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Jiggs McGee · 11-15-2022, 01:35 PM

SEPTEMBER 18, 1944

KEYSTONES CLOSE IN ON FEDERAL FLAG

CA RACE GOING DOWN TO THE WIRE

The Philadelphia Keystones closed in on their first Federal Association pennant since 1933 and the fourth in team history with a big week in which they swept three games from the Pittsburgh Miners to increase their lead atop the Fed to 8.5 games with two weeks remaining in the season. The champagne corks can not be popped quite yet -as the Keystones magic number is 5- but one expects the bubbly is on ice and the only thing colder might be the bats and arms of the Pittsburgh Nine, which has lost it's last six straight and was outscored 36-10 during that stretch.

The Miners had hopes of striking gold when they began the week, despite losing 3 straight in Washington to finish off the previous weekend. A short week with just 3 games on the docket, all against Philadelphia beginning with the opener at Fitzpatrick Park on Wednesday. Pittsburgh needed a sweep as that would put the Miners within 2.5 games of their Pennsylvania rival but things went wrong right from the get-go. A 4-run second inning and a 6-0 lead after 6 frames was more than enough to make a winner out of Jonah Brown -a former rule five pick from Cleveland- and the Keystones prevailed 7-1 in the series opener while the 33 year old Brown, who entered the season with just 3 career FABL wins, ran his record to 10-6 on the season. The two teams then had two days off to make their way to Philadelphia's Broad Street Park for two more games that were 'must-win' contests for the visitors.

Someone must have forgot to inform the Miners of the magnitude of this weekend as they never led at anytime with Bobby Barrell's 43rd homer, a 3-run shot in the 3rd- helping stake the Keystones to a 7-0 lead and that made for an easy afternoon for Philadelphia starter Pepper Tuttle in an 8-2 win. Only the weather could slow Tuttle (13-11) as he was lifted in the 7th inning because of a 46 minute rain delay. The Miners were likely hoping for rain, or some sort of divine intervention, Sunday with Red Ross on the mound for the Philadelphians. Ross did allow 2-runs, including rookie infielder George Darnell's second career homer, but only two other Pittsburgh hits as Ross took sole possession of the FABL victory lead with his 22nd win of the season in a 6-2 Philadelphia triumph that all but officially closed the pennant race in the Fed.
*** NOTHING DECIDED IN THE CONTINENTAL ***

With two weeks to play there is little to separate the Cincinnati Cannons and the Toronto Wolves. Both are 44-33 at home on the year. Both are 37-27 on the road so they own identical 81-60 records with 13 games remaining for each -all on the road. They are also dead even head-to-head at 11 victories apiece after Toronto took 3 of 4 from the visiting Cannons two weeks ago and Queen City gang evened the score by winning 3 of 4 at Tice Memorial Stadium this past weekend.

The weekend set was nearly a mirror image of what transpired in Toronto a week before. The visitors took the series opener only to see the homeside roar back with three straight victories. In this case it was Toronto clinging to a 5-4 victory Friday with reliever Billy Crosby getting a game-ending fly ball out from Cannons pinch-hitter Don Homer with the tying run on third base and the winning run on second. It was the 49th appearance this season and the 18th save in what has been a very solid campaign from the 34 year old Toronto reliever.

The two Saturday games were also very similar. A week ago the Wolves won 2-0 on a great outing from Bob Walls. This week it was Butch Smith who came up big, running his record to 17-9 and lowering his CA-leading ERA to 2.19 with a 3-hit shutout in a 1-0 Cannons victory. A week ago Toronto took both ends of the Sunday doubleheader with a 1-run victory followed by a much easier time in a 5-0 nightcap win. This time was the same only the roles reversed as the Cannons took the opener 2-1 in a 12-inning marathon that had plenty of heartbreak for Toronto fans. First when a wild-pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning from rookie Tommy Anderson cost him his first big league victory and allowed Sam Brown to sprint home with the Cannons first run and then in the bottom of the 12th when Bob McRae issued a bases-loaded walk to Denny Andrews to give the Cannons the victory. To compound Toronto's troubles ace Bernie Johnson had to leave the game in the second inning with what is being described as a mild abdominal strain. Johnson's (17-11, 2.51) status is uncertain for his next scheduled start. The second game of yesterday's doubleheader was all Cincinnati as Chuck Adams smacked his CA-leading 21st homerun and Tom Barrell beat Toronto with a complete game for the second time in two weeks to run his record to 9-8 on the year in an 8-1 Canons rout. Barrell gave up 7 earned runs to Cleveland in 6 innings to start the week sandwiched in between a pair of starts and a 1-inning relief appearance against the Wolves in which he has not allowed an earned run over a span of 19 innings.

Looking ahead the Chicago Cougars are still very much a factor in this wide-open CA race. The Cougars are 4 games back but it is looking very much like the CA pennant could be heavily influenced by Chicago. Both of the co-leaders must visit the Windy City for 3 games starting with the Cannons on the upcoming weekend and the Wolves starting a week from today. The odds-makers now give Cincinnati the best shot at the crown, to the tune of 58% compared to a 39% shot for Toronto. This despite the fact the teams play identical opponents, all on the road, in Brooklyn, Chicago, Montreal and New York over the next two weeks. Like everything else about this season there is little to differentiate in the upcoming slate for the Cannons and Wolves.

TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN

Weekly Round-up.

After an off-day Wolves are gutted by the Sailors, yet again, suffering a 3-1 loss in 13. The baseball gods were not smiling down on Wolves, they out hit the opponent 12-4. Laurita has a solid outing going 8+ allowing only one unearned (Wood error in the 3rd) on 135 pitches. The Toronto squad left a total of 18 on base, Juan Pomales had a particular rough day coming to bat 7 times with 11 runners on cashing in zero with his only hit.
Toronto get a little revenge in their final regular season home game by besting the Sailors 3-1. Chick Wirtz continues his torrid pace tossing a complete game 7 hitter. Pomales drives in 1 with his 6th triple of the season in the bottom of the first, the question ask by the fans was "Where was that yesterday!". Wolves end the season with 706,915 attending games at Dominion Stadium during 1944 regular season. This is down 1,259,532 from 1943. Wolves hope they will add another 100,000 fans during the World Series.
The start of the team's season ending 17-game road trip is successful as they down Cincinnati 5-4. Bob Walls ties the CA lead for wins with his 17th, Chink Stickels provides a clutch double driving in two during a 4 run 7th.
Bats are shutdown by Butch Smith on Saturday, he holds Toronto to three singles, three base on balls for his 17th win 1-0. Jimmy Gibbs gets the hard luck loss as he only allows four hits.
First game of the Sunday doubleheader starts off with a scare for Bernie Johnson. He throws only 20 pitches before tweaking something in his side in the bottom of the 2nd. Tommy Anderson comes to pitch 7 2/3 of solid ball before allowing a the tying run in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch! Wolves lose the game in the 12th 2-1 for their second extra inning loss of the week, The second game of the twin bill is a blow out, 8-1, win for the Cannons who tie the Wolves of the CA lead. Was this loss a combination a worries over Johnson plus the second heart wrenching extra inning loss of the week? Concern for Johnson would have been misplaced as Manager Call said he will not miss next start, after consulting the training staff, in his post game press scrum. Laurita gets roughed up for 5 in the bottom of the sixth. Will 3 straight losses come back haunt the Wolves?

Brett's predictions versus actual record -3

They just won't quit. The Cincinnati Cannons have been counted out of the race so many times this season but here they are with 13 games remaining and in a dead heat with the Toronto Wolves for top spot in the Continental Association. It is hard to believe anyone in Cincinnati outside of skipper Ad Doria and the 24 men in the Cannons clubhouse believed this team could win a second straight pennant. Heck, I bet even Doria himself had is doubts. If not when his ace and two-time running Allen Award winner Deuce Barrell blew out his elbow in the early days of spring camp perhaps when the calendar said late June and the Cannons were buried 17.5 games behind the first place Chicago Cougars and spent some time even below the lowly Cleveland Foresters on the CA table. Not then, well what about a week ago when the Cannons went into Toronto and were once again bitten by the Wolves -a team that has had their number every September. But now, after that September demon of a dog was crushed with three straight wins over the weekend at Tice Memorial we are just two good weeks away from another chance to witness October baseball.

