[Jiggs McGee]

MARCH 24, 1947

This writer has been burned far too many times believing the Chicago Cougars were the best team in baseball. Only once since 1940 have I failed to call the Cougars the team to beat in my annual attempt at forecasting the Continental Association flag race. That was in 1944 when I finally stopped drinking the Chicago Kool-Aid and correctly called the Cincinnati Cannons as pennant winners -for what was their third straight Continental crown. I had the Cougars third that season and that was exactly where they finished.

I am far from the only one who liked the Cougars to win far more than the 1 pennant -in 1941- that they have claimed this decade. And they really were the smart choice if you gauge the season's outcome on talent alone. But somehow, the Cougars have been snake bit, doomed to coming up just short time and time again. At some point you figure that the forecasters such as myself have to wise up and go in a different direction. If the Cougars drive you nuts as an impartial observers imagine how the diehard fans of the Windy City must feel about this team.

Yet, despite everything that has gone wrong over the past few years. All of the near misses brought on by hard luck or perhaps simply missed opportunity, here I am once wore writing out my list of the projected standings and lo and behold, who tops that list...yup, its the Cougars. Maybe I will never learn but maybe, just maybe, things will go right for a full year in Chicago for a change.

1- CHICAGO COUGARS: The pitching staff is just too good, too deep, to not be considered the best in the CA if not all of baseball. So good they could deal away Billy Riley -a 17 game winner last year- and no one bats an eye. Pete Papenfus, the Jones brothers, young Duke Bybee. The list goes on and on. Then you have an all-star shortstop in Skipper Schneider, star players like Leo Mitchell and maybe a breakout season ahead for rookie Otto Christian. It will be a battle for top spot, and the Cougars have not fared well in the clutch over recent years but something tells me this time will be different. Of course, I think I said the same thing last year.

2- NEW YORK STARS: The defending champs are loaded with talent led by pitchers Eli Panneton and Vern Hubbard and bats like 3-time Whitney Award winner Bill Barrett, Mack Sutton, Bill Barnett and second year outfielder Jack Welch. I like their offense better than the Cougars but Chicago gets the edge in pitching. The difference may be the penny-pinching ways of Stars magnate Al Mielke and his apparent refusal to give Stars management the money they likely would need to make a key upgrade at the deadline. And it was deadline deals a year ago, when the Stars had a little extra coin, that made the difference.

3- CINCINNATI CANNONS: The Cannons are getting old, at least Al Wheeler is, but they still have some solid pitching led by Deuce Barrell and perhaps a breakout season from Bob Arman this year. Even if Wheeler shows his age, Cincinnati still has loads of offense in Adam Mullins, Chuck Adams and Denny Andrews and tremendous defense up the middle with centerfielder Fred Galloway and shortstop Jim Hensley. There will be a gap between the top two and the rest of the CA but the Cannons will be the best of the rest.

4- PHILADELPHIA SAILORS: It is going on a decade now that the Sailors have been a middle of the pack team and this year will likely be no different. I could see Philadelphia potentially ending up in third place but Chicago and New York are just too good for the Sailors, or anyone else in the CA.

5- MONTREAL SAINTS: It was a real debate whether to slot Montreal or Toronto 5th but in the end the opinion is the rising Saints will slightly outperforming the sliding Wolves. Wally Doyle, Bert Cupid, Wally Reif and Pat Weakley are a good collection of arms and the likes of Gordie Irwin and Andy Lyon might be ready to contribute as well. The offense does not have the pop of some of their rivals but the effects of playing half their games in cavernous Parc Cartier are a factor in that regard. Gordie Perkins is just 24 and may be the most underrated shortstop in the game, overshadowed by such a huge collection of top quality glovemen in the CA. The Saints are still quite a ways away from pennant contention and haven't finished as high as third since 1930. Third is likely too lofty an ambition for 1947 but the Saints could sneak into fourth place and be a .500 ballclub for the first time since that same 1930 season.

