Sometimes, you have to take the long way to get back home. Two local boys who won a high school state championship in the shadow of the Field of the Whales will get the opportunity to live out their dream and play for the local pro club.
The first is a clairvoyant wizard with the glove at third base who patterned his game after local third base legend Joe Cherry and then headed west for college to try to develop his bat to match his unmatchable glove. The second is a dazzlingly fast centerfielder capable of running down any ball that makes it out of the infield who sought out the rigor and discipline of a military academy to help bring out the best in his game. Both star athletes had often spoken to each other about their dream to don the Whales’ navy and to lead a Legacy Cup parade through their old neighborhood. Now, these two friends and potential once again teammates will have their shot as their journeys converge again in Brooklyn.
The Whales entered the 1909 draft as a team looking to its medium term future. The Brooklyn squad has a number of key pieces in the infield that are now in their 30s (or their late 30s in the case of star first baseman Ignatius Strawson) and a right fielder of a similar vintage. Brooklyn believes it may have come out of the draft with long-term answers at 1B/LF in 2nd Round pick Greenie Redgate, 2B via a trade of a pick to the cross-town Bakers for the limitless range of former first round pick William Curtis, 3B in 6th overall pick Buster Bennion, CF in 10th overall pick Rover Tipton, backup catcher in 4th Round pick Gator Fawcett, and the bullpen in 3rd Round pick Andrew Tice. Obviously, plenty can go wrong between the draft and a prospect’s potential debut in the Legacy Baseball League. But, Brooklyn feels that it has the pieces in place now to transition from its current, premier defensive roster to a new generation of stellar glovesmen while leaving room for some thump in the lineup at catcher, first base and in the corner outfield spots.
1st Round Pick, Number 6 Overall: 3B Robert “Buster” Bennion
Brooklyn gave up a lot to get this hometown kid. The Whales traded the 14th overall pick (acquired from Cleveland in the controversial Hyman Rickward trade) and top 3B prospect Mumbles Page to the Chicago Packers to acquire the right to select Bennion. The no-nonsense Bennion was a heavily recruited multi-sport athlete that elected to attend Sunrise Manor College to play baseball. Seen by some scouts around the league as a reach at number 6, the Whales prized the young third baseman’s ability to lace the ball into the gaps and his lightning fast reflexes. Pegged by Brooklyn as the best defender in a draft class with few plus defensive infielders, the Whales were excited to bring Bennion into the organization as a potential heir to Clovis Juby’s defensive prowess at the hot corner. Sometimes it works out that the best player is from right around the corner.
1st Round Pick, Number 10 Overall: CF Lewis “Rover” Tipton
To the Brooklyn front office, the draft appeared fairly deep at centerfield. But, there was one player that stood out to Brooklyn as the clear best defensive option at the position. And, so, when Tipton fell to their pick at number 10, Brooklyn was thrilled. With a similar game to his former high school teammate Buster Bennion–the ability to drive the ball hard to the gaps and outstanding defense–with more speed, Brooklyn sees Tipton as a competitor to current CF starter Elroy Soame for the starting job within a season or two. The Whales think he is capable of similar defensive wizardry to Soame but with a better bat (which could make him a potential MVP candidate in his prime). As a three year starter at Norwich College, Tipton showed an above average bat while contributing strong defense in the grass–there were few flyballs that he could not track down with his prodigious range and boundless energy. Additionally, Tipton was a three-time Academic All American and dazzled Brooklyn scouts with his advanced understanding of the game of baseball during their due diligence visits.
2nd Round Pick, Number 32 Overall: 1B/OF Greenie Redgate
After securing the two gloves that they coveted the most in the first round, Brooklyn turned to the offensive side of their roster with their second round pick. With the biggest bat in Brooklyn’s lineup, Ignatius Strawson, advancing in age, Brooklyn set out to create a succession plan for the heart of the order. After considering Redgate at each of their selections at 1.06 and 1.10, the Whales were ecstatic to find Greenie Redgate still available at 32. The Whales’ draft board had him as either the third or fourth best pure hitter in the 1909 draft class.
