All things Figment - from the pages of The Figment Sporting Journal - Page 60

Tiger Fan · 12-04-2025, 03:41 PM

CAN THE DYNAMOS TURN THINGS AROUND?

Detroit, Dec 30, 1974 --A rare ripple of excitement rolled out of Thompson Field this week—no small feat for a ballpark where optimism has been in short supply for far too long. Detroit fans know the feeling all too well: the football Maroons haven’t won a postseason game since the winter of ’37, and the summer tenants haven’t fared much better. The Dynamos last reached the playoffs in 1958, the final chapter of that remarkable “Dream Decade” when the club stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the great dynasties in baseball history.

Now, the architect of that golden era is back.

Tiger Fan—the general manager who built the core of Detroit’s 1950s powerhouse—is returning to take the reins once again. The December 27 press conference announcing his hire felt like an early Christmas present for a fan base desperate for one. Tiger Fan’s résumé needs no embellishment: a World Championship Series crown in Brooklyn, two more in Cincinnati, and his fingerprints all over the 1952–58 run when Detroit captured three titles and six pennants in seven seasons.

This time, however, the climb looks steeper. The 1974 club tied for the worst record in the FABL. The Dynamos have posted just a single winning season since Tiger Fan stepped aside after 1963, and even the lean mid-1930s begin to look prosperous by comparison. Detroit has finished last in the Federal West three times in the past four years and hit a grim .383 winning percentage this past season—one of the lowest in franchise history.

Some Talent in the Batting Order

The cupboard isn’t entirely bare. While no Dynamo appears on OSA’s top-20 position-player list, three are ranked among the top ten at their respective positions. Chief among them is Bill Austin (.297, 11, 95), though his position for 1975 remains unsettled. Austin is a natural second baseman, but with the acquisition of Melvin Williams (.280, 5, 24) from the Los Angeles Stars, the club is considering shifting Austin to third. Williams will get a chance to compete at second, where he’ll battle veteran Virgil Ewing who hopes to return at the hot corner. Ewing, 39, was one of Tiger Fan’s acquisitions during his early-’60s tenure, but Father Time now looms over his roster spot. Austin's final position depends upon whether Williams or Ewing is more impressive in Lakeland this March.

There is also a third path: Austin remains Detroit’s most valuable trade chip. With the organization openly embracing a three-year rebuild, the three-time All-Star could be moved for much-needed youth.

Jack Lucas returns at first base after hitting .316—his best mark since capturing the ’66 batting title. His lack of power remains the knock against him, but he’s one of the few reliable bats in the lineup. At shortstop, Detroit will choose between 27-year-old Elmer Mortensen, a career .180 hitter, and newly acquired 21-year-old Alberto Alvarez. Alvarez hit only .197 in a brief September look with Baltimore, but he is widely regarded as a future defensive standout. On a club clearly not built to contend in 1975, youth is likely to win out.

Behind the plate, Harvey Van Orden may not crack OSA’s top ten, but Tiger Fan and long-time scouting director Chuck Cole remain high on the 32-year-old. Van Orden hit .235 last year and brings some pop—more importantly, he’ll be tasked with steadying what is expected to be a very inexperienced pitching staff.

Outfield Is the Club’s Strength

If there is one organizational bright spot, it’s the outfield. Corner men Buddy Ensey and Dave Black—27 and 29, respectively—both rate among the top ten at their positions and are young enough to survive the rebuild. The soft spot is centerfield, where Geoff Taylor provides middling offense and limited range.

Help is on the way. The Dynamos boast two top-20 prospects in Charlie Watson (19) and Don Simpson (18), both former first-round picks. Watson is expected to open at High-A Terre Haute and could reach AAA by season's end. Simpson will start in Short-A and follow a similar path one year behind. For 1975, the stopgap solution may be Neal Allen, a 1966 12th-rounder who hit well in AAA and fields the position cleanly.

Dynamos Put Faith in Skipper Cleaves

One of Tiger Fan’s first moves was securing manager Roger Cleaves and his entire coaching staff with multi-year extensions—a clear signal that Cleaves is the man for Detroit’s long-term plan. After years as Harry Barrell’s right-hand man in Montreal—helping steer the Saints to five straight division crowns and two WCS titles—Cleaves endured a 100-loss baptism in Detroit. Stability on the bench is one thing the organization can control, and Tiger Fan intends to keep it that way.

Pitching Staff Still a Major Question

Detroit had the worst pitching in the Federal Association last season, and with three of the five primary starters gone, the 1975 staff may be held together with crossed fingers and long hopes.

The rotation will include a pair of reclamation projects. Ossie Schreiber, the former No. 1 overall pick and once a top-ten prospect, arrives from Milwaukee after years of inconsistency. He went 23–26 with two clubs and spent most of last season in AAA, but Detroit intends to give the 28-year-old lefty every chance to salvage his career.

Carl Hoffman, the 1967 second overall pick, has endured two major elbow injuries but remains intriguing. Acquired two years ago, he posted a 7–11 mark with a 4.33 ERA in 1973 before another year mostly in AAA. Detroit considers this a pivotal season for the now-26-year-old.

Jack Williams (9–16, 4.51) and Jack Vander Kooi (7–14, 4.30) return, and the fifth spot belongs to newcomer Pat Fortier, a Baltimore waiver claim whose sparkling 2.38 ERA last year was helped by the lowest BABIP in the Continental Association. Detroit is under no illusions that those numbers will repeat, but options are scarce.

A Brighter Pitching Future

Despite the thin big-league staff, Cole believes the future is strong—if the kids hold up their end. Richard Elk, 23, debuted in September and is viewed internally as a potential front-line arm. OSA is less bullish but still sees a reliable starter. Elk struggled in AAA, but Detroit insists he won’t be relegated to the bullpen; he’ll either start in Detroit or refine his craft in AAA.

Ed South, 21, is another cornerstone candidate. Drafted last year out of Indiana A&M, he reached Detroit by August and appeared 11 times in relief. He’ll likely open 1975 in AAA, but a dominant spring could accelerate the timeline.

Behind them is Emil Maas, 23, a fourth-rounder from 1969 projected as a mid-rotation piece, and 19-year-old Aaron Cooper, the promising 1973 third-rounder from Napa who is expected to reach Detroit by ’77.

Immediate Outlook Bleak, But Hope on the Horizon

It’s hard to picture this club winning 75 games in 1975 without multiple pitching surprises. More likely is a busy trade season, with veterans—most notably Bill Austin—shipped out in exchange for youth.

The farm system ranks fifth in the 24-team league, but its depth is uneven, particularly in the infield. Beyond the pitching prospects and outfielders Watson and Simpson, the next most interesting names are catcher Jose Chavez—still rehabbing a broken elbow—and recently acquired 18-year-old infielder Al Ireland, who may one day replace Austin.

Detroit also holds the No. 2 pick in next month’s FABL draft, and all signs point toward selecting a polished college player to accelerate the rebuild.

A swift turnaround in ’75 or even ’76 is unlikely. Yet with a respected GM back in charge, a wave of young arms on the horizon, and possible free agency looming in 1976—assuming Powell Thompson Jr. is willing to open the checkbook—the long, cold winter for Detroit baseball may finally be thawing.

DETROIT DYNAMOS ORGANIZATION:12/74

For major leaguers the colour-coding is a current assessment of their skills. For prospects, including the three young pitchers listed on the FABL roster, it is a prediction of their potential ceiling.

ayaghmour2 · 12-05-2025, 08:03 PM

Chicago Chiefs
Last Year Record: 69-93 (5th, .426)
Best Year Since 1964: 1967, 97-65 (1st, .599): Won the World Championship Series!

Top Pitcher: RHP Johnny Maples (31, 7-14, 3.16, 156; 36-50, 52, 3.07, 488)

One of the most successful historical franchises, the Chicago Chiefs won their 7th title less then a decade ago, but fell on tough times in 1974. It snapped a stretch of 11 consecutive finishes above .500, and their 69 wins were the fewest since 1948. The pitching is a main factor, but blame cannot be placed on new found ace Johnny Maples. If you look past his 7-14 record, his first year as a full-time rotation member was a resounding success, working to a 3.16 ERA (120 ERA+) and 1.28 WHIP with 90 walks and 156 strikeouts in 35 starts. His 225 innings were nearly half his career total entering the season, as the former Cougar high leverage arm has found a second wind on the other side of town.

Their 10th Round selection in 1963, he debuted for the Cougars in 1967, but his 8.24 ERA (41 ERA+) and 1.83 WHIP suggested he was not yet ready. He returned to the minors and earned another promotion later in '68, and in 10 more innings he had a much better 2.79 ERA (111 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP, improving his K% from 13.8 to 20.2 before pitching his way into the later innings. In year three he earned the stopper job, leading the CA with 33 saves despite his 4-11 record. His 3.24 ERA (115 ERA+) and 1.23 WHIP impressed, and he threw 125 innings in an association high 81 appearances. He picked up a handful of saves in each of the next two seasons, and opened the 1972 season in his usual late-innings role. Despite allowing just one run in 8.1 innings, Chicago waived the then 28-year-old, and Milwaukee added him to their pen. He finished out the season with the Arrows, 4-5 with 3 saves, a 2.67 ERA (131 ERA+), and 1.31 WHIP, helping to stabilize the middle innings.

That offseason he was on the move again, as the Chiefs acquired him and a prospect in a small offseason deal. Whitney Park seemed to fit his style, as he finished 11-3 with a 2.65 ERA (156 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts in a swingman role, even earning an All-Star selection. Having never made a start in the majors before, he started 15 of his 45 games, which allowed him to enter the rotation this year. A five pitch pitcher, he makes it work his premium stuff, and the command should continue to work in his favor. That's not to say he doesn't walk guys, he certainly does (90, 9.3% this year), but he doesn't allow a lot of hard contact. As long as the walks aren't too plentiful, he'll pitch well enough to win, and while he's no ace he's an ideal back-of-the-rotation arm who should have plenty of mileage left on his arm.

Top Hitter: 2B John Butts (32, .273, 1; .304, 95, 574, 43)

Injuries have almost completely kept John Butts off the field the past two seasons, limiting him to just 9 games this year and 50 between them, but when he was healthy he was a weapon at the plate and in the field. Taken by the Chiefs with the 30th pick of the 1963 draft, Butts burst onto the scene in 1965, hitting .298/.348/.493 (144 OPS+) in 54 games. He backed that up in his first full season, slashing .310/.347/.499 (145 OPS+) in 143 contests, bashing 18 homers with 33 doubles, 10 triples, 80 RBIs, and 98 runs. Firmly cemented in the Chiefs lineup, second base became his home, since collecting 6 All-Star trips and a Diamond Defense award. He won the batting title in 1968, hitting .306 in 578 PAs, and from '65 to '72 his WRC+ dropped below 120 just once. He was worth at least 5.5 wins above replacement with 30 or more doubles, a skilled defender and extra base hitter who contributed plenty to their winning seasons.

Still, he fought through injuries even when playing regularly, but he still managed 150+ games on three occasions. Even in 1973 when he missed most of the season, his .351/.404/.530 (159 OPS+) batting line was outstanding, allowing him to be worth over 2 WAR in just 41 games. 1974 was much different, held to just 9 games, setting career worsts in games, OPS+ (93), and WRC+ (107), while more importantly causing concern that he'd ever return to the player Chiefs fans were so used to seeing. This offseason he's tried his best to quash those feelings, with scouts still enamored with his premier talent. Expected to reclaim his spot at the top of the order, the longtime Chief's next game will be his 1,151st, and few with that many can boast a line like his .304/.357/.450 (135 OPS+). His home run power has dropped, just 8 since the start of 1972, but for his career he's recorded 95 with 259 doubles, 55 triples, and 574 RBIs. His great defense has helped him produce over 50 WAR (51.8), and with a few more good seasons he should become the 11th Chief hitter to reach 60. The way he started his career, it was expected he'd reach that this season, but for now his club would just be happy with him passing the 100 game mark for the 8th time in his career.

Top Prospect: RHP Walter Hoffman (4th Overall) Overall)

Picking 14th in the 1974 draft, the Chiefs uncovered a gem in young righty Walter Hoffman, who is just a few days away from his 19th birthday. Ranked as the 4th best prospect and 3rd best pitcher, Hoffman was hit hard in six rookie ball starts, but showed clear promise in his first taste of pro baseball. A three pitch pitcher, Hoffman has wowed scouts with his change and cutter, while the slider has depth as it moves across the plate. All three pitches have plenty of life in terms of velo and movement, and he pounds the zone with strikes. That tendency will work in his favor as he matures, right now his mistakes are very hittable, but it's easier to get young pitchers to work away from the zone then towards it. Ace potential may be underselling it a bit, but he has both the baseball tools and natural talent to lead a rotation. Assuming his elbow injury this year is an aberration and not a reoccurring issue, he's destined to make a living fooling even the best of FABL hitters.

Active Legend: LF Joe Siniscalchi (36, .285, 25, 94, 10; .266, 263, 1,095, 97)

Even if second basemen John Butts isn't able to return to his star-level form, the Chiefs have a veteran outfielder in Joe Siniscalchi who has been one of their most consistent producers since his 1962 debut. Acquired that season in the four player package that sent 4-Time champion Jack Halbur to the Kings, Siniscalchi immediately entered the Chiefs lineup, hitting .311/.376/.526 (134 OPS+) in the last two and a half months of the season. He made starts in all three outfield positions, bashing 10 longballs with 33 runs, 42 RBIs, and 8 doubles in 219 trips to the plate. The power he showcased in that short sample has been one of his trademarks, as the 5-Time All-Star has put together 7 20-homer seasons, including 31 in 1966 and 25 as a 35-year-old this season. He led the Fed in RBIs in back-to-back seasons, including their title winning '67 season, and he has yet to produce a below average offensive season.

Entering year 13, he's appeared in 154 or more games in each of the past five seasons, and throughout his career he's played in 1,838 games for the Chiefs. His .266/.350/.447 (129 OPS+) career line is a little lower then Butts', but he has him beat in the counting stats with 1,775 hits, 263 homers, 1,093 RBIs, and 1,020 runs. He has a slight WAR lead too, worth 56.2 in total, producing at least 6 on four separate occasions. A plus defender in left (19.3, 1.016) and center (16.6, 1.009), he's not a liability in the field, but most of his production now comes from his bat. Even average left field play would be enough with his power production, as he's still one of the top sluggers in the game. Even in a historic organization like the Chiefs, he ranks 3rd in home runs, above 1928 Whitney Winner Joe Masters and 17 behind teammate Bob Starr (34, .212, 14, 52, 1; .247, 280, 926, 24) on the teams leaderboard. He's top 10 in games (7th, 1,838), at bats (9th, 6,674), runs (8th), hits (9th), doubles (7th, 298), RBIs (5th), and walks (5th, 877), and has more then enough left in the tank to keep on climbing.

Star Out of Place: 3B Don Barker (34, .291, 4, 49, 21; .284, 89, 552, 173)

Once a mainstay in the Pioneers lineup, the Chiefs acquired the speedy Don Parker from St. Louis at last year's deadline, but a fractured rib held him to just 12 games. After rehabbing in the offseason, they installed the Texas native back at the hot corner, and the former iron man put together a capable season. Appearing in 144 games, he hit an average .291/.332/.378 (99 OPS+), adding an impressive 21 steals with 30 doubles, 49 RBIs, and 63 runs scored. Not quite at the level he produced in St. Louis, but Barker is still a very useful big league piece.

At his best, he was an automatic 600 PA hitter, with three consecutive 700 PA seasons from 1969 to 1971. His 719 in '71 are the fourth most for a Pioneer, and it came with a strong .297/.353/.401 (117 OPS+) career batting line. Known best for his speed and hit tool, he had 19 steals and 46 extra base hits as well, putting the ball in play over 600 times in his aged 30 season. His 1972 season was just as good, and he's yet to have a sub 100 WRC+ since he was a rookie in 1963. In 1,615 FABL games he holds a .284/.338/.403 (116 OPS+) career batting line, recording 294 doubles, 79 triples, 89 homers, 552 RBIs, 835 runs, 173 steals, and 42.2 WAR. Expected to return to the Chiefs starting lineup in 1975, there's some belief he may move over to first, a position he has approximately a season's worth of games in his 12 year career. No longer a top defender, it could help extend his career, and keep his legs fresher for when he gets on base.

Detroit Dynamos
Last Year Record: 62-100 (6th, .383)
Best Year Since 1964: 1970, 92-70 (2nd, .568)

Top Pitcher: RHP Jack Williams (31, 9-16, 4.51, 124; 71-93, 16, 4.13, 856)

Long gone are the days of the Dynamo dynasty in the 50s, as the Motor city has only seen one season above .500 since the dynasty officially ended in 1963. Success may be far away too, as it's tough to find a legitimate arm in their rotation. Jack Williams has given his all, and in the past been a guy you could count on, but consistency has been a struggle for him and he again led the Fed in losses. 9-16 in his 36 starts, his ERA rose a full point from 3.50 (115 ERA+) last year to 4.51 (83 ERA+) this year, and nearly every other metric went in a direction he preferred it didn't. An exception was strikeouts, he set down 20 more in 21 more innings, but it was not enough to salvage his season.

A former 7th Rounder of the Millers, he debuted for them in 1968, but 6 of his 7 FABL seasons have come in a Dynamo uniform. This includes 178 of his 191 starts, and with Detroit he's been a below average 65-85 with a 4.21 ERA (92 ERA+) and 1.39 WHIP. He does get his strikeouts, 779 in 1,294 innings, but it is telling that the veteran righty is the best they have to offer. There may be some help in the farm, but everyone else in the rotation has more question marks then he does. You won't get great results, but his durability has saved him from making a trip to the injury list, and he's started 31 or more games in each of the past 4 seasons. When he's effective, he'll go deep, but the command is not consistent enough to guarantee it. On a better team he might have more success, as his six pitch arsenal is competent and led by a strong change. Clearly in the middle of a rebuild, he's unfortunately one of their top trade assets, but it will be tough for Detroit to get much for him without a return to form in 1975.

Top Hitter: 2B Bill Austin (32, .297, 11, 95, 14; .294, 111, 779, 124)

In the lineup, Detroit has a few more useful pieces, including veteran infielder Bill Austin. Recently finishing his aged 31 season, Austin has been a key bat since his 1965 debut, producing a full decades worth of above average offensive seasons. Once the 3rd Round selection of the Kings in Kansas City, his first 4 FABL seasons came with the Kings organization, where he hit .280/.327/.405 (118 OPS+) with 105 doubles, 28 triples, 35 homers, 231 RBIs, 41 steals, and 280 runs. Before the 1969 season, Seattle sent him to Detroit in a four player deal that included 1966 Kellogg winner Ben Baker (33, .279, 12, 70; .278, 106, 634, 54). A win-win deal, both Baker and Austin have had success in the middle infield.

Coming off a career best '68 season where he produced a 141 WRC+ and 5.6 WAR in 138 games, Austin has spent each of the past six years in Detroit's lineup, batting .302/.356/.444 (126 OPS+) with 209 doubles, 76 homers, 548 RBIs, and 480 runs. Austin's 44 doubles in 1969 led the league while his 198 hits the next season were also tops, and 1972 was the only year he failed to make at least 600 at bats for the Dynamos. Now 32, he owns an above average .294/.345/.430 (123 OPS+) line, providing his FABL employers with 314 doubles, 111 homers, and 779 RBIs. Selected to the All-Star game in 3 of his last 4 seasons, he may have a new position in 1975, as Detroit brought in Melvin Williams (27, .280, 5, 24, 2; .249, 17, 87, 7) of the Stars to play second base. A shift down the defensive spectrum could help Austin, as his defense at the keystone was slipping, and his arm is more then strong enough for the hot corner. In a small sample this season he held up well at third, a noticeable improvement over his -12 zone rating at second. With Detroit's rebuild in full swing, he's also one of, if not their top, trade asset, and could still fetch at least a top-100 prospect from a contender, but expect him to open his 11th big league season as Detroit's starting third basemen.

Top Prospect: LF Charlie Watson (7th Overall)

With all the losing in Detroit comes a pretty nice consolation prize, as they have the highest ranked #2 prospect. Behind 7th ranked Charlie Watson is the 11th ranked Don Simpson, who would be the highest ranked prospect for more then half of FABL. They join the Sailors as the only team with two top-15 prospects, though both of the Dynamos play outfield. Watson has played mostly center field, but with Simpson the better defender, the organization has started to view last year's 1st Rounder as a left fielder. Taken 6th overall, he tore up rookie ball and low-A, producing WRC+ of 175 and 131. Combined he had 13 doubles, 2 triples, and 6 homers, showcasing his pure stroke at the plate. Paired with an excellent eye and a strong hit tool he should hit well above average, and be a feared hitter even if his home run power doesn't develop. An everyday player who can take advantage of poor pitching, he has the tools to rank among the game's top hitters, and the makeup to handle the stresses that come with it. Still a few years away, he could usher in the next era of greatness in the Motor City, putting his name next to champions like Edwin Hackberry and Frank Vance.

Active Legend: 3B Virgil Ewing (39, .255, 9, 47; .267, 172, 962, 4)

There may be no one left from the Dynamos' championship teams, but a guy who just missed it is still trying to go strong. Likely to be replaced by Austin, Virgil Ewing still started in the season he turned 39, appearing in 125 games for Detroit. Once a first rounder of the Stars back in New York, he spent two and a half seasons with the club after they made the move to LA. A big slugger, he was moved in a big deadline deal with Bud Henderson back in 1962, and he's spent every season since in Detroit. A consistent above average hitter, he's yet to see his OPS+ or WRC+ drop below 100 in a season, and he's less then 50 games away from 2,000 for his career. A 14-year vet, Ewing has become a mainstay in the Dynamo lineup, part of everything from contenders to pretenders while giving his club quality big league at bats.

Ewing enters 1975 with 172 homers, 140 of which he hit as a member of the Dynamos, and his .267/.353/.405 (115 OPS+) career line isn't too far from the .255/.346/.381 (106 OPS+) he hit this year. He's had some higher highs, but what the Indiana native tended to do was about the same, above average defense with a solid glove. Back in 1965, he was awarded a Diamond Defense award, but for the most part he's been the epitome of good not great. He'll hit some homers and draw walks, but he's not immune to strikeouts and weak contact. A what you see is what you get type, he made his career being a dependable guy you can always call on, and even though it may make sense from a baseball standpoint, it would be a shame to see him end up on the bench this year. A nostalgic GM may be willing to give him one more go, but if the Dynamos want to improve on their 100 loss season, limiting their longtime team leader to a part-time role may be one of the first steps on the path to improvement.

Star Out of Place: N/A

I really tried to find someone, but there isn't. All there vets are either homegrown, career minor leaguers, or acquired multiple seasons ago, so instead you'll get to learn about 11th ranked prospect Don Simpson. Taken 8th by the Dynamos in the most recent draft, 61 of his 68 pro games this year came in rookie ball, where he hit .242/.399/.348 (88 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 30 RBIs, 44 runs, and 9 steals. A disciplined hitter, he did walk 53 times, but holes in his swing led to 79 strikeouts. He knows what pitches not to swing at, it's just the ones he should he can miss, and right now that's really all he has to fix. The swing itself is pretty, but top velocity is still tough and there won't be much power. What there will be is base hits, stolen bases, and super center field defense, which is why he ranks just outside the league's top 10. A potential impact player, what could stop him from reaching greatness is his own work ethic, as most scouts are convinced his natural talent will be enough to at least make it to the big leagues. The glove alone makes him a viable 4th outfielder, but Detroit has a great track record with outfielders and I would not bet against them extracting as much value from him as they can.

Minneapolis Millers
Last Year Record: 77-85 (4th, .475)
Best Year Since 1964: 1968 and 1969, 788-84 (7th, 3rd; .481)

Top Pitcher: RHP Hank Wagner (27, 6-15, 4.34, 140; 22-25, 3.88, 342)

Minneapolis hasn't had nearly as much success as some of the other expansion teams, including Houston in their own division, as they still look for their first season with a winning record. Their pitching is a huge reason why, as it's really tough to even choose a top pitcher. By default, their "ace" and 37 game starter Hank Wagner gets the nod as he was actually good last season. Making 28 starts, Wagner was 12-6 with a 3.62 ERA (111 ERA+), 3.51 FIP (87 FIP-), and 1.34 WHIP, striking out 154 in his first extended season as a starting pitcher. A former 6th Rounder of the Eagles, he came to the Millers in July of 1967, parting with former 2nd Overall Pick Frank Bradshaw (32, .218, 4, 45, 34; .267, 84, 660, 221) despite having established himself as a useful outfielder. He was in the middle of a slump, hitting just .237/.277/.333 (87 OPS+), but at just 25 he was consistently an above average performer who already produced a 7.7 WAR season in 1965.

Lucky for the Millers, Bradshaw didn't develop into the star the front office thought he would, and until this season Wagner was looking like a legitimate building block in their rotation. 1974 was a real struggle for the righty, as he finished 6-15 with an association high 128 walks. This led to an elevated 4.34 ERA (85 ERA+) and 1.49 WHIP, counteracting a lot of the good his 140 strikeouts caused. The biggest concern is the walks, his BB% rose from a still high 9.1 to an almost unpitchable 11.6, as a flyball pitcher he isn't able to erase extra base runners with the strikeout. Still, the stuff is really good, and his 3.88 FIP (104 FIP-) is far more encouraging. Far from a legit ace, Wagner profiles more as a back-of-the-rotation starter, but for Minnesota that's a real get. They've yet to have a starter long or successful enough to win 100 games, and only current Arrow Fred Smith (31, 8-14, 3.98, 91; 101-91, 3.98, 1,316) has one even 35 games. With plenty of holes there, are issues far more pressing then Wagner's downturn, but to finally get over the .500 hump they'll need a return to form from their fifth year righty.

Top Hitter: CF Bill Powell (26, .288, 12, 81, 7; .281, 22, 133, 11)

This spot should be designated to John Edwards, who they surprisingly traded to Houston, as he was one of the few true starts Minneapolis has been lucky enough to employ. Instead, it's a different outfielder, who was named as the Millers All-Star representative in his first full season with the club. A former 2nd Round pick by the Wranglers, Bill Powell was acquired with minor league pitcher Joe Carpenter last July for righty Daryl Woods (32, 7-9, 4.26, 75; 16-16, 1, 4.26, 164), who actually made his way back to the Millers in the Rule-5 draft. A trade of pure profit, Powell was stuck behind guys like Steve Prather (30, .319, 9, 72, 23; .303, 90, 569, 120), Joe Black (26, .242, 11, 62, 18; .252, 26, 130, 21), and John Vance (30, .274, 2, 85, 18; .292, 127, 826, 118), limited to just 17 starts in 110 appearances. He also didn't hit, just .184/.254/.241 (45 OPS+) in 173 PAs, but regular playing time seemed to improve his fortunes.

Added right to the FABL lineup, Powell started 57 of his 59 games in Minneapolis, batting an impressive .335/.419/.530 (161 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 9 homers, and 40 RBIs. More then enough to secure an Opening Day lineup spot in 1974, he appeared in 158 games for the Millers and represented his new team at the All-Star game. Now 26, Powell slashed .288/.373/.437 (126 OPS+), producing a 141 WRC+ to go with 38 doubles, 7 triples, 12 homers, 81 RBIs, 85 runs, 75 walks, and 7 steals. The defense in center is improving too, but so far the bat has looked more then good enough to fit in a corner. He is a good judge of the strike zone and rarely chases, maintaining a 7.4 K% in his 678 PAs this season. One of the best at a weak position, OSA rates him as the #2 center fielder, and until the Millers decide to trade him, he'll continue the trend of having a high quality outfielder lead the Millers lineup.

Top Prospect: RHP Jim Terry (5th Overall) Overall)

With so many early draft picks the Millers have built a strong farm system, but right now there top guy is someone they didn't grab with one of the first picks. Taken in the 3rd Round of the most recent draft, Jim Terry has had an impressive ascent, opening the year as baseball's #5 prospect. A four pitch pitcher, he's a dominant sinkerballer with an innate ability for serving up grounders, and despite a labrum tear scouts think he could quickly become one of Minneapolis' top pitchers. Their historic woes are well noted, but the 21-year-old has a golden arm and a change up that could set records. Ready to go for 1975, he has just 4 minor league starts under his belt, but there are very few pitchers standing in his way. With a few strong starts he could earn multiple promotions up the ladder, and an aggressive GM could decide he's ready for the rotation as early as July. If he stays healthy, he should be a surefire ace, but injury concerns are why he fell out of the first round to begin with, and to shake off those concerns he'll have to deliver a healthy '75 season

Active Legend: 3B John S. Smith (35, .261, 10, 5; .241, 64, 504, 187)

Quick to ship away talented veterans, the Millers moved two of their longest tenured players in Edwards and Rusty Robertson (30, .250, 13, 68, 5; .255, 146, 662, 25) in 1974. Both homegrown top-5 picks, they're the only two players to surpass the 25 WAR mark, and the top two players in the franchise for games played. Number three is third basemen John Smith, who functioned as the every day shortstop or third basemen from 1966 to 1972. A former 12th Round pick of the Cannons back in 1957, he was picked in the 1961 expansion draft, but by the Suns and not the Millers. He'd have to wait three years before joining Minneapolis, first going to Boston in the 1963 Rule-5 draft. A natural shortstop, he earned the starting job in 1964 and held it through 1965, but his .219/.285/.308 (75 OPS+) batting line was what you'd expect from a Rule-5 pick. Still, he played good enough defense, and caught the eye of the bargain hunting Millers.

Acquired for a prospect and rookie starter Hardin Jones after the '65 season, Smith spent a year and a half as the Millers shortstop before shifting over to the hot corner. The move was better for his defense, as he was much better suited for third, and he became a slightly below average bat. In five of his first six seasons he at least had a 90 WRC+, and regular 2 WAR seasons were his bread and butter. Serviceable, but not great, he really fit the epitome of a Miller, and since they never really cared about success he kept seeing his name in the lineup. Unfortunately, even a team like Minneapolis has their limits, and a drastic drop in performance during the 1972 season ended his time as a starter. In 144 games he hit just .222/.270/.306 (69 OPS+), his worst season of his career, and for '73 and '74 he was used mostly as a bench option. Even at 35, his speed has stuck, as the excellent baserunner was a perfect 5-for-5 in limited time. His first season with single digit steals, Smith enters 1975 with 187 under his belt, and his 150 as a Miller are the most in team history. His .241/.308/.322 (83 OPS+) career line doesn't inspire too much, but there's something to be said about being able to play every day and make the most of his time on the bases. His 16.1 career BsR is impressive, with a full 5 runs in his 28-steal 1969 season. There's a chance a contender looks to him as a midseason pinch running upgrade, but until then he'll be tasked with mentoring 1973 All-Star Carl Kilkenny (25, .255, 16, 55, 1; .267, 28, 113, 2) who claimed his starting job two seasons ago.

Star Out of Place: RHP Joe McDowell (42, 11-16, 3.93, 89; 178-232, 6, 4.24, 1,816)

It will start happening a lot more this winter, but for now it's unusual to see teams spend money on bringing in free agents. Reserved now for players at the back end of their career, Minneapolis brought in veteran Joe McDowell, who at 42 led the Fed with 16 losses in his 33 starts. A veteran of 601 games, McDowell will make $57,000 in his second stint with the Millers, and projects to function as the #2 starter in a really wea rotation. A veteran of 3,480.1 FABL innings, he's led his association in starts 4 times, and has made 512 with Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland, KC, and Minneapolis. His first go came after the expansion draft, as McDowell was one of the top unprotected players. The then Miner was Minneapolis' first pick, but he could not replicate his early career success.

While never great, he went from serviceable to awful, 6-18 with a 6.78 ERA (68 ERA+), 1.76 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts, making a case for one of the worst pitchers in the league. It's fitting for one of the worst teams, and just by taking the mound 31 times he helped them eat innings as they played for high picks. McDowell returned in 1962, a more serviceable 8-18 with a 4.87 ERA (86 ERA+) and 1.38 WHIP, allowing him to rebuild some of his trade value. Cleveland came calling, sending the Millers a young middle infield prospect, and McDowell was back on an established team that could get more out of a guy who'd pitch every fifth day. The first two seasons were more of the same, but by 1966 he started to figure things out. in 35 starts he was 15-12 with a 3.39 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.13 WHIP, and 130 strikeouts, and he at least had an above average ERA+ in two of the next three seasons. In total, he spent 9 seasons with the Foresters, finishing 97-126 with a respectable 3.87 ERA (93 ERA+), 3.60 FIP (100 FIP-), and 1.24 WHIP.

In his 40s, he's re-established his serviceability, with a breakout swingman year with the Kings (9-3, 5, 2.63, 44) a stabilizing return to the rotation in Baltimore (11-16, 3.93, 89). His 95 ERA+ and 94 FIP- are right around average, and in 208.1 innings he was worth 3.3 WAR. That would have been the highest on the Millers staff this season, which really highlights how much they need upgrades on the mound. It's hard to expect too much from the veteran this coming season, but manager Harry Hammond needs someone he can count on for 6+ innings every 5 games, and since the overall quality doesn't matter McDowell is exactly the guy for the job.

Los Angeles Suns
Last Year Record: 91-71 (1st, .562): Lost in Federal Championship Series
Best Year Since 1964: 1974, 91-71 (1st, .562):Lost in Federal Championship Series

Top Pitcher: LHP Jim Place (31, 12-7, 2.85, 153; 59-65, 5, 3.35, 851)

One of the top ten pitchers in FABL, the now 31-year-old lefty Jim Place led a strong rotation with Heinie Schmidt (14-12, 2.85, 132) and Pete Meissner (14-11, 3.56, 121) behind him. A former 2nd Round pick of the Chicago Cougars, Place ranked as high as 27 on the prospect list, and enters the new year as the 6th best pitcher. Place was selected to his 4th All-Star game this year, going 12-7 as the Suns captured their first Western division without an extra game. 91 wins matched their first title in 1971, but this time they had a seven game cushion. His performance this year was much better then last, working to a 2.85 ERA (134 ERA+) and 1.20 WHIP in 35 starts. He's no stranger to top performance, as his "down" year considered slightly below average ERA+ of 96 and 94.

A veteran of six plus years, Place showed that the biceps injury that ended last season was nothing to worry about, delivering his fifth 200 inning season. The crafty seven pitch southpaw has pitched on some bad teams, so his 59-65 career record isn't all on him. His 3.35 ERA (118 ERA+) and 3.44 FIP (86 FIP-) are both well above average, and in all four of his 30+ start seasons he's surpassed the 4 WAR mark that tends to separate the good starters from the solid ones. With the Suns expected to again lead their relatively weak division, the success of Place and the rest of the rotation can help make up for a lineup that is ripe for improvement.

Top Hitter: SS Tom Lally (26, .318, 12, 68, 7; .296, 49, 202, 15)

Not only is Tom Lally the clear most valuable player on the Suns, but you could make an argument that he's the single most valuable player in all of FABL. Ranked #4 on OSA's top 20 list, the slick fielding shortstop has been an All-Star in each of his three FABL seasons, starting with a Kellogg award as a rookie and the most recent Whitney award. Leading the Fed with an outstanding 9.2 WAR, Lally upset fellow 26-year-old middle infielder Al Hubbard (.341, 12, 73, 28; .299, 65, 427, 114), was limited to just 119 games due to a trio of injuries. This allowed Lally to snap his string of 3 consecutive Fed WAR leads, and his .318/.407/.457 (146 OPS+) triple slash isn't too far off. That upped his career mark to .296/.381/.448 (138 OPS+) and he's already accumulated 76 doubles, 16 triples, 49 homers, 202 RBIs, 260 runs, 318 walks, and an impressive 20.5 wins above replacement.

What sets Lally apart is the glove, setting a personal best 20.5 zone rating in 154 games at short. That was good for 2nd in the Fed where his 1.057 efficiency was 4th, but two of the guys ahead of him had a lower slugging and OBP then Lally's .318 average, while the third, Baltimore's Jack Goodman (32, .245, 4, 38, 11; .215, 45, 263, 77), still mustered just an 82 WRC+ that paled in comparison to Lally's 145. It's unusual to see a shortstop with a Whitney level bat and glove, and the charismatic shortstop almost feels like a character in a Hollywood movie, not an actual real life star on and off the field.

If there is one "downside" with Lally it's that his power seemed to drop off this season, going from a 24-home run hitter in 1973 to just 12 this year. While it did correspond with a 38 point jump in average, the power may be more valuable, so there is a little room for growth. If he can return to a 20-home run hitter, he'll be the standout #1 FABL player, but right now Hubbard's elite bat-to-ball skills give him the edge over Lally's swing and miss game. He draws his share of walks, 87 in each of the last two seasons, but it came with about the same amount of strikeouts (83 last, 77 this year), while Hubbard has just 64 in the past two seasons with elite K% of 5.4 and 4.9. Interesting enough, Hubbard used to maintain K% in the low teens, so perhaps he can take a few tips from his friendly rival in the East.

Top Prospect: CF Roy Welch (53th Overall)

LA is lucky they have so much top-end talent in the majors, especially on the mound, as they don't have a single top-50 prospect and their only two top-200 pitching prospects are in the back-75. It does seem like they hit on last year's first rounder, as 13th selection Roy Welch enters the new year at #53. Just 19, he made his way up to low-A where he hit .232/.357/.365 (91 OPS+) after posting a 183 WRC+ in 20 rookie ball games. In 73 games between the levels, he tallied 9 doubles, 6 triples, 10 homers, 30 RBIs, 46 runs, and 27 steals, all while playing outstanding center field defense. A ball pitchers did get him to strikeout more, but he still maintained a BB% above 15% and his elite eye is one of his best tools. Paired with great speed, defense, and an ability to square up any level of velocity, and the center field job is his to lose. Right now it's a real weakness for the Suns, they're planning on giving 24-year-old Larry Burlbutt (.245, 7, 1) a chance to improve on his September cup of coffee, which would mark their fifth starting center fielder in six seasons. Welch is still likely a year away from producing, but a big year of development could see him earning a callup at the end of a pennant race.

Active Legend: RF Sam Forrester (32, .261, 27, 97, 36; .274, 346, 955, 254)

As recently as last year, Sam Forrester was the clear best player on the Suns, and it's not his fault he's been usurped by Lally. Lally is just that good.

Forrester is no slouch and a big reason Lally took home the Whitney, as he's arguably the Fed's most feared slugger. Initially a 2nd Round selection of the Eagles, the Suns picked him up in the offseason after their second year in what has turned out to be a huge steal. Whitey Stewart was an expansion pick they got from Toronto, and after two seasons of quality stopping work for a team that wasn't winning many games, he's the reason LA got their first legit star. Debuting midway through the '64 season, he clubbed 14 homers and hit .275/.316/.482 (135 OPS+) in 81 games, and has pretty much never left the lineup since.

His rookie year was the only season he didn't man right everyday, spending most of his time in left, and the now 7-Time All-Star has led the Fed in homers in 6 of the last 7 seasons. This includes an absurd 53 in 1970, where the then 27-year-old hit a robust .283/.393/.615 (169 OPS+) with 114 runs and 120 RBIs. That 169 OPS+ wasn't even the best of his career, with a 171 last year, a 182 in 1969, a 179 in 1967, and another 169 in 1968. All coming in full seasons, he's made 140 or more appearances in each season since his debut year, and he's failed to hit 24 home runs just once. In this more pitcher friendly era, 24 would be a great season, as only four players hit more then 25 this year. One, of course, Forrester himself, who also stole a Fed high 36 bases. It's the second time he's led, with 33 back in 1969.

He's also a two-time slugging leader (1967, .543; 1973, .566), though his career high .615 in 1970 is most impressive. This has helped him set most of the early Suns records, from his .499 slugging and .858 OPS to his 346 homers. He also leads in runs (941), hits (1,627), doubles (212), triples (45), RBIs (955), steals (254), walks (749), and WAR (51.4). He's fifth among active players in homers and 25th overall, and just one of 8 people to hit 50 home runs in a season. On a Hall of Fame track, he'll be remembered as one of the most prolific sluggers the game has seen, and he has every chance to reach the 500 mark Hank Williams is chasing.

Star Out of Place: 1B Harry Dellinger (36, .251, 10, 45, 22; .279, 299, 999, 450)

It feels weird calling him a first basemen, but 1960 Whitney Winner and 5-Time Diamond Defense winning center fielder (and one left!) Harry Dellinger is technically the starting first basemen for the Atlanta Suns. In a surprising deadline deal last year, the Keystones sent their aged franchise cornerstone to the Suns, acquiring a three player package that includes their new starting third basemen Leon Stapleton (25, .266, 6, 31; .268, 12, 60). The bat definitely fell towards the end, but Dellinger finished his Keystone career with a .282/.327/.437 (118 OPS+) triple slash in over 2,000 games.

His Whitney season may not even have been his best year, but it was his first with more then 5 games, as the former 2nd Pick took home both that and the Kellogg in a masterful rookie season. Leading the fed in average (.350), slugging (.568), runs (118), hits (228), RBIs (125), and WAR (7.3), he immediately announced his presence, establishing the Keystones as a legitimate contender. Him and Buddy Miller then won it all in year two, with the Keystones again taking a title in 1965. A threat at the top of the order, he led the Fed in steals 8 times -- including his 27 as recently as 1972. At the time of the trade he had 418, third among Keystones, and his 2,350 hits and 1,299 runs are 5th most.

Now 36, he's spent a season and a half with the Suns, batting .247/.300/.347 (84 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 15 homers, 60 RBIs, 80 runs, and 32 steals. Still an effective base stealer, he's done okay in the eight hole, but his bat doesn't fit at first base. And before you're thinking center, they tried that a little this season (373.2 innings), and it did not go well (-2.6 ZR, .974 EFF). They don't really have a better option for first so he might open the season at the position, but fresh off a division title the front office could be more willing to bring in an upgrade.

Houston Comets
Last Year Record: 84-78 (2nd, .519):
Best Year Since 1964: 1973, 100-62 (1st, .617):Lost in World Championship Series

Top Pitcher: RHP Joe McCarthy (30, 21-7, 2.48, 194; 101-88, 3.09, 1,329)

Just like their name suggests, they had a meteoric rise despite being an expansion team, as it took Houston just 3 years to win 90 games and 5 to reach a WCS. The second was in part due to Joe McCarthy, who they acquired from the Cannons at the deadline last season. OSA's top ranked pitcher, he was struggling in his return from a labrum issue, but the Comets were not scared away. They sent four prospects, including the now ranked 47th prospect Sammy Wright (24, 1-0, 0.00, 1) for the 1969 ERA leader.

It proved to be a stroke of brilliance, as McCarthy made 12 starts for the Comets, going 7-2 with a 2.01 ERA (202 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, and 87 strikeouts. This helped Houston take the division by 12 games, squaring off with the 106-win Miners (now Copperheads) who played what ended up being their last season in Pittsburgh. McCarthy won the opener as the Comets pulled off a three game sweep. They fell to the same in four, as the magical Montreal Saints won their first since 1916.

Houston couldn't recapture the magic of last season, but McCarthy was not the reason why. The eventual Allen winner was the ERA title away from a triple crown, 21-7 with a 2.48 ERA (152 ERA+), 2.71 FIP (71 FIP-), 1.09 WHIP, 194 strikeouts, and 7.5 WAR. His Allen can be attributed to leading all those categories except ERA (and ERA+), and as crazy as it sounds you can say it's not even his best season. He's struck out over 200 hitters twice (1970, 225; 1972, 206), and aside from wins and WHIP he didn't set any career bests. Back to the pitcher he was before injury, he'll open 1975 101-88 with a 3.09 ERA (115 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, and 1,329 strikeouts, with his next out being his 1,900 FABL inning. Somehow just a 2-Time All-Star (1969, 1974), his stuff is nothing short of elite, with many hitters quoting his change is the toughest to hit. He does walk guys, but an unlucky 1972 was the only time he allowed more then 12 homers (21). It's unusual seeing a team with such little history as Houston go out and acquire legitimate talent.

Top Hitter: RF John Edwards (30, .325, 18, 71, 25; .292, 229, 955, 115)

Trade is also how they got John Edwards, who's the best right fielder in FABL. Acquired on the 1974 deadline from Minneapolis, the former 3rd pick moves from one expansion franchise to the other. He was the Millers first ever amateur draft pick, and after spending the 1962 season in the minors, he only played for the Millers. Debuting at 18, he appeared in 160 games as a rookie, and his .266/.342/.362 (92 OPS+) batting line is his only below average mark to date. That jumped to .283/.378/.497 (154 OPS+) the very next season, and he's produced WRC+ above 150 9 times in 12 big league seasons.

He won the Whitney for Minneapolis in 1968, batting .302/.405/.492 (179 OPS+) with 34 doubles, 22 homers, 84 RBIs, 85 runs, 100 walks, 9 steals, and a 8.9 WAR. He also picked up one of his 9 All-Star selections and Diamond Defense awards, and if he retired at 30 today he'd be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

Instead, he'll be set to play in his first full season as a Comet, hitting .319/.425/.481 (154 OPS+) in 56 games after the trade. That came after a .292/.396/.466 (148 OPS+) line in 1,868 games, producing 1,043 runs, 1,962 hits, 344 doubles, 79 triples, 224 homers, 931 RBIs, 1,141 walks, and 104 steals. He's the Millers All-Time leader in OBP, slugging, OPS, WAR (69.4), games (1,868), runs, hits, doubles, triples, homers, RBIs, and walks, making it a real surprise they traded him for a package where just 2 of the 5 prospects are in the top 100. In the middle of his prime he has a chance to become one of the game's inner-circle greats, and now he'll have to do it with a completely new club. His new team has embraced him and is ready to compete, something his old club never did. They never won more then 78 games, and unfortunately for the few fans who have stuck around that may not change any time soon.

Top Prospect: SS Johnny Mathewson (116th Overall) Overall)

A mix of being tied for the youngest franchise and the two major deals for McCarthy and Edwards, the farm system is one of the few without a single top-100 prospect. Their big 1973 season had them picking 22nd in the 1974 draft, and their top pick Johnny Matthewson is also their top prospect. Ranked 116th, he's more good them great, but his versatility and natural talent should help him carve out a starting role. 19 as of November, he's a natural shortstop who's played a little second, third, left, and center. Most came at short in rookie ball, where he made 54 appearances and hit .299/.398/.353 (91 OPS+) with 40 runs, 7 extra base hits, 35 walks, and 18 RBIs. A light hitter, all his value comes from his hit tool, though his silky smooth swing will generate plenty of contact. He'll draw walks and shouldn't strike out too much, the perfect table setter for a lineup that needs more length then just Edwards and 1B/OF Johnny Adams (33, .272, 14, 54, 24; .278, 108, 505, 191).That is, of course, they don't trade their most valuable asset, as they won't shy away from making an outside acquisition.

Active Legend: RHP George Roy (29, 12-15, 3.33, 155; 71-65, 51, 3.28, 774)

Believe it or not, McCarthy's 21-win season this year was not the most by a Comet, as stopper turned starter George Roy was 22-8 last season, posting a strong 3.36 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.18 WHIP with 190 strikeouts in 262.2 innings pitched. A rare success from the expansion draft, Roy is a former 2nd Rounder from the Dynamos who was left unprotected after his debut season in 1968. Houston's 8th pick, he's appeared in all six of their FABL seasons, holding the win and save (25) record for a single season. And while it might not stay that way for long, the Canadian has the team record for wins and saves.

A 2-Time All-Star, he's been a revelation for Houston, producing above average seasons as a full time reliever, full time starter, and a part-timer for both. His best season was when he did both, as in 1971 he started 22 of his 36 outings. Finishing 13-6 with a save, he worked to a 2.57 ERA (146 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts. The following season he had his 25-save season, an even 10-10 with a 2.70 ERA (131 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts in 116.2 innings. He does have some command issues, allowing 463 free passes including 118 this season, but by generating harmless flyballs he can work his way out of trouble. His 3.28 ERA career ERA in 1,083.2 innings is exactly 20 percent better then average, and his 1.28 WHIP is kept tidy due to his ability to suppress base hits. He generates plenty of whiffs too, striking out 17% of the batters he faces. In a bad rotation he'd be the clear ace, but in Houston he's the 3, leading to the Comets allowing the fewest runs in the Fed. With him, McCarthy, and one of the few homegrown successes in Johnny Blackburn (26, 14-15, 3.20, 160; 64-55, 3.26, 713), their rotation should again rank among the best in the league.

Star Out of Place: RHP Joe Cipolla (37, 3-2, 4, 2.25, 10; 240-178, 28, 3.84, 2,294

John Edwards could have easily filled this spot, but instead of saying more about one of the game's greats, we can take a look at the 240-game winner the Comets picked up from the Cannons. Now 37, Joe Cipolla will join his 8th organization, as he's traveled plenty since the Chiefs drafted him in the 2nd Round of the 1954 draft. He was up at 18 the following season, allowing just 6 hits and a run in 12.1 innings out of the pen. The skinny teen did walk 8 to just 3 strikeouts, but since that debut season he's yet to again walk more then he struck out.

A veteran of 20 years, he spent 13 seasons across 2 stints with Chicago's Fed team, including his two All-Star seasons in 1958 and 1960. A key member of their rotation, 336 of his 498 career starts came with the Chiefs, amassing nearly 2,500 (2,485.2) innings. Consistent and reliable, he finished 159-116 with a 3.92 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, and 1,629 strikeouts. Among Chiefs pitchers he ranks top-10 in wins (8th), WAR (8th, 37.9), games (9th, 407), starts (6th), innings (8th), strikeouts (3rd), and K/9 (6th, 5.9). Nearly all his best seasons came with the Chiefs, his partial season with the Saints (5-3, 2, 1.25, 29) the only real exception, but that's not to say he hasn't found success elsewhere. About 90 of his wins came away from the Chiefs, and he enters 1975 with a 3.84 ERA (106 ERA+), 2,294 strikeouts, and 49.5 WAR. His days of starting games may be over, but he could still carve out a pen role as he reaches the twilight of his career.

St. Louis Pioneers
Last Year Record: 79-83 (3rd, .488):
Best Year Since 1964: 1964, 97-66 (1st, .617): Won the World Championship Series!

Top Pitcher: RHP Tiger Bowe (28, 18-9, 2.68, 115; 41-31, 3, 3.40, 340)

A cool name isn't the only thing that sets Tiger Bowe apart, as the now 28-year-old righty earned his first All-Star selection in his first season with St. Louis. Once a 5th Round selection of the Chiefs, the former top-20 prospect was released, quickly picked up by the Seattle Kings. He debuted four seasons later, and got his first extended look in the rotation in 1971, going 8-7 in 23 starts (and 1 relief outing). His 3.99 ERA (90 ERA+) was a bit below average, and his 60 walks and 77 strikeouts in 155.2 innings weren't overly impressive, and he spent all of the next season in the minors.

With no spot for him out west, the Kings waived him, which led to Boston getting the then 26-year-old. They had a rotation spot they needed filled, and he ended up the perfect fit. His 12-12 record wasn't overly inspiring, but he held a 3.42 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, and 109 strikeouts in his first 200 inning season. He dropped his BB% to 6.7 and finally showed the promise the prospect rankers saw in him. Attempting to capitalize on what could have been a mirage, they sent him to St. Louis for a pair of prospects, and he went out and put together a career season. A new entrant to the league's top 20 pitchers list, Bowe went 18-9 in 36 starts, working to a 2.68 ERA (138 ERA+) and 1.14 WHIP. All career bests, he struck out 115 and just 62 walks. A six pitch pitcher, he's shown the perfect mix of command and stuff, and to get back into contention St. Louis will need another year like this from their new found ace.

Top Hitter: 1B John Richards (33, .284, 27, 92, 27; .271, 231, 789, 231)

Once the 10th pick of the 1960 draft, John Richards debuted for the team that drafted him, Montreal, and spent a little time with the Imperials, involved in two trades of relative note before hem made his way to St. Louis. He didn't get much attention his first season there either, but in 1967 he started to turn heads. A 25-year-old first basemen, he hit 20 doubles, 20 homers, and stole 19 bases, batting a respectable .241/.324/.420 (127 OPS+) with 76 runs and RBIs.

His encore was better, as the 1968 All-Star hit an outstanding .263/.377/.438 (156 OPS+) with 20 more doubles and homers. It was his first of five selections, as Richards added 7 triples, 83 RBIs, 82 runs, and 96 walks. To this day he's done much of the same, including back-to-back 160+ OPS+ seasons. In 1970 he hit 37 homers, he drew 105 walks the year before and 106 the year after, and he's coming off a 27-homer season that led the Fed. Now 33, he's appeared in 1,342 games as a Pioneer, slashing .276/.376/.484 (147 OPS+), showcasing a rare combination of speed and power. He's launched 217 homers and swiped 218 bases, producing five straight 25/25 seasons. Add in 199 doubles, 52 triples, 795 runs, 736 RBIs, and 717 walks, and he's been the class of the Pioneers 1970s lineups. He doesn't have enough protection at the moment, but if some of the younger guys take steps forward he can carry them back to contention.

Top Prospect: LHP Herm Jones (33rd Overall) Overall)

Despite being both a 4th Rounder and a reliever, the 1974 draftee Herm Jones ranks as the Pioneers top prospect, ranked 33 as their only top-50 entrant. Pitching through three levels, his cutter-change mix has had mixed success, but without a third pitch he may be destined for the late innings. OSA gives him credit for elite stuff with excellent control and command, which leads to the high ranking. 22 in January, he may continue to rise up quickly. His future is projected to contain plenty of strikeouts and saves, and he has all the tools to set the saves record for whichever team dedicates him the ninth inning. For St. Louis, he'd need 173 to pass Russ Peeples, and if used correctly he could join David Molina as the only 250 save pitchers.

Active Legend: LF Danny Davis (35, .316, 1, 1; .284, 244, 989, 66)

From 3rd Pick to a Kellogg Award and championship, Danny Davis had about as good a debut season as you could ask for, batting .352/.415/.599 (166 OPS+) with 34 doubles, 15 triples, 26 homers, and 96 RBIs. It was also his first of 4 All-Star selections, and he was a key part of the '63 and '64 titles teams too. He bypassed the sophomore slump, hitting .350/.394/.643 (180 OPS+), clubbing 40 homers with 130 RBIs and 112 runs. Davis then spent most of the next eight seasons as a fixture in the Pioneers outfield, with the only real misstep a rough 1968.

Now 35, he's been relegated to a bench role, so he shouldn't damage his .284/.335/.477 (130 OPS+) career line too much. Appearing in the 8th most games for a Pioneer (1,634), his 244 homers are 4th most for the franchise, also placing in slugging (10th), runs (8th, 849), hits (6th, 1,675), doubles (9th, 261), triples (t-10th, 74), and RBIs (5th, 989). Considering St. Louis has seen Hall of Famers like Max Morris, Fred McCormick, and Jerry Smith, as well as the now departed Bob Bell (36, .285, 5, 20; .305, 319, 1,120, 112) who should join them, he's in plenty good company.

Star Out of Place: SS Tom Spruill (33, .288, 10, 62, 11; .276, 109, 694, 106)

Acquired at the deadline this season, Tom Spruill spent over a decade as the shortstop of the Chicago Chiefs. Originally a 18th Rounder of the Saints, he was acquired in a rare prospect-for-prospect deal for now Imperial righty Eddie Watson (2-0, 1, 4.26, 10; 42-50, 74, 3.53, 463) back in 1962. The Ohio native then debuted at 21 the next season, quickly establishing his use both offensively and defensively. Worth 3.6 WAR in 129 games, he hit .286/.360/.439 (119 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 15 homers, 67 RBIs, and 59 runs scored. Up until the trade, he took at least 400 or more plate appearance each year, including seven more seasons with a WRC+ of 105 or better. When paired with great defense, that's plenty useful, though he's only been recognized once as an All-Star. It came his rookie season, but he posted an impressive 5.7 WAR and 118 WRC+ in 1968, and was a key contributor to the 1967 Chiefs team that won the WCS. He ended up appearing in 1,637 games for the Chiefs, batting .275/.332/.383 (107 OPS+) with 262 doubles, 104 homers, 101 steals, and 506 walks, 693 RBIs, and 744 runs.

The trade seemed to energize Spruill as well, as his batting line jumped from .279/.309/.371 (90 OPS+) to .308/.353/.479 (132 OPS+). As a Pioneer he added 8 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 5 steals, 16 RBIs, and 29 runs. At 33, his defense isn't quite as good as it was in his prime, but 1974 is just the second below average season he's had defensively. And while he's still capable at short, he could shift to second or third to allow second basemen Frank Green (26, .250, 7, 54; .274, 27, 182, 11) to return to his natural position of short. His speed and discipline still make him a productive hitter, and his veteran presence should be appreciated in a full season.

Tiger Fan · 12-06-2025, 12:10 AM

JANUARY 1, 1975
HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL UPDATE AS WE ENTER 1975

FABL, the big league baseball organization in the Figment Universe, will return to weekly sims early next week. It will be early January and the FABL GMs will be hastily preparing for both the opening 10 rounds of the annual draft and to reacquaint themselves with their organizations as we head towards spring training. There are going to be a few openings for clubs so if interested send me a message and I will pass your contact info on to our commissioner.

The other three sports- football, hockey and basketball- will also return to a weekly advance but human General Managers will wait until the start of the next season in the fall of 1975 before assuming control of teams. While the AFA has already completed its championship game, the World Classic, and collegiate football only has the New Years Day Classic games remaining on their docket to conclude its season, the winter sports are well into their 1974-75 campaigns.

This report will simply be a recap of the first few months of the 1974-75 hockey and basketball seasons in order to set the stage for the resumption of weekly sims. We also unveil the 1970s themed look to This Week in Figment Sports.

NEW LOOK NAHC EXPANDS, REALIGNS
Addition of Cincinnati and Washington Boost League to 18 teams

The North American Hockey Confederation continues its rapid growth as the league, which featured just six teams eight years ago, has now tripled to 18 clubs with the addition of two newcomers for the 1974-75 season. Those two new teams - the Cincinnati Ironclads and Washington Federals- prompted the league to go to a four division format. To minimize travel expenses the divisions were set up more or less along geographic lines and is structed as follows:

Rather than East, West type names the NAHC opted to honour some of the founding fathers of the league by naming divisions after former players/owners in Jack Connelly, Max Dewar Frank Yeadon and Bert Thomas.

BOSTON BEES SET PACE IN NAHC AS CALENDAR FLIPS TO 1975

It may be a new look for the NAHC with the league's growth to 18 teams and a four division format but it is familiar foes fighting for top spot as the season edges past its midway point. That would be the Boston Bees and Montreal Valiants, former original six East Division rivals who continue to see plenty of each other in the four team Connelly Division.

Boston, led by a balanced offense and the steady goaltending of Alex Daoust, enjoys a 1-point lead on the Valiants for the best record in the league despite being upended at Denny Arena 3-1 by the Minneapolis Norseman on New Year's Eve. Montreal, which has not missed the playoffs in 14 years and won 4 Challenge Cups over that span, is coming off a 6-3 victory over Toronto in which both the Valiants Roger MacKinnon and Toronto's Ollie Perreault each netted their league-leading 31st goal. The Dukes, who have won more Cups than any other team in NAHC history, sit last in the Connelly Division but are still over .500 and their 46 points would put them no worse than tied for second in any of the other three division.

The defending Challenge Cup champion Philadelphia Rogues lead the Dewar Division with the Scotch Line of Adam McPherson, Gary Yeadon and Glenn McKenzie - who were so instrumental in the Cup run last spring- continuing to lead the way. The most pleasant surprise in the Dewar Division is that the New York Shamrocks, who have not made the playoffs since the spring of 1960, presently sit in second place and stand a good chance of being one of the three teams from the division that will qualify for the postseason.

In the Yeadon Division the Chicago Packers and Minneapolis Norsemen are waging a tight battle for first place. The Packers are benefitting from a return to form for 31-year-old Bruce Denison, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, and are still led by captain Ken York. Now 37 and slowing somewhat, York has picked up 25 points so far this season and is closing on another Chicago legend Tommy Burns for second place in the NAHC's all-time goal scoring list. York has found the back of the net 9 times to give him 548 for his career. Only the incomparable Quinton Pollack (788) and Burns (564) have scored more.

The top team in the Thomas Division is the Vancouver Totems. The 1969 Cup winners were finalists a year ago and had a hot start this season but have slowed of late with just 5 wins in their last 14 outings. The San Francisco Gulls, which have never qualified for the playoffs, are closing in on the Totems with just one loss in their last eight games.

SWEDISH IMPORTS HELP FALCONS SOAR

Forget about Hobie Barrell and the high flying Ottawa Athletics as the Continental Hockey Association has a new club stealing the spotlight with its powerful offense. That would be the Winnipeg Falcons who are off to a sizzling 28-8-6 start and own the best record in the Continental Hockey Association.

The key to Winnipeg's success has been the club's willingness to be a front-runner in the Swedish invasion as both winger Matias Jacobsson and defenseman Borje Sjostrom have made quick adjustments to the North American game. They are the most prominent of roughly a dozen European players that were signed by CHL teams over the summer in an effort to bridge the talent game between the three year old league and the well-established NAHC.

Jacobsson, 23, is third in scoring in the CHL and has teamed up with last year's rookie of the year Tim Moore and ex-Vancouver Totem Gerry Saunders to give Winnipeg a line that can match the production of Ottawa's big trio of Hobie Barrell, Neil Ferguson and another Swedish rookie by the name of Ludvig Olsson.

