1
if
Bend An Ear
By FRED WADE
. . Bulletin Sports Writer
Eugene high school literally
walked off with all honors at the
Oregon State basketball tourney
held in Eugene last week as they
crushed most of their opposition
by twenty points a game. An un
expected and somewhat critized
honor was heaped upon the stu
dents of the school when they re
ceived the much valued first place
sportsmanship award.
On the whole the tourney was
not up to par with those of the
past, featuring a much wider split
between the caliber of the teams.
- Many of the squads gave poorer
showings than is associated with
the toumey, but this fault was cor
rected by the other, half of the
quintets that could do well in any
tournament such as this.
The event lacked Its usual color
until the last night when groups
of students from each of the two
top schools took it upon them
selves to take down the oppo
sitions signs.
Following two years of being
second in the state the Axemen
supporters could control them
selves no longer and with the final
gun swarmed out on the floor and
before they could be stopped, had
thrown several of the players into
the stands and left two female
rooters on the floor.
. The climax of the spectacle was
well received by those teams that
must play a game each day. This
is one of the biggest drawbacks
of the tourney in that the team
members are in the first stages of
fatigue near the end of the fourth
day of play.
Nearly all of the 26 contests
were well attended with the result
that many of the attendance rec
ords were shattered.
The local representative to the
event, the Redmond Panthers,
gave a fine showing as they
climbed to within one game of the
top team in the consolation round.
The Panthers lost twice In the
competition while winning one
game from a tall Hillsboro quintet.
Th,e losses were handed them by
the defending champions, Milwau
kie, and Sixth place Central Catho
lic. The Panthers met the finest of
comntitlon in the form of three
all-staters from the teams they
meet. Jhey were Miller and Bloc
del, of the Milwaukie Mustangs
and Jim Altenhofen, of. the Central
Catholic squad. ' -
It looks as if the West coast
pent the right ronrescntatlve to the
NCAA basketball finals in Kansas
this fist weekend as the San Fran
cisco Dons took the national hoop,
ri'wirln a breeze over the La
Salle quintet.
The Dons were lead In their vic
tory by ail-American Bill Russell
and K. C. Jones while the La
Sallc team stayed in the game
only through the efforts of Tom
Gola.
Chicago Blanks
Angels 7 to 0
MESA, Ariz., (UP) The Los
. Angeles Angels faced the Chicago
Cubs yesterday and were held to
two hits as they went down 7-0 be
fore a pitching exhibition by ace
hurlers Bubba Church and Hal
Jeff coat.
Church struck out 15 Angel bat
ters in the five Innings he pitched.
Jeffcoat gave up two lilts while his
teammates racked up the decisive
victory by slamming two home
runs and 12 lilts.
In Saturday's contest, the Cubs
defeuted the Angels 8-3, although
Ajigol pitcher George Piktuzis, 23-ycar-nld
southpaw, hold the Chica
go team to three hits and one run
in the five innings he worked.
Bevos Hang Up
Pair of Wins
Portland Beavers chalked up wins
over Fort. Ord and the seniipro
Glendnlc Pirates here In weeknd
exhibition games.
The Beavers' B team took ad
vantage of four errors and eight
walks yesterday to outlast the Pi
rates, 12-10. Granny Gladstone
homered with one on in the fourth
for Portland.
Foil Old kept the Beavers hop
ping Saturday and forced the Port
landers to come from behind to
win the 8-7 contest. Don Kggerl
saved the day with a fourth inning
hiimerun with two men on. lied
Mickelson toured the bases in the
second and Hush Sullivan slummed
n homer In the tilth for the
Beavers.
Padres Edge
Hollywood 10-8
SAN DIEGO, Calif., (UP) -The
San Diego Padres, Inst year's I'CL
pennant winners, defeated the Hol
lywood Stars for the third lime in
lie series yesterday, 10-8, although
the visitors at one time held a four
run advantage.
