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ayaghmour2 · 02-12-2025, 02:11 PM

JANUARY 21, 1963

AMERICANS END DRILLERS' DREAM SEASON
Boston Captures First Title in 17 Years with 27-20 Triumph

BOSTON – The fairy tale came to an end for the Houston Drillers, as the Boston Americans proved too much for the upstart Texas club, capturing the American Football Association Championship with a hard-fought 27-20 victory before a raucous crowd at Minutemen Stadium.

For Boston, the triumph ends a 17-year title drought, securing their first championship since 1945. Led by the bruising backfield tandem of Bob Callender and Kevin Sova, along with timely passing from steady-handed quarterback Bob McKoon, the Americans stormed back in the second half to claim their fourth league crown.

It was a battle from the outset, with Houston—playing in just its second season—showing the same grit that carried them from a 3-11 debut last year to the title game. The Drillers, who had not lost a road game all season, took a 20-17 halftime lead, but the Americans responded with a second-half surge to bring the championship back to Boston.

MOMENTUM SHIFTS EARLY
The Drillers seized an early opportunity when McKoon, pressured by AFA sack leader John Padgett, hurried a pass that was intercepted by Houston’s John Wickman. With the ball deep in Boston territory, Houston settled for a Craig Oakes field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.

Boston wasted no time responding. Following an exchange of punts, Callender ripped off a 29-yard dash, and McKoon connected with Steve Spanbauer for a 19-yard gain. On the next play, Sova barreled through the Drillers’ line for a 21-yard touchdown, giving the Americans a 7-3 advantage.

Houston’s troubles mounted when quarterback Miller Bogert forced a throw to tight end Ken Weiland, only for Boston’s William Cosgrove to step in front for a 47-yard interception return touchdown. Just like that, the Americans had a 14-3 lead.

DRILLERS SHOW FIGHT
The resilient Drillers clawed back. Bogert orchestrated a 75-yard march, capped by a dazzling 32-yard touchdown run from Phil Patton to close the first quarter with Boston up 14-10.

Boston extended the lead to 17-10 with a Dana Lawson field goal, but Patton again led the Houston charge, breaking off a 41-yard gallop and later plunging into the end zone from seven yards out to tie the game at 17. Just before halftime, Oakes drilled a 41-yard field goal, sending Houston into the break with a surprising 20-17 lead.

BOSTON TAKES CONTROL
The second half belonged to the Americans. After a stalled Houston drive, Boston mounted an 80-yard touchdown march, with Callender punching it in from a yard out. A clutch 33-yard completion from McKoon to Paul Roos on third down kept the drive alive, proving to be a pivotal moment in the contest.

With the Drillers’ offense sputtering under championship-game pressure, Lawson’s 42-yard field goal pushed Boston’s lead to 27-20 midway through the final quarter.

Houston had one last chance. Bogert and Patton engineered a final drive, moving to the Boston 14-yard line with 1:56 to play. After a short Dan Hackbarth run and two incompletions, the Drillers faced fourth-and-seven. Bogert scrambled, searching for an open target, but Boston’s secondary held firm. He dumped it off to Bill Casteel, but the play fell four yards shy of the marker. Boston took over and ran out the clock.

HISTORIC SEASON FOR HOUSTON
Though the Drillers’ season ended in disappointment, their meteoric rise from league doormat to championship contender will be remembered as one of the most remarkable turnarounds in football history. Houston has set the bar for expansion teams everywhere.

For the Americans, it is a long-awaited return to glory. Seventeen years of frustration are washed away as Boston, at last, hoists the championship trophy once more.

SWINNEY WINS CHRISTIAN TROPHY

Chesapeake State halfback Stover Swinney has been named the winner of college football's top individual award, the Christian Trophy. The senior from Baton Rouge, LA., was a three year starter for the Clippers and gained 1,677 yards this season -third highest total in the nation. He was also second in the country with 24 rushing touchdowns including scoring three of them, while gaining 109 yards in the Clippers 43-27 victory over Texas Gulf Coast in the Bayside Classic. Chesapeake State finished the season with a 10-1 record and was ranked fourth in the final collegiate poll.

