OCTOBER 9, 1951
SAILORS ONE WIN AWAY FROM TITLE
Take Game Four to Go Ahead 3-1 in Series
After splitting games three and four at home the past two days the Philadelphia Sailors are looking to wrap up their first World Championship Series win in 21 years with a victory at home over the St Louis Pioneers today. The Sailors, who swept the first two games in Missouri last week, fell 6-4 in Sunday's third game before rebounding with a victory by the same 6-4 score yesterday to go up three games to one in the best of seven FABL title series.
The Pioneers, reeling after being beaten twice at home, got just want they needed to start the third game with a big 3-run first inning highlighted by a triple off the bat of Frank Kirchner and a double from Larry Gregory. Kirchner, who had a surprisingly strong season after being part of the deal last winter that brought him and Jim Adams Jr. over from Cleveland, doubled in another run in the second to make the score 4-0 before the Sailors finally responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
Sailors starter Jackie James would then settle down and not allow another Pioneers run before being replaced for the seventh inning. Philadelphia chipped away at the lead with a second run coming in the third inning courtesy of a rbi double off the bat of Al Farmer following a Billy Forbes lead-off single and they cut the St Louis lead to just one at 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh thanks to pinch-hits from Cliff Dilley and Willie Martin.
That would be as close as the hosts could get as the Pioneers added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning to go up 6-3. It was Kirchner, who had three hits in the game, that once more wielded the big bat with a 2-run single that followed hits from Jim McBride and George Atkins. Philadelphia scored once in the bottom of the ninth inning after Jerry Keith walked and Billy Forbes followed with a triple but Russ Peeples, who relieved Hal Hackney for the ninth inning, retired the Sailors Solly Skidmore with runners on the corners to preserve a 6-4 victory.
The fourth game saw a pitching rematch of the series opener as John Thomas Johnson took the hill for Philadelphia against Hiram Steinberg of the Foresters. The Sailors threatened early with runners on the corners and just one out in the bottom of the first but Steinberg worked his way out of trouble. The only 3-time Adwell Award winner as High School pitcher of the year was not as fortunate in the second frame as the Sailors exploded for three runs thanks to three consecutive hits off the bats of Johnson, Billy Forbes and Al Farmer.
Steinberg aided his own cause by doubling in the third and he would score the first St Louis run on a two-out hit off the bat of rookie outfielder Rex Pilcher but the Sailors, thanks to a Cotton Dillon rbi single, would return their lead to 3 runs with a run in the bottom of the third. The score remained 4-1 until Claude Kerr gave the Pioneers some hope in the sixth inning when he hit a 2-run homer off of Johnson to cut the Sailors lead to 4-3.
That hope would vanish in the seventh frame when George Rutter smacked a 2-run triple to put the Sailors back up by three runs at 6-3. Lou Robertson replaced Johnson, who pitched 8 solid innings, for the ninth inning and while he did allow one run thanks to a Jim Adams Jr. triple, the 36-year-old Robertson closed out a 6-4 win to give the Sailors a commanding three games to one lead in the series.
- Word out of New York has the Gothams considering putting a complete stop to their rebuilding plans. Apparently the club is having trouble getting what it feels is an acceptable return on the veterans they have dangled. No confirmation either way yet of course, since trades cannot be made public until after the WCS ends, but many are wondering if that means Red Johnson will remain in New York although Gothams manager Bud Jameson was heard very recently discussing who might man his outfield with Walt Messer shifting to first as a replacement for Johnson. Sounds like at least in Jameson's mind, Red and his 35 homers last season (447 for his career) are still going to the Windy City, but if the package the Cougars are said to have offered is true, this could be perceived as a horrendously poor trade for New York.
- While the Gothams are rethinking their off-season approach, the Kansas City Kings are still searching for a trade partner or two after making a renewed effort to land a catcher, a corner infielder and a corner outfielder. They want a popular young veteran with plenty of talent but their unwillingness to move any of their elite prospects may hinder their efforts although club insiders are suggesting the Kings do have an offer for Joe Potts, a 27-year-old righthander who went 16-11 last season, but are said to be still looking to see if they can land a better return from another club before pulling the trigger on any deal.
