Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1943)
i A" :- ' -' - - . f J I! 0 33s.- - jx-yy (j Since our gone west WIL isn't around tbj inhale and exhale the baseball weather this spring because of fier hiberation for the duration, we add to her obituary a few oft the records,! high lights and other outstanding incidents which came to pass in the t.2 arrri ", DON OSBORN don Wilkie, Larry Powell, Harvey Storey, Neill Cliff ord and Mary Rickert of Tacoma, who achieved success by landing with Dodgers, Pirates, Red Sox, Cubs, Cincy Reds and Cubs respectively at one time or another; Russ and Lloyd Christopher, Mike DeJan, Milo Candini, Al Gearhauser, Vince DiBiasi and Ed Kearse from Wenatchee to Yanks, Athletics, Reds and the last four to the Yankees respecticely, and Froilan "Nanny" Fernandez from Yakima to Boston Braves. Many Stopped Over on Way Dotcn f Stopping over In the circuit on their wayj down the ladder were such former diamond stars as, Hal Rhyne, Lou Garland, Smead Jolley. Wes Schulmerich. Berly Horrte, Glenn Wright, Ken Penner, Jimmie Reese, Bernie DeVlverosi Johnny Kerr, Hal Sueme, Eddie Wilson, Andy Harrington, Roy Chesterfield and Moose Clabaugh all or whom added color galore during their Vnures in the loop. I And all those say nothing of the many who; went up and came down from the Coast wheel and other circuits ib between the WIL and the majors. J Far and above all the powerhouse hitters who strode to the WIL plates with mace in hand was the' "Bijf Smudge" Jolley. He still holds all-time loop records for individual batting, runs batted in and two-base hits, all picked up in that big 1940 year when Smead hit .373, drove in 181 runs and laced out 56 doubles for Spokane.. - f T Schulmerich, as dept as a clown as he was i pitcher's nightmare, led the loop in hitting the first season, 1937, jjwith a .367 average while managing the Lewiston, Idaho, club. Lewiston also set an in comparable record that year by taking 23 consecutive losses. Inci dentally, Lewiston became Bellingham in '38 and Bellingham in turn became Sale min 1940. I Jolley s Gun Had Biggest Boom m Dave Goodman of Tacoma was batting champ in 1938 with a .337 average when the league developed into a pitcher's paradise and adopted the "dead" ball. The "rabbit" ball came back in '39 and Bill Skelly copped the crown for Wenatchee right out from under 'mate Lloyd Christopher's nose with; a .366 mark. Jolley in '40 and again in '41 for Vancouver, the last time with a .345 mark, and our own Jack Richards .3512 barely nosed out Van couver's Clarence Maddern's .3510 for the title last summer. Tacoma 's Morry Abbot swatted out 37 homers in 1939 for the all-time high mark in that-department and in 140 our Bucky Harris, Paul McGinnis of Spokane and your writer,; ilso an "ex," all had 18 triples for the recognized all-time high. Yipu can skip this, but your "ex" was also the, most missingest mesher in the circuit's his tory, fanning 145 times in 1939 for BellinghamJ Vic Buceola's 52 stolen bases last summer for Spokane is tops and Tacoma's, (as well as Willamette's at one time) Stubby Harriman sacrificed 21 times in 39 for the high in that depart ment. ; Feared Pete Hughes of Spokane was passed 156 times in '41 for high and Arnold Traxler, at home in wtestlerjs tights just as much as on the diamond, got in the way of pitched j balls most by getting hit 18 times while with Wenatchee in '40. Traxler unseated us that year since iresn ousner that we wnicn was mrectiy mt. Miller's 24 Wins a Record j Oscar "Red" Miller, well known in semi-pro circles here a bouts lew, hung-up the most wins for any) one season 24 for Yakima in 1937. But Don Osborn's IS wins and 3 losses in 1941 and 22 and 5 last year earn the ex-Vancouver pitcher-manager the title of outstanding moundsman in the life of the league. I 'Osborn's 1.63 earned run average compiled last season is also tops in the ch-cuU and bested the 1.79 Fleming had in '38. Fleming's mark that year was the best in all organized baseball, by the way. Strikeout king of the circuit was Floyd tLefty" Isekite