April 19, 1948: Boston, MA:
The atmosphere at Minuteman Stadium was electric - Opening Day had arrived and as Harry Barrell told Buddy Schneider, "Today, everyone is in first place."
That bon mot, and others, were dropped by Harry as he patrolled the clubhouse, chatting up his team mates. A common one was that for the first time in recent memory, Opening Day featured a double-header. "Extra baseball today boys!" Harry said, apparently not understanding that some players might not be thrilled at the prospect of eighteen innings of ball on the very first day of the season.
Catcher Bill Van Ness shook his head at Harry's retreating back after he'd passed by, and turned to 36-year-old first baseman Bill Moore, saying, "I wish Barrell would put a sock in it."
Moore frowned, but said nothing. He looked around to make sure none of the coaching staff was nearby. New manager Bill Steffen had been adamant: there was to be no grumbling, no "lollygagging" as he put it. Moore wasn't entirely sure what lollygagging was - he thought it might just mean being lazy. And he knew that applied to Van Ness. "You might want to keep that down, Bill," he said, reminding the catcher of the new skipper's mandate that everyone "keep it positive."
"I wish Barrell hadn't taken that directive to heart," Van Ness grumped, adding, "I liked him better when he was just pranking people. Now he acts like he's the team captain or something."
Moore shrugged. "He probably should be," he pointed out. Van Ness scowled at him, but Moore shrugged again and said, "I'm just saying."
"Well... don't." Van Ness said.
Van Ness' mood wasn't helped when the team dropped the first game of the double bill by a 5-4 score to the Pittsburgh Miners. In extra innings no less. And the Miners were generally considered the worst team in the Federal Association after shipping both Lefty Allen and George Cleaves to the New York Gothams in the offseason.
Harry remained upbeat in-between games. Van Ness thought that Moore might be right: maybe Harry really was trying out for the position of team captain. Harry had gone 1-for-4 in the opener, and he'd also wasted several opportunities, as he ended up leaving seven men stranded.
Jiggs Jackson got the start behind the dish in game two, so Van Ness spent the game on the bench, quietly steaming about Barrell's continued "positive" attitude. The guy couldn't take anything seriously for his entire career, now sudddenly he was Mr. Professionalism? Van Ness wasn't buying it.
For his part, Harry was actually trying to be a leader for the team. This was partially the result of a conversation he'd had with Bobby in the offseason. As usual, Bobby had mentioned that Harry could take the game more seriously. "You're a veteran now Harry," he'd told him. "Like it or not, the young guys are going to look up to you." Harry had countered that Boston was likely going to bring a veteran club north, but Bobby said that the kids would likely arrive sooner rather than later and so he - meaning Harry - should start acting like a leader now.
Harry figured he'd give it a try. He planned on throwing in the occasional hot foot to make sure everyone knew the "old Harry" was still there.
In the second game Duke Hendricks pitched very well. Harry went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt and the Minutemen won by a razor-thin margin of 2-1. Harry did make an error in the seventh, booting a grounder off the bat of Luke Berry and allowing the potential tying run to reach second. He apologized to Hendricks, who gave him a strange look in return - everyone was still getting used to the "new" Harry, he supposed, and Hendricks had probably been expecting Harry to just crack wise.
In the clubhouse, Steffen praised his team, noting their professionalism. Harry privately wanted to make a crack - but he was still trying to figure out Steffen. He was a short, stumpy guy at 5'7 and about 190 pounds. He'd been a middle infielder who'd topped out as a part-timer in AAA. Then he'd been out of baseball for a while before becoming a radio announcer for the Minutemen's AAA-affiliate in Columbus, Ohio. The front office boys had surprised everyone by hiring him to skipper the Minutemen. Like Harry, none of the players knew much about Steffen, although those who'd recently passed through Columbus had spoken with him in his duties as the Titans' radio voice.
"It's going to be an interesting season," Buddy told Harry. Harry looked over at his double-play partner - at 27, Buddy Schneider was coming into his own as a legitimate star (his triplet brother Skipper was already there, starring for the Chicago Cougars).
"That it is. And I hope we can make things interesting for the other clubs too," Harry replied.
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April 19, 1948: Washington, DC:
On a clear, 64-degree day in Washington's Columbia Stadium, the atmosphere was charged with excitement as the 1948 FABL baseball season's first game was about to commence. President Harry Truman himself was present to toss the first pitch, adding to the anticipation. The US Army band played the national anthem, and the fans were in for a thrilling afternoon of baseball.
Roger Cleaves, the starting catcher for the Philadelphia Keystones, stood on the field, his heart pounding with both excitement and nervousness. His uncle Bobby Barrell, the league's most popular and famous player, was starting in right field. Bobby had set a record the previous year by hitting 64 home runs, making him a major draw for fans.
Roger's thoughts were divided between the game and his new responsibilities as a father. His wife Evelyn had given birth to their son Dwayne just a week earlier, and even though both mother and baby were healthy, Roger couldn't help but worry about them while he was on the field.
