JUNE 2, 1947
CREAM OF FABL RISING TO THE TOP
Expected Contenders Heat Up In Both Loops
The St Louis Pioneers and Cincinnati Cannons are starting to feel the heat as both unexpected leaders are watching the predicted contenders close fast. The Pioneers amazing start to the campaign has been well documented as St Louis -without a flag since 1921- went from last a year ago to the top of the Federal Association. They are still number one in the Fed, but the hard-charging Washington Eagles slashed 2.5 games off the Pioneers lead with six wins in their last 7 games. The Philadelphia Keystones, like Washington, tabbed as a preseason contender in the Fed, are also on the rise and even the New York Gothams -who had a dismal start- are starting to make some noise. The Pioneers still hold the lead, but four losses in their last 5 games certainly exposed some cracks.
The situation is even dicier for the Cincinnati Cannons in the Continental Association. Six losses in their last seven games including a pair to the New York Stars have allowed the Big Apple club to pull into a tie for top spot with the Queen City gang. Both of those teams are looking over their shoulder at the Chicago Cougars, who with 8 wins in their last nine games are finally starting to show signs of the club many expected would run away with the Continental crown this year.
TOP PERFORMERS LAST WEEK
The Keystones swept a double-header in a fly-by of a two-game set in Pittsburgh last Friday. But, if you stopped and paid attention, you saw a potential change to the rotation. Manager Jack Everhart moved to a six-man rotation due to a nine-game week, giving Jim Whiteley a start. Whiteley a 110-game winner over 11 seasons with Philadelphia, had been relegated to the bullpen to start the year, threw a 5-hit shutout in his first start in a 9-0 win in Game 2. Does he deserve another start? Absolutely.
It just so happens that rookie Joe Quade has been on shaky ground since a 6.32 ERA in April. Quade has had a better May (3.83 ERA) and had his best start in Game 1 of the double dip, The relievers had the entire day off because Quade also went the whole way, allowing three runs on nine hits in a 6-3 victory, his first in the FABL. Does he deserve to stay in the rotation? Probably.
Everhart has a tough decision to make. Does 10 seasons and over 100 wins for the franchise give Whiteley the edge? Everhart has not been around long enough to get sentimental over seniority. The future is Quade, no question. Everhart has to decide if the future is now and whether Quade settling in at the Major League level, warts and all, is more important than putting together their best rotation.
Speaking of struggling rookies, first baseman Nate Power's first two months in a Keystones uniform can only be described as challenging. Power has a single home run in 83 at bats to go with a ghastly .169 batting average and a .217 slugging percentage. The one saving graces have been his walks (15) and his defense (0 errors in 216 chances). But, that is not why Power was a first-round pick or not why he rocketed up the minor league ladder. Power hit 30 homers in 940 at bats between AA, AAA, and last winter's Cuban league. Power might need some more seasoning, as he has now lost his starting job in the corner infield triumvirate he shares with veterans Hank Koblenz and Frank Covarrubias.
Oh, and speaking of rookies making their General Manager look smart, catcher Roger Cleaves made it two Rookie of the Month Awards in the Fed in two months. His May was not as explosive as his April, but there was plenty of dynamite on display. For the month, Cleaves his .270, but slammed six homers and drove in 18 runs, scoring 15 runs in 89 at bats. For the year, he is up to .305-10-32 in the glamor categories, while his analytical statistics are fantastic (.312 ISO, 170 wRC+). You have to step back and remember he is doing this as a catcher and he is providing amazing defense behind the plate, throwing out 52% of would-be base stealers (12 of 23) and commanding the third-best starting staff in the league, including veterans like Lloyd Stevens and George Brooks.
Who knew getting embarrassed at home would be a good thing? For the Chicago Cougars, it seemed like exactly what the doctor order.
After getting walloped 14-2 by the defending champion Stars on May 23rd at Cougars Park, the perennial "next year is our year" club was 17-20 and eight games behind the Cincinnati Cannons for first in the Continental Association. Unsatisfied with his performance, veteran righty clubhouse leader Joe Brown gathered the struggling bunch in the locker room in an effort to bring the team together and shake off the rust.
"It starts with me," Brown later told reporters here at the Chicago Daily News. "I wasn't at my best, and I let them know that it wouldn't happen again. But we have to hold each other accountable and boost each other up. We're a team, let's start acting like it!"
To the surprise of many, in a clubhouse full of vets like Hal Sharp, Skipper Schneider, and Pete Papenfus, the next loud voice came from a rookie; Duke Bybee.