Winnipeg, which made the playoffs for the first time a year ago but was quickly eliminated by the New York Eagles in the opening round, is leading the way because it also has a defense to match its mighty offense. The goaltending tandem of former Detroit Motors netminder Sean Kempster and 24-year-old rookie Harry Krueger has been solid but the key has been Sjostrom. The defenseman, a 25-year-old five year veteran of the Swedish Elite League has been the quarterback of the Falcons very successful powerplay will also providing stellar work in his own end.

There is plenty of competition for the Falcons in the Central Division as the expansion Milwaukee Maulers and Barrell-led Ottawa Athletics have the second and third best records in the league. Milwaukee joined the loop this season along with the Baltimore Blackjacks to boost the CHL membership to 14-teams and prompted the league to adopt a three-division format.

NEW ORLEANS JOINS FEDERAL CAGE LEAGUE
Expansion Pirates Bring Federal Basketball League to 18 Teams

The Federal Basketball League opened the 1974-75 campaign with a new look and a new market, adding the New Orleans Pirates as the circuit’s 18th franchise in a continued effort to stay ahead of the struggling Continental League on the expansion front.

To fit the Pirates into the structure, the league reshuffled its Eastern Conference lineup. The Atlanta Vipers shifted from the Atlantic to the Central Division, while the Toronto Falcons moved back to the Atlantic, rejoining long-time rivals New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. The Falcons had shared the old East Division with those clubs for a decade prior to the mid-’60s expansion.

A Rough Debut in the Crescent City

New Orleans entered the league with a roster largely stitched together from other clubs’ cast-offs, though the Pirates do boast a promising young cornerstone in Bob Basham—the two-time AIAA national champion from Lane State and the club’s No. 4 overall pick last summer. The coaching staff has eased the Oakland product into the rotation, but his apprenticeship has come during a brutal start: the Pirates sit at 7–24, the worst mark in the league, and are currently buried under a 13-game losing streak.

Familiar Faces on Top

At the opposite end of the table, little has changed. The New York Knights and St. Louis Rockets, winners of the last six FBL titles between them, remain the league’s standard-bearers. St. Louis continues to ride the torrid scoring pace of John Brantner, the 31-year-old superstar who has captured four straight scoring titles and three Most Valuable Player awards. His current 39.6 points per game put him slightly ahead of last year’s record-setting clip.

New York counters with a dominant 31-year-old of its own. Dick Van der Linden, already a league MVP and a three-time postseason Most Outstanding Player, leads the loop in rebounding (16.7 per game) while adding better than 22 points nightly.

But this season, the two perennial heavyweights have company. The Seattle Emeralds own the league’s best record at 22–10, looking every bit like the club that has reached the finals twice in four years and has been eliminated exclusively by St. Louis or New York in each postseason since 1970.

Right behind them, the San Francisco Miners have surged back into contention after missing the playoffs the last two seasons. Their 20th win came in emphatic fashion on December 26, when they hammered Seattle 126–70, powered by a 32-point outburst from emerging star Scott Gruninger, now in his prime at age 28. However, the Miners promptly stumbled with back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Minneapolis Bobcats, raising questions about whether San Francisco is ready to stay in the upper tier.

[center]Central Division Still Searching[/enter]
The Central Division continues to lag behind the rest of the league. A year ago, Chicago was the only club in the division to finish above .500. This season, even with expansion-strapped New Orleans in the group, no Central team has managed a winning record. The Panthers sit atop the pack at 17–17, but last week’s losses at home to Detroit and on the road in Washington hint that Chicago may not yet have the staying power to separate itself.

Looking Ahead

There is still a long way to go before the playoff picture sharpens, but early returns suggest the story may feel familiar come springtime. Seattle and San Francisco have emerged as legitimate threats, yet the smart money still rides with the Knights and Rockets, who once again appear poised for deep postseason runs—and perhaps another chapter in their ongoing tug-of-war for league supremacy.

CINCINNATI STEAMS TO FRONT OF CBL
Red-Hot Steamers Seize Control of Continental Loop

A blistering 16–2 surge has vaulted the Cincinnati Steamers to the top of the Continental Basketball League, giving the eight-year-old circuit the dominant club it has long sought. Though the CBL boasts no shortage of individual talent, the league still fights an uphill battle for recognition in a landscape long ruled by the established Federal Basketball League. Nowhere is that struggle more evident than in New Jersey, where the Demons—once envisioned as the CBL’s foothold in the nation’s biggest media market—have stumbled to a league-worst 5–23 mark.

Queen City’s Best Hope in a Generation

Cincinnati’s fast start has injected new life into the loop. After falling in the CBL Finals in each of the past two seasons, the Steamers may finally have the roster depth to clear that last hurdle. No professional team from the Queen City has captured a championship since the baseball Cannons went back-to-back in 1943–44, but this year’s club has shown all the signs of a legitimate contender.

Remarkably, the Steamers have maintained their pace despite an extended absence by second-year guard Bob Baldwin, sidelined for over a month with a separated shoulder, and a ten-game injury spell for point guard Phil Brouwer. Brouwer recently returned and Baldwin is expected back at full strength soon, which only strengthens a rotation already featuring seven players averaging at least 15 points per game.

Balanced, Deep, and Hard to Guard

The Steamers’ attack has become a nightly riddle for opponents. Roger Williams leads the team with a 20.9 scoring average—good for only 15th in the league—which speaks to Cincinnati’s remarkable balance. The result is the CBL’s highest-scoring outfit at 127+ points per game, nearly four better than the runner-up Philadelphia Mariners.

Even more surprising: despite leading the league in scoring, Cincinnati has made fewer three-pointers than any club in the CBL. The long-range shot—exclusive to the Continental loop—has indeed boosted scoring league-wide, but the Steamers have shown that depth, pace, and relentless ball movement can be just as dangerous.

Fairchild Keeps the Crown in the West

Out west, the league’s premier scorer continues to be Bill Fairchild of the San Antonio Outlaws, whose 31.5 points per game pace the circuit. The Outlaws strengthened their grip on first place in the West Division with a weekend sweep of the defending champion Denver Bighorns, opening with a 120–115 win in the Rockies and finishing with a 119–116 triumph at home. Fairchild was limited to just nine points in the latter contest thanks to early foul trouble, but San Antonio still found a way.

Cincinnati kept rolling last night, posting a 137–130 victory in New Jersey behind 39 points from Brouwer, further stretching its East Division lead to 4.5 games over Philadelphia as the calendar turns to 1975.

RED DEVILS LEAD COLLEGE CAGE POLL

While most college campus, even those not lucky enough to be on of the 14 teams selected to play on New Years Day this year, are fully focused on the gridiron, most eyes on the campus of Baton Rouge State University are glued to the hardwood where the Red Devils are off to a perfect 10-0 start and have climbed to the top of the latest AIAA basketball poll.

Unlike Louisiana rival Bayou State football has not really been the Red Devils thing through the years. The Baton Rouge State grid team's lone Classic Game appearance came in the 1949 Sunshine Classic when they lost to Central Ohio and they are coming off another winless season after going 0-11. A perennial basement dweller in the Deep South Conference for football, Baton Rouge State is best known on the grid for their college record of futility when they went seven consecutive seasons without recording a victory, dropping 73 consecutive games.

The Red Devils cagers had some rough years as well but not lately as Baton Rouge State has made it to the national semi-finals of the AIAA basketball tournament three of the past four years and with their hot start this year there is talk of the basketball team joining the1953 Bayou State baseball team led by Washington Eagles draft pick Bud Conover as the only national champions ever produced by Baton Rouge State.

Red Devils Rely on Veteran Leadership

Baton Rouge State seems to be poised for deep run in the tournament once again. All five starters returned from the team that fell to Charleston Tech in the semi-finals a year ago while senior forward Pete Morales, a highly touted pro prospect, also saw significant time in the semi-final loss to eventual champion Maryland State in his freshman year. Morales leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game, and is second in rebounds. He and Rick Mendoza, a junior guard, are the reason pro scouts are plentiful whenever Baton Rouge State takes the court.

Despite their success in the tournament in recent years, the Red Devils have still never won a Deep South Conference champion. The section slate does not get underway for another three weeks and that is when the real test will come. The Red Devils, who concluded their Christmas break with wins at home over Mobile Maritime and Topeka State this past week, are a team on the rise and led by a head coach with an incredibly bright future in the sport.

That would be Charlie Anderson, who despite not yet celebrating his 35th birthday has already been to Bigsby Garden in late March for the National Semi-Finals five times and owns a 169-61 career record. A former guard at Brooklyn State, he interned for two years as an assistant at powerhouse Carolina Poly before getting the head job at Bulein. In his second season he led the Hornets to a 30-3 record and a berth in the final four before. Two years later the opportunity came to coach in the prestigious Deep South Conference and he has reached the semi-finals three of his four seasons.

Knights Toppled From Number One

Few may have noticed in the Motor City because the focus is on today's East-West Classic showdown, a rematch between Detroit City College and Redwood University that potentially could decide the college football national title, but the Knights basketball team has also enjoyed a great start to the season.

The Detroit City College cagers were ranked number one in the nation before Christmas thanks to a start that included a win over top ten Mississippi A&M to claim the King of South season opening tournament and more recently victories over St Blane and Huntington State. Too much Christmas turkey might have tripped up DCC as the Knights suffered their first loss of the season on December 27, falling 44-32 in an uninspired effort against Pittsburgh State.

That ended, at least for now, DCC's reign at the top of the college basketball poll but they did hold on to second place thanks to strong showings three days ago and again on New Years Eve. On the 29th senior guard Harry Gilmour, a potential All-American candidate, scored 23 points - one shy of his season high- in a 75-39 schooling of Academia Alliance outfit Sadler and yesterday afternoon the Knights rolled over Wichita Baptist 73-39. Both were games they should have won handily and they did. Like Baton Rouge State, Detroit City College -with back-to-back National semi-final appearances to build on- has high expectations for the rest of the season. A big test will come on January 9 when the Knights host #4 Northern Mississippi in their stiffest test to date with the always difficult Great Lakes Alliance slate following shortly after.

KINGS WILL STAY IN SEATTLE FOR LONG HAUL, STADIUM DEAL FINALIZED

The "King of Quips" is now the Savior of Seattle baseball after word broke that municipal and state authorities have agreed to help fund a multi-purpose doomed stadium whose primary tenants will be FABL's Seattle Kings and the Seattle Roughnecks of the American Football Association.

Stage and screen star Elliot Kessler recently finalized his deal to purchase the Kings after the previous owner Chester Coleman, who had moved the club from Kansas City in 1968, had run into financial difficulty and was looking to sell the club. There was much concern the much-travelled team, which originated in Brooklyn nearly a century ago, might be on the move again before Kessler stepped in and vowed to keep the team in Seattle if a deal could be reached on a new domed stadium.

The stadium plan is now official and ground will break in the next few months meaning that Seattle will not suffer the same fate as Pittsburgh met a year ago when the lack of a stadium deal saw the team sold to Atlanta interests despite winning a World Championship Series title the previous year. Interest in the Kings is at an all-time high after they won the WCS last October and drew almost 2 million fans to the aging Seattle Municipal Stadium

Here is a biography of the new Seattle Kings owner:

Elliot “The King of Quips” Kessler
Born: January 18, 1913 — Brooklyn, New York
Majority Owner: Seattle Kings (Dec. 1974 – )
Profession: Actor, comedian, producer, entertainment entrepreneur
Nickname: “The King of Quips”

Brooklyn Roots

Elliot Kessler was raised in Brooklyn’s Concord Basin neighborhood, a working-class but tightly knit area where street corners doubled as stages. From childhood he was torn between two ambitions: to make people laugh and to absorb every possible second of Kings baseball.
The Brooklyn Kings weren’t just a sports team to Kessler — they were a civic heartbeat. His earliest memories include listening to games on a tinny radio while practicing impressions of the Kings’ broadcasters.

When the Kings left Brooklyn after the 1951 season for Kansas City, Kessler described it as “the moment I realized the world doesn’t always care about your sentimental education.”

It became a defining emotional thread in his life.

Career and Stardom

Kessler rose out of the Borscht Belt comedy circuit with a style built on quick wit, physical dexterity, and a talent for controlled comedic chaos. He conquered radio first, then TV, then film. Publicists branded him “The King of Quips” and the name followed him everywhere.

By the early 1960s he was one of the rare entertainers who owned much of his own material. He ran his own production office, held stakes in a handful of regional TV stations, and invested in early media tech.

Behind the comedic persona was a shrewd businessman with clean instincts and good timing.

The Kings Leave Again — And Return to Him

After establishing themselves in Kansas City for more than a decade, the Kings’ fortunes fluctuated. Their owner, Chester Coleman, a Kansas City native and businessman, grew increasingly frustrated with local politics and stadium fights. In early 1968 he made the controversial move of relocating the Kings to Seattle, seeking new markets and financial stability.

The team’s Seattle debut was ambitious but financially rocky. By the mid-1970s, Coleman — aging, overextended, and facing escalating costs — quietly began searching for a buyer who could stabilize the franchise.

Enter Elliot Kessler.

Acquisition of the Kings (December 1974)

For Kessler, the opportunity hit like fate. He had never gotten over losing the Kings in 1951. Now here they were — the same franchise, strangely nomadic, badly in need of new direction — and he had the resources to step in.

He assembled a well-financed consortium of West Coast and entertainment-industry investors and closed the deal in December 1974.
At the introductory press conference, Kessler opened with a line that instantly made Seattle fall in love with him: “I grew up a kid from Brooklyn who lost his team. Now I get to help Seattle keep theirs.”

Ownership Style

At 54, Kessler brought a blend of showmanship and seriousness:

Media-friendly but deeply focused
Community-driven
Big believer in marketing and fan outreach
Keen on modernizing scouting and development
Firm believer that Seattle can be a flagship franchise, not a waystation

He immediately set about stabilizing the team’s finances, improving the stadium experience, and reshaping the organization’s public image. Seattle fans instantly embraced him; league owners respected him; players who have met him saw the will enjoy having an owner who actually seems to like being around the clubhouse.

The Vision Begins (1974–75)

From the moment Elliot Kessler began negotiations to buy the Seattle Kings in late 1974, he made one thing clear to both city officials and the league office: “Seattle deserves a world-class, air-conditioned, rain-proof cathedral for baseball. A place worthy of a crown.”

Seattle fans had grown tired of the franchise being treated as a wandering act rather than a cornerstone. Kessler understood this instantly. The Kings’ identity had bounced from Brooklyn to Kansas City to the Pacific Northwest, and he believed the team needed a permanent, defining home.

A dome wasn’t just a stadium in Kessler’s mind. It was a symbol.

Public Push

At his introductory press conference in December 1974, after joking that he “hadn’t left Los Angeles traffic just to get rained out in July,” Kessler unveiled what newspapers would quickly call The Kessler Plan:

A fully domed stadium
Climate-controlled
Designed for baseball first
Expandable for football, concerts, and civic events
Modern acoustics and lighting
A signature silhouette on the Seattle skyline

One reporter asked if this meant the Kings were guaranteed to stay in Seattle long-term.

Kessler grinned and said: “Well, I certainly don’t plan to take a dome on the road. This club isn’t moving again.”

That quote became a local rallying cry.

Why a Dome Meant Everything

Seattle’s climate had always been an obstacle for baseball. Coleman’s stewardship of the team had been rocky, and attendance frequently sagged because fans simply didn’t trust the weather—or the ownership.

Kessler changed that tone in a single stroke. He pitched the dome as:

a civic monument
a guarantee of stability
a competitive advantage over the rest of the league
a symbol that Seattle had joined the ranks of major-league cities

He even joked during a city council meeting: “I’m a comedian by trade. But the rain? That’s one joke that needs retiring.”

Construction & Opening

The city, eager for a boost and charmed by Kessler’s public persona, approved the project astonishingly quickly by 1970s standards.

Ground will broken early this year.

CAN THE KNIGHTS RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A CLASSIC WIN?

It has been more than a month now, yet the Thanksgiving weekend debacle in Columbus still hangs over this city like a stubborn winter fog. The 52–6 beating the Detroit City College Knights absorbed from Central Ohio did more than end a perfect season; it turned what should have been a straight shot to the national championship into a parlay that now requires outside assistance. Beat Redwood University tomorrow in Santa Ana and the Knights still have a chance at that long-awaited third national crown — their first since 1955 — but only if unbeaten Annapolis Maritime finally stumbles in the Sunshine Classic against Boulder State.

Even the blazing start by the Knights’ cagers — 10–1, ranked No. 2 in the country, and as smooth as any team we’ve seen in years — has not been enough to divert Detroit’s attention from tomorrow’s football rematch. Every time the basketball squad rolls another opponent, you can’t help but think, if only the football Knights had taken care of business in Columbus.

To be fair, the Aviators-Knights rivalry has always been tight. Each side has won nine of their last 18 meetings, and home field usually matters. But nothing prepared anyone for the most lopsided result in decades, a 52–6 collapse that shredded a dream season and left DCC hoping — not controlling — for a championship outcome. Should 11–0 Annapolis Maritime handle Boulder State tomorrow, the Columbus loss will linger even more painfully.

We’ve picked apart that Central Ohio game enough in these pages: the four turnovers, the uncharacteristic sloppiness from a team that had only coughed it up seven times all year, the defensive unraveling by a unit that had been giving up less than ten points a game. No sense reopening old wounds tonight.

Instead, let’s fix our gaze on the Redwood Mammoths, who proved last year — on this very same Santa Ana Stadium turf — that they are anything but pushovers.

*** KEY WILL BE NOT MAKING MISTAKES ***

Redwood arrives at 9–2, and both losses followed the same script: turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. Early in the season they dropped a 20–17 decision at Texas Gulf Coast, undone by three giveaways. A month ago against Portland Tech, they were clipped 17–10 after committing four more. In both games, the Mammoths out-gained the opponent but simply gave them too many short fields.

Junior quarterback John Coughlin is talented — dangerous with his legs and capable through the air — but he has put the ball on the ground 14 times this season. If there is one crack in Redwood’s armor, that may be it. Countering that inconsistency is halfback Michael Cannon, as reliable as they come: 1,250 yards, 225 carries, and just one lost fumble. If Redwood keeps the game on Cannon’s shoulders, the Mammoths can control tempo.

A year ago, that’s exactly what happened. Redwood’s ground game wore down the Knights in the fourth quarter, paving the way for a 17–14 comeback win in the East-West Classic. That one still gnaws at DCC — especially now that every point and every possession feels magnified by the national title math.

The oddsmakers list the Knights as four-point favorites, and motivation shouldn’t be an issue. DCC has plenty to avenge: last year’s heartbreak in Santa Ana, and last month’s embarrassment in Columbus. Combine those with the looming possibility — however slim — of a national championship should Boulder State shock Annapolis Maritime, and the Knights should enter tomorrow’s Classic with an edge sharper than it’s been all season.

New Year’s Day football always carries a certain charge. For Detroit City College, it carries the weight of redemption, remembrance, and maybe — just maybe — a return to the summit last reached in ’55.

The Week That Was
Current events from 12/31/74

The first legal sale of gold bullion to Americans since the Depression prompted lots of interest but little real spending by the average citizen as trading began in an atmosphere of confusion and conflicting advice that caused everything from wild demand in a few areas to a complete lack of interest in others. The price of gold fell sharply on European markets as dealers waited to see what would happen in the United States.
The Watergate cover-up trial jury listened to tapes of two presidential conversations without reaching a verdict. The jury has deliberated for two days as it considers the evidence against five defendants including former White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman.
The holiday cease fire in Northern Ireland called nine days ago by the Irish Republican Army seems certain to be extended after Britain said it would release a number of prisoners held under IRA detention orders.
Japan's Premier in a New Year's message told his people that the troubled situation in the Middle East and inflation were the greatest issues facing Japan and the world in 1975.
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano put on a brief but spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks display yesterday and scientists said further eruptions were possible.

Tiger Fan · 12-06-2025, 10:53 AM

TWIFS FABL DRAFT GUIDE

The draft in FABL is fairly unique and one of the highlights of our off-season. We are a stats-only league so that, coupled with the two phase approach we use makes preparing for the draft a little different of a process for General Managers. Since FABL has some new GM's, and the existing ones are likely still getting back into the swing of things following a long hiatus for the file fix and decade long fast-forward, This Week in Figment Sports has prepared a draft guide.

Is it the only way to prepare for a FABL draft and must GMs follow all of these steps? Of course not and it may not even be the best way but it is an approach that has been honed during my 35 or so seasons of actively running a team in the league.

The FABL Draft Structure

The official in-game drafting of players in FABL takes place in June but using Stats+ our commissioner runs the draft in two segments. The first, typically done in the January sims while hockey and basketball dominate the news pages, covers the first ten rounds and is done entirely by human GM selections in Stats+. The second segment is done in mid-June on the actual in-game draft day and covers the remaining 10-15 rounds and is done by computer picks based on our scouts draft lists but GMs are allowed to adjust the draft lists in any way they see fit.

I typically focus almost entirely on the January phase but between April and June, once we get the mock draft and the game generated high school and college stats, I may have a short list of players that I will place at the top of my Scouting Director's lists for rounds 11-15 or so.

It is so rare that a player selected after round 10 has any impact in the big leagues so the later rounds really can be ignored if you have limited time.

PREPARING FOR THE DRAFT

In a typical year I will begin preparation for say the 1976 draft almost immediately after the 1975 draft is officially conducted in June. I use shortlists in game and immediately sort the 450 odd players in the draft class down to a much more workable group of roughly 150 names. Those will be the players I will scout heavily and will be the ones I focus on for the January phase. Some GMs do not like to narrow the class down that quickly but I find doing so allows me to focus my SD (Scouting Director) on the top prospects and with OOTP 25 I could get everyone to VERY HIGH scouting accuracy. It is my understanding that will be much more difficult to do in OOTP26 so in my mind that means it is even more essential I get my draft class focus down to the top 150 or so quickly.

Shortlists are Your Friend

Shortlists are huge in scouting for a draft in Stats-Only.

My first task in late June or early July is to read through the scouting reports on all players and quickly sort them into one of three short-list groups that I create: First or Second Round candidates, Third through Sixth Round and Seventh thru 10th. I also put all the players who are not on any of the three shortlists on a fourth shortlist I label Round 11-25. I do this in case there are some very late additions added to the game when OOTP flips to the new season on January 1. This way I know if a draft class player is not on a shortlist that he is brand new and I need to look at him. Now that sounds like a real time consuming project but it is not as much work as you might think.

First tip is to break it down over multiple sims which is why I start immediately after the completion of the previous draft. One sim I will go through all the college pitchers, the next one the high school pitchers and then do the same for position players. A key thing to remember is make sure you export after creating your shortlist (that was a lesson I learned the hard way in the early days) to ensure your shortlists are there when the game moves ahead.

Another tip to greatly reduce the reading. In my initial run through I simply glance at the last line of both the OSA scouting report and that of my scouting director. It is pretty easy to decide this guy goes in the Round 11-25 scrap heap.

How do you break them into groups: Well, pitchers who are said to have #1 or #2 starter potential or position players who are described to be first-division starters or better go into the Round 1 or 2 group. Everyday players or middle to end of rotation arms go into the third through sixth round group and spot starters, upper tier minor leaguers or players with another interesting scouting note that catches their attention end up in the round seven to ten list. The result is that I have quickly cut my scouting focus and work down to about 150 players as usually 20-40 going on the round 1 or 2 list and 40-60 end up in the round 3-6 list with another 25-50 in the seventh to tenth group.

Here is how my shortlist drop down typically looks

I clear out my draft shortlists immediately after each draft so I can use them again. I also keep a list I called "Already Drafted" that I move players to as they get selected during the January phase so I always can see who on my draft lists might still be available (some do this exclusively in Stats+ but I found this works for me). In this case my team picks second in the draft so I have also made a very exclusive list of half a dozen players I am seriously considering for my pick at #2 overall (all of those players are also on my Round 1& 2 shortlist). Ignore the College and High School players for stats - they are part of my TWIFS prep work when we were picking High School and College All-Americans but I do recommend you make a list to track the top prospects in your system. It is not draft related, but I find it assists me in making sure my top prospects are playing and are at the appropriate level for their development. It has been my experience that the OOTP engine does an awful job giving minor league playing time to your best prospects, so I always force start key prospects at the positions and level I want them at.

Now that I have those shortlists complete I am ready to have my SD focus on scouting them. I assign him tasks every sim during the second half of the regular season continuing weekly right up to the January draft to ensure those on my 3 key shortlists are scouted heavily.

Other Things to Focus On

Once I have those lists and my scouting director assigned regularly to scout these players I just let him do his thing until the calendar approaches January. So all of that sounds like a lot of work but it really is only about 5 minutes per sim making sure my SD is busy but not overworked. The 4 sims to get my draft lists sorted take a little longer, maybe a half hour each at most to do the high school pitchers and hitters but far less (because there are fewer) time for the college lists.

Once we hit December I began to make a final draft list. Again I like to spread it out over several sims to minimize the work but that is completely optional. I will export to csv my three shortlists and combine them in an excel document so I have my 150 or so draft candidate split into three groups.

The next step is fine-tuning that excel sheet to get to a ranking order for my picks. I usually go with two lists - one for pitchers and one for position players. Here is an example from the 1951 draft of what my pitcher draft list looked like. Jim Norris, at the top of my list was drafted by my team and became a superstar. Mike Quigley and Buster Scott, who were 2nd and third, most certainly did not pan out. I have kept many of my lists in order to look back on.

You notice I have a few things I look for included in my csv export. Work Ethic is a big one for me, so big they I will move a player up or down my list based on it. I also really look for ground ball pitchers, and often penalize guys who only have 3 pitches. Velocity is also a factor that helps me determine where to rank a player in his group. The HS/College stats can become a small factor as well and I include a quick phrase from my SD and the OSA assessment.

Now all of that is extra and not necessary if you don't want or have the time to do it. Simply having a block of 20-40 names as potential first and second round candidates puts you in a good position to draft. I also lean, when possible, towards college players- especially pitchers- because they should have less risk and from my understanding high school pitchers are even riskier in OOTP26 than they were in previous versions, which is something that feels like it is an improvement when compared to real life, especially in the era that we are playing in.

You Do Not Need To Go Into This Much Detail

I just mention the other things because there is so much you can focus on in a game that hides the ratings. If ratings were enabled I would still use a spreadsheet but it would be very black and white as to who slots where based on potential. I much prefer the uncertainty of stats-only, especially when a GM gets comfortable identifying all of the things aside from ratings one can use to assess talent.

January 1 Until The Draft Begins

Once the calendar flips to January 1 in OOTP online leagues give you a nice option in that your Scouting Director can be asked for his recommendations for each round of the draft and you will have a nice list to choose from. Make sure you use Scouting Director's "DRAFT LIST" to help you assess player rankings. It is an online league exclusive feature I believe but you can click on the DRAFT LIST tab from the draft screen and then under ACTIONS ask your scouting director for his draft list for all rounds. I wish it could be exported to a CSV but I don't believe it can but if you don't want to do all of the work above to prepare for the draft the Scouting Director lists can certainly be used to make your Stats+ draft lists.

PRO-TIP: Be ready when it is your turn to draft I cannot emphasize that enough. There are 23 other teams waiting to draft and with all the time we have to prep (even this year with the quick jump into the draft) and scouting director lists available there is no reason for you not to be ready to pick when your turn comes up. Not sure if you will be available when it is your slot then make a short list in stats+ and set it to pick from list so you do not slow the process down. Yes, the commissioner is very relaxed especially in the first round in giving us plenty of time to pick but do your best to ensure you have a list if you are not around when your turn comes up.

This Draft is Unique

The 1975 draft is beginning just a couple days after our first sim so all of that scouting prep time will not be available. I have spent time the last few days running through the draft pool to get my normal lists sorted by round in place but because my SD is LOW accuracy on nearly the entire class I found I am relying much more on what OSA says. Come draft day because I do not know the class well enough I may even defer to my Scouting Director list once we get past the first two or three rounds. We will have a couple of sims on Monday and Tuesday to do some scouting so I am focusing entirely on my round 1 and 2 list to assign tasks to my SD in hopes I get some more accurate information for the draft.

We are all going to be in the same boat but for this draft I may rely more heavily on the stats. Something to keep in mind with stats and pay attention to is that college players have different levels of competition so numbers against Great competition I would assume are more telling than high totals against Fair Competition. For high school players the playing field is equal as all schools are set to average competition levels.

Even without ratings our GMs have become pretty good at identifying talent over the years but 1975 may be a draft with some real stars coming from later round picks and earlier busts because we won't have the level of knowledge we might normally gather. Also, I believe from watching the fast play is that it appears there are a higher percentage of draft picks in OOTP26 that do not pan out. From following 1963-74 in OOTP26 I feel like a lot more top 25 OSA pipeline list players failed to meet expectations and not just pitchers. I like it as the draft, especially in the mid-1970s should have a lot more busts than previous versions of OOTP gave us.

Even for an experienced Figment GM this is a steep learning curve in reacquainting ourselves with our organizations while also preparing for the draft. Lean on your Scouting Director's lists if need be. Maybe not for the first round, where I always believe you should try and find a player you like but certainly in later rounds. Also, do not draft simply for a position of need. Maybe you think you have a great shortstop in your system already but if when it is your turn to draft and you like a SS the most out of the available players, draft him. You will also find that a lot of existing GMs have had a habit (at least in the past) of wanting to draft pitchers and leave talented position players on the board. I would suggest don't do that although with the caveat that pitching prospects, especially those in the OSA top 50 or so have fetched a premium on the trade market in the past. Will that change, especially if it is true and we see a lot more highly ranked young pipeline pitchers never reaching their potential? Who knows?

Good luck with your draft and for new GM's to the league feel free to reach out to our commissioner or any of the veteran GMs as we are always willing to share our experiences. Hopefully this draft prep article has some points that will help your FABL club reach the World Championship Series someday soon.

A Mock First Round To Get You Started

A long standing tradition of This Week in Figment Sports during the early days of this periodical was to provide a mock-draft courtesy of founding editor Jiggs McGee. McGee is no longer with us but the tradition will live on as we present a ranking of the top 24 candidates for the FABL amateur player draft which is set to begin over the coming weeks. This list was created with the assistance of the OSA- the official scouting service of FABL.

Happy drafting!

ayaghmour2 · 12-08-2025, 06:04 PM

Cincinnati Cannons
Last Year Record: 84-78 (2nd, .519)
Best Year Since 1964: 1964, 94-68 (2nd, .580)

Top Pitcher: RHP Herm Quinn (30, 17-10, 2.59, 172; 60-51, 3.50, 691)

Special shoutout to 25-year-old Ace Barrell (25, 18-10, 2.94, 137; 42-36, 5, 3.71, 385), the son of legendary Hall-of-Famer Deuce Barrell, and while Ace could be an ace too, right now he's just the overqualified #2.

Herm Quinn is the ace, as the minor league free agent turned 1974 All-Star made his presence known in his four year in the Cannons rotation. Coming off three straight seasons worth at least 4.5 WAR, he set a new personal best of 6.5 in a career high 264 innings pitched. Most of his other numbers were bests too, going 17-10 with a 2.59 ERA (142 ERA+), 2.90 FIP (78 FIP-), and 1.07 WHIP, striking out 172 with just 65 walks. In the hunt for the Allen, he ranked top-3 in the CA in ERA (2nd), WAR (3rd), complete games (2nd, 10), shutouts (1st, 6), K/BB (2nd, 2.6), WHIP (2nd), ERA+ (3rd), and quality starts (t-3rd, 27), and finished second to the eventual winner Roger Alford (27, 17-9, 2.35, 139; 54-50, 1, 2.88, 485).

This was probably Quinn's best chance for hardware, but he had been one of the most consistent FABL pitchers since he joined the rotation in 1971. In all four seasons he's thrown at least 200 innings, with 36 starts and 250+ innings in each of the last three. Entering 1975, he has a solid 3.50 ERA (103 ERA+), but his 3.11 FIP (86 FIP-) is far more impressive. You can thank his command for that, as he's maintained a BB% below 6.5 in each of the last three seasons, and as a starter his K% has hovered around the 15-16 mark. Paired with the ability to keep the ball in the park, he's the type of the picture who doesn't need a great defense, but can really shine when he has one. That was clear this year, as with a top-2 defense in the CA he finally put everything together. A comfortable middle rotation arm, his mid-to-high 90s sinker is a weapon, and his teaching of it to the rest of the rotation has turned the Cannons staff into one of the best in the business.

Top Hitter: LF Billy West (25, .315, 4, 72, 29; .317, 29, 238, 54)

Taken 2nd by the Cannons in the '68 draft, it wasn't a linear climb to stardom for Billy West, though it did not take very long for him to get to the Queen City. Debuting at 20 in 1970, he made 58 appearances, all starts, and hit an outstanding .325/.398/.539 (156 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 6 homers, 31 runs, 44 RBIs, and 5 steals. As great as that was, the rest has not been smooth sailing, as while he's been producing like crazy at the plate, he hasn't been able to stay healthy. In the last four seasons he's had 14 various ailments, including a ruptured MCL that cost him most of the 1972 season and a pair of leg injuries this summer that caused him to play through some discomfort.

West did get into 157 games, easily a career high, and just his second season in Cincinnati where he made more then 90 appearances. Ironically, it came with a career low .315/.390/.442 (133 OPS+) batting line, but when that's your worst season you've certainly done plenty right. His counting stats were great, even if he hit just 4 homers, as he led the Conti with 14 triples and supplemented it with 34 doubles, 72 RBIs, 91 runs, 72 walks, and 29 steals. His 5.1 WAR came just shy of his personal high 5.4 in 118 games at 21, but what's more important for Cincy fans is he was basically healthy and stealing bases again. One of the quickest players in the league, he was held to single digits each of the last four years, either due to playing time or leg issues. The injuries haven't impacted the bat much, his .317/.395/.477 (148 OPS+) career line is nearly 50 percent above average, but adding the stolen base to his game could take him to the next level. His beautiful swing will lead to a high average, and the more he's on base the more damage he can do. Add in his elite plate discipline, leading to 225 walks and just 119 strikeouts, and the addition of the stolen base will make West among the toughest players to gameplan for, as he can get on base for the big bats behind him to drive in the runs.

Top Prospect: RHP Bob Neal (12th Overall)

Already a quick riser, Bob Neal has gone from the 2nd Round to AA in just a few months, and his success in High-A (4-4, 2.86, 80) has helped him earn a top-25 listing on the prospect list. Up to 12, he gets a lot of credit for his command, which could end up being among the best in the league. It's what could allow him to be a legitimate ace, as he places all three of his pitches exactly where he wants them go. The best is his sinker, currently sitting in the low 90s, but the 22-year-old might still be able to add an extra mile on it to get a few more whiffs. Same goes for his fastball, it's the clear third pitch, but with how good his slider is all he needs to do is locate it well. He did run into a little trouble in AA, where he's likely to return to start 1975, but if he can iron out a few of the issues he has left he could finish his season as another sinkerball behind Quinn and Barrell.

Active Legend: 2B Bob Bell (36, .285, 5, 20; .305, 319, 1,120, 112)

I'm sort of bending my own rules here, as Bob Bell isn't really a Cannons legend, but I wanted to talk about him and Vern Osborne, and aside from long-time catcher Pete Bruce (32, .289, 10, 61, 1; .247, 81, 480, 1) and 2-Time All-Star Mike Roque (30, .315, 13, 83, 3; .292, 77, 468, 8) they don't have many long-tenured players.

Formerly the best player in baseball, Bell debuted in 1960 and won 3 of the 4 Federal Whitney awards from 1961 to 1964. He also won three titles with the Pioneers during their '62 to '64 threepeat, and Bell was really the main reason for that. In his four year period of dominance, he led the Fed with 39, 46, 43, and 48 homers, also leading the association in runs (1961, 117), RBIs (1961, 128; 1964, 121), OBP (1961, .435; .1962, .477), slugging (1961, .635; 1962, .748; 1964, .630), OPS (1961, 1.070; 1962, 1.226; 1964, 1.031), WRC+ (1961, 189; 1962, 214; 1964, 201), and WAR (1961, 10.0; 1962, 11.4; 1964, 12.0).

Surprisingly, Bell never led the association in anything again, but the 8-Time All-Star continued to be a useful regular the next four seasons. His play finally fell off in 1970 at 31, and by 1972 he was completely relegated to a bench role. It was a tough and surprising fall from grace for one of the game's best athletes, and despite such a promising start to his career he never even reached 2,000 hits. Currently, his 79.7 WAR and 308 homers rank behind just Hall-of-Famer Max Morris (104.1, 474) in team history, and he holds top-5 spots in slugging (3rd, .520), OPS (5th, .909), games (4th, 1,785), runs (5th, 1,043), hits (5th, 1,916), RBIs (4th, 1,073), and walks (4th, 843). It's surprising he didn't up higher in the non-Morris records, but eventually the year's of greatness caught up to him.

Acquired two offseasons ago in a minor offseason deal, he's been a pinch-hit specialist for the Cannons, hitting .252/.355/.403 (114 OPS+) in 327 trips to the plate. Just 20 of his 225 outings have been starts, and with 1,986 hits he's still not at 2,000. He's also a walk away from 900 and a homer from 320, milestones most FABL hitters don't come close to. But despite many players having full careers well into their 30s, he's more of a fan draw then a difference maker, but even with age he gives good at bats, working the count, drawing walks, and hitting a few hard line drives. A lesser team may have given him a chance to play every day, but he has a chance to compete in Cincy and be a part of his 4th championship team.

Star Out of Place: LHP Vern Osborne (43, 4-5, 1, 5.96, 37; 257-210, 7, 3.57, 2,583)

After 19 seasons in Chicago, including 17 of which he spent as a member of the rotation, Vern Osborne was unceremoniously released before the 1973 season. He spent most of the year as a free agent, before Cincinnati decided to and him to their FABL staff. He spent each of the last two seasons split between the rotation and pen, but will now need to have a strong spring to keep his pen start.

A veteran of 4,314.1 innings pitched, he's started 591 games, currently 257-210 since his one-game debut in 1954. Now 43, the East St. Louis native is far from the guy who led the Fed with a 2.65 ERA (1856 ERA+) in 1956, and later appeared on 6 All-Star teams. Starting 31 or more games in 15 of his seasons in Chicago, with his 252 wins trailing just Hall-of-Famer Al Miller (327) in club history. He's also 2nd in WAR (78.7),. innings (4,173), and starts (572), but his 2,530 strikeouts are actually almost 200 higher then "The California Kid" and top for the franchise. Osborne was also one of the keys for the '67 champion team, winning a Fed high 21 games, holding a 2.85 ERA (114 ERA+), 2.80 FIP (85 FIP-), 1,11 WHIP, setting down 141 hitters in 262 innings pitched. Once a rotation anchor, few pitchers have seen as much FABL success as Osborne, and if he can get two more wins he'll be the 32nd pitcher to reach the 260 mark.

Cleveland Foresters
Last Year Record: 71-91 (6th, .438)
Best Year Since 1964: 1966, 86-76 (5th, .531)

Top Pitcher: RHP Roy Rice (34, 13-18, 3.68, 135; 122-140, 14, 3.71, 1,522)

Cleveland hasn't finished within single digit games of first since they won the 1961 pennant, and they finished sixth in arguably the weakest division. That makes them an obvious seller as we approach the start of the season, with veteran Roy Rice the likeliest to move. He's spent each of the last three seasons in the Foresters rotation, starting more games in each go then any season prior. 1972 was his best season, as after a few years in the pen he was named to his first All-Star game. The then 32-year-old was 17-10 with a 2.24 ERA (152 ERA+), 1.02 WHIP, and 180 strikeouts. A lot of his success was propped up by a Conti best .218 BABIP, and the two years that followed didn't come close. Despite a worse 13-18 record, he was better this year then last, working to an adjusted league average 3.68 ERA. His 1.19 WHIP was excellent, walking 66 and striking out 135, but his association high 28 homers caused him some trouble.

He's always had issues with the longball, leading with 34 back in 1965 with the Suns as well. In fact, Cleveland is one of the hardest parks to hit a homer at, making it almost impressive he still allows so many. No other Forester allowed more then 20, but this is a guy who's homers allowed (250) would be tied for 68th All-Time with Billy Dalton. This is all despite spending most of his career in the Continental, known for larger outfields compared to the homer-friendly Fed parks. This could limit his market, but most teams will live with homers if it comes with a mid 90s fastball. Rice's is one of the best, even touching 99 when he was younger, and it's complimented well by his slider and curve. He may hang them occasionally, causing the homer problems, which is what's mostly stopped him from being a top-of-the-rotation arm. In his All-Star year he allowed just 20 homers in 245 innings, which really showed what he could be if he could keep the ball in the park more. 35 in April, it may be too late to teach an old dog new tricks, but he's found plenty of success at the highest level, and should continue to hold a rotation spot through the next few seasons.

Top Hitter: 2B Herb Reed (31, .263, 14, 79, 9; .279, 94, 701, 86)

Built more for defense then offense, runs were hard to come by for the Foresters this year, as aside from former first rounder Andy Babel (31, .302, 11, 86, 9; .301, 103, 699, 26), they do not have game changing bats. What they do have, however, is all-around great players, and Herb Reed is one of those. He wasn't his usual self at the plate, hitting just .263/.316/.400 (98 OPS+), but he was his regular great self at second base, and contributed to the game in more ways then pure offense. His 14 homers led the team, and he produced 79 runs, 32 doubles, 79 RBIs, and 52 walks in 158 games. He was worth 4.8 WAR, passing 4 for the 9th time in the last 10 seasons, the lone exception a shortened 109 game season last year.

Torn ankle ligaments caused the 3-Time All-Star to miss almost two months last year, and some of the effects seemed to linger into this season. The 5-Time Diamond Defense winner was solid to start the year, but at times it seemed like he ran out of energy. He didn't hit anything in June and August, the power didn't really come back until July. Now with an offseason to rest and plenty of time passed since hurting himself, he could return to star level production. After all, this is the same guy who hit .305/.353/.426 (145 OPS+) in 1968, worth 9.1 WAR and supplemented with 37 doubles, 7 triples, 8 homers, 60 RBIs, and 77 runs. He won himself a batting title and led all Conti hitters with 188 total hits, picking up a few Whitney votes in an accolade filled season. Expecting close to that would be foolish, but he's a top-5 second basemen and the clear most valuable piece on this roster.

Top Prospect: 3B Jack Hilbert (43rd Overall) Overall)

Despite so many losing seasons, the Cleveland farm system is not rich with talent, just one prospect in the top-50 and two more above 140. They didn't pick early this year, getting the 15th pick in each round, so it was used wisely. Jack Hilbert is a versatile and hard working infielder who hit .500 or better all three years of high school, and held his own at 18 in low-A. That's where 50 of his 75 games came, batting .229/.361/.292 (74 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 homers, and 15 RBIs. Despite being clearly overmatched, his discipline was still impressive, walking 40 times and producing a respectable 87 WRC+. Likely better suited for lower competition, he wasn't able to showcase his elite outstanding hit tool, as averages below even .270 won't be expected once he's matured. With impressive command of the zone, the swing and misses should fade, but before his draft selection he didn't face many pitchers who could beat you in multiple ways. Cleveland has rarely had a regular third basemen, with no Forester holding the position for more then three consecutive seasons since Jake Moore started 6 of 7 from 1927 to 1933. Hilbert has the tools to change that, a potential elite third basemen who could hold the role for a decade or more.

Active Legend: C Hal Kennedy (42, .294, 1, 2; .277, 228, 949, 6))

Back in his prime Hal Kennedy was one of if not the best hitting catchers out there, but at 42 a lot of fans may forget that. Taken in the 5th Round of the 1950 draft, Kennedy has appeared in 1,934 FABL games, all with Cleveland, collecting 228 homers, 180 doubles, 949 RBIs, 917 runs, and 857 walks. A 5-Time All-Star, 3-Time Diamond Defense winner, and member of the 1957 World Champion Foresters, he also owns a .277/.369/.413 (119 OPS+) career batting line, worth 57.6 WAR as he enters his 20th FABL season. Relegated to a bench role, he hasn't started more then 60 games since 1969, and he didn't even get a ceremonial start in 21 appearances last year. He did hit, 5-for-17 with a double, homer, and 4 walks, but with his age he can't really be trusted behind the plate, and the brief outings at first or in the outfield have been few and far between.

A consistent middle-of-the-lineup force, Kennedy produced 5 or more WAR from 1958 to 1964, and if you push the timeline up a season he had 20 or more homers. There were 19 in 1964 and a still solid 3.8 WAR in 1957, and those were the only two seasons he didn't have a WRC+ of 135 or better. All five of his All-Star appearances came at this time too, selected in each year from '58 to '62, even winning MVP in the 1960 game. He never won a Whitney or even made a top-3 finish, even if at least the consideration was deserved in 1963 (.335, 24, 81), but the impact he had on the teams he played for was felt. Until after his 40th birthday he had more walks then strikeouts, and he was a lineup anchor who kept innings going and helped produce rallies.

It's hard to call him the best catcher Cleveland ever had, as Hall of Famer T.R. Goins hit .313/.388/.468 (133 OPS+) in the last five and a half seasons of his career, but among Foresters he's the far more productive player. Unlikely to move much in the rankings, he's top 10 in team history in WAR (6th), games (4th), at bats (7th, 6,432), ruins (7th), hits (7th, 1,780), homers (2nd), RBIs (6th), and walks (3th), more then enough to establish his place in the storied organization. Spending his whole career in Cleveland adds to his legacy, and he should end up the 7th Forester to have his number retired.

Star Out of Place: SS Carlos Jaramillo (38, .232, 3, 51, 6; .273, 119, 849, 401)

Known for his acrobatic defensive capabilities, it almost feels like the Diamond Defense award was made for Carlos Jaramillo, who won each of the first eight given out for Continental shortstops. This covers his 4th through 11th season, and it would have been hard to argue that the longtime Sailors shortstop wouldn't deserve it in those first three. Now 38, "El Guante" has only played games at his customary short, accumulating an absurd 297 zone rating (1.072) since his 1957 debut. It was actually above 300 for a point, he produced his first negative season (-9.9, 962) this year, and at his peak he consistently had efficiencies above 1.100.

A wizard with the glove, Jaramillo could range the balls you wouldn't think were possible, and uncork the most crazy accurate hard throw you'd ever seen to deny hits from all your favorite players. That range in the field translated to steals too, as the 6-Time All-Star led the CA twice, and became the 54th man to steal 400 bases. Nearly all his career was spent in San Francisco, from the day he was taken 10th to the day the Foresters parted with four promising prospects for the aging star. His all-out play style has led to more then his share of injuries, even if he spent most of the last two years on the field, but that hasn't stopped the Colombian native from making a very serious Hall-of-Fame case.

Less then ten WAR away from 100, Jaramillo has appeared in 2,364 games, hitting .273/.349/.368 (103 OPS+) with 353 doubles, 82 triples, 119 homers, 849 RBIs, and 401 steals. He's surpassed the 1,000 mark in runs (1,390) and walks (1,065), and recently became the 62nd player to record 2,500 hits. The bat was almost completely gone this year, as his WRC+ dipped to 78 and the 64 OPS+ was even worth, but in each of the five prior seasons they were 95 or better. Never a liability with the bat like this before, he was a force in the leadoff spot and left San Francisco ranked among the franchises best. He's top 5 in WAR (2nd, 86.4), games (3rd, 2,063), runs (2nd, 1,270), hits (3rd, 2,236), steals (2nd, 385), and walks (2nd, 942), and still receives a warm reception from the fans when he returns to Golden Gate Stadium. It's a shame he wasn't able to spend his entire career in San Francisco, even if they are deep in a rebuild, as it will never feel right seeing the defensive superstar in a Forester cap. He'll always be remembered as a Sailor, but as long as Cleveland keeps playing him he shouldn't have any complaints as he looks to finish his storied career on his terms.

Milwaukee Arrows
Last Year Record: 90-72 (1st, .556)
Best Year Since 1964: 1974, 90-72 (1st, .556): Lost in Federal Championship Series

Top Pitcher: RHP Joe Wright (23, 14-10, 2.96, 160; 46-38, 20, 3/20, 493)

It took just six years for the Milwaukee Arrows to win their first division title, but they'll have to wait at least one more year for their first playoff win. You can't blame Joe Wright, he allowed just two runs in the Game 1 loss to the Kings, and was just six ERA points away from the team triple crown. He followed up his All-Star season with more of the same, 14-10 with a 2.96 ERA (126 ERA+), 1.25 WHIP, and 160 strikeouts in a rotation high 36 starts. 24 in March, he's already emerged as a top starting pitcher, with most of the credit to his splitter. The hardworking Chicagoan spent years perfecting it, and it has led to 493 strikeouts in 820 innings pitched. It comes with good command too, evidenced by his Continental best 1.06 WHIP last season.

Since he's become a full time starter he's kept his BB% in the mid-7s, almost the sweet spot to succeed as a starter. A five pitch pitcher, he's really tough to make hard contact against, and scouts have nothing but creative things to say about his best offerings. If he does have the weakness, it's that he throws a middling fastball, and at 88-90 it's not typically going to blow by someone. It does look faster when the offspeed is working, as the change and forkball are so different that if you sit on one you'll flail at the other. As the first ever Arrow draftee it's fitting that he pitched their first playoff game, and now he needs to get his team back in the postseason so he can capture the important first win.

Top Hitter: LF Harry Edwards (25, .306, 22, 85, 4; .294, 65, 210, 7)

Wright may have been the first draftee, but Harry Edwards is the first to take home some hardware. The reigning Whitney winner, Edwards had a coming out party in 1974, batting an outstanding .306/.408/.503 (156 OPS+) as he more-or-less willed his way to the postseason. The 1971 2nd Rounder led the Conti in walks (104), OBP, OPS (.912), WRC+ (166), wOBA (.410), and WAR (6.5), beating out batting champion Buck Stout (29, .326, 18, 11, 5; .294, 93, 474, 26) of the Wranglers. A first time All-Star, Edwards hit a personal best 34 doubles, but his 22 homers, 85 RBIs, and 99 runs were actually a decrease from the previous season.

One of the most disciplined hitters already, he's walked 219 times in two and a half big league seasons, entering 1975 with an outstanding .294/.387/.495 (151 OPS+). Entering the season as the 10th ranked batter in baseball, he's the top ranked left fielder and third among outfielders. One of the more unique hitters, his patient approach leads to a large number of walks, strikeouts, and home runs, and he'll rank among the top in all three as he continues his career. Tough to retire, he makes things better for everyone in the lineup, as guys behind him get more time to read pitchers and more opportunities to bat with people on base. A team on the up, Edwards is the cog of the lineup and an improving supporting cast, and if he keeps putting up Whitney seasons they'll keep competing for championship rings.

Top Prospect: LF Ed Gore (6th Overall) Overall)

It's almost unfair the Arrows have both the top left fielder and the top left field prospect, but when they were picking third last year they didn't necessarily know what they had with Harry Edwards. Since draft day all Gore has done is hit, with some of the highlights a 174 WRC+ in rookie ball last season and a 133 in Low-A this year. Projected to be one of the best hitters in the game, he has elite power potential with the eye to rival Edwards, expected to work counts with the best of them. Whether it will come with a high average or strikeouts is unknown, as he's shown both right now. With no obvious hole in the corner outfield, Gore's path to the big leagues is somewhat obscured, but he's far enough away that it could be a problem that works itself out. A trade can't be ruled out either, as some of the teams best players came over by trade.

Active Legend: RF Jim Stogner (31, .293, 28, 108, 3; .271, 129, 497, 13)

He may not have been there for the inaugural season, but it feels like Jim Stogner has been an Arrow since the very beginning. Taken in the 9th Round by the Millers in 1963, they did protect him in the 1968 expansion draft, but after getting minimal time for the third time in 1969 they moved him to Milwaukee to clear up a 40-man spot. Neither player they got did much, but considering they had no room for him and he had a sparse track record they couldn't have expected what came next.

Stogner went from a bench bat to the starting left fielder, hitting .268/.389/.462 (136 OPS+) in a major breakout. He hit 20 doubles and 21 homers with 58 RBIs, 64 runs, and 84 walks. The encore was even better, as he upped his line to .298/.381/.482 (152 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 19 homers, 63 RBIs, 66 runs, and 70. Walks he was again productive in 1972, and was named to the All-Star team in each of the last two seasons. This year his .506 slugging was best in the Continental, setting personal bests with 28 homers and 108 RBIs. Despite that, he was probably better last season, batting .303/.414/.513 (164 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 24 homers, and 97 RBIs. Entering his sixth season with the club, he's the early team leader in WAR (19.5), doubles (137), homers (112), RBIs (401), and walks (384). Harry Edwards seems likely to pass him up, but Stogner was the one who did it first, and gave some fans of pretty bad Arrows teams someone to root for.

Star Out of Place: RHP Johnny Hoskinson (33, 12-11, 3.77, 115; 100-104, 23; 3.92)

A well traveled starting pitcher, Johnny Hockinson's second stint with the Dynamos ended up with a trade to the Arrows. Set to make his team debut in the Spring, Hoskinson has won 100 FABL games, with 66% of them in Detroit. He's grabbed single digits with Houston, New York, Minnesota, and New York, as well as Milwaukee, as this is actually his second time with the team. This time the cost was cheap, a pitcher they signed on a minor league deal, but he was free when they claimed him off waivers before the 1971 season. Again after Detroit, he made 33 starts, going 8-16 with a 3.74 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.26 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts. They sent him and a prospect to Philadelphia to acquire their current third basemen Jay Dynes (32, .252, 8, 52, 26; .256, 119, 497, 121), which was expected to be the end of his Arrows career.

Instead, it's where he's most likely to pitch his 371st FABL game, coming off a season where he posted a matching 99 ERA+ and FIP- in 34 starts. Hoskinson managed a career high 229 innings pitched, and at 33 he still may have a few solid years in him. Brought in as a low-risk fifth option, he had a 3.77 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 115 strikeouts and just 51 walks. A six pitch righty with a deep repertoire, he does a good job keeping the ball on the ground. It hasn't prevented him from allowing homers, but when guys get on base he can get them to role in to double plays. A bigger park like Lakefront Park could work to his advantage, and this low cost addition could help shore of the back of a strong rotation.

Montreal Saints
Last Year Record: 81-81 (3rd, .500)
Best Year Since 1964: 1973, 102-60 (1st, .630): Won World Championship Series!

Top Pitcher: RHP Tommy Jackson (29, 9-10, 2.62, 155; 42-39, 14, 2.97, 515)

One of the most inconsistent high quality arms, Tommy "Tippy" Jackson went from winning the 1972 Allen to being demoted to the bullpen. His highs were high, 15-9 with a 1.92 ERA (182 ERA+), 1.02 WHIP, and 155 strikeouts, but it was followed up with an ERA close to 5 in more relief outings (36) then starts (21). Jackson did improve in the pen, even picking up 14 saves, so his 4.72 ERA (80 ERA+) and 1.33 WHIP look better then they were.

1974 was a big season for Jackson, who returned to the rotation and showed exactly what the voters saw in him. He made 35 starts, recording a 2.62 ERA (143 ERA+) and 1.15 WHIP. His 9-10 record was reflective of the Saints season, not his pitching, and he matched his 155 strikeouts from his Allen season. A return to form from him was one of the few things that went right for Montreal this season, as their streak of five straight division titles was snapped and they weren't able to defend their second title in five years. He led the team in ERA and strikeouts, though former 1st Rounder Hal Bennett (28, 18-6, 3.19, 102; 73-42, 12, 3.45, 605) had much better win/loss luck. His hard stuff sets up hitters, with the dominant change used to knock them down. If he can find consistency, the Saints should be able to return to contention, reclaiming the top spot in the East they have gotten so used to.

Top Hitter: 2B Dixie Turner (33, .304, 21, 74, 25; .304, 419, 1,428, 215)

Aside from maybe the man who brought him north of the border, no one man has more responsibility for the Saints' stretch of dominance then Dixie Turner. Taken 1st Overall by Pittsburgh in the 1960 draft, Edward James Turner was destined for greatness, and all he's done is live up to the lofty expectations placed on him. Debuting quickly as a 20-year-old in 1962, it wasn't really a storybook beginning, but a .282/.324/.420 (94 OPS+) batting line was what you'd expect from a young rookie, not a future Hall-of-Famer.

Well fears were quickly extinguished as instead if a sophomore slump, Turner had a coming out party in '63, slashing .330/.377/.506 (140 OPS+) with 14 triples, 12 homers, 65 RBIs, 52 walks, 16 steals, 116 runs, and a Fed high 54 doubles. One of the many stats he's lead in sense, Turner fully arrived in 1965, selected to his first of 8 All-Star games. Worth a tick below 10 WAR, he led the Fed in that and all three triple slash categories, producing an elite .343/.402/.595 (187 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 15 triples, 31 homers, 115 RBIs, 112 runs, and 12 steals. This helped him earn his first of 8 Whitney awards, something only the legendary Max Morris has been able to accomplish.

In fact, the only reason he didn't win nine in a row was his surprising midseason trade, as the Miners got 64 games out of him in 1968 before doing the unthinkable. They must have really liked Ace Barrell (25, 18-10, 137; 42-36, 5, 3.71, 385), at least at the time, because they moved Turner and starting catcher Eddie Thomas (34, .195, 8, 34, 4; .229, 141, 626, 42) to Montreal for a five player packaged that was headlined by the son of the Hall-of-Famer. Now, the deal can only be classified as a mistake, as even though the Miners did finally break their title drought, Dixie has more titles, and he's been simply the best player in baseball. It took two full seasons for Dixie to break the Saints title drought, and in his first five seasons he led the Conti in slugging each time, won all the Whitneys, and hit 40 or more homers with 130 or more RBIs, maintaining a WRC+ of 170 or better. He won all 5 WAR titles and RBI titles, 4 of the homer titles, two run titles, and a league high OBP in 1969.

1974 was his first season as a Saint he didn't win the Whitney, and while his .225/.301/.368 (88 OPS+) line looked like his rookie season, it's hard to be too mad that he didn't have a tenth Whitney quality season. The counting stats were there, 19 doubles, 21 homers, 74 RBIs, 79 runs, 65 walks, and 25 steals, worth a still well-above average 5.3 WAR. His defense is an under appreciated aspect of his game, he has 3 Diamond Defense awards and a 180.2 zone rating (1.060 EFF) at second, so even a near 100 point average drop in average couldn't even stop him from being one of the most valuable players in the game.

Including his down year, he's got an absurd .293/.386/.560 (174 OPS+) line as a Saint, and in 2,023 FABL games it's a remarkable .304/.381/.539 (165 OPS+). A true legend, he's going to end up near the top of many FABL records, currently top-10 in slugging (5th, .5392), top-20 in homers (17th, 419) and WAR (17, 112.62), and top-30 in RBIs (28, 1,428). He should also be the 63rd or 64th player to reach 2,500 hits, and he should easily reach 3,000, something just 19 players have done so far. Just 33, it's hard to put any counting stats out of his reach, and if Turner can return to his Whitney level performance, it wouldn't be out question that he finishes with one of the absolute best careers the game has ever seen.

Top Prospect: LHP Steve Blake (36th Overall)

Despite the record, Montreal doesn't have any real weaknesses, so don't expect them to move their to prospect Steve Blake. Just 19, they took the lefty 23rd in the 1973 draft, and the young groundballer had success at all three levels he pitched at, but a tricep strain did cost him a little over a month. Health is something you always pay attention to in high upside prep arms, and right now it could be what keeps him from becoming the top-of-the-rotation arm the Saints are hoping for. A four-pitch sinkerballer, he won't light up the radar guns, not expected to move out of the 85-87 range. His fastball is a tick harder, but it's the curve that makes Blake so deadly. A big breaking slow curve, it buckles the knees of hitters, and works the opposite way of his sinker. With good command over all his pitches, he's tough to get into a jam, as most hits are wimpy singles and he's adept at erasing those baserunners with a well-time ground out. He'll take another season or two to be considered in the Montreal rotation, but he has much less development risk then the average young lefty, and seems almost a lock for at least a back-end rotation role.

Active Legend: 1B Harry Swain (36, .285, 5, 20; .305, 319, 1,120, 112)

There are very few players who have more anything then Dixie Turner, but aside from homers Harry Swain leads him in pretty much all the important counting stats. What feels like a Saint lifer, Swain endured the low lows and the highest of highs, but wasn't actually originally drafted by the Saints. Now 41, he's spent 19 seasons in their lineup, but he came to Montreal back in a 1952 trade for lefty pen arm John Perkins. A former 3rd Rounder of the Dynamos, he spent three seasons in the Saints farm system before making the 1956 Opening Day roster. He worked his way from bench bat to late season starter, hitting a robust .301/.423/.470 (158 OPS+) with 14 homers and 48 RBIs.

Firmly in the Saints lineup the next season, Swain showed that it was no fluke, upping his season line to an elite .314/.421/.510 (168 OPS+) in twice as many plate appearances. Still known for his elite eye, he drew a Conti best 101 walks, leading the association for the first of four times, adding in 24 doubles, 26 homers, 100 runs, and 105 RBIs. Swain has continued to have a knack for triple digits, walking 100 or more times on eight occasions, driving in 100 or more runs in two seasons, and scoring 100 or more runs seven different seasons. He's even struck out 100 times, set down exactly that many times in 1969, but most impressive has been his ability to always produce an OPS+ or WRC+ above the average mark. Even in the past two seasons where he's been more of a supplemental piece then a lineup cog, he's produced a 150, 151 and 122, 130. Those marks this year actually mark a career low, as the 3-Time All-Star enters year 20 with a .290/.412/.443 (144 OPS+) with 308 homers, 1,356 RBIs, 1,655 runs, and 1,681 walks.

