OCTOBER 11, 1943 - WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES EDITION
CANNONS EVEN SERIES
The Cincinnati Cannons offense finally answered it's wake-up call as the club scored 14 runs in games three and four after managing just one run in each of the first two games of the series. The results were an 8-2 victory on Saturday and a 6-5 win yesterday to even the World Championship Series between the Cannons and the Boston Minutemen at two wins apiece. The series, now a best-of-three affair, continues today in Cincinnati before shifting east to New England for the sixth and, if necessary, 7th game.
It looked like the Cannons might be in big trouble when Art Spencer smacked a 1-out triple off Cincinnati starter Chris Clarke in the top of the first inning on Saturday. An error by Jack Cleaves allowed Spencer to score and Boston had a quick 1-0 lead. Things were different for the Cannons offense this time around however, as they immediately answered with 2-runs of their own in the home half of the opening inning. Like in the top of the inning it was an error that opened the door: this one by Boston third baseman Spencer which was quickly followed by a 2-run double off the bat of Adam Mullins making for a rough first inning for Boston starter Duke Hendicks.
Hendricks would create a mess for himself in the fourth inning by walking the first two batters he faced in that frame. That led to rbi singles from both Chuck Adams and Bob Griffith to stretch the Cannons lead to 4-1. Boston did get a run back in the 6th as Pete Day continued his outstanding series with a 3-hit game including a lead-off single in the 6th that eventually led to him scoring on a Bill Van Ness sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2 runs, but that would be as close as the Minutemen would get. Cincinnati would add a pair of runs in the bottom of the 6th and two more in the 8th inning to make for an easy afternoon for Cannons starter Clarke and a pair of relievers.
Deuce Barrell took the hill for the second time in the Series while Paul Richardson, a former Cannons cast-off who was acquired from the Sailors at the deadline, got the start for Boston. It came as a bit of a surprise that the Minutemen did not go back to Game One winner Walt Wells instead of the 29 year old Richardson.
Hindsight is always 20/20 but the move proved costly as Richardson only made it into the 6th inning before running out of gas and needing to turn things over to the bullpen. The score was 2-2 at that point and Richardson had done a solid job against Cannons ace Barrell, but reliever Johnny Harry got into a load of trouble in the 7th. The Cannons plated 4 runs that frame with the big blow being a 3-run double from Adam Mullins that staked Barrell to a 6-3 lead. Boston responded with 2 runs in the top of the 8th to cut the deficit to just a single run but was a close as they could get as Barrell shut the door in the 9th to preserve the Cannons victory and even the series.
The World Series is still going on and the Montreal Saints held a press conference to close the season. Player evaluation still under progress but as a team Montreal line-up shown an average offense, below average pitching and defense. The only stats where Montreal team finish in top tier is in “stealing bases”.
Let's start by taking a look at the Saints pitching, both present and future.
Jake DeYoung was not able to duplicate his very strong 1942 numbers when he won 18 games, falling to a disappointing 7-21 this season with an era that ballooned to 4.73. But on many games the lack of offense turned a solid outing into a loss for him. Veteran Ed Baker was having a strong start before getting sidelined for the season in May. Bill Ross had his best career season with 13 wins, highest total of his career, and an ERA of 2.52. He was by far the most consistent pitcher all season long and was named to the All-Star squad. Also, the season give a shot at two promising young rookies in Pat Weakley and Wally Reif. Weakley was able to maintain a 11-9 record through the season at the age of only 23. These two should be starting the next season with a lot of confidence.
As for the bullpen 40 years old veteran Eddie Hite just pitched like his normal consistent self, but how much more does the 40 year old have left in his arm? Billy Stall pitched under the expectations while Howie Snyder took the closer role seriously finishing 4th overall in FABL with 22 saves. Rookie Ace Adams just assumed the setup role all season long. The absence of Danny Clark, who got injured for the full season on his first appearance on the mound, was a big loss as he was considered the best relief pitcher of the group by OSA. 27 year old Jimmy Mayse did great at AAA, but when called for injury filling and to close the season, his performance was not as expected and there is doubts about his future in Montreal.
Looking to the farm system and the Saints pitching prospects a few impressed enough in AAA that we can expect them to battle for one spot next season – SP Jackie James (OSA rank #49) and SP Bert Cupid (OSA ranking #14) are just 22 and 20 years of age but may be ready to challenge for a big league job next season. The bullpen may see 23 year old Lee Richardson pushing some older veteran next season.