George (Rod) Witt pitched live
innings during which the Stars
grabbed an early four-run lead
when rookie outfielder DuAne
While hit a triple. Tim Padres'
Dick llogan, a rookie outfielder,
matched White's performance in
the fourth to launch a San Diego
rally that kept the Twinks behind.
The Bend Bulletin,
NCAA Title
Won by Dons,
Russell Tops
By MIX KOSENTKKTKR
United Press 8mrU Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UP) Six-i
ten Bill Russell, who led San Fran
cisco to me NCAA basketball
championship by outplaying "Play
er of the Year" Tom Gola, bested
Gola again today by winning the
tournament's "most valuable play
er tropny.
Russell outscored Gola, 23-16. as
San rrancisco beat defending
champion La Salle rather easily,
77-M, In Saturday nights final
round.
Both Russell and Gola were
unanimous choices on the all-tour
nament team named to the honor
squad were. Carl Cain of Iowa,
K. C. Jones of San Francisco, and
Jim Ranglos of Colorado.
Jones actually won scoring hon
ors in the championship game with
24 points.
Wooiiiort I'rulHcs Defense.
Coach Phil Woolpert of the new
champions had high praise for all
his men, particularly Russell and
Jones, and he gave special credit
to the Dons' defense the best in
the nation, according to official
statistics.
"Defense won It for us." said
Woolpert. "That was the difference
in the game. We were up against
a great shooting team, but our de
fense and hustle beat them."
Russell had a simple explanation
for the triumph, the Dons' first
in a national tournament since
they won the HMD National Invi
tation Tournament. Russell said,
"I am playing on the best team
in the world and wo just beat the
best team we ever played."
Conch Ken Loeffler of La Salle,
disappointed at his team's Inability
f iin ihn nniirt Sim
Francisco "a great team" and Rus
sell "a great player." He frankly
admitted the Dons were "the bel
ter tram," but also said he thought
La Sal'e did not nlny its best game.
Colorado Wins Consolation
The title victory was San Fran
cisco's 26lh In a row and 28th In
29 games this season. The Dons' -
nnlv defeat of the season came in
their third came when tliev bowed j
to UCLA, 47-40.
The Dons' triumph confirmed
their selection as the nation's No. 1
team at the end of the regular
season by the United Press Board
of Coaches.
Gola, voted college .basketball's
"Plaver of the Year" during the
regular season, scored only nine
noints during the first half while
Russell's 18 wero sending San
Francisco out in front. And then
Gola tallied only seven in the sec
ond half while Jones was canning
18 to clinch Ihe Dons' victory.
Colorado gilned third place in
the tournament by winning the con
solation enme from Iowa in a sur
prise. 75-51.
And the hem of Ihis game was
Ranglos, a "Cinderella player"
who was only a substitute al the
start of the tournament but got a
chance to pl'iy when a regular
siralncd an nnk'e. He nailed down
his selection on the oil-tournament
team by scoring 18 points against
Iowa.
Comeback Scored
By Middlecoff
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (t'l'l
Cary Middlecoff has won his share
of tournaments since leaving his
dentist chair for the golf trail, tout
none matched his comeback vie
toiy in the SI. Petersburg Open.
Behind by five strokes at Ihe
sturt of Sunday's final round, Ihe
lean Tennessee pro fired a five-undrr-par
67 to win the tourna
ment Willi a 72-hole total of 274.
Jay Hebcrt o( Woodmoio. N.Y.,
who held the lead through the sec-
wd and third rounds, folded under
the pressure an took a 74 in the
last round. The cx-GI infantryman
wound up in second place -two
strokes back of Middlecoff.
Art Wall Jr., of Pocono Manor,
Pa , also closed fast to take third
money with a (16-277.
Oilers, Peoria
AAU Favorites
DENVER, Colo. lUPl The Phil
lips 66 Oilers and the defending
champion Peoria Cats have been
tabbed lavoritcs as the National
AAU Basketball Tournament be
gins tonight, but (or the first lime
in 12 years n collegiate aggrega
tion North Carolina Stale is
given a gixnl chance to boat its
post-graduate foes at their own
game.
