Atlanta Copperheads
Last Year Record: 102-60 (1st, .630)
Best Year Since 1964: 1972, 110-52 (1st, .679): Won World Championship Series!
Top Pitcher: LHP Howie Burt (19-4, 1, 2.67, 127; 44-9, 2, 2.66, 268)
I'll never get used to calling the Pittsburgh Miners the Atlanta Copperheads, and after their old owner sold them to one that would move them just over a year after breaking their historic drought, I'll always be rooting against the franchise even if they do have a cool name. Lucky for them and what few fans they have in Atlanta, my dislike has nothing to do with the team's actual talent, as year one in Georgia saw them finish with the most wins in FABL and a second pennant in three seasons.
102 wins was actually a drop-off from the last two seasons, and their second lowest total in five years, as the Copperheads are in the middle of a true dynasty. Since 1966 they've won 96 or more games 7 times, including five 100+ win seasons, and a lot of it is thanks to the pitching. He's only been a factor in each of the last two seasons, but the 1973 Allen winner Howie Burt is just one of the many ace-quality arms the Miners/Copperheads have sent to the mound. Their 5th Rounder in 1965, he debuted at 22 in 1970, getting a few innings out of the pen in each of his first three seasons. The results were mixed, he walked a ton of guys and struck out even more, but in their last season in Pittsburgh Burt gave a performance that even disgruntled Miners fans will remember fondly.
Earning two thirds of the Triple Crown, the unexpected Allen winner went 22-5 with a 2.56 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP, and 128 strikeouts. The strikeouts were the non-leader, he wasn't really close, though his 102 walks in 253 innings were one of the highest Fed totals. Still considered a rookie, he also took home the Kellogg, as Burt entered the season with under 25 FABL innings. The command didn't hurt him at all, even if his 3.59 FIP (90 FIP-) was more good then elite, as despite wildness the southpaw nearly never allows a home run. It was just 9 last year, leading to a minuscule 0.3 HR/9, and that's all despite allowing a large number of flyballs.
Even in a new, more homer friendly stadium, the now 27-year-old allowed just 15 homers in 246 innings, less then three Copperheads hit, as he suffered no sophomore slump. An All-Star again, Burt was 19-4 with a 2.67 ERA (138 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts, but most impressive was just 77 walks. This led to a drop in BB% of over two percentage points (9.6 to 7.5), going from a concern to a non-issue. No Allen for him this year, but the star enters the year as the 7th ranked starting pitcher. As impossible as it might sound, he also has a chance for his 50th career win before his 10th career loss, as a 6-0 start could make it possible. A remarkable 44-9, his first two FABL seasons rank 1st (.826, 1974) and 3rd (.815, 1973) among Miner/Copperhead pitchers, and his career .830 win percentage is over 100 points higher then 4-Time Allen Winner Marco Middleton (31, 19-11, 4.09, 163; 194-132, 2, 3.16, 2,12). Unlikely to maintain this level of dominance, there's not a single qualified FABL pitcher (1,000 innings) with a win percentage above .690, but even losing his next 10 decisions would keep him above that. At 524.2 innings, he's more then halfway to qualifying, and with his recent innings total he should do so by the end of 1976. A lethal six pitch pitcher, he perfectly fits the effectively wild moniker, but has really taken things to another level. Atlanta is good enough where there's no pressure on him to be a historic pitcher, as they hit well, pitch well, and field well, allowing the well-respected lefty to really shine.
Top Hitter: 2B Al Hubbard (26, .341, 12, 73, 28; .299, 65, 427, 114)
As great as the pitching is, the bats are even better, as they have a trio of elite 26-year-olds and the top ranked catcher, second basemen, and center fielder (who's actually 27), the #2 right fielder (the final 26-year-old), and two more guys ranked in the top-5. All three of the 26-year-olds rank in the top-10, with Jack Blair (.313, 20, 105, 36; .327, 45, 219, 64) at 7, Howard Smith (.312, 20, 106; .276, 47, 292) at two, and 1973 Whitney winner Al Hubbard (.341, 12, 73, 28; .299, 65, 427, 114) taking the top spot.
Simply one of the best the game has seen, a trio of injuries prevented the 7-year vet from repeating as the Whitney winner, as his .341/.433/.502 (166 OPS+) batting line led all three triple slash categories. It came in just 119 games, and his 533 PAs were below 700 for the first time since 1970, and had he not missed the postseason there's a really good chance Atlanta would have won a WCS in their first season out of Pittsburgh. A 4-Time Diamond Defense winner who's shockingly just a twice picked All-Star, Hubbard has been an absolute force in the Miner/Copperhead lineup, though it wasn't always the case. Picked up in what actually could be a major win-win trade, Montreal sent the former 3rd pick to the Miners in the seven player Dixie Turner (32, .225, 21, 74, 25; .304, 419, 1,428, 100). A surprise at the time, Dixie was FABL's best player and coming off back-to-back-to-back Whitney awards in the middle of his prime, and Hubbard was just one of the high upside prospects that they had to part with to acquire the eventual first ballot Hall-of-Famer.
Making matters worse, the Miners installed the 19-year-old Hubbard directly into their FABL lineup, and he hit a pitcher-esque .134/.189/.163 (10 OPS+) line in 187 PAs. That led to a .352 OPS -- just 11 points higher then his batting average this season -- and Miners fans had to be cursing their front office for replacing the franchise icon with a certified bum.
Cooler heads eventually prevailed, but the young Hubbard was uninspiring in each of the next two seasons. He dealt with injury and just average offense, putting up a WRC+ of 98 and 109 in 90ish game samples, but the Hubbard we now know was finally unleashed in 1971. Appearing in 159 of the Miners 162 games, the young second basemen led the Fed with 8.2 WAR, hitting an excellent .286/.405/.417 (138 OPS+) as Dixie won his six Whitney. It shouldn't take anything away from Hubbard's season, especially since the Miners and Saints don't play in the regular season, as Hubbard pitched in 25 doubles, 11 triples, 10 homers, 16 steals, 56 RBIs, 190 runs, and 113 walks. On the cusp of stardom, he also picked up his first of four straight Diamond Defense awards, and at least gave Miners fans some hope that they'd get a title one day like Dixie brought the Saints in 1970.
The wish was quickly granted, as led by their first time All-Star, Hubbard and the Miners won a franchise best 110 games, watching their new star put together an absurd 11.6 WAR season. Leading in WAR, walks (114), and steals (27), he hit to the tune of .325/.435/.460 (167 OPS+) with 35 doubles, 14 homers, 97 RBIs, and 118 runs. His average and OBP were best in the Fed, and he hit an outstanding .333/.438/.556 (195 OPS+) in the postseason. This included sweeps of both the Pioneers and Saints, as Hubbard was the one who got to stop Turner and the Saints from (temporarily) winning a second championship. Now feeling vindicated for their big trade, even if Dixie was still winning Whitneys, they had a legit star with more pieces around him then Dixie had, and the contention window spans longer.
They didn't meet in the postseason, so Turner and his Saints were able to claim the '73 title, but both talented second basemen took their association's Whitney that season. Leading the Fed in runs (130), triples (18), OBP (.422), OPS (.980), WRC+ (167), wOBA (.421), and WAR (11.0), Hubbard hit an astronomical .332/.422/.558 (172 OPS+) with 33 doubles, 22 homers, and 109 RBIs. He didn't reach 100 walks, but his 94-to-38 walk-to-strikeout ratio was an early career best, and he came a hit away from his first 200-hit season. Already among the best Miners, the individual seasons were arguably better then Dixie had, as Hubbard is the only Miner to have two of the top five WAR seasons. The 11.6 in '72 is 2nd and his total in his Whitney year is 5th, and at just 26 there's plenty more opportunities for him to push that accolade filled season out of the top-5. In fact, he had 8 WAR through 119 games this year, which at an 150-game pace would have been his third consecutive in double digits. It's a struggle to come up with the right words to truly explain how gifted he is, as watching him play is far more efficient. Very few can hit the ball, field the ball, or steal a base like him, let alone all three, and as long as he's a Copperhead, Atlanta will be annoyingly relevant.
