JUNE 25, 1945
COLLEGE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FINAL POSTPONED TO TODAY
BATTLE OF LOUISVILLE DELAYED ONE DAY BY RAIN
Fans will have to wait one more day before learning who the winner will be in the first Collegiate World Championship Series Tournament since 1933 as the weather did not co-operate on Sunday. An early morning storm left Chicago's Whitney Field unplayable so defending national champion Grange College and their Louisville, Ky. rival Bluegrass State will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to determine a winner.
The two schools finished 1-2 with the best record in the AIAA this season so it comes as little surprise that they are paired up in the winner-take-all championship game but that is not to say there were not a few upsets along the was as a 16-team field gathered in the Windy City last Monday to narrow it down to the two remaining clubs.
OPENING ROUND
Monday's opening round saw Otis Porter allow just 1-run over 7 innings while All-American first baseman Jim Stone hit a monstrous 3-run homer to pace the Grange College Mustangs to a 5-3 win over Garden State in the tournament opener. Third seed Eastern State doubled up #14 Chesapeake State 8-4 behind a 3-hit, 4 rbi performance from outfielder Joe Scott, a third round pick of the Philadelphia Sailors. The other two games on Monday had Georgia Baptist outslug Northern Mississippi 10-6 while in the night cap Harry Bell and the Bluegrass State nine topped Oklahoma City State 3-1 in what was an outstanding pitching duel between Bell and Pete Butler of the Wranglers.
The remaining four opening round games went Tuesday and were started off with our first upset as #12 seed Liberty College upended #5 Cumberland 3-1 behind a big game at the plate from All-American Johnny Peters. Peters, who the Chicago Cougars selected third overall in January, had 3 hits including a 2-run double in the top of the 8th inning that snapped the tie and propelled the Bells to victory. The second game of the day needed extra innings and the hero was Coastal State freshman third baseman Roy Rutter, who delivered a walk-off 2-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Eagles to a 6-4 win over Mississippi A&M. Next up was Opelika State and the 6th seeded Wildcats doubled Danniel Boone College 4-2. The biggest crowd of the day was for the nightcap and the vast majority of fans went home happy as Adrian Czerwinski -the 12 game winner and ace of the Whitney College staff- blanked American Atlantic 2-0 on a complete game three-hitter.
QUARTER-FINALS
The quarter-finals were played Wednesday and began with an upset as 12th seed Liberty, after beating #5 Cumberland in the opening round, rode the bat of Johnny Peters to victory once more. This time it was a 3-2 upset of Georgia Baptist with Peters and fellow outfielder Cliff Treen hitting back to back rbi doubles in the 7th inning to complete a comeback victory for the Bells. In the second game Opelika State outfielder Dee Choate picked the perfect time for the biggest hit of his collegiate career. The junior -a 6th round pick of Toronto in January- snapped a 1-1 tie with a double to plate talented freshman Paul Watson with 2-out in the top of the ninth inning, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 win and keep their quest for a first national title since 1929 still alive, at least for the moment.
Freshman pitcher George Carter had a rough start on the mound for Bluegrass State against Coastal State, allowing 5 runs, all earned in just 4 innings of work. However, the Mustangs bats with shortstop Harry Finney and outfielder Dick Helfand leading the way, were up to the task and Bluegrass State rallied for a 7-5 victory. That left the other Louisville school, also called the Mustangs, in Grange College which was forced to play local favourite Whitney College. Without Adrian Czerwinski on the mound this time, the Engineers had little chance and were blasted 10-0 in the most lob-sided game of the event. Sophomore Ralphie Spires tossed 7 scoreless innings to keep the Whitney College bats in check while Mustangs hitters pounded out 17 hits including 4 from undrafted junior Zack Rowell and 3 each from Riggins and Stone.
SEMI-FINALS
After an off-day Thursday it was on to the semi-finals Friday and Grange College kept up the offensive display with a 5-1 win to end Liberty College's upset-minded run. Rowell, in a last ditched effort perhaps to impress FABL scouts before the final 17 rounds of the draft are conducted next week, had a 3 hit game to give him 7 in the last two contests and a .643 average for the series. Toronto Wolves first round selection Otis Porter, who also was the winner on Monday, earned his second victory of the series.
The other semi-final turned into a pitchers duel between Bluegrass State and Opelika State. Harry Bell -the freshman from Cleveland who went 9-3 during the season- was outstanding and allowed just 3 hits before giving way to the bullpen with the game still scoreless in the 8th inning. Opelika State went through four different pitchers and seemed to always be in trouble but somehow escaped each time. Kenny Johnson, who is not on OSA scouts radar at all but does a pretty solid job as a guard on the Wildcats basketball team, was the final of the four pitchers and he tossed a 1-2-3 ninth and then survived the 10th despite the fact the Mustangs had runners on the corners with one out but failed to push a run across. Johnson and the Opelika State luck would run out in the 11th inning and it did so very quickly. Bluegrass State sophomore infielder Chuck Collins led off with a single to bring Dick Helfand to the plate. The sophomore outfielder bashed 14 homeruns during the season and added his first in the CWCS with a shot down the leftfield line that cleared the fence with just inches to spare, sending Bluegrass State to the title game with a 2-0 victory.
