All things Figment - from the pages of The Figment Sporting Journal - Page 53

Tiger Fan · 12-19-2024, 09:22 PM

JUNE 4, 1962

ENGLISHMAN SHAFTO REACHES TOP OF WELTERWEIGHT
MOUNTAIN AFTER SEVENTH ROUND TKO OF McMULLAN

Bigsby Garden, New York, N.Y. – Dan McMullan (23-1-0, 13 KO) vs. Lenny Shafto (45-7-1, 23 KO) – The welterweight division is in shambles. After calm seas dominated the weight class, with 22 consecutive bouts either won by Lonnie Griffin or Eugene Ellis, Dan McMullan was selected to get the next title shot, leaping over a few ranked fighters in the process. McMullan is only 24, but he had a fresh face and only one defeat on his ledger. The welterweight rankings have a lot of international flavor, with England’s Mark Nock, France’s Oliver Guerin, and Italy’s Carl Rondinelli making up half of the top-six slots. Only New York’s Charlie McMichael and the two long-time champions were ranked heading into 1962.

McMullan, who hails from Columbia, South Carolina, won the fight in April, if you could call it a fight. It lasted all of two minutes, 35 seconds, and Griffin never landed a single punch. All of this to say: McMullan is not a battle-tested warrior, at least not at the highest levels.

For McMullan’s first title defense, his opponent was Lenny Shafto. He is from England, so he checks the box of the international fighter in this worldwide weight class, but he would rank at least fourth among non-Americans in the welterweight division. Shafto is making his American debut in the world mecca of boxing, Bigsby Garden, but you can imagine the Garden faithful collectively scratching their heads at the sight of a title matchup between two fighters who were not ranked just six months ago.

Shafto had more experience with 53 professional fights under his belt, but very few in attendance had likely witnessed any of them. The fans did not really pick a side, but to a man, they wanted the fight to last longer than a single round. Both boxers entered the ring to a lukewarm reception, but there was anticipation of the unknown in the air. A sharp bettor would be hard-pressed to believe what he read in the boxing form.

Unlike the last welterweight title bout, both fighters had a say early. Just as in Griffin-McMullan, the challenger landed the first stiff punch early, but the champion came right back. Shafto threw a jab that caused some damage, and the crowd noticed, while McMullan unleashed a right. Both fighters gave as good as they got and when one landed a good punch, the crowd cheered.

Shafto landed a punch and McMullan countered and as the first round ended, both men were content to go back to their stools with both something to be happy about and something to work on.

The second-round script did not follow the first, with McMullan getting the upper hand early and Shafto taking punches. Shafto landed a good right midway through the round, but McMullan had his way with the challenger until the tail end of the round, when Shafto earned the only knockdown of the fight. Just as the bell was about to be rung, Shafto rung McMullan’s bell with a neat cross that floored the champion. McMullan rose quickly, but he was lucky to hear the sound of the bell immediately afterwards.

McMullan had his best round in Round Three, where he continued building what he started in the previous round before it was interrupted by Shafto’s one wayward punch. Early in the fourth round, the bout started to turn. Shafto connected on a hook to McMullan’s head that shook the champion and that started to give the challenger more confidence. Shafto threw more punches and landed them with more regularity. There were times in the latter stages of the round where McMullan was clinging to the ropes to keep him from going down.

The champion sensed he was in trouble and tried to take the fight to Shafto. All along, Shafto had played it relatively safe, countering when he could and refusing to leave himself open for big shots from McMullan. Shafto was winning this bout, and everyone knew it, so McMullan wanted to turn the tide. As the fifth round began, McMullan walked right into a hook at ring center that made him sorry he led with his chin. A few missed punches on an attempted combination from McMullan left him wide open for more punishment by Shafto. By the end of the round, a welt was visible under McMullan’s left eye.

From there, Shafto did not have to dodge many punches from McMullan and he controlled the tempo, starting slow in the sixth round, but finishing with aplomb, especially in the dying seconds. By the seventh round, McMullan was fading fast. The swelling under the champion’s left eye could not be lessened and that affected his peripheral vision.
Shafto targeted the left side of McMullan’s face, and the champion was in big trouble. Shafto aimed high for his hooks and his crosses, mixing in some body shots for good measure. McMullan did not have the energy to fight back, which referee Vince Todd realized, and he waited for the right time to pull the plug. After one particular shot to the midsection left McMullan wincing in pain, Todd had seen enough and waved his arms to signal a technical knockout and grant the win to Shafto.

Not bad for an American debut. Lenny Shafto (46-7-1) became an unlikely champion, defeating the last unlikely champion in McMullan (23-2-0). The fans had moderate hopes for this one and there were a few good relatively even rounds until Shafto took control of the match. It was even exciting at times. Shafto earned himself a lot of stateside fans, while McMullan is young enough to come back in what has become a transient weight class once again. With older fighters, unknowns, and international entrants, there is plenty of space for McMullan to dream big and get another title shot down the line.

BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS
Round 1: Tied, 2-2 (M: 0:31 right/head, 2:11 right; S: 0:14 jab, 2:54 uppercut/head)
Round 2: Tied, 2-2 (M: 0:49 cross, 2:06 hook; S: 1:34 right, 3:00 cross/head/knockdown #1)
Round 3: McMullan, 2-0 (1:33 cross, 2:17 uppercut)
Round 4: Shafto, 3-1 (M: 0:48 right/head; S: 0:25 hook/head, 1:26 hook/head, 2:05 combo)
Round 5: Shafto, 3-2 (M: 1:10 right/chin, 2:02 combo; S: 0:14 hook, 1:33 combo, 2:21 hook/body)
Round 6: Shafto, 2-0 (2:30 cross, 2:58 uppercut)
Round 7: Shafto, 4-0 (0:13 hook, 0:27 cross/face, 1:09 hook/midsection, 1:23 hook/head)
TOTAL: Shafto 14, McMullan 7

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Middleweight fight veteran Harry Kimbro was back in the ring as the Connecticut native headed to the west coast for the first of four planned fights by earning an 8th round knockout of local fighter Porter House in a bout in Portland, OR. Kimbro, 26, had a title shot against George Quisenberry three years ago but lost a close decision on points. He has won six straight bouts since then and his career mark is now 39-4.
A big upset in Trenton, NJ, as welterweight Charlie McMichael was outpointed by journeyman Jeff Dobson in a fight Friday night. McMichael, a 27-year-old New Yorker, dipped to 27-3-2 and suffered his first loss since a pair of disqualifications very early in his career. He had been eyed for a potential title shot against Lonnie Griffin before Griffin lost his belt to Dan McMullan in April.
Texas born heavyweight Phil Parsons(37-14-2) won by TKO in the 9th round over Russell Dunn in a fight in Atlanta over the weekend.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 33-7.

COUGARS CRASH, FORESTERS FLY AND PIONEERS PUSH COMPETITION BACK

Those who were skeptical of the Chicago Cougars being a legitimate pennant team were on to something, as in a week that saw them take on the now first and second place Cleveland Foresters and Los Angeles Stars, they couldn't put together a single win. Along with going 0-5 against those two teams, the Cougars dropped both games to the 15-30 Saints, in Chicago, losing seven in a row to plummet to four games out. Just seven days ago they were leading the Conti by two, but now Cleveland (30-15) has a comfortable three game lead on the Stars (27-18), and Kansas City (26-19) has a record that matches the Cougars. The offense got ice cold and the pitching struggled, and Pug White lost his ERA lead with 5 runs in his last 5.2 innings pitched. The Cougars do still lead the association in fewest runs against (184) and pen ERA (2.57), but regression has hit the team as a whole, and they may now have to shift their focus to staying above .500, not leading the association.

Cleveland nearly inversed Chicago's week, winning six of seven and obviously sweeping the Cougars out of town during the middle of the week. Rufus Barrell (7-2, 3.12, 31) got things going with a shutout (W, 9 IP, 8 H, 6 K), backup catcher Larry McClure (.296, 2, 8) hit a huge grand slam in the middle game, and Adrian Czerwinski (5-3, 3.93, 49) fought off a fourth inning rain delay to throw a shutout (W, 9 IP, 2 H, 5 K) of his own. Foresters' starting pitchers had just one walk in the entire series, and aside for Gene Case's (.297, 5, 22, 5) 4-for-5 (2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI) in the middle game, the Cougar offense leveled little resistance. After the Chicago series the Foresters then put up 10 and 7 runs on the San Francisco Sailors, and are looking to finish the sweep today, before a huge three game series with the Stars. LA will head to Ohio for the series, allowing the Foresters an opportunity to put up some separation before a much needed Friday off day. Barrell is penciled in for the finale with the Sailors, leaving Sonny Stoyer (4-1, 5.24, 32), Adrian Czerwinski (5-3, 3.93, 49), and Les Hanauer (2-3, 5.63, 43) to take weekday series. LA is lucky, missing Barrell and Jake Pearson (7-1, 2.39, 51), while they counter with the recently healthy Bud Henderson (0-1, 13.50, 1), Floyd Warner (2-6, 6.53, 34), and Cal Johnston (3-3, 3.44, 35).

Unfortunately, the other association looks settled already, as with Bob Bell (.384, 11, 25) back in the lineup, the St Louis Pioneers look unstoppable. Now 32-13, they hold an 8 game lead on the 24-21 Detroit Dynamos, Pittsburgh Miners and Chicago Chiefs. For those teams, they need to start winning quickly, and while the Chiefs are just finishing off a presently tied at one win apiece three game series in St Louis to start the week, Detroit (5th-7th) and Pittsburgh (12th-14th) both have upcoming Tuesday-Thursday series with the Association leaders.

Solving the Pioneer staff is a struggle for all offenses, as Frenchy Mack (7-1, 1.99, 87) and Billy Hasson (8-1, 1.37, 66) has overpowered nearly everyone they've faced. Their "worst" starter Charlie Blake (4-3, 4.06, 37) has a 112 ERA+, and both Steve Madden (5-2, 3.71, 41) and Danny Daniels (4-3, 3.64, 39) are sporting ERAs below 4. Pair that with an offense of Bell, Jerry Smith (.344, 10, 32, 4), Steve Schultz (.320, 6, 30), and Danny Davis (.367, 6, 38), and things could get out of hand before we reach the All-Star break.

The Toronto Wolves just can't get a break. The club, which has languished in the second division almost exclusively for nearly two decades and has not finished with a .500 record since 1948, seemed to be on track to end their futility after a solid 24-21 start to the season. Then came the news last week that George Hoxworth was done for the season after injuring his elbow in a game against Kansas City. The 24-year-old is a two-time allstar, having made his big league debut in 1956 at the tender age of 18. He had a rough go of things last year, going 5-16 with a 5.14 era but looked back in his all-star form in the early going this season with a 5-2 record but now his season is derailed and perhaps the Wolves hopes for a successful season are gone with it. Phil Colantuono, another one of the good young Toronto hurlers and a 15 game winner a year ago, is still nearly two months away from making his season debut after suffering a spring training arm injury, so Toronto is going to have a tough time filling the hole left by Hoxworth's absence at least until Colantuono is ready to return.
Another big week for Dallas Berry as the Cincinnati Cannons slugger mashed 3 more homers to bring his season total to 18 - tops in either association. Included in his weekly longball production was the 300th of his career, which came yesterday afternoon in Toronto off the Wolves Bill Medley. The 30-year old Berry becomes the 24th player to clout 300 big league homers and is 8th among active players in that category.
One of those ahead of Berry on the active homerun list is Edwin Hackberry and the veteran San Francisco Sailors outfielder also hit 3 last week, giving him 344 for his career. Hackberry, who has 8 homers and 30 rbi's to go with a .277 batting average on the season, was named the CA player of the week. Jack Denis of Boston, who has pretty much flown under the radar in recent years after winning a Whitney Award in 1956, was named the Federal Association player of the week. The 30-year-old first baseman was in a battle for playing time with Sal Nigro to start the season but Minutemen skipper Bill Freeman will have a hard time keeping him out of the lineup the way Denis has been hitting. The California Catholic graduate is batting .418 on the season but his 106 plate appearances are not sufficient enough to qualify him for the batting race leaderboard.
Denis's alma mater will be one of the teams watched very closely by FABL scouts in the AIAA Collegiate World Championship Series tournament that gets underway in Seattle and Portland this week. The California Catholic Crusaders are one of the 16 finalists and they also have a potential first round FABL draft pick on the mound in senior righthander Bill Carpenter. The 22-year-old went 8-4 with a 2.57 era for the Crusaders this season.
Included in this year's CWCS field are the last two tournament winners in defending champion Mississippi A&M and Lubbock State, winners in 1960.
The AIAA All-American team will also be well represented in the tournament but Dick Vitt, winner of the last two Christian Awards as collegiate player of the year will not be there as his Brunswick College squad was upset by Henry Hudson University in the Academia Alliance tournament finale. Vitt is considered one of the favourites for the Christian again this season despite making the shift from shortstop to first base for Brunswick. If successful, Vitt will become the first ever three-time winner of the Christian Award.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 6/03/1962

A nuclear warhead -intact or possibly as debris- fell into 720 feet of water off Johnston Island when a missile carrying it was itself exploded less that two minutes before the bomb was to be detonated. A task force spokesman said they did not know the condition of the nuclear device following the failed test.
In what is the worst one-plane air disaster to date, 130 persons - most from Atlanta returning from a cultural tour- died when an Air France jetliner crashed as it took off from Paris.
A plane carrying Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker narrowly averted collision while landing in Sudbury, Ontario. The other plane was taxing across the runway just as the Prime Minister's craft was landing. There is no control tower at the Sudbury airstrip.
President Kennedy's tariff bill was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill would give the President unprecedented powers to negotiate reductions of United States tariffs in return for concessions by foreign countries and would authorize Government aid to workers and companies hurt by rising imports.
The United States will ask West Germany this week to reverse its stand on proposals for an international authority to control access to West Berlin. The US is offering a compromise between an American plan for a 13-nation authority to operate the Berlin supply lines across East Germany and the West German plan to retain control in the hands of the Big Four powers.
After major drops the past few weeks, the stock market seems to have steadied as it was swamped by a torrent of buying orders that sent prices spinning upward in a solid continuation of the rally from the worst loss since 1929.

ayaghmour2 · 12-23-2024, 06:01 PM

SPECIAL 1962 FABL DRAFT EDITION

1962 FABL DRAFT ROUND ONE RECAP
Los Angeles Suns - 1st Round, 1st Overall: RHP Joe Conner
School: Clinton
1962: 9-3, 118 IP, 0.99 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 28 BB, 171 K
Career: 9-3, 118 IP, 0.99 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 28 BB, 171 K

The 1952 Amateur Draft got off to an unexpected start, as the Los Angeles Suns decided to reward the hardworking pitcher Joe Conner for all the work he's put into his game. Conner, who turned 17 in April, was born in a small town near tourist attraction Starved Rock, but his Ottawa, Illinois school didn't have a baseball team. That made the normal four year high school career tough for the town ball standout, earned enough high school credits to early, allowing him to transfer to nearby Clinton to pitch for their varsity team and get his diploma. He got the baseball portion out of the way, going 9-3 with a 0.99 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 28 walks, and 171 strikeouts. A three pitch pitcher, his best pitch is the change up, but command is something that has eluded him at times. If he works out those issues, he can be an early ace for a young Suns team in need of an impact starter. They've gotten good results from former Pioneer Doc Carver (2-4, 4.36, 32), and they're hoping the recently promoted Red Burtch (1-1, 0.93, 7) can compliment him and Conner in the future.

New York Imperials - 1st Round, 2nd Overall: SS George Love
School: Amesbury
1962: .459/.542/.935, 201 PA, 22 2B, 7 3B, 15 HR, 56 RBI, 9 SB
Career: .442/.518/.802, 595 PA, 65 2B, 16 3B, 29 HR, 154 RBI, 59 SB

Seen as a candidate for the #1 pick, high school shortstop George Love became the first position player selected. A three year starter at Amesbury, Love hit .442/.518/.802 with 110 extra base hits, 225 runs, and 154 RBIs. He mashed 15 homers as a senior, and possesses middle of the order potential at a premium position he plays well. With his speed and bat he could hit a lot of doubles, and so far he's squared up a large percentage of the pitches he's hit. He's one of the few prospects who has all the tools to be a star, and of course, the ego that comes with it. All-Stars and Whitneys will mean more then a championship, and that's the perfect mindset for someone going to an expansion team. With just 10 wins, the Imperials need all the help they can get, and between Red Ellis (.205, 4, 16, 2), top-250 prospect Delos Smith, and former Keystone reserve infielder Tommie Williams (.339, 2, 7) ahead of him, there is absolutely nothing in his way.

Minneapolis Millers - 1st Round, 3rd Overall: 1B John Edwards
School: Vinita
1962: .453/.556/.899, 171 PA, 19 2B, 5 3B, 11 HR, 48 RBI, 7 SB
Career: .473/.540/.776, 517 PA, 57 2B, 9 3B, 20 HR, 135 RBI, 12 SB

It sounds weird saying this, because John Edwards is 17 and Bill Ingraham (.238, 3, 21) in his third FABL season, but I think Edwards is the new best first basemen in the Minneapolis Milers organization. Don't get the wrong idea, this is not a suggestion to start him anywhere near the major leagues, but this kid is already pretty good. And he could become so much better. I'm not sure he'd get many hits, but few FABL pitchers could strike him out, and if you're wild he'll take the easy walk. A disciplined hitter with the potential to have major home run power, his upside is massive, allowing him t o become among the top sluggers in the game. One underrated aspect of his game is the arm, as Edwards could be an excellent right fielder. That spot is currently filled by Hugh Pate (.319, 6, 16, 5), a former Cougar in the midst of a big breakout year, and he could easily shift over to left should the Millers decide to use Edwards in the outfield. For each of the four expansion teams, their is a lot of flexibility for these first rounders, as they'll get fully attention from the staff in a smaller minor league system.

Dallas Wranglers - 1st Round, 4th Overall: 3B Athan Metrofanis
School: Lane
1962: .452/.507/.882, 207 PA, 22 2B, 5 3B, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 46 SB
Career: .493/.551/.848, 712 PA, 86 2B, 21 3B, 31 HR, 196 RBI, 122 SB

The last of the expansion teams, Dallas was still able to grab a top quality prospect as this year's crop of young talent is deep. Continuing the trend of high school players, they went with Chicago third basemen Athan Metrofanis, who started all four seasons at Lane. One of the top prep prospects since he broke onto the scene as a freshman in 1959. He hit .504, the lowest of three consecutive .500 seasons before his line dropped to a still impressive .452/.507/.882 as a senior. He did maintain his doubles production, recording 22, and his 16 home runs more then doubled his home run total in his three previous seasons. A double threat, the speedster also swiped 46 bases, totaling 83 runs, 22 doubles, 16 homers, and 19 walks in his final hurrah. Another big bat, he's not as far along as the two batters taken above him, so Dallas will have to stick with guys like Carl Matthews (.208, 5, 19) at the hot corner for now. As Metrofanis moves up the system, improving his defense is a priority, but they'll always have the fall back of first if he can blast homers like he's projected to.

Pittsburgh Miners - 1st Round, 5th Overall: RHP Jack Kotarski
School: Wilson
1962: 8-0, 83.1 IP, 0.86 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 20 BB, 150 K
Career: 8-0, 83.1 IP, 0.86 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 20 BB, 150 K

Arguably the pitcher with the most upside in the draft, Jack Kotarski is a one year prep pitcher just like #1 pick Joe Conner. He doesn't have the command problems, and Wilson with a perfect 8-0 record in 12 starts. His 0.86 ERA and 0.79 WHIP were impressive, as the still 16-year-old burst on the scene as well. A five pitch pitcher, he leads with a high 80s cutter, and his change up could be one of the best pitches in the league. The overall stuff is elite, and with how well he places his pitches, he could end up leading rotations. As with any prep pitcher, he comes with plenty of risk, but the upside is evident. Pittsburgh has lot a lot of pitching due to the expansion draft, and the staff took another hit when 24-year-old Jimmy Blair (2-1, 2.57, 29) tore his meniscus and could miss the remainder of the season. They have other talented young arms like Pat Simon (3-3, 3.88, 39) and Ted Mickiewicz (3-2, 1, 4.32, 36), but if all goes right Kotarski will be the one propped up at the top.

Toronto Wolves - 1st Round, 6th Overall: RHP Bill Carpenter
School: California Catholic
1962: 8-4, 112 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 19 BB, 122 K
Career: 17-10, 247.1 IP, 2.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 69 BB, 238 K

For a team that just lost talented 24-year-old righty George Hoxworth (5-2, 4.11, 41) for the season with a partial UCL tear, adding a quality college arm like Bill Carpenter is huge. The first college player selected, the senior Carpenter had a nice two-year run at California Catholic, displaying elite command in the recent collegiate season. Carpenter cut his BB% from 8.3 to 4.2, so with 122 strikeouts he produced an elite 6.4 K/BB. This helped him lower his ERA from 3.19 to 2.57, and the eight pitch pitcher has a knack for pitching deep into games. He's a classic innings eater who can beat you in multiple ways, and his advanced control helps to the point where he doesn't need to throw a lot of pitches each inning. The stuff is great too, as both his slider and curve are already plus-plus pitches. He does still have plenty of development, so I wouldn't advocate for the Wolves sending him straight to Toronto, but he could rise up the ladder quickly. Better hitters will frustrate him and he could give up some home runs, but at worst he's a back-end guy, and at best he can lead a rotation.

Detroit Dynamos - 1st Round, 7th Overall: RHP Skipper Atkins
School: Shenandoah
1962: 9-0, 92.2 IP, 0.87 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 17 BB, 150 K
Career: 43-0, 442 IP, 0.92 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 66 BB, 623 K

I can see the case for others, but personally, I'd say no player in the pool has the upside of Skipper Atkins. A four year starter at Shenandoah High School, Skipper was a perfect 43-0, working to an elite 0.92 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 66 walks and 623 strikeouts. In all four seasons, he walked no more then 24 batters while striking out at least 144, and excluding his junior year, he had an ERA and WHIP below 0.95 and 0.80. The numbers themselves are impressive, but his overall talent gives him the potential to lead a rotation. Another pitcher with a deep arsenal, Skipper has seven options, and four of them are of extremely high quality. His go-to pitch is his mid 90s fastball, and his slider, curve, and screwball can make even the best hitters look foolish. He doesn't always locate the pitches well, but he avoids the center of the zone, and his pitches move well enough that you can't sit on a location. The stuff and movement is advanced for a high school arm, and if the control was a bit more developed, I'd be willing to take him right now over a few of the relievers in Detroit's pen. Injuries aside, he seems like a lock for a FABL rotation, and he should be ranked among the top pitching prospects in the league.

Montreal Saints - 1st Round, 8th Overall: RHP Ellis Porter
School: Des Moines
1962: 10-0, 98.1 IP, 0.64 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 14 BB, 160 K
Career: 10-0, 98.1 IP, 0.64 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 14 BB, 160 K

The trend of high school draftees continued, and we got our third pitcher in a row with 17-year-old Ellis Porter. A one year starter at his Iowa high school, Porter transferred in to become draft eligible, and spun a perfect 10-0 season with a miniscule 0.64 ERA that was actually lower then his 0.71 WHIP. A bit of a soft tosser, Porter doesn't have the overwhelming stuff that some of his fellow first rounders, but he has a penchant for inducing groundballs. It's really tough to square his pitches up, as evidence by the single home run in almost 100 innings, and his fastball/sinker/change mix accounted for a whopping 40.8 K%. As a three pitch pitcher, he's really going to need all three to be effective, putting a lot of pressure on the change. An elite fastball and sinker is nice for a reliever, but if Porter wants to remain in the rotation, he needs his offspeed to miss a lot of bats. Lucky for him, it projects to be a devastating pitch with a ton of downward movement, and it should lead his quality arsenal. He might be the riskiest option so far, but he's smart, hard working, and should be able to carve out a major league career.

Boston Minutemen - 1st Round, 9th Overall: 1B Bob Schultz
School: Tacoma
1962: .424/.551/.801, 196 PA, 16 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR, 45 RBI, 17 SB
Career: .443/.544/.676, 601 PA, 47 2B, 5 3B, 19 HR, 132 RBI, 17 SB

He may have fell because he was a first basemen, but the soon-to-be 18-year-old Bob Schultz has plenty of experience in the outfield too. A three year starter at his Washington high school, Schultz spent most of his time at first, but he looked good at all three outfield spots. He has the bat of a first basemen with the range of a center fielder, and even though Frank Kirouac (.266, 11, 27, 4) seems to have center on lock in Beantown for the next decade, there is room on the grass with him. Especially if first basemen Jack Denis (.418, 3, 17) continues to hit as well as he has. Granted, there won't be a rush for Schultz to get to Boston, he's a very raw young prospect, but he's an athletic prospect with a great eye, plus raw power, and a sweet swing that generates a lot of bat speed. His eye might be his best tool, both currently and in the future, and he posted an excellent 39-to-6 walk-to-strikeout ratio as a senior. The lefty could be among the league leaders in walks, and if all goes well, he'll hit high in a quality Boston lineup.

Chicago Cougars - 1st Round, 10th Overall: SS Bill Grimm
School: Alton
1962: .436/.522/.843, 203 PA, 17 2B, 7 3B, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 18 SB
Career: .452/.518/.775, 542 PA, 50 2B, 18 RB, 22 HR, 140 RBI, 54 SB

A classic pick for an organization uncharacteristically low on middle infielders, the Chicago Cougars when to select versatile Illinois shortstop Bill Grimm. A three year starter at Alton High School right on the Illinois/Missouri border, Grimm doesn't always make a lot of contact, but when he does, the ball goes far. Either out of the park or into the gaps, when Grimm connects it does damage, and the senior recorded 37 extra base hits in 203 trips to the plate. Projected to have outstanding home run power, gap power, and plate discipline, Grimm will give excellent at bats, and with his speed he really impacts the game in multiple ways. On the older side for the first round high schoolers, he's already 18 and turns 19 in November, and with his older age comes a more complete hitter. He might not have to spend too much time in the low minors, though the Cougars may want to work on his defense as he's going up. A quality shortstop, he doesn't have excellent range, but he's got a third basemen's arm and a knack for smooth double plays, quickly turning potential base runners into outs. If he can't stick at short, the bat should be more then enough, and he'd be a plus defender at second, third, and all three outfield spots. He's better in center then short, but the Cougars are flush with quality outfielders, and seem committed to keeping their talented young hitter on the dirt.

New York Gothams - 1st Round, 11th Overall: RHP Bunny Mullins
School: Humboldt
1962: 8-1, 93 IP, 0.97 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 17 BB, 150 K
Career: 8-1, 93 IP, 0.97 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 17 BB, 150 K

A towering 6'4'' pitcher from Tennessee, the right hander Bunny Mullins spent one season playing high school baseball, and it was more then enough to earn the attention of the league's scouting departments. A four pitch pitcher, Mullins did an excellent job recording outs, allowing just 59 hits and 17 walks in his 93 innings, good enough for a pristine 0.82 WHIP to go with a sub-1 ERA. 18 in July, Mullins also showed the ability to pitch deep into games, which could help him develop into a key rotation member for the Gothams. He's not the hardest thrower, just occasionally touching 90 with his fastball, with his cutter and sinker just a tick or so slower. He makes up for that with his intelligence, as he had an academic scholarship to El Paso Methodist if he wasn't selected in the draft. Of course, with his talent that wasn't a consideration, and he'll now use his brain for baseball. His smarts should help him avoid mistake pitches and improve his sequencing, allowing him to get the most of his stuff. He has strong command that should propel him into a FABL rotation spot, though he projects more as a solid middle rotation guy then someone you want at the top.

Kansas City Kings - 1st Round, 12th Overall: 2B Platon Daniels
School: DeKalb
1962: .480/.572/.829, 215 PA, 22 2B, 6 3B, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 29 SB
Career: .446/.539/.836, 812 PA, 81 2B, 21 3B, 46 HR, 206 RBI, 38 SB

The first switch-hitter of the draft, Platon Daniels is a young infielder from Illinois who spent four seasons at DeKalb before being the Kings first round selection. 18 later this month, Daniels was an extra base machine, hitting 37 as a senior to finish with 148 in just 163 games. He hit 9 home runs this season, solid enough on its own, but it's actually a drop from the 14 and 16 he hit in the two previous seasons. Power could become a big part of his game, whether it shows as doubles or homers, and he reminds me a lot of the Kings current second basemen Al Farmer (.302, 9, 30, 3). Like Farmer, he can hit his share of homers, but the biggest impact is the amount of doubles and triples he can log. They're both quick, disciplined, and able to find the gaps, but the defense isn't going to be much more then average. Daniels should be able to hit around .300 too, as he'll frustrate minor league pitchers on his trek up to Kansas City. A big team player too, he's always got his head in the game, supporting and cheering for his teammates when he's on the bench. He has a long road of development ahead of him, but if all breaks right he's going to be another homegrown weapon for a Kings team that excels at identifying talented position players in the early rounds.

New York Gothams - 1st Round, 13th Overall: RHP Larry Gifford
School: Bluegrass State
1962: 10-4, 124.1 IP, 3.26 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 70 BB, 121 K
Career: 14-12, 232.2 IP, 4.84 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 141 BB, 181 K

Back to the college ranks for just the second non-prep player in the first round, as the Chiefs added the 6'4'' Larry Gifford out of Bluegrass State. Gifford had one of the biggest bounce-back seasons of any draft eligible player, as he went from a guy you wouldn't take in a single digit round to the 13th selection of the draft. A six pitch pitcher, Gifford spent all offseason improving his stuff, as he did just about everything wrong last season. Gifford walked 71 while striking out just 60, maintaining elevated ERAs and WHIPs of 6.65 and 1.89 respectively. Almost everything was different in his junior year, as even though the command still isn't great (70 BB, 12.5 BB%), his sinker, change, and slider have all emerged as plus-plus pitches. He's also throwing harder, leaving the high 80s for a consistent 92-94, and when Gifford is walking guys, he's done a lot better erasing them with double plays. His sinker can get grounders and whiffs, and now that he isn't allowing twenty baserunners an inning, he's spinning together complete game after complete game. A classic innings eater who could be a quick riser, Gifford has a high floor, but unless he gets his command under control he may tough to rely on. When he's on, he's unhittable, and with his excellent stuff he could be a dominant force in the rotation or back of a pen. Where he ends up is determined by how many free passes he allows, but the Chiefs may decide to move the almost 22-year-old up to the Windy City at an expedited pace.

Cincinnati Cannons - 1st Round, 14th Overall: LF Jud Long
School: East
1962: .494/.537/.765, 188 PA, 15 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 59 SB
Career: .491/.541/.738, 573 PA, 50 2B, 7 3B, 20 HR, 151 RBI, 59 SB

He came close twice, but East High School outfielder Jud Long fell short of hitting .500 twice, batting .495 as a sophomore and .494 as a senior. With averages like that, the first thing you'd expect is an above average contact hitter, which is true, but it's actually not what scouts like most about him. The corner outfielder has tremendous power potential from the left side of the plate, and paired with his outstanding speed the Cannons brass may be dreaming of a 30/20 future not too long from now. A bat first prospect, almost all his value comes from the offensive side of the game, as despite his speed he's got unremarkable range and should almost never be seen in center. In a pinch, he could cover it, but this is a mashing LF/RF that you want in the middle of the order. When he puts the ball in play, good things tend to happen, as he's a force on the bases and is practiced in hitting line drives. He does have a tendency to pull the ball in the air, so parks that are tough on lefty power may keep him contained, but anything in the gap gives him the potential to end up on second or third. It may be early in his career, but his development prospects are promising, and he could end up in a star-studded Cannon outfield with Dallas Berry (.379, 18, 44, 6) and Bonnie Chapin (.303, 9, 25, 2) in the second half of the decade.

New York Gothams - 1st Round, 15th Overall: RHP Johnny Stiles
School: Bowling Green
1962: 10-0, 96.2 IP, 0.74 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 13 BB, 154 K
Career: 10-0, 96.2 IP, 0.74 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 13 BB, 154 K

The FABL clubs continued to alternate between hitter and pitcher, all while continuing to stick with high schoolers in a very young draft. Washington went with Johnny Stiles, who celebrates his golden birthday on the 17th. One of the most inexperienced and raw prospects in the pool, Stiles actually showed impeccable command in his senior season, walking just 13 with 154 strikeouts in 96.2 innings. A perfect 10-0, his 0.74 ERA was almost identical to his 0.72 WHIP, as the soft-tossing righty found ways to trick and befuddle high school hitters in Ohio. A six-pitch sinkerballer, his sinker sits in the 85-87 range, but it's one of those pitches you can't get good wood on. It's tough to elevate, leading to a lot of slow rollers and broken bats, and none of his pitches are straight. The change in particular is an exciting one, a potential dominant pitch that could help him maintain high strikeout rates. His upside is noticeable, a potential rotation anchor, but he's got a lot of developing before he gets there. C ball hitters may have no issues making contact, and eventually more experienced guys will be able to take advantage of his mistakes. He's a big high-risk/high-reward high school arm who could be out of baseball by 23 or still picking up wins in his late 30s.

Los Angeles Stars - 1st Round, 16th Overall: SS Lew Smith
School: Passaic
1962: .494/.545/846, 178 PA, 19 2B, 6 3B, 8 HR, 51 RBI, 62 SB
Career: .462/.510/.673, 700 PA, 64 2B, 9 3B, 17 HR, 174 RBI, 62 SB

A four year starter at Passaic, Lew Smith saved the best for last, hitting an impressive .494/.545/.846 with 19 doubles, 6 triples, 8 homers, 51 RBIs, 77 runs, 18 walks, 62 steals, and a 4.0 WAR. All of those metrics were personal bests for the versatile Smith, who will now take his talents to Hollywood. An 18-year-old from Brooklyn, he's one of the most aggressive and successful base stealers in the draft, though despite those skills he's not yet a top baserunner. What he can do is put the ball in play and beat out a throw, though he's a line drive hitter with power. Not one that gets cheap infield hits. He has great range in the infield and outfield, and while he has more value in the middle infield, he's even better in the outfield. Working against him is his baseball IQ, part of the reason he's not a good baserunner, but he's a well liked kid who can fit in comfortably as a leadoff hitter. He has a fair amount of development ahead of him, but he has a good eye, nice contact tool, and he can play almost anywhere on the field. Guys like that are extremely valuable, and if he can tap into his power potential, he could be a top shortstop or center fielder.

Chicago Cougars - 1st Round, 17th Overall: SS Rich Hood
School: Simpsonville
1962: .448/.549/.747, 213 PA, 20 2B, 3B, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 14 SB
Career: .442/.508/.658, 771 PA, 67 2B, 5 3B, 23 HR, 189 RBI, 14 SB

After alternating for seven picks, the St. Louis Pioneers broke the cycle, passing up a pitcher to go with a shortstop of their own. Rich Hood becomes the fourth and final shortstop selected in the opening round, and like Lew Smith, he's a four year high school starter. He doesn't have the statline or speed of Smith, but Hood has legit power, whacking ten over the seats as a senior. A bat first infielder, my guess is he moves off short eventually, but the bat should make up for any defensive shortcomings. He's a solid contact hitter with above average power, potentially hitting 25+ homers even in a big park like St. Louis has. He has a great swing and will draw a lot of walks, boasting dynamic tools that could allow him to develop into another cornerstone player for the Pioneers. Short is somewhat of a weakness for them, as 35-year-old Paul Watson (.287, 1, 23) won't be playing much longer, and with their elite and overpowering pitching staff a poor defensive shortstop may not matter too much. Him and Bob Bell (.384 ,11, 25) could be a lethal duo, and I'd shift Bell to short to accommodate Hood once he's ready for FABL pitchers.

San Francisco Sailors - 1st Round, 18th Overall: LHP Bert Alexander
School: Santa Monica
1962: 10-2, 124 IP, 1.16 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 31 BB, 189 K
Career: 10-2, 124 IP, 1.16 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 31 BB, 189 K

After the quick detour, we're back to the mound, as the Sailors selected young southpaw Bert Alexander. Another one year high school pitcher, Alexander finished 10-2 with a 1.16 ERA and 189 strikeouts in 124 innings pitched. The Sailors new southpaw was able to pitch deep into games, mixing his three pitch mix well to keep hitters fooled. His fastball tops out in the high 80s, and while his command still needs some work, he excels at generating weak contact. When you put the ball in play against him, it doesn't usually do much damage, as he commands the outside of the zone well. The stuff may never be great, but he uses said pitches well, and if you watch the now 45-year-old Rufus Barrell (7-2, 3.12, 31) pitch, it's easy to see how a guy can thrive by placing pitches where he wants them. With elite command and even average stuff, Alexander could be a rotation fronter, but the Sailors staff will have to continue to work with him as he's far from a finished product. He carries plenty of risk, but the upside is evident and the Sailors organization is adept at developing quality pitchers.

Philadelphia Keystones - 1st Round, 19th Overall: 3B Bill Calvin
School: Maryland State
1962: .266/.402/.584, 351 PA, 13 2B, 6 3B, 22 HR, 65 RBI, 21 SB
Career: .275/.365/.496, 991 PA, 37 2B, 8 3B, 46 HR, 180 RBI, 21 SB

Woah! A college bat! Those exist!?!?!?!

Yes, believe it or not, there are a few quality collegiate position players, and Keystone third basemen Bill Calvin was the only one a FABL organization felt comfortable taking in the first round. A standout at Maryland State, he was a starter in each of his three seasons, but there won't be a 4th as he'll leave campus for a pro career. Known for his versatility and tremendous power potential, Calvin suited up at second, third, short, left, center, and right for the Bengals, and after 24 homers in his first two seasons, he came close to matching it with 22 as a junior. Calvin added 75 runs, 13 doubles, 6 triples, 61 walks, and 21 steals, and finished off an impressive college career with 46 homers, 220 runs, 180 RBIs, and 113 walks. Now 22, some scouts in the league think Calvin won't need to spend too much time on the farm, though offense certainly hasn't been Philly's problem this season. A disciplined hitter, he's got great speed and power, which helps make up for an average hit tool. He's not going to bat over .300, but he'll draw a ton of walks and most of his hits could be for extra bases. Add in his athleticism, defensive aptitude, and natural talent, and it's easy to project him to be an above average position player. I like him most at third due to the arm, but he might be best out in right. I don't expect him to make it to Philly this season, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Ohio native takes his first FABL PA in 1963.

Philadelphia Keystones - 1st Round, 20th Overall: 3B Babe Thornton
School: Sayreville
1962: .476/.582/.729, 213 PA, 22 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 49 RBI, 51 RBI, 6 SB
Career: .445/.514/.676, 773 PA, 76 2B, 8 3B, 21 HR, 181 RBI, 16 SB

One more third basemen to finish it off, as the first place Foresters selected high schooler Babe Thornton. A four year starter at Sayreville High School, Babe hit a personal best .476/.582/.729 as a senior, improving his contact, eye, and power in one fell swoop. That propelled him into the back of the first round, as Cleveland gets a potential replacement for their weakest spot. Former All-Star Jerry Tubbs (.181, 7, 27) has been almost unplayable, somewhat saved by walks and homers, but he's in his 30s and has a very tenuous grasp on the position. In fact, they might have been hoping Colvin slid, as I could see an aggressive GM pushing him up quickly if he got off to a hot start in the minors. Instead, they'll get more of a project with the almost 18-year-old, who has a considerable offensive ceiling. He's a statue at third, and since he's below 6'0'' you don't really want him at first, but one look at his swing and you can see why the scouts are so excited. It's a balanced, rhythmic swing, one that should allow him to hit for a high average. He walks, doesn't really strikes out, and hits ball hard, but he's not your typical slugging third basemen. 20 homers may be close to his max, but when it comes with an average over .300 it's more then good enough. Without a glove to fall back on, there's a ton of pressure on him to produce at the plate, and it may take a lot of failure before he finally earns a big league shot.

Jiggs McGee · 12-26-2024, 08:39 PM

JUNE 11, 1962
FORESTERS EXTEND WIN STREAK TO 11 GAMES
Deuce Barrell Notches Career Win #350 as Foresters Stretch CA Lead

The Cleveland Foresters are heating up and may well be on their way to a fourth straight Continental Association pennant and their sixth flag in the past seven years. The Foresters got out of the gate slowly, with just an 11-9 record after their first twenty games but in their most recent twenty outings they have gone 18-2 including a winning streak that has now reached 11 games.

Perhaps the most memorable of those 11 consecutive victories was last Monday's 6-1 triumph on the west coast over the San Francisco Sailors. The game came a day after future Hall of Famer Deuce Barrell celebrated his 45th birthday and the late present Barrell gifted to him self was 8 innings of six-hit ball that earned Deuce his 350th career pitching victory. Only Allan Allen, with 514, and Charlie Sis, with 395, have ascended to such heights ahead of the Foresters ace who seems to be getting even better with age.

It is a near certainty that no one in the history of the sport has performed as well in his age 45 season as Barrell, who has gone 8-2 with a 2.90 era in his 11 starts for the Foresters. Co-ace Adam Czerwinski (5-3, 3.70) is also heating up with wins in each of his last three decisions while the youngster of the star-studded trio, 31-year-old Jake Pearson (8-1, 2.40), may be all that stands between Barrell and a record 6th Allan Award win.

Led by those three pitchers and a pretty talented offense, the Foresters have stretched their lead to 7 games over a trio of Continental Association teams in Los Angeles, Cincinnati and the Chicago Cougars who are all tied for second place. Must be something in the water in Ohio of late as the Cannons, with nine wins in their last ten games including a current six-game winning streak are the only team keeping pace with the Foresters hot June record.

There is a hot team in the Federal Association as well. That would be the Pittsburgh Miners, who on May 16 were in 9th place with a 10-18 record. Since then, they have gone 19-4 and climbed into a tie for second place with the Chicago Chiefs. Each club has won four in a row but both continue to chase St Louis. They are six games back of the first place Pioneers but the Miners will have a chance to cut into that gap if they can keep up their hot play this week. Pittsburgh begins a 3-game series in St Louis on Tuesday.

The front-running Pioneers had a bit of a stumble early in the week - losing two games each to the Chiefs and the Detroit Dynamos before rebounding with three straight victories.

TURNER IS A RISING STAR IN PITTSBURGH

Edward "Dixie" Turner Jr., the dynamic young second baseman for the Pittsburgh Miners, has quickly established himself as one of the most electrifying players in the Federally Aligned Baseball Leagues (FABL). Born on February 15, 1942, in Live Oak, Florida, Dixie’s baseball pedigree was established early thanks to the influence of his father, Edward "Ed" Turner Sr., who also played second base for the Pittsburgh Miners. While Ed Sr.'s career at the FABL level was brief, his love for the game never wavered, and he became a crucial mentor in his son's development.

Growing up in the small, close-knit community of Live Oak, Dixie’s talent was evident from a young age. Stories abound of him outshining older kids in local sandlot games before he was even a teenager. By the time he reached high school, he was already a star. Playing for the Live Oak High School Lions, Dixie dominated the competition with his smooth glove, lightning-quick reflexes, and a bat that produced both contact and power. Scouts from across the country took notice, and by his senior year, he was regarded as the best high school prospect in the nation.

The Pittsburgh Miners, who held the first overall pick in the 1960 FABL draft, wasted no time in selecting Dixie Turner, believing he could be the cornerstone of their franchise for years to come. The significance of the pick was not lost on anyone, especially since his father, Ed Sr., had donned the same uniform years earlier. For the elder Turner, it was a moment of pride, and for Dixie, it was a symbolic passing of the torch. The younger Turner later remarked, "I’m not just playing for me—I’m playing for my family, my town, and everyone who believed in me."

Upon signing with the Miners, Dixie reported to the club’s Class C affiliate in Jacksonville in his home state of Florida, where he wasted little time proving he was ready for bigger challenges. His first professional season was nothing short of sensational, as he showcased his hitting prowess and defensive instincts. His second season was even better as he shone brightly with both Class B Spokane and Class A Gary. With his blend of speed, bat control, and defensive wizardry, the Miners’ front office accelerated his development, calling him up to the FABL roster ahead of schedule.

At just 20 years old, Dixie Turner is now the starting second baseman for the Miners. He’s quickly become a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, with chants of "Dixie! Dixie!" ringing through the stands at Fitzpatrick Park. His approach at the plate is mature beyond his years. He’s patient but aggressive when he gets his pitch, and his ability to hit to all fields makes him a constant threat in the lineup. Defensively, he’s been a revelation. His range, footwork, and instinctual play have drawn comparisons to some of the game's all-time greats.

Off the field, Dixie remains grounded. He’s known for his humility and strong connection to his hometown of Live Oak, where he frequently returns during the offseason to host youth baseball clinics. He’s also dedicated to his family, crediting his father, Ed Sr., as his greatest influence. “He’s been my coach, my toughest critic, and my biggest fan,” Dixie once said. “Every time I step on that field, I’m representing him too.”

While many young players might struggle with the pressures of being the #1 overall pick, Dixie has embraced it. His mental toughness and self-assuredness are traits that have set him apart from his peers. Those close to him describe him as fiercely competitive but also thoughtful and introspective. He’s quick to credit his teammates for his success and approaches each game with a sense of purpose and joy.

As the face of the Miners’ increasingly bright future, there’s a palpable sense of excitement surrounding Dixie Turner’s career trajectory. Some scouts believe he’s destined to be the best second baseman in the league within a few years. Others think he’s a generational talent capable of rewriting the record books. One thing’s for sure—with his blend of talent, work ethic, and charisma, Dixie Turner’s star is only beginning to rise.

DYNAMOS HOPE THEY HAVE LANDED A GEM IN DRAFT

Plenty of excitement at Thompson Field headquarters after the club announced its first round draft pick. Always take it with a large grain of salt when ballclubs begin to extoll the virtues of a top draft pick as first rounders always come with a healthy dose of hyperbole but the Dynamos feel this pick could be extra special.

That youngster anointed in a club press release as potentially the next Jim Norris, is a monster of a man-child by the name of Skipper Atkins. Just 17, the Philadelphia-born righthander towered over Scouting Director Harry Flannery but the diminutive Flannery, who is 5'7" on a good day, had a smile as wide as Atkins mammoth wingspan during the presser.

The Pennsylvania native won't turn 18 until August but he has tremendous work ethic, is a monster at 6'4" with a sidearm delivery that hits 96 miles an hour and will likely see plenty of righthanded hitters leaning closer to the on deck circle than the plate as they bail out on his delivery. Atkins has 7 pitches including 4 that are already rated as 4 out of 5 ability. He already has great stuff and solid movement and dominated the high school ranks going 43-0 with 623 strikeouts in less than 450 innings over his four seasons at Shenandoah High. The only concern is his control, which lags far behind his other abilities, but if all breaks right the Dynamos see him as perhaps the best pitcher in what looks like a very good crop of arms in this draft.

For his part, Atkins said and did all the right things in a brief meeting with reporters over the weekend before boarding a train back to Shenandoah, PA., to finish out the final couple of weeks needed to obtain his high school diploma. From there it will likely be a trip to Chattanooga where he is expected to make his pro debut with the Class B Dynamos.

Do not expect to see Atkins in a Federal Association Dynamos uniform anytime in the near future. While the club has seen some first round picks debut on the mound as teenagers, with Carl Potter being the most notable, it is likely that Atkins will need at least two and perhaps as many as four years on the farm in order to harness his control.

The raw stuff is certainly there but high school pitchers have a low success rate when it comes to meeting lofty expectations doled out by gushing club executives on draft day. Detroit, which reportedly had its sights set on Bill Carpenter from the College World Championship bound California Catholic Crusaders before Toronto gobbled him up one spot ahead of the Dynamos selection, has high hopes for their latest prodigy. There looks to be plenty of gifted players at the top of the draft. Let's hope the Dynamos guessed right on this one.

Tales From The Den

A Look At The Wolves After Two Months -After just over two months into the 1962 season the Wolves are showing signs of improvement following a decade of disaster. At 24-21, the team led by Tom Reed's .409 batting average is currently in fifth place, six games behind the Continental Association leaders from Cleveland. This Wolves team has been plagued with hard luck in the pitching staff with injuries having lost three pitchers for the season. Jim Jackson, 25, who was being targeted for the bullpen's lefthanded specialist injured his shoulder in spring training, he is out for the year. Phil Colantuono, 25, suffered an arm injury late in the preseason after a 15-10 record in '61, he may return to the team late this season. A cause for major concern was the season ending injury to George Hoxworth last week. Hoxworth at 24 seemed to bouncing back from a poor 1961, 5-16 with an ERA north of 5, when his elbow gave out after he started this season 5-2 in 9 starts. The team that was going to have rely on pitching is managing to keep its head above water with hitting thus far, they may have to bring up more young arms from Buffalo to add to a staff whose best arms are already under 25.

Now a quick look at the team by position along with the next in line from the system:
C- A pleasant surprise is the early going is switch hitting Ty Rusconi who at 24 has recorded a line of .321/.367/.514 while splitting duties with vet Dixie Williams. Expect Rusconi to get the majority of the starts behind the plate over the summer. Coming through the system is highly regarded Fred Tollefson who started the year in Vancouver in such fine fashion he may soon be moving to Davenport in A-ball.

1B- This was an area of concern in camp when Charlie Harvey had a poor spring. Harvey, 34, has rebounded nicely during the early season hitting at a .324 clip with 20 RBI. So much so that insurance package the team kept around, Ray Words, 35, has been placed on waivers, Words may be done with Toronto even if he passes through the waiver process. Harvey does not possess the power or glove associated with 1B but will stay in the lineup with his bat to ball skills. This is a position that needs an upgrade if the Wolves are move forward. the system seems bare at the moment unless Larry Irwin, 19, can rapidly move up the system which is a tall task.

2B- New Manager Randy Hohlt stated in Spring Training that the middle infielders would be judged more on glove than bat skills to reverse the trend of pitiful defense of recent years. Phil Story is fitting that bill with good defense at second while not pathetic at the plate slashing .235/.347/.356. He has recently been moved to the leadoff spot. George Marsolek is putting together a good season in Davenport while moving around the infield, he may spend more time at second with the Dusters.

SS- The other half of the double play combination Jesse Taylor, 25, has been an upgrade to the defense at short with an acceptable bat. Overall the defense has progressed leaps and bounds on Hohlt, Tanzan Miyake. There seem to a good number of SS available in this year's draft but Chattanooga's Harry McDonald might be one to watch in the future.

3B- Clyde Fisher has been another surprise early on slashing .353/.389/.529 in 179 times to the plate while providing above average defense at third. Stan Merrick who is tearing the cover off the ball in AA at 19 may soon move to Buffalo then challenge Fisher if not this year then in 1963.

LF- Two words Tom Reed. At 31 he is the most feared bat in the Wolves lineup leading the FABL with a .409 average second in OBP, Total Bases, OPS. Unless Reed moves to first in the future it is not a good time to be a LF prospect, although Bill Rawdon, 20, who can play all 3 OF spots is on the Wolves radar in AA.

CF- Sid Cullen, 25, seems to have this spot locked up for the next number years unless Carlos Rivera, 22, who is struggling in Vancouver can right the ship over the summer, Rivera is interesting as he can play all OF spots plus 1B. 2B. 3B so his future may in Toronto may lay in a position other than CF.

RF- Jim Allen's strong bat has given him the starting role despite his adventures in the field. Ed savage, 24, challenged for the job in spring but was seen as a defense liability so he was sent to AAA to work on his defense. He is still hitting in Buffalo but not making progress in the field.

SP- Until the injury woes mentioned above hit he Wolves the starters were supposed to lead the team forward in 1962. Arnie Smith, 22, who is coming off shoulder surgery is rebounding nicely although the staff has been inconsistent in the first 45 games. The SP ERA ranks 7th in CA far below expectations though leading the CA is batters retired on strikes. Manager Hohlt has to hope for better pitching over the summer. Wolves have young starters in AAA honing their skills for the FABL, Jimmy Blair, 22, Danny Horne, 21, George Adams, 23 if they can solve control issues may come to the big time over the summer.

RP- The addition of Zeke Blake has shored up a long suffering bullpen that still has a long way to go before Hohlt can be confident in going to the 'pen. Especially disappointing has been Wilson Pearson who has blown 5 save opportunities in 9 chance mainly due to walks. Fans are suggesting that Pearson should be sent to Buffalo for some work to give Stan Boone, 23, a chance to show his wares.

Overall the fans have to be happy with this year's team showing signs of moving ahead after years of suffering at Dominion Stadium. Their team is leading the CA with a .291 average which is unexpected, along with being in the top half of the league in almost all offensive categories. If the pitching staff improves fans could be treated some excitement at the ballyard. The nucleus of the team is young, this writer expects many of the older generation to follow Ray Words' path over the summer as team finds out what it has in the system.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Veteran Italian welterweight Carl Rondinelli, who was unsuccessful in his North American debut when now former World Champion Lonnie Griffin knocked him out last December in the 14th round of their title bout, was back in action in Europe last week. Rondinelli, who hinted at wanting another shot at the world title, easily outpointed Englishman Spencer Pochin in a ten-round tussle in London.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 34-7.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 6/10/1962

In a move made possible by the quick delivery of more soldiers and equipment to NATO, the main allied defense line in Central Europe is being moved forward to the border between the two Germanys. The move is designed, in the event of any invasion, to hold opposing forces at the border of West and East Germany, rather than falling back to a defensive line that would sacrifice some of the largest West German cities to the enemy.
Anti-American demonstrations are spreading in South Korea to the point where the US Army restricted all military personnel in the Seoul area to base except for official business.
Laos has agreed on a new cabinet for a coalition government aimed at ending civil war and adding Laos to the ranks of the world's neutral nations.
Fires triggered by bombs from European terrorists raged through Algiers, destroying schools and public buildings while also damaging the United States embassy.
A record peacetime defense budget of more than $48 billion was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
1960 Republican Presidential candidate Richard Nixon has won the party's nomination for the race for Governor of California.
President Kennedy, calling for a partnership with Government to pump new life into the nation's economy, accused his sharpest critics of spouting "ancient cliches" instead of facing up to the real problems of the teams. Kennedy declared his administration is not anti-business but made it clear that the Government intends to do its part in trying to block recession and generate prosperity.
The Supreme Court refused to interfere with a lower court ruling that killed the Agriculture Department requirement that meat packers label ham "imitation" if they add water to it.

Jiggs McGee · 12-28-2024, 10:18 AM

JUNE 18, 1962
CARPENTER EXCELS AS CALIFORNIA CATHOLIC WINS COLLEGE WCS

For the first time in their history the California Catholic Crusaders have won an AIAA national championship. The Crusaders baseball team, led by senior pitcher Ken Carpenter, outlasted Rainier College in yesterday's third and deciding game of the finals to win Collegiate World Championship Series. Carpenter, who was the first college player selected in the recent FABL rookie draft, was named tournament MVP after pitching a complete game 2-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory over the Majestics in game two of the series. Earlier in the event Carpenter, who was 8-4 with a 2.57 era during the regular season, pitched the Crusaders to wins over Frankford State and top ranked Georgia Baptist.

Back-to-back homers from Art Gardner and freshman Elmer Simonetta helped Rainier College, which was the host school for the championships, draw first blood in the finals with a 7-3 victory over the Crusaders. Game two was all Carpenter as the senior righthander who will be joining the Toronto Wolves organization next week, fanned 9 and allowed just two hits in going the distance for a 1-0 victory to level the series and force a third game. The Crusaders were on a pilgrimage around the bases in the early going, plating 2 runs in the top of the first inning and 3 more in the third frame before going on to claim the title with a 7-5 victory.

CALVIN, SMITH WIN AMATEUR AWARDS

A pair of infielders captured the top individual amateur baseball awards for the year. Bill Calvin, a third baseman from Maryland State won the Frank Christian Award while New Jersey high school shortstop Lew Smith was named the Adwell Award recipient for 1962.

Calvin, a 22-year-old Ohio native, was a two-time All-American third baseman from the Maryland State Bengals. His name was called by the Philadelphia Keystones with the 19th selection of the FABL draft last week. Brooklyn State sophomore pitcher Cy Boyd, who is draft eligible in 1963, finished second in the Christian Award voting.

Smith, a senior who was born in Brooklyn but played his high school ball in Passaic, NJ, was a 4-year starter at shortstop for his varsity team. He hit .494 this season and nosed out a pair of pitchers in Ellis Porter and Hanson Allen. Smith was selected 16th overall in last week's FABL draft by the Los Angeles Stars. He becomes the first New Jersey high schooler to win the Adwell since Bill Barrett did it back in 1938. Smith also ends a three year hold on the award by pitchers and joins one of Barrett's former big league teammates in Ralph Hanson (1945) as the only shortstops to win the Adwell Award.

Sailors Surge with Nine Game Win Streak; Foresters Still Comfortably Ahead

While Cleveland continues to lead the Continental Association, the other teams in the loop have been trading off huge winning streaks. First, it was the Dallas Berry (.356, 22, 59, 8) led Cincinnati Cannons, who won seven straight. Now it's the San Francisco Sailors and their nine game run of victories.

Sweeps of the Wolves, Kings, and Imperials have allowed the Sailors to improve to 34-24, tied for second with the Cannons and six shy of the Foresters. The only FABL team running with a four man rotation, it seems to be working well for last year's runner up, who have now dethroned the Cougars as the Continental staff with the fewest runs allowed. It's an interesting group, as the top half is a pair of 23-year-old homegrown stars, with the back half both acquired in the Zeke Blake deal which came during spring training.

Charlie Lawson leads the staff, and the second-year starter has decided that sophomore slumps aren't for him. After going 13-8 with a CA leading 2.91 ERA (155 ERA+) and 1.07 WHIP in 1961, Lawson has been almost as good this time around at 6-3 with a 3.08 ERA (148 ERA+) and 1.09 WHIP. Similar numbers match his K% (17 to 16.8), BB% (7.5 to 7.0), and of course his K/BB (2.3 to 2.4), but where he's taken the biggest leap forward is with the longball. If he had a weakness last year, it was the 29 homers in 238 innings, but this season he has just 6 in 90.2, almost cutting his home run rate in half. This had led to a nice decrease in his FIP from 4.03 (89 FIP-) to 3.51 (77 FIP-), as Lawson has emerged as one of the top pitchers in the game. An All-Star lock and potential Allen winner, he's the undisputed ace of the staff, but the performance of the guys behind him is what's allowed the Sailors to come back.

Third year pitcher George Fuller (5-5, 3.07, 45) deserves a record far better then 5-5, as his 148 ERA+ and 1.11 WHIP are top-notch, while he's struck out 45 with 25 walks in 82 innings. Ranked as high as the 17th prospect in FABL, impressive metrics like this were expected, and with a good first half last year he was able to capture an All-Star selection. Getting good results from him and Lawson may have been expected, but I don't think the Sailors front office envisioned how good Hank Lacey (4-2, 3.25, 47) and Zane Kelley (6-2, 3.64, 44) have been. Both longtime Wolves, Lacey lost a CA high 17 games last season, and was under .500 in all but one of the five seasons he pitched as a starter. 43-69 with a 4.43 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.43 WHIP, and 672 strikeouts is decent enough for a back end, but he's on track for career bests in ERA and WHIP, and easily the best season of his career. With Kelley, it's even more impressive, as the 36-year-old had a 7.09 ERA (65 ERA+) and 1.80 WHIP in 66 innings last season, walking (39) more guys then he struck out (33). His time in Toronto was even less inspiring then Lacey's, as he had a 4.71 ERA (86 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, and 685 strikeouts in nearly 1,500 innings.
So why are these guys pitching so well?

Defense, baby!

The Sailors defense is among the best in the league, and it all starts with 25-year-old shortstop Carlos Jaramillo. Sure, his .265/.369/.332 (82 OPS+) batting line is reminiscent of his rookie year, not the hitter he's become after, but even when he's not hitting, he can impact the game in multiple ways. His 12.2 zone rating and 1.122 efficiency are reminiscent of a prime Harry Barrell or Skipper Schneider, and the speedy shortstop has swiped 14 bags. He's also walking at a 14.1% clip, nearly three times as high as his 4.9 K%, so even when the singles aren't falling he's able to produce runs. He's scored 35 times and should reach 90 for the fourth consecutive season, continuing to prove why he's one of the most valuable players in the game.