6- TORONTO WOLVES: This is a crucial year for the Wolves and another first half of the season like a year ago may see a fire sale in Toronto. The Wolves have some talent but virtually all of their key players are on the north side of age 30 and most enjoyed a down season a year ago. Sure, a bounce back is possible but we can't help but feel the window for this group has closed firmly shut and a retooling, if not a full on rebuild, is needed. Toronto skipper Bob Call may also be the manager with the shortest leash after the awful collapse of 1946.

7:CLEVELAND FORESTERS: The Foresters have finished last in the CA five of the last seven years but I see a lot of the pre-move to Cincinnati Baltimore Cannons in this club. There are a lot of highly touted pitchers just waiting to breakout. Names like Richie Hughes, Ducky Davis, Hiram Steinberg, Augie Hayes Jr with some big league experience already and more such as John Jackson and Davey Morris on the way. Jim Adams Jr. looks far better suited at second than shortstop and could be a breakout player this year. I like the addition of Orie Martinez from Brooklyn but the offense has an awful lot of holes. Perhaps it is time for the Foresters to take a page out of the Cannons book and look to move a few of the high potential arms for some established hitters.

8- BROOKLYN KINGS: The Kings have never finished last in the CA during the modern era -1925 was the last year they ended up in 8th. They narrowly avoided the basement a year ago and they have some building blocks but it feels like this will be a season of 'one-step back' in order to take a couple steps forward. It is essential for 37 year old Hank Barnett to contribute if the Kings are going to have any success this year. They will likely introduce a lot of young talent including highly talented outfielder Ralph Johnson and quite likely shortstop Billy Bryant and first baseman Pat Petty. There is no downside to letting the kids learn on the job and if they can adjust as quickly as Leo Hayden did a year ago in winning the very first CA Kellogg Award as top rookie, the Kings might just keep that streak of avoiding last place alive.

The Montreal Saints are now three weeks into their spring adventure in Florida. This week was the first week that all 4 expected starters were actually in the starting rotation. That would be the quartet of Bert Cupid, Wally Doyle, Wally Reif and Pat Weakley which leaves a battle for the 5th starter between Gordie Irwin and Jackie James.

In the pen Robbins and DeYoung are doing as expected. Rookie Andy Lyon trying to make a name for himself but the impression management is giving is they believe the 24 year old righthander should be more starting on a regular basis -and to do that likely means a ticket to AAA Minneapolis, although that won't be decided until the end of trianing camp.

That means the situation is not looking good for righty Karl Weiss, who won 17 games two years ago but was exiled to the pen last season. Count veteran reliever Howie Snyder as another one on the bubble. To return for a 14th campaign with the Saints, the 38 year old Snyder will need to retrieve his groove soon.

For the offense side, rookie catcher Jack Spahr been the best behind the plate so far compared to Joe Henry and Dixie Galloway. The backup catcher position is perhaps due for a change and Henry will need to shake his bat to not loose starting position. There is also a battle for the second base job between Bob Jennings, Charlie Woodbury and Ted Brown. At this stage of campe Brown and Jennings have moved ahead of Woodbury, who is trailing with a sluggish .208 batting average. Brown and Jennings have been RBI machines combining for 3 homers and 18 RBIs. Does this mean Woodbury days in Montreal may be numbered?

On the left side of the infield, 4-time all-star third sacker Jack Hughes is struggling at bat and 24-year-old prospect Luke Weaver is getting more chances than planned due to the SS Gordie Perkins injury. Weaver tryingto make his case for a spot on the roster already hitting 3 dingers, but need to jack up his BA. Perkins is coming back from injury this week, leaving him two and half weeks of training camp to get in shape before season starts.

In the outfield, Bert Lass, Bill Greene and Ernie McCoy are in good position. Following behind is Otis Parker, who at age 27 is finally showing the batting skills necessary to get a spot in the roster. It has been a while for Parker as, if you recall, he was one of the top prospects the Saints received in the famous deal that sent Adam Mullins to Cincinnati. Much of the delay on Parker can be attributed to the 4 years he spent in the army during the war. With Parker likely secure as the fourth outfielder, if the Saints decide to keep five, the battle seems to happen between Sam Clay and Bill Elkins. Elkins sounds in the lead for now... but the heat is on and Clay is keeping the pace. Veteran minor leaguer Milt Bennett will be returned to Minneapolis as he has struggled with 12 strikeouts in 34 spring at bats.

