1907 - Other Sports
HOCKEY
The league had a makeover for the 1907-08 campaign. That makeover included a new name, it was now called the National Hockey Association, a new playoff format which invited the top 4 teams and both the semi-finals and finals would be a best of five, and finally the schedule was expanded by 10 games so each club now played 50.
The Ottawa Senators won the regular season title with a new record of 60 points (although it was in 10 more games) and there was a terrific battle for second place between Hamilton and Quebec. But that paled in comparison with the battle for fourth place and the final playoff spot. It ended up going to Toronto over the Montreal Maroons based on the St.Patrick's one more regular season victory. For the first time in league history both Montreal teams would miss the playoffs.
League scoring champ Derek Edur of Quebec won his second career regular season Most Valuable Player award while Montreal's Sailor Hilborn led the league in goals for the second year in a row.
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NHA STANDINGS 1907-08
TEAM GP W L T PTS
Ottawa Senators 50 24 14 12 60
Hamilton Tigers 50 21 15 14 56
Quebec Bulldogs 50 23 18 9 55
Toronto St Pats 50 18 22 10 46
Montreal Maroons 50 17 21 12 46
Montreal Canadiens 50 15 28 7 37
SCORING LEADERS TM GP G A PTS
Derek Edur Que 50 22 27 49
Sailor Hilborn MonC 50 23 24 47
Horace Parenteau Ham 50 19 26 45
Michael Ranger Ham 49 22 19 41
Mike Obernesser MonC 50 6 34 40
Toronto took the first place Senators the distance in the opening round of the playoffs before the St. Pats ultimately fell short, losing 3 games to two. Meanwhile, Quebec swept Hamilton with ease, winning all 3 games handily. The difference in the finals was a 20 year old second year goaltender by the name of William Winograd. The Salmon Arm, BC native was outstanding leading Quebec past Ottawa 3 games to one. Winograd allowed just 4 goals in the series and shutout Ottawa in Game Three. He was named the playoff MVP but would surprisingly be traded to Hamilton over the summer for another talented youngster - 23 year old center Horace Parenteau, who had finished 3rd in league scoring.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
If Duke fans were upset last year at not being ranked number one, it was nothing compared to what fans of the University of Denver thought about this season. There team went 12-0, but played in the lowly regarded Mountain States Conference. Despite being unbeaten they were not invited to a bowl game, which shows how little the conference is thought of. Denver wound up ranked 8th by the AP and even lower, at #11, in the coaches poll. Meanwhile, Furman also entered New Year's Day unbeaten, but the Paladins lost their chance at title when they fell 35-29 to Texas Tech in the Sugar Bowl.
That win left the Red Raiders at 12-1, which was the same record for both Syracuse and Michigan after the Orange crushed San Francisco 54-21 in the Cotton Bowl and the Wolverines mauled California yet again in the Rose Bowl, winning 43-21. Both polls agreed that Texas Tech's win over previously unbeaten Furman was enough to give the Red Raiders the number 1 ranking, with Syracuse second and Michigan third.
Notre Dame and Army, both 1 loss teams with Army falling to the Irish and Notre Dame losing to Michigan during the season, won their bowl games. Notre Dame beat Georgia easily in the Citrus Bowl by a 56-13 score while Army blanked Kansas 37-0 in the Orange Bowl. In the other two bowl games Kansas State shaded Harvard 28-23 in the Tangerine Bowl while Dartmouth nipped Penn State 21-20 in the Gator Bowl.
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AP COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP TWENTY RANKINGS
SCHOOL RECORD COACHES POLL
1 Texas Tech 12-1 1
2 Syracuse 12-1 2
3 Michigan 12-1 3
4 Notre Dame 11-2 4
5 Army 11-2 5
6 Furman 12-1 6
7 Dartmouth 11-2 16
8 Denver 12-0 11
9 Utah 10-2 14
10 California 11-2 9
11 UCLA 10-2 10
12 Ole Miss 9-3 13
13 Kansas State 10-3 12
14 Northwestern 10-2 7
15 SMU 9-3 30
16 Yale 10-2 54
17 Texas Mines 9-3 15
18 Fordham 8-4 20
19 Georgia 9-4 18
20 Kentucky 8-4 17
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
1901 Notre Dame
1902 Duke
1903 Duke
1904 Texas Tech
1905 Grinnell
1906 Michigan
1907 Texas Tech
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
After being runners-up a year ago, the Kentucky Wildcats claimed their first National Title with a victory over Bradley in a rematch of the 1906-07 championship game. The Wildcats, who only lost once all season, won the title despite not having a single player make one of the 3 All-American teams. Kentucky did have a couple of Southern Conference all-stars in guard Pug Marvin and forward Ted Morgan, with Morgan finishing among the NCAA leaders in ppg with 18.0.
