Green Bay Packers (5-1) 24, Washington Redskins (4-1-1) 14
Sunday October 29th 1939 (at Milwaukee)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(MILWAUKEE) - Championship hopes of the Green Bay Packers soared to a rarefied altitude today, following their sensational conquest of the previously undefeated Washington Redskins at State Fair park yesterday, 24 to 14, before 24,308. The National league struggle, fought before the largest professional football crowd in Wisconsin's football history, was played in a steady drizzle of rain, but was productive of some of the best gridiron tactics Milwaukee backers of the Green Bay eleven ever have seen. Employing their forward passing attack sparingly, and usually with telling effect, the Packers relied principally upon a smoldering campaign along the sodden turf, with Cecil Isbell, Clarke Hinkle and Eddie Jankowski doing practically all the ball toting. Only once did a Green Bay pass receiver scoot into the end zone, and that occasion came in the second period, when Hank Bruder gathered in Isbell's accurate aerial for the Packers' second touchdown. Hinkle and Joe Laws scored on thrusts through the line, Tiny Engebretsen placekicked an important goal to put the Packers out of reach temporarily in the second period, and extra point kicks were added by Isbell, who booted two, and Ernie Smith. The Redskins, a great football team which was outclassed severely, struck back twice in spectacular fashion, with Andy Farkas and Dick Todd getting the touchdowns, the latter on a 59-yard forward pass instigated by Frank Filchock. Extra points were kicked by Torrance Russell, a tackle.
STRONG PASS DEFENSE
Slingin' Sammy Baugh, apparently working under no handicap despite recent injuries, found himself in contact with a determined forward pass defense which offered him stern resistance. He completed several tosses late in the game, when the Washington cause was as lost as a child in the wilderness, but for the most part he was rushed to death and the heaves went wild. Six times were Redskin forward passes plucked from the air by eager Packers, Charley Brock continuing brilliant defensive work of the Detroit game by snatching three. Carl Mulleneaux, Joe Laws and Buckets Goldenberg each intercepted one, most of the interceptions coming at times when the Packers were in need of such alert actions. Isbell was the man who set up the sizeable percentage of pass completions. He started nine into the rainy atmosphere, and seven were received by the right players. One was incomplete and one was intercepted.
MISSES GOAL ATTEMPT
The Packers moved close enough to the Washington goal early in the game for Hinkle to miss a 35-yard field goal attempt, but they did not score until the opening period was nearly finished. They took the ball on Todd's punt 29 yards from their own goal and marched 68 yards to score, the biggest gain being a 28-yard gain on an Arnold Herber to Larry Craig forward pass. Finally Hinkle drove through left guard with a terrific lunge to gain 10 yards and set the ball on the Redskin 2-yard line, first down, and in two more plays Hinkle rammed it over. Ernie Smith kicked goal, and Green Bay led, 7 to 0. The Packers struck again early in the second period, Brock setting up the score by intercepting Baugh's forward pass on the Green Bay 10-yard line and roaring back 58 yards to the Washington 32, where Bob McChesney, the man the pass was intended for, overhauled him.
THROWS PERFECT TOSS
Battering line plays by Isbell, Laws and Jankowski moved the ball to the Washington 9-yard stripe, and Isbell passed lazily over the left side of the line to Bruder, who hauled in the perfect pass hurriedly and scooted across the line. Isbell kicked the point to make the lead 14-0. Midway in the period the Redskins drove back. Isbell's low punt went out of bounds on the Green Bay 49, and on the next play Farkas broke loose on a 42-yard jaunt which ended seven yards from the Packer goal line. Then Farkas charged across standing up, breezing past half a dozen Packers and into the end zone. Russell's kick made the score 14 to 7. Another interception, this one by Mulleneaux on Filchock's pass late in the half, set the ball on Washington's 26-yard line, in the Packers' possession, and an Isbell to Herber forward pass ate up 13 yards for a first down on the Redskin 8.
BOOTS FIELD GOAL
The half was almost finished, and after two incomplete passes by Herber, the Packers fell back into placekick formation, Engebretsen booting a deadly goal from a difficult side angle. The score was 17 to 7. There was no scoring in the third period, but on the last play of the stanza Joe Laws intercepted Baugh's forward pass and was dropped on the Packer 45-yard line, starting another touchdown drive. Isbell, Hinkle and Laws punched through the line, an Isbell to Hutson forward pass ate up 28 yards, and a 10-yard gain on a pass from Isbell to Laws set the ball three yards from the Washington goal line. Two plays later Laws dodged through left guard, shoving his blockers ahead of him with an outstretched arm, and when Isbell added the extra point the score was 24 to 7. Three plays after the next kickoff, the Redskins made their final touchdown, Filchock hitting Todd for a 59-yard gain. Russell kicked the extra point.
WASHINGTON - 0 7 0 7 - 14
GREEN BAY - 7 10 0 7 - 24
SCORING
1ST - GB - Clarke Hinkle, 2-yard run (Ernie Smith kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
2ND - GB - Hank Bruder, 10-yard pass from Cecil Isbell (Isbell kick) GREEN BAY 14-0
2ND - WASH - Andy Farkas, 7-yard run (Bo Russell kick) GREEN BAY 14-7
2ND - GB - Tiny Engebretsen, 15-yard field goal GREEN BAY 17-7
4TH - GB - Joe Laws, 3-yard run (Isbell kick) GREEN BAY 24-7
4TH - WASH - Dick Todd, 59-yard pass from Frank Filchock (Russell kick) GREEN BAY 24-14
GREAT PACKER LINE PLAY IS PRAISED BY REDSKIN COACH
OCT 30 (Milwaukee) - George Preston Marshall, who chooses to be known as the NFL's master impresario, might well agree with the late William Shakespeare that "the play's the thing..." Marshall likes drama, but he likes to see his Washington Redskins in the leading roles. Top advance billing for such luminaries as Sammy Baugh, Frank Filchock, Turk Edwards and others in the tribe meant nothing at all to the Green Bay Packers at State Fair park here Sunday afternoon. Press clippings are no substitute for a good line and hard blocking. "The play" meant 10 points difference between Washington and Green Bay, and Marshall was treated to a show that had suspense, emotional appeal, and some snappy dialogue, but George didn't appreciate it. Some of the climaxes in the way of fumbles, intercepted passes and Packer touchdowns brought a lump to his throat, and for him the 24 to 14 ending had "Over the Hill" backed off the stage as a tear jerker. But in all fairness to Marshall, Coach Ray Flaherty and the Redskin players, it must be said that they took the defeat in the manner of men. Whatever bitterness they may have felt was left on the battle scarred turf of the fair park gridiron. No excuses were offered. The closest thing to an alibi was Flaherty's comment that "we missed several assignments, both offensively and defensively."...PRAISES PACKER LINE: The man who handles the destinies of the Washington team on the field made no reservations in his praise of the Packers as he dressed in the Wisconsin hotel after the game. Still looking as if he might turn in a creditable piece of work at end if called upon, Ray cited the Packer line - much maligned by the wolves at the beginning of the season - as a fine piece of machinery. "Clarke Hinkle and Cecil Isbell stood out in the Packer backfield," he said as he brushed down the thinning remains of his red hair. "The line, however, was great today." A momentary interruption for dinner arrangements threw the conversation off the gridiron momentarily, but Flaherty returned to football in a hurry to say, "We are a dry weather team, but the rain didn't make that much difference today...The Packers are the best we have played this year...To me they look stronger than the Giants."...PLAYED SCORELESS TIE: The Redskins and the Giants played a scoreless tie earlier in the season. Outside of that, nothing in the East has been able to stop Washington. The Packers were Flaherty's first Western division foe of the season. "I thought Andy Farkas, Sam Baugh, Turk Edwards, Wayne Millner and Dick Todd played good ball for us," the Redskins coach said in reviewing the work of his team. "Of course, Todd is better on a dry field...If a few of those passes hadn't been dropped the story might have been different." Down in the Wisconsin lobby, which was quite a contrast to the Schroeder hotel lobby, where the drums of victory were being sounded, a tall Texan reflected on the day's events and decided: "The Packers today were the best I ever played against."...TORMENTED BY LINE: This very flattering observation came from Sammy Baugh, the highly publicized product of Texas Christian, who had a pretty good day himself despite constant torment by the Packer line in general and Carl Mulleneaux and Larry Craig in particular. "This man Mulleneaux (Sam pronounced it will emphasis on the 's') sure gave me a lot of trouble," he said without malice. And then he recalled other incidents and personalities in the game. Like so many before him, he was impressed with Hinkle's hard running. "All along the line the boys were talking about Hinkle," Baugh reported. Then he remembered a player from his home state with "I thought Isbell did very well today." No matter how it starts, in talking to Baugh the conversation always turned to forward passing. Dismissing his own efforts over the airways, Sam had a palm for Arnold Herber, who too often is overlooked when the credit is dished out....TAKEN FOR GRANTED: "You know," Baugh drawled, "Arnie has been around so long that they take him for granted. That is, everybody takes him for granted but the boys who are playing against him. Herber, without any doubt, is the greatest long passer in the game." Coming from a man who has more than an ordinary passing reputation himself, the words were especially nice to hear. Sam knows what the passer goes through, what is expected of him, and how important it is to have a little cooperation. He and Mr. Herber have very much in common. Baugh, Flaherty and other Washington officials tagged the game as pretty much devoid of unnecessary roughness. "It was a hard, clean game," was the way Slingin' Sam summed it up. "The Packers were tough, and there were a couple of momentary flareups on both sides, but there are a lot of things that can happen that the Packers don't pull."