- John Stallings may well win the Federal Association Allen Award after a terrific season in which the 26-year-old Chicago Chiefs southpaw went 15-10 with a Fed best 2.57 era. While waiting for the awards voting, Stallings will be busy making a trip to the bank after he signed a one year deal that will pay him $75,000 next season. Stallings made just under $50k in the season just completed.
- Joe Hancock won't be anyone's first choice for the Fed Allan Award but certainly deserves some consideration for the tail end of ballots. Hard to imagine Detroit reaching the tiebreaker game had they not acquired the 38-year-old from Toronto at the end of July. Hancock went 10-4 with a 2.59 era in 14 starts with the Dynamos. He won the 1939 Continental Allen Award with the Wolves.
- A similar debate may rage in the Continental Association. Do you count Hancock's struggles in the CA with Toronto against him or ignore them completely in Fed Allen voting and the same is the case for Lloyd Stevens with the Philadelphia Sailors. Stevens was 4-4 with a 4.75 era for the Keystones prior to being traded across town in mid-June. With the Sailors the 35-year-old, who won a Fed Allen Award in 1946, is 13-3 with a CA best 2.72 era.
MATTHEWS WITH DOMINANT GROUND PERFORMANCE KEYS COWBOYS WIN
Mason Matthews delivered one of the most impressive offensive performances the American Football Association has ever seen as the bruising Kansas City Cowboys fullback ran over the Los Angeles Tigers for 237 yards and three touchdowns to lead the visiting Cowboys to a 38-28 victory Sunday at Bigsby Stadium.
Matthews, the veteran back out of Kit Carson University, scored on touchdown runs of 26, 3 and 61 yards while carrying the ball 15 times for his franchise record setting afternoon. The 237 yards is the fourth highest single game total in AFA history, trailing Lloyd Graybeal's astounding 316 yard game for Chicago in 1934 and a pair of outings from Bob Holt for St Louis in 1942 when Holt, then a rookie, ran for 268 and 254 yards in two games that season.
The game was billed as a quarterback showdown between a pair of former CFC stars in Pat Chappell of the Cowboys and Los Angeles Tigers star Mark Monday. Each had a solid outing and the Tigers kept things close until the Cowboys scored 17 unanswered points in a 13 minute span covering most of the fourth quarter to put the game away. Chappell completed 10 of 19 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns while Monday threw for 202 yards and a pair of scores in a losing effort.
Matthews was not the only back to have a big day on the ground as Jim Lyster of the Washington Wasps also surpassed the 200-yard mark on the day. The second year back out of Amarillo Methodist ran for 217 yards and a touchdown to help the Wasps improve to 2-0 with a hard fought 33-31 victory at home over the visiting Cleveland Finches.
In other action the Pittsburgh Paladins joined the Cowboys and Wasps as the only 2-0 teams after Dusty Sinclair and Wally Dotson combined to lead the Paladins to a 24-14 road win in New York. Sinclair threw for 104 yards while Dotson ran for 148 to lead the Paladins offense. There are some concerns on the Pittsburgh sidelines after Wally Dotson was injured late in the game and is listed as doubtful to play next weekend in Boston.
Dan Gilbertson ran for 144 yards and George Klavich had 11 tackles to help the Philadelphia Frigates double the Boston Americans 20-10. San Francisco evened its record at 1-1 after the Wings beat winless Chicago 41-24 behind a big day for the Wings offense. Both Jeff Blevins and Sam Gerst surpassed the century mark on the ground while Vince Gallegos threw for 2 touchdowns and 162 yards. Finally in St Louis, the Detroit Maroons gained a small measure of revenge for the FABL Dynamos playoff loss to the Pioneers, as Dan Andrews completed just 6 passes but three were for touchdowns in the Maroons 32-6 thumping of the Ramblers.
CUP CHAMPS WINLESS IN PRESEASON
NAHC Regular Slate to Begin Thursday
Challenge Cups are never awarded based on training camp records. That is a fact for which the two-time defending Cup champion Montreal Valiants are quite pleased with but perhaps there is a little bit of worry around the Montreal Arena after the Vals struggled mightily in the tune-up games, going winless while managing just one tie in seven outings.
