ERST LESEN! » n attempt.Andersons goal came with Dallas

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -- The last living player from the 1945 World Series was pulling for the Cubs this year.Ed Mierkowicz didnt play for Chicago. He was on the Detroit team that beat the Cubs in Game 7 at Wrigley Field 71 years ago. Now 92, the Michigan native remains a big baseball fan and was looking forward to this years World Series finale Wednesday night between the Cubs and Cleveland Indians.Id like to see the Cubs win, he said Wednesday. Not because I dont like Cleveland, but its been a long time for the Cubs.The Cubs did win, beating Cleveland 8-7 in 10 innings to win their first title since 1908. Before this season, they hadnt even made it to the World Series since 1945 , when Mierkowicz was on the field for the final outs. His only appearance of that series came at the end of Game 7.Chicago had tied the series with a 12-inning victory in Game 6, but the Tigers scored five runs in the top of the first in Game 7 and never looked back. Mierkowicz admits he doesnt remember a lot of the details from games over seven decades ago, but the play-by-play at Baseball-Reference.com helps fill in the gaps.With the Tigers up 9-3, a nervous Mierkowicz entered to start the bottom of the ninth, replacing Detroit star Hank Greenberg in left field.If I took my pants off, my knees would be shaking, he said. I just went along with the flow.Mierkowicz was a 21-year-old rookie who had appeared in only 10 games during the regular season.It was exciting, he said. In fact, it was so exciting, I dont know what the hell was going on -- all the people going crazy.The first batter singled his way, but the final three outs came quickly after that, and the Tigers were champions. Mierkowicz said there was no wild, bubbly-filled celebration the way there would be these days.They couldnt afford it, he said. They probably had a little drink or something like that, but it wasnt like now.Mierkowicz recalls throngs of fans waiting when the team took the train back to the Detroit area. He said there was a party at a hotel -- and he won a car in a raffle.He also speaks highly of Greenberg.I was a rookie. The other guys sort of shunned the rookies, Mierkowicz said. He was good to me. I didnt know him that well, but he was a great guy, great ballplayer.Mierkowicz was born in Wyandotte, which is just south of Detroit. Hes friends with Bob Kuzava, the Wyandotte native whose big league pitching career spanned over a decade. Kuzava was the man on the mound when the New York Yankees closed out World Series championships in 1951 and 1952.Mierkowicz ended up playing only 35 major league games over four different seasons with the Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. He said it was like a cup of coffee -- but no cream.Still, not many players can say they were in the game when their team won a World Series, and Mierkowicz enjoys talking about his career.At his home in a senior living community in suburban Detroit, he has a team picture of the 1945 Tigers.God gave me the ability to play ball, he said. Made a pretty good living. We didnt make a lot of money, but it was a lot of fun.The game has changed a lot since then, needless to say.Theyve got better equipment, and theyre staying healthy because theyre making big money. Equipment is so much different than we used to have, he said. We used to have to buy our glove and shoes. We have to buy it. Now, they give them 25 pairs of shoes. Its like everything else. It changes. For the better, of course.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Air Max Plus Discount . JOHNS, N. Air Max Plus 270 Sale . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. http://www.airmaxplusstoresale.com/air-max-plus-tn-cheap/tns-red-discount.html . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. Vapormax Plus Womens Cheap .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Vapormax Plus Sale .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. DALLAS -- Sergei Bobrovsky was flawless as the last line of defense. The Columbus Blue Jackets goalie had plenty of help up front on Saturday night.Bobrovsky earned his 13th career shutout in Columbus 3-0 win over the Dallas Stars.He had 32 saves for the second night in a row, with the Blue Jackets winning both after losing their first two games of the season. Dallas is 0-1-1 in the last two games, both at home.(Bobrovsky) played good, Columbus coach John Tortorella said. I dont think he steals a game, but he just looks solid. We were in total control of that game, I felt. You have to give everybody credit because it was a team win tonight.I thought we had the right amount of patience slash aggression.Josh Anderson led Columbus offense with a goal and an assist, but he talked about Bobrovsky.You saw him in the World Cup. He played phenomenal. I think hes just carrying that over to this team. Hes really comfortable and confident. Sometimes when we make mistakes, hes there to cover them up.Anderson tapped in the games first goal at 16:04 of the second period. Dallas Kari Lehtonen couldnt slide back into position after Boone Jenner passed across the goal mouth.(Anderson)s been very consistent, Tortorella said. He adds so much speed to our lineup, as far as the forechecking, scores a big goal, very responsible away from the puck. He has been solid.Scott Hartnell scored at 9:02 of the third period, with assists from William Karlsson and Anderson. Matt Calvert added an empty-net goal with 1:12 to play.Columbus has won seven of the last 10 games between the teams. Bobrovsky is 8-1-1 in his career vs. Dallas.Lehtonen had 23 saves.Dallas outshot the Blue Jackets 9-7 in the scoreless first period, and had nothing to show for a 15-8 advantage in shots on goal in the second.There was a span of 4 or 5 minutes in that second period when we started playing a little bit of pond hockey, turning the puck over, and let them counter on us, Tortorella said. But for the most part I thought our concentration was really good, understanding were in a back-to-back situation.ddddddddddddhe Stars best scoring chance came midway through the second period, when Bobrovsky stopped Devin Shores tip-in attempt.Andersons goal came with Dallas captain Jamie Benn and the Blue Jackets Brandon Dubinsky were in the penalty box for fighting.The goal was set up after a Dallas pass intended for Brett Ritchie, skating in toward the goal, didnt reach him because it hit a linesman. Ritchie was late in skating back on defense, so Columbus had a manpower advantage.We got a little lucky break from the refs, Tortorella said. One of the refs said they felt awful about it. But it happens, itll happen against us this year.Columbus Cam Atkinson sent a penalty shot wide left at 9:39 of the third period. It was awarded because the Stars John Klingberg slid his stick into Atkinsons path on a short-handed breakaway.Were turning way too many pucks over, Klingberg said. He had 5 of Dallas 12 giveaways. The Blue Jackets had only three.Game notes Dallas injury-riddled front line was without two forwards hurt in Thursdays game. Patrick Sharp (concussion-like symptoms) was placed on injured reserve, and Patrick Eaves (lower-body injury) was scratched. Taking their places were Ales Hemsky, back from a groin injury, and Gemel Smith, recalled from Texas of the AHL for his NHL debut. ... The Blue Jackets were without D Ryan Murray, who was elbowed in the jaw during Fridays win over Chicago. ... Columbus was 0 for 2 on the power play and Dallas 0 for 5, but two of those lasted just 3 seconds each.UP NEXTBlue Jackets: Columbus, in a stretch of five games in eight days, will play the second of four straight road games on Tuesday at Los Angeles.Stars: Theyll complete a three-game home stand on Tuesday against Winnipeg. ' ' '