All things Figment - from the pages of The Figment Sporting Journal - Page 55 (2025)

ayaghmour2

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JUNE 18, 1963

1963 Draft Edition

Another year, another draft, though for 1963, all 25 rounds will be done in June. With the expansion teams joining, the draft has been adjusted, but there are plans of bringing the lottery back for 1964. For now, the picks will be in order of record, alternating between Continental and Federal. As a reward for breaking the loss record, the Imperials get to pick first in each round, selecting Tony Nava from Valley State to kick off the first round. With a class filled with top-level arms and FABL GMs propensity for selecting pitchers, 12 of the first 20 picks come from the mound, with all 12 coming in the 16 picks between 4 and 19.

High schoolers dominated the draft as well, with 14 of the first 20 picks taken from the high school ranks, including 4 of the top 5. This leave room for a lot of variability in the picks that hit, especially with 8 of them prep pitchers. FABL GMs were clearly chasing upside, but the first round came and went without much surprise. You can read a report on each of the twenty players selected in the opening round below:

New York Imperials
1st Round, 1st Overall: 2B Tony Nava
School: Valley State Gunslingers
1963: .428/.571/.836, 203 PA, 22 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 43 RBI, 54 SB
Career: .428/.571/.836, 203 PA, 22 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 43 RBI, 54 SB

Expected for a while to be the first player selected, the Imperials made it official on draft day, selecting Cuban superstar Tony Nava with the first pick of the 1963 draft. Moving stateside to Phoenix to become draft eligible, the 19-year-old impressed out in Cuba, and then came over to hit .428 with 10 homers, 43 RBIs, and 54 steals. 20 in October, the speedy Nava has impact potential at the plate, and since he's used to tougher competition, he was able to excel in an unknown environment. The hard worker captured an impressive 42-to-8 walk-to-strikeout ratio, as not only can he hit the ball a mile, but he's not going to go chasing, knowing that if the pitcher isn't going to challenge him, he can just take the free base. With his speed, he can get to second quickly, and aside from his throwing arm, it's hard to find a weakness is his game. He projects to have elite power, an elite eye, and a few ticks below elite contact, as he laces line drives to all fields. As close to a surefire star as you can get, Nava might be better then a few Imperials already, but for the sake of his development, it may be best to let him ease into professional ball this year, before pushing for a debut next season.

Minneapolis Millers
1st Round, 2nd Overall: CF Frank Bradshaw
School: Plantations College Patriots
1963: .309/.380/.541, 250 PA, 11 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 49 RBI, 37 SB
Career: .299/.362/.542, 743 PA, 36 2B, 18 3B, 30 HR, 146 RBI, 98 SB

There were some rumblings that the Imperials would take Frank Bradshaw instead of Tony Nava, but instead the most developed prospect of the draft class will go second to the Millers. Bradshaw now has a chance to join John Edwards (.256, 11) in Minneapolis as they look to avoid the FABL loss record. A three-year starter at Plantations College in Rhode Island, Bradshaw hit 10 homers each year, totaling 84 extra base hits with 183 runs, 146 RBIs, and 98 steals. As a junior, he walked (26) more then he struck out (24), and he's about as plug-in-play to the lineup as it gets. A skilled hitter and defender, he's got an extremely high floor and ceiling, even if the ceiling at the plate is a little lower then Nava. Bradshaw projects to be the better contact hitter, with the ability to maintain averages around .330, but the power doesn't compare. It still should be above average, and even now he could probably hit 15 or so homers, but much more then that should not be expected. Still, with an elite hit tool and a great eye, he's going to be a middle of the lineup hitter, unless you want the speedster batting right at the top. His footspeed plays well in center, where he should be among the better defenders even with a more average arm and error ability. In some seasons he'd be the clear cut #1, but this is an extremely deep class where most teams will be satisfied with their first selection.

Dallas Wranglers
1st Round, 3rd Overall: CF Joe Clayton
School: Richmond Colonels
1963: .429/.535/.886, 172 PA, 13 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 47 RBI, 7 SB
Career: .441/.517/.729, 696 PA, 61 2B, 9 3B, 31 HR, 170 RBI, 27 SB

Being selected with the 3rd pick in the draft was a nice birthday gift for Joe Clayton, who turned 18 just two days before the draft. More of a project pick then the guys before him, Clayton is an extremely raw prospect, but he's got one of the highest offensive ceilings in the pool. An intimidating 6'3'' slugger, Clayton was a four-year letterman at Richmond High School in Kentucky, and he slugged 16 homers as a senior. It was third among draft eligible prep bats, and his 1.421 OPS was good for second. The type of hitter who can put on a show in batting practice, he puts a jolt into everything he makes contact with, and when he hits the ball it goes high and far. Tape measure home runs are expected, and with a plus eye he knows which pitches to swing at. Despite his youth and raw talent, he has an advanced approach at the plate, allowing him to work the count and frustrate opposing pitchers. There may be some swing-and-miss in his game, something the Wranglers will look to work on, but it's clear to see why he was such a highly touted prospect. While listed as a center fielder, he's going to have to shift to a corner spot, making the development of his bat that much more important. If all goes to plan, he'll be an elite hitter, something Dallas could really use as they look to establish themselves in the Continental.

Los Angeles Suns
1st Round, 4th Overall: LHP Pete Meissner
School: Youngsville Eagles
1963: 11-0, 113.1 IP, 0.79 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 20 BB, 185 K
Career: 11-0, 113.1 IP, 0.79 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 20 BB, 185 K

The last expansion team took the first pitcher, as the Los Angeles Suns hope to have gotten their ace of the future in 17-year-old Pete Meissner. A guy who sort of came out of nowhere, Meissner had a near perfect high school season, a perfect 11-0 with a 0.79 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts. The six foot lefty is known for his excellent movement, as nothing he throws is straight, and most of his pitches get beat down into the ground. A four pitch pitcher, he throws a lot of hard stuff, though he doesn't usually hit 90. His sinker is his go-to, and it gets plenty of groundball outs, but he mixes in a fastball, cutter, and change as well. The change projects to be elite, and will determined his FABL success, as it could be the offering that helps him rack up the strikeouts. Right now he has some control issues, but that's expected to improve as he matures. Right now he doesn't always hit the zone, but his command is solid, as when he misses it's not over the plate. A potential rotation fronter, he's not expected to have any attribute that's even average, with plus marks across the board. This includes stamina, where he's already shown the ability to pitch deep into games. With 113.1 innings in 16 starts, it's hard to get him out when he's going, and Suns fans are already salivating over a rotation led by him and last year's #1 pick Joe Conner.

