OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - All things Figment - from the pages of The Figment Sporting Journal

Tiger Fan · 01-28-2026, 02:26 PM

JULY 7, 1975

VALENTINE TAKES MVP AS NAHC HANDS OUT HARDWARE

The St. Louis Sawyers didn’t hang around long in the playoffs, but their regular season had more than enough shine to put Pat Valentine front and center when the NAHC passed out its year-end awards.

Valentine, the Sawyers’ smooth-skating seventh-year center, was named the winner of the McDaniels Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player after turning in the finest season of his career. The 29-year-old piled up 114 points, finished third in league scoring, and edged out two defensemen—Boston’s Andy Agar and Montreal Valiants stalwart Mark Moggy—for the game’s top individual honor.

Moggy, who captured the McDaniels back in 1968-69, remains the only defenseman in the modern era ever to win the award.

For Valentine, the trophy is another notch on a résumé already marked by respect around the league. He won the Yeadon Trophy for gentlemanly play four years ago, and this season he backed that reputation with production, appearing in all 80 games and setting career highs with 43 goals and 114 points. His playmaking touch also lifted his wingers, Bernie Caldwell and Jim Hughes, to personal bests. Only Boston scored more goals than St. Louis during the regular season, as the Sawyers finished second in the Yeadon Division before being ushered out of the playoffs by Los Angeles.

Agar may have come up short in the MVP balloting, but he hardly went home empty-handed. The Boston defenseman captured the Dewar Trophy as the league’s top rearguard for the second straight season and added the Paddy O’Donoghue Trophy, awarded by a vote of the players to the man they consider the best in the NAHC.

Several other trophies found first-time homes this year, beginning with Chicago goaltender Rejean Gillies, who won the Juneau Trophy as the league’s top netminder. Gillies, 35, became the first Packer to claim the award since Michael Cleghorn took home a pair more than two decades ago. A late bloomer, Gillies finally got his chance after years in the minors when expansion arrived. Gillies, who debuted in the NAHC at age 28 in 1967-68, played 66 games this season and posting a 36-19-8 record, a 2.91 goals-against average, and a .905 save percentage. The Sudbury, Ontario native spent four seasons with San Francisco before being acquired by Chicago prior to the 1971-72 campaign.

The Yeadon Trophy for sportsmanship and skill went to Detroit Motors veteran Yves Dagenais. Now 31, Dagenais led the NAHC with a record 85 assists and finished second in the scoring race behind Philadelphia’s Adam McPherson. McPherson, in turn, claimed the Denny Trophy as the league’s leading scorer, marking the second straight season a Rogues player topped the charts following Gary Yeadon’s scoring title a year ago.

Rookie of the Year honors, the McLeod Trophy, were awarded to Boston Bees center Mark Berg. The 22-year-old former Saint John Saints junior combined grit with scoring touch, racking up 179 penalty minutes while scoring 28 goals and 57 points—nearly mirroring his offensive production the previous season with Springfield of the minors.

The First All-Star Team blended fresh faces with familiar ones. Montreal defenseman Mark Moggy earned his 11th first-team selection in a 15-year career, while Valentine and Agar each appeared on the top unit for the third time. Philadelphia’s Gary Yeadon was named for the second consecutive season, joined by teammate McPherson who, like Chicago’s Gillies made his first appearance on the First Team.

Minneapolis dominated the Second All-Star Team, placing goaltender Al Ferguson and the forward trio of Bill Sullivan, Anthony Baptiste, and Tom Rowley. It marked Ferguson’s second selection to the Second Team and the first for each of his Norsemen teammates. The defensive pairing consisted of St. Louis veteran Hugh McLaren, earning his third Second Team nod, alongside Boston’s Barry Waddington, who repeated the honor he received a year ago.

Below is the complete list of award winners.

BLAIR, MIDDLETON TAKE FED AWARDS AFTER JUNE DOMINANCE IN ATLANTA

When you go 26-3 in a month, it's almost assumed you are going to get rewarded for it, but for the Atlanta Copperheads a FABL high 61 wins and a 20 game division lead isn't all. You also get the Batter and the Pitcher of the Month.

It was a two-man race for Batter of the Month, with the winner Jack Blair (.346, 8, 61, 21) and the close runner up Al Hubbard (.310, 10, 44, 11). Hubbard hit well, an excellent .408/.510/.592 (208 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 3 homers, 14 walks, 14 RBIs, and 16 runs scored. But compared to Blair, that was just second best.

Atlanta's right fielder managed an even higher .427/.471/.655 (213 OPS+) with even more counting stats. He had 26 runs, 8 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, 31 RBIs, 10 steals, and 9 walks. He didn't slow in July either, batting .389/.560/.444 (184 OPS+) in his first 7 games. This has improved his season line to .346/.404/.482 (147 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 8 homers, 44 runs, and 61 RBIs. After leading the Fed with 36 steals last year, he's already up to 21 this year, good for a 40+ steal pace, and after an ice cold April, Blair has done everything he can to keep the Copperheads winning.

Same goes for Marco Middleton (12-1, 2.48, 93), Pitcher of the Month, who's perfect 5-0 June improved his season record to 11-1. There was a no decision mixed in, as Middleton held his opponents to a 2.61 ERA (146 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP, striking out 38 in 48.1 innings pitched. Like Blair, the change in month didn't slow him down, and he again put together another production in dominance. This time a shutout, Middleton scattered 5 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4 in a 7-0 win in New York. Now 12-1, He has a 2.48 ERA (153 ERA+), 2.93 FIP (75 FIP-), and 1.11 WHIP in 130.2 innings pitched. The 4-Time Allen winner should be an 8-Time All-Star, as his Copperheads are well on their way to a fourth consecutive 100-win season.

