yffVfcPT MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE
Tuesday, November 29. 1953
eting on Pro Baseball Proves
isp Toward Forming Club Here
Prospects for professional
baseball in Medford loomed
brighter but the considerable
task of interesting financial sup
port and creating an organiza
tion to operate a club still lay
ahead following a meeting last
night at the Jackson hotel.
Purpose of the confab was to
discuss the possible entry of
Medford in the Class B North
west League. Medford has been
extended an invitation to join.
No actual action on formation
of a club here was taken last
night. But the meeting, second
on the matter, proved a step
forward.
Three men associated with the
Eugene and Salem teams of the
Northwest circuit, gave inform
ation on their clubs and on the
league in general, clarifying the
problems, costs, necessities, pos
sibilities and values in club or
ganization and operation. The
three, who addressed about 25
Rogue valley men, were Don
Husband, attorney, and Dick
Strite, spofts editor of the Reg-,
ister-Guard, partners of the Eu
gene club, and Chuck Boice, Sa
lem sportscaster.
Forming Plan
From their information and
from other discussion at the
meeting a proposed plan and
program for operating and back
ing a Medford club will be for
mulated for presentation to bus
iness and industrial firms of the
Medford vicinity in enlisting
their support. The operation and
financing program is expected to
be worked out within a week.
Another meeting is tentatively
planned for next week. Exact
date will depend on when Presi
dent Frank Graham of the Eu
gene Emeralds and General Man
ager Hugh. Luby of the Salem
Senators may attend. They are
attending the minor league meet
ing now at Columbus, O.
Both the partnership and jthe
stockholder set-ups for club op
eration were outlined and the
partnership plan was mentioned
as "ftest" in discussion among
the local interests. When the
question arose as to the first
step in getting a league fran
chise, Strite answered, "The
first thing to do is to get the
partnership."
To Organizations
Hifsband reported that there
are two organizations in connec
tion with pro baseball in Eu
gene. He said that a group of
bondholders, own the park and
tht 28 men in partnership have
underwritten any loss that may
be incurred in operating the
Emeralds. Each partner has
arr4 to be responsible for a
certain per cent of any loss.
So far, the attorney stated,
the operation has cost the part
ners no money. He said he felt
that the Emeralds have made
a "paper profit." Husband fore
sees 310,000 less expenditure
next season because the club has
uniforms and equipment and
other facilities now provided.
Eugene expenses in 1955 were
estimated at S92,000 to S97.000.
He said the club hopes to make
$95,000 or 896,000 in 1956 "and
pay off everything." Husband
said the advantage of partner-
tship is that no stock selling is
necessary. The partners include
a variety of businessmen but
lumbermen predominate at Eugene.
Boice spoke of the different
Salem operation under a
"gouple of thousand stockhold
ers. The club under its plan
ended the season with only a
scant loss.
Players Trying
Strite and Boice commented
on the league and the players.
The sports editor described
players as young men-on their
way up and always trying and
said the managers were a fine
sort of men. He was at each
league town last summer and
found most clubs and .parks in
good shape.
Boice pointed out that Class
B players are better and have a
different attitude than those in
Class D leagues such as the Far
West which once operated here,
Because, scouts are on hand to
see them, players don't partic
ularly have to get into the rec-
ord book to be noticed, the
sportscaster mentioned. He also
mentioned tie-ups and working
agreements with Pacific Coast
League clubs and remarked that
"the players are not too far away
from being pretty good players."
Boice also brought out that
e baseball leagues are fewer and
that more players are available
than several years ago.
The radio man outlined some
of the history of the former West
ern International league and
pointed out that the ability to
recover in the formation of the
Northwest loop shows that base-
ball is "very substantial."
Big Improvement
Husband spoke of the desire
to leave Medford in the league
He stressed that Class B ball is
a big improvement over Class
, which Eugene also exper-
ienced, and he stated that the
class of ball which the North
west league has given Eugene
has much pleased baseball in
terests there. He said that there
should be no trouble for Med
ford to get good players or a
good manager.
The three visitors advised sale
of tickets to games at a reason
able price., club operation of its
own concessions and training
away from home. They gave in-
format'on on club promotions to
boost -ttendance and various
means of providing funds for
club finance.
It was brought out at the meet
ing that local interest is appar
ent and that the main need is
a number of willing hands to
"sparkplug" and ' "get the ball
rolling."
Need of additional seating and
some renovation at the fair
grounds ball park was mention
ed. Two plans for such work
were presented at the meeting
by Architect Bill Siebert.
Harry Chipman acted as chair
man of the meeting.
