Cincinnati Cannons
Last Year Record: 84-78 (2nd, .519)
Best Year Since 1964: 1964, 94-68 (2nd, .580)
Top Pitcher: RHP Herm Quinn (30, 17-10, 2.59, 172; 60-51, 3.50, 691)
Special shoutout to 25-year-old Ace Barrell (25, 18-10, 2.94, 137; 42-36, 5, 3.71, 385), the son of legendary Hall-of-Famer Deuce Barrell, and while Ace could be an ace too, right now he's just the overqualified #2.
Herm Quinn is the ace, as the minor league free agent turned 1974 All-Star made his presence known in his four year in the Cannons rotation. Coming off three straight seasons worth at least 4.5 WAR, he set a new personal best of 6.5 in a career high 264 innings pitched. Most of his other numbers were bests too, going 17-10 with a 2.59 ERA (142 ERA+), 2.90 FIP (78 FIP-), and 1.07 WHIP, striking out 172 with just 65 walks. In the hunt for the Allen, he ranked top-3 in the CA in ERA (2nd), WAR (3rd), complete games (2nd, 10), shutouts (1st, 6), K/BB (2nd, 2.6), WHIP (2nd), ERA+ (3rd), and quality starts (t-3rd, 27), and finished second to the eventual winner Roger Alford (27, 17-9, 2.35, 139; 54-50, 1, 2.88, 485).
This was probably Quinn's best chance for hardware, but he had been one of the most consistent FABL pitchers since he joined the rotation in 1971. In all four seasons he's thrown at least 200 innings, with 36 starts and 250+ innings in each of the last three. Entering 1975, he has a solid 3.50 ERA (103 ERA+), but his 3.11 FIP (86 FIP-) is far more impressive. You can thank his command for that, as he's maintained a BB% below 6.5 in each of the last three seasons, and as a starter his K% has hovered around the 15-16 mark. Paired with the ability to keep the ball in the park, he's the type of the picture who doesn't need a great defense, but can really shine when he has one. That was clear this year, as with a top-2 defense in the CA he finally put everything together. A comfortable middle rotation arm, his mid-to-high 90s sinker is a weapon, and his teaching of it to the rest of the rotation has turned the Cannons staff into one of the best in the business.
Top Hitter: LF Billy West (25, .315, 4, 72, 29; .317, 29, 238, 54)
Taken 2nd by the Cannons in the '68 draft, it wasn't a linear climb to stardom for Billy West, though it did not take very long for him to get to the Queen City. Debuting at 20 in 1970, he made 58 appearances, all starts, and hit an outstanding .325/.398/.539 (156 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 6 homers, 31 runs, 44 RBIs, and 5 steals. As great as that was, the rest has not been smooth sailing, as while he's been producing like crazy at the plate, he hasn't been able to stay healthy. In the last four seasons he's had 14 various ailments, including a ruptured MCL that cost him most of the 1972 season and a pair of leg injuries this summer that caused him to play through some discomfort.
West did get into 157 games, easily a career high, and just his second season in Cincinnati where he made more then 90 appearances. Ironically, it came with a career low .315/.390/.442 (133 OPS+) batting line, but when that's your worst season you've certainly done plenty right. His counting stats were great, even if he hit just 4 homers, as he led the Conti with 14 triples and supplemented it with 34 doubles, 72 RBIs, 91 runs, 72 walks, and 29 steals. His 5.1 WAR came just shy of his personal high 5.4 in 118 games at 21, but what's more important for Cincy fans is he was basically healthy and stealing bases again. One of the quickest players in the league, he was held to single digits each of the last four years, either due to playing time or leg issues. The injuries haven't impacted the bat much, his .317/.395/.477 (148 OPS+) career line is nearly 50 percent above average, but adding the stolen base to his game could take him to the next level. His beautiful swing will lead to a high average, and the more he's on base the more damage he can do. Add in his elite plate discipline, leading to 225 walks and just 119 strikeouts, and the addition of the stolen base will make West among the toughest players to gameplan for, as he can get on base for the big bats behind him to drive in the runs.
Top Prospect: RHP Bob Neal (12th Overall)
Already a quick riser, Bob Neal has gone from the 2nd Round to AA in just a few months, and his success in High-A (4-4, 2.86, 80) has helped him earn a top-25 listing on the prospect list. Up to 12, he gets a lot of credit for his command, which could end up being among the best in the league. It's what could allow him to be a legitimate ace, as he places all three of his pitches exactly where he wants them go. The best is his sinker, currently sitting in the low 90s, but the 22-year-old might still be able to add an extra mile on it to get a few more whiffs. Same goes for his fastball, it's the clear third pitch, but with how good his slider is all he needs to do is locate it well. He did run into a little trouble in AA, where he's likely to return to start 1975, but if he can iron out a few of the issues he has left he could finish his season as another sinkerball behind Quinn and Barrell.
Active Legend: 2B Bob Bell (36, .285, 5, 20; .305, 319, 1,120, 112)
I'm sort of bending my own rules here, as Bob Bell isn't really a Cannons legend, but I wanted to talk about him and Vern Osborne, and aside from long-time catcher Pete Bruce (32, .289, 10, 61, 1; .247, 81, 480, 1) and 2-Time All-Star Mike Roque (30, .315, 13, 83, 3; .292, 77, 468, 8) they don't have many long-tenured players.
Formerly the best player in baseball, Bell debuted in 1960 and won 3 of the 4 Federal Whitney awards from 1961 to 1964. He also won three titles with the Pioneers during their '62 to '64 threepeat, and Bell was really the main reason for that. In his four year period of dominance, he led the Fed with 39, 46, 43, and 48 homers, also leading the association in runs (1961, 117), RBIs (1961, 128; 1964, 121), OBP (1961, .435; .1962, .477), slugging (1961, .635; 1962, .748; 1964, .630), OPS (1961, 1.070; 1962, 1.226; 1964, 1.031), WRC+ (1961, 189; 1962, 214; 1964, 201), and WAR (1961, 10.0; 1962, 11.4; 1964, 12.0).
Surprisingly, Bell never led the association in anything again, but the 8-Time All-Star continued to be a useful regular the next four seasons. His play finally fell off in 1970 at 31, and by 1972 he was completely relegated to a bench role. It was a tough and surprising fall from grace for one of the game's best athletes, and despite such a promising start to his career he never even reached 2,000 hits. Currently, his 79.7 WAR and 308 homers rank behind just Hall-of-Famer Max Morris (104.1, 474) in team history, and he holds top-5 spots in slugging (3rd, .520), OPS (5th, .909), games (4th, 1,785), runs (5th, 1,043), hits (5th, 1,916), RBIs (4th, 1,073), and walks (4th, 843). It's surprising he didn't up higher in the non-Morris records, but eventually the year's of greatness caught up to him.