As the game began, Roger's focus shifted to the task at hand. The Keystones were up to bat first, facing off against the Washington Eagles and their star pitcher, Buckeye Smith. The first few innings were uneventful for both teams, as the pitchers dominated the game.
In the fourth inning, Roger stepped up to the plate and managed to hit a single, getting on base. However, the Keystones couldn't capitalize on the opportunity, and the score remained tied at 0-0.
As the game progressed, Bobby Barrell struggled at the plate, striking out twice and going hitless. On the other hand, Roger Cleaves managed to make an impact in the sixth inning, hitting a single that drove in a run. The Keystones were finally on the scoreboard, but they were still trailing the Eagles.
The game took a turn in the bottom of the fifth inning when the Eagles' Sig Stofer hit a two-run home run, giving his team a 2-0 lead. The Eagles continued to build their lead in the sixth inning, capitalizing on the Keystones' pitching struggles and defensive errors to score six more runs.
Despite the score, Roger's determination never wavered. He continued to give his best behind the plate, working to support his team's pitchers and trying to keep the Eagles' runners in check.
In the eighth inning, with the Keystones trailing 8-3, Billy Woytek hit a double, giving the team a glimmer of hope. However, the Eagles' defense held strong, and the Keystones couldn't rally a comeback.
As the game came to an end, the final score was 8-3 in favor of the Washington Eagles. Though the Keystones had faced a tough defeat, Roger Cleaves knew that it was only the beginning of a long season. He walked off the field with mixed emotions, proud of his efforts but also eager to see his wife and newborn son.
The game had been a rollercoaster of emotions for Roger, filled with the highs and lows of competition, the worries of a new father, and the camaraderie of being part of a team. As he left the stadium and headed to the hotel where he'd have dinner with his brother, he couldn't help but reflect on how the promise of Opening Day could be seen as a reflection on the promise of the new life he and Evelyn had just brought into the world. Hopefully Dwayne's life got off to a better start than the Keystones season had...
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April 20, 1948: Philadelphia, PA:
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across Sailors Memorial Stadium as the Cincinnati Cannons faced off against the defending champion Philadelphia Sailors on opening day. Rufus "Deuce" Barrell II, known for his powerful left arm, took the mound as the starting pitcher for the Cannons. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation, and Deuce could feel the weight of the game on his shoulders.
The first inning passed in a blur of tension. Deuce's pitches were on point, his fastball sizzling through the air, and his curveball breaking sharply. He struck out the first two batters, and the stadium erupted in cheers. The third batter grounded out, and Deuce walked off the mound with a confident stride, his team ready to back him up.
The Cannons stepped up to the plate, hoping to capitalize on Deuce's strong start. But facing the Sailors' ace, Win Lewis, was no easy task. The inning ended quickly with three consecutive strikeouts, leaving the Cannons searching for their rhythm.
As the game progressed, Deuce's focus remained unshaken. He continued to mix his pitches masterfully, inducing groundouts and pop flies, and even managing to strike out a few more batters. But the Sailors were not to be outdone. In the fourth inning, Harvey Brown connected with a pitch and sent the ball sailing deep into center field. By the time it was retrieved, he stood on third base, and the crowd roared in approval.
The next batter, Les Cunha, slammed a double, driving Brown home and giving the Sailors a one-run lead. Deuce managed to get out of the inning without further damage, but the tension in the air was palpable.
In the top of the fourth, Deuce found himself at the plate. With two outs and a runner on first, he squared up to bunt. The crowd held its breath as he laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing the runner to second. It wasn't glamorous, but it was a crucial play that showcased Deuce's commitment to the team's success.
In the top of the fifth, Deuce found himself in a sticky situation with runners on first and third. But his determination kicked in. He struck out the first batter, and then induced a groundout to end the inning, leaving the Sailors stranded.
As the game reached the late innings, Deuce's pitch count climbed, but his resolve remained unbroken. He knew he had to keep his team in the game. In the top of the eighth, he managed to get through the inning unscathed, even as the Sailors threatened with a double from Billy Forbes.
In the ninth, the Cannons had their last chance to mount a comeback. Deuce watched from the dugout as his teammates stepped up to the plate, hoping for a rally. But it wasn't meant to be. Two strikeouts and a groundout sealed their fate, and the game ended in a 2-1 victory for the Sailors.
Deuce was aggravated by the loss. As he walked to the dugout after the bottom of the eighth, he was congratulated by manager Ad Doria. Deuce nodded his head, a grave look on his face, but wanting to at least acknowledge that Doria was complimenting him on a good effort.
He plopped himself down next to Charley McCullough. As usual, Charley wasn't playing. Though his role as a reserve had been all but cemented by the rise of Charlie Rivera, Charley was melancholy about it. The Cannons had struggled some in spring training. Deuce and Charley had discussed the possibility - one unheard of in recent years - that perhaps this season would be one in which the Cannons would not compete for the pennant. Neither would voice such an opinion in front of Doria, of course. He'd pitched well - eight innings, two earned runs on four hits with a single walk and four strikeouts. And the offense had give him: one run, which had come on a solo homer by Chuck Adams. Deuce wondered if this was going to be a long season...
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President Truman throws out first pitch, 1948
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