SEPTEMBER 15, 1975
FORESTERS WIN 4 OF 5 TO RETAKE EAST LEAD There's still two weeks to go in the 1975 season, but after taking a huge three game set in New York, the Cleveland Foresters are in prime position to make their first postseason since they won three consecutive pennants and later lost three world series from 1959 to 1961.
Sure, they're just 76-72 and sure they have just a single game lead, but in a division that no one wants to take, they are on top and have a chance to earn the right to face, and perhaps likely lose, to the Seattle Kings in the Continental Championship Series.
After knocking the New York Imperials down to a game and a half out, the Foresters can put some space between themselves and the Milwaukee Arrows, as they'll be in Milwaukee for a two game set. The two squared off for two this week, with Cleveland taking both, but the team is much different away from home. At Forester Stadium, they look like a postseason team (46-28, .622), but away from home they're playing worse (30-44, .405) than any FABL team except Boston (55-93, .372), who ran away with the #1 pick.
One of the biggest series of the season, Cleveland gets to rely on Roy Rice (14-12, 3.94, 136) and Dick Couture (12-7, 3.42, 99) to keep the Arrow's measly offense in check, while Milwaukee counters with their top two in the rotation. Joe Wright (14-10, 3.45, 153) gets the opener and Tex Cavanaugh (9-11, 3.03, 120) the finale, so don't expect much scoring in this battle for first place. Whoever pitches better likely takes the series, and if we see a sweep, the sweeper should have command over the rest of the week.
After the early series, Cleveland gets two in Toronto before hosting the Cannons for three. Cincinnati will be in Milwaukee before making it to Cleveland, and then the Arrows finish their last homestand of the season with three hosting the Saints. Even at 73-76, they're still alive and just 3.5 games out of first, and even the 68-82 Cannons aren't officially eliminated yet.
New York is a bigger piece of the puzzle, but with all the Imperials injuries and overall poor play in September, time may be running out. Yet to make a postseason appearance, they'll at least finish the closest they ever have to first, previously never coming within fewer then 8 games of the eventual division winner. With no more games remaining against the Arrows or Foresters, they don't have a way to beat the teams in front of them, but they may benefit from the weaker competition. Of course, they can also get passed by the Montreal Saints and slip back under .500, as it seems almost anything is possible in this chaotic and somewhat unserious division.
Players of the Week: Kilkenny, Parker
- Carl Kilkenny's big season continues, as Minneapolis' star slugger was again named Fed Player of the Week. The two-time All-Star finished 9-for-23 with 3 homers, 9 runs, and 12 RBIs. His first Player of the Week, Kilkenny was the Batter of the Month in July, and was named All-Star game MVP after going 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs. On the season, he's hit an impressive .314/.391/.543 (153 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 29 homers, 104 RBIs, 87 runs, and 68 walks. His next home run would make him the second Miller in team history to record 30 in one season, and if he can get to 32, he'll set the record for most in a season for the franchise.
- It was also the first Player of the Week for Nick Parker, but the Wrangler superstar not only won the July Batter of the Month in the Conti, but also the June version the month before. Another 2-Time All-Star who also started the season as a 26-year-old, he was 10-for-20 with 3 doubles, a homer, 2 RBIs, 6 runs, and 8 walks. Back healthy, he managed to pass 140 games for just the third time in six years, batting .334/.437/.545 (169 OPS+) after 142. He's set career bests for homers (25), runs (95), RBIs (93), walks (97), and WAR (5.9), and if he can keep his WRC+ above 162 (currently 166), it would be his best in seasons with at least 500 PAs.