*** Top Rookie Dynamo First Basemen ***

On the Fed side, the only award not going to the Copperheads was the Rookie of the Month, going to 89th ranked prospect and former 9th overall pick Lou Strader. An outfielder moved to first, he's always impressed with the bat, and that was exactly what happened in June. His first full month in Detroit, Strader hit a nice .288/.378/.500 (142 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 5 homers, 15 walks, 15 RBIs, and 20 runs scored. Like the other award winners, he kept it up in July, going 6-for-18 with 3 runs, 3 doubles, a triple, homer, 3 RBIs, and 3 walks.

Since his mid-may callup, he's been nothing short of excellent, hitting .297/.398/.541 (159 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 10 homers, 30 walks, 30 RBIs, and 37 runs scored. Close to his .322/.433/.598 (166 OPS+) AAA triple slash, he's been key in Detroit moving above .500. Coming off a long stretch of subpar seasons, they're still above .500, up to 43-40 and just 6 games out of first. With Strader in the cleanup spot, they've shown a lot of improvement, lightening the load off talented outfielders Geoff Taylor (.303, 8, 41, 13) and Buddy Ensey (.352, 9, 54, 11). Even Detroit themselves didn't expect to play this well, but if they have another Strader or two in the minors to help them out, they could really make the Fed West race interesting.

CONTINENTAL AWARDS SPLIT, SEATTLE SURPRISINGLY ABSENT

All season long the Seattle Kings have dominated the Continental Association, but for once that dominance didn't spill over to award voting. Left out of the ceremony, it was players from Dallas, Cleveland, and Chicago that were rewarded for their efforts.

Dallas had the headliner, as despite battling with a knee and hamstring injury, the Chicago born Nick Parker (.338, 9, 47, 5) was named Continental Batter of the Month. Seemingly always dealing with an injury of some kind, the near 27-year-old decided to forego the IL stints that usually come with them, hitting a robust .391/.482/.598 (196 OPS+), the first basemen tacked on 10 doubles, 3 homers, 18 RBIs, 17 runs, 17 steals, and even 3 steals, and after a week of July games he's hitting .338/.438/.502 (159 OPS+) on the season. His bat helped fuel the Wranglers June turnaround, as they followed their 7-19 May with a much improved 17-12 June. Now 41-43, they won't come close to their franchise high 95 wins from last year, but they could at least put together a third consecutive winning season.

For pitchers, it was 35-year-old Roy Rice (10-5, 3.11, 89), who went 6-0 for the Foresters in 7 starts. A big reason why Cleveland is now a game over .500, Rice held a 2.66 ERA (143 ERA+), 2.52 FIP (65 FIP-), and 1.14 WHIP in 50.2 innings, striking out 41 to just 17 walks. Dating back to May 12th, he's now won eight consecutive decisions, an impressive 10-5 in 19 starts. The 1972 All-Star is looking for his second trip, working to a 3.11 ERA (123 ERA+), 2.99 FIP (77 FIP-), and 1.11 WHIP in 130.1 innings pitched. A surprising source of consistency, the flyball pitcher has finally kept the ball in the park, as he went from a Conti leading 28 allowed last year to just 6 so far. If this holds, Rice could complete his second star level season with the Foresters, and his 3.3 WAR is just 0.4 off his previous high of 3.7 in his All-Star season.

The top rookie also came from the mound, as hot-shot Cougar farmhand Bill Bartlett (4-2, 2.42, 25) was named the Association's top rookie. When June started, he was actually still in the Century League, and he was called up for a June 9th debut. Bartlett replaced the injured Hal Adams (3-5, 4.20, 37), and he picked up a complete game win in his FABL debut against Toronto. Despite his lack of experience, he's had little issues in the majors, and went 3-2 with a 2.51 ERA (155 ERA+), 3.44 FIP (88 FIP-), and 1.18 WHIP in his first big league month. That was followed up with a near complete game, leaving with one out left in an eventual 4-2 win over the Mavs. Bartlett allowed 9 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), and a walk, striking out 6 to improve to 4-2. The low walk total was huge for him, as he already has two 5-walk starts and a 9.2 BB%. Despite that, his ability to generate grounders and weak contact has allowed him to find success without it.

