All things Figment - from the pages of The Figment Sporting Journal - Page 47 (2024)

Tiger Fan

Join Date: Dec 2001

Location: Ontario Canada

Posts: 9,555

OCTOBER 2, 1950

FORESTERS SURVIVE CA BATTLE: WIN SECOND STRAIGHT FLAG

As they had most season, the Foresters lineup had no trouble putting runs on the board, winning most of their matches down the stretch quite handily. Sherry Doyal, their 22-year-old star that came over in the Hiram Steinberg (14-11, 4.10, 102) trade that won the now last place Pioneers a pair of championships, finished off his excellent campaign with a huge week. The third year pro went 12-for-28 with 5 walks, 6 runs, 2 homers, and 11 RBIs, finishing his potential Whitney Campaign with a .312/.388/.519 (133 OPS+) batting line and 150 WRC+. Doyal provided Cleveland with 31 doubles, 6 triples, 27 homers, 100 runs, and 111 RBIs, winning the team triple crown and leading the team in numerous statistical categories.

Doyal is a big reason the Foresters are back, but with one of the most complete offenses and it's no surprise they finished the season with the most runs in the association. This team is both young and good, as while Doyal may be the star, the team's most valuable player may be backstop Larry McClure. Not only does he do a great job handling the staff, but the should be Kellogg Winner had a great rookie campaign, despite starting the season as a backup catcher who was yet to pass A ball. 24 in November, McClure quickly seized the job from starting catcher Mark Smith, and was named the CA's starting catcher in the All-Star game. His 159 WRC+ was actually higher then Doyal's, even if it came in an unqualified 455 trips to the plate, and the former Star draftee produced a robust .337/.394/.550 (142 OPS+) line at the dish. He led all rookies in homers (13), RBIs (83), WAR (4.6), and WPA (4.33) in one of the best all-around seasons for a catcher who isn't George Cleaves (.310, 21, 77).

The young talent doesn't stop there, as the lineup features Jim Urquhart (.288, 1, 60, 12), Lloyd Coulter (.309, 5, 33), and Frenchy Sonntag (.251, 10, 36) as well, who like Doyle and McClure, are all key long-term pieces under the age of 24. Coulter in particular was a huge addition, as he was their 2nd Round pick this season, and with quality production at third, quickly made Forester fans forget that star and former 1st pick Jim Adams Jr. (.283, 6, 40, 4) tore his meniscus in July and never came back. One of the only key contributors that isn't super young is the recently turned 28-year-old Lorenzo Samuels (.257, 22, 72), one of the top lefty sluggers in the game. His experience could be critical in the Foresters second attempt as a title, as the dominant Gothams have an enviable rotation and lineup that gives all teams fits.

If there is a weakness on this Foresters team, its the rotation, and that's compounded by the fact that ace and reigning Allen Winner Adrian Czerwinski (19-13, 3.31, 111) was forced to pitch gave 154 as the pennant was still up for grabs on the final day. His 19th win sealed it, as while the 25-year-old righty didn't lead the association in wins for the second straight season, he repeated in starts (36), innings (304.1), and WAR (7.1). Cleveland could pitch him on short rest for Game 2, but he's just as likely to open play in New York, setting him up to be fully rested for a potential Game 7. He's the most reliable member of the staff, but rookie Larry Beebe (7-9, 3.60, 63) looked good in his first 18 starts, while veterans Ducky Davis (8-13, 3.71, 89), Gordie Irwin (13-5, 1, 3.92, 64), and John Jackson (13-14, 4.14, 106) can be counted on to keep them in games.

One has to feel bad for the Montreal Saints, who looked to be on the way to finally breaking their long pennant drought. A rough September (10-16) and injuries to Joe Austin (.234, 6, 44, 29), Maurice Carter (.267, 24, 86), Luke Weaver (.290, 8, 48), and Wally Doyle (10-13, 3.98, 135) proved too much to overcome, and the Saints finished five out in a tie for 5th. Same can be said for the New York Stars, who hung around all season, and spent most of the final month at or around first place. Stars fans can look back to a tough series on the 15th and 16th at home, when the eventual champs came to town and took two close games from a rested Stars team. If only Vern Hubbard (12-12, 4.62, 73) didn't have such a disastrous June (1-5, 11.45, 9), it would be the Big Apple Boppers participating in a crosstown series.