Before getting into his places on the Saints leaderboards (usually the top), we have to look at the FABL leaderboards for both career and active players. He's not the active game leader, his 2,775 are 15th among all players and 2nd in active ones, but no one expected to play this year has scored more runs (1,655, 16th) or drawn more walks (1,681, t-6th). In most other cases he's at least top-3, and he ranks top-20 All-Time in OBP (18th, .4118). He's the Saints leader in OBP, games, runs, homers (308), RBIs, and walks, ranking top-5 in OPS (5th, .855), WAR (3rd, 61.5), at-bats (2nd, 9,359), hits (2nd, 2,712), and doubles (2nd, 434). He won't be able to pass Joe Ward as the best Saint in team history, but Swain is arguably the better hitter, producing season after season of star level production despite being a statue in right or at first. A true team icon, he was the first player to touch the WCS trophy in 1970, and even if he doesn't start many games in 1975, he will be one of the most important players on the roster.

Star Out of Place: LHP George Fuller (36, 1-0, 0.00, 2; 89-56, 12, 3.61, 789)

Picked up on a minor league deal this offseason, southpaw George Fuller may not start the season in Montreal as he rehabs a torn rotator cuff, but they're hoping the former All-Star can help cover multiple innings out of their pen once he's healthy. Taken 9th by the Sailors in the 1957 draft, he ranked as high as 17th on the prospect list, eventually debuting during the 1960 season. He impressed in a swingman role, earning a full-time rotation spot for 1961. Just 22, he was 12-10 with a 4.34 ERA (106 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP, but he didn't have the best control. He walked 92, though 118 strikeouts were impressive, but team's inability to make hard contact against him made him a useful middle rotation arm. 1962 was his big break, as he led the Conti with 17 wins, pairing it with a 3.72 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts. His BB% dropped from 11.1 to a more palatable 9.8, which allowed him to take the next step.

He was great in each of the next two seasons, including an 18-6 and 2.89 ERA (134 ERA+) season in 1964, but after leading the Conti with 35 starts he found himself in the minors. A surprising fall for what appeared to be one of the best young pitchers in the game, he never started another game for San Francisco, making 2 relief outings in '66 and 22 more in '68. He was traded from the organization before the 1969 season, allowing him a rebrand with the new Minneapolis Millers. Effective as before, he made 20 starts and 28 relief outings, going 10-9 with 2 saves, a 3.61 ERA (107 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, and 112 strikeouts. He competed for a rotation spot the following season, but a torn UCL ended his season before it started, and when he returned in 1971, he was not the same pitcher. His ERA jumped to 4.46 (82 ERA+) and his BB% jumped to double digits (13.1) for the first time since his rookie year.

DFA'd during the '72 season, he's bounced between minor league systems, making a quick cameo in Detroit before his recent rotator cuff tear. Whether he has anything left in him is what the Saints are looking to find out, but adding an experienced arm with a 3.61 (116 ERA+) career ERA could only be a good thing. They don't need a top quality starter, they have a few of those already, and despite the .500 record they led the CA in both starter's (3.06) and reliever's (2.82) ERA. A nice low risk pickup, they don't even have to designate an Opening Day roster spot, giving them a cheap backup plan and a much needed lefty, something they didn't have last season. They only got 14.2 innings total from southpaws, giving Fuller a chance to re-establish himself as a guy who can get lefties out in the late innings.

New York Imperials
Last Year Record: 77-85 (4th, .475)
Best Year Since 1964: 1969, 89-73 (2nd, .549)

Top Pitcher: RHP Jim White (27, 16-13, 2.78, 228; 29-28, 1, 3.02, 426)

A first time All-Star and the Continental leader in strikeouts (228), FIP- (74), and WAR (7.0), Jim White had the big breakout season the Imperials needed. Ace John Alfano (28, 1-2, 3.27, 15; 60-62, 3.14, 776) got hurt in the spring and missed almost all the season, and White was the guy who stepped up. Making 35 starts, he went 16-13 with a 2.78 ERA (133 ERA+) and 1.27 WHIP. Finishing 3rd in the Allen race this season, the former #2 prospect is starting to live up to his lofty potential bestowed on him when he was ranked as FABL's #2 prospect. Strikeouts are his bread and butter as his six pitch mix is tough to keep up with. One of just two qualified pitchers to set down more then 20% of the batters he faced, his 21 led the way, and he could win a few more strikeout titles before his time is up.

Entering 1975 he's thrown 537 innings, most in the past two years. Through parts of four seasons he's now 29-28, working to a 3.02 ERA (123 ERA+), 3.03 FIP (81 FIP-), and 1.25 WHIP. He's struck out twice as many batters (426) as he's walked (213), which when you strike out as many guys as he does it's a good ratio. As long as the command remains at least average, he'll challenge for All-Star selections, as his stuff allows him to get guys out in so many ways. Sitting in the mid 90s he can blow a fastball by you, get you to roll over a strong sinker, or even drop a brutal screwball on an unsuspecting batter. All six of his pitches are out pitches and there's nothing you can sit on. Ranked as the 5th pitcher in FABL he's as good as it gets, and the Imps want to win their first division title he's going to be a big part of it.

Top Hitter: LF Phil Terry (30, .271, 23, 73, 13; .259, 198, 568, 75)

You could give this spot to Phil Terry or Mike Counts (28, .279, 10, 52, 10; .272, 60, 272, 24), New York's two corner outfielders, but the slugger gets the edge over the patient hitter. It helps that Terry's pop comes with speed too, as the 30-year-old veteran has completed three consecutive 20/10 seasons. Originally a 5th Round pick of the Minutemen, he debuted for them in 1966, batting .250/.320/.456 (123 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 homers, and 8 RBIs. Just a reserve role of 75 PAs in 44 games, he was deemed expendable and sent to the Imperials in the offseason. Even in New York, he started on the bench, but when he stared hit ting the Imperials put him in the lineup. He finished his rookie season with 12 homers, 12 doubles, 42 walks, 44 RBIs, and 45 runs, and the .262/.352/.436 (139 OPS+) batting line earned him a fulltime role in 1968.

Now 23, he hit an absurd .258/.354/.459 (156 OPS+) with 25 homers, 67 RBIs, 68 runs, and 68 walks to earn his first and so far only All-Star game. Still, he's been as consistent as a hitter as it gets, now with eight consecutive seasons with a WRC+ of 125 or better. His defense may keep him from stardom, but a bat like that fits in any lineup. Now two homers away from 200, he's got a career .259/.348/.468 (137 OPS+) batting line. In the process he's gathered 611 runs, 568 RBIs, and 506 walks, adding 75 steals, 29 triples, and 150 doubles. He may not be the smartest guy out there, but Terry knows hitting and Terry goes to hit. Expected to retain his cleanup spot, he's a top candidate for trade if the trade-happy Imperial front office decides to recreate the roster.

Top Prospect: SS Al Wright (8th Overall)

New York is no stranger to star middle infielders, and 21-year-old Al Wright has every opportunity to join them. Taken 12th in the most recent draft, he hit his way from rookie to low-A, picking up 17 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers, 40 RBIs, 67 runs, and 81 in the process. He looked better at second then short, but scouts think that either one could be his final position. The bat should be good enough regardless, pairing his patient approach with an above average contact tool. A potential multiple All-Star game participant, he's the to infield prospect in all of baseball, drawing comparisons to superstar Tom Lally (26, .318, 12, 68, 7; .296, 49, 202, 15). Wright has shown the same poise and confidence, and it might not be too long before Imperial fans see him on the big league club.

Active Legend: 3B George Love (30, .250, 20, 67, 24; .262, 281, 849, 106)

There's a ton of pressure place on any franchise's first ever pick, but George Love has done a good job being the guy for the Imperials. It hasn't led to much team success, but the former 2nd Pick has been selected to seven All-Star games, becoming the first Imperial to many statistical milestones. Debuting at 19 in 1964, he played like most teens would, looking out of place and overmatched. That didn't stop the still young Imperials, giving him exactly 600 plate appearances in 158 games. His .242/.281/.352 (81 OPS+) average looked like a lot of his teammates, but it was nice to see him record 52 runs, 24 doubles, 4 triples, 10 homers, 44 RBIs, and 5 steals. The 29 walks and 4.8 BB% were a major concern, as was the 20.3 K%, but the top-10 prospect still showed a lot of promise in a difficult rookie season.

1965 was a much different story, as the more experienced Love hit .269/.344/.434 (123 OPS+) with 28 doubles, 21 homers, and 76 RBIs. The newfound power allowed him to take his game to the next level, and eventually settle in to a regular role he wouldn't let go. Most impressive might be what came the next season, as just two years after his 3.8 BB% he led the Conti with 92 walks. The 1966 All-Star finished the season with a .288/.387/.506 (155 OPS+) line, tallying 32 doubles, 26 homers, 74 runs, and 82 RBIs. A bonified superstar, he was a Whitney candidate in '69 and '70, but unfortunately for him Dixie Tucker was now in the Continental hogging all the nominations. Now 30, he's not likely to win one himself, but an 8th All-Star selection would not be out of the question.

A veteran of 1,738 games, Love has hit .262/.349/.458 (134 OPS+) with 895 runs, 287 doubles, 52 triples, 281 homers, 849 RBIs, 831 walks, and 106 steals. Worth exactly 47 WAR, he's coming off his first 20/20 season, and his 49 homers in 1970 were most in the Continental. Most describes a lot of his counting stats in Imperial history, as he's the top guy for WAR, games (1,738), at bats (6,310), runs, hits (1,653), doubles, triples, homers, RBIs, and walks. His next steal would tie him with 36-year-old Sam German (.316, 2, 16, 10; .261, 82, 572, 166), assuming German doesn't steal one first, and Love also has the best season for slugging (.628, 1970), OPS (1.029, 1970), WAR (7.9, 1969), and homers (49, 1970), RBIs (112, 1970). Still an effective hitter and fielder, he's got plenty of good years ahead of him, even if they continue to contain 100 or more strikeouts a year. The leader in back-to-back seasons, it's probably not a trend he'll want to continue, but with great power comes great strikeout potential, and for every homer Love hits there will be plenty of strikeouts.

Star Out of Place: RHP Steve Madden (35, 0-1, 1, 3.60, 104; 120-91, 18, 3.68, 1,338

For four years Steve Madden was on top of the world, providing the Pioneers ace-level performance. Winning three championships, 1961 was the only year of the period they didn't win, but for Madden it was emergence and best campaign. Leading the Fed with 7.4 WAR, the 21-year-old made 29 starts, finishing 14-6 with a 3.17 ERA (132 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, and 166 strikeouts. His 2.79 FIP led to Fed best 65 FIP-, but with Frenchy Mack and Billy Hasson (40, 10-13, 4.64, 77; 260-183, 3.09, 2,822) in the rotation he was always overlooked. In 1962 he delivered more dominance, 16-10 with a 3.42 ERA (135 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 143 strikeouts. He won both his postseason starts, allowing just 11 hits and 3 runs with 6 strikeouts in 16 innings. Madden's 1963 rivaled his 1961, 18-9 with a 2.83 ERA (148 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, and 160 strikeouts, but he didn't contribute much to the completion of the threepeat. He lost his first postseason start too, and it seemed to impact him when St. Louis ran into trouble going for four.

Madden put together his worst season, 8-12 with a 4.84 ERA (75 ERA+), and 1.26 WHIP, striking out just 132 hitters. That's less about a whiff drop and more about a dip below the 200 inning mark, as the reliable innings eater was only good enough for 191.2 innings. He bounced back some the following season, though he did start just 23 games (4 relief outings), and after an awful 1967 season Madden seemed to be a shell of himself. Through 16 starts he had a poor 4.20 ERA (76 ERA+), but with a 3.13 FIP (97 FIP-) and 1.19 WHIP it seemed his luck should have been turning soon. Instead, he ruptured a tendon in his finger, and was never able to return to ace level. He made just 3 more starts for the Pioneers, and drafted in the 1969 expansion draft by the Clippers. He made 29 appearances (13 for starts) before a deadline trade to New York, the first of now three stints with the Imperials.

Between them he's bounced around plenty, pitching for the Saints, Pioneers again, and Foresters, picking up to 120 in just shy of 2,000 FABL innings. His ERA has jumped up to 3.68, just four percent above average, working to a 1.27 WHIP and 3.57 FIP (92 FIP-) in 490 appearances (227). He's up to 1,338 strikeouts, 1,067 of them coming as a Pioneer, and despite his impressive early peak he's been worth just 30.8 WAR. A classic what-if case, injuries really derailed what could have been a promising career, one of the most accomplished pitchers by 24. A few seasons away from ending completely, he's just a back of the pen arm now, and in the twilight of his career he now cares more about his team winning then his stats improving.

Toronto Wolves
Last Year Record: 74-88 (5th, .457)
Best Year Since 1964: 1968, 93-69 (2nd, .574)

Top Pitcher: RHP Johnny Maples (31, 7-14, 3.16, 156; 36-50, 52, 3.07, 488)

A team with one of the longest playoff droughts in baseball, the Wolves have gone since 1940 without a playoff birth, the year they won his 3rd World Championship Series. To get back, they'll need to make significant upgrades to their staff, which right now is a mashup of journeymen. At the top, there's at least an All-Star, as a 1970 representative Stan Terry leads the way. An up-and-down career, Terry has an adjusted league average 3.70 ERA in 1,240.2 innings pitched, but in recent seasons he's established himself as an innings eater. With 272.2 innings two years ago and 246 this year, he's got the ability soak up innings and make big starts even on short rest.

Drafted by the Sailors in the 8th Round of the 1964 draft, he was quickly traded to the Suns, where he spent 4.5 years in their system before being left unprotected in the expansion draft. That's where the Milwaukee Arrows made him the first pick of the 1968 expansion draft, and inserted him straight into the FABL staff. 22 that May, he started 9 of his 24 appearances, but it came with an elevated 5.29 ERA (70 ERA+) and 1.64 WHIP, walking (56) more hitters then he struck out (46). 1970 got him back on track, as the swingman got to the All-Star game and finished 9-16 with 4 saves, a 3.79 ERA (110 ERA+) and FIP (9 FIP-), and a 1.39 WHIP. He struck out 180 with 115 walks, lasting 223.1 innings. He never fixed that tricky command, 100 or more walks in the four things that followed, and he allowed a Conti high 116 free passes. That includes the 1972 season where he was picked up for a trio of prospects, as Toronto looked to add to their bare bones rotation. He excelled, working to a 2.45 ERA (138 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts in 13 starts down the stretch. He struggled in '73 and rebounded in '74, and most importantly he provides stability on a staff without much nailed down.

Top Hitter: 1B John Baab (27, .313, 9, 47, 1; .277, 22, 121, 3)

The offense isn't much better, and it took a major hit in July where John Baab's season ended early. Suffering a major concussion, his season ended after just 84 games, but it didn't stop the former 9th Overall pick from hitting .313/.420/.488 (153 OPS+) with career bests in 9 homers, 47 RBIs, and a 2.7 WAR, maintaining an impressive 47-to-14 walk-to-strikeout ratio. 28 in May, he hasn't been given the playing time he really deserves, as in each of the previous two seasons he started fewer then 65% of his appearances. At least this season he got up to 83, but for a first basemen who can hit, he's the type of guy you can plug into the lineup each day and not do much altering.

Acquired from the Suns before last season, 218 of his 323 FABL games have come with Toronto, and that time has done plenty to inflate his career line to .277/.374/.419 (128 OPS+). It spans just 1,012 plate appearances, picking up 22 homers, 121 RBIs, and 124 runs. His 133-to-63 walk-to-strikeout ratio is his best asset, but adding power to his game could make a real difference. In a full season he could have came close to 20 homers, something no one in Toronto has done since 1971. Baab is the best bet on the current team, still finishing fourth on the team and four off the lead. If he can shake off the ill effects of his post-concussion syndrome, I'd set his season minimum to 15 homers, as the lefty slugger starts to enter the prime of his career.

Top Prospect: C Pat Duffy (10th Overall) Overall)

Rounding out the top-10 on FABL's prospect list is the 21-year-old backstop Pat Duffy, who the Wolves took with the first pick of the 1974 draft. One of the many holes they have to fill on the big league club, Duffy is one of two top 50 catching prospects they have, making him or 34th ranked prospect Elam Kellerman eventually expendable. A star at the little known Cookeville State, he has the advantage in both current ability and upside, as Duffy quickly passed Kellerman, even spending 19 games at AA in his draft year. It didn't go good, he hit just .222/.300/.319 (60 OPS+), but he had a 135 and 164 WRC+ in rookie and A ball. A dream-type prospect, he's got a great eye, makes great contact, and projects to above average power, putting him on the shortlist for best young players. Defense may not be one of those strengths, so both top catching prospects could co-exist, but it doesn't look like a weakness yet either. The bat is the key, however, and if he can keep hitting he may find himself in Toronto before the year ends.

Active Legend: LF Sid Cullen (38, .247, 12, 39, 1; .285, 322, 1,111, 70)

There are a ton of eligible players for this spot, but in the end the best choice is the guy who once one a Whitney. Taken 3rd by the Wolves way back in 1955, Sid Cullen was not only the 1966 Whiney winner, but also the 1959 Kellogg winner, a 5-Time All-Sar, and a 6-Time Diamond Defense winner. A lifetime Wolf, the 16-year veteran has only been a below average hitter twice -- once in his 23 game debut season and a second time at 27 in 1964 -- but in both cases his WRC+ were above 95. His highs are much higher then his lows, evidenced by the Kellogg and Whitney, and on ten occasions he has a WRC+ above 135. That includes his Conti high 159 in his Whitney season, as he hit an outstanding .316/.391/.549 (166 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 36 homers, 114 RBIs, 98 walks, and a 8.9 WAR. Along with WRC+, he led in homers, slugging, OPS (.940), and WAR, accounting for all his association leads excluding a 107 RBI 1965.

A career .285/.360/.478 (135 OPS+) hitter, his 1,940 career games are third most in Wolves history, and he's just 20 away from tying Tom Reed for 2nd. He ranks top-5 in team history in slugging (4th), WAR (3rd, 73.4), hits (2nd, 2,012), and walks (2nd, 831), and his 1,093 runs, 1,111 RBIs, and 322 homers are most by anyone to put on Toronto gear. His 38 homers in 1970 are most by any Wolf, and he also has the 2nd most (36, 1966), and 5th most (33, 1965). Now 38, his legs don't hold up enough to play everyday, but he got into 117 games and made 346 plate appearances. His .247/.336/.414 (109 OPS+) line is still strong, and after just 9 homers in 1973 he was back to double digits for the 14th time. Still a feared slugger even if his days of great center field defense are over, he can help the Wolves win games, and should continue to be a fan favorite as long as he decides to keep going.

Star Out of Place: RF Edwin Viramontes (31, .244, 2, 14; .268, 13, 81)

A team with a lot of old veterans, most of them were homegrown or longtime Wolves, as Toronto has not been a home for stars of other organizations who are looking for a change of scenery or a chance to stay relevant towards the twilight of their career. Instead, they've been loyal to the guys who have given them decades like Cullen, Chick Reed (38, .266, 7, 34; .278, 114, 413, 8), Jesse Taylor (38, .228, 1, 21, 3; .231, 163, 735, 143), Phil Story (.240, 4, 32, 10; .241, 168, 844, 134), and Dick Rabkin (35, .171, 4, 11; .250, 67, 454, 32). What they have done, however, is chased former top prospects, bringing in Edwin Viramontes before the '74 season and giving him a chance to fill their bench. A former 1st Rounder of the Cannons, Viramontes once ranked as the 2nd best prospect in baseball, and was seen as a lock for stardom.

Things haven't gone as planned, as at 31 he's with his third organization, and the 6'4'' slugger has clubbed just 13 FABL homers since his 1967 debut. That came with the Cannons, as did his second season, but the Ohio native hit just .262/.315/.378 (114 OPS+) and was shipped to the Kings for the pair of prospects. They used him for parts of the next five seasons, but he never came close to the 304 PAs he had as a member of the 1968 Cannons. That's still the case now, but both the 156 PAs and 85 appearances he had this year surpassed each season in Seattle. The .244/.340/.336 (89 OPS+) line it came with wasn't great, but the 104 WRC+ was a little above average, and Viramontes will be one of the many outfielders in camp looking to take one of the wide open spots. He can't really play center and former 1st Rounder Jackie Daniels (28, .265, 12, 83; .270, 52, 314, 2) seems to have left secured, but right is ripe for the taking. Guys like Reed and Cullen will be considered, but plenty of former top prospects have found new life after 30, and when you flashed as much potential as he did, you'll always have another chance to prove that you still can.

Tiger Fan · 12-09-2025, 10:29 PM

JANUARY 6, 1975
MAMMOTH VICTORY
Redwood Repeats in the East–West Classic — And Claims First National Title

Santa Ana, Calif. — The Redwood Mammoths didn’t just climb the mountain this time — they planted a flag at the summit. One year after edging Detroit City College 17–14, the Mammoths defeated the same Knights by the same score in the 59th annual East–West Classic, then waited two anxious days before being officially crowned national champions for the first time in school history.

The victory gives Redwood back-to-back East–West Classic wins and a 3–5 all-time record in the storied game. Detroit City College, still seeking its first national championship since 1955, fell to 5–3 in Classic play.

Redwood entered the bowl ranked fourth, trailing the undefeated Annapolis Maritime Navigators, Northern Mississippi, and the Knights of Detroit City College. But the holiday results reshuffled the deck: Annapolis Maritime was knocked from No. 1 by Boulder State in a stunning 27–7 Sunshine Classic upset, and the voters rewarded Redwood’s win over DCC by pushing the Mammoths to the top spot with a 10–2 final record.

The Navigators finished second for the second time in school history. Northern Mississippi held steady at third; Boulder State’s upset lifted the Grizzlies from sixth to fourth; and Whitney College rounded out the top five after flattening Valley State in the Desert Classic.

*** Redwood Strikes First ***

The Mammoths announced their intentions early. Quarterback John Coughlin, the cool operator of Redwood’s option scheme, directed a grinding opening march that stalled in the red zone but produced a 26-yard field goal by Julius Green.

A special-teams jolt widened the lead. Steve Sweeney fielded a punt near midfield, spun free from one tackler, broke another, and barreled to the Knights’ one-yard line before being forced out. Coughlin plunged over the top and Redwood held a 10–0 advantage that looked larger than the scoreboard suggested.

Detroit City College sputtered offensively until a defensive lightning bolt changed the tone. Coughlin forced a deep ball on 3rd-and-14, and sophomore safety Billy Angulo picked it clean, racing 12 yards for his first career interception return for a touchdown. Suddenly the Mammoths’ grip on the game shrank to 10–7.

*** News From Miami Raises the Stakes ***

At halftime, the Rose Bowl crowd buzzed as word spread: Annapolis Maritime had lost.

With the undefeated Navigators toppled, the winner of the East–West Classic was all but certain to claim the national crown. Both sidelines reacted accordingly — one chasing its first title, the other chasing its first since Eisenhower was in office.

DCC came out swinging. Running backs George Calloway and Granville Fitch finally cracked Redwood’s front, and senior quarterback Harold Robinson, who completed only four passes all day, hit the biggest one — a 30-yard strike to Carl Powers that gave the Knights their first lead at 14–10.

Redwood threatened late in the third quarter, but Green missed a 26-yarder and the Knights carried their four-point lead into the final fifteen minutes.

*** Fourth-Quarter Push Brings the Title West ***

Momentum swung when Sweeney ripped off a crisp 17-yard punt return, aided by an unnecessary-roughness penalty, giving Redwood the ball at midfield with just over ten minutes remaining.

The Mammoths pounced.

Sweeney carved six yards up the gut. Coughlin sprinted 17 more around the right side. A 15-yard toss to Sam York put Redwood deep in the red zone. And with the Knights bracing for another keeper, Coughlin pitched to Sweeney on the option. The junior slashed six yards into the end zone to restore a 17–14 Redwood lead — the exact same scoreline as last year’s Classic.

Detroit City College never found a response. Redwood’s defense owned the closing minutes, smothering short-yardage attempts and forcing a final trio of empty Knights possessions.

When the final seconds bled away, the Mammoths had secured their second straight East–West Classic triumph — and, by nightfall two days later, their first national championship.

*** A Grind-It-Out Classic ***

Neither team found rhythm in the passing game, and both struggled on third down. But Redwood’s steady option attack, paired with timely returns and a suffocating fourth-quarter defense, made all the difference.

A year ago, Redwood proved it could win the Classic. This time, the Mammoths proved they could win it all.

SUNSHINE CLASSIC SHOCKER: NAVIGATORS’ PERFECT SEASON SINKS IN MIAMI

MIAMI — Under a leaden gray sky and a biting 37-degree crosswind that made the famed Orange Coast feel more like the upper Chesapeake, the Annapolis Maritime Navigators watched their bid for a perfect season — and their long-sought first national championship — dissolve in a bruising 27–7 loss to Boulder State in the Sunshine Classic.

The Navigators (11–1), spotless through eleven outings and carrying the weight of a program still haunted by its near-miss in 1961, were overrun by a Boulder State club that looked nothing like a No. 6 underdog. The Plains Athletic Association champions dominated the trenches, controlled the ball for more than 36 minutes, and rode quarterback David Johnson’s tough running and crisp early strikes to their first Sunshine Classic win since 1955.

*** GRIZZLIES SEIZE CONTROL ***

Annapolis Maritime arrived with one of the nation’s best scoring defense, but the early tone made clear this afternoon would not follow form. Johnson — the compact, cutting, relentless Grizzlies field general — repeatedly slipped through first contact and pushed Boulder State downfield in patient, punishing chunks. Even when the Grizzlies stumbled with first-quarter fumbles, the Navigators failed to make them pay, struggling to clear their own 30-yard line.

The breakthrough came midway through the second period when Johnson rolled right and lofted a one-yard touchdown to Wesley Clement, capping a grinding 65-yard march. After forcing another three-and-out, Boulder State padded the margin with Michael Darling’s 29-yard boot in the final minute for a 10–0 halftime lead that felt twice as heavy.

*** NAVIGATORS LOSE THEIR WAY ***

If Annapolis Maritime needed a spark to turn back the rising tide, they never got it. On the first snap of the third quarter, Johnson slashed four yards off left guard for another score, stretching the lead to 17–0. The Navigators — bottled by a smothering front led by Joseph Peterman, the defensive player of the game — managed just 68 passing yards and converted only 4 of 16 third-down attempts.

Darling’s 46-yard field goal early in the fourth widened the gap, and Boulder State sealed the upset with a precise two-minute drill engineered by reserve quarterback Adrian Derrick, who found Clement again, this time from the three, for a 27–0 stranglehold.

Only in the final seconds did the Navigators avoid a shutout, when Jackie Shook zipped a three-yard strike to Raymond Markham with :15 remaining. By then, thousands of Grizzlies fans — many of whom had braved the rare Miami chill wrapped in gold-and-black blankets — were already celebrating a victory that will reverberate from the Gulf to the Rockies.

Boulder State finishes 10–2, with perhaps the clearest statement win of the bowl season. The Navigators, so close again to a national crown, head north knowing they controlled none of the afternoon — not the pace, not the field position, and certainly not the scoreboard.

Annapolis Maritime will spend the winter wrestling with the harshest truth of all: their dream season ended not with an argument over poll voters, but with a decisive on-field answer from Boulder State.

MAVERICKS AERIAL ASSAULT TOO MUCH FOR ROWDIES

Houston- The Northern Mississippi Mavericks capped off one of the best seasons the school has ever experienced with a convincing 28-17 victory over Red River State in the 30th annual edition of the Oilman Classic. Mavericks quarterback Courtney Ford enjoyed one of the best games of his career, leading a precision passing game that saw the junior passer complete 14 of 16 attempts including a pair of touchdown tosses. It was just the second time the Mavericks earned a trip to Houston as Deep South Conference champions and they are now a perfect 2-0 as this victory follows up a 16-13 triumph over Lubbock State on January 1, 1967. The only other Classic Game that Northern Mississippi has ever played in was the 1970 Cajun Classic which they lost to Charleston Tech.

Clinging to slim hopes they may move up two slots in the polls and win their first national title if everything broke right, the Mavericks were a determined bunch right from the get-go, clearly overpowering a Red River State team that entered the game with a 7-4 record in what was a down season for the Southwestern Alliance. The opening drive saw Ford and his mates march the ball 75 yards downfield and score a touchdown on their opening possession. Versatile senior wingback Tom Agincourt finished off the drive off the drive with a 1 yard run.

It would be the start of a big day for Agincourt in his final game in the blue and white of the Mavericks. He would carry the ball 10 times for 44 yards on the afternoon and also catch four passes with none more exciting than the 70 yard catch and run he had for a fourth quarter touchdown to put the game out of reach after the Rowdies had cut the deficit to 21-17.

Turnovers hurt Red River State badly in this contest including a fumble by running back Mike Hutcheson on the Mavericks five yard line early in the second quarter when the Rowdies appeared poised to tie the game at seven. The Hutcheson fumble put a damper on what was a terrific game for the freshman who ran for a game high 121 yards and finished his debut season with nearly 1,500 yards gained on the ground.

Equally as damaging to Red River State's comeback hopes was a second fumble deep in Mavericks territory in the waning minutes of the third quarter shortly after the Rowdies had seized the momentum with their opening score of the game to cut the deficit to 14-7.

That second fumble ignited another long clock-eating drive engineered by Ford that culminated in a 6-yard scoring run by Ricky Brown to make the score 21-7 early in the fourth quarter. If Northern Mississippi thought the game was wrapped up at that point they got a surprise when Rowdies dangerous return man James Hurd took the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for his third kick return touchdown of the season. The situation became even more tense with just over 5 minutes left when Red River State kicker Ryan McDowell was successful with a field goal from 30 yards out to cut the deficit to just four points.

That kick came on a fourth and six from the Mavericks 13 yard line with the Rowdies side of the stands in Houston's Dalton Domed Stadium pleading for Red River State head coach Pat Cornell to go for it in an effort to tie the game up. Cornell elected to take the points and then hope his defense could get a big stop.

That did not happen as the Mavericks second play from scrimmage on the ensuing drive was the masterful 70-yard scoring reception by Agincourt, who cemented both the result and his place as player of the game, with his second touchdown of the afternoon.

The Rowdies had one more impressive drive as they desperately tried to close the now 11-point deficit but it also ended in a turnover in the red zone as Mavericks cornerback Michael Richards picked off a Homer Anderson pass on a first and goal for the Rowdies with just over two minutes remaining in the game.

NEW YEARS CLASSIC ROUND-UP
CAJUN CLASSIC

New Orleans -- After enduring a dreadful 4-7 campaign a year ago -their worst showing since going 4-6 in 1957- the Cumberland Explorers capped a nice bounce back year by knocking off South Atlantic Conference champion Eastern State 27-14 in the Cajun Classic. It marked the third New Years appearance and third 9-3 season for the Explorers in the past four years. National Champions after a perfect 12-0 1967 season, Cumberland is now 9-5-1 all-time playing on New Years Day.

Eastern State, which like Cumberland went 4-7 a year ago, was playing in its first Classic Game since January of 1952 and the Monitors simply had no answer for the Explorers pair of dynamic sophomore backs. Bobby Haskell ran over and around the bewildered Eastern State defenders for 156 yards and two second quarter touchdowns while Ambrose McRae pushed his season total over the 1,000 yard mark with 107 yards in this the rain in New Orleans. The future looks bright for Cumberland as the two backs combined on the season for nearly 2,500 yards rushing.

LONE STAR CLASSIC

Austin -- Appearing in a Classic Game for the first time in school history, the Utah A&M Aggies made it a memorable trip to Texas as they rallied for a 23-20 victory over the Commonwealth Catholic Knights in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. It was a back and forth affair that saw the Aggies win the game on a surprise play with just 32 seconds remaining in regulation time.

Utah A&M had been unable to complete a pass the entire contest but trailing 20-15 and faced with a third and goal on the Knights 2-yard line in the final minute they shocked a Commonwealth Catholic defense fully focused on stopping the run by throwing a pass. The Aggies lined up two quarterbacks in the backfield on the play - Christian Trophy winner Ernst Kidd who led the nation in rushing yards and gained 91 on the day but went 0-for-6 throwing the ball as well as backup David Hayden who had attempted just 14 passes all season and none so far in the game. The direct snap went to Hayden who was lined up beside Kidd. He faked the short pitch to Kidd and instead lofted a pass to the corner of the endzone that was hauled in by Utah A&M tight end Casey Wing for the winning score on what was the only completion of the day for the Aggies.

The victory boosted the Rocky Mountain Athletic Association champions record to 11-1, establishing a high-water mark for wins in a season for the Aggies and leaving them ranked 8th in the final polls - their first top ten appearance since 1957. Commonwealth Catholic finishes with a 9-3 record.

BAYSIDE CLASSIC

The Alexandria Generals were favoured to defeat the Lawrence State Chippewa in the 30th annual edition of the Bayside Classic but the game ended up being a route in favour of the Midwestern Alliance champions as Lawrence State rode a solid performance from junior quarterback Sean Babb to a 33-0 victory.

After a scoreless opening quarter in which the Generals were unsuccessful in a bid for a 42-yard field goal, the game was blown open in the second period. Lawrence State, aided by an Alexandria turnover and a pair of Babb to Ed Tucker touchdown passes, built a 17-0 lead at the break. The Chippewa did not slow down in the second half as Babb completed 14 of 25 passes for 157 yards with nine of those passes dropping into the arms of the freshman Tucker, who finished with 128 receiving yards on the day. Sophomore running back Luther Dickinson also enjoyed a productive afternoon, running for a game high 80 yards and a touchdown to open the fourth quarter.

Both schools finish the season at 10-2 with Lawrence State climbing to sixth in the polls while Alexandria was forced to settle for 11th. It ended a string of back to back New Years Day wins for Alexandria, which won the Desert Classic each of the past two seasons and was a perfect 12-0 each time, finishing third in the polls in 1972 and second behind only Noble Jones College a year ago.

DESERT CLASSIC

Great Lakes Alliance runner-up Whitney College was very successful in its first appearance in a Classic Game. The Engineers made the trek to El Paso to face the champion of the Southern Border Association which traditionally hosts the Desert Classic. That would be the Valley State Gunslingers this time around but Valley State was firing blanks as the Engineers opened a 27-0 first half lead and cruised to a 37-13 victory.

Frankie Nixon got the party started for the Engineers early, returning a Valley State punt 50 yards for a touchdown before the game was two minutes old. It never did get any better for the hosts who, despite Za'Darius Harris rushing for a game high 140 yards, were never in the contest. Quarterback Robert Guenther capped a solid freshman season for Whitney College by throwing a pair of touchdown passes while junior running back Russell Garvin shredded the Gunslingers defense with a number of big carries enroute to a 114 yard rushing day despite being called on just 15 times to run the ball.

The result left the 10-2 Engineers number 5 in the final polls - their highest finish ever.

BOONE COUNTY MUSEUM WELCOMES DOYAL
Former Foresters Legend Lone Hall of Fame Inductee

The Class of 1975 for the baseball Hall of Fame in Boone County, IL., will contain just one member as Sherry Doyal was the only player to collect sufficient votes required for induction. Doyal, a first ballot Hall of Famer, was named on a little over 91% of the ballots submitted.

The ten-time All-Star and 1951 Whitney Award winner spent nearly his entire career with the Cleveland Foresters but did not start or end it on the shores of Lake Erie. A star at Landry High School in New Orleans, Doyal was selected 5th overall in the 1946 FABL draft by the St Louis Pioneers. He would never make it to St Louis as the Pioneers dealt him and their first round pick in the 1948 draft to the Foresters in exchange for big league pitcher Hiram Steinberg. The deal would help both teams as St Louis won back-to-back WCS titles with Steinberg while Cleveland would become a powerhouse in the late-1950s and early 1960s.

Doyal would make his Cleveland debut in 1948 at the age of 20 and would spend two decades with the Foresters, helping them to seven pennants and three World Championship Series victories. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1950 WCS, one in which the Foresters nipped the New York Gothams in seven games.

He would go on to become Cleveland's all-time franchise leader in games played, at bats, runs scored and homeruns before being exposed in the expansion draft prior to the 1969 season. Houston selected the now 41-year-old for his leadership skills and he spent two seasons primarily as a pinch-hitter for the Comets before retiring.

TURNER, SAINTS AGREE ON TWO-YEAR EXTENSION

Montreal --With the long-anticipated arrival of free agency hanging over the sport, FABL front offices are expected to spend much of 1975 securing their stars before the marketplace opens. The Commissioner’s Office, headed by Willard T. Dennison, has yet to outline the full mechanics of player eligibility or compensation, leaving clubs to operate in a haze of uncertainty.

The Montreal Saints, however, wasted little time. The club announced yesterday that infielder Dixie Turner, the eight-time Whitney Award winner and long-time face of the franchise, has agreed to a two-year contract extension that will keep him in a Saints uniform through the 1977 season.

In a move that surprised many around the league — and likely raised eyebrows within the Players Association — Turner accepted a pay cut in exchange for additional security. He will earn a reported $210,000 in both 1976 and 1977, down from the $250,000 he is slated to receive in 1975. That figure ties him with Washington’s Tom Lorang as baseball’s highest-paid player this year.

For Montreal, the deal is viewed as a prudent piece of business, though not without some inherent gamble. Turner is coming off what, for him, amounted to a disappointing season: a .225 average, 21 home runs, and 74 runs batted in. Even in a “down year,” his overall value remained high — he still produced a 5.3 WAR — but the drop-off from his customary production has sparked quiet speculation that the 33-year-old star may be entering the back nine of his career.

That makes the upcoming 1975 season a pivotal one. The Saints secured their cornerstone, but they will be watching closely to see whether last year was merely an aberration or a warning sign of decline. For Turner, the deal offers stability; for the Saints, it’s a calculated bet that one of the era’s great players still has elite baseball left in him.

MILLERS NEED MORE PEPPER

The Minneapolis Millers have reversed course on a familiar face, opting to bring back veteran righthander Johnny Pepper after briefly parting ways with him earlier this fall.

Pepper, now 39 and entering his 17th professional season, originally signed a minor-league pact with Minneapolis in September following his release by Baltimore in July. The Millers cut him loose in October, only to reconsider and ink him last week to a one-year contract valued at $37,600.

A former second-round pick of Toronto in 1953, Pepper spent more than a decade with the Wolves and enjoyed his finest campaign in 1966, when he went 16–8 and earned an All-Star nod. Since being taken by Milwaukee in the 1969 expansion draft, he has pitched for Dallas, Cincinnati, and Baltimore while accumulating a career record of 111–135 across 281 major-league starts.

Used primarily out of the bullpen with the Clippers last summer, Pepper posted a 5–6 mark with 5 saves and a 3.84 ERA. The Millers believe the veteran can still provide value, either as rotation depth or in a stabilizing relief role, as they look to bolster their pitching staff for 1975.

PACKERS, BEES LOOK TO STRETCH LEADS

The Chicago Packers and Boston Bees have each been on a tear since mid-December as both look to extend their division leads. Boston fell to Minneapolis 3-1 on New Years Eve but the Bees have won six of their last seven and stretched their lead on second place Montreal atop the Connelly Division to five points. Chicago, has Minneapolis and a hot St Louis Sawyers club tracking it down in the Yeadon Division, but the Packers have lost just once in their last ten games.

At 10-3-3 the Packers have the best record in the NAHC since December 1 and are benefitting from some terrific goaltender from Rejean Gillies. The 35-year-old, who began his career in San Francisco before moving to the Windy City prior to the 1971-72 campaign, was named goaltender of the month for December and his 2.56 goals against average is second only to Montreal's Fred Rucks this season.

NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS
WENESDAY JANAUARY 1

Chicago at Los Angeles : The lone New Years Day game saw the Chicago Packers get two goals from Terry Foster and roll past the struggling Los Angeles Stingrays 6-3.

THURSDAY JANUARY 2

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh : Alan Porter's 25th goal of the season proved to be the game winner as the Cincinnati Ironclads won 3-1 on the road over Pittsburgh.

Quebec at Toronto : It was another big night for NAHC scoring leader Ollie Perreault as the veteran Toronto Dukes forward scored three times and added an assist to propel his club to a 7-3 triumph at Dominion Gardens over the visiting Quebec Citadels. Joey Eagles also had a big game for Toronto with two goals and two helpers.

St Louis at Washington : The St. Louis Sawyers are unbeaten in nine games following a 7-3 victory over the Federals in Washington. Brian Eastwood and Denny Woodhouse each had 3 points to lead the visitors.

Philadelphia at Boston : Four Boston goals in a five minute span midway through the second period proved the difference as the Bees downed the defending Challenge Cup champion Philadelphia Rogues 6-2.

San Francisco at New York : Third period goals from Joe Crosby and David Guimond allowed the New York Shamrocks to salvage a point in a 2-2 tie with the Gulls. Dick Paletta and Phillope Lafrerriere each scored before the first period was four minutes old to stake San Francisco to an early lead.

Vancouver at Detroit : Carl Simon scored with five minutes left in the game to allow the league's worst team- the Detroit Motors- to earn a 3-3 tie with visiting Vancouver at the Thompson Palladium.

Atlanta at Montreal : Randy Kelleher turned aside all 30 Montreal shots for his second shutout of the season to lead Atlanta past the Valiants 4-0. Victor Duplacey scored twice for the Blazers.

Minneapolis at Calgary : Rookie James Martel had a goal and an assist to pace Calgary past Minneapolis 3-1.

FRIDAY JANUARY 3

Pittsburgh at St Louis : The red hot St Louis Sawyers extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games with a 6-3 win over Pittsburgh. Winger Tom Ansell had 3 points to pace the Sawyers, who still sit third in the Yeadon Division despite their torrid play of late.

Boston at Cincinnati : Boston extended its lead on Montreal atop the Connelly Division after the Bees dumped the 4-2. Ironclads forward Alan Porter did pick up his 24th goal of the season and extend his point scoring streak to 12 games.

Detroit at Atlanta : In a battle between the two worst teams in the league, the Atlanta Blazers scored three unanswered third period goals to defeat Detroit 6-4.

Los Angeles at San Francisco : Ray Donnelly's 7th goal of the season, just 16 seconds after Mark Collins had tied the contest at two in the third period, gave the Los Angeles Stingrays a 3-2 victory over Thomas Division rival San Francisco.

Washington at Chicago : Bill Tannen earned 3 assists to help the Chicago Packers stay three points up on Minneapolis for the Yeadon Division lead. The Packers beat Washington 6-2

Philadelphia at Montreal : Adam McPherson had the hat trick as Philadelphia doubled Montreal 6-3.

Calgary at Minneapolis : Matt Hayward's first NAHC shutout since 1972 gave the Minneapolis Norseman the win at home over Calgary. Hayward, a 25-year-old Alberta native, made 26 saves in the 2-0 win. Ned Derby and Anthony Baptiste, with his 22nd of the season, were the goal scorers for the Norsemen.

SATURDAY JANUARY 4
No games scheduled

SUNDAY JANUARY 5

New York at Philadelphia : A very light weekend schedule saw no games on Saturday and just one on Sunday night as the New York Shamrocks outscored the Philadelphia Rogues 7-5 in a battle between the top two teams in the Dewar Division. Despite the loss, the Rogues still enjoy a 7-point lead on the Shamrocks, but New York does have a game in hand. Rookie New York forward Daniel McQuaid had a goal and three assists while his linemate, fellow Shamrocks rookie Greg Sutherland, had 3 points in the win.

CENTRAL DIVISION CONTINUES CHL DOMINATION

The Central Division continues to rule the Continental Hockey League as all five clubs in that division are over .500 and each has started the new year on a winning streak. Leading the way continues to the Winnipeg Falcons, who started the year off on the right skate by helping to knock the New York Eagles from top spot in the East Division. The Falcons dumped New York 7-4 behind a four point outing from Tim Moore. The second year star, who was rookie of the year in the CHL last season, boosted his league leading point total on the season to 91 and is on a pace to smash Hobie Barrell's single season CHL point record of 146 established in the league's debut season of 1972-73.

The Falcons win at home over New York gives them four straight victories and they top the league with 62 points. Second place Milwaukee is five points back even after back to back wins over Toronto and Houston on Thursday and Friday to extend their winning streak to three games. Third place Ottawa has also won three in a row after winning a wild one at home against Buffalo by 9-6 count on Saturday evening. Hobie Barrell picked up a hat trick in that game to give him 50 goals on the seasons. It marks the fifth time in his career that the Athletics captain has scored at least fifty, including all three seasons in the CHL.

Chicago and Kansas City sit fourth and fifth in the Central Division despite the fact that their point totals would put them first and second in the East Division and battling Edmonton for second in the West. The Cleveland Immortals beat New York on Friday and tied Toronto on Saturday to move into top spot in the East while the Denver Peaks remain ahead of Edmonton for the West Division lead despite being shutout 1-0 by the Huskies Michael Mulcair on Wednesday. It was just the third game of the season for the 23-year-old Edmonton netminder, who led the Huskies to the CHL title a year ago but suffered a back injury in training camp.

RED DEVILS REMAIN PERFECT IN COLLEGE CAGE ACTION

The Baton Rouge State Red Devils continue to sit atop the weekly college basketball rankings and remain one of only two undefeated AIAA programs in the nation. Baton Rouge stands at 12–0, joined by Northern Mississippi, its Deep South Conference rival, which improved to 9–0 but nonetheless slipped one spot in this week’s poll.

Two other schools entered 1975 without a loss but were knocked from the unbeaten ranks last week. Tempe College, previously 11–0, suffered a 53–49 home loss to unranked College of San Diego. The Titans rebounded with a 58–47 win over Quaker College of California, but the split dropped them from 10th to 14th. Meanwhile, College of Waco of the Southwestern Alliance slid from 13th to 18th after falling 60–53 at Flagstaff State.

Baton Rouge State, meanwhile, kept rolling with two home victories: a 67–58 win over Michigan Lutheran, led by junior guard Ernie Hill with 16 points, and a 64–59 triumph yesterday over Cleveland. The Red Devils have one final non-conference game this week against lightly regarded Ogdensburg, then open Deep South play on January 22 with a road test at 25th-ranked Alabama Baptist. Baton Rouge has reached the AIAA tournament semifinals three times in the past four years, though a championship has still eluded them.

Despite Baton Rouge’s perfect record, one-third of the poll’s voters continue to rank Detroit City College ahead of the Red Devils. Like Baton Rouge, the Knights have enjoyed recent tournament success, reaching the semifinals in each of the past two seasons. DCC has captured the AIAA crown three times, most recently with back-to-back championships in the mid-1960s.

The 10–1 Knights held the No. 1 spot until a week ago, when they were upset by Pittsburgh State on December 27. They responded forcefully, routing Wichita Baptist 73–39 on New Year’s Eve and following that with a 69–45 win over Richmond State on Friday, fueled by 18 points from senior center Chuck Carpenter.

Detroit City College closes its non-conference slate with two more games, highlighted by a highly anticipated showdown Thursday at Thompson Palladium, where the Knights will host fifth-ranked and undefeated Northern Mississippi.

ROCKETS REMAIN FEDERAL LEAGUE’S HOTTEST CLUB

There appears to be no cooling off the St. Louis Rockets—or scoring king John Brantner. After a brief wobble in mid-December, when the perennial Western Conference powerhouse dropped three straight, the Rockets have slammed the door on doubt by winning nine of their last ten. At 24–11, they once again sit atop the entire Federal Basketball League.

St. Louis holds a three-game cushion over a surging Houston Apollos squad that has taken 11 of its last 14. The Rockets, meanwhile, have opened the new year with three straight victories and now carry a five-game winning streak into the second week of January.

They kicked off 1975 on January 2 with a decisive 116–95 win in Los Angeles, where Brantner torched the Condors for 46 points. A night later, despite a red-eye flight home, there was no fatigue on display at the St. Louis Gateway Center: Brantner poured in 42 and the Rockets handled the Chicago Panthers 112–101. They capped the week Sunday with a 108–102 road victory in Detroit.

Brantner—31 and showing no signs of slowing down—continues to dominate the league’s scoring charts at just under 40 points per game, a full ten ahead of Chicago sharpshooter Les Hoeft.

St. Louis now braces for a marquee showdown Tuesday night as Houston comes to town. The Apollos stumbled out of the gate, losing 8 of their first 13—including three to St. Louis—but have since caught fire. They also beat the Rockets in their most recent meeting, a post-Christmas contest in Houston, giving St. Louis plenty of incentive for payback.

Tight Race in the Atlantic

The Eastern Conference remains split sharply down the middle: all five Atlantic Division clubs are at or above .500, while every team in the Central Division carries a losing mark.

The New York Knights, winners of three league titles in recent years, boast the conference’s best record at 21–13—but their form is slipping. The Knights have dropped three of their last four, including both ends of a weekend home-and-home against Philadelphia.

Their post-Christmas struggles have opened the door for the Boston Centurions, now just one game back. Boston endured a five-game slide of its own but has rebounded with two strong victories to start the new year: a 136–127 win in Chicago and a 131–116 home triumph over Atlanta.

The Centurions, who trail New York 1–2 in the season series, will get another crack at the Knights next Saturday at Bigsby Garden in what shapes up as the weekend’s marquee matchup.

WILL DEMONS SURVIVE THE SEASON?

The Continental Basketball League has had its share of ups and downs as it battles the established Federal League for the hearts and dollars of professional basketball fans and the television networks. As the CBL approaches the midway point of its eighth campaign there are some real positives: the quality of play is growing closer to that of the FBL every season and teams in markets untouched by the FBL like Cincinnati, Denver and San Antonio have created quite a following.

However, there is one black mark on the league that seems to get worse every year. That would be the New Jersey Demons who have failed miserably in an attempt to take on the famed New York Knights in the biggest market in the country. Mismanaged even before their move from Tampa three years ago, the Demons have grown worse with each season and are on pace to win just 13 games this season. This from a franchise that has not made the playoffs since 1969 and one that struggles to draw even 3,000 fans to the Newark Coliseum for games. No CBL team has folded mid-season but sparse attendance and an absolutely brutal on-court product has led to speculation that the Demons may not have the funds necessary to complete the season.

FORMER CHAMP ROOCA FALLS AGAIN, TALKS RETIREMENT

There had been speculation that former World Heavyweight Champion Tony Rocca suffered a serious concussion when Leon Frazier knocked him out in the 12th round of their title fight in Las Vegas last October. Rocca’s camp denied the rumors, and the 28-year-old—who had made five successful defenses before surrendering the belt—returned to the ring Saturday night.

The opponent was widely viewed as a soft touch, a hand-picked steppingstone for Rocca’s planned climb back toward a title shot. Instead, things unraveled quickly. Jed Fisher, a 25-year-old journeyman with a modest 15-16-2 record, delivered the performance of his life. Fisher controlled the pace from the opening bell, dictated every round, and earned a unanimous decision on all three judges’ scorecards.

Rocca, knocked down twice and barely beating the count the second time, seemed at a loss afterward. Asked what comes next—now that another run at the championship appears highly unlikely—Rocca paused before quietly suggesting that this may be the end of his career.

If Saturday indeed marks the final chapter for the New Haven native, Rocca leaves behind an impressive résumé. He retires with a 37-3-3 record and two reigns as ABF World Heavyweight Champion. Debuting in late 1966, he went 17-0-2 before earning his first title shot less than three years later, winning the crown with an 8th-round TKO of Ben Brumfield. Successful defenses over Elvin Caldwell and Luther Gaines followed before he lost a hard-fought unanimous decision to Pete Vassar in October 1970.

Rocca regained the belt in December 1972 with a unanimous decision over Barry Bernard and defended it five times—highlighted by a dominant win in his rematch with Vassar—before Frazier dethroned him last fall. Until the stunning loss to Fisher, Rocca’s only defeats had come in championship fights.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 01/05/1975

With inflation near 12% and unemployment rising, President Gerald Ford signals major anti-inflation proposals and possible budget cuts.
Returning members of Congress, emboldened by big November gains, push for expanded public employment programs and consumer aid as the recession worsens.
OPEC price increases trigger fresh fuel worries, raising fears of renewed shortages and higher consumer prices.
Cold wave grips much of the U.S. and Canada. A severe Arctic air mass descends across the continent, bringing record-low temperatures from the Midwest to the Maritimes and causing widespread heating-fuel strain and transport delays.
Federal investigators report new leads on Symbionese Liberation Army associates ahead of Patty Hearst’s expected trial, keeping the long-running saga in the news.
Wage and price controls debate heats up in Canada. Ottawa officials acknowledge that rising inflation may force consideration of mandatory wage and price restraints, sparking political friction with provincial leaders.
North Vietnamese forces gain ground in Vietnam
With U.S. involvement ended, the deteriorating South Vietnamese position continues to worsen as North Vietnamese forces advance, highlighting growing concern over an impending collapse.
On the silver screen “The Godfather Part II” earns strong reviews and robust holiday attendance.

Tiger Fan · 12-11-2025, 12:14 AM

JANUARY 13, 1975

AMERICAN CONFERENCE WINS AFA ALL-STAR CLASSIC
Ruth's 80-yard Interception Return Only Major in 13-9 Win

The only touchdown to be scored in AFA's annual post-season all-star game occurred as the contest was barely a minute old when Michael Ruth, a Detroit Maroons safety, picked off a pass from league MVP Robert Haas of the Denver Mountaineers and raced 80-yards for a touchdown. That score gave the American Conference an early 7-0 lead and would prove to be the only touchdown on the afternoon as the American all-stars downed their counterparts from the National Conference by a score of 13-9.

Kickers Tracy Leggett of the Cincinnati Rivermen and Chicago Wildcats David Derr traded field goals in both the first and second quarter to make the score 13-6 for the American Conference with Leggett's 47-yard boot in the third quarter accounting for the only points in the second half. Ruth, a rookie out of Columbia Military Academy who was selected in the second round by the Maroons last spring, also had 3 tackles on the afternoon and was named the game's defensive MVP. Veteran tackle Jake Weber of the Chicago Wildcats, who was participating in his fifth All-Star Classic, was named the offensive MVP for his terrific work on the offensive line.

PACKERS FOSTER SHINES IN NAHC ALL-STAR GAME

A pair of third period goals from Chicago Packers veteran winger Terry Foster lifted the Union Conference to a 4-3 victory over the Dominion Conference in the 26th annual North American Hockey Confederation All-Star Game. The game marked the first of the conference alignment as the previous seven games had been an East vs West format and prior to that the defending Challenge Cup champion would take on a team of stars from around the league.

The Union Conference took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Alvin Yardley of Los Angeles and Detroit's Andrew Williams but the Dominion squad pulled even with a pair of its own in the middle frame. One came courtesy of league scoring leader Ollie Perreault of the Toronto Dukes less than two minutes into the period and then Perreault set up Montreal's Roger MacKinnon with the equalizer later in the period.

Foster, a 30-year-old Chicago forward participating in his fifth all-star game, put the Union Conference back in the lead when he banged the rebound of an Andrew Williams point shot past Boston netminder Alex Daoust but Philadelphia's Gary Yeadon tied the game back up at three with a goal just under ten minutes later. The contest stayed tied for barely a minute before Foster struck again with what proved to be the game winning goal.
NOTES: The Sunday afternoon game held at the Liberty Center in Philadelphia drew 17,760 fans...Hometown fans were delighted when local hero Gary Yeadon, one of the key pieces of the Rogues Challenge Cup win a year ago, was named second star of the game. Tom Rowley of Minneapolis, who had two assists, was the first star while Chicago's Foster earned third star honours....It was a busy afternoon for the four goalies who played as the two teams combined for 92 shots.

NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS
MONDAY JANAUARY 6

San Francisco at Detroit : Alfie Schmirler scored three times and Charlie Rodgers had a goal and three assists to lead Detroit to a 6-3 win on home ice over San Francisco. Motors veteran center Yves Dagenais picked up a pair of assists to pace former teammate Hobie Barrell for 7th on the all-time assist leaderboard. Dagenais now has 530 assists.

Vancouver at New York : Greg Sutherland had a goal and an assist for New York while Patrick Ferguson had two helpers for Vancouver as the Shamrocks and Totems skated to a 2-2 draw.

Calgary at Quebec : Calgary managed just 15 shots on goal and Quebec's Cliff Graham stopped them all for his second shutout of the season as the Citadels blanked the Grizzlies 3-0. Ron Griffin and Ray Blackwell each had a goal and an assist for the winners.

Cincinnati at Atlanta : The Ironclads battled back from a 3-1 deficit to tie Atlanta 3-3. It marked the end of a 12 game point scoring streak for Cincinnati's Alan Porter.

TUESDAY JANUARY 7

Calgary at Washington : Goalie Jon Girard made 48 saves to allow Calgary to earn a point in Washington by tying the Federals 2-2.

Boston at Los Angeles : Alvin Yardley had 3 assists and Dan Fulton stopped 50 of 52 Boston shots to lead the Los Angles Stingrays to a 4-2 home win over the Bees.

Pittsburgh at Montreal : Max Hebert scored once and added two assists to pace Pittsburgh past Montreal 4-1 in a game that the Vals outshot the Sentinels 46-22.

St Louis at Cincinnati : Bernie Caldwell's powerplay goal midway through the third period gave the St Louis Sawyers a 2-2 tie with Cincinnati.

San Francisco at Vancouver : Four different Totems, including three defenseman (Jack Charest, Morgan Gibb and Mitch Gallagher) scored as Vancouver downed San Francisco 4-1.

Chicago at Minneapolis : Chicago scored three times in the first nine minutes of the game and held on to trim Minneapolis 5-4 despite Bill Sullivan of the Norsemen earning three points on the night.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 8

Chicago at Los Angeles : Tek Sahota scored twice to lift Los Angeles to its third consecutive victory, 5-2 over Chicago.

THURSDAY JANUARY 9

Quebec at San Francisco : The Gulls are winless in seven games after falling 7-3 to Quebec. Ty Shackleford and Sam Lemiski each scored twice for the Citadels.

Vancouver at Atlanta : Vancouver has just one loss in its last 10 games after trimming Atlanta 3-2 and ending the Blazers unbeaten streak at four games.

Philadelphia at St Louis : St Louis lost for the first time in a month, dropping a 6-4 decision at home to Philadelphia. Gary Yeadon had the hat trick and added an assist for the Rogues while Brian Eastwood also scored three times in a losing cause for the Sawyers.

Montreal at Cincinnati : The Valiants snapped a 3-game losing streak with their first victory of 1975, a 7-2 clobbering of Cincinnati. The Ironclads have just one win in their last nine games. Roger MacKinnon paced the Montreal attack with two goals and a helper.

Pittsburgh at Detroit : Yves Dagenais had 5 assists as Detroit pounded Pittsburgh 8-2. The Motors are tied with Atlanta for the fewest points in the league but perhaps things are turning around for the Motors, who have collected 5 points in their last four games.

Boston at New York : David Bertrand scored with less than 3 minutes remaining in the game to give Boston a 5-4 win over the Shamrocks.

FRIDAY JANUARY 10

Philadelphia at Boston : The Bees followed up their win in New York with a 6-1 victory on home ice over Philadelphia. Tommy Gordon scored twice for the Bees and added an assist. Boston is tied with Chicago as the hottest team in the league over the past month. The Bees have gone 9-4-2 since December 10.

New York at Washington : Sam Raymond and Gonzalo Bongiorno each scored twice to pace Washington to a 6-2 victory over New York. For the Federals it was just their second win in the last 13 games but they do have 6 ties during that stretch.

Minneapolis at Quebec : Jimmy Norris continues to hold the hot hand for the Citadels. He scored twice and added two assists giving the 32-year-old forward 7 points in his last two games. Quebec doubled the Norsemen 8-4.

Montreal at Atlanta : Montreal has lost four of five games since January 1st following a 4-3 defeat on the road in Atlanta. Daniel Harris had three assists for the Blazers including his setup of Rob Stanley's game winner on the powerplay while Vals star rearguard Mark Moggy was in the penalty box.

SATURDAY JANUARY 11

Washington at St Louis : Nick Quinn's third period goal, just his fourth of the season earned Washington a point in a 3-3 tie with the Sawyers. Denny Woodhouse scored twice for St Louis.

Minneapolis at Toronto : Ben Boimstruck scored the game winner shorthanded late in the third period to give Toronto a 3-2 win over visiting Minneapolis.

Detroit at Chicago : The Packers have won four of their last five following a 5-1 victory at Lakeside Auditorium over the Detroit Motors. Terry Foster, who would be the hero in Sunday's all-star game, scored 3 times in this one to give him 26 goals on the season.

Calgary at Los Angeles : The Stingrays have won 4 straight following a 4-3 victory at home over Calgary. The victory vaulted LA ahead of San Francisco for second place in the Thomas Division and put the Stingrays six points ahead of the last place Grizzlies.

Pittsburgh at Philadelphia : Philadelphia handed Pittsburgh its fourth loss in five games after the Rogues pulled out a 4-3 victory a day before their arena, the Liberty Center, was set to host the all-star game. Gary Yeadon scored his 30th of the season to help the Philadelphia attack. Yeadon remains on pace to top the fifty goal mark for the second consecutive season.