of Ta coma. In '38 Lefty mowed down 241 batters the hard way. Yakima's Howard Johnson hit 18 batters in 7 for higlji and Bob Williams of Wenatchee walked 186 and wild pitched 24 times in 1941 to take the laurels in those departments, i j f i Pennant Winners Altcays FaUed , " Spokane's amazing .315 team batting average In 1940 was r tops by far and in. '41 and '42 the Vancouver team fielding mrk " of .C each year proved to be the best ever. Wenatchee and Tacoma each-won a half pennant. in '37 with thet Tigers getting the, flag via a olavoff. YakJm. nr.,, ham In 38, although the Oiinoolu . j "ui-u up me pennant in -39 but I Tacoma again demon atrated that the pennant winner seldoni 'eWes through Sin the Ehaughnessys by nabbing the 39 playoffs. Spokane's fine clubs came through In 40 and '41 and Vancouver finally got over the hump last end keeps flaf untU clubs get back to battling after the bigger battle. : . , , .... .- . . Amen.""- ". ; "j! . " ' ' - A?s to Dicker For Johnson j TACOMaJ1 March l(H)-B ob Johnson, outfielder with the Phil- fddphla Athletics for'the past 10 easons, said .here Saturday the Washington ' Senators had been Gettin'.Ready for-MZ'slBaseball Derby in the a 'If "1 ,7-,-t'l :-?r:Tr t S f'mmm i&ii-J f six-year niswry oi ine circuit. Boasting in jthat six-year span everything 1 jfrom the rankest busher to the ex-major league star, the loop proved a stepping stone for a few who finally hit the big show! as well as a pitfall for dozens )f others, too nu merous to riiention, who drop ped into baseball's oblivion. Most of tliose few who final ly made the grade after, gather ing momentum in the Western International were Les "Bill" Fleming, Rugger Ardizoiar Cliff Dapper, Eddie Stewart and Jim Tyack of the Bellingham club now , with j the Club, . Yanks, Dodgers, Pirates and Athletics respectively Les Webber, Al- were m 1938, we were the target : nabbed' ihif lshatlmew.playcft."f given permission by the A's to dicker for;jhis services. ' Johnson ijsaid '"terms -offered hini by Washington were "quite satis factory." but that helwoid ' not afree to v Report until his I defer ences withj the Philadelphia club In connection with a 1942 bonus arrangement .were straightened out. A ; I! . . 5 r -J :l? . ; ! - - - .... i 1 Hi i ft ' i iW y. t v . W I The major league spring ball camps a few scenes of the boys going campaigns. Upper left, three Cardinals, (left to right) Howard Pollet, Ernie White and Mort Cooper, look over long underwear Issued by Property Man Butch Yatkeman on. the first day. Upper right, Cleveland Manager Lou Boudreau gets the feel of his Jacket and cap. Boudreau says the Indians are "the team to! beat" this year. Lower photo, Al Unser (left), rookie, asks Detroit! Man- arer Steve O'Neill which position to try for. Unser is listed as a catcher but can play, almost any Cardinal Chain Gang Proving Worth Despite Player Losses ' " ' is CAIRO, 111., March 20-(P)-Even more than in peace-time, the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system is proving its value tocfay at the champions' spring training camp where manager Billy South worth fr.tes the problem of replacing his war losses. j Cubs Shoo Rip Back to Coast CHICAGO, March j 20 - P) - James Gallagher, general man ager of the Chicago Cubs, said Saturday Glenn "Rip" Russell, first baseman and utility outfield er, had been sold outright to the Los Angeles Angels, s The Cubs bought Russell from Los Angeles in 1939. ! Blair Topped Rookie Hitters 4 i DURHAM, NC, March 20 -(JP) Jim Blair, first baseman with Petersburg of the Virginia league last season, was the leading rookie batter of the 1942 minor leagues, according to an announcement Saturday by the national asso ciation. j Blair, a home town boy, batted Will Use It On KELLER WAGNEXJ well-known heavyweight fighter in Salem and the northwest, will do his battling for Uncle Sam now if be passes Jds final Indnctioni examination. Wagner went Into the army as an inductee in the March It group from Salem. ' it NOTES FROM; THE - r'ASBURY PARK, KJ, March 20 4JP) - Rookie