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Old 02-04-2025, 11:41 AM   #1071
ayaghmour2
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November 19th, 1962


NOVEMBER 19, 1962
#1 VS #2 EXPECTED FOR OILMAN CLASSIC
Lubbock State and Mississippi A&M Likely Pairing
It should be just a formality now as invitations will not be officially extended for the New Years Day Classic games until the completion of next weekend's short slate of AIAA football games but it appears we will get a true national champion as top ranked and undefeated Lubbock State is expected to face second ranked and 9-1 Mississippi A&M in the Oilman Classic. The Houston event has traditionally featured the champions of the Southwestern Alliance and the Deep South Conference and there is no reason to expect that to change this time around.

The Lubbock State Hawks clinched their fourth SWA title in the past five years and are one victory away from winning their first football national championship since the 1916 Hawks squad shared the honours with Liberty College. A quick start in which they scored 17 points in the first 13 minutes powered the top ranked Hawks past conference rival Travis College Saturday afternoon. The victory put the Hawks in position to become the first SWA school to finish undefeated since the 1947 Travis College Bucks and they could become the conference's first national champion since the 1953 Bucks.

Standing in Lubbock State's way of all of those things will be Mississippi A&M. The Generals stumbled early, dropping a September game to American Atlantic but then reeled off eight straight victories including a 20-16 win over then number one ranked Cumberland two weeks ago and finally with a hard fought 26-23 victory over Western Florida Saturday to clinch the Deep South Conference with a 7-0 section record and 9-1 overall. Dave Witcher, who leads the nation with 1,716 yards rushing, had another big game as he punished the Wolves defenders for 200 yards on Saturday. It seems a lock that the winner of the Mississippi A&M - Lubbock State game will be declared the national champion. The Generals have never won a college football title but did win their first national titles in both basketball and baseball a year ago.

St. Pancras might feel it deserves consideration for the number one ranking but the Lions slid one spot from two to three in the latest polls despite finishing with a 10-0 record. St Pancras was idle on Saturday and is waiting anxiously for a New Years Day invitation.

The East-West Classic, the oldest of the college classic games, will see Central Ohio face Lane State after each had conference clinching victories Saturday. The Great Lakes Alliance champion Aviators are ranked fourth with a 9-1 overall record and a perfect 7-0 in conference play following a 21-10 victory over Detroit City College. The Aviators started slow and trailed 10-0 at the half, before quarterback Spencer Carr, who threw for 114 yards and one touchdown, took over after the break. They will face Lane State which also needed a fourth quarter rally to edge Portland Tech 17-14 as well as having Coastal California's hopes of a trip to nearby Santa Ana get dashed when the Dolphins were knocked off 24-17 by rival CC Los Angeles. Lane State has not played in the East-West Classic since 1941 while Central Ohio, which lost to Northern California in 1960 and 1958 is making its sixth appearance. The Aviators only win came against Coastal California in the 1944 game.

In other games of note Cumberland ended its season with a 37-17 victory over Opelika State. The fifth ranked Explorers finish 9-1 overall and 6-1 in Deep South action and are expected to be invited to New Orleans for the Cajun Classic. Lawrence State survived a scare but held on to beat in-state rival Eastern Kansas 23-20 to clinch the Plains Athletic Association and move up to seventh in the polls. Another loss for St Blane as the once proud Fighting Saints settled for a 5-5 season following a 23-10 loss to ninth ranked Texas Gulf Coast. The other powerhouse of the 1940s. Rome State, ruined Eastern Oklahoma's dreams of a perfect season by downing the Pioneers 24-21 thanks to a Kim Honeycutt field goal late in the fourth quarter. The Centurions are 6-3 and will finish their season next weekend in Philadelphia when they met Annapolis Maritime in their annual season ending game. The Navigators took their frustrations with a 4-5 season out on Wisconsin Catholic, clobbering the Cavaliers 66-0.