SUNDAY JANUARY 12

no games scheduled - All- Star Game

SCOUT HOLST UNSUNG HERO IN WINNIPEG

The Winnipeg Falcons’ rise to the top of the Continental Hockey League during the regular season a year ago owed much to the breakout of young center Tim Moore, but their dominance this year can be traced directly to the work of one man behind the scenes: Elias Holst. The little-known West German–born scout has become an unlikely hero in Manitoba thanks to his discovery of two electrifying Swedish talents who have taken the CHL by storm.

Holst, hired just over a year ago as Winnipeg’s European scout, quickly made good on the investment. While attending last spring’s World Championships, he identified Borje Sjostrom and Mattias Jacobsson as elite prospects and persuaded management to bring both to North America. Four months into their CHL careers, the pair looks every bit the part of future superstars and has transformed Winnipeg into the team to beat.

Sjostrom, a 25-year-old puck-moving defenseman, has racked up 45 points in 46 games, including 18 as the quarterback of the league’s most dangerous power play—a unit converting at over 26%. Jacobsson, a 23-year-old right winger, stepped onto the top line with Moore and left winger Gerry Saunders and never missed a beat. Moore—last season’s top rookie—is already four points shy of 100 after 46 games and has even outpaced Ottawa legend Hobie Barrell in scoring. Jacobsson sits third in the league with 39 goals and 82 points and appears a near-certain lock to deliver Winnipeg a second straight Rookie of the Year.

Winnipeg’s three-game road swing last week only solidified its lead atop the Central Division. The Falcons claimed five of six possible points, starting with a 5–4 win in Seattle, where Jacobsson recorded three points and buried the late power-play winner. Two nights later in Edmonton, he struck again—another game-winner set up by Moore—in a second straight 5–4 victory. The trip concluded with a 4–4 tie in Houston, where Jacobsson posted his second three-point performance of the week, extending his scoring streak to 16 games.

Only one CHL team was hotter: Barrell’s Ottawa Athletics, who went 3–0 and pushed their winning streak to eight games. Even so, Ottawa remains third in the league’s toughest division—10 points behind Winnipeg and four back of Milwaukee—as the Falcons continue to set the pace.

MILLERS REPLACE LONG-TIME SKIPPER
Newcomer Bryan Takes Over For Hammond

The Minneapolis Millers have tabbed a college coach with no professional managing experience to take over the club for the upcoming season. Bill Bryan, who had a brief stint as a player in the Great West League during its brief dalliance as a "major-league" and has been a college coach for the past decade, has been given the task of trying to guide the Millers to the first winning record in franchise history.

Bryan was introduced as the new manager on Saturday, less than a week after long-time bench boss Harry Hammond was told his services were no longer required. Only Charley McCullough of the Los Angeles Stars had a longer active tenure as manager of one team than Hammond's 11 consecutive seasons in Minneapolis before his dismissal. Many had long called for Hammond's firing as he had just a .435 career winning percentage with the Millers and never finished with a .500 or better record.

Bryan, 48, is an unknown commodity who has never been a coach or manager in a professional league but has extensive experience running college programs. He will clearly have his work cut out for him trying to make the Millers a winning organization, a task made even more challenging by the Millers decision to trade star outfielder John Edwards, the 1968 Whitney Award winner and a 9-time all-star, to Houston in exchange for a handful of prospects at last year's trade deadline.

NO STOPPING BRANTNER

While Jack Salyer, the veteran Detroit Mustangs center appears less and less likely every day to catch former Toronto Falcons star Bill Spangler for the FBL's all-time scoring lead, it seems a foregone conclusion that John Brantner will get the job done. Salyer has 21,320 career points putting him just 137 shy of Spangler's record-setting mark, but the 34-year-old has been hobbled by back troubles that cost him much of last season and seems to have robbed the big man of a step which has prompted Detroit to use Salyer in just 9 games this season. He had scored just 8 points all year but perhaps there is hope as he dressed against Washington last night and scored 10 points in the game, renewing calls in the Motor City to play Salyer so he can break the record.

If he does get there it will likely not be long before Salyer gets passed by John Brantner. The 31-year-old shooting whizz had 49 points on Saturday night alone but surprisingly his St Louis Rockets lost to San Francisco 124-116. St Louis still has a hold on the best record in the FBL but that lead is no where near as secure as Brantner's hold on the scoring title.

Brantner is averaging 39.5 points per game and is ahead of his record-setting 39.1 mark established last year. He owns the three highest single season scoring averages in FBL history and seems a lock to make it four when this season comes to an end. With 17,347 career points Brantner recently overtook former Chicago Panthers legend Luther Gordon for fifth on the all-time scoring list and should easily move into third place behind only Salyer and Spangler before the season comes to an end.

It remains to be seen just how long Brantner will remain at his peak but at this stage anyway, having just turned 31 a little over a week ago and in his 9th season, he only seems to be getting better. Brantner did miss all but two games of the 1969-70 season with a ruptured Achilles and had had numerous ankle troubles over the years but mainly just sprains. He is scoring over 3,000 points a season so if he remains healthy he should become the FBL's all-time leading scorer some time late next season.

CHARGERS MAKING PUSH IN CBL

While the Cincinnati Steamers continue to lead the way with the best record in the Continental Basketball League, the Baltimore Chargers are also a club to be taken seriously. Baltimore sits in the middle of the pack in the East Division, a full 10 games back of the front-running Cincinnati quintet but over the past month the Chargers have been the hottest team in the CBL.

There was hope in Baltimore entering the season after the Chargers won a playoff series last spring for the first time in four years but optimism turned quickly to disappointment as the Chargers stumbled out of the block with four straight losses and just a 6-14 record following an early December loss to Philadelphia.

Sine then Baltimore has turned things around, with 11 wins in their last 14 games including a 118-105 triumph over Pittsburgh last night that improved the Chargers to the .500 mark for the first time this season. What is most impressive about the recent streak is that they have accomplished it without the services of George Ogletree. The third year forward who was AIAA player of the year in his senior season at Baton Rouge State, suffered a broken arm on Boxing Day and will be out of the lineup until sometime in February.

Ogletree was second in team scoring, averaging over 20 points per game and trailing only center Zane Davis, who is also the CBL's top rebounder. With Ogletree out of action, Davis has stepped up his game and scored 37 points in back to back wins Philadelphia and Pittsburgh last week.

The Chargers will face a big test on Thursday night when they travel to Cincinnati to face the first place Steamers, winners of 20 of their last 23 games.

DETROIT CITY COLLEGE BACK ON TOP
Knights Top Polls Following Big Win over Mavericks

The Baton Rouge State Red Devils basketball team may still be undefeated but they are no longer number one in the eyes of those who vote in the weekly AIAA basketball poll. The Red Devils wrapped up a perfect 13-0 run heading into Deep South Conference play with an easy 67-34 victory over Ogdensburg in their lone outing last week. Baton Rouge State, which will have a week off before their conference opener on the road against #21 Alabama Baptist, is the only unbeaten team left in the entire AIAA.

The Red Devils Deep South Conference foes Northern Mississippi entered the week unbeaten but in the most highly anticipated game of the New Year fell 74-66 to Detroit City College in the Motor City on Thursday. Entering the game Detroit City College was ranked #2 and the Mavericks were fifth. Following the win by the Knights, Detroit City (11-1) moved ahead of Baton Rouge State and into the top spot in the weekly poll.

The Mavericks rebounded quickly, running their record to 11-1 with an impressive 79-61 victory over North Carolina Tech in Oxford on Saturday. The backcourt duo of Rick Meyers (24 points) and Ron Coleman (20 points) keyed the Mavericks win over the 12th ranked Techsters. That victory allowed Northern Mississippi to retain the fifth slot in the rankings.

The week ahead will be the final one before the slate of league games tips off for most conferences.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 01/05/1975

Ford readies sweeping anti-inflation package as economic pressures mount, signaling that budget cuts and tax changes may be unveiled within days as the administration struggles to contain recession and rising prices.
Congressional Democrats step up calls for jobs programs and consumer relief, pressing the White House to expand federal action as unemployment continues to climb in early January.
Oil prices jump again as OPEC nations formalize new increases, intensifying fears of higher fuel costs and renewed shortages across the U.S. and Canada.
Federal Reserve warns of deeper recession ahead, with officials hinting that tighter credit earlier in 1974 may have intensified the downturn, prompting new debate over monetary policy.
In Canada Ottawa faces renewed criticism over inflation policy, as business groups and several provinces argue that the federal government must act more decisively—possibly through temporary wage and price restraints.
New disclosures emerge in the Patty Hearst investigation, with prosecutors citing fresh evidence tying SLA remnants to robberies in California, keeping the high-profile case in the national spotlight.
South Vietnam appeals urgently for military aid, as rapid North Vietnamese gains in the central highlands raise fears that Saigon’s forces may not hold without additional American support.

Tiger Fan · 12-12-2025, 10:00 AM

JANUARY 20, 1975

ARROWS INK NUMBER OF KEY PLAYERS TO MULTI-YEAR DEALS

With the prospects of free agency looming large and expected to kick in at the conclusion of the 1975 season, the Milwaukee Arrows committed well over $300,000 to a number of key players including Whitney Award winning outfielder Harry Edwards. The moves, all two year deals, were structured to assure the club would have each of the four signees under contract through the 1977 season.

Edwards, 25, and coming off a breakout season in which he led the CA in on-base percentage and WAR, was named the Continental Association Whitney Award winner last October. Selected in the second round of the 1971 FABL draft out of Bayou State, the Houston, TX., native made his big league debut midway through the 1972 season. He will make $34,000 in 1975 - a real bargain for the Arrows- and signed an extension that will pay him $56,000 in both 1976 and 1977.

Other signings announced last week by the Arrows included 25-year-old catcher Moose Patrick -their first round selection in 1971- who made his big league debut in 1974. Patrick will earn $26,000 this year and $33,200 over each of the next two seasons. 33-year-old Ed Thomas, one of the original Arrows who was selected in the 1969 expansion draft and has been their everyday shortstop ever since also signed a two-year extension but will take a pay cut for the security. Thomas will make $50,000 this year under his current deal but drops to a little over $30,000 each of the following two years. The final signing is a 2-year extension for 29-year-old pitcher John Carpenter, who spent 1973 with the Arrows as a rule V selection from Cincinnati but played in the minors last year.

Milwaukee was not the only team getting a jump on contract extensions as the Chicago Cougars and Detroit Dynamos also got involved. The Cougars likely are expecting Tom Halliday to finish out his career in the Windy City. The 36-year-old four-time All Star shortstop, who broke in with the Cougars in 1960, will be among the highest paid players in the league this season with his $100,000 contract. He signed an extension for the 1976 campaign but will take nearly a $60,000 pay cut. The Detroit Dynamos inked all-star outfielder Buddy Ensey to a one-year extension. The 27-year-old has spent the past four and a half years in the Detroit outfield and will make $38,000 this year with the extension calling for Detroit to pay him $44,800 for the 1976 season.

BEESON STARS IN SENIOR CLASSIC

Daniel Boone College wide receiver James Beeson improved his draft stock with an outstanding showing in the Senior Classic. The showcase featuring many of the top prospects for the American Football Association draft in April, saw the North squad nip South by a 22-20 count. Beeson, who was named to the This Week in Figment Sports All-American team after leading the nation in receiving yards and touchdown catches his senior season, added another feather in his cap when he was selected as the Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Senior Classic.

The 21-year-old Wisconsin native had four catches for 148 yards with the most impressive being an 85-yard touchdown bomb from Detroit City College quarterback Harold Robinson on the first play from scrimmage in the game. The extra point attempt from James Manning hit the upright and bounced out but the North carried their 6-0 throughout the first quarter. Robinson, who guided Detroit City College to the Great Lakes Alliance title, had a strong game, completing 8 of 14 pass attempts for 196 yards before giving way to Jerry Enos of Huntington State.

The South led 14-9 at the break as each of their quarterbacks - William O'Malley from Chesapeake State and Alexandria's Richard Clapp- threw a short touchdown pass in the second quarter. The North would take the lead for good in the third period when they marched 66 yards in a drive that culminated with a 2-yard scoring run by Eugene O'Neil of Pittsburgh State. During that drive Beeson made a pair of key catches, each of which moved the chains.

The South had cut the North lead to 22-20 with 38 seasons remaining after an Anderson Nall 16-yard touchdown run but TWIFS All-American defensive tackle George Haight of Boulder State came up with a huge tackle on Red River State running back Manny Bullock to deny what would have been a game-tying two point conversion. An last ditch desperation onsides kickoff attempt also failed when Beeson fell on the ball allowing the North to run out the clock.

CONFERENCE PLAY TIPS OFF AS COLLEGE SEASON HITS FULL STRIDE

College basketball swung into a higher gear this week as conference play tipped off across the country, with the remaining leagues set to join the action in the coming days. The non-conference schedule served up plenty of early-season drama and may have offered a glimpse of the four clubs likely to converge on New York’s Bigsby Garden in April for championship weekend.

The Detroit City College Knights and the Baton Rouge State Red Devils—both familiar faces under the April spotlight—continue to anchor the top of the national rankings. Detroit City College, bounced in the national semifinals in each of the past two years, is the reigning Great Lakes Alliance champion and is chasing what could be its fifth GLA crown in seven seasons. The Knights closed out their pre-conference schedule with a 66–46 win over Commonwealth Catholic on Saturday, powered by 19 points from junior forward Frank Wesley. The victory lifted DCC to 12–1, keeping them atop the national media poll as they head to Minnesota Tech on Thursday for their league opener.

Baton Rouge State, idle this past week after wrapping up a flawless 13–0 non-conference run ten days ago, holds steady at No. 2. The Red Devils have reached the Final Four three times in the last four seasons, but the title game has eluded them each time. They’re chasing that breakthrough once again, though their first order of business is landing something they’ve never achieved: a Deep South Conference championship. Despite more than half a century in the league, BRS has never finished atop the standings. Their latest attempt begins Wednesday with a trip to face 10–3 Alabama Baptist.

As usual, the Top Ten is dominated by the major conferences. Detroit City College is joined by Whitney College (#6) and Central Ohio (#7) to give the GLA three ranked clubs. Baton Rouge State’s Deep South contingent is bolstered by #5 Mississippi A&M and #7 Northern Mississippi. The South Atlantic Conference features familiar powerhouse Carolina Poly at No. 4, just behind Maryland State, while the West Coast Athletic Association lands both ninth-ranked Coastal California and No. 10 Northern Cal.

The WCAA was one of six leagues that jumped into conference play early. All eight WCAA programs were in action yesterday, including Coastal California, which handled Portland Tech 60–38, and Northern Cal, which outpaced Redwood 73–61.

The Academia Alliance was the first conference to officially get underway last Thursday, and Pierpont grabbed the early lead with impressive road wins over Dickson and Henry Hudson. Rival Dickson, winner of four straight Academia Alliance regular-season titles and 11 of the past 16, evened its league mark at 1–1 on Saturday by rolling past Ellery 68–53.

College hoops has now officially shifted out of tune-ups and into the grind. With conference crowns and postseason dreams now in play, the real season has finally begun.

Here are the rankings as well as the standings for conferences that have commenced league play and the top scorers in the AIAA.

DEFENDING CUP CHAMPS HITTING THEIR STRIDE

Maybe it was the classic Challenge Cup hangover—the short offseason after a long title run, the mental and physical fatigue—but whatever the cause, the Philadelphia Rogues looked nothing like defending champions in the early stages of the season. That is no longer the case. After a strong December, the Rogues have opened the new year with six wins in eight games, signaling that the champs have rediscovered their form.

A recent four-game winning streak, punctuated by a commanding 8–1 rout of Boston, has vaulted Philadelphia to within two points of the first-place Bees in the overall NAHC standings. The fuel behind the surge has been the resurgence of their famed top unit, “The Scot Line.”

The trio—Adam McPherson, Gary Yeadon, and Glenn McKenzie—was the backbone of last year’s Cup run, but McKenzie’s early-season injury disrupted their rhythm. Now healthy, McKenzie is gradually returning to form, and while his scoring pace has yet to spike, his presence has opened the door for his linemates to flourish.

McPherson has piled up 13 points in his last eight games and now sits third in league scoring with 72 points while Yeadon has been red-hot as well, scoring nine goals in his last eight outings.

Philadelphia’s revival is also tied to improved health in net. Ben Meyers, last season’s Juneau Trophy winner, battled a sore ankle earlier this year, forcing backup Joey Moore—a dependable 30-year-old signee from Winnipeg of the CHL—to start 22 of the first 50 games. Moore proved serviceable, but not a long-term solution for a contender.

Now fully recovered, Meyers has reclaimed the crease and returned to his usual standard. His 2.78 goals-against average and .910 save percentage both rank among the league’s best, and coach Joe LaRose is once again leaning heavily on his veteran starter.

Winning back-to-back Challenge Cups is no small feat—it hasn’t been done since the Montreal Valiants pulled it off in 1964 and 1965—but if any modern club is built to make a run at history, it’s the rejuvenated Philadelphia Rogues.

NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS
MONDAY JANAUARY 13

Detroit at Boston : The Bees, with the best record in the NAHC, pick up their third consecutive victory by downing the league's worst team 5-3. Veteran Matt Brophey, acquired from Vancouver over the summer, scored twice and added an assist to key the Boston win. Brophey is off his goal scoring pace from a year ago when he notched 34 for the Totems, but does have 41 helpers to go with his 17 goals this season.

St Louis at Quebec :The Citadels are unbeaten in four games while the Sawyers are winless in four after the clubs skated to a 2-2 tie at Colisee de la Citadelle. Ty Shackleford assisted on both Quebec markers.

Calgary at Philadelphia :Adam McPherson had a goal and two assists as Philadelphia did all its scoring in the first period and went on to beat Calgary 3-1.

TUESDAY JANUARY 14

Los Angeles at Washington :Make it five consecutive wins for the Los Angeles Stingrays as they battle San Francisco for second place in the Thomas Division. First period goals from Alain Ducharme and Anthony Brouillard lifted the Stingrays to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Federals.

Montreal at Cincinnati :The Ironclads snapped a 4-game winless streak with a 2-1 victory at the Queen City Arena over Montreal. Ryley Fistric and Mark Nichols scored for Cincinnati, which sits second in the Dewar Division. It was the Valiants second trip to Cincinnati in a week. They had more success in the opener, winning that one 7-2.

Atlanta at Quebec :Quebec is 8-2-1 in their last eleven games following a 7-3 drubbing of the Atlanta Blazers. Carl Klaven had four assists for the Citadels while Tommy Winther and Sam Lemiski each scored twice.

Vancouver at Toronto : The Dukes were in action for just the third time since New Years Eve and looked rusty in a 4-3 loss on home ice to Vancouver. Patrick Ferguson scored twice and added an assist for the Totems, who have lost just once in their last 11 games.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15[/b]

Pittsburgh at Calgary : The Grizzles are winless in six games after Bert McQuaid scored with a little more than two minutes remaining in the game to lift Pittsburgh to a 4-3 victory.

Montreal at Chicago : The Packers are 9-2-2 in their last 13 and widening their lead atop the Yeadon Division following a hard fought 3-1 victory over Montreal. The Valiants outshot the Packers but rookie back-up goaltender Roger Cote was outstanding in net and improved his save percentage in 11 games to a sparkling .938. Danny Washburn scored once and set-up the other two Chicago goals.

Washington at Vancouver : The Federals ended Vancouver's six game unbeaten streak with a 6-4 win at the Vancouver Civic Coliseum. Dan Baptiste paced the Washington attack with two goals.

Boston at Philadelphia :A showdown between the top two teams in the league turned into a rout as Philadelphia swatted the Bees 8-1. The Rogues broke a tight game open with 5 third period goals. Gary Yeadon scored once and added 3 assists while Mike Hendricks and Pat Reimer each had two for the winners. Ben Meyers was terrific in the Philadelphia net, turning aside all but one of the 34 Boston shots he faced.

Cincinnati at New York : The Ironclads moved a point ahead of the Shamrocks and into second place in the Dewar Division following a 7-3 win over New York. Mark Raycroft scored twice while Billy Bradley had a goal and three helpers for Cincinnati.

[centerTHURSDAY JANUARY 16[/center]
Atlanta at San Francisco :26-year-old rookie defenseman Brian Brown scored his first career NAHC goal and picked up an assist as the San Francisco Gulls nipped Atlanta 2-1. Brown was not signed for his offensive skills - he leads the NAHC in penalty minutes with 192 in 50 games and has been involved in a league high 16 fights. The victory was the Gulls first game in a week and snapped a 4-game losing skid.

Minneapolis at Detroit :The Motors have won three of their last five following a 6-5 victory over slumping Minneapolis. The Norsemen have lost four in a row. Yves Dagenais, who has moved into second place in the NAHC scoring parade, continues to hold the hot stick for the Motors. He scored twice and added two assists while Tom Rowley replied with a four point game of his own for the Norsemen.

Toronto at New York : Two late third period goals allowed the Shamrocks to snap a 3-game losing streak by rallying for a 5-4 win at Bigsby Garden over the Toronto Dukes. Danny Cabbell scored twice for the winners while Ollie Perreault, with his 35th of the season, had one of the Toronto goals.

Calgary at Pittsburgh :The Sentinels swept a home and home series with the Grizzlies by posting a 4-2 win at the Three Rivers Field House. Alan Brodie was the hero for the hosts with a hat trick. Pittsburgh had won 4-3 in Calgary 24 hours earlier.

Boston at Chicago : The Packers continue to be one of the hottest teams in the league and are 6-0-1 on the month after handing Boston its second straight loss. The final score was 4-3 as the Packers rallied with a pair of unanswered third period goals.

FRIDAY JANUARY 17

Los Angeles at Detroit : Dan Felton made 29 saves to backstop the Los Angeles Stingrays to a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Motors. It was the sixth consecutive win for Los Angeles.

Montreal at Minneapolis :Minneapolis snapped a four-game skid while Montreal has now dropped four straight of its own after a 5-3 Norsemen victory at the Minneapolis Civic Arena. Mike Lollar scored twice for the winners with Bill Sullivan earning three assists.

St Louis at Toronto : Toronto inched closer to Montreal in the fight for the final playoff berth in the Connelly Division after the Dukes downed the Sawyers 3-2.

Quebec at Vancouver : Quebec's unbeaten streak is up to six games after the Citadels battled Vancouver to a 3-3 tie. Jimmy Norris assisted on all three Quebec goals while Scott Atkinson and Johnny Gruber each had a goal and an assist for the Totems.

SATURDAY JANUARY 18

Sam Francisco at Los Angeles :A key matchup between Thomas Division rivals failed to produce a winner as San Francisco and Los Angeles skated to a 2-2 draw. The Stingrays led 2-0 before Mike McGee got the Gulls on the board with his 21st goal of the season midway through the second period. Gulls defenseman Nellie Woolmer scored the only goal of the third period to salvage a point for the visitors. Los Angeles is unbeaten in seven games (6 wins and a tie).

New York at Atlanta : The Blazers shocked the Shamrocks 8-0, erupting for 5 first period goals to chase New York netminder Gabe Ayotte. At the other end of the ice Randy Kelleher made 30 saves for his third shutout of the season while veteran center Ray Dupuis -the long-time Boston Bee- had five assists to give him 61 points on the season.

Washington at Cincinnati :Henry Breitenbach scored 17 seconds into the third period to give Cincinnati a 2-2 tie with the Washington Federals.

SUNDAY JANUARY 19

Chicago at San Francisco : The Packers improved to 6-1-1 in January after earning a point in a 2-2 tie at the Golden Gate Pavilion. Veteran Chicago captain Ken York (10-21-31) is slowing down at the age of 37 but he scored once and assisted on the tying goal on this night. York is now one goal shy of 550 for his career and has passed the 1,100 career point mark. Only Quinton Pollack and Tommy Burns have more goals or points than York.

Philadelphia at Minneapolis :Four third period goals lifted the Philadelphia Rogues to a 5-2 victory in Minneapolis. Mike Hendricks scored twice and added an assist for Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh at St Louis : The Sawyers snapped a five game winless drought with a 4-1 victory at the Gateway Center over the visiting Pittsburgh Sentinels. Pat Valentine scored his 25th goal of the season while Mike Hampton was involved in all four Sawyers goals.

BIG WEEK KEEPS MOORE ON RECORD SETTING PACE
[size="5"]Sophomore Winnipeg Center Top Century Mark in Points

Tim Moore notched three points in a 5-2 Winnipeg Falcons victory on the road in Baltimore last night, boosting the sophomore star to a league leading 102 points on the season. Moore is now on a pace to earn 162 points, which would be a new professional hockey record. The previous Continental Hockey League mark is 146 established by Ottawa Athletics captain Hobie Barrell two years ago in the debut season for the loop. It also dwarves the NAHC single season scoring record established three years ago by Toronto's Ollie Perreault, who earned 120 points.

Moore and the Falcons are also well on their way to breaking their own team record for the most successful season in CHL history. A year ago Winnipeg became the first CHL team to top 100 points following a 46-21-11 season that earned them 103. The regular seasons success last April was followed by playoff disaster when the Falcons were upset by the New York Eagles in the quarterfinals. This time around the Falcons, with 29 games remaining to play, already have 72 points on a 32-9-8 record. They did stumble slightly last week, going just 1-1-1 with a tie at home against Cleveland and a 4-3 loss to Buffalo before last night's victory over Baltimore.

The Denver Peaks are the top team in the West Division, but their 57 points would only be good for fourth place in the Central while the East Division leading Cleveland Immortals, with 47 points, would be tied for last place if they were in a Central Division that has none of the five teams with a record below .500.

The best showings last week belonged to a pair of Central Division clubs as Ottawa went 3-0-1 while the Kansas City Warriors, who sit fourth in the division, were a perfect 3-0.

ATLANTIC DIVISION RACE TIGHTENS

The Federal Basketball League is nearing its midway mark, and nowhere is the playoff push more riveting than in the Atlantic Division, where a mere half-game now separates the top three clubs. The Boston Centurions, riding a flawless 3–0 week, have nudged their way into first place—though only by percentage points—just ahead of the defending champion New York Knights, with the surging Philadelphia Phantoms right behind them.

Boston’s turnaround has been one of the league’s early-January stories. After dropping five straight to close December, the Centurions have responded with a 6–2 run to open the new year, improving to 23–15. They opened the week by running past Toronto 146–131 behind Bill Dumont’s 34-point effort, then followed it up with a 105–90 victory in Washington, where Doug Memmott powered the win with 26 points and 12 rebounds.

Returning home to Denny Arena, the Centurions treated their largest crowd of the season—over 10,000 strong—to an impressive 128–109 triumph over the Houston Apollos, one of the Western Conference’s top contenders. Memmott had another big outing with 30 points, while Bill Champagne added 26.

While Boston was surging, the Knights hit a speed bump with losses in Houston and Philadelphia before salvaging their week with a tight 108–104 win over the Phantoms in the second half of a home-and-home set. New York stands at 24–16, effectively tied for the division lead, while Philadelphia sits just a half-game back at 23–16.

The drama continues tomorrow night when Boston heads to Philadelphia for what promises to be another pivotal matchup in the tightest race in the FBL.

STEAMERS LATEST WIN STREAK REACHES FIVE GAMES

The Cincinnati Steamers remain the class of the Continental Basketball League this season and seem to love five game winning streaks. They won five straight in mid-December before being surprised 135-134 by the league's worst team in the New Jersey Demons but immediately rebounded with another five game run. That stretch came to an end on January 8 in San Antonio against the West Division leading Outlaws but with three victories last week the Steamers are once more on a five-game run. If the trend continues expect them to fall to Philadelphia when they take the court tomorrow night.

Cincinnati has won 23 of their last 26 games and extended their lead on second place Philadelphia to seven games atop the East Division. On Thursday they won 124-107 on the road in Louisville with forward Roger Williams scoring 25 points and guard Phil Brouwer adding 29. Friday night was a much tougher test as the Baltimore Chargers put up a fight at the Queen City Arena before the hosts eventually prevailed 130-127. Last night it was off to New Jersey and Cincinnati won for the fifth game in a row, dumping the last place New Jersey Demons 141-109.

The race for top spot in the West is a little tighter as the San Antonio Outlaws are 3 games up on second place Denver. It was the Bighorns who won the league title a year ago, knocking off Cincinnati in a final series that went the full seven games and marked the third time in four years the Steamers reached the league finals only to come up short each occasion.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 01/19/1975

President Ford urges Congress to act quickly on anti-inflation measures, warning that rising prices and interest rates threaten both consumer confidence and business investment.
OPEC signals possibility of further oil supply cuts, prompting concerns about winter fuel shortages and higher heating costs across the northern U.S. and Canada.
Only seven months after its launch, the Salyut 3 space station was deorbited by the Soviet Union, a day after the secret test-firing of its defensive cannon. It was later determined that the firing of the shells had not played a role in taking the station out of orbit. Salyut 3 re-entered the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean and burned up
Patty Hearst case continues to captivate the nation, as lawyers file motions in anticipation of trial and authorities report additional arrests linked to the SLA.
Canada debates wage and price restraint policies, with Prime Minister Trudeau under pressure from both labor and business groups to contain inflation without harming economic growth.
South Vietnam reports ongoing clashes with North Vietnamese forces, highlighting deteriorating military conditions and the continued fragility of the Saigon government.

ayaghmour2 · 12-12-2025, 06:54 PM

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.

Tiger Fan · 12-16-2025, 11:38 PM

JANUARY 27, 1975
BIG START FOR MICHIGAN AS FABL DRAFT GETS UNDERWAY

The state of Michigan may be more known for producing hockey and football players but it took center stage as the FABL rookie draft got underway. Not only did the Detroit Dynamos own the second pick in the draft, but each of the top two players selected have Motor City ties.

The Kansas City Mavericks are no strangers to selecting early in the draft but despite their awful records through the years the 1969 expansion club had never selected first overall until this season. In the previous six drafts the Mavericks owned the second pick twice, selected third twice and the other two occasions they held the fourth pick. Only one of those six selections, 1969 fourth overall choice Irv Hoops, has made it to the big leagues so far but the Mavericks hope they found a gem in Pat Cathcart.

Still not yet 17, the star lefthander for Detroit Southwestern High School, was pegged to go first overall in the TWIFS mock draft and the Mavericks opted to follow script. Cathcart, who went 29-2 with a 1.22 era over 3 seasons at Southwestern High School, is forecast to be a top of the rotation arm but at his young age clearly has some developing to do. Scouts praise his work ethic and baseball IQ and the Mavericks feel they may finally have an ace to front their rotation.

Like Cathcart, the second overall selection also has Michigan ties and they are in Lansing as well as Detroit. The Dynamos selected righthander George Carney out of St. Ignatius College. The 21-year-old becomes the third Lancers player ever selected in the opening round and the highest chose out of St. Ignatius since Cleveland drafted third baseman Jim Adams Jr. first overall in 1941.

The Dynamos state that Carney, who was born in Detroit and played his high school ball in the Motor City, was at the top of their board all along, just ahead of Cathcart. Detroit management feels Carney may be ready for big league duty as soon as September and believe he can be a solid piece to help restore to glory what was the worst rotation in the Federal Association a year ago and may be even weaker this time around.

Carney, who will turn 22 next week, went 13-4 with a 2.68 era playing against elite college competition. Scouts rave about his command and suggest his golden arm will eventually land him at the front of a big league rotation.

Sailors Gamble On Inking Torsiello

The third pick in the draft belonged to the San Francisco Sailors and they went with the man considered to be the best college baseball hitter in the nation. That would be Huntington State third baseman Frank Torsiello, who slotted in at #22 on the TWIFS mock draft. There is no doubt the 22-year-old New Jersey native can hit and field - he slugged .747 with 68 doubles, 23 triples and 32 homers in 133 games over the past two seasons with the Miners- but the worry is that Torsiello has stated that he wants to return to school for his senior year to complete his degree and has a goal of leading Huntington State to the College World Championship Series. It is now up to the Sailors to dangle enough money at Torsiello to convince him to change those plans.

The Chicago Chiefs followed with the fourth selection and they went with outfielder Don Stone. The 22-year-old comes from NW New York State, a smaller college based in Buffalo and may not have been high on all scouts boards but the Chiefs clearly saw something they like in the New York City native. OSA feels Stone can become a well above average defender as a corner outfielder and should develop into a solid power hitter. It appears the Chiefs may be envisioning Stone as the ideal replacement for 36-year-old Joe Siniscalchi, who hit 25 homers for Chicago last year and is now 36 years old. If Stone can develop into anything close to the 5-time all-star Siniscalchi, the Chiefs will be thrilled with their selection.

College Run Continues With Ayers

Four of the first five selections came out of the college ranks after the Cleveland Foresters went with Pete Ayers. The 21-year-old Brooklyn native, like Stone, hails from the New York City area and attended a small college - in this case Owensboro Christian College in Kentucky. Ayers was 15th on the TWIFS mock draft and his terrific movement prompts OSA to suggest the Foresters top selection has the makings of a future ace.

Only 5 times previously had the Foresters selected a pitcher in the top five of the draft. Four of them had terrific careers in Mose Smith, Hiram Steinberg, John Jackson and Larry Beebe. The fifth and most recent one was Bill Morrison, taken with the 5th pick exactly a decade ago in the 1965 draft. Morrison, now 27, is still active and pitching in the Houston Comets system but has only thrown 15 big league innings in his career. The Foresters do seem to like drafting from small colleges as Ayers makes three of their last four first rounders coming out of smaller schools. Infielder Jack Hoyt from East Texas State was their 1972 first rounder and a year later they draft Paul Czerwinski, nephew of the legendary Adrian Czerwinski, out of Plantations College.

No Surprise Keystones Grab Big Bat

Death, taxes and the Keystones loving power bats in the draft are three certainties in a world with very few of those left. Ever since the days of Rankin Kellogg there have been a stream of big-time homerun hitters coming out of Philadelphia. Bobby Barrell, Buddy Miller, Roger Cleaves and more recently Bill Calvin are names that come to mind. There has been a good tradition of power hitters manning the hot corner on Broad Street as well from Hank Koblenz to Jesse Walker and now the hope is Caleb Johnson will one day join that list.

Johnson, a 17-year-old high school player who was born in New York City but moved to Kentucky as a youth and plays his high school ball for the Lebanon Knights was listed 7th in the TWIFS mock draft and selected 6th by the Keystones who have a hole to fill at the hot corner since Walker was dealt to Seattle a year and a half ago.

Keystones fans will have to wait a few years for their potential next big slugger as Johnson will need some time in the minors but when he is a finished product OSA feels he has the highest ceiling imaginable and will be an elite power hitter.

The seventh selection belonged to the Toronto Wolves and the Wolves went with a high school pitcher with their top pick for the third time in the past four years. 1972 choice Gil DeMarco has, at least so far, not progressed as hoped but Billy Lewis, the Wolves 1973 first rounder, is still just 19 and OSA raves about his future. The hope in Toronto is that Gene Anderson, who heard his name called by the Wolves in round one, will eventually be a top of the rotation arm. OSA, the league scouting service fells the Massachusetts born lefthander has all of the tools necessary to accomplish just that. The 17-year-old went 8-1 with a 1.73 ERA for Webster High School and was ranked 10th on the TWIFS mock draft.

The Minneapolis Millers had the eighth selection in the draft which they used on high school centerfielder Sam Mann. The 17-year-old hails from Chicago which has been a hotbed of FABL talent throughout the years. OSA believes Mann can become an elite center fielder on a contender. He was #3 on the TWIFS mock draft.

Selecting 9th was the Chicago Cougars, who opted for New York State high school hurler Tom Brewer. Cougars new scouting director Harry Carr just joined Chicago a few weeks ago and was thrilled to add Brewer, who he says was the number one name on the Cougars draft list. TWIFS had Brewer high as well, ranking him fifth on the December mock draft.

"A groundballing southpaw, he has the perfect profile to survive at Cougars Park," explained Carr, noting that "despite coming from the high school ranks his development risk isn't too high. A four pitch pitcher with an advanced arsenal, the stuff is well above average and his great command makes it even better. An elite change, the ability to keep the ball in the park, and his outstanding work ethic could all culminate in a new ace atop the Cougar rotation led by reigning Allen winner Roger Alford."

Rebuilding Eagles Hope They Landed Shortstop of the Future

The Washington Eagles made it known at the draft that they were rebuilding and stated that all veterans, even the great Tom Lorang were available to discuss in trade. While no trades have occurred in Washington at this writing, they did add what they feel is an eventual replacement for aging shortstop Al Martino with the 10th pick in the draft. That would be Gene Peters who was born in Montreal while his father, former FABL outfielder Johnny Peters, was playing for the Saints. Johnny was also a first round choice, going to the Chicago Cougars with the third pick of the 1945 draft and was once a highly touted prospect but played just 206 big league games. Gene's great grandfather, also named Johnny, has Washington ties as he pitched for the Eagles in 1911 and 1912.

Gene Peters, 17, projects as an above-average everyday big leaguer who should have the defensive acumen to remain a shortstop. He played his high school ball in Lawrenceburg, TN.

The New York Imperials selected 11th and opted for the first catcher to be chosen in the 1975 draft. Harry Lee won't turn 17 until March so he is certainly a long-term project but decent hitting catchers are hard to find and OSA projects that the Dayton, OH., high schooler will hit for a high average once he matures.

The 12th choice went to the Baltimore Clippers and they became the fifth team to choose a college player with their first round pick. Mark Whipple, a shortstop out of Rutherford College was the Clippers choice. Twenty-one Rutherford College products had been selected before Whipple but he is just the second Hornet to go in the opening round. The first was Al Cox, an outfielder selected 15th overall by the old Pittsburgh Miners but he played just a handful of big league games. The most famous Rutherford College player would be Dick Estes, a 1945 second round selection of Detroit who spent well over a decade in the big leagues and won four WCS titles.

The Montreal Saints may have landed a gem in Buck Gagnon as some scouts suggest he has the potential to perhaps end up as the best pitcher in his draft class. The 17-year-old Gagnon, who hails from Eugene, OR., was selected 13th by Montreal after being ranked 6th on the TWIFS mock draft.

St Louis followed with Sam White, a high school centerfielder who was listed as the 11th choice on the TWIFS mock draft. The 21-year-old who played his college ball at CC Los Angeles looks like a prototypical lead-off man and reminds some scouts of another great lead-off man in the St Louis outfield: six time all-star Al Tucker who won three batting titles in the 1940s.

With the 15th selection the Cincinnati Cannons made Florida high schooler Otto Taylor the seventh pitcher to be selected in the opening round. There are mixed signals on Taylor with OSA feeling if all breaks right he will end up at the top of the rotation but others feel he may not develop the command of his pitches to become a front-line starter.

Boston selected 16th and went with the top shortstop on the TWIFS mock draft. That would be Texas high schooler Ollie Edwards. The hope in Beantown is Edwards gives them the quality shortstop they have been searching for since Joe Kleman was traded in 1963. Boston Scouting Director Owen Richmond feels Edwards could be one of the best pure hitters of his generation. "As a 16 year old, he will have some way to go," admits Richmond "but he will get every opportunity available to him in Hattiesburg to start his professional career. Of all the SS scouted he was one of the only ones to project any sort of power as well making him especially attractive to the Boston organization."

The Milwaukee Arrows selected college pitcher Willis Amason 17th. The 21-year-old went 17-3 with a 1.86 era over two seasons at American Atlantic playing against top flight competition and may just be ready for the big leagues by September.

The two Texas clubs were up next with the Houston Comets choosing catcher Cal Hill, another college player out of a smaller school in Cookeville State. It marks the second year in a row the Cats had their starting catcher selected in the opening round as Toronto drafted Pat Duffy first overall a year ago. The Dallas Wranglers followed with second baseman Carl Kirby, a high schooler out of Providence, RI.
He becomes the fourth Providence-born player to be selected in the first round following FABL players Bill Greene (1939) and Yank Taylor (1946) along with minor league James Gaubetz who was selected 22nd overall by St Louis five years ago.

Drafting 20th and 21st were the two Los Angeles teams with the Suns opting for outfielder Buck Stewart at 20th and the Stars following with shortstop Ralph Reed. Stewart is just 16 and another of the many Chicago area high schoolers to be selected in the opening round over the years while Reed, 21, hails from New York City and played college ball at Ogdensburg University. Reed is just the third player drafted out of Ogdensburg and is hoping to become the first to make it to FABL.

The New York Gothams selected Bob Spencer, a 17-year-old righthander out of Oil City High School in Pennsylvania with the 22nd pick of the opening round. Spencer was part of the recent TWIFS mock draft, being slotted in at 19th by the magazine. Rounding out the draft was the selections of the two World Championship Series participants as the Seattle Kings selected Buzz Miller before the Atlanta Copperheads closed out the opening round by calling the name of shortstop Bill DeLandro. Miller, a 21-year-old lefthanded pitcher, is another one of the players from small colleges to be drafted in the opening round as he spent the past two seasons with Lawrenceville College in New Jersey while DeLandro is a high school shortstop from Lexington, IL.

DYNAMOS LOAD UP ON ARMS IN 1975 DRAFT

The Detroit Dynamos entered the January draft intent on adding to what is already one of the organization’s deepest collections of young pitching, and early returns suggest they may have done exactly that.

Detroit’s system already includes a trio of OSA Top 100 prospects in Richard Elk, Ed South, and newly signed Abe Hynes, along with two more arms—Harry Trinity and Aaron Cooper—ranked just outside the top 100. It will be late June before the full impact of the 1975 class can be measured, but after five rounds the Dynamos are enthusiastic about what they have added.

Given that the major-league pitching staff remains among the weakest in baseball, upgrading on the mound was the clear priority, and Detroit wasted no time. With the second overall pick, the Dynamos selected 20-year-old right-hander George Carney of St. Ignatius, a Detroit native who had been their top target all along. Kansas City used the first pick on another local product, Southwestern High’s Pat Catchcart, allowing Carney to fall into Detroit’s lap.

Scouting director Chuck Cole calls Carney a potential top-of-the-rotation starter, and early expectations are that the right-hander could reach Thompson Field by September at the latest.

Detroit doubled down on college pitching in the fourth round with the selection of Alex Russell, a 20-year-old left-hander from Canton State. Russell lacks Carney’s front-line upside, but Cole believes he profiles as a reliable mid-rotation arm. He is expected to open his professional career at Double-A and could also see Detroit before the season ends.

The Dynamos used their second-round pick on another high-ceiling arm, Massachusetts high school standout Jay Crist. Both OSA and Cole believe Crist has Allen Award potential if he reaches his ceiling, and Cole ranked him 15th overall on his draft board.

Detroit’s fifth-round selection further bolstered an already impressive haul. Seventeen-year-old right-hander Ladd, a Washington state prep product, was rated by OSA as another possible future Allen Award candidate. Cole is slightly more measured but still projects Ladd as a pitcher capable of anchoring a rotation. Development will take time—likely longer than Crist, who is expected to begin in High-A with an outside shot at a September 1976 call-up. Ladd is more realistically viewed as a late-1977 arrival.

The Dynamos did dip into the position-player pool once, selecting 17-year-old catcher Bob McCauley out of Lima (N.Y.) High School. Ranked 28th on Cole’s board, McCauley projects as a potential elite everyday catcher and, with maturity, one of the better offensive players at his position.

With four selections inside Cole’s top 28 and a fifth just outside the top 50, Detroit believes this draft represents a significant step forward for a long-struggling franchise. As always, optimism runs high in late January, and only time will tell how much of that promise ultimately reaches the big leagues.

STARS MUST FIX QB VOID — AND SOON
By Tank Tippett, National Football Columnist

The once-glittering New York Stars have dimmed to barely a flicker after another dismal season, stumbling to a 3–11 finish and earning the AFA’s worst record for the second time in four years. It’s a familiar position: in 1971 the Stars bottomed out at 2–12, held the top pick, and faced the same glaring need they do today — a successor to the fading Jack Osterman.

But without a clear blue-chip quarterback in that ’72 class — and with Osterman lobbying to play one more year before retiring after ’72 — the Stars bypassed the position entirely. They selected safety John Davidson first overall. Davidson has become a steady starter, but the hindsight comparison stings: the first quarterback taken, Chuck Rayford at No. 18 by Cincinnati, just led the Rivermen to an 8–6 season after blossoming in his third year.

New York, meanwhile, has placed its hopes in Dick Cleaves, a sixth-round pick in that same 1972 draft — and the results have been catastrophic. Cleaves finished the ’74 campaign with a league-worst 45.9 passer rating, completing just 39 percent of his throws and tossing more than twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. The Stars finished dead last in both passing and rushing offense, and in 10 of their 14 games they failed to reach double-digit points. That’s not rebuilding — that’s drowning.

Defensively, the Stars remain passable, middle-of-the-pack in most categories. But their offense is so punchless that even modest defensive improvement feels meaningless. There are a few pieces worth liking — most notably rookie halfback Frankie Fletcher, who ran for 871 yards; a competent offensive line; and a receiving corps that mixes veteran savvy (35-year-old Gil Cooper) with potential (Michael Judd). But none of it matters until New York finds someone who can throw a football with authority.

WHO IS THE ANSWER?

Complicating matters: New York does not have a second or a third-round pick, having traded both to Cincinnati last year. That makes the first overall choice absolutely critical.

The safest — and, many argue, smartest — pick on the board is George Haight, Boulder State’s dominant nose tackle and a two-time TWIFS All-American. Haight is as close as this draft gets to a sure thing: a plug-and-play force who could anchor New York’s defensive line for a decade.

But if the Stars again pass on a quarterback at No. 1, they risk more of the same misery. A fortified defense won’t fix an offense stuck in reverse.

Free agency offers little relief. The best of an underwhelming group includes former Pittsburgh starter Levi Robinson and longtime Denver signal-caller Don Atwell, now a journeyman option. Better than Cleaves? Probably. A long-term answer? Probably not.

Which brings the focus squarely back to the draft — weak though it may be at the top. There are quarterbacks available, just none with the polish or pedigree usually required of the first overall pick.

Harold Robinson (Detroit City College) – A winner, steady and competitive, with back-to-back East-West Classic appearances.
Allen McAlister (St. Blane) – Brilliant in his title-winning sophomore season, erratic as a senior with a tendency toward interceptions.
Joe Thomas (Iowa A&M) – A rising darkhorse with terrific decision-making skills.
John Owens (Columbia Military Academy) – The surprise of the group, finishing second nationally with 1,721 yards, though scouts question the competition he faced.

None is a slam dunk. But all are better than sticking with Cleaves.

A PROUD HISTORY – AND A NEW YORK WARNING

The Stars’ lineage is rich: four NFL championships between 1952 and 1961, a proud run that made them one of pro football’s signature franchises. But they haven’t won a playoff game since that ’61 title, and across the Hudson, the New York Titans are rising fast — louder, flashier, and suddenly more competent.

In a city where second place is often indistinguishable from last, the Stars cannot afford another misstep. They need a quarterback — any quarterback with a future — and they need him now.

The first pick in the draft won’t repair everything in New York. But the wrong one could doom them to another wasted decade.

STINGRAYS TURNING SEASON AROUND

When the Los Angeles Stingrays started the season 7-17-7 and had two different stretches where they lost four games in a row it certainly seemed like they would miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. However, they have turned things around lately, going 10 games without a loss and are 10-1-2 since a December 27th loss in Chicago. Those 22 points since December 28 have vaulted the Stingrays into second place in the Thomas Division and they are now within five points of division leading Vancouver although the Totems do have four games in hand.

One big reason for the turnaround has been the play of center Alvin Yardley. The 27-year-old seven year veteran has picked up 17 points in the past 11 games to lead the Los Angeles offense. Goaltenders Daniel Fulton and rookie Bill Simpson have pretty much been alternating starts and each has stepped up his performance during the past month.

Los Angeles was the only team in the NAHC to win three games last week as the Stingrays opened by stealing two points in Atlanta on Monday, trimming the Blazers 2-1 despite getting outshot 40-21. They followed that up with a pair of road wins over original six teams in Chicago and New York.

The Stingrays have not lost since January 1 but they will face a tough test tomorrow night when they begin a 6-game homestand by welcoming the defending Challenge Cup Champion Philadelphia Rogues. The Rogues have been nearly as hot as Los Angeles over the past month and are 5-0-1 in their last six games. Philadelphia is 2-1-1 vs Los Angeles this season.

NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS
MONDAY JANAUARY 20

Calgary at Detroit : Yves Dagenais had two goals and three assists while Charlie Rodgers and Alfie Schmirler each had four points as the Detroit Motors hammered Calgary 9-2. It was the Grizzlies fifth straight loss and they are winless in eight.

Los Angeles at Atlanta :Alain Ducharme's 9th goal of the season, midway through the third period, snapped a 1-1 tie and lifted the Stingrays to a 2-1 road victory over the Blazers. Los Angeles rookie goaltender Bill Simpson was outstanding in stopping 40 of the 41 shots he faced.

TUESDAY JANUARY 21

Cincinnati at Boston : The Bees snapped a two-game losing streak with a 5-0 shutout of Cincinnati. Andy Agar scored twice while Eddie Lafluer and Matt Brophey each had 3 points. Alex Daoust earned his first shutout of the season and 31st of his career for Boston.

Toronto at Calgary : Calgary lost for the sixth consecutive game after Ollie Perreault's goal and assist helped Toronto tame the Grizzlies 3-2. Perreault got the game winner, his league leading 36th of the season, early in the third period.

Montreal at Detroit :A sensational game from Dick Gallamore in the Detroit net was not enough as the visiting Montreal Valiants nipped the Motors 2-1 while outshooting Detroit 42-18. John Partridge and Charles Thibeault scored for the Valiants, who halted a four-game losing skid.

Minneapolis at Pittsburgh :Third period goals from Allan Inness and Norm Blakeley lifted Minneapolis to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Sentinels.

Quebec at Washington : Quebec has a 7-game unbeaten streak on the go following the Citadels 3-1 road win in Washington.

San Francisco at New York :Al Blanchette had a goal and an assist to help San Francisco past the New York Shamrocks 5-2. New York is struggling of late with just one win in their last seven games as they try to hold off Washington for third place in the Dewar Division and make the playoffs for the first time since 1960.

Chicago at Philadelphia :Pat McGibbon scored his 6th goal of the season with less than four minutes remaining in the game to earn a point for the Packers in a 3-3 tie with the Philadelphia Rogues. The result ended a 4-game winning streak for the defending Challenge Cup champion Rogues.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22

Los Angeles at Chicago :Julien Ouellet scored once and added 3 assists to help the Los Angeles Stingrays past Chicago by a 6-4 score. The Stingrays have not lost since New Year's Day and are riding a 9-game unbeaten streak.

Toronto at Cincinnati : Jack Nicholas set up the tying goal and scored the game-winner as the Cincinnati Ironclads shaded the Toronto Dukes 3-2.

THURSDAY JANUARY 23

Washington at Philadelphia : The Rogues are unbeaten in six games following a 6-1 drubbing of the visiting Washington Federals. Brian Forsyth scored twice for the winners with Mike Hendricks and Duke Dawson each collecting 3 points.

Los Angeles at New York : :Los Angeles continued its hot play by doubling the Shamrocks 6-3. The Stingrays are 9-0-1 in their last ten games. Julien Ouellet and Pierre Lamothe each scored twice for Los Angeles.

Montreal at Calgary :Alex Wilkins turned aside all 28 Montreal shots to pace Calgary to a 3-0 victory over the Valiants. Montreal is slumping with 5 losses in its last six outings.

St Louis at Pittsburgh :Pittsburgh and St Louis skated to a 3-3 tie with Frank Melrose assisting on all three Sentinels goals.

FRIDAY JANUARY 24

Atlanta at Toronto : Ollie Perreault scored his 38th goal of the season but it was not enough to lead Toronto to a victory. The Dukes blew a 3-1 lead as David Pederson scored twice to help Atlanta rally for a point in a 3-3 tie.

Pittsburgh at St Louis:A day after skating to a tie in Pittsburgh the Sawyers and Sentinels completed a home and home series at the Gateway Center. Hugh MacLaren's 17th goal of the season helped the hometown Sawyers claim a 4-2 victory.

Philadelphia at San Francisco : Philadelphia has six wins and a tie in its last seven games after downing the Gulls 3-1 on the west coast. Gary Yeadon assisted on all three Rogues goals, two of them off the stick of Adam McPherson who now has 35 on the year.

Washington at Chicago :The Yeadon Division leading Packers stumbled at home with a dreadful showing in a 7-4 loss to Washington. Burt Fenwick scored three times in the first period to help the Federals get off to a quick start.

Montreal at Vancouver :Another loss for the injury-riddled Valiants who fell 3-2 in Vancouver and are 2-9-0 for the month. Pat Ferguson had a goal and an assist, along with a first period fight, for the Totems, who own the best record in the Thomas Division.

Boston at New York : It is always an entertaining matchup when rivals Boston and New York hook up. The Bees usually have the upper hand and they did again on this night as Mark Berg scored his 19th and 20th of the season to lead Boston to a 4-1 victory.

SATURDAY JANUARY 25

Vancouver at Minneapolis : Al Ferguson stopped all 27 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season. Anthony Baptiste, with his 27th, and Scott Cox were the goal scorers in a 2-0 win for the Norsemen.

Boston at San Francisco :Don Colas ad Ryan Desmarais staked San Francisco to a 2-0 lead and strong netminding from Gene Harvey helped the Gulls hold on to edge the Bees 2-1.

SUNDAY JANUARY 26

St Louis at Minneapolis : The Sawyers have three wins and a tie in their last four games following a 7-3 drubbing of Minneapolis. Marty Mosset scored three times in the third period with James Hughes assisting on each of them to put the game away for the Sawyers.

Washington at Atlanta :Andrew Cleverly scored twice for Washington as the Federals shaded Atlanta 6-5 despite veteran Ray Dupuis scoring a pair of his own and collecting an assist for Atlanta.

Detroit at Cincinnati :Detroit outshot Cincinnati but fell 5-2 thanks to Alan Porter's 2 goals -giving him 31 on the season- and solid goaltending from the Ironclads Brad Wall, who stopped 40 of 42 shots.

MAULERS SPLIT WITH WINNIPEG, TRAIL BY THREE

The Milwaukee Maulers closed some ground on league-leading Winnipeg last week, trimming the Falcons’ advantage in the Continental Hockey League standings to three points. Milwaukee split a two-game set with Winnipeg and added a victory over New York to finish the week at 33-15-5, good for 71 points—three back of the Falcons, who sit at 74 with a game in hand.

The week began Monday night in Milwaukee, where Winnipeg handled the Maulers for the fourth time in five meetings this season, skating to a 6–3 victory behind a four-assist performance from league scoring leader Tim Moore. The win pushed the Falcons’ cushion to seven points, but Milwaukee responded later in the week with a 6–4 victory over the New York Eagles to halt the slide.

Winnipeg stumbled on Thursday in Houston, where Gil Martel blanked the Falcons 3–0, and the setback proved costly. Returning home, Winnipeg was again turned away, this time by the Maulers, who earned a 6–3 road win led by a pair of goals from Scott Crawley. The defeat marked the first time since the opening week of October that the Falcons had dropped back-to-back games and cut their lead over Milwaukee to three points.

YOUNG STAR SHINES IN WINNIPEG

Despite the recent stumbles, Moore continues to be the brightest light in the CHL, even overshadowing the league’s million-dollar attraction, Hobie Barrell. Barrell has scored more goals, but Moore leads the league with 74 assists, and his 108 points through 54 games have him on a record-setting pace.

Moore’s rise is emblematic of why the CHL was needed in the first place. As recently as eight years ago, there were just six major-league hockey teams, leaving countless players buried in senior or minor leagues. Moore was one of them. A late bloomer from Alberta, he was deemed too small for major junior hockey and overlooked entirely by NAHC clubs even after that league doubled in size.

Moore worked in the oil fields of northern Alberta while playing senior hockey, and it was there that Winnipeg scouts finally took notice. When the CHL launched three years ago, the Edmonton Huskies initially pursued him, but Moore was reluctant to leave a high-paying job for a fledgling league. After a record-breaking season in the Alberta Senior League, interest around the CHL intensified.

Winnipeg secured his rights, and Moore debuted with the Falcons last season at age 23. He adapted immediately, finishing second in league scoring with 122 points and earning unanimous Rookie of the Year honors behind only Ottawa’s Barrell.

Now in his second season, Moore has taken another leap forward, teaming with Swedish import Mattias Jacobsson to power the league’s most explosive offense. With a third of the season still to play, the duo has already combined for 76 goals and 198 points.

BARRELL’S ATHLETICS VERY MUCH IN PLAYOFF HUNT

With the top two teams in each division qualifying for the playoffs along with two wild cards, the Ottawa Athletics appear well positioned for postseason play. The Central Division’s third-place club has 68 points through 56 games—19 more than the third-place team in either of the other two divisions.

Barrell picked up four assists in an early-week win over Baltimore but was held off the scoresheet in road losses at New York and Edmonton. He has gone four games without a goal but still leads the CHL by a wide margin with 54 on the season.

Elsewhere, the Cleveland Immortals remain atop the East Division despite a mixed week that included a shutout of Houston, a loss to Kansas City, and a tie with Denver. Cleveland holds a two-point edge over second-place New York. In the West, the Denver Peaks lead reigning champion Edmonton by two points in another tightly contested race.

PHANTOMS TAKE ATLANTIC LEAD

Other than the spring of 1973 when the Philadelphia Phantoms, after finishing third in the Atlantic and just .500 overall, suddenly got hot in the playoffs and made a run to the league finals only to come up short against St. Louis, there has been little to cheer about in recent years when the basketball court is on the Liberty Center floor. Having hockey's Philadelphia Rogues win the Challenge Cup last spring further pushed basketball to the back burner in a city that got used to winning in the early 1960s when the Phantoms were crowned FBL champion three times.

Since then, aside from the '73 run the Phantoms have failed to win a playoff series since 1966. Judging by their play of late that might just change this season as the Phantoms have been the hottest team in the FBL of late and have gone 11-3 since Christmas Eve. They have plenty of competition in the Atlantic Division with the always dangerous New York Knights and the Boston Centurions but Philadelphia, aided by a 111-100 win over the Centurions last Monday, have taken over top spot in the Atlantic Division.

GAINING STEAM!

There appears to be no slowing the Cincinnati Steamers done as the Continental Basketball League squad has won nine consecutive games and 19 of their 21 to open an eight and a half game lead on second place Pittsburgh in the East Division. At 36-9 the Steamers are on pace to match the 1970-71 Dallas Drillers CBL record 62 victories.

Cincinnati had a busy week with four games and they started things off last Tuesday night with a close call in Philadelphia. A late rally was needed to edge the Mariners 137-133 in a game that saw forward Johnnie Carden lead the way with 41 points. There was far less suspense the rest of the week as the Steamers returned home for three games. On Wednesday, despite a game high 30 points from San Diego's John Jenkins, Cincinnati led nearly wire to wire in a 121-108 victory over the Breakers. Thursday it was the hapless New Jersey Demons, owners of the worst record in the CBL, in town and the Steamers built a 26 point lead through three quarters before taking the foot of the gas and winning by 20. Saturday night the Portland Pioneers provided the opposition and it quickly turned into a laugher as Cincinnati outscored the visitors 41-19 in the opening quarter and coasted to a 135-104 victory.

While there is little in the way of a race in the East, the Denver Bighorns - who knocked off the Steamers in a league final that went the full seven games a year ago- are trying to keep pace with the San Antonio Outlaws. The Outlaws, led by CBL scoring leader Bill Fairchild, have won five of their last six, and are 3 games ahead of the defending champs.

BATON ROUGE STATE FALLS TO RIVALS

Noble Jones College's historic 1949-50 team will stand on its own for at least another year after the final undefeated team of the 74-75 campaign. The Colonels, led by Charlie Barrell and Mike Miller, went a perfect 34-0 that year, capping the season off by handing Luther Gordon's previously unbeaten team its first loss in the national championship game. That was the first and only season an AIAA club has gone undefeated throughout the season.

This year it was the Baton Rouge State Red Devils, like Noble Jones College a member of the Deep South Conference, that were perfect through their 13 game non-conference slate and won their section opener last Wednesday on the road over Alabama Baptist. However, Saturday afternoon against their Louisiana rivals from Bayou State the Red Devils tasted defeat for the first time, falling 63-61. It was nearly a surprise comeback as the Red Devils trailed 62-54 with a little over two minutes remaining in regulation and had a chance to tie but Rick Mendoza's contested layup attempt as time expired failed to drop.

The loss drops the Red Devils down one spot in the rankings, falling to third as Maryland State, which is 16-1 overall and 2-0 in South Atlantic Conference play leapfrogs Baton Rouge State. Detroit City College still leads the polls after the Knights improved to 14-1 with wins over Minnesota Tech and Wisconsin State to open their Great Lakes Alliance slate. Both wins were quite convincing as senior guard Harry Gilmour scored 14 to key a 61-51 Thursday night road win over the Lakers and them followed that up two days later with 22 points in their home opener, a 70-46 drubbing of the Brewers.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 01/26/1975

The U.S. Senate voted 82-4 to establish its own special committee to investigate the CIA, with Frank Church of Idaho as the chairman.
Ford administration faces mounting pressure to accelerate anti-recession policies, with labor unions and business leaders urging immediate action to stabilize jobs and prices.
Congress debates expanded unemployment aid and public works programs, reflecting growing concern over persistent job losses and declining industrial output.
OPEC ministers meet in Vienna, hinting at potential production limits, spurring anxious coverage in North American papers about energy costs and economic fallout.
New evidence emerges in the Patty Hearst case, as federal authorities announce further charges against alleged SLA members, keeping the high-profile story on front pages.
South Vietnam reports new losses to advancing North Vietnamese units, reinforcing U.S. media concerns about the long-term stability of the Saigon government.