Exceptional Performances: Bartlett, Bradshaw, Davis, Newton
- After a stinker to start the week, there was some belief that Bill Bartlett (12-5, 2.10, 70) finally ran out of gas. I mean, he allowed 9 hits and 7 runs with 3 walks and just strikeouts, chased out by a poor Mavericks team in the 4th inning of his start. Thankfully for Bartlett enthusiast, that notion was quickly dispelled, as he turned around and shutout the Stars. His 4th of the season, he now leads all of FABL despite just 20 starts, and his 13 complete games are third overall. 23 in December, he's now 12-5 with a still FABL low 2.10 ERA (187 ERA+), and with two weeks and just under 4 innings needed to qualify, he's a near lock for the ERA crown. The Allen may be harder now that his ERA is back over 2, but his 1.07 WHIP still leads all qualified pitchers, as does his .217 batting average against.
- Perhaps the most hit-or-miss pitcher there is, even if it's been almost all hits so far, Bartlett seems to string together runs of dominance with the occasional, an almost equal level of incompetence, just to keep you on your toes. In his last 10 starts he has 2 starts with 1 earned run, 2 starts with 7 or more earned runs, and 6 starts of 0 earned runs. In fact, 21 of his 37 earned runs (57%!!!) have come in just three starts of 16.2 total innings, leading to an astronomical 11.67 ERA. In the other 141.2 innings, however, he has just a 1.02 ERA, as when his stuff is working, you can just assume your team isn't scoring.
- In Cincinnati's 13-4 beating of the then first place Imperials, Frank Bradshaw (.242, 5, 38, 21) took the headlines with a big 5-for-6 game. His solo shot in the first got the Cannons on the board, cutting their deficit to 3-1, and then he contributed multiple singles as they scored two or more runs from the 5th to the 8th. At the end, Bradshaw and 3 runs and 3 RBIs, a rare bright spot in a season full of issues for him. The 33-year-old's 83 WRC+ is better then his 67 from last season, but his acquisition has not gone well, and his roster spot could be in jeopardy for next season unless he has a few more five hit games in him.
- We had two more five hit games, but the only one that was a perfect 5-for-5 in a nine inning game came from Gothams' outfielder Fred Davis. Now 34, he's dealt with various injuries throughout the year, but when healthy he's been productive. Coming in the 8-3 win over Baltimore, he picked up 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. After a pair of 1-for-4s to finish the week, Davis is now hitting .294/.351/.435 (115 OPS+) in 69 games, adding 15 doubles, 5 triples, 4 homers, 6 steals, 35 RBIs, and 42 runs.
- John Newton's (.311, 13, 65, 29) five hit game doesn't really feel like one, as it came in eight at bats and his fifth hit came in the 16th inning of a shocking 6-5 loss to the Minutemen. His second five hit game in two seasons, it's also his fourth since his 1966 debut. In that time, the Copperheads star shortstop has recorded 1,718 hits, owning a .295/.345/.422 (123 OPS+) career line in almost 1,500 FABL games. All have came with the Saints or the Copperhead organization, and he's set to make his fifth trip to the postseason this next month.
Injury Notes: New York, Lewis, Siniscalchi, Story
- Both Big Apple teams saw outfielders suffer setbacks on September 10th, but only one really impacts recovery. He wasn't going to return anyways, but Imperial slugger Phil Terry (.301, 17, 71, 14) will now need an additional seven weeks to get over his severe hip strain. Out since August 12th, his initial recover time was eight weeks, but he should still be fine for Opening Day. Meanwhile, Gotham outfielder Bill Arndt (.276, 13, 81, 5) continues to be hampered by his quadricep strain. He's been playing through it, but right when it looked to be gone, it came back. Hopefully healthy by the end of the week, the now 24-year-old Arndt has continued to show why he's one of the most valuable Gothams, currently holding a 131 WRC+ in 582 PAs.
- Adding more injury to insult, the floundering Imperials lost their current left fielder, as Bill Wood will become the sixth player on their IL. Playing more because of injury, the almost 33-year-old tore his labrum, and is expected to be healthy around when Terry is, assuming no more setbacks. A former 9th pick by Toronto, Wood started 86 of his 122 games after making just 34 in 108 games last year. He hit about the same, .256/.347/.399 (105 OPS+), but with a lot more counting stats. Wood added 17 doubles, 6 triples, 7 homers, 56 RBIs, 52 runs, 47 walks, and 14 steals, but unless the Imps are as snake bitten as they were this year, I don't see him returning to a regular role.
