[Tiger Fan]

AUGUST 18, 1947

DYNAMOS FAINT FLAG HOPES REMAIN ALIVE

Take Two of Three in St Louis but Trail by 9.5

The Detroit Dynamos are clinging to life thanks to winning a pair of games in St Louis over the weekend, but even with 4 victories in six games over the Pioneers in the last 10 days, the Dynamos gained no ground and still trail the Federal Association front-runners by 9.5 games with just 6 weeks remaining in the season. Detroit started the week with 4 losses in 5 games, including being swept in a pair against the third place Chicago Chiefs but recovered with the weekend wins in Missouri.

St Louis took the opener of the Detroit series as a half-filled Pioneer Park made plenty of noise in a 5-4 victory that saw Danny Hern run his record to an amazing 19-4 on the season. Everything about this campaign has been amazing for the Pioneers, who increased their lead on Detroit -at least momentarily- to 11.5 games as the club attempts to end the longest pennant less drought in the Federal Association. Detroit did chip into that lead, easing it back to a single digit with a 7-6 victory on Edwin Hackberry's 11th inning rbi single Saturday and rode Dick Estes' 18th homer of the campaign to a 7-3 victory yesterday but it is clear that, at 9.5 games back, time is running out on the Dynamos.

It looks like time has ran out on the Chiefs and Eagles as Chicago, despite dealing Detroit's dreams a major blow with a sweep of their brief two game set at Whitney Park, is 13 games back and still trying to figure out what happened when a 13-game losing skid destroyed what Chiefs fans felt was the makings of a great pennant push. The Eagles are 13.5 off the pace and appear resigned to the fact that they will not repeat as Fed flag waivers and will have to be content with a one-year reign that ended a 21-year stretch without a title.

*** Barrell Adds Excitement to Fed Finish ***

While the Federal Association pennant may be all but decided before the season enters its final month, there is still one big race drawing plenty of attention in the loop. That would be Bobby Barrell's pursuit of Hall of Famer Max Morris and Mighty Mo's record 60 homeruns. Morris swatted his milestone total in 1923 -while a member of the St Louis Pioneers- after hitting 59 the previous season. Morris would hit at least 50 on three other occasions with only Joe Masters -who hit 56 in 1928 for the Chiefs- and Bobby Barrell -with 53 for the Keystones in 1936- ever coming within ten of Morris's magic 60. This season Barrell is threatening to break the long-standing mark. He hit 4 last week to make the Keystones star the only player besides Morris to hit at least fifty longballs in a season more than once. Barrell, having surpassed the 500 homer mark and, at 509, just 4 behind Cincinnati's fading star Al Wheeler for second most all-time, now has his sights set firmly on the single season gold standard. Barrell is presently 9 shy of the 60 mark, and with 36 games remaining is on a pace that would see him finish with an almost unbelievable total of 67 homeruns. So while there may not be a pennant race to follow in the Fed, there is a history-making homerun chase to capture the attention of fans in Philadelphia and around FABL.

*** Continental Picture Still Cloudy ***

Unlike the Fed, the Continental Association pennant race is still very much undecided with 5 clubs jammed into the same 9.5 game spread that separates first from second in the Federal Association. The Philadelphia Sailors continue to set the pace, with a 3.5 game bulge on the New York Stars followed very closely by the Cincinnati Cannons at 4 back of the Sailors. The fourth place Brooklyn Kings are 8 games back and not really in the race but still thrilled to be over .500 and fighting for the first division in a season in which few expected much from sophomore manager Tom Barrell's boys. The Cougars are now 9.5 games off the pace and slowly resigning themselves to the fact that it very much looks like another lost season for the Chicago crew -and yet another year when the preseason favourites failed to live up to lofty expectations.

The New York Stars suffered a bit of a blow last week when three-time Whitney Award winning outfielder Bill Barrett suffered a sprained knee. Barrett took a few days off but is insistent he can play, and the Stars are now faced with the very difficult decision of weighing just how much they should risk their star outfielder's health vs the need of having him in the lineup in their pursuit of the Sailors.

