NOVEMBER 22, 1943
EAGLES AVLVARDO NAMED TOP NEWCOMER
In a extremely tight race Washington Eagles outfielder Jesse Alvardo was named FABL's top rookie for 1943. The 20 year old Mexican born Alvardo finished one point ahead of Toronto Wolves pitcher Jimmy Gibbs to claim the top newcomer award, presented annually by the Chicago Sportswriters Guild. Alvardo claimed 4 of the 7 first-place votes after an outstanding debut season which saw him hit .273 with 19 homers and 76 rbi's to become a key piece in the resurgent season of the Washington Eagles. A 1941 first round pick out of Brooklyn's Canarsie High School, Alvardo spent most of the 1942 season in AA before a strong spring earned him a spot in the Washington outfield.
Gibbs, who was named first on two ballots, was 14-8 with a 2.36 era. Unlike with Alvardo, Gibbs paid plenty of dues in the minors before making his big league debut last season at the age of 27. The Cleveland born righthander was originally selected out of high school by the Brooklyn Kings in the 8th round of the 1934 draft. The Kings dealt him to Toronto 4 years later and he spent 4 seasons splitting time between AAA Buffalo and AA Chattanooga before finally getting his opportunity with the big club last season.
Chicago Cougars lefthander Johnnie Jones (15-8, 2.93) earned the final first place vote. The 25 year old, who is the older brother of another highly touted Cougar hurler in Donnie Jones, had an exceptional start to the season, winning 13 of his first 15 decisions before, like the Cougars club, cooling off down the stretch. The New York Stars selected Jones 4th overall in the 1936 draft but dealt him to Washington in the deal that brought Moxie Pidgeon, Mel Hancock Jr. and Robert Curry to the Big Apple but he lasted just 1 year in the Eagles system before being moved to the Cougars. Jones had a small taste of big league ball in 1941 and again in 1942 before earning a spot in the rotation full-time this past season.
BASEBALL 'ABOSLUTELY ESSENTIAL' TO MORALE AVERS SEN. LUCAS
Professional baseball is "absolutely essential" to civilian and military morale, Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Illinois said today in pointing out that the sport is making valuable contributions to the war effort while using an "infinitesimal" part of the Nation's manpower. "My sincere hope is that nothing will be done by any agency of the Government which will in any way disturb the continuation of this great American institution," Lucas said in an address prepared for Senate delivery.
*** HELPS WAR KITTY HANDSOMELY ***
Baseball contributions to the war funds total $2,128,698, he declared, and admission taxes paid the Government through the Federal and Continental Associations for the 1942 and 1943 seasons amounted to $2,289,702. Sales of War Bonds and Stamps in drives sponsored by baseball interests netted $1,027,923,225, the Senator said, and the baseball equipment fund raised $250,814 to furnish sports equipment for men in the armed forces.
Citing figures he said were obtained from FABL President Samuel Belton, Lucas gave a breakdown of the manpower setup in baseball: Players in the service who have played at least one FABL game in their career, 287. Professional baseball players in total who are in the service, 1028.
The Senator also noted that both Associations have reduced their travel to a minimum and could carry on to the satisfaction of the Office of Defense Transportation. Lucas also pointed out that both England and Russia have maintained spectator sports during the war, in most instances drawing huge crowds.
"It is also interesting to note that the treacherous Japs dropped baseball because it is an American game -another added reason for us to keep the game going," he said.
- Interesting to note that the Continental Association has yet to see one of it's players claim the top rookie award that the Chicago Sportswriters Guild hands out annually. All six previous winners: Al Miller of the Chiefs, Detroit's Sal Pestilli, Keystones Hank McKay, Ray Dalpman of Boston, Ed Bowman of the Gothams and out current winner Jesse Alvardo of Washington play for Federal Association clubs.
WILDCATS BACK INTO WESTERN TITLE
The Chicago Wildcats won despite being hammered 37-7 by the combined Philadelphia-St Louis entry in American Football Association action. The loss dropped the Wildcats to 6-3 on the season but with news that both Detroit and Pittsburgh also came up short on Sunday the Wildcats won in the big picture -claiming their third consecutive Western Division crown.