San Francisco hits a bunch too, as they've got plenty of weapons even if Jaramillo can't turn the bat around. His athletic double play partner Heinie Spitler (.349, 4, 30, 9) has an excellent 135 WRC+, former 1st Rounder John Kingsbury (.333, 8, 40, 3) has been on a tear ever since he hit just .214/.290/.375 (70 OPS+) in April, and the disciplined Ray Rogan (.313, 4, 27) has really taken a liking to first base. They probably expected production from that group as well as the veteran Edwin Hackberry (.273, 8, 36, 10), but they have to be pleasantly surprised with 6th ranked prospect Ernie Carter. Acquired from the Kings in 1959 from the Bill Guthrie (.231, 3) trade, Carter took the starting third basemen job from former 2nd pick Bob Gray (.236, 2, 7), and he should have a hammerlock on the hot corner for years to come. The 21-year-old is off to a .338/.361/.466 (111 OPS+) start, logging 10 doubles, 3 homers, and 30 RBIs. A hamstring strain cost him some time in May, but he's hit .383/.397/.600 (153 OPS+) to start the month.

Cleveland may have a large lead right now, but this young San Francisco team has a ton of talent and is still very much in it. The only issue is what they have to deal with this week, as they'll start the week by hosting the team their tied with, the Cannons (34-24), for a three game set. Then after an off day, they'll be in Chicago for three with the Cougars (33-25), who are right on their tail. These are huge games for the red-hot Sailors, and they'll be a true test of if they can return to contention.

*** Pioneers Extend Cushion with Series win over Miners ***

Pittsburgh was on fire, wining eight of nine to get back within five games, but they ran into a tough Pioneer squad on their home turf. The Miners actually got the better of them early, as 23-year-old rookie Clay Buddemeyer (2-3, 4.07, 24) picked up his first win of his career. It's hard to top shutting out a lineup with Bob Bell (.372, 13, 32), Jerry Smith (.325, 12, 43, 6), and rookie sensation Danny Davis (.366, 8, 52). Most pitchers would crumble, but the 23-year-old allowed just 4 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5 to start the series right with a 5-0 victory.

Unfortunately, their luck ended there, as the Miners dropped two tight games 5-4 and 4-3. They did finish the week off with a series win against the Gothams, matching the Pioneers' wins, so the Miners remain seven out as we approach the draft. For a team that wasn't expected to do much this season, just being above .500 would feel nice, but new manager Harry Barrell isn't satisfied with little wins. Instead, he can look at the blossoming Mike Whisman, who's hit .333/.410/.574 (145 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 5 triples, 6 homers, 36 RBIs, 26 runs, and 23 walks. Or the 23-year-old Pat Simon, who is 5-3 with a 3.28 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts, getting comfortable in the ace spot. And even leadoff hitter Chuck Draper (.299, 10, 29, 3), who's having a huge power surge in his second full season as a starter.

The youth movement is off to a great start, with big seasons from Dixie Turner (.298, 5, 32, 4), Gale Schmitt (.352, 4, 16, 2), John Moreland (.286, 5, 25), and Ted Mickiewicz (6-2, 1, 4.10, 50). Pittsburgh might not have the firepower of St. Louis yet, but the foundation is in place, and a few untimed injuries could allow the up-and-comers a chance to make some noise. Losing Jimmy Blair (2-1, 2.57, 29) was a major setback, but this young team has shown tremendous grit, and should not be taken lightly. They have a big test to start the week, three games hosting the Chiefs they're tied with, while the Pioneers get the two expansion teams that should offer little resistance. Fed teams will be pulling hard for their new frenemies, but there's a chance this title race could be settled before July.

Veteran Toronto Wolves outfielder Tom Reed, who is second in the Continental Association batting race with a .365 average on the season, reached a milestone last week as the 31-year-old notched his 200th career homerun.
Montreal Saints reserve infielder Cecil LaBonte, who once upon a time was a three-time all-star second baseman for the New York Gothams, collected his 750th career rbi recently.
While all expansion teams expect growing pains, I am not sure anyone imagined the New York Imperials being this bad. The Imps have won just 11 games - every other team in either association has at least double that including the Imperials three expansion cousins- and their .190 winning percentage has them on a pace for a 29-125 season. No professional baseball team has ever lost more than 112 contests in a single year and the worst FABL has witnessed is the 1935 Detroit Dynamos, who bumbled their way through a 43-111 (.279) campaign.
The Imperials have won just once in their last 17 games and are dead last in the CA in nearly every measurable category.
Detroit's Cecil Gregg became just the 13th player to collect six hits in a single game since the end of World War II. The 22-year-old outfielder, who is hitting .332 on the season, hit safely in each of his six at bats in the Dynamos 10-9 victory over Boston at Thompson Field on Saturday. Gregg's big outing included two extra-base hits, both doubles, and six rbi's while he also scored twice. It was a tough weekend in the Motor City for the Minutemen, who lost each contest in the three game series by a single run.
Expect a shake-up in the OSA top 100 prospect list next week as the newly drafted players make their debuts. FABL clubs are all anxiously awaiting news on where their first rounders, including the Los Angeles Suns number one overall selection in high school pitcher Joe Conner, will end up. Meanwhile five of the current top seven on the OSA list are in the big leagues now and will drop off the list in the near future. Included in those five are the current top three led by Pittsburgh's 20-year-old infielder Dixie Turner (.298,5,32). A pair of Federal Association centerfielders in Boston's Frank Kirouac (.267,11,28) and Danny Davis (.366,8,52) of the first place St Louis Pioneers are second and third on the scouting service list of top prospects.

NAHC CLUBS PREPARE FOR ROOKIE DRAFT

The North American Hockey Confederation's annual rookie draft is fast approaching with the New York Shamrocks holding the top selection for the second consecutive season.

A year ago the Shamrocks led off the three round draft by calling the name of Halifax Mariners defenseman Harry Jernigan. Jernigan, one of the few American born players in the Canadian Amateur loop, may challenge for a role on the New York blueline this season but he spent all of last year with the Mariners, helping the Halifax outfit to the best record in the East Division and within one game of a playoff title.

No one from last year's draft class played in the NAHC a year ago but when talking about 18 and 19 year old players that is standard fare. The 1960 draft class was rare in that both Mark Moggy and Hobie Barrell made the jump immediately to the NAHC but the typical path includes an extra year or two of junior before draftees are considered sufficiently prepared for NAHC employment.

The top of this year's draft class is filled with uncertainty, lacking a clear choice for the Shamrocks to select. A year ago most thought that Ron MacKinnon, a gifted teen from Kelowna, BC, might distance himself from the pack but the 18-year-old ran into plenty of trouble with the Hull Hawks, scoring just twice in 39 games and being a healthy scratch more often than not. MacKinnon may have the most potential of any player eligible for the draft but the intangibles may worry the Shamrocks.

Other possible candidates to go first overall include Bruce Callahan, a winger who had 15 goals for Brantford; Kingston left winger Gilbert Desrosiers who averaged more than a point a game for the Cadets, Kitchener Roosters winger Milt Young and Graham Bob, a center for the Verdun Argonauts who led all draft eligible players with 30 goals and 72 points in 57 games last season.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

It was a quiet week in boxing on this side of the Atlantic but overseas the big news was Scottish pugilist William Findley, who had been making some noise in the United Kingdom with a perfect 24-0 start to his middleweight career, tasted defeat for the first time. The 21-year-old Glasgow native was knocked out by veteran Englishman Ben Mossman in a bout last Tuesday.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 34-7.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 6/17/1962

US Secretary of Defense McNamara spelled out American nuclear strategy in the event a major war came to Europe. McNamara said there would be no city bombing unless driven to it by Soviet action. He also questioned a statement from French President deGaulle, who planned for France to go it alone with her own nuclear weapons and strategy. McNamara worried of the dangers that might create, specifically the possibility that its very weakness might invite a preventative attack on a nation like France by Russia.
Good news from France but many are afraid to believe it as word comes out that an agreement between the Algerian Moslem nationalists and Europeans of Algeria has been reached. The terrorist Secret Army Organization has ordered an end to the slaughter and destruction that has shaken Algeria for many months.
The US Labor Secretary has assumed role of chief mediator in a move he hopes will avert a strike against Trans World Airlines by flight engineers scheduled for tomorrow. The engineers had threatened to strike Eastern and Pan Am airlines as well but removed them from their target list after a no-strike plea from President Kennedy.
The story of the Garden of Eden has been cut from a new "scientific" version of the book of Genesis. The author, a member of the Church of England, says "the whole idea of Adam and Eve won't fit in with evolution."

Jiggs McGee · 12-31-2024, 02:35 PM

JUNE 25, 1962
MINERS, SAINTS GET TOP DRAFT GRADES FROM OSA

The 1962 draft was especially kind to the Pittsburgh Miners and Montreal Saints if the OSA prospect rankings are any indication. Those two FABL clubs were the only teams to place two of their draft picks on the scouting service list of the top fifty prospects as the first post-draft rankings were made public.

The Miners first rounder, high school pitcher Jack Kotarski, heads the newcomers with his standing as the number seven prospect. The fifth overall selection in the draft will turn 18 later this week. Pittsburgh's second rounder, two-time Christian Trophy winner Dick Vitt, a first baseman/outfielder from Brunswick College, slotted in at #14 on the pipeline, giving the Miners both the highest first rounder on the list as well as the top ranked second rounder.

Only the Montreal Saints, with a pair of high school pitchers in Ellis Porter and Joe Downing, joined the Miners in having both their first and second rounder crack the OSA top fifty prospects. Porter, the 8th overall selection, lands at #18 on the scouting service list while second rounder Downing slides in at #38.

Only one other newly drafted player joined Kotarski in cracking the top ten. That would be Toronto's Bill Carpenter, who was the hero for California Catholic's College World Championship Series victory two weeks ago. The 6th overall pick is 9th overall and third amongst pitchers behind Kotarski and 1958 draft pick Owen Lantz of the Washington Eagles organization.

All but two of the twenty first round selections debuted inside the OSA top 100 prospects with the two exceptions being the selections that bookended the round. First overall pick Joe Conner, a high school pitcher selected by the expansion Los Angeles Suns, debuted at 129th on the scouting service list while the final choice of the opening round, Cleveland's new third base prospect Babe Thornton, ended up just missing the century list at 101st.

Five of the twenty second round selections cracked the top 100 led by Pittsburgh's Vitt. Only one second round choice - St Louis Pioneer Elias Lugo- failed to crack the OSA top 500. The highest ranking third round prospect according to the OSA is Andy Bailey, an Arizona born outfielder selected 42nd overall by the New York Imperials. The 18-year-old is the only third round selection to crack the scouting service's top 100 prospects.

OSA lists do need to be taken with a large grain of salt as all players, especially newly drafted ones, can experience wild swings as they chart a path that hopefully ends in the big leagues but at least for this moment in time here is a list of all players selected in the opening three rounds of the 1962 draft and where they stand on the prospect pipeline as they embark upon professional careers.

Buddy Miller of the Philadelphia Keystones collected his 2,000th career hit last week. The 32-year-old outfielder owns 3 Whitney Awards and is an 8-time all-star selection.
Forgive me for starting to wonder if the New York Imperials will ever win another game. The Imps are 1-21 in June and have lost their last 15 games.
From the Boston Globe "2 pitchers (Kotarski #7 and Carpenter #9) rank highest (according to Boston's scout) in the new pipeline. John Edwards ranks as the highest position player at #15 but Dick Vitt who was taken in round 2 by the Miners appears to be the early steal of the draft.
Word out of Los Angeles is the Stars are happy with their draft and in particular first rounder Lew Smith. The young shortstop debuted at 50th on the OSA scouting pipeline after being selected 16th in last week's FABL draft.
The Toronto Mail & Empire's Brett Bing tells us the Wolves have decided to send all their draft picks to Class C Tuscaloosa to start their professional careers including first rounder and top ten OSA prospect Bill Carpenter. With records of Vancouver, 24-34 in the COW, Davenport 21-46 in the Heartland the FABL club expects rapid movement throughout the system after the rookies get their feet wet. July will be an active month in the Toronto's system. Toronto has eight prospects in the top 100 with now former college pitcher Bill Carpenter at 9 leading the pack. Toronto's system now ranks sixth in the FABL. Wolves have told Carpenter not to bother looking for an apartment in Alabama as a promotion is expected to come quick.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

French heavyweight hopeful Jean-Marc Durand improved to 37-3 with a 9th round knockout of Brit Ross Hamilton in a bout in Paris on Saturday. The 26-year-old is said to be negotiating a title shot with Harry Pratt, assuming Pratt successfully defends his crown in New Orleans next month.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 34-7.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 6/24/1962

Citing the first amendment, the Supreme Court struck down New York's 22-word prayer in public schools as an unconstitutional breach of the law of separation between church and state. The court held that neither the fact the prayer was "denominationally neutral" nor the fact that student participation was voluntary could save it from the First Amendment's ban on the establishment of religion.
Government officials labored to attempt to find a solution to the Eastern Airlines strike and to head off another threatening Pan Am. The Labor Department says more meetings are slated between the airlines and the Flight Engineers Association after Eastern flights were grounded Saturday by the strike.
Today is the 12th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. It was marked quietly in Seoul but South Korean and United Nations authorities reaffirmed their determination to block any repetition of the Communist invasion of 1950.
The British government is fully ready to cooperate with America's new no-city nuclear-war strategy. American sources suggest, despite rumours otherwise, France will also accept the United States effort to deter city destruction during a future nuclear war.
Hit by five consecutive losing sessions, the stock market dropped to its lowest level in nearly four years.
Former President Eisenhower, sounding like the campaigner of 1952, has attacked the "mess in Washington" under the Kennedy administration and urged his fellow Republicans to "work like never before" to regain control of the House in November. The general added that his successor in the White House "is floundering" in his efforts to manage to economy.

Jiggs McGee · 01-01-2025, 08:41 AM

JULY 2, 1962

BELL, WILLIAMS TOP PLAYERS FOR JUNE

As we enter the month of July and close in on the annual all-star game and traditional midpoint of the season, let's pause and take a moment to recognize the players making noise on the diamond over the previous thirty days.

The St. Louis Pioneers lead the Federal Association by a full seven games, and as much as their pitching deserves credit, so does reigning Whitney winner Bob Bell. Bell celebrated his 24th birthday throughout the month of June, batting .359/.455/.689 (188 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 10 homers, 24 runs, 25 RBIs, and 19 walks. Despite missing three weeks in May, Bell's 20 homers trail just the Keystones Lloyd Coulter (.279, 21, 66). His .361 average is two points above teammate Danny Davis (.359, 8, 55), and they rank second and third to another Keystone, Buddy Miller (.376, 12, 44).

If he can stay healthy, Bell will get serious consideration for a second Whitney, as his .451 OBP and .723 slugging lead the Fed, as does his 198 WRC+. St. Louis opens the month seven games ahead of the Dynamos, and star level production from their star fueled an 18-10 month.

Bell wasn't alone in 10 homer months, as Kansas City King Hank Williams matched that, slashing an astronomical .455/.544/.869 (255 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 23 walks, 27 RBIs, 30 runs, and 23 walks. The best hitter in baseball this season, the big slugger is seeking his third Whitney award, producing an elite .373/.461/.741 (202 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 24 homers, and 61 RBIs. He's walked (45) more then he's struck out (31), and his 68 runs scored are most in the association. His biggest hurdle to the award is Dallas Berry (.357, 25, 75, 10), as the Cannons superstar has a similar .357/.476/.773 (211 OPS+) and one more homer. His 75 RBIs, 52 walks, and 10 steals are also higher, as Dallas is a true five tool player in the midst of what could be his best season yet.

Kansas City took two-thirds of the monthly awards, as ace Beau McClellan (11-2, 3.57, 96) took home Pitcher of the Month. The 4-Time All-Star won all six of his starts, allowing just 44 hits, 15 runs, and 11 walks in 51.2 innings pitched. That equated to a 2.61 ERA (173 ERA+), 2.79 FIP (61 FIP-), and 1.06 WHIP, striking out 43 in an almost perfect month. He pitched back-to-back 6-hit shutouts against the Foresters and Wolves, allowing two or fewer runs in four of his six starts. Six back of the Foresters, the Kings are one of three teams tied for second, and they'll be looking to ride more outings like this to build on their 18-10 June.

*** Arellano, Lantz Keep Runs off Board in Fed ***

With the way his season started, a Pitcher of the Month award for Jorge Arellano would have seemed almost laughable, but the Keystones new ace was looking like himself again in June. After allowing 64 hits and 41 runs in 47.2 innings pitched in his first 9 starts, Arellano righted the ship, finishing June 5-1 with a 2.74 ERA (163 ERA+), 1.11 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts. This six start stretch were the reason the Keystones were able to reach .500 for the month, as not much has gone right for the defending champs. Their pitching has gone from one of the best to one of the worst as, like Arellano, Tom Robinson (4-4, 6.28, 56) and Joe Kienle (4-4, 5.01, 26) have seen their ERAs skyrocket. Already 16 games out, a title defense seems bleak, but with such a talented lineup they could go on a serious run and mash their way back into it.

Owen Lantz, the now graduated top pitching prospect in baseball, showed everyone exactly why he held that distinction after the young Washington Eagles hurler took home the Rookie of the Month in the Fed. A member of the bullpen on Opening Day, Lantz threw 12.2 scoreless innings out of the pen, but what came next is somehow more impressive. In five starts he was 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA (265 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts, showcasing his devastating cutter/curve combo. But as a rookie it's not always polished, as he did walk 23 batters, and on the season he has just one fewer walk (27) then strikeout (28). His stuff is good enough where he can get away with that, and as a groundballer he can erase base runners with a well-timed double play. The 21-year-old is set to host the Miners to kick off the week, and he'll look to start a new homerless streak after allowing just one in his first 49 innings.
*** Early Batting Crown Leader Named Best June Rookie in Continental ***

Hank Williams and Cincinnati's Dallas Berry may take all the Whitney coverage in the Continental Association, but Montreal Saints rookie Ham Flanders may remain the favorite to take home this year's batting title. One of the few bright spots in what has been another trying season in Montreal, Flanders was named the best rookie for the second straight month, hitting an impressive .404/.475/.573 (192 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 19 runs, and 28 RBIs. Often the reason for Saints wins, Flanders strong June showing upped his FABL best batting average to .381, as he's hit .381/446/.615 (170 OPS+) in 307 trips to the plate. The clear favorite for the Kellogg Award, he's compiled 15 doubles, 9 triples, 10 homers, 49 runs, and 57 RBIs, drawing four more walks (34) then he has strikeouts (30). A potential building block at the Stade Memorial, he's helped the Saints surpass the Dallas Wranglers for 8th, as all of the '61 participants now are ahead of the new expansion teams. Montreal went 16-12 in June and beat the second place Cougars 9-2 in Montreal to start July, and their lineup has shown they can score on any staff.

Looks like this column might have fired up the New York Imperials. After lambasting the hapless expansion team for a 15 game losing streak and a 1-21 start to the month of June the Imperials won four out of five games -a first for the new franchise and won back-to-back series for the first time. The 5-2 week including taking two of three games from each of the two Canadian teams in the Continental Association and bumps the Imperials season mark to 16-55. They are still 31 games behind the CA leading Cleveland Foresters and have 11 less victories than any of their three expansion brothers, but they posted the first winning week in club history.
A trio of milestones were reached over the past seven days with the most notable being Ray Rogan of the San Francisco Sailors collecting his 1,500th career hit. The 32-year-old first baseman, who was Federal Association rookie of the year in 1953 when he broke in with the Boston Minutemen, is enjoying possibly the finest start to the season he has seen in his 10-year long career. Rogan is hitting at a .329 clip but despite his fine start may be hard pressed to make the all-star team for the third time in his career as he has plenty of competition for the first base spot on the CA squad.
Meanwhile Cincinnati Cannons reliever Paul Williams became just the 26th pitcher in FABL history to earn 100 career saves. "U-Boat" earned two more last week raising the 33-year-old's total on the season to 15, one shy of Cleveland's Johnny Ogden for the FABL lead. Williams has ties to the Foresters organization as it was Cleveland that originally drafted him back in the 4th round in 1947 but before he made his big league debut Williams was sent to Cincinnati as part of a package that brought the legendary Deuce Barrell north from Cincinnati to the Foresters. While he has certainly been overshadowed by what the ageless wonder Barrell has accomplished since the trade, Williams has developed into a pretty solid reliever and is a six-time all-star selection.
The third notable milestone of the week saw Detroit Dynamos catcher Lew Mercer swatted his 100th career homerun - a feat only accomplished by 19 other catchers in FABL history.
Plenty of optimism about the Kings according to a recent column by Percy Pringle in The Kansas City Times. Pringle pens the Kings go 6-1 while calling up two very young starting pitchers into the rotation last week in 21-year-old Gene Bailey and 20-year-old Allie Boone. Pringle adds that veteran third baseman Ken Newman continues to have issues with his elbow, which is confining the 33-year-old to first base. "The elbow issues don’t seem to be causing his bat any issues though," notes Pringle who goes on to say it is "nice to see Hank Williams who I was excited to see come up in the early 50’s have another strong start to the season and be named the top CA hitter for the month. Beau McClellan also won the CA pitcher of the month award.
We are 6 games behind Cleveland but have essentially the same run differential +74/75. Means they are likely over achieving and we might be slightly under. Hope that balances out so they can give the Foresters a run for the CA title."
This is a key week for the Detroit Dynamos. The club went 9-2 over its last 11 games but picked up just a single game on Federal Association leading St Louis during that run. The Pioneers lead on Detroit is seven with the two clubs slated to finish out this week with three games at Pioneer Field. We are still three weeks shy of the All-Star break but it seems clear the Dynamos will need to win at least two of three from their hosts this weekend if Detroit wants to entertain any plans of making it a pennant race in the Fed this year.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Brandon Dart, 24-year-old Welshman who has spent time fighting on both sides of the Atlantic, continued his rise up the ladder with a 6th round TKO of Rohan MacCelvey in a bout staged in Dublin, Ireland last week. Dart is now 15-1 and counts a half dozen victories along the United States east coast in his totals but says he plans to spend the next year or two facing the best he can find in Europe before making a return to North America. Some have compared the young southpaw favourably with Jimmy 'Kid' Simpson, the Englishman who ruled over the welterweight division for most of the 1930s.
Roger Lewis, a young welterweight out San Francisco who shows some promise, ran his record to 6-0 with a quick knock out of Franklin Cunningham in a bout that lasted less than two minutes.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 34-7.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 7/01/1962

President Kennedy spent much of the week in Mexico and joined that country's President Adolfo opez Mateos in issuing a sharp warning against Communist meddling in the Western Hemisphere.
Chinese Communists are moving the center of their military might from the north to Central and South China, from where they could drive either against Formosa or Southeast Asia, cautioned top military leaders.
China has charged the situation in Southeast Asia has become worse because the United States sent troops to Thailand and stepped up "armed intervention" in South Viet Nam and the Formosa Strait.
More trouble in Algeria as thousands of Moslems celebrated their newly won independence, armed supporters of anti-French leftist Ahmed Ben Bella were reported massing for a military coup.
Former President Eisenhower and his one-time running mate Richard Nixon pleaded with Republicans to forget their differences as 150 party leaders met to try to "broaden the base" of GOP support in the coming campaign.
Most of Saskatchewan's 700 private doctors went on strike after the Socialist provincial government launched the first big compulsory medical insurance plan in North America. Charging the plan opens the doors to government control over their profession, doctors took off on vacation or left the province to practice elsewhere in Canada.

Jiggs McGee · 01-03-2025, 12:53 AM

JULY 9, 1962

KINGS, DYNAMOS THREATEN EARLY LEADERS

Just when things were looking wrapped up, the Detroit Dynamos and Kansas City Kings put some pressure on the association leaders. Detroit did some of the damage themselves, as taking two-of-three from the Pioneers in St. Louis brought them within six games, and the Keystones 11-0 thrashing of shoe-in All-Star Billy Hasson (L, 4.2 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 4 ER, BB, 6 K) cut the Pioneer lead to five. Detroit started out their home series with the New York Gothams, and swept the expansion Minneapolis Millers to start the week. With two weeks to the break the Fed's top two teams won't meet again, but the Dynamos have won 10 of 11 and took down both Hasson and Mack (7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K).as they look to cut more games off their deficit.

If the Dynamos can catch St. Louis, it will be thanks to Roy Waggoner, who's throwing his hat into the Whitney race. Last year's Kellogg winner his hitting .359/.439/.638 (173 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 17 homers, and 57 RBIs. The former #1 prospect has scored 64 runs and drawn more walks (41) then strike outs (29). The clear leader of the lineup, he's lacking his Jerry Smith (.322, 16, 61, 6), but the supporting cast of Bill Morrison (.298, 6, 26, 5), Dick Tucker (.326, 6, 47), and Joe Read (.287, 15, 56, 5) has produced plenty of runs. Cecil Gregg could be the eventual co-star, has the recently 23-year-old hit .302/.380/.527 (145 OPS+) with 25 homers and 97 RBIs last season. In year three he's hitting .314 with 22 doubles, 8 homers, 65 RBIs, and 41 walks, and his 137 WRC+ matches his career average. He ranks 2nd in the Fed in RBIs, often continuing a rally. Rookie center fielder Ed McNaughton (.288, 5, 30, 16) has looked the part, but what's most impressive is the 16 steals in 18 attempts. No other Fed player has stolen more then ten bases, and the rookie is on track to be the first Dynamo since Del Johnson (1951, 32) to steal more then 30 bases in a season.

With a strong rotation, they are always in every game, and at 47-30 (.610) they're still playing over .600 ball. It's not their fault St. Louis has been as amazing as they have, and perhaps Detroit takes a piece out of the Sailors playbook and take Larry Beebe (3-5, 6.19, 34) out of the rotation. The front four of John Jackson (7-7, 4.47, 60), Paul Anderson (10-2, 2.53, 69), Jim Norris (11-3, 4.23, 61), and Howie French (8-4, 3.75, 66) has impressed, and even if they don't go to a four man spot they'll use off days to their advantage. There's always the chance of an acquisition on the trade market, or even a call up of the 59th ranked prospect Jim Schoolfield. He allowed three homers in his first AAA start, going 6 innings with 7 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. The 21-year-old may need a few more starts to return to his AA form (6-5, 3.24, 46), and with his fastball/curve mix he can overpower hitters when it matters most.

*** Boone Shutout Bring Kings Within Four ***

Entering the series a game apart, the Kansas City Kings got a big outing from rookie Allie Boone in yesterday's opener of a three game set in Chicago against the Cougars. Boone came over to Kansas City in a trade for Joe Potts (7-3, 5, 3.48, 27) this offseason. 21 on July 3rd, Boone was the best pitcher in the Great Western League, going 10-1 with a 1.66 ERA (235 ERA+), 1.04 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts. He's kept up that dominance in his midseason callup, allowing 3 runs in a no decision against the Toronto Wolves before picking up a complete game win in a 9-2 win over the lowly New York Imperials. He saved his best work for the Cougars, spinning a 2-hit shutout with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts as the Kings shutout their hosts 2-0 to begin a tough three game set.

One of the many teams fighting for second in the Continental Association, Kansas City pushed another contender a game back, and is now within four of the coming back to earth Cleveland Foresters. The Kings aggressive rotation promotions have paid off, as both Boone (2-0, 1.88, 13) and #46 prospect Gene Bailey (1-1, 2.62, 17) have impressed so far. The front office public faith has paid off, as the Hank Williams (.371, 25, 69) led lineup has will have to score a few less runs. KC has an Allen candidate in Beau McClellan (11-3, 3.53, 106), and if the young bucks can keep up they'll have five quality starters who can pitch well enough to win with the top scoring offense.

*** Dellinger Power Four Game Win Streak ***

Things have not gone according to plan for the defending champion Philadelphia Keystones, but former Whitney and Kellogg winner Harry Dellinger is doing what he can to help get his team back in to contention. Dellinger's recorded a hit in ten straight games, including a 5-for-6 effort against the Millers where he homered and drove in three. Leading the Keystones to four straight victories, he was named Player of the Week, rewarding his 13-for-29 performance. He scored 8 runs, hitting 3 homers with a double, triple, and 5 RBIs.

Dellinger missed six weeks earlier in the season, limited to just 36 games in what would be his third full season. The former 2nd Overall pick has hit .376/.395/.600 (155 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 9 homers, and 8 steals, effecting the game in all areas. Philly's flashy superstar continues to turn heads with his performance, but like it has been so often for Buddy Miller (.383, 14, 49) it may not matter. Philly is 15 games out of first, something they did quite often in the 1950s. From Miller's first full season in 1953 to 1959, the closest they finish to first was 14 games out, as they couldn't keep runs off the board. They've scored the second most runs per game, but they aren't getting the necessary starts from their top guys. Jorge Arellano (7-5, 4.96, 78) is doing his best to right the ship, now winning his fifth consecutive start, but the hole they've dug is a steep one.

*** Don Griffin Returns to Rotation ***

I didn't want to jinx it, but now that Don Griffin (6-4, 6, 2.75, 56) has made seven starts, I think it's time to say the experiment in the pen is over. After going 21-6 with a 2.01 ERA (213 ERA+), 2.27 FIP (53 FIP-), and 0.92 WHIP in a Fed high 33 starts, Griffin was named the 1960 Allen winner. Those were all Fed bests, as he led in WAR (9.0), strikeouts (186) and K/BB (6.2) as the Minutemen completed their back-to-back championship run.

That's when they made the bold decision to move their young star to the bullpen. He pitched well, 6-7 with a 3.07 ERA (137 ERA+), 1.14 WHIP, and 74 strikeouts, but he threw just 111.1 innings as the team dropped to 69-85. He did pick up 25 saves, but the team finished 28 out in their threepeat attempt. Now behind all seven of their competitors in 1961, the struggling Minutemen have look to change their luck by moving the 5-Time All-Star to the rotation. After making 18 appearances out of the pen, Doc has started seven consecutive games, going 3-2 with a 3.30 ERA (137 ERA+), 2.59 FIP (57 FIP-), and 1.19 WHIP. He's struck out 39 with just 11 walks, picking up five quality starts a top the rotation. Of the nine guys to make a start this season, he's been the best, and good things should continue if longtime Dynamo bench coach Bill Freeman hands the ball to Griffin every five games.

1963 LOOKS TO BE BANNER DRAFT FOR HURLERS

FABL general managers have long been known for their great affinity with selecting pitchers in the annual league rookie draft but it may just pay off big time this January. The draft, moved to June this year to accommodate the addition of four expansion teams, returns to its familiar home in the winter for 1963 and according to the early reports from OSA -the league scouting service- this may just be a banner draft for pitchers.

A lot can change between now and the New Year but at this point there are dozens of pitchers on the OSA shortlist that the scouting service feels has the potential to be elite big league hurlers one day. They range in age from Vancouver,WA. high schooler Bill Aldrich, who will not turn 16 until Halloween, to seasoned college stars like Bill Dunlop of Carolina Poly or Gil Hamilton of Ruston Tech.

In all the preliminary reports from the OSA suggest that an even dozen pitchers right now get a grade that would consider them a potential top of the rotation arm should they reach their peak. Projection and reality can often be much different things so the scouting service is certainly not suggesting their are 12 sure-fire mound aces coming out of the 1963 draft class but rather that a dozen of them possess the tools right now and given the right breaks and opportunities have the potential to get there.

One such player that has caught the eye of the scouting service is Gil Hamilton. The 20-year-old transferred to Ruston Tech from a junior college and proceeded to put up very strong numbers as a sophomore this past season, going 9-2 with a 2.14 era for the Ramblers. Scouts rave about the Alabama native's control in "painting the black with ease" and suggest he has the potential to be an ace. However, naysayers may point to the fact he only possesses three pitches and may raise questions about his ability to go deep into ballgames.

Here at TWIFS, we are partial to Bill Dunlop but freely admit that he, like any potential draft pick, still has some question marks. The Cary, NC native has a snazzy nickname in "The Tobacco Twister" and four pitches with plenty of movement. The concern is the 20-year-old did not pitch high school ball and has yet to make his debut with the Carolina Poly Cardinals so scouts will be deciding whether or not to use a first round pick on him before Dunlop has pitched in a college or high school ballgame.

If you want to look at a high school arm, and high school pitchers come with even more uncertainty than college arms, perhaps you should stop your search at Jerry Robbins. A natural leader who will turn 17 next week, Robbins went 9-2 with a 1.15 era for Admiral King High School in Lorain, OH., and has OSA scouts gushing. "Robins' talent is immense, future Allen Award winner" reads the official scouting report on the Detroit born righthander and perhaps indicates he will be on the short-list of candidates for the first overall selection come January.

*** Could January Draft See More Pitchers Selected Than 1933? ***

When all is said and done, come January we may be looking at the 1963 draft and comparing it to one conducted exactly thirty years prior. The 1933 draft is considered the gold standard for the mania over pitchers as no less than twelve of the sixteen first rounders were used on arms that year. There are four more teams now so with twenty picks and the OSA so high on such a large number of arms, we may see even more than a dozen selected this time around.

The 1933 draft clearly yielded mixed results with all of those pitchers. Toronto got it right with the top pick as the Wolves selected 1962 Hall of Fame inductee and 294 game winner Joe Hancock number one. The Chicago Chiefs did not miss the mark with pick four, landing Al Miller (327-256) who should be a lock for Boone County in a couple of years when he is eligible. But there were some big whiffs as well. Who remembers Earle Robinson (12-19 career record), Nate Spear (18-23) or Tommy Trott (6-6)? Well, all three were part of the dirty dozen hurlers selected in round one that year. The payoff can be huge if you land the right pitcher - a Hancock or a Miller- but the challenge is perhaps as much dependent upon luck as it is solid scouting because injuries can certainly play a role and likely did in derailing the careers of the three busts mentioned above.

There seems to be much uncertainty in predicting the future for pitchers as opposed to position players but that does not seem to deter FABL General Manager's from trying to land a golden nugget. There appears to be a deep vein of golden potential in the 1963 draft, but sifting out the true nuggets from the flashes in the pan is the challenge. Regardless, we at TWIFS would not be surprised to see a dozen or more pitchers selected in the opening round of the 1963 draft.

The big milestone this week belong to veteran Kansas City Kings infielder Al Farmer, who reached the 2,000 hit plateau. The 36-year-old spent the bulk of his career with the Sailors, joining them when they were still based in Philadelphia in 1948. He was dealt to the Cincinnati Cannons midway through the 1956 campaign before being moved to the Kings for Bryan Jeffress in spring training this year.
The Kings also had a pitching milestone as long-time Kansas City starter Beau McClellan recorded his 1,500th career strikeout. The 30-year-old southpaw has spent his entire big league career with the Kings and is only 16 k's shy of the infamous Ferdinand Hawkins' franchise record of 1,516.
It took 9 years of minor league ball and getting released by 8 franchises including the Boston Minutemen twice but Russ Swift finally made his big league debut last week. A 7th round selection in the 1953 draft, you certainly have to admire the 26-year-old lefthander's perseverance. He has been in the Gothams system the past three and a half years, primarily in Toledo including a 1961 season that saw him win a career best 15 games for the AAA Tornados. Swift was called up for the first time on July 2 and made his debut six days later, tossing two and a third innings of relief while allowing 1 run on 3 hits to close out a 6-1 Gothams loss to the Dynamos in Detroit.
Harry Dellinger of the Philadelphia Keystones had 5 hits in a game against Minneapolis as part of a big week that saw the 23-year-old outfielder go 13-for-29 (.448) and claim Federal Association player of the week honours. The winner in the CA was Cleveland catcher Hal Kennedy.
It was a wild week for the St Louis Pioneers, beginning with a 17-3 thumping of the Chicago Chiefs but ending with a blowout 11-0 loss in Philadelphia. The Pioneers pitching had a rough weekend, surrendering 28 runs in a three game stretch where they lost twice to Detroit before taking a shellacking in Philly.
How long before we see Bill Carpenter in Toronto? The College World Championship Series hero, selected 6th by the Wolves in last month's draft, pitched a whale of a game in his second start at Class A Davenport. Carpenter went 8 and a third innings, allowing just 2 hits and walking 3 in a 1-0 victory over the Cedar Rapdids Chiefs.
The Wolves have struggled off late, going 14-21 since June 1 after a strong start to the season. Injuries on the mound have paid a toll, but there is good news as Phil Colantuono (15-10 a year ago) is close to returning from a spring training arm injury.

STATESMEN MAKE SURPRISE CHOICE AT TOP OF FBL DRAFT

Perhaps the scouting staff of the Washington Statesmen knows something more than OSA as the Statesmen created a ripple throughout the Federal Basketball League with the news that they had selected Ralph Peck first overall in the annual draft of college talent. Peck, a guard from CC Los Angeles, was penciled in for 7th on the final OSA pre-draft rankings and was third amongst guards according to the league scouting service.

The Dolphins failed to qualify for the AIAA tournament a year after reaching the national semi-finals, but despite their on court struggles this season, CCLA had a pair of players selected in the FBL draft. Peck, a Los Angeles native who was a three year starter for the Dolphins, scored in double figures each of his final two seasons of collegiate ball and was second in the West Coast Athletic Association in assists last season. His teammate, forward Art Owens, would also be drafted in the first round as the East Division champion Boston Centurions called his name with the second pick. Owens was ranked third by the scouting service.

The top ranked prospect according to the OSA had a long wait before he received a call as Carolina Poly forward Jack Salyer was not selected until the Detroit Mustangs nabbed him with the fifth pick. The 6'9" native of Austin, IN., was the first big man selected, following a run of four guards. In his senior season was among the top scorers in the nation with a 15.1 points per game showing while also adding close to seven rebounds an outing. He started each of his final two seasons for the Cardinals and played a small role on a National Championship winning team as a freshman.

After Peck was called with the top pick, the run on guards continued with the Chicago Panthers calling the name of Maryland State's Mark Robinson. A Maryland native, the 6'1" guard started three years for the Bengals and won an AIAA title as a sophomore. OSA had him second behind fellow South Atlantic Conference star Salyer on its final list.

The St Louis Rockets also made what some might consider a reach with their top pick, calling the name of Liberty College graduate Tony Tarantino with the third selection. The Philadelphia native started all four seasons for the Bells and helped them reach the AIAA tournament each of the past two years. A smooth shooter, Tarantino averaged 12.5 ppg for his college career but was ranked the 10th best prospect according to the OSA. His 16.5 points per game as a senior was the 9th highest total in the nation.

Selecting fourth, the New York Knights grabbed Alabama Baptist guard Mike Borseth, who was ranked 12th on the scouting service list. Borseth, an Alabama native, was a freshman All-American and started all four seasons with the Panthers.

After Detroit broke up the string of guards by selecting Sayler fifth, the Philadelphia Phantoms followed the draft trend by drafting another backcourt player. The would be Joe Hollenbeck out of Pittsburgh State. The North Olmstead, OH., product averaged 13.0 ppg his senior season and started all four years for the Finches. OSA had Hollenbeck ranked 8th on its scouting list.

Boston picked CCLA's Art Owens with the 7th selection before the league champion Toronto Falcons rounded out the first round with the selection of Whitney College forward Marty Russell. Fourth on the OSA draft list, the 6'8" native of Pittsburgh, PA., spent most of his time at center for the Engineers but will likely slot in as a forward in Toronto. A second team All-American this past season, Russell started all four years and helped Whitney College reach the AIAA tournament each of those seasons. As a senior Russell scored nearly 11 points per game and collected 7.9 rebounds per contest.

The most notable pick of the second round belonged to St Louis as the Rockets nabbed Al Denning, a forward out of Noble Jones College who averaged nearly 17 points a game this season. OSA had Denning ranked 5th but the native on Conyers, GA., lasted until the 11th selection. His Colonels teammate Dave Larson went two picks later to Detroit allowing Noble Jones College to join CC Los Angeles as the only schools to have two players drafted this year. Redwood guard Jim Paul was also drafted in the second round, going to the Philadelphia Phantoms. Paul was the only first team All-American selected.

BANNER RECRUITING CLASS FOR BENGALS

The Maryland State Bengals have high hopes of winning another national cage title in the next few years thanks to a recruiting drive that saw the South Atlantic Conference power land each of the top two recruits in the nation. Jack Bicknell, a center from Philadelphia's Frankford High School, is considered the best high school senior from last season and he will be taking his talents to Baltimore to play for the Bengals. Joining him will be Hickory High School forward John Brantner, who was ranked second in the nation. The Hickory, NC, native spurned offers from Carolina Poly and Detroit City College to join Bicknell in Bengals orange and black next season.

The Bengals, winners of the AIAA tournament three years ago, finished second to Charleston Tech in the SAC last season and will return three starters for next years squad. Gone are leading scorer Pepper Whitney, who averaged well over 15 points a game, along with guard Mark Robinson, who was selected second overall by the Chicago Panthers in last week's FBL draft, but there is still talent waiting to join the two freshman. Included in the returnees are soon to be senior forward Charlie Giannini, who averaged more than 10 points per game a year ago, along with guard Archie Monday, also entering his senior season and ranked by OSA as a potential first round Federal Basketball League selection next year.

Detroit City College was the only other school to land a pair of top twenty recruits. The Knights convinced guard Bill DuMont, a Detroit native, to stay in his hometown while also landed Newton, NJ, center Les Hoeft. DuMont is rated the 10th best recruit while Hoeft slots it at 17. Here are the top twenty high school seniors and where they will end up in September. Only one, Marietta, GA., forward Stuffy Griner, did not sign with a school.

PRATT SET FOR FIRST TITLE DEFENSE

World Heavyweight champion Harry Pratt is set to step in the ring in New Orleans Saturday evening for what will be his first attempt to defend the crown after knocking out former champ Bert Parks in March. The 27-year-old Houston, Tx., native will be hoping for much better luck that Parks, who lost to Pratt in what was his first defense. Stepping in to the ring to face the current champ will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old who hails from San Francisco and has a less than impressive 34-7 mark as a professional.

It will be the first title shot for Phillips, who has won each of his last seven outings including an impressive knockout victory over former title holder Dave Courtney. The last loss for Phillips came against another former champ as George Galleshaw, who held the title for nearly two years before succumbing to Parks, scored a unanimous decision over Phillips shortly before his title shot.

Many boxing experts feel it is just a matter of time before Galleshaw regains the title as the Syracuse pugilist continues to be consider the class of a heavyweight group that has struggled to find a dominant champion since Joey Tierney gave up the crown seven years ago. Galleshaw will likely face the winner but the former champ did himself no favours when he followed up the title loss to Parks last December with a lackluster showing just over a month later in a majority draw with little known Bob Botts.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Former welterweight champion Eugene Ellis knocked out Michael McDowell in the 8th round of their 10 rounder at Washington DC's Columbia Stadium last week. The 31-year-old Seattle native held the welterweight crown from 1956 until losing for the second time to Lonnie Griffin, as part of the four famous fights the two long-time champs staged. Ellis was disqualified in his last outing, back in March, and after this win which improves his career mark to 45-6-1, he has hopes of getting another shot at the title. Ellis also spoke afterwards of a desire to meet Griffin for a fifth time.

It was McDowell's second shot at Ellis as the two fought in 1959 when Ellis, champ at the time, successfully defended his welterweight crown with a 6th round TKO of the Medway, Ma. native McDowell. McDowell, who entered that bought with a record of 31-10, has gone 2-6-1 since then.
Heavyweight Joe Jones scored an unanimous decision over Russell Dunn in the main event in Philadelphia Friday night. Jones, a 29-year-old Buffalo, NY, native improves to 34-16-4 with the decision.
Earlier in the week Chris Herbert -the pride of Lacrosse, WI.- improved to 25-5-2 with a majority decision over Battling Billy Tucker in a middleweight bout in Rochester, NY. The bout was billed as a possible stepping stone towards consideration for a title shot against middleweight ruler Lyman King.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 34-7.
September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 7/08/1962

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Decker said today a news article describing US military operations in South Vietnam as confused and ineffective did not "reflect accurately the opinions of responsible army authorities in Washington or in the field." Earlier in the week the Associated Press ran a story from Fort Leavenworth based on interviews with officers who had returned after serving as advisors to South Vietnamese forces in battle against Communist Vietcong guerrillas. US Secretary of State Dean Rusk, in a television interview, also denied that the Vietnam war was going badly.
The US fired a secret low-power nuclear weapon a few foot above the Nevada desert on the weekend in the first resumption of aerial nuclear testing on its own soil since 1958. The Atomic Energy Commission and Defense Department issued a statement that the explosion was to test the effects of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, a planned high altitude test in the Pacific was postponed again, marking the fourth time it has been delayed. Weather was cited as the cause for the holdup.
A hydrogen bomb was also tested in Nevada last week - marking the first announced use of an H-bomb type devise.
Moroccan troops occupied areas of the Algerian Sahara in a new challenge to Nationalist Premier Youssef Ben Khedda's moderate regime. Fears arose that Tunisia also would try to make good its claim to parts of the oil-rich desert.
Doctors in Saskatchewan continue to strike in protest against the provincial government's compulsory health insurance.
President Kennedy is leaving the door open to the possibility of a general Federal tax cut this year although he hopes to hold it off until 1963.
The President has also invited to Japan to invest in building factories in the United States with a goal to expand industrialization specifically on the West Coast.

Tiger Fan · 01-05-2025, 08:32 AM

JULY 16, 1962

IN A FIGHT TO THE END, STRONG 15th GIVES HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TO PHILLIPS

New Orleans Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, La. – Harry Pratt (29-4-0, 14 KO) vs. Walt Phillips (34-7-0, 15 KO) – When Harry Pratt raised his hands in triumph in his last fight, it was the first time his hands held the heavyweight title belt. The new champion is once removed from the top heavyweight in the last few years, George Galleshaw, who lost to the man Pratt defeated in March, Bert Parks.

Pratt had an impressive ending in the bout against Parks, where Pratt hammered Parks with five Big Boppers in the sixth and final round. But we have not seen Pratt in a longer fight, so tonight’s challenger, journeyman fighter Walt Phillips, was looking to test the theory that Pratt could not go the distance.

Phillips is two years younger than Pratt, but the 25-year-old from San Francisco had an additional eight fights on his ledger. He has the scars to show the different types of fights on his way up the ladder and tonight was his first title shot. Phillips lost to Galleshaw on the latter’s rise up the rankings in a unanimous decision that went the full 12 rounds. Even with Phillips forcing the judges’ hands, Pratt was favored to win this bout.

The first round was a feeling-out session where neither boxer took any chances. Pratt connected on the first big punch of the night in the second round with an uppercut about a minute into the round that rocked Phillips. Pratt continues to take it to Phillips with another uppercut that sent the challenger reeling. The dominance Pratt displayed in the round got him off to a good start with the judges and the crowd, some of whom traveled from nearby Houston to cheer on their hometown champion.

The third round saw Phillips come out of his corner as if he was sitting on a spring, connecting shortly after the start of the round with a hard hook to Pratt’s head that earned a smile from Pratt, as if to acknowledge the successful punch. Phillips scored again with a solid uppercut, but Pratt countered effectively, working the body before a short hook and a violent cross capped his foray. There was good back-and-forth in this round and the crowd stood in applause of both fighters.

Pratt was offering anything and everything but connected on a relative few punches he threw. He could not take advantage of a noticeably defensive Phillips. The challenger knew that Pratt was going to start quick and give him a lot to handle. However, Phillips stuck with his trainer’s game plan of fighting defensively and trying to allow Pratt to punch himself out in the early rounds, expending a lot of energy and giving Phillips a window where he could start to hammer away.

In the sixth round, Phillips had his turn to dominate. He opened with a left hook to the body that left Pratt jelly-legged, later adding an uppercut that almost floored the champion. There was more in the eighth round, when Phillips also started with a left and changed hands to fit in a brutal uppercut. In both of these rounds, Pratt tried to rebut with some punishment of his own, but he could not find the mark. Over and over again, Phillips side-stepped or minimized the damage from Pratt’s punches.

Pratt was cut above his left eyebrow in the ninth round, but it was the result of an intentional head butt, not a punch. It was not a foul egregious enough to disqualify Phillips, as the cut was relatively minor, but referee Randy Neumann signaled to the judges that the cut was not caused by a punch and should not count against Pratt in their scoring of the round.

Phillips built up a lead in the middle rounds, both on the judges’ scorecards and the haymakers that were connecting. Phillips had the decided edge in Big Boppers, owning 10 of the 11 major scoring punches between the sixth and twelfth rounds.
Both fighters were still standing and not looking too much the worse for wear. While Phillips cut Pratt with a head butt earlier in the fight, Pratt caused Phillips’s eye to slightly swell from repeated punches, but there was no one punch that seemed to do a lot of damage to Phillips. For two heavyweight fighters to make it this far into the bout with some visible battle scars, that is a rarity.

The thirteenth round started, and Pratt realized he had a lot of work to do, as Phillips had this bout under control. Pratt opened well with a hook to Phillips’s jaw, followed by an uppercut while he was trying to regain his senses. A miss by Pratt on a wayward hook gave Phillips an opening to connect on an uppercut of his own, along with a right hand that caught Pratt flush. Pratt kept missing and Phillips protected himself, looking for windows to operate.

Pratt has one of his better rounds in Round 14 and largely closed the gap on the scoring, as he was coming to the line better than the Phillips camp expected. Pratt switched hands and scored a left that almost knocked Phillips down. Unlike most of the rest of the fight, Pratt was able to double up and connect. Later in the round, Pratt’s hook kept Phillips at bay for the rest of the round, protecting the lead instead of extending it, but in the process, Pratt had a shot to win the match with a great final round.

Phillips had gone the distance before, but title fights go a few more rounds and neither fighter had ever approached a fifteenth round. Phillips showed up and Pratt did not. With the fight hanging in the balance, Phillips did not disappoint. The exhaustion was evident, but Pratt went back to missing his target. Thirty seconds remained in the fight when Phillips connected on a wild right hand that landed right on the button and Pratt dropped to a knee.

The knockdown was brief. Pratt stood up on the count of three, but he was not in good shape. Phillips tried to seize the moment, and the southpaw drilled Pratt in the head with a right hand. There was not enough time in the fight for Phillips to go for another knockdown and the final bell sounded.

Both pugilists embraced in the middle of the squared circle. Two of the three judges would have given Pratt the decision if he scored a 10-8 round in Round 15. Instead, all three judges gave Phillips a 10-8 edge and the decision was unanimous, giving Phillips the Heavyweight Championship.

It was a good fight, but Phillips (35-7-0) and his trainer’s tactic of waiting Pratt out, while good in theory, almost backfired. Pratt (29-5-0) lasted longer than expected and had a couple of solid rounds late that caused the last round to matter. However, if Pratt is looking for reasons why he could not defend his title, look no further than his abominable 9.1% connection rate on his punches. Phillips landed almost twice as many punches over the entire bout while throwing about a third as many punches. The energy Pratt expended in missing came back to haunt him in the end.

Fights are oftentimes decided by a few moments, sometimes just one moment. It is that moment, at the point a fight could go one way or the other, when that moment matters most. Phillips seized that moment while Pratt let it pass him by.

BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS
Round 1: None
Round 2: Pratt, 3-0 (1:01 uppercut, 1:54 uppercut, 2:15 hook)
Round 3: Phillips, 2-1 (Pr: 1:59 cross; Ph: 0:52 uppercut, 2:55 combo)
Round 4: Tied, 1-1 (Pr: 0:37 right; Ph: 2:06 cross/face)
Round 5: Pratt, 1-0 (1:27 right/body)
Round 6: Phillips, 2-0 (0:31: left hook/body, 1:47 uppercut)
Round 7: Phillips, 2-1 (Pr: 0:54 jab; Ph: 1:30 hook, 2:00 right/head)
Round 8: Phillips, 2-0 (1:08 left/midsection, 1:47 uppercut)
Round 9: None
Round 10: Phillips, 1-0 (1:53 uppercut/mouth)
Round 11: Phillips, 1-0 (1:16 jab)
Round 12: Phillips, 2-0 (1:09 uppercut, 1:33 uppercut)
Round 13: Phillips, 3-2 (Pr: 0:15 hook/jaw, 0:41 uppercut/head; Ph: 1:04 uppercut, 1:20 right/chin, 1:40 cross/midsection)
Round 14: Pratt, 3-1 (Pr: 0:15 right/head, 1:02 left, 1:44 hook/head; Ph: 0:45 right)
Round 15: Phillips, 2-0 (2:30 right/knockdown #1, 2:47 right/head)
TOTAL: Phillips 19, Pratt 12

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Dayton, OH., heavyweight Jim Hatfield continued his rise up the ranks with a 7th round TKO win over former champ Bert Parks on the west coast last week. Parks surprised George Galleshaw eight months ago in Chicago to win the title but was promptly KO'd by current champ Harry Pratt in his first defense in March. This was the 26-year-old's return to the ring but he was clearly outclassed by the 23-year-old Dayton pugilist. With the victory Hatfield (26-6) may be back on track for a title shot. Hatfield seemed well on his way until aging former champ Joey Tierney outpointed him a year and a half ago in what was Tierney's final pro bout and followed that up with a loss to Bill Mosley - who was coming off a failed title shot of his own. Back to back wins heightened by the very impressive showing over Parks last week seems to have Hatfield back on a title course.
In a battle of veteran welterweights Steve Richardson (35-13-3) outpointed Dan Brown (29-20-6) at Bigsby Garden last Thursday evening.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens.

FORESTER LEAD CUT TO TWO, BATTLE FOR CA LEAD SETUP MIDWEEK

As long as the Kansas City Kings avoid a sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Stars with a victory today, they will have a chance to take first place from the Foresters in Cleveland when they meet for a three game series beginning Wednesday. The Foresters have scuffled, losing six of their last eight as their hold on the Continental has dropped to a mere two games. They themselves will be looking to avoid a sweep today as well, as they put up pitiful offensive efforts at Dominion Stadium, dropping games 3-1 and 1-0. Cleveland will look to FABL's oldest player Rufus Barrell (10-5, 3.38, 60) to stop their skid, which on paper is a huge advantage over journey man Lee Loeffler (6-5,4.55, 63). It's unlikely a lineup with Sherry Doyal (.327, 14, 57, 4), Tom Carr (.260, 3, 37, 16), John Low (.286, 8, 49), Hal Kennedy (.347, 16, 52), Pail Williams (.302, 14, 56), and Earl Howe (.250, 14, 53, 3) will be quiet for long.

Cleveland's pitching staff will have their hands full with the Kings lineup, as despite losing their past two games 9-5 and 4-3, Kansas City is a team that's often scoring 7 or more runs. They did that for four consecutive games, and outscored their opponents 56-37 for the week. I gave Pat Davis a shoutout last week, and the 24-year-old responded with a Player of the Week, going 17-for-29 with a homer and 10 runs scored. The next homer he hits will be his 10th, and Davis enters the batting title race with his .371/.403/.547 (141 OPS+) batting line. Glenn Carney moved him to the leadoff spot, as Davis leads Charlie Rogers (.287, 9, 41, 5), Hank Williams (.372, 26, 76), Al Farmer (.300, 14, 49, 5), and Ken Newman (.338, 14, 60, 8). That's one of the most dangerous groups in the league, and with their ace Beau McClellan (11-3, 3.80, 113) ready in the finale, they have a chance to build momentum before their midweek series in Cleveland.

*** Kings Upgrade Staff, Acquire Halbur for Three Prospects ***

Looking to take advantage of a prime Hank Williams season, the Kings upgraded their rotation from outside the organization, acquiring longtime Dynamo Jack Halbur from the Chicago Chiefs. A former 2nd Round pick and two time All-Star, Halbur debuted for the Dynamos in 1952, and in 1955 he was 17-3 with a Fed low 2.77 ERA (164 ERA+). That was when he first started to pitch out of the rotation, starting 19 of his 41 appearances, and he would go on to start for four more seasons in Detroit. In total, Halbur slung 1,368.1 innings, going 90-56 with a 3.43 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP, and 660 strikeouts.

After coming up short in in 1959, Detroit sent him to the Chiefs for Cecil Gregg (.315, 9, 70) and a young pitcher, and ever since Halbur has provided the Chiefs with a steady arm in the middle of their rotation. 1962 was his third season in the Windy City, and the 33-year-old vet was an unlucky 5-9 despite his 3.96 ERA (114 ERA+) through 17 starts. He won't be available for their big series in Cleveland, but the groundballer does a good job keeping the ball out of the center of the plate and limits hard contact. A stable, veteran presence, it's a nice boost to an evolving rotation, as the Kings have found success bringing up young arms Gene Bailey (2-1, 3.09, 25) and Allie Boone (3-0, 2.45, 20). The rookie duo will have a huge test against the Foresters, and having a battled tested champion like Halbur can only help the Kings now and in the future.

*** Bell's Big Week Fuels Four Game Win Streak ***

Where Cleveland has seen it's lead fall, St. Louis' has seen theirs grow, as superstar Bob Bell was hitting everything in his sight. The second basemen was 12-for-23 with a double, 5 homers, 9 runs, and 15 RBIs, winning his second Player of the Week. Both came after he was Batter of the Month in June, and his 28 home runs match Dallas Berry (.351, 28, 81, 11) for the most in FABL. and his .381/.473/.780 (214 OPS+) batting line will get him a unanimous selection as the Fed's All-Star for second base. He has seven games left to add to his first half stats, as even with an injury Bell has a chance to become the first Pioneer since Max Morris (5 times, most recently 50 in 1929) to hit 50 or more home runs in a season. St. Louis should be among the leaders in All-Stars, with Frenchy Mack (12-3, 2.06, 150), Billy Hasson (14-3, 2.45, 115), and Jerry Smith (.325, 18, 67, 7) as shoe-ins for selection. A number's game may keep guys like Steve Madden (9-4, 2.93, 78) and Danny Davis (.347, 9, 57) out, but this is a squad that deserves plenty of recognition.

One player not going to the all-star game will be center fielder Bill Bather, as he strained his hamstring and will miss the next 2-3 months. Acquired from the Gothams in the Rex Pilcher (.204, 7, 20) blockbuster, Bather has been a mainstay in the Pioneer lineup, proving to be a tremendous pickup from their rebuild. 1962 was on track to be his fifth above average offensive season in as many tries, hitting .285/.378/.463 (113 OPS+) with 13 homers, 33 RBIs, 44 runs, 70 runs, and 6 steals. A skilled defender as well, his 15.7 zone rating and 1.173 efficiency is best in the Fed, and he would have been the obvious selection for the Diamond Defense award in center. He won that in '60, an All-Star selection last year, and this season could be the one where he gets his first title. There's no obvious solution in the minors, but they can shift Davis to his natural center field, making it easier to acquire a big corner bat from outside the organization.

Trade Deadline Comes Early This July

The trade market was silent until the Saints and Stars agreed to a four player trade with stopper Hank Myer (4-6, 12, 3.62, 34) and a prospect going to the Saints for a pair of minor leaguers.

Then the Kings and Chiefs made the blockbuster centered around Jack Halbur (5-9, 3.96, 52) and 61st ranked prospect Joe Siniscalchi, and the rest of the dominos started falling.

It wasn't the only subtraction from the Chiefs rotation, as they went on to move number three starter Dick Champ. Selected to four straight All-Star games from 1957 to 1960, he won't be getting a fifth this year, but the recently 31-year-old has provided the Chiefs with 17 effective starts this season. 5-4, Champ owns a 4.20 ERA (107 ERA+) and 4.23 FIP (94 FIP-) with 43 walks and 65 strikeouts. His command is a strength of his, as even as a flyballer in cozy Whitney Park he allowed just 10 homers in 109.1 innings this season. That will be critical if he wants to have success with Chicago's Continental squad, which will be the third team in his nine year career, originally debuting with the Pittsburgh Miners in 1954. They took him in the 2nd Round 1949 draft, and he even won 21 games with a 3.37 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, and 196 strikeouts in 1957.

That proved to be his last season in a Miner uniform, as they sent him and catching prospect to the Chiefs for a prospect and their current first basemen Frank Selander (.292, 8, 38, 4). It seemed to work out well for both teams, as Champ provided the Chiefs with four and half years of starts, going 65-34 with a 3.78 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 336 walks, and 336 strikeouts. Never missing a start, he threw 963 innings, putting him within 100 (9633) of 1,500 FABL innings. He'll return the Cougars 5th and 10th ranked prospects Bob Starr and Ricardo Castillo.

Castillo is no stranger to the Chiefs organization, as they took him in the 2nd Round of the 1960 draft. That offseason he was used in the package to bring in the now released Frank Reese. Castillo has consistently ranked among the top 100 prospects, with his ability to play six positions and athleticism among reason why. He's hit .299/.402/.443 (123 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 6 homers, 10 steals, and 31 RBIs for the Class A Rockford Wildcats, functioning as their everyday shortstop. His new organization may take advantage of his versatility, as with his speed, eye, and contact tool he can be a regular pretty much everywhere but first. Third and left may be his eventual best fits, but has 20 he has plenty of time to improve his defensive ability.

