The Federal Baseball League: Rebirth of a Franchise

[ifspuds]

The Rebirth of a Proud Franchise

While the Pacific Ball Players Union lasted a scant 10 seasons, from 1940 to 1949, the PBPL's Seattle Rainiers were one of the upstart circuit's most successful teams, finishing in first place four times and winning two Western Cups in the mid-1940's. Notables such as two-time Outstanding Pitcher Eddie Walters and longtime lineup stalwarts Ramon German and Craig Playne thrilled fans in the Emerald City for most of the 1940s until hard times hit and the team sunk into the basement of the PBPL standings as the decade came to a close.

It's not often that life allows you a chance to wipe the board clean and restart from the very beginning, but the announcement that the PBPL would merge with the Federal Baseball League to start the 1950 season presented the management of the Rainiers with just that opportunity. The Federal Baseball League, an independent league that got its start in 1925, boasted 14 teams spread across the midwest and eastern seaboard. While the league had struggled through the pre-war years, the post-war boom brought prosperity and the desire to establish the league as a national fixture. All six PBPL teams would be brought under the FBL umbrella and begin play in 1950 as the FBL's third division. In addition, an agreement with the Cuban Professional League would provide a pipeline of international talent to the upstart league. The most surprising announcement proved yet to come, however. As a condition of the merger, all teams agreed to place their players into a common pool and redistribute the talent across the new 20-team league. There were protests, of course, but in Seattle, the Rainiers saw it as a chance to get back to the upper echelon of baseball teams.

-----

This will be the ongoing story of the Seattle Rainiers, my team in the Federal Baseball League. The FBL is the next generation of the JOBL, a long-running fictional league. While the league is completely different than its predecessor, many of the owners remain along with some new blood (like myself). This is a fictional talent-only OOTP2007 league with 25 years of pre-sim history built in, with three sims a week, 7 days per sim. The sims have just begun, and after a short introduction to the 10-year history of the Rainiers in the PBPL and the players selected in the redraft, I'll be covering events from sim to sim. I hope you'll enjoy reading.

[ifspuds]

1938-1940: Genesis of a Baseball Team

In 1938, Emil Sick, owner of the Rainier Brewing Company, was strongly considering purchasing the Pacific Coast League Seattle Indians franchise, which had been suffering for several years after their home park, Dugdale Park, burned to the ground in 1932. But as he began to study the opportunity, the Pacific Ball Players League came calling.

Instead of investing in the established PCL, Sick jumped at the opportunity to join the upstart league and bought in to the initial 8-team circuit. He named his new club after his company and began construction on a stadium that would sit on the western shore of Lake Washington, southeast of downtown Seattle. Riverfront Field, as it would be called, would sit atop the ashes of Dugdale Park, the former home of the PCL Seattle Indians, one last parting shot at the Pacific Coast League from the Rainiers' owner.

A short left field fence made the park a right-handed pull hitter's dream, but the expansive right field made things tough for lefties. The upper bleachers behind home plate gave a fan a view of the lake, but early on, fans complained about a large number of seats that put them behind poles or obstructed their view of the game. Which, after all, was the most important view.

Sick quickly set about putting together his team, which, like most early PBPL teams, was cobbled together from young up-and-comers not yet noticed by other professional leagues, and washed-up veterans on their way down. The first season might not be particularly successful, but Sick had the drive to not just compete, but succeed.

[ifspuds]

1940: An Inauspicious Beginning

Top Pitcher: Kevin Schroeder (11-8, 4.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 5.04 K/9, 3.96 BB/9)
Top Hitter: Brooks Gilbert (.270/.362/.593, 36 HR, 77 RBI)
Awards: Gold Gloves: Matt Ward (1B, 1st award), Allen Reid (2B, 1st award), Curtis Joseph (3B, 1st award), Nelson Jackson (SS, 1st award)

With high hopes, the Rainiers took the field for the first season of the Pacific Ball Players League. Those high hopes would certainly not last the season. While the fans were entertained by an offense that scored the 2nd most runs in the league, the pitching was, quite simply, atrocious. Baserunners circled the basepaths like the planets orbiting the sun. One wag in the local newspapers commented, "I wouldn't be able to pitch either, as dizzy as those fellows must be, watching the opposition run around and around and around." Every ball that touched a bat seemed to find a hole somewhere between fielders -- or over the wall completely. Amusingly, the entire Rainiers infield won fielding awards for the season. One league manager chuckled when the awards were announced, "Well, you have to feel for those boys. Their pitching staff kept them awfully busy. I think they must've had twice as many chances as any other infield in the league."

While plenty of fans came out to see the Rainiers ply their trade -- haplessly or otherwise -- the team suffered real financial losses, and it led to some difficult decisions. For example, 27-year old outfielder Joel Branch, one of the offensive stalwarts of the team, wasn't brought back for a second season in Rainiers red. Another outfielder, 32-year old Dale Hinman, was dealt at the end of the season for 40-year old pitcher Marvin Blackburn. This in particular was clearly a way to cut expenses for the following season, as Blackburn had made his intentions not to pitch in 1941 very clear and very public in the weeks leading up to the trade. The Rainiers had neatly sold Hinman and taken his salary off the books.

