Alltime Allstar League begins operation

[Eugene Church]

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Thursday, September 18, 1902

1902 WORLD SERIES: GAME FOUR AT SHIBE PARK

BATTLE OF 20-GAME WINNERS...A'S GROVE BEST NY'S HUBBELL...EVENS SERIES AT TWO GAMES APIECE

NYG - 000 010 000 - 1 5 1
PHA - 000 200 40X - 6 11 0

WP: Grove (1-1 3.21) 9IP 5H 1-1ER 2BB 4K
LP: Hubbell (1-1 2.30) 6.2IP 11H 6-4ER 0BB 1K
Fitzsimmons (7th) .1IP 0H 0-0ER 0BB 1K 0.00ERA
Marquard (8th) 1IP 0H 0-0 ER 1BB 0K 0.00ERA
HR: (none)

Recap: In Game Four Lefty Grove got revenge on Carl Hubbell for the first game loss. He was sharp as a razor and cut down the Giants on a 5-hit victory with two walks and four strikeouts. Hubbell, on the other hand, was not up to par. The Athletics belted him for 11 hits and routed him in the seventh. In the fourth inning Al Simmons' (.375/0/3) single, an error by Al Dark on a Frank Baker grounder and RBI-singles by Shigeo Nagashima (.600/0/2) and Danny Murphy (.267/1/2) put the A's in front 2-0. New York narrowed it to 2-1 in the fifth, when Dark (.286/0/1) atoned for the error with a single and scored on a Martin Dihigo (.625/2/4) two-base hit. Philadelphia then wrapped up the game with a 4-run seventh. Nagashima and Murphy singled to put runners on first and second. Mickey Cochrane (.417/0/1) made it 3-1 with a single. Alejandro Oms (.313/0/2) singled for another run and Simmons delivered a 2-run single for the last two scores. Grove got stronger as the game progressed, only giving up one hit over the last four frames. Friday is an off day. The Series will return to the Polo Grounds for Games Five and Six. It will be the second game starters opposing each other again. Ed Plank (15-9 3.81) for the Athletics and Christy Mathewson (19-4 3.72) for New York. Both had good outings in the first matchup between them, but didn't figure in the decision. The Giants won 4-3 in 10 innings on Barry Bonds solo home run.

[Eugene Church]

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Saturday, September 20, 1902

1902 WORLD SERIES: GAME FIVE AT THE POLO GROUNDS

A'S WIN THIRD STRAIGHT OVER NY GIANTS...LEAD 3-2 IN WORLD SERIES...PLANK HURLS FINE BALLGAME

PHA - 011 003 001 - 6 12 3
NYG - 000 000 002 - 2 5 0

WP: Plank (1-0 2.55) 9IP 5H 2-2ER 2BB 5K
LP: Mathewson (0-1 3.95) 7.2IP 11H 5-5ER 2BB 3K
Marquard (8th) .1IP 0H 0-0ER 0BB 1K 0.00ERA
Fitzsimmons (9th) 1IP 1H 1-1ER 0BB 0K 6.75ERA
HR: PHA - Baker (2)

Recap: Philadelphia had it all going for them in the Game Five victory, they cracked a dozen base hits, including five doubles, one triple and a home run and winning pitcher Ed Plank came through with another fine effort on the hill. He checked the Giants on five hits, striking out five and walking two and shutout them out until the ninth inning. Rookie Shigeo Nagashima led the hit brigade with 3-4. Al Simmons, Mickey Cochrane and Alejandro Oms chipped in a pair of base hit each. Jimmie Foxx's (.150/0/0) single and Nagashima's (.600/0/3) double accounted for the first score in the second inning. Two doubles by Oms (.333/0/2) and Simmons (.381/0/4) provided a 2-0 lead in the third. The Athletics really busted it open in the sixth with three more scores. Frank Baker led off with a homer. Nagashima doubled and scored on a single by Danny Murphy (.263/1/3) and Ed Plank (.000/0/1) plated Murphy with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0. In the ninth Simmons tripled and Baker's sac fly kicked it up to 6-0. New York put two runs across in their last at bat, when Willie Mays (.222/0/1) got a base hit, Barry Bonds (.111/1/1) walked, Alvin Dark (.278/0/1) singled, followed by pinchhitters Tom Haller's (.000/0/1) and Orlando Cepeda's (.000/0/1) RBI ground outs. The Giants will try to even the Series in Game Six with lefthander Johnny Antonelli (11-8 4.57) getting the call from Manager John McGraw. McGraw said he thought lefties were more successful against the A's in the regular season. Philadelphia was 65-45 against righthanders and a subpar 21-22 against southpaws. Gaylord Perry and rookie Jeff Tesreau will be in the bullpen ready to help out, if needed. Skipper Connie Mack has named Rube Waddell (14-13 3.19) his starter. He beat Tesreau 5-4 in Game Three.

