1972 IN FIGMENT BASEBALL
October 28, 1972
LONGEST TITLE DROUGHT IN HISTORY OF SPORTS IS OVER
Pittsburgh Miners Win First WCS in 71 Years 1901 — that was the last time anyone could say, “The Pittsburgh Miners are World Champions.” Not since the dawn of the century had that phrase been uttered — until late October of 1972.
It took 71 long years, seven failed World Championship Series appearances, and generations of frustration before the Miners finally broke through. And when they did, they did it in emphatic fashion — rewriting the record books along the way.
The Miners won a franchise-record 110 games, their best winning percentage since 1904, and became the first club in FABL history to go a perfect 7-0 in the postseason. Pittsburgh swept the St. Louis Pioneers in three straight in the Federal Association Championship Series, then stormed past the Montreal Saints in four to exorcise decades of October ghosts.
Pittsburgh seized first place in the Federal Association East on April 29 during a 13-game winning streak — and never looked back. The Miners were a model of consistency, posting monthly records of 13-7, 17-8, 22-8, and 19-9 before their only “slump,” a 16-12 August. They closed with a 21-6 September to put a bow on one of the finest regular seasons in league history.
As expected for a team that finished 18 games clear of the pack, the Miners dominated nearly every statistical category. They led the Fed in batting average, runs scored, and on-base percentage. Twenty-four-year-old Al Hubbard (.325, 14 HR, 97 RBI) captured his first batting crown, edging teammates Don Riley (.323, 13, 60) and Earl Skains (.321, 41, 154), who finished second and third. Skains, 28, topped the circuit in both home runs and RBI to earn his first Whitney Award.
Shortstop John Newton (.306, 9, 88), acquired in the 1970 deal that sent Reid Barrell to Montreal, made his third straight All-Star team and led the league in hits and doubles. Powered by that core, the Miners’ offense produced 869 runs — 137 more than any other Federal Association team and nearly 100 more than the Continental-leading Saints.
On the mound, Pittsburgh was equally imposing. Their 553 runs allowed were fewest in either league. Marco Middleton (24-7, 2.80), acquired from Cincinnati in 1971, added his fourth Allen Award to the three he won with the Cannons. At age 29, Middleton teamed with 28-year-old Jack Kotarski (17-6, 2.69) to give Pittsburgh a devastating one-two punch. Dick Butler (14-13, 2.98) bolstered the rotation after coming from Detroit at the trade deadline, while Troy Myers (18-7, 2.77) turned in a career year before being dealt to the Chicago Chiefs after the WCS.
Washington won 92 games, but even the steady Eagles finished 18 back. Pitching was their backbone — Jake Watkins (19-9, 2.62), 37-year-old Jim Stewart (15-11, 3.50), and former top prospect Eddie Yandow (15-15, 3.55) held firm. Offensively, Tom Lorang (.295, 20, 90) and Al Marino (.245, 19, 78) led the way, but the Miners’ machine left everyone else chasing shadows. Looking ahead, Washington dealt for 26-year-old righty Sam Rodgers (11-8, 2.81) from the New York Imperials, hoping to bolster an already solid staff.
The defending pennant-winning Philadelphia Keystones fell to third. Veterans Billy Hasson (15-13, 2.86) and Jorge Arellano (16-7, 3.22) pitched well, but the bats of Bobby Phelps (.251, 26, 79), Jesse Walker (.242, 19, 63), and Harry Dellinger (.253, 11, 30) couldn’t keep pace with the cross-state juggernaut.
The New York Gothams started fast but faded quickly, finishing above .500 only in April. The rotation — Bunny Mullins (11-14, 2.97), Harry Hayward (16-9, 2.97), and rookie standout Dick Duke (17-9, 2.67) — held up its end, but offense was scarce. To remedy that, New York traded for Detroit outfielder Ed Davis (.302, 8, 61) after the season.
The Baltimore Clippers finished fifth for the second straight year, with rookie catcher Hank Wallace (.310, 5, 62) and 24-year-old pitcher Larry Warren (16-13, 3.29) offering hope for the future. The Boston Minutemen, though, saw little optimism after finishing last in the East for the third consecutive year — and holding the worst record in baseball for the second straight season.
