[Tiger Fan]

MAY 21, 1962
FALCONS BRING CANADA IT'S FIRST CAGE CROWN

The Toronto Falcons rallied from a three games to two deficit to beat the Boston Centurions and win their first ever Federal Basketball League championship. The Falcons had come up short in each of their three previous trips to the league finals with the most recent one being in 1952-53 before rallying past Boston to end a title drought for the franchise that begin 1945 when the club was based in Pittsburgh and played in the old American Basketball Conference.

This year's itineration of the Falcons was dominant right from the opening tip-off to start the season and their 58-22 record established a new regular season mark for victories in a season. Toronto finished a whooping 22 games ahead of second place Detroit atop the West Division and after a first-round bye eliminated the Mustangs in six games in the best-of-seven semi-final series.

The Falcons then met East Division power Boston, which won an impressive 55 games during the season, in the league finals. Home court advantage was crucial in the series as the home squad won all seven games with the Wolves pulling out victories in the final two contests after falling three times at Denny Arena.

Game six saw Fred Lillard, a cast-off from Washington won was the most improved player in the loop this season, score 22 points and Bryce Kirk add 19 as the Wolves downed Boston 75-67 at Dominion Gardens to even the series at three. It was more of the same in the seventh game as Kirk poured in 27 points and Lillard added 23 as the Wolves overcame a 7 point first half deficit to win 87-79 and claim their first league title.

• The Toronto Falcons are FBL Champions for the first time in their history. It was the Falcons fourth trip to the Finals, but they lost on their three previous trips with the most recent appearance occurring nine years ago. This is also the first league title by a Canadian club since the advent of major professional basketball in 1937. For a Falcons team that was in the dark ages for the last few years, this was a revival of a dormant fan base and a city’s newfound love in the sport of basketball.
• After taking a two-games-to-none lead with home wins over Boston, Toronto gave way to the Centurions when the series moved across the border to Denny Arena in Boston. Boston dominated Game Three, 84-59, and it was a combination of stellar play from the Centurion starters and poor shooting from the Falcons. George Stevens led Boston with 20 points and Steve Barrell was an assist shy of a triple-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds. In Game Four, Boston tied the series, Boston broke open a 67-67 tie entering the fourth quarter with a 21-13 run to end the game and tie the series. Bert LaBrecque set a playoff high and tied a season high with 30 points on the night on 14-for-27 shooting. Boston jumped ahead early and pulled away late in Game Five to take a 3-2 lead in the series, 97-70. It was Wally Moorehead’s turn to lead for the Centurions, scoring 21 points with 16 rebounds and matching teammate Stevens with four blocked shots.
• Boston fans were treated to three wins in three games and the Centurions were in control, only having to win one out of two games in Toronto to win it all. Toronto used 14 steals to help force 24 Boston turnovers in Game Six in a defensive-laden 75-67 win to knot the series. Fred Lillard had four of those steals to go with a game-high 22 points and Bill Spangler added five more steals.
• Toronto and Boston played to the very last quarter of the last game of the season with the outcome in doubt. Boston led through three quarters, 63-58, largely on the strength of T.J. Grimm, who ended up leading the Centurions with 26 points. But it was the frontcourt that made the difference in Game Seven and was responsible for bringing the title to Toronto. Bryce Kirk had a breakout season in 1961-62 with a 16.2-point scoring average, which was more than twice his previous personal best. Although Kirk is a six-year pro, this is the first year where he started consistently. Kirk scored 27 points in the most important game of his life and Lillard chipped in with 23 points, as the frontcourt outscored Boston’s two big men, 50-15. Toronto nearly doubled Boston’s output in the final stanza and came from behind in front of the Falcons home fans in an 87-79 victory.
• Lillard led all players in playoff scoring at 21.6 points per game and Kirk was fifth at 17.1 points per game. The MVP of the playoffs was Jim Bromberg, and the All-League and All-Defensive First Team honoree went beyond the box score with his elite defense, highlighted by six steals in Game Two. The MVP could have been Lillard, Kirk, or Spangler, but it was another indicator of the total team effort by the Falcons.