[Eugene Church]

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Sunday, September 21, 1902

1902 WORLD SERIES: GAME SIX AT THE POLO GROUNDS

ATHLETICS MAKE IT FOUR IN A ROW OVER NY...WADDELL HURLS 11-INNING SHUTOUT...A'S NOW UP 4-2...NEED ONLY ONE MORE TRIUMPH

PHA - 000 000 000 02 - 2 11 1 (11 innings)
NYG - 000 000 000 00 - 0 6 0

WP: Waddell (2-0 2.08) 11IP 6H 0-0ER 0BB 7K
Antonelli 8IP 7 H 0-0 ER 0BB 3K 0.84 ERA
LP: Nen (9th) (0-1 4.15) 3IP 4H 2-2 2BB 5K
HR: (none)

Recap: Where have all the Giant hitters gone? They have disappeared in the last four games...all victories by the Philadelphia Athletics. Rube Waddell was simply superb today at the Polo Grounds, going the entire 11 innings in a brilliant pitching performance. He stopped New York on six solitary singles, walked nobody and fanned seven batters. Waddell only gave up one hit over the last four innings in a dominating outing. He finally got some runs in the eleventh to win the game. Jimmie Foxx (.167/0/0) singled, moved to second on a Frank Baker (.143/2/5) sacrifice and a single by John Henry Lloyd (.120/0/0). Then the unsung second sacker of the A's, Danny Murphy (.292/1/5), belted a two-run double to capture the game and a four-games-to-two lead in the best-five-of-nine series. Manager John McGraw in a attempt to get his club back on the victory track went with portsider Johnny Antonelli, his #5 starter this season. McGraw knew that the Athletics were less than .500 against lefthanders during the regular season. The strategy almost paid off as Antonelli was as good as Waddell for eight scoreless innings. The NY skipper pinch hit for the stylish lefty in the bottom of the eighth in an attempt to get a run to win the game. The World Series will now go back to Philadelphia and Shibe Park for Game Seven. Two twenty-game winners will again go head-to-head. It will be Carl Hubbell (22-6 2.30) for the Giants and Lefty Grove (20-6 3.16) of Philadelphia tangling again in a battle of lefties. Each has suffered a loss to the other in the Series. Hubbell won the opening game 5-0, while Grove picked up a 6-1 win in Game Four.

[Eugene Church]

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Monday, September 22, 1902

1902 WORLD SERIES: GAME SEVEN AT SHIBE PARK

PHILADELPHIA A'S 1902 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS...BEAT NY GIANTS FIVE GAMES TO TWO TAKE SERIES

NYG - 000 010 000 000 - 1 6 3 (12 innings)
PHA - 000 100 000 001 - 2 10 0

PHA: Grove 11IP 5H 1-1ERA 5BB 7K 2.16
WP: Shantz (1-0 0.00) (12th) 1IP 1H 0-0ERA 0BB 0K
NYG: Hubbell 11IP 8H 1-1ERA 0BB 9K 2.16
LP: Marichal (1-1 6.75) .1IP 2H 1-1ER 0BB 0K
HR: (none)

