OCTOBER 7, 1951 - SPECIAL WCS EDITION
SAILORS TAKE CONTROL OF SERIES WITH 2 ROAD WINS
The Philadelphia Sailors are sailing along, half way to a World Championship Series title and revenge against the St Louis Pioneers, after winning each of the first two games of the WCS on the road. The Sailors, who have not won a WCS title since 1930, were defeated by St Louis in both the 1947 and 1948 Fall Classic but looked dominant in the opening two games this time around.
The Pioneers were brimming with confidence after winning five of their final six regular season games to force a one-game playoff with the Detroit Dynamos, who they defeated 3-2 on Monday to clinch their third Federal Association title in the last five years. Riding a 6-game winning streak against the Sailors that included a sweep of Philadelphia in the 1948 Series, the Pioneers opened the WCS at home Thursday. For eight innings the Series lid-lifter was a pitching duel as Hiram Steinberg of St Louis and the surprising John Thomas Johnson of the Sailors found themselves locked in a 1-1 battle but things unraveled quickly in the 9th for the Pioneers as the Sailors rallied for 5 runs and a 6-1 victory.
Both teams scored in the third inning with the visitors from Philadelphia striking first on a solo home run from Les Cunha to lead off the frame after Steinberg had retired the first six Sailors hitters in order. The St Louis run came with two out when George Atkins singled for the second time in two trips to the plate in the game and scored on a double off the bat of Frank Kirchner. Kirchner was a little too aggressive and was gunned down trying to advance to third just moments after Atkins crossed the plate.
The game would remain deadlocked at one with just one real scoring opportunity coming for each club as the two pitchers dominated. Rip Lee hit a two-out triple for the Sailors in the fifth but was stranded when the pitcher Johnson grounded out to end the inning. The Pioneers ran themselves out of the bottom of the eight when for the second time in the game they had the final out of an inning made at third base. Homer Mills was the culprit this time, getting gunned down after George Atkins had slapped a two out single to centerfield.
Entering the top of the ninth the Sailors had managed just three hits off of Steinberg, who had sat down the previous 10 Sailors in order. That changed in a big way in the ninth. Billy Forbes led off with a single to give the Sailors their first baserunner since Lee was stranded at third in the fifth. Al Farmer beat out a sacrifice bunt and Joe Scott worked a suddenly unnerved Steinberg for a free pass that quickly loaded the bases. George Rutter was fanned by Steinberg and when the pitcher induced a short fly out to center from Cotton Dillon it looked like the Pioneers hurler just might get out of the mess he found himself in. Pinch-hitter Willie Martin had other ideas as the 26-year-old with just 23 career big league hits delivered the biggest one of his career - a line drive single that plated Forbes with the go-ahead run and kept the bases loaded setting the stage for Les Cunha's dramatic grand slam homer to put the Sailors up 6-1 and end Steinberg's evening. Johnson retired the Pioneers in order to complete the proceedings.
*** The Big Cuhna ***
As dominant as the pitching was in the game, the story of the series opener was Les Cuhna as the Philadelphia Sailors shortstop, who hit 12 homeruns this season and has just 52 in 976 career big league games became the first player in Continental Association history to smack two round-trippers in a World Championship Series game. Only four Federal Association players - Bobby Barrell, Bill Moore, Cliff Moss and Henry Jones have ever homered twice in a WCS contest prior to Cuhna's game one performance. His 5 rbi's also tie a Continental mark and were one shy of a 36-year-old record set by Bernie Tremaine of the Boston Minutemen, who had 6 rbi's in a 1915 series game.
SAILORS TAKE COMMAND WITH GAME TWO VICTORY
Game Two, suddenly crucial for the Pioneers, saw another big inning for Philadelphia make all the difference in the world as the Sailors took a commanding lead in the series with a 7-4 victory in game two. Al Farmer had the big bat for the Philadelphia nine, smacking two hits including a homerun while also earning a pair of free passes.
The second game started very much like the series opener with Lloyd Stevens and Danny Hern keeping things scoreless until the Pioneers struck first in the fourth inning. The run came on three consecutive singles off of Stevens, the ex-Keystones who switched to the other side of Philadelphia in June. Frank Kircher started the hit parade with a one-out single and, after moving to second on a base hit from rookie Rex Pilcher, would score on Larry Gregory's hit.