TOP FABL PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

courtesy of Philadelphia Inquisitor Keystones beat writer Joey Mahoney here is your daily Barrell note: Bobby was 13-for-19 for the week for an unbelievable .684 average with four homers to post an OPS of 2.181 for the week. He is creeping up in the batting race, sitting in third place, six points behind Washington's Mel Carrol. Barrell leads the world in homers and he is now 4 RBI ahead of Chicago's Tiny Hopkins with 110.

1948 DRAFT PREVIEW - PART THREE : HIGH SCHOOL POSITION PLAYERS

Each of the top five high school position players from last year's list - Joe Klemen, Al Bennett, Buck Burdell, Curt Brooks and Charlie Barrell remain in our new list of the top ten position players. Bennett seems to have pulled ahead as the corner outfielder from Cleveland has a very high ceiling according to OSA. Here is a look at the top ten high school position players based on OSA's latest scouting assessments:

#1: AL BENNETT RF - Oak Hill (OH) High School : OSA feels the 17-year-old Clevelander possesses immense talent, enough that "someday he may be considered in conversations about the best players in the game."

#2: CURT BROOKS 2B - Princeton (IL) High School: What an amazing infield at Princeton High as Brooks and fellow top ten OSA prospect Joe Kleman handle the keystone duties. OSA feels he will "make multiple trips to the All-Star Game" if he fulfills his potential. Has elite speed and hit well enough to bat .532 last season. His defense is considered adequate to play second base in FABL.

#3: PETE IRETON 2B - Munhall (PA) High School: Another infielder with the potential to make multiple all-star game appearances over his career. Ireton seems to have all the tools as OSA projects him to hit for high average with above average power potential and impressive speed. Only played one year of high school ball so far but was very impressive with a .552/.582/.812 slash line.

#4: PHIL LEE CF - Natick (MA) High School: Looks like a prototypical lead-off hitter with his fluid swing and excellent instincts with the glove as a centerfielder. Lee also made an element of power to his game and OSA feels he could one day "be on the shortlist for best center fielder in the league."

#5: STEVE WHEELER CF - Hillcrest High School, Cincinnati: The son of legendary FABL slugger Al Wheeler is a much different player from his father and what he lacks in power, he makes up in speed and contact ability. Described as an above-average defender, the Detroit native looks like a future lead-off candidate and should be an impact big leaguer according to OSA.

#6: JOE KLEMAN SS - Princeton (IL) High School: The other half of the greatest high school middle infielder duo around and a teammate of Curt Brooks. After an All-American season as a high school sophomore, Kleman was ranked #1 overall on our mock draft for this class last August. OSA has softened its stance on Kleman, downgrading him from a multiple all-star game participant a year ago to merely "an elite starting shortstop" this time around. His numbers were down slightly this past season, but Kleman has still hit over .500 each of his three high school seasons and has some power as well. Described as very athletic so he should have no problem sticking at shortstop as a pro.

#7: ROY SNEDDON 3B - Rowlesburg (WV) High School: The 17-year-old was a high school All-American in both his freshman and sophomore seasons but had to settle for honourable mention status as a junior. OSA calls his swing "a thing of beauty" and notes he is very patient at the plate and has some power potential. In short, the scouting service feels Snedden "has all the tools to develop into an elite third baseman."

#8: DON GOLDMAN CF - Malden (MA) High School: There has been a fair amount of debate between Goldman and Phil Lee over who is the best center fielder in New England. Goldman has a chance to hit for average but his power, unlike Lee's, is a bit more of a projection at this point. A sure-handed defender, Goldman "is projected to be an elite starting center fielder."

#9: CHARLIE BARRELL 2B -Capital Academy, Washington DC: The name alone screams first round pick as the Barrell's are certainly the first family of baseball, if not all of the sporting world. He is the brother of the Cincinnati Cannons Deuce Barrell and breakout rookie catcher Roger Cleaves. Born in Los Angeles, Charlie came east to play his high school ball right under the nose of OSA boss, and his uncle Dan Barrell, so perhaps the scouting service is grading him harder than most to avoid any claims of favourtism. "A second division starter at second base," who can hit .310 in the big leagues with average power is how the scouting service currently assess 'The Heartbreak Kid" who missed All-American status this year but made it as both a freshman and a sophomore. His batting average after 3 years of high school ball is a very impressive .536.

