JANUARY 11, 1943
BASEBALL'S TRAVEL WEARY OFFICIALS FAVOR RIGID MILAGE CONSERVATION PLAN
Later Season Start Deemed Solution of Training Problem
CHICAGO, JAN 11-- Straggling into the Palmer House today for FABL President Sam Belton's emergency parley, travel-weary baseball officials were more determined that ever to draw up a rigid mileage conservation plan after getting a personal taste of the transportation difficulties their teams will face this season. Most of the 'lobby-talk' consisted of mutterings of train delays rather than speculation of what the league President has up his sleeve for a 1943 wartime program after conferring recently with ODT Director Joseph B. Eastman. Representatives of the 16 FABL clubs agree the baseball situation would be disclosed as it really exists, and they expected a short, cut-and-dried conference with Belton putting the cards on the table.
It was a relief for the magnates to know their problems were finally coming to a head. Only a month ago they closed their annual meetings here with the little matter of 1943 baseball drifting in the air with their cigar smoke. During the past month there have been mostly rumours as to where and when clubs will hold spring training -lengthy trips to California, Florida, Texas and elsewhere cancelled in accordance with Eastman's suggestions for clipping rail miles. Only the Boston Minutemen, who will condition at their Class B affiliate's ballpark in Arlington, Va., appeared to have definitely solved their spring conditioning plans before coming to the meeting. To a man the magnates were saying all the right things today - that they were 'in', no matter if Florida remains an option or Belton calls for the teams to train a little closer to home or requires then to stay in their home cities and train indoors if need be. If the rest of FABL goes elsewhere, the Minutemen say they will play tune-up games against Virginia college and military base teams.
Other clubs have held off from making definite plans until after the meeting, although many are said to have tentatively reserved accommodations and ball facilities in various Carolina, Georgia and Virginia towns. It is looking as that will become the likely solution although some, like Detroit Dynamos Assistant General Manager Mike Walton, do not rule out training at home if the season start is delayed by two or three weeks. "We've got two or three alternate sites as Lakeland is likely out," says Walton. "In fact, if the opener is postponed there is a good chance we likely will stay at home and train in Detroit."
"As for all this talk about merging the two Associations for the duration," Walton added, "and then divide them into East-West sections -- that won't do at all. The Federal Association and Continental must keep their identities."
*** TWIN BILLS WOULD BE HELPFUL ***
Other problems expected to be discussed today all hinge around the spring training discussion outcome - such as delaying the season's inauguration to provide better weather for training in camps nearer home. Once the opening date is settled, the next issue is whether to continue the standard 154-game schedule or trim it closer to the 1919 proportions of 126. The 154-game program could be dovetailed into the shorter season by cramming in double-headers. The flexible scheduling of additional twin bills could take care of extra games arising from longer series to eliminate one-day stands and from open dates proposed between long swings to allow more travel by day coaches. There is clearly much on the agenda today for Sam Belton to update owners with.
FORESTERS SET TO LEAD-OFF FABL DRAFT
While the FABL rookie draft has been overshadowed of late with all of concerns about getting spring training and the actual 1943 campaign sorted out, FABL General Managers are busy making final preparations for the amateur player draft which should see selections being announced over the next few weeks. Finally, after enduring so much bad news with player after player joining the war effort, the 16 clubs will actually get a chance to restock those now threadbare shelves with the best of the high school and college talent available. Of course there is no guarantee that Selective Service may decide to wrestle a number of those top picks away from the ball magnates as soon as they graduate in the spring.
The top pick will belong to the Cleveland Foresters for the second time in three years. In 1940 the Foresters chose New York High School pitching phenom Hiram Steinberg, who single-handedly rewrote the prep pitching record books, with the first selection. Now 20 years old, Steinberg split last season between Class B and A and, as the third best prospect in the game according to OSA, is projected to make his big league debut in 1944.
There is no clear-cut number one like Steinberg was two years ago but in August TWIFB ranked the potential first rounders this way.
Code:
# NAME POS AGE SCHOOL HOMETOWN
1 Homer Mills SS 20 Wesson College East Chicago, IL
2 Jim Adams Jr. SS 20 St Ignatius Philadelphia, PA
3 Bill Gifford 3B 17 San Diego (CA) HS San Diego, CA
4 Jim Carter RHP 20 Ellery College Quincy, MA
5 Bob Newcomer C 20 Ceasar Rodney Auburn, ME
6 Hoppy Johnson RHP 20 Charleston Tech Birmingham, AL
7 Sid Kling OF 17 McKinley HS, Buffalo Buffalo, NY
8 Ed Haynes Jr. C 17 Austin (TX) HS Austin, TX
9 Roy Baker RHP 16 Key West (FL) HS Miami, FL
10 Wally Boyer CF 17 Hokendauque (PA) HS New York, NY
11 Walt Harris SS 21 Georgia Baptist Los Angeles, CA
12 Al Hill 3B 17 Allderdice HS, Pittsb. Pittsburgh, PA
13 Frankie Gonnella 3B 20 Canton State Newark, NJ
14 Jim Waters OF 20 Maryland State Brooklyn, NY
15 Frank Wood C 17 Bell (CA) HS Los Angeles, CA
16 Jimmy Snyder SS 20 Central Illinois Univ. St. Paul, MN
As for the Foresters this will be the fifth time they select first overall. If one ignores 1926 top pick Karl Stevens, the Foresters certainly have made out very well with the top selection landing the greatest slugger in the history of the sport in Max Morris and a likely future Hall of Fame shortstop in Harry Barrell.