...PLAYERS HAVE WORDS: One of the "flareups" came just as the first half ended. Packer tackle Paul Kell and Washington end McChesney had words and for a minute it looked as if they might tangle. They wound up kidding each other about being fools in front of the crowd, and parted after a handshake. A lesser player than Frank Filchock, Redskins' back, might have been out for somebody's hide when his nose was broken on the first play of the game by Carl Mulleneaux. But Filchock didn't even mention it until after the contest. Such was the spirit of the tilt, which apparently was marred by only one major casualty, and that didn't turn out as seriously as was first thought. Ed Justice, Redskin fullback, was carried from the field and rushed to a Milwaukee hospital with what proved to be nothing more than a severe back injury. He will be out in a day or two, it was reported Sunday night. Baby Ray and Charley Brock, Packer tackle and center, respectively, were ordered to the care of Dr. W.W. Kelly as much for observation than anything else. Ray has a leg injury, and Brock hurt his back. Neither is serious. The latter was one of the top centers in the business yesterday. He was all over the lot, reaching out to grab passes that weren't intended for him, and carrying his assignments in the best major league fashion...CROWDS HERO'S BENCH: Sharing line honors with Brock was Bill Lee, the man who could write a book about tackle play. Lee has been crowding the hero's bench all season, and Sunday he eclipsed the redoubtable Turk Edwards at tackle. Russ Letlow and Buckets Goldenberg continue to turn out the kind of guard play that makes champions. For all his hard running and his great defensive play, it cannot be overlooked that Hinkle had an off day punting. In fact, it probably was the worst he has had at booting the leather in several seasons. Somehow, the kicks just didn't go where they should have. Some directly into the hands of receivers like Filchock resulted in too many yards for the Redskins. Al Simmons, the man who roamed the outfield of several major league baseball teams, and stood at the plate to drive pitchers back into their dugouts, was divided in his allegiance for awhile Sunday, but finally settled on the Packers and helped cheer them to victory. Al's recent seasons with the Washington baseball team made him a friend of just about everyone connected with the football club, but his ties to Coach Curly Lambeau and the Packers date back much farther than that. He thinks that this year's Packer team is headed for a championship if it continues to play heads up ball, and he will be in the Green Bay cheering section at Chicago next Sunday...CUFF NOTES: Paddy Driscoll, Marquette coach, believes that next Sunday's game between the Bears and the Packers may decide who is going to represent the Western division in the playoff this season. It will be an important factor. While Paddy thinks the Packers looked great yesterday, he believes that they are going to run into a lot of trouble at Chicago..."Jerk" Wendt, former Marquette and Chicago Cardinals lineman, likes Packer chances against the Bears. He came in from Chicago to see the game and left with Packer praise oozing from every pore...Mayor Alex Biemeret of Green Bay was as nervous and worried as any Packer official before the game. During the contest he almost wound up at the bottom of a pile when an offside play ended at the spot where he was on the bench. Emmett Evans of Green Bay has not seen the Packers lose out of Green Bay for five season...Red hot Milwaukee fan for the Packers: Seymour C. Grinkler, who runs the men's shop in the Schroeder hotel. He handles a batch of Packer ticket in his shop, and never missed a chance to boost Green Bay stock to outsides who are unfamiliar with the Packers...Jab Murray was very much in evidence. The former Packer lineman, who has been mayor of Marinette almost ever since retiring from football, thinks "Curly had it this year"...Frank Jonet, Packer treasurer, comes to the front as the leading Packer seer of the year. He picked the outcome to the point Sunday, and has not missed on a game result all season. Ernie Nevers, Cardinal coach, and Mike Michalske, former Packer on Ernie's staff, were present. Mike says that the Packers looked better than at any other time this season...Detective Dan Good of Boston welcomed "the business" that brought him to Milwaukee. It gave him the first glimpse of the Packers he had heard so much about. Good was the game guest of Detective John Reilly of the Milwaukee force, a rabid Packer follower...Julius (the Just) Heil, who is supposed to be an expert on such things, missed a tax assignment Sunday. The Wisconsin governor failed to come through with the tax on his passes. It may have been the rain, or cigarette smoke in his eyes, but Julius didn't remember...It started out to be a gala day here. The sun was bright right up to about noon, and even for another hour after the clouds didn't mean much. Tickets were going at a premium, and some of the speculators were having a field day. Then the rains came. Many a new chapeau took a beating, and the decorative efforts of the ladies were wasted. But that song about always having fair weather might be amended to include Packer victories, because nobody seemed to care much after Clarke Hinkle went over for the first Packer touchdown.
ED JUSTICE IS HURT
OCT 30 (Milwaukee) - Ed Justice, Washington halfback, who was carried off the field at Sunday's game, spent a restful night at St. Mary's hospital and probably will be released in a day or two. He suffered a slight spine injury.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORTS
OCT 30 (Green Bay) - Knute Rockne once remarked that a football is of a funny shape and takes funny hops, which may be enlarged to indicate peculiar things can happen on the gridiron. Probably never before in the history of the NFL did the official statistics of a game list a player as having thrown and received the same forward pass. It happened in the third period of yesterday's struggle at Milwaukee, and the man who did most of the work was Cecil Isbell, the former Purdue halfback who played a magnificent game against the Washington Redskins. The Packers, fighting to increase a 10-point lead, were battling along in Washington territory, when Isbell attempted a forward pass. Charlie Malone of the Redskins, rushing in from the right side of his line, leaped into the air, arms upstretched, and Isbell's forward flip was sent spinning into the air. The ball careened from Malone's head, and Isbell, dropping back, caught it as it descended, nine yards behind the Green Bay line of scrimmage. Now, how would you have recorded that if you were keeping the statistics? It wasn't an incompleted pass, because it was caught. It wasn't intercepted by Washington, and it is certainly no fumble, for the ball left Isbell's hand of his own volition. The only way it could be recorded was as a forward pass caught by the same player who threw it, and we'll bet dollars to suds that the incident is without duplicate in the National league...Six Packers boosted their totals on their team's all-time scoring list Sunday, as Green Bay connected for 24 points against Washington. Clarke Hinkle scored his 33rd Packer touchdown, and raised his total to 262. He now is only 39 points behind Verne Lewellen's all-time total of 301, and remains in second place. When Lewellen finished his career, it appeared that his high mark would never be eclipsed, but Hinkle is making mighty strides in its direction. It was a memorable day for Hank Bruder. The veteran blocking quarterback made his 100th point as a Packers, when he scored after taking Cecil Isbell's pass. It was Bruder's 16th touchdown, and it moved him one point past Bob Monnett into sixth place on the big list. Joe Laws' touchdown was his 12th, and lifted his total to 72, which gave him a tie for ninth place with Hurdis McCrary (1929-32). Ernie Smith kicked his 42nd Packer point after touchdown, only four shy of the record held by Red Dunn (1927-31). Ernie's point total is now 60, which ties him for 14th place with Cub Buck (1922-25), Weert Englemann (1930-33) and Eddie Kotal (1925-29) and Buckets Goldenberg. Tiny Engebretsen's field goal was his 11th since he joined the Packers in 1935, and raised his total to 63, in 12th place, one point behind Bo Molenda (1929-32) and Roger Grove (1931-34). Isbell's extra points were the first he has scored as a Packer, and lifts his two-year total to 20.
KENOSHA TILTS TANKS, 21 TO 0
OCT 30 (Kenosha) - A 21 to 0 victory over the Louisville Tanks Sunday rewarded the Kenosha Cardinals for their efforts to build up to the strength of the American pro football league. Kenosha had lost three previous games. The Cardinals scored one touchdown in the second quarter and two in the last eight minutes of play. Art Buck, former Carroll star, went 14 yards around end for the first touchdown. Clem Naughton, Kenosha end from DePaul, blocked a kick on the Louisville 12 to set up the second, fullback John Cherny plunging over in two tries. Obbie Novakoski, former Lawrence ace, intercepted a pass on Louisville's 30 and scored the third touchdown behind brilliant interference. Kenosha's improved play came through a revamped line in which the standouts were Naughton, Paul Berezny, tackle from Fordham, and two linesmen released by the Green Bay Packers - Jack Brennan, guard, and Warren Kilbourne, tackle.
JUSTICE, REDSKIN BACK, LEAVES TO JOIN TEAM
OCT 31 (Milwaukee) - Ed Justice, a back on the Washington Redskins, was discharged from St. Mary's hospital Tuesday and left by airplane for Washington. He suffered a back injury in Sunday's Green Bay Packer game.
PACKERS THIRD MAKING GAINS
OCT 31 (New York) - In spite of the letdown suffered by the Chicago Bears in their last two game, they continue to lead the NFL in yards gained, according to statistics released Tuesday. The Bears, with 2,347 yards in seven games, are ahead of the Washington Redskins, who advanced 2,105 yards in six contests. Green Bay is third with 1,801. The Bears are still ahead in scoring, with 170 points. Green Bay has ousted the Redskins from second place in this department, with 136 points. The Redskins are third, with 127. The Giants have limited the opposition to 39 points and 1,275 yards in six engagements. Detroit, tied for the top with the Packers in the western division, has allowed 56 points and 1,132 yards in six contests. The Packers have given up 1,482 yards.
PACKERS PREPARE FOR TOUGHEST GRID GAME
OCT 31 (Green Bay) - With what Coach E.L. (Curly) Lambeau predicts will be their toughest 1939 game just around the corner, the Green Bay Packers counted bruises acquired in Milwaukee today and settled down to drill for the Chicago Bears. Packers and Bears will get together for the last time this season - they hope - at Wrigley field next Sunday afternoon. The Packers are all finished with the Wisconsin schedule, the parting shot being the 24 to 14 blast they administered to the Washington Redskins last Sunday. The Green Bay squad met yesterday to talk over its mistakes - not many in number - of the past game, and the players will assemble at 9 o'clock every morning this week to talk over plans before engaging in outdoor practice...BROCK WILL BE READY: The casualty list from the Washington game was surprisingly light, considering the tough quality of the competition. The only one who appeared in much difficulty was Charlie Brock, center who played a whirlwind game, but acquired a kick in the back in the process. Brock is running again, and Lambeau expects him to be in good shape by next Sunday. The former Nebraska pivot man is becoming a valuable cog in the Green Bay machine. He has intercepted five forward passes in the last two games, three of them against Washington and two against the Detroit Lions. The Lions, who are tied with Green Bay for first place in the Western division, have no soft touch themselves Sunday, as they play host to the powerful New York Giants, undisputed leaders of the Eastern division. If New York and Green Bay triumph Sunday, the championship hymn will be raised throughout Wisconsin...OFFICIALS ARE ANNOUNCED: Officials for the Packer-Bear game will be as follows: Referee, Edward Cochrane, Kansas; umpire, M.J. Meyer, Ohio Wesleyan; headlinesman, Irv Kupcinet, Iowa State; and field judge, Dan Tehan, Xavier. "Sunday's game will be our hardest of the year," Lambeau commented today, "but we won't be outtoughed. We'll be just as tough as the Bears. The Bears will be all geared up for us, following their letdown against Detroit last Sunday, and they'll pour everything in the books onto the Packers."...MANIACI IS HURT: The Bears will be without the services of Joe Maniaci, one of the National league's best backs, who was cut down by an injury against the Lions. The Packers will leave here on the North Western train at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon, and will return on the same line at 7:30 Sunday evening. While in Chicago they will headquarter at the Knickerbocker hotel.