Acquired two offseasons ago in a minor offseason deal, he's been a pinch-hit specialist for the Cannons, hitting .252/.355/.403 (114 OPS+) in 327 trips to the plate. Just 20 of his 225 outings have been starts, and with 1,986 hits he's still not at 2,000. He's also a walk away from 900 and a homer from 320, milestones most FABL hitters don't come close to. But despite many players having full careers well into their 30s, he's more of a fan draw then a difference maker, but even with age he gives good at bats, working the count, drawing walks, and hitting a few hard line drives. A lesser team may have given him a chance to play every day, but he has a chance to compete in Cincy and be a part of his 4th championship team.
Star Out of Place: LHP Vern Osborne (43, 4-5, 1, 5.96, 37; 257-210, 7, 3.57, 2,583)
After 19 seasons in Chicago, including 17 of which he spent as a member of the rotation, Vern Osborne was unceremoniously released before the 1973 season. He spent most of the year as a free agent, before Cincinnati decided to and him to their FABL staff. He spent each of the last two seasons split between the rotation and pen, but will now need to have a strong spring to keep his pen start.
A veteran of 4,314.1 innings pitched, he's started 591 games, currently 257-210 since his one-game debut in 1954. Now 43, the East St. Louis native is far from the guy who led the Fed with a 2.65 ERA (1856 ERA+) in 1956, and later appeared on 6 All-Star teams. Starting 31 or more games in 15 of his seasons in Chicago, with his 252 wins trailing just Hall-of-Famer Al Miller (327) in club history. He's also 2nd in WAR (78.7),. innings (4,173), and starts (572), but his 2,530 strikeouts are actually almost 200 higher then "The California Kid" and top for the franchise. Osborne was also one of the keys for the '67 champion team, winning a Fed high 21 games, holding a 2.85 ERA (114 ERA+), 2.80 FIP (85 FIP-), 1,11 WHIP, setting down 141 hitters in 262 innings pitched. Once a rotation anchor, few pitchers have seen as much FABL success as Osborne, and if he can get two more wins he'll be the 32nd pitcher to reach the 260 mark.
Cleveland Foresters
Last Year Record: 71-91 (6th, .438)
Best Year Since 1964: 1966, 86-76 (5th, .531)
Top Pitcher: RHP Roy Rice (34, 13-18, 3.68, 135; 122-140, 14, 3.71, 1,522)
Cleveland hasn't finished within single digit games of first since they won the 1961 pennant, and they finished sixth in arguably the weakest division. That makes them an obvious seller as we approach the start of the season, with veteran Roy Rice the likeliest to move. He's spent each of the last three seasons in the Foresters rotation, starting more games in each go then any season prior. 1972 was his best season, as after a few years in the pen he was named to his first All-Star game. The then 32-year-old was 17-10 with a 2.24 ERA (152 ERA+), 1.02 WHIP, and 180 strikeouts. A lot of his success was propped up by a Conti best .218 BABIP, and the two years that followed didn't come close. Despite a worse 13-18 record, he was better this year then last, working to an adjusted league average 3.68 ERA. His 1.19 WHIP was excellent, walking 66 and striking out 135, but his association high 28 homers caused him some trouble.
He's always had issues with the longball, leading with 34 back in 1965 with the Suns as well. In fact, Cleveland is one of the hardest parks to hit a homer at, making it almost impressive he still allows so many. No other Forester allowed more then 20, but this is a guy who's homers allowed (250) would be tied for 68th All-Time with Billy Dalton. This is all despite spending most of his career in the Continental, known for larger outfields compared to the homer-friendly Fed parks. This could limit his market, but most teams will live with homers if it comes with a mid 90s fastball. Rice's is one of the best, even touching 99 when he was younger, and it's complimented well by his slider and curve. He may hang them occasionally, causing the homer problems, which is what's mostly stopped him from being a top-of-the-rotation arm. In his All-Star year he allowed just 20 homers in 245 innings, which really showed what he could be if he could keep the ball in the park more. 35 in April, it may be too late to teach an old dog new tricks, but he's found plenty of success at the highest level, and should continue to hold a rotation spot through the next few seasons.
Top Hitter: 2B Herb Reed (31, .263, 14, 79, 9; .279, 94, 701, 86)
Built more for defense then offense, runs were hard to come by for the Foresters this year, as aside from former first rounder Andy Babel (31, .302, 11, 86, 9; .301, 103, 699, 26), they do not have game changing bats. What they do have, however, is all-around great players, and Herb Reed is one of those. He wasn't his usual self at the plate, hitting just .263/.316/.400 (98 OPS+), but he was his regular great self at second base, and contributed to the game in more ways then pure offense. His 14 homers led the team, and he produced 79 runs, 32 doubles, 79 RBIs, and 52 walks in 158 games. He was worth 4.8 WAR, passing 4 for the 9th time in the last 10 seasons, the lone exception a shortened 109 game season last year.
Torn ankle ligaments caused the 3-Time All-Star to miss almost two months last year, and some of the effects seemed to linger into this season. The 5-Time Diamond Defense winner was solid to start the year, but at times it seemed like he ran out of energy. He didn't hit anything in June and August, the power didn't really come back until July. Now with an offseason to rest and plenty of time passed since hurting himself, he could return to star level production. After all, this is the same guy who hit .305/.353/.426 (145 OPS+) in 1968, worth 9.1 WAR and supplemented with 37 doubles, 7 triples, 8 homers, 60 RBIs, and 77 runs. He won himself a batting title and led all Conti hitters with 188 total hits, picking up a few Whitney votes in an accolade filled season. Expecting close to that would be foolish, but he's a top-5 second basemen and the clear most valuable piece on this roster.
Top Prospect: 3B Jack Hilbert (43rd Overall) Overall)
Despite so many losing seasons, the Cleveland farm system is not rich with talent, just one prospect in the top-50 and two more above 140. They didn't pick early this year, getting the 15th pick in each round, so it was used wisely. Jack Hilbert is a versatile and hard working infielder who hit .500 or better all three years of high school, and held his own at 18 in low-A. That's where 50 of his 75 games came, batting .229/.361/.292 (74 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 homers, and 15 RBIs. Despite being clearly overmatched, his discipline was still impressive, walking 40 times and producing a respectable 87 WRC+. Likely better suited for lower competition, he wasn't able to showcase his elite outstanding hit tool, as averages below even .270 won't be expected once he's matured. With impressive command of the zone, the swing and misses should fade, but before his draft selection he didn't face many pitchers who could beat you in multiple ways. Cleveland has rarely had a regular third basemen, with no Forester holding the position for more then three consecutive seasons since Jake Moore started 6 of 7 from 1927 to 1933. Hilbert has the tools to change that, a potential elite third basemen who could hold the role for a decade or more.
