SEPTEMBER 29, 1975
NEW YORK IMPERIALS CAPTURE CA EAST
First Postseason Appearance For 1962 Expansion Club Despite being battered with injuries the New York Imperials survived the mess that was the Continental Association East Division to qualify for postseason play for the first time in franchise history. Imperials boosters will not care that they also become the team with the worst winning percentage in baseball history to qualify for the playoffs. The Imperials finished with a mark of 84-78. Previously only the 1972 St. Louis Pioneers, who went 88-74, had ever won a division title with less than 90 victories since baseball expanded to the divisional format in 1969.
Despite finishing the season without everyday players Bill Wood, Phil Terry and Woody Richardson along with starting pitcher John Alfano and a host of reserve players, the Imperials won 10 of their final 15 games, an accomplishment greatly aided by the fact they played eight of those games against co-cellar dwellers Toronto and Cincinnati. Over the same span the reigning CA East champion Milwaukee Arrows went 9-6 with that single game difference proving the margin between moving on to the playoffs or their season coming to an end.
One has to think the Imperials, even if they were healthy, would stand little chance against a Seattle Kings team that went 107-55, a total of 23 more wins than New York mustered. However, the Imperials did go 5-7 against the Kings during the regular season and few gave them much chance of winning - or perhaps the better term is not losing- the East Division crown due to all of the man games lost. The Imperials were also second in the CA in runs scored this season, trailing only the Kings. The difference will likely be that while Seattle owned the best pitching staff in the CA and surrendered just 564 runs - fewest of any team in either association- the Imperials allowed 747 runs against - 10th most in the 12 team Continental Association.
Figuring out how to beat Seattle is a problem that can wait until tomorrow to solve. For now, the Imperials can bask in the glory of what for them is uncharted territory. The anticipation of playoff baseball.
As for the Kings, aside from 15 game winner Bill Harris, who fractured his elbow last week and will miss extended time, Seattle is healthy and ready to defend a World Championship Series crown won last year for the first time since 1937 when they were based in Brooklyn. The won 107 games, claiming their third straight division title and finishing 24 games up on second place Dallas. We have known that the Kings will be in the playoffs really since before the all-star break as they have had a double-digit lead atop the division every day since June 12. The only question is will they be rusty having not played a really crucial ballgame since winning the WCS a year ago?
The only team that had more certainty than the Kings that playoff baseball was in their future was the Atlanta Copperheads, who ended up a whooping 34 games ahead of second place Baltimore in the Federal Association East Division. The Copperheads have won at least 102 games each of the past four season and five of the last six. Their 112 wins this year breaks their own three year old Federal Association record of 110 and ties the 1963 Kansas City Kings for most wins in a season by a team in either association. It will be Atlanta's fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs and second straight meeting with the Los Angeles Suns in the Association Championship Series. Atlanta prevailed a year ago, taking the best of five series 3 games to one before losing to Seattle in game seven of the WCS.
The Suns, at 96-66, improved on their win total of last season by five victories and while fans of the Houston Comets might like to think they were in a race, the Suns lead was never really in danger and they finished six games ahead of Houston. The Suns went 5-7 against the Copperheads during the regular season and while they may not be considered quite the longshot the Imperials are in the CA, there is no question the Copperheads are the favourites in this series. Some might have felt there was a weakness to be found in Atlanta when the Copperheads lost 10 of 11 games in the middle of September but they ended with quite a statement, winning each of their last seven games of the regular season with absolutely nothing on the line.
Although both championship series are best-of-five affairs — a format that can produce surprises — Atlanta and Seattle enter October as clear favorites. Still, for the Imperials and Suns- two clubs that each joined the ranks of FABL in 1962 - the opportunity alone represents significant progress.
For New York in particular, the moment is historic. An expansion club that waited 13 seasons to reach October baseball now has its chance, regardless of the odds that lie ahead.