Can it happen? Most certainly it could but nothing has come easy for the Cannons this season so it will likely take some big performances. From the likes of long-time Cannons like Butch Smith (17-9, 2.19) who has been oh so good down the stretch and might just take over as the caretaker of the Allen Award until Deuce can come back and claim it again next year. From emerging stars like Chuck Adams (.298,21,99) who leads the loop in homers and rbi's and still two months shy of his 28th birthday appears to be just hitting his prime. From newcomers like Tom Bird (.315,4,19) who joined the club in a controversial deadline deal and has proved to be every bit the equal of Adam Mullins, the reigning CA Whitney Award winner but currently employed by the US Navy. Then there is Tom Barrell (9-8, 3.22), a mere shadow of his former self when he was winning his 3 straight Allens close to a decade ago, but even with just two pitches and far less velocity than he possessed in his prime Deuce's uncle still proved he could be an ace from time to time when it is really needed. Back to back complete game wins over the Wolves in which he allowed just a single run, and even that one was unearned. Sure he had a rough outing in between against Cleveland but when it mattered most Barrell answered the call just as future Hall of Famer Rabbit Day did in going 4-1 since coming over from the Chicago Chiefs with Bird. The question is 'Does this veteran group have two more weeks left in the tank?'

*** TIGERS TAKE FIELD IN CLEVELAND SUNDAY ***

The much-awaited debut of the American Football Association's newest franchise will come this Sunday when the Cincinnati Tigers head to Forester Field to play the combined Cleveland Finches-St Louis Ramblers entry. The Ramblers paired up with the Philadelphia Frigates a year ago when the loop shrank to 8 teams (the Washington Wasps also took the year off) but with Philadelphia feeling they won't have any player issues and the Finches worried it was decided that the Ramblers would pair with the Finches this time around. That, of course, was what opened the door to Cincinnati as, with the Wasps returning, the league did not want an odd number of teams.

It was a very clandestine process that brought the Tigers to life, even more so than a lot of the cloak and dagger stuff that seemed to go on when the Cannons fled Baltimore for the Queen City. One of the most interesting things with the Tigers was the fact that the club owner had not been officially revealed until earlier this week when Edward K. Chiles spoke publicly and confirmed he was indeed the front-man and majority stakeholder in the Tigers franchise. Up until that point all of the contact regarding the club had gone through head coach Jack Conn until finally it is reported Conn told Chiles that he had bigger things to worry about and wanted to concentrate on coaching, and leave the administrative duties to Chiles and his associates. Chiles is in business with Cannons owner John E. Tice as their families co-founded the Tice & Chiles Soap Company which makes the reported row between the Tigers and Cannons over the rent for the use of Tice Memorial Stadium even more difficult to comprehend. Surely, there must be something more to this than presently meets the eye but neither Chiles nor Tice have had much to say on the matter.

Everyone in an electric Cougar stadium could hear those four words shouted by Whitney hopeful Leo Mitchell round the bases on a beautiful June evening as the respected veteran leader capped off a 4-hit game with a 10th inning walk-off blast off Danny Clark. That improved the Cougars to 46-17 on the season, keeping their lead over the Wolves at 10. Everything was going right, as debates started going around the league whether this Cougar team, playing +.700 ball at the time, would etch its name as the greatest team of all time, and experts thought the 1944 edition of the Cougars would have the pennant locked up by July. Unfortunately for the Cougar faithful, those four words seem to be their undoing...

Fast forward to September 18th, and the wheels have completely fallen off, as the Cougars went just 31-47 and trail both the Wolves and Cannons by 4 games. With just 13 games left to be played, they still technically have a chance to claim the pennant, but Cougar fans have heard enough.

"'This is our year?' Give me a break..." one Cougar fan complained about the words they have heard far too often across the past few seasons. "Every year these guys get our hopes up, and every year they let us down. And there's always those darn excuses..."

"Last year it was 'what if Harry Parker' stayed healthy?"

"Before that, 'what if Peter the Heater' wasn't over seas"

"Even in the pennant winning season, all anyone talked about were how bad they were in one run games"

"And when they finished a game back of the Wolves, it was 'what if Milt Fritz stayed healthy'"

"Well let me tell you what. What if you bozos [expletive] won some [expletive] games! Huh? What about that! There is no excuse this year..."

It seems many Cougars fans share this same sentiment; "Every year we hear all about this 'talent' they seem to accumulate, but doesn't talent win championships! All these so-called 'stars' we get and for what? A shiny participation trophy? Give me a break... What good are John Lawson, Jim Lonardo, Dick Walker, Hank Barnett, Cliff Moss, Art White, and Billy Riley if we don't get any wins? That Riley clown is 1-6 with an ERA over 4! Ace my [expletive]..."

This old fan wasn't finished; "And don't get me started on all these former Cougars having success elsewhere. Del Burns and Dan Everett are outperforming ever one of our pitchers, Lonardo found the fountain of youth with the Gothams, and even Jonah Brown and Jim Baggett are off having All-Star years in the Fed! And what did we get for these guys? Absolutely nothing... Oh wait, that's actually the return for Johnny McDowell! You know, the All-Star Miner third basemen. What a joke our front office is"

"The worst part is, nothing is going to change. These gullible Chicagoans will continue to spend their hard earned money on tickets and concessions to support a team that doesn't care about winning. They only have home games left and still lap the field in attendance. And as long as ownership keeps lining their pockets with dough, it won't matter if they ever win another series. We need to clean house; completely."

That fan is correct about one thing; no team is within 2,000 fans per game with the Cougars, and they're one of only three teams to sell more then 10,000 tickets a game. Since 1930, the Cougars have never sold less one million tickets, with the 2,215,186 tickets from last season the most ever in a single season for a Continental Association team.

Despite all the melancholy from the fans, team owner Ben Hunter has full confidence in the staff and players. "I get why Cougar fans are mad; we have a historic past and that causes fans to expect championships every year. We haven't finished below .500 since 1936. You know who else can say that? Nobody."

Since the World Championship Series was founded in 1893, the Cougars have never gone longer then the current 12 year championship drought, which is far more then the Cougar faithful can tolerate.

"Loyal Cougar fans know that these past seasons are not up to standard. But nothing will change until [Ben] Hunter is gone. And at 82. Well, you can paint that picture yourself. That penny-pincher won't be missed..."

Despite all the attacks he's received from his fans, the Cougar GM can relate to their concerns. "Trust me. I am not satisfied with anything other then a title. As a Chicagoan I grew up watching this same team. I remember watching John Dibblee, Calvin Kidd, Gil Hice, Jack Long, and Bill Mendine as a kid. This is my team. There is nothing I want more then to add pennants to the Cougars impressive totals. I have firmly committed to putting a winning team out year-in and year-out. And don't expect that to change. The Cougars will win a title before they slip below .500. I guarantee it."

Unfortunately for him, a lot of Cougars fans aren't yet convinced. "I've heard a lot of talk. I'll believe it when I see it..."

The Keystones won each game in a split series, one game in Pittsburgh and two at Broad Street Park, to take an 8-1/2-game lead in the Fed:

Wednesday, 9/13: Keystones 7, Pittsburgh 1 -- Hank McKay and Harry Shumate had 2-out, 2-run singles in a 4-run 2nd inning rally to help Jonah Brown on his way to his 10th win of the year (10-6, 2.61).

Saturday, 9/16: Keystones 8, Pittsburgh 2 -- The Keys had two big innings early -- a 4-run 3rd with Bobby Barrell's 43rd home run, a 3-run opposite-field shot, and a 3-run 4th, which included a solo homer from Marshall Strickland. Pepper Tuttle picked up his 13th win of the year (13-11, 2.97).

Sunday, 9/17: Keystones 6, Pittsburgh 2 -- Red Ross went the entire way, allowing one earned run and three hits, to capture his 22nd win of the season. Another early big inning, this one a 4-run 3rd to break a 1-1 tie, helped key the win for Philadelphia. Bobby Barrell added another 2 RBI to his coffers to give him 145 for the year and the suddenly hot Marshall Strickland tripled home a run in that fateful third.

