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Jiggs McGee · 06-01-2023, 12:12 PM

APRIL 7, 1947

WOLVES 'PACK' IT IN ON '47 CAMPAIGN?

Deal '45 Whitney Winner and Pomales for Prospects

The tranquil winter slumber of the baseball off-season was abruptly shattered by the resounding echoes emanating from the northern border, as the Toronto Wolves boldly signaled the dawn of a new era with a pair of trades that hinted at a rebuilding phase. First, the Wolves relinquished the services of their 32-year-old third baseman, Walt Pack, a mere 18 months removed from capturing the illustrious Whitney Award. In exchange, the Chicago Cougars sent two mid-level prospects across the border. Shortly thereafter, Toronto bid farewell to the versatile pitcher/outfielder Juan Pomales, dispatching him to the Brooklyn Kings in return for two additional promising prospects.

The Kings, brimming with ambition to fortify their pitching arsenal, were not content with just one acquisition. They further bolstered their ranks by procuring the services of Buddy Long, a 32-year-old southpaw, from the St. Louis Pioneers in exchange for two minor league talents.

In the Toronto-Cougars trade that saw Pack don the Cougars' colors, the Wolves organization welcomed 20-year-old third baseman Pat Todd and 19-year-old pitcher Kid Moore into their fold. Todd, an impressive .318 hitter during the previous campaign, showcasing his prowess across Class B and C, was a third-round pick of the Cougars in 1945. The OSA, who regard Todd as possessing a ceiling of a bench role, placed him at the 80th spot on their esteemed prospect list. Moore, a right-handed hurler selected in the fourth round of the 1946 draft, displayed promise with a 7-4 record and a 3.75 ERA while plying his trade for Class C La Crosse in his maiden voyage in professional baseball. OSA, however, casts doubts on his long-term prospects, ranking him a modest 227th on their latest prospect list and expressing uncertainty about his ability to develop enough to secure a spot in a major league rotation.

In exchange for Pomales, a seasoned player who once brimmed with potential as a pitching prodigy before transitioning primarily to the outfield, the Wolves acquired 18-year-old third baseman Roy Demonbreun and 24-year-old right-hander Harry Stewart. Demonbreun, a third-round pick in 1946, possesses a marginal prospect status according to OSA, who ranks him at the 126th position. Demonstrating his abilities with a respectable .273 batting average across 73 games in Class C, Demonbreun hails from Los Angeles, where he honed his skills in high school. Stewart, initially drafted in the fifth round by the Chicago Cougars, made his major league debut with the Kings last season, showcasing a record of 3-5 and a 4.78 ERA over nine starts. Although the majority of his time was spent in AAA, OSA believes that with further experience, Stewart may develop into a dependable option for the back end of a pitching rotation.

The final transaction witnessed the Kings acquiring veteran southpaw Buddy Long from St Louis. Long, 32, is a 3-time all-star who won 21 games for the Pioneers two years ago and was 16-16 with a solid 2.89 era last season. He will likely challenge sophomore Leo Hayden for the top spot in the Kings rotation. In exchange the rebuilding Pioneers add 24 year old pitcher Charlie Leist and 19 year old second baseman Otis Ballard. Leist, a Chicago native who just sneaks inside the OSA top 100 prospect list, had a brief stint with the Kings in 1945 but spent all of last season at AAA Jersey City, going 4-9 with a 4.56 era primarily out of the pen. OSA feels he can slot in as a fifth starter in the big leagues. Ballard was the Kings second round choice in the 1946 draft and split last season between Class B and A. OSA feels his bat and hustle should eventually make him a frontrunner for a FABL audition as a second baseman.

JIGGS McGEE's TAKE:This collection of moves have left many fans with raised eyebrows and minds buzzing with curiosity. Toronto and Brooklyn, in particular, have made moves that in many ways defy expectations. But before delving into those, let's focus on the Chicago Cougars, a team renowned for snatching players at their lowest value, often leaving observers in disbelief. This time is no exception.

Yes, there is an element of risk in acquiring Walt Pack, who had a dismal season just a year ago. However, the Cougars' front office has a knack for striking when a player's stock is at its nadir. If Pack can return to his 1945 form, this move will be nothing short of monumental. With Hank Barnett deemed too old and shipped off to Brooklyn, Pack has the potential to fill that void and ignite the Cougars' pursuit of a pennant this season. A Pack reminiscent of his 1945 self undoubtedly bolsters Chicago's chances, transforming them into even more formidable contenders overnight. Even if Pack fails to deliver, the Cougars remain in the thick of the pennant race, no worse off than before.

Brooklyn was a team many figured would continue to stockpile youth as it attempts to return to the glory days that have eluded the franchise for close to a decade. They gave up some of that youth to add two dependable veteran arms in Long and Pomales, but it would be hard to say they greatly overpaid for the pair. With the two newcomers Brooklyn is still no where near contention, but perhaps they may have leapfrogged Cleveland and now-rebuilding Toronto and could challenge for the top of the second division.

