NOVEMBER 24, 1941
WASHINGTON EAGLES LOOKING FOR A NEW GENERAL MANAGER
Word out of Washington is the Eagles are on the search for a new man to run the team after their General Manager announced he had to step away from the club due to unforeseen circumstances. The GM had gone 203--259 (.439) during his three year tenure at the helm of the club, finishing sixth the first two seasons and in a tie for last place this past year. The Eagles organization has not seen the first division since a fourth place finish in 1929 but was the pride of baseball in the early to mid 1920's with 3 pennants and a World Championship over a 4 year stretch begining in 1922.
The newcomer to the nation's capital will face a challenge as the club is ranked last in minor league system quality and had traded away the first overall pick in a deadline deal with eventual World Champion Boston that netted the Eagles a young shortstop by the name of Al Gross (.229,0,16). There is some talent in the organization led by 30 year old third sacker Mel Carrol, who is the last player in the league to surpass .400 after batting .409 in 1937. 25 year old first baseman Sig Stofer (.271,24,110) looks like a player to build around while 24 year old Jim Douglass (15-12, 4.96) and 25 year old Del Burns (9-19, 4.37) are key wings on the Eagles mound. No word from Eagles owner William Stockdale on a replacement at press time.
MINERS REPLACE SCOUTING DIRECTOR AGAIN
The revolving door that leads to the Pittsburgh Miners scouting office was busy again this week as Pittsburgh cast aside Chief Raymond after less than two months on the job. Raymond was hired in late September when the Miners relieved Fred Davis, who had well over a decade experience as an SD with Detroit and previously the Chicago Chiefs but lasted less than a year in Pittsburgh. Prior to Davis there was stability in the role as George Heuer held the post for a decade before announcing his retirement at the end of the 1940 season.
The latest to set up shop in the corner office is Harris Dixon. A relative pup in the scouting business at the age of 35, Dixon is a graduate of prestigious Academia Alliance school George Fox and was a 6th round draft pick of the Philadelphia Keystones. He spent 8 seasons in the minor leagues as a second baseman, never advancing past A ball but was a keen judge of talent and took a scouting job with Philadelphia in 1937. He has quickly risen up the ranks and gets his first chance to run a big league organization with the Miners job.
Miners Assistant General Manager Pat Moynihan agrees the turnover time was very short but felt Dixon "being a young intellectual" was too good a hire to pass up when he became available. "He has some cutting edge ideas," added Moynihan "so (we) gave him a chance."
Moynihan also admitted there was a 'general unhappiness' with the performance of the two who attempted to fill George Heuer's shoes.
WILDCATS ON PLAYOFF PROWL
The Chicago Wildcats extended their winning streak to four games and moved in to top spot in the Western Division after they mauled arch-rival Detroit 45-24. The win puts the Wildcats record at 7-2, and a half game up on the second place Maroons (7-3). Chicago has two games remaining as they play in Philadelphia next week before ending the season in Pittsburgh on December 7th. The Wildcats wrap up their year next weekend by hosting the Paladins.
There was plenty of offense from both sides at Thompson Field as this contest, similar to their meeting earlier in the year in Chicago won 46-27 by Detroit, was a high scoring affair. The two-sides combined for over 900 yards with Dewey Burnett having an outstanding game, although in a losing effort, for the Wildcats. The Detroit quarterback threw for 256 yards including 78 - on 7 catches - by Stan Vaught. Chicago relied more on a balanced running attack that saw 11 different players carry the ball at least once with Dutch Hoffman's 84 yards leading the way.
Cleveland finished up it's season with a 13-3 win over Pittsburgh to run the Finches record to 7-4. They still have some slim playoff hopes as if Detroit and Chicago were to lose their remaining games it would set up a complicated three-way tie breaking process although the Finches 1-3 head to head record vs the Maroons and Wildcats would likely eliminate them.
New York has already clinched the Eastern Division but the Stars are limping into the playoffs as they lost at the Bigsby Oval for the second week in a row, falling 20-14 to Washington despite another big week from Stars quarterback Tom Jamason, who ran for 59 yards and threw for 78 including both New York touchdowns.
St Louis finally did not lose a game. The Ramblers didn't get their first win but they did hold on for a 24-24 tie with Boston at Cunningham Field to snap a 10 game losing skid that dates back to last season. St Louis led 24-14 early in the fourth quarter before the Americans battled back to salvage the draw.
Code:
AFA STANDINGS
EASTERN W L T PCT
New York 8 2 0 .800
Boston 6 3 1 .6667
Brooklyn 4 5 0 .444
Washington 3 6 0 .333
Philadelphia 1 8 0 .111
WESTERN W L T PCT
Chicago 7 2 0 .778
Detroit 7 3 0 .700
Cleveland 7 4 0 .636
Pittsburgh 4 5 0 .444
St Louis 0 9 1 .000
RESULTS
Sunday November 23
Cleveland 13 Pittsburgh 3
Chicago 45 Detroit 24
Washington 20 New York 14
St Louis 24 Boston 24
UPCOMING GAMES
Sunday November 30
Pittsburgh at Detroit
Chicago at Philadelphia
Boston at Brooklyn
St Louis at Washington
PASSING LEADERS YDS
Burnett, Det 1571
Thomas, Bos 1318
J Taylor, Phi 1074
Mellettte, Cle 843
RUSHING LEADRES YDS
Jamason, NYS 678
Faulkner, Bkn 657
Jordan, Det 585
Bernstein, Cle 575
Dunlap, Chi 513
RECEIVING LEADERS CATCHES
Vaught, Det 68
Nicholson, Cle 35
Bowens, Bos 23
4 tied with 21
SCORING LEADERS PTS
Vaught, Det 110
Milatz, NYS 74
Dunlap, Chi 54
Bernstein, Cle 48
Crawhorn, Chi 48
- Wouldn't it be something to be a fly on the wall in Rollie Barrell's office. The Detroit Maroons boss cannot be impressed with the turn of events his charges have suffered. Just a few short weeks ago the Maroons were 6-0 including a road win in Chicago and appeared to be a sure bet to win the Western Division for the second year in a row. Three losses in the past 4 weeks and suddenly it looks like Detroit will be on the outside watching the Wildcats play in the championship game against New York. Chicago was 3-2 to start the year but has reeled off 4 straight wins and now control their own future. Two wins or one and a Detroit loss gives the Wildcats the division. The two clubs split their head to head games so the tie-breaker would get a little messy and likely come down to results within the division.
- Little surprise it was another shoot-out in Detroit on Sunday. The Wildcats and Maroons always provide plenty of offense. This year the scores were 46-27 and 45-24. Last year they also split the two games with Chicago winning at home 51-21 while Detroit prevailed at Thompson 31-28.
- Annapolis Maritime kept it's National Title hopes alive as the Navigators improved to 8-0 on the season with a 17-0 win over Sadler. The navy school's biggest competition for the number one ranking might well come from Travis College or Darnell State, both of whom are perfect so far this year but square off next weekend. The Bucks and Legislators, both 8-0 and each had the week off to prepare for their big Southwestern Alliance showdown next Saturday. Miami State improved to 8-0 with a 7-0 win over Columbia Military Academy while Carolina Poly is 9-0 following there 52-3 thumping of Charleston Tech. The Gulls and Cardinals have played a much weaker schedule then the other three teams so their road to a National crown would be much tougher.
- Next weekend is the big one for the fading football season and all eyes will be focused squarely on the Lone Star State with the looming showdown between unbeaten Texas rivals Travis College and Darnell State in the game that will determine the Southwestern Alliance champion. At stake as always when the two schools square off is bragging rights but this time quite possibly a National Championship hangs in the balance. The Bucks, the pride of San Antonio, will be the road club as they head to Dallas to face the Legislators. Each is 5-0 in conference play and with very similar results there appears little to separate the two schools. However, in the eyes of the pollsters, the Bucks early season wins over Bayou State and Oklahoma City State will hold much more weight with the ballot carrying boys than the Legislators collection of cupcake opponents designed to ease in to the gridiron year. Of course before things are all done I expect several other teams, most notably Annapolis Maritime and 7-1 Lane State, despite being tripped up along the way by Spokane State, will have plenty to say about the rankings in the next few weeks.
- Fitting the traditional November showdown between Great Lakes Alliance rivals Detroit City College and Central Ohio ended in a 10-10 draw.
Mile High State 21 Boulder State 13
Bronx Tech 12 St. Matthew's College 0
Maryland State 17 Lexington State 3
North Carolina Tech 14 Eastern State 10
Alexandria 45 Chesapeake State 3
Cowpens State 16 Potomac College 10
Richmond State 30 Petersburg 0
Miami State 7 Columbia Military Academy 0
College of Waco 13 Abilene Baptist 0
Rome State 17 Huntington State 7
Penn Catholic 3 Opelika State 0
Commonwealth Catholic 38 Boston State 7
Coastal State 20 Bulein 14
Empire State 20 Henry Hudson 13
Utah A&M 10 Colorado Poly 10
Mobile Maritime 7 Central Carolina 0
Carolina Poly 52 Charleston Tech 3
Western Florida 28 Georgia Baptist 7
Brooklyn State 34 Golden Gate University 13
Noble Jones College 36 Grafton 3
Dickson 14 George Fox 0
Idaho A&M 31 Western Montana 7
Indiana A&M 7 Whitney College 7
Iowa A&M 10 Eastern Kansas 0
California Catholic 16 South Valley State 10
St. Ignatius 37 Ohio Methodist 0
Minnesota Tech 27 Wisconsin State 7
Mississippi A&M 14 Arkansas A&T 7
Northern Mississippi 24 Reuben College 0
Daniel Boone College 19 Lawrence State 3
Annapolis Maritime 17 Sadler 0
Western Iowa 17 College of Omaha 10
St. Magnus 33 Lincoln 7
St. Blane 24 Coastal California 7
Detroit City College 10 Central Ohio 10
Oklahoma City State 44 Wisconsin Catholic 17
Rainier College 37 Portland Tech 3
Lane State 13 Custer College 0
Pittsburgh State 13 Liberty College 7
Pierpont 20 Brunswick 7
Rhodes 26 Shreveport State 17
Amarillo Methodist 27 Red River State 7
Ellery 20 Garden State 9
Laclede 16 Topeka State 7
San Francisco Tech 30 Minns College 18
Sunnyvale 26 CC Los Angeles 0
Texas Gulf Coast 21 Lubbock State 14
St. Patrick's 23 Conwell College 7
Cumberland 23 Central Kentucky 3
Canyon A&M 28 Kingsville State 10
Texas Panhandle 48 El Paso Methodist 17
Payne State 19 Lambert College 0
Alabama Baptist 21 Bluegrass State 14
Perry State College 38 Boone College-St. Louis 10
Spokane State 44 Campion 3
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 11/23/1941
- A strike in the coal industry turns violent in West Virginia and Pennsylvania as shots are fired in free-for-all skirmishes at four mines. President Roosevelt faces a crucial decision on the Government's next move to avert a defense fuel shortage.
- As the week progresses the strike grows while Roosevelt pleads directly with the miners to return to work. Yesterday evening provided news that John L Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers, yielded to FDR's plea and over 200,000 coal miners and workers will return to the pits immediately.
- Japan is confronted by an "unprecedented crisis" and "nation literally stands at the crossroads of rise or fall," Premier General Hideki Tojo told a parliament committee in Tokio.
- The Japanese Army and Navy assured parliament in Tokio that the armed forces were "fully prepared" to meet "eventualities" and "changes in the situation" after the lower house approved a resolution calling for the government to continue it Greater East Asia policies.
- Without going into any specifics, British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden told the House of Commons that "military and naval action" is taking place against Finland, Rumania and Hungary. This statement was made in connection with question on the recent request from the Soviet Union that Britain declare war on those three countries because they are allies of Germany.
- British troops, with the aid of American built tanks, battled their way into Libya on a broad front to smash a German-Italian Army holding in North Africa. Reports indicate 600 German tanks were knocked out, roughly half of the Axis armed strength in North Africa.
- The 5 survivors from a torpedoed Canadian freighter said that enemy submarines began stalking their vessel only 30 miles off the Canadian coast.
- The missing diplomats flying from Russia to Iran arrived safely with the delay blamed on unfavorable weather conditions.
- The Luftwaffe suffered a severe blow with news of the death of German flying ace Col. Ernst Udet. The 45 year old, who was the originator of the Nazi parachutist technique and considered the number two flyer behind only the Red Baron in the Great War, was killed while experimenting with a new type of firearms.