SEPTEMBER 25, 1944
KEYSTONES WIN FED FLAG, CANNONS CONTROL CA
As the FABL season enters its final week the Philadelphia Keystones clinched their first Federal Association Pennant since 1933 while the Cincinnati Cannons are closing in on a second consecutive Continental Association crown. If the Cannons, who lead Toronto by two games with 7 left to play, can hold on it will mark the first time the Cannons and Keystones have ever met in the 52 year history of the World Championship Series.
The Keystones clinched the Federal Association title Saturday despite losing their last 4 games including 3 straight in Detroit. The Dynamos moved into a second place tie with Pittsburgh after the Miners faint pennant dreams came to an end Saturday when they fell in St Louis. The only drama remaining in the Fed is whether or not Keystones slugger Bobby Barrell will win the triple crown. The 34 year old outfielder has long since clinched the homerun title for the third time in his career and his 4th season leading the Fed in rbi's but the batting average lead -something that has eluded Barrell so far in his storied career remains in doubt. Barrell is hitting .349 after a 7-for-25 week to hold a narrow margin on a pair of Washington Eagles in Mel Carrol (.347) and Don Miller (.346).
There is still plenty of drama in the Continental Association although the Cincinnati Cannons have opened a 2-game lead on Toronto after the Queen City nine went 4-2 last week while the Wolves could manage just 2 victories in their 6 game sojourn into the New York area. The Cannons swept a 3-game series in Montreal before stumbling a little in Chicago by taking just one of three over the weekend in the Windy City. Cincinnati's 3 'old-timers' in Rabbit Day, Jim Crawford and Tom Barrell all came up big with solid starts while another veteran in outfielder Al Wheeler smashed three homeruns last week. The Wolves had a tough time in Brooklyn, getting swept by the Kings before rebounding with two wins in three games against the New York Stars.
Toronto will now have to hope the Kings can play spoiler again this week as Cincinnati finishes with 4 at Kings County after starting the week in New York with 3 against the Stars. Toronto has little margin for error as they begin with 3 in Chicago before making the long-trek to Montreal for a season ending 4-game set with their Canadian rivals.
UPDATED DRAFT LOTTEY ODDS
Based on the current winning percentages of each team here is how the draft lottery odds shape up for each Association. The Continental Association will have the odd picks and a total of 13 balls will go in the lottery with the first one out claiming the top spot in the draft. The two teams with the biggest improvement over their victory total from a year ago receive 3 entries in the draft, the next two receive two and the 3 with the least improvement (or biggest decline from last season) get one opportunity. The pennant winner automatically picks last in the group. The Federal Association will have a similar draw for the even picks and this order will apply to both the first and second round. Beginning with round three the draft is based upon order of finish this season alternating by league.
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PROJECTED BASED ON CURRENT STANDINGS
CONTINENTAL ASSOCIATION (picks 1,3,5,7,9,11 &13)
TEAM 44Pro 43W +- Odds to Win CA Lottery
Cincinnati 89 94 -5 Draft 15th
Cleveland 68 55 13 23.1%
Stars 72 68 4 23.1%
Cougars 85 86 -1 15.3%
Brooklyn 73 69 -2 15.3%
Sailors 79 82 -3 7.7%
Toronto 87 90 -3 7.7%
Montreal 63 72 -9 7.7%
FEDERAL ASSOCIATION (picks 2,4,6,8,10,12 & 14)
TEAM 44PRO 43W +- Odds to Win FA Lottery
Keystones 89 81 8 draft 16th
Detroit 81 69 12 23.1%
Gothams 70 58 12 23.1%
Pittsburgh 81 74 7 15.3%
Washington 80 81 -1 15.3%
Chiefs 71 79 -8 7.7%
*-Boston 77 90 -13 7.7%
St Louis 68 84 -16 7.7%
*Boston pick in round one owned by Cincinnati
Are you sure someone has not turned the clock back to 1936? Rabbit Day is 5-1 with a 2.53 era since joining the Cannons. Tom Barrell is 7-2, 2.75 since the Cannons turnaround began at the end of July. The two pitchers each won their third Allan Award in 1936 and while neither is anywhere near contention this season for claiming a 4th and tying Jim Lonardo for the most Allen Awards, both are instrumental in the Cannons turnaround.
Each came up with a big complete game victory last week as the Cannons inched closer to what all consider impossible just 3 short months ago. On the morning of June 25th the Cannons were 27-34 and a whooping 19.5 games back of the then first place Chicago Cougars. Now, despite losing 2 of three in the Windy City over the weekend the Cannons are one strong week away from their second straight Continental Association pennant and possibly the biggest turnaround in FABL history. On that Sunday morning a month ago the Cannons swept a doubleheader in Cleveland and that started the club on a 58-28 run.
***TIGERS ERA IS HERE ***
Just think. Five years ago we had no big time professional sports. Sure we had the AAA Cincinnati Steamers and yes they were a powerhouse in the late 1920s but it was still minor league ball. And of course we have the Queen City University football and basketball teams to support, although the grid side has been grounded by the war for the second straight season. But nothing in the way of big time sports entertainment in the Queen City. That changed in 1940 when the Cannons arrived from Baltimore and have enjoyed immense success but yesterday another chapter in Cincinnati sports began with the first game for the AFA's Tigers. In Cleveland no less and it is always fun to beat our Ohio rivals which the Tigers did in their opener, claiming a 21-0 victory over the combined Finches/St Louis Ramblers team.
TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN
Wolves Weekly Round-up
- Toronto heads into New York still smarting from their tough losses in Cincinnati hoping that Chick Wirtz can continue his red hot finish to the season. It was not to be, Wirtz gets touched up for single runs in the first three innings, two coming on solo shots. Toronto bats continue their anemic performance in September, only manage 6 hits but are gifted 7 free passes cannot push more than one across the plate, leave 12 base runners stranded in a 6-1 loss.
- Wolves jump out to a 3-0 lead through the first three innings but cannot hold off the Kings. Bob Walls does not have his A game surrenders 2 in the fifth, 2 more in the sixth, 1 more in seventh which takes all the wind out of the Wolves sails, Brooklyn wins 5-3.
- Wolves are now mired in a 5-game losing streak hope to break the loss string against Brooklyn's Jim Kenny. Kenny works in and out of jams surrendering one run scattering 7 hits, 5 walks over 6 innings before handing the ball over to Hal Lucas who shuts down Toronto over the last 3 innings. Toronto leaves 12 runners on losing their sixth straight, also has two runners nailed at the plate by Howard Brown Jr, Orie Martinez. Wolves cannot seem to buy a clutch run. Toronto cannot get out of Kings County Park fast enough after the game.
- Bruised, battered team comes into Dyckman Stadium looking for something, anything to keep the Cannons from running away with the CA. Jim Laurita provides the answer tossing a complete game, Wolves come back from a 2-0 deficit, rally to win 3-2.
- Wolves feel good about the first game of the Sunday double header with Bob Johnson returning to the mound after recovering from a pulled muscle last Sunday. Johnson seems to have the game in hand with a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. Four hits, one error, four runs later the game is for intents and purposes over, Toronto scratches out a single to start the ninth followed quickly by 3 fly outs, Stars prevail 5-2.
- Manager Call described Game Two as a "must win'", saying "We have surrendered the control of our own destiny, now have to rely on other teams if we are to catch the Cannons. There will be a lot of scoreboard watching when we are in Chicago, but the Wolves have to win." Team shuts down the Stars in the second game 7-1 giving Tommy Anderson his first big league win before hurrying to Grand Central Station for the overnight trip to meet the Cougars.
Brett's predictions versus actual record
-5. Toronto has to hope the Kings can become Cannon spikers and the Stars give Cincy trouble. It is also essential that the Wolves' bats have to awaken from their too early hibernation. The Wolves have put themselves in a position in which they basically need to run the table.
- As the New York Gothams wrap up the last week of another lost season, there's still a shot at 6th place. Red Johnson remains 4 behind the team record for homers and has a shot at second in the FA in RBI. Jim Lonardo will get two starts, needing to win both for 20. And offseason deals are already being discussed.
- What a surprise season SP Jimmy Mayse has had for the Dynamos. He was on the verge of being left off the Montreal squad so Detroit arranged a deal that sent 3B/2B Eddie Barkley to the Saints for Mayse. On the year Mayse has a record of 13-6 with a 3.32 ERA in 206 IP. He walks a few too many batters for my liking (125 this season) but he has managed to work around it.
- The Dynamo's 4-2 week gets them to 77 wins on the season. Who would have thought that at Detroit would be tied for 2nd place and have at least a 500 record at the beginning of the season, let alone a shot at 80 wins. Last year the Dynamo's won 69 games and finished in 7th place. Detroit is the major surprise team. Big turnaround especially without Red and Sal. Plus future looks very bright. Big question is can the Dynamos maintain it next year as the top prospects taken this year likely won’t be there yet and Pestilli along with the others aren’t back - at least not to start the season.
- Freddie Farhat of the Detroit World says hopes are running high in Detroit for next season and they also wonder if Bobby Barrell can have another season (in this era) like he did in 44. Barrell is clearly the difference maker for a really good Keystones team.
- John Brinker of the New York Mirror is right there with Farhat when it comes to Barrell. Brinker is wondering whether Bobby can repeat his '44 performance. Doing so would go a long way towards putting 500 HRs in striking distance. We're still waiting for someone to become the 2nd to crack that barrier. No one's going to touch Max Morris for a while, but I hold out hope that someday Wheeler, Barrell and Red Johnson will join the 500 HR club.
- Johnny Bologna of the Philadelphia Inquisitor notes that Barrell is 34 and seems to have kept himself in pretty good shape. "I'm hoping for another 3-4 years out of him and a sip from the David Trowbridge Fountain of Youth wouldn't hurt either!" pens the Pennsylvania scribe.
- Another no-hitter this week. This time in the Western Baseball League, an independent Class A loop. Elmer Krueger of the Pueblo Mountaineers was the pitcher who spun this one in a 3-0 win over Denver. It helped the Mountaineers clinch the league title for the first time since 1935 and was just the fifth no-hitter in WBL history. Krueger was a 16th round pick of the New York Stars back in 1932 and has spent the past 7 seasons with Pueblo.
- The three AAA loops have all concluded their seasons with the pennants going to the Milwaukee Blues (CHC) in the Century League, the San Francisco Hawks (PHS) by just a single game over Los Angeles (NYS) in the Great Western League and the Newark Aces (DET) in the Union League.
- The AA Dixie League will need an extra game today to determine it's champion after the Knoxville Knights (BKN) took two of three at home from the New Orleans (PHK) over the weekend to pull even with the Showboats. The tie-breaker goes in Knoxville and ends Mobile's 3-year run as the top team in the southern loop. The Providence Sailors (PHS) have clinched their third Eastern Association pennant in the past five years while the independent Fort Worth Cattlemen won their second straight Lone Star Association title.
- In Class A the winners are the Springfield Hustlers (BKN) in the Heartland League, the Camden Rockets (CIN) in the Middle Atlantic League and Pueblo in the independent Western League. Class B it is the Vancouver Mounties (TOR) in the C-O-W League and the Savannah Privateers (CLE) in the Southeastern League while the Biloxi Billies (DET) in the Gulf States League and Marshalltown Maples (BKN) of the Upper Mississippi Valley loop are the Class C winners.
- The minor league seasons may all be over but the flow of players to the war effort is never-ending. The latest is Al Mertzger, who ships out this week after completing an 13-13 season splitting the year between Class B and A in the New York Gothams system. The 22 year old righthander was the Gothams 11th round selection in 1939.
NEWARK CELEBRATES UNION LEAGUE FLAG
The Union League's Newark Aces took 3 out of 4 games in the pivotal 4 game series against the Rochester Rooks and came away with the Union League title for the 4th time in the last 7 seasons. The games against Rochester were extremely hard fought and tight affairs.
Game #1 - 1B Red Evan's leadoff 10th inning double proved to be the difference maker and he came across to score on pinch hitter Hank Cook's RBI-single. (I'm trying to piece this together as best I can because the game logs for the minors don't really work, at least on my file). Newark 5, Rochester 4 (10 innings).
Game #2 - Rochester came back with a key win 6-5 on a good game from SP Dan Clemons. The Rooks took it too 17 game winner Art Keeter (17-6) with 6 runs over the first 6 innings. The Rooks hung on as the Aces tried to come back from a 6-2 deficit but couldn't push across the tying run. Rochester 6, Newark 5
Game #3 - This was the pivotal game as the teams still stood just 2 games apart in the standings. A couple of 8th inning doubles by the Aces Gordon Cross and Vic Moritz provided the final cushion in the 6-5 win for Newark. Just out of college SP Pete Brown picked up his 4th AAA win (4-4) in 5.1 IP and Ned Brown (no relation) picked up a leaky save in the 9th giving up 2 unearned runs. Newark 6, Rochester 5
Game #4 - Just as it appeared that Rochester would split the series and send the season into the final few games to decide the winner, Newark showed some offensive fire. Scoring 6 runs in the 9th inning the Aces erased a 6-2 Rooks lead and took the 4th game 8-6 and thus clinched the Union League title in the process. Newark 8, Rochester 6
Newark still had a final series with Richmond to close out the season but the title was sealed up with the final win over Rochester.
MAROONS THUMP DEFENDING AFA CHAMPS
A big win for the Detroit Maroons as they knocked off their biggest rival and the defending AFA champion Chicago Wildcats in convincing fashion yesterday, posting a lob-sided 31-0 victory at the Detroit City College stadium in what can only be described as a very sloppy game. Sloppy especially by Wildcats quarterback Gus Brown, who just had an awful debut to his season in completing just 4 of 13 passes to his Wildcat teammates but throwing 5 into the arms of Detroit defenders including one that Gene Brousard returned 39 yards for a Maroons major that put Detroit up by 21 just 13 minutes into the game.
It is not like Rich Coleman had a big game for Detroit either as the Maroons quarterback completed just 3 of 17 passes but was only intercepted once on the day. One of Coleman's tosses was a 13 yard score to end Stan Vaught, who had a very quiet afternoon of his own with just 3 catches for 38 yards. It was on the ground where the Maroons, who improved to 2-0 with the victory, dominated as Detroit gained 253 yards rushing -led by 99 from Joe Scharfenberg- which was more than double the 122 the Wildcats ran for. All is certainly not lost for the Chicago eleven as the Wildcats dropped their early season meeting in Detroit last year as well but rebounded to win their third straight division crown. The game was shifted to the Knights campus because the Dynamos were using Thompson Field to beat the Philadelphia Keystones 3-1.
The only other game on the Sunday docket took place in Cleveland as the expansion Cincinnati Tigers were winners in the first game in franchise history, blanking the combined Cleveland-St Louis squad by a 21-0 score. The difference in this one was turnovers as the homeside turned the ball over 8 times including two that led directly to Cincinnati touchdowns. Vern Prindiville returned an interception 87 yards for the Tigers first-ever touchdown early in the first quarter and Dan Tamburro rambled 17 yards with a fourth quarter fumble return that completed the scoring.
There will be a game tomorrow night as the Philadelphia Frigates head to Washington to face the Wasps. As mentioned last week, Washington Eagles owner William Stockdale had the game pushed back from yesterday to give Columbia Stadium workers a few extra days to finish some minor renovations on the park after the FABL Eagles completed their home slate for the season last Sunday.
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AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION STANDINGS
EAST DIVISION W L T PCT
Boston 0 0 0 .000
New York 0 0 0 .000
Philadelphia 0 0 0 .000
Washington 0 0 0 .000
Brooklyn 0 1 0 .000
WEST DIVISION W L T PCT
Detroit 2 0 0 1.000
Cincinnati 1 0 0 .000
Pittsburgh 0 0 0 .000
Clev/StLouis 0 1 0 .000
Chicago 0 1 0 .000
SUNDAY'S RESULT
Cincinnati 21 Cleveland/St Louis 0
Detroit 31 Chicago 0
UPCOMING GAMES
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26
Philadelphia at Washington
SUNDAY OCTOBER 1
Pittsburgh at Detroit
THE STORY BEHIND THE BIRTH OF THE CINCINNATI TIGERS
The American Football Association's decision to expand to Cincinnati certainly caught many off guard when it was announced in late April. Most had anticipated the likilyhood of a new team after the Washington Wasps announced plans to return following a one year absence and the St Louis Ramblers told the league they still needed help to field a team. The Cleveland Finches also were feeling a roster crunch due to the Manpower Commission so it was decided they would team with the Ramblers this year after Philadelphia said it could go it alone but that left the league with 9 teams and an odd number was not an ideal situation at all. So the Cincinnati Tigers were born. All of that is old news, of course, but the story of how the Tigers came to be -instead of New York- has only just now be revealed. New York you say?? Most thought the battle for the expansion slot was between Cincinnati and Baltimore and it was, but only after the idea of another New York squad was shot down.
The initial expansion request was for a second AFA team for the Big Apple and the man looking to put that team in New York was none other than Daniel Prescott. The owner of FABL's Brooklyn Kings was keen to get in on pro football but found himself blocked when John J. Kristich, President of the AFA, under pressure from New York (Football) Stars owner Erasmus Scott, denied the request on the grounds of not favoring club owners with interests in other professional sports. It is rumored this was a straw horse and the reason was simply Scott's refusal to countenance direct competition beyond the already existing Brooklyn (Football) Kings despite the city of New York possessing not just one, but two potential venues for Prescott's prospective entry.
A scramble of sorts ensued with Prescott approaching John E. Tice about working together to own a team, potentially in Cincinnati (virgin territory for the AFA) but with both men aware that a confrontation with Kristich's already stated position on dual-sport owners, a third partner was brought in as the "front man" for the team: Tice's business partner Edward K. Chiles, whose family co-founded the Tice & Chiles Soap Company. With Chiles the majority owner, and both Prescott and Tice signing on for minority shares, the AFA League Office approved a franchise for the group which began play in 1944 as the Cincinnati Tigers, with home games played at Tice's namesake stadium.
Cincinnati was also very attractive to Kristich for another reason. With New York out of the picture it came down to Baltimore and Cincinnati but the Queen City made the most sense because it could slot much more easily in to the AFA's Western Division, which at the time was down to just four teams.
DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPS FALL EARLY WITH LOSS TO DCC
It took very little time for the Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers to come back down to earth. In their season opener, last year's surprise National Champions were humbled by Detroit City College to the tune of a 40-6 thumping. The win improves Detroit City College to 2-0 on the season and was one of the highlights of the first busy week in collegiate grid action. Minnesota Tech, which was perfect last year but finished second behind Wisconsin Catholic in the polls, also started the season on the wrong foot with the Lakers falling 44-13 to Iowa Pre-Flight. The other big game of note on Saturday was played in Los Angeles as the Coastal California Dolphins edged CCLA 33-30. The victory extended the Dolphins winning streak over the Coyotes to 4 games but CCLA will get another chance in late November as the reduced field in the West Coast Conference once again has the two Los Angeles rivals playing each other twice this season.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Detroit City College 40 Wisconsin Catholic 6
Coastal California 33 CC Los Angeles 30
Indiana A&M 34 Lincoln 28
Iowa Pre-Flight 44 Minnesota Tech 13
Central Kentucky 9 Mississippi A&M 7
Pittsburgh State 46 Huntington State 17
Great Lakes Navy 20 Whitney College 20
Brunswick 20 St. Pancras 10
Carolina Poly 44 Petersburg 7
Daniel Boone College 20 Arkansas A&T 17
Frankford State 23 Trescott College 7
Northern California 13 Golden Gate University 9
Coastal State 37 Charleston (IL) 0
Coast Guard 27 Miller College 13
Mountainview State 43 Wichita Baptist 7
Western Florida 30 Mayport NAS 7
Boulder State 37 Fort Warren 0
Snake River State 24 Idaho Marines 7
College of Waco 24 Lubbock Field 7
Flagstaff State 31 South Valley State 13
Charleston Tech 23 Elizabethton State (TN) 0
St. Magnus 37 Asbury 0
Eastern Oklahoma 56 Canyon A&M 3
Golden Gate University Pre-Flight 27 College of San Diego 16
Randolph Field 43 Abilene Field 0
Red River State 37 Galveston Field 0
Second Air Force 71 Whitman 0
Columbia Military Academy 19 Edgemoor 0
Darnell State 45 Bryan Field 3
Lawrence State 7 Amarillo Methodist 7
Payne State 65 Travis-Fort Worth 3
Scranton State 17 Penn Catholic 13
Eastern State 23 Hampden-Sydney 0
Cowpens State 3 North Carolina Tech 0
Rainier College 54 Willamette Valley State 3
Alameda Coast Guard 14 Fleet City 0
FIELDS ARE SET FOR THE MAJOR PRE-SEASON COLLEGE HOOPS TOURNAMENTS
The fields are finalized for the four major early-season college basketball tournaments and the major focus for the opening weekend in November will be on the Windy City as the Preseason AIAA Chicago Showcase has put together an outstanding field. The key attraction of the 4-team event will be Rainier College -winners of the last two AIAA National Championship Tournaments and a school that went 31-3 a year ago. Western Iowa, considered to be the team to beat this season in the Great Lakes Alliance after posting a 26-7 record last year while reaching the National quarterfinals, will also be there. The field also includes St Patrick's and Golden Gate. The Boston-based Shamrocks had a rare losing season a year ago (14-15) but made the National semi-finals just 4 years ago appear to be on the way up while the Grizzlies are likely in way over their heads as a 17-12 independent school out of the west coast.
Here are the full fields for each of the four major season opening tournaments, which tip-off in early November.
PRESEASON AIAA CHICAGO SHOWCASE: Chicago
Golden Gate Grizzlies
Rainier College Majestics
St Patrick's Shamrocks
Western Iowa Canaries
BIGSBY FESTIVAL: New York City
Alabama Baptist Panthers
Boston State Pirates
Brandywine Patriots
Capital(MS) University Catamounts
Oklahoma Bible College Dusters
Pittsburgh State Finches
Richmond State Colonials
Wichita Baptist Warriors
JACK EASTON TIP-OFF CLASSIC : Boston
Central Kentucky Tigers
Great Plains State Buffaloes
Indiana A&M Reapers
Iowa A&M Bulls
North Carolina Tech Techsters
St Gordius Centurions
St Martin's College Crusaders
Troy State(NY) Tailors
WEST COAST CLASSIC: San Francisco
Armstrong Aces
Coastal California Dolphins
Coastal State Eagles
Queen City Monarchs
Sadler Bluecoats
Smithfield College Bulldogs
South Valley State Roadrunners
Strub College Sycamores
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 9/24/1944
- Allied air-borne troops and weapons are being poured into Holland today and United Press Correspondent Walter Cronkite reports that Allied first air-borne army and the British 2nd Army have met up in a bold attempt to turn the Siegfreid Line and open the way to Berlin. The airborne troops were surrounded in a flanking move by the Germans. As the week came to a close British armored forces, rushed to the area in support, were reported holding a precarious link with the airborne troops.
- 20,000 Germans, who surrendered to 24 brash Americans in France arrived at the River Loire today and turned in their arms to the American 83rd Division. Though technically prisoners, they were permitted to march in a group, fully armed, for 200 miles in one of the strongest military capitulations on record. The Germans were afraid of the French and they retained their arms out of fear of ambush by French forces and felt two dozen Americans would not be enough to protect them.
- The Soviets and Finns officially ended their war, signing an armistice this week.
- The Japanese puppet-government in the Philippines put all of that country under martial law out of fear of an uprising following a heavy American carrier plane raid on Manila Bay and airfields on each side of the Philippines capital.
- Senator Elmer Thomas (D.,OK.), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on War Department Appropriations, predicts that for 3 to 4 years after hostilities end, and until peace plans are fully completed, the United States will need to maintain a military establishment of from 3 million to 4 million men.
- Governor Dewey, GOP Presidential nominee is campaigning in the Pacific Northwest this week, making a bid for labor support and telling crowds in Seattle that economic development in the west has barely begun, adding that "if we can achieve equality among the East, Middle West and Far West in reconversion, we can go ahead to fuller employment in a free economy."
- President Roosevelt order the Budget Bureau to begin steps towards demobilization of the Government's vast wartime machinery through liquidation of emergency bureaus and agencies.