- More issues in Boston, as struggling reliever John Lewis (0-1, 1, 4.71, 18) will need to undergo elbow surgery to remove a bone spur. Having allowed 8 runs in his last 4.1 innings, he may have already been hurt, but he left after just five pitches in Boston's 7-3 loss to the Eagles. A former 4th Rounder, he's expected to need six months of rehab, making an Opening Day appearance unlikely for the rookie. 27 in November, this was technically his third season, but he had just two appearances in 1972 and a third in 1973.
- While generally not a season ender, Chief Joe Siniscalchi suffered an intercostal strain, and with two weeks left in the season they can just add him to the IL, and see what a minor league has. A storied team vet, if his season ends today, the 6-Time All-Star will have hit .302/.411/.423 (130 OPS+) in his 14th big league season. His 13 homers may be his fewest since his 57 game debut season, but his 134 WRC+ was a bit above average, as he set a career best with a .411 OBP. It's his second time above .400, having been at .403 in 1970, and he's maintained at least a 10% BB% since the 1967 season. One of the best in baseball's oldest franchise, his .446 career slugging is 10th in team history, and he's top-10 in WAR (9th, 61), games (5th, 1,981), at-bats (7th, 7,177), runs (8th, 1,102), hits (9th, 1,927), doubles (7th, 318), homers (3rd, 276), and RBIs (5th, 1,193).
- The Stars are down another shortstop, as rookie Bob Branson will miss the rest of the year with a fractured thumb. He'll get to join Lew Smith (.270, 8, 33, 10), the Opening Day shortstop, who's been hurt since late June. Branson was called up earlier to fill in for second basemen Bill Bell (.297, 7, 47, 12), and ended up getting into 112 games for the team that took him 20th last season. The 22-year-old hit a nice .279/.330/.404 (103 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 3 triples, 8 homers, 65 RBIs, and 5 steals, which should give him some down ballot Kellogg votes.
- Another labrum tore struck Phil Story, who at 37 was one of the few Wolves with an above average WRC+ (107). It came with a much lower .259/.345/.345 (88 OPS+) batting line, as the veteran has the rare combo of limited power with a lot of strikeouts. Great at drawing walks, he had 63 and a 11.2 BB%, but just 26 extra base hits and 45 RBIs in 564 PAs. Likely to miss just under two months, he should be good to return to his customary leadoff spot for the 1976 season.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OPENING WEEKEND SHOCKER IN WACOThe 1975 college football season wasted no time delivering its first surprise.
The College of Waco Cowboys turned the usual opening-week script on its head, knocking off sixth-ranked Detroit City College, 16–6, in a defensive-minded season opener. Detroit City entered the year as a national contender after back-to-back appearances in the East-West Classic, but left Waco with more questions than answers.
While hardly a pushover, Waco has never captured a Southwestern Athletic Association title since joining the league in 1964, and has never earned a Classic berth making the result all the more eye-opening.
Points were at a premium throughout the first half. The teams went into the locker room tied 3–3, with missed opportunities on both sides—Cowboys kicker Zane Johnson misfired on a short field goal, while the Knights coughed the ball up deep in Waco territory.
Waco edged ahead in the third quarter on Johnson’s 45-yard boot, only to see Detroit City answer early in the fourth with a 40-yard field goal from Howard Lucas. The game turned midway through the final period when the Cowboys mounted a decisive 68-yard drive. A costly facemask penalty on DCC safety Ben Sperry kept the march alive, and quarterback Charles Gittens capitalized with a 12-yard touchdown strike to George Shull—one of just five passes Waco attempted all afternoon.
Detroit City threatened late but never seriously challenged, and a final Waco field goal sealed the upset.