WEEKEND AIAA GRID RESULTS
Coastal State Eagles 26, Maryland State Bengals 24
Columbia Military Academy Cadets 35, Eastern State Monitors 25
Cowpens State Fighting Green 31, Charleston Tech Admirals 12
Carolina Poly Cardinals 31, North Carolina Tech Techsters 28
Ellery Bruins 20, George Fox Reds 15
Dickson Maroons 35, Brunswick Knights 14
Grafton Scholars 49, Pierpont Purple 3
Sadler Bluecoats 20, Henry Hudson Explorers 9
Cache Valley Cowboys 25, Colorado Poly Redbirds 17
Utah A_M Aggies 23, Wyoming A_I Prospectors 10
Provo Tech Lions 51, Custer College Cavalry 17
Mile High State Falcons 19, South Valley State Roadrunners 10
Tempe College Titans 38, Valley State Gunslingers 13
Texas Panhandle Cowboys 20, Abilene Baptist Chaparrals 13
Canyon A_M Armadillos 23, El Paso Methodist Bandits 12
Lawrence State Chippewa 23, Eastern Kansas Warriors 20
Iowa A_M Bulls 31, Daniel Boone College Frontiersmen 21
College of Omaha Raiders 17, Oklahoma City State Wranglers 9
Lubbock State Hawks 20, Travis College Bucks 14
Amarillo Methodist Grizzlies 23, Arkansas A_T Badgers 21
Red River State Rowdies 30, Darnell State Legislators 20
Lincoln Presidents 59, St Magnus Vikings 3
St Ignatius Lancers 44, Wisconsin State Brewers 10
Whitney College Engineers 20, Western Iowa Canaries 10
Minnesota Tech Lakers 26, Indiana A_M Reapers 11
Central Ohio Aviators 21, Detroit City College Knights 10
Redwood Mammoths 34, Northern California Miners 23
CC Los Angeles Coyotes 24, Coastal California Dolphins 17
Spokane State Indians 20, Rainier College Majestics 13
Lane State Emeralds 17, Portland Tech Magpies 14
Bayou State Cougars 30, Baton Rouge State Red Devils 6
Alabama Baptist Panthers 16, Central Kentucky Tigers 10
Mississippi A_M Generals 26, Western Florida Wolves 23
Georgia Baptist Gators 13, Noble Jones College Colonels 6
Bluegrass State Mustangs 26, Northern Mississippi Mavericks 13
Cumberland Explorers 37, Opelika State Wildcats 17
Potomac College Pelicans 20, Central Carolina Lions 7
Petersburg Patriots 32, Bulein Hornets 13
Chesapeake State Clippers 36, American Atlantic Pelicans 21
Huntington State Miners 26, Alexandria Generals 18
Mobile Maritime Middies 49, Richmond State Colonials 41
Chicago Poly Catamounts 31, College of Waco Cowboys 28
Liberty College Bells 13, Cleveland Tigers 6
Lambert College Stags 20, Pittsburgh State Finches 14
Ferguson Wildcats 45, Garden State Redbirds 14
Boston State Pirates 12, Commonwealth Catholic Knights 0
Miami State Gulls 25, St Patrick's Shamrocks 10
Annapolis Maritime Navigators 66, Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers 0
Minns College Mavericks 16, College of San Diego Friars 10
Topeka State Braves 31, Boulder State Grizzlies 6
Texas Gulf Coast Hurricanes 23, St Blane Fighting Saints 13
Northern Minnesota Muskies 23, McKinney State Renegades 20
Rome State Centurions 24, Eastern Oklahoma Pioneers 21
Payne State Mavericks 48, Penn Catholic Crusaders 30
Queen City Monarchs 17, Idaho A_M Pirates 12

NEXT SATURDAY'S SEASON ENDING GAMES
Rome State (6-3) at Annapolis Maritime (4-5)
Commonwealth Catholic (4-5) at Coastal California (6-3)
Oklahoma City State (2-7) at Liberty College (4-5)
Garden State (3-6) at North Carolina Tech (6-4)
Wisconsin Catholic (1-8) at Queen City (5-4)

CENTURIONS OUT FOR PAYBACK IN PHILADELPHIA
By Tank Tippett
PHILADELPHIA – For eight glorious years, Rome State had the last word in the annual showdown between the nation’s two premier service academies. The Centurions owned the Navigators, besting them in every way imaginable—grind-it-out slugfests, high-scoring shootouts, even the occasional laugher. Then last season happened.

Annapolis Maritime, tired of being the punching bag, finally turned the tide in an unforgettable 44-41 overtime thriller, snapping the streak and sending Rome State back to barracks with the bitter taste of defeat for the first time since 1952. It was the kind of loss that sticks in the craw of every Centurion, and you can bet they’ve been counting the days to this one.
When the two clubs square off Saturday at Soldiers and Sailors Stadium, revenge will be on the menu. And though neither squad has set the world on fire this season, the Navigators somehow find themselves a 1.5-point favorite despite a pedestrian 4-5 record. Sure, they walloped Wisconsin Catholic 66-0 last week, but this is Rome State they’re facing—an outfit that, at 6-3, is a cut above the usual fare.

