Evening star., 1948-01-16
Bosox, Card Failures
Close 10 Top in Poll
On Flop Of Year
BY the A.soeioisd Pres.

NEW YORK, Jan. 16.-Joe Louis
dismal winning effort against Jer-
sey Joe Walcott was the biggest
disappointment of 1S47 to the sports
editors Of the Nation who contrib
uted answers to the annual Asso-
ciated Press year-end poll.
Those who had come to expect
the Brown Bomber to make short
work of all opposition were let down
by his dull effort against the 33-
year-old challenger, who twice
knocked him down.. Entirely aside
from any disagreement with the dis
puted verdict, the editors apparently
were shocked most Of all by the
sudden disintegration Of the heavy
weight champion.
Although large majority Of the
writers said they thought Louis
would defeat Walcott decisively next
time they meet, they agreed in
handing the rlnenviable flop Of the
year" title to the champ.
Choice Of Louis was not unani-
nous. In fact 1t probably would
have been a tossup between the
Boston Red Sox and st. Louis Card
inals for most disappointing per-
formance" If the heavyweight flght
had not resulted in such COM
motion.
Red Sox Next to Worst.
The Red SoX, an Overwhelming
choice to win a second straight
American League pennant last
spring, never were in the battle
after June. A slow start by Ted
williams and the pitching failures
of Tex Hughson, Mickey Harris and
Boo Ferriss combined to ruin their
World Series plans. Five writers
thought the Sox were the biggest
flop, and six voted for'the Cardinals,
but IS put the finger on Louis.
Strictly on a point basis with 5
points for first, 8 for second and l
for third, Louis piled up Ill to SIS
for the Red Sox and 40 for the
Cards, who were leading contenders.
The Cardinals disappointed, much
like the Red Sox, by failing to cop
the pennant as expected; while
Boston fell to third, the st. Louis
team managed to stay in the Ma
tional League race after disas-
trous start and finished only five
games behind Brooklyn.
Pro football produced a prize flop
in the New York Giants of the Ma
tional League. Steve Owens club,
always a title threat, failed to win
a game until it upset the Chicago
Cardinals November 80. It's final
record was two won, eight lost, two
tied.
Nays Failure Gets Votes.
The U. c. L. A. football team
also ranked high in the list Of dis
appointments, largely on its 45-14
shellacking by Illinois on the first
day Of the year in the Rose Bowl.
Nays football team, expected to
show real strength after its fine
closing effort against Army in 1s46,
won only, once and tied one in a
|nine-game schedule that, was con-
eluded by a 21-0 loss to Army.
Billy Herman's failure as man.
age Of Pittsburgh, which finished
tied for last in the National with
the Phillies, earned him seventh
position in the ratings with Ohio
States football team, winner Of only
two games, close eighth. &
The st. Louis Browns, who fln-
ished last in the American 80 games
back of the New York Yankees,
disappointed again by selling their
best talent for 100000 in late No
vember. Hank Greenberg edged
into 10th place on the list because
he did not set the world on fire
In Pittsburgh. Nevertheless Green
berg hit Is homers and batted in
IA runs for the Pirates while bat
ting .249. Ralph Kiner's feat Of
hitting 81 home runs completely
overshadowed Hanks accomplish
mentS,.