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Tiger Fan · 01-14-2026, 02:14 PM

MAY 12, 1975

MAULERS MAKE HISTORY!
Expansion Club Captures Continental Cup in Debut Season

The impossible happened in Milwaukee this week, and it happened quickly. In just their first season of existence, the Milwaukee Maulers climbed to the top of the Continental Hockey League, defeating the Winnipeg Falcons in five games to claim the Continental Cup and give Wisconsin its first professional sports championship.

No expansion team in modern pro sports had ever pulled off such a feat, and while skeptics may note that the CHL is only three years old, there was nothing small about what the Maulers accomplished. Milwaukee finished the regular season tied with Winnipeg for the league’s best record, then tore through the playoffs with a 12–4 mark, dispatching defending champion Edmonton and the Hobie Barrell-led Ottawa Athletics before closing the door on the Falcons in the finals.

What made the Maulers’ run even more remarkable was the absence of a traditional superstar. No Milwaukee player finished among the league’s top ten scorers, and leading scorer Larry Ewbanks spent the first half of the season in Houston. In goal, the Maulers relied on 24-year-old rookie Simon Allenby, who was playing senior hockey in Ontario a year ago and ranked in the lower half of the league in both goals-against average and save percentage.

What Milwaukee did have was balance, depth, and a roster full of players with something to prove. Acquired in December, Ewbanks transformed the club, piling up 56 points in 36 games after managing just 28 in 40 contests with the Outlaws. Four Maulers scored at least 20 goals, including 28-year-old defenseman Matt Mosher, who enjoyed a breakout season with 77 points while anchoring the power play.

That depth carried straight through the playoffs. Allenby was steady without being spectacular, and no single scorer dominated the scoresheet. Tony Kenward, picked up midseason from Seattle, led the Maulers with 15 playoff points, yet still ranked only eighth overall. Eleven different Milwaukee players scored at least three playoff goals, a statistic that neatly summed up how the Maulers won. Ewbanks, slowed by injury, was less visible as a scorer but contributed three assists in the Cup-clinching victory.

Winnipeg struck first, taking the series opener 4–3 in overtime behind two goals from league scoring champion Tim Moore, capitalizing despite being badly outshot. Milwaukee responded in game two with a 4–2 win, again controlling play as Kenward assisted on three goals.

When the series moved north to Winnipeg’s Red River Gardens—where the Falcons had posted a league-best 24–8–7 home record—the Maulers simply kept winning. Game three went to overtime, and this time it was Milwaukee celebrating as 34-year-old Jack Drolet, a former NAHC veteran, scored midway through the extra period for a 3–2 victory. Two nights later, eight different Maulers recorded a point as Milwaukee dominated 45–22 in shots and earned a 3–1 win to take a commanding series lead.

Back home, Ewbanks set up three goals in game five as the Maulers closed out the Falcons 5–3 at the Milwaukee Auditorium, sealing a championship few would have dared to predict.

Three seasons into its existence, the Continental Hockey League now has three different champions—and a new benchmark. An expansion team didn’t just compete. It won it all.

VALIANTS ON THE BRINK
Montreal Leads Chicago 3-0, Boston & LA Tight in Other Semi

The Montreal Valiants are doing what experienced champions are supposed to do at this time of year: take control early and leave little doubt. After a 5–3 victory at the Montreal Arena last night, the Valiants hold a commanding three-games-to-none lead over the Chicago Packers and stand one win away from a return to the Challenge Cup finals, something they haven’t done since capturing their ninth title four years ago.

Ed Halliday continues to look very much like a man in a hurry. His playoff-leading 10th goal highlighted game three, with Mark Moggy and Charles Thibeault each chipping in two-point nights as Montreal once again dictated the terms of play. The Valiants have been faster, deeper, and far more composed than Chicago at every turn.

The tone of the series was set in Chicago earlier in the week, where Montreal opened with two authoritative road victories. Game one was as one-sided as a semifinal can be, the Valiants outshooting the Packers 46–14 in a 4–0 shutout. Fred Rucks barely broke a sweat in recording his third shutout of the postseason, while Ron Kincaid, Pete Fortin, John Partridge, and Dean Sapier supplied the offense.

Game two followed much the same script, at least in terms of territorial dominance. Chicago goaltender Rejean Gillies kept the Packers alive through forty minutes with a series of acrobatic saves, and Pat McGibbon briefly gave the home crowd hope by scoring just 25 seconds into the third period. That hope lasted only moments. Clyde Raines struck twice, with Halliday and Dan Roeszler adding singles, as Montreal pulled away for a 4–1 victory. The Valiants can finish the sweep Wednesday night back on home ice.

In the other semifinal, the Boston Bees and Los Angeles Stingrays are locked in a far more competitive affair, with Boston holding a narrow two-games-to-one edge. The Bees opened the series at Denny Arena with an emphatic 8–3 win, only to see Los Angeles respond in game two with a 3–1 victory behind two-point performances from Dick Mitchell and Ernie Baldwin.

The series shifted west for game three, and it was Boston that regained the upper hand. Eddie Lafleur and Tommy Gordon each recorded three points as the Bees skated away with a 6–2 victory at the LA Events Center. Game four goes tomorrow night, with the Stingrays—still chasing their first Challenge Cup—looking to even the series. Los Angeles has been this far before, reaching the finals in 1971, only to be turned back by the very same Montreal club that now sits three wins ahead of Chicago and one step from the Cup stage once again.

KINGS SEIZE CROWN AND DON'T LOOK BACK

A little over a month into the season, there are still 12 clubs who have won 14 or fewer games this season.

Seattle has won 14 in a row.

It shouldn't be a surprise for anyone that the defending champs are having little difficulty to begin the year, they have arguably the most talent on their roster top to bottom, but the way they are both dismantling teams and outlasting them, it's going to be impossible to stop them.

Sweeping five consecutive series, they haven't lost since a quick three game series in Kansas City, and before their nice streak they actually lost five of their last six. Now it would seem crazy for them to lose five the rest of the way, as no one can keep up with their offense, and almost no one can keep up with their pitching. That's even with the struggling of former Allen winner Swede Hawkins (4-2, 5.36, 19), who's record is courtesy of the previously mentioned offense, as the perk of four aces is that one of them can struggle and there's nothing to worry about. Their other Allen winner, Moe Lowery (4-2, 2.60, 35), is pitching like he wants a second, while offseason acquisition Bill Harris (3-2, 3.02, 23) and former 6th Rounder John Howell (4-1, 3.38, 20) could each be the top guy in another rotation.

Of course, it's all about the bats, specifically the corner outfield. Two of the best hitters in the game, Bob Glowacki and Mike Griffith seem to do enough scoring all by themselves. Glowacki is an early Whitney candidate, hitting an elite .330/.460/.600 (191 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homers, 13 RBIs, 21 runs, and 23 walks. About all he can't do is steal bases, 0-for-3 this year and 2-for-7 last, but they have Sam Barnes (.236, 1, 8, 4), Jesse Walker (.269, 4, 19, 6), and catcher Fred Tollefson (.295, 4, 14, 5) to do that. Griffith doesn't steal bases, but just like Glowacki he doesn't need to. They hold a share for the team average line, as the young 24-year-old defending Kellogg winner is hitting a similar .330/.395/.504 (147 OPS+). Adding in 4 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, 21 runs, and 25 RBIs, he's produced in every other way, and will continue to remain a key cog in this well oiled machine.