MILWAUKEE MAY GET PRO LEAGUE PLAYOFF
OCT 31 (Milwaukee Journal) - A strong possibility exists, if Green Bay goes through to the western division championship this fall, as it now seems it may, that the pro league playoff between the eastern and western division champions will be held in Milwaukee. "It's too early to talk about championships," Lambeau said Sunday night, "but if we should happen to come through I'd like to see the game played right here. Milwaukee has really given us support. The western winner gets the playoff this year." State Fair park Sunday had a capacity of 26,300. Additional seats could be built to bring it up close to 28,000. A $4.40 top probably would be charged for a title game...As the Packers and Detroit, tied for first place in the western division with five victories and one defeat each, charge down the stretch, Green Bay appears to have much the softer road ahead. Anything can happen in the pro league, as has been often proved. A so-called soft touch can be awfully tough. But if a coach had to chose between Green Bay's and Detroit's schedule the rest of the way, he'd almost be forced at this time to take Green Bay's. The Packers, with five games left, have only two teams which, on paper at least, appear to have an even chance - the Bears at Wrigley field Sunday and Detroit in a return engagement at Detroit November 30. Their other games are with the Eagles at Philadelphia November 12, Brooklyn at Brooklyn November 19 and the Rams at Cleveland November 26. These teams undoubtedly will be tough but the Packers have showed enough to rule as favorites at this time. But look at Detroit's schedule. The Lions will meet the undefeated New York Giants at Detroit Sunday, the Bears in a return game at Detroit November 12, the Rams at Cleveland November 19, Washington at Washington November 26, and the Packers at Detroit November 30. Except, perhaps, for the Cleveland game, there isn't anything which even resembles a soft touch...ISBELL THE WAR HORSE: A special bouquet belongs to Cecil Isbell for his part in the Packer victory over Washington Sunday. He was the only Green Bay left halfback ready to play. Larry Buhler still has a bad leg. Uram, while he did get in for awhile, still has a bad ankle. Jimmy Lawrence hasn't quite mastered all of the Packers' tricks. It out the whole load on Isbell - and Isbell didn't drop it or even stagger under it. The Purdue redhead undoubtedly played his best game of the fall, carrying the ball on sweeps and spinners, passing and catching passes. Except for a brief time in the second half, Isbell played the whole game...Bill Lee, who also played most of the game, but for a different reason. Lee, a wrestler, is always in great condition and likes the going so well that, except when really injured, he leaves the game only under protest. Sunday Lambeau let him have his fill, and he played all but a few minutes.
PACKER NOTES
OCT 31 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - One of the oldest football beliefs was knocked into a cocked hat here Sunday afternoon when the Green Bay Packers' Flash Herber and Cee Isbell and the Washington Redskins' Slingin' Sammy Baugh and Frankie Filchock collaborated with their receivers in putting on some aerial fireworks that would have done credit to a dry field and a dry ball. Rain and the slippery turf meant little; the two teams proved that good football can be played on any kind of a field if the teams are fogging, and that a passing attack doesn't have to put on the shelf because of mud and rain. Most of the passes were to their mark with about the same degree of consistency as they are under better weather and turf conditions. About the only slump in effectiveness were one or two dropped passes that should have been caught and several inopportune fumbles on the part of the Washington eleven. The Packers played alert ball, with Charlie Brock, freshman center, again stealing the show on defense with three interceptions. Against the Lions the week before he intercepted two passes, but on Sunday he was even better. If Charlie continues his brilliant play the league experts don't have to look around very far for the man who will succeed Mel Hein of the Giants as the league's best pivotman. He's in and out of the line like a cat, he has a marvelous second sense in diagnosing plays and has as much coordination as a backfield man. Never have I seen a lineman who can react as quickly as Charlie does on an interception...INTERCEPTIONS SAVE DAY: There is no question, but what the Packers got the breaks Sunday. At the same time there is no question, but what hustle, bustle, and the will to win made the breaks come the Packers' way. Any time a team intercepts six passes with such tossers as Baugh and Filchock throwing them it proves beyond all dispute the team is on its toes. Any time a team recovers as many fumbles as the Packers did it proves the club is hustling for the breaks. And, above all, not one Packer fumble - an extraordinary event with good weather and field conditions, to say nothing of condition such as existed Sunday. Just how important the Packer hustle and alertness on pass defense was Sunday can be seen by the fact that two interceptions were followed by touchdowns and another interception led up to Tiny Engebretsen's field goal. Brock's first interception on the Bay 10 not only saved the Packers' hide, but he returned it to the Washington 32 and put the ball in position for the second Packer touchdown that came a minute later on Isbell's pass to Hank Bruder. Carl Mulleneaux's interception set the stage for the field goal and Joe Laws' interception at the end of the third period led up to the Bays' final touchdown. Yes, defense still is a big part of football - especially when it can be turned into an offensive like the Bays did Sunday...'BAMA BILL STARS: It wouldn't be right to comment on Sunday's game without tossing a few bouquets to Red Smith's linemen in general and to Bill Lee, the old Alabama tackle, in particular. The Packer defense for Baugh's passes put a tremendous burden on the line as on most occasions it left only four men on scrimmage and to do the rushing. This lef the center of the line weak, but Lee, Baby Ray, Ernie Smith and Charlie Schultz pinched in nicely and saved the day by nipping carriers who were all but loose after zooming through the center of the line. Lee played practically the whole game, but liked it and wanted to keep going the entire 60 minutes. Another lineman who came through with a fine display was Buckets Goldenberg, who continued his record of always playing great ball before his hometown folks...THE BEARS ARE NEXT: The 10 to 0 defeat hung on the Bears from Chicago Sunday by the Detroit Lions, coming on top of the Giants' win over the Bears the previous week, will make George Halas' club just that much tougher for the Packers when they meet for the second time this season at Wrigley field in Chicago next Sunday. The Packers won the first game at Green Bay, 21 to 16. Although the recent defeats have Bear followers scratching their heads in wonderment, the results only bear out this corner's belief, expressed after the Bears' loss to the Packers, that the Halasmen are over balanced with backfield material and that there is a terrific dropoff in class between the first and second string lines. This showed up in the game at Green Bay. During the first half the Chicago forwards outdrove the Packer front line and the Bears were seemingly on their way to an easy victory. But in the second half the story was reversed and it was the Packer line that outdrove and outplayed the Chicagoans and carried the Bays to a glorious comeback triumph. Another thing, the Bears' backfield aces, as great as they are on offense, are not any too strong on defense and any club that boasts a good running game backed by an aerial attack such as the Packers have will raise the old Ned with the Bears if the players are hustling to win. The Packers will be hustling, so write your own ticket.
EXCURSIONS PLANNED FOR PACKER BOOSTERS
NOV 1 (Green Bay) - Two special excursions for Green Bay fans have been announced for next Sunday, when the Packer football team and hundreds of its loyal followers will head for Illinois and the lair of the Chicago Bears. Green Bay always moves en masse into Chicago for the Bear game, and in recent years a considerable part of Wisconsin's population has trailed along, bolstering the visitors' support at Wrigley field. With the Packers tied for first place in the Western division race, and needing a victory over the Bears to remain there, the fans' interest is running higher than ever...ATTACK IS TOUGH: Most critics believe that the Detroit Lions will defeat the New York Giants at Detroit next Sunday, unless the Lions acquired so many injuries against the Bears that their strategy is affected. Detroit has just the type of attack which is tough for the New Yorkers, and if the Lions win, the Packers will have to take the Bears or lost their co-leadership - a spot which may be difficult to regain. Should the Lions lose and the Packers win, Green Bay will be in an extremely advantageous situation, but Coach E.L. (Curly) Lambeau regards this combination as too favorable to consider this early in the game. He and his players are bending every effort to perfect Packer offense and defense for the collision with the Bears. Carrigan and Du Charteau, two names which have carried on fans' excursions many times before, again will sponsor special trains to the contest...LEAVES SUNDAY MORNING: The Carrigan Special will leave Green Bay at 7:45 Sunday morning, arriving in Chicago at 11:59. It will stop at De Pere, Hilbert and Plymouth en route to Milwaukee, and thence will speed in to the battle area. The Special will leave from the Carrigan hotel only. The return trip will start at 7 p.m., and the arrival home will be at 11:45, the entire trip being made on the Milwaukee road. The Du Chateau Special will leave the North Western station at 7:15 Sunday morning, arriving at Chicago at 11:30. The return trip will start at 7:30, getting the fans home at midnight. The Packers' Lumberjack band will travel on this train. The Packers themselves will leave on the North Western line at 7 o'clock Saturday morning, and upon arrival at Chicago will headquarter at the Knickerbocker hotel. They will leave Chicago Sunday night on the same railway at 7 o'clock...CRAIG CALLED HOME: Larry Craig, Packer blocking quarterback and defensive end who has broken into professional football with a great big crash, was called home to Central, S.C., last night by the serious illness of a sister, who is not expected to live. Craig made most of the distance by airplane and hoped that conditions would be such that he may return immediately. This, of course, depends upon the improvement of his sister. In their workouts this week the Packers are stressing the fact that their toughest game of the 1939 schedule lies just ahead. The Bears, beaten consecutively by New York and Detroit, are in a super-savage frame of mind. "We're in the driver's seat," Lambeau commented, "and if we relax for a moment, we'll tumble off. Anything can happen in the NFL."