North Carolina State, ranked
fourth mttinnvilly among colleges
but forbidden from NCAA Tourna
ment play because of a probation
resulting from recruiting infrac
tions, is seeded fourth in the 25
tcam scramble.
Monday. March 21, 1955
Eugene Places
Two on All-Stars
EUGENE (UP) Eugene's state
Class A high school basketball
champions placed two players on
the Oregon all-state team selected
from players competing in the 1955
tournament at McArthur court
here.
Medford's runner up quintet
placed one on the all star first
team and Milwaukie, last year's
titlist, and Cleveland of Portland
also each won a spot.
Only repeater was Milwaukie's
Ted Miller, a 6 - foot, 2 - inch 182
pound senior.
Eugene's pair were 6-foot, 8-inch
center Mike Moran, who also was
the tourney's leading scorer with
104 points, and Leighton Tuttle,
i 6-foot, 2-inch forward.
Rounding out the first team were
Larry Copple, Medford's 5-foot,
11-inch guard, and Dick Jolley, a
6 - foot, 1 - inch ball handler for
Cleveland.
All the all-stars are seniors.
On the second team, picked by
tournament officials, were Don
Stamps of Albany; Elmen Bloedel
of Milwaukie; Jim Altenhofen of
Central Catholic; Bud Kuykendull
of Eugene, and Frank Rector of
Medford.
Axemen Win
Staie Hoop
Tournament
EUGENE (UP) The Eugene
high Axemen are the slute high
school basketball champions today
,, , nr "
Medford, 72-56. Twice runners-up
state tourneys, the Axemen
finally made the grade before u '
record crowd of 11,092 fans.
Eugene continued its red hot
scoring pace to outpoint what had
been rated the state's number one
prep baskcball team. I .ending the
attack was tall center Mike Moron
wn0 scole" " "l R0!"s "
attempts and added seven free
throws 'or 33 points, the game
high.
Leighton Tuttle, Eugene forward
und I.nrry Copple of Medford both
scored 18.
Medford look an early lead in
the first quarter and ended it with
a one point lead, but by hnlfrime
the Axemen were rolling and end
ed the half with a 31-21 lead.
Cleveland high of Portland edged
out Central Catholic 47-16 in a
thrilling overtime duel to take
third place in the state standings.
Cleveland center Hugh Springer
sank a field goal with only one
second left to put his team over
the top.
Earlier Saturday Albany high
rode over St. Helens, 62-29. with
a smashing attack that gave llicm
fourth place and Milwaukie
drubbed Baker 58-38 to put last
year's stale champions in fifth
place.
High scorers for the tourney
were Albany forward Don Stunts
and Eugene center Mike Moran
who both hit the strings for 33
points.
College Scores
By UNITED l'ltESS
NIT at New York
(Championship)
Duquesne "0 Dayton 58
, ((insolation)
Cincinnati 96 St. Francis (Pa.) 91
NCAA Tourney nt Kansas City
((hiinipioiiMiip)
San Francisco 77 l.a Sidle 63
(Consolation)
Colorado 75 Iowa o-l
What was probably the first for
, - ' ' ' ' ' -
sioning employees after the age
of 60, was launched in 1875.
Watch
for this:
Done Garage Co., Inc.
;,ginHiiii
Duquesne Dukes
Capture NIT
Tourney Laurels
By JOHN GRIFFIN
United Press Sports Writer
NE WYORK (UP) Take two
brilliant Ail-Americans, add three
more "completely unselfish play
ers," and you've got Duqucsne's
unbeatable formula for winning a
National Invitation Basketball
Tournament.
