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Current Date	July 5, 2008
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Introducing Your Rick Blast Rookie of The Year
By Uncle Buc

The list of past Rick Blast Award winners is a who's who list of LBA greats. Many previous winners have already been elected to the Hall of Fame while many others have been considered. More recent recipients are considered among the best players in the game today.

Not since Xit Zquentizil took home the 1916 NL Award has there been a more unlikely winner than Sherman Conway, the recipient of the 1925 SL Rick Blast Award and Rookie of The Year honor.

Conway who played in just his 2nd season of professional baseball was the sixth overall selection in the 1924 First Year Player Draft. Last year, He earned a late season call-up from Vestaur after hitting .343 in 254 AAA at-bats. He hit .317 for the Dragons during August and September and didn't commit an error in over 170 chances at second base. He helped spark the team to a first round upset in the playoffs by hitting .310.

However, not even Conway envisioned what he would accomplish this season. In a season that saw several offensive league and team records fall, Conway led the way by shattering the single season hits record with 259. That is 24 better than the record set by Johnny Espree. His hits total led to a .395 average which was 37 points higher than the next best hitter in the league and the fourth best average in league history. Not bad for a player labled by scouts as a slightly above average contact hitter.

Conway came within six runs of breaking the single season runs scored record with 134. He stole 97 bases which is the most since Herschel Pruitt and Michael Monet both topped 100 stolen bases in 1912. With just 7 homeruns, Conway joined Pruitt as the only other player to win the leagues top offensive honor without hitting atleast 10 homeruns. In addition, he broke atleast nine Vestaur single season offensive records.

Conway is the 6th player to win both the Rick Blast Award and Rookie of the Year honor but is the first player to win both Awards in the same season. Since 1902- Red Vedder, Herschel Pruitt and R.J. Hill each won the Rick Blast in their 2nd full LBA season.

Two More Cap Careers With Hall of Fame Inductions

By Uncle Buc

A pair of third baseman were elected as the newest members of the LBA's Hall of Fame. Nine ballots were cast for the class of 1925 and Steve King garnered 88% approval while Zack Donelson appeared on 77% of the ballots cast.

click here to read more

LBW Ranks Most Effective Pinch Hitters

By Goody

Must have at least 25 plate appearances as a pinch hitter to qualify. Stats are through 8/10/25

1. Jaime Hansen, Broncdom Breakers, 27 PA, .346, .346, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 hr, 7 rbi
2. Imax Lisbon, Alicia Aces, 45 PA, .308, .400 oba, 1 double, 2 triples, 1 hr, 12 rbi
3. Berre Privette, Mastport Steamers, 51 PA, .317, .356 oba, 2 doubles, 2 hr, 9 rbi
4. William Ervin, Alicia Aces, 46 PA, .300, .348 oba, 5 doubles, 1 hr, 6 rbi
5. Columbus Garay, Broncdom Breakers, 41 PA, .314, .351 oba, 2 doubles, 1 hr, 5 rbi
6. James Myers, Dark Cove Bounty Hunters, 27 PA, .333, .360 oba, 1 double, 1 hr, 4 rbi

Say it ain't so, Joe!

By Goody

Sunday, June 14th, 1925:
Unknown Suffers Major Injury, Career Over

Joe Unknown's baseball career was pronounced over today, the result of a ruptured disc (back).

How will they ever replace him??

Laseron Baseball Weekly

By The Media

Independent League Players to Watch

The Opening Day for the Independent League takes on more significance this season because the first time LBA teams will have an opportunity to sign some of these players after this season. The biggest names could be two pitchers from Great Forest. But there are some interesting position players that could become available. Here is a list of of potential Indpendent League free agents to keep an eye on.

Pitchers to Watch
1. John Walden - Great Forest

LBA owners will do well to keep an eye on this pitcher. Definitely best Independent League player that could declare for free agency. Walden has put the top five single season strikeout totals in ILL history. In fact, Tracey Parker holds the LBA single season strikeout total with 297. Walden has registered 322, 357, 354, 339 and 349 strikeouts in the last five seasons. The LBA would be a step up in for the southpaw. But Laseron Baseball Analysts think he has better stuff than anyone else in the league. He may give up an occasional walk or homer.

2. Earl Watkins - Great Forest

Don't let his 48-46 career record fool you, he's a top notch pitch. He's overshadowed by his more dominate teammate, but consider that the 257 strikeouts he rang up in 1924 were the most by any pitcher in the Independent Leagues not named John Walden or John Greenwell. Despite his looks that long ago earned him the nickname "Maniac", this is no wild man on the mound. He is successful because he has pinpoint control. He only walked 35 batters last season. His aggressiveness in the strike zone does make him vulnerable to the long ball. There's also some concern about his conditioning. He can still be an ace for a rebuilding team. But ideally he'd be a number two for a team with championship aspirations.

3. Lyle Cushing - Salara

He's not in the class of Walden and Watkins. Doesn't throw hard. But hits his spots. He'll keep the ball in the park. And he doesn't walk many. As a result, he eats innings and keeps his team in games. Would be a solid contributor to the back end of someone's rotation.

4. Scott Fraga - Tempura

see Lyle Cushing

5. William Sigmund - Seafaros

Closers are little used in the Independent Leagues so his numbers aren't impressive. But Sigmund is a solid closer. If a team needs a closer or a setup man, then he can be a real find.

Players to Watch
1. Eugene Bundy - Poberia

Patient hitter with line drive power. Career .300 hitter. He won the Super Colossal Hitter Award in 1922. Bats third in the Roosters lineup. But probably projects as a #2 or #5 hitter. Average base runner. Average fielder. He has a good enough arm to not be an embarrassment in right field. Can play either corner outfield position.

2. Paul Bull - Dilgrane

Second baseman, that is similar to Bundy. Bull is also a career .300 hitter. He won the Super Colossal Hitter Award in 1924. Bundy is a more patient hitter. Bull is a better contact hitter and has better bat control. He's a very good base runner and could bat leadoff. He's a mediocre fielder, but a team could ignore that considering his offensive production. His age may be what ultimately limits the amount of interests he gets. He's 34.

3. Joseph Nichols - Seafaros

Probably the best athlete on this list. Also, 29, the youngest player on the list. Not quite the hitter that Bull and Bundy are. But he has a little more power. Bats cleanup for the Independents. But, with his speed, can hit anywhere in the lineup. He puts that speed to use in the field, also. He shows very good range and can play all the outfield positions. Left field is probably his best position.

4. Timothy Norris - Seafaros

Potential center fielder and leadoff hitter. He has very little power. But he is a very good base runner. And very good outfielder.

5. John O'Bannon - Dilgrane

Power hitting, left handed first baseman. At this point, he's probably best used as part of a platoon.

See inside for other Independent League players to watch inside.

Past Champions

1925