired from the Philadelphia Sailors November 1937
5'8 155 lbs -Rookie
Last season AAA San Francisco 214/285/563 4-42
At the start of spring training I don't think anyone was thinking Gil London would break camp with the big league team. But after a spring 413/471 and played excellent defense, he was given the opportunity to be the everyday SS. If he can hit around 270 and play good defense, the team will be relatively happy with their young prospect who is #63 overall in baseball.
Infield Bench
Jake Shadoan (Age 30 - B-R) Acquired in a July 1937 trade with Brooklyn
6'1 195lbs 8th season
Last year with Detroit hit 302/344/735 3-21 Career 328/367/810 52-482
Shadoan came in and quickly solidified the 2B position for the Dynamo's down the stretch last season. Before the trades that brought Ed Stewart and Hank Barnett (Briefly) to Detroit, he was considered the starting 2B. he will now take over the Don Ward (who was traded to Phily) role and will be the top backup at 2B, 1B and if needed at 3B. Hopefully he can adapt to this new role quickly.
SS Erv Smith (Age -30 B-L) Acquired Trade with NY Gothams November 1937
6'2 190lbs 8th season
Last Season 245/317/618 0-41 with NY Career 285/346/715 4-344
Smith was brought in to be the stop gap starting SS as the club waited for Gil London to get some more seasoning at AAA to start this season. When London had a great spring and was named the starter some wondered if Smith would stick in Detroit. Prior to last year he had a 4-year run as a 298 hitter between Cleveland and New York and is a capable defender. If London struggles Smith will be the band-aid to hold the defense together.
Utility IF Jimmy Smith (Age 27 - B-L) Acquired via Rule 5 from St. Louis
5'10 185 lbs - rookie
Last Season with AAA Oakland 221/323/636 7-55 66 stolen bases - Rookie
Smith is here for 2 primary reasons. He is an incredible leader and quickly was named team captain in the first week of spring training. He also is a very valuable pinch runner. He has a decent eye and can draw walks but will never hit much higher than his weight in the big leagues.
Summary - A lot of youth with 1B Red Johnson, 3B Frank LeMieux and SS Gil London, but a lot of potential as well. 2B Ed Stewart can still play 3B if needed and Jake Shadoan could be a very valuable bench hitter and sub if injuries occur. The minor leagues doesn't have a ton of depth but there is power hitter 1B/2B/3B Claude Merrill who could come back up. Indy League pick Dale Robbins is playing his first season higher than AA and will be at AAA Newark.
Outfielders
LF Elmer Nodle (Age 30 B-L) Acquired Trade with Brooklyn July 1937
6'2 200lbs 5th Season
Last season with Detroit 284/421/888 6-36 Career 284/416/885 35-181
Powerful left handed batter who will get the starts against most RHSP's in the Dynamo lineup. He is one of just several lefties on the team just to get the others teams on their toes. Despite Thompson Field being a right-hander hitters park, Nodle is more than capable of hitting home runs here. Under-rated throughout his career, now he gets his chance to shine.
CF Sal Pestilli (Age-22 B-R) Acquired as #1 overall draft choice in 1936 draft
6'0 195lbs 2nd season
Last Season 306/365937 33-94 (rookie of the year)
Never played an inning of minor league ball, coming straight to Detroit from college. He led the FABL in home runs last season hitting 33 and looks like he has a shot to be the fastest to 100 home runs if he stays healthy. Truly the key that makes the Dynamo offense go hitting in the #3 spot. There is nothing that should keep him away from playing in the All-Star game for the next 15 years.
RF Leon Drake (Age -29 B-R) Acquired via trade with Cleveland October 1936
5'10 165lbs 8th season
Last Season 280/341/892 26-107 Career 271/384/952 112-558
Drake is a gifted athlete that came up as a CF but has moved to the corners simply because he has played with great CF with Dan Fowler in Cleveland and now Sal Pestilli here in Detroit. He has hit 20 doubles/20 triples/20 home runs or more in a season 2 straight years and almost did it a 3rd time in 1934 with Cleveland. Middle of the order bat who's only drawback is his strikeouts (last season 15.6%).
Grover Lee (Age-32 B-R) Acquired from Philadelphia Keystones April 1938 right before the start of the regular season
5'10 200lbs 7th season
Last year with Keystones 274/368/770 6-32 Career 280/358/819 110-388
Dynamo's were thrilled to pick up the veteran slugger from the Keystones at the end of the spring along with a 7th round pick for 35 year old 3B Don Ward. Lee has 3 20+ home runs seasons in his career and his bat should fit well at Thompson Field and will be potentially the perfect platoon partner with Elmer Nodle in LF. He also will be used often as a pinch hitter off the bench.
OF Jose "Roach" Serna (Age -25 B-R) Acquired waivers from Philadelphia April 1938
5'11 185lbs 3rd Season
Last year at AAA hit 264/330/692 1-18 FABL Career 287/324/750 6-71
Capable backup OF who can play all positions and has the ability to hit for average. Good speed as well. Dynamo's reluctantly traded him at the June Draft last year to acquire a 3rd round pick that was used to select Al Duster.
Summary - Clearly this is the strength of the position players as Detroit boasts arguably the top OF in baseball (certainly a top 3 group). With reigning rookie of the year and league home run king from last season CF Sal Pestilli returning for his 2nd season. He is joined by OF Leon Drake "Mr 20x20x20) who can cause a tremendous amount of damage with his bat and ability to hit to all fields. Then the platoon in LF of Elmer Nodle (strong side) and recently acquired Grover Lee and you have a very formidable group. OF Jose Serna rejoins the Dynamo's after having been traded at the draft last year but then being released (DFA) by the Keystones. He adds speed and can play good defense. The club also has OF Wayne Morgan who many thought would be the weak side of the platoon with Nodle before the acquisition of Lee and Sid Williams at AAA. Both are capable hitters who add different dimensions to the team. If Lee doesn't work out, expect one of them to be called up immediately.
Team Summary and Outlook - The Dynamo's were the busiest team in baseball this past off-season and the roster shows it. The club only has 2 home grown players on its 23 man roster with CF Sal Pestilli and 1B Red Johnson. Everyone else was acquired via trade or waiver claims. After hitting rock bottom in 1935 with a 43-111 season, the Dynamo's have improved to 55 and 63 wins. This year the club has to be shooting for 500+ which would be a big improvement. With the upgrades to the pitching staff and if the young position players deliver as hoped, some believe this team will at least being in the upper division of the Fed this year. But again a reasonable expectation is to play around 500 and maybe sneak into the 80 win club if everything breaks right.