TAL SMITH AND BILL VIRDON
~ SOMETIME IN THE LATE 1970’S PERIOD IN WHICH THESE TWO MEN, AS PRESIDENT/GM AND FIELD MANAGER WERE GEARING UP THE HOUSTON ASTROS FOR THEIR FIRST DIVISION CROWN IN 1980. ~
Every now and then, one of my research friends drops a little almost lost baseball history angel dust on the the doorstep of The Pecan Park Eagle. The credit today, as so often is the case, goes to Darrell Pittman of Astros Daily.Com, who found this precious jewel by Tal Smith on the pages of the March 14, 1962 edition of the Lewiston (ME) Evening Journal. It is Tal’s exclusive personally written report to the Lewiston newspaper on the brand new Houston Colt .45s’ rookie prospects, going into their first season of play at a time in which Smith served the brand new MLB club as their Farm Club Director.
Thank you, Darrell Pittman! And enjoy the literacy and quick mind that always has been Tal Smith, everyone! “1962” was only an eye-blinking half century plus two years ago.
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HOUSTON COLTS HAVE 17 WITH NO LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
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This is another National League “Rookie Prospects” series prepared with the cooperation of the Farm Directors, each of whom has written an “exclusive” on his club.
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By TAL SMITH
Houston Farm Director
The Colt .45s boast the largest crop of rookie prospects in the recent history of any Major League club as they embark on their initial season in the National League. Seventeen youngsters without any previous major league experience are listed on the Houston roster.
Nine of the 17 rookies were signed originally as free agents and are pure products of the Houston farm system. Five were acquired during recent months through draft, purchase or trade from other major league organizations. The remaining three were among the 23 players selected in the National League player pool. In addition, two other players acquired in the pool, infielder George Williams and outfielder Ed Olivares, saw only limited major league action late in the 1961 season.
Rookie Pitchers
DAVE GIUSTI
Ten rookie pitchers are numbered among the hurlers that will report to Manager Harry Craft this spring. Dave Giusti and Gerry Nelson, in particular, are considered prime candidates for a berth on the major league staff.
Giusti, a 22 year-old righthander, was signed following his graduation from Syracuse University last June. In his professional debut with Jacksonville, he hurled a one-hit shutout and went on the win 7 games in two months and post a 2.29 earned-run average in the South Atlantic League. He struck out 82 batters while allowing only 87 hits and 42 walks in 118 innings. He was promoted to the Houston Buffs in the American Association late in the 1961 season and complied a 2-0 record. In the Arizona Instructional League this past winter, he continued to impress by winning 3 of 4 decisions. Dave possesses all the attributes to become a winning pitcher in the majors in short order despite the fact he has had just half a season in organized ball.
Nelson is a righthander who won 9 game for the Buffs in little more than half a season. Gerry was inactive during the 1960 season and was subsequently purchased by the Houston organization. He showed definite signs last year that he was ready to attain the major league status predicted for him throughout his six-year minor league career.
Not Ready Yet
Don Altman, Joe Clement, and Wallace “Butch” Mixon are three other righthanders signed during 1961 that are highly regarded as major league prospects. However, their availability during the coming season is questionable. Altman and Clement face Army calls and Mixon will be sidelined temporarily with minor surgery.
Altman, the former Duke quarterback, displayed exceptional control and poise that belie his brief experience. He walked only 32 batters in 116 innings at Jacksonville and went on to record a 3.52 ERA in the strong Arizona Instructional League.
Clement, an All-America baseball selection at the University of Connecticut had a 2.12 ERA at Jacksonville ad hurled 2 shutouts in 7 starts.
Mixon, a product of L.S.U, also made the jump directly from college campus to the Class A South Atlantic League. After half a season at Jacksonville, he earned promotion to the AAA Buffs and his composite record in A and AAA showed a total of 13 wins in his first pro season.
Wolf is Like Duren
WALLY WOLF
Wally Wolf, 20-year old righthander from the University of Southern California, and Kenny Pate, a 19-year old southpaw, are other hurlers with excellent potential.
Wolf resembles Ryne Duren with his thick glasses and wildness. He has a live fast ball that sinks and showed marked improvement in his control in Arizona this fall. Once he masters his control problems, he should advance rapidly.
Pate, who was also highly sought after as a free agent, has an exceptional curve ball and made good progress at Jacksonville and in the Arizona Winter League.
Other pitchers receiving a trial this spring are Don Arlich, a 19-year old left-hander signed late last season and righthanders Paul Roof and Jesse Hickman who were selected in the player pool. All three possess major league arms and are considered outstanding prospects.
Catchers
Catchers Jim Campbell and Merritt Ranew figure to have an excellent chance with the Colts in 1962. Both are regarded as fine hitters and capable receivers.
Ranew, acquired in the player pool, is a 23-year old lefthanded hitter. He hit .347 with Louisville in the American Association in 1961 and .364 with Yakima in 1960.
Campbell, who was also acquired from Louisville early in 1961, is a righthanded hitter with good power. He hit .261 with the Buffs last year after making the jump from Class A.
J.C. HARTMAN
J.C. Hartman, acquired in a trade from the Cubs organization, figures to wage a good battle for an infield position with the big club. A steady fielder and tough at the plate in the clutch, J.C. has great desire and aggressiveness, and makes the most of his ability.
Jim McDaniel, Johnny Weekly, and Aaron Pointer are strong outfield prospects.
McDaniel, a recent acquisition, has an impressive minor league background and is counted on to provide the long ball.The 29-year old McDaniel hit 30 home runs and drove home 114 runs at Denver in the American Association in 1961. He hit .282 and is considered a fine outfielder. In his last ten years in the minor leagues, Jim has hit 259 home runs and batted in 100 or more runs in five of those seasons.
The 24-year old Weekly was drafted by Houston this past winter. Johnny was considered a top prospect before dislocating his leg in spring training in 1960. He bounced back last year to hit .287 at Victoria in the Texas League with 21 home runs, 82 RBI’s and 18 stolen bases.
Pointer potentially should become one of our brightest stars. Only 19-years old, he is a consistent line drive hitter with good power and great speed. In a full season with Salisbury, he hit .402 and also led the Class D league in stolen bases (40), hits, total bases, triples and runs scored. Advanced to the Houston Buffs at the close of the season, he hit .375 and then continued his assault upon opposing pitchers by hitting .300 in the fast Arizona Winter League. Aaron played first base in 1961, but was converted to an outfielder in the winter league to further capitalize on his great speed.
Ronnie Davis, another rookie outfielder, will not report until the close of the spring semester at Duke University. At Jacksonville last year, Ronnie showed promise of developing into one of the game’s most brilliant and colorful centerfielders.
“30”
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Here’s the link to the original article that Darrell Pittman sent to The Pecan Park Eagle. The above text is an exact copy of the original in a hopefully more readable form.
Thanks again, Darrell Pittman for being the good friend and great baseball researcher you really are! And thank you too, Tal Smith, for being a good friend to all of us in the baseball community, as well as an iconic spokesperson for the best interests of baseball in the 21st century!
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