Bob Starr was the headliner, ranked 59th and recently promoted to AA. He already has 5 homers in his first 12 games, including a 3-homer bonanza (4-5, 5 RBI, BB) in a 9-8 loss to the Knoxville Knights. Power's not even his best tool, as he's an elite defender with one of the best eye's at the plate you'll see. Before his promotion he was walking in 25.7 % of his plate appearances, and even with all the homers he still has 8 walks in 56 PAs. As exciting as that sounds for Chiefs fans, the Cougars have Jerry McMillian (.326, 13, 45, 15) their as the center fielder of the current and future. On top of that, three of the prospects ranked ahead of Starr are outfielders, and right field is covered by All-Star Henry Watson (.300, 15, 71), who hit .412/.459/.745 with 9 homers and 36 RBIs in June. It may not have been enough to secure a second selection this year, but with plenty of options in the outfield, the need to improve the rotation was larger. The Cougar rotation is more good then great, and Champ may end up the new guy up top, giving less starts to Hank Walker (4-7, 5.13, 68) and Bob Allen (6-5, 5.44, 60) at the back.

*** Dynamos Not Giving Up, Filled Top Need with 1961 All-Star ***

Third base has been a position of weakness for the Dynamos this season, but just as they acquired current third basemen Tommy Griffin (.231, 2, 17) way back in 1946, they picked up an infielder from the Stars. Back then, they were still in New York, and this time they get someone who's already made starts at the highest level.

Turning 27 on the deadline day, Virgil Ewing was taken 15th in the 1953 draft, and has ascended from top prospect to 1961 All-Star. In parts of three seasons with the Stars he's hit .320/.381/.499 (130 OPS+) with 32 homers, 180 RBIs, 92 walks, and 125 runs. His breakout came last season, where the All-Star hit .329/.387/.518 (138 OPS+) with 35 doubles, 21 homers, and 112 RBIs. Like Griffin, he provides positive defense, but there's a bat and power to come with it. With Ewing replacing Griffin, there's only one real weak spot in the Dynamo lineup, and they're one of the few teams that come close to matching up with the Pioneers.

Detroit is also taking a chance on 28-year-old Bud Henderson (2-4, 7.17, 22), who has really struggled in his return from elbow surgery. Another four time All-Star, he's now also been traded three times in three years. First going from the Sailors to the Minutemen for a trio of prospects, he was most recently acquired last July, as the Stars acquired him and a prospect for the now graduated #2 prospect Frank Kirouac (.269, 12, 39, 5). Detroit is hoping his post-trade form is better then his nightmare in LA, where he saw a bad start, the major injury, and a poor recovery.

Going to the Stars is a pair of top-100 pitchers in Jim Schoolfield (57th) and Birdie Smith (83rd). Schoolfield could pitch in the Stars rotation this year, as the 21-year-old righty has great stuff and was highly effective in AA (6-5, 3.24, 46). Detroit just promoted him to AAA Newark, and it will be interesting to see where his new organization puts him. Originally a 5th Rounder of the Gothams, Schoolfield came to the Dynamos system in a minor offseason trade, and has quickly ascended into one of the top pitching prospects in FABL. "Teach" can blow his high 90s fastball by the best of hitters, and his curve is a real strikeout pitch. His cutter and sinker play off the fastball well, as he throws a lot of fast pitches to get early strikeouts. His weakness now is the control, he's already allowed 3 homers in 13 AAA innings, and patient hitters can wait him out. If the Stars are content punting for '62, he could be best served working on his command in AAA before fighting for a rotation spot next year.

Birdie is one for the future, as the 19-year-old was taken 9th last season, and may miss the rest of the season with a hamstring strain. Hurt earlier this month, he made 14 starts for Class B Chattanooga, 7-5 with a 4.05 ERA (116 ERA+) and 79 strikeouts in just shy of 100 (97.2) innings. A five pitch pitcher, Birdie excels at keeping the ball on the ground, and the towering 6'4'' righty can pitch well over 100 pitches when called upon. A bulky sort of fellow, he profiles as a sturdy back of the rotation arm as long as this hamstring thing is a fluke and not a common occurrence.

*** Imperials Announce No One is Off Limits, Sends Dorch to Kings for Pitcher ***

Ever since the expansion draft finished, the New York Imperials have been open for business, and after reconfirming that fact recently, they quickly sent infielder Joe Dorch to the Kansas City Kings.

Dorch, 32, was a career bench player, playing most of seven seasons with the Chicago Cougars. To give you an idea of how little he played, his 195 at bats in 1962 is a career high, so the expansion draft brought an interesting opportunity for him. Given a chance to start, he was one of the few competitive Imperial hitters this season, batting .308/.376/.426 (105 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 3 homers, and 22 RBIs. His 115 WRC+ would be a best in seasons with more then 25 PAs, and he wasn't the worst option for a third basemen. This made him appealing on a 19-65 roster, and he'll get a meaningful role on the top ranked offense. With Ken Newman's (.338, 14, 60, 8) sprained elbow moving him from third to first, they've gone to John Wells (.214, 2, 16), who will now compete with Dorch for time at the hot corner.

New York receives a talented young pitcher, something they lack as a new franchise. Frankie Sawyer (2-3, 6.92, 20) didn't have the best debut for the Kings this season, but the 23-year-old was excellent in AAA last season, 11-6 with a 3.07 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.15 WHIP, and 123 strikeouts. His 7 starts (3-1, 2.72, 34) after demotion were equally impressive, as his five pitch mix is too tough for GWL hitters, but not quite enough for FABL ones. Kansas City has a wealth of talented young arms, so parting with Sawyer is a win for both teams. Still a prospect, he's 158th overall, good enough for fourth in the Imperials system. Already one of their more interesting arms, he could go straight to the Big Apple, but he's not done developing and should be a useful back-end starter. Something really only Milt Lane (3-5, 4.17, 33) has provided for them in a very tough inaugural season.

FIRST SALVO FIRED AS TRADE DEADLINE NEARS

The Los Angeles Stars and Montreal Saints hooked up on the first big trade two weeks prior to the July 31 dealing deadline. It was a move that looks to address needs for both clubs and saw them exchange a pair of top thirty prospects while also moving a young reliever north of the border with hopes he can plug a leaky Montreal bullpen. The four player deal sends 23-year-old pitcher Hank Myer and prized AA arm John Mullins from Los Angeles to Montreal with highly touted catching prospect Bob Griffin and minor league pitcher Paddy Williamson going the other way.

The only current big leaguer involved in the transaction is Myer, a talented young lefthander who has saved 30 games for the Stars since the start of the 1961 season and will be counted on to help shore up a shaky Montreal pen. We say just one current major leaguer but it is expected that Griffin will be calling pitches in Los Angeles before the week is out.

A 20-year-old who was selected 14th overall in the 1959 draft, Griffin was mastering AAA this season with a .327 batting average in 62 games despite having just 15 games as high as class A under his belt prior to this season. He is ranked the second best catching prospect in the league at the moment but was expendable because the Saints also own the best catching prospect in 19-year-old Henry Woods. Veteran Los Angeles catcher Joe Cook is not an offensive threat and the Stars are likely looking for Griffin to step into the big league lineup as soon as possible in an effort to upgrade what has been the weak link in the Los Angeles lineup in recent years.

The Saints have to be thrilled to not only add 23-year-old Myer to help their bullpen but also to acquire a second young lefthander in John Mullins. The 18-year-old Mullins was the Stars first round pick, 7th overall in last year's draft and was recently promoted to the Class AA level. OSA feels he has the potential to be a top of the rotation starter but his command is still coming around. Presently he holds down the 30th spot on the OSA prospect pipeline.

Rounding out the pieces in the move is Williamson, a 21-year-old 1958 third rounder who was 2-5 with a 4.78 era for Montreal's Class A affiliate Evansville. The verdict is still out on Williamson with OSA debating whether he has the ceiling of a back-end rotation piece or may peak as a spot starter/back of the bullpen filler.

Tales From The Den

A Look At The Wolves As The Mid-Summer Classic Approaches -As the All-Star game approaches on July 25th the Mail & Empire looks at Toronto's FABL franchise. The Wolves passed the half point of their 154 game schedule last week now sit at 41-43 through 84 games in seventh place in the Continental Association trailing the leaders from Cleveland by 11 games. While a losing record is nothing new to a diehard Wolves rooters being this close to .500 in July is. by this time in the schedule over the last decade the team is usually far below the breakeven point and mired in last place. The team has generated some talk around the city as they are one of youngest teams in the league with lots of promising young players just a step away from the big leagues in the AAA team in Buffalo.

Under new bench boss Randy Hohlt the team has been inconsistent, which might be expected from a young team. Over the last six weeks Toronto has a weekly record of 1-5, 3-4, 4-2, 1-6, 3-3, 5-2 granted some is due to the weekly opposition although this team has not yet fallen into the extended losing streak that has become far too common over the last number of years.

Surprisingly the team has handled the Foresters from Cleveland well in '62 sporting a 8-3 record against the defending champs in the first half. Wolves also has a winning record against the Los Angeles Stars, Montreal Saints and the expansion New York Imperials only to be tempered by a combined record of 6-21 when the opposition is from San Francisco, Kansas City or Chicago. With a lineup dominated by hitters who enter the batter's box on the right field side of the plate the team has struggled against southpaws at 9-13.

Preseason it was thought that the team would go as far as the starting pitching could carry them but injuries to Phil Colantuono, George Hoxworth and Jim Jackson derailed that plan starting in the spring. Fans will not see either Hoxworth or Jackson until next season due to arm injuries. Word from the training staff is that Colantuono is progressing well from a forearm injury suffered at the end of Spring Training, he could be sent out on rehab assignment as early as next week with a return to Toronto in mid to late August.

The staff started the season very slowly causing a great deal of angst for the staff. That turned around in May as led by Arnie Smith, 22, who is returning after missing the last half of the '61 with a shoulder injury, Toronto's pitching has vastly improved since the end April to one the CA's top staffs even if plagued by the long ball. The bullpen, long a sore spot, has become formidable with the addition of Zeke Blake in a trade from San Francisco.

Manger Hohlt credits the improvement to not only the pitchers but also due to much tighter play in the field which was one of his stated goals in camp. The future of the rotation looks bright with Smith and Bill Medley, who is also 22, at the forefront with a trio honing their skills in Buffalo. Jimmy Blair, 22, Danny Horne, 21, and George Adams, 23, are all said to be almost ready for the big time. Many fans are clamoring for these three to be brought to Toronto. The front office has resisted, so far, the calls though rumours are rampant that George Adams will soon be crossing Lake Ontario. First pick in June's draft Bill Carpenter is showing promise in Davenport. The Wolves seem to be good shape on the mound, barring injuries, for the immediate future.

At the plate the team was the surprise of the Continental Association in the early going with Tom Reed hitting over .400 with power well into May. Reed has since cooled off, and with that the offensive production has fallen to expectations, residing in the bottom third in most categories. Ty Rusconi has been a pleasant surprise at the plate. The 24 year old catcher started off like a house on fire before cooling off in June. His bat has reawakened in July as he works on improve his defense behind the plate with Pat Alexander. Overall biggest improvement in the lineup has been in the field. Led by the double play combination of Phil Story, 23, along with smooth fielding SS Jesse Taylor, 25, the team not been giving up extra runs due to poor play in the field.

In the system the Buffalo, Chattanooga teams are performing well, near the top their leagues while Davenport, Vancouver are struggling which was to be expected are the team said over the winter the system was going to revamped to push players toward Toronto. Aforementioned Carpenter is off to a hot start in A ball, Ed Savage is tearing the cover off the ball in Buffalo leaving many to question why he is not with the Wolves. The answer from the office is that he has not made significant progress in fielding in rightfield which is why he was a late cut in the spring from the FABL club.

Overall the Wolves are taking major steps forward, the key will be to progress not regress in the future. This might be another offseason of change in the Wolves roster going towards 1963. Most fringe players in Toronto have legitimate concern over their future.

NO ONE SAID IT WOULD BE THIS HARD

Yes, it's expansion. Yes, no one is doing you any favors or feeling sorry for you. But why are the Imperials many times worse than their expansion brethren?

It's difficult to watch, day after day. Loss after loss. It shows in the standings where the Imps are not only the only team not to reach 30 wins. They haven't reached 20. It shows at the gate where after the initial novelty wore off fans seem more reluctant to spend their hard earned dollars to see the worst collection of professional major leaguers since the 1880s and the Baltimore Bannermen. They are almost certain to set a Continental Association record for futility.

How did this happen? How did New York end up with a team with little talent, less hope and a long road ahead. Most of the better picks in this past draft are just out of high school and unlikely to help in NY for several years.

Manager Ed Ziehl has run out of reasons and explanations, and we've only just passed midseason. He perches one foot on the top step and glares out at the field with the look of someone wondering how he got himself into this mess. I asked him about the current situation.

"There's not much to be done. Anyone I send to the mound gives up five runs, we're bottom of the league in everything. Seems no one here can play this game. If we had answers over in Jersey they'd be here."

Not the words of a man who has a plan to right this ship. When you can go nearly a month without a win there are no easy solutions. The situation is grim.

Optimism abounds in Kansas City as even after a 4-3 week in Kings land the local nine managed to cut the Continental Association lead by Cleveland down to 2 games before this short week. Percy Pringle Jr. tells us the club might rest Ken Newman this week to get him healthy for the 2nd half of the season. Some in the Kansas City front office are beginning to think the club waited too long to promote young SP Allie Boone (3-0 2.45). But as he continued to dominate AAA management just couldn’t ignore it anymore and gave the 21-year-old his chance. Both Boone and fellow 21-year-old rookie Gene Bailey (2-1 3.09) have had strong starts to their big league careers.
Brett Bing of the Toronto Mail & Empire tells us the Wolves are the definition of inconsistency: a good week followed by a bad week, rinse, repeat. Overall they are moving forward which gives hope to long suffering patrons of Dominion Stadium.
Injuries took a toll on a pair of pennant hopefuls last week as both the Federal Association leading St Louis Pioneers and Continental contender San Francisco each suffered an injury to their lead-off man. The Pioneers will be without Bill Bather (.285,13,33) for at least two months after the centerfielder suffered a hamstring injury. Meanwhile. the Sailors lost shortstop Carlos Jaramillo (.296,4,27) for a minimum of a month with shoulder troubles. The absence of Jarmaillo's bat will be felt but a bigger loss will be not having his elite defense at shortstop.
The injury bug also bit Pittsburgh's sensational rookie second baseman Dixie Turner (.275,6,41), who will miss a couple of weeks with a sprained ankle.
Long-time St Louis Pioneers outfielder Larry Gregory has confirmed this will be his final season. The 39-year-old Gregory won a Whitney Award in 1951, made six all-star teams and was MVP of the 1947 WCS -the first of two titles he won with the Pioneers. He has played more games in a Pioneers uniform than any other player.

BUSY DAY AT METRO AIRPORT

There was plenty of movement in and out of Detroit today as a pair of local sports clubs made several transactions. The biggest news was word that the Detroit Dynamos had finally found what they hope was a solution for their long-time struggles at third base but the Motors hockey club also got in on the excitement with a deal to bring a veteran goaltender to the Motor City.

Let's focus on the Dynamos first as they mortgaged a good chunk of their future in a move to add a talented third baseman by the name of Virgil Ewing in a trade with the Los Angeles Stars. Ewing, who will turn 27 at the end of the month, was an all-star a year ago in his first full season of big league play and has shown no signs of slowing down in his sophomore campaign. He is batting .295 with 10 homers in 80 games with the Stars this season and will be counted on to be a big step up from veteran Tommy Griffin (.231,2,17). Detroit also brought in 28-year-old lefthander Bud Henderson in the deal. A 4-time all-star Henderson (2-4, 7.17) has had some struggles in his return from a serious elbow injury that cost him a good chunk of last season. The hope is that Henderson is fully recovered and can step into the void that has been the number five starter in the Dynamos rotation.

The price for the two was costly with Detroit parting with a pair of top 100 pitching prospects including Jim Schoolfield, who had recently been promoted to AAA and was expected to be called up to Detroit in the next couple of weeks. Instead Schoolfield and 19-year-old class B pitcher Birdie Smith are off to the Stars organization and Detroit's farm system, already lacking, has even less depth.

The move is gutsy one as the Dynamos are gambling they can catch St Louis after the Pioneers lost their lead-off man Bill Bather, to an injury for the next two months. Detroit is in second in the Fed but a full seven games back of the Pioneers, who are loaded both on the mound and at the plate.

Detroit Assistant General Manager Harris Dixon felt the timing was right for such a move and added that the Dynamos may yet make another deal in advance of the July 31 trade deadline. "Our philosophy of selecting young arms high in the draft made it less difficult to part with Schoolfield and Smith. Just knowing we have (1962 first rounder) Skipper Atkins and (second rounder) George Cline now in the system gave us the confidence to make the move. Ewing is the key to the trade as we feel he immediately gives us one of the best third baseman in the league and I would put our infield up against anyone else's."

Detroit has long had a habit of dealing young arms to Continental Association teams but those moves did pay off in the past - most notably a major deal with the Kings that brought Bob Arman, Dan Smith and Ralph Johnson to the Motor City and set up the long pennant run of the 1950s. The hope is this is a similar type acquisition and while the goal is catching St Louis this year, the trade should also well position the Dynamos for the next few seasons.

*** Motors Find a Goalie ***

It was beginning to look like the Detroit Motors may enter August without a single goaltender on their roster. The Motors are still negotiating with Sebastien Goulet, who played all 70 regular season and 11 playoff games a year ago to help the Motors win their second consecutive Challenge Cup, but so far have not agreed to a contract.

That prompted the team to turn to Toronto where the Dukes had 3 experienced goaltenders and worked out a deal to bring veteran Charlie Dell to the Motors. The 34-year-old was acquired in exchange for 36-year-old defenseman Devin Butler, who had been a fixture on the Detroit blueline for well over a decade. Dell had been in the Dukes organization since 1950 but played just 158 games with the club, spending most of his time as a backup first behind Gordie Broadway and more recently Justin MacPhee and Mike Connelly. He spent most of his time in Cleveland of the HAA last season, appearing in just three games for the regular season champions but Dell is expected to see a lot of work in the Detroit cage this year.

The two Detroit entries also took this past weekend to cut ties with some players that had made their mark in the Motor City with key contributions to title winning teams last decade. The Dynamos released Dick Estes, who's best days were very good but are now far behind him. The 38-year-old played 2,139 games in a Dynamos uniform, delivering 248 homeruns and being a part of four World Championship Series winning teams but after batting just .174 as a spare part a year ago he was cut loose to make room for newcomer Ewing. This season Estes had made just 63 plate appearances and was batting a paltry .185.

The Motors doubled up and parted ways with two players who were key contributors to a pair of Challenge Cup wins in the late fifties. Each also won a McLeod Trophy as the NAHC's top rookie. The pair were Vincent Arsenault and Lou Barber and each were released after spending most of the past season in the minors. Arsenault played 905 games, all with Detroit, scoring 171 goals and accumulating 389 points during his career while Barber made his debut in 1950 and suited up for 621 games with the Motors, scoring 174 goals and 491 points. Neither plans to retire but it is unlikely either catches on with another NAHC club.

BEES LOOKING TO PART WAYS WITH MARTIN

Joe Martin's days as part of the Boston Bees organization may be numbered. Rumours out of Boston suggest that the Bees, despite inking the 35-year-old Montreal native to a new contract last month, will either trade or release the veteran winger.

Martin spent all of last season and most of the previous year playing for the Bees minor league affiliate in Springfield but he has enjoyed a long NAHC career, suiting up for 802 regular season games along with 63 playoff contests. Martin was a member of a pair of Challenge Cup winning teams in Boston including the 1956-57 edition for which he scored a playoff career best 8 points in 13 games.

Originally selected second overall by the New York Shamrocks in the 1946 draft he made his NAHC debut that fall for New York. He would play six seasons with the Greenshirts before being dealt to the Bees in the summer of 1956 in exchange for a third round pick that year. He played a key role in Boston's success the tail end of the 1950's, acting as an assistant captain each of his four seasons in the yellow and black. Always a hard worker, Martin's legs have slowed due to age and injury and he has been limited to just 4 games with the Bees over the past two seasons.

It was a surprise that Boston even elected to offer Martin a new one-year contract, but it appears the Bees are now having second thoughts as there may not be room for him in the organization any longer.

NAHC NOTES: The Detroit Motors have plenty of offensive talent with the Barrell brothers and Alex Monette leading the way. There may be another big-time scorer joining the club in October as Earl Muirhead, selected 4th overall from the St. Thomas Pachyderms last summer, will be given every chance in camp to earn a job with the club as a 20-year-old. The Dartmouth, NS, native is listed as the top prospect in the NAHC according to the league scouting service and is coming off an injury riddled season in St Thomas that still saw him score 64 points including 29 goals despite dressing for just 35 games. Durability is the big concern the Motors have as Muirhead has missed more than half of the Pachyderms games the past two seasons with a broken finger two years ago and shoulder injury last season.

Most NAHC teams will have some decision to make over the next few weeks as five of the six clubs have more than the maximum allowed 37 players under contract. The lone exception is the Boston Bees who, even after resigning Joe Martin, still only have 37 players signed. The Chicago Packers have the most trimming to do before October as they have 41 players presently signed while New York and Toronto each have 40. Some of those cuts may take care of themselves as the retirement announcement date is just a week away.

*** Youth Leads the Way ***

The top two players in the NAHC will both be just 21 years of age when next season opens in October. The current OSA rankings show Detroit's Hobie Barrell, who turned 21 in April and led the Motors to back to back Challenge Cup wins, at the top spot with Montreal Valiants defenseman Mark Moggy, who celebrates his 21st birthday this week, a close second. Number three on the scouting service list is nearly double the age of Barrell and Moggy. That would be Toronto's Quinton Pollack, who shows no signs of slowing down despite the fact he will turn forty in August. Rounding out the top five on the latest OSA list are Detroit defenseman Anthony Beauchemin and Boston winger Jimmy Rucks. Beauchemin is 27, a year younger than Rucks.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 7/15/1962

Three air crashes in 24 hours in South Viet Nam's guerrilla-infested jungles left 26 dead, including four American servicemen. Five more Americans were missing in the air crashes, and another was killed Saturday in one of the bloodiest weekends in recent months.
The Senate Finance Committee approved a scaled-down version of President Kennedy's tax proposal calling for greater taxation of foreign income.
Congressional leaders expect one of the closest votes in recent years when the Senate faces a showdown tomorrow on the administration's social security type of medical care for the aged.
Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Valerian Zorin rejected in advance an American compromise designed to reach a nuclear test ban treaty soon. Zorin called the proposal which called for internationally staffed seismic detection stations inside Russia "No compromise at all in his view."
The Soviets rejected a US-British-France proposal that the four powers must meet in Berlin to ease tensions over shootings along the wall dividing the city.
British Prime Minister Macmillan announced the resignation of nine more ministers in the second phase of sweeping cabinet reconstruction by the ruling Conservative Party. On Friday, seven other ministers were ousted. The shakeup is bringing pressure from opposition leaders for an immediate national election.
A strong earthquake rocked Japan over the weekend with the epicenter being about 300 miles north of Tokyo. No report on casualties as of yet.

Jiggs McGee · 01-06-2025, 11:11 PM

JULY 23, 1962

PIONEERS, FORESTERS HEADLINE ALL-STARS WITH SIX SELECTIONS APIECE

As you'd expect, the teams leading the Federal Association and Continental Association had the most All-Stars, with both leaders receiving three pitchers and three hitters.

For St. Louis, it was the top three members of the rotation, as Frenchy Mack (13-3, 1.99, 157), Billy Hasson (15-3, 2.66, 118), and Steve Madden (9-5, 2.79, 86) will be on hand to pitch in the All-Star game. Mack is scheduled to pitch the Pioneers last game before the break, so he won't be pitching during the game, but Hasson and Madden should be available to throw a few innings. For Madden it will be his first time representing the Pioneers, while Mack was selected in 1959 and Hasson is selected for the fourth times in five years. All are warranted, as Dynamo All-Star Paul Anderson (6th, 10-2, 2.45, 76) is the only non-Pioneer in FABL's top four for ERA. This trio was an obvious inclusion, and this collection of aces is a big reason the Pioneers are in first.

Of course, you also have to give it to Bob Bell (.374, 29, 73), the unanimous second base starter and Whitney frontrunner, and Jerry Smith (.326, 19, 72, 7), who finished in a tie with Buddy Miller (.376, 16, 56) for the right field start. In both seasons Bell has made the Pioneer's Opening Day roster, he's been selected to start in the All-Star game, and Smith joins an inner-circle group of 10-Time All-Stars.

Rounding out the group of Pioneers is graduated top-10 prospect Danny Davis (.345, 9, 58), who faced an uphill battle for a roster selection. He managed to secure one of the six spots allocated for outfielders. It's not often rookies get picked, but he's one of four graduated top 100 prospects to be selected in the game. At 3rd Davis was the highest, but the Eagles talented young righty and top ranked pitching prospect Owen Lantz (8th, 7-2, 4, 2.02, 50) earned one for impressive work out of the pen and rotation, and former 1st Rounder Ed McNaughton (55th, .312, 8, 43, 21) enters the break as Fed steal leader as he's hit and fielded his way into the Dynamos starting center field role. The fourth was Chiefs southpaw Dutch Lane (7-4, 16, 3.02, 42), who's emerged as a weapon late in games. Young players have dominated the All-Star selections, with 23 of the 50 All-Stars yet to celebrate their 25th birthday.

Cleveland's three game lead isn't as secure as St. Louis' seven, but they definitely match their star power. 45-year-old phenom Rufus Barrell (12-5, 3.18, 65) will make his 12th trip to the game, his fourth time representing the Foresters. He'll be joined by staff ace Jake Pearson (12-4, 2.86, 91), while Johnny Ogden (4-4, 20, 2.40, 85) is being rewarded for his FABL leading 20 saves. The Foresters staff can't keep up with the Pioneers, but this trio is extremely lethal, and if they can survive the regular season, that group and 5-Time Allen winner Adrian Czerwinski (8-5, 4.61, 103) will cause plenty of problems.

The Cleveland lineup can compete with anyone, and they had more then three deserving candidates. Catcher Hal Kennedy (.352, 16, 53) should have been an unanimous selection, as his 173 WRC+ is good for fourth in the continental, and John Low (.289, 8, 50) and Sherry Doyal (.342, 16, 70, 5) will be available to their skipper off the bench. Paul Williams (.305, 14, 58) was more then worthy at first base, just stuck behind Ham Flanders (.388, 13, 69, 8), Gene Case (.323, 26, 69, 10), and Ralph Barrell (.299, 25, 75, 4) at the position. All three are below 25, as the youth infusion has taken over not only the Fed, but the Continental, as baseball seems to be getting better and better by the day.

ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS

ALL-STAR GAME RETURNS TO WINDY CITY

The 30th anniversary edition of the All-Star Game will be held in Chicago for the second year in a row. Last season it was Whitney Park, home of the Federal Association's Chicago Chiefs and site of the very first all-star back in 1933, that played host to an 8-5 victory for the Continental stars over their rivals from the Federal Association. This time around it will be at Cougars Park, which houses the Continental Association Chicago Cougars. It will mark the second game held at Cougars Park as it previously hosted the 1945 mid-summer classic, a contest won 8-4 by the visiting Federal Association stars thanks to a grand slam homerun off the bat of Boston's Chick Donnelly in the top of the 10th inning.

The Continental Association leads the series with 17 victories including six of the past seven, compared to 12 wins for the Federal Association.

FIRST-TIME ALL-STARS

Federal Association- (14) Pitchers Don Hillshire (MIN), Owen Lantz (WAS), Otto Caudill (WAS),Steve Madden (STL), Pat Simon (PIT) and Dutch Lane (CHI). Catchers Tom Brizzolara (NYG) and Al Padgett (CHI). Infielders Tom Lorang (WAS), Ray Waggoner (DET), Bill Bell (LAF)and Isaiah Redbird (NYG). Outfielders Danny Davis (STL) and Ed MacNaughton (DET).
Continental Association- (9) Pitchers Steve Miller (DAL), Charlie Warren (CIN), Zeke Blake (TOR) and Johnny Ogden (CLE). Infielders Ralph Barrell (LAS), Gene Case (CHC), Ham Flanders (MON) and Andy Gilman (MON). Outfielder Jack Woods (NYI)

IMPERIAL PROCLAMATIONS

Some positive news for the Imps this week. A big trade and the teams first All Star have been announced.

Joe Dorch was having a solid year for the Imperials. However, at 32, he certainly wasn't part of the future and with the Imps rarely winning anyway it was an easy decision to move one of their few veteran assets for a younger player. Especially a pitcher. In exchange for Dorch, the New Yorkers received 23 year old RHP from Kansas City. Sawyer was originally an 8th round selection by Toronto in 1956. He had mostly solid minor league numbers until getting a brief look at KC this season. He struggled, going 2-3 with a 6.92 ERA. Weak even by Imperials standards. It's likely the team will take a look at him at AAA jersey City before giving him a shot in New York later this season. There's no reason to rush the kid. He's reported to have good stuff with his fastball and sinker plus pitches. These are the types of moves the team should look for as they roll towards a record setting losing season.

Despite all the losing, on bright spot has been rookie RF Jack Woods. Woods has been rewarded by being selected to the All Star team, the very first Imperials representative at the midsummer classic. Woods, 26, is hitting .298 with 17 homers and 39 RBI. A 1953 third round selection of Toronto he's slowly worked his way through the minors before the expansion draft gave him a shot at a regular job. He's taken the opportunity and run with it.

Need a weird stat? Despite all their losing, the Imperials have won on five of the past six Thursdays. Four in a row. Of course it means nothing, except that you may want to reschedule your next outing to Dyckman Stadium.

STARS BRASS EXCITED ABOUT NEWCOMERS

If early results are any indication the Los Angeles Stars are going to be thrilled with the players received from a flurry of recent deals. 20-year-old catcher Bob Griffin comes over from the Montreal Saints organization and is immediately placed in the lineup on the FABL roster. 3 games and 14 PA later he has racked up 3 hits, 1 homer, 3 rbis and 3 walks slashing .300/.429/.600 to begin his big league career. A fantastic start!

In other news, the Virgil Ewing trade left a hole at third base but Ralph Barrell fills it nicely as he transitions from the other side of the diamond where the 22-year-old was playing first base. This leaves room for Ed Howard to get a full time job as a first basemen. Ed is hitting very well this season and looks to be a fine addition to the full time roster. These moves allowed minor league phenom Bobby Garrison to get the call up to the ball club to split time at first with Ed. There is going to be some fierce competition going into next season as far as who gets the gig full time.

The bullpen doesn't seem the worse for wear after losing both Hank Myer and Bud Henderson. While both were good, Myer was expendable as a bullpen piece and we're not too terribly sad to see Henderson and his tender elbow leave town (yet). Time will tell though if this was a horrible deal.

21-year-old pitching prospect Jim Schoolfield, acquired in the deal that sent Ewing and Henderson to Detroit, has been called up to the Stars full time to be given a shot coming out of the pen for now.

All in all Stars management is happy with their deals and hopes it helps the club's growing collection of young talent flourish.

*** No Luck Landing California Cage Club ***

Despite the large number of area college stars moving on to the pro ranks and a growing interest in seeing professional basketball come to the West Coast, the city has had no luck in convincing the Federal Basketball League to expand or move a team to Los Angeles. The talent certainly seems there to support a league bigger than the eight present clubs, but FBL officials, hit hard by teams folding in recent years, have been hesitant to tinker with the stability the eight teams seemed to have achieved.

California has certainly made its presence felt in the pro loop. The recent FBL draft is a perfect example as three of the sixteen players selected, including number one overall Ralph Peck, played their college ball in state. Peck, a former high school star in the city at Morningside, was the leader of the CCLA Coyotes the past four seasons but now will head to the nation's capital to play for the Washington Statesmen. Art Owens from Monrovia was a teammate of Peck's the past four years and was also selected in the first round, going to the Boston Centurions. Redwood guard Jim Paul, who was a first team All-American his senior season with the Mammoths, was also called by the FBL and will try to crack the Philadelphia Phantoms roster after being chosen in the second round.

Saying that Saints management was expecting a better season from this team is not a lie, but when you look at their record from the 10,000 foot level, it looks probably worse than it actually is.

As we hit the all-star break and the traditional midway point of the season, the Saints are showing a 39-51 record but with only a -14 run differential. According to management, the bad record resides in the 5-15 mark in games decided by just a single run. The bad performances late in games by the pitching staff are certainly highly responsible for this portion of the record and this is why few players been swapped recently and a very effective young closer by the name of Hank Myer was brought in a trade from LA. Just 23 years of age, Myer made his mark on the west coast with 20 saves for the Los Angeles Stars a year ago and already has 12 so far this season. He did not add to that total in two appearances for the Saints last week but the expectation is once he settles in the Saints bullpen may settle down.

The offense is pulling their strings by scoring 476 runs already, ranking #4 in the Continental Association. They could probably improve by lowering their strikeout rate, but great performances by third sacker Andy Gilman and rookie first baseman Hal Flanders keep the ship afloat and fill the Saints infield with a bright future. The duo have both been named starters for Wednesday's all-star game in Chicago. Flanders is still leading the league in batting average with a .388 and at this time potentially the leader for the Kellogg award race.

The pitching squad is another story, this team has given more homeruns than any others teams in the CA, not the category you want to lead! More bad news is Montreal owns the second worst ERA with 4.92 and are giving far too much free passes on base. The good surprise came from SP Gene Faulkenberry (9-4, 3.61 ERA) who went from bullpen last season to full time starter this season. Rookie SP Duke Edin is doing as expected for a first year pitcher, and veteran SP Jim Montgomery is way under the expectations. With the latest trade the Saints have potentially three guys who can jump in the rotation next season as starters in Nate Carr, Juan Quintana and John Mullins. They are young, as Carr at 21 is the oldest of the trio, and all are now pitching at AAA Syracuse where they will be watched closely for the next couple of months.

*** Valiants Also Look To Have Bright Future ***

Fresh off a surprise appearance in the Challenge Cup finals last April after upsetting first place Toronto in the semi-finals the Montreal Valiants added to their already strong defensive core with their top pick in the annual North American Hockey Confederation draft. Selecting third, the Vals were thrilled that Longueuil native Pierre Bastien was still available and quickly grabbed the 19-year-old defenseman.

Bastien, who has already logged three seasons of ice time for the junior A Trois-Rivieres Trappers, may need another year of seasoning in the junior ranks before he is ready to ply his trade at the Montreal Arena but the Vals choice was reaffirmed by the OSA after the league scouting service named the youngster the top defenseman prospect in the game. Bastien quickly jumped to the front of a Montreal farm system that is already ranked the best in the sport and will look in the near future to crack what is arguably the best top four blueliners in the league in Mark Moggy, Gil Thibeault, Jean Tremblay and Jack Charest.

Kansas City Kings outfielder Charlie Rogers collected his 2,500th career hit last week. The milestone came as part of a 4-for-5 afternoon for the 33-year-old in a 7-2 win over the Montreal Saints yesterday. The 9-time all-star, who was a Whitney Award winner in 1955, is the Kings franchise leader in hits by a wide margin and just the 47th player in FABL history to reach the 2,500 plateau.
Other milestones last week included Joe Cipolla of the Chiefs throwing his 1,000th FABL strikeout and 22-year-old Ralph Barrell of the Los Angeles Stars delivering his 500th career hit and 100th career homerun. Both are second generation players as Ralph is the son of the legendary Bobby Barrell while Cipolla's father Tom spent a few seasons with the Philadelphia Sailors in the late thirties and early forties.
Washington teenage infield prospect extraordinaire George Whaley made his big league debut and promptly swatted 3 homeruns in the 19-year-old's first 3 big league games. Whaley was ranked the #5 prospect by OSA and was the first selection of the 1961 draft. His arrival prompted the Eagles to move another young phenom in 20-year-old Tom Lorang across the diamond from the hot corner to first base.
Is it just a coincidence that as soon as Whaley joined the lineup the Eagles offense took flight? Washington scored 48 runs scores in their last 5 games, compared to just.43 in the previous 10 games.
Tough break for the expansion Minneapolis Millers, who learned this week that second baseman Clarence Jackson's season has come to an end. The 22-year-old rookie suffered a broken knee cap. He was hitting .251 and doing a solid job with the glove.
Brett Bing of the Mail & Empire reports that the Toronto Wolves are not unhappy with a 3-3 week. Go into the All-Star break on an 8-5 run.
With Virgil Ewing (.295,10,63) representing what should be a big upgrade offensively over Tommy Griffin (.235,2,17) at third base, the Detroit Dynamos are hoping for a quick start on the other side of the all-star break. The club will need it if they are going to give St Louis a run for the pennant as the Pioneers, with a tremendous pitching staff, have been spotted a 7-game lead by the Motor City crew. Bud Henderson, who came over with Ewing in the deal with the Los Angeles Stars, says his elbow feels great and will be inserted into the Detroit rotation. The 28-year-old got a late start on his season recovering from a torn elbow ligament and missed a week recently with tenderness in the joint. The 4-time all-star has struggled this season (2-4, 7.17) in his 9 starts but is ready for a fresh beginning and excited to be back in the Federal Association, where he pitched well during his time with the Boston Minutemen.

SHAMROCKS MAKE HISTORY IN NAHC DRAFT

For the second straight season the New York Shamrocks led off the annual North American Hockey Confederation draft, a reward of sorts for finishing at the bottom of the six team loop the previous season. They drafted a defenseman by the name of Harry Jernigan with the top pick a year ago and most experts felt they would select either blueliner Pierre Bastien or winger Bruce Callahan with the top choice this time around.

Instead the Shamrocks, made NAHC history by becoming the first team since the draft began in 1941 to draft a goaltender first overall. New York's pick was Al Ferguson, a raw prospect with loads of potential but despite being on the CAHA Hull Hawks protected list the past two season Ferguson has yet to play a game in the major junior ranks. He has dominated at the tier two level but it may be three or four years before the 19-year-old is deemed ready to face NAHC shooters.

No goalie had ever been selected number one but five times a team had taken a netminder in the opening round although that has happened just once since 1950. Ferguson is the first goaltender the Shamrocks have drafted since they selected Alex Sorrell in round three of the 1945 draft. Sorrell is now 36 years of age and while showing no signs of slowing down, the Shamrocks brass felt it was time to draft his eventual replacement.

The draft also made history because it marked the first time ever that four goaltenders had been selected in the same draft year. Boston drafted Sherbrooke junior Alex Daoust in the second round while Montreal and Detroit went back to back with the choices of Ned Flag and Mike Kauffman in round three. No other year had seen more than two goaltenders names called in the opening three rounds and prior to this draft there had been just one goalie selected in the past seven drafts.

Returning to the first round the Boston Bees followed with the second choice and opted for Bruce Callahan, an up and down winger who tallied 35 points in 62 games for the Brantford Blue Legs last season. It marks the fourth year in a row the Bees opted for a forward with their top selection as Callahan follows Julian Mooney, Nick Quinn and Jack Drolet.

The third selection belonged to the Montreal Valiants, who were surprise Challenge Cup finalists in the spring after finishing fourth in the regular season. The Valiants chose to add to what is already considered the top group of defensemen in the league by selecting Pierre Bastien from the Trois Rivieres Trappers. The 19-year-old is a three year starter on the Trappers blueline. He had a career best 16 points this past season and scouts feel there is room for his offensive production to grow as he matures.

Detroit, which celebrated its second consecutive Challenge Cup title in April, was up next and with the fourth selection the Motors add to their collection of depth down the middle with the decision to take Hull Hawks center Yves Dagenais. One of the younger players in the draft, Dagenais will not turn 19 until next week- he played all 60 games for the Hawks last season and scored 19 goals while adding 30 helpers. Described as a counter-attacking forward, the Motors have high hopes for Dagenais' playmaking skills and see him as a future second line center.

The fifth picked belonged to the Chicago Packers and the league's highest scoring team from a year ago opted to add more offense with the decision to draft Kitchener Roosters center Bruce Denison, before the regular season champion Toronto Dukes rounded out the first round by calling the name of Lou McKearney, a defenseman who has spent the past three seasons with the Halifax Mariners and is coming off a strong playoff where he helped the Mariners push eventual champion London to a seventh game in the league finals. A fractured jaw limited McKearney's playing time last season but he still managed to average a point a game during his 38 regular season contests and then chipped in 12 more in 14 playoff outings.

Here the results of all three rounds of the NAHC draft.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Welterweight Ernie Black, who was knocked out in a title shot against Lonnie Griffin 10 months ago, suffered his third knockout loss in his last four bouts after being stopped in the 7th round by Jason Malone in a Philadelphia bout last week. Black, who is originally from Toledo but fights out of New York City these days, is now 40-9-1 and at age 33 looks like his days in the ring are severely numbered.
22-year-old Pittsburgh heavyweight Jim Sisco had a close call but pulled out a split decision win over Ed Hagar in Miami last week. Sisco is now 23-2 for his career.
Brandon Dart, said to be one of the best young welterweights to come out of Europe in years, improved to 16-1 after the Welshman knocked out Rohan MacCelvey in a bout last week.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens..

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 7/22/1962

The Soviet Union announced it will set off a new series of nuclear tests with the Kremlin claiming the move was forced by the current United States tests in the Pacific.
Delegates from 14 nations signed a treaty of independence and neutrality for Laos, formally brining to a close more than a year of efforts to restore peace to the Asian kingdom.
More challenges for Algeria's shaky provisional government after two ministers walked out, refusing to serve the new leader. Ben Youssef ben Khedda and charging Ben Khedda was attempting to implement a police state.
President Kennedy welcome the leader of Ecuador to the White House for talks aimed at helping to make the Western Hemisphere "an inspiration for all those who wish to be free."
An Eastern Air Lines jet was back in the sky for the first time since a strike shut it down a month ago. The strike by flight engineers is still on but the plane launched anyway. The company would only say the crew was qualified but would not reveal if they were supervisory employees.
The House Ways and Means Committee has agreed to hold "exploratory" hearings which conceivably could lead to recommendations for a tax cut.

Tiger Fan · 01-08-2025, 12:17 PM

JULY 30, 1962
LATE RALLY GIVES FED 10-7 WIN IN ALL-STAR GAME

Rod Shearer scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning and drove in two more in the ninth for insurance to lead the Federal Association all-stars to a 10-7 victory over the Continental Association in the 30th annual midsummer classic. The victory for the Fed snaps a 2 year losing streak and is just their second win in the past 8 years. The Continental stars still lead the series 17-13.

Shearer, the veteran Chicago Chiefs outfielder who was making his sixth all-star appearance, played the entire game and batted lead-off for the Federal Association. He was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts to start the game although he was hit by a Charlie Warren pitch in the third inning but the 33-year-old saved his best for late in the contest.

Shearer's one-out single with the game tied at 7 in the top of the eighth inning preceded a Danny Davis double that allowed the speedy outfielder to score the tie-breaking run. An inning later with two out and after Los Angeles Stars second baseman Charlie Barrell made errors on back to back plays, Shearer ripped a double off of Steve Miller of the expansion Dallas Wranglers to plate two runs. Washington reliever Otto Caudill picked up a save in his all-star debut by pitching two scoreless innings including a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to secure the 10-7 victory for the Feds.

*** Continental Stars Rough Up Hasson ***

It looked like it might be a long evening for the Federal Association after the Continental stars did something no Fed team had much success at - they beat up St Louis Pioneers ace Billy Hasson. Hasson, who has won the Fed Allen Award three of the past four seasons, fanned Toronto's Tom Reed to start the bottom of the first but then allowed 3 runs on 3 singles and two walks before finally getting out of the jam.

Jake Pearson, Zeke Blake and veteran Deuce Barrell kept the Fed off the scoresheet until the fourth when the visitors exploded for four runs off of Cincinnati's Charlie Warren. Included in the outburst was an rbi double off the bat of Philadelphia's Buddy Miller and a triple by the New York Gothams 20-year-old rookie Isaiah Redbird. Redbird, who had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs in the game, was named the Most Valuable Player.

Nerves got to Chicago Chiefs youngster Dutch Lane, who walked in a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to allow the Continental stars to retake the lead 5-4, but the Fed bats answered with back to back rbi singles from a pair of young Gothams in Tom Brizzolara and Redbird to allow the Fed to regain its one run lead.

Jerry Smith of the St Louis Pioneers hit the only homerun of the game, a solo shot in the 6th to put the Fed ahead 7-5 but the CA tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when the Cannons Dallas Berry ripped a two-out, two-run triple to plate Bob Burge and Sherry Doyal. It stayed 7-7 until the top of the eighth inning when Shearer took over to ensure the Federal Association victory.

ALL-TIME GREAT SHOCKS BASEBALL WORLD
DEUCE BARRELL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AT END OF YEAR

Now normally when a 45-year-old decides that he's retiring from baseball, no one would bat an eye. I mean, how many 45-year-olds are any good at throwing a baseball?

Of course, "Deuce" is anything but normal.

Born June 3rd, 1917 and grandson of legendary baseball Pioneer Rufus Barrell, Rufus Barrell II has been destined for greatness. Since the moment he could use his hands, he was already throwing baseballs, and it didn't take long for those around him to realize he was special.

Deuce's career officially started in 1934, when the high school junior started pitching for his high school in Macon, Georgia. A perfect 12-0, he had a minuscule 0.81 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts, walking just 6 hitters in 122.2 innings pitched. If you can imagine it, he was even better as a senior, 11-0 with a 0.38 ERA and 0.56 WHIP. More impressively, he had a 199-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio, one of the most dominant measures at any level, if there was any doubt before hand, he secured the #1 pick of the draft, selected by the then inept Baltimore Cannons in 1935.

Tasked with saving a franchise in the middle of a 20-year playoff drought, Rufus wasn't nearly as dominant in the minor leagues, but that didn't stop him from getting a promotion to Baltimore in 1938. Again, it was far from dominant, and for one of the rare instances in his career, Rufus Barrell was actually a bad pitcher. 1-9 in 11 starts, he had an inflated 6.15 ERA (64 ERA+), but it came with a useful 1.35 WHIP and 49-to-24 strikeout-to-walk ratio. You can't keep him down either, he was far better in a full season the following year, 15-11 with a 4.03 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.43 WHIP, 74 walks, and 114 strikeouts.

What came next was one of the best things for not only Rufus, but for the Cannons franchise itself: the move to Cincinnati.
Not only did their record quickly improve, going from a bottom feeder to an 80-game winner, but the Rufus Barrell we expected at officially arrived. Barrell went 19-9 with a 3.55 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, and 145 strikeouts, earning his first All-Star nod. When the season ended, his WHIP and K/BB (2.9) both led the Conti, the first of many times he had meaningful stats of his lead the association.

That was a season of many firsts, but the true important first came in 1942. Not only was it Deuce's first Allen, but it was his first triple-crown and first 10 WAR season. One of the best pitching performances in modern baseball, Deuce was 24-5 with a 1.76 ERA (187 ERA+), 1.93 FIP (58 FIP-), and 0.89 WHIP with 34 walks, 163 strikeouts, and 10.5 WAR. By this time, it was clear that Rufus Barrell was not only the best pitcher in FABL, but one of the best pitchers the world would ever see.

Fast-forward to 1962, and even after celebrating his 45th birthday, Barrell is still among the top pitchers in the game. OSA ranks him the 11th best pitcher at the moment, and a few days ago he threw a shutout inning in his 12th All-Star appearance. Still showing the elite command he has his entire life, Barrell has a microscopic 2.7 BB%, allowing just 16 free passes, one of which was intentional. On-track for his 4th career 20-win season, he's 12-5 with a 3.18 ERA (145 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts, playing a key role in the Foresters pennant push. He's been with Cleveland since the 1953 season, where they won their first of six pennants since the long-time Cannon changed organizations for the first and only time of his career.

Deuce's name is all over the record books, as his 354 wins are 3rd in FABL history, as are his 2,700 strikeouts, and his five Allen awards are tied for the most of any player with teammate Adrian Czerwinski. Barrell's career numbers will change slightly, but at print he's 354-218 in 5,354 innings pitched, working to an excellent 3.27 ERA (122 ERA+), 3.31 FIP (83 FIP-), and 1.20 WHIP. His 5.7 BB% and 2.1 K/BB are elite, and his nearly 120 wins above replacement are within striking distance of fourth All-Time.

With how well he's pitching, it was a shock when Deuce announced he felt "over the hill" and was hanging up the spikes, and anyone who's caught a start of his this year knows that he's still got something left in the tank. Many around the league, especially myself, have been dreading this announcement for years, and I was convinced just last week he'd be back for 1963.

Instead, baseball fans and players have poured out their support for the beloved star, with many of his past and former teammates reminiscing on the great stories they have of the longtime ace. Just a few questions remain:

Will Barrell win his fourth World Championship Title? Can he reach the 360 win mark? And how exactly does he want his Hall-of-Fame plaque to look?

CHAMP FINDS UNIQUE WAY TO WIN 100th FABL GAME

With the way the All-Star break shook out this season, teams had the unique opportunity to start the same pitcher in back-to-back games, since there were four days of rest between them. Not every team took advantage of that, but the Miners, Gothams, Suns, Foresters, Sailors, Kings and Cougars did.

For the Cougars, it was just a little bit different.

Not only had Dick Champ never pitched a game for the Cougars, having recently been acquired from the crosstown Chiefs, but his start on the 23rd was his first day on the roster. It went well enough, 6 innings with 6 hits 3 runs, and 4 strikeouts, but it was his fourth consecutive attempt at FABL win #100, and his fourth consecutive fail.

But, when it came to starting consecutive games, this champ did not fail!

In a game where he needed to be almost perfect, Champ was, as the 31-year-old righty was firing on all cylinders. He carved through the Stars lineup, striking out 5 with just a walk and five strikeouts, helping the Cougars start out their second half on the right note.

It's a good way for Champ to appeal to his teammates, as the somewhat controversial and outspoken hurler did a good job making the right first impression for his new teammates. The shutout was the 2nd of his season and 5th of his 186 start career, improving to 100-58 as a FABL pitcher. A 4-Time All-Star, he owns a 3.74 ERA (114 ERA+) and 1.46 WHIP in 1,438 innings. Known best for his command, he has 487 walks to 847 strikeouts, and the Cougars staff is hoping that command will help him keep the ball in the park. He's already allowed a homer, a solo shot to Edwin Hackberry (.285, 15, 56, 16), but as a Cougar pitcher just one homer in 15 innings puts you among the better pitchers.

*** Deadline a Week Away, Last Chance for Contenders to Upgrade ***

FABL GMs may have gotten in all their action in early, but with the actual deadline still a week away, there's still action for teams to make their final push. In the Fed, St. Louis' 8 game lead seems safe, but in the Conti 8 games out would be good enough for fifth place, with four teams six or fewer games away from first.

That means a move from the Sailors, Kings, and Cougars might be most likely, as they are 3, 4, and 6 games behind their association leader. All three teams have made win-now moves this season. The Sailors added Hank Lacey (8-4, 3.64, 86) and Zane Kelley (7-5, 4.77, 66) before the season started, the Kings have been one of the most active trade teams in 1962, including their recent pickup of Joe Dorch (.305, 3, 23), and as mentioned above, the Cougars grabbed Dick Champ (6-4, 3.91, 74). Even with all that activity, there is plenty of room for improvement on these team, the only problem will be finding a dance partner.

Logically, the four expansion teams would be the sellers, as they sit in the 9th and 10th spot in both association, but the Imperials have been picked clean and the other three teams haven't signaled their vets are available. The Saints are an option, with rumbling around the league that Ralph Hanson's (.281, 1, 19, 11) name has come up, as both the Kings and Cougars are looking to add an infielder. And the Chicago Chiefs aren't dome either, announcing Paul McGee (2-4, 4.24, 43), Mickey Tucker (.257, 4, 21), and Hippo Vaughn (.312, 1, 9, 3) could all be had.

No deals are reportedly in the works, but FABL GMs tend to work fast, and with a pennant up for grabs I wouldn't put it past any of these keen general managers to make a big splash. Last year, the shrewd acquisition of Jorge Arellano (9-6, 4.31, 109) by the Philadelphia Keystones proved to be the difference maker in the Fed race, allowing them to separate from the pack and eventually capture their 4th WCS victory, and every front office member anxiously working the phones is hoping that the decision they make, or don't make, is the one that ends with them coming away with a trophy.

*** Teen Crushed Seven Homers in Nine Games ***

Before the season started, I covered the top-10 prospects in FABL Spring Training, and declared quite triumphantly that George Whaley might be the best offensive prospect in all of baseball. I also added that the only thing current first basemen Joe Holland (.262, 12, 35) does better is hit home runs.

Turns out I was dead on about one of those. And couldn't be further from right about the other.

Holland started the season as the Eagles first basemen, and owns a respectable .262/.354/.439 (102 OPS+) batting line through 87 games. He's hitting his share of homers, his 12 is tied for second on the team, but holy cow is Whaley hitting homers!

Called up on the 16th of July, Whaley made his highly anticipated FABL debut at just 19 years old. Ranked as the #5 prospect, he was 0-for-4, but it didn't take too long for that first career homer. In fact, his first career hit was a homer off Gothams righty Clarence Reimer (5-10, 4.69, 92) in the 3rd. He hit his 2nd three innings later, and finished game two 3-for-4 with a walk, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs. In a second straight 11-5 win over the Gothams, Whaley hit his 3rd homer, and he finished his first 7-for-30.

Whaley took things to the next level in week two, as he helped the Eagles finish the first half with a commanding 18-0 thrashing of the Chiefs, Whaley was instrumental, as with Jimmy Brown (.294, 12, 46) and Tom Lorang (.355, 16, 64, 5) ahead of him, he was often up with people on base. That led to a game like know other, as the former #1 pick hit three homers, driving in six runs, accounting for a third of the Eagles scoring.

He would have loved to keep up the momentum, but with the All-Star break after he had to wait four days before stepping up to the plate again. He showed off his elite eye after the interruption, going 1-for-2 with a double and two walks in Detroit, before hitting his 7th homer in 9 games to finish the week. It came with two more walks, in both cases Whaley scored, so the teen-aged sensation is hitting .333/.450/1.091 (281 OPS+) with 10 extra base hits, 13 runs, 14 RBIs, and 7 walks. In even a 144 game season, he'd be on track for he'd have 112 homers, 208 runs, 224 RBIs, and 112 walks. An insane stretch by any means, it's hard to ask for a better start to a career then he's had, and for Eagles fans it's just a glimpse at what their future might be.

Having not made the postseason since 1946 and going without a World Championship Series title since 1923, few teams have had less success then Washington, but things have really started to change lately. Whaley's not the first highly touted young player to blossom, as graduated 8th ranked prospect Owen Lantz (7-3, 4, 2.08, 53) was named an All-Star in his debut year, and 20-year-old sensation Tom Lorang (.355, 16, 63, 5) finally got a well deserved nod for the first time. Lorang is already one of the games brightest starts, hitting .305/.408/.523 (152 OPS+) last season, and it's up to an elite .355/.455/.607 (170 OPS+) this year. His 16 homers are one away from his tally in 120 games last year, and he's a career .309/.398/.515 (142 OPS+) hitter in 363 FABL games. Few players this young have this mix of talent and experience, and to have Lorang, Lantz, and Whaley all playing at an elite level this young is a Halley's Comet level baseball phenomenon that we are truly lucky to witness.

CHANGES IN NEW YORK

As July rolls into August and the losses pile up, the Imperials have made some moves. According to manager Ed Ziehl, slugging first baseman Turk Ramsey will now be LF Turk Ramsey. I an effort to squeeze a little more offense out of the lineup first base will now be a platoon of 25 year old Vern Reynolds and newly acquired Enos Bailey, 29. Bailey was picked up on waivers this week from Washington. He's shown an ability to make contact, hitting .291 over parts of seven seasons in DC.

Multiple moves have been made to shore up the rotation. Or at least make it younger. Out are Jimmy Morris (32), Ernie Tisdale (33) and Russ Edwards (28). All have struggled this season with Morris' 5.38 ERA the best of the bunch.

Called up from AAA Jersey City are a trio of younger starters who will give Ziehl a look at the future. Jim Cooper at 28 is the vet of the group. Cooper has had success in the majors with the Keystones and will finally get a chance in New York. Joining him are newly acquired Frankie Sawyer (23) who has looked solid at AAA this year. Also being given another shot in NY is Frank Williams (25) Williams struggle with the big club earlier this season but then looked good posting a 3.38 ERA at JC.

The trio will join 26 year old Bob Roberts and veteran Milt Lane in the rotation. Said Ziehl about the moves, "We've seen what some guys can't do, I want to get a look at some guys who might be part of the future. Even if not any better today, the experience will help them."

We expected it to come, but it still feels like a shock as baseball's elder statesman Deuce Barrell announced shortly after the all-star game that this will be his final season. Next stop will certainly be Boone County and the Hall of Fame for the 45-year-old who has a career record of 354-218, owns five Whitney Awards and 3 WCS rings. Barrell has been extremely effective this season, going 12-5 with a 3.18 era for the Foresters so many in Cleveland were hoping he would stick around for at least one more season after this one. Might be an interesting argument when the Barrell clan gathers together. Is Deuce or his Hall of Fame uncle Bobby the best Barrell baseball player of all-time?
Percy Pringle Sr. of The Kansas City Times reports that tensions boiled over in the locker room in Toronto after a pair of losses. 1B/3B Ken Newman who sat out the last week was having words with team trainer Pete Merchant. The situation escalated and the two had to be separated by Newman's teammates. The rehab for the multi-time (10) All-Star has been slow and frustrating despite Newman having a very good season with the bat. His All-star snub reportedly didn't help matters. What transpires out of the situation will be determined on Monday, but reports are that the team is quietly looking for a new team trainer.
Kings OF Charlie Rogers who just collected his 2,500 career hit last week is now 3 doubles away from cracking 500. Percy Pringle Sr. suggests at age 33, Rogers has a shot at perhaps catching all-time doubles leader Dave Trowbridge who had 601 in his career.
George Whaley is making the most of his big league opportunity. The 19-year-old, called up by Washington just over a week ago, hit 3 homers in an 18-0 thrashing of the Chicago Chiefs last Sunday and through his first 9 big league games has 7 homers, 16 rbi's and is batting .333.
Chiefs brass is crowing about the big league debut for 21-year-old pitcher Bud Andrews. The 1959 first rounder went 8 innings a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Suns on Sunday. The line: 8 IP, 3 HA, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K and 2-3 at the plate.
Marc T. McNeil of the Montreal Star tells us some player movement is imminent in the pitching crew in Montreal. SP Nate Carr and RP Jim Pepper were also seated in the back seat with their coaches. Nate Carr (8-2 2.45ERA in AAA) will make his debut next week in FABL. Same thing for Jim Pepper who is a relief pitcher. On the other side, RP Hi Craig and RP Cliff Willis got both a train ticket to return in Syracuse. To make space on the starting rotation, pitcher Duke Edin was sent to the bullpen. Edin been pretty cold in recent starts and he is been told to work some overtime practice with new pitching coach.
Brett Bing of the Toronto Mail & Empire informs us that Frank Hardin, called up to the Wolves just before the All-Star break, had a fine debut. In 2 games he has gone 3 for 6 withe two doubles and the hope is that the 24-year-old may be ready to stick in the big leagues after trials with Kansas City two years ago and spending much of last season as a backup in Toronto. Insiders say the plan going forward in Toronto is to move Tom Reed to first base with Hardin patrolling left on a regular basis. This would give the Wolves a starting outfield of ages 24 (Hardin), 25 (Sid Cullen)and 26 (Chick Reed) with Ed Savage's 25 year old bat waiting in the minors.
From the St Louis Star-Times we are told that the replacements for injured CF Bill Bather have been more than adequate so far. While neither is close to Bather talent-wise both have done their job. The pair of 24-year-olds, Ray O'Connor (.287 2 17) and AAA call-up Bob Wilson (.381 0 3) have plugged the hole in CF with solid D and not hurt the offense. Hopefully, they can stay solid for another 2 months until Bather has recovered from his hamstring issues.

CALLAHAN SIGNS WITH BEES

It looks like Bruce Callahan will make his NAHC debut at the age of 19 as the Boston Bees signed the second overall pick in the NAHC draft to a professional contract rather than return him to the Brantford Blue Legs for another season of junior hockey. The right winger scored 15 goals and added 20 assists in 62 games for the Blue Legs a year ago after suiting up for 27 games as a 16-year-old.

