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ayaghmour2 · 01-16-2025, 12:13 PM

SEPTEMBER 10, 1962

Pioneers Survive Clash With Dynamos, Maintain Three Game Lead

In one of the biggest series of the season, the St. Louis Pioneers stayed firm, and after a month of wavering, they played excellent ball to fight off the Dynamos. It started on Wednesday, when they opened the series with a three-run first inning homer from Steve Schultz as the Pioneers got things going with a crucial 5-3 win. Schultz, the everyday third basemen, is one of the overlooked sluggers, and again, he was the difference in the second game. Two of the hottest pitchers, Earl Shields (10-7, 16, 3.21, 76) and Frenchy Mack (20-5, 2.07, 241) were called upon to do battle, and Schultz was the only one to have any sort of impact. It came in the 4th, where he led off the inning with a solo shot. That was all the scoring, as Frenchy Mack got all but two outs of a shutout, winning his 20th game of the season. The first of likely many, he's the clear favorite for the Allen, currently leading all three triple crown categories

Back to Schultz, the unsung hero, he was just 1-for-5 in the 7-4 loss to the Dynamos, but when they needed him to finish the week, again the 27-year-old showed up. In the end, it was a tight 7-6 victory, but without his power, they wouldn't have came out on top. 2-for-4 with a pair of homers, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs, Schultz took second place on the team with 26 home runs, and his 104 RBIs are more then both Whitney winners on the team. A useful defender becoming known for the bat, he's got a strong .309/.356/.490 (112 OPS+) batting line, and he's really showing the benefit of a team flush with depth. When you have Bob Bell (.381, 40, 99, 6), Jerry Smith (.299, 24, 89, 13), and Danny Davis (.346, 17, 78), and the three headed monster of Mack, Billy Hasson (19-7, 3.06, 167), and Steve Madden (13-9, 3.21, 123), it's easy to get lost in the shuffle, but Schultz is trying to add his name to the list of top-tier talent.

It's not over for the Dynamos, as with wins in their other three games, they haven't lost any ground on the leaders. Gaining some would be nice, but they crushed the Millers in Detroit and picked up two more one-run wins at home with New York. Game two against the Gothams was a hard-earned victory, as they were able to overcome errors and a late deficit. Paul Anderson (14-4, 2.97, 110) pitched a gem, going 9 with 7 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts, but one of those two runs was unearned. When he left the game, he was down 2-1, and with help from a Gotham error, pinch hitter George Hartnett (.250, 1, 14) was given the opportunity to tie the game with a single. To keep the game tied, recently turned 22-year-old southpaw Dave Irwin (3-2, 1, 3.56, 37) got through with five pitches. In the bottom half, the bases were loaded for deadline acquisition Virgil Ewing (.290, 16, 91), who despite his power outage, ended things with a walk-off single.

This still leaves Detroit with three games to make up, and they'll have to rely on the rest of their Fed counterparts. With 21 games left, there is still plenty of time, but they'll have to start the winning soon. Lucky for them, just them, the Pioneers, and Eagles are even over .500, so they should be winning far more then they lose. They do have to deal with the Eagles one more time, set for the 24th to 26th, which is one of just two more home series. Three if you count the final game against the Gothams, but for a team who plays .700 ball at home and .532 on the road, they would feel farm more confident if they had more then just a third of their remaining games at Thompson Field.

Kings Stumble in Chicago, See Postseason Odds Fall to Single Digits

8.9%

That's the chance OSA gives the Kansas City Kings to finish in first place.

It was much higher a few days ago, but after they spent their weekend losing to the Cougars, and the Sailors spent theirs beating the Wolves, KC could not do what Detroit did, and keep the deficit at three games. Facing one of the few staffs that can measure up to the Sailors, The Kings got seven through nine innings of the opener, but the Cougars damaged ace Beau McClellan (16-8, 3.48, 172) and the pen to make the Kings 7th run tie the game in the ninth, not secure the win. Despite allowing said run, the Cougars trusted veteran Archie Wilson (11-3, 9, 2.91, 40) with 8-9-1. Needing just 10 pitches, he got a quick 1-2-3, as the Kings went to former starter Curly Anderson (10-6, 4.52, 82). Recently recalled pinch-hitter Moe Holt (.200) got things going with a single, his first of the year, but when trying to advance him with a bunt the Kings got the lead rounder.

That proved to be crucial, as has Holt been on second, he'd have scored on Mooney Vetter's (.281, 10, 55) tenth double of the season. Instead, the inning continued, and pinch-hitter and former King John Morrison (.312, 6, 20) struck out to bring up a former King prospect, the light hitting Buddy Byrd (.267, 2, 24, 16). Byrd did something he almost never does, draw a walk, and the bases were loaded for a guy who was 2-for-5 and was in just his second week as a FABL player. Down 0-2, Bobby Martinez (.431, 1, 8, 3) took a ball and then fouled off a tough pitch, allowing the 52nd ranked prospect to send the fans home happy with a "single" that could have saw the speedy outfielder end up on second or third.

In the middle game, the Cougars pitching was as expected, as starter Hank Walker (8-8, 4.54, 95) held the guests to 9 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 6.2 innings. On the flip side, Jack Halbur (6-14, 4.46, 85) was roughed up, forced out in the sixth after 10 hits and 7 runs. Brought in to stabilize the rotation, Halbur has really struggled in his 9 starts, just 1-5 with a 5.43 ERA (84 ERA+), 1.56 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts. He's allowing more homers, his walk rate is up, and most importantly, he's allowing a lot more runs. Almost a run and a half per nine, as KC may have wished they acquired the other Chiefs starter, Dick Champ (8-7, 4.07, 105), who has gone 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA (117 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, and 40-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Working in the Kings favor is that they have a lot of home games, including a huge three game series with the Sailors after they leave Chicago. If they can make up a game on Monday, they'd be within four of first, and even two of three brings them back within three. They'll later play host to the Stars, Saints, and Imperials, with four more home games left then road. 33-34 away from Prairie Park, homefield advantage certainly makes a difference, but if they can't beat the Sailors in KC, it won't matter how many more home games they end up with.