True, these aren’t the Centurions of old, the juggernaut that steamrolled foes in the ‘40s and early ‘50s. But don’t let last year’s 4-6 stumble fool you—this bunch still knows how to throw its weight around. They handled a tough St. Blane team earlier in the season and just last week knocked Eastern Oklahoma from the unbeaten ranks.

The Navigators, of course, are defending their hard-earned triumph from a year ago. But one win doesn’t erase a decade of dominance, and Rome State has no intention of letting this rivalry tilt the other way. The way I see it, the Centurions take control early and don’t look back.
Tank’s Take: Rome State 30, Annapolis Maritime 14.



NO CHANGES AT THE TOP AS EAST LEADERS LOSE, WEST WIN
The East Division playoff race tightened up just a little bit as both the first place Boston Americans and second place New York Stars lost on Sunday. The Americans fall to 8-2 after being upended at home 20-6 by Philadelphia, allowing the Frigates to improve to 6-4 and move within a game of second place New York after the 7-3 Stars were shocked by Washington.

In Boston the visiting Frigates blew open a defensive struggle with 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to claim the 20-6 victory. Dave Prather scored on a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs, with two of their final three games against 2-6-1 Cleveland, put themselves in position to reach the playoffs for the second time in three years. The playoff battle may come down to the final game of the season, one that sees the Frigates host the New York Stars after the two-time defending league champs were upset 19-10 by a Washington Wasps club that entered the game with just one win all season.

The picture in the West remained unchanged as the third place Houston Drillers are desperately hoping St Louis or Chicago stumble. All three won on Sunday with the first place Ramblers extending their record to 8-2 with their fourth consecutive win. St Louis downed the Detroit Maroons 30-17 as Dean Turgeon and Kevin Van Hook combined for 264 yards rushing to lead the Ramblers offense. Chicago is 7-2 following a hard fought 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Cowboys while the second year Drillers kept their playoff hopes alive, improving to 6-4 with a 13-7 victory over Buffalo.

The other two games this weekend saw San Francisco, led by a pair of Joe Perdue touchdown passes, dump Los Angeles 27-14 despite Dick Drum's 189 yard rushing day for the Tigers while in Cleveland a 35-yard field goal from A.J. Hazen in the closing seconds allowed the Finches to earn a 13-13 tie with visiting Pittsburgh. Fifteen minutes of overtime solved nothing giving us the first tie game of the year.


YORK CONTINUES TO SHINE BUT PACKERS SLOWED
Ken York had another dominant week as the NAHC's leading point getter this season added five more goals and seven points to his totals in three games this week. York, who had a hat trick earlier in the season as part of a five point night against New York, earned the chapeaus again for the second time this season with a 3-goal, 1 assist effort in Wednesday's 5-5 tie in Detroit. He scored twice and collected an assist three nights later in New York but once more the Packers had to settle for just a single point despite playing the last place team. On Sunday York was held off the scoresheet for just the fourth time this season as the Packers -you guessed it- tied once more. This one was 3-3 against the Montreal Valiants.

In all, Chicago has now tied each o his last four games and after collecting 12 points in 10 October games the Packers have slowed with just two wins in their last nine games. They are still picking up some points, as they did earn ties in 5 of those nine outings but they have allowed the Detroit Motors to tie them for top spot in the NAHC.


NAHC RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 14
Detroit 5 at Chicago 5: Ken York scored three times in the third period to allow the Chicago Packers to battle back and earn a tie at home against Detroit. The Motors scored four times in the middle frame after Chicago had the only two goals of the first period. York, who leads the NAHC in scoring, also had an assist on Ray Weller's first period marker. It was York's second hat trick this season and he now has 14 goals.

Boston 5 at New York 5: It was also a 5-5 tie at Bigsby Garden as the hosts fought back from a 5-3 deficit. 10 different players scored in the game as the Bees extended their unbeaten streak to eight games.