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1906-07 CONFERENCE STANDINGS
(T-in 32 team Tournament)
WESTERN CW CL W L
Indiana -T 12 0 31 2
Iowa -T 9 3 26 6
Ohio State -T 8 4 22 11
Illinois 7 5 17 13
Wisconsin 5 7 13 17
Purdue 5 7 17 13
Northwestern 4 8 15 14
Chicago 4 8 10 19
Minnesota 3 9 13 16
Michigan 3 9 10 20
IVY GROUP CW CL W L
Princeton -T 7 3 18 12
Pennsylvania 5 5 12 17
Columbia 5 5 10 20
Dartmouth 5 5 10 20
Cornell 5 5 9 20
Yale 3 7 5 24
MISSOURI VALLEY CW CL W L
Missouri -T 9 3 18 12
Kansas 9 3 16 13
Iowa State 7 5 13 17
Drake 6 6 13 16
Kansas State 6 6 12 17
Nebraska 3 9 5 24
Oklahoma 2 10 8 21
MOUNTAIN STATES CW CL W L
Denver -T 6 2 16 15
Colorado 4 4 14 15
Colorado A&M 2 6 14 16
PACIFIC COAST CW CL W L
Cal -T 7 0 27 4
Washington -T 6 1 25 6
Oregon State -T 5 2 27 6
Oregon 3 4 12 17
Southern Cal 3 4 13 16
Idaho -T 2 5 18 12
Washington State 1 6 16 13
Stanford 1 6 10 19
SOUTHERN CW CL W L
Kentucky -T 11 0 36 1
Clemson -T 7 4 22 13
Georgia 7 4 16 15
Georgia Tech 6 5 15 16
N Carolina State 6 5 17 14
North Carolina 5 6 17 14
Alabama Poly 5 6 10 20
Mississippi State 5 6 10 20
Virginia Tech 4 7 11 18
Tennessee 4 7 11 18
Virginia 3 8 7 22
Alabama 3 8 10 20
SOUTHWEST CW CL W L
Texas A&M -T 6 4 15 16
Rice 6 4 16 13
SMU 5 5 16 13
Baylor 5 5 13 16
Oklahoma A&M -T 4 6 18 12
Texas 4 6 14 15
TOP INDEPENDENTS W L
Bradley -T 33 2
Cincinnati -T 32 2
Notre Dame -T 29 4
West Virginia -T 28 2
Dayton -T 28 3
Duquesne -T 27 5
St John's -T 26 6
Utah -T 24 7
Saint Louis -T 23 7
TCU -T 23 9
St Josephs (Pa) -T 22 8
New York University -T 22 9
Holy Cross -T 22 9
Pittsburgh 20 9
Georgetown 20 9
LSU -T 20 12
Maryland 19 10
St Bonaventure -T 19 11
Fordham -T 19 11
Marquette -T 19 12
George Washington -T 19 13
Navy 18 11
Wake Forest 17 12
Rutgers 17 12
Duke 17 12
Arizona State 17 13
Vanderbilt 17 13
Montana 16 13
Seton Hall 16 13
UCLA 16 13
Boston College 16 13
Niagara 16 13
St Mary's 16 13
Detroit Mercy 16 13
Harvard 15 14
Kent State 15 14
Western Kentucky 15 14
Utah State 15 14
Mississippi 15 14
Xavier 15 15
Villanova 15 15
Kentucky was the top seed in the East and had a fairly easy time winning the regional. The Wildcats got 27 points from Ted Morgan in a tournament opening win over 8th seeded Princeton, beating the Ivy Group champs 77-69. Next up was a 78-55 win over independent TCU as Pug Marvin scored 16 points while Morgan added 12. The regional final was a rematch with Ohio State, the only team to beat Kentucky this season, but the Wildcats got their revenge with an easy 68-50 victory behind 20 points from Marvin.
