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10-09-2023, 08:11 PM
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#801 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 9,715
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October 14, 1948
 OCTOBER 14, 1948  MY CHOICE FOR TOP CONTINENTAL MANAGER This decision was not taken lightly. We had a repeat winner in the Continental Association just like the Federal loop and while both of those managers should be commended on their efforts, I like to find the nuggets. Or what I feel is truly exceptional work. The Montreal Saints have not had a winning record since 1930, when they finished 3rd in the CA with an 86-68 record. And while they still haven't achieved a winning record, they did finish the year at an even 500 77-77 and had to win their last 4 games to do it. They also went 38-34 after the All-Star break and showed some improvement. The Saints Manager Jim Cator has been on the job roughly 1 1/2 seasons since taking over in 1947. The Saints finished 33-38 down the stretch under Cator in the 47 season which was a drastic improvement over the 32-51 they were before he arrived. In my mind Jim Cator is the CA Manager of the year having done something that hasn't happened in almost 20 years. A non-losing season for the Saints. Can Cator and the Saints management improve on that and finally get back into a pennant race in 1949? For long suffering Saints fans the answer is a hopeful, Oui! I took a hard look at Toronto's Bob Call, who has been embattled the last several years in the press and from the ownership box. The Wolves have had some success this decade, evening winning the World Series in 1940 and 3 straight 2nd place finishes along the way. The last couple of years saw a lot of struggles and the Wolves were not figured into being a contender this seasons. But they surprised everyone and improved 8 games and went from the 2nd division to 3rd place just 5 games out. Call's contract is up and there has been no word on his status in Toronto.   KNIGHTS CONFIDENT HEADING INTO SHOWDOWN WITH ST MAGNUS The Detroit City College Knights are finally in the spot they thought they should have been in at the end of last season - ranked number one in the polls thanks to a 3-0 start and a little help from their friendly rivals down the road in Lansing, who crushed St Blane's dreams of another perfect season Saturday. The Knights have outscored their three opponents by an 85-13 margin in earning road wins at St Ignatius and Whitney College sandwiched around a closer than expected 9-0 shutout of Tommy Norwood and his Portland Tech Magpies. Quarterback Paul Erdinger is now a seasoned veteran, starting for the third straight season as a senior and has guided the Knights to a 22-1 record over that stretch. The Knights have not lost in Great Lakes Alliance section play since falling to Central Ohio back in 1944 -that was the year the Aviators were perfect but like the Knights a year ago had to settle for being considered #2 in the polls. Meanwhile, in Latrobe this week the Fighting Saints have been saying all the right things despite the fact that the loss to St Ignatius on their home field Saturday all but doomed St Blane to having no chance at a record third consecutive national title. Christian Trophy candidate Joe Fulgham, the senior jitterbug who dabbles in baseball as well and has 335 yards rushing in just three games although he was held to a season low 97 by the Lancers Saturday, says the team is not worried about the polls. "We can only control what we do," explained the senior halfback/centerfielder. "We are obviously disappointed with the loss but it is a long season and we are confident we will get back on track." This week seems like it is tailor-made for a bounce back from the Fighting Saints who travel west to face College of Omaha. The Raiders are 1-2 and should hardly instill much fear in St Blane with losses to Minnesota Tech and Boulder State over the past two weeks.   DESMARAIS DECLINES TITLE SHOT Will Fight Melanson, Then Return To France Former World and Current European Middleweight Champion Edouard Desmarais has told the American Boxing Federation thanks, but no thanks. The 33-year-old Frenchman, who beat Frank Melanson in July to win the world title only to lose it in a controversial split decision in Montreal to Canadian Adrian Petrie nearly two weeks ago, was granted an immediate rematch by the ABF after their investigation of the bout. Desmarais took a few days to consider it but has declined the opportunity to be the opponent for Petrie's first title defense and will instead fight Melanson at New York's Bigsby Garden January 8 as had been agreed to last month. "I do not want to be given anything," said Desmarais in a brief press conference, "and I certainly don't want anyone thinking that Petrie did anything wrong so I will respectfully decline the ABF's invitation for a rematch." Desmarais did not rule out perhaps fighting for the world title again but said he missed his home in France and planned to return, but would settle the score against Melanson before heading home. Melanson-Desmarias III was supposed to be a third title fight between the pair until Petrie got in the way with his split-decision win. It is still expected to be a large payday for the Frenchman and his rival from Pittsburgh -a favourite of the working man who always draws a large following- as the duo battle for bragging rights once and for all. Melanson won the first fight between the pair during his first run as world champion back in October of 1946 before Desmarais took the belt away from Frank the Tank with a 5th round TKO win in Philadelphia in July. Melanson camp acknowledged that their fighter was very happy that the rubber match between the two rivals would go on as planned. As for Petrie, he offered no reaction beyond saying he was going to take a few weeks to relax while plans were being finalized for who the Canadian, and now World champ would face in his first defense of the middleweight title. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from 10/11/1948 to 10/13/1948
__________________
Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles |
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10-10-2023, 12:14 PM
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#802 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 9,715
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October 12, 1948* see editor's note
*Editor's note - A minor timeline issue as I posted what was material to use for a possible game 5 of the WCS last night but forgot I could have held it to use today as I neglected to remember we run a 1-day sim immediately after the conclusion of the WCS. So here is another special edition of TWIFB.
OCTOBER 12, 1948 COUGARS ACQUIRE CHUBBY HALL Outfielder Returns to Club That Drafted Him Perhaps it is a sign that this might be a busy off-season with news just a day after the World Championship Series was completed that a trade was made. No surprise that one of the team's involved was the usually busy Chicago Cougars as the club continues to search for that final ingredient that can lead them to the promised land of a long-anticipated pennant. The latest player to carry the burden of those hopes will be veteran outfielder Chubby Hall, who will be quite happy to pack his bags and leave New York for the Windy City. Hall had been looking for a trade as, after some solid seasons as an everyday outfielder during the war, he was the odd man out the past couple of years and started just 25 games during the 1948 campaign. A .268 career hitter in 880 big league games, all with the Stars, Hall actually got his professional start with the Cougars, who selected the New York City native in the third round of the 1935 FABL draft. He spent parts of 4 seasons in the Cougars system before being moved to Washington in a 1939 deal that brought Johnnie Jones to Chicago. He never made it to the big leagues with the Eagles as a year later he was dispatched to the Stars. Once a top 15 OSA prospect, Hall has not yet lived up to that billing, but he may get a chance with the Cougars although with Leo Mitchell, Sal Pestilli and Hal Sharp, their outfield is nearly as crowded as the one that Hall just departed. In return the Stars acquire minor league righthander Dick Garcia from the Cougars. The 23-year-old is not considered much of a prospect by OSA, which ranks him 456 on the current prospect pipeline but the 23-year-old was a third round pick out of a Chicago-area high school. In 33 starts between AAA and AA last season, Garcia went 14-16 with a 4.95 era. TWO LINKS TO BIGGEST DEAL IN WOLVES RECENT HISTORY RETIRE This might foretell of Fred McCormick's end coming in the next season or two as two players who were involved in the famous trade that moved the legendary first baseman from St Louis to Toronto both announced their retirement today. That would be catcher Clarence Howerton, who accompanied McCormick on the trip from the Pioneers to Wolves and pitcher Jack Smith, who was one of five players who went the other way. Howerton, 39, is a veteran of 1,728 career FABL games, which is the fourth highest all-time amongst catchers, trailing only T.R. Goins, Mike Taylor and Carl Ames. A 14th round drat pick of St Louis in 1927 and made his big league debut with the Federal Association club at the age of 22 in 1932. After six seasons as a backup with the Pioneers, Howerton was sent to the Wolves in part of the famous trade that also moved Fred McCormick to Canada. An all-star in 1940, Howerton helped the Wolves win the World Championship Series that year, batting .368 in the 5-game win over Pittsburgh which would be his only foray into the post-season. Also announcing his retire this week was Jake Smith. A Houston native, the 39-year-old posted a career 103-101 record during a career that had stops in Toronto, St Louis and most recently with the Cincinnati Cannons. Smith was 28 years old in the off-season prior to the 1938 campaign, when he was packaged along with fellow pitchers Buddy Long, Russ Peeples and Otis Cook along with outfielder Les Hendrix in the deal that moved them all west. Smith won a career best 20-games his first season in St Louis but would win just 19 total over the next 3 seasons before he was traded to Cincinnati. With the Cannons he would play on 3 straight pennant winners and win a pair of WCS rings but went just 1-3 with a 5.31 era pitching out of the bullpen last season.  NAHC SEASON PREVIEW Another NAHC season is set to begin and once again that means it is time for TWIFB to make its fearless forecast for the outcome of the upcoming campaign. A year ago the Chicago Packers were the favoured team but we failed to factor in the impact new head coach Jack Barrell would have in Toronto as the long-time player and coach guided the Dukes from a last place finish the previous season to a Challenge Cup parade down Younge Street. The Dukes finished just 3rd in the regular season but in an upset filled playoff the New York Shamrocks knocked off first place Chicago while the Dukes got past second place Boston before topping the Greenshirts to win the title. We here at TWIFB still feel the Packers are the team to beat and a look at the chart below -which ranks the top players in the league according to OSA- seems to be back up the theory that the Packers have the deepest group of talent. Here is how we see the 1948-49 season unfolding. 1- CHICAGO PACKERS: Tommy Burns is the best player in the league and centers arguably the top line with his brother Wes and Marty Mahoney on the wings. They were the most productive trio in the league a year ago and the scary thing is the Packers have more depth upfront that any other club in the league. That talent pool of Chicago forwards only got deeper with the addition of gifted young winger Max Ducharme, who had 40 points in 59 games last season for Montreal but was cast aside by the Vals in a major off-season purge. The Packers defensive depth is not quite as plentiful but Jesse Santuro at age 22 is rapidly evolving into one of the best rearguards in the game and Norm Hanson is a terrific goaltender. The Packers were the best regular season team a year ago and should be the same again this time around, but what the club is still chasing is its first ever Challenge Cup win. Perhaps this is the year. 2- TORONTO DUKES: We underestimated the impact of Coach Jack Barrell a year ago and a return to form by veteran goaltender Gordie Broadway. While the Toronto blueline does worry us we feel Broadway can more than make up for any weakness and with the strength Toronto has in the middle in Quinton Pollack and Bobbie Sauer the Dukes will sneak into second place this time around. 3- BOSTON BEES: The Bees have been the most successful club this decade with 5 Challenge Cup titles since 1940. In fact, only Boston or Toronto has lifted the Challenge Cup since Detroit's surprising upset of the Dukes in 1939. The Bees have outstanding depth in net and on the blueline to go along with a pair of great forwards in Wilbur Chandler and Tommy Hart. Injuries can hurt any team, but Boston seems to have endured more than their share of serious ones recently and the injury bug already bit the Bees in the preseason with news Joe Morey will miss at least the first month of the season. Boston still has talent and with good health and some breaks could well have home ice advantage for the semi-finals, but we feel a more likely scenario is a third place finish this time around. 4- DETROIT MOTORS: The Motors and New York Shamrocks will likely battle down to the wire for the final playoff spot, but we feel the addition of goaltender Millard Touhey and the continued development of youngsters Spencer Larocque and Nick Tardif will give the Motors a slight edge. The biggest difference maker though will be the move to bring ice veteran Badger Rigney in to replace Mark Moore as head coach. Call it the Barrell effect, but we think Rigney will demand an improvement in the Motors, who finished dead last a year ago and have missed the playoffs three of the past four years. 5- NEW YORK SHAMROCKS: Hard to place any team with veterans Orval Cabbell and Bert McCalley outside of the playoffs but the feeling here is the Greenshirts simply lack the depth. Any minor stumble by Detroit will open the door but the league clearly has a division between the top three and the bottom three clubs. 6- MONTREAL VALIANTS: Last Christmas the Valiants were battling Chicago for first place and made a major deal to bring in a pair of talented defensemen in Shel Herron and Bryant Williams. Inexplicably, for the second year in a row the Vals had a second-half collapse and missed the playoffs. There is some talent with blueline depth that is surpassed only by Boston and a pair of very good pivot men in Clarence Skinner and the all-too-often injured Ian Doyle. The worry is in net where it looks like the Valiants, barring a major deal, will be forced to go with former Detroit backup Brad Carter as their top option between the pipes after releasing Millard Touhey over the summer. Carter may surprise, he has shown flashes in Detroit, but such a big question mark at the most vital position in the sport leaves us no choice but to expect the Vals to finish in the NAHC cellar.   PRESEASON WRAP UP Code:
NAHC PRESEASON STANDINS TEAM GP W L T PTS Detroit 7 6 1 0 12 Chicago 7 4 3 0 8 Montreal 7 4 3 0 8 Toronto 7 3 4 0 6 Boston 7 2 5 0 4 New York 7 2 5 0 4 PRESEASON RESULTS TUESDAY OCTOBER 5 Montreal 2 Toronto 1 : Brad Carter 27 saves Chicago 5 Boston 3 : Tommy Burns 1 G, 2A Detroit 5 New York 3 : Vincent Arsenault 3A THURSDAY OCTOBER 7 Montreal 4 New York 1: Ian Doyle 2G Detroit 4 Chicago 3: Hank Walsh 1G, 2A Toronto 3 Boston 0 : Gordie Broadway 24 sv shutout FRIDAY OCTOBER 8 Boston 4 Montreal 1: Craig Simpson 2G New York 3 Toronto 2: Joe Martin 1G,1A, Etienne Tremblay 32 sv Detroit 5 Chicago 1 : Millard Touhey 39 sv. end of preseason schedule REGULAR SEASON GAMES THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13 Detroit at Chicago THURSDAY OCTOBER 14 Montreal at New York SATURDAY OCTOBER 16 Montreal at Chicago Toronto at Boston SUNDAY OCTOMBER 17 Detroit at New York  EXPANDED CAGE LOOP SET TO BEGIN NEW ERA In a whirlwind transformation within the realm of professional basketball, a revamped and enlarged Federal Basketball League is poised to kick off its third season with a staggering sixteen teams. The flurry of changes over the summer has left basketball enthusiasts brimming with anticipation but also grappling with a sea of unknowns as the league's squads embark on their preseason preparations. Initiated by Rollie Barrell, the forward-thinking owner of the Detroit Mustangs and the American Football Association's Detroit Maroons, the Federal Basketball League embarked on a summer crusade to entice four teams from the well-rooted American Basketball Conference. The outcome exceeded even the most audacious expectations, as the ABC dissolved, and its eight clubs chose to unite with the Federal circuit. This historic merger effectively doubled the young league's strength, setting the stage for a landmark third season. Exhibition games are set to tip off a week from today, whetting the appetite of basketball aficionados with a tantalizing lineup of seven matches. The hardwood promises to be electrifying, with the expanded league igniting fresh rivalries and elevating the competitive stakes. The historic 1948-48 Federal League's campaign begins with plenty of uncertainty, as many wonder how the holdover FBL clubs will compare with the refugees from the ABC. Here is a best guess on the final order of finish and our picks for the All-League and All-Rookie teams.  The Week That Was Current events from 10/12/1948
__________________
Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles |
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10-11-2023, 12:57 PM
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#803 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 9,715
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October 18, 1948
OCTOBER 18, 1948 WOLVES PART WAYS WITH MANAGER CALL After five seasons at the helm of the ballclub, the Toronto Wolves have decided not to retain manager Bob Call. The 56-year-old, who went 401-369 during his tenure in Toronto including 82-72 this season, was not offered a new contract after his deal expired. Call had been a manager in the Wolves system since taking over Class A Davenport in 1935. He guided the Wolves to second place finishes behind Cincinnati in each of his first two seasons with the club, but then slipped to the second division for two years before rebounding with a third place finish this time around. Wolves owner Bernie Millard had little to say about the decision when asked why Call was let go. "We couldn't come to a mutually satisfactory agreement, time to move on," was the terse respone with Millard adding "we have lots of work to do both on and off the field, Bench Coach Dennis will be more involved in personnel decision for the interim. " No immediate announcement has come from Toronto management on a replacement but there is heavy speculation that Fred Barrell, the current scouting director of the Detroit Dynamos and a long-time FABL star with Brooklyn, will take the job in February after he finishes his draft duties for the Dynamos. Barrell's brother Jack Barrell is also a coach in Toronto as he is the head-man for the defending NAHC champion Toronto Dukes while another brother, Tom, is the field general for the Brooklyn Kings. It is believed if Fred does indeed take the Wolves job his first game against Tom's Kings will mark the first time in FABL history that two brothers have managed a big league game against each other.  TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN Wolves Announce Staff Changes For 1949 -Toronto has already begun replacing staff soon after the conclusion of World Championship Series sweep by St. Louis. The news at the FABL level is that neither Manager Bob Call nor the first base coach will be back in the spring. Word from the front office is that the Wolves were interested in extending Call but "could not come to a mutually satisfactory agreement on either money or term." Call had been with the organization since 1935 going through Davenport, Chattanooga, Buffalo before taking over for Charlie Reed in 1944. in five seasons at the helm Call led to a 401-369 (.521) with two memorable second place finishes in '44, '45. Insiders say that this may have the right move as it is thought that Call's message had gotten stale, was not being heard in the clubhouse. Baseball fans in Canada are excited if there is any truth at all to the rumours that Wolves are pursuing or have a tentative deal in place to make Detroit's Scouting Director Fred Barrell the next bench boss of the Wolves, joining his brother Jack on the Toronto sports scene. Brett believes this just the type of big game hunting Owner Bernie Millard revels in although the front office is tight lipped whenever Brett broaches the subject in any conversation. Toronto has hired Lloyd McGowan to take over as 1B coach, McGowan has been with the Cougars 10 years before leaving in 1946. He brings a reputation of being able to handle in-game running with the best but more importantly is a master on teaching infield defense which was identified as a need by the team. In the system the team did not renew a number of expiring contracts mostly filling those roles through promotion from within the organization. The one highlight was the announcement of the hiring of Clarence Howerton as manager on Tuscaloosa, a day after he retired continuing the Wolves tradition of trying to keep notable players in the organization after their playing days are over in Toronto. Howerton started at C in 1597 FABL games including 1149 for the Wolves putting up career number of .253/.320/.342, 721 RBI with 99 triples for a C along with masterful game management, defense behind the plate. In a team statement "Clarence is what is needed to get our young prospects off on the proper foot in professional baseball, he will teach them right way to play the game. Hopefully he will move up the system with some of his players." 
DETROIT CITY COLLEGE SURVIVES SHOWDOWN WITH ST MAGUNS Dynamite Detroit City College was given all it could handle in the Motor City by the visitors from Minnesota but in the end the Knights were up to the task, winning a key Great Lakes Alliance showdown over the St Magnus Vikings by a 14-3 score. That win allows DCC to retain undisputed recognition as the top football team in the nation. The Knights took that distinction away from St Blane after the Fighting Saints fell to St Ignatius a week ago and did nothing to cause the pollsters to change their minds on Saturday. It was the first defeat in four starts for the Vikings, who had climbed to #8 in the rankings entering the game but now slide back out of the top ten. The game was tight with Detroit City College nursing a 7-3 lead in a game that saw a wild series of fumbles and bobbled passes in the second quarter when, in eight successive plays, six ended in miscues. Thereafter the City College defense drew in and throughout the second half the Knights were the masters of every moment on defense. The Vikings defenders did a nice job as well, holding the Detroit City running game in check and were very much in the contest until 5 minutes into the final period when DCC quarterback Paul Erdinger connected with end Ike Richards on a 29-yard touchdown pass to give the Knights an 11-point lead and finally some breathing room. St Blane, still smarting from the kick in the face they took from the Lancers at home last week, were an ornery bunch as they made the trek west to Nebraska for a meeting with the College of Omaha Raiders. The Fighting Saints took out a week's worth of pent-up frustration at their first loss in nearly 3 years by blasting the Raiders 45-12. From the time that Joe Fulgham went 12-yards on the first scrimmage play there seemed no question of the outcome. St Blane was just too fast, too big and too motivated for the Plains Athletic Association school. Alabama Baptist dropped from second in the polls after the Panthers were stopped 23-9 by their Deep South Conference rivals Cumberland. The Explorers thrilled a record-breaking home crowd of 48,000 and moved into the top ten by unleashing a smashing running attack that ripped the huge Panthers forewall to smithereens. With the win Cumberland debuts in the top ten at 6th and joins Georgia Baptist, Mississippi A&M and Alabama Baptist to give the Deep South 4 representatives. The Gators and Generals are both 4-0 overall after section wins for each yesterday with Georgia Baptist blanking Opelika State 24-0 while Mississippi A&M took care of Baton Rogue State 21-10. The Alabama Baptist loss allows North Carolina Tech to take over the second spot in this week's rankings. The Techsters had little trouble with South Atlantic Conference rival Charleston Tech in claiming a 34-0 victory.   WEEKEND RESULTS EAST St. Blane 45 College of Omaha 12 Rome State 38 Dickson 13 Liberty College 31 Huntington State 0 Henry Hudson 38 Pierpont 14 Pittsburgh State 35 Wisconsin Catholic 10 Commonwealth Catholic 16 Penn Catholic 10 Brunswick 27 St. Pancras 13 Grafton 23 Empire State 13 Sadler 27 Garden State 18 Ellery 17 St. Patrick's 3 Boston State 10 Conwell College 3 St. Dominic (PA) 31 Brooklyn State 26 SOUTH Cumberland 23 Alabama Baptist 9 North Carolina Tech 34 Charleston Tech 0 Mississippi A&M 21 Baton Rouge State 10 Noble Jones College 28 Bayou State 17 Georgia Baptist 24 Opelika State 0 Northern Mississippi 33 Queen City 0 Richmond State 17 Chesapeake State 0 Bulein 17 Spartanburg Baptist 13 Bluegrass State 24 Central Kentucky 14 Lexington State 13 Eastern State 13 Alexandria 21 Petersburg 15 Cowpens State 27 Strub College 0 Central Carolina 7 Mobile Maritime 5 Maryland State 10 Carolina Poly 0 Western Florida 55 Chase 7 Western Tennessee 22 Charleston (IL) 9 MIDWEST Detroit City College 14 St. Magnus 3 Minnesota Tech 14 Lincoln 6 Central Ohio 24 Indiana A&M 0 Western Iowa 21 Whitney College 10 Wisconsin State 16 George Fox 14 St. Ignatius 39 Valley State 10 Daniel Boone College 30 Annapolis Maritime 7 Lambert College 16 Central Illinois 7 Lawrence State 21 Potomac College 6 Northern Minnesota 23 Miami State 23 Boulder State 14 Iowa A&M 10 Topeka State 20 Cache Valley 16 Laclede 23 Brockhurst 13 SOUTHWEST Texas Gulf Coast 17 Red River State 14 Travis College 51 Arkansas A&T 7 Darnell State 21 Amarillo Methodist 10 Texas Panhandle 28 Utah A&M 3 Lubbock State 20 College of Waco 7 Oklahoma City State 40 Eastern Kansas 3 South Valley State 24 Abilene Baptist 23 Uvalde College 41 El Paso Methodist 0 Canyon A&M 30 Wichita Falls State 10 FAR WEST Northern California 26 Lane State 10 Portland Tech 13 Coastal California 0 Redwood 17 CC Los Angeles 7 Spokane State 26 Rainier College 14 Sunnyvale 34 California Catholic 6 Tempe College 37 Flagstaff State 14 Wyoming A&I 23 Colorado Poly 19 Western Montana 20 Custer College 10 Payne State 21 St. Matthew's College 10 San Francisco Tech 13 Eastern Oklahoma 7 Provo Tech 23 Mile High State 7 Kit Carson University 31 Golden Gate University 12  DEFENDING CHAMPS IMPROVE TO 4-0 Finches Only Unbeaten Team Remaining in AFA The Cleveland Finches fell just below the 31 points they scored in each of their opening three victories to start the American Football Association season but that did not stop the defending league champions from improving to 4-0 with a 28-21 victory on the road at Gothams Stadium over the New York Football Stars. It was a tight contest that could have gone either way but in the end the defending champs proved strong enough to claim the victory. Jody Moten had some struggles early with a pair of interceptions, but the Cleveland passer settled down and threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, just outshining Archie Rawlings of the Stars, who threw for 3 New York scores. The turning point came midway through the third frame when Dan Cole of New York fumbled the football and Cleveland's Jim Nielsen scooped it up before running 29 yards into the Stars endzone for a touchdown that put the Finches up 21-7 at the time. St Louis and Chicago, both 3-1, are hot on the Finches tail in the battle for the West Division lead. The Ramblers, perhaps taking some motivation from the diamond Pioneers back-to-back World Championship Series titles, are playing inspired football with 3 straight victories including yesterday's 21-14 comeback win in Cincinnati. The Tigers did all their damage in the first period with a pair of rushing touchdowns before the Ramblers got going with a 69-yard drive that culminated in a 4-yard run for Walt Heinrich. It would turn out to be the only carry for positive yardage on the afternoon for the rookie from Whitney College. Turnovers would lead to a pair of second half scores, including a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown by Owen Threadgill that tied the contest in the third quarter, as the Ramblers beat Cincinnati for the second time this season. The Chicago Wildcats, who lost at home to Cleveland two weeks ago, are also 3-1 after a 28-14 doubling of the Pittsburgh Paladins in Ricky McCallister's first AFA start. Taking over for Gus Brown at quarterback, the Christian Trophy winning former St Blane quarterback threw a pair of first quarter touchdown passes to get the Wildcats off to a quick start. It was far from a dominant day for the star of St Blane's perfect season a year ago, but he completed 10 of 23 passes for 143 yards while also carrying the ball three times for 18 yards. It took three field goals from Eric Balfour in the fourth quarter, including the winner with less than 3 minutes on the clock, but the Boston Americans held off the visiting Philadelphia Frigates 23-20 to run their record to 3-1, best in the East Division. Del Thomas threw for 320 yards and a pair of first half scores to lead the Yanks attack. The final game of the weekend saw the Washington Wasps even their record at 2-2 with a 24-20 victory over the struggling Detroit Maroons, a team that is off to a 1-4 start with 3 losses already at Thompson Field. Detroit had the lead at the break, but a Monte Harriman 12-yard interception return for a score put Washington up 24-17 late in the third quarter and the Wasps held on for the win thanks in no small part to interceptions on each of Detroit's final two possessions of the game. Trying Mike Beard instead of Rich Coleman at quarterback this week did nothing to help Rollie Barrell's failing team as Beard was picked off 7 times in the game.   KANSAS CITY STOPS BUFFALO 14-0 FOR 7TH WIN Automatic Pat Chappell pitched two touchdown passes as the champion Kansas City Cowboys notched their seventh straight Continental Football Conference triumph with a 14-0 victory over the Buffalo Bulls. The two aerial-minded clubs threw a total of 58 passes with the Cowboys completing 11 of 25 for 145 yards while Buffalo fired 33 forwards and connected on just 10 of them for 126 yards. Chappell was not his usual sharp self on a dull, rainy afternoon and finished far below his typical yardage totals and success rate, but nevertheless his throwing arm made the difference as the Cowboys went through their 16th straight CFC game without a defeat. The slick conditions clearly played havoc with both offenses but, after a scoreless opening period, the Bulls had a chance to take the lead midway through the second when Monday engineered what would be their longest drive of the day. It lasted 10 plays and began on their own 41-yard line but stalled out with incompletions on third and fourth downs from the Cowboys 5-yard line. Spirits lifted by the strong defensive stand, Chappell marched the Cowboys 95 yards for the opening touchdown, connecting with Mason Matthews for a pair of big gains on pass plays of 37 and 19 yards before finding Doug Stoughton on a 4-yard toss for the touchdown. Chappell engineered another drive early in the second half that culminated in a 12-yard heave to Matthews and that would be more than enough offense for the victory. ***Gallegos Return Lifts Crescents *** After missing each of the last two games and watching his team lose badly in both, rookie quarterback Vince Gallegos returned to the lineup for the New Orleans Crescents and led his team to a 45-21 win over the Lobos in Los Angeles. Gallegos was a man on a mission, completing 19 of 27 passes for 328 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Crescents are now a perfect 5-0 with the rookie from Bayou State running the offense, but 0-2 without him. Sam Metcalf had his typical strong day for the San Francisco Wings, throwing for 234 yards to lead his club to a 35-7 victory over the New York Gothams at Dyckman Stadium. The Wings are 7-1 as they continue their chase of the Kansas City Cowboys, something they have been doing each of the past two years as well. The final CFC game of the weekend saw the Chicago Comets claim their first victory of the year. On the road in Brooklyn, the Comets doubled the grid Kings 42-21 behind 4 touchdown passes from Garry Leonard including a pair where he teamed up with Marsh Schroeder.  SHAMROCKS OFF TO QUICK START The New York Shamrocks seem out to prove that last year's surprise upset of the Chicago Packers in the semi-finals was no fluke as they looked strong with a win and a tie to start the North American Hockey Confederation season, which dropped the puck last week. The Shamrocks were aided by the fact both games were at home and against the two clubs that failed to make the playoffs last year, but they began with a tie against Montreal followed by a victory over Detroit. The Motors looked very strong in the preseason, posting a league best 6-1 record, and that carried on to their regular season opener when they blasted the Chicago Packers 6-1 in the Windy City. Detroit looks like it may have some rising scoring stars, something they woefully lacked last season, in Adam Vanderbilt and Nick Tardif. Vanderbilt had three points in the opener and scored both Detroit goals in yesterday's loss to New York while Tardif, who was named the loop's top rookie a year ago, had 2 points in each of the opening two games. Code:
[b] NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
New York 2 1 0 1 7 5 3
Detroit 2 1 1 0 5 3 2
Boston 1 1 0 0 5 4 2
Montreal 2 0 0 2 7 7 2
Chicago 2 0 1 1 5 10 1
Toronto 1 0 1 0 4 5 0
SCORING LEADERS
GP G A PTS
Vanderbilt, Det 2 3 2 5
Tardif, Det 2 2 3 5
Sandford, Mon 2 2 2 4
Skinner, Mon 2 2 2 4
Greenham, NY 2 1 3 4
T Burns, Chi 2 3 0 3
Chandler, Bos 1 2 1 3
Cabbell, NY 2 1 2 3
Finch, Chi 2 0 3 3
Vies, Det 2 0 3 3
Williams, Mon 2 0 3 3
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13 Detroit 6 at 1 Chicago: The season opened with the defending regular season champion Chicago Packers hosting the Motors, who had finished last a year ago. Detroit was coming off the best record in the preseason while the Packers had plenty to prove after a quick exit in the semi-finals of last season's playoffs. This one was all Detroit as the visitors won by a convincing 6-1 score with youngsters Adam Vanderbilt and Nick Tardif leading the way with three points each while veteran winger Arnold Singleton scored twice. The lone Packer to beat Detroit's new netminder Millard Touhey was an expected one with three time McDaniels Trophy winner Tommy Burns being the one to break Touhey's shutout bid. THURSDAY OCTOBER 14 Montreal 3 at 3 New York: Adam Greenham's powerplay marker with 1:24 remaining in the game allowed the Shamrocks to salvage a 3-3 tie before 10,757 fans at Bigsby Garden in their home opener. Greenham also had an assist for the winners while Bert Lanceleve led the Valiants attack with a goal and a helper of his own. Montreal outshot the Greenshirts 39-21 but Etienne Tremblay stood tall in the New York crease. Ex-Detroit backup netminder Brad Carter had 18 saves and seemed to struggle in his Vals debut.SATURDAY OCTOBER 16 Montreal 4 at 4 Chicago: Chicago is still looking for their first win after skating to a 4-4 draw with Montreal as the Vals earn their second straight tie. Tommy Burns had two more goals for Chicago after scoring the Packers only marker in their season opening loss to Detroit. Defenseman Jerry Finch had two assists for the winners while Bryant Williams and Claude LeClerc led the Vals with 2 points each. Toronto 4 at 5 Boston: A wild game in Boston as the host Bees opened a 5-0 lead after 40 minutes only to see the defending Cup champions roar back, but fall just short, with 4 goals in the third period. Wilbur Chandler had the hot stick for the Bees with 2 goals and an assist while Bobbie Sauer had a goal and an assist to pace Toronto. SUNDAY OCTOMBER 17 Detroit 2 at 4 New York: A combative opening period saw New York take a 2-1 lead before adding two more in the second stanza and claim a 4-2 victory. Second year winger Sam Furr scored twice for the winners while vets Orval Cabbell and Tommy Brescia added singles. Adam Vanderbilt replied with both Detroit tally's, each assisted by reining rookie of the year Nick Tardif. NEXT WEEK'S GAMES WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 20 Boston at Chicago THURSDAY OCTOBER 21 Montreal at Toronto SATURDAY OCTOBER 23 Montreal at Detroit Toronto at Chicago SUNDAY OCTOBER 24 Boston at New York Detroit at Toronto SAWYER SET FOR FIRST EUROPEAN DEFENSE Hector Sawyer's European tour has been going on for well over a month now, but it finally gets underway for real as the man who has held the World Heavyweight title longer than anyone else and may well be the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time steps into the ring in Europe for the first time in a sanctioned professional bout. It will, however, not be Sawyer's first bigtime fight on European soil as he fought numerous exhibitions in England and Italy while in the Army. Sawyer, who has held the World Title since knocking out German Jochen Schrotter in Detroit in 1940, will be looking for his 60th victory as a professional when he faces Englishman Grant Knowles in London Friday evening. Little is known of Sawyer's latest opponent beyond the fact that he is reported to be the best heavyweight in Great Britain at this time and said to own a 31-4-1 career record.  BOSTON BOMBER TOO MUCH FOR MacKINNEY Veteran Boston heavyweight Roy Crawford continues to wait patiently for a chance at the world title, and as he approaches his 30th birthday, it is beginning to feel like he may never get the chance to meet the man he has had his sights set on for several years. That would be Hector Sawyer, the long-time heavyweight champion of the world who is presently cavorting across Europe with his ABF world belt in hand. To pass the time and clearly to take out some frustration Crawford took out his frustrations Friday night at Denny Arena on veteran New York pugilist Todd MacKinney. The local fight fans love the Boston Bomber, so the joint was packed, and the fans were wild celebrating every moment of the bout but in reality, it appeared to a more trained eye to be no better than a sparring match for Crawford, who had his way with a clearly inferior opponent. Crawford likely, had he been so inclined, could have ended the bout much earlier but he decided to put on a show for 7-rounds before finishing off his 38-year-old opponent with a powerful flurry in the seventh round. The win runs Crawford's impressive record to 27-3 while MacKinney is 26-12-1 and likely at the end of his boxing rope. EDMONDS BUCKING FOR SHOT AT PETRIE John Edmonds, who briefly held the middleweight belt last year after upsetting and then losing in the rematch to Frank Melanson, made no secret he feels he deserves a shot at current champ Adrian Petrie. Speaking after knocking out Eric Deal in the sixth round of a bout scheduled for 10 at Washington's National Auditorium last night, Edmonds called on Petrie's camp for a meeting. "I am one of the top contenders in the division and with Melanson and the Frenchman tied up it makes perfect sense that I be given the title shot," Edmonds declared after looking barely winded in the easy win over Deal that ran the 30-year-old Muncie, In., native's record to 26-3. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 10/17/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-11-2023 at 01:00 PM. |
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10-12-2023, 01:51 PM
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#804 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
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October 25, 1948 : Baseball Awards edition
OCTOBER 25, 1948 DOUBLE BARRELL AWARD WINS Rufus Barrell would have been a proud man today. The late Hall of Famer had plenty to be proud of in his 75 years of life but today would have been special as one of his son's won his 6th Whitney Award while a grandson claimed his third Allen Award. We are speaking of Philadelphia Keystones legend Bobby Barrell, who is assured of joining his father in baseball's Boone County museum one day, and Deuce Barrell, the golden-armed lefthander of the Cincinnati Cannons. Joining those two on the awards stage where St Louis Pioneers young ace Hal Hackney, who won the Federal Association Allen Award for the first time and New York Stars sensational outfielder Bill Barrett of the New York Stars, who claimed the Continental Association Whitney Award for the fourth time. Most of the talk surrounded Bobby Barrell, who has won more Whitney Awards than anyone not named Max Morris. It was a sizeable victory for the 38-year-old outfielder, who led the Fed in homeruns for the 6th time in his career with 44, to go along with 120 rbi's and a .301 batting average, numbers deemed good enough to earn the top spot on 13 of the 16 ballots. Hackney, who led the Federal Association in wins and strikeouts, went 22-11 with a 3.41 era while fanning 218 to easily outpoint Detroit's Carl Potter -the era leader- and the Gothams Ed Bowman to win his first Allen Award. Hackney became just the third Pioneers pitcher to win an Allen but the second in two years following up Danny Hern, who had 1 first place vote this time around. The Federal Association's top rookie was Irv Clifford of the Pittsburgh Miners as Pittsburgh players claimed three of the top four spots on that ballot.  There was little suspense in the Continental Association voting as all three winners were listed number one on each of the 16 ballots. Bill Barrett of the New York Stars led FABL with 130 rbi's and topped the Continental loop in homers with 43 while batting .300. The 28-year-old, who missed three full seasons because of the war, now has three Whtiney Awards in his possession after winning last year as well to go with the pair he won before joining the marines after the 1942 season. Only Jim Lonardo with 4, has won more Allen Awards than Barrell as Deuce joins his uncle Tom Barrell and Rabbit Day as 3-time winners. He possibly should have a fourth but finished second in a moderately controversial decision when George Garrison outpointed him despite Deuce having more first place votes. Deuce also finished second in the 1946 voting. With an era that hovered below 2 for much of the season before finally settling at 2.15 to go along with a FABL best 23 victories despite pitching for a 7th place club there was no denying Barrell the Allen Award this time around. The Kellogg Award, for top rookie, did not have a lot of competition this season but Brooklyn outfielder Pat Petty (.284,18,93) would be a deserving winner even against stiffer opposition. This was the third season the Kellogg Award was presented and all three of the CA winners have been Kings with Petty following in the footsteps of Ralph Johnson and Leo Hayden. 
 THE SAWYER PLAN: DOMINANT START TO EUROPEAN TOUR LONDON - A London Auditorium jam-packed with over 50,000 fervent fans bore witness to a display of fistic prowess as Hector Sawyer, the heavyweight colossus, swept through British challenger Grant Knowles in a mere four rounds. The bout, marking the initiation of Sawyer's European expedition, showcased a seasoned champion against a courageous local contender. At 34 years old and boasting 63 battles in the professional arena, Sawyer's might may have weathered the sands of time, but he remains an indomitable force, etching his name in boxing annals as one of the premier heavyweight pugilists of all eras. Akin to a well-oiled machine, Sawyer's precision was evident from the opening bell. However, Knowles exhibited grit and determination, resisting the tempestuous onslaught. The opening round swung on a delicate thread, leaving the judges and the American referee, Dunk McGuire, deliberating on its recipient. Yet, as the dust settled, the path to victory became glaringly apparent, with Sawyer seizing command and dominating the next three rounds. In the second stanza, Knowles tasted the bitter pill of a sharp hook to the cranium, momentarily dimming his vision with celestial fireworks. Sawyer continued to hammer the Englishman's defenses in the third, unleashing a vicious uppercut that carved a deep furrow over Knowles' right brow. As the fourth round unfurled, Knowles, visibly worn and battered, hesitated to rise from his corner, attempting to deflect the inevitable with a claim of a low blow. Referee McGuire acknowledged the appeal and issued a caution to the champ, yet it merely stoked the fires within Sawyer. Charging forth like a locomotive, he blazed through Knowles' dwindling defenses, raining a barrage of blows. The compassionate intervention of McGuire moments before the final bell likely spared Knowles from a far graver fate. Sawyer, now proudly boasting a record of 59-3-1, embellished by 11 successful title defenses since his coronation against Jochen Schrotter in January of 1940, sets his sights on the City of Light. Paris beckons, and another challenger awaits, yet to be unveiled. Europe feels the reverberations of the "Sawyer Plan" - a relentless march towards victory, infused with the spirit of revival that echoes amidst the tumultuous backdrop of the Marshall Plan and the unrest unfurling in Berlin and across the continent. The boxing world stands poised for the next act in this transatlantic pugilistic saga.  UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
DETROIT CITY COLLEGE RALLIES PAST MINNESOTA TECH There were bitter dregs for Minnesota Tech but there was a potion of joy for Detroit City College in the Little Brown Jug Saturday evening as the Knights overcame a 7-0 first half deficit to remained unbeaten and win 17-7. The victory, in the rugged battle before a record-breaking Minnesota Tech crowd of 65,130, was he 21st consecutive win for Detroit City. Detroit City made some serious mistakes in the first half but also made their own breaks and looked like perhaps the finest team in the country over the final 30 minutes of the contest. As usual Paul Erdinger and Ike Richards were the stars of the show for the Knights, with Richards 19 yard scoring catch with just over 4 minutes remaining in the game sealing the win for the Knights, who remain at the top of the collegiate football rankings. North Carolina Tech holds the second spot in a week where very little changed in the rankings. The Techsters ran all over Bayou State in a 44-14 triumph. St Blane, recovering nicely from their shocking loss to St Ignatius a couple of weeks ago, looked strong as they slashed to a 27-12 victory over stubborn Western Iowa. The Fighting Saints used their ground game almost exclusively against a team fired up before a capacity home crowd looking for an upset victory. St Blane, which was off to a sizzling start on Joe Fulgham's 34-yard touchdown run on their first play from scrimmage, tried only eight passes and completed one. The Saints actually had a net loss of 7 yards with aerials, but their rugged thrusts behind characteristically crisp blocking mowed down the defenders for 4 touchdowns -one in each quarter. Fulgham had 3 of them and 141 of the 372 yards rushing the Fighting Saints accumulated on the afternoon. St Ignatius, which handed the Fighting Saints their first loss in nearly 3 years two weeks ago, was at it again as the Lancers ended any hopes Liberty College might have had for a perfect season with a 14-14 tie that also dropped the 3-0-1 Bells out of the top ten in the rankings. Central Ohio was the beneficiary of the Liberty College stumble as the Aviators managed to climb into the top ten on the heels of their 31-0 thumping of Great Lakes Alliance foe Wisconsin State in Columbus. Only their opening week 6-6 with Daniel Boone College keeps the Aviators from a perfect record, as they can count wins over Western Iowa, Indiana A&M and a disappointing Coastal California squad to run their season mark to 4-0-1. The first football expedition ever sent by Rome State to Brunswick,NJ marked a black day for the host Brunswick Knights. Striking at the flanks with a speed that could not be contained, using the pass more liberally than heretofore and putting on the greater pressure in the line, the Centurions removed Brunswick from the dwindling list of unbeaten teams with a squarely earned 29-14 triumph. Georgia Baptist and Mississippi A&M are two of the few schools that do remain perfect with each improving to 5-0 and holding strong to their positions firmly in the middle of the top ten poll. The Gators moved to 4-0 in Deep South section play -tied with the Generals for top spot- with an easy 29-3 win over Western Florida. Playing in Memphis, the Generals used the hot Southern sun as an ally to beat down Commonwealth Catholic 27-6 and remain one of the nine remaining unbeaten and untied schools. Those final eight, all 5-0 on the year are Henry Hudson, Mississippi A&M, Georgia Baptist, Detroit City College, Maryland State, North Carolina Tech, Texas Gulf Coast, Texas Panhandle and Kit Carson University.   WEEKEND RESULTS EAST St. Blane 27 Western Iowa 12 Rome State 29 Brunswick 14 Liberty College 24 St. Ignatius 24 Grafton 20 Dickson 13 Pierpont 23 Annapolis Maritime 17 Pittsburgh State 21 Indiana A&M 7 Henry Hudson 24 Sadler 13 Ellery 51 Constitution State 7 Garden State 34 Bethlehem College 20 Empire State 14 St. Patrick's 10 St. Matthew's College 34 Brooklyn State 10 Boston State 10 Bigsby College 10 SOUTH Noble Jones College 17 Miami State 10 Alabama Baptist 21 Northern Mississippi 17 Georgia Baptist 29 Western Florida 3 Mississippi A&M 27 Commonwealth Catholic 6 North Carolina Tech 44 Bayou State 14 Charleston Tech 21 Western Tennessee 9 Cumberland 16 Cookeville State 0 Baton Rouge State 28 Opelika State 0 Bluegrass State 33 George Fox 7 Alexandria 37 Eastern State 31 Huntington State 14 Lexington State 12 Carolina Poly 21 Chesapeake State 0 Central Carolina 28 Spartanburg Baptist 7 Richmond State 20 Salamanca State 0 Bulein 6 Mobile Maritime 0 Central Kentucky 21 Wisconsin Catholic 20 Maryland State 17 Potomac College 0 Petersburg 14 Hampden-Sydney 10 Columbia Military Academy 10 Coastal State 0 MIDWEST Detroit City College 17 Minnesota Tech 7 St. Magnus 54 St. Pancras 0 Central Ohio 31 Wisconsin State 0 Lincoln 13 Whitney College 10 Lawrence State 30 College of Omaha 10 Boulder State 52 Eastern Kansas 0 Daniel Boone College 37 Iowa A&M 9 Colorado Poly 27 Lambert College 14 Northern Minnesota 27 Dearborn State 14 Cleveland 34 Laclede 28 SOUTHWEST Lubbock State 21 Darnell State 0 Travis College 21 Red River State 7 Texas Gulf Coast 27 Sunnyvale 7 College of Waco 24 Valley State 14 Texas Panhandle 44 South Valley State 13 Oklahoma City State 28 Amarillo Methodist 17 Eastern Oklahoma 23 Conwell College 0 FAR WEST Coastal California 14 Redwood 6 Northern California 24 Rainier College 9 Portland Tech 28 Spokane State 7 Lane State 21 CC Los Angeles 14 Idaho A&M 26 Custer College 7 Kit Carson University 69 Payne State 27 Flagstaff State 14 Colorado Valley State 14 Provo Tech 33 Wyoming A&I 14 Cache Valley 21 Utah A&M 7 Canyon A&M 23 Commerce State 7 Mile High State 13 Golden Gate University 13 FINCHES ROUT OHIO RIVALS 49-0 There seems to be no slowing down the Cleveland Finches as the defending American Football Association champions destroyed their in-state rivals from Cincinnati 49-0 yesterday in what was the Jody Moten and Dave Nicholson show. The veteran Cleveland quarterback and his favourite pass catching partner connected on 4 touchdown throws, three in an 8-minute span of the second quarter, to improve to 5-0 on the season. Counting last season's championship game the Finches have now won 9 consecutive football games. Moten has emerged as a dominant quarterback this season, seemingly out of nowhere but he has been a backup with the Finches for each of the past two years and actually began his pro career in 1941 once his college days at Arkansas A&T were down, but he missed 5 seasons while in the Navy during the war. He is one of just two backs who have thrown for over 1,000 yards already this season, joining Boston's Del Thomas, and leads the AFA with 16 touchdown tosses. Nicholson has been with the Finches since 1945 and leads the AFA with 25 receptions including a league-high 7 scoring catches.  It has been quite a turnaround for the Finches, who did not win more than 2 games in a season from 1941 to 1945 and had to rely on merging with the St Louis Ramblers just to field enough players to get through the 1944 campaign. More often than not a losing team, the Finches only division title since the format began in 1933 was in 1935 when they lost the title game to Pittsburgh. That of course changed last year with the championship game win over Washington. It was the third AFA title for the Finches, who were a power for a stretch in the sport's early days and won the AFA title in 1925 and 1932. The Chicago Wildcats remain a game back of the Finches for the West Division lead after narrowly escaping Philadelphia with a 16-14 triumph over the Frigates, who fall to 1-4. Christian Trophy winner Ricky McCallister got his third straight start in place of Gus Brown at quarterback for the Wildcats and while he was underwhelming as a passer, completing just 9 of 24 attempts for 87 yards with 2 interceptions, he did rush for a team high 69 yards and scored the game's opening touchdown to remain unbeaten as a starting quarterback -and that includes his entire college career as well. Detroit caught Del Thomas on a bad day as the Maroons, led by Marc Orlosky's 135 yards rushing and 3 touchdown passes from Mike Beard, dumped the Boston Americans 26-10. Thomas, the 3-time AFA Most Valuable Player passed for just 147 yards, a low total by his standards, and did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season. Archie Rawlings and Jack Swihart teamed up for a 43-yard touchdown pass with less than 5 minutes remaining in the game to lift the New York Stars to a 14-7 victory over the St Louis Ramblers. Both clubs are now 3-2 on the season with Ramblers sitting third in the West Division while the Football Stars are tied with Boston for top spot in the East. Pittsburgh won for the second time in three weeks as Ken Marston and Jerry Doucet put on an offensive display against the visiting Washington Wasps. Marston completed 16 of 28 pass attempts for 237 and 2 scores while Doucet ran for 102 yards and scored twice on the ground to lead the Paladins to a 34-14 triumph. The game was tight with Washington nursing a 1-point lead until the final 7 minutes when the Paladins erupted for three touchdowns to claim the victory. The collapse for Washington was quick and very much of their own doing as two fumbles less than a minute apart turned the game around. First it was Bob Krohn coughing up the ball after he was sacked deep in his own territory while clinging to a 1-point lead. Faced with a first and goal at the Wasps 6-yard line it took just 1 play for Marston to find Mike Krumpke in the endzone and the Paladins had a 20-14 lead with 6:42 to play. Jim Ponder would then fumble on the Wasps next play from scrimmage and two plays later Marston connected with Bill Langan for an 11-yard score. Marston would recover another Krohn fumble less than a minute later giving the Wasps 3 turnovers in just over 2 minutes. Late in the game Doucet would and an insurance score on a 23-yard run to make the final 34-14 for the Paladins.  COWBOYS AND WINGS WIN IN ROUTS The fact that the Kansas City Cowboys and San Francisco Wings are head and shoulders above everyone else in the Continental Football Conference was pounded home again yesterday with each club continuing its winning way with impressive victories. The Cowboys, who have lost just 3 times 38 games since the CFC debuted in 1946, improved to 8-0 on this campaign with a 38-21 victory over the New York Gothams, the club they beat in each of the two CFC championship games. Meanwhile the Wings, who have been chasing Kansas City since the loop began, improved to 8-1 this season with a dominant 62-24 victory over the New Orleans Crescents. In Kansas City it was another brilliant performance in the illustrious career of Pat Chappell, who passed for four touchdowns to lead the Cowboys past the visiting Gothams. The sharpshooting T-formation quarterback of the unbeaten Cowboys hit his elusive, sure-fingered receivers with 16 completions for a staggering 369 yards and the dazed Gothams secondaries just couldn't doing anything about it. The automatic Cowboys quarterback was a little slow getting started as each of his first three pass attempts fell incomplete before he connected with Ernie Orr for a 12-yard gain on the Cowboys second series. A 16-yarder to Bill Tammaro, back in good health after a lengthy injury, led to the first Kansas City score and they would not slow down, putting up points in every period. Tammaro, as usual, was Chappell's favourite target, making 6 grabs for 172 yards including a pair of scoring catches. In San Francisco, the normally pass-minded Wings decided to focus on the ground game against a New Orleans club that had started the season with 4 straight wins but has now dropped three of its last four games. With Vince Gallegos under center, the Crescents raced out to a 21-7 lead before the Wings overpowering ground game wore the New Orleans defense down. San Francisco would find the end zone 5 times in the second half while blanking the Crescents after the break to secure the 62-24 rout. Four of the second half scores and 7 overall came from the run, with the Wings amassing 421 yards on the ground, by a committee of 10 different ballcarriers led by Rich Garner's 94 yards. Elsewhere, Mark Monday had perhaps his best game of what has been a rough season for the Buffalo Bulls and their quarterback. Monday threw for 267 yards and 2 touchdowns to help the Bulls beat Los Angeles 34-21 on the coast. It was just the second win of the season for Buffalo, and once more Dave Karaszewski played a key role. The Buffalo back ran for 113 yards while also making 5 catches for 156 yards. Finally in the Windy City, Doug Pastirik ran for 70 yards and was a force on defense to lead the visiting Brooklyn Kings past the Chicago Comets 38-21.   CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE SET FOR WAR WITH AFA If the American Football Association wants war "it's war the AFA will have," declared Dee Rose, the outspoken owner of the Los Angeles Lobos of the Continental Football Conference. "But I'll bet there'll either be peace -and soon- or everybody will go broke," forecasted the Lobos boss, whose team is in third place in the eight team CFC's Western Division. "And I'll tell you this, the Continental Conference will be playing again in 1949 and it will continue to play as an 8-team league, and the eighth team will be the Chicago Comets. Let the American Conference chew on that for a while." Rose's statement indicated that new backing is available for the stuggling Comets, whose owners reportedly have decided not to run next season. There had been concern about the state of the Continental loop after word recently came out that the owner of the AFA's New York Stars claimed his counterparts with the Brooklyn football Eagles, Daniel Prescott, stood to lose $200,000 this season but Rose laughed it off, noting "everybody's been saying that about us for the last two years and we didn't get huffy. The bottom line is the entire ownership group, and (CFC President) Bob Motgomery were committed to seeing the Continental Conference prosper. Rose also asserted that the Comets, "our admitted weakness," were as good or stronger than "their poorest team, the Pittsburgh Paladins." He noted strong crowds in Buffalo and with the New York Gothams, mentioning they were even with Stars while adding that "Kansas City and San Francisco, two of our strongest clubs are better than any team in the AFA." SHAMROCKS LEAD WAY WHILE PACKERS HAVE EARLY STRUGGLES Two weeks into the NAHC season just a single point separates the top five teams with the surprising New York Shamrocks at the top of the heap. The Shamrocks are 2-0-1 thanks in no small part to some solid goaltending from the duo of ice veteran Etienne Tremblay, who blanked Boston this week, and young Alex Sorrell. The Shamrocks have not overwhelmed offensively, as only second year winger Sam Furr has scored twice this season, but they enjoy a 1-point lead on Detroit, Toronto, Boston and Montreal. The one team not mentioned above was the Chicago Packers who, quite surprisingly, are still looking for their first victory. The Packers only point in four outings came from a tie against Montreal in their second game as they have had their struggles particularly on the back-end in the early going. Norm Hanson, the Juneau Trophy winner as top goaltender last season, has had a rough start and presently owns just a .849 save percentage -worst in the loop. Tommy Burns does have 3 goals but the rest of the vaunted Chicago offense has struggled and what is more troubling is the Packers lost all 4 games on home ice. They will venture away from Lakeside Auditorium this season for the first time on Thursday when they begin a string of 3 road games in Boston with the hopes a change of scenery will get them untracked. Code:
[b] NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
New York 3 2 0 1 10 5 5
Detroit 4 2 2 0 13 9 4
Toronto 4 2 2 0 16 13 4
Boston 3 2 1 0 10 9 4
Montreal 4 1 1 2 10 14 4
Chicago 4 0 3 1 9 18 1
SCORING LEADERS
GP G A PTS
Vanderbilt, Det 4 5 2 7
Carlson, Tor 4 3 4 7
Sauer, Tor 4 4 2 6
Tardif, Det 4 2 4 6
Hart, Bos 2 3 2 5
Galbraith, Tor 4 3 2 5
Sandford, Mon 4 3 2 5
Skinner, Mon 4 2 3 5
Pollack, Tor 4 1 4 5
Singleton, Det 3 3 1 4
T Burns, Chi 4 3 1 4
Chandler, Bos 3 2 2 4
Greenham, NY 3 1 3 4
Lanceleve, Mon 4 1 3 4
McGlynn, Chi 4 1 3 4
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS Boston 5 at 2 Chicago: Tommy Hart had the hat trick to lead the Boston Bees past the Chicago Packers 5-2. Hart scored one of 3 Bees first period goals and then added 2 more in the middle stanza and the visitors opened a 5-1 lead. Veteran Tom Brockers made 27 saves in his first start of the season.WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 20 THURSDAY OCTOBER 21 Montreal 1 at 7 Toronto: A capacity crowd of 14,010 was on hand to as the defending Challenge Cup champions made their home debut in fine fashion, by blasting their rivals from Montreal 7-1. Les Carlson scored twice and added a pair of assists while Quinton Pollack had 3 helpers for the winners, who also saw rookie defenseman Charlie Brown get his first two career NAHC goals. The Vals, with ties in their opening two games of the season, remain winless.SATURDAY OCTOBER 23 Montreal 2 at 0 Detroit: Detroit drops to 1-2 while the Valiants get their first victory in a big effort from Pat Beliveau as the rookie goaltender notched his first career shutout. It was an important win for the Vals, who parted ways with veteran netminder Millard Touhey over the summer, leaving big question marks about their situation in net. Touhey, who signed with Detroit, was at the other end of the ice and played well but came up short. Both goalies were busy as Detroit outshot the Vals 38-35 but only Adam Sandford and John Cline, both of Montreal, could bulge the twine.Toronto 3 at 2 Chicago: Toronto won its second straight while the struggling Packers dropped to 0-3-1. First period goals from Quinton Pollack and Bobbie Sauer put the visitors up 2-0 before the clubs traded second stanza markers with Jarrett McGlynn scoring for the Packers and Lou Galbraith replying for Toronto. McGlynn set up Leon Seguin for a third period goal but Chicago, despite outshooting the Dukes 37-21, was unable to get the equalizer past Gordie Broadway. SUNDAY OCTOBER 24 Boston 0 at 3 New York: After a six-day break the Shamrocks were back in action and remained unbeaten in 3 games this season as Etienne Tremblay blanked the Bees 3-0. It was a quiet evening for the veteran Shamrocks netminder, who faced just 15 Boston shots including only 4 in each of the first two periods. After a scoreless first period, rookie Alfie Dennis scored his first career NAHC goal in the second period with Simon Savard and Joe Martin adding third period tallys for the Shamrocks.Detroit 5 at 2 Toronto: Adam Vanderbilt scored his league leading fourth and fifth goals of the season to pace the Detroit Motors to a 5-2 win over the Dukes. Henri Chasse, relegated to backup status with the addition of Millard Touhey, looked strong in the Motors net in his first start of the season. NEXT WEEK'S GAMES WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 27 New York at Detroit Toronto at Montreal THURSDAY OCTOBER 28 Chicago at Boston SATURDAY OCTOBER 30 Montreal at Boston Toronto at Detroit SUNDAY OCTOBER 31 Chicago at Toronto Detroit at Montreal New York at Boston MESSER LOOKS RIGHT AT HOME IN DETROIT AS FBL PRESEASON BEGINS It is only preseason but if the first two games are any indication, it looks like Ward Messer will have little trouble adapting to professional basketball. The national collegiate player of the year last season and a two-time All-American at Liberty College was selected second overall by the Detroit Mustangs over the summer. The Mustangs have had a rough couple of seasons in the Federal Basketball League, despite being owned by a key league founder in Rollie Barrell, but they looked very good in a pair of preseason contests. Messer scored 18 points and added 15 rebounds in his debut, am 81-78 victory over the New York Knights on Tuesday. A day later the Detroit quintet was in Buffalo where Messer had a dominant 22 point, 22 rebound showing in a 104-96 win over the Brawlers. he has a long ways to go with famous New York Gothams slugger Walt Messer as a sibling, but Ward is certainly doing his best to become as talented an athlete as his famous brother. First overall selection, former Texas Gulf Coast forward Darren Fuhrman, had a little tougher time with the Syracuse Titans. The club, which was forced out of Toronto when Bernie Millard bought the old Pittsburgh Falcons franchise and secured a lease to use Toronto's Dominion Gardens, started the season with 3 straight losses. Fuhrman, who does not have a great supporting cast around him, averaged just 6.5 points per game in those contests. Code:
PRESEASON FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Washington 4 0 1.000 Brooklyn 2 1 .667 Hartford 2 2 .500 Rochester 2 2 .500 Philadelphia 1 1 .500 Boston 1 2 .333 New York 0 2 .000 Baltimore 0 3 .000 Syracuse 0 3 .000 WEST W L PCT Cleveland 3 0 1.000 Chicago 2 0 1.000 Detroit 2 0 1.000 Pittsburgh 2 1 .667 Toronto 1 2 .333 Buffalo 1 3 .250 Cincinnati 0 2 .000 The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 10/24/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-12-2023 at 07:58 PM. |
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10-13-2023, 03:52 PM
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#805 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 9,715
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November 1, 1948
NOVEMBER 1, 1948 PRESCOTT OPENS KINGS WALLET Daniel Prescott may be focused on the transition of his basketball team to a new league after his baby, the American Basketball League, folded after 11 seasons and all of its teams, including Prescott's Brooklyn Red Caps, shifted over to the rival Federal League but the Brooklyn Kings owner still found time to handsomely reward a pair of his star players. The Kings, in move that is only occasionally seen, bucked the current trend of 1-year contracts by agreeing to 2-year deals with outfielder Ralph Johnson and pitcher Bob Arman. Each is expected to play a key role in the Kings future, which looks bright with 3 consecutive rookie of the year awards going to members of the club. Johnson, a 24-year-old outfielder, won both the Kellogg Award as top newcomer and the Whitney Award as the Continental Association's best position player in 1947 and followed it up with a second straight all-star season in the recently completed summer while also finishing second behind only the New York Stars Bill Barrett in Continental Association Whitney Award voting. He has signed a deal that will pay him $60,000 in 1949 and a raise to $73,000 the following year. Both years also offer sizeable bonuses should Johnson repeat as an all-star or Whitney winner either campaign. The 1949 base pay will make Johnson the 12th highest paid player in FABL and by far the youngest in that list of a dozen players. Johnson's 1948 salary was $40,950. Arman, acquired from Cincinnati last winter, led the Kings mound staff with a 17-13 record and his 2.66 era was second only to his former teammate Deuce Barrell among qualifying pitchers in either Continental or Federal Associations. Barrell was a unanimous choice for the Allen Award but Arman finished second in balloting. Arman made $32,000 each of the past two seasons but the new deal with the Kings will pay the 27-year-old righthander $42,000 in 1949 and $49,600 the following season with an Allen Award and all star bonus. Despite the two big contracts the Kings still rank in the bottom half of FABL in salary costs. Here is how the player payrolls look for each of the 16 ballclubs as well as the twenty highest paid players for 1949.  NO EXPLANATION FOR PACKERS AWFUL START Should Chicago Packers fans be worried? The Packers, owners of the best regular season record a year ago and the most dominant offense in the league, are sitting in last place without a victory and just one point 6 games into the NAHC season. The latest loss was a 4-0 shutout at the hands of the Toronto Dukes -the second game in a row the Packers failed to score- and a number of veteran Dukes players understand all too well what the Packers are going through. Three years ago the Dukes owned the best regular season record in the league, notching an astounding 70 points in just 48 games as they seemed well on their way to their third straight Challenge Cup. It was not to be as the Dukes, despite finishing 19 points ahead of the fourth place Montreal Valiants, were swept in 3 games in the semi-finals by their Canadian rivals. The expectation was the Dukes would be on a mission as the 1946-47 season commenced, looking to prove the loss to the Vals was a fluke, but instead they sank to the bottom of the league with a record even worse than the now-defunct but traditionally awful Brooklyn Eagles that year. The story in Toronto does have a happy ending as the Dukes rebounded to win the Challenge Cup last season but there are some worries of a parallel story developing in the Windy City. The Packers have never won a Challenge Cup but after pushing Boston to the finals two years ago, big things were expected last season. Led by Tommy Burns, the most gifted offensive player in the league, the Packers easily outdistanced second place Boston to finish with the best record in the loop a year ago. But here is where the comparison to the Dukes comes in to play. Like Toronto in 1945-46, the Packers were unceremoniously booted from the playoffs by the 4th place New York Shamrocks - a team that like Montreal three years ago, finished 19 points out of first. It is early and there is plenty of time for a recovery but at 0-5-1 the Packers are looking like they are headed for the same struggles the Dukes encountered after losing a playoff series in which they were heavily favoured. The worry in Chicago right now for Packers coach Ed Hempenstall is there is no one thing he can point to and say "that is the problem." The offense has dried up with just 9 goals in 6 games and while the big gun, Tommy Burns, has scored half of them he seems well below his usual level of production while his usual sidekicks brother Wes Burns and Monty Mahoney have each yet to register a point and are a combined -14. The defense has struggled and goaltender Norm Hanson, fresh of a Juneau Trophy win as the league's top netminder, has a 4.20 goals against average and a save percentage of just .855. The good news is it is a new month and Hempenstall hopes his Packers can put October behind them and focus on a fresh start. They also have 6 days off to work on their issues before beginning a home and home set with the team that began all of their troubles last spring- the unbeaten New York Shamrocks. Code:
[b] NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 7 5 2 0 31 18 10
Boston 6 4 2 0 18 15 8
New York 5 3 0 2 19 9 8
Montreal 7 2 3 2 17 23 6
Detroit 7 2 4 2 19 22 5
Chicago 6 0 5 1 9 26 1
SCORING LEADERS
GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 7 5 7 12
Carlson, Tor 7 4 8 12
Sauer, Tor 7 6 4 10
Parker, Tor 7 4 5 9
Vanderbilt, Det 7 6 2 8
Skinner, Mon 7 4 4 8
Greenham, NY 5 3 5 8
Sandford, Mon 7 4 3 7
Galbraith, Tor 7 3 4 7
Tardif, Det 7 2 5 7
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Beliveau, Mon 3 2 1 0 1 1.67
Tremblay, NY 4 2 0 2 1 1.75
Russell, Tor 2 1 1 0 1 2.02
Chasse, Det 2 1 1 0 0 2.53
James, Bos 5 3 2 0 0 2.60
Broadway, Tor 5 4 1 0 0 2.60
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 27 New York 3 at 3 Detroit: The Motors and visiting Shamrocks skate to a 3-3 tie allowing New York (2-0-2) to remain unbeaten. Adam Greenham had two assists for the Shamrocks, who received first period goals from Tommy Brescia, Laurel Albers and Robert Sharply to take a 3-0 lead as they outshot the Motors 10-3 in the opening twenty minutes. On the game the Shamrocks had a wide 35-15 margin in shots but Detroit netminder Millard Touhey closed the gates the rest of the way while the Motors pulled even on two goals from Ben Witt and a goal and an assist from Gerald Comeau.Toronto 5 at 3 Montreal: The defending Challenge Cup champions beat the Vals for the second time in a week thanks to a pair of third period goals -the second into an empty net- from Trevor Parker. In all Parker had 3 on the evening while Quinton Parker added a goal and two assists for the Dukes. THURSDAY OCTOBER 28 SATURDAY OCTOBER 30 Montreal 0 at 3 Boston: Back to back shutouts for Bees goaltender Oren James as the Boston club improves to 4-0-1 on the season. Willis Beane opened the scoring in the second period with Ray Gustafson and Mickey Bedard adding insurance goals in the final frame. Boston outshot the Valiants 25-18.Toronto 6 at 2 Detroit: Quinton Pollack put on a show in Detroit as the Toronto Dukes young star scored 3 times and added a helper to lead the Dukes to their 4th win in 5 games, dumping Detroit 6-2. Bobbie Sauer added two goals for the winners with Dick Zimmerman rounding out the scoring as Toronto doubled Detroit in shots 36-18. Garrett Ferrar and 28-year-old Marsh Spencer, with his first NAHC goal, replied for the Motors. SUNDAY OCTOBER 31 Chicago 0 at 4 Toronto: The first night of the season with all six teams in action sees more bad news for the Chicago Packers as the remain winless in six games after being shutout for the second game in a row. This time it was Toronto's backup netminder Terry Russell turning aside 28 shots to do the honours. Trevor Parker led the Dukes with a goal and an assist. At 5-2-0, the defending Cup champions are sitting in first place.Detroit 1 at 4 Montreal: Montreal snapped a two-game losing streak with the Vals second win over Detroit this season. Bert Lanceleve and Clarence Skinner each had a goal and an assist to lead the Montreal attack while Adam Vanderbilt scored his league best 6th goal of the season in a losing cause for the Motors. The win was costly as the Valiants lost star defenseman Bryant Williams with a foot injury that will sideline him up to two weeks. New York 6 at 1 Boston: The Shamrocks continue to impress and remain the only NAHC team yet to lose this season after a 6-1 win in Boston. Orval Cabbell scored once and added two helpers while Simon Savard chipped in with 3 assists for the Greenshirts, who also received a 2-goal game from Adam Greenham. NEXT WEEK'S GAMES SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6 Montreal at Detroit Toronto at New York SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7 Chicago at New York Detroit at Boston  Word around the league is that last year's Challenge Cup hero goaltender Terry Russell has ask to be traded to another NAHC team. Russell says " I believe I can be the starter in this league, being behind Gordie is not going to allow me that chance. I have requested that I be moved if the Dukes find a deal that makes sense." GM Burns says he will try to accommodate Russell stating "I appreciate Terry's position if I can find a deal to move him I will but the Dukes are not a charity I will not be giving him away although I see a need, along with Jack, for a steady, defensively sound winger." FINCHES DOMINATE IN TITLE GAME REMATCH In what appeared to be their most impressive showing of the season, the Cleveland Finches flew into Washington and obliterated their opponents from last year's AFA Championship game, hammering the Wasps 56-9 to improve to a perfect 6-0 on the season. Washington actually struck first when Bob Krohn made a 33-yard field after the two teams combined for four turnovers in the opening four minutes of the contest, but then the Finches took over and it was an unlikely hero. With Jody Moten dealing with an arm issue, Jack Brauner -an unheralded back out of tiny Marquies College who was an 18th round pick of Cincinnati in 1945- stepped up and threw four touchdown passes, including 3 to Roy Carson, to lead the Cleveland rout. The Chicago Wildcats remain a game back of the Finches for the West Division lead after they blasted the New York Football Stars 42-7 at Cougars Park. Gus Brown was back at quarterback for the Wildcats, replacing rookie Ricky McCallister, and Brown delivered with 3 touchdown passes. The Stars loss allowed the Boston Americans to take over first place in the East Division with a 4-2 record, 1 game better than New York, after the Yanks bulldozed Cincinnati 31-7. Del Thomas, the Americans All-Pro quarterback who struggled last week in the loss in Detroit, was much better on this afternoon as he completed 17 of 25 pass attempts for 218 yards. Ken Marston's passes seemed radar-directed and Jerry Doucet ran like a berserk bull as the Pittsburgh Paladins rolled over the Detroit Maroons 21-7 before more than 38,000 fans in the haze of Fitzpatrick Park. Doucet ran for 120 yards and two scores while Marston completed a dozen passes for 161 yards. The victory was the Paladins second consecutive and moves them to 3-3 and into a second place tie with the New York Stars in the Eastern Division. The slumping Maroons drop to 2-5 on the year. Greg LePage powered his way for 113 yards on the day to help the visiting Philadelphia Frigates snap a 4-game losing streak with a 13-0 shutout of the Ramblers. The game was light on offense as neither team had much in the way of sustained drives and the few that did occur seemed to all end prematurely with turnovers. The game was 6-0 until the closing seconds thanks to a pair of Frank Ellison field goals before Mike Herndon closed out the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run with 4 seconds remaining in the game. The Ramblers had a few chances to put points on the board, but kicker Lyle Medley missed all three of his field goal attempts including a 19-yarder in the opening frame.  CRESCENTS CONQUER BULLS ELEVEN With the two big guns in the Continental Conference, Kansas City and San Francisco, off this week the focus was squarely on Buffalo's Civic Stadium to see if the visiting New Orleans Crescents could rebound from a pair of blow out losses to the San Francisco Wings over the past three weeks. The Crescents proved more than up to the task, claiming a 41-26 victory before a hostile Buffalo crowd and extend their lead atop the East Division. The game was a delight for fans of the forward pass as both clubs kept the airspace above Civic Stadium crowded. Mark Monday, who has had his ups and downs this year for the Bulls, threw the ball 42 times, completing 17 of them for 321 yards and while he topped Crescents rookie Vince Gallegos in all three of those categories, the former Bayou State star threw a pair of touchdown passes, one more than Monday managed. Despite the aerial antics it was the running of Bo Mandish that made the Crescents winners for the sixth time this season. The electrifying back carried the ball just 7 times but every time you turned around it seemed he was past the Bulls line and deep into the secondary. Mandish galloped for 106 yards and scored twice off the rush, while also scoring on a 31-yard catch and run with Gallegos that put the visitors up 28-13 just before the break. New Orleans' 6-wins is best in the Eastern Division, three more than both Brooklyn and New York after the Kings lost and the Gothams won on Halloween. At Kings County, Los Angeles back Jackie Wendt did most of the damage in a 17-13 Lobos victory. Wendt threw for 169 yards and one touchdown while running for 127 yards and another score. Across town at Dyckman Stadium it was as one-sided a game as you will see with the Gothams jumping out to a 34-0 lead at the break over the hapless Chicago Comets before putting on the breaks in the second half and settling for a 37-0 whitewashing. Ken Hale ran for two scores and passed for a third while gaining 119 yards on the ground and 101 through the air.  MONTGOMERY, CONTINENTAL HEAD, URGES END OF PRO FOOTBALL WAR A cigar-smoker from way back, Lt. Commander Ben Montgomery, Continental Football Conference President, on Thursday said he was willing to switch to a pipe — a peace pipe. In an eloquent speech at the weekly luncheon-meeting of The Football Writers Guild at Toots Shor's, Ingram deplored the "war" that exists between his circuit and the old-established American Football Association. "With dignity and on a common footing," he declared, "I am ready to talk peace with anyone, anyplace, anytime." Calling the situation "stupid and childish," Sutherland offered a solution to the problem that confronts both major professional grid leagues, whose financial difficulties have been aired time and again in recent days. Before proceeding, however, the Continental commander insisted that the Continental Conference is "financially strong today than ever," that "average attendance is higher," and that no matter what develops "the conference will have representation in 1949 in the same eight cities as in 1948." The three main points of the Sutherland "peace plan" include 1- a common draft, 2- coordination of schedules and 3- a world championship play-off. "These can be worked out in five minutes if all concerned have the will to do it," he said. *** Game Hurt by Warfare *** "I have been connected with athletics for forty-six years," said Sutherland. "Two of these years have been with the professionals. I have always maintained that the nearest thing to war in peacetime is football and warfare does not do the game a bit of good." He then went to explain his stand, emphasizing that the club owners might committ hara-kiri if they persist in carrying on the "war." He maintained that amicable settlement would preserve the integrity of all and that two-league set-up would avoid a monopoly, while keeping faith with the fans and the players. Homer Bentley, influential AFA owner of the Washington Wasps, said "No comment" when told of Sutherland's proposition. "Anything to be said must be said our league president, Jack Kristich. Kristich did not respond to requests for his thoughts on the matter. WEEK OF UPSETS IN COLLEGIATE FOOTBALL It was Saturday of upsets in the south as four of the top ten schools entering the weekend tasted defeat, including a pair for the first time this season. Falling from the ranks of the unbeaten were Georgia Baptist and Texas Gulf Coast while Cumberland and Alabama Baptist each saw their stock in the top ten drop. The big news came from the Southwestern Alliance where Travis College may have put an end to Texas Gulf Coast's hopes for a perfect season after the Bucks upended the Hurricanes 31-24 before the largest crowd ever to witness a SWA conference game. Wally Dotson, the terrific Texas Gulf Coast halfback who was an All-American selection a year ago as a sophomore, was at his best on this day in accounting for 18 of the Hurricanes 24 points but it was not enough to lift his team to victory. Dotson ran for two scores as part of his 87 yards rushing and kicked a 24-yard field goal as well as all three points after touchdowns. The victory for Travis College puts them 3-0 in section play and in good position to claim their second straight section title. The South Atlantic Conference earned bragging rights over the Deep South after the two big North Carolina schools each prevailed over Deep South opponents. It was not a surprise to see #2 ranked North Carolina Tech improve to 6-0 on the season with a hard-fought 9-7 victory over Cumberland, which had a fine showing despite the defeat and remains in the top ten. What was a big shock was that Georgia Baptist saw its perfect record go out the window with a 13-11 loss to a middle of the pack Carolina Poly team. The Gators remain in the top ten which is more than can be said for both Central Ohio, losers to St Magnus by a 10-6 score, and the previously mentioned Texas Gulf Coast Hurricanes. In their place Maryland State, which is now 6-0 after a narrow 19-17 victory over Miami State, joins the top ten for the first time this season as does Noble Jones College after the Colonels knocked off Alabama Baptist 16-10. The Colonels, playing precisely and hitting hard, struck quickly in the first quarter for two touchdowns and made that lead stand up. It also makes the Deep South Conference championship picture look very crowded with the Colonels, at 3-0 in section play, one of 4 unbeaten teams along with Mississippi A&M (5-0 in conference), Georgia Baptist (4-0) and Cumberland (2-0) with a big game between the Gators and Explorers on the slate for next Saturday. Top ranked Detroit City College extended its winning streak to 22 games by blasting Lincoln 40-0 in the Motor City. St Blane had nearly as easy a time in Baltimore on Saturday as Joe Fulgham and Dane Sutherland each ran for two scores in the Fighting Saints 34-3 victory over a struggling Annapolis Maritime squad. The other service academy, Rome State, enjoyed a big Saturday afternoon showing in Georgia against Chesapeake State as the Centurions blanked the Clippers 38-0 in front of a crowd in Rome, Ga. that included 10,000 Boy Scouts.   WEEKEND SCORES EAST St. Blane 34 Annapolis Maritime 3 Henry Hudson 28 Brunswick 24 Grafton 40 George Fox 27 Garden State 24 Ellery 23 Dickson 14 St. Patrick's 0 Erie 31 Strub College 16 Empire State 10 Liberty College 3 Pierpont 27 Lexington State 7 Pittsburgh State 14 Lakeview (OH) 6 Sadler 30 Eastern State 20 Commonwealth Catholic 44 Coastal State 7 Penn Catholic 24 Northern Minnesota 16 Boston State 17 St. Pancras 17 Bethlehem College 28 Bigsby College 17 SOUTH Rome State 38 Chesapeake State 0 North Carolina Tech 9 Cumberland 7 Noble Jones College 16 Alabama Baptist 10 Carolina Poly 13 Georgia Baptist 11 Mississippi A&M 37 Bayou State 10 Baton Rouge State 21 Northern Mississippi 3 Maryland State 19 Miami State 17 Bluegrass State 28 Opelika State 0 Central Kentucky 27 Queen City 10 Eastern Virginia 17 Potomac College 16 Western Florida 7 Bulein 6 Alexandria 31 Central Carolina 0 Cowpens State 35 Charleston Tech 0 Huntington State 14 Columbia Military Academy 14 Richmond State 23 Petersburg 3 Conwell College 13 Frankford State 6 Western Tennessee 27 Vanderburgh 10 Erskine 24 Mobile Maritime 3 MIDWEST Detroit City College 40 Lincoln 0 St. Magnus 10 Central Ohio 6 Minnesota Tech 20 Indiana A&M 16 Western Iowa 14 Wisconsin State 9 Whitney College 30 Wisconsin Catholic 6 St. Ignatius 27 Lane State 21 Daniel Boone College 54 Eastern Kansas 7 Lawrence State 13 Eastern Oklahoma 0 Topeka State 26 Payne State 21 Lambert College 51 Lawrence State-Larned 17 Laclede 13 Salamanca State 10 SOUTHWEST Travis College 31 Texas Gulf Coast 24 Arkansas A&T 21 Darnell State 10 Red River State 21 College of Waco 0 Amarillo Methodist 14 Lubbock State 14 Oklahoma City State 34 Iowa A&M 10 Texas Panhandle 38 Abilene Baptist 20 El Paso Methodist 34 Harvey College 17 Gunnison State 31 Flagstaff State 27 FAR WEST Coastal California 28 Northern California 7 CC Los Angeles 27 College of Omaha 10 Redwood 10 Rainier College 0 Spokane State 34 Idaho A&M 14 Custer College 28 Utah A&M 6 Sunnyvale 24 San Francisco Tech 7 Tempe College 31 Valley State 23 Colorado Poly 24 Miners College 9 Mile High State 17 St. Matthew's College 14 South Valley State 38 San Clemente 0 Kit Carson University 54 Oklahoma Methodist 0 Portland Tech 23 Golden Gate University 0 Provo Tech 19 Boulder State 0 Wyoming A&I 37 Cache Valley 10 Canyon A&M 23 Ferguson 14 FEDERAL CAGE LEAGUE: A NEW ERA BEGINS TOMORROW As the clock ticks towards the dawn of the fourth Federal Basketball League season, a palpable sense of change and excitement infuses the air. The league, now a consolidated entity after a summer of seismic shifts, stands at the brink of a fresh chapter, promising a season unlike any seen before. Basketball enthusiasts await with bated breath as the pro cage game finds newfound unity and harmony. In contrast to the gridiron battles of the American Association and the Continental Conference, or the ongoing skirmish between FABL and the renegades from the coast league in baseball, basketball emerges as a beacon of concord. The once-divided courts are now merged into a singular entity, putting an end to the fractious discord that previously marred the sport's landscape. However, beneath this veneer of unity, the embers of rivalry still smolder, especially for Daniel Prescott, the founding patriarch of the American Basketball League and owner of the Brooklyn Red Caps. The recent power play executed by Rollie Barrell and Bernie Millard during the offseason has clearly left Prescott seething. In a bygone era, Barrell and Prescott stood as comrades, kindred spirits in the endeavor to establish a professional cage league in the twenties. Though the economic downturn dashed those aspirations, Barrell chose to divert his focus to the Detroit Maroons, his pro football outfit. On the other hand, Prescott, concurrently running the Brooklyn Kings baseball team, persisted in his quest for a basketball league. This vision endured, weathering the storm of player shortages during the war, and as the conflict concluded, the league appeared poised for success. Yet, the tide of success brought a new battle, akin to the struggles witnessed in football and baseball. Men fueled by financial dreams birthed a rival league, sowing the seeds of contention. Barrell re-entered the basketball realm prior to the 1946-47 season, uniting with semi-pro club owners predominantly from the Midwest to initiate the Federal Basketball League. Unlike the contentious football turf wars, the FBL initially staked its claim in markets unoccupied by the decade-old American League. A tenuous truce prevailed, leading to a shared collegiate draft pool and minimal player exchanges between the leagues. This détente, likely attributed to the previous association between Prescott and Barrell, steered clear of an all-out war that could have jeopardized both leagues. However, the status quo was upended last spring when Bernie Millard, the fervent owner of FABL's Toronto Wolves, orchestrated a paradigm-shifting maneuver. Millard's acquisition of the ABL's Pittsburgh Falcons and their subsequent move to Toronto, a city already hosting the FBL's Toronto Titans, set off a chain reaction. Millard, a vocal critic of the Great Western League in baseball, orchestrated the migration of three other ABL owners to join the Federal League. Amid clandestine negotiations and power plays, the ABL bowed out, its eight clubs, including Prescott's Brooklyn Red Caps, embracing the Federal Basketball League. Amidst the bruised egos and lingering animosity, basketball now emerges from the shadows of fragmentation that have plagued its sporting counterparts. The dawn of this new era, united under a single league, promises an enthralling season. Tomorrow evening, the super-sized Federal Basketball League will burst into action, featuring a slate of seven exciting games. Among them, a clash of titans as Prescott's Red Caps, the reigning champions and stalwarts of the former ABL, go head-to-head against their arch-nemesis, the Boston Centurions. Simultaneously, in a battleground resonant with anticipation, the Washington Statesmen, perhaps the most gifted squad in the league, fresh from an impeccable 6-0 preseason, journey to Philadelphia to lock horns with one of the original FBL squads, the Philadelphia Phantoms. However, the crescendo of the early season unfolds Sunday night in Detroit, as the Red Caps, under Prescott's banner, square off against Barrell's Mustangs. The tension is palpable, a silent reminder of the past, of shattered dreams, and resolute rivalries. Rollie Barrell will most certainly be in the building that evening but there has been no word on whether Daniel Prescott will accompany the Red Caps. Oh, to be a fly on the wall if those two cross paths in the halls of the Thompson Palladium. Code:
FINAL PRESEASON FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Washington 6 0 1.000 Brooklyn 5 1 .833 Rochester 4 2 .667 Philadelphia 3 3 .500 Boston 3 3 .500 Hartford 3 3 .500 New York 1 5 .167 Baltimore 1 5 .167 Syracuse 1 5 .167 WEST W L PCT Chicago 6 0 1.000 Cleveland 4 2 .667 Detroit 4 2 .667 Cincinnati 2 4 .333 Pittsburgh 2 4 .333 Toronto 2 4 .333 Buffalo 1 5 .167  SAWYER’S EUROPEAN DEBUT A SMASHING SUCCESS IN JOLLY OLD ENGLAND London Arena, London, England – Hector Sawyer stood on the eastern shore of the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. The Cajun Crusher had seen all there is to see on the western shore. Sawyer pummeled any challengers available and rather than rest on his substantial laurels, he wanted to see what the rest of the world had to offer in the way of competition. Those laurels include 58 wins in 62 bouts, an astounding 52 by knockout. No one could lay a glove on Sawyer’s heavyweight belt and at the risk of getting bored or quitting the fight game altogether, this European sojourn motivated him to press forward in his quest to be the greatest champion in boxing history. Sawyer has held the heavyweight title for almost nine years, which is the longest in ABF history dating back to 1910, but the time at the top was prolonged because of World War II. However, if he succeeded in defeating Great Britain’s consensus top heavyweight, Grant Knowles, The Cajun Crusher would be tied for the most successful title defenses with eleven. Knowles had his home crowd behind him, but any fight fan in attendance on Saturday night at London Arena knew he was a major underdog. Bettors were more interested in how many rounds Knowles would last since few took the bait of a potential Knowles victory. To say Sawyer was a bit overconfident was an understatement. Sawyer switched to southpaw about a round into the fight for a while. Maybe it was to keep Knowles guessing. Maybe it was to keep himself amused. Either way, the first round could simply be explained as the sizing up of to two fighters who had never saw the other fight. The real boxing began in the second round, when Sawyer picked up the pace. An early uppercut 11 seconds into the stanza drew a reaction but a second attempted uppercut was defended well by the British challenger. Knowles retaliated with a combination that sent Sawyer backward towards the ropes. Sawyer recovered to take the round, but Knowles acquitted himself well to the combat. Undeterred, Sawyer managed to open a gash on an uppercut that caught Knowles flush early in the third round. The blood from the cut was flowing freely from his right eyebrow almost immediately and ran into Knowles’s eye. Sawyer went to the cross and scored well with it because Knowles had a hard time picking up the arriving assault with those types of punches coming from the side. Sawyer continued to work inside and easily penetrated Knowles’s defenses. In the fourth round, Sawyer’s pace picked up and there was a renewed sense of urgency after his strategic discussion with his trainer between rounds. The time was now to end the fight. Sawyer delivered another uppercut and worked upstairs. Knowles’s upper half began to sway like a piñata as his legs were wobbly and uncertain. His eyes started to glaze over. Sawyer did not need an engraved invitation, launching a fusillade of missiles directed at Knowles’s head. By the final seconds of Round 4, Knowles could not even offer a withering defense. In the eyes of Dunk McGuire, who had seen this type of domination before when he officiated the Sawyer fight against Dan Miller in Southern California this past January, waved off Sawyer with eight seconds left in the round to stop the fight. McGuire said later when questioned on why he stopped the fight so close to a break in the action, “Sawyer’s next punch could have killed [Knowles]. I was protecting that man’s life at that point.” The night was over and the English fight fans saw a dominating performance that everyone expected to see. The pageantry of a championship title fight in Great Britain was something to behold, a level not seen since Herm Murphy held the title in the 1930s. For his role in bringing championship boxing to London and giving the crowd a reason to cheer, Knowles (31-5-1) can be proud. Meanwhile, Sawyer (59-3-1) tied the record for most successful title defense (11) on British soil and may look to break the record in Europe as well. The Old World represents a new world for Sawyer, an American bringing goodwill with an uppercut to match. BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS Round 1: None Round 2: Tied, 1-1 (S: 1:57 hook/head; K: 1:13 combo) Round 3: Sawyer, 3-0 (1:08 cross, 1:54 cross/face, 2:30 right/head) Round 4: Sawyer, 3-0 (1:46 combo, 2:34 uppercut, 2:47 combo) TOTAL: Sawyer 7, Knowles 1  HARRIS HALTS DECLINE WITH KO WIN IN COAST BOUT Nick Harris, a good but never quite good enough fighter from Cranston, RI, got back to winning ways in the ring when he fractured Ron Davis's nose with a steaming left and knocked him out in the 10th and final round of a bout in Hollywood Friday evening. For Harris it was the 34-year-old's 24th victory to go along with 5 defeats and a draw in a fight career that dates back to his debut in 1936. It also ends a two-fight losing streak in which Harris looked very old and very slow in each of his losses and many speculated the end of his career was near. Davis is not much more than a professional sparring partner so this result does little change the thinking that Harris should realize it is perhaps time to walk away from the sport that -save for an interruption during the war- has been his life for more than a decade. More than any other athlete, the end can come quickly for a pro boxer and sometimes with terrible consequences if he fails to realize his skills have abandoned him. Harris cut his teeth in the New York boxing scene alongside another young New Englander named Todd Gill in the late 1930s. He and Gill, who is also seeing his career wind down, were considered two of the best middleweights on the east coast in the period before and shortly after the war. Each had an opportunity for the World Title with a shot against Frank Melanson but they differ in result as while Gill would beat Frank the Tank before losing his briefly held title in a rematch, Harris came up short in his one opportunity at the title, losing a unanimous decision at Bigsby Garden a year and a half ago. A loss that perhaps started the wheels in motion hurtling towards the end of his career. Harris insists he still has a few more fights left in him, but they likely should be restricted to opponent's of Ron Davis' class. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 10/31/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-13-2023 at 03:57 PM. |
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10-16-2023, 10:31 AM
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#806 |
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November 8, 1948
NOVEMBER 8, 1948  DEEP DRAFT CLASS PROMISES SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE The 1949 FABL draft is fast approaching and many scouts around the league believe this first round crop of talent promises to be one of the deepest seen in years. That will come as no surprise to long-time readers of this publication as well over a year ago, on September 1, 1947, in our "Way Too Early Look" at the 1947 draft class we had this to say: If OSA's current scouting assessments hold up the 1949 draft class appears to be an extremely deep group, one that is absolutely loaded at the high school level. By the count of TWIFB staff there are 40 players that presently are worthy of being considered first round choices based upon their current OSA assessment. Now, that will certainly change as some players-especially young high schoolers- always drop off but this has the makings of being a draft class to remember. Instead of a mock list of just 16, we are going to list 30 players well worth keeping an eye on. They are roughly being ranked from best to worst but so many of them are so close it was tough coming up with an exact ranking for each of them. We tempered our opinion slightly in the annual August series previewing the top prospect but only with regard to pitchers. While there seemed to be a large number of hurlers who' stock took a nosedive in the eyes of the league scouting agency, there were more than enough highly touted position players to step in and take their place. Chicago Cougars Scouting Director Dixie Marsh is very exicted about the current crop. Marsh said he was "doing some final scouting for the coming draft and I have to say this pool looks way more exciting then last year. Seems to be a lot of talent overall. Veteran Brooklyn Kings head scout John Spears is not easily impressed. Spears has been in his role running the Brooklyn scouting department since 1931 so he has seen a lot of draft classes, both good and bad, but on the '49 crop Spears -while cautious not to give away any Kings secrets- noted "I would quietly agree with that." Detroit Dynamos SD Fred Barrell was a little more forthcoming, noting his organization has identified 17 position players that "suggest to me they are first round talent," although he does agree the pitching crop, while a little better than last year, is still "quite thin." *** Elite Talent All Over the Diamond *** The pitching group is not overly impressive notes Dan Barrell, Fred's brother and head of the league scouting service but there are a couple of guys worth watching very closely. Barrell identifies a pair of high school arms from the midwest as pitchers to watch. "I am not sure we will get a number one starter out of this group," Barrell admits, "but the lefty (Vern) Osborne out of Missouri and the South Bend Sling, a kid named Roy Patterson, both could be solid middle of the rotation arms if things break right." While Barrell is cautious with the pitching crop, mention outfielders and his eyes light up and he will start throwing names out left, right and center. "There are a couple of very talented college guys at the top of this group. I can see Don Berry from Grange College making multiple trips to the All-Star Game and Joe Fulgham, a centerfielder, is just an amazing athlete. Anyone who knows my past knows I love football guys and Fulgham is a tremendous back for St Blane and has a very promsing future whether he chooses football or baseball." Barrell also mentions a large number of high school outfielders that will draw a lot of attention, singling out Rick Masters, Ray Hughes and King Brucker. There is plenty of talent in the infield as well led by a pair of terrific shortstop prospects in Lane State star Tom Perkins and Philadelphia high schooler John Wells. Barrell says it is tough to decide which will make the better big leaguer some day. "To be honest, I see them both as potential elite shortstops on a contender" says the OSA head. "FABL has been blessed with a run of great shortstop prospects the past couple of drafts including Tom Miller, who the Eagles took first overall last year." Second basemen Buddy Byrd and Rube Simpson, both high schoolers, and Indiana A&M second sacker Harry Murray give the class some depth at that position as well. Singled out at third base where a trio of college players in Ed Bloom, Jim Bob Daniels and George Scott. Scott, who just begs for the nickname 'Boomer' is one of the many players who benefited from going to college as he was a third round selection of Cleveland out of high school in 1946 but opted to join Mississippi Tech instead. There may be a half dozen first baseman with first round talent noted Barrell, singling out high schoolers Ike Shafer, Jack Craig and Wayne Cottrill as well as Maryland State's Andy Green. Behind the plate the crop might not be as deep but high school talents Cliff Schuler and Roy Alexander will certainly draw some attention. It looks to be a very interesting draft and with the crop as deep as it is this may be a year that teams will be more focused on drawing a high choice in the second round draft lottery and be less concerned if they fall to a lower spot in the round one lottery.  MOTORS EXPLODE FOR 17 GOALS IN TWO GAMES The NAHC had a five-day break with no games from Monday to Friday but when the action resumed Saturday it became pretty evident the Detroit Motors had spent the week working on their offense. The Motors, who scored the fewest goals in the league last year and had scored just 13 in the previous six games combined, exploded for 19 goals in two games on the weekend. Detroit started the fireworks display with a 9-3 victory at Thompson Palladium over visiting Montreal on Saturday and the sticks stayed hot on the train ride to Boston where they doubled the Bees 8-4 last night. A trio of second-year players have been carryig the mail for the Motors offense, led by Adam Vanderbilt's league best 9 goals to go with 13 points. Last season's rookie of the year Nick Tardif has 3 goals and 8 assists while Ben Witt, just 21 and the fourth overall pick in the 1947 draft, has 1o points including 3 goals. The Motors, who finished last in the NAHC last season and have missed the playoffs three of the last four seasons, are suddenly playing exciting hockey and with 9 points in 9 games, are just 3 back of first place Toronto.  Code:
[b] NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 8 6 2 0 36 20 12
New York 7 4 1 2 26 16 10
Detroit 9 4 4 1 36 29 9
Boston 7 4 3 0 22 23 8
Montreal 8 2 4 2 20 32 6
Chicago 7 0 6 1 11 31 1
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 8 6 10 16
Vanderbilt, Det 9 9 4 13
Carlson, Tor 8 4 8 12
Sauer, Tor 8 7 4 11
Tardif, Det 9 3 8 11
Parker, Tor 8 5 5 10
Galbraith, Tor 8 4 6 10
Greenham, NY 7 3 7 10
Witt, Det 9 3 7 10
Sandford, Mon 8 6 3 9
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Russell, Tor 3 2 1 0 1 2.01
Tremblay, NY 6 3 1 2 1 2.17
Beliveau, Mon 4 2 1 0 1 2.52
Broadway, Tor 5 4 1 0 0 2.60
Chasse, Det 3 2 1 0 0 3.02
Touhey, Det 6 2 3 1 0 3.17
James, Bos 6 3 3 0 2 3.26
Hanson, Chi 6 0 5 1 0 4.19
Carter, Mon 5 0 3 2 0 4.78
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS Montreal 3 at 9 Detroit: The Motors gave a very unfriendly welcome back to Detroit for their former backup goaltender. Now the starter in Montreal, Brad Carter was shelled for 6 goals in two and a half periods as the Motors hammered Montreal 9-3. Pat Beliveau, who came on in relief of Carter, had even less luck allowing the final 3 Detroit markers on just 4 shots. It was "pad your stats" night for the hosts as Hank Walsh had a trick, rookie defenseman Dixon Butler earned 3 assists as did Spencer Larocque and Graham Comeau. Adam Sandford scored twice for the Vals. The win halted a 2-game losing skid for Detroit while Montreal fell for the third time in their last four outings.SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6 Toronto 5 at 2 New York: Toronto won its fourth straight while the Shamrocks lost for the first time this season. Quinton Pollack, who leads the NAHC in scoring, had a big night with a goal and 3 assists while Lou Galbraith chipped in with 3 points as the Dukes outshot New York 38-16. SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7 Chicago 2 at 5 New York: The Shamrocks bounced right back the next night with a 5-2 win that leaves the struggling Packers still in search of their first win this season. There was some good news for the Packers as Tommy Burns had both of their goals -his fourth and fifth of the season- and his brother Wes earned two assists for his first points of the campaign. But there was also plenty of bad news including goaltender Norm Hanson revealing after the game he had a minor injury and may need some time off over the few days. The Shamrocks were led by third year defenseman Paul Tetrealt as the 24-year-old had 2 goals and 2 assists while netminder Etiene Tremblay was outstanding in another busy night, turning aside 46 of 48 Packers shots.Detroit 8 at 4 Boston: The suddenly high-flying Detroit offense was at it again as the Motors, who scored 17 goals over the weekend, doubled Boston 8-4 in the Bees first action in a week. Adam Vanderbilt scored twice to increase his league best goal total to 9 with Ben Witt also beating Bees netminder Tom Brockers for a pair. Tommy Hart had a hat trick in a losing cause for the Bees. UPCOMING GAMES WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10 New York at Chicago THURSDAY NOVEMBER 11 Boston at Detroit Montreal at Chicago SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13 New York at Montreal Toronto at Chicago SUNDAY NOVEMBER 14 Boston at Montreal Chicago at Detroit New York at Toronto JUNIOR LEAGUE TAKES FLIGHT The new national junior league, designed to bring the top junior age players across Canada into a single loop, opens its inaugural season today. Set up with the assistance and sponsorship of the NAHC, the 12 team league features teams based in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada and will recruit top players from across the country and northern United States. The top team in the Eastern Division is predicted to be the Sherbrooke Industrials will the Western Division is expected to be a battle between the Kitchener Roosters and Kingston Cadets. The NAHC will restrict its amateur player draft beginning next summer to only players who participate in the CAHA. In that regard there is some disappointing early news as both Justin Limeirck, an American-born center for the Saint John Saints, and Windsor Dominions defenseman Mike Cotey, each suffered major injuries in the preseason and will both miss a good chunk of the regular season schedule. The two were considered possible candidates for selection in the first round by NAHC clubs in June. AROUND THE LEAGUE
BENGALS FALL FROM RANKS OF PERFECT TEAMS Maryland State's hopes of earning an invitation to one of the big New Year's Day Classic Games were dealt a major blow Saturday when the Bengals were forced to settle for a 20-20 tie against Columbia Military Academy. It could have been worse as only a late drive in the closing minutes amidst blinding rain squalls even allowed the Bengals to remain unbeaten at 6-0-1. The Cadets were simply the hungrier team for much of the contest and an opponent the Maryland State eleven appeared to take a little too lightly with the focus for the Bengals a little too heavily concentrated on their game next week against number 2 North Carolina Tech. The Techsters will enter that game in Baltimore next Saturday as one of just 4 teams who are unbeaten and untied this year, standing at 7-0 alongside topped ranked Detroit City College, Mississippi A&M and Kit Carson University. North Carolina Tech has survived some tight games this season with narrow wins over Cumberland and Travis College. You can add Richmond State to that list of narrow victories after the Techsters scratched out a 7-0 victory. The Techsters scored their only touchdown - a short-run from highly touted junior halfback Jackie Charles only because their drive was prolonged with the aid of two penalties. Heavy turf and a steady drizzle during the game robbed the celebrated Charles of his footing and he was as forlorn as an eagle with his wings clipped for most of the contest. Neither team enjoyed much success either on the ground or through the air as the weather robbed fans of what could have been a dazzling offensive display. There won't be any New Year's activity for Detroit City College after recently enacted Great Lakes Alliance rules will preclude the back to back East-West Classic champions, or any other GLA team for that matter, from playing in successive games at Santa Ana but that does not seem to stand in the way of a third straight conference title and perhaps even a number one rating- something the Knights have never achieved before. DCC had a break from section play this week while delighting another sold out home crowd as the Knights rolled on to a 37-0 victory over Annapolis Maritime, thereby registering the twenty-third consecutive triumph for the school. Except for a few minutes toward the end of the second period, when penalties and a fumble accounted for a loss of 52 yards, the mighty DCC eleven produced a versatile attack that clicked with clock-like regularity against the overmatch Navigators. In fact, the first two touchdowns were scored almost at the same time in the opening period and in the second. It was 6:06 when Paul Erdinger, the Knights ace passer, found dynamic end Ike Richards from 7 yards out to open the scoring in the first. It was 6:11 of the second frame when Erdinger carried over from the one-foot mark. The Navigators kept the deficit to 14 entering the break before they were overpowered in the second half. With just a home game against Indiana A&M and then a trip to Columbus for their year-end meeting with Central Ohio left on the docket the Knights seemed well positioned to retain their number one ranking. St Blane softened up the Reapers on Saturday, downing Indiana A&M by a 30-7 margin. On a wet day in Terre Haute, the Fighting Saints football team skipped lightly over a muddy field, failing to score only in the third quarter as they outgained the hosts 291-44 on the ground. Halfback Joe Fulgham softened up the Reapers with a series of smashes early in the game culminating in a 23-yard scamper for the first Saints touchdown and it was just routine after that. The Christian Trophy candidate, who also excels for the Fighting Saints on the diamond, scored three times in total will rushing for 141 yards. After falling off the pace early with a tie against Lincoln College, Rome State has won 4 straight to improve to 6-0-1 on the year and now is #4 in the rankings. The Centurions pitched a shutout for the second week in a row, blasting west coast outfit Redwood University 36-0 at the Bigsby Oval. A crucial Deep South matchup saw Cumberland take advantage of foul weather conditions to nip Georgia Baptist 10-9 in a battle of top ten foes. The Explorers big, fast skirmish line continually operated in the Baptist backfield and worked to destroy the Gators passing aim. The light, high-speed Georgia Tech backs were forced to run instead of pass and their fumbles set up both Cumberland scores and ended several threats. A second quarter turnover on a fumbled punt return put the Explorers in great field position and led to the only touchdown on the afternoon. Despite that, the Gators had a chance to win by kicking a fourth field goal with less than 6 minutes remaining, but it sailed wide to the right and doomed Georgia Baptist to its first section loss of the season. Henry Hudson's bid for an Academia Alliance title was derailed when the Grafton Scholars dominated in a 24-3 victory in the battle between the Academia Alliance's two squads that entered with perfect section records. It was also the first loss in 7 outings this season for Henry Hudson.   WEEKEND SCORES EAST St. Blane 30 Indiana A&M 7 Liberty College 24 Pierpont 12 Sadler 22 Dickson 7 Brunswick 32 Empire State 13 Grafton 24 Henry Hudson 3 George Fox 37 New York Maritime 13 Ellery 28 Lakeview (OH) 6 St. Matthew's College 30 Bigsby College 0 St. Patrick's 27 Strub College 21 Brooklyn State 17 Boston State 14 Garden State 40 Eastern Virginia 13 Conwell College 28 St. Pancras 3 SOUTH Rome State 36 Redwood 0 North Carolina Tech 7 Richmond State 0 Noble Jones College 38 Western Florida 20 Maryland State 20 Columbia Military Academy 20 Alabama Baptist 20 Mississippi Tech 0 Mississippi A&M 21 Western Tennessee 0 Cumberland 10 Georgia Baptist 9 Bluegrass State 37 Bayou State 7 Central Kentucky 24 Penn Catholic 23 Charleston Tech 31 Eastern State 10 Carolina Poly 17 Cowpens State 17 Lexington State 20 Chesapeake State 12 Huntington State 38 Erie 3 Baton Rouge State 24 Alexandria 3 Northern Mississippi 24 Opelika State 3 Miami State 39 Queen City 3 Coastal State 21 Bulein 0 Mobile Maritime 27 Potomac College 7 Petersburg 12 Central Carolina 10 MIDWEST Detroit City College 37 Annapolis Maritime 0 Minnesota Tech 40 Whitney College 10 St. Magnus 16 Wisconsin State 2 Central Ohio 13 Pittsburgh State 0 Lincoln 17 Western Iowa 3 Iowa A&M 17 Lambert College 7 College of Omaha 40 Eastern Kansas 17 Topeka State 34 Laclede 21 St. Ignatius 54 Wisconsin Catholic 7 Daniel Boone College 27 Oklahoma City State 23 SOUTHWEST Texas Gulf Coast 31 Darnell State 3 Lubbock State 28 Travis College 14 College of Waco 23 Texas Panhandle 23 Red River State 20 Arkansas A&T 9 Eastern Oklahoma 42 Payne State 10 Abilene Baptist 58 Oklahoma Methodist 9 Valley State 20 South Valley State 12 FAR WEST Northern California 34 CC Los Angeles 3 Portland Tech 30 Rainier College 3 Lane State 20 Spokane State 10 Custer College 23 College of San Diego 10 Idaho A&M 31 Western Montana 7 Kit Carson University 47 Sunnyvale 45 Tempe College 47 El Paso Methodist 16 California Catholic 33 San Francisco Tech 10 Minns College 24 Utah A&M 10 Cache Valley 14 Boulder State 13 Mile High State 23 Northern Minnesota 17 Shirley College 28 Flagstaff State 27 Golden Gate University 21 Stratton 0 Colorado Poly 24 Provo Tech 10 FINCHES FLYING HIGH Outscored Opponents 161-16 Last 3 Weeks Add the Pittsburgh Paladins to the list of teams that now realize just how powerful the Cleveland Finches offense is the season. For the second game in a row the Finches scored 56 points as they pounded the Paladins 56-7. The sensational Finches, led by Phil Colvin and Roy Carson, punched 28 points in the second quarter alone on their way to another victory, their 7th in a row without a defeat, thrilling a Forester Field crowd of over 30,000 with amazing passing and running. It was a fairly quiet opening frame with the only score coming on an 8-yard gallop around the end by the Finches Tommy Thompson set up by a rare Carson run that turned into a 38-yard end around. The second quarter was a much different story as Colvin, filling in once more at quarterback for Jody Moten, threw 4 touchdown passes including 3 to Carson, who would finish the day with 8 catches for 157 yards. On the campaign Carson already has 12 scoring grabs and with 6 in his last two games there is talk he may just challenge Stan Vaught's 1942 record of 17 touchdown receptions. Carson and the Finches still have five games remaining including a season-ending showdown in Chicago with the Wildcats. The Wildcats kept pace, improving to 6-1 on the season by pitching a 10-0 shutout in Washington over the Wasps. Dusty Sinclair, the rookie All-American from Travis College, saw his first taste of game action in the pros and ran for 64 yards while also completing 6 passes. Defense was the story on this day as Ricky McCallister's first quarter field goal accounted for all of the scoring until an interception by the Wildcats Jim Arends in the final minute set up a Ralph Manson 10-yard touchdown run to close out the game. The Boston Americans beat Cincinnati for the second week in a row to improve to 5-2 and remain in to spot in the East Division. Eric Balfour, who also ran for 80 yards, kicked two field goals including the game winner, a 24-yarder midway through the final period, to give the Yanks a 13-10 win. Archie Rawlings threw for 267 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the New York Football Stars to a 28-24 victory over the Philadelphia Frigates at Gothams Stadium while in St Louis the Ramblers dumped the struggling Detroit Maroons 17-6.  CRECENTS ROLL OVER COWBOYS A little over a month ago there was great excitement as the New Orleans Crescents, at that time unbeaten, were set to host the mighty Kansas City Cowboys in a showdown in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the Crescents fine young rookie quarterback Vince Gallegos was injured and did not play in a game that saw the Cowboys reaffirm their dominance of the CFC once more with a 31-10 victory. Yesterday at Packer Park in Kansas City was the rematch and while Gallegos was back, the Crescents had lost much of their glow after being thumped in a pair of contests by the San Francisco Wings. So far less was anticipated in this meeting in comparison to the excitement level prior to the Cowboys arrival in New Orleans. Perhaps, even the Cowboys themselves -with one eye focused squarely on a showdown with the Wings next weekend- took the Crescents lightly and Gallegos and his mates made them pay, with New Orleans pulling off an 19-7 upset. In hindsight, you could sense something was wrong with the Cowboys on this day right away, when they meekly went 3 and out on their first series and then allowed Gallegos to engineer a 10-play drive that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown pass to Bo Mandish. It was the rookie QB at his best as Gallegos completed all 4 of his passes on the drive including a pair to his all-purpose halfback Mandish. The Crescents increased their lead to 10-0 before the first period ended when, taking advantage of good field position and a personal foul penalty on the Cowboys, New Orleans kicker Willard Shaw made good on a 34-yard attempt. Pat Chappell had by all accounts an awful day, but the Cowboys star did find Ernie Orr for a 21-yard score early in the second frame to cut the deficit to 3 points. However, the Crescents quickly answered with another 3-pointer off the foot of Shaw. The remainder of the game was a source of frustration for both offenses as neither could find the endzone and one more Shaw field goal late in the fourth quarter ended the scoring, and the Cowboys chances for a perfect season. The outcome certainly makes next Sunday's showdown between the 9-1 San Francisco Wings and 8-1 Kansas City Cowboys even bigger. The Wings absolutely destroyed New Orleans twice and are coming off a 27-10 victory over the Chicago Comets - marking the 7th straight victory for the Bay Area eleven. Sam Metcalf threw for 188 yards and a touchdown in yesterday's Wings win at San Francisco's Hawks Stadium. It has been a frustrating season for Mike Monday and the Buffalo Bulls, who expected far better than a 2-7 start. They picked up win number three in convincing fashion, taking their frustrations out on a tough go of things this season with 60-14 win in Brooklyn over the Football Kings. It was a game that saw the Bulls score what has to be a CFC record 34 points in the opening quarter. Five fumbles including one returned for a Buffalo touchdown made like miserable for the Kings. After beating the Kings last week, the Los Angeles Lobos won in New York for the second week in a row with a 10-7 victory over the Grid Gothams. New York led 7-0 until Jackie Wendt evened the score with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Littlejohn early in the fourth quarter and then Don Penna won it with a 38-yard field goal with just over a minute remaining in the contest.   LIBERTY COLLEGE PREPARES FOR LIFE WITHOUT MESSER A new era in Liberty College basketball tips-off when the Bells face Bayou State in their preseason tournament opener this week it will mark the first time in four years that Ward Messer was not on the court with the team. Messer, who was a first team All-American selection twice and the National Collegiate Player of the Year as a senior last season, has graduated and moved on to the pro ranks with the Detroit Mustangs. That leaves the Bells with a big hole in their lineup, but Liberty College may be just fine with the addition of the number one recruit in the nation ready to step into Messer's sizeable shoes. That would Luther Gordon, who spent the last two seasons in a New York junior college after some struggles kept him out of major college basketball following his prep years at Brooklyn's Canarsie High School. Gordon was heavily recruited last year and decided on the Philadelphia school in no small part because he was looking forward to being counted on to replace Messer. He will enter as a junior and the 6'11" behemoth will pair with Edgar Stillwell, a 6'8" junior out of Detroit who started all 33 games alongside Messer a year ago, to give Liberty College one of the most imposing pair of big men in all of collegiate basketball. Stillwell is not the only returnee to a school that reached the quarterfinals of the AIAA tournament a year ago before bowing out to eventual champion Redwood University. Two other starters return in senior guard-small forward Simon Buchanan and junior shooting guard Scott Basile. Only Messer, who averaged 16.7 ppg -second highest in the nation- provided more offense last season than Buchanan's 10.4 ppg while Basile chipped in 8.8 per contest. The point guard spot is perhaps the biggest question mark, but senior Chris Frechette did see significant playing time a year ago and started 17 games. Liberty College has had a tremendous run the past two decades but Messer, while leading the team to the National Championship Game twice, could not get the Bells their fourth AIAA title. That job now falls to Luther Gordon who has the potential to become the latest in a tradition of dominant big men for Liberty College that includes not just Messer, but also Win Dupre and Robert Grant.  UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 11/07/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-16-2023 at 10:34 AM. |
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10-17-2023, 08:21 PM
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November 15, 1948
NOVEMBER 15, 1948 PLENTY OF HIGH-END TALENT TO GRACE CUBAN WINTER LEAGUE In its third season, slated to begin a week from tomorrow, the Cuban Winter League is set to showcase an impressive array of baseball talent, attracting a record number of FABL scouts and management personnel to the island nation. The level of quality among the players sent south by the 16 FABL clubs for the two-month season is unmatched and has generated significant excitement within the baseball community. Among the players selected to participate are 49 young men who grace the esteemed OSA top 100 prospect list, including five of who have earned spots in the top ten. Leading this elite group that will winter in the Caribbean are each of the top 3 prospects according to OSA in shortstop Ralph Hanson of the New York Stars, Tom Miller, a shortstop from the Washington Eagles, and Ken Newman, a third baseman from the Brooklyn Eagles. The Matanzas Buccaneers and Santiago Scorpions boast the highest number of top-100 prospects, each fielding an impressive eight promising talents. The Buccaneers, drawing from the Brooklyn Kings and Pittsburgh Miners organizations, and the Scorpions, representing the reigning World Champion St. Louis Pioneers and the Cleveland Foresters, are both primed to make a strong showing in the winter league. The defending league champion Havana Sharks, winners of each of the first two Cuban titles, will once again be supplied talent from the Cincinnati Cannons and Detroit Dynamos. The depth of talent in this year's winter league has markedly increased since its inception, and according to Fred Barrell, Scouting Director for the Detroit Dynamos, the shift can be attributed to growing confidence within FABL clubs regarding the quality of the Cuban league. "The first couple of years essentially served as a testing ground," Barrell explained. "We had initial concerns about the talent pool and, more importantly, the playing and living conditions for our players." Barrell emphasized that the large influx of returning players immediately after the war turned the Cuban loop into a catch-all scenario in its inaugural year (1946), focused more on assessing available talent rather than featuring top prospects in Havana. This season promises an abundance of top-tier talent, with many players from the winter league likely to grace big league uniforms come opening day in mid-April. Baseball enthusiasts can expect an exciting season as the Cuban Winter League continues to evolve into a vital platform for nurturing and showcasing the stars of tomorrow. 