IS BASEBALL BROKEN?I have been accused, unfairly I think, of being “old-fashioned” about baseball.
This is usually said by a man with three pocket protectors and a slide rule who believes dividing 24 teams into tidy little geographic cubbyholes has improved civilization.
Permit me to offer Exhibit A.
The New York Imperials are in the playoffs. They won 84 games. They lost 78. They finished six games over .500 and are now being fitted for October bunting because they happened to reside in the Continental Association East, a division so modest it should come with curtains.
Meanwhile, the Houston Comets won 90 games — ninety — and are home polishing their golf spikes because geography sentenced them to coexist with the Los Angeles Suns.
If you’re keeping score at home, that’s 90 victories punished, 84 rewarded.
And we are told this is progress.
Now, before the good citizens of Queens begin sending thank-you notes to the scheduling committee, let me say plainly: the Imperials did nothing wrong. They played by the rules as written six years ago when the sport doubled its postseason invitations and split itself into tidy little fiefdoms. They earned their first playoff berth fair and square.
But fair and square does not necessarily mean fair and square.
The disease in question is not the Imperials. It is mediocrity, and it has spread faster than a July doubleheader sunburn.
Consider the arithmetic. Only five clubs in the entire game managed to win 85 games. Five. Out of twenty-four. That’s not competitive balance. That’s competitive imbalance with a polite smile.
The aristocracy is easy to identify. The Atlanta Copperheads won 112 games. Again. They have now won at least 102 in four consecutive seasons, which is less a division race and more a coronation. The Seattle Kings piled up 107 victories and a third straight Continental West title without so much as breaking a royal sweat. The Suns won 96 and rendered Houston’s fine season a footnote.
Atlanta and Seattle are not simply good. They are inevitable.
The rest of the league? It is a patchwork quilt of 78–84s, 83–79s, and 80–82s pretending to be contenders because the map says they might be.
There was a time — and yes, I was there, and yes, it was uphill both ways — when you finished first or you went home. The old Los Angeles Stars made seven consecutive postseason appearances beginning in 1966, and they did so for much of it when only two teams advanced. They won four World Championship Series in that span because they were, plainly, the best.
No cartography required.
Today, the Federal Association East and the Continental West might as well hang “Closed for the Season” signs by Memorial Day. Baltimore, Philadelphia, Dallas — fine cities all — never truly stood a chance of catching Atlanta or Seattle. Hope in those towns was less a flame than a flicker.
And nothing — nothing — drains a fan’s enthusiasm like arithmetic in April that says, “See you next year.”
We are told free agency will cure this ailment. Perhaps. But even the most optimistic economist will concede it will take time — years — before player movement narrows the canyon between the haves and the have-nots. At present, Atlanta, Seattle, the Los Angeles Suns and perhaps Houston occupy the penthouse. The other 20 tenants are arguing over parking.
So what is left for October?
The Imperials deserve their celebration. Hang the bunting. Print the tickets. If they get hot and knock off Seattle, I will tip my cap and eat my column.
But let us be honest with ourselves. The odds favor another rendezvous between Atlanta and Seattle in the World Championship Series. And that would be fitting — because they are the two best teams in the sport.
Which brings us back to the original question.
If October is merely a formality for the giants and a geographic lottery for the rest, is the system working? Or have we constructed a league where 75 percent of the fan bases begin summer knowing the ceiling is third place?
The best tonic for baseball right now would be chaos. Let the Imperials topple a king. Let the Suns scorch a copperhead. Let the bracket remind us that arithmetic is not destiny.
Because if hope is an illusion in most cities by July, the game doesn’t just look broken.
It feels it.
TITANS KNOCK OFF DRILLERS 10-3
Back to Back Wins Over World Classic ParticipantsWhile the Imperials making the FABL playoffs for the first time in franchise history may have got much of the attention, the New York Titans certainly did their best to hone in on the weekend sporting highlights in the Big Apple. The Titans had a difficult start to their season with back to back games against last year's World Classic participants and although both were at Empire Stadium there was fear the Titans might start the season with a pair of losses. Instead New York pulled off something very unexpected, beating both the Buffalo Red Jackets and Houston Drillers to start the season 2-0.