PIONEERS LEAD THE FED WEST
The St. Louis Pioneers matched last year’s 88-74 mark — but this time, it earned them the division crown. They finished six games clear of the Chicago Chiefs, led by right-hander Red Kline (18-8, 2.53), who topped the Fed in ERA. Offensively, Quinton Vincent (.286, 22, 96), John Richards (.269, 26, 93), and second-year infielder Frank Green (.322, 8, 85) powered the attack.
In Chicago, 41-year-old Vern Osborne (12-14, 3.49) showed signs of slowing but still notched his 250th career win. With his future uncertain, the Chiefs added 18-game winner Troy Myers from Pittsburgh. They’ll join Vean Conrad (17-14, 2.96) and midseason pickup Paddy Williamson (16-9, 2.92) in a deep staff. Shortstop Tom Spruill (.300, 8, 55) turned in a career year, and catcher Roy Johnson (.283, 11, 75) remains among the league’s best.
Both the Los Angeles Suns and Houston Comets finished 10 games off the pace, tied for third. For L.A., it was a disappointing encore to their first division title. Pete Meissner (14-11, 2.96) and Sam Forester (.250, 17, 72) stood out, while 24-year-old Tom Lally (.288, 13, 54) captured the Kellogg Award as top Fed rookie. The Comets’ young arms — Johnny Blackburn (12-15, 2.87), Jay Hunt (16-10, 2.80), and Heinie Schmidt (10-16, 2.84) — give Houston fans reason to believe.
The Minneapolis Millers once again settled for a 75-87 mark — their 11th season without reaching .500 — while the Detroit Dynamos brought up the rear. Detroit traded away two of its better players after the season, shipping Ed Davis and Sam Hamilton (.273, 3, 32) to the Gothams for prospects. About the only bright note for Detroit fans was seeing former Dynamo great Jim Norris win his 300th career game — though for the Chicago Cougars, not the hometown club.
SAINTS CONTINUE TO SHINE IN CONTINENTAL
The Montreal Saints are enjoying life at the top of the Continental Association after decades in the wilderness. Once a team that went nearly 50 years without a playoff berth, Montreal has now made four straight under manager Harry Barrell, including a 1970 WCS crown. Barrell finally earned his long-overdue Theobald Award, guiding the Saints to their first 100-win season since 1916.
Seven-time Whitney winner Dixie Turner (.291, 53, 140) once again led the league’s most potent lineup, joined by Jim Smith (.242, 34, 101), Reid Barrell (.279, 20, 76), Jim Hendricks (.303, 13, 83), and Eddie Thomas (.261, 20, 64). On the mound, Tommy Jackson (15-9, 1.92) emerged as a new ace, capturing his first Allen Award at age 26.
The Cincinnati Cannons finished second, paced by Chief Williams (.290, 22, 90), who earned the Kellogg Award as top CA rookie, and batting champ Pat Miller (.319, 19, 76). A mid-May injury to rising star Billy West (.346, 4, 20) derailed what was shaping up as a breakout season.
The Cleveland Foresters stayed above .500 behind journeyman Roy Rice (17-10, 2.24), who blossomed unexpectedly at age 32. The Toronto Wolves (fourth place) leaned on Red Bullock (18-8, 3.18) and Jackie Daniels (.280, 18, 104), though their playoff drought stretches back to 1940. The New York Imperials tied them for fourth, still waiting for their vaunted young arms to fulfill their promise. John Alfano missed the year after an elbow injury in spring training, and prospect Howie Weston (4-6, 3.99) had growing pains in his debut. The Milwaukee Arrows once again anchored the East, finishing last for the fourth straight year.
STILL THE STARS OF THE WEST
The Los Angeles Stars made it four straight Continental West crowns and seven straight playoff trips. Winners of four WCS titles during that stretch, the Stars’ 95-67 record actually marked their lowest win total since 1963 — yet they remain the class of the CA West.