The wheels will take them to Milwaukee to start the week, ending an already successful nine game road trip. At 19-9, the Arrows are the only FABL team with single digit losses, but that could change in a blink. Easily the best team either will face at this point, but it's not because the Arrows can keep up with their offense. Aside from surprise .400 hitter Rich Moyer (.402, 3, 10, 2), who just sprained his ankle and won't return until June. Lucky for them, it's the pitching staff, as they've allowed a FABL few 79 runs and are the last remaining team still in double digits. Perhaps more impressively, two teams have actually allowed more then 100 more runs then them and three more have allowed at least twice as many runs. Tex Cavanaugh (1-2, 1.73, 20) is expected to get the opener, as despite his record he's been one of the leagues top pitchers, and he'll be followed by their top two pitchers in Joe Wright (5-1, 3.04, 30) and Mel Maddox (3-1, 2.63, 23). These are three of the few pitchers that can handle a lineup as talented and deep as Kansas City's, and it will be exciting to see how the two division leaders fair, knowing that even a sweep can't kick them out of the top spot.

While the Continental division leaders have plenty of comfort, the Fed leaders don't, with both leading by a half game. In the East, Baltimore and their surprisingly dominant pitching has allowed them to open up a half game over the Copperheads, while in the West the Suns lead the Millers with the Chiefs 1.5 out. Baltimore and Minneapolis were both expected to be far outside the playoff race, and are doing it in the exact opposite way. Baltimore is 2nd in runs against, led by ace Jose Martinez (3-1, 3.40, 23) and breakout vet Johnny Hugot (2-1, 2.52, 21), while Minneapolis and their 2nd in runs scored are fueled by an imposing front five that all have WRC+ above 125. The two second place clubs will be in Baltimore to start the week, as the Cannons and Millers square off in a two game set. Hugot is expected to take on struggling Miller ace Hank Wagner (1-4, 5.77, 30) in the opener. The finale will see Minneapolis breakout arm Hub Huffman (2-2, 2.45, 28) draw number five starter Max Reed (1-1, 4.05, 6), the only member of the Clipper rotation with a below average ERA+ (97).
Many might have expected Houston, who's won 100 games back in 1973, to be one of the teams leading the division, but at 17-15 they're in 4th. 2.5 games out isn't insurmountable, and it could shrink if they give more time to Stan Francis (.380, 1, 20). He only made 17 trips to the plate this week, but it was the quality and not the quantity that got him the Fed Player of the Week. Francis was 10-for-14 with 5 doubles, leading to an absurd .714/.765/1.214 (434 OPS+) weekly line. On the season he's now up to .380/.453/.565 (177 OPS+), sporting a dominant 13-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio. 2 is also the amount of 4-hit games Francis, as the second year outfielder as really found his stroke.
Another unlikely Player of the Week winner, Cannon 8th hitter Frank Eddy (.371, 1, 10, 3) was nominated this week. Hitting an even 10-for-20, he picked up 2 doubles, a triple, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs scored, as the former 15th Rounder inflated his season line to .371/.451/.483 (154 OPS+). Like Francis he has 13 walks, though you need a 1 before Francis' K totals to match it. 31 in June, he's never hit for an above average batting line, usually relying on his Diamond Defense level second base skills instead. Cincy has been able to put runners on, 2nd in average and 3rd in OBP, but as you can see from Eddy's runs and RBIs the don't get the guys in, tied for 9th in runs scored.
Failure to score has been a common theme at times this year, as Continental hurlers added four more shutouts. Starting things off was the first one of Johnny Baylor's (4-2, 5.01, 19) career, as the former All-Star quickly turned around his fortunes. Entering with an ERA above 6, he dominated the Wranglers, scattering 6 hits and a walk while he struck out 2 in the Sailors 3-0 win. It ended up being back-to-back shutouts, as Elmer Peters (1-1, 2.79, 14) and the Sailors again bested the slumping Wranglers. Like Baylor it was Peters' first of his career, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in a 4-0 win. Dallas has had a brutal May, 0-9 so far as they look to finally snap their 11 day losing streak. Falling from first to last, they're now 13-19 and 9 games behind the Kings, who haven't lost since April.
The same day as the Peters shutout, Seattle's John Howell (4-1, 3.38, 20) had 4s for hits, walks, and strikeouts, as his Kings beat the Cougars 4-0. Two days later it was Jackie Thompson (3-1, 1.67, 24), has the stopper-turned-starter-turned-stopper-turned starter is on track for his first All-Star selection. He struck out just one, but walked none, charged with 6 hits in a* 2-0 shutout win. Lowering his ERA to an association best 1.67 (235 ERA+), Thompson has a 3.07 FIP (78 FIP-) and 0.98 WHIP, even better then anything he's done so far out of the pen.
Their could have been a shutout in the Fed too, but the Copperheads could not score for Jack Kotarski (2-3, 2.74, 27). After 9 innings, he held the Eagles to 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 10 in what should have been his 3rd win of the season. Instead, it turned into a loss, as Atlanta could not solve Herman White (1-4, 5.40, 40), despite being easily solved both before and after. Kotarski was brought out for the 10th, but a struggling Virgil Belisle (.207, 3, 12, 2) started the extra frame with a lead-off homer. Kotarski did get one more batter so the pen could be ready, and it stayed 1-0, but Atlanta stranded two one-out singles in the bottom half, which contributed to them losing first place.
Fans of offense did get a treat on the 6th, where for a rare time this season Quinton Vincent (.242, 2, 9, 4) wasn't struggling. Generally a consistent bat in the Pioneers lineup, his .242/.300/.359 (79 OPS+) batting line would be his first below average slash since his 1968 debut with the Keystones. Houston made him look like himself, as "Q" was a perfect 5-for-5 with a double, run, and 2 RBIs. A career .276/.353/.417 (120 OPS+) hitter, he's usually exactly what you want at the top of the order, especially with his speed, but his lack of production has contributed mightily to the Pioneers 9-23 start.
Suns superstar Tom Lally (.355, 9, 33, 3) became the first FABL player to reach the 2 WAR mark, up to 2.2 in 30 games. Good for an 11.4 WAR pace, over 2 wins higher then his league leading mark last year, it would replace that season as the most valuable one in Suns history. Hitting .355/.418/.613 (182 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 9 homers, 24 runs, 33 RBIs, 3 steals, and excellent defense, he's a triple crown threat and the early Whitney favorite. He leads the Fed in homers and RBIs, and his 1.031 OPS leads as well.
In a precautionary measure, the Kings placed 39-year-old Charlie Rushing (1-1, 5.24, 10) on the IL before his diagnosis came, giving his spot in the rotation to former 1st Rounder Danny Anderson (1-0, 1.38, 3), who despite 6 walks had no troubles with the Wolves in Toronto. Rushing was later diagnosed with an oblique strain, but the Kings medical staff is not sure how much longer he'll need. Injuries are always trick when you're as old as Rushing, but their is hope he can return before his 40th birthday on the 23rd. A 5-Time All Star and 3-Time Association Win leader, he's been a rotation weapon since joining the Keystones rotation in 1964, but it's a loss that will be easy for the West leaders to overcome.
A harder injury to cover comes in Cleveland, where they'll be without star outfielder Vern Schneider (.303, 7, 16) as he deals with a calf strain. it shouldn't be a long absence, likely two weeks, but Cleveland is the lowest scoring offense and will be without their most productive hitter. Hitting .303/.376/.658 (174 OPS+) he's provided his club with a lot of slug, and his 7 home runs are second in the association. Replacing his bat will be tough, and a lot of pressure will be placed on young catcher Reggie Anderson (.327, 1, 12) to keep Cleveland in the Eastern division race.
It's similar for the Stars and Bill Bell (.290, 2, 17, 3), who sprained his ankle on Sunday. Set to miss six weeks, LA will have to find a new leadoff hitter, as Bell had done a great job bouncing back from an uncharacteristic 1974. He hit just .242/.290./.324 (79 OPS+), far away from his career .272/.322/.398 (108 OPS+) line and stretch of eight consecutive above average offensive seasons. Also a great defender, it's a big loss for a Suns team on the up, though it could make room for top prospect and FABL's 27th ranked prospect Bob Branson. The shortstop is hitting .330/.392/.477 (122 OPS+) in AAA, and can easily shift over to second if they want to keep former Whitney winner Lew Smith (.305, 5, 14, 2) at short.
No one was hit harder then St. Louis, who lost both Tom Spruill (.303, 6) and Milt Howard (.500, 2) for over a month. Both started the season as bench bats, but Spruill was recently added to the middle infield to replace Larry Ciminio (.286, 2, 6) following his concussion. Still looking for their 10th win, it's been a nightmare season for them, tagged with the most losses (23) among FABL organizations.
Last injury note goes to Maverick starter Harry Kluth (3-2, 4.81, 10), who may try to push through it. Dealing with a strained rib cage muscle, it's not going to heal without rest, but it's not going to impact him throwing the ball. Pitchers don't usually need to run or hit, so it may not impact his production too much. It does seem to be something to last multiple weeks, four if he isn't pitching, and with his early struggles the Mavs may place him on the shelf so he doesn't mess anything else up.