#10: BUCK BURDELL CF - Gillette (WY) High School: Not a lot of baseball players come out of Wyoming and it is no surprise that the state has never produced a big league player. OSA expects Burdell to change that as he is another member of a very deep class of elite center fielders. The scouting service praises his ability to "work the count and draw walks."

Next week our draft preview continues with TWIFB's mock first round for the 1948 draft class.

• I am not sure I would have believed the Cincinnati Cannons would be in a pennant race with star hurler Deuce Barrell sporting a losing record. But despite Deuce being just 8-11 on the year the Cannons are only 4 games back. A big reason is the pitching of war returnees Bob Arman (13-8) and Charlie Griffith (15-6), both of whom are finally getting a chance to shine in the big leagues.
• The Cleveland Foresters are just 4 games out of the first division. That is something that has not been said this late in the season since they finished second in 1939. How crazy a season would this end up being if both Cleveland and Brooklyn finished ahead of the Chicago Cougars in the Continental Association.
• Meanwhile, ex-Foresters are making their mark elsewhere: Richie Hughes pitched a pair of terrific games for the Stars against Chicago last week while Steinberg is now 7-1, 1.98 for St Louis.
• Tim Hopkins now has 30 home runs, which is a career high for him. He is also the first Chief to hit 30 home runs since Hank Barnett hit 36 in 1940. Barnett's 36 home runs also represents the 2nd most for the Chiefs in a season (after Joe Masters's 56 in 1928). No Chicago batter has hit 40 home runs.
• Take July 25-thru Aug 8 out of the schedule -when the Chiefs lost 13 in a row and the Chiefs are 64-44 while the Pioneers are 65-37. Would make for a pretty interesting final month of the season in the midwest with these standings:
  

  St Louis 65-37 .637   -
  Chicago  64-44 .593  4.0

• Percy Sutherland was thinking more about the Chiefs losing streak, and it gets more unusual. They had a few off days in that stretch, so we had a 4 man rotation for a while. Which means that we had 3 complete turns through the rotation--and that Miller, Goulding, and Stallings each had multiple chances to the stop the streak.
• The Dynamos only have losing records against two Fed teams and that is a big reason they trail St Louis by 9.5 games despite being 9-7 head to head against the Pioneers. Those 2 are Philadelphia (Dynamos are 7-11 vs the Keystones) and Chicago (Detroit is 7-9). The Pioneers, in contrast, are a combined 25-9 against the Keystones and Chiefs.
• Just thinking out loud here on the Gothams. They historically do not like to draft, yet they own three first round picks for January. The Gothams want a young arm. Brooklyn loves to hoard draft picks and the two GM's have made a number of big deals with each other when the current Kings boss was in Detroit and even before that while with the Foresters. Think Max Morris, Red Johnson, Sal Pestilli big. What are the chances the Kings move Leo Hayden and maybe one of their plentiful collection of good young outfielders (Ralph Johnson, John Moss, Joe Rutherford) to the Gothams for 2 or 3 of those first rounders?
• There are limited options for a trade partner with the Gothams. Perhaps Toronto tires of George Garrison but Garrison will be 30 next season which likely precludes the Gothams from showing any interest. That leaves the Cougars with a love of drafting and more quality pitchers than you can shake a stick at.
• The Cougars keep struggling, but Sal Pestilli is starting to look like a Whitney Winner again! He's recorded multi-hit games in five of his last six, including three consecutive three-hit games. After a dreadful start to his Cougar career, the 31-year-old veteran is hitting .338/.380/.538 (150 OPS+) in 16 August contests.
• The Miners can’t ignore Ernie Rockey any longer. The 22 year old CF is in his first full pro season and after performing adequately at A ball Gary (105 OPS+), he’s been white hot for AA Birmingham. In 49 starts he’s slashing .423/.482./.587. The former 5th round pick is going to skip AAA St. Paul for now and will be in Pittsburgh’s OF this week.