The lead is now 8.5 games on the second place Miners and the Keystones magic number to clinch is down to 5. To add to the excitement Barrell is also back in the batting lead in the Fed at .352, leading Washington's Mel Carrol by 3 points. Barrell comfortably leads in home runs over New York's Red Johnson, 43-30, and by a country mile in RBI over St. Louis's Al Walker and Pittsburgh's Whit Williams, 145-84. With two weeks left in the regular season, Barrell leads the Fed in the three glamor categories, as well as runs (107), hits (197) and total bases (361).

Brotherly Bits

The Frigates are a little over a week from their season opener. No more Friglers this time around as the vagabond St Louis Ramblers are now partnering with the Cleveland entry so the Frigates are all on their own when they open in Washington a week from tomorrow. An unusual Tuesday night game marks the return from a one-year absence for the Wasps but that had something to do with Eagles owner William Stockdale wanting a week to work on some stadium improvements after the FABL club finished up it's home schedule yesterday. A year ago the local entry went 4-4-2, good for a second place tie in the East behind the mighty Boston Americans, who will be the Frigates first home date opponent on October 8 at Sailors Memorial Park.
Speaking of Sailors Park it sounds like it is very much in the running to host the big Rome State/Annapolis Maritime grid battle on December 2nd. A decision should come from the Naval academy in the next couple of weeks.
Liberty College kicks off it's grid slate September 30 against Trescott College, a school that starts with back to back games against Frankford State. The Owls beat Trescott 19-3 Saturday with the rematch next Saturday in Frankford.
Plenty of excitement about the Liberty College cage club. The Northeast Conference is no longer so the Bells are playing as independents this time around but still looking to extend a streak that has seen them reach at least the quarterfinals of the National AIAA Basketball Tournament 5 years running and win three national crowns in the past decade. The incoming freshman crop is one of the best in the nation and led by center Ward Messer, who is the younger but much taller (6'8") brother of New York Gothams slugger Walt Messer. The Bells season begins in early November with a trip to Dallas for the King of the South tournament which will also include CC Los Angeles, College of Waco and Caesar Rodney.

The future of the Montreal Saints has been on display the past couple of weeks as Bert Cupid and Hank Eason both made their big league debuts. Cupid, a 21 year old hard-throwing righthander who was selected 4th overall in the 1941 draft and is considered one of the best pitching prospects around, had an impressive showing in his first start. The Buckeye Bullet went the distance in a 5-1 victory over the Brooklyn Kings while scattering just 8 hits, fanning 5 and not allowing an earned run. While he did not get the decision in his second outing last Friday, the youngster was equally as impressive tossing 8 shutout innings in a game the Saints would eventually win 2-0 in in the tenth.

Meanwhile Hank Eason, the son of former Saints star Hal, made his big league debut in the same outfield his dad patrolled so successfully two decades ago. The 25 year old Montreal native was also a first round selection in 1941, going 6 picks after the Saints called Cupid's name. The two-time All-American from Huntington State made his big league debut 3 days prior to Cupid and was equally successfully after a 3-for-4 day at the plate that included his first big league rbi and run scored. His first at bat was a second inning single off of New York Stars rookie Larry Gregory and when the week ended he owned a .267 batting average after 4 games in the big leagues.

There is much more in the way of young talent on the way to Montreal. Much of it was sidetracked by a call from the Army or Navy but one who is still playing and expected to be given a shot at making the Saints next season is 22 year old third baseman Luke Weaver. Another first round pick, the Miami native was selected 9th overall last January out of American Atlantic University and has fast-tracked through the system this year, starting in Class B and ending last week with a promotion to AAA Minneapolis. He had 8 hits, including 5 for extra bases, and hit .320 in his first week with the Lumberjacks. Shortstop Gordie Perkins is another top prospect in Minneapolis and a former first round selection (#3 in 1941). Perkins likely would have spent September in Montreal had he not suffered a season ending broken kneecap just over a month ago. Saints brass feels the future looks bright on the left side with Weaver and Perkins knocking on the door and Eason patrolling left field. OSA agrees in ranking both of the AAA infielders in the top 25 prospects and Weaver as the number one third base prospect.

DYNAMOS CELEBRATE MINOR LEAGUE SUCCESS

A disappointing last couple of weeks put an end to any hopes the Detroit Dynamos had of a miracle pennant this season but there are plenty of positives for the organization. The big league club has improved it's position and stands a very strong chance of finishing in the first division after a pair of 7th place finishes...and that comes despite the fact that former Dynamos star Red Johnson is swatting big flies in the Big Apple and the great Sal Pestilli is working with planes in the Army Air Corps.

The excitement stretches down to the lowest level of the minor league chain with the Dynamos Class C affiliate in Biloxi winning it's first ever Gulf Coast League title. That loop has been dominated by the Gulfport Sailors who have won 9 of the 16 titles since 1929 but the Sailors had to settle for second place this time around. Biloxi was boosted by the July addition of first overall selection Roy Schaub (5-3, 3.08) who was part of what might be the best haul ever recorded by a team in a single FABL draft. The Dynamos spread their 4 first round picks throughout the system with Edwin Hackberry, who is rated the top prospect in the game by OSA, going to Class B Chattanooga although the 18 year old might have been slightly overmatched after hitting just .200 in the Southeastern loop. 17 year old middle infielder Stan Kleminski (.358,3,30) had an outstanding half a season with the Class A Terre Haute Brewers while Carl Porter started in Terre Haute but was quickly moved up to AA Akron and went 4-6 with a 4.82 era for the Wheels.

AAA Newark did not get one of the first rounders but that didn't stop the Aces from holding down top spot in the Union League with a week remaining in the season. The Aces (74-59) hold a 2 game lead over both the Rochester Rooks and the Syracuse Excelsiors who are both 72-61. The Aces have won 9 of their last 10 games to take the lead in the closely contested race, but will play their last 7 games all on the road. The first 4 of those games will be in Rochester against the 2nd place Rooks and whoever wins that series could very well find themselves in the driver seat. Newark finishes the season against the last place Richmond Rebels (57-76) while Rochester will go to 6th place Louisville (63-70) to wrap up their campaign. Syracuse will also be on the road for its last 7 games traveling to 5th place Jersey City (65-68) for 4 games and 4th place Charleston (69-64) for the last 3. While 5 games out, the Charleston Blue Legs still have a mathematical chance to win the Union league.

The Cleveland Foresters gave manager Dick Gallo a vote of confidence, signing the second year skipper to a 2-year extension. The 51 year old Gallo had the Foresters playing inspired ball the first half of the season but have faded since the all-star break.
Sailors fans gave 40-year old William Jones a tremendous send-off as the club honoured the pitcher who helped them win a pair of WCS and three straight pennants from 1928-30. Recently recalled after 3 years in the minor leagues, Jones was given his first big league start since 1941 last week and he made the most of it with a complete game 7-3 win over the Cleveland Foresters on what was being billed as 'William Jones Day' at Sailors Memorial Park. The win was the 195th of his long career, of which 163 came in Sailors garb.
Brooklyn fans are asking for more games to be added to the schedule. Although officially eliminated from the playoffs, they have been quietly rising up in the standings and now have a .468 winning percentage at 66-75. Hopes were not set on the playoffs, but on getting to .500 by the end of the season. It's mathematically possible, but with just 11 games to go, the Kings would have to go 10-1 to accomplish the feat. The Brooklyn fans are optimistic folks, but not delusional. So, they humbly ask the league for a few more games to be added to the 1944 season. It will be good for the morale of a war-weary nation. More baseball.
Clearly the Dynamos are not enjoying the schedule with so many off-days. They have gone 2-7 including a 3 game sweep by the Gothams. The G-men had a great week of pitching shutting Detroit out in the first 2 games of the series and winning the 3rd 4-2.
After Jim Lonardo improved to 18-12 on the year with a 4-2 win over Detroit on Saturday there was a fair bit of debate in various press boxes about the 40 year old's Hall of Fame chances. He is at 279 career victories so 300 is probably out of reach like his long-time teammate Rabbit Day surpassed a year ago but Lonardo is still a Hall of Famer in my books. 4 Allen Awards is one more than anyone else in the history of the sport can lay claim to and just an exceptional career. If I can only pick one I would take Day but fortunately the Hall doesn't work that way and the two of them will be both be teammates once more when they are each inducted in the Boone County shrine.
Speaking of Hall of Fame, isn't it about time the sport gets back to recognizing the past greats of the game? It made sense pausing the Hall induction ceremony in light of the war but with the tide clearly turned in that regard and everything else about the sport carrying on as if all was normal, the Hall of Fame should consider adding new members. if not this winter then certainly in January of 1946.
Right now it is harder to cast than was "Gone With the Wind", but baseball's supershow, the World Championship Series, again will be filmed and shipped overseas to sports-hungry servicemen. FABL President Sam Belton announced that a crew of 15 cameramen and technicians will shoot thousands of film feet to capture pictorially series. The Philadelphia Keystones are almost assuredly the Federal Association representative but the Continental star has yet to be determined. Belton said last year's WCS, which he described as a smash hit from the moment it was introduced, has been shown to more than 3,500,000 servicemen. There were 500 prints sent to ships at seas, to Iceland, Australia, the European front, Southwest Pacific and South America.