COWBOYS RIDING HIGH IN WEST, CLIP WINGS AGAIN Billed as the gridiron battle of the century, Sunday's Continental Football Association clash between the Kansas City Cowboys and San Francisco Wings was hardly that, especially for the first thirty minutes. Kansas City built a 21-0 lead before the game was twenty minutes old and led 20-3 at the half. San Francisco added a couple of touchdowns after the break but even when they closed the gap to 24-17 with just under 12 minutes remaining few if any amongst the capacity crowd of 15,000 at Packer Park doubted the Cowboys would win the game. Pat Chappell was his usual efficient self, completing 15 of 27 passes for 290 yards including 5 catches each for the dynamic duo at end of Bill Tammaro and Ernie Orr. San Francisco tried to pressure Chappell and while they did tackle him for a loss twice, Chappell also often eluded the rush and scampered for a game high 61 yards rushing including a pair of touchdown runs to double his output in that category on the season. The Cowboys offense is always the big concern of opponents, but it was their defense that completely shut the Wings down in the early going, forcing 5 consecutive punts while allowing the Wings just 1 first down and a total of 13 yards in the first 25 minutes of the game. Meanwhile, Chappell was engineering touchdown drives of 94, 81 and 62 yards over the same time period. San Francisco did have a little more success in the second half, but the Cowboys won the yardage battle 470-263 including more than twice as many (272-114) through the air. On the ground the normally powerful Wings rushing game with 3 backs in the league's top ten in rushing yards on the season, all had their struggles with Rich Garner's meager 18 yards on 7 carries standing out as a source of San Francisco frustration. The victory moves the 9-1 Cowboys, who were surprised a week ago in a loss at home to New Orleans, another step closer to their third straight CFC title. San Francisco is 9-2 with three games remaining including a chance to try and even the score with Kansas City when the Cowboys visit the west coast city in two weeks' time. In five meetings all-time, the Cowboys are now 4-1 against the Wings with San Francisco's lone victory coming at Hawks Stadium in 1946, which was the first ever meeting between the two clubs.  CRESCENTS CLINCH EASTERN CROWN While all of the focus was on Kansas City and the Cowboys big game with San Francisco, the New Orleans Crescents were making some history on Sunday. The Crescents officially ended the New York Football Gothams two-year run as East Division champions with a 24-7 victory over the Chicago Comets at Crescent City Stadium. The victory improves New Orleans record to 8-3-1 and means they will play in the Continental Football Conference championship game for the first time in franchise history. It completes a remarkable turned around for a team that finished last a year ago and entered the season with a 6-21-1 all-time record. It was not a pretty effort against the hapless Comets, who fall to 1-11 on the season with the loss, but it got the job done. Chicago struck first, taking advantage of a Dave Kubiak fumble that gave them great field position and led to a 4-yard Garry Leonard to Dick Hunter touchdown pass to put the visitors up 7-0. However, Chicago returned the favour just a few minutes later when Chris Anderson muffed a punt return and the Crescents Ollie Peters alertly fell on the ball. The New Orleans offense could not gain a first down, but Willard Shaw put the home side on the scoresheet with a 33-yard field goal to cut the Chicago lead to 7-3. Before the first period ended the Crescents had the lead thanks to a pair of big gains. First, rookie quarterback Vince Gallegos and Bo Mandish hooked up on a 34-yard pass play and then Leo Sutherland finished the quick drive off with a 20-yard touchdown gallop. Gallegos and Mandish are becoming quite a duo this season and they combined for a second score midway through the second quarter -this one a 7-yard flare pass. Before the break Gallegos would throw his second touchdown pass of the game, finding Floyd Ellis in the endzone for a 24-7 lead. Nothing amounted scoring-wise in the second half despite the Comets Garry Leonard throwing 5 interceptions after the break. Elsewhere, Ken Hale ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns while passing for 121 yards and another score to pace the New York Gothams to an easy 35-14 victory at Dyckman Stadium over their local rivals from Brooklyn. The Gothams excitement of the victory was greatly tempered by news from New Orleans that their two-year hold on the East Division had come to an end. The remaining game saw the hometown Buffalo Bulls top the Los Angeles Lobos 40-24 in what has been a down season for both clubs, each of whom likely had much higher expectations this season.  THOMAS TOSSES FOR 402 YARDS, KELLY SETS CATCH RECORD Yanks Win Aerial Battle With Pittsburgh Boston Americans quarterback Del Thomas and end Steve Kelly put on a show at Minutemen Stadium that, had it occurred just a few years ago, would surely have set off air raid sirens. Thomas threw for 402 yards and 3 touchdowns, with Kelly on the receiving end for 233 of those yards to lead the Yanks to a 31-20 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Paladins in one of the most exciting games of the season. Kelly made 7 catches in all for a new AFA single game record 233 yards and one touchdown. He also found time to run the ball for 42 yards and a second score. The new receiving yards record snaps the old mark of 226 set by Johnny Douglas of the Washington Wasps. Thomas's 402 yards marks just the second time in league history anyone has thrown for more than 400 in a game and trails only the 447 yards that Charley Morrison of the New York Stars threw for last season, ironically against Thomas and the Americans. Thomas threw for 327 in that game, a 30-24 loss to the Stars. Thomas was not the only busy quarterback on the day as Pittsburgh's Albie Stallworth heaved the ball 39 times, with 16 of them being caught by his teammates for a total of 233 yards. Thomas was 21 of 34 with his completions. FINCHES REMAIN PERFECT, BUT WILDCATS IN PURSUIT The Cleveland Finches managed to score just half of the 56 points they amassed in each of their previous two outings, but the four touchdowns they picked up at Pioneer Field Sunday was more than enough to secure an 8th straight victory, topping the Ramblers 28-10. Tommy Thompson led the way for the Birds, with a pair of touchdowns including one on an electrifying 72-yard punt return early in the third period to put the Finches up 14-10 at the time. The Chicago Wildcats remain a game back of the Finches in the battle for the West Division crown after the Wildcats blanked Detroit 21-0 at Cougars Park. Chicago completely dominated the struggling Maroons, amassing 379 yards compared to just 146 for the Detroit eleven. It was on the ground that the Wildcats excelled with 3 backs topping the half century mark in yardage led by Ralph Manson's 64 yards. The New York Stars remained within a game of Boston for the Eastern lead after the New Yorkers came up with a dramatic 35-28 victory over the Washington Wasps. With less than a minute left and the game tied at 28, Wasps quarterback Bob Krohn, desperately trying to avoid a safety after miscommunication with his halfback on the handoff, simply made a desperation throw to avoid surrendering two points. He surrendered 6 as the Stars Bob Campagnola grabbed the ball and galloped 10-yards into the endzone for the winning points. Finally in Philadelphia, the hometown Frigates took advantage of a pair of interception returns for touchdowns to dump Cincinnati 24-6. It was an awful day for Tigers quarterback Bob Allen, who was 3-for-20 on the afternoon. He only threw the two picks but the results from both were disastrous for a Cincinnati club that won its season opener but has lost 8 straight since.  DCC CLOSING IN ON FIRST NATIONAL TITLE Plenty of teams are waiting in the wings should they stumble, but the Detroit City College Knights looked like world-beaters in another dominant victory -this one by a 37-0 nothing count over a clearly overmatched Indiana A&M eleven. The victory keeps the Knights perfect, at 8-0, and only Central Ohio stands in the way of a second straight perfect season for Detroit City College, which has won 24 consecutive games, and its first national crown. The Knights opened up a land and air attack in the Motor City that pulverized the defeat groggy Reapers in a game that could have seen the score far worse than its 37-0 count had the Knights not played reserves for nearly the entire second half. The win clinched at least a tie for the Great Lakes Alliance section title with one game remaining- next weekend's annual tussle with the Aviators in Columbus. Central Ohio improved to 6-1-1 overall with a 27-6 victory over Lincoln. Should the Knights stumble North Carolina Tech, St Blane, Mississippi A&M and perhaps even Rome State are all waiting in the wings to snatch the number one ranking. The Techsters made a solid case for the top spot with a thrilling 13-10 victory over 8th ranked Maryland State. St Blane had it its struggles on Saturday but did just enough to stop a gutsy effort from St Magnus in blanking the Vikings 16-0. Mississippi A&M remained perfect with a dramatic 7-6 victory over Cumberland, dropping the Explorers out of the top ten rankings. Meanwhile Rome State has quietly flown under the radar this season, but the Centurions are now 7-0-1 after having little difficulty disposing of Pierpont 34-13.   SECTION TITLE UPDATE Here is a quick look at the battles remaining in each of the major collegiate football conferences. ACADEMIA ALLIANCE: A loss to Brunswick (which had earlier been beaten by Henry Hudson) puts the Grafton Scholars on the hot seat. Henry Hudson at 5-1 is done its section slate and the Scholars have one game remaining. That would be next weekend against the Ellery Bruins. A Grafton win gives them the section crown on the basis of their win over Henry Hudson. A loss or a tie for the Scholars and title goes to the Henry Hudson Explorers. DEEP SOUTH CONFERNCE: Big wins for Mississippi A&M over Cumberland and Noble Jones College over Opelika State keep each of them perfect in section play. The Generals have their annual rivalry game with Northern Mississippi on November 27 as their only stumbling block. The Colonels have their rivalry match with Georgia Baptist on the same date but with the extra win the Generals will get the title. A Mississippi A&M loss opens the door for the Colonels, but things will get complicated if the Generals and Colonels both lose. GREAT LAKES ALLAINCE: No surprise but it comes down to Detroit City College and Central Ohio in Columbus next weekend. A Knights victory earns not only their third straight GLA crown but also a likely national title while a Central Ohio win could leave a 3-way tie for top spot if St Magnus can get by Lincoln. DCC will not be going to a Classic Game, meaning St Magnus will earn the berth in the East-West Classic with a win over the Presidents. Central Ohio goes if the Aviators upset the Knights. WEST COAST ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION: The other representative in the East-West Classic could be Portland Tech, Lane State or Northern California. The Magpies finish with a game against the Emeralds on Saturday but the winner will get the coveted spot in Santa Ana only if the Miners lose or tie against their rivals from Redwood next weekend. SOUTHWESTERN ALLIANCE: Travis College (4-1), Lubbock State (3-0-1) and Texas Gulf Coast (3-1) are all in the mix. The Bucks have one game remaining against Darnell State. The Hawks hold the tie-breaker on Travis College thanks to a head-to-head win but they have two games remaining as they play the Texas Gulf Coast Hurricanes next weekend before finishing up against Red River State. The Hurricanes only loss was to Travis College and after they play Lubbock State next week they will finish against Amarillo Methodist on November 27. SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERNCE: The sheer number of teams and lack of a focused schedule makes this one much more of a complicated race to sort out. North Carolina Tech survived a tough game with Maryland State on Saturday to remain 4-0 in section and 8-0 overall. The Techsters have two games remaining with one of them in conference against Carolina Poly so they control their own destiny and are likely to head to New Orleans for New Years to play in the Cajun Classic. WEEKEND RESULTS EAST Rome State 34 Pierpont 13 St. Blane 16 St. Magnus 0 Henry Hudson 19 Annapolis Maritime 12 Brunswick 34 Grafton 10 Ellery 28 Dickson 14 George Fox 26 Sadler 26 Garden State 21 Bigsby College 7 Commonwealth Catholic 14 Richmond State 14 Liberty College 44 Conwell College 0 St. Patrick's 31 Brooklyn State 14 Empire State 17 St. Pancras 7 Penn Catholic 23 St. Matthew's College 0 Eastern State 23 Huntington State 3 SOUTH North Carolina Tech 13 Maryland State 10 Mississippi A&M 7 Cumberland 6 Georgia Baptist 23 Alabama Baptist 7 Noble Jones College 30 Opelika State 6 Northern Mississippi 21 Bayou State 7 Miami State 16 Western Tennessee 3 Central Kentucky 24 Western Florida 3 Bluegrass State 41 Hamman 0 Charleston Tech 14 Strub College 0 Alexandria 52 Mobile Maritime 0 Chesapeake State 14 Petersburg 13 Lexington State 3 Central Carolina 0 Coastal State 27 Cowpens State 6 Carolina Poly 32 Potomac College 2 Columbia Military Academy 21 Payne State 20 MIDWEST Detroit City College 37 Indiana A&M 0 Central Ohio 27 Lincoln 6 Minnesota Tech 19 Western Iowa 13 Whitney College 24 Pittsburgh State 10 St. Ignatius 20 Iowa A&M 3 Wisconsin State 24 Wisconsin Catholic 0 Northern Minnesota 23 Laclede 7 Lawrence State 42 Eastern Kansas 10 Daniel Boone College 30 Boulder State 7 Lambert College 10 South Valley State 3 Ohio Poly 45 Topeka State 28 SOUTHWEST Texas Gulf Coast 27 Arkansas A&T 14 Travis College 17 Amarillo Methodist 13 Texas Panhandle 40 Valley State 28 Lubbock State 20 Baton Rouge State 9 Red River State 20 Darnell State 10 Oklahoma City State 38 College of Omaha 7 Abilene Baptist 44 Canyon A&M 10 Kincaid 41 El Paso Methodist 23 FAR WEST Coastal California 20 Rainier College 0 Portland Tech 14 CC Los Angeles 0 Redwood 19 Custer College 0 Northern California 33 Spokane State 0 Provo Tech 27 Lane State 24 Idaho A&M 33 Stratton 3 Kit Carson University 58 San Clemente 7 California Catholic 34 Tempe College 34 Mile High State 34 Cache Valley 7 San Francisco Tech 27 College of San Diego 27 Flagstaff State 31 Gates University 14 Sunnyvale 20 Golden Gate University 17 Wyoming A&I 31 Western Montana 14 Colorado Poly 29 Utah A&M 0 BEES DEAL BROCKERS TO VALS The Montreal Valiants appear to have solved their goaltending mess with the acquisition of four time Juneau Award winning netminder Tom Brockers from the Boston Bees. The deal, announced late last night after Brockers had spent the evening on the visitor's bench at the Montreal Arena watching the Bees edge the Vals 3-2, will see defenseman Bryant Williams heading to Beantown. The deal, while a costly one for the Vals, makes perfect sense for both teams. Boston had a surplus of goaltending and the Valiants were desperate for a netminder after letting Millard Touhey go over the summer. Brockers is now 33 years old but still considered a very solid goaltender and brings a wealth of experience to the Vals, who had been struggling mightily with former Detroit Motors backup Brad Carter in net. There had been talk in Boston almost from the moment the Bees brought Tom Brockers back to the city where he enjoyed his greatest success when he was selected in the dispersal draft of players from the folded Brooklyn Eagles franchise. That was a year and a half ago and came on the heels of Pierre Melancon leading the Bees to a Challenge Cup title for the second time, something Brockers had accomplished 3 times while also winning the Juneau Trophy as the loop's top netminder on 4 occasions. The Calgary native, known as "King Bee" burst on to the NAHC scene in in 1938-39 when he became the first, and so far, only goaltender to win the McLeod Trophy as the league's top rookie while also winning his first Juneau Trophy. A year later he led the Bees to the Challenge Cup Finals where they fell to Toronto but the following season, he and the Bees began a 3-year-run as Cup champions. In the summer of 1945, he became embroiled in a contract dispute that resulted in Brockers going to the sad-sack Brooklyn Eagles, for whom he played 3 seasons before the club folded, bringing him back to Boston. The Bees spent last year juggling 3 goaltenders on their roster with Melancon, Brockers and a very impressive youngster by the name of Oscar James with the result being that Melancon did not appear in a single game last season. James is expected to see most of the action going forward for Boston with Melancon a more than capable backup. Williams is a 29-year-old defenseman who now moves on to his fourth NAHC team and third in less than a year. He broke in with the Toronto Dukes and won a pair of Challenge Cups with the club before moving on to Detroit for the 1946-47 campaign. He spent a season and a half with the Motors and was a stalwart on the blueline but Detroit, lacking offense and in a rebuild, sent Williams and fellow top pairing rearguard Shel Herron to the Vals for three young prospects including recent first round pick Francis McKenzie. Now Williams, a veteran of 362 NAHC games and with 47 goals and 134 assists on his resume, moves on to the Bees. His Boston debut may be delayed a few days as Williams is nursing a minor foot injury he suffered on Halloween night against Detroit.  Code:
NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 10 7 3 0 45 30 14
Boston 9 6 3 0 30 27 12
Detroit 11 5 5 1 43 34 11
New York 10 4 4 2 34 33 10
Montreal 11 4 5 2 34 40 10
Chicago 11 2 8 1 29 51 5
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 10 9 10 19
Carlson, Tor 10 4 12 16
T Burns, Chi 11 12 3 15
Vanderbilt, Det 11 11 4 15
Galbraith, Tor 10 6 9 15
Tardif, Det 11 4 10 14
Sauer, Tor 10 9 4 13
Sandford, Mon 11 8 5 13
Parker, Tor 10 6 6 12
Skinner, Mon 11 5 7 12
Rocheleau, Det 11 4 8 12
Witt, Det 11 4 8 12
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Russell, Tor 4 2 1 0 1 2.09
Beliveau, Mon 5 2 2 0 1 2.63
James, Bos 8 5 3 0 2 2.94
Touhey, Det 8 3 4 1 0 3.00
Tremblay, NY 9 3 4 2 1 3.23
Broadway, Tor 7 5 2 0 0 3.32
Carter, Mon 7 2 3 2 0 4.11
Hanson, Chi 6 0 5 1 0 4.19
Cleghorn, Chi 4 2 2 0 0 5.13
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS New York 4 at 7 Chicago: It took until their 8th game of the season, but the Chicago Packers finally earned their first victory. It came with backup Michael Cleghorn in net, filling in for the injured Norm Hanson. Jeremy MacLean had a 4-point night including a pair of goals while Wes Burns, who notched his first two points of the season Sunday, added 3 more assists in the win. Orval Cabbell had 2 goals and a helper for the Shamrocks.WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 11 Boston 5 at 2 Detroit: Boston earned revenge for falling at home to Detroit the previous Sunday by returning the favour with a 5-2 win at Thompson Palladium. Wes Chandler scored twice for the Bees, who outshot the Motors 44-29.Montreal 7 at 3 Chicago: The celebration in Chicago was short-lived as a day after scoring 8 times in their first win of the season they give up 7 and fall 7-3 to visiting Montreal. There was some good news for the Packers as Tommy Burns scored twice. For the winners it was Clarence Skinner leading the way with 3 points while Claude LeClerc scored twice to give Valiants goaltender Brad Carter his first win for the club. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13 Toronto 4 at 8 Chicago: A week between games left the Dukes rusty as Tommy Burns stole the show for the Packers. The great centericeman had 4 goals, tying a modern day record, and an assist to carry Chicago to its second win in the last three games. Marty Mahoney, who has been quiet all season, had a breakout game with 2 goals and an assist. SUNDAY NOVEMBER 14 Boston 3 at 2 Montreal: Montreal's modest two-game winning streak came to an end with a 3-2 loss at home to the Bees. Joe Morey and Connor Mikaelson scored third period goals to prove the difference in the game after the two clubs entered the final frame tied 1-1 but the big story was saved for after the contest when it was revealed the Vals had acquired goaltender Tom Brockers, who was the backup on this night, from Boston in exchange for defenseman Bryant Williams.Chicago 0 at 5 Detroit: The Motors opened the season with a 6-1 win over Chicago and had another dominant win on this night, as Millard Touhey turned aside all 25 Packers shots for his 17th career NAHC shutout but first with Detroit. Nick Tardif and Leon Rocheleau paced the Motors attack with 3 points each while Adam Vanderbilt scored twice to give him 11 on the season, second only to the Packers Tommy Burns, who has 12. New York 2 at 5 Toronto: New York lost for the third time this week as Larry Galbraith had two goals and two assists to help the Toronto Dukes to a 5-2 victory. The Dukes have won 5 of their last 6 games and enjoy a 2-point lead on Boston atop the NAHC standings. UPCOMING GAMES WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 17 Boston at Toronto Chicago at Montreal Detroit at New York SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20 Toronto at Boston SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21 Boston at New York Chicago at Toronto Detroit at Montreal AROUND THE LEAGUE
BEES MOVE FAN FAVOURITE BROCKERS Deal Should Help Club in Long Run Fern LeBec, Boston Globe -The Bees traded from a position of strength and needed to get better on the blue line, especially after that 8-4 loss to Detroit. Ralph Chilton was a minus-5 in that game and will get demoted to Springfield. Bryant Williams is day-to-day with a foot contusion and should make his debut in the next week or two. Williams has played 7 of Montreal's first 8 games, scoring a goal and adding three assists. An anonymous source not approved to speak on the internal deliberations of this deal said that Len Bentley's sluggish start was a direct response to his recent play. Brockers's (1-0-0, 2.59 GAA, .909 SV% in 2 GP) return to Boston was great for fans and the locker room, as he was a valued member of the great Cup-winning teams earlier in the decade. But, the 33-year-old was blocking Pierre Melancon, whose last appearance was in the game where the Bees last hoisted the Cup. Brockers fell into the Bees' laps in the Brooklyn dispersal draft that offseason and the maturing Oscar James split time with Brockers ever since. Now, the 22-year-old Melancon, developing in practice and learning at the knee of the King Bee, can turn it loose again in the nets, spelling James (3-3-0, 3.26 GAA, .881 SV%, 2 ShO), who will continue to start for Boston. James has been up-and-down, but continues to have Boston's utmost confidence. CAGE CAMPAIGN COMENCES Pros Unified as Federal Loop Doubles Its Size The new look expanded Federal Basketball League completed its first full week of play and if that small sample of games so far is any indication the holdover clubs who became the Federal League just over two years ago will fare just fine against the established teams from new defunct American Basketball Loop. Top spot in the East Division is shared by one of the former ABC clubs in the Rochester Rockets and one of the original Federal clubs just commencing its third season in the professional ranks in the Philadelphia Phantoms. It was the Phantoms who knocked off the powerful Washington Statesman - an ABC club that was a perfect 6-0 in the preseason- in the season opening game as a pair of Phantoms in Danny Hendon and Lindsay Mackey each scored 18 points in an 86-76 victory. The Phantoms won each of their first five games before dropping a hard-fought 94-91 decision at home to the defending ABC champion Brooklyn Red Caps Saturday despite a 29-point effort from Hendon. The Red Caps, owned by ABC founder Daniel Prescott, were the dominant team in the old league as they won five of the last six league titles. However, it was mixed results for the Prescott Five in the opening days of their foray into the Federal League. Things started well enough with a dominating 103-67 over their long-time rival Boston Centurions but they then lost twice before rebounding with three straight wins to run their record to 4-2. *** West Still Belongs to Chicago *** Prescott was visibly upset after the Red Caps squandered an 8-point lead at the half and fell 111-102 to Detroit last week. Rollie Barrell did not accompany the Mustangs to Brooklyn for the game but the two, who formally were partners and good friends -even created the first attempt at a pro cage league together in the 1920's- found themselves at odds when Barrell's Federal League lured 4 teams from Prescott's loop which quickly led to the downfall of the American Conference over the summer. Prescott, who blames Barrell and Toronto Falcons owner Bernie Millard for instigating the collapse of his 12-year-old loop, desperately wanted his club to thump the Detroiters, but it was not to be. A rookie with New York ties named Ward Messer, younger brother of baseball Gothams star Walt Messer, had a coming out party at Flatbush Gardens as he erupted for 32 points and 17 rebounds to key the Mustangs victory. There is plenty to be excited about in Detroit for the Mustangs after their 3-1 start and Messer's tremendous debut but it the Chicago Panthers do not seem like they will concede the division easily. The Panthers won the inaugural FBL playoff title before falling in 7 games to the Baltimore Barons a year ago, but they were clearly the class of the West Division both seasons. The Buffalo Brawlers have shifted from the FBL East to the West and the Toronto Falcons have joined from the ABC so there will be some new competition for the Wildcats, not to mention improved teams in Detroit and Cleveland. The Panthers began the season with 4 straight victories, all with Pittsburgh ties. The Panthers won a pair at home from the Toronto Falcons, Bernie Millard's team that played in Pittsburgh last season, while also taking both ends of a home and home series from the winless Pittsburgh Pilots, who were an ABC club based in Richmond a year ago. Code:
FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Rochester 5 1 .833 Philadelphia 5 1 .833 Hartford 4 1 .800 Brooklyn 4 2 .667 Washington 3 3 .500 Baltimore 2 3 .400 Syracuse 1 5 .167 New York 0 5 .000 Boston 0 6 .000 WEST W L PCT Chicago 4 0 1.000 Cleveland 4 1 .800 Buffalo 3 1 .750 Detroit 3 1 .750 Pittsburgh 2 3 .400 Cincinnati 1 3 .250 Toronto 0 5 .000  DID YOU KNOW- Gerald Carter, Boston's all-star guard that was the first overall selection in the 1944 ABC draft, still holds the collegiate record for most points in a single game. His senior year at Western Iowa Carter scored 39 points in a 54-42 intersectional game against College of Cairo. He took 27 of his team's 48 shots that day and only one other Canaries player scored more than 2 points. That would be Joe Hampton, who currently plays for the Chicago Panthers, who had 6 points that night. Carter, who was national freshman of the year three years earlier, finished third in the nation in scoring average that season while leading the Canaries to the Great Lakes Alliance title for the second year in a row. The leading collegiate scorer that year was Carter's current Boston teammate Morgan Melcher, who played for Coastal California. COLLEGIATE CAGE SCHEDULE UNDERWAY TWIFB Predictions For the 1948-49 Cage Campaign College football may be entering the home stretch but that just means it is time to start focus on AIAA cage play as the basketball season gets underway with some preseason tournaments. It is a long campaign that will not end until a national champion is crowned at Bigsby Garden in New York on April 4 and there are plenty of candidates fighting for bragging rights. Here is a look at ten teams that TWIFB feel have a strong chance of winning it all in this, the 40th season of AIAA basketball. 1- WESTERN IOWA CANARIES: The Canaries have consistently been a top ten club but have never won the National Title although they did reach the championship game in the spring of 1939. A year ago, they finished second behind Central Ohio in the Great Lakes Alliance with an 11-5 section record (24-7 overall) but after beating Holland University in the opening round of the tournament they were upset by Perry State College in round two. This season's club looks to have plenty of talent with only one starter from a year ago lost to graduation. Senior forward Willy Ludwick is the player to focus on and is on the short list for All-American status this season and may just be the best pro prospect for next year's FBL draft. Fellow senior Charlie Maynard, also a forward, and GLA conference freshman of the year last Darryl Baugher give the Canaries probably the best frontcourt in the GLA, if not the nation. 2- ST BLANE FIGHTING SAINTS: Last year was supposed to be the Fighting Saints year, but things came crashing down when senior center Joshua Samuels, a likely first round FBL pick, blew out his knee in the second game of the season. Samuels was granted a medical redshirt and is back this year although there is some worry the knee injury may have zapped him of some of his effectiveness. Cyril Worley is a senior forward out of Philadelphia who may just be an All-American at seasons end and will be in high demand by pro scouts. Senior guard Jim Canady, junior forward Brian Threadgill bring plenty of experience and while he was not highly recruited, Fighting Saints head coach Taffy Ensign is high on freshman guard Gus Booth. There were a lot of lean years in Tyrone and football will always overshadow a basketball program that went 17 years without a tournament appearance but under Ensign has qualified each of the past three. If Samuels is fully recovered the Fighting Saints may spend the final weekend of the cage season at Bigsby Garden. 3- CC LOS ANGELS COYOTES: National Champions 3 years ago and finalist last year, like all of the top schools in the West Coast Athletic Association, the Coyotes seem to save their best basketball for March and April. The WCAA is unforgiving as teams beat up each other thru the slate of section games in January and February and as a result the Coyotes have not won a section title since 1941-42. The big news out of Los Angeles this summer was that the Coyotes, after head coach Bill Belden retired, went out and convinced longtime Redwood University bench boss Kirk Hasty to leave the Mammoths and head south to CCLA. Normally not a huge thing as the Coyotes job is one of the prestige schools in the AIAA but Hasty had just won the national title and been named AIAA coach of the year a few months prior to the move. It will take some work from Hasty as the Coyotes graduated four starters including Gerald Cheek, who was selected 4th overall by the Buffalo Brawlers in the FBL draft. There is always plenty of talent on the way up at CCLA and this year's group will be led by sophomore Cornelius Porter, the only returning starter with support from senior guard Dave Mertens and junior forward Erv Johnson. 4- LIBERTY COLLEGE BELLS: Not many schools can lose the best player in the nation like the Bells did when Ward Messer graduated and still be one of favourites for the national title the following season. But the Philadelphia college is not most schools. The Bells have 3 AIAA titles in the last 13 years and have only failed to advance to at least the quarterfinals once in that time frame. Messer is gone to the FBL's Detroit Mustangs but in his place is newcomer Luther Gordon. It would not be a stretch if the junior - he spent two years in a New York junior college after academic problems kept him out of a top school two years ago- is a first team All-American and perhaps even gives Liberty College back-to-back Barrette Award winners as national player of the year. He is simply that good. Add junior forward Edgar Stillwell, out of Detroit, and homegrown Philadelphia born guard Scott Basile to the mix and the Bells look ready for another deep tournament run. 5- RAINIER COLLEGE MAJESTICS: Red Bennett arrived at Rainier College in 1937 and the Majestics, far from majestic prior to Bennett's arrival, have not missed the AIAA tournament since, winning the whole thing 3 times including back-to-back titles in the spring of 1943 and 1944. The school, and Bennett, have something to prove this season after a pair of quick exits from the tournament the past two years. Three starters return led by outstanding senior center Thomas Abbott and Don Higgins, brother of former FABL pitcher Dick Higgins, who was very good as a freshman a year ago. 6- NORTH CAROLINA TECH TECHSTERS: It might be a stretch ranking the Techsters in the top ten this year as they have missed the tournament each of the past two years. Prior to that they had been a powerhouse in the South Atlantic Conference, making back-to-back appearances in the National Semi-Finals and a that regularly went deep in the tournament including 4 titles. This year the Techsters will go as far as the shooting of Mike Carter can take them. Now a junior, the Washington DC native scored more than 13 points a game last season and may contend for the AIAA scoring title this time around. Another DC native, junior center Muzz Hodson and senior forwards Sidney Williams and Chris Hermann make for a strong supporting cast. 7- MISSISSIPPI A&M GENERALS: Second year coach Marion Cohen joined the Generals a year ago after leading Huntington State to their first-ever tournament appearance and promptly guided A&M to its first tournament win since 1922. With only Kenny Roberts, who was a first-round pick of the Baltimore Barons over the summer, not returning Cohen has a deep group of talent to work with. Junior center Billy Bob Leveau looks like a future pro player and will combine with senior forward Micah Shuman and senior guard Greg Randle to give Cohen plenty of options on offense. 8- COASTAL CALIFORNIA DOLPHINS: While West Coast Athletic Association rivals seem to regularly win AIAA tournaments, the Dolphins -despite being the coast's most successful school in the regular season for decades- continue to be snakebit. In the 40-year history of the AIAA tournament, the Dolphins have missed the event only once. They have reached the semi-finals 13 times and played in 3 national championship games but have never won it despite winning the WCAA section title a record 22 times. The Dolphins stand for stability. They have only had two head coaches since 1914 starting with the legendary Art Barrette -winningest coach in AIAA history- and then current coach Dick Gist, who took over when Barrette retired in 1941. Big things are expected from sophomore forward Chris Martines along with guards David Barnes and Tony Lincoln. All three are local products and if freshman big man Rowdy Becker, out of Portland, Oregon and stolen away from Rainier College and Lane State, can contribute the Dolphins may have an outstanding season. 9- CAROLINA POLY CARDINALS: The Cardinals and North Carolina Tech always seem to be battling for top spot in the South Atlantic Conference, although Lexington State is also on the rise. What might give the Cardinals an edge this season is the deeply talented trio of Mel Turcotte, James Halle and Major Belk. Belk, a senior out of Nashville, was a first team All-American a year ago and is the odds-on favourite to be the first guard selected in next year's Federal Basketball League draft. A tremendous perimeter defender and outstanding passer, he can also score and averaged 11.2 points per game as a junior. Halle, a junior, is a good complement as his backcourt mate while the 6'10" Turcotte is a force on the boards. 10- TEXAS GULF COAST HURRICANES: The Hurricanes just graduated a terrific forward in Darren Fuhrman, who was selected number on the FBL draft by the Syracuse Titans. You might think losing the top pro draft pick would doom the Hurricanes to a down season but there is plenty more talent in Houston as forward Vincent Passingham and center Jess Aitken are both potential first draft picks next year and Passingham might just give the Hurricanes back-to-back first overall picks. Just the sheer size of the two 6'9" Texas-born big men will cause matchup problems for other teams in the Southwest Alliance, but when you add junior guard Alvin Martin, who was a freshman All-American, to the mix they will give other teams fits. Robert Hennessy took over as head coach during the summer when James Stamp left for Mobile Maritime but that should all for the team to keep its continuity and bid for its 9th straight Southwestern Alliance section title. HONOURABLE MENTION Annapolis Maritime Navigators Frankford State Owls Lane State Emeralds Lexington State Colonials Noble Jones College Colonels St Magnus Vikings Code:
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN TEAM C Luther Gordon Jr Liberty College F Willy Ludwick Sr Western Iowa F Cy Worley Sr St Blane G Mike Carter Jr North Carolina Tech G Major Belk Sr Carolina Poly EARLY TOURNEYS MARK START OF COLLEGIATE CAGE CAMPAIGN Bells win Tournament of Champions The Luther Gordon era has officially arrived as the junior college transfer easily filled the shoes of departed AIAA player of the year Ward Messer in his first two games for the Liberty College Bells. Gordon averaged 23.5 points to lead the Bells to the title in the prestigious Tournament of Champions event that opened the collegiate season last Sunday and Tuesday. It was a dominating showing from the 20-year-old Brooklyn native, who was considered the number one recruit in the nation both last year and two years prior when coming out of high school. He struggled academically back then and spent the past two seasons at a New York Community college, but it was clear right from the start he is going to be one of the best players in the major collegiate ranks this season. Liberty College seems to have perfected the high-tempo offense introduced to the school last season when Harley Burda arrived from Golden Gate to be the schools new head coach. Gordon led the way with 20 points in an 82-60 triumph over Bayou State in the tournament opener and then scored 27, while adding 10 rebounds, in Tuesday's 77-51 victory over a highly touted North Carolina Tech team. The Techsters had beaten Texas Gulf Coast 63-57 in their opener. Next up for Gordon and the Bells will be a game tonight in Philadelphia against Academia Elite power Brunswick before they visit Bethlehem College on Thursday. *** Rainier College Wins Preseason AIAA *** The Rainier College Majestics had little trouble coming out on top in the Preseason AIAA Chicago showcase, which rivals the Tournament of Champions for the top early season event. It marked the fourth year in a row the Majestics had claimed a preseason banner, taking the Preseason AIAA showcase in 1945 as well as last week, while winning the Tournament of Champions in 1946 and the King of the South event last November.Thomas Abbott and Syl Kellogg each had 10 points to pace the Majestics in a 56-30 victory over Garden State to open the event before they claimed the title with a 55-38 drubbing of the Brunswick Knights in the final of the four-team event. Kellogg had 17 points in the championship game, which came after Brunswick downed Detroit City College 54-45 in the other semi-final. [ B]OTHER TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RESULTS[/B] Bigsby Festival: Frankford State 41 Travis College 28 Jack Easton Boston Tip-Off: Hamman 61 Redwood 59 Heart of Texas: Piedmont University 59 Lubbock State 49 King of the South: Valley State 45 Cache Valley 40 West Coast Classic: Golden Gate 58 Lane State 53 Windy City Festival: Chicago Poly 61 Ellery 56  PETRIE WILL MAKE FIRST DEFENSE AGAINST MORSE Adrian Petrie, who claimed the World Middleweight title in a controversial split-decision victory over Edouard Desmarais has confirmed his first title defense will take place in February and will be held in Toronto. The 25-year-old Montreal native, who also holds the title of Canadian Middleweight champion, will face veteran pugilist Danny Morse at Toronto's Dominion Gardens on Friday January 28. The fight will take place three weeks after former champs Desmarais and Frank Melanson meet for the third time in a highly anticipated rubber match. Petrie, who's split decision win in his hometown over Desmarais prompted the American Boxing Federation to request a rematch with Desmarais be scheduled but the Frenchman declined and elected to face Melanson in what he is calling his final North American fight. Petrie is a solid fighter whose reputation may have been sullied by the fallout after complaints of wrongdoing from Desmarais camp, but he remains one of the top-rated middleweights in the world and while Morse may pose a bit of a challenge it is a fight the 25-year-old Canadian should win. The 35-year-old Morse has been fighting professionally since he was 19 and owns a 35-8-1 record as a professional, but the New York City native seems a surprising choice for a title shot, one the reeks of Petrie's handlers trying to ensure an easy win for their fighter before he must face a test against Frank Melanson or one of the other truly elite middleweights. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 11/14/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-17-2023 at 08:23 PM. |
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10-19-2023, 12:42 PM
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November 22, 1948
NOVEMBER 22, 1948 SCOUTS WATCHING CUBA FOR RULE 5 CANDIDATES There is quite a large number of players in Cuba looking not only to impress their own organization and secure an invitation to a big league spring training complex in March, but also hoping perhaps a quick start will earn them a big league job courtesy of the rule five draft. Teams will have to make quick decisions as they will have less than two weeks to watch the talent on display in the winter league before FABL's Rule Five draft is conducted on December 1. Odds are any of the more coveted potential selections in the rule five suiting up in the Caribbean will be added to their parent organization's protected list in advance of the draft but perhaps this will be the opportunity for one or two of them left unprotected to catch the attention of another organization. Here is a team by team look at some of the players in Cuba presently not on the secondary roster of a big league club but have accumulated enough service time to be eligible for the Rule Five draft as well as an update on how many of the 40 roster slots each club has presently filled towards their 40-man limit. BOSTON- 33 players on secondary roster. The Minutemen have plenty of space to add players to their list in advance of the rule five but if he is not added, centerfielder Wally Dorsey might be a player a FABL club will take a chance on drafting. The 23-year-old 1944 6th round selection impressed at Class AA Worcester last season with a .320 batting average and showing a little pop. He may not have the ability to play in the middle of a big league outfield at the big league level, however. BROOKLYN- Secondary roster is full. The Kings have a lot of young outfield talent so they could withstand the loss of Bob Rogers if someone selects the 23-year-old in the rule five. Rogers hit a very impressive .380 last season with stints at 3 levels of the minors and will be a player that FABL clubs may consider as a rule five pickup if the Kings do not make room for him on their secondary roster. Rogers is the only rule five eligible player the Kings have in Matanzas. CHIEFS- 38 players on secondary roster. There is not a great deal of high end talent provided by the Chiefs to Cinefuegos this season but two that clubs might consider in the rule five, if still available, are third baseman Chuck Hooper and centerfielder Gene Burton. Hooper was actually a rule 5 pick from the Chiefs a year ago by the Sailors but they returned him to Chicago. Just 23, he showed an average bat and glove in 106 games of AAA ball and might well be selected again. Burton hit well in his second season of AA ball but is likely better suited to a corner outfield role. COUGARS- Secondary roster is full and the Cougars do not have any rule five eligible players suiting up for the Santa Clara Stallions this winter. CINCINNATI- 39 players on secondary roster. The Cannons only have two rule five eligible players in Havana but one them, 22-year-old second baseman Nick Remillard will almost certainly be lost if he is left unprotected. CLEVELAND- 34 players on secondary roster. The Foresters have plenty of room on their secondary roster and just three rule five eligible players suiting up for the Santiago Scorpions. Two are pitchers and it seems unlikely either will be of interest to rival FABL clubs in the rule five draft. Billy Phillips did go 10-10 at AAA last season but OSA feels his ceiling is that of an emergency starter. The third is outfielder Gus Wehrman, who hit .336 at AA last season. DETROIT- 38 players on secondary roster. The Dynamos are likely debating whether or not to add 22-year-old pitcher Jack Entringer to their secondary roster. He looked solid out of the pen in AA last season and is the best of the 3 rule five eligible players Detroit has in Havana this winter. MONTREAL- 35 players on secondary roster. The Saints fortunately have five slots remaining on their secondary roster as just in Cienfuegos they have four players who might be rule five selection candidates if not protected. Certainly, former first rounder Ted Coffin will be added to their 40-man, and pitchers Jack Behrns and Hal Taylor, along with second baseman Leo Warren, all spent time at AAA last season and are likely to be watched closely in the early going of the Cuban slate. NY STARS- 38 players on secondary roster. 22-year-old shortstop Earle Haley looks like a player that could be selected if the Stars do not add him to their forty-man. With Ralph Hanson the future at shortstop, Haley may never have a place at Dyckman Stadium but might just be ready for the big leagues next season after a terrific campaign both in the field and at the plate in AA. It looks like the manager at Manzanillo is going to try and have Haley learn third base, which potentially could open him a position with the Stars down the road as Mack Sutton's replacement, although there would be competition for him there in Moe Holt. NY GOTHAMS- 39 players on secondary roster. The Gothams only have two rule five eligible players in Holguin. Pitcher Slim Bernat and versatile outfielder Terry Smith both played AA last season. KEYSTONES- 39 players on secondary roster. It is hard to ignore the strong season Pat Shackelford put up in Class A last season although he did have trouble with walks and that might hinder the 23-year-old at higher levels. He seems a longshot to be selected in the rule five but another option playing in Manzanillo this winter is corner outfielder Ralph Robinson. The 24-year-old should hit for a high average but may not develop the power teams look for in a corner outfielder. SAILORS- 37 players on secondary roster. It is hard to get a fair read on infielder Dolph Krapf but he is a player perhaps a team takes a chance on in the rule five. The 23-year-old impressed last season at the plate and in the field, where he can play 3 positions, but that was at the Class A level and while OSA feels he has a chance for an audition as a big league infielder, he might be too raw for a club to risk a big league roster spot all year if they select him in the rule five. Pitcher Bob W. Williams is also a possibility after the 24-year-old had a strong season in AA. PITTSBURGH- 39 players on secondary roster. The Miners have just two players with the Matanzas Bucaneers that are rule five eligible. Both are 24 years old and each spent last season at AA. OSA feels lefthander Roland Stewart is likely a spot starter at best while Fred Beckum is a quality defensive corner outfielder who could be a second division starter. ST LOUIS- 39 players on secondary roster. The Pioneers have three players in Cuba that are rule five eligible with the most intriguing perhaps being SS/3B Dave McCraw. The 22-year-old was a first round selection in 1944 and has shown outstanding defensive skills at short in the minors. He has hit fairly well as he climbed through the minors including a .295 average in AA last season. Based on that you would think it is a given the Pioneers use their final 40-man slot on McCraw but the negatives are OSA does not even consider McCraw one of the top 500 prospects in the game, feels he is merely average with the glove at short and may compete for a reserve-role at best. The other player teams might consider selecting would be 24-year-old pitcher Joe Beane is nicknamed "Kitchen Sink" because he throws six different pitches but the issue is his stuff is average and he has trouble finding the strike zone. TORONTO- 36 players on secondary roster. Included in the players assigned to Camaguey are three high draft picks that are all, at least at the moment, eligible for the rule five draft. They would be pitcher Otis Porter and catcher Carl Yeager, who are both first round selections, as well as second sacker Fred Miles, a 1943 second round selection. Miles impressed at the plate in AA a year ago and can play any position in the field except catcher or shortstop. Porter is a former high draft pick who enjoyed success at Grange College but looked terribly overmatched at AA a year ago. Yeager is a player who hit .431 in a very limited showing at AAA last season and appears the type a club in need of a backup catcher might consider. WASHINGTON- 38 players on secondary roster. The Eagles have four players, including three pitchers, that are rule five eligible and playing for Santa Clara in the Cuban loop. 24-year-old Ted Davis might get some attention in the rule five. He was a second round pick in 1943 and had a solid season in AA last year. OSA feels he won't be more than an emergency starter at the big league level unless he irons out his control problems, something that really plagued him in the Cuban league last year.  MAROONS ARE A MESS, BUT MUSTANGS HAVE MESSER Good News, Bad News for Motor City Magnate Barrell The losses stretched to 4 in a row with a dismal showing at Thompson Field against the New York Football Stars yesterday dropping the Detroit Maroons record to 2-8 in a campaign that may see the club finish with its worst season in franchise history, as the 1922 record of 2-7-1 is one of only 4 losing seasons for the organization since the club moved from Rochester in 1920. Yes, the Maroons are clearly a mess. Coach Frank Yurik has done wonderous things throughout his long tenure with the team but clearly owner Rollie Barrell has to be growing as frustrated as the fans are in a season where the Maroons are just not up to snuff. Being shutout a week ago by our archrivals from Chicago meant the Maroons were swept in the series by the Wildcats for the first time since 1942 only served to add to the discontent and a terrible showing in front of more the 30,000 fans yesterday, most of whom made their displeasure known with a chorus of boos for much of the second half only further drove home the point that big changes are needed. The Maroons quarterback situation is certainly an easy target and the most obvious one. Mike Beard may be a great guy off the field but on the field Maroons fans have to be wondering if he is color blind. Beard occasionally wows with a great pass but more often than not it is bookended by terrible decision-making. He had another miserable game wrought with poor choices yesterday as he threw away the contest with 6 interceptions (Marc Orlosky attempted one pass and of course it was also picked off) that had the Maroons on their heels right from the get-go. Perhaps the only thing keeping owner Rollie Barrell from making major moves with the Maroons, and they may still come over the off-season, is the excitement Barrell's other club has created might just be serving as a welcome distraction for Yurik and the Maroons. That would be the cage Mustangs and in particular rookie center Ward Messer. The Barrette Trophy winner last season as the best player in collegiate ball, Messer has been even better than advertised through 7 games with the Mustangs. He is averaging more than 20 rebounds a game, best in the entire Federal League, and is challenging for the loop's scoring lead with more than 20 points a contest. The younger brother of New York Gothams slugger Walt Messer, Ward is used to winning after 4 very successful seasons at Liberty College. The Mustangs have had their growing pains the first two seasons of the Federal League, and despite a pair of road losses over the weekend, they are 4-3 on the young season heading into a long 5 game homestand beginning Thursday night against Pittsburgh. There is a lot of work ahead for Rollie Barrell and his Mustangs management team, but the club appears to be on the way up. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said for Barrell's other sports empire here in the Motor City. BARRELL, POLLACK HAVE DUKES ON A ROLL Jack Barrell continues to push all of the right buttons with the Toronto Dukes. Given a second chance at coaching in the NAHC, the veteran who spent a decade behind the bench in Detroit, has led the Dukes to a Challenge Cup title and is following that up with a 10-3-0 start to this season. Quinton Pollack, who just happens to also be Barrell's son-in-law, has found a new gear in his third season as a pro with a NAHC leading 21 points in 13 games. He is a big reason why the Dukes lead the NAHC with 60 goals scored already this campaign. Pollack and Barrell's paths first crossed in the Great Western Hockey League in 1945 when Barrell, fired in Detroit after a dispute with owner John Connelly Jr., found refuge in the coast league when there was no other NAHC bench job open at the time. The match turned out perfectly for both. On the ice their Tacoma Lions dominated the league and won the title with Pollack leading the loop in both goals and points. Off the ice Pollack met and began dating Barrell's daughter Agnes. Their paths split for a season with Barrell staying in Portland while Pollack finally agreed to a contract with the now-defunct Brooklyn Eagles, who had selected him first overall in the 1942 NAHC draft. As a rookie in Brooklyn, Pollack tallied 30 goals and 47 points in just 42 games and won the McLeod Trophy as the loop's top rookie. However, it was not enough to save the struggling club. The Eagles folded and Toronto, coming off a terrible last place finish, had the first pick in the dispersal draft of former Brooklyn players. The Dukes also had a new coach although it is quite certain Pollack would have still been the top selection had Toronto also not recently signed Jack Barrell. Reunited, Pollack had 48 points in his first year in Toronto before adding 9 more in 9 playoff games as the Dukes won their third Challenge Cup in 5 seasons. Pollack dated Agnes Barrell once they were reunited and the pair were married last July, further cementing the bond between the Dukes coach and their star player.  Code:
[b] NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 13 10 3 0 60 34 20
Boston 12 7 5 0 36 39 14
Detroit 13 6 6 1 49 40 13
New York 12 5 5 2 40 38 12
Montreal 13 4 7 2 37 48 10
Chicago 13 3 9 1 34 57 7
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 13 10 11 21
Sauer, Tor 13 11 7 18
T Burns, Chi 13 13 4 17
Parker, Tor 13 8 9 17
Galbraith, Tor 13 7 9 16
Carlson, Tor 10 4 12 16
Vanderbilt, Det 13 11 4 15
Rocheleau, Det 13 4 11 15
Tardif, Det 13 4 11 15
Sandford, Mon 13 8 6 14
Cabbell, NY 12 7 6 13
Skinner, Mon 13 5 8 13
Lanceleve, Mon 13 4 9 13
Witt, Det 13 4 9 13
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Beliveau, Mon 5 2 2 0 1 2.63
Broadway, Tor 10 8 2 0 1 2.70
Touhey, Det 10 4 5 1 1 3.00
Tremblay, NY 11 4 5 2 1 3.01
James, Bos 11 6 5 0 2 3.15
Hanson, Chi 8 1 6 1 0 3.77
Carter, Mon 7 2 3 2 0 4.11
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 17 Boston 0 at 7 Toronto: The second chapter of the post-Tom Brockers era could not have gone much worse for the Bees. No longer pressured for the starting job between the pipes with Brockers shipped to Montreal, Oren James failed to survive the opening frame before Pierre Melancon had to come on in relief for his first Bees appearance in two seasons as Toronto scored 4 times on James and bashed the Bees 7-0. Gordie Broadway needed to make just 17 saves for his first shutout of the season and 45th since 1940. Seven different Dukes scored in the game while defenseman JC Martel had 3 helpers. To make matters worse for the Bees, star center Wilbur Chandler left the game with a minor injury and is expected to miss up to two weeks. Chicago 3 at 2 Montreal: Brockers Valiants debut was spoiled by Ed Delarue as the Chicago pivot picked up the game winning goal with less than 4 minutes remaining to lift the Packers to a 3-2 victory for the second win in the past three games. Tommy Burns notched his league high 13th of the season while his brother Wes finally got his first. Detroit 1 at 4 New York: The Shamrocks snapped a 3-game skid with a 4-1 win at Bigsby Garden over the visiting Motors. Tommy Brescia scored twice to pace the New York attack. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20 Toronto 3 at 2 Boston: A quiet Saturday with just the one game on the docket and while the Bees played much better at home than they did in Toronto on Wednesday, they still came up on the short end of a 3-2 score. Bobbie Sauer and Alex Lavalliere staked the Dukes to a 2-0 lead in the opening period but Boston clawed even with Len Bentley's first of the season in the second frame and Mark Dyck's tying marker early in the third. The Dukes would not be denied their third consecutive win and Trevor Parker was the hero, nothing his 8th of the campaign with just over 7 minutes remaining in the game. The victory extends Toronto's lead on the second place Bees to 6 points. SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21 Boston 4 at 2 New York: Happy to be down with Toronto for at least the time being, the Bees snapped a 2-2 tie after forty minutes with goals from Alex Gagnon and Tommy Hart to lift them past the Shamrocks and give Oren James his first win without Tom Brockers large shadow looming behind him. Chicago 2 at 5 Toronto: The Dukes won for the fourth game in a row while the Packers have yet to win consecutive games all season following a 5-2 Toronto victory at the Dominion Gardens. Alex Lavalliere had 3 assists for the winners. Detroit 5 at 2 Montreal: Detroit handed the Valiants their third consecutive loss as 28-year-old rookie Marsh Spencer scored twice and added an assist while his linemate Louis Rocheleau had three helpers in a 5-2 Motors victory. The win, coupled with New York's loss to Boston, allows Detroit to move back into third place in the NAHC. UPCOMING GAMES WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 24 Detroit at Boston Toronto at Montreal THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25 Chicago at New York Montreal at Toronto SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27 Detroit at Chicago Montreal at Boston Toronto at New York SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28 Boston at Toronto Chicago at Detroit AROUND THE LEAGUE
NEW LOOK BEES STRUGGLE WITH TORONTO By Finn LeBec, Boston Globe -- Oscar James gave up four goals in his first period as the unquestioned starter of the Boston Bees. Pierre Melancon saw his first regular season action since the 1946-47 season and allowed three goals in two periods in Boston's 7-0 loss in Toronto to start the week. In the back end of the home-and-home on Saturday night at Denny Arena, Toronto scored two first-period goals before Boston was heard from in the second. For those counting, that would make nine straight red lights for the Dukes before Boston got on the board. After the big trade with Montreal for Bryant Williams, Len Bentley, who stands to lose some playing time with the acquisition, scored his first of the year to cut the deficit to 2-1 and Mark Dyck scored his fifth of the year to tie the game early in the third, but Toronto's Trevor Parker put the Dukes ahead for good with the winner in a 3-2 Dukes victory. Speaking of Williams, he made his debut in that drubbing by Toronto on Wednesday night. Williams played 16:15 and he was a minus-1 in the 7-0 defeat, but he rounded into form by the end of the week. Williams was on the ice for about 20 minutes in back-to-back games in Saturday's loss and Sunday's 4-2 win at New York. The win over the Shamrocks was a window into what the Bees hope will be a prototypical Williams game: four takeaways, three blocked shots, two hits (95 DGR). Coach Barrell says he is satisfied with the start, but the team still has room to improve going forward. "We have been relatively injury free so far this season which really helps our off season conditioning program seems to be paying dividends, the players bought in, now they are seeing the results. Since the start of our training camp in the Porcupine area the staff has stressed that it is more important what you do when we don't have puck than it is when the puck is on your stick. Defensively we are becoming a little more sound with each game backed by Gordie and Terry although we still have a way to go to achieve the team goal of GAA I set for the season. Fans must remember it is only November." FINCHES SURVIVE FIGHT WITH WASPS The Cleveland Finches needed a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to secure the victory but when the dust settled the Lake Erie eleven remained perfect on the season with a 21-13 victory at Forester Field over a pesky Washington Wasps outfit. The game started out as one would expect from the high-flying birds, winners of each of their first eight games and by a wide margin the highest scoring team in the American Football Association. Cleveland drove 54 yards down the field on its first series as Phil Colvin engineered a 10-play drive that was keyed by a 30-yard pass play to Roy Carson. Carson, the veteran end who leads the loop in scoring catches this season, culminated the drive with a short one-yard touchdown reception for his 14th major of the season. Few of the 31,036 on hand to witness the rematch of last season's AFA championship contest, expected the Finches offense would go silent but it did for the next two and a half quarters. Meanwhile, the Wasps, looking to avenge the 56-9 swatting they took from the Finches in the nation's capital three weeks ago, took advantage of a pair of second period Finches fumbles to take a 13-7 lead. Bob Krohn threw scoring passes to complete each drive, which occurred within a 5 minute stretch late in the second frame. After the break both offenses seemed to struggle although late in the third quarter the Wasps had a chance to add to their 13-7 lead but Krohn, who earlier missed an extra-point, was off target with a 29 yard field goal attempt. Taking over at their own twenty yard line as the clock ticked into the final quarter, Colvin drove the Finches 80 yards with a combination of slick passes and some fine running from Tommy Thompson and Mark Ravellette for a drive that ended with a 5 yard run up the middle by Thompson to tie the game. Steve Watts had no trouble with the extra point and the Finches took a 14-13 lead. The Cleveland defense held Washington over three short drives, two of which ended in turnovers by the Wasps and the third which netted a loss of 6 yards on the series and on the final play of the game Cleveland's Lyle Landry may have made the day of some wagers with a 3 yard touchdown to increase the final margin to an 8 point victory in a game in which the Finches were favoured by a touchdown. WILDCATS WIN DEFENSIVE STUGGLE IN CINCINNATI The Cincinnati Tigers brought the Chicago Wildcats down to their level, forcing the Wildcats to play a scrappy defensive minded football game - something that has become a staple of Tigers coach Jack Conn's gameplan. Conn has little choice as his Cincinnati charges lack a strong offense despite adding in recent years Bob Allen and Jerry McElheny, each of whom had some success in their earlier days. The Tigers forced 4 turnovers and kept the Wildcats out of the endzone for the first time this season but it still wasn't enough to stop Chicago from improving to 8-1 on the season as Ricky McCallister booted two field goals to account for all the scoring in a 6-0 Wildcats win. With three games to play the Wildcats trail unbeaten Cleveland by a single game with Chicago's only loss coming at Forester Field in the third week of the season. The two teams will meet to end the regular season, just as they did a year ago when the Finches earned a victory that sent them to the AFA championship game for the first time in over a decade. ***YANKS SETTLE FOR DRAW IN PHILADELPHIA *** The Eastern Division picture is murkier today after the front-running Boston Americans were forced to settle for a 21-21 tie in Philadelphia with the Frigates. Jim Taylor, who threw for all three Frigates scores, found Mal Herndon for a 13-yard score with 3:03 remaining in the game to salvage the draw. The Yanks drop to 6-2-1 on the season, just a half game ahead of the New York Football Stars, who improved to 6-3 with a 35-23 victory over Detroit. The Stars, who lost to Boston early in the season, will host the Americans in the season finale but each has two more games to play before they can focus on that contest. The final game of the weekend saw the St Louis Ramblers down the host Pittsburgh Paladins 35-7 at Fitzpatrick Park with six Pittsburgh turnovers being the major difference as five of them led to Ramblers scores on the ensuing drive. It won't get any easier for the 3-6 Paladins who have a short week as they host unbeaten Cleveland on Thanksgiving Day.  MATTHEWS CARRIES COWBOYS PAST GOTHAMS Closing in on 1,000 Yard Season One of these years the New York Football Gothams may succeed in taking the measure of the Kansas City Cowboys. If and when it happens, however, the chances are that the New York eleven, currently drawing fortnightly salary checks, either will be missing or two old to enjoy the miracle. To be fair the Gothams did actually surprise the Cowboys in the regular season at Packer Field a year ago but fans forget that because of the back to back Continental Football Conference championship game losses and another defeat earlier this season in the midwestern city. New York fans can only take a slight consolation in the fact the Gothams will not lose a third straight title tilt, but that is only because New Orleans has clinched the Eastern section this time around. The Gothams did give it the old college try at Dyckman Stadium yesterday against Pete Walsh's gridiron powerhouse but once more it was simply not good enough and the Gothams fell 28-17. For a change Pat Chappell did not dominate the Gothams, although he did complete 13 passes for 137 yards and 3 scores but he was also intercepted 3 times by the New Yorkers. This time it was the Kansas City ground game that there simply was no answer for the Cowboys two-headed running game as when Mason Matthews wasn't carrying would-be tacklers 148 yards on 17 carries it was Tommy Cohan sprinting around them for 84 yards on his 15 forays with the football. Matthews has been one of the best backs in the league each of the previous two seasons and certainly is the best and powering through opponents. His big game in New York raised his season rushing total to 981 yards and Matthews seems assured of a 1,000-yard season. New York once more found out what the rest of the league has spent nearly three seasons learning. Coach Walsh's Kansas City Cowboys club simply has too many offensive weapons, and a pretty strong defense to go with it, for the rest of the CFC and may even be a better team than anything the AFA could throw at it. WINGS KEEP SLIM HOPES ALIVE While the Cowboys were proving their superiority at Dyckman Stadium, the San Francisco Wings were displaying their dominance a few miles away at Kings County Stadium as the Wings flew past the Brooklyn Kings 28-6. That they did so without the services of quarterback Sam Metcalf, who missed the game, made the win even more impressive. The Wings were grounded without Metcalf as fill-in Ted Wills made just 10 throws, although he did complete half of them for 84 yards. Instead, the focus was on the ground as the West Coast eleven used an approach by committee to rush for 282 yards and 4 touchdowns by 4 different backs. Doug Murphy did not find the endzone but did lead the way with 65 yards. The win keeps the Wings in the race as they attempt would some say is impossible, dethroning the two-time league champion Kansas City Cowboys. Next Sunday will be key as the Wings will host the Cowboys in their second meeting this season after Kansas City prevailed 31-17 a week ago. The Cowboys are 10-1 on the year and the schedule-makers may have done the 10-2 Wings a favour as Kansas City plays Thanksgiving Thursday in Los Angeles before heading to Hawks Stadium to face San Francisco on just two days' rest. The only other game in the CFC this weekend saw the Los Angeles Lobos, on the strength of three Jackie Wendt touchdown passes including a pair to Johnny Littlejohn, beat New Orleans 28-17. The game had little importance to the Crescents, who clinched their first Eastern Division title last week.  DCC CLINCHES NATIONAL TITLE The Detroit City College Knights clinched what will be the first national title in school history while wrapping up their third straight Great Lakes Alliance section crown and running their winning streak to 25 games. The Knights accomplished all of that with a come from behind 17-7 victory in Columbus over their long-time rivals from Central Ohio. The second largest crowd over to throng Aviators Stadium - 82,754 - saw the Ohioans rise to their greatest heights of the season, take the lead with a first period touchdown, and win everything but the ball game. It was the Knights fourth straight win over the Aviators but a much closer game than the 42-0 shutout in the Motor City a year ago. The Aviators, not the Knights, looked like champions in the early going as they allowed the invaders only three first downs in the first half, one on a pass, one by rushing and one on a penalty. Overall, the Ohioans had a 14-9 edge in first downs. There were plenty of nervous DCC supporters at the break when the Knights headed to the locker room trailing 7-0 but junior end Ike Richards, an All-American candidate for Detroit City College, turned things around early in the third with a 24-yard touchdown catch. Richards would also force a Central Ohio fumble, late in the game after the Knights had taken a 10-7 lead, which set up the final Knights score on the day. After winning back-to-back East-West Classic games, the Knights will not play on New Year's Day due to a new GLA section rule implemented this season prohibiting a team from playing in two consecutive New Years games. As a result, St Magnus will likely represent the GLA in Santa Ana after the Vikings improved their section record to 5-1 with a 17-9 victory over Lincoln. It will be up to the selection committee to determine who will be the "west" in the East-West Classic. Northern California might have the inside track after the Miners finished with a 5-1 West Coast Athletic Association record following Saturday's 27-3 dismantling of rival Redwood. That left Portland Tech, which won 6 and lost just once in WCAA play possibly on the outside despite a strong showing in a 27-13 season ending game with Lane Tech. As has been the case all season, senior quarterback Tommy Norwood had a big game for the Magpies. The Boise, ID, native threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third in the win over the Emeralds. North Carolina Tech finished its season with a perfect 9-0 record and is ranked second in the latest TWIFB poll behind only the Knights. The Techsters are expected to accept an invitation to play in the Cajun Classic in New Orleans. Saturday it was once again the Jackie Charles show as the Techsters star halfback ran for 112 yards and three touchdowns to lead NC Tech to a 41-3 victory in their rivalry game with Carolina Poly.   WEEKEND RESULTS EAST Henry Hudson 39 St. Pancras 6 Dickson 31 George Fox 27 Sadler 44 Grafton 24 Ellery 23 Empire State 7 Pittsburgh State 9 Liberty College 3 Commonwealth Catholic 19 Golden Gate University 0 Conwell College 17 St. Patrick's 17 Garden State 35 Brooklyn State 21 Boston State 14 Western Iowa 7 New York Maritime 20 Bigsby College 6 SOUTH North Carolina Tech 41 Carolina Poly 3 Noble Jones College 35 Bulein 0 Georgia Baptist 35 Mobile Maritime 0 Cumberland 17 Central Kentucky 0 Alabama Baptist 27 Bayou State 14 Miami State 34 Western Florida 17 Baton Rouge State 23 Queen City 0 Bluegrass State 31 Maryland State 7 Penn Catholic 34 San Francisco Tech 0 Caesar Rodney 17 Lexington State 10 Huntington State 20 Lakeview (OH) 7 Richmond State 23 Charleston Tech 0 Coastal State 47 Strub College 0 St. Matthew's College 13 Potomac College 7 MIDWEST Detroit City College 17 Central Ohio 7 Minnesota Tech 27 Wisconsin State 6 St. Magnus 17 Lincoln 9 Whitney College 35 Indiana A&M 7 St. Ignatius 49 Spokane State 3 Daniel Boone College 44 College of Omaha 9 Wisconsin Catholic 26 South Dakota Tech 14 Topeka State 22 Manhattan State (KS) 6 Boone College-St. Louis 9 Laclede 7 SOUTHWEST Arkansas A&T 38 Payne State 7 Red River State 21 Amarillo Methodist 7 Texas Gulf Coast 16 Lubbock State 7 College of Waco 29 South Valley State 6 Oklahoma City State 37 Lawrence State 13 Eastern Oklahoma 43 Eastern Kansas 9 Abilene Baptist 37 Tempe College 34 Gunnison State 31 El Paso Methodist 21 FAR WEST Coastal California 14 CC Los Angeles 0 Northern California 29 Redwood 3 Portland Tech 27 Lane State 13 Rainier College 23 Idaho A&M 10 Dakota College 31 Custer College 7 Boulder State 38 Colorado Poly 13 Valley State 28 Iowa A&M 14 Wyoming A&I 24 Utah A&M 14  PHANTOMS CONTINUE TO SCARE OLD ABC CLUBS Any worries the Federal Basketball League's eight holdover clubs might have had of facing a tough challenge trying to compete with the more established teams that shifted across with the American Conference folded seem to have been misplaced if the quick start of the Philadelphia Phantoms is any indication. The Phantoms, who had the best regular season record in the FBL a year ago, are off to a flying start in the East Division again this season thanks to early wins over a pair of the old ABC's flagship clubs in the Washington Statesmen and Brooklyn Red Caps. The week started with a loss for the Philadelphia quintet, just their second of the season as they fell to the Toronto Falcons on the road in overtime but they rebounded with a big 105-91 victory over the defending ABC champion Red Caps, who were the only other team to beat the Phantoms this season. The Phantoms were led by the duo of Jerry Hubbard and Danny Hendon, who each scored 22 points in the 105-91 win to take the fizz out of the bottlers. The Phantoms week ended last night with another win at Keystone Arena, this one by a resounding 103-70 margin over the visiting Cleveland Crushers. The Chicago Panthers have long been the top cat in the FBL West Division and little seems to have changed as the Chicago crew is off to a 6-0 start and is the only team in the 16 team league yet to taste defeat. Coach Geoffrey Mount's club added two more wins last week, beginning with an 86-79 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones in which Larry Serrano, the pride of Sweetwater, Tx., poured in 29 points before following that up Friday evening in Pittsburgh with an 85-75 victory over the Pilots. Code:
FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Philadelphia 7 2 .778 Rochester 6 2 .750 Hartford 5 2 .714 Brooklyn 5 3 .625 Washington 5 3 .625 Baltimore 2 5 .286 New York 2 6 .250 Syracuse 1 7 .125 Boston 1 8 .111 WEST W L PCT Chicago 6 0 1.000 Buffalo 4 2 .667 Toronto 4 3 .571 Cleveland 4 3 .571 Detroit 4 3 .571 Cincinnati 2 5 .286 Pittsburgh 2 6 .250  ENGINEERING ANOTHER GREAT RECRUITING CLASS Almquist Recruiting Whiz at Whitney College With four starters lost to graduation including Great Lakes Alliance player of the year and first-team All-American Lon Nissen, who now is playing pro ball for the Brooklyn Red Caps, this might be a lean year for the Whitney College Engineers but Head Coach By Almquist continues to work diligently to restock the shelves. The Engineers recruiting class a year ago was deemed by the OSA to be second behind only that of Liberty College in the entire nation and Almquist is up to more of the same this time around. Junior guard Don Rosenfeld, who was second on the team in scoring while averaging 9.3 ppg last year, is the only returning starter this season for a Whitney College quintet that bowed out to Liberty College in the second round of the AIAA tournament a year ago. That ended a 22-9 season that saw the Engineers finish tied for third in Great Lakes Alliance section play. The Engineers have been a solid club over the years but have not enjoyed much success in the GLA, winning just two section titles since 1927 with the most recent coming in the 1938-39 campaign. Where the Engineers have excelled for some reason is in the AIAA tournament, an event that by tradition seems to give the GLA fits. Despite regularly placing four, five and sometimes six schools in the 32-team event -including five last season in the Engineers, Western Iowa, Central Ohio, Indiana A&M and Detroit City College- only twice has a Great Lakes Alliance school cut down the nets at Bigbsy Garden in early April as the National Champion. And on both of those occasions, in 1925 and again two years ago, it has been the Engineers that were celebrating. There have been a few trips to the championship contest for other schools, including St Magnus in the spring of 1943 and Western Iowa four years earlier, but the GLA regularly disappoints in March. A tournament bid for Whitney College this season may be too much to ask as the school is clearly retooling after building around Nissen the previous few seasons but the pieces for a Whitney College revival are quickly falling into place. *** Almquist Excels on Recruiting Trail *** Guard Don Rosenfield will have his work cut out for him carrying the Engineers this season but it is expected he will have plenty of support as the season progresses and the young stars gain valuable experience. Led by Solly Morris, the number two recruit in the nation, the Engineers recruiting class for this year's freshman crop was outstanding. Morris, a 6'6" skilled offensive forward from Chattanooga, Tn., is the jewel of the group but the Engineers also landed a pair of 4-star recruits in center Edd Petty, a tall Texan rated 13th in the class, and #30 overall in guard Brant Miller out of East St Louis, Il. All will be expected to learn on the job this season but the good news for Engineers supporters is there is more coming. We are early in the recruiting phase for next year's crop of freshman but the Engineers next class may be as good, or even better, than the group they just brought in. With just three seniors leaving, Coach Almquist has already filled each of those spots and did so by securing commitments from three of the top 26 recruits in the country. There is as much optimism among the coaching staff at the news of San Doane coming next season as there was when it was learned Solly Morris had selected Whitney College last year. Doane is a local kid, he is a senior at Chicago's Lakeveiw High School this year -the same school that produced highly touted Philadelphia Keystones baseball prospect Dick Fowler- and Doane is considered the third best senior high school basketball player in the country. All of the top schools were after Doane but the lure of staying in Chicago helped Almquist convince him Whitney College was the correct choice. Doane will be joined next year by Vic Jennings, a Boston native who is one of the best forwards on the east coast after deciding on the Engineers over Western Iowa and Rainier College. The OSA ranks Jennings 21st on its list of the top 100 high school seniors. The final piece to this year's class is ranked 26th on the OSA list. He would be Terry Glassco, a towering 6'8" force out of De Pere, Wisconsin and is considered to be the best big forward in the midwest. While there may be some challenges ahead this season, the future looks very bright for the Engineers and By Almquist, who guided the club to its 1946 AIAA tournament title, may just need to keep his scissors handy to cut down Bigsby Garden nets again in the next couple of years. The only question is how much longer the 71 year old will continue to coach? Almquist, who has seen nearly all of his contemporaries retire and is now the active leader, and 4th all-time, in collegiate coaching victories with 638 says he will coach as long as he feels he can do the job, and judging by recent recruiting success it looks like he has at least a few years left.  BELLS UPSET BY BRUNSWICK The Brunswick Knights upset the Liberty College Bells in collegiate cage action last week. Brian Jones, fouled with just two seconds left and his Knights trailing by a single point, successfully converted both of his free throws to give the Academia Alliance outfit a 44-43 win over Liberty College last Monday night. The Knights bruising junior center Darrell Rademacher deserves most of the credit for the victory. Not so much for the 7 points he scored in the game but more for his solid defense, with help from Blair McMillan, in holding Liberty's highly touted newcomer Luther Gordon to just two points on the evening and forcing him to go 0-for-9 from the field. The Bells did rebound with wins over Bethlehem College and Pierpont to round out the week with Gordon scoring 25 against the Falcons and 17 on the weekend over the Purple but it did bounce the Bells from first to fourth in the weekly AIAA rankings. Western Iowa, which began its season with easy tune-up wins over Bethlehem College and Canton State, is the new number one followed by Carolina Poly, which opened with a 63-41 victory over Chicago Poly on Friday evening, and Noble Jones College. The Colonels have a late start and do not play their first game until next Monday in Lexington State. It might mark the college debut of freshman Charlie Barrell, although the three-sport athlete is not expected to see much playing time for Noble Jones College this season. St Blane, a team expected to be a championship contender this season, stumbled in its season opening game with a 38-35 loss to Bardney College. The good news was Josh Samuels, a preseason All-American a year ago who suffered a devastating knee injury in the second game that cost him his senior year, looked solid in scoring 11 points in the opener after being granted a medical exception to play for the Fighting Saints this season.  TIERNEY TKO's HILLARD IN 5TH HEAT Gil Hilliard got himself mixed up with the wrong kind of heavyweight once again at Chicago's Lakeside Auditorium last week. The Arizona born fight veteran always seemed to have loads of talent but every time he seems to work his way in talke of a potential title shot, the 31-year-old comes up short in the ring and slides back down list of contenders. In 1945 it was a disappointing majority draw with a never-was by the name of Ron Ramsey that sent his stock spiraling and now, after winning his last dozen bouts and clawing his way to being considered the #3 ranked contender for Hector Sawyer's crown in the September TWIFB rankings, Hillard comes up short against Joey Tierney and his name may never be uttered again when discussing potential title contenders. This should not be considered as a harsh assessment of Tierney as the 21-year-old is certainly on the rise and sports a perfect 12-0 record since turning pro. The Detroit native just recently made the step up to fighting 10-rounders (young fighters typically start with 6 round bouts) and ring-veteran Hilliard was to be his first real test, one too big for this stage of his career in the eyes of many observers but he proved the naysayers wrong. The shockfest was a brutal affair from gong to gong, but it was too one-sided to hold the interest of the fans. Young Tierney belted the veteran from post to post in every round, and only Hilliard's gameness kept him on his feet. Sure, he belted back on even exchanges at times, but there wasn't one round that you could give him as Tierney's persistent body attack always swayed the tide of the battle. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 11/21/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-19-2023 at 12:46 PM. |
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10-20-2023, 01:04 PM
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
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November 29, 1948
NOVEMBER 29, 1948 TOP PROSPECT HANSON OFF TO HOT START IN CUBA Shortstop Ralph Hanson has been considered the top prospect in baseball ever since the New York Stars selected the then 18-year-old out of a Pennsylvania high school with the second pick of the 1945 draft. Now 21, and off to a hot start in the Cuban Winter League, Hanson appears to be trying to tell the New York Stars he is ready for the big leagues. OSA feels perhaps 1950, rather than the upcoming season, is a more suitable time for the talented shortstop to make his big-league debut, but Hanson certainly had a breakout season as a minor leaguer in 1948 and appears to be continuing that success in Cuba, where he went 7-for-12 at the plate in his first 3 games with the Manzanillo Palms. There may have been some worries in the Stars front-office when Hanson struggled in his first three seasons, spent almost exclusively at the lowest minor league level. It appeared the Stars were content to give the top prospect a fourth year of Class C when he stayed in the Florida training centre as the higher minor league levels began their seasons in late April. Class C, which does not start until after the incoming draftees complete their high school and collegiate level in late June, did not seem to be something Hanson enjoyed, as he hit just .203 at that level in 1947. Finally, the Stars decided to push the youngster and just before the Class C slate was set to open the Stars moved him up to Scranton, which is two levels above. It was Hanson's Class A debut, and it did not last long as he hit .432 in 11 games and was quickly promoted to AA Harrisburg. The time with the Red Wings also proved to be a resounding success as Hanson hit .318 in 58 games at AA and helped lead Harrisburg to a second-place finish in the Eastern Association. AAA Syracuse is the likely destination for the rising star this season but if he continues to dominate in the Caribbean and happens to have a strong spring Hanson may well be replacing Joe Angevine at shortstop in Dyckman Stadium even sooner than anticipated.  CHIEFS PRESENT YEARLY AWARDS By Leland Kuenster, Chicago Herald-Examiner It was a dismal (and somewhat unexpected) 93-loss season for the Chiefs, but that will not stop this newspaper from launching a new feature: annual awards for the best Chiefs performers as voted on by the writers. Best Bat Pete Casstevens had a terrific season behind the plate (.279/.342/.797, 26 HR), and Tim Hopkins slugged another 35 home runs, but the vote here went to Joe Rutherford. The outfielder--in his first season back from Brooklyn--established himself as the offensive leader by the end of the season, slashing .272/.395/.413 with 70 runs scored and 39 extra-base hits (10 HR, 23 2B, 6 3B). Best Pitcher Even though he lost 18 games, veteran Charlie Bingham (12-18, 4.26) received strong consideration for simply going out and giving the Chiefs 224 innings. In the final tally, however, John Stallings (12-12, 3.48) was named the winner. Though he faded down the stretch, you could find Stallings near the top of the league leader boards through much of the first half of the season. Stallings led the Chiefs in starts, quality starts, strikeouts, ERA, and (unfortunately) walks. Most Improved Stallings is also the winner here. It was due to the improvement he showed in his second full FABL season that he was named Best Pitcher. Stallings increased his strikeout rate (10.1% to 13.2%), lowered his walk rate (15.16% to 13.68%), and cut his home runs allowed in half (1.8% to 1.0%). Best Defensive Player The nod here goes to Pete Casstevens for his stellar work behind the dish. Casstevens was charged with just 3 errors and 5 passed balls, and he threw out 46% of the runners trying to steal. POWERFUL COWBOYS BUCKED FROM HIGH HORSE Shocking news from the coast this weekend as the Kansas City Cowboys are suddenly in danger of losing their two-year hold on the Continental Football Conference title. The Cowboys were certainly done no favours by the CFC schedule-maker, who had them playing in Los Angeles on Thursday and then back on the field just three days later with a game in San Francisco. It started badly, with a 14-14 tie with the Lobos, and quickly became much worse as the Wings dumped the Cowboys 41-17 to take over top spot in the Western Division. The first signs of trouble for the Cowboys came in the Thanksgiving Day game when Jackie Wendt led the Los Angeles Lobos to a surprising 14-14 tie with the mighty Cowboys. Wendt was all over the field, throwing for 159 yards and a score while also rushing for a game high 108 on just 13 carries. The game at Knights Stadium in Los Angeles started very much like any other contest involving the Cowboys. Their opponent would turn the ball over, giving the Cowboys excellent field position and they would capitalize. This one saw back-to-back Lobos miscues leading first to a Pat Chappell to Bill Tammaro short touchdown pass to open the score late in the first quarter and then another quick turnover allowed Tommy Cohan to plunge over the line for a 1-yard score to make it 14-0. Shortly before the break on a seemingly innocent first down play from near midfield, Wendt broke free for a 53 yards touchdown scamper and the Cowboys lead at the half was just 14-7. The game may well have turned on the Cowboys first series of the third period. Once more a turnover gave the ball to the Cowboys although this time it was near midfield. Pat Chappell navigated the Cowboys to the Lobos 9-yard line, but the Lobos defense held forcing a Reuben Walston 19-yard field goal attempt. It missed and the Kansas City lead remained at a touchdown. That lead would vanish in the closing moments of the third frame when Wendt completed a long drive with an 11-yard scoring strike to Johnny Littlejohn and the game was tied. Neither team could sustain much in the way of a drive and the Lobos fans celebrated the 14-14 draw like it was the biggest win of the season. It was clearly a worn-out Cowboys club that took the field in San Francisco just 3 days later and when the dust settled the hometown Wings were alone in first place after a convincing 41-17 victory over the Kansas City eleven. Wes Mula caught a pair of Sam Metcalf throws for scores while Rich Garner ran for 108 yards to pace the Wings, who need only to win in Los Angeles on December 12 to dethrone the Cowboys as kings of the CFC Western Division. The Cowboys will need to win in Brooklyn and hope for a San Francisco loss against the Lobos to have a chance to win their third consecutive league title. *** Buffalo Wins a Pair *** The busy extended holiday weekend did not hurt the Buffalo Bulls as Mark Monday's crew rang up 82 points in back-to-back wins over Chicago and New York. On Thanksgiving Day in the Windy City Monday threw 4 touchdown passes as the Bulls blasted the Chicago Comets 41-10 while yesterday it was Dave Karaszewski who was the star of the show in a 41-30 triumph over the New York Gothams. The Bulls back barreled for 201 yards in what was just the second time a CFC back had ever topped the double-century mark in a game. The two victories move the Bulls ahead of the Gothams and into second place in the CFC Eastern Division. The New Orleans Crescents, who had previously clinched the Eastern title, outlasted Brooklyn 30-19 in the final game of the weekend. Vince Gallegos threw for 242 yards and 2 scores while Crescents also intercepted a pair of Bill Howlin passes and returned both for touchdowns.  AFA PLAYOFF PICTURE TIGHTENS Finches, Yanks Lose While Wildcats, Stars Win With just two weeks remaining in the American Football Association season there is plenty left to be decided after a wild week that saw each of the division leaders replaced. The biggest upset came at Pittsburgh's Fitzpatrick Park where the Paladins nipped the previously unbeaten Cleveland Finches 28-27 to open the door for the Chicago Wildcats in the Western Division. The Finches, who started the season with 9 straight victories, had a hard time Thanksgiving Day in the Steel City but did manage to take a six-point lead with 7 minutes remaining in the game when Steve Watts was successful with an 18-yard field goal. It took barely a minute for that lead to vanish as Albie Stallworth, who had a strong game passing the ball for Paladins, used his fleet feet to scramble for a 41-yard touchdown run that would prove the difference in a 28-27 Pittsburgh victory. On Sunday, clearly fired up by the news their rivals had fallen in Pittsburgh three days earlier, the Chicago Wildcats blasted the Boston Americans 38-0, amassing 306 yards on the ground in the process while limiting the great Yanks quarterback Del Thomas to just 97 yards through the air. The win leaves the Wildcats and Finches tied at 9-1. Chicago is in Pittsburgh next weekend while Cleveland hosts Detroit before the two clash in a season-ending contest at Cougars Park in two weeks time. The loss, coupled with the New York Stars 28-0 shutout at home over Cincinnati vaults the New Yorkers into first place in the Eastern Division, a half game better than Boston. They also have a final weekend showdown -in the Big Apple- with a championship game berth potentially on the line but they each need to get through next week first. The Stars travel to St Louis to face the Ramblers while the Americans entertain the Washington Wasps. The Wasps were winners yesterday, handing Detroit its 9th loss of the season in a 34-10 victory at Columbia Stadium while the final game of the weekend saw Jim Taylor pass for 214 yards and two touchdowns to pace Philadelphia past St Louis 31-7.  ANNAPOLIS SQUAD JUBILANT OVER SUPERB PLAY IN LAST GAME Hold Mighty Rome State to Tie in Philadelphia The annual Rome State-Annapolis Maritime football game ended in a 14-14 tie but you never would have guessed it from the bedlam that broke loose in the Navigators dressing room. It was Forty-second and Broadway on New Year's Eve, V-E day and the Fourth of July all rolled into one as the shouting back slapping Annapolis players rushed into the room. Behind them, also pushing and shouting, came Navy brass led by John L. Sullivan, Secretary of the Navy, to join in the festivities. There was little to cheer about prior to this contest for the Navigators, who suffered through an excruciating 1-7 start but all was forgotten thanks to the tie that knocked unbeaten but now twice-tied Rome State down a peg or two in the polls. Annapolis Maritime has not defeated Rome State since 1943, but it certainly felt like they did on Saturday as the Navigators, who were thought to have as poor prospects of victory as President Truman, who was in attendance, was conceded in the recent election, fought their way to a draw. SAINTS TROUNCE RAINIER COLLEGE, MOVE TO SECOND IN POLL St Blane will not win its third national title, but the Fighting Saints had little trouble with an overmatched coast club from Rainer College, claiming a 34-3 victory and improve to 8-1 on the season. The only blemish was a shocking early season loss to St Ignatius, which ended a two-year stretch without a loss and back-to-back national titles for the Saints. St Blane still has one game remaining, a pseudo-classic game as they make the trek to Los Angeles to face Coastal California at gigantic Santa Ana Stadium, but the final poll has been cast as the Dolphins encounter will be treated as a post-season game. St Blane has, for the second year in succession, declined any and all invitations to participate in a New Year's Day game. North Carolina Tech will finish third in the rankings after the Techsters completed a perfect 9-0 campaign with a 17-9 victory over Eastern State shortly before finalizing an agreement to play Eastern Oklahoma in New Orleans on New Year's Day in the Cajun Classic. Jackie Charles, the 165-pound Cherryville (NC) marvel, whirling and fading out of reach, who staggered the overflow crowd with touchdown runs of 80 and 50 yards to cap the best season in Techsters football since the national champion 1938 squad. Mississippi A&M and Noble Jones College each finished unbeaten in Deep South Conference section play. The Generals had their troubles but eventually outlasted Northern Mississippi 16-9 to finish with a perfect 9-0 record overall while the Colonels, who's only loss came to North Carolina Tech in early October, had little trouble claiming state bragging rights in Georgia with a 27-0 shutout of the Georgia Baptist Gators. Both will play on New Year's Day with Mississippi A&M likely ticketed Houston and the Oilman Classic against Southwestern Alliance champ Texas Panhandle while the Colonels are off to Miami for the Sunshine Classic against a yet to be determined opponent. GLA OFFICIALLY SELECTS ST MAGNUS FOR EAST-WEST CLASSIC St Magnus' second-place Vikings unanimously were named to represent the Great Lakes Alliance in the East-West Classic on New Year's Day. The entirely expected selection was made in a telegraphic poll of the league's nine faculty representatives. Unbeaten and nationally ranked #1 Detroit City College was the GLA champion for a third consecutive season, but new GLA rules made the Knights ineligible for a return trip to Santa Ana. A new conference restriction bans any team from making back-to-back appearances in the East-West Classic. Thus St Magnus, beaten only by Detroit City College in six league starts, received the bid to face the West Coast Athletic Association representative.   WEEKEND RESULTS EAST Rome State 14 Annapolis Maritime 14 St. Blane 34 Rainier College 3 Pierpont 14 Brunswick 7 Liberty College 20 Spokane State 13 Penn Catholic 20 Charleston Tech 7 Commonwealth Catholic 6 St. Patrick's 3 Bigsby College 21 Brooklyn State 6 SOUTH North Carolina Tech 17 Eastern State 9 Noble Jones College 27 Georgia Baptist 0 Mississippi A&M 16 Northern Mississippi 9 Alabama Baptist 37 Western Florida 10 Baton Rouge State 21 Bayou State 6 Bluegrass State 27 Cumberland 6 Central Kentucky 16 Miami State 13 Maryland State 10 Huntington State 0 Lexington State 9 Petersburg 6 Alexandria 38 Chesapeake State 14 Columbia Military Academy 21 Cowpens State 20 Coastal State 27 Opelika State 10 Bulein 7 Central Carolina 0 Western Tennessee 16 Cleveland 7 MIDWEST St. Ignatius 30 Sunnyvale 17 Daniel Boone College 41 Lawrence State 3 Eastern Kansas 16 Laclede 13 Payne State 34 Northern Minnesota 34 SOUTHWEST Texas Gulf Coast 33 Amarillo Methodist 7 Travis College 31 Darnell State 7 Lubbock State 10 Red River State 0 Arkansas A&T 14 Richmond State 14 College of Waco 44 Abilene Baptist 20 Oklahoma City State 37 Eastern Oklahoma 14 Texas Panhandle 50 El Paso Methodist 10 FAR WEST Lane State 20 College of Omaha 10 Kit Carson University 50 Topeka State 21 Salamanca State 34 San Francisco Tech 23 Provo Tech 40 Cache Valley 14 Tempe College 41 Utah A&M 27 Golden Gate University 34 Minns College 7 Valley State 20 Wisconsin Catholic 17 Wyoming A&I 16 Mile High State 16 Canyon A&M 21 South Valley State 21 Quaker College (CA) 21 Flagstaff State 21 BIG GAME FOR TOMMY BURNS, BUT TOO RARE FOR PACKERS It is no surprise to see Chicago's Tommy Burns battling for the NAHC goal scoring and points lead but what is a surprise is just how inconsistent the winner of each of the last three McDaniels Trophy's has been this season. Yes, Burns has 22 points in 16 games this season but 10 of them have come in two games and the Packers scoring star has been held completely off the scoresheet seven times already this season. His brother Wes is also struggling with just 1 goal in 16 games -although Wes does have 12 assists including 4 from Saturday evening's 8-4 drubbing of Detroit in which Tommy enjoyed his second 5-point night of the season. A day later against the same Motors, the duo was held scoreless, and the Packers fell for the 11th time in 16 games, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Motors. No one expected the Packers to be last in the six team loop as the season hit its quarter mark, but the Packers have endured major struggles in all facets of the game this season. Tommy Burns is still getting his points, but even he needs to be more consistent if the club wants to avoid going from first place a year ago to the cellar of the NAHC this campaign. Code:
[b] NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 17 11 5 1 70 47 23
Boston 15 9 6 0 49 44 18
New York 14 7 5 2 44 40 16
Detroit 16 7 8 1 59 58 15
Montreal 16 5 8 3 45 56 13
Chicago 16 4 11 1 44 66 9
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 17 10 15 25
T Burns, Chi 16 16 6 22
Sauer, Tor 17 11 10 21
Galbraith, Tor 17 10 11 21
Carlson, Tor 14 4 15 19
Vanderbilt, Det 16 12 6 18
Parker, Tor 17 9 9 18
Rocheleau, Det 16 5 13 18
Cabbell, NY 14 9 7 16
Sandford, Mon 16 8 8 16
Witt, Det 16 6 10 16
Tardif, Det 16 5 11 16
Skinner, Mon 16 5 10 15
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Tremblay, NY 13 6 5 2 2 2.70
Beliveau, Mon 6 3 2 0 1 2.70
Broadway, Tor 14 9 4 1 1 2.72
James, Bos 14 8 6 0 3 2.82
Brockers, Mon 6 1 3 1 0 2.91
Hanson, Chi 10 2 7 1 0 3.52
Touhey, Det 12 4 7 1 1 3.73
Carter, NYS 7 2 3 2 0 4.11
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 24 Detroit 2 at 8 Boston: Joe Morey and David Scarpone each scored once and added two assists while Craig Simpson and Robert Walker enjoyed two-goal games as the Bees hammered the visiting Motors 8-2 in what was Detroit goaltender Millard Touhey's worst outing of the season. Toronto 2 at 2 Montreal: Toronto's 4-game winning streak came to an end but the first place Dukes still salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw in Montreal. Quinton Pollack, the league's leading scorer, assisted on both Toronto goals while Alex Peters scored once and set up the other Montreal marker. It was new surroundings for one of them but the game had familiar foes in net as Gordie Broadway made 38 saves for the Dukes while the newest Valiant netminder Tom Brockers turned aside 29 Toronto offerings. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25 Chicago 0 at 1 New York: Another tough loss for the struggling Packers as Etienne Tremblay turned aside all 26 Chicago shots for his league-leading third shutout of the season. Orval Cabbell scored the game's only goal late in the opening period. Montreal 6 at 3 Toronto: Back at it again a day later the Valiants prevailed over their biggest rivals with a 6-3 victory thanks to a strong outing from Vals reserve goaltender Pat Beliveau, who stopped 37 of the 40 Toronto shots on goal. Defenseman Glen Whitley had 3 assists for the Vals who had 6 different players beat Gordie Broadway. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27 Detroit 4 at 8 Chicago: After being shutout twice in their previous four games the Packers offense broke out with a dominant 8-4 victory in Detroit. It was the Burns show as Tommy had a hat trick and two assists while Wes earned 4 helpers. Detroit led 4-2 early in the second stanza but the Packers scored the final six goals of the game. Montreal 0 at 3 Boston: Oscar James had a quiet evening in the Bees cage, turning aside each of the 14 shots he faced. His former mentor, Tom Brockers, was busy at the other hand, as the Bees peppered their former teammate with 42 shots, scoring once in each frame. Robert Walker, Craig Simpson and James Smart, with just his second career NAHC goal, lit the lamp for the winners. Toronto 2 at 3 New York: Back-to-back wins for the Shamrocks and back-to-back losses for the first-place Dukes as the Greenshirts prevailed 3-2 on home ice. Sam Furr's powerplay goal midway through the third period was the difference. Orval Cabbell scored for the 5th game in a row for New York, giving him 9 on the season. SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28 Boston 2 at 3 Toronto: A pair of streaks ended as the Bees three game winning run and the Dukes 2 game losing streak each were snapped in a 3-2 Toronto victory. Boston lost despite outshooting the Dukes 35-19. Chicago 2 at 4 Detroit: The Packers still have not secured points in consecutive games this season after being doubled at the Thompson Palladium 4-2 by the Motors last night in a much different game from the night before. Miles Barfield and Adam Vanderbilt each had two points to lead the Detroit attack while Henri Chasse got the victory after being called on in relief of a struggling Millard Touhey the previous night. UPCOMING GAMES TUESDAY NOVEMBER 30 New York at Chicago WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1 Boston at Chicago Detroit at Toronto SATURDAY DECEMBER 4 Boston at Detroit Montreal at New York Toronto at Chicago SUNDAY DECEMBER 5 Boston at Montreal Chicago at Toronto New York at Detroit AROUND THE LEAGUE
Barrell: "As I said it is still early, but we began to believe we were as good as the press clipping said we were. The back half of the back to back with the Vals was probably the worst game I have seen the team play in over a calendar year. Too many players were soft, the Dukes have to play with an edge. There are no off nights in this league. If you don't show up with your 'A' game you are going to get rinsed. It was a tough loss in Bigsby Saturday when Charlie (defenseman Chalie Brown) got caught out of position taking a lazy penalty allowing the Shamrocks to capitalize on the power play. We rebounded a little at home Sunday against the Bees thanks to (goaltender Gordie) Broadway standing on his head. We tried to give that one away when again (Quinton) Pollock took a lazy penalty resulting in another power play goal bringing the Bees within one with about 6 minutes left. As we prepare to go into December, our practices again will stress responsibilities without the puck. Players will tire of me talking, working on this but I will continue to harp on this until it becomes second nature for the all players. We have good goaltending, you rely on him to steal 3 or 4 games a year when you get outplayed, not 3 or 4 in a week! Back to basics." 
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FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Philadelphia 9 2 .818 Rochester 8 2 .800 Washington 7 3 .700 Brooklyn 6 4 .600 Hartford 5 4 .556 Baltimore 4 6 .400 New York 2 7 .222 Boston 2 9 .182 Syracuse 1 10 .091 WEST W L PCT Chicago 8 0 1.000 Detroit 6 3 .667 Buffalo 5 3 .625 Cleveland 5 5 .500 Toronto 4 5 .444 Cincinnati 3 6 .333 Pittsburgh 2 8 .200  ST BLANE WINS EARLY SEASON SHOWDOWN WITH CAROLINA POLY A rare game this early in the collegiate cage season involving a pair of top ten clubs did not disappoint Saturday in Tyrone, Pa. as the St Blane Fighting Saints toppled the Carolina Poly Cardinals 59-53. The Cardinals were ranked #2 entering the matchup and the Saints held down the #7 spot in the AIAA poll but when the dust settle St Blane moved up to 3rd and the Cards first loss of the season knocked them down to 7th. The game was even at the break and just a two-point lead for St Blane with as little as 5:30 remaining in the contest but that is when the Fighting Saints went on a 9-point run, including a pair of Jim Canady baskets, to earn the victory. Reserve guard Buster Reynolds led the way for the winners with 13 points nullifying a terrific showing from Carolina Poly junior guard James Halle, who had a career best 26 points. The win is the fourth in a row for the Fighting Saints after they lost their season opener in a surprise upset by Bardney. The Cardinals, with early wins over Chicago Poly and Sadler, fall to 2-1 with the defeat. GORDEN LEADS BELLS TO PAIR OF WINS Liberty College improved to 5-1 and moved up to number two in the rankings with victories over Pierpont and Tinker College. Once more it was junior college transfer Luther Gordon leading the way as he had 17 points and 8 rebounds in the 79-57 drubbing of Pierpont. Gordon was even more impressive in the all-Philadelphia showdown against Tinker, who had no answer for the 6'11" center, who scored 24 points while Edgar Stillwell chipped in 19 in a 75-44 win over the Blues, who compete in the lightly regarded Eastern Six Conference. There are now just 25 unbeaten teams, including Noble Jones College which does not start its season until tonight, out of the 216 schools that compete at the AIAA level. That is noteworthy only because, in the history of AIAA basketball, which is celebrating its 40th season, no club has ever gone unbeaten the entire season including winning the year end championship tournament. The 1924-35 Whitney College Engineers came closest, going 34-1 that season which culminated in a championship game win over Coastal California.  THE CAJUN CRUSHER'S NEXT CHALLENGE: A FRENCH ENCOUNTER PARIS- World Heavyweight Champion Hector "The Cajun Crusher" Sawyer, amid his European exploits, took a pause from his sightseeing escapades through the charming French landscapes, allowing the boxing world a glimpse into his next title defense. Alongside his ever-present manager, Chester Conley, the champ revealed that he is primed to step into the ring for his 13th consecutive title defense on February 19 of the upcoming year. Sawyer, the venerable pugilist with a lifetime record boasting an impressive 59 wins, 3 losses, and a solitary draw, recently etched history in his illustrious career with a resounding 4th round TKO triumph over the valiant Englishman, Grant Knowles, in London marking his record 12th consecutive defense of the heavyweight crown, snapping his tie with the standard of 11 established by Alvin Carbey in 1922. Conley, the formidable manager whose figure looms large in Sawyer's entourage, detailed their game plan. The ensuing weeks will witness the champ indulging in the leisurely exploration of Europe, absorbing the rich tapestry of cultures and reveling in the joie de vivre of the continent. Yet, come the crackling days after Christmas, Sawyer will embark on an ardent training regimen, preluding his face-off against the French contender, Alain Noel. Noel, a 31-year-old heavyweight, has carved his mark in the boxing realm with a career record boasting 44 victories, 11 defeats, and 2 draws, a significant portion of which materialized post the cataclysmic war that engulfed the world. While he holds the mantle of the premier heavyweight in France, boxing aficionados opine that he is unlikely to present a formidable challenge to the champ. As the questions veered toward the conclusion of his European expedition, Sawyer glanced at Conley, the maestro behind the scenes, awaiting his cue. With the spirit of a true champion, Sawyer remarked, "At this point, I don't think we have made a firm decision. All I know is I am enjoying life here in France, meeting many great people, and readying myself for my next fight." The world remains on tenterhooks, eager for the next chapter in this transatlantic boxing odyssey while at the same time wondering when, or if, the now 34-year-old Sawyer will next fight on American soil. ERICKSON WILL DEFEND WELTER TITLE IN MARCH Welterweight champion Mac Erickson will put his title and his perfect 18-0 record on the line March 18 of the coming year against Philadelphia battler Rudy Perry. Erickson, who will turn 28 next week, beat Harold Stephens in April to win the title before making a successful defense in Chicago against John Gregory in September. Perry has been on the cusp of a title shot for years, including being one of the four fighters who squared off immediately after the war in an effort to determine a holder for the title that had spent more than five years without an owner. The 32-year-old owns a professional record of 27-4-1 and last fought in late September when he scored a unanimous decision over Billy Boyd. SANDERSON SHINES IN BALTIMORE Pete Sanderson, who had a title shot against Hector Sawyer back in 1945, is still in the fight game despite now approaching 38 years of age. The veteran heavyweight has not seen a topflight opponent since losing a decision to Tommy Cline nearly two years ago, but reports say he looked good in Baltimore Saturday evening when he knocked out Jerry French in the 6th frame of their bout slated for 10 rounds. It was Sanderson's 35 career victory against 9 losses and a pair of draws. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 11/28/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-20-2023 at 01:08 PM. |
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10-23-2023, 01:08 PM
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
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December 6, 1948
DECEMBER 6, 1948 FABL CLUBS SET FOR RULE FIVE DRAFT FABL's annual rule five draft takes place today with the usual collection of career minor leaguers who likely will never make an impact at the big league level dominating the pool of potential selections. Sprinkled in the reams of names may well be a gem although very few have been unearthed from this draft over the years. Last year six of the 11 players selected in the rule five did not last the season and we were returned to the organization's they were drafted from. The one had the biggest impact out of the 11 names called a year was not a young prospect waiting for his opportunity. Instead it was a player just a month shy of his 39th birthday in outfielder Al Horton, who the Detroit Dynamos selected from Cincinnati. Horton played 98 games for the Dynamos a year ago, second highest total he has ever participated in during a single FABL season, and hit a very impressive .353 as a fourth outfielder/pinch-hitter. Will there be a Horton-type change sides this time around remains to be seen. One potential candidate is perhaps Bob Walls, likely to be left exposed by the Brooklyn Kings at age 36 and with a career FABL record of 116-101. Walls pitched in 40 games out of the pen for the Kings last season after being waived by Toronto and perhaps there is a team that might feel it's worth taking a chance on whether or not he still has the ability to pitch in the majors. Bill Ross is another one who's best days are likely behind him but the 36-year-old with career record of 97-120 is a hard-worker who leads by example and unlikely to be added to the Chicago Cougars secondary roster. Others with a fair bit of FABL pitching experience expected to be available include the Keystones 34-year-old southpaw Herman Patterson (42-40), fellow left Jimmy Mayse (26-19 for Detroit), who is 32 and Paul Richadson, (25-31) a 34-year-old in the Cougars system who has pitched for 5 different FABL clubs. A trio of 32-year-old catchers that all saw a fair bit of big-league action last season will likely be left eligible. They are Paul Wilkerson, recently cut loose by Washington, Cleveland Forester Dixie Galloway and Charlie Gump, who was with the Continental Association champion Philadelphia Sailors a year ago. Wilkerson is one of three players with over 1,000 FABL games under his belt expected to be available in the Rule Five draft. The others are third baseman Jim Beard, most recently with Detroit but best known for his days with the Sailors, and Doc Love, a 42-year-old outfielder who is back in the Cougars organization and just does not seem to want to retire. A day before the final lists were due there were 28 former first round draft picks who could be eligible for selection. They include two selected second overall in Howard Rivers, a 1938 pick who was drafted with the first selection in the rule five a year ago by Montreal but returned to Brooklyn before the season started, and Joe Robinson, a first baseman selected second in the 1944 draft being picked just ahead of names like Edwin Hackberry, Eli Panneton, Stan Kleminski and Carl Potter. The 21-year-old Robinson was still toiling in Class B for the Foresters a year ago, but he did hit .332. Other former first round picks selected in the past seven years include pitchers Otis Porter and Bert Rogers as well as infielders Joe Davis and Dave McCraw along with catcher Cal Yeager. None of those just mentioned have appeared in a FABL game before.  CABBELL CARRIES SHAMROCKS Orval Cabbell of the New York Shamrocks may have seen his seven-game goal scoring streak snapped in Detroit last night but the veteran Greenshirt center had a big week with 5 goals and 8 points in the two games prior to the New Yorker's 4-game winning streak coming to an end with a 3-0 loss in the Motor City. Entering the rare Tuesday night contest in Chicago, Cabbell had scored once in each of the previous 5 games and he would add 3 more, as well as a pair of assists in a 6-1 win over the Packers. The 30-year-old followed that up Saturday with 2 goals and an assist in a 4-1 win over Montreal on Saturday that lifted him into a tie with Chicago's Tommy Burns for second in the league scoring race with 24 points, trailing only Toronto's Quinton Pollack who has 29. Speaking of Burns there was very bad news for the Chicago Packers as they learned the 3-time McDaniels Award winner will be sidelined at least until the New Year with a shoulder injury suffered Saturday in a win over Toronto. The news could not have been worse for the Packers, who should have been celebrating their first back-to-back wins this season, but instead were left to worry about where their offense will come from without Burns. The Packers have scored 56 goals this season, 17 of them by Tommy Burns.  Code:
NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 20 12 7 1 77 58 25
Boston 18 11 7 0 60 52 22
New York 17 9 6 2 54 45 20
Detroit 19 9 9 1 69 62 19
Chicago 20 6 13 1 56 78 13
Montreal 18 5 10 3 47 68 13
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 20 13 16 29
T Burns, Chi 19 17 7 24
Cabbell, NY 17 14 10 24
Galbraith, Tor 20 11 13 24
Sauer, Tor 20 11 12 23
Carlson, Tor 17 4 19 23
Witt, Det 19 7 12 19
Tardif, Det 19 6 13 19
Rocheleau, Det 19 5 14 19
Vanderbilt, Det 17 12 6 18
Parker, Tor 20 9 9 18
Sandford, Mon 18 8 9 17
Gagnon, Bos 17 6 10 16
Skinner, Mon 18 6 10 16
W Burns, Chi 20 2 14 16
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Tremblay, NY 16 8 6 2 2 2.50
Chasse, Det 7 4 2 0 0 2.75
James, Bos 16 9 7 0 3 2.91
Broadway, Tor 16 9 6 1 1 2.96
Beliveau, Mon 7 3 2 0 1 3.00
Hanson, Chi 13 3 9 1 1 3.48
Brockers, Mon 8 1 5 1 0 3.60
Touhey, Det 12 4 7 1 1 3.73
Carter, NYS 7 2 3 2 0 4.11
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 30 New York 6 at 1 Chicago: Orval Cabbell scored three times and added a pair of assists to lead the Shamrocks to their third straight win. The Greenshirts scored three times in the opening stanza, including two from Cabbell and led 5-1 after 40 minutes as Cabbell completed the hat trick while Alfie Dennis scored twice. Paul Tetreault's third period goal, assisted by both Cabbell and Dennis, rounded out the scoring. As one might expect, the lone Chicago goal came off the stick of Tommy Burns. It was the Packers fourth loss in 5 games. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1 Boston 1 at 6 Chicago: A day after losing 6-1, the Packers rebounded and beat Boston by the same score in a game that saw Tommy Burns record just one point, an assist. Six different Chicago marksmen beat Oren James, who had a rough outing in allowing 6 goals on just 12 shots. Wes Burns led the Packers scoring parade with three points, all assists. Detroit 6 at 2 Toronto: The Motors improved to 2-1 on the season against the defending Challenge Cup champions with a 6-2 victory to start the month of December. Rearguard Spencer Larocque had a goal and three assists while Ben Witt chipped in with three points for the winners. Quinton Pollack and Clyde Lumsen each had a goal and an assist for the Dukes, who have dropped three of their last four games. SATURDAY DECEMBER 4 Boston 2 at 1 Detroit: Boston beat Detroit netminder Henri Chasse, filling in for the injured Millard Touhey, twice in the first nine minutes of the game and made it stand up for a 2-1 victory. Jacob Gron and Alex Gagnon had the Bees goals with Anthony Jacques third period tally being the only one of 29 Detroit shots to slip past Pierre Melancon, who had a rare start in the Boston cage. Montreal 1 at 4 New York: Orval Cabbell continued to have the hot hand in leading the Shamrocks to their fourth straight victory, dropping Montreal 4-1 at the Bigsby Gardens. Cabbell, who had 5 points against Chicago on Tuesday, added three more including a pair of goals in this one. Toronto 0 at 3 Chicago: Slumping Toronto has lost four of its last five after Norm Hanson stopped all 22 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season. It is a streak for the Packers as the victory marked the first time this season Chicago had secured points in back-to-back games. Jarrett McGlynn, Jeremy MacLean and Mike Van Tol were the Chicago goal scorers as the Packers back-to-back wins came despite losing league's leading goal scorer Tommy Burns midway through the game with a shoulder injury. SUNDAY DECEMBER 5 Boston 8 at 1 Montreal: The Montreal Arena crowd led the hometown Valiants have it after they were embarrassed 8-1 by the visiting Boston Bees. The Vals slide continues with a 1-6-1 record in their last 8 games and they are now tied with Chicago for last place in the NAHC. Second year forward Alex Gagnon enjoyed a 4-point night with Joe Morey and Craig Simpson each scoring twice for the Bees who scored 6 times in the second period and chased former teammate Tom Brockers from the Vals net. Chicago 2 at 5 Toronto: A wild first period, after which Toronto led 3-2, propelled the host Dukes to a 5-2 victory in the back end of their home-and-home weekend series with the Chicago Packers. Quinton Pollack scored twice for the winners with Lou Galbraith and Les Carlson each earning 3 points. New York 0 at 3 Detroit: The Motors ended New York's 4-game winning streak as backup Andy Backlund stopped all 24 Shamrocks shots in a 3-0 Detroit victory at the Thompson Palladium. Backlund and New York's Etienne Tremblay kept the game scoreless for 40 minutes before Alexis Leveille needed just 25 seconds of the third period to break the goose eggs with a power play goal. Francis McKenzie and Remy Emond would round out the scoring. UPCOMING GAMES TUESDAY DECEMBER 7 New York at Boston WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8 Chicago at Boston Toronto at Detroit SATURDAY DECEMBER 11 Detroit at New York Montreal at Chicago Toronto at Boston SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 Boston at Toronto Chicago at Montreal New York at Detroit AROUND THE LEAGUE
Coach Barrell was particularly annoyed with Wednesday night home loss to Detroit. "Penalties killed us, 3 PP tallies in a four goal second is not winning hockey. Granted Broadway was not sharp although he was hung out to dry on many of 5 he allowed, I decide to pull him in an attempt to inject some life into the team, that did not work. Penalties usually are the result of laziness, getting caught out position, or trying to do something outside of our system. Some penalties you have to take, that was not the case against the Motors. After giving up two power play goals we decided that was not enough giving them another opportunity taking a stupid too many on the ice resulting in another goal, too many men is never a good penalty." "In Chicago Saturday we were flatly outplayed, Packers were always a step quicker to the puck, we continue to have difficulty winning possession off the draw, by losing faceoffs we are digging ourselves into a hole. We also have to put an immediate halt to taking bench minors, that is flat out lack of attention to detail." "Rebounding Sunday night at home was important to us, although giving up 21 shots in the first isn't my idea of a sound defensive game. Broadway kept the team in the game, still hard to believe the Dukes were ahead 3-2 after one. We tightened up defensively in the second and third to come away with the much-needed win. This week's practice will again work on our defensive system. We are going to change a few things because I think teams are throwing new wrinkles at us that we have to counter, coaches will also stress that we are not a freewheeling run and gun team, trying that will not yield winning results. Our offense has to come from being sound in our zone that will generate chances on the breakout. The Bs are back in the race thanks to our lapses." THREE GAME WINLESS STREAK LEAVES COWBOYS DOWN BUT NOT OUT Kansas City Loses West, But Still Chance At Title The Kansas City Cowboys hopes of claiming a third straight Continental Football Conference Western Division title are gone, the crown ripped off their heads by a gutsy effort from the Brooklyn Kings yesterday, but despite having to settle for second place the Cowboys still have a chance to win their third straight CFC league championship. The new playoff format for the loop will see a semi-final round with the first-place team in each division hosting the second-place club from the other division. That means in two weeks' time the Packers will be off to New Orleans to play the Crescents while the Western champion San Francisco Wings will entertain the Buffalo Bulls. There is still the little matter of next weekend's final regular season game in Los Angeles which will see the Lobos host the Wings, but it will have no bearing on the final standings. Kansas City will enter the playoffs in a slump that has never before been seen from the powerful Cowboys. They are winless in three games for the first time in franchise history after losses in Brooklyn and San Francisco preceded by tie in Los Angeles against the Lobos. The latest loss saw the Cowboys upset 21-17 in Brooklyn thanks to a game-winning Bill Howlin to Paul Widmer 24-yard touchdown pass with just over a minute remaining on the clock. Widmer catches accounted for all three of the Kings touchdowns on the day. The winning score for the Grid Kings came just after the Cowboys thought they had sealed the victory in a hard-fought game when Pat Chappell scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak a play after he connected with Ernie Orr for a big 16-yard gain to set up a first and goal on the Kings one yard line with less than 3 minutes remaining. It was a tough day for the Cowboys quarterback as the usually accurate Chappell completed just 15 of 42 throws and was intercepted three times. The Cowboys had the better numbers in nearly all statistical categories except the one that mattered most. Kansas City struck first when Mason Matthews, who had himself a whale of game, ran 63 yards for the game's first score 11 minutes into the second period. In all Matthews would run for 150 yards on the day, all but locking up the league rushing title with a season total of 1,217. Before the break the Kings tied the game when Chappell's pass intended for Bill Tammaro was intercepted by Brooklyn's Larry Breig with 50 seconds remaining in the half. Three plays later Dan Yardley found Paul Widmer for a 19 yard scoring strike and Bill Rice's extra point evened the game. After the Cowboys took a 10-7 lead early in the fourth quarter on a Reuben Walston 29-yard field goal another Chappell miscue gave the Kings favourable field position. It was Bill Rice who picked off Chappell's throw this time and a long 12-play drive that traversed only 38 yards culminated in Widmer's second touchdown grab of the game - this one a 4-yard throw from Bill Howlin. That set up the dramatic final few minutes that finished with Widmer's third scoring catch to give the Kings just their 4th victory of the season. There was just 2:28 on the clock when Brooklyn quarterback Bill Howlin decided to engineer the club's longest drive of the game. It lasted just 1:21 and went 61 yards with 5 completions in 6 attempts for the rookie All-American from Detroit City College, ending in the 24-yarder to Widmer that ended any slim hopes the Cowboys might have had of finishing atop the Western Division. Elsewhere, New Orleans beat Buffalo 28-26 thanks to a late scoring pass - one of 3 touchdown throws on the day from Vince Gallegos- with just over a minute remaining. The game had no bearing on the final standings as the Crescents had already clinched top spot and the Bulls knew they were also going to the playoffs with their second-place finish assured in the Eastern Division. In the final CFC game of the weekend the New York Gothams scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to hammer the Chicago Comets 31-7.  WIDE OPEN. BOTH SPOTS IN AFA TITLE TILT UP FOR GRABS Unlike the Continental Conference, the final weekend of the American Football Association will be a suspenseful one and the schedule-maker could not have done a better job adding to the uncertainty. Both divisions will see the top two teams square off in a winner take all game to determine who goes to the 16th annual AFA Championship game. The Western Division has the defending league champion Cleveland Finches travel to Chicago to face the Wildcats. Each club is 10-1 with the Finches loss coming to Pittsburgh two weeks ago while the Wildcats only defeat was an early season 31-10 decision against the Finches on the shores of Lake Erie. In the East, the Boston Americans only need a tie in New York against the Football Stars but a loss will send the Stars to the championship game for the second time in three years. Boston enters the final regular season contest with a 7-3-1 record, a half game up on the 7-4 Stars. Cleveland and Chicago each won easily to keep the Western Division knotted. The Finches scored a pair of late touchdowns to down Detroit 28-10 at home while Chicago went into Pittsburgh and blanked the upset-minded Paladins, who had handed Cleveland its first loss the previous week, 28-0. Boston did what it had to do to stay alive as Del Thomas threw for 173 yards in a 16-7 win over Washington at Minutemen Stadium. That victory actually improved Boston's chances at the title as the win, combined with the Stars stumble in St Louis, a 17-0 loss to the Ramblers, moved Boston a half game ahead of New York and meant a tie next week would give the Yanks the division title. The other game yesterday saw Greg LePage run for 110 yards to pace the Philadelphia Frigates to a 35-6 victory over the Cincinnati Tigers.  FIGHTING SAINTS SQUEEZE PAST COASTAL CALIFORNIA Fulgham's Run Keys Dramatic Finish It took everything they had but St Blane held off a determined Coastal California squad to claim a 27-21 victory before a crowd of 100,571 at Santa Ana Stadium in Saturday. The finish was perhaps the most dramatic of the season as it appeared the Fighting Saints would fall for the second time this season when the Dolphins took the lead 21-20 with just over a minute remaining in the game before Joe Fulgham's amazing 87 yard kick return salvage the western trip for St Blane. Fulgham's wild run finally, started on his own goal line when he hauled in the kick, saw him weave and wind his way through Dolphins defenders desperately trying to get a hand on the elusive back. Fulgham nearly went all the way to win the game himself before he was finally corralled on the Coastal California 13-yard line. Quarterback Dane Sutherland then bulled forward for a five-yard run followed by another Fighting Saints carry that gained two yards. Faced with a third down on the 3 yard line and the clock winding out, nearly everyone in the stadium expected the ball to stay on the ground with either Sutherland or Fulgham trying to will it into the endzone, but the Saints crossed everyone up including a Dolphins defense that had crowded the line. Sutherland stepped back, rolled to his right and found an open Bobby Leonard alone in the corner of the endzone. The extra point was good, not that it mattered, as the Fighting Saints had rallied for a 27-21 victory over a surprisingly strong Coastal California eleven that had been beaten twice already this season. The 6-3 Dolphins were both grieved and joyful. They had been figured to lose by 20 points, perhaps more. However, the played inspired alert football all afternoon and deserved a much better fate than the cruel blow they were dealt in the closing seconds. This is the fifth meeting since 1941 between the two schools and all the Dolphins have to show for it is a tie in the 1942 meeting. They did not play in 43-45 due to war travel restrictions. It was not the Fighting Saints best effort, far from it, but the victory completed a 9-1 season that by any other standards would be a terrific showing, but this is St Blane, a school that was perfect each of the previous two years and ranked number one in the nation. That honour this time around whent to a 9-0 Detroit City College squad as the Fighting Saints, upset early in the year by St. Ignatius, had to settle for number two. Like DCC, St Blane will not participate in New Year's Classic game. CLASSIC MATCHUPS FINALIZED There will be no Detroit City College, no St Blane and no Rome State to cheer for on New Year's Day but despite missing the top two schools in the nation and three of the top six there will still be a pretty solid serving of college football on January 1. The most anticipated game may take place in Houston where Deep South co-champions Mississippi A&M put their perect 9-0 record on the line against an unbeaten Texas Panhandle eleven that was the class of the Southern Border Conference. The slate now includes a full dozen games with one -Abilene Baptist vs Topeka State in the Desert Classic- to kickoff on December 30 as an appetizer for the January 1 main course.  WEEKEND RESULTS St. Blane 27 Coastal California 21 Bluegrass State 51 Miami State 7 Alabama Baptist 27 Opelika State 5 Coastal State 10 Mobile Maritime 0 Cache Valley 21 California Missionary 13 Texas Panhandle 58 Kamehameha College 3 Canyon A&M 24 El Paso Methodist 3 Petersburg 17 Chase 0 MESSER IS DETROIT'S NEXT STAR Scores Record 55 Points Against Pittsburgh In what has to be the best kept secret in Detroit, although it is becoming increasingly well known in cage circles, the city has a new star athlete. That would be none other than Ward Messer, the rookie who has taken the Federal cage league by storm. His pro career is not quite yet a month old but Messer is aleady being annointed "the Messiah of the Motor City" after his incredible start. Selected second overall in the summer FBL draft after being named Collegiate Basketball Player of Year at Liberty College last season, Messer looked right at home with the pros from the very first preseason game but he took it to a new level on the weekend against the Pittsburgh Pilots. The fresh-faced rookie, who also happens to be the younger brother of New York Gothams star Walt Messer -although it appears it won't be long before people start noting that Walt is the older brother of Ward- smashed a professional basketball record with 55 points in a single game. The previous high-water mark in the FBL was 48 accomplished by Richard Campbell of the Chicago Panthers two yeas ago and no one in the now-defunct American Conference ever scored more than 45 in a game. Just for good measure, Messer also collected a game-high 17 rebounds in that contest which ended up a 114-72 rout of the visiting Pilots. Messer entered the game already leading the FBL in rebounds and when it was over he was also number one in scoring average, narrowly ahead of Toronto Falcons center Lon Porter. It is rare for a rookie to enjoy success early in his pro career but what Messer is doing is truly next level. He is a big reason why the Mustangs are dreaming of finally reaching the FBL playoffs, a feat that has avoided them each of the past two years. The club is off to a 9-3 start, surpassed only by the 10-1 Chicago Wildcats in the West Division, and while it is early there is far more optimism than Detroit's cage club has ever seen. Perhaps the excitement surrounding Messer will translate into box office success as well, something Rollie Barrell's ballclub has not seen as the Mustangs are averaging less than 3,000 fans a game.