Top Prospect: RHP Cliff Vogan (54th Overall)
Thankfully the Copperheads farm is barren, as if a team with all that top level talent also had a top level farm, the league would be in major trouble. Instead, they lack a top-50 prospect, and have missed on all their recent first rounders. Leading their prospect list is their 1974 3rd Rounder Cliff Vogan, though the now 19-year-old righty suffered a shoulder injury late July and was held to just 5 starts in his pro debut. They went reasonably well, 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA (107 ERA+), 1.64 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 28 rookie ball innings, as he showcased his solid four pitch mix. The best is his splitter, but stuff is not his calling card, instead relying more on his command. He'll never throw very hard, stuck now in the 83-85 range, despite his 6'4'' frame, which severely limits the upside of his cutter and sinker. That doesn't stop OSA from projecting him to top a rotation, but it does lead to him being excluded from them top-50. Unexpected to maintain high strikeout rates, his movement and control are the keys, forcing him to rely on the quality of the players behind him. In Atlanta, that shouldn't be a problem, but he's one of their only real trade assets and they have not shied away from making a big trade. Lucky for Vogan, there's no real need for the reigning division leaders, and he should be able to earn a rotation spot in his early 20s.
Active Legend: 1B John Moreland (38, .314, 10, 56, 7; .285, 127, 989, 88)
It may feel like John Moreland's played his entire FABL career with the Miners/Copperheads, appearing in over 1,900 games with the franchise, but it's easy to forget he not only was drafted by the Chiefs, but debuted with them. A 3rd Rounder way back in 1954, he was even traded by them to the Eagles in February of 1958, but eight months later they brought him back. Added to the 40, he debuted that September, going 2-for-13 in a start and seven mid-game entries. Before the 1960 season, he was again involved in a Chiefs trade, but this time it was for good.
Joining Pittsburgh with a pair of prospects, the 100th ranked prospect was the headliner for long-time second basemen Irv Clifford, a 6-Time All-Star who hit .303/.381/.410 (114 OPS+) in 12 seasons as a Miner. Moreland quickly replaced him in the middle infield, though on the other side of second, hitting his way into the starting shortstop role. In 102 games he hit a solid .289/.342/.445 (111 OPS+) and quickly softened the blow of trading one of their fan favorites. More powerful then Clifford, he contributed 26 doubles, 6 triples, and 8 homers, adding 64 runs, 50 RBIs, and more walks (32) then strikeouts (23). Firmly establishing himself as a big league regular, he started 130 or more games in each of the next 5 seasons, and in all but one year his OPS+ and WRC+ were above 100.
He did play a lot of short, even if he wasn't the greatest defender, as it was his primary position in each season until 1974. In fact, he didn't play an inning anywhere other then short before 1973, when it was clear that there wasn't much left he could do at short. Now 38, the veteran has appeared in 100 or more games in all but three of his seasons as a Miner, as well as his lone season as a Copperhead, with 1964 season the only one he was not an above average hitter. That includes a surprisingly strong .314/.372/.452 (133 OPS+) this season, and through 7,880 FABL plate appearances he owns a .285/.337/.413 (112 OPS+) career line. One of the more accomplished Miners, he ranks 3rd in franchise history for games played (1,921), and if he surpasses the 100 mark again in 1975 he'll pass Joe Owens (2,004) for most in team history. He's top-10 in at bats (3rd, 5,099), runs (4th, 954), hits (4th, 2,024), doubles (2nd, 357), homers (8th, 127), and RBIs (3rd, 987), passed or closing in on many of Clifford's career marks. It's a surprise he was never an All-Star, especially considering he led the Fed in hits (201) and doubles (43) in 1961, as well as triples (13) in 1970, but he certainly had All-Star talent, and was one of the few watchable aspects of the rebuilding squads in the early 70s. Even on a team as deep as the Copperheads, he's expected to remain in the starting lineup, listed as 9th best first basemen today. If he keeps hitting he'll keep playing, as his experience and veteran presence have been key in the franchise's recent success.
Star Out of Place: RHP Marco Middleton (31, 19-11, 4.09, 163; 194-132, 2, 3.16, 2,312)
Sure, he won the 1972 Allen for the Miners, but Marco Middleton will always be remembered for his time in Cincinnati, where he won the first three and wasn't sitting in the 4th spot with an ERA above 4. Okay at least not since he was 20-year-old and still a swingman (1963, 9-6, 1, 4.56, 105). He's always going to be out of place in Atlanta unless he has 7 more seasons with 33 or more starts and a FIP- of 75 or below.
That's exactly what he did from 1965 to 1970, and up until his deadline trade to Pittsburgh in 1971, it's the type of dominance you just assumed from Middleton. Now a 7-Time All-Star, the former 2nd Rounder and Top-10 prospect debuted in 1962 at just 19, and come 1964 he was a full-time starter. A denizen of durability, he hasn't started fewer then 33 games since 1963, responsible for 400 FABL starts and 3,167.2 innings pitched. Arguably the best pitcher of the late 60s, Middleton was a strikeout machine, leading the Conti in strikeouts every year from 1964 to 1969. The middle four years also saw him lead in innings, while he had the most wins twice (19, 1964; 20, 1966), the lowest FIP- three times (1966, 70; 1968, 64; 1969, 65), and the most WAR each time (6.1, 7.4, 8.2, 7.7, 9.5, 9.6). If that's still not enough for you, there's the three Allens ('64, '66, '69), a season high ERA of 3.23 in 1967, and no more then 70 walks and a 6.2 BB%. That's a lot of words and numbers to say he was the elite of elite pitchers.
Ironically, one of the few times he wasn't elite was after his 1971 trade, as the still dominant Middleton did not want to leave Cincinnati. In another great season, he had a 2.63 ERA (135 ERA+) and 2.39 FIP (67 FIP-), going 11-6 with 124 strikeouts and 37 walks in his 22 starts. Completely caught off guard by the trade, he also felt the franchise was disrespecting all he did for them, highlighted by the fact he was used to bring in the "nepo baby" Ace Barrell. Deuce Barrell is probably the only Cincinnati pitcher better then Middleton, so being replaced by his son definitely ruffled his feathers. He didn't want to take it out on his new club, but his 13 starts saw him post his first below average ERA (3.69, 98 ERA+) since he became a fulltime starter. Of course, it doesn't erase the outstanding performance he had in Cincy, so his 3.03 combined ERA was still 24% better. He was hit by the longball, 9 in 105 innings, but he maintained the strong walk (19, 4.3) and strikeout numbers (65, 14.9) that made him such a dominant hurler.
After a long-offseason in his new home, the veteran was now motivated, not angry, and his teammates point to him as the reason Pittsburgh finally won their elusive first title. An outstanding 24-7, Middleton worked to a 2.80 ERA (122 ERA+), 2.61 FIP (76 FIP-), and 1.08 WHIP, striking out 218 with just 53 walks in a Conti high 295.2 innings. The wins and strikeouts were also bests, as was his 7.7 WAR and 4.1 K/BB, as the resurgent ace became just the second FABL pitcher to win an Allen in both associations. He followed it up with more dominance in '73, 19-6 with a 3.00 ERA (131 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, and 165 strikeouts, but his FIP jumped to 3.84 (96 FIP-) and he saw his BB% rise above 6.5 (7.0) for the first time since 1963. A potential fall-off, he was just average this year, 19-11 with a 4.09 ERA (90 ERA+), 1.35 WHIP, and 163 strikeouts. The BB% was back below 6.5 (6.4), though it was still his highest aside from '73 since '63.
His 3.28 FIP (87 FIP-) is still encouraging, even if it's not his usual sub-75, and it's far too early to begin panicking about the veteran righty. The velo drop is a little concerning, so his 200+ strikeout days might be behind him, but it's hard to imagine that he's not going to continue to be a feared pitcher who ends his career with well over 200 wins and 2,500 strikeouts. I'd go as far as at least 250 and 3,000, as he's done an excellent job taking care of his arm, and should have plenty of quality years still ahead of him. At print, he's got 194 wins and 2,312 strikeouts, worth 80.6 WAR in his 3,167.2 innings pitched, and even if he retired today an induction into the Hall would be likely. At his best few were better, and there's still plenty of teams that would love to insert him in one of the top two spots of their rotation.