Scoreboard
OPENING ROUND
#1 Grange College 5 #16 Garden State 3
#2 Bluegrass State 2 #15 Oklahoma City State 1
#3 Eastern State 8 #14 Chesapeake State 4
#4 Georgia Baptist 10 #13 Northern Mississippi 6
#12 Liberty College 3 #5 Cumberland 1
#6 Opelika State 4 #11 Daniel Boone College 2
#7 Coastal State 6 #10 Mississippi A&M 4 (11 innings)
#8 Whitney College 2 #9 American Atlantic 0
QUARTERFINALS
#1 Grange College 10 #8 Whitney College 0
#2 Bluegrass State 7 #7 Coastal State 5
#6 Opelika State 2 #3 Eastern State 1
#12 Liberty College 3 #4 Georgia Baptist 2
SEMI-FINALS
#1 Grange College 5 #12 Liberty College 1
#2 Bluegrass State 2 #6 Opelika State 0 (11 innings)
FINAL
#1 Grange College (Ralphie Spires 7-3, 2.81) vs #2 Bluegrass State (Dick McGowan 9-5, 3.66)
CHRISTIAN TROPHY FINALISTS REVEALED
The five finalists for the Frank Christian Trophy, presented annually to the top college baseball player in the nation and not to be confused with the football version of the trophy which is also called the Christian Trophy but named after Frank's brother John. Both were long-time AIAA coaches in the state of Texas.
The winner will be announced tonight at a ceremony in Chicago at the conclusion of the Collegiate World Championship Series, which had it's title game rained out yesterday and rescheduled for this afternoon.
The finalists:
ADRIAN CZERWINSKI- Sophomore pitcher Whitney College (12-3, 2.90, 99K) - Tied a record set by 5 pitchers before him with 12 victories in a season. The side-armer is not your typical college power pitcher but seems to get the job done. Only a 6.5 K/9 but had the fifth lowest era among starting pitchers.
RALPH JOHNSON - Junior OF Topeka State (.329/.424/.620) -A newcomer to the college game as a junior, Johnson led the nation with a 3.0 batter war while batting .329 with 15 homers and 55 rbi's. Was second in the nation in homeruns and runs scored, fourth in rbi's, third in slugging percentage and fourth in wOBA. Was selected 5th overall by Brooklyn. Through a clerical error that has been corrected is listed as a sophomore and part of the 1946 draft class.
BOB RIGGINS - Junior OF Grange College (.342/.468/.594)- A 3-time first team All-American selection who won the Christian Trophy a year ago when he led Grange College to a National Title. The centerfielders .342 batting average was key to Grange College's record breaking run this season that sees them as the favourite to win the Collegiate World Championship Series this week in Chicago. Riggins led the nation in on-base percentage this season, tied for first in wOBA and was second in OPS and batter WAR. Was selected first overall in January by the New York Stars.
JOHN STALLINGS - Sophomore pitcher Piedmont University (9-1, 0.99, 154 K's)- His 0.99 era is the lowest in post-feeder history and the 4th lowest all time when you include the feeder era. Stallings also fanned 154 batters this season, sixth most all-time among college hurlers and only Bob Arman's 156 for Bluegrass State in 1941 is higher among non-feeder era arms. That number is even more impressive when you factor in that Stallings pitched just 91 innings this season so his 15.2 K/9 was dominant for the post-feeder era. Number two on that list was Bob Arman's 1941 campaign when he had an 11.9. Stallings K/BB ratio was also the best of the post-feeder era by a good margin. He was 7.7 to better the previous mark set by Tallmadge State's Junius Davis at 5.4 in 1941. The one thing against Stallings candidacy for the Christian. He played at Piedmont which is only good competition, compared to the great competition each of the other nominees faced.
JIM STONE - Sophomore 1B Grange College (.342/.420/.663): In his debut season of college ball the 20 year old led the nation with 19 homers, was second with 61 rbi's and third in batting average at .342. He was also second in ops and slugging percentage, third in wOBA and 4th in batter WAR. There were a number of very good first baseman but he was the first team All-American selection and a big reason, along with Bob Riggins, that Grange College is seeded #1 in the Collegiate World Championship Series.
HIGH SCHOOL RANKS REVEAL ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS AND FINALISTS FOR THE ADWELL AWARD
A record breaking season from Beaver (PA) High School shortstop Ralph Hanson highlights an outstanding crop of 1945 High School All-Americans. Hanson, who was selected second overall by the New York Stars in January and will join the organization next week when his high school senior season is complete, hit .615 to narrowly eclipse Walt Messer's .613 set in 1934. Hanson is also considered the favourite to win the Adwell Award, named after former high school star and big league pitcher Red Adwell and presented annually to the player judged to be the top high schooler in the nation.
Here are the finalists for the Adwell Award as well as the 1945 High School All-American Selections
RALPH HANSON SR SS- Beaver (PA) HS. (.615/.669/1.000): Only season of high school ball for the second overall selection by the New York Stars in the January draft but what a year it was. He established a new all-time (including feeders) single season high school batting average by hitting .615, to best the previous mark of .613 established by Walt Messer 11 years ago. He also led the high school ranks with a 4.1 batter war. Since the feeders ended in 1933 only two hitters have had a higher war: Messer did it twice in 1934 & 1936 with Chuck Adams 4.2 in 1935 being the only other season. Even 4.0 is rarely attained as the only other high school players to reach it were Red Johnson and Jesse Alvardo, so some pretty good company for Hanson.