At least, that was the system
used by the dashing Dukes in whip
ping Dayton, 70-58, in Saturday's
spine-ting'.ing finale to this year's
tournament,
The AU-Americans were 6-foot-3
Si Green and 6-foot-7 Dick Rick
etts, who combined for 56 of the
Dukes' total points and grabbed
31 of their 41 rebounds. The "un
sung heroes," whose praises were
being loudly sung by Coach Donald
(Dudey) Moore, were "little men"
Mickey Winograd, Jim Fallon, and
Dave Ricketts.
"Never all season long did those
boys show the slightest sign of
jealousy toward Ricketts and
Green," said Moore proudly. "They
don't care if they never get a shot
as long as the team- wins."
Two-Man Show
So self-effacing were thfe "little
men" that Green and Ricketts did
all the Duquesne scoring for the
first 37', minutqs. But, after Day
ton desperately tried a zone de
fense that Moore admitted Du
quesne was "waiting for." It was
the little men who broke the game
open by scooting swiftly through
the zone for short shots.
"We made the mistake of falling
behind them," said Coach Tom
Blackburn of Dayton. "When you
let them get too far ahead of you,
they go into their ball-control game
and you're dead. To heat them,
you have to get ahead and force
them to run and press their shots."
Of little consolation to Dayton
was the fine play of 7-foot Bill
Uhl, who scored 25 points, and
6-foot-8 Johnny Koran, who scored
20. Green had 33, Ricketts 23.
But the "most valuable player"
honor escaped Duquesne.
Stokes "Most Valuable"
It went instead to Maurice (The
Magnificent) Stokes of St. Francis
(Pa.), which finished fourth in the
tourney by losing to Cincinnati
96-91, in overtime in the consola
tion game. Stokes scored 31 points
in this game for a four-game totnl
of 121 in addition to his amazing
all-around brilliance on both of
fense and defense.
Honors on the all-tournament
team, picked for the United Press
by 22 writers and sportscasters who
covered the event, went as follows:
First Team
Dirk Ricketts, Duquesne, f
Johnny Hornn, Dayton, f
M'turicp Stokes. St. Francis, e
Si Green. Duquesne. g
Frank Nimmo, Cincinnati, g
Second Team
Tom Helnsohn, Holy Cross, f
Dick Bouschka, St. Louis, f
Bill Uhl, Dayton, c
F.d Fleming, Niagara, g
Jack Snllee, Dayton, g
I lonorable mention went to Wino
"vad and Fallon of Duquesne. Chris
Hirris of Davton, Jack Twymnn
nd Phil Wheeler of Cincinnati.
Jim MoConnell and Charley lloxie
of Niagara, and Charlie Tyra and
Phil Rollins of Louisville.
Conch Moore, a one-time Du
nuesne star himself, called this the
"best Duquesne team ever, even
better than the famous 'Iron
Dukes' of Ihe late 30s." Last year's
nuqiiesne tcim. which lost to Holv
Cross in the NIT final, "should
have been better because it had
more height with Jim Tucker and
Fletcher Johnson." according to
Moore. "But somehow this year's
team turned out to be better."
Lesser, Smith
Meet in Finals
PINEHURST. N.C. (UP) Pat
Lesser of Seattle, Wash., and Wiffi
Smith of I Canada, Calif., met
today in the final round of the
53i-d annual North and South Wom
en's Invitation1.!) golf champion
ship. Miss Lesser downed stubborn
Mary Ann Downed)' of Baltimore.
2 and 1, in Sunday's semi-tinal
round. Miss Smith 'racked up a
convincing 6 and a win over Na
tional Amateur champ Barbara
Romack of Sacramento, Culif.
New Driver-right COMFORT
Matchloss now cub comfort in ultra - new
cab dosijiu will soon bo here. So,
Keep Your Eye on March 25 and
Your
Then Judge
Giants Pennant Hopes Seen
As Hinging on Willie Mays
PHOENIX, Ariz. (UP)-The in
evitable question with the world
champion Giants is "Willie" and
they're asking it "Will he?"
For Willie Mays holds the key
to the Giant pennant chances.