The Titans held off the Red Jackets 20-14 a week ago and followed that up with a late touchdown drive to trim the Drillers 10-3. Neither offense was overly impressive as it took nearly 57 minutes for the first touchdown but the New York defense matched the mighty Drillers defense punch for punch, holding Houston quarterback Randall Silva to just 94 yards passing and did a decent job containing Houston's rookie running backs. Drillers top pick Anderson Nail gained just 67 yards while Scott Starling, selected in the second round last spring, managed to rush for 69.
The biggest play of the game for the Titans defense came in the closing seconds when veteran linebacker Bruce Fisher clinched the win by intercepting a Silva pass with just 11 seconds left in the game. It capped a brilliant day for the three-time All-Star Classic participant Fisher, who was all over the field with 15 tackles including four for negative yardage.
The Titans benefited from some breaks such as Houston kicker James Alcala missing three field goal attempts, all of at least 40 yards. Alcala is normally quite effective from that distance, entering the game 18-for-27 over his career on kicks of more than 40 yards. New York also turned the ball over three times but the Titans defense held strong.
It was the New York defense that set up the game winning score as with less than six minutes remaining Titans cornerback Richard Swanson stripped the ball out of Houston receiver Quincy Culver's hands and gave New York the ball at the Drillers 26 yard line. New York quarterback Jim Tovar quickly completed a pair of pass, finding wideout Ron Doyle for 11 yards and fullback Jack De Lacey for 14 to set up first and goal on the Houston one yard line. Legendary Drillers defensive end Bobby Barrell Jr. did his best to keep New York out of the end zone, sacking Tovar for a 7 yard loss but on second down the Titans quarterback found running back Richard Salcedo in the end zone for what proved to be the game winning score.
*** Red Jackets Fire Offensive Coordinator Following Loss to Cincinnati ***
It was a case of what have you done for me lately in Buffalo as the 0-2 Red Jackets announced that offensive coordinator Branden Martin has been relieved of his duties and will be replaced by quarterbacks coach Freeman Stahlberg. Seems like an overreaction from Buffalo head coach Tom Bowens and GM Lloyd Stephenson as Martin helped Buffalo win the World Classic just a little over eight months ago.
Martin and the Buffalo offense has had one arm tied behind its back with injuries to starting quarterback Jason Myers before halftime of the season opening loss to the New York Titans and the injury bug bit the Red Jackets passing game again yesterday. This time it was backup Chris Kennedy who was forced out midway through the game after suffering an ankle injury. The Red Jackets came up short, dropping to 0-2 with a 10-7 loss to the Rivermen, who are one of two 2-0 teams in the National Conference's East Division. Surprisingly neither of those teams is Miami as the New York Titans are the other 2-0 squad.
As for Buffalo, the Red Jackets actually had a little more success with third stringer Cal Matlock under center instead of Kennedy but the real blame for this loss has to go to the Buffalo running game, which managed just 30 yards on 22 carries in the loss. This after averaging barely a yard a carry in the week one loss to the Titans.
The Rivermen did not look like world beaters either, but they did get a solid game out of quarterback Chuck Rayford, who completed 17 of his 37 pass attempts for 177 yards. Cincinnati dominated all facets of the game, particularly time of possession with their offense on the field nearly 13 minutes more than that of the Red Jackets and the final score could have been much worse.
The Miami Mariners did manage to even their record, following up a poor showing in their opening week loss in Denver with a 28-17 victory over the St Louis Ramblers. Jeff Conroy threw for 214 yards to lead the Miami offense, which trailed 14-3 at the break but turned the game around with a pair of touchdown carries just over a minute apart sandwiched between a Ramblers fumble.
