[Tiger Fan]

JUNE 30, 1975

COPPER IS KING: FOURTEEN STRAIGHT VICTORIES FOR ATLANTA

If losing is something you're supposed to do in baseball, the Atlanta Copperheads aren't doing baseball right. Winners of 14 straight, they haven't lost since June 15th, and in their last 20 games they've won 18. It helps when most of the games are at home, including each of the last 11, as they're a much better team in Atlanta (35-7) when they are away from home (20-13). Of course, even their road winning percentage (.606) would have them first in the Fed East, but they're a different animal at Peachtree Stadium.

It's the pitching that makes everything happen, as it's almost impossible to get any runs off this team. They haven't allowed more then 3 runs in a game since June 20th, and in the entire month they've allowed 5 or more runs just 5 times, including two of their three losses for the month. The 243 runs they've allowed are fewest in the Fed, while they're 1st in rotation ERA (2.92) and 2nd in pen (2.75). In fact, only ace and Allen winner Howie Burt (7-3, 3.52, 49) has an ERA above 3, and even he has an ERA+ (109) above 100.

In his place, it's been Marco Middleton, who this Tuesday threw a 3-hit, 10-strikeout shutout in a tight 1-0 win where the only scoring was a Jay Hunter (.270, 4, 26) solo homer. Middleton improved to 11-1 on the season, and after a no decision to finish the week, the 4-Time Allen winner lowered his ERA to 2.66 (144 ERA+) and his FIP to 2.95 (75 FIP-) in 121.2 innings pitched. Striking out 89 and walking just 32, he's not only looking to earn his 8th All-Star selection, but he's going to receive serious consideration for a fifth Allen. Only Rufus Barrell has five, with the fast burning Frenchy Mack and mad professor Adrian Czerwinski the only to reach six. Middleton is already in an exclusive group, and even if he struggled a bit last season, it's clear he belongs, and that he still has many good seasons left in him.

They don't hit as well as they pitch, but during their streak they have had no shortage of runs. Jack Blair (.341, 8, 56, 21) is red hot, hitting an astronomical .426/.470/.660 (215 OPS+) in 26 June games, adding 8 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, 25 runs, 31 RBIs, and 10 steals, which should allow him to waltz into next week's Batter of the Month. Or at least he would, if former Whitney winner Al Hubbard (.296, 9, 38, 11) wasn't trying to keep up. His .413/.516/.600 (213 OPS+) line isn't too far away, coming with 31 runs, 5 doubles, 3 homers, 14 RBIs, 5 steals, and an outstanding 14-to-3 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Blair has the counting stat edge, but regardless of who ends with the award, they've both been instrumental in separating the Copperheads from the pack.

Only one team is within twenty games of the first place Copperheads, the Baltimore Cannons, and they will do everything they can to keep the lead from expanding anymore. Having been swept in Atlanta in a four game series two weeks ago, they've already been ran through once, but with two games at home to start the week they at least have a chance to try and not be eliminated in July. They'll have to beat Harry Inge (6-4, 2.72, 58) and the ace Burt, and if there is one way Baltimore can make it a series is their pitching. 3rd in runs against, they'll counter with Buck Guthrie (7-6, 4.15, 53) and Jose Martinez (7-5, 2.75, 59), but unless they can get some much needed help from a far weaker lineup, they're going to quickly find themselves in a deficit they'd need two seasons to crawl out of.

