DECEMBER 18, 1944
CANNONS EAGERLY AWAIT DRAFT LOTTERY
The new draft lottery is set to take place in advance of the 1945 FABL draft and it is a cause of excitement for all of FABL. At stake is the chance to pick first overall and 7 of the Continental Association clubs have a shot at that opportunity. The lone expection of course is the Cincinnati Cannons, who as CA champ will be automatically slotted in at the 15th spot in the draft. That is not to say the Cannons will not still be anticipating the draft as they own the Boston Minutemens selection this time around and could pick as high as second. The CA teams will be in a draw for the odd picks from 1-3 while the Federal Association teams have the even slots this year. The Federal Association champion Philadelphia Keystones will draft 16th.
*** Mullins Will Attend Central Ohio ***
Lonnie Mullins, arguably the best high school basketball player ever to come out of Cincinnati, has decided to play his college ball in Columbus with the Central Ohio Aviators. The 6'9" centre from Taft High School, made his decision known recently after spending several weeks debating offers from Great Lakes Alliance rivals Detroit City College as well as Central Ohio. High School cage experts call Mullins the 15th best senior in the nation this season.
Meanwhile Sandusky's Leo Franks -who was once considered a possible first round selection in the 1945 FABL draft before an arm injury ended his baseball career- is going to play college ball at Pittsburgh State. As a 16 year old high school sophomore Franks was projected to be a top of the rotation starter in big league baseball but blew out his arm training for the start of his junior season. Franks will focus instead solely on the hardwood where he is an All-State basketball guard.
- Big league owners are 16 frightened people today as the new draft ruling that calls for the mobilization of 26 to 37 year olds goes into effect. The hope is the worst of the damage is over as more than 80 players who appeared in the big leagues last season have recently enlisted or been drafted. However, there remains great fear that more will be taken before spring training gets underway.
- Dog and Horse tracks are closed down as part of the War Mobilization Plans, but WMD head James Byrnes says baseball will not be forced to stop. However, he does want to see a large number of the 4-F ballplayers either in the Army for limited service or working in manufacturing.
- No big leaguers departed for the war effort the last couple of weeks but the parade of minor leaguers continues. Among the latest include a pair of top 100 prospects in Clyde Fleenor and Gary Burgess. Fleenor is a 20 year old outfielder selected 14th overall by the New York Stars in 1942 who spent last season in Class C. Burgess, 18, was the Pittsburgh Miners fourth round pick last June and split last season between Class B & C. In addition a pair just outside of the top 100 in Detroit's George Bundy, and 18 year old outfielder, and the Chicago Cougars 19 year old outfielder Jimmy Hairston also received the call with all four being drafted by the Army.
- The major league schedule is set to get going April 16 this year, with Washington as usual, tilting the lid with a contest at Columbia Stadium. The Eagles are set to host the New York Gothams with everyone else getting into the act a day later if the tentative schedule stays as indicated.
FRIGATES WIN AFA CHAMPIONSHIP
Defense and Running Game Too Much For Detroit
The Philadelphia Frigates did exactly what they had done all season in stopping the Detroit Maroons 30-14 to claim their first American Football Association championship. The Frigates used their powerful running game, keyed by 86 yards from Ollie Bishop, and their ballhawking defense - which intercepted 6 Rich Coleman passes on the day- to claim the grid title and spoil Stan Vaught's final game.
It was a typical Philadelphia game in that the Frigates overwhelmed their opponent with their depth. There was no real standout although back Ollie Bishop was named the game's most valuable player after rushing for 86 yards and a score, while also making 2 catches for 58 yards and recording 8 tackles. Instead it was the usual team effort as 6 different Frigates had interceptions, 11 different players recorded at least 3 tackles and 4 Frigates carried the ball for at least 35 yards on the day.
The cold weather and snowy conditions at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Stadium certainly helped, favouring Philadelphia's diverse ground game and make things just a little bit tougher on the Maroons more passing focused offense. It played right into the Frigates gameplan as almost immediately the game appeared to be following the script many had predicted. Detroit's first drive came to an end when Rich Coleman had a pass intercepted by Bob Allen setting up a Frigates first down on the Maroons 22 yard line. Philadelphia nearly gave away it's opportunity to strike first when Ollie Bishop fumbled on the Detroit 1 yard line but teammate Andy Barrow alertly fell on the loose ball and a play later Allen tossed a 1 yard touchdown pass to Karl Shoemaker giving Philadelphia a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Detroit would respond quickly as Coleman drove the Maroons to a score of their own with several completions including a pair to Stan Vaught, who had announced before the contest this would be the final game of his illustrious career. In all Vaught would make 9 catches for 93 yards but would fail to get in the endzone and retires having never scored a touchdown in his 3 championship game appearances. The tying score would come on an 11 yard run from Colin Owen to even the game at 7.
Another Colemen interception in the second quarter-this one by Karl Schoemaker- set up a second Philadelphia score. This one on a 44 yard drive that finished with Dave Davis busting through the middle of the Maroons line for a 10 yard touchdown run. Once more Detroit would respond on the next drive and it was Colin Owen again reaching the endzone, this time on a 9 yard scoring throw from Coleman.
Despite a third Coleman interception of the half the Frigates would not score again and the teams entered the break knotted at 14. The Frigates had 53 interceptions during the regular season -no other team had more than 28- and they would add three more in the second half of the title game to put the contest out of reach. The first one came early in the third quarter with Gregg Ward doing the honours. It did not result in a Philadelphia touchdown but did culminate in a 35 yard field goal from Bob Allen to put the Frigates up 17-14 and give them a lead they would never relinquish.
Ollie Bishop would run for a 12 yard touchdown on the final play of the third quarter and just over two minutes later-after a three and out from Detroit- Richie Dugan would gallop 38 yards for another rushing touchdown to complete the scoring on the day. Coleman would be picked off twice more in the fourth quarter, putting an end to any comeback homes the Maroons might have had.
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AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
YEAR SCORE VENUE MVP
1944 Philadelphia 30 Detroit 14 Sailors Memorial Ollie Bishop, Phi
1943 Chicago 21 Boston 20 Minutemen Park Freeman Stahlberg, Chi
1942 Boston 24 Chicago 21 Whitney Park Del Thomas, Bos
1941 Chicago 10 New York 7 Whitney Park Dutch Hoffman, Chi
1940 Brooklyn 20 Detroit 7 Thompson Field Don Ludwigs, Bkn
1939 Boston 21 Chicago 14 Whitney Park Leon Fitzgerald, Bos
1938 Brooklyn 9 Pittsburgh 7 Kings County Bill Morrisett, Bkn
1937 New York 34 Chicago 0 Bigsby Oval Tom Jamason, NY
1936 Detroit 24 Pittsburgh 7 Thompson Field Vernon Flowers, Det
1935 Pittsburgh 7 Cleveland 0 Forester Field Harvey Bowman, Pit
1934 Pittsburgh 7 Detroit 0 Thompson Field Hank Greshman, Pit
1933 Rhode Island 21 Chicago 0 North Side Park Harvey Bowman, RI
1932 Cleveland Finiches (7-3)
1931 Detroit Maroons and Rhode Island Reds co-champs (12-1-1)
1930 New York Stars (14-2-1)
1929 Detroit Maroons (13-0)
1928 Chicago Wildcats (11-0-2)
1927 Detroit Maroons (10-0)
1926 Chicago Wildcats (13-1-2)
1925 Cleveland Finches (12-1-1)
1924 Toledo Tigers (9-0)
1923 Pittsburgh Pros (12-0)
1922 Evansville Lions (10-1)
1921 Chicago Wildcats (9-1-1)
1920 Youngstown Reapers (7-0)
AFA FACING GREAT 1945 PLAYER PROBLEMS
Next season's player problem for the pro football clubs may be one of the toughest they have been called on to solve, and although it is hoped the war in Europe will be over, the draft will be eased and more discharged veterans will be available to fill rosters, league officials frankly aren't too happy about the outlook.
The war has been a factor for several years and the enhanced push on putting 4-F's to work in limited capacity is a concern, but there are hopes the war may be over before next season rolls around. The great unknown now is just how will the addition of possibly two more leagues next year upset the apple cart. Will the Continental Football Conference and United States League even get off the ground? If they do, will they honour existing player rights or will it be fair game and a bidding war on all the big stars of the AFA? What kind of contract could a Jerry McElheny command from an upstart league should he be willing to abandon the New York Football Stars? What about Billy Bockhorst, the 1942 Christian Trophy winner who had a breakout season with Pittsburgh.
The AFA weathered a storm like the one that is brewing now back in 1926 but the cost was huge. That was when the Football Alliance of America made its one year bid to take over as the premier play-for-pay loop in the nation. Urban Dane was behind that one -just as he is with one of the proposed new loops this time around- but all the FAA accomplished in its one season of existence was to drive up salaries and drive a lot of teams out of business. Dane is back at it again this time around but perhaps the loop that has a better chance of tackling the AFA is the Continetal Conference with Percy Sutherland and Lt Commander Ben Montgomery at the helm.
In the end the 1926 challenge saw a stronger, much more streamlined American Football Association emerge, but AFA boss Jack Kristich knows first-hand the toll a rival league -or leagues- will take. Kristich was the driving force behind a team called the Fort Wayne Titans back then, and his club was one of the many to be run out of business that year. You can bet that Kristich and his AFA magnates are dreading the prospects of having to go through it all again.
EAST-WEST CLASSIC IS ONE DAY SELLOUT
Sale of tickets for the East-West Classic football game between the Central Ohio Aviators and the Coastal California Dolphins on New Years Day began -and ended- Saturday. All 93,000 seats at the Santa Ana, Ca.venue were sold out in a matter of hours.
The Aviators 38-man squad, led by Christian Trophy winning graduate quarterback Jimmy Rhodes, boarded a train, without any fanfare, Saturday night for California. The Aviators have had only light workouts since they finished a perfect regular season with a late December victory over Detroit City College and are expected to be healthy and at full strength for the Classic showdown.
NEW YEAR'S CLASSIC SCHEDULE
EAST-WEST CLASSIC (Santa Ana, CA) Central Ohio (9-0) vs Coastal California (8-1)
SUNSHINE CLASSIC (Miami, FL) Noble Jones College (8-1) vs Easten Oklahoma (7-1)
LONE STAR CLASSIC (Dallas, TX) Payne State (7-1) vs Iowa A&M (8-0)
CAJUN CLASSIC (New Orlenas, LA) Alabama Baptist (8-0-1) vs Frankford State (7-2)
DESERT CLASIC (El Paso, TX) St Blane (6-3) vs Darnell State (8-2)
SAWYER TO FACE WILLIE MEYER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT CROWN
World Heavyweight boxing champ Hector Sawyer's camp has confirmed that their fighter will make his professional return to the ring February 24 in Boston against Willie Meyer. Sawyer (49-3-1) has not defended his title since prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor and has been serving in the army the past three years. The 30 year old will be discharged from Army next week. The fight, which will take place at Denny Arena, home of the NAHC's Boston Bees, will be a prelude to what is expected to be a major bout in June that will see Sawyer likely face top contender Mark Fountain.
Sawyer will have to get by Meyer, who was in action this weekend and it was following that fight that the title shot was announced. The 35 year Meyer is 32-7-1 after having an easy time with Rocky Elibank Saturday evening. The Minneapolis born Meyer knocked out Elibank in the 6th round of their bout. It was no great achievement as Elibank, a Brockton, MA. native, is little more than a professional punching bag with a career record of 4-23-2.
On the same card as the Meyer win was another heavyweight bout. It was a clear upset as Mike Austin, a lower level southpaw out of Cleveland, shocked veteran pugilist Larry May with a 10 round majority decision. The loss drops the 28 year old May's record to 22-12-4 in what was his first professional fight in 3 years after being recently discharged from the Army. There had been talk that May was going to get the February fight with The Cajun Crusher until his surprising loss as apparently Sawyer's manager had a deal in place with both Meyer and May with the understanding that whoever performed better on Saturday would get the title shot. In either case, it is expected the February fight will be nothing more than an easy tune-up for the champ, designed simply to ease him back into the ring.
SHAMROCKS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS
The St Patrick's Shamrocks seem to be adjusting just fine to life as an independent team after the dissolution of the Northeast Conference. The Shamrocks, who have reached the semi-finals of the National Tournament twice in the past decade but failed to earn a tournament berth last season, are off to a 10-1 start that includes wins over Western Iowa, St Pancras, Pierpont and most recently Detroit City College.
The Shamrocks lack a true dominant player but have succeeded by spreading the scoring around with all five starters averaging at least 6 points per game. They are a young group with only one senior among the key players in their rotation and a sophomore forward by the name of Jeremiah Fink is rapidly emerging as the team leader. The New Englander -Fink is from Keene, NH- had the hot hand down the stretch against Detroit City College last Tuesday, hitting of 5-of-7 second half shooting attempts to help the Shamrocks overcome a 4-point deficit at the half and beat the Knights in Detroit by a 48-40 count.
St Patrick's has some tough tests in the second half of the season including matchups with #4 North Carolina Tech and 5th ranked Annapolis Maritime but based on the start the Boston school is looking forward to another long tournament run come March.
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COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL RANKINGS
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference
1. Carolina Poly (72) 5-0 1800 1 South Atlantic Conference
2. Mobile Maritime 8-0 1723 2 South Atlantic Conference
3. St. Patrick's 10-1 1647 4 Indy Northeast
4. North Carolina Tech 9-1 1589 5 South Atlantic Conference
5. Annapolis Maritime 9-1 1517 8 Indy South
6. Great Plains State 11-2 1413 15 Indy Midwest
7. CC Los Angeles 5-1 1335 14 West Coast Athletic Association
8. Western Florida 5-1 1292 3 Deep South Conference
9. St. Blane 10-2 1229 18 Indy East
10. Rainier College 4-1 1113 17 West Coast Athletic Association
11. Miami State 9-1 1101 20 Indy South
12. Coastal State 8-2 890 9 South Atlantic Conference
13. Brooklyn State 5-2 869 13 Liberty Conference
14. Mississippi A&M 8-2 791 7 Deep South Conference
15. Bluegrass State 6-1 744 12 Deep South Conference
16. Liberty College 9-2 735 10 Indy East
17. Chesapeake State 6-2 606 NR South Atlantic Conference
18. Garden State 8-2 547 NR Liberty Conference
19. Central Ohio 7-2 481 NR Great Lakes Alliance
20. Western Iowa 3-2 481 NR Great Lakes Alliance
21. Wisconsin State 3-1 412 NR Great Lakes Alliance
22. Bigsby College 4-1 380 NR Liberty Conference
23. Lincoln 4-2 260 NR Great Lakes Alliance
24. St. Pancras 9-2 153 19 Indy East
25. Piedmont University 9-2 100 6 Indy South
Others Receiving Votes:
Chicago Poly 6-2 76 Indy Midwest
St. Gordius 7-2 45 Eastern Six
Plover College 8-2 24 Indy Midwest
Conwell College 6-2 18 Indy East
Rome State 7-2 13 Indy South
St. Magnus 6-2 6 Great Lakes Alliance
Brooklyn Catholic 6-2 5 Liberty Conference
Alabama Baptist 5-2 4 Deep South Conference
Eastern Oklahoma 4-2 1 Midwestern Association
RESULTS INVOLVING RANKED TEAMS
MONDAY DECEMBER 11
#13 Brooklyn State 45 Eastern Virginia 40
Allentown State 37 #25 Piedmont University 36
TUESDAY DECEMBER 12
#2 Mobile Maritime 57 Capital(MS) University 54
#3 St Patrick's 48 Detroit City College 40
#4 North Carolina Tech 54 Ferguson 40
#5 Annapolis Maritime 48 Manhattan Tech 30
#7 CC Los Angeles 40 Quaker College(CA) 31
#11 Miami State 48 Portland Tech 37
#15 Bluegrass State 47 Central Illinois 36
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13
#9 St Blane 54 Pierpont 44
#12 Coastal State 66 Alabama Gulf Coast 37
Grafton 38 #13 Brooklyn State 24
Glover(GA) 41 #14 Mississippi A&M 40
#19 Central Ohio 54 Topeka State 37
THURSDAY DECEMBER 14
#2 Mobile Maritime 54 Georgia Baptist 48
#4 North Carolina Tech 53 College of Cairo 42
#5 Annapolis Maritime 58 Jersey City Tech 49
#11 Miami State 65 Canton State 53
#23 Lincoln 52 Arkansas A&T 43
Smithfield College 32 #24 St Pancras 31
FRIDAY DECEMBER 15
#10 Rainier College 45 Three Rivers State 32
#13 Brooklyn State 44 Eastern Kansas 43
#19 Central Ohio 44 Frankford State 38
Brandywine 60 #25 Piedmont University 56
SATURDAY DECEMBER 16
#18 Garden State 40 #16 Liberty College 35
#20 Western Iowa 54 Texas Gulf Coast 40
#24 St Pancras 40 Meade 28
SUNDAY DECEMBER 17
#5 Annapolis Maritime 59 Conwell College 50
#6 Great Plains State 45 Oklahoma City State 30
#11 Miami State 47 #12 Coastal State 38
#17 Chesapeake State 49 Frankford State 41
#19 Central Ohio 61 Rose Point(PA) 43
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 12/17/1944
- The heaviest German counteroffensive of the Western campaign, was launched over the weekend. Co-ordinated with a savage V-bomb barrage, Nazi forces rolled through the American 1st army lines to depth of several miles, punching through into Belgium and Luxembourg at three points along a fluid, 70-mile battlefront.
- Reports from the Soviet front indicate the remaining Nazi forces in Budapest are evacuating the Hungarian capital under a storm of Russian bombs and shells.
- American tanks and infantry rammed ahead more than two miles to the western outskirts of the Roer River bastion of Duren, just 20 miles southwest of Cologne.
- Hope for an early compromise settlement of the Greek Civil War faded as bloody street fighting in Athens entered it's second week with some 20,000 well-armed leftist troops still sniping and shelling British and Greek Government positions in the heart of the capital.
- American B-29 bombers continued their attack on Tokyo for well over a week straight, prompting mass evacuations of the Japanese capital.
- Prime Minister Churchill endorsed the Soviet Union's claim to a postwar "buffer state" carved out of eastern Poland and tactfully invited the United States to make public its stand on the explosive Russo-Polish dispute.
- Thousands of men over age 30 prepare for draft notices, as new regulations for Selective Service come into effect.