A TALE OF TWO TEAMS: THE BEST ARMS AND THE WORST BATS IN THE HUB

BOSTON — There is no sugarcoating this week, fans. If you were looking for a reason to smile at the ballpark, you probably spent most of your time staring at the pitching mound and ignoring the batter's box. The week started with a sloppy loss to Baltimore and a wasted gem from Bob Scott, who struck out seven in seven innings but watched a rough sixth frame turn into a 3-2 heartbreaker. That loss dropped Scott to a miserable 0-3, a record that doesn't tell half the story of how well he pitched.

Baltimore finished the sweep the next day when Walt Portelli coughed up a blown save. That left a no-decision for Bill Kelly, who I suppose deserves a small pat on the back for only walking four batters instead of his customary five or six. Small victories, right? Things didn't improve when Detroit rolled in. Johnny Hall gave us a respectable outing, only to have Bud Shireman surrender a two-run bomb in the 10th inning. That pushed the losing streak to four and the overall record to a dismal 7-17.

Finally, Hank Springer decided he’d seen enough. Springer delivered arguably the best performance of the young season, going eight innings of three-hit, shutout ball in a 3-0 win. Bob Scott followed that up by finally getting some run support—and his first win—with a masterful six-hit complete game. Ed Cole blew that one open with a three-run blast in the fifth, and Jim Morton added his third homer of the year as the Minutemen took a 7-2 win to close the homestand.

Sully’s Stance: The club finished the homestand 5-5 against the big boys of the FA East, Atlanta and Baltimore. That’s the good news. The bad news? I’ve been looking out from the press box lately and it’s like a ghost town down there. We had 11,000 for the Detroit finale, but the other games didn't even crack the 10,000 mark. We haven't drawn 15,000 for a single game all year.

Now, this isn’t a jab at you, the fans. Why would you brave a forty-degree wind to watch a team that flirts with the worst record in the league every Monday morning? Boston is a proud baseball town, but nobody is going to pay good money to watch an offense that has gone into a deep freeze.

Jim Morton has been the only constant, hitting .359 with an OBP over .400. Beyond him, we’ve got some average work from Charlie Hartsell and some decent role-playing from Hal Mazur and Dick Wood. Bill Gallagher has essentially stolen the backstop job because he’s actually producing. But you can't win with two regulars and a handful of subs. Willie Stephens is dragging a .267 average, Dick Ward is hitting just above his weight at .188, and Gil Armstrong is stuck at .212. As for our spring darling, Howard Smith? He’s plummeted to .185.It is a tale of two extremes. This club leads the league in ERA, runs allowed, hits allowed, and opponent’s average. Our pitchers are heroes; our hitters are spectators.

We are heading across the country to play the LA Suns, the best in the West, before heading to Detroit. If this offense doesn't wake up against the "soft underbelly" of the schedule soon, the brass is going to have to look at Columbus. Bill Ward is hitting .354 with two homers for the AAA club, and Frank Borgen is hitting .302 with more walks than strikeouts.

Options and service time are a headache, but so is losing. The best solution is for the guys currently in the clubhouse to start earning their keep.

Until next time, get those bats out of the cellar, Boston.

WOLVES CLIMB OUT OF THE CELLAR, THEN MEET REALITY

For a few pleasant days last week, the Toronto Wolves were allowed to imagine themselves as something other than tenants of the Eastern Division basement. They began the week briskly, ended it limping, and still managed to step over Montreal in the standings. In a division that has yet to decide what it wants to be, that qualifies as progress.

At 13–16 the Wolves remain a sub-.500 club, but they sit only two games behind the second-place Imperials, which tells you more about the Continental Association East than it does about Toronto. The conversations drifting through Dominion Stadium these days are not so much about what is, but what might have been—particularly the six games already donated to New York. Remove those, the argument goes, and the Wolves might look almost respectable. Baseball, however, does not honour hypothetical standings.

Toronto’s week opened on a cold Tuesday night against Montreal and dragged deep into the early hours, a 14-inning, 3–2 victory that felt more like survival than triumph. The Wolves committed three errors and handed out ten walks, both numbers that seem to age manager Carl Evans a year every time they appear. Still, a win is a win, and Toronto took it.

The following night brought something closer to order. The Wolves jumped on the Saints early, scoring three runs in the first inning, with Heinie Pearce lining a sharp two-run single to right with two outs. Montreal crept back to within one by the seventh, but Gus Hayes’ seeing-eye single in the bottom of the eighth plated two insurance runs. Dick Miller closed it out—though not without a little drama—to earn his third save in a 5–3 victory.

By the time Sid Cullen finished bludgeoning the Saints on Thursday, Toronto was riding a four-game winning streak and feeling rather pleased with itself. Cullen, at 38, turned back the calendar with two home runs, one of them a grand slam, and drove in six as the Wolves completed the sweep with a 10–4 win. Even then, they could not resist complicating matters with three errors and seven walks. The Wolves, it seems, insist on winning in spite of themselves.

Good feelings lasted until Seattle arrived.

The Kings have been tormenting this franchise since its Brooklyn days, and a change of address has done nothing to soften their touch. Seattle brought the bats on Friday night, pounding out 18 hits in an 11–2 win that featured a disastrous fourth inning in which Bullock was chased after surrendering seven runs.

The weekend games were closer, which offered little comfort. Toronto lost 5–4 when a late rally fizzled, then dropped a 7–6 decision on Sunday after building a 3–0 lead. Seattle responded with four runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth before Phil Story tightened things up with his second home run of the season. The tying and winning runs never arrived. The Seattle bullpen saw to that.