Pioneers, Cougars Build Three Game Lead in Early Pennant Race

It's never too early to talk about the pennant race, and when you're off to a 24-8 start and your best player's appeared in just 13 of your 32 games (41%) to start the season. In Bob Bell's (.383, 7, 15) absence rookie Danny Davis has really stepped up. .Like Bell, Davis was in the Opening Day lineup, and the former top ranked prospect has seemed to gotten quite comfortable with stars Jerry Smith (.327, 7, 25, 3) and Bill Bather (.310, 4, 11, 3) in the outfield. The 22-year-old has looked good in Bell's three spot too, slashing .347/.415/.562 (147 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 23 RBIs, 25 runs, and 13 walks. Davis' 156 WRC+ is second to just Bell (242) and Smith (179), and the trio are joined by Steve Schultz (.295, 6, 22) as players with five or more homers. St. Louis ranks among the top three teams in the Fed for runs scored (3rd, 181), average (2nd, .288), OPS (1st, .813), WAR (1st, 6.9), and homers (2nd, 38).

As dangerous as that all is, the rotation is why they could run away with the Fed, as ace French Mack improved to 6-0 with two 1-run victories. The first started the week in Pittsburgh, where he allowed just 7 hits and 3 walks with 8 strikeouts in a casual 7-1 complete game. An early rain delay made it so he only finished five frames in a windy 10-3 win over the Eagles, but the young southpaw still delivered 9 strikeouts, maintaining a 1.79 ERA (251 ERA+) and 0.89 WHIP in seven starts. Mack's 64 strikeouts are way ahead of the next best pitcher -- who just happens to be his co-ace Billy Hasson (48). Hasson has an even lower 1.33 ERA (339 ERA+), though he did lose a nailbiter to the Miners on Tuesday. It was one of two games they lost this week, but it certainly wasn't his fault. Hasson completed 8 innings on the road, allowing just 4 hits, a run, and 2 walks with 7 strikeouts. The only issue is, his talented offense couldn't solve Pat Simon (2, 6 IP, 3 H, 4 K) and Ted Mickiewicsz (SV, 3 IP, 3 H, 4 K), so the 3-Time Allen winner was tagged with an undeserved loss. As his luck would have it, the offense bailed him out to finish the week, as Davis (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, HR), Schultz (2-5, R, RBI), Sean Ruggles (2-5, R, RBI), and even Hasson himself (2-4, RBI) contributed to a 7-4 win over the Los Angeles Suns. Hasson went all nine, and despite the four runs, it was a really strong start. He allowed 6 hits and 3 walks with 11 strikeouts, and if it wasn't for a Mickey McClure (.254, 4, 17) "triple" he'd have thrown his seventh consecutive quality start.

St. Louis gets the expansion Suns (11-21) two more times this week, and then they'll head back home for three with their counterpart Millers (14-18). After the Minneapolis team leaves town, they'll get a nice home day off, allowing them to prepare for a three game set with the Minutemen (15-17). With a weak schedule ahead, they can really distance themselves from the pack, and with how the off day works they'll get their two aces a start early next time around. They say the good teams are the ones that are able to win the games they should, and so far this season that's exactly what they've been able to do.

Turning to the Continental Association, the Chicago Cougars success seems harder to sustain. They don't have anywhere near the star-power of the Pioneers, but they do have an elite bullpen and defense, allowing them to win close games and hold the leads they manage early. The Cougars are also the hottest team in baseball, ripping off back-to-back 6-1 weeks, and through 20 days in May they're 15-4. I'm still skeptical they can hold off a team like Cleveland (19-13), Kansas City (18-14), or Los Angeles (19-13), but they've been able to outperform those high powered offenses with their longshot Allen candidate.