Most players are returned to junior for their age 19 season as they are not allowed to play in the minors until their age 20 season so the only choices for Boston was bring Callahan to the big club or not sign him and leave him in junior for an extra year. It is unusual but certainly not unheard for a 19-year-old to play in the NAHC. No one from last year's draft class was signed as a teenager but the 1960 draft had both Montreal defenseman Mark Moggy and Detroit forward Hobie Barrell jump directly from the draft to the NAHC and each has progressed extremely well.

However, others have not been as successful with perhaps the most notable example being Charlie Oliphant Jr. The son of the former Toronto Dukes star by the same name was selected second overall by Montreal in the 1954 draft and signed to a contract prior to the start of the season. Oliphant struggled in camp and the Valiants did not play him all season. Unable to be returned to junior because he had signed a contract and too young for the HAA, Oliphant spent a year just practicing and that may have stunted his development. Now 27 and recently signed to an extension, Oliphant has bounced back and forth between the Valiants and their Syracuse HAA farm club and does not appear to be much more than a fringe NAHC player.

OSA FIRST LOOK AT THE 1963 NAHC DRAFT CLASS

The 1962 NAHC draft is just a few weeks behind us but the hockey staff at OSA is busy compiling its preliminary rankings for the NAHC's 1963 draft class. The scouting service has named four forwards and one defenseman as its top prospects for the draft next July.

The lone blueliner among the top 18-year-olds in the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association is Pete Carmichael of the Sherbrooke Industrials. The Vancouver native was traded from Kitchener to Sherbrooke midway through last season and accumulated 7 points in 56 games. An old-school defenseman, Carmichael's strength is his work in his own end.

Continuing the OSA list of five is Trois Rivieres Trappers winger Anthony Lafontaine, a Montreal native who had 16 points in 50 games with the Trappers as a 17-year-old. OSA calls him a prototypical two-way forward. Clyde Raines is a center who saw limited action for the Halifax Mariners each of the past two seasons but did have a strong post-season run with 6 points in 14 playoff games last spring. His strength is his playmaking skills and Raines hails from Oakville, ON, a community just outside of Toronto. Carl Simon of the Brantford Blue Legs appears to be the most developed as the 17-year-old from Granby, QC., has played two full seasons in the CAHA and earned 43 points in 58 games a year ago. Finally we have Kitchener Roosters winger Milt Young whose forte is expected to be his work as a defensive winger. The Belleville, ON., native played parts of two seasons with Sherbrooke, notching 14 points in 59 games last year, but was acquired by the Roosters in an off-season trade.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Elvin Caldwell, the 22-year-old Montgomery, AL., heavyweight, continues to raise his standing after easily outpointing Richard Simpson in New Orleans last week. Caldwell is 25-7-1 as a pro.
Dan Bowden, one of the rising stars in the welterweight division, took a step back last week when the 23-year-old from Madison, WI., was disqualified in the third round of a bout slated for ten frames for repeated low blows to his opponent Winston Baxter. It was the second meeting between the two and Bowden had easily triumphed when they first battled two years ago. The loss drops Bowden's record to 23-4.
Another young star, New York City heavyweight Frank Seeley, also saw his path slowed as the 24-year-old saw his perfect 5-0 record suffer its first blemish when Marty Evans (1-3-2) battled Seeley to a draw in a short six round bout in Evans' hometown of Jacksonville, FL. Despite the draw, many still expect big things from Seeley in the future.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles.
September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 7/29/1962

President Kennedy is offering the Soviet Union expanded opportunities to talk over methods of settling the Berlin problem in wake of reports that Moscow intends to sign a separate peace treaty with Communist East Germany before the end of the year.
Kennedy notified the Governor of Puerto Rico that he agrees Puerto Ricans now should vote on their preference for independence, statehood or perfecting the present Commonwealth form of government.
A Thor booster rocket tipped with a nuclear device was deliberately blown up on its Johnston Island launching pad marking the third failure in four tries to explode a high altitude shot.
The United States is planning a new strategy for the ongoing nuclear test ban negotiations in Geneva. It begins with a blunt challenge to Russia to reverse its stand against international inspection safeguards. President Kennedy is reportedly ready to offer concessions following the discovery of sneak underground nuclear explosions being conducted by the Soviets.
The Senate Investigations Subcommittee accused Teamsters Union President Jimmy Hoffa of corrupt and continuing ties with New York mobster Antonio "Tony Ducks" Corallo.
Algiers Premier has agreed to step down and give way to a seven-man political bureau named by Deputy Premier Ahmed Ben Bella, one of the leaders in last week's walkout by high ranking government officials. A day leader a rebel military group announced plans to form a "Committee to Defend the Revolution" against Ben Bella.
A Pennsylvania railroad special jammed with baseball fans enroute to Philadelphia for the Miners-Keystones game July 28 jumped the track and tumbled down an embankment, leaving 17 dead and 119 injured.

Jiggs McGee · 01-09-2025, 07:56 AM

AUGUST 6, 1962

CLVELAND CRASHES IN TOUGH WEEK
CA LEAD CUT TO SINGLE GAME

For Cleveland, last week was one of their biggest of the season, as after they lost the rubber match with the Cincinnati Cannons, they had to host the Chicago Cougars and visit the San Francisco Sailors. Both Chicago and San Fran were still right in the midst of things, and after both teams won the series with the Foresters, the Sailors, Cougars and Kansas City Kings are all within three games of first, while the Los Angeles Stars and Cannons are 6 and 7 out.

San Francisco got within one of the Foresters, and it happened in a crazy matter yesterday afternoon at Golden Gate Stadium. Up 4-2 in the 9th, Forester manager Jim Whitehead wanted to give Rufus Barrell (13-5, 3.02, 70) a complete game for win 356. Everything was going to plan, as he got two quick outs, but Edwin Hackberry (.290, 16, 59, 16) extended the game with a double. Still not going down, Ray Rogan (.311, 9, 56) doubled himself, making it 4-3 for Heinie Spitler (.333, 4, 45, 15). Instead of Deuce, Spitler got reliever Johnny Ogden (4-4, 21, 2.42, 91) instead. With the game on the line, Spitler worked the count to 3-2, and tied the game with a single. Ogden then got down 3-1 to John Kingsbury (.350, 13, 68, 8), and after Spitler stole second, Ogden gave him the 4th for ball for free. It composed him, with a ground out to keep things tied and send the game to extra innings, but the Foresters had their backs right against the walls. The two teams traded zeros in the pen for the next five frames, before finally 24-year-old bench player Johnny Horton (.286, 5, 12) sent a raucous crowd home happy, as with another double -this one in the 15th inning- he helped his club walk-off 5-4 winners.

With the walk-off win by San Francisco, Cleveland is at risk of losing their top spot, but they'll get a chance to bounce back at home. They start the week today with three against the Stars, who while still in the race look a little less powerful then they did before. After that it's an off day, where they'll later welcome the Dallas Wranglers to town. Compared to the week that just happened, this should be far easier, but July did not go great for them. All members of the pen had an ERA above 4, while Adrian Czerwinski (3-1, 6.02, 29) and Jack Miller (1-2, 7.65, 14) struggled in their starts. The offense has kept scoring runs, which is why they haven't fallen out yet, but in four of their five August games they've scored fewer then five runs.

Meanwhile the Cougars, just three out, have already piled on 43 runs, the Sailors have won 19 of their last 30 ballgames, and the Kings continue to lead the Continental in all the fun hitting categories. What allowed Cleveland to get up to the early lead was the combination of offense and pitching, but if they can't keep runs off the board, they'll fall short in their quest for a fourth consecutive pennant.

*** Only Deadline Action a Minor Swap ***

Both the Toronto Wolves and Kansas City Kings have been extremely active on the trade market, so it's only fitting that the only deadline deal consummated involved both teams. Continuing to add depth to the lineup, the Kings picked up 34-year-old Jim Allen, who may be best known for being the sole return in an April of 1952 trade for George Garrison. One of the top prospects in the league, it looked like a potential cornerstone was added to the Wolves lineup, and he hit .276/.384/.348 (120 OPS+) as a rookie. That jumped to .306/.407/.446 (139 OPS+) in year two, and Allen looked like he'd be a mainstay in Toronto.

In a sense, he still was, playing in eleven seasons for the Wolves, but he never really came close to his '53 production. He was solid at 25 in year three, but he made just 319 PAs and was seemingly passed over in a strange optioning to AAA. Known for his elite plate discipline, he had 165 walks to 65 strikeouts his first two seasons, but instead of keeping these lofty differences he eventually saw his production, his walk rate dropped and his strikeout rate fell. He went on to start off-and-on the rest of the way, with just one season after '54 seeing him make more then 100 starts. It was his last year with an above average OPS+ (113) or WRC+ (111) in a completed season, and after 1,232 FABL games he has a .277/.361/.385 (108 OPS+) career batting line.

Pretty solid for a bench guy, it was a decent year so far too, as while his .292/.377/.389 (93 OPS+) line isn't great, his first double digit BB% (11.3) since 1955 has given him a 107 WRC+. Fittingly, his 11.0 K% is a career worst too, but he's a switch hitter who draws walks and puts the ball in play, and that brings a lot of value to a team like Kansas City who can rally and rally and rally. He won't start often, but all three King outfielders are lefties, so there are plenty of situations where he can help out. He's never going to pinch hit for Hank Williams (.378, 31, 90, 4), but Charlie Rogers (.294, 11, 51, 9) has hit just .206/.254/.413 (67 OPS+) against lefties this year. The speedy Pat Davis (.361, 12, 65, 29) can effortlessly shift to center, potentially giving Rogers days or at bats off against tough lefties. This also gives plenty of injury assurance, as if needed, Allen has shown he can be an everyday player.

The price is manageable too, as all they had to give up is a guy they signed to a minor league deal last season. Just 21, the 6'4''Charlie LaFoy has seen his share of organizations, moving plenty since he was released after being taken in the 12th Round by the Chiefs. A three pitch pitcher, h made his minor league debut this season, splitting time between the Class B and C organizations of the Kings. He was great in C ball, 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA (188 ERA+) and 21 strikeouts, and will report there for Toronto. Not expected to be a major arm, he is worth the lottery ticket, as quality young pitching is tough to come by, and he sneaks in to the end of both the Wolves (30th) and league (487th) prospect list. He's got a nice fastball and cutter, but without his change coming in, he'll be stuck in the minors without much hope of promotion.

Montreal ownership has shook up the Saints temple columns by firing manager Lynn Gray and replacing him by former bench coach Johnny Gilbert. Gray forged himself a .417 record in one and half season and he did pay for the underachieving performances of the Saints this year. Gilbert, who had been Montreal's bench coach since 1953, has a great working relationship with the players and will end the season in the manager's seat. His performance and the entire staff will be evaluated once the season ends but the general feeling is the manager's job is Gilbert's to keep.

Also assistant GM Duke Nelson was shown the doorway on the same day. The team appointed former pitching coach Bert Chappelle to
move up to the executive office as Nelson's replacement. Chappelle was in his third season working with Montreal pitchers and had previously served as the manager of AAA Louisville. Nelson was in his second season as the Saints Assistant General Manager.

The changes continued as Frank Lane, who had been the pitching coach in Syracuse, was summed to Montreal to take Chappelle's place in a similar role with the big league team. Lane is said to have a primary focus of working with "power pitcher" which will help developing the majority of the younger pitching squad members of the Saints.

The musical chairs were not finish as third base coach George Moran became the bench coach to replace Gilbert while Bill Pinkard, who had been managing in Syracuse, jumped in the car with Lane to reach Montreal and take over as the Saints new third base coach. Some other movements were made throughout the minor leagues teams with the most notable being the return of Bob Wiseman to the organization. Wiseman had spent some time as the manager in AA Evansville and returns to take over a similar duty with AAA Syracuse.

A LOOK AT FABL HOMERUN LEADERS BY DECADE
By Doc Shaw
1900-1909 (69): Joe Casey: Keystones, Dynamos, Gothams, Kings, Stars

Casey was 31 years old in 1900 and had already played for both the Cougars and Eagles before he posted a league leading 16 home runs with the Keystones. He would lead the league in homeruns for the next four years. Although Casey had only played in 817 games from 1900-1909, that four year run was good enough for him to be the home run champion of the decade.

1910-1919 (94): Ed Kurwood: Wolves, Keystones

Ed Kurwood debuted with Toronto in 1912 at the age of 21 and promptly hit 11 home runs. While that was not the league lead that year he would lead the league in home runs on three separate occasions. Those years were 1913 (17), 1917 (23) and 1919 (15). Over the decade Kurwood would hit double digit home runs five times making him the swing king of the teens.

1920-1929 (426): Max Morris: Pioneers

Then we have the “Mighty Mo” who spent the entire 20’s clobbering balls as a Pioneer. 1920 was Max’s first year in St. Louis and he hit 26 homers in a mere 96 games. Still good enough for the league lead. Over the next three years Max would raise his home run total from the year before. He hit 53 in ‘21, 59 in ‘22 and a career best 60 in ‘23. In all Max would lead the league in home runs 7 times over the decade with season totals eclipsing 50 four times. Morris would finish career with 711 home runs which is a record that may never be broken.

1930-1939 (303): Rankin Kellogg: Keystones

Kellogg would hit 303 of his 475 career home runs in the 1930’s playing for the Keystones. Kellogg was the model of consistency. From 1930-1936 you could pencil him in for at least 35 homers a season. The Memphis Mauler would lead the league in homeruns five times during the 30’s in an age where hitting 30 home runs in a season was still a pretty big accomplishment.

1940-1949 (367): Bobby Barrell: Keystones

What is a list without a Barrell? From baseball’s most famous family the “Georgia Jolter” played 1479 games over the decade and led the league in home runs five different times. 1947 was truly a special year for Barrell as the then 36 year old topped the Mighty Mo’s single season home run record by four with 64 home run performance. In all Bobby Barrell 639 homers over his 21 year career which ranks second all-time.

1950-1959 (327): Rod Shearer: Chiefs

If you want to lead a decade in long balls, making your debut in its first year is a great start. That is exactly what Rod Shearer did as a 21 year old in 1950 for the Chiefs. Albeit, Shearer only played 7 games and failed to hit a homer in that 1950 season, he hit the ground running the next year and led the lost decade in home runs on two different occasions where he hit 48 and 46 homers respectively. From 1951-1959 Shearer hit at least 20 home runs a year. Rod is still going strong for the Chiefs and is currently sitting at 382 home runs for his career.

1960-Present (107): Hank Williams: Kings

While the current decade is still young 29 year old Hank Williams is averaging 37 home runs a year for his career. If that pace continues over the course of the decade Williams would slide in at the 375 home run mark for the decade. That would rank second all-time for home runs hit in a decade. Although, at 29 age may be working against Williams over the long haul. On the other hand as of July 30th Williams has already hit 28 homers so a final total in the mid 40’s is entirely possible. Still, by the end of the decade you may see someone like Ralph Barrell, who has already hit 81 homers in the decade at 22, lead the pack by a long shot.

For the second time in less than two weeks the Chicago Chiefs have had a game where an opposing hitter smacked three homeruns. In late July it was Washington's teenage rookie George Whaley who hit 3 in an 18-0 victory. This time it was not one but two St Louis Pioneers hitters as both Jerry Smith and Bob Bell ripped 3 longballs in a 16-0 Pioneers win. A third Pioneer - infielder Steve Schultz- added two more homers in the game.
After going 4-5 since the break and falling 11 back of the Pioneers, the Detroit Dynamos seem resigned to turning their attention towards next year. Unless Washington can stage a miraculous comeback the Fed race is long over. The Eagles had won 7 straight before falling in Pittsburgh yesterday. Washington is 15 games back of the Pioneers.
Milestones last week included Cleveland's Tom Carr reaching the 1,500 hit plateau while Hank Williams of Kansas City collected his 1,000th base hit. Pittsburgh's Rick Masters drove in his 1,000th rbi while Beau McClellan of the Kings picked up his 150th victory.

BENGALS CONFIDENT OF CHANCES TO DEFEND GRID TITLE

The Maryland State Bengals football team returned to their Baltimore campus this week and began to lay the groundwork for their plans of repeating as AIAA national champion. It has been quite a run in recent years for the South Atlantic Conference power, who have finished the season ranked no lower than third in three of the past four years including last season's 10-1 campaign that resulted in the first football national championship in Bengals history.

The Bengals lone blemish a year ago came in a late season stumble against section rival Coastal State but that happened after the Bengals had already clinched their fourth consecutive South Atlantic Conference crown and were focused on a Sunshine Classic rematch with Oklahoma City State. The Bengals, who have played on New Year's Day in five of the past six seasons, had little trouble besting the Wranglers for the second year in row with a 48-6 victory impressive enough to convince the voters to keep the Bengals number one in the final AIAA poll ahead of undefeated Annapolis Maritime and East-West Classic winner Spokane State (10-1).

The Bengals feel a second title is certainly within their grasp with many key starters including quarterback Al Stubblefield and halfback Mike Moran returning this season. Bengals coach Monk Boice has an offseason that suffered very few key losses with backup halfback Duke Robbins the only key contributor lost to graduation. In addition to Stubblefield, who threw for 566 yards and 7 touchdowns as a freshman last season and senior halfback Moran, who topped 1,100 yards rushing each of the past two seasons, the Bengals return four of the five starters on the offensive line.

The defense did suffer a hit to the secondary as three of the four starters including strong safety Jim Watson who led the club in tackles have graduated. Boice says he has confidence in the returnees to fill the gap with a pair of sophomores in Frankie Bell and Dick Gorgas more than ready to fill the void.

Each of the previous national champions in Georgia Baptist (1959,1960) and Noble Jones College (1957,1958) successfully repeated as title holders. The Bengals will be looking to extend that trend when their season gets underway next month.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Ed Eads, a young middleweight out of Texarkana, TX., improved to 18-1 with a fifth round knockout of Bailey O'Keefe in San Francisco last week.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles.
September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 8/05/1962

Movie star Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bed, a telephone clutched in her hand and an empty pill bottle near by. She was 36. An overdose is the suspected cause with a coroner's team in Los Angeles now seeking confirmation.
Talks continue in Geneva as US Ambassador Arthur Dean meets with his Russian counterpart to try and break the East-West deadlock on a nuclear test ban treaty. Dean is presenting new American proposals on control and inspection but the Russians are expected to reject them.
Communist China claims that it has made great progress in development a nuclear bomb. A spokesman refused to provide details beyond stating that China was not far behind other countries.
Project Gemini, the next big step towards putting an American on the moon, outlined a timetable with plans for unmanned flights next year and manned flights the following year. The goal is by 1966 that seasoned spacemen will be flying rendezvous missions with little more difficulty than SAC pilots find in midair refueling.
The drive for emergency tax cuts was set back when Labor Secretary Goldberg reported strong gains on the economy's job front as the jobless rate hit a 25-month low. At 5.3% it is still well above the administration's stated goal of 4 per cent.
After a week of fighting, Algeria's rival politicians agreed to accept the leadership of dissident Deputy Premier Ahmed Ben Bella, but resolved none of their fundamental differences.

Jiggs McGee · 01-10-2025, 10:31 AM

AUGUST 13, 1962

SURGING SAILORS SNAP UP FIRST PLACE

Just over a month ago, the Continental Association looked all but over, but after winning each of their last three series, including a win over the Cleveland Foresters and a sweep of the Toronto Wolves, we have a new team piloting the Continental.

Going 24-12 since the first of July, San Francisco is now the only Continental club playing .600 ball, 64-42 and two games clear of the Foresters and Kansas City Kings in a tight race for the crown. Six teams are within nine games of first, the same amount as the St Louis Pioneers cushion in the Fed, and if it wasn't for a five game losing streak by the up-and-down Chicago Cougars, four teams would be within five games of first.

What makes the Sailors run most surprising is they've done it all without one of their best players, as All-Star shortstop Carlos Jaramillo (.296, 4, 27, 16) has been out since July 10th, and after getting swept their first series without him, they've gone 19-5. His replacement, rookie Art Johnson (.274, 11, 1), has held his own offensively and defensively, but Jaramillo is days away from his return, and penciling him in at the top of the lineup can only be a benefit for the Sailors.

In his absence, it's been the outfielders getting the job done, with a lot of the heavy lifting done by the red-hot John Kingsbury. One of the many All-Star snubs, he hit .404/.495/.652 (192 OPS+) in July and .455/.520/.614 (190 OPS+) in his first 10 August games, logging a combined 6 doubles, 4 triples, 5 homers, 28 RBIs, 31 runs, and 4 steals. Remarkably, he already has 13 runs in August, and the recently turned 25-year-old is hitting .356/.440/.530 (148 OPS+) on the season. His counterpart in right, Edwin Hackberry, has had similar success, batting .297/.393/.571 (144 OPS+) in July before upping that to .356/.453/.578 (163 OPS+) in August. Him and Kingsbury have started nearly every game for San Francisco, and Hackberry has a .291/.380/.504 (125 OPS+) line that displays great improvement from year two and three in the bay area. His 17 homers are already most as a Sailor, and he's looking for his first 20 homer season since he launched 32 as a Dynamo in 1957.

Adding to the success as been the pitching, as the 1-2-3 of Charlie Lawson (11-6, 3.77, 126), George Fuller (10-9, 3.68, 93), and Hank Lacey (10-5, 3.55, 101) have been outstanding. Since July, they're a combined 14-6, and all three hurlers have surpassed the double-digit win mark. They've also gotten six solid starts from Larry Knez, as after being cleared to pitch following rotator cuff surgery, he's 3-2 with a 2.57 ERA (177 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts. Still about two months to go, they have the top rotation ERA (3.88), the second lowest pen ERA (3.65), and the fewest runs allowed (458), all key factors in why they've been able to take the association lead. Can't forget about Ernie Carter (.322, 8, 80, 7) either, as the graduated top-10 prospect took home Player of the Week by going 11-for-24 with 3 doubles, a steal, a triple, 2 homers, and 10 RBIs. They have a ton of guys like Carter who can hit and defend, and it's no surprise they've been one of the better teams in 1962.

It's far too early to count Cleveland out, but they've lost 10 of their last 12, as the offense has stopped scoring and the staff is allowing more runs. For the first time basically all season, they're outside of the top-3 in both runs scored and allowed, ranked 4th in each at 577 and 509. Still effective, they score less then the Kings and prevent fewer runs then the Sailors, both of which currently look stronger then Cleveland. Adrian Czerwinski (10-6, 4.45, 125) still hasn't gotten the results he's used too, charged with 5 or more runs in each of his last three starts, while Hal Kennedy (.328, 16, 57) has gone from one of the top Conti hitters to more his usual self. On the bright side, Paul Williams (.295, 17, 62) is red hot, John Low (.293, 9, 62) is starting to look more like himself, and at 34 Sherry Doyal (.335, 18, 72, 6) is hitting more like he was at 24. Above all, there are plenty of games left, and the Foresters are no strangers to impressive late season runs to earn a pennant.

Don't count the Kings out either, as they're continuing to hang on in there. They also continue to trot out Hank Williams (.366, 31, 92, 4), Ken Newman (.342, 18, 10, 8), and Al Farmer (.310, 18, 71, 5), the best 3-4-5 bunch in the Conti. Atop the lineup, Pat Davis (.358, 12, 69, 31) has been tremendous, and top to bottom there is no real hole in the lineup. One surprise has been Bill Denney (.300, 10, 39, 6), who's got a 119 WRC+ and 1.042 efficiency at short, and they've started giving the rangey outfielder Tom Hicks (.244, 2, 23) more time in center. KC has a nice blend of youth and vets, something that can be said about the lineup and the staff. Rookies Allie Boone (4-1, 3.32, 46) and Gene Bailey (5-2, 2.91, 47) have looked more then up to the task, while they continue to get ace level production from the 30-year-old Beau McClellan (14-6, 3.75, 147). Fresh off a sweep of the Cougars, they're set up for a huge series in San Francisco, and they follow that up with a road series in LA and a home series with Cleveland. As big a nine games as any, it will test the Kings' grit and resolve, as we are truly in for a all-out melee for the crown.

*** Buddy Miller Makes Push for History ***

Rightfully, a lot of the focus when it comes to the quest for .400, most of the attention has been geared towards Ham Flanders (.383, 16, 81, 10). He had a real shot, finishing the month of July with a .397 batting average, but after a "slump" to start August (13-for-46), it's now actually Buddy Miller who has FABL's best batting average. After coming up short in his first full season as a starter, the reigning WCS MVP has a chance to reach the elusive .400 mark, or at least reach his previous personal best of .397.

After hitting .400/.464/.568 (167 OPS+) in July, Miller has been on a tear in August, hitting .451/.491/.706 (207 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 2 homers, a triple, steal, and 11 RBIs. This includes a Player of the Week award, as Buddy 14-for-31 with 5 extra base hits, 8 RBIs, and 9 runs scored. On the season, he's up to 390/.458/.576 (167 OPS+) -- more then good enough for his 9th All-Star selection. Somewhat overshadowed by Bob Bell (.389, 34, 87, 4), Jerry Smith (.310, 22, 80, 9), and the 72-win Pioneers, Miller has been putting up a Whitney-worthy performance, helping carry his team above .500. After a miserable start to the season, they're 22-14 since July 1st, and Miller has been a huge part of it.

Chasing .400 is always tough, just as Flanders or Miller himself, but he's a guy with three batting titles and a career .344 batting average. If anyone who isn't Hank Williams can do it, its Buddy, but raising the average 10 points is easier said then done. With 161 hits in 102 games, he's got about 40 games left, and a chance to reach 600 at bats. If he finished 79-for-131 -- a pace above 600 -- he'd have a chance to reach .400, but a run like that seems almost impossible. As unlikely as that is, even just a batting title is tough, as Whitney shoe-in Bob Bell is up to .389 himself. With less at bats, he could go 56-for-131 (.427), but he's got almost no chance to reach 500 at bats. Since 1905, no FABL hitter has hit .400 in less then 500 at bats, so if Bell can hit over .427 for the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see how the baseball world treats the feat.

Another week, another three homer game. For the fourth time in three weeks a player went deep three times. This time, for a change it was not against the Chicago Chiefs, who were victimized on the first three occasions. Instead it was in the Continental Association as Cleveland's Paul Williams ripped three longballs in a game against the Los Angeles Stars. It was part of a five-hit game for the 35-year-old.

ZAPATA ON HOT SEAT IN LATROBE

There may not be a college football coach with more riding on the current season than Jason Zapata of St Blane. As Zapata prepares for his fourth season as the head man with the Fighting Saints and the school yet to be ranked in the top twenty-five at the conclusion of any of those years there are many calling for him to be fired.

Zapata inherited the Fighting Saints job in 1959 under what really was a near impossible situation. He was replacing a legend with the retirement of Virgil Dragan after two decades at the school, two national titles and a decade long run where St Blane and college football success went hand in hand. Under Dragon, the Fighting Saints -together with rival Rome State- were the class of college football in the late 1940s with the highlight for Dragan's club being the 34-2-1 run from 1946-49 in which the Saints won the national title twice and finished second the other two years.

As recruiting rules changed and the game progressed other schools began to catch up. No longer would St. Blane have free pick of practically any high school senior they wanted after Rome State was done its selections during the World War II years. By 1950 the Saints were no longer the top destination, which helps explain that no St. Blane football player has been named to the All-American team since center Paul Sampson made the grade as a senior in 1950. The forties saw the Saints with a host of All-Americans and St Blane players won the Christian Trophy as the most outstanding player in college football three times: Mike O'Rourke in 1943, Ricky McCallister in 1947 and Bobby Leonard in 1949.

Without access to their pick of the talent, winning became much more difficult but that did not seem to deter Dragan who, after stumbling badly for a couple of years, guided the Saints to five straight top 10 finishes from 1952-56. Dragan stepped aside after consecutive 7-3 seasons in 1957 and 1958, and after a long search his former assistant Zapata was given the job.

The recruiting classes have tailed off even further and Zapata has gone 19-12 over his three seasons, which has patience waning very thin in a town where Dragan had spoiled the Saints faithful with just 4 unranked seasons total between 1941 and his retirement 17 years later.

Zapata will have his work cut out for him as for the second year in a row St. Blane failed to land a top twenty-five recruit but he does have the luxury of eight returning starters on defense and nine on offense. Senior quarterback Al Scheuneman has two seasons as a starter under his belt and his offensive line returns fully intact. Halfback Dan Blake and his 912 yards rushing are gone as is Gerry Townsend, who led the club with 27 catches a year ago but there are capable replacements. Whether that is enough to allow the Fighting Saints to finish in the top twenty-five for the first time since 1957 remains to be seen. Such a finish may be necessary for Zapata to ensure he is still the St. Blane head coach come the start of the 1963 season.

PACKERS SIGN THREE TO ADD TO DEPTH

One can easily make a case that the Chicago Packers are, from top to bottom, the most talented team in the NAHC. They have a strong goaltender in Andrew Bomberry, a stacked defense led by captain Phil Stukas, dependable veteran Guy Bernier and a rising star in Danny Connaughton and a talented collection of forwards with Ken York, Phil Bernier, Mark McGrath and J.P. Morissette leading the way.

Chicago finished second during the regular season a year ago while leading the loop in goals but bowed out to Detroit in the semi-finals. This year veteran Chicago head coach Mark Nader may just have the team to beat in a quest for what would be just the second Challenge Cup win in franchise history. The Packers are taking no chances as they were busy the past week adding depth to the organization with the signing of three players.

Odds are high that each of the three newcomers to the Packers will at least start the season in Pittsburgh but all could contribute if an injury arises. A pair of the new signings are blueliners in 26-year-old Alexandre Legare and 22-year-old Curtis Harrington. Legare won a CAHA championship with Verdun and has spent the past three seasons with the Syracuse Lancers of the HAA. He had a tryout with Montreal but has yet to play an NAHC regular season game. Harrington was a second round selection of the New York Shamrocks in 1959 but was released and after his junior career at Hull he played senior hockey in Western Canada before being called upon by the Packers.

The third addition to the Packers may have the best chance of breaking camp with the big club. That would be Patrick Geddes, a 24-year-old winger who scored 29 goals over three seasons with the Boston Bees and was a part of the Bees 1960 Cup winning squad. He spent last season with the Portland Ports of the Great Western Hockey League where he averaged nearly a point a game.

The Toronto Dukes also added some depth as, after trading Charlie Dell to Detroit, the Dukes were in the market for a third goaltender. David Taylor, a 21-year-old Toronto native who the Dukes selected in the third round of the 1960 NAHC draft, was tendered a contract after exhausting his junior eligibility. Taylor played four seasons for the Hull Hawks and will most assuredly be assigned to the Cleveland Eries by the Dukes as Toronto has a pair of goalies who each deserve to be considered number one netminders in Mike Connelly and Justin MacPhee.

NAHC training camps open in mid-September and each of the six teams will begin their preseason slate of games on September 26. The regular season opener is set for October 10 in Chicago with the Packers hosting the Toronto Dukes. The other four teams get underway a day later.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Brooklyn heavyweight Sammy Hardy suffered the first defeat of his career, falling to Jim Sisco in a bout in Lewiston, ME., last week. The 22-year-old Hardy is now 10-1-1 while Sisco, also 22 and hailing from Pittsburgh, improves to 21-2.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles.
September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 8/12/1962

Russia launched a third man into orbit, on a mission that is said to dwarf the 17-orbit, 25 hour flight of another Russian cosmonaut and provide data for a trip to the moon. The trip is believed to last at least a week.
Early today it was reported a second Russian craft was also orbiting in tandem with the first- a historic feat putting the Russians ahead in the race to the moon.
The United States wished the Russian spaceman a "happy landing" and promised not to endanger him with high altitude atomic explosions after a Tass report made an "appeal" not to hurt the cosmonaut.
The Atomic Energy Commission reports that the Soviets set off another atmospheric nuclear test last week in Central Siberia, but that it was in the "low kiloton range."
The Soviets officially rejected the latest US proposal for a nuclear weapons test ban, declaring the latest US offer in Geneva was "just the old American position dolled up in a new guise to deceive the neutrals."
East German Communists moved armor and truckloads of troops up to the Berlin wall as the first anniversary of the steel and concrete barrier across the city neared.
President Kennedy will address the nation on national tv and radio tonight. At that time he is expected to announce his decision on whether an emergency tax cut will be made this year.
More unrest in Argentina as four months after a coup ousted the former President, an army general has taken control of a garrison town near the northern border with Bolivia and proclaimed himself the new army commander in defiance of the Argentine War Secretary.

Jiggs McGee · 01-11-2025, 10:58 AM

AUGUST 20, 1962
SAILORS LEAD GROWS, PIONEERS SHRINKS

A hot streak has the San Francisco Sailors threatening to pull away in the Continental Association race while the St Louis Pioneers have suddenly become very uneasy about their control of the Federal Association flag chase.

The Sailors have won 24 of their last thirty games and have gone from third place, four games back of the Cleveland Foresters to first place and enjoying a four game bulge on Cleveland and the Kansas City Kings, who are tied for second. The Sailors stumbled slightly at the beginning of last week, dropping two of three at home to the Kings, but then reeled off four straight victories over the weekend while the Foresters and Kings each dropped three of four. The news is even better for the Sailors as defensive whiz Carlos Jaramillo returned to the lineup last week after the shortstop missed a little over a month with an injury.

While the Sailors prospered with their lead-off man Jaramillo sidelined, the St Louis Pioneers have suddenly looked mortal without theirs. Bill Bather, who was hitting .285 as the table-setter for the powerful heart of the Pioneers order when he went down in early July. The 29-year-old centerfielder is still likely three weeks away from returning. St Louis managed just fine for a stretch with Bather, winning 16 of 21 and extending their lead to 12 games on second place Detroit just 15 days ago. However, their current 5-9 run coupled with hot play from both the Dynamos and the Washington Eagles has allowed both clubs to close the gap. Detroit is on a 10-2 run and the Dynamos have cut the deficit in half, now trailing St Louis by six games. The Eagles were 15 back on August 5 and they too shaved six off the St Louis lead and are now within 9 games. Certainly, both Detroit and Washington have plenty of work ahead of them but it suddenly feels like there is a chance we may just see a pennant race in the Federal Association.

Cleveland's Paul Williams collected his 2,000th career hit last week in a win over Montreal. The 35-year-old centerfielder is also just one homerun shy of the 300 plateau.
Kansas City Kings outfielder Charlie Rogers hit his 500th career double in the 8th inning of a 9-4 loss to the Stars. While the season hasn’t been Roger’s best, he was 5-5 with 2 triples in Mondays win against San Francisco and is slashing .292/.330/.789 with 13HR, 18D, 8T with 61 RBI’s and 83 runs scored.
Rogers' teammate Fred Washington also hit a milestone as the 34-year-old righthander became the 46th pitcher to record 1,500 career strikeouts.
Brett Bing of the Toronto Mail & Empires pens about a solid week for the Wolves, who go 5-2 with big weeks from Sid Cullen, Tom Reed to climb back to within one game of the elusive goal, .500. Phil Colantuono wins in his first FABL start of the season. He was recalled off his rehab assignment faster than expected due to George Adams getting his head kicked in during 3 starts. Adams obviously needs more time at Buffalo, front office is contemplating whether or not to bring him back up in September.
Interesting note from Francis Stann of the Washington Times. At one point the Eagles run differential was at -30 but is now all the way up to +73.
For the second time in three weeks Washington corner infielder Tom Lorang was named player of the week and helped lead the Eagles to a perfect 7-0 week. George Whaley won it the week before Lorang's first win. Hard to imagine finding a better pair of corner infielders than the two youngsters in Washington. The rookie Whaley is just 19 and Lorang is already in his third full season despite turning just 21 earlier this month.
Speaking of talented young corner infielders, Montreal's Ham Flanders was named CA player of the week for the second time in less than a month. The 24-year-old rookie continues to lead FABL with a .388 batting average.
And another rookie first baseman to watch is Ed Howard of the Los Angeles Stars. He does not have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting race - just 163 at press time, but the 25-year-old is hitting .384.
Mixed results on young Chiefs pitching as the Chicago Herald-Examiner points out 19-year-old rookie John Thomas is 4-0(1.39 ERA) with two shutouts to start his FABL career. He is also 4-12 at the plate. On the other hand the Chiefs top prospect, 21-year-old Bud Andrews, is struggling in his first FABL action with a 6.91 ERA in his first five starts. There was a minor bright spot in that this was the first week since the final week of June that the Chiefs did not allow a double-digit run game against.

PEACH STATE LOOKS TO RECLAIM SEAT AT HEAD OF COLLEGE GRID TABLE

For the first time in five years college football's national champion did not hail from the Peach State as both Georgia Baptist and Noble Jones College came up short. Maryland State was crowned national champion ending the Gators two year run which was proceeded by back to back titles for the Colonels.

By the lofty standards that the Peach State has come to expect, first from Rome State throughout the 1940s and now from Deep South Conference rivals Georgia Baptist and Noble Jones College, the 1961 season was a bitter disappointment. Sure the Gators finished 9-2 and for the third straight year defeated Lubbock State on New Year's Day, but early season losses to section rivals Western Florida and Mississippi A&M cost Georgia Baptist its third straight Deep South Conference title and any hopes for a third consecutive national title. The fact they finished 5th in the polls, and one spot ahead of Cumberland which replaced them as Deep South banner holders, was of little solace.

It was even worse in both Augusta and Rome where the Colonels and Centurions spiraled. The Colonels, just two seasons removed from back to back 11-0 campaigns, had their worst season since a 4-6 year in 1952 as they stumbled through a 5-5 campaign that started badly -with a loss to Eastern Oklahoma- and ended even worse with three defeats in their final four games including blow out losses in Tennessee to Cumberland and worst of all a 35-3 shellacking at the hands of Georgia Baptist to end the season.

If Noble Jones College supporters were despondent, it was even worse for Rome State. The military academy is now far removed from its title years during WWII but up until very recently the Centurions had been a fixture in the national rankings. 1961 can be summed up in one word - embarrassing- as Rome State finished with its worst season since that dreadful scandal ridden 1951 club went 2-7. Last year's 4-6 finish was just the second losing season in Centurions modern day (post 1940) history and concluded with the Centurions first loss to rival Annapolis Maritime since 1952.

All three Georgia football schools have something to prove this year. The Gators may be best positioned to bring the state another national title but coach Wickey Tharpe will have his work cut out for him as Georgia Baptist was hit hard by graduation, losing quarterback Paul Ott, his top two halfbacks and his entire core of ends plus a gaggle of key performers on defense. The Gators were built to win a year ago but this year, on paper at least seems to be a season of retooling.

Long-time Noble Jones College head coach Dick Donnelly has been through some ups and downs before and does have some key talent returning so a bounce back to contention certainly seems a good possibility. Backs Tom Bell and John Shackelford combined for nearly 2,000 yards rushing a year ago and both will be counted on heavily as seniors this time around. The key will be to turn around a defense that often looked disorientated a year ago and was badly overmatched in stopping the run against better teams.

Rome State may simply have to face the new reality. This is not the 1940s when the Centurions had their pick of nearly any high school senior they desired. It is the not early fifties either, when the school was still a football power. Poor recruiting classes have caught up with the Centurions and while there still is some elite talent, Rome State simply does not have the depth to be considered an elite football school any longer. Frank Stokes took over as head coach last year and his first recruiting class was not bad, ranked 36th, but lacked a single recruit ranked by OSA in the top 100.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Shreveport, LA., welterweight Ronnie Hebert scored an unanimous decision over Ray Roberts last week, improving the 25-year-old's record as a professional to 19-5-3.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles.
September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens..

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 8/19/1962

Both Russian cosmonauts came down safely with bullseye landings in Kazakhstan after zipping around the world for a total of almost 3 million miles. The leader was aloft for nearly four full days and his flanker for nearly three.
Secretary of Defense McNamara is happy with the U.S. space plans and says he sees no reason why the United State should alter its carefully charted path because of Russia's spectacular double orbit.
An angry crowd of West Berliners gathered at the wall near where East German police shot a young refugee off the wall and left him to bleed to death last week. A teenage girl, fleeing the East at the same time as the shooting, managed to successfully reach the western side and was taken to a West Berlin hospital in shock. Berliners are turning there anger towards the United States for failing to act to help victims of East German police.
Deciding against a quick tax cut, President Kennedy announced plans for a "creative" slash in income tax effective next January 1. The President told the Nation in an optimistic economic review that an emergency tax cut "could not now be either justified or enacted" but he added that present high taxes are a "drag on the economy" and vowed to remove "tax roadblocks to new jobs and new growth."
Republican congressional leaders called for the President to blueprint his 1963 tax cut proposals before Congress adjourns and institute an immediate cut in Federal spending.
A special report released this week suggests that the American military feels cautious optimism about the war in Viet Nam after a recent push last winter to keep the wavering country from falling behind the Iron Curtain.

Tiger Fan · 01-12-2025, 11:30 AM

AUGUST 20, 1962 - part II

Tales From The Den

Wolves Recap Plus a Look Ahead -Wolves fans seem to be witnessing a turn in the Toronto club's fortunes after more than a decade in the hinterlands. With a record of 56-57 going into the final six weeks of the season there seems to be a new optimism for long suffering Wolves rooters.

Under freshman manager Randy Hohlt the team has avoided the long losing streaks that had been far too common to the team since the club's glory days through the war years in the Forties. This edition of the Wolves seems to be on a more even keel with far more enthusiasm every day at the park. Hohlt's biggest improvement has been in the field, one of his stated goals in the spring, as no longer is the team beating itself with errors that continuously put added stress on the pitchers by handing the opponent extra trips to plate. The team has moved from one of the, if not the worst, fielding teams in the FABL to being in the upper tier of prevent runs with the glove.

There are still improvements to be made, in particular at first base and in right field. One of the major reasons that Jim Allen was DFA'd before being traded to Kansas City was his work in the field. The Mail & Empire is also hearing that team had told him that they would try to move to contender this season if he was not part of their long-term plans. The return for Allen was a sweepstakes ticket in southpaw hurler Charlie LaFoy, but any team could have claimed Allen for free off the waiver wire. Wolves seem to be making a move to shore defense in the infield by recently moving Tom Reed to first which provides the double bonus of allowing a spot in the lineup for Frank Hardin.

After a slow start the pitching staff has come around since May to be in the upper half of the Continental Association. The weakest part if the number of balls that have been coming of the bats then coming to rest in the seats. Wolves pitching has allowed a CA high of 119 round trippers led by staff ace Arnie Smith's 25. Other starters have allowed 18 by both Lee Loeffler and Bill Medley while Jimmy Pepper has surrendered 17 longballs. The Front Office thought they had ample pitching depth in Buffalo, but it just required a little seasoning. The initial try with George Adams was somewhat of a failure who quickly proved he needed more work on his control. In 16 innings of work with Toronto Adams walked 12 gave up 34 hits which prompted an earlier than expected recall from a rehab assignment for Phil Colantuono who hurt his arm in the spring. Looking to the near future the team needs at least one the prospects, probably two, to make the jump from Buffalo in 1963. The acquisition of Zeke Blake has turned the relief corps around this season although it does lack any semblance of depth which may be another off-season project for the GM.

At the dish the team is what most experts thought the Wolves would be in 1962. Tom Reed (.321/.395/.534) is leading a mainly left-handed hitting lineup. The team has brought Hardin up to Toronto in an attempt to score more runs. Hardin is also a lefthanded hitter. Fans are clamoring to see Ed Savage who is tearing up the Union League with a .332/.447/.623 line but he, too, is a lefty. The knock on Savage is his fielding which was evident in the spring and unfortunately it has not improved much, if at all, in AAA. Savage will be a fielding project in the off-season. Chick Reed, Clyde Fisher, Ty Rusconi, Sid Cullen have all chipped in at the plate along with Jesse Taylor who has older fans recalling Charlie Artuso with his play at short. The GM has to find one or more hitters from the right side to balance the lineup as the lefties have trouble against southpaws with a 12-17 record so far in 1962.

Overall, the team is taking tentative steps forward, now they must continue to progress through the middle of the Sixties.

SOARING COSTS FAIL TO CUT TV GRID COVERAGE IN '62

Only spacemen are soaring higher than the cost of broadcasting football games. Example: In 1940 the Mutual Broadcasting System paid the princely sum of $2,500 for the right to broadcast on a Nation-wide radio network for the first time a professional football championship game. The event was a 20-7 Brooklyn Kings victory over the Detroit Maroons at Thompson Field.

In the next two years, CBS is spending more than $20 million for rights to televise the 14-game American Football Association schedule along with its playoffs plus 14 college games on Saturday.

For most fans of the pro game that means you will see all of your local club's away games but none of the home games. A different game will be broadcast if the local outfit is playing at home. In the AIAA college slate every section of the country is represented in the 14-game offering and will feature one key match, aired nationally across the country, each Saturday of the season.

Total broadcast time of the television and upwards of 60 national radio games will be about 220 hours. This is almost the number of hours science has calculated it will take for a trip to the moon. The broadcasts also will cost almost as much.

Jiggs McGee · 01-13-2025, 11:12 PM

AUGUST 27, 1962

SAILORS START PULLING AWAY IN CA
KINGS HOPE TO KEEP IT A TWO WAY RACE FOR SEPTEMBER

Just when the Continental Association started to get good, the San Francisco Sailors got better, and they've followed up their 16-8 July with a 17-7 August. Winners of 8 of their last 10, they've recently won series against the Cincinnati Cannons and Chicago Cougars, and now they're at least seven games ahead of everyone but Kansas City. They play them just one more time this season, three games in the city of fountains, and those could prove to be what determines the winner of the pennant.

It's funny the Foresters aren't consider in any of this, as Cleveland has lost 19 of their last 27. August has been brutal for their stars, as both Rufus Barrell (0-3, 7.76, 8) and Adrian Czerwinski (0-3, 7.09, 14) have been awful. Same goes for Hal Kennedy (.158, 2, 7), as only John Low (.345, 4, 16) and Sherry Doyal (.313, 4, 10, 1) did much of anything. A surprising decline from the Continental dynasty head, their poor form pretty much eliminates them from the playoffs, and they're at risk of finishing outside the top three for the first time since they were a CA worst 60-94 in 1948.

Kansas City is about all the hope we have for a race, but after struggling with elbow problems all season, Ken Newman's season will finally have to end because of it. A huge loss for the Kings, the 33-year-old hit .336/.443/.585 (160 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 19 homers, 67 walks, 87 RBIs, and 95 runs, snubbed of what should have been his 11th All-Star selection. Adding depth like Joe Dorch (.310, 3, 27) could pay off now, as he's a decent bat and can fill out the back of a lineup. Ahead of him will still be Pat Davis (.364, 15, 77, 34), Charlie Rogers (.297, 14, 64, 11), Hank Newman (.371, 32, 98), Al Farmer (.315, 21, 81, 6), and Bob Burge (.317, 8, 75). Even without Newman, they'll still put up runs, but making up a three game deficit without one of their top players will be tough.

Pioneers Still Holding Off Dynamos, Set to Enter September As Leader

With five days left and a six game lead, the St. Louis Pioneers are guaranteed to enter the last full month of the season as the Federal Leader. One of the biggest storylines around the Pioneers have been the pitching, but they have a chance to see their young star finish the season with a .400 season. Slashing an absurd .390/.490/.769 (214 OPS+), Bob Bell's average is just ten points away, and it comes with 37 homers, 92 RBIs, and 100 runs scored. With that and elite defense (11.1 ZR, 1.083 EFF), he should be the Whitney selection barring a late season injury, and having Jerry Smith (.301, 22, 83, 11) and Steve Schultz (.307, 21, 92) batting behind him as certainly helped.

Detroit still has a chance, six games back, with a recent change being made to their rotation. $150k man Howie French (10-7, 2, 4.05, 94) has been moved to the pen from the rotation, as deadline pickup Bud Henderson (5-5, 5.15, 51) has been outstanding since the trade. The former Star is 3-1 in 5 starts and a relief appearances, working to a 2.61 ERA (174 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 8 walks, and 9 strikeouts. Seemingly himself after not having any success post-injury, starts from him have made the Dynamos trade look better, as Virgil Ewing (.285, 13, 77) has been average and without his power. They need a lot of help from the rest of the association, but don't expect Verlin Alexander's club to give up anytime soon.

The injury bug bit a trio of Continental Association clubs last week. Kansas City, desperately trying to close the gap on San Francisco, will have to do so without the services of Ken Newman as the 33-year-old, who had spent most of the season at first base because of an ongoing elbow issue, hurt the joint making a throw in a rare start at third base last week. The 3-time Whitney Award winner, who was batting .336 with 19 homers, is done for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile the Chicago Cougars, who are presently 7 games off the pace have lost lead-off man and centerfielder Jerry McMillan (.335,17,62) for a couple of weeks with a hamstring issue.
The Cincinnati Cannons are likely out of the running for the CA flag, sitting 10 games back and in sixth place. The Cannons also learned that Jim York (11-11, 5.51) is done for the year as the 25-year-old will need surgery on his elbow.
The news was not all bad for Newman as he did sign a 1-year extension with the Kings for what at the moment is a record salary of $204,000. Currently Dallas Berry of Cincinnati, Jerry Smith of St Louis and Adrian Czerwinski of the Cleveland Foresters are the highest paid players in FABL, earning a reported $200,000 each for this season. Newman is being paid $187,500 for this season.
Detroit is getting what it hoped for from Bud Henderson, who is 3-1, 2.61 since the trade with the Stars but third baseman Virgil Ewing (.257,3,14), while still a big improvement on the now released and in the minors with Pittsburgh Tommy Griffin, is underperforming from what he accomplished in Los Angeles. One of the prospects dispatched by Detroit to the west coast in the deal, young pitcher Jim Schoolfield, is off to a strong start since being called up by the Stars. The 21-year-old has a 0.93 era after 9 relief appearances.
It was a foregone conclusion practically from opening day but the expansion New York Imperials officially became the first team eliminated from pennant contention after absorbing their sixth consecutive loss last Tuesday. The Imperials are 30-89 and on pace to lose a record 115 games. No team in the Continental Association has ever lost more than the 108 defeats saddled on the 1911 Philadelphia Sailors. The FABL record is 111 set by the Detroit Dynamos in 1935 while the team with the most losses in major league baseball history is the 1890 Century League's Pittsburgh Miners, who went 28-112 although the 1883 Baltimore Bannerman did have a lower winning percentage than those Miners, going just 15-83 (.153) in Century League play.
Harry Dellinger of the Philadelphia Keystones had a great week, winning top honours in the Federal Association for the past seven days after going 15-for-30 with 3 homers last week. Included in the 24-year-old's big week was a 5-hit game in a win over the Boston Minutemen. Dellinger was not the only player to enjoy a five-hit outing last week as Charlie Rogers also turned the trick in the Kansas City Kings 10-1 drubbing of Cleveland last Tuesday. Rogers did not win CA player of the week but his teammate Ed Farmer, who hit .462 with a pair of homers, did.
Frenchy Mack won his 75th career game last week. The 25-year-old Pioneers star is 19-4 with a FABL best 2.15 era this season and his overshadowing teammate Billy Hasson (17-7, 3.14), who is a 3-time Allen Award winner.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

A mild upset last week as fighters from opposite coasts met in St Louis. Highly touted west coast welterweight Roger Lewis, a 24-year-old who was seemingly on the fast track to contention, lost for just the second time in 18 outings when he was outpointed by Billy Dvorak on Thursday evening. The only previous defeat suffered by the San Francisco native Lewis came early in his career when he was disqualified from a bout with John Wallace. This outing was decidedly one-sided as Dvorak, a 22-year-old who hails from Columbia, MD., and was fighting in just his 7th professional bout, dominated the meeting. Not much attention had been paid to Dvorak but perhaps that will change after he ran his record to a perfect 7-0, although Lewis was the first fighter with much of a pedigree that Dvorak has faced.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles.
September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 8/26/1962

Britain and the United States made another proposal for a treaty for an unpoliced ban on nuclear tests in the atmosphere, under water and in outer space but the Soviet Union immediately turned a cold shoulder on the idea. The Western plan also suggested continuing to work on a treaty to ban tests in environments, but with the provision for international on-site inspection of suspicious tremors which might indicate underground tests.
United States Disarmament Agency officials expressed the belief that Red China will set off another nuclear explosion within a matter of months. The Agency believes that unless a ban is put in place over the next few years at least 20 countries not now possessing a nuclear capability will be able to deliver nuclear devices.
The United States blamed the Soviet Union for "wanton provocations" and "senseless" police cruelty in the Soviet sector of Berlin following the illegal erection of the Berlin Wall. In a note delivered to Moscow, it once again called on Russian officials to meet with the US, Britain and France "to find ways of reducing dangerous tensions and restoring normal conditions to Berlin."
An off-course Mariner II spacecraft rocketed into space today on an intended 109-day trip to explore the planet Venus. Despite severe trajectory errors, Cape Canaveral staff is hopeful they could correct most of it by remote control signals to an on-board motor.
The United States blamed shelling on Havana last week on an underground exile Cuban students group and said it had no advance knowledge of the attack. More than 60 mortar shells were launched at Havana's Miramar suburban shore area Friday night. Fidel Castro had blamed the U.S. for the attack.

ayaghmour2 · 01-15-2025, 12:23 PM

SEPTEMBER 3, 1962

Dynamos Win Five Straight, Federal Title Firmly in Reach

Just when the Federal Association looked all wrapped up, the Detroit Dynamos moved within three games, as they took advantage of some subpar play from the first place Pioneers. While the leaders were a game under in August, the Dynamos went 21-8, and have now given themselves a chance to take the Association from a team that thought they had everything wrapped up.

Moves in the rotation sparked the comeback, and 25-year-old righty Earl Shields won Pitcher of the Month despite starting the month in the bullpen. A perfect 4-0 with 2 saves in 5 starts and 3 relief appearances, he worked to an impressive 2.50 ERA (182 ERA+) with 18 strikeouts. He allowed three or fewer runs in three of his starts, including 7.1 scoreless in New York. A hard thrower, he's able to over power batters, and him and Bud Henderson (4-1, 2.40, 33; 6-5, 4.85, 57) have been lights out since they replaced Howie French (12-7, 2, 3.91, 99) and Larry Beebe (6-6, 1, 5.76, 44) in t he rotation. Both have done well in the pen, and with a more complete lineup they've really started to thrive. Reigning Kellogg winner Ray Waggoner's (.358, 28, 99) sophomore season has been just as good, and they can produce plenty of runs with him, Joe Reed (.293, 24, 96, 8), and Cecil Gregg (.297, 15, 96, 7) all within four RBIs of 100. Lengthening the lineup now is Ed McNaughton (.318, 10, 56, 27), a potential Kellogg candidate who's seized the third spot in the lineup.

After a game with the Millers, the Dynamos may use their off day to head to St. Louis, where they'll play potentially the biggest series of the season. Depending on Monday's results, they have a chance to take a share or more of the lead with a sweep. Before their current series, they lost three in a row, and with a win in Chicago they can at least enter their tough battle off a sweep. Still ranked 1st in runs scored and allowed, they are a dangerous force, but the loss of Bill Bather (.285, 13, 33, 6) as the leadoff hitter has been felt. In his absence, young outfielder Ray O'Conner (.257, 2, 24, 4) has matched, or at least come close to, Bather's elite defense, but the difference in the bat is massive. Bather had a 123 WRC+ in 76 games, while O'Conner's is down to 76 in three fewer. On top of that, since the 9th of July when Bather went down, they've gone 27-20, as opposed to the 54-25 with him healthy. Bather is still three weeks away from recovery, leaving him a little over a week to return. At one point, it looked like it didn't matter, but as their backs are approaching the wall, St. Louis is really wishing their center fielder never strained his hamstring.

Sailors, Kings Set For Epic Clash

What happens when you take the #1 offense and the #1 pitching staff?

In the Continental? A difference of three games!

For this iteration, the top pitching staff is the one on top, as the Sailors hold the three game lead over the Kings. They don't meet until next week, and that works really well for the Sailors. While KC gets the 5th and 6th place teams, the Sailors get the 7th and 8th, including the 58-68 Saints in San Francisco. The rotation was more average then good, as the offense has been kicking things up into gear recently. Named both Batter and Rookie of the Month, Ernie Carter (.338, 10, 99, 7) overperformed the Ham Flanders' (.385, 23, 95, 12), Hank Williams' (.367, 33, 101). and Dallas Berry's (.325, 37, 107, 14) of the association, hitting a productive .385/.430/.624 (167 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 23 runs, 32 RBIs, and 10 walks. An option for the Kellogg, his next RBI will be his 100th, as he's logged 43 extra base hits and 3.7 WAR in 99 games.

It takes more then just one guy to get the job done, and that level of depth allowed the Sailors to survive without their best player. Of course, Carlos Jaramillo (.296, 5, 36, 21) is back now, and they've gotten consistent contribution from Carter, Edwin Hackberry (.288, 19, 77, 19), John Kingsbury (.341, 15, 84, 10), Heinie Spitler (.339, 4, 62, 22), and Ray Rogan (.313, 11, 72). None of these guys may come to mind when you think star, but in baseball, it's not always about how bright the stars shine, but more about how the sum of the parts can produce more value then the whole. All they need now is for their young 1-2 punch of Charlie Lawson (14-7, 3.90, 138) and George Fuller (12-10, 3.96, 105) to hold up, else they run the risk of coming up just short for the second year in a row.

You can't count out the Kings, especially not with Williams in the center of the lineup, as he recently became the second FABL star to reach the 100 RBI mark. Him and Pat Davis (.357, 15, 79, 35) are close to Flanders in the batting race, and like the Sailors, their lineup depth allows them to overcome absences. The pitching may be what holds them back, as while rookies Allie Boone (7-1, 3.86, 77) and Gene Bailey (8-3, 3.10, 65) have impressed, the guys they've been handing games off to haven't. Their rotation is great, 2nd in the Conti in ERA, but that pen is five spots lower, and aside from talented righty Del Lamb (6-4, 11, 3.17, 57) they don't have many guys the experienced Glenn Carney can call on. In a tight race, the close games can make the difference, and at 21-18 in one-run games they aren't all that great. Dominant most of the year, it's a coin flip when it's close, and coming from behind they need a lot to break in their favor.

Tales From The Den

Wolves limit their callups to only two, so far, bringing up P George Adams, C Al Curtis. Two reasons for the limited number: 1) Buffalo is young team trying to capture their first Union League title since 1920. Wolves management does not want to rain on the long suffering Nickels' fans. 2) The brain trust is waiting for the end of the Gulf States League season next week to make further moves in the system. A beneficiary of the Adams move was Bill Carpenter who was promoted to AA Chattanooga after going 3-2, 3.53 in 12 A starts with Davenport. Carpenter needs to some work on his control of both the plate and avoidance of the long ball. He gave up 11 HR, 37 BB over 74 IP in the 12 starts.

After Ed Savage' first week in the FABL 6 games posting a line of .538/.613/.923 with 2 HR 13 RBI 1.536 OPS the fans are asking "What took you so long?" Manage Hohlt's defensive concern about defense was borne out as he made 1 error in 13 chances but Hohlt has said "He is making daily progress working with Miyake."

9 game losing streak for the Imps. Second longest of the year. On a positive note C league OF Andy Bailey won UMVA player of the week hitting .522
Paul Williams clubs HR number for Cleveland. The 35 year old 8 time All-Star had his first 240 shots with Pittsburgh before being dealt to the Foresters in 6 player deal during the 1959 off-season. Two weeks ago he recorded his 2000th hit.
A pair of Tuckers, Dick and Mickey, both hit their 100th career home run
A pair of Kings, Hank Williams and Dan Smith, both hit their 400th career extra base hits
Young players dominated the awards in August. Rookie third basemen Ernie Carter (.385, 4, 32, 1) took home Batter and Rookie of the Month in the Continental, while fellow 21-year-old Tom Lorang (.391, 10, 31) took Batter of the Month in the Fed. A third 21-year-old, rookie Allie Boone (4-1, 3.86, 49), somewhat surprisingly one Continental Pitcher of the Month, giving rookies all three of the monthly awards.
The oldest winner was 25-year-old Earl Shields (4-0, 2, 2.50, 30), a second year pitcher who started all 5 of his FABL starts in August. Wrapping up the awards is one of the youngest players in the league, as 19-year-old and last year's #1 pick George Whaley (337, 8, 28, 3) earned the award in his first full month in the majors.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Veteran Louisiana welterweight Ronnie Hebert ran his record to 20-5-3 with an unanimous decision over Roy Roberts (18-15-2) in California last week.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles.
September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens..