Tales From The Den

Wolves Seek Consistency

Wolves Manager Hohlt "We seem not to be able to capitalize on success, a good week is immediately followed by a bad week. We need to get some consistency in our game." Wolves go 1-5 following a 6-1 week, including a wild football score 14-10 loss to SF on Saturday when Ed Hackberry, 35, lit up the staff going 5 for 5 with 3 HR 8 RBI along with adding insult to injury by gunning a runner at third with a perfect throw. Sailors are now 13-1 when Toronto is the opponent this year, the final game in the season series is today at Dominion Stadium, Wolves will not be sorry to see the Sailors for last time until next spring. Word has been passed through the league on Ed Savage, he was plunked by Cannons' starter Charlie Warren during his first game this week.

In the system there are moves being made after the conclusion of Tuscaloosa season in which Tomcats finished second one game behind Hattiesburg. In the Union League the Nickels continue to seek their first title in four decades. They are one game ahead of Syracuse after being no hit the Excelsiors' Herb Drennan yesterday 8-0 where Drennan came one walk away from a perfect game. In Chattanooga the Reliables are in fourth only 3 games out in what promises to be a wild final two weeks in Dixie League. Third sacker Stan Merrick, 20, who was drafted in the second round in 1960 had his 22 game hitting streak broken this week by Nashville. Merrick continues his rapid rise up the system with a line in AA of .325/.398/.531 over 527 PA. He is going to contribute to the logjam in the Wolves organization with LHB. Bill Carpenter won his first start for the Reliables going 7 giving up only 2 hits, striking out 5, walking no one in the same game Merrick's hitting streak came to an end.

Montreal Saints highly ranked prospect C Henry Woods is climbing the depth chart very quickly this season. He start the season in Mobile B level but since the half season been moved to A and AA. Then last week he was sent out to Syracuse to finish the season where he got 9 hits in 23 AB... For sure he will be getting an invite to spring camp with Montreal.
Sticking with the Saints farmhands, SP Herb Brennan got a no-hitter in his first start at AAA level for Syracuse
Back in 1950, Ralph Capriotti was drafted 3rd overall by Detroit. This past week, the 29-year-old Capriotti--after 1204 minor league games and 4407 minor league plate appearances--made his FABL debut with the Millers, hitting .385/.467/.769.
Capriotti may be best remembered for his part in the blockbuster trade between the Dynamos and Kings involving Ralph Johnson, Bob Arman, and Dan Smith. A lot of the players are still involved in baseball, including Johnson, who at 38 has settled into a bench role. Him and Capriotti are now teammates in Minneapolis, and on the 7th both played in the same game, pinch hitting for the first spot int he lineup
Other active FABL members of the 1951 trade include Johnson's and Capriotti's teammate Walt Staton (1-4, 1, 6.71, 27), Minutemen catcher Elmer Sanders (.307, 3, 12), Sailors utility infielder Chet Harris (.321, 1, 11), and Cougar first basemen John Morrison (.312, 6, 20).
The most impactful, however, are the two Kings pitchers that are still with the team today. While not nearly as effective now, 34-year-old Fred Washington (8-8, 4.98, 79) is a 5-Time All-Star and 2-Time Allen Winner, while their other 5-Tme All-Star Beau McClellan (16-8, 3.48, 172) is the undisputed ace of the staff. He currently ranks as the 4th best pitcher in FABL, and while the trade brought titles to the Motor City, the Kings received plenty of pitching talent from the transaction.
Both Arch Wilson (11-3, 9, 2.91, 40) and Pug White (11-7, 15, 3.15, 91) won their 11th games of the season for the Cougars, tied for the team lead. For a team formerly known for elite starters and a poor pen, it's ironic seeing two relievers in double digit wins, while the next closest starter is Roy Ellis (9-5, 3.66, 127) is two wins behind. Chicago leads the CA with a 3.52 pen ERA, getting 178.2 innings elite innings out of their two high leverage arms.
Former basketball star Charlie Barrell (.267, 18, 62) hit his 1,500th career hit in a 3-for-5 against the Saints. The Stars finished the game 9-7 winners. Initial a two-sport player, this milestone would likely have been 2,000 had he stuck to baseball. Just 32, it's still an option, as the 8-Time All-Star has been able to play a lot more since dedicating himself to baseball.

DEFENDING CHAMPS WIN GRID OPENER, BUT SAINTS AND BUCKS STUMBLE

Defending National Champion Maryland State kicked off a light schedule on the opening weekend of collegiate football with a rather pedestrian showing in a 10-0 blanking of the Portland Tech Magpies, but at least the Bengals started the campaign off on the right foot, which is something that a pair of top ten schools in St Blane and Travis College failed to do.

The Bengals, who finished 10-1 and capped their first national title with a dominating 48-6 win over Oklahoma City State in the Sunshine Classic last New Years Day, did not crack the top ten in the first collegiate poll of 1962. Instead, Maryland State is ranked 11th after a less than impressive win over Portland Tech. Blame it on the long trip cross-country perhaps, but the heavily favoured Bengals needed nearly 44 minutes before they finally opened the scoring late in the third quarter when Mike Hudson broke free on a 21-yard touchdown scamper to cap a 15-play, 91-yard drive that finally showcased what the Bengals offense can do when it is rolling. An early fourth quarter field goal by Jack Shaw rounded out the scoring in an error filled game that the Magpies have to be looking at as a missed opportunity. Portland Tech turned over the ball five times including on three occasions when they were inside the Bengals twenty yard line.

