[Jiggs McGee]

OCTOBER 14, 1945

ENOUGH RETIREMENTS TO FILL AN ALL-STAR TEAM

With a great wave of ballplayers returning from the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific, many of the veteran greats have decided to step aside a make room. And they stepped aside in record numbers including 11 pitchers who have won at least 100 career FABL games and 10 position players who appeared in more than 1,000 big league games.

The list of retirees includes: Pitchers Dick Lyons (CHC 237-187), Joe Shaffner (StL 217-186), Ed Baker (MON 201-190), Tom Barrell (CIN 179-111), Mike Murphy (DET 177-133), Ben Turner (CLE 154-168), Jim Crawford (CIN 130-127), Herb Flynn (BKN 116-114), Les Zoller (NYS 116-130), Gene Stevens (PIT 111-98), Bernie Johnson (TOR 108-124) as well as Frank Vance (DET 2374 G, 2970 H), Cliff Moss (CHC 2203 G, 2221 H), Moxie Pidgeon (PIT 2189 G, 2557 H), Mike Taylor (CHC 1968 G, 1915 H), Dan Fowler (CIN 1779 G, 1643 H), Frank Huddleston (TOR 1520 G, 1267 H), Ray Cochran (NYS 1471 G, 1426 H), Tom Bird (CIN 1451 G, 1558 H), Sam Orr (CHI 1331 G, 1325 H) and Len Jones (BOS 1047 G, 1035 H),

Even the managers got in on the act as 66 year old Otto Schmidt retired after just one season at the Keystones helm. It was a magical season as Schmidt led the Keystones to a World Championship Series victory and leaves with a very successful record as a skipper that includes 2 WCS wins and 6 pennants.

SALE OF MINERS FINALIZED

The Pittsburgh Miners have new ownership after it was announced that Al Maday has purchased the club from the Fitzpatrick family. FABL President Sam Belton confirmed that the sale had been approved by league owners and a press conference to introduce the 55 year old Maday was held yesterday.

Maday, who hails from Hartford, Ct., is a financier and investment magnate who expects big things from his latest purchase, boasting to the press corps, "All my life, everything I've touched has turned to gold. I expect the Pittsburgh Miners to be the best baseball organization in the league and will work tirelessly toward that end."

The Miners are fresh off a 6th-place finish this season, compiling a 76-78 mark in the Federal Association. The club has won 9 FABL pennants but only once -in 1901- were they victorious in the World Championship Series. Maday becomes just the third owner in franchise history. The Miners started out as the Quarries -one of the original clubs of the Border Association- before founding owner Marin Elswich became the first in history to switch leagues when they jumped to the Century League before moving to the Federal Association when the FABL organization was created in 1892. Elswich's clubs were a powerhouse at the turn of the century, winning four straight pennants from 1898 to 1901. When he passed away in 1912 his estate sold the club to foundry owner Daniel X. Fitzpatrick, who opened a brand-new ballpark made with Fitzpatrick Steel in 1923, naturally naming the park after himself. Fitzpatrick is 76 years old and rumoured to have had some health issues, a factor that likely contributed heavily to his decision to sell the team after 35 years of ownership.

The Keystones won their third World’s Championship Series and seventh league title in their 70-year history in a four games to two win over the Cincinnati Cannons. Philadelphia’s third title and fifth pennant in the modern era takes a back seat to no other team in the FABL. But this one was different. In 1927, the Keystones hit .304 as a team and pitched to a less-than-stellar 4.61 ERA. In 1933, they pitched better (4.03 ERA), but collectively hit an amazing .306. This year, the Keystones had their best team ERA since 1918, as the staff put up a 2.95 ERA, while the team hit only .249.

Bobby Barrell is undisputedly an all-time great, but Barrell has also managed to bridge the gap from the days of Rankin Kellogg and Carl Ames to the present day. All three were big cogs in the 1933 Championship and 1932 Fed pennant. Now, the circle is complete, as Barrell paired his 1933 Most Valuable Player Award in the World’s Championship Series with his total domination of this year’s edition. Barrell earned his second WCS MVP with a record-setting performance. Barrell homered five times in six games to take over the all-time WCS lead with nine round-trippers. Carl Ames is now a bench coach with the Keystones and he sees the similarities. “You see Bobby take the team on his shoulders and that is what Killer [Kellogg] did for so many years. This team has been in great hands for over 20 years now and Barrell has plenty of game left before he needs to pass the torch to the next generation”, Ames said.