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 9/02/1962

Up to 9,500 are feared dead after a major earthquake struck Iran. It buried 75 villages under mud and debris, leaving an estimated 100,000 homeless.
An announcement by Russia that it will send military equipment and technicians to Cuba is seen by United States officials as merely confirmation of what has been going on for a long time. A Russian statement said arms and specialists will be provided to meet "the threats of aggressive imperialist quarters with regards to Cuba."
The United States says it has strong witness evidence of Cuba shooting at a US Navy Plane Thursday but no photographs.
Since angered West Berliners stoned Russian guard buses after the fatal shooting recently of an East German teen trying to scale the Berlin wall, Russian troop changes of guards at the Russian war memorial in West Berlin have been forced to be accompanied by United States and British escort vehicles.
All commercial air traffic was grounded for over 5 hours as some 2,000 military aircraft flashed through the skies in a vast mock war to test North America's air defenses.

ayaghmour2 · 01-16-2025, 12:13 PM

SEPTEMBER 10, 1962

Pioneers Survive Clash With Dynamos, Maintain Three Game Lead

In one of the biggest series of the season, the St. Louis Pioneers stayed firm, and after a month of wavering, they played excellent ball to fight off the Dynamos. It started on Wednesday, when they opened the series with a three-run first inning homer from Steve Schultz as the Pioneers got things going with a crucial 5-3 win. Schultz, the everyday third basemen, is one of the overlooked sluggers, and again, he was the difference in the second game. Two of the hottest pitchers, Earl Shields (10-7, 16, 3.21, 76) and Frenchy Mack (20-5, 2.07, 241) were called upon to do battle, and Schultz was the only one to have any sort of impact. It came in the 4th, where he led off the inning with a solo shot. That was all the scoring, as Frenchy Mack got all but two outs of a shutout, winning his 20th game of the season. The first of likely many, he's the clear favorite for the Allen, currently leading all three triple crown categories

Back to Schultz, the unsung hero, he was just 1-for-5 in the 7-4 loss to the Dynamos, but when they needed him to finish the week, again the 27-year-old showed up. In the end, it was a tight 7-6 victory, but without his power, they wouldn't have came out on top. 2-for-4 with a pair of homers, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs, Schultz took second place on the team with 26 home runs, and his 104 RBIs are more then both Whitney winners on the team. A useful defender becoming known for the bat, he's got a strong .309/.356/.490 (112 OPS+) batting line, and he's really showing the benefit of a team flush with depth. When you have Bob Bell (.381, 40, 99, 6), Jerry Smith (.299, 24, 89, 13), and Danny Davis (.346, 17, 78), and the three headed monster of Mack, Billy Hasson (19-7, 3.06, 167), and Steve Madden (13-9, 3.21, 123), it's easy to get lost in the shuffle, but Schultz is trying to add his name to the list of top-tier talent.

It's not over for the Dynamos, as with wins in their other three games, they haven't lost any ground on the leaders. Gaining some would be nice, but they crushed the Millers in Detroit and picked up two more one-run wins at home with New York. Game two against the Gothams was a hard-earned victory, as they were able to overcome errors and a late deficit. Paul Anderson (14-4, 2.97, 110) pitched a gem, going 9 with 7 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts, but one of those two runs was unearned. When he left the game, he was down 2-1, and with help from a Gotham error, pinch hitter George Hartnett (.250, 1, 14) was given the opportunity to tie the game with a single. To keep the game tied, recently turned 22-year-old southpaw Dave Irwin (3-2, 1, 3.56, 37) got through with five pitches. In the bottom half, the bases were loaded for deadline acquisition Virgil Ewing (.290, 16, 91), who despite his power outage, ended things with a walk-off single.

This still leaves Detroit with three games to make up, and they'll have to rely on the rest of their Fed counterparts. With 21 games left, there is still plenty of time, but they'll have to start the winning soon. Lucky for them, just them, the Pioneers, and Eagles are even over .500, so they should be winning far more then they lose. They do have to deal with the Eagles one more time, set for the 24th to 26th, which is one of just two more home series. Three if you count the final game against the Gothams, but for a team who plays .700 ball at home and .532 on the road, they would feel farm more confident if they had more then just a third of their remaining games at Thompson Field.

Kings Stumble in Chicago, See Postseason Odds Fall to Single Digits

8.9%

That's the chance OSA gives the Kansas City Kings to finish in first place.

It was much higher a few days ago, but after they spent their weekend losing to the Cougars, and the Sailors spent theirs beating the Wolves, KC could not do what Detroit did, and keep the deficit at three games. Facing one of the few staffs that can measure up to the Sailors, The Kings got seven through nine innings of the opener, but the Cougars damaged ace Beau McClellan (16-8, 3.48, 172) and the pen to make the Kings 7th run tie the game in the ninth, not secure the win. Despite allowing said run, the Cougars trusted veteran Archie Wilson (11-3, 9, 2.91, 40) with 8-9-1. Needing just 10 pitches, he got a quick 1-2-3, as the Kings went to former starter Curly Anderson (10-6, 4.52, 82). Recently recalled pinch-hitter Moe Holt (.200) got things going with a single, his first of the year, but when trying to advance him with a bunt the Kings got the lead rounder.

That proved to be crucial, as has Holt been on second, he'd have scored on Mooney Vetter's (.281, 10, 55) tenth double of the season. Instead, the inning continued, and pinch-hitter and former King John Morrison (.312, 6, 20) struck out to bring up a former King prospect, the light hitting Buddy Byrd (.267, 2, 24, 16). Byrd did something he almost never does, draw a walk, and the bases were loaded for a guy who was 2-for-5 and was in just his second week as a FABL player. Down 0-2, Bobby Martinez (.431, 1, 8, 3) took a ball and then fouled off a tough pitch, allowing the 52nd ranked prospect to send the fans home happy with a "single" that could have saw the speedy outfielder end up on second or third.

In the middle game, the Cougars pitching was as expected, as starter Hank Walker (8-8, 4.54, 95) held the guests to 9 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 6.2 innings. On the flip side, Jack Halbur (6-14, 4.46, 85) was roughed up, forced out in the sixth after 10 hits and 7 runs. Brought in to stabilize the rotation, Halbur has really struggled in his 9 starts, just 1-5 with a 5.43 ERA (84 ERA+), 1.56 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts. He's allowing more homers, his walk rate is up, and most importantly, he's allowing a lot more runs. Almost a run and a half per nine, as KC may have wished they acquired the other Chiefs starter, Dick Champ (8-7, 4.07, 105), who has gone 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA (117 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, and 40-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Working in the Kings favor is that they have a lot of home games, including a huge three game series with the Sailors after they leave Chicago. If they can make up a game on Monday, they'd be within four of first, and even two of three brings them back within three. They'll later play host to the Stars, Saints, and Imperials, with four more home games left then road. 33-34 away from Prairie Park, homefield advantage certainly makes a difference, but if they can't beat the Sailors in KC, it won't matter how many more home games they end up with.

Tales From The Den

Wolves Seek Consistency

Wolves Manager Hohlt "We seem not to be able to capitalize on success, a good week is immediately followed by a bad week. We need to get some consistency in our game." Wolves go 1-5 following a 6-1 week, including a wild football score 14-10 loss to SF on Saturday when Ed Hackberry, 35, lit up the staff going 5 for 5 with 3 HR 8 RBI along with adding insult to injury by gunning a runner at third with a perfect throw. Sailors are now 13-1 when Toronto is the opponent this year, the final game in the season series is today at Dominion Stadium, Wolves will not be sorry to see the Sailors for last time until next spring. Word has been passed through the league on Ed Savage, he was plunked by Cannons' starter Charlie Warren during his first game this week.

In the system there are moves being made after the conclusion of Tuscaloosa season in which Tomcats finished second one game behind Hattiesburg. In the Union League the Nickels continue to seek their first title in four decades. They are one game ahead of Syracuse after being no hit the Excelsiors' Herb Drennan yesterday 8-0 where Drennan came one walk away from a perfect game. In Chattanooga the Reliables are in fourth only 3 games out in what promises to be a wild final two weeks in Dixie League. Third sacker Stan Merrick, 20, who was drafted in the second round in 1960 had his 22 game hitting streak broken this week by Nashville. Merrick continues his rapid rise up the system with a line in AA of .325/.398/.531 over 527 PA. He is going to contribute to the logjam in the Wolves organization with LHB. Bill Carpenter won his first start for the Reliables going 7 giving up only 2 hits, striking out 5, walking no one in the same game Merrick's hitting streak came to an end.

Montreal Saints highly ranked prospect C Henry Woods is climbing the depth chart very quickly this season. He start the season in Mobile B level but since the half season been moved to A and AA. Then last week he was sent out to Syracuse to finish the season where he got 9 hits in 23 AB... For sure he will be getting an invite to spring camp with Montreal.
Sticking with the Saints farmhands, SP Herb Brennan got a no-hitter in his first start at AAA level for Syracuse
Back in 1950, Ralph Capriotti was drafted 3rd overall by Detroit. This past week, the 29-year-old Capriotti--after 1204 minor league games and 4407 minor league plate appearances--made his FABL debut with the Millers, hitting .385/.467/.769.
Capriotti may be best remembered for his part in the blockbuster trade between the Dynamos and Kings involving Ralph Johnson, Bob Arman, and Dan Smith. A lot of the players are still involved in baseball, including Johnson, who at 38 has settled into a bench role. Him and Capriotti are now teammates in Minneapolis, and on the 7th both played in the same game, pinch hitting for the first spot int he lineup
Other active FABL members of the 1951 trade include Johnson's and Capriotti's teammate Walt Staton (1-4, 1, 6.71, 27), Minutemen catcher Elmer Sanders (.307, 3, 12), Sailors utility infielder Chet Harris (.321, 1, 11), and Cougar first basemen John Morrison (.312, 6, 20).
The most impactful, however, are the two Kings pitchers that are still with the team today. While not nearly as effective now, 34-year-old Fred Washington (8-8, 4.98, 79) is a 5-Time All-Star and 2-Time Allen Winner, while their other 5-Tme All-Star Beau McClellan (16-8, 3.48, 172) is the undisputed ace of the staff. He currently ranks as the 4th best pitcher in FABL, and while the trade brought titles to the Motor City, the Kings received plenty of pitching talent from the transaction.
Both Arch Wilson (11-3, 9, 2.91, 40) and Pug White (11-7, 15, 3.15, 91) won their 11th games of the season for the Cougars, tied for the team lead. For a team formerly known for elite starters and a poor pen, it's ironic seeing two relievers in double digit wins, while the next closest starter is Roy Ellis (9-5, 3.66, 127) is two wins behind. Chicago leads the CA with a 3.52 pen ERA, getting 178.2 innings elite innings out of their two high leverage arms.
Former basketball star Charlie Barrell (.267, 18, 62) hit his 1,500th career hit in a 3-for-5 against the Saints. The Stars finished the game 9-7 winners. Initial a two-sport player, this milestone would likely have been 2,000 had he stuck to baseball. Just 32, it's still an option, as the 8-Time All-Star has been able to play a lot more since dedicating himself to baseball.

DEFENDING CHAMPS WIN GRID OPENER, BUT SAINTS AND BUCKS STUMBLE

Defending National Champion Maryland State kicked off a light schedule on the opening weekend of collegiate football with a rather pedestrian showing in a 10-0 blanking of the Portland Tech Magpies, but at least the Bengals started the campaign off on the right foot, which is something that a pair of top ten schools in St Blane and Travis College failed to do.

The Bengals, who finished 10-1 and capped their first national title with a dominating 48-6 win over Oklahoma City State in the Sunshine Classic last New Years Day, did not crack the top ten in the first collegiate poll of 1962. Instead, Maryland State is ranked 11th after a less than impressive win over Portland Tech. Blame it on the long trip cross-country perhaps, but the heavily favoured Bengals needed nearly 44 minutes before they finally opened the scoring late in the third quarter when Mike Hudson broke free on a 21-yard touchdown scamper to cap a 15-play, 91-yard drive that finally showcased what the Bengals offense can do when it is rolling. An early fourth quarter field goal by Jack Shaw rounded out the scoring in an error filled game that the Magpies have to be looking at as a missed opportunity. Portland Tech turned over the ball five times including on three occasions when they were inside the Bengals twenty yard line.

St. Blane is a team that really needs to turn things around as the Fighting Saints have never finished the season ranked in the top twenty-five since Jason Zapata took over as head coach three years ago. The Saints are in the top ten here in the early going of the 1962 campaign but came up short in their season opener. In their defense, a 26-14 loss in Philadelphia against a powerful Penn Catholic eleven that was 10-1 and ranked fourth in the nation a year ago is not a bad showing for most schools. Rick Fowler, the powerful senior back who rushed for over 1,000 yards in two of his previous three seasons with the Crusaders, had a strong start to his season, gaining 133 yards on the ground against the Saints and scoring the game's opening touchdown.

Like St. Blane, Travis College faced a tough task in their season opener as they were off to Knoxville for a meeting with defending Deep South Conference champion Cumberland. The Explorers have not lost to a Southwest Alliance school since the opening week of the 1957 season and ran their winning streak against SWA outfits to five games with a 20-12 victory over the Bucks on Saturday - a win that ensured a spot in the top five for Cumberland in the opening week rankings. The Explorers could not slow down Travis College junior back Hugh Brasfield, who rushed for a game high 131 yards, but countered successfully with their balanced attack which had quarterback Steve Peach throwing for 121 yards and the backfield duo of Henry Virkler and Ron Filas keeping the Bucks defenders off balance alternating outside sprints from the speedy Virkler with power runs up the middle from the bruising Filas to combine for 171 yards on the ground.

Other games of note saw a pair of Great Lakes Alliance squads get off to solid starts as Minnesota Tech blasted Amarillo Methodist 56-28 while Western Iowa, led by John Mahoney's amazing 317 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns, thumped Deep South Conference doormat Bayou State 78-6. Those 317 yards gained by Mahoney are well off the single game AIAA record which is 435 gained by former Amarillo Methodist back John Addis in a 1958 game against Texas Panhandle.

*** ANOTHER BARRELL SET TO DEBUT ***

A full slate of action is on tap this coming Saturday including number one ranked Central Ohio opening its season with a game against Bluegrass State. The Mustangs got an early start on things two days ago, beating College of Waco 34-17 in their opener. #2 ranked Coastal California is also in action as the Dolphins visit 1-0 Minns College, which blanked St. Patrick's 52-0 on Saturday. The marquee game next week may well be the showdown in Knoxville where fourth ranked Cumberland looks to go 2-0 when the Explorers host College of Omaha's Raiders, who are ranked 5th in advance of their season opener. It is perhaps too lofty an expectation for the Plains Athletic Association school that has not won more than seven games in a season since 1952 and was just 6-4 a year ago.

Some might argue the biggest game next week takes place in Boston where Commonwealth Catholic is set to host Coastal State. Not a lot is expected this season from the Crusaders, who went 4-6 a year ago. Coastal State does have high expectations after the Eagles ruined Maryland State's bid for a perfect season and made their first ever appearance on New Year's Day, a 24-10 loss to Bluegrass State in the Cajun Classic. Those may be good reasons to anticipate a big year out of the Eagles but the focus will be primarily on one player.

That would be Bobby Barrell Jr., son of the baseball Hall of Famer and latest in the long list of Barrell family members to play collegiate football. Bobby Jr. is a freshman defensive end and at 6'3", 248 pounds is even more powerfully built than his famous father. Some are saying the 19-year-old may already be the most skilled defensive player in the entire AIAA, and that is before the top recruit from Philadelphia has even suited up for a single collegiate football game. Coastal State head coach Frank Spurlock says Barrell reminds him of Maryland State senior defensive end Doug Jones, who was all-conference a year ago and perhaps the best player on the defensive side of the ball the South Atlantic Conference has ever seen.

WEEKEND SCORES
Minns College Mavericks 52, St Patrick's Shamrocks 0
Miami State Gulls 24, Liberty College Bells 14
Queen City Monarchs 30, Pittsburgh State Finches 7
El Paso Methodist Bandits 34, Cleveland Tigers 6
Chicago Poly Catamounts 33, Garden State Redbirds 9
Penn Catholic Crusaders 26, St Blane Fighting Saints 14
Lawrence State Chippewa 28, Bayou State Cougars 25
Northern Mississippi Mavericks 30, Mile High State Falcons 27
Mississippi A_M Generals 31, Custer College Cavalry 6
Cumberland Explorers 20, Travis College Bucks 12
Western Iowa Canaries 78, Baton Rogue State Red Devils 6
Bluegrass State Mustangs 34, College of Waco Cowboys 17
Boston State Pirates 25, Cache Valley Cowboys 7
Maryland State Bengals 10, Portland Tech Magpies 0
St Ignatius Lancers 23, Richmond State Colonials 20
Minnesota Tech Lakers 56, Amarillo Methodist Grizzlies 28
CC Los Angeles Coyotes 27, Alabama Baptist Panthers 17
St Pancras Lions 27, Cowpens State Fighting Green 19
Redwood Mammoths 44, Lambert College Stags 10
Lane State Emeralds 62, Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers 14
Eastern Kansas Warriors 69, Ferguson Wildcats 10
Canyon A_M Armadillos 31, Northern Minnesota Muskies 17
Boulder State Grizzlies 24, McKinney State Renegades 20
Payne State Mavericks 46, Texas Panhandle Cowboys 10

STARS NOT WORRIED AS PRO GRID SET FOR KICK-OFF

Going winless in three preseason games has done little to deter New York Stars football coach Dolph Ulrich as he prepares his team to begin its quest for a third consecutive American Football Association championship. Ulrich's Stars have played in each of the last three AFA title tilts and won the last two but his club stumbled to an 0-3 record in preseason action.

None of that matters notes the longtime bench boss of the Stars, who owns four AFA championship rings. "We were looking at a lot of young players and the focus was on preparing for Sunday's game (regular season opener) against Washington. That's the game that matters."

The Stars defense took a hit over the winter as veteran defensive back Vic Morrell and linebacker Jerry Grover both retired. Grover, in particular will be missed after being named Defensive MVP during last seasons title winning campaign. The hope is that Billy Board, who was an all-star two years ago can fill Grover's shoes as team leader and that the club's top two draft picks - Whitney College safety Jamie Melcher and former Lincoln College lineman Jerry Van Wagoner can help fill the void. Melcher, selected in the first round, 14th overall, was especially impressive in preseason action.

The preseason prognosticators are not expecting much from the Stars despite the fact the offense returns intact including MVP quarterback Orlin Youngs and halfback Reid McDuffy, who was named the playoff MVP as a rookie a year ago. If anything the offense, which did not overwhelm during the regular season but came together in the playoffs, is even stronger with the addition of end Rusty Drews, who had 56 catches for Cleveland a year ago. Despite that fact, the popular choice to win the East Division this season is the Philadelphia Frigates with the Washington Wasps a close second. In the West the Chicago Wildcats, who lost to the Stars in the title game last season, are tabbed as the team to beat although there is also plenty of support for the Los Angeles Tigers.

The Wasps visit to New York is the game to watch this week as the AFA begins its 43rd season on Sunday. Here are the opening weekend games.

AFA SCHEDULE
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16
Boston (1-2) at Cleveland (2-1)
Washington (1-2) at New York (0-3)
Buffalo (0-3) at Pittsburgh (1-2)
Detroit (1-2) at Chicago (3-0)
Los Angeles (1-2) at Kansas City (2-1)
Houston (1-2) at San Francisco (2-1)
Philadelphia (3-0) at St Louis (3-0)
(preseason record in parentheses)

A TITLE FIGHT IN THE DESERT: VEGAS GETS READY FOR THE BIG SHOW

LAS VEGAS—The bright lights of Las Vegas will shine even brighter this weekend as the glitzy gambling oasis steps onto the main stage of the boxing world. For the first time, a world championship fight will be decided in this fast-growing city, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The undefeated World Middleweight Champion, Lyman King, will defend his crown against the seasoned former champ, George Hatchell, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The champ, King, hails from Oakland, California, and carries an unblemished record of 40-0 into the ring. Known for his ferocious fists and keen tactical mind, King wrested the title from Canadian George Quisenberry in January, scoring a decisive fifth-round TKO at Madison Square Garden. King’s follow-up performance, a sixth-round knockout of Steve Bradshaw in May, solidified his reputation as one of the most exciting pugilists in the sport today.

Standing opposite him will be George Hatchell, a wily veteran of the squared circle who has twice worn the middleweight crown. Now 30 years old, the Puyallup, Washington native brings a 43-7-2 record into this pivotal matchup. Hatchell first captured the title seven years ago by toppling Jim Ward and successfully defended it five times before controversy struck. In 1956, Hatchell lost the belt to Mark McCoy via a contentious disqualification—a decision that sparked heated debates across the boxing world. A rematch months later ended in similar disappointment, as Hatchell was again disqualified for repeated rule infractions.

Undeterred, Hatchell mounted a comeback, reclaiming the title in 1958 with a hard-fought victory over Quisenberry. However, his reign was short-lived. After a single successful defense, Hatchell faced McCoy once more, this time dropping a majority decision. His next title opportunity came in 1960 against Quisenberry, who by then had regained the crown, but Hatchell fell short on the scorecards in a unanimous decision.

Now, Hatchell has another chance to reclaim glory, but the challenge before him is formidable. King has never tasted defeat, and this marks the first meeting between the two fighters. Both men will be stepping into the Las Vegas ring for the first time, as the city continues its rapid rise as a boxing hub. Long overshadowed by New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, Las Vegas is now staking its claim to the spotlight.

The Convention Center is expected to be packed to the rafters as the local promoters promise an evening of high-stakes drama and action under the desert lights. Whether King’s meteoric rise continues or Hatchell’s grit and experience win the day, history will be made in Las Vegas this weekend. One thing is certain: the boxing world will be watching.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Canadian middleweight George Quisenberry, who has been world champion three times in the past decade, returned to the ring for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King last January. The 27-year-old Toronto native looked sharp with a 5th round knock out of Billy Randall in Los Angeles on Saturday evening. Quisenberry, 39-2-3, is hoping for another title shot perhaps as early as December. King, who defends his title against George Hatchell in Las Vegas this weekend, has reportedly reached a deal to face Quisenberry in December should he successfully defend his crown against Hatchell.
Veteran welterweight Michael McDowell, who once had a title shot against Eugene Ellis, but has lost four of his last five bouts including a non-title rematch with Ellis in early July, lost again after being stopped in the fifth round of a bout slated for ten with lightly regarded Detroiter Robby Chandler. McDowell, who turned 30 years old last month, is expected to announce his retirement. The Medway, MA., native is 33-17-1 overall but 2-7-1 since losing to Ellis in a title bout in the fall of 1959.
New York City welterweight Charlie McMichael won a split decision over Stan Thomas at Bigsby Garden last week. The 27-year-old McMichael is now 28-3-2 and widely considered one of the top ten welterweights in the world.
Another victory for Texas-born middleweight Ed Eads, who scored an unanimous decision over Gary Martin and is now 21-1. The 25-year-old has been busy - this was his second bout with Martin in just over a month and he has fought six times over the past six months, winning each of them handily.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens.
September 29- World welterweight champion Lenny Shafto will make his first title defense, facing Matt Leach.
November 1- Heavyweight champion Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native, who was the surprise winner of a title fight with Harry Pratt in July, makes his first title defense against 26-year-old George Galleshaw.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 9/09/1962

Red China is reporting it shot down a U-2 spy plane over Communist soil, charging the flight was part of a United States spy program.
Secretary of Defense McNamara has requested presidential authority to call up 150,000 reservists, saying it is needed to enable the United States to respond "promptly and decisively" if the international situation worsens suddenly.
The Senate passed a $900 million authorization bill to relieve unemployment by speeding up public works projects that can be started without delay.

ayaghmour2 · 01-17-2025, 02:58 PM

SEPTEMBER 17, 1962

KING WINS SPLIT DECISION TO NARROWLY STAY UNDEFEATED
Las Vegas Arena, Las Vegas, Nev. – Lyman King (40-0-0, 24 KO) vs. George Hatchell (43-7-2, 7 KO) – Referee: Eugene Burke
When a boxer is undefeated, he can rise up the ranks quickly. With each win, confidence grows. With each win, the title gets closer and closer. A victory over a ranked opponent brings extra attention. But when the undefeated fighter wins the title, the perspective changes. The hunter is now the hunted, and each fight means much more than a simple title defense. It is a walk towards immortality.

Such is the case with Lyman King. Undefeated and untied, King has emerged victorious in all 40 of his professional bouts. He came on quickly and won the title earlier this year against George Quisenberry. After succeeding in his first title defense against journeyman Steve Bradshaw, another former champion awaited him.

George Hatchell is a two-time champion, as Quisenberry was. Hatchell was gearing up for his tenth title fight in his career and first in three years. Hatchell had been through the wars and while he may have been past his prime, Hatchell still had plenty of tricks to show King and the rest of the fans crowded into the Las Vegas Arena for the first major sports spectacle in Las Vegas. King is from the Bay Area while Hatchell hails from the Pacific Northwest, so Las Vegas was a neutral site and a commentary on where the power center of the middleweight division currently lies.
Hatchell is known to get into knock-down, drag-out brawls. Hatchell won by disqualification in his first title defense against Eric Lynch. He lost his belt a couple of fights later for repeated low blows against Mark McCoy and was DQ'd in the rematch as well. We thought we would never hear from Hatchell again after he dropped a decision to Quisenberry two years ago. But there he was in the challenger’s corner, ready to try for his third reign as middleweight champion.

Hatchell got off the first punch, but King countered well, as he owned the rest of the first round. A knee-buckling cross caught Hatchell early and he could not rebound. Both fighters were trying to set the tone, as they continued to throw punches until referee Eugene Burke stepped in to halt the action. Hatchell tried to take more of an offensive role in Round Two and after another entry that hit the mark, King came back with more than Hatchell had expected. King connected on an uppercut to Hatchell’s chin that seemed to lift him off his feet. It was the only knockdown for King in the entire fight, but the domination continued into the third round.
King started off hot in the third round, but Hatchell found his footing with a smart tandem of punches to the midsection and the head, while his jab was finding a home squarely on King’s nose. King retaliated with his hook and doubled up on the punch to score points.

In the fourth round, Hatchell starting to show why he has won the title twice before. He was methodical in landing the jab, keeping King at bay. Hatchell also used some of his streetwise tactics, hitting and holding King, which earned a warning from referee Burke. By the end of the round, there was visible swelling under King’s left eye. However, that did not seem to deter King in the fifth round, a round which the champion owned against the former champion.

The noticeable swelling influenced the judges, but the crowd saw the action tilting towards King in the first half of the fight. Starting in Round Eight, Hatchell started to win over the crowd as well with a dominating couple of rounds. King held his own to maintain what amounted to a slim lead, but Hatchell was a little bit better over the middle and late rounds entering Round 14. Hatchell picked up a knockdown that was surprising that a shot to King’s ribcage was enough to force him down rather than a hit upstairs with King’s puffy eye hampering his vision more as the night wore on. King seemingly had the wind knocked out of him and stood up quickly, but Hatchell had the momentum, which set up a final round to a classic fight.

As both boxers touched gloves in the center of the ring before the start of the fifteenth round, King looked like he had danced with a Bengal tiger for few rounds, while Hatchell looked much better. King pumped in an uppercut that caused Hatchell to start bleeding from his forehead, but most of the rest of the round consisted of clutching and grabbing. At the end of the round, when the bell sounded, both corners yelled for their men, both corners certain their charge won the bout.

The judges accounted for the fight they saw and came by an honest split decision. Two arbiters found the fight in favor of the champion, so King (41-0-0) kept the belt and kept his undefeated streak alive. On the key indicators, King dominated in Big Boppers, as Hatchell (43-8-2) could not connect on a haymaker until the eighth round. Hatchell was much more precise but only landed a few more punches per round on average. King’s tactics were questionable, as his trainer implored him to fight defensively throughout the bout, while Hatchell was aggressive at times and tried several attempts to go for the kill.

For King, it was his second defeat of a previous champion and another step towards entering the pantheon of great fighters. Hatchell is past his prime at his advanced boxing age of 30, but you would never know it from watching him on this night. If you were looking for signs of wear, you couldn’t find it. Hatchell might be back for a rematch and a chance to capture the belt a third time.

BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS
Round 1: King, 3-0 (1:21 cross/face, 1:47 uppercut, 2:38 hook)
Round 2: King, 1-0 (1:39 hook/knockdown #1)
Round 3: King, 2-0 (0:22 right/body, 2:19 hook/head)
Round 4: None
Round 5: King, 3-0 (0:21 hook/side, 1:48 combo, 2:01 hook/jaw)
Round 6: None
Round 7: King, 2-0 (0:21 cross, 1:23 hook)
Round 8: Hatchell, 3-1 (K: 0:25 left hook/body; H: 0:11 combo, 0:48 hook/head, 1:02 cross)
Round 9: None
Round 10: King, 1-0 (0:30 right/head)
Round 11: King, 1-0 (2:09 uppercut)
Round 12: King, 2-1 (K: 0:54 left/midsection, 1:07 right/chin; H: 1:24 hook)
Round 13: King, 1-0 (1:32 right/head)
Round 14: Hatchell, 2-0 (0:40 combo, 3:00 right/ribs/knockdown #1)
Round 15: King, 1-0 (0:47 uppercut/head)
TOTAL: King 18, Hatchell 6

RECENT KEY RESULTS

English middleweight Oscar Woodings, who famously fought then champion George Quisenberry to a draw in 1960 before losing the rematch, ran his record to 53-3-2 with a unanimous decision over Conor MacFetridge in London last week.
Sam McKeith, one of the top European heavyweights, won his 50th professional bout as the 33-year-old native of Scotland scored a split decision over Hughie Littlejohns. McKeith's career mark is now 50-6.
Young Maryland welterweight Billy Dvorak, who upset Roger Perry last month, improved to 8-0 with a decision over Doug Hunter.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 29- World welterweight champion Lenny Shafto will make his first title defense, facing Matt Leach. Shafto's win over Dan McMullan at Bigsby Garden in June was his first fight in America. The 31-year-old Englishman will put his belt and his 46-7-1 record on the line in Philadelphia against Leach, a 28-year-old New Yorker who is getting his first shot at the title. Leach is 31-6-2.
November 1- Heavyweight champion Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native, who was the surprise winner of a title fight with Harry Pratt in July, makes his first title defense against 26-year-old George Galleshaw. Phillips enters the bout with a 34-7 record. Galleshaw, a native of Syracuse, NY, who held the title for a year and half beginning in 1960, is 34-2-1 with his only two losses -to Brad Harris and Bert Parks- coming in title fights.

Sailors Stay Hot, Stretch Lead to 7

With wins in 8 of their last 10, including a series win over the Kansas City Kings, the San Francisco Sailors dropped their magic number to single digits, needing a combination of nine of their wins and Kings losses to secure their first pennant since 1951. At 88-51, they have one fewer win the Fed leading Pioneers, surpassing last year's win total by one. With two more wins they'll have their second 90 win season since1938, as they won 95 in their title winning '51 season. A well-oiled machine, they've scored the second most runs (788) and allowed the fewest (616), doing it with power, speed, contact, command, and defense. Pretty much everything except strikeouts, they don't do much at the plate or on the mound, but that's one of the few areas they don't excel at.

In Kansas City they actually scored (14) fewer runs then they allowed (17), as they sandwiched a 10-2 loss with a 5-4 and 7-3 win. Tied at 4 in the opener, center fielder Herbert Crawford Jr. (.248, 9, 60) got to play hero, homering off Allie Boone (9-2, 3.67, 89) to break the deadlock. Ace Charlie Lawson (15-8, 4.06, 153) stumbled in the middle game, clearly outpitched by Gene Bailey (9-3, 2.88, 79), who allowed just 9 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs (1 earned) with 8 strikeouts in a commanding complete game win. With ace Beau McClellan (16-9, 3.64, 179) on the mound in the rubber match, things were looking up for the Kings, but the reliable southpaw ran into uncharacteristic struggles. Despite ranking in the CA's top-5 for WHIP, McClellan was tagged for 14 hits, allowing 7 runs in 7.2 innings despite just 1 walk and 7 strikeouts. He allowed all 14 Sailors hits, including homers from Carlos Jaramillo (.297, 7, 40, 24) and Johnny Horton (.339, 11, 27).

Riding the success, San Francisco took two of three from the Imperials, and after a off-day to start the week, they have just 16 games left before a much deserved playoff run. It won't be easy, just the Dallas Wranglers are a sub-.500 team left on their schedule, but by winning the games they should throughout the season, they've given themselves a nice cushion as the season reaches it's conclusion.

No Movement in Fed Race, Pioneers, Dynamos, End Week with Three Consecutive Wins

If you told me a few months ago, it would be the Fed race, not the Conti, to still have excitement this late in the season, I'd say you were crazy. But after seeing Bill Bather (.285, 13, 33, 6) leave early in the Pioneers 8-0 win over the Keystones, a window was opened for the Detroit Dynamos.

Following up their 21-8 August by winning 10 of their 15 September games, the Dynamos are in pouncing distance, but they're running out of time to make the jump. Leading the charge is 26-year-old Ray Waggoner, who if not for the existence of Bob Bell (.376, 41, 103, 6), would be a frontrunner for the Whitney. One of the game's most talented pure hitters, Waggoner has hit a robust .342/.422/.616 (161 OPS+), piling on 35 doubles, 9 triples, and 29 homers with 102 runs and 104 RBIs. He walks (64) more then he strikes outs (43), and he leads his team in all three triple crown categories. With no shortage of oomph in the lineup, it's easy to look past all the production he's created, but without their star in the center of the lineup they'd be looking in from the outside like every one else.

St. Louis has the easier path, and that's amplified this week where they get the two bottom feeders while Detroit hosts the Keystones and visits the Miners. Sure, Detroit also gets LA and Minneapolis in the final week, but by getting them early, they can have things almost wrapped up before the Dynamos get to pad their record. A combined 106-172, the two expansion teams are almost guaranteed to finish in the last two spots, and a 5-1 week could lower the Pioneers magic number to no lower then 8. That would entail a 6-0 week from the Dynamos, which would be unlikely even if they got both expansion teams. Winning these games here will do the Pioneers a huge favor, and if they can't beat the two worst teams in the association, would they really deserve the crown?

Tales From The Den

Toronto Eliminated

During a tough travel week, home Monday to SF, then a flight to LA for 3 then a stop in Cleveland for one game before coming to face the Foresters for 2 the Wolves were officially eliminated from contention in the CA, Most fans are saying that even elimination is a step forward in the Wolves progress to being a factor in the league. Some more caustic fans quipped "Being officially eliminated from pennant in the middle of September is two to three months later than we are used to".

This sums up the feeling in and around the Wolves under the guidance of Randy Hohlt. There is a cautious optimism about the team's future. The team needs a few things, probably first is the need for at least one RHB with a little pop to balance the lineup. The current roster makes it easy to field a lineup with all hitters entering the batter's box on the RF side of the plate. The second priority would be another top class reliever as Zeke Blake seems to have run out of gas since the beginning of August. Hohlt needs another reliable option which may come from this year's starters if one the Nickels can break through next spring. George Adams has been some what better, since coming back to the big leagues in September, than his less than auspicious start after the the All-Star Game in Toronto. George Hoxworth should be back if he recovers completely from his elbow difficulties suffered at the end of May.

In the minors Buffalo is up by 4 games with 7 to play. It would take an epic collapse in both Richmond, Jersey City to keep the Nickels from their first Union League title since 1920. With a record of 83-50 they have a chance to set a record for team wins surpassing the 1920 team that went 86-54. In Chattanooga the situation is the opposite of Buffalo's. The Reliables trail Nashville by 5 with 7 games remaining on their schedule. Davenport, Vancouver both seem destine to finish dead last in the Heartland, C-O-W.

All of the above points toward an active Hot Stove league for the Wolves.

Has there ever been a more impressive game then the one Zane Kelley had on the 16th? In a 13-0 thrashing of the Sailors, Kelley twirled a 3-hit shutout with a walk and 8 strikeouts. Enough for most pitchers, it wasn't for Kelley, as he blasted three homers in five at bats. As crazy as that was, Kelley entered the game 1-for-55 on the season, and he had just one previous homer in 477 trips to the plate
As expected, the New York Imperials crossed the 100 loss threshold, dropping 103 of their 139 contests. Early in the season they look like they were going to shatter the Continental loss record, and they're now five losses shy of the 108 games the Sailors lost in 1911
Ironically, the Sailors also have the most wins in a season, as both the 1929 Sailors and 1942 Stars won 103 games
Cougar outfielder Henry Watson and a monstrous week, as the eventual Continental Player of the Week was 16-for-30 with 5 homers, 9 runs, and 11 RBIs. In his six games he had a 322 WRC+ and was worth 0.9 WAR, a little less then a third of his season total. Now with 111 RBIs, he ranks 3rd in the CA behind Dallas Berry (116) and Hank Williams (116)
With two weeks left in the season, there is a chance in the Continental for a triple crown. Kings superstar and likely Whitney winner Hank Williams owns at least a share of all three categories. His .379 average is the best mark, but him and Berry have exactly 38 home runs and 116 RBIs
After striking out 10 or more hitters for the 7th straight start, likely Allen winner Frenchy Mack has upped his season total to 261. That's one shy of the total injured Wolf George Hoxworth (5-2, 4.11, 41) recorded in 1957. Now it's only a matter of when, not if, Mack tops that total, which is the most since 1925. He also has the highest K% (27.53) and K%-BB% (21.20)
Sticking with mosts since 1925, both Paul Williams and Johnny Ogden can set the mark for saves. With 28 and 27 respectively, they can surpass the 29 saves Del Lyons had in 1938
Three pitchers this week threw shutouts with 3 or less hits and 6 or more strikeouts. They were Dallas' Steve Miller (2 H, 8 K), San Francisco's Zane Kelley (3 H, BB, 8 K), and Pittsburgh's Pat Simon (2 H, 2 BB, 6 K). Of course, only one of these guys homered!
#2 prospect Mark Boyd made his FABL debut with the Cannons, going 1-for-3 in a 5-4 loss to the Imperials on the 10th. He finished the week 4-for-18 with 2 homers and 3 RBIs, the first coming off Dallas righty Butch Abrams (13-11, 4.28, 90). An athletic outfielder, Boyd is as disciplined as Dallas Berry (.323, 38, 116, 15), and the power is not too far off either. If Boyd reaches his lofty potential -- OSA declares him a future elite center fielder -- the outfield of Boyd, Berry, and Bonnie Chapin (.317, 25, 87, 5) may go down as one of the best of all time. As is, the three lefties hit 2-3-4, with Boyd following Chapin and Berry in the lineup
Foresters outfielder Tom Carr announced he had a child this week, stepping away from the team for a few days. If it's a boy, expect FABL scouts to put him on a shortlist for he draft 18 years from now

STARS SHINE BRIGHT IN GRID OPENER

New York Stars coach Dolph Ulrich clearly meant what he said a week ago when he told fans not to worry about the New York Stars despite the fact the two-time defending American Football Association champions went winless in their three preseason games. Ulrich, who has led the Stars to four league titles in over a decade on the job, was true to his word as the Stars had little difficulty in blanking the Washington Wasps 20-0 in yesterday's season opener.

Washington simply had no answer for the multi-pronged Stars offense which ran and threw its way for 383 yards, more than double what the lethargic Wasps could muster. Reining AFA Most Valuable Player Orlin Youngs completed 10 of 20 aerials for 145 yards and a score late in the third quarter that sealed the Wasps fate. New York won the game in the trenches, dominating the line on both offense and defense with Stars backs Walt Rose and Ephraim Stanek finding big holes all game to each top the century mark on the ground.

HISTORIC DAY IN KC AS PEEL TOPS 10,000 YARD MARK

Their glory days in the old Continental Football Conference may be long gone but one thing that has been a constant in Kansas City for the past decade has been the success of Mike Peel. The legendary half back who has topped the 1,000 yard rushing mark in seven of his first nine seasons, became just the third player in modern AFA history to reach 10,000 career yards on the ground.

The 32-year-old former Christian Trophy winner at Spokane State entered the season needing just 4 yards to reach the 10,000 mark and rumbled for six on his very first carry of the game. Peel would end up with 89 yards on the ground and scored a pair of touchdowns to lead the Cowboys to a 20-9 triumph over the visiting Los Angeles Tigers. Tigers back Dick Drum, who along with Detroit's Art Heal are the other two to surpass the 10,000 mark, also had a decent game as he gained 87 yards in a losing effort for the Tigers.

*** Maroons Rally To Beat Wildcats ***

The team that many considered the one to beat in the West Division stumbled in its season opener at home as the Chicago Wildcats squandered an 11 point lead at the half and fell 31-28 to the Detroit Maroons. Detroit scored 10 points in the final seven minutes including what would prove to be a game winning field goal by Stan Thornton with 2:51 showing on the clock.

There usually is little too separate the two bitter rivals when they hook up, and the series has been close between the two over the past decade with Detroit now taking a 12-11 lead after yesterday's victory. The difference this time was the two quarterbacks as Maroons second year star Dee Cann played mistake-free ball, completing 10 of 21 heaves for 218 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Cann was a sixth round draft pick out of Daniel Boone College a year ago but impressed enough that he ended up starting every game last season. His opposite number was also a 1961 draft choice but Chicago quarterback Chip Fitch was a highly touted first round choice out of Pittsburgh State. Like Cann, Fitch had a strong rookie season and was picked off just three times in 13 games. This year it took just a single game to match that total as the Maroons intercepted three of Fitch's heaves with the biggest pick coming in the dying seconds of the first half when Detroit's Scott Cross came down with a throw intended for Wildcats back Pat Harding in the Detroit endzone. It proved the turning point as the Maroons, who would have been down by 18 points, took the momentum after the break and never slowed. Fitch's final turnover of the game came with the contest tied late and led directly to Thornton's game winning field goal for the visitors from the Motor City.

Elsewhere the Boston Americans scored 17 unanswered points in the final 19 minutes to down the Cleveland Finches 24-10, the Pittsburgh Paladins took advantage of three Buffalo turnovers to defeat Red Jackets 23-14 despite Buffalo's dominant offensive performance. Special teams aided the Paladins as Brad Kugler returned a fourth quarter punt 44 yards for a Paladins score.

A pair of first quarter touchdown runs by Doc Folger gave Houston a quick lead on the west coast but it would not last as the San Francisco Wings managed to pull out a 17-14 victory over the Drillers. Finally in St Louis the Ramblers, who won all three of their preseason games, keep the winning streak going with a dominating performance in a 41-13 drubbing of the Philadelphia Frigates. Halfback Dean Turgeon ran for 149 yards while his backfield mate Kevin Van Hook scored three rushing touchdowns to pace the Ramblers attack.

AVIATORS FLYING HIGH AFTER OPENING WIN

Early season college football polls, a staple since the early 1950s when the initial rankings were moved from a mid-October release to mid-September, tend to be quite unreliable and prone to major shifts. The Central Ohio Aviators, who start the season at the top of the rankings, have never finished a campaign number one although local grid supporters will argue until they are Aviator blue in the face that the 1944 edition of the local eleven that went 10-0 should have finished ahead of a 9-0 Rome State squad that won the first of back to back crowns.

Judging by Central Ohio's strong showing against a pretty good Bluegrass State squad -winners of the Cajun Classic just nine months ago and returning close to a full complement of key players- the Aviators may just get used to the lofty heights of being at the top of the rankings. Central Ohio looked in complete control Saturday afternoon in Columbus as the Aviators won their season opener by a 27-10 count over the Bluegrass State. Central Ohio used a strong running game with seniors Larry Spruance and Larry Babyak doing most of the heavy lifting to wear down the Mustangs defense.

It is certainly premature but many are considering it to be a good possibility the Aviators, who are 19-3 over the past two seasons with two of those three defeats coming on New Year's Day, could go undefeated in the regular season for the second time in three years. They still have to travel to Texas to face Lubbock State in mid-October and they have to go to Michigan for their annual season-ending tussle with Detroit City College but beyond that the schedule does look favourable for Central Ohio.

Coastal California retained the number two spot in the polls, but many are questioning why after the Dolphins were doubled up 20-10 by Minns College in San Jose on Saturday. It was a mistake-filled game from the West Coast Athletic Association school as the Dolphins missed a key field goal, committed countless penalties that extended Mavericks drives and destroyed any chance at a comeback with a pair of second half turnovers.

Third ranked Georgia Baptist was very impressive in a 31-9 drubbing of Texas Panhandle at Athens. The Gators put up 441 yards of total offense with their twin sophomore backs Charlie Radley (175 yds, 1 TD) and Don Williford (135 yds, 2 TD) doing most of the damage. Gators rival and defending Deep South Conference champion Cumberland also had a strong season opener as the Explorers topped College of Omaha 23-13 in the only meeting involving two top-ten schools this week.

Milan Granados, brought in by Dan Barrell to try and turn around a Chicago Poly squad that has stagnated with a 25-26 record over the past five seasons, has had some early success. The Catamounts followed up an opening week 33-9 win at Garden State with another road triumph. This one was a 34-24 victory over Lincoln in which true freshman quarterback Chuck Miller had another strong game for Granados' troops.

Speaking of Barrell's and freshman, Dan's nephew and the son of the FABL Hall of Farmer, Bobby Barrell Jr made his college debut for Coastal State in the Eagles 30-24 victory over Commonwealth Catholic. The teenage defensive end had 5 tackles and recorded the first of what is expected to be many quarterback sacks in his AIAA career.

Perhaps the wildest game of the weekend occurred in Los Angeles where Lawrence State upset CC Los Angeles 54-51 in a game that needed three rounds of overtime to decide and only required extra time because Jim Creel of CCLA was successful on a 43-yard field goal with 1 second remaining in regulation. Overtime has been a contentious issues with coaches since it was implemented in 1952 but it clearly adds excitement to the game, although Coyotes fans might not agree at the moment after Tom Bowens squad suffered the heartbreak loss to the Chippewa. Lawrence State improves to 2-0 with the victory while the Coyotes record dips to 1-1. Coach Bowens son George, a senior considered one of the top candidates to be selected early in next year's AFA draft, had a strong game with 4 catches for 97 yards including a 40-yard touchdown grab.

Penn Catholic (2-0) also needed overtime to hold off a gritty effort by Ellery College as the Crusaders prevailed 54-51. Senior Rick Fowler ran for 129 yards including a game-winning 9 yard score in the third overtime round.

WEEKEND RESULTS
Chicago Poly Catamounts 34, Lincoln Presidents 21
Boston State Pirates 24, McKinney State Renegades 17
Rome State Centurions 27, College of San Diego Friars 21
Miami State Gulls 40, Garden State Redbirds 10
Liberty College Bells 23, Annapolis Maritime Navigators 13
Queen City Monarchs 23, Lambert College Stags 10
Penn Catholic Crusaders 54, Ellery Bruins 51
Pittsburgh State Finches 28, Henry Hudson Explorers 3
St Blane Fighting Saints 45, Brunswick Knights 3
St Pancras Lions 42, Grafton Scholars 21
St Patrick's Shamrocks 16, Dickson Maroons 13
Cowpens State Fighting Green 30, Pierpont Purple 6
Sadler Bluecoats 35, Columbia Military Academy Cadets 17
George Fox Reds 31, Carolina Poly Cardinals 3
Texas Gulf Coast Hurricanes 30, Utah A_M Aggies 20
Minns College Mavericks 20, Coastal California Dolphins 10
Travis College Bucks 30, Indiana A_M Reapers 10
Detroit City College Knights 13, Eastern Kansas Warriors 10
Mile High State Falcons 24, Charleston Tech Admirals 13
Noble Jones College Colonels 21, Minnesota Tech Lakers 17
Idaho A_M Pirates 20, St Magnus Vikings 12
Central Ohio Aviators 27, Bluegrass State Mustangs 10
Northern California Miners 13, Whitney College Engineers 10
Lane State Emeralds 41, Wisconsin State Brewers 27
El Paso Methodist Bandits 14, Darnell State Legislators 6
Amarillo Methodist Grizzlies 38, Eastern State Monitors 28
North Carolina Tech Techsters 20, Arkansas A_T Badgers 7
Lubbock State Hawks 54, Abilene Baptist Chaparrals 0
Western Florida Wolves 26, Red River State Rowdies 16
Northern Mississippi Mavericks 31, Rainier College Majestics 10
Opelika State Wildcats 27, Spokane State Indians 17
Coastal State Eagles 30, Commonwealth Catholic Knights 24
Alexandria Generals 27, Maryland State Bengals 9
Valley State Gunslingers 76, Baton Rogue State Red Devils 7
Tempe College Titans 35, Mobile Maritime Middies 28
Georgia Baptist Gators 31, Texas Panhandle Cowboys 9
Canyon A_M Armadillos 38, Central Kentucky Tigers 31
Bayou State Cougars 17, Boulder State Grizzlies 10
Redwood Mammoths 28, Iowa A_M Bulls 17
Lawrence State Chippewa 54, CC Los Angeles Coyotes 51
Alabama Baptist Panthers 10, Daniel Boone College Frontiersmen 0
Cumberland Explorers 23, College of Omaha Raiders 13
Eastern Oklahoma Pioneers 20, Oklahoma City State Wranglers 6
American Atlantic Pelicans 26, Mississippi A_M Generals 21
Payne State Mavericks 28, Central Carolina Lions 13
Bulein Hornets 17, Colorado Poly Redbirds 9
Potomac College Pelicans 23, Topeka State Braves 15
Wyoming A_I Prospectors 27, Petersburg Patriots 6
Chesapeake State Clippers 58, Custer College Cavalry 3
South Valley State Roadrunners 27, Huntington State Miners 17
Provo Tech Lions 31, Richmond State Colonials 10
St Ignatius Lancers 10, Cleveland Tigers 6

NAHC CAMPS TO COMMENCE THIS WEEK

The six North American Hockey Confederation teams will all get their training camps underway in preparation for the start of the regular season, which begins on October 10. The Detroit Motors have won each of the past two Challenge Cups and will look to become the first team to win three in a row since the 1941-43 Boston Bees turned the trick.

Each club will play seven preseason games beginning a week from Wednesday. The regular season will once again be 70 games. A year ago the Toronto Dukes topped the loop in the regular season with 81 points, two more than second place Chicago. Both the Dukes and the Packers were upset in the opening round of the playoffs with third place Detroit and fourth place Montreal advancing to the finals, where the Motors prevailed in six games.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 9/16/1962

The Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Service Committees are in a joint session today with Secretary of State Rusk. They are meeting to draft a congressional stand on the Soviet-aided military buildup in Communist Cuba. The plans to meet a week ago were sidetracked to speed Senate passed legislation allowing President Kennedy to call up 150,000 reservists should he find it necessary to meet any world crisis.
Mexican leaders, while condemning the increase Soviet intrusion into the Hemisphere, are even more concerned that extremism in both the United States and Russia touch off a war over Cuba.
A possibility that both the United States and Russia will be formally censured for testing nuclear weapons in defiance of a United Nations appeal has emerged as UN delegates gather for tomorrow's opening of the 1962 UN General Assembly.
The Soviets exploded a 15-megaton nuclear bomb in testing on the weekend. It is the second biggest in the Russian test series which started on August 5 with a 40-megaton blast. A megaton is equivalent to one million tons of TNT.
British leaders wound up heated debate on the Common Market with clear signs Prime Minister Macmillan had failed to win their unqualified support for linking Britain with the European economic-political bloc.
The United States Public Health Service has recommended against the use of one of the three types of oral polio vaccine to be used in mass immunization programs for adults. Health officials okayed type I and type II but asked for time to conduct more studies before type III should be administered to the general public.
Talks aimed at ending a now 17-day old railroad strike in the Midwest broke of last night and no further discussions are planned at this time.

ayaghmour2 · 01-19-2025, 02:19 PM

SEPTEMBER 24, 1962

Dynamos Cut Lead to Two with Nine to Play

It's not like the Pioneers struggled with the two expansion teams, taking two of three from both the Suns and the Millers, but after Detroit dropped a tight 2-1 game on back-to-back 9th inning sacrifice files they rolled off five consecutive wins. Only problem is, not only is the lead now two, but also the number of outfielders they lost to injury this week.

One was hotshot rookie Ed MacNaughton (.311, 10, 65, 29), who's dead arm will only cost him three games, but the bigger loss is 4-Time Champion Bill Morrison (.304, 10, 51, 11). A thirteen year veteran, Morrison is an elite defender and mainstay of the lineup, appearing in 1,560 FABL games for his Dynamos. Paired with a .297/.3873/.476 (131 OPS+) career line, he's one of the most underrated players of his time, overshadowed by the myriad of stars the Dynamos have employed. 35 in a few weeks, he still had a 121 WRC+ in 134 games, recording 24 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, 51 RBIs, 100 runs, 75 walks, and 11 steals. Worth over 4 WAR (4.1) eighth consecutive season, he's tough to replace, and Detroit will have to callup a sup-optimal option to pair with 37-year-old vet Pat Petty (.252, 5, 11).

With the margins as thin as they are, losing Morrison could prove to be the difference, as the Pioneers have continued to stay healthy. It would be fitting, especially since St. Louis losing an outfielder allowed Detroit to get back in the first place. It's massively shrunk their lineup, putting more pressure on rookie Danny Davis (.354, 22, 87) to replace him a top the lineup. An excellent player in his own right, Davis is someone you want in your lineup, but he's not a table setter like Bather. With thumpers Bob Bell (.380, 44, 113, 6), Jerry Smith (.307, 25, 96, 13), and Steve Schultz (.304, 29, 112) there is no absence of production, but at times they've been unable to start things with no one on in front of them.

Now with two 20-game winners, Frenchy Mack (23-5, 2.06, 271) and Billy Hasson (20-8, 3.09, 176) will both have immense pressure put on them as each of their remaining starts will be must wins. With another 10-strikeout outing, Mack also reached 271 strikeouts, recording the most in a season 1916. He has a very outside chance, but he could be the first 300-strikeout pitcher since Charlie Firestone (317) and the single season strikeout leader (369, 1914) Tom Guarneri (347) in 1915. If you're following along, there were a lot of strikeouts in the 1910s, and seeing a 25-year-old like Mack challenge those guys proves what an anomaly he is. His next start is scheduled for the 27th in New York, and if needed, he could pitch on the 2nd in St. Louis against the Chiefs. That's probably all that's on his mind right now, winning his first pennant, but he's been running away with the triple crown. No other Fed pitcher has more then 200 strikeouts, Hasson is the only other 20-game winner, and Paul Anderson (16-4, 2.84, 117) is the only other Fed pitcher with a sub-3 ERA. It's hard to overstate just how dominant the Pioneer ace has been, and anything short of a unanimous Allen selection would be a disgrace to his dominance.

Despite Winning Streak Ending at 7, Sailors Drop Magic Number to 2

It's all but a formality now, but unless an unspeakable comeback happens, the San Francisco Sailors will be crowned the 1962 Continental Association Champions. Technically, the Kings (85-60, 8 GB) and Foresters (84-61, 9 GB) are still in it, but I just can't see the Dallas Wranglers (58-87) win more then one of their games in San Francisco.

Despite not having a single Whitney or Allen contender, the Sailors proved that the whole is greater then the sum of its parts. A strong organization that always produced high quality talent, at print they have six hitters with 500 or more PAs and a WRC+ above 115 and every single player to throw a pitch for the team this season has an ERA+ above 100.

A well built roster, the closest thing to a star they have is John Kingsbury, who was one of the biggest snubs at the All-Star game. Through 136 games, he's hit .343/.422/.546 (146 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 14 triples, 21 homers, 109 RBIs, 12 steals, 77 walks, and 112 runs. A Two-Time Diamond Defense winner, it's only a matter of time that the 25-year-old gets recognition for how good his bat is, and if the Sailors can pull off a championship, he'd be the most likely to win series MVP. Wouldn't if be funny if he got one of those before an All-Star selection?

Before continuing, I do have to make it clear that this team is not devoid of talent. They just don't have a prototypical star. The talent is plentiful, from elite shortstop and table-setter Carlos Jaramillo (.295, 7, 43, 26) to their 23-year-old co-aces Charlie Lawson (16-9, 3.93, 162) and George Fuller (15-10, 4.10, 124). Jaramillo and Heinie Spitler (.338, 4, 76, 24) make up an exciting double-play duo while former Dynamo Edwin Hackberry (.290, 23, 90, 21) surprisingly had his first career 20/20 season. Ernie Carter (.340, 11, 109, 7) went from #7 prospect to 100-RBI hitter, Hank Lacey (14-7, 3.88, 137) traded his Wolves bad luck for Sailors magic, and I guess Zane Kelley (13-7, 4.32, 107) became Max Morris for a day. This team is built for the present and the future, and they managed to end the Foresters dynasty without a championship.

One in a Trillion: Veteran Pairs Shutout with Three Homer Game

A 14-year veteran, Zane Kelly never recorded more then five hits in a year, which came in a season where he hit .088/.102/.140. Before today, you could make the case he was the worst hitter of All-Time, one of the many pitchers who never quite learned how to hit the ball. I'm sure he had plenty of swings and misses in his career, he entered the week 28-for-465 (.060) with one double, one homer, and five walks. With 185 strikeouts, I have to imagine he's swung and miss at least 500 times, and he had just one hit in the last three years.

On September 16th, something different was in the air, as the 11-7 righty walked onto the mound at Golden Gate Stadium with an air of confidence to his walk. Through five innings, the only mistake on the mound was a single, and he had three swings of the bat. The first came in the 2nd, as to get a feel for his opponent, he took rookie righty Neal Salk's (0-2, 13.50, 5) first pitch for a strike. Now fully acclimated to the guy on the mound, the .060 hitter took a massive swing, launching one 422 feet to deep center to extend the Sailors lead to 5-0.

Swing two came with two outs and Herbert Crawford Jr. (.248, 9, 60) on in the third, though this time when Kelley got a pitch to take, it was outside the zone. After that, he lofted one to right, just barely clearing the right field fence for his second homer of the game. If you could believe it, the third came right after, as to start the 5th inning he took Bill Holm's (2-6, 6.64, 55) first pitch to fully lock-on to the second year pitcher. That's when the standing ovation happened, and in an 11-0 game every one of them was shouting for their pitcher to hit one out. Ready to swing, the third swing was unleashed to left, and as the crow erupted with cheers as Kelley mashed his third home run of the game.

Yes. Three at-bats. Three swings. Three homers.

For the guy who had just one in his first 477 plate appearances. And one hit on the season. And 185 strikeouts.

That guy.

Yeah, yeah, it's the New York Imperials in September with a bunch of callups, but how can you not just sit back and appreciate the work that Kelley did. His perfection ran out later in the game, grounding out and striking out, but the guy paid to pitch did finish a 13-0 shutout. He allowed just 3 hits and a walk, striking out 8 as not a single Imperial could do what he did. Including Turk Ramsey (.292, 34, 84), who ranks top five this season for home runs. Now a career .066/.077/.094 (-54 OPS+) hitter with a -72 WRC+, he rose his 1962 season line from triple .018s to .067/.066/.217. More interesting are his pitching stats, the #4 in the rotation is 12-7 with a 4.53 ERA (101 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 104 strikeouts in 28 starts. All that's left for Kelley now is to win a title, as his Sailors have nothing but smooth seas ahead.

Even with advanced statistical degrees, it would be impossible to accurately predict how rare this phenomenon was, but for a guy who homered in 0.21% of his previous FABL plate appearances, the odds of anyone homering in three consecutive swings, let alone someone like Zane Kelley, have to be microscopic.

And then how many of those guys also threw a shutout?

Best. Performance. Ever.

Tales From The Den
Wolves Strive Toward A Winning Season

After a 5-1 week on the road in Montreal then Dallas Wolves fans are dreaming of a .500, or better, season with 9 games left to play. Six of those 9 are at home starting with three against KC starting on Monday. Then a quick trip NYC for 3 against the Imperials before returning home to close out the season with a 3 game set hosting the Cannons. Having to win at least 5 to finish at the unstated by commonly known goal of .500 Toronto is a combined 24-21 against the three teams with losing record when facing either the Kings or Cannons.

Manager Hohlt is said to be planning to mostly use his regulars to accomplish the task which he has said "Would have been much easier had the Sailors not owned us all season by winning 14 of the 15 games we played in 1962. We still have games to play, I will attempt to win them all, this is somewhat of evaluation period for some players for 1963. In our home games I hope the fans come out to back the team. It is a preview of next season, the players will be helped by the energy from big crowds. Attendance has been a little disappointing this season, though I understand why fans are skeptical about laying out hard earned money given the last decade."