Montreal 3 at Toronto 1: Ben Kantner gave the Toronto Dukes the early lead but two goals from Roy Forgeron, who also assisted on Jocko Gregg's 11th of the season, lifted Montreal to a 3-1 victory over their hosts. Nathan Bannister was terrific in the Vals net, making 36 saves as Toronto outshot the Valiants 37-22.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 17
Chicago 6 at New York 6: Another high scoring tie game for both the Packers and Shamrocks who each followed up 5-5 draws on Wednesday with a 6-6 game in their meeting at Bigsby Garden. The two clubs combined for 11 goals in the first forty minutes before things settled down in the third period as New York's Corb Maybury's second of the game was the only third period tally. Pete Bernier paced the Packers with a goal and 3 helpers. Chicago has now tied each of its past three games.

Detroit 5 at Toronto 1: The Detroit Motors moved to within a point of first place Chicago as Colin MacMillan scored twice and Alex Guindon added three assists in a 5-1 road win over Toronto.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18
Detroit 2 at Boston 1: The Motors moved into a first place tie with Chicago following a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bees. Hobie Barrell set up both Detroit goals, courtesy of his brother Benny Barrell and defenseman Robert Ling. Jimmy Rucks was the lone Boston shooter to beat Detroit netminder Charlie Dell.

Montreal 3 at Chicago 3: A fourth consecutive tie for the Packers, this one 4-4 in Montreal, allowed Detroit to catch Chicago for top spot. Phil Stukas scored his first two goals of the season to lead the Packers with John Trumbull also hitting the scoresheet for the first time this season for the hosts. Montreal's goals came from Trent Dundas, Jeff Gaudreault and Matthew Muir.

Toronto 1 at New York 2: The Shamrocks are unbeaten in three games, following up a pair of ties with a 2-1 win at home over Toronto, handing the Dukes their third consecutive loss. Toronto also lost veteran defenseman Jimmy Cooper for up to two months with an injury. All the scoring came in the middle frame with Charlie Brown starting it for the Dukes before Greenshirts Alex Kalmakoff and Byron Redmond replied. Alex Sorrell has had some struggles this season but the 36-year-old New York goaltender was very good on this night, making 31 saves.

UPCOMING GAMES
WENESDAY NOVEMBER 21
Boston at New York

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22
New York at Boston
Toronto at Chicago
Montreal at Detroit

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 24
Detroit at Chicago
Boston at Montreal
New York at Toronto

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 25
Toronto at Boston
Chicago at Detroit
Montreal at New York



Dukes Scoring Touch Goes Missing

Over the years one constant in Toronto has been the ability of the Dukes to find the opposition's net. That constant has deserted the team over the past week when the Dukes lost all three games including two at the Gardens. In each game Toronto only managed to find the back of the net once in each match although much of the credit for that goes Ned Bannister, Sebastien Goulet, Alex Sorrell who tended goal. Starting on Wednesday on a cool crisp evening the Gardens played host to the slumping skaters from Montreal. The first period offered no sign of the scoring troubles to come when the Dukes had 19 shots on goal being robbed time and again by Bannister who only allowed one past him a power play goal by Ben Kanter from Pollack at 8:18. Connelly was much busier in the middle stanza after only being called upon to make 5 saves in the first. Valiants tested him 11 times in the second with two lighting the lamp twice in quick order during the middle of the period. Roy Forgeron's second of the campaign knotted the score at 11:39 followed less than two minutes later when Jocko Gregg scored the eventual game winner at 13:28. In the third the Vals bottled up the home team at every turn content to sit on the lead. It worked as Roy Forgeron found an empty Toronto goal with 26 ticks remaining on the clock to make the final 3-1.

A noisy, big crowd was on hand Saturday night with the Motors in town. Unfortunately for the 14,512 in attendance their team came out flat. In one of their most lopsided losses of the year. The Motors outshot the Dukes 47-29 along with hitting anything that moved in a blue jersey. Detroit went up 2-0 in the first on goals by Colin MacMillan, Robert Ling with Alexandre Guindon assisting on both, Detroit had many more good scoring chances on MacPhee. MacPhee was besieged again in the second facing 18 shots, Dukes were lucky to be down only 3-0 after two with only MacMillan's second of the game finding the twine. Brochu brought some life into the building when he narrowed the lead to two with goal 90 seconds into the final period. Motors were having nothing to do with a Dukes late charge. Nick Tardif restored the 3 goal lead just 14 seconds after Brochu's goal. Pollack's nephew Hobie Barrell rounded the scoring making it 5-1 with his tenth of the year. Dressing room was closed to reporters after the game while Bear tore a strip off his team before boarding the train to New York.

