JULY 25, 1949
ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR BOBBY BARRELL
Philadelphia Keystones legendary slugger Bobby Barrell has joined another exclusive club after the 39-year-old notched his 3,500th career hit in a game against the New York Gothams yesterday. Barrell becomes just the fourth player in FABL history to reach that milestone, joining Hall of Famers Powell Slocum, John Dibblee and Max Morris.
Hit number 3,500 was a 4th inning double off of veteran hurler Lefty Allen and Barrell would add one more hit off New York reliever Steve Groves later in the game. Allen, despite his great success on the mound first with Pittsburgh and now as a Gotham, has been a frequent victim of Barrell bat. The Keystones slugger has 57 career hits off of Allen, including 10 homers, and is batting .308 against him. Only six pitchers have surrendered more hits to Barrell led by the now retired Jim Lonardo, who Barrell went 69 for 206 (.335) against.
PENNANT RACES: FORESTERS HEARING FOOTSTEPS
While Eagles Grounded With Injuries
The Cleveland Foresters survived an excursion to New York in splitting a hard-fought 4-game series with the New York Stars after dropping two of three the previous week to the other club chasing them for Continental Association supremacy - the Chicago Cougars. The Foresters, in first place this late for the first time in a decade, may be starting to feel the pressure as the club has gone just 11-13 in July after a torrid June that saw them win 22 of 28 ballgames.
With a 6-7 record since the all-star break, the Foresters have seen both the Cougars and Stars shave 2.5 games off their lead in the past 11 days and suddenly the Continental Association is looking like it just might give us a pennant race. The Cougars stumbled a bit in Toronto over the weekend by dropping two of three games at Dominion Stadium, are 8-4 since the midseason classic and now 6.5 games back of the Foresters while the Stars are 9-4 and are also within 6.5 games of first place.
In the Federal Association the Chicago Chiefs completed a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh with a 5-4 victories in both ends of a twin bill yesterday and they are now a game and a half up on second place New York and 2.5 ahead of Washington in what is looking like another tight flag race in that loop. The newest Chief, shortstop Charlie Artuso, arrived from Toronto with his bat firmly in hand. Artuso swatted 6-for-20 for the week in his new duds and scored 4 runs in the series sweep of Pittsburgh. Fourth place Detroit had a different story to tell with their new addition from the Continental Association. The Dynamos struggled through a 3-5 week including dropping 3 of 4 over the weekend to third place Washington and have suddenly fallen 6 games off the pace. Veteran catcher Adam Mullins, acquired from Cincinnati at a hefty cost to try and bring some offense to a sputtering Detroit attack, started the Detroit phase of his career 0-for-13 but did manage 3 hits in his last 8 at bats. The key series in the Fed this week is a 3-game showdown in the nation's capital between the second place New York Gothams and third place Washington Eagles beginning tomorrow.
*** Another Arm Injury Strikes Eagles ***
With the trade deadline one week away the Gothams are desperately trying to add another pitcher and have been linked to talks with Toronto for one of the Wolves three veteran arms but so far at least the New Yorkers have not been able to make the deal for an elite arm - a move that many feel would put the Gothams over the top in the pennant race. The Gothams do not have a lot of prospects available to trade but are hoping top-fifty third baseman Hank Estrill may help get a deal done.
The Washington Eagles feel they also have a need for a pitching upgrade and events over the past two weeks have likely escalated that concern. First Buckeye Smith (6-5, 4.01) went down last week with an injury that will sideline him until possibly the start of September and now devastating news after Billy Riley left yesterday's game with Detroit with back troubles. Reports are Riley, who was 12-4 with a 3.91 era, could miss the rest of the season. Like the Gothams, the Eagles do not have a deep collection of prospects they could move which makes the task of finding a replacement for Riley a near impossibility.
CHIEFS SET TO MAKE HISTORY WITH MARTIN'S RETURN
It has been over a year since Bob Martin played a baseball game, but the 42-year-old third baseman was given a clean bill of health and is set to return to the Chicago Chiefs lineup this week. Martin suffered a devastating knee injury in July of last year and many expected that would be the end of the line for the man who has spent his entire big league career with the Chiefs and leads the franchise in career games played while also sitting eighth overall on the FABL all-time hits parade with 3,255 hits.
Martin is a three-time all-star, owns a pair of WCS rings and won a batting title in 1932 but if you ask what he is most proud of it likely will be the next accomplishment, expected to come sometime in the very near future, that will top the list.
Martin's son Bill is a rookie catcher with the Chiefs, having joined the club as a rule five draft pick from the Chicago Cougars last winter. Bill does not play a lot -he is behind all-star Pete Casstevens, son of another former big leaguer, on the depth chart- but at some point this season you can be sure the Chiefs will strive to have both Bob and Bill on the field at the same time.