St. Blane is a team that really needs to turn things around as the Fighting Saints have never finished the season ranked in the top twenty-five since Jason Zapata took over as head coach three years ago. The Saints are in the top ten here in the early going of the 1962 campaign but came up short in their season opener. In their defense, a 26-14 loss in Philadelphia against a powerful Penn Catholic eleven that was 10-1 and ranked fourth in the nation a year ago is not a bad showing for most schools. Rick Fowler, the powerful senior back who rushed for over 1,000 yards in two of his previous three seasons with the Crusaders, had a strong start to his season, gaining 133 yards on the ground against the Saints and scoring the game's opening touchdown.

Like St. Blane, Travis College faced a tough task in their season opener as they were off to Knoxville for a meeting with defending Deep South Conference champion Cumberland. The Explorers have not lost to a Southwest Alliance school since the opening week of the 1957 season and ran their winning streak against SWA outfits to five games with a 20-12 victory over the Bucks on Saturday - a win that ensured a spot in the top five for Cumberland in the opening week rankings. The Explorers could not slow down Travis College junior back Hugh Brasfield, who rushed for a game high 131 yards, but countered successfully with their balanced attack which had quarterback Steve Peach throwing for 121 yards and the backfield duo of Henry Virkler and Ron Filas keeping the Bucks defenders off balance alternating outside sprints from the speedy Virkler with power runs up the middle from the bruising Filas to combine for 171 yards on the ground.

Other games of note saw a pair of Great Lakes Alliance squads get off to solid starts as Minnesota Tech blasted Amarillo Methodist 56-28 while Western Iowa, led by John Mahoney's amazing 317 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns, thumped Deep South Conference doormat Bayou State 78-6. Those 317 yards gained by Mahoney are well off the single game AIAA record which is 435 gained by former Amarillo Methodist back John Addis in a 1958 game against Texas Panhandle.

*** ANOTHER BARRELL SET TO DEBUT ***

A full slate of action is on tap this coming Saturday including number one ranked Central Ohio opening its season with a game against Bluegrass State. The Mustangs got an early start on things two days ago, beating College of Waco 34-17 in their opener. #2 ranked Coastal California is also in action as the Dolphins visit 1-0 Minns College, which blanked St. Patrick's 52-0 on Saturday. The marquee game next week may well be the showdown in Knoxville where fourth ranked Cumberland looks to go 2-0 when the Explorers host College of Omaha's Raiders, who are ranked 5th in advance of their season opener. It is perhaps too lofty an expectation for the Plains Athletic Association school that has not won more than seven games in a season since 1952 and was just 6-4 a year ago.

Some might argue the biggest game next week takes place in Boston where Commonwealth Catholic is set to host Coastal State. Not a lot is expected this season from the Crusaders, who went 4-6 a year ago. Coastal State does have high expectations after the Eagles ruined Maryland State's bid for a perfect season and made their first ever appearance on New Year's Day, a 24-10 loss to Bluegrass State in the Cajun Classic. Those may be good reasons to anticipate a big year out of the Eagles but the focus will be primarily on one player.

That would be Bobby Barrell Jr., son of the baseball Hall of Famer and latest in the long list of Barrell family members to play collegiate football. Bobby Jr. is a freshman defensive end and at 6'3", 248 pounds is even more powerfully built than his famous father. Some are saying the 19-year-old may already be the most skilled defensive player in the entire AIAA, and that is before the top recruit from Philadelphia has even suited up for a single collegiate football game. Coastal State head coach Frank Spurlock says Barrell reminds him of Maryland State senior defensive end Doug Jones, who was all-conference a year ago and perhaps the best player on the defensive side of the ball the South Atlantic Conference has ever seen.

WEEKEND SCORES
Minns College Mavericks 52, St Patrick's Shamrocks 0
Miami State Gulls 24, Liberty College Bells 14
Queen City Monarchs 30, Pittsburgh State Finches 7
El Paso Methodist Bandits 34, Cleveland Tigers 6
Chicago Poly Catamounts 33, Garden State Redbirds 9
Penn Catholic Crusaders 26, St Blane Fighting Saints 14
Lawrence State Chippewa 28, Bayou State Cougars 25
Northern Mississippi Mavericks 30, Mile High State Falcons 27
Mississippi A_M Generals 31, Custer College Cavalry 6
Cumberland Explorers 20, Travis College Bucks 12
Western Iowa Canaries 78, Baton Rogue State Red Devils 6
Bluegrass State Mustangs 34, College of Waco Cowboys 17
Boston State Pirates 25, Cache Valley Cowboys 7
Maryland State Bengals 10, Portland Tech Magpies 0
St Ignatius Lancers 23, Richmond State Colonials 20
Minnesota Tech Lakers 56, Amarillo Methodist Grizzlies 28
CC Los Angeles Coyotes 27, Alabama Baptist Panthers 17
St Pancras Lions 27, Cowpens State Fighting Green 19
Redwood Mammoths 44, Lambert College Stags 10
Lane State Emeralds 62, Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers 14
Eastern Kansas Warriors 69, Ferguson Wildcats 10
Canyon A_M Armadillos 31, Northern Minnesota Muskies 17
Boulder State Grizzlies 24, McKinney State Renegades 20
Payne State Mavericks 46, Texas Panhandle Cowboys 10

STARS NOT WORRIED AS PRO GRID SET FOR KICK-OFF

Going winless in three preseason games has done little to deter New York Stars football coach Dolph Ulrich as he prepares his team to begin its quest for a third consecutive American Football Association championship. Ulrich's Stars have played in each of the last three AFA title tilts and won the last two but his club stumbled to an 0-3 record in preseason action.

None of that matters notes the longtime bench boss of the Stars, who owns four AFA championship rings. "We were looking at a lot of young players and the focus was on preparing for Sunday's game (regular season opener) against Washington. That's the game that matters."

The Stars defense took a hit over the winter as veteran defensive back Vic Morrell and linebacker Jerry Grover both retired. Grover, in particular will be missed after being named Defensive MVP during last seasons title winning campaign. The hope is that Billy Board, who was an all-star two years ago can fill Grover's shoes as team leader and that the club's top two draft picks - Whitney College safety Jamie Melcher and former Lincoln College lineman Jerry Van Wagoner can help fill the void. Melcher, selected in the first round, 14th overall, was especially impressive in preseason action.