The deals from the Wolves perspective worries me. Not so much Pomales although I do not feel the return for him overly generous. It is the decision to move Pack to a CA rival, while his stock is low and arguably at the worst possible time that concerns me. There just seems to be no upside to this move for the Wolves. Todd may eventually be a decent big league third baseman but the Wolves are substantially worse in the short-term with these two deals and I am not sure they are much better off in the long term either. As I mentioned, it is the timing that is especially confounding. Dealing Pack at some point may well have made sense if he does not bounce back but surely the market might be much stronger for Pack closer to the trade deadline.

Had they waited a couple of months, Toronto could have potentially landed a bounty akin to what the Detroit Dynamos received last season for a very similar power-hitting third baseman to Pack in Mack Sutton. Detroit netted a pair of prospects in the top 50 -both recent first round picks- in Tommy Griffin and Roy Schaub- from the New York Stars. In contrast, Toronto settled for a former third-round and fourth-round pick, neither of whom rank among the top 75 prospects according to the OSA. The best-case scenario for the Wolves is that Pack's struggles last year were an indication of his decline, rather than a one-year anomaly. The worst-case is Pack puts up All-Star numbers again and the Cougars pull further away from the Wolves and the rest of the CA without surrendering anything of real value.

Lastly, the Pioneers bid farewell to Long in exchange for two promising prospects. St Louis is not going anywhere in the near future and by the time they are likely ready to challenge Long will be approaching his expiration date. The addition of two young players with potential upside serves as a prudent investment for the Pioneers, who are in dire need of talent to fuel their future ambitions.

TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN

Wolves Make Two Trades, Shock Fans :In the space of less than twenty-four hours the Toronto Wolves dealt away two players that were cornerstones of the team that made three serious pennant runs during the dark days of WWII. First the Wolves traded 1945 Whitney Award winner Walt Pack to the Chicago Cougars for 3B Pat Todd, 20, along with a 19 year-old pitcher Kid Moore. Then, just hours later, it was announced that Juan Pomales had been traded to to Brooklyn for 3B Roy Demonbreun along with another pitcher Harry Stewart, 24. The first words out of most Wolves followers were "What! Who are these guys the Wolves acquired for two stars of the CA?" Followed by words that cannot be printed in the Mail & Empire about the abilities, acumen of the front office in Toronto. Many fans are voicing the opinion that the team has already conceded that they will not be a contender in '47 before Opening Day -a statement disputed by the front office.

Brett had been sensing that there were moves coming from the club, but he was a little surprised that two starters were traded away especially to CA teams which is a step away from the usually ultra-conservative trading approach of the Wolves front office. It was commonly known that the team was trying to deal Pack over the winter but many will say the return for him was far too low. The acquisition of Todd is said to be key for the Wolves: he may be the 3B of the future but at the cost of a two-time All-Star? Brett does see one thing the deal does for Toronto, it allows the move of Hal Wood to 3B where his work in the field will be less critical in the grand scheme than at 2B. It also opens the door for Frank Frady, 26, and John Fast, 23, both switch hitters, to battle for the everyday starter position to form the second half of a keystone combination with Charlie Artuso. Both are natural SS, therefore blocked by Artuso by the foreseeable future, Frady is a little more polished fielder which may give him the inside track although both have shown good bat to ball skills. Brett's assessment is that the trade may work out overall in the long run if Todd lives up his promise, along with either or both of Fast, Frady living up to press billings.

Brett was a little more surprised at the move of Pomales, a solid OF with an above league average bat, who could fill in on the mound. Again at first glance the return from this trade may seem to be too low. Brett's contacts in the scouting department told him that the wild card could be pitcher Harry Stewart if he can learn to control his big league fastball. Stewart was immediately assigned to Buffalo with instructions to the staff to work on his ability to find the strike zone. After missing four seasons in the service it is hoped this diamond in the rough will show enough to be a rotation member before too much time has elapsed possibly this season. Demonbreun is a bit more of a longer shot after being selected in the third round of last year's draft, he ranked as the #124 prospect by OSA. The emergence of Sam C Allen, .288/.368/.868 this spring, has possibly shown the Wolves that they depth in the OF. Brett sees a regular starting OF of Fredrick, Stickels, Giordano, now the question becomes is Allen better suited starting the season at AAA for regular at-bats with a fourth outfielder coming from Buffalo? Pomales is rumoured to be moved back to mound in Brooklyn.

Brett can see the reasons for trading the two 32 year-olds to try to boost the system, allow youngsters a chance at the top level. The Wolves also shed almost $45K in salaries, which given the Wolves current financial outlook could not have been the driving factor in the trades. Hopefully fans are given reason to doubt the management by having either Pack or Pomales coming back to haunt them as members of the opposition, Fast or Frady proves they are ready for starting roles in the FABL.

