OCTOBER 5, 1945
KEYSTONES TAKE 2-0 SERIES LEAD
The Continental Association had no answer for the Cincinnati Cannons powerful offense during the regular season but the Philadelphia Keystones certainly found one, at least in the first two games of the World Championship Series as the Keystones claimed a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of outstanding pitching performances. The series now shifts to Cincinnati for Game Three tomorrow afternoon.
George M Brooks handcuffed the Cannons hitters in Wednesday's opener, leading the hometown Keystones to a 4-1 victory. On Thursday it was veteran Red Ross leading the way with 7-innings of solid pitching before the much maligned Philadelphia bullpen took over and did the job in a 3-2 victory in an 11 inning marathon. Bobby Barrell is having a great series, going 6-for-9 in the two contests but it was lesser lights Chet McCormick, with a 3-run double in the opener, and Bobby McHenry, who scored the game two winning run after hitting a 2-out triple in the 11th, that were the heroes so far.
In the Cincinnati clubhouse the problem is obvious. Cannons pitchers Deuce Barell and Red Hampton combined to go 5-for-7 at the plate in the games at Broad Street Park but the rest of the Cincinnati lineup went just 10-for-66 (.152), scoring just 3 runs and never leading in Philadelphia. Al Wheeler went 0-for-9. Chuck Adams 1-for-5 but at least he homered but was also surprisingly pinch-hit for twice after leading the Continental Association in rbi's. Denny Andrews 1-for-8 and Fred Galloway 1-for-8. Jack Cleaves did get a hit in the opener but it would prove to be his only WCS at bat as the 38 year old went back on the injured list with a knee injury.
The Keystones just need to keep doing what they are doing. Relying on clutch hitting and getting key hits from some unlikely sources as they are half way to getting revenge for last year's series loss to the Cannons and claiming their first WCS win since 1933. Cincinnati needs to hope a return to Tice Memorial will awaken the most potent office in FABL this season. They averaged nearly 5 runs a game during the regular season but scored just 3 times in the first two games of the Series.
It is not unfamiliar territory for the Cannons who lost the first two games of the 1943 series in Boston before winning 3 straight at home and eventually taking the series in 7. Last year against the Keystones the series also went seven when the Cannons lost the opener at home and trailed 3 games to two before winning games 6 and 7 at home. The Cannons are just 2-7 on the road in the post-season during their 3-year run but are 6-1 at Tice Memorial Stadium.
GAME ONE
The Philadelphia Keystones drew first blood in the World Championship Series, riding an outstanding pitching performance from George M. Brooks and a clutch him from Chet McCormick to a 4-1 victory before nearly 18,000 fans at Broad Street Park. Brooks had a terrific game, scattering 5 hits and fanning 7 over 7 2/3 innings before giving way to Tim Walters. He did walk five but kept the Cannons hitters off balance all day.
Philadelphia had a big fourth inning that made all the difference in the game. Bobby Barrell, who tripled off his nephew -Cincinnati pitcher Deuce Barrell- in the opening inning, lead-off the fourth with a double. A walk to Leo Costello and a seeing eye single from second sacker Billy Woytek loaded the bases. It looked like the Cannons might get out of the jam went Deuce induced shallow pop ups from Chuck Hood and Frank Davis but with 2 out McCormick played the hero with a bases-clearing double that would provide more than enough offense for the Keystones on this day.
Cincinnati would get a run in the 7th when Brooks uncorked a wild pitch with runners on the corners allowing Deuce Barrell, who singled twice in the contest, to race home and make the score 3-1. McCormick would factor in the scoring once more when the Keystones quickly regained their 3-run lead in the home half of the inning when a Hank McKay two-out single plated the Keystones catcher, who had doubled for the second time. It could have been a whole lot worse for the Cannons but with two out and runners on first and second Deuce fanned his Uncle Bobby to get out of the inning.
The Cannons had a last gasp in the top of the 9th when pinch-hitter Johnny Porter singled and moved to third on a Gail Gifford double -the only extra-base hit the Cannons had all day. Reliever Tim Walters settled down and fanned Denny Andrews and Nick Wallace, who had surprisingly been called on to pinch-hit for Chuck Adams, to end the game.