Active Legend: C Hal Kennedy (42, .294, 1, 2; .277, 228, 949, 6))
Back in his prime Hal Kennedy was one of if not the best hitting catchers out there, but at 42 a lot of fans may forget that. Taken in the 5th Round of the 1950 draft, Kennedy has appeared in 1,934 FABL games, all with Cleveland, collecting 228 homers, 180 doubles, 949 RBIs, 917 runs, and 857 walks. A 5-Time All-Star, 3-Time Diamond Defense winner, and member of the 1957 World Champion Foresters, he also owns a .277/.369/.413 (119 OPS+) career batting line, worth 57.6 WAR as he enters his 20th FABL season. Relegated to a bench role, he hasn't started more then 60 games since 1969, and he didn't even get a ceremonial start in 21 appearances last year. He did hit, 5-for-17 with a double, homer, and 4 walks, but with his age he can't really be trusted behind the plate, and the brief outings at first or in the outfield have been few and far between.
A consistent middle-of-the-lineup force, Kennedy produced 5 or more WAR from 1958 to 1964, and if you push the timeline up a season he had 20 or more homers. There were 19 in 1964 and a still solid 3.8 WAR in 1957, and those were the only two seasons he didn't have a WRC+ of 135 or better. All five of his All-Star appearances came at this time too, selected in each year from '58 to '62, even winning MVP in the 1960 game. He never won a Whitney or even made a top-3 finish, even if at least the consideration was deserved in 1963 (.335, 24, 81), but the impact he had on the teams he played for was felt. Until after his 40th birthday he had more walks then strikeouts, and he was a lineup anchor who kept innings going and helped produce rallies.
It's hard to call him the best catcher Cleveland ever had, as Hall of Famer T.R. Goins hit .313/.388/.468 (133 OPS+) in the last five and a half seasons of his career, but among Foresters he's the far more productive player. Unlikely to move much in the rankings, he's top 10 in team history in WAR (6th), games (4th), at bats (7th, 6,432), ruins (7th), hits (7th, 1,780), homers (2nd), RBIs (6th), and walks (3th), more then enough to establish his place in the storied organization. Spending his whole career in Cleveland adds to his legacy, and he should end up the 7th Forester to have his number retired.
Star Out of Place: SS Carlos Jaramillo (38, .232, 3, 51, 6; .273, 119, 849, 401)
Known for his acrobatic defensive capabilities, it almost feels like the Diamond Defense award was made for Carlos Jaramillo, who won each of the first eight given out for Continental shortstops. This covers his 4th through 11th season, and it would have been hard to argue that the longtime Sailors shortstop wouldn't deserve it in those first three. Now 38, "El Guante" has only played games at his customary short, accumulating an absurd 297 zone rating (1.072) since his 1957 debut. It was actually above 300 for a point, he produced his first negative season (-9.9, 962) this year, and at his peak he consistently had efficiencies above 1.100.
A wizard with the glove, Jaramillo could range the balls you wouldn't think were possible, and uncork the most crazy accurate hard throw you'd ever seen to deny hits from all your favorite players. That range in the field translated to steals too, as the 6-Time All-Star led the CA twice, and became the 54th man to steal 400 bases. Nearly all his career was spent in San Francisco, from the day he was taken 10th to the day the Foresters parted with four promising prospects for the aging star. His all-out play style has led to more then his share of injuries, even if he spent most of the last two years on the field, but that hasn't stopped the Colombian native from making a very serious Hall-of-Fame case.
Less then ten WAR away from 100, Jaramillo has appeared in 2,364 games, hitting .273/.349/.368 (103 OPS+) with 353 doubles, 82 triples, 119 homers, 849 RBIs, and 401 steals. He's surpassed the 1,000 mark in runs (1,390) and walks (1,065), and recently became the 62nd player to record 2,500 hits. The bat was almost completely gone this year, as his WRC+ dipped to 78 and the 64 OPS+ was even worth, but in each of the five prior seasons they were 95 or better. Never a liability with the bat like this before, he was a force in the leadoff spot and left San Francisco ranked among the franchises best. He's top 5 in WAR (2nd, 86.4), games (3rd, 2,063), runs (2nd, 1,270), hits (3rd, 2,236), steals (2nd, 385), and walks (2nd, 942), and still receives a warm reception from the fans when he returns to Golden Gate Stadium. It's a shame he wasn't able to spend his entire career in San Francisco, even if they are deep in a rebuild, as it will never feel right seeing the defensive superstar in a Forester cap. He'll always be remembered as a Sailor, but as long as Cleveland keeps playing him he shouldn't have any complaints as he looks to finish his storied career on his terms.
Milwaukee Arrows
Last Year Record: 90-72 (1st, .556)
Best Year Since 1964: 1974, 90-72 (1st, .556): Lost in Federal Championship Series
Top Pitcher: RHP Joe Wright (23, 14-10, 2.96, 160; 46-38, 20, 3/20, 493)
It took just six years for the Milwaukee Arrows to win their first division title, but they'll have to wait at least one more year for their first playoff win. You can't blame Joe Wright, he allowed just two runs in the Game 1 loss to the Kings, and was just six ERA points away from the team triple crown. He followed up his All-Star season with more of the same, 14-10 with a 2.96 ERA (126 ERA+), 1.25 WHIP, and 160 strikeouts in a rotation high 36 starts. 24 in March, he's already emerged as a top starting pitcher, with most of the credit to his splitter. The hardworking Chicagoan spent years perfecting it, and it has led to 493 strikeouts in 820 innings pitched. It comes with good command too, evidenced by his Continental best 1.06 WHIP last season.
Since he's become a full time starter he's kept his BB% in the mid-7s, almost the sweet spot to succeed as a starter. A five pitch pitcher, he's really tough to make hard contact against, and scouts have nothing but creative things to say about his best offerings. If he does have the weakness, it's that he throws a middling fastball, and at 88-90 it's not typically going to blow by someone. It does look faster when the offspeed is working, as the change and forkball are so different that if you sit on one you'll flail at the other. As the first ever Arrow draftee it's fitting that he pitched their first playoff game, and now he needs to get his team back in the postseason so he can capture the important first win.
Top Hitter: LF Harry Edwards (25, .306, 22, 85, 4; .294, 65, 210, 7)
Wright may have been the first draftee, but Harry Edwards is the first to take home some hardware. The reigning Whitney winner, Edwards had a coming out party in 1974, batting an outstanding .306/.408/.503 (156 OPS+) as he more-or-less willed his way to the postseason. The 1971 2nd Rounder led the Conti in walks (104), OBP, OPS (.912), WRC+ (166), wOBA (.410), and WAR (6.5), beating out batting champion Buck Stout (29, .326, 18, 11, 5; .294, 93, 474, 26) of the Wranglers. A first time All-Star, Edwards hit a personal best 34 doubles, but his 22 homers, 85 RBIs, and 99 runs were actually a decrease from the previous season.