Tiger Fan · 12-18-2025, 12:59 PM

FEBRUARY 3, 1975

BURTCH CASHES IN WITH RETURN TO SAILORS

With full free agency looming on the horizon and unease already spreading through front offices across the league, veteran right-hander Red Burtch has secured one of the richest contracts in San Francisco Sailors history.

Burtch, waived just months ago by Milwaukee, has agreed to return to the Bay Area on a deal reportedly worth $70,000—nearly double his previous career high and the second-largest salary currently on the Sailors’ payroll. The 37-year-old earned $37,000 last season with the Arrows, a campaign that saw him go 13-4 and make his first All-Star appearance, only to be released again when his contract was not renewed in October.

A Hartford, Conn., native, Burtch broke into the majors with the Los Angeles Suns in 1962 and was dealt to Washington five years later. His finest season came in 1970, when he won a career-best 16 games for the Eagles. That success proved fleeting. Washington released him midway through the 1972 season, and after finishing that year and part of 1973 with San Francisco, the Sailors also let him go. Milwaukee offered him another chance—and Burtch made the most of it—yet that, too, ended with a release.

Now back where he last wore a Sailors uniform, Burtch returns with both a hefty raise and a measure of skepticism. OSA rates him as a durable innings-eater with strong control and an ability to throw strikes, though scouts remain wary of his vulnerability against left-handed hitters. His career record sits at 112-118, a fair reflection of a pitcher who has oscillated between effectiveness and expendability, but who has remained remarkably healthy over the years.

The signing raises practical questions as well. San Francisco already has six pitchers who made at least 25 starts last season, bolstered by the additions of Chief Williams from the New York Imperials and Johnny Baylor from Boston. Where Burtch fits into that crowded rotation remains unclear, particularly now that he becomes the highest-paid pitcher on the club.

More broadly, the deal has rekindled fears among league traditionalists that owners may be racing toward financial peril. With full free agency set to arrive after the 1975 season, Burtch’s contract is already being cited as evidence that teams may need protection from themselves—or risk spending the game into chaos.

EXTRA INNINGS - Toronto inked pitcher Howie Mazzei to a one-year extension that will keep the 29-year-old righthander in Wolves garb through the 1976 season. Mazzei was acquired by the Wolves from Minneapolis in December after going 12-6 in AAA last year. The Wolves also waived a pair of veterans in outfielder Andy Bailey and third baseman Jesse Taylor....Atlanta reached a deal with catcher Howard Smith to stick with the Copperheads through 1976. Smith, an all-star last year and three time Diamond Defender behind the plate will receive the same $82,000 he is slated to earn in 1975 the following season....Hall of Famers and former New York Gothams teammates Red Johnson and Ed Bowman each had a son selected during last week's opening 10 rounds of the FABL draft. Red Johnson's son Red Jr., an outfielder out of a Queens, NY high school was selected in the fourth round by the Baltimore Clippers wile Duke Bowman, a catcher, was chosen two picks after Johnson by the St Louis Pioneers.

STINGRAYS SAIL TO TOP OF THOMAS DIVISION
Los Angeles Stretches Unbeaten Streak to 13 Games

The red-hot Los Angeles Stingrays won three more games last week and thanks to a 13-game unbeaten streak that has not seen the NAHC club lose since New Year's Day, the Stingrays have overtaken Vancouver for top spot in the Thomas Division. Last week the Stingrays, keyed by a big week from center Alvin Yardley began a six-game homestand with wins over Philadelphia, Washington and Minnesota. Yardley had 6 goals and two assists in the three games and has vaulted himself to sixth in the league scoring race.

The Thomas Division, which a week ago saw Vancouver, which reached the Challenge Cup finals a year ago only to fall to Philadelphia, leading L.A. by five points, has now become the tightest of the four divisions with the Stingrays a single point ahead of the Totems although if both clubs keep up their recent form - Vancouver has lost four straight and won just once in their last outings - there may not be much of a race.

Elsewhere the Chicago Packers won three straight and are now 10 points ahead of Minneapolis atop the Yeadon Division, Boston leads Montreal by 11 in the Connelly and the Challenge Cup winning Philadelphia Rogues are holding a seven-point gap on second place Cincinnati after the Ironclads claimed 9 points out of their last five games.

NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS
MONDAY JANAUARY 27

Toronto at Chicago : John Bond scored with less than five minutes remaining to give the visiting Dukes a 3-3 tie in the Windy City. Terry Foster scored his 30th of the season for the Packers.

Cincinnati at Philadelphia : Cincinnati with a statement game, blasting the Philadelphia Rogues 7-1 for their third straight victory as the Ironclads try to keep pace with the Rogues in the Dewar Division. Alan Porter scored his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season while Davey Dell also found the back of the net twice for Cincinnati.

New York at Detroit :New York snapped a 4-game losing streak and handed Detroit its third consecutive defeat in a 6-0 shutout victory. It was Gave Ayotte's first shutout of the season.

TUESDAY JANUARY 28

St Louis at Chicago :The Sawyers 4-game unbeaten streak came to an end with a 4-1 loss in Chicago despite the fact that St Louis outshot the Packers. Chicago goaltender Roger Cote was outstanding while Terry Foster scored his 31st of the season.

San Francisco at Calgary :Just 4 minutes after Archer Cook put the host Grizzlies ahead, Dick Paletta got the equalizer for San Francisco in a 3-3 tie between Calgary and the Gulls.

Atlanta at Vancouver :Charles Bozek scored twice and set up Vic Duplacey's game winner midway through the third period as Atlanta edged the Totems 4-3.

New York at Montreal :Mark Moggy assisted on all three Montreal goals as the Valiants and New York Shamrocks skated to a 3-3 draw.

Pittsburgh at Washington :The bottom two teams in the Dewar Division met as Pittsburgh snapped a four game winless streak by beating Washington 7-3. Defensemen Simon Piche and Max Hebert each enjoyed 3 point nights for the winners.

Philadelphia at Los Angeles :Something had to break as Philadelphia entered the game on a 7-game unbeaten streak and Los Angeles was riding a 10 game streak. In the end it was the Rogues defensive play that collapsed with the Stingrays doubling the defending champs 6-3.

Boston at Minneapolis : With 8 losses in their last ten games Minneapolis is watching Chicago pull away in the Yeadon Division race. The Norsemen fell 7-4 to Boston on this night as Eddie Lafleur and Andy Agar each scored twice to lead the Bees.

[/b]WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29 [/b]

San Francisco at Montreal :Gene Harvey was the story on this night as the 32-year-old San Francisco netminder, who spent the previous two years as a backup with Winnipeg of the CHL, stopped all 33 Montreal shots he faced in a 1-0 Gulls win. Marty Jensen, with his 17th of the season, was the only goal scorer and his marker came just 15 seconds into the opening period.

THURSDAY JANUARY 30

Boston at Detroit : Yves Dagenais scored twice and added an assist as Detroit snapped a 3-game losing streak with a resound 8-2 victory over Boston.

Cincinnati at Calgary :The Ironclads improved to 5-1-2 in their last 8 games following a 3-3 draw in Calgary.

New York at Atlanta : New York has won just once in its last seven games following a 7-2 drubbing in Atlanta. David Pridham led the Blazers with a rare goal -his first of the season- and three assists.

St Louis at Philadelphia :The Rogues have cooled off with three straight losses including the latest, a 5-1 embarrassment on home ice to the St Louis Sawyers. Pat Valentine, Hugh MacLaren and Bernie Caldwell each had a goal and an assist for the Sawyers.

Washington at Los Angeles :Alvin Yardley scored three times to give him 38 on the season and added an assist as the Los Angeles Stingrays edged Washington 5-4.

Quebec at Minneapolis :After a scheduling quirk gave them nine days off the Quebec Citadels were well rested but rusty in absorbing a 6-4 loss on home ice to the Norsemen. Ned Darby scored once in each period while Tom Rowley had two goals -giving him 40 on the season- and two assists to power Minneapolis.

FRIDAY JANUARY 31

Toronto at St Louis :For the third game in a row the Toronto Dukes ended up in a tie game. This one was 4-4 as Ollie Perreault's 39th goal of the season helped the Dukes score three times in the third period to erase a 3-1 deficit entering the final frame.

Minneapolis at Los Angeles :It wasn't pretty but the Los Angeles Stingrays got the job done, extending their unbeaten streak to 13 games and moving into first place in the Thomas Division with a 5-4 victory over Minneapolis. Alvin Yardley scored twice including the game winner with 1:14 left on the clock.

Vancouver at Calgary : Calgary is unbeaten in four games and Vancouver's third straight loss knocked the Totems out of top spot in the Thomas Division following a 3-1 loss to the Grizzlies.

Pittsburgh at Chicago :Rejean Gillies faced just 20 shots but stopped them all to earn his league-leading fifth shutout of the season as Chicago blanked the Sentinels 4-0. Terry Foster extended his goal scoring streak to 4 games while Bruce Denison had 3 assists.

Atlanta at Boston :Boston needed third period goals from Bruce Callahan and Tom Wentworth to earn a 4-4 tie with Atlanta.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1

San Francisco at Toronto : Finally a win for the Dukes who had tied their previous three games. This one was very convincing as the Dukes thumped San Francisco 8-1 with Ollie Perreault scoring twice and adding an assist to remain tied for the league scoring lead with Detroit's Yves Dagenais.

Vancouver at Montreal :Montreal handed Vancouver its fourth straight loss and snapped its own four game winless streak with a 5-2 victory on home ice at the Montreal Arena. Roger MacKinnon and Ron Kincaid each collected three points for the Vals.

Detroit at Pittsburgh : Yves Dagenais matched Ollie Perreault's three points for Toronto with three of his own, all assists, to help pace Detroit to a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2

Washington at Cincinnati : Cincinnati has earned points in 8 of its last 9 games as the Ironclads try to close the gap on suddenly slumping Philadelphia in the Dewar Division. The Ironclads doubled Washington 4-2 on this day.

BIG WEEK HAS BARRELL CLOSING IN ON SCORING LEAD

Hobie Barrell, leading scorer in the Federal Hockey League for each of its first two seasons, has found himself chasing Winnipeg's Tim Moore in the points race this time around. The veteran Ottawa captain had a big week and now finds himself just a point behind the young Falcons playmaker after Barrell notched 6 points in three games last week.

Barrell, who leads the CHL with 55 goals, only pocketed one last week but he did earn five assists as his Athletics sandwiched victories over Chicago and Toronto around a loss to Seattle and inched closer to both Winnipeg and Milwaukee in the race for top spot in the Central Division and first place overall in the FHL. Winnipeg, lost two of their three games to cut their lead to four points on the Athletics and three on second place Milwaukee, which lost both of its games last week.

Ottawa, with Barrell leading the way, owns the best record in the league over the past month at 10-3-1 and they cut 9 points off of Winnipeg's lead during that spell.

PANTHERS ON THE PROWL

While much of the recent conversation around the Federal Basketball League has centered on Seattle’s blistering pace in the Pacific Division or the three-team dogfight in the Atlantic, the Chicago Panthers have quietly emerged as one of the league’s hottest clubs.

After a sluggish start, the Panthers have won 10 of their last 11 games and separated themselves from what had been a tightly packed Central Division, where every club sat at or below .500 as recently as a month ago. Chicago did suffer one setback last week, a rare fourth-quarter lapse that resulted in a 106-104 road loss to a Washington Statesmen team that is finally finding its footing and has climbed out of the Atlantic Division cellar.

That loss did little to slow Chicago’s momentum. The Panthers bounced back in emphatic fashion yesterday, rolling past the New York Knights 113-99 in a performance that announced their arrival as a legitimate Eastern Conference threat. Veteran forward Thomas Davis was dominant, pouring in 34 points and pulling down a season-high 23 rebounds to lead the rout.

Out west, the St. Louis Rockets continued their steady march atop the Midwest Division by sweeping all three of their games last week. Yet despite that run, St. Louis does not currently hold the best record in the conference. That distinction belongs to the Seattle Emeralds, who sit at 31-16 and hold a slim percentage-point edge over the Rockets, winners of three league titles in the past six seasons.

Seattle split a home-and-home series with Houston last week but remains the standard in the Western Conference. The Emeralds have reached the league finals twice without capturing a title, and with the season nearing its midpoint, they again appear poised for a serious run.

STEAMERS’ STREAK HITS 11

Cincinnati continues to look every bit the class of the Continental Basketball League. The Steamers swept their two games last week to extend their winning streak to 11, a run that has seen them capture 16 of their last 17 contests and open up a commanding 10-game lead on second-place Philadelphia in the East Division.

Now 38-9 and racing along at a record-setting pace, the Steamers remain the league’s most difficult matchup thanks to a deep, balanced attack. Cincinnati leads the CBL at 128.4 points per game, nearly five more than the next-best offense, and does so without relying on a single scorer. Seven different Steamers are averaging better than 15 points per night, a testament to an offense that pushes the tempo, shoots with precision and turns the ball over less than any club in the league.

That balance creates problems across the lineup, none more so than reserve center Doc Oney. Averaging 15.4 points per game, Oney can score on the blocks or step away from the basket, where he has already connected on 12 three-point shots while hitting 33 percent from long range — a rare weapon from a big man.

Cincinnati opened the week with a 130-114 rout of last-place New Jersey as starting center Benny Zimmerman poured in 30 points. The Steamers then closed the week with a 131-118 victory over Denver, paced by 37 points from Roger Williams and 28 from Johnnie Carden. Oney again made his presence felt, knocking down three of his four attempts from beyond the arc.

At the moment, there appears to be no slowing the Steamers, who continue to separate themselves from the rest of the league with each passing week.

KNIGHTS UNANIMOUS AT #1

The latest college basketball rankings make it clear that Detroit City College is, at least for the moment, the top team in the AIAA. The Knights received all 72 first place votes and are the only 4-0 team in Great Lakes Alliance play after winning a pair of games last week to improve to 16-1 overall.

DCC, which has been number one for much of the season, strengthened their case for the top spot with a 73-62 victory over 11th ranked Western Iowa on Thursday and followed that up with a 45-33 triumph on the road over Lincoln College. The Knights have now beaten three ranked teams in the Canaries, Northern Mississippi and Mississippi A&M with their lone loss on the season to another ranked squad in #21 Pittsburgh State.

Maryland State remains second in the polls and the Bengals, at 4-0, are the only undefeated team in South Atlantic Conference action. They won a pair of road games last week, dumping Cowpens State 62-58 before holding off 15th ranked Coastal State 77-75. Third ranked Baton Rouge State, which was the final unbeaten team before losing a league game to Bayou State, is third in the rankings and in a three-way tie for top spot in the Deep South Conference at 3-1. The Red Devils share the lead with 8th ranked Northern Mississippi and Cumberland. The other major conference, the West Coast Athletic Association, is led by 7th ranked Coastal California. The Dolphins are 4-0 in section play following home victories over Redwood (71-61) and 13th ranked Northern California (53-51) last week.

A pair of former heavyweight champions each earned a victory in bouts last week. Vic Carbone, a 28-year-old who briefly held the heavyweight crown in the winter of 1971-72, continues to pile up victories although this one was against marginal competition. The Italian born fighter who grew up in New Jersey scored a fourth round knockout of journeyman Jack Hunt in Syracuse, NY on Thursday to run his career mark to 39-2. Both of Carbone's losses - to Ben Brumfield in 1969 and then Curtis Rollins three years later came with the ABF world heavyweight title on the line.

Pete Vassar, the tough Brooklyn born heavyweight who was champion for a little over a year starting in the fall of 1970, won a majority decision over Kevin Walters in Pittsburgh last Tuesday evening. Vassar, 29, is 45-5 as a professional.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 02/02/1975

Democrats in Congress call President Ford's goal of reducing foreign oil imports by a million barrels a day by the end of the year is unrealistic. They also warned that the $1-a-barrel import fee, which went into effect February 1, and is to increase to $3 by April 1, would aggravate inflation without promoting much conservation.
Meanwhile the $52 Billion deficit that Ford announced over the weekend was described yesterday by a Sen Bellmon of Oklahoma, the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, as "the worst news this nation has received since the adoption of the guns-and-butter policy of President Johnson during the early days of the Vietnam War.
The President's approval ratings have slipped to a new low, with the latest Harris survey showing Ford rates 60 percent negative. The results are believed to be tied to the people's rejection of Ford's new tax on oil imports.
Sen. Mike Mansfield warned that growing U.S. oil exploration efforts in the Far East—especially offshore projects near Taiwan and contested areas such as the Spratly Islands—risked provoking diplomatic tensions with the People’s Republic of China at a time when Washington was trying to improve relations. He cautioned that disputes over oil rights could become a major obstacle to further normalization between the two nations during the ongoing energy crisis.
President Sadat of Egypt says that if US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger can bring a proposal for Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai, his government would accept the plan.
The U.S. is considering relaxing the 10-year old embargo on the sale of arms to Pakistan.
The Irish government said it will not yield to the demands of 16 convicted IRA guerrillas who have voted to fast to death in a Dublin prison. The prisoners have demanded to be treated as political offenders.

Tiger Fan · 12-19-2025, 08:25 PM

FEBRUARY 10, 1975

EAGLES TEARDOWN BEGINS
Cougars Acquire Lorang For Prospects
The long-anticipated dismantling of the Washington Eagles is underway, and it began with a thunderclap. In a deal that ranks among the most significant trades of the modern era, Washington has sent franchise icon Tom Lorang to the Chicago Cougars, signaling a clear shift toward rebuilding after years of frustration in the capital.

The move inevitably draws comparison to the landmark 1968 trade that sent Dixie Turner from Pittsburgh (now Atlanta) to Montreal, a deal that ultimately delivered championship banners to both cities. Whether this transaction can produce similar dividends remains to be seen, but there is no mistaking its magnitude.

Lorang, now 33, remains one of the premier players in the game. Coming off his 12th All-Star selection, the four-time Whitney Award winner shows little sign of slowing down. The third baseman has led the Federal Association in batting average three times, captured 10 Diamond Defense Awards, and built a Hall of Fame résumé entirely in an Eagles uniform since debuting in Washington as an 18-year-old in 1960. His career totals—2,609 hits and 448 home runs—place him among the greats of the game.

For Chicago, the acquisition represents a major upgrade at third base and a dramatic boost to an offense that has lagged behind its pitching staff. Lorang is expected to slot into the heart of the Cougars lineup, batting third or fourth, and his presence immediately elevates Chicago’s standing in a brutally competitive division that includes defending World Champion Seattle along with the Los Angeles Stars and Dallas. Around the league, the consensus is that Lorang alone may not be enough to deliver a division title, but he puts the Cougars closer than they have been in decades to ending a playoff drought that stretches back to 1941.

Despite already owning the league’s highest payroll, Chicago appears far from finished. Lorang’s $250,000 salary—matching Montreal’s Dixie Turner for the highest individual figure in the sport—has not deterred the Cougars’ front office. Assistant General Manager Ted Tucker acknowledged that ownership remains willing to spend, with a power-hitting corner outfielder reportedly next on the club’s wish list.

Eagles Return Includes Two Top-30 Prospects

For Washington supporters, saying goodbye to a player who may ultimately be remembered as the greatest Eagle of all time—rivaled only by T.R. Goins—is a bitter pill to swallow. Still, the return package offers legitimate promise and a clear direction for a franchise in need of renewal.

The Eagles receive three teenage prospects, all of whom will be asked to help justify the decision to part with a first-ballot Hall of Famer still very much in his prime. Headlining the group is 19-year-old lefthander Hank Oliver, Chicago’s first-round pick in 1973. Selected 15th overall out of a Florida high school, Oliver is regarded by OSA as one of the top young pitching prospects in the minors, currently ranked 27th on its pipeline list, though he has yet to pitch above short-season Class A.

Joining him is outfielder Ralph Russell, an 18-year-old Milwaukee native chosen ninth overall last June. Ranked 28th by OSA, Russell flashed emerging power in his first professional season and projects as a slightly above-average power hitter if his development continues on course.

The third piece is second baseman Joe Stocksdale, a 19-year-old selected in the third round of the 1973 draft out of Illinois. While ranked further down OSA’s list at 151st, Stocksdale is viewed as a potential everyday player capable of developing into an above-average regular at the major league level.

SAILORS SEND EVANS TO MONTREAL

A second trade was completed last week, though it was largely overshadowed by the blockbuster in Washington. The Montreal Saints officially finalized a deal with San Francisco, acquiring catcher Woody Evans in exchange for a minor league pitcher.

Evans, 26, has served as the Sailors’ primary catcher for the past three seasons and hit .254 with nine home runs last year. Montreal views him as a clear upgrade over Eddie Thomas, the light-hitting backstop who has been the Saints’ regular since arriving in the original Dixie Turner trade in 1968.

San Francisco, meanwhile, will hand the reins behind the plate to 27-year-old Earl Frazee, Evans’ longtime backup. Frazee is expected to hold the job until highly regarded prospect Cyrus O’Shields—selected in the second round of the 1974 draft and ranked among the top 100 prospects in the game—is ready for major league duty.

Heading west is righthander Les Davis, a 20-year-old California native drafted by Montreal in the fifth round in 1972. Davis has seen limited action in three minor league seasons, posting a 2–5 record with a 4.38 ERA last year across rookie and short-season Class A ball. OSA projects him as a possible mid-rotation arm, though there are concerns about whether he will develop the stamina required to thrive as a full-time starter at the major league level.

EXTRA INNINGS -The Chicago Cougars also made a move to bring Jerry McMillan back in the fold, signing him as a free agent. The 37-year-old spent more than a decade and a half with the club before his trade to the New York Imperials midway through the 1973 season. He was a spare part for the Imperials last year and was released at the end of the season. McMillan, who has 2,549 career hits, has played all but 95 of his 2,363 big league games for the Cougars. If he sticks with Chicago, McMillan is due to make $55,000 this season....Another move designed to hold control of players as long as possible before free agency was made by the Atlanta Copperheads as they agreed to 1-year extension with five regulars including pitchers Jack Kotarski and Marco Middleton.

PAYING THE MEN WHO FILL THE PARKS
By Mooney Vetter

The reaction to Red Burtch’s new contract with the San Francisco Sailors has been swift and loud. Doom, they call it. Financial ruin. The first crack in baseball’s foundation as true free agency approaches. All because a 37-year-old pitcher—waived three times in three years—has been offered $70,000 to throw a baseball.

From where I sit, that reaction says far more about the owners than it does about Red Burtch.

I played more than 15 years in the FABL. I was never a star, never an All-Star, just a steady backup infielder who showed up, played when asked, and helped clubs win games. I never made more than $42,000 in a season, and that was in my final two years, 1973 and 1974. Before that, I never even reached $20,000. I can promise you this: the game made plenty of money while I was playing it, even if most of us never saw much of it.

Now we are told that Burtch’s contract is proof that owners are about to destroy themselves. Yet hockey figured this out years ago. Three seasons back, Hobie Barrell—the so-called “Million Dollar Man”—signed a five-year deal with Ottawa of the Continental Hockey League worth $200,000 per season. Today, only Tom Lorang in Washington at $250,000 and Dixie Turner in Montreal at $200,000 make that kind of money in baseball, both multiple-time Allen Award winners. Baseball is the most popular sport in the country, plays twice as many games as hockey, and fills far more seats. Somehow, its players are supposed to believe they are worth less.

Take Atlanta as just one example. The Copperheads drew more than two million fans last season, with an average ticket price just shy of four dollars. That’s nearly five million dollars at the gate alone, before television, radio, concessions, and sponsorships are counted. Their entire payroll was well under two million, and no player on the club made more than $125,000. If that sounds like a business on the brink of collapse, it’s a collapse most industries would happily accept.

We are also told that salaries have exploded beyond reason. History tells a different story. In 1950, home run king Bobby Barrell earned $97,000. Twenty-five years later, only 13 players in all of baseball make more than $100,000. The typical fringe big leaguer—the kind of player who keeps rosters afloat through injuries and long seasons—is still lucky to earn $25,000. That is not runaway growth. That is stagnation dressed up as restraint.

At the end of the 1975 World Championship Series, players with more than six years of service will finally be free to sell their skills on the open market. The reserve clause era will end, and not a moment too soon. Baseball will not collapse because players earn a fairer share. The parks will still fill, the games will still be played, and the owners will still profit.

The truth is simple: players are not the problem. They are the product. They are the reason fans buy tickets, tune in on the radio, and watch on television. If Red Burtch’s contract tells us anything, it’s not that the sky is falling—it’s that the game has been keeping a far larger share of its riches than it ever admitted.

It’s time that changed.

MILESTONE FOR MONTREAL STAR MOGGY

Mark Moggy played in his 1,000 career game on Thursday night and did so with his usual flair as the Montreal Valiants superstar defenseman scored once and set up two other goals to lead the Valiants to a 4-1 victory in Detroit. The 33-year-old Moggy has accumulated 810 points in those 1,000 outings including 72 so far this season.

Moggy, who has won the Dewar Trophy as the top defenseman in the NAHC a record seven times, is already the highest scoring rearguard in league history and likely still has a number of high production seasons ahead of him. He broke in with the Vals as a 19-year-old after being selected first overall out of Sherbrooke in the same draft that saw Detroit grab scoring star Hobie Barrell, who is now with Ottawa of the Federal Hockey League. Moggy won the McLeod Trophy as rookie of the year that season and has been named a first-team all-star 10 times in a career that is now in its 15th season. He was a second team selection three times and in 1968-69 became the first defenseman to win the McDaniels Trophy as league MVP. Moggy has also been a part of four Challenge Cup winning Valiants teams.

NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS
MONDAY FEBRUARY 3

New York at San Francisco : Ken Soin's powerplay goal and Jake Paiment's shorthanded marker lifted the Shamrocks to a 2-1 win over San Francisco

Toronto at Boston : Mark Berg scored twice and added an assist while Andy Agar had three helpers to pace Boston to a 6-1 victory over Toronto in a battle between the Connelly division leading Bees and the last place Dukes.

Montreal at Pittsburgh : Clyde Raines had a goal and an assist as Montreal scored three times in the third period to push past Pittsburgh 3-2.

Washington at St Louis : The Federals snapped a 3-game losing streak with a 5-2 road win in St Louis. Burt Fenwick had a goal and an assist to pace the winners.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4

Vancouver at St Louis : The Sawyers bounced back from last night's defeat with a 5-4 win over Vancouver, handing the slumping Totems their fifth consecutive loss and ruining a 2 goal, one assist night for Vancouver winger Johnny Gruber. The victory keeps St Louis just a point back of Minneapolis in the battle for second place in the Yeadon Division.

San Francisco at Boston :Eddie Lafleur was involved in all 3 Boston goals as the Bees and the visiting San Francisco Gulls skated to a 3-3 draw.

Cincinnati at Los Angeles :Make it 14 straight without a loss for the Los Angeles Stingrays, who nipped Cincinnati 3-2 and moved 3 points ahead of sinking Vancouver atop the Thomas Division.

Atlanta at Calgary :The Grizzlies are unbeaten in 5 games and Alex Wilkins earned his second shutout during that streak with a 3-0 blanking of Atlanta. Brian Sanders paced the offense with a goal and an assist as Calgary had a quick start, scoring all three of their goals in the opening 16 minutes of the game.

Detroit at Minneapolis : Tom Rowley had a goal and an assist while Al Ferguson made 36 saves to lead Minneapolis to a 4-1 win on home ice over the Detroit Motors.

Philadelphia at Chicago :A pair of division leaders met at the venerable Lakeside Auditorium where the hometown Packers, keyed by 2 goals and an assist from Terry Foster, extended their unbeaten streak to 4 games while handing the Rogues their fourth consecutive defeat in a 4-1 Chicago win.

Pittsburgh at Quebec :Pittsburgh has now lost 4 in a row after absorbing a 6-2 defeat to the Citadels. Nate Asselin scored twice, both with the man advantage to lead the Quebec attack.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5

Cincinnati at Quebec :Alan Porter's 34th goal of the season and three Dan Ross assists helped Cincinnati to a 4-1 victory over Quebec.

Philadelphia at Atlanta : Four third period goals helped the Rogues end a 4-game losing streak with a 5-3 win in Atlanta. Bill Camposano, who had scored just once in his first 15 games of the season, had a natural hat trick over a nine minute span early in the third period.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 6

Pittsburgh at Vancouver : The Totems snapped a 5-game losing streak and extended Pittsburgh's skid to five games with a 6-2 victory at the Vancouver Civic Coliseum. Ian Malka scored twice in the third period as Vancouver snapped a 2-2 with 4 unanswered goals.

Chicago at Toronto :A 6-2 road win at Dominion Gardens extended Chicago's winning streak to four games. Veteran Ken York scored twice for the Packers giving him 13 on the season and 552 for his career- 12 shy of Tommy Burns for second all-time.

St Louis at San Francisco :Mike Hampton scored twice and added two assists while Pat Valentine chipped in with two goals to lead St Louis past San Francisco 7-3. The Gulls are winless in their last four outings.

Washington at Los Angeles :The Stingrays have not lost in over a month with their latest win being another tight one, taking a 3-2 decision over the Washington Federals.

Calgary at New York :The Shamrocks won back to back games for the first time since December 17-18, scoring five times in the first period and holding on for a 7-5 win over Calgary. 15 different New York players earned at least a point with Greg Sutherland leading the way with a goal and two assists.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7

Philadelphia at Chicago :Adam McPherson had a goal and two assists while his mates on the Scotch Line Gary Yeadon and Glenn Mackenzie each picked up two points to lead the Rogues past the Packers 5-3.

Quebec at Los Angeles : The Stingrays are 15-0-1 in their last 16 games but have won each of their last five by just a single goal including a 3-2 decision over Quebec. Cory Shepley's 8th of the season midway through the third period proved to be the game winner.

Toronto at Vancouver :Vancouver fell 5 points behind the Stingrays for top spot in the Thomas Division following the Totems 5-2 loss to the Toronto Dukes. League scoring leader Ollie Perreault tallied twice for the winners.

Calgary at Minneapolis : Bill Sullivan now has both a 14 game point and assist streak after scoring once and setting up another goal in Minneapolis' 3-3 tie with Calgary. The 23-year-old Sullivan, in his fourth season with the Norsemen after being selected in the first round of the 1970 NAHC draft, has 2 goals and 14 assists in the last 14 games.

Montreal at Detroit : Mark Moggy became just the 14th player in NAHC history to appear in 1,000 regular season games. The 33-year-old eight time winner of the Dewar Trophy as top defenseman made it a memorable night by scoring once and earning two assists in a 4-1 Valiants victory over Detroit.

New York at Boston :New York's modest two-game winning streak came to an end with a 6-4 loss to the Bees at Denny Arena despite a pair of goals from Shamrocks star Danny Cabbell. David Bertrand and Bruce Callahan led the Bees offense with a goal and two assists each.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 8

Minneapolis at Cincinnati : Bill Sullivan's 14 game point and assist streak ends as the Ironclads blank the Minneapolis Norseman 4-0. Brad Wall made 22 saves for his third shutout.

Washington at Atlanta :Henry Waugh scored twice to help lead the Federals to a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Blazers. The win moves Washington two points ahead of Pittsburgh and out of last place in the Dewar Division.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9

no games scheduled

MAULERS PULL EVEN WITH WINNIPEG

A three game winning streak has allowed the expansion Milwaukee Maulers to move into a tie with the Winnipeg Falcons for the best record in the Continental Hockey League. The Maulers have played 59 games, one more than the Falcons, but have equaled the Winnipeg point total of 79 following victories last week over Toronto, New York and Houston. The Falcons went 1-1-1 over the past seven days to allow the Maulers to close the gap.

The Maulers lack an elite scorer like Tim Moore or Swedish import Mattias Jacobsson of the Falcons but a late December trade that brought former Philadelphia Rogues and Houston Outlaws veteran forward Larry Ewbanks to Milwaukee seems to have ignited the Maulers offense. Ewbanks has scored 16 goals and 31 points in the 17 games since he arrived in Milwaukee. The Maulers have gone 12-5-0 over that span.

That outburst gives Ewbanks 59 points on the season, tying him for top spot among Milwaukee players and 10th overall in the CHL with defenseman Matt Mosher. Thirteen Maulers have already scored at least 10 goals on the season and their balanced attack has helped them keep pace with the high flying Falcons.

ATLANTIC SUDDENLY A FIVE TEAM RACE

There is no division in professional basketball, and perhaps all of sports right now, that is more competitive than the Atlantic Division of the Federal Basketball League where only two and a half games separate first place from fifth. Big weeks from the Washington Statesmen and Toronto Falcons have tightened thins up considerably in the division, where the Philadelphia Phantoms and New York Knights are separated by mere percentage points with the Boston Centurions just a half game back.

A seven game winning streak that included a pair of wins over New York and one over Boston moved the Statesmen into contention while the Falcons are back on track with a four game winning streak of their own allowing them to right the ship following a stretch where they appeared to fall out of contention with 7 losses in an eight game span.

The fact that the big three also had some struggles helped contribute to the resurgence for Washington and Toronto. The Philadelphia Phantoms have lost four of their last six games including back to back defeats last week at the hands of the Statesmen and Falcons. New York had dropped five of six before rebounding with wins over Detroit and Boston last week while the Centurions are presently on a 4-game skid.

There is also a mild surprise in the Midwest Division where the St Louis Rockets suffered back to back losses in Chicago and Los Angeles last week. With five of their next six games on the road and an awful 8-17 record away from the Gateway Center - the Rockets are 24-2, best in the league at home- the door is open for Minneapolis or Houston to catch St Louis for the division lead. The Bobcats and Apollos are tied for second, 2 games behind St. Louis.

FULL STEAM AHEAD

Although their 13 game winning streak came to an end on the weekend in the back half of a home and home set with the Philadelphia Mariners, the mighty Cincinnati Steamers continue to add to their lead atop the Continental Basketball League's East Division. The Steamers sole opponent last week was the Mariners, who sit second in the East Division but are now 11 games off the pace.

Cincinnati took the first two games of the three game setting, winning both at the Queen City Arena. The opener was a 133-112 triumph led by for Steamers topping the 20 point mark - Johnnie Carden, Bob Baldwin, Benny Zimmerman and Roger Williams. A day later it was a 133-122 win as Williams scored 29 and reserve center Doc Oney chipped in with 23. The Mariners came up short despite a 37-point showing from forward Cliff Schneider. The two met in Philadelphia on the weekend and this time the Mariners prevailed, claiming a 147-135 win.

The race in the West Division is tighter with the San Antonio Outlaws holding a 4 game bulge on second place Denver. The Bighorns may be fading as they have struggled lately with five losses in their last six games including a 122-119 defeat at the hands of Kansas City on the weekend.

KNIGHTS HOLD TOP SPOT DESPITE LOSS TO REAPERS

The Detroit City College Knights remain the number one ranked team in the nation despite the fact the school split it's two Great Lakes Alliance contests during the week. Detroit City College entered the week 4-0 in second play and 16-1 overall and they showed their dominance in a 54-40 drubbing of a Whitney College squad that entered the game ranked 5th in the nation. DCC did not have the same success on the road as they headed to Terre Haute to face the 12th ranked Indiana A&M Reapers. It was a cool reception for the Knights who fell behind early and could not rally, dropping a 58-54 decision to the Reapers, who moved into the top ten with the victory and share top spot in the GLA with the Knights at 5-1.

Maryland State remains second but closed the gap slightly and picked up a first place vote, something the Knights owned all of in the last poll. The Bengals led the South Atlantic Conference with a 5-0 section mark following an impressive 71-65 victory over North Carolina Tech. The week ahead will be a tough one for the Bengals who face 17th ranked Charleston Tech and 3rd ranked Carolina Poly next week. Both games will be held in Baltimore and it is the third ranked Cardinals who will likely be the tougher test although Carolina Poly did suffer its lone conference loss to the Admirals in the SAC opener for both schools late last month.

Three Deep South Conference schools hold down the fourth, fifth and sixth slot in the polls. #6 Northern Mississippi is the conference leader at 5-1 after wins over Opelika State and Bluegrass State last week. Baton Rouge State and Mississippi A&M are tied for second in the Deep South at 4-2 in conference play after the Generals upended the Red Devils 57-49 in Baton Rouge on Thursday.

ABF Heavyweight champion Leon Frazier will put his title on the line in Las Vegas on March 21. The 28-year-old champ, who knocked out Tony Rocca in Vegas last October to win the title and followed that up in late December with an unanimous decision over Curtis Rollins in the first heavyweight title fight to be contested in South Africa has been training in his Detroit gym in preparation for his next defense.

Frazier, with a record of 31-5 with 15 knockouts, will face Barry Bernard in March. The 32-year-old Bernard, a Lakeland, FL., native is presently the 6th ranked heavyweight according to TWIFS. He owns a record of 42-6-1 with his most recent outing being a second round knockout of Donald Brown three weeks ago. Bernard briefly held the heavyweight title when he upset then-champ Curtis Rollins in the fall of 1972 but lost to Tony Rocca in his first title defense.

Frazier is expected to be a resounding favourite to win the bout, which will be the first meeting of the two pugilists.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 02/09/1975

President Ford presses Congress for deep budget cuts to curb inflation, warning that recession and rising unemployment leave little room for expanded federal spending.
Congress intensifies debate over aid to South Vietnam, with lawmakers weighing further reductions as reports indicate communist forces continue to gain ground.
Unemployment figures fuel recession fears, as new data show joblessness rising sharply across U.S. manufacturing centers and Canada’s industrial heartland.
CIA domestic spying revelations dominate Washington, following disclosures tied to the Rockefeller Commission probing intelligence abuses during the Cold War era.
Oil prices remain stubbornly high despite talk of easing embargo pressures, keeping gasoline costs and heating bills a top concern across the continent.
Patty Hearst legal maneuvering continues, with defense attorneys filing motions emphasizing coercion and brainwashing ahead of a trial expected to grip the nation.
Ottawa faces renewed labor unrest over inflation, as unions warn against wage restraint measures while the Trudeau government searches for ways to slow price increases.

Tiger Fan · 12-22-2025, 05:50 PM

FEBRUARY 17, 1975

COUGARS ADD MORE FIREPOWER

For the second time in just over a week the Chicago Cougars have added a veteran all-star bat to their lineup as Andy Babel comes over from Cleveland to join the legendary Tom Lorang, who was acquired from the Washington Eagles last week. The cost, as it was for Lorang, is nothing off of the current Cougars roster but instead a pair of young prospects in pitcher Julio Torres and outfielder Andy Alexander.

Babel, 31, gives the Cougars the corner bat they were seeking. Not a typical homerun hitter as Babel hit just 11 last season and has never socked more than 17 longballs in a year, but he did lead the CA in doubles for the third time in his career with 43 a year ago. The fact that Babel brings along four Diamond Defense awards is merely gravy, it will be his bat perhaps hitting third directly in front of Lorang that has Cougars fans eagerly anticipating the start of spring training in less than a month's time.

Neither Alexander nor Torres were considered elite prospects by OSA with both ranking well outside the scouting services top 100. Alexander, a 20-year-old selected in the second round in 1973 out of a Brooklyn High School, gets solid grades from OSA but they still only listed him 130th on their pipeline. Torres is much further down the list at #243 but did spend his first couple of season following his selection in the fourth round of the 1972 draft in the top 100. The Puerto Rico native went 9-3 with a 3.82 era in A-ball last season.

The Cougars sacrificed some of their future to add a sure-fire hall of famer in Lorang and a very good outfielder in Babel but they by no means emptied the cupboard as they still have five prospects ranked in the top 100 including Bob Hays, an 18-year-old pitcher who is #9 overall. The question now is will the Cougars continue to deal in order to increase their chances of competing with the big three in the Continental Association West Division - which might just be the toughest division in FABL to win in 1975.

For most of my playing career, the Chicago Cougars were something you circled on the schedule only because the train ride was decent and the hot dogs were reliable. They weren’t terrible often enough to draft saviors, and they weren’t good enough to scare anybody. Baseball purgatory is a lonely place, and the Cougars have been renting there since before I learned how to hit a decent cutoff man.

That’s why the last week caught my eye.

Chicago finished 74–88 last season, a distant fourth in a Continental Association West Division that turned into a three-horse sprint. Seattle rode a pitching staff that could make hitters question their career choices, edged out the Los Angeles Stars by a single game, then went on to polish off the World Championship Series. The Stars, meanwhile, are still dangerous even if they’re creaking a bit, the final act of a run that produced seven straight playoff trips and four titles. And Dallas—once the definition of expansion drift—has finally grown into itself, winning 95 games on the strength of the league’s most explosive offense.

Chicago? Chicago watched.

Not anymore.

First came the stunner: Tom Lorang, the Washington Eagles’ franchise face, shipped west. I’ve played against Lorang, and I can tell you this—33 or not, the man can still play. A .282 average, 25 homers, 104 runs driven in, and a 7.8 WAR don’t happen by accident, and they don’t happen to players who are “finished.” He may not be the 9-plus WAR monster who collected Whitney Awards like souvenirs, but he’s still a premium bat and one of the finest third basemen of his generation. Ten Diamond Defense Awards aren’t handed out in cereal boxes.

Washington, of course, is in its usual state of reconstruction—perennial rebuild is a kind description for a franchise that hasn’t won a World Championship Series since 1923—but that’s their business. Chicago’s business was offense, and Lorang fixes a lot of that in one stroke.

Then, before the ink was dry, the Cougars doubled down. Five-time All-Star Andy Babel arrived from Cleveland, and once again Chicago paid in prospects rather than gutting its major league roster. Babel isn’t a home-run derby champion—11 last season—but he led the league with 43 doubles and hit .302 doing it. There’s real value in a man who lives in the gaps, especially when pitchers are terrified of what’s hitting behind him.

Two moves. Two proven bats. And suddenly the Cougars look like a club that knows what it’s missing.

Now the fun part: what does everyone else do?

Seattle probably sleeps the easiest. Their rotation is deep, mean, and reliable, but even dynasties have soft spots. Hank Williams is a legend, a 12-time All-Star, four-time Whitney winner, and nine home runs shy of 500. He’s also 41 and hit .234 last year. Nineteen homers help, but Father Time has a nasty breaking ball. Do the Kings find another bat to protect him, or do they ride history and hope?

The Stars have offense to spare, but their pitching—once the gold standard—has sprung leaks. Floyd Warner is 38, nursing a back that betrayed him in August, and might not be ready when spring camps open. The bigger question is whether the Stars even have the chips to make a move. The farm isn’t what it used to be, and nostalgia doesn’t trade well.

Dallas is the wild card. Their lineup is young and loud, and the future still looks bright. Pitching, though, is the unanswered letter. Can Larry Perry, 32, repeat the best season of his life? Is Pete Rosenbaum—once a can’t-miss prospect, now 27—really the ace of a contender? Or do the Wranglers crack open a thinning system and go shopping?

What Chicago has done, more than anything, is announce itself. The Cougars haven’t seen October baseball since 1941, and they haven’t hoisted a championship since 1931. That kind of drought seeps into the walls. But in one week, they told the rest of the West they’re tired of watching from the platform.

The division was already going to be a knife fight. Now someone’s brought a sharper blade.

And I’ll tell you this, as a former utility infielder who spent a career trying to stay one step ahead of the next kid with better hands: baseball is always more interesting when a long-sleeping club finally decides to wake up.

LA STINGRAYS FINALLY LOSE AGAIN
Chicago Really Seems to Have Stingrays Number

The secret to beating the Los Angeles Stingrays appears to be the need to wear the green and red of the Chicago Packers. The Stingrays have been the hottest team in the North American Hockey Confederation over the past month and a half, losing just 3 times in 22 games including a streak that saw them go 15-0-1 in a 16 game span. That 16 game streak started after a loss to the Packers on New Years Day and it came to an end at Lakeside Auditorium when the Packers pounded the Stingrays 9-2. All three of Los Angeles' losses in the past 22 games have been at the hands of the Packers.

The good news for the Stingrays, who are 2-4 against Chicago on the season, is they are done with the Packers unless they happen to meet in the playoffs. With 20 games remaining in their season the Packers have a comfortable 12 point lead on both St Louis and Minneapolis atop the Yeadon Division. Los Angeles has 17 left to play but despite their hot play of late, the Stingrays slow start to the season means they are just 5 points ahead of second place Vancouver in the Thomas Division and the Totems have 3 games in hand. Vancouver has been heading the wrong way, however, as the Totems are just 3-9-1 in the last month.

NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS
MONDAY FEBRUARY 10

Minneapolis at St Louis :Yeadon Division rivals Minneapolis and St Louis skated to a 4-4 tie. Defenseman Hugh MacLaren had a goal and two assists to pace the Sawyers while Allan Innes had two points for the Norsemen.

Montreal at Atlanta :Atlanta ended a 3-game losing skid and surprised Montreal 6-3, snapping the Valiant three game winning run. Blazers defenseman Daniel Harris had a huge game, scoring his 25th goal of the season and adding 4 assists in the win.

New York at Toronto :New York has won 3 of its last four games and Toronto has lost 3 of 4 after the Shamrocks edged the Dukes 5-4 at Dominion Gardens. Toronto led 4-2 after twenty minutes but the Shamrocks took the lead with 3 unanswered second period markers including two from Joe Crosby, to claim the two points.

Philadelphia at Quebec :Cliff Graham had a strong game in the Quebec net, stopping 37 of 38 shots to lead the Citadels to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Rogues and extend their lead on fourth place Toronto in the Connelly Division to three points.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11

Boston at Cincinnati :Boston's unbeaten streak is extended to five games after the Bees downed Cincinnati 4-1. With 79 points on the season, the Bees are first in the entire NAHC.

St Louis at Calgary :Bernie Caldwell had 4 points and Pat Valentine 3 to lead St Louis to a 7-2 romp over the Calgary Grizzlies.

Pittsburgh at Philadelphia :The Rogues bounced back quickly from their loss to Quebec the night before, by outscoring Pittsburgh 7-4 with Gary Yeadon leading the way. The 23-year-old had two goals and an assist and now has scored 6 times in his last four games.

Los Angeles at Chicago :The Stingrays incredible 16 game unbeaten streak (15-0-1) came to an abrupt end when the Chicago Packers hammered the Stingrays 9-2. Chicago was also the last team to beat Los Angeles, winning 6-3 on New Year's Day before the Stingrays went on their rampage. Billy Furtado paced the Chicago attack with a hat trick.

Toronto at Atlanta : The Dukes held off Atlanta 5-4 with Sam DaSilva leading the way with two goals and an assist. Dukes star and Ollie Perrault was held off the scoresheet for the third time in the past four games.

Washington at Detroit :Yves Dagenais had 3 assists to take over sole possession of the NAHC scoring lead as Detroit downed Washington 5-1. Charlie Rodgers added 3 points for the Motors while Tom Jenks scored twice.

San Francisco at Vancouver :San Francisco is winless in 5 games after falling 5-1 in Vancouver. Scott Phillips and Scott Spencer led the Totems victory with three points each.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12

Washington at Quebec : Ron Griffin scored his 16th goal of the season midway through the third period to lift the Quebec Citadels to a 3-2 victory on home ice over the Washington Federals.

San Francisco at Chicago : The Yeadon Division leading Chicago Packers received goals from 4 different players as they dumped the San Francisco Gulls 4-1.

Boston at Vancouver :Boston is unbeaten in six games after the Bees blanked Vancouver 2-0. Joel Pearce and Mark Berg were the goalscorers while 23-year-old rookie Jim Goodrunning earned his first career NAHC shutout. Goodrunning was named goaltender of the year in the Hockey Association of America with Springfield last season.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13

Minneapolis at Calgary : Tom Rowley moved into the NAHC goal scoring lead with a hat trick to help the Minneapolis Norsemen past Calgary 6-5.

Cincinnati at Montreal : Clyde Raines collected his 600th career NAHC point after collecting two assists in Montreal's 8-3 drubbing of the Cincinnati Ironclads. Valiants defenseman Mark Moggy scored twice and add two assists.

Quebec at St Louis :Quebec is on a 3-game winning streak, with each victory coming by just a single goal following a 5-4 road win in St Louis. Ron Griffin scored twice and added an assist for the Citadels. It was Griffin's second two-goal game in succession. The 21-year-old rookie, who scored 72 goals in junior last year, has 18 goals in 42 games this season.

New York at Detroit :It was the Milt Young show in the Motor City as the New York Shamrocks forward scored four times and added an assist to propel his club to a 5-4 victory over Detroit.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14

Vancouver at Philadelphia : Adam McPherson had a hat trick while linemate Gary Yeadon chipped in with two goals to lead the Philadelphia Rogues to a 8-2 victory over Vancouver. The third member of Philadelphia's Scotch Line, Glenn McKenzie, picked up four assists.

Pittsburgh at Washington :In a battle between the bottom two teams in the Dewar Division, the Washington Federals, led by a 23-save shutout from Dave Harkins, blanked Pittsburgh 3-0.

Detroit at Toronto :In a season that has both struggling to reach the playoffs, the longtime rivals renewed hostilities at Toronto's Dominion Gardens but it was the visitors from Detroit who prevailed 3-2. It was also a matchup between the top two scorers in the NAHC but neither made a splash as Detroit's Yves Dagenais was held off the scoresheet and Toronto's Ollie Perreault earned just one assist.

Montreal at Atlanta :Atlanta kept pace with Detroit at the bottom of the Yeadon Division with a 2-0 shutout of Montreal. Mitch Sweet and Ray Dupuis each scored their 21st goals of the season while Randy Kelleher was perfect in net for his fourth shutout of the season.

Boston at Los Angeles :Two of the hottest teams in the league met at the LA Events Center. The Stingrays rebounded from a loss to Chicago with a 7-5 victory over Boston. The Stingrays have lost just 3 times in the last 22 games while Boston had been unbeaten in six entering the contest. Alvin Yardley scored his 41st goal of the season and added two assists to pace the Stingrays.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 15

New York at San Francisco : Veteran Shamrocks defenseman Chris Lafontaine played in his 1,000 career NAHC game. He scored once to help New York skate to a 3-2 victory over the Gulls.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati :Brad Wall made 32 saves for his second shutout in 8 days to help Cincinnati past Pittsburgh 5-0.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16

New York at Montreal :Pete Fortin scored twice and Mark Moggy had two assists as Montreal doubled the New York Shamrocks 6-3. The win leapfrogs the Valiants past Quebec and back into second place in the Connelly Division while the Shamrocks fall four points behind Cincinnati in the duel for second in the Dewar Division.

Calgary at Minneapolis :Minneapolis halted a 4-game winless skid in a big way, blasting Calgary 7-0. Al Ferguson had 23 saves for the shutout while Norm Blakeley scored twice and NAHC goalscoring leader Tom Rowley collected his 45th goal of the season and added 2 helpers.

BARRELL TAKES OVER CHL SCORING LEAD
Winnipeg Star Moore Suffers Neck Injury

It was a busy week for Hobie Barrell as the captain of the Ottawa Athletics took over the scoring lead in the Continental Hockey Association but also found himself suspended for one game after an incident against Toronto on Friday night. Barrell, who delivered a vicious blindside hit on the play, will sit out the Athletics game in Ottawa against Edmonton tomorrow night.

Barrell had two assists in the opening period of the Athletics 4-2 victory over Toronto but got involved twice with truculent Toronto winger Rick Hodge in the second period. Barrell took a high sticking penalty after Hodge had laid him out with what was deemed by the referee to be a clean hit and just minutes after serving his time in the box blasted Hodge into the boards from behind well away from the puck. Hodge collects penalty minutes in bunches but Barrell entered the game with just 48 minutes in penalties before adding 17 to his total in that game.

Much better known for scoring points than collecting penalty minutes, Barrell's two assists before his second period expulsion lifted him into the CHL scoring lead with 117 points through 65 games, one more than Winnipeg's Tim Moore. Moore suffered a serious injury when he was clipped by a skate blade in the neck and could be sidelined for an extended period of time. If so, it will be a serious blow to Winnipeg's hopes of finishing first overall as the second-year star had 39 goals and a CHL leading 77 assists at the time of his injury.

As for Barrell, his Athletics remain third in the Central Division, 7 points back of the front-running Falcons and five behind the expansion Milwaukee Maulers. Barrell led the CHL in scoring each of its first two seasons of existence and his 1,422 combined career points between the NAHC and CHL trails only former Toronto Dukes legend and current New York Eagles coach Quinton Pollack.

ARE THE ROCKETS IN TROUBLE?

For most of the past six seasons, the St. Louis Rockets have set the standard in the Western Conference, riding John Brantner’s historic scoring and a model of consistency to three league championships. Brantner is still doing his part — the 31-year-old forward leads the Federal Basketball League at 38.4 points per game, more than ten clear of Philadelphia’s Jewel Albert — but for the first time in years the Rockets are starting to look… human.

As recently as early January, St. Louis stood at 24-11 with the best record in the FBL. Since then, the Rockets have stumbled through a 9-10 stretch that has opened the door for both Houston and Minneapolis in what had long been St. Louis’ private domain atop the Midwest Division.

The warning signs were flashing when the Rockets arrived home last Friday carrying a four-game losing streak — an almost unheard-of occurrence for a club that has turned the Gateway Center into one of the league’s most intimidating buildings. All four losses came away from home, and one of them was especially jarring: a defeat at the hands of a Los Angeles Condors team mired at the bottom of the Western Conference.

That road record is the heart of the concern. St. Louis remains virtually unbeatable at home, boasting a dominant 25-2 mark. Away from the Gateway Center, however, the Rockets have been a different team entirely, managing just eight wins in 27 tries. Road victories are scarce across the league — no FBL club is above .500 away from home — but this represents a dramatic departure from the Rockets’ own recent history. A year ago, during a season that ended with the league’s best overall record, St. Louis went an astonishing 34-7 on the road. Two seasons ago, they were nearly as effective at 29-12.

Longtime Rockets coach Jason Watson admits he’s searching for answers. The roster is largely unchanged, the approach the same, yet the results have swung sharply once the Rockets leave town. “We’re doing the same things,” Watson said earlier this week. “They just haven’t translated outside our building.”

St. Louis did offer a reminder of its pedigree on Friday night, blasting Pacific Division-leading Seattle 108-69 in a lopsided home win that briefly quieted the doubts. But there will be little time to savor it. The Rockets head back out on the road immediately, beginning a three-game trip that includes a rematch with the Emeralds tonight at Rainier Pavilion.

For years, the question around the Rockets was who could catch them. Now, with Houston and Minneapolis closing fast, the more pressing question may be whether St. Louis can rediscover the road form that once made them the most feared team in the league — or whether this season marks the beginning of a changing of the guard.

NO SLOWING STEAMERS DOWN

Another week in the Continental Basketball League this season simply means three more victories for the Cincinnati Steamers. The league powerhouse ran its mark to 43-10 and remains on a record setting pace following three road wins last week. The Steamers improved to 18-9 away from the Queen City Arena, a location where they are practically unbeatable with a 25-1 home mark. With an East Division lead that has now reached 13 games on the second place Philadelphia Mariners, the Steamers may well clinch the division crown before the start of March.

The Steamers have won 16 of their last 17 games after wins in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Baltimore last week. Bob Baldwin and Ivan Hobart each had 20 points to start the week with a 121-105 win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. A day later it was an offensive explosion from Doc Oney, who had 51 points and 16 rebounds in a 162-149 shootout victory over Philadelphia, and they closed the week with a 126-114 victory in Baltimore. This time it was guard Phil Brouwer's turn to take the spotlight as he poured in 31 points. The Steamers did play the week without starting center Benny Zimmerman, who will miss about a month with a knee injury sustained the previous week, but it does not seem to matter as the Steamers simply have too much depth for the rest of the CBL.

KNIGHTS REMAIN AT TOP OF CAGE POLL

The Detroit City College Knights continue to hold down top spot in the weekly college basketball rankings after improving to 19-2 overall and 7-1 in Great Lakes Alliance play. DCC opened their week with a Thursday evening trip to Lansing and convincing 74-58 victory over the St Ignatius Lancers in a victory keyed by a 20-point, 7 rebound performance from senior center Chuck Carpenter. On Saturday they Knights entertained their top rival in the Central Ohio Aviators, and despite a 21-point showing from Aviators forward Tommy Tibbetts, the hosts prevailed 75-64.

Detroit City College has been ranked number one nearly the entire season, only surrendering the top spot for a brief period to Baton Rouge State, and currently shares the Great Lakes Alliance lead with Indiana A&M. The 6th ranked Reapers are 18-3, including 7-1 in conference play and are the only GLA squad to beat Detroit City College. Indiana A&M had an impressive week with road wins over a pair of ranked opponents in Whitney College and Western Iowa to run their winning streak to 7 games. The Reapers lone conference loss came in their opener when they were upset at home by the Western Iowa Canaries.

Maryland State remains second in the rankings despite the fact that the 20-3 Bengals lost two consecutive conference games at home last week. They were knocked off 73-64 by 13th ranked and conference leading Charleston Tech Admirals on Thursday before losing a heartbreaker 67-65 Saturday on Carolina Poly. The 4th ranked Cardinals were led by the game of his life from senior guard Danny Russo, who hit on 11 of 15 attempts from the floor to help his club improve to 19-3 on the season.

Third ranked Baton Rouge State beat Alabama Baptist and Opelika State to run their record to 19-2 but at 6-2 in Deep South Conference play, they trail 5th ranked Northern Mississippi by a game. The Mavericks are 18-3 overall and 7-1 in section play following home wins over Bayou State and Central Kentucky.

Coastal California continues to set the pace in the last of the big four conferences as the Dolphins thumped city rival CC Los Angeles 62-30 yesterday afternoon to improve to 7-1 in West Coast Athletic Association play and 22-2 overall. The 8th ranked Dolphins led 10th ranked Lane State by a game for the WCAA lead.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 02/16/1975

President Ford unveils major tax cut proposal to fight recession, calling for billions in personal and business tax relief to jump-start a slowing economy and rising unemployment.
Congress sharply divided over Ford’s tax and spending plan, with Democrats warning that cuts favor business while offering too little immediate relief for jobless workers.
South Vietnam’s military position worsens amid renewed communist advances, heightening concern in Washington over the consequences of reduced U.S. aid.
Rockefeller Commission expands probe into CIA activities, as new testimony fuels public unease about domestic surveillance and intelligence abuses.
OPEC maintains firm oil pricing policy, frustrating hopes for early energy relief as North American consumers continue to face high fuel and heating costs.
Patty Hearst defense renews claims of coercion and psychological duress, signaling an aggressive strategy ahead of the closely watched federal trial.
Canada confronts slowing growth and stubborn inflation, with Ottawa weighing stronger federal intervention as economists warn of a prolonged downturn.

Tiger Fan · Yesterday, 02:54 PM

FEBRUARY 24, 1975

COUGARS MAKE ANOTHER DEAL

By the time the Chicago Cougars report to Sarasota next week, the clubhouse introductions may take longer than the first workout. No club in baseball has been busier over the winter, and with three trades already completed and a flurry of free-agent signings added to the mix, the Cougars batting order promises to look very little like the team that closed the 1974 season. And if recent history is any indication, Chicago’s front office may not yet be finished.

The latest move lacks the headline punch of the deals that delivered Whitney Award winner Tom Lorang from Washington or All-Star outfielder Andy Babel from Cleveland, but it may prove just as important. Chicago has acquired 27-year-old first baseman John Baab from Toronto in a trade that has all the markings of a quiet, calculated upgrade in what promises to be a fiercely contested Continental Association West Division.

Toronto sends Baab to Chicago in exchange for veteran lefthander Manny Espinosa and 23-year-old minor league slugger Pedro Maldonado.

Baab’s path to Chicago has been anything but straightforward. A first-round selection of the Los Angeles Suns out of Boston State in the 1969 draft, he made his major league debut in 1972 and was dealt to the Wolves prior to the 1973 season. He showed flashes that year but never settled into an everyday role. That was supposed to change in 1974, and for a time it did. Baab was one of Toronto’s most productive hitters early on, batting .313 with nine home runs through the first half of the season before a late-July concussion abruptly ended his year.

Whether Toronto harbored lingering concerns about Baab’s health or simply felt compelled to address a pressing need for pitching, the Wolves chose not to wait for a full answer. Chicago, on the other hand, is betting that Baab is fully recovered and ready to deliver the kind of steady production that often separates contenders from also-rans.

From Toronto’s perspective, the return addresses immediate needs. Espinosa, now 32, has been one of the league’s more durable arms, and if nothing else should provide innings. Over 13 seasons split almost evenly between Pittsburgh and Chicago, he has compiled a 133-116 record and has rarely been sidelined. For a Wolves club short on dependable pitching, that reliability has value.

The long-term intrigue in the deal rests with Maldonado. The Mexican-born first baseman, a fifth-round pick out of Northern Mississippi University in 1973, put together a jaw-dropping power display last season, blasting 46 home runs across three levels, including 28 in just 62 games at Triple-A Omaha. If even a portion of that power carries over to the major leagues, Toronto may have uncovered a middle-of-the-order fixture.

In the end, this may be one of those rare trades that serves both sides well. The Cougars add a big-league-ready bat to what is rapidly becoming a formidable lineup, assuming Baab’s health holds. The Wolves gain a veteran arm to stabilize their staff and a young slugger who could be knocking on the door of Dominion Stadium as early as April.