MANIACI WILL PLAY
NOV 1 (Chicago) - George Halas, owner-coach of the Chicago Bears, said today fullback Joe Maniaci had recovered sufficiently from a wrenched leg to leave the hospital where he has been under treatment since Sunday night. Maniaci received the injury in Sunday's game with the Detroit Lions. He is expected to be ready for next Sunday's engagement with the Green Bay Packers.
POST-SEASON GAME PLANNED FOR PROS
NOV 1 (New York) - The NFL champions will compete in a post-season game at Los Angeles between January 1 and 15 for the next five years, Carl Storck, NFL president, announced Wednesday. The pro champions will play an all-star team picked by fans from the other nine clubs under the auspices of the Los Angeles Times. The stadium will be picked later. "It is believed that the game, bringing together the country's foremost professional gridiron talent, will come to equal the Rose Bowl attraction," said Storck. A preview of the new pro football series was seen at Los Angeles last January, when the New York Giants defeated an all-league team, 13-10.
PACKERS SECOND ON POINT LIST
NOV 1 (New York) - The Washington Redskins have surpassed the Chicago Bears as the ground gaining leader of the NFL, but they don't know whether to consider it a newly-won honor or an omen of ill luck after watching their predecessors hit the skids on two successive Sundays against New York and Detroit, the best defensive teams in the circuit. Statistics for the seventh week, announced yesterday, show that the Redskins have 2105 yards in six games, an average of 250, compared with 2347 in seven games for the Bears, an average of 335. Green Bay is third with 1801 yards...BEARS STOPPED TWICE: The Bears had monopolized the ground gaining race throughout the first six weeks, but were stopped in the last two weeks by the Giants and Detroit, who continue to share defensive honors, exploding the
old theory that the best defense is a good offense, and emphasizing the importance of having a well-balanced defense. New York, leader in the Eastern division, has held opponents to 39 points and 1275 yards, and Detroit, co-leader in the Western division, has allowed its foes only 1132 yards and 56 points. Cleveland has completed 74 passes, and Washington has the best efficiency with 50 out of 94 for 53 percent. The Bears continued to lead in scoring with 170 points, but Green Bay, last year's record holder, ousted the Washington Redskins from second place, 136 points to 127, during the past week. Next Sunday will see the two scoring pacemakers and the two defensive greats opposed in the Bears-Packers and Lions-Giants games.
ED JUSTICE LEAVES
NOV 1 (Milwaukee) - Ed Justice, fullback on the Washington Redskins, was discharged from St. Mary's hospital Tuesday and left by airplane for Washington. Justice suffered a back injury in Sunday's Redskins-Green Bay game here.
WASHINGTON SCRIBES REGARD BAY VICTORY WELL DESERVED
NOV 1 (Green Bay) - "It seems the Redskins were misled." That is the way Bill Dismer of the Washington Evening Star opened his account of the Green Bay Packers' victory over the Washington Redskins in Milwaukee. Whatever the Redskins were told is not quite clear, but some conclusion may be drawn from Dismer's remark that "Green Bay's Herber-to-Hutson combination doesn't have to click often in order for the Packers to win." The reference to the great Packer aerial combine was not the only revealing feature of this sportswriter's expose of Washington's attitude before the contest. He said: "Their 'aged' line still is clever enough to show younger opponents a few tricks. Cecil Isbell doesn't exactly holler 'uncle' when hit a couple of times. And Hank Bruder, their oldest player, who now confines his duties almost exclusively to blocking, hasn't forgotten how to score touchdowns."...SURPRISE TO REDSKINS: Dismer is frank in telling his readers that the outcome, and the manner in which it was accomplished, were a surprise to the Redskins. He lauded Redskin efforts to overcome the Green Bay lead, and then added "but they didn't deserve to win against a team of opportunists playing heads-up football every instant and capitalizing on every break such as the Packers did..." The Washington writer makes no bones about placing credit where it was due. He referred to the weather as a Packer advantage, but gave the Green Bay forward wall full force of his typewriter as he said, "It was the Packer line that was the difference in the teams yesterday...a line that continually rushed Sammy Baugh, in contrast to the inability of the Redskin forwards to get close to the Bay passers very often... a line that opened huge holes for its backs to rip through, while the Redskin backs more often than not found themselves stymied by skidding forwards."...STEAL THEIR THUNDER: A cartoon by Jim Berryman accompanied Dismer's comments. It depicts the Packers stealing the thunder of the Redskins in an aerial way, and makes special note of pass interceptions by the Green Bay eleven. The caption is "Packers Pass - Redskins Pass Out." "We wouldn't know for sure, but we think the Packers kinda outsmarted the Redskins," Dismer related. "Right off the bat Herber tossed a long pass to Hutson. It fell incomplete, but it served its obvious purpose. For it removed the Redskins' secondary from its place right behind the line and Packer backs started to have a field day." Misdirected attention to Hutson alone brought this comment from Dismer, "...for Herber not only started to share the passing duties with Isbell, but even started getting in on the receiving end of aerials himself, and the Redskins had been told Herber never touched the ball except when he was going to throw it."...FARKAS DRAWS PRAISE: At least one Washington back came in for honors as Dismer asserted, "...but with all due respect for Isbell - a triple-threat of the highest order - Andy Farkas was the best running back on the field." The brighter side of the Washington collapse was cited thusly: "Owner George Marshall wasn't too blue today. Not with his share of the gate receipts of a crowd of 24,308 - the largest number of persons ever to see a football game in Milwaukee and the largest home crowd the Packers ever have attracted." Other Washington sportswriters carried on in a similar vein. Shirley Povich of the Post went further to state, "For the Redskins it was largely a self-induced defeat born of their own fumbles and a passing attack that boomeranged as the Green Bay club intercepted six Washington aerials...Four Redskin fumbles completed the havoc."...GIVEN THE MISERIES: He continued: "When the Packers weren't catching Washington passes or passes of their own flung by the redoubtable Herber and Isbell, a powerful running attack led by Clarke Hinkle was giving the Redskins the miseries." In an unsigned story in the tabloid Daily News, a reporter says, "...Washington was outplayed by the Packers in every department." Earlier he wrote of the result and placed the blame on "the double evils of reverse English passing and an epidemic of cunny-thumbed ball handling." Vincent X. Flaherty made the page-one streamer in the Times Herald with his yarn which led with "Untimely fumbles and cockeyed passes on a wet field and with a slippery ball helped the Washington Redskins beat themselves." About a half dozen paragraphs later, he summed it up with, "...and so the combination of a team which flatly refused to make a mistake, and a team whose fellows refused to win, wound up in a well-deserved victory for Green Bay."
PACKER NOTES
NOV 1 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - As usual opinion was pretty well divided as to the caliber of play the Packers put forth Sunday in defeating the Redskins, 24 to 14. Some thought the Bays put up their best game of the year, but I do not subscribe to that theory. There were too many flaws that cropped up from time to time to make it an outstanding performance, but considering rain, slippery turf, and general poor football conditions, it was a good performance. But do those who hold the game was tops for the year take into consideration that the secondary allowed receivers to slip behind them all too often? Do they realize that the punting was far below Packer standards - because usually the kicks were low, line drive affairs usually right into the receiver's hands. Twice Washington receivers got behind every Packer defender and dropped passes that would have meant touchdowns. The Packers, before they get any delusions of grandeur about their performance, will get a glimpse of the movies and will see their mistakes. In the meantime they'll be eyeing Sunday's tilt with the Bears in Chicago, and they'll realize the same errors next week might cost them the title. The ground attack functioned well because the line play offensively was better than at any time this year, because blockers were nailing their foes and because the carriers were really churning up the sod in their efforts to get some place that would harass the Skins. But at the same time I don't believe the Packers' play of last Sunday was good enough to beat the Bears who will be smarting under the leash and battling to hold their remote chance for a Western division title. Despite their three defeats the Bears are not out of it by any means as the Packers, among other future foes, have the Bears and the Lions to play, and the Lions have two tough ones in the Packers and the Bears. Anything can happen - and probably will.
BEARS HAPPY, JOE MANIACI READY TO DRILL
NOV 1 (Chicago) - The Bears, who insist they are still very much in the running for the western division championship of the NFL despite three defeats, were spurred in the drill for Sunday's Green Bay game yesterday by the announcement that Joe Maniaci, first string fullback and leading ground gainer in the league, would rejoin the squad today. Maniaci suffered a wrenched leg in the Detroit game last Sunday. He was helped from the field and when he reported to trainer Andy Lotshaw Monday, he was sent to the Illinois Masonic hospital. There it was determined after 36 hours' treatment that the Laughing Latin could leave the hospital this morning to resume practice. Physicians said they expected he would be ready to start against Green Bay in Wrigley field Sunday...RIVALS HAVE FULL MANPOWER: No other Chicago injuries were reported in the Detroit game. The only other news from Dr. Lotshaw's torture chamber contained assurance that George Wilson would be back at his right end position at the kickoff. Wilson suffered a bruised back in the Giant game. Communiques equally as encouraging were received from Green Bay, where trainers found only the customary bumps after the Packers' 24 to 14 conquest of Washington. The Green Bay dispatches served to intensify activity in the Bear camp, where previously scouts had shuffled their notes on the Washington game and came up with nothing but bad news. Green Bay, they reported, defeated a very good football team Sunday and did it expertly with a superbly balanced attack that surpassed anything presented by the Packers in the last few seasons...BROCK IMPRESSES SCOUTS: Charles Brock, former Nebraska center, was singled out for special mention. His performances against the Redskins was described by several witnesses as greater even than the perennial exhibitions attributed to Mel Hein. Among Brock's feats Sunday included the interception of a shovel pass behind the line of scrimmage. In the memory of many veteran observers, this is the first time a center, backing up the line, has ever intercepted such a pass. Brock also intercepted a forward pass and returned it 52 yards to Washington's 32-yard line. This play broke up a Redskin march toward the tying touchdown and set up the drive that resulted in a 14 to 0 Packer lead. Green Bay's offense began clicking against Detroit two weeks ago, when the veteran combination of Arnie Herber to Don Hutson passed the Lions into defeat. Against Washington, the remainder of the attack began functioning. Cecil Isbell, Eddie Jankowski and Clarke Hinkle provided the running threat and Isbell made the attack doubly dangerous by sharing the passing as well as the receiving...THEY MUST WIN THIS ONE: The Bears have been informed that anything less than an eleven man effort equaling that of Joe Stydahar against the Lions threatens to close the gate completely on their title hopes. They have to win this one to retain even a mathematical chance. Stydahar was the only Bear who played sixty minutes against the Lions. Although there was adequate relief in the person of Milt Trost fidgeting for a chance to get in the game. Stydahar so far overshadowed all other linemen, Bear or Lions, on the field that it would have been foolhardy to remove him. It was Stydahar who threw back the mighty Bill Shepherd on four plays at the goal line in the second half.
