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BUFFALO -- With the sale of the franchise looming overhead and no-name rookies playing out a 7-23 September, the sun seemed to be setting on baseball in Buffalo. Less than a year later, the team has a new owner, twenty new players, a new nickname, and a new habit of winning that's bringing fans back to the ballpark. By giving up on the old, fallen Beast, and bringing in twenty new, young Buffaloes from the minors and even the Negro Leagues, owner John Stonebraker established a new direction for the franchise. Built around pitching and defense, the team expected to finish in the first division. Playing consistent if not excellent baseball, the team found itself 42-33 at the All-Star break despite the failures of first baseman Gil Hodges (.215) and DH Tommy Brown (.218). Some wondered if the sale of Ferris Fain to Nashville was as appropriate as it appeared.
The voices of dissent only grew louder when Stonebraker traded three players, including local icon Bob Feller, to Worcester for the unspectacular Bill Wight and Wally Westlake. The team then proved itself a contender with a 19-13 run, led by Westlake (10 HR in 130 AB) and a reborn Hodges (38-119). The only question now is whether the team, which would be the front-runner in the West, can catch the overachieving Seattle franchise. Even if that task proves impossible, the season can already be considered a success. The team has several rookies that should develop in coming seasons, and this season's improved attendance increases the budget for the upcoming offseason draft. Is there sunshine in Buffalo? Maybe not yet, but it appears to be on the horizon.