Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 April 1940 — Page 10
SPORTS...
By Eddie Ash
5 CLOSEST BATTING race in the National League occurred in 1931. . . . Chick Hafey, Bill Terry and Jim Bot-
tomley went down to the last
day of the campaign locked
‘in a photo finish. . . . Based on “extended percentage,” Hafey won the crown with an average of .3489. . . . Terry
second at .3486 and Bottomley third at .3482. Turning back the pages to 1892 when Cleveland was in the National League, C. Childs of Cleveland and D. Brouthers of Brooklyn both closed at .335. . . . The former got the nod for the champion-
ship, .3351 to .3350. To determine a player's batting
of hits by the total times he has been at bat. .
average, divide his total number .. . To arrive at his
fielding average, divide the number of chances accepted without error
by his total chances.
For the won and lost percentage of a pitcher, divide the number of games he has won by his total of games won and lost. . . . For his earned run average per game, divide the total number of earned runs by the total number of innings pitched, then multiply by nine. - For a team’s percentage standing, divide the total games won by the total number of games it has played.
47 Leagues In Field This Year
FORTY-SEVEN leagues operate under organized baseball super-
vision this year. . by the Fourth of July. . .. Smaller
. . It’s a healthy sign even if some of them fold
communities are drifting back to
the national pastime as a means of letting off steam. Ten more leagues will swing into action next week, bringing the total to 26, including the majors, leaving 21 to hold their inaugurals
later.
The Cotton States will get under way tomorrow; Bi-State, April 22; Western International and West Texas-New Mexico, April 23; Eastern, April 24; Southeastern, North Carolina State and Coastal Plain, April 25, and Pioneer and Tar Heel, April 26.
» ” »
A CAMPAIGN for a 140-game schedule in the major leagues, instead of 154 games, will be conducted by Walter O. Briggs, president
of the Detroit Tigers.
“That will enable us to start one week later and close one week
earlier,” the Tiger owner maintains.
“It will produce a more compact
schedule and, I believe, increase interest in the pennant race.” Briggs also intends to take a definite stand against barnstorming and has declared the Detroit spring schedule next year will practically
be limited to Florida.
The Tigers quit their Lakeland camp 13 days before the scheduled
opening day of the American League season this year. .
. . Two of
their games were called off on account of sleet, rain and flooded parks and another was played in a cold drizzle. ‘
>
Indians and Tigers May Book Series THE INDIANAPOLIS CLUB may figure in Detroit's 1941 spring
training. Tribe President Leo Miller
says. . . . The Indians’ camp at
Bartow, Fla., is just a short motor ride from the Tigers’ Lakeland
camp. -
In the event the Tigers remain in Florida after other major
clubs depart, an exhibition series Hoosiers and Bengals.
may be arranged between the
The teams met once this spring, the Tigers winning an interest-
ing game, 5 to 3. . barnstorming trip and lengthen the the Tigers agree to give his Indians
. . President Miller is willing to forego a Tribe
stay under Florida’s hot sun—if an extra week of competition.
» 2 2
GEORGE TRAUTMAN, American Association president, was in Indianapolis today to attend the series finale between the Indians
and Saints. . .
. “We are taking a good beating at the hands of the
weather, but aren’t they all?” the chief said. “Big leagues, International League, American Association, all in the same boat, “The breaks will even up later, I hope. Ball clubs go to great expense taking the players South and depend on opening-day receipts
to pick up at least part of the outlay. “But we have overcome setbacks before and I am still optimistic about 1940. Into each league some rain must fall, you know, and the A. A. has survived 38 years ‘going on 40.’ ” \
” ” z TRIBAL NOTES: Buck Crouse,
. . . Manager Wes Griffin is an expert at knocking off snakes and . . Snakes climb trees in Florida. . don’t believe it, ask Gomez Galatzer. : This is Liz Lisenbee’s 17th season in baseball. . in the off-season, but has his son milk the cows. .
turtles with a rifle. .
my curve ball,” Liz says. .
