United League of American Base B

Griffins Soar into Contention
Holloway's Men Go on Hitting Binge
DETROIT (June 2) -- The Detroit Griffins were the league's hottest team in late May, winning 11 of 16 games to pull within a game of second place. The Griffs thrice scored in double digits--each time against rivals Manhattan, who they beat six times in a row. The first blowout came on May 16, a 12-3 mauling at the Polo Grounds in which Lee Walls homered and drove in four.   The next day, Detroit treated Dean Chance to an old-fashioned bare-ass spanking. Second baseman Denis Menke doubled twice and homered for five RBIs in a 11-2 rout. A fortnight later at Briggs Stadium, Gil McDougald, Jim King, and Ed Bouchee had three hits each during a 19-hit barrage in a 13-3 win. (Unfortunately for Detroit fans, Bob Gibson left the game with back spasms after just one pitch and will likely be out until August.)
   All told, Detroit outscored Manhattan 51-11 in their six meetings. Asked what sparked the offensive outburst against the recent expansion team, McDougald cited April 25, when the Gray Sox pummelled the Griffins 15-6. "That was a tough loss. They really laid it on Pedro (Ramos). I'll never forget watching that smug bastard Tasby circling the bases with his damn 'two flaps down'." "Apenas no tenemos gusto de esos impermeables de ciudad del primadona," Ramos interjected. Rough translation: "We just don't like those primadona city slickers."
   The star of the month was undoubtedly Frank Howard, who hit .303 with 11 homers and drove in an unconscionable 36 RBIs (clearly some kind of record). "Hondo" ranks second only to Hank Aaron in RBIs, with 46. The other May hero was Ramos, whose 1.78 ERA in 8 starts paced the club, although he managed to win only four of those and he maintains a losing record (6-7) on the year.

Sign(ings) of the Time
Trio of vets re-up with the Colts
by Lance Mueller
CHICAGO (June 2) -- In what has to be seen as an all out effort to keep a good thing going, three teammates have now joined early season signer Don Mossi in the Colts’ extended stay suite. Fifth year Chicago vets Joe Adcock and Hank Thompson re-upped for three and two years respectively, while third year man Jim Busby tacked on two more years to his Windy City lease. While the signing of this tandem of “oldsters” – Adcock is the “kid” at 35 – has many around the leagues scratching their heads, Colts’ GM Lance Mueller has this to say, “The signing of these fine athletes and even finer men several years ago helped to turn this club into the winner it is today. I have no doubt their continued time here will mean continued success for the club. To put it plainly, we are honored that Joe, Jim and Hank have agreed to stay in Chicago.”
So far Mueller’s words have been prophetic, as the Colts’ have averaged 20 wins a month for the first two months of the season. For his part Joe Adcock, the team’s uber-quiet left fielder, thanked his GM for the contract extension by blasting opposing pitchers (.380, 10HR, 27RBI, 22R, 1.123OPS) on his way to the May BOM award. “I just wanted to let him know I appreciated what he done,” the soft-spoken southerner could barely be heard to say. With four veterans wrapped up for a few more years to come, many are wondering if the Colts will be willing to rely on any warm bodies from KC to help out the big squad in the near future, or does the wily Mueller have more ink in that pen he seems so happy to pass around?