And then of course, there's the Chicago Cougars, who year-after-year collapse under the pressure of high expectations. Towards the end of August, the Cougars were eight games out of first place, but they won 11-of-14 to move within a half game of the lead. That was followed up with a 3-3 week before a disappointing 2-5 week to end it, leaving Chicago tied with Montreal in 5th. They have now won 80 or more games in 11 of the last 12 games but have just one pennant for their efforts.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES PREVIEW

The Gothams look like a pure powerhouse team that on paper would seem to be the clear favorites. Led by 1B Red Johnson (259/366/863 39 HR’s 109 RBI’s), LF Walt Messer (290/360/882 38 HR’s 122 RBI’s), C George Cleaves (310/429/941 21 HR and 77 RBI’s). Rounding out the infield is former 2B now playing at 3B Roosevelt Brewer (314), SS Cecil LaBonte (319) and 2B Tom Jeffries (306). The only real weakness in their starting 8 is in CF.

But the Gothams are not all just power hitting, they have a very capable and veteran starting rotation headlined by 30-year-old Ed Bowman (21-7 2.82 ERA), who is likely the frontrunner for the FA Allen Award. The Foresters will also have to deal with resurgent veteran LHSP Lefty Allen who was 21-11 with a solid 3.10 ERA. The #3 spot is probably up for grabs but veteran SP Buddy Long is the odds on favorite who went 16-5 with a 3.70 ERA in 27 games (23 starts) this season.

The Gothams won 96 games this season and were truly not challenged for the FA, winning the Association by 13 games over both the Phildelphia Keystones and Washington Eagles.

But the Cleveland Foresters are no slouch and won their 2nd straight pennant in the highly competitive (some would say mediocre) Continental Association. The Foresters won the first 3 games of last season's “Fluke World Series” against the Chicago Chiefs, before the Chiefs came roaring back to win the last 4 games and leave the Foresters gasping. The way the Foresters started out the season, it looked like neither the Chiefs or Foresters would be back, but the Cleveland Nine found a way.

The Foresters offense was powered by 2nd year CF Sherry Doyal. He came up in the 2nd half of the season last year and struggled some hitting just 247 with 4 home runs in half a season. This year Doyal flourished hitting 312/388/907 with 27 home runs and 111 RBI’s and led the high powered Cleveland offense. The Foresters led the CA in runs scored, and while it was very much a team approach, Doyal was the star. The offense was given a boost when 23-year-old catcher Larry McClure took over as the everyday starter. McClure hit 337/394/944 over 118 total games (101 starts) and hit 13 home runs, and drove in 83 RBI’s. Just think what he might have done if he started say 130 games. 1B Lorenzo Samuels didn’t put up the same numbers as he did a year ago, but still hit 22 home runs and drove in 72 RBI’s. The Foresters offense is very young, and might not have as much firepower as the Gothams, but they can score runs.

The pitching might be the Foresters “weak” spot although it was good enough to be 4th overall in the CA in ERA. They do not have the veterans that the Gothams have but they do have “The Mad Professor” Adrian Czerwinski and the key in Czerwinski is win. Last year’s CA Allen Award winner didn’t quite have as good of a season this time around, but he will be a strong contender once again for that award. He was 19-13 with a 3.31 ERA this year and once again led the FABL in innings pitched topping 300 (304) this season. Czerwinski pitched on the last day of the season so he is unlikely for game 1 which means the Foresters might only get 2 games out of the Mad Professor if the Series goes 7. The real question is who will start game 1 if Czerwinski isn’t available. That could be several pitchers with Larry Beebe 7-9 3.60 ERA, Gordie Irwin 13-5 3.92 or maybe even Ducky Davis 8-13 3.71. These guys do not match up well with the Gothams veteran arms, but you never know what will happen in a short 7 game series.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The starting pitching edge goes to the Gothams, especially since Czerwinski will likely only get 2 starts. Bullpen edge also goes to the Gothams.

On paper it looks pretty one sided and I am going to agree. I see the Gothams repeating their 1935 triumph over the Foresters in 5 games.

Well another year has gone by for the Brooklyn Kings and it has once again ended in the club not being in the World Series. The season started with a lot of drama around team owner Dan Prescott and the new FABL President Dan Barrell. That owners meeting drama slid down to the club offices in Brooklyn and some questions on whether Tom Barrell would survive the year as the manager along with GM DD Martin. It’s no secret that Prescott has been in a foul mood ever since his ventures in basketball failed. He doesn’t like the current home of the Kings and has been trying to work with the city to build a new stadium, which some have called Prescott Yards. We will get more into the stadium drama, but first let's take a look at the season just completed.