The Pioneers lead was short-lived as Al Farmer belted a two-run homer off Hern a half inning later but that was just an appetizer for the 3-run 4-hit outburst from the Sailors in the top of the sixth that extended their lead to 5-1. All of the damage came with two out and the big hits were a 2-run single off the bat of Rip Lee followed by an rbi double for Sailors hurler Stevens.
St Louis did not fold as they answered quickly with three of their own to cut the Sailors lead to 5-4. Hern hit a sharp single off Stevens to lead off the inning and after George Atkins drew a free pass, the rookie Pilcher delivered a 3-run homer. Any hopes of a St Louis comeback were dashed in the top of the 7th when the Sailors, a team never known for its homerun power, was the beneficiary of another long ball. This one came from George Rutter, who hit 28 of them this season while leading the Continental Association in rbi's. The 24-year-old delivered a 2-run shot that put the Sailors ahead 7-4 and it would hold up for the final score despite the fact the Pioneers threatened in the bottom of the ninth with runners on second and third and two out befors Stevens, who went the distance, got Kirchner to hit an infield fly to end the game and send the Sailors home up two-nothing and full of confidence.
GOTHAMS EYE TEAR DOWN WITH JOHNSON DEAL
October 8, 1951 – The New York Gothams appear to be on the brink of a major overhaul just a week after finishing a tight race for the Federal Association pennant. Sources indicate that the Gothams have agreed to a deal with the Chicago Cougars which will see their 34-year-old star first baseman, Red Johnson, who posted a stellar .314 average with 35 homers and 118 RBIs this season, heading west. This shake-up might come as a shock, considering the Gothams ended the season only four and a half games out of first place, having led the pack until the final week, had not Gothams management made it known last week that wholesale changes were planned.
Those with a long memory will recall a similar situation in 1936. Back then, the Gothams, after winning back-to-back pennants, embarked on a dramatic tear-down, trading away all their stars for a crop of young prospects following a sluggish start. If history is set to repeat itself, Gotham fans might brace themselves for several seasons languishing in the second division.
Red Johnson is reportedly just the first domino to fall. Rumors suggest that other key veterans, including catcher George Cleaves and pitcher Lefty Allen, both likely bound for the Hall of Fame, along with the talented 25-year-old shortstop Cecil LaBonte, are also on the trading block.
While the deal for Johnson cannot be officially announced until the World Series concludes, insiders say he is headed to the Chicago Cougars, a team perennially underachieving despite their talent. In exchange, the Gothams are set to receive three top-100 prospects. However, notably absent from this deal are the Cougars’ young pitching phenom Bob Allen and star outfield prospect Jerry Smith, raising questions about whether the Gothams are getting fair value for Johnson. The four-time Federal Association MVP and nine-time All-Star is a cornerstone player, and fans are rightfully anxious about what this means for the future of their team.
Sources did not reveal the players Chicago is sending to New York other than to say it will not be established big leaguers, but rather three prospects "ranked in the top 100 by OSA." If Allen a 23-year-old who made his big league debut in September and is said to be a can't miss prospect, and Smith also 23 and a 1947 first round selection some say will be an all-star centerfielder some day, are not included that greatly limits the players who might be headed to the Gothams. The Cougars have 14 prospects ranked in the top 100 but three of them: third baseman Jack Craft (#35) and pitchers Allie Eddy (#77) and Harry Rollins (#85) were just drafted in June and are not eligible to be traded as first year professionals.
That means the Gothams haul is expected to be three of the following players: catcher Garland Phelps (OSA #25), centerfielders Frank Reese (OSA #56), Bert Preble (OSA #62), Bob Allie (OSA #70), Henry Norman (OSA #71) and Herm Kocher (#81). Pitchers Jimmy Isgro (OSA #72), Bobby Crooks (OSA #95) or perhaps Pug White (OSA #105) and second baseman Biff Tiner (OSA #20).