[ifspuds]

1941: Smoke and Mirrors

Team Record: 49-51, tied for 3rd, 8 games back
Top Pitcher: Cole Phillips (14-15, 4.10 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 1.52 K/9, 2.58 BB/9)
Top Hitter: Allen Reid (.342/.416/.465, 3 HR, 68 RBI)
Awards: Glove Wizard: Allen Reid (2B, 2nd award)

Glimmers of hope appeared for the fledgling Rainiers franchise. The team's record improved. 20-year old keystoner Allen Reid broke out, ranking among the league leaders in a number of offensive categories and added a 2nd straight fielding award to his trophy case. The offense continued to score runs in bunches, though a lack of power significantly hampered the team: no player hit more than 9 home runs, and extra base hits were hard to come by. What about Brooks Gilbert, who'd pounded 36 longballs the season before? Gilbert fell back to a .268/.365/.433, 7 HR line and no one stepped up to be that big run producer. In hindsight, it's hard to figure out just how the Rainiers scored 5.5 runs a game, ranking 2nd in the league. They had the lowest average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in the league and were middle of the pack in other categories. Left fielder Jackson James (.268/.314/.434, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 23 SB) looked like a potential cornerstone of the team at age 25, and catcher Tony Brady was well on his way to an outstanding season until he was shipped off to Portland in return for pitcher Eddie Walter.

Ahhh... pitching. The achilles heel of the team once again. Walters helped, to be sure, and he would go on to be a rock in the rotation in future seasons, but like 1940, the Rainiers staff was dismal at best, completely miserable at worst. One only has to look at their best pitcher of the '41 campaign, Cole Phillips to recognize just what was wrong with this team: Phillips walked far more batters than he struck out, and he wasn't exactly getting guys to make outs when they did make contact. Team management continued to insist that the pitching would get better, but the fans weren't buying it. As the novelty of the team wore off, fewer fans were coming to the ballpark. Still, the braintrust wasn't too worried, yet. It was a young team, relatively cheap to run, and with dedicated ownership committed to standing behind the franchise, they could afford to look toward the future.

[ifspuds]

1942: Making Strides

Team Record: 53-47, 3rd place, 2 games behind
Top Pitcher: Eddie Walter (16-11, 2.75 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 4.53 K/9, 2.35 BB/9)
Top Hitter: Curtis Joseph (.291/.352/.399, 3 HR, 52 RBI, 31 SB)
Awards: Outstanding Pitcher: Eddie Walters (1st award)

The stroke of genius that was the Eddie Walters trade of 1941 became abundantly clear the following season. Cole Phillips, 1941's top pitcher, was not an ace, but in a good year, he could prove to be a solid #2. The addition of Walters, however, gave the Rainiers a legitimate #1 starter for the first time. When you further consider that the players the Portland Timbers got in return for Walters either barely made the PBPL( Miguel Flores) or joined the war effort after 1941 (Tony Brady) and never raised a bat in anger again, it becomes even more of a coup for the Rainiers organization. Walters led the staff to a 2nd place finish in runs allowed, behind those Portland Timbers, and for the first time, allowed fewer runs than they scored.

If they'd had a little bit more of the offense they'd flashed in past seasons, they might have snuck into the postseason for the first time. Unfortunately, power was still a concern and their run-scoring ability depended strongly on their ability to put the ball in play and run like hell. The latter skill they had in spades: the Rainiers' 110 stolen bases ranked 2nd behind the San Diego Suns, while no other team had more than 75. But their top power hitter, Jackson James, turned out to have just the one skill (.216/.265/.368, 13 HR). To the Rainiers' credit, their hitters were very young. Only one player that appeared in 50 or more games was over the age of 26. Time would have to tell whether or not they were young and improving or just plain young.

[ifspuds]

1943: And A Veteran Shall Lead Them

Team Record: 53-47, 1st place. Defeated Portland 5-3 in Western Cup.
Top Pitcher: Eddie Walters (12-9, 2.55 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 4.23 K/9, 2.48 BB/9)
Top Hitter: Jesus Santana (.313/.467/.479, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 9 SB)

Early in the season, the local newspapers were climbing on the Rainiers bandwagon. With the profusion of youth in the starting lineup, one local writer dubbed the team "The Brewery Babes", playing off owner Emil Sick's Rainier Brewing Company. Make no mistake, the starting lineup was young. Shortstop Curtis Joseph was 25. Third baseman Craig Playne was 22. Second baseman Allen Reid was also 22. Top catcher Jaime Romero? 22. The average age of the entire hitting corps was just 25.9. But they still lacked a strong presence in the lineup to tie everything together. That presence was left fielder Jesus Santana. Acquired from the Salt Lake franchise early in the 1943 season, Santana put together three seasons in Rainiers red that Seattle fans aren't likely to ever forget. Between this deal and the trade that brought Eddie Walters to the Emerald City, Seattle general manager Walter Franklin was gaining a reputation as an astute judge of talent.