Entering the season there had been some talk that veteran goaltender Tom Brockers had lost a little. Perhaps the reflexes were just a little slower now for the 36-year-old they said, despite the fact Brockers was coming off a season that saw him named an NAHC first team all-star and had a stellar playoff that culminated in the veteran's fifth Challenge Cup win. Goaltending did not seem to be the problem in the seven exhibition games as both Brockers and long-time backup Brad Carter played very well.
The concern in Montreal instead focuses squarely on a lack of offense as the club managed to score just 9 times in the seven preseason games and never managed more than two goals in any of the games. Adam Sandford was the only Valiant to score more than once in the preseason and if there are any concerns it is the fact that both Clarence Skinner and Wayne Augustin - the Valiants top two point producers a year ago- each managed just 1 assist and neither scored. Augustin played in all seven games while Skinner, who had a club high 25 goals and 55 points last season, suited up for six.
The Valiants, led by Coach Norb Hickey, can now look ahead to a fresh start on Thursday night and the season opener where, following a ceremony to raise the Cup banner to the roof of the Montreal Arena, they will open the season against a Chicago Packers team that finished last in the league a season ago. The other opening evening game on Thursday goes in Detroit where the Motors will tussle with the Boston Bees.
Code:
FINAL NAHC PRESEASON STANDINGS
TEAM GP W L T PTS
New York 7 3 0 4 10
Boston 7 4 2 1 9
Chicago 7 3 2 2 8
Toronto 7 2 2 3 7
Detroit 7 2 2 3 7
Montreal 7 0 6 1 1
PRESEASON SCORING LEADERS
GP G A PTS
Carlson, Tor 7 5 4 9
Pollack, Tor 7 4 5 9
Macek, NY 7 3 5 8
Chandler, Bos 7 3 4 7
Hart, Bos 6 2 5 7
Beddoes, Det 6 1 6 7
Treadwell, Det 6 3 3 6
Vanderbilt, Det 7 3 3 6
T Burns, Chi 7 2 4 6
Hartnell, NY 7 1 5 6
NAHC RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK
MONDAY OCTOBER 1
New York 5 at 2 Toronto : A big game from Jim Macek who had two goals and an assist for the Shamrocks.
Chicago 2 at 3 Detroit : Despite being outshot 34-21, the Motors prevailed 3-2 with Moe Treadwell pacing the Detroit offense with two assists.
Boston 4 at 2 Montreal :Boston built a 4-0 lead through forty minutes and then held on to beat the winless Valiants.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3
Toronto 2 at 2 Chicago : defenseman Bert McColley scored both of the Chicago goals while Les Carlson had a goal and an assist for the visitors.
Detroit 4 at 4 Boston :Graham Comeau scored with 1 second remaining in the game to allow Detroit to escape with a 4-4 tie at Denny Arena.
Montreal 1 at 3 New York : Montreal outshot the Shamrocks 32-25 but only a shorthanded goal from Kip Bedard in the third period eluded New York netminder Alex Sorrell in a 3-1 win for the Greenshirts
THURSDAY OCTOBER 4
Toronto 3 at 1 Montreal : Les Carlson scored once and added an assist as Toronto beat the Vals 3-1, overshadowing a terrific 44-save game from Brad Carter between the pipes for Montreal.
Chicago 3 at 2 Boston : Chicago continues its strong preseason with a 3-2 victory on the road in Boston. Marty Mahoney, with his third goal in four games, notched the winner with 3 minutes remaining in the contest.
New York 1 at 1 Detroit : Ben Witt scored just over 2 minutes into the game and that held up until Rusty Mullins evened things for New York midway through the third period.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 6
Detroit 4 at 2 Montreal : Tyson Beddoes had 3 assists while Henri Chasse made 39 saves as Detroit doubled winless Montreal 4-2 to finish off their preseason slate.
Boston 5 at 1 Toronto :Five second period goals, including two off the stick of Mark Dyck, lifted the Bees to a 5-1 victory over Toronto. A tough night for the Dukes, who outshot the Bess 41-24 but Pierre Melancon was outstanding in the Boston net.
New York 4 at 3 Chicago : Alexandre Lapalme's goal early in the third period snapped a 3-3 tie and gave New York a victory in the final preseason game. The Shamrocks went undefeated with 3 wins and 4 ties to finish with the best record in exhibition tilts.