Will he be the same superlative
young star who threatened Babe
Ruth's home run recoi, led the
major leagues in hitting, and be
came the National League s most
valuable player in his first full
season?
Will he provide the same inspira
tional spark that lifted the whole
club into a fighting unit and
prompted Manager Leo Durocher
to state that, "As Willie goes, so
go the Giants?"
Or- will he perhaps, become a
little jaded after a long hard win
ter of baseball in Puerto Rico and
run out of gas? .
The Giants are wondering be
cause seldom has the destiny of
a pennant-defending team been so
bound up in one player.
The Giants stood pat with their
champs a dangerous business in
a league where only one pennant
winner has repeated since 1944, the
Dodgers of 1952-53.
The pitching could be too thin,
particularly if Sal Maglle reaches
the end of the road, or if Larry
Jansen fails in his bid for a come
back. Durocher admits he could be
In trouble unless he comes up with
Exhibition Games
By UNITED PRESS
At Fort Myers, Fla.
Phila. (N) 001 000 000 1 6 1
Pitts. "B" (N) 010 000 Olx 2 7 1
Roberts, Wehmeier (6) and Bur
gess. Littlefield, Surkont (6) and
Shepard. Winning pitcher Surkont.
Losing pitcher Wehmeier.
At Bradenton, Fla.
Bos. "B" (A) 020 0 000 8 8 1
Milw. "B" (N) 010 051 000 7 6 2
Brewer, Clcvenger (5), Smith
(8) and Buck. Nichols, Roland (4),
Stralgier (6), Trowbridge (6). Win
ning pitcher Clevenger. Losing
pitcher Stralgier.
At Sarasota, Fla.
Detroit (A) 000 000 030 3 4 1
Boston (A) 123 010 30x 10 15 1
Maas, Froats (3), Fletcher (6),
Sharkey (8) and Wilson, Streuli
(6). Sullivan, Parnell (6), Hurd
(9) and Daley. Winning pitcher
Sullivan. Losing pitcher Mas.
At St. Petersburg, Fla.
Milwaukee (N) 002 020 010 5 7 0
St. Louis (N) 400 000 000- 4 11 0
Burdette, Wilson (5) and Cran
dall. Miller, Presko (5), Schultz
(7) and Rice. Winning pitcher Wil
son. Losing pitcher Schultz.
At Davtona Beach. Fla.
Kan. City (A) 000 002 100 3 9 0
Baltimore (A) 100 010 000 2 7 0
Wheat, Burtschy (5) and As
troth. McDonald. Rogovin (6) and
Moss. Winning pitcher Burtschy.
Losing pitcher Rogovin.
At Tampa, Fla.
Cincinnati (N) 010 000 114- 7 9 0
Chicago (A) 010 010 010 3 10 0
Fowler. Pcarcc (6), Scantlebury
(6) and Seminick. Trucks. Chaka
les (6). Brazle (9) and Courtney.
Winning nitphdr Pnnrfp ryKtiiKrl
nitchcr Chakales.
At Orlando. Fla. (13 innings)
Pitts. (N) 100 000 010 000 2 4 12 3
Wash. (A) 000 020 000 2 4 0
Kline, King (8), Gnrher (1) and
Atwcll. Pascual, Hyde (8), Ramos
(11) and Edwards. Winning pitch
er Garbcr. Losing pitcher Ra
mos. At Mesa. Ariz.
L.A. (PCD 000 000 000 0 2 1
Chicago INI 041 200 OOx- 7 12 1
Drott, McLish (5). Lown (7) and
Rivich. Church, Jeffcoat (6) and
Tappe. Winning Ditcher Church.
Losing pitcher Drott.
Al Miami, Fla. (10 innings)
N..Y (A) 000 102 302 08 10 3
Bklyn. (N) 001 000 610 1-9 13 3
Grim, Byrne ifil, Konslanty (7).