LES LEDBETTER SO LHP - Fowlerville (MI) HS (12-0, 0.60, 209 K): Tied for first in wins, had the lowest ERA of any high school pitcher with at least 50 innings of work and led nation with 209 strikeouts and in K/BB with a 13.9 ratio. His 9.1 pitcher war was best in the loop and his 0.39 FIP was second lowest this season. In two seasons Ledbetter is now 23-0 with 398 strikeouts which does have him on pace to finish his high school career with more wins and K's than any other pitcher not named Hiram Steinberg.
JERRY SMITH SO CF- Jackson HS, Queens NY (.523/.581/1.116): The 15 year old was born in Hartford but is playing his high school ball in New York. In his debut as a sophomore he smacked 10 homers and 11 doubles in 21 games to lead the nation in slugging percentage.
DANNY TAYLOR JR OF - Overland (MO) HS (.510/.589/1.049): Another player getting his first taste of high school ball, Taylor was born in New Jersey but moved to Missouri as a youth. He was third in the nation in WAR, OPS, wOBA and slugging percentage with his 12 homeruns being second most in high school ball this season.
DUTCH YOAK SR LHP - LaPorte(TX) HS (12-0, 0.70, 205 K): A second round choice of the Chicago Cougars in January, Yoak finished off an outstanding 4 year high school career that saw him post a 43-2 mark -second in wins only to the 47-0 record fashioned by Hiram Steinberg when he was a New York City high schooler. Yoak is also second all-time behind only the Cleveland Foresters prospect in strikeouts with 729 for his career. His senior year saw him tie (with 5 others) for first in wins, finish third in strikeouts, fifth in ERA and third in K/BB and pitcher WAR. Yoak, along with fellow Texan Ike Perry -a catcher from Navasota and a first round pick of the Washington Eagles- were each named to the All-American team for the third time in their high school careers.
COUGARS LOSE FIVE OF LAST 6 - AND MOSS FOR A MONTH
It has been nothing but bad news of late for baseball fans in Chicago. You have Whitney College getting blown out in the Collegiate World Championship Series quarterfinals, the Chicago Chiefs sinking to the cellar of the Federal Association and now terrible news for the Continental Cougars, who not only dropped 5 of 6 games during the week before rebounding with a 3-1 win over Brooklyn yesterday but also received word they will be forced to play without Cliff Moss for the next month due to a sprained ankle suffered early in the week.
It is a huge blow for a Cougars offense that had already taken two direct hits from Selective Service over the winter with Hank Barnett and Leo Mitchell both heading off to join the war effort. The 39 year old Moss filled in admirably as a replacement for the missing duo and -for two months anyway- looked like the player he was a decade ago and seemed a sure bet to represent the Cougars when they host next month's all-star game. Moss had struggled a bit the last couple of weeks but was the biggest reason the Cougars offense was as solid as it has been this season despite the loss of it's two biggest producers from a year ago.
Chicago presently sits 3 games back of the first place Toronto Wolves with the Cincinnati Cannons wedged in between the two. The Cougars have a key series coming up this week when the Cannons invade Cougars Park for a three game set beginning on Wednesday. Until then, they have a pair of off days to try and decide who can pick up the offensive slack in Moss' place for the next month.
*** The Greene Machine ***
The Cougars get one piece of good news: they won't see Montreal again until the end of August. The Saints have dominated Chicago this season, winning 9 of 12 games including an 11-2 blasting in a quick one game set in Chicago Monday. Montreal has won 12 of it's past 16 overall with outfielder Bill Greene doing much of the heavy lifting of late. The 28 year old was named the top performer in the Continental Association for the second week in a row and has 8 homeruns already this month. On the year Greene is batting .298 with 14 homers and 54 rbi's and is a big reason why the Saints are 3 games above .500 and looking to climb in to the CA pennant picture. The Philadelphia Sailors have also been hot of late as they threaten to join the Saints in making it a 5-team race.
The Philadelphia Keystones have slowed down of late and Bobby Barrell went 6 games without adding to his FABL best total of 19 round-trippers but none of the other contenders in the Federal Association took advantage and closed the gap of a pedestrian 3-3 week for the Philadelphia nine.
The hottest team in all of baseball now is, believe it or not, the St Louis Pioneers. Winners of 16 of their last 18 games as the Pioneers feasted on the cellar dwelling Chiefs (5-0) and Gothams (6-1) during that stretch which allowed the Pioneers to climb within a game of the break-even point and while still in 6th place, St Louis is now just 7.5 games behind Philadelphia and only 4 out of second place in the Fed.
TEXTILE MAGNATE PURCHASES COUGARS
For the second time this month FABL is welcoming a new owner to the fold, although this time it is under slightly better circumstances. The Chicago Cougars have changed hands as 50-year-old Illinois businessman Mackenzie "Mack" Dalmer has been approved by the FABL Board of Governors as the new owner of the team. Dalmer's purchase came as Ben Hunter, the club's longtime owner, announced his retirement last month. Hunter, 82, is in failing health and is currently living in Phoenix, Arizona where the desert air is better for his lungs.