REES DEFENDS WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CROWN

To the delight of more than 20,000 screaming soldiers and sailors Britain's Archie Rees successfully defended his World Middleweight title with a 13th round technical knockout of Spaniard Jorge Cuellar in a historic boxing match. The fight, held in Liverpool, England, was the first world title bout since before the attack on Pearl Harbor and the audience was almost entirely comprised of servicemen, many of them recovering from injuries sustained in the June raid on the European continent.

Cuellar, who had not fought even an exhibition in the past four years was expected to be the rustier of the two fighters but he took the bout to the champ early -easily winning the first round and was hardly touched until Rees connected with a smashing cross just before the bell. Round two saw The Tadcaster Thunderbolt become a little more active but it also clearly belonged to Cuellar and the third round was close to even.

The bout turned in round four when Cuellar made a mistake, loading up for a huge shot but Rees avoided it perfectly and countered with a tremendous hook to send the Spaniard to the canvas for the first of three times on the evening. From that moment on Cuellar and Rees were both different boxers. The champ took complete control and it appeared to be just a matter of time before he would end the fight. Cuellar was knocked down again in the 11th but deserves credit for holding out as long as he did until the end came in the 13th round when Rees landed a solid combination to drop Cuellar. Once more he beat the count but looked dazed and the champ went in for the kill, reigning a series of blows on a new defenseless opponent until the referee stepped in at 2:13 of the round to stop the bout.

Judges had Rees easily ahead on all 3 cards as he improved his record to 34-4-1. Cuellar, who was defeated for just the second time in his career on this night is expected to retire for a second time with a 42-2-2 career mark.

The title fight capped a great evening of fisticuffs which also included The Cajun Crusher, Sgt. Hector Sawyer scoring an unanimous decision over Justin Bellairs. It was clear very early that the World Heavyweight Champion could have knocked out the RAF officer anytime he liked but he let up just enough to allow the two combatants to put on a show.

The other big fight on the card had far more animosity than the Sawyer-Bellairs tilt. Billed as the Allied Welterweight Championship it was a ferocious battle between two of the best young fighters in any division. In the end the Army got the bragging rights over the Navy as Pvt. Danny Rutledge knocked out Seaman Mac Erickson in the 12th round of what many in attendance say is sure to be a preview of a future title fight at some point for the currently vacant World Welterweight crown. Rutledge, a Louisville native, is all of just 20 years old but already displayed the poise in the ring of a seasoned veteran and may one day be considered one of the best welterweights of all-time. Erickson is also still technically an amateur, having joined the navy right after the attack on Pearl Harbor -just a month before his planned pro debut. The 24 year old St. Paul, MN. native had nothing to be ashamed of following his effort on this evening and is expected to have a very successful pro career once the war is over.

VAUGHT LEADS MAROONS TO VICTORY IN GRID OPENER

Stan Vaught was his usual efficient self in leading the hometown Detroit Maroons to a convincing 35-7 victory over a war-depleted Brooklyn Kings squad in the opener of the 1944 American Football Association schedule. Vaught, who has been the game's most dominant pass-catcher since his debut in 1936 caught 9 passes including the 400th of his illustrious career, while scoring a pair of touchdowns to lead Detroit to the win. Brooklyn kept it close for more than three quarters but a 52 yard pass play from Detroit quarterback Rich Coleman to Vaught with 9:23 remaining in the fourth quarter extended the Maroons lead to 21-7. The Maroons would tack on two late scores including a 10 yard fumble return for a score by Coleman to seal the victory.

Detroit will face a much stiffer test next week as the Maroons host the defending champion Chicago Wildcats in one of three games on the slate. A quick start is imperative for the Maroons who have a very unusual schedule this season with their opening 5 games at home before finishing the slate with 5 straight road contests. Brooklyn will not play again until October 8th when they visit Pittsburgh. The Kings won just two games a year ago and things could be even worse this time around after losing 15 players from last years roster to the war effort including the latest -and biggest- loss in the form of back Bulldog Stein who was a key rusher, receiver and return man for the Brooklyn grid squad a year ago. Stein just received word of his induction a week before the scheduled opener.

Code:


AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION STANDINGS
EAST DIVISION   W  L  T  PCT
Boston		0  0  0  .000
New York	0  0  0  .000
Philadelphia	0  0  0  .000
Washington	0  0  0  .000
Brooklyn	0  1  0  .000

WEST DIVISION   W  L  T  PCT
Detroit		1  0  0  1.000
Chicago		0  0  0  .000
Cincinnati	0  0  0  .000
Clev/StLouis	0  0  0  .000
Pittsburgh	0  0  0  .000

SUNDAY'S RESULT
Detroit 35 Brooklyn 7

UPCOMING GAMES
SUNDAY SEPT 24
Cincinnati at Clev/St Louis
Chicago at Detroit

TUESDAY SEPT 26
Philadelphia at Washington

The new college football season picked up pace over the weekend with a number of contests. A lot of lobsided matches this week in games primarily featuring military teams against small college schools but we did see three Great Lakes Alliance elevens in action including Detroit City College, which finished second to Minnesota Tech in the big midwest loop a year ago. The Knights had a close call but came away with a 23-21 victory over Iowa Pre-Flight in their opener. It was a much easier time for the other two GLA squads as Lincoln blanked College of Cairo 48-0 while Indiana A&M smashed Fort Knox 47-0.

Among next week's wide selection of games is the eagerly anticipated season debut of Wisconsin Catholic. No one expects a repeat of their surprising 9-0 and National Championship winning campaign of 1943, but it will be interesting to see how this years version of the Cavaliers stack up when they face Detroit City College in their opener Saturday. Minnesota Tech, which was also 9-0 a year ago and won the GLA while finishing second in the polls to Wisconsin State, also opens next week, with a game against the team that came up just short against Detroit City on Saturday when the Lakers face Iowa Pre-Flight.

WEEKEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS
Lawrence State 42 Wichita Baptist 3
South Valley State 51 Amarillo Field 14
Frankford State 19 Trescott College 3
Coast Guard 34 Norman 3
Great Lakes Navy 64 Fort Sheridan 0
Lincoln 48 College of Cairo 0
Indiana A&M 47 Fort Knox 0
Detroit City College 23 Iowa Pre-Flight 21
Second Air Force 90 Snake River State 27

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 9/17/1944

"Victory is everywhere." That was the message from Prime Minister Churchill as he and President Roosevelt met in Quebec City during the week. It was their 10th face to face wartime conference.
The American 1st Army has captured the city of Luxembourg while British troops have smashed through the Albert and Escaut defense lines into Holland. As the week came to a close the Siegfried Line had been breached.
Russian troops are close to fully capturing the Polish capital of Warsaw.
Allied naval and aerial might destroyed 91 Japanese vessels and 68 aircraft in a series of attacks in the Philippines.
Announced U.S. combat casualties in this war have reached a total of 389,125 according to officials reports, including 62,357 dead.
A new safety paper "virtually impossible for counterfeiters to duplicate" will be used in the new gasoline ration books according to the Office of Price Administration.
A hurricane, which under a later developed scale would be classified as a Category Five, blasted the east coast from North Carolina to New England, causing and estimated $100 million in damage and 46 deaths on land in the US and at least 344 were killed at sea due to maritime incidents relating to the storm with the largest being the loss of 248 sailors when the USS Warrington sunk about 450 miles east of Vero Beach, FL.