And with spring training just days away, Chicago’s winter of motion shows no sign of slowing.

DON’T COUNT THE TOTEMS OUT JUST YET

A week ago, the Los Angeles Stingrays looked ready to seize control of the Thomas Division and perhaps disappear over the horizon. Riding a blistering 16-1-1 run, Los Angeles had surged past Vancouver into first place just as the Totems were staggering through one of their roughest patches of the season, losing eight of ten and searching for answers.

One week later, the picture has changed considerably.

Vancouver and Los Angeles are now deadlocked atop the division with 70 points apiece, but the momentum has swung sharply north. The Totems, Challenge Cup finalists a year ago before falling to Philadelphia, have steadied themselves with three wins and a tie in their last four games. The Stingrays, meanwhile, have cooled just as quickly as they heated up, dropping three of their last five after that torrid start to the new year.

The catalyst for Vancouver’s revival has been between the pipes. Scott Bly, the 23-year-old netminder brought over from Boston after spending two seasons as Alex Daoust’s understudy, was expected to push rookie Charlie Laliberté for playing time. Instead, Bly has recently taken firm control of the crease. Last week he found another level altogether, posting back-to-back shutouts against Pittsburgh and Toronto and giving the Totems exactly what they needed while they searched for offense.

Scoring, in fact, remains Vancouver’s obvious weakness. Not a single Totem ranks among the NAHC’s top 30 scorers, a remarkable statistic for a team sitting atop its division. But strong, consistent goaltending has kept them competitive, and at the moment it is proving enough.

Los Angeles presents a contrasting case. The Stingrays have ridden confidence, speed, and a remarkable run of fortune in close games — including a perfect 10-0 record in one-goal contests during their surge — but the numbers suggest trouble ahead. They have surrendered 24 more goals than they have scored this season, an imbalance that rarely supports a long-term stay at the top of the standings. As the bounces even out, it’s fair to wonder how much longer Los Angeles can keep pace.

The Thomas Division race is suddenly wide open again. And after a week that seemed to spell their undoing, the Vancouver Totems have reminded everyone that they are very much still in this fight.

NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS
MONDAY FEBRUARY 17

Atlanta at Philadelphia : Daniel Harris has been on a tear of late as the Atlanta defenseman has collected 4 goals and 10 assists in his last six games including a 3-point night to lead the Blazers to a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia. Randy Kelleher was outstanding in net for the Blazers while veteran forward Ray Dupuis had a goal and two assists.

Vancouver at Cincinnati :Vancouver scored twice in the final three minutes to earn a point in Cincinnati, skating to a 5-5 tie with the Ironclads. Johnny Gruber set up two goals for the Totems and scored the tying marker. Alan Porter earned an assist for the Ironclads - it was his 600th career NAHC point.

Detroit at San Francisco : Andrew Williams had a goal and an assist to help Detroit past San Francisco 5-1.

Los Angeles at St Louis : Brian Eastwood had a hat trick as St Louis slowed the high flying Los Angeles Stingrays with a 7-4 victory.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18

Atlanta at Quebec : Four third period goals gave the Blazers their second win in as many nights, doubling Quebec 4-2.

Cincinnati at Washington : Two first period goals by the Federals did not stand up as Cincinnati tallied three in the third period including Alan Porter's 39th of the season to give the Ironclads a 3-2 victory.

Detroit at San Francisco : The Motors won back to back games in San Francisco, taking the second contest by a 4-1 score and are on a three game winning streak for just the second time this season.

Toronto at Chicago: Ollie Perreault and Sam Schmidt each scored twice to pace Toronto to a 7-5 win over Chicago.

Vancouver at Pittsburgh :Scott Phillips scored twice and Scott Bly stopped 20 shots for his first shutout as a Totem to lead Vancouver to 5-0 win in Pittsburgh.

St Louis at Minneapolis :Two clubs in a spirited battle for second place in the Yeadon Division skated to a 3-3 tie. St Louis outshot the Norsemen badly but Al Ferguson was terrific in the Minneapolis net.

New York at Montreal : Five second period goals by Montreal turned this one into a rout as the Valiants thumped the Shamrocks 11-3. Defenseman Mark Moggy had 5 assists in the game while John Partridge and Charles Thibeault each scored twice.

Philadelphia at Calgary : The Rogues lost for the second game in row, falling 8-5 in Calgary. Brian Murray scored his 32nd goal of the season and added three assists for the winners.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19

Los Angeles at Calgary :Back to back losses and three defeats in four games for the suddenly struggling Stingrays, who fall 3-1 in Calgary despite outshooting the Grizzlies 41-23. Calgary goaltender John Girard was the difference in the game.

Montreal at Boston : The Connelly Division leading Bees have lost just once in their last eight games after doubling Montreal 4-2. The loss leaves he Valiants 12 points behind the Bees.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20

Minneapolis at St Louis : The Norseman pulled ahead of the Sawyers in the fight for second place in the Yeadon Division following a 4-3 victory.

Pittsburgh at Chicago : Players that usually fly under the radar led the way for Chicago in the Packers 7-3 win over the Sentinels. Pat McGibbon had a goal and two assists while Larry Rolfe had 3 helpers for the Packers.

New York at Washington : The Shamrocks bounced back from the beating they absorbed in Montreal two nights earlier by skating to a 3-3 tie with the Washington Federals.

Boston at Cincinnati :The Bees keep winning, improving on the NAHC's best record with a 3-2 win in the Queen City.

Toronto at Vancouver : Scott Bly earned his second shutout in as many games, blanking the Toronto Dukes 3-0 with 27 saves.

Quebec at Detroit : The Motors have earned seven points in their last four games after tying Quebec 4-4. Tim Bernard, who spent much of his career in Montreal before moving to Quebec four years ago, collected his 600th career point in the game.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21

Minneapolis at Philadelphia : Gary Yeadon scored his 43rd goal of the season to lead Philadelphia to a 4-1 win over Minneapolis.

Montreal at Atlanta : Don Roeszler scored twice to help Montreal down Atlanta 3-1. It end a three-game winning streak for the Blazers who had already beaten Montreal twice this month.

New York at Toronto : Daniel McQuaid's third period goal completed the comeback as New York overcame a 3-1 deficit to tie Toronto 3-3.

Chicago at Quebec : Bill Tannen and Pat McGibbon each scored twice and added an assist as Chicago doubled Quebec 6-3.

San Francisco at Calgary : The Grizzlies scored four times in the third period to try and erase a 4-goal deficit after forty minutes but Mike McGee's second of the game and 27th of the season allowed San Francisco to pull out a 5-4 victory. Calgary's Archer Cook scored twice in what was his 1,107th career NAHC game. It moved him past Jimmy Rucks and into 9th all-time.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22

Los Angeles at Pittsburgh : The Stingrays got back on track, snapping a two-game losing streak with a 6-3 road win in Pittsburgh. For the Sentinels, in prolongs a dreadful stretch that has seen them lose 11 consecutive games.

Boston at Washington : Bruce Callahan scored three times and added two assists while Matt Brophey had a four point night as the Boston Bees blasted the Washington Federals 9-3.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23

Vancouver at Toronto : The Totems pulled back into a first place tie with Los Angeles atop the Thomas Division as they completed the sweep of a home and home series with Toronto, downing the Dukes 3-2. Sam DaSilva and Matt Courville each had a goal and an assist for the winners while Ollie Perreault scored his league leading 47th goal of the season for The Dukes.

[size="6] FALCONS MOORE PLAYS THROUGH INJURY[/size]

Despite suffering a serious cut on his neck, Winnipeg Falcons scoring star Tim Moore did not miss a game and if anything stepped up his play over the past week. Falcons club officials feared Moore could miss up to a month recovering from the scary injury but he was back on the ice and equipped with a specially designed neck guard. Neither the new equipment nor the injury seemed to slow the 24-year-old down as Moore scored three points in each of his first two games and regained the Continental Hockey League's scoring lead from Ottawa's Hobie Barrell. The Falcons went 1-0-2 in their three games last week and continue to lead Milwaukee by three points atop both the Central Division and the CHL's overall standings.

Barrell had to sit out Ottawa's 3-3 tie with Edmonton on Tuesday as the result of a suspension he incurred last week but was back in the lineup and had a goal and an assist as the Athletics tied Denver 3-3 on Thursday.

LITTLE DECIDED AS FBL SEASON ENTERS HOME STRETCH

This is shaping up to be a thrilling conclusion to the Federal Basketball League campaign as the season enters its final third. Four teams from each conference qualify for the postseason with the two division winners joining two wildcards in each bracket. With two months remaining only the Chicago Panthers have more than a 2.5 game lead on their division.

The Western Conference at the moment has five teams fighting for the four postseason berths with a sixth -the Vancouver Bears- needing a hot streak to join the race and perhaps reach the playoffs for the first time in club history. The St Louis Rockets continue to struggle of late although they did get a road win in Seattle last week. Despite the victory over the Emeralds, the Rockets went just 2-2 on the week and have won just 3 of their last 9 games following losses to Minneapolis and Vancouver last week. The Rockets have not missed the playoffs since 1966-67.

The Eastern Conference looks to be a five team battle in the Atlantic Division where just 3 games separate first from last. Three of the five teams will qualify for the playoffs with the Chicago Panthers- the only team over .500 in the Central- likely set to extend their playoff streak to 11 consecutive seasons.

STEAMERS LOSE TWICE IN WEEK

You know you are doing something right when the big story in the Continental Basketball League last week was the fact that the mighty Cincinnati Steamers won only two of their four games. The Steamers, who despite the rocky -at least by their standards- week, still lead the CBL's East Division by 12.5 games but have fallen slightly off the pace if they wish to equal he 197-71 Dallas Drillers record 62-16 season.

Cincinnati opened the week with a 109-105 road loss to the Denver Bighorns, a club fighting with San Antonio for top spot in the West Division. The Steamers than had little trouble with Philadelphia as four Steamers topped the 20-point mark in a 144-127 win at home over the Mariners. Next up was a quick trip to Louisville and an easy 147-112 victory over the Spirits before the Steamers lost for just the second time in 27 games at the Queen City Arena, falling 125-119 to the Baltimore Chargers.

MAVERICKS TAKE CONTROL OF DEEP SOUTH

The Northern Mississippi Mavericks look well positioned to win the Deep South Conference basketball title for just the second time in over 50 years. The Mavericks improved to 9-1 in conference play and 20-3 overall following wins over Alabama Baptist and Georgia Baptist last week. That gives Northern Mississippi a two game lead on a trio of teams including defending conference champion Noble Jones College and Mississippi A&M, winners of four section titles in the past five years.

This week will go a long ways towards determining if the Mavericks, an original Deep South member that won its first and only conference basketball title in 1967-68, can hang on to the lead. There are three weeks left in the regular season and three of the Mavericks final six games are against ranked teams including this week when they face #2 Baton Rouge State on Thursday at home followed by a road game against in-state rival Mississippi A&M, which is ranked 6th in the nation.

The Mavericks moved up to third as both they and the Red Devils leapfrogged Maryland State, which fell from second to fourth despite halting their three game losing streak Saturday with a 59-51 victory over Eastern State in South Atlantic Conference action.

Detroit City College (9-1, 21-2) remains the top team in the nation after the Knights defeated both 14th ranked Western Iowa and Wisconsin State on the road. DCC now has a 1-game lead on Indiana A&M atop the Great Lakes Alliance standings after the Reapers split their two games last week, beating Lincoln at home before losing on the road in St. Paul, MN., to St. Magnus. The victory for St Magnus improved the Vikings record to 15-8 on the season and was impressive enough to bring them very much into the tournament picture. If they do qualify for the AIAA tournament it will be the Vikings first appearance since the spring of 1964.

Here are a look at the bubble teams for inclusion in the 32 team field as it stands right now.

AIAA TOURNAMENT BUBBLE WATCH

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 02/23/1975

CIA investigations deepen as Senate prepares intelligence inquiry, following continued revelations of surveillance, assassination plots, and domestic spying.
Congress moves closer to cutting off military aid to South Vietnam, signaling a decisive shift in U.S. policy as North Vietnamese forces maintain pressure on the Saigon government.
President Ford’s proposed tax cuts ignite heated debate on Capitol Hill, with Democrats pressing for direct job-creation programs as unemployment continues to climb.
Inflation and unemployment continue to squeeze consumers, with new figures underscoring the depth of the recession across the U.S. and Canada .
OPEC oil policy remains unchanged, keeping gasoline prices high and sustaining public frustration over energy costs and economic stagnation.
Ottawa weighs tougher economic controls, with the Trudeau government signaling it may soon move toward wage and price restraints amid growing labor resistance.
Oscar anticipation builds as “The Godfather Part II” emerges as frontrunner, with entertainment pages predicting a dominant showing at the Academy Awards ceremony.

12-04-2025, 03:41 PM	#1181
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,809	Dec 30, 1974 - Dynamos Make Change at the Top. CAN THE DYNAMOS TURN THINGS AROUND? Detroit, Dec 30, 1974 --A rare ripple of excitement rolled out of Thompson Field this week—no small feat for a ballpark where optimism has been in short supply for far too long. Detroit fans know the feeling all too well: the football Maroons haven’t won a postseason game since the winter of ’37, and the summer tenants haven’t fared much better. The Dynamos last reached the playoffs in 1958, the final chapter of that remarkable “Dream Decade” when the club stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the great dynasties in baseball history. Now, the architect of that golden era is back. Tiger Fan—the general manager who built the core of Detroit’s 1950s powerhouse—is returning to take the reins once again. The December 27 press conference announcing his hire felt like an early Christmas present for a fan base desperate for one. Tiger Fan’s résumé needs no embellishment: a World Championship Series crown in Brooklyn, two more in Cincinnati, and his fingerprints all over the 1952–58 run when Detroit captured three titles and six pennants in seven seasons. This time, however, the climb looks steeper. The 1974 club tied for the worst record in the FABL. The Dynamos have posted just a single winning season since Tiger Fan stepped aside after 1963, and even the lean mid-1930s begin to look prosperous by comparison. Detroit has finished last in the Federal West three times in the past four years and hit a grim .383 winning percentage this past season—one of the lowest in franchise history. Some Talent in the Batting Order The cupboard isn’t entirely bare. While no Dynamo appears on OSA’s top-20 position-player list, three are ranked among the top ten at their respective positions. Chief among them is Bill Austin (.297, 11, 95), though his position for 1975 remains unsettled. Austin is a natural second baseman, but with the acquisition of Melvin Williams (.280, 5, 24) from the Los Angeles Stars, the club is considering shifting Austin to third. Williams will get a chance to compete at second, where he’ll battle veteran Virgil Ewing who hopes to return at the hot corner. Ewing, 39, was one of Tiger Fan’s acquisitions during his early-’60s tenure, but Father Time now looms over his roster spot. Austin's final position depends upon whether Williams or Ewing is more impressive in Lakeland this March. There is also a third path: Austin remains Detroit’s most valuable trade chip. With the organization openly embracing a three-year rebuild, the three-time All-Star could be moved for much-needed youth. Jack Lucas returns at first base after hitting .316—his best mark since capturing the ’66 batting title. His lack of power remains the knock against him, but he’s one of the few reliable bats in the lineup. At shortstop, Detroit will choose between 27-year-old Elmer Mortensen, a career .180 hitter, and newly acquired 21-year-old Alberto Alvarez. Alvarez hit only .197 in a brief September look with Baltimore, but he is widely regarded as a future defensive standout. On a club clearly not built to contend in 1975, youth is likely to win out. Behind the plate, Harvey Van Orden may not crack OSA’s top ten, but Tiger Fan and long-time scouting director Chuck Cole remain high on the 32-year-old. Van Orden hit .235 last year and brings some pop—more importantly, he’ll be tasked with steadying what is expected to be a very inexperienced pitching staff. Outfield Is the Club’s Strength If there is one organizational bright spot, it’s the outfield. Corner men Buddy Ensey and Dave Black—27 and 29, respectively—both rate among the top ten at their positions and are young enough to survive the rebuild. The soft spot is centerfield, where Geoff Taylor provides middling offense and limited range. Help is on the way. The Dynamos boast two top-20 prospects in Charlie Watson (19) and Don Simpson (18), both former first-round picks. Watson is expected to open at High-A Terre Haute and could reach AAA by season's end. Simpson will start in Short-A and follow a similar path one year behind. For 1975, the stopgap solution may be Neal Allen, a 1966 12th-rounder who hit well in AAA and fields the position cleanly. Dynamos Put Faith in Skipper Cleaves One of Tiger Fan’s first moves was securing manager Roger Cleaves and his entire coaching staff with multi-year extensions—a clear signal that Cleaves is the man for Detroit’s long-term plan. After years as Harry Barrell’s right-hand man in Montreal—helping steer the Saints to five straight division crowns and two WCS titles—Cleaves endured a 100-loss baptism in Detroit. Stability on the bench is one thing the organization can control, and Tiger Fan intends to keep it that way. Pitching Staff Still a Major Question Detroit had the worst pitching in the Federal Association last season, and with three of the five primary starters gone, the 1975 staff may be held together with crossed fingers and long hopes. The rotation will include a pair of reclamation projects. Ossie Schreiber, the former No. 1 overall pick and once a top-ten prospect, arrives from Milwaukee after years of inconsistency. He went 23–26 with two clubs and spent most of last season in AAA, but Detroit intends to give the 28-year-old lefty every chance to salvage his career. Carl Hoffman, the 1967 second overall pick, has endured two major elbow injuries but remains intriguing. Acquired two years ago, he posted a 7–11 mark with a 4.33 ERA in 1973 before another year mostly in AAA. Detroit considers this a pivotal season for the now-26-year-old. Jack Williams (9–16, 4.51) and Jack Vander Kooi (7–14, 4.30) return, and the fifth spot belongs to newcomer Pat Fortier, a Baltimore waiver claim whose sparkling 2.38 ERA last year was helped by the lowest BABIP in the Continental Association. Detroit is under no illusions that those numbers will repeat, but options are scarce. A Brighter Pitching Future Despite the thin big-league staff, Cole believes the future is strong—if the kids hold up their end. Richard Elk, 23, debuted in September and is viewed internally as a potential front-line arm. OSA is less bullish but still sees a reliable starter. Elk struggled in AAA, but Detroit insists he won’t be relegated to the bullpen; he’ll either start in Detroit or refine his craft in AAA. Ed South, 21, is another cornerstone candidate. Drafted last year out of Indiana A&M, he reached Detroit by August and appeared 11 times in relief. He’ll likely open 1975 in AAA, but a dominant spring could accelerate the timeline. Behind them is Emil Maas, 23, a fourth-rounder from 1969 projected as a mid-rotation piece, and 19-year-old Aaron Cooper, the promising 1973 third-rounder from Napa who is expected to reach Detroit by ’77. Immediate Outlook Bleak, But Hope on the Horizon It’s hard to picture this club winning 75 games in 1975 without multiple pitching surprises. More likely is a busy trade season, with veterans—most notably Bill Austin—shipped out in exchange for youth. The farm system ranks fifth in the 24-team league, but its depth is uneven, particularly in the infield. Beyond the pitching prospects and outfielders Watson and Simpson, the next most interesting names are catcher Jose Chavez—still rehabbing a broken elbow—and recently acquired 18-year-old infielder Al Ireland, who may one day replace Austin. Detroit also holds the No. 2 pick in next month’s FABL draft, and all signs point toward selecting a polished college player to accelerate the rebuild. A swift turnaround in ’75 or even ’76 is unlikely. Yet with a respected GM back in charge, a wave of young arms on the horizon, and possible free agency looming in 1976—assuming Powell Thompson Jr. is willing to open the checkbook—the long, cold winter for Detroit baseball may finally be thawing. DETROIT DYNAMOS ORGANIZATION:12/74 For major leaguers the colour-coding is a current assessment of their skills. For prospects, including the three young pitchers listed on the FABL roster, it is a prediction of their potential ceiling. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

12-05-2025, 08:03 PM	#1182
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,033	Previewing the Federal West Chicago Chiefs Last Year Record: 69-93 (5th, .426) Best Year Since 1964: 1967, 97-65 (1st, .599): Won the World Championship Series! Top Pitcher: RHP Johnny Maples (31, 7-14, 3.16, 156; 36-50, 52, 3.07, 488) One of the most successful historical franchises, the Chicago Chiefs won their 7th title less then a decade ago, but fell on tough times in 1974. It snapped a stretch of 11 consecutive finishes above .500, and their 69 wins were the fewest since 1948. The pitching is a main factor, but blame cannot be placed on new found ace Johnny Maples. If you look past his 7-14 record, his first year as a full-time rotation member was a resounding success, working to a 3.16 ERA (120 ERA+) and 1.28 WHIP with 90 walks and 156 strikeouts in 35 starts. His 225 innings were nearly half his career total entering the season, as the former Cougar high leverage arm has found a second wind on the other side of town. Their 10th Round selection in 1963, he debuted for the Cougars in 1967, but his 8.24 ERA (41 ERA+) and 1.83 WHIP suggested he was not yet ready. He returned to the minors and earned another promotion later in '68, and in 10 more innings he had a much better 2.79 ERA (111 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP, improving his K% from 13.8 to 20.2 before pitching his way into the later innings. In year three he earned the stopper job, leading the CA with 33 saves despite his 4-11 record. His 3.24 ERA (115 ERA+) and 1.23 WHIP impressed, and he threw 125 innings in an association high 81 appearances. He picked up a handful of saves in each of the next two seasons, and opened the 1972 season in his usual late-innings role. Despite allowing just one run in 8.1 innings, Chicago waived the then 28-year-old, and Milwaukee added him to their pen. He finished out the season with the Arrows, 4-5 with 3 saves, a 2.67 ERA (131 ERA+), and 1.31 WHIP, helping to stabilize the middle innings. That offseason he was on the move again, as the Chiefs acquired him and a prospect in a small offseason deal. Whitney Park seemed to fit his style, as he finished 11-3 with a 2.65 ERA (156 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts in a swingman role, even earning an All-Star selection. Having never made a start in the majors before, he started 15 of his 45 games, which allowed him to enter the rotation this year. A five pitch pitcher, he makes it work his premium stuff, and the command should continue to work in his favor. That's not to say he doesn't walk guys, he certainly does (90, 9.3% this year), but he doesn't allow a lot of hard contact. As long as the walks aren't too plentiful, he'll pitch well enough to win, and while he's no ace he's an ideal back-of-the-rotation arm who should have plenty of mileage left on his arm. Top Hitter: 2B John Butts (32, .273, 1; .304, 95, 574, 43) Injuries have almost completely kept John Butts off the field the past two seasons, limiting him to just 9 games this year and 50 between them, but when he was healthy he was a weapon at the plate and in the field. Taken by the Chiefs with the 30th pick of the 1963 draft, Butts burst onto the scene in 1965, hitting .298/.348/.493 (144 OPS+) in 54 games. He backed that up in his first full season, slashing .310/.347/.499 (145 OPS+) in 143 contests, bashing 18 homers with 33 doubles, 10 triples, 80 RBIs, and 98 runs. Firmly cemented in the Chiefs lineup, second base became his home, since collecting 6 All-Star trips and a Diamond Defense award. He won the batting title in 1968, hitting .306 in 578 PAs, and from '65 to '72 his WRC+ dropped below 120 just once. He was worth at least 5.5 wins above replacement with 30 or more doubles, a skilled defender and extra base hitter who contributed plenty to their winning seasons. Still, he fought through injuries even when playing regularly, but he still managed 150+ games on three occasions. Even in 1973 when he missed most of the season, his .351/.404/.530 (159 OPS+) batting line was outstanding, allowing him to be worth over 2 WAR in just 41 games. 1974 was much different, held to just 9 games, setting career worsts in games, OPS+ (93), and WRC+ (107), while more importantly causing concern that he'd ever return to the player Chiefs fans were so used to seeing. This offseason he's tried his best to quash those feelings, with scouts still enamored with his premier talent. Expected to reclaim his spot at the top of the order, the longtime Chief's next game will be his 1,151st, and few with that many can boast a line like his .304/.357/.450 (135 OPS+). His home run power has dropped, just 8 since the start of 1972, but for his career he's recorded 95 with 259 doubles, 55 triples, and 574 RBIs. His great defense has helped him produce over 50 WAR (51.8), and with a few more good seasons he should become the 11th Chief hitter to reach 60. The way he started his career, it was expected he'd reach that this season, but for now his club would just be happy with him passing the 100 game mark for the 8th time in his career. Top Prospect: RHP Walter Hoffman (4th Overall) Overall) Picking 14th in the 1974 draft, the Chiefs uncovered a gem in young righty Walter Hoffman, who is just a few days away from his 19th birthday. Ranked as the 4th best prospect and 3rd best pitcher, Hoffman was hit hard in six rookie ball starts, but showed clear promise in his first taste of pro baseball. A three pitch pitcher, Hoffman has wowed scouts with his change and cutter, while the slider has depth as it moves across the plate. All three pitches have plenty of life in terms of velo and movement, and he pounds the zone with strikes. That tendency will work in his favor as he matures, right now his mistakes are very hittable, but it's easier to get young pitchers to work away from the zone then towards it. Ace potential may be underselling it a bit, but he has both the baseball tools and natural talent to lead a rotation. Assuming his elbow injury this year is an aberration and not a reoccurring issue, he's destined to make a living fooling even the best of FABL hitters. Active Legend: LF Joe Siniscalchi (36, .285, 25, 94, 10; .266, 263, 1,095, 97) Even if second basemen John Butts isn't able to return to his star-level form, the Chiefs have a veteran outfielder in Joe Siniscalchi who has been one of their most consistent producers since his 1962 debut. Acquired that season in the four player package that sent 4-Time champion Jack Halbur to the Kings, Siniscalchi immediately entered the Chiefs lineup, hitting .311/.376/.526 (134 OPS+) in the last two and a half months of the season. He made starts in all three outfield positions, bashing 10 longballs with 33 runs, 42 RBIs, and 8 doubles in 219 trips to the plate. The power he showcased in that short sample has been one of his trademarks, as the 5-Time All-Star has put together 7 20-homer seasons, including 31 in 1966 and 25 as a 35-year-old this season. He led the Fed in RBIs in back-to-back seasons, including their title winning '67 season, and he has yet to produce a below average offensive season. Entering year 13, he's appeared in 154 or more games in each of the past five seasons, and throughout his career he's played in 1,838 games for the Chiefs. His .266/.350/.447 (129 OPS+) career line is a little lower then Butts', but he has him beat in the counting stats with 1,775 hits, 263 homers, 1,093 RBIs, and 1,020 runs. He has a slight WAR lead too, worth 56.2 in total, producing at least 6 on four separate occasions. A plus defender in left (19.3, 1.016) and center (16.6, 1.009), he's not a liability in the field, but most of his production now comes from his bat. Even average left field play would be enough with his power production, as he's still one of the top sluggers in the game. Even in a historic organization like the Chiefs, he ranks 3rd in home runs, above 1928 Whitney Winner Joe Masters and 17 behind teammate Bob Starr (34, .212, 14, 52, 1; .247, 280, 926, 24) on the teams leaderboard. He's top 10 in games (7th, 1,838), at bats (9th, 6,674), runs (8th), hits (9th), doubles (7th, 298), RBIs (5th), and walks (5th, 877), and has more then enough left in the tank to keep on climbing. Star Out of Place: 3B Don Barker (34, .291, 4, 49, 21; .284, 89, 552, 173) Once a mainstay in the Pioneers lineup, the Chiefs acquired the speedy Don Parker from St. Louis at last year's deadline, but a fractured rib held him to just 12 games. After rehabbing in the offseason, they installed the Texas native back at the hot corner, and the former iron man put together a capable season. Appearing in 144 games, he hit an average .291/.332/.378 (99 OPS+), adding an impressive 21 steals with 30 doubles, 49 RBIs, and 63 runs scored. Not quite at the level he produced in St. Louis, but Barker is still a very useful big league piece. At his best, he was an automatic 600 PA hitter, with three consecutive 700 PA seasons from 1969 to 1971. His 719 in '71 are the fourth most for a Pioneer, and it came with a strong .297/.353/.401 (117 OPS+) career batting line. Known best for his speed and hit tool, he had 19 steals and 46 extra base hits as well, putting the ball in play over 600 times in his aged 30 season. His 1972 season was just as good, and he's yet to have a sub 100 WRC+ since he was a rookie in 1963. In 1,615 FABL games he holds a .284/.338/.403 (116 OPS+) career batting line, recording 294 doubles, 79 triples, 89 homers, 552 RBIs, 835 runs, 173 steals, and 42.2 WAR. Expected to return to the Chiefs starting lineup in 1975, there's some belief he may move over to first, a position he has approximately a season's worth of games in his 12 year career. No longer a top defender, it could help extend his career, and keep his legs fresher for when he gets on base. Detroit Dynamos Last Year Record: 62-100 (6th, .383) Best Year Since 1964: 1970, 92-70 (2nd, .568) Top Pitcher: RHP Jack Williams (31, 9-16, 4.51, 124; 71-93, 16, 4.13, 856) Long gone are the days of the Dynamo dynasty in the 50s, as the Motor city has only seen one season above .500 since the dynasty officially ended in 1963. Success may be far away too, as it's tough to find a legitimate arm in their rotation. Jack Williams has given his all, and in the past been a guy you could count on, but consistency has been a struggle for him and he again led the Fed in losses. 9-16 in his 36 starts, his ERA rose a full point from 3.50 (115 ERA+) last year to 4.51 (83 ERA+) this year, and nearly every other metric went in a direction he preferred it didn't. An exception was strikeouts, he set down 20 more in 21 more innings, but it was not enough to salvage his season. A former 7th Rounder of the Millers, he debuted for them in 1968, but 6 of his 7 FABL seasons have come in a Dynamo uniform. This includes 178 of his 191 starts, and with Detroit he's been a below average 65-85 with a 4.21 ERA (92 ERA+) and 1.39 WHIP. He does get his strikeouts, 779 in 1,294 innings, but it is telling that the veteran righty is the best they have to offer. There may be some help in the farm, but everyone else in the rotation has more question marks then he does. You won't get great results, but his durability has saved him from making a trip to the injury list, and he's started 31 or more games in each of the past 4 seasons. When he's effective, he'll go deep, but the command is not consistent enough to guarantee it. On a better team he might have more success, as his six pitch arsenal is competent and led by a strong change. Clearly in the middle of a rebuild, he's unfortunately one of their top trade assets, but it will be tough for Detroit to get much for him without a return to form in 1975. Top Hitter: 2B Bill Austin (32, .297, 11, 95, 14; .294, 111, 779, 124) In the lineup, Detroit has a few more useful pieces, including veteran infielder Bill Austin. Recently finishing his aged 31 season, Austin has been a key bat since his 1965 debut, producing a full decades worth of above average offensive seasons. Once the 3rd Round selection of the Kings in Kansas City, his first 4 FABL seasons came with the Kings organization, where he hit .280/.327/.405 (118 OPS+) with 105 doubles, 28 triples, 35 homers, 231 RBIs, 41 steals, and 280 runs. Before the 1969 season, Seattle sent him to Detroit in a four player deal that included 1966 Kellogg winner Ben Baker (33, .279, 12, 70; .278, 106, 634, 54). A win-win deal, both Baker and Austin have had success in the middle infield. Coming off a career best '68 season where he produced a 141 WRC+ and 5.6 WAR in 138 games, Austin has spent each of the past six years in Detroit's lineup, batting .302/.356/.444 (126 OPS+) with 209 doubles, 76 homers, 548 RBIs, and 480 runs. Austin's 44 doubles in 1969 led the league while his 198 hits the next season were also tops, and 1972 was the only year he failed to make at least 600 at bats for the Dynamos. Now 32, he owns an above average .294/.345/.430 (123 OPS+) line, providing his FABL employers with 314 doubles, 111 homers, and 779 RBIs. Selected to the All-Star game in 3 of his last 4 seasons, he may have a new position in 1975, as Detroit brought in Melvin Williams (27, .280, 5, 24, 2; .249, 17, 87, 7) of the Stars to play second base. A shift down the defensive spectrum could help Austin, as his defense at the keystone was slipping, and his arm is more then strong enough for the hot corner. In a small sample this season he held up well at third, a noticeable improvement over his -12 zone rating at second. With Detroit's rebuild in full swing, he's also one of, if not their top, trade asset, and could still fetch at least a top-100 prospect from a contender, but expect him to open his 11th big league season as Detroit's starting third basemen. Top Prospect: LF Charlie Watson (7th Overall) With all the losing in Detroit comes a pretty nice consolation prize, as they have the highest ranked #2 prospect. Behind 7th ranked Charlie Watson is the 11th ranked Don Simpson, who would be the highest ranked prospect for more then half of FABL. They join the Sailors as the only team with two top-15 prospects, though both of the Dynamos play outfield. Watson has played mostly center field, but with Simpson the better defender, the organization has started to view last year's 1st Rounder as a left fielder. Taken 6th overall, he tore up rookie ball and low-A, producing WRC+ of 175 and 131. Combined he had 13 doubles, 2 triples, and 6 homers, showcasing his pure stroke at the plate. Paired with an excellent eye and a strong hit tool he should hit well above average, and be a feared hitter even if his home run power doesn't develop. An everyday player who can take advantage of poor pitching, he has the tools to rank among the game's top hitters, and the makeup to handle the stresses that come with it. Still a few years away, he could usher in the next era of greatness in the Motor City, putting his name next to champions like Edwin Hackberry and Frank Vance. Active Legend: 3B Virgil Ewing (39, .255, 9, 47; .267, 172, 962, 4) There may be no one left from the Dynamos' championship teams, but a guy who just missed it is still trying to go strong. Likely to be replaced by Austin, Virgil Ewing still started in the season he turned 39, appearing in 125 games for Detroit. Once a first rounder of the Stars back in New York, he spent two and a half seasons with the club after they made the move to LA. A big slugger, he was moved in a big deadline deal with Bud Henderson back in 1962, and he's spent every season since in Detroit. A consistent above average hitter, he's yet to see his OPS+ or WRC+ drop below 100 in a season, and he's less then 50 games away from 2,000 for his career. A 14-year vet, Ewing has become a mainstay in the Dynamo lineup, part of everything from contenders to pretenders while giving his club quality big league at bats. Ewing enters 1975 with 172 homers, 140 of which he hit as a member of the Dynamos, and his .267/.353/.405 (115 OPS+) career line isn't too far from the .255/.346/.381 (106 OPS+) he hit this year. He's had some higher highs, but what the Indiana native tended to do was about the same, above average defense with a solid glove. Back in 1965, he was awarded a Diamond Defense award, but for the most part he's been the epitome of good not great. He'll hit some homers and draw walks, but he's not immune to strikeouts and weak contact. A what you see is what you get type, he made his career being a dependable guy you can always call on, and even though it may make sense from a baseball standpoint, it would be a shame to see him end up on the bench this year. A nostalgic GM may be willing to give him one more go, but if the Dynamos want to improve on their 100 loss season, limiting their longtime team leader to a part-time role may be one of the first steps on the path to improvement. Star Out of Place: N/A I really tried to find someone, but there isn't. All there vets are either homegrown, career minor leaguers, or acquired multiple seasons ago, so instead you'll get to learn about 11th ranked prospect Don Simpson. Taken 8th by the Dynamos in the most recent draft, 61 of his 68 pro games this year came in rookie ball, where he hit .242/.399/.348 (88 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 30 RBIs, 44 runs, and 9 steals. A disciplined hitter, he did walk 53 times, but holes in his swing led to 79 strikeouts. He knows what pitches not to swing at, it's just the ones he should he can miss, and right now that's really all he has to fix. The swing itself is pretty, but top velocity is still tough and there won't be much power. What there will be is base hits, stolen bases, and super center field defense, which is why he ranks just outside the league's top 10. A potential impact player, what could stop him from reaching greatness is his own work ethic, as most scouts are convinced his natural talent will be enough to at least make it to the big leagues. The glove alone makes him a viable 4th outfielder, but Detroit has a great track record with outfielders and I would not bet against them extracting as much value from him as they can. Minneapolis Millers Last Year Record: 77-85 (4th, .475) Best Year Since 1964: 1968 and 1969, 788-84 (7th, 3rd; .481) Top Pitcher: RHP Hank Wagner (27, 6-15, 4.34, 140; 22-25, 3.88, 342) Minneapolis hasn't had nearly as much success as some of the other expansion teams, including Houston in their own division, as they still look for their first season with a winning record. Their pitching is a huge reason why, as it's really tough to even choose a top pitcher. By default, their "ace" and 37 game starter Hank Wagner gets the nod as he was actually good last season. Making 28 starts, Wagner was 12-6 with a 3.62 ERA (111 ERA+), 3.51 FIP (87 FIP-), and 1.34 WHIP, striking out 154 in his first extended season as a starting pitcher. A former 6th Rounder of the Eagles, he came to the Millers in July of 1967, parting with former 2nd Overall Pick Frank Bradshaw (32, .218, 4, 45, 34; .267, 84, 660, 221) despite having established himself as a useful outfielder. He was in the middle of a slump, hitting just .237/.277/.333 (87 OPS+), but at just 25 he was consistently an above average performer who already produced a 7.7 WAR season in 1965. Lucky for the Millers, Bradshaw didn't develop into the star the front office thought he would, and until this season Wagner was looking like a legitimate building block in their rotation. 1974 was a real struggle for the righty, as he finished 6-15 with an association high 128 walks. This led to an elevated 4.34 ERA (85 ERA+) and 1.49 WHIP, counteracting a lot of the good his 140 strikeouts caused. The biggest concern is the walks, his BB% rose from a still high 9.1 to an almost unpitchable 11.6, as a flyball pitcher he isn't able to erase extra base runners with the strikeout. Still, the stuff is really good, and his 3.88 FIP (104 FIP-) is far more encouraging. Far from a legit ace, Wagner profiles more as a back-of-the-rotation starter, but for Minnesota that's a real get. They've yet to have a starter long or successful enough to win 100 games, and only current Arrow Fred Smith (31, 8-14, 3.98, 91; 101-91, 3.98, 1,316) has one even 35 games. With plenty of holes there, are issues far more pressing then Wagner's downturn, but to finally get over the .500 hump they'll need a return to form from their fifth year righty. Top Hitter: CF Bill Powell (26, .288, 12, 81, 7; .281, 22, 133, 11) This spot should be designated to John Edwards, who they surprisingly traded to Houston, as he was one of the few true starts Minneapolis has been lucky enough to employ. Instead, it's a different outfielder, who was named as the Millers All-Star representative in his first full season with the club. A former 2nd Round pick by the Wranglers, Bill Powell was acquired with minor league pitcher Joe Carpenter last July for righty Daryl Woods (32, 7-9, 4.26, 75; 16-16, 1, 4.26, 164), who actually made his way back to the Millers in the Rule-5 draft. A trade of pure profit, Powell was stuck behind guys like Steve Prather (30, .319, 9, 72, 23; .303, 90, 569, 120), Joe Black (26, .242, 11, 62, 18; .252, 26, 130, 21), and John Vance (30, .274, 2, 85, 18; .292, 127, 826, 118), limited to just 17 starts in 110 appearances. He also didn't hit, just .184/.254/.241 (45 OPS+) in 173 PAs, but regular playing time seemed to improve his fortunes. Added right to the FABL lineup, Powell started 57 of his 59 games in Minneapolis, batting an impressive .335/.419/.530 (161 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 9 homers, and 40 RBIs. More then enough to secure an Opening Day lineup spot in 1974, he appeared in 158 games for the Millers and represented his new team at the All-Star game. Now 26, Powell slashed .288/.373/.437 (126 OPS+), producing a 141 WRC+ to go with 38 doubles, 7 triples, 12 homers, 81 RBIs, 85 runs, 75 walks, and 7 steals. The defense in center is improving too, but so far the bat has looked more then good enough to fit in a corner. He is a good judge of the strike zone and rarely chases, maintaining a 7.4 K% in his 678 PAs this season. One of the best at a weak position, OSA rates him as the #2 center fielder, and until the Millers decide to trade him, he'll continue the trend of having a high quality outfielder lead the Millers lineup. Top Prospect: RHP Jim Terry (5th Overall) Overall) With so many early draft picks the Millers have built a strong farm system, but right now there top guy is someone they didn't grab with one of the first picks. Taken in the 3rd Round of the most recent draft, Jim Terry has had an impressive ascent, opening the year as baseball's #5 prospect. A four pitch pitcher, he's a dominant sinkerballer with an innate ability for serving up grounders, and despite a labrum tear scouts think he could quickly become one of Minneapolis' top pitchers. Their historic woes are well noted, but the 21-year-old has a golden arm and a change up that could set records. Ready to go for 1975, he has just 4 minor league starts under his belt, but there are very few pitchers standing in his way. With a few strong starts he could earn multiple promotions up the ladder, and an aggressive GM could decide he's ready for the rotation as early as July. If he stays healthy, he should be a surefire ace, but injury concerns are why he fell out of the first round to begin with, and to shake off those concerns he'll have to deliver a healthy '75 season Active Legend: 3B John S. Smith (35, .261, 10, 5; .241, 64, 504, 187) Quick to ship away talented veterans, the Millers moved two of their longest tenured players in Edwards and Rusty Robertson (30, .250, 13, 68, 5; .255, 146, 662, 25) in 1974. Both homegrown top-5 picks, they're the only two players to surpass the 25 WAR mark, and the top two players in the franchise for games played. Number three is third basemen John Smith, who functioned as the every day shortstop or third basemen from 1966 to 1972. A former 12th Round pick of the Cannons back in 1957, he was picked in the 1961 expansion draft, but by the Suns and not the Millers. He'd have to wait three years before joining Minneapolis, first going to Boston in the 1963 Rule-5 draft. A natural shortstop, he earned the starting job in 1964 and held it through 1965, but his .219/.285/.308 (75 OPS+) batting line was what you'd expect from a Rule-5 pick. Still, he played good enough defense, and caught the eye of the bargain hunting Millers. Acquired for a prospect and rookie starter Hardin Jones after the '65 season, Smith spent a year and a half as the Millers shortstop before shifting over to the hot corner. The move was better for his defense, as he was much better suited for third, and he became a slightly below average bat. In five of his first six seasons he at least had a 90 WRC+, and regular 2 WAR seasons were his bread and butter. Serviceable, but not great, he really fit the epitome of a Miller, and since they never really cared about success he kept seeing his name in the lineup. Unfortunately, even a team like Minneapolis has their limits, and a drastic drop in performance during the 1972 season ended his time as a starter. In 144 games he hit just .222/.270/.306 (69 OPS+), his worst season of his career, and for '73 and '74 he was used mostly as a bench option. Even at 35, his speed has stuck, as the excellent baserunner was a perfect 5-for-5 in limited time. His first season with single digit steals, Smith enters 1975 with 187 under his belt, and his 150 as a Miller are the most in team history. His .241/.308/.322 (83 OPS+) career line doesn't inspire too much, but there's something to be said about being able to play every day and make the most of his time on the bases. His 16.1 career BsR is impressive, with a full 5 runs in his 28-steal 1969 season. There's a chance a contender looks to him as a midseason pinch running upgrade, but until then he'll be tasked with mentoring 1973 All-Star Carl Kilkenny (25, .255, 16, 55, 1; .267, 28, 113, 2) who claimed his starting job two seasons ago. Star Out of Place: RHP Joe McDowell (42, 11-16, 3.93, 89; 178-232, 6, 4.24, 1,816) It will start happening a lot more this winter, but for now it's unusual to see teams spend money on bringing in free agents. Reserved now for players at the back end of their career, Minneapolis brought in veteran Joe McDowell, who at 42 led the Fed with 16 losses in his 33 starts. A veteran of 601 games, McDowell will make $57,000 in his second stint with the Millers, and projects to function as the #2 starter in a really wea rotation. A veteran of 3,480.1 FABL innings, he's led his association in starts 4 times, and has made 512 with Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland, KC, and Minneapolis. His first go came after the expansion draft, as McDowell was one of the top unprotected players. The then Miner was Minneapolis' first pick, but he could not replicate his early career success. While never great, he went from serviceable to awful, 6-18 with a 6.78 ERA (68 ERA+), 1.76 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts, making a case for one of the worst pitchers in the league. It's fitting for one of the worst teams, and just by taking the mound 31 times he helped them eat innings as they played for high picks. McDowell returned in 1962, a more serviceable 8-18 with a 4.87 ERA (86 ERA+) and 1.38 WHIP, allowing him to rebuild some of his trade value. Cleveland came calling, sending the Millers a young middle infield prospect, and McDowell was back on an established team that could get more out of a guy who'd pitch every fifth day. The first two seasons were more of the same, but by 1966 he started to figure things out. in 35 starts he was 15-12 with a 3.39 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.13 WHIP, and 130 strikeouts, and he at least had an above average ERA+ in two of the next three seasons. In total, he spent 9 seasons with the Foresters, finishing 97-126 with a respectable 3.87 ERA (93 ERA+), 3.60 FIP (100 FIP-), and 1.24 WHIP. In his 40s, he's re-established his serviceability, with a breakout swingman year with the Kings (9-3, 5, 2.63, 44) a stabilizing return to the rotation in Baltimore (11-16, 3.93, 89). His 95 ERA+ and 94 FIP- are right around average, and in 208.1 innings he was worth 3.3 WAR. That would have been the highest on the Millers staff this season, which really highlights how much they need upgrades on the mound. It's hard to expect too much from the veteran this coming season, but manager Harry Hammond needs someone he can count on for 6+ innings every 5 games, and since the overall quality doesn't matter McDowell is exactly the guy for the job. Los Angeles Suns Last Year Record: 91-71 (1st, .562): Lost in Federal Championship Series Best Year Since 1964: 1974, 91-71 (1st, .562):Lost in Federal Championship Series Top Pitcher: LHP Jim Place (31, 12-7, 2.85, 153; 59-65, 5, 3.35, 851) One of the top ten pitchers in FABL, the now 31-year-old lefty Jim Place led a strong rotation with Heinie Schmidt (14-12, 2.85, 132) and Pete Meissner (14-11, 3.56, 121) behind him. A former 2nd Round pick of the Chicago Cougars, Place ranked as high as 27 on the prospect list, and enters the new year as the 6th best pitcher. Place was selected to his 4th All-Star game this year, going 12-7 as the Suns captured their first Western division without an extra game. 91 wins matched their first title in 1971, but this time they had a seven game cushion. His performance this year was much better then last, working to a 2.85 ERA (134 ERA+) and 1.20 WHIP in 35 starts. He's no stranger to top performance, as his "down" year considered slightly below average ERA+ of 96 and 94. A veteran of six plus years, Place showed that the biceps injury that ended last season was nothing to worry about, delivering his fifth 200 inning season. The crafty seven pitch southpaw has pitched on some bad teams, so his 59-65 career record isn't all on him. His 3.35 ERA (118 ERA+) and 3.44 FIP (86 FIP-) are both well above average, and in all four of his 30+ start seasons he's surpassed the 4 WAR mark that tends to separate the good starters from the solid ones. With the Suns expected to again lead their relatively weak division, the success of Place and the rest of the rotation can help make up for a lineup that is ripe for improvement. Top Hitter: SS Tom Lally (26, .318, 12, 68, 7; .296, 49, 202, 15) Not only is Tom Lally the clear most valuable player on the Suns, but you could make an argument that he's the single most valuable player in all of FABL. Ranked #4 on OSA's top 20 list, the slick fielding shortstop has been an All-Star in each of his three FABL seasons, starting with a Kellogg award as a rookie and the most recent Whitney award. Leading the Fed with an outstanding 9.2 WAR, Lally upset fellow 26-year-old middle infielder Al Hubbard (.341, 12, 73, 28; .299, 65, 427, 114), was limited to just 119 games due to a trio of injuries. This allowed Lally to snap his string of 3 consecutive Fed WAR leads, and his .318/.407/.457 (146 OPS+) triple slash isn't too far off. That upped his career mark to .296/.381/.448 (138 OPS+) and he's already accumulated 76 doubles, 16 triples, 49 homers, 202 RBIs, 260 runs, 318 walks, and an impressive 20.5 wins above replacement. What sets Lally apart is the glove, setting a personal best 20.5 zone rating in 154 games at short. That was good for 2nd in the Fed where his 1.057 efficiency was 4th, but two of the guys ahead of him had a lower slugging and OBP then Lally's .318 average, while the third, Baltimore's Jack Goodman (32, .245, 4, 38, 11; .215, 45, 263, 77), still mustered just an 82 WRC+ that paled in comparison to Lally's 145. It's unusual to see a shortstop with a Whitney level bat and glove, and the charismatic shortstop almost feels like a character in a Hollywood movie, not an actual real life star on and off the field. If there is one "downside" with Lally it's that his power seemed to drop off this season, going from a 24-home run hitter in 1973 to just 12 this year. While it did correspond with a 38 point jump in average, the power may be more valuable, so there is a little room for growth. If he can return to a 20-home run hitter, he'll be the standout #1 FABL player, but right now Hubbard's elite bat-to-ball skills give him the edge over Lally's swing and miss game. He draws his share of walks, 87 in each of the last two seasons, but it came with about the same amount of strikeouts (83 last, 77 this year), while Hubbard has just 64 in the past two seasons with elite K% of 5.4 and 4.9. Interesting enough, Hubbard used to maintain K% in the low teens, so perhaps he can take a few tips from his friendly rival in the East. Top Prospect: CF Roy Welch (53th Overall) LA is lucky they have so much top-end talent in the majors, especially on the mound, as they don't have a single top-50 prospect and their only two top-200 pitching prospects are in the back-75. It does seem like they hit on last year's first rounder, as 13th selection Roy Welch enters the new year at #53. Just 19, he made his way up to low-A where he hit .232/.357/.365 (91 OPS+) after posting a 183 WRC+ in 20 rookie ball games. In 73 games between the levels, he tallied 9 doubles, 6 triples, 10 homers, 30 RBIs, 46 runs, and 27 steals, all while playing outstanding center field defense. A ball pitchers did get him to strikeout more, but he still maintained a BB% above 15% and his elite eye is one of his best tools. Paired with great speed, defense, and an ability to square up any level of velocity, and the center field job is his to lose. Right now it's a real weakness for the Suns, they're planning on giving 24-year-old Larry Burlbutt (.245, 7, 1) a chance to improve on his September cup of coffee, which would mark their fifth starting center fielder in six seasons. Welch is still likely a year away from producing, but a big year of development could see him earning a callup at the end of a pennant race. Active Legend: RF Sam Forrester (32, .261, 27, 97, 36; .274, 346, 955, 254) As recently as last year, Sam Forrester was the clear best player on the Suns, and it's not his fault he's been usurped by Lally. Lally is just that good. Forrester is no slouch and a big reason Lally took home the Whitney, as he's arguably the Fed's most feared slugger. Initially a 2nd Round selection of the Eagles, the Suns picked him up in the offseason after their second year in what has turned out to be a huge steal. Whitey Stewart was an expansion pick they got from Toronto, and after two seasons of quality stopping work for a team that wasn't winning many games, he's the reason LA got their first legit star. Debuting midway through the '64 season, he clubbed 14 homers and hit .275/.316/.482 (135 OPS+) in 81 games, and has pretty much never left the lineup since. His rookie year was the only season he didn't man right everyday, spending most of his time in left, and the now 7-Time All-Star has led the Fed in homers in 6 of the last 7 seasons. This includes an absurd 53 in 1970, where the then 27-year-old hit a robust .283/.393/.615 (169 OPS+) with 114 runs and 120 RBIs. That 169 OPS+ wasn't even the best of his career, with a 171 last year, a 182 in 1969, a 179 in 1967, and another 169 in 1968. All coming in full seasons, he's made 140 or more appearances in each season since his debut year, and he's failed to hit 24 home runs just once. In this more pitcher friendly era, 24 would be a great season, as only four players hit more then 25 this year. One, of course, Forrester himself, who also stole a Fed high 36 bases. It's the second time he's led, with 33 back in 1969. He's also a two-time slugging leader (1967, .543; 1973, .566), though his career high .615 in 1970 is most impressive. This has helped him set most of the early Suns records, from his .499 slugging and .858 OPS to his 346 homers. He also leads in runs (941), hits (1,627), doubles (212), triples (45), RBIs (955), steals (254), walks (749), and WAR (51.4). He's fifth among active players in homers and 25th overall, and just one of 8 people to hit 50 home runs in a season. On a Hall of Fame track, he'll be remembered as one of the most prolific sluggers the game has seen, and he has every chance to reach the 500 mark Hank Williams is chasing. Star Out of Place: 1B Harry Dellinger (36, .251, 10, 45, 22; .279, 299, 999, 450) It feels weird calling him a first basemen, but 1960 Whitney Winner and 5-Time Diamond Defense winning center fielder (and one left!) Harry Dellinger is technically the starting first basemen for the Atlanta Suns. In a surprising deadline deal last year, the Keystones sent their aged franchise cornerstone to the Suns, acquiring a three player package that includes their new starting third basemen Leon Stapleton (25, .266, 6, 31; .268, 12, 60). The bat definitely fell towards the end, but Dellinger finished his Keystone career with a .282/.327/.437 (118 OPS+) triple slash in over 2,000 games. His Whitney season may not even have been his best year, but it was his first with more then 5 games, as the former 2nd Pick took home both that and the Kellogg in a masterful rookie season. Leading the fed in average (.350), slugging (.568), runs (118), hits (228), RBIs (125), and WAR (7.3), he immediately announced his presence, establishing the Keystones as a legitimate contender. Him and Buddy Miller then won it all in year two, with the Keystones again taking a title in 1965. A threat at the top of the order, he led the Fed in steals 8 times -- including his 27 as recently as 1972. At the time of the trade he had 418, third among Keystones, and his 2,350 hits and 1,299 runs are 5th most. Now 36, he's spent a season and a half with the Suns, batting .247/.300/.347 (84 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 15 homers, 60 RBIs, 80 runs, and 32 steals. Still an effective base stealer, he's done okay in the eight hole, but his bat doesn't fit at first base. And before you're thinking center, they tried that a little this season (373.2 innings), and it did not go well (-2.6 ZR, .974 EFF). They don't really have a better option for first so he might open the season at the position, but fresh off a division title the front office could be more willing to bring in an upgrade. Houston Comets Last Year Record: 84-78 (2nd, .519): Best Year Since 1964: 1973, 100-62 (1st, .617):Lost in World Championship Series Top Pitcher: RHP Joe McCarthy (30, 21-7, 2.48, 194; 101-88, 3.09, 1,329) Just like their name suggests, they had a meteoric rise despite being an expansion team, as it took Houston just 3 years to win 90 games and 5 to reach a WCS. The second was in part due to Joe McCarthy, who they acquired from the Cannons at the deadline last season. OSA's top ranked pitcher, he was struggling in his return from a labrum issue, but the Comets were not scared away. They sent four prospects, including the now ranked 47th prospect Sammy Wright (24, 1-0, 0.00, 1) for the 1969 ERA leader. It proved to be a stroke of brilliance, as McCarthy made 12 starts for the Comets, going 7-2 with a 2.01 ERA (202 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, and 87 strikeouts. This helped Houston take the division by 12 games, squaring off with the 106-win Miners (now Copperheads) who played what ended up being their last season in Pittsburgh. McCarthy won the opener as the Comets pulled off a three game sweep. They fell to the same in four, as the magical Montreal Saints won their first since 1916. Houston couldn't recapture the magic of last season, but McCarthy was not the reason why. The eventual Allen winner was the ERA title away from a triple crown, 21-7 with a 2.48 ERA (152 ERA+), 2.71 FIP (71 FIP-), 1.09 WHIP, 194 strikeouts, and 7.5 WAR. His Allen can be attributed to leading all those categories except ERA (and ERA+), and as crazy as it sounds you can say it's not even his best season. He's struck out over 200 hitters twice (1970, 225; 1972, 206), and aside from wins and WHIP he didn't set any career bests. Back to the pitcher he was before injury, he'll open 1975 101-88 with a 3.09 ERA (115 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, and 1,329 strikeouts, with his next out being his 1,900 FABL inning. Somehow just a 2-Time All-Star (1969, 1974), his stuff is nothing short of elite, with many hitters quoting his change is the toughest to hit. He does walk guys, but an unlucky 1972 was the only time he allowed more then 12 homers (21). It's unusual seeing a team with such little history as Houston go out and acquire legitimate talent. Top Hitter: RF John Edwards (30, .325, 18, 71, 25; .292, 229, 955, 115) Trade is also how they got John Edwards, who's the best right fielder in FABL. Acquired on the 1974 deadline from Minneapolis, the former 3rd pick moves from one expansion franchise to the other. He was the Millers first ever amateur draft pick, and after spending the 1962 season in the minors, he only played for the Millers. Debuting at 18, he appeared in 160 games as a rookie, and his .266/.342/.362 (92 OPS+) batting line is his only below average mark to date. That jumped to .283/.378/.497 (154 OPS+) the very next season, and he's produced WRC+ above 150 9 times in 12 big league seasons. He won the Whitney for Minneapolis in 1968, batting .302/.405/.492 (179 OPS+) with 34 doubles, 22 homers, 84 RBIs, 85 runs, 100 walks, 9 steals, and a 8.9 WAR. He also picked up one of his 9 All-Star selections and Diamond Defense awards, and if he retired at 30 today he'd be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer. Instead, he'll be set to play in his first full season as a Comet, hitting .319/.425/.481 (154 OPS+) in 56 games after the trade. That came after a .292/.396/.466 (148 OPS+) line in 1,868 games, producing 1,043 runs, 1,962 hits, 344 doubles, 79 triples, 224 homers, 931 RBIs, 1,141 walks, and 104 steals. He's the Millers All-Time leader in OBP, slugging, OPS, WAR (69.4), games (1,868), runs, hits, doubles, triples, homers, RBIs, and walks, making it a real surprise they traded him for a package where just 2 of the 5 prospects are in the top 100. In the middle of his prime he has a chance to become one of the game's inner-circle greats, and now he'll have to do it with a completely new club. His new team has embraced him and is ready to compete, something his old club never did. They never won more then 78 games, and unfortunately for the few fans who have stuck around that may not change any time soon. Top Prospect: SS Johnny Mathewson (116th Overall) Overall) A mix of being tied for the youngest franchise and the two major deals for McCarthy and Edwards, the farm system is one of the few without a single top-100 prospect. Their big 1973 season had them picking 22nd in the 1974 draft, and their top pick Johnny Matthewson is also their top prospect. Ranked 116th, he's more good them great, but his versatility and natural talent should help him carve out a starting role. 19 as of November, he's a natural shortstop who's played a little second, third, left, and center. Most came at short in rookie ball, where he made 54 appearances and hit .299/.398/.353 (91 OPS+) with 40 runs, 7 extra base hits, 35 walks, and 18 RBIs. A light hitter, all his value comes from his hit tool, though his silky smooth swing will generate plenty of contact. He'll draw walks and shouldn't strike out too much, the perfect table setter for a lineup that needs more length then just Edwards and 1B/OF Johnny Adams (33, .272, 14, 54, 24; .278, 108, 505, 191).That is, of course, they don't trade their most valuable asset, as they won't shy away from making an outside acquisition. Active Legend: RHP George Roy (29, 12-15, 3.33, 155; 71-65, 51, 3.28, 774) Believe it or not, McCarthy's 21-win season this year was not the most by a Comet, as stopper turned starter George Roy was 22-8 last season, posting a strong 3.36 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.18 WHIP with 190 strikeouts in 262.2 innings pitched. A rare success from the expansion draft, Roy is a former 2nd Rounder from the Dynamos who was left unprotected after his debut season in 1968. Houston's 8th pick, he's appeared in all six of their FABL seasons, holding the win and save (25) record for a single season. And while it might not stay that way for long, the Canadian has the team record for wins and saves. A 2-Time All-Star, he's been a revelation for Houston, producing above average seasons as a full time reliever, full time starter, and a part-timer for both. His best season was when he did both, as in 1971 he started 22 of his 36 outings. Finishing 13-6 with a save, he worked to a 2.57 ERA (146 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts. The following season he had his 25-save season, an even 10-10 with a 2.70 ERA (131 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts in 116.2 innings. He does have some command issues, allowing 463 free passes including 118 this season, but by generating harmless flyballs he can work his way out of trouble. His 3.28 ERA career ERA in 1,083.2 innings is exactly 20 percent better then average, and his 1.28 WHIP is kept tidy due to his ability to suppress base hits. He generates plenty of whiffs too, striking out 17% of the batters he faces. In a bad rotation he'd be the clear ace, but in Houston he's the 3, leading to the Comets allowing the fewest runs in the Fed. With him, McCarthy, and one of the few homegrown successes in Johnny Blackburn (26, 14-15, 3.20, 160; 64-55, 3.26, 713), their rotation should again rank among the best in the league. Star Out of Place: RHP Joe Cipolla (37, 3-2, 4, 2.25, 10; 240-178, 28, 3.84, 2,294 John Edwards could have easily filled this spot, but instead of saying more about one of the game's greats, we can take a look at the 240-game winner the Comets picked up from the Cannons. Now 37, Joe Cipolla will join his 8th organization, as he's traveled plenty since the Chiefs drafted him in the 2nd Round of the 1954 draft. He was up at 18 the following season, allowing just 6 hits and a run in 12.1 innings out of the pen. The skinny teen did walk 8 to just 3 strikeouts, but since that debut season he's yet to again walk more then he struck out. A veteran of 20 years, he spent 13 seasons across 2 stints with Chicago's Fed team, including his two All-Star seasons in 1958 and 1960. A key member of their rotation, 336 of his 498 career starts came with the Chiefs, amassing nearly 2,500 (2,485.2) innings. Consistent and reliable, he finished 159-116 with a 3.92 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, and 1,629 strikeouts. Among Chiefs pitchers he ranks top-10 in wins (8th), WAR (8th, 37.9), games (9th, 407), starts (6th), innings (8th), strikeouts (3rd), and K/9 (6th, 5.9). Nearly all his best seasons came with the Chiefs, his partial season with the Saints (5-3, 2, 1.25, 29) the only real exception, but that's not to say he hasn't found success elsewhere. About 90 of his wins came away from the Chiefs, and he enters 1975 with a 3.84 ERA (106 ERA+), 2,294 strikeouts, and 49.5 WAR. His days of starting games may be over, but he could still carve out a pen role as he reaches the twilight of his career. St. Louis Pioneers Last Year Record: 79-83 (3rd, .488): Best Year Since 1964: 1964, 97-66 (1st, .617): Won the World Championship Series! Top Pitcher: RHP Tiger Bowe (28, 18-9, 2.68, 115; 41-31, 3, 3.40, 340) A cool name isn't the only thing that sets Tiger Bowe apart, as the now 28-year-old righty earned his first All-Star selection in his first season with St. Louis. Once a 5th Round selection of the Chiefs, the former top-20 prospect was released, quickly picked up by the Seattle Kings. He debuted four seasons later, and got his first extended look in the rotation in 1971, going 8-7 in 23 starts (and 1 relief outing). His 3.99 ERA (90 ERA+) was a bit below average, and his 60 walks and 77 strikeouts in 155.2 innings weren't overly impressive, and he spent all of the next season in the minors. With no spot for him out west, the Kings waived him, which led to Boston getting the then 26-year-old. They had a rotation spot they needed filled, and he ended up the perfect fit. His 12-12 record wasn't overly inspiring, but he held a 3.42 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, and 109 strikeouts in his first 200 inning season. He dropped his BB% to 6.7 and finally showed the promise the prospect rankers saw in him. Attempting to capitalize on what could have been a mirage, they sent him to St. Louis for a pair of prospects, and he went out and put together a career season. A new entrant to the league's top 20 pitchers list, Bowe went 18-9 in 36 starts, working to a 2.68 ERA (138 ERA+) and 1.14 WHIP. All career bests, he struck out 115 and just 62 walks. A six pitch pitcher, he's shown the perfect mix of command and stuff, and to get back into contention St. Louis will need another year like this from their new found ace. Top Hitter: 1B John Richards (33, .284, 27, 92, 27; .271, 231, 789, 231) Once the 10th pick of the 1960 draft, John Richards debuted for the team that drafted him, Montreal, and spent a little time with the Imperials, involved in two trades of relative note before hem made his way to St. Louis. He didn't get much attention his first season there either, but in 1967 he started to turn heads. A 25-year-old first basemen, he hit 20 doubles, 20 homers, and stole 19 bases, batting a respectable .241/.324/.420 (127 OPS+) with 76 runs and RBIs. His encore was better, as the 1968 All-Star hit an outstanding .263/.377/.438 (156 OPS+) with 20 more doubles and homers. It was his first of five selections, as Richards added 7 triples, 83 RBIs, 82 runs, and 96 walks. To this day he's done much of the same, including back-to-back 160+ OPS+ seasons. In 1970 he hit 37 homers, he drew 105 walks the year before and 106 the year after, and he's coming off a 27-homer season that led the Fed. Now 33, he's appeared in 1,342 games as a Pioneer, slashing .276/.376/.484 (147 OPS+), showcasing a rare combination of speed and power. He's launched 217 homers and swiped 218 bases, producing five straight 25/25 seasons. Add in 199 doubles, 52 triples, 795 runs, 736 RBIs, and 717 walks, and he's been the class of the Pioneers 1970s lineups. He doesn't have enough protection at the moment, but if some of the younger guys take steps forward he can carry them back to contention. Top Prospect: LHP Herm Jones (33rd Overall) Overall) Despite being both a 4th Rounder and a reliever, the 1974 draftee Herm Jones ranks as the Pioneers top prospect, ranked 33 as their only top-50 entrant. Pitching through three levels, his cutter-change mix has had mixed success, but without a third pitch he may be destined for the late innings. OSA gives him credit for elite stuff with excellent control and command, which leads to the high ranking. 22 in January, he may continue to rise up quickly. His future is projected to contain plenty of strikeouts and saves, and he has all the tools to set the saves record for whichever team dedicates him the ninth inning. For St. Louis, he'd need 173 to pass Russ Peeples, and if used correctly he could join David Molina as the only 250 save pitchers. Active Legend: LF Danny Davis (35, .316, 1, 1; .284, 244, 989, 66) From 3rd Pick to a Kellogg Award and championship, Danny Davis had about as good a debut season as you could ask for, batting .352/.415/.599 (166 OPS+) with 34 doubles, 15 triples, 26 homers, and 96 RBIs. It was also his first of 4 All-Star selections, and he was a key part of the '63 and '64 titles teams too. He bypassed the sophomore slump, hitting .350/.394/.643 (180 OPS+), clubbing 40 homers with 130 RBIs and 112 runs. Davis then spent most of the next eight seasons as a fixture in the Pioneers outfield, with the only real misstep a rough 1968. Now 35, he's been relegated to a bench role, so he shouldn't damage his .284/.335/.477 (130 OPS+) career line too much. Appearing in the 8th most games for a Pioneer (1,634), his 244 homers are 4th most for the franchise, also placing in slugging (10th), runs (8th, 849), hits (6th, 1,675), doubles (9th, 261), triples (t-10th, 74), and RBIs (5th, 989). Considering St. Louis has seen Hall of Famers like Max Morris, Fred McCormick, and Jerry Smith, as well as the now departed Bob Bell (36, .285, 5, 20; .305, 319, 1,120, 112) who should join them, he's in plenty good company. Star Out of Place: SS Tom Spruill (33, .288, 10, 62, 11; .276, 109, 694, 106) Acquired at the deadline this season, Tom Spruill spent over a decade as the shortstop of the Chicago Chiefs. Originally a 18th Rounder of the Saints, he was acquired in a rare prospect-for-prospect deal for now Imperial righty Eddie Watson (2-0, 1, 4.26, 10; 42-50, 74, 3.53, 463) back in 1962. The Ohio native then debuted at 21 the next season, quickly establishing his use both offensively and defensively. Worth 3.6 WAR in 129 games, he hit .286/.360/.439 (119 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 15 homers, 67 RBIs, and 59 runs scored. Up until the trade, he took at least 400 or more plate appearance each year, including seven more seasons with a WRC+ of 105 or better. When paired with great defense, that's plenty useful, though he's only been recognized once as an All-Star. It came his rookie season, but he posted an impressive 5.7 WAR and 118 WRC+ in 1968, and was a key contributor to the 1967 Chiefs team that won the WCS. He ended up appearing in 1,637 games for the Chiefs, batting .275/.332/.383 (107 OPS+) with 262 doubles, 104 homers, 101 steals, and 506 walks, 693 RBIs, and 744 runs. The trade seemed to energize Spruill as well, as his batting line jumped from .279/.309/.371 (90 OPS+) to .308/.353/.479 (132 OPS+). As a Pioneer he added 8 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 5 steals, 16 RBIs, and 29 runs. At 33, his defense isn't quite as good as it was in his prime, but 1974 is just the second below average season he's had defensively. And while he's still capable at short, he could shift to second or third to allow second basemen Frank Green (26, .250, 7, 54; .274, 27, 182, 11) to return to his natural position of short. His speed and discipline still make him a productive hitter, and his veteran presence should be appreciated in a full season.