"I kind of chuckled when rookie with an ERA over 4 got up and started talking," Brown started. But once you hear him speak, you can't help but just listen. In the baseball world he may be new, but this is a guy who quickly worked his way up to sergeant in the Marines. Kid's wise beyond his years. He's not the type to crack when the going gets tough"
The young lefty wanted to be the guy to right the ship. Break the slump. And he let everyone know.
"I kind of just got up there and told the guys the truth. They're all better then me, so why not play like it? And that's when my mouth got the best of me. I said I'm going to beatdown the Stars. Get some revenge after they keep knocking us down."
Sure enough, that's exactly what Bybee did. Just a little better then he expected. The 24-year-old tossed the first of hopefully many shutouts, allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks in a 2-0 victory over the defending champs.
"I remember sitting in that meeting Joe [Brown] and I organized and thinking 'who does this kid thing he is?'" All-Star outfielder Leo Mitchell began. "But his words ran true. None of us are playing like we should be. And who am I to complain when it looks like I'm swinging a noodle at the plate? And sure enough, the kid backed it up with brilliance. And I won't lie, watching the poise this young buck had. The energy he pitched with to shake things up. He inspired me too."
After leaving five men on base in the victory, Mitchell was re-energized in the finale, going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and driven in. But the star of the night was Peter the Heater, as he matched Bybee's shutout with one of his own, pitching like the guy who was voted the Allen Winner for the second time last season.
And Mitchell didn't stop there. The following week he launched three homers, as the Cougars ran through the Saints, Kings, and Wolves, winning six of seven to make it eight victories in nine games after the crushing defeat. This vaulted the Cougars above .500 to 25-21, and they cut the Cannons lead over them from 8 to 2.5 in just over a week. There's still a long season ahead, but after stumbling out of the gate, the Cougars finally look like the pennant contender many expected when the year began. All that's left is to keep on winning.
YOUNG DYNAMOS DISPLAY CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION
Let's not fool ourselves, my fellow fans. Deep down, we all knew this splendid dream couldn't endure. It was simply too marvelous to be sustained. I'm referring, of course, to the breathtaking sight of the Detroit Dynamos—a veritable gathering of youthful talent within the Federal Association—holding court in the illustrious second place, defying expectations in a season that the management cautioned would be rife with the birth pangs of development, as these burgeoning prodigies are given a chance to thrive at the grandest stage.
In a remarkable turn of events, despite their dubious honor of tallying the fewest runs in all of big league baseball—mind you, that only encompasses the bona fide big league on this side of the Mississippi River—the Dynamos gallantly challenged the equally astonishing St. Louis Pioneers for the pinnacle position in the Fed. Alas, that fateful dynamic has swiftly altered, courtesy of a distressing 4-10 slide that allowed the grand titans of the Fed, namely the mighty Philadelphia Keystones and regning champion Washington Eagles, to leapfrog past our fledgling Dynamos.
A momentous weekend series against the seasoned Keystones at Thompson Field unfolded in an unceremonious manner, exposing the youth-laden Detroit squad to a masterclass in the art of the game. Three consecutive bouts, all ending in defeat, left our young stars outmatched, their true potential overshadowed by the veteran wisdom of their adversaries. To compound matters, another clash with Philadelphia awaits today, followed by a pair against the scorching-hot reigning champions from Washington. Moreover, the unfortunate injury sustained by the promising sophomore second baseman, Del Johnson, over the weekend has dealt yet another blow to our slumbering offensive might. With Johnson's absence exacerbating the absence of the prodigious young hurler, Wally Hunter, who remains sidelined for yet another month, it becomes painfully clear that the two stalwarts who electrified us last year, finishing first and second in the race for the Federal Association Rookie of the Year, will not grace the diamond until the vicinity of the all-star extravaganza.
Rest assured, dear enthusiasts, this ballclub possesses an abundance of virtues, and the Dynamos shall, in due course, ignite the diamond with their explosive talents. However, that time, my friends, lies at least a year away, perhaps even two or three, for rebuilding demands patience. The scattered pieces are undeniably present, and perhaps a premature exit from the fierce contention race, long before the trade deadline looms, might just prove to be a blessing in disguise for the franchise in the grand scheme of things.
Few among us can banish from memory the haunting specter of the past —the nightmarish echoes that resonated when the Dynamos hastened the reconstruction process, futilely striving to transform a fledgling contender into a pennant-winning force. Alas, their desperate endeavors led to the sacrifice of their future, plunging the club into a state of despair akin to the bygone era over a decade ago. This time, however, the pivotal essence lies in patience. The Dynamos possess a well-crafted blueprint. Now, they must resist the seductive allure of a grandiose trade before they are genuinely primed to lay claim to their first Fed flag in nearly two decades.