Code:
FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Philadelphia 10 4 .714 Washington 10 4 .714 Rochester 9 4 .692 Brooklyn 8 5 .615 Hartford 7 5 .583 Baltimore 5 7 .417 New York 4 8 .333 Boston 4 11 .267 Syracuse 1 13 .071 WEST W L PCT Chicago 10 1 .909 Detroit 9 3 .750 Cincinnati 7 6 .538 Cleveland 6 6 .500 Buffalo 5 6 .455 Toronto 5 8 .385 Pittsburgh 2 11 .154  OWLS OFF TO 9-0 START Frankford State has not enjoyed much success in recent years on the court, but the Owls are off to a 9-0 start and perhaps entertaining dreams of a long tournament run. The Pennsylvania school has made the AIAA tournament 16 teams including last year when they bowed out in the first round, but that was one of just three trips to the big tournament since their improbable run to the championship game in the spring of 1928. They fell to CC Los Angeles that night and have won just two tournament games in the past 20 years. The quick start this season, which includes a season opening championship in the Bigsby Festival along with wins last week over 23rd ranked Brooklyn State and St. Matthew's College, leaves the Owls with a 9-0 record and at #4 in the latest collegiate cage rankings. This year's edition of the Owls is led by center David Aponte, a four year starter out of Canarsie High School in Brooklyn where he followed current Washington Eagles all-star Jesse Alvardo as the big multi-sport star. Aponte is among the top scorers in the nation so far this season, averaging 18.7 ppg including 22 in the win over St. Matthew's College on Saturday. The other big-time performer for the Owls is guard Rod Bookman, who is just a sophomore but already drawing attention of pro cage scouts.  RESULTS INVOLVING TOP TEN SCHOOLS LAST WEEK NOVEMBER 29 #4 Frankford State 55 (David Aponte 14 pts) over #23 Brooklyn State 44 NOVEMBER 30 #2 St Blane 64 (Samuels, Canaday 13 pts each) Penn Catholic 43 #3 Liberty College 56 (Luther Gordon 21pts) Sadler 43 #5 Mississippi A&M 42 (Greg Randle 18pts) Northern California 40 #8 Lane State 70 (Carl Casswell 23 pts) Lubbock State 59 #10 East Missouri Seminary 51 (Chris Pate 15 pts) #25 Dickson College 43 DECEMBER 2 #8 Lane State 72 (Clarence Tutt 21 pts) Campion 59 DECEMBER 3 #3 Liberty College 58 (Luther Gordon 18 pts) Grafton 51 DECEMBER 4 #2 St Blane 63 (Worley, Canaday 12 pts each) Maryland State 48 #4 Frankford State 58 (David Aponte 22 pts) St Matthew's College 37 TELEVISION TIEUP ZOOMS BIDS FOR BOXING TALENT Bids for boxing talent are expected to hit a new high with television interests pumping fresh cash into the market. Columbia Broadcasting System became the first network to buy a piece of a fight club last week when it purchased a one-fourth interest in a new company that works with several large arenas, including Washington's National Auditorium and Lakeside Auditorium in Chicago. According to the mimeographed blub distributed at a press conference and luncheon, the company expects to work with managers and boxers to tap new and greater revenue from television, which will make up for any loss of patronage at the gate. It figures to offer higher guarantees to fighters with the new cash. Television money is expected to flow freely from two sources: 1- Sponsors who will pay more for TV rights when networks take the shows to added millions of watchers 2- Movie theatres who will pay on a per-seat basis as soon as a movie screen-size television is available in all major parts of the country. *** Battle for Boxers *** This network television idea, of course, will not be exclusive with CBS. All networks now are battling for rights to the single cable that will connect the Midwest with the East in January. They still are striving for a solution. Bigsby Garden bouts are televised on an Eastern NBC network every Friday. That will be stretched westward as soon as the cable is ready. The first fight under the new CBS deal will be the middleweight clash between Millard Shelton and Brooks O'Connor in Washington DC on December 18. It will be television in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore and Boston. FIGHTS OF NOTE LAST WEEK Danny Rutledge returned to Portland, Oregon and won for the 15th time without a defeat, when he knocked out Scott Sorensen in the 5th round of their bout Saturday evening. The rising star in the welterweight division elected to make a journey out west to fight in the city where he had his second professional bout. That came without the Army's knowledge when while on a furlough in 1945 before being deployed to the Pacific he won with another knockout victory. Rutledge's biggest claim to fame, at least so far, came while he was stationed in the European theatre when -still an amateur- he knocked out current welterweight champion Mac Erickson, representing the Navy, in what was billed the Allied Welterweight Championship in England back in the fall of 1944. Former welterweight champion Harold Stephens, who lost his title to Erickson last year, continues his freefall. Stephens, who held the title for just over a year, followed up the title loss to Erickson with another defeat in August when Ben 'Baby Face' Bishop beat him. Things did not go much better for the former champ Saturday evening in St Louis -which was the city he first claimed the welterweight title- when he fought Dale Roy to a majority draw. Stephens, now 30 years old and sporting a 21-5-3 record, looked nothing like the champion he was not so long ago and appears to be at the end of his rope as a top-level fighter. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 12/05/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-23-2023 at 01:12 PM. |
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10-24-2023, 02:44 PM
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#811 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
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December 13, 1948
DECEMBER 13, 1948 McCULLOUGH TO PULL DOUBLE-DUTY IN CINCINNATI Doria Out as Manager In Sweeping Changes In a somewhat shocking development Ad Doria has left the Cincinnati Cannons after 9 years as the club's manager, during which time he won 3 consecutive pennants, a pair of World Championship Series and posted a record of 681-551. No comment was released from either side except to see they had mutually agreed to part ways. The Cannons had never finished in the second division under Doria until a dismal 71-83 season this past year that saw them sink to seventh place in the Continental Association. Equally surprising was the decision on Doria's replacement. That would be 32-year-old Charley McCullough, who is also going to remain as a player with the team making him the first to hold the dual role of player-manager in the Continental Association since Powell Slocum did double duty for the Brooklyn Kings in the early 1920s. In the Federal Association the legendary Max Morris was a player manager for the Detroit Dynamos in 1937 before moving to the political arena. A knee injury limited the second baseman to a career low 25 games last season but McCullough, who owns a .250 career batting average in 627 games, all with the Cannons organization, expects to be at full strength when spring training begins. McCullough was an all-star in 1941 but missed out on the Cannons three straight pennants because he was serving in the Navy from 1941 until the end of the war. His brother was a victim in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, prompting Charley to enlist immediately after the tragedy. *** Cannons Make Multiple Changes *** McCullough is not the only newcomer to the Cannons bench staff as wholesale changes were announced. Mike Potter, the longtime manager at AAA Indianapolis, has been promoted to Cincinnati and will help ease McCullough into the manager's chair by acting as the bench coach. The 64-year old Potter has been managing in the minors since 1927 and has won 7 pennants at various levels since then. Jake Smith will also stay with the organization as the 39-year-old, who announced his retirement last month, will take over as the pitching coach in Cincinnati. Smtih had a 16-year big league career, including the last 7 with the Cannons and posted a 103-101 career mark. He was an all-star in 1937 and a member of 3 pennant winning and 2 WCS winning Cannons clubs. Roger Landry, who had been the St Louis Pioneers hitting coach for the entire decade and helped them win back-to-back World Championship Series, will take over the same role on McCullough's staff after his contract was not renewed by the Pioneers. He spent most of his 15 year playing career with the St Louis ballclub. Longtime Cannons minor leaguer Sam "Snow Shovel" Barnes will be the first base coach with an eye towards Barnes, who was always a terrific glove man, being counted on to shore up the Cannons infield defense. The only holdover will be Cliff Everett, who has been the Cannons third base coach since the club moved to Cincinnati in 1940. CHIEFS SELECT MARTIN WITH TOP PICK IN RULE FIVE DRAFT May Play Alongside Father If He Makes Club After Cleveland passed, the Chicago Chiefs used the first pick in the rule five draft to select a minor league catcher from the cross-town Chicago Cougars organization by the name of Bill Martin. By all accounts Martin is a high energy, natural leader that would make an ideal big league backup catcher someday. He may not be ready for the big leagues this season but if the 22-year-old is he might just be a part of history. Martin's father, Bob Martin, is a long-time member of the Chiefs who is almost certain to be bound for the Hall of Fame one day. The veteran of 2,421 big league games, all with the Chiefs, informed the club a month ago that, despite turning 42 years of age before the season begins, he plans on returning to the Chiefs next season. Now, with the addition of his son Bill, there is a chance the Chiefs may trot out the first father-son teammates on to the field since Lynwood and Woody Trease played together briefly in 1904 with the Boston Minutemen. Bill still needs to make the club before that will happen, but the Chiefs say they plan on giving him every opportunity to claim the backup catcher role behind Pete Casstevens.  RULE FIVE DRAFT BREAKDOWN BY TEAM BOSTON- The Minutemen did not select anyone but lost three players in the draft. Outfielder Wally Dorsey, a 23-year-old who played AA last season, was selected by Detroit immediately before Brooklyn grabbed 24-year-old first baseman Joe Davis, who played AAA in 1948. Late in the first round the Gothams selected 29-year-old pitcher Butch Campbell, who went 10-12 for AAA Columbus last season but did spend 1944 in the big leagues with the Minutemen. BROOKLYN- The Kings drafted Joe Davis in the first round from Boston...a 24-year-old that OSA calls an advanced hitter with plenty of bat speed. Brooklyn lost Harry Patterson in round two to the Chicago Chiefs. CHIEFS- The Chiefs drafted Bob Martin's son Bill Martin with the first pick and the catcher will have every chance to claim the backup job. Chicago also selected 23-year-old Harry Patterson from the Brooklyn Kings in round two, primarily because he can play seven different positions. He was in Class B a year ago so likely a longshot to stick. COUGARS- With a full secondary roster the Cougars did not select anyone, but they did lose three players. Martin to the Chiefs, first baseman Bill Biggar to the Stars and veteran outfielder Reginald Westfall to the Cannons. CINCINNATI- A busy day for the Cannons who lost two players but selected five, tops among teams. Lost are outfielder Karl Berggren to Montreal and veteran minor league pitcher Eddie Seguin to Washington. Added are Dolph Krapf, a 23-year-old third baseman from the Sailors system who hit well in Class A a year ago. He was their first round pick and followed by four veteran players who the Cannons hope witll add depth to their 24-man roster in 30-year-old pitcher Red More from the Wolves, 34 year old infielder Austin Moore from the Stars, 34-year-old outfielder Reginald Westfall from the Cougars and 33-year-old pitcher Lou Robertson from Pittsburgh. CLEVELAND- Did not lose anyone or draft anyone. DETROIT- Detroit drafted four but the organization called it a miscommunication and are only expected to keep two of their selections. Both Wally Dorsey, from Boston, and Ralph Robinson, from the Keystones, are young outfielders who will be given a chance to win backup jobs with the Dynamos. MONTREAL- The Saints added Karl Berggren, a 26-year-old outfielder who was a second round pick of Boston in 1944 but has yet to make the big leagues. He was in the Cannons system last season splitting the year between AA and AAA where he hit .311. The Saints did not lose any players. NY STARS- Austin Moore, a 34-year-old who had seen some big league action with the Stars and Keystones, was selected by the Cincinnati Cannons while 24-year-old pitching prospect Dick Garcia was drafted by the Keystones. The Stars did make one selection of their own, drafting Canadian born 24-year-old first baseman Billy Biggar from the Cougars. Biggar hit a robust .396 in AA last season. NY GOTHAMS- The Gothams drafted veteran pitcher Butch Campbell from Boston after the 30-year-old went 10-12 at AAA a year ago. They lost young outfielder Tom Jovin to Detroit but the Dynamos he will be returned to New York. KEYSTONES- The Keystones selected 24-year-old righthander Dick Garcia, who split last season between AA and AAA with the Cougars. They lost 24-year-old outfielder Ralph Robinson to Detroit. SAILORS- Selected 26-year-old pitcher Bill Peterson from Pittsburgh. He spend time with the Miners each of the past five seasons and is 9-17 with a 4.56 career era. 23-year-old third baseman Dolph Krapf, who played in A ball last season and is currently in the Cuban league was lost to the Cannons. PITTSBURGH- The Miners did not make a selection, but they lost veteran closer Lou Robertson, who had been waived off the secondary roster, to Cincinnati and 26-year old pitcher Bill Peterson to the Sailors. Young outfielder Ray Spring, who split last season between Class A and B, was lost to Detroit but indications are the Dynamos will return the 22-year-old to the Miners as they had already landed two outfielders. ST LOUIS- Did not lose anyone or draft anyone. TORONTO- Drafted 25-year-old third baseman Al Sturdivant from the Sailors. He was also a rule five pick two years ago by Pittsburgh, but the Miners returned him to the Sailors before opening day that season. Lost 30-year-old pitcher Red More to Cincinnati. WASHINGTON- The Eagles only change was the addition of 34-year-old righthander Eddie Seguin from the Cannons organization. Most of his career has been spent in the minors but Seguin did pitch briefly for the Cannons in 1940 and 1941.  WILDCATS, STARS TO MEET IN AFA TITLE GAME It will be a rematch of the 1937, 1941 and 1946 American Football Association championship games after the dust settled following a wild final day of the regular season. On a day that began with neither of the loop's two division winners decided, it took until the closing seconds before the title game match-up would be revealed to be the Chicago Wildcats and the New York Stars. The Stars entered yesterday needing a win over Boston to make their second appearance in the title game in three years and fourth since the league went to the two division format and adopted a championship game in 1933. The Americans were in much the same boat, a win or a tie in New York would send the Boston eleven to its fifth championship game. The Americans led 16-7 at the break and 23-14 with less than three minutes remaining despite the fact an injured Del Thomas did not play in the game and was replaced at quarterback by Sammy Kleinhans, a former Maryland State Bengal who was originally drafted by New York but had never thrown an AFA pass before Sunday. Kleinhans was no Del Thomas but did do a decent job and threw a pair of touchdown passes to help Boston build its lead. The packed Gothams Stadium crowd was very subdued as the clock wound down, sensing their Stars would fall just short but then things quickly changed. First a punt by Boston's Eric Balfour was blocked giving the Stars the ball on the Boston 22-yard line with 2:26 remaining. Hopes were fading after two incompletions by New York quarterback Charlie Morrison and a sack, but the Stars were given a reprieve when Boston took a penalty. With a second chance Morrison completed two quick passes including one to Jack Swihart for a 12-yard score. John Michaels extra point cut the Boston lead to 23-21 but there was only 1:26 remaining in the game. Everyone knew it was coming but the onside kick worked and the Stars recovered the ball at the Boston 44-yard line needing just a field goal to win. Near disaster struck when on second down Morrison fumbled but an alert Reggie Carver recovered for New York to keep the hopes alive. Too far for a field goal attempt, Morrison threw an incompletion on fourth down and the game appeared lost but a flag for pass interference gave the Stars a first and goal. On third down Morrison would find Scooter Beaumont in the endzone with just 9 seconds remaining and the Stars had pulled out an improbable 28-23 victory. The stakes were equally high at Cougars Park in Chicago where the hometown Wildcats and visiting Cleveland Finches each entered the game with 10-1 records and eyes on the division title. There was far less drama than in New York as the Chicago defense held the Finches in check, allowing Cleveland to amass just 167 net yards, compared to 360 for the Wildcats, who scored a 21-0 victory. The Finches offense found itself going backwards more often than not during the game and managed just 3 drives all day of over 17 yards. The game was scoreless after the first quarter but two big plays by the Wildcats towards the end of the opening frame changed that. Gus Brown threw passes of 22 yards to Tom Gipson and 46 yards to Milt Haley to set up a Frank Prater two-yard scoring run on the first play of the second period. The lead would be doubled with another long drive late in the second quarter that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown plunge for Herman Glass. Ralph Manson's 5-yard run in the fourth quarter rounded out the scoring and sent the Wildcats to the AFA championship game for the record 8th time. In other action yesterday Greg LePage ran for 161 yards to lead Philadelphia past Pittsburgh 42-7. The final five of those yards pushed LePage over the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the second consecutive season. In Washington, Wasps quarterback Rich McKowen threw 3 touchdown passes as Washington blanked St Louis 28-0.  TANK TIPPET'S PREDICTION FOR AFA TITLE GAME The Chicago defense proved very able against Cleveland yesterday, shutting down a strong Finches aerial game and we may just see more of that next week. The Wildcats had an easy time of things at home against New York in a 42-7 win earlier this season in what was their only meeting. I don't see the score as one-sided this time around, but the final result will be the same. PREDICTION: Chicago 21 New York 10  WINGS FLYING HIGH HEADING INTO PLAYOFFS Dump Lobos 42-7 in Regular Season Finale Halfback Rich Garner came up big as his San Francisco Wings whipped the Los Angeles Lobos 32-7, in the wind-up of the Continental Football Conference campaign. The game had no bearing on the playoff matchups and was strictly for coast bragging rights, which soundly belong to the Wings after blasting the Lobos by a combined score of 97-24 in beating their southern California rivals twice. The big story on this day was Wings back Garner as the third-year pro ran for 117 yards on the day to finish the season just 5 yards short of joining Kansas City's Mason Matthews and Don Karaszewski of Buffalo as runners to top the 1,000 mark this season. The Lobos, who finish the season with a 6-7-1 record, never had a chance as a fired-up San Francisco eleven looked to their final tune-up before next weekend's semi-final playoff game against the Buffalo Bulls. The Wings had a 7-0 lead before their first offensive series, courtesy of a 32-yard interception return for a score by Donnie Carney before the game was 3 minutes old. A second Los Angeles turnover two plays later led to Wings quarterback Sam Metcalf's 10-yard scoring run to make it 14-0 and the rout was on. The Lobos lone touchdown came in the third quarter as Jackie Wendt, who had a Lobos best 64 yards rushing on the day, ran for a 21-yard score on a rare occasion when he could escape the pursuing Wings defenders. Wendt was under pressure all day, sacked 6 times and threw 3 interceptions but did pass for 116 yards. CFC PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS The San Francisco Wings beat the Buffalo Bulls in each of their two meetings this season, but both came early in the campaign. In the opening week it was a 49-7 blowout as backs Garner, Sam Gerst and Ernest Key combined for 224 yards on the ground and 5 touchdowns. The rematch four weeks later in Buffalo was a little closer but still an easy 40-27 win for the Wings as Sam Metcalf threw 4 touchdown passes. Buffalo has some offensive talent in 1,000-yard rusher Dave Karaszewski and up and down quarterback Mark Monday, but it would be a major surprise for the Wings not to advance to the CFC championship game. The East Division winning New Orleans Crescents will entertain the two-time defending CFC champion Kansas City Cowboys in the other semi-final. As good as rookie quarterback Vince Gallegos and a deep rushing attack led by the ever-dangerous Bob Mandish just might be, few would have given the Crescents any chance of winning just a couple short weeks ago. But that was before the once invincible Cowboys stumbled down the stretch, tying Los Angeles and losing to both the Wings and Brooklyn costing them home field advantage for the semi-final. The Cowboys beat New Orleans 31-10 early in the season in Louisiana but were upset 17-9 at home in the rematch. There are just so many offensive weapons for the Cowboys including two-time league MVP Pat Chappell, who once again led the league in passing yardage, as well as burly back Mason Matthews, who ran for a CFC best 1,217 yards this season. Plus, Ernie Orr and Bill Tammaro, two of the best receivers in the league, are both healthy. With all of that offensive depth it is near impossible to imagine the Cowboys go winless in four straight games. TANK TIPPET'S PREDICTIONS San Francisco 35 Buffalo 17 Kansas City 28 New Orleans 20  DOTSON WINS CHRISTIAN TROPHY Hurricanes back tops Charles of NC Tech Wally Dotson, Texas Gulf Coast's stellar quarterback, has been named as the winner of the Christian Trophy, an award annually given to the player voted as the most outstanding in collegiate football. The poll was made of sports writers and broadcasters throughout the nation. Dotson received 778 votes, while Jackie Charles, North Carolina Tech's electric back was second with 443 and George Klavich, Liberty College's outstanding center, finished third with 336. Klavich will not end up empty handed as he was recently revealed as the winner of the Bryan Award as best all-around player. Dotson who the Bryan Award as a sophomore last year. Dotson is just the second junior to receive the Christian Trophy, following on the heel's of 1945 winner Chet Donelson of Rome State. While winning the Bryan Award last year, Dotson finished third in Christian Trophy voting behind winner Ricky McCallister of St Blane and runner-up Bill Howlin from Detroit City College. Both McCallister and Howlin have moved on to the professional ranks with McCallister suiting up for the Chicago Wildcats and Howlin with the Continental Conference's Brooklyn Kings. However, Dotson says he has no firm plans yet for his future, either as a football player or a businessman. He has one year remaining at Texas Gulf Coast, where he is taking a physical education course. The Dallas native added he was accepting the award on behalf of his teammates "because they could make any guy look good." The Christian Trophy was awarded for the first time in 1940.   WEEKEND RESULTS Abilene Baptist 44 College of San Diego 14 South Valley State 28 Tempe College 21 End of regular season games TELEVISION IS BIG ISSUE AT GLA CONCLAVE Great Lakes Alliance athletic directors and school officials open their four day winter meeting today and the big topic will be regarding how best to handle the prospects of televising section football games. Also on the agenda will be St. Ignatius' membership bid to become a full conference participant. Presently the Lancers compete only in basketball as a conference member but have requested full admission to the section which would include football and baseball. The Pittsburgh State Finches have also applied for membership in the GLA. *** Deep South May Broaden Limits on Classic Tilts *** Presidents and faculty representatives of the 10 Deep South Conference colleges are considering rescinding football classic limits that shut two schools out of January 1 games this season. A year ago the schools voted to play only in the Oilman, Sunshine and Lone Star Classic games if invited. Mississippi A&M was selected for the Oilman Classic and Noble Jones College will play in Miami but that decision left 8-3 Alabama A&T and 7-3 Georgia Baptist on the outside when neither, despite enquiries, were permitted to participate in one of the other eleven New Year's Day contests. In other collegiate news the South Atlantic Conference has recommended the AIAA relax its purity code when the governing body of the SAC voted to recommend the AIAA to permit more financial aid to athletes by amending scholarships to include room, board, laundry and incidental fees. Present aid is restricted to tuition and fees. ***Scott Would Cut Pro Grid Rosters *** Erasmus Scott, President of the New York Stars football club, proposed today that the player limit be reduced in the American Football Association to cut expenses. "Nowadays there are too many players sitting on the bench, not doing anything," Scott told the New York Herald-Tribune. The American Association is expected to consider a proposal to reduce the player limit at its business meeting in Philadelphia December 20. The present limit is 35. BUSY WEEK FOR BANGED UP BEES All teams in the NAHC have to contend with injuries but the Boston Bees were badly banged up last week, at the worst possible time. The Bees had four players miss games last week in midst of a busy week that had them playing 4 times and a total of 6 games over the past nine days. That meant the Bees were short-staffed in a loss to Toronto last night and that was even with Garrett Kuaffeldt rushed back into the lineup while still feeling some of the effects of a hip strain suffered a month ago. Forwards Jacob Gron, Joe Morey and Alex Gagnon each missed time last week as did rearguard David Scarpone, who sat out Sunday after scoring 3 goals in a two-game stretch earlier in the week. None of the injuries are overly serious with only 22-year-old winger Gagnon expected to miss more than a week. Fortunately, the schedule gets a little lighter with only a Wednesday visit to Montreal and a game at Denny Arena against Chicago next Sunday over the next 8 days. The loss and a tie to Toronto over the weekend allowed the Dukes to stretch their lead on the second place Bees to 4 points but the Boston club does have a game in hand. Each of the NAHC clubs has hit the twenty-game mark so the season is more than one-third complete and with 26 points in 22 games the Bees have to satisfied with their showing thus far. Code:
NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 23 14 7 2 83 60 30
Boston 22 12 8 2 67 59 26
Detroit 22 10 10 2 78 68 22
New York 20 9 7 4 59 56 22
Montreal 20 7 10 3 55 71 17
Chicago 23 6 16 1 61 89 13
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 23 13 17 30
Sauer, Tor 23 13 13 26
Cabbell, NY 20 15 10 25
Galbraith, Tor 23 11 14 25
T Burns, Chi 19 17 7 24
Vanderbilt, Det 20 14 10 24
Carlson, Tor 20 5 19 24
Tardif, Det 22 9 14 23
Witt, Det 22 7 14 21
Parker, Tor 23 10 10 20
Rocheleau, Det 21 5 15 20
Sandford, Mon 20 9 10 19
Skinner, Mon 20 7 11 18
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Chasse, Det 9 5 3 0 1 2.32
Broadway, Tor 19 11 6 2 2 2.58
Tremblay, NY 19 8 7 4 2 2.72
James, Bos 18 9 7 2 3 2.74
Brockers, Mon 10 3 5 1 0 3.11
Hanson, Chi 16 3 12 1 1 3.52
Touhey, Det 12 4 7 1 1 3.73
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS TUESDAY DECEMBER 7 New York 2 at 2 Boston: Orval Cabbell's third period goal, his 15th of the season, helped the New York Shamrocks earn a point in Boston, tying the Bees 2-2. Devid Scarpone's first period marker staked the Bees to an early lead before Joe Morey made it 2-0 early in the second period. Laurel Albers cut the deficit later in the middle frame. It is in the middle of a tough stretch that will see the Bees play six games in nine nights. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8 Chicago 2 at 3 Boston: David Scarpone scored two more goals as the Bees jumped out to a 3-0 lead before withstanding a Packers comeback attempt in a 3-2 Boston win. Wilbur Chandler had a pair of assists for the Bees. Toronto 3 at 0 Detroit: Gordie Broadway stopped all 27 shots he faced to lead Jack Barrell's boys past the Detroit Motors 3-0. Bobbie Sauer and Phillip Dubois scored just over two minutes apart in the opening period and Les Carlson added an empty net goal to clinch the victory for the Dukes. SATURDAY DECEMBER 11 Detroit 3 at 3 New York: The Shamrocks tie for the second time this week, skating to a 3-3 draw with Detroit. Nick Tardif scored twice for the Motors while Adam Vanderbilt assisted on all 3. Detroit lead 2-0 after twenty minutes before the Shamrocks took the lead on second period goals from Joe Martin, Adam Greenham and Samuel Coates. Veteran Garrett Ferrar notched the equalizer 6 minutes into the third stanza. Montreal 5 at 1 Chicago: Tom Brockers made 31 saves for his fist victory with the Valiants in Montreal's 5-1 win over struggling Chicago. Twelve different Vals players figured in the scoring with only Wayne Augustin notching two points. Toronto 1 at 1 Boston: A home and home series between the league's top two teams saw some terrific goaltending as the Dukes Gordie Broadway and Oscar James of Boston were both very strong in a 1-1 tie that saw the Bees hold a slim 34-33 lead in shots on goal. The game was scoreless until midway through the third when Conn Cundiff's point shot found its way through traffic to give Boston the lead, but Toronto tied it on a Bobbie Sauer goal with just 1-minute remaining in the game. SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 Boston 1 at 2 Toronto: The rematch was just as tight as Gordie Broadway made 20 saves to help the Dukes take three of four points from the Bees over the weekend with a 2-1 win. Pierre Melancon got the call in net for Boston and faced 34 shots. All the scoring came in a span of less than 3 minutes midway through the second period with Mike Navarro and Trever Parker getting goals for Toronto and Wilbur Chandler notching the lone Boston tally. Hampered by injuries, the short-staffed Bees dressed only 14 skaters for the game. Chicago 2 at 3 Montreal: Alex Peters and Brett Lanceleve each had a goal and an assist to give Montreal a 3-2 win over Chicago, completing the sweep of their weekend series and handing the Packers, who continue to play without injured star Tommy Burns, their fourth straight loss. New York 0 at 6 Detroit: After tying at Bigsby Garden the previous night, the Detroit Motors blasted the New York Shamrocks 6-0, outshooting them 38-15 in the process. Henri Chasse notched the shutout while the Motors offense was led by Adam Vanderbilt with 2 goals and an assist. UPCOMING GAMES WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15 Boston at Montreal Chicago at Detroit New York at Toronto SATURDAY DECEMBER 18 Montreal at Detroit Toronto at New York SUNDAY DECEMBER 19 Chicago at Boston Detroit at Toronto New York at Montreal Visiting the Thompson Palladium, where Jack Barrell spent a few years behind the behind the bench, the Dukes shutout the Motors 3-0 in a fast paced low scoring affair. On the train to Boston for a Saturday night encounter with the Bees. Fans were treated to another fast paced, low scoring encounter punctuated by fisty cuffs between Bentley and Galbraith in the second that brought the crowd to their feet when they squared off in the neutral zone for a lengthy tilt. The game remained scoreless until the third was almost 13 minutes old when Cundiff's point shot found its way past Gordie Broadway. The Dukes mounted sustained pressure around James in the Bs zone, were finally rewarded with the tying goal by Sauer on a crisp three-way passing play from Galbraith and Featherstone with exactly a minute left in the game. The same two teams returned to the frozen pond in Dominion Gardens on Sunday night in almost a replica of the previous night's game. Toronto opened the scoring with 2 goals in 101 seconds during the second on markers by Navarro, his second, Parker, his 10th, before Chandler replied 39 seconds after Parker's marker to make the score 2-1. In a fever pitched 3rd the Dukes tried to add an insurance marker but were stoned by Melancon in the Bs cage. Fans in Toronto went home satisfied with the high entertaining 2-1 encounter allowing the Dukes to open up a 4 point margin on the second place Bs. Coach Barrell's comments: "Finally we got back to our game, that's much, much better, the team bought in, now are seeing the results of their efforts. We also won the face-off battle in two of the three games allowing the team to setup in either zone after the draw. I am also encouraged by the uptick in our finishing our checks, taking the body instead of waving our sticks around like bull fighters capes trying to stick check. Separating the man from the puck is a tried, true way of regaining possession of the biscuit. In Detroit the adjustments to our system paid immediate dividends, the guys where on top of the Motors at every turn suffocating their offense. That is the way the system is supposed to look when the guys properly execute their roles. Gordie got the blank on 27 shots, although he had a clear sight path on every shot there were no second chance juicy rebounds, the defensemen deserve a lot of credit for that shutout. I know it is 3 months before the playoffs but those two games against Boston were playoff hockey at its best, the fans got more than monies worth in those two. I was also thoroughly entertained behind the bench." With five games left in 1948 wouldn't it be nice to enter the '49 on an 9 game point streak?"
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FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Washington 12 4 .750 Rochester 11 4 .733 Philadelphia 11 6 .647 Brooklyn 10 6 .625 Baltimore 7 7 .500 Hartford 7 8 .467 Boston 5 12 .294 New York 4 10 .286 Syracuse 1 15 .063 WEST W L PCT Chicago 12 2 .857 Detroit 9 5 .643 Cleveland 8 6 .571 Buffalo 7 6 .538 Cincinnati 7 8 .467 Toronto 5 10 .333 Pittsburgh 4 11 .267  TEN COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYERS YOU SHOULD KNOW With 214 teams playing collegiate basketball at the top level of the AIAA, it is nearly impossible for even the most ardent fan to know what is going on even in their region, never mind the whole country. There are a number of players that stand out as one's worth following a little closer. In no particular order are ten of them that have caught TWIFB's eye. 1: LUTHER GORDON: Junior Center Liberty College It has only been 10 collegiate games but the junior college transfer from Brooklyn looks like he could be playing in the Federal Basketball League right now based on how dominant he has been. Ward Messer is tearing up the FBL with Detroit and fans may see more of the same in a couple of years when Gordon, who replaced Messer with the Bells, is eligible to be drafted. He has led the Bells to a 9-1 start and, while it is very early, there is already talk in Philadelphia taverns of a fourth National Tournament title for their school. Gordon is leading the entire AIAA in scoring, averaging 19.5 points per game including a career best -so far- 27 points against a ranked opponent in North Carolina Tech in his second collegiate game. We hate to think how tough life would have been last year for junior college opponents with how completely Gordon dominates the game with Liberty College. 2: LES LIGHTBODY: Sophomore Center Alabama Baptist A cousin of the famous baseball clan that includes Doug and Frank Lightbody, the Louisiana native started slowly his freshman season with the Panthers but is picking up his game as a sophomore. A talented rebouncer blessed with a long frame. Lightbody is averaging just 5.3 points per game but is among the nation's leaders with 9.5 rebounds per contest. The Panthers reached the National Semi-Finals a year ago and with Lightbody riding shotgun alongside senior forward Matthew Sabin, another long tournament run may be possible. 3: MEL TURCOTTE: Sophomore Forward Carolina Poly OSA, the premier scouting service that covers all four major sports, calls Turcotte the best pro prospect outside of Luther Gordon. The New York City native is just a sophomore so the pro clubs will have to wait for him but he started all 32 games as a freshman and was named the top newcomer in the South Atlantic Conference last season. This year he has averaged over 10 points a game for the 4-1 Cardinals and should partner perfect with highly touted senior guard Major Belk to make the Cardinals a team to fear. 4- CHARLIE ORLANDO: Junior Forward Detroit City College Orlando does double-duty as a member of the national champion DCC football team, but it is on the court where the Knightstown, IN. native truly shines. He has started every game each of his first two seasons with the Knights but now that he is a junior he is expected to be a leader. A great inside shooter, Orlando is averaging more than 15 points a game for the 4-1 Knights. OSA suggests he may be the best forward available for the 1950 Federal Basketball League draft. 5- ROD BOOKMAN: Sophomore Guard Frankford State Bookman, along with Carolina Poly senior Major Belk, are considered the two best pro prospects currently playing the college game. The New Jersey native is expected to have huge season after scoring nearly 9 points a game as a freshman and combined with senior center David Aponte, gives the Owls one of the best one-two combinations in the AIAA. 6- CARL BRIM: Senior Forward Utah A&M The Aggies play in the lightly regarded Rocky Mountain Athletic Association so very little attention is given to the school but if you want to find an underdog team and player to follow you might stop to take a look at Carl Brim. Unlikely to be good enough to play pro, this is Brim's last chance at big time basketball, and he is making some noise for the 4-0 Aggies as they look to win their fourth straight section title. They are ranked 11th in the latest AIAA poll and were a school best 25th at the end of the season three years ago but are 0-12 in tournament play. Brim has been to the tournament three times with Aggies and the Arizona native is averaging 15.5 ppg as he looks to make it four straight conference titles. 7- Solly Morris: Freshman Forward Whitney College Morris was the number one high school recruit last year and only overshadowed by juco transfer Luther Gordon. The Chattanooga native has stepped right into the Engineers starting lineup and while he scored just 4 points in his debut against Grafton, Morris has improved every game and veteran Whitney College coach By Almquist feels he will be the focus of the offense as the season progresses. 8-9-10- The trio of St Blane Fighting Saints in JOSHUA SAMUELS, BRIAN THREADGILL AND CYRIL WORLEY Actually, the whole St Blane team warrants watching. Samuels is repeating his senior season after a knee injury in the second game a year ago but after 9 games this year he does not appear to have lost a step. The Fighting Saints were expected to challenge for the National Title a year ago and still made the tournament despite the loss of Samuels. This year with Worley and Jim Canaday as seniors, Threadgill a junior and the talented sophomore Wayne Wyrick the Fighting Saints may well be the deepest team in the nation. OSA sees the Worley as a high first-round pro selection next season with Samuels also a first-round candidate. Threadgill is a potential first rounder in 1950 and Wyrick might be the same in 1951. St Blane has won eight straight since dropping their opener at Bardney and can count wins over top twenty-fives Carolina Poly and Maryland State among their victories. The St Blane grid squad failed to win its third straight national title this season, settling for second behind Detroit City College, but the Fighting Saints cage crew may do them one better this year.  RESULTS LAST WEEK INVOLVING TOP TEN TEAMS MONDAY DECEMBER 6 #6 Mississippi A&M 51 (Micah Shuman 18 pts) St Magnus 39 #8 Lane State 54 (Carl Casswell 14pts) Grafton 47 TUESDAY DECEMBER 7 #3 St Blane 45 (Jim Canaday 13) Dickson 35 #5 Carolina Poly 62 (James Halle 20) Henry Hudson 41 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8 #1 Western Iowa 68 (Charlie Maynard 18) Topeka State 52 #7 North Carolina Tech 52 (Chris Hermann 15) Ferguson 49 THURSDAY DECEMBER 9 #2 Liberty College 57 (Luther Gordon 14) Brooklyn Catholic 48 #9 Noble Jones College 56 (Avelar, Lakin each 11) Henry Hudson 41 FRIDAY DECEMBER 10 #5 Carolina Poly 62 (Major Belk 16) Brunswick 48 SATURDAY DECEMBER 11 #4 Frankford State 65 (David Aponte 25) Opelika State 56 #7 North Carolina Tech 57 (Mike Carter 16) Sadler 45 SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 #2 Liberty College 67 (Luther Gordon 27) Potomac College 36 #3 St Blane 66 (Cy Worley 15) Central Kentucky 54 MAY EASILY HANDLES UNINSPIRED O'KEEFE But for an excellent preliminary card, any fan who went to Bigsby Garden Friday evening to see former World Welterweight Champion Dennis O'Keefe and Willis May meet in the main 10-round event wouldn't have been blamed if he had felt short-changed. May scored his 20th career victory, both the easy and dull way in what could easily be rated as one of the worst feature events staged at the Garden in a long time. It was a shame, too, for the best crowd of the young season, 4,928 in number, had been lured to the arena on the strength of a pretty strong previous meeting between the two boys. May prevailed that time as well, but in a much tighter and busier evening for both fighters than was staged Friday evening. This one looked like May was just going through the motion after he quickly seemed to realize, just as the crowd did, that the Jacksonville Jackhammer had lost all his pep. Since winning the title in this same building in the spring of 1946 but being outpointed by Mark Westlake in his first defense, things have gone downhill fast for O'Keefe. Six months after the crown was taken by Westlake, O'Keefe met Willis May for the first time. That was a tough fight, with plenty of action and lots of give-and-take from each of the combatants but a just decision went May's way and O'Keefe, who had lost just once in his life prior to winning the title, had suddenly been beaten twice in a row. He rebounded with a knock win over an easy opponent in Derek Clark and then in February looked pretty solid in another knock out victory - this one over the always tough John Gregory. O'Keefe took a lot of punishment that night and perhaps should not have fought five months later when, before a hometown crowd in Florida he was badly outpointed by Robert Schultz. Now this awful showing against May has many thinking this quite possibly should be the end of the line for Dennis O'Keefe, a former world champion although for just the shortest of time. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 12/12/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-24-2023 at 03:57 PM. |
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10-25-2023, 12:33 PM
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
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December 20, 1948
DECEMBER 20, 1948 BUILDING A BETTER BALLPARK (TIMES TWO) The Los Angeles Knights and San Francisco Hawks represent the two largest cities in the Great Western League. League President and Knights owner Thomas X. Bigsby was on-hand yesterday as ground was broken for a new "baseball palace" to be the home of the Knights in 1949. Bigsby Stadium, as the new park will be known, will replace the aged Knights Stadium. Most importantly, in the opinion of Bigsby, is that the new stadium will have 50,000 seats, a vast improvement over Knights Stadium's 17,400 capacity. "Los Angeles is a major league city," Bigsby stated, "and it deserves a major league venue. Bigsby Stadium will be that venue." In a bit of a surprise, Dee Rose, owner of the Federally Aligned Baseball League's St. Louis Pioneers was in attendance. Bigsby noted that Rose, who owns the Los Angeles Lobos football club and is a native of the City of Angels, was there because the Lobos will also play at Bigsby Stadium. With the FABL and GWL having (at best) a frosty relationship, Rose's public appearance with Bigsby likely won't sit well with some of the other FABL owners. Asked about this by reporters, Rose smirked and said, "I don't care what those guys say, this is a business decision and has nothing to do with baseball." While that's likely true, firebrands such as Toronto's Bernie Millard are expected to loudly decry Rose's decision to make a public appearance with the "enemy." Meanwhile, the GWL's other big market is also getting a new ballpark. San Francisco owner Red Perrone broke ground last week on his own 50,000 seat stadium. Golden Gate Stadium will replace the decrepit, though much beloved, Hawks Stadium. Like Knights Stadium, the San Francisco park opened nearly 50 years ago and is both small (17,400) and outdated. Perrone didn't bother with a press conference, he simply broke ground and it took reporters a day or two to figure out what the big construction project underway just south of downtown San Francisco actually was. This was not a surprise: while Perrone has a lot of money and is willing to spend it (see the Woody Stone signing), he avoids the limelight, leaving that to the equally wealthy Bigsby, whose position as league founder and president lends itself very well to promotion. Both ballparks are expected to open to much fanfare in April of 1949.  It is no secret grid clubs in both the American Football Association and Continenatal Conference have been engaged in an epic, blood-soaked battle of wallets and wits. The struggle for talent on the gridiron has caused these leagues to hemorrhage money, even as they pack the stands. The root of the issue, my friends, is the ever-swelling player salaries. The endless bidding wars between these two football leagues have left both of them bleeding greenbacks like a stuck pig. Baseball has two leagues to contend with as well but thus far, with the possible exception of the ridiculous bidding war for Woody Stone a year ago, the FABL salary structure has not been impacted because the Coast League has, up to this point, refrained from pursuing college or high school graduates that are selected in the FABL draft and has taken a hands-off approach regarding players under contract to FABL organization. Thus far the Great Western League has been content to live off of FABL's table scraps and make a decent living off 'em. However the coast magnates may change their tune in the very near future. News out of California indicates that a pair of owners in the Continental Conference and Great Western ball loop are teaming up to bring a pair of state-of-the art stadiums to the west coast. One will be in San Francisco, with Hawks owner Red Perrone leading the charge and the other in Los Angeles where GWL boss Thomas Bigsby has his club, the Los Angeles Knights. What does this have to do with Rollie Barrell and his basketball league, you ask? Well, Barrell's group -an upstart just a couple of years ago like the Continental Conference and the Great Western League, last summer successfully engineered a merger, or perhaps better described as a takeover, of the American Basketball Conference. The bottom line is there is now one big happy basketball league with 16 teams operating under a single banner, and presumably 16 owners much happier with their bottom line because there is no more petty competition between leagues. Could that be a blueprint for baseball and football? To be honest, relations between basketball leagues were never as icy as the cold war brewing in the other two sports. But here's a thought: perhaps this friendly handshake could be just what the gridiron game needs. Football, where owners from both leagues have been drowning in red ink, might just see the wisdom in following basketball's example. Word on the street is that some of the honchos in each of the football leagues have been whispering sweet nothings about the possibility of a merger. And, rumor has it, there's a sit-down in the works between the team owners from both leagues, set to take place right after the Continental Conference title game wraps up next week. Could football be borrowing a page from basketball's playbook? And will baseball be waiting in the wings, ready to follow suit? Only time will tell, folks. Stay tuned, and let's see what the future holds in the realm of professional sports. DORIA LANDS IN SAN DIEGO It did not take long for Ad Doria to find new employment as the well-known baseball skipper has joined the San Diego Conquistadors of the Great Western League. The 52-year-old had spent the previous decade in Cincinnati where he piloted the Cannons to three straight Continental Association pennants and back-to-back World Championship Series wins during the war while posting a 681-551 record. Doria was informed last week by the Cannons they would not be renewing his contract and replaced him with Charley McCullough, following a 7th place finish a year ago. It marked the first time Doria's club had not finished in the first division. He will have his work cut out for him with the Conquistadors, who finished dead last in the Great Western loop for the second time in three years. 