Baltimore Clippers
Last Year Record: 79-83 (4th, .588)
Best Year Since 1964: 1973, 81-81 (3rd, .500)
Top Pitcher: RHP Jose Martinez (30, 13-12, 3.11, 120; 49-34, 11, 3.11, 369)
One of the new expansion teams, pretty much all the pitching Baltimore has acquired so far came from another organization, and each of their projected top four starters joined the organization since the 1973 offseason. The best of the bunch is the one who hasn't played for the Clippers yet, as Baltimore added 1972 All-Star and 2-Time World Champ Jose Martinez from the Montreal Saints. Once their 11th Round pick, Martinez fought his way up the Saints organization, pitching his way into their pen for the 1969 season. Appearing in 46 games and throwing 68.1 innings, he was hit hard, so most of the next two seasons he spent in the minors. In 1972, the then 28-year-old was back to a full-time role, and he put together an outstanding season as a high-leverage arm. Leading the Conti with 20 holds, he threw 112.2 innings in 72 games, 9-5 with 4 saves, a 2.64 ERA (133 ERA+), and 2.81 FIP (79 FIP-). His 1.26 WHIP was pretty solid too, as he walked 45 and struck out 67.
Martinez big break came in 1973, when he earned a rotation spot and helped lead the Saints to their second title in four seasons. Making 32 starts, he was an impressive 17-6, working to a sterling 2.99 ERA (127 ERA+), 2.86 FIP (75 FIP-), and 1.16 WHIP. This time it came with 128 strikeouts and 56 walks, and his FIP and FIP- were both best in the Association. His newfound success can be attributed to keeping the ball in the park, allowing just 8 homers in 217 innings. Back in the rotation for the '74 season, his 13-12 record wasn't as great, but the 3.11 ERA (121 ERA+), 2.85 FIP (75 FIP-),and 1.13 WHIP were all outstanding. Again, homers were down, just 6 this time in 231.2 innings, and it came with similar walk (54) and strikeout (120) numbers.
Despite all this, Montreal was willing to part with him, as they have a rotation full of quality starters and Martinez is among the oldest and least established. Baltimore's gain, they sent two pitching prospects, neither of who are all that highly ranked, to make a major upgrade to their thin staff. 31 in May, his 3.11 (120 ERA+) career ERA marks his amount from this year, while his 3.05 FIP (81 FIP-) is even lower. In 654.2 FABL innings he's walked 176 with 369 strikeouts, charged with just 31 home runs since his debut. 12 of them came in his rookie season, as in his last nearly 500 innings he has just 19. Coming off two really dominant seasons, he could completely reshape a staff that has saw their young ace turn into a pumpkin, and plenty of turnover, and is in need of a stable presence up top.
Top Hitter: LF Hank Butler (25, .325, 6, 67, 13; .325, 8, 75, 13)
Baltimore has not hit on many of their pitchers, but the franchise entering their seventh year has a pretty nice collection of young bats. There were a few options here, 1973 All-Star catcher Hank Wallace (26, .272, 8, 72; .295, 23, 215, 4), 1974 All-Star third basemen Hal Blank (27, .331, 5, 73, 1; .314, 18, 148, 1), or the recently named Kellogg winner Hank Butler. I'll go with the Kellogg winner Butler, the only one of the trio not a part of the Clippers 1969 draft class, who is yet another quality piece they've brought over in trade since the end of last season.
Picked up from the Cannons, who once played in Baltimore, Butler was first with the Eagles organization, taken 2nd in the 1967 draft. He lasted just half a year there, traded to the Cannons for 2-Time All-Star Bonnie Chapin. A back-end top-100 prospect, he debuted in 1972, getting 10 and 6 games in September callups. No room in the Cannons outfield, he was the headliner in a four player trade that brought him the starting role he was looking for. Spending about 60% of his time in left and 40% in center, Butler provided the Clippers with excellent defense, worth a tick below 6 WAR in his impressive Kellogg campaign. The Tennessee native slashed .325/.371/.420 (123 OPS+), appearing in all but four of the Clippers games this season. Butler added 33 doubles, 5 triples, 6 homers, 67 RBIs, 97 runs, and 13 steals, a quality all-around season for the young lefty. Power isn't really his game, so center field may end up his best position, but he hits line drives to all fields and should be able to hit well above .300 like he did this year. A potential 30/20 hitter with doubles and steals, his speed is a key part of his offensive and defensive value, and he's a very capable FABL starter with room to grow into an excellent regular.
Top Prospect: LHP Dave Bates (20th Overall)
Very few teams have a top prospect who is both talented and close to the big leagues, but that's the easiest way to describe Dave Bates. Taken 5th by the Clippers in the 1973 draft, the 23-year-old impressed in all three levels, improving each step along the way. On the surface, he was best at AAA, going 8-4 with a 3.42 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.50 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts. Easily the toughest competition he faced he didn't let that deter him, adept at keeping runs off the board. Still needing to master his command, the southpaws stuff speaks for itself, but what could allow him to lead a rotation is his potential control. Equipped with a knuckleball, Bates might be the most interesting pitching prospect out there, as his ability to fool batters has amazed all those who see him. Early on in the game he makes mistakes, but when guys get to him he'll change things up later in game. Obvious the knuckle is tough to hit, but what could set him apart are the breaking pitches. He has a hard slider and a special splitter that moves much differently then his go-to pitch, each able to freeze or get a chase. A good defense can allow him to compete for an Allen as there will be lots of foul balls and few that clear the fence. Even with all the acquisitions there are plenty of rotation spots up for grabs, and I imagine consideration will be made for a rotation role this spring.
Active Legend: SS Jack Goodman (32, .245, 4, 38, 11; .215, 45, 263, 77)
Offense has never been a strong suit for the Clippers, but they definitely have a shortstop who can absolutely pick it. A former top-10 prospect the Wolves drafted 7th in 1963, he never came close to his lofty offensive potential, but the glove was as good as advertised. First a Rule-5 pick and later an expansion pick, Goodman has played in all six of the Clippers seasons, starting 889 games at at shortstop in his eight year career. A three time Diamond Defense winner, some of the awards have came with awful offensive production, including his .194/.242/.271 (39 OPS+) batting line in 1970. His .215/.261/.298 (60 OPS+) career line isn't much better, but he is coming off the best offensive season of his career. It was just 103 games as two injuries forced him out, but "Jack Rabbit" hit .245/.308/.329 (80 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 4 homers, 38 RBIs, 41 runs, and 11 steals.
Yes, that's not a very encouraging best offensive season, but when paired with his patented defense he was worth 2.7 WAR. This matched his previous best in 1971, but that was in 40 more games. It helps that he had his best defensive season too, a 15.8 zone rating and 1.080 efficiency. He's produced an 80.3 zone rating so far, including at least 14 in four of his last five seasons. Likely set for another season in the 8-hole, he opens the year as the 12th ranked shortstop, an an intriguing trade candidate if he can hit like he did last year. Of course, they could instead add some bigger bats ahead of him, knowing his presence can help make up for defensive shortcomings elsewhere. The franchise game leader with 791 and the only guy above 610, he could be the first to reach 1,000, an achievable goal if he spends the next two seasons in Baltimore.
Star Out of Place: RHP Larry Warren (26, 9-9, 12, 4.23, 72; 68-69, 19, 3.37, 820)
It feels weird using this to describe someone who turns 27 in April, but former first overall pick Larry Warren has pretty much speed-ran a career as a FABL pitcher. This franchises first ever pick, he skipped the minors, making 22 starts as a 21-year-old. He was excellent, working to a 2.99 ERA (131 ERA+) and 1.30 WHIP in 156.2 innings pitched. Worth an even three wins above replacement, he walked 85 and struck out 107, and pitched much better then the 6-8 record showed. You don't win many games when you pitch for a new team, but he did everything he could to will some bad Clippers teams to victories.
An All-Star in each of the next three seasons, he led the Fed with 35 starts in 1970, an unlucky 12-16 despite a 3.66 ERA (123 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP. He struck out a career high 211 hitters and walked a career high 122 more, starting a run of three consecutive 5-WAR (5.4) seasons. 1971 was his best year, holding an impressive 2.65 ERA (141 ERA+) and 1.13 WHIP with 164 strikeouts in 261.1 innings. He was again himself in '72 and to start '73, but the Clippers made a surprising move to the bullpen. He started 20 of 45 appearances, setting career worsts in ERA (3.82, 106), FIP (3.87, 95), K% (11.1), WAR (2.1), and groundball rate (0.53). The downward trends continued when his pen role became almost full-time, just 5 starts in 77 appearances.