Montreal Saints
1st Round, 5th Overall: RHP Roy Wheeler
School: St. Gregory Greyhounds
1963: 9-3, 119.1 IP, 1.21 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 26 BB, 182 K
Career: 9-3, 119.1 IP, 1.21 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 26 BB, 182 K

The first non-expansion club to make a pick, the Montreal Saints added Chicagoan Roy Wheeler with the 5th pick in the draft. A righty with a deep six pitch arsenal, Wheeler stared for St. Gregory, going 9-3 with a 1.21 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. Another high stamina high school arm, he sits in the same 87-89 range as Meissner, also offering a fastball, cutter, and sinker. The difference, of course, is the depth of offspeed offerings, as Wheeler is known to fancy a slider, curve, and change as well. All useful pitches, the change is predicted to be the most lethal, but despite the modest pitch speed his fastball impresses as well. The reason for it is the movement he's able to generate, as his pitches are tough to make quality contact on. He commands the zone well, and with quality stuff he's able to generate a lot of swings and misses on his pitches. A smart kid too, it should serve him well on the mound, and he had an academic scholarship waiting for him if baseball didn't work out. Of course, it's worked out so far, and Montreal has the makings of a future ace. With a rotation ranked 8th in ERA, that's an area in need of upgrade, but they have no shortage of talented young arms, from current rotation mate and 29th ranked prospect Juan Quintana (5-6, 4.04, 61), to last year's first rounder Ellis Porter, who current ranks as FABL's 13th best prospect.

Boston Minutemen
1st Round, 6th Overall: RHP Bill Dunlop
School: Carolina Poly Cardinals
1963: 11-3, 134 IP, 2.22 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 34 BB, 128 K
Career: 11-3, 134 IP, 2.22 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 34 BB, 128 K

The run of pitchers continued with pick six, as the Minutemen took the first college pitcher in Bill Dunlop. Nicknamed "The Tobacco Twister," Dunlop was excellent as a junior at Carolina Poly, finishing 11-3 in 20 starts with an impressive 2.22 ERA and 2.27 FIP. That 2.22 ERA is the lowest among draft eligible college pitchers, and he had a nice 1.11 WHIP and 3.8 K/BB to go with it. A hard-worker and durable righty, Dunlop is one of the most advanced pitchers in the draft, and that certainly enticed the Minutemen when they selected him. A four pitch groundballer, his sinker, splitter, and curve are already FABL level, and all four pitches have at least plus potential. His splitter is downright nasty and the change "twists" when thrown, giving him two potential dominant out pitches. He gets plenty of whiffs on everything, and his sinker is useful for generating groundballs. With plenty of movement and great stuff, the only thing left is the control, which for a lot of young pitchers is what stands between them and success. Dunlop's got a head start, he's probably has at worst Gene Bailey (11-0, 2.53, 69) level command, and the two share a lot of similarities. The arsenal isn't the same, Bailey is a fastball/slider dominator, but they keep the ball on the ground, pitch deep into games, and have nasty stuff. Dunlop doesn't throw as hard, the key difference, but he could end up fronting a rotation in no time.

Toronto Wolves
1st Round, 7th Overall: SS Jack Goodman
School: Western Florida Wolves
1963: .316/.394/.538, 254 PA, 11 2B, 6 3B, 9 HR, 43 RBI, 65 SB
Career: .308/.387/.508, 899 PA, 37 2B, 19 3B, 28 HR, 166 RBI, 180 SB

One of the most exciting players in the pool, Jack Goodman is an acrobatic shortstop who would probably win a Diamond Defense award if he was on a Fed team. Instead, he and Carlos Jaramillo (.283, 2, 24, 16) will compete for the award once he gets to Toronto. Next to Bradshaw, he's got the highest floor in the class, as even if "Jack Rabbit" never improves his offensive skills, he'd still be a useful starting shortstop. A level above elite at defense, he's also an outstanding base stealer and runner, and he's even faster then Jaramillo. He has more power too, both extra base and home run, but Goodman doesn't have the same high contact tool. The fleet footed Goodman hit 9 homers as a freshman and junior, with 10 bombs in between. The real prize was his base stealing, with 56 or more in each of his three seasons. A captain in the infield too, it's hard to find a weakness with his game, but at the plate he doesn't have the upside of Nava, Bradshaw, or Clayton. Likely a .270 hitter, he should draw some walks, and he has a nice and smooth swing that should lead to a lot of balls in plays. That's where his speed really takes over, as he puts a ton of pressure on the defense. If all breaks right, Toronto will have the shortstop position on lock for a decade, solidifying a position that's been in flux since franchise icon Charlie Artuso was shipped off to the Chiefs during the 1949 season.

New York Gothams
1st Round, 8th Overall: RHP Marty Billman
School: North Branch Vikings
1963: 9-2, 116.1 IP, 1.08 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 27 BB, 168 K
Career: 9-2, 116.1 IP, 1.08 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 27 BB, 168 K

Another one-year high school standout, as the New York Gothams went with the almost-18-year-old Marty Billman. A potential innings eater, Billman struck out 168 hitters in 116.1 innings, finishing 9-2 with a 1.08 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. A three pitch pitcher, Billman's best pitch right now may be his splitter, but the change is projected to surpass it. Both potential plus-plus offerings, he's got a useful high 80s fastball too, and he has excellent raw stuff. The control has looked good so far, and it is expected to improve as he matures. Another hard worker, he spends a lot of time perfecting his gameplans, and he's able to adjust to however opposition hitters approach him. While not as flashy as some of the other top arms in this pool, his steadiness could make him one of the better picks. His mix of command, movement, and stamina give him a high ceiling, as he'll have to rely less on his stuff and velocity to succeed. He is still a raw prospect, and any high school arm comes with plenty of risk, but with some work he has all the tools to anchor a rotation.

Cincinnati Cannons
1st Round, 9th Overall: RF Edwin Viramontes
School: St. Ignatius Lancers
1963: .271/.367/.548, 365 PA, 18 2B, 6 3B, 19 HR, 60 RBI, 4 SB
Career: .271/.356/.500, 947 PA, 45 2B, 17 3B, 37 HR, 169 RBI, 11 SB

A guys some teams were shocked to see fall, being a right fielder may have caused Edwin Viramontes to slip in the draft. Like Tony Nava, Viramontes is Cuban, but he was born in Ohio and spent most of his life stateside. An imposing 6'4'' slugger, Viramontes bashed 19 homers as a junior, and the three year starter collected 37 homers for the Lancers. A bat first outfielder with a middling arm, he's probably best in left, but in a pinch he could cover center. Power is the most exciting part of his game, but a lot of that is more projection based on his build. His swing is pretty, likely leading to an average around .300, and when he makes contact he's able to put barrel to ball like few others. Though the best tool may be his eye, as he could walk 80 or more times a season when it's all said and done. As a line drive hitter, expect him to make plenty of impact when he's in the batter's box. Even though Cincinnati already has an elite outfield with Joe Case (.322, 11, 33, 8), Bonnie Chapin (.320, 12, 42), and Dallas Berry (.272, 12, 47, 4), the best available strategy is a good one, and the Cannons may have ended up with a star at 9th.

Chicago Chiefs
1st Round, 10th Overall: RHP Augie Hicks
School: Monroe Hurricanes
1963: 10-0, 104.2 IP, 0.69 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 15 BB, 182 K
Career: 10-0, 104.2 IP, 0.69 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 15 BB, 182 K

One of the top high school pitchers, Augie Hicks finished 4th among draft eligible pitchers for ERA, an impeccable 0.69 in 104.2 innings. Paired with his 9-2 record, 0.73 WHIP, and 182 strikeouts, he was one of the most dominant young arms in prep ball. A young, 6'3'' righty, his groundball tendencies will work well at Whitney Park, as he tends to attack hitters with his high 80s fastball. The overall stuff isn't great, but he projects to have an elite change, making up for his third pitch, and average slider. Where he excels is pitch movement, as nothing he throws is straight, and it's tough to elevate any of his offerings. This will allow him to get a ton of whiffs, so if he can live on the corners he'll be tough to solve. Command is the key, but with athleticism and height I have to imagine he'll end up comfortably in the 90s. A projectable pick, he's the next in a large line of potential aces, and despite being 17 he looks more developed then your average high schooler. There's a reason he dominated the Georgia prep leagues as a senior, and he could join an excellent future Chiefs rotation led by 10th ranked prospect Roy Brandt (2-0, 3.35, 23) and last year's 13th pick and current #28 prospect Larry Gifford.

Chicago Cougars
1st Round, 11th Overall: RHP Hub Russell
School: Dupont Manual Crimsons
1963: 6-0, 73.2 IP, 0.73 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 12 BB, 130 K
Career: 6-0, 73.2 IP, 0.73 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 12 BB, 130 K

Chicago teams will go back-to-back in each round, but I doubt each round they'll go back-to-back with right handed high school pitchers. Splitting time between the rotation and pen, Hub Russell appeared in 15 games (9 starts) as a senior, going a perfect 6-0 with a matching 0.73 ERA and 0.73 WHIP. He had an even lower 0.42 FIP, striking out 130 with just 12 walks and a single home run. A sinkerballer who sits in the 88-90 range, he does an excellent job keeping the ball in the park, and OSA calls his go-to offering "off the charts" with his other three offerings at least decent. What could make him the ace the Cougars are hoping for is his potential command, as he wields each of his pitches well, keeping them away from the center of the plate. Working in his favor, he's one of the more developed pitching prospects, especially when it comes to getting weak contact. He doesn't seem likely to give up too many hits, and with a good defense behind him, he can really shine. Chicago's Continental team is known for strong defense, currently 2nd in the association in zone rating (+25.3) and efficiency (.718), so if Hub can get to Chicago, it could be an excellent fit for him.

Pittsburgh Miners
1st Round, 12th Overall: RHP Cy Boyd
School: Brooklyn State Bears
1963: 9-5, 132.2 IP, 3.05 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 46 BB, 117 K
Career: 19-9, 258 IP, 2.72 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 85 BB, 236 K

Back to the college mix, the Miners decided to stick with pitching, selecting Brooklyn State ace Cy Boyd. A two-year starter, Boyd was best as a sophomore, where he went 10-4 with a 2.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 119 strikeouts. Boyd finished his college career with 39 starts, a strong 19-9 with a 2.72 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 236 strikeouts. As a Pennsylvania native, being selected by the Miners might be an ideal location, as his birthplace is just west of Pittsburgh and right by the international airport. He might not have to wait too long to pitch for his hometown club, as the groundballer could be a quick riser up the ladder. The stuff and control could use some work, but he gets a lot of movement on his pitches, and excels at generating weak contact. His arsenal is led by what could be a dominant splitter, and his other four offering project to be solid pitches. Sitting in the mid 80s, he's not likely to put up huge strikeout numbers, if he ends up with control issues he should be able to erase plenty of runners with ground balls. Another top pitcher for the Miners, they're the only FABL team that boasts two top-10 pitching prospect, with recovering 1962 first rounder Dan Wilson at 4, and last year's first rounder Jack Kotarski at 9. Boyd seems unlikely to join them, but he should give them another top-100 pitching prospect as they look to snap their 20+ season pennant-less streak.

Cleveland Foresters
1st Round, 13th Overall: RF Andy Babel
School: Spartanburg Baptist Rebels
1963: .293/.370/.591, 311 PA, 13 2B, 6 3B, 19 HR, 66 RBI, 4 SB
Career: .300/.377/.570, 822 PA, 35 2B, 16 3B, 43 HR, 160 RBI, 12 SB

The Ohio teams didn't pick back-to-back like the Illinois ones, but like the Chicago teams they ended up with similar players. Cincinnati got slugging college right fielder, while Cleveland got one of the same in Andy Babel. Babel was tied with Viramontes in homers too, blasting 19 in year three. Where the similarities stop is the defense, as despite spending most of his time in right field, he's an outstanding defender. Babel has outstanding range and a killer arm, and if he gets to a ball, chances are he catches it. Otherwise, these two are pretty similar right now, as they're middle of the pack for speed, boast tremendous power potential, and currently they're pretty similar offensively at this point. Viramontes may have more offensive upside, hence why he was taken a little earlier, as Babel can be too aggressive, leading to a feast-or-famine approach. While he has a lot of time to grow, he seems to be a three true outcomes type, and to succeed as a starter, he needs to meet his lofty power potential. With his defense, he's already at least fourth outfield quality, and he seems like a pretty safe pick for a team that does well with outfielders.

Philadelphia Keystones
1st Round, 14th Overall: RHP Jerry Robins
School: Admiral King Admirals
1963: 9-2, 118 IP, 1.30 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 29 BB, 190 K
Career: 18-4, 235 IP, 1.23 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 56 BB, 359 K

Back to the prep ranks we go, as the Keystones went with towering righty Jerry Robbins. A skinny, 6'5'' righty, Robbins sits comfortably in the high 80s, but with his size it looks even faster. On top of that, he's likely to add velocity as he matures and his wiry frame fills out. A four pitch pitcher, he's a raw pitcher with a big gap between ceiling and floor, but he has a few things working in his favor. Along with his height, he's shown the ability to pitch deep into games, and his arm angle is tough for hitters to make contact with, and he often gets them to dribble over or pop up pitches. A guy with no obvious flaw or strength, he does pretty much everything good enough, and that's more then enough to carve out a solid career. While not quite an ace, he's the next step below, and still a very useful member of rotation. He has the profile for major improvement too, so while he's not the most high upside arm now, he could easily pass some of the players taken ahead of him. as high school pitchers are the riskiest draft asset, and impressive physical tools give you a better chance to beat the odds.

Los Angeles Stars
1st Round, 15th Overall: 3B Chris Candelario
School: Rice Raiders
1963: .440/.517/.640, 174 PA, 17 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 41 RBI
Career: .446/.518/.663, 353 PA, 31 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 84 RBI

Just the second high school bat taken, switch hitting third basemen Chris Candelario will head to the west coast, joining the Los Angeles Suns at 15. A bit of a surprising pick, Candelario had a nice varsity career at Rice, but he doesn't have the big power you usually associate with a corner bat. It's likely average, but with his size and athleticism he could fill out more as he ages. Where he excels is his approach, as he's got an above average eye and a well above average hit tool. Likely able to maintain high averages, it's really hard to best him at the plate, as not only does he always have the hand advantage, but he's a line drive hitter who doesn't seem to chase. In his two season career he drew 44 walks to 16 strikeouts, and despite his lack of speed he hit a lot of doubles. He's got the arm to stick at third and decent enough range, but he doesn't make enough plays. He's slow on his double play turn and boots a few too many balls, but both of those can be improved on as he develops. A raw hitter, Candelario comes with plenty of risk, but the upside is still evident. I think his success will be all about the pop, as a 10-homer version of Candelario may struggle to find playing time, while a 20-homer version could get quite comfy at the hot corner.

Washington Eagles
1st Round, 16th Overall: RHP Sam Cooper
School: Downey Grizzlies
1963: 8-1, 90.2 IP, 1.19 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 18 BB, 128 K
Career: 15-2, 181.2 IP, 1.09 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 32 BB, 255 K

Back to the prep ranks we go, as Sam Cooper starts a run of four consecutive high school pitchers. The newest member of the Washington Eagles spent two seasons on Downey's varsity team, an impressive 15-2 with a 1.09 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 255 strikeouts. A crafty six pitch pitcher, he doesn't throw very hard, but he pitches deep into games, keeps runners close, and generates weak contact. The overall stuff isn't overpowering, though his knuckle curve could be a legit out pitch, as his success will rely more on his control. It's his best asset, as he locates his pitches well, and thrives on the edges of the plate. If everything comes together, the California kid could develop into an impact starter, giving the Eagles a wealth of young pitching. Each of their top two prospects are pitchers, and their top three starters in Washington are 27, 24, and 22. With a lineup led by Tom Lorang (.364, 16, 57) and George Whaley (.323, 9, 53), they have the offense under control, and I wouldn't be surprise if the Eagles continue to target pitchers in the early portion of the draft.

Kansas City Kings
1st Round, 17th Overall: LHP Marty Yates
School: Kenly Panthers
1963: 9-3, 123.2 IP, 1.16 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 27 BB, 183 K
Career: 40-6, 462.2 IP, 1.36 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 102 BB, 661 K

Some part of "Big Tex" might have been hoping that he'd become a Wrangler, but it's hard to find a better spot to succeed then on a team that has Hank Williams (.345, 20, 59). A Jacksonville, Texas native, Marty Yates is a big and strong Texas kid, pitching in all four years of his high school career. His record dropped a bit as a senior, but most impressively he saw his ERA decline each season, while his WHIP either stayed the same or fell. A durable innings eater, he's another prep arm who seems destined for a few velocity bumps, though he currently sits in the 86-88 range with both his fastball and sinker. Rounding out his five pitch mix are a curve, circle change, and straight change, with the two changeups his most impressive offerings. Scouts are split on his stuff, some expecting big things while others think it will be more modest, but what can be agreed upon is his talent. Another potential rotation fronter, the lefty has a quirky windup and nice move to first, and he could give Kansas City yet another talented young pitcher.

Detroit Dynamos
1st Round, 18th Overall: RHP Sam MacDonald
School: West Philadelphia Speedboys
1963: 11-0, 106 IP, 0.93 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 26 BB, 180 K
Career: 22-0, 214.2 IP, 0.84 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 48 BB, 360 K

A perfect 22-0 in high school, Sam MacDonald will look to keep that winning streak going, joining the Detroit Dynamos with the 18th pick. A hardworking pitcher, MacDonald turns 18 in October, and has a solid four pitch mix. Sitting in the 89-91 range, he throws three types of fastballs (fastball, sinker, cutter) and an off-the-charts change that should be his go to pitch. Able to generate a ton of whiffs, his pitches move a lot, able to fool even some of the more disciplined hitters. When he's on, he's almost unhittable, but the only issue is he's not always on. If his stuff isn't sharp, he can get beat around, and he may end up allowing more then his share of home runs. A raw, projectable pitcher, he's got a large gab between his floor and ceiling, but there's plenty to like about him. With great movement and stuff, he could overcome poor command, and it's clear why OSA thinks he's one of the many future aces available for FABL teams to draft and develop.

San Francisco Sailors
1st Round, 19th Overall: RHP Fred Waguespack
School: St. Ann's Steamers
1963: 8-0, 86 IP, 1.36 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 16 BB, 93 K
Career: 15-3, 192.2 IP, 1.54 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 36 BB, 207 K

The first real surprise of the draft, the reigning Continental pennant winners went with right hander Fred Waguespack. One of the older high school players, he turns 19 in August, and spent two seasons pitching varsity for St. Ann's. A soft-tossing groundballer, the stuff is a big question mark, as his arsenal may not be good enough for the rotation. The lack of stuff might be a slight advantage though, as it's really hard to elevate or drive his pitches. Relying heavily on his sinker, he's one of the best available arms in terms of groundball abilities, and if you put a great defense behind him he'll roll up ground out after ground out. The movement is great and the command is impressive, but none of his pitches are expected to be much better then average. Still, the Sailors organization has done a great job developing pitchers, especially pitchers other's tend to doubt. Despite that, I still see stopper instead of starter, and he'll either need to improve his pitches or add a fourth to fill a rotation.

St. Louis Pioneers
1st Round, 20th Overall: CF Marty Young
School: Tyler Apaches
1963: .460/.524/.921, 164 PA, 21 2B, 5 3B, 11 HR, 44 RBI, 12 SB
Career: .449/.510/.733, 729 PA, 78 2B, 13 3B, 25 HR, 176 RBI, 46 SB

Finishing off the first round, the reigning champion Pioneers broke the pitching trend, selecting outfielder Marty Young. A guy some scouts thought would go in the top-10, it's shocking Young dropped as far as he did, and it could be a perfect fit for the Pioneers. An extra base machine, Young led all draft eligible players in slugging and OPS (1.445), knocking 37 extra base hits in just 33 games. While his defense positions him for a corner role and not center, the bat is more then good enough, as he should hit around .300 with great discipline and a chance for above average power. Right now, it's more a projection then a likelihood, but the 18-year-old outfielder should be among the leaders in doubles. He's got a lot of room to grow, but his approach and line drive tendencies work in his favor, and with a great outfield St. Louis can take their time with him. With Jerry Smith (.226, 10, 32, 3) now 34, he's nearing the end of his career, which should coincide with Young's projected development. It could be a seamless transition from the 10-Time All-Star to Young, who could be the next All-Star outfielder to grace the grass at Pioneer Field.

*** Others to Watch ***

2nd Round, 24th Overall: LF Jim Thurman (Los Angeles Suns): The perks of being bad in a deep draft year is you get at least two chances to nab a first round talent, allowing you to hedge your bets. After taking a risk and grabbing the first pitcher of the draft in potential ace Pete Meissner, the Suns then went out to get a big bat at 24, adding outfielder Jim Thurman. 20 on July 7th, he skipped a grade to attend Mile High State early, and was a starter in all three of his college seasons. Hitting over .300 each time, he ended with a .310/.361/.470 batting line. The highlights of his career include a 12 homer season as a sophomore where he drove in a personal high 59 runs. The power is at least average, but his best asset is his hit tool. He should be able to hit over .300, as while he's not an elite contact hitter he can hit any pitch to any field. He drives the ball with authority, something most Suns can't do, and he could quickly earn a spot with breakout infielder Bill Burke.

2nd Round, 30th Overall: SS John Butts (Chicago Chiefs): There are only four players that OSA states has "5" infield range. There are only two players with "5" infield range. John Butts has both. One of the most interesting prospects in the draft, Butts could be an elite defensive shortstop or center fielder, even if he does make a few more errors then he should. That is what happens when you can get to almost any batted ball as he can, and his speed, athleticism, and versatility give him a very high floor as a utility player. At the plate, he can hold his own too, projected to provide above average contact. In college he spent three seasons with El Paso Methodist, batting .300/.356/.497 with 29 homers, 46 steals, and 171 RBIs.

3rd Round, 48th Overall: SP Angelo Pike (New York Gothams): In some drafts, a pitcher like Angelo Pike would get taken as a reach in the back-end of the first round, but in 1963 he was a value pick in the 3rd Round. A projected mid-rotation starter, Pike burst on to the scene as a freshman at New Miami High School in Ohio, a perfect 10-0 with a 0.82 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts. Pike walked just 14 in 98.1 innings, and finished his four year career 33-6. A three pitch starter, he leads with a low 90s sinker, allowing him to serve up plenty of groundballs. His stuff is a work in project, but he's good at limiting damage and keeping runners off base. Always in the weight room, he's seen his velocity jump four points since freshman year, and with his workout routine he could end up in the mid 90s when he's in his early 20s.

4th Round, 63rd Overall: SS Ernie Pyle (Dallas Wranglers): Quality shortstop prospects were few and far between in this graph, and it took all the way until Bill Williams went 23rd as the Wranglers second round pick. They grabbed a second two rounds later, selecting four year starter Ernie Pyle from Amsterdam High School in New York. Splitting time between short and third, Pyle appeared in 155 games, hitting .444/.490/.713 with 79 doubles, 23 triples, 21 homers, and 184 RBIs. Splitting time between short and third, he's got the arm and range for both positions, but his double play turning needs some work. Since Williams is such a good defender, they could choose to shift Pyle to third right off the bat, as Dallas looks to build the left side of their future infield.

5th Round, 82nd Overall: SS Diego Vazquez (Minneapolis Millers): A natural shortstop, Diego Vazquez was a prospect that garnered a lot of interest from FABL teams, one of the most versatile players available. Eventually going to the Millers in the 5th Round, the Cuban born Vazquez started a game at every position but pitcher and second base in his three years at Ohio Poly. Set for his golden birthday on July 21st, the speedy righty even caught a game, though most of his play came on the grass. Excellent at short and third, and he's looked good in both outfield corners. Already a useful bench piece, he could work his way up to Minneapolis quick, and he's a useful high floor pick for the young franchise.

6th Round, 114th Overall: 2B Sam Carpenter (Philadelphia Keystones): No draft eligible player hit more balls out of the park then Henry Hudson's Sam Carpenter, who launched 22 as a junior. The three year starter logged 49 in his time with the Explorers, hitting a strong ..265/.339/.480 in 963 plate appearances. A big power bat, he's got an all-or-nothing approach, and when he connects he does plenty of damage. Always in the weight room, the 20-year-old will continue to bulk up and add muscle, and his power potential could make up for his other shortcomings. He's not much of a defender and won't hit for a high average, but in the 6th he's more then worth rolling the dice on.

7th Round, 137th Overall: LHP Joe Page (Kansas City Kings): It's not often guys like Joe Page are available in the 7th Round, but with the seemingly limitless choice of high school pitchers allowed a guy OSA calls a "back of the rotation starter" to slip past pick 100. A four year starter in high school, the towering 6'8'' lefty broke out as a junior, 9-1 with a 1.03 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 144 strikeouts. He set many personal bests, and finished his prep career 31-8 with a 1.58 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 464 strikeouts. Big enough to suit up for the Centurions, Page is able to generate an absurd amount of downward movement, giving him the potential to lead in groundball rates. His mid-80s sinker is his best offering, but the four pitch mix needs plenty of fine tuning. Back him with elite infield defenders and he could look like an All-Star. He just has to be willing to put all the tools together.

8th Round, 151st Overall: LHP Alex Perry (Chicago Cougars): If I told you the pitcher with the best stuff right now was a guy with a 8.23 ERA and 2.25 WHIP last season, who then lowered it to 6.54 and 2.09 this season, you'd probably call me crazy. But just hear me out. Alex Perry is that guy. Sure, he can't hit the broad side of a barn, but when his pitches aren't right down the middle, you can't hit them either. Or you get hit. It's an adventure whenever he pitches! A six pitch pitcher, all of them are outstanding, and the hot stuff sits in the 95-97 range. He can overpower guys with his fastball, while mixing five devastating swing-and-miss pitches. You can't sit on anything and that's the best part. You just have to catch up to the fastball or get lucky on a poor breaking ball, otherwise your striking out, walking, or getting hit.

9th Round, 174th Overall: RF Levi Murdock (Philadelphia Keystones): Few had as big of a power jump as Harrisburg State's Levi Murdock, as after two seasons with 6 home runs, the 6'3'' outfielder clubbed 13 with 12 doubles, 72 runs, and 65 RBIs. It was the Jersey natives first .300 season too, as he slugged .310/.335/.478, upping his Hornets line to .301/.327/.432 in 169 games. A guy who never saw a pitch he didn't line, the free swinging lefty won't ever maintain a high on-base percentage, but a 25 home run hitter can be valuable without walks. An aggressive hitter, he generates a ton of bat speed with impressive raw power, but he will be in for a rude awakening once he faces even A ball pitchers. A projectable bat first prospect, he provides a lot of value this late in the draft, providing their envious Phelps-Dellinger-Miller outfield with a force off the bench.

10th Round, 192nd Overall: C Art Lee (Pittsburgh Miners): Gone are the days where high school players hit .500, so when Art Lee hit .484/.530/.642 it turned a lot of eyes. A towering 6'4'' catcher, Lee has a nice swing, and his aggression allowed him to take advantage of lesser pitchers. Combined with good plate discipline, he's never an easy out, as he'll work the count and fight off tough pitches. With his frame you'd think he'd one day be able to hit home runs, but the power potential is all theoretical. On the younger side, he just turned 17 in May, and he has the drive to stay in shape. He has plenty of time for it all to eventually click, and with plus framing and blocking he's the perfect organizational piece.

11th Round, 213th Overall: LHP Chet Bell (Cleveland Foresters): Only one draft eligible pitcher struck out more then 200 batters, but unlike his 207 strikeouts, there were 212 players taken before him. A side-armed lefty, Bell doesn't have the upside of some of his draft mates, as the command isn't great. His 40.6 K% is 6th among draft eligible pitchers with more then 70 innings pitched, finishing his two-year varsity career with 226.2 innings, 395 strikeouts, and a 21-1 record. Scouts think the command will hold him back, but Cleveland will look to harness the young lefties stuff and take advantage of his movement.

• FABL scouts and front offices seem to be a fan of this year's draft class, with some noticing the large sum of top pitching available. In a lot of years, teams are quick to reach for pitchers, but even with 7 of the first 12 picks coming off the mound, none look like they don't belong.
• A lot of the players are well liked by most teams, with scouts from the Saints system noting that they were choosing between Roy Wheler and Bill Dunlop before eventually settling on Wheeler. After them, Boston was considering the same two pitchers, eventually going with Dunlop.
• Boston was also considering outfielder Edwin Viramontes, who went to the Cannons at 9, but are more then happy with adding "The Tobacco Twister." As a college arm, head scout Chief Raymond is hoping that his team won't have to wait too long before he gets to Boston. They could use the help on the mound quickly, as the Minutemen have allowed the most runs in the Fed.
• Cougar scouting director Dixie Marsh was hoping to land shortstop Jack Goodman, who he's nicknamed "Carlos Jaramillo 2.0," but realized that at 11 the elite defensive shortstop wouldn't last that long. Goodman went 7th to the Wolves, who were hoping for Dunlop instead. Marsh also noted that he had an 11-player list for pick 11, and watched a player go off with each pick before. The one that hurt the most was Augie Hicks to the crosstown Chiefs at 10, as his groundball tendencies would have fit Cougars Park perfectly, but the Cougar organization is still thrilled to upgrade their system's pitching depth with Hub Russell.
• With the Chicago teams picking back-to-back there were at least three occasions, most notably in the 2nd Round with John Butts, where the Chiefs selected a player the Cougars would have, or had highly considered for the pick that followed. Marsh joked that the Chiefs' head scout Charlie Green "had a copy of our draft plan" as the generally friendly neighbors were targeting a similar batch of players.
• Detroit was debating between three players with pick 18, before settling on Maryland native Sam MacDonald. Had MacDonald not been taken, and lasted through the first round, he would have been selected 21st by the Imperials. 22-0 in high school, MacDonald is given rave reviews for his work ethic.
• Washington was also known to be interested in Hamilton when making their first pick, eventually going with Sam Cooper. They missed out on a few targets on pitching front, linked to 55th pick Lyle Kirby of the Stars before shifting to a hitter-centric approach.
• Fittingly, one of those players the Dynamos were targeting went to the Gothams at 21. That was Gil Hamilton, a high work ethic groundballer from the college ranks who could be a quick riser. What scared off Detroit was his stamina, as while it is good enough to start games, he isn't the type of guy who can eat a ton of innings.
• Before St. Louis settled on Marty Young, they had their eyes on a different four year high school outfielder. Noting some potential regret on the pick, Ned Price was suggested to be the alternate. Price went two picks later to the Millers, capping off a prep career that saw him hit .480/.513/.757 with 105 doubles, 27 triples, 14 homers, 197 RBIs, 294 runs, and 85 steals. A speedy outfielder, he's not the best defender, but he's a great base runner and stealer, a rare talent with plus-plus contact potential and impressive athleticism.
• Where there was a lot of consensus early in the draft, midway through the second round is when scouts started to go there own way, and by the fifth round there was enough depth that most teams felt they were able to get the players they were interested in.
• Detroit's head scout and former 4th Overall Pick Chuck Cole was a big fan of the fellow pitchers in this year, labeling 28 pitchers with 1st or 2nd round talent. In total, 34 were considered worthy of selection in the first four rounds, with the latest (Denny Stevens) going 109th to the Cannons. Cole was less fond of the bats, just 26 with top 4 grades and only 6 that would be a first round talent.
• The Los Angeles Suns were happy with their draft haul, as even in the 8th Round there were still players available that they would have considered int he 3rd Round. This includes an interesting 5th Round selection in Gus Levesque, who hit .315/.370/.503 with 29 doubles, 13 triples, 19 homers, and 128 RBIs in two seasons at Saint Pius University. With a cannon in the outfield, he could be one of the best defensive right fielders, and while he's not the rangiest outfielder, he comes down with almost anything he can track. With a nice swing too, the soon-to-be 22-year-old could be on the fast track to Wilshire Park.
• As the draft was starting to wind down, the Imperials turned their heads to the future, looking to move star slugger Turk Ramsey. The FABL home run leader with 23, the recently turned 28-year-old is hitting .304/.323/.621 (145 OPS+) with 23 homers and 56 RBIs. Ramsey is linked to the first place Pioneers, who would be interested as long as 6th ranked prospect Harry Johnson isn't a part of the package. Ramsey's market may be limited due to his defensive incompatibilities, but if a contender loses a big corner bat, it's hard to do much better then the anchor of the Imps lineup.

New York has made it no secret that star slugger Turk Ramsey is available for a trade, looking to part with the lone bright spot of their offense for a collection of young prospects. What they're finding out is that it has always been a great challenge for FABL GMs to find a trading partner when dealing a top level quality veteran hitter, and even more so if he is a first baseman/corner outfielder.

First thing I have noticed when teams try to move one is you really only have a small handful of potential trade partners for such a deal. Now at 28, Ramsey is certainly not old, but really only a handful of teams are considered contenders. Among those that are not, rightly or wrongly, will almost never be willing to part with top prospects as they are looking towards the future. If he was a 28 year old pitcher it would be a slightly different story, but even for arms it takes a team with a need and the belief it is a contender.

That leaves the Imperials with a very limited number of teams that feel they can win and as such might be willing to deal a good chunk of the future for a star. Star pitchers we seem to move, and pay for, but not as much with hitters. You need to find not only a team that thinks it is in the running, but also one that needs a 1B/corner OF bat, and finally has, and
most importantly is willing to, part with the prospects you would want in return.

So who do you have right now that might fit that criteria?

In the CA lets say there are six contenders as I would not think Toronto considers themselves a contender and Montreal is 12 games below .500.

This leaves:

Cleveland - a veteran team that is getting old quickly and has limited young talent on the way. If they were right in the mix at the moment maybe a deal for Ramsey makes sense as a sort of last gasp at another title but they are 9.5 games back and maybe a rebuild is in the very near future so it would probably be hard to justify dealing young assets for a 1B-LF, even one as good as Ramsey.

Cincinnati - they haven't been as willing to make moves, but even if they would they have a 21-year-old 1B in Mark Boyd who looks really good and three good OFers. You can cross them off the list

San Francisco - No doubt Ramsey would help their offense and be an upgrade on John Griffin but are they willing to part with the prospects you would want? Maybe their 1B solution can be found in house in CF prospect Harry Myers, who is likely no more than a year away, and would allow them to move someone like perhaps Hackberry to 1B. Plus they are 7.5 games out with 3 teams ahead of them. It may not be in their best long-term interest to deal prospects unless they feel Ramsey alone is the missing piece they need.

Cougars - Their GM has certainly not been afraid to deal for star players and the Cougars are still within shouting distance. He has a good collection of prospects so perhaps there is an opportunity there but if he was interested I expect you would have heard an offer by now.

LA Stars - They have some prospects but they also already have two power bats in Charlie Barrell and Lou Allen so they may not feel Ramsey is the piece they add. LA also has a another potential power bat in 25-year-old Miguel Paniagua, who is likely close to ready so perhaps if they need more offense they give him a shot. They already lead the CA in runs scored so I am not sure a bat is their concern. I would think the Stars are buyers as the deadline approaches but likely the need is another starting pitcher, not a power bat.

Kansas City - With Hank Williams at 1B and some pretty solid outfielders I would not expect them to want to move a prospect like Johnnie Higgins or Platon Daniels. They would be more likely to want to move a veteran pitcher like Fred Washington, Beau McClellan or maybe even Jack Halbur (unlikely now with his strong start to the season) but you would want youth in return.

In the Fed you probably only have 3 teams that fit the bill of contenders unless Chicago or Philadelphia are feeling very optimistic.

Washington - they already have George Whaley at first and moved Joe Holland to Detroit because they had no room for another first baseman/corner OF. They lead the Fed in runs right now and if they are going to move pieces from a minor league system that ranks 18th out of 20 I would expect it to be for an arm.

St Louis - this is your best bet in the Fed. The Pioneers could use an upgrade at 1B for sure but they have plenty of power already in the lineup in Davis, Bell, Smith and Schultz. Their strength is their pitching and it is so good they may not need to upgrade at first base. They do have some prospects but does it make sense to part with someone like Harry Johnson?

Detroit - always active, the Dynamos added Joe Holland, who I would say grades out fairly close to Ramsey, and is a couple of years younger. Now money and the fact he was forced out of a starting role in Washington made the deal more attractive, as Washington sent Holland and veteran C Brad Kelyon to Detroit for a rule 5 pickup, a backup catcher and a marginal pitching prospect ranked around 300 by OSA plus cash. The deal made sense for the Eagles because they wanted to cut expenses and those guys would not start in Washington but I cannot imagine the Imperials would be willing to move Ramsey for such a return.

SUMMARY
The only likely trade partners I can see are St Louis and maybe the Chicago Cougars. With little demand, the guess for the return would be one very high rated pitching prospect and likely at least one more top 100 guy. Limiting things is the fact the precedent has been set very recently with the return Washington received for Joe Holland. If the price is lowered, maybe a team like the Keystones, who could have a need and a long history of power bats, becomes interested enough in doing a deal. That then changes the calculus, as maybe the lowered price means it no longer makes sense for the Imperials to deal their one real star.

I am not arguing that Ramsey is a terrific player, but in this league elite corner outfielders/first baseman have not traditionally received a huge return, and when they do it generally is because a team was willing to go all-in on a pennant push and has a need. This means the right fit is often not there and perhaps this is one of the many cases when someone shopped a very good player but found no takers.

Maybe we'll circle back to this one after the All-Star break, but for now it appears new Imperial fans will have plenty of time to watch their favorite player hit tape measure home runs.

DIXON PROMOTED TO GM BY DYNAMOS
Long-time Leader Tiger Fan To Take Reduced Role

The Detroit Dynamos have rewarded Harris Dixon for his tremendous work over nearly two decades with the organization by naming him as the club's new General Manager. Dixon, long-time assistant to Tiger Fan will step up to the main role of running the ballclub immediately. Tiger Fan will remain with the organization in the newly created role of Vice-President of Baseball Operations.

Dixon joined the organization as Tiger Fan's right-hand man in 1946 and has been the AGM ever since, although he did assume the GM role during the Dynamos great run of the 1950s when the league went into a fast forward and Detroit won 6 pennants and 4 World Championship Series titles. Dixon made some controversial moves like dealing fan favourites Edwin Hackberry and Stan Kleminski during the peak of their careers, but it paid off and he added players such Ray Waggoner and Paul Anderson that has kept the club competitive for well over a decade. Dixon is also credited for shrewd drafting that brought players such as Joe Reed and Ed MacNaughton to the Motor City.

Tiger Fan has been a general manager since joining the Brooklyn Kings prior to the 1926 season and also made a stop in Cincinnati before joining the Dynamos in 1946. He has a career record of 2316-1907 and steps down as the winningest active manager in FABL history. He is not credited for the Dynamos titles as Dixon was in charge at that point but did win 7 pennants and 3 WCS titles during his time with the Kings and Cannons.

He is said to be stepping back in order to focus more on his role as General Manager of the hockey Detroit Motors and there are rumours he may assume a similar role for Rollie Barrell's long struggling Detroit Maroons football club. With Tiger Fan at the helm the Motors have won five Challenge Cups in the past ten years and boast a number of exciting young players led by scoring sensation Hobie Barrell, Rollie's nephew.

Tiger Fan will still remain a part of the Dynamos as club owner Powell Thompson Jr. explained what the new Vice-President role will entail. "While Harris (Dixon) will handle all of the day to day activities of the club, Tiger Fan will oversee the organization and have final say on staff hiring and trades as well as play a key role in the draft. Harris Dixon has certainly proved his worth to this organization and has more than earned the opportunity to take on this expanded role. Between Dixon and skipper Verlin Alexander the Dynamos have solid leadership for the future."

While Tiger Fan would not comment on the decision making process, it is believed that it was his decision alone to take a step back from the organization. Some suggest he was "burned out" after nearly four decades in the game and had considered stepping away entirely until discussions with his long-time friend Thompson convinced Tiger Fan to remain with the organization in a reduced capacity.

Tales From The Den
A Look At The Wolves

The Lineup

Offensively the teams is generally sitting in the middle of the CA pack except for one surprising stat. Wolves lead the CA in round trippers with 85 along with being second in total XBH with 191 tied with Chicago, one behind the Stars. The team is definitely swing at the plate, at times at bad pitches, as they are almost dead last in getting on base with walks. Toronto has only gone to first on 4 balls 185 times in 2522 trips to the plate only the Imperials have received less free passes. Early on the team has been led by a Reed, surprisingly it was Chick not Tom, Chick has cooled a little of late with a season line of .307/.365/.519 after hitting over .400 into mid-May. Tom's bat has begun to return to life after an uncharacteristic abysmal start. Ed Savage's bat continues feast on pitchers, enough for Hohlt no to comment on his misadventures in the field. Any ball hit to right has the fans wondering about the result of the play. Jesse Taylor's power has been a pleasant surprise, he is tied for second on the team with Sid Cullen in HR with 11, six behind Chick Reed. Rusconi has been a disappointment behind and at the plate. His line of .222/.249/.305 in 173 PA appears that it will be replaced in the starting lineup at C by Al Curtis. If Curtis stays behind the dish the team has a decision to make on veteran Dixie Williams. Charlie Harvey is another vet who is on thin ice with a batting average below the Mendoza line. An unproductive LHB is not a luxury this team can afford if they want to become a factor in the CA.