Count John Brinker of the New York Daily Mirror as one who is not a big fan of the timing of the Walt Pack deal to the Chicago Cougars from Toronto. Brinker points out his belief that teams should never be a seller at the start of the season now that FABL has the draft lottery. "What's the point? Try to win at all times to get more balls in the lottery. If you're going for a rebuild, you need to be competitive and keep your best players, then deal in July when the contenders are hunting for help."
Overlooked in the focus on Pack, Brinker notes that Pat Todd is a solid young third baseman. Brinker feels he can be a .300 hitter, noting he won't have the power of Pack at his peak but is also more than a decade younger.
Long-time Brooklyn scouting director John Spears is happy his club finally landed Buddy Long, noting he has long -pardon the pun- been after the veteran lefthander. Brooklyn management felt that improving the staff was a huge key while the youngsters continue to develop.
Spears also weighed in with some thoughts on the Toronto-Chicago trade noting the two Canadian parks in Toronto and Montreal both are much more condusive for building a team around speed and defense. "The ballpark change will help Pack park some just as Barnett might struggle more in Kings County Park which is not a homer haven either."
A big factor in Toronto's decision to distance itself from Pack is the fact he was hitting just .179 in spring at the time of the deal, further adding to the Wolves belief he is on the downswing. It was also about opening a spot at second base for either John Fast or Frank Frady and that could only be done by shifting Hal Wood from second to the hot corner, leaving Pack with no place in the Toronto infield.
Red Johnson (.367,6,11) and Mahlon Strong (.362,8,17) are enjoying strong springs but is there any tinges of worry out of Gothams camp with New York's 11-22 record being the worst spring mark in either FABL or the GWL?
Speaking of the GWL. There appears to be no slowing Bob Land down as the San Francisco Treat is leading all spring hitters in the coast loop with a .453 average, after hitting .401 a year ago.

BEES, PACKERS SPLIT FIRST TWO GAMES OF CUP FINALS

The Chicago Packers accomplished exactly what they needed to in Boston, securing a split of the opening two games of the best-of-seven Challenge Cup Finals. Despite playing with a patchwork first line due to injuries that sidelined Marty Mahoney and greatly reduced the effectiveness of Wes Burns, the Packers now return to Lakeside Arena for their first home Cup final game in 15 years, buoyed by resolute spirits.

The opening game witnessed the Boston Bees seize the early advantage, triumphing with a narrow 2-1 victory, courtesy of the scorching stick of Wilbur Chandler. The seasoned forward, who had already netted an astounding 5 goals, including 4 in one game, in the swift 3-game annihilation of the New York Shamrocks during the semi-finals, continued his torrid scoring streak by single-handedly spearheading the Bees' offensive charge. Midway through the second period, the 28-year-old Chandler, leading the league in playoff scoring, initiated the goal parade by slamming home a rebound from a Tommy Hart shot. Determined to leave no room for doubt, he solidified his team's position by notching another marker in the third period. Although the Packers managed to solve the vigilant netminder Pierre Melancon in the dying minutes, courtesy of Ed Delarue's late strike, it proved insufficient to bridge the gap as the Bees' relentless forecheck stymied their valiant attempts to pull goaltender Norm Hanson for an additional attacker.

Nevertheless, the second encounter showcased a remarkable resurgence from Hanson, the 26-year-old guardian of the Packers' net. Demonstrating immense resilience, Hanson orchestrated an awe-inspiring shutout, blunting the Bees' offensive thrust and leading his team to a convincing 2-0 triumph. Hanson's heroics were not unduly tested, as the Packers once again outshot their adversaries. However, his timely saves proved instrumental in preserving the shutout, denying the Bees' onslaught with 20 impressive stops, including 10 in the final period. The Packers, undeterred by adversity, unleashed a barrage of 31 shots on Melancon, falling just two short of their earlier attempt in the series opener.

Surprisingly it was Chicago defenseman Rocky Messer, who has just 14 career goals in 296 regular season games, who opened the scoring just over 7 minutes into the game when his seeing-eye wrist shot from the point found the back of the net behind a screened Melancon. David Rankin, inserted on the top line due to Wes Burns' broken jaw, completed the scoring with his third of the playoffs midway through the second period.

With the series now shifting to the Windy City, the third and fourth encounters promise to be electrifying showdowns. The Bees, yearning for their second consecutive Cup and fifth within the last seven years, find themselves in the enviable position of experience and dominance. Conversely, the Packers, seeking their inaugural franchise championship, stand resolute, determined to etch their names in hockey lore.

LIBERTY COLLEGE TO FACE WHITNEY COLLEGE IN CAGE TITLE MATCH

Messer Outduels Werth In Semi Clash

It will be the Liberty College Bells against the Whitney College Engineers in the AIAA cage championship game at Bigsby Garden this evening. The Bells will be looking to join last year's champs, CC Los Angeles, as the only four-time winners of the collegiate basketball national championship while the Engineers will be hoping to win the tournament for the second time in school history. The championship game will see Liberty College and Whitney College square off for first t time since 1919.

Liberty College - an independent since the demise of the Northeast Conference in 1944- finished the regular season ranked number one in the nation but was only given a #4 seed in the tournament and forced to travel out west to play their opening round games. The Bells advanced to the title game with a convincing 41-30 victory over Miami State in a game in which junior star Ward Messer went toe to toe with the reigning national player of the year, Long Werth, and keyed the win for the Philadelphia school. Messer, younger brother of New York Gothams baseball star Walt Messer, led all players with 13 points while matching Werth's game high 7 boards. Mort Knighten added 12 for the Bells, who built a 10 point lead at the half and never allowed the Gulls to get back in the game.