He did still manage 142.2 innings, but with 4.23 ERA (88 ERA+) and 1.48 WHIP were not what Clipper fans grew accustomed to seeing. An even 9-9 with 12 saves, 58 walks, and 72 strikeouts, he may not have taken well to the role adjustment. Without strikeouts his game is much less effective, which is strange considering moves to the bullpen usually lead to more. Still easily the most gifted pitcher the franchise has had in their young tenures, he's the franchise leader in ERA (3.37), wins (68), WAR (22.6), games (251), starts (154), complete games (19), shutouts (5), innings (1,231), strikeouts (820), and WHIP (1.27). It's not like he's had many competitors, but at this point the best thing for his career might be a change in scenery.
Boston Minutemen
Last Year Record: 83-79 (3rd, .512)
Best Year Since 1964: 1964, 85-77 (3rd, .525)
Top Pitcher: RHP Bob Scott (31, 10-8, 1, 3.15, 96; 82-85, 21, 3.72, 1,080)
Acquired as a minor league free agent in June, Bob Scott now leads the Minutemen rotation, and his return to the rotation was a good one. Originally a 2nd Round Pick of Boston's back in 1961, he debuted as the #4 prospect, and pitched his first six and a half seasons in Boston. Now set for year 12, he's also pitched with the Kings, Arrows, and Foresters before finding way his back. Most of it has been as a starter, starting 227 of his 352 appearances, and both his 82-85 record and 3.72 ERA (98 ERA+) are a little below average, but in 18 starts for the Minutemen he looked really good. He pitched to a 3.12 ERA (120 ERA+), 3.15 FIP (83 FIP-), and 1.28 WHIP, striking out 84 and walking 44.
Scott looked like this back in 1966 (10-8, 3.16, 119) and 1967 (9-10, 2.81, 127), so it's a little unfortunate he hasn't had more seasons like this. Twice traded by the Minutemen, I wouldn't expect a third anytime soon, as despite his status as a back-end starter he's really the best they have. The pen is much better, with a game changing stopper in Bud Sherman (29, 12-7, 23, 3.50, 74; 42-43, 96, 4.21, 486) and Fed hold leader (17) Walt Portelli (27, 5-3, 8, 3.36, 55), so many of the leads he hands over will be well kept. They will need to upgrade around him, but a full year of what he gave him this year would be more then enough to keep them satisfied.
Top Hitter: LF Dick Ward (25, .250, 15, 60, 23; .263, 67, 232, 49)
1974 was a year to forget for Minutemen outfielder Dick Ward, as the 3-Time All-Star followed up his career year with a mere average one. In '73 Ward hit a career best .300/.400/.504 (150 OPS+) with 27 homers and 92 RBIs. That dipped to .250/.348/.364 (101 OPS+) in a career high 704 plate appearances, and aside from steals he didn't have many bests. Instead, he led the Fed with 144 strikeouts. That's nothing new, his power comes with it, but he made himself more valuable with his legs. Swiping 23 bases he made the most of his time on base, and with 91 walks he's on often enough. He's surpassed 90 runs in each of the last two seasons, and with a rebound in power he's going to return to being one of the top hitters in baseball.
Ward has hit 67 homers since his 1971 debut, as the grandson of Joe Ward got to where he is due to hard work and not who he's related to. Not selected until the 13th Round, Ward was never a highly regarded prospect, so even making to the majors was an accomplishment. Fully taking advantage of the opportunity, he's hit .263/.358/.424 (122 OPS+), walking 277 times, scoring 281 times, and driving in 232 runs. Impressive for someone who turns 26 in March, and with Willie Stephens (23, .386, 3, 46, 1) hitting in front of him he should see his production improve. A full year together may be what he needs, but even if the average doesn't come back, the homers, steals, and walks will be plenty to keep him in the middle of a FABL lineup.
Top Prospect: RHP Sal Baldassari (2nd Overall)
Boston's rotation may have issues, but they do not apply to the farm system. The top pitching prospect in all of baseball, Sal Baldassari was taken 2nd by the Minutemen this season, impressing as a high schooler and minor leaguer. "Long Tall Sally" made 15 of his 18 starts at Rookie ball, 9-3 with a 3.46 ERA (138 ERA+), 1.58 WHIP, and 130 strikeouts. The three starts in low-A were arguably better, a perfect 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA (145 ERA+), 1.06 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts. Most impressive is his ability to generate whiffs, as his mix of strike throwing ability and pitch movement keeps even the best prospects on their toes. Despite being a three pitch pitcher, his stuff is explosive, as the cutter, change, and fastball dart past bats. He sits at 90-92 now, but the 18-year-old has been working on bumping that up a few miles. It's hard to imagine him doing anything other then front a rotation, and as long as he stays healthy they could once again boast one of the best pitchers in the game.
Active Legend: LF Frank Kirouac (37, .208, 7, 34, 6; .256, 273, 870, 118)
Involved in a surprise trade for the now 8-Time All-Star Bobby Garrison (32, .296, 20, 88, 38; .301, 311, 1,206, 254), former third pick and second prospect Frank Kirouac has not quite turned out the way the Minutemen were hoping. Impacted by a litany of injuries, he never turned into the Whitney winner some expected, but he was named to four All-Star games and he picked up three Diamond Defense awards in left. A consistently above average hitter, he was best in the '64 and '65 seasons, but he led the Fed in homers in '66 (34) and '68 (32).
Unfortunately for Kirouac, recent years have not treated him well, and he hit just .208/.258/.291 (54 OPS+) in 108 games. Not expected to retain his starting role, he hit just 7 homers in 381 plate appearances, the first time he failed to hit at least ten homers since an injury shortened 1963 season. He hasn't hit 20 since 1971, something he had managed in each of the previous eight seasons, and you'd need to go back to his 15th homer and final homer of 1972 to complete his last 20. Despite the recent downturn, he owns a career .256/.340/.444 (126 OPS+) batting line, and his 273 home runs are second most in franchise history. This is all while being just 8th in games (1,688) and 7th in at-bats (6,102), as well as top-10 in runs (6th, 879), RBIs (5th, 870), and walks (4th, 780). Still impressive, he was a feared slugger and even a decent base stealer, and if it wasn't for being traded for someone like Garrison he'd only have fond memories to go along with his career.
Star Out of Place: LF Buddy Miller (44, .286, 2, 14, 4; .313, 434, 1,556, 69)
A long-time Keystone, Buddy Miller's third and final leg appears to be in Boston, as the grizzled veteran and active games (11th, 2,895) and hits (15th, 3,105) leader enters his 24th season. One of 19 players to reach the 3,000 hit plateau, he's about as obvious a Hall-of-Famer as there is. His 1951 debut was easily forgotten, and since it was an at bat too long he wasn't considered a rookie when he announced his arrival in 1953.
The year in the minors really straightened him up, as the then 23-year-old Miller hit an absurd .397/.446/.706 (216 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 16 triples, 46 homers, 130 RBIs, 133 runs, and a 10.9. An obvious Whitney winner, he led in runs, hits (250), triples, WRC+ (205), wOBA (.494), WAR, and the full triple slash, truly one of the best single seasons from any player. While not quite as impressive, he followed it up with a second Whitney, hitting .351/.408/.608 (172 OPS+) with 35 doubles, 7 triples, 36 homers, 85 RBIs,110 runs, and a 8.2 WAR. He again led the Fed with 214 hits and his .351 average earned him a second batting title. He did that again in 1958, where he again won the Whitney. This time it was accompanied by a .366/.421/.595 (171 OPS+) line. Worth a Fed high 7.2 WAR with a Fed most 215 hits, he picked up 26 doubles, 11 triples, 29 homers, 105 RBIs, and 107 runs. Always among the best in the league, he was selected to 10 All-Star Games as a Keystone, joining an elite group of players.
Guys like Zebulon Banks, Rankin Kellogg, and Bobby Barrell kept him from reaching the tops of Keystone team leads. The franchise icon still found himself close, ranked 10th in average (.323), 8th in walks (710) and OBP (.380), 5th in WAR (83.3) and doubles (374), 4th in at-bats (8,316), hits (2,686), RBIs (1,359), and runs (1,414), 3rd in games (2,220), homers (397), and slugging (.530), and 2nd in OPS (.910). Enough to see his #8 retired, he had many memorable years in right, and you'll still see plenty wear his jersey when they go to the park to watch their favorite team.