So the Wolves leave the week both encouraged and chastened. They are no longer last, which matters, and yet the gap between them and the league’s better clubs remains uncomfortably wide. The Los Angeles Stars arrive Monday for three games before Toronto heads west for a six-game swing that should clarify matters further.

There was movement off the field as well. Ken Jeffie returns to Buffalo, Stan Terry moves to the bullpen after a trying six weeks in the rotation, and Jim Hunter—3–0 with a sparkling 0.81 ERA at Buffalo—will be given his chance with the Wolves. Joe Trent, armed with a newly developed forkball, moves up from Double-A to Buffalo.

For now, the Wolves are out of the cellar and looking around cautiously, as if unsure how they got there or how long they’ll be allowed to stay. In this division, that may be enough to keep the conversation interesting—at least for another week.

CENTURIONS ONE WIN FROM FIRST FINALS TRIP IN SIX YEARS

The Boston Centurions are on the verge of ending a long postseason drought. After stumbling in the opener of their Eastern Conference semi-final series, Boston has responded with three straight victories and now holds a commanding 3–1 edge over the Washington Statesmen following a 108–93 win last night in the nation’s capital.

One more victory will send the Centurions to the Federal Basketball League finals for the first time since 1969. Boston was a dominant force during the 1960s, capturing three league championships and reaching the finals twice more, but had not won a playoff series in this decade before this spring. That changed with a six-game quarterfinal triumph over Chicago, and the Centurions now stand on the brink of a return to the league’s biggest stage.

Washington has already authored one of the postseason’s major surprises. The Statesmen, who finished fifth in a tightly packed Eastern Conference race, stunned defending champion New York by winning game seven of their quarterfinal series 129–117. Veteran center Herman Bergmann led the way in that clincher with 31 points and 15 rebounds.

Bergmann carried that form into the semi-finals, scoring 30 points as Washington took the opener in Boston, 120–116. Since then, however, the series has tilted decisively toward the Centurions. Boston erased an eight-point halftime deficit to claim game two, 115–107, then stole game three in Washington on Wayne Toler’s buzzer-beater in a 108–107 win. Game four was far less dramatic, with Doug Memmott scoring 25 points and Bill Champagne adding 24 as Boston pulled away for a 15-point victory.

Out West, the conference final between Minneapolis and St. Louis is deadlocked at two games apiece. The Rockets, winners of three of the past six FBL titles, advanced past Seattle in five games, while the Bobcats—an expansion club from 1970—earned the first playoff series win in franchise history by edging Houston 128–113 in a decisive seventh game.

The Western series has been defined by prolific scoring. Brooks Brown poured in 39 points as Minneapolis opened with a 151–140 win, a game that featured little resistance at either end of the floor. St. Louis answered in game two behind a 58-point outburst from John Brantner, slipping away with a 127–126 victory. Back at Gateway Center, Brantner again led the Rockets with 37 points in a 118–114 win, only to see Minneapolis even the series last night with a 136–132 decision highlighted by Brown’s FBL playoff single-game record of 63 points.

Game five is scheduled for tomorrow night in St. Louis before the series shifts back to Minneapolis, with the Western Conference still very much up for grabs.

OUTLAWS LOSE FAIRCHILD INJURY

If the San Antonio Outlaws are going to knock off the mighty Cincinnati Steamers in the Continental Basketball League championship series they will have to do it without the services of the CBL's leading scorer. Bill Fairchild, who averaged more than 30 points a game during the regular season and was putting up similar numbers in the playoffs, hyperextended his knee early in the second half of what would be a wild 154-142 win for the Outlaws over the Steamers.

That victory evened the series at one win apiece as the series heads to Texas for the next three games but the Outlaws will be without their top player the rest of the way. Fairchild had paced the Outlaws with 30 points in a 118-116 loss in the series opener and had 25 points in 22 minutes of action before he was knocked out of game two with the knee injury.

In this the final season of the CBL before the league is absorbed by the Federal Basketball League next season, will provide a first time CBL champion as neither San Antonio nor Cincinnati won a title in the first seven years of the CBL. The Outlaws had never made the finals prior to this season but the Steamers have reached the championship series three times before but never won including back-to-back losses over the past two years.

EXPLORERS LOOKING FOR BIG YEAR OUT OF HASKELL & McRAE

While much of the defense that led the Cumberland Explorers to a 9-3 record and a Cajun Classic victory a year ago are lost to graduation, the Explorers return a load of talent to their offense and will be looking to challenge for a Deep South Conference title. Front and center in Tennessee will be the Cumberland backfield of Robert Haskell and Ambrose McRae. The two enter their junior season and will be joined by senior quarterback Steven Sheffield and four/fifths of their offensive line from a year ago.

That line helped Haskell earn All-American honors and Deep South Player of Year accolades while rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns while McRae ran for a little over 1,100 and they were considered to be the most dangerous backfield tandem in the AIAA a year ago. As TWIFS continues its college preview with a look at some of the top running backs in the nation it is clear that the Cumberland duo belong near the forefront of any discussion on that topic.

The Deep South Conference as a whole seems loaded this year with quality runners including the highly touted Darrell Grogan. Grogan is a sophomore who did not play last year for Georgia Baptist but was outstanding in the Gators spring game and is a big reason why the Gators will be one of the candidates to be ranked #1 in the preseason poll. Mississippi A&M has a proven back in Marcus Butler, who ran for nearly 1,300 yards as a freshman last season and David Cross, a senior from Central Kentucky is back after being one of the top rushers in the nation a year ago.

Other running backs to keep an eye on include Raleigh Cutter, a St Blane senior who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a backup last year; Luther Dickinson, a junior at Lawrence State who ran for 1,241 yards and 17 touchdowns and was named the Plains Athletic Association player of the year; senior Willard Lancaster of Coastal State who has been the Eagles starting running back each of the previous two seasons along with Lane State senior Daniel Baird.

Among the incoming freshmen who might have a big impact on the rankings are Bill Smithson and Ricky Joynes. Smithson, a highly touted recruit out of Savannah, GA., may have to wait his turn with the Gators -who might have the deepest contingent of backs in the nation- but if he gets a chance he and Grogan will give the Gators a duo that will challenge the Cumberland pair for best in the Deep South. Joynes, a California native who signed with Detroit City College, will be relied on heavily if the Knights are going to make a third consecutive trip to the East-West Classic as they were hit hard by graduation especially on the offensive side of the ball.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 05/11/1975

The Communist dominance of Indochina continues to grow with Laos teetering after the fall of South Vietnam and Cambodia. The Red Pathet Lao was preparing to take over cabinet in Loas as pro-American members of the government were reported fleeing.
The new Communist government of Cambodia has accused the United States of spreading "dishonest propaganda" in an attempt to mislead world public opinion.
A Cambodian naval vessel seized an American merchant ship off the coast of Cambodia and forced it to port. President Ford called this "an act of piracy" and warned that failure to release the ship "will have the most serious consequences."
Despite a step up in exploration and drilling, U.S. offshore oil production is considerably lower than in recent years. The main reason is said to be some off-shore wells are pumping less. The hope is production off Alaska's north slope will soon increase to offset the drop.
The European Common Market has signed a far-reaching trade agreement with Israel despite Arab warnings of the political consequences.