STEPHENS FIRST SUCCESSFUL WELTER DEFENSE SINCE ’40 IN CONTROVERSIAL WIN OVER TAYLOR

Everyone knows the welterweight division has not had a repeat champion since 1940. It has been a transient weight class, so much so that the loser of the “play-off” for the first title fight since the War has been recycled and bubbled to the top of the division for a second chance.

Carl Taylor worked hard to get himself back in position for a title shot and some corners had him favored to win, as the challengers have won both title bouts since Taylor lost to Jackhammer O’Keefe. Taylor worked his way back with a win against Mark Westlake, whom Welterweight Champion Harold Stephens defeated in his last fight to raise the belt.
Denny Arena was the scene for this tussle, a cathedral which has hosted many championship matches as the home of the North American Hockey Confederation’s Boston Bees, which has won the Challenge Cup five times this decade. Denny Arena was thick with cigar smoke as the fighters entered the ring.

Stephens, who hails from nearby Providence, R.I., had a large following in the stands and the Baltimore-born Taylor could call it a hostile environment. The crowd was clearly there to see a fight between two combatants without a clear betting favorite either way. It was as much of a toss-up of any title bout since the O’Keefe-Taylor fight.

Jerry Rowe was the referee in the fight on Saturday and he also arbited the O’Keefe-Taylor fight last year. Rowe did not make any discernable calls against Taylor in the first fight, so Taylor’s camp had no issue with the assignment.

It was a very even start to the fight with their attempts to connect on punches leaving them open to counterattacks. Neither fighter could take advantage of any weaknesses by his opponent, nor did any strikes make much of a mark. But it was clear both men were sizing each other up for the long night ahead.

Taylor’s best punch was his hook, and he was executing early in the bout with a crushing hook to Stephens’s side in the second round and a hook up top that connected with Stephens’s jaw. Meanwhile, Stephens was at home firing his right jab early and often, scoring points along the way. Stephens nearly averaged an estimated seven jabs per round during the fight.

But it was that third round that was the turning point in the bout. Both combatants were in tight, and Stephens pushed Taylor to get some room to throw a jab. The jab hit Taylor in just the right spot and opened a cut on the bridge of Taylor’s nose. The punched surprised Taylor more than anything else and the punch did not seem to have a lot of power behind it. The bleeding made the cut worse than it was, since Taylor rebounded with an excellent hook that stunned the champion, and arguably took the next round as well.

Stephens was going to school on Taylor in the early rounds to notice how he left himself open after some of his punches, especially Taylor’s uppercuts. Taylor seemingly abandoned his winning hook and fell in love with his cross. In the fifth, It was a right cross that Taylor tried – and missed – that opened him up for Stephens to take full advantage with a cross of his own. Taylor leaned forward on the miss, leaving his face fully exposed and Stephens did not miss. This re-opened Taylor’s cut and caused a stoppage to let the ringside physician take a close look.

Although the fight continued, no one was able to tell from the cavalier attitude displayed by the physicial, but Taylor was on borrowed time. Taylor’s cut man did as good a job as he could, but his nose was stubborn. Like red meat to a hungry wolf, Stephens literally saw blood. Stephens went for the nose on a succession of jabs and made direct contact again, causing Taylor’s nose to spring a leak once again.

The cut was not a serious injury, but the bleeding was profuse and unseemly. This time, the doctor feared it could develop into a breathing issue or a caving in of the nasal cavity, so at the direction of the doctor, referee Rowe stopped the fight.
Did Taylor feel there was controversy in drawing the same referee for his second title shot and losing both times, this time on a judgment call on an injury? “I felt like I could have fought all night and I was fighting toe-to-toe with Stephens. But that’s the referee’s job. I may not be happy with the decision, but I respect it.”

Stephens was precise, landing a little more than half (50.2%) of his punches, while Taylor hit on a third (33.2%) of the blows he produced. But Taylor was basically even in the fight if it was not for the cut on his nose stopping the bout short.

Two title shots and two losses for Taylor, now 22-4-2, while Stephens earned his 20th win against three losses and two draws, and one very important title defense, something that has eluded the welterweight class for so long. Some may say Stephens did not truly earn the victory to keep his belt because the fight was called on an injury not deemed serious, but that is nonsense. The naysayers will have to back up those claims when Stephens takes on his next challenger to see if he truly deserves the mantle of champion.

BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS
Round 1: None
Round 2: Taylor 1-0 (0:36 hook/side)
Round 3: Tied 1-1 (S: 0:14 combo; T: 2:53 hook/jaw)
Round 4: None
Round 5: None
Round 6: None
TOTAL - Taylor 2, Stephens 1

STEPHENS RETAINS WELTERWEIGHT CROWN WITH FIERCE TKO

In a thrilling display of boxing prowess at Boston's revered Denny Arena, Harold Stephens etched his name into the annals of pugilism history as the first welterweight champion in seven years to successfully defend his title. The Providence native, backed by a boisterous New England crowd, unleashed a fifth-round technical knockout upon the valiant Carl Taylor of Baltimore, Maryland. The outcome reverberated throughout the arena, shattering the pattern of previous welterweight title bouts that ended in relinquishment with the first defense.

The anticipation crackled in the air as Stephens, a 29-year-old maestro from the fighting city of Providence, stepped into the ring for his first local fight as the ABF champion. His previous conquest, a resolute triumph over Mark Westlake in St. Louis, had elevated his standing in the division, warranting this celebrated bout in the hallowed halls of Boston. The seasoned battler faced a formidable challenge in Taylor, a Baltimore warrior whose previous tilt at the title had concluded in disappointment against Dennis O'Keefe. As both fighters expressed their confidence in victory, an air of unpredictability enveloped the contest, heightening the suspense for the crowd.

The opening round set a cautious tone, with both pugilists carefully sizing each other up, probing for weaknesses yet reluctant to expose their own. Taylor, exhibiting a surge of vigor, seized the initiative in the second round, consistently pinning Stephens against the ropes and unleashing a series of potent blows. It was undoubtedly the challenger's finest three minutes of the fight. Undeterred, Stephens masterfully adjusted his strategy in the third round, eluding Taylor's encroachments and launching a sneaky blow that found its mark on the challenger's nose, resulting in a crimson flow. Though slightly impeded, Taylor valiantly pressed on, rendering the third round an affair that could have swung either way.

Before the fourth round commenced, Taylor's cut man effectively stemmed the bleeding, but caution permeated the ring, surpassing even the tentative nature of the opening round. Stephens, employing a calculated approach, unleashed a flurry of punches, yet often found himself ensnared in the corner, providing an opening for Taylor to counter with precision. The fifth round unfolded similarly until the dying seconds, when Stephens, with a well-placed cross to Taylor's already damaged nose, reopened the wound, unleashing a torrent of blood akin to the aftermath of a razor's unrelenting edge. The fight briefly paused, with the ring doctor displaying a shaken demeanor, yet ultimately allowing the battle to continue.

Taylor's corner toiled fervently between rounds, staunching the flow of blood and managing the precarious situation. Alas, their efforts were in vain, as Stephens, displaying his lightning-fast dexterity, capitalized within the opening 30 seconds of the sixth round. With three rapid jabs, Stephens penetrated Taylor's defenses, connecting with at least one devastating blow that landed squarely on the challenger's beak. The once-contained wound unleashed a renewed cascade of blood, transforming Taylor's visage into a crimson mask. Frustration etched across his face, Taylor could only witness in despair as referee Jerry Rowe, with no alternative at his disposal, intervened and terminated the contest. The official stoppage occurred a mere 37 seconds into the sixth round, sparking a jubilant eruption within the ring as Stephens and his entourage celebrated their hard-earned triumph.

With the victory Stephens becomes the first welterweight fighter in seven years to successfully defend his world title, etching his name as the first welterweight since Jimmy 'Kid' Simpson to enter and leave the ring as champion. That was back in 1940, before the title lay vacant for six years due to the ravages of war. Dennis O'Keefe and Mark Westlake briefly held the belt but faltered in their inaugural defenses. With a record of 20-3-2 and his fifth knockout triumph, Stephens reigns supreme, while Taylor, after seeing his second opportunity at the world title slip away, falls to 22-4-2.