Toronto had a little more spirit on Sunday in Bigsby Gardens against the low scoring, tight checking Shamrocks. Toronto controlled the puck, play for most of the game. After a scoreless first Charlie Brown put the Dukes in the lead with his second of the year at 8:51. Goals by Alex Kalmakoff, Byron Redmond gave NY a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes despite being outshot 23-11. Sorrell, aided by his team, kept the goal column of the game sheet clean in the third period giving the Shamrocks only their second win of 1962-63.

Coach Bear- "Our scoring drought does not bother me, that happens, we will start scoring again soon. A lack of effort like we had on Saturday is a bigger issue. You always don't have your best game, that is no excuse not work hard during a game. Jimmy Cooper will be out a lineup until the New Year with his shoulder injury. We have work to do before taking on the Packers in Chicago on Thursday."



Full Court Press: November 12-18, 1962
  • The Boston Centurions started slowly, but a five-game winning streak has put Boston (7-3) on top in the East by a half-game over Washington. Boston has done well in feasting on New York, sweeping three straight against the Knights two weeks ago, while Washington won two of three against New York this past week. The game that Boston picked up is now the difference between first and second place in the division. Boston has won two in a row against Philadelphia. The common denominator has been Bert LaBrecque, who was the star against New York and he was a man among boys in Thursday night’s 67-62 home win against Philadelphia, accounting for 30 out of the Centurions 67 points.
  • Washington almost let the Knights pull off an unlikely win at the end of Monday night’s game at Chelsea Arena in New York. Washington went ice cold from the field and only managed eight points in the fourth quarter, but the Knights, who trailed by 11 points entering the final stanza, could not get over the hump and lost by three, 70-67. New York used that momentum in a complete romp over the Statesmen, 99-76, behind 28 points from Howie Farrell and 24 points from Ken Robinson. The rubber match in Washington was a tight one that flowed similarly to the first game, a Washington lead and a Knights comeback in the fourth quarter that fell short. The Statesmen have a chance to get back on top in the East as Washington and Boston will meet four straight times starting on Wednesday night. All four games will be at the National Auditorium in our nation’s capital.
  • St. Louis has won a couple of games in a row to try and shake their early-season doldrums. The Rockets lost five of six to start the year, but in the race that might be best suited for who can stay out of the Western Division cellar this season, the Rockets have taken the last two of four straight meetings with the Chicago Panthers. The two losses were routs, but St. Louis’s two wins have gone down to the wire. In what Rockets fans are hoping can be looked back on as a turning point, St. Louis roared back from a nine-point fourth quarter deficit on Thursday to blow past a visibly tired Panthers squad, 75-72. The offense of Bill Melton (19 points) was offset by the solid defensive play of Solly Morris, who picked up seven rebounds in 17 minutes and was a +8 while he was on the floor. The next night in Chicago, St. Louis was down by seven at the half, but the Rockets doubled the Panthers output in the third quarter, 20-10, on their way to an 80-73 win. Morris was the Player of the Game with 18 points and nine rebounds off the bench to head a front court that was all in double figures.




WIN IN BOSTON HAS AVIATORS SOARING
It was a big week in Columbus. Not only did the Central Ohio Aviators football team return from Detroit with a 21-10 win over the DCC Knights to clinch a berth in the East-West Classic, but the Aviators basketball squad also had plenty to celebrate as they won the prestigious Jack Easton Tip-Off Classic in Boston.

The tournament, named after the man credited with founding the sport, saw the Aviators sweep through the event with wins over American Atlantic, Charleston Tech and College of Cairo. Just for good measure they finished off the week with a 57-45 victory in Holland, MI., over the Holland Dutchman. Central Ohio entered the week ranked fourth in the AIAA preseason top twenty-five and the 4-0 showing, coupled with losses by Indiana A&M and preseason number one Carolina Poly, allowed the Aviators to earn the top spot in the first regular season poll of the year.

Carolina Poly was in New York City along with powers Indiana A&M, Lane State and Georgia Baptist. Lane State, which was ranked 9th in the preseason poll, beat both the number one and number three teams. First the Emeralds, led by Jack McDaniel's 11 points, knocked off the Reapers 50-45 in the opener of the Bigsby Garden event, and then followed it up with 45-33 with over the top ranked Cardinals in the title game. A&M bounced back with a 60-36 drubbing over Georgia Baptist, the only unranked school in the four team field, in the consolation game as senior John Caffrey, a potential All-American candidate, led the way with 18 points.