01-14-2026, 02:14 PM	#1206
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,856	May 12, 1975 MAY 12, 1975 MAULERS MAKE HISTORY! Expansion Club Captures Continental Cup in Debut Season The impossible happened in Milwaukee this week, and it happened quickly. In just their first season of existence, the Milwaukee Maulers climbed to the top of the Continental Hockey League, defeating the Winnipeg Falcons in five games to claim the Continental Cup and give Wisconsin its first professional sports championship. No expansion team in modern pro sports had ever pulled off such a feat, and while skeptics may note that the CHL is only three years old, there was nothing small about what the Maulers accomplished. Milwaukee finished the regular season tied with Winnipeg for the league’s best record, then tore through the playoffs with a 12–4 mark, dispatching defending champion Edmonton and the Hobie Barrell-led Ottawa Athletics before closing the door on the Falcons in the finals. What made the Maulers’ run even more remarkable was the absence of a traditional superstar. No Milwaukee player finished among the league’s top ten scorers, and leading scorer Larry Ewbanks spent the first half of the season in Houston. In goal, the Maulers relied on 24-year-old rookie Simon Allenby, who was playing senior hockey in Ontario a year ago and ranked in the lower half of the league in both goals-against average and save percentage. What Milwaukee did have was balance, depth, and a roster full of players with something to prove. Acquired in December, Ewbanks transformed the club, piling up 56 points in 36 games after managing just 28 in 40 contests with the Outlaws. Four Maulers scored at least 20 goals, including 28-year-old defenseman Matt Mosher, who enjoyed a breakout season with 77 points while anchoring the power play. That depth carried straight through the playoffs. Allenby was steady without being spectacular, and no single scorer dominated the scoresheet. Tony Kenward, picked up midseason from Seattle, led the Maulers with 15 playoff points, yet still ranked only eighth overall. Eleven different Milwaukee players scored at least three playoff goals, a statistic that neatly summed up how the Maulers won. Ewbanks, slowed by injury, was less visible as a scorer but contributed three assists in the Cup-clinching victory. Winnipeg struck first, taking the series opener 4–3 in overtime behind two goals from league scoring champion Tim Moore, capitalizing despite being badly outshot. Milwaukee responded in game two with a 4–2 win, again controlling play as Kenward assisted on three goals. When the series moved north to Winnipeg’s Red River Gardens—where the Falcons had posted a league-best 24–8–7 home record—the Maulers simply kept winning. Game three went to overtime, and this time it was Milwaukee celebrating as 34-year-old Jack Drolet, a former NAHC veteran, scored midway through the extra period for a 3–2 victory. Two nights later, eight different Maulers recorded a point as Milwaukee dominated 45–22 in shots and earned a 3–1 win to take a commanding series lead. Back home, Ewbanks set up three goals in game five as the Maulers closed out the Falcons 5–3 at the Milwaukee Auditorium, sealing a championship few would have dared to predict. Three seasons into its existence, the Continental Hockey League now has three different champions—and a new benchmark. An expansion team didn’t just compete. It won it all. VALIANTS ON THE BRINK Montreal Leads Chicago 3-0, Boston & LA Tight in Other Semi The Montreal Valiants are doing what experienced champions are supposed to do at this time of year: take control early and leave little doubt. After a 5–3 victory at the Montreal Arena last night, the Valiants hold a commanding three-games-to-none lead over the Chicago Packers and stand one win away from a return to the Challenge Cup finals, something they haven’t done since capturing their ninth title four years ago. Ed Halliday continues to look very much like a man in a hurry. His playoff-leading 10th goal highlighted game three, with Mark Moggy and Charles Thibeault each chipping in two-point nights as Montreal once again dictated the terms of play. The Valiants have been faster, deeper, and far more composed than Chicago at every turn. The tone of the series was set in Chicago earlier in the week, where Montreal opened with two authoritative road victories. Game one was as one-sided as a semifinal can be, the Valiants outshooting the Packers 46–14 in a 4–0 shutout. Fred Rucks barely broke a sweat in recording his third shutout of the postseason, while Ron Kincaid, Pete Fortin, John Partridge, and Dean Sapier supplied the offense. Game two followed much the same script, at least in terms of territorial dominance. Chicago goaltender Rejean Gillies kept the Packers alive through forty minutes with a series of acrobatic saves, and Pat McGibbon briefly gave the home crowd hope by scoring just 25 seconds into the third period. That hope lasted only moments. Clyde Raines struck twice, with Halliday and Dan Roeszler adding singles, as Montreal pulled away for a 4–1 victory. The Valiants can finish the sweep Wednesday night back on home ice. In the other semifinal, the Boston Bees and Los Angeles Stingrays are locked in a far more competitive affair, with Boston holding a narrow two-games-to-one edge. The Bees opened the series at Denny Arena with an emphatic 8–3 win, only to see Los Angeles respond in game two with a 3–1 victory behind two-point performances from Dick Mitchell and Ernie Baldwin. The series shifted west for game three, and it was Boston that regained the upper hand. Eddie Lafleur and Tommy Gordon each recorded three points as the Bees skated away with a 6–2 victory at the LA Events Center. Game four goes tomorrow night, with the Stingrays—still chasing their first Challenge Cup—looking to even the series. Los Angeles has been this far before, reaching the finals in 1971, only to be turned back by the very same Montreal club that now sits three wins ahead of Chicago and one step from the Cup stage once again. KINGS SEIZE CROWN AND DON'T LOOK BACK A little over a month into the season, there are still 12 clubs who have won 14 or fewer games this season. Seattle has won 14 in a row. It shouldn't be a surprise for anyone that the defending champs are having little difficulty to begin the year, they have arguably the most talent on their roster top to bottom, but the way they are both dismantling teams and outlasting them, it's going to be impossible to stop them. Sweeping five consecutive series, they haven't lost since a quick three game series in Kansas City, and before their nice streak they actually lost five of their last six. Now it would seem crazy for them to lose five the rest of the way, as no one can keep up with their offense, and almost no one can keep up with their pitching. That's even with the struggling of former Allen winner Swede Hawkins (4-2, 5.36, 19), who's record is courtesy of the previously mentioned offense, as the perk of four aces is that one of them can struggle and there's nothing to worry about. Their other Allen winner, Moe Lowery (4-2, 2.60, 35), is pitching like he wants a second, while offseason acquisition Bill Harris (3-2, 3.02, 23) and former 6th Rounder John Howell (4-1, 3.38, 20) could each be the top guy in another rotation. Of course, it's all about the bats, specifically the corner outfield. Two of the best hitters in the game, Bob Glowacki and Mike Griffith seem to do enough scoring all by themselves. Glowacki is an early Whitney candidate, hitting an elite .330/.460/.600 (191 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homers, 13 RBIs, 21 runs, and 23 walks. About all he can't do is steal bases, 0-for-3 this year and 2-for-7 last, but they have Sam Barnes (.236, 1, 8, 4), Jesse Walker (.269, 4, 19, 6), and catcher Fred Tollefson (.295, 4, 14, 5) to do that. Griffith doesn't steal bases, but just like Glowacki he doesn't need to. They hold a share for the team average line, as the young 24-year-old defending Kellogg winner is hitting a similar .330/.395/.504 (147 OPS+). Adding in 4 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, 21 runs, and 25 RBIs, he's produced in every other way, and will continue to remain a key cog in this well oiled machine. The wheels will take them to Milwaukee to start