If you are looking around for an argument, about as good a way to become involved in one as I can think of at the moment is to offer to name the most valuable player on the Cincinnati ball club. Name just one name, and you've got a debate on your hands just as sure as there are cows in Wyoming. And in case the parties involved have been absorbing a few belts of tanglefoot just prior to the discussion period, it might be a good idea to remove any bridgework or similar articles that might wind up in a state of disrepair should the argument suddenly switch from oratory to fisticuffs.
Smiling old Ad Doria, skipper of the Cannons and a fun-loving character if ever there was one, has thoughtfully guided the Cannons high-powered arsenal to plenty of success over the years. With such a galaxy of veteran talent to strike the fancy of the customers clogging the shiny new Tice Memorial Stadium, it is only natural that there is hardly a meeting of the minds when it comes to singling out one name and pointing to him as the big cog in the Cannons wheel. Speaking of wheels, the Wonder Wheel himself Al Wheeler -owner of 505 homers and nearly 3,200 hits is but a spare tire on the Cannons machine these days. (editor's note: this article was submitted last week, prior to Wheeler winning player of the week honours in the CA) There are plenty of others stepping up in Wheeler's place.
Some will suggest that Deuce Barrell, clearly one of the most popular of the many all-stars on the Cincinnati ballclub, as the key piece this year. Others will point to the ageless Red Hampton, still going strong despite closing in on his 41st birthday. Others will point to third baseman Denny Andrews and his terrific work with both the stick and the glove; another group might point to outfielder Sam Brown as the early season MVP while a few will opine that local boy Charlie Griffith, back in the bigs after a year in Indianapolis and 3 in parts unknown with the Navy, is the key piece this time around.
Regardless of who you might tab as the key piece, one thing is certain: all of Cincinnati is enjoying the somewhat surprising top of the table show that has the Cannons, guns a blazing, sitting atop the Continental Association once more as they break in a new stadium in true Cannon fashion -with winning baseball.
- The Detroit Dynamos are fading, something that was to be expected, and the loss of Del Johnson for 6 weeks makes it even tougher on an offense that was already the least productive in either association. One Dynamo who has had a great start to the season at the plate is first baseman Dick Estes. It is a tough position in the Fed but Detroit fans certainly hope the 23-year-old gets some all-star ballot consideration for the season he has had in Detroit so far. Estes will be hard pressed to get the call with Tiny Tim, Red and Bill Moore as his competition at first base.
- Al Wheeler rewarded the Cannons brass for putting him back in the lineup with a Player of the Week. The Wonder Wheel went 12-for-27 with 2 homers and 10 RBIs to up his season line to .404/.517/.660 (208 OPS+) in 58 trips to the plate. Wheeler now has 507 career homeruns and is just 2 hits shy of 3,200.
- Lost in the excitement of Bobby Barrell's pair of 3-homerun games recently is the fact that the Georgia Jolter passed former teammate Rankin Kellogg for third all-time on the homerun list behind just Max Morris and Wheeler. Barrell has 22 so far this season, tops in FABL, and now sits at 480 round-trippers for his career.
- For the 11th time in his illustrious career Bobby Barrell was named Fed Batter of the Month. Barrell hit 15 home runs during the month of May, though he only drove in 25, and his 41 hits and .366 average propelled him to the Fed leader in average (.349). He is now 6 RBI shy of the Chiefs' Tiny Tompkins for the FA lead in the Triple Crown categories.
- Eagles brass is expected to send 18 year old infielder Bill Wise to the minors in order to get the teen some playing time. Wise, ranked in the top ten prospects by OSA, has been with the Eagles since a promotion in the middle of May but has had just 4 at bats and is hitless after tearing up AAA while with Kansas City, batting .344.
- William Russell of the Minneapolis Lumberjacks threw a no-hitter last week. The Montreal Saints farmhand, recently promoted from AA to AAA, no-hit Fort Wayne in a 9-0 win for the 'jacks. It marks the second year in a row a Lumberjacks player threw a no-hitter in Union League action as the 25-year-old Russell follows Jackie James -who is now up with the parent Saints- after James no-hit Kansas City last season.
NAHC TEAM RECAPS: TORONTO DUKES
13-26-9 35 pts: 7th place - Missed Playoffs
It is hard to imagine a team in any professional sports league ever having a worse one-year drop off than what the Toronto Dukes endured last season. After leading the NAHC with 70 points in a season that saw them win 31 games a year ago, the Dukes point total cut in half in 1946-47, as the club finished dead last with just 35 points and won only 13 of its 48 games.