The big news to look for in Saints camp is that the rumour machine has started about SP Karl Weiss and 2B Charlie Woodbury.

KLEMINSKI COMING AROUND

Stan Kleminski has so much more confidence this season than he did a year ago. Of course, committing 15 errors in your first 3 weeks of big league ball as Kleminski did as a 19-year-old last April will destroy anyone's confidence. This year may be different as Kleminski, after spending nearly the entire season a year ago in Newark working on his defensive skills at shortstop, looks very comfortable in the position this spring. Now, no one will ever mistake the 1944 first rounder for Harry Barrell in the field, but Kleminski has done a solid job, committing just 3 spring miscues and looking like his footwork is much better around second base turning double-plays.

Kleminski's bat has not been an issue, even with the slow start this spring that sees him batting just .152, although he did hit .354 in 6 games last week. It will almost assuredly be his defense that determines if he can last the season in Detroit. Assuming he keeps up his work in the field there seems little doubt that Detroit skipper Dick York will once more pencil in Kleminski as his Opening Day shortstop. The question is 'Will he be able to hold on to the position?'

With the start of the season three weeks away the Dynamos took steps to trim their roster as the work to reach the final 24-man group that will be in the dugout at Thompson Field when they open the season against the Chicago Chifs on April 15. The most notable move was the decision to send highly touted 22-year-old third baseman Tommy Griffin to Newark. Management felt Griffin the 1946 first round pick out of Mississippi A&M who was acquired from the New York Stars in the deal that sent Mack Sutton to the Big Apple, could use at least half a season to work on a few things in AAA but he is expected to be up with the big club at some point during the season.

***Injuries Stall Motors ***

The Detroit Motors battled so hard all season to get back into the playoffs after a 2-year absence. It is a shame that Coach Mark Moore's club is missing most of its defense in their series against the Chicago Packers. First it was the impressive newcomer from Toronto Joe Todd and veteran Bernie Dunton who each suffered late season injuries that forced them to the sidelines for the first two playoff games, both 3-0 losses, in Chicago. Then in game one the blueline leader Bryant Williams and steady Phil Denman both went down forcing the Maroons to take one of the few offensive weapons they possess in 20-goal scorer Graham Ferrar and move him back to the blueline. Todd is not fully healed but expects to be pressed into action for tomorrow's third game just to ensure the Motors have 17 bodies they can dress for the game.

Had the Motors been healthy it could have been a very competitive series with the high-flying Packers but now it seems very unlikely Detroit has the horses to even win one game. They do have the friendly Thompson Palladium crowd behind them for the next game but the Motors were actually bettter on the road then they were at the Palladium this season and the Packers were a better road team than they were playing at Lakeside Auditorium.

*** Jack Is Back ***

It is looking more and more like the move to bring Jack Barrell back to the NAHC is a done deal. The long-time Motors coach was exiled to the west coast league nearly two years ago after a falling out with club owner Jack Connolly Jr. It was a messy divorce and one the Motors magnate has admitted he could have handled better and has learned from but now Barrell is likely to be named coach of the Toronto Dukes -the club he starred for before his days behind the Motors bench. Barrell did an outstanding job with Tacoma this season, leading them to a 33-3-4 record before moving to Cleveland of the American loop late in the season in what clearing was a staging position with Toronto's farm club until the logistics could be worked out on a big league deal for Barrell.

It will be strange to see Barrell behind the visitors bench when the Dukes come to the Palladium next season. The Barrell name has deep ties to the Motor City with one brother Rollie, owning the Maroons grid squad and another, Fred, heading the Dynamos scouting department but Jack certainly belongs in the NAHC.

• Caught in the numbers game in Boston is veteran 1B/OF Bob Donoghue. The 33-year-old has had some hard times of late, much of it due to injuries, but not all that long ago was one of the most feared power hitters in the game. He led the Federal Association with 34 homers in 1939 and drove in 121 that season. The Minutemen are shopping Donoghue as well as fellow veterans Joe Watson and Jim Mason.
• Brooklyn is still said to be fielding offers for lefthander Jim Kenny. The 26-year-old won 18 games in 1944 but split last season between the bullpen and AAA Jersey City.

NO SURPRISES AS SEMI-FINAL SERIES GET UNDERWAY

The Boston Bees and Chicago Packers were the class of the NAHC throughout the regular season so it comes as little surprise that the duo each hold a 2-0 lead in their respective semi-final playoff series. That puts the Bees and Packers each just a victory away from meeting to determine who will lift the Challenge Cup.

In Boston, the first-place Bees opened the playoffs with a convincing 6-1 win over the New York Shamrocks. The opener was the Wilbur Chandler show as the veteran Boston centre scored 4 goals and added an assist. His long-time linemates Waldemar Rupp -with 4 assists- and Tommy Hart -with a goal and 2 helpers- also enjoyed a big night. The Bees won despite being outshot by the Greenshirts 33-25 as Boston netminder Pierre Melancon had an outstanding game while Etienne Tremblay clearly stuggled between the pipes for the Shamrocks.

It was a much closer contest two nights later in New England but once again the Bees prevailed but they needed nearly 11 minutes of overtime before Joe Morey scored to give Boston a 5-4 victory and a 2 games to none lead in the best-of-five series. New York scored the only goal of the opening stanza when mid-season pickup Laurel Albers beat Melancon less than 7 minutes into the coatest. The ice seemed tilted in New York's favour in the second period as the Shamrocks peppered Melancon with 21 shots but only managed to beat him once. The was a Garry Calof marker with 16 seconds remaining in the frame after Wilbur Chandler -with his series high 5 goal- had tied the game.

Orval Cabbell scored twice for the Shamrocks in the third period but the Bees lit the lamp three times in the stanza -on goals by Morey, Craig Simpson and veteran Fred Yeadon- to force the overtime and eventually Morey's second of the game to end the contest. New York badly outshot the Bees once more, firing 50 shots including 7 in overtime on Melancon while the Bees managed 37 shots, including 5 in the extra period on Tremblay.

*** Hanson Blanks Detroit Twice ***

In Chicago the hero was Packers netminder Norm Hanson, who posted back to back shutouts as the Packers won each of the first two games on home ice by identical 3-0 scores over the Detroit Motors. Tommy Burns, Ed Delarue and Marsh Mansfield -with one scoring in each period- were the marksmen in the series opener while game two was scoreless until David Rankin broke the goose egg with a goal just over a minute into the third period. Mansfield and Pete Moreau would seal the Motors fate when they each scored just over a minute apart. Mansfield notched a short-handed tally at 6:09 of the period to deflate the Motors and then Moreau contributed an insurance marker on a nifty feed from Tommy Burns while on the powerplay at 7:18.

The Shamrocks and Motors each return home for at least one game, with both needing wins to remain alive in the playoff hunt.

CHALLENGE CUP NOTES

• It is looking like a Boston-Chicago matchup for the Challenge Cup, something that has never happened before. The Packers have never won the Cup and only reached the finals once. That was in 1930-31 when they lost to the New York Shamrocks.
• The Detroit Motors are a badly beat-up bunch. Not just because they have been blanked twice by the Chicago Packers and are on the verge of elimination but the Motors defense is extemely short-staffed with 4 regulars nursing injuries. Bernie Dutton and Joe Todd have missed each of the first two games but Todd will be pressed into action for game three despite a tender elbow due to the fact that number one defenseman Bryant Williams and Phil Denman each missed game two and are out for the third game after being injured in the opener. Detroit was forced to use its second leading scorer, 20-goal man Graham Ferrar, on the blueline in the second game and that will be the case again for game three.
• A big reason why the New York Shamrocks are trailing Boston has been Etienne Tremblay's struggles in net. The playoff debut for the 24-year-old has not gone well as Tremblay has a goals against average of 5.05 and a save percentage of just .823 after the first two games with Boston.
• Wilbur Chandler's 4 goals and Waldemar Rupp's 4 assists in the Bees opener against New York are both single game playoff records since those were tracked beginning in 1940. Chandler had 5 points in the opener, equaling a mark for points in a game first set by Rupert Mohr while with Detroit in 1942.
• Playoff point leaders have only been tracked since 1940 but the list is dominated by Bees with Chandler -on the strength of 7 points already this year- leading the way with 50 points in 47 post-season games. His linemates Waldermar Rupp (49 points) and Tommy Hart (48 points) are second and third on the list. Fourth place belongs, at least for the moment to Toronto's Bobbie Sauer with 38 points.

CRAWFORD UPSET ON HOME TURF

Roy Crawford, idol of the Gallery Gods at Denny Arena, ran into a jittery-fisted Kentuckian by the name of Lewis Jones last Monday and it did not go well for the Boston Bomber as Crawford fell to the unbeaten 21-year-old in a tight but fairly adjudicated split decision.

It looked like it would be another easy night for Crawford, who entered the bout 22-2 and perhaps next in line for a shot at World Champion Hector Sawyer. The Beantown born battler caught the youngster by surprise with a barrage of blows just 2 minutes into the opening round that had Jones on the canvas for the first time in his 12 fights as a professional. Jones would be caught with another crippling blow in the seventh, causing him to go keister to canvas for the second time in the evening, but aside from those two flurries, the youngster dominated the 10 round battle.

The Denny Arena throng, clearly behind the local star, pelted the with ring with whatever they could get their hands on when the decision was read - two judges calling it in Jones favour at 95-93 and 95-92 while the third felt Crawford had done just enough to win by the narrowest of margins, 94-93. The decision, as unpopular as it was in the Boston barn, was a just one according to observers unencumbered with ose-coloured glasses tinted with bias. Jones landed more than twice as many scoring blows as the ring vet Crawford, and gave notice that his may be a name to follow in the future.

In other fight action last week Cannon Cooper seems to be back on track. The Rockford, Il. heavyweight has won 4 straight bouts after taking a unanimous decision over Matt Headley to run his record to 21-2-1. The heavyweight, who turned 26 last week, started his career going 16-0-1 before suffering back to back knockout losses to Clancy Little and Glenn Hairston in the fall of 1945.

Brooklyn born middleweight Bill Boggs improved to 10-0 with a 4th round knockout of Vic Woodley in the toughest test yet for the highly touted 21-year-old. Finally in a battle of veteran welterweights Wayne Dunn (29-7) scored an 8th round TKO win over Stuart White (26-8-2).

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

• March 25- Hartford, Ct- rising welterweight Danny Rutledge (8-0) vs Mel Gardner (5-5)
• April 12- Miami, Fl- Former welterweight champ Dennis O'Keefe (20-2) vs Willis May (15-2-2)
• April 12 - Bigsby Garden (small room)- Middlweight contender Joe Moore (15-3) vs Mike Ward (4-5-3)
• April 15- Philadelphia: Middlweight contender Brooks O'Connor (22-4-2) vs Greg Roy (5-8)
• April 19- Syracuse, NY: Former welterweight contender Ben Bishop (24-4-1) vs John Gregory (16-2-1)
• April 21- Atlantic City, NJ: rising welterweight Mac Erickson (12-0) vs Floyd Davis (6-6)
• April 26- Bigsby Garden: Rising heavyweight Tommy Cline (10-0) vs veteran contender Pete Sanderson (32-7-2)
• April 28 - London, Eng: Former world middleweight champ Jorge Cuellar (42-2-2) first fight in nearly 7 years against British middleweight Glen Root (13-16).
• April 29- Bigsby Garden: a month and a half after losing to Frank Melanson in the middleweight title fight, Nick Harris (19-3-1) returns to the ring in New York to face Steve Adams (5-6-1)
• April 29 - Paris France: Edouard Desmarais (36-1) vs Jean Raymond (11-8-1)

RAINIER COLLEGE UPSET IN OPENING ROUND OF AIAA TOURNEY

The opening round of the 1946-47 AIAA basketball tournament went pretty much according to script with one notable exception. That happened out west where #2 seed Rainier College -ranked 5th in the nation- was shocked 51-50 by Tempe College. Three different starters -Joe Byrdm Alan Hepburn and Garden Knox- scored in double-figures for the Titans, who last won a tournament game in 1920. Rainier College had a chance to win the game but Buford Garrison's 10-footer as time expired failed to drop, knocking the Majestics out of the tournament in the opening round for the first time since 1942. They won two titles and reached the National Semi-finals one other occasion in the past four years.

Rainier College was the only number two seed to fall while there was also just a single #3 seed that failed to advance. That would be Huntington State which dropped a 37-35 game to Lambert College.

REGION RESULTS

EAST

Darrell Hanson had a game high 14 points and Blondy Wilburn added 12 to lead Noble Jones College to an easy 44-28 win over Academia Alliance champion Henry Hudson. The top seeded Colonols will next face #5 Lexington State after the Colonials rode a 22-point effort from Beryl Matheson to a 46-42 triumph over Coastal California. The other side in the East Bracket will be St Blane against Whitney College after the #2 and #3 seeds advanced. The Fighting Saints had a fairly easy time beating Garden State 42-31 with Cy Worley and John McAuley each scoring ten for the winners. Whitney College needed overtime and a dominant performance from Ruben Gilbert to beat Northern Cal 59-56. The senior forward had 23 points in the game.

SOUTH

Each of the top four seeds advanced with only 3rd seed Lane State -the West Coast Athletic Association champions- facing a challenge. The Emeralds withstood a late rally from Chesapeake State to claim a 45-42 victory behind an 18 point effort from Carl Casswell. Long Werth had 21 points and 9 rebounds to lead Miami State past the University of New Jersey 45-35. Paul Cowans scored 16 points and Major Belk added 12 as top seeded Carolina Poly pounded Keystone Conference champ Erie 51-33 while Detroit City College held off Texas Gulf Coast 59-51.

MIDWEST

Central Ohio will face Bayou State in one semi-final while upset minded Lambert College turns its attentions to defending national champion CC Los Angeles in the other semi. There were plenty of tight games in the opening round with only the top seeded Aviators having an easy time in 53-38 win over Kit Carson University. Ziggy Rickard scored 18 points for Central Ohio.

The other 3 opening round games in the Midwest were each decided by just two points. Scott Winner hit two free-throws with 21 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Bayou State to a 54-52 win over Lubbock State. Central Athletic Association champion Holland College nearly pulled off the upset of the tournament but the Dutchman came up just short in a 34-32 loss to the CCLA Coyotes. Lambert College did pull off the upset, sneaking past Huntington State 37-35.

WEST

The big upset of the weekend was the previously mentioned Tempe College Titans surprising Rainier College 51-50. The Titans next face Western Iowa after the Canaries won state bragging rights with a 39-28 victory over Iowa A&M. The other side of the bracket sees a pair of eastern clubs advance as expected, with top seed Mobile Maritime dumping Utah A&M 44-29 while Liberty College, paced by 12 points from Waylon Orlick and 9 rebounds from Ward Messer, outscored Redwood University 45-32.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 03/23/1947

• The United States Chamber of Commerce told Congress that a flat reduction of individual income taxes by "20 per cent or even more" is of "urgent importance."
• John L Lewis bowed to the Supreme Court and withdraw his contract "terminating" notice which brought on last fall's soft coal strike and had threatened a new stoppage April 1. In a 20-word letter, Lewis informed the Secretary of the Interior that the notice he sent the Federal coal mines boss last November 15 "is hereby unconditionally withdrawn."
• Financial aid to Greece and Turkey is more likely to avert war than to cause it, Acting Secretary of State Dean Acheson told the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He expressed conviction that American help to block the spread of communism will not "lead to war."
• At the Foreign Ministers Conference in Moscow, the Soviet minister demanded a 20-year war reparation payment plan by which Germany would pay the Soviet Union $10 billion.
• President Truman ordered a "loyalty" check by the FBI on every civilian worker in the Government's executive agencies as he set up sweeping new standards designed to remove, or ban from future employment, any persons held to be disloyal. White House sources said that no "witch hunt" was contemplated and predicted relatively few dismissals would come from applying the program to the 2.2 million men and women now in service to the government at home or abroad.