My thoughts and comments follow each game story:
The Keystones won with Barrell’s power-hitting, timely hitting from unlikely sources, and an amazing pitching staff. The four starters combined for a 2.23 ERA, allowing 11 earned runs and 40 hits in 44.1 innings. George M Brooks won Game 1 (7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 7 K) and Chet McCormick had the big moment with a three-run 4th-inning double to open the scoring in the series.

JB’s notebook after Game 1:

• For the Keystones to win, they need to keep the scores down. They will not win slugfests. This is the type of game that fits their team identity.
• The home crowd was up for this one, chanting “Bob-beeeeee” after a great sliding catch by Barrell to close the top of the 5th inning.
• After allowing the first run of the game to Cincinnati in the top of the 7th inning, the Keystones got the run right back.
• Brooks pitched very well. The key to a good bullpen is not having to use it and I am hoping the Keystones do not have to use it.

Game 2 was a pitcher’s duel between Red Ross (7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) and Red Hampton of the Cannons. The 2-2 tie was broken in the 11th by Hank McKay, who singled home Bobby McHenry after he led off the home half with a triple, making a winner out of Herman Patterson.

JB’s notebook after Game 2:

• Manager Otto Schmidt was thinking of bumping Chet McCormick up to 7th, but decided against it. Woytek hitting second today. Both pitchers coming in hot. Hampton likes pitching in Philly.
• Keystone fans are encouraged by the good numbers for a couple of the guys against Hampton: Billy Woytek (.429, 2 HR in 28 AB, but last faced him 4 years ago), Chuck Hood (.389), Chet McCormick (.387), and Bobby Barrell (.354, 7 HR in 164 AB)
• Red Ross went 1-2 last year, but the one win was in Game 1
• More BOB-BEEEE chants from the partisan crowd after his second inning homer to open the scoring account in Game 2. Barrell's Backers in the LF stands are seeing him up to his old tricks in the first two games
• Cincinnati 1B Chuck Adams, last year’s Series MVP, has given the Cannons their first big hit of the Series, a two-run shot to tie the game in the third.
• Frank Covarrubias making a bid to justify the #3 spot in the lineup [with line drive to LF with runners on 1st & 2nd , Gail Gifford made a spectacular sliding catch to end the 5th]. The crowd jeers with Barrell waiting patiently on deck.
• Offense early, but the pitchers (Keystone RHP Red Ross and Cannon LHP Red Hampton) have taken control .
• Leo Costello is a right-handed fielder, so that play down the line [Gifford grounder with runners on 1st & 3rd with 2 out] was a bit easier for him.
• Another missed opportunity (strikeout with 2nd & 3rd with 2 out to end the 7th) for Covarrubias with Barrell on deck
  Covarrubias has had a tough game. He went over to Woytek with a hearty “thank you” for not having to wear the goat horns (E5 with no one out in the top of the 9th, Woytek started 4-6-3 DP after fielding a sharp ground ball to the next hitter, Jim Hensley.)
• Covarrubias was 0-for-5 with 6 left on base in Game 2. He really struggled.
• Bobby McHenry! He is obviously the 24th man. He came so close to being designated for assignment so many times. Also, with the servicemen returning, this might be his last series as a Keystone. That triple might have made the Keystones faith worth it.
• With McCormick in Game 1 and both McHenry and McKay in Game 2, the Keystones have the luck of the Irish.

The series moved to Cincinnati for Game 3 and the unlikely Philadelphia story continued. Two prognosticators picked the Keystones to win – The Detroit World’s Freddie Farhat, and yours truly. The Keystones, behind a complete game win from Jim Whiteley (9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K), moved one game away from a sweep, defeating the Cannons, 5-1. Barrell put the game out of a reach with a three-run moon shot, measured over 410 feet from home plate for the final margin.

JB’s notebook after Game 3:

• Otto Schmidt is pushing the right buttons. Jim Whiteley didn't get a start in last year’s Series, but he did have a good long relief stint in one of the games.
• Charlie Enslow in for Chuck Hood in Game 3 and Ron Hansen played a strong third base while Frank Covarrubias took a breather after a horror show of a first two games in Philadelphia.
• Cautious optimism from the Keystones fans after going up 3-0 against a superior offensive team.
• They were calling me a hopeless homer, but he might just have shown that young buck Joey Mahoney a thing or two.

Cincinnati made it very interesting, getting up off the mat late in Game 4, finally getting to rookie starter John Grimes (8.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) on an Al Wheeler double in the 8th. The Keystones took a 2-0 lead in the second and the Cannons hung around all game until their bats arrived. Yes, the Keystones even took a 3-2 lead in extra innings after Barrell tripled and made it home on a Tom Costello single. But, Tom Bird tied the game in the 11th and 1944 WCS MVP Chuck Adams won the game in the 12th, the only runs that Tim Walters surrendered all series. The game featured seven double plays, five by the Keystones.

JB’s notebook after Game 4:

• CF Chuck Hood and SS Frank Davis are two of the better defensive players for the Keystones. Frank Covarrubias fields his position well also. All 3 have had errors in the series.
• (Through five innings) 12 outs to get for the Keystones. Grimes needs to get another 6.
• Big groundball for Smiley (Bottom of the 6th, man on 1st with 0 out, Wheeler grounding into a 4-6-3 DP)
• How long does Otto Schmidt stick with the rookie Grimes? 6 more outs for the Keystones. Grimes comes out for the 8th.
• Big gamble keeping Grimes in to face the big bats four times. Gail Gifford singled to lead off the bottom of the 8th and Al Wheeler hit a two-out RBI double to tie the game.
• Bobby Barrell, again, waiting on deck (after Billy Woytek 6-4-3 DP in top of 10th). It has happened a lot this Series.
• The faint raucous cheers for Barrell from the few Keystones fans that made the trip to Cincinnati after Barrell led off with a triple in the top of the 11th.
• (Entering the 12th) The suspect bullpen for the Keystones will not make this a long game. Schmidt is not going to go Ross, a former stopper, if it goes long because he is the Game 5 probable. Jonah Brown might make an appearance.
• (After the 12-inning loss) Saved most of the bullpen at least. Never expected a sweep, but the Keystones were two outs away from victory.
• Most Keystones fans were hoping to take at least one in Cincinnati to be able to clinch at home. They got greedy in Game 4, but Game 5 will have Brooks on the mound and a hope to nail this thing down.

Game 5 was the only game where the Keystones were completely outclassed. In this one, Philadelphia scored four runs in the first – including another homer by Barrell – before Cincinnati ever came to bat. By the end of the first, the Cannons were within one run. Cincinnati scored two more in the third and single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings for an 8-4 win. Brooks (4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER (6 R), 5 BB, 4 K) was victimized by a key error by Billy Woytek that preceded a two-out two-run double in the third that gave Cincinnati a lead it would never relinquish.

JB’s notebook after Game 5:

• Like I said before Game 1, for the Keystones to win, the scores need to be low. Game 5 was a relative slugfest with 12 runs scored. Philly is not winning those types of games.
• Chuck Adams is taking the Cannons on his shoulders with his third homer of the series.

Red Ross brought home the title for the Keystones in Game 6, as he pitched into the ninth inning (8.1 IP, 10 H, 2 ER (3 R), 4 BB, 5 K) in a 7-3 victory. The game followed a similar script as Game 5 with the home team allowing the first run of the game before quickly getting on the board in the home half. But, unlike Game 5, the Keystones were the home team.