There was some mild surprise that Swinney was selected ahead of Mississippi A&M back Dave Witcher, who had led the nation in rushing with 1,860 yards. Others in the running for the award were Lawrence State quarterback Harvey Long, Travis College halfback Hugh Brasfield and Lane State halfback Harry Menard.

The Ipswich Trophy, presented annually to the player judged to be the top lineman in the AIAA, went to a Georgia Baptist Gator for the second time in four years. Bill Urton, a 21-year-old junior tackle who hails from Plano, TX., was named the winner, following in the footsteps of former Gator Don Lair, who won the Ipswich in 1959.

MOTORS STILL SET PACE IN NAHC

The Detroit Motors are banged up but continue to lead the way in the North American Hockey Confederation. The two-time defending Challenge Cup champions have a six point lead on second place Chicago and have played three less games than the Packers. Chicago and Detroit own identical 12-5-3 records over their last twenty games and the third place Montreal Valiants, losers of each of their last two games including a 5-0 shutout at the hands of Detroit, are struggling to keep pace.

Detroit's defense and outstanding goaltending from the duo of Charlie Dell and Sebastien Goulet has been the key to their success but the offense is starting to come around as well, in particular Hobie Barrell, who has scored 7 goals in his last six games and with 27 on the season has taken over the NAHC lead in that category.

Not all is well as injuries have certainly taken a bite out of the Motors. Barrell is said to be nursing a virus right now and his status for Thursdays game against Montreal is uncertain. The more serious ailments have struck Barrell's longtime centerman as 29-year-old Alex Monette suffered a serious back injury two weeks ago and is likely done for the season. Monette had 32 points in 36 games at the time of his injury and the veteran of 647 NAHC games and 5-time Challenge Cup champion will surely be missed. Hobie's brother Benny Barrell (11-22-33) has taken over on the top line in Monette's absence. The other big loss was defenseman Anthony Beauchemin, who has been sidelined for well over a month with a torn hamstring. There is hope in Detroit that Beauchemin may return to the lineup as early as next week.

Brett Returns After Mail & Empire Restarts Publication

After the major mechanical breakdown of the presses at the Mail & Empire which halted the paper for almost three weeks fans are finally again able to read their newspaper. While most diehard fans are keeping up with the Dukes through radio and television broadcasts along with radio commentary Brett will supply a summary of the first three weeks of 1963. The summary will be weekly from Monday to Sunday to follow the NAHC schedule more closely. For the 10 games in the period Dukes had a record of 4 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties which leaves them still in fourth place 4 points behind Montreal for third while 5 points clear of Boston for the final playoff spot with 26 games remaining in their regular season schedule.
The New Year got off to good start with the team playing 4 games in the period from 1-6 Jan 63 with wins in Boston, Chicago, a tie in NY with only home game being a loss to the Bs. The week was a topsy-turvey one where the Dukes outshot NY, Chicago but Boston controlled the puck in the two games between the teams. Toronto scored 16 goals while allowing 13 with almost half of the goals against coming in the loss at Dominion Gardens when Boston won 6-3 in the worst effort of the week.

Toronto was undefeated from 7-13 Jan beating the Packers for the second time in 4 days 3-2 at home. Then in a game on Saturday again at home in which Detroit over doubled the Dukes in shots they salvaged a point in a 2-2 tie thanks again to Connelly's spectacular play between the pipes. At Denny Arena on Sunday the team ran the unbeaten streak to 4 when again goaltending, this time by MacPhee allowed the team to escape Boston with a 3-3 tie.

This past week the Dukes lost both road games, 2-1 in Montreal in a tight check affair where Toronto received 32 minutes in penalties with both Pollack, Brochu receiving 10 minute misconducts while Montreal only being called for 3 minors. The Saturday night game with Chicago was the opposite of the Montreal game with a total of 12 goals scored in 60 mins. Toronto broke a 4-4 tie after 40 minutes with three in the third for a 7-5 victory , for their third straight win over the Packers, in a game where they tested Bomberry 47 times while Connelly was beaten 5 times on 25 shots. The last game before the resuming of Mail & Empire publication was a 6-3 loss to Charlie Dell led Detroit.