*** No Other Ranked Club Stumbled ***
Elsewhere, there were fewer surprises among the nation’s elite.
Second-ranked Central Ohio rolled past Cleveland Tigers, 37–20, behind 285 yards and two touchdown passes from quarterback George Stephens.
Fifth-ranked Mississippi A&M showcased its firepower in a 62–17 rout of Central Carolina. All-American quarterback Jimmy Ray Johnson threw a pair of scoring passes, while fellow standout Marcus Butler piled up 154 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Fourteenth-ranked Minnesota Tech had little trouble in a 55–0 shutout of Wisconsin Catholic. Senior running back James Gallant, who scored just three touchdowns all of last season, had two in the season opener while rushing for 127 yards.
One ranked club did stumble, however, as Oklahoma City State was upset 34–17 by Wisconsin State. The turning point came on a dazzling 108-yard kickoff return by Eddie Marks.
Around the country, several close contests and standout performances highlighted the opening slate:
Topeka State edged Carolina Poly 27–21 behind 124 rushing yards and two scores from Tony Craig.
Whitney College stunned Cowpens State 19–14 on a 61-yard touchdown pass from Robert Guenther to Benny Farley in the final minute.
St. Ignatius topped Coastal State 26–13.
St. Magnus held off North Carolina Tech 20–17.
College of San Diego defeated Tempe College 20–7 with two touchdown passes from Randy Roseman.
El Paso Methodist overwhelmed Northern Minnesota 48–7 led by sophomore running back Grant Chacon's four touchdowns.
Payne State slipped past Potomac College 10–6 behind 171 rushing yards from Mark Brackens.
Valley State beat Queen City 33–13 as Za’Darius Harris ran for 159 yards.
Ferguson defeated Texas Panhandle 41–28 in a wild outing that saw senior quarterback Guy Cottrell throw four touchdown passes—and three interceptions.
Abilene Baptist closed the weekend with a 23–16 victory over McKinney State.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Valley State Gunslingers - 33, Queen City Monarchs - 13
Central Ohio Aviators - 37, Cleveland Tigers - 20
Abilene Baptist Chaparrals - 23, McKinney State Renegades - 16
El Paso Methodist Bandits - 48, Northern Minnesota Muskies - 7
Ferguson Wildcats - 41, Texas Panhandle Cowboys - 28
Payne State Mavericks - 10, Potomac College Pelicans - 6
Minnesota Tech Lakers - 55, Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers - 0
Mississippi A_M Generals - 62, Central Carolina Lions - 17
Wisconsin State Brewers - 34, Oklahoma City State Wranglers - 17
Whitney College Engineers - 19, Cowpens State Fighting Green - 14
College of Waco Cowboys - 16, Detroit City College Knights - 6
College of San Diego Friars - 30, Tempe College Titans - 7
Topeka State Braves - 27, Carolina Poly Cardinals - 21
St Magnus Vikings - 20, North Carolina Tech Techsters - 17
St Ignatius Lancers - 26, Coastal State Eagles - 13
NEXT WEEKEND'S GAMES INVOLVING RANKED TEAMS
Portland Tech at #1 Georgia Baptist
#2 St Blane at #8 Detroit City College (0-1)
#3 Central Ohio (1-0) at Western Florida
#4 Lawrence State at Valley State
#5 Noble Jones College at McKinney State (0-1)
Rome State at #7 Central Kentucky
#9 Minnesota Tech (1-0) at Liberty College
#10 Charleston Tech at Mobile Maritime
Tempe College (0-1) at #11 Boulder State
#12 Alabama Baptist at Carolina Poly (0-1)
#13 Daniel Boone College at Lincoln
#14 Huntington State at Richmond State
#15 Redwood at El Paso Methodist (1-0)
#17 Oklahoma City State at #16 Bayou State
#18 Rainier College at Whitney College (1-0)
#20 Northern California at Wyoming A&I
#21 Travis College at Utah A&M
#22 American Atlantic at Cowpens State (0-1)
#23 Lane State at Idaho A&M
#24 CC Los Angeles at Minns College
#25 Maryland State at Central Carolina (0-1)
AIAA APPROVES THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES
College football’s postseason landscape will look markedly different this winter.