Personal success was not all Miller found in Philly, as he was a member of the 1961 and 1965 championship teams. He homered both seasons, contributing key at bats in both victories. It's a shame his time in Philly ever had to end, but he started just 27 games in the next two years combined, and a move to Montreal at least let him play more often, but at 38 a regular role was tough to find. He made 240 or more plate appearances in each of the next four seasons, but by 1972 he was in a similar spot as before. For his trouble he got a third title in 1970, but before the 1973 season he was waived and DFA'd. That's when Boston swooped in, even giving them 385 PAs last year (.239, 7, 29, 4), and he followed it with a better .286/.392/.357 (112 OPS+) in a more limited role. 45 this May, he'll enter the year with a pristine .313/.376/.504 (143 OPS+) career line, with his next game being his 2,896th. If this year truly is the end, it will be one heck of a ride, as few have had as much impact on the game as Buddy Miller.
New York Gothams
Last Year Record: 95-67 (2nd, .586)
Best Year Since 1964: 1974, 95-67 (2nd, .586)
Top Pitcher: (27, 14-6, 2.67, 130; 25-18, 3, 3.28, 130)
One of the most surprising things to happen in 1974 was that the Gothams led the Fed in starter's ERA, despite not having a very deep or good rotation. What helped them do so was the entry of two new starters at the top of the rotation, the second being Curtis "Crawdaddy" Robinson. Now 27, he started just 6 games in 1973 (though 18 in '72), before starting 31 and throwing 216 innings in 1974. A five pitch pitcher and former 2nd Rounder, he had plenty of minor league success, which led to this extended stay in the rotation, but this was the first time it translated to FABL. Finishing 14-6 with a 2.67 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, and 130 strikeouts, he found success keeping the ball in the park, allowing just 10 home runs. That's almost less then the 9 he had in 119.1 innings two years ago, as he's learned how to generate weak contact. The stuff is more solid then good, and he did walk 81 hitters this year, but he's not a wild pitcher.
Still unproven, it may be tough for the Gothams to bank on him and their other new full-time starter Joe Nelson (26, 14-9, 2.99, 135; 18-12, 3.46, 185), but it gives their rotation some stability they aren't always used to. Most years it has been rely on 3-Time Allen winner Bunny Mullins (30, 19-9, 2.79, 148; 154-108, 148), but they're now a more complete staff. Robinson won't make any friends in the clubhouse, but he's a clearly talented pitcher who they can count on for at least middle rotation results. His 3.27 FIP (86 FIP-) was still well above average, and you can expect an ERA closer to that if some of his batted ball luck goes against him. If he can keep the walks in control and the ball in the park, he'll do a great job preventing runs, and with an offense like New York's you don't have to throw 4-hit shutouts every time out. Keep your team close and in the game, and you'll end up with plenty more big seasons.
Top Hitter: SS Sam Hamilton (29, .334, 9, 83, 27; .295, 28, 289, 62)
I'm not sure what clicked for Sam Hamilton after being traded from the Dynamos, but their loss is certainly the Gothams gain. Initially a 7th Round pick of Detroit, he did do well making it to the big leagues, about two years later, and by his third season he was a full-time starter. A shortstop in name more then defense, it's almost all he knows, but when you hit .274/.344/.357 (103 OPS+) you need to be at least average defensively. Instead, he had a -22.7 zone rating (.919), so his 1.2 WAR in 138 games was really bad. He was then barely over replacement in '72 (0.3), hitting just .273/.348/.344 (107 OPS+), but at least the light hitter swiped 14 bags.
In the offseason, the Dynamos decided they were ready to try a real defender at short, so they sent Hamilton to the Big Apple for a nice four prospect package. Unphased by his previous failings, the Gothams stuck him at short, but since the switch hitter batted .317/.368/.439 (124 OPS+), poor glovework was far easier to swallow. He led the Fed with 200 hits, adding 35 doubles, 9 triples, 8 homers, 49 walks, 62 RBIs, and 102 runs, and his 2.8 WAR was more then his first four seasons combined. But even that was nothing compared to his All-Star 1974 season, as Hamilton had passable defense (-8.9, .943) to pair with a 150 WRC+. In a Fed high 649 at bats he again led in hits, this time a personal best 217 to go with an outstanding .334/.389/.455 (137 OPS+) batting line. Sprinkle in 35 doubles, 8 triples, 9 homers, 83 RBIs, 101 runs, 56 walks, and 27 steals, and you have a 7.1 WAR season that again eclipsed all his previous years combined. Most impressive may be his 4.1 K%, as he struck out just 29 times in over 700 PAs. One of the key gears in a top lineup, he's next to impossible to get out easily, and his improvements on the base paths make him a great run producer. He may not hold the shortstop position many more years, but that bat will keep him near the top of any lineup, and the risk the Gothams front office took on him as paid off quickly.
Top Prospect: 2B Fred Dickerson (16th Overall)
Taken in the 2nd Round of the 1973 season, Fred Dickerson has been a consistent top-25 prospect, up to 16th in the most recent rankings. Now 23, he's getting closer and closer to New York, spending the first 187 games of his minor league career in AA. He was good this year and okay last year, leading to a .256/.383/.772 (102 OPS+) line. It comes with 27 doubles, 10 triples, 15 homers, 89 RBIs, 125 runs, 132 walks, and 38 steals, as he's a true stat-sheet stuffer who can impact the game in multiple ways. Well, at least at the plate, he's not expected to be that good of a defender, where a lot of his value comes from. Projected to excel at drawing walks, he's already great at that now, and his strong hit tool allows him to hit most pitches. He has solid opposite field power, and when you put everything together he has impact tools. A candidate for a big league role as early as this spring, he comes with limited risk, and at worse he'd be a good stopgap option with untapped potential.
Active Legend: RHP Bunny Mullins (19-9, 2.79, 148; 154-108, 2.76, 2,035
At one time Bunny Mullins was the best pitcher in baseball, and in 1974 he finally looked like it again. After a brutal 1973 season, he was back to his ace-level self, 19-9 with a 2.79 ERA (134 ERA+), 3.38 FIP (89 FIP-), and 1.15 WHIP with 74 walks and 148 strikeouts. He didn't get to return for his 9th All-Star appearance, as April was his worst month, but as for a guy as accomplished as him I'm sure he's just happy that he's back to getting guys out.
Taken with the 11th pick in the 1962 draft, he was a top prospect until he graduated in 1965, starting 35 games as a rookie in 1965. A 20-game winner, he held a 2.68 ERA (135 ERA+), 2.65 FIP (73 FIP-), and 1.11 WHIP in 265 innings pitched. Striking out 172 and walking just 62, it started an eight year run of All-Star selections, leading the Fed in innings (1967, 283; 1968, 286.1; 1969, 271.2; 1970, 271.1; 1971, 299.1), wins (1971, 21), ERA (1970, 2.85; 1971, 1.95), strikeouts (1968, 247; 1970, 257), WHIP (1969, 1.04; 1971, 0.96), K/BB (1967, 4.0; 1970, 3.9; 191, 3.5), HR/9 (1965, 0.3), FIP- (1967, 66; 1970, 71; 1971, 74), and WAR (1966, 7.3; 1967, 8.8; 1969, 8.5; 1970, 8.1; 1971).
A true kitchen-sink pitcher, Bunny commands eight separate pitches, all of which he can use to get outs. Led by his mid-90s fastball, he punished hitters with his curve and slider, but even with improved results this year he's not overpowering hitters like he used to. From '67 to '70 he maintained K% above 20, and it's dropped all the way to 13.4 in each of the last two seasons. Never one to walk batters, that will continue to work in his favor, so the quality of contact he generates may determine how effective he is. Bunny's begun to use his sinker to get outs on the ground, while most other pitches generate pop ups and fly balls.
Nothing matches up to his Allen threepeat, winning the award in '69, '70, and '71. The third was the best, 21-10 with a 1.95 ERA (191 ERA+), 0.96 WHIP, and 222 strikeouts -- two outs shy of a 300 inning season. A few strikeouts kept him from the Triple Crown, but the then 27-year-old finished with just 64 walks and an elite 2.81 FIP (74 FIP-) and 8.1 WAR. Through ten seasons, he's started all but 353 of his FABL appearances, 154-108. Always winning at least 10 games, he's only been below .500 twice, and his 2.76 ERA (134 ERA+), 2.92 FIP (78 FIP-), and 1.10 WHIP are nothing short of elite. Able to avoid injuries, he's been able to start 34 or more games in each of his 10 seasons, tallying 2,035 strikeouts and 668 walks.
Already among the greats in Gothams history, he recently passed Jim Lonardo (66.2) for 2nd in team history with 69 wins above replacement. Just 4th in starts and innings (2,757.1), he's 6th in wins, 10th in complete games (137), 3rd in shutouts (37), 3rd in strikeouts, 3rd in K/9 (6.6). What might be most impressive is his 1.10 WHIP and 3.0 K/BB are franchise bests, and his 2.76 ERA is still 7th. Only one pitcher with a better ERA has more innings then Mullins, with most over 1,000 less. At 30 has lot more time for these numbers to come down, but if he stays with the Gothams a lot of counting stats are within reach. Ed Bowman's 322 wins and 141.4 WAR will likely be untouched, but his strikeout record (2,606) is ripe for the takings. Bunny can get that before he's 35, and the iron-man righty should continue to pitch every fifth game as the Gothams look to break their unacceptably long title drought.
Star Out of Place: C Tom Brizzolara (35, .279, 2, 19, 3; .275, 93, 681, 72)
Pushed to a back-up role in the last two seasons, Tom Brizzolara spent the first 12 seasons of his FABL career as the Gothams starting catcher. Drafted by them with the 7th pick of the 1960 draft, he was up the next season, batting a nice .313/.353/.447 (115 OPS+) in 113 games. The then 21-year-old added 18 doubles, 12 homers, 57 RBIs, and 64 runs, even swiping 6 bases to earn a 3.5 WAR. It was followed up with three 4-WAR seasons with a WRC+ of 124 or better, earning All-Star selections in the 1962 and 1964 season.
He got his third and final one in 1971. Between '64 and '71 he had just one above average season, even if the rest still saw WRC+ in the 90s, but it was a re-break out for him then. In 133 games he slashed .284/.349/.419 (120 OPS+) with 33 doubles, 8 homers, 43 walks, and 59 runs and RBIs. The next season was above average again, but his production plummeted in 1973, and a return to an average bat last year may not have been enough to earn him his starting job back. Now 35, he seems considerably behind 1973 All-Star Earl Ferry (27, .249, 13, 67; .261, 45, 208), who clubbed 23 homers in '73. He did see his line drop to .249/.289/.373 (85 OPS+), a WRC+ drop from 124 to 86, which could leave a crack open for Brizzolara.
A veteran of 1,626 games, he doesn't see his name in the history books next to Gotham greats like Ed Ziehl, Walt Messer, and Red Johnson, but he's caught some great pitchers and owns a .275/.332/.388 (105 OPS+) career line. His 40.7 WAR is far more then the average catcher, and he's easily one of the best and most consistent backstops his franchise has seen. Even if there aren't many pages left in his career book, he's filled them well, and still get a warm welcome every time he walks to the plate at Gothams stadium.
Philadelphia Keystones
Last Year Record: 73-89 (6th, .451)
Best Year Since 1964: 1965, 100-62 (1st, .617): Won the World Championship Series
Top Pitcher: LHP Doc Carver (39, 11-14, 3.84, 132; 130-143, 26, 3.92, 1,737
While not the most famous former Pioneer pitcher in the Keystones rotation, Doc Carver might be the best, as the inconsistent southpaw is the shiniest of the three relics. Spending the past two seasons on two cellar dwelling teams, the 2-Time All-Star has made 68 starts for Philly, 21-31 with an adjusted league average 3.94 ERA. His 3.56 (90 FIP-) was even better, picking up 268 strikeouts and walking 153 batters. Aside from an injury during the 1972 season, he's delivered 30 or more starts of good enough pitch. His style relies on the defense, as he's not going to let anyone get on easy.
Average is about what he does best, as in 533 outings (330 starts) he owns a 3.92 ERA (98 ERA+). Evidenced by his 3.49 FIP (89 FIP-), he's usually better then the numbers suggest, but he's had to play for some really bad teams. In 2,640.1 innings he has a near exact 2.0 K/BB, striking out 1,737 hitters with just 868 walks. One of the few years he pitched for a good team, he was an All-Star led the Fed in Wins, 18-9 for the 1969 Pioneers. He had an excellent 2.86 ERA (135 ERA+) and 1.28 WHIP, striking out 167 with 84 walks in 239 innings. In the postseason he got a win and no decision, allowing 17 hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched. It's not his fault one of his former teams beat him in the WCS, and as St. Louis fell off the following year so did his stats. This could set him up as an enticing trade candidate if the Keystones remain at the bottom of the standings, giving him one last run at a title.
Top Hitter: RF Joe Landry (25, .261, 25, 78, 3; .256, 47, 154, 5)
When you're nicknamed "Joe the Pro" there are plenty of expectations placed on you, and when you're also the grandson of former St. Louis shortstop Roger Landry it's even tougher. Taken in the 2nd Round of the 1967 draft by the Miners, he was traded that offseason to the Kings. Seattle is where he debuted, earning a bench role to start the 1971 season. The then 22-year-old got in 112 games, but just 36 of those were starts. His .270/.395/.460 (152 OPS+) line was accompanied by 9 doubles, 9 homers, and 26 RBIs, but there was no regular spot for him in the Kings lineup.
Philly was able to find a spot for him, sending long-time third basemen Jesse Walker (32, .280, 29, 93, 21; .266, 236, 718, 115) to the Kings in a one-for-one deal. Walker went on to hit finish his '73 season with 38 homers, leading this year with 29 more, but at 32 he's not quite right for the Keystones competitive window. Landry is the better fit, and the 25-year-old is expected to return to the cleanup spot in 1975. In 146 games last year he hit an impressive .261/.377/.455 (134 OPS+), tacking on 25 homers, 78 RBIs, 83 runs, and 93 walks. The type of hitter you can build a lineup around, he gives it 100% every time out, taking advantage of his speed and strength. He has 20+ homer power and an excellent eye, and could quickly replace Andy Parker (34, .259, 13, 70, 1; .291, 256, 1,012, 88) has the heart of the lineup.
Top Prospect: 2B Norm Buckingham (35th Overall)
Picking in the top ten is a good way to get a franchise back on track, and with the sixth pick the Keystones were able to get Norm Buckingham. A three year starter at Charleston Tech, he skipped right to AAA and hit .227/.312/.312 (71 OPS+) in 75 games and 347 trips to the plate. The bat usually comes with more slug, but that's pretty good for someone who was still taking classes when the year began. 23 in March, he's quick and takes advantage of it, hitting 60 triples in his college career. He'll have plenty of infield hits and he should improve his stolen base percentage, and the pure speed should translate to range in the infield. The bat is better and more far along then glove, with a potential major league debut in line for this coming season. There's plenty of spots for grabs in this lineup and he'll have every chance, and with his skillset he could be a regular in almost any lineup.
Active Legend: RHP Jorge Arellano (296-224, 4.62, 106; 296-224, 3.57, 1,534)
Every win Jorge Arellano gets this season will be the new Keystone high, as the 43-year-old is six wins away from being the first Keystone pitcher to win 200 games. The previous leader Jim Whiteley had just 188, and when Arellano reaches 200 as a Keystone it would give him 302 overall. Originally a 2nd Rounder of the Gothams in 1949, he's looking to be the 19th pitcher to win 300 games, and 302 would tie him with another former Price Adams for 18th in FABL history. Despite spending his first seven and a half seasons with the Gothams, he's been the most accomplished Keystone pitcher, also leading in WAR (64.4) and strikeouts (2,114), and on the off chance he gets his 27th shutout as a Keystone he'd break the tie with Jim Whitley. Whitley's the franchise innings leader (3,551.1) and should hold that 300 or so inning lead.
Acquired in a six player trade that did not end up bringing the Gothams much, Arellano is basically responsible for the Keystones making the 1961 World Championship. The midseason trade propelled them to a pennant, as "Georgie" went 7-2 with a 2.89 ERA (150 ERA+), 1.14 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts. His postseason performance didn't help, he lost both games to the Foresters, but the guys around him picked up the slack. Usually he's the one doing heavy lifting, starting 30 or more starts in each of the next 13 seasons. That's include the most recent season, even if the overall numbers (10-15, 4.62, 106) didn't look good, but he's won double digit games and thrown at least 220 innings in what can only be called a full workload.
He was at his best in 1964, winning a Fed high 22 games in a Fed high 36 starts. His 2.80 ERA (129 ERA+), 1.03 WHIP, and 178 strikeouts were all Allen worthy, and he was robbed of what would have been a third of five All-Star selections. The next year he won another title, this time splitting his two WCS starts, again providing outstanding regular season production (17-5, 3.02, 181). Ironically his best postseason performance comes in 1971, as he won a first and second round start in the Keystones eventual 4-1 loss to the Stars.
More playoff innings would be unexpected, but the aging lefty should be able to add to his 3,193 strikeouts and 99.59 WAR. If he can get to 100 WAR he'd be just the tenth FABL to reach it, in a race with the Cougars Jim Norris (99.87). He'd need a second season to do it, but the FABL strikeout record is in reach as well. Hall-of-Famer Charlie Sis struck out 3,462 hitters from 1903 to 1921, and Arellano is less then 300 away. A record once thought unobtainable, three of the top five strikeout leaders are now active pitchers, and with a near career long streak of 100+ strikeouts he can almost see the finish line. At this point it may be left soley to his effectiveness, as he continues to defy age well into his 40s.
Star Out of Place: RHP Billy Hasson (40, 10-13, 4.64, 77, 260, 183, 2,822)
The unnamed third active pitcher in the history of FBAL strikeouts, the 2,822 punchouts Billy Hasson recorded with the Pioneers and Keystones . In yeah seven in the City of Brotherly Love, Hasson will be known more for his work in the city with the arch, as Frenchy Mack's reliable rotation mate won three Allens and went to six All Star games as a member of the Pioneers. He started 360 of his 378 appearances, 174-119 with a 3.02 ERA (128 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, and 2,064 strikeouts. Among Pioneers their former 5th Rounder ranks Top-5 in wins (4th), WAR (2nd, 68.2), starts (3rd, 369), shutouts (2nd, 25), innings (5th, 2,789.2), strikeouts (2nd), and K/9 (3rd, 6.7). Anything ranked 2nd is really just best among non Frenchy Mack pitchers, as he had the misfortune of most of his career overlapping with a generational hurler. Hasson himself was an ace, from a 9.9 WAR 1959 to his pairs of strikeout titles and 200 strikeout seasons, he was on the top of his game until the year before his trade.
Now 40, Hasson is showing signs of cracks, as he lasted just 188.1 innings and struck out 77 batters. Both were career lows excluding his 9-inning relief debut, with previous lows of 219.1 (1970) and 118 (1972). That's not to discount the rest of his performance as a Keystone, as he was an All-Star his first year, 17-10 with a 2.69 ERA (147 ERA+), 1.25 WHIP, and 139 strikeouts. Aside from ERA, he was even better the next year, and last season was his first below average year with the Keystones. Starting all 208 of his outings, he's gone 86-65 with a 3.23 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, and 758 strikeouts. From 1970 to 1972 he kept his WHIP below 1.20 and three of his six seasons have saw his ERA below three. Pushed down to the five spot in the rotation, he may be on the cusp of losing his rotation spot, so a strong start to the season will be a must for the 3-Time Champ.
Washington Eagles
Last Year Record: 78-84 (5th, .481)
Best Year Since 1964: 1970, 108-54 (1st, .667): Lost in Federal Championship Series
Top Pitcher: RHP Eddie Yandow (29, 13-13, 3.17, 148; 75-85, 42, 3.70, 827)
It's basically neck-and-neck between Eddie Yandow and Billy Kelly (13-9, 3.63, 150) for most talented member of the Eagles staff, but Kelly's in his first year with the Eagles and Eddie just picked up his first All-Star selection. A Chicago native, Yandow completed his third season with the Eagles, picked up from the Dynamos after the 1971 season. Initially taken by Detroit with the 3rd pick of the 1967 draft, debuting the follow season and spending four years with the club. Two came as a full time starter, the first and last, and that final season was easily the best. Making 35 starts, he was 16-14 with a 3.18 ERA (117 ERA+), 3.12 FIP (83 FIP-), and 1.36 WHIP. The control wasn't great, walking 102 hitters in 254.2 innings pitched, but his 159 strikeouts soften the blow a bit.
In Washington, the walks decreased, from 9.5 to 9 in his first year as an Eagle, followed by back-to-back 8.1s. Average performance in his first year led to a split role in '73, 20 starts and 16 relief outings, but his 2.61 ERA (155 ERA+) is a career best and he finished 11-6 with 4 saves. But in 1974, he was back in a full-time rotation role. Leading the Fed with 37 starts, his 13-13 record doesn't tell the full story, as Yandow performed at an All-Star level. Named to the game, he held a 3.17 ERA (118 ERA+), 3.21 FIP (85 FIP-), and 1.34 WHIP, striking out 148 with just 85 walks. The WHIP was actually his highest since the trade to the Eagles, but he produced his 3rd 5-WAR season in four years, and he's really stabilized a rotation with glaring weaknesses. A skilled groundballer, his six pitch mix is deep and effective, and the command is really starting to separate from his Dynamo days. He'll still walk guys, but it's more from trying to get guys out or to chase then not being able to hit the zone. An ace in name only, he's exactly the type of arm you want in the middle of a rotation, but he's not a guy giving you dominant shutouts and complete games. Washington is somewhat in transition, but their willingness to acquire guys like him are encouraging for the fanbase, as they hope to get back over the .500 mark in 1975.
Top Hitter: 3B Tom Lorang (33, .282, 25, 104, 18; .315, 448, 1,475, 180)
The only 30+ year old ranked among the top-10 FABL hitters, Tom Lorang is truly among the greatest to play the game of baseball. Ranked #3, he still "feels" like the best player, as the Eagles superstar has been a weapon since his teen-aged debut in 1960. Taken 2nd the year before, he spent half a season in the minors before a long-awaited debut. Ranked as the 3rd best prospect, he hit .285/.354/.455 (118 OPS+) with 33 doubles, 20 homers, 80 runs, 91 RBIs, and 66 walks in 152 games. As surprising as it might sound, his defense at third base was awful, as the now 10-Time Diamond Defense winner took a little time to get used to the hot corner position he now handles effortlessly.
His bat first surfaced in 1961, even if injuries held him to just 120 games, as his .305/.408/.523 (152 OPS+) line, worth 4.5 WAR with 27 doubles, 7 triples, 18 homers, 62 RBIs, 80 runs, and 73 walks. An improvement in pretty much everything but doubles and RBIs, he took it to the next level in 1962, capturing his first of a dozen All-Star appearances. Slashing an astronomical .386/.475/.688 (204 OPS+) in 667 plate appearances, it was won of the best seasons an Eagle has had yet, winning a batting title and leading the Fed in runs (131), hits (220), and triples (16). Surprisingly, his 11.6 WAR wasn't the best, and it came with an impressive 35 doubles, 35 homers, 125 RBIs, and 94 walks. The encore was even better, as he hit .378/.461/.650 (201 OPS+), all Fed highs to go with the matching OPS+ and WRC+, again leading in triples (17) and runs (147). Surprisingly, his 242 hits did not lead the association, but he boasted the bests in wOBA (.471) and WAR (12.4) in a Fed high 742 plate appearances. The obvious Whitney winner, his rare collision of elite offense and elite defense was too much for the rest of the league to handle, and despite no postseason success, Lorang's assault on Federal pitching has been nothing short of historic.
Selected to an All-Star game in 12 of the last 13 seasons, he won three more Whitneys, he had a threepeat from '69 to '71 despite two of the seasons seeing him play less then 150 games. That includes just 131 in 1969, but his .346/.460/.645 (214 OPS+) batting line speaks for himself. The leader in all three triple slash categories, he also led in WRC+ (192), wOBA (.453), and WAR (9.6). His counting stats weren't as high as they used to be, but it's hard to complain about 27 doubles, 7 triples, 33 homers, 98 RBIs, 103 runs, and 104 walks. In a full 158 games in 1970, most saw increases, as he led the Fed in runs (142), walks (143), and WAR (9.4), along with OBP (.471), slugging (.644), WRC+ (174), and wOBA (.443). But 1971 wasn't really Whitney worthy, especially compared to elite seasons like 1967 and 1968, but a .285/.429/.510 (171 OPS+) line is still great. It's his first OPS+ below 180 since the '67 season, and with just a 6.5 WAR he was less valuable then each year since 1961. His 127 walks were still a Fed best, but he went from 32 doubles, 42 homers, and 111 RBIs to 18, 28, and 82.