In the semi-final game Kentucky would face the always tough Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosier had a tough road to the final four as they won the Midwest region only after beating St John's by a single point and then Notre Dame in overtime in the regional final. Kentucky proved too much for Indiana to handle in the semi-final game as the Wildcats M&M boys, Marvin and Morgan, combined for 34 points, 8 assists and 12 rebounds in a 61-47 Kentucky victory.
The other semi-final was a dandy, as Bradley edged Cincinnati 89-87 on a last second basket in double overtime from center Zeb Ennis. The senior Ennis, who was a transfer from Holy Cross, led Bradley with 18 points in the game. The player of the game was Evan Trump, a junior transfer shooting guard, who had 30 points for the Bearcats in a losing cause.
The championship game could not compare to Bradley's semi-final contest for excitement as Kentucky built a 14 point lead at the half and went on to win 80-71, a year after losing by 4 to the Braves in the title game. Ted Morgan led the Kentucky offense with 20 points in the win with Pug Marvin adding 14 points to go with 5 assists. Marvin, a junior, would be back for another year in Kentucky but Morgan and PF Wally Woolley were playing their final game as Wildcats.
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NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
YR WINNER OPPONENT SCORE OTHER FINAL FOUR TEAMS
1901-02 BRADLEY Indiana 79-64 Holy Cross, Duquesne
1902-03 KENTUCKY Iowa 68-59 Indiana, Duquesne
1903-04 WEST VIRGINIA Indiana 75-71 Bradley, California
1904-05 INDIANA West Virginia 65-49 Holy Cross, Iowa
1905-06 CALIFORNIA Cincinnati 68-61 Bradley, West Virginia
1906-07 BRADLEY Kentucky 54-50 Indiana, Illinois
1907-08 KENTUCKY Bradley 80-71 Indiana, Cincinnati
PRO BASKETBALL
The Eastern Basketball League grew to 12 teams with the addition of the expansion Troy Trojans. The Trojans had a solid first season, finishing just 4 games under .500 with a 30-34 record as the league scheduled expanded from 60 to 64 games. Troy signed center Willard McNew, a 2-time MVP, away from Pittsburgh and the 28 year old led the Trojans in points (21.4) and rebounds (10.6) per game. They also drafted forward Stewart Albers, who won a National Title with Bradley, and Albers had a strong season scoring 19.4 ppg.
The East Division champions were the Paterson Crescents, who went from last place in the division a year ago to a 48-18 season. Starters Al Humphry and Jimmy Hulbert returned, and both were first team all-stars. Other than those two, the Crescents completely retooled with the additions of Ralph Colangelo (16.6) ppg from Camden and Tinsley Hoekstra (15.8 ppg) from Wilmington as well as the promotion of George Hansen - a seldom used back-up for 4 seasons, to the starting center position. New York finished second with Ciriaco Ferrer (28.3ppg) and Duane Taylor (18.8 ppg, 10.9 rpg) once again leading the way.
Dick Hauge played the entire season but the big center could only lead the Bristol Pile Drivers to a 3rd place finish, 1 spot shy of a playoff berth. Camden signed George Green after the guard sat out last season and he showed no signs of rust, making the first all-star team for the fifth time in his career. The Electrics also had Rufus Nickerson (18.9 ppg) and Orlin Burdick (19.7 ppg) but somehow could only manage to finish in a tie for fourth with Troy. Despite a breakthrough season from second year forward Cy Breese (20.3 ppg), his Trenton Potters finished dead last in the East.
The McKeesport Keys won the West Division thanks to a rapidly improving team led by center John Benda. The 26 year old, a former Kentucky Wildcat, had career highs in ppg (24.1) and rpg (9.3) to make the second all-star team. Benda's former teammate on the 1902-03 National Champion Wildcat team was Barry Rogan, and Rogan (19.8 ppg) also had the best year to date of his professional career. McKeesport's other good young player is 24 year old second year guard Red Saba, who had 18.1 ppg this year, but what really put it all together for the Keys was of PG Blix Fruge away from New York. Fruge, a 26 year old who played his college ball at Boston College, was a back-up for 3 years in the EBL before getting his chance to shine this season. With the Keys he had 9.2 assists per game while also scoring 11.2 ppg giving the club a 4th scoring option and a smart playmaker they had previously lacked.