The most striking turnaround in the 1943 season was the pitching. In just a couple of years, the Rainiers staff had gone from a collection of soft-tossing semi-pro rejects to the top of the league. Allowing 377 runs, 33 fewer runs over the season than their closest competitors, the Rainiers were the first team since the inaugural Los Angeles Quake squad of 1940 to allow so few of their opponents to touch home plate. Eddie Walters was a big reason for that, sure, but the Seattle nine boasted three quality pitchers in their rotation. Walters led the staff, with Cole Phillips (17-12, 3.22 ERA) right behind. Kevin Schroeder (10-7, 3.06 ERA) brought up the rear, and together the three dominated PBPL hitters in a fashion unseen in Seattle baseball. It would be the beginning of a four-year reign as the top pitching staff in the PBPL.

Even with all that, the Rainiers still won the regular season championship by a mere half-game over the Portland Timbers. With a solid pitching staff of their own (#2 in the league behind Seattle) and a significantly better offense, many believed that the more experienced Timbers, who had won the Western Cup two years prior, would be the favorites in the postseason series. It would turn out that two hot hitters (Playne and Santana) and a dominating hurler (Walters) were enough to make the Rainiers the Western Cup champions, as they took the best-of-9 series by a 5-3 count. Despite the success, though, it would be just a prelude to a 1944 season that captivated an entire city.

[ifspuds]

1944: The Best Ever?

Team Record: 68-32, 1st place. Defeated Salt Lake 5-0 in Western Cup.
Top Pitcher: Eddie Walters (16-6, 2.84 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 4.11 K/9, 2.54 BB/9)
Top Hitter: Jesus Santana (.367/.495/.538, 4 HR, 60 RBI, 16 SB)
Awards: Outstanding Hitter: Jesus Santana (1st award). Outstanding Pitcher: Eddie Walters (2nd award). Glove Wizard: Ramon German (1B, 1st award), Allen Reid (2B, 4th award), Curtis Joseph (SS, 1st award).

It was only the fifth season of the fledgling Pacific Ball Players League, a league that would only play 10 seasons before merging with the Federal Baseball League, but the 1944 Seattle Rainiers were considered by most to be the finest team ever to navigate a PBPL season. A .680 winning percentage, an 11 game cushion over the Salt Lake Strikers in the regular season championship and a 5-game sweep in the Western Cup. A sweep of the hitting and pitching awards and a healthy showing in the fielding awards as well. The Rainiers took on all comers, and more often than not, sent them home beaten and disappointed. Everything clicked for the '44 Rainiers, from a career season by Jesus Santana, to 38-year old Eddie Walters' ageless brilliance and an entire host of strong backup performances behind the two stars.

This was an exciting team to watch. The offense was a constant stream of baserunners, darting around the basepaths with abandon. The team drew a flood of walks and stole the second most bases in the league, so despite having the fewest longballs in the PBPL, they still scored the second most runs in the league, just 5 fewer than the #1 offense in Salt Lake. It was the pitching staff that really cemented the team's place in history, however. Walters was fantastic, as usual, and Cole Phillips added his usual dependable performance (16-12, 3.77 ERA). Kevin Schroeder was solid (10-8, 3.92 ERA), but it was three pitchers that hadn't done much in the past that were the key. Greg Dudley had come over from San Francisco in a deal for backup shortstop Luis Flores, and while he'd turned in some passable work, no one expected the 29-year old to suddenly put it all together. Dudley went 13-1, posted a 2.70 ERA and allowed just 91 hits in 120 innings. When the starters faltered -- which wasn't often -- the team had a 1-2 punch in relief that they hadn't had before. Gustavo Rodriguez threw 38 innings in relief, allowing just a 1.64 ERA and less than a baserunner an inning. Dave Smith added almost 64 innings of relief at a 2.97 ERA clip, going 5-1.

All told, the stars had aligned perfectly for this team, and they became the first and only repeat champions in PBPL history. They weren't done yet, though.

[ifspuds]

1945: Derailed

Team Record: 58-42, 1st place. Lost to San Francisco 5-2 in Western Cup.
Top Pitcher: Eddie Walters (15-12, 3.01 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 4.39 K/9, 2.45 BB/9)
Top Hitter: Jesus Santana (.306/.449/.500, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 10 SB)
Awards: Newcomer of the Year: Gerald Spence (1st award). Glove Wizard: Ramon German (1B, 2nd award)

On paper, this should have been the Rainiers' 3rd straight Western Cup. Once again, they relatively easily outpaced the competition in the regular season, besting San Francisco by 5.5 games. The Rainiers boasted the league's most balanced and effective offense by a wide margin, and the dynamic duo of Walters and Phillips topped the league-leading pitching staff. They had the league's top newcomer in left fielder Gerry Spence. And yet, when the postseason Western Cup hit, the Missions had their number.

It didn't help that Spence fought back pain throughout the month of September and struggled through the postseason. Somehow Eddie Walters managed to lose both his starts despite allowing just a single earned run. Similarly, Cole Phillips earned just 1 decision (a loss) in his 3 Western Cup starts. Some of the issue could be traced to 1944's relief ace, Gustavo Rodriguez, being moved into the starting rotation. Rodriguez had a great season, going 6-4 with a 3.25 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 130.1 IP, but inexplicably didn't throw a single pitch in the postseason. Some fans groused that the team had become spoiled by success and thought they could simply skate through the Western Cup. For the first time since 1943, Seattle fans were left saying, 'Wait 'til next year!'. And many of those fans wondered just how the shocking Cup loss would affect the team.