Dalmer's purchase includes the new ballpark, considered among the best in all of baseball. The businessman, whose fortune was made in textiles, promised no changes to the day-to-day operations of the club. "I'm not particularly knowledgeable about baseball," Dalmer said, adding, "I will let the baseball folks hired by Mr. Hunter continue to do their jobs without my butting in."
The Cougars ownership change follows one in the Federal Association. Earlier this month the death of Washington Eagles owner William Stockdale at the age of 81, saw the ownership of the club be passed down to his son Captain Calvin W. Stockdale. Captain Stockdale is presently preoccupied as commander of the USS Baltimore, part of the Fifth Fleet that just successfully completed it's victory in the Battle of Okinawa, so longtime baseball man Rufus Barrell is acting as the interim club President until final victory is achieved over the Japanese.
McCORMICK COMEBACK WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHED
Fred McCormick has, at least so far, proved 4 years in the Army has done little to dampen his ability to hit a baseball. He had the incredible debut with a homerun in his first at bat back with the Toronto Wolves after that long absence and the adrenaline has continued to pump with McCormick batting .328 with a pair of longballs through his first three weeks back in the league.
But will it continue once the initial hype of being back in the game is over and the steady grind of needing to be ready to play every day once more takes over? McCormick is 35 years old and has been out of baseball action a long time. Before heading off to basic training he had spent 11 long seasons in the majors. You can bet Fred is being followed with greater interest than the performance of any other player in baseball, not only by every fan, but also by every veteran service athlete who hopes to return to some form of sport. Hank Barnett, Bernie Johnson and Robert Curry a three that still in the service and sure to be watching closely. Same for many of the veteran boxers and grid stars as they hope McCormick's trials this summer will give them some part of an answer as to what four years of athletic inaction will do.
"I feel good, aside from a few blisters on the hands from swinging a bat so much" says Fred when we caught up to him the other day. "I think I have two, maybe three more really good seasons left in my system. I'm in good shape physically, although my legs are sure feeling it after the last couple of weeks. I do think it is good to get back this year. Another year and maybe it would have been too late."
Many believe McCormick's return might just be enough to swing the pennant Toronto's way this season, but McCormick is not worried about the added pressure. "The guys I was with had the real pressure," he points out. "This is just plain fun and I am going to enjoy it for as long as I can."
TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN
Wolves Begin A Long Road Trip: Trainbound for Cleveland, June 18- Toronto split their first 4 of 24 straight on the road after taking 2 of 3 from Cleveland to finish up the home stand at Dominion Stadium. Surprisingly this is not the longest trip of the 1945 campaign. In August the team leaves after a home game on the 1st not to return until the last day of the month after 25 games in their greys. Players were seen in local department stores purchasing new or additional pieces of luggage which will be well used during this season. Players do not seem to mind the extended trips saying that their train coach is comfortable, they are only traveling usually one night a week or in the case of a Stars, Kings trip they will be in New York for a week. One player said "We have it relatively easy, look to the Toronto Dukes hockey team...play at home Saturday night, shower, then down to Union Station to catch a train overnight to another city to play a game Sunday afternoon then back on the train to usually return home. That is tough."
The current trip began with an 18 inning marathon in Philadelphia. The Wolves finally scored 2 in the top of the 18th to win 9-7 after both teams had scored 2 in the 16th, game time was 5 hour 38 minutes with an announced attendance of 6781 of which Brett thinks there were 67 left at the end of the game, almost 2 o'clock in the morning. The bullpen got a work out pitching 12 total innings after Meyers coughed up a 3 run lead in the bottom of the ninth. Pitching remains a concern with the season almost 40% complete, SP combined ERA of 3.81 is probably close to a run over where Call, Nichols expect it to be at this point. Bullpen is starting to turn the corner although fans keep hope for returnees from Europe specifically by the names of Jayson, Gibbs, Johnson, McRae, Carter to give more options throughout the staff. Pitching talk on the trip from Philly into Ohio centered on Tommy Johnson, unconfirmed rumours are that his start on Sunday will be a defining one, lack of success could mean a trip back to AAA where the Nickels have been getting very fine efforts from their 'pen. This move(s) would see Cookie Meyers inserted as swingman.
If Call is perplexed, worried with the pitching thus far in'45 he has to be pleasantly surprised with the Wolves offensive output. Toronto ranks in the top half of the CA in almost all hitting statistics. These rankings should only be on an upward trend with 'The Reticent Reaper' returning to the lineup. McCormick through 14 games has a line of .342/.528/.605 in 53 PA. Call thinks that Fred's bat will be in the lineup everyday going forward after a few off days to build his stamina after missing 4 years. The injury bug finally caught up to the training staff, Juan Pomales suffered a significant ankle injury on June 11th, he is only available in a PHing role until the team gets into Cincinnati at week's end.
Overall the Wolves have played an excellent brand of ball into June. A record of 37-21 provides a lead of a game and a half over the Cannons with the Cougars biting at the heels of Cincy. Toronto can credit their lead to close game performance, 8-2 in games going to extra innings, 15-9 overall in games decided by one-run.
WOLVES MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM
Here is a quick look at the Toronto system after 6 or so weeks into their seasons highlighting players who are progressing towards the FABL along with disappointments in the system. This is an ongoing task for Scouting Director Art Willis and his staff. This summer is further complicated by the unknown of if or when players contracted to Toronto will return from the conflict in Europe. Will the players stationed in Europe be discharged or will they join the island hopping in the Pacific to subdue the Japanese Empire?
