JUNE 28, 1948
CHIEFS PICK COOPER GOING TO CENTRAL KENTUCKY
Chicago Chiefs second round selection Walt Cooper highlights the list of drafted high school seniors that have told FABL clubs they will go the college route instead of signing a pro contract. The Chiefs are still expected to try and convince the Flint, Mi., native who was selected with the first pick of the second round at 17th overall, to reconsider his decision but Cooper says he is 100% committed to continuing his education and playing college ball at Central Kentucky. Without a first rounder last season, Cooper was the Chiefs top selection in the draft.
OSA feels the 17-year-old righthander has the potential to end up near the top of any big league rotation once he matures and he is coming off a 10-0 season with a 0.98 era for Grand Rapids (MI) High School. In three seasons of school ball, Cooper was a perfect 32-0 with a 0.93 era.
The most famous name to turn down FABL would be All-American second baseman Charlie Barrell, who is off to Noble Jones College in Georgia to play baseball along with collegiate football and basketball. Barrell was a 3-time All-American selection at Capital Academy in Washington DC and was a finalist for the Adwell Award but was also a highly recruited athlete in each of the other two sports. He had informed FABL teams in advance of the January portion of the draft not to select him as he was fully committed to the Colonels.
300 FOR RED JOHNSON
New York Gothams first baseman Red Johnson became just the sixth player to reach the 300-homerun plateau. The 30-year-old slugger accomplished the feat as part of a 3-homer game in an 11-10 win over the Philadelphia Keystones on Saturday. The milestone shot was the second of the three Johnson hit that day, a 5th inning solo blast off Keystones starter Charlie Wardell. Johnson's first of the day was also a solo shot off Wardell. That one, #299 of his career came in the fourth inning and he finished his longball exploits with a 2-run shot of Abe Abingdon in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings. Johnson had a chance to become the first player in FABL history to smack 4 homers in the game but he had to settle for a single in the 11th inning as the Gothams rallied with 4 runs to pull out the victory. For Johnson it was the third 3-homer game of his career, one shy of Bobby Barrell who has done it four times. Barrell was on the field for the Keystones in Johnson's milestone game and hit two homers of his own, giving him 543 for his career, second only behind Max Morris.
Johnson will likely soon be followed into the 300 homer club by a 7th member as Brooklyn third baseman Hank Barnett has been perched at 299 since hitting one against Cleveland 9 days ago.
As for Johnson, with over half a season left he might hit another 20 homers -perhaps more if he gets hot- and that would put him on a pretty solid pace among the best in the game. Al Wheeler, the recently retired outfielder, hit 335 homers before the end of his age 30 season. That is the highest of all-time, even more than the legendary Max Morris had at the end of his age 30 campaign. It also would put Johnson, who turns 31 on October 1, well ahead of Bobby Barrell's pace at the same age although it is important to remember that Barrell had a couple of poor years in his late twenties while regaining his power stroke following a gunshot wound.
MINUTEMEN ROLL TO FED LEAD
The hottest team in baseball of late is the Boston Minutemen. It is a surprise to most observers to find the Minutemen at the top of the Federal Association standings, but the Minutemen are a half game up on the New York Gothams after sweeping a doubleheader in St Louis yesterday. Boston has been road warriors all season with a 23-11 mark away from New England - the best road record in either loop. The Minutemen wrap up a very successful road trip that has seen them go 10-3 with 3 games in Philadelphia beginning tomorrow before returning home to face the last place Pittsburgh Miners over the weekend.
Since June 5 the Minutemen have gone 18-5 to take over top spot in the Fed as the club aims for its third pennant win this decade. Aside from on-base-percentage, the Minutemen do not lead the Federal Association in any key category and are middle of the pack in both runs scored and runs allowed. They have no dominant player this season although a case could perhaps be made for ace Ray Dalpman (7-3, 3.57) and to be honest there pitching might even be shade below average. The offense lacks a dominant superstar like you might see with some of their pennant rivals, but Boston has been getting consistent production throughout the lineup. They have plenty of competition with both the Keystones and Gothams right on their heels and the Gothams will see George Cleaves return to the linuep after missing a month with a hip strain.
In the Continental Association the New York Stars were just 20-21 on the morning of May 30th but since then have gone 21-8 to take over top spot in the loop. The Chicago Cougars are trying to keep pace and their pitching has been more than up to the task. The Cougars have allowed just 234 runs so far this season -by a wide margin the fewest in either association- but the offense has struggled and while they are hitting homeruns, the Cougars have the worst on-base-percentage in all of FABL. Their achillies heel the past few seasons, a poor record in one-run games, seems to be flaring up once more as the Cougars are once more under .500, at 10-12 in contests decided by a single run. The Stars, on the other hand, are 15-5 and Fed leader Boston is an amazing 17-4.