Recap: It was another nailbiting, extra inning pitching duel and the Athletics won it to clinched the 1902 World Series from the New York Giants. The A's won it five games to two...taking the last five in a row...after losing the first two games. Pinchhitter Reggie Jackson (.500/0/1) only had two at bats in the whole series, but he made his only hit pay big dividends. He singled in Danny Murphy (.345/1/5) from third base to end the Series. Murphy had led off the twelfth with a double off losing pitcher, Juan Marichal, and moved over to third on Mickey Cochrane's (.375/0/1) sacrifice bunt. Two fine pitchers pitched their hearts out. Lefty Grove for the A's and Carl Hubbell for the Giants. They both went 11 innings and only gave up one run each. Both had outstanding series. Philadelphia scored first when Frank Baker (.154/2/5) tripled in the fourth inning and was driven in by Shigeo Nagashima's (.517/0/4) RBI single. New York tied it up 1-1 in the next inning. A single by Freddie Lindstrom (.241/0/1) and a walk to Roger Bresnahan (.200/0/0) put runners on first and second for Alvin Dark (.240/0/1), who promptly lined it down the leftfield line for a base hit. Lindstrom tried to score on the play and was thrown out at the plate on a fine play by Frank Baker. His throw might have saved the game for the Athletics. Walks to Bill Terry (.152/0/1) and Martin Dihigo (.393/2/5) forced in the tying run. Great pitching and timely hitting were the keys to the Philadelphia triumph. Rube Waddell (2-0 2.08), Ed Plank (1-0 2.55) and Lefty Grove (1-1 2.15) were just too tough for the Giants to figure out. As a team New York hit only .205 for the Series. The A's hit a .287 clip, yet just managed enough runs to squeeze by. Philadelphia had 20 extra base hits compared to the Giants 10. Both clubs hit 3 home runs, a tribute to the fine pitching of both squads.

[Eugene Church]

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Tuesday, September 23, 1902

BWA PICK PLANK WORLD SERIES BEST PLAYER

The Baseball Writers of America have selected pitcher Ed Plank as the 1902 World Series Most Valuable Player. The Philadelphia righthander was outstanding in both games he pitched. He went 8 innings in the second game and gave up only 3 runs with no decision in a game the A's dropped in 10 innings 4-3 and got the complete game victory in game five on a fine five-hitter, 6-2. He finished up with a 1-0 record and a 2.55 ERA. He tossed 17 innings, allowed only 13 hits with 13 strikeouts and just 4 bases on balls.

[batted balls]

Eugene,

Wow, what a World Series! Congratulations on another fine season. Looking forward to 1903 and a White Sox rebound.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by batted balls

Eugene,

Wow, what a World Series! Congratulations on another fine season. Looking forward to 1903 and a White Sox rebound.

That's the great thing about baseball.

There is always next year...and hope springs eternal.

We'll give Al Lopez a few more seasons...if he doesn't do it, then we'll have to go with Ozzie.

The Sox needs some hitters. Shoeless Joe has had two fine seasons, but doesn't get the rbis and runs scored that he should compared to his stats. He has hit .348 over two seasons...averaged 37 doubles per season, 9 triples, 6 homers, only 75 RBIs, 90 runs, 47 BB and 47 SB...his on base percentage is .397. Nobody is on base when he gets his hits.

Frank Thomas has benefited from Shoeless being on base. His numbers show .254 BA, 31 doubles, 4 triples, 29 homers, 103 RBIs, 85 runs and 76 BB. Hopefully he can pick up on his batting average in the coming season.

The Japanese rookie outfielder, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, got to start 20 games late in the season and did well: .298 BA, 5 doubles, 5 triples, 5 homers, 21 RBIs, 21 runs and 9 BB. Over a 154-game season he looks like he has a chance to hit 25 homers and driven in a 100 runs. He will get a shot at playing fulltime next season.

Al Lopez is looking at bringing up OF Johnny Mostil, 3B Bill Melton, 3B Willie Kamm and 1B Zeke Bonura from the minors. Bonura would not unseat Thomas, but would add some pinchhitting prowess to the club. He has good power and hits for average...but an atrocious fielder. I have heard he was quite a character...he would wave at the ball when it went by him in the field.