It won't be the first time a father and son have appeared in a FABL game as the Lynwood and Woody Trease did that twice for Boston in 1904 but the Trease move was more a publicity stunt as Lynwood, Boston's manager at the time, had been retired for over a decade before appearing in those two games with his son Woody on the mound. The Martin's, when it happens, will be the first time it has happened since then.
TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN
Wolves Deal Artuso -- The Wolves announce that they have traded one of their icons from Toronto's strong teams in the early to mid 40s. Veteran shortstop Charlie Artuso was dealt to the Federal Associacion leading Chicago Chiefs for a pair of youngsters in catcher Harry Pomeroy and second sacker Joe DeMott -both of whom were with the Fort Wayne Warriors in AAA.
Artuso, at 18, was the 4th overall selection in 1934 behind 3 pitchers Bobo White, Gus Goulding, Del Burns. The Lebanon, TN native spent 1935 at Tuscaloosa tearing up the Gulf States League with a line of .346/.427/.482 while spending time at 2B, SS, 3B to seeing where his obvious fielding talents fit best. The next year at Vancouver he again spent time at all 3 positions where it became clear SS was was where he would provide the most value to the Wolves. The bat did not slow down on the West Coast in 137 games he posted a .353/.418/.495 124 RBI 63 BB versus only 29 K against many pitchers older than his 20 years.
In 1937, Charlie's age 21 season, he would bid farewell to the minors. He started the season at Davenport, in A ball, by mid-June he was promoted to Chattanooga where his bat cooled a little but the team decided to move him up to the FABL in August where he proved the value of his glove at short. So much so that he has been the regular at short from that point until the day of his trade.
After the Wolves made the trade for Fred McCormick during the spring of '38 fortunes turned for the Wolves franchise which became a contender for the next 8 years led by Artuso, McCormick, Larry Vestal, Joe Hancock and George Garrison. Only a down season in 1942 interrupted a string where the Wolves were in the CA mix for a pennant even with the 4 years Fred McCormick missed in the service. The team only won one pennant along with the World Series in 1940 being constantly thwarted by Cincinnati. Many veteran observers say "It was a good team, just not quite good enough."
Of the 1697 games for the Wolves Charlie appeared in he started 1603 at shortstop cementing the infield defense behind the pitching staff. There was a constant debate in CA over who was the best at the position with the arguments being between Artuso and the Cougars wizard at short Skipper Schneider. Although his bat has started to show signs of age he compiled a career line of .256/.324/.687 usually from the leadoff spot only not starting at least 140 games in a season once from 1939 to 1948. Remarkably durable Charlie spent not any time at all on the Disabled List while a member of the Wolves. He was a 4 time All-Star in a CA filled with quality short stops.
In a team statement the Wolves said "In his 15 years as a pro ball player Charlie has been the definition of a professional, always ready to play to help his team. We were not looking to trade him but the package from the Chiefs makes us younger with two guys, we believe, have huge potential in the near future. We wish Charlie well in the FA and hope to meet him again in the 1949 World Series."
As the season heads towards the dog days there are some positives at Parc Cartier. For starters the Montreal Saints are back over 500. The club finished on level ground with a 77-77 record a year ago - the first time that has happened since 1930. They reached .500 or better in consecutive seasons in 1929-30 but those two seasons and last year are the only times since 1926 the Saints have won at least as many games as they have lost. There is a young core, so the future is brighter than it has been in years but there still are some worries.
Headlining those positives is the showing or rookie outfielder Otis O'Keefe (.293,10,48). The 23-year-old is still leading the herd with 7 RBIs week and the combination of O'Keefe and 26-year-old all-star first baseman Maurice Carter (.305,18,67) makes for an imposing middle of the batting order.
On the hill, Lee Richardson is adding the saves and Bert Cupid getting another shutout are the high points of the weekly summary. The main question that everybody is wondering in Montreal is what is wrong with the Wallys? After last season dealing with the Doyle mystery, this year appears to be Wally Reif who is plunging deep. Reif is now showing a 3-12 record and 7.75 ERA. The team was certainly expecting a much better performance from him this season and had Reif performed anywhere close to the 16-10 season he had a year ago the Saints would be far more than just one win over 500 record. Everybody hopes the second half will be a turn around for him.
At least veteran pitcher Wally Doyle has been doing a bit better with a 4-8 record and 4.44 ERA, still below the expectations. Looking on the positive side, Saints are very happy with the performance of Pete Ford shwoing a 9-3 record and 3.61 ERA, something tht was certainly not anticipated. The 28 years old pitcher, a 1942 4th rounder, made the team as a bullpen piece last year, and got the 5th starter job after a spring battle. He has certainly made the most of his opportunity and looked solid in notching victories in both of his post all-star game starts.