This could be the first season at or above breakeven for the Wolves since a record of 82-72 in 1948. Since then the team was close twice with a 76-78 record in both 1955, 1956. A winning record for the first time in 14 years would be a major step forward for the franchise along with new owner Bob Smith. Attendance is down marginally this year, a push at the end of this season could only help season ticket sales for 1963. With there top minor league team in Buffalo winning their first Union League pennant in 42 years there could be some players ready for the move up to the FABL. Wolves have a few aging veterans that may provide opportunities for some youngsters in 1963 from a Nickels' team that had a strong pitching staff. Those moves can be debated amongst the fans over the winter, one thing is almost certain the Wolves who are currently the fifth youngest team in the FABL will be even younger next year. First things first the Mail & Empire hopes to see season high crowds at Dominion Stadium starting Monday against the Kings to push the team to wins down the final ten days of the season.

A third Whitney may now be impossible for Dallas Berry (.320, 39, 118, 15) of the Cincinnati Canons, but the star outfielder will always be able to look back on 1962 to his elite performance and 1,500th career hit. It was his first of two in a 9-8 loss to the Stars on Sunday. To go with his 1,501 hits, he owns a .289/.407/.543 (158 OPS+) batting line with 227 doubles, 321 homers, 974 RBIs, 1,030 runs, and 996 walks
The reason Berry won't win the Whitney is because Hank Williams (.392, 42, 126) will, as a Player of the Week award has done wonders to secure his triple crown. With a .630 average, 4 homers, and 10 RBIs, Williams now leads the Conti in all three triple slash categories. Berry is three homers and eight RBIs away, while Williams' average is almost 25 points head of Ham Flanders (.369, 25, 102, 12)
With 109 losses, the New York Imperials have set the Continental Association record for most losses in the season. They'll need four more for the FABL record, as the 1935 Detroit Dynamos (111) and 1890 Pittsburgh Miners (112) are still in their way

SOVA SO GOOD FOR BOSTON IN YANKS WIN OVER WASHINGTON

Kevin Sova made all the difference in the world as the veteran Boston Americans back ran for a pair of long first quarter touchdowns and more than 200 yards on the afternoon, leading the Yanks to a 31-21 victory in Washington over the Wasps. Sova ran for 19-yards on the Americans first play from scrimmage and immediately followed that up with a 43-yard touchdown run to open the scoring just over three minutes into the game. Four minutes later Sova was at it again as he broke through the Washington line like a hot knife threw butter, and did not stop until 60 yards later when he scored his second touchdown to put the Americans up 14-0.

Sova would not find the endzone again but he did amass 212 yards rushing as the Americans withstood a Washington comeback attempt and held on for their second victory of the season. After two weeks of play there are just three of the 14 teams in the American Football Association that remain unbeaten.

Joining Boston atop the East Division is the two-time defending league champion New York Stars, who followed up a 20-0 shutout win over Washington in their season opener with an equally as convincing 23-7 triumph over the Pittsburgh Paladins. The New York offense continued to show its balance as quarterback Orlin Youngs threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns while halfback Ephraim Stanek ran for 147 yards including a 10-yard first quarter major to open the scoring.

The other unbeaten team is the West Division leading St. Louis Ramblers who, counting preseason games, have now won five in a row after a 31-17 road win in Kansas City over the Cowboys. Elvin McGoldrick did everything he could to help the Cowboys, as the fourth year back out of Richmond State gained 194 yards on 20 carries but suffered a knee injury late in the contest. McGoldrick is expected to be healthy enough to play against Los Angeles next weekend.

Speaking of Los Angeles, the Tigers and the Detroit Maroons are both 1-1 on the season after Garton Bird led the Tigers to a 17-10 victory over the Maroons at Thompson Field. The 4th year Tigers signal caller, a local Los Angeles boy who played his college ball at CC Los Angeles, found John Wilton for a 21-yard touchdown pass in the final minute to lift the Tigers to the victory. It was a strong game for Bird, who completed 9 of 20 tosses for 190 yards on the afternoon.

For the second week in a row San Francisco and Houston squared off and the Wings prevailed once more, this time a 16-10 victory in Texas that was keyed by three Tom Calkins field goals. Finally in Buffalo, Doug Lucy ran for 163 yards and scored three touchdowns to pace the Philadelphia Frigates to a 31-24 victory over winless Buffalo. Chicago and Cleveland each had a bye this week.

GENERALS UPSET GEORGIA BAPTIST IN WEEKEND GRID ACTION

The Mississippi A&M Generals pulled off a sizeable upset as they knocked off Georgia Baptist by a 20-13 score in the Deep South Conference opener for both schools. The loss drops the Gators out of the top twenty five and deals a major blow to their hopes of winning a third Deep South title in the past four years.

An electrifying 103 yard kick-off return for a touchdown by A&M's Kirk Reese just moments after the Gators had taken a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter put the Generals ahead for good. Both clubs had some good success with their ground games, and the way Mississippi A&M's offensive line handled the Gators defensive front was certainly unexpected and the difference in the game. Generals backs gained 304 yards on the ground led by 131 on 26 carries from junior halfback Gary Bender. It does not get much easier next week for Georgia Baptist as they face another conference foe in Bluegrass State. The Mustangs beat in-state rival Central Kentucky 30-17 on Saturday.

Defending Deep South section champ Cumberland is now the number one team in the nation after the Explorers improved to 3-0 with a 26-14 road victory at Western Florida. Henry Virkler ran for 98 yards and a second quarter score that helped Cumberland build a 17-0 lead on the Wolves. In other Deep South action Steve Thurber ran for 205 yards and a touchdown to help pace Noble Jones College to a 34-14 road win over Northern Mississippi while the two Alabama schools claimed bragging rights over the state of Louisiana as Opelika State dumped winless Baton Rouge State 44-6 while Alabama Baptist rallied to beat Bayou State 19-13.

Central Ohio needed a last minute touchdown pass from Spencer Carr to Mike Bailey to nip Minnesota Tech 27-22 in Great Lakes Alliance action. The sluggish showing by the Aviators saw them dropped from first to fourth in the rankings despite improving to 2-0. Western Iowa, which hosts Central Ohio next Saturday, is also 2-0 after a surprising 26-12 upset of Detroit City College. The Canaries have already won more games this season than they did the last two years combined after going 0-10 in 1960 and 1-9 a year ago. Other section games in the Great Lakes Alliance saw St. Magnus topple St. Ignatius 38-10, Ron Owens returned a kick-off 95 yards with just 2:35 left in regulation to lift Wisconsin State to a come from behind 31-27 win in Milwaukee over Lincoln while in Terre Haute Bill Schoedel rushed for three touchdowns to lead the Indiana A&M Reapers past Whitney College 35-14.

Lubbock State is ranked second in the nation after improving to 2-0 with a 24-10 win on the road against Texas Gulf Coast in the Southwestern Alliance season opener for the pair. The Hawks, who blasted Abilene Baptist the previous week, spotted the Hurricanes a 10-0 first quarter lead before closing strong with 17 points in the final 12 minutes of the game. Elsewhere in the SWA, Hugh Brasfield ran for 150 yards and 4 touchdowns as Travis College clobbered Darnell State 47-0 while Amarillo Methodist held off Red River State 24-21.

Northern California, which had represented the West Coast Athletic Association in four consecutive East-West Classic games, and won all four of them, before finishing second to Spokane State a year ago, got off to a rough start as the Miners lost 29-23 in overtime to Coastal California. Other results from the coast section included Lane State improving to 3-0 with a 16-10 victory over Rainier College, Andy Mills rushed for 200 yards to lead Portland Tech past CC Los Angeles 44-14. Redwood is also 3-0 but the Mammoths have yet to play a conference foe. They downed College of San Diego 24-3 on Saturday.

Maryland State's hopes of repeating as national champion are gone after the Bengals lost for the second time in three outings. South Atlantic Conference foe Eastern State tamed the tigers this week as the Monitors rode on the boot of Ralph Jordan, who kicked 5 field goals, to a 15-10 win over the Bengals. Elsewhere in the SAC freshman defensive end Bobby Barrell Jr. had six tackles and his second sack in as many games to help Coastal State nip Cowpens State 17-13. Bob Hill caught one pass for a touchdown and returned a punt for a second score to pace North Carolina Tech past Columbia Military Academy 29-19 while in Charleston Tom Steel's two touchdown runs carried the Charleston Tech Admirals to a 33-12 victory over Carolina Poly.

In other games of note Kid Pattee ran for a pair of fourth quarter scores to lead George Fox University to a 24-12 doubling of Pierpont in the Academia Alliance section opener for each school. Daniel Boone College scored 35 second half points to erase a 14-3 deficit and hand Lawrence State its first loss of the season with the final score being 38-14. Ferguson knocked off Rome State 22-15 in a very disappointing result for the Centurions. Bad news from Latrobe, PA. also as St. Blane was upended 27-17 by Commonwealth Catholic, dropping the Fighting Saints to 1-2 on the season. In a Pennsylvania showdown Penn Catholic outlasted Liberty College 27-20. Another game where a kick-off return made the difference as Chicago Poly lost for the first time this season, falling 21-20 to Eastern Oklahoma after Pioneers return man Bobby Berkenstock took a kick 100-yards for the winning touchdown with just over 5 minutes remaining in the game. Minns College is 3-0 after the California school shaded previously unbeaten El Paso Methodist 16-13 in overtime.

WEEKEND RESULTS
Charleston Tech Admirals 33, Carolina Poly Cardinals 12
North Carolina Tech Techsters 29, Columbia Military Academy Cadets 19
Coastal State Eagles 17, Cowpens State Fighting Green 13
Eastern State Monitors 15, Maryland State Bengals 10
Sadler Bluecoats 34, Ellery Bruins 20
George Fox Reds 24, Pierpont Purple 12
Grafton Scholars 38, Brunswick Knights 20
Dickson Maroons 34, Henry Hudson Explorers 13
Utah A_M Aggies 34, Cache Valley Cowboys 27
Mile High State Falcons 24, Wyoming A_I Prospectors 10
Provo Tech Lions 30, South Valley State Roadrunners 24
Custer College Cavalry 22, Colorado Poly Redbirds 19
Eastern Kansas Warriors 24, Oklahoma City State Wranglers 14
Daniel Boone College Frontiersmen 38, Lawrence State Chippewa 14
Boulder State Grizzlies 7, College of Omaha Raiders 0
Lubbock State Hawks 24, Texas Gulf Coast Hurricanes 10
Amarillo Methodist Grizzlies 24, Red River State Rowdies 21
Travis College Bucks 47, Darnell State Legislators 0
St Magnus Vikings 38, St Ignatius Lancers 13
Wisconsin State Brewers 31, Lincoln Presidents 27
Central Ohio Aviators 27, Minnesota Tech Lakers 22
Indiana A_M Reapers 34, Whitney College Engineers 15
Western Iowa Canaries 26, Detroit City College Knights 12
Portland Tech Magpies 44, CC Los Angeles Coyotes 14
Lane State Emeralds 16, Rainier College Majestics 10
Coastal California Dolphins 29, Northern California Miners 23
Opelika State Wildcats 44, Baton Rouge State Red Devils 6
Bluegrass State Mustangs 30, Central Kentucky Tigers 17
Mississippi A_M Generals 20, Georgia Baptist Gators 13
Noble Jones College Colonels 34, Northern Mississippi Mavericks 14
Cumberland Explorers 26, Western Florida Wolves 14
Alabama Baptist Panthers 19, Bayou State Cougars 13
Central Carolina Lions 26, Bulein Hornets 24
Potomac College Pelicans 30, Petersburg Patriots 9
Alexandria Generals 34, Mobile Maritime Middies 20
Chesapeake State Clippers 26, Huntington State Miners 23
American Atlantic Pelicans 27, Richmond State Colonials 3
Pittsburgh State Finches 28, College of Waco Cowboys 14
Penn Catholic Crusaders 27, Liberty College Bells 20
St Patrick's Shamrocks 27, Lambert College Stags 7
Commonwealth Catholic Knights 27, St Blane Fighting Saints 17
St Pancras Lions 40, Cleveland Tigers 14
Miami State Gulls 24, Queen City Monarchs 22
Iowa A_M Bulls 31, Northern Minnesota Muskies 7
Ferguson Wildcats 22, Rome State Centurions 15
Eastern Oklahoma Pioneers 21, Chicago Poly Catamounts 20
Payne State Mavericks 50, Valley State Gunslingers 24
Topeka State Braves 42, Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers 20
Canyon A_M Armadillos 14, Arkansas A_T Badgers 7
Texas Panhandle Cowboys 24, Idaho A_M Pirates 20
Redwood Mammoths 24, College of San Diego Friars 3
Spokane State Indians 21, Tempe College Titans 12
Minns College Mavericks 16, El Paso Methodist Bandits 13
McKinney State Renegades 32, Abilene Baptist Chaparrals 21

PRESEASON GAMES BEGIN THIS WEEK

The six North American Hockey Confederation clubs including the two-time defending Challenge Cup champion Detroit Motors each began their training camp over the past seven days. The clubs are preparing for the October 10th regular season opener which will see the top regular season finisher from a year ago -the Toronto Dukes- begin the campaign with a trip to Chicago's Lakeside Auditorium and a meeting with the Packers, who finished second during the regular season a year ago. The Dukes and Packers will both have something to prove as each, despite holding home ice advantage, was knocked out of Cup contention in the semi-finals a year ago. The other four teams play their opener the following night.

There will be plenty of hockey this week as the preseason contests commence on Wednesday evening and before the week is out each of the clubs will have played four practice games as they go about the task of cutting down to the 24-man rosters that will open the season.

With camp underway here is TWIFS annual look at the top talent in the NAHC. The result is a poll of scouts to assess the quality and depth for each of the six clubs. The scouts are asked to rate players on a 1-5 scale with a grade of five being reserved for the loop's true superstars. This year a total of seven players, including two goaltenders are given the 5-star ranking. Veteran Toronto center Quinton Pollack, at 39 being the oldest player entering camp with an NAHC contract, once again heads the list. Pollack led the NAHC in scoring last season and won his record 9th McDaniels Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player.

Assessing overall depth one has to surmise the Chicago Packers are the team to beat. The Packers have plenty of talent all over the ice including two players who for the first time are considered 5-star performers. That would be 27-year-old center Pierre Bernier and 25-year-old left winger Ken York. Bernier, who accumulated 57 points in his debut with the Packers a year ago after six seasons in the Great Western League with the Portland Ports, was undrafted out of junior hockey but developed into a scoring star in the coast loop and set a professional league record by tallying 116 points in his final season with Portland. York took a far more conventional path to the NAHC. The Ottawa native captained the Brantford Blue Legs to a CAHA title his final season of junior hockey after being selected 4th overall by the Packers in the previous season's draft. He has steadily improved each of his four seasons in Chicago and is coming off a season where he scored 25 goals and added 51 points for the Packers. Bernier and York are once more expected to be joined on the Packers top line by left winger Matt McGrath, a 25-year-old who also honed his skills in the Great Western League before picking up 49 points in 62 games as a rookie with the Packers last season, numbers good enough to win McGrath the McLeod Trophy as the NAHC's top rookie. Bernier's age made him ineligible for the McLeod.

WELTERWEIGHT TITLE CLASH: SHAFTO AND LEACH SET FOR KEYSTONE SHOWDOWN

The year 1962 has been nothing short of a whirlwind for the sweet science, with the winds of change sweeping through all three major divisions. Only middleweight kingpin Lyman King has managed to make a successful defense of his crown, while the heavyweight and welterweight divisions have been hotbeds of activity. Eight men have already worn the mantle of "World Champion" this year, and the story is far from over.

The heavyweights began the year with Bert Parks in possession of the throne, only to see Harry Pratt dethrone him, followed by Walt Phillips taking over. Now, Phillips faces a daunting November defense against George Galleshaw, a man who has already had his taste of championship glory. The smart money says the heavyweight belt will change hands yet again before year's end.

The welterweight division, once a bastion of stability, has also seen its share of upheaval. For seven years, Eugene Ellis and Lonnie Griffin kept the title bouncing between them like a well-worn gym bag. But the sands shifted this spring when Griffin, the reigning champ, fell victim to a thunderous first-round right hand from underdog Dan McMullan. McMullan’s victory shocked the boxing world, but his reign was as fleeting as a summer breeze. Just two months later, the belt was wrested from his grasp by an emerging European contender, Lenny Shafto.

Shafto, a 31-year-old Brit, made his North American debut in July at Bigsby Garden, dispatching McMullan with a seventh-round TKO to claim the ABF world welterweight title. His resume, forged entirely on European soil until that fateful night, is as enigmatic as it is impressive. While his victory over McMullan was commanding, questions remain about his ability to withstand the firepower of the division’s best.

Enter Matt Leach, the 28-year-old New Yorker who has clawed his way up from the gritty club circuit of his hometown to the bright lights of a world title shot. Leach’s lone brush with greatness came four years ago in a losing effort against Lonnie Griffin, but he has matured into a formidable challenger since then. Observers say Leach has the tools and the toughness to test Shafto and perhaps bring much-needed stability to the welterweight crown.

The stage is set for a clash of styles and ambitions this Saturday night at Philadelphia’s Keystone Arena. Will Lenny Shafto defy the odds and become the first welterweight champion not named Ellis or Griffin to defend the title since Danny Rutledge did so in 1955? Or will Matt Leach rise to the occasion and cement his place in boxing history?

The answers will come under the bright lights in Philadelphia. All eyes will be on the ring as the next chapter of the welterweight saga unfolds.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Carl Rondinelli, the Italian welterweight who came to North America last year in an unsuccessful bid to wrestle the world title away from Lonnie Griffin, was in action last week. The 28-year-old scored a unanimous decision over West German Ulf Breuer in Rome. Rondinelli is 38-3-1 for his career.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 29- World welterweight champion Lenny Shafto will make his first title defense, facing Matt Leach. Shafto's win over Dan McMullan at Bigsby Garden in June was his first fight in America. The 31-year-old Englishman will put his belt and his 46-7-1 record on the line in Philadelphia against Leach, a 28-year-old New Yorker who is getting his first shot at the title. Leach is 31-6-2.
November 1- Heavyweight champion Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native, who was the surprise winner of a title fight with Harry Pratt in July, makes his first title defense against 26-year-old George Galleshaw. Phillips enters the bout with a 34-7 record. Galleshaw, a native of Syracuse, NY, who held the title for a year and half beginning in 1960, is 34-2-1 with his only two losses to Brad Harris and Bert Parks coming in title fights.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 9/23/1962

Cuba was a live issue at the United Nations all week as American delegates on one hand and Cuba and the Soviet Union on the other exchanged charges in the Assembly's general debate.
Secretary of Defense McNamara says the present world crisis is more severe than at any time since the Korean war. He told Congress that will likely force the US to increase its military might.
Battling raging seas, rescuers plucked from the North Atlantic 49 survivors of a ditched charter airliner carrying American servicemen and their families. 24 others are still missing with 3 confirmed fatalities.
More than 2.5 million people appeared to receive their polio vaccine in San Francisco and it was a similar story in cities across the country with millions lining up.
A bitter five-day army conflict in Argentina resulted in President Jose Maria Guido retaining control. Guido has begun steps toward restoring the country to civilian rule.

ayaghmour2 · 01-21-2025, 01:46 PM

OCTOBER 1, 1962

Pioneers on Brink of Pennant, Magic Number Now 1

With just three games left in the FABL season, the 96-55 St. Louis Pioneers are just one game away from clinching their first pennant since 1951 -- the exact same season the then Philadelphia Sailors last made a trip to the postseason. All that it would take for a rematch is one Pioneer win or one Dynamo loss, and even if neither happen St. Louis will get one final chance in a 1-game playoff with the Dynamos.

St. Louis will look to lock things up on Monday, where Billy Hasson (20-8, 3.04, 179) will look to secure his 21st win and first career pennant. If he can't beat Joe Cipolla (13-11, 5.21, 151) and the Chiefs, the Pioneers get to do what no one else can, and go to their 24-game winner Frenchy Mack (24-5, 2.03, 280). As fun as it would be for him to get 25, and trust me, it would be, but him and his squad are hoping that he can be 100% for the postseason, instead of being forced into the second to last game. His double-digit strikeout streak was stopped at eight, with "just" 9 in a complete game win over the Gothams.

Assuming the Pioneers hold on to their lead, they'll face the talented Sailors team that officially clinched during the week. 1st in runs allowed and 2nd in runs scored, they match the Pioneers runs allowed ranked and are a spot above in runs scored, and they do it without the flash of a Mack, Hasson, or Bob Bell (.381, 45, 116, 6). What they do have, is seven starters with a WRC+ above 100, and an eighth stuck at 95. All their pitchers can win starts, from young ace Charlie Lawson (16-10, 4.02, 169) to midseason callup Larry Knez (8-3, 2.88, 51). Edwin Hackberry (.291, 24, 93, 23), John Kingsbury (.346, 21, 111, 13), Heinie Spitler (.334, 4, 79, 27), and Carlos Jaramillo (.289, 8, 44, 27) have all been worth 5 or more WAR, and Ernie Carter (.337, 11, 112, 10) should finish within half a win, and he's a 21-year-old rookie who leads the team in RBIs.

In terms of where the game will be played, the Sailors have a one game lead over the Pioneers, so if they managed to blow it, the Sailors will host the Dynamos regardless. As a team who can win everywhere, they may be more comfortable letting their starters rest, as they're playing above .600 ball at home and away. St. Louis, on the other hand, is significantly better at home, a percentage difference of almost 80 points. With that in mind, they may have extra incentive to win all the games they have left. It's the managers dilemma: win all you can for homefield or have your front three ready for the start of the series?

Tough one, huh?

Well, that's why Lou Ormsby and Walt Zecher get paid the big bucks!

Tales From The Den
Wolves Need Two Wins In Final Three

After going 3-3 for the week the Wolves will have to win 2of 3 while hosting Cincinnati for their last three games of the season. The week began with a heartbreaking twelve inning loss to the Kings. After rallying in the last half of the eighth on an Al Curtis RBI the team could push any runs across in extra while Jimmy Pepper got touched up for two runs on back-to-back doubles by John Wells. a former fan favorite at Dominion Stadium, Charlie Rogers to give KC the win. Toronto got off to a quick start Tuesday, scoring 5 in the first, 2 in the second to cruise to an 11-2 win led by Sid Cullen's 5 RBI. A late rally allowed the Kings to win the rubber match of the series 6-4 when the home team led 3-1 after six before Loeffler's tank emptied in the seventh. Into Dyckman Stadium where Toronto takes two of three including George Adams' first FABL win in a 12-4 Thursday result. With one start remaining for Adams has a 1-4 record with a 6.75 ERA in 8 starts. The ERA is high, the only solace is that it is about half of what it was before he was sent back to Buffalo in August.

Manager Hohlt will not be resting anyone in the Cannons series saying "The players have until February to rest, I want to win the last three games to give the fans a look to the future." The talk in the stands is hoping that the Wolves can come through the last three games but also speculating on whether this will be the last time some don the Wolves uniform. Some are saying that this may be the final hurrah for the likes of Charlie Harvey, 34, with Tom Reed's move to 1B, Rocky Stone, 32, who has only 25 PA this year, Roy Demonbreun, 34, who is a defensive liability. On the mound there are Hank Griffith has had a poor year out of the pen. Hohlt says there have been no discussions of 1963 because "we have not finished 1962 yet, most teams do not return intact season to season. Those discussions are for later during organization meetings during the World Series. Meetings that I hope are later in October next year."

Ed Savage was named Rookie of Month in September with a line of .375/.470/.677 with an OPS of 1.147 (OPS+ 184), generating 1.6 WAR in 25 games.

EXPANSION IMPERIALS ON WAY TO ONE OF WORST SEASONS IN SPORTS HISTORY

With defeat number 113 the New York Imperials broke by one the 1890 Pittsburgh Miners record for most losses by any professional sports team in a single season. The Imperials still have 3 games remaining to add to that futility total but it prompted me to look at some of the worst teams in other Figment sports history.

In hockey there were none worse than the Brooklyn Eagles during the war years. The 1945-46 edition went just 2-41-5 and for a three year total the Eagles won only 8 games while losing 126 and tying 10. They would fold a short time later.

College football has given us some bad teams that play in major conferences the past few years. The worst is likely Idaho A&M of the West Coast Athletic Association. The Pirates went three full years without a victory going 0-30 during that time frame. The worst of those three years was the first as the 1958 edition of Idaho A&M was outscored 580-58 in their 10 losses. The Pirates are bouncing back to a degree as they halted that 3-year futility streak with a 2-8 season a year ago and are 1-2 so far this season thanks to an opening week 20-12 victory over St. Magnus.

The current Baton Rouge State Red Devils are threatening to equal the Pirates as the Deep South Conference door mat has gone 0-10 each of the past two seasons and is off to an 0-4 start. Since the start of the 1958 season the Red Devils are 2-42 and are riding an active 31 game losing streak that dates back to October of 1958 when they beat McKinney State 20-19. It is unlikely the Red Devils will win any of their six remaining games this season.

As far as the pros are concerned the worst football team of the modern era is likely the 1950 New Orleans Crescents of the AFA, who went 0-11-1 in their first and what would prove to be only season in the league as the former Continental Football Conference club folded prior to the 1951 campaign. The 1946 Pittsburgh Paladins also were winless but like New Orleans they did manage a tie and finished with an 0-10-1 record. The last time an AFA team failed to win or tie a game was in 1934 when the short-lived Cincinnati Centurions lost all 11 of their games and were outscored 300-45 in the process.

More recently and for a longer stretch the post-Pat Chappell Kansas City Cowboys endured three consecutive 2-10 seasons from 1954-56: a streak that began the year after the Cowboys reached the AFA title game for the third consecutive season.

On the court we have the 1957-58 Toronto Falcons who suffered through a 12-60 (.167) season and finished last in the Federal Basketball League's West Division for six consecutive seasons. The worst single season winning percentage in the FBL belonged to another Toronto team as the 1948-49 Titans posted a 9-59 (.132) record. It was a much shorter schedule but in the old American Basketball Conference the New York Knights went 2-22 (.083) in 1942-43.

College-wise some of the early season standings are missing but the worst team of all time is believed to belong to the 1939-40 Miners College Miners, who went 2-28. They are followed closely by the 1940-41 Valley State Gunslingers and 1958-59 Alabama Gulf Coast Privateers who each endured a 2-27 season. As for bigger schools there have been several who went 4-25 including the 1951-52 Daniel Boone College Frontiersmen and more recently the 1960-61 Provo Tech Lions won just 4 games after going 17-12 the year before.

Batter of the Months were both repeats, as as June winner Hank Williams (.429, 10, 28) and August winner Tom Lorang (.448, 9, 27, 1) were named the winners for September
The other two Fed winners were repeats, as Pioneers French Mack (5-0, 1.43, 50) and Danny Davis (.400, 4, 12) took home Pitcher and Rookie of the Month respectively. For Mack, it was his second 5-0 month, and he's yet to have a monthly ERA above 3
In the Contin, the Pitcher and Rookie winners were new, with the Stars' Dewey Allcock (5-0, 1.51, 20) and the Wolves' Ed Savage (.375, 7, 23) voted winners. Savage's selection was impressive, as all but 4 of his 29 career games came this September
Looks like us and the Kansas City media jinxed Hank Williams. After getting all the way up to .392, he went 0-for-21 in his last five games. This dropped his still impressive average to .377, but Williams will not be the last player since Hank Williams to hit over .400
Pioneer outfielder Danny Davis (.353, 26, 95) saw his hit-streak end at 32 games, and the only person to be blamed is Lou Ormsby. After giving him the day off, Davis pinch hit in the 7th, but he grounded out and was then replaced by new reliever Bill Davis. During the streak, he upped his season line from .341/.411/.533 to .353/.418/.599, and went 2-for-6 with a triple, homer, and 3 RBIs the following day
Forester Earl Howe (.262, 26, 89, 6) hit his 300th career FABL home run off John Mitchell (11-10, 4.23, 97) of the Cougars to start the 6th inning of Cleveland's 6-5 loss. The 26th player with 300 homers, it came in 1,367 games, all with the Gothams and Foresters. The first pick of the 1950 draft, he won the Kellogg in 1954, the Whitney in 1955, and has been selected to 4-All Star games. Now 30, he's hit .282/.358/.516 (132 OPS+) in his career, worth 44.3 WAR with 220 doubles, 916 runs, and 998 RBIs
Chief Ed Bloom (.283, 12, 52, 9) recorded his 2,000 hit the same day as Howe's 300th homer, and like Howe, he took someone deep. In this case, it was solo shot off reliever Jack Jordan (0-0, 5.71, 31). Known more for his eye then his bat, Bloom recorded his 1,500th walk earlier in the season, and has 3,557 hits + walks since debuting in 1949. This contributes to an elite .298/.431/.444 (139 OPS+) line with 368 doubles, 101 triples, 138 homers, 823 RBIs, 1,312 runs, and 190 steals
Diving deeper into Bloom, the active walk leader, he totaled exactly 100 walks this season. Walking 100 or more times in twelve consecutive seasons, he's led the Fed nine times and has a a legit chance for ten. Only Jerry Smith (99) and potentially Ed Wise (96) could stand in his way
Complete games aren't as prevalent as they once were, so it's even more impressive that King ace Beau McClellan was able to throw an 11-inning one. Picking up his 17th win of the season, he allowed 11 hits, 2 runs, and a walk with 6 strikeouts, as the Kings escaped Toronto with a 4-2 win

STARS AND YANKS SET FOR AFA EAST SHOWDOWN

Plenty of anticipation in pro grid circles in advance of next Sunday's showdown between the two-time defending league champion New York Stars and the Boston Americans after both clubs advanced remained perfect on the season with victories yesterday. A 3-0 start is not unexpected at all for the Stars, who have won 4 league titles in the past ten years and made the playoffs eight times in that span. For Boston, it is a much different story as the Yanks have not enjoyed a winning season since 1955 and have not won a playoff contest since their victory in the 1945 American Football Association championship game.

Boston, which went 6-8 a year ago under long time coach Charles Cabot, has looked impressive this season with all three of their victories coming on the road including yesterday's 22-7 romp over winless Buffalo. Veteran back Bob Callender led the way for the Americans as the 29-year-old ran for a game high 117 yards and scored a fourth quarter touchdown, ruining a strong effort from Red Jackets quarterback Jim Rizzi, who threw for 168. Boston did have its troubles finding the end zone as Callender scored the only major with the rest of the Yanks points coming courtesy the boot of kicker Dana Lawson.

Much better success in the red zone will be crucial next weekend when the New York Stars invade Minutemen Stadium for the Americans home opener. New York has won 16 of the last 21 meetings between the two clubs and is on a roll, as their 41-10 shellacking of the Detroit Maroons yesterday certainly reinforces.

The Maroons, who had high hopes after finishing with the best record in the West Division a year ago, are struggling at 1-2 and looked lost against the Stars offense and back Reid McDuffy in particular yesterday. McDuffy ran for 181 yards in the game with the majority coming on touchdown carries of 69 and 55 yards to help New York go up 28-10 at the half. New York's offensive outburst was even more impressive when you consider that Stars starting quarterback and reigning AFA Most Valuable Player Orlin Youngs missed the game with an injury but third year backup Harris Kummer fared just fine in his first career pro start. The former Miami State star played mistake-free ball, completing 7 of 17 throws for 143 yards including a fourth quarter touchdown pass to Rusty Drews.

The West Division leading St. Louis Ramblers remained unbeaten and ran their win streak including preseason contests to six games with a 20-10 doubling of the Outlaws in Houston. The Ramblers scored 17 points in the first 14 minutes of the game and had little difficulty with the third year Houston club, which dips to 1-2 with the loss.

In other action Bren Wechsler thew for 185 yards and three touchdowns to lead the visiting Cleveland Finches to a 41-7 win over the Paladins in Pittsburgh. The Chicago Wildcats, like Cleveland, came off a bye week with a victory as Fred Gunther ran for 168 yards and a touchdown to lead Chicago to a 21-9 victory over San Francisco. Three Bill Beaver field goals was the difference in Los Angeles as the Tigers improved to 2-1 with a 16-7 victory over the 1-2 Kansas City Cowboys. Dick Drum scored the only Tigers touchdown as part of his impressive 161 yard rushing day. Finally, in Philadelphia Jack Osterman threw for 139 yards and a touchdown to help the Philadelphia Frigates hand winless Washington its third straight loss as the hosts prevailed 24-14.

AVIATORS SOAR IN GREAT LAKES SHOWDOWN

The Central Ohio Aviators nipped Western Iowa 13-9 in a Great Lakes Alliance showdown between a pair of top five teams. The Aviators, led by 91 yards rushing from Larry Spruance, trailed 9-3 at the half before rallying to clip the Canaries in a battle of unbeaten teams. The win moves Central Ohio up two spots in the latest collegiate football rankings to #2, while the Canaries fall from third all the way to 23rd after losing for the first time in three outings.

Cumberland remains the number one team in the nation after the Explorers ran their record to 4-0 with a 73-0 rout of perennial Deep South Conference doormat Baton Rouge State. The Explorers ran for 489 yards in the game including 181 from Ron Filas while Cumberland quarterback Steve Peach completed 10 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns.

Lubbock State dropped from second to third despite the fact that the Hawks improved to 3-0 with a 20-13 victory over Payne State in their Southwestern Alliance opener. Junior halfback Paul Coddington was the difference in the game as he ran for a pair of touchdowns, both on carries in excess of 50 yards to key the Hawks offense.

A pair of West Coast schools hold down the fourth and fifth spots in the latest rankings as West Coast Athletic Association power Lane State ran its season record to 4-0 thanks to a 39-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter, giving the Emeralds a 31-24 victory over Northern Cal. Independent Minns College, based in San Jose, CA., is also 4-0 and ranked fifth after the Mavericks downed College of Waco 33-27.

Other results of note saw Noble Jones College improve to 3-0 with a 19-3 victory at home over Bayou State. Rome State lost for the second week in a row as Aaron Reurn ran for a pair of touchdowns to help Penn Catholic run its record to 4-0 with a 27-17 victory over the Centurions. CC Los Angeles snapped a two-game losing skid with a 27-20 win over Redwood while Coastal California also won in West Coast Athletic Association play as the Dolphins downed Spokane State 33-13.

WEEKEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS
Cowpens State Fighting Green 31, Columbia Military Academy Cadets 9
Charleston Tech Admirals 37, North Carolina Tech Techsters 14
Maryland State Bengals 30, Carolina Poly Cardinals 23
Eastern State Monitors 30, Coastal State Eagles 23
Sadler Bluecoats 24, Brunswick Knights 13
Henry Hudson Explorers 40, Grafton Scholars 37
George Fox Reds 27, Dickson Maroons 7
Ellery Bruins 19, Pierpont Purple 8
Cache Valley Cowboys 23, South Valley State Roadrunners 13
Mile High State Falcons 48, Utah A_M Aggies 0
Wyoming A_I Prospectors 30, Custer College Cavalry 23
Provo Tech Lions 54, Colorado Poly Redbirds 14
Tempe College Titans 24, Canyon A_M Armadillos 14
El Paso Methodist Bandits 30, Texas Panhandle Cowboys 17
Valley State Gunslingers 45, Abilene Baptist Chaparrals 10
Iowa A_M Bulls 31, Eastern Kansas Warriors 23
Lawrence State Chippewa 37, College of Omaha Raiders 10
Boulder State Grizzlies 20, Oklahoma City State Wranglers 7
Arkansas A_T Badgers 31, Red River State Rowdies 3
Darnell State Legislators 30, Texas Gulf Coast Hurricanes 6
Travis College Bucks 24, Amarillo Methodist Grizzlies 21
Detroit City College Knights 24, St Magnus Vikings 3
Lincoln Presidents 30, Indiana A_M Reapers 24
Central Ohio Aviators 13, Western Iowa Canaries 9
Minnesota Tech Lakers 34, Wisconsin State Brewers 28
Whitney College Engineers 10, St Ignatius Lancers 7
CC Los Angeles Coyotes 27, Redwood Mammoths 20
Lane State Emeralds 31, Northern California Miners 24
Coastal California Dolphins 33, Spokane State Indians 13
Portland Tech Magpies 41, Idaho A_M Pirates 10
Mississippi A_M Generals 27, Alabama Baptist Panthers 7
Georgia Baptist Gators 23, Bluegrass State Mustangs 13
Cumberland Explorers 73, Baton Rogue State Red Devils 0
Opelika State Wildcats 41, Central Kentucky Tigers 13
Western Florida Wolves 24, Northern Mississippi Mavericks 19
Noble Jones College Colonels 19, Bayou State Cougars 3
Central Carolina Lions 36, Richmond State Colonials 21
Potomac College Pelicans 24, Huntington State Miners 21
Mobile Maritime Middies 27, American Atlantic Pelicans 10
Alexandria Generals 27, Petersburg Patriots 3
Chesapeake State Clippers 59, Bulein Hornets 6
St Pancras Lions 34, Commonwealth Catholic Knights 20
Minns College Mavericks 33, College of Waco Cowboys 27
McKinney State Renegades 31, Queen City Monarchs 28
Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers 41, Garden State Redbirds 34
Penn Catholic Crusaders 27, Rome State Centurions 17
Boston State Pirates 14, College of San Diego Friars 13
Pittsburgh State Finches 26, Northern Minnesota Muskies 13
Ferguson Wildcats 48, St Patrick's Shamrocks 7
Eastern Oklahoma Pioneers 13, Daniel Boone College Frontiersmen 3
Lubbock State Hawks 20, Payne State Mavericks 13
Chicago Poly Catamounts 23, Topeka State Braves 9
Liberty College Bells 17, Rainier College Majestics 6
Annapolis Maritime Navigators 25, Cleveland Tigers 6

AGE NO WORRY TO DUKES' POLLACK

It is only training camp but the Toronto Dukes have to be happy with the conditioning of Quinton Pollack. Despite turning 40 years of age two months ago, the oldest player in the North American Hockey Confederation continues to be one of, if not the best the game has ever seen.

Training camp is more a time for youngsters to prove they belong in the league, but the legendary center who won his record 9th McDaniels Trophy last spring as the NAHC's most valuable player, looked like he felt his job was on the line last week. Pollack, whose 507 career NAHC goals and 1,187 points trail only Tommy Burns, played all 4 Dukes tune-up games last week and his 5 goals and 10 points leads all players in preseason action.

The Dukes as a team fared very well, winning three of their four outings and exploding for a league best 23 goals. Toronto's lone loss came last Saturday in Detroit when they fell 5-4 after the Motors exploded for three unanswered in the final ten minutes of the game. That was one of just two down moments for the defending regular season champions with the other being news that veteran forward Ken Jamieson may miss the season opener in Chicago on October 10 after suffering a stomach muscle strain in camp last week.

Montreal, which finished fourth last season but reached the finals before bowing out to two-time defending champion Detroit, also had a quick start as the Valiants went 3-1-0 during their first week of preseason play. Bright spots for the Vals include the play of Charlie Hamblin as the 26-year-old scored 5 goals last week to tie Pollack for the league lead in that category. The strong play of Montreal's two talented goaltenders in Nathan Bannister and Tim Burrows did little to help Vals coach Ted Grafton's difficult decision of which to go with as his number one netminder this season.

Each club will play three more preseason games before the regular season opens October 10.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 9/30/1962

Gunshots fired by Army troops rang out over the heads of protesters in Mississippi after overnight violence resulted in two deaths and scores of injuries. The battle waged over the enrollment of Negro student James Meredith at Mississippi A&M University.
The Federal Government and the state of Mississippi had been in a week long showdown after Mississippi Gov. Barnett and his Lt. Gov. blocked repeated attempts by Meredith to enroll in the 114 year old university. Barnett, finally relented after the threat of jail time. Earlier in the week, the Governor had been on the campus and personally turned Meredith away.
The White House charged that Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett broke his promise that his state police would maintain order if Meredith was brought to A&M's campus. President Kennedy stated that he had no choice but to summon Federal troops to quell the rioters. A reporter who says he was trapped in a besieged building overnight for 8 hours as "300 United States marshals withstood the full fury of 2,500 crazed students and town riff-raff" protesting Meredith's admission to the school.
US Attorney General Robert Kennedy announced that former Army Major General Edwin Walker was among those arrested, and is charged with four offenses related to promoting the rioting. Walker resigned his commission last year after being publicly admonished by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for allegedly referring to Harry S. Truman as "pink" and attempting to influence the votes of his troops. Walker became the only US general to resign this century.
The Federal Appeals Court declared Mississippi Lt. Gov. Paul Johnson in contempt of court for his part in blocking Meredith from attending Mississippi A&M.
Longshoremen quit work on Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports today after their contract expired. President Kennedy has invoked the Taft-Hartley Act in an attempt to end the work stoppage.
A Navy Yeoman was arrested in New York state the company of two officials of the Russian United Nations delegation by FBI agents and charged with espionage.
It has been reported the Soviet Union has used as many as six United States land-lease ships in trade with Communist Cuba. The vessels were loaned to Russia during World War II. The Soviets still have 84 merchant ships supplied under the land-lease agreement and are refusing to return them on the grounds they are not needed by the United States and that Washington had once offered to sell them.

12-19-2024, 09:22 PM	#1041
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,755	June 4, 1962 JUNE 4, 1962 ENGLISHMAN SHAFTO REACHES TOP OF WELTERWEIGHT MOUNTAIN AFTER SEVENTH ROUND TKO OF McMULLAN Bigsby Garden, New York, N.Y. – Dan McMullan (23-1-0, 13 KO) vs. Lenny Shafto (45-7-1, 23 KO) – The welterweight division is in shambles. After calm seas dominated the weight class, with 22 consecutive bouts either won by Lonnie Griffin or Eugene Ellis, Dan McMullan was selected to get the next title shot, leaping over a few ranked fighters in the process. McMullan is only 24, but he had a fresh face and only one defeat on his ledger. The welterweight rankings have a lot of international flavor, with England’s Mark Nock, France’s Oliver Guerin, and Italy’s Carl Rondinelli making up half of the top-six slots. Only New York’s Charlie McMichael and the two long-time champions were ranked heading into 1962. McMullan, who hails from Columbia, South Carolina, won the fight in April, if you could call it a fight. It lasted all of two minutes, 35 seconds, and Griffin never landed a single punch. All of this to say: McMullan is not a battle-tested warrior, at least not at the highest levels. For McMullan’s first title defense, his opponent was Lenny Shafto. He is from England, so he checks the box of the international fighter in this worldwide weight class, but he would rank at least fourth among non-Americans in the welterweight division. Shafto is making his American debut in the world mecca of boxing, Bigsby Garden, but you can imagine the Garden faithful collectively scratching their heads at the sight of a title matchup between two fighters who were not ranked just six months ago. Shafto had more experience with 53 professional fights under his belt, but very few in attendance had likely witnessed any of them. The fans did not really pick a side, but to a man, they wanted the fight to last longer than a single round. Both boxers entered the ring to a lukewarm reception, but there was anticipation of the unknown in the air. A sharp bettor would be hard-pressed to believe what he read in the boxing form. Unlike the last welterweight title bout, both fighters had a say early. Just as in Griffin-McMullan, the challenger landed the first stiff punch early, but the champion came right back. Shafto threw a jab that caused some damage, and the crowd noticed, while McMullan unleashed a right. Both fighters gave as good as they got and when one landed a good punch, the crowd cheered. Shafto landed a punch and McMullan countered and as the first round ended, both men were content to go back to their stools with both something to be happy about and something to work on. The second-round script did not follow the first, with McMullan getting the upper hand early and Shafto taking punches. Shafto landed a good right midway through the round, but McMullan had his way with the challenger until the tail end of the round, when Shafto earned the only knockdown of the fight. Just as the bell was about to be rung, Shafto rung McMullan’s bell with a neat cross that floored the champion. McMullan rose quickly, but he was lucky to hear the sound of the bell immediately afterwards. McMullan had his best round in Round Three, where he continued building what he started in the previous round before it was interrupted by Shafto’s one wayward punch. Early in the fourth round, the bout started to turn. Shafto connected on a hook to McMullan’s head that shook the champion and that started to give the challenger more confidence. Shafto threw more punches and landed them with more regularity. There were times in the latter stages of the round where McMullan was clinging to the ropes to keep him from going down. The champion sensed he was in trouble and tried to take the fight to Shafto. All along, Shafto had played it relatively safe, countering when he could and refusing to leave himself open for big shots from McMullan. Shafto was winning this bout, and everyone knew it, so McMullan wanted to turn the tide. As the fifth round began, McMullan walked right into a hook at ring center that made him sorry he led with his chin. A few missed punches on an attempted combination from McMullan left him wide open for more punishment by Shafto. By the end of the round, a welt was visible under McMullan’s left eye. From there, Shafto did not have to dodge many punches from McMullan and he controlled the tempo, starting slow in the sixth round, but finishing with aplomb, especially in the dying seconds. By the seventh round, McMullan was fading fast. The swelling under the champion’s left eye could not be lessened and that affected his peripheral vision. Shafto targeted the left side of McMullan’s face, and the champion was in big trouble. Shafto aimed high for his hooks and his crosses, mixing in some body shots for good measure. McMullan did not have the energy to fight back, which referee Vince Todd realized, and he waited for the right time to pull the plug. After one particular shot to the midsection left McMullan wincing in pain, Todd had seen enough and waved his arms to signal a technical knockout and grant the win to Shafto. Not bad for an American debut. Lenny Shafto (46-7-1) became an unlikely champion, defeating the last unlikely champion in McMullan (23-2-0). The fans had moderate hopes for this one and there were a few good relatively even rounds until Shafto took control of the match. It was even exciting at times. Shafto earned himself a lot of stateside fans, while McMullan is young enough to come back in what has become a transient weight class once again. With older fighters, unknowns, and international entrants, there is plenty of space for McMullan to dream big and get another title shot down the line. BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS Round 1: Tied, 2-2 (M: 0:31 right/head, 2:11 right; S: 0:14 jab, 2:54 uppercut/head) Round 2: Tied, 2-2 (M: 0:49 cross, 2:06 hook; S: 1:34 right, 3:00 cross/head/knockdown #1) Round 3: McMullan, 2-0 (1:33 cross, 2:17 uppercut) Round 4: Shafto, 3-1 (M: 0:48 right/head; S: 0:25 hook/head, 1:26 hook/head, 2:05 combo) Round 5: Shafto, 3-2 (M: 1:10 right/chin, 2:02 combo; S: 0:14 hook, 1:33 combo, 2:21 hook/body) Round 6: Shafto, 2-0 (2:30 cross, 2:58 uppercut) Round 7: Shafto, 4-0 (0:13 hook, 0:27 cross/face, 1:09 hook/midsection, 1:23 hook/head) TOTAL: Shafto 14, McMullan 7 RECENT KEY RESULTS Middleweight fight veteran Harry Kimbro was back in the ring as the Connecticut native headed to the west coast for the first of four planned fights by earning an 8th round knockout of local fighter Porter House in a bout in Portland, OR. Kimbro, 26, had a title shot against George Quisenberry three years ago but lost a close decision on points. He has won six straight bouts since then and his career mark is now 39-4. A big upset in Trenton, NJ, as welterweight Charlie McMichael was outpointed by journeyman Jeff Dobson in a fight Friday night. McMichael, a 27-year-old New Yorker, dipped to 27-3-2 and suffered his first loss since a pair of disqualifications very early in his career. He had been eyed for a potential title shot against Lonnie Griffin before Griffin lost his belt to Dan McMullan in April. Texas born heavyweight Phil Parsons(37-14-2) won by TKO in the 9th round over Russell Dunn in a fight in Atlanta over the weekend. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 33-7. COUGARS CRASH, FORESTERS FLY AND PIONEERS PUSH COMPETITION BACK Those who were skeptical of the Chicago Cougars being a legitimate pennant team were on to something, as in a week that saw them take on the now first and second place Cleveland Foresters and Los Angeles Stars, they couldn't put together a single win. Along with going 0-5 against those two teams, the Cougars dropped both games to the 15-30 Saints, in Chicago, losing seven in a row to plummet to four games out. Just seven days ago they were leading the Conti by two, but now Cleveland (30-15) has a comfortable three game lead on the Stars (27-18), and Kansas City (26-19) has a record that matches the Cougars. The offense got ice cold and the pitching struggled, and Pug White lost his ERA lead with 5 runs in his last 5.2 innings pitched. The Cougars do still lead the association in fewest runs against (184) and pen ERA (2.57), but regression has hit the team as a whole, and they may now have to shift their focus to staying above .500, not leading the association. Cleveland nearly inversed Chicago's week, winning six of seven and obviously sweeping the Cougars out of town during the middle of the week. Rufus Barrell (7-2, 3.12, 31) got things going with a shutout (W, 9 IP, 8 H, 6 K), backup catcher Larry McClure (.296, 2, 8) hit a huge grand slam in the middle game, and Adrian Czerwinski (5-3, 3.93, 49) fought off a fourth inning rain delay to throw a shutout (W, 9 IP, 2 H, 5 K) of his own. Foresters' starting pitchers had just one walk in the entire series, and aside for Gene Case's (.297, 5, 22, 5) 4-for-5 (2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI) in the middle game, the Cougar offense leveled little resistance. After the Chicago series the Foresters then put up 10 and 7 runs on the San Francisco Sailors, and are looking to finish the sweep today, before a huge three game series with the Stars. LA will head to Ohio for the series, allowing the Foresters an opportunity to put up some separation before a much needed Friday off day. Barrell is penciled in for the finale with the Sailors, leaving Sonny Stoyer (4-1, 5.24, 32), Adrian Czerwinski (5-3, 3.93, 49), and Les Hanauer (2-3, 5.63, 43) to take weekday series. LA is lucky, missing Barrell and Jake Pearson (7-1, 2.39, 51), while they counter with the recently healthy Bud Henderson (0-1, 13.50, 1), Floyd Warner (2-6, 6.53, 34), and Cal Johnston (3-3, 3.44, 35). Unfortunately, the other association looks settled already, as with Bob Bell (.384, 11, 25) back in the lineup, the St Louis Pioneers look unstoppable. Now 32-13, they hold an 8 game lead on the 24-21 Detroit Dynamos, Pittsburgh Miners and Chicago Chiefs. For those teams, they need to start winning quickly, and while the Chiefs are just finishing off a presently tied at one win apiece three game series in St Louis to start the week, Detroit (5th-7th) and Pittsburgh (12th-14th) both have upcoming Tuesday-Thursday series with the Association leaders. Solving the Pioneer staff is a struggle for all offenses, as Frenchy Mack (7-1, 1.99, 87) and Billy Hasson (8-1, 1.37, 66) has overpowered nearly everyone they've faced. Their "worst" starter Charlie Blake (4-3, 4.06, 37) has a 112 ERA+, and both Steve Madden (5-2, 3.71, 41) and Danny Daniels (4-3, 3.64, 39) are sporting ERAs below 4. Pair that with an offense of Bell, Jerry Smith (.344, 10, 32, 4), Steve Schultz (.320, 6, 30), and Danny Davis (.367, 6, 38), and things could get out of hand before we reach the All-Star break. The Toronto Wolves just can't get a break. The club, which has languished in the second division almost exclusively for nearly two decades and has not finished with a .500 record since 1948, seemed to be on track to end their futility after a solid 24-21 start to the season. Then came the news last week that George Hoxworth was done for the season after injuring his elbow in a game against Kansas City. The 24-year-old is a two-time allstar, having made his big league debut in 1956 at the tender age of 18. He had a rough go of things last year, going 5-16 with a 5.14 era but looked back in his all-star form in the early going this season with a 5-2 record but now his season is derailed and perhaps the Wolves hopes for a successful season are gone with it. Phil Colantuono, another one of the good young Toronto hurlers and a 15 game winner a year ago, is still nearly two months away from making his season debut after suffering a spring training arm injury, so Toronto is going to have a tough time filling the hole left by Hoxworth's absence at least until Colantuono is ready to return. Another big week for Dallas Berry as the Cincinnati Cannons slugger mashed 3 more homers to bring his season total to 18 - tops in either association. Included in his weekly longball production was the 300th of his career, which came yesterday afternoon in Toronto off the Wolves Bill Medley. The 30-year old Berry becomes the 24th player to clout 300 big league homers and is 8th among active players in that category. One of those ahead of Berry on the active homerun list is Edwin Hackberry and the veteran San Francisco Sailors outfielder also hit 3 last week, giving him 344 for his career. Hackberry, who has 8 homers and 30 rbi's to go with a .277 batting average on the season, was named the CA player of the week. Jack Denis of Boston, who has pretty much flown under the radar in recent years after winning a Whitney Award in 1956, was named the Federal Association player of the week. The 30-year-old first baseman was in a battle for playing time with Sal Nigro to start the season but Minutemen skipper Bill Freeman will have a hard time keeping him out of the lineup the way Denis has been hitting. The California Catholic graduate is batting .418 on the season but his 106 plate appearances are not sufficient enough to qualify him for the batting race leaderboard. Denis's alma mater will be one of the teams watched very closely by FABL scouts in the AIAA Collegiate World Championship Series tournament that gets underway in Seattle and Portland this week. The California Catholic Crusaders are one of the 16 finalists and they also have a potential first round FABL draft pick on the mound in senior righthander Bill Carpenter. The 22-year-old went 8-4 with a 2.57 era for the Crusaders this season. Included in this year's CWCS field are the last two tournament winners in defending champion Mississippi A&M and Lubbock State, winners in 1960. The AIAA All-American team will also be well represented in the tournament but Dick Vitt, winner of the last two Christian Awards as collegiate player of the year will not be there as his Brunswick College squad was upset by Henry Hudson University in the Academia Alliance tournament finale. Vitt is considered one of the favourites for the Christian again this season despite making the shift from shortstop to first base for Brunswick. If successful, Vitt will become the first ever three-time winner of the Christian Award. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 6/03/1962 A nuclear warhead -intact or possibly as debris- fell into 720 feet of water off Johnston Island when a missile carrying it was itself exploded less that two minutes before the bomb was to be detonated. A task force spokesman said they did not know the condition of the nuclear device following the failed test. In what is the worst one-plane air disaster to date, 130 persons - most from Atlanta returning from a cultural tour- died when an Air France jetliner crashed as it took off from Paris. A plane carrying Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker narrowly averted collision while landing in Sudbury, Ontario. The other plane was taxing across the runway just as the Prime Minister's craft was landing. There is no control tower at the Sudbury airstrip. President Kennedy's tariff bill was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill would give the President unprecedented powers to negotiate reductions of United States tariffs in return for concessions by foreign countries and would authorize Government aid to workers and companies hurt by rising imports. The United States will ask West Germany this week to reverse its stand on proposals for an international authority to control access to West Berlin. The US is offering a compromise between an American plan for a 13-nation authority to operate the Berlin supply lines across East Germany and the West German plan to retain control in the hands of the Big Four powers. After major drops the past few weeks, the stock market seems to have steadied as it was swamped by a torrent of buying orders that sent prices spinning upward in a solid continuation of the rally from the worst loss since 1929. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