The Sox could use a couple of good pitchers: Doc White, Dick Donovan, Juan Pizarro, Alex Fernandez, Jack McDowell and Roberto Hernandez are on the call up list.

Since you are a Sox's fan, who would you add to the club?

[Dagrims]

I've been quiet for a long time but wanted to let you know that I enjoyed reading about your second season, and I'm looking forward to your new OOTP 2006 dynasty(ies).

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Dagrims

I've been quiet for a long time but wanted to let you know that I enjoyed reading about your second season, and I'm looking forward to your new OOTP 2006 dynasty(ies).

Thanks, Dagrims.

I am looking forward to them, too.

But have to learn how to play the new version. It is a very complex monster. I may have to spend the next year learning it.

I will probably do some sims in this OOTP6.5 version for about 50 years and see how it comes out. I just won't cover it in as much detail as in the past.

How would you regulars like that?

I am thinking about using OOTPB2006 for an Alltime Allstar League and use the minors, so Gehrig would be in the Majors for the Yanks and Mattingly would be in AAA, Skowron in AA and Pepitone and Chambliss would be in A.

Comments are needed.

[batted balls]

Eugene,

Thanks for the update and Sox rundown. Off the top of my head, I'd run spring training and see what the reports say. With that in mind, I'd probably give shots to Doc White, Jack McDowell, Zeke Bonura and Bill Melton. Any thoughts about adding La Marr Hoyt or a current player like Joe Crede?

Thanks again for a great league. I'll continue to follow your league and posts!

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by batted balls

Eugene,

Thanks for the update and Sox rundown. Off the top of my head, I'd run spring training and see what the reports say. With that in mind, I'd probably give shots to Doc White, Jack McDowell, Zeke Bonura and Bill Melton. Any thoughts about adding La Marr Hoyt or a current player like Joe Crede?

Thanks again for a great league. I'll continue to follow your league and posts!

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have looked at La Marr Hoyt several times, but he would always lose out to the other pitchers I was considering. I will give him another look.

As far as current players, Ordonez and Konerko (only hit .205) are on the team. As the years go by I am sure Crede will be in there sooner or later.

If I ever use the minor leagues for this league, then Crede will certainly be in the farm system. I am thinking of setting up an OOTPB2006 Alltime Allstar Association and use 1900-1930 players for the Majors, 1930-1960 for Class AAA, 1960-1980 for Class AA and 1980-2006 players for Class A.

If the minor league stats are realistic in the new version...they were not in previous versions...then I might pursue this league idea.

[Eugene Church]

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Tuesday, September 30,1902

NATIONAL AND AMERICAN LEAGUES ANNOUNCE AWARD WINNERS

The Alltime Allstar Association announced its top awards winners today. The Baseball Writers of America bestowed the 1902 Golden Bat, Golden Arm and Rookie of the Year awards.

The National League best pitcher was Carl Hubbell of the pennant-winning New York Giants. He had a great season with 22 victories and only 6 losses with a 2.30 ERA, which was the best in the AAA.

The top hurler in the American League was fireballer Herb Score of the Cleveland Indians with a sparkling 20-7 mark and set a new strikeout standard with 254 on the year and a 2.89 ERA. The BWA presented each of them with the coveted Golden Arm trophy.

For the second year in a row New York's Babe Ruth garnered the American League Golden Bat award. He had a fine year last year, but improved on it this season. He set a new AL home run record with 43, easily beating his 35 from last year. Ruth hit .317 with 121 RBIs and 122 runs scored.

Turkey Stearnes of the Chicago Cubs had a standout year and took the best batter honors in the National League. He finished the season with a lofty .343 average, second best in the league, and added 37 homers, 122 RBIs and scored 125 times.

In the Rookie of the Year category, in a brilliant freshman season, the slugging first baseman of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sadahuru Oh, broke the AAA home run record with 44 circuit blasts in his first season. Ruth had held the record previously. Oh hit .302 and set new highs in the NL for 133 RBIs and tied the AAA mark with 131 runs scored.

The best AL newcomer was Boston's David Ortiz, who hit .277, drove in 104 runs, walloped 29 home runs and tallied 79 runs.

