Evening star., 1945-11-14
Luckman, Accounted
Through, Is Pressing
baugh as Passer
By LEWIS F. ATCHIsoN.

IL mas Deen only lew weeks
since Sid Luckman was consigned
to the limba for fat, 20 and futile
football players by critics of the
Bears who couldn't understand,
s'help en1. what had happened to
the old torpedo crew. Luckman
seemed through, all washed up. So
it is quite a shock to glance through
National Football League statistics
today and see where the old gent is
pressing Sammy Baugh for the pass
ing lead.
Sunday they'll pitch it out, head
to head. when the Bears come here
for their lone league engagement with
the Tribe. 1t is possible that Comdr.
George Halas, owner and prewar
coach of the Chicagoes, will see the
game. He arrived in San Francisco
from Honolulu yesterday and is re-
ported on his way back to civilian
clothes. If Halas does attend the
Bears will cause some excitement,
win or lose, because he likes to mas
ter-mind against the Skins.
Luckman has gained more ground
than Baugh on passes, 1929 yards to
1,102, and has seven touchdown
throws to Sans six, but the Red
skin ace still sports the best per-
centage with 86- competitions in 121
tries. Luckman has completed II
of l45 passes and is no worse than
second in any five departments on
which passers are rated, and on this
basis is considered officially tied
with Baugh.
It's Two-Man Race.
None of the others are in it. Roy
Zimmerman is third on the list,
Cleveland's Bob Waterfield fourth
and Irv Comp of Green Bay, fifth,
but Baugh and Luckman are max
ing the division of spoils a strictly
private affair.
A Baugh-Luckman duel always is
an exciting show. Sid cranks up
and uncorks those throw-f for dis
tance passes that have touchdown
written all over them, while Sammy
is a sharpshooter who pin-points
the target. Luckman, behind the
massive Bear lines of few seasons
ago was well nigh invincible. He
had sufficient time to fade back,
pick out the receiver and let 60.
But in the 1912 title playoff here
Wee Willie Wilkin, Ed Beinor, Fred
Davis and the rest of that power
full Redskin line ran Sid all over
the lot and he lost almost as much
territory as he gained.
Sunday he'll be up against the
same kind Of line. The Tribe for
wards now are reaching that stage
where the customers wonder if the
line isn't as good as that of AZ, if
not little better. Around the loop
the experts think Luckman had
better be in shape to do little run
ming because the Skins are in a
mood to do some running-after
him.
Baugh Finally Masters 7.
Peculiarly, Baugh finally has
learned to operate the T that used
to be Luckman's strong suit and
may beat the Bear field general at
his old game. Baugh had no peer
in passing from single-wing forma-
ton and Luckman, apparently, had
none in the T. But now Sam has
changed over and is challenging
his contemporary for recognition
as an expert craftsman with the T.
Meanwhile. Steve Van Buren has
ousted Frank Atkins from the ground
gaining lead, 460 yards to 456, and
that is ironical because a penalty
rubbed out a lengthy gain for Atkins
against the Yankees last Sunday
that would have added to his margin
over the Eagle back. The Bears
own the third best ball toter In
Hank Margarita. who has 407 yards
to his credit, Fred Gehrke, Jim
Gillette and Don Greenwood-all OF
Cleveland. are next in line. Frankie
Seno is next with 253 yards.
Steve Bagarus still ranks second
to Don Hutson in pass receiving
with Cleveland's Jim Benton hold
ing on to third. Bagarus also is
third in punt returns, trailing Ryan
OF Detroit and Bus Warren of Pitts
burgh and is second in kickoff re.
turns to Johnny Martin of the
Yankees.
Hutson still heads the scoring
parade with 79 points to Var
Buren's 81 and Ted Fritsch's As
while Joe Aguirre's two field goals
moved him into second place in thai
department behind Ken Strong ol
New York.