Buffalo Nickels: 27-24 3rd place Union League
Team is winning games in spite of itself ranking in the bottom half of the league in virtually every hitting, pitching category.
Highlights: The bullpen of Bill Ferrell, Bill Collins, Bob Collier, the B Squad, has saved the team many times. So much so that Toronto fans are screaming for at least one of the them to added to the big league roster. It becomes a numbers game as the Wolves 'pen has no one with options left so calling someone up would mean quite possibly exposing someone to waivers. Offensively Bud House has found his stroke since being sent down, Charles Nunnery, 32, is having a good season along with his mentoring qualities on the young players.
Disappointments: Ray Bell, 4-5 4.66, who almost made the Wolves out of spring training was hoped to show dominance in AAA so he would be the first injury call-up. So far he has regressed in the minors.
Chattanooga Reliables: 17-34 dead last Dixie League
This team is off to miserable start. Both pitching, hitting are far below league norms. Many players were put in AA in a "make or break" scenario. Most are failing, new Hitting Coach Larry Vestal has not been able to pass on his approach to guide hitters, yet.
Highlights: The pitching staff statistically looks fine but are getting absolutely no run support. If the starters manage to get a lead then turn the game over to the 'pen a hand grenade generally goes off resulting in a loss. Randy Hendrix, C, is the only one in lineup who seems to know what a bat is for at the plate.
Disappointments: Any hitter other Hendrix
Davenport Dusters: 25-26 5th in Heartland League
Opposite of Chattanooga, team can hit but with the exception of one SP cannot pitch.
Highlights: Bobby Mills, 20, 7-0 2.61 who is causing much debate. Is he too young to go to AA? Do we want to expose him to the Chattanooga mine field? Offensive another C, Cal Morgan is begging to be promoted along 1B Mickey Martin.
Disappoint: The entire pitching staff
Vancouver Mounties: 26-14 1st in C-O-W
Toronto has had success at B that has not translated in as players move up the chain. Mounties again are again the class of the C-O-W.
Highlights: Jim Rosen, 24, is pitching well but his age is against him. Expect him to be in Davenport soon. Mounties have a number of hitters that may move up to A when a players in Davenport are forced to take the next step into AA.
Disappointments: Art Stone may return to Tuscaloosa when C-ball begins.
WOLVES UNEVEN IN OHIO
Cincinnati June 24th -A week long visit into the Buckeye State resulted in mixed results for the Toronto nine. After an off-day Monday the Foresters shutdown the Wolves on 3 hits to win 5-4 with all the visitors runs being scored in one inning. After another day off Cleveland won 4-2 on 5 hits, dropping both in Cleveland was an unexpected result. Was the team looking ahead to Cincinnati or was it more of missing Pomales' bat while recovering from a sprained ankle? The team has been relying almost exclusively on Pomales, Stickle, Hull to patrol the OF thus far in '45. Hull has struggled all season posting a .206/.281/.280 line although he has 29 RBI. Is it time to look for a RHB for the outfield to give Call more options?
Toronto went into Tice Memorial Stadium for a weekend series in which they came away with a split allowing them to maintain a lead in the CA by the narrowest of margins, one-half game. After winning the Friday opener 5-4 they were shut down by Deuce Barrell, 5-0 as Barrell scattered 6 hits in a CG where he threw only 101 offerings to the plate. Pomales returned to the lineup, he had 2 or 6 base knocks against Barrell. Wolves split the Sunday doubleheader before boarding the train for New York to spend a week playing the Stars, Kings in the Empire State. It was announced that the train will make a detour into Buffalo to let Tommy Anderson off, where he hopes to regain his form, picking up lefty Bill Ferrell to add to the bullpen. Cookie Meyers will make his first start of the year probably in Brooklyn.
SHEPPARD USES ALL-STAR SNUB AS MOTIVATION
A younger Sam Sheppard might have busted up the locker room or at least taken his frustration out on the dugout wall with a few bats, but this is a more mature version of Sheppard we are seeing in Cincinnati. Still, it has to be disappointing to be 7-1 and learn that the Continental Association thought so little of you that you are not even included on the list of 24 pitchers to be considered for next months all-star game in Chicago.
The often combative Sheppard took the news in stride, and said it will give him added incentive to show the league just how wrong they were. Three Cannons did make the ballot as starting pitcher candidates with Deuce Barrell (6-2, 2.12) and his uncle Tom Barrell (8-1, 2.78) both expected to make the team while Butch Smith (2-9, 4.53)-whose nightmare of a season continued with a loss to Toronto last week- most certainly will not.
Sheppard has been to the all-star game 3 times before so he knows what he is missing and says the rest will probably do his 37 year old arm some good. He has matured since those early days and one has to wonder if the omission this time around is payback for some of the things Sheppard did and said in the past including once famously arriving late for the all-star game and publicly questioning the value of playing it when he was not getting paid extra to do so. That was in the mid-thirties when he won 70 games over three seasons and could do and say pretty much anything he wanted. Sheppard did win 21 in a resurgence two years ago but was an awful 6-17 last season in his final year with the St Louis Pioneers. He already has one more win than he did all of last season as Sheppard, like so many other veterans, has found a drinking fountain of youth somewhere in the catacombs of Tice Stadium, and is enjoying a resurgence for the second time, whether those that manufacture the CA all-star ballot know it or not.
*** Sawyer Needs a Drink ***
Speaking of the mystical fountain of youth at Tice Memorial, perhaps Hector Sawyer needs to take a swig. While Sawyer had no trouble with Frank Sanderson Saturday at Gothams Stadium, many in attendance say the champ is no where close to the fighter he was before the war. In the pre-war days he would have destroyed a chump like Sanderson in the opening round was the sentiment echoed by many. It will be interesting to see when he faces a real top-flight opponent, although it is beginning to look like his managers want to hold off on that for as long as possible in order to get a couple more big paychecks sent their way.
*** Tigers Still Struggling to Fill Camp Roster ***
Word is Coach Jack Conn and the Cincinnati Tigers are making little progress in trying to round out their training camp roster for the 1945 season. There is still plenty of time left as they don't convene on the campus of Grange College until early August but competition for playing talent is fierce with the new Continental Football Conference added to a messy mix that already included Selective Service chasing some new enlistees and colleges bidding for discharged soldiers with eligibility to return. No need to panic yet although some naysayers are warning the Tigers may be forced to close up shop for a year two like the St Louis Ramblers did the previous two seasons. Conn reassures us it won't come to that, and while he would give no details the veteran ballcoach says the club has a 'creative idea' to solve the player problem in the works.
- Hector Sawyer did more hitting in one night at Gothams Stadium than the hometown ballclub does in a week. While the Gothams were in St Louis getting beat up for the weekend Sawyer successfully defended his world heavyweight title at Gothams Stadium over the weekend, entertaining 50,176 fight fans, giving big ballpark it's largest crowd ever and just surpassing the previous mark of 49,851 established in game four of the 1942 WCS.
- Memo to Continental Association batters. Pete Papenfus, former strikeout king of the circuit, still is slipping the third strike past batters at a better than average pace. The former Chicago Cougars pitcher, now managing and pitching for the Great Lakes Naval team, has whiffed an even 100 batters in 67 innings. Included in those totals was 10 k's in a perfect game Papenfus recently tossed before 10,000 sailors in Detroit watching his club take on a team of all-stars from local auto plants.
- Marc McNeil of the Montreal Star says the city is looking forward to seeing Bill Greene play in his first all-star game. "After getting the player of the week honors with 5HRs in the week, CF Bill Greene need a 3 days rest. Better than a injury, because Greene been the masterpiece of the Saints season. He is right now second behind Barrell in HRs and third in RBI in the FABL. Greene, drafted third overall in 1939 and been in Montreal since September 1940, is finally showing all his skills this season at the age of 28. Sounds like he will get the ticket to participate to the All-Star game in next July. If the case, it will be the first time, Greene participate to the mid-season FABL event."
- While there is not a lot to cheer about with the Chicago Chiefs, the struggling club had some positive news this week with a big performance from Dick Blaszak. The Polish Hammer is still looking for his first FABL homerun but he had a 4-for-5 game with 2 doubles in a 6-4 win over Detroit to end a 6 game skid for the club. With the 23 year old Blaszak and 22 year old Billy Brown, who is off to a hot start, Chief fans may be talking about their BB-Guns Blaszak and Brown in the outfield for years to come.
- Plenty of quality baseball for the Windy City. First Whitney Park hosts the return of the Collegiate World Championship Series this past week concluding with today's finals. And now we are just over a week away from the return of the FABL All-Star game to Chicago. Whitney Park hosted the very first mid-summer classic in 1933 and now 12 years later it is back in Chicago with Cougars Park set to do the honours of hosting on July 10.
- Speaking of college ball, today's championship game is one last chance for Bluegrass State and Grange College players to impress FABL scouts in advance of tomorrow's final stage of the draft. Five players from the two sides are already spoken for with Bob Riggins (1st overall-Stars), Otis Porter (7th overall Toronto) and Leon Zalewski (8th round Washington) of Grange College and Bluegrass State's Harry Finney (rd 2 Toronto) and Harry Strickland (round 6 Keystones) already spoken for but each school has three players expected to be selected in the second half of the draft. They include outfielder Zack Rowell -who is having a big series for Grange College- and pitchers Hal Taylor and Harry Wear while Bluegrass State has catcher Cal Callejas, infielder Bobby Sherrod and outfielder Ted Melvin on the scouts radar.
Hector Sawyer retained his World Heavyweight Championship in a 9th-round TKO of challenger Pete Sanderson on Saturday night before a record crowd of 50,176 at Gothams Stadium. In fact, for a challenger, Sanderson did not offer much of a challenge at all. Sawyer was never threatened and Sanderson barely laid a glove on the Cajun Crusher. The bout did last over eight rounds, but it was mainly an exercise of watching Sawyer spar and land blows at will. Sawyer is thinking of bigger future fights, but he did entertain the decidedly partisan crowd by roughing Sanderson up, but good.
New Yorkers have seen Sawyer defend his title before, back in December 1940 in a 5th round knockout of Mark Dyer, but that was before his stint in the Service. Sawyer stayed fit and trim in the Army, but his professional record has largely been absent since 1941. His record of 51-3-1 after this victory tells part of the story and his 46 knockouts tell the rest of it. He punishes his opponents and they get familiar with the canvas.