The preseason prognosticators are not expecting much from the Stars despite the fact the offense returns intact including MVP quarterback Orlin Youngs and halfback Reid McDuffy, who was named the playoff MVP as a rookie a year ago. If anything the offense, which did not overwhelm during the regular season but came together in the playoffs, is even stronger with the addition of end Rusty Drews, who had 56 catches for Cleveland a year ago. Despite that fact, the popular choice to win the East Division this season is the Philadelphia Frigates with the Washington Wasps a close second. In the West the Chicago Wildcats, who lost to the Stars in the title game last season, are tabbed as the team to beat although there is also plenty of support for the Los Angeles Tigers.

The Wasps visit to New York is the game to watch this week as the AFA begins its 43rd season on Sunday. Here are the opening weekend games.

AFA SCHEDULE
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16
Boston (1-2) at Cleveland (2-1)
Washington (1-2) at New York (0-3)
Buffalo (0-3) at Pittsburgh (1-2)
Detroit (1-2) at Chicago (3-0)
Los Angeles (1-2) at Kansas City (2-1)
Houston (1-2) at San Francisco (2-1)
Philadelphia (3-0) at St Louis (3-0)
(preseason record in parentheses)

A TITLE FIGHT IN THE DESERT: VEGAS GETS READY FOR THE BIG SHOW

LAS VEGAS—The bright lights of Las Vegas will shine even brighter this weekend as the glitzy gambling oasis steps onto the main stage of the boxing world. For the first time, a world championship fight will be decided in this fast-growing city, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The undefeated World Middleweight Champion, Lyman King, will defend his crown against the seasoned former champ, George Hatchell, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The champ, King, hails from Oakland, California, and carries an unblemished record of 40-0 into the ring. Known for his ferocious fists and keen tactical mind, King wrested the title from Canadian George Quisenberry in January, scoring a decisive fifth-round TKO at Madison Square Garden. King’s follow-up performance, a sixth-round knockout of Steve Bradshaw in May, solidified his reputation as one of the most exciting pugilists in the sport today.

Standing opposite him will be George Hatchell, a wily veteran of the squared circle who has twice worn the middleweight crown. Now 30 years old, the Puyallup, Washington native brings a 43-7-2 record into this pivotal matchup. Hatchell first captured the title seven years ago by toppling Jim Ward and successfully defended it five times before controversy struck. In 1956, Hatchell lost the belt to Mark McCoy via a contentious disqualification—a decision that sparked heated debates across the boxing world. A rematch months later ended in similar disappointment, as Hatchell was again disqualified for repeated rule infractions.

Undeterred, Hatchell mounted a comeback, reclaiming the title in 1958 with a hard-fought victory over Quisenberry. However, his reign was short-lived. After a single successful defense, Hatchell faced McCoy once more, this time dropping a majority decision. His next title opportunity came in 1960 against Quisenberry, who by then had regained the crown, but Hatchell fell short on the scorecards in a unanimous decision.

Now, Hatchell has another chance to reclaim glory, but the challenge before him is formidable. King has never tasted defeat, and this marks the first meeting between the two fighters. Both men will be stepping into the Las Vegas ring for the first time, as the city continues its rapid rise as a boxing hub. Long overshadowed by New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, Las Vegas is now staking its claim to the spotlight.

The Convention Center is expected to be packed to the rafters as the local promoters promise an evening of high-stakes drama and action under the desert lights. Whether King’s meteoric rise continues or Hatchell’s grit and experience win the day, history will be made in Las Vegas this weekend. One thing is certain: the boxing world will be watching.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Canadian middleweight George Quisenberry, who has been world champion three times in the past decade, returned to the ring for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King last January. The 27-year-old Toronto native looked sharp with a 5th round knock out of Billy Randall in Los Angeles on Saturday evening. Quisenberry, 39-2-3, is hoping for another title shot perhaps as early as December. King, who defends his title against George Hatchell in Las Vegas this weekend, has reportedly reached a deal to face Quisenberry in December should he successfully defend his crown against Hatchell.
Veteran welterweight Michael McDowell, who once had a title shot against Eugene Ellis, but has lost four of his last five bouts including a non-title rematch with Ellis in early July, lost again after being stopped in the fifth round of a bout slated for ten with lightly regarded Detroiter Robby Chandler. McDowell, who turned 30 years old last month, is expected to announce his retirement. The Medway, MA., native is 33-17-1 overall but 2-7-1 since losing to Ellis in a title bout in the fall of 1959.
New York City welterweight Charlie McMichael won a split decision over Stan Thomas at Bigsby Garden last week. The 27-year-old McMichael is now 28-3-2 and widely considered one of the top ten welterweights in the world.
Another victory for Texas-born middleweight Ed Eads, who scored an unanimous decision over Gary Martin and is now 21-1. The 25-year-old has been busy - this was his second bout with Martin in just over a month and he has fought six times over the past six months, winning each of them handily.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens.
September 29- World welterweight champion Lenny Shafto will make his first title defense, facing Matt Leach.
November 1- Heavyweight champion Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native, who was the surprise winner of a title fight with Harry Pratt in July, makes his first title defense against 26-year-old George Galleshaw.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 9/09/1962

Red China is reporting it shot down a U-2 spy plane over Communist soil, charging the flight was part of a United States spy program.
Secretary of Defense McNamara has requested presidential authority to call up 150,000 reservists, saying it is needed to enable the United States to respond "promptly and decisively" if the international situation worsens suddenly.
The Senate passed a $900 million authorization bill to relieve unemployment by speeding up public works projects that can be started without delay.