A look at statistical categories for the Dukes:
GF- 142 (3rd) with team leaders having 15 (Pollack, Brochu, Knackstedt)
GA- 133 (4th)
Shots- 1321 (5th)
Shots Against- 1442 (2nd most)
Shot Blocked- 723 (2nd most)
Give Away/Take Away Margin- minus 23 (2nd worst)
PIM/G- 9.25 (2nd most)
PP %- 23.1 (3rd)
PPG- 34 (2nd)
PK %- 80.1 (4th)
SHG- 5 (tied 1st)

Full Court Press: January 7-20, 1963

We have talked a lot about the division leaders: Boston in the East and Toronto in the West. Most of the race has already been won, especially in the case of the Centurions, who own a 9-1/2-game lead. The developing story is the fight for second place in both divisions. Staying in the East, New York and Philadelphia are tied at 21-19. Philadelphia has won four straight to pull into that second-place tie with the most recent victory coming at home against New York, 76-65. Philadelphia kept its winning ways alive with a 24-10 fourth quarter to turn a 55-52 deficit into an 11-point win. The three forwards for the Phantoms were 21-for-44 from the floor, with Percy Carner putting up 18 points, Dan Holland scoring 17 points with 7 blocked shots, and Mel Turcotte adding 13 points and 15 rebounds. The two teams will meet four times in the next five games, which will all take place over the next 10 days.
The St. Louis Rockets did not lose any ground to the Toronto Falcons over the past couple of weeks, but they must be looking over their shoulder. The Rockets still trail the Falcons by 3-1/2 games, but the Rockets are 3-7 in their last 10 while the Detroit Mustangs are getting too close for comfort. Detroit is 8-2 in its last ten and stand only four games out. Detroit had a 12-game losing streak that put their record at 10-15 but slowly they have made their way back winning nine of its last 12, snapping an eight-game winning streak with a 101-89 loss in Toronto on Friday night. Jack Salyer valiantly scored 27 points in the loss, which is a new high for the 22-year-old rookie out of Carolina Poly. Since making his debut on December 22nd, Salyer has averaged 17.8 points in 14 games.
Both fights for second place have the cushion of likely not missing out on the playoffs. Last place is getting farther and farther away for the top three in the Eastern and Western Divisions. Washington (11-26) is already 18 games out of first, having dropped 21 of 24 games. The only win since Christmas was an 83-75 win in Boston for the Cents fourth home loss of the season. Ossie Waid and veteran Ed Jordan scored 30 points each. The game marked a career high for Jordan, a two-time FBL Champion with the Statesmen. Chicago (8-30) is even worse off, 11-1/2 games behind third place Detroit. The Panthers have lost 15 of their last 17 games and those two wins came against the Rockets, including Saturday night, when Chicago turned a six-point fourth-quarter deficit to a 72-69 victory. Bill Knick led all scorers with 23 points and 13 rebounds.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Walt Phillips returned to the ring for the first time since his title loss to George Galleshaw in November. The heavyweight scored a 6th round knockout of Matt Ryan last week in Boston and is now 36-8. Phillips won the ABF world heavyweight title from Harry Pratt last summer but fell to Galleshaw in his first title defense.
George Hatchell, who had two runs as middleweight champion of the world, and is just five months removed from a tight split decision loss to Lyman King in another title effort, looked out of sorts in absorbing his third consecutive defeat. 24-year-old New Orleans pugilist Guy Williams (23-7-2) outpointed the 34-year-old Hatchell in a bout in Chicago last week. Hatchell also came up on the short end of a decision against Hugo Canio in November following his title bid loss to King. Hatchell's record now stands at 43-10-2.
Veteran Toledo, OH., welterweight Ernie Black, who had a title shot against Lonnie Griffin a year and a half ago, was back in the ring last week, but came out on the wrong end of a decision to Peter Mortensen in a fight in Seattle. Black is now 40-11-1 as a professional.
Another Ohio born fighter had better luck as heavyweight Jim Hatfield improved to 27-6-2 with a first round knockout of Chet Billings in Santa Ana, CA.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