5IP(Q) BEITS
Boston Red Sox Buy
San Francisco Club
Columbus, Ohio (U.R) The
Boston Red Sox became the new
owners of the San Francisco
Seals of the Pacific Coast
League today and cleared the
decks for operation there by an
nouncing they will give up
Louisville of the American Assn.
Tne Red Sox bought the Seals
Monday night in what could be
a $370,000 "package" paying
off the Seals' $220,000 in back
t ('"
BUCK WEAVER
Scraps at GP
Toledo Shift
To Miami May
Upset League
Columbus, Ohio (U.R) The
Milwaukee Braves' attempt to
shift their Toledo, Ohio, fran-"
chise in the American Assn. to
Miami, Fla., threatened the en
tire structure of organized base
ball today.
For it appeared that a court
suit may be necessary to decide
whether the Braves have the
right to shift the franchise with
out the approval of the Associa
tion. As matters now stand, seven
of the Association clubs are
against the Toledo-to-Miami
switch. The Braves, claiming
they lost a quarter-of-a-million
dollars operating the Toledo
franchise the last two seasons,
insist they be allowed to go to
Miami. .
Such a shift would makea
league which would stretch from
Denver, Colo., in the West to St.
Paul and Minneapolis in the
North and Miami in the South.
It would involve so much addi
tional traveling expense that the
other clubs want no part of it.
Columbus Shift Sought
The Braves also realize that
such a shift would not be a
profitable one. But they were
hoping to get the Columbus Jets
of the International league to
agree t-j switch to the Associa
tion, with the International
League taking on Miami. Such
a change would not affect the
International League's traveling
picture to any great extent, for
it has a team in Havana, Cuba.
But the Jets, who were in the
Association for years, are happy
in the International and do not
want to change back.
To resolve the deadlock, it
was reported the Braves offered
to buy the Syracuse, N.Y., fran
chise in the- International and
shift it to Miami, paving the way
for. Toledo to join the Association.
debts, plus another reported
150,000 to the league.
Sox officials said they plan
to build up the Seals' roster with
top-flight talent, and that's why
they will give up Louisville
long their No. 1 farm club. They
said they just do not have
enough suitable players to man
two high classification minor
league teams.
Two Bidders
Boston officials said already
they have two bidders for Louis
ville, one of them a major-league
team. The Sox did not identify
the bidders. Rumor said one was
the Cincinanti Redlegs, but Red
leg General Manager Gabe Paul
flatly denied any interest in the
club.
Baseball officials saw the pur
chase as having possible future
ramifications in the event that
the long talked-of expansion of
the major leagues to the West
Coast should come to pass.
With Boston now in possession
of a franchise in the valuable
San Francisco area, movement
of the American League into this
section could be greatly facili
tated, whether by transfer of the
Red Sox themselves or by mov
ing or addition of some other
team.
Hopper To
Head Stars
Columbus, O. (U.R) The Hol
lywood Stars of the Pacific Coast
League yesterday signed Clay
Hopper as manager for 1956. He
succeeds.Bobby Bragan, who re
cently was named manager of
the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 53-year-old Hopper, who
has spent 28 years in baseball,
managed the Portland Beavers
last season. He has been manag
ing Triple A and open classifica
tion league clubs since 1946
when he piloted Montreal in the
international league, winning
the pennant and the little world
series. That was the year that
Jackie Robinson made his organ
ized baseball debut with Montreal.
President Robert H. Cobb
said Hopper was signed to a one-
year contract. No terms were
revealed.
John Wagner Reported -
In Weak Condition
Pittsburgh (U.R) John Peter
(Honus) Wagner, all-time great
Pittsburgh Pirate shortstop who
led the National League in bat
ting eight times, was reported in
weak condition today.
The 81-year-old Wagner, often
called the greatest shortstop in
history, was able to take only
a little nourishment and was un
able to recognize anyone. He in
jured his hip .in a fall at his
home in nearby Carnegie several
weeks ago.
Pettit Leads
NBA Players
New York (U.R) Lanky Bob
Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks,
playing only his second year in
the pro ranks, is bidding to take
over as the National Basketball
Association's dominant player as
the top scorer and rebounder.
Pettit is firing points through
the hoop at the rate of 23.6 per
game, weekly NBA statistics dis
closed today.
Leads Lovelletie
And Big Bob took over as the
top rebound ace with a total of
167 rebounds to 163 for huge
Clyde Lovellette of the Minneap
olis Lakers, although Lovellette
has played in three more games.
Lovellette remains the leading
scorer for the third straight
week with a total of 246 points.
He's followed by Paul Arizin of
Philadelphia with 233, defend
ing scoring champ Neil Johnston
of Philadelphia with 219, Pettit
with 212, and George Yardley of
Fort Wayne with 203.