One of the most disciplined hitters already, he's walked 219 times in two and a half big league seasons, entering 1975 with an outstanding .294/.387/.495 (151 OPS+). Entering the season as the 10th ranked batter in baseball, he's the top ranked left fielder and third among outfielders. One of the more unique hitters, his patient approach leads to a large number of walks, strikeouts, and home runs, and he'll rank among the top in all three as he continues his career. Tough to retire, he makes things better for everyone in the lineup, as guys behind him get more time to read pitchers and more opportunities to bat with people on base. A team on the up, Edwards is the cog of the lineup and an improving supporting cast, and if he keeps putting up Whitney seasons they'll keep competing for championship rings.
Top Prospect: LF Ed Gore (6th Overall) Overall)
It's almost unfair the Arrows have both the top left fielder and the top left field prospect, but when they were picking third last year they didn't necessarily know what they had with Harry Edwards. Since draft day all Gore has done is hit, with some of the highlights a 174 WRC+ in rookie ball last season and a 133 in Low-A this year. Projected to be one of the best hitters in the game, he has elite power potential with the eye to rival Edwards, expected to work counts with the best of them. Whether it will come with a high average or strikeouts is unknown, as he's shown both right now. With no obvious hole in the corner outfield, Gore's path to the big leagues is somewhat obscured, but he's far enough away that it could be a problem that works itself out. A trade can't be ruled out either, as some of the teams best players came over by trade.
Active Legend: RF Jim Stogner (31, .293, 28, 108, 3; .271, 129, 497, 13)
He may not have been there for the inaugural season, but it feels like Jim Stogner has been an Arrow since the very beginning. Taken in the 9th Round by the Millers in 1963, they did protect him in the 1968 expansion draft, but after getting minimal time for the third time in 1969 they moved him to Milwaukee to clear up a 40-man spot. Neither player they got did much, but considering they had no room for him and he had a sparse track record they couldn't have expected what came next.
Stogner went from a bench bat to the starting left fielder, hitting .268/.389/.462 (136 OPS+) in a major breakout. He hit 20 doubles and 21 homers with 58 RBIs, 64 runs, and 84 walks. The encore was even better, as he upped his line to .298/.381/.482 (152 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 19 homers, 63 RBIs, 66 runs, and 70. Walks he was again productive in 1972, and was named to the All-Star team in each of the last two seasons. This year his .506 slugging was best in the Continental, setting personal bests with 28 homers and 108 RBIs. Despite that, he was probably better last season, batting .303/.414/.513 (164 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 24 homers, and 97 RBIs. Entering his sixth season with the club, he's the early team leader in WAR (19.5), doubles (137), homers (112), RBIs (401), and walks (384). Harry Edwards seems likely to pass him up, but Stogner was the one who did it first, and gave some fans of pretty bad Arrows teams someone to root for.
Star Out of Place: RHP Johnny Hoskinson (33, 12-11, 3.77, 115; 100-104, 23; 3.92)
A well traveled starting pitcher, Johnny Hockinson's second stint with the Dynamos ended up with a trade to the Arrows. Set to make his team debut in the Spring, Hoskinson has won 100 FABL games, with 66% of them in Detroit. He's grabbed single digits with Houston, New York, Minnesota, and New York, as well as Milwaukee, as this is actually his second time with the team. This time the cost was cheap, a pitcher they signed on a minor league deal, but he was free when they claimed him off waivers before the 1971 season. Again after Detroit, he made 33 starts, going 8-16 with a 3.74 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.26 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts. They sent him and a prospect to Philadelphia to acquire their current third basemen Jay Dynes (32, .252, 8, 52, 26; .256, 119, 497, 121), which was expected to be the end of his Arrows career.
Instead, it's where he's most likely to pitch his 371st FABL game, coming off a season where he posted a matching 99 ERA+ and FIP- in 34 starts. Hoskinson managed a career high 229 innings pitched, and at 33 he still may have a few solid years in him. Brought in as a low-risk fifth option, he had a 3.77 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 115 strikeouts and just 51 walks. A six pitch righty with a deep repertoire, he does a good job keeping the ball on the ground. It hasn't prevented him from allowing homers, but when guys get on base he can get them to role in to double plays. A bigger park like Lakefront Park could work to his advantage, and this low cost addition could help shore of the back of a strong rotation.
Montreal Saints
Last Year Record: 81-81 (3rd, .500)
Best Year Since 1964: 1973, 102-60 (1st, .630): Won World Championship Series!
Top Pitcher: RHP Tommy Jackson (29, 9-10, 2.62, 155; 42-39, 14, 2.97, 515)
One of the most inconsistent high quality arms, Tommy "Tippy" Jackson went from winning the 1972 Allen to being demoted to the bullpen. His highs were high, 15-9 with a 1.92 ERA (182 ERA+), 1.02 WHIP, and 155 strikeouts, but it was followed up with an ERA close to 5 in more relief outings (36) then starts (21). Jackson did improve in the pen, even picking up 14 saves, so his 4.72 ERA (80 ERA+) and 1.33 WHIP look better then they were.
1974 was a big season for Jackson, who returned to the rotation and showed exactly what the voters saw in him. He made 35 starts, recording a 2.62 ERA (143 ERA+) and 1.15 WHIP. His 9-10 record was reflective of the Saints season, not his pitching, and he matched his 155 strikeouts from his Allen season. A return to form from him was one of the few things that went right for Montreal this season, as their streak of five straight division titles was snapped and they weren't able to defend their second title in five years. He led the team in ERA and strikeouts, though former 1st Rounder Hal Bennett (28, 18-6, 3.19, 102; 73-42, 12, 3.45, 605) had much better win/loss luck. His hard stuff sets up hitters, with the dominant change used to knock them down. If he can find consistency, the Saints should be able to return to contention, reclaiming the top spot in the East they have gotten so used to.
Top Hitter: 2B Dixie Turner (33, .304, 21, 74, 25; .304, 419, 1,428, 215)
Aside from maybe the man who brought him north of the border, no one man has more responsibility for the Saints' stretch of dominance then Dixie Turner. Taken 1st Overall by Pittsburgh in the 1960 draft, Edward James Turner was destined for greatness, and all he's done is live up to the lofty expectations placed on him. Debuting quickly as a 20-year-old in 1962, it wasn't really a storybook beginning, but a .282/.324/.420 (94 OPS+) batting line was what you'd expect from a young rookie, not a future Hall-of-Famer.