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UPCOMING GAMES
START OF REGULAR SEASON
THURSDAY OCTOBER 11
Boston at Detroit
Chicago at Montreal
SATURDAY OCTOBER 13
Boston at Montreal
Chicago at Toronto
SUNDAY OCTOBER 14
Montreal at Boston
New York at Chicago
Toronto at Detroit
MOTORS LEAD LOOP IN SEASON TICKET SALES
After several years of struggling at the gate the Detroit Motors seemed to have captured the city's attention with news that the Motors have sold 12,669 season tickets for the upcoming NAHC season. The Thompson Palladium holds 15,000 fans so tickets may be hard to come by in Detroit for many key games this season. Chicago, with 10,357 seats now accounted for at Lakeside Auditorium, is the only other NAHC club to surpass the 10,000 mark in season tickets. This despite the fact that the Packers are coming off one of the worst seasons in NAHC history.
ROY TO MISS SEASON FOR DUKES
Tough news for the Toronto Dukes as the preseason slate came to a close. Toronto has learned it will be without veteran defenseman Chad Roy for most, if not all of the upcoming season. The 29-year-old, who split last season between Toronto and minor league Cleveland, suffered a series knee injury in a game against New York. Originally a 1941 fourth round pick of Boston, Roy has been with the Dukes since 1947 while also playing for the Bees, Chicago and the now-defunct Brooklyn Eagles. The stay at home defenseman has 264 NAHC games under his belt and has scored 68 points.
MUSTANGS HIRE ST. CLAIR AS NEW COACH
Following James Williams sudden departure as their head coach, the Detroit Mustangs went with a local product with plenty of pro basketball experience to take over calling the shots at Thompson Palladium. The new head coach in Detroit will be Haywood St. Clair after it was announced that the veteran clipboard holder will join Rollie Barrell's club.
"It is good to finally be home," joked the 60-year-old at a brief press conference to announce the addition of St. Clair who grew up in Michigan's upper peninsula and played his college ball in Saginaw at Michigan Lutheran back when college basketball was in its infancy.
The 60-year-old is well respected in both the college and pro ranks and has held nearly every job imaginable in the sport. Following two decades in the college ranks as both a head coach and later an athletic director, St. Clair was an assistant coach at the dawn of the American Basketball Conference before achieving great success in the ABC as the head coach for five seasons of Daniel Prescott's Brooklyn Red Caps. Under St. Clair's tutelage the Red Caps won three consecutive ABC titles and he was named that loop's Coach of the Year twice. Looking for a new challenge he spent some time as a General Manager working for both the Pittsburgh Falcons -prior to their move to Toronto- and more recently the Syracuse Titans before that club folded prior to last season. After a year away from the sport, St. Clair got the itch again and when the Detroit job opened up it was a perfect fit for the Michigan native to finish out his coaching career.
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS- October 18- Lakeside Auditorium, Chicago: former middleweight champion John Edmonds (34-4) meets contender Davis Owens (25-3)
- October 23- Buffalo, NY: rising welterweight Brian Pierce (18-4-1) faces Clarence Broderick (12-6-1)
- October 23- Oakland, CA.: veteran welterweight Artie Neal (30-10-1) meets California native Jamie Rotz (40-13)
- October 26- Keystone Arena, Philadelphia: heavyweight contenders John Jones (20-2-1) and Tommy Cline (19-4) square off.
- October 27- Pittsburgh, PA: welterweight Ben Burns (20-1) returns to ring for first time since his losing his shot at the title to champ Danny Rutledge in June. Burns will square off with John Bolton (22-6-2)
- October 30- Lakeside Auditorium, Chicago: former welterweight champ Max Erickson (22-5) meets Dave Sullivan (28-13-1).
The Week That Was
Current events from October 6-8, 1951
- Gorman Dean, the top US atomic official, says the United States has atomic weapons which can "cancel out" any numerical advantage on the battlefield of an enemy.
- For the first time Russia confirmed it exploded an atomic bomb, but advised the United States be calm, telling American leaders not to "get excited and raise the alarm."
- Chinese front-line defenses appeared to be crumbling in the west before an offensive in Korea of 100,000 United Nations troops.
- Winston Churchill charged that Britain's Labor government's handling of the Iranian oil dispute constituted one of the worst muddles in recent British history.