11-15-2022, 01:35 PM	#566
Jiggs McGee All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 677	September 18, 1944 SEPTEMBER 18, 1944 KEYSTONES CLOSE IN ON FEDERAL FLAG CA RACE GOING DOWN TO THE WIRE The Philadelphia Keystones closed in on their first Federal Association pennant since 1933 and the fourth in team history with a big week in which they swept three games from the Pittsburgh Miners to increase their lead atop the Fed to 8.5 games with two weeks remaining in the season. The champagne corks can not be popped quite yet -as the Keystones magic number is 5- but one expects the bubbly is on ice and the only thing colder might be the bats and arms of the Pittsburgh Nine, which has lost it's last six straight and was outscored 36-10 during that stretch. The Miners had hopes of striking gold when they began the week, despite losing 3 straight in Washington to finish off the previous weekend. A short week with just 3 games on the docket, all against Philadelphia beginning with the opener at Fitzpatrick Park on Wednesday. Pittsburgh needed a sweep as that would put the Miners within 2.5 games of their Pennsylvania rival but things went wrong right from the get-go. A 4-run second inning and a 6-0 lead after 6 frames was more than enough to make a winner out of Jonah Brown -a former rule five pick from Cleveland- and the Keystones prevailed 7-1 in the series opener while the 33 year old Brown, who entered the season with just 3 career FABL wins, ran his record to 10-6 on the season. The two teams then had two days off to make their way to Philadelphia's Broad Street Park for two more games that were 'must-win' contests for the visitors. Someone must have forgot to inform the Miners of the magnitude of this weekend as they never led at anytime with Bobby Barrell's 43rd homer, a 3-run shot in the 3rd- helping stake the Keystones to a 7-0 lead and that made for an easy afternoon for Philadelphia starter Pepper Tuttle in an 8-2 win. Only the weather could slow Tuttle (13-11) as he was lifted in the 7th inning because of a 46 minute rain delay. The Miners were likely hoping for rain, or some sort of divine intervention, Sunday with Red Ross on the mound for the Philadelphians. Ross did allow 2-runs, including rookie infielder George Darnell's second career homer, but only two other Pittsburgh hits as Ross took sole possession of the FABL victory lead with his 22nd win of the season in a 6-2 Philadelphia triumph that all but officially closed the pennant race in the Fed. * NOTHING DECIDED IN THE CONTINENTAL * With two weeks to play there is little to separate the Cincinnati Cannons and the Toronto Wolves. Both are 44-33 at home on the year. Both are 37-27 on the road so they own identical 81-60 records with 13 games remaining for each -all on the road. They are also dead even head-to-head at 11 victories apiece after Toronto took 3 of 4 from the visiting Cannons two weeks ago and Queen City gang evened the score by winning 3 of 4 at Tice Memorial Stadium this past weekend. The weekend set was nearly a mirror image of what transpired in Toronto a week before. The visitors took the series opener only to see the homeside roar back with three straight victories. In this case it was Toronto clinging to a 5-4 victory Friday with reliever Billy Crosby getting a game-ending fly ball out from Cannons pinch-hitter Don Homer with the tying run on third base and the winning run on second. It was the 49th appearance this season and the 18th save in what has been a very solid campaign from the 34 year old Toronto reliever. The two Saturday games were also very similar. A week ago the Wolves won 2-0 on a great outing from Bob Walls. This week it was Butch Smith who came up big, running his record to 17-9 and lowering his CA-leading ERA to 2.19 with a 3-hit shutout in a 1-0 Cannons victory. A week ago Toronto took both ends of the Sunday doubleheader with a 1-run victory followed by a much easier time in a 5-0 nightcap win. This time was the same only the roles reversed as the Cannons took the opener 2-1 in a 12-inning marathon that had plenty of heartbreak for Toronto fans. First when a wild-pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning from rookie Tommy Anderson cost him his first big league victory and allowed Sam Brown to sprint home with the Cannons first run and then in the bottom of the 12th when Bob McRae issued a bases-loaded walk to Denny Andrews to give the Cannons the victory. To compound Toronto's troubles ace Bernie Johnson had to leave the game in the second inning with what is being described as a mild abdominal strain. Johnson's (17-11, 2.51) status is uncertain for his next scheduled start. The second game of yesterday's doubleheader was all Cincinnati as Chuck Adams smacked his CA-leading 21st homerun and Tom Barrell beat Toronto with a complete game for the second time in two weeks to run his record to 9-8 on the year in an 8-1 Canons rout. Barrell gave up 7 earned runs to Cleveland in 6 innings to start the week sandwiched in between a pair of starts and a 1-inning relief appearance against the Wolves in which he has not allowed an earned run over a span of 19 innings. Looking ahead the Chicago Cougars are still very much a factor in this wide-open CA race. The Cougars are 4 games back but it is looking very much like the CA pennant could be heavily influenced by Chicago. Both of the co-leaders must visit the Windy City for 3 games starting with the Cannons on the upcoming weekend and the Wolves starting a week from today. The odds-makers now give Cincinnati the best shot at the crown, to the tune of 58% compared to a 39% shot for Toronto. This despite the fact the teams play identical opponents, all on the road, in Brooklyn, Chicago, Montreal and New York over the next two weeks. Like everything else about this season there is little to differentiate in the upcoming slate for the Cannons and Wolves. TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN Weekly Round-up. After an off-day Wolves are gutted by the Sailors, yet again, suffering a 3-1 loss in 13. The baseball gods were not smiling down on Wolves, they out hit the opponent 12-4. Laurita has a solid outing going 8+ allowing only one unearned (Wood error in the 3rd) on 135 pitches. The Toronto squad left a total of 18 on base, Juan Pomales had a particular rough day coming to bat 7 times with 11 runners on cashing in zero with his only hit. Toronto get a little revenge in their final regular season home game by besting the Sailors 3-1. Chick Wirtz continues his torrid pace tossing a complete game 7 hitter. Pomales drives in 1 with his 6th triple of the season in the bottom of the first, the question ask by the fans was "Where was that yesterday!". Wolves end the season with 706,915 attending games at Dominion Stadium during 1944 regular season. This is down 1,259,532 from 1943. Wolves hope they will add another 100,000 fans during the World Series. The start of the team's season ending 17-game road trip is successful as they down Cincinnati 5-4. Bob Walls ties the CA lead for wins with his 17th, Chink Stickels provides a clutch double driving in two during a 4 run 7th. Bats are shutdown by Butch Smith on Saturday, he holds Toronto to three singles, three base on balls for his 17th win 1-0. Jimmy Gibbs gets the hard luck loss as he only allows four hits. First game of the Sunday doubleheader starts off with a scare for Bernie Johnson. He throws only 20 pitches before tweaking something in his side in the bottom of the 2nd. Tommy Anderson comes to pitch 7 2/3 of solid ball before allowing a the tying run in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch! Wolves lose the game in the 12th 2-1 for their second extra inning loss of the week, The second game of the twin bill is a blow out, 8-1, win for the Cannons who tie the Wolves of the CA lead. Was this loss a combination a worries over Johnson plus the second heart wrenching extra inning loss of the week? Concern for Johnson would have been misplaced as Manager Call said he will not miss next start, after consulting the training staff, in his post game press scrum. Laurita gets roughed up for 5 in the bottom of the sixth. Will 3 straight losses come back haunt the Wolves? Brett's predictions versus actual record -3 They just won't quit. The Cincinnati Cannons have been counted out of the race so many times this season but here they are with 13 games remaining and in a dead heat with the Toronto Wolves for top spot in the Continental Association. It is hard to believe anyone in Cincinnati outside of skipper Ad Doria and the 24 men in the Cannons clubhouse believed this team could win a second straight pennant. Heck, I bet even Doria himself had is doubts. If not when his ace and two-time running Allen Award winner Deuce Barrell blew out his elbow in the early days of spring camp perhaps when the calendar said late June and the Cannons were buried 17.5 games behind the first place Chicago Cougars and spent some time even below the lowly Cleveland Foresters on the CA table. Not then, well what about a week ago when the Cannons went into Toronto and were once again bitten by the Wolves -a team that has had their number every September. But now, after that September demon of a dog was crushed with three straight wins over the weekend at Tice Memorial we are just two good weeks away from another chance to witness October baseball. Can it happen? Most certainly it could but nothing has come easy for the Cannons this season so it will likely take some big performances. From the