It seems essential that Phelps, a 1947 second round selection with a high ceiling as a catcher, be included in the deal as he appears the only one even remotely capable of becoming an impact player anywhere near the quality of Johnson. Even with Phelps, it is hard to image the Gothams getting fair value for Red Johnson, even a 34-year-old Red Johnson, without Bob Allen or Jerry Smith included in the deal.
For their part the Chicago Cougars are mum on any possible trade, noting the trade window is not open at this time. Cougars Assistant General Manager Bill Bordwell did say this when asked about the possibility prospects Bob Allen and Jerry Smith would be dealt. "I can say that Bob Allen was never and will not be considered in trade talks. Him and Jerry Smith are a part of the new Cougars core and we are not in the business of trading from our core. I can also comment that Red Bond's inclusion on the trade block was unrelated to Johnson. The Cougars have been looking for a new home for Bond to allow Leo Mitchell to finish his career out at first base."
As the baseball world waits for the official announcement, Gothams supporters are left to wonder if this move signals the beginning of a long and arduous rebuilding process. One thing is certain: the winds of change are blowing through the Big Apple, and the Gothams are set for another quick and dramatic transformation, one that may end their chances of competing for a Federal Association pennant in 1952 well before the year has begun.
DYNAMOS ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID
Heartbreaking. There is no other way to describe the 1951 Detroit Dynamos baseball season that came to a screeching halt Monday evening at Thompson Stadium. The club has now gone 22 seasons without winning the Federal Association flag and became the first team in FABL history to lose two playoff tiebreakers. During those 22 long years they finished second seven times and third on 6 other occasions. Close but no cigar seems to be the Dynamos marketing slogan as, aside from that awful rebuilding stretch from 1935 to 1937 when they went 161-301 the club has been very competitive, but just can't seem to ever finish the job and raise the flag.
Never has the inability to close out a season been more obvious and the pain of losing so intense as earlier this week at Thompson Field. Perhaps recency bias plays a small role but this writer just cannot imagine a second place finish ever feeling as devastating as this one. The Dynamos loaded up on offense by sending most of their top prospects packing at the trade deadline, adding 5 All-Stars to their roster including the big bats of Ralph Johnson and Mack Sutton, transposing a popgun offense that had often disappointed into perhaps the most feared lineup in baseball. All of that talent and even armed with a pitching performance that holds St Louis to 3 runs total, and hitless after the fourth inning, the Dynamos come up on the short end of a 3-2 decision in the biggest game of the year. Scoring just twice despite leaving the bases loaded twice and stranding 11 runners in total.
It was a season of highs and lows far more drastic than even the typical up and down years Dynamos supporters have been subjected to. The dismay of losing the staff ace, 25-year-old pitching phenom Carl Potter, for the season with an opening day arm injury to the excitement of a series of June trades designed to improve what had been the least productive offense in the Federal Association sent fans emotions up and down as if they were on a roller coaster. All-star third baseman Mack Sutton arrived from the New York Stars followed by one the biggest trades in baseball history- and one that rivals the famous Al Wheeler, Frank Vance deal with Brooklyn- that brought three time Whitney Award winning outfielder Ralph Johnson and two other all-stars in catcher Dan Smith and pitcher Bob Arman from the Kings. Then, one final move as July was about to expire to rescue 38-year-old Joe Hancock from the woeful Toronto Wolves. Surely all of those moves would be rewarded with the long elusive pennant.
The newcomers all did their jobs. Hancock went 10-4 with a 2.59 era. Arman 7-5, 2.10. Sutton hit .263 with 18 homers and 63 rbis in 79 games. Smith struggled early but still managed a .269 average and 7 homers in 59 games while Ralph Johnson excelled, batting at a .333 clip with 11 homers in 69 games.
The Dynamos electrified the Thompson Stadium crowd and shot to the top of the Federal Association but the defending champion New York Gothams and surprising St Louis Pioneers were both in hot pursuit. Somehow, the club that went 44-22 over the summer, hit a wall on Labor Day. They dropped a twin bill to Chicago that day and finished out the season going 8-14 including the heartbreaking loss Monday.