GAME TWO
Hank McKay's single with two out in the bottom of the 11th inning plated little-used Bobby McHenry with the game winning run to lift the Philadelphia Keystones to a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Cannons and in to a 2-0 lead as the series shifts to the Queen City for Saturday's third game. McHenry, who had just 55 at bats this season and hasn't hit a big league triple since 1941, ripped one of Cannons starting pitcher Red Hampton -who was still on the mound- with 2 out in the bottom of the 11th to set the stage for McKay's walkoff excitement.
The story of the game up to that point was Bobby Barrell as the Keystones superstar had 4 hits to raise his average in the series to .667, and the Keystones bullpen which kept the Cannons bats silent for 4 innings in relief of Red Ross. Ross and two relievers allowed just 8 Cincinnati hits and 3 of them were to Cannons pitcher Red Hampton.
As they did in the series opener the Keystones struck first when Barrell led-off the second with a solo homerun. A Frank Davis sacrifice fly would plate Leo Costello with the second run of the inning and it was needed as the Cannons Chuck Adams tied the game with a 2-run homer in the top of the third. The contest did not see another run until Mckay's rbi to end the game.
TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN
A LOOK BACK AT THE SEASON - I have decided to change the order of the off-season writings on your Wolves. Usually I provide a position summary of the team, but this may came later this winter, as before the Fall Classic we will start with a month by month summary of how the team did in 1945. This comes out while the team is smarting from the failure, by 4 games, to catch the Cannons who are now in Philadelphia playing the Keystones.
April- the team got off to an uneven start with a 4-5 record. Charlie Artuso led the way offensively with a .395/.477/.605 line in a slow month for most batters. Gus Hull led the team in RBI with 6 despite only hitting .206. George Garrison led the pitching staff showing no ill effects from his war service. A trend that would haunt the team all season showed up in April. The bullpen was charged with 4 of the losses including 3 blown saves. A positive 1945 also was evident as the team's 4 wins came in 2 double header sweeps.
May- After Spring sprung in Canada the Wolves heated up with the weather. Toronto has their best record of '45 at 21-10 as the war ends in Germany. The bullpen led by Cookie Myer seems to find its way. Myer goes 6-1, along with 2 saves, for the month prompting a soon to come rotation change for Call as Tommy Anderson struggles as a starter. Artuso continues his hot start to lead the offense with assistance form Wayne Henderson, Walter Pack.
June- The biggest news a the month was McCormick's return from active duty. After a few day tuning up in Buffalo like Garrison Fred seemed to step right back into the FABL as if he had missed 4 days rather than 4 years. McCormick's .311/.469/.514 3 HR month was great for the fans although the team struggled at 14-14. Wirtz, Laurita, Anderson, who would soon be going to the 'pen then Buffalo, all had poor months on the mound.
July-Toronto rebounds to lead the CA by the slimmest fo margins at the ASG with a 20-11 record. Garrison, 6-1, Myer, 4-0, Wall, 3-0, lead the staff as Billy Crosby emerges of the anchor of the relief corps. Pack, now at the hot corner full time, leads the offense with help from Pomales, Artuso. The CA race is now down to four teams with Cincinnati, Toronto, Chicago, Philadelphia distancing themselves from the pack.
August- In an almost month long road trip as the World War ends with the surrender of Japan team goes 16-11. Gus Hull who, was the subject of the team's management trying to upgrade at the trade deadline, contributes a line of .293/.43/.511 25 RBI which makes the Toronto acquisition of right hand hitting Ed Hamor a superfluous move. As Garrison has his worst month Wirtz comes to the forefront of the starters.
September- The memories are still too fresh in fans minds to take up much room in this article, Garrison, 4-0 1.50 ERA 243 ERA+, Wirtz, 4-2, try to carry the team past Cincinnati from the mound. Chink Stickels, Pack try the same from the plate but the it not enough as the team finishes second by exactly the same number of games, 4, to the Cannons for the third year in a row.