• He may now be completely relegated to a bench role, but the 3-Time Champion and Whitney winner Bob Bell (.182, 2, 11, 1) did end up recording his 2,000th FABL hit. Five years removed from at least 450 PAs in a season, he's made 53 appearances this season, but only 12 of the came in the starting nine. Just his 11th hit of the season, his current 62 WRC+ is less then three times smaller then his 214 in '62 or 201 in '64. Once one of the most feared hitters in baseball, some speculated he was sticking around just long enough for 2,000, and the angry veteran's motivation to keep going may now be at an all time low. He won't get to 350 homers and he just got his 900th walk, and every extra at bat he takes just decays his .303/.386/.512 (154 OPS+) career line.
• Win #251 of Floyd Warner's (9-4, 2.46, 59) career was a shutout, the first of his season and 27th of his career. He did it in Seattle too, holding the dominant Kings lineup to 6 hits and a walk, striking out 5 in his 15th start of the season. In the middle of yet another great season, he has a 3.46 ERA (112 ERA+), 3.26 FIP (83 FIP-), and 1.18 WHIP, worth 2.4 WAR through 109.1 innings.
• First rounders started to sign, with 16 of the 24 now on their FABL team. ## were top-100 prospects, with the new highest ranked FABL prospects 3rd overall pick Frank Torsiello (SFS) and 2nd overall pick George Carney (DET). The guy taken before them, new Maverick farmhand Pat Cathcart, checks in at 37, but they have the highest ranked prospect who wasn't taken this year, former #1 and current #3 prospect Chuck Barton. Two other pitchers crack the top 10, with Cougars first rounder Tom Brewer at #6 and Arrows first rounder Willis Amason at #9. Both pitchers look like steals, but considering Amason was taken 17th, that seems to be the bigger get. Brewer was eight picks earlier at 9th.
• Joining Cathcart outside of the top-10, but inside the top 50 are Bill Gagnon (MON, 13th; #15), Gene Anderson (TOR, 7th; #28), and Sam White (STL, 14th; #34). Just two more fill out the back half of the top-100, with Bob Spencer (NYG, 22nd; #54) and Caleb Johnson (PHI, 6th; #78) comfortably in. Neither should get knocked out by new entrants, but a lot of these ranks will change as teams completed their classes.
• Non-first rounders made early top-100 appearances too, even as high as the top 25. Most notably is Mavericks 3rd Rounder Harry May. He may have been taken 49th, but he ranks 11th on the top-100 list. Perhaps dropping for spending his prep years in Canada, he impressed in showcases with his confident approach and meticulous mechanics. Stars 2nd Rounder Morrie Knight ranks 18th due to patience and power, with Gothams 2nd Rounder Doug Goss at 22nd for elite offspeed pitches and ace potential.
• Other late round gems appear to be reliever Paul Bennett (LAS, 117th; #45), a pair of starters in what is another Canadian and another Maverick Washington Johnson (KC, 73rd, #49), and American born, Duke Cole (LAS, 69th; #71), catcher Paul Bosma (CLE, 3rd; 73rd), a third Star draftee and second reliever Jack Mitchell (LAS, 165th; 74th). The real surprises come in the 11th, with Detroit getting 73rd ranked prospect Dan King. He was a new add as a senior, splitting between the pen and rotation at his Missouri High School. A potential ace with great command and stuff, his late breakout is one of the true quirks of the split draft.
• Surprisingly, Federal Player of the Week was not given to a Copperhead, with Suns slugger Sam Forrester (.287, 16, 64, 20) stealing the award. The 7-Time All-Star did deserve it, 10-for-27 with 2 doubles, 3 homers, 10 RBIs, 7 runs, 4 walks, and 3 steals in a crucial 5-2 week for the division leaders. On track for his first 30/40 season, Forrester and Tom Lally (.312, 18, 62, 5) have helped the Suns stay on top, and continued excellence from their superstars will be required to stay there. Now 5 games ahead of Houston, that duo is really the only reason they are where they are, and they will be relied on as the Suns continue their stretch of 19 games in 17 days.
• Al Reece got the pleasure in the Conti, batting .545/.583/.818 (283 OPS+) with a double, triple, homer, 2 walks, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. A pleasant surprise in New York, the third year player has come into his own this season, helping contribute to the Imperials solid pennant race. Even without John Alfano (4-6, 4.61, 34), they're winning games, and are just three and a half behind the leading Arrows. Reece has the benefit of hitting after George Love (.275, 11, 36, 10) and before Woody Richardson (.347, 6, 32) and Phil Terry (.289, 11, 46, 9), but the results speak for themselves. In about 30 fewer PAs then last season, he already has new bests in doubles (10), triples (4), homers (6), RBIs (28), steals (11), and WAR (2.0), and his current .321/.384/.484 (138 OPS+) batting line could stay a personal best for a while.
• Not many players go right to the IL after winning Player of the Week, but just three days later last week's Continental winner Bob Howard strained his oblique early in the Mavericks 5-1 loss to the Stars. The clear best hitter in a bad lineup, the 26-year-old was hitting .271/.326/.482 (119 OPS+) with a 129 WRC+ in 278 trips to the plate. Out for five weeks, he'll still have time to add to his 11 doubles, 11 homers, and 43 RBIs, but with the Mavs already in last, they may take their time bringing him back. He leaves a gaping hole in their lineup, and Dick Anderson (.307, 7, 27) cannot do nearly enough on his own.