01-16-2025, 12:13 PM	#1057
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	September 10th, 1962 SEPTEMBER 10, 1962 Pioneers Survive Clash With Dynamos, Maintain Three Game Lead In one of the biggest series of the season, the St. Louis Pioneers stayed firm, and after a month of wavering, they played excellent ball to fight off the Dynamos. It started on Wednesday, when they opened the series with a three-run first inning homer from Steve Schultz as the Pioneers got things going with a crucial 5-3 win. Schultz, the everyday third basemen, is one of the overlooked sluggers, and again, he was the difference in the second game. Two of the hottest pitchers, Earl Shields (10-7, 16, 3.21, 76) and Frenchy Mack (20-5, 2.07, 241) were called upon to do battle, and Schultz was the only one to have any sort of impact. It came in the 4th, where he led off the inning with a solo shot. That was all the scoring, as Frenchy Mack got all but two outs of a shutout, winning his 20th game of the season. The first of likely many, he's the clear favorite for the Allen, currently leading all three triple crown categories Back to Schultz, the unsung hero, he was just 1-for-5 in the 7-4 loss to the Dynamos, but when they needed him to finish the week, again the 27-year-old showed up. In the end, it was a tight 7-6 victory, but without his power, they wouldn't have came out on top. 2-for-4 with a pair of homers, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs, Schultz took second place on the team with 26 home runs, and his 104 RBIs are more then both Whitney winners on the team. A useful defender becoming known for the bat, he's got a strong .309/.356/.490 (112 OPS+) batting line, and he's really showing the benefit of a team flush with depth. When you have Bob Bell (.381, 40, 99, 6), Jerry Smith (.299, 24, 89, 13), and Danny Davis (.346, 17, 78), and the three headed monster of Mack, Billy Hasson (19-7, 3.06, 167), and Steve Madden (13-9, 3.21, 123), it's easy to get lost in the shuffle, but Schultz is trying to add his name to the list of top-tier talent. It's not over for the Dynamos, as with wins in their other three games, they haven't lost any ground on the leaders. Gaining some would be nice, but they crushed the Millers in Detroit and picked up two more one-run wins at home with New York. Game two against the Gothams was a hard-earned victory, as they were able to overcome errors and a late deficit. Paul Anderson (14-4, 2.97, 110) pitched a gem, going 9 with 7 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts, but one of those two runs was unearned. When he left the game, he was down 2-1, and with help from a Gotham error, pinch hitter George Hartnett (.250, 1, 14) was given the opportunity to tie the game with a single. To keep the game tied, recently turned 22-year-old southpaw Dave Irwin (3-2, 1, 3.56, 37) got through with five pitches. In the bottom half, the bases were loaded for deadline acquisition Virgil Ewing (.290, 16, 91), who despite his power outage, ended things with a walk-off single. This still leaves Detroit with three games to make up, and they'll have to rely on the rest of their Fed counterparts. With 21 games left, there is still plenty of time, but they'll have to start the winning soon. Lucky for them, just them, the Pioneers, and Eagles are even over .500, so they should be winning far more then they lose. They do have to deal with the Eagles one more time, set for the 24th to 26th, which is one of just two more home series. Three if you count the final game against the Gothams, but for a team who plays .700 ball at home and .532 on the road, they would feel farm more confident if they had more then just a third of their remaining games at Thompson Field. Kings Stumble in Chicago, See Postseason Odds Fall to Single Digits 8.9% That's the chance OSA gives the Kansas City Kings to finish in first place. It was much higher a few days ago, but after they spent their weekend losing to the Cougars, and the Sailors spent theirs beating the Wolves, KC could not do what Detroit did, and keep the deficit at three games. Facing one of the few staffs that can measure up to the Sailors, The Kings got seven through nine innings of the opener, but the Cougars damaged ace Beau McClellan (16-8, 3.48, 172) and the pen to make the Kings 7th run tie the game in the ninth, not secure the win. Despite allowing said run, the Cougars trusted veteran Archie Wilson (11-3, 9, 2.91, 40) with 8-9-1. Needing just 10 pitches, he got a quick 1-2-3, as the Kings went to former starter Curly Anderson (10-6, 4.52, 82). Recently recalled pinch-hitter Moe Holt (.200) got things going with a single, his first of the year, but when trying to advance him with a bunt the Kings got the lead rounder. That proved to be crucial, as has Holt been on second, he'd have scored on Mooney Vetter's (.281, 10, 55) tenth double of the season. Instead, the inning continued, and pinch-hitter and former King John Morrison (.312, 6, 20) struck out to bring up a former King prospect, the light hitting Buddy Byrd (.267, 2, 24, 16). Byrd did something he almost never does, draw a walk, and the bases were loaded for a guy who was 2-for-5 and was in just his second week as a FABL player. Down 0-2, Bobby Martinez (.431, 1, 8, 3) took a ball and then fouled off a tough pitch, allowing the 52nd ranked prospect to send the fans home happy with a "single" that could have saw the speedy outfielder end up on second or third. In the middle game, the Cougars pitching was as expected, as starter Hank Walker (8-8, 4.54, 95) held the guests to 9 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 6.2 innings. On the flip side, Jack Halbur (6-14, 4.46, 85) was roughed up, forced out in the sixth after 10 hits and 7 runs. Brought in to stabilize the rotation, Halbur has really struggled in his 9 starts, just 1-5 with a 5.43 ERA (84 ERA+), 1.56 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts. He's allowing more homers, his walk rate is up, and most importantly, he's allowing a lot more runs. Almost a run and a half per nine, as KC may have wished they acquired the other Chiefs starter, Dick Champ (8-7, 4.07, 105), who has gone 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA (117 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, and 40-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Working in the Kings favor is that they have a lot of home games, including a huge three game series with the Sailors after they leave Chicago. If they can make up a game on Monday, they'd be within four of first, and even two of three brings them back within three. They'll later play host to the Stars, Saints, and Imperials, with four more home games left then