Going forward over the off-season we will look at the team for 1946. The entire face of baseball along with life will change as the world shifts from war to peace reintegrating the veterans. This column will attempt to give insights into the future of the team at all levels. This winter's articles will be looking at the future rather the past of the Toronto and the FABL.
Just like every other team in the FABL the St. Louis Pioneers are in flux. With the end of the war returns about 100 players per organization and the questions of what to do with them. It is safe to say that the STL 24 and 40 man rosters at the end of the season will not be the same on opening day 1946. It’s early but we didn’t make the World Championship Series so we decided to predict what those rosters might look like going into next year.
The Pioneers were lucky enough to have two of their young pitching prospects return early enough in 1945 to get some playing time. Hal Hackney and Tom Buchanan both pitched well for STL down the stretch but Hackney seemed to tire down the stretch. The hometown kid from Fulton, Missouri posted a 2.06 ERA in his first six starts but managed just a 6.13 mark for his last five. Buchanan was available for just six starts after returning from the war but he posted a 2.39 ERA despite walking more than he struck out. The two late additions will join rookie Lazaro DeLeon(19-10, 2.63 ERA) in the rotation next year. The 23-year old Cuban led all of the FABL with 38 starts and finished fourth in innings pitched. The fourth and final piece of the rotation will be veteran Buddy Long. Long finished second in the FED Allen award voting following the ’44 season after winning 21 games and posting a 2.60 ERA. After that he decided to join the Air Force for the final stages of the war.
ROTATION
1. Buddy Long(31 ’46 opening day age)
2. Hal Hackney(25)
3. Lazaro DeLeon(23)
4. Tom Buchanan(23)
The St. Louis bullpen was the best in the FED with an ERA of 3.00 and it should be even better next year. Russ Peeples notched a career high 21 saves and moved into third on the Pioneers career list with 81 jumping over Ben Curtain and within nine saves of Hal Galvan. His 77.1 relief innings were tops on the team and his 2.44 ERA wasn’t bad either. Peeples roll could be diminished in 1946 as Tony Dixon could take over the top relief role. Dixon will be 23 when the season starts and OSA scouts love him saying he could be an elite bullpen presence with a dominating sinker and splitter that will generate a lot of ground balls. Veterans Harry Sharp(2.70 ERA) and Dixie Dennis(3.99) should also return to the big leagues next year. Danny Hern led the FED in innings pitched this past season but next year he will be relegated to a swing role on the staff. Pitching our of the pen and starting when double headers make it necessary. His 3.39 ERA was a career low but next season he will be needed more in relief.
BULLPEN
1. Russ Peeples(29)
2. Tony Dixon(23)
3. Harry Sharp(28)
4. Dixie Dennis(27)
5. Danny Hern(29)
The Pioneers sure have missed Heinie Zimmer. Once the pride of the teams prospects Zimmer became a solid big league catcher and a very difficult one to replace once he left for the war following the 1943 season. He’s not always been a great hitter but he has always been able to get on base. His last five seasons saw him average 109 walks per season while averaging just 580 plate appearances over the same span. He will do the bulk of the catching and maybe getting some time at first base to get him into the lineup more. Tucker Ness played in just five big league games before he got the call to war. He was a top 50 prospect at one time and he will be pegged to back up Zimmer starting 30~35 games. His eye should be almost as good as Zimmer’s but only time will tell if he can make it in the big leagues.
CATCHERS
1. Heinie Zimmer(31)
2. Tucker Ness(27)
First base is a curious position for the Pioneers. GM Herb DeSpain is best known for trading away Fred McCormick because he thought Zip Sullivan could replace him. He couldn’t and they have been searching for something close ever since. Hal Sharp was called upon to play the majority of the games at first this past season and he finished third in the FED batting race. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Hal Sharp is one of the world's worst fielders, even at first base. Sharp will likely be forced into a bench role next season as the team looks to Bob Johnston JR and Dutch Breunig to fill the first base void. Johnston hit .373 in 38 games of action in 1942 while Breunig has hit at every level including .315 in a full season of work in 1943.
