Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 June 1939 — Page 15

Ike Cumm

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J. 1. (Tke) Cummings of the Indianapelis Country Club led the Geld as the 225 entries teed off at Speedway today for the second 18hole round of the Indianapolis District Golf Association tournament. Cummings’ 72, which he shot on his home course yesterday, was three strokes hetier than anveone else was able to do,

| On Nelson

By Joe Williams

8 5 *

WASN'T BIRTHDAY PARTY AT HOBOKEN, N I?

WHY GIVEN

OBOKEN, N. J. June 13.—They didn't do much to celebrate the birth of baseball here yesterday. Didn't do anvthing, in fact. It was just another day in the old river front town, The celebrating, for some strange reason, took place miles away, in a little upstate New York village called Cooperstown. There amid all the pomp and glory that can be created by modern press agentry the nursery moments of the national pastime were honored. It was like going to Liverpool, England, to rhapsodize the birth of George Washington. The baseball diamond wasn't aid out in Cooperstown in 1839. which was what all the shooting was for vesterday. It was laid

out right here in dear old Hoboken and the date was June 19, 1846. And it was called a “baseball square.”

first

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OR was Gen. Abner Doubleday the genius who laid it out. Alexander Cartwright, a New York draftsman, drew the design during the winter of 1843. This information comes from Frank G. Menke outstanding sports historian, and is convincingly supported by other authorities and authentic library documents. None of these documents, by the way, seems to tie Doubleday in with the genesis of the sport in any way. Historian Menke insists everything the bréss hats and publicity men of baseball celebrated yesterday is incorrect in point of place, date and persons, which would seem to make the show a joke on evervhody, except the Cooperstown inn keepers and hot dog venders. How did the myth of Cooperstown develop? A controversy aver the origin and development of baseball in 1907 led to the appointment of a fact finding commission of eight intercsted parties. The report of the commission proved an epic in vacuity. It was about as factual as & misty love sonnet.

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Just a Dreamy Assumption

HE report, signed by A. G. Mills, third National League president, did little more than dreamily assume that Doubleday created the game, that it was first played in 1839 and that a cow field in Cooperstown was the cradle. Historian Menke tears large, gaping holes in the findings. (1) The Mills report pictures Doubleday as a “schoolboy in Cooperstown in 1830" The fact is he already was enrolled at West Point and was 21 vears old at the time. (2) Doubleday is credited with desighing the square and introducing bases to replace the primitive stakes. In all the countless papers on baseball, no reference to Doubleday in this or any other connection can be found. On the contrary, it is a matter of fact that bases were not introduced until some time in 1340. “But the most fantastic thing about the Mills report,” writes Historian Menke, “is that although Mills knew Doubleday intimately for 25 vears, he did not know that Doubleday had anything whatsoever to do with baseball until 14 vears after the Army man's death, and the knowledge Mills then gained came from "A circumstantial statement by a reputable gentleman.”

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It's Peculiar, Isn't It?

HIS circumstantial statement supposedly was made to A G. Spalding, one of the early greats of the game, but Spalding never acknowledged the existence of such a statement in hit history of the game written in 1819 Somewhat peculiar, at that, ism't it? But if Doubleday's contributions to the game remain shrouded in doubt and completely unsupported by a single line of a documentary evidence, Cartwright's position is clear and definite enough. There is No dearth of evidence to prove he designed the first diamond and together with his associates in the old Knickerbocker Club, drew up the first rules. From the testimony at hand, the baseball brass hats undoubtediy would have a tough time substantiating the flow of oratory they poured over the Cooperstown landscape vesterday. Thevd be hard put to prove that Doubleday was the pappy of baseball, that Coopertstown was the maternity ward and that 1839 was the birthday.

Baseball at a Glance

GAMES TODAY AMERICAN ASSOCIATION (AN games 2t night) INDIANAPOLIS i St, Panl, olen at & ay ¢ a : Loniscile at NC

NATIONAL LEAGUE No pames scheduled.

AMERICAN LEAGUE | No games schednted.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

AV IRICAN ASSOCIATION { Lost Pet. G. BB. Kansar City 10 Ainneapolis INDIANAPOLIS Louisville Milwaukee Cotambdus St. Paul Teleds

114 Ss LA 10% ie 12 161:

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1. Poi. G. BR 15 653 ww] 2 S33 5 81s

c New York Pittsburgh

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AMERYCAN Slit ERAS | mi \ eRe and Pasek; and and Den

In Princeton Meet

Showers and Darkness Slow Linksmen During First 18 Holes of Play

Pacesetter Figes 72 Over Home Course as Scores of Many Consistent Shooters Skyrocket; Tackle Speedway Layout Today.