[ifspuds]

1946: Out of the Running

Team Record: 58-42, 3rd place, 4 games behind.
Top Pitcher: Cole Phillips (20-11, 3.08 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 2.55 K/9, 1.92 BB/9)
Top Hitter: Antonio Garcia (.325/.393/.391, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 56 SB)
Awards: Glove Wizard: John Johnston (P, 1st award), Jesus Hernandez (3B, 1st award), Jerry Richter (CF, 1st award), Antonio Garcia, (RF, 1st award)

For the first time in three seasons, the Rainiers missed both the regular season championship and a chance to play in the Western Cup, as they narrowly finished in third, a game out of second. The pitching still led the league: Cole Phillips had a career season, setting career highs in wins, ERA, innings and walks allowed. Eddie Walters was still dependable, if not the dominant force he had been. You have to give him a pass though -- he was 40 years old. The Rainiers also got solid seasons from vets Kevin Schroeder and reliever Dave Smith, as well as John Johnston, who had come up with the Rainiers before a trade sent him to Salt Lake in 1943 and came back before the 1946 season.

No, pitching wasn't the problem. The offense suffered from the loss of Jesus Santana, traded after the disappointing finish to the 1945 campaign to the Portland Timbers for a player who would garner all of 62 at-bats in Rainiers red. Likewise, longtime middle infield stalwart Allen Reid refused to resign with the team, deciding instead to return home to his family in New York. Reid was 26 at the time. New right fielder Antonio Garcia stepped in nicely, and first baseman Ramon German came into his own, but the typical balanced attack the Rainiers had enjoyed was simply lacking in 1946.

The future looked very uncertain in Seattle. The blow that struck fans particularly hard was Eddie Walters announcing his retirement. Easily the most beloved of Rainiers, Walters had been with the squad since midway through the '41 season, and was the driving force behind the team's rise to prominence in the PBPL. The team held a ceremony at the beginning of his final home start, with owner Emil Sick presenting Walters with a gold watch and a new car in thanks for his meritorious service to the team. A two-time Outstanding Pitcher Award winner, Walters would go on to settle in Seattle and work with Rainiers pitchers from time to time, as well as occasionally scouting players around the Pacific Northwest for the organization.

[ifspuds]

1947: The Last Hurrah

Team Record: 57-43, 1st place, lost to San Diego 5-0 in the Western Cup
Top Pitcher: Kevin Schroeder (16-7, 2.53 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 2.71 K/9, 3.75 BB/9)
Top Hitter: Gerald Spence (.303/.362/.433, 12 HR, 62 RBI)
Awards: Glove Wizard: Gerald Spence (LF, 1st award), Jerry Richter (CF, 2nd award), Antonio Garcia (RF, 2nd award)

No Eddie Walters. A 3rd place finish in 1946. A faltering offense. Who would've expected the Rainiers to win their 4th regular season championship in five years? Despite a shellacking at the hands of Denny Chambers and the San Diego Suns in the Western Cup, Rainiers fans were pleasantly surprised by the 1947 campaign. Kevin Schroeder came out of nearly nowhere to put up career best numbers (despite walking more batters than he struck out) and teamed with Cole Phillips and John Johnston to once more compose the top pitching staff in the PBPL. This time, however, the Suns staff was right behind them, and the Rainiers offense -- while capable -- was starting to show signs of serious deterioration. The Rainiers had never enjoyed the presence of a dominating hitter like the Suns' Chambers, but then who did? Chambers, after all, won 6 Outstanding Hitter awards in the 10 seasons the PBPL was an independent league. Still, no one in the Seattle lineup struck fear into the hearts of pitchers, and a lineup that used to thrive, from top to bottom, on loading up the bases and slapping balls around the yard wasn't doing nearly as much of either one anymore.

Did the Rainiers have anything left for 1948? The pitchers still seemed to have some miles in their arms, but were any of the hitters going to step up and carry the team on their backs? That was the question left in everyone's mind after the Suns dominated the Western Cup series.

[kenyan_cheena]

Great job, Jeff. Looks like '48 could be a transitional season fro the Rainers.

That Federal League website looks impressive, also.

[ifspuds]

Thanks, k_c. I appreciate the comment. I can't take credit for the website -- that's the commissioner's handiwork -- but I agree. Nice, simple site.

You're right about 1948. All the elements of the surprising 1947 season point to it being a last gasp. Not a great offense, a pitching staff led by a particularly unrepeatable career year from Schroeder. A lot of things had to break right for the Rainiers to finish in the top 2 of the PBPL, and it would be hard to believe it'd happen again.