About the only thing Sanderson managed to do was stay upright, but referee Cotton Edwards had seen enough in the ninth round after a cut, which was opened up in the second round, was swollen and continued to bleed throughout the match. It was the second stoppage for the incessant bleeding, as the eighth round was delayed while the ringside physician inspected Sanderson, eventually deciding to allow the rout of a bout to continue.
The scuttlebutt is Sanderson's defeat of Ben Rowe in April in New Orleans was a showcase for this fight, as Sawyer's manager handpicked him for this bout as an easy mark to pad Sawyer's record and build his stamina and confidence. Sawyer's manager deserves a raise as the night could not have been planned better. Sawyer emerged from the fight with nary a scratch.
As the clock ticked, and the crowd roared with every Sawyer punch, it really did not matter what the judges scorecards read, though for the record two judges gave Sawyer each round and the third judge only scored one round for the challenger. But, you could tell quick that this fight was not going the distance. As with any fight, however, all it takes is one and Sanderson fans hoped for that one wayward drive to make its way through Sawyer's defenses. It didn't.
Sanderson fell to 29-7-2 with the loss and the open question of how well Sanderson could compete with a champion, albeit rusty, was solidly answered. The Scranton, Pa. native, discharged from the Marine Corps last year, can regale his buddies with stories of how he took on the Cajun Crusher and lived to tell the tale. As those fish stories evolve over time, he might be well served to change the ending.
RECORD CROWD SEES SAWYER USE CHALLENGER AS PUNCHING BAG
(AP)- The largest crowd in Gothams Stadium history was on hand to witness the return of a Heavyweight Title Fight to New York City after a more than four year absence. The fight proved to be as one-sided as some had predicted as Hector Sawyer retained his crown with a 9th round technical knock-out of challenger Pete Sanderson. The victory improves Sawyer's career mark to 51-3-1 and is the second successful title defense for the 30 year old New Orleans native since he was discharged from the Army last year. 46 of the Cajun Crusher's wins have come by knockout.
Sanderson deserves credit for a game effort, one that delighted the 50,176 fans of the sweet science who were on hand to witness it. The 35 year old ex-marine did little to show he had any chance of winning but earned the admiration of the throng for his ability to remain on his feet and withstand the punishment delivered by Sawyer for 9 rounds. The Scranton native is now 29-7-2 as a professional fighter.
The fight looked in many ways like nothing more than 9 rounds of sparring for Sawyer, who you just had the sense was about to put Sanderson away far earlier than he did. The champ set the tone in the opening minute with a stiff uppercut that quickly showed the challenger he would be in for a long night, if he was able to stay on his feet. In the second round Sawyer opened a cut on Sanderson's right eyebrow but spent most of the 3 minutes working the body of Sanderson.
Round three might have been the most lobsided of a clearly one-sided fight as Sanderson barely laid a glove on the champ while Sawyer continued to rock the challenger with body shots and narrowly missed on a short uppercut to the chin that would have done serious damage had it connected. The only positive for Sanderson in that round was his corner did get the bleeding above his right eye stopped.
Sawyer's corner was encouraging the champ to be even more active and he was just that as the bell sounded for the fourth round, unleashing a flury of punches aimed primarily at the body for the opening two minutes. The few times Sanderson tried to counter, Sawyer was quick enough- despite some detractors saying he had lost a step- to easily sidestep the blows. With 45 seconds remaining in the round the crowd went wild after a violent uppercut from Sawyer but he seemed to get a little too amped up and had to get warned by referee Cotton Edwards for hitting after the official had stepped in to separate them from a clinch.
Rounds five, six and seven were much the same with Sanderson just trying to hang on while Sawyer continued to work the body and slip in the occasional big swing intended to end the bout. It did not happen, at least not yet, as Sanderson deserves credit for remaining upright despite absorbing a savage beating.
The Scranton challenger had his brief moment to shine in round 8 when he stung Sawyer, who was not expecting a big shot from the challenger at this stage. Sanderson controlled the fight for the ensuing minute until Sawyer regained his wits and reopened the cut over Sanderson's right eye with a left hook that found it's mark. The blood was flowing so badly that referee Edwards briefly stopped the bout for the ring doctor to check Sanderson's facial wound out. He was given the go-ahead to continue but the rest of the round was all Sawyer, although it was the only one any of the judges might have even come close to considering even.
Round nine would last just one minute as Sawyer quickly reopened the wound Sanderson's corner had worked so hard on closing just moments before and another jab had the gash flowing even more than before. Sanderson clearly could no longer see out of his right eye and the ringside physician was once again asked to take a look. This time it would not be allowed to continue with Sawyer being declared winner by TKO at 1:07 of the ninth round.
Sawyer's handlers did not say what was next for the champ, but indications are he plans to make another title defense perhaps as early as September. Much like his return to the ring in February when Sawyer took care of Willie Meyer in Boston with a 5th round knockout, the champ adsorbed very little damage and looked like he could be ready to fight again in a matter of weeks. The lure of another big payday -like this evening with a record-breaking crowd at the 6 year old Gothams Stadium- is enough to push those that depend on Sawyer for their income into encouraging the champ to get back at it as soon as possible.