The AIAA has formally approved the addition of three new Classic games, expanding the New Year’s Day lineup from seven contests to ten beginning January 1, 1976. The new events — the All-American Classic, the Southern Classic and the Palm Classic — will debut at the conclusion of the current season, signaling the end of an era in which only 14 teams were invited to postseason play.
For nearly two decades, the number of Classic games had remained unchanged at seven. The field last shifted following the final stagings of the San Joaquin Classic and Volunteer Classic on New Year’s Day 1957. Since then, invitations have been limited and coveted, with conference champions and select independents battling for a small handful of spots.
This season, at least, the three new Classics will operate without conference tie-ins. Instead, they will extend at-large invitations after the original seven games have completed their selections. The move is widely viewed as an opportunity for highly ranked runners-up and strong independent programs to secure postseason appearances that previously would have been out of reach.
Classic games have been a cornerstone of the AIAA calendar since 1916, when the East–West Classic debuted as a showcase between the champions of the Great Lakes Alliance and the West Coast Athletic Association. Over the past three decades, that matchup has become the sport’s most prestigious postseason stage.
The New Year’s slate already includes the Oilman Classic in Houston, matching the champions of the Deep South Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Association; the Lone Star Classic in Austin; the Sunshine Classic in Miami; the Cajun Classic in New Orleans; the Bayside Classic in Tampa; and the Desert Classic in El Paso.
With three additional Classics now joining the rotation, more programs will close their seasons under the bright lights of January 1 — and the postseason picture, long defined by scarcity, is entering a new and more expansive chapter.
DRILLERS OPEN WITH QUESTIONS—AND, AS ALWAYS, EXPECTATIONSThere is something almost comical about the hand-wringing in Houston this week.
The mighty Drillers—three-time champions, perennial contenders, the closest thing the American Football Association has to a sure thing—have gone 0-3 in exhibition play and suddenly the question is being asked: are they vulnerable?
Maybe. But you’d better see it before you believe it.
This is, after all, the same Houston club that has turned autumn into a formality. Since 1966 they have not missed the playoffs. They have played in six World Classics. They have won three of them. For nearly a decade, if you were picking against Houston, you were usually picking wrong.
Still, even the most reliable machines show a loose bolt now and then, and the Drillers do enter 1975 with a problem they have not had to solve in years—who is going to carry the football?
For ten seasons the answer was simple. Give it to Vern Rebovich and step aside. He ran for more than 10,000 yards, punished defenses, and, perhaps most importantly, gave Houston an identity. When the game tightened, when the weather turned, when the stakes rose, the Drillers knew exactly what they were.
Now Rebovich is gone, retired, and so is his understudy Keith Gladfelter. In their place: Billy Ray Brown, who has waited his turn, and a handful of rookies who have yet to prove they belong on a Sunday roster, let alone in a championship chase.
That is not a minor adjustment. That is a philosophical shift.
There are other nicks and dents. Guard Randy Hutchins has stepped away, leaving a gap up front. The running game, the line, the rhythm—these are not small parts to replace, and they help explain why the exhibition season looked as uneasy as it did. Losses to Cleveland and Washington, both playoff clubs, and an overtime setback in Boston do not make for comforting reading, even in August.
But here is where perspective matters.
Houston has never been built like other teams. While clubs around the league search for balance, the Drillers have long imposed themselves with defense—and that part of the equation has not changed. As long as Bobby Barrell Jr. is coming off the edge, as long as head coach Mario Case is pacing the sideline in his 14th season, the Drillers are going to be heard from.
They may not run the ball the same way. They may not look as polished in September as they have in years past. But they will hit, and they will defend, and they will make you earn every yard you get.
And that is usually enough.