The cast was familiar. Slugger Bobby Garrison (.290, 20, 78) missed the final six weeks and the playoffs with a fractured knee, but Bill Dunlop (17-13, 2.77) and Floyd Warner (16-7, 2.52) anchored the staff. Bill Bell (.279, 13, 63), Ed Bogan (.288, 16, 56), Ralph Barrell (.231, 19, 78), Lew Smith (.258, 14, 66), and Ed Moore (.222, 17, 60) provided the punch.
The Seattle Kings finished second, a game ahead of the Chicago Cougars but nine behind the Stars. Both clubs are long overdue for glory — Seattle’s last title came 36 years ago and two cities removed, while the Cougars haven’t won it all since 1931. Only the Federal Association’s Washington Eagles (1923) have waited longer.
In Seattle, 39-year-old Hank Williams (.271, 23, 95) continued to defy age, surpassing both 1,500 RBI and runs scored. Tom Hicks (.299, 22, 78) remained one of the league’s top centerfielders, and pitchers Moe Lowery (20-10, 2.61) and Charlie Rushing (20-10, 2.72) both cracked the 20-win mark.
The Cougars, meanwhile, boasted a mix of grizzled veterans and emerging talent. The veteran trio of Hal Adams (18-10, 2.89), Bill Scott (12-10, 2.84), and the newly-minted 300-game winner Jim Norris (12-13, 3.29) carried the rotation, while youngsters Roger Alford (15-17, 3.33) and Bob Goldman (17-10, 3.19) offered hope for the future.
Dallas, San Francisco, and Kansas City rounded out the standings. The Wranglers, now in their 11th year, have still never finished within 20 games of first. The Sailors appear to be slipping into decline after early success, and the Mavericks, in last place for the fourth straight season, remain without a true star anywhere on the roster.
MILESTONES AND OTHER NOTABLES
AWARDS
Dixie Turner (.291,53, 140) won his fourth consecutive Continental Association Whitney Award as league MVP and the seventh of his career. The CA Allen Award also went to a Montreal Saints player as 26-year-old Tommy Jackson (15-9, 1.92) was the unanimous choice. The two main awards in the Fed also went to teammates as outfielder Earl Skains (.321,41,154) won his first Whitney Award while pitcher Marco Middleton (24-7, 2.80) followed up his three Continental Association Allen Awards with his first such honour in the Federal Association.
The Kellogg Award for top rookie went to first baseman Chief Williams (.290,22,90) of the Cincinnati Cannons and Los Angeles Suns infielder Tom Lally (.288,13,54). The Theobald Award for top manager in each association went to the two pennant winners as Harry Barrell of Montreal won for the third time in his career While Don Fox, who replaced Barrell as Pittsburgh's manager in 1969, who the Kellogg for the second time with the Miners and fourth time overall in his career.
HALL OF FAME
For the third time in the past five years the baseball Hall of Fame did not add anyone to Boone County. Paul Anderson, a 213 game winner over his career with the Stars and Detroit, came the closest but appeared on just 70% of the ballots. Charlie Rogers last year and Adrian Czerwinski two years ago are the only inductees added in the past five years.
NO-HITTERS
We went nearly the entire season without one until September 20 when rookie Dick Duke of the New York Gothams no-hit he Philadelphia Keystones, walking 3 while fanning 6 in a 2-0 victory.
50 HOMERUN SEASON
Dixie Turner of the Montreal Saints hit 53 homers to become just the second player since 1955 to smack at least a half century's worth of longballs in a season. The only other player to hit 50 since Earl Howe's 55 homers in 1955 was Sam Forester of the Los Angeles Suns, who hi 53 two years ago.
150 RBI SEASON
Earl Skains became the first Pittsburgh Miners player and just the 13th player ever (4 -Max Morris, Joe Masters, Rankin Kellogg and Bobby Barrell- have accomplished the feat twice) to drive in at least 150 rbis. Skains had 154 rbi's in 1972.