ERICKSON HAS EASY TIME IN COLUMBUS

Mac Erickson, who along with Danny Rutledge, are considered the rising stars of the welterweight division was back in action last week and barely broke a sweat while running his perfect record as a professional to 14-0. The 26-year-old had an easy time scoring a unanimous decision over Ohio native Jimmy O'Day. The win, Erickson's third since jumping from 6-round introductory fights to the standard 10 round affairs, appears to set the stage for the sailor from St. Paul to start looking at opportunities to fight some of the giants in the welterweight division. Meanwhile, Danny Rutledge -the ex-Army private who waged a now famous battle with Erickson in England while both were considered amateurs- will be back in the ring this week when he meets Glen Peterson in a bout in Buffalo, New York. Rutledge, a 23-year-old native of Louisville, Kentucky, will be looking to improve his perfect record to 11-0.

SEARCH FOR OPPONENT FOR SAWYER RESEMBLES FLYING SAUCER HUNT

The search for an adversary to face the indomitable heavyweight king, Hector Sawyer, resembles the bewildering pursuit of flying saucers. Names of prospective contenders for a shot at Sawyer's coveted crown were darting across the sky, eliciting equal measures of speculation and head-scratching commentary, much like the enigmatic discs that have captivated our imaginations. Amidst the swirling rumors, one thing remains clear: the gatekeepers led by the stalwart Chester Conley will not unveil their decision until Sawyer himself graces us with his presence to discuss his future.

After comfortably dispatching the touted Irishman Pat Harber two weeks ago in Chicago, Sawyer hinted once more at the prospect of retirement, a notion swiftly dismissed by Conley as mere boredom on the champ's part—a reflection of the lack of worthy adversaries. Conley waves away suggestions that Sawyer has lost a step or his desire to continue fighting.

"That's absolute nonsense!" roared the pugnacious boxing promoter. "Hector is at the pinnacle of his form, or as close as any 33-year-old boxer can be, and yearns for a true challenger to test his mettle."

However, such contenders have been scarce since the end of the war. Many believed that Mark Fountain would be the man to end Sawyer's reign, but Fountain failed to survive even to the scorecards against the Cajun Crusher in Detroit last January. Scott Baker, hailed by all of Philadelphia as a worthy adversary, proved to be a mirage, suffering three consecutive defeats and thus falling out of consideration. The emergence of the promising young star Tommy Cline may hold promise, but his handlers are opting for a cautious approach, deeming the 22-year-old Tennessean at least a year away from stepping into the ring with a fighter of Sawyer's caliber.

Perhaps the Boston Bomber, Roy Crawford, will be granted an opportunity, although there are whispers that Conley has set his sights on a western expedition, eyeing the grand football stadium in Santa Ana as the stage for a record-breaking gate. If this is the case, a western fighter seems the likely choice—a prospect that bodes well for Dan Miller. The 30-year-old pugilist hailing from Oakland may be precisely the opponent Conley desires, although Sawyer may have different sentiments. Admittedly, it is difficult to envision Miller, with seven losses already on his ledger, posing a significant threat to Sawyer. Nevertheless, such a bout would surely garner attention on the coast, and for Conley, maximizing the remaining paydays of his prized asset, Sawyer, stands as an utmost priority.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

• Aug 19- New Haven, Ct: Middleweight Todd Gill (22-3-6) vs Adrian Frank (5-7)
• Aug 19 -New Haven, Ct: Middlweight contender Brooks O'Connor (24-4-2) vs P.J. Whitaker (17-14-1)
• Aug 21 -Buffalo, NY: rising welterweight Danny Rutledge (10-0) vs Glen Peterson (9-3-1)
• Aug 26- Camden, NJ: Heavyweight contender Roy Crawford (24-3) vs Don Alston (18-9-4)
• Aug 28- Miami, Fl: Heavyweight contender Cannon Cooper (22-2-1) vs Mac Johnson (15-17-5)
• Aug 28- Miami, Fl: Middleweight contender Tommy Campbell (17-0-1) vs Matt Austin (7-6)
• Aug 31- Lewiston, Me: Middleweight contender Nick Harris (21-3-1) vs Will Bowen (4-9)

DRAFT GRADES HANDED OUT BY OSA

The Chicago Packers led the way when it comes to the quality of their draft selections last month. That is the verdict of the OSA's hockey division, which praised the Packers, Detroit and Boston for having the best draft classes. The Packers, who selected 5th in the 6-team loop, had Mike Van Tol as their top selection. The 19-year-old defenseman from Windsor, Ont., was number two on the mock draft after spending last season with the Springfield Hornets of the HAA. Van Tol, described as an "old-school" rearguard, quickly agreed to a contract with the Packers and is expected to challenge for a spot on their blueline this season. He was the only one of Chicago's seven selections to sign with the club as the others will be left to develop in various minor leagues until they are deemed ready to complete for a spot with the Packers.

The Detroit Motors had the second best class, if OSA is to be believed. Center Ben Witt, selected 4th overall, and second round choice Herm Kruse were both signed by the Motors. Witt, is a high ceiling pivot who was a teammate of Van Tol's at Springfield last season. The British Columbia native is expected to make the Motors roster this season, as is Kruse -a big, crease, clearing defenseman from Niagara Falls. Rounding out the top half of the draft classes would be the Boston Bees, who's top choice was center James Smart. The Halifax, NS, native was the only one of the Bees selections signed to a contract this off-season.

At the other end of the spectrum you have the New York Shamrocks, a club that OSA feels deserves some criticism for their draft day decisions. That may reflect more on their depth choices rather than first rounder Jim Macek, a grinding Toronto-born left winger with a lot of tenacity. The other two clubs -the Toronto Dukes and Montreal Valiants- each signed two players from their draft group including Toronto's top pick Lou Galbraith -the first overall selection- and Francis McKenzie, picked second by the Vals.

BACKLUND SIGNS WITH PACKERS

The Chicago Packers added some goaltending depth to their organization with the news that 24-year-old Andy Backlund agreed to terms with the Windy City club. With Norm Hanson locked in as the Packers starter, Backlund will battle with incumbent Cole Foster and Mike Cleghorn, who spent some time with the Packers last season, for the back-up job with the two left on the outside likely being assigned to the Pittsburgh Rovers of the HAA.

Originally a 1942 fifth round pick of the Montreal Valiants, Backlund made his NAHC debut with the Vals in 1944-45. He was the backup to Millard Touhey each of the past three seasons, playing in a career high 10 games last year. Backlund has a 5-5-2 record with a 2.82 career goals against average in the NAHC. The signing of the Sault Ste. Marie native gives the Packers plenty of goaltending depth as all four of their contracted netminders spent at least part of the season in the NAHC a year ago.

JUNIOR COLLEGE STAR HEADS CAGE RECRUITING CLASS

College coaches are in agreement that there are a lot of talented big men in the crop of high school seniors this coming season. Ten of the top eleven potential recruits for AIAA coaches this year are either centers or big forwards and that includes the number one recruit in the nation. But that top player is not from a high school as Luther Gordon played for a community college in New York City last year and plans on doing the same this season. Two years ago Gordon was considered the third best high school senior player available while starring for Canarsie High School in Brooklyn. All of the big schools had interest in the center, but he struggled academically and ended up at a junior college. Word is now Luther has his head on straight and is being heavily pursued by all the top schools once more. It is believed that Liberty College and Carolina Poly are the front-runners for his services in 1948 but Detroit City College and St Blane are also said to be very much in the mix.

Gordon and Erv Johnson, a forward from California, are the only recruits among the top fifty that are playing for junior colleges as the vast majority will be coming straight out of high school. Here is a list of the players considered the top 30 potential college newcomers for the 1948-49 season.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 8/17/1947

• The United States warned other nations that if the UN Security Council fails to solve the Balkan problem the United States is prepared to join with other countries to protect Greece "within the provisions of the charter."
• Russia has charged that "the crudest interference into the internal affairs of Greece emanates at present from the United States," in blaming the Americans for aggrvating Balkan trounbles.
• An American War Crimes Court sentenced 22 Buchenwald concentration camp attendants to hang for atrocities committed against inmates during the Nazi regime.
• Chairmen Brewster of the Senate War Investigating Committee took strong opposition to Howard Hughes' accusation that the Senator "was too cowardly" to continue the investigation of Hughes plane contracts after the proceedings were adjourned abruptly following several days of closed sessions.