likes of long-time Cannons like Butch Smith (17-9, 2.19) who has been oh so good down the stretch and might just take over as the caretaker of the Allen Award until Deuce can come back and claim it again next year. From emerging stars like Chuck Adams (.298,21,99) who leads the loop in homers and rbi's and still two months shy of his 28th birthday appears to be just hitting his prime. From newcomers like Tom Bird (.315,4,19) who joined the club in a controversial deadline deal and has proved to be every bit the equal of Adam Mullins, the reigning CA Whitney Award winner but currently employed by the US Navy. Then there is Tom Barrell (9-8, 3.22), a mere shadow of his former self when he was winning his 3 straight Allens close to a decade ago, but even with just two pitches and far less velocity than he possessed in his prime Deuce's uncle still proved he could be an ace from time to time when it is really needed. Back to back complete game wins over the Wolves in which he allowed just a single run, and even that one was unearned. Sure he had a rough outing in between against Cleveland but when it mattered most Barrell answered the call just as future Hall of Famer Rabbit Day did in going 4-1 since coming over from the Chicago Chiefs with Bird. The question is 'Does this veteran group have two more weeks left in the tank?' * TIGERS TAKE FIELD IN CLEVELAND SUNDAY * The much-awaited debut of the American Football Association's newest franchise will come this Sunday when the Cincinnati Tigers head to Forester Field to play the combined Cleveland Finches-St Louis Ramblers entry. The Ramblers paired up with the Philadelphia Frigates a year ago when the loop shrank to 8 teams (the Washington Wasps also took the year off) but with Philadelphia feeling they won't have any player issues and the Finches worried it was decided that the Ramblers would pair with the Finches this time around. That, of course, was what opened the door to Cincinnati as, with the Wasps returning, the league did not want an odd number of teams. It was a very clandestine process that brought the Tigers to life, even more so than a lot of the cloak and dagger stuff that seemed to go on when the Cannons fled Baltimore for the Queen City. One of the most interesting things with the Tigers was the fact that the club owner had not been officially revealed until earlier this week when Edward K. Chiles spoke publicly and confirmed he was indeed the front-man and majority stakeholder in the Tigers franchise. Up until that point all of the contact regarding the club had gone through head coach Jack Conn until finally it is reported Conn told Chiles that he had bigger things to worry about and wanted to concentrate on coaching, and leave the administrative duties to Chiles and his associates. Chiles is in business with Cannons owner John E. Tice as their families co-founded the Tice & Chiles Soap Company which makes the reported row between the Tigers and Cannons over the rent for the use of Tice Memorial Stadium even more difficult to comprehend. Surely, there must be something more to this than presently meets the eye but neither Chiles nor Tice have had much to say on the matter. Everyone in an electric Cougar stadium could hear those four words shouted by Whitney hopeful Leo Mitchell round the bases on a beautiful June evening as the respected veteran leader capped off a 4-hit game with a 10th inning walk-off blast off Danny Clark. That improved the Cougars to 46-17 on the season, keeping their lead over the Wolves at 10. Everything was going right, as debates started going around the league whether this Cougar team, playing +.700 ball at the time, would etch its name as the greatest team of all time, and experts thought the 1944 edition of the Cougars would have the pennant locked up by July. Unfortunately for the Cougar faithful, those four words seem to be their undoing... Fast forward to September 18th, and the wheels have completely fallen off, as the Cougars went just 31-47 and trail both the Wolves and Cannons by 4 games. With just 13 games left to be played, they still technically have a chance to claim the pennant, but Cougar fans have heard enough. "'This is our year?' Give me a break..." one Cougar fan complained about the words they have heard far too often across the past few seasons. "Every year these guys get our hopes up, and every year they let us down. And there's always those darn excuses..." "Last year it was 'what if Harry Parker' stayed healthy?" "Before that, 'what if Peter the Heater' wasn't over seas" "Even in the pennant winning season, all anyone talked about were how bad they were in one run games" "And when they finished a game back of the Wolves, it was 'what if Milt Fritz stayed healthy'" "Well let me tell you what. What if you bozos [expletive] won some [expletive] games! Huh? What about that! There is no excuse this year..." It seems many Cougars fans share this same sentiment; "Every year we hear all about this 'talent' they seem to accumulate, but doesn't talent win championships! All these so-called 'stars' we get and for what? A shiny participation trophy? Give me a break... What good are John Lawson, Jim Lonardo, Dick Walker, Hank Barnett, Cliff Moss, Art White, and Billy Riley if we don't get any wins? That Riley clown is 1-6 with an ERA over 4! Ace my [expletive]..." This old fan wasn't finished; "And don't get me started on all these former Cougars having success elsewhere. Del Burns and Dan Everett are outperforming ever one of our pitchers, Lonardo found the fountain of youth with the Gothams, and even Jonah Brown and Jim Baggett are off having All-Star years in the Fed! And what did we get for these guys? Absolutely nothing... Oh wait, that's actually the return for Johnny McDowell! You know, the All-Star Miner third basemen. What a joke our front office is" "The worst part is, nothing is going to change. These gullible Chicagoans will continue to spend their hard earned money on tickets and concessions to support a team that doesn't care about winning. They only have home games left and still lap the field in attendance. And as long as ownership keeps lining their pockets with dough, it won't matter if they ever win another series. We need to clean house; completely." That fan is correct about one thing; no team is within 2,000 fans per game with the Cougars, and they're one of only three teams to sell more then 10,000 tickets a game. Since 1930, the Cougars have never sold less one million tickets, with the 2,215,186 tickets from last season the most ever in a single season for a Continental Association team. Despite all the melancholy from the fans, team owner Ben Hunter has full confidence in the staff and players. "I get why Cougar fans are mad; we have a historic past and that causes fans to expect championships every year. We haven't finished below .500 since 1936. You know who else can say that? Nobody." Since the World Championship Series was founded in 1893, the Cougars have never gone longer then the current 12 year championship drought, which is far more then the Cougar faithful can tolerate. "Loyal Cougar fans know that these past seasons are not up to standard. But nothing will change until [Ben] Hunter is gone. And at 82. Well, you can paint that picture yourself. That penny-pincher won't be missed..." Despite all the attacks he's received from his fans, the Cougar GM can relate to their concerns. "Trust me. I am not satisfied with anything other then a title. As a Chicagoan I grew up watching this same team. I remember watching John Dibblee, Calvin Kidd, Gil Hice, Jack Long, and Bill Mendine as a kid. This is my team. There is nothing I want more then to add pennants to the Cougars impressive totals. I have firmly committed to putting a winning team out year-in and year-out. And don't expect that to change. The Cougars will win a title before they slip below .500. I guarantee it." Unfortunately for him, a lot of Cougars fans aren't yet convinced. "I've heard a lot of talk. I'll believe it when I see it..." The Keystones won each game in a split series, one game in Pittsburgh and two at Broad Street Park, to take an 8-1/2-game lead in the Fed: Wednesday, 9/13: Keystones 7, Pittsburgh 1 -- Hank McKay and Harry Shumate had 2-out, 2-run singles in a 4-run 2nd inning rally to help Jonah Brown on his way to his 10th win of the year (10-6, 2.61). Saturday, 9/16: Keystones 8, Pittsburgh 2 -- The Keys had two big innings early -- a 4-run 3rd with Bobby Barrell's 43rd home run, a 3-run opposite-field shot, and a 3-run 4th, which included a solo homer from Marshall Strickland. Pepper Tuttle picked up his 13th win of the year (13-11, 2.97). Sunday, 9/17: Keystones 6, Pittsburgh 2 -- Red Ross went the entire way, allowing one earned run and three hits, to capture his 22nd win of the season. Another early big inning, this one a 4-run 3rd to break a 1-1 tie, helped key the win for Philadelphia. Bobby Barrell added another 2 RBI to his coffers to give him 145 for the year and the suddenly hot Marshall Strickland tripled home a run in that fateful third. The lead is now 8.5 games on the second place Miners and the Keystones magic number to clinch is down to 5. To add to the excitement Barrell is also back in the batting lead in the Fed at .352, leading Washington's Mel Carrol by 3 points. Barrell comfortably leads in home runs over New York's Red Johnson, 43-30, and by a country mile in RBI over St. Louis's Al Walker and Pittsburgh's Whit Williams, 145-84. With two weeks left in the regular season, Barrell