FIRST BASE
1. Bob Johnston JR(27)
2. Dutch Breunig(28)
Like Zimmer mentioned above second baseman Artie D’Alessandro is someone the team has missed dearly. Like Zimmer his best asset is his ability to get on base. D’Alessandro hit just .264 in 1943 but he led the FED with 110 bases on balls dethroning Zimmer who had led the league each of the three years prior. With D’Alessandro and Zimmer at the top of the lineup there will be plenty of base runners for the big bats to drive in. Something the team has been missing in recent seasons.
SECOND BASE
1. Artie D’Alessandro(29)
Homer Mills is not a great fielding shortstop but there are very few of those to go around. The team hopes he can improve his fielding as he gains experience but the expectations are not that high. He did improve at the plate from 1944 to 1945 and he is expected to build on that and climb towards the .300 mark next year. He doesn’t have a lot of power but he has extra base speed. He led the FED with 14 triples this season, making up over a third of his 36 extra base hits. Luke Michaels return from the war swinging. He played in 28 games for the Pioneers hitting .333. Some doubt he can come close to those numbers in a full time role so he will most likely be a backup infielder next year.
SHORTSTOP
1. Homer Mills(24)
2. Luke Michaels(27)
Tommy Wilson is one of the premier fielders at the hot corner but his bat has been consistently bad the past three seasons posting batting averages of .244, .246, and .243 respectively. His glove will get him into the starting lineup once again as the youngster Homer Mills at short will need all of the help he can get in the field. The team is hoping Wilson will return to the hitter he was in ‘41/’42 when he averaged about .285 and posted an OB% of about .360.
THIRD BASE
1. Tommy Wilson(30)
The 1945 outfield trio of Al Tucker, Cal Page, and rookie Larry Gregory all made the all star team with Tucker and Page voted in as starters. All three will return to the big league team next year but their jobs are not guaranteed. Ok, barring injury Tucker and Page will have guaranteed spots but Gregory will have to fight for his. Tucker is the team’s best hitter. A former batting champ and four time all-star who boast a career batting average of .323. Page is a very good fielder who seems to have finally learned to hit big league pitching. Gregory had a decent rookie season but he will have to battle with switch hitting Dutch Peters, one of the team’s top hitting prospects. Peters came to St. Louis in the Gail Gifford/Sam Sheppard trade so he has a lot to live up to.
OUTFIELD
1. Al Tucker(33)
2. Cal Page(25)
3. Larry Gregory(23)
4. Dutch Peters(25)
BENCH
1. 1B/OF Hal Sharp(32)
2. IF Frank McNeil(27)
3. OF Hack Mills(24)
REST OF THE 40 MAN(sure to change)
1. P Herb Armstrong
2. P Mal Bianco
3. P Ben Fiskars
4. P Johnny Kretzschmar
5. P Jasper Moore
6. P Preacher Pietsch
7. C Eddie Schroeder
8. C Artie Smith
9. OF Pershing Christian
10. OF Buck Pusey
11. OF Leo Davis
The Week That Was
Current events from 10/01/1945 thru 10/04/1945
- A U.S. scientest at the Crosby Research Foundation claims to have a defense against the atomic bomb. Larry Crosby, brother of film star Big Crosby and head of the foundation which helped with early work on the bomb refused to discuss even the basic principle of the bomb defense but said the secret would be turned over to the proper authorities on condition that he be used solely to "compel other nations to play fair with the United States."
- The abrupt arrival of chilly weather added new urgency to efforts to end the strike of 30,000 workers in major oil refineries and on the pipelines. Negotiations went into their third day with no apparent sign of progress. In the meantime, a cold spell has hit much of the East and Midwest.
- Meanwhile, 26 army ships and 166 merchant vessels are idled after a longshoremen's strike hits the northeast coast.
- Britain is in a tough spot as it prepares to answer President Turman's request that the gates of Palestine be opened at once to provide haven for 100,000 Jews in Germany. As late as early August some of the Jews who survived Nazi persecution where still herded into European concentration camps, dying by the thousands from lack of food, clothing or decent shelter.
- President Truman has ordered the abolition of the War Production Board effective Nov 3. It will be replaced by a new agency called the Civilian Production Administration.