In general, the future looks bright for the Montreal pitching squad as their new two rookies thrown decently at the age of 23 and high ranked prospects coming in the pipeline may turn the squad into a dominant position few years from now. If you add SP Wally Doyle to the squad after the war, it could be even more interesting to watch but not to bat against. The management is asking for patience to the fans as management is keeping his words “stick to the plan”.
1944 Pitching squad may look like this:
Starters: Weakley, Reif, Ross, DeYoung, Weiss or James
Bullpen: Baker, Adams, Snyder, Finch, Hite or Richardson
Batter evaluation by position will be in our next column.
- Game three of the WCS from Cincinnati was the first World Championship Series game to broadcast the full play-by-play, live via short wave, to American soldiers overseas. The first two games reached were broadcast from Boston but on a delay basis with only a recapitulation of the game being transmitted but the soldiers claimed of the inadequacy of the broadcasts. According to the Mutual Network, which carries the series broadcasts, General Eisenhower is reported to have asked the War Department to arrange for complete play-by-play to reach the men.
- The Dynamos are fully committed to a youth movement and a rebuild it appears. News out of Detroit has veterans Mike Murphy, Rip Curry and Frank Vance all on the trade block.
- The Gothams also want to move on from Rusty Petrick. The 27 year old was 8-15 with a 4.41 era after winning a career best 20 games a year ago.
- As for buyers, word out of Chicago is the Cougars need a centerfielder and want more pitching depth, so with still a decent collection of prospects you have to think the Windy City might be a possible destination for Petrick. Although I would not be surprised if the Chiefs also show interest in the underachieving righthander.
"FRIGLERS" UPSET DEFENDING CHAMPS 21-6
The biggest surprise of the season to date saw the new combined Philadelphia and St Louis ballclub surprise the defending AFA champion Boston Americans 21-6 in the season debut for the combo squad. Dubbed the Friglers as a combination of the Philadelphia Frigates and St Louis Ramblers nicknames, the plan was hatched to combine the two squads for this season when neither appeared able to field a full squad due to contributions to the war effort.
The new team made the champs look like chumps in building up a 21-0 lead before allowing Boston a late touchdown. Dave Davis had a big game for the combo eleven, rushing for 158 yards including a 38 yard touchdown scamper in the second quarter while also forcing a pair of fumbles on the defensive side of the ball. For the 26 year old Davis it was a case of the war creating an opportunity for him to play. The St Pancras alum spent some time on the roster of the Frigates and also the New York football Stars a couple of years ago but never got an opportunity to display what he could do, and Davis obviously made up for lost time against Boston. Quarterback Bob Allen was another in the same boat, and the win was even sweeter for the 25 year old from Minns College as he spent some time sitting behind Del Thomas on the Americans depth chart a couple of years ago. Given the opportunity to play for the combined team, Allen acquainted himself quite well, complete 10 of 13 passes for 140 yards while passing for one touchdown and rushing for another.
Speaking of Thomas, the championship game MVP from last season had a pretty solid outing, throwing for 153 yards but the Friglers defense shut down Leon Fitzgerald and the Boston running game, and that proved the difference in the contest.
Elsewhere, Detroit improved to 3-1 on the season with a 21-6 win over the Pittsburgh Paladins. Stan Vaught was busy again, catching 5 passes for 77 yards including a touchdown reception while also returning an interception for a score. Vaught leads the AFA in scoring, receptions and is tied with Gus Brown of Chicago for the interception lead with 4. Brown threw 3 touchdown passes and returned an interception for a 4th score to lead the Chicago Wildcats past Cleveland 28-17 while in the only other game Isaac Rhodes booted a 38 yard field goal in the fourth quarter to account for all the scoring as Brooklyn won it's season debut 3-0 over the New York Football Stars.