The Friglers dominated the contest with Dave Davis leading the way, rushing for 103 yards and scoring a touchdown on a 95 yard kick-off return just seconds after the Wildcats had scored their only major of the game. Detroit failed to take advantage of the Wildcats stumble as the Maroons came up on the short-end of a 17-14 score in New York. Pittsburgh, which entered the day with a slim chance at winning the west, also saw their hopes dashed when Del Thomas threw for 396 yards and 4 touchdowns as Boston blasted the Paladins 45-14.
*** RECORD DAY FOR THOMAS ***
Boston quarterback Del Thomas had a record-breaking outing. A week after establishing a new single game AFA record by throwing for 304 yards against the New York Stars, the veteran Americans quarterback smashed his own mark with an incredible outing that saw him pass for 396 yards in the dominant win over Pittsburgh. Only 3 times in AFA history has a quarterback throwing for over 300 yards in a game and Thomas has done it twice -both in the last two weeks. With one game remaining in his season Thomas is also just 40 passing yards shy of Dewey Burnett's record 1,886 aerial yards set a year ago.
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AFA STANDINGS
EASTERN W L T PCT
Boston 8 1 0 .889
Phil-StL 3 3 1 .500
New York 3 4 1 .429
Brooklyn 1 6 0 .143
WESTERN W L T PCT
Chicago 6 3 0 .667
Detroit 5 4 1 .556
Pittsburgh 4 5 0 .444
Cleveland 2 6 1 .250
AFA SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Sunday November 21
Cleveland 14 Brooklyn 0
Phil-StL 37 Chicago 7
Boston 45 Pittsburgh 14
New York 17 Detroit 14
Sunday November 28
New York at Phil-StL
Chicago at Cleveland
Boston at Brooklyn
EAST-WEST CLASSIC MATCHUP SET
The Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers and Northern California Miners will meet in the annual East-West Classic on New Year's Day from California it was announced this week. The Miners, who beat Alameda Coast Guard 10-7 Saturday to improve to 8-1 on the season, will represent the greatly depleted West Coast Athletic Association as the host team for the yearly showcase. The Miners were a perfect 4-0 in beat both Coastal California and CC Los Angeles twice this season in what ended up being a 3-team conference due to teams dropping out because of a shortage of players.
Northern Cal still has a game remaining next weekend against Del Monte Pre-Flight but a win there and on January 1 could lift the Miners to their first National Championship since they claimed a controversial title in 1923 with a 10-0 record despite playing a less than stellar slate of games.
For Wisconsin Catholic it would be even a bigger surprise if the Cavaliers can stretch their record to 9-0. The independent school has never been in the running for a National Title before and has never been invited to play in a Classic game it's history either. However, the invite came following a 44-0 sinking of Great Lakes Navy on the weekend is the latest in a list of 8 impressive victories that included wins over Wisconsin State and Whitney College.
The other four New Year's Day games have not confirmed who will be invited but it is expected the Sunshine Classic will pit North Carolina Tech against the winner of Friday's matchup between Darnell State and Travis College with the loser likely ticketed for the Desert Classic and a meeting with Minnesota Tech.
There are no official college rankings aside from the final poll released at the end of the season but TWIFB sees the teams lined up in the following order.
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TWIFB TOP TEN RANKINGS
# SCHOOL REC WEEKEND RESULT NEXT GAME
1- Pittsburgh State 8-0 W 26-0 vs Liberty -
2- Wisconsin Catholic 8-0 W 44-0 Great Lakes Navy J1 Northern California
3- Minnesota Tech 8-0 W 40-0 vs Wisc. State N27 Iowa Pre-Flight
4- Northern California 8-1 W 10-7 Alameda CG N27 Del Monte Pre-Flight
5- San Francisco Tech 8-0 idle -
6- Penn Catholic 8-0 W 31-0 Conwell Coll. -
7- North Carolina Tech 7-1 W 35-7 Carolina Poly N27 Eastern State
8- George Fox 9-0 idle -
9- Alexandria 7-0 idle N25 Maryland State
10-Darnell State 7-1 idle N25 Travis College
The expectation is the winner of the East-West Classic will likely be crowned National Champion unless Minnesota Tech comes up with a dominating performance in El Paso at the Desert Classic. Pittsburgh State, Penn Catholic and George Fox have all elected not to accept an invitation for a New Years Eve, citing travel concerns and roster depletion as a number of players from each of those schools will have or be about to enter the armed forces by New Years.
CLASSIC GAMES
The only confirmed matchup is in the East-West Classic but here is what is known about the remaining games.