leads the Fed in the three glamor categories, as well as runs (107), hits (197) and total bases (361). Brotherly Bits The Frigates are a little over a week from their season opener. No more Friglers this time around as the vagabond St Louis Ramblers are now partnering with the Cleveland entry so the Frigates are all on their own when they open in Washington a week from tomorrow. An unusual Tuesday night game marks the return from a one-year absence for the Wasps but that had something to do with Eagles owner William Stockdale wanting a week to work on some stadium improvements after the FABL club finished up it's home schedule yesterday. A year ago the local entry went 4-4-2, good for a second place tie in the East behind the mighty Boston Americans, who will be the Frigates first home date opponent on October 8 at Sailors Memorial Park. Speaking of Sailors Park it sounds like it is very much in the running to host the big Rome State/Annapolis Maritime grid battle on December 2nd. A decision should come from the Naval academy in the next couple of weeks. Liberty College kicks off it's grid slate September 30 against Trescott College, a school that starts with back to back games against Frankford State. The Owls beat Trescott 19-3 Saturday with the rematch next Saturday in Frankford. Plenty of excitement about the Liberty College cage club. The Northeast Conference is no longer so the Bells are playing as independents this time around but still looking to extend a streak that has seen them reach at least the quarterfinals of the National AIAA Basketball Tournament 5 years running and win three national crowns in the past decade. The incoming freshman crop is one of the best in the nation and led by center Ward Messer, who is the younger but much taller (6'8") brother of New York Gothams slugger Walt Messer. The Bells season begins in early November with a trip to Dallas for the King of the South tournament which will also include CC Los Angeles, College of Waco and Caesar Rodney. The future of the Montreal Saints has been on display the past couple of weeks as Bert Cupid and Hank Eason both made their big league debuts. Cupid, a 21 year old hard-throwing righthander who was selected 4th overall in the 1941 draft and is considered one of the best pitching prospects around, had an impressive showing in his first start. The Buckeye Bullet went the distance in a 5-1 victory over the Brooklyn Kings while scattering just 8 hits, fanning 5 and not allowing an earned run. While he did not get the decision in his second outing last Friday, the youngster was equally as impressive tossing 8 shutout innings in a game the Saints would eventually win 2-0 in in the tenth. Meanwhile Hank Eason, the son of former Saints star Hal, made his big league debut in the same outfield his dad patrolled so successfully two decades ago. The 25 year old Montreal native was also a first round selection in 1941, going 6 picks after the Saints called Cupid's name. The two-time All-American from Huntington State made his big league debut 3 days prior to Cupid and was equally successfully after a 3-for-4 day at the plate that included his first big league rbi and run scored. His first at bat was a second inning single off of New York Stars rookie Larry Gregory and when the week ended he owned a .267 batting average after 4 games in the big leagues. There is much more in the way of young talent on the way to Montreal. Much of it was sidetracked by a call from the Army or Navy but one who is still playing and expected to be given a shot at making the Saints next season is 22 year old third baseman Luke Weaver. Another first round pick, the Miami native was selected 9th overall last January out of American Atlantic University and has fast-tracked through the system this year, starting in Class B and ending last week with a promotion to AAA Minneapolis. He had 8 hits, including 5 for extra bases, and hit .320 in his first week with the Lumberjacks. Shortstop Gordie Perkins is another top prospect in Minneapolis and a former first round selection (#3 in 1941). Perkins likely would have spent September in Montreal had he not suffered a season ending broken kneecap just over a month ago. Saints brass feels the future looks bright on the left side with Weaver and Perkins knocking on the door and Eason patrolling left field. OSA agrees in ranking both of the AAA infielders in the top 25 prospects and Weaver as the number one third base prospect. DYNAMOS CELEBRATE MINOR LEAGUE SUCCESS A disappointing last couple of weeks put an end to any hopes the Detroit Dynamos had of a miracle pennant this season but there are plenty of positives for the organization. The big league club has improved it's position and stands a very strong chance of finishing in the first division after a pair of 7th place finishes...and that comes despite the fact that former Dynamos star Red Johnson is swatting big flies in the Big Apple and the great Sal Pestilli is working with planes in the Army Air Corps. The excitement stretches down to the lowest level of the minor league chain with the Dynamos Class C affiliate in Biloxi winning it's first ever Gulf Coast League title. That loop has been dominated by the Gulfport Sailors who have won 9 of the 16 titles since 1929 but the Sailors had to settle for second place this time around. Biloxi was boosted by the July addition of first overall selection Roy Schaub (5-3, 3.08) who was part of what might be the best haul ever recorded by a team in a single FABL draft. The Dynamos spread their 4 first round picks throughout the system with Edwin Hackberry, who is rated the top prospect in the game by OSA, going to Class B Chattanooga although the 18 year old might have been slightly overmatched after hitting just .200 in the Southeastern loop. 17 year old middle infielder Stan Kleminski (.358,3,30) had an outstanding half a season with the Class A Terre Haute Brewers while Carl Porter started in Terre Haute but was quickly moved up to AA Akron and went 4-6 with a 4.82 era for the Wheels. AAA Newark did not get one of the first rounders but that didn't stop the Aces from holding down top spot in the Union League with a week remaining in the season. The Aces (74-59) hold a 2 game lead over both the Rochester Rooks and the Syracuse Excelsiors who are both 72-61. The Aces have won 9 of their last 10 games to take the lead in the closely contested race, but will play their last 7 games all on the road. The first 4 of those games will be in Rochester against the 2nd place Rooks and whoever wins that series could very well find themselves in the driver seat. Newark finishes the season against the last place Richmond Rebels (57-76) while Rochester will go to 6th place Louisville (63-70) to wrap up their campaign. Syracuse will also be on the road for its last 7 games traveling to 5th place Jersey City (65-68) for 4 games and 4th place Charleston (69-64) for the last 3. While 5 games out, the Charleston Blue Legs still have a mathematical chance to win the Union league. The Cleveland Foresters gave manager Dick Gallo a vote of confidence, signing the second year skipper to a 2-year extension. The 51 year old Gallo had the Foresters playing inspired ball the first half of the season but have faded since the all-star break. Sailors fans gave 40-year old William Jones a tremendous send-off as the club honoured the pitcher who helped them win a pair of WCS and three straight pennants from 1928-30. Recently recalled after 3 years in the minor leagues, Jones was given his first big league start since 1941 last week and he made the most of it with a complete game 7-3 win over the Cleveland Foresters on what was being billed as 'William Jones Day' at Sailors Memorial Park. The win was the 195th of his long career, of which 163 came in Sailors garb. Brooklyn fans are asking for more games to be added to the schedule. Although officially eliminated from the playoffs, they have been quietly rising up in the standings and now have a .468 winning percentage at 66-75. Hopes were not set on the playoffs, but on getting to .500 by the end of the season. It's mathematically possible, but with just 11 games to go, the Kings would have to go 10-1 to accomplish the feat. The Brooklyn fans are optimistic folks, but not delusional. So, they humbly ask the league for a few more games to be added to the 1944 season. It will be good for the morale of a war-weary nation. More baseball. Clearly the Dynamos are not enjoying the schedule with so many off-days. They have gone 2-7 including a 3 game sweep by the Gothams. The G-men had a great week of pitching shutting Detroit out in the first 2 games of the series and winning the 3rd 4-2. After Jim Lonardo improved to 18-12 on the year with a 4-2 win over Detroit on Saturday there was a fair bit of debate in various press boxes about the 40 year old's Hall of Fame chances. He is at 279 career victories so 300 is probably out of reach like his long-time teammate Rabbit Day surpassed a year ago but Lonardo is still a Hall of Famer in my books. 