Jan 23- World Welterweight Champion Matt Leach makes his first title defense against John Wallace (28-3-1) in Baltimore. Leach (32-6-2) claimed the title with an unanimous decision over Lenny Shafto in September.
Feb 9 - George Galleshaw (35-2-1), back as heavyweight champion after scoring a TKO win over Walt Phillips last fall, will make a title defense in Cleveland against Will Flowers. Galleshaw,a 27-year-old native of Syracuse, NY, was world champ previously for nearly two years before falling to Bert Parks in December of 1961. Flowers (26-4-1), who hails from Phoenix, AZ., and is 26 years of age, is getting his first title shot.
Feb 27- The highly anticipated rematch between World Middleweight champion Lyman King and former champ George Quinsenberry is set for February 27 at New York's Bigsby Garden. The pair met in Los Angeles in early December and fought to a majority draw, prompting the call for a rematch. King, a 26 year old Oakland, CA., native is unbeaten with a 41-0-1 record and has held the title since he took it from Quisenberry in January of last year in a bout also held at Bigsby Garden. Quisenberry, a 28-year-old Toronto native, has held the world title twice previously and now will look to gain it a third time in his third meeting with King. Quisenberry is 39-2-4 entering the bout.

In a cost-cutting move, the San Francisco Sailors released seventeen players, including former 10th overall pick Mike Quigley, former 12th pick Jimmy Isgro, and longtime bench bat Roy Rutter. None of the seventeen played in FABL this season, and will have a chance to latch on with another organization on a minor league contract. The transactions saved around $100,000.
A source in the Sailors organization mentioned the moves were the result of a directive from team owner Jack Danek. The demanding and controlling new team owner is reported to be running a tighter ship then his predecessor.
The Eagles and Chiefs did similar moves, cutting six players a piece. One of the more surprising cuts was 25-year-old third basemen Del Gaines, who slugged 27 homers in AAA for the Eagles this season. Prior to this season, Gaines spent three seasons in FABL, batting .239/.309/.415 (95 OPS+) with 16 homers and 58 RBIs with the Detroit and Washington.
On the Chiefs side, the most notable cut was 38-year-old veteran Gene Burton, who's been a sparingly used bench bat in his tenure. Selected by the Chiefs in the 9th Round of the 1942 Draft, Burton went straight to the service and made his minor league debut in 1946. He debuted at 26 in 1950, appearing in each of the next six seasons. After a four year stretch in the farm, he surfaced for games the past two seasons, but seems unlikely to find a FABL home for 1963.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 01/20/1963

President Kennedy delivers his State of the Union address, focusing on civil rights, the economy, and the Cold War.
Kennedy predicts only "moderate gains" for the economy this year, even if Congress moves fast to cut taxes, but he adds prompt action on the administration's tax-cut program would serve as "insurance" against a recession and would boost the nation to future prosperity.
Among the biggest additions to Kennedy's budget proposal, which goes to Congress late this month, is a massive five-year aid-to-education program of more than $6 billion.
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Arizona v. California, determining water rights for Western states and reinforcing federal authority over water distribution.
George Wallace is inaugurated as Governor of Alabama, delivering his infamous "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" speech.
Soviet Premier Khrushchev has raised hopes for a nuclear test ban after offering to permit two or three inspections on Soviet territory each year.
This comes a day after the Soviets boasted that although they withdrew 40 missiles from Cuba "we have put up 80 or perhaps 120 somewhere else."
A coup attempt against the government of Iraq fails, leading to a crackdown on opposition forces.
United Nations forces moved peacefully into Kolwezi and the military action to reintegrate Katanga with the rest of the Congo seemed virtually at an end.
A pop group known as The Beatles make their first television appearance on Thank Your Lucky Stars in the UK, gaining widespread attention.