EAST-WEST CLASSIC Wisconsin Catholic (8-0) vs Northern Cal (8-1)
SUNSHINE CLASSIC North Carolina Tech (7-1) vs either Darnell State (7-1) or Travis College (6-2)
CAJUN CLASSIC to be announced
LONE STAR CLASSIC to be announced
DESERT CLASSIC Minnesota Tech (8-0) vs either Darnell State (7-1) or Travis College (6-2)
WEEKEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS
Arkansas A&T 20 Eastern Oklahoma 10
Northern California 10 Alameda Coast Guard 7
Ellery 24 Rome State 10
Henry Hudson 24 Empire State 18
Mountainview State 9 Boulder State 0
Grafton 21 Sadler 17
North Carolina Tech 35 Carolina Poly 7
Camp Grant 33 Fort Riley 0
Coastal State 40 Georgia Baptist 20
Wisconsin Catholic 44 Great Lakes Navy 0
St. Patrick's 14 Miller College 9
College of Omaha 30 Western Iowa 21
Iowa A&M 13 Eastern Kansas 10
Lawrence State 13 Daniel Boone College 10
Detroit City College 61 Central Ohio 3
Minnesota Tech 40 Wisconsin State 0
St. Magnus 13 Lincoln 0
St. Blane 18 Iowa Pre-Flight 6
Pittsburgh State 26 Liberty College 0
Whitney College 27 Indiana A&M 3
Amarillo Methodist 45 Red River State 0
Texas Gulf Coast 21 College of Waco 13
Baton Rouge State 21 Bayou State 3
Golden Gate University 29 CC Los Angeles 0
Penn Catholic 31 Conwell College 0
Del Monte Pre-Flight 28 Golden Gate University Pre-Flight 3
EAST-WEST CLASSIC TURNED DOWN BY PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOLS
Congratulations to Wisconsin Catholic on earning an invitation to the most prestigious New Year's Day contest but if this was an ordinary year the Cavaliers would be on the outside looking in. It is very easy to make a case that several teams are more deserving or representing the East in California on January 1, but this is far from an ordinary year. If all was right in the world Pittsburgh State, with it's impressive record that includes wins over St Blane, Huntington State and Central Ohio should be making the trip west. Or how about the pride of Philadelphia in Penn Catholic? The Crusaders have taken on and beaten all comers -teams like Sadler, St Patrick's and Frankford State while also hammering Rome State. George Fox University also laid a beaten on the army school -but everyone and his brother has done that this year it seems- and is likely a more worthy choice than Wisconsin Catholic.
However, each of those three schools turned down an invitation -citing war-time travel restrictions as the big reason but it is just as much due to the fact none of the three are certain to have enough players still around come the New Year. Minnesota Tech wanted to go, but the Great Lakes Association champs -who count wins over Detroit City College, Western Iowa and Daniel Boone College as part of their 8-0 season were overlooked in favour of the new kids on the block and had to settle for a trip to El Paso and the Desert Classic.
Wisconsin Catholic has never been in this position before. The Cavaliers attitude is anything but as the school is positively giddy with the news of their first Classic invitation. They have not necessarily had the toughest schedule but they are 8-0 with wins over rival Wisconsin State, Whitney College, Mile High State and 3 military schools that were powers a year ago in Great Lakes Navy (who they beat twice) along with Iowa Pre-Flight and Camp Grant. It is hard to argue that they don't belong on the field New Year's Day but Northern California is going to be a tough test. I would expect the winner of this game to celebrate not only a victory that day but also a National Championship shortly afterwards.
Rainier College continues it's strong start to the season as the defending National Champs improved to 4-0 on the year with a pair of wins over smaller schools Bliss College and Gates University. Senior forward Gary Harrison, who played a big role on last season's title team, continues to lead the way and is 15.0 ppg is among the best in the country.