infielder Geo r g-e Stirnwreiss "reported 1 to "the New- York Yankee 'training camp' Sat urday i and immediately increased Manager; Joe McCarthy's worries. McCarthy Is. planning to use - Stimweiss, Who swiped 73 bases -while playing with Newark or the International league last year, at either shortstop or third ' base j during f the coming cam-, paign. But Joe Gordon, regular Yank second baseman. Is a bold- out and so McCarthy indicated he would use the rookie at the; keystone in early, drills. - - Butl Metheny, rookie outfielder also from Newarkj accompanied Stirnweiss here, J FBJCNCH UCK,tlnd, March Majors i -1. I y: i -" A t sprang pen last week and here s through preliminaries for the coming pitchers for the World Champion glove after slipping on his uniform position. ! Three world series heroes outfielders' Enos Slaughter, and Terry Moore and pitcher John ny Beazley are in the armed forces and second-baseman Jimmy Brown has been called for his physical examination with possible induction in mid -April. j Yet, Cardinal fortunes have not yet been affected to the extent that similar military contributions have weakened the majority of the other hiajor league teams. The reason is that the) Car dinal farms, while virtually shut down themselves, have supplied the parent club with a group of promising; replacements, fit's perhaps premature to put the yardstick on rookies in advance of actual; big-time experience but it's safe to predict, as South worth did, that the Cardinals will have "a very interesting team." j ii .360, just j one point below the figure compiled by Manager Wes Ferrell of Lynchburg, former ma jor leaguer who topped the Vir ginia circuit. The Virginia league has disbanded and Blair has not signed up 'with any other club. the Axis Now 2--VTbe' Chicago White Sox forgot contract troubles Satur day as four athleteoXahortstop Luke Appling, catcher ij M i k e Tresh. and outfielders Wally r Moses and Moose Setters -either appeared in camp of in- ? formed club of ficials ; they soon would be. . ,1: Moses said he . would report Monday, Appling sent a elegram he would be here Tuesday and Solters notified the club be woudt appear as soon as he could find a man to replace him ' at !i his tav ern. Tresh strode 'into camp beaming and, apparently. Well sat isfied with his contract. Workouts again were restricted, most of the action being confined to Indoor, tactics. 1 I "a McNtitfrFla&es Bt TED MEIER . - ' .It. was emphasised, howler. By TED MEIER PHILADELPHIA March 20 ; 7 v ; e.';, p t . ; i - I ,- (AVPaul V. MeNutt, eluUrman of the war manpower commis sion, has, gtv.r the head - ritual; fe . wartime (el,Ed DQd- ler.. president ? ef the Prefes-: atonal GoK en' -asaeeia- tlon disclosed today. 'PAUL McNXTTT sailor war ToNoteh Bearcats Belt Prison Outfit f Ball Season Opened With 13-1 Triumph - Willamette's Bearcats and the Penitentiary Grays ushered in. the 1943 baseball season' Saturday in side, the' prison walls but Coach Spec Keene's outfit- made it a miserable debut for the distant State street boys by routing 'em, 13 to 1. The 'Cats creased the offer ings of Cornwall, Farrell and Zimmerman for a dosen blows 'and picked up tally clusters of . two one, two, two and six In the eight inning . game. Eight convict bobbles accounted for almost half the 'Cat scores. , Earl Toolson, Amnion . Adams and . Bill Hanauska divided the mound chores for Keene's outfit and allowed in all only four hits. Toolson was touched for hte lone prison tally. Art Balrd smashed out a long homer in the third . and Ben Schad hung a triple high on one of the cell blocks In the six-run eighth for. Willamette. Don Hil ton and Bud Larson also con tributed a couple of run-scoring blows apiece In the 'Cat assault. The Greys, minus, the services of their famous pitcher, big Luke Crosswhite, who's now .out on par don, were no match for the Meth odists, although both teams had only a few days training under their belts. The teams meet again next Saturday. Keene announced his 'Cats would meet Oregon's Webfoots here on Friday, April 2. Line score: Willamette 201 022 06 13 13 2 Greys 001 000 00 1 4 8 Toolson, Adams (4), Hanauska (, and Cameron. Srcolinl (6); Cornwall; Farrell (4). Zimmerman (8) and Ful ler, Springfield (6). 56th Training Camp for Mack PHILADELPHIA, March 20-(i$)-Connie Mack goes south just 30 miles, to Wilmington, Del., -Monday, for his 56th spring training jaunt as a baseball player and manager. The 80-year-old managerof the Philadelphia Athletics, re calling his first training trip with the Washington Senators in 1888, said Saturday: "We had 15 players that year and we bunked . two in a longer berth and one in an upper to Charlotte, NC. Then we changed trains and rode in a day coach to Jacksonville, Fla. "We lived In a third-class hotel during the training sea son, because the first and second-class hotels wouldn't house 'Rowdy' ball players. In fact, we weren's allowed to mingle with the other guests at our own hotel." WSC Ringsters Off for Meet PULLMAN, March 20 - (P) Mike Melson, 155-pounder on the Washington State 'college boxing team, and David . .Knight, 135 pounds, left this afternoon for the National Collegiate Athletic asso ciation boxing tournament at the University of Wisconsin in Madi son next Thursday, - Friday ". and Saturday. ' r . - -' They are the first WSC entries in two years in the nationals.; . - . The pair, accompanied by Coach Red Spiegelberg, were to1 stop in Spokane over Sunday and work out here, then proceed to Madison Monday morning. " ' ' WWCE Sans Trackmen CHENEY, March ; 20-'HCoach Bob Brumblay faces in his track team the same paucity of exper ienced athletes lie had . in this year's basketball' team, a team which nevertheless took the Winko league title and went on to be sv leading - contender for: national honors. ' -; i,, j r " AA ;; Crovestera Win .. MIDDLE GROVE The Middle Grove softball team smashed out an easy win over the .visiting Ha zel Green nine here Friday after noon. " 4 ' ' 3 Basketball Score! National AAU Tourney at Denver . tChampionship game) PhilliDs - 66 Oilers 57, Denver Leeion 40. '- " (For third and fourth places) Wyoming University 38, Denver University 45- , . . - - -v , It . wu emphasized, . however. that the : war effort cornea ITst ? and that . persona should eialy ! play -Id their spare tLne ted prerided they- do : not - ase trasporUUon: prlvfletes.'.! u Dudley said celt haa been Mr-5 loosiy handicapped In the iist year: by Jan "!adverse psyeholc ical .Inflaenee in .the; mind3of the people doe to the fact tat jnaay who wanted to . play ; 4nd rt - beneficial - exercises iwlere fTld- they would .appear . patriotic , ,. ... . , -., dg mffi&vsfomim:- :aam - --.J-iM It -j --I .y- n-,,;..; - - -. . ---.7 Immmxmmmmmmmmmmi . imiiu iti'l mmmmmrmm m n tin mill i) & iliniwuwn.lt I "i )L . , .. j .. rilllBIPiliff ENSIGN CORNEUUS WARMERDAM, ther pole vault king. He hiked the record to 15 feet S 11tS inches Saturday night In Chicago. : . . Husky EivelDraws Texas 'I-111 Wyoming Plas Okies First .Game Western NCAA Playoffs Friday KANSAS CITY, March SM5) The first round of the KCAA Western basketball play-off .pits the University of Oklahoma against Wyoming at 8 p.m., and Washington against Texas? at 9:30 pjn., Friday night to determine who shall battle it out in the fi nals the next night. , -A-l ; I Drawings for both first round opponents and playing time were made Saturday by the Fifth dis trict basketball committee, f the NCAA. ; - .: Pairings were arrived Z at by drawings from a hat by ttie com- Phillips Oilers For National AAU Hooi DENVER, March 2(H)-With a (dazzling speed attack Phil lips Oilers of Bartlesville, Okla., won the ' national AAU basket ball championship Saturday night by .beating Denver American legion, the defending champion, 57-40; I ine r'nuiips speed built up a seven-point lead at the , Start of play before the legion could score a point. Phillips led 23-12 at half time, i In the first game of fete eve- ning, to settle third and 'i fourth place standings, two scoring bursts by sleek-muscled Kenny f Sailors short Wyoming University to a 58 45 win over Denver University