Well fears were quickly extinguished as instead if a sophomore slump, Turner had a coming out party in '63, slashing .330/.377/.506 (140 OPS+) with 14 triples, 12 homers, 65 RBIs, 52 walks, 16 steals, 116 runs, and a Fed high 54 doubles. One of the many stats he's lead in sense, Turner fully arrived in 1965, selected to his first of 8 All-Star games. Worth a tick below 10 WAR, he led the Fed in that and all three triple slash categories, producing an elite .343/.402/.595 (187 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 15 triples, 31 homers, 115 RBIs, 112 runs, and 12 steals. This helped him earn his first of 8 Whitney awards, something only the legendary Max Morris has been able to accomplish.
In fact, the only reason he didn't win nine in a row was his surprising midseason trade, as the Miners got 64 games out of him in 1968 before doing the unthinkable. They must have really liked Ace Barrell (25, 18-10, 137; 42-36, 5, 3.71, 385), at least at the time, because they moved Turner and starting catcher Eddie Thomas (34, .195, 8, 34, 4; .229, 141, 626, 42) to Montreal for a five player packaged that was headlined by the son of the Hall-of-Famer. Now, the deal can only be classified as a mistake, as even though the Miners did finally break their title drought, Dixie has more titles, and he's been simply the best player in baseball. It took two full seasons for Dixie to break the Saints title drought, and in his first five seasons he led the Conti in slugging each time, won all the Whitneys, and hit 40 or more homers with 130 or more RBIs, maintaining a WRC+ of 170 or better. He won all 5 WAR titles and RBI titles, 4 of the homer titles, two run titles, and a league high OBP in 1969.
1974 was his first season as a Saint he didn't win the Whitney, and while his .225/.301/.368 (88 OPS+) line looked like his rookie season, it's hard to be too mad that he didn't have a tenth Whitney quality season. The counting stats were there, 19 doubles, 21 homers, 74 RBIs, 79 runs, 65 walks, and 25 steals, worth a still well-above average 5.3 WAR. His defense is an under appreciated aspect of his game, he has 3 Diamond Defense awards and a 180.2 zone rating (1.060 EFF) at second, so even a near 100 point average drop in average couldn't even stop him from being one of the most valuable players in the game.
Including his down year, he's got an absurd .293/.386/.560 (174 OPS+) line as a Saint, and in 2,023 FABL games it's a remarkable .304/.381/.539 (165 OPS+). A true legend, he's going to end up near the top of many FABL records, currently top-10 in slugging (5th, .5392), top-20 in homers (17th, 419) and WAR (17, 112.62), and top-30 in RBIs (28, 1,428). He should also be the 63rd or 64th player to reach 2,500 hits, and he should easily reach 3,000, something just 19 players have done so far. Just 33, it's hard to put any counting stats out of his reach, and if Turner can return to his Whitney level performance, it wouldn't be out question that he finishes with one of the absolute best careers the game has ever seen.
Top Prospect: LHP Steve Blake (36th Overall)
Despite the record, Montreal doesn't have any real weaknesses, so don't expect them to move their to prospect Steve Blake. Just 19, they took the lefty 23rd in the 1973 draft, and the young groundballer had success at all three levels he pitched at, but a tricep strain did cost him a little over a month. Health is something you always pay attention to in high upside prep arms, and right now it could be what keeps him from becoming the top-of-the-rotation arm the Saints are hoping for. A four-pitch sinkerballer, he won't light up the radar guns, not expected to move out of the 85-87 range. His fastball is a tick harder, but it's the curve that makes Blake so deadly. A big breaking slow curve, it buckles the knees of hitters, and works the opposite way of his sinker. With good command over all his pitches, he's tough to get into a jam, as most hits are wimpy singles and he's adept at erasing those baserunners with a well-time ground out. He'll take another season or two to be considered in the Montreal rotation, but he has much less development risk then the average young lefty, and seems almost a lock for at least a back-end rotation role.
Active Legend: 1B Harry Swain (36, .285, 5, 20; .305, 319, 1,120, 112)
There are very few players who have more anything then Dixie Turner, but aside from homers Harry Swain leads him in pretty much all the important counting stats. What feels like a Saint lifer, Swain endured the low lows and the highest of highs, but wasn't actually originally drafted by the Saints. Now 41, he's spent 19 seasons in their lineup, but he came to Montreal back in a 1952 trade for lefty pen arm John Perkins. A former 3rd Rounder of the Dynamos, he spent three seasons in the Saints farm system before making the 1956 Opening Day roster. He worked his way from bench bat to late season starter, hitting a robust .301/.423/.470 (158 OPS+) with 14 homers and 48 RBIs.
Firmly in the Saints lineup the next season, Swain showed that it was no fluke, upping his season line to an elite .314/.421/.510 (168 OPS+) in twice as many plate appearances. Still known for his elite eye, he drew a Conti best 101 walks, leading the association for the first of four times, adding in 24 doubles, 26 homers, 100 runs, and 105 RBIs. Swain has continued to have a knack for triple digits, walking 100 or more times on eight occasions, driving in 100 or more runs in two seasons, and scoring 100 or more runs seven different seasons. He's even struck out 100 times, set down exactly that many times in 1969, but most impressive has been his ability to always produce an OPS+ or WRC+ above the average mark. Even in the past two seasons where he's been more of a supplemental piece then a lineup cog, he's produced a 150, 151 and 122, 130. Those marks this year actually mark a career low, as the 3-Time All-Star enters year 20 with a .290/.412/.443 (144 OPS+) with 308 homers, 1,356 RBIs, 1,655 runs, and 1,681 walks.
Before getting into his places on the Saints leaderboards (usually the top), we have to look at the FABL leaderboards for both career and active players. He's not the active game leader, his 2,775 are 15th among all players and 2nd in active ones, but no one expected to play this year has scored more runs (1,655, 16th) or drawn more walks (1,681, t-6th). In most other cases he's at least top-3, and he ranks top-20 All-Time in OBP (18th, .4118). He's the Saints leader in OBP, games, runs, homers (308), RBIs, and walks, ranking top-5 in OPS (5th, .855), WAR (3rd, 61.5), at-bats (2nd, 9,359), hits (2nd, 2,712), and doubles (2nd, 434). He won't be able to pass Joe Ward as the best Saint in team history, but Swain is arguably the better hitter, producing season after season of star level production despite being a statue in right or at first. A true team icon, he was the first player to touch the WCS trophy in 1970, and even if he doesn't start many games in 1975, he will be one of the most important players on the roster.