Monthly awards took center stage, but as always FABL delivers their weekly awards each Monday. He didn't get the rookie award, but Millers rookie Bill Barber (.322, 11, 56) was Fed Player of the Week, the first of his young career. He won Rookie of the Month in April and May, and with this week he's looking to get back into things with July. 11-for-26, he hit 6 doubles and 2 homers with 2 walks and 5 runs scored and driven in. In the Conti, it was the struggling Johnny Kelley (.277, 1, 23, 4), who even after a big week still owns just a 83 WRC+ in 84 games. KC's second basemen had about his season's worth of production in one week, 15-for-29 with 6 runs, 2 doubles, a triple, a steal, 3 walks, 7 RBIs, and his first and so far only homer of the season. It was his first since 1972, and his only one in 859 PAs as a Maverick.
All-Star teams will be announced over the weekend, with players getting one last chance to showcase their skills. The battles for pitching spots are always tight and highly contested, but so should a lot of the other position player votes. Others will be easy, as you can already pen in guys like Tom Lally (.306, 20, 65, 6) and Hal Bennett (11-4, 1.99, 60), who have been nothing short of elite this season.
A majority of the first round has signed, with three remaining first rounders. The most notable add is 5th overall pick Pete Ayers, as Cleveland's new top prospect checks in at 4th overall. It is now likely that the new class will have half the top-10 prospects, with Ayers joined by Frank Torsiello (1st), George Carney (2nd), Tom Brewer (8th), and Harry May (10th). May is the only non-first rounder, taken 49th overall, slightly edging Milwaukee first rounder Willis Amason for the final spot in the top ten.
Other new additions to the top-100 incldue Ralph Reed (LAS, 21st; #13), Buzz Miller (SEA, 23rd; #21), Ray Moran (SEA, 47th, #36), Sam Cramer (MIL, 41st; #39), Elmer Allen (STL, 38th; #90), Clyde Bacon (CLE, 245th; #95), Mikey Wyatt (LAS, 93rd; #97), and Gilby Smith (CHI, 244th, #98). Reed and Miller are the only 1st Rounders, with Bacon and Smith both taken in the 11th.
Baltimore and Cincinnati made another trade, acquiring corner infielder Jack Jewell (.600, 3) from the Cannons for minor league pitcher Ken King. Jewell, who the Clippers added right to the active roster, is a former undrafted free agent who worked his way up to the Cannons roster for the 1972 season. He spent time on the bench that year and the next, but was later DFA'd. Now back in the majors, he's really no more then a bench piece, but all they had to give up is a below average young reliever.
During Marco Middleton's shutout, Don Riley (.286, 3, 28, 22) tried to steal the headlines, as the speedy outfielder was a perfect 5-for-5 in the 7-0 win. Adding a double, 2 steals, and 2 runs, the 1972 All-Star was a key part even if his runs weren't really needed. 34 in August, he's hit a solid .286/.396/.378 (118 OPS+) on the year, on track for his second career 5 WAR season. The shutout wasn't the only of the day either, as Jay Hunt (7-6, 1.96, 72) got back above .500 with a 4-hit shutout of the Pioneers. It seems like games like that are the only way the Comets' righty can win, as despite his sub-2 ERA, he was as poor as 2-5 with a 2.72 ERA when June started.
Add another shutout for John Roberts (3-5, 3.81, 40), who also seems like he can only win when he doesn't allow runs. His second of the season, he held the first place Arrows to 6 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. Just 3 wins on the season, he's won back-to-back starts, but in his first 15 games (7 starts) his only win was a shutout to start his season. The pen is unfamiliar territory for Roberts, started the first 347 games of his FABL career.
A final shutout went to the reigning Allen winner, as Roger Alford (8-9, 3.22, 61) used his infield to stymie the Mavericks offense. Generating 17 groundballs, Alford burned plenty of worms in his 5-hit shutout. All but one ball was in play, as he struck out one and didn't walk any, improving to 8-9 on the season. Despite the poor record, his 3.22 ERA (120 ERA+) and 3.32 FIP (85 FIP-) are outstanding, but it's unlikely he'll return for his second All-Star appearance this year.
Bad news for Bill Austin (.270, 3, 25, 2), who will have to wait a few more days before returning to action. Expected to return this week, he suffered a minor setback in his recovery. The high ankle sprain has cost him nearly two months, and while they've done well without him, they could really use his bat. Second basemen Melvin Williams (.215, 34, 26, 3) has just a 61 WRC+ in 76 games and Austin's replacement at third George Crain (.264, 4, 26, 2) is higher, but still below average, at 89. I'd expect Austin to replace Williams at second, as the almost 24-year-old Crain has more upside, versatility, and does good to work the count.
We'll have a reunion in Chicago this week, as the Cougars claimed their former 12th Rounder Tom McDaniel (0-0, 1, 7.11, 11) off waivers from the Saints. A 29-year-old reliever, McDaniel debuted for the Cougars in 1970 and pitched in each season with Chicago through 1974. He had some success, a 3.67 ERA (102 ERA+) and 1.32 WHIP with 20 saves and 87 strikeouts in 161.2 innings. His 13 appearances with Montreal did not go well, as he allowed 39 hits, 20 runs, and 8 walks in 25.1 innings. Despite that, his 3.99 FIP (102 FIP-) was right around average, and since the Cougars are in need of some pen help after Bill Jackson (1-1, 5, 2.31, 1) fractured his elbow.

FOOTBALL CONFERENCE PREVIEW: ROCKY MOUNTAIN AND SOUTHERN BORDER

Two western leagues take the spotlight this week as our college football previews continue with a look at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Association and the Southern Border Association. Neither conference has ever claimed a national championship, but both have enjoyed moments on the national stage—and each enters the season with its own familiar storylines and lingering questions.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Association

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Association has flirted with prominence over the years, most notably in 1966 when South Valley State stormed to an 11–1 season, capped by a Bayside Classic victory and a fifth-place finish in the final polls. More recently, the conference returned to the New Year’s spotlight last season as Utah A&M earned its first-ever Classic berth.

The Aggies made the most of the opportunity, edging independent Commonwealth Catholic 23–20 in the Lone Star Classic to finish 11–1. Their lone defeat came at the hands of Cache Valley in conference play, but a modest schedule ultimately left Utah A&M slotted tenth in the final rankings. Still, it marked the program’s first conference championship since 1957 and signaled a shift in a league dominated in recent years by Wyoming A&I.