12-06-2025, 12:10 AM	#1183
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,809	The return of weekly editions of This Week in Figment Sports JANUARY 1, 1975 HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL UPDATE AS WE ENTER 1975 FABL, the big league baseball organization in the Figment Universe, will return to weekly sims early next week. It will be early January and the FABL GMs will be hastily preparing for both the opening 10 rounds of the annual draft and to reacquaint themselves with their organizations as we head towards spring training. There are going to be a few openings for clubs so if interested send me a message and I will pass your contact info on to our commissioner. The other three sports- football, hockey and basketball- will also return to a weekly advance but human General Managers will wait until the start of the next season in the fall of 1975 before assuming control of teams. While the AFA has already completed its championship game, the World Classic, and collegiate football only has the New Years Day Classic games remaining on their docket to conclude its season, the winter sports are well into their 1974-75 campaigns. This report will simply be a recap of the first few months of the 1974-75 hockey and basketball seasons in order to set the stage for the resumption of weekly sims. We also unveil the 1970s themed look to This Week in Figment Sports. NEW LOOK NAHC EXPANDS, REALIGNS Addition of Cincinnati and Washington Boost League to 18 teams The North American Hockey Confederation continues its rapid growth as the league, which featured just six teams eight years ago, has now tripled to 18 clubs with the addition of two newcomers for the 1974-75 season. Those two new teams - the Cincinnati Ironclads and Washington Federals- prompted the league to go to a four division format. To minimize travel expenses the divisions were set up more or less along geographic lines and is structed as follows: Rather than East, West type names the NAHC opted to honour some of the founding fathers of the league by naming divisions after former players/owners in Jack Connelly, Max Dewar Frank Yeadon and Bert Thomas. BOSTON BEES SET PACE IN NAHC AS CALENDAR FLIPS TO 1975 It may be a new look for the NAHC with the league's growth to 18 teams and a four division format but it is familiar foes fighting for top spot as the season edges past its midway point. That would be the Boston Bees and Montreal Valiants, former original six East Division rivals who continue to see plenty of each other in the four team Connelly Division. Boston, led by a balanced offense and the steady goaltending of Alex Daoust, enjoys a 1-point lead on the Valiants for the best record in the league despite being upended at Denny Arena 3-1 by the Minneapolis Norseman on New Year's Eve. Montreal, which has not missed the playoffs in 14 years and won 4 Challenge Cups over that span, is coming off a 6-3 victory over Toronto in which both the Valiants Roger MacKinnon and Toronto's Ollie Perreault each netted their league-leading 31st goal. The Dukes, who have won more Cups than any other team in NAHC history, sit last in the Connelly Division but are still over .500 and their 46 points would put them no worse than tied for second in any of the other three division. The defending Challenge Cup champion Philadelphia Rogues lead the Dewar Division with the Scotch Line of Adam McPherson, Gary Yeadon and Glenn McKenzie - who were so instrumental in the Cup run last spring- continuing to lead the way. The most pleasant surprise in the Dewar Division is that the New York Shamrocks, who have not made the playoffs since the spring of 1960, presently sit in second place and stand a good chance of being one of the three teams from the division that will qualify for the postseason. In the Yeadon Division the Chicago Packers and Minneapolis Norsemen are waging a tight battle for first place. The Packers are benefitting from a return to form for 31-year-old Bruce Denison, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, and are still led by captain Ken York. Now 37 and slowing somewhat, York has picked up 25 points so far this season and is closing on another Chicago legend Tommy Burns for second place in the NAHC's all-time goal scoring list. York has found the back of the net 9 times to give him 548 for his career. Only the incomparable Quinton Pollack (788) and Burns (564) have scored more. The top team in the Thomas Division is the Vancouver Totems. The 1969 Cup winners were finalists a year ago and had a hot start this season but have slowed of late with just 5 wins in their last 14 outings. The San Francisco Gulls, which have never qualified for the playoffs, are closing in on the Totems with just one loss in their last eight games. SWEDISH IMPORTS HELP FALCONS SOAR Forget about Hobie Barrell and the high flying Ottawa Athletics as the Continental Hockey Association has a new club stealing the spotlight with its powerful offense. That would be the Winnipeg Falcons who are off to a sizzling 28-8-6 start and own the best record in the Continental Hockey Association. The key to Winnipeg's success has been the club's willingness to be a front-runner in the Swedish invasion as both winger Matias Jacobsson and defenseman Borje Sjostrom have made quick adjustments to the North American game. They are the most prominent of roughly a dozen European players that were signed by CHL teams over the summer in an effort to bridge the talent game between the three year old league and the well-established NAHC. Jacobsson, 23, is third in scoring in the CHL and has teamed up with last year's rookie of the year Tim Moore and ex-Vancouver Totem Gerry Saunders to give Winnipeg a line that can match the production of Ottawa's big trio of Hobie Barrell, Neil Ferguson and another Swedish rookie by the name of Ludvig Olsson. Winnipeg, which made the playoffs for the first time a year ago but was quickly eliminated by the New York Eagles in the opening round, is leading the way because it also has a defense to match its mighty offense. The goaltending tandem of former Detroit Motors netminder Sean Kempster and 24-year-old rookie Harry Krueger has been solid but the key has been Sjostrom. The defenseman, a 25-year-old five year veteran of the Swedish Elite League has been the quarterback of the Falcons very successful powerplay will also providing stellar work in his own end. There is plenty of competition for the Falcons in the Central Division as the expansion Milwaukee Maulers and Barrell-led Ottawa Athletics have the second and third best records in the league. Milwaukee joined the loop this season along with the Baltimore Blackjacks to boost the CHL membership to 14-teams and prompted the league to adopt a three-division format. NEW ORLEANS JOINS FEDERAL CAGE LEAGUE Expansion Pirates Bring Federal Basketball League to 18 Teams The Federal Basketball League opened the 1974-75 campaign with a new look and a new market, adding the New Orleans Pirates as the circuit’s 18th franchise in a continued effort to stay ahead of the struggling Continental League on the expansion front. To fit the Pirates into the structure, the league reshuffled its Eastern Conference lineup. The Atlanta Vipers shifted from the Atlantic to the Central Division, while the Toronto Falcons moved back to the Atlantic, rejoining long-time rivals New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. The Falcons had shared the old East Division with those clubs for a decade prior to the mid-’60s expansion. A Rough Debut in the Crescent City New Orleans entered the league with a roster largely stitched together from other clubs’ cast-offs, though the Pirates do boast a promising young cornerstone in Bob Basham—the two-time AIAA national champion from Lane State and the club’s No. 4 overall pick last summer. The coaching staff has eased the Oakland product into the rotation, but his apprenticeship has come during a brutal start: the Pirates sit at 7–24, the worst mark in the league, and are currently buried under a 13-game losing streak. Familiar Faces on Top At the opposite end of the table, little has changed. The New York Knights and St. Louis Rockets, winners of the last six FBL titles between them, remain the league’s standard-bearers. St. Louis continues to ride the torrid scoring pace of John Brantner, the 31-year-old superstar who has captured four straight scoring titles and three Most Valuable Player awards. His current 39.6 points per game put him slightly ahead of last year’s record-setting clip. New York counters with a dominant 31-year-old of its own. Dick Van der Linden, already a league MVP and a three-time postseason Most Outstanding Player, leads the loop in rebounding (16.7 per game) while adding better than 22 points nightly. But this season, the two perennial heavyweights have company. The Seattle Emeralds own the league’s best record at 22–10, looking every bit like the club that has reached the finals twice in four years and has been eliminated exclusively by St. Louis or New York in each postseason since 1970. Right behind them, the San Francisco Miners have surged back into contention after missing the playoffs the last two seasons. Their 20th win came in emphatic fashion on December 26, when they hammered Seattle 126–70, powered by a 32-point outburst from emerging star Scott Gruninger, now in his prime at age 28. However, the Miners promptly stumbled with back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Minneapolis Bobcats, raising questions about whether San Francisco is ready to stay in the upper tier. [center]Central Division Still Searching[/enter] The Central Division continues to lag behind the rest of the league. A year ago, Chicago was the only club in the division to finish above .500. This season, even with expansion-strapped New Orleans in the group, no Central team has managed a winning record. The Panthers sit atop the pack at 17–17, but last week’s losses at home to Detroit and on the road in Washington hint that Chicago may not yet have the staying power to separate itself. Looking Ahead There is still a long way to go before the playoff picture sharpens, but early returns suggest the story may feel familiar come springtime. Seattle and San Francisco have emerged as legitimate threats, yet the smart money still rides with the Knights and Rockets, who once again appear poised for deep postseason runs—and perhaps another chapter in their ongoing tug-of-war for league supremacy. CINCINNATI STEAMS TO FRONT OF CBL Red-Hot Steamers Seize Control of Continental Loop A blistering 16–2 surge has vaulted the Cincinnati Steamers to the top of the Continental Basketball League, giving the eight-year-old circuit the dominant club it has long sought. Though the CBL boasts no shortage of individual talent, the league still fights an uphill battle for recognition in a landscape long ruled by the established Federal Basketball League. Nowhere is that struggle more evident than in New Jersey, where the Demons—once envisioned as the CBL’s foothold in the nation’s biggest media market—have stumbled to a league-worst 5–23 mark. Queen City’s Best Hope in a Generation Cincinnati’s fast start has injected new life into the loop. After falling in the CBL Finals in each of the past two seasons, the Steamers may finally have the roster depth to clear that last hurdle. No professional team from the Queen City has captured a championship since the baseball Cannons went back-to-back in 1943–44, but this year’s club has shown all the signs of a legitimate contender. Remarkably, the Steamers have maintained their pace despite an extended absence by second-year guard Bob Baldwin, sidelined for over a month with a separated shoulder, and a ten-game injury spell for point guard Phil Brouwer. Brouwer recently returned and Baldwin is expected back at full strength soon, which only strengthens a rotation already featuring seven players averaging at least 15 points per game. Balanced, Deep, and Hard to Guard The Steamers’ attack has become a nightly riddle for opponents. Roger Williams leads the team with a 20.9 scoring average—good for only 15th in the league—which speaks to Cincinnati’s remarkable balance. The result is the CBL’s highest-scoring outfit at 127+ points per game, nearly four better than the runner-up Philadelphia Mariners. Even more surprising: despite leading the league in scoring, Cincinnati has made fewer three-pointers than any club in the CBL. The long-range shot—exclusive to the Continental loop—has indeed boosted scoring league-wide, but the Steamers have shown that depth, pace, and relentless ball movement can be just as dangerous. Fairchild Keeps the Crown in the West Out west, the league’s premier scorer continues to be Bill Fairchild of the San Antonio Outlaws, whose 31.5 points per game pace the circuit. The Outlaws strengthened their grip on first place in the West Division with a weekend sweep of the defending champion Denver Bighorns, opening with a 120–115 win in the Rockies and finishing with a 119–116 triumph at home. Fairchild was limited to just nine points in the latter contest thanks to early foul trouble, but San Antonio still found a way. Cincinnati kept rolling last night, posting a 137–130 victory in New Jersey behind 39 points from Brouwer, further stretching its East Division lead to 4.5 games over Philadelphia as the calendar turns to 1975. RED DEVILS LEAD COLLEGE CAGE POLL While most college campus, even those not lucky enough to be on of the 14 teams selected to play on New Years Day this year, are fully focused on the gridiron, most eyes on the campus of Baton Rouge State University are glued to the hardwood where the Red Devils are off to a perfect 10-0 start and have climbed to the top of the latest AIAA basketball poll. Unlike Louisiana rival Bayou State football has not really been the Red Devils thing through the years. The Baton Rouge State grid team's lone Classic Game appearance came in the 1949 Sunshine Classic when they lost to Central Ohio and they are coming off another winless season after going 0-11. A perennial basement dweller in the Deep South Conference for football, Baton Rouge State is best known on the grid for their college record of futility when they went seven consecutive seasons without recording a victory, dropping 73 consecutive games. The Red Devils cagers had some rough years as well but not lately as Baton Rouge State has made it to the national semi-finals of the AIAA basketball tournament three of the past four years and with their hot start this year there is talk of the basketball team joining the1953 Bayou State baseball team led by Washington Eagles draft pick Bud Conover as the only national champions ever produced by Baton Rouge State. Red Devils Rely on Veteran Leadership Baton Rouge State seems to be poised for deep run in the tournament once again. All five starters returned from the team that fell to Charleston Tech in the semi-finals a year ago while senior forward Pete Morales, a highly touted pro prospect, also saw significant time in the semi-final loss to eventual champion Maryland State in his freshman year. Morales leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game, and is second in rebounds. He and Rick Mendoza, a junior guard, are the reason pro scouts are plentiful whenever Baton Rouge State takes the court. Despite their success in the tournament in recent years, the Red Devils have still never won a Deep South Conference champion. The section slate does not get underway for another three weeks and that is when the real test will come. The Red Devils, who concluded their Christmas break with wins at home over Mobile Maritime and Topeka State this past week, are a team on the rise and led by a head coach with an incredibly bright future in the sport. That would be Charlie Anderson, who despite not yet celebrating his 35th birthday has already been to Bigsby Garden in late March for the National Semi-Finals five times and owns a 169-61 career record. A former guard at Brooklyn State, he interned for two years as an assistant at powerhouse Carolina Poly before getting the head job at Bulein. In his second season he led the Hornets to a 30-3 record and a berth in the final four before. Two years later the opportunity came to coach in the prestigious Deep South Conference and he has reached the semi-finals three of his four seasons. Knights Toppled From Number One Few may have noticed in the Motor City because the focus is on today's East-West Classic showdown, a rematch between Detroit City College and Redwood University that potentially could decide the college football national title, but the Knights basketball team has also enjoyed a great start to the season. The Detroit City College cagers were ranked number one in the nation before Christmas thanks to a start that included a win over top ten Mississippi A&M to claim the King of South season opening tournament and more recently victories over St Blane and Huntington State. Too much Christmas turkey might have tripped up DCC as the Knights suffered their first loss of the season on December 27, falling 44-32 in an uninspired effort against Pittsburgh State. That ended, at least for now, DCC's reign at the top of the college basketball poll but they did hold on to second place thanks to strong showings three days ago and again on New Years Eve. On the 29th senior guard Harry Gilmour, a potential All-American candidate, scored 23 points - one shy of his season high- in a 75-39 schooling of Academia Alliance outfit Sadler and yesterday afternoon the Knights rolled over Wichita Baptist 73-39. Both were games they should have won handily and they did. Like Baton Rouge State, Detroit City College -with back-to-back National semi-final appearances to build on- has high expectations for the rest of the season. A big test will come on January 9 when the Knights host #4 Northern Mississippi in their stiffest test to date with the always difficult Great Lakes Alliance slate following shortly after. KINGS WILL STAY IN SEATTLE FOR LONG HAUL, STADIUM DEAL FINALIZED The "King of Quips" is now the Savior of Seattle baseball after word broke that municipal and state authorities have agreed to help fund a multi-purpose doomed stadium whose primary tenants will be FABL's Seattle Kings and the Seattle Roughnecks of the American Football Association. Stage and screen star Elliot Kessler recently finalized his deal to purchase the Kings after the previous owner Chester Coleman, who had moved the club from Kansas City in 1968, had run into financial difficulty and was looking to sell the club. There was much concern the much-travelled team, which originated in Brooklyn nearly a century ago, might be on the move again before Kessler stepped in and vowed to keep the team in Seattle if a deal could be reached on a new domed stadium. The stadium plan is now official and ground will break in the next few months meaning that Seattle will not suffer the same fate as Pittsburgh met a year ago when the lack of a stadium deal saw the team sold to Atlanta interests despite winning a World Championship Series title the previous year. Interest in the Kings is at an all-time high after they won the WCS last October and drew almost 2 million fans to the aging Seattle Municipal Stadium Here is a biography of the new Seattle Kings owner: Elliot “The King of Quips” Kessler Born: January 18, 1913 — Brooklyn, New York Majority Owner: Seattle Kings (Dec. 1974 – ) Profession: Actor, comedian, producer, entertainment entrepreneur Nickname: “The King of Quips” Brooklyn Roots Elliot Kessler was raised in Brooklyn’s Concord Basin neighborhood, a working-class but tightly knit area where street corners doubled as stages. From childhood he was torn between two ambitions: to make people laugh and to absorb every possible second of Kings baseball. The Brooklyn Kings weren’t just a sports team to Kessler — they were a civic heartbeat. His earliest memories include listening to games on a tinny radio while practicing impressions of the Kings’ broadcasters. When the Kings left Brooklyn after the 1951 season for Kansas City, Kessler described it as “the moment I realized the world doesn’t always care about your sentimental education.” It became a defining emotional thread in his life. Career and Stardom Kessler rose out of the Borscht Belt comedy circuit with a style built on quick wit, physical dexterity, and a talent for controlled comedic chaos. He conquered radio first, then TV, then film. Publicists branded him “The King of Quips” and the name followed him everywhere. By the early 1960s he was one of the rare entertainers who owned much of his own material. He ran his own production office, held stakes in a handful of regional TV stations, and invested in early media tech. Behind the comedic persona was a shrewd businessman with clean instincts and good timing. The Kings Leave Again — And Return to Him After establishing themselves in Kansas City for more than a decade, the Kings’ fortunes fluctuated. Their owner, Chester Coleman, a Kansas City native and businessman, grew increasingly frustrated with local politics and stadium fights. In early 1968 he made the controversial move of relocating the Kings to Seattle, seeking new markets and financial stability. The team’s Seattle debut was ambitious but financially rocky. By the mid-1970s, Coleman — aging, overextended, and facing escalating costs — quietly began searching for a buyer who could stabilize the franchise. Enter Elliot Kessler. Acquisition of the Kings (December 1974) For Kessler, the opportunity hit like fate. He had never gotten over losing the Kings in 1951. Now here they were — the same franchise, strangely nomadic, badly in need of new direction — and he had the resources to step in. He assembled a well-financed consortium of West Coast and entertainment-industry investors and closed the deal in December 1974. At the introductory press conference, Kessler opened with a line that instantly made Seattle fall in love with him: “I grew up a kid from Brooklyn who lost his team. Now I get to help Seattle keep theirs.” Ownership Style At 54, Kessler brought a blend of showmanship and seriousness: Media-friendly but deeply focused Community-driven Big believer in marketing and fan outreach Keen on modernizing scouting and development Firm believer that Seattle can be a flagship franchise, not a waystation He immediately set about stabilizing the team’s finances, improving the stadium experience, and reshaping the organization’s public image. Seattle fans instantly embraced him; league owners respected him; players who have met him saw the will enjoy having an owner who actually seems to like being around the clubhouse. The Vision Begins (1974–75) From the moment Elliot Kessler began negotiations to buy the Seattle Kings in late 1974, he made one thing clear to both city officials and the league office: “Seattle deserves a world-class, air-conditioned, rain-proof cathedral for baseball. A place worthy of a crown.” Seattle fans had grown tired of the franchise being treated as a wandering act rather than a cornerstone. Kessler understood this instantly. The Kings’ identity had bounced from Brooklyn to Kansas City to the Pacific Northwest, and he believed the team needed a permanent, defining home. A dome wasn’t just a stadium in Kessler’s mind. It was a symbol. Public Push At his introductory press conference in December 1974, after joking that he “hadn’t left Los Angeles traffic just to get rained out in July,” Kessler unveiled what newspapers would quickly call The Kessler Plan: A fully domed stadium Climate-controlled Designed for baseball first Expandable for football, concerts, and civic events Modern acoustics and lighting A signature silhouette on the Seattle skyline One reporter asked if this meant the Kings were guaranteed to stay in Seattle long-term. Kessler grinned and said: “Well, I certainly don’t plan to take a dome on the road. This club isn’t moving again.” That quote became a local rallying cry. Why a Dome Meant Everything Seattle’s climate had always been an obstacle for baseball. Coleman’s stewardship of the team had been rocky, and attendance frequently sagged because fans simply didn’t trust the weather—or the ownership. Kessler changed that tone in a single stroke. He pitched the dome as: a civic monument a guarantee of stability a competitive advantage over the rest of the league a symbol that Seattle had joined the ranks of major-league cities He even joked during a city council meeting: “I’m a comedian by trade. But the rain? That’s one joke that needs retiring.” Construction & Opening The city, eager for a boost and charmed by Kessler’s public persona, approved the project astonishingly quickly by 1970s standards. Ground will broken early this year. CAN THE KNIGHTS RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A CLASSIC WIN? It has been more than a month now, yet the Thanksgiving weekend debacle in Columbus still hangs over this city like a stubborn winter fog. The 52–6 beating the Detroit City College Knights absorbed from Central Ohio did more than end a perfect season; it turned what should have been a straight shot to the national championship into a parlay that now requires outside assistance. Beat Redwood University tomorrow in Santa Ana and the Knights still have a chance at that long-awaited third national crown — their first since 1955 — but only if unbeaten Annapolis Maritime finally stumbles in the Sunshine Classic against Boulder State. Even the blazing start by the Knights’ cagers — 10–1, ranked No. 2 in the country, and as smooth as any team we’ve seen in years — has not been enough to divert Detroit’s attention from tomorrow’s football rematch. Every time the basketball squad rolls another opponent, you can’t help but think, if only the football Knights had taken care of business in Columbus. To be fair, the Aviators-Knights rivalry has always been tight. Each side has won nine of their last 18 meetings, and home field usually matters. But nothing prepared anyone for the most lopsided result in decades, a 52–6 collapse that shredded a dream season and left DCC hoping — not controlling — for a championship outcome. Should 11–0 Annapolis Maritime handle Boulder State tomorrow, the Columbus loss will linger even more painfully. We’ve picked apart that Central Ohio game enough in these pages: the four turnovers, the uncharacteristic sloppiness from a team that had only coughed it up seven times all year, the defensive unraveling by a unit that had been giving up less than ten points a game. No sense reopening old wounds tonight. Instead, let’s fix our gaze on the Redwood Mammoths, who proved last year — on this very same Santa Ana Stadium turf — that they are anything but pushovers. * KEY WILL BE NOT MAKING MISTAKES * Redwood arrives at 9–2, and both losses followed the same script: turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. Early in the season they dropped a 20–17 decision at Texas Gulf Coast, undone by three giveaways. A month ago against Portland Tech, they were clipped 17–10 after committing four more. In both games, the Mammoths out-gained the opponent but simply gave them too many short fields. Junior quarterback John Coughlin is talented — dangerous with his legs and capable through the air — but he has put the ball on the ground 14 times this season. If there is one crack in Redwood’s armor, that may be it. Countering that inconsistency is halfback Michael Cannon, as reliable as they come: 1,250 yards, 225 carries, and just one lost fumble. If Redwood keeps the game on Cannon’s shoulders, the Mammoths can control tempo. A year ago, that’s exactly what happened. Redwood’s ground game wore down the Knights in the fourth quarter, paving the way for a 17–14 comeback win in the East-West Classic. That one still gnaws at DCC — especially now that every point and every possession feels magnified by the national title math. The oddsmakers list the Knights as four-point favorites, and motivation shouldn’t be an issue. DCC has plenty to avenge: last year’s heartbreak in Santa Ana, and last month’s embarrassment in Columbus. Combine those with the looming possibility — however slim — of a national championship should Boulder State shock Annapolis Maritime, and the Knights should enter tomorrow’s Classic with an edge sharper than it’s been all season. New Year’s Day football always carries a certain charge. For Detroit City College, it carries the weight of redemption, remembrance, and maybe — just maybe — a return to the summit last reached in ’55. The Week That Was Current events from 12/31/74 The first legal sale of gold bullion to Americans since the Depression prompted lots of interest but little real spending by the average citizen as trading began in an atmosphere of confusion and conflicting advice that caused everything from wild demand in a few areas to a complete lack of interest in others. The price of gold fell sharply on European markets as dealers waited to see what would happen in the United States. The Watergate cover-up trial jury listened to tapes of two presidential conversations without reaching a verdict. The jury has deliberated for two days as it considers the evidence against five defendants including former White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. The holiday cease fire in Northern Ireland called nine days ago by the Irish Republican Army seems certain to be extended after Britain said it would release a number of prisoners held under IRA detention orders. Japan's Premier in a New Year's message told his people that the troubled situation in the Middle East and inflation were the greatest issues facing Japan and the world in 1975. Hawaii's Kilauea volcano put on a brief but spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks display yesterday and scientists said further eruptions were possible. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

12-06-2025, 10:53 AM	#1184
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,809	Preparing for the FABL draft TWIFS FABL DRAFT GUIDE The draft in FABL is fairly unique and one of the highlights of our off-season. We are a stats-only league so that, coupled with the two phase approach we use makes preparing for the draft a little different of a process for General Managers. Since FABL has some new GM's, and the existing ones are likely still getting back into the swing of things following a long hiatus for the file fix and decade long fast-forward, This Week in Figment Sports has prepared a draft guide. Is it the only way to prepare for a FABL draft and must GMs follow all of these steps? Of course not and it may not even be the best way but it is an approach that has been honed during my 35 or so seasons of actively running a team in the league. The FABL Draft Structure The official in-game drafting of players in FABL takes place in June but using Stats+ our commissioner runs the draft in two segments. The first, typically done in the January sims while hockey and basketball dominate the news pages, covers the first ten rounds and is done entirely by human GM selections in Stats+. The second segment is done in mid-June on the actual in-game draft day and covers the remaining 10-15 rounds and is done by computer picks based on our scouts draft lists but GMs are allowed to adjust the draft lists in any way they see fit. I typically focus almost entirely on the January phase but between April and June, once we get the mock draft and the game generated high school and college stats, I may have a short list of players that I will place at the top of my Scouting Director's lists for rounds 11-15 or so. It is so rare that a player selected after round 10 has any impact in the big leagues so the later rounds really can be ignored if you have limited time. PREPARING FOR THE DRAFT In a typical year I will begin preparation for say the 1976 draft almost immediately after the 1975 draft is officially conducted in June. I use shortlists in game and immediately sort the 450 odd players in the draft class down to a much more workable group of roughly 150 names. Those will be the players I will scout heavily and will be the ones I focus on for the January phase. Some GMs do not like to narrow the class down that quickly but I find doing so allows me to focus my SD (Scouting Director) on the top prospects and with OOTP 25 I could get everyone to VERY HIGH scouting accuracy. It is my understanding that will be much more difficult to do in OOTP26 so in my mind that means it is even more essential I get my draft class focus down to the top 150 or so quickly. Shortlists are Your Friend Shortlists are huge in scouting for a draft in Stats-Only. My first task in late June or early July is to read through the scouting reports on all players and quickly sort them into one of three short-list groups that I create: First or Second Round candidates, Third through Sixth Round and Seventh thru 10th. I also put all the players who are not on any of the three shortlists on a fourth shortlist I label Round 11-25. I do this in case there are some very late additions added to the game when OOTP flips to the new season on January 1. This way I know if a draft class player is not on a shortlist that he is brand new and I need to look at him. Now that sounds like a real time consuming project but it is not as much work as you might think. First tip is to break it down over multiple sims which is why I start immediately after the completion of the previous draft. One sim I will go through all the college pitchers, the next one the high school pitchers and then do the same for position players. A key thing to remember is make sure you export after creating your shortlist (that was a lesson I learned the hard way in the early days) to ensure your shortlists are there when the game moves ahead. Another tip to greatly reduce the reading. In my initial run through I simply glance at the last line of both the OSA scouting report and that of my scouting director. It is pretty easy to decide this guy goes in the Round 11-25 scrap heap. How do you break them into groups: Well, pitchers who are said to have #1 or #2 starter potential or position players who are described to be first-division starters or better go into the Round 1 or 2 group. Everyday players or middle to end of rotation arms go into the third through sixth round group and spot starters, upper tier minor leaguers or players with another interesting scouting note that catches their attention end up in the round seven to ten list. The result is that I have quickly cut my scouting focus and work down to about 150 players as usually 20-40 going on the round 1 or 2 list and 40-60 end up in the round 3-6 list with another 25-50 in the seventh to tenth group. Here is how my shortlist drop down typically looks I clear out my draft shortlists immediately after each draft so I can use them again. I also keep a list I called "Already Drafted" that I move players to as they get selected during the January phase so I always can see who on my draft lists might still be available (some do this exclusively in Stats+ but I found this works for me). In this case my team picks second in the draft so I have also made a very exclusive list of half a dozen players I am seriously considering for my pick at #2 overall (all of those players are also on my Round 1& 2 shortlist). Ignore the College and High School players for stats - they are part of my TWIFS prep work when we were picking High School and College All-Americans but I do recommend you make a list to track the top prospects in your system. It is not draft related, but I find it assists me in making sure my top prospects are playing and are at the appropriate level for their development. It has been my experience that the OOTP engine does an awful job giving minor league playing time to your best prospects, so I always force start key prospects at the positions and level I want them at. Now that I have those shortlists complete I am ready to have my SD focus on scouting them. I assign him tasks every sim during the second half of the regular season continuing weekly right up to the January draft to ensure those on my 3 key shortlists are scouted heavily. Other Things to Focus On Once I have those lists and my scouting director assigned regularly to scout these players I just let him do his thing until the calendar approaches January. So all of that sounds like a lot of work but it really is only about 5 minutes per sim making sure my SD is busy but not overworked. The 4 sims to get my draft lists sorted take a little longer, maybe a half hour each at most to do the high school pitchers and hitters but far less (because there are fewer) time for the college lists. Once we hit December I began to make a final draft list. Again I like to spread it out over several sims to minimize the work but that is completely optional. I will export to csv my three shortlists and combine them in an excel document so I have my 150 or so draft candidate split into three groups. The next step is fine-tuning that excel sheet to get to a ranking order for my picks. I usually go with two lists - one for pitchers and one for position players. Here is an example from the 1951 draft of what my pitcher draft list looked like. Jim Norris, at the top of my list was drafted by my team and became a superstar. Mike Quigley and Buster Scott, who were 2nd and third, most certainly did not pan out. I have kept many of my lists in order to look back on. You notice I have a few things I look for included in my csv export. Work Ethic is a big one for me, so big they I will move a player up or down my list based on it. I also really look for ground ball pitchers, and often penalize guys who only have 3 pitches. Velocity is also a factor that helps me determine where to rank a player in his group. The HS/College stats can become a small factor as well and I include a quick phrase from my SD and the OSA assessment. Now all of that is extra and not necessary if you don't want or have the time to do it. Simply having a block of 20-40 names as potential first and second round candidates puts you in a good position to draft. I also lean, when possible, towards college players- especially pitchers- because they should have less risk and from my understanding high school pitchers are even riskier in OOTP26 than they were in previous versions, which is something that feels like it is an improvement when compared to real life, especially in the era that we are playing in. You Do Not Need To Go Into This Much Detail I just mention the other things because there is so much you can focus on in a game that hides the ratings. If ratings were enabled I would still use a spreadsheet but it would be very black and white as to who slots where based on potential. I much prefer the uncertainty of stats-only, especially when a GM gets comfortable identifying all of the things aside from ratings one can use to assess talent. January 1 Until The Draft Begins Once the calendar flips to January 1 in OOTP online leagues give you a nice option in that your Scouting Director can be asked for his recommendations for each round of the draft and you will have a nice list to choose from. Make sure you use Scouting Director's "DRAFT LIST" to help you assess player rankings. It is an online league exclusive feature I believe but you can click on the DRAFT LIST tab from the draft screen and then under ACTIONS ask your scouting director for his draft list for all rounds. I wish it could be exported to a CSV but I don't believe it can but if you don't want to do all of the work above to prepare for the draft the Scouting Director lists can certainly be used to make your Stats+ draft lists. PRO-TIP: Be ready when it is your turn to draft I cannot emphasize that enough. There are 23 other teams waiting to draft and with all the time we have to prep (even this year with the quick jump into the draft) and scouting director lists available there is no reason for you not to be ready to pick when your turn comes up. Not sure if you will be available when it is your slot then make a short list in stats+ and set it to pick from list so you do not slow the process down. Yes, the commissioner is very relaxed especially in the first round in giving us plenty of time to pick but do your best to ensure you have a list if you are not around when your turn comes up. This Draft is Unique The 1975 draft is beginning just a couple days after our first sim so all of that scouting prep time will not be available. I have spent time the last few days running through the draft pool to get my normal lists sorted by round in place but because my SD is LOW accuracy on nearly the entire class I found I am relying much more on what OSA says. Come draft day because I do not know the class well enough I may even defer to my Scouting Director list once we get past the first two or three rounds. We will have a couple of sims on Monday and Tuesday to do some scouting so I am focusing entirely on my round 1 and 2 list to assign tasks to my SD in hopes I get some more accurate information for the draft. We are all going to be in the same boat but for this draft I may rely more heavily on the stats. Something to keep in mind with stats and pay attention to is that college players have different levels of competition so numbers against Great competition I would assume are more telling than high totals against Fair Competition. For high school players the playing field is equal as all schools are set to average competition levels. Even without ratings our GMs have become pretty good at identifying talent over the years but 1975 may be a draft with some real stars coming from later round picks and earlier busts because we won't have the level of knowledge we might normally gather. Also, I believe from watching the fast play is that it appears there are a higher percentage of draft picks in OOTP26 that do not pan out. From following 1963-74 in OOTP26 I feel like a lot more top 25 OSA pipeline list players failed to meet expectations and not just pitchers. I like it as the draft, especially in the mid-1970s should have a lot more busts than previous versions of OOTP gave us. Even for an experienced Figment GM this is a steep learning curve in reacquainting ourselves with our organizations while also preparing for the draft. Lean on your Scouting Director's lists if need be. Maybe not for the first round, where I always believe you should try and find a player you like but certainly in later rounds. Also, do not draft simply for a position of need. Maybe you think you have a great shortstop in your system already but if when it is your turn to draft and you like a SS the most out of the available players, draft him. You will also find that a lot of existing GMs have had a habit (at least in the past) of wanting to draft pitchers and leave talented position players on the board. I would suggest don't do that although with the caveat that pitching prospects, especially those in the OSA top 50 or so have fetched a premium on the trade market in the past. Will that change, especially if it is true and we see a lot more highly ranked young pipeline pitchers never reaching their potential? Who knows? Good luck with your draft and for new GM's to the league feel free to reach out to our commissioner or any of the veteran GMs as we are always willing to share our experiences. Hopefully this draft prep article has some points that will help your FABL club reach the World Championship Series someday soon. A Mock First Round To Get You Started A long standing tradition of This Week in Figment Sports during the early days of this periodical was to provide a mock-draft courtesy of founding editor Jiggs McGee. McGee is no longer with us but the tradition will live on as we present a ranking of the top 24 candidates for the FABL amateur player draft which is set to begin over the coming weeks. This list was created with the assistance of the OSA- the official scouting service of FABL. Happy drafting! __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

12-09-2025, 10:29 PM	#1186
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,809	January 6, 1975 JANUARY 6, 1975 MAMMOTH VICTORY Redwood Repeats in the East–West Classic — And Claims First National Title Santa Ana, Calif. — The Redwood Mammoths didn’t just climb the mountain this time — they planted a flag at the summit. One year after edging Detroit City College 17–14, the Mammoths defeated the same Knights by the same score in the 59th annual East–West Classic, then waited two anxious days before being officially crowned national champions for the first time in school history. The victory gives Redwood back-to-back East–West Classic wins and a 3–5 all-time record in the storied game. Detroit City College, still seeking its first national championship since 1955, fell to 5–3 in Classic play. Redwood entered the bowl ranked fourth, trailing the undefeated Annapolis Maritime Navigators, Northern Mississippi, and the Knights of Detroit City College. But the holiday results reshuffled the deck: Annapolis Maritime was knocked from No. 1 by Boulder State in a stunning 27–7 Sunshine Classic upset, and the voters rewarded Redwood’s win over DCC by pushing the Mammoths to the top spot with a 10–2 final record. The Navigators finished second for the second time in school history. Northern Mississippi held steady at third; Boulder State’s upset lifted the Grizzlies from sixth to fourth; and Whitney College rounded out the top five after flattening Valley State in the Desert Classic. * Redwood Strikes First * The Mammoths announced their intentions early. Quarterback John Coughlin, the cool operator of Redwood’s option scheme, directed a grinding opening march that stalled in the red zone but produced a 26-yard field goal by Julius Green. A special-teams jolt widened the lead. Steve Sweeney fielded a punt near midfield, spun free from one tackler, broke another, and barreled to the Knights’ one-yard line before being forced out. Coughlin plunged over the top and Redwood held a 10–0 advantage that looked larger than the scoreboard suggested. Detroit City College sputtered offensively until a defensive lightning bolt changed the tone. Coughlin forced a deep ball on 3rd-and-14, and sophomore safety Billy Angulo picked it clean, racing 12 yards for his first career interception return for a touchdown. Suddenly the Mammoths’ grip on the game shrank to 10–7. * News From Miami Raises the Stakes * At halftime, the Rose Bowl crowd buzzed as word spread: Annapolis Maritime had lost. With the undefeated Navigators toppled, the winner of the East–West Classic was all but certain to claim the national crown. Both sidelines reacted accordingly — one chasing its first title, the other chasing its first since Eisenhower was in office. DCC came out swinging. Running backs George Calloway and Granville Fitch finally cracked Redwood’s front, and senior quarterback Harold Robinson, who completed only four passes all day, hit the biggest one — a 30-yard strike to Carl Powers that gave the Knights their first lead at 14–10. Redwood threatened late in the third quarter, but Green missed a 26-yarder and the Knights carried their four-point lead into the final fifteen minutes. * Fourth-Quarter Push Brings the Title West * Momentum swung when Sweeney ripped off a crisp 17-yard punt return, aided by an unnecessary-roughness penalty, giving Redwood the ball at midfield with just over ten minutes remaining. The Mammoths pounced. Sweeney carved six yards up the gut. Coughlin sprinted 17 more around the right side. A 15-yard toss to Sam York put Redwood deep in the red zone. And with the Knights bracing for another keeper, Coughlin pitched to Sweeney on the option. The junior slashed six yards into the end zone to restore a 17–14 Redwood lead — the exact same scoreline as last year’s Classic. Detroit City College never found a response. Redwood’s defense owned the closing minutes, smothering short-yardage attempts and forcing a final trio of empty Knights possessions. When the final seconds bled away, the Mammoths had secured their second straight East–West Classic triumph — and, by nightfall two days later, their first national championship. * A Grind-It-Out Classic * Neither team found rhythm in the passing game, and both struggled on third down. But Redwood’s steady option attack, paired with timely returns and a suffocating fourth-quarter defense, made all the difference. A year ago, Redwood proved it could win the Classic. This time, the Mammoths proved they could win it all. SUNSHINE CLASSIC SHOCKER: NAVIGATORS’ PERFECT SEASON SINKS IN MIAMI MIAMI — Under a leaden gray sky and a biting 37-degree crosswind that made the famed Orange Coast feel more like the upper Chesapeake, the Annapolis Maritime Navigators watched their bid for a perfect season — and their long-sought first national championship — dissolve in a bruising 27–7 loss to Boulder State in the Sunshine Classic. The Navigators (11–1), spotless through eleven outings and carrying the weight of a program still haunted by its near-miss in 1961, were overrun by a Boulder State club that looked nothing like a No. 6 underdog. The Plains Athletic Association champions dominated the trenches, controlled the ball for more than 36 minutes, and rode quarterback David Johnson’s tough running and crisp early strikes to their first Sunshine Classic win since 1955. * GRIZZLIES SEIZE CONTROL * Annapolis Maritime arrived with one of the nation’s best scoring defense, but the early tone made clear this afternoon would not follow form. Johnson — the compact, cutting, relentless Grizzlies field general — repeatedly slipped through first contact and pushed Boulder State downfield in patient, punishing chunks. Even when the Grizzlies stumbled with first-quarter fumbles, the Navigators failed to make them pay, struggling to clear their own 30-yard line. The breakthrough came midway through the second period when Johnson rolled right and lofted a one-yard touchdown to Wesley Clement, capping a grinding 65-yard march. After forcing another three-and-out, Boulder State padded the margin with Michael Darling’s 29-yard boot in the final minute for a 10–0 halftime lead that felt twice as heavy. * NAVIGATORS LOSE THEIR WAY * If Annapolis Maritime needed a spark to turn back the rising tide, they never got it. On the first snap of the third quarter, Johnson slashed four yards off left guard for another score, stretching the lead to 17–0. The Navigators — bottled by a smothering front led by Joseph Peterman, the defensive player of the game — managed just 68 passing yards and converted only 4 of 16 third-down attempts. Darling’s 46-yard field goal early in the fourth widened the gap, and Boulder State sealed the upset with a precise two-minute drill engineered by reserve quarterback Adrian Derrick, who found Clement again, this time from the three, for a 27–0 stranglehold. Only in the final seconds did the Navigators avoid a shutout, when Jackie Shook zipped a three-yard strike to Raymond Markham with :15 remaining. By then, thousands of Grizzlies fans — many of whom had braved the rare Miami chill wrapped in gold-and-black blankets — were already celebrating a victory that will reverberate from the Gulf to the Rockies. Boulder State finishes 10–2, with perhaps the clearest statement win of the bowl season. The Navigators, so close again to a national crown, head north knowing they controlled none of the afternoon — not the pace, not the field position, and certainly not the scoreboard. Annapolis Maritime will spend the winter wrestling with the harshest truth of all: their dream season ended not with an argument over poll voters, but with a decisive on-field answer from Boulder State. MAVERICKS AERIAL ASSAULT TOO MUCH FOR ROWDIES Houston- The Northern Mississippi Mavericks capped off one of the best seasons the school has ever experienced with a convincing 28-17 victory over Red River State in the 30th annual edition of the Oilman Classic. Mavericks quarterback Courtney Ford enjoyed one of the best games of his career, leading a precision passing game that saw the junior passer complete 14 of 16 attempts including a pair of touchdown tosses. It was just the second time the Mavericks earned a trip to Houston as Deep South Conference champions and they are now a perfect 2-0 as this victory follows up a 16-13 triumph over Lubbock State on January 1, 1967. The only other Classic Game that Northern Mississippi has ever played in was the 1970 Cajun Classic which they lost to Charleston Tech. Clinging to slim hopes they may move up two slots in the polls and win their first national title if everything broke right, the Mavericks were a determined bunch right from the get-go, clearly overpowering a Red River State team that entered the game with a 7-4 record in what was a down season for the Southwestern Alliance. The opening drive saw Ford and his mates march the ball 75 yards downfield and score a touchdown on their opening possession. Versatile senior wingback Tom Agincourt finished off the drive off the drive with a 1 yard run. It would be the start of a big day for Agincourt in his final game in the blue and white of the Mavericks. He would carry the ball 10 times for 44 yards on the afternoon and also catch four passes with none more exciting than the 70 yard catch and run he had for a fourth quarter touchdown to put the game out of reach after the Rowdies had cut the deficit to 21-17. Turnovers hurt Red River State badly in this contest including a fumble by running back Mike Hutcheson on the Mavericks five yard line early in the second quarter when the Rowdies appeared poised to tie the game at seven. The Hutcheson fumble put a damper on what was a terrific game for the freshman who ran for a game high 121 yards and finished his debut season with nearly 1,500 yards gained on the ground. Equally as damaging to Red River State's comeback hopes was a second fumble deep in Mavericks territory in the waning minutes of the third quarter shortly after the Rowdies had seized the momentum with their opening score of the game to cut the deficit to 14-7. That second fumble ignited another long clock-eating drive engineered by Ford that culminated in a 6-yard scoring run by Ricky Brown to make the score 21-7 early in the fourth quarter. If Northern Mississippi thought the game was wrapped up at that point they got a surprise when Rowdies dangerous return man James Hurd took the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for his third kick return touchdown of the season. The situation became even more tense with just over 5 minutes left when Red River State kicker Ryan McDowell was successful with a field goal from 30 yards out to cut the deficit to just four points. That kick came on a fourth and six from the Mavericks 13 yard line with the Rowdies side of the stands in Houston's Dalton Domed Stadium pleading for Red River State head coach Pat Cornell to go for it in an effort to tie the game up. Cornell elected to take the points and then hope his defense could get a big stop. That did not happen as the Mavericks second play from scrimmage on the ensuing drive was the masterful 70-yard scoring reception by Agincourt, who cemented both the result and his place as player of the game, with his second touchdown of the afternoon. The Rowdies had one more impressive drive as they desperately tried to close the now 11-point deficit but it also ended in a turnover in the red zone as Mavericks cornerback Michael Richards picked off a Homer Anderson pass on a first and goal for the Rowdies with just over two minutes remaining in the game. NEW YEARS CLASSIC ROUND-UP CAJUN CLASSIC New Orleans -- After enduring a dreadful 4-7 campaign a year ago -their worst showing since going 4-6 in 1957- the Cumberland Explorers capped a nice bounce back year by knocking off South Atlantic Conference champion Eastern State 27-14 in the Cajun Classic. It marked the third New Years appearance and third 9-3 season for the Explorers in the past four years. National Champions after a perfect 12-0 1967 season, Cumberland is now 9-5-1 all-time playing on New Years Day. Eastern State, which like Cumberland went 4-7 a year ago, was playing in its first Classic Game since January of 1952 and the Monitors simply had no answer for the Explorers pair of dynamic sophomore backs. Bobby Haskell ran over and around the bewildered Eastern State defenders for 156 yards and two second quarter touchdowns while Ambrose McRae pushed his season total over the 1,000 yard mark with 107 yards in this the rain in New Orleans. The future looks bright for Cumberland as the two backs combined on the season for nearly 2,500 yards rushing. LONE STAR CLASSIC Austin -- Appearing in a Classic Game for the first time in school history, the Utah A&M Aggies made it a memorable trip to Texas as they rallied for a 23-20 victory over the Commonwealth Catholic Knights in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. It was a back and forth affair that saw the Aggies win the game on a surprise play with just 32 seconds remaining in regulation time. Utah A&M had been unable to complete a pass the entire contest but trailing 20-15 and faced with a third and goal on the Knights 2-yard line in the final minute they shocked a Commonwealth Catholic defense fully focused on stopping the run by throwing a pass. The Aggies lined up two quarterbacks in the backfield on the play - Christian Trophy winner Ernst Kidd who led the nation in rushing yards and gained 91 on the day but went 0-for-6 throwing the ball as well as backup David Hayden who had attempted just 14 passes all season and none so far in the game. The direct snap went to Hayden who was lined up beside Kidd. He faked the short pitch to Kidd and instead lofted a pass to the corner of the endzone that was hauled in by Utah A&M tight end Casey Wing for the winning score on what was the only completion of the day for the Aggies. The victory boosted the Rocky Mountain Athletic Association champions record to 11-1, establishing a high-water mark for wins in a season for the Aggies and leaving them ranked 8th in the final polls - their first top ten appearance since 1957. Commonwealth Catholic finishes with a 9-3 record. BAYSIDE CLASSIC The Alexandria Generals were favoured to defeat the Lawrence State Chippewa in the 30th annual edition of the Bayside Classic but the game ended up being a route in favour of the Midwestern Alliance champions as Lawrence State rode a solid performance from junior quarterback Sean Babb to a 33-0 victory. After a scoreless opening quarter in which the Generals were unsuccessful in a bid for a 42-yard field goal, the game was blown open in the second period. Lawrence State, aided by an Alexandria turnover and a pair of Babb to Ed Tucker touchdown passes, built a 17-0 lead at the break. The Chippewa did not slow down in the second half as Babb completed 14 of 25 passes for 157 yards with nine of those passes dropping into the arms of the freshman Tucker, who finished with 128 receiving yards on the day. Sophomore running back Luther Dickinson also enjoyed a productive afternoon, running for a game high 80 yards and a touchdown to open the fourth quarter. Both schools finish the season at 10-2 with Lawrence State climbing to sixth in the polls while Alexandria was forced to settle for 11th. It ended a string of back to back New Years Day wins for Alexandria, which won the Desert Classic each of the past two seasons and was a perfect 12-0 each time, finishing third in the polls in 1972 and second behind only Noble Jones College a year ago. DESERT CLASSIC Great Lakes Alliance runner-up Whitney College was very successful in its first appearance in a Classic Game. The Engineers made the trek to El Paso to face the champion of the Southern Border Association which traditionally hosts the Desert Classic. That would be the Valley State Gunslingers this time around but Valley State was firing blanks as the Engineers opened a 27-0 first half lead and cruised to a 37-13 victory. Frankie Nixon got the party started for the Engineers early, returning a Valley State punt 50 yards for a touchdown before the game was two minutes old. It never did get any better for the hosts who, despite Za'Darius Harris rushing for a game high 140 yards, were never in the contest. Quarterback Robert Guenther capped a solid freshman season for Whitney College by throwing a pair of touchdown passes while junior running back Russell Garvin shredded the Gunslingers defense with a number of big carries enroute to a 114 yard rushing day despite being called on just 15 times to run the ball. The result left the 10-2 Engineers number 5 in the final polls - their highest finish ever. BOONE COUNTY MUSEUM WELCOMES DOYAL Former Foresters Legend Lone Hall of Fame Inductee The Class of 1975 for the baseball Hall of Fame in Boone County, IL., will contain just one member as Sherry Doyal was the only player to collect sufficient votes required for induction. Doyal, a first ballot Hall of Famer, was named on a little over 91% of the ballots submitted. The ten-time All-Star and 1951 Whitney Award winner spent nearly his entire career with the Cleveland Foresters but did not start or end it on the shores of Lake Erie. A star at Landry High School in New Orleans, Doyal was selected 5th overall in the 1946 FABL draft by the St Louis Pioneers. He would never make it to St Louis as the Pioneers dealt him and their first round pick in the 1948 draft to the Foresters in exchange for big league pitcher Hiram Steinberg. The deal would help both teams as St Louis won back-to-back WCS titles with Steinberg while Cleveland would become a powerhouse in the late-1950s and early 1960s. Doyal would make his Cleveland debut in 1948 at the age of 20 and would spend two decades with the Foresters, helping them to seven pennants and three World Championship Series victories. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1950 WCS, one in which the Foresters nipped the New York Gothams in seven games. He would go on to become Cleveland's all-time franchise leader in games played, at bats, runs scored and homeruns before being exposed in the expansion draft prior to the 1969 season. Houston selected the now 41-year-old for his leadership skills and he spent two seasons primarily as a pinch-hitter for the Comets before retiring. TURNER, SAINTS AGREE ON TWO-YEAR EXTENSION Montreal --With the long-anticipated arrival of free agency hanging over the sport, FABL front offices are expected to spend much of 1975 securing their stars before the marketplace opens. The Commissioner’s Office, headed by Willard T. Dennison, has yet to outline the full mechanics of player eligibility or compensation, leaving clubs to operate in a haze of uncertainty. The Montreal Saints, however, wasted little time. The club announced yesterday that infielder Dixie Turner, the eight-time Whitney Award winner and long-time face of the franchise, has agreed to a two-year contract extension that will keep him in a Saints uniform through the 1977 season. In a move that surprised many around the league — and likely raised eyebrows within the Players Association — Turner accepted a pay cut in exchange for additional security. He will earn a reported $210,000 in both 1976 and 1977, down from the $250,000 he is slated to receive in 1975. That figure ties him with Washington’s Tom Lorang as baseball’s highest-paid player this year. For Montreal, the deal is viewed as a prudent piece of business, though not without some inherent gamble. Turner is coming off what, for him, amounted to a disappointing season: a .225 average, 21 home runs, and 74 runs batted in. Even in a “down year,” his overall value remained high — he still produced a 5.3 WAR — but the drop-off from his customary production has sparked quiet speculation that the 33-year-old star may be entering the back nine of his career. That makes the upcoming 1975 season a pivotal one. The Saints secured their cornerstone, but they will be watching closely to see whether last year was merely an aberration or a warning sign of decline. For Turner, the deal offers stability; for the Saints, it’s a calculated bet that one of the era’s great players still has elite baseball left in him. MILLERS NEED MORE PEPPER The Minneapolis Millers have reversed course on a familiar face, opting to bring back veteran righthander Johnny Pepper after briefly parting ways with him earlier this fall. Pepper, now 39 and entering his 17th professional season, originally signed a minor-league pact with Minneapolis in September following his release by Baltimore in July. The Millers cut him loose in October, only to reconsider and ink him last week to a one-year contract valued at $37,600. A former second-round pick of Toronto in 1953, Pepper spent more than a decade with the Wolves and enjoyed his finest campaign in 1966, when he went 16–8 and earned an All-Star nod. Since being taken by Milwaukee in the 1969 expansion draft, he has pitched for Dallas, Cincinnati, and Baltimore while accumulating a career record of 111–135 across 281 major-league starts. Used primarily out of the bullpen with the Clippers last summer, Pepper posted a 5–6 mark with 5 saves and a 3.84 ERA. The Millers believe the veteran can still provide value, either as rotation depth or in a stabilizing relief role, as they look to bolster their pitching staff for 1975. PACKERS, BEES LOOK TO STRETCH LEADS The Chicago Packers and Boston Bees have each been on a tear since mid-December as both look to extend their division leads. Boston fell to Minneapolis 3-1 on New Years Eve but the Bees have won six of their last seven and stretched their lead on second place Montreal atop the Connelly Division to five points. Chicago, has Minneapolis and a hot St Louis Sawyers club tracking it down in the Yeadon Division, but the Packers have lost just once in their last ten games. At 10-3-3 the Packers have the best record in the NAHC since December 1 and are benefitting from some terrific goaltender from Rejean Gillies. The 35-year-old, who began his career in San Francisco before moving to the Windy City prior to the 1971-72 campaign, was named goaltender of the month for December and his 2.56 goals against average is second only to Montreal's Fred Rucks this season. NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS WENESDAY JANAUARY 1 Chicago at Los Angeles : The lone New Years Day game saw the Chicago Packers get two goals from Terry Foster and roll past the struggling Los Angeles Stingrays 6-3. THURSDAY JANUARY 2 Cincinnati at Pittsburgh : Alan Porter's 25th goal of the season proved to be the game winner as the Cincinnati Ironclads won 3-1 on the road over Pittsburgh. Quebec at Toronto : It was another big night for NAHC scoring leader Ollie Perreault as the veteran Toronto Dukes forward scored three times and added an assist to propel his club to a 7-3 triumph at Dominion Gardens over the visiting Quebec Citadels. Joey Eagles also had a big game for Toronto with two goals and two helpers. St Louis at Washington : The St. Louis Sawyers are unbeaten in nine games following a 7-3 victory over the Federals in Washington. Brian Eastwood and Denny Woodhouse each had 3 points to lead the visitors. Philadelphia at Boston : Four Boston goals in a five minute span midway through the second period proved the difference as the Bees downed the defending Challenge Cup champion Philadelphia Rogues 6-2. San Francisco at New York : Third period goals from Joe Crosby and David Guimond allowed the New York Shamrocks to salvage a point in a 2-2 tie with the Gulls. Dick Paletta and Phillope Lafrerriere each scored before the first period was four minutes old to stake San Francisco to an early lead. Vancouver at Detroit : Carl Simon scored with five minutes left in the game to allow the league's worst team- the Detroit Motors- to earn a 3-3 tie with visiting Vancouver at the Thompson Palladium. Atlanta at Montreal : Randy Kelleher turned aside all 30 Montreal shots for his second shutout of the season to lead Atlanta past the Valiants 4-0. Victor Duplacey scored twice for the Blazers. Minneapolis at Calgary : Rookie James Martel had a goal and an assist to pace Calgary past Minneapolis 3-1. FRIDAY JANUARY 3 Pittsburgh at St Louis : The red hot St Louis Sawyers extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games with a 6-3 win over Pittsburgh. Winger Tom Ansell had 3 points to pace the Sawyers, who still sit third in the Yeadon Division despite their torrid play of late. Boston at Cincinnati : Boston extended its lead on Montreal atop the Connelly Division after the Bees dumped the 4-2. Ironclads forward Alan Porter did pick up his 24th goal of the season and extend his point scoring streak to 12 games. Detroit at Atlanta : In a battle between the two worst teams in the league, the Atlanta Blazers scored three unanswered third period goals to defeat Detroit 6-4. Los Angeles at San Francisco : Ray Donnelly's 7th goal of the season, just 16 seconds after Mark Collins had tied the contest at two in the third period, gave the Los Angeles Stingrays a 3-2 victory over Thomas Division rival San Francisco. Washington at Chicago : Bill Tannen earned 3 assists to help the Chicago Packers stay three points up on Minneapolis for the Yeadon Division lead. The Packers beat Washington 6-2 Philadelphia at Montreal : Adam McPherson had the hat trick as Philadelphia doubled Montreal 6-3. Calgary at Minneapolis : Matt Hayward's first NAHC shutout since 1972 gave the Minneapolis Norseman the win at home over Calgary. Hayward, a 25-year-old Alberta native, made 26 saves in the 2-0 win. Ned Derby and Anthony Baptiste, with his 22nd of the season, were the goal scorers for the Norsemen. SATURDAY JANUARY 4 No games scheduled SUNDAY JANUARY 5 New York at Philadelphia : A very light weekend schedule saw no games on Saturday and just one on Sunday night as the New York Shamrocks outscored the Philadelphia Rogues 7-5 in a battle between the top two teams in the Dewar Division. Despite the loss, the Rogues still enjoy a 7-point lead on the Shamrocks, but New York does have a game in hand. Rookie New York forward Daniel McQuaid had a goal and three assists while his linemate, fellow Shamrocks rookie Greg Sutherland, had 3 points in the win. CENTRAL DIVISION CONTINUES CHL DOMINATION The Central Division continues to rule the Continental Hockey League as all five clubs in that division are over .500 and each has started the new year on a winning streak. Leading the way continues to the Winnipeg Falcons, who started the year off on the right skate by helping to knock the New York Eagles from top spot in the East Division. The Falcons dumped New York 7-4 behind a four point outing from Tim Moore. The second year star, who was rookie of the year in the CHL last season, boosted his league leading point total on the season to 91 and is on a pace to smash Hobie Barrell's single season CHL point record of 146 established in the league's debut season of 1972-73. The Falcons win at home over New York gives them four straight victories and they top the league with 62 points. Second place Milwaukee is five points back even after back to back wins over Toronto and Houston on Thursday and Friday to extend their winning streak to three games. Third place Ottawa has also won three in a row after winning a wild one at home against Buffalo by 9-6 count on Saturday evening. Hobie Barrell picked up a hat trick in that game to give him 50 goals on the seasons. It marks the fifth time in his career that the Athletics captain has scored at least fifty, including all three seasons in the CHL. Chicago and Kansas City sit fourth and fifth in the Central Division despite the fact that their point totals would put them first and second in the East Division and battling Edmonton for second in the West. The Cleveland Immortals beat New York on Friday and tied Toronto on Saturday to move into top spot in the East while the Denver Peaks remain ahead of Edmonton for the West Division lead despite being shutout 1-0 by the Huskies Michael Mulcair on Wednesday. It was just the third game of the season for the 23-year-old Edmonton netminder, who led the Huskies to the CHL title a year ago but suffered a back injury in training camp. RED DEVILS REMAIN PERFECT IN COLLEGE CAGE ACTION The Baton Rouge State Red Devils continue to sit atop the weekly college basketball rankings and remain one of only two undefeated AIAA programs in the nation. Baton Rouge stands at 12–0, joined by Northern Mississippi, its Deep South Conference rival, which improved to 9–0 but nonetheless slipped one spot in this week’s poll. Two other schools entered 1975 without a loss but were knocked from the unbeaten ranks last week. Tempe College, previously 11–0, suffered a 53–49 home loss to unranked College of San Diego. The Titans rebounded with a 58–47 win over Quaker College of California, but the split dropped them from 10th to 14th. Meanwhile, College of Waco of the Southwestern Alliance slid from 13th to 18th after falling 60–53 at Flagstaff State. Baton Rouge State, meanwhile, kept rolling with two home victories: a 67–58 win over Michigan Lutheran, led by junior guard Ernie Hill with 16 points, and a 64–59 triumph yesterday over Cleveland. The Red Devils have one final non-conference game this week against lightly regarded Ogdensburg, then open Deep South play on January 22 with a road test at 25th-ranked Alabama Baptist. Baton Rouge has reached the AIAA tournament semifinals three times in the past four years, though a championship has still eluded them. Despite Baton Rouge’s perfect record, one-third of the poll’s voters continue to rank Detroit City College ahead of the Red Devils. Like Baton Rouge, the Knights have enjoyed recent tournament success, reaching the semifinals in each of the past two seasons. DCC has captured the AIAA crown three times, most recently with back-to-back championships in the mid-1960s. The 10–1 Knights held the No. 1 spot until a week ago, when they were upset by Pittsburgh State on December 27. They responded forcefully, routing Wichita Baptist 73–39 on New Year’s Eve and following that with a 69–45 win over Richmond State on Friday, fueled by 18 points from senior center Chuck Carpenter. Detroit City College closes its non-conference slate with two more games, highlighted by a highly anticipated showdown Thursday at Thompson Palladium, where the Knights will host fifth-ranked and undefeated Northern Mississippi. ROCKETS REMAIN FEDERAL LEAGUE’S HOTTEST CLUB There appears to be no cooling off the St. Louis Rockets—or scoring king John Brantner. After a brief wobble in mid-December, when the perennial Western Conference powerhouse dropped three straight, the Rockets have slammed the door on doubt by winning nine of their last ten. At 24–11, they once again sit atop the entire Federal Basketball League. St. Louis holds a three-game cushion over a surging Houston Apollos squad that has taken 11 of its last 14. The Rockets, meanwhile, have opened the new year with three straight victories and now carry a five-game winning streak into the second week of January. They kicked off 1975 on January 2 with a decisive 116–95 win in Los Angeles, where Brantner torched the Condors for 46 points. A night later, despite a red-eye flight home, there was no fatigue on display at the St. Louis Gateway Center: Brantner poured in 42 and the Rockets handled the Chicago Panthers 112–101. They capped the week Sunday with a 108–102 road victory in Detroit. Brantner—31 and showing no signs of slowing down—continues to dominate the league’s scoring charts at just under 40 points per game, a full ten ahead of Chicago sharpshooter Les Hoeft. St. Louis now braces for a marquee showdown Tuesday night as Houston comes to town. The Apollos stumbled out of the gate, losing 8 of their first 13—including three to St. Louis—but have since caught fire. They also beat the Rockets in their most recent meeting, a post-Christmas contest in Houston, giving St. Louis plenty of incentive for payback. Tight Race in the Atlantic The Eastern Conference remains split sharply down the middle: all five Atlantic Division clubs are at or above .500, while every team in the Central Division carries a losing mark. The New York Knights, winners of three league titles in recent years, boast the conference’s best record at 21–13—but their form is slipping. The Knights have dropped three of their last four, including both ends of a weekend home-and-home against Philadelphia. Their post-Christmas struggles have opened the door for the Boston Centurions, now just one game back. Boston endured a five-game slide of its own but has rebounded with two strong victories to start the new year: a 136–127 win in Chicago and a 131–116 home triumph over Atlanta. The Centurions, who trail New York 1–2 in the season series, will get another crack at the Knights next Saturday at Bigsby Garden in what shapes up as the weekend’s marquee matchup. WILL DEMONS SURVIVE THE SEASON? The Continental Basketball League has had its share of ups and downs as it battles the established Federal League for the hearts and dollars of professional basketball fans and the television networks. As the CBL approaches the midway point of its eighth campaign there are some real positives: the quality of play is growing closer to that of the FBL every season and teams in markets untouched by the FBL like Cincinnati, Denver and San Antonio have created quite a following. However, there is one black mark on the league that seems to get worse every year. That would be the New Jersey Demons who have failed miserably in an attempt to take on the famed New York Knights in the biggest market in the country. Mismanaged even before their move from Tampa three years ago, the Demons have grown worse with each season and are on pace to win just 13 games this season. This from a franchise that has not made the playoffs since 1969 and one that struggles to draw even 3,000 fans to the Newark Coliseum for games. No CBL team has folded mid-season but sparse attendance and an absolutely brutal on-court product has led to speculation that the Demons may not have the funds necessary to complete the season. FORMER CHAMP ROOCA FALLS AGAIN, TALKS RETIREMENT There had been speculation that former World Heavyweight Champion Tony Rocca suffered a serious concussion when Leon Frazier knocked him out in the 12th round of their title fight in Las Vegas last October. Rocca’s camp denied the rumors, and the 28-year-old—who had made five successful defenses before surrendering the belt—returned to the ring Saturday night. The opponent was widely viewed as a soft touch, a hand-picked steppingstone for Rocca’s planned climb back toward a title shot. Instead, things unraveled quickly. Jed Fisher, a 25-year-old journeyman with a modest 15-16-2 record, delivered the performance of his life. Fisher controlled the pace from the opening bell, dictated every round, and earned a unanimous decision on all three judges’ scorecards. Rocca, knocked down twice and barely beating the count the second time, seemed at a loss afterward. Asked what comes next—now that another run at the championship appears highly unlikely—Rocca paused before quietly suggesting that this may be the end of his career. If Saturday indeed marks the final chapter for the New Haven native, Rocca leaves behind an impressive résumé. He retires with a 37-3-3 record and two reigns as ABF World Heavyweight Champion. Debuting in late 1966, he went 17-0-2 before earning his first title shot less than three years later, winning the crown with an 8th-round TKO of Ben Brumfield. Successful defenses over Elvin Caldwell and Luther Gaines followed before he lost a hard-fought unanimous decision to Pete Vassar in October 1970. Rocca regained the belt in December 1972 with a unanimous decision over Barry Bernard and defended it five times—highlighted by a dominant win in his rematch with Vassar—before Frazier dethroned him last fall. Until the stunning loss to Fisher, Rocca’s only defeats had come in championship fights. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 01/05/1975 With inflation near 12% and unemployment rising, President Gerald Ford signals major anti-inflation proposals and possible budget cuts. Returning members of Congress, emboldened by big November gains, push for expanded public employment programs and consumer aid as the recession worsens. OPEC price increases trigger fresh fuel worries, raising fears of renewed shortages and higher consumer prices. Cold wave grips much of the U.S. and Canada. A severe Arctic air mass descends across the continent, bringing record-low temperatures from the Midwest to the Maritimes and causing widespread heating-fuel strain and transport delays. Federal investigators report new leads on Symbionese Liberation Army associates ahead of Patty Hearst’s expected trial, keeping the long-running saga in the news. Wage and price controls debate heats up in Canada. Ottawa officials acknowledge that rising inflation may force consideration of mandatory wage and price restraints, sparking political friction with provincial leaders. North Vietnamese forces gain ground in Vietnam With U.S. involvement ended, the deteriorating South Vietnamese position continues to worsen as North Vietnamese forces advance, highlighting growing concern over an impending collapse. On the silver screen “The Godfather Part II” earns strong reviews and robust holiday attendance. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 12-09-2025 at 10:32 PM.