JB’s notebook after Game 6:

• I remember some murmurs in 1933 that Kellogg wasn't a good postseason player. He did hit 2 HR in 1927, but only hit .227. He went 2-for-16 in the sweep at the hands of the Stars in 1932. Kellogg's last appearance was the memorable one. The next season, Kellogg hit .407 with 2 HR in the Keystones title run.
• Bobby Barrell holds postseason records in homers (9), slugging percentage (.821) and total bases (78, including a whopping 32 this Series).
• Bobby Barrell rightfully won the MVP, but Billy Woytek came on like a freight train during the series. After almost four years away from the FABL, he hit .170/.255/.318 in 88 September at-bats. It was like Spring Training for him before the postseason began. He had hits in 5 of 6 games and multi-hit games 4 of 5, including a 4-for-4 with a three-run shot to give the Keystones a 6-1 lead.

Philadelphia allowed 20 runs while scoring 24 runs. In fact, the run totals were even through five games although the Keystones had a 3-2 series lead. The defense was unusually suspect, committing 12 errors against 8 for the Cannons, though there was also an unusual amount of double plays in the series. The Keystones did gain the slight edge, 10-9.

TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN

Spotlight Players in Toronto Organization -With all the expected player movement in this coming off-season here is the first of an attempt at a series of articles to inform Wolves fans of what they may be able to see in future years at Dominion Field. These articles will try to focus on "under the radar prospects" at AAA, AA, A, possibly B, but Vancouver players are still probably to unproven to evaluate into the future.

First a look at the players in the OSA Top 100 in the Wolves system:
1-John Fast-SS- (11): After returning from service this past summer Fast who is still only 23 put up impressive numbers at Chattanooga .288/.429/.485 in 19 games before joining Buffalo for 7 games at season's end. Expect Fast to be in Buffalo at a combination 2B, SS in 1946 to give him options other than being blocked by Charlie Artuso.

2- Jerry York- RHP- (16): Another late summer return. Pitched a total of 25 inning between Davenport, Chattanooga in '45 posting a 2-1 record sub 3 ERA. This 24 year old, 1942 1st rounder will graduate to Buffalo this season.

3- Harry Phillips- RHP- (35): In the Navy since January 1942 is expected to be released in the coming weeks. With only 71 innings of pro experience, at C in 1941, this 23 year old has lots of questions about his future. Could start at Vancouver then go to A if he has any success at all early in the season.

4- Harry Finney- SS- (59): A 1945 second round pick struggled this summer in B .225/.316/.353 in just under 120 time at the plate. Expect him to start in B playing all over the infield as versatile Finney is reputed to be able to play anywhere on the infield.
5- Adam Grayson -RHP- (68): Expected to get out of the Army, where he has been since 1943, before Christmas this 24 year old, drafted in 1939 will have to hit the ground running. This will be a season of determination for Grayson in at least Class A.

6- Ray Hatch- RHP- (89): This high school 15th rounder in '42 has spent 3 seasons in C. While showing improvement every year it is time to move up or out for Hatch. At 20 he still has time but not a lot, early season at B will be critical for Hatch.

7- Sam Jordan- RHP- (92): Almost a duplicate of Hatch but at AA. At 23 he has to prove that he can dominate in AA.

8- Otis Porter -RHP- (96): A flame thrower with control issues, Porter shows promise but must turn this into reality at least in A at 23.

Now for the spotlight player at AAA. Frank Frady, who will turn 25 in the next few days, has turned heads in the front office. Give credit to the scouting department along with the minor league staffs who have aided in the development of this 24th round pick from Bayou State College in 1942. After being selected 375th Frady started in Tuscaloosa with not much fanfare. After being prompted to Class B midseason in 1943 his bat came alive hitting .319. After hitting .319/.374/.459 in B he went to Davenport for the second half after 1944 again hitting over .300. Last year was a breakout year for this versatile infielder. After a line of .374/.432/.524 terrorizing A pitchers for 45 games he went to AA for with the same results, .375/.411/.558 in 34 games. On to Buffalo to face a AAA challenge for the final third of 1945. Different city, different level, same results. In 36 games .303/.357/.387. He has also proven not be a fielding determent at either SS, 2B, or 3B, which is usually the deciding factor for Toronto in promotion to the FABL. Frady has earned enough respect in Toronto to be a probable invitee to ST in 1946. A real find for the Wolves.