road. 33-34 away from Prairie Park, homefield advantage certainly makes a difference, but if they can't beat the Sailors in KC, it won't matter how many more home games they end up with. Tales From The Den Wolves Seek Consistency Wolves Manager Hohlt "We seem not to be able to capitalize on success, a good week is immediately followed by a bad week. We need to get some consistency in our game." Wolves go 1-5 following a 6-1 week, including a wild football score 14-10 loss to SF on Saturday when Ed Hackberry, 35, lit up the staff going 5 for 5 with 3 HR 8 RBI along with adding insult to injury by gunning a runner at third with a perfect throw. Sailors are now 13-1 when Toronto is the opponent this year, the final game in the season series is today at Dominion Stadium, Wolves will not be sorry to see the Sailors for last time until next spring. Word has been passed through the league on Ed Savage, he was plunked by Cannons' starter Charlie Warren during his first game this week. In the system there are moves being made after the conclusion of Tuscaloosa season in which Tomcats finished second one game behind Hattiesburg. In the Union League the Nickels continue to seek their first title in four decades. They are one game ahead of Syracuse after being no hit the Excelsiors' Herb Drennan yesterday 8-0 where Drennan came one walk away from a perfect game. In Chattanooga the Reliables are in fourth only 3 games out in what promises to be a wild final two weeks in Dixie League. Third sacker Stan Merrick, 20, who was drafted in the second round in 1960 had his 22 game hitting streak broken this week by Nashville. Merrick continues his rapid rise up the system with a line in AA of .325/.398/.531 over 527 PA. He is going to contribute to the logjam in the Wolves organization with LHB. Bill Carpenter won his first start for the Reliables going 7 giving up only 2 hits, striking out 5, walking no one in the same game Merrick's hitting streak came to an end. Montreal Saints highly ranked prospect C Henry Woods is climbing the depth chart very quickly this season. He start the season in Mobile B level but since the half season been moved to A and AA. Then last week he was sent out to Syracuse to finish the season where he got 9 hits in 23 AB... For sure he will be getting an invite to spring camp with Montreal. Sticking with the Saints farmhands, SP Herb Brennan got a no-hitter in his first start at AAA level for Syracuse Back in 1950, Ralph Capriotti was drafted 3rd overall by Detroit. This past week, the 29-year-old Capriotti--after 1204 minor league games and 4407 minor league plate appearances--made his FABL debut with the Millers, hitting .385/.467/.769. Capriotti may be best remembered for his part in the blockbuster trade between the Dynamos and Kings involving Ralph Johnson, Bob Arman, and Dan Smith. A lot of the players are still involved in baseball, including Johnson, who at 38 has settled into a bench role. Him and Capriotti are now teammates in Minneapolis, and on the 7th both played in the same game, pinch hitting for the first spot int he lineup Other active FABL members of the 1951 trade include Johnson's and Capriotti's teammate Walt Staton (1-4, 1, 6.71, 27), Minutemen catcher Elmer Sanders (.307, 3, 12), Sailors utility infielder Chet Harris (.321, 1, 11), and Cougar first basemen John Morrison (.312, 6, 20). The most impactful, however, are the two Kings pitchers that are still with the team today. While not nearly as effective now, 34-year-old Fred Washington (8-8, 4.98, 79) is a 5-Time All-Star and 2-Time Allen Winner, while their other 5-Tme All-Star Beau McClellan (16-8, 3.48, 172) is the undisputed ace of the staff. He currently ranks as the 4th best pitcher in FABL, and while the trade brought titles to the Motor City, the Kings received plenty of pitching talent from the transaction. Both Arch Wilson (11-3, 9, 2.91, 40) and Pug White (11-7, 15, 3.15, 91) won their 11th games of the season for the Cougars, tied for the team lead. For a team formerly known for elite starters and a poor pen, it's ironic seeing two relievers in double digit wins, while the next closest starter is Roy Ellis (9-5, 3.66, 127) is two wins behind. Chicago leads the CA with a 3.52 pen ERA, getting 178.2 innings elite innings out of their two high leverage arms. Former basketball star Charlie Barrell (.267, 18, 62) hit his 1,500th career hit in a 3-for-5 against the Saints. The Stars finished the game 9-7 winners. Initial a two-sport player, this milestone would likely have been 2,000 had he stuck to baseball. Just 32, it's still an option, as the 8-Time All-Star has been able to play a lot more since dedicating himself to baseball. DEFENDING CHAMPS WIN GRID OPENER, BUT SAINTS AND BUCKS STUMBLE Defending National Champion Maryland State kicked off a light schedule on the opening weekend of collegiate football with a rather pedestrian showing in a 10-0 blanking of the Portland Tech Magpies, but at least the Bengals started the campaign off on the right foot, which is something that a pair of top ten schools in St Blane and Travis College failed to do. The Bengals, who finished 10-1 and capped their first national title with a dominating 48-6 win over Oklahoma City State in the Sunshine Classic last New Years Day, did not crack the top ten in the first collegiate poll of 1962. Instead, Maryland State is ranked 11th after a less than impressive win over Portland Tech. Blame it on the long trip cross-country perhaps, but the heavily favoured Bengals needed nearly 44 minutes before they finally opened the scoring late in the third quarter when Mike Hudson broke free on a 21-yard touchdown scamper to cap a 15-play, 91-yard drive that finally showcased what the Bengals offense can do when it is rolling. An early fourth quarter field goal by Jack Shaw rounded out the scoring in an error filled game that the Magpies have to be looking at as a missed opportunity. Portland Tech turned over the ball five times including on three occasions when they were inside the Bengals twenty yard line. St. Blane is a team that really needs to turn things around as the Fighting Saints have never finished the season ranked in the top twenty-five since Jason Zapata took over as head coach three years ago. The Saints are in the top ten here in the early going of the 1962 campaign but came up short in their season opener. In their defense, a 26-14 loss in Philadelphia against a powerful Penn Catholic eleven that was 10-1 and ranked fourth in the nation a year ago is not a bad showing for most schools. Rick Fowler, the powerful senior back who rushed for over 1,000 yards in two of his previous three seasons with the Crusaders, had a strong start to his