[batted balls]

Eugene,

Didn't nearly every team pass on drafting Sadahuru Oh?

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by batted balls

Eugene,

Didn't nearly every team pass on drafting Sadahuru Oh?

Yeah, he was the fifteenth selection.

Those other 14 teams really missed a player, didn't they.

Teams went for pitching first or to fill a position. Many teams skipped Oh because they already had a good quality first baseman.

[Eugene Church]

Just to refresh everybody's memory.

Originally posted February 1, 1902.

Available players for the Alltime Allstar Association Special Draft

Negro Stars:

Pitcher: Chet Brewer, Ray Brown, John Donaldson, Bill Foster, Jose Mendes, Dick Redding
Catcher: Louis Santop
First base: Mule Suttles
Third base: Boogum Wilson
Shortstop: Dobie Moore
Outfielders: Chino Smith, Cool Papa Bell, Willard Brown, Pete Hill, Alejandro Oms, Bill Wright

Japanese Stars:

Pitcher: Masaichi Kaneda, Victor Starffin, Kazahisa Inao, Akiro Bessho, Jiro Noguchi
Catcher: Katsuya Nomura
First base: Sadaharu Oh, Tetsuharu Kawakami
First base/Third base: Hiromitsu Ochiai
Third base: Shigeo Nagashima
Shortstop: Yasumitsu Toyota
Outfielders: Isao Harimoto, Kazhiro Yamauchi, Koji Yamamoto, Yutaka Fukumoto, Hiromitsu Kadota

Special Draft Observations and Analyses

Today is a very special day in the Alltime Allstar Association. The league will hold a special draft for some very fine Negro and Japanese stars. Each club will have one pick. We have already seen in the AAA inaugural season that the Negro players can compete quite well with the white ballplayers. Now we'll get to find out just how good the Japanese player is.

The worst team in baseball, Cincinnati will have the honor of the first pick. Manager Sparky Anderson needs help just about everywhere, especially in the pitching department. Cannonball Dick Redding, John Donaldson and Masaichi Kaneda will be at the top of their list. The Reds could use help at shortstop and second baseman. But the allure of such a renowned slugger like Sadaharu Oh (1B) may be too much to pass up. They might take his hitting over the pitching.

The St. Louis Browns get the second pick. The AL cellar-dwellers need help in pitching, outfield, 2B, 3B and SS. Skipper Earl Weaver drastically need some power hitters. They finish near the bottom in HRs with only 76 for the year. Oh maybe at the top of their list with 3B Nakashima and SS Moore and Toyota not far behind.

The Washington Senators have the third selection. They had poor pitching and no longball hitters this past season. They hit only 59 fourbaggers, next-to-last in that category. Only team worse was the Pirates with a pathetic 55. Manager/Owner Clark Griffith could use help at 1B, C, and 3B. Oh and Nakashima would be good choices for them. C Katsuya Nomura would really fill a need at catcher. Not only is he a good power hitter, he is a fine defensive catcher, that can play 140 games a year. C Louis Santop and 3B Boogum Wilson would be good choices, too.

Up fourth in the draft are the Boston Braves. Hitting is their greatest need. They led the AAA with a sparkling 3.26 team ERA, but still Bobby Cox could use 3 more solid pitchers to really put the final touches on his already excellent staff. They were by far the worst hitting team in both leagues...only .231 on the year. They have good power, finishing in sixth with 120. The Braves need to have some baserunners on when they hit them. Centerfielders Cool Papa Bell and Isao Harimoto would fill the bill for them. Both are excellent leadoff hitters and fine outfielders, too. 3B Hiromitsu Ochiai could supply some good hitting and add some more power to the lineup.

The fifth pick position is held by the Cleveland Indians. Manager Steve O'Neill will be looking for pitching and hitting. 3B and SS really need some help offensively. Nakashima and Toyota or Dobie Moore would be good additions, but they might not be around when the Tribe makes their choice. It might be easier to get a pitcher first.