[ifspuds]

1948: All Good Things

Team Record: 42-58, 5th place, 16 games behind.
Top Pitcher: Kenn Johnston (10-9, 4.18 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 4.47 K/9, 5.94 BB/9)
Top Batter: Craig Playne (.344/.413/.486, 10 HR, 67 RBI)

Of all the scenarios that played out in the heads of the Rainiers management, players and fans, this one seemed to be the least likely. Craig Playne and Gerald Spence (.337/.403/.486) turned into legitimate stars, and rookie center fielder Julio Diaz provided pop that Rainiers fans hadn't seen in years. In a complete turnaround from the previous five seasons, however, the pitching was atrocious. Certainly, no one expected Kevin Schroeder to repeat his 1947 season, but going from a 2.53 ERA to a 5.10? And what about Cole Phillips, the understudy at the top of the rotation for so long, who continued to pour in quality seasons? 10 ineffective starts until he finally admitted that his shoulder was killing him, and he went out for the rest of the season. No one that came in was particularly useful. Everyone that entered the rotation left bruised and battered by baserunners. Particularly bad was Frank Arnold, who went 3-10 with a 7.08 in 20 starts that he got only because there was no one else to turn to.

Not surprisingly, the team's fortunes sank to a level they hadn't seen since the very first season. While no team can stay on top forever, this precipitous decline was a sharp poke in the eye to some of the PBPL's most loyal fans. They continued to come out to the park, but as time wore on, it was clear that the glory days of Seattle Rainiers baseball were gone.

[ifspuds]

1949: Bottoming Out

Team Record: 39-61, last place, 19 games behind.
Top Pitcher: Cole Phillips (12-7, 3.36 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 2.13 K/9, 2.72 BB/9)
Top Hitter: Juan Olvero (.307/.364/.444, 11 HR, 58 RBI)

As bad as the fall from 1947 to 1948 was, it was nothing compared to the death spiral of the 1949 squad. Cole Phillips came back in August and pitched awfully well for a guy who'd missed over a year, but it was much too little much too late. The pitching, if possible, was even worse than the season before, a tough blow for a franchise that had boasted such a terrific group of hurlers for so many years. And even Cole Phillips was getting on in years and mileage on his left arm, which boded poorly for any hope of recovery in years to come.

At least the Rainiers faithful could enjoy the offensive exploits of players like Craig Playne, Gerald Spence and others, right?

Wrong.

Both Playne and Spence suffered through disappointing seasons, and while 25-year old shortstop Juan Olvero came into his own with a quality season, he carried most of the load himself. With the pitchers throwing gasoline on the fire of opposing rallies, it would've taken a lineup of nine Juan Olveros just to stay in most games. As it was, the Rainiers hit rock bottom, a place they'd never finished in the history of the Pacific Ball Players League. The pride and joy of Seattle hit last place, a bitter pill to swallow, especially in light of the offseason news of the merger with the Federal Baseball League. In the short history of the PBPL, the Rainiers franchise had the second best 10-season record in the league, behind the San Diego Suns, one of the true success stories of the fledgling circuit. Would they be able to turn their fortunes back to the positive with the merger and redraft of players? There hadn't been this much uncertainty in Seattle since the inaugural season of the Rainiers.

[ifspuds]

It's time now to start meeting the new Seattle Rainiers, those players selected in the 1950 redraft after the merger of the Federal Baseball League and the PBPL. I'll post these in five-round chunks for the first 25 rounds, and finish with a breakdown of the final 25-man roster (after round 26-50 were selected by the computer). So with that, on to the players:


Round 1:
Randall Adams

Potentials: 18/17/3/20/17
Age: 29
Position: Infielder (20/13/14/11 ratings at 1B/2B/3B/SS)
B/T: R/R
Speed Ratings: 10/14/12
Career Numbers: .313/.402/.437, 87 SB (81.3%), 44 HR. 9 seasons in the FBL.

Some FBL observers criticized this pick as being an overdraft, but the Rainiers love Adams' all-around game and his ability to play any of the infield spots reliably. The Rainiers have never been a team built on home run power, and they appear to be continuing that trend with this pick.

Round 2:
Cesar Encarnacion

Potentials: 16/15/6/17/20
Age: 27
Position: Second Base (13 rating at 2B)
B/T: L/R
Speed Ratings: 18/20/18
Career Numbers: .280/.384/.407, 316 SB (78.6%), 45 HR. 7 seasons in the FBL.

Another pick that drew some surprise, Encarnacion is another player in the mold of Randall Adams: an all-around performer with reliable defense. Encarnacion is an exciting player to watch, with plus speed and the occasional ability to drive a ball over the fence. He'll be hard-pressed to poke many longballs in Waterfront Field, with its deep right field, but he uses the whole field well and may not be hampered as much by it as a dead pull hitter would.

Round 3:
Ryan Carson

Potentials: 9/11/15
Age: 33
Position: Starting Pitcher (20 rating at P)
B/T: R/R
Career Numbers: 168-107, 2.95 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 2.3 BB/9

In something of a coup, the Rainiers picked up the FBL's reigning Outstanding Pitcher with their 3rd round pick. Carson also won both Rookie of the Year and Outstanding Pitcher in 1939. Consistently one of the top strikeout artists in the FBL, Carson also boasts top-notch control and Glove Wizard-caliber defense. Carson boasts six pitches in his devastating arsenal, all of which are designed to keep the ball on the ground. Carson is 33 years old, which may have kept some teams away from him early in the draft, but the Rainiers are hopeful he has several years left in his right arm.