After the disappointing 1949 season that saw the Kings finish 72-82 and miles out of a pennant race early, this year's club got off to a fast start. Opening the season with a 25-15 record and actually being on top of the Continental Association. Then chinks in the armor started to crop up, first with 1B Chuck Collins who has earned the label of scapegoat by some fans. Two years ago Collins looked like an upper division first sacker with potential to hit 15-20 home runs and drive in 80-90. But the 1949 season was terrible for Collins who hit just 235 and hit 11 home runs and drove in just 39 RBI’s in starting a little over half the season. Then this year he started the first month with a below 200 batting average and struggled to ever really get started. The 25-year-old was then sent packing to AAA Jersey City for what many thought was a short stint to get his bat going again. And Collins did that in 50 games hitting 374 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI’s, but it was never supposed to be that long of an exile. It was like he was the forgotten man and many wondered if he would ever put on the Brooklyn uniform again. He did come up after the AAA club finished their season and performed better as the Kings went 9-3 in those last 12 games. The question is, will he be the King’s starting 1B next spring?

Another area where the club struggled was with its rotation and specifically Bob Arman and 2nd year player Joe Potts. In late July Arman was just 10-9 with a 4.32 ERA, not horrific numbers but not what the club expected from the “ace” starting pitcher. On August 6th, 2nd year SP Joe Potts was just 5-11 with a 3.86 ERA. Potts deserved better than that 5-11 mark, but bad luck, lack of run support were big factors in his “struggles”. Fortunately both pitchers regained their forms as Arman won 7 of his last 11 decisions to finish with a 17-13 record. He was really sharp in the Kings September run going 3-2 with a 2.72.ERA. Potts went 7-0 in his last 9 starts with a 2.25 ERA.

RF Ralph Johnson had another solid season hitting 320/410/910 with 19 home runs and 89 RBI’s with 92 runs scored. A very good season but probably not Whitney worthy this season.

Other bright spots for the Kings were 2 of their prized rookies. The club feels that one of them should be the Kellogg Rookie Award winner and give the Kings their 4th Rookie of the Year in the first 5 years of the award. CF Charlie Rogers had big shoes to fill after the club dealt the very capable CF John Moss to the CA rival Chicago Cougars. Many thought the Kings were nuts in making such a deal and we will get to what they got in that deal shortly. Rogers (309/343/802) though had a very good rookie season which saw him lead the FABL in hits with 213, in triples with 16 while adding 47 doubles, 8 home runs and scoring a rookie high 106 runs while driving in 64 from the leadoff spot. The player that the Kings got from the Cougars for John Moss was SP Ron Berry. A 24-year-old lefty SP who had never pitched in a big league game. He was rated as high as the #39 overall prospect in baseball a few seasons ago, but could not crack the Cougars outstanding veteran rotation. Berry was lights out for the Kings this year going 20-11 with a 3.12 ERA and probably is the front-runner for the Rookie of the Year in the CA. In his last 3 starts over the last 2 weeks of the season he won all 3 games going 26 IP giving up just 16 hits with just 4 runs given up and shut out the Montreal Saints 6-0 on the last day of the season.

With the Kings young players, there appear to be very few spots up for grabs next spring. The lineup will likely have the following players in it.
C Dan Smith
2B Chuck Lewis
SS Billy Bryant
3B Ken Newman
LF Pat Petty (could be at 1B)
CF Charlie Rogers
RF Ralph Johnson

The only real question is Collins at 1B as we head into spring. The Kings were active in looking at some players to take over 1B last off-season and based on his 2nd straight subpar season, don’t be surprised if they again look to bring someone in to challenge Collins. They almost dealt SS Billy Bryant in a deal last season, but Bryant showed why he probably should not be moved in the near future with his 302 season and improved defensive play.

At the top of the story I mentioned tension in the King’s front office between the owner and his GM and Field Manager. While Prescott will not comment on this, it is believed by insiders that he was planning on making changes if the Kings did not have an above 500 year this season. Thanks to an 18-10 last month and a 9-3 run the last two weeks, both Martin and Barrell appear safe for now. Prescott has seemed to turn his attention to the ballpark situation and another sports venture for now, but rest assured the pressure is on now to build on this 81-73 record. The King’s appear to have most of the pieces in place to perhaps make a serious run at the CA title next season. I mean if the Cleveland Foresters can come from nowhere to win the pennant the last several years, so can the King’s make that jump. As this young core of players matures, so do the King’s chances of returning to the World Series.

TALES FROM THE LAIR

Most insiders will tell you that while hitting gets the headlines most successful teams are built around strong pitching and defense. Preventing runs leads to more success than trying to outscore teams day after day over a six month season. Good work on the mound, in the field is far more reliable, sustainable than relying on the big inning.