By TOM OCHILTREE If there is anything to the theory that humans learn

by experience, about 30 players in the Indianapolid District Golf Association's tournament should be packing along lanterns when they start their rounds this afternoon at Speedway. There is probably no chance that they will, because this game is bound up in more traditions than the British Navy, but with an entry list of 225, it is almost impossible to hustle them all through 18 holes and get them back in before dark. \ At least that was the experience vesterday at the Indianapolis Country Club—scene of the opening of the three day, 54-hole event. Undoubtedly the boys were slowed up some by the rain, which also was responsible for the soaring scores of usually consistent performers. — Some of the last foursomes in burned paper flares to light up the greens enough to see ‘to putt, while others used a sort of touch system. Instead | of lining their putts up by sight they would run their

$3 Pour in

trict Golf Association tournament,

SURE ER

In the first round Gentry had an 83 and Tuttle an 86.

Timex Photo.

Paul Gentry (left), South Grove, lines up a putt while Tucker Tuttle, Fortville, waits his turn, Both are playing in the Indianapolis Dis-

hands over the ground to determine the roll.

The same starting times are to be observed at Speedway today and for the concluding 18-hole round at Highland Golf and Country Club to-

‘Winner's Eagle on Fourth Proves Rich Shot.

Ry HARRY FERGUSON United Press Sports Editor Morrow.

Times Sports

PHILADELPHIA, June 15. —— A| ye way he was shooting yestergolden flood of cash rolled in on day they would have had to throw Byron Nelson today, ana it 100ks as jy an earthquake and a plague of

PAGE 14

TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1939

though that eagle 2 he bagged IN jaeusts along with the dampness | the National Open Golf Champion- ang darkness to have bothered J. ship will turn out to be a 340.000 1 (tke) Cummings, who fired a neat shot. 72. which was two over par and As they raked the last footprint three strokes better than his four;

out of the sand traps at the Phil- closest rivals. | adelphia Country Club it became apparent that Nelson's roaring iron Cummings at Home On June 29 shot on the fourth hole yesterday—| Cummings a shot that went 200 yards dead home course, and its rolling little [for the hole-—was the turning point hills and hollows were completely | in the playoff match with Craig familiar to him. What he will be |Wood. Nelson could have begun able to do when called upon for long | {counting his dollars when the balljwood and iron shots at the Speed- | dropped, for Wood never recovered way today is another question. i {from that eagle. | The quartet tied for second place | | The $1000 first prize is only a with 75s consists of Phil Talbot, | [fragment of the financial return Bloomington; Jack Taulman, Frankthat comes to the winner, provided lin; George Urquhart, Coffin, and apolis Thursday, June 29, playing We is a professional. Well uphol- Henry Kowal, Speedway, While {heir “little brothers” the Indians, | stered gentlemen with swollen check [eight others, including Fred Gro- in a twilight exhibition game Tribe | ‘books were all over the course dur- nauer, the defending champion, and ,agident ¢ ! ling the Open, waiting to shove gold John David, Hillcrest star, are one ioqayv {at the winner in return for services! stroke back with 76s. After their early j EERIE, The other 76 shooters include Sam with the current National League | eldy Jr., Noblesville; Pete Grant, leaders, the Redskins will meet the 1 What & Bie GAPS Gut oF the I i Grove; Mike Pollak, Speed- Columbus Red Birds under the title de a a erent deal LJ) | SRY; Clark Espie, Pleasant Run; lights in & regular American Asso-, pends a great qeal on Ais Reese Barry, Coffin, and Yorda Ky- ciation encounter. Game time for | personality and whether he nas the ger, Greenfield, none of whom can !the Cincinnati tilt will be an- | | Riiangite shi called gh Abe classed as & soft touch. [nounced later. | gue or an Armour usuaily Joos) , a ; | ATight. A follow like Sam Parks| Rain Stews Taproteners | (U1 00 An SR he] | —a good golf player, but not a bril-| But the rain and cold proved 100 second exhibition game lined up. | liant showman—doesn't do so well. much for some of the boys and Thev are scheduled for Tuesday. | People who know think Nelson such topnotchers a® Gene Pulliam | july 11, in a night game beginning | may get as much as $40,000 for in- | Jr, Tebanon, and Robert Skinner, at 8:15. The Tribe's game with the | dorsements, radio appearances and Speedway, were in the 80s, while nrjlwankee Brewers, originally schad- | sale of clubs and equipment. But Dick Stackhouse, Meridian Hills. \yled for that night, will be played | the financial return is so precarious finished up with a frightening 90. juiv 12. ST ak Ihere is agitation to increase! par most of the afternoon the Tickets for both exhibition games| the $1000 that goes to the winner. players reporting out at the 18th are on sale now at Perry Stadium. | Several tournaments pay better green looked as though the life- Opening day prices will prevail. | | money to the winner than does tle guards had gotten to them just in| The Indians had a day off yes-| | National Open. but that is the ove time. The rain caused some to hit terday but are scheduled to open! | that has the prestige and pros who their shot with no more authority their series at St. Paul tonight fare having an unlucky streak will than a ferrry boat captain on shore under the lights, [hock the family heirlooms to get!leave, while others welcomed the EE —— | a shot at it. [slowing down effect the water had . . An Otherwise Drab Ds {on the greens. M 1] R ht ; By At the height of the blow, Bd | 1 ers 12 on | Nelson's eagle two not only salted yon Burg of Pleasant Run took al - 5 (the tournament down for him, but 10 on the par 4 383-yard fifth hole, K c Club’s Heels | it called attention to what otherwise but the rest of his card wasn't so ay [would have been a rather drab day pad and even with that anchor to EE of golf. ‘swallow he wound up with a 9%. Ry United Pres nn addition to the demand for : ‘haruy ow a higher first prize, one other thing Shines in Shower The Minneapolis Millers were (developed at the tournament. Tt| The case of Russell Duke, also of Only a game and a half out of the was agitation for a change in the Pleasant Run. was unusual, He was American Association lead today as ship. eh Eo n. “ one over par when he stepped up to they opened a series with the ¢ suggestion is that the top 30 the No. 3 tee, and then during the ; evi | professionals be automatically quali- heaviest rain be banged out. four | [OUT h-place Ese Sins. (fied for the open on the basis of threes in a row to get him even | The Millers last night beat their | [their average scores in tournaments [with perfect figures, but came un- | Twin-City rivals, the St. Paul| Lover a year's time. That would make wound on the last three holes of the Saints, 4-2, in the only league game it almost certain that none of the outgoing nine to hit the turn with of the day. The game was a piteh- | stars would be left out when the fir- a 37. After the rain ceased, the ers duel, winner Bill Butland allow- | ing started. [best he could do coming in was a 44 ing six hits to the loser Art Her. The matter probably will come up | for and 81. Iring’s eight. | for discussion bv the United States] Although the Mdianapolis Coun-| For the second time in Jess than Golf Association some time before try Clubs total vardage of 6340 a week the Kansas City Blues broke | [the next Open is plaved. (Continwed on Page 15) attendance records at their Ruppert | ee = Ae Stadium when 23864 fans pushed! [their way inte the bleachers and lout onto the field to watch an exhiIbition game with the Blue's parent lelub. the New York Yankees, The | Yankees won, 4-1,