A few seasons ago, thinking Pug White could win one of those awards wouldn't be too far out, as the former 5th ranked prospect was expected to be an ace, and he was a very reliable member of the Cougar rotation from 1955 to 1960. In those bookend years he led the CA with 37 and 35 starts, starting 34 or more appearances in each of those six seasons. Last year, however, Pug's rotation struggles found him in the pen, where his career seemed to gain new life. As a former innings eater, he's been able to finish off a ton of games for the Cougars, and with 33.2 innings in 32 games, his 1.60 ERA (276 ERA+) is the lowest qualified mark in the Continental Association. A perfect 3-0 with 6 saves and a hold, Pug has finished half of his 18 appearances, working to an excellent 2.80 FIP (63 FIP-) and 0.92 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and 9 walks. The 31-year-olds stuff has been dominant, and despite playing in the cozy Cougars stadium, he's surrendered just a single home run. Pug's pitched in 12 of the team's 22 wins, and with support from Arch Wilson (4-1, 2, 0.60, 8), Bob Burdick (2-1, 3, 3.22, 15), and Phil Means (1-1, 1, 2.78, 12), almost every lead a Cougar starter leaves with, they get credit for said win.

Known more for a top rotation then pen, the Cougars have had mixed results in that department, and ace Andy Logue (3-2, 3.89, 21) has actually been charged with their last two losses after he started the year 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA. He allowed 7 runs (6 earned) in losses to the Kings (7-1) and Cannons (8-2), but since the offense didn't show up anyways it didn't matter too much. His first five starts were great, and with him and John Mitchell (3-1, 3.08, 27), they have the start of a playoff rotation. Offensively, they're just tied for 5th in the CA in runs scored, but star outfielder Jerry McMillan is looking to surpass the 30/30 mark this season. The Canadian has slashed .341/.411/.566 (151 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homers, 6 steals, 16 walks, 30 runs, and 18 RBIs, on pace for a career high 8 WAR in year five. He could use some more help in the lineup, as Gene Case (.322, 4, 18, 4) and Jim Barton (.331, 4, 22) are the only other above average hitters. Catcher, second, and third have been huge weaknesses in producing runs so far, but even the guys who aren't hitting are providing quality defense to help keep their opponent off the board.

The Cougars may be able to keep up their pace setting play, but things will start to get tougher on Sunday. That's when they start a three game series with the Stars in Chicago, before heading to Cleveland for three with the Foresters. Both get the Imperials and Cannons before facing the Cougars, but Cleveland and their new GM start the week with a tough matchup with the Kings to start the week.

Cleveland won the opener at home, 6-4, which allowed them to entre a tie with Kansas City for first. Veteran Rufus Barrell (6-1, 3.60, 22) kept the dangerous Kings lineup in check, scattering 7 hits, 4 runs, and a walk in the complete game win. Sherry Doyal (.324, 7, 27) had a big 3-for-4 game win a 2-run double, while John Low (.341, 4, 24) drove in three despite reaching base successfully just once in the game. Aside from a Charlie Rogers (.259, 3, 13, 3) homer in the 3rd, the Kings didn't get much going for them, but they'll now have a chance to have Frank Washington (2-3, 4.22, 25) and Curly Anderson (2-1, 4.70, 25) lead them to victories. Statistically, KC has the matchup advantage, but no one is going to claim that Anderson is better then Adrian Czerwinski (2-3, 5.25, 31). Again, the "Mad Professor" was solved, this time the Wolves taking advantage of stuff below his norm. They got to him for 9 runs (8 earned) and 8 hits, chasing out the 5-Time Allen winner before he could finish the 4th. In his 478 FABL starts, I don't think the Wolves have ever been able to get to him like that, and he should be poised to deliver a bounce back start. In his two previous eight run outings, he followed them up with just a single run, but he has not faced a lineup like Kansas City's this year.

It's impressive that the Continental only has two teams below .500, whereas the Fed has just three teams over. Only two of those teams are within six games of first, the deficit between the Continental leading Cougars and the two-team tie for 7th place. Detroit would still be second in the Conti, as their 21-11 record is a game worse than the leader, but they are playing over .650 ball and could find themselves quickly left behind. The offense has gotten off to a sluggish start, with little support outside of Ray Waggoner (.319, 8, 24), Cecil Gregg (.328, 5, 28), Joe Reed (.290, 6, 18), and Dick Tucker (.350, 3, 22). What they've done well is hit clutch homers, as many have led to wins for their sterling front four. Paul Anderson (4-0, 1.67, 22) is looking to win his first Allen, while John Jackson (5-1, 2.77, 31) and Jim Norris (5-2, 3.95, 24) are looking to increase their number of All-Star selection. Can't forget about Howie French (3-2, 3.11, 24) either, even if he has looked mortal in his last two starts. Both the Gothams and Minutemen got 5 on him, and he'll have a good chance against the 14-18 Miners this week to right the ship. For now all the Dynamos can do is win the games on their schedule, as they don't get a shot at the leaders until the first full week of June. It's the finale of a twelve game stretch that starts on the 27th, with both teams likely fatigued from their play.

