Eclipse League
The status quo holds throughout May, with only the Black Yankees still out of contention and all races nice and tight.
A disappointing regression for the Liberty Stars and what odds the MoStars holding up the rear in the WCN at this or any point?
Monthly Award Winners
- FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Leon Durham (Crawfords) 326 / 6 HR / 20 RBI.
- FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Johnny Markham (Crawfords) 6-0 / 2.22 / 25 K / 48.2 IP.
- FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Jose Fernandez (West) 4-0 / 2.44 / 49 K / 44.1 IP.
- WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: John Beckwith (Buckeyes) 359 / 7 HR / 31 RBI.
- WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Harold Morris (Elite Giants) 5-1 / 2.12 / 25 K / 46.2 IP.
- WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Reggie Jefferson (Lincoln Giants) 340 / 3 HR / 14 RBI.
Points of Interest
- Veteran RGs pitcher Don Newcombe will miss a full year after suffering a torn RC.
- Ozzie Albies of the Liberty Stars goes down with a back injury and will end up missing 5 weeks after suffering a rehab setback.
- Birmingham's Felix Hernandez pitches 10 scoreless innings giving up just 1 hit against the Dodgers in a game the BBs eventually win 1-0 in 15 on a walkoff solo shot by Keston Hiura, with Webster McDonald and Darltie Cooper also throwing 1-hitters during the month.
- The Black Yankees claim Terris McDuffie off waivers from the Red Sox and Memphis then acquires Ed Stroud from Homestead via the same means.
- Juan Marichal becomes the third player to reach 250 career EL Wins and then Shohei Ohtani becomes the fourth just a few days later in fine style, 3-hitting the Liberty Stars. They trail only Carlos Zambrano (279) and CC Sabathia (276) on the all-time list.
- Hilldale loses Garry Templeton for 6 weeks to an oblique strain.
- P Bill Drake (Royal Giants, 4/6220); P Ted Trent (Monarchs) 2/1650.
Transit League
Yes, it was too good to be true as the traditional House of David capitulation finally arrives in the form of a 9-game losing streak to tighten the FRN right back up again, pulling it back into line with the other three.
Monthly Award Winners
- CAC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Al Robinson (White Sox) 286 / 15 HR / 26 RBI.
- CAC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Bun Hayes (Browns) 3-1 / 2.14 / 33 K / 42 IP.
- FRC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Ken Griffey (Grays) 409 / 1 HR / 24 RBI.
- FRC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Yoslan Herrera (Hornets) 4-0 / 2.55 / 25 K / 42.1 IP.