The other major preseason tournament took place in Chicago. The Preseason AIAA showcase was won by Rainier College as the Majestics beat Liberty 59-46 in the opener and then downed Bayou State 58-42 in the title game of the four team field. Rainier College and Lane State, the West Coast Athletic Association rivals from the Pacific Northwest, are ranked third and fourth in the weekly AIAA poll. With 3-0 Redwood and Coastal California, which plays its opener against Great Plains State on Wednesday also highly ranked the WCAA has four of the top nine teams.



RECENT KEY RESULTS
  • Bert Parks, who gained some level of fame for knocking out George Galleshaw a year ago to win the heavyweight title before losing to Harry Pratt in his first title defense, was in action last week. The 26-year-old California fighter fought for the second time in two months on the east coast, scoring a unanimous decision over Elvin Caldwell in Jersey City last week. Parks is 31-10-2 for his career.
  • Former middleweight champion George Hatchell returned to the ring for the first time since losing his latest title shot to Lyman King in September. The 30-year-old Hatchell, who held the title from 1955-1957 and again in 1958-59, won by unanimous decision over another ring veteran by the name of Hugo Canio. Canio, is one of the last links to Hector Sawyer still active. He was a young fighter in Italy discovered by Sawyer and his manager Chester Conley during a post-war tour. Canio was brought back to New York will promises from Conley he would one day be the world middleweight champion.

    It never happened although Canio did get two chances at the belt, falling to both Mark McCoy and George Quisenberry. The 36-year-old did get the win on this night, outpointing Hatchell for his 49th career win against 11 losses and 3 draws.


Cougars Bolster Catching, Sign Dutch Miller

Since the start of the offseason, the Chicago Cougars have been looking to help improve their catching situation, and a deal materialized this past week when they signed 1954 Kellogg winner and 2-Time All-Star Dutch Miller to a deal just south of $50,000. A nine year veteran, there was a time when Dutch was one of the best catcher's in the game, and he was consistently an above average hitter his first seven seasons in Kansas City.

The 8th is when things started to change, as Dutch hit just .217/.330/.348 (81 OPS+) with a career high 18.2 K%. He's always had his strikeout issues, with a lot of his at bats ending in walks, strikeouts, and extra base hits, but it was his first FABL season hitting below .250. It ended up being his final season in KC, as last offseason he was shipped to the Pioneers for infielder Cal Randall (.287, 11, 54) and a prospect. This ended a career of over 1,000 games with the team that drafted him in the 8th Round of the 1950 draft. The vet hit an impressive .263/.357/.421 (114 OPS+) with 194 doubles, 124 homers, and 676 RBIs, and at one point, was looking to challenge fellow King and Georgia Baptist alum Fred Barrell for placement towards the top of the Kings catching leaderboards.

Expecting the trade to be a turnaround for him, it instead ended up with a reserve role, as Dutch failed to reach 500 PAs for the first time in his career. In fact, he couldn't even get 200, as he hit just .233/.364/.374 (88 OPS+) in 66 games. He matched that career high 18.2 K%, and even though he came home with a World Championship Series ring, the rest felt like a wasted year.

Now, Dutch gets a chance to fight for a starting catching job again on a team with their eyes set on contention. Catching was a weak spot for the Cougars, who finished tied for 4th and 86-68, as they gave most starts to 25-year-old rookie Chappy Sanders. A former 2nd Round pick of of the Eagles, Chappy got off to an awful start to the season, but finished with a .247/.309/.393 (80 OPS+) batting line in 502 PAs. Like Dutch, he has some issues putting the ball in play, but both are solid defenders who play good defense and hit the ball hard. Chappy gathered 21 doubles, 14 homers, 53 runs, and 66 RBIs, and was worth 1.3 WAR in his rookie season. Early indications from the Cougar front office is Dutch will have the inside edge for the starting job, but him and Chappy will both have every chance to earn the Opening Day spot.