PIONEERS LEFT TO PICK UP PIECES AFTER LOSS OF HERN
The story of 1947, St. Louis’ Danny Hern, may be the Pioneers’ story of 1948. Unfortunately for Hern and the Pioneers, it may be for the wrong reason.
The Pioneers have placed Hern on the 60-day injured list, due to issues with his throwing shoulder. Hern was in the middle of a masterpiece against Washington, having thrown 6 2/3 innings of four-hit ball when the injury occurred.
“I was feeling good…not great, but good,” said Hern on Monday. “Then I threw a slider to Sig (Stofer), and my arm got heavy. Luck (Pioneer manager Hugh Luckey) came out, and after some consultation with the doctor, he decided that was it.”
Hern is 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA so far this year, a far cry from his 25-5, 2.78 figure a year ago. However, he has a 1.29 WHIP, which is right around his 1.25 number in ’47. The key change is his BABIP, which has risen to .305 from .285.
It is a major setback for the defending champs, who have battled early-season difficulties to find themselves at 31-28, just 3 1/2 games behind the front-running New York Gothams.
“I’m not going to sit here and give you some coaching seminar on what losing Danny means,” said Luckey. “Everyone knows that’s a big loss. He won the Allen Award last year. Most teams don’t have Allen Award guys down in AAA to replace the one who got hurt.
“That said…those guys in Charleston, they’re there because our rotation is top shelf. With Danny, we have the best rotation in the league. That cannot be questioned, because the answer lies in the statistics. So the guys down there, it’s not like they can’t come up here and do the job. And whoever it is will be expected to perform.”
The team would not disclose who would make the trek from Charleston, though it is expected that Lazaro DeLeon will be the selection. He is 5-4 with a 3.46 ERA, along with a 1.25 WHIP.
There is some speculation that Ralphie Spires, the team’s top pitching prospect, could make his arrival. However, the club has maintained that they want the 22-year-old to get a full year of pitching in Charleston before they assess the next step with him.
YOUNG DYNAMOS NEED TO LEARN CONSISTENCY
Young players are often more prone to the highs and lows of the game and with it comes inconsistency. That seems to be an affliction that has infiltrated the Dynamos clubhouse this season and was very much the case a year ago as well. Only St Louis and Cleveland are younger as a team than the Dynamos and there have been some speed bumps along the road this year.
Currently the local nine is reeling after dropping 5 straight to Washington and Philadelphia including all 4 games of a weekend series at Thompson Field with the Eagles. There were a pair of heartbreakers yesterday when the Dynamos came up just short in the opener of a twin bill, falling 5-4 to the Eagles. The nightcap was even tougher to stomach as the Eagles rallied with a 2-run homer from Jesse Alvardo off Harry Sharp in the ninth inning to tie the game and then won 5-3 with a pair in the 11th frame.
So the losing streak is five. But a week ago the clubhouse was positively giddy after a 5-game winning streak had the Dynamos within a game and a half of the lead. The week before it was a somber mood with 6 losses in 7 games coming on the heels of yet another 5-game winning streak. May gave us two five-game winning streaks but also a 4-game losing streak and a stretch where they dropped 5 of 6 games. April ended with a 4 game losing skid and we can all remember how last season ended with an 11 game losing streak, costing the club a second place finish.
While there are clearly growing pains, one has to remember there is plenty to like about this Detroit club. Edwin Hackberry has slowed a little lately after a dominant May but seems a likely candidate to start the all-star game and is still just 21 years old. Stan Kleminski is also just 21 and growing into a very good big league shortstop with his bat and approaching average with his glove, but scouting director Fred Barrell feels he has a much higher defensive ceiling as he matures. Carl Potter is barely 22 years old and his next big league victory will be the 50th of his career. Those are three very good youngsters to build a team around. Add in 25-year-old second baseman Del Johnson (.302,3,24) and 24-year-old first baseman Dick Estes (.323,10,42) and the future looks bright.
*** System Losing Some of its Shine ***
Not all the news is good as there are a number of concerns about players tabbed as "can't-miss" prospects perhaps not being as good as advertised. Tommy Allenby, who came over in a trade Dynamos management will likely forever regret as it allowed the Chicago Chiefs to land John Stallings, has taken a free-fall after a dismal 1947 campaign and the 20-year-old is no longer considered a top 100 prospect. OSA is still very high on the young trio of pitchers in Fred Washington, Jack Halbur and Roy Schaub but all three are putting up very disappointing numbers in the low minors although Halbur's may be attributed to an offensive outburst in Class B.