Star Out of Place: LHP George Fuller (36, 1-0, 0.00, 2; 89-56, 12, 3.61, 789)
Picked up on a minor league deal this offseason, southpaw George Fuller may not start the season in Montreal as he rehabs a torn rotator cuff, but they're hoping the former All-Star can help cover multiple innings out of their pen once he's healthy. Taken 9th by the Sailors in the 1957 draft, he ranked as high as 17th on the prospect list, eventually debuting during the 1960 season. He impressed in a swingman role, earning a full-time rotation spot for 1961. Just 22, he was 12-10 with a 4.34 ERA (106 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP, but he didn't have the best control. He walked 92, though 118 strikeouts were impressive, but team's inability to make hard contact against him made him a useful middle rotation arm. 1962 was his big break, as he led the Conti with 17 wins, pairing it with a 3.72 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts. His BB% dropped from 11.1 to a more palatable 9.8, which allowed him to take the next step.
He was great in each of the next two seasons, including an 18-6 and 2.89 ERA (134 ERA+) season in 1964, but after leading the Conti with 35 starts he found himself in the minors. A surprising fall for what appeared to be one of the best young pitchers in the game, he never started another game for San Francisco, making 2 relief outings in '66 and 22 more in '68. He was traded from the organization before the 1969 season, allowing him a rebrand with the new Minneapolis Millers. Effective as before, he made 20 starts and 28 relief outings, going 10-9 with 2 saves, a 3.61 ERA (107 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, and 112 strikeouts. He competed for a rotation spot the following season, but a torn UCL ended his season before it started, and when he returned in 1971, he was not the same pitcher. His ERA jumped to 4.46 (82 ERA+) and his BB% jumped to double digits (13.1) for the first time since his rookie year.
DFA'd during the '72 season, he's bounced between minor league systems, making a quick cameo in Detroit before his recent rotator cuff tear. Whether he has anything left in him is what the Saints are looking to find out, but adding an experienced arm with a 3.61 (116 ERA+) career ERA could only be a good thing. They don't need a top quality starter, they have a few of those already, and despite the .500 record they led the CA in both starter's (3.06) and reliever's (2.82) ERA. A nice low risk pickup, they don't even have to designate an Opening Day roster spot, giving them a cheap backup plan and a much needed lefty, something they didn't have last season. They only got 14.2 innings total from southpaws, giving Fuller a chance to re-establish himself as a guy who can get lefties out in the late innings.
New York Imperials
Last Year Record: 77-85 (4th, .475)
Best Year Since 1964: 1969, 89-73 (2nd, .549)
Top Pitcher: RHP Jim White (27, 16-13, 2.78, 228; 29-28, 1, 3.02, 426)
A first time All-Star and the Continental leader in strikeouts (228), FIP- (74), and WAR (7.0), Jim White had the big breakout season the Imperials needed. Ace John Alfano (28, 1-2, 3.27, 15; 60-62, 3.14, 776) got hurt in the spring and missed almost all the season, and White was the guy who stepped up. Making 35 starts, he went 16-13 with a 2.78 ERA (133 ERA+) and 1.27 WHIP. Finishing 3rd in the Allen race this season, the former #2 prospect is starting to live up to his lofty potential bestowed on him when he was ranked as FABL's #2 prospect. Strikeouts are his bread and butter as his six pitch mix is tough to keep up with. One of just two qualified pitchers to set down more then 20% of the batters he faced, his 21 led the way, and he could win a few more strikeout titles before his time is up.
Entering 1975 he's thrown 537 innings, most in the past two years. Through parts of four seasons he's now 29-28, working to a 3.02 ERA (123 ERA+), 3.03 FIP (81 FIP-), and 1.25 WHIP. He's struck out twice as many batters (426) as he's walked (213), which when you strike out as many guys as he does it's a good ratio. As long as the command remains at least average, he'll challenge for All-Star selections, as his stuff allows him to get guys out in so many ways. Sitting in the mid 90s he can blow a fastball by you, get you to roll over a strong sinker, or even drop a brutal screwball on an unsuspecting batter. All six of his pitches are out pitches and there's nothing you can sit on. Ranked as the 5th pitcher in FABL he's as good as it gets, and the Imps want to win their first division title he's going to be a big part of it.
Top Hitter: LF Phil Terry (30, .271, 23, 73, 13; .259, 198, 568, 75)
You could give this spot to Phil Terry or Mike Counts (28, .279, 10, 52, 10; .272, 60, 272, 24), New York's two corner outfielders, but the slugger gets the edge over the patient hitter. It helps that Terry's pop comes with speed too, as the 30-year-old veteran has completed three consecutive 20/10 seasons. Originally a 5th Round pick of the Minutemen, he debuted for them in 1966, batting .250/.320/.456 (123 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 homers, and 8 RBIs. Just a reserve role of 75 PAs in 44 games, he was deemed expendable and sent to the Imperials in the offseason. Even in New York, he started on the bench, but when he stared hit ting the Imperials put him in the lineup. He finished his rookie season with 12 homers, 12 doubles, 42 walks, 44 RBIs, and 45 runs, and the .262/.352/.436 (139 OPS+) batting line earned him a fulltime role in 1968.
Now 23, he hit an absurd .258/.354/.459 (156 OPS+) with 25 homers, 67 RBIs, 68 runs, and 68 walks to earn his first and so far only All-Star game. Still, he's been as consistent as a hitter as it gets, now with eight consecutive seasons with a WRC+ of 125 or better. His defense may keep him from stardom, but a bat like that fits in any lineup. Now two homers away from 200, he's got a career .259/.348/.468 (137 OPS+) batting line. In the process he's gathered 611 runs, 568 RBIs, and 506 walks, adding 75 steals, 29 triples, and 150 doubles. He may not be the smartest guy out there, but Terry knows hitting and Terry goes to hit. Expected to retain his cleanup spot, he's a top candidate for trade if the trade-happy Imperial front office decides to recreate the roster.
Top Prospect: SS Al Wright (8th Overall)
New York is no stranger to star middle infielders, and 21-year-old Al Wright has every opportunity to join them. Taken 12th in the most recent draft, he hit his way from rookie to low-A, picking up 17 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers, 40 RBIs, 67 runs, and 81 in the process. He looked better at second then short, but scouts think that either one could be his final position. The bat should be good enough regardless, pairing his patient approach with an above average contact tool. A potential multiple All-Star game participant, he's the to infield prospect in all of baseball, drawing comparisons to superstar Tom Lally (26, .318, 12, 68, 7; .296, 49, 202, 15). Wright has shown the same poise and confidence, and it might not be too long before Imperial fans see him on the big league club.