• A bigger injury loss hit the Chicago Cougars, as after struggling to find help at the back of the pen, Bill Jackson (1-1, 5, 2.31, 1) seemed to finally have it down. He came into the top of the ninth of a 2-1 game in the series opener, but lasted one batter before leaving with an elbow injury. The Cougars went on to win the game, but it was the last one Jackson will pitch this season. Diagnosed with a fractured elbow, he won't be able to pick up a ball until 1976, and if he has any setbacks he may miss the start of the season. Debuting earlier this month, he'll finish with just 11.2 innings, working to a 2.31 ERA (169 ERA+) and 1.54 WHIP. On the bright side, the Cougars did sweep a four game series in Kansas City, even without star Tom Lorang (.265, 4, 33, 7). Still double digit games out, they'll be back in Seattle to start July, and could finally get the tally back to a single number.
• Philly's pitching staff took a hit too, two in fact, as they will be without 30-year-old starter Joe Downing (6-8, 6.26, 57) for the rest of the season. Shut down with inflammation in his shoulder, it ends a nightmare season early. Delivering the 16 worst starts of his career, Downing had an elevated 6.26 ERA (62 ERA+) and 1.56 WHIP -- both easily the worst of his career. In fact, he was never even above 4.50, as his 4.29 (96 ERA+) in his first season with the Keystones back in 1973 was his previous worst. While never elite, the former Montreal 2nd Rounder was always serviceable, and it would be a shame if this becomes his new reality post-rehab.
• They are also without Doc Carver (6-4, 3.38, 64), as the 39-year-old lefty strained his hamstring, and could miss the rest of the season. If his win over Boston is the last of his career, it's at least a good one, as his 136th career win saw 4 hits, a run, and a walk with 5 strikeouts in 7.1 innings pitched. A veteran of 18 seasons, he's thrown 2,749.2 innings pitched, working to a 3.90 ERA (99 ERA+), 3.48 FIP (88 FIP-), and 1.36 WHIP.
• Though the biggest loss of the week might be reigning Whitney winner Harry Edwards, as the already struggling Arrows superstar is set to hit the IL with a bone spur in his elbow. Likely to miss at least the next five weeks, the 25-year-old has hit just .245/.340/.436 (114 OPS+) on the season, and will spend his 26th birthday rehabbing his arm. After hitting an outstanding .306/.408/.503 (164 OPS+) last season, he's seen almost all his numbers take a stark downturn, with just the 11 homers something going his way. Now he's unlikely to match or pass his 22 homers from last season, and with Milwaukee's division lead starting to shrink, being without their slugger doesn't seem likely to help.
• St. Louis took a few hits too, with both Ed Holt (.351, 1, 14) and Frank Green (.271, 6, 36, 5) likely to hit the IL with separate ailments. Holt could avoid it, as knee tendinitis will only deal with his baserunning. He's hit well when healthy, a strong .351/.407/.481 (144 OPS+) line, but as the backup he will be easier to keep around. Green won't, as the starting shortstop can't play through his sore elbow. Likely to miss over a month, the 27-year-old was having a bounce-back offensive season, hitting a nice .271/.339/.431 (111 OPS+) with strong defense at short (2.3 ZR, 1.060 EFF). They do have a decent replacement on hand, Tom Spruill (.309, 1, 9), but now both members of the St. Louis Opening Day middle infield are on the IL.
• Baltimore and Cincinnati made a minor trade, with the Cannons sending a pair of younger minor leaguers for recently turned 26-year-old Steve Bell. A former 15th Round pick, it's hard to say why Baltimore wanted the first basemen, as he was hitting just .302/.383/.415 (105 OPS+) in 60 AAA plate appearances. Mostly as a bench player too, he might have been released, but the prospects he gave up weren't too used either. 22-year-old lefty Jim Stallard's season consists of just two Low-A starts while 24-year-old catcher Kent Parkhurst was getting limited time in High-A and AAA.
• 20 was the magic number for Eddie Kellum, who saw his streak snapped with a 0-for-1 in an unnecessary pinch-hit at bat. He got hits in each of his next four games, 6-for-15 with 3 runs, a walk, and an RBI. Complicating matters is what ended the second half of a double header, as while sliding in safely with a double, he tore a few ligaments in his ankle. The 33-year-old will now miss the next 5-6 weeks, a tough blow to a Suns team that is looking to stay on top of their division.
• Boston rookie Frank Borgen (.316, 2, 12) didn't wait too long before recording his first 5-hit game. Called up from AAA on May 26th, he was a perfect 5-for-5 a month and day later, picking up an RBI and pair of runs scored in a 9-1 victory. That came in his 31st FABL game, and through 33 he's hit .316/.377/.419 (121 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 12 RBIs, 12 walks, and 14 runs. 25 in September, he's shown all the tools of being an elite contact hitter, and the former Suns 3rd Rounder is quickly developing into a piece the Minutemen can rely on for the rest of the 70s.