Both Kansas City and Minnesota are 2-0 and share the lead in the National Conference Central Division. The Cowboys handed the New York Stars their second straight loss, blanking their hosts 19-0 as Cowboys quarterback Joshua Sellers threw for 135 yards while halfback Tom Whitney ran for 99 yards. The Stars lost struggling quarterback Dick Cleaves for at least next week's game against Boston after Cleaves left the game with a sprained ankle. In Minneapolis, Gus Robards threw for 160 yards and a touchdown to lead the Minnesota Lakers past Dallas 17-14, spoiling a strong day from Stallions quarterback Keith Hale. The Stallions drop to 0-2. The Cowboys and Lakers will meet next Sunday in Kansas City.
The American Conference East Division also has a pair of 2-0 teams after Washington and Boston both were led by strong offensive showings. Terry Bergeron threw for 239 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Wasps to a 34-13 victory over division rival Philadelphia while the Americans had little trouble with Pittsburgh, dumping the Paladins 31-12. Boston receiver Ben Jacobson had five catches for 112 yards and leads the AFA in receiving yardage while veteran running back Stephen McKeever found the endzone twice and rushed for a game high 86 yards. Following the game there was some unrest in the Paladins locker room with veteran tackle Brandon Schaefer noting a better effort was needed from many of his teammates and singled out quarterback Charlie Stillwell as one of the culprits. Stillwell has struggled in the Paladins two games this season, completing just 30% of his passes and was just 7 of 20 against the Yanks.
In other action the New Orleans Crescents evened their record at 1-1 with a 21-0 shutout of the hapless Atlanta Firebirds. The game did mark the pro debut of first overall pick Allen McAllister, who was called on to replace Pete Fairfield after the veteran quarterback suffered a hand injury. Neither was particularly effective and McAllister completed just 3 of 8 pass attempts for 20 yards while Fairfield went 3 for 13. In their defense the Firebirds offensive line has been downright offensive, allowing 8 sacks on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Tigers built a 10-0 first half lead on the road in Detroit but had to settle for a 10-10 tie with the Maroons. Detroit lost quarterback Charles Sonnenberg for perhaps the next two months after he suffered a broken wrist late in regulation. The injury came midway through the overtime period. Detroit had an opportunity to win the game in regulation but Maroons kicker Daniel Holmes missed a 35-yard field goal attempt in the final minute and another one, from 38 yards in overtime. It was an awful afternoon for Holmes, who missed four field goal tries and the only one he was successful on was the longest, connecting on a 51-yarder in the third quarter. Tigers kicker Richard Pond also missed a short field goal attempt early in the contest.
Another awful game for the Chicago Wildcats offensive line. Chicago quarterback Carl Pederson spent most of the 10-3 loss to Milwaukee running for his life as for the second game in a row the Wildcats allowed 13 sacks. Pass protection has long been a problem for the Wildcats, as Pederson has been sacked 46 times as a rookie two years ago and 47 last season. He has already been tackled for a loss 26 times through two games this year.
The Cleveland Finches and Los Angeles Olympians are both 1-1 after the Finches prevailed 44-31 in a shootout at Forester Field yesterday. Finches running backs Scott Hastings and Javier Headley combined for 254 yards on the ground and 3 touchdowns. Hastings was named the AFA's offensive player of the week for his efforts.
Charlie Singletary threw for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the San Francisco Wings to their second straight victory. The Wings beat the Denver Mountaineers 29-7 at Golden Gate Ballpark.
Finally the Seattle Roughnecks evened their record at 1-1 by handing San Diego its second consecutive loss, 20-14 was the final score with a pair of fourth quarter Jimmy Provost field goals proving the difference.