Whitney College, which finished second in the Great Lakes Alliance this season, knocked off GLA champion Central Ohio 50-47 in the other semi-final, getting revenge for a pair of regular season losses to the Aviators. Central Ohio, despite missing two starters due to injury, stayed close all game and was within a point in the final minute but Ziggy Rickard missed a jumper from the top of the key and freshman Paul Sapp, one of the two replacement starters, was called for travelling with 17 seconds left. Rickard topped the scoring pared with 14 points while Ruben Gilbert led the Engineers with 12.

QUARTERLY FIGMENT BOXING RANKINGS

HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION : CHAMP - Hector 'The Cajun Crusher' Sawyer (54-3-1)

The Cajun Crusher remains at the top of a division he has dominated since first gaining the title in 1940 with a win over German strongman Jochen Schrotter. In recent years there has been plenty of talk that Sawyer's career is on the downswing but the 32-year-old continues to win and after his impressive TKO of Mark Fountain in January there really is no top level challenger around anymore. Roy Crawford might have assumed the role of top contender had the Boston Bomber not crashed and burned on his home turf with a split decision loss to Lewis Jones a couple of weeks ago.

The lack of a top flight threat to Sawyer is reflected in the fact that a pair of 37 year old's in Chris May and Pete Sanderson now appear in the latest rankings as fighters like Scott Baker, who once held so much promise but has fallen out of contention with back to back losses. There is hope for the future of the marquee weight class with a powerfully built 22 year old by the name of Tommy Cline destroying all opponents with a 10-0 record but he is likely still a couple of years away from a title shot.

Until Cline is deemed ready for a title shot, Sawyer might well have very little trouble disposing of the likes of May, Sanderson or Dan Miller, a 30 year old making noise on the coast.

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION : CHAMP - Frank 'The Tank' Melanson (32-0-2)

Melanson made his 4th title defense just two weeks ago and scored a unanimous decision over Nick Harris at Bigbsy Garden, knocking the 33-year-old Rhode Island native down a spot on the contender list. European champion Edouard Desmarais -who has not fought since losing to Melanson last October- slides due to the rise in stock of John Edmonds, who counts recent wins over Jack Rainey and Brooks O'Connor among his triumphs, and a shining star from the south in the form of Tommy Campbell. A protégée of Hector Sawyer while the two were in the Army, Campbell has yet to lose and with 16 professional bouts under his belt, the 23-year-old may be close to getting a title shot. The fact that Campbell is managed by Chester Conley -Sawyer's long-time handler- will certainly aide his cause in getting a title shot sooner rather than later.

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION: CHAMP - Harold Stephens (19-3-2)

The welterweight division has been wide open with no one being able to successfully defend the title. After it went without a champion for six years due to the war, it has had three in the past six months as Dennis O'Keefe lost his first title defense last October to Mark Westlake only to see Westlake be stopped by Harold Stephens in February. Stephens, a 28 year old Providence, RI, native is now the champ and it seems likely that his first defense should be against either O'Keefe or Baltimore battler Carl Taylor. However, it is likely just a matter of time before a trio of fighters who honed their craft in the military during the war in Ira Mitchell, Danny Rutledge and Mac Erickson establish themselves as the class of the welterweight division.

Mitchell, a 27 year old hardened by a tour of the Pacific as a Marine, has cracked the rankings while Rutledge, a 22 year old from Louisville with a 9-0 mark and Erickson, a 26 year old Navy veteran from Minnesota with a 12-0 record should arrive in the next year. Rutledge and Erickson are best known for staging a spirited 15-round Army vs Navy battle as amateurs on the undercard of a world title fight in England in June of 1945.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

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)

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 4/06/1947

US Secretary of State George Marshall and Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov engaged in the sharpest debate of the Moscow conference with Marshall accusing the Russians of wanting to starve Germany based upon their proposal.
Senator Arthur Vandenberg (R.,Mich) proposed that the program of American aid to Greece and Turkey be made subject to cancellation at the request of the United Nations. Vandeberg offered the proposal after Rep. Fred Crawford (R., Mich) urged before the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the United States use the atomic bomb to force Russia to disarm, saying it should be done even if it "means war."
King George II of Greece died unexpectedly of a heart ailment at a critical period in his nation's history. His brother will take the throne.
As coal workers returned to work following a period of mourning the 111 that died in the recent mine explosion, Secretary of Interior Krug has directed 518 Government-operated soft coal mines to remain closed indefinitely because they are believed dangerous. Labor leader John L. Lewis has called on Congress to "remove Krug from office for cause."
A bill designed to avert a national telephone strike scheduled to begin today was introduced by the Chairman of the House Labor Committee. Under its provisions the Attorney General could obtain an injunction to block any strike involving public health, safety or interest.

