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F.A. ROUNDS 3-5 RECAP
Pizarro Trapped in Spiders' Web
SAN FRANCISCO (March 14) -- Juan Pizarro turned down lucrative offers from half the league and chose to spend the next half decade with the only team he's ever known.  The 25-year-old Puerto Rican signed a five-year, $33.5 million deal with the Spiders ($6.71 million per year).

Colts Get Busby in Multi-Million Dollar Deal
In one of the offseason's other main bidding wars, Chicago's GM Lance Mueller came out smiling, winning the services of veteran center fielder Jim Busby with a three-year deal worth just this side of $12 million.  Busby, a 35-year-old former Gotham, is a toolsy .297 lifetime hitter with great defensive range.  His best years were with the New York Gothams from 1955-58, when he averaged about 160 hits per year and hit .290 or better each year.  In 1959, he joined San Francisco and suffered a strained ACL that slowed him down over the next several years.  He hit .301 in 326 at bats that year, but hit just .234 in 1960, bouncing back to .284 in 102 at bats last year.

F.A. ROUND 2 RECAP
Expansion Texans Ink Brewer for $3 Million
DALLAS (March 8) -- Dallas GM Ben DeGrass made starting pitcher Tom Brewer the highest paid player of this year's FA auction thus far, signing the 30-year-old righthander to a three year deal worth $3 million per year.  Brewer, 30, was the Boston Beacons' first round pick in 1954, but never materialized as a quality starter.  The Wadesboro, N.C. native only emerged as a major league regular in 1957, the year he was traded to Detroit, when he posted an 11-18, 5.27 in 36 games, and has won just 11 games in the last four seasons as his ERAs drifted upward and his innings pitched tapered off.  The Texans are hoping a change of scenery will give the veteran a new lease on life, or at least help ease the burden on a pitching staff that is likely to be overworked.

Pizarro Expects Another Big Pay Day
Free agent pitcher Juan Pizarro expects to cash in on a growing bidding war for his services in 1962.  No fewer than eight teams have bid on the 25-year-old righthander.   Pizarro was a first round draft pick (5th overall) in 1957 and spent three years with the San Francisco Spiders before being accidentally released, then re-signed, in a costly roster bungle in 1960 that set the club back $7.5 million.  The Spiders won a bidding war to retain the Puerto Rican for two seasons, but the deal cost them $4.75 million per year when they could have renewed his contract for a cool million.  Pizarro won 31 games over the last two seasons, posting a 3.64 ERA in 1960 and a 4.44 mark last year, pitching 278 innings in 42 starts.

F.A. ROUND 1 RECAP
Campanella Signs With Boston
Feds Land Six Players in First Round
BOSTON (March 5) -- Shawn Martin's GothFeds, decimated by the loss of 11 players to the expansion draft, signed six players in the first five days of free agent signings, including former All-Star catcher Roy Campanella, who inked a one-year, $2 million deal.

Church Joins Gray Sox, Ginsberg to S.F.
MANHATTAN (March 5) -- Jeff Gurganus' Manhattan Gray Sox were active participants in the first round of FA bidding, nabbing two pitchers, including starting pitcher Bubba Church, and two outfielders.  Church, 36, has a career record of 125-130 and career ERA of 3.99, including six straight seasons under 4.00.
   Meanwhile, the San Francisco Spiders signed veteran catcher Joe Ginsberg to a three-year, $2 million contract.  Ginsberg, 34, was a member of the Washington Monuments championship teams in 1954 and 1956, and was Dallas' third overall pick in the 1962 expansion draft, only to be cut loose to do payroll constraints.

The Federal Newsletter
by Shawn Martin

1st Round of “Free Agency” Done! Feds Net Six – The Boston Federals were very busy this week, signing six players to major league contracts during the United League’s Free Agency period’s first round.  2B Cass Michaels, C Roy Campanella and SP’s Camilo Pascual, Ralph Terry, Sam Jones and Bob Shantz all signed with the Feds, with Campanella cashing in with a $2M one-year deal.  “Having Campy join our squad for 1962 will be a great addition for our young group of catchers,” GM/Owner Shawn Martin stated in a press release, “For all the things a former MVP can teach those kids, the price was a bargain.”  Michaels adds some depth to the infield, and he will likely battle incumbent second-sacker Tony Taylor for the starting job.  “As far as the arms we obtained are concerned, we felt that adding depth to our system was critical particularly after the expansion draft sucked up a bunch of our contingencies,” Martin continued, “I like Pascual’s heart, and the organization feels that Ralph Terry can become a regular starter in this league with a little seasoning.”  Due to their expansion losses, the Feds’ starting rotation has a gaping hole in the #4 slot, and Martin is hoping that one of his signings can come up and contribute at the big-league level.

Federals Select First Round Draft Pick – The Federals selected catching prospect Tom Haller with their first-round pick (#8 overall) in the UL Rookie Draft.  Haller, a lanky 6’4” 195 lb. Illinois native, has the potential to be a power-hitting threat with some time in AAA.  “First off, Tom is a good kid with a great head for the game,” GM Martin said, “We really like his raw tools (a steady arm and a solid bat), but in our scouting we noticed that his pitchers really trust him with calling the game.  Not all backstops can boast that trust.”  The free agent signing of former MVP Roy Campanella likely signifies that Haller will get at least 1962 to work on his skills, something that was important to Martin.  “We feel that spring training is going to be a great experience for Tom.  I can’t think of a better role model for him than Campy, a catcher with a fantastic track record.”  The Federals next pick will be in the second round, the 20th overall selection in the UL draft.

News and Notes – Martin announced that former Gotham All-Star and Franchise player Jackie Robinson would be added to the Federals’ coaching staff, as an Infielders/Bench Coach.  The four-time All Star was the UL’s MVP in 1952, and retired in 1958… Rumors abound concerning star RF Roberto Clemente, who reportedly requested a trade out of town.  Cleveland and the expansion team in Manhattan have been mentioned in talks, although neither management nor Clemente had any comment.  Reportedly the Feds are looking for a 1st round pick along with a starting pitcher in return for him… Rumors are also floating around the Federals’ temporary office at New Boston City Hall that the administrative staff will be moving to the renovated offices within Fenway Park earlier than expected, possibly before Opening Day.  Workers also completed their field prep work at Fenway last week, two weeks ahead of schedule.

Protracted Stadium Wrangle Continues
As Monuments Rebuild
by Doug Aiton