The northern New Jersey native was late to the game of baseball, taking it up for the first time as a senior in high school. He walked onto the team at Santa Ana College as a freshman by displaying tremendous hand-eye coordination and easy, natural power. However, his obvious lack of polish caused his coaches to affectionately dub him “Greenie,” a moniker that he still carries despite impressive offensive performances in each of his three collegiate seasons. The natural born hitter has an innate sense of hitting that cannot be taught, and when he hits it–and he often does–he hits it really hard. For someone still so new to baseball, Redgate is a fairly advanced hitter already. He will start in AAA Jersey City–not far from where he grew up–in the heart of the order. His eventual home, Brooklyn hopes, will most likely be splitting time between left field and first base and launching line drives all over Brooklyn from the middle of its lineup.
3rd Round Pick, Number 46 Overall: RP Andrew Tice
After acquiring RP Jewell Durtnell from the Pittsburgh Oilers in a trade shortly before the draft, Brooklyn used its third round pick of the 1909 draft to select a potential left handed complement to the exciting young right hander. The high school southpaw features an impressive three pitch mix–a fastball, cutter and curveball–that he uses to great effect in keeping hitters off balance. A product of the Academy League’s Mountain Academy, Tice demonstrated during his amateur career exactly why the Whales think he could be on the fast track to the majors. In 1909, Tice struck out roughly a quarter of the batters that he faced while displaying excellent control. The 18 year old lefty will start his journey to Brooklyn in AAA Jersey City–such is Brooklyn’s confidence in his advanced feel to pitch. He will join 22 year old right handed relief pitcher prospect Carl Clarke in the Chicks’ bullpen and create a stellar 1-2 punch in the backend of games that could be bringing its talents to Brooklyn sooner rather than later.
4th Round Pick, Number 64 Overall: C Charles “Gator” Fawcett
The Whales’ fourth round selection was used on Louisiana native catcher Gator Fawcett. Fawcett’s colorful personality endeared him to his coaches at Los Angeles College, even if he the Boy from the Bayou had a hard time blending in out West. His teammates took to calling him Gator after he successfully wrestled an alligator on a bet from a teammate during an away series at Louisiana State, where he felt more in his element. The other thing that endeared Fawcett to his college coaches was his impeccable batting eye and the professionalism that he displayed in working with LAC’s pitching staff. Freshman Pitcher of the Year winner Adelbert Wintle credit Fawcett with easing his transition to college ball and working with him to make sure he was always in a position to succeed. Brooklyn ultimately hopes that Gator can serve as a backup catcher to potential Hall of Famer Deacon Dunkley in coming seasons with the potential to takeover at some point well down the line.
5th Round Pick, Number 80 Overall: SP Ransom Belgrave
Belgrave is about as volatile a selection as the Whales could have made to supplement its minor league pitching. The 17 year old lefty throws four different fastballs and doesn’t bother with anything off-speed. Instead, he relentlessly attacks batters and attempts to bend them to his will. At just barely over 17 and a half years old, the flamethrower has a lot of potential to add velocity to each of his fastball offerings as he matures into his currently lanky build. He’s a bit of a lottery ticket at the moment–all projection–but hopefully the Whales’ minor league staff can mold him into something terrifying over the next 5-6 years
6th Round Pick, Number 96 Overall: 3B John Rowles
Sixth round pick John Rowles is a left handed hitting third baseman with a cannon for an arm and acceptable range at the hot corner. He was a part-time player in each of his three years at Norwich College (where he was a teammate to first round pick Rover Tipton). Beyond first round pick Buster Bennion, the Whales’ minor league system is light on decent third basemen. And, so, they will hope to bring Rowles along as an organizational piece where his glove and reasonable batting eye should help plug some holes as he advances through the minor leagues.
The Rest
OF Ralph Kettel showed a good bat in 2 out of his 3 years at Indianapolis College and should fortify the Whales’ minor league corner outfield depth as Moony Ford and, to a lesser extent, Brains Badcoe make their arguments for promotion to AAA Jersey City in the near future. 2B Henry Norris has the look of an organizational second baseman that should sure up an otherwise shallow position in the Whales’ system from the bench. C George Threlkeld has some questions about his make-up, but the Whales will give him an opportunity to start at AA Sleepy Hollow and see if a professional routine helps to keep his head on straight.