WILDCATS WIN AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION TITLE IN DRIVING SNOWSTORM Perhaps the American Football Association championship game between the Chicago Wildcats and New York Stars should not have been held yesterday at Cougars Park. A driving snow-storm providing a 4-inch fall during the game that completely covered the gridiron eliminated any pretense of a true football test. Postponement would have been in order and fair to all concerned, including players and spectators. However, do not say that in the presence of any faithful Chicago followers. Wet, cold and uncomfortable though they might have been, they were happy because, on this snow-bound afternoon in the Windy City, all of the other sporting failures this city has seen in recent years were forgotten when the Wildcats won their 6th AFA title and third World Championship Game since the playoff format began in 1933. Note, it is under the insistence of AFA President Jack Kristich that it is a "World" championship and not simply the AFA championship. Few in Chicago would care as their beloved Wildcats were once again the champion, however you describe it, following a dominant 31-0 win that helps atone for the 28-0 beatdown this same Wildcats club absorbed from the New Yorkers in the title tilt two short years ago. Perhaps the victory can also exorcise the many ghosts of missed opportunity that Cougars Park has suffered, courtesy of its primary baseball tenant over the years. The Wildcats opened a 10-0 lead at the half and scored three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the contest out of reach. Chicago was a slight favourite to win the game but for a stretch it looked like neither team would accomplish much of anything due to the heavy snowfall that made even seeing downfield a challenge at times. The Stars had a particularly difficult time as they managed to gain a total of just 4 yards on the first four possessions. Chicago did not fare much better in the early going but did string together a six-play drive as the first quarter came to an end with the final result being a 13-yard touchdown run by Ralph Manson. The Stars might claim even the weather was against them on this day as the snow let up briefly, allowing mostly clear skies when Gus Brown completed back-to-back passes to Don Foresta and Manson to set up the scoring scamper. As if on cue the snow seemed to pick up again as New York took possession and the only other score before the break was a Bobby Vaughan 24-yard field goal that few in the stands could even see as the snowfall was so heavy at the time. The snow let up for the most part in the second half but the Wildcats defense, which held New York to just 65 total yards in the first half, did not. Chicago used its ground game to control the clock, holding a 20:30 to 9:30 advantage in possession after the break and simply wore out the overmatched Stars. Touchdowns on each of their final possessions turned the game into a rout, which was truly indicative of the gameplay as New York, which managed just 8 first downs and 169 yards of total offense on the day was never really in the contest at all. Chicago back Jim Arends, who had a 38-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and was dominant on defense, was named the Most Valuable Player of the game. Since the two-division format and the playoff began in 1933 the Wildcats have played in eight of them. Most did not end well for Chicago, but they are now 3-5 with wins in 1941, 1943 and now once more in 1948.  CONTINETAL CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE A WESTERN AFFAIR It should come as no surprise as they have been consistently the two best teams in the league since the formation of the Continental Football Conference, but the San Francisco Wings and Kansas City Cowboys will meet in the CFC championship game. It will be the first postseason meeting of the two rivals, made possible by the CFC's new playoff format which added a semi-final similar to what the North American Hockey Confederation does. Since the opening round was a crossover where the best of the east met the second-place squad from the west it meant that these two Western Division clubs will play for the title. The Kansas City Cowboys have won each of the previous two CFC title games but after finishing second to San Francisco in the west this season are only in the playoff due to the expanded format. The Cowboys took advantage of their second chance with a convincing 24-0 victory on the road in New Orleans over the Crescents. On the west coast the San Francisco Wings, owners of the loop's best record, scored three touchdowns in the first 12 minutes and rolled over the Buffalo Bulls by a 42-14 score. That sets up a rubber match between the Wings, who went 12-2 during the regular season, and the Cowboys, owners of a 10-3-1 record. Each club won at home during their earlier meetings this season. The title game will take place in San Francisco. To reach the championship game Kansas City relied on two-time league most valuable player Pat Chappell and the Cowboys quarterback did not disappoint. Chappell threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns while powerful running back Mason Matthews rushed for 61 yards while also catching 3 passes for 50 more. The Cowboys offense generated 371 net yards while holding the overmatched Crescents to 114 and just 7 first downs compared to 22 for Kansas City. How dominant was the victory? Only on one play in the entire game did the Crescents snap the ball while in Cowboys territory and that was just barely. They were on the Cowboys 49-yard line on a fourth down that saw the snap sail over the punters head and set up the second Cowboys touchdown. It took just 4 minutes for the Cowboys to get all the offensive production they would need as a 62-yard bomb from Chappell to Ernie Orr early in the opening period set up a 3-yard scoring pass to Pat Hill. The score would remain 7-0 until Reuben Waltson's 36-yard field goal in the third quarter gave the Cowboys a bit of breathing room before late scores on a Matthews run and an 11-yard Chappell to Bill Tammaro pass put the game away. New Orleans never really threatened to score, punting 12 times and turning the ball over twice. *** Metcalf Puts on Show at Hawks Stadium *** In San Francisco it was the Sam Metcalf show as the Wings quarterback passed for 183 yards and two scores while also rushing for 38 yards and a touchdown. Down 21-0 less than 12 minutes into the opening period dashed any hopes the Bulls might have had of clipping the mighty Wings offense and a last second Wings touchdown just before the half crushed the Bulls spirits as well. Metcalf marched the Wings 72 yards down field on the opening series of the game, completing two nice passes to Wes Mula for 19 and 12 yards respectively with the latter enhanced by a 15-yard personal foul penalty on the Bulls. The 8-play drive took just 3 minutes and ended in a 7-yard touchdown run by Jimmie Campbell. Following a quick 3 and out for the Bulls, Metcalf went right back to work and this time it was an 11-play, 92-yard drive that culminated in Metcalf calling his own number for a 6-yard scoring scamper. Things went from bad to worse for the Bulls, when Doug McCasland fumbled the kick-off return and six plays later it was 21-0 after Metcalf threw a short flare to Doug Murphy for the third San Francisco touchdown. Buffalo did settle down somewhat and took advantage of an interception which gave them a short field to work with and set up Mark Monday's only touchdown pass of the game. As the second period wound down the Bulls scored again to cut the Wings lead to 21-14 with just a minute to play in the half. The Buffalo squad looked ready to snatch the momentum away from their hosts, but any thoughts of a Buffalo comeback were quickly destroyed when Metcalf and Mula connected on a pair of passes in a long but quick drive in the final minute of the half that finished with Mula's 7-yard scoring catch and the lead was back up to 14 points. The dejected Bulls team, that seemed back in the game just a minute earlier, appeared to lose all will to compete in a second half that saw them come nowhere near the San Francisco end zone while the Wings punctuated their victory with two more scores. TANK TIPPETT PREDICTION It is hard to pick against the defending champions, especially a team as talented as the Kansas City Cowboys are. The two clubs each won at home this season and there appears little to separate them. Kansas City has Pat Chappell, but Sam Metcalf has been outstanding. Both have terrific defenses. Both have solid rushers in Mason Matthews of the Cowboys and Rich Garner of the Wings. It is hard to find a pair of ends who can compare to the Cowboys Bill Tammaro and Ernie Orr, but Wes Mula has been having himself quite a season and probably deserves the all-star nod over Tammaro, who missed time early with injury. In short. They are both very good and this game could go either way. Homefield will be the difference, but this might be one of the best football championship games we have ever seen, and that includes the American Association. PREDICTION: San Francisco 28 Kansas City 27 COLLEGIATE GRID ALL-AMERICANS NAMED Out of a sizzling season of record crowds, startling upsets and raging controversies over unlimited substitutions, TWIFB again has selected an outstanding All-America football team based on the choices of more than 300 pigskin experts from all sections of the nation. Despite the difficulties of selecting all-round talent, due to the two-platoon system as now employed by many leading schools, our experts were able to single out stars who, in most instances, were outstanding both offensively and defensively under any style of play. St Blane, ranked behind only Detroit City College as the best in the entire nation, dominated the 1948 selections as the Fighting Saints placed 3 members on the eleven man squad. The National Champion Knights had a single member, and all areas of the country were represented with selections from the East, South, Middle West, Southwest and Far West all making the grade. Three players were named for the second year in succession including Wally Dotson, the junior from Texas Gulf Coast who was recently awarded with the Christian Trophy as the top player of 1948. The others making their second appearance on the All-American list are Liberty College center George Klavich and St Blane guard Finn O'Boyle, who was this year's winner of the Ipswich Trophy as the top lineman.  LANCERS ADDED TO GREAT LAKES ALLIANCE St. Ignatius College was granted membership in the Great Lakes Alliance, bringing the powerful athletic league back to ten teams, something it has not had in football since Chicago Poly withdrew prior to the war. The Lancers, who were already limited members and play basketball in the GLA, will become full members after approval was granted at the GLA's winter meeting last week. Pittsburgh State had also applied but there was no mention on the status of the Finches bid. St Ignatius had sought to join the GLA for football since 1946 but even with acceptance, their entry in the grid loop will be delayed for several years because the GLA football coaches have already drafted section schedules through 1950 and are expected to approve the 1951 and 1952 slate this week, meaning it could be 1953 at the earliest before the Lancers join the conference for football.  BROCKERS SETTLING IN WITH MONTREAL Vals Win Four of Last Five It might have taken a few games for him to get comfortable in his new surroundings, but Tom Brockers played like the 4-time Juneau Award winning goaltender he is for the Montreal Valiants last week. Brockers recorded two shutouts in three games last week -just his third and fourth victories in 11 games since joining Montreal in a trade last month with the Boston Bees. Montreal's defense deserves a good share of the credit as Brockers was not heavily tested in either game, facing just 18 shots in a 3-0 win over his former Boston teammates and then only 16 in Sunday's victory by the same score over the New York Shamrocks. In between the two shutout wins the Valiants fell 4-2 in Detroit but with 4 victories in their last five outings perhaps this is the start of things turning around for a Montreal team that started last season 16-9-3 and challenging for first place last New Years Day, only to fall into a terrible slump. From January 2 last season until December 11 this year the Vals have posted a 13-31-6 record, and the biggest problem may well have been the goaltending. Millard Touhey shoulder much of the blame last year and was allowed to leave for Detroit. That left the Vals with a big hole between the pipes until the November 15 deal that brought Brockers in. It took a few games with a couple of tough outings for the 33-year-old but if the last few games are any indication, Coach Norb Hickey now has a goalie he can rely on and with tightened up defense the Montreal Valiants may just return to the playoffs, a destination they fell short of last spring. Code:
NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 26 15 8 3 91 68 33
Boston 24 13 9 2 72 63 28
Detroit 25 11 11 3 87 76 25
New York 23 10 8 4 63 63 24
Montreal 23 9 11 3 63 75 21
Chicago 25 7 17 1 64 95 15
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 26 15 18 33
Galbraith, Tor 26 13 15 28
Cabbell, NY 23 16 11 27
Sauer, Tor 26 13 14 27
Vanderbilt, Det 23 14 12 26
Tardif, Det 25 10 16 26
Carlson, Tor 23 5 21 26
T Burns, Chi 19 17 7 24
Parker, Tor 26 11 12 23
Witt, Det 25 9 14 23
Rocheleau, Det 23 5 17 22
Sandford, Mon 23 9 11 20
Skinner, Mon 23 9 11 20
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Chasse, Det 11 6 4 0 1 2.26
Broadway, Tor 22 12 7 3 2 2.55
Tremblay, NY 21 9 8 4 2 2.59
James, Bos 20 10 8 2 3 2.61
Brockers, Mon 13 5 6 1 2 2.66
Hanson, Chi 18 4 13 1 1 3.46
Touhey, Det 12 4 7 1 1 3.73
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15 Boston 0 at 3 Montreal: The last time Tom Brockers faced his former club he barely lasted half the game before getting pulled after allowing 5 Boston goals, but this time Brockers was perfect in net for the Montreal Valiants. The veteran netminder turned aside all 18 Bees shots for his first shutout with his new club in a 3-0 Montreal win. Wayne Augustin led the Vals offense with a goal and 2 assists. Chicago 2 at 1 Detroit: A rare win this season for the struggling Packers who outshot Detroit 40-30 and claimed the 2-1 victory thanks to Ed Delarue's third period goal after Wes Burns and the Motors Francis McKenzie traded first frame markers. New York 1at 3 Toronto: The Dukes are unbeaten in five and the Shamrocks winless in 5 after Toronto's 3-1 victory at Dominion Gardens. All the excitement happened in the final period as Etienne Tremblay and Gordie Broadway kept it scoreless through the opening two stanzas. Dick Zimmerman, Quinton Pollack and Lou Galbraith were the Toronto marksmen with Tommy Brescia notching the Greenshirts goal. SATURDAY DECEMBER 18 Montreal 2 at 4 Detroit: Three goals in the first period helped Detroit down the visiting Valiants 4-2 and snap Montreal's three game winning streak. Spencer Larocque and Graham Comeau led the way for the Motors with 2 points each. Toronto 1 at 3 New York: After losing 3-1 in Toronto three days ago, the Shamrocks return the favour on Bigsby Garden ice with a 3-1 win over their own over the Dukes. Toronto's Quinton Pollack opened the scoring early in the second period but Simon Savard and Orval Cabbell replied in the same frame for New York. Robert Sharpley rounded out the scoring with an empty-netter with 2 seconds remaining in the contest. SUNDAY DECEMBER 19 Chicago 1 at 5 Boston: A year ago this matchup would be circled on the calendar well in advance but not so much this time around. This one went as one might expect from a glance at the standings beforehand as the Boston Bees clubbed the Chicago Packers 5-1 behind 3 point nights from Tommy Hart and Ray Gustafson along with a pair of goals off the stick of Robert Walker. Detroit 4 at 4 Toronto: Spencer Larocque's shorthanded goal early in the third period allowed the Motors to even the score with a 4-4 draw in Toronto. Herb Burdette staked the Dukes to a first period lead before the two clubs combined for 6 goals, including another one from Burdette, in a wild second period. New York 0 at 3 Montreal: Tom Brockers might just be heating up in the Montreal net as the newest Valiant notched his second shutout in 3 games although the Montreal defense deserves much of the credit for limiting the Shamrocks to just 16 shots on the night. Clarence Skinner scored twice in the second period and Wayne Augustin sealed the victory with an empty netter in the final minute. UPCOMING GAMES Dukes Streak Ends --Toronto's undefeated streak ends at 5 with the Dukes going 1-1-1 for the week. On home ice Wednesday night the Dukes brought the streak to 5 with a 3-1 win over New York in another fast paced, tight checking game in front of 13,649. The first two periods were played in almost record time with each team thwarting the other's offense, most of the play between the blue lines with very few whistles stopping the action. TUESDAY DECEMBER 21 Boston at Detroit WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22 Chicago at New York Montreal at Boston THURSDAY DECEMBER 23 Boston at Chicago Montreal at New York Toronto at Detroit In the third Dick Zimmerman, from Trevor Parker and JC Martel, opened the scoring on a seemingly innocent shot from a sharp angle that handcuffed Shamrocks netminder Etienne Tremblay before the period was 4 minutes old. The Shamrocks equalized 4 minutes later when Tom Brescia beat Gordie Broadway from in tight after a quick pass from Jim Macek. Quiton Pollock restored the lead with his 14th as he banged home a rebound on Les Carlson's shot for the game winner at 12:29. The Shamrocks could not solve Broadway to tie the game and Lou Galbraith salted the contest away with a empty netter with only 4 seconds remaining. The streak came to an end when the two teams renewed acquaintances in Bigsby Gardens Saturday night. In a chippy affair Pollock opened the scoring early in the second from the slot, a deflection that Tremblay has no chance to save. Simon Savard tied the score on shot from the point that seemed to deflect off a Duke in front of the net then elude Broadway. Orval Cabell, the league's hottest marksman, was sprung on breakaway on a pass from Bert McCalley then deked Broadway to put the Shamrocks ahead with only 20 seconds left in the period. Dukes had chances to tie in the third but Tremblay shut the door. Defenseman Robert Sharpley tallied into an empty cage at 19:58 to round out the scoring. Back home for a Sunday afternoon encounter with the Motors, the Dukes seem to have the game in hand storming out to 3-0 lead before the game was 25 minutes old on markers from Herb Burdette, Parker and Galbraith. The team then fell into their old ways taking a few penalties allowing the Motors lethal power play to dent the twine thrice before the end of the second. Burdette's second of the game, shorthanded, allowed the Dukes to enter the dressing room up 4-3. Detroit's special teams were the key as Spencer Larocque tied the game early in the third shorthanded with Arnold Singleton in the box for hooking. The Dukes continued to pour rubber at Detroit goaltender Andy Backlund but could not find the back of the net in a game that ended 4-4 with Detroit's special team notching all 4 goals. The Duke's dressing room was like a morgue when reporters were let in after Coach Barrell's reportedly profanity laced comments to the team. Common comment from the players was "We let that one get away, we handed them a point, a gift-wrapped Christmas present." Coach Barrell's comments: " The two games against New York were fine, even the loss on Saturday, we played the game the right way - opportunistic, fast skating, tight checking. You all see what happens when the players start to believe the press clippings, start to take shortcuts against the Motors. For the first half of the game, we were fine then we self-destructed. When I was first hired here, I had a sign painted with 2-foot letters hung so it is the first thing that draws the players attention when they enter the dressing room. All you guys have seen it but for the fans it says "HARD WORK BEATS TALENT WHEN TALENT DOESN'T WORK HARD!" I reminded the players of the words on that sign after the Motors game embarrassment before a big home crowd. I might have spiced up the language a little to make sure I was getting my point across. We have a game Wednesday at Detroit. I expect the team to redeem itself with hard work and attention to detail. I will then give the team a couple of days off for Christmas."
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FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Washington 13 5 .722 Rochester 12 5 .706 Brooklyn 12 6 .667 Philadelphia 12 7 .632 Baltimore 9 8 .529 Hartford 8 10 .444 Boston 7 12 .368 New York 5 12 .294 Syracuse 1 18 .053 WEST W L PCT Chicago 13 4 .765 Cleveland 11 6 .647 Detroit 10 6 .625 Buffalo 8 8 .500 Cincinnati 8 9 .471 Toronto 6 12 .333 Pittsburgh 5 12 .294  FIGHTING SAINTS WIN SHOWDOWN WITH NOBLE JONES For the second time this season the St Blane Fighting Saints knocked off a team in the top ten of the collegiate cage rankings. On November 27 the victim was Carolina Poly, as the Saints handed the Cardinals -who are still ranked #5 in the latest poll- their first and only loss so far this season. On Wednesday they did it again, claiming a hard-fought 58-54 decision over Noble Jones College, knocking the Colonels off their perch at #8 in the rankings and sliding them down to the 16th spot after what was Noble Jones College's second loss to a top 25 club this season. Like most teams that face the Fighting Saints, the Colonels simply had no answer for the St Blane depth. The Pennsylvania school can beat a team so many ways and even when Noble Jones College's big guns perform, they still have a tough time. Joe Basco had a game high 16 points for the Colonels and guard Artie Noonan added 14 but they were no match for a St Blane club that has so much scoring depth. On this night it was Cy Worley pacing the Saints with 15 points while Jim Canaday and Josh Samuels also hit double-digits. Strength on the boards is St Blane's other advantage over most schools, with the trio of Worley, Samuels and center Brian Threadgill combining for 30 rebounds, which was the same total the entire Colonels club could muster. The 47-30 edge on the boards led to many second chance points and ultimately proved the difference in the game. Looking ahead the Fighting Saints have just two more games before the calendar flips to 1949 and both should be very winnable. They begin with Bronx Tech (4-3) tomorrow night as part of one of the famous Bigsby Garden cage doubleheaders before heading to Ohio to meet the 3-5 Orrville Oaks on December 30. *** No Changes at Top of Rankings *** The Fighting Saints win over Noble Jones College, their only game last week, did not change their standing in the top twenty-five as the voters kept St Blane third behind Western Iowa and Liberty College. The Canaries lone game was an easy 71-43 victory over Academia Alliance outfit Grafton while the 10-1 Bells also played just once with the result being a 56-46 triumph over Richmond State. The changes were all in the back half of the top ten with Lane State and the previously mentioned Noble Jones College sliding out. The Emeralds record slid to 8-2 with an upset loss to East Missouri Seminary on Monday night before rebounding with a win over Kansas Agricultural Friday evening in Eugene.  LAST WEEK'S RESULTS INVOLVING TOP 10 TEAMS MONDAY DECEMBER 13 #6 North Carolina Tech 45 (Mike Carter 11 pts) Michigan Lutheran 32 #7 Mississippi A&M 58 (Billy Bob Leveau 14 pts) Miami State 50 East Missouri Seminary 71 Lane State 54 (knocked Lane State out of top 10) Noble Jones College 47 (Ken Avelar 12) St Martin's College 37 TUESDAY DECEMBER 14 #5 Carolina Poly 51 (Mel Turcotte 13) Valley State 41 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15 #2 Liberty College 56 (Simon Buchanan 17) Richmond State 46 #3 St Blane 58 (Cy Worley 15) #16 Noble Jones College 54 (Joe Basco 16) dropped Colonels out of top 10 #4 Frankford State 63 (David Aponte 19) St Martin's College 50 #7 Mississippi A&M 41 (Micah Shurman 10) Dickson 34 #9 Utah A&M 50 (Carl Brim 12) Cumberland 38 #10 Indiana A&M 50 (Ollie Courville 11) College of Cairo 34 THURSDAY DECEMBER 16 #5 Carolina Poly 65 (James Halle 19) Boulder State 45 #6 North Carolina Tech 48 (Chris Hermann 13) St Matthew's College 34 #8 Detroit City College 43 (Orlando and Bratton 12 each) Queen City 39 FRIDAY DECEMBER 17 #1 Western Iowa 71 (Willy Ludwick 17) Grafton 43 #4 Frankford State 63 (Aponte and Murray 14 each) Berwick 47 SATURDAY DECEMBER 18 #9 Utah A&M 56 (Frosty Chenoweth 11) Boulder State 46 SUNDAY DECEMBER 19 #5 Carolina Poly 53 (James Halle 16) Three Rivers State 42 #6 North Carolina Tech 53 (Mike Carter 22) Cumberland 51 #10 Indiana A&M 55 (JC Mitchell 17) Capital (MS) University 36 SPLIT RESULTS FOR THE BAKER BOYS An entertaining boxing card at the Pittsburgh Arena saw the Baker brothers go 1-1 on the night. Scott Baker, just a few days before his 29th birthday made the trip up from his hometown of Philadelphia and brought along his big brother Cliff to fight on the same card. Scott looked impressive in claiming a unanimous decision victory over David Kramer (23-9-3) to run his record to 19-3-2. Baker may just revive talk of a title shot whenever Hector Sawyer decides to bring the heavyweight belt back to this continent. There had been rumblings of such a chance more than two years ago but a tough loss to Roy Crawford followed by a broken hand forcing him to take the loss in bout with Chris May put an end to the title chatter. It may just be back now. Meanwhile, big brother Cliff Baker, now 38 at the end of his rope, hopped into the ring against Daron Ross but was outpointed. The Baker boys each had their father and trainer, former ABF middleweight champ Battling Billy Baker making the night a real family affair. There was also a big fight in Washington as Millard Shelton outpointed Brooks O'Connor in a 10-round battle of a pair of high-end middleweights that was televised all along the east coast as part of the new Columbia Broadcasting boxing deal. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 12/19/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-25-2023 at 12:44 PM. |
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10-26-2023, 12:18 PM
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
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December 27, 1948 - Merry Christmas
DECEMBER 27, 1948 WINGS TAKE FLIGHT! SAN FRANCISCO CROWNED CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE CHAMPION San Francisco, Dec 27, 1948 -- A new reign dawns as the San Francisco Wings soared to glory on Sunday, toppling the two-year dominion of the Kansas City Cowboys to clinch the Continental Football Conference championship, sealing a decisive 26-10 victory. In a gridiron spectacle that sent fans at Hawks Stadium into a frenzy, San Francisco's robust defensive effort, coupled with Kansas City's star quarterback Pat Chappell's costly turnovers, scripted a championship tale that will long be recounted. Chappell, often hailed as the game's finest passer, demonstrated his mettle by amassing over 200 passing yards. Still, it was the four interceptions and two fumbles at crucial junctures that handed San Francisco the key to the championship, with 17 of the Wings' 24 points stemming from Chappell's turnovers. The contest began with the Cowboys forging ahead 3-0 through Reuben Walston's 27-yard field goal. However, the Wings swiftly counterbalanced, capitalizing on Chappell's pass intended for Ernie Orr, which was intercepted by Sam Gerst at the Cowboys' 40-yard line. An apparent touchdown pass from Sam Metcalf to Roy Stanton was negated by a holding call, but the Wings converted this opportunity into a 24-yard field goal, gracefully executed by Russ Gilliam. In a turn of events, Chappell was intercepted once more, and at the outset of the second quarter, Metcalf orchestrated a 13-yard touchdown pass to Doug Murphy, as Gilliam's extra point propelled the Wings to a 10-3 lead. Despite his earlier miscues Chappell still has plenty of confidence in his throwing arm and he and the Cowboys were rewarded when the Cowboys gunslinger found the blazing fast Bill Tammaro with a 17-yard pass, forging an equalizing touchdown. The scoreline now stood at 10-10. Before the halftime whistle, the Wings recaptured their lead with an effective 8-play, 54-yard drive, characterized by a 25-yard aerial connection from Metcalf to Wes Mula. This drive culminated with Metcalf finding Mula for a 2-yard pass into the end zone, closing the first half with the Wings in the ascendancy at 17-10. Chappell's turnovers persisted in the second half. While orchestrating a promising drive and reaching the San Francisco 33-yard line, he fumbled the snap, conceding possession to the Wings. Metcalf then guided the Wings on a 67-yard drive, scoring a 3-yard touchdown himself, enlarging their lead to 14 points. Subsequent turnovers, including two more Chappell interceptions, dashed any prospects of a Cowboys' resurgence. The Wings effectively sealed the victory with a sack on Chappell in his own end zone, elevating the lead to 26-10. That final crushing blow was also made possible by Metcalf, who is often overshadowed by his West Division rival from Kansas City. It was Metcalf's foot, not his arm, that drew the accolades this time as a picture-perfect punt bounced out of bounds at the Cowboys 1-yard line, setting the table for the strong San Francisco line to lay claim to the final two points of the contest. The jubilant 24,000-strong crowd at Hawks Stadium inundated the field, and in a fevered display of jubilation, they brought down both goalposts and carried off sections of the turf from an end zone, likely as mementos as they look forward to the inaugural season at the new 50,000-seat Golden Gate Stadium next year. While the result was a blow for the Cowboys, Johnny Boyland emerged as a shining beacon for the Kansas City squad. A force to be reckoned with on defense, Boyland tallied an impressive 13 tackles and caused two crucial Wings' fumbles. In recognition of his standout performance, Boyland was crowned the Most Valuable Player of the game, marking the second time in the Continental Conference championship that this honor was bestowed upon a member of the losing team. Code:
CONTINENTAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HISTORY YEAR SCORE VENUE MVP 1948 San Francisco 26 Kansas City 10 Hawks Stadium Johnny Boyland, KC 1947 Kansas City 42 New York 13 Packer Park Pat Chappell, KC 1946 Kansas City 20 New York 14 Packer Park Ken Hale, NY  CFC COMMITTEE OF FIVE SET TO CONFER WITH AFA Rapidly breaking developments in overtures of several Continental Football Conference club owners to the American Football Association has a meeting scheduled between representatives of the two-grid loops in Philadelphia later this week. Reports persists that the quintet of CFC magnates will try to negotiate a plan whereby Kansas City and San Francisco, along with possibly Los Angeles and one other team would be taken into the American Association. News of the new 50,000 seat stadiums set to open next year in the two west coast cities certainly piqued the interest of the long-standing American loop. Jack Kristich, President of the American Association and Ben Montgomery, the retired Navy Lt Commander and head of the Continental circuit, are also expected to be in attendance. All AFA owners refused to discuss the situation until after the session, but it is generally believed that loop would jump at the chance to expand by two teams and add both California clubs. The sticking point would then be the fate of the Kansas City Cowboys, and to a lesser degree the New Orleans Crescents. The Cowboys are loaded with talent and would be a great attraction on the road, but their tiny stadium holds only 15,000 fans and would not be suitable for the AFA. The major roadblock to accepting 4 new entries is the American Association is not keen on a 14-team league and feels two divisions with 7 clubs each would be next to impossible to schedule properly. *** Tigers May Be The Key *** The perfect scenario for the AFA would be to have the Kansas City Cowboys relocate to Los Angeles and replace the Lobos in the new Bigsby Stadium with only the transplanted Cowboys and the San Francisco Wings joining the AFA next season. There is expected to be loud opposition from Dee Rose, the owner of the Lobos and also baseball's St Louis Pioneers, if he is frozen out and possibly the New Orleans Crescents magnate may not be willing to take a payout to dissolve his franchise. Like New Orleans, the New York Gothams may also wish to remain active which could create another stumbling block. A solution for one of those problems may be the decision to shutter the Cincinnati Tigers. The club has been dreadful with an 18-37 record since its inception in 1944 including an awful 1-11 season that was just completed. Folding the Tigers would allow the AFA to admit three teams from the Continental circuit and still remain at a dozen clubs -the preferred total for the league going forward. The timing appears right for such a merger. Certainly, the recent move to join the two professional basketball leagues under one umbrella caught the attention of football magnates and both sides in the grid war are awash in red ink. The CFC owners are generally businessmen with fortunes earned outside of the sport and most may be quite willing to walk away from a football league that has become a losing proposition, and folding up shop might net them a hefty tax credit, which may prove very beneficial in light of President Truman's new tax plan. This week has the potential to be a historic one for the sport. CARSON NAMED TOP AFA PLAYER Cleveland Finches end Roy Carson was named the best player in the American Football Association, the league announced this week as it unveiled its all-star team for the 1948 campaign. Carson had a dominant season for the Finches, leading the AFA in touchdowns, catches and receiving yardage. He was one of 5 Finches named to the offensive all-star team, joining fellow end Dave Nicholson as well as backs Tommy Thompson and Mark Revellette along with lineman Wayne Carroll. Carroll also earned a spot on the new defensive all-star team. The defensive squad marks a major change for the AFA as for the first time the loop separated its all-stars into two units, one for each side of the ball. The unlimited substitution rule, which is cause of great debate in the college ranks, is the proponent for the change as more and more AFA clubs are beginning to embrace the notion of distinct offensive and defensive units. Many players continue to play on both sides of the ball, and as such Carroll, along with Chicago Wildcats center Bus McLean, were named on both the offensive and defensive squads. However, specialists who strictly perform on offense or defense, are starting to become commonplace in the pro game. The offensive team perhaps marked the start of a new era in the sport as none of the seven so-called skill position players had ever been named all-stars before although among the lineman McLean, John Michaels of the Stars and Philadelphia's Justin Thomas had all been selected to the All-Star team in past years.  ST MAGNUS, NC TECH, NOBLE JONES AND TEXAS PANHANDLE FAVOURED IN BIG CLASSIC GAMES Following a season of record crowds across the nation for collegiate football, more of the same is expected as the year 1949 kicks off with 11 Classic games. The big one, of course, is in Santa Ana as St Magnus makes its first appearance in the famous East-West Classic. The Vikings finished second in Great Lakes Alliance play but claimed the trip west as new league rules made Detroit City College, despite its national championship season, ineligible to compete on New Years Day for the third year in a row. The Vikings are running through their final workouts in the Los Angeles area this week and feel the club is in top physical shape for the 33rd edition of the grand game. St Magnus, which went 7-2 during the season, will square off against the Northern California Miners, who sport a record of 8-1-1. The bookmakers rate the Vikings as anywhere from 7 to 14 point favourites over the Miners. Clear weather and a field that may range from slightly soft in spots to fast was promised, and a sell-out crowd of 92,500 fans, some of whom paid scalper prices as high as $60 for a pair of tickets, are expected at kickoff. With both #1 Detroit City College and #2 St Blane not competing in a Classic Game, the highest ranked squad that will see action is South Atlantic Conference champion North Carolina Tech, which puts its perfect 9-0 record on the line against Oklahoma City State. The Wranglers were 8-2 this season and are decided underdogs against the Techsters mighty offense that features All-American junior halfback Jackie Charles. Deep South Conference co-champions Mississippi A&M and Noble Jones College headline the two other major classic games. The Generals, who were 9-0 and finished the season ranked 4th in the polls, are in Houston preparing for the Oilman Classic against Texas Panhandle after the Cowboys completed a 9-0-1 season with a section title in the Southern Border Association. The Colonels, who won the Lone Star Classic a year ago, are in Miami preparing for the Sunshine Classic against Travis College. Noble Jones College was 9-1 on the season and ranked 5th in the polls and is a slight favourite over the Bucks. The other major game of note is the Lone Star Classic which will treat fans to a showdown between All-American quarterback Tommy Norwood and his Portland State Magpies and Wally Dotson, the talented junior back from Texas Gulf Coast. Both feature high-powered offenses with Dotson and the Hurricanes rated as a slight favourite.  DUKES LOOK STRONG AS NAHC HITS ITS HOLIDAY BREAK The Christmas parties are over and after a rare weekend off for the holiday, the NAHC begins a busy week with action on two fronts as a very rare occurrence takes place: games on a Monday evening including Detroit at Montreal and Chicago hosting New York. The Detroit Motors are off to a surprisingly solid start with a youthful offense led by a quintet of rising young talents in 24-year-old center Adam Vanderbilt, who trails only Toronto's Quinton Pollack in the loop scoring parade, along with a pair of 22-year-olds in Nick Tardif and Louis Rocheleau and two 21-year-olds in Ben Witt and Francis McKenzie. They rank 1 thru 5 atop the Motors scoring chart and have accounted for 50 of Detroit's league best 96 goals so far this season. The new offensive approach has Detroit third in the loop with 28 points after 27 games. The Montral Valiants have had their challenges keeping the puck out of their net and will try to slow down the Motors offensive engine this evening. Montreal beat Detroit twice early in the season, but the Motors have won each of the last three meetings, outscoring the Valiants 18-7 in the process. The Vals had hoped that Tom Brockers would be the answer to their netminding woes, but results have been mixed from the 33-year-old 4-time Juneau Award winner and the Vals enter the game on a three-game slide. The Shamrocks had high hopes for the month of December as they won 5 of six games over a stretch that started in late November but since then have gone 2-5-2 but they are coming off a pre-Christmas win over Montreal. The big gun in New York remains veteran pivot Orval Cabbell, who has 17 goals and 28 points and is the only Shamrock with at least twenty points. Chicago's big gun is Tommy Burns and the 3-time McDainels Trophy winner is likely still at least a week away from returning to the lineup after suffering a shoulder injury at the beginning of this month. Even before Burns went down the season was turning into a nightmare for the Packers, who have collapsed to last place after posting the best regular season record in the NAHC a year ago. A small glimmer of hope is the Packers are on a two-game winning streak and have played .500 hockey in December with a 5-5 record...quite a step up from their 4-12-1 start to the season. That leaves the league's top two teams in the Boston Bees and Toronto Dukes. The Bees are enjoying a well-deserved five-day break after playing 4 games in five nights last week and will not return to action until Wednesday when they host Detroit. Second place behind Chicago a year ago, the Bees continue to play consistently strong hockey but have stumbled a bit of late with a 2-4-1 showing since December 11. They are banged up with a bunch of minor injuries and are still waiting for veteran defenseman Bryant Williams, who was acquired last month in exchange for Tom Brockers, to find his stride. The Dukes finished third a year ago and then blazed a path to their 7th Challenge Cup win, tying Boston for the lead in that category. Coach Jack Barrell is demanding and refuses to take his foot off the gas the Dukes continue to thrive, owning the best record in the league as we approach the midway point of the 60-game season. Quinton Pollack is having a dominant season and there is plenty of secondary scoring as well as the dependable veteran Gordie Broadway between the pipes. The Dukes had a full week off for the holidays and will not return to action until they host Montreal on Thursday evening. Code:
NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 27 15 8 4 94 71 34
Boston 27 14 11 2 82 74 30
Detroit 27 12 11 4 96 80 28
New York 25 11 10 4 67 69 26
Montreal 23 9 13 3 67 85 21
Chicago 27 9 17 1 71 98 19
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 27 16 18 34
Vanderbilt, Det 25 16 14 30
Sauer, Tor 27 14 15 29
Galbraith, Tor 27 13 16 29
Cabbell, NY 25 17 11 28
Tardif, Det 27 11 16 27
Carlson, Tor 24 5 21 26
Rocheleau, Det 25 5 21 26
Witt, Det 27 10 15 25
T Burns, Chi 19 17 7 24
Parker, Tor 27 12 12 24
Hart, Bos 26 11 10 21
McKenzie, Det 27 8 13 21
Walker, Bos 26 7 14 21
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Chasse, Det 11 6 4 0 1 2.26
Broadway, Tor 23 12 7 4 2 2.57
Tremblay, NY 23 10 9 4 2 2.63
James, Bos 22 10 10 2 3 2.79
Brockers, Mon 15 5 8 1 2 3.00
Hanson, Chi 19 5 13 1 1 3.33
Touhey, Det 14 5 7 2 1 3.48
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS TUESDAY DECEMBER 21 Boston 1 at 6 Detroit: A busy stretch of 3 games in 3 days did not begin well for the Bees, who fell to a Detroit club that has just one loss in its last six games. The young stars again led the way for the Motors, who's offense has really picked up this year. Adam Vanderbilt scored twice and added an assist while Louis Rocheleau earned 3 helpers. The game marked the return of Millard Touhey to the Detroit net after being sidelined almost a full month due to a virus. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22 Chicago 4 at 1 New York: The New York Shamrocks have just 1 win in their last 8 games after falling 4-1 at home to the Chicago Packers. Jeremy MacLean had a big night for the visitors with a goal and two assists. Montreal 2 at 7 Boston: Joe Morey scored three times and added an assist while Ray Gustafson and Robert Walker each enjoyed a 3 point night in leading Boston to a 7-2 victory over former Bees goaltender Tom Brockers and the Montreal Valiants. THURSDAY DECEMBER 23 Boston 2 at 3 Chicago: The Packers give themselves a nice Christmas present in the form of just their second 2-game winning streak this season. It was a comeback win as third period goals off the sticks of Jarrett McGlynn and Mike Van Tol lifted the Packers to the victory after Wilbur Chandler staked Boston to a 2-1 lead midway through the second frame. Montreal 2 at 3 New York: Three first period goals, from Adam Greenham, Orval Cabbell and Alfie Dennis, stood up as the Shamrocks held off the visiting Montreal Valiants 3-2. New York outshot Montreal 31-19 to hand the Vals their third loss in the past four games. Toronto 3 at 3 Detroit: Toronto and Detroit skate to a tie for the second time in five days. Arnold Singleton scored the only goal of the opening twenty minutes to give the Motors the lead but Toronto roared back with 3 in the second frame including Quinton Pollack's 16th of the season. Trailing 3-2 entering the final frame, Vincent Arsenault salvaged a point for the hosts when scored with just over 7 and a half minutes remaining in the game. UPCOMING GAMES MONDAY DECEMBER 27 Detroit at Montreal New York at Chicago WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 29 Detroit at Boston THURSDAY DECEMBER 30 Montreal at Toronto FRIDAY DECEMBER 31 New York at Boston SATURDAY JANUARY 1 Boston at New York Chicago at Detroit Toronto at Montreal SUNDAY JANUARY 2 Detroit at Chicago New York at Toronto AROUND THE LEAGUE
The hard hitting continued in the second but in more clean, tough, bone jarring style. Dukes tucked three behind Millard Touhey on markers by Quinton Pollock, Bobbie Sauer and Trevor Parker with a solitary reply from the Motos Marsh Spencer to enter the third leading 3-2. The final period was a more wide-open affair with the goaltenders being tested 24 times in total. For the second game in a row the Motors salvaged a tie with a third period tally, by Vincent Arsenault while the Dukes could not solve Touhey on 13 shots on goal in the period. The point ensured that the Dukes will enter the New Year in no worse than a tie for first in the league. Boston plays two games next week while Dukes only play once hosting Montreal on Thursday. After a dismal start to December, Toronto will finish the month with at least a .500 record. Coach Barrell: "Christmas is generally regarded as the halfway point of the season even if the teams have not played exactly half their games. Overall, the team has done well to end 1948 but I continue to think of how good they could have been had we not slipped into a funk a few times. The team was given 4 full off days to visit with family, friends then back to work to prepared for the Vals and the second half. Some of the staff will be going to follow the Eries for a couple of games. We are getting good reports on some players, want to see them in action. We have been very lucky on the injury front thus far, look at the Bees, they have been strung hard by the injury bug. We, as a staff, want to know what our options are if injuries become a factor."
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FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Philadelphia 16 7 .696 Washington 14 6 .700 Brooklyn 14 7 .667 Rochester 12 8 .600 Baltimore 10 9 .526 Hartford 8 12 .400 Boston 8 15 .348 New York 6 14 .300 Syracuse 2 19 .095 WEST W L PCT Chicago 15 5 .750 Cleveland 13 6 .684 Detroit 11 7 .611 Cincinnati 10 10 .500 Buffalo 8 10 .444 Toronto 7 13 .350 Pittsburgh 7 13 .350  BALTIMORE DISCONTINUES BASKETBALL TELEVISION Darryl Croy, president of the Baltimore Barons professional basketball team, says he will discontinue televising the court games. Croy says there has been a noticeable reduction in attendance for games at Chesapeake Arena involving the Barons that are telecast. He says the telecasts will be stopped on January 3 but notes the halt may be temporary, depending on attendance. The Barons cite early November numbers when a game not televised drew 4,943 spectators but one five days later that was shown had an attendance of just 3,627 show up at the 13,000 seat Chesapeake Arena. BELLS RING AS NEW NUMBER ONE ON WEEKLY CAGE CHART A belated Christmas present for Luther Gordon and the Liberty College Bells basketball team as they received word today that they are now considered to be the number one team in the nation. The latest collegiate rankings put the 12-1 Bells in the top spot, edging out unbeaten Western Iowa which had been had the top since the second week of the season. The Bells had two more victories last week, beating 4-5 Wisconsin State at home before travelling to Rhode Island on Christmas Eve to dump Narragansett by 15 points. Because they are an independent school and do not have a section schedule the Bells have played nearly half of their 29 games already this season and that added exposure must have convinced a number of the voters to switch allegiances from Western Iowa to the Bells. The Canaries did nothing last week to dissuade voters, as they improved to 6-0 on the campaign with another victory. That came a week ago as last Monday they thumped the 3-6 Boulder State Grizzlies 66-39 in Sioux City. Charlie Maynard led the way for Western Iowa with 17 points while Willy Ludwick, a candidate for the first overall selection in the June pro-draft, chipped in with 15 and Darryl Baugher added a dozen. The homestand continues for the Canaries with Poweshiek (5-6) visiting tonight followed by a date with Eastern Kansas (4-4) on Wednesday. Section play in the Great Lakes Alliance for Western Iowa begins January 20th at Indiana A&M (7-1). Little else changed in the top ten last week with St Blane, Frankford State which is now 15-0, and Carolina Poly remain in the 3,4 and 5 slots. Utah A&M, which snuck into the 9th spot a week ago after six straight wins, dropped completely out of the top twenty-five after the Aggies were beaten twice last week. On Monday Idaho A&M (5-5) nipped them 70-68 behind a 21-point effort from Pirates sophomore forward Charley Scott and the day after Christmas Portland Tech beat the Aggies 62-55 to improve the Magpies record to 6-3 on the season. In their place Coastal California makes its first appearance in the top ten this season. The West Coast Athletic Association power fell in late November to Baton Rogue State but the Dolphins have not lost since and are coming off an impressive 62-55 win over St. Patrick's yesterday.  LAST WEEK'S RESULTS INVOLVING TOP 10 TEAMS MONDAY DECEMBER 20 #2 Western Iowa 66 (Charlie Maynard 17 points) Boulder State 39 #8 Coastal California 47 (Chris Martines 19) Brooklyn State 38 #10 Lane State 71 (Carl Casswell 20) Grant (IN) 53 TUESDAY DECEMBER 21 #1 Liberty College 62 (Luther Gordon 15) Wisconsin State 41 #3 St Blane 48 (Josh Samuels 17) Bronx Tech 40 #4 Frankford State 45 (David Aponte 15) Tinker 37 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22 #6 Mississippi A&M 66 (Erwin Wendel 18) Campion 37 #8 Coastal California 65 (Chris Martines 13) College of San Diego 46 THURSDAY DECEMBER 23 #4 Frankford State 53 (David Aponte 13) St Gordius 45 #7 North Carolina Tech 65 (Mike Carter 17) College of Cairo 43 FRIDAY DECEMBER 24 #1 Liberty College 63 (Simon Buchanan 18) Narragansett 48 #5 Carolina Poly 55 (Bill Florence 20) Kansas Agricultural 41 #10 Lane State 57 (Carl Casswell 18) Wisconsin State 51 SATURDAY DECEMBER 25 #4 Frankford State 68 (Bookman, Stofer 14 each) Elyria 62 SUNDAY DECEMBER 26 #6 Mississippi A&M 56 (Greg Randle 14) Freemont State 41 #7 North Carolina Tech 48 (Chris Hermann 9) Piedmont University 22 #8 Coastal California 62 (Tony Lincoln 17) St Patrick's 55 CUBAN WINTER LEAGUE BASEBALL   UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 12/26/1948
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-26-2023 at 12:21 PM. |
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10-27-2023, 10:58 AM
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#814 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
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January 3, 1949 Draft Lottery and Classic Games
JANUARY 3, 1949 TORONTO WOLVES WIN DRAFT LOTTERY For the second time in three years lady luck has smiled on the Toronto Wolves as Bernie Millard's charges have won the draft lottery and will select first overall once again. Two years ago the Wolves nabbed pitcher Led Ledbetter with the top pick. Now 20 years of age, the lean lefthander split last season between Class A and B and is considered the 26th best prospect in the game by OSA. Now the Wolves, who are in a retooling phase and dealing with some aging stars like Fred McCormick and Chink Stickels, will get another opportunity to add a high end prospect to their pack. The second choice will belong to the Boston Minutemen with Montreal, the Philadelphia Keystones and New York Stars rounding out the top five. Unlike many past seasons, this crop of high school seniors and collegiate juniors does not appear to possess a clear-cut number one selection. There are anywhere from six to eight players that TWIFB would not consider a stretch if they were selected with the first choice, although we do give a slight edge to the two terrific shortstops in this class. They would be Tom Perkins, a second-team All-American last year as a sophomore out of Lane State, and John Wells, a two-time high school All-American choice from Northeast Catholic High in Philadelphia. The lack of a clear cut number one choice does not mean this is a weak class at the top. Far from it. Our assessment of OSA scouting reports, our own scouting and player statistics suggest to us that there are 22 players in this draft class that we would grade as "First Round" quality talent. In comparison, for the draft a year ago we only designated 13 players as first round quality and two years ago, in what was considered a pretty deep class, TWIFB ranked 19 players as first round level talent. What this draft does have in common with last year is a shortage of perceived high end pitching prospects. A year ago we only indentified one pitcher as a potential first rounder and this time around we have three but each ranks towards the bottom on that 22 player list of first rounders. In contrast, 7 of the 19 players we projected as first round quality talent prior to the 1947 draft were hurlers.   NORTHERN CAL UPENDS ST MAGNUS IN EAST-WEST CLASSIC In one of the more surprising results in recent New Years Day games in Santa Ana, the Northern California Miners shut down the favoured St Magnus Vikings 20 to 0 before a crowd of 92,000 in the 33rd edition of the grand game. Pre-game favourites by one touchdown, the Great Lakes Alliance representative never managed to get its offense going as the Miners dogged defense kept the highly touted St Magnus ground game in check. After a scoreless opening frame, Northern Cal, in their second fling at the East-West Classic, marched 78 yards for the only score of the first half. A pair of third quarter field goals stretched their lead and victory was secured with an additional long drive for a touchdown midway through the final frame. *** DOTSON LEADS HURRICANES TO LONE STAR WIN *** It was not the shootout most expected by two-time All-American Wally Dotson did not disappoint the 69,000 fans watching the Lone Star Classic in Dallas. The Texas Gulf Coast back scored both touchdowns to lead his Hurricanes past fellow All-American Tommy Norwood and Portlant Tech by a 14-3 score. Even though Dotson is only a junior and will return to the Hurricanes next season, there were plenty of pro scouts on hand to watch the Christian Trophy winning halfback square off against the Magpies tremendous senior quarterback Norwood. It left most observers anticipate a wide-open game but instead Norwood had his early struggles and Dotson was kept in check by the Magpies for much of the game. The one exception was a 43-yard touchdown run by Dotson in the third quarter. Dotson would finish with 89 yards rushing and two scores while Norwood, who did recover somewhat in the second half, threw for 145 yards, completing 8 of 19 attempts. In other action, Jackie Charles ran for one score and caught a 7-yard pass for another to lead 3rd ranked North Carolina Tech to a 27-17 win over Oklahoma City State in the Cajun Classic completing a perfect season for the Techsters. Mississippi A&M also finished with a perfect record after the Generals scored a one-sided 34-3 victory over Southern Border Conference champion Texas Panhandle, which had entered the game without a loss. In Miami, Noble Jones College used superior line play to wear down Travis College, running up the score late in a 31-10 victory in the Sunshine Classic.   BULLS KARASZEWSKI NAMED TOP CFC PLAYER The Kansas City Cowboys reign as the dominant team in the Continental Football Conference came to an end with a loss to San Francisco in the title game last week and continued today as the CFC All-Star team was very sparsely populated by Cowboys. In 1946, six of the eleven spots went to Cowboys and a year ago it was five players from the two-time defending champions on the team of eleven including quarterback Pat Chappell, who claimed back-to-back league most valuable player awards. This time around the league doubled the size of the all-star squad, recognizing the increasingly common role of separate platoons for offense and defense and only one Cowboy -end Ernie Orr made the offensive squad. It was Orr's third time being named, an honour only shared by Los Angeles Lobos lineman Stan Spearin. Spearin, along with lineman Paul Kline of San Francisco, were named to both the offensive and defensive squads. The Cowboys did land four players on the inaugural defensive team including Johnny Boyland, who was recognized as the top defender in the league. The Most Valuable Player award went to Buffalo Bulls back Dave Karaszewski, who rushed for 1,054 yards this season - a total only surpassed by Mason Matthews of the Cowboys, who was conspiquous by his absence from the all-star squad. Vince Gallegos, the outstanding New Orleans rookie out of Bayou State, replaced Chappell as the quarterback on the team.  PREDICTING THE NAHC ALL-STARS In taking a page out of FABL's handbook the NAHC will debut its first-ever midseason all-star. Unlike the baseball setup, which pits the best of the Federal Association against the top talent from the Continental loop, the hockey event, which is set for a week from today in Toronto, will see the defending Challenge Cup champion Dukes face a team of stars selected from the other five clubs in the league. Here is our best guess at who should be called upon to represent the All-Star squad. GOALTENDERS: It seems an easy task to pick the two deserving netminders for the occasion, but where the challenge comes will be deciding upon which one will start the game. New York's Etienne Tremblay (10-9-4, 2.63), has been outstanding in some games while Oscar James (10-10-2, 2.79) has played well enough in Boston the past year and a half that the Bees felt very comfortable dealing Tom Brockers to Montreal. So Tremblay and James are our netminders, but we will leave it up to the coach to decide who will start. DEFENSEMEN: We will select six and four of them feel like obvious choices. Veteran Shamrocks defender Bert McCalley is the Greenshirts captain and would do well with the same honour for this contest. In 25 games this season McCalley has 2 goals and 11 points but it is his work in his own end that sets McCalley apart from most others. His New York teammate Paul Tetreault and Boston's Mickey Bedard are both 24-years of age and deserving of selection. Our fourth defenseman will be veteran Bryant Williams, who was dealt from Montreal to Boston a little over a month ago. There are a number of very good candidates to round out the blueline but we will go with Spencer Larocque of Detroit and Montreal veteran Shel Herron. It was tough to overlook Chicago's young star defenseman Jesse Santuro, as well as Boston's David Scarpone and Detroit's Alexander Viens, who were tied for the defenseman scoring lead at press time. FORWARDS Adam Vanderbilt of Detroit and New York's Orval Cabbell are two of our three centers. If he is healthy enough to play we will always make room for Chicago's Tommy Burns but if Burns can't go then second year Motors centre Ben Witt will get the call to be the third line pivot. Nick Tardif of Detroit was the top rookie in the league last season and should be an all-star team member this time around. Veteran Boston Bees star Tommy Hart will be the second line left winger and we will call on Montreal's Adam Sandford for third line duties. 22-year-old rookie right winger Louis Rocheleau is one big reason the Detroit Motors offense is hitting on all cylinders. He earns a spot on the first line with Boston's Jacob Gron and Marty Mahoney of the Chicago Packers rounding out the team. Mahoney has not a great season by his standards but few are really standing out on the right side so he is being recognized for his lengthy career and still an acceptable campaign. The breakdown by team is: Boston 5, Detroit 4, New York 4, Montreal 2, Chicago 2.  Code:
NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 30 16 9 5 102 79 37
Boston 30 16 12 2 91 82 34
Detroit 31 12 15 4 106 98 28
New York 29 12 13 4 76 84 28
Montreal 28 11 13 4 79 90 26
Chicago 30 12 17 1 84 105 25
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 30 18 20 38
Galbraith, Tor 30 16 17 33
Vanderbilt, Det 29 18 14 32
Tardif, Det 31 14 18 32
Sauer, Tor 30 14 17 31
Cabbell, NY 29 18 11 29
Carlson, Tor 27 5 24 29
Rocheleau, Det 29 5 23 28
Hart, Bos 29 12 13 25
Parker, Tor 30 12 13 25
Skinner, Mon 28 11 14 25
Witt, Det 28 10 15 25
McKenzie, Det 31 8 17 25
T Burns, Chi 19 17 7 24
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Broadway, Tor 26 13 8 5 2 2.58
Chasse, Det 13 6 5 0 1 2.70
James, Bos 25 12 11 2 3 2.74
Brockers, Mon 18 7 8 1 2 2.76
Tremblay, NY 26 10 12 4 2 2.79
Hanson, Chi 21 7 13 1 2 3.20
Touhey, Det 17 5 20 2 1 3.53
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS MONDAY DECEMBER 27 Detroit 2 at 6 Montreal: Claude LeClerc scored twice and Tom Brockers made 35 saves as the Montreal Valiants snapped a 2-game skid with a 6-2 victory over Detroit. Nick Tardif gave Detroit the lead with the only goal of the first period but the Vals scored 4 in the second frame to take control of the contest and chase form Montreal netminder Millard Touhey from the Motors net. New York 0 at 3 Chicago: Still no Tommy Burns as the Packers star was not quite ready to return from injury but Norm Hanson delivered a late Christmas present to frustrated Packers fans in the form of a 27 save shutout. Leon Seguin scored twice in the first period and Jarrett McGlynn added one in the second frame to give Chicago a 3-0 win over the New York Shamrocks. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 29 Detroit 1 at 2 Boston: First period goals from Jacob Gron and Alex Gagnon stood up as Boston handed Detroit its second straight loss. Alexis Leveille was the lone Motors marksman, with a powerplay goal in the third period but Detroit, despite outshooting Boston 12-7 in the third period could not put the equalizer past Oscar James. THURSDAY DECEMBER 30 Montreal 2 at 2 Toronto: After beating Montreal twice early in the season the defending Challenge Cup champion Toronto Dukes are winless in 3 against the Vals after the clubs skated to a 2-2 tie at the Dominion Gardens on Thursday. It marked the third tie game in a row for Jack Barrell's boys, who benefitted from goals by Charlie Brown and Lou Galbraith.. Wayne Augustin and Brett Lanceleve were the Montreal snipers. FRIDAY DECEMBER 31 New York 1 at 4 Boston: Fans at Denny Arena started their New Years Celebrations early by witnessing a 4-1 victory by the hometown Bees. The game was knotted at 1 unti the third period when Boston struck three times on goals from Robert Walker, Alex Gagnon and Garrett Kauffeldt. It was New York's 4th loss in the last 5 games and 6th in the last 8 and completed a December that saw the Shamrocks struggle with a 3-7-2 record. SATURDAY JANUARY 1 Boston 6 at 3 New York: No rest for either club as the renew acquaintances at Bigsby Garden the next day and the Shamrocks start the new year off right with a 6-3 victory. Tom Brescia was the hero for the Greenshirts with a hat trick while Gil Corbeil had a goal and two helpers. Chicago 6 at 4 Detroit: Watch out, the Packers are suddenly hot as the Chicago club won its fourth straight game while handing the Motors their third consecutive defeat. Max Ducharme paced the Packers with a goal and three helpers as they built a 5-0 lead in a period and a half as Henri Chasse played like he was nursing some New Years induced ailments in the Detroit net. Toronto 1 at 4 Montreal: Toronto's string of three straight ties ended but not the way the Dukes wanted as they fell 4-1 to Montreal and are winless in their last four games against the Vals. Ian Doyle opened the scoring for the Valiants in the first period and Clarence Skinner increased their lead with a pair of goals in the second frame before Lou Galbraith finally solved Tom Brockers, who was outstanding in the Montreal net, midway through the third period. Brett Lanceleve's goal with just over 6 minutes remaining dashed any hopes of a Dukes comeback. SUNDAY JANUARY 2 Detroit 3 at 4 Chicago: The Packers won for the fifth straight game and are now just 3 points out of a playoff spot despite their dreadful start. Marty Mahoney had a goal and 2 assists to lead the way in a 4-3 victory that saw Mike Van Tol's tally midway through the third period account for all the scoring in the final stanza and secure the victory despite a pair of Nick Tardif goals for Detroit. The slumping Motors have lost 4 in a row. New York 2 at 5 Toronto: Toronto picked up its first win since December 15 with a 5-2 victory over New York, preventing the Shamrocks from moving past Detroit into sole possession of third place in the NAHC standings. Quinton Pollack scored twice for the Dukes to raise his league leading goal total to 18 on the season. UPCOMING GAMES WEDNESDAY JANUARY 5 New York at Chicago Toronto at Boston THURSDAY JANUARY 6 Detroit at Boston Montreal at Chicago SATURDAY JANUARY 8 Montreal at Detroit Toronto at Chicago SUNDAY JANUARY 9 Chicago at Boston Detroit at Toronto New York at Montreal MONDAY JANUARY 10 NAHC All-Stars at Toronto AROUND THE LEAGUE The NAHC player poll results are in and here is who the players feel is the best in each category: BEST SKATER and FASTEST SKATER: Tommy Burns, Chicago HARDEST SHOT: Spencer Larocque, Detroit TOUGHEST PLAYER: Bert McCalley, New York CLEANEST PLAYER: Bobbie Sauer, Toronto SMARTEST PLAYER: Philippe Dubois, Toronto MOST UNDERRATED: Louis Rocheleau, Detroit TOUGHEST GOALIE TO BEAT: Millard Touhey, Detroit COACH YOU'D LIKE TO PLAY FOR: Badger Rigney, Detroit On New Year's Day 16,635 patrons jammed Montreal Arena for a rematch of the two Canadian teams. Vals seemed to take energy from the crowd buzzing around the Toronto cage early being reward when Ian Doyle scored from Claude LeClerc and Lanceleve just past the 5 minute mark. The second period saw closer to NAHC level action after four straight periods of lower level play. Dukes peppered Tom Brockers with 15 shots but could not put anything by the 33-year-old, who recently moved form Boston to Montreal. Clarence Skinner had more luck around the Dukes cage knocking in two rebounds to put Montreal up 3-0 when the Zamboni reappeared to clean the ice. Galbraith finally got a puck behind Brockers to close the gap to two at 8:27 mark of the third when he tapped in a loose puck to end a wild goal mouth scramble, the Dukes continue to press to no avail, Lanceleve put an end to thoughts of a comeback with a shot that seem to dip on Broadway from the right hand faceoff dot. Vals manage to take 3 points of 4 with the 4-1 victory. A quick trip to Gare Centrale de Montreal to board the train to Union Station the Dukes arrived home in the wee hours of Sunday morning in advance of a late afternoon encounter with the Shamrocks at home. Dominion Garden saw a team that appeared to find its form after two lackluster performances against Montreal. Pollock netted his 17th on the power play from Bobbie Sauer and Galbraith to give the Dukes the lead. However, Paul Tetreault knotted the game at 1 on a point shot early in the second that left the 13,534 patrons a little nervous. The Dukes calmed the fans uneasiness by tallying three times in 10 minutes with Alex Lavalliere, Galbraith and Dick Zimmerman all finding the area behind Etiene Tremblay in the Shamrocks net giving the home team a 4-1 lead after two. Pollock converted for the second time with a man advantage just past the halfway point of the third sealing the game for intents and purposes at 5-1 although Mike Laforme made the score a little more respectable at 18:23 scoring in tight on Broadway. The 5-2 win allowed the Dukes to maintain 3 point lead over Boston in the standings. Coach Barrell: "The holiday season is now past us, we get back into our routine. The last game of 1948 was exactly what I was afraid of, rusty, slow, uninspired we were lucky to get away with a point. Saturday in Montreal Brockers stoned us although our defensemen failure to clear rebounds gave them two tap ins. You have to tie up the man or clear the puck cannot failure to do both or the linesmen is picking the puck out of your net. Game against NY was much, much better something to build on this week in practice before we head out to Boston for Wednesday night's encounter."