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AIAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference
1. Rainier College (33) 4-0 1751 3 West Coast Athletic Association
2. Coastal California (20) 1-0 1703 2 West Coast Athletic Association
3. North Carolina Tech (12) 3-0 1698 4 South Atlantic Conference
4. Western Iowa (7) 3-0 1608 1 Great Lakes Alliance
5. St. Ignatius 2-0 1512 5 Great Lakes Alliance
6. Detroit City College 4-0 1437 7 Great Lakes Alliance
7. Western Florida 2-0 1352 8 Deep South Conference
8. Minnesota Tech 5-0 1289 9 Great Lakes Alliance
9. Whitney College 1-0 1194 11 Great Lakes Alliance
10. Frankford State 2-0 1067 17 Northeast Conference
11. Annapolis Maritime 3-0 993 15 Independent
12. Ohio Poly 1-0 951 16 Independent
13. CC Los Angeles 3-1 905 18 West Coast Athletic Association
14. Alabama Baptist 1-0 809 19 Deep South Conference
15. Chesapeake State 2-1 734 6 South Atlantic Conference
16. Northern California 1-0 612 21 West Coast Athletic Association
17. Lambert College 1-0 575 NR Midwestern Association
18. Rome State 3-0 408 NR Independent
19. Dickson 2-0 351 NR Academia Alliance
20. Rock Island 3-0 349 NR Independent
21. American Atlantic 3-0 327 NR Independent
22. Brooklyn State 1-1 204 10 Northeast Conference
23. Sadler 2-0 186 NR Academia Alliance
24. Red River State 2-0 166 NR Southwestern Alliance
25. El Paso Methodist 2-0 127 NR Southern Border Association
RESULTS INVOLVING RANKED TEAMS
MONDAY NOV 15
#1 Rainier College 54 Bliss College 44
#14 Alabama Baptist 38 Daniel Boone College 34
Plover College 54 #15 Chesapeake State 52
#17 Lambert College 43 Oklahoma City State 27
#22 Brooklyn State 54 Brunswick 41
#23 Sadler 52 Jersey City Tech 49
TUESDAY NOV 16
#3 North Carolina Tech 48 Central Kentucky 40
#5 St Ignatius 54 Wisconsin Catholic 35
#7 Western Florida 51 Eastern State 36
#18 Rome State 59 Colorado Poly 55
#19 Dickson 50 Georgia Baptist 48
#25 El Paso Methodist 47 California Catholic 37
WEDNESDAY NOV 17
#6 Detroit City College 39 Baton Rogue State 37
#9 Whitney College 52 #22 Brooklyn State 43
#21 American Atlantic 49 North Central (NE) 25
THURSDAY NOV 18
#16 Northern California 49 Iowa A&M 42
#20 Rock Island 38 Portland Tech 30
FRIDAY NOV 19
#3 North Carolina Tech 66 Henry Hudson 42
#6 Detroit City College 64 Orrville 48
#8 Minnesota Tech 55 Miners College 1
#10 Frankford State 44 St Blane 29
#13 CC Los Angeles 54 Charleston Tech 43
#18 Rome State 46 Pittsburgh State 39
#21 American Atlantic 43 Elyria 37
#24 Red River State 57 Maldin 52
#25 El Paso Methodist 51 Georgia Baptist 43
SATURDAY NOV 20
#1 Rainier College 58 Gates University 50
SUNDAY NOV 21
#2 Coastal California 57 San Francisco Tech 33
#3 North Carolina Tech 53 Glover(GA) 42
#10 Frankford State 53 Opelika State 39
#20 Rock Island 36 Valley State 26
#21 American Atlantic 47 Capital (MS) Univ. 46
#23 Sadler 51 St Patrick's 42
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 11/21/1943
- German counteracts and bad weather has slowed Allied advances in both Italy and on the Eastern Front.
- Secretary of State Hull, speaking to Congress about a pact between the US, Britain and the Soviets, says that Moscow declarations will hasten Allied victory and help create a post-war world free of conflict-breeding power politics of the past.
- A mighty armada of over 1,000 of Britain's biggest bombers laid waste to a vast section of Berlin Friday night with American Flying Fortresses following with another raid on western Germany through the daylight. In the Pacific Allied flyers blasted Japanese cruisers and convey ships in the harbor of Rabaul.
- Rumania is reported to be withdrawing all her troops from Russia under an agreement reached last week at a conference between Adolf Hitler and Gen. Ion Antonescu, Rumanian chief of state. As part of the deal Rumania is required to had over to Germany large stocks of grain and petroleum which had been earmarked for Italy.
- The House Ways and Means Committee formally presented it's 1944 tax bill calling for $2.1 billion in new revenue in a report that charged the Administration, which had asked for $10 million more, had exaggerated the need for additional income. The bill will go before the House this week.