4 Allen Awards is one more than anyone else in the history of the sport can lay claim to and just an exceptional career. If I can only pick one I would take Day but fortunately the Hall doesn't work that way and the two of them will be both be teammates once more when they are each inducted in the Boone County shrine. Speaking of Hall of Fame, isn't it about time the sport gets back to recognizing the past greats of the game? It made sense pausing the Hall induction ceremony in light of the war but with the tide clearly turned in that regard and everything else about the sport carrying on as if all was normal, the Hall of Fame should consider adding new members. if not this winter then certainly in January of 1946. Right now it is harder to cast than was "Gone With the Wind", but baseball's supershow, the World Championship Series, again will be filmed and shipped overseas to sports-hungry servicemen. FABL President Sam Belton announced that a crew of 15 cameramen and technicians will shoot thousands of film feet to capture pictorially series. The Philadelphia Keystones are almost assuredly the Federal Association representative but the Continental star has yet to be determined. Belton said last year's WCS, which he described as a smash hit from the moment it was introduced, has been shown to more than 3,500,000 servicemen. There were 500 prints sent to ships at seas, to Iceland, Australia, the European front, Southwest Pacific and South America. REES DEFENDS WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CROWN To the delight of more than 20,000 screaming soldiers and sailors Britain's Archie Rees successfully defended his World Middleweight title with a 13th round technical knockout of Spaniard Jorge Cuellar in a historic boxing match. The fight, held in Liverpool, England, was the first world title bout since before the attack on Pearl Harbor and the audience was almost entirely comprised of servicemen, many of them recovering from injuries sustained in the June raid on the European continent. Cuellar, who had not fought even an exhibition in the past four years was expected to be the rustier of the two fighters but he took the bout to the champ early -easily winning the first round and was hardly touched until Rees connected with a smashing cross just before the bell. Round two saw The Tadcaster Thunderbolt become a little more active but it also clearly belonged to Cuellar and the third round was close to even. The bout turned in round four when Cuellar made a mistake, loading up for a huge shot but Rees avoided it perfectly and countered with a tremendous hook to send the Spaniard to the canvas for the first of three times on the evening. From that moment on Cuellar and Rees were both different boxers. The champ took complete control and it appeared to be just a matter of time before he would end the fight. Cuellar was knocked down again in the 11th but deserves credit for holding out as long as he did until the end came in the 13th round when Rees landed a solid combination to drop Cuellar. Once more he beat the count but looked dazed and the champ went in for the kill, reigning a series of blows on a new defenseless opponent until the referee stepped in at 2:13 of the round to stop the bout. Judges had Rees easily ahead on all 3 cards as he improved his record to 34-4-1. Cuellar, who was defeated for just the second time in his career on this night is expected to retire for a second time with a 42-2-2 career mark. The title fight capped a great evening of fisticuffs which also included The Cajun Crusher, Sgt. Hector Sawyer scoring an unanimous decision over Justin Bellairs. It was clear very early that the World Heavyweight Champion could have knocked out the RAF officer anytime he liked but he let up just enough to allow the two combatants to put on a show. The other big fight on the card had far more animosity than the Sawyer-Bellairs tilt. Billed as the Allied Welterweight Championship it was a ferocious battle between two of the best young fighters in any division. In the end the Army got the bragging rights over the Navy as Pvt. Danny Rutledge knocked out Seaman Mac Erickson in the 12th round of what many in attendance say is sure to be a preview of a future title fight at some point for the currently vacant World Welterweight crown. Rutledge, a Louisville native, is all of just 20 years old but already displayed the poise in the ring of a seasoned veteran and may one day be considered one of the best welterweights of all-time. Erickson is also still technically an amateur, having joined the navy right after the attack on Pearl Harbor -just a month before his planned pro debut. The 24 year old St. Paul, MN. native had nothing to be ashamed of following his effort on this evening and is expected to have a very successful pro career once the war is over. VAUGHT LEADS MAROONS TO VICTORY IN GRID OPENER Stan Vaught was his usual efficient self in leading the hometown Detroit Maroons to a convincing 35-7 victory over a war-depleted Brooklyn Kings squad in the opener of the 1944 American Football Association schedule. Vaught, who has been the game's most dominant pass-catcher since his debut in 1936 caught 9 passes including the 400th of his illustrious career, while scoring a pair of touchdowns to lead Detroit to the win. Brooklyn kept it close for more than three quarters but a 52 yard pass play from Detroit quarterback Rich Coleman to Vaught with 9:23 remaining in the fourth quarter extended the Maroons lead to 21-7. The Maroons would tack on two late scores including a 10 yard fumble return for a score by Coleman to seal the victory. Detroit will face a much stiffer test next week as the Maroons host the defending champion Chicago Wildcats in one of three games on the slate. A quick start is imperative for the Maroons who have a very unusual schedule this season with their opening 5 games at home before finishing the slate with 5 straight road contests. Brooklyn will not play again until October 8th when they visit Pittsburgh. The Kings won just two games a year ago and things could be even worse this time around after losing 15 players from last years roster to the war effort including the latest -and biggest- loss in the form of back Bulldog Stein who was a key rusher, receiver and return man for the Brooklyn grid squad a year ago. Stein just received word of his induction a week before the scheduled opener. Code: AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION STANDINGS EAST DIVISION W L T PCT Boston 0 0 0 .000 New York 0 0 0 .000 Philadelphia 0 0 0 .000 Washington 0 0 0 .000 Brooklyn 0 1 0 .000 WEST DIVISION W L T PCT Detroit 1 0 0 1.000 Chicago 0 0 0 .000 Cincinnati 0 0 0 .000 Clev/StLouis 0 0 0 .000 Pittsburgh 0 0 0 .000 SUNDAY'S RESULT Detroit 35 Brooklyn 7 UPCOMING GAMES SUNDAY SEPT 24 Cincinnati at Clev/St Louis Chicago at Detroit TUESDAY SEPT 26 Philadelphia at Washington The new college football season picked up pace over the weekend with a number of contests. A lot of lobsided matches this week in games primarily featuring military teams against small college schools but we did see three Great Lakes Alliance elevens in action including Detroit City College, which finished second to Minnesota Tech in the big midwest loop a year ago. The Knights had a close call but came away with a 23-21 victory over Iowa Pre-Flight in their opener. It was a much easier time for the other two GLA squads as Lincoln blanked College of Cairo 48-0 while Indiana A&M smashed Fort Knox 47-0. Among next week's wide selection of games is the eagerly anticipated season debut of Wisconsin Catholic. No one expects a repeat of their surprising 9-0 and National Championship winning campaign of 1943, but it will be interesting to see how this years version of the Cavaliers stack up when they face Detroit City College in their opener Saturday. Minnesota Tech, which was also 9-0 a year ago and won the GLA while finishing second in the polls to Wisconsin State, also opens next week, with a game against the team that came up just short against Detroit City on Saturday when the Lakers face Iowa Pre-Flight. WEEKEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS Lawrence State 42 Wichita Baptist 3 South Valley State 51 Amarillo Field 14 Frankford State 19 Trescott College 3 Coast Guard 34 Norman 3 Great Lakes Navy 64 Fort Sheridan 0 Lincoln 48 College of Cairo 0 Indiana A&M 47 Fort Knox 0 Detroit City College 23 Iowa Pre-Flight 21 Second Air Force 90 Snake River State 27 The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 9/17/1944 "Victory is everywhere." That was the message from Prime Minister Churchill as he and President Roosevelt met in Quebec City during the week. It was their 10th face to face wartime conference. The American 1st Army has captured the city of Luxembourg while British troops have smashed through the Albert and Escaut defense lines into Holland. As the week came to a close the Siegfried Line had been breached. Russian troops are close to fully capturing the Polish capital of Warsaw. Allied naval and aerial might destroyed 91 Japanese vessels and 68 aircraft in a series of attacks in the Philippines. Announced U.S. combat casualties in this war have reached a total of 389,125 according to officials reports, including 62,357 dead. A new safety paper "virtually impossible for counterfeiters to duplicate" will be used in the new gasoline ration books according to the Office of Price Administration. A hurricane, which under a later developed scale would be classified as a Category Five, blasted the east coast from North Carolina to New England, causing and estimated $100 million in damage and 46 deaths on land in the US and at least 344 were killed at sea due to maritime incidents relating to the storm with the largest being the loss of 248 sailors when the USS Warrington sunk about 450 miles east of Vero Beach, FL. __________________ Lead Columnist of The Figment Sporting Journal The Scripture of Sports Last edited by Jiggs McGee; 11-15-2022 at 03:16 PM.