FORESTERS FIRST OVERALL SELECTIONS
1940 Hiram Steinberg P
1931 Harry Barrell SS
1926 Karl Stevens OF
1913 Max Morris P/OF
NO SURPRISE AS NOBLE JONES COLLEGE IS #1
The polls confirmed the obvious as 12-0 Noble Jones College was named the AIAA football National Champion. It marks the third time in Colonels history that their grid squad has been named the nation's best with the previous two coming in 1910 and then again just 4 seasons ago. The state of Georgia factored very heavily in the polls with the Georgia Baptist Gators, who's lone loss was to Noble Jones, placing second and Georgia Pre-Flight holding down the fourth spot and the highest placing among the military squads, just ahead of Great Lakes Navy.
Here are the final rankings.
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[b] 1942 COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL RANKINGS
1 Noble Jones College (12-0)
2 Georgia Baptist (9-1-1)
3 Detroit City College (9-2)
4 Georgia Pre-Flight (7-2)
5 Great Lakes Navy (10-2)
6 Cumberland (10-1)
7 Miami State (8-0-1)
8 Central Ohio (8-2)
9 Commonwealth Catholic (7-2-1)
10 Boulder State (8-1)
11 St. Patrick's (8-1-1)
12 Brooklyn State (6-3)
13 Jacksonville Naval Air Station (9-3)
14 Daniel Boone College (10-2)
15 Bayou State (8-3)
16 Payne State (9-2)
17 Bluegrass State (7-3)
18 Sunnyvale (7-0-2)
19 St. Blane (7-3-1)
20 Alabama Baptist (7-3-1)
No changes at the top of the college basketball heap as CCLA, Liberty College and Detroit City College continue to hold down the top three spots.
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AIAA TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. CC Los Angeles (32) 12-0 1753 1 West Coast Athletic Association
2. Liberty College (30) 14-0 1739 2 Northeast Conference
3. Detroit City College (10) 12-0 1692 3 Great Lakes Alliance
4. St. Ignatius 10-2 1512 6 Great Lakes Alliance
5. Coastal California 10-1 1444 4 West Coast Athletic Association
6. Central Ohio 11-1 1364 10 Great Lakes Alliance
7. Minnesota Tech 12-0 1353 8 Great Lakes Alliance
8. Chesapeake State 12-1 1323 7 South Atlantic Conference
9. Lane State 11-1 1313 11 West Coast Athletic Association
10. Great Plains State 16-2 1216 12 Independent
11. Western Iowa 9-1 1050 9 Great Lakes Alliance
12. St. Magnus 11-0 1035 13 Great Lakes Alliance
13. North Carolina Tech 13-2 979 5 South Atlantic Conference
14. Carolina Poly 11-2 873 14 South Atlantic Conference
15. St. Patrick's 11-2 769 16 Northeast Conference
16. Whitney College 8-2 685 18 Great Lakes Alliance
17. Alabama Baptist 11-2 684 19 Deep South Conference
18. Brooklyn State 9-3 573 17 Northeast Conference
19. Rainier College 8-3 527 15 West Coast Athletic Association
20. Garden State 8-4 375 21 Northeast Conference
21. Hamman 14-3 342 NR Independent
22. Elyria 10-3 276 22 Independent
23. Richmond State 9-3 163 NR South Atlantic Conference
24. Northern California 8-4 89 25 West Coast Athletic Association
25. Wisconsin State 9-3 85 NR Great Lakes Alliance
Others Receiving Votes:
College of San Diego 10-3 78 California League
Portland Tech 8-3 59 West Coast Athletic Association
Bardney 8-3 29 Independent
Central Kentucky 8-3 17 Deep South Conference
Coastal State 9-4 2 South Atlantic Conference
Lawrence State 11-4 1 Plains Athletic Association
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS INVOLVING RANKED TEAMS AND OTHER MAJOR SCHOOLS
MONDAY JANUARY 4
#2 Liberty College 49 Sadler 27
#4 St Ignatius 46 Queen City 38
#5 Coastal California 38 Quaker College (CA) 28
#7 Minnesota Tech 52 Portland Tech 42
#9 Lane State 48 Eastern Kansas 36
#11 Western Iowa 54 Topeka State 32
Utah A&M 36 #19 Rainier College 28
TUESDAY JANUARY 5
#8 Chesapeake State 58 Henry Hudson 42
#10 Great Plains State 58 Lambert College 48
#12 St Magnus 55 Iowa A&M 41
#16 Whitney College 52 Erie 44
#23 Richmond State 54 NW New York State 44
#24 Northern California 46 Kit Carson University 34
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6
#1 CC Los Angeles 52 College of Cairo 35
#6 Central Ohio 52 #22 Elyria 28
#7 Minnesota Tech 50 Poweshiek 40
#15 St Patrick's 56 Jersey City Tech 49