Tales From The Den
Wolves Recap, Look Ahead Part Two

An area that the Wolves seem to have strength, depth is pitching. Previously mentioned injuries did curtail some the effectiveness during 1962. The starters were strong with the 'pen being hit and miss especially evident as Zeke Blake tired noticeably down the stretch. Having Blake appeared in a league leading 75 games which probably was too heavy a workload for the crafty lefty. As Brett has reported earlier the main talk in the Wolves offices is other the number of players, many under 25, available in the upcoming Rule 5 draft. This is more evident than when looking at the Union League champs Buffalo Nickels. All ten of the pitchers that finished the season in Buffalo are eligible if not moved to the 40-man roster. The only two that are obvious to expose are Mike Emerson, 33 along with Don Dillard, 28. The other eight all of have cases to be protected, it appears that at least three maybe four may become victims of a numbers game forced upon the management team.

Arnie Smith, who returned after missing the last half of '61 with a shoulder injury, led the team in wins with 16. At 22 with already one Allen Award win Smith could anchor the rotation for years to come.
Phil Colantuono returned in August to win 6 of 9 decisions. The 26 year old should be a solid #2. Bill Medley, 22, was 12-11, 3.54 (131 ERA+) in his first full season in Toronto. This gives Hohlt a solid top of the rotation.

George Adams, 23, who had a tough start in Toronto before being sent back to Buffalo. He rebounded nicely in September going 1-2, 4.58 with a FIP of 3.88 is given a inside shot at the #4 slot in 1963. The last slot or possibly two spots look to be a battle between 3 starters from Buffalo Jimmy Blair, 22, 13-9 2.53 in 28 AAA starts, Charlie Davidson 14-8 2.85 while starting 27 games for Buffalo, or Danny Home who went 13-3 3.03 in 27 Buffalo starts. All three are RHP which would mean that the the entire rotation would be righties.

This would move Lee Loeffler. 35, to assist Blake in the 'pen along with probably Wilson Pearson. 28, Jimmy Pepper, 27, who started 24 games in 1962, Sam Haygood, 23, to fill out a 'pen with a possible challenge from Buffalo's Stan Boone. This leaves the 30+ year olds on thin ice, Rex Dzuik, Fred Clark, Hank Griffith on thin ice although one of Clark, Griffith may be saved due to being south paws. There is also a possibility that a a youngster from Buffalo could stick around with the relief corps.

Overall the future of the staff is bright. brighter if Hohlt can coax more out of his defense backing the staff.

Late breaking news: Wolves Management announces that the following have been released from organization Hank Griffith, 32, Ray Words, 34, Joe Jones, 32, Harvey Nimz, 32, Jake Buck, 34, Jerry Flynn, 29, Rocky Stone, 32 all of whom were carrying major league contracts. Rex Dzuik was also designated for assignment.

  • Dutch Miller wasn't the only former Kings catcher to sign, as the Dynamos brought back Dan Smith on a minor league deal. Unlike Dutch, he has a harder path to playing time, and has a better chance of being cut then making the Opening Day roster. Smith will make $46,400 if he makes the roster, and can opt-out after the 30th day of the regular season if he is not added to Detroit's 40.
  • Waivers have been mostly quiet, but the Imperials claimed 1B/OF Bill Ingraham off waivers from their expansion counterpart Millers. Despite making just 36 starts, Ingraham appeared in 118 games, hitting .257/.328/.363 (74 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 4 homers, and 26 RBIs.
  • Hall-of-Fame voting opens during the week, with the official ballot revealed on November 23rd.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 11/18/1962
  • President Kennedy welcomed German Chancellor Adenauer to the White House as they discussed the impact of the Soviet backdown in Cuba on the longstanding dispute with Moscow over Berlin.
  • Soviet Premier Khrushchev has sent Kennedy a heavily-conditioned and presently unacceptable offer to remove 35 or more Russian bombers from Cuba. The rockets may be gone but uncrating and assembling of Russian aircraft in Cuba continues. One of Khrushchev's conditions was that the U.S. withdraw from Guantanamo Naval Base. The White House called the conditions "impossible to accept."
  • Fidel Castro once more threatened to shoot down US planes flying over Cuba but the United States gave word its reconnaissance flights will continue and will have necessary protection.
  • Saturday three pro-Castro Cubans accused of conspiring to commit sabotage where seized by the FBI in New York along with a cache of explosives and incendiary bombs.
  • Chinese Communists have launched a massive attack on Indian troops at the east end of the Himalayas.
  • Astronaut Gordon Cooper Jr. was selected as the pilot for the next United States manned space flight - a 24-hour orbital mission slated for April.
  • It was reported that President Kennedy has donated his entire $100,000 annual salary to charity. This will duplicate the procedure of Herbert Hoover more than three decades ago.
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