Lorang was better in each of the last three seasons, even if no Whitneys were added, putting up back-to-back-to-back 7 WAR seasons. All three seasons saw WRC+ above 140, and he led the Fed with 116 RBIs in 1973 and 115 walks in 1974. Most impressively was the durability, 159, 159, and 158 games, which was nice after three of the previous four seasons saw fewer then 145. Now a 15-year vet, greatness is expected from Lorang, who owns a beautiful .315/.418/.552 (175 OPS+) career line with 418 doubles, 101 triples, 448 homers, 1,475 RBIs, 1,602 runs, 1,488 walks, 180 steals, and a 125.4 WAR. Aside from triples and steals, they're all Eagles best, the same for his OBP, slugging, and at-bats (8,277). Also placed in average (8th), games (2nd, 2,255), and triples (t-10th), easily the best hitter in franchise history. He also has the best season for OBP (1962, .475), slugging (1962, .688), OPS (1962, 1.163), runs (1963, 147), and walks (1970, 143), and his name is all over the top-10s.
Among all FABL greats, he's 9th in OBP, 3rd in slugging, 3rd in OPS (.9705), 11th in homers, 25th in runs, 22nd in RBIs, 16th in walks, and 13th in WAR. Among active players, he leads in all three triple slash stats, and WAR, all despite being just 33. The only real guys ahead of him are Harry Swain, Buddy Miller, and Hank Williams, all well into their 40s, and all easily in reach. He's still an elite fielder, elite at bat worker, and elite slugger, and it will be a long time before he's not ranked among one of the best in the game. His talent is phenomenal and some of the things he's' able to do really make you scratch your head, as it feels like no one player should have all that talent. But he does. And the Eagles need to give him more support as a hitter as gifted as him should end up with more just just three postseason games.
Top Prospect: RHP Bobby Hughes (13th Overall)
In a trade that can only really be described as lopsided, the Eagles sent a guy they demoted to the minors in Buck Guthrie (9-6, 3.65, 79; 16-17, 2, 4.19, 148) for a top-25 prospect in Bobby Hughes. Now up to 13th, the recently turned 20-year-old could soon be the ace this rotation so desperately needs. A four pitch pitcher, his stuff is still extremely raw, but even when he's at his peak he'll rely more on command then whiffs. The overall arsenal is still great, and the change/sinker combo is already nice, but the high 80s fastball needs work. Same goes with the change, but you can't expect too much from a guy who was taken in the 3rd Round a year and a half ago. Starting the year in low-A he got all the way to AAA, where he threw 36 innings across 7 starts. There was plenty of room for improvement, walking 19 with just 4 strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA (84 ERA+), but he still pitched well enough to keep his team in the game. The numbers were far better in high-A, as he struck out 54 with 34 walk in 75.1 innings, and against lower competition he should find a lot more success.
Active Legend: SS Al Marino (36, .226, 12, 58, 9; .254, 270, 1,242, 110)
Tom Lorang would obviously work, as would 213-game winner Jim Stewart or the talented backstop Howdy Oakes (who I did manage to work into this), but Al Marino has been an anchor at short. The slick-fielder enters his 17th season, all but one seeing at least 100 games and just two more below 135. Nearly all of his 2,263 games came at shortstop, and while his range isn't what it to used to be, he's expected to return there for the 1975 season.
The 3-Time Diamond Defense winner started his career in St. Louis, as the Pioneers took him in the 4th Round of the 1956 draft. They made the mistake of sending him and a pitcher to the Eagles two years later, acquiring a guy who debuted in his 30s and career ended up lasting just 103 games. Marino, meanwhile, will play at 37, with 5 All Star selections under his belt. Debuting at 21 in 1959, he initially spent time between third and short, hitting .305/.371/.417 (113 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 44 RBIs, 44 runs, and 42 walks in 449 trips to the plate. Even though his sophomore season was almost entirely at short, he did split time again in 1961 and 1962, but from '63 on he's been almost a guarantee to start an Eagles game at short.
Always a productive hitter, his first All-Star trip came in 1965, where the 27-year-old hit .247/.321/.437 (122 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 13 triples, 19 homers, 88 RBIs, 71 runs, and 63 walks. Worth an outstanding 7 wins above replacement and in appearing in all 162 of the Eagles games that season, he showcased a rare display of power, defense, and discipline, succeeding despite being one of the easier batters to strike out. His 19.7 K% that year was middle-high, as he had three later seasons above 20 and a lot of years in the 18s, which was one of the few weaknesses in his game. It led to lower averages and power explosions, and a remarkable three period with one of the most interesting campaigns.
1968 and 1970 were the 8 WAR seasons with a 2 WAR clunker in the middle, as a meniscus tear interrupted one of the greatest power surges the game has seen. Marino hit 31 homers in 1968 and then 45 post tear, despite never hitting 20 in a season before. Even after, he only had a 25-homer campaign in 1971, but he was doing something previously undone and out-slugging Tom Lorang. It was short lived, as you'd expect, but Marino continued to be a useful and inconsistent weapon in the Eagles lineup. He enters 1975 with a career .254/.334/.421 (115 OPS+) batting line and his 2,001 hits are 6th in team history. He's top-10 in WAR (3rd, 70.9), at-bats (3rd, 7,869), runs (5th, 1,055), doubles (t-2nd, 336), homers (4th, 270), RBIs (3rd, 1,242), and walks (3rd, 951), and he's the All-Time leader in games (2,263). He's got plenty of time to add to those, but like most every other Eagle he'll eventually be passed by Lorang, who's about a season behind him. They've been teammates nearly their entire career, holding down the left side of the infield all through the 60s and in to the 70s, and it will be a sad day when they aren't both out there paired together.
Star Out of Place: C Howdy Oakes (34, .255, 10, 82; .280, 175, 1,035, 19)
Howdy Oakes has only played with one more organization, but it may come at a different position this season. The long-time catcher of the Eagles, his 14th season may come at first due to the Eagles offseason acquisition of Mel Cardoza (32, .233, 10, 42, 4; .228, 43, 277, 21), but all but 6.1 of his FABL innings have come behind the plate. Those were at short, not first, but if he does make the transition it should not be a tough one.
Taken in the 2nd Round by the Eagles in 1959, only Hall-of-Famer T.R. Goins has accomplished more then Oakes among the team's catchers. A 7-Time All-Star, he took the league by storm in 1962, batting .322/.411/.527 (147 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 9 triples, 13 homers, 78 RBIs, 68 walks, and 73 runs. Always a great bat, he was pretty good behind the plate too, worth an impressive 5 WAR in 128 games. He made his first All-Star appearance the following season, hitting .315/.387/.512 (145 OPS+) with still career bests in runs (100), homers (tied, 20), doubles (37), RBIs (104), and WAR (6.2). Each of his next four seasons saw above average offensive production, including at least 11 homers, 19 doubles, 50 runs, and 67 RBIs.
1969 snapped his streak of consecutive All-Star selections and he made his most recent team the year after, but even in his 30s he's still a useful piece. His .255/.316/.390 (99 OPS+) batting line was a career low, but he still added 23 doubles, 7 triples, 10 homers, 82 RBIs, and 65 runs with dependable defense. If the big 6'4'' New Yorker does move to first, he won't have good defense to fall back on, putting pressure on him returning to his past form. From '70 to '73 he had WRC+ of 123, 135, 123, and 119, and getting back into that range will be more then enough. He's still hitting line drives and the power is there, but his swing is starting to slow, and it could keep his average below his career marks.
A career .280/.353/.434 (126 OPS+) hitter, Oakes ranks top-10 in many Eagles categories, including a 58.4 wins above replacement that ranks 6th among position players. He also places in games (4th, 1,790), at-bats (7th, 6,302), hits (8th, 1,763), doubles (7th, 312), homers (7th, 175), RBIs (5th, 1,035), and walks (7th, 709). With 100 more hits he'll pass Goins for most hits by an Eagles catcher, and with two more seasons his 199 homers are in reach. Closer is RBIs, just two away, though of course Goins spent the last five and a half seasons of his career in Cleveland. It would be nice to see Oakes avoid that fate, instead becoming the 7th Eagle to record 2,000 hits with the franchise. Still among the best hitters on the team, he shouldn't have to worry about his roster spot, but he'll be most valuable behind the plate and I'm hoping he at least gets half of the starts there in 1975.