• Could we be witnesses a season with the first-ever father-son homerun kings? Bobby Barrell led the Federal Association in longballs six times during his Hall of Fame career with the Philadelphia Keystones. Now his son Ralph, just 22 years old but coming off a 35 homer campaign for the Los Angeles Stars, has 11 already this season and is tied with Cincinnati's Dallas Berry for the Continental Association lead in that category.
• Another Barrell, Cleveland pitcher Deuce, is closing in on his 350th career victory. Deuce went the distance to beat Kansas City 6-4 yesterday and run his season record to 6-1. Hard to believe he will turn 45 years of age in two weeks and is tied for the FABL lead in pitcher victories this season. With 348 career wins, only Hall of Famers Allan Allen (514) and Charlie Sis (395) stand ahead of Barrell.
• St Louis shortstop Paul Watson drove in his 1,000th run last week making him the 98th player in FABL history to reach the 1000 RBI plateau.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

• Guy Williams is a middleweight considered by many to be the best fighter to come out of New Orleans since the legendary Hector Sawyer, although that may be more a statement on the dearth of fight talent being produced in Louisiana rather than Williams prowess in the ring. Williams had a great start to his career but now has dropped four of his past six outings following a unanimous decision loss to a journeyman fighter by the name of Jed Brownlee. Williams record now sits at 22-6-2
• In a heavyweight tussle in Hartford, CT., Jack Girard scored a fourth round knockout of Mike Wagner. Girard, a 25-year-old originally from Holly, MI., who now fights out of Detroit, improved his career mark to 22-5-1 with the win.
• In Brooklyn, Bronx born heavyweight Will Hatcher (23-12-3) knocked out Robert Peters (11-13-2) in the first round of their bout which was scheduled for 10.
• Veteran heavyweight Joe Jones, a Buffalo, NY, native, scored a unanimous decision over Allen Blackwell in Boston on the weekend. Jones, 29, is now 33-16-4 for his career.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

• June 1- New York City: Dan McMullan will make his first defense of the welterweight title he won from Lonnie Griffin with a first round TKO in April. McMullan, a 24-year-old Columbia, South Carolina native, will face Englishman Lenny Shafto at Bigsby Garden June 1. It will be Shafto's North American debut. His record in Europe is 45-7-1.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 5/20/1962

• President Kennedy has challenged labor and management to propose specific solutions to the Nation's economic problems instead of just complaining about his administration's policies. The President noted that complex problems of the modern economy "cannot possibly he solved without your good will and your ideas."
• Kennedy's tax reform bill came under fire from the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, who cited several provisions as unacceptable including withholding 20 percent of the income from interest and dividends, as taxes on wages are now withheld. Closed-door deliberations on the measure begin this week but a committee vote is nearly a month away.
• The American Medical Association also has issues with the President, countering Kennedy's plea for support of is medical care for the aged plan with an attack on the measure as a "cruel hoax" that would "heartlessly ignore millions" who need coverage.
• Three American servicemen and eight Viet Namese were injured by a grenade explosion on the streets of Saigon in front of US military housing. It is the second such incident in the past four days.
• US Marines sent to bolster Thailand's defenses arrived in that country despite contending with a monsoon in the region.
• Soviet Premier Khrushchev branded Kennedy's order to land the Marines in Thailand "an unwise decision" and predicted the Americans would ultimately be thrown out of Southeast Asia.
• Dutch civilians are being evacuated from New Guinea following an invasion by Indonesian paratroopers.