Meet Indians in Exhibition; Cleveland Also Coming. | ER | Cincinnati's Roaring Reds will make a one-day stopover in Indian-|

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evening ‘tussle |

Color Ts Important

Dropping That Valuable Eagle

2 More Veterans Signed by Toronto

TORONTO, Ontarie, June 18 (U. P). — General Manager Daniel Howley of the Toronto mternation- | al Baseball League club anounced) today that besides sighing Tony Lazzeri, veteran major league infielder, as team manager, the elub, has securad outfielder Heinie Manush and catcher Mickey Heath. | Mike Meola, pitcher, goes to the | Syracuse Chiefs in a straight trade for Heath, he said. Mannush, re-| cently releasea by. the Pittsburgh Pirates, was signed as a free agent. Getting exactly nowhere with) their crop of rookie outfielders and backstoppers, the elub decided to secure the two veterans in an effort to add batting strength to the lineup, Howlew explained.

a i Ad

Baseball Film Billed

“First Century of Baseball” the official American League sound film for 1939, will be shown at a meeting of the Lutheran Service Club of Mn-

| was playing on his |

Reds Here Two Blades of Grass

Cost Wood Two Titles

By HENRY MLEMORE United Pres Stal Correspondent

PHILADELPHIA. June 13. —Byron Tournament by holing out a No. 4

Nelson could stand on the fourth wood on a par five hole. Wood fairway of the Philadelphia Country already was in the clubhouse, reClub and hit No. 1 irons toward [ceiving congratulations on

Mat Title Up Tonight

Thesz Risks Crown Against Alabama Bill Lee.