DOLPHINS UPSET NOBLE JONES COLLEGE 17-9 The transfer to Coastal California worked wonders for running back Alvin Romero. The redshirt sophomore was unhappy after a season sitting on the bench at Payne State so he transferred to the Dolphins and paid immediate dividends for the West Coast Athletic Association squad. Noble Jones College entered the game ranked fourth in the nation but the Colonels had no answer for Romero, won ran over and around the Noble Jones College defenders, gaining 131 yards and scoring the game clinching touchdown early in the third quarter to lead Coastal California to a 17-9 upset victory. The win evens the Dolphins record at 1-1 after they dropped a decision to College of San Diego in their season opener, while it knocks the 1-1 Colonels all the way out of the top twenty-five in the latest rankings.
Number one ranked Georgia Baptist had far more success against a WCAA team than their Deep South rivals as the Gators defense shut down Rainier College, winning by a score of 19-3. Gators running backs John Garvey and Derek Cross combined for 150 yards in the victory. Two other top ten Deep South Conference schools also won on Saturday as Jimmy Ray Johnson threw for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns while halfback Marcus Butler ran for 113 yards and two scores to lead the Generals to a 42-20 drubbing of Payne State. Meanwhile Central Kentucky headed west and had an easy time with Spokane State, taking a 38-6 decision behind a 298 yard, 4 touchdown passing day from junior Tigers quarterback Joe Dobson.
St. Blane won but the Fighting Saints tumbled in the polls from second to eighth after struggling to handle winless Rome State 17-10. Only a late 46-yard touchdown run from Boyd Freeman saved the Fighting Saints from heading to overtime.
Four Great Lakes Alliance schools are in the top ten but only two won on the weekend. Central Ohio, which is sixth in this week's rankings and ninth ranked St. Magnus each had the week off while Indiana A&M and Whitney College both won. The Reapers are 2-0 and ranked 7th after shutting out Wyoming A&I 24-0 behind three Harry Connors touchdown throws while the Engineers are 3-0 and 10th this week after having an easy time of things in Cincinnati, blasting Queen City 44-9. Whitney College quarterback Roger Guenther threw for 300 yards and three scores.
El Paso Methodist is 3-0 and moved up to third in the latest rankings after the Bandits destroyed Petersburg 72-7. Mark Whitton ran for 285 yards and three touchdowns after coming in to replace starting running back Grant Chacon, who had 193 yards and 3 scores of his own.
A wild finish in South Carolina as the host Cowpens State Fighting Green and Lawrence State Chippewa were tied at 10 after regulation. The overtime had 5 touchdowns scored with Lawrence State improving to 3-0 and staying in the top five of the latest rankings following a 32-24 victory keyed by a 160 yard rushing day from Luther Dickson.
Defending national champion Redwood fell to 0-2 after the Mammoths had their struggles at home, falling 22-6 to Opelika State. It was a rough day for John Coughlin as the Redwood quarterback and hero of the East-West Classic last January threw as many interceptions (3) as he had completions on the day. Annapolis Maritime, which went unbeaten during the regular season a year ago and only a Sunshine Classic loss cost the Navigators their first national title in more than fifty years, will not go without a loss this time around as the Navigators were beaten 28-21 by Liberty College in their season opener. The difference in the game was Larry Leeper as the Bells senior running back shredded the Annapolis Maritime defense with 125 yards rushing.
Other results of note saw Eastern State spank Iowa A&M 34-3 behind a pair of touchdown passes from James Wyatt. Maryland State held off a late charge from Red River State to improve to 2-0 with a 24-16 victory. Northern California had an easy time with Baton Rouge State, downing the Red Devils 31-7 while Northern Mississippi topped the Ferguson Wildcats 31-6.
WEEKEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS
St Blane Fighting Saints - 17, Rome State Centurions - 10
Commonwealth Catholic Knights - 10, Pittsburgh State Finches - 3
Garden State Redbirds - 23, Chicago Poly Catamounts - 18
Idaho A&M Pirates - 15, St Patrick's Shamrocks - 3
American Atlantic Pelicans - 13, Miami State Gulls - 9
Penn Catholic Crusaders - 23, College of San Diego Friars - 16
Liberty College Bells - 28, Annapolis Maritime Navigators - 21
Boston State Pirates - 18, Huntington State Miners - 17
St Pancras Lions - 43, Lambert College Stags - 13
Minns College Mavericks - 37, Wisconsin Catholic Cavaliers - 0
Arkansas A&T Badgers - 33, Coastal State Eagles - 23
Carolina Poly Cardinals - 17, Lubbock State Hawks - 6
Maryland State Bengals - 24, Red River State Rowdies - 16
North Carolina Tech Techsters - 27, Texas Gulf Coast Hurricanes - 19
Boulder State Grizzlies - 24, Charleston Tech Admirals - 16
Eastern State Monitors - 34, Iowa A&M Bulls - 3
Lawrence State Chippewa - 32, Cowpens State Fighting Green - 24
Eastern Kansas Warriors - 13, Columbia Military Academy Cadets - 3
Travis College Bucks - 32, Daniel Boone College Frontiersmen - 27
Darnell State Legislators - 23, College of Omaha Raiders - 13
Oklahoma City State Wranglers - 27, Amarillo Methodist Grizzlies - 20
College of Waco Cowboys - 20, Eastern Oklahoma Pioneers - 17
Northern Minnesota Muskies - 16, Bayou State Cougars - 9
Northern Mississippi Mavericks - 31, Ferguson Wildcats - 6
Mississippi A&M Generals - 42, Payne State Mavericks - 20
Topeka State Braves - 20, Cumberland Explorers - 10
Northern California Miners - 31, Baton Rogue State Red Devils - 7
Bluegrass State Mustangs - 10, Portland Tech Magpies - 2
Alabama Baptist Panthers - 30, Lane State Emeralds - 13
Opelika State Wildcats - 22, Redwood Mammoths - 6
Western Florida Wolves - 19, CC Los Angeles Coyotes - 16
Coastal California Dolphins - 17, Noble Jones College Colonels - 9
Georgia Baptist Gators - 19, Rainier College Majestics - 3
Central Kentucky Tigers - 38, Spokane State Indians - 6
Valley State Gunslingers - 37, Central Carolina Lions - 31
Tempe College Titans - 27, Bulein Hornets - 7
Potomac College Pelicans - 28, Abilene Baptist Chaparrals - 6
El Paso Methodist Bandits - 72, Petersburg Patriots - 7
Texas Panhandle Cowboys - 34, Utah A_M Aggies - 23
Canyon A&M Armadillos - 19, Colorado Poly Redbirds - 7
Mile High State Falcons - 12, Mobile Maritime Middies - 7
Alexandria Generals - 27, Custer College Cavalry - 0
South Valley State Roadrunners - 20, Chesapeake State Clippers - 10
Provo Tech Lions - 41, Richmond State Colonials - 16
Lincoln Presidents - 38, Cache Valley Cowboys - 13
Indiana A&M Reapers - 24, Wyoming A&I Prospectors - 0
Whitney College Engineers - 44, Queen City Monarchs - 9
McKinney State Renegades - 25, Wisconsin State Brewers - 20
NEXT WEEKEND'S GAMES INVOLVING TOP 20 TEAMS
Northern Minnesota (2-1) at #1 Georgia Baptist (2-0)
#15 Northern California (2-0) at #2 Mississippi A&M (2-0)
#3 El Paso Methodist (3-0) at South Valley State (2-0)
Ferguson (1-2) at #4 Central Kentucky (2-0)
#5 Lawrence State (2-0) at Mile High State (1-1)
#6 Central Ohio (2-0) at #20 Travis College (2-0)
#7 Indiana A&M (2-0) at #12 Maryland State (2-0)
#9 St. Magnus (2-0) at Charleston Tech (1-1)
Valley State (2-1) at #11 Eastern State (2-0)
Potomac College (2-1) at #13 Alexandria (2-0)
#14 St. Pancras (2-0) at Wisconsin Catholic (0-2)
Topeka State (2-1) at #16 Northern Mississippi (2-0)
#17 Canyon A&M (2-0) at Sadler (0-1)
#18 Minns College (2-0) at Rome State (0-2)
College of San Diego (2-1) at #19 Annapolis Maritime (0-1)
WOLVES FINISH 1975 TIED FOR FIFTH Toronto, in the catbird's seat as the CA East spoiler, went 4-3 in the final week of the '75 season to finish with the exact same record, 74-88, as they did a year ago.