Number six in the Special Draft goes to the Chicago Cubs. Players that hit for average will be their first priority. Charlie Grimm's Bruins have good home run production, finishing third in the AAA with 137, but fell short in batting average. OF Bell, OF Harimoto, 3B Nakashima, 1B/3B Ochiai and OF Pete Hill would all be a plus for the Windy City bunch.

The Brooklyn Dodgers and Skipper Tommy Lasorda get the seventh spot in the draft. Pitching help would be good, as well as some players, who hit for average. The Bums need to boost up at 2B, SS, 3B and in the OF. SS Moore, SS Toyota, 3B Wilson and OF Willard Brown might still be available.

Manager Joe McCarthy's Boston Red Sox get the nod at number eight. C, 2B, 3B, OF and pitcher is where they hope to shore up. Outfielders Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Koji Yamamoto, Yutaka Fukumoto, Willard Brown and Alejandro Oms may still be around. They are the most likely choice for the Bosox. Catchers and third basemen will mostly be gone by this pick.

Selecting ninth will be Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics. The A's were just about the best club in the AL in the second half of the season. A few good pickups and better performance by some of their underachivers could put them right up there with the Yanks and the Chisox. A pitcher, catcher and second baseman would hit the spot. They may just have to pick a good ballplayer, since there are only 2 catchers in the draft and no second basemen. The A's will have to go to the minors for a second sacker.

Choosing tenth in the Special Draft will be the St. Louis Cardinals, who finished well in the second half of the NL season, ending up in fourth place and only 2 games out of first place. Pitching is at the top of Tony Larussa's list...mainly relief pitching. A good hitting shortstop would be a good pickup and maybe a power-hitting outfielder. Neither of which may be left on the board.

The eleventh pick belongs to the Philadelphia Phillies, who surprised everybody with their tremendous second place finish in the National League, falling short by only one scant game. Manager Danny Ozark will be in the market for 2 starting pitchers to go with Pete Alexander and Robin Roberts. They already have a good solid lineup of everyday players, whose only shortcoming is not hitting for high enough average as in the case of sluggers Dick Allen and Mike Schmidt. SS Larry Bowa and 2B Fresco Thompson excelled last year, but provided no power at those positions.

The strong New York Giants will have the twelfth choice. Manager John McGraw would like to nab a good starting pitcher and improve at shortstop, third base and get a good outfielder for insurance purpose. Outfielders Mays, MVP Bonds and Ott are the best trio in the AAA.

Detroit and Hughie Jennings will use the thirteenth pick to improve in the pitching department, catcher and infield. At this point in the draft teams will just be picking the best player available, rather than trying to fill a certain need.

Manager Al Lopez of the Chicago White Sox has indicated his ballclub will use the fourteen selection to build up his pitching rotation. He would like to add a good-hitting catcher, power at third base and pickup a solid leftfielder that can add some zest to his club's attack.

Power, power and more power is what Manager Danny Murtaugh and the Pittsburgh Pirates want to add to their fine club. They were absolutely last in the whole AAA with only 55 roundtrippers all year long. In the World Series they were outhomered 15 to 2, but almost toppled the champion New York Yankees. The fifteenth pick in the Special Draft will try to rectify this horrific difficiency. You can rest assured they will pick the best home run hitter available when their turn comes. The Bucs could improve at pitching, catcher, first base and in the outfield, too.

The Alltime Allstar Association's first titleist, the New York Yankees and Manager Casey Stengel, will use the sixteenth choice in the draft to improve their pitching. They are in need of some good backups in the infield and outfield, too.

[Eugene Church]

Originally posted February 2, 1902


ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

February 2, 1902

TEAMS TAKE PITCHERS AS TOP 3 PICKS IN AAA SPECIAL DRAFT TODAY

The 3 bottom rung clubs went for pitching in the Alltime Allstar Association Special Draft of Negro and Japanese League players.

RHP Kazuhisa Inao was number one in the draft and selected by the Cincinnati Reds. Manager Sparky Anderson passed up on Japanese slugger Sadaharu Oh, who was the odds on favorite to go first in the draft.

Picking number two the St. Louis Browns decided to add to their mound corps with a fireballing lefthander, John Donaldson. Manager Earl Weaver was expected to go for the longball, but at the last minute decided on a pitcher.