Utah A&M’s rise has been fueled by one of the most unusual stars in the country. Freshman quarterback Ernest Kidd captured the Christian Trophy last season, becoming the first quarterback to win the award since 1948. Kidd, however, is a quarterback in name only. He threw for just 477 yards but led the nation in rushing with an astonishing 1,763 yards and 15 touchdowns, redefining the position in the process. At just 19, Kidd will again be the centerpiece as the Aggies aim for another New Year’s appearance.

The RMAA’s history with the Christian Trophy runs deeper than Kidd alone. South Valley State running back Harry Clinton claimed the honor in 1959, while Utah A&M fullback Marty Wargo won it in 1954—evidence that while the conference may lack national titles, it has produced elite individual talent.

Utah A&M enters the season as the favorite, but Wyoming A&I is expected to provide stiff resistance. The Prospectors return one of the most punishing backfields in the region, led by sophomore Harold Cox and junior Barry Bergeron, both of whom topped 1,300 rushing yards a year ago. If anyone is poised to knock the Aggies from their perch, it may well be Wyoming A&I, which entered last season having won four titles in a six year period.

Southern Border Association

The Southern Border Association’s path to national recognition runs annually through El Paso. The conference champion receives an automatic berth in the Desert Classic, where the SBA representative faces an at-large opponent on New Year’s Day. The results, however, have been uneven at best.

Last season, Valley State earned the trip but struggled mightily, falling 37–13 to Whitney College. That result was hardly an anomaly. The SBA champion has won just eight of 34 Desert Classic appearances, with the last victory coming seven years ago when El Paso Methodist defeated Carolina Poly.

While the conference has yet to produce a Christian Trophy winner, it has not gone unnoticed on the defensive side of the ball. Two years ago, Valley State defensive back Alvin Butters was named the AIAA’s top defender, and last season Canyon A&M sophomore cornerback Edward King earned All-American honors.

Parity remains the defining trait of the Southern Border Association recently. Three different schools have claimed the conference title over the past three seasons, and no clear favorite has emerged heading into the fall. That balance makes the league unpredictable—and dangerous—though it also means the SBA champion will once again be tested when it reaches the Desert Classic stage.

As the season approaches, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Association appears to have a standard-bearer in Utah A&M, while the Southern Border Association remains wide open. One conference leans on a singular, electrifying star. The other relies on depth, defense, and weekly uncertainty. Together, they form one of the more intriguing corners of the college football landscape.

WOLVES PITCHING RETURNS TO OLD WAYS

Toronto baseball fans who had begun to think that the pitching has improved after a week of lower scoring received a rude awakening this week. It started with a 6-2 loss on the last day of June in Montreal then things got progressively worse with a few exceptions as June turned to July. The Saints took two more games by scores of 6-2 and 10-4 before in a game rare offensive output Toronto avoided a 4 game sweep by winning 12-2 led by Jackie Daniels' two home run 4 RBI night.

Returning home after an arduous road trip Wolves ran their winning streak to two with a walkoff walk in the ninth against Cleveland. The Foresters got their revenge in the Saturday twin bill by manhandling the home side 8-3 and 17-4 leaving the fans, staff and players shaking their heads. Fans, or at least the few left in the stands, also serenaded the players off the field with boos.

The team won on Sunday afternoon before a surprising large crowd of 12,465 surviving 4 errors while banging out 14 hits including 3 homers to win 10-7. As Dunbar has said since the spring this team needs pitching and defense to win on a consistent basis and this win was more good luck than good play.

Toronto now heads into the All-Star break with hosting Seattle and Los Angeles who have won 9 of the 12 games from the Wolves this season before heading west for 9 games after the short hiatus. They had a 2-7 record on the same trip west in May.

In better news for the future Pedro Maldonado was Union League's player of the month after hitting 12 HR, driving in 28 while scoring 26 times in June. For the season on a struggling Nickels team Maldonado has a line of .283/.396/.528 18 HR 55 RBI making it difficult for the GM to keep him down on the farm. The front office line is they want him to stay down to work on his game, while Les Reid remains hot in the FABL. In Davenport Moses Watts received the same award in the Heartland League after hitting .381 in June scoring 27 runs. At 22 he still needs work at short to move up to AA, he is currently blocked by Scotty Timmons' .306/.365/.469 performance in the Dixie League along with strong fielding at short, second.

Another draftee signed, as lefty Mel Cannon, drafted in the 4th round will make his professional debut in Tuscaloosa this week. Negotiations continue with the others selected; the team will start moving player around in system once the Rookie League roster begins to fill out.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 07/06/1975

President Ford announces conditional federal aid plan for New York City, proposing loan guarantees tied to strict fiscal oversight, ending weeks of uncertainty over Washington’s role.
New York City averts immediate shutdown, as emergency financing allows payrolls to be met and basic services to continue through the summer.
Canada unveils tougher anti-inflation stance, with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau signaling that voluntary restraint may give way to mandatory wage and price controls.
Supreme Court clears final cases before recess, issuing decisions on school desegregation remedies and criminal justice that draw national attention.
Congress moves closer to amending War Powers Act, with bipartisan momentum building after committee approvals earlier in the summer.
Energy prices edge upward despite steady supply, as refiners raise gasoline prices ahead of peak holiday travel.
Indochinese refugee housing shortages surface, with several U.S. states and Canadian cities warning that emergency placements are nearing capacity.
Bicentennial planning intensifies nationwide, as federal and local officials accelerate preparations for 1976 celebrations amid budget scrutiny.

