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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1958)
Dodger Catcher Dreamed Of Stardom as Youngster (This it the first of three dispatches tracing the ca reer of Roy Campanella). By MILTON RICHMAN New York HP) Little Roy Campanella, standing there and selling newspapers on a Philadelphia street cor ner, instinctively knew that! one of his big league heroes had just belted a home run at nearby Shibe park. "How can you tell, Roy?" asked one of his eight-year- Virg Akins Named Top Contender New York "PI Virgil Akins, St. Louis' slick boxer puncher, was named top con tender for the vacant world welterweight crown today in the Ring magazine's latest ratings. Because of his impressive r 12th:round kayo over ex champion Tony Demarco on Jan. 21, Akins was boosted notch to first rung, where he replaced Cuban Isaac Logart Logart, inactive since his decision victory over Mexi can Gaspar Ortega in the first welterweight elimination bout at Cleveland, Dec. 6, was dropped to second place Vince Third Vince Martinez, of Pater son, N.J., was raised from fifth to third because of his decision over Gil Turner in the second elimination bout at Philadelphia, Jan. 15. Although the Akins-De marco thriller at Boston was not an elimination, Akins' performance in flooring De marco three times before stop ping him was considered out standing. Akins, Logart and Marti nez are the three survivors of the original six-man tourn ament. Tommy (Hurricane) Jack son, top heavyweight contend- er a year ago, was finally dropped from the top lo be cause of defeats and inacti vity. His departure left room for unbeaten Ineemar Jo hansson of Sweden to return to the ratings at number 10 Johansson is champion of Europe. BETHEA-JOHNSON VIE Chicago IIP) Heavy weights Wayne Bethea and Young Jack Johnson meet to night in a televised bout. Both are sluggers with a knockout punch and neither boasts ex ceptional boxing ability. Each has had 25 pro fights; Bethea has won 16, lost seven and drawn two; Johnson has won 15, lost nine and drawn 1. Ex-Mental Paiieni Murders Mother Fort Smith, Ark. (IP) State mental hospital doctors examined Bobby Joe Burns, 28, today to try to learn why he drugged his mother and cut off her head. Burns, who had been re leased from the same hospital last May, faces first-degree murder charges. Authorities said he signed a rambling statement Tues day confessing that he killed his mother, Mrs. E. W. Burns, 56, Monday as part of an Az tec rite that he staged, "in spired by Khrushchev of Rus sia." Children found Mrs. Burns' head wrapped in sheets in a cardboard box in the choir loft of the Immaculate Con ception. Roman Catholic church. Police found the body in the blood-spattered Burns kitchen. Burns fled to pastureland In Oklahoma west of Fort Smith. A farm woman saw him and notified the sheriff at Moffett, Okla. When a dep uty drove up and offered him a ride, Burns meekly ac cepted. "Yes, I'm cold," he said. Burns in his statement to officials said that he gave his mother a hypodermic of dem erol, making her unconscious, and then cut off her head. He said he took the head to the church because "there it would be blessed." at the RIVERSIDE PARKING LOT AS LOW AS old companions, who also was peddling papers. "Easy as pie," chirped the chubby little Campanella boy, still keeping an ear cocked to the roar of the crowd at the ball park. "Hear them yells?" he said. "That ain't no double or triple they're hollerin' about That there is a home run. Gotta' be, because they keep yellin' so long.' Even as a youngster, Roy Campanella dreamed of the day baseball fans would be hollering for him although no Negro had ever played in the major leagues as yet. Lived Near Shibe Park Shibe park, which is now Connie Mack stadium, was onlv a few blocks from the Campanella home. Most of Roy's boyhood bud dies preferred to play stick ball but Campanella liked "hard ball" much better. It wasn't long before he was playing sandlot baseball and by the time he was 13 he al ready was a member of the neighborhood American Le gion team. Campy wasn't particular what position he played but while he still was attending Gillespie Junior high school he noticed that no one ever wanted to be the catcher. So he volunteered to handle the mask and mitt. Actually, Campanella was not much of a hitter at all in his youth. He had a number of other things going for him, though, such as tremendous enthusiasm, a fine arm and a remarkable ability for play ing three and even four games in a single day. At 15, Campy came into a windfall. The owner of the the Bacharach Giants, an all Negro semi-pro team, paid him $35 to play on Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday. A year later, he became the regular catcher for the Balti more Elite Giants and it was not long afterwards that he quit high school to campaign around the country with that team. Not Life of Riley Playing in the Negro league didn't exactly afford Campan ella the life of a baseball Riley.' The big day for Roy came in October, 1945. He