300 WINS
Jim Norris, Chicago Cougars
250 WINS
Vern Osborne, Chicago Chiefs
2500 STRIKEOUTS
Billy Hasson, Philadelphia
Vern Osborne, Chicago Chiefs
2000 STRIKEOUTS
Floyd Warner, Los Angeles Stars
Jim Stewart, Washington
2500 HITS
Harry Swain, Montreal
2000 HITS
John Kingsbury, San Francisco
Dixie Turner, Montreal
Pat Davis, Seattle
500 HOME RUNS
Rod Shearer, Chicago Chiefs
1500 RBI's
Buddy Miller, Montreal
Hank Williams, Seattle
1000 RBI's
John Kingsbury, San Francisco
Bobby Garrison, Los Angeles Stars
1500 RUNS SCORED
Harry Swain, Montreal
Hank Williams, Seattle
400 STOLEN BASES
Harry Dellinger, Philadelphia
300 STOLEN BASES
Jerry McMillan, Chicago Cougars
1972 FABL ALL-STAR GAME
Feds Prevail in 14 Inning Marathon
Fans were treated to extra baseball in the 40th annual All-Star Game after it required 14 innings to declare a winner. It was the Federal Association, which tied the contest in the top of the 9th inning on an rbi-single from Pittsburgh outfielder Don Riley, that eventually prevailed. Riley, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, also singled in the 14th inning as part of a four hit barrage that led to three runs and gave the Federal Association a 6-3 victory.
It marked the second consecutive victory and 8th in the past nine years for the Federal Association, which leads the all-time series 21 wins to 19 for the Continental stars. It was the third time the game was played in Detroit's Thompson Field and the fifth one to require extra innings. The 1972 14 inning contest had to settle for being just the second longest ever player: the 1937 game, won 4-2 by the Feds, lasted 19 innings.
Notable was the fact that 39-year-old Hank Williams was selected for his 13th all-star game. Williams went 0-for-4 in the contest but that does not diminish the fact that he is now tied for the second most all-star game appearances. He, along with Hall of Famers Bobby Barrell and George Cleaves have been chosen 13 times. Only Bill Barrett, with 15, has been named to more All-Star Games.
1972 ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
SAINTS GET BEST OF STARS
The Montreal Saints and Los Angeles Stars have quite a monopoly going as they are the only two teams in the Continental Association ever to participate in the ACS. The Stars prevailed in 1969 and 1971 before going on to win the WCS both times while in 1970 the Montreal Saints knocked off the champs and went on to win their first World Championship Series since 1921.
Each of the first their CACS were decided in four games but this one became the first to go the distance. The Saints won the opener 5-3 at home but dropped the next two games. Reid Barrell's grand slam in the top of first inning stood up as the Saints forced a game five with a 4-2 road win in the fourth game despite the fact that Reid's cousin Ralph Barrell homered for Los Angeles. The fifth game saw Montreal's Tommy Jackson emerge as the hero with the 26-year-old righthander outdueling two-time Whitney Award winner Bill Dunlop by tossing a 3-hit complete game shutout in a 3-0 victory. All of the Montreal scoring came off a pair of homeruns, a 2-run shot in the first inning from Harry Swain and a solo blast by Jim Smith in the 8th.
The Federal Association Championship Series was a rematch of 1969 when the St Louis Pioneers swept Pittsburgh in three games. The Miners, boasting the best regular season record in baseball, returned the favour with a sweep of their own. Jack Kotarski was very good on the mound in a 3-2 win to open the series and he was aided by Earl Skains 2-run homerun in the opening inning. It was the only close game of the series as the Miners followed with 7-2 and 6-1 victories to return to the WCS for the third time in seven years but still in search of their first WCS title since 1901.
1972 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Montreal and Pittsburgh had never met in the WCS before but they had plenty in common. First one was long droughts as the Saints went nearly 50 years between pennants until finally winning one, and the WCS in 1969. Pittsburgh has not won the WCS since 1901 and entered this series on losing streak that has seen them come up short in 7 consecutive WCS appearances.
They also had Harry Barrell in common as Barrell spent much of the 1960s at the helm in Pittsburgh before being fired and signing with Montreal prior to their WCS win. In addition, a number of players, most notably Harry's son Reid Barrell and 7-time Whitney Award winner Dixie Turner, had played for both teams.
GAME ONE
Both teams entered game one on a high. Pittsburgh had swept St Louis while the Saints had knocked off their biggest rival in a comeback from a 3-1 deficit to win their series with the Los Angeles Stars in five games.