The third pick went to Washington and Manager Clark Griffith chose Cannonball Dick Redding.

Fourth in the draft Cleveland and Manager Steve O'Neill took hard-hitting third baseman Boojum Wilson.

Speed merchant and power hitter Pete Hill was taken by the Manager Bobby Cox of the Boston Braves. They held the fifth selection.

The Cubs and Manager Charlie Grimm got their leadoff hitter, centerfielder and speed demon, Cool Papa Bell as the sixth pick.

Brooklyn and skipper Walt Alston filled one of their needs, a third baseman. Hiromitsu Ochiai was the seventh player selected. He also plays first base.

Joe McCarthy, manager of the Boston Red Sox claimed a fine catcher with power, Katsuya Nomura, as the eighth player chosen.

Power-hitting third sacker Shigeo Nagashima was taken ninth by the Philadelphia Athletics and Manager Connie Mack.

With the tenth choice the St. Louis Cardinals wanted a shortstop with some punch in his bat and got it in Dobie Moore. Manager Tony Larussa was overjoyed that he was still available.

The Phillies and Manager Danny Ozark in need of starting pitching nabbed control artist Jiro Noguchi. He was the eleventh player chosen and the fourth hurler.

Manager John McGraw of the Giants wanted to add some insurance in the outfield and got a high average hitter with some power in Chino Smith as pick number number twelve.

Detroit with the best hitting club in the AAA went to the mound for the thirteenth pick. A power pitcher Masaichi Kaneda was chosen by Manager Hughie Jennings.

Manager Al Lopez of the Chicago White was amazed no one has taken catcher Louis Santop in the early going. He was the chosen fourteenth in the Special Draft.

Pittsburgh and Manager Danny Murtaugh also couldn't believe their eyes when they saw that Sadaharu Oh, a great-fielding longball hitter, was still up on the board. They used pick number fifteen to select him. Many experts thought he would be the first or second pick in the draft.

And to finish off the Special Draft with the sixteenth and last selection of the day, the Alltime Allstar Association World Series champions named righthander Jose Mendes. Manager Casey Stengel was delighted to add him to his pitching rotation.

[Eugene Church]

It looks like OOTPB2006 is going to need a few patches, so I am going to continue the Alltime Allstar Association in OOTP6.5 version. When the new version is perfected, then I will consider creating a new AAA there and use the minors. The Major League will use players from 1900-1930, Class AAA 1930-1960 players, Class AA 1960-1980 players and Class A 1980-2006 players. I will then use the minors to promote and demote based on player performance.

If I have the time, I will continue to run this Dynasty report, but in less detail. That way I may be able to do 25 years or so and see how things come out using the OOTPB6.5 version.

[Eugene Church]

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Tuesday, April 1, 1903

AAA THIRD SEASON STARTS IN 10 DAYS

Winter and the off season have come and gone. Next year is finally here. The Hot Stove League is over and the Boys of Summer are back. The 1902 World Champions, Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics will try to defend their title and the other 15 teams in the American and National Leagues will try to dethrone them. The A's surprised everybody...especially John McGraw...by thumping the National League champs, the New York Giants, five games to two for the World Series crown.

It is the final days of Spring Training and final rosters will be decided soon.

[Eugene Church]

ALLTIME ALLSTAR ASSOCIATION

Wednesday, April 2, 1903

A'S GET DEVASTATING NEWS...GROVE INJURED...OUT FOR THE SEASON

The reigning World Series champs, the Philadelphia Athletics, got crushing news today, when doctors told them one of their prime pitching aces, Lefty Grove, will not play this season. He was hurt yesterday in an exhibition game against the Mobile Bears of the Southern Association. He ruptured his achilles tendon, when he slid into second trying to break up a double play. Grove was 20-6 with a 3.16 ERA last season, a vital cog in the A's success during 1902. He will be sorely missed. Three rookies will try to take up the slack, Ken Holtzman, Tim Hudson and Barry Zito.

[batted balls]

Wow, now that's devastating dynasty news!