On a basis of average points
per game Pettit leads with his
23.6 average, followed in order
by Arizin with 23.3, Johnston
with 21.9, Ed Macauley of Bos
ton with 21.0, Lovellette with
20.5, Frank Selvy of St. Louis
with 20.4 and Yardley with 20.3.
Macera To Face
Von Poppenhim
Grants Pass Kurt von Pop-
penheim, 208. and Luigi Macera;
205, will meet in the main wrest
ling event Wednesday night at
the Grants Pass arena.
In the semi-wind-up Alec
Perez, 200, new import from
El Paso will be introduced
against the old veteran, Buck
Weaver, 204.
Macera, a French-Italian, was
on th losing side last week in
a tag match against Poppen-
heim . id Henry Lenz. He hopes
to vindicate himself in the single
one-hour or two-out-of-three fall
tussle with the Proud Prussian.
The two are bitter enemies and
are experienced and rugged com
petitors. Macera blamed himself
for the loss last week.
Weaver and Perez have the
same time and fall limit. Perez,
a former boxer, won several
Golden Glove tourneys in Tex
as and had a few pro fights. He
claims wrestling is a tougher
sport. Weaver has been seen
recently on a television wrest
ling film. -
The first match will be at 8:30
p.m.
5 Veterans
Nucleus for
St. Mary's
St. Mary's high is building its
1955-1956 basketball hopes about
a nucleus of five veterans and
some eight other players are
bidding also to see varsity action
for the Crusaders in the Jack
son County B League.
The five lettermen, all sen
iors, are Dick Paup and Laval
Meunier, a pair of diminutive
speedsters, and John Walsh, Ger
ald Darland and Tony Miksche,
who are six feet tall or better.
Others on the squad are Pat
Sullivan, a senior; Jack Birming
ham and Ron Pruitt, juniors, and
Rodney Read, Jim Darland, Dick
Hayes and Bob Bechardt, sopho
mores. Tallest hoop aspirant this
season has yet to see action in
practice. He's Jerry Flakus, 6-
foot 5-inch sophomore, still side
lined by a concussion in football
despite his eagerness to begin
drills.
Ramon Elbert, senior, who
lettered last year, is not out this
season.
Coach is Millard Webb, a vet
eran mentor who came to St.
Mary's this fall after two years
at Jacksonville. He previously
had tutored at Condon and
Rogue River.
Miksche, 6-3, is tallest among
those currently working out.
Gerald Darland is 6-1 and Walsh
and Mechardt are 6 feet even.
Jim Darland was listed at 5-10
during the football season, Paup
at 5-9, Hayes at 5-8 and Pruitt,
Read and Meunier at 5-7.
In commenting on the non
lettermen Webb described Jim
Darland as one of the best board
men on the squad and Bechardt
as a good rebounder. Pruitt, a
hustler,- is looking good. Hayes
was mentioned for his speed.
The Crusaders participate in
the B league jamboree as hosts
on Thursday night.
2 Monogram
Wearers on
Eagle Squad
Eagle Point The Eagle
Point high Eagles will have fair
speed this season but will be
short on height for their basket
ball campaign under the helm
of Art Thompson, new head
coach.
Graduation last year took nine
players from the varsity hoop
squad. Only two lettermen are
back.
The monogram boys are Jack
ie Greb, a junior, and Gale
Friend, a senior. Both were list
ed as guards last year but Greb
will see duty as a forward 'this
season. He likely will be the
center, also, for the tip offs start
ing quarters.
Up From Jayvee
Rest of the varsity crew is
mostly up from last year's jay
vee squad. At forwards are Den
nis Boren, .Wayne Christian,
Gary Foran, Ted Daw, Dick
Wallace and Jerry McDonald.
McDonald was on the varsity
roster for last season's subdis
trict tourney. Guards are Ron
nie Veach, Adrian Elrod and Er-
rol Tresham.
Thompson said that he is sat
isfied with the club in drills to
date. While the squad is green,
it is "coming along pretty good,"
the mentor reported.
Thompson came to Eagle Point
from Newberg.
May Organize Junior
Bowling League Here
There will be a meeting of
boys and girls interested in or
ganizing a Junior Bowling
league at 4 p.m. Wednesday,
Nov. 30, at the Medford Bowling
lanes.
Boys and girls between the
ages of 13 and 19 are eligible to
participate.
SZVETECZ IS CAPTAIN
West Point, N.Y. (U.R) Ed
ward Szvetecz of Bethlehem, Pa.,
who moved from third-string
center to a regular berth this
year, today was named captain
of Army's 1956 football team.