The real business begins Sunday, when Houston opens at home against Seattle. The standings will start to count, the questions will start to get answers, and the Drillers will begin the long, familiar march toward January.
Concerned? Perhaps a little.
But history suggests this: if Houston is in trouble, it will take more than three August losses to prove it.
NOTABLE TRANSACTIONS Teams are finalizing there 40-man active roster along with 8 names to go to the practice squad which means a few veteran players were among those who received bad news this week as final cuts were made. Among those released include veteran guard Pete Massey who was cut by the Cleveland Finches after starting 119 games over the past decade with the club.
The New York Titans parted ways with several players including Shorty Cherry. The 36-year-old defensive end had played 11 of his 15 AFA seasons with the Titans and started seven games in an injury shortened season a year ago. Cherry was released as the Titans decided to get much younger on the defensive line by keeping four rookies including end Edwin Dooley, their first round pick out of Georgia Baptist who will take over Cherry's spot in the starting lineup. The Titans also cut both of the kicking specialists from a year ago as kicker Darin Meza, a 3-year starter, and punter Gail Fleming, who played the past two seasons, were let go. Rookies John Sheridan and Larry Snodgrass will replace them.
Not surprising news out of Miami as the Mariners cut quarterback Bennett Smoot. The 28-year-old from Miami State became an instant hero in South Florida when was offensive rookie of the year in 1969 and helped the Mariners win the World Classic that year. He also made the All-Star Classic for a second time in 1972 but lost his starting job the following season to Jeff Conroy and had been a backup ever since. The Mariners opted to elevate Hilton Head, who had been on their practice squad the past two years, to the backup role with the decision to part ways with Smoot.
Wolves Stumble Slightly, Lose Story For Season
Toronto, with a 3-4 week, managed to stay out the CA East cellar although the Cincinnati Cannons are right on their heels just a game back with only two weeks left in the season.
Last week the Wolves split 2 games with both Montreal and Cincinnati on the road before losing 2 of 3 to Milwaukee at Dominion Stadium. The Arrows need every win possible, including the one in extras, as they are one game out of the division lead after a hot start to open the season that was followed by a terrible slump. Toronto's division has 4 teams less than 4 games out for the division pennant. The CA East will be a fight to the finish with teams having about dozen games remaining in the regular season.
The worst news of the week for the Wolves was that Phil Story is done for the season after suffering a shoulder injury when he was taken out by a runner breaking up an attempt at a double play. Story will finish the season with a .259/.345/.345 17 SB line while occupying the leadoff spot for most of '75. Many feel that this could be end of the line for Story who turns 37 on September 26th. He made his debut with team in 1961 after being the 10th player selected in the 1957 draft.
The Wolves will play a major factor in which team advances out of the East. The only team of the top 4 they do not play in their remaining 14 games are the Arrows who they finished the year against with a 9-9 record. Toronto finishes the season series with 4th place Montreal this week with 2 at home before hosting division leaders Cleveland for 2. On the weekend the Wolves head to New York to play 3 with the Imperials. The last week of season has the Wolves in Cleveland for 4 in 3 days before hosting the Imperials in the season's final series.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 09/14/1975
- Second assassination attempt on President Ford foiled in San Francisco, as Sara Jane Moore fires a shot that narrowly misses the President, intensifying national alarm over presidential security.
- Secret Service overhauls protection procedures, sharply restricting public access to Ford after two attempts on his life in just 17 days.
- Senate confirms John Paul Stevens to Supreme Court, and the new justice is sworn in, formally filling the seat vacated by William O. Douglas.
- Two U.S. servicemen are missing after an armed band attacked a U.S. communications base in Ethiopia. The identity of the attackers is unknown but an Ethiopian rebel group based in Syria has claimed responsibility.
- Police in Spain arrested eight alleged members of a Communist group accusing them of distributing anti-government propaganda.
- Heating oil concerns dominate Northeast headlines, as governors warn of potential winter shortages if inventories are not replenished quickly.