02-12-2025, 02:11 PM	#1077
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	January 21st, 1963 JANUARY 21, 1963 AMERICANS END DRILLERS' DREAM SEASON Boston Captures First Title in 17 Years with 27-20 Triumph BOSTON – The fairy tale came to an end for the Houston Drillers, as the Boston Americans proved too much for the upstart Texas club, capturing the American Football Association Championship with a hard-fought 27-20 victory before a raucous crowd at Minutemen Stadium. For Boston, the triumph ends a 17-year title drought, securing their first championship since 1945. Led by the bruising backfield tandem of Bob Callender and Kevin Sova, along with timely passing from steady-handed quarterback Bob McKoon, the Americans stormed back in the second half to claim their fourth league crown. It was a battle from the outset, with Houston—playing in just its second season—showing the same grit that carried them from a 3-11 debut last year to the title game. The Drillers, who had not lost a road game all season, took a 20-17 halftime lead, but the Americans responded with a second-half surge to bring the championship back to Boston. MOMENTUM SHIFTS EARLY The Drillers seized an early opportunity when McKoon, pressured by AFA sack leader John Padgett, hurried a pass that was intercepted by Houston’s John Wickman. With the ball deep in Boston territory, Houston settled for a Craig Oakes field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Boston wasted no time responding. Following an exchange of punts, Callender ripped off a 29-yard dash, and McKoon connected with Steve Spanbauer for a 19-yard gain. On the next play, Sova barreled through the Drillers’ line for a 21-yard touchdown, giving the Americans a 7-3 advantage. Houston’s troubles mounted when quarterback Miller Bogert forced a throw to tight end Ken Weiland, only for Boston’s William Cosgrove to step in front for a 47-yard interception return touchdown. Just like that, the Americans had a 14-3 lead. DRILLERS SHOW FIGHT The resilient Drillers clawed back. Bogert orchestrated a 75-yard march, capped by a dazzling 32-yard touchdown run from Phil Patton to close the first quarter with Boston up 14-10. Boston extended the lead to 17-10 with a Dana Lawson field goal, but Patton again led the Houston charge, breaking off a 41-yard gallop and later plunging into the end zone from seven yards out to tie the game at 17. Just before halftime, Oakes drilled a 41-yard field goal, sending Houston into the break with a surprising 20-17 lead. BOSTON TAKES CONTROL The second half belonged to the Americans. After a stalled Houston drive, Boston mounted an 80-yard touchdown march, with Callender punching it in from a yard out. A clutch 33-yard completion from McKoon to Paul Roos on third down kept the drive alive, proving to be a pivotal moment in the contest. With the Drillers’ offense sputtering under championship-game pressure, Lawson’s 42-yard field goal pushed Boston’s lead to 27-20 midway through the final quarter. Houston had one last chance. Bogert and Patton engineered a final drive, moving to the Boston 14-yard line with 1:56 to play. After a short Dan Hackbarth run and two incompletions, the Drillers faced fourth-and-seven. Bogert scrambled, searching for an open target, but Boston’s secondary held firm. He dumped it off to Bill Casteel, but the play fell four yards shy of the marker. Boston took over and ran out the clock. HISTORIC SEASON FOR HOUSTON Though the Drillers’ season ended in disappointment, their meteoric rise from league doormat to championship contender will be remembered as one of the most remarkable turnarounds in football history. Houston has set the bar for expansion teams everywhere. For the Americans, it is a long-awaited return to glory. Seventeen years of frustration are washed away as Boston, at last, hoists the championship trophy once more. SWINNEY WINS CHRISTIAN TROPHY Chesapeake State halfback Stover Swinney has been named the winner of college football's top individual award, the Christian Trophy. The senior from Baton Rouge, LA., was a three year starter for the Clippers and gained 1,677 yards this season -third highest total in the nation. He was also second in the country with 24 rushing touchdowns including scoring three of them, while gaining 109 yards in the Clippers 43-27 victory over Texas Gulf Coast in the Bayside Classic. Chesapeake State finished the season with a 10-1 record and was ranked fourth