Therein lies the main reasons for the Wolves disastrous season, the team gave up 772 runs - the worst in CA by 42 runs. Of those 772 an unheard of total, 114, were unearned which means the Wolves were giving the opposition almost an extra run per game, basically starting the game down 1-0. The other half of the equation, fielding, was again at the bottom of the CA. The team made 165 errors to go along with 17 passed balls. Around the infield the Wolves ranked either last or next to last in fielding, the biggest two locations that must improve before next season are at shortstop and behind the plate. Catcher Harry Pomeroy and 19-year-old John Wells have to tighten up their work in the field for the team to move forward. Fans, who took for granted Charlie Artuso's work at short, now see what value John Wells can bring the team from improving his defense. Pomeroy has a great mentor in Barrell to improve his work behind the plate.

The the third leg of the stool, hitting, was bad during 1950 although going into the season the Wolves were not expected to be a run scoring machine. That said they scored the least runs, 602, in the CA, 28 less than next hitting challenged team, the Cougars. They also grounded into the most double plays in the loop. When the team leader in homeruns, Kirby Copeland, who should receive serious consideration for rookie of the year, only deposited 10 in the seats you will not win many games coming from behind, as the Wolves proved this past season.

They gave away more games than they stole in 1950. Most discussion while the fans prepare to watch is whether or not Fred McCormick and Joe Hanco*ck will return for 1951. Hanco*ck just won his 200th FABL game. The off-season should focus on pitching, defense that should give the most noticeable improvement going forward. The Wolves have a young nucleus of a good team going forward if they can improve in the field. Brett will have more updates on the Wolves over the winter.

Brett's main focus will now turn to the Dukes who have begun their preseason games with a win, a loss, and a tie. Brett earlier reported that there were some spirited battles during camp. The fights may not have only been for jobs, the Mail & Empire is hearing that there are some factions in the dressing room, led by veterans, causing some tension amongst the players. Brett will try to talk Jack Barrell into an interview then ask a question about team harmony.

THE END OF ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING SEASON FOR THE DYNAMOS

Those are the lines the front office of the Detroit Dynamos has been spoon-feeding us for years...decades even if you want to go back to the previous regime. 1929 remains the last time the Dynamos played postseason baseball and I suppose we can be thankful the injury bug ravaged the Montreal Saints down the stretch otherwise it would be the local nine, and not the Saints who are pennantless since 1921, with the longest active title drought in FABL.

Remember back to April when the OSA said this year's edition of the Dynamos was going to win the Fed in a stroll, calling for a 7 game bulge on second place Boston. Well, the Dynamos never spent even a day in first place. Their season, ruined by a dismal 3-14 start, was over before it began. The pitching staff, the strength of the club a year ago, had an awful time in the cold weather of April and although things did pick up somewhat over the summer we are left staring at another losing season.

*** No Major Changes On the Field ***

Carl Potter (13-20, 2.87) pitched nearly as well as he did when he won 22 games and the Allen Award a year ago, but was a victim of bad luck and poor run support much of the season. Still he is only 24 years old and the clear ace of a young staff that also expects improvement from fellow 24-year-old hurlers Jack Miller (11-8, 4.11) and Roy Schuab (7-10, 3.81).

Dick Estes (.316,29,105) had a breakout season at age 26 and gives the Dynamos a solid clean-up hitter to follow 24-year-old Edwin Hackberrry (.295,23,77) in the lineup. Second sacker Del Johnson (.278,7,66), at 27, is now the old man of the infield that also features 23-year-old shortstop Stan Kleminski (.279,4,37) and a nice battle for the third base job between 21-year-old Jim Gaiter (.303,2,12 in 26 games) and 25-year-old Tommy Griffin (.262,1,49).

22-year-olds Bill Morrison (.310,8,47) and Joe Fulgham (.248,0,11) join Hackberry in the outfield although it is expected one will lose his job to Estes when it is deemed that local phenom Dino Sharp is ready for the first base job. Morrison is a candidate for the Kellogg Award this season while Fulgham, the All-American halfback from St. Blane -but don't hold that against him Detroit City College fans- made his debut in Detroit in July and looks to have a bright future.

With that core group and youngsters like Fred Washington, who had a rough trial on the mound in Detroit in September, Sharp, as well as 1950 draft picks Ralph Capriotti and Beau McClellan on the way the future looks bright. However, we have heard that so often before, it is easy to understand if fans are becoming numb to it.

*** A Change in the Dugout? ***

The old adage goes 'It is much easier to change the manager than 24 players' and to be fair, very few of the 24 players are deserving of even being considered for trade. It was hoped that York would have coaxed so much more out of this team than he has and he far underperformed OSA's expectations as well as club owner Powell Thompson.