12-23-2024, 06:01 PM	#1042
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	Special Edition! 1962 1st Round Draft Recap SPECIAL 1962 FABL DRAFT EDITION 1962 FABL DRAFT ROUND ONE RECAP Los Angeles Suns - 1st Round, 1st Overall: RHP Joe Conner School: Clinton 1962: 9-3, 118 IP, 0.99 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 28 BB, 171 K Career: 9-3, 118 IP, 0.99 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 28 BB, 171 K The 1952 Amateur Draft got off to an unexpected start, as the Los Angeles Suns decided to reward the hardworking pitcher Joe Conner for all the work he's put into his game. Conner, who turned 17 in April, was born in a small town near tourist attraction Starved Rock, but his Ottawa, Illinois school didn't have a baseball team. That made the normal four year high school career tough for the town ball standout, earned enough high school credits to early, allowing him to transfer to nearby Clinton to pitch for their varsity team and get his diploma. He got the baseball portion out of the way, going 9-3 with a 0.99 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 28 walks, and 171 strikeouts. A three pitch pitcher, his best pitch is the change up, but command is something that has eluded him at times. If he works out those issues, he can be an early ace for a young Suns team in need of an impact starter. They've gotten good results from former Pioneer Doc Carver (2-4, 4.36, 32), and they're hoping the recently promoted Red Burtch (1-1, 0.93, 7) can compliment him and Conner in the future. New York Imperials - 1st Round, 2nd Overall: SS George Love School: Amesbury 1962: .459/.542/.935, 201 PA, 22 2B, 7 3B, 15 HR, 56 RBI, 9 SB Career: .442/.518/.802, 595 PA, 65 2B, 16 3B, 29 HR, 154 RBI, 59 SB Seen as a candidate for the #1 pick, high school shortstop George Love became the first position player selected. A three year starter at Amesbury, Love hit .442/.518/.802 with 110 extra base hits, 225 runs, and 154 RBIs. He mashed 15 homers as a senior, and possesses middle of the order potential at a premium position he plays well. With his speed and bat he could hit a lot of doubles, and so far he's squared up a large percentage of the pitches he's hit. He's one of the few prospects who has all the tools to be a star, and of course, the ego that comes with it. All-Stars and Whitneys will mean more then a championship, and that's the perfect mindset for someone going to an expansion team. With just 10 wins, the Imperials need all the help they can get, and between Red Ellis (.205, 4, 16, 2), top-250 prospect Delos Smith, and former Keystone reserve infielder Tommie Williams (.339, 2, 7) ahead of him, there is absolutely nothing in his way. Minneapolis Millers - 1st Round, 3rd Overall: 1B John Edwards School: Vinita 1962: .453/.556/.899, 171 PA, 19 2B, 5 3B, 11 HR, 48 RBI, 7 SB Career: .473/.540/.776, 517 PA, 57 2B, 9 3B, 20 HR, 135 RBI, 12 SB It sounds weird saying this, because John Edwards is 17 and Bill Ingraham (.238, 3, 21) in his third FABL season, but I think Edwards is the new best first basemen in the Minneapolis Milers organization. Don't get the wrong idea, this is not a suggestion to start him anywhere near the major leagues, but this kid is already pretty good. And he could become so much better. I'm not sure he'd get many hits, but few FABL pitchers could strike him out, and if you're wild he'll take the easy walk. A disciplined hitter with the potential to have major home run power, his upside is massive, allowing him t o become among the top sluggers in the game. One underrated aspect of his game is the arm, as Edwards could be an excellent right fielder. That spot is currently filled by Hugh Pate (.319, 6, 16, 5), a former Cougar in the midst of a big breakout year, and he could easily shift over to left should the Millers decide to use Edwards in the outfield. For each of the four expansion teams, their is a lot of flexibility for these first rounders, as they'll get fully attention from the staff in a smaller minor league system. Dallas Wranglers - 1st Round, 4th Overall: 3B Athan Metrofanis School: Lane 1962: .452/.507/.882, 207 PA, 22 2B, 5 3B, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 46 SB Career: .493/.551/.848, 712 PA, 86 2B, 21 3B, 31 HR, 196 RBI, 122 SB The last of the expansion teams, Dallas was still able to grab a top quality prospect as this year's crop of young talent is deep. Continuing the trend of high school players, they went with Chicago third basemen Athan Metrofanis, who started all four seasons at Lane. One of the top prep prospects since he broke onto the scene as a freshman in 1959. He hit .504, the lowest of three consecutive .500 seasons before his line dropped to a still impressive .452/.507/.882 as a senior. He did maintain his doubles production, recording 22, and his 16 home runs more then doubled his home run total in his three previous seasons. A double threat, the speedster also swiped 46 bases, totaling 83 runs, 22 doubles, 16 homers, and 19 walks in his final hurrah. Another big bat, he's not as far along as the two batters taken above him, so Dallas will have to stick with guys like Carl Matthews (.208, 5, 19) at the hot corner for now. As Metrofanis moves up the system, improving his defense is a priority, but they'll always have the fall back of first if he can blast homers like he's projected to. Pittsburgh Miners - 1st Round, 5th Overall: RHP Jack Kotarski School: Wilson 1962: 8-0, 83.1 IP, 0.86 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 20 BB, 150 K Career: 8-0, 83.1 IP, 0.86 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 20 BB, 150 K Arguably the pitcher with the most upside in the draft, Jack Kotarski is a one year prep pitcher just like #1 pick Joe Conner. He doesn't have the command problems, and Wilson with a perfect 8-0 record in 12 starts. His 0.86 ERA and 0.79 WHIP were impressive, as the still 16-year-old burst on the scene as well. A five pitch pitcher, he leads with a high 80s cutter, and his change up could be one of the best pitches in the league. The overall stuff is elite, and with how well he places his pitches, he could end up leading rotations. As with any prep pitcher, he comes with plenty of risk, but the upside is evident. Pittsburgh has lot a lot of pitching due to the expansion draft, and the staff took another hit when 24-year-old Jimmy Blair (2-1, 2.57, 29) tore his meniscus and could miss the remainder of the season. They have other talented young arms like Pat Simon (3-3, 3.88, 39) and Ted Mickiewicz (3-2, 1, 4.32, 36), but if all goes right Kotarski will be the one propped up at the top. Toronto Wolves - 1st Round, 6th Overall: RHP Bill Carpenter School: California Catholic 1962: 8-4, 112 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 19 BB, 122 K Career: 17-10, 247.1 IP, 2.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 69 BB, 238 K For a team that just lost talented 24-year-old righty George Hoxworth (5-2, 4.11, 41) for the season with a partial UCL tear, adding a quality college arm like Bill Carpenter is huge. The first college player selected, the senior Carpenter had a nice two-year run at California Catholic, displaying elite command in the recent collegiate season. Carpenter cut his BB% from 8.3 to 4.2, so with 122 strikeouts he produced an elite 6.4 K/BB. This helped him lower his ERA from 3.19 to 2.57, and the eight pitch pitcher has a knack for pitching deep into games. He's a classic innings eater who can beat you in multiple ways, and his advanced control helps to the point where he doesn't need to throw a lot of pitches each inning. The stuff is great too, as both his slider and curve are already plus-plus pitches. He does still have plenty of development, so I wouldn't advocate for the Wolves sending him straight to Toronto, but he could rise up the ladder quickly. Better hitters will frustrate him and he could give up some home runs, but at worst he's a back-end guy, and at best he can lead a rotation. Detroit Dynamos - 1st Round, 7th Overall: RHP Skipper Atkins School: Shenandoah 1962: 9-0, 92.2 IP, 0.87 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 17 BB, 150 K Career: 43-0, 442 IP, 0.92 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 66 BB, 623 K I can see the case for others, but personally, I'd say no player in the pool has the upside of Skipper Atkins. A four year starter at Shenandoah High School, Skipper was a perfect 43-0, working to an elite 0.92 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 66 walks and 623 strikeouts. In all four seasons, he walked no more then 24 batters while striking out at least 144, and excluding his junior year, he had an ERA and WHIP below 0.95 and 0.80. The numbers themselves are impressive, but his overall talent gives him the potential to lead a rotation. Another pitcher with a deep arsenal, Skipper has seven options, and four of them are of extremely high quality. His go-to pitch is his mid 90s fastball, and his slider, curve, and screwball can make even the best hitters look foolish. He doesn't always locate the pitches well, but he avoids the center of the zone, and his pitches move well enough that you can't sit on a location. The stuff and movement is advanced for a high school arm, and if the control was a bit more developed, I'd be willing to take him right now over a few of the relievers in Detroit's pen. Injuries aside, he seems like a lock for a FABL rotation, and he should be ranked among the top pitching prospects in the league. Montreal Saints - 1st Round, 8th Overall: RHP Ellis Porter School: Des Moines 1962: 10-0, 98.1 IP, 0.64 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 14 BB, 160 K Career: 10-0, 98.1 IP, 0.64 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 14 BB, 160 K The trend of high school draftees continued, and we got our third pitcher in a row with 17-year-old Ellis Porter. A one year starter at his Iowa high school, Porter transferred in to become draft eligible, and spun a perfect 10-0 season with a miniscule 0.64 ERA that was actually lower then his 0.71 WHIP. A bit of a soft tosser, Porter doesn't have the overwhelming stuff that some of his fellow first rounders, but he has a penchant for inducing groundballs. It's really tough to square his pitches up, as evidence by the single home run in almost 100 innings, and his fastball/sinker/change mix accounted for a whopping 40.8 K%. As a three pitch pitcher, he's really going to need all three to be effective, putting a lot of pressure on the change. An elite fastball and sinker is nice for a reliever, but if Porter wants to remain in the rotation, he needs his offspeed to miss a lot of bats. Lucky for him, it projects to be a devastating pitch with a ton of downward movement, and it should lead his quality arsenal. He might be the riskiest option so far, but he's smart, hard working, and should be able to carve out a major league career. Boston Minutemen - 1st Round, 9th Overall: 1B Bob Schultz School: Tacoma 1962: .424/.551/.801, 196 PA, 16 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR, 45 RBI, 17 SB Career: .443/.544/.676, 601 PA, 47 2B, 5 3B, 19 HR, 132 RBI, 17 SB He may have fell because he was a first basemen, but the soon-to-be 18-year-old Bob Schultz has plenty of experience in the outfield too. A three year starter at his Washington high school, Schultz spent most of his time at first, but he looked good at all three outfield spots. He has the bat of a first basemen with the range of a center fielder, and even though Frank Kirouac (.266, 11, 27, 4) seems to have center on lock in Beantown for the next decade, there is room on the grass with him. Especially if first basemen Jack Denis (.418, 3, 17) continues to hit as well as he has. Granted, there won't be a rush for Schultz to get to Boston, he's a very raw young prospect, but he's an athletic prospect with a great eye, plus raw power, and a sweet swing that generates a lot of bat speed. His eye might be his best tool, both currently and in the future, and he posted an excellent 39-to-6 walk-to-strikeout ratio as a senior. The lefty could be among the league leaders in walks, and if all goes well, he'll hit high in a quality Boston lineup. Chicago Cougars - 1st Round, 10th Overall: SS Bill Grimm School: Alton 1962: .436/.522/.843, 203 PA, 17 2B, 7 3B, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 18 SB Career: .452/.518/.775, 542 PA, 50 2B, 18 RB, 22 HR, 140 RBI, 54 SB A classic pick for an organization uncharacteristically low on middle infielders, the Chicago Cougars when to select versatile Illinois shortstop Bill Grimm. A three year starter at Alton High School right on the Illinois/Missouri border, Grimm doesn't always make a lot of contact, but when he does, the ball goes far. Either out of the park or into the gaps, when Grimm connects it does damage, and the senior recorded 37 extra base hits in 203 trips to the plate. Projected to have outstanding home run power, gap power, and plate discipline, Grimm will give excellent at bats, and with his speed he really impacts the game in multiple ways. On the older side for the first round high schoolers, he's already 18 and turns 19 in November, and with his older age comes a more complete hitter. He might not have to spend too much time in the low minors, though the Cougars may want to work on his defense as he's going up. A quality shortstop, he doesn't have excellent range, but he's got a third basemen's arm and a knack for smooth double plays, quickly turning potential base runners into outs. If he can't stick at short, the bat should be more then enough, and he'd be a plus defender at second, third, and all three outfield spots. He's better in center then short, but the Cougars are flush with quality outfielders, and seem committed to keeping their talented young hitter on the dirt. New York Gothams - 1st Round, 11th Overall: RHP Bunny Mullins School: Humboldt 1962: 8-1, 93 IP, 0.97 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 17 BB, 150 K Career: 8-1, 93 IP, 0.97 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 17 BB, 150 K A towering 6'4'' pitcher from Tennessee, the right hander Bunny Mullins spent one season playing high school baseball, and it was more then enough to earn the attention of the league's scouting departments. A four pitch pitcher, Mullins did an excellent job recording outs, allowing just 59 hits and 17 walks in his 93 innings, good enough for a pristine 0.82 WHIP to go with a sub-1 ERA. 18 in July, Mullins also showed the ability to pitch deep into games, which could help him develop into a key rotation member for the Gothams. He's not the hardest thrower, just occasionally touching 90 with his fastball, with his cutter and sinker just a tick or so slower. He makes up for that with his intelligence, as he had an academic scholarship to El Paso Methodist if he wasn't selected in the draft. Of course, with his talent that wasn't a consideration, and he'll now use his brain for baseball. His smarts should help him avoid mistake pitches and improve his sequencing, allowing him to get the most of his stuff. He has strong command that should propel him into a FABL rotation spot, though he projects more as a solid middle rotation guy then someone you want at the top. Kansas City Kings - 1st Round, 12th Overall: 2B Platon Daniels School: DeKalb 1962: .480/.572/.829, 215 PA, 22 2B, 6 3B, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 29 SB Career: .446/.539/.836, 812 PA, 81 2B, 21 3B, 46 HR, 206 RBI, 38 SB The first switch-hitter of the draft, Platon Daniels is a young infielder from Illinois who spent four seasons at DeKalb before being the Kings first round selection. 18 later this month, Daniels was an extra base machine, hitting 37 as a senior to finish with 148 in just 163 games. He hit 9 home runs this season, solid enough on its own, but it's actually a drop from the 14 and 16 he hit in the two previous seasons. Power could become a big part of his game, whether it shows as doubles or homers, and he reminds me a lot of the Kings current second basemen Al Farmer (.302, 9, 30, 3). Like Farmer, he can hit his share of homers, but the biggest impact is the amount of doubles and triples he can log. They're both quick, disciplined, and able to find the gaps, but the defense isn't going to be much more then average. Daniels should be able to hit around .300 too, as he'll frustrate minor league pitchers on his trek up to Kansas City. A big team player too, he's always got his head in the game, supporting and cheering for his teammates when he's on the bench. He has a long road of development ahead of him, but if all breaks right he's going to be another homegrown weapon for a Kings team that excels at identifying talented position players in the early rounds. New York Gothams - 1st Round, 13th Overall: RHP Larry Gifford School: Bluegrass State 1962: 10-4, 124.1 IP, 3.26 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 70 BB, 121 K Career: 14-12, 232.2 IP, 4.84 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 141 BB, 181 K Back to the college ranks for just the second non-prep player in the first round, as the Chiefs added the 6'4'' Larry Gifford out of Bluegrass State. Gifford had one of the biggest bounce-back seasons of any draft eligible player, as he went from a guy you wouldn't take in a single digit round to the 13th selection of the draft. A six pitch pitcher, Gifford spent all offseason improving his stuff, as he did just about everything wrong last season. Gifford walked 71 while striking out just 60, maintaining elevated ERAs and WHIPs of 6.65 and 1.89 respectively. Almost everything was different in his junior year, as even though the command still isn't great (70 BB, 12.5 BB%), his sinker, change, and slider have all emerged as plus-plus pitches. He's also throwing harder, leaving the high 80s for a consistent 92-94, and when Gifford is walking guys, he's done a lot better erasing them with double plays. His sinker can get grounders and whiffs, and now that he isn't allowing twenty baserunners an inning, he's spinning together complete game after complete game. A classic innings eater who could be a quick riser, Gifford has a high floor, but unless he gets his command under control he may tough to rely on. When he's on, he's unhittable, and with his excellent stuff he could be a dominant force in the rotation or back of a pen. Where he ends up is determined by how many free passes he allows, but the Chiefs may decide to move the almost 22-year-old up to the Windy City at an expedited pace. Cincinnati Cannons - 1st Round, 14th Overall: LF Jud Long School: East 1962: .494/.537/.765, 188 PA, 15 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 59 SB Career: .491/.541/.738, 573 PA, 50 2B, 7 3B, 20 HR, 151 RBI, 59 SB He came close twice, but East High School outfielder Jud Long fell short of hitting .500 twice, batting .495 as a sophomore and .494 as a senior. With averages like that, the first thing you'd expect is an above average contact hitter, which is true, but it's actually not what scouts like most about him. The corner outfielder has tremendous power potential from the left side of the plate, and paired with his outstanding speed the Cannons brass may be dreaming of a 30/20 future not too long from now. A bat first prospect, almost all his value comes from the offensive side of the game, as despite his speed he's got unremarkable range and should almost never be seen in center. In a pinch, he could cover it, but this is a mashing LF/RF that you want in the middle of the order. When he puts the ball in play, good things tend to happen, as he's a force on the bases and is practiced in hitting line drives. He does have a tendency to pull the ball in the air, so parks that are tough on lefty power may keep him contained, but anything in the gap gives him the potential to end up on second or third. It may be early in his career, but his development prospects are promising, and he could end up in a star-studded Cannon outfield with Dallas Berry (.379, 18, 44, 6) and Bonnie Chapin (.303, 9, 25, 2) in the second half of the decade. New York Gothams - 1st Round, 15th Overall: RHP Johnny Stiles School: Bowling Green 1962: 10-0, 96.2 IP, 0.74 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 13 BB, 154 K Career: 10-0, 96.2 IP, 0.74 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 13 BB, 154 K The FABL clubs continued to alternate between hitter and pitcher, all while continuing to stick with high schoolers in a very young draft. Washington went with Johnny Stiles, who celebrates his golden birthday on the 17th. One of the most inexperienced and raw prospects in the pool, Stiles actually showed impeccable command in his senior season, walking just 13 with 154 strikeouts in 96.2 innings. A perfect 10-0, his 0.74 ERA was almost identical to his 0.72 WHIP, as the soft-tossing righty found ways to trick and befuddle high school hitters in Ohio. A six-pitch sinkerballer, his sinker sits in the 85-87 range, but it's one of those pitches you can't get good wood on. It's tough to elevate, leading to a lot of slow rollers and broken bats, and none of his pitches are straight. The change in particular is an exciting one, a potential dominant pitch that could help him maintain high strikeout rates. His upside is noticeable, a potential rotation anchor, but he's got a lot of developing before he gets there. C ball hitters may have no issues making contact, and eventually more experienced guys will be able to take advantage of his mistakes. He's a big high-risk/high-reward high school arm who could be out of baseball by 23 or still picking up wins in his late 30s. Los Angeles Stars - 1st Round, 16th Overall: SS Lew Smith School: Passaic 1962: .494/.545/846, 178 PA, 19 2B, 6 3B, 8 HR, 51 RBI, 62 SB Career: .462/.510/.673, 700 PA, 64 2B, 9 3B, 17 HR, 174 RBI, 62 SB A four year starter at Passaic, Lew Smith saved the best for last, hitting an impressive .494/.545/.846 with 19 doubles, 6 triples, 8 homers, 51 RBIs, 77 runs, 18 walks, 62 steals, and a 4.0 WAR. All of those metrics were personal bests for the versatile Smith, who will now take his talents to Hollywood. An 18-year-old from Brooklyn, he's one of the most aggressive and successful base stealers in the draft, though despite those skills he's not yet a top baserunner. What he can do is put the ball in play and beat out a throw, though he's a line drive hitter with power. Not one that gets cheap infield hits. He has great range in the infield and outfield, and while he has more value in the middle infield, he's even better in the outfield. Working against him is his baseball IQ, part of the reason he's not a good baserunner, but he's a well liked kid who can fit in comfortably as a leadoff hitter. He has a fair amount of development ahead of him, but he has a good eye, nice contact tool, and he can play almost anywhere on the field. Guys like that are extremely valuable, and if he can tap into his power potential, he could be a top shortstop or center fielder. Chicago Cougars - 1st Round, 17th Overall: SS Rich Hood School: Simpsonville 1962: .448/.549/.747, 213 PA, 20 2B, 3B, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 14 SB Career: .442/.508/.658, 771 PA, 67 2B, 5 3B, 23 HR, 189 RBI, 14 SB After alternating for seven picks, the St. Louis Pioneers broke the cycle, passing up a pitcher to go with a shortstop of their own. Rich Hood becomes the fourth and final shortstop selected in the opening round, and like Lew Smith, he's a four year high school starter. He doesn't have the statline or speed of Smith, but Hood has legit power, whacking ten over the seats as a senior. A bat first infielder, my guess is he moves off short eventually, but the bat should make up for any defensive shortcomings. He's a solid contact hitter with above average power, potentially hitting 25+ homers even in a big park like St. Louis has. He has a great swing and will draw a lot of walks, boasting dynamic tools that could allow him to develop into another cornerstone player for the Pioneers. Short is somewhat of a weakness for them, as 35-year-old Paul Watson (.287, 1, 23) won't be playing much longer, and with their elite and overpowering pitching staff a poor defensive shortstop may not matter too much. Him and Bob Bell (.384 ,11, 25) could be a lethal duo, and I'd shift Bell to short to accommodate Hood once he's ready for FABL pitchers. San Francisco Sailors - 1st Round, 18th Overall: LHP Bert Alexander School: Santa Monica 1962: 10-2, 124 IP, 1.16 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 31 BB, 189 K Career: 10-2, 124 IP, 1.16 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 31 BB, 189 K After the quick detour, we're back to the mound, as the Sailors selected young southpaw Bert Alexander. Another one year high school pitcher, Alexander finished 10-2 with a 1.16 ERA and 189 strikeouts in 124 innings pitched. The Sailors new southpaw was able to pitch deep into games, mixing his three pitch mix well to keep hitters fooled. His fastball tops out in the high 80s, and while his command still needs some work, he excels at generating weak contact. When you put the ball in play against him, it doesn't usually do much damage, as he commands the outside of the zone well. The stuff may never be great, but he uses said pitches well, and if you watch the now 45-year-old Rufus Barrell (7-2, 3.12, 31) pitch, it's easy to see how a guy can thrive by placing pitches where he wants them. With elite command and even average stuff, Alexander could be a rotation fronter, but the Sailors staff will have to continue to work with him as he's far from a finished product. He carries plenty of risk, but the upside is evident and the Sailors organization is adept at developing quality pitchers. Philadelphia Keystones - 1st Round, 19th Overall: 3B Bill Calvin School: Maryland State 1962: .266/.402/.584, 351 PA, 13 2B, 6 3B, 22 HR, 65 RBI, 21 SB Career: .275/.365/.496, 991 PA, 37 2B, 8 3B, 46 HR, 180 RBI, 21 SB Woah! A college bat! Those exist!?!?!?! Yes, believe it or not, there are a few quality collegiate position players, and Keystone third basemen Bill Calvin was the only one a FABL organization felt comfortable taking in the first round. A standout at Maryland State, he was a starter in each of his three seasons, but there won't be a 4th as he'll leave campus for a pro career. Known for his versatility and tremendous power potential, Calvin suited up at second, third, short, left, center, and right for the Bengals, and after 24 homers in his first two seasons, he came close to matching it with 22 as a junior. Calvin added 75 runs, 13 doubles, 6 triples, 61 walks, and 21 steals, and finished off an impressive college career with 46 homers, 220 runs, 180 RBIs, and 113 walks. Now 22, some scouts in the league think Calvin won't need to spend too much time on the farm, though offense certainly hasn't been Philly's problem this season. A disciplined hitter, he's got great speed and power, which helps make up for an average hit tool. He's not going to bat over .300, but he'll draw a ton of walks and most of his hits could be for extra bases. Add in his athleticism, defensive aptitude, and natural talent, and it's easy to project him to be an above average position player. I like him most at third due to the arm, but he might be best out in right. I don't expect him to make it to Philly this season, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Ohio native takes his first FABL PA in 1963. Philadelphia Keystones - 1st Round, 20th Overall: 3B Babe Thornton School: Sayreville 1962: .476/.582/.729, 213 PA, 22 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 49 RBI, 51 RBI, 6 SB Career: .445/.514/.676, 773 PA, 76 2B, 8 3B, 21 HR, 181 RBI, 16 SB One more third basemen to finish it off, as the first place Foresters selected high schooler Babe Thornton. A four year starter at Sayreville High School, Babe hit a personal best .476/.582/.729 as a senior, improving his contact, eye, and power in one fell swoop. That propelled him into the back of the first round, as Cleveland gets a potential replacement for their weakest spot. Former All-Star Jerry Tubbs (.181, 7, 27) has been almost unplayable, somewhat saved by walks and homers, but he's in his 30s and has a very tenuous grasp on the position. In fact, they might have been hoping Colvin slid, as I could see an aggressive GM pushing him up quickly if he got off to a hot start in the minors. Instead, they'll get more of a project with the almost 18-year-old, who has a considerable offensive ceiling. He's a statue at third, and since he's below 6'0'' you don't really want him at first, but one look at his swing and you can see why the scouts are so excited. It's a balanced, rhythmic swing, one that should allow him to hit for a high average. He walks, doesn't really strikes out, and hits ball hard, but he's not your typical slugging third basemen. 20 homers may be close to his max, but when it comes with an average over .300 it's more then good enough. Without a glove to fall back on, there's a ton of pressure on him to produce at the plate, and it may take a lot of failure before he finally earns a big league shot.

12-26-2024, 08:39 PM	#1043
Jiggs McGee All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 677	June 11, 1962 JUNE 11, 1962 FORESTERS EXTEND WIN STREAK TO 11 GAMES Deuce Barrell Notches Career Win #350 as Foresters Stretch CA Lead The Cleveland Foresters are heating up and may well be on their way to a fourth straight Continental Association pennant and their sixth flag in the past seven years. The Foresters got out of the gate slowly, with just an 11-9 record after their first twenty games but in their most recent twenty outings they have gone 18-2 including a winning streak that has now reached 11 games. Perhaps the most memorable of those 11 consecutive victories was last Monday's 6-1 triumph on the west coast over the San Francisco Sailors. The game came a day after future Hall of Famer Deuce Barrell celebrated his 45th birthday and the late present Barrell gifted to him self was 8 innings of six-hit ball that earned Deuce his 350th career pitching victory. Only Allan Allen, with 514, and Charlie Sis, with 395, have ascended to such heights ahead of the Foresters ace who seems to be getting even better with age. It is a near certainty that no one in the history of the sport has performed as well in his age 45 season as Barrell, who has gone 8-2 with a 2.90 era in his 11 starts for the Foresters. Co-ace Adam Czerwinski (5-3, 3.70) is also heating up with wins in each of his last three decisions while the youngster of the star-studded trio, 31-year-old Jake Pearson (8-1, 2.40), may be all that stands between Barrell and a record 6th Allan Award win. Led by those three pitchers and a pretty talented offense, the Foresters have stretched their lead to 7 games over a trio of Continental Association teams in Los Angeles, Cincinnati and the Chicago Cougars who are all tied for second place. Must be something in the water in Ohio of late as the Cannons, with nine wins in their last ten games including a current six-game winning streak are the only team keeping pace with the Foresters hot June record. There is a hot team in the Federal Association as well. That would be the Pittsburgh Miners, who on May 16 were in 9th place with a 10-18 record. Since then, they have gone 19-4 and climbed into a tie for second place with the Chicago Chiefs. Each club has won four in a row but both continue to chase St Louis. They are six games back of the first place Pioneers but the Miners will have a chance to cut into that gap if they can keep up their hot play this week. Pittsburgh begins a 3-game series in St Louis on Tuesday. The front-running Pioneers had a bit of a stumble early in the week - losing two games each to the Chiefs and the Detroit Dynamos before rebounding with three straight victories. TURNER IS A RISING STAR IN PITTSBURGH Edward "Dixie" Turner Jr., the dynamic young second baseman for the Pittsburgh Miners, has quickly established himself as one of the most electrifying players in the Federally Aligned Baseball Leagues (FABL). Born on February 15, 1942, in Live Oak, Florida, Dixie’s baseball pedigree was established early thanks to the influence of his father, Edward "Ed" Turner Sr., who also played second base for the Pittsburgh Miners. While Ed Sr.'s career at the FABL level was brief, his love for the game never wavered, and he became a crucial mentor in his son's development. Growing up in the small, close-knit community of Live Oak, Dixie’s talent was evident from a young age. Stories abound of him outshining older kids in local sandlot games before he was even a teenager. By the time he reached high school, he was already a star. Playing for the Live Oak High School Lions, Dixie dominated the competition with his smooth glove, lightning-quick reflexes, and a bat that produced both contact and power. Scouts from across the country took notice, and by his senior year, he was regarded as the best high school prospect in the nation. The Pittsburgh Miners, who held the first overall pick in the 1960 FABL draft, wasted no time in selecting Dixie Turner, believing he could be the cornerstone of their franchise for years to come. The significance of the pick was not lost on anyone, especially since his father, Ed Sr., had donned the same uniform years earlier. For the elder Turner, it was a moment of pride, and for Dixie, it was a symbolic passing of the torch. The younger Turner later remarked, "I’m not just playing for me—I’m playing for my family, my town, and everyone who believed in me." Upon signing with the Miners, Dixie reported to the club’s Class C affiliate in Jacksonville in his home state of Florida, where he wasted little time proving he was ready for bigger challenges. His first professional season was nothing short of sensational, as he showcased his hitting prowess and defensive instincts. His second season was even better as he shone brightly with both Class B Spokane and Class A Gary. With his blend of speed, bat control, and defensive wizardry, the Miners’ front office accelerated his development, calling him up to the FABL roster ahead of schedule. At just 20 years old, Dixie Turner is now the starting second baseman for the Miners. He’s quickly become a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, with chants of "Dixie! Dixie!" ringing through the stands at Fitzpatrick Park. His approach at the plate is mature beyond his years. He’s patient but aggressive when he gets his pitch, and his ability to hit to all fields makes him a constant threat in the lineup. Defensively, he’s been a revelation. His range, footwork, and instinctual play have drawn comparisons to some of the game's all-time greats. Off the field, Dixie remains grounded. He’s known for his humility and strong connection to his hometown of Live Oak, where he frequently returns during the offseason to host youth baseball clinics. He’s also dedicated to his family, crediting his father, Ed Sr., as his greatest influence. “He’s been my coach, my toughest critic, and my biggest fan,” Dixie once said. “Every time I step on that field, I’m representing him too.” While many young players might struggle with the pressures of being the #1 overall pick, Dixie has embraced it. His mental toughness and self-assuredness are traits that have set him apart from his peers. Those close to him describe him as fiercely competitive but also thoughtful and introspective. He’s quick to credit his teammates for his success and approaches each game with a sense of purpose and joy. As the face of the Miners’ increasingly bright future, there’s a palpable sense of excitement surrounding Dixie Turner’s career trajectory. Some scouts believe he’s destined to be the best second baseman in the league within a few years. Others think he’s a generational talent capable of rewriting the record books. One thing’s for sure—with his blend of talent, work ethic, and charisma, Dixie Turner’s star is only beginning to rise. DYNAMOS HOPE THEY HAVE LANDED A GEM IN DRAFT Plenty of excitement at Thompson Field headquarters after the club announced its first round draft pick. Always take it with a large grain of salt when ballclubs begin to extoll the virtues of a top draft pick as first rounders always come with a healthy dose of hyperbole but the Dynamos feel this pick could be extra special. That youngster anointed in a club press release as potentially the next Jim Norris, is a monster of a man-child by the name of Skipper Atkins. Just 17, the Philadelphia-born righthander towered over Scouting Director Harry Flannery but the diminutive Flannery, who is 5'7" on a good day, had a smile as wide as Atkins mammoth wingspan during the presser. The Pennsylvania native won't turn 18 until August but he has tremendous work ethic, is a monster at 6'4" with a sidearm delivery that hits 96 miles an hour and will likely see plenty of righthanded hitters leaning closer to the on deck circle than the plate as they bail out on his delivery. Atkins has 7 pitches including 4 that are already rated as 4 out of 5 ability. He already has great stuff and solid movement and dominated the high school ranks going 43-0 with 623 strikeouts in less than 450 innings over his four seasons at Shenandoah High. The only concern is his control, which lags far behind his other abilities, but if all breaks right the Dynamos see him as perhaps the best pitcher in what looks like a very good crop of arms in this draft. For his part, Atkins said and did all the right things in a brief meeting with reporters over the weekend before boarding a train back to Shenandoah, PA., to finish out the final couple of weeks needed to obtain his high school diploma. From there it will likely be a trip to Chattanooga where he is expected to make his pro debut with the Class B Dynamos. Do not expect to see Atkins in a Federal Association Dynamos uniform anytime in the near future. While the club has seen some first round picks debut on the mound as teenagers, with Carl Potter being the most notable, it is likely that Atkins will need at least two and perhaps as many as four years on the farm in order to harness his control. The raw stuff is certainly there but high school pitchers have a low success rate when it comes to meeting lofty expectations doled out by gushing club executives on draft day. Detroit, which reportedly had its sights set on Bill Carpenter from the College World Championship bound California Catholic Crusaders before Toronto gobbled him up one spot ahead of the Dynamos selection, has high hopes for their latest prodigy. There looks to be plenty of gifted players at the top of the draft. Let's hope the Dynamos guessed right on this one. Tales From The Den A Look At The Wolves After Two Months -After just over two months into the 1962 season the Wolves are showing signs of improvement following a decade of disaster. At 24-21, the team led by Tom Reed's .409 batting average is currently in fifth place, six games behind the Continental Association leaders from Cleveland. This Wolves team has been plagued with hard luck in the pitching staff with injuries having lost three pitchers for the season. Jim Jackson, 25, who was being targeted for the bullpen's lefthanded specialist injured his shoulder in spring training, he is out for the year. Phil Colantuono, 25, suffered an arm injury late in the preseason after a 15-10 record in '61, he may return to the team late this season. A cause for major concern was the season ending injury to George Hoxworth last week. Hoxworth at 24 seemed to bouncing back from a poor 1961, 5-16 with an ERA north of 5, when his elbow gave out after he started this season 5-2 in 9 starts. The team that was going to have rely on pitching is managing to keep its head above water with hitting thus far, they may have to bring up more young arms from Buffalo to add to a staff whose best arms are already under 25. Now a quick look at the team by position along with the next in line from the system: C- A pleasant surprise is the early going is switch hitting Ty Rusconi who at 24 has recorded a line of .321/.367/.514 while splitting duties with vet Dixie Williams. Expect Rusconi to get the majority of the starts behind the plate over the summer. Coming through the system is highly regarded Fred Tollefson who started the year in Vancouver in such fine fashion he may soon be moving to Davenport in A-ball. 1B- This was an area of concern in camp when Charlie Harvey had a poor spring. Harvey, 34, has rebounded nicely during the early season hitting at a .324 clip with 20 RBI. So much so that insurance package the team kept around, Ray Words, 35, has been placed on waivers, Words may be done with Toronto even if he passes through the waiver process. Harvey does not possess the power or glove associated with 1B but will stay in the lineup with his bat to ball skills. This is a position that needs an upgrade if the Wolves are move forward. the system seems bare at the moment unless Larry Irwin, 19, can rapidly move up the system which is a tall task. 2B- New Manager Randy Hohlt stated in Spring Training that the middle infielders would be judged more on glove than bat skills to reverse the trend of pitiful defense of recent years. Phil Story is fitting that bill with good defense at second while not pathetic at the plate slashing .235/.347/.356. He has recently been moved to the leadoff spot. George Marsolek is putting together a good season in Davenport while moving around the infield, he may spend more time at second with the Dusters. SS- The other half of the double play combination Jesse Taylor, 25, has been an upgrade to the defense at short with an acceptable bat. Overall the defense has progressed leaps and bounds on Hohlt, Tanzan Miyake. There seem to a good number of SS available in this year's draft but Chattanooga's Harry McDonald might be one to watch in the future. 3B- Clyde Fisher has been another surprise early on slashing .353/.389/.529 in 179 times to the plate while providing above average defense at third. Stan Merrick who is tearing the cover off the ball in AA at 19 may soon move to Buffalo then challenge Fisher if not this year then in 1963. LF- Two words Tom Reed. At 31 he is the most feared bat in the Wolves lineup leading the FABL with a .409 average second in OBP, Total Bases, OPS. Unless Reed moves to first in the future it is not a good time to be a LF prospect, although Bill Rawdon, 20, who can play all 3 OF spots is on the Wolves radar in AA. CF- Sid Cullen, 25, seems to have this spot locked up for the next number years unless Carlos Rivera, 22, who is struggling in Vancouver can right the ship over the summer, Rivera is interesting as he can play all OF spots plus 1B. 2B. 3B so his future may in Toronto may lay in a position other than CF. RF- Jim Allen's strong bat has given him the starting role despite his adventures in the field. Ed savage, 24, challenged for the job in spring but was seen as a defense liability so he was sent to AAA to work on his defense. He is still hitting in Buffalo but not making progress in the field. SP- Until the injury woes mentioned above hit he Wolves the starters were supposed to lead the team forward in 1962. Arnie Smith, 22, who is coming off shoulder surgery is rebounding nicely although the staff has been inconsistent in the first 45 games. The SP ERA ranks 7th in CA far below expectations though leading the CA is batters retired on strikes. Manager Hohlt has to hope for better pitching over the summer. Wolves have young starters in AAA honing their skills for the FABL, Jimmy Blair, 22, Danny Horne, 21, George Adams, 23 if they can solve control issues may come to the big time over the summer. RP- The addition of Zeke Blake has shored up a long suffering bullpen that still has a long way to go before Hohlt can be confident in going to the 'pen. Especially disappointing has been Wilson Pearson who has blown 5 save opportunities in 9 chance mainly due to walks. Fans are suggesting that Pearson should be sent to Buffalo for some work to give Stan Boone, 23, a chance to show his wares. Overall the fans have to be happy with this year's team showing signs of moving ahead after years of suffering at Dominion Stadium. Their team is leading the CA with a .291 average which is unexpected, along with being in the top half of the league in almost all offensive categories. If the pitching staff improves fans could be treated some excitement at the ballyard. The nucleus of the team is young, this writer expects many of the older generation to follow Ray Words' path over the summer as team finds out what it has in the system. RECENT KEY RESULTS Veteran Italian welterweight Carl Rondinelli, who was unsuccessful in his North American debut when now former World Champion Lonnie Griffin knocked him out last December in the 14th round of their title bout, was back in action in Europe last week. Rondinelli, who hinted at wanting another shot at the world title, easily outpointed Englishman Spencer Pochin in a ten-round tussle in London. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 34-7. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 6/10/1962 In a move made possible by the quick delivery of more soldiers and equipment to NATO, the main allied defense line in Central Europe is being moved forward to the border between the two Germanys. The move is designed, in the event of any invasion, to hold opposing forces at the border of West and East Germany, rather than falling back to a defensive line that would sacrifice some of the largest West German cities to the enemy. Anti-American demonstrations are spreading in South Korea to the point where the US Army restricted all military personnel in the Seoul area to base except for official business. Laos has agreed on a new cabinet for a coalition government aimed at ending civil war and adding Laos to the ranks of the world's neutral nations. Fires triggered by bombs from European terrorists raged through Algiers, destroying schools and public buildings while also damaging the United States embassy. A record peacetime defense budget of more than $48 billion was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. 1960 Republican Presidential candidate Richard Nixon has won the party's nomination for the race for Governor of California. President Kennedy, calling for a partnership with Government to pump new life into the nation's economy, accused his sharpest critics of spouting "ancient cliches" instead of facing up to the real problems of the teams. Kennedy declared his administration is not anti-business but made it clear that the Government intends to do its part in trying to block recession and generate prosperity. The Supreme Court refused to interfere with a lower court ruling that killed the Agriculture Department requirement that meat packers label ham "imitation" if they add water to it. __________________ Lead Columnist of The Figment Sporting Journal The Scripture of Sports

12-28-2024, 10:18 AM	#1044
Jiggs McGee All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 677	June 18, 1962 JUNE 18, 1962 CARPENTER EXCELS AS CALIFORNIA CATHOLIC WINS COLLEGE WCS For the first time in their history the California Catholic Crusaders have won an AIAA national championship. The Crusaders baseball team, led by senior pitcher Ken Carpenter, outlasted Rainier College in yesterday's third and deciding game of the finals to win Collegiate World Championship Series. Carpenter, who was the first college player selected in the recent FABL rookie draft, was named tournament MVP after pitching a complete game 2-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory over the Majestics in game two of the series. Earlier in the event Carpenter, who was 8-4 with a 2.57 era during the regular season, pitched the Crusaders to wins over Frankford State and top ranked Georgia Baptist. Back-to-back homers from Art Gardner and freshman Elmer Simonetta helped Rainier College, which was the host school for the championships, draw first blood in the finals with a 7-3 victory over the Crusaders. Game two was all Carpenter as the senior righthander who will be joining the Toronto Wolves organization next week, fanned 9 and allowed just two hits in going the distance for a 1-0 victory to level the series and force a third game. The Crusaders were on a pilgrimage around the bases in the early going, plating 2 runs in the top of the first inning and 3 more in the third frame before going on to claim the title with a 7-5 victory. CALVIN, SMITH WIN AMATEUR AWARDS A pair of infielders captured the top individual amateur baseball awards for the year. Bill Calvin, a third baseman from Maryland State won the Frank Christian Award while New Jersey high school shortstop Lew Smith was named the Adwell Award recipient for 1962. Calvin, a 22-year-old Ohio native, was a two-time All-American third baseman from the Maryland State Bengals. His name was called by the Philadelphia Keystones with the 19th selection of the FABL draft last week. Brooklyn State sophomore pitcher Cy Boyd, who is draft eligible in 1963, finished second in the Christian Award voting. Smith, a senior who was born in Brooklyn but played his high school ball in Passaic, NJ, was a 4-year starter at shortstop for his varsity team. He hit .494 this season and nosed out a pair of pitchers in Ellis Porter and Hanson Allen. Smith was selected 16th overall in last week's FABL draft by the Los Angeles Stars. He becomes the first New Jersey high schooler to win the Adwell since Bill Barrett did it back in 1938. Smith also ends a three year hold on the award by pitchers and joins one of Barrett's former big league teammates in Ralph Hanson (1945) as the only shortstops to win the Adwell Award. Sailors Surge with Nine Game Win Streak; Foresters Still Comfortably Ahead While Cleveland continues to lead the Continental Association, the other teams in the loop have been trading off huge winning streaks. First, it was the Dallas Berry (.356, 22, 59, 8) led Cincinnati Cannons, who won seven straight. Now it's the San Francisco Sailors and their nine game run of victories. Sweeps of the Wolves, Kings, and Imperials have allowed the Sailors to improve to 34-24, tied for second with the Cannons and six shy of the Foresters. The only FABL team running with a four man rotation, it seems to be working well for last year's runner up, who have now dethroned the Cougars as the Continental staff with the fewest runs allowed. It's an interesting group, as the top half is a pair of 23-year-old homegrown stars, with the back half both acquired in the Zeke Blake deal which came during spring training. Charlie Lawson leads the staff, and the second-year starter has decided that sophomore slumps aren't for him. After going 13-8 with a CA leading 2.91 ERA (155 ERA+) and 1.07 WHIP in 1961, Lawson has been almost as good this time around at 6-3 with a 3.08 ERA (148 ERA+) and 1.09 WHIP. Similar numbers match his K% (17 to 16.8), BB% (7.5 to 7.0), and of course his K/BB (2.3 to 2.4), but where he's taken the biggest leap forward is with the longball. If he had a weakness last year, it was the 29 homers in 238 innings, but this season he has just 6 in 90.2, almost cutting his home run rate in half. This had led to a nice decrease in his FIP from 4.03 (89 FIP-) to 3.51 (77 FIP-), as Lawson has emerged as one of the top pitchers in the game. An All-Star lock and potential Allen winner, he's the undisputed ace of the staff, but the performance of the guys behind him is what's allowed the Sailors to come back. Third year pitcher George Fuller (5-5, 3.07, 45) deserves a record far better then 5-5, as his 148 ERA+ and 1.11 WHIP are top-notch, while he's struck out 45 with 25 walks in 82 innings. Ranked as high as the 17th prospect in FABL, impressive metrics like this were expected, and with a good first half last year he was able to capture an All-Star selection. Getting good results from him and Lawson may have been expected, but I don't think the Sailors front office envisioned how good Hank Lacey (4-2, 3.25, 47) and Zane Kelley (6-2, 3.64, 44) have been. Both longtime Wolves, Lacey lost a CA high 17 games last season, and was under .500 in all but one of the five seasons he pitched as a starter. 43-69 with a 4.43 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.43 WHIP, and 672 strikeouts is decent enough for a back end, but he's on track for career bests in ERA and WHIP, and easily the best season of his career. With Kelley, it's even more impressive, as the 36-year-old had a 7.09 ERA (65 ERA+) and 1.80 WHIP in 66 innings last season, walking (39) more guys then he struck out (33). His time in Toronto was even less inspiring then Lacey's, as he had a 4.71 ERA (86 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, and 685 strikeouts in nearly 1,500 innings. So why are these guys pitching so well? Defense, baby! The Sailors defense is among the best in the league, and it all starts with 25-year-old shortstop Carlos Jaramillo. Sure, his .265/.369/.332 (82 OPS+) batting line is reminiscent of his rookie year, not the hitter he's become after, but even when he's not hitting, he can impact the game in multiple ways. His 12.2 zone rating and 1.122 efficiency are reminiscent of a prime Harry Barrell or Skipper Schneider, and the speedy shortstop has swiped 14 bags. He's also walking at a 14.1% clip, nearly three times as high as his 4.9 K%, so even when the singles aren't falling he's able to produce runs. He's scored 35 times and should reach 90 for the fourth consecutive season, continuing to prove why he's one of the most valuable players in the game. San Francisco hits a bunch too, as they've got plenty of weapons even if Jaramillo can't turn the bat around. His athletic double play partner Heinie Spitler (.349, 4, 30, 9) has an excellent 135 WRC+, former 1st Rounder John Kingsbury (.333, 8, 40, 3) has been on a tear ever since he hit just .214/.290/.375 (70 OPS+) in April, and the disciplined Ray Rogan (.313, 4, 27) has really taken a liking to first base. They probably expected production from that group as well as the veteran Edwin Hackberry (.273, 8, 36, 10), but they have to be pleasantly surprised with 6th ranked prospect Ernie Carter. Acquired from the Kings in 1959 from the Bill Guthrie (.231, 3) trade, Carter took the starting third basemen job from former 2nd pick Bob Gray (.236, 2, 7), and he should have a hammerlock on the hot corner for years to come. The 21-year-old is off to a .338/.361/.466 (111 OPS+) start, logging 10 doubles, 3 homers, and 30 RBIs. A hamstring strain cost him some time in May, but he's hit .383/.397/.600 (153 OPS+) to start the month. Cleveland may have a large lead right now, but this young San Francisco team has a ton of talent and is still very much in it. The only issue is what they have to deal with this week, as they'll start the week by hosting the team their tied with, the Cannons (34-24), for a three game set. Then after an off day, they'll be in Chicago for three with the Cougars (33-25), who are right on their tail. These are huge games for the red-hot Sailors, and they'll be a true test of if they can return to contention. * Pioneers Extend Cushion with Series win over Miners * Pittsburgh was on fire, wining eight of nine to get back within five games, but they ran into a tough Pioneer squad on their home turf. The Miners actually got the better of them early, as 23-year-old rookie Clay Buddemeyer (2-3, 4.07, 24) picked up his first win of his career. It's hard to top shutting out a lineup with Bob Bell (.372, 13, 32), Jerry Smith (.325, 12, 43, 6), and rookie sensation Danny Davis (.366, 8, 52). Most pitchers would crumble, but the 23-year-old allowed just 4 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5 to start the series right with a 5-0 victory. Unfortunately, their luck ended there, as the Miners dropped two tight games 5-4 and 4-3. They did finish the week off with a series win against the Gothams, matching the Pioneers' wins, so the Miners remain seven out as we approach the draft. For a team that wasn't expected to do much this season, just being above .500 would feel nice, but new manager Harry Barrell isn't satisfied with little wins. Instead, he can look at the blossoming Mike Whisman, who's hit .333/.410/.574 (145 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 5 triples, 6 homers, 36 RBIs, 26 runs, and 23 walks. Or the 23-year-old Pat Simon, who is 5-3 with a 3.28 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts, getting comfortable in the ace spot. And even leadoff hitter Chuck Draper (.299, 10, 29, 3), who's having a huge power surge in his second full season as a starter. The youth movement is off to a great start, with big seasons from Dixie Turner (.298, 5, 32, 4), Gale Schmitt (.352, 4, 16, 2), John Moreland (.286, 5, 25), and Ted Mickiewicz (6-2, 1, 4.10, 50). Pittsburgh might not have the firepower of St. Louis yet, but the foundation is in place, and a few untimed injuries could allow the up-and-comers a chance to make some noise. Losing Jimmy Blair (2-1, 2.57, 29) was a major setback, but this young team has shown tremendous grit, and should not be taken lightly. They have a big test to start the week, three games hosting the Chiefs they're tied with, while the Pioneers get the two expansion teams that should offer little resistance. Fed teams will be pulling hard for their new frenemies, but there's a chance this title race could be settled before July. Veteran Toronto Wolves outfielder Tom Reed, who is second in the Continental Association batting race with a .365 average on the season, reached a milestone last week as the 31-year-old notched his 200th career homerun. Montreal Saints reserve infielder Cecil LaBonte, who once upon a time was a three-time all-star second baseman for the New York Gothams, collected his 750th career rbi recently. While all expansion teams expect growing pains, I am not sure anyone imagined the New York Imperials being this bad. The Imps have won just 11 games - every other team in either association has at least double that including the Imperials three expansion cousins- and their .190 winning percentage has them on a pace for a 29-125 season. No professional baseball team has ever lost more than 112 contests in a single year and the worst FABL has witnessed is the 1935 Detroit Dynamos, who bumbled their way through a 43-111 (.279) campaign. The Imperials have won just once in their last 17 games and are dead last in the CA in nearly every measurable category. Detroit's Cecil Gregg became just the 13th player to collect six hits in a single game since the end of World War II. The 22-year-old outfielder, who is hitting .332 on the season, hit safely in each of his six at bats in the Dynamos 10-9 victory over Boston at Thompson Field on Saturday. Gregg's big outing included two extra-base hits, both doubles, and six rbi's while he also scored twice. It was a tough weekend in the Motor City for the Minutemen, who lost each contest in the three game series by a single run. Expect a shake-up in the OSA top 100 prospect list next week as the newly drafted players make their debuts. FABL clubs are all anxiously awaiting news on where their first rounders, including the Los Angeles Suns number one overall selection in high school pitcher Joe Conner, will end up. Meanwhile five of the current top seven on the OSA list are in the big leagues now and will drop off the list in the near future. Included in those five are the current top three led by Pittsburgh's 20-year-old infielder Dixie Turner (.298,5,32). A pair of Federal Association centerfielders in Boston's Frank Kirouac (.267,11,28) and Danny Davis (.366,8,52) of the first place St Louis Pioneers are second and third on the scouting service list of top prospects. NAHC CLUBS PREPARE FOR ROOKIE DRAFT The North American Hockey Confederation's annual rookie draft is fast approaching with the New York Shamrocks holding the top selection for the second consecutive season. A year ago the Shamrocks led off the three round draft by calling the name of Halifax Mariners defenseman Harry Jernigan. Jernigan, one of the few American born players in the Canadian Amateur loop, may challenge for a role on the New York blueline this season but he spent all of last year with the Mariners, helping the Halifax outfit to the best record in the East Division and within one game of a playoff title. No one from last year's draft class played in the NAHC a year ago but when talking about 18 and 19 year old players that is standard fare. The 1960 draft class was rare in that both Mark Moggy and Hobie Barrell made the jump immediately to the NAHC but the typical path includes an extra year or two of junior before draftees are considered sufficiently prepared for NAHC employment. The top of this year's draft class is filled with uncertainty, lacking a clear choice for the Shamrocks to select. A year ago most thought that Ron MacKinnon, a gifted teen from Kelowna, BC, might distance himself from the pack but the 18-year-old ran into plenty of trouble with the Hull Hawks, scoring just twice in 39 games and being a healthy scratch more often than not. MacKinnon may have the most potential of any player eligible for the draft but the intangibles may worry the Shamrocks. Other possible candidates to go first overall include Bruce Callahan, a winger who had 15 goals for Brantford; Kingston left winger Gilbert Desrosiers who averaged more than a point a game for the Cadets, Kitchener Roosters winger Milt Young and Graham Bob, a center for the Verdun Argonauts who led all draft eligible players with 30 goals and 72 points in 57 games last season. RECENT KEY RESULTS It was a quiet week in boxing on this side of the Atlantic but overseas the big news was Scottish pugilist William Findley, who had been making some noise in the United Kingdom with a perfect 24-0 start to his middleweight career, tasted defeat for the first time. The 21-year-old Glasgow native was knocked out by veteran Englishman Ben Mossman in a bout last Tuesday. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 34-7. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 6/17/1962 US Secretary of Defense McNamara spelled out American nuclear strategy in the event a major war came to Europe. McNamara said there would be no city bombing unless driven to it by Soviet action. He also questioned a statement from French President deGaulle, who planned for France to go it alone with her own nuclear weapons and strategy. McNamara worried of the dangers that might create, specifically the possibility that its very weakness might invite a preventative attack on a nation like France by Russia. Good news from France but many are afraid to believe it as word comes out that an agreement between the Algerian Moslem nationalists and Europeans of Algeria has been reached. The terrorist Secret Army Organization has ordered an end to the slaughter and destruction that has shaken Algeria for many months. The US Labor Secretary has assumed role of chief mediator in a move he hopes will avert a strike against Trans World Airlines by flight engineers scheduled for tomorrow. The engineers had threatened to strike Eastern and Pan Am airlines as well but removed them from their target list after a no-strike plea from President Kennedy. The story of the Garden of Eden has been cut from a new "scientific" version of the book of Genesis. The author, a member of the Church of England, says "the whole idea of Adam and Eve won't fit in with evolution." __________________ Lead Columnist of The Figment Sporting Journal The Scripture of Sports

12-31-2024, 02:35 PM	#1045
Jiggs McGee All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 677	June 25, 1962 JUNE 25, 1962 MINERS, SAINTS GET TOP DRAFT GRADES FROM OSA The 1962 draft was especially kind to the Pittsburgh Miners and Montreal Saints if the OSA prospect rankings are any indication. Those two FABL clubs were the only teams to place two of their draft picks on the scouting service list of the top fifty prospects as the first post-draft rankings were made public. The Miners first rounder, high school pitcher Jack Kotarski, heads the newcomers with his standing as the number seven prospect. The fifth overall selection in the draft will turn 18 later this week. Pittsburgh's second rounder, two-time Christian Trophy winner Dick Vitt, a first baseman/outfielder from Brunswick College, slotted in at #14 on the pipeline, giving the Miners both the highest first rounder on the list as well as the top ranked second rounder. Only the Montreal Saints, with a pair of high school pitchers in Ellis Porter and Joe Downing, joined the Miners in having both their first and second rounder crack the OSA top fifty prospects. Porter, the 8th overall selection, lands at #18 on the scouting service list while second rounder Downing slides in at #38. Only one other newly drafted player joined Kotarski in cracking the top ten. That would be Toronto's Bill Carpenter, who was the hero for California Catholic's College World Championship Series victory two weeks ago. The 6th overall pick is 9th overall and third amongst pitchers behind Kotarski and 1958 draft pick Owen Lantz of the Washington Eagles organization. All but two of the twenty first round selections debuted inside the OSA top 100 prospects with the two exceptions being the selections that bookended the round. First overall pick Joe Conner, a high school pitcher selected by the expansion Los Angeles Suns, debuted at 129th on the scouting service list while the final choice of the opening round, Cleveland's new third base prospect Babe Thornton, ended up just missing the century list at 101st. Five of the twenty second round selections cracked the top 100 led by Pittsburgh's Vitt. Only one second round choice - St Louis Pioneer Elias Lugo- failed to crack the OSA top 500. The highest ranking third round prospect according to the OSA is Andy Bailey, an Arizona born outfielder selected 42nd overall by the New York Imperials. The 18-year-old is the only third round selection to crack the scouting service's top 100 prospects. OSA lists do need to be taken with a large grain of salt as all players, especially newly drafted ones, can experience wild swings as they chart a path that hopefully ends in the big leagues but at least for this moment in time here is a list of all players selected in the opening three rounds of the 1962 draft and where they stand on the prospect pipeline as they embark upon professional careers. Buddy Miller of the Philadelphia Keystones collected his 2,000th career hit last week. The 32-year-old outfielder owns 3 Whitney Awards and is an 8-time all-star selection. Forgive me for starting to wonder if the New York Imperials will ever win another game. The Imps are 1-21 in June and have lost their last 15 games. From the Boston Globe "2 pitchers (Kotarski #7 and Carpenter #9) rank highest (according to Boston's scout) in the new pipeline. John Edwards ranks as the highest position player at #15 but Dick Vitt who was taken in round 2 by the Miners appears to be the early steal of the draft. Word out of Los Angeles is the Stars are happy with their draft and in particular first rounder Lew Smith. The young shortstop debuted at 50th on the OSA scouting pipeline after being selected 16th in last week's FABL draft. The Toronto Mail & Empire's Brett Bing tells us the Wolves have decided to send all their draft picks to Class C Tuscaloosa to start their professional careers including first rounder and top ten OSA prospect Bill Carpenter. With records of Vancouver, 24-34 in the COW, Davenport 21-46 in the Heartland the FABL club expects rapid movement throughout the system after the rookies get their feet wet. July will be an active month in the Toronto's system. Toronto has eight prospects in the top 100 with now former college pitcher Bill Carpenter at 9 leading the pack. Toronto's system now ranks sixth in the FABL. Wolves have told Carpenter not to bother looking for an apartment in Alabama as a promotion is expected to come quick. RECENT KEY RESULTS French heavyweight hopeful Jean-Marc Durand improved to 37-3 with a 9th round knockout of Brit Ross Hamilton in a bout in Paris on Saturday. The 26-year-old is said to be negotiating a title shot with Harry Pratt, assuming Pratt successfully defends his crown in New Orleans next month. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 34-7. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 6/24/1962 Citing the first amendment, the Supreme Court struck down New York's 22-word prayer in public schools as an unconstitutional breach of the law of separation between church and state. The court held that neither the fact the prayer was "denominationally neutral" nor the fact that student participation was voluntary could save it from the First Amendment's ban on the establishment of religion. Government officials labored to attempt to find a solution to the Eastern Airlines strike and to head off another threatening Pan Am. The Labor Department says more meetings are slated between the airlines and the Flight Engineers Association after Eastern flights were grounded Saturday by the strike. Today is the 12th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. It was marked quietly in Seoul but South Korean and United Nations authorities reaffirmed their determination to block any repetition of the Communist invasion of 1950. The British government is fully ready to cooperate with America's new no-city nuclear-war strategy. American sources suggest, despite rumours otherwise, France will also accept the United States effort to deter city destruction during a future nuclear war. Hit by five consecutive losing sessions, the stock market dropped to its lowest level in nearly four years. Former President Eisenhower, sounding like the campaigner of 1952, has attacked the "mess in Washington" under the Kennedy administration and urged his fellow Republicans to "work like never before" to regain control of the House in November. The general added that his successor in the White House "is floundering" in his efforts to manage to economy. __________________ Lead Columnist of The Figment Sporting Journal The Scripture of Sports

01-01-2025, 08:41 AM	#1046
Jiggs McGee All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 677	July 2, 1962 JULY 2, 1962 BELL, WILLIAMS TOP PLAYERS FOR JUNE As we enter the month of July and close in on the annual all-star game and traditional midpoint of the season, let's pause and take a moment to recognize the players making noise on the diamond over the previous thirty days. The St. Louis Pioneers lead the Federal Association by a full seven games, and as much as their pitching deserves credit, so does reigning Whitney winner Bob Bell. Bell celebrated his 24th birthday throughout the month of June, batting .359/.455/.689 (188 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 10 homers, 24 runs, 25 RBIs, and 19 walks. Despite missing three weeks in May, Bell's 20 homers trail just the Keystones Lloyd Coulter (.279, 21, 66). His .361 average is two points above teammate Danny Davis (.359, 8, 55), and they rank second and third to another Keystone, Buddy Miller (.376, 12, 44). If he can stay healthy, Bell will get serious consideration for a second Whitney, as his .451 OBP and .723 slugging lead the Fed, as does his 198 WRC+. St. Louis opens the month seven games ahead of the Dynamos, and star level production from their star fueled an 18-10 month. Bell wasn't alone in 10 homer months, as Kansas City King Hank Williams matched that, slashing an astronomical .455/.544/.869 (255 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 23 walks, 27 RBIs, 30 runs, and 23 walks. The best hitter in baseball this season, the big slugger is seeking his third Whitney award, producing an elite .373/.461/.741 (202 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 24 homers, and 61 RBIs. He's walked (45) more then he's struck out (31), and his 68 runs scored are most in the association. His biggest hurdle to the award is Dallas Berry (.357, 25, 75, 10), as the Cannons superstar has a similar .357/.476/.773 (211 OPS+) and one more homer. His 75 RBIs, 52 walks, and 10 steals are also higher, as Dallas is a true five tool player in the midst of what could be his best season yet. Kansas City took two-thirds of the monthly awards, as ace Beau McClellan (11-2, 3.57, 96) took home Pitcher of the Month. The 4-Time All-Star won all six of his starts, allowing just 44 hits, 15 runs, and 11 walks in 51.2 innings pitched. That equated to a 2.61 ERA (173 ERA+), 2.79 FIP (61 FIP-), and 1.06 WHIP, striking out 43 in an almost perfect month. He pitched back-to-back 6-hit shutouts against the Foresters and Wolves, allowing two or fewer runs in four of his six starts. Six back of the Foresters, the Kings are one of three teams tied for second, and they'll be looking to ride more outings like this to build on their 18-10 June. * Arellano, Lantz Keep Runs off Board in Fed * With the way his season started, a Pitcher of the Month award for Jorge Arellano would have seemed almost laughable, but the Keystones new ace was looking like himself again in June. After allowing 64 hits and 41 runs in 47.2 innings pitched in his first 9 starts, Arellano righted the ship, finishing June 5-1 with a 2.74 ERA (163 ERA+), 1.11 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts. This six start stretch were the reason the Keystones were able to reach .500 for the month, as not much has gone right for the defending champs. Their pitching has gone from one of the best to one of the worst as, like Arellano, Tom Robinson (4-4, 6.28, 56) and Joe Kienle (4-4, 5.01, 26) have seen their ERAs skyrocket. Already 16 games out, a title defense seems bleak, but with such a talented lineup they could go on a serious run and mash their way back into it. Owen Lantz, the now graduated top pitching prospect in baseball, showed everyone exactly why he held that distinction after the young Washington Eagles hurler took home the Rookie of the Month in the Fed. A member of the bullpen on Opening Day, Lantz threw 12.2 scoreless innings out of the pen, but what came next is somehow more impressive. In five starts he was 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA (265 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts, showcasing his devastating cutter/curve combo. But as a rookie it's not always polished, as he did walk 23 batters, and on the season he has just one fewer walk (27) then strikeout (28). His stuff is good enough where he can get away with that, and as a groundballer he can erase base runners with a well-timed double play. The 21-year-old is set to host the Miners to kick off the week, and he'll look to start a new homerless streak after allowing just one in his first 49 innings. * Early Batting Crown Leader Named Best June Rookie in Continental * Hank Williams and Cincinnati's Dallas Berry may take all the Whitney coverage in the Continental Association, but Montreal Saints rookie Ham Flanders may remain the favorite to take home this year's batting title. One of the few bright spots in what has been another trying season in Montreal, Flanders was named the best rookie for the second straight month, hitting an impressive .404/.475/.573 (192 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 19 runs, and 28 RBIs. Often the reason for Saints wins, Flanders strong June showing upped his FABL best batting average to .381, as he's hit .381/446/.615 (170 OPS+) in 307 trips to the plate. The clear favorite for the Kellogg Award, he's compiled 15 doubles, 9 triples, 10 homers, 49 runs, and 57 RBIs, drawing four more walks (34) then he has strikeouts (30). A potential building block at the Stade Memorial, he's helped the Saints surpass the Dallas Wranglers for 8th, as all of the '61 participants now are ahead of the new expansion teams. Montreal went 16-12 in June and beat the second place Cougars 9-2 in Montreal to start July, and their lineup has shown they can score on any staff. Looks like this column might have fired up the New York Imperials. After lambasting the hapless expansion team for a 15 game losing streak and a 1-21 start to the month of June the Imperials won four out of five games -a first for the new franchise and won back-to-back series for the first time. The 5-2 week including taking two of three games from each of the two Canadian teams in the Continental Association and bumps the Imperials season mark to 16-55. They are still 31 games behind the CA leading Cleveland Foresters and have 11 less victories than any of their three expansion brothers, but they posted the first winning week in club history. A trio of milestones were reached over the past seven days with the most notable being Ray Rogan of the San Francisco Sailors collecting his 1,500th career hit. The 32-year-old first baseman, who was Federal Association rookie of the year in 1953 when he broke in with the Boston Minutemen, is enjoying possibly the finest start to the season he has seen in his 10-year long career. Rogan is hitting at a .329 clip but despite his fine start may be hard pressed to make the all-star team for the third time in his career as he has plenty of competition for the first base spot on the CA squad. Meanwhile Cincinnati Cannons reliever Paul Williams became just the 26th pitcher in FABL history to earn 100 career saves. "U-Boat" earned two more last week raising the 33-year-old's total on the season to 15, one shy of Cleveland's Johnny Ogden for the FABL lead. Williams has ties to the Foresters organization as it was Cleveland that originally drafted him back in the 4th round in 1947 but before he made his big league debut Williams was sent to Cincinnati as part of a package that brought the legendary Deuce Barrell north from Cincinnati to the Foresters. While he has certainly been overshadowed by what the ageless wonder Barrell has accomplished since the trade, Williams has developed into a pretty solid reliever and is a six-time all-star selection. The third notable milestone of the week saw Detroit Dynamos catcher Lew Mercer swatted his 100th career homerun - a feat only accomplished by 19 other catchers in FABL history. Plenty of optimism about the Kings according to a recent column by Percy Pringle in The Kansas City Times. Pringle pens the Kings go 6-1 while calling up two very young starting pitchers into the rotation last week in 21-year-old Gene Bailey and 20-year-old Allie Boone. Pringle adds that veteran third baseman Ken Newman continues to have issues with his elbow, which is confining the 33-year-old to first base. "The elbow issues don’t seem to be causing his bat any issues though," notes Pringle who goes on to say it is "nice to see Hank Williams who I was excited to see come up in the early 50’s have another strong start to the season and be named the top CA hitter for the month. Beau McClellan also won the CA pitcher of the month award. We are 6 games behind Cleveland but have essentially the same run differential +74/75. Means they are likely over achieving and we might be slightly under. Hope that balances out so they can give the Foresters a run for the CA title." This is a key week for the Detroit Dynamos. The club went 9-2 over its last 11 games but picked up just a single game on Federal Association leading St Louis during that run. The Pioneers lead on Detroit is seven with the two clubs slated to finish out this week with three games at Pioneer Field. We are still three weeks shy of the All-Star break but it seems clear the Dynamos will need to win at least two of three from their hosts this weekend if Detroit wants to entertain any plans of making it a pennant race in the Fed this year. RECENT KEY RESULTS Brandon Dart, 24-year-old Welshman who has spent time fighting on both sides of the Atlantic, continued his rise up the ladder with a 6th round TKO of Rohan MacCelvey in a bout staged in Dublin, Ireland last week. Dart is now 15-1 and counts a half dozen victories along the United States east coast in his totals but says he plans to spend the next year or two facing the best he can find in Europe before making a return to North America. Some have compared the young southpaw favourably with Jimmy 'Kid' Simpson, the Englishman who ruled over the welterweight division for most of the 1930s. Roger Lewis, a young welterweight out San Francisco who shows some promise, ran his record to 6-0 with a quick knock out of Franklin Cunningham in a bout that lasted less than two minutes. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS July 12 heavyweight champion Harry Pratt will make his first defense after knocking out Bert Parks -another champ who was making his first defense- in March. Pratt, who turns 27 later this month, hails from Houston, Tx., and enters the ring with a 28-4 career record. The bout will be held in New Orleans and his opponent will be Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native with a career mark of 34-7. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 7/01/1962 President Kennedy spent much of the week in Mexico and joined that country's President Adolfo opez Mateos in issuing a sharp warning against Communist meddling in the Western Hemisphere. Chinese Communists are moving the center of their military might from the north to Central and South China, from where they could drive either against Formosa or Southeast Asia, cautioned top military leaders. China has charged the situation in Southeast Asia has become worse because the United States sent troops to Thailand and stepped up "armed intervention" in South Viet Nam and the Formosa Strait. More trouble in Algeria as thousands of Moslems celebrated their newly won independence, armed supporters of anti-French leftist Ahmed Ben Bella were reported massing for a military coup. Former President Eisenhower and his one-time running mate Richard Nixon pleaded with Republicans to forget their differences as 150 party leaders met to try to "broaden the base" of GOP support in the coming campaign. Most of Saskatchewan's 700 private doctors went on strike after the Socialist provincial government launched the first big compulsory medical insurance plan in North America. Charging the plan opens the doors to government control over their profession, doctors took off on vacation or left the province to practice elsewhere in Canada. __________________ Lead Columnist of The Figment Sporting Journal The Scripture of Sports