Round 4:
Randy Davies

Potentials: 14/19/12/18/13
Age: 30
Position: Catcher (11 rating at C, 9 arm)
B/T: R/R
Career Numbers: .294/.385/.482, 106 HR. 8 seasons in the FBL.

If Adams and Encarnacion fit the traditional Rainiers mold of get on base however you can, Davies breaks the mold entirely. A source of dependable power from a position usually more suited to defensive prowess, Davies will be expected to be the major RBI man in the Seattle lineup. While he has only cracked the FBL top 10 in HRs once in his career, he also has plus gap power and ought to take advantage of a park that favors right handers.

Round 5:
David Wheeler

Potentials: 6/12/13
Age: 25
Position: Starting Pitcher (12 rating at P)
B/T: R/L
Career Numbers: 51-45, 3.33 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 3.0 BB/9. 6 seasons in the minor leagues.

With Wheeler, the Rainiers went young. The southpaw has a total of 14 and two-thirds innings in the FBL in his young career, but put up very solid numbers in the minor leagues. In 29 AAA starts in 1949, Wheeler posted a 2.82 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, with nearly 8 K/9. He's clearly ready for the major leagues. The Rainiers see Wheeler as a solid #2 behind Carson, though he may not be ready for that responsibility quite yet.

[ifspuds]

Round 6:
Michael Hawks

Potentials: 6/12/13
Age: 22
Position: Starting Pitcher (10 at P)
B/T: L/L
Career Numbers: 29-29, 3.26 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 2.3 BB/9. 4 seasons in the minors.

The Rainiers went young, tabbing the young southpaw Hawks with their 6th pick. At age 21, Hawks climbed the Jersey City organizational ladder in a hurry, going from single-A Yonkers, through AA Camden to AAA Trenton, where he pitched well enough in 6 starts (3.07 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) to earn 7 starts in the FBL at the end of the 1949 season. While he struggled in those starts (2-4, 5.11 ERA, 1.50 WHIP), the Rainiers think that he could make the Opening Day rotation. Hawks keeps the ball down well, and induces a lot of ground balls, which is important for a left-hander in Seattle.

Round 7:
Bob Pollock

Potentials: 14/12/10/12/10
Age: 24
Position: First Base (11 at 1B)
B/T: R/R
Speed Ratings: 1/3/3
AAA Numbers: .323/.415/.453, 20 HR, 351 G at AAA. .286/.336/.390, 1 HR in 105 FBL AB.

Needing another possible power source, the Rainiers went with first baseman Bob Pollock in round 7. While he has yet to show a great deal of home run power, Seattle scouts think he's still growing into his body and could turn into a reliable 15-20 home run hitter. He's a capable all around hitter and has performed very well in three AAA seasons.

Round 8:
Tracy Jones

Potentials: 15/14/7/20/14
Age: 33
Position: Left Field (16/14 at LF/RF)
B/T: L/R
Career Numbers: .309/.396/.458, 148 HR, 197 SB (77.2%).

Jones has been one of the most consistent performers in the FBL, spending ten full seasons with Louisville and only twice hitting below .300. His best season was 1942, when he hit .354/.437/.481, and he's average 16 HR a season for each of the last four years. So why did he last into the 8th round? Very likely his 1949 season scared other teams off: .240/.353/.388. The .240 average was by far the worst of his career. He still drew walks, hit for power and stole 17 of 20 attempts. Is that dip in average a trend or a blip in a brilliant career? The Rainiers clearly hope it's the latter. If so, getting Jones in the 8th round may be a steal.

Round 9:
Edward Thompson

Potentials: 4/13/13
Age: 25
Position: Starting Pitcher (12 at P)
B/T: L/R
Career Numbers: 27-39, 3.44 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 5.2 K/9, 2.7 BB/9.

Thompson might be familiar to long-time Rainiers fans. The 25-year old has spent his entire career in the Seattle organization, climbing to AAA Spokane in 1949, where he pitched very well in 5 starts. While he wasn't highly thought of early in his career, scouts have been very impressed with his progress and believe he's got a good chance to be a solid starting pitcher. He may begin the season at Spokane, but is expected to join the back of the Rainiers rotation sooner rather than later.

Round 10:
Henry Warren

Potentials: 10/11/6/12/10
Age: 21
Position: Center Field (14/17/15 at LF/CF/RF)
B/T: L/R
AAA Numbers: .306/.376/.385, 4 HR, 85 SB (80.9%) in 120 G.

The Rainiers missed out on several center fielders that they had their eyes on, watching them get snatched up just before their pick came up. But with Warren, they believe they may have a flycatcher that can roam the spacious Waterfront outfield for years to come. He's not expected to be a world-beater at the plate, but at the tender age of 21, he's ready to start an FBL career and tear up the basepaths. One of the fastest men in the game of baseball, Warren should be a nightmare for opposing batteries, and he's got terrific outfield range. He's made the minor-league all-star team in both of his two minor league seasons.