The collapse has already cost long-time Dukes head coach Norb Hickey his job as he was replaced by former Detroit coach and Dukes skating star of the early twenties Jack Barrell in an announcement made official last month. It looks like wholesale changes may be coming on the ice as well with possibly only their captain and top scorer, 32-year-old center Bobbie Sauer, immune from trade speculation.
Toronto made just one move during the season -sending disgruntled veteran center Laurel Albers to New York in December for rookie defenseman Philippe Dubois in a move designed to end the infighting in the locker room as much as it was to try and upgrade what had suddenly become the most porous defense in the game. It only half succeeded as the players did bond as a team without the disruptive force that is Albers, but their work in the own zone never did improve with Toronto surrendering a league high 175 goals against.
Those defensive numbers have led to some speculation that the Dukes might be willing to part with one of the best goaltenders the league has ever seen in Gordie Broadway. Broadway was celebrating a Juneau Trophy win about this time last year, but he quickly went from the best goaltender in the league to the one with the worst goals against average.
Broadway should not shoulder all the blame, as it became clear very quickly the Dukes had made a serious miscue in allowing their top two defensemen in Bryant Williams and Joe Todd to leave for Detroit over the summer. They did bring in J.C. Martel from Montreal and he was arguably Toronto's best rearguard this past season but did not fill the skates of either of the departees to Detroit.
A lack of offensive production also hurt as Toronto struggled to find production beyond that of Sauer (24-22-46). The cause can be traced to the departure of Albers and reduced scoring compared to a year ago from many Dukes with Les Carlson, Dick Klein and Syl Beam having the most dramatic drop-offs.
Perhaps the writing was on the wall when the Dukes were unceremoniously swept in the semi-finals last season by the 4th place Montreal Valiants. Even with that wake-up call, the nightmare season that followed for the Dukes was a shock in its sudden arrival after 2 Challenge Cup titles and 3 straight seasons of finishing either first or second in the regular season. The debacle of a season ended a stretch that had seen the Dukes make the playoffs for 8 straight years and is likely the dawn of a new era in Dukes hockey as owner David Welcombe has promised changes will come.
It is an interesting time in Toronto sports as the Dukes, just like baseball's Toronto Wolves, have endured an awful campaign at a most unexpected time and it appears for both changes are needed. The Wolves made some moves during their off-season and hope they are heading back in the right direction. Now it is up to Welcombe and his staff to chart the future course for the Dukes.
MONTHLY RECORD
NOV: 2-6-2 6 points
DEC: 4-6-1 9 points
JAN: 4-5-1 9 points
FEB: 2-6-2 6 points
MAR: 1-3-3 5 points
OVERAL 13-26-9 35 points
- Tuesday - Brooklyn, NY: heavyweight Roy Crawford (23-3) vs Nick Brooks (13-4-1)
- Jun 15- Atlantic City, NJ: middleweight contender Brooks O'Connor (23-4-2) vs Darwin Thomas (9-1-3)
- Jun 28 - Los Angeles: rising welterweight Mac Erickson (13-0) vs Nate MacGilvray (17-7-3)
- Jun 29- Brooklyn, NY: rising middleweight Jim Ward (14-1) vs Marvin Harris (20-7-2)
- Jun 30 - Baltimore, MD: middleweight contender Todd Gill (21-3-6) vs Owen Sheppard (14-4)
- Jul 4 -Fitzpatrick Park, Pittsburgh: Frank Melanson (32-0-2) defends his world middleweight title against John Edmonds (22-2).
- Aug 2 - Cougars Park, Chicago: Hector Sawyer (55-3-1) defends his world heavyweight title against Irish Pat Harber (31-7-1)
- Aug 16- Denny Arena, Boston: Harold Stephens (19-3-2) defends his world welterweight title against Carl Taylor (22-3-2).
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 6/01/1947
- The Senate approved a $4 billion income tax cut bill by a thumping majority, bolstering Republican chances of overriding a possible presidential veto.
- Reports the US army is experimenting with radioactive poison gases a thousand times more effective than any previous types.
- Henry A. Wallace says he will leave the Democratic Party if it becomes the 'war party' of America, but left unanswered the question of whether he would still be available as a 1948 Presidential candidate. Wallace charges there was a "type of man" in high places in the United States who would drop atomic bombs on other nations.
- The United States termed the young Hungarian democracy as "dead" and are claiming the Russian takeover in the country has given birth to another Communist police state patterned after other Soviet satellite governments in eastern Europe.
- General Evans F. Carlson, famous leadr of Marine jungle raiders who struck terror among the Japanese early in the Pacific War, died at age 51 of a heart ailment.
- A series of air crashes around the world over the past two days including an Eastern Airlines flight from LaGuardia Airport left an estimated 119 dead.