season, gaining 133 yards on the ground against the Saints and scoring the game's opening touchdown. Like St. Blane, Travis College faced a tough task in their season opener as they were off to Knoxville for a meeting with defending Deep South Conference champion Cumberland. The Explorers have not lost to a Southwest Alliance school since the opening week of the 1957 season and ran their winning streak against SWA outfits to five games with a 20-12 victory over the Bucks on Saturday - a win that ensured a spot in the top five for Cumberland in the opening week rankings. The Explorers could not slow down Travis College junior back Hugh Brasfield, who rushed for a game high 131 yards, but countered successfully with their balanced attack which had quarterback Steve Peach throwing for 121 yards and the backfield duo of Henry Virkler and Ron Filas keeping the Bucks defenders off balance alternating outside sprints from the speedy Virkler with power runs up the middle from the bruising Filas to combine for 171 yards on the ground. Other games of note saw a pair of Great Lakes Alliance squads get off to solid starts as Minnesota Tech blasted Amarillo Methodist 56-28 while Western Iowa, led by John Mahoney's amazing 317 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns, thumped Deep South Conference doormat Bayou State 78-6. Those 317 yards gained by Mahoney are well off the single game AIAA record which is 435 gained by former Amarillo Methodist back John Addis in a 1958 game against Texas Panhandle. * ANOTHER BARRELL SET TO DEBUT * A full slate of action is on tap this coming Saturday including number one ranked Central Ohio opening its season with a game against Bluegrass State. The Mustangs got an early start on things two days ago, beating College of Waco 34-17 in their opener. #2 ranked Coastal California is also in action as the Dolphins visit 1-0 Minns College, which blanked St. Patrick's 52-0 on Saturday. The marquee game next week may well be the showdown in Knoxville where fourth ranked Cumberland looks to go 2-0 when the Explorers host College of Omaha's Raiders, who are ranked 5th in advance of their season opener. It is perhaps too lofty an expectation for the Plains Athletic Association school that has not won more than seven games in a season since 1952 and was just 6-4 a year ago. Some might argue the biggest game next week takes place in Boston where Commonwealth Catholic is set to host Coastal State. Not a lot is expected this season from the Crusaders, who went 4-6 a year ago. Coastal State does have high expectations after the Eagles ruined Maryland State's bid for a perfect season and made their first ever appearance on New Year's Day, a 24-10 loss to Bluegrass State in the Cajun Classic. Those may be good reasons to anticipate a big year out of the Eagles but the focus will be primarily on one player. That would be Bobby Barrell Jr., son of the baseball Hall of Famer and latest in the long list of Barrell family members to play collegiate football. Bobby Jr. is a freshman defensive end and at 6'3", 248 pounds is even more powerfully built than his famous father. Some are saying the 19-year-old may already be the most skilled defensive player in the entire AIAA, and that is before the top recruit from Philadelphia has even suited up for a single collegiate football game. Coastal State head coach Frank Spurlock says Barrell reminds him of Maryland State senior defensive end Doug Jones, who was all-conference a year ago and perhaps the best player on the defensive side of the ball the South Atlantic Conference has ever seen. WEEKEND SCORES Minns College Mavericks 52, St Patrick's Shamrocks 0 Miami State Gulls 24, Liberty College Bells 14 Queen City Monarchs 30, Pittsburgh State Finches 7 El Paso Methodist Bandits 34, Cleveland Tigers 6 Chicago Poly Catamounts 33, Garden State Redbirds 9 Penn Catholic Crusaders 26, St Blane Fighting Saints 14 Lawrence State Chippewa 28, Bayou State Cougars 25 Northern Mississippi Mavericks 30, Mile High State Falcons 27 Mississippi A_M Generals 31, Custer College Cavalry 6 Cumberland Explorers 20, Travis College Bucks 12 Western Iowa Canaries 78, Baton Rogue State Red Devils 6 Bluegrass State Mustangs 34, College of Waco Cowboys 17 Boston State Pirates 25, Cache Valley Cowboys 7 Maryland State Bengals 10, Portland Tech Magpies 0 St Ignatius Lancers 23, Richmond State Colonials 20 Minnesota Tech Lakers 56, Amarillo Methodist Grizzlies 28 CC Los Angeles Coyotes 27, Alabama Baptist Panthers 17 St Pancras Lions 27, Cowpens State Fighting Green 19 Redwood Mammoths 44, Lambert College Stags 10 Lane State Emeralds 62, Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers 14 Eastern Kansas Warriors 69, Ferguson Wildcats 10 Canyon A_M Armadillos 31, Northern Minnesota Muskies 17 Boulder State Grizzlies 24, McKinney State Renegades 20 Payne State Mavericks 46, Texas Panhandle Cowboys 10 STARS NOT WORRIED AS PRO GRID SET FOR KICK-OFF Going winless in three preseason games has done little to deter New York Stars football coach Dolph Ulrich as he prepares his team to begin its quest for a third consecutive American Football Association championship. Ulrich's Stars have played in each of the last three AFA title tilts and won the last two but his club stumbled to an 0-3 record in preseason action. None of that matters notes the longtime bench boss of the Stars, who owns four AFA championship rings. "We were looking at a lot of young players and the focus was on preparing for Sunday's game (regular season opener) against Washington. That's the game that matters." The Stars defense took a hit over the winter as veteran defensive back Vic Morrell and linebacker Jerry Grover both retired. Grover, in particular will be missed after being named Defensive MVP during last seasons title winning campaign. The hope is that Billy Board, who was an all-star two years ago can fill Grover's shoes as team leader and that the club's top two draft picks - Whitney College safety Jamie Melcher and former Lincoln College lineman Jerry Van Wagoner can help fill the void. Melcher, selected in the first round, 14th overall, was especially impressive in preseason action. The preseason prognosticators are not expecting much from the Stars despite the fact the offense returns intact including MVP quarterback Orlin Youngs and halfback Reid McDuffy, who was named the playoff MVP as a rookie a year ago. If anything the offense, which did not overwhelm during the regular season but came together in the playoffs, is even stronger with the addition of end Rusty Drews, who had 56 catches for Cleveland a year ago. Despite that fact, the popular choice to win the East Division this season is the Philadelphia