DUKES LAND YOUNG IN STUNNING DEAL WITH SHAMROCKS

Just when it looked like the New York Shamrocks might finally be turning a long, slow corner, they went and yanked the rug out from under themselves.

In a move that sent a ripple through NAHC circles, the Shamrocks announced late this week that star center Milt Young has been dealt to the Toronto Dukes. Heading back to New York is Toronto’s first-round selection in next month’s entry draft. No players, no prospects—just the pick which is expected to be 13th overall.

Young, 31, is coming off another big season, scoring 49 goals and piling up 101 points in the regular campaign. He added three more points in two playoff games before the Shamrocks were ushered out—by Toronto, no less—in the opening round. Come September, Young will be pulling on the same Dukes sweater that ended New York’s long-awaited return to the postseason.

A Belleville, Ontario native, Young had been a Shamrock from the moment he entered the league. Drafted first overall in 1963, he jumped straight from the junior Kitchener Roosters into the NAHC and made his debut at 19. Eight hundred eighty-four regular-season games later, all with the Greenshirts, he leaves New York as the franchise’s all-time scoring leader.

His résumé is heavy enough. A two-time Second Team All-Star, Young captured the Yeadon Trophy in 1972-73 after scoring a career-best 56 goals, the second-highest single-season total in league history. Sixteen months ago, he passed the legendary Orval Cabbell—father of former teammate Danny Cabbell—atop the Shamrocks’ scoring list. He departs with 898 points, including 441 goals, in those 884 games.

Which is what makes this trade so hard to wrap one’s head around.

The Shamrocks had just completed their first playoff season in 15 years, finishing third in the Dewar Division before being swept two games to none by Toronto in the preliminary round. It was their first taste of postseason hockey since 1960, even if it ended quickly. New York still hasn’t won a playoff series since 1950, but for the first time in a long while, there was at least the sense they were inching closer.

Instead, they’ve dealt away a 100-point scorer entering his early thirties for a future draft choice, a move that feels less like a push forward and more like a step back into familiar territory. How subtracting the greatest scorer in franchise history helps end that quarter-century playoff drought is a question the Shamrocks will be answering all summer.

In Toronto, meanwhile, there are no such mysteries. The Dukes were already dangerous. Now they’ve added a proven finisher, a playmaker with a taste for big moments—and a little extra sting for his old club when the schedule turns over in the fall.

size="6"]DUKES DOUBLE DOWN, ADD DUCHARME IN BUSY OFF-SEASON WEEK[/size]

Toronto was not content to add just one proven point producer to their club this off-season as the Dukes also finalized a deal with the Los Angeles Stingrays that brings Alain Ducharme to Toronto in exchange for defenseman Ty Cole.

