JULY 26, 1943 - Special Trade Deadline Issue
NEW YORK NIGHTMARE
DE JA VU FOR GOTHAMS FANS AS CLUB DEALS VETERAN ARM TO CHIEFS
Forgive fans of the New York Gothams if they feel like they have done this before. Shock was the most common word but anger also certainly came up a lot when New York City baseball fans were informed that their beloved Gothams had sent pitcher Gus Goulding to the Chicago Chiefs for a pair of prospects and the Chiefs first round draft pick. The deal, eerily reminiscent of the 1936 deadline trade that sent Rabbit Day and eventually two pennants to Chicago after Day and the Gothams had celebrated a title of their own the previous October, appears to cement the Chiefs status as favorites to win their third pennant in an 8 year stretch.
The mood is suddenly somber in Washington and Boston - two clubs that had inched ahead of the Chiefs atop the Federal Association standings- as a rotation of Goulding (9-10, 4.02), Al Miller (9-5, 2.91), Les Zoller (8-6, 4.10), Red Hampton (7-7, 3.88) and the surprising John Douglas (5-4, 1.77)- another Gothams castoff- looks very imposing. And that is not even counting the 39 year old Day (7-7, 4.60) or the surprising 30 year old all-star Luis Sanoval (4-3, 1.95). Add in Bob Cummings (2-10, 4.33), who has been disappointing since coming over from Brooklyn along with Al Wheeler last month, and there is plenty of options for Chiefs manager Joe Ward to pencil in as his starting pitcher down the stretch. An embarrassment of riches in the Windy City at a time both Boston and Washington are nursing injuries in the rotation and likely each now even more desperate to answer with a deal of their own.
The Chiefs are hoping to catch lightning a second time courtesy of a major deadline deal for a pitcher with the Gothams. Just like this season, in the middle of 1936 the Gothams had a World Championship Series hangover and were greatly underperforming, prompting Gothams management to tear apart a team that won back-to-back titles. Day was the biggest casualty, going to Chicago, and while the Gothams spent the next 5 seasons in the lower depths of the second division before finally emerging with a surprise title last season, Day lead the Chiefs to two World Championships in a three year span while claiming his third career Allen Award in that '36 campaign. Another Gotham ace, Jim Lonardo, would join Day for the second title and win a fourth Allen Award of his own in '38. Now, after 4 seasons hovering just out of contention in 4th or 5th place, the Chiefs have pulled the trigger on another big deal with New York - one that has Chiefs fans celebrating as their Gotham counterparts mass in protest outside of Gothams Stadium- one can't help but feel history is destined to repeat itself. Certainly for the Chiefs with another pennant seemingly well within their grasp, but also with the Gothams, who look poised to embark on another multi-year rebuild.
The particulars of the deal see the the 30 year righthanded Goulding depart for the Windy City with the Gothams receiving Chicago's first round pick next January along with pitching prospects Lou Eaker and Willie Ellis. Eaker won't be available for some time as the 25 year old joined the Army and has not pitched professionally since the 1941 season when he went 5-11 with a 4.12 era at AAA Fort Wayne. Originally a 5th round pick of the Chicago Cougars, he was moved to the Chiefs following the 1940 season in a package for veteran outfielder Cliff Moss. OSA, which presently ranks him #84 on their prospect list, feels Eaker has the ceiling of a number two starter. Ellis, 21, is a 1940 7th round pick who started the season at Class B but was promoted to A, where he has gone 2-6 with a 7.54 era in 14 starts. OSA projects him as a spot starter.
JIGGS MCGEE'S TAKE: This just reminds me too much of Rabbit Day in 1936. I get that Goulding has not lived up to expectations in the Big Apple, but look what he did down the stretch and in the Series last year. It feels like a trade just for the sake of making a deal and while there is always the chance the Gothams land a stud with what likely will be the 15th pick (and no better than 11 I would guess) of the draft but that is a longshot. So they are left banking on Eaker, when he comes back from the war, being able to replace Goulding as the number two man in the rotation. Just seems like a stretch. Maybe the Gothams have a bigger plan and they are adding these young assets to package along with their own first round pick in a major trade - and there have been rumours Red Johnson is on the block in Detroit- but unless this is turned into something bigger I have to be pretty upset if I am a Gothams fan faced with the thought of 5 more awful seasons like they just endured prior to being rewarded last October.
From the Chiefs point of view it also reminds me of 1936. And we all know how that had a picture perfect ending for Chicago fans. Now Goulding is not the spittin' image of circa-1936 Rabbit Day but he if he can put things together like he did last fall he will be pitching deep into October once again.