Frigates with the Washington Wasps a close second. In the West the Chicago Wildcats, who lost to the Stars in the title game last season, are tabbed as the team to beat although there is also plenty of support for the Los Angeles Tigers. The Wasps visit to New York is the game to watch this week as the AFA begins its 43rd season on Sunday. Here are the opening weekend games. AFA SCHEDULE SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16 Boston (1-2) at Cleveland (2-1) Washington (1-2) at New York (0-3) Buffalo (0-3) at Pittsburgh (1-2) Detroit (1-2) at Chicago (3-0) Los Angeles (1-2) at Kansas City (2-1) Houston (1-2) at San Francisco (2-1) Philadelphia (3-0) at St Louis (3-0) (preseason record in parentheses) A TITLE FIGHT IN THE DESERT: VEGAS GETS READY FOR THE BIG SHOW LAS VEGAS—The bright lights of Las Vegas will shine even brighter this weekend as the glitzy gambling oasis steps onto the main stage of the boxing world. For the first time, a world championship fight will be decided in this fast-growing city, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The undefeated World Middleweight Champion, Lyman King, will defend his crown against the seasoned former champ, George Hatchell, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The champ, King, hails from Oakland, California, and carries an unblemished record of 40-0 into the ring. Known for his ferocious fists and keen tactical mind, King wrested the title from Canadian George Quisenberry in January, scoring a decisive fifth-round TKO at Madison Square Garden. King’s follow-up performance, a sixth-round knockout of Steve Bradshaw in May, solidified his reputation as one of the most exciting pugilists in the sport today. Standing opposite him will be George Hatchell, a wily veteran of the squared circle who has twice worn the middleweight crown. Now 30 years old, the Puyallup, Washington native brings a 43-7-2 record into this pivotal matchup. Hatchell first captured the title seven years ago by toppling Jim Ward and successfully defended it five times before controversy struck. In 1956, Hatchell lost the belt to Mark McCoy via a contentious disqualification—a decision that sparked heated debates across the boxing world. A rematch months later ended in similar disappointment, as Hatchell was again disqualified for repeated rule infractions. Undeterred, Hatchell mounted a comeback, reclaiming the title in 1958 with a hard-fought victory over Quisenberry. However, his reign was short-lived. After a single successful defense, Hatchell faced McCoy once more, this time dropping a majority decision. His next title opportunity came in 1960 against Quisenberry, who by then had regained the crown, but Hatchell fell short on the scorecards in a unanimous decision. Now, Hatchell has another chance to reclaim glory, but the challenge before him is formidable. King has never tasted defeat, and this marks the first meeting between the two fighters. Both men will be stepping into the Las Vegas ring for the first time, as the city continues its rapid rise as a boxing hub. Long overshadowed by New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, Las Vegas is now staking its claim to the spotlight. The Convention Center is expected to be packed to the rafters as the local promoters promise an evening of high-stakes drama and action under the desert lights. Whether King’s meteoric rise continues or Hatchell’s grit and experience win the day, history will be made in Las Vegas this weekend. One thing is certain: the boxing world will be watching. RECENT KEY RESULTS Canadian middleweight George Quisenberry, who has been world champion three times in the past decade, returned to the ring for the first time since his title loss to Lyman King last January. The 27-year-old Toronto native looked sharp with a 5th round knock out of Billy Randall in Los Angeles on Saturday evening. Quisenberry, 39-2-3, is hoping for another title shot perhaps as early as December. King, who defends his title against George Hatchell in Las Vegas this weekend, has reportedly reached a deal to face Quisenberry in December should he successfully defend his crown against Hatchell. Veteran welterweight Michael McDowell, who once had a title shot against Eugene Ellis, but has lost four of his last five bouts including a non-title rematch with Ellis in early July, lost again after being stopped in the fifth round of a bout slated for ten with lightly regarded Detroiter Robby Chandler. McDowell, who turned 30 years old last month, is expected to announce his retirement. The Medway, MA., native is 33-17-1 overall but 2-7-1 since losing to Ellis in a title bout in the fall of 1959. New York City welterweight Charlie McMichael won a split decision over Stan Thomas at Bigsby Garden last week. The 27-year-old McMichael is now 28-3-2 and widely considered one of the top ten welterweights in the world. Another victory for Texas-born middleweight Ed Eads, who scored an unanimous decision over Gary Martin and is now 21-1. The 25-year-old has been busy - this was his second bout with Martin in just over a month and he has fought six times over the past six months, winning each of them handily. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS September 15- Middleweight champion Lyman King will face George Hatchell in what will be the first title fight ever staged in desert casino city of Las Vegas. The 25-year-old King, who knocked out Steve Bradshaw in May to run his perfect record to 40-0, will take on Hatchell, a 30-year-old from Puyallup, WA., who held the title on two different occasions in the 1950s and had an unsuccessful to attempt to win it for a third time two years ago when he lost a decision to George Quisenberry. Hatchell is 43-7-2 and most recently won by decision over veteran boxer Davis Owens. September 29- World welterweight champion Lenny Shafto will make his first title defense, facing Matt Leach. November 1- Heavyweight champion Walt Phillips, a 25-year-old San Francisco native, who was the surprise winner of a title fight with Harry Pratt in July, makes his first title defense against 26-year-old George Galleshaw. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 9/09/1962 Red China is reporting it shot down a U-2 spy plane over Communist soil, charging the flight was part of a United States spy program. Secretary of Defense McNamara has requested presidential authority to call up 150,000 reservists, saying it is needed to enable the United States to respond "promptly and decisively" if the international situation worsens suddenly. The Senate passed a $900 million authorization bill to relieve unemployment by speeding up public works projects that can be started without delay.