06-01-2023, 12:12 PM	#713
Jiggs McGee All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 677	April 7, 1947 APRIL 7, 1947 WOLVES 'PACK' IT IN ON '47 CAMPAIGN? Deal '45 Whitney Winner and Pomales for Prospects The tranquil winter slumber of the baseball off-season was abruptly shattered by the resounding echoes emanating from the northern border, as the Toronto Wolves boldly signaled the dawn of a new era with a pair of trades that hinted at a rebuilding phase. First, the Wolves relinquished the services of their 32-year-old third baseman, Walt Pack, a mere 18 months removed from capturing the illustrious Whitney Award. In exchange, the Chicago Cougars sent two mid-level prospects across the border. Shortly thereafter, Toronto bid farewell to the versatile pitcher/outfielder Juan Pomales, dispatching him to the Brooklyn Kings in return for two additional promising prospects. The Kings, brimming with ambition to fortify their pitching arsenal, were not content with just one acquisition. They further bolstered their ranks by procuring the services of Buddy Long, a 32-year-old southpaw, from the St. Louis Pioneers in exchange for two minor league talents. In the Toronto-Cougars trade that saw Pack don the Cougars' colors, the Wolves organization welcomed 20-year-old third baseman Pat Todd and 19-year-old pitcher Kid Moore into their fold. Todd, an impressive .318 hitter during the previous campaign, showcasing his prowess across Class B and C, was a third-round pick of the Cougars in 1945. The OSA, who regard Todd as possessing a ceiling of a bench role, placed him at the 80th spot on their esteemed prospect list. Moore, a right-handed hurler selected in the fourth round of the 1946 draft, displayed promise with a 7-4 record and a 3.75 ERA while plying his trade for Class C La Crosse in his maiden voyage in professional baseball. OSA, however, casts doubts on his long-term prospects, ranking him a modest 227th on their latest prospect list and expressing uncertainty about his ability to develop enough to secure a spot in a major league rotation. In exchange for Pomales, a seasoned player who once brimmed with potential as a pitching prodigy before transitioning primarily to the outfield, the Wolves acquired 18-year-old third baseman Roy Demonbreun and 24-year-old right-hander Harry Stewart. Demonbreun, a third-round pick in 1946, possesses a marginal prospect status according to OSA, who ranks him at the 126th position. Demonstrating his abilities with a respectable .273 batting average across 73 games in Class C, Demonbreun hails from Los Angeles, where he honed his skills in high school. Stewart, initially drafted in the fifth round by the Chicago Cougars, made his major league debut with the Kings last season, showcasing a record of 3-5 and a 4.78 ERA over nine starts. Although the majority of his time was spent in AAA, OSA believes that with further experience, Stewart may develop into a dependable option for the back end of a pitching rotation. The final transaction witnessed the Kings acquiring veteran southpaw Buddy Long from St Louis. Long, 32, is a 3-time all-star who won 21 games for the Pioneers two years ago and was 16-16 with a solid 2.89 era last season. He will likely challenge sophomore Leo Hayden for the top spot in the Kings rotation. In exchange the rebuilding Pioneers add 24 year old pitcher Charlie Leist and 19 year old second baseman Otis Ballard. Leist, a Chicago native who just sneaks inside the OSA top 100 prospect list, had a brief stint with the Kings in 1945 but spent all of last season at AAA Jersey City, going 4-9 with a 4.56 era primarily out of the pen. OSA feels he can slot in as a fifth starter in the big leagues. Ballard was the Kings second round choice in the 1946 draft and split last season between Class B and A. OSA feels his bat and hustle should eventually make him a frontrunner for a FABL audition as a second baseman. JIGGS McGEE's TAKE:This collection of moves have left many fans with raised eyebrows and minds buzzing with curiosity. Toronto and Brooklyn, in particular, have made moves that in many ways defy expectations. But before delving into those, let's focus on the Chicago Cougars, a team renowned for snatching players at their lowest value, often leaving observers in disbelief. This time is no exception. Yes, there is an element of risk in acquiring Walt Pack, who had a dismal season just a year ago. However, the Cougars' front office has a knack for striking when a player's stock is at its nadir. If Pack can return to his 1945 form, this move will be nothing short of monumental. With Hank Barnett deemed too old and shipped off to Brooklyn, Pack has the potential to fill that void and ignite the Cougars' pursuit of a pennant this season. A Pack reminiscent of his 1945 self undoubtedly bolsters Chicago's chances, transforming them into even more formidable contenders overnight. Even if Pack fails to deliver, the Cougars remain in the thick of the pennant race, no worse off than before. Brooklyn was a team many figured would continue to stockpile youth as it attempts to return to the glory days that have eluded the franchise for close to a decade. They gave up some of that youth to add two dependable veteran arms in Long and Pomales, but it would be hard to say they greatly overpaid for the pair. With the two newcomers Brooklyn is still no where near contention, but perhaps they may have leapfrogged Cleveland and now-rebuilding Toronto and could challenge for the top of the second division. The deals from the Wolves perspective worries me. Not so much Pomales although I do not feel the return for him overly generous. It is the decision to move Pack to a CA rival, while his stock is low and arguably at the worst possible time that concerns me. There just seems to be no upside to this move for the Wolves. Todd may eventually be a decent big league third baseman but the Wolves are substantially worse in the short-term with these