Active Legend: 3B George Love (30, .250, 20, 67, 24; .262, 281, 849, 106)
There's a ton of pressure place on any franchise's first ever pick, but George Love has done a good job being the guy for the Imperials. It hasn't led to much team success, but the former 2nd Pick has been selected to seven All-Star games, becoming the first Imperial to many statistical milestones. Debuting at 19 in 1964, he played like most teens would, looking out of place and overmatched. That didn't stop the still young Imperials, giving him exactly 600 plate appearances in 158 games. His .242/.281/.352 (81 OPS+) average looked like a lot of his teammates, but it was nice to see him record 52 runs, 24 doubles, 4 triples, 10 homers, 44 RBIs, and 5 steals. The 29 walks and 4.8 BB% were a major concern, as was the 20.3 K%, but the top-10 prospect still showed a lot of promise in a difficult rookie season.
1965 was a much different story, as the more experienced Love hit .269/.344/.434 (123 OPS+) with 28 doubles, 21 homers, and 76 RBIs. The newfound power allowed him to take his game to the next level, and eventually settle in to a regular role he wouldn't let go. Most impressive might be what came the next season, as just two years after his 3.8 BB% he led the Conti with 92 walks. The 1966 All-Star finished the season with a .288/.387/.506 (155 OPS+) line, tallying 32 doubles, 26 homers, 74 runs, and 82 RBIs. A bonified superstar, he was a Whitney candidate in '69 and '70, but unfortunately for him Dixie Tucker was now in the Continental hogging all the nominations. Now 30, he's not likely to win one himself, but an 8th All-Star selection would not be out of the question.
A veteran of 1,738 games, Love has hit .262/.349/.458 (134 OPS+) with 895 runs, 287 doubles, 52 triples, 281 homers, 849 RBIs, 831 walks, and 106 steals. Worth exactly 47 WAR, he's coming off his first 20/20 season, and his 49 homers in 1970 were most in the Continental. Most describes a lot of his counting stats in Imperial history, as he's the top guy for WAR, games (1,738), at bats (6,310), runs, hits (1,653), doubles, triples, homers, RBIs, and walks. His next steal would tie him with 36-year-old Sam German (.316, 2, 16, 10; .261, 82, 572, 166), assuming German doesn't steal one first, and Love also has the best season for slugging (.628, 1970), OPS (1.029, 1970), WAR (7.9, 1969), and homers (49, 1970), RBIs (112, 1970). Still an effective hitter and fielder, he's got plenty of good years ahead of him, even if they continue to contain 100 or more strikeouts a year. The leader in back-to-back seasons, it's probably not a trend he'll want to continue, but with great power comes great strikeout potential, and for every homer Love hits there will be plenty of strikeouts.
Star Out of Place: RHP Steve Madden (35, 0-1, 1, 3.60, 104; 120-91, 18, 3.68, 1,338
For four years Steve Madden was on top of the world, providing the Pioneers ace-level performance. Winning three championships, 1961 was the only year of the period they didn't win, but for Madden it was emergence and best campaign. Leading the Fed with 7.4 WAR, the 21-year-old made 29 starts, finishing 14-6 with a 3.17 ERA (132 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, and 166 strikeouts. His 2.79 FIP led to Fed best 65 FIP-, but with Frenchy Mack and Billy Hasson (40, 10-13, 4.64, 77; 260-183, 3.09, 2,822) in the rotation he was always overlooked. In 1962 he delivered more dominance, 16-10 with a 3.42 ERA (135 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 143 strikeouts. He won both his postseason starts, allowing just 11 hits and 3 runs with 6 strikeouts in 16 innings. Madden's 1963 rivaled his 1961, 18-9 with a 2.83 ERA (148 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, and 160 strikeouts, but he didn't contribute much to the completion of the threepeat. He lost his first postseason start too, and it seemed to impact him when St. Louis ran into trouble going for four.
Madden put together his worst season, 8-12 with a 4.84 ERA (75 ERA+), and 1.26 WHIP, striking out just 132 hitters. That's less about a whiff drop and more about a dip below the 200 inning mark, as the reliable innings eater was only good enough for 191.2 innings. He bounced back some the following season, though he did start just 23 games (4 relief outings), and after an awful 1967 season Madden seemed to be a shell of himself. Through 16 starts he had a poor 4.20 ERA (76 ERA+), but with a 3.13 FIP (97 FIP-) and 1.19 WHIP it seemed his luck should have been turning soon. Instead, he ruptured a tendon in his finger, and was never able to return to ace level. He made just 3 more starts for the Pioneers, and drafted in the 1969 expansion draft by the Clippers. He made 29 appearances (13 for starts) before a deadline trade to New York, the first of now three stints with the Imperials.
Between them he's bounced around plenty, pitching for the Saints, Pioneers again, and Foresters, picking up to 120 in just shy of 2,000 FABL innings. His ERA has jumped up to 3.68, just four percent above average, working to a 1.27 WHIP and 3.57 FIP (92 FIP-) in 490 appearances (227). He's up to 1,338 strikeouts, 1,067 of them coming as a Pioneer, and despite his impressive early peak he's been worth just 30.8 WAR. A classic what-if case, injuries really derailed what could have been a promising career, one of the most accomplished pitchers by 24. A few seasons away from ending completely, he's just a back of the pen arm now, and in the twilight of his career he now cares more about his team winning then his stats improving.
Toronto Wolves
Last Year Record: 74-88 (5th, .457)
Best Year Since 1964: 1968, 93-69 (2nd, .574)
Top Pitcher: RHP Johnny Maples (31, 7-14, 3.16, 156; 36-50, 52, 3.07, 488)
A team with one of the longest playoff droughts in baseball, the Wolves have gone since 1940 without a playoff birth, the year they won his 3rd World Championship Series. To get back, they'll need to make significant upgrades to their staff, which right now is a mashup of journeymen. At the top, there's at least an All-Star, as a 1970 representative Stan Terry leads the way. An up-and-down career, Terry has an adjusted league average 3.70 ERA in 1,240.2 innings pitched, but in recent seasons he's established himself as an innings eater. With 272.2 innings two years ago and 246 this year, he's got the ability soak up innings and make big starts even on short rest.
Drafted by the Sailors in the 8th Round of the 1964 draft, he was quickly traded to the Suns, where he spent 4.5 years in their system before being left unprotected in the expansion draft. That's where the Milwaukee Arrows made him the first pick of the 1968 expansion draft, and inserted him straight into the FABL staff. 22 that May, he started 9 of his 24 appearances, but it came with an elevated 5.29 ERA (70 ERA+) and 1.64 WHIP, walking (56) more hitters then he struck out (46). 1970 got him back on track, as the swingman got to the All-Star game and finished 9-16 with 4 saves, a 3.79 ERA (110 ERA+) and FIP (9 FIP-), and a 1.39 WHIP. He struck out 180 with 115 walks, lasting 223.1 innings. He never fixed that tricky command, 100 or more walks in the four things that followed, and he allowed a Conti high 116 free passes. That includes the 1972 season where he was picked up for a trio of prospects, as Toronto looked to add to their bare bones rotation. He excelled, working to a 2.45 ERA (138 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts in 13 starts down the stretch. He struggled in '73 and rebounded in '74, and most importantly he provides stability on a staff without much nailed down.