in the final collegiate poll. There was some mild surprise that Swinney was selected ahead of Mississippi A&M back Dave Witcher, who had led the nation in rushing with 1,860 yards. Others in the running for the award were Lawrence State quarterback Harvey Long, Travis College halfback Hugh Brasfield and Lane State halfback Harry Menard. The Ipswich Trophy, presented annually to the player judged to be the top lineman in the AIAA, went to a Georgia Baptist Gator for the second time in four years. Bill Urton, a 21-year-old junior tackle who hails from Plano, TX., was named the winner, following in the footsteps of former Gator Don Lair, who won the Ipswich in 1959. MOTORS STILL SET PACE IN NAHC The Detroit Motors are banged up but continue to lead the way in the North American Hockey Confederation. The two-time defending Challenge Cup champions have a six point lead on second place Chicago and have played three less games than the Packers. Chicago and Detroit own identical 12-5-3 records over their last twenty games and the third place Montreal Valiants, losers of each of their last two games including a 5-0 shutout at the hands of Detroit, are struggling to keep pace. Detroit's defense and outstanding goaltending from the duo of Charlie Dell and Sebastien Goulet has been the key to their success but the offense is starting to come around as well, in particular Hobie Barrell, who has scored 7 goals in his last six games and with 27 on the season has taken over the NAHC lead in that category. Not all is well as injuries have certainly taken a bite out of the Motors. Barrell is said to be nursing a virus right now and his status for Thursdays game against Montreal is uncertain. The more serious ailments have struck Barrell's longtime centerman as 29-year-old Alex Monette suffered a serious back injury two weeks ago and is likely done for the season. Monette had 32 points in 36 games at the time of his injury and the veteran of 647 NAHC games and 5-time Challenge Cup champion will surely be missed. Hobie's brother Benny Barrell (11-22-33) has taken over on the top line in Monette's absence. The other big loss was defenseman Anthony Beauchemin, who has been sidelined for well over a month with a torn hamstring. There is hope in Detroit that Beauchemin may return to the lineup as early as next week. Brett Returns After Mail & Empire Restarts Publication After the major mechanical breakdown of the presses at the Mail & Empire which halted the paper for almost three weeks fans are finally again able to read their newspaper. While most diehard fans are keeping up with the Dukes through radio and television broadcasts along with radio commentary Brett will supply a summary of the first three weeks of 1963. The summary will be weekly from Monday to Sunday to follow the NAHC schedule more closely. For the 10 games in the period Dukes had a record of 4 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties which leaves them still in fourth place 4 points behind Montreal for third while 5 points clear of Boston for the final playoff spot with 26 games remaining in their regular season schedule. The New Year got off to good start with the team playing 4 games in the period from 1-6 Jan 63 with wins in Boston, Chicago, a tie in NY with only home game being a loss to the Bs. The week was a topsy-turvey one where the Dukes outshot NY, Chicago but Boston controlled the puck in the two games between the teams. Toronto scored 16 goals while allowing 13 with almost half of the goals against coming in the loss at Dominion Gardens when Boston won 6-3 in the worst effort of the week. Toronto was undefeated from 7-13 Jan beating the Packers for the second time in 4 days 3-2 at home. Then in a game on Saturday again at home in which Detroit over doubled the Dukes in shots they salvaged a point in a 2-2 tie thanks again to Connelly's spectacular play between the pipes. At Denny Arena on Sunday the team ran the unbeaten streak to 4 when again goaltending, this time by MacPhee allowed the team to escape Boston with a 3-3 tie. This past week the Dukes lost both road games, 2-1 in Montreal in a tight check affair where Toronto received 32 minutes in penalties with both Pollack, Brochu receiving 10 minute misconducts while Montreal only being called for 3 minors. The Saturday night game with Chicago was the opposite of the Montreal game with a total of 12 goals scored in 60 mins. Toronto broke a 4-4 tie after 40 minutes