Side note... Reliever Bud Robbins is also struggling and been demoted from the closer spot in the last month in favor of Richardson.
- John Brinker of the New York Mirror notes "Biggest mystery of the 1949 season: what the hell happened to the Pioneers & Sailors? Really underachieving this season. Still plenty of talent on those rosters."
- Brinker also weighs in on the Fed batting leader. "It's also a shame Al Tucker didn't get a chance til he was 24. Probably have a couple hundred hits more right now and be over 2500. Still... hitting .376 at age 36 is impressive."
- Tucker's individual success aside, things are getting even worse for the two-time defending World Champions from St Louis. The Pioneers went 1-6 last week to see their winning percentage dip below .400 and fall 18 games off the pace in the Fed.
- With the trade deadline just a week away, the Gothams are working the phones in a last ditch effort to get the veteran starting pitcher they feel will put them over the top in the Federal Association battle.
- Detroit was thought to be looking to add one more veteran bat but after the Dynamos struggled since the all-star break, word is the club has backed off and decided not to trade any more of its young talent in the system. While not extinguished altogether, pennant fever in the Motor City has certainly faded over the past week and a half.
- Washington is a team to watch. It seems unlikely the Eagles will be willing to move pieces needed to land a frontline starting pitcher, but the injuries to Billy Riley and Buckeye Smith have left them in a tough spot.
- I would be surprised to see the Chiefs active on the trade front. Getting Bob Martin off the injured list after a year is almost like making a deal for a veteran bat and the addition of Charlie Artuso a week ago addresses their biggest weakness.
- It will be interesting to see if anything happens before the deadline in the Continental Association. I can't see the Foresters pulling the trigger on a big move as the club has a bright future and likely will not be willing to surrender any young talent for a piece that might help them hold off the Cougars and Stars.
- As for the Windy City Kitties, there really does not seem to be a player available that would be an upgrade for them. New York, on the other hand, has a few players not pulling their weight at the plate with centerfielder Bob Riggins the number one offender. Toronto likely has Chink Stickles available, but the former Star has not been hitting much better than Riggins this season. The ideal situation is the Stars find a centerfielder who can bat lead-off and get on base more than table setters Joe Angevine and Ed Holmes are presently doing.
STEAMERS, FALCONS HIRE NEW HEAD COACHES
The expansion St Louis Steamers and the Toronto Falcons each made a move to hire head coaches last week. The Steamers, who join the league as its 17th team, tabbed former Detroit assistant Andrew Brown as their first head coach. The 48 year old Brown spent just the one season with the Mustangs and was credited with being a big a reason for their turnaround as the Detroit club went from missing the playoffs the previous season to reaching the FBL championship series this past year. Brown was instrumental in the quick transition of FBL rookie of the year Ward Messer from the college game to the pros. Prior to taking the Detroit job he had spent two seasons as head coach of the Toronto (now Syracuse) Titans.
Meanwhile the Toronto Falcons have made a somewhat surprising move as Frenchy Deleceullerie, after spending three seasons as the head coach with the club, has been demoted by cantankerous owner Bernie Millard to an assistant position and replaced as the head man by Gene Smith, a little known native of Philadelphia will be taking his first pro job as the Falcons new head coach. Deleceullerie, a New Orleans native and Bayou State grad led the Falcons to two consecutive playoff berths while the club was based in Pittsburgh and in the American Basketball Conference but the club finished last in the West Division last season after the switch to the Federal League.
SAWYER WILL RETURN TO RING IN OCTOBER
Hector Sawyer, the longest reigning heavyweight champ the world has ever known, will return to the ring in October for his record setting 14th consecutive title defense since he first claimed the belt in 1940. The Cajun Crusher will face Lewis Jones, a 24-year-old Kentucky born fighter who sports a 20-1-1 record.
The bout is slated to take place at Chicago's Lakeside Auditorium on Saturday October 8 and will be Sawyer's 66th as a professional. The New Orleans native owns a 61-3-1 record and it will mark his second title defense in the Windy City. Two years ago he scored an unanimous decision over Pat Harber at Cougars Park.
Jones, a southpaw who hails from Lexington, KY., suffered the only loss of his career in May of 1947 when he was on the wrong end of a decision against Dan Miller -another former victim of Sawyer- in a 10-rounder at Bigsby Garden. Since then Jones has reeled off 8 victories in his last 9 outings with the lone blemish being a draw against veteran Philadelphia heavyweight Scott Baker. Jones scored a 6th round TKO win over Chis Gilbert in his most recent outing last week in Detroit.