[ifspuds]

Round 11:
Jim Stephens

Potentials: 11/15/6/14/15
Age: 32
Position: Infielder (13/13/19 at 2B/3B/SS)
B/T: R/R
Speed Ratings: 12/18/20
Career Numbers: .262/.305/.397, 69 HR, 91 SB (79.1%), 8 seasons in the FBL.

The selection of Stephens suggests that the Rainiers will likely move Randall Adams to third base and put the former Glove Wizard-winning Stephens at shortstop, where he's a fantastic defensive player. While there's not a tremendous amount to love about Stephens's bat, he does have a bit of pop and can steal a bag now and again. His best season at the plate was 1948, when he hit .279/.314/.515 in 75 games before a pitch shattered his cheekbone.

Round 12:
Dan Vincent

Potentials: 14/18/7/20/10
Age: 32
Position: Right Field (15/16 at LF/RF)
B/T: R/R
Speed Ratings: 9/14/8
Career Numbers: .268/.376/.394, 54 HR. 7 seasons in the FBL.

Vincent rounds out what is likely to be the opening day lineup for the Rainiers. A talented outfielder, Vincent owns one Glove Wizard award, earned for his efforts in left field. Vincent is another player in the traditional Rainiers mold: get on base however you can, and hope the guys behind you get a hit or two. While he's only cracked double digits in homers once (10 in 1947), he's got decent gap power and his on-base percentage has been above .400 the last two seasons.

Round 13:
Bob Ford

Potentials: 9/11/13
Age: 22
Position: Relief Pitcher (16 at P)
B/T: R/R
Career Numbers: 6-4, 4 SV, 2.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 4.5 K/9, 3.2 BB/9. 1 season in the PBPL.

Ford becomes the first relief pitcher added to the new Rainiers. The 22 year old Ford toiled in 65 and a third innings for the San Francisco Missions last season, holding opponents to a .238 average. Ford will likely anchor the Rainiers bullpen and should see plenty of action.

Round 14:
Travis Murphy

Potentials: 12/15/6/11/9
Age: 27
Position: Outfielder (20/15/18 at LF/CF/RF)
B/T: R/R
Career Numbers: .244/.311/.375, 11 HR. 3 seasons in the FBL.

With Murphy, Seattle landed a versatile fourth outfielder and spot starter in case Henry Warren struggles out of the gate. Murphy plays all the outfield spots with above-average defense and he's got speed to boot, making him valuable as a runner off the bench. In his only full FBL season, split between Worcester and New Orleans in 1949, he hit .238/.306/.382 and knocked 10 HR, but he was off to a much better start (.270/.349/.369) before he was dealt to the Mudbugs at the end of June.

Round 15:
Willard Williams

Potentials: 8/14/10
Age: 32
Position: Relief Pitcher (11 at P)
B/T: L/L
Career Numbers: 25-17, 14 SV, 2.70 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 5.2 K/9, 4.1 BB/9. 6 seasons in the FBL.

Williams, a round lefthander from Idaho, bounced around the FBL for 6 seasons, pitching for five different teams over that span. Possibly they were frustrated by his control -- at least his unpredictable control -- but his last three seasons have been solid (3.07, 2.49, 2.27 ERAs) and he's a proven innings eater, notching 133+ innings each of the last two seasons. It could just be that he pitches better when he gets more work. He does throw a lot of groundballs, and sinkerballers supposedly pitch better when their arm is a little tired.

[ifspuds]

Round 16:
Adam Webber

Potentials: 7/19/13
Age: 36
Position: Relief Pitcher (7 at P)
B/T: S/R
Career Numbers: 91-83, 201 SV, 2.98 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 5,5 K/9, 3.7 BB/9. 16 seasons in the FBL.

It's often hard to find a reliever that's consistently dependable, but if anyone fits the bill, it's Adam Webber. In his career, all but one season of which was spent with Baltimore of the FBL, Webber ranged from untouchable to merely good. A 6-time All-Star, Webber's best season was 1941, when he went 4-4 with 13 saves and posted a 1.22 ERA, allowing just over one baserunner per inning. Webber will likely hold down a primary role out of the pen, but which role will probably depend on spring training.

Round 17:
Tony Herrera

Potentials: 10/13/9/12/9
Age: 21
Position: Infielder (20/17/17/17 at 1B/2B/3B/SS)
B/T: R/R
Career Numbers: .249/.317/.331, 4 HR, 15 SB (78.9%), 1 season in the PBPL minors.

Herrera might be familiar to Rainiers fans. Drafted in the 2nd round of the '49 PBPL draft, Herrera split time between single-A Yakima and AA Olympia last season, winning the Glove Wizard award at shortstop. He's never going to be an offensive force, but he's a defensive wizard and projects as a fine backup and defensive replacement all around the infield.

Round 18:
Joe Miller

Potentials: 5/12/13
Age: 28
Position: Relief Pitcher (8 at P)
B/T: R/R
Career Numbers: 1-2, 1 SV, 3.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 5.5 K/9, 4.3 BB/9. 3 seasons in the FBL.

Miller only broke into the FBL full-time last season, splitting time between Indianapolis and Dallas, pitching well in 32 innings: 1.69 ERA, 1.09 WHIP. He has a solid minor-league track record, though there are questions about just how many innings he'll be able to pitch. Still, he ought to be a reasonable option in middle relief, should the need arise.

