[Tiger Fan]

MAY 8, 1950

EAST CAGE CHAMPION STATESMEN WAIT FOR TITLE FOE

Able to avoid their longtime nemesis in the Brooklyn Red Caps, the Washington Statesmen had a fairly easy time reaching the championship series of the Federal Basketball League and now await the winner of the western series between the Detroit Mustangs and Toronto Falcons. Detroit leads that series three games to two.

The Statesmen have long been overshadowed by their Brooklyn rivals, first in the old American Basketball Conference and now in the Federal loop. A year ago, the Washington quintet finished with the best regular season record in the sport only to come up short in the playoffs as the Red Caps beat them before defeating Detroit to win Brooklyn's seventh title. Dating back to the ABC, the Statesmen have played in the title series 10 times but have lost 8 of them with the five most recent finals losses, and the semi-final loss a year ago, all coming at the hands of the Red Caps.

Fortunately for Washington cage fans, the New York Knights knocked off Brooklyn in the opening round but then proved to be no match for a talent rich Statesmen team. Washington needed just five games to win the best-of-seven affair culminating with a 95-80 victory before a capacity crowd of 10,000 fans at DC's National Auditorium. Ivan Sisco, who also had 19 rebounds, and Charles Hooper led the way in the deciding game with 21 points each. Each are in the top five in playoff scoring and top ten in playoff rebounds but the key to the Statesmen's success may well be guard Blake Brooks, another seasoned playoff expert, who is leading the league in assists while also scoring close to 10 points a game. New York clearly had no answer for the Washington depth and now it will be up to either Detroit or Toronto to attempt to slow down a determined Statesmen team.

The Mustangs can wrap up their series with a road victory in Toronto tonight after winning 105-84 Saturday evening at Detroit's Thompson Palladium. As usual it was league MVP Ward Messer and veteran center Jack Kurtz who led the way for the Mustangs. Kurtz had 22 points while Messer, who leads the FBL in playoff scoring average, added 20. This after the Mustangs stole game five at Toronto's Dominion Gardens by an 81-76 margin despite a mammoth 31 point, 22 rebound effort by the Falcons Lon Porter.

Complete pro basketball results and standings are available here.

• Bottling and ball magnate Daniel Prescott is said to be growing increasingly weary of his cage club and a source close to the Brooklyn owner suggests he is set to either sell or, if unable to find a prospective suitor for the team, fold the Brooklyn Red Caps. The Red Caps have been the most successful professional basketball team on the court but like much of the league have struggled to turn a profit but that is not the primary reason for Prescott's decision. The source says Prescott, who owns a Brooklyn bottling empire and the baseball Kings, has lost his passion for basketball ever since the ABC -the league he founded- was forced to fold and join the Federal loop two years ago.
• Washington will represent the Eastern Division in the FBL Finals after handling the New York Knights in five games. In each of their four wins, the Statesmen had a different Player of the Game. In Game 1, it was Erich Smith, in the starting lineup because of Reid Wilkinson's broken foot, led the way with 18 points and four steals. Washington went up 2-0 in the series, as Ivan Sisco matched his opposite number, New York's Thomas Dwyer, with 20 points, but Sisco added 26 rebounds and three blocks in the 92-79 win. As the series moved to New York, the Knights got one back behind Dwyer's 32 points to narrow the Washington lead in the series to 2 games to 1. Washington took the commanding 3-1 series lead after Blake Brooks dished out 18 assists and scored 15 points in 82-73 road win, before closing out the series with a 95-80 win. In Game Five, Charles Hooper tied for the game-high with 21 points on an efficient 9-for-19 shooting day.
• Detroit has gotten the upper hand in the Western Division Finals against Toronto. The two teams split in Detroit, but Detroit won home court back with a 81-76 win in Game 4 that saw the Mustangs roar back from a 53-47 deficit entering the fourth quarter. The Mustangs, behind 19 points and 19 rebounds from Ward Messer, scored 34 points as a team in the final period in that game and started off hot in Game 5 back at the Thompson Palladium. Detroit outscored Toronto, 32-12, in the first quarter and never looked back, winning going away, 105-84. And, just like that, Detroit is one win away from a one-versus-one matchup in the league Finals.
• Among the statistical leaders, there are a pair of Mustangs (Ward Messer, Jack Kurtz), a pair of Falcons (Lon Porter, Max Lucia), and three Statesmen (Charles Hooper, Ivan Sisco, and Isiah Solis) still alive in these playoffs. What do they have in common? They are all frontcourt players. Playing in the paint is critical to winning in this league and there is no better illustration than on the scoring leaderboard. Three players are above 20 points per contest: Messer, who is clear of the field by some margin at 24.4, Porter (22.7), and Ziggy Rickard, whose Crushers fell in the Divisional Semifinals despite averaging 22.4 points a game. The Statesmen and Mustangs are 1-2 in rebounds (Sisco-Messer) and assists (Brooks-Israel Slusher), but one area that has definitely distinguished Detroit is its shooting accuracy. Messer (51.8%), Kurtz (49.1%) and Peter Collett (45.5%) are the only qualifying players shooting above 43% in the playoffs.

BOSTON BATS LEAD TO SURPRISING START

I think the Boston Minutemen must have taken my predictions to heart!

Not even a strained MCL to star third basemen Billy Dalton can get in Boston's way, as the explosive Minutemen offense have won 10 of their last 11, scoring nearly 40 more runs than any other FABL offense.

Though the star of the offense is less surprising, as 26-year-old outfielder Ben McCarty has been just as effective as last season. The lefty outfielder followed up his .337/.447/.591 (178 OPS+) 1949 line with a somehow even higher .360/.426/.651 (186 OPS+) mark, producing a 193 WRC+ and 1.4 WAR, while appearing in 22 of Boston's 23 contests to start the season. He already has 10 doubles, 5 homers, 29 RBIs, 19 runs, and 12 walks, as aside from speed and defense, two things he's never done well, McCarty is excelling in each facet of his game.

McCarty hasn't had to do it all himself, as 40-year-old Rip Curry (.388, 1, 15) is turning back the clock, triplet Buddy Schneider (.381, 2, 23, 1) is hitting the best he has since his 1940 debut, Harry Barrell (.318, 10, 4) is still Harry Barrell, and even rookie replacement Aaron Jones (.286, 1, 12) has put up his best Billy Dalton impression. The only thing in their way right now is their rotation, as they've allowed more runs then any other team has scored. The saving grace for Boston has been their stopper, Johnny Harry, who has a 1.10 ERA (356 ERA+) and 0.55 WHIP in his first 16.1 innings. He's helped keep the struggling Ray Dalpman (2-1, 5.02, 13) and Duke Hendricks (2-1, 8.10, 10) over .500, and FABL teams are starting to learn that a reliable guy like Harry at the back of your pen can help you pick up some wins you may not have gotten otherwise.

JOHNNIE JONES IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY

For the first time in his FABL career, Johnnie Jones will hit the IL with a minor bout of back stiffness. It should cost the 31-year-old lefthander just two weeks, coming in his 145th career start. The elder Jones was off to a strong start before exiting after two against the Sailors, going 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA (201 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP with 18 walks and strikeouts. In his absence, 174th ranked prospect Zane Kelley will return from Milwaukee to replace Johnnie in the rotation.

It's not the only injury affecting the Cougars this week, as star outfielder Sal Pestilli will miss two weeks as well with chronic back soreness. It's the most serious injury he's suffered since 1939, as perhaps the 34-year-old is over exerting himself somewhat in right. He was off to a solid start himself, hitting .314/.388/.414 (119 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 RBIs, 9 walks, and a CA high 6 steals. No word has been sent on who will replace Pestilli on the roster, but manager Max Wilder expects Chubby Hall and Don Lee to pick up extra at bats. Rumors around the organization are that former GWL star Clyde Zimmerman will be the next man up, as he's hitting .304/.341/.494 (123 OPS+) with 4 homers, 4 steals, and 17 RBIs in his return to affiliated ball.

TALES FROM THE WOLVES DEN

Toronto's Rollercoaster Season Continues - After returning from the road the Toronto nine go only 2-5 for the week at home. Chicago Cougars, perennial favourites in CA, swept into town to sweep the Wolves. On Monday after the visitors had jumped out to 5-1 lead the Wolves got to within one run in the sixth after staging a two out bases-empty rally. Barrell decided to send starter Jim Morrison back out to the mound for the seventh, that proved costly in hindsight, as the Cougars pushed 3 more runs across the plate before Lou Jayson came in to relieve Morrison. Chicago cruised to 9-6 win. Tuesday featured Jerry York's best outing of the season, by far, going 8, only surrendering 2 runs. Unfortunately, his mound opponent was Johnnie Jones who tossed a complete game two-hitter even though he walked eight Wolves. York's best was followed by George Garrison's worst outing, constantly in trouble George gave up 6 runs on 12 hits not making it out of the sixth. Cougars won easily by a 6-1 margin to leave Ontario above .500.

Next team in were the powerful Stars of New York. The first game of the set was a hit fest. Paced by Wally Boyer's 4-for-5 day, Toronto managed 14 hits off two pitchers. Joe Hancock started, he pitched in and out of jams leaving in the seventh with the scored tied at 2. The Wolves took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of 7 thanks to 3 hits and an error. Jimmy Gibbs came in then promptly gave up 3 runs on 4 hits including 3 doubles reminding fans present of the disaster that was the 1949 Wolves bullpen. Jim Carter came for the ninth, retiring the Stars batters 1,2,3 and setting the stage for a for a walk off for the Wolves as 4 straight singles by Boyer, John Fast, Chink Stickels and Hal Wood aided in no small part by a throwing error by Bill Barrett in which the New York slugger overthrew the cutoff man. After a 4-run rally to tie the game in the eighth Lou Jayson got tagged with a loss on Friday when Jack Welch took him deep in the ninth for 5-4 Stars win. Saturday the bullpen again took a loss in a 4-2 win by the Stars when Mack Sutton teed off on Jim Laurita for a two-run blast in the top of the tenth.

The Barrell bothers renewed their rivalry on Sunday with Fred taking home a 6-2 victory from Tom's Kings. Jerry York picked up his first win of the year. The series with the first place Kings will conclude with games today and tomorrow before Montreal comes into town.

Toronto's SS Harry Finney is dealing with a wrist injury that started when he jammed it sliding into third in the Chicago series. Brett's sources tell him there is a spirited debate going on whether or not it is time for John Wells to debut in Toronto. The 19-year-old is tearing it up in Buffalo posting a line of .436/.456/.491 (161 OPS+) in 57 PA. Detractors say give him time, this is a small sample, he still needs a little work on his fielding, no sense rushing him to the FABL.

• Picked by many as the worst team in the Federal Association this year, the Boston Minutemen are enjoying the best start in baseball. At 16-7 and winners of 13 of their last 14 outings, the Minutemen have risen to the top of the Federal Association on the strength of a dominant offense that is averaging well over 6 runs scored a game.
• In a year when many thought the Boston nine was embarking on a youth movement it has been a pair of old hands in 40-year-old outfielder Rip Curry (.388,1,15) and 36-year-old shortstop Harry Barrell (.318,0,10) who are playing with the exuberance of youth. Younger veterans Buddy Schneider (.381,2,23) and Ben McCarty (.360,5,29) have also stood out and all of that offense has helped mask a pitching staff that has struggled a bit in the early going.
• The Brooklyn Kings continue to lead the Continental Association despite a 3-3 week that included a pair of losses to the second place Philadelphia Sailors. It has been quite an interesting time for the Sailors the past three seasons. Back-to-back pennants in 1947 and 1948 were followed up by a last place finish a year ago.
• A pair of catchers are at the top of the home run parade with Roger Cleaves of the Keystones leading the way with 10 already and the Chiefs Pete Casstevens just one back of Cleaves. Cleaves is on a pace for 77 after belting two more last week.
• Who on the Chicago Chiefs has 3 CG in 4 starts, a WHIP of 1.29 (FIP- 87), an ERA+ of 119, and more strikeouts than John Stallings? Mel Haynes. That's who!
• The awful start in Detroit continues as the struggling Dynamos dropped six in a row to start the week and are now dead last in the Fed with a 5-14 record. Clearly noticing the success in going from worst to first in recent years with the Pioneers, Chiefs and Foresters, the Dynamos appear to be adopting that strategy to focus on the 1951 pennant. A 1950 last place finish clearly seems to be the goal, at least we assume that is Dick York's thinking, in order to ensure the Dynamos a 1951 title.
• Detroit ace Carl Potter lost just 8 games all of last season in winning the Allen Award with a FABL best 1.97 era, marking the second straight season he paced the Fed in earned run average. The ERA is not bad this season, sitting at 3.38 but Potter has already lost four of his first five decisions. The lone exception was a 2-hit complete game shutout win over Pittsburgh yesterday.

GOALTENDERS SORRELL, JAMES HIGHLIGHT LIST OF UNSIGNED PLAYERS

First team all-star goaltender Alex Sorrell and 1948-49 Juneau Award winner Oscar James are both said to be looking for a change of scenery. The two goaltenders head a list of a number of NAHC players whose contracts have expired and have been either unwilling or unable to negotiate an extension with their present employer.

Sorrell is just 24 years old and coming off an outstanding season when he led the NAHC in goals against average and helped the New York Shamrocks to the best regular season record in the league. Sorrell, who made just $1,700 this past season, is believed to be upset that he did not play in the Challenge Cup finals- a series New York lost to Montreal in five games- as the Shamrocks opted to go with veteran Etienne Tremblay throughout the series. James is 26 and posted a 17-24-12 record with a 2.38 goals against average in what was a trying season for the Boston Bees. Both Sorrell and James are among the three finalists for the Juneau Trophy, awarded annually to the league's best goaltender.

Other key players who may be available to sign with the highest bidder on July 1 include defenseman Jesse Santoro, a 24-year-old who missed the entire season with a knee injury, as well as Chicago winger Moose Vezina, 28, who had 11 goals and 28 points this season. The Shamrocks also appear ready to let 23-year-old winger Jocko Gregg (13-14-27) and 31-year-old Alexandre Lapalme, who had 18 goals and 38 points in 56 games as a rookie, move on as well.

NAHC teams still have until June 30 to try and reach a contract agreement with unsigned players, should they wish to retain them. The Detroit Motors have already confirmed they will not be extending an offer to long-time Detroiter Garrett Ferrar. The 35-year-old, who plays both forward and defense, spent the entire season in Buffalo despite being one of the highest paid players in the organization. Ferrar made $15,500 to suit up for the HAA Buffalo Bears on the final year of a five-year deal he inked in 1945. Ferrar suited up for more games (400) than any other Motors player during the last decade, amassing 278 points. He is not expected to be offered a contract by another NAHC club.

HISTORY BECKONS AS SAWYER EYES 16th CONSECUTIVE DEFENSE

In the annals of pugilism, July 4th promises to etch a new chapter as the venerable Hector Sawyer readies for his 16th consecutive defense of the World Heavyweight title. Gotham Stadium in New York City will bear witness to this momentous occasion, marking Sawyer's opportunity to match the feat of 1920's welterweight titan, George Grainger, in defending a world title 16 consecutive times without a defeat. The Cajun Crusher's opponent on this historic night will be none other than Cannon Cooper.

Sawyer's initial claim to the heavyweight throne transpired on January 15, 1940, in a clash against the formidable Jochen Schrotter. A thunderous knockout in the 15th round extinguished Schrotter's near four-year reign. The champ's legacy is further bolstered by a more than four-year hiatus during World War II, rendering him the record holder for the longest duration anyone has held an American Boxing Federation world title in any division.

The selection of Cooper as Sawyer's adversary raises mild eyebrows, considering the Rockford, IL., pugilist's recent controversial loss to Dan Miller in Brooklyn. Cooper, aged 29, boasts a professional record of 30-5-1 and is set to contend for his inaugural shot at the heavyweight belt.

Sawyer, now at the seasoned age of 36, stands on the precipice of retirement, and speculation is rife, especially if he triumphs over Cooper in July. Insiders close to the champion hint at an impending curtain call, with the quest to surpass Grainger's 16 consecutive title defenses with a 17th of his own emerging as the driving force for one last hurrah.

George Grainger, a youthful 24 and a World War I veteran, commenced his welterweight dominance in 1919, dispatching Little Lenny Werner in the second round. An eight-year reign of terror ensued, encompassing 15 triumphant title defenses. However, in 1927, New York's Tim McCord delivered Grainger's sole career stoppage, knocking him out in the 12th round of their 16th title defense. McCord, a 29-year-old with a 29-6-2 record, secured the title shot against the odds but relinquished it in his first defense. For Grainger, contemplation of a comeback lingered but ultimately gave way to retirement, sealing a chapter in boxing lore. Now Sawyer is set to step into the ring to rewrite that historic book.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

• May 16- Los Angeles, CA.: Welterweight Nate MacGilvray (25-11-3) vs Mike Jennings (38-12-1)
• May 17- New Britain, CT: Welterweight Heinie Verplanck (19-5-1) vs Michael Livingston (21-11-5)
• May 19- Seattle, WA: Heavyweight Mark Founain (25-8-1) vs Jimmy Lewis (25-13-1)
• May 24- Flatbush Gardens, Brooklyn: British welterweight Danny Julian (27-1-1) makes his North American debut against Alonso Salazar (12-7-3)
• May 24- Denny Arena, Boston: Welterweight Ira Mitchell (25-4) vs Robert Schultz (28-9-1)
• May 27- Bigsby Garden, New York: World Middleweight champion John Edmonds (31-3) defends his title against Hugo Canio (17-0-2)
• May 29- Newark, NJ: Heavyweight Ben Budgeford (21-2) vs Bill Sloan (18-1)
• May 30- St Louis, MO: Middleweight Davis Owens (21-1) vs Jersey Joe Miller (18-11)
• May 30- Dominion Stadium, Toronto: Canadian Middleweight champ Kevin Rawlings (24-5) defends his national title against Frank Carlson (22-7-2)
• Jul 4- Gothams Stadium, New York: World heavyweight champion Hector Sawyer defends his title against Cannon Cooper.

HUNTINGTON STATE JOINS SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE

For the first time in its history Huntington State University will be part of a conference after the long-time independent school announced plans to join the South Atlantic Conference. The switch will be effective September and the start of football season with the Miners joining the SAC for all team and individual sports including basketball and baseball. The addition swells the SAC ranks to 17 schools for football and baseball with 16 competing in the conference in basketball.

Based in Morgantown, West Virginia, Huntington State is a perfect fit for the South Atlantic Conference. The Miners have exceled on the diamond in recent years, reaching the AIAA collegiate world championship series each of the past two seasons. In 1948 they fell to new conference rival Coastal State in the semi-finals (the final was an all-SAC affair that year with Coastal State sweeping Carolina Poly in two games to win the Eagles first national baseball championship. A year ago, the Miners reached the finals with victories over powerhouses Grange College and Bluegrass State but came up short in the finals, losing two straight to Lane State.

Success has not come as easy for the Miners on the gridiron or in the gym. The Huntington State basketball team has never won a tournament game and only was selected for the 32-team field once in their history. In the season just concluded the Miners went 17-12 and are 635-563 all-time. They have fared a little better in football over the years and finished 7-4 last season and are 48-32-6 since 1941. Huntington State's best showing came in 1947 when the Miners went 8-2 and finished ranked tenth in the year end polls. They were not selected for a Classic Game that season and have never appeared in one.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 5/07/1950

• President Truman said he is not alarmed over the cold war situation, adding that conditions now are much better than in 1946 and he is optimistic over hopes for peace.
• Nationalist China's top leaders say that Russia and Red China are preparing for world war.
• A Democrat Representative called Senator McCarthy's attacks on the State Department a 'hoax' and urged for an investigation.
• Owen Lattimore, a Far Eastern specialist, once more appeared before a Senate group to dispute the testimony of a former Communist Party member and blast Senator McCarthy again, labelling the accusations that he was a Communist as "impure hogwash."
• More than a million Berliners massed near the East-West borders in the nerve center of the cold war on May 1 in rival May Day demonstrations but calm police action on both sides prevented violence.
• General MacArthur urged the Japanese to defend their new constitutional liberties against the "international political perfidy" of communism, suggesting the possibility of outlawing Japan's Communist Party.
• General Bradley, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, asked Congress to extend the draft law because there has been improvement in the international situation since the House Armed Services Committee took the subject of draft extension under consideration last January.
• The Senate Finance committee has voted in favor of higher old-age pension and wider coverage. The bill would increase the minimum primary benefit of $10 a month under present law to $25.