The series opened in Montreal and it was the visitors Jack Kotarski that set the tone, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits over six innings before leaving with the Miners ahead 3-1. The Pittsburgh bullpen was also strong and the Miners prevailed 6-1 with a pair of 24-year-olds in Al Hubbard and Howard Smith combining for 4 hits and 3 rbi's.
GAME TWO
Big innings by each club was the story of game two as the hometown Saints jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back doubles by Jim Hendricks and Dixie Turner keyed the early rally. Pittsburgh answered with 4 runs in the fourth frame and again it was the youth leading the way as Howard Smith doubled in a run and fellow 24-year-old Jack Blair homered.
The score remained 4-3 until the seventh when Al Hubbard's third double of the series drove in an insurance run to put Pittsburgh up 5-3. It would prove to be crucial as the Saints got one back with a solo homer off the bat of Eddie Thomas in the bottom of the seventh but that is as close as they would get and Pittsburgh, with the 5-4 victory, returned to Fitzpatrick Park leading the series 2 games to none.
GAME THREE
The most dramatic game of the series saw the Miners enter the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 5-3 but a Howard Smith single followed by a double off the bat of Jack Abasi brought the go-ahead run to the plate with one out. The Saints managed to get the second out at the plate, nailing Smith to make it two out but the first pitch to Jack Blair ended the ballgame as the Miners centerfielder ripped a 3-run walk-off homerun off of Saints reliever Miguel Hernandez to give Pittsburgh a 6-5 win and a commanding 3-0 series lead.
GAME FOUR
The Miners were looking to become the first team in the divisional era to go undefeated in the playoffs and they got a quick start towards that 7-0 record with a run in the first inning courtesy of a Jack Blair sacrifice fly to score Don Riley, who had led off with a double and advanced on a balk by Montreal starter George Williams, who was clearly nervous at the start of the game. Federal Association Whitney Award winner Earl Skains, who had a very quiet WCS, smashed a solo homerun in the third to double the Pittsburgh lead and it went to 3-0 an inning later when a George Williams wild pitch allowed Gale Schmitt, who had led off the frame with a double, to score.
It was 4-0 with Pittsburgh starter Dick Butler turned the ball over to the pen after seven shutout innings in which he had surrendered just 3 hits, all singles. Montreal staged a last ditch effort in the top of the ninth and scored a run of their own on a wild pitch but that was all they would get and the Miners had ended 71 years of failure with a 4-1 victory and a sweep of the World Championship Series.
Jack Blair, the Miners 24-year-old outfielder who went 6-for-18 with 2 homers and 6 rbi's in the series, was named the Most Valuable Player.
MINUTEMEN HEAD 1972 AMATEUR DRAFT
Just as they will next June thanks to a second consecutive season with the worst record in FABL, the Boston Minutemen owned the first pick in the 1972 FABL amateur player draft. Boston needs to land a few gems to try and turn things around for the struggling franchise and they may just have struck gold with their 1972 first overall selection. That would be Charlie Hartsell, a 22-year-old who grew up in Massachusetts but went to Kentucky to play his college ball at Glasgow College. College first rounders are an endangered breed as Hartsell was one of just five selected this year with the other 19 players being out of the high school ranks.
Hartsell spent most of the season at AA and fared quite well, batting .314 with 5 homers in 72 games. He spent most of his time at second base instead of his natural shortstop position and may end up there long term. OSA ranks him #3 in its latest prospect pipeline and suggests Hartsell is the type of player who "could make an impact on a top team."
It may have been a down year for first round talent as none of the other 23 picks cracked the OSA top 15 and just two made the top 25. That would be Otho Hughes, a 17-year-old lefthander out of Galloway, PA., and Mel Malone, a high school outfielder from Oklahoma. Malone, who is 25th on the current OSA list, was selected second overall by the Cleveland Foresters while the Detroit Dynamos chose Hughes with the fifth pick and he is ranked at 18 on the OSA top prospect list.
Here are the 1972 First Rounders as well as the OSA top 20 prospects
Next up the 1972 recap from the gridiron.