the week, ending an already successful nine game road trip. At 19-9, the Arrows are the only FABL team with single digit losses, but that could change in a blink. Easily the best team either will face at this point, but it's not because the Arrows can keep up with their offense. Aside from surprise .400 hitter Rich Moyer (.402, 3, 10, 2), who just sprained his ankle and won't return until June. Lucky for them, it's the pitching staff, as they've allowed a FABL few 79 runs and are the last remaining team still in double digits. Perhaps more impressively, two teams have actually allowed more then 100 more runs then them and three more have allowed at least twice as many runs. Tex Cavanaugh (1-2, 1.73, 20) is expected to get the opener, as despite his record he's been one of the leagues top pitchers, and he'll be followed by their top two pitchers in Joe Wright (5-1, 3.04, 30) and Mel Maddox (3-1, 2.63, 23). These are three of the few pitchers that can handle a lineup as talented and deep as Kansas City's, and it will be exciting to see how the two division leaders fair, knowing that even a sweep can't kick them out of the top spot. While the Continental division leaders have plenty of comfort, the Fed leaders don't, with both leading by a half game. In the East, Baltimore and their surprisingly dominant pitching has allowed them to open up a half game over the Copperheads, while in the West the Suns lead the Millers with the Chiefs 1.5 out. Baltimore and Minneapolis were both expected to be far outside the playoff race, and are doing it in the exact opposite way. Baltimore is 2nd in runs against, led by ace Jose Martinez (3-1, 3.40, 23) and breakout vet Johnny Hugot (2-1, 2.52, 21), while Minneapolis and their 2nd in runs scored are fueled by an imposing front five that all have WRC+ above 125. The two second place clubs will be in Baltimore to start the week, as the Cannons and Millers square off in a two game set. Hugot is expected to take on struggling Miller ace Hank Wagner (1-4, 5.77, 30) in the opener. The finale will see Minneapolis breakout arm Hub Huffman (2-2, 2.45, 28) draw number five starter Max Reed (1-1, 4.05, 6), the only member of the Clipper rotation with a below average ERA+ (97). Many might have expected Houston, who's won 100 games back in 1973, to be one of the teams leading the division, but at 17-15 they're in 4th. 2.5 games out isn't insurmountable, and it could shrink if they give more time to Stan Francis (.380, 1, 20). He only made 17 trips to the plate this week, but it was the quality and not the quantity that got him the Fed Player of the Week. Francis was 10-for-14 with 5 doubles, leading to an absurd .714/.765/1.214 (434 OPS+) weekly line. On the season he's now up to .380/.453/.565 (177 OPS+), sporting a dominant 13-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio. 2 is also the amount of 4-hit games Francis, as the second year outfielder as really found his stroke. Another unlikely Player of the Week winner, Cannon 8th hitter Frank Eddy (.371, 1, 10, 3) was nominated this week. Hitting an even 10-for-20, he picked up 2 doubles, a triple, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs scored, as the former 15th Rounder inflated his season line to .371/.451/.483 (154 OPS+). Like Francis he has 13 walks, though you need a 1 before Francis' K totals to match it. 31 in June, he's never hit for an above average batting line, usually relying on his Diamond Defense level second base skills instead. Cincy has been able to put runners on, 2nd in average and 3rd in OBP, but as you can see from Eddy's runs and RBIs the don't get the guys in, tied for 9th in runs scored. Failure to score has been a common theme at times this year, as Continental hurlers added four more shutouts. Starting things off was the first one of Johnny Baylor's (4-2, 5.01, 19) career, as the former All-Star quickly turned around his fortunes. Entering with an ERA above 6, he dominated the Wranglers, scattering 6 hits and a walk while he struck out 2 in the Sailors 3-0 win. It ended up being back-to-back shutouts, as Elmer Peters (1-1, 2.79, 14) and the Sailors again bested the slumping Wranglers. Like Baylor it was Peters' first of his career, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in a 4-0 win. Dallas has had a brutal May, 0-9 so far as they look to finally snap their 11 day losing streak. Falling from first to last, they're now 13-19 and 9 games behind the Kings, who haven't lost since April. The same day as the Peters shutout, Seattle's John Howell (4-1, 3.38, 20) had 4s for hits, walks, and strikeouts, as his Kings beat the Cougars 4-0. Two days later it was Jackie Thompson (3-1, 1.67, 24), has the stopper-turned-starter-turned-stopper-turned starter is on track for his first All-Star selection. He struck out just one, but walked none, charged with 6 hits in a* 2-0 shutout win. Lowering his ERA to an association best 1.67 (235 ERA+), Thompson has a 3.07 FIP (78 FIP-) and 0.98 WHIP, even better then anything he's done so far out of the pen. Their could have been a shutout in the Fed too, but the Copperheads could not score for Jack Kotarski (2-3, 2.74, 27). After 9 innings, he held the Eagles to 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 10 in what should have been his 3rd win of the season. Instead, it turned into a loss, as Atlanta could not solve Herman White (1-4, 5.40, 40), despite being easily solved both before and after. Kotarski was brought out for the 10th, but a struggling Virgil Belisle (.207, 3, 12, 2) started the extra frame with a lead-off homer. Kotarski did get one more batter so the pen could be ready, and it stayed 1-0, but Atlanta stranded two one-out singles in the bottom half, which contributed to them losing first place. Fans of offense did get a treat on the 6th, where for a rare time this season Quinton Vincent (.242, 2, 9, 4) wasn't struggling. Generally a consistent bat in the Pioneers lineup, his .242/.300/.359 (79 OPS+) batting line would be his first below average slash since his 1968 debut with the Keystones. Houston made him look like himself, as "Q" was a perfect 5-for-5 with a double, run, and 2 RBIs. A career .276/.353/.417 (120 OPS+) hitter, he's usually exactly what you want at the top of the order, especially with his speed, but his lack of production has contributed mightily to the Pioneers 9-23 start. Suns superstar Tom Lally (.355, 9, 33, 3) became the first FABL player to reach the 2 WAR mark, up to 2.2 in 30 games. Good for an 11.4 WAR pace, over 2 wins higher then his league leading mark last year, it would replace that season as the most valuable one in Suns history. Hitting .355/.418/.613 (182 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 9 homers, 24 runs, 33 RBIs, 3 steals, and excellent defense, he's a triple crown threat and the early Whitney favorite. He leads the Fed in homers and RBIs, and his 1.031 OPS leads as well. In a precautionary measure, the Kings placed 39-year-old Charlie Rushing (1-1, 5.24, 10) on the IL before his diagnosis came, giving his spot in the rotation to former 1st Rounder Danny Anderson (1-0, 1.38, 3), who despite 6 walks had no troubles with the Wolves in Toronto. Rushing was later diagnosed with an oblique strain, but the Kings medical staff is not sure how much longer he'll need. Injuries are always trick when you're as old as Rushing, but their is hope he can return before his 40th birthday on the 23rd. A 5-Time All Star and 3-Time Association Win leader, he's been a rotation weapon since joining the Keystones rotation in 1964, but it's a loss that will be easy for the West leaders to overcome. A harder injury to cover comes in Cleveland, where they'll be without star outfielder Vern Schneider (.303, 7, 16) as he deals with a calf strain. it shouldn't be a long absence, likely two weeks, but Cleveland is the lowest scoring offense and will be without their most productive hitter. Hitting .303/.376/.658 (174 OPS+) he's provided his club with a lot of slug, and his 7 home runs are second in the association. Replacing his bat will be tough, and a lot of pressure will be placed on young catcher Reggie Anderson (.327, 1, 12) to keep Cleveland in the Eastern division race. It's similar for the Stars and Bill Bell (.290, 2, 17, 3), who sprained his ankle on Sunday. Set to miss six weeks, LA will have to find a new leadoff