Pittsburgh took the second playoff spot in the West as Corky Gipson (18.8 ppg) joined the team after previously playing for Trenton. Bubba Gibson (24.7ppg) was the Homesteaders top scorer and he made the first all-star team to help alleviate the loss of of Willard McNew to Troy. Third place Wilmington was going through some changes as they added PF Dietrich Strummer (18.5 ppg) from Paterson and drafted guard William Rowe (16.2 ppg) second overall from the University of Washington.
After reaching the finals last season the Philadelphia Wheelers dropped back to 4th place in the West Division. A big loss was the decision of Joe Hubbard to leave the team and not play this season after scoring 23.1 ppg a year ago. (NOTE - In this era I set the salary cap very low so some players would not resign to mimic other regional pro leagues being around at the time)
The accolades for John Lesley continued as a pro. Drafted first overall by Reading after Lesley was a 3-time first team All-American and won an NCAA championship with Indiana, the 23 year old added the EBL Rookie of the Year Award to his trophy case. Lesley had 21.4 ppg to lead the fifth place Bears. Meanwhile, there was very little to be excited about in Johnstown as the Johnnies finished last in the West.
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1907-08 EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS
EAST DIVISION W L GB
Paterson Crescents 46 18 -
New York Wanderers 40 24 6.0
Bristol Pile Drivers 34 30 12.0
Troy Trojans 30 34 16.0
Camden Electrics 30 34 16.0
Trenton Potters 20 44 26.0
WEST DIVISION W L GB
McKeesport Keys 48 16 -
Pittsburgh Homesteaders 42 22 6.0
Wilmington Peaches 25 39 23.0
Philadelphia Wheelers 25 39 23.0
Reading Bears 23 41 25.0
Johnstown Johnnies 21 43 27.0
SCORING LEADERS TM PPG
Dick Hauge BRI 29.0
Ciriaco Ferrer NY 28.3
Bubba Gibson PIT 24.7
Al Humphry PAT 24.2
John Benda McK 24.1
Jimmy Hurlburt PAT 22.6
Willard McNew TRO 21.4
John Lesley REA 21.4
Bud Towle PHI 20.7
Cy Breese TRE 20.3
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1907-08 ALL LEAGUE FIRST TEAM PPG RPG APG SPG BKPG
C Dick Hauge Bristol 29.0 13.6 1.8 0.6 4.8
F Bubba Gibson Pittsburgh 24.7 9.2 1.3 1.2 0.7
F Al Humphry Paterson 24.2 5.2 7.2 1.9 0.9
G Jimmy Hurlbert Paterson 22.6 6.4 12.9 1.7 0.2 MVP
G George Green Camden 18.3 7.5 9.4 2.0 0.3
Both rounds of the playoffs were expanded to a best-of-seven format for the 1907-08 season. The two first place clubs prevailed with the Paterson Crescents having a much easier time than the McKeesport Keys. The Crescents beat New York in 5 games while the Keys needed the full seven to eliminate Pittsburgh. The Keys had to overcome a 3 games to 2 deficit with a 111-100 win in Game Six that went to overtime. It was an overtime period complete dominated by the Keys as Center John Benda scored 9 of his game high 31 points in the extra frame. McKeesport then clinched the series with a blowout 110-86 win at home in Game Seven.
McKeesport followed that up with two convincing wins at home to start the finals. The Keys took game one 117-101 despite 36 points from Paterson's Jimmy Hurlburt and won game two by a 118-101 count even though Hurlburt scored 39 that night.
Hurlburt's outstanding play continued in Game Three as he poured in 43 points to give Paterson it's first win of the series, by a 107-98 score, but the Keys went up 3 games to one with a 105-95 win the next night. John Benda had 25 points for McKeesport while Hurlburt again led the Crescents but was limited to 24 points.