Going forward the team has to hope Tom Reed improves both at the plate along with in the field at his new position at 1B.

*** Wolves select Jack Goodman with 7th Pick ***

A brief note on the Wolves' first pick in the amateur draft that is ongoing, Jack Goodman. Goodman was selected 7th overall after spending 3 season playing SS in college at Western Florida. Goodman is touted to be an excellent defender at short who needs time develop at the plate. At age 20 the scouts see Goodman starting in Vancouver after he puts his name on a contract. The team has hopes that Jack along with Willie Day, 18, will become a formidable double play combination in the FABL in the last half of the Sixties.

The Pitching

If offense thus far in 1963 is achieving over expectations then pitching has been far below the level fans and management had hoped for in the first 66 games. With a staff led by Arnie Smith, Phil Colantuono, George Hoxworth gave the team a supposed strong core that should be able to keep the team in almost every game even with below average hitting. With the exception of Colantuono, 8-4, 2.75 154 ERA+, that has not been the case going into June. Smith, Allen Award winner in 1960, has been hot and cold with cold being more common in his 15 starts. He has winning record 5-3 the ERA of 5.06 is at least 2 runs per game above expected, his strikeout rate is down although the biggest issue has been the rate at which batted balls are falling for hits. Batters are hitting .313 on balls in play up over 30 points from last season. If Smith is an issue the bigger issue has been Hoxworth's 2-6, 9.42, 45 ERA+ in 10 outings.

Hoxworth was so bad he was sent to AAA for a period. It looked like he had found success in Buffalo going 3-0, 1.75 in 4 starts giving the team hope that his problems were behind him. He was recalled last week, his start was orchestrated to face the Imperials at home with 5 days of rest. He did not perform well even with what Hohlt thought would be a stacked deck. Hoxworth did not make it out of the fifth before giving up 6 R, 9 H only raising the concern throughout the organization. His next start is at home against the Stars on Wednesday, he will have both Hohlt, pitching coach Max Monell on the top step of the dugout for every pitch. The other two starters Bill Medley, 6-6, 4.20, 101 ERA+, rookie Charlie Davidson, 5-1, 4.32, 98 ERA+ have been at least at an expected level if not a little better for the 9th in ERA CA starting staff. The Wolves need both Smith, Hoxworth to return to form quickly if the Wolves are to move up the standings.

Hohlt knew he has a bullpen problem last year, Zeke Blake was effective until he ran out of gas in late July 1962. Hohlt thought the solution was to move Lee Loeffler to relief to give him at least two solid arms to bring in in 1963. Blake has not bounced back, with BB being a problem leading to a 4.50 ERA with 14 BB in 28 IP. Loeffler has not adapted well, so far, to relief work with walks plaguing him along with 6 blown save chances. Hohlt has constantly juggle roles in the 'pen looking for the key to success, which has remained hidden into June. Bob Campbell, a recent recall after being a late cut in the spring, may start getting more high leverage chances for a bullpen that ranks 6th in CA with an ERA of 4.18 which is 7 tenths of run better than the starters. Hohlt would tell you that both ERA's were expected be well under 4 at this point of the season.

One thing that Hohlt has definite done in his second season is markedly improve the play behind the pitchers. Many believed that part of pitching problem was porous defense. Hohlt's constant stressing of, working on fielding has yielded positive results, The Wolves have made the least errors, 34, in the CA. They are not elite as a team but lightyears ahead of former Wolves teams that looked like the Keystone Kops in the field, Ed Savage is the biggest liability in the field, the team tried to unsuccessfully move him to first base in the off-season, Hohlt cannot take his bat out of the lineup. Savage continues to work in the field with Miyake, there have not yet been noticeable results from the work.

POLLOCK SIGNS EXTENSION WITH DUKES
Montreal Goalie Bannister Inks Record Deal

Saying he still has plenty left to accomplish, 41-year-old Quinton Pollack confirmed he will return to the Toronto Dukes next season after agreeing to a new contract with the club. The one year, $71,000 deal ensures Pollack will embark on his 18th NAHC season.

The Humboldt, SK., native began his career with the old Brooklyn Eagles in 1946-47 and was named McCleod Trophy winner that season as the loop's top newcomer. Brooklyn folded at the end of that season and Toronto selected Pollack in the expansion draft. He has been the heart and soul of the Dukes ever since, winning nine McDaniels Trophy's as league MVP and leading the NAHC in scoring eight times. Last year he finished second to Detroit's Hobie Barrell in the scoring race but still amassed 79 points.

A month ago the six-time Challenge Cup winner was selected to the league's first All-Star team for the record 10th time and last season he surpassed Tommy Burns to become the NAHC's all-time scoring leader. Pollack has 1,266 points and needs to add 27 goals next season to his total of 537 to tie Bruns for the all-time goal scoring lead.

*** Bannister Inks Record Deal ***

Perhaps surprisingly Pollack is not the highest paid player in the NAHC. The $71,000 deal he just signed with Toronto would not even have been highest this past season either as Boston's Jimmy Rucks was paid $73,000 this year - the first of a three season deal for the Bees all-star winger. Rucks had been the league's highest paid player until last week when the Montreal Valiants signed goaltender Nathan Bannister to a two-year deal worth a record $85,000 per season. The 33-year-old Bannister led the NAHC in wins last season and won his third Juneau Trophy as the top goaltender in the league.

Bannister had been pushed hard for playing time in the Montreal net by 30-year-old Tim Burrows, who like Bannister is a former first round draft pick. Bannister has played the vast majority of the games in recent seasons including being in net for 50 of the 70 games in the season just completed. With both goalies looking for large raises this year the Vals backed up the Brinks truck and fully committed to Bannister, so much so that they felt they could not meet Burrows' contract demands and it sounds like the 30-year-old will not be back in Montreal next season. The challenge for the Valiants, who say they do not plan to offer Burrows a contract unless he greatly reduces his salary demand, is to find a trade partner before Burrows signs with a team in the Great Western Hockey League. If that happens Montreal will get nothing in return for Burrows, who despite limited playing time behind Bannister, is still considered one of the best goalies in the league. Teams retain the NAHC rights to a player even if not tendered a new contract but the coast loop does not need to abide by those rights and can sign a player who is not currently under a contract to an NAHC team, whether he is on a protected list or not.

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