two deals and I am not sure they are much better off in the long term either. As I mentioned, it is the timing that is especially confounding. Dealing Pack at some point may well have made sense if he does not bounce back but surely the market might be much stronger for Pack closer to the trade deadline. Had they waited a couple of months, Toronto could have potentially landed a bounty akin to what the Detroit Dynamos received last season for a very similar power-hitting third baseman to Pack in Mack Sutton. Detroit netted a pair of prospects in the top 50 -both recent first round picks- in Tommy Griffin and Roy Schaub- from the New York Stars. In contrast, Toronto settled for a former third-round and fourth-round pick, neither of whom rank among the top 75 prospects according to the OSA. The best-case scenario for the Wolves is that Pack's struggles last year were an indication of his decline, rather than a one-year anomaly. The worst-case is Pack puts up All-Star numbers again and the Cougars pull further away from the Wolves and the rest of the CA without surrendering anything of real value. Lastly, the Pioneers bid farewell to Long in exchange for two promising prospects. St Louis is not going anywhere in the near future and by the time they are likely ready to challenge Long will be approaching his expiration date. The addition of two young players with potential upside serves as a prudent investment for the Pioneers, who are in dire need of talent to fuel their future ambitions. TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN Wolves Make Two Trades, Shock Fans :In the space of less than twenty-four hours the Toronto Wolves dealt away two players that were cornerstones of the team that made three serious pennant runs during the dark days of WWII. First the Wolves traded 1945 Whitney Award winner Walt Pack to the Chicago Cougars for 3B Pat Todd, 20, along with a 19 year-old pitcher Kid Moore. Then, just hours later, it was announced that Juan Pomales had been traded to to Brooklyn for 3B Roy Demonbreun along with another pitcher Harry Stewart, 24. The first words out of most Wolves followers were "What! Who are these guys the Wolves acquired for two stars of the CA?" Followed by words that cannot be printed in the Mail & Empire about the abilities, acumen of the front office in Toronto. Many fans are voicing the opinion that the team has already conceded that they will not be a contender in '47 before Opening Day -a statement disputed by the front office. Brett had been sensing that there were moves coming from the club, but he was a little surprised that two starters were traded away especially to CA teams which is a step away from the usually ultra-conservative trading approach of the Wolves front office. It was commonly known that the team was trying to deal Pack over the winter but many will say the return for him was far too low. The acquisition of Todd is said to be key for the Wolves: he may be the 3B of the future but at the cost of a two-time All-Star? Brett does see one thing the deal does for Toronto, it allows the move of Hal Wood to 3B where his work in the field will be less critical in the grand scheme than at 2B. It also opens the door for Frank Frady, 26, and John Fast, 23, both switch hitters, to battle for the everyday starter position to form the second half of a keystone combination with Charlie Artuso. Both are natural SS, therefore blocked by Artuso by the foreseeable future, Frady is a little more polished fielder which may give him the inside track although both have shown good bat to ball skills. Brett's assessment is that the trade may work out overall in the long run if Todd lives up his promise, along with either or both of Fast, Frady living up to press billings. Brett was a little more surprised at the move of Pomales, a solid OF with an above league average bat, who could fill in on the mound. Again at first glance the return from this trade may seem to be too low. Brett's contacts in the scouting department told him that the wild card could be pitcher Harry Stewart if he can learn to control his big league fastball. Stewart was immediately assigned to Buffalo with instructions to the staff to work on his ability to find the strike zone. After missing four seasons in the service it is hoped this diamond in the rough will show enough to be a rotation member before too much time has elapsed possibly this season. Demonbreun is a bit more of a longer shot after being selected in the third round of last year's draft, he ranked as the #124 prospect by OSA. The emergence of Sam C Allen, .288/.368/.868 this spring, has possibly shown the Wolves that they depth in the OF. Brett sees a regular starting OF of Fredrick, Stickels, Giordano, now the question becomes is Allen better suited starting the season at AAA for regular at-bats with a fourth outfielder coming from Buffalo? Pomales is rumoured to be moved back to mound in Brooklyn. Brett can see the reasons for trading the two 32 year-olds to try to boost the system, allow youngsters a chance at the top level. The Wolves also shed almost $45K in salaries, which given the Wolves current financial outlook could not have been the driving factor in the trades. Hopefully fans are given reason to doubt the management by having either Pack or Pomales coming back to haunt them as members of the opposition, Fast or Frady proves they are ready for starting roles in the FABL. Count John Brinker of the New York Daily Mirror as one who is not a big fan of the timing of the Walt Pack deal to the Chicago Cougars from Toronto. Brinker points out his belief that teams should never be a seller at the start of the season now that FABL has the draft lottery. "What's the point? Try to win at all times to get more balls in the lottery. If you're going for a rebuild, you need to be competitive and keep your best players, then deal in July when the contenders are hunting for help." Overlooked in the focus on