#17 Alabama Baptist 56 Perry State College 39
#21 Hamman 39 Western State 27
#25 Wisconsin State 58 Fond du Lac 30
THURSDAY JANUARY 7
#3 Detroit City College 49 #20 Garden State 35
#4 St Ignatius 56 Holland 49
#9 Lane State 43 Golden Gate 36
#10 Great Plains State 55 Berwick 47
#12 St Magnus 50 Rock Island 43
Queen City 51 #13 North Carolina Tech 43
#19 Rainier College 50 Colorado Poly 30
Georgia Baptist 33 Capital(MS) University 31
Brunswick 49 Annapolis Maritime 37
Commonwealth Catholic 47 St Blane 38
FRIDAY JANUARY 8
#16 Whitney College 67 Daniel Boone College 64
#21 Hamman 50 Harrisburg State 31
SATURDAY JANUARY 9
#2 Liberty College 42 Henry Hudson 27
#5 Coastal California 63 Lincoln 43
$6 Central Ohio 41 St Matthew's College 37
#13 North Carolina Tech 58 Armstrong 50
#14 Carolina Poly 55 Georgia Baptist 45
#15 St Patrick's 47 Troy State (NY) 40
#17 Alabama Baptist 44 Ferguson 38
#18 Brooklyn State 45 Annapolis Maritime 33
#18 Rainier College 53 Kit Carson University 46
#22 Elyria 45 Pittsburgh State 38
Commonwealth Catholic 45 Grafton 38
SUNDAY JANUARY 10
#3 Detroit City College 58 Canton State 39
#9 Lane State 48 Mobile Maritime 40
#21 Hamman 58 Sunnyvale 42
Michigan Lutheran 50 Noble Jones College 38
Rome State 45 Valley State 44
The Knights came up with a strong effort on the big stage at the Bigsby Gardens last Wednesday with a 49-35 win over Garden State. It was the second time the two squads met this season and in both cases Detroit City prevailed. DCC got off to a quick start and led by 9 at the break. Andrew Bennett led the way with 13 points while star guard Roman Sollars and forward Hilton Brogdon each added 12. Freshman David Bobo, with 8 points, was the top score for the Redbirds.
On Saturday the Knights improved to 12-0 on the year with a 58-39 win over Canton State. Sollars had 14 points while Adolph Duckworth added 12 and Andrew Bennett scored 10 in the victory.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Just one more game before the Great Lakes Alliance conference schedule gets underway. Detroit City College will face 4-8 Utah A&M at home in it's final tune-up game. That one goes Friday night and is part of a busy week for the visiting Aggies, who also play fifth ranked Coastal California and South Valley State this week. The Aggies are part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Alliance and have made the year end tournament 5 times in the past nine years and 8 times overall but have yet to win a tournament game. Their top player is John King, a senior guard out of Winslow, Arizona.
Here is a look at the Knights stats so far this season.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 1/10/1943
- In his address to Congress, President Roosevelt says the Allies intend to go on the offensive with 3 major objectives for 1943: 1- the opening of a second front in Europe itself; 2- Major offensive actions against the Japanese; and 3- Relentless aerial attacks against the Axis in Europe and Japan proper.
- Little cracks are beginning to appear in the structure of the German home front as the Reich finds itself in the fourth Winter of war. Those cracks can be widened by Allied victories and by additional hardships which the German civilian population must undergo, but British officials feel it would be false optimism to say that structure is in imminent danger of collapse.
- The US Navy added a battleship to the list of it's vessels that have made history in the Pacific war. The unidentified battleship is credited with destroying 32 Japanese planes and 4 warcraft in 2 battles and it joins the cruisers Boise and San Francisco in having been cited for distinguished service.
- US and Australian troops have wiped out the last Japanese resistance in the Buna area of northern New Guinea.
- Nazi forces in Russia are in jeopardy and the British Labor Minister said there is no doubt in his mind that before many weeks Adolf Hitler would be faced with the greatest disaster of the war.
- Sicily is the latest Italian city to be blasted by R.A.F. bombers in a large nighttime raid.