They frustrated fans with 5 losses in six games in the second last week of the season, including 3 straight in New York that allowed the Gothams to overtake them for top spot, but then left them elated with 3 straight wins the final week including dominating performances against those same Gothams that led to the Monday tiebreaker.
The problem with 1-game showdowns is anything can happen and the Dynamos came up just short. That in itself is not something to be ashamed of. Its one game, its beyond their control but fans are left once more wondering just what might have been. What could have happened with just one more win during that awful September? What if they had a healthy Carl Potter, he of the 92-76 career record, the four All-Star Game selections and the 1949 Allen Award, available to pitch last Monday? What if Mack Sutton, who had two hits in the game, delivered a third with the bases loaded and one out in the opening inning? Or Sutton's long fly ball with the sacks drunk and two out in the fifth inning travelled just a few feet further and cleared the fence instead of landing harmlessly in the glove of Pioneers left fielder Larry Gregory? So many little moments that if one had just changed slightly the Dynamos would be preparing for the Philadelphia Sailors.
Instead, it is just another winter of heartbreak as fans are left with nothing but the sad-sack football Maroons, the offensive starved hockey Motors and the cage Mustangs who always seem to come up short to tide them over until the Dynamos get another shot next spring to try and finally win that all too elusive pennant.
- One bad inning derailed an otherwise very strong performance from Steinberg in the opener. Two runners thrown out at third base did not help St Louis either.
- The Pioneers management has come to realize the club is not a very strong baserunning team after two Pioneers players were thrown at out a third base in the series opener. Leland Kuenster of the Chicago Herald-Examiner noted he was going to mention something about being careful of recency bias, but then I checked, and yes--the Pioneers were the worst base running team (negative-14 BsR) during the regular season and the bulk of the negative value came from regular base running, not stolen base attempts.
- Other notes on team performance from Kuenster after looking at the chart below: The toughest team to strikeout? Pittsburgh. The easiest team to strikeout? Brooklyn. The team most allergic to walks? Toronto. And only two clubs with an OPS+ of > 100, neither of which are still playing.
- Brett Bing of the Toronto Mail & Empire adds that the Wolves had zero players with OPS+>100, to which Kuenster replies we need to remember this Wolves club. I think it will be a while before we see another offense that is so anemic.
- Kuenster adds that collectively, the Wolves produced at a rate that is 30% below average. They were one of just 5 clubs with a positive value for base running. But that's it for positivity. I guess if you don't have a lot of base runners in the first place, there are fewer chances of running into outs.
- Jack Brinker: "I will say this - the Sailors really had no business winning the CA. The lineup has several very good players but the supporting cast is average and the pitching is pretty average too. They're not as bad as they were last season and not as good as they look this season. It's one of those baseball things. Players and teams sometimes overperform and sometimes underperform. That's a truth I wish more people would consider."
- With words that should perhaps be posted in the Gothams office, Kuenster summed it up this way. "A large element of winning the pennant comes down to luck. Injury luck, yes, but also just performance luck. Slumps at bad times, etc. That's why I maintain that a successful season cannot be just the pennant. There is so much that goes into winning a pennant that is outside of your control."
RUTLEDGE PUMMELS JULIAN IN FOURTH ROUND KNOCKOUT Danny Rutledge (24-1-1, 16 KO) vs. Danny Julian (31-3-2, 9 KO) – You could excuse the crowd for its lack of enthusiasm in this welterweight title fight. The entire boxing world and most of the sports world were still toasting Hector Sawyer and the retirement of arguably the top boxer of all time. While fans still wanted to drink in the greatness of Sawyer one last time and bask in the afterglow of that bout, there was another belt on the line just four weeks after Sawyer exited the stage.
However, this bout was hardly a main course. Danny Rutledge has already fared better than most recent welterweight champions, and his first title defense went very well as he was dominant at times in his victory over a previously undefeated Ben Burns. In the welterweight landscape, the highest-ranked boxer not to have his title shot was the fifth-ranked welterweight in the division, Danny Julian, who has only won four of seven fights since emigrating from his native England.