Top Hitter: 1B John Baab (27, .313, 9, 47, 1; .277, 22, 121, 3)
The offense isn't much better, and it took a major hit in July where John Baab's season ended early. Suffering a major concussion, his season ended after just 84 games, but it didn't stop the former 9th Overall pick from hitting .313/.420/.488 (153 OPS+) with career bests in 9 homers, 47 RBIs, and a 2.7 WAR, maintaining an impressive 47-to-14 walk-to-strikeout ratio. 28 in May, he hasn't been given the playing time he really deserves, as in each of the previous two seasons he started fewer then 65% of his appearances. At least this season he got up to 83, but for a first basemen who can hit, he's the type of guy you can plug into the lineup each day and not do much altering.
Acquired from the Suns before last season, 218 of his 323 FABL games have come with Toronto, and that time has done plenty to inflate his career line to .277/.374/.419 (128 OPS+). It spans just 1,012 plate appearances, picking up 22 homers, 121 RBIs, and 124 runs. His 133-to-63 walk-to-strikeout ratio is his best asset, but adding power to his game could make a real difference. In a full season he could have came close to 20 homers, something no one in Toronto has done since 1971. Baab is the best bet on the current team, still finishing fourth on the team and four off the lead. If he can shake off the ill effects of his post-concussion syndrome, I'd set his season minimum to 15 homers, as the lefty slugger starts to enter the prime of his career.
Top Prospect: C Pat Duffy (10th Overall) Overall)
Rounding out the top-10 on FABL's prospect list is the 21-year-old backstop Pat Duffy, who the Wolves took with the first pick of the 1974 draft. One of the many holes they have to fill on the big league club, Duffy is one of two top 50 catching prospects they have, making him or 34th ranked prospect Elam Kellerman eventually expendable. A star at the little known Cookeville State, he has the advantage in both current ability and upside, as Duffy quickly passed Kellerman, even spending 19 games at AA in his draft year. It didn't go good, he hit just .222/.300/.319 (60 OPS+), but he had a 135 and 164 WRC+ in rookie and A ball. A dream-type prospect, he's got a great eye, makes great contact, and projects to above average power, putting him on the shortlist for best young players. Defense may not be one of those strengths, so both top catching prospects could co-exist, but it doesn't look like a weakness yet either. The bat is the key, however, and if he can keep hitting he may find himself in Toronto before the year ends.
Active Legend: LF Sid Cullen (38, .247, 12, 39, 1; .285, 322, 1,111, 70)
There are a ton of eligible players for this spot, but in the end the best choice is the guy who once one a Whitney. Taken 3rd by the Wolves way back in 1955, Sid Cullen was not only the 1966 Whiney winner, but also the 1959 Kellogg winner, a 5-Time All-Sar, and a 6-Time Diamond Defense winner. A lifetime Wolf, the 16-year veteran has only been a below average hitter twice -- once in his 23 game debut season and a second time at 27 in 1964 -- but in both cases his WRC+ were above 95. His highs are much higher then his lows, evidenced by the Kellogg and Whitney, and on ten occasions he has a WRC+ above 135. That includes his Conti high 159 in his Whitney season, as he hit an outstanding .316/.391/.549 (166 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 36 homers, 114 RBIs, 98 walks, and a 8.9 WAR. Along with WRC+, he led in homers, slugging, OPS (.940), and WAR, accounting for all his association leads excluding a 107 RBI 1965.
A career .285/.360/.478 (135 OPS+) hitter, his 1,940 career games are third most in Wolves history, and he's just 20 away from tying Tom Reed for 2nd. He ranks top-5 in team history in slugging (4th), WAR (3rd, 73.4), hits (2nd, 2,012), and walks (2nd, 831), and his 1,093 runs, 1,111 RBIs, and 322 homers are most by anyone to put on Toronto gear. His 38 homers in 1970 are most by any Wolf, and he also has the 2nd most (36, 1966), and 5th most (33, 1965). Now 38, his legs don't hold up enough to play everyday, but he got into 117 games and made 346 plate appearances. His .247/.336/.414 (109 OPS+) line is still strong, and after just 9 homers in 1973 he was back to double digits for the 14th time. Still a feared slugger even if his days of great center field defense are over, he can help the Wolves win games, and should continue to be a fan favorite as long as he decides to keep going.
Star Out of Place: RF Edwin Viramontes (31, .244, 2, 14; .268, 13, 81)
A team with a lot of old veterans, most of them were homegrown or longtime Wolves, as Toronto has not been a home for stars of other organizations who are looking for a change of scenery or a chance to stay relevant towards the twilight of their career. Instead, they've been loyal to the guys who have given them decades like Cullen, Chick Reed (38, .266, 7, 34; .278, 114, 413, 8), Jesse Taylor (38, .228, 1, 21, 3; .231, 163, 735, 143), Phil Story (.240, 4, 32, 10; .241, 168, 844, 134), and Dick Rabkin (35, .171, 4, 11; .250, 67, 454, 32). What they have done, however, is chased former top prospects, bringing in Edwin Viramontes before the '74 season and giving him a chance to fill their bench. A former 1st Rounder of the Cannons, Viramontes once ranked as the 2nd best prospect in baseball, and was seen as a lock for stardom.
Things haven't gone as planned, as at 31 he's with his third organization, and the 6'4'' slugger has clubbed just 13 FABL homers since his 1967 debut. That came with the Cannons, as did his second season, but the Ohio native hit just .262/.315/.378 (114 OPS+) and was shipped to the Kings for the pair of prospects. They used him for parts of the next five seasons, but he never came close to the 304 PAs he had as a member of the 1968 Cannons. That's still the case now, but both the 156 PAs and 85 appearances he had this year surpassed each season in Seattle. The .244/.340/.336 (89 OPS+) line it came with wasn't great, but the 104 WRC+ was a little above average, and Viramontes will be one of the many outfielders in camp looking to take one of the wide open spots. He can't really play center and former 1st Rounder Jackie Daniels (28, .265, 12, 83; .270, 52, 314, 2) seems to have left secured, but right is ripe for the taking. Guys like Reed and Cullen will be considered, but plenty of former top prospects have found new life after 30, and when you flashed as much potential as he did, you'll always have another chance to prove that you still can.