Pack, Brinker notes that Pat Todd is a solid young third baseman. Brinker feels he can be a .300 hitter, noting he won't have the power of Pack at his peak but is also more than a decade younger. Long-time Brooklyn scouting director John Spears is happy his club finally landed Buddy Long, noting he has long -pardon the pun- been after the veteran lefthander. Brooklyn management felt that improving the staff was a huge key while the youngsters continue to develop. Spears also weighed in with some thoughts on the Toronto-Chicago trade noting the two Canadian parks in Toronto and Montreal both are much more condusive for building a team around speed and defense. "The ballpark change will help Pack park some just as Barnett might struggle more in Kings County Park which is not a homer haven either." A big factor in Toronto's decision to distance itself from Pack is the fact he was hitting just .179 in spring at the time of the deal, further adding to the Wolves belief he is on the downswing. It was also about opening a spot at second base for either John Fast or Frank Frady and that could only be done by shifting Hal Wood from second to the hot corner, leaving Pack with no place in the Toronto infield. Red Johnson (.367,6,11) and Mahlon Strong (.362,8,17) are enjoying strong springs but is there any tinges of worry out of Gothams camp with New York's 11-22 record being the worst spring mark in either FABL or the GWL? Speaking of the GWL. There appears to be no slowing Bob Land down as the San Francisco Treat is leading all spring hitters in the coast loop with a .453 average, after hitting .401 a year ago. BEES, PACKERS SPLIT FIRST TWO GAMES OF CUP FINALS The Chicago Packers accomplished exactly what they needed to in Boston, securing a split of the opening two games of the best-of-seven Challenge Cup Finals. Despite playing with a patchwork first line due to injuries that sidelined Marty Mahoney and greatly reduced the effectiveness of Wes Burns, the Packers now return to Lakeside Arena for their first home Cup final game in 15 years, buoyed by resolute spirits. The opening game witnessed the Boston Bees seize the early advantage, triumphing with a narrow 2-1 victory, courtesy of the scorching stick of Wilbur Chandler. The seasoned forward, who had already netted an astounding 5 goals, including 4 in one game, in the swift 3-game annihilation of the New York Shamrocks during the semi-finals, continued his torrid scoring streak by single-handedly spearheading the Bees' offensive charge. Midway through the second period, the 28-year-old Chandler, leading the league in playoff scoring, initiated the goal parade by slamming home a rebound from a Tommy Hart shot. Determined to leave no room for doubt, he solidified his team's position by notching another marker in the third period. Although the Packers managed to solve the vigilant netminder Pierre Melancon in the dying minutes, courtesy of Ed Delarue's late strike, it proved insufficient to bridge the gap as the Bees' relentless forecheck stymied their valiant attempts to pull goaltender Norm Hanson for an additional attacker. Nevertheless, the second encounter showcased a remarkable resurgence from Hanson, the 26-year-old guardian of the Packers' net. Demonstrating immense resilience, Hanson orchestrated an awe-inspiring shutout, blunting the Bees' offensive thrust and leading his team to a convincing 2-0 triumph. Hanson's heroics were not unduly tested, as the Packers once again outshot their adversaries. However, his timely saves proved instrumental in preserving the shutout, denying the Bees' onslaught with 20 impressive stops, including 10 in the final period. The Packers, undeterred by adversity, unleashed a barrage of 31 shots on Melancon, falling just two short of their earlier attempt in the series opener. Surprisingly it was Chicago defenseman Rocky Messer, who has just 14 career goals in 296 regular season games, who opened the scoring just over 7 minutes into the game when his seeing-eye wrist shot from the point found the back of the net behind a screened Melancon. David Rankin, inserted on the top line due to Wes Burns' broken jaw, completed the scoring with his third of the playoffs midway through the second period. With the series now shifting to the Windy City, the third and fourth encounters promise to be electrifying showdowns. The Bees, yearning for their second consecutive Cup and fifth within the last seven years, find themselves in the enviable position of experience and dominance. Conversely, the Packers, seeking their inaugural franchise championship, stand resolute, determined to etch their names in hockey lore. LIBERTY COLLEGE TO FACE WHITNEY COLLEGE IN CAGE TITLE MATCH Messer Outduels Werth In Semi Clash It will be the Liberty College Bells against the Whitney College Engineers in the AIAA cage championship game at Bigsby Garden this evening. The Bells will be looking to join last year's champs, CC Los Angeles, as the only four-time winners of the collegiate basketball national championship while the Engineers will be hoping to win the tournament for the second time in school history. The championship game will see Liberty College and Whitney College square off for first t time since 1919. Liberty College - an independent since the demise of the Northeast Conference in 1944- finished the regular season ranked number one in the nation but was only given a #4 seed in the tournament and forced to travel out west to play their opening round games. The Bells advanced to the title game with a convincing 41-30 victory over Miami State in a game in which junior star Ward Messer went toe to toe with the reigning national player of the year, Long Werth, and keyed the win for the Philadelphia school. Messer, younger brother of New York Gothams baseball star Walt Messer, led all players with 13 points while matching Werth's game high 7 boards. Mort Knighten added 12 for the Bells, who built a 10 point lead at the half and