Code:
AFA STANDINGS
EASTERN W L T PCT
Brooklyn 1 0 0 1.000
Phl-St Louis 1 0 0 1.000
Boston 2 1 0 .667
New York 0 2 0 .000
WESTERN W L T PCT
Detroit 3 1 0 .750
Chicago 2 1 0 .667
Cleveland 1 2 0 .333
Pittsburgh 0 3 0 .000
AFA SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Last Weekend's Results
Brooklyn 3 New York 0
Chicago 28 Cleveland 17
Phil-StL 21 Boston 6
Detroit 21 Pittsburgh 6
Sunday October 17
Phil-StL at Pittsburgh
Brooklyn at Boston
New York at Chicago
Detroit at Cleveland
Code:
AFA LEADERS
SCORING PTS
Vaught Det 50
Gilmore Chi 24
Douglas Chi 18
Schepis Cle 12
Shores Det 12
Renton Det 12
Orlosky Det 12
PASSING COMP-ATT YDS TD INT
D Thomas, Bost 44-85 451 3 6
G Brown, Chi 37-60 422 10 4
Coleman, Det 31-57 422 2 1
Orlosky, Det 25-56 411 4 7
Sevier, Cle 28-59 411 2 13
RUSHING YDS TD
Orlosky, Det 391 2
Coleman, Det 194 0
Schroeder, Chi 162 0
D. Davis, PhS 158 1
RECEIVING CAT TD
Vaught, Det 22 5
Martins, Bos 16 1
Sutcliffe, Cle 12 0
Jones, Det 12 1
INERCEPTIONS #
Vaught, Det 4
G. Brown, Chi 4
Murphy, Det 3
Schepis, Cle 3
Coleman, Det 3
D. Thomas, Bos 3
ROUGH SEASON FOR TRADITIONAL PACIFIC POWERS CONTINUES
When you think west coast football more often than not it is the two Los Angeles schools that immediately come to mind - Coastal California and CC Los Angeles. Both have struggled this season and things got worse on Saturday as each was shut out by a military eleven. The Dolphins were blanked 21-0 by Golden Gate Pre-Flight to fall to 1-2 on the season with their only win coming over CCLA. The Coyotes -in addition to the black eye of losing to their city rivals- are now 0-3 on the year with the latest loss being a 20-0 shellacking at the hands of the boys at March Field. Northern California did save some glory for the West Coast Athletic Association as the Miners improved to 3-0 on the year with a 54-0 romp past College of San Diego.
It is not just the west where schools that used to be top notch have fallen on hard times. Noble Jones College -the Georgia outfit that was a perfect 12-0 a year ago- lost for the second time in 4 days after falling 21-13 to Daniel Field. Baton Rogue State and Bayou State also lost this weekend leaving only Georgia Baptist as a winner in the now just 4-team Deep South Conference. Independent power St Blane fell for the second time in 3 games as Detroit City College doubled the Fighting Saints 28-14.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Rome State 17 Conwell College 3
Annapolis Maritime 20 Carolina Poly 7
North Carolina Tech 34 Jacksonville Naval Air Station 7
Golden Gate University Pre-Flight 21 Coastal California 0
March Field 20 CC Los Angeles 0
Detroit City College 28 St. Blane 14
Northern California 54 College of San Diego 0
Georgia Baptist 29 Georgia Pre-Flight 21
Great Lakes Navy 23 Central Ohio 10
Wisconsin Catholic 28 Chesterton 3
Pierpont 24 Grafton 10
Pittsburgh State 28 Huntington State 10
Whitney College 27 Camp Grant 14
Maryland State 41 Richmond Field 0
St. Patrick's 21 Coast Guard 7
Wisconsin State 13 Lincoln 0
Camp Davis 7 Charleston Tech 3
Liberty College 10 Empire State 9
Provo Tech 27 Boulder State 3
Sadler 16 Brunswick 14
Norman Naval Air Station 17 Fort Riley 14
College of Omaha 20 Indiana A&M 3
Iowa Pre-Flight 10 Western Iowa 10
Lawrence State 21 Iowa A&M 10
Texas Gulf Coast 24 Memphis Navy 7
Daniel Boone College 31 Eastern Kansas 6
Arkansas A&T 20 Monticello Navy 14
Eastern State 23 Petersburg 0
Columbia Military Academy 17 Charleston (IL) 0
Travis College 10 Oklahoma City State 10
Darnell State 45 Bayou State 0
Red River State 24 Baton Rouge State 21
College of Waco 16 Payne State 10
Alexandria 45 Coastal State 30
George Fox 16 Henry Hudson 0
San Francisco Tech 24 Alameda Coast Guard 6
Daniel Field 21 Noble Jones College 13
Del Monte Pre-Flight 28 Pleasanton Navy 3
Penn Catholic 38 Sampson NTS 19
The Week That Was
Current events from 10/08/1943 thru 10/10/1943
- Allied troops continue to inch closer to Rome and push the Nazis north.
- The Nazi terror drive hits Italian Jews with reports that hundreds of Jewish men and women in Northern Italy have been brutally executed.
- Russian troops are surrounding Kiev and threatening to take the ancient Ukrainian capital and are breaching a German winter defense line Hitler had wanted held at all costs.
- The Japanese are in full flight from the central Solomons under a storm of American bombs and gunfire.
- A plane carrying nine passengers including Walt Disney from Los Angeles to Mexico City was forced to make an emergency landing when it was grounded by a hurricane. Disney and his fellow passengers were safe but 50% of the the Pacific port of Mazatlan was reportedly destroyed and well over 100 people were killed by the storm.