01-28-2026, 02:26 PM	#1219
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,856	July 7, 1975 JULY 7, 1975 VALENTINE TAKES MVP AS NAHC HANDS OUT HARDWARE The St. Louis Sawyers didn’t hang around long in the playoffs, but their regular season had more than enough shine to put Pat Valentine front and center when the NAHC passed out its year-end awards. Valentine, the Sawyers’ smooth-skating seventh-year center, was named the winner of the McDaniels Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player after turning in the finest season of his career. The 29-year-old piled up 114 points, finished third in league scoring, and edged out two defensemen—Boston’s Andy Agar and Montreal Valiants stalwart Mark Moggy—for the game’s top individual honor. Moggy, who captured the McDaniels back in 1968-69, remains the only defenseman in the modern era ever to win the award. For Valentine, the trophy is another notch on a résumé already marked by respect around the league. He won the Yeadon Trophy for gentlemanly play four years ago, and this season he backed that reputation with production, appearing in all 80 games and setting career highs with 43 goals and 114 points. His playmaking touch also lifted his wingers, Bernie Caldwell and Jim Hughes, to personal bests. Only Boston scored more goals than St. Louis during the regular season, as the Sawyers finished second in the Yeadon Division before being ushered out of the playoffs by Los Angeles. Agar may have come up short in the MVP balloting, but he hardly went home empty-handed. The Boston defenseman captured the Dewar Trophy as the league’s top rearguard for the second straight season and added the Paddy O’Donoghue Trophy, awarded by a vote of the players to the man they consider the best in the NAHC. Several other trophies found first-time homes this year, beginning with Chicago goaltender Rejean Gillies, who won the Juneau Trophy as the league’s top netminder. Gillies, 35, became the first Packer to claim the award since Michael Cleghorn took home a pair more than two decades ago. A late bloomer, Gillies finally got his chance after years in the minors when expansion arrived. Gillies, who debuted in the NAHC at age 28 in 1967-68, played 66 games this season and posting a 36-19-8 record, a 2.91 goals-against average, and a .905 save percentage. The Sudbury, Ontario native spent four seasons with San Francisco before being acquired by Chicago prior to the 1971-72 campaign. The Yeadon Trophy for sportsmanship and skill went to Detroit Motors veteran Yves Dagenais. Now 31, Dagenais led the NAHC with a record 85 assists and finished second in the scoring race behind Philadelphia’s Adam McPherson. McPherson, in turn, claimed the Denny Trophy as the league’s leading scorer, marking the second straight season a Rogues player topped the charts following Gary Yeadon’s scoring title a year ago. Rookie of the Year honors, the McLeod Trophy, were awarded to Boston Bees center Mark Berg. The 22-year-old former Saint John Saints junior combined grit with scoring touch, racking up 179 penalty minutes while scoring 28 goals and 57 points—nearly mirroring his offensive production the previous season with Springfield of the minors. The First All-Star Team blended fresh faces with familiar ones. Montreal defenseman Mark Moggy earned his 11th first-team selection in a 15-year career, while Valentine and Agar each appeared on the top unit for the third time. Philadelphia’s Gary Yeadon was named for the second consecutive season, joined by teammate McPherson who, like Chicago’s Gillies made his first appearance on the First Team. Minneapolis dominated the Second All-Star Team, placing goaltender Al Ferguson and the forward trio of Bill Sullivan, Anthony Baptiste, and Tom Rowley. It marked Ferguson’s second selection to the Second Team and the first for each of his Norsemen teammates. The defensive pairing consisted of St. Louis veteran Hugh McLaren, earning his third Second Team nod, alongside Boston’s Barry Waddington, who repeated the honor he received a year ago. Below is the complete list of award winners. BLAIR, MIDDLETON TAKE FED AWARDS AFTER JUNE DOMINANCE IN ATLANTA When you go 26-3 in a month, it's almost assumed you are going to get rewarded for it, but for the Atlanta Copperheads a FABL high 61 wins and a 20 game division lead isn't all. You also get the Batter and the Pitcher of the Month. It was a two-man race for Batter of the Month, with the winner Jack Blair (.346, 8, 61, 21) and the close runner up Al Hubbard (.310, 10, 44, 11). Hubbard hit well, an excellent .408/.510/.592 (208 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 3 homers, 14 walks, 14 RBIs, and 16 runs scored. But compared to Blair, that was just second best. Atlanta's right fielder managed an even higher .427/.471/.655 (213 OPS+) with even more counting stats. He had 26 runs, 8 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, 31 RBIs, 10 steals, and 9 walks. He didn't slow in July either, batting .389/.560/.444 (184 OPS+) in his first 7 games. This has improved his season line to .346/.404/.482 (147 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 8 homers, 44 runs, and 61 RBIs. After leading the Fed with 36 steals last year, he's already up to 21 this year, good for a 40+ steal pace, and after an ice cold April, Blair has done everything he can to keep the Copperheads winning. Same goes for Marco Middleton (12-1, 2.48, 93), Pitcher of the Month, who's perfect 5-0 June improved his season record to 11-1. There was a no decision mixed in, as Middleton held his opponents to a 2.61 ERA (146 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP, striking out 38 in 48.1 innings pitched. Like Blair, the change in month didn't slow him down, and he again put together another production in dominance. This time a shutout, Middleton scattered 5 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4 in a 7-0 win in New York. Now 12-1, He has a 2.48 ERA (153 ERA+), 2.93 FIP (75 FIP-), and 1.11 WHIP in 