The top three contenders entering the evening were Ira Mitchell, Dale Roy, and Burns. Mitchell lost his belt to Rutledge, Roy was defeated by Mitchell, and Burns was Rutledge’s last opponent. With the amount of churn in this division, Julian was the freshest face that could be found. It is also the first title fight for the referee, Windy Forde.
This bout can be best described as an initial feeling out period for Rutledge, a fateful uppercut that caused some immediate swelling on the face of the challenger, the lack of any meaningful response from Julian, and Rutledge’s quick domination to end the fight early enough to send the patrons out on the town with many hours to spare.
After an early cross by Julian, Rutledge owned most of the first round and he was able to not only get his punches in, but he created a tough obstacle for the challenger just two minutes into the fight. Rutledge did the most damage on this night from his uppercut. He opened with an expert uppercut that stymied any advance Julian could muster, but it was the uppercut late in the round that he threw close to the body that caused a mouse to form on Julian’s right eye.
In the immediate aftermath as the first round closed, Julian fought like a cornered animal, throwing the kitchen sink at Rutledge. The bell signaled the end of the round and both fighters continued to throw hands, which caused the rookie referee to try to step in. Both corners started to advance into the ring when cooler heads prevailed and avoided an all-out brawl.
The second round was much more deliberate, as both fighters sized each other up, gearing for a longer fight. This was a poor tactic by Julian, who should have tried to capitalize on the momentum he generated at the end of the first round. Rutledge was content to slow down and managed to control the tempo of the fight, but not before trying to target the head with a left hook that landed beautifully. Julian used the closing bell of the second round to wake up and start throwing punches, but Rutledge barely fired back.
Julian was visibly rattled, and Rutledge knew it. In the third round, Julian was about as effective as a cardboard cutout, as Rutledge went to work firing and landing shots at will. The swelling of Julian’s right eye was not calming down, even when his corner tried to ice and smooth out the bruising between rounds with an eye iron. Rutledge was focusing on Julian’s head with all his punches, not bothering with body shots.
With a perfectly executed cross the challenger may not have even seen coming, Rutledge floored Julian. The referee began his count and Julian struggled to stand, reaching his feet after a six-count. Rutledge tried to make sure Julian was not playing possum. Once the champion realized that Julian was starry-eyed, he continued the barrage. In the exchange, Rutledge accidentally head-butted Julian, but that was more likely Julian’s unresponsive defenses with his head listing towards Rutledge than any intentional maneuver. Rutledge was doing fine without resorting to illegal tactics.
It was a matter of time that the belt would stay with Rutledge, as the fight entered the fourth round. Rutledge picked up where he left off. Late in the round, Rutledge doubled up on a hook to Julian’s jaw and a powerful cross that landed on Julian’s chin. Julian was barely lifting his gloves to resist at this point and with 11 seconds remaining in the round, referee Forde threw his hands in the air to call off the fight.
Julian’s corner protested it was called way too quickly, especially with seconds left in the round, without a chance for Julian’s corner to prop him up for the next round. The challenger’s trainer was trying to pressure a rookie referee, but it could have been called minutes earlier. While the result was expected, I am certain a rematch with Ira Mitchell or a fight with former champ Mac Erickson would have been a better showing.
Rutledge (25-1-1) battered his opponent, connecting on an average of 43 punches per round, compared to only 13 by Julian. By jabs alone, Rutledge almost matched Julian’s output. It was not just the numbers; Julian (31-4-2) could not mount any kind of offense and his posture in the ring was that of someone who was resigned to be drilled by an oncoming train.
With only two title defenses, Rutledge may have trouble finding a new opponent. Two late October welterweight fights might give insight to Rutledge’s next opponent, as Ben Burns will face John Bolton in Pittsburgh in three weeks while Mac Erickson will fight Dave Sullivan in Chicago the night before Halloween.
The jury is out on whether Rutledge has a lot of staying power as welterweight champion or if the lack of talent in the division is allowing Rutledge to be the best of a bad lot. Perhaps a fight against a former champion will do more to prove Rutledge’s mettle.
BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS
Round 1: Rutledge, 2-1 (R: 0:24 uppercut, 0:56 hook/midsection; J: 2:29 hook/midsection)
Round 2: None
Round 3: Rutledge, 3-0 (0:13 right/head, 1:07 cross/knockdown #1, 1:27 cross/midsection)
Round 4: Rutledge, 3-0 (0:23 cross, 0:53 hook, 1:53 hook/jaw)
TOTAL: Rutledge 8, Julian 1
- October 18- Lakeside Auditorium, Chicago: former middleweight champion John Edmonds (34-4) meets contender Davis Owens (25-3)
- October 23- Buffalo, NY: rising welterweight Brian Pierce (18-4-1) faces Clarence Broderick (12-6-1)
- October 23- Oakland, CA.: veteran welterweight Artie Neal (30-10-1) meets California native Jamie Rotz (40-13)
- October 26- Keystone Arena, Philadelphia: heavyweight contenders John Jones (20-2-1) and Tommy Cline (19-4) square off.
- October 27- Pittsburgh, PA: welterweight Ben Burns (20-1) returns to ring for first time since his losing his shot at the title to champ Danny Rutledge in June. Burns will square off with John Bolton (22-6-2)
- October 30- Lakeside Auditorium, Chicago: former welterweight champ Max Erickson (22-5) meets Dave Sullivan (28-13-1).
EXPLORERS ROUT CAROLINA POLY TO TOP INITIAL POLL
It took Cumberland's reluctant offense a half to get going, but once they did the Explorers rang up plenty of damage on an overmatched Carolina Poly defense in Knoxville as the hosts rolled to a 41-7 victory and the top of the polls in the first AIAA college grid ranking of the season.
While the Cumberland offense slumbered through much of the opening half, its defense went to work in forcing three turnovers, two of which led quickly to Explorers charting territory in the Cardinals end zone and a 14-7 lead at the break. After a little time to get warmed up, backs Garland Churchwell and Billy Kirkwood caught fire, running over and through the Poly defense as the Explorers pushed their record to 3-0 and hang on to the top spot in the rankings, a position they were placed in during the preseason poll.
The St. Ignatius Lancers proved their right to be a close second in the polls as the Lancers followed up a lobsided victory on the road in Detroit with another strong show in Columbus. The convincing 31-10 victory over the Central Ohio Aviators left the crowd of 82,640 in Columbus shell-shocked. A pair of third quarter scoring marches covering 74 and 46 yards within a three and one-half minute span put the game away after the Lancers led just 13-7 at the break.
Other notable results saw St. Blane get on the winning track with a 30-3 victory over Northern Minnesota but Rome Sate stumbled again in dropping a 17-7 decision to St. Magnus. Georgia Baptist continues to impress as the Gators ran their record to 3-0 with a surprising 20-0 blanking of Central Kentucky.
WEEKEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS
EAST
St. Blane 30 Northern Minnesota 3
Ellery 14 George Fox 14
Henry Hudson 13 Dickson 10
Pierpont 13 Grafton 0
Sadler 33 Annapolis Maritime 7
Brunswick 40 Empire State 7
St. Patrick's 38 Brooklyn State 20
St. Pancras 40 Eastern Virginia 7
Conwell College 20 Garden State 20
Liberty College 20 Penn Catholic 20
New York Maritime 47 Bigsby College 17
Boston State 57 Grange College 7
SOUTH
Cumberland 41 Carolina Poly 7
Georgia Baptist 20 Central Kentucky 0
Noble Jones College 16 Northern Mississippi 6
Alabama Baptist 24 Bluegrass State 17
Western Florida 27 California Catholic 0
Bayou State 14 Red River State 0
Maryland State 54 Potomac College 3
Opelika State 48 Spartanburg Baptist 3
Miami State 27 American Atlantic 3
Mississippi A&M 54 Commonwealth Catholic 6
Mobile Maritime 24 Central Carolina 3
Coastal State 17 Charleston Tech 3
Columbia Military Academy 31 Bulein 3
Eastern State 35 Chesapeake State 9
Alexandria 28 Richmond State 17
Cowpens State 27 Petersburg 0
Lexington State 45 Huntington State 10
MIDWEST
St. Ignatius 31 Central Ohio 10
Lincoln 14 Wisconsin State 7
St. Magnus 17 Rome State 7
Western Iowa 21 Whitney College 13
Indiana A&M 14 Pittsburgh State 14
Iowa A&M 17 Wisconsin Catholic 10
Lawrence State 27 Boulder State 19
Lambert College 27 Iowa Northern 7
College of Omaha 13 Eastern Kansas 0
Topeka State 21 Central Illinois 5
SOUTHWEST
Lubbock State 20 Baton Rouge State 7
Travis College 17 North Carolina Tech 6
Darnell State 31 Oklahoma City State 13
Arkansas A&T 21 Amarillo Methodist 10
Texas Gulf Coast 38 Daniel Boone College 0
Abilene Baptist 41 Wichita Falls State 14
College of Waco 10 Ferguson 0
Abilene Methodist 20 Texas Panhandle 10
FAR WEST
Northern California 40 Minnesota Tech 14
Coastal California 33 Rainier College 26
Redwood 13 Detroit City College 3
Spokane State 34 Eastern Oklahoma 14
CC Los Angeles 17 Sunnyvale 9
Lane State 33 Idaho A&M 9
College of San Diego 45 Portland Tech 7
Wyoming A&I 19 Cache Valley 0
San Francisco Tech 43 Camp Pendleton 3
Provo Tech 26 Utah A&M 0
Valley State 34 Canyon A&M 9
Tempe College 51 Dearborn State 7
Colorado Poly 42 Mountainview State 9
Mile High State 45 Custer College 0
South Valley State 41 El Paso Methodist 14
Quaker College (CA) 37 Flagstaff State 28
Minns College 19 San Clemente 6
PALADINS VS STARS HIGHLIGHTS TODAYS GRID SCHEDULE
The second week of the American Football Association, set for later today, promises a couple of very interesting matchups highlighted by a showdown between the Pittsburgh Paladins and the New York Football Stars at Gothams Stadium. Each won their season opener last week and both did so very convincingly. The Paladins, who reached the AFA title game last season before falling to the Kansas City Cowboys, opened this campaign with a 30-6 victory on the road in St Louis against the Ramblers. The Stars were just as successful with a 33-0 drubbing of the Cleveland Finches in the Big Apple last Sunday.
This week promises to be a showcase of a pair of talented quarterbacks with Dusty Sinclair leading the way for Pittsburgh against Dick Metcalf, who has replaced Archie Rawlings as the signal caller in New York. Sinclair, who led the AFA in passing yardage a year ago, threw for 272 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win over St Louis. Metcalf, who saw limited action behind the now departed Rawlings a year ago, was just as impressive as Sinclair in the opening week. The former Opelika State star threw three touchdown passes against the Finches while completing 16 of 26 tosses for 284 yards. AFA league prognosticators give the edge to the Stars in this matchup but despite playing on the road, my money is on the Paladins prevailing and halfback Wally Dotson perhaps making the difference.
The other game I will be watching closely takes place on the west coast as the Los Angeles Tigers host the defending champion Kansas City Cowboys. The Cowboys had little trouble with Detroit last weekend even with star quarterback Pat Chappell having a quiet game. The Tigers nipped San Francisco 21-17 a week ago but they will find a much tougher task in corralling the Cowboys.
TANK TIPPETT'S WEEKEND PREDICTIONS
Pittsburgh over New York 28-17
Kansas City over Los Angeles 30-13
Philadelphia over Boston 21-20
San Francisco over Chicago 17-14
Washington over Cleveland 21-3
Detroit over St Louis 10-7
The Week That Was
Current events from October 4 to October 6,1951
- Against the objections of Britain, the UN Security Council has approved Iran's request for a 10-day postponement on debate over the Oil dispute. The delay will be to allow time for a high ranking Iranian official to fly to New York and present their case.
- Gen. Ridgeway warns that the United States 8th Army is "prepared to strike, and strike hard," in Korea if the Reds want all-out war instead of truce talks.
- American jets shot down six Red jets and damaged two others in fierce air battles over Northwest Korea yesterday.
- President Truman vigorously defended his recent order tightening control over Government information and blasted magazines and newspapers that had published 95 percent of the information declared secret or otherwise classified by military establishments.