CRAIG RETURNS BEFORE CHICAGO GRID GAME
NOV 2 (Green Bay) - Word from the absent Larry Craig, called home to be at the bedside of a dying relative, and attention from a national publication were variations from the gridiron routine of the Green Bay Packers today as they prepared for their climactic game with the Bears at Chicago Sunday. Craig, who was called home by plane by the condition of his sister, a 17-yeard old girl who is dying of cancer despite a recent operation, today is in Central, S.C., but he telephoned definite work of his activities to Coach E.L. (Curly) Lambeau today. Craig expects to take a plane from South Carolina today, arriving in time to join the Packers at practice tomorrow. He has been assured that his sister will live at least a week longer, and he will board a plane in Chicago after Sunday's game, returning to his home and family. This unpleasant development, taking Craig from the Packer workouts on the eve of the most important game that is remaining on the their immediate schedule, has been put down as just something that can't be helped. Craig has developed in the space of half a season into one of the most dependable players on the squad. He plays blocking quarterback on offense and end on defense...PHOTOGRAPHER ON HAND: A photographer from Life Magazine, widely distributed publication, was at the Packer practice field today, taking photos of the players in action, and also snapping pictures around town to provide a Green Bay background. The magazine is expected to devote a section to the Packers in an early issue. The workouts are continuing according to routine, with no serious injuries to plague the coach. Charley Brock, brilliant center recruit who acquired a painful back injury against the Washington Redskins at Milwaukee, is expected to be ready for action Sunday, and the rest of the boys who picked up limps and aches at Milwaukee are rounding into shape nicely...MANIACI IS HURT: The Packers are inclined to doubt the announcement that Joe Maniaci, leading ground gainer of the NFL, will be in shape to play with the Bears on Sunday. Maniaci received a bad injury against Detroit last Sunday and was confined for several days to a hospital. Even thought he is back in uniform, the Bears are not likely to make as much use of him as they have in previous games. A sour note is struck, however, by the fact that the Bruins also have the league's second best ground gainer in Bill Osmanski. The Packers will leave here on the North Western train at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon, and upon arriving in Chicago will make their headquarters at the Knickerbocker hotel.
HALL'S PASSING AVERAGE FADES
NOV 2 (New York) - Brooklyn Dodger players gained a monopoly for individual honors in the NFL when Ace Parker, forward passer, and Ralph Kercheval, field goal star, joined teammate Perry Schwartz, pass receiver, in the seventh week of play to grab three of the five top spots. Parker Hall, Cleveland freshman back and the only rookie to hold a first place up to this date, finally relinquished his forward passing leadership to Parker. Hall's 57 completions still top the circuit, but his efficiency average is only fourth, while Parker is second in completions and second in efficiency with 46 out of 94 for 48 percent. Parker's 748 yards gained on aerials also tops the league. Frank Filchock of Washington has the highest efficiency with 26 out of 43 passes for 60 percent...
CAN'T KEEP UP: An interesting note is the ability of Ed Danowski, the New York Giants league leading passer of last year, to keep up with the hot pace established by Parker and Hall this season. Danowski has completed only 19 passes to date. Sammy Baugh, Washington's 1937 league standout, has completed only 20, but he has only competed in three games, and should soon join the leaders in a few more games. Forward passing, ground gaining, scoring and field goal averages are well in advance of last year's total at this time. Kercheval has six field goals to pass Ward Cuff of the Giants and exceed by one the number he had in winning the league title last year. Joe Maniaci, Bears ground gainer, is only 67 yards, John Drake, Cleveland scorer, only 11 points, and Hall only 14 pass completions from the totals established for the league titles in these departments for the entire 1938 season...BEARS' STAR LEAD: Maniaci has 501 yards; Bill Osmanski, Bears, 406 yards; and Andy Farkas, Washington, 351 yards for ground gaining laurels. Hall, though dropping to second in forward passing, rose from tenth to sixth in ground gaining by carrying the ball 131 yards Sunday. Farkas rose from fourth to third in ground gaining, and from fourth to a tie for second in scoring. John Drake, Cleveland, continues to lead the scorers with 48 points. His eight touchdowns being one less than the league record by Don Hutson for one season. Farkas has 37 points, the same number as Maniaci. Perry Schwartz, Brooklyn, has caught 20 passes for 392 yards to lead Vic Spadaccini, Cleveland, in this department.
BEARS PLOTTING A RECEPTION FOR TWO OLD FOES
NOV 2 (Chicago) - Since that September day in 1935 when Don Hutson packed his Chicago All-Star uniform and set out for Green Bay to join Arnie Herber, the Packers have dominated professional football headlines with a passing attack that carried them to two western division title and a National league championship. Throughout Hutson's career the Packers have never finished worse than second in their section. Herber, Hutson and associated Packers come to Wrigley field Sunday to continue their drive for another championship. Preparations are going forward at a brisk clip in the Bear camp to perfect a defense against this combination, which removed Detroit from the ranks of the unbeaten two weeks ago, and last Sunday handed the Redskins their first whipping of the season...SECRET OF HERBER'S SUCCESS: Preparations to throttle any attack perforce demand an analysis of that attack. What makes it go? Where is its strength? What is its weakness? Hutson is one of the greatest pass receivers in this history of football. He is as fast as any man in the game today. And through his years at Alabama and in the National league he has mastered the art of faking, which, with his tremendous speed, permits him to break clear past defenders. Herber possesses the best arm in football and with it he has a phenomenal sense of timing which enables him to hurl a football 50 yards in a high arc with uncanny accuracy. His sharpshooting, combines with Hutson's natural talent as a fielder, make the team of Herber to Hutson the most dangerous as well as the most colorful offensive unit now active...THERE ARE OTHERS, TOO: Green Bay's success, however, goes beyond Hutson and Herber. Perhaps only two teams in the league, the New York Giants and the Bears, have as well balanced an attack. Packer ball carriers do not get the publicity and acclaim that accrue to Herber and Hutson, but among football men it is an accepted fact that few teams possess a player of Clarke Hinkle's all-around ability and Cecil Isbell's running and passing talents. This, then, presents some of the problems facing the Bears as they strive to retain a mathematical chance of sharing in the second championship. Herber and Hutson by themselves would not give the Bears a great deal to worry about. But just about the time a team covers Hutson, as Detroit found out much to its chagrin two weeks ago, a touchdown pass sails into the arms of another receiver or a ball carrier goes through the line for a big gain.
HERBER-HUTSON WORRY MR. HALAS
NOV 2 (Chicago) - Its goblin time - for small boys and for George Halas, owner and coach of the Bears. Do you remember when you were a small lad and you dreamed of giants chasing you down long, vacant hallways? Then you can sympathize with George, the "Clyde Beatty of the Bear cage" right now because of a pair of 'em are chasing him in his dreams. They tell me you can hear him in his sleep yelling, "Intercept that pass - knock that pass down." No wonder. The two that are chasing Halas in his dreams are a pair of human beings known as Herber and Hutson, greatest long forward passing combination ever known to the art of pigskin toting across goal lines. They are with Green Bay's pace setting Packers and they are going to try to hand those Bears their fourth defeat Sunday when they meet at Wrigley field. These two have haunted other coaches in the National league for years as well as own Mr. Halas. None has been able to solve the very difficult problem that confronts them every time the Packers are their opponents. If they can solve it it is worth much to all opponents. But how? - is the question. The problem is - simple enough - how to break up that Herber-Hutson combination - simple enough to talk about but doing it is something else. I asked Mr. Halas how he was going to do it Sunday. "I wish I knew," he shot back. "I wish someone would tell me. No other coach has broken it up and I'm no miracle man. But we are going to try everything we know this time and I think we'll beat 'em." Hope springs eternal, runs an old adage. Possibly, Mr. Hutson and his co-worker, Mr. Herber, will be kind enough to explain how they can be stopped when they appear before the Chicago Herald-American Monday Quarterback club at lunch Monday. But that will be too late for the Bears, who will have won or lost against this gang of Packers the day before. Herber throws what is known as a "spot pass". That is to say that the gent receiving does not have to be out there in the clear when Herber tosses. He hurls it to a spot where Hutson must be when the football gets there and, strangely enough, Hutson usually is there. The Packers also have a gent named Isbell from Purdue, who plays a pretty good game himself. They have Hinkle, who is no dummy out there in that backfield and a lot more good ball players. The Packers aren't a two man combination by any means, but the passing combination is very often the difference between defeat and victory.
CRAIG IS BACK AS PACKERS DRILL FOR GAME WITH BEARS SUNDAY
NOV 3 (Green Bay) - Larry Craig, blocking quarterback called to South Carolina this week by the critical illness of his sister, reported back to the Green Bay Packers this afternoon, and will remain with the team through Sunday's game with the Chicago Bears at Wrigley field. Craig flew here from South Carolina, and after Sunday's contrest he will board a plane at Chicago and return to his home, there to await the expected death of his 17-year old relative. Coach E.L. (Curly) Lambeau had little to say about his team's work today. "All we know," he remarked, "is that Sunday's game is getting closer."...FANS ALSO ON MARCH: Green Bay fans know that, too, and they are preparing to invade Chicago in vast swarms Sunday, in hopes that the season's previous victory over the Bears will be repeated, despite all statistical evidence to the contrary. Two special trains, the Carrigan on the Milwaukee Road and the Du Chateau on the North Western, will move into Chicago Sunday morning, each returning Sunday night. For those who remain at home, radio accounts of the game may be heard on stations WTAQ, Green Bay, and WTMJ, Milwaukee, with Russ Winnie at the mike. The Packers will leave at 1 o'clock tomorrow on the North Western train, and at Chicago will headquarter at the Hotel Knickerbocker. The Bears' devastating ground attack outclasses that of the Packers, according to the officials National league statistics of both teams. The Chicago team has ripped off 4.5 yards on an average in piling up 1,253 yards this season, while Green Bay's average is 3.2, and the total is 904. Andy Uram, Eddie Jankowski, Cecil Isbell and Clarke Hinkle have shared the main burden of Packer ball toting, while the chief assignments with the Chicago Bears have gone to Joe Maniaci, Bill Osmanski, Bob Swisher and Ray Nolting. Maniaci, who was injured in the game with Detroit last week, is the leading ground gainer in the league, and heads the Bear list by a respectable margin, but his leadership is apt to take a dive Sunday if he doesn't see his usual amount of service. Coach George Halas has announced that Maniaci will be ready for play, but he received a stiff kick in the back against the Lions, and his utility is open to question. Arnold Herber and Cecil Isbell continue to tote the load of Packer forward passing, and each has piled up commendable yardage. Herber's tosses have gone for 627 yards, while Isbell's heaves have been good for 270. Their total of interceptions has been very small. Five of Herber's passes have been picked off by the enemy, while only two of Isbell's have met similar misdirection. The Bears' aerial attack presents more variation. Bernie Masterson, Billy Patterson and Sid Luckman have done most of the tossing to date, and their yardage total is far in excess of that possessed by the Packers. However, they have bumped into 13 interceptions, and the Packers, with center Charley Brock in the van, have displayed great aptitude in that department. Don Hutson continues to lead the Green Bay aerial receivers, although to date he has not taken his customary place among the leaders in the composite National league standings. Hutson has accepted 14 passes to date, his closest rival being Isbell, who has dragged in seven. Andy Uram, Milt Gantenbein, Carl Mulleneaux, Hank Bruder, Clarke Hinkle, Larry Craig and Joe Laws are others who are among the leaders. Dick Plasman and Les McDonald are foremost among Bear pass receivers, and will deserve the major portion of the Packers' attention Sunday. Hinkle and Herber have done practically all of the Packers' punting, kicking all but two of the team's 41 points. Herber's average is the better, although he has not attempted nearly as many boots as Hinkle. Most of the Bears' punting is done by Luckman, who has averaged 42 yards. When he isn't in the game the kicking assignment falls to Nolting, Patterson or Bob Snyder. Hutson continues to pace the Packer scoring list, with 26 points attained on four touchdowns and two extra points. His closest rival is Hinkle, with 23 points, and then comes a lineman, Tiny Engebretsen, who has booted 10 extra points and two field goals for a total of 16. The injured Maniaci is the Bears' best bet on the point list, having counted five touchdowns, four extra points and a field goal for 37 markers. The Bears have been sadly off in their extra point kicks, converting only 17 times in 24 attempts, despite the presence of the highly publicized Jack Manders. Osmanski is Maniaci's closest rival in scoring, with 30 points, attained on five touchdowns.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORTS
NOV 3 (Green Bay) - Hash from the NFL front: President Carl Storck of the circuit, asked to name the 11 outstanding professional players in his experience, selected nine backs and two linemen. His roster includes two Packers, fullback Clarke Hinkle and halfback Arnie Herber. Other backs are Jim Thorpe, Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers, Dutch Clark, Cliff Battles, Mel Hein, Sammy Baugh and Turk Edwards. Five from the Eastern clubs and six from the West. Hein, Baugh, Edwards, Herber and Hinkle still are active in the league, while Nevers, Clarke and Grange are National league coaches...Dan Topping, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, makes the prediction that National league schedules will be increased to 16 games instead of 11, and that club squads will be enlarged to permit additional contests, most of which will be played at night...The news is buzzing around Milwaukee again that three Packer games will be played there next season, instead of two, but Packer officials absolutely deny that any action has been taken in that direction. In response to rumor that the East-West playoff will be held in Milwaukee this season, provided that the Packers win the Western championship, Coach Curly Lambeau commented, "We haven't won the divisional title yet, and we are a long way from doing so. No playoff arrangements will be made until after the Packers win - if they do."...The 80-piece band of the Cleveland Rams wears smocks and berets in the colors of 80 different colleges and universities...George Marshall, president of the Washington Redskins, predicts that Frank Filchock and Sammy Baugh and Andy Farkas will surpass the great combination of Sammy Baugh and Cliff Battles, which virtually won the 1937 championship for the Redskins. Filchock and Farkas created a new National league record when they completed a 99-yard touchdown, on a 5-yard pass to Farkas, who ran 94 yards through the entire Pittsburgh Pirate team...Harrison (Sam) Francis, Brooklyn Dodger fullback, now in his third season of National league football, has been the property of four teams since leaving the University of Nebraska in 1936. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and traded to the Chicago Bears, with whom he played for two seasons. The Bears shifted him to the Pittsburgh Pirates last spring for Billy Patterson of Baylor, and the Pirates sold him to Brooklyn...Carl Brumbaugh, former University of Florida star who led the Chicago Bears to two league championships in the days of Bronko Nagurski, has been appointed chief scout for the Bears. Brumbaugh retired last year after spending half a season at Cleveland and the latter half as a Bear reserve...Ralph Heikkinen, all-America guard at the University of Michigan last year, released recently by the Brooklyn Dodgers, has signed as line coach at the University of Virginia. In his new position at Charlottesville, Heikkinen will work under Head Coach Frank Murray, former Marquette university mentor...Clare Randolph, former Detroit Lions center and now assistant prosecuting attorney for Wayne county (Detroit) and a director in the Lion organization, spends his Sunday afternoons scouting his former mates. He makes notes on every play and reports the mistakes to Coach Gus Henderson. Randolph played undergraduate football at Indiana university.
POTENT BRUINS TEAM IS READY
NOV 3 (Green Bay) - Bearing down: Anyone remember the time when the Bears lost three consecutive games in one season? The Packers may establish a precedent with a win at Wrigley field Sunday. It's a tough assignment, but so were the Lions and the Redskins. All in all, it's a pretty fair record the Bears boast. During the past six years, they have won 97, lost 20 and tied six in the National league. A total of 2,709 points to 947 for Bear opponents reeks of power. The lifetime record of George Halas' club, including non-league contests, is 210 won, 68 lost and 17 tied. No club in the league, past or present, ever has held an edge in games won over the Bears. The Packers have a chance to pull up even with them Sunday. The listings to date show 19 for the Bears, 18 for the Packers and four ties. Cleveland trimmed the Bears twice last season to split even in four games between the clubs, but the Chicago team pulled ahead this season with a 31 to 25 win over the Rams...FASTEST ON SQUAD: Publicity from the Bear office cites Bob Swisher and Dick Schweidler, halfbacks, are the fastest men on the squad. It is claimed that both run the 10-yard dash under 10 seconds. Maybe so, but the Packers' Don Hutson has made them look like snails as he moved by. Danny Fortmann, choice for all-league honors at guard last season, is completing his medical studies at the University of Chicago. He is only 23 years old. At Colgate he picked a Phi Beta Kappa key in the halls of learning as well as 12 varsity letters. This is his fourth season with the Bears. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 210 pounds...WEARS NO. 13 JERSEY: Joe Stydahar, all-league tackle in 1937 and second team selection last season, is not superstitious. He sports a No. 13 jersey. Chicagoans report that his failure to make the first all-league team in 1938 prompted him to abandon plans to retire from the game. He came back to "show 'em". It is his fourth Bear year. At West Virginia he won three letters each in football and basketball, and was captain of both teams. At 6 feet 4, he is the second tallest Bear. He weighs 230. Odd course of events: Despite the loss of five games last season, the Bears led the Western division in the total number of first downs, in the number of laterals completed and was second in yardage. The club yielded the least number of yards to opponents and was second in scoring. Green Bay topped their 2,079 yardage total by 59, and Washington of the eastern division nosed them out for first downs by six with a total of 147...HAVE BEST AVERAGE: This season the Bears already have garnered 2,347. The Packers' total is 1,801, but the Bruins have played seven games to the Packers' six. The Redskins, who fell before the Packers last week, have the best average in the league with 2,105 in six games...Remember George Trafton, the center who had much to do with the present Bear-Packer rivalry? The Bears claim a world and league record in that he played 13 seasons, participated in 201 games and was in action 158 hours as a center. 13 is common in the Halas' record book. Besides the designation of Trafton's service and the number on Stydahar's back, 13 is the size of end Dick Plasman's shoes...Such is something of what the Packers face Sunday afternoon. What the Bears face is another story in which Don Hutson, Arnold Herber, Clarke Hinkle, Bill Lee and a rip-snorting squad of other Green Bay gridders figure prominently. They have turned the trick against the Bears before. It has been five years since the Packers have lost at Wrigley field.
PRECEDENT WITH PACKERS SUNDAY IN BEAR GAME
NOV 3 (Chicago) - Precedent is with the Packers when they invade Wrigley field Sunday for a game in which the Chicago Bears risk their last chance to stay in the National league race. It has been five years since Green Bay lost a game to the Bears in Wrigley field. The 41 game series between the teams has been one of fluctuating fortune and a cycle of sevens. Beginning with the second game of their 1925 series, the Bears went seven games against the Packers without defeat. Two were ties. The Packers broke the spell with the second game in 1928 and won seven in a row. Then late in 1932 the Bears began a sting of seven consecutive victories with a 10 to 6 triumph...HERBER, HUTSON SNAP STRING: Arnie Herber and Don Hutson, a couple of headache purveyors who still do business in the same old corner, snapped this string in 1935 when Herber faded back from the 13 yard line on the first play of the game, threw a pass half the length of the field over Beattie Feathers' head and Hutson took it in stride to continue on to a 7 to 0 victory. The Packers repeated later in the season when they came to Chicago and since that time they have not been beaten in Wrigley field. Herber and Hutson are expected by the Green Bay loyalists to bring the Packers' record against Coach George Halas' squad to seven victories in the last ten starts on Sunday, but in this understanding the Packers will have to deal with the Bears' pass defense, a Mr. Dick Plasman. Plasman was dubbed the Bears' pass defense in Green Bay on Sept. 24 when he did about everything all other ends have ever done in attempting to get the Bears away in the title race with a victory...AN OUTSTANDING WINGMAN: That game was the start of a series of exhibitions that quickly brought Plasman recognition within the league as one of the outstanding wingmen of the season. Plasman was superb against the Giants two weeks ago, gave an excellent demonstration of defensive play against the Lions, and rapidly is becoming the Bears' leading end, although he has not been elevated to a starting position. After the accident in which he suffered a fractured hand and severe lacerations when he crashed into the brick abutment at the south end of the Wrigley field gridiron last season, it was doubted for several months whether he would regain sufficient use of his hand to permit his return this fall. Careful treatment and summer long exercises restored the hand to its normal sensitiveness. Plasman fidgeted on the bench at Green Bay, anxious to get in the game. When he finally was turned loose, he caught four of eight passes tossed to him, blocked a punt by Clarke Hinkle to set up a seven yard quarterback sneak by Bernie Masterson for the Bears' second touchdown, and otherwise made himself very unpopular in Packerville.
TENSION RUNS HIGH AS PACKERS TACKLE BEARS AGAIN
NOV 4 (Green Bay) - It's an old story and a familiar setting, but all the old tension was in evidence today as the Green Bay Packers left for Chicago and an engagement with Coach George Halas's Bears. Hailed as all-conquering at the start of the season, but defeated in their last two appearances by the New York Giants and Detroit Lions, the Bears appear to the Packers as formidable as ever. Their statistical record in several departments is the best in the NFL, and they have on their side a tremendous lift from Old Man Psychology - for only two rarely have the Bears been humbled twice in a row, and almost never have they folded up before three consecutive foes. Casing sentiment aside, and falling back upon cold statistics, the Packers have a better record than the Bears in forward passing efficiency, pass interceptions, runback of punts, least fumbles, opponents' fumbles recovered and points after touchdown...BEARS' TOTALS BEST: The Bears' figures are the best in yards gained from scrimmage, total yards gained, punting, touchdown runs, least opponents' gains, pass defense, scoring and least opponents' points. The teams rank about even in first downs, yards gained from forward passing, touchdown passes and field goals. This would seem to indicate that the Chicago team is the stronger, but a lot of the fans who are invading the Illinois are this weekend aren't too sure about it. The Green Bay team left aboard the North Western line at 1 o'clock this afternoon and during their non-competitive moments this weekend will be headquartered at the Hotel Knickerbocker Hotel, North side establishment. They will return on the North Western train Sunday evening...SPECIAL TRAINS TO RUN: Two special trains tomorrow will haul Wisconsin's rabid Packer fans into the Wrigley field zone. The Carrigan Special, operating on the Milwaukee Road, will carry one load of enthusiasts, while the other will ride on the North Western's Du Chateau Special. The Packers team, as it finished its week's program yesterday, appeared in perfect shape for the combat. There is no one on their team who cannot be called upon for service if needed, and the players themselves expect the toughest kind of battle. The Bears are the roughest team in professional football, and never have they relinquished a contest to the Packers without leaving the scars of battle on a dozen or more men...MUST HAVE VICTORY: A victory for Green Bat would be of the utmost importance. Detroit is favored to defeat the Giants, although the Lions may find themselves in something of a letdown following their conquest of the Bears. Should Detroit win tomorrow, a Packer victory would be essential to prevent the Bays from tumbling from the first position they share so precariously with the Lions.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORTS
NOV 4 (Green Bay) - "The Year of the Plague", that's what the Chicago Daily News, speaking editorially, calls old 1939, not sliding out of sight under impetus of a dying football season. The editorial is of interest in connection with the Green Bay Packers' Sunday efforts to keep the plague rolling right along on its unpleasant (to Chicagoans) course. "When our Chicago Bears fell apart Sunday afternoon, and permitted the Detroit Lions to romp over and around the ruins for a 10-0 victory, they virtually blasted Chicago's last hope of achieving any solace from the 1939 sports season," comments the News. "This year, it now appears certain, will go down in Chicago's sports history as a year of the locust - a grim 12 months of famine, pestilence and desolation. Our Blackhawks failed us ignobly in the crisis; our Cubs disintegrated before our horror-stricken eyes; our White Sox strove nobly, but ineffectually; our Cardinals turned out to be a stupendous flop; and now our Bears, toured for their unstoppable powerhouse offensive, proved to be just another ham-and-egg football team. Nor does this complete the depressing list of disasters and frustrations to which Chicago's sports-loving public has been subjected. There is Northwestern's 'dream team', the outfit that was heralded from the very dawn of 1939 as the miracle team of modern football. And what happened to the Wildcats? No one seems to know, but it is no longer a secret that they are slightly less than colossal. In fact, only one of the mighty aggregations of athletic glamour boys upon whom we have depended to carry Chicago's name to glory has lived up to expectations. Nothing was expected of our University of Chicago Maroons, and they have lived up to our fondest anticipations. They have exceeded them. And what is Mayor Kelly's Keep-Chicago-Ahead committee doing to remedy the situation? What is the Association of Commerce doing? Can't all those organizations that are combating the spread of blighted areas take cognizance of the blight that has devastated our athletic prestige. Starving for victory in the midst of plenty, we pause of reply." In attempting to extend the Chicago epidemic for at least one more week, the Packers face one of the most terrific psychological hazards of the season. It's bad enough to bump up and against a continually downtrodden team which gets up fire and is geared for counterattack, but it'll be infinitely worse to meet a powerful eleven which has been sidetracked, much against its will, on two consecutive weekends and is spoiling for a kill. If the Packers defeat the Bears Sunday, they will have achieved the season's miracle in professional football.
CHICAGO CARDINALS ANXIOUS TO LAND HAWKEYES' KINNICK
NOV 4 (Green Bay) - Marshall Goldberg, the halfback-fullback who drove the college coaches into a frenzy from coast to coast for three seasons at Pitt, may be a problem to the pro coaches. At least that is what Mike Michalske, who helps coach the Chicago Cardinals, infers. Mike reports that Ernie Nevers has changed the Cards' offense four times in an attempt to shake "Biggie" lose, which brings to mind something else. Milan Creighton, in his years of coaching the Cardinals, shifted the offenses in a dozen odd directions. Still the Cards did not win ball games...Dwight Sloan, an important cog in the Detroit Lions machinery as it rolled over the Chicago Bears Sunday, was one of the backs Milan sought to weave into a Cardinal winning pattern. Sloan, principally a passer, went to Detroit for Vernon Huffman, the former Indiana ace who would have been welcome in any backfield in the league. Huffman, however, passed up his contract with the Cards, and Owner Charles Bidwell was loser on two counts. He lost Sloan and didn't get Huffman...Bidwell, incidentally, is ill. He is in Garfield Park hospital in Chicago suffering from bronchial pneumonia. His condition is not considered critical...Nevers believes Goldberg will become one of professional football's "big names" as soon as he learns a few more things about the way the game is played in the league. But no matter what he thinks about Marshall, Ernie has sails set for Nile Kinnick of Iowa. "He's mine," Ernie stated in no uncertain terms as he chatted with a group from the newspapers and sporting world at Milwaukee last weekend. "We'll finish last in the pro league this season and that gives us the first choice in the college draft." The prospect of Kinnick next season, and Goldberg producing as he is expected to, are the only bright spots in a pretty drab season for Ernie. "The other clubs in this league are wasting their time scouting Kinnick," Nevers asserted while a dozen persons, including some that had seen the Iowa flash in action at Madison Sunday listened. "First pop, we're going to claim that boy from Iowa." Kinnick, according to Nevers, is a follower of "faith-healing". "He takes care of his own bruises, and I don't know what kind of a miracle he works, but he's always in shape," Ernie reports. "He never complains even when he takes a beating out there. The most he's let us do for him at Iowa was take his ankles before a game. After a game he'd just limp away and say nothing."...Ernie was an assistant coach at Iowa so he knows the Kinnick situation for every angle. The boy is 170 pounds of scoring threat in any circuit. Outside of Kinnick in college and Goldberg on his own team, Nevers likes Bill Osmanski as an outstanding back. Ernie says that the Chicago Bears' rookie from Holy Cross is the fastest man he ever saw getting away from scrimmage. Only one thing dims the prospect of Kinnick. That is the very important factor of making the grade in the National league. Billy Patterson of Baylor, Bob McLeod of Dartsmouth, Sid Luckman of Columbis and Osmanski all were important against the Lions as the Bears were held scoreless last Sunday. No one man - or four of them - make a football team in the circuit now. As Packer Coach Curly Lambeau points out, "When any man misses an assignment the whole team may be thrown off." Many fancy stepping college backs have been slowed up when a hard charging line discounted the all-America notices of the previous seasons.
BEARS FIND OUT TODAY IF MANIACI IS ABLE TO PLAY
NOV 4 (Chicago) - Today's workout in which the Bears' complete preparations for tomorrow's Green Bay game suddenly has become the most important of the week, for this drill will establish whether Joe Maniaci, veteran fullback and leading ground gainer in the National league, will be able to oppose the Packers. Maniaci suffered a severely wrenched leg against Detroit last week. He was dismissed from the hospital on Tuesday morning to resume practice and has shown steady improvement. His progress had not been rapid enough, however, to permit a definite decision on his availability yesterday...BURDEN ON OSMANSKI: Regardless of the verdict, Bill Osmanski, the rookie sensation from Holy Cross, will be forced to bear the brunt of the burden against the Packers as the Bears strive to preserve a mathematical chance of sharing in the title. Osmanski, in all probability, will start the game and play most of it. The Bears' concern over Maniaci is no reflection on Osmanski. They have the greatest confidence in the young man. But if Maniaci is not available, Osmanski will be without adequate relief, and it is not especially comforting to enter a game as important as tomorrow's struggle without reserve strength, particularly in a position as important in the Bear offense as fullback. Green Bay comes into the city tonight with a full complement of reserves, an offense that has been training in high gear, and a defense that has turned back every opponent except Cleveland...PACKERS EXCEPT BATTLE: The Packers declined comment on the game, their own condition, or what strategy they expect to use in an attempt to remain tied with Detroit for the western division lead. They intimate, however, that they expect Detroit to beat the New York Giants, and it has been known since the first Bear game in Green Bay on Sept. 24 that they expect tomorrow's encounter to be the hardest of their schedule. Coach George Halas announced yesterday that the kickoff had been moved up to 2 o'clock, despite the fact the starting time on the tickets is 2:15 o'clock.
The Packers' opening lineup, last night announced by Coach Curly Lambeau, contains Arnie Herber and Don Hutson, the most feared passing combination since Dorais and Rockne shell shocked the Army. This should be a tip to the customers to be in their seats when the teams come on the field. Herber and Huston have a habit of coming up with one long pass a game against the Bears and on occasion this pass has been unleashed on the first play...RUNNING ATTACK MAY BOTHER BEARS: While the Bears have rehearsed defensive tactics against Herber and Hutson, they expect to get as much troubles from the Packer running attack. Green Bay is not given much credit as a straight football unit. The records reveal, however, that it has scored eleven of its eighteen touchdowns by running and
BEARS TO MAKE LAST STAND WITH PACKERS TODAY
NOV 5 (Chicago) - Chicago's professional football season reaches its climax today. The Green Bay Packers meet the Bears. Beginning at 2 o'clock in Wrigley field these old rivals resume a feud that has become traditional for its intensity and its influence on every National league championship race. Sharing the spotlight with this forty-second Bear-Packer contest on the day's card is the meeting between the Lions and the New York Giants in Detroit. These games are similar in precedent and title possibilities. The Bears have not defeated Green Bay in Wrigley field since 1934 and New York has dropped its four starts in Detroit. Like the Packers, the Lions and Giants need victories today to retain favorable positions in their respective divisions...EXPECTED TO DRAW BIG CROWDS: Barring unreasonable weather, both games will attract crowds that once were considered impossible in professional football. Twenty thousand seats will go on sale in Wrigley field at 10 o'clock this morning and if they are sold, in excess of 42,000 paid will witness the Chicago game. In Detroit the Giants may see their record for the season, 58,000 for the Bear game, broken as the Lion loyalists flock into Briggs stadium. Chicago's portion of the double feature matches the league's two outstanding point making machines. Detroit will be treated to a clash between the leading defensive units in the circuit. The Bears enter the game handicapped by the injury to Joe Maniaci, but with a psychological advantage. Green Bay has been rolling along in high gear, whipping Detroit and Washington on successive Sundays. Its pace leaves it vulnerable to the inevitable letdown. The Bears, on the other hand, have dropped their last two game and are spurred by the memory of that 21 to 16 defeat in Green Bay on Sept. 25...OSMANSKI REPLACES MANIACI: Bill Osmanski will replace Maniaci. The Packers would rather face the Laughing Latin. Their first experience with Osmanski left them awed by the former Holy Cross star's speed and power. He scored one touchdown by literally running over Cecil Isbell on the 5 yard line. A few minutes later he wound up a twenty-seven yard spring by running down Joe Laws' back after the veteran Packer had hit him squarely with a head on tackle on the 5 yard line and lifted him off his feet. A Bear offside penalty nullified the run and score, but it did not erase the memory of Osmanski's explosive charge and deceptive speed.
has made most of its yards on the ground. A fine line and better backfield is responsible for these figures. There also is the fact that Eddie Jankowski, Clarke Hinkle's relief at fullback, is running better than ever and that Joe Laws, who played at Iowa so long ago most of the underclassmen at the Hawkeye institution have never heard of him, appears to be improving with age...LEEMANS WILL CAUSE TROUBLE: New York, a team that always manages to get up just enough to win, no matter what the opposition or the circumstances, catches the Lions right after their greatest performance. Teams have been known to get up and stay high for two or three weeks in a row. As a rule, though, they relax after a superb performance, emotionally and physically. Detroit may retain its fire, but it is doubtful that it can continue at the physical peak that characterized its iromman exhibition against the Bears last week. The Giants will hurl two team against the iron men, one about as strong as the other and both fortified themselves in the field foal kicking threat that sent the Bears into defeat. Tuffy Leemans, one of the game's outstanding running backs, and Feets Barnum, whom Leemans has adopted as his special student for an advance course in ball carrying, will give the Lions defense plenty of trouble. New York's problem will not be getting these men away for gains, however. The Giants must stop Bill Shepherd.
BEAR-PACKER GAME IN CHICAGO SUNDAY EXPECTED TO DRAW 44,000
NOV 5 (Chicago) - Green Bay's mighty Packers make what may turn out to be their decisive bid for the western division championship of the pro league here Sunday afternoon when they meet the Chicago Bears at Wrigley field. A victory, which would be their sixth in seven starts, and the boys from the north will have cleared the last high hurdle in their path, except for the final game with the Detroit Lions at Detroit. A defeat, however, and the Packers will both drop out of their first place tie with Detroit, unless the Lions also lose Sunday, and enter the final lap of the race with the pressure definitely on them. Almost anything is apt to happen if the Packers lose. Even the Bears, already defeated three times, will then have better than a mathematical chance for the title. The Packers arrived here Saturday night and established headquarters at the Knickerbocker hotel, thoroughly mindful of the importance of Sunday's game to their cause. They were in top physical shape, with both Andy Uram and Larry Buhler ready to step in and help Cecil Isbell at left half if and when called upon. Neither was in good shape for the Washington game in Milwaukee last week. If the Packers have everything to gain by winning, however, the Bears, on the other side, have pretty much the same feeling. The sting of two successive defeats the last two weeks is still upon them and the jibes that have been thrown their way after even failing to score against Detroit last week, are still ringing in their ears. They approach the game with a definite feeling they must redeem themselves. The Bears were cheered in their final preparations for the game by the announcement that Joe Maniaci, the league's leading ground gainer who was hurt last week, would definitely be in shape. Maniaci spent several days in the hospital because of a wrenched leg, but rejoined the squad Wednesday and Saturday appeared none the worse for his injury. He won't start, however, giving way to Bill Osmanski, but will undoubtedly get in somewhere along the way. The wild tales of trouble on the team, following a fight between several boys in the Cardinal game several weeks ago, apparently have little foundation judging by the way the team spurted through its final practice Saturday. The squad appears to be on a fine edge. Everything seems to be in harmony. Tickets, as usual, were at a premium. Except for some end line seats, everything was sold. A sellout of 44,000 was expected if the weather is clear.
BEARS-PACKERS GAME TODAY TOSSUP
NOV 5 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - Pro football's THE day has arrived. Sunday, at 2 p.m., the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, archrivals for many years, clash at Chicago in the game that is expected to settle the championship of the western division in the NFL. Victors over the Bears, 21 to 16, at Green Bay earlier this season, the Packers have but to win Sunday to be all but in as champions. But will they? I think it an out and out tossup. Sunday's game is even harder to dope than the earlier meeting. Two straight defeats, at the hands of the New York Giants and Detroit, have proved the Bears are not the super team the club;s list of backs would have you believe; but those two straight defeats may be the sting that will set the Bears off on the comeback trail, for, as yet, they are still not out of the title running. Games between pro football leaders are always hard to dope, but just how the Bears are going to react this week makes Sunday's game more difficult than ever to guess. Coach George Halas of the Bears may have his club at the peak, but he has been known to get a club too jittery and this might be a similar case. To me, the Bears will either come up with their top performance of this year - or their worse. And I can't make up my mind which it will be. The Bears have the backs to win with, but have they the line? The first string front wall is strong, mighty strong, but the reserves are not up to standard, as the Packers' comeback at Green Bay revealed and as the New York and Detroit game proved twice again. With such a set of backs as Maniaci, Luckman, Patterson, Osmanski, Swisher, McLeod, Nolting, etc., I never thought the Bears would be held scoreless, but the Lions, outclassed by the Packers the week previous, did it last Sunday. If the Packers are to win it will be up to the line to outfog the Bears' forwards all the way. The Bay linemen did it in the second half of the first game and should do it again. IF they do, it means the Bays will have control of the ball the greater share of the time and that should mean victory. Offensively the Packers have the Herber to Hutson combination, the biggest threat in the game, plus Cee Isbell, a right smart tosser on his own and a great runner; they have Clarke Hinkle, Ed Jankowski and Frank Balasz, as rugged, two-fisted, power-legged plungers (and don't overlook Balasz as a possible hero for the day); they have Joe Laws, Moose Mulleneaux, Larry Craig, Milt Gantenbein as other runners or receivers who've been known to turn a neat trick or two for the Packer scoring column. Last year the Bears, overkeyed and overanxious, fumbled twice in the early minutes and two Bay touchdowns resulted. The Bays won - but I still believe the Packers would have played a better brand of ball all the route that day had they not got the early lead and with it went back on their heels.