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FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Brooklyn 16 7 .696 Washington 15 7 .682 Philadelphia 16 8 .667 Rochester 14 8 .636 Baltimore 11 10 .524 Hartford 9 13 .409 New York 7 15 .318 Boston 8 17 .320 Syracuse 2 21 .087 WEST W L PCT Chicago 17 5 .773 Cleveland 15 6 .714 Detroit 12 9 .571 Cincinnati 12 11 .525 Buffalo 9 12 .429 Pittsburgh 8 14 .364 Toronto 7 15 .318  ONLY FOUR SCHOOLS REMAIN PERFECT AS CALENDAR FLIPS TO 1949 The AIAA has never seen a team finish with an undefeated record and the candidates to do so this season are greatly dwindling. We are down to just four schools, all not coincidentally ranked within this week's top twenty-five poll, that have yet to lose. The undefeated teams are headed by #2 Western Iowa, at 8-0. The Canaries will almost certainly not remain undefeated for long as they are less than three weeks away from embarking on the very difficult Great Lakes Alliance section games. Senior Willy Ludwick is the team leader and a candidate to go first overall in the June FBL draft, but he has plenty of help from fellow senior Charlie Maynard. The Canaries have made the AIAA tournament each of the past ten years including a title game appearance in 1939 and as far as the semi-finals four years later. Frankford State has the most wins as the Owls upped their record to 16-0 with a win early last week over Allentown State. The biggest challenge in their way to a perfect season is likely January 31 when they head to Philadelphia to face top ranked Liberty College. The Owls are, for the most part, a one-man team and rely very heavily on senior center David Aponte, who is third in the nation with an average of 17.4 points-per-game. 7th ranked Mississippi A&M (10-0) is led by junior center Billy Bob Leveau and senior guard Greg Randle. The Generals have yet to play a ranked team and the win over Red River State yesterday was just the 4th squad with a winning record the Generals have faced. They do have Darnell State coming up on January 26 and if both stay unbeaten it will be one of the latest matchups ever between two unbeaten schools. Darnell State (8-0) is the final of the four unbeaten teams, and the Legislators are hoping the quick start gets them back to the AIAA tournament for the first time since the spring of 1938. None of their opponents have been particularly strong thus far so the January 26 showdown at Jackson, Ms. will be their first big test. Survive that and a pair of Southwestern Alliance conference showdowns with Texas Gulf Coast might be all that stands in Darnell State's way from entering the tournament without a loss. They have a balanced offense with four strong players in seniors Hector Early and Irwin Nelson along with Donnie Bryant, a junior, and sophomore forward Paul McCreary. It was a week that went according to script for the top schools with no changes, aside from some minor shuffling of spots, in the ten schools that top the rankings.  LAST WEEK'S RESULTS INVOLVING TOP 10 TEAMS MONDAY DECEMBER 27 #2 Western Iowa 57 (Willy Ludwick 19 pts) Poweshiek 37 TUESDAY DECEMBER 28 #1 Liberty College 52 (Luther Gordon 20) Brooklyn State 42 #4 Carolina Poly 59 (James Halle 18) Lubbock State 51 #5 North Carolina Tech 60 (Chris Hermann 14) Topeka State 55 #6 Frankford State 69 (David Aponte 16) Allentown State 55 #8 Detroit City College 69 (Chris Corbett 18) Garden State 68 (OT) #10 Coastal California 58 (Chris Martines 18) Valley State 41 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 29 #9 Lane State 55 (Clarence Tutt 15) George Fox 32 THURSDAY DECEMBER 30 #1 Liberty College 58 (Edgar Stillwell 18) Lubbock State 45 #2 Western Iowa 61 (Charlie Maynard 16) Eastern Kansas 55 #3 St Blane 54 (Josh Samuels 12) Orrville 38 #8 Detroit City College 57 (Jackie Bratton 12) College of Omaha 50 #10 Coastal California 61 (Blocker, Lincoln 11 each) Boulder State 37 FRIDAY DECEMBER 31 #4 Carolina Poly 62 (Major Belk 17) Dickson 54 #7 Mississippi A&M 42 (Billy Bob Leveau 13) Mississippi Tech 34 #9 Lane State 54 (Hilly Hanks 18) Alexandria 47 SATURDAY JANUARY 1 #3 St Blane 49 (Cy Worley 14) Provo Tech 34 #8 Detroit City College 57 (Jackie Bratton 14) Pittsburgh State 38 SUNDAY JANUARY 2 #4 Carolina Poly 64 (James Halle 25) Brooklyn State 41 #5 North Carolina Tech 65 (Chris Hermann 25) Eastern State 57 #7 Mississippi A&M 64 (Greg Randle 20) Red River State 41 #9 Lane State 57 (Carl Casswell 12) Michigan Lutheran 31 HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MELANSON, DESMARAIS FIGHT APPROACHES While it will not be for the world title after a controversial decision in Montreal gave the middleweight crown to Canadian Adrian Petrie, there is still plenty of buzz regarding the third bout between popular Pittsburgh pugilist Frank "The Tank" Melanson and well-known Frenchman Edouard Desmarais. The duo is well acquainted with each other having split their first two meetings, both with the world title at stake. Melanson prevailed in Boston in October of 1946 when he scored a third round knockout but Desmarais, after returning to France for a spell to defend his European belt, crossed the Atlantic last spring and won by a fifth round TKO in the rematch July 10 in Philadelphia. Few know what to expect in the rubber match as each fighter is capable of big things, but there are some rumblings that Desmarais, still just 32, is starting to look like his better days are well behind him. It has been quite an eventful life for the great Frenchman, known as The Casablanca Clouter. Close to a title shot in 1940, he had his career interrupted, and his country taken by the Nazis, forcing him into hiding and later he resurfaced as part of the French Resistance after the Allies had retaken Paris. It is somewhat of a surprise that this fight with Melanson is even happening as the ABF had ruled Petrie owed Desmarais a rematch after the controversial decision in Montreal but Desmarias elected to honour his agreement with Melanson, which most had expected would be a title fight. Melanson's story, while certainly not as exciting, still is a unique one. He was still working fulltime in a Pittsburgh steel factory and had to beg for time off so he could face Archie Rees for the world title in Philadelphia in 1945. He staged a shocking upset and then had some memorable fights, including a pair of doozies with Todd Gill during a career that has seen Melanson become perhaps even more popular, certainly with the working man, than perhaps even heavyweight king Hector Sawyer. Melanson has held the belt twice, losing it briefly to John Edmonds before winning the rematch, and hopes for a third opportunity but first he will need to take care of business with Desmarais on Saturday. TWIFB LATEST QUARTERLY RANKING OF TOP BOXERS IN EACH WEIGHT CLASS  UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 1/02/1949
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-27-2023 at 12:58 PM. |
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10-30-2023, 09:44 AM
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#815 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 9,715
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January 10, 1949
JANUARY 10, 1949 FABL DRAFT IS UNDERWAY For the second time in three years the Toronto Wolves led off the FABL amateur player draft thanks to a positive outcome in the league's draft lottery. In what is considered a very deep talent group at the top of the draft but perhaps lacking that one player who towers above the rest, the Wolves went with TWIFB's choice as the top prospect by selecting 18-year old shortstop John Wells out of Philadelphia's Northeast Catholic High School. Wells, a two-time High School All-American selection entering his senior season this spring, is the second consecutive shortstop to be selected first overall after the Washington Eagles started things off a year ago by drafting Coastal State's two-time Christian Trophy winner Tom Miller with the first pick. Next up was the Boston Minutemen, who had their eye on Rick Masters right from the start. The Brooklyn high schooler is, like Wells, a two-time high school All-American and has the power potential that prompted OSA head Dan Barrell to draw comparisons to the scouting guru's famous slugger of a brother Bobby Barrell. Masters is the grandson of former minor league outfielder Gene Masters, who spent some time with Los Angeles in the coast league when it was still considered a AAA loop. *** Third Pick Connected to Famous Barrell Family *** The third pick also has a family connection. It would be Jim Bob Daniels, who is the half-brother of Cannons pitching ace Deuce Barrell and the great-nephew of Possum Daniels, the long-time OSA scout and former minor league catcher. It is convoluted path for the relationship to Deuce as Jim Bob's grandfather is Cooter Daniels, who was a corner man/trainer for Joe Barrell, when he was a boxer. Cooter's son married Joe's ex-wife Edna after they separated. What is less convoluted is Daniels' skill at the hot corner. OSA sees him having a chance to play in multiple all-star games. Daniels, the first college player selected this draft, is a two-sport star as he is presently also competing for Alabama Gulf Coast's cage team, where the junior is a reserve guard averaging 1.2 points per game for the 3-10 Privateers. With the fourth selection in the draft the Philadelphia Keystones went with the elder of the two Berry brothers, selecting Don Berry out of Grange College. The 20-year-old was originally a 6th round pick of Cleveland in 1946 but could not come to terms on a deal with the Foresters and went to Grange College where he was a two-time All-American as well as MVP of the 1947 Collegiate World Series, which his club won. Berry was also a high school All-American once making him what is believed to be the only player to be named both a high school and college baseball All-American. Fifth overall selection Eddie Dickey, out of Lutheran High School in Baltimore, was also an All-American. He was tabbed by the New York Stars and one pick later the New York Gothams selected the first pitcher to be chosen this draft. That would be 17-year-old Vern Osborne, out of Montgomery City High School in Missouri. Some observers felt selecting a pitcher that high might have been a bit of a reach, but the Gothams clearly drafted for need and OSA feels Osborne has the potential to be a middle of the rotation arm. At number seven the Cincinnati Cannons drafted Dallas Berry, younger brother of Don Berry and a former high school All-American at Wellsville High in Missouri. The two Berry brothers become the first siblings selected in the opening round of the draft since the Schneider triplets, Skipper, Buddy and Bart were chosen with three successive selections in 1939. The Chicago Chiefs followed at the eighth spot with the choice of third baseman Ed Bloom. Bloom is another college player -the third one drafted in the top eight choices- and plays for American Atlantic. Next up was Brooklyn with another infielder as the Kings, who had reported interest in Bloom, were quite happy to end up with the hometown boy as they selected second sacker Buddy Byrd out of Brooklyn's Lane High School. The Washington Eagles drafted a college shortstop with their first pick for the second year in a row, selecting Lane State's Tom Perkins with the 10th choice. It was quite a drop for Perkins, the second team All-American a year ago, as TWIFB had him second in its August mock draft. Perkins missed out on the first team All-American squad a year ago because that spot went to Tom Miller, who was the shortstop the Eagles nabbed first overall a year ago. The Cleveland Foresters selected 11th and their pick was just the second pitcher to go off the board. The opinions from scouting directors around the league was somewhat polarizing on the youngster known as "The South Bend Sling" but he has been a fixture in the TWIFB first round rankings for this class since our first assessment two years ago and OSA, while stopping short of labeling Patterson an ace, feels he will likely be a #2 starter for most teams. Each of the first eleven selections were all part of TWIFB's August mock first round. The first one that did not was the 12th choice, athletic center fielder Joe Fulgham. Motor City fans might not be happy to hear the All-American halfback from St Blane was the Dynamos choice, but those feelings are likely far less hostile this year after Detroit City College nosed out the two-time reigning grid champion Fighting Saints for top spot. Detroit Scouting Director Fred Barrell calls Fulgham a Pablo Reyes-type with perhaps a little more power potential than the longtime Saints and Miners star who is finishing out his career with the Chicago Chiefs. Fulgham still has a year of eligibility remaining at St Blane after this baseball season is over so the Dynamos may have so work to do to convince him to forego it. The Chicago Cougars love to draft middle infielders and centerfielders and they went with the former with the choice of Biff Tiner with the 13th selection of the opening round. The 17-year-old second baseman has put up pretty solid numbers as a three year starter at Elkin High School in North Carolina and OSA sees him as a .310 hitter with above average power for a second baseman. Third baseman George Scott becomes the sixth college player selected in the first round as the Pittsburgh Miners went with the Mississippi Tech infielder at pick 14. Scott was originally a third round pick of Cleveland in the 1946 draft but opted to play college ball instead. As a freshman with the Cougars in 1947 he was a second team All-American. The 15th choice went to the two-time defending Continental Association champion Philadelphia Sailors and they made Ray Hughes the sixth outfielder to be chosen. A Milwaukee native, the 17 year old projects to be an elite big-league center fielder according to Dan Barrell and the staff at OSA. The St Louis Pioneers, fresh off their second consecutive World Championship Series victory, completed the first round with the selection of Texas-born high school outfielder King Brucker to make 10 of the 16 first rounders come out of the high school ranks and is the seventh outfielder chosen in the opening round. The FABL draft will continue in the days ahead but none of the players will be permitted to negotiate contracts with the organizations until the complete of the high school season and Collegiate World Championship Series in June.  DYNAMOS DRAFT FIGHTING SAINT HALFBACK WITH TOP PICK The draft lottery did not do the Detroit Dynamos any favours as the club ended up with 12th selection in both the first and second rounds, far worse than had been expected, or at least hoped for. In all remaining rounds the Detroit ballclub will select 6th on the basis of their 6th place showing in the Federal Association last season. Detroit City College fans may not like the news but the Dynamos were very excited to end up with St Blane Fighting Saints centerfielder Joe Fulgham, who pulls double duty in Latrobe as he is also an All-American halfback for the Saints grid outfit and played a key role the past two seasons on a team that nosed out DCC for the national title two years ago and finished just behind the Knights in second place this time around. The Watertown, CT. native has said he hopes to return to St Blane for his senior football season but also is eager to start his pro ball career so the Dynamos may try to work out a deal allowing Fulgham to leave the organization early and be on campus for the start of the grid season in late September. That is if he is not in Detroit first. Fulgham cannot join the organization until the completion of the Collegiate World Championship Series, an event his St Blane club is hoping to participate in. That would be late June and while the Dynamos hold some hope he may be fast-tracked and called-up to the big league club before the season concludes in October, the more likely scenario is he splits time between AA and AAA and challenges for a big league job in 1950. It was no secret around town that the player the Dynamos coveted was another two-sport college star in third baseman Jim Bob Daniels, who also suits up for the Alabama Gulf Coast basketball team, but Daniels was chosen third by the Montreal Saints. "We knew Daniels was off the table when we received word that we ended up with the number 12 pick," explained Dynamos Scouting Director Rollie Barrell. "We were mildly surprised he went 3rd as we thought anywhere from five to ten might have given us a shot at him but obviously the Saints saw the same thing we did in Daniels. But we are elated to get Fulgham, who was always on our radar and became our number one objective after the first 4 or 5 selections came off the board." *** Dynamos Future Looks Very Bright *** Dynamos manager Dick York is giddy at the prospects of his outfield in the near future, noting that Fulgham and Edwin Hackberry will "cover a lot of ground out there." Going forward the Detroit lineup looks potentially very strong. Here is out projection for the 1951 edition of the team.CATCHER- Rick York and rising young prospect Lew Mercer will split the role in a platoon although the Dynamos would love to find an all-star level catcher. FIRST BASE- Dino Sharp: first rounder last year is a top ten OSA prospect with loads of power SECOND BASE- Del Johnson- for at least the next decade SHORTSTOP - Stan Kleminski- like Johnson will be a fixture in infield but may eventually shift to third base THIRD BASE- Tommy Griffin likely will retain the job but top 100 prospect Jim Gaiter may challenge. CENTER FIELD- Edwin Hackberry- will be just 24 two-years from now and another player who will be locked into the lineup for at least another decade. RIGHT FIELD- A number of choices here but the nope is converted first baseman John Morrison, a top 50 prospect and 1947 first round pick who has power comparable to Dino Sharp, will be able to provide at least acceptable defense. If not, there is current first baseman Dick Estes, who was drafted as an outfielder, and 1946 3rd overall selection Tommy Allenby, whose stock has dropped but may still pan out, as other options. LEFT FIELD- Joe Fulgham will be counted on to shift from center and between he and Hackberry give the Dynamos to of the better defensive outfielders in the league. If all goes according to plan Fulgham will be the leadoff man followed by Kleminski and Hackberry to set the table for the big lumber of Sharp and Morrison. The 1951 batting order would look like this (with their ages in 1951) 1- Joe Fulgham LF age 22 2- Stan Kleminski SS 24 3- Edwin Hackberry CF 24 4- Dino Sharp 1B 21 5- John Morrison RF 21 or Dick Estes 26 6- Del Johnson 2B 27 7- Tommy Griffin 3B 25 8- Rick York 31 vs RHP and Lew Mercer 23 vs LHP The Dynamos project to be just as young and as talented on the mound in two years time with a rotation headed by Carl Potter, who had 22 years of age already owns 57 career FABL victories. 1951 Dynamos Projected Rotation and ages that year 1- Carl Potter LHP 24 2- Jack Miller RHP 24 3- Bill Sohl RHP 31 4- Fred Washington RHP 22 5- Roy Schaub RHP 24 With Wally Hunter, age 29, Harry Sharp (31) and Jack Halbur (21) also available. The Dynamos have some outstanding mound depth in their pipeline right now, and that is beyond young ace Potter who is, at age 22, already preparing for his fifth full FABL season. Jack Miller is also 22 and club's second round pick out of Red River State is expected to make his Detroit debut sometime this season. OSA has him presently as the fourth best pitching prospect in the game and Miller is one of four arms the scouting service places in the top 100 overall. The others are still a year or two away from their big league debuts but hope remains high for Washington, Schaub and Halbur. *** Barrell Left His Mark, But Now Leaving Town *** It is clear that Fred Barrell, as the head of the Detroit scouting team the past three years, has had a big impact on the direction the club has gone and built nicely on the solid base that had been in place prior to his arrival. However, Barrell is expected to announce immediately after the January portion of the draft is completed that he is leaving the organization and will take over the vacant managerial job in Toronto. Fred has made it no secret that while he enjoyed scouting, his passion was in the day-to-day running of a ballclub so the Dynamos gave him their blessing to move to Toronto where he will join his brother Jack - head of the NAHC's Toronto Dukes- as coaches in the Canadian city. He will also have an opportunity to match wits in the dugout with another brother as Tom Barrell is the manager of the Continental Association's Brooklyn Kings.   DESMARAIS SURVIVES SPLIT DECISION OVER MELANSON IN DECIDING BOUT OF TRILOGY Bigsby Garden, New York, N.Y. – Frank Melanson (33-2-2, 7 KO) vs. Edouard Desmarais (42-2-0, 33 KO) – Referee: Jimmy Hooper AUTHOR’S NOTE: I know the title of this column is “Title Talk”, but I wanted to cover this fight, my first in this space that did not have a title on the line. But, when two former champs get together with their hopes of getting another title shot up for grabs, it is worth my time and your time. Frank Melanson, the two-time former Middleweight Champion, entered Bigsby Garden as just another fighter on this night. Melanson had defended his belt in the ring mecca twice, one in a memorable “majority draw” against Todd Gill and a unanimous decision against Nick Harris. This was the third bout between Melanson and the Fighting Frenchman, Edouard Desmarais. In their first meeting back in 1946, Melanson made quick work of Desmarais for his third successful title defense, knocking him out in the third round in Boston. Desmarais took the belt away from Frank “The Tank” in Philadelphia last July in their rematch, but he promptly lost it in his next bout against the current titleholder, Adrian Petrie. This completion of the Melanson-Desmarais trilogy was agreed upon for at least four months, as they planned another title fight, but Desmarais’s loss to Petrie – specifically, the way the fight ended – caused a problem. The decision to give the hometown Petrie the Middleweight belt was controversial, as well the mandate from the sanctioning body. The ABF declared a rematch must be consummated between Petrie and Desmarais, but Desmarais, a man of his word, decided to honor the commitment to Melanson rather than go back on his promise. In the lead-up to this fight, both combatants had nothing but respect and friendly words for each other. These are two men who have won and lost the Middleweight title and while they are both trying for another shot, they are both on back side of their careers and yearn for the harkening back of those halcyon days when they both walked as champions. Since this was not a title fight, the bout was only scheduled for ten rounds. The length of the fight had to favor Desmarais, as the Frenchman has had 33 wins by knockout and Melanson has been used to going the distance with only seven wins by knockout. The first big shot landed early in the second round, as Desmarais drilled Melanson with two uppercuts and a hook that all connected and staggered Frank the Tank. Desmarais controlled the pace and the tempo for the first half of the fight. Melanson could not generate any momentum or pierce Desmarais’s defenses with any big punches until late in the fifth round, which is when the bout turned. In the final seconds of the fifth round, Melanson unleashed a winning hook that almost felled the Frenchman. As the bell sounded, both fighters clearly ignored the signal and continued to box. For the first time all fight, both puglists were on even footing, firing away. It was a shame the round was only three minutes long or more to the point, that it took Melanson so long to wake up. Whatever the reason, Melanson carried this momentum into the sixth round and continued going to his hook, which was his best punch on this night. If Melanson was a knockout artist, the sixth round would have been his time to end the proceedings. But Melanson could not put Desmarais away. Desmarais escaped and went back to work and added to his lead on points. Desmarais went to the uppercut throughout the fight and connected on a few big ones. It was the ninth round that was arguably Desmarais’s best, as he connected on three Big Boppers in 28 seconds, each on uppercuts. After that third uppercut, Melanson’s right eye started to swell and while it did not affect him during the remainder of the fight, that dominant turn in the ninth was enough to give the Fighting Frenchman the eventual victory. Referee Jimmy Hooper announced the scoring and raised Desmarais’s hand in triumph. The crowd appreciated the effort put forth by both former champions and it was an honest and fair result, something that has been questioned in the boxing world lately. The fight was about as split as it could be. If you look at the judges’ cards, five rounds were scored the same, with the third, eighth and ninth rounds going for Desmarais and the sixth and tenth rounds in the bag for Melanson. If you look at the statistics, Melanson landed more punches per round (27 to 21) and he was very precise (43.1% punches landed), but Desmarais outpointed Melanson on Big Boppers, 14 to 2. Ringside, it was clear to see that Desmarais did more damage with the punches he landed. Desmarais (43-2-0) is 33 and may be past his prime, but The Fighting Frenchman has the luxury of waiting out the next Middleweight title fight between Adrian Petrie and Danny Morse before he makes his next move. As a challenger, he is at the mercy of the champion’s management to get another shot, but a 33-year-old with the cachet of a championship pedigree would be a target for either Petrie or Morse, especially more than a fast-riser like Tommy Campbell. A rematch against Petrie would certainly interest the public and if Morse pulls an upset, Desmarais would be licking his chops. Sadly, this might be the last we see of Frank “The Tank” Melanson (33-3-2). The former “People’s Champion” was as popular a champ as I can remember. In the last three-and-a-half years, Melanson was a nobody, won his unlikely title shot, lost his belt after a couple of successful defenses, won it back, and lost it just as soon as he recaptured his glory. Now, his title-chasing days may be over. Where will Melanson go? Back to the factory? No way. There is a better chance Hollywood may come calling. He has an amazing story that needs to be told. BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS Round 1: None Round 2: Desmarais, 3-0 (0:21 uppercut, 0:37 uppercut/head, 0:51 hook) Round 3: Desmarais, 1-0 (1:02 hook/jaw) Round 4: None Round 5: Tied, 1-1 (M: 2:44 hook; D: 0:25 combination) Round 6: Melanson, 1-0 (0:52 left hook/body) Round 7: Desmarais, 2-0 (0:48 hook, 1:09 combo) Round 8: Desmarais, 2-0 (2:19 hook, 2:49 right/head) Round 9: Desmarais, 4-0 (0:49 uppercut, 1:03 uppercut, 1:17 uppercut, 2:22 right/midsection) Round 10: Desmarais, 1-0 (2:00 right/ribs) TOTAL: Desmarais 14, Melanson 2 UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
GRID PEACE TALKS STALL Number of Clubs Sticking Point As New Orleans Will Not Fold Pro Football's cold war was resumed today as the American Football Assocation and the Continental Conference failed to reach an agreement to unite and end three years of fiscal warfare that has blasted both sides. Representatives from both leagues wrapped up two days of talks in a Philadelphia hotel on Tueday, and, regrettably, a consensus remains a distant dream. The hope, though, is that the door remains ajar for further negotiations, as one major sticking point continues to divide the sides. In a seemingly pivotal breakthrough, the well-established AFA agreed to welcome two CFC franchises into its fold for the upcoming season, thereby expanding their ranks to 12 clubs. The target cities for this expansion are the highly sought-after markets of San Francisco and Los Angeles, each slated to receive brand new 50,000-seat stadiums for football and baseball. The thinking, according to Washington Wasps President Homer Bentley, was that the CFC champion San Francisco Wings would join the AFA along with the Kansas City Cowboys, who would be shifted to Los Angeles because the midwestern city lacks a viable stadium. Even if Dee Rose, the outspoken owner of the Los Angeles Lobos objected to taking a chunck of the Cowboys ownership in exchange for folding his club, sources say the AFA was willing to consider asking the Cincinnati Tigers to fold or merge with the Cowboys who could then play out of Cincinnati while Rose's Lobos club would be the Los Angeles entry. It all seemed like a done deal as most of the remaining Continental magnates were happy to close up shop after three years of bleeding cash. There was, however, one exception and it ultimately doomed the deal according to an unamed source. That would be William Beauregard and his New Orleans Crescents, East Division champions in the Continental Conference, and possessing a young exciting team. Beauregard has refused any and all offers to fold the team including a reported large cash settlement and the New Orleans native and self-made shipping magnate is determined to see professional football remain in his hometown. Beauregard is said to have brandished the threat of legal action against all the teams in both leagues if any attempt was made to dissolve the CFC without accommodating New Orleans in the new AFA configuration. The AFA owners stand resolute in their rejection of a 14-team league, and thus, a deadlock ensues. At most, the AFA will accomodate three CFC clubs and San Francisco and the Cowboys team must be two of them, regardless where the Cowboys might play next year. The third spot, opening only if an AFA team folds or merges with a CFC club, would have to involve the Los Angeles market which makes Dee Rose's Lobos the likely choice. "We're only this far apart," said the seasoned Detroit Maroons coach, Frank Yurick, gesturing with his fingers to indicate a tiny gap. "But it sometimes feels like an unbridgeable chasm." In this writer's humble opinion, the optimal solution would be to admit the San Francisco Wings, shift the Cowboys from Kansas City to Los Angeles while granting Dee Rose, Lobos owner, partial ownership. To mollify New Orleans, consider a merger between the Crescents and the Cincinnati Tigers, with games initially played at Cincinnati's Tice Memorial Stadium until a suitable venue is constructed in New Orleans. It's a logical fix, but perhaps it's precisely its sensibility that makes it elusive. As things stand, the future holds the prospect of two professional football leagues, both struggling financially, when the autumn leaves return next season. MAJOR SNOW STORM CANCELS ALL-STAR GAME The NAHC all-star game was set to be played in Toronto this evening but a freak snow storm derailed a large passenger train near Oshawa, just east of Toronto and most trains in and out of the city were postponed. The Dukes, who were set to host the game against a team of all-stars, and the Detroit Motors, who had lost in Toronto Sunday evening, were both in town but players from other teams could not arrive. The storm continued east and dumped close to a foot of snow in Montreal also well, trapping the visiting New York Shamrocks, who lost 1-0 to the Valiants Sunday, in town for at least one more day. (Editor's Note: FHM would not let our online league play the all-star game so it had to be deleted. It was to be the defending Cup Champs (Toronto) against the rest of the league and was set up that way but when the rosters were announced it put Toronto players on the all-star squad and left the Dukes with an empty roster for the game with the only fix being delete the contest entirely unfortunately. For some reason it also elected to stage the game in New York)  Code:
NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 33 18 9 6 114 85 42
Boston 33 17 12 4 100 88 38
Montreal 31 14 13 4 86 92 32
Chicago 34 13 19 2 92 117 28
Detroit 34 12 18 4 108 108 28
New York 31 12 15 4 79 89 28
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 33 18 24 42
Galbraith, Tor 33 18 18 36
Sauer, Tor 33 15 19 34
Vanderbilt, Det 32 18 15 33
Tardif, Det 34 15 18 33
Carlson, Tor 30 6 26 32
Cabbell, NY 31 18 11 29
Hart, Bos 32 13 15 28
Rocheleau, Det 30 5 23 28
T Burns, Chi 23 19 8 27
Chandler, Bos 28 9 18 27
Parker, Tor 33 13 13 26
Skinner, Mon 31 11 15 26
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Broadway, Tor 29 15 8 6 3 2.52
Brockers, Mon 20 9 8 2 2 2.57
Chasse, Det 14 6 6 0 1 2.64
James, Bos 28 13 11 2 4 2.65
Tremblay, NY 28 10 14 4 2 2.77
Hanson, Chi 23 8 14 1 2 3.19
Cleghorn, Chi 10 5 4 1 0 3.33
Touhey, Det 19 5 12 2 1 3.58
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 5 New York 3 at 4 Chicago: Tommy Burns returns from a month-long injury and the suddenly hot Packers win for the sixth game in a row. Tommy did not score but did pick up an assist on his brother Wes Burns 5th goal of the season. Moose Vezina led the Packers with a pair of goals as the Shamrocks fell for the fourth time in their last five outings. Toronto 4 at 4 Boston: The top two teams in the league staged a wild second period at Denny Arena before settling for a 4-4 tie following scoreless third frame. Boston scored 3 times in the second with Wilbur Chandler leading the way in earning points on all three of the markers, giving the Bees a 4-1 lead. Toronto score twice in the final 3 minutes of the period including a pair by Lou Galbraith to even the ledger. THURSDAY JANUARY 6 Detroit 1 at 4 Boston: Detroit is now 0-5 since Christmas after Jim Morey scored twice to lead Boston to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Motors. Montreal 4 at 1 Chicago: Montreal is unbeaten in four and snapped Chicago's 6-game winning streak with a 4-1 road win. Tom Brockers made 33 saves in another strong showing in the Valiants net, and 4 different Montreal skaters provided the goals for the winners. SATURDAY JANUARY 8 Montreal 2 at 1 Detroit: The Vals have not lost since Christmas with four wins and a tie in their last five games including a 2-1 victory on the road over Detroit. Brett Lanceleve and John McDonald staked the Vals to a 2-0 lead and only Vincent Arsenault, with a little over 5 minutes remaining in the contest, could beat Tom Brockers in the the Montreal net. Toronto 4 at 2 Chicago: Mike Navarro had two goals and an assist to lead the Toronto Dikes past the Packers 4-2 at Chicago's Lakeside Auditorium. Tommy Burns did get his first goal since returning from injury, notching his 18th of the season but it wasn't enough as the Packers dropped their second game in a row. SUNDAY JANUARY 9 Chicago 1 at 1 Boston: Tommy Burns, with his league-leading 19th goal of the season, scored in the third period to allow the Packers to salvage a point in Boston after Garrett Kauffeldt's second period marker staked the Bees to the lead. For the second time this week the Packers lost a key forward to a knee injury. This time it was Moose Vezina and David Rankin was hurt Wednesday. Each are expected to miss two or three weeks. Detroit 0 at 4 Toronto: Gordie Broadway stopped all 27 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season in leading Toronto to a 4-0 win over slumping Detroit. It was the Motors 7th consecutive loss. New York 0 at 1 Montreal: Despite being outshot 36-15 the Montreal Valiants claimed a 1-0 victory over the New York Shamrocks. Adam Sandford's unassisted powerplay goal midway through the second frame accounted for all of the offense as rookie Pat Beliveau, spelling Tom Brockers, was terrific with a 36 save performance for his second shutout of the season. UPCOMING GAMES TONIGHT NAHC All-Stars at Toronto: cancelled due to snow storm WEDNESDAY JANUARY 12 Boston at Montreal New York at Detroit SATURDAY JANUARY 15 Montreal at Chicago Toronto at New York SUNDAY JANUARY 16 Boston at Chicago Detroit at Montreal New York at Toronto Dukes have lost only once in '49 in 6 outings holding the league's only winning record on the road, at 7-6-4, to go with an 11-3-2 record at Dominion Gardens. The week began with 4-4 draw at Denny Arena in a game in which the Dukes almost doubled the Bs shot total out shooting the home team 38-21. Dukes tested James 14 times in first but only Dubois' shot found the back of the net allowing the score to be tie 1-1 after 20. Maurice Charette was knocked out on a blind side check bordering on a cheap shot early in the first. Reports are that Charette will be out at least another week to 10 days with a head injury believed to be a concussion. The second saw the lamp lit 6 times, 3 by each team in a wildly offensive period. Boston stormed out to 4-1 lead on markers by Bedard, Chandler, Hart in the first 17 minutes of the period. In a furious comeback the Dukes tied the game with 3 in last 3 minutes with Sauer, Galbraith scoring 16 seconds apart starting 30 seconds after going down 4-1. Galbraith tied the game with 18 seconds left in the frame. Both teams settled into a defensive shell during the third to allow each team to take a point. The Packers hosted Saturday night at Lakeside Auditorium before a crowd of over 17,000. Packers opened the scoring when Burns beat Broadway from the slot less than 90 seconds into the game. This proved to be the Packers only lead of the games as Lavalliere tied the game before it was 5 minutes old the Featherstone with his second of the season put Toronto ahead to stay at 16;39. After a scoreless middle frame Navarro put the visitors up 3-1 with less than 4 minutes remaining only to have Ducharme pull Chicago back within one 32 seconds later. Navarro salted the win away with a goal, his second of the period 4th of the year, into a cage vacated by Hanson with 10 seconds to play. After travelling home through heavy snowfall, the Dukes returned to home ice Sunday night against Detroit. Toronto came out flying even after the late arrival into Union Station directing 12 shot at Touhey although only one eluded him, Zimmerman from a tight angle with just over 2 minutes remaining in the opening stanza. In a game punctuated by a number of bone jarring hits the Dukes converted twice in the second with both Parker, on a pretty individual effort, Carlson had their name put in the goal scoring column of the game sheet. Toronto added one more in the third as Roy put one behind Touhey with a snapshot from the point when the Dukes peppered the Motors netminder with 20 shots while preserving Broadway's clean sheet. Broadway is now tied for the league lead in shutouts at 3 with James of Boston. The referees kept a tight rein on proceedings as the game threatened to erupt into a donnybrook at any time, the disdain the teams have for each other was close to boiling over at a number of points during the game. After the game it was announced by a telegram from the league offices that the All-Star game that was supposed to be played tonight in Toronto was cancelled because travel conditions had forced the closure of many rail lines leading into Toronto due to an epic snowstorm blanketing Southern Ontario, Northeastern US. It has been reported that some localities have seen over 3 feet of snow in past 30 hours making travel hazardous if not impossible in the region. Coach Barrell "It is hard to complain about a week without a loss although the game in Boston was not a shining moment. Attacking we were fine although the players forgot the most important part of our game, tenacious backchecking, you should not win a game in this league giving up 4. I also would not want to rely on scoring 3 to tie it in about 2:30, players may have been worried about Maurice's injury but that is no excuse for defensive laziness. Saturday night in Chicago was just a little better, we should not be allowing the opposition to be the aggressor in the game, Chicago dominated the physical play which is not the way the Dukes should play. We want to be first to the puck or the ones removing the puck from the other team by taking the body. A 4-2 win flattered us. I knew the Sunday game would be hard fought with Detroit given the bad blood between the teams. The officials handled the game very well as there were many moments when I thought "Here we go", I kept reminding our players we were winning there was no sense in taking a penalty for stuff after the play. The best news I got was the cancellation of the All-Star game due to weather. I agree with the concept but I think it should be played in early October as a benefit for former players' that have fallen upon hard times not in January when the players are gearing up for a playoff battle. That would have been 3 games in 3 nights for the Dukes, my biggest fear was an injury during a meaningless game in the standings. I was going to tell our players to use a baseball term, to throw a no hitter. even lack of physical play, which sends the wrong signal, does not mean that someone does get hurt, it was a no-win situation for our team." 
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FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Washington 18 7 .720 Brooklyn 19 8 .704 Rochester 16 9 .640 Philadelphia 17 10 .630 Baltimore 13 10 .542 Hartford 9 15 .375 New York 8 16 .333 Boston 8 20 .286 Syracuse 3 22 .115 WEST W L PCT Chicago 19 6 .760 Cleveland 15 7 .696 Detroit 13 9 .591 Cincinnati 14 12 .538 Buffalo 9 14 .391 Pittsburgh 9 16 .360 Toronto 9 17 .346  COAST SECTION PLAY UNDERWAY Another Chance For Dolphins to End 40 Years of Coming Up Short Yesterday brought the first section games of the 1948-49 collegiate cage section as the West Coast Athletic Association always gets an early start on things. A year ago the coast loop, considered along with the Great Lakes Alliance to be the two most competitive confernences, witnessed Redwood University win it's first section title in school history and then go on to win the AIAA National Championship tournament for the first time by knocking off WCAA rival and four-time national champion City College of Los Angeles in the title game at Bigsby Garden. The Mammoths finished with a 12-2 section record a year ago, a game up on both Rainier College and Coastal California. Redwood's tournament title meant that three different WCAA teams have won the national championship joining CC Los Angeles, with its 4 wins including one two years ago and Rainier College, which has won three national titles including back-to-back wins in the spring of 1943 and 1944. In addition Northern Cal, Lane State and Coastal California have all played in the title game. The Dolphins have been to the national championship game three times, most recently in 1940-41, but have never won it all. Coastal California is by far the most successful school in the WCAA, and possibly the entire AIAA except when it comes to tournament titles. The Dolphins have won a record 22 WCAA conference championship including 11 straight in the early days of the sport. Coastal California has also pariticipated in more year-end national tournaments than any other school in the AIAA. This year marks the 40th season of the AIAA basketball championships and Coastal California missed the tournament just once. That is three years ago when they came up short of twenty wins for the first time in school history in finishing with an 18-12 record. A year ago they won their first two tournament contests, but bowed up in the quarter-finals with a heart-breaking 52-50 loss to Texas Gulf Coast. Despite those 38 trips to the tournament and 13 times reaching at least the semi-finals, the Dolphins have never won the big game. Their legendary former coach Art Barrette, who the national player of the year award is named after, retired in 1942 with a record 789 victories and 18 conference titles but despite 12 trips to the national semi-finals, including five straight starting in 1922, he could never win that last game of the season. There is hope that this years pod of Dolphins can finally snap the curse that Bigsby Garden, which annual holds the semi-finals and finals of the national tournament, seems to hold over the school. The Dolphins entered section play with a 12-1 record and boast a veteran squad that returns three starters plus Chris Martines, last year's sixth man that seems poised for a dominant sophomore season. Martines, who was the top high school player in the state of California before joining the Dolphins, and is second in the conference behind only Portland Tech's Robert Ottinger in scoring this season with his 14.3 ppg average. Coastal California usually has a team capable of making noise in the national tounament and this year is no exception, but first they most navigate the challenge that is the WCAA section schedule. The conference regularly sends five and even six teams to the tournament but with increased competition and the ever increasing number of conferences, who each receive one automatic bid, the WCAA only managed to send four teams to the event last year. Two of them, champion Redwood University and runner-up CCLA each made the finals. But Coastal California fans have been waiting for 39 years for their chance. Perhaps the 40th season could be the magical one for the Dolphins?   LAST WEEK'S RESULTS INVOLVING TOP 10 TEAMS MONDAY JANUARY 3 #2 Western Iowa 62 (Charlie Maynard 16 pts) Ellery 27 #3 St Blane 59 (Cy Worley 20) Cesar Rodney 46 #9 Rainier College 75 (Syl Kellogg 19) Campion 46 TUESDAY JANUARY 4 #4 Frankford State 62 (David Aponte 21) Maryland State 60 #7 Lane State 68 (Carl Casswell 16) College of Cairo 49 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 5 #1 Liberty College 59 (Scott Basile 20) College of Omaha 50 #3 St Blane 54 (Cy Worley 17) Bliss College 26 #5 North Carolina Tech 59 (Mike Carter 23) Kansas Agricultural 33 THURSDAY JANUARY 6 #4 Frankford State 49 (Rod Bookman 16) Henry Hudson 40 #6 Mississippi A&M 36 (Greg Randle 16) Capital(MS) University 28 #10 Coastal California 61 (Ton Linclon 13) George Fox 45 FRIDAY JANUARY 7 #1 Liberty College 72 (Luther Gordon 28) Ellery 38 #2 Western Iowa 71 (Charlie Maynard 28) Kansas Agricultural 22 #3 St Blane 57 (Cy Worley 15) St Pancras 31 #9 Rainier College 66 (Thomas Abbott 26) Topeka State 64 OT Elyria 53 Detroit City College 44. Knocked DCC out of top ten SATURDAY JANUARY 8 #5 North Carolina Tech 60 (Mike Carter 23) Brooklyn State 41 SUNDAY JANUARY 9 #2 Western Iowa 70 (Willy Ludwick 23) Great Plains State 51 #3 St Blane 57 (Threadgill, Samuels 12 each) Alexandria 49 #6 Mississippi A&M 56 (Billy Bob Leveau) 56 East Missouri Seminary 50 #7 Lane State 53 (Sherman Porter 16) #10 Coastal California 45 (Chris Martines 10) #9 Rainier College 62 (Thomas Abbott 15) Idaho A&M 54 The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 1/09/1949
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-30-2023 at 10:55 AM. |
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10-31-2023, 12:56 PM
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#816 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 9,715
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January 17, 1949
JANUARY 17, 1949 PIONEERS OWNER INDICTED ON TAX EVASION Feds and State Both Launching Cases Against Dee Rose Dee Rose, the owner of the St. Louis Pioneers and football's Los Angeles Lobos, has been indicted in Federal court for tax evasion. Rose, 60, a native of Los Angeles, California, has been charged with five counts of tax evasion. Missouri state officials have also launched an investigation into the construction contracts for the proposed St. Louis Baseball Palace, a stadium project promised by Mr. Rose in 1940 that has yet to break ground despite "millions of dollars" being paid to a construction company owned by Rose. "He's a crook," said a Treasury Department investigator, speaking anonymously. "The Federal government has no power to investigate racketeering, but I firmly believe that the Missouri State Police will find ample evidence of Rose's ties to organized crime." Reached at his Washington office, Federally Aligned Baseball Leagues President Sam Belton admitted "these charges are serious and if Mr. Rose is found guilty, his ownership of the Pioneers would be at an end." The government is expediting the trial and the Missouri investigation is proceeding apace. It very well may end up being a race to see which entity can be the first to put Mr. Rose behind bars.  PIONEERS ADD INFIELD DEFENSE The two-time defending World Champion St Louis Pioneers made a move during the draft meetings to shore up their defense at shortstop. The move saw the Pioneers acquire Win Hamby from the Detroit Dynamos in exchange for minor leaguer slugging outfielder Bill Parker, who is currently playing in the Cuban Winter League. Hamby is a potentially very big addition for a Pioneers club that saw both Homer Mills and Jackie Washington struggle to handle the defensive challenges of the position and it is quite possible that the sure-handed Hamby may further enhance the reputation of the Pioneers pitching staff, which features two starters that induce a large number of ground balls in Danny Herrn and Hiram Steinberg. Defense has never been a concern for Hamby, who turned 26 last week and is equally adept with the glove on either side of second base and has looked very good in the field at the hot corner as well. In addition to being stuck behind Del Johnson and Stan Kleminski as Detroit's middle infield duo, what has held Hamby back from an everyday role is his lightweight .228 career batting average in 222 big league games. Originally a second round pick of Cincinnati in the 1941 draft, Hamby rose as high as #32 on the OSA prospect rankings but was trade twice in a two month span leading up the 1943 trade deadline. The second trade set him in a large package of players and picks from the Gothams to Detroit in the deal that brought Red Johnson to the Big Apple. He made his big league debut two years ago. Vetrean St Louis manager Hugh Luckey was excited at the addition and already planning how best to structure his infield with the new addition. "Hamby could slide Mills to third, with Jackie (Washington) at second," mused the Pioneers skipper. In Detroit, Dynamos manager Dick York was sad to see Hamby leave but happy he would get an opportunity to play full-time. "We just have so much middle infield competition," explained the Dynamos bench boss. "He is great kid. Hard working. Humble. We felt we owed it to him to send him somewhere that had a chance to play everyday." In return Detroit address a need for a power corner outfield bat in the 24-year-old Parker. A second round selection in 1943, Parker had very impressive numbers in AAA with 34 homers and a .304 batting average in Charleston last season and will be given every opportunity to win a job in the Dynamos outfield desperate for another big power bat. To that end the Dynamos hint there may still be more to come with rumours of talks with several clubs. There is also a story circulating that Al Horton, who turns 40 today, is going to retire and become the head of the Dynamos scouting department when Fred Barrell leaves, as expected, for the managerial opening in Toronto. Horton has long-time ties to the Dynamos General Manager having played for him in Cincinnati before being selected from the Cannons in the rule five draft last season. A natural leader with a tremendous work ethic as a player, the College of San Diego graduate has been shadowing Barrell since the season came to an end. 
MOTORS STALLED - LOSE 9 STRAIGHT A once very promising start to the season has quickly turned into a nightmare for the coach Badger Rigney and his Detroit Motors. The Motors have collapsed to the bottom of the NAHC standings with 9 straight losses and have not won a game since beating Boston on December 21. Injuries have played a role as the Motos have been without star sophomore winger Nick Tardif, who suffered a minor fracture in his shoulder, but much of it has just been poor puck luck for a Detroit team that lost yesterday on a late goal in Montreal and has suffered 5 losses by a single goal during the losing skid. The Motors finished third in the then-7 team NAHC two years ago but missed the playoffs last season, prompting the dismissal of Mark Moore as coach and the arrival of Rigney, a long-time NAHC head man with plenty of experience, but also plenty of experience with tough times as he presided over some terrible Brooklyn teams early in the decade. "We have had a couple of bad games during this stretch," admitted Rigney, "but we also had a few we really should have won with just a break here or there." Rigney quickly dismissed the notion brought up by a Montreal reporter last night after the loss to the Vals, when the scribe asked if he believed that Millard Touhey was cursed. Touhey was the starting goaltender on Montreal clubs that suffered through terrible second half collapses each of the past two seasons before being cut loose by the Vals and signing with Detroit last summer. "Don't be ridiculous," scoffed Rigney. "We, and I mean our entire team, just needs to keep working and the breaks will come." Code:
NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto 35 18 11 6 116 92 42
Boston 35 18 13 4 107 98 40
New York 34 15 15 4 90 94 34
Montreal 34 15 15 4 95 105 34
Chicago 36 15 19 2 102 119 32
Detroit 36 12 20 4 113 115 28
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 35 18 25 43
Galbraith, Tor 35 18 19 37
Cabbell, NY 34 21 15 36
Vanderbilt, Det 34 19 16 35
Sauer, Tor 35 15 19 34
Tardif, Det 34 15 18 33
Carlson, Tor 32 7 26 33
Chandler, Bos 30 13 19 32
Hart, Bos 34 14 17 31
T Burns, Chi 25 20 10 30
Skinner, Mon 34 14 15 29
Rocheleau, Det 31 5 23 28
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Brockers, Mon 22 10 9 2 2 2.57
Broadway, Tor 31 15 10 6 3 2.58
Tremblay, NY 30 12 14 4 2 2.72
Chasse, Det 15 6 7 0 1 2.75
James, Bos 30 14 12 4 3 2.82
Cleghorn, Chi 11 6 4 1 1 3.01
Hanson, Chi 24 9 14 1 2 3.14
Touhey, Det 20 5 13 2 1 3.55
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 12 Boston 7 at 4 Montreal: Boston hands Montreal its first loss since Christmas - ending a 5-0-1 stretch for the Vals- with a 7-4 victory at the Montreal Arena. It was the Wilbur Chandler show as the veteran Bees center scored 4 times and added an assist while his longtime wingman Tommy Hart had a 3 point night. A long evening for Montreal backup netminder Pat Beliveau, who was called on for the start and faced 60 Boston shots. New York 4 at 3 Detroit: Two struggling teams met in the Motor City as the Shamrocks, losers of 5 of their last 6 faced a Detroit club that had lost 7 straight entering the game. Make it eight in a row as Adam Greenham's third period marker was the difference in a 4-3 win for the Greenshirts. Greemham also had two helpers on the night. SATURDAY JANUARY 15 Montreal 2 at 4 Chicago: Tommy Burns scored a goal and added an assist while his brother Wes also scored to lift Chicago to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Valiants. The red-hot Packers have now gone 7-2-1 over their last ten games. Toronto 1 at 3 New York: The Shamrocks won for the second time this week as Simon Savard scored a short-handed goal and added to assists to pace the Greenshirts. Orval Cabbell, with his 20th of the season, and Joe Martin also scored for New York while Phillippe Dubois replied for the Dukes. SUNDAY JANUARY 16 Boston 0 at 6 Chicago: backup netminder Michael Cleghorn notched his first career NAHC shutout with a 27-save effort in the Packers 6-0 win on home ice over the Boston Bees. Six different players lit the lamp for the Packers, who are now just 2 points out of a playoff spot. Detroit 2 at 3 Montreal: Another loss for the stalled Motors, their 9th in a row as Alex MacDonald beat Millard Touhey with just over a minute remaining in the third period to make a winner out of Montreal netminder Tom Brockers. Clarence Skinner had two goals for the Vals. New York 4 at 1 Toronto: The Shamrocks complete a weekend home and home sweep with Toronto and remain tied with Montreal, two points up on fifth place Chicago following a 4-1 win at Dominion Gardens. Orval Cabbell scored his league leading 21st of the season and added two assists while Samuel Coates chipped in with 2 goals for the winners. UPCOMING GAMES Dukes Drop Two To Shamrocks --After digging out from the massive snowstorm that hit the area, the Toronto Dukes lose twice to make the NAHC race far tighter as Boston is now only 2 points behind the Dukes. WEDNESDAY JANUARY 19 Detroit at Chicago New York at Boston Toronto at Montreal THURSDAY JANUARY 20 Montreal at New York SATURDAY JANUARY 22 Montreal at Boston Toronto at Detroit SUNDAY JANUARY 23 Boston at Montreal Chicago at New York Detroit at Toronto After 5 days off the Dukes came out flat in New York's Bigsby Gardens Saturday night losing 3-1. The home team dominated all aspects of the game from the opening puck drop to the final siren. The Shamrocks opened the scoring in the first with Joe Martin converting on passes from Orval Cabbell and Simon Savard almost 10 minutes into the first. New York added two more in the second when Cabbell beat Gordie Broadway on a early power play for his 20th of season then Savard notched a shorthanded goal during the last minute of play in the period. There would be no comeback for the Dukes in a uninspired effort from the team although Dukes rearguard Phillippe Dubois spoiled Alex Sorrell's shutout bid late in the game. Toronto was outshot 34-21, outhit 23-18 and outplayed overall by the Shamrocks. Returning home to Dominion Gardens on Sunday the Dukes dug themselves in to a hole early allowing a goal by Samuel Coates at 3:09 from Mike Laforme and Adam Greenham on a shot from just outside the right side face off circle. Les Carlson tied the score for the Dukes just past the halfway point of the first on quick shot from the faceoff dot that beat Etienne Tremblay high to the glove side. Quinton Pollock and Lou Galbraith drew the assists. Former Duke Laurel Albers restored the Shamrocks lead on passes from Cabbell and Deck Horton at 13:55. Chad Roy took it upon himself to try and bring a little life to the bench by engaging in a tilt with Sam Coates of the Greenshirts but it did not seem to wake the team up for any extended period of time. Cabbell put the Shamrocks up 2 when again the Dukes were victimized early in a period at 1:38 as the second frame was another listless period of hockey by the home side. Coates, with his 5th, wrapped up the scoring in the third with Cabbell and Savard providing the helpers in a 4-1 victory in which Toronto was stifled by the Shamrocks checking and only tested New York netminder Etienne Tremblay 23 times in the game. Coach Barrell was obviously frustrated with the weekend- "What do you want me say? Those were two uninspired games against a team trying to solidify a playoff position. We cannot play without tempo, an edge, a lot of grit. Being out hustled, generally outworked in all areas you see the results. A multitude of things to correct before we go into Montreal Wednesday followed by our archenemies, Detroit, for a back to back this upcoming weekend. I guarantee one thing, a lack of intensity will not be tolerated from anyone. If you don't show up to play our style, take a seat if we go with two lines, fine." MUSTANGS STRUGGLES PALE IN COMPARISON TO MOTORS WOES On December 4 the Detroit Mustangs were 9-3 and looking to challenge the Panthers for West Division dominance. We lost a heartbreaker 94-92 in the Windy City that evening and followed that up with two more losses by no more than 2 points each. That tough week, going 0-3 and losing by a combined total of 5 points seemed to take away all of the Mustangs momentum and we have stumbled since, posting a 5-8 mark including recent losses at the Thompson Palladium to a pair of teams below us in the standings in the Pittsburgh Pilots and Cincinnati Cyclones, both clubs we are trying to hold off in order to claim the first playoff berth in franchise history. Rookie Ward Messer (20.7 ppg, 18.6 rpg) continues to lead the way and has combined with Jack Kurtz (18.3) to help the Mustangs become the second highest scoring team in the league. The Detroit defense, its Achilles heel a year ago, is now middle of the pack but the team needs more consistency and a little more luck in those tight games. Tight games have also been bad news for the local ice quintet as well as the Motors have fallen on hard times. The Detroit hockey club has lost 9 consecutive games with five of those defeats by just a single goal including the heartbreaker in Montreal last night when the Valiants scored with 1:46 remaining in the game to win 3-2. One might say the team is falling apart but with a few breaks they could have easily won or tied any of those 5 games and, had that happened, Detroit would still be in a playoff spot. A closer look may indicate that Badger Rigney's club may have overachieved in the early going and is simply returning to its proper level. Detroit was a bad team last year and really did not make a lot of big changes. However, the young guns took over up front and made the Motors an offensive power. The issue is there remain holes in the back end that need to be plugged and that is something that will take time. It is fair too early to forget about the playoffs this season as anything can happen but Nick Tardif's fractured bone in his shoulder, something he insists he can play through, may be the final straw that ends postseason dreams for the young club this season. Tardif, who was the loop's top rookie a year ago, has averaged nearly a point a game this time around and combined with Adam Vanderbilt and Louis Rocheleau, none older than 24, to form the most dangerous trio the Palladium has seen since Ed Bowlin, Rupert Mohr and a young Miles Barfield carried the club to its first, and only Challenge Cup win a decade ago. There is hope for the future, but like the diamond Dynamos, it requires patience to give it time to mature.