Russell 18) and Berberel, Howard
(61. Erskino, Negray (4), Hughes
17), LaSorda (8). Black (91 and
Walker, Cnmpanella 81. Winning
pitcher Black. Losing pitcher
Russell. At Uis Angeles. Calif.
New York (N 110 000 500 7 8 0
Cleveland (A) 000 000 003 3 8 2
Antonelli, Jansen 161 and Wes
trum. Feller, Aginm (I), Garcia
(7) and Narngon. Winning pitcher
Antonelli. Losing pitcher Feller.
. At Tucson, Ariz.. Cleveland "B"
team (A) vs Chicago "B" tcum
(N), cancelled, rain.
Chevrolet Dealer
for Yourself
another dependable starter.
"We've got Johnny Antonelli and
Ruben Gomez for two of the start
ing spots and they're great," he
said. "We've got a lot of pitchers
to spot, but we need that other
regular starter, the big guy who
can pick up the slack. That's where
Jim Hearn could give us a reed
lift."
Also sure to be a starter is Don
Liddle, who won nine and lost four
last year, and who could develop
into the No. 3 man. For relief, of
course, there is the incomparable
knuckleball ace, Hoyt Wilhelm, and
the hard-working Marv Grissom.
Grissom still is a questionable fac
tor because of arm trouble.
Rookie Joe Margoncri has been
getting a lot of work in the exhibi
tions and bonus pitcher Paul Giel
is going to see more action. The
rest of the staff will consist of guys
uke Al Worthington, George Spen
cer, Rahion Monzant and Al Cor
win, none of the proven major
leaguers.
Infield "Best"
The Giant infield stacks up with
the best in baseball, with Whitey
Lockman at first, Davey Williams
at second, captain and sparkplug
AUrin nab- at chnn, nrl L,.A l.,
ging Henry Thompson at third.,
vviiuams, wnu nas a oaa oacK ana
a low batting average, is the only
question mark but if he can play
every day and field like he did
last year, the club can carry him.
The same isYrue with first string
catcher, Wes Westrum, one of the
best mitt men in baseball. He bat
ted only .187 last season but still
helped win game after game with
his fine handling of the pitchers.
Ray Katt, of whom much has been
expected, may yet develop inio u
top flight catcher and Mickey Gras-
so, the veteran picked up in the
draft from Cleveland, is a hustler
who can help.
With Mays as key man in the
outfield, the Giants are well fixed
here too, although everyone in
camp is hoping that Monte Irvin
bad season of 1954, in which he
hit only .262, was a temporary
lapse and that he isn't coming to
the end of the road. Irvin used to
be the team's most dependable
run-producer but drove in- only 6-1
in '54.
If he can hit again, left field is
his spot, while Don Mueller,' a .342
batsman who is shooting to lead
the league in hitting, has right
field to himself. Dusty Rhodes,
baseball's most distinguished pinch
hitter, is the No. 1 spare. Home
run slugger Bob Lennon, up from
Nashville where he hit 64, Bill Tay
lor and Eric Roden are fighting
t out for the number five spot.1
Infield reserve strength is satis-
factory with Bobby Hofman, bonus
player Joe Amalfitano, Foster Cas-
tleman, Bill Gardner and Gail Har-
ris the ones most likely lo stick,
Save freight charges on your new car!
fly UNITED
Enjoy a
Ask your dealer to give you Ihe drlails on factory de
livery of your new car. You'll sec llial the savings in
freight charges goes a long way Inwards covering the
cost of your trip to tlir factory and you ran llicn enjoy
a leisurely vacation trip back home. Your nearest
I'nited office will handle all tin- arrangements. AUo l.e
sure to ask about l;nited"s economical half fare family
plan if you wUli to take others with you.
Don't delay find out about tins
Voudcrful plan today I
SPORTSMAN'S
PI6EST Msip
COOK BONY FISH
CRISS-
cross scoring of fillets
White fish, suckers and oth
er FISH WITH NUMEROUS FINE
bones may be prepared thus:
Slice next to the back
bone TO REMOVE A FILLET
FROM EACH SIDE OF THE FISH.