Ducharme, 27, joined the Stingrays in their expansion year of 1967-68 and has been with Los Angeles ever since. He is a veteran of 530 NAHC games and has accumulated 271 points during that span including 50 points in 80 games last season. He also added 7 points in 7 playoff games for the Stingrays this year.

Cole's absence may be felt on the Toronto blueline as he has been a steady defender for the Dukes over the past eight seasons. He was named an assistant captain prior to last season and responded with the best offensive output of his career, scoring 15 times and adding 35 assists. Toronto does have a fair bit of blueline depth and Dukes management likely feels very good about their moves, which make the team one of the most dangerous offenses in the league. The excitement of seeing their other newcomer Milt Young paired with Toronto star Ollie Perreault has the city buzzing, but some pundits suggest that Ducharme may just surprise as he could be the perfect piece to round out that dangerous line should Toronto coach C.J. Lake decided to unite the three.

NAHC NOTES

While the exit of Milt Young from New York took center stage there were a number of other moves over the past week in the North American Hockey Confederation as club's prepare for the 1975 Entry Draft and as the upcoming season approaches the return of human General Managers. Here are some of the highlights:

• The offensive-minded Philadelphia Rogues dealt 20-year-old winger Patrick Reimer to the Minneapolis Norseman in exchange for some blueline help, getting 30-year-old Cliff Melrose in return. Reimer, the Rogues first round pick a year ago, was a candidate for the McLeod Trophy after collecting 57 points in 76 games as a rookie this past season. Melrose has been with the Norsemen since the 1967-68 expansion draft and had previous experience playing in Philadelphia as he was a member of the Rogues early in his career when they were a minor league franchise.
• The Rogues also announced that they have signed their 1973 second round draft pick Claude LaPierre to a pro contract. Now 20, LaPierre had a breakout season in his final year of junior, finishing second in league scoring with 127 points for the London Lions. This after collecting just 95 points in his first three seasons of junior hockey.
• The St Louis Sawyers added some veteran depth in picking up forward Ron Carthy from the Washington Federals. The 32-year-old has bounced around the league with stops in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Vancouver before joining the Federals in a deal last summer. He played 67 games for Washington and tallied 12 goals and 28 points. Washington receives 22-year-old right winger Darryl Snell in return. The Sawyers 1973 second round draft pick spent most of the year in the HAA, but did make his NAHC debut this season, going pointless in five games with St Louis.

CONFERENCE PREVIEW: ACADEMIA ALLIANCE

The road to autumn Saturdays begins this week with a look at the Academia Alliance, the sport’s oldest—and most dignified—conference. While its members now turn out more diplomats than tailbacks, the Alliance still offers a brand of football rooted in tradition, rivalries, and the occasional surprise contender.

Once a national power across multiple sports, the Academia Alliance hasn’t produced a football champion since George Fox raised the trophy in 1928. That drought hasn’t dulled the conference’s relevance entirely, though, thanks largely to one familiar name at the top.

Dickson Maroons Have Owned the Alliance in Recent Years

The Maroons remain the standard, having captured four straight Alliance titles and representing the conference in two New Year’s Day classics over the past decade. Dickson’s 1966 Lone Star Classic victory capped a 9–1 season and a sixth-place national finish—still the high-water mark for the league in modern times.

This season, however, may test that dominance. The Maroons must replace several cornerstone players, most notably running back Alex Becker, who led the conference with 1,215 rushing yards a year ago. Reloading has been Dickson’s specialty, but the margin feels thinner than usual.

If anyone is ready to shove Dickson aside, Sadler looks the part. Coming off a 7–2 campaign, the Bluecoats return a defense that scouts quietly rave about. They may not overwhelm anyone offensively, but Sadler figures to win games the old-fashioned way—by shortening them and punishing mistakes.

The league’s wild card may be Brunswick. The Knights flashed real promise two seasons ago with a surprise run into the national top 25, then promptly fell apart last fall with a 4–5 finish. The difference this year could be under center.

Quarterback Del Thomas Jr. remains one of the most intriguing stories in college football—a Texas blue-chip recruit who bypassed the Southwestern Alliance and Deep South powers to play in New Jersey. Redshirted last season after entering college as the 16th-ranked recruit in the nation, Thomas carries a famous name and even bigger expectations. His father, Del Thomas Sr., was an AFA standout with the Boston Americans and later a pro baseball player with the St. Louis Pioneers. The son has the tools to make his own headlines—and perhaps reshape the Alliance race.

Outlook: Dickson remains the favorite by reputation alone, but this feels like a season where the rest of the conference senses opportunity. If the Maroons stumble early, the door may finally be open—and in the Academia Alliance, change tends to arrive quietly, then all at once.

WILL '75 DRAFT BE THE START OF SOMETHING BIG FOR THE DYNAMOS?

Hope is a funny thing in this town. It sneaks up on you when you’re not looking, usually after you’ve sworn it won’t happen again.

And yet here we are, the calendar about to tip into July, the Detroit Dynamos somehow a couple of games over .500, and a stack of scouting reports on the desk that read like a love letter. If you listen closely around Thompson Field these days, you can almost hear the word nobody has dared say out loud in a while.

Dynasty.

Now before anyone starts fitting rings, let’s remember that drafts are held in June and disappointments arrive right on schedule in August. The minor leagues have a way of straightening out big dreams. But it’s hard to ignore what baseball’s central scouting oracle—OSA—has to say about Detroit’s 1975 haul, especially since it lines up almost word for word with what scouting director Chuck Cole has been telling anyone who will stand still long enough.

The folks in the Dynamos’ front office are grinning like they just found money in an old coat pocket. After three last-place finishes in four years and a 100-loss season still fresh in the rearview mirror, you can forgive them for the enthusiasm.

Detroit isn’t going anywhere in the Federal Association race this summer, and nobody sensible thinks they are. But for the first time in a long while, the talk isn’t about surviving the season—it’s about what might be coming.

Start with George Carney, the hometown kid from St. Ignatius. Drafted second overall, the 21-year-old right-hander is rated by OSA as the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, which is the kind of sentence that usually belongs to somebody else’s organization. Carney will make his professional debut this week at AAA Pittsburgh, and if the stars behave themselves, he could be pitching at Thompson Field before August is out. Detroit fans have seen saviors before, but they usually arrived by rumor, not résumé.

The second round brought Jay Crist, an 18-year-old right-hander who already ranks 61st on OSA’s top 100 list. Crist heads to Class A Raleigh, where the weather is hot, the hitters are impatient, and the lessons come fast. Detroit suddenly has enough teenage arms to start a Little League parade.

The real eyebrow-raiser, though, came in the 11th round. That’s where the Dynamos plucked Dan King, a 17-year-old out of a St. Louis high school who somehow slipped through the cracks long enough to become a Detroit bargain. OSA has him ranked 66th overall, which is awfully rich territory for an 11th-round pick. King joins Crist in Raleigh, and together they make a pitching coach’s phone ring a little faster.

There’s more. Vern Ladd, a fifth-round selection, is another high school arm headed to rookie ball in Biloxi. OSA has him just outside the top 100 at 107th, which in Detroit these days counts as encouraging news.

And then there’s catching, a position where the Dynamos already thought they were well-stocked. Jose Chavez, signed as a minor league free agent back in 1973, sits 69th on the OSA list. Now he has company. Third-round pick Bob McCauley, an 18-year-old backstop, ranks 111th overall and 10th among catching prospects. That’s the kind of problem teams like to have, even if it leads to arguments down the road.

Add it all up and OSA now ranks Detroit’s farm system second-best in baseball, trailing only San Francisco. The Dynamos boast nine players in the top 100, five pitchers inside that group and another five between 101 and 200. That’s a lot of arms, a lot of hope, and a lot of chances for something to go wrong—especially with pitchers, who break hearts as easily as they miss bats.

Still, it has been a long time since optimism felt even remotely justified around here. Detroit fans have grown used to squinting at the standings and looking away. This time, they’re looking at a list of names instead, and for once it doesn’t read like fiction.

Whether this draft becomes the foundation of the next Dynamos dynasty or just another chapter in the long book of almosts will be decided somewhere between Biloxi and Thompson Field over the next few summers. But for now, the Motor City is allowed a little optimism.

Just don’t get carried away. That comes later.

WOLVES GO 4-5 DURING TOUGH WEEK

The Toronto Wolves made it through their hardest road week of the season with a not entirely unsatisfactory result of 4 wins and 5 losses. With the exception of one game, a 16-9 shellacking in Cleveland on Saturday, the contests were close. Three of the other 4 losses were only by a single run with two of those needing extra innings. The other defeat was by two runs. It was tight all around as three of the four wins were by a single run while the other was a 3-1 win to close out the week at Forester Stadium.

The starting pitching was good except for Saturday with the highlight being a 1-0 complete game victory on Wednesday by Lee Humphrey thanks to McPherson's sac fly in the top of the ninth. Humphrey was dominate in a 109 pitch outing where gave up only 6 singles and a double while walking only one batter.

Manager Carl Evans was not too disappointed with going 2-2 in Milwaukee in which they only made one error in four games. Heading into Cleveland for 5 games in 4 days the Wolves lost the first two 2-1 and 4-3 in 14 before winning the back end of day/night doubleheader 4-3, After the debacle on Saturday debacle, before they headed to Montreal to close out the road trip the team got some redemption by winning in 11.

The first game in Stade Montreal will put a fork in the month of June in which the Wolves will finish either 13-17 or 12-18 after a horrendous start to the month when playing teams from the CA West. The club is playing better at the moment with both the pitching and fielding becoming more stable. Lee Humphrey seems to be turning a corner and Stan Terry rejoined the rotation in June with modest results. The base on balls in still a major problem for the entire staff. If defense can maintain its recent better play the team may stay in games longer if opponents are gifted less free passes.

At the plate Sid Cullen's hot streak has come to an end, he will be replaced in the starting lineup in Montreal with Reid moving to the outfield while Bob Reynolds will be getting another shot at first. Evans is said to be going to heavily platooned lineups to finish off the first half of the season. The Wolves bullpen is gassed the team so the needs a few starters to go deep in games during the Montreal series. Bill Cox has been recalled to provide some depth in the 'pen along with Joe Henke, a former 20th round pick, to back up in the infield. In corresponding moves George Downing and Leo Makepeace have been optioned out. The team could not keep Makepeace on the FABL roster for his glove only. This could be the end of the road for him at 29 unless he show something in AAA.

In Minor League news Davenport continues to lead the HL West with a 46-23 record led by Bob Russell, 22, with a line of .399/.532/1.114 who is soon destine for AA. Pedro Maldonado continues to make a strong case for in himself in Buffalo after a slow start, .289/.401/.531 16 HR 52 RBI is making the GM sit up and notice.

A Look At the Draft Class of '75

With the draft completed lets take a look at the selections the Wolves made and where they should start the journey to Toronto, if or when they sign.

Gene Anderson- 17-LHSP- Selected 7th overall this HS senior from New Bedford, MA. The scouting raves about his 4 quality pitches although the fastball tops out under 90 mph. It is hoped that Gene will gain some velocity as his 5'11" 165 lb. frame fills out. Signing Anderson who is said to have high demands is a top priority for the GM. Tuscaloosa should the starting point in July, if all goes well the team could give him a birthday present on 18th birthday July 16th with a promotion to Vancouver.

Eugene "Rip" Orton- 18- 2B/SS- With pick 37 Orton's name was called by the Wolves. A smooth fielding middle infielder he is a patient hitter. Spending the summer in Alabama working with the staff seems to be the future as Orton is said to slow to put concepts into practice.

Bill Franzen- 18- SS- This West New York, NJ high school senior has an upside for being power threat as he matures. Dunbar sees him as a pair with Orton in Gulf States League over this summer to get himself grounded in professional baseball.

Mel Cannon- 17- LHRP- Cannon continued the trend of taking HS players, first eight picks were from the HS ranks. Cannon has electric stuff averaging around 17 K/9 while limiting walks. If this remains true Mel could progress to Vancouver before the end of the summer.

Howie Carter- 18- OF/1B- In the fifth round Carter's name was called, Wolves staff was surprised he was not taken earlier with smooth swing, good glove with limited range in OF. Tomcats is a good place to start in a corner OF position.

Brett Mott- 18- OF- From Chicago Brett is another player drawing raves about his swing. He should be the starting CF in Tuscaloosa if he is signed soon to a contract.

John Johnson- 18- RHRP- Johnson is said to be a right handed version of Cannon which could strike terror in batting opponents in the Gulf States League over the summer.

Milo Clark- 18- 2B- Another draftee with a strong bat who will need to take steps forward defensively to take steps forward in the system.

Tommy Gooch- 22- INF/LF- First college pick Gooch can play 5 positions. He hit well against college pitching. Expect to see him starting all over in the infield in a reserve role to see if he can continue to hit. His versality makes him an interesting future project.

Francisco Obregon- 18- C- Back to high schoolers to take a C, a position in which the Wolves have depth. The hope is Obregon can add to that strength.

These top 10 are ones who give the GM a good idea of the drafting/scouting skills of Head Scout Mackey. Anderson, Orton are almost a "must" if the Wolves are to move up the standings in the next 5 years. If they have moved up these two become valuable tools to keep the team moving ahead in the CA. Dunbar moves to picks 11-20 where they hope have found at least one diamond in rough, a player who develops late into a star. There are many examples of this happening in history.

11. Joe Scott- 21- OF- The second college player taken in the draft. Scott brings promise rather than fact so far. He will have to prove himself in Vancouver in a short time frame to stay in the system.
12. Hal Griffith- 18- RHSP- A Texan who relies on control rather than power to retire hitters. Scouts hope as he fills out Hal will become a back of the rotation starter.
13. Marty Queen- 18- 1B- Queen is a development project with a quick bat that could develop some power as he fills out with age.
14. Andy Bishop- 18- RHSP- Bishop is said to leaning towards college so he may not even sign this summer.
15. Dwayne Nunn- 18- INF/LF- Nunn is said to have huge upside. He is another who is leaning to developing further in college.
16. Jimmy Cammon- 18- C/OF- Cammon is a long shot to sign, again college may be in his immediate future.
17. Mel Maupin- 17- LHRP- A control specialists, yet another longshot to sign.
18. Ace Middaugh- 21- RHRP- Saw limited game action in college so he will be on a short leash in Toronto.
19. Eddie Middlebrooks- 21- RHSP- As a junior he may stay in college for his senior year. Nothing so far to suggest that he has a short path to the FABL.
20. Bob Sherman- 21- 3B- Has had remarkably consistent college career for 3 years. Could be a late round surprise.


That concludes a review of Toronto's first twenty picks in the 1975 draft. This is the path to the future. Toronto went heavy on high schoolers early which is a big risk. The question is how many will develop into FABL players?


A late update confirms that the Wolves have signed their 1st, 9th, 11th and 20th round picks. they are still in talks with other draftees. Gene Anderson debuts at #28 in the prospects list while Joe Scott is listed at 211th.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 06/29/1975

• New York State takes direct control of city finances, as the legislature approves an emergency financial control board to oversee budgets, borrowing, and labor contracts.
• Ford administration signals possible loan guarantees for New York, marking a notable softening in the White House’s stance after weeks of resistance to federal involvement.
• Congressional leaders warn of broader urban financial risk, with lawmakers raising fears that other major U.S. cities could face similar fiscal crises.
• Canada’s economy minister warns inflation fight not over, cautioning that recent easing could reverse without wage restraint and fiscal discipline.
• Vietnam refugee admissions surge again, as additional evacuees arrive in North America and governments expand resettlement capacity.
• Supreme Court issues several late-term rulings, including decisions affecting criminal procedure and free expression, as the justices clear their docket before summer recess.
• Energy officials repeat conservation calls ahead of summer driving season, warning that stable oil supplies remain vulnerable to geopolitical shocks.