Louix Thesz heavyweight champ. | swings into action in defense of his title as the headline attraction on the outdoor wrestling oard tonight at Sports Arena. Opposing the 23 year-old star will be Alabama Bill Lee, widely known grid ace, Of especial local interest ix a “grudge” bout between two light heavies, The Great Mephisto, New= |ark, and Coach Billy Thom of Ine

ES a Nis diana University, They battled on [the green for the rest of his life triumph, when word came in that three occasions during the indoor

without sinking one for an eagle Sarazen had pulled off one of golf's season with Mephisto winning the

“impossibilities” lin to tie him for the title. | It was Craig's first wedding anni-

two. Gene Sarazen could plant hime

Leo Miller announced self on the fairway of the 13th hole yersary, and, thinking he had won, |

and was coming first two tugs and Thom the third,

Tonight's match is for twa falls out {of three, same as the main event, Lee, an aggressive performer,

of the Masters’ course in Augusta he had told his pretty and charm. scales'235 and will have a 10-pound

and fire No. 4 woods until his beard | ing wife that the Masters’ victory

x {was her anniversary present. swept the ground without holing one, Mrs. Wood was here yesterday

for a double eagle deuce, | when Nelson fired his miracle shot.

Such shots are miracles, not golf. She took the blow amazingly well,

The chances against them are Her only comment, as she walked

1,000,000, 2,000,000, or 3,000,000 to 1. of the crowd for Nelson ringing in Without taking too much for pep ears, was: granted, a man has the right to| “ft hardly seems fair, does it? 1 believe that his journey through life mean, for a fellow to sink such a won't be marred by a million to one shot in a playoff for the National chance working against him. [ehampionship. And {it is How, then, do you suppose Craig Craig who suffers from such shots.” Wood feels today? What must bel With ne thought of disparaging the emotions of a man who, within Nelson's play (after all, you can’t the brief span of four years, has do much better in golf than Byron's

had two opponents blight his hopes final three rounds of 68-68-70), ‘by bringing off 1,000,000 to 1 shots? Wood certainly is the tough uek | wational Roxing

Nelson brought one off in the boy of golf. second playoff for the National] Twice he hag been just a blade of Open Golf Championship yester« grass away from winning golf's two day. It was a brilliant battle be- greatest titles, In 1933 a slender tween two fine golfers until the spear of grass stopped his ball on Texan uncorked his No. 1 iron shot the green at St. Andrews when it on the fourth hole to send the bail | was within a turn of the cup, Had 210 vards and into the eup. The ball hit the apron of the British Open and not been forced green, took a hop toward the right |into a playoff (which he lost) with and streaked across the carpet to Denny Shute, snuggle against the flagpole There| Sunday afternoon he had a it rested, just waiting for someone seven-foot putt for a 67 and the to lift the pole and allow it to plop Open title. But again the little into the cup. |blade of grass turned aside his ball, Wood knew then that the Open and he missed it. Championship had been snatched] Why? from his grasp, and his mind must| Well, if IT knew the answer to have turned back to that afternoon that one I'd have a much bigger in Georgia in 1035 when Sarazen story than any golf tournament to frustrated him in the Master's’ write about.

| from the final green with the eneers

always

it fallen in he would have won the

“Three Little Fishies” Won't Be in the Brook Very Leng IF YOU USE UP-TO-DATE TACKLE N Fishing Season Opens Friday ; Prepare Now Inspect Our Tackle Before You Buy

Do nat forget tackle for Dad on Father's Day, June 18th.

advantage over Thesz Alabama Bill has been “going places” in the mat world and he hopes to spring a surprise at the expense of Louie, | In the 8:30 opener, Mike Mazurki, 230, New York, is paired against Warren Boekwinkle, 218, St. Louis.

Test of Lewis’ Eves Authorized

PITTSBURGH, June 13 (U. P.) = Havey Boyle, Pittsburgh member of |the Pennsylvania Athletic Commis |sion, has been authorized by the Association to |select three local specialists to examine the eyes of John Henry ewig, light heavyweight champion. The results of the examination likely will determine Lewis’ boxing future, as an adverse decision may |jead to vacating of the light heavy. weight throne. Lewis was barred from two proposed fights on grounds of poor eyesight. Date for the examination has not been set.

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Detroit 181% Philadelphia Tachington St. Louis

Seek Net Matches The Indianapolis Country Club's tennis team is seeking matches with city and state teams for this summer. Communications are to be ad-

dressed to Harlev C. Anderson, Ingis is Country Club, R. R. 2,

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1? | PrETSRURGH, June 18 (U.P). —

| The University of Pittsburgh today announced that Johnny Woodruff, [Pitty great middle distance runner, | definitely will part te in the special half-mile race in the Prince[ton invitation track meet next Sat. arday. The announcement set at rest reports that Woodruff had decided to pass up the Printeton games to take Lo Kew, di RR week-end.

dianapolis, to be held at 6:30 p. m. Thursday at 8t. John's Evangelical Lutheran Hall. The film describes the growth of baseball from its crea. tion in 1839 until the present time,

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Byron Nelson pulle the flag stick from

Son a bon on the Peurth hole in the National

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