Funkerstation » tion as the best player never to win a major

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -- The last living player from the 1945 World Series has been pulling for the Cubs.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 were trying for 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 Custom Noah Fant Jersey . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. 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SPRINGFIELD, N.J. -- The Latest on the PGA Championship (all times EDT):4 p.m.Sergio Garcia always draws attention as the best player never to win a major and this week he tries to end the streak again and it will be on a course he likes.Ive taken a couple looks, he said of Baltusrol Golf Club. Course looks great. Very, very good shape. Obviously a couple new tees here and there from 2005. The lake on 18, obviously its a little bit closer to the fairway than it used to be, but the course looks really, really good. Obviously I like what I see. Hoping to play nicely this week again and have a chance coming on the weekend.2:30 p.m.The PGA of America has no plans to move next years championship out of Charlotte despite the North Carolina law limiting protections for LGBT people.The tournament is scheduled for Quail Hollow, a regular spring stop on the PGA Tour.PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua reiterated his organizations opposition to the law on Wednesday, but made it clear the PGA Championship would remain at the course.We are trying to do everything we can, as part of our strategic plan for our organization in golf, to make the game as inclusive as possible, Bevacqua says.We can only control so much. We cant control the policies, the rules and the regulations around the country and municipalities and states. We can only do what we can do. And well try to make that PGA Championship, like we do every PGA Championship, enjoyable, inclusive, and shine a great light on our organization and the game of golf.Asked how the NBAs decision to move its All-Star Game out of Charlotte next year affects the PGA, Bevacqua adds:Of coursse we took notice of the NBAs decision, and you know, we came out with a statement shortly thereafter.dddddddddddd ... Well continue to be vocal about our opposition. And quite frankly, we really hope it changes.1:50 p.m.European captain Darren Clarke has tapped Sam Torrance as his fifth and final vice captain for the Ryder Cup.Torrance was the winning captain at The Belfry in 2002. He played on eight European teams, and he won the clinching point in 1985 when Europe beat the Americans for the first time since between 1981 and 1995. He might be most famous for raising both arms in triumph when Europe won in 1985 for the first time since 1957.Clarkes other vice captains are Padraig Harrington, Thomas Bjorn, Ian Poulter and Paul Lawrie.The matches are Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at Hazeltine in Minnesota. Europe will be going after its fourth straight victory.---12:05 p.m.Defending champion Jason Day got his first look at Baltusrol on Wednesday -- one day before the start of the PGA Championship.Day is an example of how the Olympics have crowded the golf schedule this year. He went from the British Open to Toronto to defend his title in the Canadian Open, and now he plays the final major of the year.The worlds No. 1 player decided to take Monday off to conserve his energy, and then he missed Tuesday because he was sick. Day typically gets to a major venue the weekend before.The 28-year-old Australian is trying to join Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back winners of the PGA Championship in stroke play. ' ' '