WELTER CHAMP ERICKSON, RUTLEDGE BOTH READY FOR REMATCH
Baltimore's Chesapeake Arena is set to ignite this Saturday evening with the intensity of a long-anticipated collision. A World Welterweight title bout is about to unfold, featuring the seasoned champion, Mac Erickson, facing off against the formidable Danny Rutledge. This encounter has been brewing for years, gestating since their clash during the days of World War II.
The buzz surrounding this matchup harks back to the autumn of 1944, a time when Erickson, then a 24-year-old representative of the Navy, locked horns with the 20-year-old Army private, Rutledge. England bore witness to a historic showdown, deemed the Allied Forces Amateur Welterweight Title. Rutledge emerged victorious after 12 thrilling rounds, but both etched their names in the echelons of wartime boxing lore. On a famous fight card that also include a world middleweight fight and an appearance by Hector Sawyer, it was the two young welterweights that left everyone talking after the thrilling battle. Many on that date forecast the two would clash again with the ABF world title on the line.
Now, five years hence, the two undefeated warriors reconvene as professionals in the squared circle. For Erickson, this is an opportunity for redemption, a chance to reverse the outcome of that fateful night in England. The St. Paul native, now 28 and standing with an unblemished 19-0 professional record, boasts two successful title defenses. The champ hopes to be buoyed by a legion of sailors and students journeying from the nearby Annapolis Maritime University as he will try to do what he failed to accomplish in 1944, stop Danny Rutledge. The 24-year-old Louisville, Ky. native has yet to taste defeat in the ring as Rutledge remains an unconquered force, carrying an impeccable 17-0 professional record and insisting that defeat has never tasted his fists, even as an amateur in the many military exhibitions he honed his skills in the sweet science in during the war.
Experts are hesitating to predict an outright victor, labeling this bout a genuine toss-up. The ripples of anticipation are reaching a crescendo, elevating this welterweight collision to the echelons of public interest usually reserved for the heavyweight titans. Saturday night promises not just a contest of fists but a chapter in the ongoing saga of these two pugilistic titans.
RECENT KEY RESULTS- Monday - English middleweight Declan Matcham (22-16-1) UD win over Owen Land (6-9-2). London, Eng.
- Wednesday- Irish Pat Harber, the veteran heavyweight who had a title shot against Hector Sawyer in 1947, scored a 5th round knockout of Griff Kilvington in Dublin to run his record to 39-8-1.
- Friday in Detroit rising heavyweight Lewis Jones (20-1-1) won by 6th round TKO over Chris Gilbert (31-14-4) at Thompson Palladium, earning an October title shot against Hector Sawyer in the process.
- Saturday in England, veteran welterweight Danny Julian improved to 24-1-1 with a unanimous decision in a 10-round bout against Darren Middlemiss.
- Sunday in Youngstown, OH, journeyman heavyweight Damon Christian, a North Dakota native, scored a unanimous decision over young James McGinnis in a 10-rounder. The 37-year-old Christian, who was 32-20-5 announced his retirement after that fight.
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS- Jul 29- Bigsby Garden, New York: MW John Edmonds (28-3) vs Bobby Hinkle (29-5)
- Jul 30- Chesapeake Arena, Baltimore: World Welterweight Champ Mac Erickson (19-0) vs Danny Rutledge (17-0)
- Aug 12- Buffalo, NY: HW Mark Fountain (24-6-1) vs Ken Yetman (11-2-4)
- Aug 16- San Diego, CA: MW Joe Taylor (24-2) vs JC Hendricks (18-7)
- Aug 19- Trenton, NJ: WW Willis May (21-5-2) vs John Gregory (19-6-2)
- Aug 22- Portland, OR: HW contender Roy Crawford (29-4) vs Daniel Huot (16-3-3)
- Oct 8 - Lakeside Auditorium, Chicago - World HW champion Hector Sawyer (61-3-1) defends his title against Lewis Jones (20-1-1)
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 7/24/1949
- A Quaker organization has urged this country to take the lead in promoting world disarmament by putting its stock of atomic weapons under United Nations seal and halt its concentration of fissionable material. The organization -winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947- also called for resumption of normal exports to Russia and her satellites as a step towards solution of the East-West conflict.
- President Truman has called on Congress to approve a reorganization plan for the National Military Establishment which would "remove the onerous restrictions and limitations imposed on the Secretary of Defense by the National Security Act."
- In a midweek speech Truman acted Russia, stating his conviction that communism will fail in its drive for world domination and that there will be no war between Soviet Russia and the western democracies. Prior to the speech, which was held in Chicago, police arrested a man in the crowd with a pistol just prior to the President taking the stage.
- Winston Churchill asserted that the British Labor Government has led Britain into "imminent peril" of Communism and national bankruptcy.