*** HEAT ON BOSTON AND WASHINGTON TO RESPOND ***
The big question now is will either Boston or Washington make a late move to counter the Chiefs addition of Goulding. The New York Stars are shopping their pitchers - with them all on display like a used car lot. No rationing in the Big Apple as it appears everything with a serviceable arm and a few miles on it must go, be he Gotham or Star. Billy Riley (2-10, 4.09) looks like a pretty beat up model this season but the Stars rode him to a pennant last year with a 21-5 season. One has to think he just might be worth the gamble to either the Minutemen or Eagles. Vern Hubbard (8-8, 3.82) is another one that the Stars might move. The question is does Boston have enough, outside of 1942 top pick Bob Arman who likely is not available, that they would be willing to move. The Eagles have two first round picks so perhaps they deal one to the Stars but the question is how confident is Washington in it's pennant chances? Enough to chip away some of the future for a chance now? Considering it has been over a decade since anyone even gave a second thought about the Eagles chances, the timing might be right to make a move.
OSA BOSS BARRELL WITH SOME THOUGHTS ON IMPLICATIONS OF GOULDING TRADE
Dan Barrell, former Brooklyn King and current head of the league scouting agency had this to say about the trade that sent Goulding from the Gothams to the Chiefs:
Quote:
If the Eagles had gone for him, that would have made things interesting. This has been the epitome of a "war years" pennant race. This is really a two-team race between Boston & Chicago. Washington just doesn't have the horses to go the distance. I could be wrong and we could get a (alternate universe) St. Louis Browns type pennant, but with Goulding going to Chicago I'm even more certain it will be Chicago or Boston at the end. With Goulding in the fold, I give the edge to the Chiefs, but the Minutemen still have better pitching overall. The Chiefs' offensive edge with their now bolstered rotation should be the difference.
I also think the war is the main reason the Gothams dropped in the standings. They'd probably have been in the thick of things if their 1942 lineup was still intact. And yes, the above note about the Gothams is true of others as well (Pittsburgh comes to mind)
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EDITOR's NOTE- This article is from the morning edition of the New York paper and was printed prior to the Goulding trade.
--- Word around the team's front office is that the GM is frustrated with attempts to make a few deals at the deadline. "It's not all about trading away major leaguers. Sure, there are players available, but the team would also be willing to add talent with a look towards players returning from the military at some point."
--- Yes, Gus Goulding is on the block. Despite his heroics late last season and in the Series, the starter continues to baffle management with his unpredictable performance. "Maybe the pressure of a pennant race is what Gus needs to bring out his best."
--- All-star RF Leon Drake, having one of his best seasons in years could help bolster a contender's lineup.
--- And through it all Walt Messer remains the picture of consistency. Now back at 1B, with the struggles of Bud Jameson, the 25 year old, just awarded FA Player of the Week, continues to thrive while all around is turmoil. Messer, untouchable in the trade market, looks to be the successor to Jameson as a long time Gotham.
- How angry are some Gothams fans. One went as far to compare the trade of Goulding as reeking of the same underhandedness as the Japs sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. The more moderate of New York supporters realize the club has had an all or nothing approach but the question is will the majority of fans put up with another 5 years of bad baseball, should it come to that, just as the mess after the 1935 title turned into.
- There are growing rumours the Cincinnati Cannons were willing to part with top outfield prospect Dick Blaszak in order to bring Goulding back to the Cannons organization. The deal would likely have cost the Gothams their first round pick as well but reportedly New York had no interest because they did not want to wait for Blaszak to get out of the military. Which makes the decision to add Eaker all the more perplexing.
- The Chicago Cougars Dick Lyons came two outs away from a no-hitter against the Foresters, finishing the game with 1 hit and 2 walks. After walking Cal Howe with one out in the 1st, Lyons set down 24 straight batters before walking Elmer Lockwood and then allowing the double to Leon Blackridge. He did all this without a single strikeout as Lyons lowered his ERA to 1.86 (183 ERA+) and his WHIP to a league best 0.97
- With all the injuries the Cougars have add this season it is a credit to their depth they lead the way in the Continental Association. Among those who missed extensive time are Cliff Moss, Harry Parker, Rich Langton, Mike Taylor and of course the often-injured Billy Hunter.
- Ike Keller in Washington is having a classic "fireman" season. He has appeared in 47 games and has 31 shutdowns and only 8 meltdowns. He is on pace for 138 innings pitched.
- Al Tucker of St Louis is continuing his blistering pace. He hit .462 on the week to take over the lead in the FA batting race. Tucker hit .429 in June and is hitting .357 in July.
- Is there a more all or nothing team than the Gothams? Not sure if they get incredibly lucky to have everything go right in the good years or incredibly unlucky and everything goes wrong every year they don't win the pennant. Either way, there is rarely any time New York is simply good - either the best or awful.
Gothams finishes since 1926
1st - 6
2nd - 0
3rd- 1
4th- 0
5th- 0
6th- 4
7th- 2
8th-4
- Cannons scouts are thrilled to see 4 homers last week for Sid Kling. He was a first round projected player in each of the first couple of mocks done by TWIFB for his draft class but really dropped his final year or two. Cannons always loved his power potential and took a flier on him with a 6th round pick last month. Kling has not disappointed in the early going as the 18 year old is slashing .265/.368/.490 in his first month of pro ball at Class C and has hit 6 homers already.