hitter, as Bell had done a great job bouncing back from an uncharacteristic 1974. He hit just .242/.290./.324 (79 OPS+), far away from his career .272/.322/.398 (108 OPS+) line and stretch of eight consecutive above average offensive seasons. Also a great defender, it's a big loss for a Suns team on the up, though it could make room for top prospect and FABL's 27th ranked prospect Bob Branson. The shortstop is hitting .330/.392/.477 (122 OPS+) in AAA, and can easily shift over to second if they want to keep former Whitney winner Lew Smith (.305, 5, 14, 2) at short. No one was hit harder then St. Louis, who lost both Tom Spruill (.303, 6) and Milt Howard (.500, 2) for over a month. Both started the season as bench bats, but Spruill was recently added to the middle infield to replace Larry Ciminio (.286, 2, 6) following his concussion. Still looking for their 10th win, it's been a nightmare season for them, tagged with the most losses (23) among FABL organizations. Last injury note goes to Maverick starter Harry Kluth (3-2, 4.81, 10), who may try to push through it. Dealing with a strained rib cage muscle, it's not going to heal without rest, but it's not going to impact him throwing the ball. Pitchers don't usually need to run or hit, so it may not impact his production too much. It does seem to be something to last multiple weeks, four if he isn't pitching, and with his early struggles the Mavs may place him on the shelf so he doesn't mess anything else up. A TALE OF TWO TEAMS: THE BEST ARMS AND THE WORST BATS IN THE HUB BOSTON — There is no sugarcoating this week, fans. If you were looking for a reason to smile at the ballpark, you probably spent most of your time staring at the pitching mound and ignoring the batter's box. The week started with a sloppy loss to Baltimore and a wasted gem from Bob Scott, who struck out seven in seven innings but watched a rough sixth frame turn into a 3-2 heartbreaker. That loss dropped Scott to a miserable 0-3, a record that doesn't tell half the story of how well he pitched. Baltimore finished the sweep the next day when Walt Portelli coughed up a blown save. That left a no-decision for Bill Kelly, who I suppose deserves a small pat on the back for only walking four batters instead of his customary five or six. Small victories, right? Things didn't improve when Detroit rolled in. Johnny Hall gave us a respectable outing, only to have Bud Shireman surrender a two-run bomb in the 10th inning. That pushed the losing streak to four and the overall record to a dismal 7-17. Finally, Hank Springer decided he’d seen enough. Springer delivered arguably the best performance of the young season, going eight innings of three-hit, shutout ball in a 3-0 win. Bob Scott followed that up by finally getting some run support—and his first win—with a masterful six-hit complete game. Ed Cole blew that one open with a three-run blast in the fifth, and Jim Morton added his third homer of the year as the Minutemen took a 7-2 win to close the homestand. Sully’s Stance: The club finished the homestand 5-5 against the big boys of the FA East, Atlanta and Baltimore. That’s the good news. The bad news? I’ve been looking out from the press box lately and it’s like a ghost town down there. We had 11,000 for the Detroit finale, but the other games didn't even crack the 10,000 mark. We haven't drawn 15,000 for a single game all year. Now, this isn’t a jab at you, the fans. Why would you brave a forty-degree wind to watch a team that flirts with the worst record in the league every Monday morning? Boston is a proud baseball town, but nobody is going to pay good money to watch an offense that has gone into a deep freeze. Jim Morton has been the only constant, hitting .359 with an OBP over .400. Beyond him, we’ve got some average work from Charlie Hartsell and some decent role-playing from Hal Mazur and Dick Wood. Bill Gallagher has essentially stolen the backstop job because he’s actually producing. But you can't win with two regulars and a handful of subs. Willie Stephens is dragging a .267 average, Dick Ward is hitting just above his weight at .188, and Gil Armstrong is stuck at .212. As for our spring darling, Howard Smith? He’s plummeted to .185.It is a tale of two extremes. This club leads the league in ERA, runs allowed, hits allowed, and opponent’s average. Our pitchers are heroes; our hitters are spectators. We are heading across the country to play the LA Suns, the best in the West, before heading to Detroit. If this offense doesn't wake up against the "soft underbelly" of the schedule soon, the brass is going to have to look at Columbus. Bill Ward is hitting .354 with two homers for the AAA club, and Frank Borgen is hitting .302 with more walks than strikeouts. Options and service time are a headache, but so is losing. The best solution is for the guys currently in the clubhouse to start earning their keep. Until next time, get those bats out of the cellar, Boston. WOLVES CLIMB OUT OF THE CELLAR, THEN MEET REALITY For a few pleasant days last week, the Toronto Wolves were allowed to imagine themselves as something other than tenants of the Eastern Division basement. They began the week briskly, ended it limping, and still managed to step over Montreal in the standings. In a division that has yet to decide what it wants to be, that qualifies as progress. At 13–16 the Wolves remain a sub-.500 club, but they sit only two games behind the second-place Imperials, which tells you more about the Continental Association East than it does about Toronto. The conversations drifting through Dominion Stadium these days are not so much about what is, but what might have been—particularly the six games already donated to New York. Remove those, the argument goes, and the Wolves might look almost respectable. Baseball, however, does not honour hypothetical standings. Toronto’s week opened on a cold Tuesday night against Montreal and dragged deep into the early hours, a 14-inning, 3–2 victory that felt more like survival than triumph. The Wolves committed three errors and handed out ten walks, both numbers that seem to age manager Carl Evans a year every time they appear. Still, a win is a win, and Toronto took it. The following night brought something closer to order. The Wolves jumped on the Saints early, scoring three runs in the first inning, with Heinie Pearce lining a sharp two-run single to right with two outs. Montreal crept back to within one by the seventh, but Gus Hayes’ seeing-eye single in the bottom of the eighth plated two insurance runs. Dick Miller closed it out—though not without a little drama—to earn his third save in a 5–3 victory. By the time Sid Cullen finished bludgeoning the Saints on Thursday, Toronto was riding a four-game winning streak and feeling rather pleased with itself. Cullen, at 38, turned back the calendar with two home runs, one of them a grand slam, and drove in six as the Wolves completed the sweep with a 10–4 win. Even then, they could not resist complicating matters with three errors and seven walks. The Wolves, it seems, insist on winning in spite of themselves. Good feelings lasted until Seattle arrived. The Kings have been tormenting this franchise since its Brooklyn days, and a change of address has done nothing to soften their touch. Seattle brought the bats on Friday night, pounding out 18 hits in an 11–2 win that featured a disastrous fourth inning in which Bullock was chased after surrendering seven runs. The weekend games were closer, which offered little comfort. Toronto lost 5–4 when a late rally fizzled, then dropped a 7–6 decision on Sunday after building a 3–0 lead. Seattle responded with four runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth before Phil Story tightened things up with his second home run of the season. The tying and winning runs never arrived. The Seattle bullpen saw to that. So the Wolves leave the week both encouraged and chastened. They are no longer last, which matters, and yet the gap between them and the league’s better clubs remains uncomfortably wide. The Los Angeles Stars arrive Monday for three games before Toronto heads west for a six-game swing that should clarify matters further. There was movement off the field as well. Ken Jeffie returns to Buffalo, Stan Terry moves to the bullpen after a trying six weeks in the rotation, and Jim Hunter—3–0 