never allowed the Gulls to get back in the game. Whitney College, which finished second in the Great Lakes Alliance this season, knocked off GLA champion Central Ohio 50-47 in the other semi-final, getting revenge for a pair of regular season losses to the Aviators. Central Ohio, despite missing two starters due to injury, stayed close all game and was within a point in the final minute but Ziggy Rickard missed a jumper from the top of the key and freshman Paul Sapp, one of the two replacement starters, was called for travelling with 17 seconds left. Rickard topped the scoring pared with 14 points while Ruben Gilbert led the Engineers with 12. QUARTERLY FIGMENT BOXING RANKINGS HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION : CHAMP - Hector 'The Cajun Crusher' Sawyer (54-3-1) The Cajun Crusher remains at the top of a division he has dominated since first gaining the title in 1940 with a win over German strongman Jochen Schrotter. In recent years there has been plenty of talk that Sawyer's career is on the downswing but the 32-year-old continues to win and after his impressive TKO of Mark Fountain in January there really is no top level challenger around anymore. Roy Crawford might have assumed the role of top contender had the Boston Bomber not crashed and burned on his home turf with a split decision loss to Lewis Jones a couple of weeks ago. The lack of a top flight threat to Sawyer is reflected in the fact that a pair of 37 year old's in Chris May and Pete Sanderson now appear in the latest rankings as fighters like Scott Baker, who once held so much promise but has fallen out of contention with back to back losses. There is hope for the future of the marquee weight class with a powerfully built 22 year old by the name of Tommy Cline destroying all opponents with a 10-0 record but he is likely still a couple of years away from a title shot. Until Cline is deemed ready for a title shot, Sawyer might well have very little trouble disposing of the likes of May, Sanderson or Dan Miller, a 30 year old making noise on the coast. MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION : CHAMP - Frank 'The Tank' Melanson (32-0-2) Melanson made his 4th title defense just two weeks ago and scored a unanimous decision over Nick Harris at Bigbsy Garden, knocking the 33-year-old Rhode Island native down a spot on the contender list. European champion Edouard Desmarais -who has not fought since losing to Melanson last October- slides due to the rise in stock of John Edmonds, who counts recent wins over Jack Rainey and Brooks O'Connor among his triumphs, and a shining star from the south in the form of Tommy Campbell. A protégée of Hector Sawyer while the two were in the Army, Campbell has yet to lose and with 16 professional bouts under his belt, the 23-year-old may be close to getting a title shot. The fact that Campbell is managed by Chester Conley -Sawyer's long-time handler- will certainly aide his cause in getting a title shot sooner rather than later. WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION: CHAMP - Harold Stephens (19-3-2) The welterweight division has been wide open with no one being able to successfully defend the title. After it went without a champion for six years due to the war, it has had three in the past six months as Dennis O'Keefe lost his first title defense last October to Mark Westlake only to see Westlake be stopped by Harold Stephens in February. Stephens, a 28 year old Providence, RI, native is now the champ and it seems likely that his first defense should be against either O'Keefe or Baltimore battler Carl Taylor. However, it is likely just a matter of time before a trio of fighters who honed their craft in the military during the war in Ira Mitchell, Danny Rutledge and Mac Erickson establish themselves as the class of the welterweight division. Mitchell, a 27 year old hardened by a tour of the Pacific as a Marine, has cracked the rankings while Rutledge, a 22 year old from Louisville with a 9-0 mark and Erickson, a 26 year old Navy veteran from Minnesota with a 12-0 record should arrive in the next year. Rutledge and Erickson are best known for staging a spirited 15-round Army vs Navy battle as amateurs on the undercard of a world title fight in England in June of 1945. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS 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) The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 4/06/1947 US Secretary of State George Marshall and Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov engaged in the sharpest debate of the Moscow conference with Marshall accusing the Russians of wanting to starve Germany based upon their proposal. Senator Arthur Vandenberg (R.,Mich) proposed that the program of American aid to Greece and Turkey be made subject to cancellation at the request of the United Nations. Vandeberg offered the proposal after Rep. Fred Crawford (R., Mich) urged before the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the United States use the atomic bomb to force Russia to disarm, saying it should be done even if it "means war." King George II of Greece died unexpectedly of a heart ailment at a critical period in his nation's history. His brother will take the throne. As coal workers returned to work following a period of mourning the 111 that died in the recent mine explosion, Secretary of Interior Krug has directed 518 Government-operated soft coal mines to remain closed indefinitely because they are believed dangerous. Labor leader John L. Lewis has called on Congress to "remove Krug from office for cause." A bill designed to avert a national telephone strike scheduled to begin today was introduced by the Chairman of the House Labor Committee. Under its provisions the Attorney General could obtain an injunction to block any strike involving public health, safety or interest. __________________ Lead Columnist of The Figment Sporting Journal The Scripture of Sports