had just caught a game for the Negro All-Stars against a group of big leaguers in Newark, N.J., when Chuck Dressen, then as now a Dodger coach, told him that Rodger President Branch Rickey wanted to see him. Campy figured it was some kind of a joke at first but the next day he dutifully visited the Dodgers' office in mid town Brooklyn and came face- to-face with the colorful Rick ey. Rickey asked Campanella if he would like to come into the " Dodgers' organization, but Roy, thinking that Rickey was about to form another Negro league turned down the offer. Less than two weeks later Campanella learned that the Dodgers had made a sim ilar offer to Jackie Robinson. And Robinson told Campan ella that he was going to sign with Montreal of the Interna tional league, thereby becom ing the first Negro ever to play in organized baseball. Campy thought he had miss ed the boat. It turned out he was only a little late. The following spring, the Dodgers sent him to Nashua, N.H., of the New England league and his career was launched. 3.187 HOLES-IN-ONE Chicago (IP) A total of 3,187 holes-in-one were re corded during 1957 by the na tion's golfers, according to Golf Digest magazine. Of the total, 2,949 were made by men and 238 by women. Charles Hedrick of Lubbock, Tex., made the longest shot 374 yards at the Meadow brook course in Lubbock. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING Durham, England (IP) Apprentice Robert C. Shaw, 20, was so proud of being put J in charge of fire extinguishers at the paper mill where he worked that co-w orkers dubbed him "the fire chief." A long fireless period ended with four in a row that caused caused 550,190 worth of dam age. All were started, a court I ruled Tuesday, by "the fire chief." Per Month Idaho Tops Statistics In Offense Los Angeles HP) Idaho's Vandals were tops on offense and California's Bears were best on defense in Pacific Coast conference statistics re leased today by the PCC com missioner's office. On offense, Idaho had aver aged 73.4 points in seven games, making 191 field goals and 132 free throws for a to tal of 514 points, and compil ing a 38 per cent figure in field goal attempts. On defense, California had allowed opponents an aver age of but 45 points a game. Opponents could only make 97 field goals and 76 free throws in six contests for a total of 270 points. Idaho was trailed in total scoring by the University of Southern California with a 67.7 average; UCLA with 65.7; Oregon, 61.7; Oregon State, 60.8; Washington State, 54.9; Stanford, 54.3; Califor nia, 52.8, and Washington, 51. In total defense, California was followed by Oregon State, 54.5 points a game; Washington, 57.1; UCLA, 62; Stanford, 62; Washington State, 62.6; Oregon, 64.8; Southern Cal, 65.9, and Ida ho, 67.4. Cal Heads Free Throws California also led in free throws with 99 in 140 at tempts for a .706 percentage. Oregon State had .705; Idaho, 698; UCLA, .695; Stanford, .667, and Oregon, .659. Oregon State was second to Idaho in field goals with a .374 percentage. Southern Cal had .351; Stanford, .350, and Oregon, .349. The re bound lead was held by Ore gon State with .585 percent age, followed by Idaho .531 and California .527. The UCLA Bruins was tops in field goal defense, allow ing foes but .315 per cent. Southern Cal was second with .317 per cent, and Cali fornia .355. Idaho's athletes also lead in individual statistics. Gary Simmons averaged 23 points in seven games, and teammate Hal Damiano led in field goals, making 28 of 60 attempts for a percentage of .467. The first state legislature of Arkansas assembled Sept. 12, 1836. 'ANNE FRANK'? Accord ing to rumors circulating in London, Millie Perkins (above) of New York has been selected for the title role in the 20th Century Fox production, "The Diary of Anne Frank." CHEVROLET motob overhaul 6 Cyl. 197 to 1954 Models ONLY! REGULAR 5118,05 Value WE WILL: St-eam clean engine Install piston rings Install piston pint , Grind valves Clean & reface rocker arms Adjust main & Connecting rod bearings Clean oil pump Clean oil breather Tune motor A GUARANTEED CHEVROLET MOTOR RECONDITION ING PERFORMED BY MASTER MECHANINCS USING GENUINE CHVROLET PARTS. C0UR ' PRIZE ROOKIE SIGNS One of baseball's biggest give away programs ended as Dave Nicholson, 18, shown with his parents in St. Louis, Mo., signs a contract with the Baltimore Orioles for a price estimated at $110,000 or above. Nicholson's baseball experience is limited to high school contests and the Ban Johnson League, but 15 of 16 major league teams had bid for him. MEDFORDJilJTRIBUNE Crabtree Chosen by Green Bay By UNITED PRESS Two members of Oregon's Rose Bowl team, tailback Joe Francis of Oregon State and Linfield passing star Ron Parrish were drafted Tuesday by National Football league teams. One of the biggest sur prises was the absence of Jim Shanley, the great Oregon halfback, from the draft lists. Francis, who Tuesday night was given the Pop Warner award in Palo Alto as the most valuable senior football player on the ' West coast, was the second player chos en in Tuesday's fifth round. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. Parrish to Rams Quarterback Jack Crabtree and tackle Jerry Kershner were the Oregon players drafted. Crabtree was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 12th round and Kershner was chosen by Green Bay in the 21st round. Parrish, the Prineville lad who starred at Linfield, was picked on the 21st round by the Los Angeles Rams who are seeking someone to re place Norm Van Brocklin. Francis was termed by for mer Stanford . great Ernie Nevers as "one of the great est backs ever turned out on the Pacific coast," as he re ceived the Pop Warner award. The first two ski areas in New Hampshire , to install snow-making equipment are Black Mountain at Jackson and Mittersill in Franconia. $(5) Only (0) We FURNISH: Piston rings Piston pins Condensor Distributor points All gaskets valve head and pan 5 quarts oil TESY CH Windward Ends Race San Diego (IP) The Los Angeles sloop Windward to day held the first to finish trophy and the record time trophy after crossing the finish line in record-shattering time in the San Diego to Acapulco yacht race.- The Windward, owned by E. R. and Don Chilcott, may yet lose the over-all title, however. The handicap win ners of the race, with some of the class C boats having as much as two to three days, will not be decided until at least Thursday afternoon or later, a Copley News corres pondent aboard the Coast Guard cutter Perseus said. Jay Fullmer Aims Higher Salt Lake City (IP) Stylish Jay Fullmer, a more accurate if less powerful puncher than brother Gene, set his sights higher today after his unanimous 10-round welterweight decision over Idaho's Glen Burgess Tuesday night. ASHEVILLE 'SAL' BID Knoxville, Tenn. (IP) Asheville, N.C., without or ganized baseball for two years may be added to the Class A South Atlantic league as the eighth team. John Dun can, a Knoxville attorney who is acting league president, said Asheville is "strongly in terested" in obtaining a fran chise, and a group of business men has invited league of ficials to discuss possibilities. $778 II Per Month On Approved Credit O Fix Your Car Now and Fix Us Later! EVR0LET Buck Sliaw Quits Post Denver (IP) The man who replaces Lawrence T. (Buck) Shaw as head football coach - at the Air Force Academy will not have any of Shaw's assistants as his disposal. Simultaneously with the announcement Tuesday that Shaw had resigned, the academy said three assistants on the football staff had com pleted tours of duty and would be transferred. They are Lt. Byron Gillory, back field coach; Lt. James Bounds, line coach, and Lt. Marvin Jenkins, end coach. ILL-FATED CIGARETTE Nashville, Tenn. (IP) Wil lis Hawkins stopped to light a cigarette Tuesday and ended up in the hospital for treat ment of burns. Investigators said Hawkins halted to light his jnatch over a gas main that was leaking, setting off a flash fire. 4 i LIFETIME GUARANTEE Ask us about ill r?f';T'''-''y 1 "' " . i i. jn i milium" W 1(K P KHMMHfltfH ' . ... :. " one dollar down or your recappable tire puts a brand new (EidDODLG) tire on Choose one of 3-T Nylon DeLuxe Super-Cushion (2)3-TRayon DeLuxe Super-Cushion (D 3-T Super-Cushion You're treading on dangerous ground when you ride on worn tires. They can't be de pendd on for the stop-action traction you need. They're definitely weaker from loss of rubber and long use never know when they'll let you down. Don't take chances. Not when new, safer, Goodyear Tires are available for just $1.00 down! Trade now trade away major trouble for new Goodyears today this easy way. As low as Uil a week! MORE PEOPLE RIDE ON GOODYEAR TIRES THAN ON ANY OTHER KIND! O FREE PARKING O S&H GREEN empfiee, Dime. Available at all Wedneiday, January 29, 195S Francis Gets Trophy as MVP Palo Alto, Calif. OP) Quarterback Y.-A. Tittle of the San Francisco Forty Nin ers and Joe Francis of Ore gon State were honored Tues day night at the Palo Alto club's 12th annual Million Dollar banquet. x Glenn Stackhouse of the United Press San Francisco bureau presented Tittle with a gold plaque as the UP's "pro player of the year." Tittle won the award in a United Press poll of members of the National Football Writ- COMMISSIONER PICKED Portland (IP) Mayor Terry Schrunk Tuesday nam ed Dr. Jack E. Battaglia, a 1943 graduate of the Univer sity of Oregon medical school, to the Portland boxing com mission replacing Dr. Clin ton S. McGill, who resigned. Don't wait! OUR DEAL IS GREAT your car today I these low priced values I mom im Shell and Richfield Stations Displaying Goodyear's Diamond MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE NIKS ers association. He received 11 of 31 votes to edge out five other candidates for the honor. PRIDE OF GERMANY-Just arrived! Coma in for a demonstration ride . . . soon! See H today at... SKINNER - BUICK - CADILLAC 143 So. flu'lll A ; Francis won the Pop War ner award as the Pacific coast's most valuable college football player of 1957. Riversid STAMPS O 123 S. Riverside Phone SP 3-6266 9th and Bartlett Sts. Medford Phone SP 2-6115