There are some positives with the biggest being 19-year-old third baseman Jim Gaiter's terrific start at Class B that has earned him a promotion this week to A ball. The hope is Gaiter continues his rapid progression as there is growing concern around the performance of 23-year-old Tommy Griffin in Detroit -so much so that manager Dick York has elected to give Win Hamby some starts this week over Griffin, who is hitting just .231, at the hot corner.
*** Resist Urge to Deal ***
While the plan to build a dynasty may not be going exactly as hoped the Dynamos still have a lot of the key pieces needed to build a team capable of winning the Fed pennant. Fans may call for a quick fix since the club is certainly within shouting distance, but long-time observers of this franchise know just how wrong that approach can go if things do not work out perfectly. The Dynamos had a similar quality core a decade ago with youngsters like Red Johnson, Hank Koblenz, Sal Pestilli and Pete Casstevens but in a rush to compete for the pennant they dealt all of those players away over the years and it set the franchise back. The urge is there at times with this management group to make a deal, of that I am certain, but so far at least Dynamos brass has resisted the temptation to try and get that "quick fix", instead electing to stay on the course they charted. It clearly means there will be some ups and downs -as we are witnessing now- but the hope is this patience will be rewarded in the next few years with not only the organization's first pennant since 1929, but also a sustained stretch that will give the club an opportunity to win a several titles.
*** MUSTANGS REVEAL CHOICE, MOTORS UNDECIDED ***
The draft is fast approaching in both pro basketball and hockey and the local entries will each have the opportunity to land a very good player. The ice Motors pick first in the NAHC draft but owner Jack Connelly Jr and his charges remain mum on the club's decision. Connelly would only say the Motors will not trade the pick but refused to identify who the selection might be.
"Frank (Head Scout Frank Yeadon) and the rest of us have been very busy," Connelly stated recently. "And I can tell you we will be selecting a forward, but beyond that you will just have to wait and see like everyone else."
The favourite is said to be Patrick Banning, a winger from British Columbia that Yeadon suggests has the "potential to become an outstanding player in the league," although there is talk of a late push from Roger Roll, the Motors Alberta scout, to take Carl Loon, a left winger from Edmonton despite some worries that Loon might be injury prone.
Rollie Barrell's cage Mustangs are far more forthcoming with their pick. Detroit selects second after the Toronto Titans make the first overall choice and Barrell says it will be either national collegiate player of the year Ward Messer or forward Darren Fuhrman, who starred at Texas Gulf Coast.
"We like 'em both," says Barrell, "and will be thrilled to get whichever one Toronto does not select."
Sources indicate the Titans will take Messer, the younger brother of New York Gothams slugger Walt Messer. That is assuming the Titans don't fold before the draft as rumours persist that Wolves owner Bernie Millard will move his newly purchased Pittsburgh Falcons to Toronto for next season and some even suggest the Falcons will jump from the American Basketball Conference to Rollie's Federal league for next season. Either way, it might spell the end of the Titans.
- Highlight of the week was the game on Saturday 6/26 when Red Johnson belted 3 HRs and Bobby Barrell 2 in a wild 11-10 extra-inning slugfest at Gothams Stadium won by the Gothams (who also got HRs from Flipper Robinson & Walt Messer). The 7 HRs in that game equaled the HR total for every other game that day.
- It was a hotly contested Player of the Week in the Fed, with Bobby Barrell losing out to Johnson. All Barrell did was hit five homers and drive in 16 runs. Johnson hit .444 with 5 homers and 14 rbi's.
- The Boston Minutemen are clearly the suprise team so far this season. One stat that jumps out is the Minutemen are an amazing 17-4 in 1-run games. Closer Johnny Harry has been terrific and since bullpen pieces are required for the All-Star Game he seems a lock to get his first invite but you have to wonder if that 1-run game record will move to balance itself out as the season progresses.
- Interesting to note that the Boston Minutemen, with an average age of 33.3 years old, are the oldest team in FABL. With all of the veteran acquisitions over the winter some might have just assumed it would be the Gothams but they are actually right in the middle of the pack with an average age of 29.5 years old. Cleveland, with a number of call-ups last week, is by far the youngest club at just 26.3, more than 2 years younger on average than St Louis and Detroit, who rank as the second and third youngest ballclubs at the moment.