PATRIOTS STRUGGLES EXPLAINED The Hartford Patriots did not win a playoff series in their four seasons in the old American Basketball Conference and finished last in the Eastern Division a year ago. This season in the newly expanded Federal Basketball League they knew they would have their work cut out for them with plenty of stiff competition including former ABC powers Brooklyn and Washington along with FBL defending champion Baltimore and a strong Philadelphia quintet. The results as the season approaches the midway point are decidedly middle of the pack (5th-12th in virtually every category, most 6th-9th), which perhaps suggests they should be slightly better than their 11-16 record shows. Until you look closer and see the Patriots do three things poorly, which costs them wins: assists, blocks, and FT%. We’re fourth in FT%, but it’s 66.4%. Hartford will be without SG David Nations for the next ten days; Lionel Rice was activated; oddly enough, Rice posted great numbers (10.4/6.3/5.1, though with 4.4 TO, but also with 2.4 SPG). I’m not sure why he wasn’t activated before. But it’s clear Rice needs to be in the lineup. Anyway, the Patriots are 11-16 and sitting in 6th place in the 9 squad Eastern Division, despite outscoring opponents (88.5-87.9). One could say tough luck, but if you look deeper, there are reasons for this record. Code:
FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Washington 21 7 .750 Brooklyn 20 9 .690 Philadelphia 18 11 .621 Rochester 17 11 .607 Baltimore 15 12 .556 Hartford 11 16 .407 New York 9 18 .333 Boston 10 21 .323 Syracuse 4 24 .143 WEST W L PCT Chicago 21 7 .750 Cleveland 17 9 .654 Detroit 14 11 .560 Cincinnati 16 13 .552 Pittsburgh 10 18 .357 Toronto 10 18 .357 Buffalo 9 17 .346  COLLEGE CAGES PRIMED, LOOK TO CONFERENCE FIGHTS Most college basket ball teams have put away their big suitcases and brought out their overnight bags. The great mass migration of matchups with clubs on the other side of the country virtually has ended and the business at hand now is turned towards conference championships or back-yard rivalries. They left behind mileage totals that rivaled Stanta Clause after hitting the trail in many cross country treks in search of marquee matchups. The non-section slate is about complete and several conferences have already started their schedule with more to follow this week. The Academia Alliance and Southwestern Alliance both tipped off their section slate a week after the West Coast loop gave the section play contests their lid lifter. Defending National Champion Redwood is off to a quick 2-0 start in the WCAA with early wins over CC Los Angeles and Spokane State. The Dickson Maroons, who have just 3 Academia Alliance titles in 40 years, are the early leaders in that conference with a pair of road wins over Ellery and Pierpont. *** Western Iowa Back On Top *** There are still plenty of non-conference games being held as well including an upset in Philadelphia as the Maryland State Bengals invaded the Liberty College campus and pulled off a dominant 71-53 victory, snapping Liberty's 15 game winning streak and dropping the Bells out of the top spot in the polls. Liberty did not look overly impressive yesterday afternoon either, but the Bells did enough to run their record to 17-2 with a 61-56 victory over ligthweight Bliss College. Western Iowa, which at 13-0 remains one of three unbeaten schools in the nation, regained the top spot in the polls with two more victories this week. The Canaries wrapped up their non-conference schedule with lobsided victories over St Patrick's and Bluegrass State but now must dive head first into the touch Great Lakes Alliance slate beginning with Thursday's visit to Terre Haute to face 11-2 and 13th ranked Indiana A&M in their section opener. Frankford State is now 20-0 after Owls beat University of New Jersey and Three Rivers State this week. Their big test to entering the tournament unbeaten will come on the final day of this month when they are in Philadelphia to face #3 Liberty College. The other unbeaten is Mississippi A&M as the Deep South is 14-0 and ranked 5th in the polls.  LAST WEEK'S RESULTS INVOLVING TOP 10 TEAMS MONDAY JANUARY 10 #3 Liberty College 51 (Luther Gordon 16) Tallmadge State 36 #6 Carolina Poly 70 (James Halle 23) St Patrick's 47 TUESDAY JANUARY 11 #5 Mississippi A&M 47 (Greg Randle 10) Mobile Marine 36 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 12 #1 Western Iowa 56 (Charlie Maynard 15) St Patrick's 31 THURSDAY JANUARY 13 #2 St Blane 57 (Jim Canaday 12) Manhattan Tech 36 #4 Frankford State 61 (David Aponte 18) University of New Jersey 33 FRIDAY JANUARY 14 #1 Western Iowa 58 (Charlie Maynard 15) Bluegrass State 40 Maryland State 71 #3 Liberty College 53 (Luther Gordon 14) #6 Mississippi A&M 57 (Billy Bob Leveau 17) Ferguson 28 #7 North Carolina Tech 51 (Mike Carter 14) Brunswick 42 #8 Coastal California 62 (Tony Lincoln 12) Northern Cal 43 #9 Rainier College 60 (Abbott and Simpson 13 each) Portland Tech 34 SATURDAY JANUARY 15 #4 Frankford State 51 (David Aponte 20) Three Rivers State 37 #6 Carolina Poly 58 (James Halle 19) Michigan Lutheran 34 SUNDAY JANUARY 16 #3 Liberty College 61 (Luther Gordon 25) Bliss College 56 #8 Coastal California 60 (Chris Martines 24) #9 Rainier College 52 (Syl Kellogg 22) CC Los Angeles 58 #10 Lane State 57 in OT (Carl Casswell 19) CHAPPELL HAS THEM LAUGHING AT NEW YORK AWARDS GALA You'd have to say the Continental Football Conference won rostrum attention from the American Association last week at the annual New York sportswriter's football gala when Pat Chappell swung into action after receiving an award as the best football player in his wheel. "I just want to warn Jackie Charles that he'll have to take a tremendous cut in salary when he turns pro," cracked the star quarterback of the Kansas City Cowboys. There was a split-second of shocked silence. It's an old joke, of course, but it was placed in a new setting. People, as a rule, don't take whacks at big football college's so openly. The period of quiet didn't disturb Chappell. "They say the president of North Carolina Tech heard that Charles was making $15,000 a year," went on Pat, "so he went to his football coach and asked if it were true." "I should say not," the coach replied. "He doesn't make a cent over $12,500." Charles, in attendance to receive a collegiate award, blushed and looked down at his plate as Chappell, who played against Charles when each was playing for a service team during the war, concluded with a word of advice to fathers in the audience. "Brng up your boy to be a T-quarterback," urged Chappell. "He makes the most money, gets the most credit....and does the least work. Thanks for the award. I'll take it back to Kansas City and show it to the fellows who really earned it."  COLLEGES PONDER CLASSIC GAMES, TELEVISION & RULES San Francisco - The American Intercollegiate Athletic Association sits down at the conference table today to ponder its multiple gridiron headaches: Are there too many Classic games? Will television cut collegiate gate receipts? What about the "platoon system" of football substitutions? Those are the big pieces in the puzzle. The AIAA not only makes the rules for college sports, nowadays it also sets up codes of behavior for its 300-odd member schools. A special AIAA committee has been studying the football classic situation and is due to report in the coming weeks. Officially, no one is talking -yet- about classic games. Unoffically, one coach said: "Leave my name out and just say something will have to be done, sooner or later." Some 16 'Classic' games were played between the end of the gridiron season and January 1 and it sounds like more are hoping to join the fray next year. *** Classics Seen as Too Commerical *** A group of university heads last year argued that colleges were building profits for commercial enterprises in some of the classics and they are concerned the sheer number of them has watered down the quality of competition. Some unofficial sources suggest that the AIAA might limit the number of post-season games, possibly to a few of the oldest classics, while others said a ban on all classics might be discussed. The oldest are four of the biggest in the East-West Classic, Cajun Classic, Lone Star Classic and Sunshine Classic. Another AIAA committee will report on a survey it has made of the effect of television. Some eastern coaches would bar television cameras from football games, agreeing with the Athletic Director of St. Matthew's College in Washington DC, who concludes "why should anyone want to go to a small college game when he can see the biggest game of the day in his living room?" Not all take this gloomy view, of course. And telecasters themselves argue that television helps the box office -presumably by giving stay-at-homes tantalizing glimpses of what they're missing." *** Grid Rules to be Scanned *** Although the week's AIAA conference also will consider baseball rules, principal debate seems to be centering around grid rules, with the vast majority of the focus centered squarely on the game's unlimited substitution rule. As it now stands, coaches with the manpower can field a complete defensive team, then run in a new offensive outfit en masse. That has drawn opposition from most of the coaches at smaller institutions, who argue it really hurts them because they lack the manpower or large enough coaching staffs to produce the platoons which are featuring modern football." MILLER RINGS UP BELL ON POINTS Dan Miller, the west coast fighter who was Hector Sawyer's victim in the most attended title fight of all-time last January, took his act east on the weekend and made his Florida debut a memorable one by hammering out a decision over Lynn Bell, formerly of Chelsa, Ma. but now fighting out of the Sunshine State. A crowd of 4,200 took in the Miami bout, witnessing a surprisingly entertain bout between the pair of 32-year-olds. Bell tried to bear in on Miller throughout the fight but with mixed results. In the opening round he absorbed a pair of punshing blows to his head and face, that reopened an old wound above his left eye, but not enough to cause problems later on. In the fourth stanza Bell's persistence paid off when he floored Miller, but he also was knocked down once himself. For his part Miller, never the quickest fighter, seemed to be even slower than normal but in the end did more than enough to score a narrow, but unanimous victory to run his record to 38-9-1 and likely retain his place as one of the top heavyweight contenders for at least the next few months.  UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 1/16/1949
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 10-31-2023 at 01:17 PM. |
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11-01-2023, 11:19 AM
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#817 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 9,715
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January 24, 1949
JAUNARY 24, 1949 WOLVES SIGN FRED BARRELL AS SKIPPER In perhaps the worst kept secret in baseball, the Toronto Wolves officially welcomed Fred Barrell to town as their new manager, filling the final FABL field general vacancy. Rumours have swirled in both Toronto and Detroit since the Wolves cut ties with Bob Call immediately after the conclusion of the season, but the deal was kept quiet until after the FABL draft was completed, allowing Barrell to complete the task of running the Dynamos draft room in his now former role as Scouting Director of the Federal Association club. Barrell, who is expected to meet with the media in Toronto in the next couple of weeks, is presently enjoying some vacation time with his family. He had deep family connections to the Motor City with his brother Rollie owning both the basketball Mustangs and the grid Detroit Maroons but there will also be ties in Toronto as Fred will join his brother Jack, head coach of the defending Challenge Cup Champion Toronto Dukes, as bench bosses in the Canadian city. Fred Barrell joined the Dynamos as Scouting Director prior to the 1946 season after spending time during the war working for the State Department, which included some dangerous missions in France and Germany. Prior to that the Georgia Baptist graduate spent 15 seasons as a big league catcher, starting with the Chicago Cougars before enjoying his best days in Brooklyn alongside several of his brothers as teammates. One of those brothers, 3-time Allen Award winning pitcher Tom Barrell, is now the Brooklyn skipper and will be in the opposite dugout against Fred at some point this season in what may be the first time brothers have squared off against each other as FABL managers. Fred was a three all-star as a player and won two world championship series including in 1931 with the Cougars when he was named WCS Most Valuable Player. He retired following the 1942 season and is tied for fifth all-time in big league games played by a catcher. Scouting is in his blood as his father, the late Rufus Barrell was co-founder of the OSA and another brother, Dan -who was a former teammate in Brooklyn, currently heads up the OSA but Fred felt his true passion now is being on the field as a manager so the Dynamos, despite signing the 43-year-old to a hefty contract extension that included the 1949 season, agreed to allow him to leave for Toronto when the Wolves opportunity arrived. Detroit is expected to make an announcement on who will replace Barrell as the chief of their scouting department in the coming weeks.  1949 FABL DRAFT RECAP Over the next few weeks, we will check in with each of the 16 FABL organizations to get their take on how the opening 10 rounds of the draft went for them. Each FABL club made 10 selections and the remaining 15 rounds will be completed at the conclusion of the high school year and collegiate World Championship Series in June. Players selected in the January phase are not eligible to be signed by FABL organizations until the remainder of the draft has been completed. First up let's stop in and see what Boston Minutemen scouting director Johnny Robards and Willie Kirby, who olds the same role with the Philadelphia Sailors, have to say about their newest additions. BOSTON MINUTEMEN: Scouting Director Johnny Robards (19th year with club) Having the second overall pick really made our first round list extremely short. It was between SS John Wells or RF Rick Masters, we have the #5 rated prospect in all of baseball and he plays SS but we would have not hesitated to select Wells anyway if Masters was first off the board. As it turned out Wells went first overall to Toronto and we happily ended up with Masters who is already drawing power comparisons to Bobby Barrell. While that is a very lofty comparison it is easy to dream on the power potential Masters has shown thus far as an amateur. We fully expect Masters to be a top 10 prospect if not higher when the new rankings are released. The organization will have some long discussions about which level to start the 18 year old at. We of course want to put Masters at a level where he gets challenged but still has the opportunity to develop the power aspect of his game.Organizationally, we have not been as successful at landing the right second round player. This year we may have reached on a player in C Joe Clark but for our organization it was a position of desperate need in a draft that did not yield many high end catchers. Clark is another player that has the potential to muscle his fair share of balls out of the yard. You definitely saw a theme with our early picks and it has become more of an organizational focus over the years. For quite a long time we took power pitchers with the hope of striking gold while excellent hitters were taken around our selections. We have shifted in the last five seasons to really focus on the best hitters available while still putting a premium on power. Boston clubs have never been known for their deep threats and it is something we are actively looking to change through our draft and development process.  NEW YORK GOTHAMS: Scouting Director Stan Bayes (8th year) Obviously we would loved one of those power OF bats to land on our doorstep. Still we're happy to get Bert Preble in the 3rd round. We had him as a late first rounder. He's coming out of college and we hope to see him move quickly through the system. As far as who feel might have been a steal for us, well you can take your pick. 2B Harry Murray was early 2nd round on our board and RF Ed Smith was early 3rd. We got them in the 4th and 5th. Both are college kids which was something we focused on hoping to get a few players who are more advanced. These young men will be given every chance to move quickly. All in all, we had a plan and I'm happy that we were able to accomplish most of what we wanted to do.  PHILADELPHIA SAILORS: Scouting Director Willie Kirby (20 years with club) Sailors drafting at #15 so we thought the key was to draft best available player where possible in the first few rounds, as we were picking low. As such, we saw good value in CF Ray Hughes at #15 overall. It was between him and 1B Ike Shafer. However, the depth at 1B seemed pretty good in this draft to get that position later, and sure enough, even though Shafer was taken (Cleveland pick 27), we were able to get two good 1B's in round 2 and 3 in Wayne Cottrill and John Williams - both highly rated by our scouts. Another 1B project was obtained in Round 8 in Ned Nelson. The rest of the draft was to fill out our farm system in some positions of need - C and SS, and also hope to pick up a decent pitcher, but not reach for one. We managed to get a couple of catchers who may turn out ok in Jake Moorman and Milt Jenks; and a couple of SS's Bob Helsinger and Herb Ferreiras as well. On the pitcher front, we got an OK pitcher in Ed Patterson; and a wildcard in Rabbit Coffin - who has an awesome name that we just couldn't pass up. 
 ROSE LEGAL WOES MAY BE KEY TO SOLVING GRID COLD WAR The rumblings out of St. Louis last week sent shockwaves through the sporting world. Dee Rose, the owner of both the mighty Pioneers and the somewhat embattled Los Angeles Lobos, now finds himself mired in a labyrinth of legal woes that could alter the course of professional football as we know it. These charges, which include tax evasion and fraud, carry with them the ominous shadow of incarceration, and FABL's head honcho, Sam Belton, has made his stance clear: should Rose be found guilty, his stewardship of the Pioneers faces an abrupt and ignominious conclusion. Such developments might appear as dark clouds hanging over the football horizon, but could there be a silver lining to this storm? We find ourselves wondering if this unfortunate situation might just hold the key to finally bringing an end to the prolonged gridiron cold war between the Continental Football Conference and Jack Kristich's venerable American Football Association. As recent history has shown, merger discussions took center stage in Philadelphia at the beginning of this month, coming tantalizingly close to fruition. The crux of the impasse was the CFC's insistence on securing spots for four of their teams, while the AFA, at best, was willing to accommodate three of them, conditional on the Cincinnati Tigers agreeing to a merger with a CFC counterpart. Now, with the Lobos' owner facing the imminent loss of his team, the stars may align to pave the way for unity. The San Francisco Wings, poised to grace us with the grandeur of the new 50,000-seat Golden Gate Stadium come spring, would remain a key piece of the puzzle. In the City of Angels, their forthcoming stadium could potentially house a new AFA franchise, with the Lobos facing the specter of dissolution if Rose's clutches are pried away. In their stead, the electrifying Kansas City Cowboys, boasting the tantalizing talents of Pat Chappell and Mason Matthews, could make a splash in sunny Southern California, becoming the second team. In the bayou, the New Orleans Crescents, once viewed as the stumbling block to a merger, might now have a path forward. Their wealthy shipping magnate owner, William Beauregard, had adamantly refused to entertain the notion of folding his club. However, the prospect of a merger with Cincinnati could rekindle hope. Playing temporarily in the Queen City until Beauregard assembles a stadium in New Orleans that meets AFA specifications would present a pragmatic solution. In a stroke of serendipity, it seems the boiling cauldron that Dee Rose currently finds himself immersed in may well be the needed catalyst to dissolve the icy tensions that have gripped the professional football world for the past three years. A thaw in the gridiron cold war might finally be within our grasp. BEES TAKE OVER TOP SPOT The defending Challenge Cup champion Toronto Dukes had been in first place since Halloween but that came to an end yesterday when the Dukes lost for the second time in as many nights to Detroit while the surging Boston Bees pulled even Saturday evening with a shutout win at home over Montreal and claimed sole possession of first place with a 2-1 victory over the Valiants yesterday. The Dukes had also been swept in a home and home set with the New York Shamrocks the previous weekend making only their midweek 5-2 win over Montreal a point generating outcome from their last five outings. The losses Saturday and Sunday to the Motors were especially perplexing as the Detroit club entered the weekend reeling, losers of their last 10 games and winlees in 31 days. The Bees have lurked over the Dukes shoulders for most of the campaign before finally buzzing to the league lead after a stretch that has seen the Boston six go 7-2-2 since the Christmas break. First place will be on the line Wednesday evening as the next game for the two most successful clubs -in terms of Challenge Cup wins with 7 apiece- tangle in the Hub on Wednesday evening. Code:
NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Boston 38 21 13 4 116 101 46
Toronto 38 19 13 6 124 102 44
New York 37 15 16 6 96 102 36
Chicago 38 16 19 3 108 123 35
Montreal 38 15 18 5 99 116 35
Detroit 39 14 21 4 122 121 32
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 38 19 27 46
Galbraith, Tor 38 20 20 40
Cabbell, NY 37 23 15 38
Vanderbilt, Det 37 22 16 38
Sauer, Tor 38 16 20 36
Chandler, Bos 33 15 21 36
Hart, Bos 37 16 19 35
Tardif, Det 36 15 19 34
Carlson, Tor 35 7 26 33
T Burns, Chi 27 20 12 32
Skinner, Mon 38 14 16 30
Walker, Bos 37 10 19 29
Rocheleau, Det 34 5 24 29
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Broadway, Tor 34 16 12 6 3 2.59
Brockers, Mon 26 10 12 3 2 2.60
James, Bos 33 17 12 4 4 2.65
Chasse, Det 16 7 7 0 1 2.70
Tremblay, NY 33 12 15 6 2 2.71
Cleghorn, Chi 12 7 4 1 1 2.83
Hanson, Chi 25 9 14 2 2 3.13
Touhey, Det 22 6 14 2 1 3.41
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 19 Detroit 1 at 3 Chicago: The Chicago Packers hand the slumping Detroit Motors their 10th consecutive loss as backup netminder Michael Cleghorn gets the start for the Packers and stops 38 of 39 Detroit shots. Arnold Singleton was the only Motors member to put a puck past Cleghorn, knoting the game at 1 in the opening minute of the second period after Wes Burns gave the home club a 1-0 lead in the first frame. Max Ducharme score twice in the final 7 minutes of the third period to give the Packers their third straight victory. New York 2 at 4 Boston: Back on the ice after being blanked 6-0 in Chicago on Sunday, the Bees, led by 3-point nights from Jacob Gron and Tommy Hart, doubled the Shamrocks 4-2. Toronto 5 at 2 Montreal: Montreal has lost three of its last four after the Valiants fell 5-2 to Toronto. Lou Galbraith and Bobbie Sauer each scored just 44 seconds apart midway through the third period to put the game away for the Dukes. THURSDAY JANUARY 20 Montreal 1 at 1 New York: Defenseman Shel Herron's 4th goal of the season midway through the final period allowed the Valiants to claim a 1-1 tie in New York after Orval Cabbell's league-leading 22nd goal staked the Shamrocks to a second period lead. The game did not feature much offense as the Shamrocks and Valiants combined for just 37 shots on the evening. SATURDAY JANUARY 22 Montreal 0 at 3 Boston: Oscar James stopped all 24 shots he faced as the Boston netminder earned his fourth shutout of the season, blanking his former teammate Tom Brockers and the Montreal Valiants 3-0. The win moved Boston into a first place tie with Toronto while Montreal has just one victory in their last six outings. All of the scoring came in the final ten minutes of the game with Ray Gustafson, Len Bentley and Wilbur Chandler getting the Boston goals. Toronto 1 at 3 Detroit: Adam Vanderbilt scored twice to lead Detroit to its first victory since December 21 as the Motors downed Toronto 3-1. Dick Zimmerman of the Dukes opened the scoring just over 2 minutes into the game, but Millard Touhey turned aside the next 29 shots he faced for the victory. The loss leaves Toronto tied with Boston for top spot in the league. SUNDAY JANUARY 23 Boston 2 at 1 Montreal: The Bees are 5-1-2 in their last 8 games and alone in first place thanks to Ralph Chilton's second goal of the season. It came early in the third period and proved the difference in a 2-1 win for the visitors in Montreal. Robert Stevens opened the scoring for Montreal in the first but Wilbur Chandler tied things up with a short-handed marker in the middle stanza. Boston outshot the Vals 33-18. Chicago 3 at 3 New York: The Packers stretched their unbeaten streak to five games while the Shamrocks earned their second straight tie in a 3-3 draw at Bigsby Garden. To salvage the point the Packers needed third period goals from Jeremy MacLean and Ed Delarue after New York led 3-1 following the opening 40 minutes. Orval Cabbell scored again for the Shamrocks for his league high 23rd goal of the season. Detroit 5 at 2 Toronto: Toronto has suddenly dropped 4 of its last 5 games and trails Boston by two points for first place in the NAHC after the Dukes were swept by Detroit in a weekend home and home series. Francis McKenzie scored twice to lead the Motors attack. UPCOMING GAMES WEDNESDAY JANUARY 26 Boston at Toronto Chicago at Montreal Detroit at New York SATURDAY JANUARY 29 Montreal at Detroit Toronto at Chicago SUNDAY JANUARY 30 Boston at Detroit Chicago at Toronto New York at Montreal AROUND THE LEAGUE
Toronto's week started with a convincing 5-2 victory in La Belle Province on Wednesday night before 16,635. Montreal opened the scoring when Wayne Augustin was freed up in the slot on passes from Glen Whitley. Although the Dukes had shown a little more spirit the marker seemed to put the team in another gear. Toronto scored 3, bombarding Tom Brockers in the Vals cage with 21 shots in the first. Quinton Pollock, Herb Burdette and Dick Zimmerman all lit the lamp in the second half of the period. The second period was scoreless, up tempo with very few stoppages. It saw Brockers and Dukes keeper Gordie Broadway both turned back a number of good scoring chances making 14 and 12 saves. The Vals narrowed the gap to one at 3-2 when Adam Sandford beat Broadway on a power play at 3:40 with Toronto's J.C. Martel in the sin bin for high sticking. Toronto answered with a pair of goals from Bobnie Sauer and Lou Galbraith just 44 seconds apart to end any hopes of a Montreal comeback for the fans. Goaltending was superb although Brockers must have felt defenseless facing 52 shots. Montreal Star reporters where amazed that only 5 found the back of the net given the quality of the Dukes chances in the game. Broadway turned aside 25 of 27 that hit the Toronto net. The Dukes decided to overnight in Montreal before boarding the train bound for Detroit Thursday to prepare for the Saturday night match in Thompson Palladium. In front of smallish crowd the Dukes opened the scoring with Zimmerman's wrist shot beating Millard Touhey on passes from Galbraith and Pollock. Adam Vanderbilt banged home a rebound off of Arnold Singleton's shot while on a man advantage at 6:39. It was the young center's 20th goal of the season. There was no more scoring in the first although the teams continue to show their distaste for each other with lots of stick work, pushing and shoving after stoppages in play. Vanderbilt's second of the game at 6:46 accouted for all the scoring in the middle frame which again was hard hitting and bordering on dirty. The Dukes continued to press Touhey but could not solve him only to be victimized on a turnover in the Motors zone that sent the Motors Graham Comeau in alone on Broadway with the third goal, which ended up being the last nail in the coffin allowing the Motors to return to the win column with a 3-1 victory. The Dukes return home Sunday had the fans expecting fireworks at Dominion Gardens. Francis McKenzie's early tally seemed to take some of the steam out of the fans until Galbraith notched his 20th of the season on spectacular end to end rush with just under 2 minutes left in the period. With the score tied Trevor Parker and Detroit's Remy Emond exchanged pleasantries just before the puck was dropped in the face off circle, then dropped the gloves right after the linesman dropped the puck. Both teams settled down to hockey after the fight, although Brett was told the referee visited both dressing rooms between periods to tell coaches Jack Barrell and Badger Rigney to get control of their players or he would be handing out game misconducts instead of majors if any dirty play or fighting continued in this game. In an entertaining, clean second period Vanderbilt with his 3rd in two games put the Motors ahead 2-1. The Dukes pulled within one at the 8 minute mark of the third when Alex Lavalliere took a cross crease pass from Bobbie Sauer and then deposited it in wide open goal almost taking the roof off the building with the thunderous ovation. The fans hopes were dashed just over two minutes later McKenzie restored the two goal advantage with his second of the game on a tic-tac-toe from Dixon Butler and Graham Comeau. Coach Barrell pulled Broadway with 90 seconds remaining but could not find the equalizer as the Motors scored two in to the empty net making the final score seem a lopsided 5-2, in a game that was anything but lopsided in fact. Coach Barrell was upbeat after the week. "Montreal game was a good start to the week although when we get that many shots I fear for the next game. The players begin to believe that they can win games by outscoring the opposition. Nothing is further from the truth, our success is based on dominating defensively, not offensively. We are competent offensively but not elite - back checking, taking players off the puck, sound in our own zone is the recipe for success here. I worry about meeting a team like Detroit that is facing hard times...you know they are going to snap out of it and unfortunately it was against us this weekend. If we had a little more puck luck we could have had taken one of them games, if not both. Now that we are in second place, let's see how we respond in Boston this week. Credit to the Bees. They have gone through a lot of injuries, adversity this season. To be leading late in January is credit to the team and staff."
Code:
FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Washington 23 7 .767 Brooklyn 22 9 .710 Philadelphia 20 12 .625 Rochester 19 12 .613 Baltimore 16 13 .552 Hartford 12 17 .414 Boston 11 22 .333 New York 9 21 .300 Syracuse 5 25 .167 WEST W L PCT Chicago 22 9 .710 Cleveland 19 11 .633 Detroit 16 12 .571 Cincinnati 18 14 .563 Pittsburgh 12 19 .387 Toronto 10 21 .323 Buffalo 9 19 .321  FIGHTING SAINTS TOP CAGE CLUB IN NATION Western Iowa Stumbles in Section Play While no one new has entered the top ten in the AIAA rankings the past couple of weeks there is a change at the top for the second week in a row. Western Iowa had replaced Liberty College as the top team in the nation after the Bells were upended by Maryland State, but the Canaries perch at the top was very brief as section play in the always tough Great Lakes Alliance claimed its first victim. Western Iowa fell from the ranks of the undefeated, ending a 14-game winning streak to start the season with a 50-30 loss at 13th ranked Indiana A&M in their section opener. The Canaries did rebound with a win at home over Minnesota Tech Saturday but the pollsters bumped them from first to third in the rankings. The new number one is St Blane and while the Fighting Saints are a fixture atop the grid rankings, this is uncharted territory for the Saints cage club which has won 19 in a row after opening the season with a surprising loss to Bardney College. Senior forward Cy Worley leads the Saints in scoring, averaging 11.3 points per contest, but they spread the wealth around with Josh Samuels and Jim Canaday each scoring near double-digits and center Brian Threadgill chipping in with 7.3 ppg and plenty of success on the boards. Liberty College, with two wins this week and a 20-2 record, moves up one spot to second in the rankings. Fourth ranked Frankford State (22-0) and number #5 Mississippi A&M (16-0) are now the only remaining unbeaten schools after Western Iowa's loss. Darnell State, from the Southwetern Alliance, had been the fouth and final team with a perfect record at the New Year, but the Legislators, after starting the season 10-0, have dropped three of their last five including a section defeat at home against Red River State and have fallen completely out of the top twenty-five.  LAST WEEK'S RESULTS INVOLVING TOP 10 TEAMS MONDAY JANUARY 17 #1 St Blane 74 (Cy Worley 22) Strub College 56 #5 Mississippi A&M 67 (Micah Shuman 14) Alabama Gulf Coast 37 TUESDAY JANUARY 18 #2 Liberty College 60 (Gordon, Stillwell 12 each) Alexandria 32 #4 Frankford State 67 (David Aponte 26) Flagstaff State 58 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 19 #9 Coastal California 71 (David Barnes 18) Idaho A&M 35 CC Los Angeles 52 #10 Rainier College 44 (Orlando Zanier 14) THURSDAY JANUARY 20 Indiana A&M 50 #3 Western Iowa (Charlie Maynard 9) 36 #6 Carolina Poly 58 (Beau Holmes 14) Maryland State 41 #7 North Carolina Tech 51 (Mike Carter) 20 Lexington State 36 FRIDAY JANUARY 21 #5 Mississippi A&M 49 (Vance Torrence 16) St Martin's College 35 #8 Lane State 57 (Carl Casswell 19) Portland Tech 39 SATURDAY JANUARY 22 #1 St Blane 49 (Josh Samuels 13) Centerville 40 #3 Western Iowa 46 (Charlie Maynard 16) Minnesota Tech 35 SUNDAY JANUARY 23 #1 Liberty College 65 (Scott Basile 16) University of New Jersey 58 #8 Lane State 72 (Carl Casswell 19) Northern California 51 #9 Coastal California 62 (Chris Martines 25) CC Los Angeles 60 OT #10 Rainier College 47 (Joe Simpson 13) Redwood 43 SANITY CODE WILL BREED 'LIARS' SOME FEAR The outgoing president of the American Football Coaches Organization lashed out at the AIAA and its year-old "sanity code." He said coaches "are fearful we have another prohibition act on our hands." The AIAA instituted the code a year ago to preserve the amateur aspect of the sport and made some minor modifications at their annual meeting earlier this month as it continues towards its stated goal, which is "complete elimination of recruiting of football, basketball and other athletes," according to the head of the AIAA. The coaches organization believes all this sanity code will do is "make liars out of us all." He adds that many of the college grid coaches in his organization are fearful they will have another prohibition act because "most of us do not regard it wrong for the regular Scholarship Committee to give a boy with leadership qualities, and with need, help toward his board and room." He adds the so-called sanity code discriminates against the college athlete. "To gain a scholarship award of more than tuition a nonathlete does not have to be in the upper quarter of his high school or attain a B record, but the athlete does. Thus the sanity code penalizes a boy who wants to play on our teams." PETRIE SET TO DEFEND MIDDLWEIGHT CROWN AMID MORE CONTROVERSY This Saturday, a new chapter in the controversial reign of Canadian pugilist Adrian Petrie as the World Middleweight Champion. Petrie takes center stage at Toronto's Dominion Gardens in his first fight since an October bout filled with controversy and is poised to defend his title for the first time amidst a backdrop of lingering dispute. The 26-year-old native of Montreal, whose contentious split decision victory over Frenchman Edouard Desmarais raised eyebrows and voices, now steps into the ring as the reigning champion. The bout with Desmarais was clouded by protests from the French fighter's camp who vehemently disagreed with the scoring decisions handed down by two Canadian judges. This fracas prompted the American Boxing Federation to intervene. In a calculated move, the ABF mandated that Petrie's inaugural title defense should constitute a rematch with Desmarais. A surprising twist ensued when Desmarais, instead of accepting the challenge, chose to honor a prior commitment for a third encounter with Frank 'The Tank' Melanson, a battle where Desmarais eventually triumphed earlier this month at Bigsby Garden. Petrie and his team found themselves at a crossroads. Their quest to secure an opponent for his first title defense, amidst a myriad of possibilities, culminated in the curious selection of Danny Morse. This relatively obscure pugilist from New York City, aged 35, sports a career record of 35 wins, 8 losses, and 1 draw. Importantly, Morse carries an impressive streak of 16 consecutive victories, including 7 knockouts in his last 8 contests. Nevertheless, critics contend that Morse's recent victories have been earned against opponents who fall short of the moniker "top-flight competition." Petrie's camp defended their choice, arguing that the constricted timeline necessitated a swift decision, and Morse was the most suitable contender with an aligned schedule. However, this choice wasn't without its detractors. Former champion John Edmonds expressed his willingness to face Petrie, while Tommy Campbell, who boasts a record of 21 wins and 1 loss, conveyed his availability to postpone a bout for a shot at the champion. Sadly, no response arrived from Petrie's camp, leaving these potential contenders on the sidelines. Consequently, the result of these events has left the middleweight division shrouded in a perplexing cloud of controversy. This weekend's match, viewed by many as far from a satisfying showdown, will compel Petrie to showcase his skills against an opponent perceived as inferior. A resounding performance is paramount to restore the luster of the tarnished championship belt. Meanwhile, Desmarais remains stationed in New York, hinting at a return to his homeland of France. With no immediate plans to fight again on North American soil, it appears that the anticipated Petrie-Desmarais rematch, and a chance to set things right in the minds of any who questioned the original outcome, may remain a distant dream.  UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 1/23/1949
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 11-01-2023 at 11:20 AM. |
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11-02-2023, 01:09 PM
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
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January 31, 1949
JANUARY 31, 1949  PIONEERS 1949 DRAFT RECAP The FABL Amateur Player Draft is akin to a spin of a roulette wheel. For as many options as there are, the ball only lands on one number. For the two-time defending FABL champion St. Louis Pioneers, that wheel might have a hundred options available. What many bird dogs feel are the cream of the crop are generally already selected before the final pick of the first round; therefore, the opportunity for players who appear to have more clear-cut, made-for-FABL talent are slimmer. At least the Pioneers had their first-round pick this year; they traded their first-round pick in last year’s draft to Cleveland for Hiram Steinberg. The Foresters selected 2B Jim Urquhart with that selection, and many experts feel the youngster is destined for stardom. That said, it is clear that the Pioneers, with two championship flags, would accept that trade every single time. All that said, here is a brief, definitely premature synopsis of the Pioneers’ 1949 draft class, based on what scouts within the organization had to say about these prospects. Round 1 (#16): RF King Brucker: “He’ll win multiple batting championships. Let’s get that out of the way right now. His approach to hitting is scientific. He studies pitchers, picks up on even the slightest of tells, and can adjust during an at-bat. That he has the physical ability that is as quick as his mind…that’s why he’ll win multiple batting championships. Every contact he makes with the ball is loud. The only bit about his high school career that is strange is that he did not walk more (just 12 walks in ‘48). For a kid who hit over .500 in his entire high school career, that is strange. He preys on pitcher mistakes and did that early in counts. He will have to be more selective in the pros, but he has the eye to do that. He is also very fast on the bases, which should increase his value with St. Louis’ ballpark. It’s clear he’s been drafted as Al Tucker’s replacement. But, in my view, he’ll be better than Tucker. If he can learn the nuances of the game from Tucker, he’ll be a perennial Whitney Award candidate. One other thing: He’s a naturally-born leader, something that has been made a priority from the team office. Find leaders, and ensure that this golden era of Pioneers’ baseball is more the way things are done, rather than a moment in history.” Round 2 (#32): SP Ed Wingerter: “He’s a local kid, grew up in Benton Park. We’ve known about him since he was ten and pitched an no-hitter for an entire season. He had his own regular section in the Star-Times. Makes sense…the Pioneers lost 97 in ‘40. What else was (STST columnist Clarence) Keenan going to write about? So even though his family moved to Ohio right before high school, we kept tabs on him. He throws hard for his age; heck, he throws hard for the FABL now. His stuff is almost as good as anyone on the current staff right now. He throws a split-finger pitch–Dick Long and Tony Dixon also throw it–that hitters don’t know what to do with. Sure, professional hitters will be tougher. But we watched him as a 14-year-old throwing that pitch against grown men in The Khoury Men’s League. He’s not big (5’7, 140 pounds), and he’s quiet…but don’t let that fool you. There’s a fire in that kid. He forces hitters to change their approach, because he gets so many groundballs. He’s perfect for their park. The fit of Big Ed (that’s what he was called in the Khoury) in St. Louis is perfect, in my opinion. Sure, I may be rooting for the kid…but when you consider his makeup, his approach, his stuff, and his home ballpark…he has Allen potential. I’m not sure he’d have that in other organizations. But if he develops, this kid can be something special.” Round 3 (#48): SS Herbert Crawford, Jr.: “Remember what I said about the club trying to bring in guys who have leadership skills? Here you go. He played well at San Fran Tech (.300/.390/.503, 11-40, 27 SB, 32-23 BB-K), which plays a pretty tough schedule. He’s also a switch-hitter, and can slide around the infield. That said, this is where I disagree with the team office on something. Crawford, in my view, wasn’t the best player on the board. Is he good? Sure. But the draft is where you are trying to gain the most talent for the long-term, right? There are three guys taken in the fourth round I would have selected before Crawford, had I been making the final decision. One of them, (George) Walker, is also a middle infielder, and one I put way ahead of Crawford. Another, (Mills) Watson, is closer to contributing to a big-league club than anyone else. We put a left fielder (Jim McBride) in center all last year; we managed to get away with it, but that lightning can’t strike twice. I get that there is a bit of a lack of infield talent in the organization right now. So taking Crawford isn’t the worst move. But at the same time, he’ll be 21 on April 1st. We just traded for Win Hamby. It’s possible that our infield may be set for the next several years. So what do you do with Crawford? I guess trade him, eventually. So, to sum up…is he talented? Definitely. Was there better value for the organization here? Definitely.” Round 4 (#64): CF Larry Lewis: “I don’t get this one. This felt reactionary to missing out on Watson, who I know was high up. This is where trying to fill a perceived need (organizational depth/talent in the infield) gets in the way of getting the best talent. At the same time…how many centerfielders are we going to draft? We’ve got (George) Atkins already in the organization, right? We have Mike Spear. Red Hinton, who could be up with the club this season. We’ve got McBride playing in center now, even if he shouldn’t be. Now, if it were me…you know, I have no idea. I was going to say I’d take Watson in the third, and hope Crawford falls to the fourth, but I don’t know. The same questions I ask about this pick, I’d ask about Watson. And Hinton is better than either Watson or Lewis. Lewis is fine. He’s another collegiate player who produced, runs really well, can play defense, has an incredible work ethic. I don’t know how he finds footing in this organization, given what it looks like in the outfield right now.” Round 5 (#80): P Jake Giles: “Look, you gotta have pitchers at some point, right? At this stage, any pitcher is a dart throw. Giles produced a heckuva lot in high school. He also fits that whole leadership profile, and everyone connected to him raves about his work ethic. So, in terms of trying to make it, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who will try harder. And he’s a lefty with an excellent splitter. So, he’s got as good a shot as any pitcher taken at this stage to make it.” Round 6 (#96): SS Tom Clement: “Clement is a younger infield prospect (17) than Crawford. He’s another kid with outstanding work ethic. The team office emphasized intangibles, which makes some sense. If you’re throwing darts, and these kids all have at least some talent…you want kids who will keep plugging away when things get tough. And they’ll get tough for Clement. If we were looking for pure talent, we should have gone with Bob Brown, who went a few picks later.” Round 7 (#112): P Glenn Moor: “Another lefty, another dart throw. See what I said about Giles.” Round 8 (#128): CF Ed Howell: “This draft would look a LOT different if George Atkins had a good ‘48 season. I think that’s obvious. Howell is another solid college player with all the intangibles. In fact, he has ALL of them: Leadership, work ethic, intelligence…he’s not even greedy. He could fit in as a fourth outfielder, and do it faster than most in the organization.” Round 9 (#144): P Dean Crawford: “He’s HUGE, standing six-foot-six. It’s strange to take a high school pitcher who lost seven games, and allowed over a runner on base per inning over the last two seasons. But here we are. Look, he’s another kid with extraordinary work ethic. He’s got a great arm, and whereas the organization has tried to get groundball pitchers, and Crawford has a tendency to induce a lot of fly balls…if he makes it, he’d be pitching a lot of games in a park where flies go to die. He may have as much volatility as any pitcher in the organization…could make the bigs, or flame out in Mobile.” Round 10 (#160): 2B Jack DiPasquale: “This may turn out to be a win of a pick in a few years. DiPasquale performed well at Sunnyvale; he’s a patient hitter, and could hit over .300 with 70 walks a year. He is also considered to be one of the best defenders in the draft. With Bill Freeman at 32, DiPasquale could be well-situated to replace him.”  PHILADELPHIA KEYSTONES DRAFT IMPRESSIONS- From Scouting Director Harry Dunn (18th season) We usually go for the best player available, not positional need, but I think we accomplished both with Don Berry. We considered other players at the #4 pick mainly because there were so many strong prospects in this draft. But Berry gives us a potential power-hitting corner outfielder. As you might know, we have a right fielder who has established a very high standard with this club, and I am not making any comparisons, but having a power-hitting corner outfielder is part of our plan. A departure for us in this draft was the selections of several collegiate players. We normally prefer high-schoolers because we can bring them into our system early and teach them the Keystone Way. But this year, we picked six collegiate players in our first ten picks, including all of our first four - Berry, Sam Ivey, Bill Bloom, and John Cochran. I was surprised that John Cochran was available in the fourth round. In Cochran, we have another shortstop we can add to the mix for our future, combined with last year's second-rounder, Red Ellis, another college-level player when we drafted him. We also need pitching, who doesn't? I was pleased to get one of the starters we targeted for our second pick, which was the 20th overall pick. We did not see a pitcher worthy of the number four overall pick, but I had four on my top ten list and I was glad when Ivey was still there. We will see at which level these new players will start, but we have to sign them first [chuckles]. There will be nothing holding the top picks back from starting at a challenging level. Pushing 21-year-olds and 22-year-olds is very different than putting 17- and 18-year-olds in a new situation. Confidence is a fickle thing, but there is a lot of growing in those four years both physically and mentally. 
 PACKERS CONTINUE TO CLIMB The slow start to the season that had the Chicago Packers fearing they may not even make the playoffs after boasting the league's best regular season record a year ago, appear to be fully a thing of the past as the Chicago club has posted an 11-2-2 record since December 22 and moved into a third place tie with the New York Shamrocks. The Packer push was slowed with a loss in Toronto yesterday, as the Dukes try to keep pace with Boston for first place, but time for the two of them at the top of the league may be short-lived if the Packers charge continues. Chicago has 19 games remaining in their season, as does Toronto with Boston having twenty left to play. The Packers are 9 points off the pace but 15 games ago they were 19 points out of first place. Code:
NAHC STANDINGS
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Boston 40 22 14 4 124 109 48
Toronto 41 21 14 6 136 110 48
Chicago 41 18 20 3 120 133 39
New York 39 16 16 7 103 108 39
Detroit 42 15 22 5 136 132 35
Montreal 41 15 21 5 103 130 35
SCORING LEADERS GP G A PTS
Pollack, Tor 41 19 29 48
Galbraith, Tor 41 24 20 44
Cabbell, NY 39 24 16 40
Vanderbilt, Det 40 24 16 40
Hart, Bos 39 18 21 39
Chandler, Bos 35 17 22 39
Sauer, Tor 41 18 20 38
T Burns, Chi 30 22 14 36
Carlson, Tor 38 8 28 36
Tardif, Det 36 15 19 34
Skinner, Mon 41 15 18 33
Rocheleau, Det 37 5 28 33
GOALIE LEADERS GP W L T ShO GAA
Broadway, Tor 37 18 13 6 3 2.60
James, Bos 35 18 13 4 4 2.70
Tremblay, NY 35 13 15 7 2 2.73
Brockers, Mon 29 10 15 3 2 2.83
Cleghorn, Chi 13 8 4 1 1 2.85
Chasse, Det 17 7 8 0 1 2.93
Hanson, Chi 27 10 15 2 2 3.12
Touhey, Det 25 7 14 3 2 3.31
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 26 Boston 1 at 4 Toronto: Boston stay alone in first place was short-lived as the Toronto Dukes pulled back into a tie for top spot in the NAHC with a 4-1 win at Dominion Gardens. Lou Galbraith scored twice to pace the hosts with both coming in the third period including an empty netter in the closing seconds. The Dukes outshot the Bees 34-19. Chicago 5 at 2 Montreal: The Packers unbeaten streak reached six games while Montreal is winless in 5 following a 5-2 Chicago victory. The Valiants led 2-1 after twenty minutes but three second period goals sent Chicago on to victory. Detroit 4 at 4 New York: The Motors earned a point and are unbeaten in three games after a 4-4 tie with the Shamrocks in New York. A strange run for the Greenshirts who have tied each of their last three games. They will take this one as it required a pair of third period goals off the stick of Sam Furr to salvage the single point. SATURDAY JANUARY 29 Montreal 0 at 6 Detroit: Montreal managed just 15 shots on Millard Touhey and he stopped all of them as Detroit blanked the visiting Valiants 6-0 and are unbeaten in four games after that dreadful 11 game winless streak. The Vals have now won in their last six and lost four straight. Toronto 3 at 5 Chicago: There seems no slowing down the Packers, who beat Toronto 5-3 and are now 11-2-2 since December 22. Meanwhile the Dukes have dropped five of their last seven. Tommy Burns scored twice and has 22 goals in 29 games this season. SUNDAY JANUARY 30 Boston 7 at 4 Detroit: Five second period goals, with Craig Simpson assisting on three of them, lifted the Boston Bees to a 7-4 victory at Thompson Palladium. Tommy Hart scored twice and added an assist to help the Bees stay tied for first with Toronto. Chicago 2 at 5 Toronto: The Dukes snapped the Packers seven game unbeaten streak with a 5-2 victory that allows Toronto to stay even with Boston atop the NAHC standings. Lou Galbraith scored twice while Chad Roy had a goal and 2 assists to lead the Dukes offense. New York 3 at 2 Montreal: Three third period goals including Laurel Albers unassisted game winner with just over nine minutes remaining lifted the Shamrocks to a 3-2 victory, snapping a stretch of 3 straight ties for New York. Montreal, meanwhile has just one win in its last ten games. UPCOMING GAMES WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 2 Boston at New York Detroit at Chicago THURSDAY FEBRUARY 3 Chicago at Detroit Montreal at Toronto SATURDAY FEBRUARY 5 Montreal at Boston Toronto at New York SUNDAY FEBRUARY 6 Boston at Toronto Chicago at New York Detroit at Montreal  Dukes Triumph Twice in Three - Sharing the Summit in NAHC In a week that saw the Toronto Dukes step back into the limelight, two wins in three games have catapulted them back into a tie for first place with the formidable Boston squad in the North American Hockey Confederation. As the week began with an eagerly anticipated showdown against Boston on Wednesday evening, fans gathered at Dominion Gardens to witness what was billed as a classic. Surprisingly, the venue wasn't filled to the rafters despite the immense media hype. However, the game did not disappoint. In typical fashion, the encounter was a closely contested affair, marked by stifling defensive play from both sides. Dick Zimmerman struck first for Toronto, tapping in a rebound just five minutes into the game. But the relentless Wilbur Chandler answered for Boston, evening the score at one, squeezing a rebound past Dukes' netminder Gordie Broadway just over two minutes later. The first frame drew to a close with both teams putting up an impenetrable wall in front of their nets. The second period witnessed Toronto's forwards finding more room to maneuver, and they were rewarded when Bobbie Sauer unleashed a wrist shot that eluded Boston's goaltender, Oscar James. This strike, orchestrated with the assistance of NAHC's leading scorer, Quinton Pollock, and Herb Burdette, gave Toronto a 2-1 lead. With 12 shots on goal in the period, the Dukes matched Boston's total for the first two periods. The Bees, trailing 2-1 entering the final stanza, had no choice but to open up, aiming to level the game. However, this shift in strategy proved costly as Lou Galbraith executed a flawless poke check on Conn Cundiff at the Bees' blue line, allowing him to break free and elevate a shot, doubling Toronto's lead. A second goal from Galbraith in the dying moments, an empty-netter with just 7 seconds left, sealed a 4-1 victory for Toronto. The stage shifted to Lakeside Auditorium for a Saturday night showdown against the Chicago Packers, and the atmosphere was electric with a raucous crowd of 17,329 in attendance. The first period was characterized by tight checking from both teams, and Toronto failed to capitalize on two power-play opportunities. The period ended in a scoreless deadlock. The game took a swift turn in the second period, with four goals scored on 29 shots. Chicago's Jesse Santoro and Max Ducharme found the back of the net, with Tommy Burns contributing a last-minute goal for the Packers. Les Carlson answered for the Dukes, but Tommy Burns scored his second to give the Packers a 3-1 lead heading into the third period. Herb Burdette narrowed the gap early in the third, but Matt Jewitt re-established Chicago's two-goal advantage. Toronto fought back swiftly, with Trevor Parker notching a goal just a minute later. The Dukes relentlessly pressed Michael Cleghorn in Chicago's net but couldn't find the equalizer. Tommy Burns' second goal at 16:20 secured a 5-3 win for the home team in a highly entertaining match. The Dukes weren't done, as they faced the Packers once again on Sunday afternoon, this time in front of a crowd of 14,236 fans. The Dukes came out with guns blazing, with Lou Galbraith lighting the lamp a mere 14 seconds into the game. Although Leon Seguin equalized for the Packers five minutes later, the period ended tied at 1, despite the Dukes' dominant play and a staggering 19 shots on goal. The second period saw Toronto continue to dominate, and they were rewarded with two goals, both courtesy of Galbraith, who now shares the league lead with 24 goals, and Bobbie Sauer's 18th. Trevor Parker extended the Dukes' lead to 4-1 early in the third, but Ed Delarue managed to claw one back for the Packers. Toronto's suffocating defensive play in the third allowed them to secure a 5-2 victory, with Chad Roy's desperation clear finding an empty net with just 14 seconds left in the game. In the words of Coach Jack Barrell: "It's a welcome return to winning form after the recent slump. Our victory over Boston on Wednesday was crucial, even though the crowd turnout was slightly lower than expected. Weekday nights can be tough for fans juggling work and family, but those in attendance witnessed a remarkable game, reminiscent of playoff hockey. Holding Boston to less than 20 shots is no small feat. Gordie Broadway, who has been our bedrock, continues to provide us with a chance to win every night. He currently leads the league in goals against average and saves, with 945 stops, nearly 100 more than any other goaltender. Some of this can be attributed to his 37 appearances in our 41 games. When I ask if he wants a game off, his response is always the same: 'Are you kidding? My job is to stop pucks.' Our split with Chicago was a bit disappointing, especially conceding five goals on Saturday. We need more performances like the one against Boston. Defensive hockey is winning hockey in the NAHC. Knowledgeable fans, like those in Toronto, appreciate a closely checked game more than an 8-7 shootout. With seven weeks left in the season, I want us to transition into a more playoff-style mode, with a focus on defense. Our players might be looking to the skies, wondering when I stopped preaching about defensive play, but it's time to introduce a few new wrinkles into our game. We need to work on these adjustments to avoid becoming too predictable in both ends of the ice." STATESMEN DOMINATE THE EASTERN FRONT As we reach the midway mark of the 1948-49 Federal Basketball League season, one thing is abundantly clear: the Washington Statesmen have thrust themselves into the East Division's driver's seat and are steadily pulling away from the competition. With a remarkable 12-game winning streak under their belt, the Statesmen are in danger of turning this divisional race into a one-horse show. Just a fortnight ago, the East Division was a tangle of contenders, a fierce battleground where multiple teams vied for supremacy. However, the Statesmen's sizzling surge has altered the landscape significantly. Their closest pursuers, the Brooklyn Red Caps, have put together an impressive run of their own, securing victory in 8 of their last 10 clashes. Yet, they find themselves trailing the relentless Washington outfit by 2.5 games. Where once their were four challengers for the division crown now only one other team, the Red Caps, is within a six-game reach of the formidable Statesmen. The basketball aficionados will recognize this tale of fierce competition, for it's a narrative that's been etched in the annals of basketball history. Washington and Brooklyn have been at the forefront of this East Division dogfight, a rivalry that has endured and now thrives in the Federal Basketball League. In six consecutive championship clashes in the former American Basketball Conference, including last season's bout where Brooklyn triumphed, these two titans have crossed swords. And though the league has been absorbed by the Federal loop, the ferocity of their encounters has not waned. They've met twice already this season, both bouts transpiring in November, with the Red Caps emerging victorious each time. The stage is set for three more showdowns before the season's curtain call on April 21, but the next chapter in this epic saga won't be penned until the close of February. Washington's offensive machinery is powered by the towering tandem of Ivan Sisco and Charles Hooper, imposing figures who anchor the frontcourt. But the Statesmen aren't a one-note symphony. Scoring depth abounds with Reid Wilkinson, Raymond Emerson, and Michael Leftwich, all boasting double-digit averages. On the opposing side, the Red Caps possess a well-rounded starting lineup, with each member contributing to the score sheet. Yet, it's the wily six-time ABC playoff MVP, Ivory Mitchell, who orchestrates their backcourt with finesse, guiding his team through the ebb and flow of the game. Rochester and Philadelphia, while not to be discounted entirely, must grapple to regain their footing in the divisional race. With the Statesmen's relentless pace, it's conceivable that the race for the top spot in the East might slip away, forcing these clubs to shift their focus towards securing playoff berths and fending off the looming threat from the fifth-placed Baltimore squad. As the season unfolds, the East Division offers a captivating spectacle, with the Washington Statesmen emerging as the dominant force, a formidable squad aiming to etch their name in the annals of Federal Basketball League history. Code:
FBL STANDINGS EAST W L PCT Washington 26 7 .788 Brooklyn 24 10 .706 Rochester 20 13 .606 Philadelphia 21 14 .600 Baltimore 17 16 .515 Hartford 14 18 .438 Boston 13 22 .371 New York 10 23 .303 Syracuse 5 27 .156 WEST W L PCT Chicago 23 10 .697 Cleveland 20 13 .606 Cincinnati 21 14 .600 Detroit 17 14 .548 Pittsburgh 12 20 .375 Toronto 11 22 .333 Buffalo 10 21 .323  NOBLE JONES COLLEGE ENTERS TOP TEN The Deep South Conference is often overshadowed by the big three basketball powers in the Great Lakes Alliance, South Atlantic Conference and West Coast Athletic Association but this week the Deep South joins the SAC and WCAA with two members in the top ten while the GLA is restricted to just Western Iowa. Mississippi A&M has been there all along and the Generals are a perfect 17-0 on the season with section play slated to begin next week. They played just once last week but it was a dominating effort as A&M crushed Darnell State 71-48. This week the Noble Jones College Colonels join the Generals in the top ten as the Georgia school picked up a pair of wins last week and now has won 11 straight, improving their record to 14-3, good enough for number nine in the latest collegiate rankings after coast power Rainier College was bumped out due to a poor conference start with 3 losses -to Lane State, Coastal California and CC LOs Angeles- in their first five section games. St Blane, at 21-1 after defeating Alabama Gulf Coast and St Martin's College last week, remains number one and the path to enter the tournament as a number one seed appears very clear. The Fighting Saints have six games remaining on their schedule with a home contest against Eastern State (19-6) on February 13 being their only ranked opponent. However, unranked teams can also poise a challenge. Just as Liberty College which was shocked 64-54 by Valley State, an Arizona school that plays in the South Border Conference, has won 1 tournament game since 1928 and is just 9-9 on the season. Last Tuesday the Gunslingers went into Philadelphia and managed to take the then second ranked Bells to overtime before proceeding to dominate the extra five minutes by outscoring the Bells 14-4 and claim a 10-point win in what might just be the most surprising result of the AIAA season.  LAST WEEK'S RESULTS INVOLVING TOP 10 TEAMS MONDAY JANUARY 24 TUESDAY JANUARY 25 #9 Noble Jones College 60 (Joseph Bosco 15) College of Cairo 37 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 26 Valley State 64 #3 Liberty College 54 (Gordon 15) OT #6 Mississippi A&M 71 (Leveau and Randle 15 points each) Darnell State 48 THURSDAY JANUARY 27 #1 St Blane 50 (Cy Worley 15) Alabama Gulf Coast 42 #2 Western Iowa 55 (Charlie Maynard 15) Central Ohio 46 #5 Carolina Poly 62 (James Halle 26) Cowpens Sate 53 #8 North Carolina Tech 65 (Mike Carter 19) Central Carolina 57 #9 Noble Jones College 54 (Mike Miller 16) St Patrick's 44 FRIDAY JANUARY 28 #4 Frankford State 60 (David Aponte 22) Tallmadge State 28 #7 Lane State 79 (Carl Casswell 29) #11 Rainier College 52 (Thomas Abbott 18) SATURDAY JANUARY 29 #1 St Blane 53 (Buster Reynolds 15) St Martin's College 45 #2 Western Iowa 62 (Willy Ludwick 28) St Magnus 47 #5 Carolina Poly 56 (James Halle 27) Alexandria 49 Columbia Military Academy 57 #8 North Carolina Tech 54 (Mike Carter 17) SUNDAY JANUARY 30 #7 Lane State 58 (Casswell, Porter 14 each) Redwood 45 #10 Coastal California 77 (Tony Linclon 17) Portland Tech 69 OT #10 Rainier College Spokane State DESMARAIS MAKES HEADLINES AS PETRIE DISMISSES MORSE It was none other than Edouard Desmarais and his management, staging a spectacle in Toronto at the end of the Adrian Petrie-Danny Morse Middleweight title fight. Those sore feelings are a by-product of their recent clash in Montreal last October. In the immediate aftermath, Desmarais was more than honorable in agreeing to fulfill a prior commitment in boxing Frank Melanson, but it turns out the pot was simmering to a slow boil. Desmarais dispatched Melanson three weeks ago and it appears the Fighting Frenchman has his sights trained directly on the Adrian Petrie, a man who won by the controversial decisions of two hometown judges. Though the jingoism was initially dismissed by many, it left a black mark on the sport of boxing and has since caught on to become a cause célèbre. Of course, the more Desmarais likely thought about it – or more likely, his handlers thought about it – a very lucrative payday may go by the boards if Desmarais decamps for France without a belt or at least another attempt at retrieving that belt from an “imposter”, as he put it. In the meantime, there was a title fight on this night. The annals of history will likely treat the fight as the undercard to the shenanigans after the bout. The fight itself barely lasted long enough for the crowd to get comfortable in their seats. Adrian Petrie tried to carry on and defend his new title against a relative unknown, New York’s Danny Morse. Morse has been around the block, but he is not a top contender, as evidenced by his 35-8-1 record entering the bout. With the contested victory and the choice of challenger earning quite a bit of criticism, the chip on Petrie’s shoulder was growing by the day. Morse was up for the fight, and he knew his way around the ring, with a decided advantage of experience with more than twice the number of professional fights under his belt. But as the crowd soon found out, just because one has more experience does not necessarily make them better. The fight began with Morse motioning Petrie to came at him. Petrie, he of the large chip on his shoulder, obliged and landed a jab that amounted to a love tap, followed by a cross that caused Morse’s eyes to glaze over. Once they clinched, Petrie leaned into him with his shoulder, earning a stern warning from referee Jerry Rowe. In the second round, Morse had his single best moment with a combination that stunned Petrie and knocked him back. Petrie countered with an effective hook to the jaw that opened a cut on Morse’s lip and came in for more. Sensing a chance to capitalize, the Canadian unleashed a torrent of punches with the highlights a devastating hook that caused Morse to recline against the ropes. As the bell sounded, both fighters continued to brawl. It was clear in the lead-up to the fight what Petrie’s motivation was, but Morse was content to brawl, all night if he had to do so. However, thirty seconds into the third round, there would be no more brawling, at least in the ring. Petrie had momentum at the end of the second round and carried it over to the third, likely with instructions from his corner to get it over with. Petrie approached Morse like a cat with Morse’s head as the ball of yarn. Petrie stood close before launching a hook flush on Morse’s face, which caused the challenger to leak from his right eyebrow. Referee Rowe paused the fight to have the ringside doctor look at Morse’s eyebrow and despite the protests from Morse’s corner, Rowe stopped the fight and ended the in-ring festivities. For all of the flak Petrie has received, and perception of Morse (35-9-1) as a tomato can, Petrie definitely did what he was supposed to do. He dispatched an inferior opponent. From the fracas after the bout, Petrie (19-1-1) motioned to Desmarais, as if to tell him he had 12 rounds left in him tonight and it would not matter to him if Desmarais tapped in for Morse. Good for Petrie. He has used all of this criticism and suspicion of an ill-gotten title to his advantage. Everyone at the Gardens seemed to understand this inescapable fact: Petrie was speaking the truth when he pointed his gloved right hand at Desmarais and said, “Vous êtes le prochain!”. He repeated in English, “You’re next!” BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS Round 1: Petrie, 1-0 (0:30 cross) Round 2: Petrie, 2-1 (P: 1:21 hook/jaw, 2:02 hook; M: 0:47 combo) Round 3: Petrie, 1-0 (0:26 hook/eyebrow) TOTAL: Petrie 4, Morse 1 OTHER BOUTS LAST WEEK Roy Crawford, who remains the best veteran fighter to never get a title shot, added to his win total with a unanimous decision over Steve Manning in New York over the weekend. The 30-year-old Boston native ups his record to 29-3 and was listed as the #2 heavyweight contender earlier last month in the TWIFB quarterly boxing rankings. He has faced most of the big names in the division over the years but so far has not received a call from Chester Conley to face Hector Sawyer. One other fight of note in Cleveland saw rising local middleweight Davis Owens run his record to 17-0 with an impressive win over Dave Sizemore. Sizemore, a 29-year-old Massachusetts fighter, has run into some tough times of late with 4 losses in his last six trips inside the ring but prior to that and earned some impressive wins earlier in his career including a second round knockout of John Edmonds, who briefly held the world title. Owens is likely not quite ready for a title shot but is closing in on cracking the TWIFB quarterly list of the top six fighters in each division. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS
The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 1/30/1949
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 11-02-2023 at 01:12 PM. |
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11-03-2023, 05:30 AM
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#819 |
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Join Date: Mar 2002
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Good and interesting read. Glad you have kept this going over the years.
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11-03-2023, 06:41 AM
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#820 | |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Ontario Canada
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Quote:
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Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles |
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