USE A SHARP KNIFE TO SCORE
FILLETS WITH CRISS-CROSS CUTS
THROUGH THE FINE BONES, yET
NOT CUTTING FILLETS IN TWO.
FRY FILLETS CRISP AND THE
BONES MAY BE SAFELY EATEN
WITH THE TASTY FLESH.
Salem Training
Site Selected
NEW YORK (UP) The New
York Giants professional football
squad will train at Salem, Ore.,
again this summer, it was an
nounced .here today.
Bob Dailey, publicity director,
said the Giants will begin training
on the Willamette University cam
pus July 25. The practice session
will last about six weeks.
Exhibition games have been
scheduled against the Green Bay
Packers in Spokane Aug. 14. in
Seattle against the San Francisco
49ers Aug. 21, and in Portland's
Multnomah stadium Aug. 28
against the Los Angeles Rams
ajGood Neighbor
Tourney Opens
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (UP) The
annual Good Neighbor Tennis Tour
nament opened today with U.S. na
tional champions Vic Seixas of
Philadelphia and Doris Hart of Mi
ami defending their titles against
Latin America s best talent.
Seixas was top seeded above
Tony Trabert of Cincinnati, Ohio,
his Davis Cup teammate, in the
men's division.
ARTICLES FILED
SALEM (UP) Articles of incor-
poration were filed here today for
the Master Manufacturing and De-
velopmcnt Co., Oak Grove vending
machine firm. They were signed
by James R. Geddes, J. H. Crum-
ley and Theodore R. Palmer.
east tor factory
vacation drive
ROCKY MT. WH1TEFISK
mSmi lit
.... A ' uNtTte
" ' "
fight Crowd
fanerlv Awaik
rw '
Mederos Debut
, By OSCAR FBALEY
Un'ted Press Sports Writer
NEW YORK (UP) Fighters
who can lay away the opposition
with one knock are a rarity even
among heavyweights, which is why
die fight mob today is eagerly
awaiting the big time debut of
Cuba's Julio Mederos.
Mederos is the 6-foot, 1-inch for
mer stevedore who goes into the
ring at Madison Square Garden on
Friday night against Eo') Baker
of Pittsburgh. Baker is currently
ranked number throe among the
world's listic whales, and ordinar
ily you might consider this a sacri
ficial offering.
The difference, they say, is that
Mederos throws bombs.
Kayoed I.aStarza
While he has had only 26 pro
bouts, there is evidence of his
punching power in the fact that
he leveled Roland LaStarza for the
full count on March 2 and needed
only five rounds to accomplish
same. Maybe you'll remember that
Rocky Marciano needed 11 heats,
and even then it was only a techn
ical job with Rollo still on his
feet at the end.
And Marciano was throwing from
the outfield at an unprotected chin.
Mederos has lost seven bouts
and reversed five of them with
knockouts. Those who have seen
him claim that he is one of ihe
most explosive punchers of recent
times.
Drops Baseball Career
Mederos considers himself lucky
to have had eight years of school
ing before he had to go to work
on the docks to help support him
self and nine brothers and sisters.
For a while he contemplated a
baseball career. ' 1
"I think I was good outfielder,"
he says, "and I wanted to be a
player like that Jackie Robinson,
But now, I think I make more
money if I can be like Joe Louis."
That will shape up as one of the
year's greatest understatements if
he can handle Baker in the same
manner us he did LaStarza. But
this figures to be a tougher chore
for the big Cuban. Baker has won
eight 'n a row and will take a lot
of removing from the path of Mar
ciano, a spot at which he arrived
only after dusting off such as Joe
Baksi, Toxic Hall, Coley Wallace,
Nino Valdes, Willie James and Rex
Layne.
Mederos figures that eventually
ho and Valdes, another Cuban, will
be fighting for the heavyweight
title. It seems that they were so
ordered by President Fulgencio
Batista. i
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