Back home for Game Five, McKeesport wrapped up the series as Benda had 29 points and 21 rebounds while forward Barry Rogan chipped in with 27 and guard Red Saba added 20 in a 98-88 victory. Hurlburt scored 21 in a losing cause for Paterson. John Benda, who averaged 23.6 ppg and led the way with 11.6 rebounds per game in the post-season, was named playoff MVP.
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EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
01-02 Paterson Crescents defeat Millville Glass Blowers
02-03 Wilmington Peaches defeat Millville Glass Blowers
03-04 Wilmington Peaches defeat Trenton Potters
04-05 Trenton Potters defeat Wilmington Peaches
05-06 New York Wanderers defeat Reading Bears
06-07 Bristol Pile Drivers defeat Philadelphia Wheelers
07-08 McKeesport Keys defeat Paterson Crescents
GOLF
The story of 1907 was the season put up by 35 year old Englishman Lord Lovett. Lovett, who had previously won the British Open in both 1903 and last season, added a US Open title to his resume this year. He also finished second in this year's PGA Championship and 7th in the British Open as well as winning two events on the European Tour this season.
41 year old Derek Perkins had never been a factor in a major before but he found some magic in his clubs in April of 1907, winning The Masters despite having never won a tour event prior to this. Interestingly, Perkins older brother Wes, who is now retired, also won a Masters title as he claimed the first event which was held in 1896. They are the first pair of brothers to each win a major. Luther Swartz, last year's winner and seemingly always a contender at Augusta, finished second for the second time in 4 years. Thomas Milne, who would win the British Open this year, also had a strong event.
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1907 MASTERS LEADERBOARD
NAME NAT SC MONEY
Derek Perkins US -1 $1,619
Luther Swartz US +3 $990
Rhys Holmes ENG +4 $720
Thomas Milne SCO +4 $720
Oscar Rhoden ENG +6 $360
David Holmes US +6 $360
US OPEN
Scotland's Thomas Milne, who won the US Open last year, blew a 3 shot lead with 9 holes to play and ended up in a playoff with last year's British Open winner Lord Lovett. Lovett would take the title with a win on the first playoff hole and increase his major win total to 3. James Fox, another two-time major winner, came in third in the event which was held at Congressional Country Club in Maryland.
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1907 US OPEN LEADERBOARD
NAME NAT SC MONEY
Lord Lovett ENG +16 $1,799
Thomas Milne SCO +16 $1,100
James Fox US +17 $800
Vince Cummins US +19 $500
Morton Moses US +19 $500
Liam Hogan SCO +19 $500
BRITISH OPEN
After blowing a chance at his third major in the US Open, Scotland's Thomas Milne gets his title with a 2-stroke win in the British Open. Derek Perkins, the surprise winner at Augusta in April, had another terrific payday as he finished second while another former Masters champion in Emil Stanway, who won in 1898, was third. Gordon Dendy, who has yet to win a major but comes close often, came in fourth.
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1907 BRITISH OPEN LEADERBOARD
NAME NAT SC MONEY
Thomas Milne SCO -10 $1,754
Derek Perkins US -8 $1,072
Emil Stanway US -7 $780
Gordon Dendy US -2 $487
Fritz Hobbs US E $390
Vince Cummins US E $390
Finn Drysdale AUS +1 $350
Lord Lovett ENG +4 $292
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Firestone Course in Ohio played host to the 1907 PGA Championship. Scotland's Evan Henderson was the winner, claiming his first major with a two-stroke victory over Lord Lovett. Frenchy Savard, James Fox, Albert Lichtman and Calvin Baumgartner were other familiar names in the top 10.
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1907 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD
NAME NAT SC MONEY
Evan Henderson SCO +4 $1,709
Lord Lovett ENG +6 $1,045
Frenchy Savard US +7 $760
David Holmes US +7 $760
James Fox US +8 $380
Evan Costello IRE +9 $360
ALbert Lichtman GER +9 $360
Here are the golfers who have won at least two majors. Both Milne and Lovett add to their totals this year.
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MAJOR TOURNAMENT WINNERS
Calvin Baumgartner 5
Thomas Milne 3
Lord Lovett 3
Fritz Hobbs 2
Frenchy Savard 2
James Foxx 2
Milo Lawrence 2
Walter Mathis 2