with three in the third for a 7-5 victory , for their third straight win over the Packers, in a game where they tested Bomberry 47 times while Connelly was beaten 5 times on 25 shots. The last game before the resuming of Mail & Empire publication was a 6-3 loss to Charlie Dell led Detroit. A look at statistical categories for the Dukes: GF- 142 (3rd) with team leaders having 15 (Pollack, Brochu, Knackstedt) GA- 133 (4th) Shots- 1321 (5th) Shots Against- 1442 (2nd most) Shot Blocked- 723 (2nd most) Give Away/Take Away Margin- minus 23 (2nd worst) PIM/G- 9.25 (2nd most) PP %- 23.1 (3rd) PPG- 34 (2nd) PK %- 80.1 (4th) SHG- 5 (tied 1st) Full Court Press: January 7-20, 1963 We have talked a lot about the division leaders: Boston in the East and Toronto in the West. Most of the race has already been won, especially in the case of the Centurions, who own a 9-1/2-game lead. The developing story is the fight for second place in both divisions. Staying in the East, New York and Philadelphia are tied at 21-19. Philadelphia has won four straight to pull into that second-place tie with the most recent victory coming at home against New York, 76-65. Philadelphia kept its winning ways alive with a 24-10 fourth quarter to turn a 55-52 deficit into an 11-point win. The three forwards for the Phantoms were 21-for-44 from the floor, with Percy Carner putting up 18 points, Dan Holland scoring 17 points with 7 blocked shots, and Mel Turcotte adding 13 points and 15 rebounds. The two teams will meet four times in the next five games, which will all take place over the next 10 days. The St. Louis Rockets did not lose any ground to the Toronto Falcons over the past couple of weeks, but they must be looking over their shoulder. The Rockets still trail the Falcons by 3-1/2 games, but the Rockets are 3-7 in their last 10 while the Detroit Mustangs are getting too close for comfort. Detroit is 8-2 in its last ten and stand only four games out. Detroit had a 12-game losing streak that put their record at 10-15 but slowly they have made their way back winning nine of its last 12, snapping an eight-game winning streak with a 101-89 loss in Toronto on Friday night. Jack Salyer valiantly scored 27 points in the loss, which is a new high for the 22-year-old rookie out of Carolina Poly. Since making his debut on December 22nd, Salyer has averaged 17.8 points in 14 games. Both fights for second place have the cushion of likely not missing out on the playoffs. Last place is getting farther and farther away for the top three in the Eastern and Western Divisions. Washington (11-26) is already 18 games out of first, having dropped 21 of 24 games. The only win since Christmas was an 83-75 win in Boston for the Cents fourth home loss of the season. Ossie Waid and veteran Ed Jordan scored 30 points each. The game marked a career high for Jordan, a two-time FBL Champion with the Statesmen. Chicago (8-30) is even worse off, 11-1/2 games behind third place Detroit. The Panthers have lost 15 of their last 17 games and those two wins came against the Rockets, including Saturday night, when Chicago turned a six-point fourth-quarter deficit to a 72-69 victory. Bill Knick led all scorers with 23 points and 13 rebounds. RECENT KEY RESULTS Walt Phillips returned to the ring for the first time since his title loss to George Galleshaw in November. The heavyweight scored a 6th round knockout of Matt Ryan last week in Boston and is now 36-8. Phillips won the ABF world heavyweight title from Harry Pratt last summer but fell to Galleshaw in his first title defense. George Hatchell, who had two runs as middleweight champion of the world, and is just five months removed from a tight split decision loss to Lyman King in another title effort, looked out of sorts in absorbing his third consecutive defeat. 24-year-old New Orleans pugilist Guy Williams (23-7-2) outpointed the 34-year-old Hatchell in a bout in Chicago last week. Hatchell also came up on the short end of a decision against Hugo Canio in November following his title bid loss to King. Hatchell's record now stands at 43-10-2. Veteran Toledo, OH., welterweight Ernie Black, who had a title shot against Lonnie Griffin a year and a half ago, was back in the ring last week, but came out on the wrong end of a decision to Peter Mortensen in a fight in Seattle. Black is now 40-11-1 as a professional. Another Ohio born fighter had better luck as heavyweight Jim Hatfield improved to 27-6-2 with a first round knockout of Chet Billings in Santa Ana, CA. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS Jan 23- World Welterweight Champion Matt Leach makes his first title defense against John Wallace (28-3-1) in Baltimore. Leach (32-6-2) claimed the title with an unanimous decision over Lenny Shafto in September. Feb 9 - George Galleshaw (35-2-1), back as heavyweight champion after scoring a TKO win over Walt Phillips last fall, will make a title defense in Cleveland against Will Flowers. Galleshaw,a 27-year-old native of Syracuse, NY, was world champ previously for nearly two years before falling to Bert Parks in December of 1961. Flowers (26-4-1), who hails from Phoenix, AZ., and is 26 years of age, is getting his first title shot. Feb 27- The highly anticipated rematch between World Middleweight champion Lyman King and former champ George Quinsenberry is set for February 27 at New York's Bigsby Garden. The pair met in Los Angeles in early December and fought to a majority draw, prompting the call for a rematch. King, a 26 year old Oakland, CA., native is unbeaten with a 41-0-1 record and has held the title since he took it from Quisenberry in January of last year in a bout also held at Bigsby Garden. Quisenberry, a 28-year-old Toronto native, has held the world title twice previously and now will look to gain it a third time in his third meeting with King. Quisenberry is 39-2-4 entering the bout. In a cost-cutting move, the San Francisco Sailors released seventeen players, including former 10th overall pick Mike Quigley, former 12th pick Jimmy Isgro, and longtime bench bat Roy Rutter. None of the seventeen played in FABL this season, and will have a chance to latch on with another organization on a minor league contract. The transactions saved around $100,000. A source in the Sailors organization mentioned the moves were the result of a directive from team owner Jack Danek. The demanding and controlling new team owner is reported to be running a tighter ship then his predecessor. The Eagles and Chiefs did similar moves, cutting six players a piece. One of the more surprising cuts was 25-year-old third basemen Del Gaines, who slugged 27 homers in AAA for the Eagles this season. Prior to this season, Gaines spent three seasons in FABL, batting .239/.309/.415 (95 OPS+) with 16 homers and 58 RBIs with the Detroit and Washington. On the Chiefs side, the most notable cut was 38-year-old veteran Gene Burton, who's been a sparingly used bench bat in his tenure. Selected by the Chiefs in the 9th Round of the 1942 Draft, Burton went straight to the service and made his minor league debut in 1946. He debuted at 26 in 1950, appearing in each of the next six seasons. After a four year stretch in the farm, he surfaced for games the past two seasons, but seems unlikely to find a FABL home for 1963. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 01/20/1963 President Kennedy delivers his State of the Union address, focusing on civil rights, the economy, and the Cold War. Kennedy predicts only "moderate gains" for the economy this year, even if Congress moves fast to cut taxes, but he adds prompt action on the administration's tax-cut program would serve as "insurance" against a recession and would boost the nation to future prosperity. Among the biggest additions to Kennedy's budget proposal, which goes to Congress late this month, is a massive five-year aid-to-education program of more than $6 billion. The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Arizona v. California, determining water rights for Western states and reinforcing federal authority over water distribution. George Wallace is inaugurated as Governor of Alabama, delivering his infamous "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" speech. Soviet Premier Khrushchev has raised hopes for a nuclear test ban after offering to permit two or three inspections on Soviet territory each year. This comes a day after the Soviets boasted that although they withdrew 40 missiles from Cuba "we have put up 80 or perhaps 120 somewhere else." A coup attempt against the government of Iraq fails, leading to a crackdown on opposition forces. United Nations forces moved peacefully into Kolwezi and the military action to reintegrate Katanga with the rest of the Congo seemed virtually at an end. A pop group known as The Beatles make their first television appearance on Thank Your Lucky Stars in the UK, gaining widespread attention.