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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 Bills Jerseys China . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Nate Becker Jersey . 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"Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- In their first game back after a tough six-game road trip, the Vancouver Canucks looked like a team hoping to wipe away some bad memories.Troy Stecher tied it with 1:40 left in the third period and Markus Granlund scored in overtime, helping Vancouver rally to beat the Dallas Stars 5-4 on Sunday.Dallas held leads of 3-1 and 4-3, but Vancouver got goals from Louis Eriksson, Brandon Sutter, Bo Horvat and Stecher to force overtime. The Canucks were coming off a 1-5 trip and have two wins in their last 12 games.It was a tough (road trip) for us, but its good to be back home and this was a good win for us, Granlund said. Everybody in this room is sticking together and playing for each other.Granlund scored 1:27 into overtime by finding a loose puck off a faceoff and snapping it past goalie Kari Lehtonen.That came after Stecher slapped a puck through Lehtonens legs, sending the arena into a frenzy. It was the first NHL goal for the 22-year-old rookie defenseman.It was a good feeling, Stecher said. But getting that win on home ice is a lot better feeling. Im sure you guys can see it throughout the room -- the vibes are up and we feel pretty good.Ryan Miller made 17 saves for Vancouver.Patrick Eaves scored twice and Lauri Korpikoski and Antoine Roussel also scored for the Stars, who wrapped up a five-game road trip 2-1-2.We were right there, Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. We made a little mistake on (Stechers goal), just on coverage going out to the point. If we played that better, that puck definitely doesnt go in.Lehtonen stopped 25 shots for Dallas, which had won 10 straight against the Canucks.Dallas had our number lately, Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins said. I dont know if it was a must-win, but it certainly was a big win for us, and we needed to score some gooals.ddddddddddddIt was good we battled in the third. I thought we showed great resiliency to stay with it.Eaves, Horvat and Korpikoski scored during a one-minute span early in the first period. Eaves knocked in a rebound past Miller at 5:43, but Horvat tied it at 6:05 with a wrist shot off Lehtonens shoulder. Korpikoski put Dallas back ahead on a 2-on-1 with Radek Faksa 20 seconds later.Eaves made it 3-1 with 4:56 left in the second. Tyler Seguin got his second of three assists with a cross-ice pass to Eaves, who one-timed a shot by Miller.Eriksson scored 3:26 into the third when a Stars turnover allowed Granlund to get the puck to him in the slot. The struggling forward put it through Lehtonens legs for his second goal of the season.Sutter tied it on the power play by finding the net from the slot with Lehtonen screened at 6:06 into the third.A defensive gaffe put Dallas back ahead. The puck deflected off Nikita Tryamkins skate and hit Millers pad before popping out right to Roussels stick for a tap in with 8:11 remaining.The Canucks appeared to tie it when Burrows shoveled in a loose puck in the crease, but Dallas successfully challenged for goaltender interference to overturn the goal.Game notes Stetcher was playing in his seventh game. The Richmond native had two assists and 16 shots prior to Sunday. ... Former Canuck Dan Hamhuis got a standing ovation during a video tribute. Hamhuis was with Vancouver for six seasons before signing a two-year free agent contract with Dallas in July.UP NEXTStars: Return home following this five-game trip to host New Jersey on Tuesday night.Canucks: Continue a four-game homestand Tuesday night against the New York Rangers. [url=http://www.authenticwholesalejerseys.net/]Ch