12-11-2025, 12:14 AM	#1187
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,809	January 13, 1975 JANUARY 13, 1975 AMERICAN CONFERENCE WINS AFA ALL-STAR CLASSIC Ruth's 80-yard Interception Return Only Major in 13-9 Win The only touchdown to be scored in AFA's annual post-season all-star game occurred as the contest was barely a minute old when Michael Ruth, a Detroit Maroons safety, picked off a pass from league MVP Robert Haas of the Denver Mountaineers and raced 80-yards for a touchdown. That score gave the American Conference an early 7-0 lead and would prove to be the only touchdown on the afternoon as the American all-stars downed their counterparts from the National Conference by a score of 13-9. Kickers Tracy Leggett of the Cincinnati Rivermen and Chicago Wildcats David Derr traded field goals in both the first and second quarter to make the score 13-6 for the American Conference with Leggett's 47-yard boot in the third quarter accounting for the only points in the second half. Ruth, a rookie out of Columbia Military Academy who was selected in the second round by the Maroons last spring, also had 3 tackles on the afternoon and was named the game's defensive MVP. Veteran tackle Jake Weber of the Chicago Wildcats, who was participating in his fifth All-Star Classic, was named the offensive MVP for his terrific work on the offensive line. PACKERS FOSTER SHINES IN NAHC ALL-STAR GAME A pair of third period goals from Chicago Packers veteran winger Terry Foster lifted the Union Conference to a 4-3 victory over the Dominion Conference in the 26th annual North American Hockey Confederation All-Star Game. The game marked the first of the conference alignment as the previous seven games had been an East vs West format and prior to that the defending Challenge Cup champion would take on a team of stars from around the league. The Union Conference took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Alvin Yardley of Los Angeles and Detroit's Andrew Williams but the Dominion squad pulled even with a pair of its own in the middle frame. One came courtesy of league scoring leader Ollie Perreault of the Toronto Dukes less than two minutes into the period and then Perreault set up Montreal's Roger MacKinnon with the equalizer later in the period. Foster, a 30-year-old Chicago forward participating in his fifth all-star game, put the Union Conference back in the lead when he banged the rebound of an Andrew Williams point shot past Boston netminder Alex Daoust but Philadelphia's Gary Yeadon tied the game back up at three with a goal just under ten minutes later. The contest stayed tied for barely a minute before Foster struck again with what proved to be the game winning goal. NOTES: The Sunday afternoon game held at the Liberty Center in Philadelphia drew 17,760 fans...Hometown fans were delighted when local hero Gary Yeadon, one of the key pieces of the Rogues Challenge Cup win a year ago, was named second star of the game. Tom Rowley of Minneapolis, who had two assists, was the first star while Chicago's Foster earned third star honours....It was a busy afternoon for the four goalies who played as the two teams combined for 92 shots. NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS MONDAY JANAUARY 6 San Francisco at Detroit : Alfie Schmirler scored three times and Charlie Rodgers had a goal and three assists to lead Detroit to a 6-3 win on home ice over San Francisco. Motors veteran center Yves Dagenais picked up a pair of assists to pace former teammate Hobie Barrell for 7th on the all-time assist leaderboard. Dagenais now has 530 assists. Vancouver at New York : Greg Sutherland had a goal and an assist for New York while Patrick Ferguson had two helpers for Vancouver as the Shamrocks and Totems skated to a 2-2 draw. Calgary at Quebec : Calgary managed just 15 shots on goal and Quebec's Cliff Graham stopped them all for his second shutout of the season as the Citadels blanked the Grizzlies 3-0. Ron Griffin and Ray Blackwell each had a goal and an assist for the winners. Cincinnati at Atlanta : The Ironclads battled back from a 3-1 deficit to tie Atlanta 3-3. It marked the end of a 12 game point scoring streak for Cincinnati's Alan Porter. TUESDAY JANUARY 7 Calgary at Washington : Goalie Jon Girard made 48 saves to allow Calgary to earn a point in Washington by tying the Federals 2-2. Boston at Los Angeles : Alvin Yardley had 3 assists and Dan Fulton stopped 50 of 52 Boston shots to lead the Los Angles Stingrays to a 4-2 home win over the Bees. Pittsburgh at Montreal : Max Hebert scored once and added two assists to pace Pittsburgh past Montreal 4-1 in a game that the Vals outshot the Sentinels 46-22. St Louis at Cincinnati : Bernie Caldwell's powerplay goal midway through the third period gave the St Louis Sawyers a 2-2 tie with Cincinnati. San Francisco at Vancouver : Four different Totems, including three defenseman (Jack Charest, Morgan Gibb and Mitch Gallagher) scored as Vancouver downed San Francisco 4-1. Chicago at Minneapolis : Chicago scored three times in the first nine minutes of the game and held on to trim Minneapolis 5-4 despite Bill Sullivan of the Norsemen earning three points on the night. WEDNESDAY JANUARY 8 Chicago at Los Angeles : Tek Sahota scored twice to lift Los Angeles to its third consecutive victory, 5-2 over Chicago. THURSDAY JANUARY 9 Quebec at San Francisco : The Gulls are winless in seven games after falling 7-3 to Quebec. Ty Shackleford and Sam Lemiski each scored twice for the Citadels. Vancouver at Atlanta : Vancouver has just one loss in its last 10 games after trimming Atlanta 3-2 and ending the Blazers unbeaten streak at four games. Philadelphia at St Louis : St Louis lost for the first time in a month, dropping a 6-4 decision at home to Philadelphia. Gary Yeadon had the hat trick and added an assist for the Rogues while Brian Eastwood also scored three times in a losing cause for the Sawyers. Montreal at Cincinnati : The Valiants snapped a 3-game losing streak with their first victory of 1975, a 7-2 clobbering of Cincinnati. The Ironclads have just one win in their last nine games. Roger MacKinnon paced the Montreal attack with two goals and a helper. Pittsburgh at Detroit : Yves Dagenais had 5 assists as Detroit pounded Pittsburgh 8-2. The Motors are tied with Atlanta for the fewest points in the league but perhaps things are turning around for the Motors, who have collected 5 points in their last four games. Boston at New York : David Bertrand scored with less than 3 minutes remaining in the game to give Boston a 5-4 win over the Shamrocks. FRIDAY JANUARY 10 Philadelphia at Boston : The Bees followed up their win in New York with a 6-1 victory on home ice over Philadelphia. Tommy Gordon scored twice for the Bees and added an assist. Boston is tied with Chicago as the hottest team in the league over the past month. The Bees have gone 9-4-2 since December 10. New York at Washington : Sam Raymond and Gonzalo Bongiorno each scored twice to pace Washington to a 6-2 victory over New York. For the Federals it was just their second win in the last 13 games but they do have 6 ties during that stretch. Minneapolis at Quebec : Jimmy Norris continues to hold the hot hand for the Citadels. He scored twice and added two assists giving the 32-year-old forward 7 points in his last two games. Quebec doubled the Norsemen 8-4. Montreal at Atlanta : Montreal has lost four of five games since January 1st following a 4-3 defeat on the road in Atlanta. Daniel Harris had three assists for the Blazers including his setup of Rob Stanley's game winner on the powerplay while Vals star rearguard Mark Moggy was in the penalty box. SATURDAY JANUARY 11 Washington at St Louis : Nick Quinn's third period goal, just his fourth of the season earned Washington a point in a 3-3 tie with the Sawyers. Denny Woodhouse scored twice for St Louis. Minneapolis at Toronto : Ben Boimstruck scored the game winner shorthanded late in the third period to give Toronto a 3-2 win over visiting Minneapolis. Detroit at Chicago : The Packers have won four of their last five following a 5-1 victory at Lakeside Auditorium over the Detroit Motors. Terry Foster, who would be the hero in Sunday's all-star game, scored 3 times in this one to give him 26 goals on the season. Calgary at Los Angeles : The Stingrays have won 4 straight following a 4-3 victory at home over Calgary. The victory vaulted LA ahead of San Francisco for second place in the Thomas Division and put the Stingrays six points ahead of the last place Grizzlies. Pittsburgh at Philadelphia : Philadelphia handed Pittsburgh its fourth loss in five games after the Rogues pulled out a 4-3 victory a day before their arena, the Liberty Center, was set to host the all-star game. Gary Yeadon scored his 30th of the season to help the Philadelphia attack. Yeadon remains on pace to top the fifty goal mark for the second consecutive season. SUNDAY JANUARY 12 no games scheduled - All- Star Game SCOUT HOLST UNSUNG HERO IN WINNIPEG The Winnipeg Falcons’ rise to the top of the Continental Hockey League during the regular season a year ago owed much to the breakout of young center Tim Moore, but their dominance this year can be traced directly to the work of one man behind the scenes: Elias Holst. The little-known West German–born scout has become an unlikely hero in Manitoba thanks to his discovery of two electrifying Swedish talents who have taken the CHL by storm. Holst, hired just over a year ago as Winnipeg’s European scout, quickly made good on the investment. While attending last spring’s World Championships, he identified Borje Sjostrom and Mattias Jacobsson as elite prospects and persuaded management to bring both to North America. Four months into their CHL careers, the pair looks every bit the part of future superstars and has transformed Winnipeg into the team to beat. Sjostrom, a 25-year-old puck-moving defenseman, has racked up 45 points in 46 games, including 18 as the quarterback of the league’s most dangerous power play—a unit converting at over 26%. Jacobsson, a 23-year-old right winger, stepped onto the top line with Moore and left winger Gerry Saunders and never missed a beat. Moore—last season’s top rookie—is already four points shy of 100 after 46 games and has even outpaced Ottawa legend Hobie Barrell in scoring. Jacobsson sits third in the league with 39 goals and 82 points and appears a near-certain lock to deliver Winnipeg a second straight Rookie of the Year. Winnipeg’s three-game road swing last week only solidified its lead atop the Central Division. The Falcons claimed five of six possible points, starting with a 5–4 win in Seattle, where Jacobsson recorded three points and buried the late power-play winner. Two nights later in Edmonton, he struck again—another game-winner set up by Moore—in a second straight 5–4 victory. The trip concluded with a 4–4 tie in Houston, where Jacobsson posted his second three-point performance of the week, extending his scoring streak to 16 games. Only one CHL team was hotter: Barrell’s Ottawa Athletics, who went 3–0 and pushed their winning streak to eight games. Even so, Ottawa remains third in the league’s toughest division—10 points behind Winnipeg and four back of Milwaukee—as the Falcons continue to set the pace. MILLERS REPLACE LONG-TIME SKIPPER Newcomer Bryan Takes Over For Hammond The Minneapolis Millers have tabbed a college coach with no professional managing experience to take over the club for the upcoming season. Bill Bryan, who had a brief stint as a player in the Great West League during its brief dalliance as a "major-league" and has been a college coach for the past decade, has been given the task of trying to guide the Millers to the first winning record in franchise history. Bryan was introduced as the new manager on Saturday, less than a week after long-time bench boss Harry Hammond was told his services were no longer required. Only Charley McCullough of the Los Angeles Stars had a longer active tenure as manager of one team than Hammond's 11 consecutive seasons in Minneapolis before his dismissal. Many had long called for Hammond's firing as he had just a .435 career winning percentage with the Millers and never finished with a .500 or better record. Bryan, 48, is an unknown commodity who has never been a coach or manager in a professional league but has extensive experience running college programs. He will clearly have his work cut out for him trying to make the Millers a winning organization, a task made even more challenging by the Millers decision to trade star outfielder John Edwards, the 1968 Whitney Award winner and a 9-time all-star, to Houston in exchange for a handful of prospects at last year's trade deadline. NO STOPPING BRANTNER While Jack Salyer, the veteran Detroit Mustangs center appears less and less likely every day to catch former Toronto Falcons star Bill Spangler for the FBL's all-time scoring lead, it seems a foregone conclusion that John Brantner will get the job done. Salyer has 21,320 career points putting him just 137 shy of Spangler's record-setting mark, but the 34-year-old has been hobbled by back troubles that cost him much of last season and seems to have robbed the big man of a step which has prompted Detroit to use Salyer in just 9 games this season. He had scored just 8 points all year but perhaps there is hope as he dressed against Washington last night and scored 10 points in the game, renewing calls in the Motor City to play Salyer so he can break the record. If he does get there it will likely not be long before Salyer gets passed by John Brantner. The 31-year-old shooting whizz had 49 points on Saturday night alone but surprisingly his St Louis Rockets lost to San Francisco 124-116. St Louis still has a hold on the best record in the FBL but that lead is no where near as secure as Brantner's hold on the scoring title. Brantner is averaging 39.5 points per game and is ahead of his record-setting 39.1 mark established last year. He owns the three highest single season scoring averages in FBL history and seems a lock to make it four when this season comes to an end. With 17,347 career points Brantner recently overtook former Chicago Panthers legend Luther Gordon for fifth on the all-time scoring list and should easily move into third place behind only Salyer and Spangler before the season comes to an end. It remains to be seen just how long Brantner will remain at his peak but at this stage anyway, having just turned 31 a little over a week ago and in his 9th season, he only seems to be getting better. Brantner did miss all but two games of the 1969-70 season with a ruptured Achilles and had had numerous ankle troubles over the years but mainly just sprains. He is scoring over 3,000 points a season so if he remains healthy he should become the FBL's all-time leading scorer some time late next season. CHARGERS MAKING PUSH IN CBL While the Cincinnati Steamers continue to lead the way with the best record in the Continental Basketball League, the Baltimore Chargers are also a club to be taken seriously. Baltimore sits in the middle of the pack in the East Division, a full 10 games back of the front-running Cincinnati quintet but over the past month the Chargers have been the hottest team in the CBL. There was hope in Baltimore entering the season after the Chargers won a playoff series last spring for the first time in four years but optimism turned quickly to disappointment as the Chargers stumbled out of the block with four straight losses and just a 6-14 record following an early December loss to Philadelphia. Sine then Baltimore has turned things around, with 11 wins in their last 14 games including a 118-105 triumph over Pittsburgh last night that improved the Chargers to the .500 mark for the first time this season. What is most impressive about the recent streak is that they have accomplished it without the services of George Ogletree. The third year forward who was AIAA player of the year in his senior season at Baton Rouge State, suffered a broken arm on Boxing Day and will be out of the lineup until sometime in February. Ogletree was second in team scoring, averaging over 20 points per game and trailing only center Zane Davis, who is also the CBL's top rebounder. With Ogletree out of action, Davis has stepped up his game and scored 37 points in back to back wins Philadelphia and Pittsburgh last week. The Chargers will face a big test on Thursday night when they travel to Cincinnati to face the first place Steamers, winners of 20 of their last 23 games. DETROIT CITY COLLEGE BACK ON TOP Knights Top Polls Following Big Win over Mavericks The Baton Rouge State Red Devils basketball team may still be undefeated but they are no longer number one in the eyes of those who vote in the weekly AIAA basketball poll. The Red Devils wrapped up a perfect 13-0 run heading into Deep South Conference play with an easy 67-34 victory over Ogdensburg in their lone outing last week. Baton Rouge State, which will have a week off before their conference opener on the road against #21 Alabama Baptist, is the only unbeaten team left in the entire AIAA. The Red Devils Deep South Conference foes Northern Mississippi entered the week unbeaten but in the most highly anticipated game of the New Year fell 74-66 to Detroit City College in the Motor City on Thursday. Entering the game Detroit City College was ranked #2 and the Mavericks were fifth. Following the win by the Knights, Detroit City (11-1) moved ahead of Baton Rouge State and into the top spot in the weekly poll. The Mavericks rebounded quickly, running their record to 11-1 with an impressive 79-61 victory over North Carolina Tech in Oxford on Saturday. The backcourt duo of Rick Meyers (24 points) and Ron Coleman (20 points) keyed the Mavericks win over the 12th ranked Techsters. That victory allowed Northern Mississippi to retain the fifth slot in the rankings. The week ahead will be the final one before the slate of league games tips off for most conferences. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 01/05/1975 Ford readies sweeping anti-inflation package as economic pressures mount, signaling that budget cuts and tax changes may be unveiled within days as the administration struggles to contain recession and rising prices. Congressional Democrats step up calls for jobs programs and consumer relief, pressing the White House to expand federal action as unemployment continues to climb in early January. Oil prices jump again as OPEC nations formalize new increases, intensifying fears of higher fuel costs and renewed shortages across the U.S. and Canada. Federal Reserve warns of deeper recession ahead, with officials hinting that tighter credit earlier in 1974 may have intensified the downturn, prompting new debate over monetary policy. In Canada Ottawa faces renewed criticism over inflation policy, as business groups and several provinces argue that the federal government must act more decisively—possibly through temporary wage and price restraints. New disclosures emerge in the Patty Hearst investigation, with prosecutors citing fresh evidence tying SLA remnants to robberies in California, keeping the high-profile case in the national spotlight. South Vietnam appeals urgently for military aid, as rapid North Vietnamese gains in the central highlands raise fears that Saigon’s forces may not hold without additional American support. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

12-18-2025, 12:59 PM	#1191
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,809	February 3, 1975 FEBRUARY 3, 1975 BURTCH CASHES IN WITH RETURN TO SAILORS With full free agency looming on the horizon and unease already spreading through front offices across the league, veteran right-hander Red Burtch has secured one of the richest contracts in San Francisco Sailors history. Burtch, waived just months ago by Milwaukee, has agreed to return to the Bay Area on a deal reportedly worth $70,000—nearly double his previous career high and the second-largest salary currently on the Sailors’ payroll. The 37-year-old earned $37,000 last season with the Arrows, a campaign that saw him go 13-4 and make his first All-Star appearance, only to be released again when his contract was not renewed in October. A Hartford, Conn., native, Burtch broke into the majors with the Los Angeles Suns in 1962 and was dealt to Washington five years later. His finest season came in 1970, when he won a career-best 16 games for the Eagles. That success proved fleeting. Washington released him midway through the 1972 season, and after finishing that year and part of 1973 with San Francisco, the Sailors also let him go. Milwaukee offered him another chance—and Burtch made the most of it—yet that, too, ended with a release. Now back where he last wore a Sailors uniform, Burtch returns with both a hefty raise and a measure of skepticism. OSA rates him as a durable innings-eater with strong control and an ability to throw strikes, though scouts remain wary of his vulnerability against left-handed hitters. His career record sits at 112-118, a fair reflection of a pitcher who has oscillated between effectiveness and expendability, but who has remained remarkably healthy over the years. The signing raises practical questions as well. San Francisco already has six pitchers who made at least 25 starts last season, bolstered by the additions of Chief Williams from the New York Imperials and Johnny Baylor from Boston. Where Burtch fits into that crowded rotation remains unclear, particularly now that he becomes the highest-paid pitcher on the club. More broadly, the deal has rekindled fears among league traditionalists that owners may be racing toward financial peril. With full free agency set to arrive after the 1975 season, Burtch’s contract is already being cited as evidence that teams may need protection from themselves—or risk spending the game into chaos. EXTRA INNINGS - Toronto inked pitcher Howie Mazzei to a one-year extension that will keep the 29-year-old righthander in Wolves garb through the 1976 season. Mazzei was acquired by the Wolves from Minneapolis in December after going 12-6 in AAA last year. The Wolves also waived a pair of veterans in outfielder Andy Bailey and third baseman Jesse Taylor....Atlanta reached a deal with catcher Howard Smith to stick with the Copperheads through 1976. Smith, an all-star last year and three time Diamond Defender behind the plate will receive the same $82,000 he is slated to earn in 1975 the following season....Hall of Famers and former New York Gothams teammates Red Johnson and Ed Bowman each had a son selected during last week's opening 10 rounds of the FABL draft. Red Johnson's son Red Jr., an outfielder out of a Queens, NY high school was selected in the fourth round by the Baltimore Clippers wile Duke Bowman, a catcher, was chosen two picks after Johnson by the St Louis Pioneers. STINGRAYS SAIL TO TOP OF THOMAS DIVISION Los Angeles Stretches Unbeaten Streak to 13 Games The red-hot Los Angeles Stingrays won three more games last week and thanks to a 13-game unbeaten streak that has not seen the NAHC club lose since New Year's Day, the Stingrays have overtaken Vancouver for top spot in the Thomas Division. Last week the Stingrays, keyed by a big week from center Alvin Yardley began a six-game homestand with wins over Philadelphia, Washington and Minnesota. Yardley had 6 goals and two assists in the three games and has vaulted himself to sixth in the league scoring race. The Thomas Division, which a week ago saw Vancouver, which reached the Challenge Cup finals a year ago only to fall to Philadelphia, leading L.A. by five points, has now become the tightest of the four divisions with the Stingrays a single point ahead of the Totems although if both clubs keep up their recent form - Vancouver has lost four straight and won just once in their last outings - there may not be much of a race. Elsewhere the Chicago Packers won three straight and are now 10 points ahead of Minneapolis atop the Yeadon Division, Boston leads Montreal by 11 in the Connelly and the Challenge Cup winning Philadelphia Rogues are holding a seven-point gap on second place Cincinnati after the Ironclads claimed 9 points out of their last five games. NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS MONDAY JANAUARY 27 Toronto at Chicago : John Bond scored with less than five minutes remaining to give the visiting Dukes a 3-3 tie in the Windy City. Terry Foster scored his 30th of the season for the Packers. Cincinnati at Philadelphia : Cincinnati with a statement game, blasting the Philadelphia Rogues 7-1 for their third straight victory as the Ironclads try to keep pace with the Rogues in the Dewar Division. Alan Porter scored his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season while Davey Dell also found the back of the net twice for Cincinnati. New York at Detroit :New York snapped a 4-game losing streak and handed Detroit its third consecutive defeat in a 6-0 shutout victory. It was Gave Ayotte's first shutout of the season. TUESDAY JANUARY 28 St Louis at Chicago :The Sawyers 4-game unbeaten streak came to an end with a 4-1 loss in Chicago despite the fact that St Louis outshot the Packers. Chicago goaltender Roger Cote was outstanding while Terry Foster scored his 31st of the season. San Francisco at Calgary :Just 4 minutes after Archer Cook put the host Grizzlies ahead, Dick Paletta got the equalizer for San Francisco in a 3-3 tie between Calgary and the Gulls. Atlanta at Vancouver :Charles Bozek scored twice and set up Vic Duplacey's game winner midway through the third period as Atlanta edged the Totems 4-3. New York at Montreal :Mark Moggy assisted on all three Montreal goals as the Valiants and New York Shamrocks skated to a 3-3 draw. Pittsburgh at Washington :The bottom two teams in the Dewar Division met as Pittsburgh snapped a four game winless streak by beating Washington 7-3. Defensemen Simon Piche and Max Hebert each enjoyed 3 point nights for the winners. Philadelphia at Los Angeles :Something had to break as Philadelphia entered the game on a 7-game unbeaten streak and Los Angeles was riding a 10 game streak. In the end it was the Rogues defensive play that collapsed with the Stingrays doubling the defending champs 6-3. Boston at Minneapolis : With 8 losses in their last ten games Minneapolis is watching Chicago pull away in the Yeadon Division race. The Norsemen fell 7-4 to Boston on this night as Eddie Lafleur and Andy Agar each scored twice to lead the Bees. [/b]WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29 [/b] San Francisco at Montreal :Gene Harvey was the story on this night as the 32-year-old San Francisco netminder, who spent the previous two years as a backup with Winnipeg of the CHL, stopped all 33 Montreal shots he faced in a 1-0 Gulls win. Marty Jensen, with his 17th of the season, was the only goal scorer and his marker came just 15 seconds into the opening period. THURSDAY JANUARY 30 Boston at Detroit : Yves Dagenais scored twice and added an assist as Detroit snapped a 3-game losing streak with a resound 8-2 victory over Boston. Cincinnati at Calgary :The Ironclads improved to 5-1-2 in their last 8 games following a 3-3 draw in Calgary. New York at Atlanta : New York has won just once in its last seven games following a 7-2 drubbing in Atlanta. David Pridham led the Blazers with a rare goal -his first of the season- and three assists. St Louis at Philadelphia :The Rogues have cooled off with three straight losses including the latest, a 5-1 embarrassment on home ice to the St Louis Sawyers. Pat Valentine, Hugh MacLaren and Bernie Caldwell each had a goal and an assist for the Sawyers. Washington at Los Angeles :Alvin Yardley scored three times to give him 38 on the season and added an assist as the Los Angeles Stingrays edged Washington 5-4. Quebec at Minneapolis :After a scheduling quirk gave them nine days off the Quebec Citadels were well rested but rusty in absorbing a 6-4 loss on home ice to the Norsemen. Ned Darby scored once in each period while Tom Rowley had two goals -giving him 40 on the season- and two assists to power Minneapolis. FRIDAY JANUARY 31 Toronto at St Louis :For the third game in a row the Toronto Dukes ended up in a tie game. This one was 4-4 as Ollie Perreault's 39th goal of the season helped the Dukes score three times in the third period to erase a 3-1 deficit entering the final frame. Minneapolis at Los Angeles :It wasn't pretty but the Los Angeles Stingrays got the job done, extending their unbeaten streak to 13 games and moving into first place in the Thomas Division with a 5-4 victory over Minneapolis. Alvin Yardley scored twice including the game winner with 1:14 left on the clock. Vancouver at Calgary : Calgary is unbeaten in four games and Vancouver's third straight loss knocked the Totems out of top spot in the Thomas Division following a 3-1 loss to the Grizzlies. Pittsburgh at Chicago :Rejean Gillies faced just 20 shots but stopped them all to earn his league-leading fifth shutout of the season as Chicago blanked the Sentinels 4-0. Terry Foster extended his goal scoring streak to 4 games while Bruce Denison had 3 assists. Atlanta at Boston :Boston needed third period goals from Bruce Callahan and Tom Wentworth to earn a 4-4 tie with Atlanta. SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1 San Francisco at Toronto : Finally a win for the Dukes who had tied their previous three games. This one was very convincing as the Dukes thumped San Francisco 8-1 with Ollie Perreault scoring twice and adding an assist to remain tied for the league scoring lead with Detroit's Yves Dagenais. Vancouver at Montreal :Montreal handed Vancouver its fourth straight loss and snapped its own four game winless streak with a 5-2 victory on home ice at the Montreal Arena. Roger MacKinnon and Ron Kincaid each collected three points for the Vals. Detroit at Pittsburgh : Yves Dagenais matched Ollie Perreault's three points for Toronto with three of his own, all assists, to help pace Detroit to a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh. SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2 Washington at Cincinnati : Cincinnati has earned points in 8 of its last 9 games as the Ironclads try to close the gap on suddenly slumping Philadelphia in the Dewar Division. The Ironclads doubled Washington 4-2 on this day. BIG WEEK HAS BARRELL CLOSING IN ON SCORING LEAD Hobie Barrell, leading scorer in the Federal Hockey League for each of its first two seasons, has found himself chasing Winnipeg's Tim Moore in the points race this time around. The veteran Ottawa captain had a big week and now finds himself just a point behind the young Falcons playmaker after Barrell notched 6 points in three games last week. Barrell, who leads the CHL with 55 goals, only pocketed one last week but he did earn five assists as his Athletics sandwiched victories over Chicago and Toronto around a loss to Seattle and inched closer to both Winnipeg and Milwaukee in the race for top spot in the Central Division and first place overall in the FHL. Winnipeg, lost two of their three games to cut their lead to four points on the Athletics and three on second place Milwaukee, which lost both of its games last week. Ottawa, with Barrell leading the way, owns the best record in the league over the past month at 10-3-1 and they cut 9 points off of Winnipeg's lead during that spell. PANTHERS ON THE PROWL While much of the recent conversation around the Federal Basketball League has centered on Seattle’s blistering pace in the Pacific Division or the three-team dogfight in the Atlantic, the Chicago Panthers have quietly emerged as one of the league’s hottest clubs. After a sluggish start, the Panthers have won 10 of their last 11 games and separated themselves from what had been a tightly packed Central Division, where every club sat at or below .500 as recently as a month ago. Chicago did suffer one setback last week, a rare fourth-quarter lapse that resulted in a 106-104 road loss to a Washington Statesmen team that is finally finding its footing and has climbed out of the Atlantic Division cellar. That loss did little to slow Chicago’s momentum. The Panthers bounced back in emphatic fashion yesterday, rolling past the New York Knights 113-99 in a performance that announced their arrival as a legitimate Eastern Conference threat. Veteran forward Thomas Davis was dominant, pouring in 34 points and pulling down a season-high 23 rebounds to lead the rout. Out west, the St. Louis Rockets continued their steady march atop the Midwest Division by sweeping all three of their games last week. Yet despite that run, St. Louis does not currently hold the best record in the conference. That distinction belongs to the Seattle Emeralds, who sit at 31-16 and hold a slim percentage-point edge over the Rockets, winners of three league titles in the past six seasons. Seattle split a home-and-home series with Houston last week but remains the standard in the Western Conference. The Emeralds have reached the league finals twice without capturing a title, and with the season nearing its midpoint, they again appear poised for a serious run. STEAMERS’ STREAK HITS 11 Cincinnati continues to look every bit the class of the Continental Basketball League. The Steamers swept their two games last week to extend their winning streak to 11, a run that has seen them capture 16 of their last 17 contests and open up a commanding 10-game lead on second-place Philadelphia in the East Division. Now 38-9 and racing along at a record-setting pace, the Steamers remain the league’s most difficult matchup thanks to a deep, balanced attack. Cincinnati leads the CBL at 128.4 points per game, nearly five more than the next-best offense, and does so without relying on a single scorer. Seven different Steamers are averaging better than 15 points per night, a testament to an offense that pushes the tempo, shoots with precision and turns the ball over less than any club in the league. That balance creates problems across the lineup, none more so than reserve center Doc Oney. Averaging 15.4 points per game, Oney can score on the blocks or step away from the basket, where he has already connected on 12 three-point shots while hitting 33 percent from long range — a rare weapon from a big man. Cincinnati opened the week with a 130-114 rout of last-place New Jersey as starting center Benny Zimmerman poured in 30 points. The Steamers then closed the week with a 131-118 victory over Denver, paced by 37 points from Roger Williams and 28 from Johnnie Carden. Oney again made his presence felt, knocking down three of his four attempts from beyond the arc. At the moment, there appears to be no slowing the Steamers, who continue to separate themselves from the rest of the league with each passing week. KNIGHTS UNANIMOUS AT #1 The latest college basketball rankings make it clear that Detroit City College is, at least for the moment, the top team in the AIAA. The Knights received all 72 first place votes and are the only 4-0 team in Great Lakes Alliance play after winning a pair of games last week to improve to 16-1 overall. DCC, which has been number one for much of the season, strengthened their case for the top spot with a 73-62 victory over 11th ranked Western Iowa on Thursday and followed that up with a 45-33 triumph on the road over Lincoln College. The Knights have now beaten three ranked teams in the Canaries, Northern Mississippi and Mississippi A&M with their lone loss on the season to another ranked squad in #21 Pittsburgh State. Maryland State remains second in the polls and the Bengals, at 4-0, are the only undefeated team in South Atlantic Conference action. They won a pair of road games last week, dumping Cowpens State 62-58 before holding off 15th ranked Coastal State 77-75. Third ranked Baton Rouge State, which was the final unbeaten team before losing a league game to Bayou State, is third in the rankings and in a three-way tie for top spot in the Deep South Conference at 3-1. The Red Devils share the lead with 8th ranked Northern Mississippi and Cumberland. The other major conference, the West Coast Athletic Association, is led by 7th ranked Coastal California. The Dolphins are 4-0 in section play following home victories over Redwood (71-61) and 13th ranked Northern California (53-51) last week. A pair of former heavyweight champions each earned a victory in bouts last week. Vic Carbone, a 28-year-old who briefly held the heavyweight crown in the winter of 1971-72, continues to pile up victories although this one was against marginal competition. The Italian born fighter who grew up in New Jersey scored a fourth round knockout of journeyman Jack Hunt in Syracuse, NY on Thursday to run his career mark to 39-2. Both of Carbone's losses - to Ben Brumfield in 1969 and then Curtis Rollins three years later came with the ABF world heavyweight title on the line. Pete Vassar, the tough Brooklyn born heavyweight who was champion for a little over a year starting in the fall of 1970, won a majority decision over Kevin Walters in Pittsburgh last Tuesday evening. Vassar, 29, is 45-5 as a professional. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 02/02/1975 Democrats in Congress call President Ford's goal of reducing foreign oil imports by a million barrels a day by the end of the year is unrealistic. They also warned that the $1-a-barrel import fee, which went into effect February 1, and is to increase to $3 by April 1, would aggravate inflation without promoting much conservation. Meanwhile the $52 Billion deficit that Ford announced over the weekend was described yesterday by a Sen Bellmon of Oklahoma, the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, as "the worst news this nation has received since the adoption of the guns-and-butter policy of President Johnson during the early days of the Vietnam War. The President's approval ratings have slipped to a new low, with the latest Harris survey showing Ford rates 60 percent negative. The results are believed to be tied to the people's rejection of Ford's new tax on oil imports. Sen. Mike Mansfield warned that growing U.S. oil exploration efforts in the Far East—especially offshore projects near Taiwan and contested areas such as the Spratly Islands—risked provoking diplomatic tensions with the People’s Republic of China at a time when Washington was trying to improve relations. He cautioned that disputes over oil rights could become a major obstacle to further normalization between the two nations during the ongoing energy crisis. President Sadat of Egypt says that if US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger can bring a proposal for Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai, his government would accept the plan. The U.S. is considering relaxing the 10-year old embargo on the sale of arms to Pakistan. The Irish government said it will not yield to the demands of 16 convicted IRA guerrillas who have voted to fast to death in a Dublin prison. The prisoners have demanded to be treated as political offenders. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

Yesterday, 02:54 PM	#1194
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,809	February 24, 1975 FEBRUARY 24, 1975 COUGARS MAKE ANOTHER DEAL By the time the Chicago Cougars report to Sarasota next week, the clubhouse introductions may take longer than the first workout. No club in baseball has been busier over the winter, and with three trades already completed and a flurry of free-agent signings added to the mix, the Cougars batting order promises to look very little like the team that closed the 1974 season. And if recent history is any indication, Chicago’s front office may not yet be finished. The latest move lacks the headline punch of the deals that delivered Whitney Award winner Tom Lorang from Washington or All-Star outfielder Andy Babel from Cleveland, but it may prove just as important. Chicago has acquired 27-year-old first baseman John Baab from Toronto in a trade that has all the markings of a quiet, calculated upgrade in what promises to be a fiercely contested Continental Association West Division. Toronto sends Baab to Chicago in exchange for veteran lefthander Manny Espinosa and 23-year-old minor league slugger Pedro Maldonado. Baab’s path to Chicago has been anything but straightforward. A first-round selection of the Los Angeles Suns out of Boston State in the 1969 draft, he made his major league debut in 1972 and was dealt to the Wolves prior to the 1973 season. He showed flashes that year but never settled into an everyday role. That was supposed to change in 1974, and for a time it did. Baab was one of Toronto’s most productive hitters early on, batting .313 with nine home runs through the first half of the season before a late-July concussion abruptly ended his year. Whether Toronto harbored lingering concerns about Baab’s health or simply felt compelled to address a pressing need for pitching, the Wolves chose not to wait for a full answer. Chicago, on the other hand, is betting that Baab is fully recovered and ready to deliver the kind of steady production that often separates contenders from also-rans. From Toronto’s perspective, the return addresses immediate needs. Espinosa, now 32, has been one of the league’s more durable arms, and if nothing else should provide innings. Over 13 seasons split almost evenly between Pittsburgh and Chicago, he has compiled a 133-116 record and has rarely been sidelined. For a Wolves club short on dependable pitching, that reliability has value. The long-term intrigue in the deal rests with Maldonado. The Mexican-born first baseman, a fifth-round pick out of Northern Mississippi University in 1973, put together a jaw-dropping power display last season, blasting 46 home runs across three levels, including 28 in just 62 games at Triple-A Omaha. If even a portion of that power carries over to the major leagues, Toronto may have uncovered a middle-of-the-order fixture. In the end, this may be one of those rare trades that serves both sides well. The Cougars add a big-league-ready bat to what is rapidly becoming a formidable lineup, assuming Baab’s health holds. The Wolves gain a veteran arm to stabilize their staff and a young slugger who could be knocking on the door of Dominion Stadium as early as April. And with spring training just days away, Chicago’s winter of motion shows no sign of slowing. DON’T COUNT THE TOTEMS OUT JUST YET A week ago, the Los Angeles Stingrays looked ready to seize control of the Thomas Division and perhaps disappear over the horizon. Riding a blistering 16-1-1 run, Los Angeles had surged past Vancouver into first place just as the Totems were staggering through one of their roughest patches of the season, losing eight of ten and searching for answers. One week later, the picture has changed considerably. Vancouver and Los Angeles are now deadlocked atop the division with 70 points apiece, but the momentum has swung sharply north. The Totems, Challenge Cup finalists a year ago before falling to Philadelphia, have steadied themselves with three wins and a tie in their last four games. The Stingrays, meanwhile, have cooled just as quickly as they heated up, dropping three of their last five after that torrid start to the new year. The catalyst for Vancouver’s revival has been between the pipes. Scott Bly, the 23-year-old netminder brought over from Boston after spending two seasons as Alex Daoust’s understudy, was expected to push rookie Charlie Laliberté for playing time. Instead, Bly has recently taken firm control of the crease. Last week he found another level altogether, posting back-to-back shutouts against Pittsburgh and Toronto and giving the Totems exactly what they needed while they searched for offense. Scoring, in fact, remains Vancouver’s obvious weakness. Not a single Totem ranks among the NAHC’s top 30 scorers, a remarkable statistic for a team sitting atop its division. But strong, consistent goaltending has kept them competitive, and at the moment it is proving enough. Los Angeles presents a contrasting case. The Stingrays have ridden confidence, speed, and a remarkable run of fortune in close games — including a perfect 10-0 record in one-goal contests during their surge — but the numbers suggest trouble ahead. They have surrendered 24 more goals than they have scored this season, an imbalance that rarely supports a long-term stay at the top of the standings. As the bounces even out, it’s fair to wonder how much longer Los Angeles can keep pace. The Thomas Division race is suddenly wide open again. And after a week that seemed to spell their undoing, the Vancouver Totems have reminded everyone that they are very much still in this fight. NAHC WEEKLY RESULTS MONDAY FEBRUARY 17 Atlanta at Philadelphia : Daniel Harris has been on a tear of late as the Atlanta defenseman has collected 4 goals and 10 assists in his last six games including a 3-point night to lead the Blazers to a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia. Randy Kelleher was outstanding in net for the Blazers while veteran forward Ray Dupuis had a goal and two assists. Vancouver at Cincinnati :Vancouver scored twice in the final three minutes to earn a point in Cincinnati, skating to a 5-5 tie with the Ironclads. Johnny Gruber set up two goals for the Totems and scored the tying marker. Alan Porter earned an assist for the Ironclads - it was his 600th career NAHC point. Detroit at San Francisco : Andrew Williams had a goal and an assist to help Detroit past San Francisco 5-1. Los Angeles at St Louis : Brian Eastwood had a hat trick as St Louis slowed the high flying Los Angeles Stingrays with a 7-4 victory. TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18 Atlanta at Quebec : Four third period goals gave the Blazers their second win in as many nights, doubling Quebec 4-2. Cincinnati at Washington : Two first period goals by the Federals did not stand up as Cincinnati tallied three in the third period including Alan Porter's 39th of the season to give the Ironclads a 3-2 victory. Detroit at San Francisco : The Motors won back to back games in San Francisco, taking the second contest by a 4-1 score and are on a three game winning streak for just the second time this season. Toronto at Chicago: Ollie Perreault and Sam Schmidt each scored twice to pace Toronto to a 7-5 win over Chicago. Vancouver at Pittsburgh :Scott Phillips scored twice and Scott Bly stopped 20 shots for his first shutout as a Totem to lead Vancouver to 5-0 win in Pittsburgh. St Louis at Minneapolis :Two clubs in a spirited battle for second place in the Yeadon Division skated to a 3-3 tie. St Louis outshot the Norsemen badly but Al Ferguson was terrific in the Minneapolis net. New York at Montreal : Five second period goals by Montreal turned this one into a rout as the Valiants thumped the Shamrocks 11-3. Defenseman Mark Moggy had 5 assists in the game while John Partridge and Charles Thibeault each scored twice. Philadelphia at Calgary : The Rogues lost for the second game in row, falling 8-5 in Calgary. Brian Murray scored his 32nd goal of the season and added three assists for the winners. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19 Los Angeles at Calgary :Back to back losses and three defeats in four games for the suddenly struggling Stingrays, who fall 3-1 in Calgary despite outshooting the Grizzlies 41-23. Calgary goaltender John Girard was the difference in the game. Montreal at Boston : The Connelly Division leading Bees have lost just once in their last eight games after doubling Montreal 4-2. The loss leaves he Valiants 12 points behind the Bees. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20 Minneapolis at St Louis : The Norseman pulled ahead of the Sawyers in the fight for second place in the Yeadon Division following a 4-3 victory. Pittsburgh at Chicago : Players that usually fly under the radar led the way for Chicago in the Packers 7-3 win over the Sentinels. Pat McGibbon had a goal and two assists while Larry Rolfe had 3 helpers for the Packers. New York at Washington : The Shamrocks bounced back from the beating they absorbed in Montreal two nights earlier by skating to a 3-3 tie with the Washington Federals. Boston at Cincinnati :The Bees keep winning, improving on the NAHC's best record with a 3-2 win in the Queen City. Toronto at Vancouver : Scott Bly earned his second shutout in as many games, blanking the Toronto Dukes 3-0 with 27 saves. Quebec at Detroit : The Motors have earned seven points in their last four games after tying Quebec 4-4. Tim Bernard, who spent much of his career in Montreal before moving to Quebec four years ago, collected his 600th career point in the game. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21 Minneapolis at Philadelphia : Gary Yeadon scored his 43rd goal of the season to lead Philadelphia to a 4-1 win over Minneapolis. Montreal at Atlanta : Don Roeszler scored twice to help Montreal down Atlanta 3-1. It end a three-game winning streak for the Blazers who had already beaten Montreal twice this month. New York at Toronto : Daniel McQuaid's third period goal completed the comeback as New York overcame a 3-1 deficit to tie Toronto 3-3. Chicago at Quebec : Bill Tannen and Pat McGibbon each scored twice and added an assist as Chicago doubled Quebec 6-3. San Francisco at Calgary : The Grizzlies scored four times in the third period to try and erase a 4-goal deficit after forty minutes but Mike McGee's second of the game and 27th of the season allowed San Francisco to pull out a 5-4 victory. Calgary's Archer Cook scored twice in what was his 1,107th career NAHC game. It moved him past Jimmy Rucks and into 9th all-time. SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22 Los Angeles at Pittsburgh : The Stingrays got back on track, snapping a two-game losing streak with a 6-3 road win in Pittsburgh. For the Sentinels, in prolongs a dreadful stretch that has seen them lose 11 consecutive games. Boston at Washington : Bruce Callahan scored three times and added two assists while Matt Brophey had a four point night as the Boston Bees blasted the Washington Federals 9-3. SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23 Vancouver at Toronto : The Totems pulled back into a first place tie with Los Angeles atop the Thomas Division as they completed the sweep of a home and home series with Toronto, downing the Dukes 3-2. Sam DaSilva and Matt Courville each had a goal and an assist for the winners while Ollie Perreault scored his league leading 47th goal of the season for The Dukes. [size="6] FALCONS MOORE PLAYS THROUGH INJURY[/size] Despite suffering a serious cut on his neck, Winnipeg Falcons scoring star Tim Moore did not miss a game and if anything stepped up his play over the past week. Falcons club officials feared Moore could miss up to a month recovering from the scary injury but he was back on the ice and equipped with a specially designed neck guard. Neither the new equipment nor the injury seemed to slow the 24-year-old down as Moore scored three points in each of his first two games and regained the Continental Hockey League's scoring lead from Ottawa's Hobie Barrell. The Falcons went 1-0-2 in their three games last week and continue to lead Milwaukee by three points atop both the Central Division and the CHL's overall standings. Barrell had to sit out Ottawa's 3-3 tie with Edmonton on Tuesday as the result of a suspension he incurred last week but was back in the lineup and had a goal and an assist as the Athletics tied Denver 3-3 on Thursday. LITTLE DECIDED AS FBL SEASON ENTERS HOME STRETCH This is shaping up to be a thrilling conclusion to the Federal Basketball League campaign as the season enters its final third. Four teams from each conference qualify for the postseason with the two division winners joining two wildcards in each bracket. With two months remaining only the Chicago Panthers have more than a 2.5 game lead on their division. The Western Conference at the moment has five teams fighting for the four postseason berths with a sixth -the Vancouver Bears- needing a hot streak to join the race and perhaps reach the playoffs for the first time in club history. The St Louis Rockets continue to struggle of late although they did get a road win in Seattle last week. Despite the victory over the Emeralds, the Rockets went just 2-2 on the week and have won just 3 of their last 9 games following losses to Minneapolis and Vancouver last week. The Rockets have not missed the playoffs since 1966-67. The Eastern Conference looks to be a five team battle in the Atlantic Division where just 3 games separate first from last. Three of the five teams will qualify for the playoffs with the Chicago Panthers- the only team over .500 in the Central- likely set to extend their playoff streak to 11 consecutive seasons. STEAMERS LOSE TWICE IN WEEK You know you are doing something right when the big story in the Continental Basketball League last week was the fact that the mighty Cincinnati Steamers won only two of their four games. The Steamers, who despite the rocky -at least by their standards- week, still lead the CBL's East Division by 12.5 games but have fallen slightly off the pace if they wish to equal he 197-71 Dallas Drillers record 62-16 season. Cincinnati opened the week with a 109-105 road loss to the Denver Bighorns, a club fighting with San Antonio for top spot in the West Division. The Steamers than had little trouble with Philadelphia as four Steamers topped the 20-point mark in a 144-127 win at home over the Mariners. Next up was a quick trip to Louisville and an easy 147-112 victory over the Spirits before the Steamers lost for just the second time in 27 games at the Queen City Arena, falling 125-119 to the Baltimore Chargers. MAVERICKS TAKE CONTROL OF DEEP SOUTH The Northern Mississippi Mavericks look well positioned to win the Deep South Conference basketball title for just the second time in over 50 years. The Mavericks improved to 9-1 in conference play and 20-3 overall following wins over Alabama Baptist and Georgia Baptist last week. That gives Northern Mississippi a two game lead on a trio of teams including defending conference champion Noble Jones College and Mississippi A&M, winners of four section titles in the past five years. This week will go a long ways towards determining if the Mavericks, an original Deep South member that won its first and only conference basketball title in 1967-68, can hang on to the lead. There are three weeks left in the regular season and three of the Mavericks final six games are against ranked teams including this week when they face #2 Baton Rouge State on Thursday at home followed by a road game against in-state rival Mississippi A&M, which is ranked 6th in the nation. The Mavericks moved up to third as both they and the Red Devils leapfrogged Maryland State, which fell from second to fourth despite halting their three game losing streak Saturday with a 59-51 victory over Eastern State in South Atlantic Conference action. Detroit City College (9-1, 21-2) remains the top team in the nation after the Knights defeated both 14th ranked Western Iowa and Wisconsin State on the road. DCC now has a 1-game lead on Indiana A&M atop the Great Lakes Alliance standings after the Reapers split their two games last week, beating Lincoln at home before losing on the road in St. Paul, MN., to St. Magnus. The victory for St Magnus improved the Vikings record to 15-8 on the season and was impressive enough to bring them very much into the tournament picture. If they do qualify for the AIAA tournament it will be the Vikings first appearance since the spring of 1964. Here are a look at the bubble teams for inclusion in the 32 team field as it stands right now. AIAA TOURNAMENT BUBBLE WATCH The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 02/23/1975 CIA investigations deepen as Senate prepares intelligence inquiry, following continued revelations of surveillance, assassination plots, and domestic spying. Congress moves closer to cutting off military aid to South Vietnam, signaling a decisive shift in U.S. policy as North Vietnamese forces maintain pressure on the Saigon government. President Ford’s proposed tax cuts ignite heated debate on Capitol Hill, with Democrats pressing for direct job-creation programs as unemployment continues to climb. Inflation and unemployment continue to squeeze consumers, with new figures underscoring the depth of the recession across the U.S. and Canada . OPEC oil policy remains unchanged, keeping gasoline prices high and sustaining public frustration over energy costs and economic stagnation. Ottawa weighs tougher economic controls, with the Trudeau government signaling it may soon move toward wage and price restraints amid growing labor resistance. Oscar anticipation builds as “The Godfather Part II” emerges as frontrunner, with entertainment pages predicting a dominant showing at the Academy Awards ceremony. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles