By Al Costello
Washington Post Staff Writer
Dec. 9, 1945; Page 1

The Redskins got over the big hump yesterday.

They beat the much feared New York Giants, 17-0, at Griffith Stadium before 34,788 howling and thoroughly approving customers to win the Eastern title and get a shot at the anticipated record playoff pot next Sunday at Cleveland.

Had the Redskins faltered as did the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday against these same Giants it would have been bad. Because the Eagles yesterday were making the Redskins go all-out as they methodically whipped the Boston Yanks. Had the Redskins fallen it would have been all tied up and a playoff for the Eastern crown would have to have been endured next Sunday instead of playing for all the money in the kitty. But the Redskins wanted none of that sort of thing and played like it.

The victory was the eighth of the season in the championship play against two defeats. The Eagles won seven and lost three. They Redskins lost to the Boston Yanks and Eagles, while the Philadelphians bowed to the Detroit Lions, the Redskins in their first game and the Giants in last Sunday's stunning upset. Thus the Redskins wound up one full game ahead of Alex Thompson's Terrors.

In the sellout crowd was the master military strategist, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. "Ike" saw his football counterpart in command yesterday, a gent by the name of Samuel Adrian Baugh of Sweetwater, Tex.

If the Redskins were terrific yesterday, and they were, Sammy was something super. If he made a mistake all day, it wasn't apparent, as the tall Texan nursed the team along slowly, carefully one moment and daringly the next, but ever surely, it became more and more apparent he was the boss of the greensward beyond any lingering doubt.

He called the right plays at the right time and so thoroughly did he do his chores the Giants always were back on their heels and constantly on the defense. The Redskins must have controlled the ball at least 75 percent of the time as Baugh continually outguessed the Giant defense that was robbed of much of its effectiveness by the absence of the flu-stricken Frank Cope, a capable 60 minute tackle. And then in the second quarter, when the veteran Mel Hein suffered an ankle injury and had to retire, the Giants were really up against it.

WHen the Giants were looking for a pass, Sammy was shooting Frank Akins through the line or calling upon Merlyn Condit, Dick Todd, Sal Rosato or some other Redskin worthy to slant off the tackles. And that they did with devastating effectiveness as their 296 rushing yardage pickup so thoroughly attests.

And when the Giants tightened to stop the running, Sam kept 'em dancing with his aerials. He only completed 1 out of 19 for 150 yards, including a touchdown pass to Le Dye, but the threat was ever there and the Giants respected his arm, but were powerless to stop him with any degree of consistency.

The Redskins scored three points in the first quarter on a 23-yard field goal by Joe Aguirre and they tacked on touchdowns each in the third and fourth periods. The third-period score was a 25-yard pass play, Baugh to Dye, while the fourth-quarter tally came after a Giant fumble on their own 17 from which point Bob DeFruiter and Akins whirled through the befuddled Giant line with Akins finally going over from the 1-yard stripe.

First Since 1937<BR> On the final touchdown, Baugh (you just can't keep that guy out of things) did something he hasn't done since 1937, his rookie year. He scored a point!

Aguirre try for point was blocked, but Baugh scooped up the bounding leather in full stride and bounded over the goal line. It was only the seventh point of his nine-year career, the other half dozen coming from a touchdown against the Brooklyn Dodgers in '37. He almost scored in Pittsburgh several years ago, but the play was called back and the Redskins penalized.

The Redskin defense was magnificent. The line made blocks of granite look like so many pebbles. The famed Giant running attack, featuring "Bullet Bill" Paschal and a speedy George Franck, was stifled to the extent of only 27 yards. Another 35 yards was picked up on aerials, making a total of 62 yards in all and footbal games are hardly won on those figures.

Amazingly enough, the Giants never legally entered Redskin territory. They reached their own 41 twice, once on a 15-yard penalty and again when Baugh booted a not-so-good punt outside at the 41-yard line. The rest of the time the Giants were mired behind their own 30 and powerless to get out as the Redskins covered their every offensive move with blanket-like effectiveness.

The Giants did get to the Redskin 21 once — but it was a counterfeit deal. The veteran Arnie Herber, whose four touchdown passes last week beat the Eagles, tried one of his jackpot specials in the third period but Carl Grate, a guard and ineligible receiver, snagged the leather. The officials, it appeared, were apparently going to let the Giants get away with it, but the Redskins beefed aplenty, the mistake was rectified, The Redskins getting the ball from the scrimmage line. All of which was comparable to a batter hitting a long foul into the bleachers and then striking out on the next pitch.

Matter of fact, Herber was more rushed than a Christmas shopper all afternoon trying to get the ball away. Then the Giants tried Junior Hovious and Joe Lulaitis at chucking but they, like Herber, were as ineffective as a pea-shooter against a tank. If you would like to know the name of the Redskin linemen doing all the damage, merely look at the roster. They were all playing the game of their lives.

Significant is the fact that the Giants managed to work out only four first downs. Two of these came via penalties.

The Redskins scored the second time they came into possession of the ball. The first time they drove 51 yards only to lose the ball when Akins, completing a 12-yard gallop, fumbled and Sam Fox, Giant end, of the D.C. Central High School Foxes, recovered on the Giant 40.

But the next time they drove from their own 30 to the 16, where on fourth down Aguirre let his talented toe go into action from the 23.

The Redskins almost scored just before the half, driving from their own 40 to the two where Condit found a wall at center as he tried to bull his way into the scoring column. This either discombooberated or amazed the officials into shooting off the half time gun, 52 seconds ahead of time, which mistake was also rectified after a bit of confusion.

The Redskins drove 54 yards for their third period score with Akins doing most of the toting until the 22 was reached. Here Akins lost two. Baugh then wound up and chucked his long heave to Les Dye, old Mr. Sticky Fingers in person, who wrenched the ball away from the Giants' Bill Petrillas on the four and proceeded to elude Ward Cuff's desperate tackle try for the score.

Fumble Helped
Then in the fourth period the Giants committed a fumble on their own 17, which bobble was hurriedly pounced upon by Redskin end Alex Piasecky. DeFruiter quickly smashed for seven and Akins struggled his way through the middle for nine and then barged over on the next try, taking a beautiful punch in the snout as he did so.

That's all there is to the story, which will be continued from Cleveland next week, except it is the fifth Eastern title in nine years for the Redskins. They came in '37, '40, '42 and '43, in addition to yesterday's. Also Baugh assured himself of a new passing efficiency record, which was entirely expected, and Frank Akins at least cemented his runner-up spot in ground gaining to Steve Van Buren by roaming for 150 yards in 23 tries. Joe Aguirre won the league's field goal kicking title when he booted his seventh yesterday, breaking a six-all tie between himself and the Giants' veteran Ken Strong.

The Redskins, incidentally gained a total of 443 yards and piled up 19 first downs.