130.2 innings pitched. The 4-Time Allen winner should be an 8-Time All-Star, as his Copperheads are well on their way to a fourth consecutive 100-win season. * Top Rookie Dynamo First Basemen * On the Fed side, the only award not going to the Copperheads was the Rookie of the Month, going to 89th ranked prospect and former 9th overall pick Lou Strader. An outfielder moved to first, he's always impressed with the bat, and that was exactly what happened in June. His first full month in Detroit, Strader hit a nice .288/.378/.500 (142 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 5 homers, 15 walks, 15 RBIs, and 20 runs scored. Like the other award winners, he kept it up in July, going 6-for-18 with 3 runs, 3 doubles, a triple, homer, 3 RBIs, and 3 walks. Since his mid-may callup, he's been nothing short of excellent, hitting .297/.398/.541 (159 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 10 homers, 30 walks, 30 RBIs, and 37 runs scored. Close to his .322/.433/.598 (166 OPS+) AAA triple slash, he's been key in Detroit moving above .500. Coming off a long stretch of subpar seasons, they're still above .500, up to 43-40 and just 6 games out of first. With Strader in the cleanup spot, they've shown a lot of improvement, lightening the load off talented outfielders Geoff Taylor (.303, 8, 41, 13) and Buddy Ensey (.352, 9, 54, 11). Even Detroit themselves didn't expect to play this well, but if they have another Strader or two in the minors to help them out, they could really make the Fed West race interesting. CONTINENTAL AWARDS SPLIT, SEATTLE SURPRISINGLY ABSENT All season long the Seattle Kings have dominated the Continental Association, but for once that dominance didn't spill over to award voting. Left out of the ceremony, it was players from Dallas, Cleveland, and Chicago that were rewarded for their efforts. Dallas had the headliner, as despite battling with a knee and hamstring injury, the Chicago born Nick Parker (.338, 9, 47, 5) was named Continental Batter of the Month. Seemingly always dealing with an injury of some kind, the near 27-year-old decided to forego the IL stints that usually come with them, hitting a robust .391/.482/.598 (196 OPS+), the first basemen tacked on 10 doubles, 3 homers, 18 RBIs, 17 runs, 17 steals, and even 3 steals, and after a week of July games he's hitting .338/.438/.502 (159 OPS+) on the season. His bat helped fuel the Wranglers June turnaround, as they followed their 7-19 May with a much improved 17-12 June. Now 41-43, they won't come close to their franchise high 95 wins from last year, but they could at least put together a third consecutive winning season. For pitchers, it was 35-year-old Roy Rice (10-5, 3.11, 89), who went 6-0 for the Foresters in 7 starts. A big reason why Cleveland is now a game over .500, Rice held a 2.66 ERA (143 ERA+), 2.52 FIP (65 FIP-), and 1.14 WHIP in 50.2 innings, striking out 41 to just 17 walks. Dating back to May 12th, he's now won eight consecutive decisions, an impressive 10-5 in 19 starts. The 1972 All-Star is looking for his second trip, working to a 3.11 ERA (123 ERA+), 2.99 FIP (77 FIP-), and 1.11 WHIP in 130.1 innings pitched. A surprising source of consistency, the flyball pitcher has finally kept the ball in the park, as he went from a Conti leading 28 allowed last year to just 6 so far. If this holds, Rice could complete his second star level season with the Foresters, and his 3.3 WAR is just 0.4 off his previous high of 3.7 in his All-Star season. The top rookie also came from the mound, as hot-shot Cougar farmhand Bill Bartlett (4-2, 2.42, 25) was named the Association's top rookie. When June started, he was actually still in the Century League, and he was called up for a June 9th debut. Bartlett replaced the injured Hal Adams (3-5, 4.20, 37), and he picked up a complete game win in his FABL debut against Toronto. Despite his lack of experience, he's had little issues in the majors, and went 3-2 with a 2.51 ERA (155 ERA+), 3.44 FIP (88 FIP-), and 1.18 WHIP in his first big league month. That was followed up with a near complete game, leaving with one out left in an eventual 4-2 win over the Mavs. Bartlett allowed 9 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), and a walk, striking out 6 to improve to 4-2. The low walk total was huge for him, as he already has two 5-walk starts and a 9.2 BB%. Despite that, his ability to generate grounders and weak contact has allowed him to find success without it. Monthly awards took center stage, but as always FABL delivers their weekly awards each Monday. He didn't get the rookie award, but Millers rookie Bill Barber (.322, 11, 56) was Fed Player of the Week, the first of his young career. He won Rookie of the Month in April and May, and with this week he's looking to get back into things with July. 11-for-26, he hit 6 doubles and 2 homers with 2 walks and 5 runs scored and driven in. In the Conti, it was the struggling Johnny Kelley (.277, 1, 23, 4), who even after a big week still owns just a 83 WRC+ in 84 games. KC's second basemen had about his season's worth of production in one week, 15-for-29 with 6 runs, 2 doubles, a triple, a steal, 3 walks, 7 RBIs, and his first and so far only homer of the season. It was his first since 1972, and his only one in 859 PAs as a Maverick. All-Star teams will be announced over the weekend, with players getting one last chance to showcase their skills. The battles for pitching spots are always tight and highly contested, but so should a lot of the other position player votes. Others will be easy, as you can already pen in guys like Tom Lally (.306, 20, 65, 6) and Hal Bennett (11-4, 1.99, 60), who have been nothing short of elite this season. A majority of the first round has signed, with three remaining first rounders. The most notable add is 5th overall pick Pete Ayers, as Cleveland's new top prospect checks in at 4th overall. It is now likely that the new class will have half the top-10 prospects, with Ayers joined by Frank Torsiello (1st), George Carney (2nd), Tom Brewer (8th), and Harry May (10th). May is the only non-first rounder, taken 49th overall, slightly edging Milwaukee first rounder Willis Amason for the final spot in the top ten. Other new additions to the top-100 incldue Ralph Reed (LAS, 21st; #13), Buzz Miller (SEA, 23rd; #21), Ray Moran (SEA, 47th, #36), Sam Cramer (MIL, 41st; #39), Elmer Allen (STL, 38th; #90), Clyde Bacon (CLE, 245th; #95), Mikey Wyatt (LAS, 93rd; #97), and Gilby Smith (CHI, 244th, #98). Reed and Miller are the only 1st Rounders, with Bacon and Smith both taken in the 11th. Baltimore and Cincinnati made another trade, acquiring corner infielder Jack Jewell (.600, 3) from the Cannons for minor league pitcher Ken King. Jewell, who the Clippers added right to the active roster, is a former undrafted free agent who worked his way up to the Cannons roster for the 1972 season. He spent time on the bench that year and the next, but was later DFA'd. Now back in the majors, he's really no more then a bench piece, but all they had to give up is a below average young reliever. During Marco Middleton's shutout, Don Riley (.286, 3, 28, 22) tried to steal the headlines, as the speedy outfielder was a perfect 5-for-5 in the 7-0 win. Adding a double, 2 steals, and 2 runs, the 1972 All-Star was a key part even if his runs weren't really needed. 34 in August, he's hit a solid .286/.396/.378 (118 OPS+) on the year, on track for his second career 5 WAR season. The shutout wasn't the only of the day either, as Jay Hunt (7-6, 1.96, 72) got back above .500 with a 4-hit shutout of the Pioneers. It seems like games like that are the only way the Comets' righty can win, as despite his sub-2 ERA, he was as poor as 2-5 with a 2.72 ERA when June started. Add another shutout for John Roberts (3-5, 3.81, 40), who also seems like he can only win when he doesn't allow runs. His second of the season, he held the first place Arrows to 6 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. Just 3 wins on the season, he's won back-to-back starts, but in his first 15 games (7 starts) his only win was a shutout to start his season. The pen is unfamiliar territory for Roberts, started the first 347 games of his FABL career. A final shutout went to the reigning Allen winner, as Roger Alford (8-9, 3.22, 61) used his infield to stymie the Mavericks offense. Generating 17 groundballs, Alford burned plenty of worms in his 5-hit shutout. All but one ball was in play, as he struck out one and didn't walk any, improving to 8-9 on the season. Despite the poor record, his 3.22 ERA (120 ERA+) and 3.32 FIP (85 FIP-) are outstanding, but it's unlikely he'll return for his second All-Star appearance this year. Bad news for Bill Austin (.270, 3, 25, 2), who will have to wait a few more days before returning to action. Expected to return this week, he suffered a minor setback in his recovery. The high ankle sprain has cost him nearly two months, and while they've done well without him, they could really use his bat. Second basemen Melvin Williams (.215, 34, 26, 3) has just a 61 WRC+ in 76 games and Austin's replacement at third George Crain (.264, 4, 26, 2) is higher, but still below average, at 89. I'd expect Austin to replace Williams at second, as the almost 24-year-old Crain has more upside, versatility, and does good to work the count. We'll have a reunion in Chicago this week, as the Cougars claimed their former 12th Rounder Tom McDaniel (0-0, 1, 7.11, 11) off waivers from the Saints. A 29-year-old reliever, McDaniel debuted for the Cougars in 1970 and pitched in each season with Chicago through 1974. He had some success, a 3.67 ERA (102 ERA+) and 1.32 WHIP with 20 saves and 87 strikeouts in 161.2 innings. His 13 appearances with Montreal did not go well, as he allowed 39 hits, 20 runs, and 8 walks in 25.1 innings. Despite that, his 3.99 FIP (102 FIP-) was right around average, and since the Cougars are in need of some pen help after Bill Jackson (1-1, 5, 2.31, 1) fractured his elbow. FOOTBALL CONFERENCE PREVIEW: ROCKY MOUNTAIN AND SOUTHERN BORDER Two western leagues take the spotlight this week as our college football previews continue with a look at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Association and the Southern Border Association. Neither conference has ever claimed a national championship, but both have enjoyed moments on the national stage—and each enters the season with its own familiar storylines and lingering questions. Rocky Mountain Athletic Association The Rocky Mountain Athletic Association has flirted with prominence over the years, most notably in 1966 when South Valley State stormed to an 11–1 season, capped by a Bayside Classic victory and a fifth-place finish in the final polls. More recently, the conference returned to the New Year’s spotlight last season as Utah A&M earned its first-ever Classic berth. The Aggies made the most of the opportunity, edging independent Commonwealth Catholic 23–20 in the Lone Star Classic to finish 11–1. Their lone defeat came at the hands of Cache Valley in conference play, but a modest schedule ultimately left Utah A&M slotted tenth in the final rankings. Still, it marked the program’s first conference championship since 1957 and signaled a shift in a league dominated in recent years by Wyoming A&I. Utah A&M’s rise has been fueled by one of the most unusual stars in the country. Freshman quarterback Ernest Kidd captured the Christian Trophy last season, becoming the first quarterback to win the award since 1948. Kidd, however, is a quarterback in name only. He threw for just 477 yards but led the nation in rushing with an astonishing 1,763 yards and 15 touchdowns, redefining the position in the process. At just 19, Kidd will again be the centerpiece as the Aggies aim for another New Year’s appearance. The RMAA’s history with the Christian Trophy runs deeper than Kidd alone. South Valley State running back Harry Clinton claimed the honor in 1959, while Utah A&M fullback Marty Wargo won it in 1954—evidence that while the conference may lack national titles, it has produced elite individual talent. Utah A&M enters the season as the favorite, but Wyoming A&I is expected to provide stiff resistance. The Prospectors return one of the most punishing backfields in the region, led by sophomore Harold Cox and junior Barry Bergeron, both of whom topped 1,300 rushing yards a year ago. If anyone is poised to knock the Aggies from their perch, it may well be Wyoming A&I, which entered last season having won four titles in a six year period. Southern Border Association The Southern Border Association’s path to national recognition runs annually through El Paso. The conference champion receives an automatic berth in the Desert Classic, where the SBA representative faces an at-large opponent on New Year’s Day. The results, however, have been uneven at best. Last season, Valley State earned the trip but struggled mightily, falling 37–13 to Whitney College. That result was hardly an anomaly. The SBA champion has won just eight of 34 Desert Classic appearances, with the last victory coming seven years ago when El Paso Methodist defeated Carolina Poly. While the conference has yet to produce a Christian Trophy winner, it has not gone unnoticed on the defensive side of the ball. Two years ago, Valley State defensive back Alvin Butters was named the AIAA’s top defender, and last season Canyon A&M sophomore cornerback Edward King earned All-American honors. Parity remains the defining trait of the Southern Border Association recently. Three different schools have claimed the conference title over the past three seasons, and no clear favorite has emerged heading into the fall. That balance makes the league unpredictable—and dangerous—though it also means the SBA champion will once again be tested when it reaches the Desert Classic stage. As the season approaches, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Association appears to have a standard-bearer in Utah A&M, while the Southern Border Association remains wide open. One conference leans on a singular, electrifying star. The other relies on depth, defense, and weekly uncertainty. Together, they form one of the more intriguing corners of the college football landscape. WOLVES PITCHING RETURNS TO OLD WAYS Toronto baseball fans who had begun to think that the pitching has improved after a week of lower scoring received a rude awakening this week. It started with a 6-2 loss on the last day of June in Montreal then things got progressively worse with a few exceptions as June turned to July. The Saints took two more games by scores of 6-2 and 10-4 before in a game rare offensive output Toronto avoided a 4 game sweep by winning 12-2 led by Jackie Daniels' two home run 4 RBI night. Returning home after an arduous road trip Wolves ran their winning streak to two with a walkoff walk in the ninth against Cleveland. The Foresters got their revenge in the Saturday twin bill by manhandling the home side 8-3 and 17-4 leaving the fans, staff and players shaking their heads. Fans, or at least the few left in the stands, also serenaded the players off the field with boos. The team won on Sunday afternoon before a surprising large crowd of 12,465 surviving 4 errors while banging out 14 hits including 3 homers to win 10-7. As Dunbar has said since the spring this team needs pitching and defense to win on a consistent basis and this win was more good luck than good play. Toronto now heads into the All-Star break with hosting Seattle and Los Angeles who have won 9 of the 12 games from the Wolves this season before heading west for 9 games after the short hiatus. They had a 2-7 record on the same trip west in May. In better news for the future Pedro Maldonado was Union League's player of the month after hitting 12 HR, driving in 28 while scoring 26 times in June. For the season on a struggling Nickels team Maldonado has a line of .283/.396/.528 18 HR 55 RBI making it difficult for the GM to keep him down on the farm. The front office line is they want him to stay down to work on his game, while Les Reid remains hot in the FABL. In Davenport Moses Watts received the same award in the Heartland League after hitting .381 in June scoring 27 runs. At 22 he still needs work at short to move up to AA, he is currently blocked by Scotty Timmons' .306/.365/.469 performance in the Dixie League along with strong fielding at short, second. Another draftee signed, as lefty Mel Cannon, drafted in the 4th round will make his professional debut in Tuscaloosa this week. Negotiations continue with the others selected; the team will start moving player around in system once the Rookie League roster begins to fill out. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 07/06/1975 President Ford announces conditional federal aid plan for New York City, proposing loan guarantees tied to strict fiscal oversight, ending weeks of uncertainty over Washington’s role. New York City averts immediate shutdown, as emergency financing allows payrolls to be met and basic services to continue through the summer. Canada unveils tougher anti-inflation stance, with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau signaling that voluntary restraint may give way to mandatory wage and price controls. Supreme Court clears final cases before recess, issuing decisions on school desegregation remedies and criminal justice that draw national attention. Congress moves closer to amending War Powers Act, with bipartisan momentum building after committee approvals earlier in the summer. Energy prices edge upward despite steady supply, as refiners raise gasoline prices ahead of peak holiday travel. Indochinese refugee housing shortages surface, with several U.S. states and Canadian cities warning that emergency placements are nearing capacity. Bicentennial planning intensifies nationwide, as federal and local officials accelerate preparations for 1976 celebrations amid budget scrutiny. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles