1906 Miscellanea
The town of LeRoy is the birthplace of Jell-O, and for that reason the local AAA team is known as the Jell-Os. It's also the home of the 1906 AAA champions. The Batavia affiliate defeated the Cortland Cougars, 3-1, to capture the championship series.
The Jell-Os, like many AAA champion squads, were filled with veterans. RHP
Jose DeCastillo (15-10, 2.89) was the only true prospect that stood out for LeRoy this year.
The Trumansburg Terriers boasted the best record in AA this season, and completed their fine season with a 3-1 victory over the Lyons Lancers in the playoffs. The Terriers were led by 21-year-old LHP
Franklin Gladden (14-6, 1.61), the league's Oustanding Pitcher. Gladden doesn't throw hard, but he keeps hitters off balance with a variety of breaking pitches, and has superb control.
Lyons LF
John Harrison won the AA Outstanding Hitter award. Formerly a star at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, the 20-year-old Geneva prospect hit .416-5-47 in 116 games. Harrison doesn't have much power, but he nevertheless seems to have a future in the game.
Montour Falls fans had plenty to cheer about in 1906, as their Pioneers swept the Newark Reds to win the Class A championship. 1B
Ken "Kitten" Richardson, one of the game's brightest prospects, won the Outstanding Hitter Award and appears on his way to stardom. Richardson, who was drafted #2 overall in the 1905 draft by Elmira, hit .336/.410/.413, with 5 homers and 49 RBI, and drew 56 walks.
Geneva took RHP
Frank Vance fifth overall in '05, and he began his pro career by winning the Class A Outstanding Pitcher Award in his first full season. Vance went 12-10, 1.96 for the runner-up Lyons Lancers.
Here are the top ten prospects in the league, according to
Baseball America. (Note: I've edited this list to remove
Greg Carruthers and
Jack Davis, who are already FLL All-Stars.)
Code:
PLAYER TEAM POS AGE DRAFT AMATEUR TEAM
1. Ken "Kitten" Richardson Geneva 1B 21 1905, #2 Syracuse
2. Mark McGinnis Corning RHP 20 1906, r6 Auburn HS
3. Roger Bowers Corning SS 23 1905, #3 St. John Fisher
4. Will Kelley Canandaigua LF 20 1906, #8 McQuaid Jesuit HS
5. Dorian Pruitt Corning 2B 23 1906, r2 Buffalo
6. Matt "Bulldog" Boggs Ithaca, 3B 20 1906, #4 Batavia HS
7. Joe Hicks Batavia RF 19 1906, r2 Fairport HS
8. Larry Walters Canandaigua 2B 19 1906, r3 Christian Brothers Academy
9. Jose "El Gato" Gonzales Oswego RHP 23 1906, #1 Keuka
10. Ken Clark, Corning RHP 23 1906, #2 Syracuse
# = draft position in first round of June draft
r = round selected in June draft
Collegiate Champion: Canisius (defeated Ithaca in playoffs)
Outstanding Batter: Stanley Martin, Keuka
Outstanding Pitcher: Zhen-bang Chow, Canisius
High School Champion: Leroy High School (defeated Christian Brothers Academy in playoffs)
Outstanding Batter: Vic Gale, Auburn High School
Outstanding Pitcher: Fernando Diaz, Christian Brothers Academy
- Canisius successfully defended its 1905 collegiate championship.
- Stanley Martin and Fernando Diaz won their respective awards for the second straight year.
- Martin was chosen by Batavia in the first round of the June 1906 amateur draft, and despite a .193 average for Class A Avon, remains a top prospect.
- Diaz, who turned 17 on October 8, 1906, has scouts salivating.