with a sparkling 0.81 ERA at Buffalo—will be given his chance with the Wolves. Joe Trent, armed with a newly developed forkball, moves up from Double-A to Buffalo. For now, the Wolves are out of the cellar and looking around cautiously, as if unsure how they got there or how long they’ll be allowed to stay. In this division, that may be enough to keep the conversation interesting—at least for another week. CENTURIONS ONE WIN FROM FIRST FINALS TRIP IN SIX YEARS The Boston Centurions are on the verge of ending a long postseason drought. After stumbling in the opener of their Eastern Conference semi-final series, Boston has responded with three straight victories and now holds a commanding 3–1 edge over the Washington Statesmen following a 108–93 win last night in the nation’s capital. One more victory will send the Centurions to the Federal Basketball League finals for the first time since 1969. Boston was a dominant force during the 1960s, capturing three league championships and reaching the finals twice more, but had not won a playoff series in this decade before this spring. That changed with a six-game quarterfinal triumph over Chicago, and the Centurions now stand on the brink of a return to the league’s biggest stage. Washington has already authored one of the postseason’s major surprises. The Statesmen, who finished fifth in a tightly packed Eastern Conference race, stunned defending champion New York by winning game seven of their quarterfinal series 129–117. Veteran center Herman Bergmann led the way in that clincher with 31 points and 15 rebounds. Bergmann carried that form into the semi-finals, scoring 30 points as Washington took the opener in Boston, 120–116. Since then, however, the series has tilted decisively toward the Centurions. Boston erased an eight-point halftime deficit to claim game two, 115–107, then stole game three in Washington on Wayne Toler’s buzzer-beater in a 108–107 win. Game four was far less dramatic, with Doug Memmott scoring 25 points and Bill Champagne adding 24 as Boston pulled away for a 15-point victory. Out West, the conference final between Minneapolis and St. Louis is deadlocked at two games apiece. The Rockets, winners of three of the past six FBL titles, advanced past Seattle in five games, while the Bobcats—an expansion club from 1970—earned the first playoff series win in franchise history by edging Houston 128–113 in a decisive seventh game. The Western series has been defined by prolific scoring. Brooks Brown poured in 39 points as Minneapolis opened with a 151–140 win, a game that featured little resistance at either end of the floor. St. Louis answered in game two behind a 58-point outburst from John Brantner, slipping away with a 127–126 victory. Back at Gateway Center, Brantner again led the Rockets with 37 points in a 118–114 win, only to see Minneapolis even the series last night with a 136–132 decision highlighted by Brown’s FBL playoff single-game record of 63 points. Game five is scheduled for tomorrow night in St. Louis before the series shifts back to Minneapolis, with the Western Conference still very much up for grabs. OUTLAWS LOSE FAIRCHILD INJURY If the San Antonio Outlaws are going to knock off the mighty Cincinnati Steamers in the Continental Basketball League championship series they will have to do it without the services of the CBL's leading scorer. Bill Fairchild, who averaged more than 30 points a game during the regular season and was putting up similar numbers in the playoffs, hyperextended his knee early in the second half of what would be a wild 154-142 win for the Outlaws over the Steamers. That victory evened the series at one win apiece as the series heads to Texas for the next three games but the Outlaws will be without their top player the rest of the way. Fairchild had paced the Outlaws with 30 points in a 118-116 loss in the series opener and had 25 points in 22 minutes of action before he was knocked out of game two with the knee injury. In this the final season of the CBL before the league is absorbed by the Federal Basketball League next season, will provide a first time CBL champion as neither San Antonio nor Cincinnati won a title in the first seven years of the CBL. The Outlaws had never made the finals prior to this season but the Steamers have reached the championship series three times before but never won including back-to-back losses over the past two years. EXPLORERS LOOKING FOR BIG YEAR OUT OF HASKELL & McRAE While much of the defense that led the Cumberland Explorers to a 9-3 record and a Cajun Classic victory a year ago are lost to graduation, the Explorers return a load of talent to their offense and will be looking to challenge for a Deep South Conference title. Front and center in Tennessee will be the Cumberland backfield of Robert Haskell and Ambrose McRae. The two enter their junior season and will be joined by senior quarterback Steven Sheffield and four/fifths of their offensive line from a year ago. That line helped Haskell earn All-American honors and Deep South Player of Year accolades while rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns while McRae ran for a little over 1,100 and they were considered to be the most dangerous backfield tandem in the AIAA a year ago. As TWIFS continues its college preview with a look at some of the top running backs in the nation it is clear that the Cumberland duo belong near the forefront of any discussion on that topic. The Deep South Conference as a whole seems loaded this year with quality runners including the highly touted Darrell Grogan. Grogan is a sophomore who did not play last year for Georgia Baptist but was outstanding in the Gators spring game and is a big reason why the Gators will be one of the candidates to be ranked #1 in the preseason poll. Mississippi A&M has a proven back in Marcus Butler, who ran for nearly 1,300 yards as a freshman last season and David Cross, a senior from Central Kentucky is back after being one of the top rushers in the nation a year ago. Other running backs to keep an eye on include Raleigh Cutter, a St Blane senior who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a backup last year; Luther Dickinson, a junior at Lawrence State who ran for 1,241 yards and 17 touchdowns and was named the Plains Athletic Association player of the year; senior Willard Lancaster of Coastal State who has been the Eagles starting running back each of the previous two seasons along with Lane State senior Daniel Baird. Among the incoming freshmen who might have a big impact on the rankings are Bill Smithson and Ricky Joynes. Smithson, a highly touted recruit out of Savannah, GA., may have to wait his turn with the Gators -who might have the deepest contingent of backs in the nation- but if he gets a chance he and Grogan will give the Gators a duo that will challenge the Cumberland pair for best in the Deep South. Joynes, a California native who signed with Detroit City College, will be relied on heavily if the Knights are going to make a third consecutive trip to the East-West Classic as they were hit hard by graduation especially on the offensive side of the ball. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 05/11/1975 The Communist dominance of Indochina continues to grow with Laos teetering after the fall of South Vietnam and Cambodia. The Red Pathet Lao was preparing to take over cabinet in Loas as pro-American members of the government were reported fleeing. The new Communist government of Cambodia has accused the United States of spreading "dishonest propaganda" in an attempt to mislead world public opinion. A Cambodian naval vessel seized an American merchant ship off the coast of Cambodia and forced it to port. President Ford called this "an act of piracy" and warned that failure to release the ship "will have the most serious consequences." Despite a step up in exploration and drilling, U.S. offshore oil production is considerably lower than in recent years. The main reason is said to be some off-shore wells are pumping less. The hope is production off Alaska's north slope will soon increase to offset the drop. The European Common Market has signed a far-reaching trade agreement with Israel despite Arab warnings of the political consequences. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Last edited by Tiger Fan; 01-14-2026 at 02:19 PM.