01-09-2025, 07:56 AM	#1051
Jiggs McGee All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 677	August 6, 1962 AUGUST 6, 1962 CLVELAND CRASHES IN TOUGH WEEK CA LEAD CUT TO SINGLE GAME For Cleveland, last week was one of their biggest of the season, as after they lost the rubber match with the Cincinnati Cannons, they had to host the Chicago Cougars and visit the San Francisco Sailors. Both Chicago and San Fran were still right in the midst of things, and after both teams won the series with the Foresters, the Sailors, Cougars and Kansas City Kings are all within three games of first, while the Los Angeles Stars and Cannons are 6 and 7 out. San Francisco got within one of the Foresters, and it happened in a crazy matter yesterday afternoon at Golden Gate Stadium. Up 4-2 in the 9th, Forester manager Jim Whitehead wanted to give Rufus Barrell (13-5, 3.02, 70) a complete game for win 356. Everything was going to plan, as he got two quick outs, but Edwin Hackberry (.290, 16, 59, 16) extended the game with a double. Still not going down, Ray Rogan (.311, 9, 56) doubled himself, making it 4-3 for Heinie Spitler (.333, 4, 45, 15). Instead of Deuce, Spitler got reliever Johnny Ogden (4-4, 21, 2.42, 91) instead. With the game on the line, Spitler worked the count to 3-2, and tied the game with a single. Ogden then got down 3-1 to John Kingsbury (.350, 13, 68, 8), and after Spitler stole second, Ogden gave him the 4th for ball for free. It composed him, with a ground out to keep things tied and send the game to extra innings, but the Foresters had their backs right against the walls. The two teams traded zeros in the pen for the next five frames, before finally 24-year-old bench player Johnny Horton (.286, 5, 12) sent a raucous crowd home happy, as with another double -this one in the 15th inning- he helped his club walk-off 5-4 winners. With the walk-off win by San Francisco, Cleveland is at risk of losing their top spot, but they'll get a chance to bounce back at home. They start the week today with three against the Stars, who while still in the race look a little less powerful then they did before. After that it's an off day, where they'll later welcome the Dallas Wranglers to town. Compared to the week that just happened, this should be far easier, but July did not go great for them. All members of the pen had an ERA above 4, while Adrian Czerwinski (3-1, 6.02, 29) and Jack Miller (1-2, 7.65, 14) struggled in their starts. The offense has kept scoring runs, which is why they haven't fallen out yet, but in four of their five August games they've scored fewer then five runs. Meanwhile the Cougars, just three out, have already piled on 43 runs, the Sailors have won 19 of their last 30 ballgames, and the Kings continue to lead the Continental in all the fun hitting categories. What allowed Cleveland to get up to the early lead was the combination of offense and pitching, but if they can't keep runs off the board, they'll fall short in their quest for a fourth consecutive pennant. * Only Deadline Action a Minor Swap * Both the Toronto Wolves and Kansas City Kings have been extremely active on the trade market, so it's only fitting that the only deadline deal consummated involved both teams. Continuing to add depth to the lineup, the Kings picked up 34-year-old Jim Allen, who may be best known for being the sole return in an April of 1952 trade for George Garrison. One of the top prospects in the league, it looked like a potential cornerstone was added to the Wolves lineup, and he hit .276/.384/.348 (120 OPS+) as a rookie. That jumped to .306/.407/.446 (139 OPS+) in year two, and Allen looked like he'd be a mainstay in Toronto. In a sense, he still was, playing in eleven seasons for the Wolves, but he never really came close to his '53 production. He was solid at 25 in year three, but he made just 319 PAs and was seemingly passed over in a strange optioning to AAA. Known for his elite plate discipline, he had 165 walks to 65 strikeouts his first two seasons, but instead of keeping these lofty differences he eventually saw his production, his walk rate dropped and his strikeout rate fell. He went on to start off-and-on the rest of the way, with just one season after '54 seeing him make more then 100 starts. It was his last year with an above average OPS+ (113) or WRC+ (111) in a completed season, and after 1,232 FABL games he has a .277/.361/.385 (108 OPS+) career batting line. Pretty solid for a bench guy, it was a decent year so far too, as while his .292/.377/.389 (93 OPS+) line isn't great, his first double digit BB% (11.3) since 1955 has given him a 107 WRC+. Fittingly, his 11.0 K% is a career worst too, but he's a switch hitter who draws walks and puts the ball in play, and that brings a lot of value to a team like Kansas City who can rally and rally and rally. He won't start often, but all three King outfielders are lefties, so there are plenty of situations where he can help out. He's never going to pinch hit for Hank Williams (.378, 31, 90, 4), but Charlie Rogers (.294, 11, 51, 9) has hit just .206/.254/.413 (67 OPS+) against lefties this year. The speedy Pat Davis (.361, 12, 65, 29) can effortlessly shift to center, potentially giving Rogers days or at bats off against tough lefties. This also gives plenty of injury assurance, as if needed, Allen has shown he can be an everyday player. The price is manageable too, as all they had to give up is a guy they signed to a minor league deal last season. Just 21, the 6'4''Charlie LaFoy has seen his share of organizations, moving plenty since he was released after being taken in the 12th Round by the Chiefs. A three pitch pitcher, h made his minor league debut this season, splitting time between the Class B and C organizations of the Kings. He was great in C ball, 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA (188 ERA+) and 21 strikeouts, and will report there for Toronto. Not expected to be a major arm, he is worth the lottery ticket, as quality young pitching is tough to come by, and he sneaks in to the end of both the Wolves (30th) and league (487th) prospect list. He's got a nice fastball and cutter, but without his change coming in, he'll be stuck in the minors without much hope of promotion. Montreal ownership has shook up the Saints temple columns by firing manager Lynn Gray and replacing him by former bench coach Johnny Gilbert. Gray forged himself a .417 record in one and half season and he did pay for the underachieving performances of the Saints this year. Gilbert, who had been Montreal's bench coach since 1953, has a great working relationship with the players and will end the season in the manager's seat. His performance and the entire staff will be evaluated once the season ends but the general feeling is the manager's job is Gilbert's to keep. Also assistant GM Duke Nelson was shown the doorway on the same day. The team appointed former pitching coach Bert Chappelle to move up to the executive office as Nelson's replacement. Chappelle was in his third season working with Montreal pitchers and had previously served as the manager of AAA Louisville. Nelson was in his second season as the Saints Assistant General Manager. The changes continued as Frank Lane, who had been the pitching coach in Syracuse, was summed to Montreal to take Chappelle's place in a similar role with the big league team. Lane is said to have a primary focus of working with "power pitcher" which will help developing the majority of the younger pitching squad members of the Saints. The musical chairs were not finish as third base coach George Moran became the bench coach to replace Gilbert while Bill Pinkard, who had been managing in Syracuse, jumped in the car with Lane to reach Montreal and take over as the Saints new third base coach. Some other movements were made throughout the minor leagues teams with the most notable being the return of Bob Wiseman to the organization. Wiseman had spent some time as the manager in AA Evansville and returns to take over a similar duty with AAA Syracuse. A LOOK AT FABL HOMERUN LEADERS BY DECADE By Doc Shaw 1900-1909 (69): Joe Casey: Keystones, Dynamos, Gothams, Kings, Stars Casey was 31 years old in 1900 and had already played for both the Cougars and Eagles before he posted a league leading 16 home runs with the Keystones. He would lead the league in homeruns for the next four years. Although Casey had only played in 817 games from 1900-1909, that four year run was good enough for him to be the home run champion of the decade. 1910-1919 (94): Ed Kurwood: Wolves, Keystones Ed Kurwood debuted with Toronto in 1912 at the age of 21 and promptly hit 11 home runs. While that was not the league lead that year he would lead the league in home runs on three separate occasions. Those years were 1913 (17), 1917 (23) and 1919 (15). Over the decade Kurwood would hit double digit home runs five times making him the swing king of the teens. 1920-1929 (426): Max Morris: Pioneers Then we have the “Mighty Mo” who spent the entire 20’s clobbering balls as a Pioneer. 1920 was Max’s first year in St. Louis and he hit 26 homers in a mere 96 games. Still good enough for the league lead. Over the next three years Max would raise his home run total from the year before. He hit 53 in ‘21, 59 in ‘22 and a career best 60 in ‘23. In all Max would lead the league in home runs 7 times over the decade with season totals eclipsing 50 four times. Morris would finish career with 711 home runs which is a record that may never be broken. 1930-1939 (303): Rankin Kellogg: Keystones Kellogg would hit 303 of his 475 career home runs in the 1930’s playing for the Keystones. Kellogg was the model of consistency. From 1930-1936 you could pencil him in for at least 35 homers a season. The Memphis Mauler would lead the league in homeruns five times during the 30’s in an age where hitting 30 home runs in a season was still a pretty big accomplishment. 1940-1949 (367): Bobby Barrell: Keystones What is a list without a Barrell? From baseball’s most famous family the “Georgia Jolter” played 1479 games over the decade and led the league in home runs five different times. 1947 was truly a special year for Barrell as the then 36 year old topped the Mighty Mo’s single season home run record by four with 64 home run performance. In all Bobby Barrell 639 homers over his 21 year career which ranks second all-time. 1950-1959 (327): Rod Shearer: Chiefs If you want to lead a decade in long balls, making your debut in its first year is a great start. That is exactly what Rod Shearer did as a 21 year old in 1950 for the Chiefs. Albeit, Shearer only played 7 games and failed to hit a homer in that 1950 season, he hit the ground running the next year and led the lost decade in home runs on two different occasions where he hit 48 and 46 homers respectively. From 1951-1959 Shearer hit at least 20 home runs a year. Rod is still going strong for the Chiefs and is currently sitting at 382 home runs for his career. 1960-Present (107): Hank Williams: Kings While the current decade is still young 29 year old Hank Williams is averaging 37 home runs a year for his career. If that pace continues over the course of the decade Williams would slide in at the 375 home run mark for the decade. That would rank second all-time for home runs hit in a decade. Although, at 29 age may be working against Williams over the long haul. On the other hand as of July 30th Williams has already hit 28 homers so a final total in the mid 40’s is entirely possible. Still, by the end of the decade you may see someone like Ralph Barrell, who has already hit 81 homers in the decade at 22, lead the pack by a long shot. For the second time in less than two weeks the Chicago Chiefs have had a game where an opposing hitter smacked three homeruns. In late July it was Washington's teenage rookie George Whaley who hit 3 in an 18-0 victory. This time it was not one but two St Louis Pioneers hitters as both Jerry Smith and Bob Bell ripped 3 longballs in a 16-0 Pioneers win. A third Pioneer - infielder Steve Schultz- added two more homers in the game. After going 4-5 since the break and falling 11 back of the Pioneers, the Detroit Dynamos seem resigned to turning their attention towards next year. Unless Washington can stage a miraculous comeback the Fed race is long over. The Eagles had won 7 straight before falling in Pittsburgh yesterday. Washington is 15 games back of the Pioneers. Milestones last week included Cleveland's Tom Carr reaching the 1,500 hit plateau while Hank Williams of Kansas City collected his 1,000th base hit. Pittsburgh's Rick Masters drove in his 1,000th rbi while Beau McClellan of the Kings picked up his 150th victory. BENGALS CONFIDENT OF CHANCES TO DEFEND GRID TITLE The Maryland State Bengals football team returned to their Baltimore campus this week and began to lay the groundwork for their plans of repeating as AIAA national champion. It has been quite a run in recent years for the South Atlantic Conference power, who have finished the season ranked no lower than third in three of the past four years including last season's 10-1 campaign that resulted in the first football national championship in Bengals history. The Bengals lone blemish a year ago came in a late season stumble against section rival Coastal State but that happened after the Bengals had already clinched their fourth consecutive South Atlantic Conference crown and were focused on a Sunshine Classic rematch with Oklahoma City State. The Bengals, who have played on New Year's Day in five of the past six seasons, had little trouble besting the Wranglers for the second year in row with a 48-6 victory impressive enough to convince the voters to keep the Bengals number one in the final AIAA poll ahead of undefeated Annapolis Maritime and East-West Classic winner Spokane State (10-1). The Bengals feel a second title is certainly within their grasp with many key starters including quarterback Al Stubblefield and halfback Mike Moran returning this season. Bengals coach Monk Boice has an offseason that suffered very few key losses with backup halfback Duke Robbins the only key contributor lost to graduation. In addition to Stubblefield, who threw for 566 yards and 7 touchdowns as a freshman last season and senior halfback Moran, who topped 1,100 yards rushing each of the past two seasons, the Bengals return four of the five starters on the offensive line. The defense did suffer a hit to the secondary as three of the four starters including strong safety Jim Watson who led the club in tackles have graduated. Boice says he has confidence in the returnees to fill the gap with a pair of sophomores in Frankie Bell and Dick Gorgas more than ready to fill the void. Each of the previous national champions in Georgia Baptist (1959,1960) and Noble Jones College (1957,1958) successfully repeated as title holders. The Bengals will be looking to extend that trend when their season gets underway next month. RECENT KEY RESULTS Ed Eads, a young middleweight out of Texarkana, TX., improved to 18-1 with a fifth round knockout of Bailey O'Keefe in San Francisco last week. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles. September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 8/05/1962 Movie star Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bed, a telephone clutched in her hand and an empty pill bottle near by. She was 36. An overdose is the suspected cause with a coroner's team in Los Angeles now seeking confirmation. Talks continue in Geneva as US Ambassador Arthur Dean meets with his Russian counterpart to try and break the East-West deadlock on a nuclear test ban treaty. Dean is presenting new American proposals on control and inspection but the Russians are expected to reject them. Communist China claims that it has made great progress in development a nuclear bomb. A spokesman refused to provide details beyond stating that China was not far behind other countries. Project Gemini, the next big step towards putting an American on the moon, outlined a timetable with plans for unmanned flights next year and manned flights the following year. The goal is by 1966 that seasoned spacemen will be flying rendezvous missions with little more difficulty than SAC pilots find in midair refueling. The drive for emergency tax cuts was set back when Labor Secretary Goldberg reported strong gains on the economy's job front as the jobless rate hit a 25-month low. At 5.3% it is still well above the administration's stated goal of 4 per cent. After a week of fighting, Algeria's rival politicians agreed to accept the leadership of dissident Deputy Premier Ahmed Ben Bella, but resolved none of their fundamental differences. __________________ Lead Columnist of The Figment Sporting Journal The Scripture of Sports Last edited by Jiggs McGee; 01-09-2025 at 07:58 AM.

01-10-2025, 10:31 AM	#1052
Jiggs McGee All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 677	August 13, 1962 AUGUST 13, 1962 SURGING SAILORS SNAP UP FIRST PLACE Just over a month ago, the Continental Association looked all but over, but after winning each of their last three series, including a win over the Cleveland Foresters and a sweep of the Toronto Wolves, we have a new team piloting the Continental. Going 24-12 since the first of July, San Francisco is now the only Continental club playing .600 ball, 64-42 and two games clear of the Foresters and Kansas City Kings in a tight race for the crown. Six teams are within nine games of first, the same amount as the St Louis Pioneers cushion in the Fed, and if it wasn't for a five game losing streak by the up-and-down Chicago Cougars, four teams would be within five games of first. What makes the Sailors run most surprising is they've done it all without one of their best players, as All-Star shortstop Carlos Jaramillo (.296, 4, 27, 16) has been out since July 10th, and after getting swept their first series without him, they've gone 19-5. His replacement, rookie Art Johnson (.274, 11, 1), has held his own offensively and defensively, but Jaramillo is days away from his return, and penciling him in at the top of the lineup can only be a benefit for the Sailors. In his absence, it's been the outfielders getting the job done, with a lot of the heavy lifting done by the red-hot John Kingsbury. One of the many All-Star snubs, he hit .404/.495/.652 (192 OPS+) in July and .455/.520/.614 (190 OPS+) in his first 10 August games, logging a combined 6 doubles, 4 triples, 5 homers, 28 RBIs, 31 runs, and 4 steals. Remarkably, he already has 13 runs in August, and the recently turned 25-year-old is hitting .356/.440/.530 (148 OPS+) on the season. His counterpart in right, Edwin Hackberry, has had similar success, batting .297/.393/.571 (144 OPS+) in July before upping that to .356/.453/.578 (163 OPS+) in August. Him and Kingsbury have started nearly every game for San Francisco, and Hackberry has a .291/.380/.504 (125 OPS+) line that displays great improvement from year two and three in the bay area. His 17 homers are already most as a Sailor, and he's looking for his first 20 homer season since he launched 32 as a Dynamo in 1957. Adding to the success as been the pitching, as the 1-2-3 of Charlie Lawson (11-6, 3.77, 126), George Fuller (10-9, 3.68, 93), and Hank Lacey (10-5, 3.55, 101) have been outstanding. Since July, they're a combined 14-6, and all three hurlers have surpassed the double-digit win mark. They've also gotten six solid starts from Larry Knez, as after being cleared to pitch following rotator cuff surgery, he's 3-2 with a 2.57 ERA (177 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts. Still about two months to go, they have the top rotation ERA (3.88), the second lowest pen ERA (3.65), and the fewest runs allowed (458), all key factors in why they've been able to take the association lead. Can't forget about Ernie Carter (.322, 8, 80, 7) either, as the graduated top-10 prospect took home Player of the Week by going 11-for-24 with 3 doubles, a steal, a triple, 2 homers, and 10 RBIs. They have a ton of guys like Carter who can hit and defend, and it's no surprise they've been one of the better teams in 1962. It's far too early to count Cleveland out, but they've lost 10 of their last 12, as the offense has stopped scoring and the staff is allowing more runs. For the first time basically all season, they're outside of the top-3 in both runs scored and allowed, ranked 4th in each at 577 and 509. Still effective, they score less then the Kings and prevent fewer runs then the Sailors, both of which currently look stronger then Cleveland. Adrian Czerwinski (10-6, 4.45, 125) still hasn't gotten the results he's used too, charged with 5 or more runs in each of his last three starts, while Hal Kennedy (.328, 16, 57) has gone from one of the top Conti hitters to more his usual self. On the bright side, Paul Williams (.295, 17, 62) is red hot, John Low (.293, 9, 62) is starting to look more like himself, and at 34 Sherry Doyal (.335, 18, 72, 6) is hitting more like he was at 24. Above all, there are plenty of games left, and the Foresters are no strangers to impressive late season runs to earn a pennant. Don't count the Kings out either, as they're continuing to hang on in there. They also continue to trot out Hank Williams (.366, 31, 92, 4), Ken Newman (.342, 18, 10, 8), and Al Farmer (.310, 18, 71, 5), the best 3-4-5 bunch in the Conti. Atop the lineup, Pat Davis (.358, 12, 69, 31) has been tremendous, and top to bottom there is no real hole in the lineup. One surprise has been Bill Denney (.300, 10, 39, 6), who's got a 119 WRC+ and 1.042 efficiency at short, and they've started giving the rangey outfielder Tom Hicks (.244, 2, 23) more time in center. KC has a nice blend of youth and vets, something that can be said about the lineup and the staff. Rookies Allie Boone (4-1, 3.32, 46) and Gene Bailey (5-2, 2.91, 47) have looked more then up to the task, while they continue to get ace level production from the 30-year-old Beau McClellan (14-6, 3.75, 147). Fresh off a sweep of the Cougars, they're set up for a huge series in San Francisco, and they follow that up with a road series in LA and a home series with Cleveland. As big a nine games as any, it will test the Kings' grit and resolve, as we are truly in for a all-out melee for the crown. * Buddy Miller Makes Push for History * Rightfully, a lot of the focus when it comes to the quest for .400, most of the attention has been geared towards Ham Flanders (.383, 16, 81, 10). He had a real shot, finishing the month of July with a .397 batting average, but after a "slump" to start August (13-for-46), it's now actually Buddy Miller who has FABL's best batting average. After coming up short in his first full season as a starter, the reigning WCS MVP has a chance to reach the elusive .400 mark, or at least reach his previous personal best of .397. After hitting .400/.464/.568 (167 OPS+) in July, Miller has been on a tear in August, hitting .451/.491/.706 (207 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 2 homers, a triple, steal, and 11 RBIs. This includes a Player of the Week award, as Buddy 14-for-31 with 5 extra base hits, 8 RBIs, and 9 runs scored. On the season, he's up to 390/.458/.576 (167 OPS+) -- more then good enough for his 9th All-Star selection. Somewhat overshadowed by Bob Bell (.389, 34, 87, 4), Jerry Smith (.310, 22, 80, 9), and the 72-win Pioneers, Miller has been putting up a Whitney-worthy performance, helping carry his team above .500. After a miserable start to the season, they're 22-14 since July 1st, and Miller has been a huge part of it. Chasing .400 is always tough, just as Flanders or Miller himself, but he's a guy with three batting titles and a career .344 batting average. If anyone who isn't Hank Williams can do it, its Buddy, but raising the average 10 points is easier said then done. With 161 hits in 102 games, he's got about 40 games left, and a chance to reach 600 at bats. If he finished 79-for-131 -- a pace above 600 -- he'd have a chance to reach .400, but a run like that seems almost impossible. As unlikely as that is, even just a batting title is tough, as Whitney shoe-in Bob Bell is up to .389 himself. With less at bats, he could go 56-for-131 (.427), but he's got almost no chance to reach 500 at bats. Since 1905, no FABL hitter has hit .400 in less then 500 at bats, so if Bell can hit over .427 for the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see how the baseball world treats the feat. Another week, another three homer game. For the fourth time in three weeks a player went deep three times. This time, for a change it was not against the Chicago Chiefs, who were victimized on the first three occasions. Instead it was in the Continental Association as Cleveland's Paul Williams ripped three longballs in a game against the Los Angeles Stars. It was part of a five-hit game for the 35-year-old. ZAPATA ON HOT SEAT IN LATROBE There may not be a college football coach with more riding on the current season than Jason Zapata of St Blane. As Zapata prepares for his fourth season as the head man with the Fighting Saints and the school yet to be ranked in the top twenty-five at the conclusion of any of those years there are many calling for him to be fired. Zapata inherited the Fighting Saints job in 1959 under what really was a near impossible situation. He was replacing a legend with the retirement of Virgil Dragan after two decades at the school, two national titles and a decade long run where St Blane and college football success went hand in hand. Under Dragon, the Fighting Saints -together with rival Rome State- were the class of college football in the late 1940s with the highlight for Dragan's club being the 34-2-1 run from 1946-49 in which the Saints won the national title twice and finished second the other two years. As recruiting rules changed and the game progressed other schools began to catch up. No longer would St. Blane have free pick of practically any high school senior they wanted after Rome State was done its selections during the World War II years. By 1950 the Saints were no longer the top destination, which helps explain that no St. Blane football player has been named to the All-American team since center Paul Sampson made the grade as a senior in 1950. The forties saw the Saints with a host of All-Americans and St Blane players won the Christian Trophy as the most outstanding player in college football three times: Mike O'Rourke in 1943, Ricky McCallister in 1947 and Bobby Leonard in 1949. Without access to their pick of the talent, winning became much more difficult but that did not seem to deter Dragan who, after stumbling badly for a couple of years, guided the Saints to five straight top 10 finishes from 1952-56. Dragan stepped aside after consecutive 7-3 seasons in 1957 and 1958, and after a long search his former assistant Zapata was given the job. The recruiting classes have tailed off even further and Zapata has gone 19-12 over his three seasons, which has patience waning very thin in a town where Dragan had spoiled the Saints faithful with just 4 unranked seasons total between 1941 and his retirement 17 years later. Zapata will have his work cut out for him as for the second year in a row St. Blane failed to land a top twenty-five recruit but he does have the luxury of eight returning starters on defense and nine on offense. Senior quarterback Al Scheuneman has two seasons as a starter under his belt and his offensive line returns fully intact. Halfback Dan Blake and his 912 yards rushing are gone as is Gerry Townsend, who led the club with 27 catches a year ago but there are capable replacements. Whether that is enough to allow the Fighting Saints to finish in the top twenty-five for the first time since 1957 remains to be seen. Such a finish may be necessary for Zapata to ensure he is still the St. Blane head coach come the start of the 1963 season. PACKERS SIGN THREE TO ADD TO DEPTH One can easily make a case that the Chicago Packers are, from top to bottom, the most talented team in the NAHC. They have a strong goaltender in Andrew Bomberry, a stacked defense led by captain Phil Stukas, dependable veteran Guy Bernier and a rising star in Danny Connaughton and a talented collection of forwards with Ken York, Phil Bernier, Mark McGrath and J.P. Morissette leading the way. Chicago finished second during the regular season a year ago while leading the loop in goals but bowed out to Detroit in the semi-finals. This year veteran Chicago head coach Mark Nader may just have the team to beat in a quest for what would be just the second Challenge Cup win in franchise history. The Packers are taking no chances as they were busy the past week adding depth to the organization with the signing of three players. Odds are high that each of the three newcomers to the Packers will at least start the season in Pittsburgh but all could contribute if an injury arises. A pair of the new signings are blueliners in 26-year-old Alexandre Legare and 22-year-old Curtis Harrington. Legare won a CAHA championship with Verdun and has spent the past three seasons with the Syracuse Lancers of the HAA. He had a tryout with Montreal but has yet to play an NAHC regular season game. Harrington was a second round selection of the New York Shamrocks in 1959 but was released and after his junior career at Hull he played senior hockey in Western Canada before being called upon by the Packers. The third addition to the Packers may have the best chance of breaking camp with the big club. That would be Patrick Geddes, a 24-year-old winger who scored 29 goals over three seasons with the Boston Bees and was a part of the Bees 1960 Cup winning squad. He spent last season with the Portland Ports of the Great Western Hockey League where he averaged nearly a point a game. The Toronto Dukes also added some depth as, after trading Charlie Dell to Detroit, the Dukes were in the market for a third goaltender. David Taylor, a 21-year-old Toronto native who the Dukes selected in the third round of the 1960 NAHC draft, was tendered a contract after exhausting his junior eligibility. Taylor played four seasons for the Hull Hawks and will most assuredly be assigned to the Cleveland Eries by the Dukes as Toronto has a pair of goalies who each deserve to be considered number one netminders in Mike Connelly and Justin MacPhee. NAHC training camps open in mid-September and each of the six teams will begin their preseason slate of games on September 26. The regular season opener is set for October 10 in Chicago with the Packers hosting the Toronto Dukes. The other four teams get underway a day later. RECENT KEY RESULTS Brooklyn heavyweight Sammy Hardy suffered the first defeat of his career, falling to Jim Sisco in a bout in Lewiston, ME., last week. The 22-year-old Hardy is now 10-1-1 while Sisco, also 22 and hailing from Pittsburgh, improves to 21-2. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles. September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 8/12/1962 Russia launched a third man into orbit, on a mission that is said to dwarf the 17-orbit, 25 hour flight of another Russian cosmonaut and provide data for a trip to the moon. The trip is believed to last at least a week. Early today it was reported a second Russian craft was also orbiting in tandem with the first- a historic feat putting the Russians ahead in the race to the moon. The United States wished the Russian spaceman a "happy landing" and promised not to endanger him with high altitude atomic explosions after a Tass report made an "appeal" not to hurt the cosmonaut. The Atomic Energy Commission reports that the Soviets set off another atmospheric nuclear test last week in Central Siberia, but that it was in the "low kiloton range." The Soviets officially rejected the latest US proposal for a nuclear weapons test ban, declaring the latest US offer in Geneva was "just the old American position dolled up in a new guise to deceive the neutrals." East German Communists moved armor and truckloads of troops up to the Berlin wall as the first anniversary of the steel and concrete barrier across the city neared. President Kennedy will address the nation on national tv and radio tonight. At that time he is expected to announce his decision on whether an emergency tax cut will be made this year. More unrest in Argentina as four months after a coup ousted the former President, an army general has taken control of a garrison town near the northern border with Bolivia and proclaimed himself the new army commander in defiance of the Argentine War Secretary. __________________ Lead Columnist of The Figment Sporting Journal The Scripture of Sports

01-11-2025, 10:58 AM	#1053
Jiggs McGee All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 677	August 20, 1962 AUGUST 20, 1962 SAILORS LEAD GROWS, PIONEERS SHRINKS A hot streak has the San Francisco Sailors threatening to pull away in the Continental Association race while the St Louis Pioneers have suddenly become very uneasy about their control of the Federal Association flag chase. The Sailors have won 24 of their last thirty games and have gone from third place, four games back of the Cleveland Foresters to first place and enjoying a four game bulge on Cleveland and the Kansas City Kings, who are tied for second. The Sailors stumbled slightly at the beginning of last week, dropping two of three at home to the Kings, but then reeled off four straight victories over the weekend while the Foresters and Kings each dropped three of four. The news is even better for the Sailors as defensive whiz Carlos Jaramillo returned to the lineup last week after the shortstop missed a little over a month with an injury. While the Sailors prospered with their lead-off man Jaramillo sidelined, the St Louis Pioneers have suddenly looked mortal without theirs. Bill Bather, who was hitting .285 as the table-setter for the powerful heart of the Pioneers order when he went down in early July. The 29-year-old centerfielder is still likely three weeks away from returning. St Louis managed just fine for a stretch with Bather, winning 16 of 21 and extending their lead to 12 games on second place Detroit just 15 days ago. However, their current 5-9 run coupled with hot play from both the Dynamos and the Washington Eagles has allowed both clubs to close the gap. Detroit is on a 10-2 run and the Dynamos have cut the deficit in half, now trailing St Louis by six games. The Eagles were 15 back on August 5 and they too shaved six off the St Louis lead and are now within 9 games. Certainly, both Detroit and Washington have plenty of work ahead of them but it suddenly feels like there is a chance we may just see a pennant race in the Federal Association. Cleveland's Paul Williams collected his 2,000th career hit last week in a win over Montreal. The 35-year-old centerfielder is also just one homerun shy of the 300 plateau. Kansas City Kings outfielder Charlie Rogers hit his 500th career double in the 8th inning of a 9-4 loss to the Stars. While the season hasn’t been Roger’s best, he was 5-5 with 2 triples in Mondays win against San Francisco and is slashing .292/.330/.789 with 13HR, 18D, 8T with 61 RBI’s and 83 runs scored. Rogers' teammate Fred Washington also hit a milestone as the 34-year-old righthander became the 46th pitcher to record 1,500 career strikeouts. Brett Bing of the Toronto Mail & Empires pens about a solid week for the Wolves, who go 5-2 with big weeks from Sid Cullen, Tom Reed to climb back to within one game of the elusive goal, .500. Phil Colantuono wins in his first FABL start of the season. He was recalled off his rehab assignment faster than expected due to George Adams getting his head kicked in during 3 starts. Adams obviously needs more time at Buffalo, front office is contemplating whether or not to bring him back up in September. Interesting note from Francis Stann of the Washington Times. At one point the Eagles run differential was at -30 but is now all the way up to +73. For the second time in three weeks Washington corner infielder Tom Lorang was named player of the week and helped lead the Eagles to a perfect 7-0 week. George Whaley won it the week before Lorang's first win. Hard to imagine finding a better pair of corner infielders than the two youngsters in Washington. The rookie Whaley is just 19 and Lorang is already in his third full season despite turning just 21 earlier this month. Speaking of talented young corner infielders, Montreal's Ham Flanders was named CA player of the week for the second time in less than a month. The 24-year-old rookie continues to lead FABL with a .388 batting average. And another rookie first baseman to watch is Ed Howard of the Los Angeles Stars. He does not have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting race - just 163 at press time, but the 25-year-old is hitting .384. Mixed results on young Chiefs pitching as the Chicago Herald-Examiner points out 19-year-old rookie John Thomas is 4-0(1.39 ERA) with two shutouts to start his FABL career. He is also 4-12 at the plate. On the other hand the Chiefs top prospect, 21-year-old Bud Andrews, is struggling in his first FABL action with a 6.91 ERA in his first five starts. There was a minor bright spot in that this was the first week since the final week of June that the Chiefs did not allow a double-digit run game against. PEACH STATE LOOKS TO RECLAIM SEAT AT HEAD OF COLLEGE GRID TABLE For the first time in five years college football's national champion did not hail from the Peach State as both Georgia Baptist and Noble Jones College came up short. Maryland State was crowned national champion ending the Gators two year run which was proceeded by back to back titles for the Colonels. By the lofty standards that the Peach State has come to expect, first from Rome State throughout the 1940s and now from Deep South Conference rivals Georgia Baptist and Noble Jones College, the 1961 season was a bitter disappointment. Sure the Gators finished 9-2 and for the third straight year defeated Lubbock State on New Year's Day, but early season losses to section rivals Western Florida and Mississippi A&M cost Georgia Baptist its third straight Deep South Conference title and any hopes for a third consecutive national title. The fact they finished 5th in the polls, and one spot ahead of Cumberland which replaced them as Deep South banner holders, was of little solace. It was even worse in both Augusta and Rome where the Colonels and Centurions spiraled. The Colonels, just two seasons removed from back to back 11-0 campaigns, had their worst season since a 4-6 year in 1952 as they stumbled through a 5-5 campaign that started badly -with a loss to Eastern Oklahoma- and ended even worse with three defeats in their final four games including blow out losses in Tennessee to Cumberland and worst of all a 35-3 shellacking at the hands of Georgia Baptist to end the season. If Noble Jones College supporters were despondent, it was even worse for Rome State. The military academy is now far removed from its title years during WWII but up until very recently the Centurions had been a fixture in the national rankings. 1961 can be summed up in one word - embarrassing- as Rome State finished with its worst season since that dreadful scandal ridden 1951 club went 2-7. Last year's 4-6 finish was just the second losing season in Centurions modern day (post 1940) history and concluded with the Centurions first loss to rival Annapolis Maritime since 1952. All three Georgia football schools have something to prove this year. The Gators may be best positioned to bring the state another national title but coach Wickey Tharpe will have his work cut out for him as Georgia Baptist was hit hard by graduation, losing quarterback Paul Ott, his top two halfbacks and his entire core of ends plus a gaggle of key performers on defense. The Gators were built to win a year ago but this year, on paper at least seems to be a season of retooling. Long-time Noble Jones College head coach Dick Donnelly has been through some ups and downs before and does have some key talent returning so a bounce back to contention certainly seems a good possibility. Backs Tom Bell and John Shackelford combined for nearly 2,000 yards rushing a year ago and both will be counted on heavily as seniors this time around. The key will be to turn around a defense that often looked disorientated a year ago and was badly overmatched in stopping the run against better teams. Rome State may simply have to face the new reality. This is not the 1940s when the Centurions had their pick of nearly any high school senior they desired. It is the not early fifties either, when the school was still a football power. Poor recruiting classes have caught up with the Centurions and while there still is some elite talent, Rome State simply does not have the depth to be considered an elite football school any longer. Frank Stokes took over as head coach last year and his first recruiting class was not bad, ranked 36th, but lacked a single recruit ranked by OSA in the top 100. RECENT KEY RESULTS Shreveport, LA., welterweight Ronnie Hebert scored an unanimous decision over Ray Roberts last week, improving the 25-year-old's record as a professional to 19-5-3. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles. September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens.. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 8/19/1962 Both Russian cosmonauts came down safely with bullseye landings in Kazakhstan after zipping around the world for a total of almost 3 million miles. The leader was aloft for nearly four full days and his flanker for nearly three. Secretary of Defense McNamara is happy with the U.S. space plans and says he sees no reason why the United State should alter its carefully charted path because of Russia's spectacular double orbit. An angry crowd of West Berliners gathered at the wall near where East German police shot a young refugee off the wall and left him to bleed to death last week. A teenage girl, fleeing the East at the same time as the shooting, managed to successfully reach the western side and was taken to a West Berlin hospital in shock. Berliners are turning there anger towards the United States for failing to act to help victims of East German police. Deciding against a quick tax cut, President Kennedy announced plans for a "creative" slash in income tax effective next January 1. The President told the Nation in an optimistic economic review that an emergency tax cut "could not now be either justified or enacted" but he added that present high taxes are a "drag on the economy" and vowed to remove "tax roadblocks to new jobs and new growth." Republican congressional leaders called for the President to blueprint his 1963 tax cut proposals before Congress adjourns and institute an immediate cut in Federal spending. A special report released this week suggests that the American military feels cautious optimism about the war in Viet Nam after a recent push last winter to keep the wavering country from falling behind the Iron Curtain. __________________ Lead Columnist of The Figment Sporting Journal The Scripture of Sports

01-12-2025, 11:30 AM	#1054
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,755	August 20, 1962 - part II AUGUST 20, 1962 - part II Tales From The Den Wolves Recap Plus a Look Ahead -Wolves fans seem to be witnessing a turn in the Toronto club's fortunes after more than a decade in the hinterlands. With a record of 56-57 going into the final six weeks of the season there seems to be a new optimism for long suffering Wolves rooters. Under freshman manager Randy Hohlt the team has avoided the long losing streaks that had been far too common to the team since the club's glory days through the war years in the Forties. This edition of the Wolves seems to be on a more even keel with far more enthusiasm every day at the park. Hohlt's biggest improvement has been in the field, one of his stated goals in the spring, as no longer is the team beating itself with errors that continuously put added stress on the pitchers by handing the opponent extra trips to plate. The team has moved from one of the, if not the worst, fielding teams in the FABL to being in the upper tier of prevent runs with the glove. There are still improvements to be made, in particular at first base and in right field. One of the major reasons that Jim Allen was DFA'd before being traded to Kansas City was his work in the field. The Mail & Empire is also hearing that team had told him that they would try to move to contender this season if he was not part of their long-term plans. The return for Allen was a sweepstakes ticket in southpaw hurler Charlie LaFoy, but any team could have claimed Allen for free off the waiver wire. Wolves seem to be making a move to shore defense in the infield by recently moving Tom Reed to first which provides the double bonus of allowing a spot in the lineup for Frank Hardin. After a slow start the pitching staff has come around since May to be in the upper half of the Continental Association. The weakest part if the number of balls that have been coming of the bats then coming to rest in the seats. Wolves pitching has allowed a CA high of 119 round trippers led by staff ace Arnie Smith's 25. Other starters have allowed 18 by both Lee Loeffler and Bill Medley while Jimmy Pepper has surrendered 17 longballs. The Front Office thought they had ample pitching depth in Buffalo, but it just required a little seasoning. The initial try with George Adams was somewhat of a failure who quickly proved he needed more work on his control. In 16 innings of work with Toronto Adams walked 12 gave up 34 hits which prompted an earlier than expected recall from a rehab assignment for Phil Colantuono who hurt his arm in the spring. Looking to the near future the team needs at least one the prospects, probably two, to make the jump from Buffalo in 1963. The acquisition of Zeke Blake has turned the relief corps around this season although it does lack any semblance of depth which may be another off-season project for the GM. At the dish the team is what most experts thought the Wolves would be in 1962. Tom Reed (.321/.395/.534) is leading a mainly left-handed hitting lineup. The team has brought Hardin up to Toronto in an attempt to score more runs. Hardin is also a lefthanded hitter. Fans are clamoring to see Ed Savage who is tearing up the Union League with a .332/.447/.623 line but he, too, is a lefty. The knock on Savage is his fielding which was evident in the spring and unfortunately it has not improved much, if at all, in AAA. Savage will be a fielding project in the off-season. Chick Reed, Clyde Fisher, Ty Rusconi, Sid Cullen have all chipped in at the plate along with Jesse Taylor who has older fans recalling Charlie Artuso with his play at short. The GM has to find one or more hitters from the right side to balance the lineup as the lefties have trouble against southpaws with a 12-17 record so far in 1962. Overall, the team is taking tentative steps forward, now they must continue to progress through the middle of the Sixties. SOARING COSTS FAIL TO CUT TV GRID COVERAGE IN '62 Only spacemen are soaring higher than the cost of broadcasting football games. Example: In 1940 the Mutual Broadcasting System paid the princely sum of $2,500 for the right to broadcast on a Nation-wide radio network for the first time a professional football championship game. The event was a 20-7 Brooklyn Kings victory over the Detroit Maroons at Thompson Field. In the next two years, CBS is spending more than $20 million for rights to televise the 14-game American Football Association schedule along with its playoffs plus 14 college games on Saturday. For most fans of the pro game that means you will see all of your local club's away games but none of the home games. A different game will be broadcast if the local outfit is playing at home. In the AIAA college slate every section of the country is represented in the 14-game offering and will feature one key match, aired nationally across the country, each Saturday of the season. Total broadcast time of the television and upwards of 60 national radio games will be about 220 hours. This is almost the number of hours science has calculated it will take for a trip to the moon. The broadcasts also will cost almost as much. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

01-13-2025, 11:12 PM	#1055
Jiggs McGee All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 677	August 27, 1962 AUGUST 27, 1962 SAILORS START PULLING AWAY IN CA KINGS HOPE TO KEEP IT A TWO WAY RACE FOR SEPTEMBER Just when the Continental Association started to get good, the San Francisco Sailors got better, and they've followed up their 16-8 July with a 17-7 August. Winners of 8 of their last 10, they've recently won series against the Cincinnati Cannons and Chicago Cougars, and now they're at least seven games ahead of everyone but Kansas City. They play them just one more time this season, three games in the city of fountains, and those could prove to be what determines the winner of the pennant. It's funny the Foresters aren't consider in any of this, as Cleveland has lost 19 of their last 27. August has been brutal for their stars, as both Rufus Barrell (0-3, 7.76, 8) and Adrian Czerwinski (0-3, 7.09, 14) have been awful. Same goes for Hal Kennedy (.158, 2, 7), as only John Low (.345, 4, 16) and Sherry Doyal (.313, 4, 10, 1) did much of anything. A surprising decline from the Continental dynasty head, their poor form pretty much eliminates them from the playoffs, and they're at risk of finishing outside the top three for the first time since they were a CA worst 60-94 in 1948. Kansas City is about all the hope we have for a race, but after struggling with elbow problems all season, Ken Newman's season will finally have to end because of it. A huge loss for the Kings, the 33-year-old hit .336/.443/.585 (160 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 19 homers, 67 walks, 87 RBIs, and 95 runs, snubbed of what should have been his 11th All-Star selection. Adding depth like Joe Dorch (.310, 3, 27) could pay off now, as he's a decent bat and can fill out the back of a lineup. Ahead of him will still be Pat Davis (.364, 15, 77, 34), Charlie Rogers (.297, 14, 64, 11), Hank Newman (.371, 32, 98), Al Farmer (.315, 21, 81, 6), and Bob Burge (.317, 8, 75). Even without Newman, they'll still put up runs, but making up a three game deficit without one of their top players will be tough. Pioneers Still Holding Off Dynamos, Set to Enter September As Leader With five days left and a six game lead, the St. Louis Pioneers are guaranteed to enter the last full month of the season as the Federal Leader. One of the biggest storylines around the Pioneers have been the pitching, but they have a chance to see their young star finish the season with a .400 season. Slashing an absurd .390/.490/.769 (214 OPS+), Bob Bell's average is just ten points away, and it comes with 37 homers, 92 RBIs, and 100 runs scored. With that and elite defense (11.1 ZR, 1.083 EFF), he should be the Whitney selection barring a late season injury, and having Jerry Smith (.301, 22, 83, 11) and Steve Schultz (.307, 21, 92) batting behind him as certainly helped. Detroit still has a chance, six games back, with a recent change being made to their rotation. $150k man Howie French (10-7, 2, 4.05, 94) has been moved to the pen from the rotation, as deadline pickup Bud Henderson (5-5, 5.15, 51) has been outstanding since the trade. The former Star is 3-1 in 5 starts and a relief appearances, working to a 2.61 ERA (174 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 8 walks, and 9 strikeouts. Seemingly himself after not having any success post-injury, starts from him have made the Dynamos trade look better, as Virgil Ewing (.285, 13, 77) has been average and without his power. They need a lot of help from the rest of the association, but don't expect Verlin Alexander's club to give up anytime soon. The injury bug bit a trio of Continental Association clubs last week. Kansas City, desperately trying to close the gap on San Francisco, will have to do so without the services of Ken Newman as the 33-year-old, who had spent most of the season at first base because of an ongoing elbow issue, hurt the joint making a throw in a rare start at third base last week. The 3-time Whitney Award winner, who was batting .336 with 19 homers, is done for the rest of the season. Meanwhile the Chicago Cougars, who are presently 7 games off the pace have lost lead-off man and centerfielder Jerry McMillan (.335,17,62) for a couple of weeks with a hamstring issue. The Cincinnati Cannons are likely out of the running for the CA flag, sitting 10 games back and in sixth place. The Cannons also learned that Jim York (11-11, 5.51) is done for the year as the 25-year-old will need surgery on his elbow. The news was not all bad for Newman as he did sign a 1-year extension with the Kings for what at the moment is a record salary of $204,000. Currently Dallas Berry of Cincinnati, Jerry Smith of St Louis and Adrian Czerwinski of the Cleveland Foresters are the highest paid players in FABL, earning a reported $200,000 each for this season. Newman is being paid $187,500 for this season. Detroit is getting what it hoped for from Bud Henderson, who is 3-1, 2.61 since the trade with the Stars but third baseman Virgil Ewing (.257,3,14), while still a big improvement on the now released and in the minors with Pittsburgh Tommy Griffin, is underperforming from what he accomplished in Los Angeles. One of the prospects dispatched by Detroit to the west coast in the deal, young pitcher Jim Schoolfield, is off to a strong start since being called up by the Stars. The 21-year-old has a 0.93 era after 9 relief appearances. It was a foregone conclusion practically from opening day but the expansion New York Imperials officially became the first team eliminated from pennant contention after absorbing their sixth consecutive loss last Tuesday. The Imperials are 30-89 and on pace to lose a record 115 games. No team in the Continental Association has ever lost more than the 108 defeats saddled on the 1911 Philadelphia Sailors. The FABL record is 111 set by the Detroit Dynamos in 1935 while the team with the most losses in major league baseball history is the 1890 Century League's Pittsburgh Miners, who went 28-112 although the 1883 Baltimore Bannerman did have a lower winning percentage than those Miners, going just 15-83 (.153) in Century League play. Harry Dellinger of the Philadelphia Keystones had a great week, winning top honours in the Federal Association for the past seven days after going 15-for-30 with 3 homers last week. Included in the 24-year-old's big week was a 5-hit game in a win over the Boston Minutemen. Dellinger was not the only player to enjoy a five-hit outing last week as Charlie Rogers also turned the trick in the Kansas City Kings 10-1 drubbing of Cleveland last Tuesday. Rogers did not win CA player of the week but his teammate Ed Farmer, who hit .462 with a pair of homers, did. Frenchy Mack won his 75th career game last week. The 25-year-old Pioneers star is 19-4 with a FABL best 2.15 era this season and his overshadowing teammate Billy Hasson (17-7, 3.14), who is a 3-time Allen Award winner. RECENT KEY RESULTS A mild upset last week as fighters from opposite coasts met in St Louis. Highly touted west coast welterweight Roger Lewis, a 24-year-old who was seemingly on the fast track to contention, lost for just the second time in 18 outings when he was outpointed by Billy Dvorak on Thursday evening. The only previous defeat suffered by the San Francisco native Lewis came early in his career when he was disqualified from a bout with John Wallace. This outing was decidedly one-sided as Dvorak, a 22-year-old who hails from Columbia, MD., and was fighting in just his 7th professional bout, dominated the meeting. Not much attention had been paid to Dvorak but perhaps that will change after he ran his record to a perfect 7-0, although Lewis was the first fighter with much of a pedigree that Dvorak has faced. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles. September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 8/26/1962 Britain and the United States made another proposal for a treaty for an unpoliced ban on nuclear tests in the atmosphere, under water and in outer space but the Soviet Union immediately turned a cold shoulder on the idea. The Western plan also suggested continuing to work on a treaty to ban tests in environments, but with the provision for international on-site inspection of suspicious tremors which might indicate underground tests. United States Disarmament Agency officials expressed the belief that Red China will set off another nuclear explosion within a matter of months. The Agency believes that unless a ban is put in place over the next few years at least 20 countries not now possessing a nuclear capability will be able to deliver nuclear devices. The United States blamed the Soviet Union for "wanton provocations" and "senseless" police cruelty in the Soviet sector of Berlin following the illegal erection of the Berlin Wall. In a note delivered to Moscow, it once again called on Russian officials to meet with the US, Britain and France "to find ways of reducing dangerous tensions and restoring normal conditions to Berlin." An off-course Mariner II spacecraft rocketed into space today on an intended 109-day trip to explore the planet Venus. Despite severe trajectory errors, Cape Canaveral staff is hopeful they could correct most of it by remote control signals to an on-board motor. The United States blamed shelling on Havana last week on an underground exile Cuban students group and said it had no advance knowledge of the attack. More than 60 mortar shells were launched at Havana's Miramar suburban shore area Friday night. Fidel Castro had blamed the U.S. for the attack. __________________ Lead Columnist of The Figment Sporting Journal The Scripture of Sports

01-15-2025, 12:23 PM	#1056
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	September 3rd, 1962 SEPTEMBER 3, 1962 Dynamos Win Five Straight, Federal Title Firmly in Reach Just when the Federal Association looked all wrapped up, the Detroit Dynamos moved within three games, as they took advantage of some subpar play from the first place Pioneers. While the leaders were a game under in August, the Dynamos went 21-8, and have now given themselves a chance to take the Association from a team that thought they had everything wrapped up. Moves in the rotation sparked the comeback, and 25-year-old righty Earl Shields won Pitcher of the Month despite starting the month in the bullpen. A perfect 4-0 with 2 saves in 5 starts and 3 relief appearances, he worked to an impressive 2.50 ERA (182 ERA+) with 18 strikeouts. He allowed three or fewer runs in three of his starts, including 7.1 scoreless in New York. A hard thrower, he's able to over power batters, and him and Bud Henderson (4-1, 2.40, 33; 6-5, 4.85, 57) have been lights out since they replaced Howie French (12-7, 2, 3.91, 99) and Larry Beebe (6-6, 1, 5.76, 44) in t he rotation. Both have done well in the pen, and with a more complete lineup they've really started to thrive. Reigning Kellogg winner Ray Waggoner's (.358, 28, 99) sophomore season has been just as good, and they can produce plenty of runs with him, Joe Reed (.293, 24, 96, 8), and Cecil Gregg (.297, 15, 96, 7) all within four RBIs of 100. Lengthening the lineup now is Ed McNaughton (.318, 10, 56, 27), a potential Kellogg candidate who's seized the third spot in the lineup. After a game with the Millers, the Dynamos may use their off day to head to St. Louis, where they'll play potentially the biggest series of the season. Depending on Monday's results, they have a chance to take a share or more of the lead with a sweep. Before their current series, they lost three in a row, and with a win in Chicago they can at least enter their tough battle off a sweep. Still ranked 1st in runs scored and allowed, they are a dangerous force, but the loss of Bill Bather (.285, 13, 33, 6) as the leadoff hitter has been felt. In his absence, young outfielder Ray O'Conner (.257, 2, 24, 4) has matched, or at least come close to, Bather's elite defense, but the difference in the bat is massive. Bather had a 123 WRC+ in 76 games, while O'Conner's is down to 76 in three fewer. On top of that, since the 9th of July when Bather went down, they've gone 27-20, as opposed to the 54-25 with him healthy. Bather is still three weeks away from recovery, leaving him a little over a week to return. At one point, it looked like it didn't matter, but as their backs are approaching the wall, St. Louis is really wishing their center fielder never strained his hamstring. Sailors, Kings Set For Epic Clash What happens when you take the #1 offense and the #1 pitching staff? In the Continental? A difference of three games! For this iteration, the top pitching staff is the one on top, as the Sailors hold the three game lead over the Kings. They don't meet until next week, and that works really well for the Sailors. While KC gets the 5th and 6th place teams, the Sailors get the 7th and 8th, including the 58-68 Saints in San Francisco. The rotation was more average then good, as the offense has been kicking things up into gear recently. Named both Batter and Rookie of the Month, Ernie Carter (.338, 10, 99, 7) overperformed the Ham Flanders' (.385, 23, 95, 12), Hank Williams' (.367, 33, 101). and Dallas Berry's (.325, 37, 107, 14) of the association, hitting a productive .385/.430/.624 (167 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 23 runs, 32 RBIs, and 10 walks. An option for the Kellogg, his next RBI will be his 100th, as he's logged 43 extra base hits and 3.7 WAR in 99 games. It takes more then just one guy to get the job done, and that level of depth allowed the Sailors to survive without their best player. Of course, Carlos Jaramillo (.296, 5, 36, 21) is back now, and they've gotten consistent contribution from Carter, Edwin Hackberry (.288, 19, 77, 19), John Kingsbury (.341, 15, 84, 10), Heinie Spitler (.339, 4, 62, 22), and Ray Rogan (.313, 11, 72). None of these guys may come to mind when you think star, but in baseball, it's not always about how bright the stars shine, but more about how the sum of the parts can produce more value then the whole. All they need now is for their young 1-2 punch of Charlie Lawson (14-7, 3.90, 138) and George Fuller (12-10, 3.96, 105) to hold up, else they run the risk of coming up just short for the second year in a row. You can't count out the Kings, especially not with Williams in the center of the lineup, as he recently became the second FABL star to reach the 100 RBI mark. Him and Pat Davis (.357, 15, 79, 35) are close to Flanders in the batting race, and like the Sailors, their lineup depth allows them to overcome absences. The pitching may be what holds them back, as while rookies Allie Boone (7-1, 3.86, 77) and Gene Bailey (8-3, 3.10, 65) have impressed, the guys they've been handing games off to haven't. Their rotation is great, 2nd in the Conti in ERA, but that pen is five spots lower, and aside from talented righty Del Lamb (6-4, 11, 3.17, 57) they don't have many guys the experienced Glenn Carney can call on. In a tight race, the close games can make the difference, and at 21-18 in one-run games they aren't all that great. Dominant most of the year, it's a coin flip when it's close, and coming from behind they need a lot to break in their favor. Tales From The Den Wolves limit their callups to only two, so far, bringing up P George Adams, C Al Curtis. Two reasons for the limited number: 1) Buffalo is young team trying to capture their first Union League title since 1920. Wolves management does not want to rain on the long suffering Nickels' fans. 2) The brain trust is waiting for the end of the Gulf States League season next week to make further moves in the system. A beneficiary of the Adams move was Bill Carpenter who was promoted to AA Chattanooga after going 3-2, 3.53 in 12 A starts with Davenport. Carpenter needs to some work on his control of both the plate and avoidance of the long ball. He gave up 11 HR, 37 BB over 74 IP in the 12 starts. After Ed Savage' first week in the FABL 6 games posting a line of .538/.613/.923 with 2 HR 13 RBI 1.536 OPS the fans are asking "What took you so long?" Manage Hohlt's defensive concern about defense was borne out as he made 1 error in 13 chances but Hohlt has said "He is making daily progress working with Miyake." 9 game losing streak for the Imps. Second longest of the year. On a positive note C league OF Andy Bailey won UMVA player of the week hitting .522 Paul Williams clubs HR number for Cleveland. The 35 year old 8 time All-Star had his first 240 shots with Pittsburgh before being dealt to the Foresters in 6 player deal during the 1959 off-season. Two weeks ago he recorded his 2000th hit. A pair of Tuckers, Dick and Mickey, both hit their 100th career home run A pair of Kings, Hank Williams and Dan Smith, both hit their 400th career extra base hits Young players dominated the awards in August. Rookie third basemen Ernie Carter (.385, 4, 32, 1) took home Batter and Rookie of the Month in the Continental, while fellow 21-year-old Tom Lorang (.391, 10, 31) took Batter of the Month in the Fed. A third 21-year-old, rookie Allie Boone (4-1, 3.86, 49), somewhat surprisingly one Continental Pitcher of the Month, giving rookies all three of the monthly awards. The oldest winner was 25-year-old Earl Shields (4-0, 2, 2.50, 30), a second year pitcher who started all 5 of his FABL starts in August. Wrapping up the awards is one of the youngest players in the league, as 19-year-old and last year's #1 pick George Whaley (337, 8, 28, 3) earned the award in his first full month in the majors. RECENT KEY RESULTS Veteran Louisiana welterweight Ronnie Hebert ran his record to 20-5-3 with an unanimous decision over Roy Roberts (18-15-2) in California last week. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS September 7- Former middleweight champion George Quisenberry makes his return to the ring, fighting for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King in January. The Canadian, 38-2-3, who held the crown for two and a half years, will face Billy Randall in Los Angeles. September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens.. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 9/02/1962 Up to 9,500 are feared dead after a major earthquake struck Iran. It buried 75 villages under mud and debris, leaving an estimated 100,000 homeless. An announcement by Russia that it will send military equipment and technicians to Cuba is seen by United States officials as merely confirmation of what has been going on for a long time. A Russian statement said arms and specialists will be provided to meet "the threats of aggressive imperialist quarters with regards to Cuba." The United States says it has strong witness evidence of Cuba shooting at a US Navy Plane Thursday but no photographs. Since angered West Berliners stoned Russian guard buses after the fatal shooting recently of an East German teen trying to scale the Berlin wall, Russian troop changes of guards at the Russian war memorial in West Berlin have been forced to be accompanied by United States and British escort vehicles. All commercial air traffic was grounded for over 5 hours as some 2,000 military aircraft flashed through the skies in a vast mock war to test North America's air defenses.