If Fred Barrell was still the Scouting Director in Detroit I expect a move would have been made to make Fred the manager after the dreadful April start. Fred is of course dealing with his own troubles with a bad Toronto Wolves team, so that bought York a little more time. If the right replacement can be found, I would not be surprised if time expires for York over the winter.

MOTOR CITY MUSINGS- How about that! The Detroit Maroons finally scored some points. Sure, they were lucky to hang on and hold off CFC survivor New Orleans in the Crescent City by a 24-23 score yesterday but after getting outscored 58-0 in their first two outings, it is progress. New Maroons coach Tom Bowens, the brother-in-law of owner Rollie Barrell, is going to have a tough time of things until the Maroons make major improvements to their offense. And seeing former Maroons coach Frank Yurik land in Cleveland and open the season with 3 straight victories as to really ruffle some feathers in the Maroons ownership group........Hockey is back. The Motors were back on the ice with some tune-up games last week. The result mean little in the big picture but the lack of offensive production is a concern, although hopefully that will be alleviated somewhat when 24-year-old Nick Tardif, who was seriously injured late last season, is deemed fit to return to the lineup. Tardif, a former NAHC rookie of the year, has been cleared to practice so there is hope he will be ready for the regular season opener in the middle of the month.......Who do you have winning the World Championship Series? Cleveland is better than many give them credit but I think the Gothams, with our old pal Red Johnson and Ward Messer's brother leading the way, are just too powerful for the Ohio side. Pitching has been a strength for a change in New York as well and I can't see the Foresters winning more than two games against the mighty Gothams.

• The World Championship Series will mark the third time that the Cleveland Foresters have faced the New York Gothams. The '34 Series was a classic with the Foresters rallying from a 3 games to one deficit to win it. Roger Perry and Frank Phillips combined to silence the Gothams bats in a 4-0 road win for the Foresters in game five and then Cleveland hitting destroyed New York in games six and seven, winning by scores of 8-3 and in the most lobsided game seven ever staged, blasted the Gothams 18-3 in the deciding contest. A year later the Gothams got their revenge, winning in 5 games including a 10-1 rout in the deciding contest. Games three and four in Cleveland each went into extra innings with the Foresters getting their lone victory in the series by a 9-8 score in 12 innings in game three before Gothams bats busted open a tight fourth game with 6 runs in the top of the 11th to win 7-1.
• It will be the 10th trip to the WCS for the Gothams, who last appeared in the 1942 WCS. New York has won it all 5 times including their win over the New York Stars in '42. Cleveland was awful throughout most of the 1940s and broke through with its first pennant since 1935 a year ago. The Foresters are making their 7th appearance in the WCS but have only won it once - when they beat the Gothams in 7 games in 1934. A year ago the Foresters took a 3-0 WCS lead on the Federal Association Chicago Chiefs but then proceeded to lose four straight games including a hearbreaking 7-6 loss in 11 innings in a dramatic game seven.
• There has been little to cheer about in Toronto this season but veteran pitcher Joe Hanco*ck deserves recognition for notching his 200th career FABL victory. That ties the 37-year-old lifelong Wolves star with Issac Meyer for 54th on the all-time win list. Hanco*ck finished with a 13-9 record this season.

RAMBLERS HAND DEFENDING CHAMPS SECOND LOSS

Chicago Wildcats Drop to 1-2 On Season

It was a game the Wildcats likely should have won. The had a slight edge on their hosts in most categories: more first downs, more total yardage, more passing yards, and a better completion percentage but the difference was the Ramblers took advantage of Chicago turnovers to win the game.

St Louis opened the scoring thanks to a short field after Chicago quarterback Ricky McCallister fumbled his first snap. That gave the Ramblers the ball on the Wildcats 31 yard line and six plays later John Sweat threw a quick one-yard touchdown pass to Ken Kirby to open the scoring. Chicago evened the game early in the second period on a 6-yard toss from McCallister to Tom Gipson but midway through the period another Chicago fumbled led to a second St Louis scoring drive, this one finishing with a 12-yard run by Dave Smith.

The defense was solid for both teams and the second play of the fourth quarter proved the difference in the game when St Louis defender Stu Hubbard anticipated a short pass from McCallister intended for Terry Palmer. The fleet Ramblers back step in front of Palmer to nab the ball and race untouched 26 yards to make the score 21-7. Chicago pulled closer on their most impressive drive of the game, a 13-play 80-yard march that culminated in a short touchdown pass from McCallister to George Meyer to cut the St Louis lead to seven points but that would be as close as the Wildcats would get.

Elsewhere, the Cleveland Finches remained perfect and tied with St Louis for the American Conference lead after holding off the New York Stars 10-7. Cleveland's only touchdown came in the second quarter on a 5 yard fumble return by Ray Angello. The Gothams had a large advantage in total yardage on the afternoon but were held off the scoresheet until late in the final quarter.

After being shut out in their first two games the Detroit Maroons finally got on the scoresheet and in the win column. Detroit barely held off a late charge from New Orleans to beat the winless Crescents 24-23. The Maroons won despite the fact that New Orleans quarterback Vince Gallegos threw for 390 yards - the highest total accumulated by a signal caller in any game this season.

The Los Angeles Tigers offense continues to impress as backs Al Lewis and Nate Tyson combined for 172 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns while Mark Monday and Bill Ault combined on a pair of scoring passes as the Tigers improved to 3-0 with a 47-14 rout over AFA newcomer San Francisco.

Pat Chappell and the Kansas City Cowboys, another newcomer that was formerly the pride of the Continental Football Conference, are learning that life is not so easy in the AFA. A last minute 17 yard scoring pass from Tommy Norwood to Kevin Bradley lifted the Washington Wasps to 16-10 victory over the Cowboys. The normally accurate Chappell was intercepted 5 times in the game and completed just 8 of 22 passes for 121 yards.

The Pittsburgh Paladins joined Los Angeles atop the Continental Conference at 3-0 following a 41-14 drubbing of the Boston Americans. Newcomer John Mecham paced the Paladins attack with 109 yards on the ground while Dusty Sinclair, also new to the Paladins threw for 185 yards and 3 touchdowns. Mecham played for the CFC's Chicago Comets last season while Sinclair was with the Los Angeles Tigers.

Highlighting next week's action will be a Saturday meeting in Pittsburgh between a pair of 3-0 teams in the Paladins and the visiting Cleveland Finches.

FIGHTING SAINTS SURVIVE A SCARE IN GRID OPENER

A capacity crowd of 56,430 saw the Fighting Saints score early after capitalizing on a opening drive fumble from the Techsters but the rest of the way the North Carolina Tech crew was more than up to the challenge of opening against the most feared team in collegiate football the past half dozen years.

Another powerhouse had little difficulty in its curtain raiser as the armored column speed characteristic of the Rome State attack on the football field humbled an overmatched Empire State team 28-0. The Centurions have not lost a game since 1947, going 18-0-3 over that span including Saturday's victory.

Other results of note included Central Kentucky improving to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in Deep South Conference play with a 26-0 shutout of Mississippi A&M. Georgia Baptist made up for last week's loss with a 21-13 victory over Columbia Military Academy. Cumberland outlasted Northern Mississippi 16-10. Detroit City College held off in-state rival St. Ignatius 20-16. Two-sport star Jack Kress, who also dabbles in baseball, ran for a pair of touchdowns including the game winner in the final minute to lift Central Ohio to a 24-21 victory over Texas Gulf Coast in what was a matchup of perhaps the two best backs in collegiate football today - Philo Bennett of the Hurricanes being the other one.

TANK’S COMEBACK FALLS SHORT IN UNANIMOUS DECISION FOR EDMONDS

Melanson’s rags-to-riches story was indeed captivating, starting as a heavy underdog, losing in a return to his hometown, becoming the People’s Champion after losing the belt only to win it back, and falling into retirement. The story was over, that is, until the announcement of this bout tonight. Melanson was coming out of retirement to fight John Edmonds, the best we have in the middleweight division at the moment.

For Edmonds, it is a chance to make his mark against one of the most popular champions in boxing history. A win and he may rate higher with the boxing public. A loss and people will forget him as ol’-what’s-his-name that lost to the Tank.

Melanson’s last fight was also at Bigsby Garden, losing the belt a second time against Edouard Desmarais in January 1949. The ensuring 18 months have endured tragedy in the case of Desmarais and Edmonds stepping into the breach to win and hold the title. Edmonds defeated Bill Boggs in March of this year and followed up by holding off Hugh Canio in May. Both of those bouts were decided – where else? – at the Garden.

This will be a chance for the Tank to reclaim his belt for a third reign, but we thought Melanson was at the end of the line last year. Melanson did arrive at the arena in top shape. You could believe he trained unlike he had ever trained before to get here. Edmonds had a little longer of a respite than between his previous couple of fights, with four months coming between his last defense and tonight instead of the two months between capturing the title and his first defense.

As the fight began, Edmonds came out with guns blazing. With his prize-winning hook, Edmonds worked the body just a few seconds in. Melanson managed to rebound and get his defenses up, but Edmonds was on the offense early. Hook after hook in the early rounds, Edmonds was getting ahead and beating Melanson to the punch. In the second round, Melanson carried the play after an opening hook from Edmonds. Melanson swung with a hook and landed a combination that kept Edmonds at bay for his first big response of the night.

Edmonds dominated the third round and we saw the first noticeable swelling on Melanson’s left eye. With another hook that sent the challenger reeling in the opening seconds of the round, Edmonds did not let up during the round. The champion had no less than four Big Boppers in the third. Edmonds started with the body, but caught Melanson on a right hook up high that hammered Melanson’s left eye.

The swelling was stubborn throughout the rest of the fight and his right eye turned puffy in the final rounds, turning his face into a pillow with ears at the end of the night.

Melanson had to come up with something or else this bout would end relatively fast because his vision would soon be hampered. His solution was to hit everything that moved and that started in Round 5. There was a great back-and-forth in this round, with Melanson starting on the offensive for a change and Edmonds trying to hit back. The tactic worked for the Tank in the first two minutes, but Edmonds changed momentum with a scoring cross right in the face that left Melanson gasping for air.

The middle rounds saw a changing of the tide, both in tactics and results. Edmonds began to look for quality over quantity in the next two rounds, while Melanson was trying to figure out how to hang in there with a bad left eye. Melanson found his rhythm in the eighth round. Starting with short punches close to the body and working his way into launching several hooks, Melanson dominated the round. For all of the fire and brimstone Edmonds started with, Melanson was showing that his stamina was his greatest asset.

Melanson continued to pour it on in the ninth and tenth rounds, without so much as a big punch thrown by Edmonds in the combined six minutes that affected Melanson. By now, the crowd was behind Melanson, pushing him, willing him to finish the job. Edmonds was stationary, but Melanson could not close the deal.

Gains were minimal by either side in the next couple of rounds and, by the end of Round 13, it was later revealed that the fight scoring was tied, 124-124, on all three judges’ cards. Both men were bruised and battered from their opponent’s barrages.

Although the fight went the distance, Round 14 was the deciding round in this one. In keeping with Edmonds most effective punch of the evening, it was the hook from Edmonds that roared back a minute into the penultimate round. Melanson was losing his grip and could not muster a comeback as Edmonds started to take control. An uppercut to Melanson’s head affirmed the round in the win column for Edmonds.

There was not much gas left in Tank and while he offered some protests in the final minute of the final round, Edmonds regained enough energy in the last rounds to come away a winner. All three judges saw it the same, with Edmonds (33-3-0) eeking out a victory over Melanson (33-4-3), 144-142. The decision was hanging in the balance at the end of the fight and while Edmonds was on the offensive early and Melanson fought back to get even, Edmonds that that little bit extra that made the difference.

As the fight wore on, Melanson just could not finish Edmonds off. The Melanson of championship vintage would have been able to end the fight in the tenth or eleventh round. This will likely be the end of the Tank in a boxing ring. One last chance. One last hurrah. A hero, but not a conquering one, but a champion to be remembered.

BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS
Round 1: Edmonds, 1-0 (0:22 hook/ribs)
Round 2: Edmonds, 2-0 (0:13 hook/midsection, 2:39 cross/face)
Round 3: Edmonds, 4-0 (0:25 hook/head, 1:19 hook/midsection, 1:59 hook, 2:16 hook)
Round 4: Edmonds, 2-0 (0:10 jab, 0:49 right/midsection)
Round 5: Edmonds, 2-1 (E: 0:33 cross, 1:49 right; M: 1:02 hook)
Round 6: Edmonds, 1-0 (1:55 cross)
Round 7: None
Round 8: Melanson, 1-0 (0:39 hook)
Round 9: None
Round 10: None
Round 11: Melanson, 1-0 (0:47 hook)
Round 12: Melanson, 1-0 (0:13 combo)
Round 13: None
Round 14: Edmonds, 2-0 (1:04 hook, 3:00 uppercut/head)
Round 15: None
TOTAL: Edmonds 14, Melanson 4

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

• Oct 11 - Vernon, CA.- Veteran Heavyweight Scott 'The Chef' Baker (23-5-3) meets Barry Scott (20-7)
• Oct 14- Atlanta, GA.- former heavyweight contender Pete Sanderson (41-11-2) faces Emmett Seals (25-16-2)
• Oct 15 - Dominion Gardens, Toronto - former middleweight champ Adrian Petrie (20-3-2) meets Jerry Roberts (25-10-2)
• Oct 18 - San Francisco, CA- Heavyweight contenders Cannon Cooper (31-6-1) and Tommy Cline (17-3) meet
• Oct 19- Denny Arena, Boston- Boston heavyweight Roy Crawford (32-6) faces Canadian Phil Easton (30-6-2)
• Oct 22 - Lewiston, ME.- Heavyweight Bill Sloan (19-3) meets Harvey Winter (22-6-1)
• Oct 26- Cincinnati, OH- Unbeaten heavyweight contender Joey Tierney (20-0) faces Mike McFarland (21-11-2)
• Oct 27- San Francisco, CA- middleweight contender Millard Shelton (29-5) faces Dan Atkin (28-11-2)
• Oct 28- Thompson Palladium, Detroit - welterweight veteran George Gibbs (27-6) meets William Stevens (10-3-1)
• Oct 31- Atlanta, GA.- former welterweight champion Mac Erickson (22-2) faces Brian Pierce (17-3)
• Oct 31- St. Paul, MN - middleweight contender Davis Owens (23-1) meets Henry Alder (36-24-5)
• Oct 31 - Lakeside Auditorium, Chicago: Middleweight contender Bill Boggs (21-3-1) faces Jack Rainey (29-10-1)

BURNS, PACKERS OFF TO STRONG START

At the other end of the spectrum, we have the winless Boston Bees. The Bees shockingly finished last in the NAHC a year ago and are looking to have all kinds of troubles at their training camp. Three players, including captain Wilbur Chandler and veteran defenseman Bryant Williams, have been blasted by Coach Denny McLachlan for reporting to camp out of shape and the club was badly beaten in two games against the defending Challenge Cup champion Montreal Valiants. Goaltenders Pierre Melancon and Oscar James each had their struggles and while there is still plenty of time to get untracked before the Bees open their season against Montreal a week from Thursday, the club appears to be in disarray.

NAHC PRESEASON STANDINGSTEAM GP W L T PTSChicago 4 4 0 0 8Montreal 4 3 1 0 6New York 4 2 1 1 5Toronto 4 1 2 1 3Detroit 4 1 3 0 2Boston 4 0 4 0 0SCORING LEADERSNAME GP G A PTST. Burns, Chi 4 2 6 8Macek, NYS 4 5 1 6Carlson, Tor 4 4 2 6Mahoney, Chi 4 4 2 6Lanceleve, Mon 4 3 3 6Savard, NYS 4 3 3 6Pollack, Tor 4 2 4 6Cabbell, NYS 4 1 5 6Ducharme, Chi 4 0 6 6

• Meeting no enemy resistance, South Korean troops crossed the thirty-eighth Parallel Sunday morning and by mid-afternoon had moved more than a mile into territory that was under Communist rule before the war began on June 25.
  

  

• Lt. Gen. Walton Walker, the commander of the 8th Army says the Red invader army as a whole has been defeated in Korea, and is reduced to cut-up pockets of dwindling resistance and head-long retreat. "The North Korea Army is in complete rout and no longer exists as an organized force" Walker told war correspondents at his headquarters in Korea.
• In a decision laden with consequences not only for Korea and the Far East, but possibly the whole world, the United Nations must decide whether to order the U.N. forces to continue across the 38th in pursuit of a broken enemy or whether to hold up at the line.
• American sources outlined a six-point postwar formula for Korea, calling for a unified country to be put back on its feet by the combined resources of the United Nations.
• Reports say a Russian major was killed and another Soviet officer taken prisoner by an American reconnaissance company near Seoul.
• Machinery for operating the Communist-control law began to take shape in the Justice Department but its start awaits President Truman's appointment of a five-member board. Even after that Subversive Activities Control Board takes office, full enforcement of the law enacted by Congress over the President's veto last week will be a long way off. Court fights alone regarding its legality could drag on for years.
• Communist demonstrators rioted in Vienna and thousands of workers in Russian-controlled industrial plants went on strike in protest against government plans to raises prices along with wages.
• Two crime investigators were slain in separate shootings shortly before they were to have reported on the activities of Chicago gangsters. One a police lieutenant, and the other an attorney, were digging up crime syndicate information.
  

  

__________________
Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

Columnist- The Figment Sporting Journal

MY FIGMENT LEAGUE BROOKLYN KINGS DYNASTY

PAST DYNASTYS

My History of Hockey Replay
Tiger Fan's Sporting News : the mid 1940's
Tiger Fan's All Sport Replay: The 1920s
History of Sports 1901-15
Historical Tutorial and Feedback League
My first fictional attempt
The HOB4: The last of my series of history of baseball replays that go back to OOTP2 and the old message board.