- After a terrible start to the season there are big changes in Cleveland as Foresters brass suggests that as the season progresses "over half the starting lineup is going to be from AAA." Cleveland Assistant General Manager Buzz Burton feels if guys are coming up from AAA, they need to be given a chance to play. "I figure, why promote them if they aren’t going to get those precious ABs and see what they can do."
- Highly touted 20-year-old outfielder Sherry Doyal was one of the newcomers to Cleveland. Promoted on Monday, Doyal went 2-for-7 with both hits coming in his big league debut against the Stars on Tuesday. Former Foresters hurler Richie Hughes struck Doyal out his first time up but the youngster legged out an infield hit in his next trip to the plate and ripped a clutch 2-out RBI double later in the game.
- Gil London and his .087 batting average are on the move again but surprisingly not as a waiver claim. The Montreal Saints apparently feel London, who seems to be an OSA darling but disappoints managers everywhere with his inability to hit the ball, might be better than Bob Jennings at second base so they sent a minor league pitcher to Brooklyn in exchange for the 34-year-old.
- As the temperature is warming, Pete Papenfus has started to heat up, and the Cougars co-ace has won each of his last four starts. He has allowed 2 or fewer runs and 4 or fewer hits in each outing, and has improved to 8-5 with a 2.69 ERA (145 ERA+). His 62 strikeouts rank 3rd in the CA, and his next victory will tie his total from last season.
BOXING ROUND-UP
A busy week of high-end boxing action was highlighted by former middleweight champion John Edmonds scoring a dominating decision in a 10-rounder with Willie Binion. The 28-year-old from Muncie, In., briefly held the belt after upsetting Frank Melanson on July 4 last year but fell in a rematch with the Pittsburgh pugilist. Edmonds now sports a career mark of 25-3 and is expected to remain the top contender in the middleweight division when TWIFB's latest rankings are released next week.
A fighter who is in danger of dropping out of the top middleweight list is Tommy Campbell after the 25-year-old Atlanta native was knocked out by Joe Moore in a bout last Thursday. It was the first loss for Campbell, who entered the fight with a 20-0-1 record but lost a brawl to Moore, who is now 20-4. Both fighters came out swinging and Moore was close to being knocked out in the second round when he barely beat the count to regain his feet. Moore recovered nicely and floored Campbell once in the 7th round and twice in the 8th with the final knockdown being one that Campbell could not recover from.
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS- Jun 28- Detroit, MI: WW Carl Taylor (22-6-2) vs Brian Pierce (9-0)
- Jun 30- Baltimore, MD MW contenders Nick Harris (23-4-1) vs Brooks O'Connor (27-4-2)
- Jul 10 - Sailors Memorial: World MW champ Frank Melanson (33-1-2) defends his title against Edouard Desmarais (40-1)
- Jul 10 - Sailors Memorial: undercard HW Scott Baker (17-3-2) vs Glenn Hairston (26-10-2)
- Jul 16 -Philadelphia: HW Lewis Jones (17-1) vs Pete Roe (27-10-5)
- Jul 20- Bigsby Garden, New York: MW Todd Gill (24-4-6) vs Jack Rainey (24-5)
- Jul 23- Jacksonville, FL: WW Dennis O'Keefe (22-3) vs Robert Schultz (22-8)
- Jul 30- Brooklyn: MW Danny Morse (34-8-1) vs Jim Gilmore (29-8-2)
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 6/27/1948
- The Republican National Convention came to an end in Philadelphia with the election of New York Gov. Thomas Dewey as the presidential candidate and California Gov. Earl Warren as his running mate.
- After meeting with President Truman, the head of the American Federation of Labor said that the AFL "never" would support the Dewey-Warren Republican presidential ticket.
- John L. Lewis and soft coal operators are reported to be near agreement on a new coal industry contract which is understood to provide for a $1-a-day increase in miners' wages and the doubling of the "royalty" of the United Mine Workers welfare and retirement fund.
- For the first time in more than 3 months, Russian officials met with the Western Allies in Berlin in a discussion to formulate a plan for German currency reform.
- A day later Russia and six Eastern European satellites were reported to be considering the creation of a separate state in Eastern Germany.
- American planes delivered powdered milk and Army 'C' rations for civilians in Berlin as Russia starts a food blockade of the three western sectors of Berlin. Winston Churchill urged the western powers to steer away from appeasing the Russians, declaring the situation in the German city "raises issues as grave as those we now know were at stake in Munich 10 years ago" -when Britain dickered with Hitler.