and gave the cowboys third hon ors in the tournament. A.A 39 Fighters In NCAA Meet h MADISON. WIS.. Marcf; 20-P) Thirty-nine boxers, representing 12 colleges and universities and one US army flying school, have been entered in the ninth annual rational collegitee athletic associa tion tournament to be held March 25, 26 and 27 in the University of Wisconsin field house, Buy Sundt, tournament manager, an nounced Saturday night. , Schools which have entered box ers include Washington State. Bocchi All-State To Baker Quint BAKER March 2HJP-Baker's Bulldogs Saturday named CapT tain Jim. Bocchi of Klamath Falls State basketball champs on their all-opponent team. Bocch i didn't rate the official All-State first team, ' although " he hooped 20 points in the title game with Ba? ker during, the tournament at Sa lem." ' . j f :i: .V X Trappers Fire for Merchandise Today' , -' Secretary Clarence ToWHsend ' reoslnds that ' the Salem Trap- -shooters club will. bold, n : aoor- chandlse shoot on be elub rang : "today starting this morning at - If o'clock. Members : are -urged -U. Join ' In : the, shoot.;: tf -; '? Naiicy Eptur l--ArA AIA:.C-.,i:::-'-i'ZA-Al . PORTLAND, Ore March 2t fjP) Slxteen-y e a r-old : S . n e y Merkl of Portland added noth- :. er national title, to her collection by swim m I if the : lttyard women's j I r breaststroke course In 1-21 minutes. , Miss Merkl, bolder-of several middle disUnee UUes. f wished far ahead of a field composed of teammates from, the fn!ta; 'mah athletic dub.- ' . '; . Wr. McNntt," Dudley said la Mr. McNntt," Dudley said la a statement,. wasi surprised to learn! that this psychalary ire- . ailed. He pointed fe the empha- . sis f. which r the 'armed ; force ' place npon hysleal fitness thronirh recreation ami exercise. WhDe icertalnly f prof esalonal sports' can ' never ' expect any ' kind ? el favored treatment el- ' therm; draft deferment or; In eompetaion with j essential or wartimf lndnstrlej, recreational sport' sueh. he felt, would 4 - o . mittee, I headed by Dr. H. HKing St of Kansas State college-1 and" : in eluding' George Edwards,' basket ball coach - at University, of Mis- souri; pill Williams, basketball coach" at Drake university, and C, E. McBride, spofts editor "of the Kansas City Sta. ' .' Th jwinner of the W e s t e m play-offs will go! to New York to meet be iwinnet of " the Eastern play-ptfs in the NCAA champion-. ' game." The championship team will meet the winner of the Newi orh4 invitational tournament in a -Jljed Cross benefit game later in, Madison Square Garden. Dee4t - Denver e s March 20-()-T h e Alpine Dairy team of Seattle, pe- renniel champions of northwest independent basketball, turned the trickl again; Saturday night, defeating : the Frcrest Dairy five Of Bellingham, 29 to 25, for the rtitle-i! i -' I IA Although they led, 12-11 at the half, the champions had to. come 'from behind in the last six jninutes of the contest to jwln. ' . S- . A - - -. ; : j The Lohrer's Sport Shop bas ketball team of I Seattle won third place,! defeating the Royal Cana dian; f Army five "from Victoria, BC, 32 to 18, in the final! game of the consolation bracket, i i 1 4 4 : .!!' - UW Redely for !4iithmg--Hec j SA-T"LE. March 29-(V U o a c n ; Hee . LdmandMn pro nounced , his ijnlverslty of Washington Huskies, basketball champions "of the- Pacific coast, fit iffoc : anything" Saturday night after their next to last ; workouti before leaving for the western L collegiate - playoffs at Kansas ltyV The Huskies leave . ".'.41 f t ; ;- , -' F ' . Redwing Hockey Outfit Favored NEW YORK, : March 20-P) Topping off a hockey season filled with; bn expected performances by. almost every cub except the -.Detroit Redwings the National , hoc key league postrseason playoffs get itnder .way Sunday .'with the Redwings rated as .odds-on:"fa-' voritls .to win the' coveted Sian- l7 hp i :?:cXU - The race was one of two na tional titles events held in con nection 'with the annual Oregon swimming meet.. The , other ts the I5fyard Women's Junior In divid aa medley, scheduled for Sundayf ,:'-.-!-..- - The only state record estab lUhed wma by Bod Hill of tho Washington athletic club, Seat lie, wh swam the lCD-ysrd boy's breast-stroke in 1:12 min- 'rthlSlifewviiimii Mark I - . -ft--- " - T ',. -.2 nn y-:r. - a- 1 OU1 Dime Seatll Dairy Got: " "I' eontry elubs can provide horsedraws vehicles to get their players to the courses or if the people "can reach them by pnb lie; eoBveynnees, there, U no reason why they should not play in their spart tfme. Bear Cn mind that the was" effort comes-'first, but don't, be afraid to et out and exereJee on the coif courses at the rUht time.. Don't feel that It i Is unpatriotic' to' pUy, coif." McNutt stte. : : ,, BothiOutdcor, Indd or Marks v 1 Gji Dm1U Gallops ; Ti Banker Mile Win CHICAGO, March 2i)En slgn "Cornelius ,vWarmerdam. Sat urday nighr bettered' bis own .world's record in the pole vault at the Chicago! relays by leapingWS. feet 8.4 inches! Warmerdam's : feat topped both his world outdoor mark of 151 feet l H Inches and his world Indoor record of 15 feet 11a Inches. ' Dashing down' a i 40-foot runway. Wanner dam arely ticked the bar aaaking it vibrate. sUghtly. Whhe the rest of the , field dropped out, Warmer dam, vault ing .for the first time as a navy man 'Stationed at the Chapel Hill, NC pfe-flight school, soared over the bar at 15 feet 1 inches and then at 15 feet 3H Inches before taking off On his" record jump. His! successes added . up to .the '33rd time" te had cleared. 15 feet or better: ' ' ,' '.'- ." ' ' Gil Dedds, Boston divinity student, broke en too and held the lead throughout to win tho Bankers Mile with 19 yards 'fc-L?, Mitchell of Indiana. " His tfrno Saturday night was 4:08. , Dodds thus annexed his second major1 title j of the season, bavin g wn the Boilon Baxter mi 4:08.8. His time Saturday night was the best mile of -the year. A Frank ," Dixon, tho New York university freshman seeking his fourth big mile crown after w inning ' the, nunter. Columbi an and National AAU. fell into the tape In an effort to brat out Mitchell after . his famous , closing sprint failed him. but came in third. , One world record was equalled K when Herbert Thompsarr posted a time cf :04.4 in the 40-yard O dash, j first event in the 1 spring . series which the New York negro has dominated for-the last three J years' ' J ; The firs upset. of the mfL which attracted a crowd ofn about ie,o, came in ..e "lOOO". when Les Eisenhart, ' formerOhlo State captain and . now! running out of Port Clin ton, j O., beat out the famed Gene Venike by- two yards, and! Dave Matthews, Michigan track captain, who . finished third. :' :(' y-V' Ik :' Little Greg Rice captured his 63rd isuccessfve race InUhe two mile 'despite a gallant challenge by tyotre Dame's Ollie Hunter. Timei was 8:55.9. - ! . Cougar Track Stock Rises PULLMAN, March 20--The stock of the Washington State college : trak team received a boost, with: the announcen."? Saturday by Coach Babe Hol lingbery that, four more extf ienced thin-clads are turning out. The four j lettermen are; Cap tain Pat Haley, sprints and hur dies; Witt,; Larry j Brown, sprints; Scott field Events, and Bill Zim merman,' hurdles and field events. Fite Results PITTSBURGH, March 20 WP) Buddy Walker, Columbus negro heavyweight, knocked out . Dan Merrilt, Cleveland negro heavy, in the .second 'round of their scheduled IB-round fight tonight. Walker weighed 192: Merritt 210. :.; - . -r,-- . . .: , NEW ,XORK; March 20 -(JF) Phil , Norman, , 148, Detroit, and Carl Buddy'? - Farrell, ; 150, tjat-. tied "to a 'draw Saturday nightV, an eight round bout thot had $fr.i man saved -by the bell at the end of the seventh and Farrell stag gering helplessly about the ring in the final frame. I " , " i ntesj TheS previous mark was 1:19.5. held by Spike Paget of the Multnomah Athletic club, who finished second Saturday. Hill also won the 220-yard free style for boys, and his teammate, Gordon Sherwood, was first In the junior 100-yard free style and the 100-yard backstroke. Eleven of the meet Z9 events rmln i k. m Sunday. i t - I i 1 . i I ?! . ls 'A w j