Round 19:
Harris Meyners

Potentials: 6/10/12
Age: 33
Position: Pitcher
B/T: R/L
Career Numbers: 65-65, 4.22 ERA, 1.46 ERA, 2.9 K/9, 3.6 BB/9. 9 years in the PBPL.

Meyners is nothing special, and isn't considered to be much more than an insurance policy should an extra starter or long reliever be needed.

Round 20:
Luis Garcia

Potentials: 9/13/7/12/13
Age: 25
Position: Catcher (18 at C, 15 arm)
B/T: S/R
Career Numbers: .225/.292/.348, 2 HR. 2 seasons (76 games) in the FBL.

Garcia isn't much of a hitter, but ought to be a plenty serviceable backup to Randy Davies. He's a quality defender, still young at 25, and has had some success as a hitter in the minor leagues.

[ifspuds]

The players selected by the Seattle Rainiers in the 1950 post-merger draft of the FBL and PBPL:

Round 21:
Carl Walker

Potentials: 10/13/10/10/9
Age: 25
Position: Outfielder (5/11 at LF/RF)
B/T: L/L
Speed Ratings: 14/18/17
Career Numbers: .348/.402/.457, 1 HR, 51 G in the FBL.

Walker isn't much of an outfielder, but he should be a capable left-handed hitter off the bench. He might split time between AAA and Seattle, depending on what else comes out of the draft.

Round 22:
Ramon German

Potentials: 10/11/10/14/6
Age: 30
Position: First Base (12 at 1B)
B/T: R/R
Speed Ratings: 8/11/8
Career Numbers: .286/.373/.415, 58 HR in the PBPL.

If Pollock proves to be not ready for the FBL, longtime Seattle stalwart Ramon German will get the starting nod. German played for Seattle from 1942 to 1949 and was the fulltime first baseman from '44-'49. He's never been an All-Star quality player, and would be best as a backup in the FBL, but he can turn in some good numbers from time to time (.851 OPS in 1948).

Round 23:
Armando Rodriguez

Potentials: 11/9/6/16/10
Age: 25
Position: Outfielder (5/3 in LF/RF)
B/T: R/R
Speed Ratings: 4/7/3

Rodriguez has improved on each of his seasons in the minors, where he began his career in 1946. He's 25 years old though, and is something of a flyer. He does have a good eye, and scouts are feeling good about his progress.

Round 24:
Mike Jones

Potentials: 6/8/13
Age: 22
Position: Starting Pitcher
B/T: R/R

The youngster Jones put up some nice numbers in the Dallas organization, (6-5, 2.69 ERA in 117 IP at single-A in 1949) and will be sent to the minors in the Seattle organization as well.

Round 25:
Virgil Stinson

Potentials: 7/10/10
Age: 23
Position: Starting Pitcher
B/T: R/R

Stinson posted a nice season at AA in 1949 (12-12, 2.71 ERA in 189 IP) and will also head to the minors for the Seattle organization.

[ifspuds]

25-Man Roster, Lineups and Pitching Staff

By Position (starters in bold)

Catchers
Randy Davies
Luis Garcia

Infielders (position played)
Ramon German (1B)
Bob Pollock (1B)
Cesar Encarnacion (2B)
Pedro Fonseca (1B/2B/3B/SS)
Phil Mueller (1B/2B/3B/SS)
Randall Adams (1B/2B/3B/SS)
Jim Stephens (2B/3B/SS)

Outfielders
Tracy Jones (LF/RF)
Henry Warren (LF/CF/RF)
Travis Murphy (LF/CF/RF)
Carl Walker (LF/RF)
Dan Vincent (LF/RF)

(Warren will start vs. RHP, Murphy vs. LHP)

Pitchers
Ryan Carson
Michael Hawks
Edward Thompson
David Wheeler
Cris Feliciano
Bruno Campbell
Harris Meyners
Joe Miller
Adam Webber
Willard Williams
Bob Ford

Lineup vs. RHP
LHB Cesar Encarnacion (2B)
RHB Randall Adams (3B)
RHB Randy Davies (C)
RHB Bob Pollock (1B)
LHB Tracy Jones (LF)
RHB Dan Vincent (RF)
RHB Jim Stephens (SS)
LHB Henry Warren (CF)

Lineup vs. LHP
LHB Cesar Encarnacion (2B)
RHB Randall Adams (3B)
RHB Randy Davies (C)
RHB Bob Pollock (1B)
LHB Tracy Jones (LF)
RHB Dan Vincent (RF)
RHB Jim Stephens (SS)
RHB Travis Murphy (CF)

Starting Rotation
RHP Ryan Carson
LHP David Wheeler
LHP Michael Hawks
RHP Edward Thompson

Bullpen
RHP Cris Feliciano (mopup)
RHP Joe Miller (middle relief)
LHP Harris Meyners (middle relief)
LHP Willard Williams (middle relief)
RHP Bruno Campbell (middle relief)
RHP Adam Webber (setup)
LHP Willard Williams (setup)
RHP Bob Ford (closer)