*** Three Young Fighters Get Chance To Show Their Stuff ***
Sawyer considers himself a mentor to many young boxers and displayed that during his time in the army, helping guide more than one young soldier in preparation for a post-war fight career. As a result it is no surprise that three of the four preliminary bouts on the Sawyer fight card showcased some up and coming young fighters. The first of the preliminary bouts featured promising Atlanta born middleweight by the name of Tommy Campbell. The 26-year old improved to 10-0 with the 9th stoppage of his career, this one a 3rd round knockout of Jerry Miller in a bout slated for 10.
Campbell, who Sawyer took under his wing and trained with while both were in the Army, made his pro debut at the age of 18 in 1937 and counts wins over Nathan Sears -who had a title shot three years later against Arthur Rees- and John Johnston with both entering their tussles with Campbell unbeaten. Campbell is still in the Army, but has some connections that pulled a few strings to give him a chance to fight before what was by far the biggest crowd he has ever performed in front of. The fans came away very impressed and by the end of the bout it was clear he was quickly a crowd-favourite and with Sawyer's guidance might just be fighting for a title himself in the not to distant future.
The second young middleweight was also given a very large spotlight by being on the undercard. Brooklyn native Bill Boggs, recently profiled in TWIFB as one of the young fighter to watch made short work of Howard Goodwin with a first round knockout in a bout that lasted just 88 seconds. The 20 year old is now 2-0 with his debut in April also ending with his opponent on the canvas.
Finally in the bout just before the champ was set to take the ring, it was welterweight Mac Erickson making his fourth appearance as a professional. The 24 year old Erickson is no stranger to the wild crowds of a title fight as he was on the undercard in England last September when Archie Rees faced Jorge Cuellar before allied soldiers and sailors. Erickson lost that fight, while still considered an amateur, to Danny Rutledge, but the St Paul, Mn. native was the victor on this day. Erickson scored a TKO win over Ed Ashley to run his record to 4-0, with all four wins coming by knockout.
Other fight action this week.
Dayton, Ohio welterweight Steve Landry continues to chase paydays as the 36 year old won by a 5th round knockout of youngster Rick Edgar in St Louis on Wednesday. Landry, who now sports a 32-13-2 record, made noise in Cincinnati in March when he handed rising young Chicago figher Ira Mitchell his first career loss in 11 bouts.
Wayne Dunn -the 29 year old Hartford born welterweight- scored an unanimous decision over Dave Sullivan on Wednesday to run his record to 24-6. On the same card middleweight Rick Watson (24-8-2) claimed a 6th round TKO win over Norm Hall.
Thursday evening in Washington DC saw welterweight Kevin Jackson improve to 15-4 with the 8th knockout of his career. The 26 year old DC born fighter took care of Baltimore's Andy Goodwin (3-5) in his second fight since joining the Army in 1943.
FLIERS START GRID TOIL WITH OUTLOOK BRIGHT
The job of shaping a football team capable of another perfect season begins this week for the Central Ohio Aviators. The Aviators were unbeaten and untied last year, 9-0 including a 24-17 New Years Day win over Coastal California on the coast in the East-West Classic. It was the first trip to Santa Ana for Central Ohio since 1921 but even that strong showing was not quite good enough for a national title as Rome State, also 9-0, was the choice of the pollsters.
A number of regulars return from last year but not their big three All-Americans, including Christian Trophy winning quarterback Jimmy Rhodes have graduated. The coaching staff did express satisfaction with the number of players expected for Tuesday's camp opening practice but admits it will have it's work cut out for it to replace Rhodes as well as fellow All-Americans Henry Woodson, a guard, and end Joe Steffen.
URGES CONGRESS TO HELP CURB ATHLETE GRABBING
Colleges will have to handle the problem of controlling sports subsidization themselves and not look to Congress for help, in the opinion of Representative Max Morris of Ohio. Morris revealed he had received a letter from Ohio Poly basketball coach Hawk Pizzo seeking congressional aid in the matter.
Pizzo's letter said colleges feared "creeping professionalsim" and proposed the appointment of a czar to handle the situation. He further inquired if congressional funds could be made available for a stury of the situation but Morris said such a survey would have to be made by colleges through the AIAA.
Pizzo said he thought high school graduates should find the same deal at every institution, rather than the high bidding which now exists. Under Pizzo's plan, he would assess each college to pay the salary of a 'czar' to control all college sports.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 6/24/1945
- The Japanese abandoned their last lines of defense on Okinawa as Admiral Chester W. Nimitz announced complete conquest of the island was completed.
- Lt General Simon Buckner Jr. was killed in the final days of the Okinawa conquest, the victim of a Japanese shell while he was on the front lines.
- Thousands massed at the New York's LaGuardia Field to greet the plane bringing General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower home from Europe. A 17-gun salute, second only to the 21-gun volley accorded Heads of State, boomed out over the field as Eisenhower, whose might armies chased the Nazis back to utter defeat in Germany, stepped off the plane.
- Sensational charges by a Senator from Virginia that German industrialists have prepared detailed plans to rearm Germany and finance Nazi party underground activities. That charge, based on secret documents uncovered, was leveled by Senator Harvey Kilgore.
- President Truman left Tuesday on a non-stop flight from Washington to the Pacific Coast - marking the first time a President ever had made an airplane tip in this country. After arriving in San Francisco, Truman said he plans to submit the completed United Nations charter to the Senate on July 2 in hopes of quick approval.