Szvetecz, the 66th captain in
Army history, is the first center
to hold the honor since Bill Yeo
man in 1948.
Only one-fifth of Mexico's
land is suitable for agriculture.
MICHIGAN CAPTAIN
Ann Arbor, Mich. (U.R) End
Tom Maentz, a 207-pounder from
Holland, Mich., was named today
to Captain Michigan's 1956 foot
ball team. He succeeds Ed
Meads at the post.
ALL-OPPONENTS
Tucson, Ariz. (U.R) Backs
Dick James and Jack Morris of
the University of Oregon were
named today to Arizona's all-opponent
football team.
So smooth
it leaves you
breathless
117 S. CENTRAL PHONE 2-6241
Y
OFF NO-TRADE-IN LIST PRICE
rill lipn 14- r:;!!
U I K Wfc -i. I L J 3s5fcif r"?t rtrw
li 1 1 f $811? v 4 4 ' P ,J
mirnoff
-VODKA
0 proof. Made from ! 00 grain neutral spina.
Ste. Pierre Smirnoff FIs. Inc.. Hartford. Conn.
ii iiiiwi iing.-mriii m
Wenatchee Selected
For Potato Bowl
Bakersfield, Calif. (U.R) "We
natchee, Wash., Valley College
was selected today as the grid
iron opponent for Bakersfield
College in the eighth annual
Potato Bowl in Bakersfield Sat
urday. Shrine club sponsors picked
Wenatchee after undefeated
Taft, Calif., Junior College re
jected a bid.
Wenatchee has an eight win.
one tie record this season, while
Bakersfield has compiled an
eight win, one loss and one tie
record.
BID FOR CONVENTION
Columbus, Ohio (U.R) Jack
sonville, Fla:, New Orleans,
Erie, Pa., and Colorado Springs.
Colo, have bid for the 1956
minor league baseball convention.
PREDICTS RAY WIN
Greenwood Lake, N.Y. (U.R)
Veteran trainer Dan Florio
predicted today that Sugar Ray
Robinson will regain his middle
weight title from Carl (Bobo)
Olson "maybe by a knockout"
when they meet at Chicago Dec.
9. Robinson will box today and
Wednesday and then leave for
the site of the fight on Thursday
night. ,
There are 3.690 miles of rail
way in West Virginia. - -
It7 Builders Supply
QUALITY
BLOCKS
Bricks. Flues
Drain Tile
W. Mc Andrews
Phone 2-4107
. . . and now it's over, the score has been added-up."
Meet Our 1955 Champions!
WINNERS IN OUR ELEVEN-WEEK FOOTBALL CONTEST
FIRST PLACE: Paul Antony, Gary Colton with 81 points
SECOND PLACE: R. J. Higgins, Claude Holmes, Jerry Jerome, A. R.
Leavitt, George Lewis, Robert Rae, C. T. Rykken with
, 80 points.
THIRD PLACE: Priscilla Deatherage, Mary Jones, G, C. Wimer, W. H.
Wright with 79 points.
Tonight On Television At 9:30
Dick and Jack will interview
a few of the winners!
Figuring and guessing the winners of each week's football games is a fine
art and a lot of fun. We hope that you'll all enter our contest again next
year. Winners do not lose their amateur standing!
Hi.l.uiiny.uiWi
BUY WARDS BEST AT SAVINGS!
SUPER DELUXE TUBELESS TIRES
4k 1
410"
6.70- 75 6.70-15
blackwoll whitewall
Each in pairs
These tires are proven to give the average driver
7000 extra miles! Relaxed liner turns punctures
to slow leaks. Slits across tread for anti-skid trac
tion. Plus Excise Tax and your 2 old tires in trade.
NOW SAVE $15 A PAIR!
ON TUBELESS POWER. GRIPS
k if A r f
r&
ZU
2365
6.70- 75
7.70-75
Each in pain 1
Save on Power Grip Tubeless mud and snow tires
in pairs. Designed to ease winter driving, these
quieter running tires give 45 more breakaway
trqetion than other winter tires. Plus Excise Tax.
10 DOWN, ON MONTHLY TERMS
2V2-YR. GUARANTEE
Top power for quick
starts, 6v. Exch. 11.45
HEAVY-SERVICE 4-yr.
Guar. 51 plates. 115
amp. hrs. Exch. 14.95
HANDY SPOTLIGHTS
Either 6 volt or 12
volt. 1200' beam 4.66
TWIN ANTENNAS
Rear location reduces
ignition static 7.95
MAIN AT CENTRAL
Open Wednesday Nights 'Til 9
For Your Shopping Convenience