Beginning the week in Cleveland with 4 games in 3 days the Wolves poured cold water on the Foresters playoff hopes. Cleveland's problems began when Toronto swept Monday's doubleheader. Jim Hunter was dominate in the opener with a 9 inning gem tossing a 7-hit 6-0 shutout. In the nightcap Toronto opened with 6 runs in the top of the first to cruise to an easy 9-4 final despite surrendering 13 hits to the opponents. Cleveland won the Tuesday encounter when they chased Red Bullock early building a 7-0 lead through 3 then piled on the runs against the relievers to win 12-5. In the series finale. a must win for Cleveland, the Wolves' Pat Schmitt led the way with a 2-run double in the seventh inning after the Foresters had tied the game at 3 in the sixth. The loss virtually eliminated Cleveland from contention with the 5-3 final score.
After a day off on Thursday Toronto knew their play in the final series against the New York Imperials at home would be a pennant determining series. On Friday night, a cool, clear evening, with 13,677 on hand their hometown heroes built an early 5-0 lead then held on to win 6-4 giving Stan Terry his 5th victory of the year after starting the year 0-11. Terry won five of his last six decisions. The news wasn't all good for the team as George Rigby, who was playing for injured Phil Story, broke his foot forcing Joe Henke into the lineup. At this point the Milwaukee Arrows and the Imperials were deadlocked atop the East.
On Saturday under cloudy skies the fans were treated to a tight 4 hour marathon contest. After New York took a 3-2 lead in their half of the ninth the Wolves sent the games to extras when Les Reid took Ed Cooper deep with his 8th homerun of the season. After 2 scoreless innings pinch hitter Jack Peeples stroked a 2 run double off Ken Jefferies in the 12th then Carl Hoffman secured his first save of '75 to send the fans home disappointed with New York on top 5-3. This win coupled with Milwaukee's 4-3 loss in Montreal gave New York a one game lead.
The Imperials left very little to chance on the final day of the season when they obliterated Jim Hunter and the Wolves with an 18 hit attack winning a laugher 13-1. A disappointing end to the season for the Wolves.
Dunbar notes that all is not bad news for the fans. The combined record in August and September was a winning one at 29-27 allowing the team to finish 74-88, not the 100 loss season predicted by the so-called experts in March. There is still a long way to go though there are also signs of hope for the future of baseball in Toronto. This columnist will be starting a series of articles with his view of the future for the Wolves. It is apparent the team needs improvement in all areas but foremost the pitching and defense must be the starting focus. Only one word describes those two areas in 1975, awful!
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 09/28/1975
- OPEC has announced plans to hike oil prices by 10%. President Ford warns that worsening inflation and greater unemployment will result from the price hike.
- President Ford addresses the United Nations, urging continued détente and defending the Helsinki Accords amid growing Cold War skepticism at home.
- Middle East tensions flare at the U.N., with renewed debate over Palestinian representation and regional security dominating diplomatic sessions.
- Following riots in Louisville and unrest elsewhere, anti-busing sentiment is gaining strength in the Senate.
- A tip that the body of former Teamsters Union leader Jimmy Hoffa was buried in a field about 35 miles northwest of Detroit prompted an extensive search but Hoffa's remains were not found.
- Strained relations between Spain and Portugal are the result, after an attack on the Spanish Embassy in Lisbon by leftist demonstrators. Spain is upset the failure of Portuguese security forces to stop the attack.