. . Snooks Newman still is shouting about football and his Alma Mammy, Texas A. and M. ~~ Snooks, who stands 6 feet and weighs 180, declares he was too “little” to make the first eleven when he attended the Aggie school. . . . Varsity giants made him feel like a runt. :
Indians
Minneapolis : Next on Deck Tomorrow
+ Sunday Game Will Get Under Way at 2:30.
The Weather Man knocked another home run at Perry Stadium today and a game scheduled between the Indians and Saints was called off because of wet grounds
and the chilly atmosphere. Next up now are the Minneapolis Millers here tomorrow afternoon. Unaccustomed to the idleness caused by the peculiar variety of spring weather plaguing baseball teams from the Mississippi eastward, the Indians are-anxious to get back on the diamond: Spring training called for heavy duty every day and the Tribesmen want to avoid any stiffness of muscles caused by the sudden inactivity. Righthander Mike Balas, a relief hurler last year, was to start on the mound for the Indians this afternoon, and in view of the postponement is the likely starter tomorrow afternoon against the Millers. Last year the Minneapolis nine finished second in the American Association race. Long Tom Sheehan, Miller pilot, has lost none of his optimism and avers that his 1940 machine will outslug last year’s. His players are huge in stature and look the part of base-hit gorillas. Tomorrow’s contest will get under way at 2:30. The Millers also -are
SE
Buck Fauseit (left), Indianapolis’ former third sacker, be in town with the Minn lis
Millers tomorrow. Hé’s at his old
post and a fixture on the innerworks. He batted .305 for last year’s second placers.
Buck still is fast on the paths
and catchers must be wary or he'll
steal their glove. He once pilfered five bases in one game while wearing Indianapolis regalia.
He is one of three veterans back on the Miller infield and was early ‘rounding into form for the new campaign. Fausett is "a left
handed swinger and is tough te
toss out on rollers.
Phil Weintraub (right), home run walloper, will be a big threat to Indianapolis pitchers when the Millers open here. The tall Chicago fence buster. specializes in parking the ball over the wall and belts ’em on the road as well as at home.
a
Two Millers Who May Sti r Up Some Local Worries
booked here Monday and Wednesday, with Tuesday open. . The Millers lost a slugging bee at Louisville Thursday but collected 17 hits to prove they still swing for the open spaces. However, the Redskins are not papooses in the business of whacking the horsehide and itch for a chance to match the Minneapolis power.
Shaw on Air
Wilbur Shaw, kingpin of mechanical speed on the ground, will take to the air tonight via the Lyric Theater stage and Radio Station WLW. He will appear as guest star on the Boone County Jamboree program, to be aired from 7 to 7:30 o'clock (Indianapolis time). \ Twice victor in the 500-mile race, the cagey Shaw is to give his predictions on the outcome of the 1940 classic May 30. (And
Brooklyn and Cleveland Lead The Pack Away From Wire
By GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, April 20.—Undefeated, untied and unscored on, the
Brooklyn Dodgers and Cleveland Americans moved today into the fifta day of the sputtering”baseball season with perfect records. to have some help fromthe Weather Man to retain their select records bus for the nonce they are the two hottest things in the majors. '
They had
The Dodgers have, to share the National League lead with the cham-
pion Reds, who've won their only two games but are not quite as exclusive .as the Brooklyns because they've allowed a couple of runs, but the Americans hold undisputed possession of the American League lead.
After seeing their heroes polish
off the Giants yesterday at Ebbets
we bet he says Shaw will win.)
EJ ” ” coach, glass blower, trick cyclist.
. . If you
. . He’s a farmer . . “Milking hurts
Lash to Meet Maki at 3 Miles
NEW ORLEANS, April 20 (U. P.). —Taisto Maki, star Finnish runner, makes his first outdoor appearance of his American tour Sunday afterroon in a three-mile race against Don Lash at Municipal Stadium, Lash was substituting for Greg Rice, former Notre Dame star, who
pulled out because of an injured foot. Lash, former Indiana University star distance runner and now a State Policeman, is said to be in tip-top shape. __ He finished in front of the Finn in the three-miler at New York's
Madison Square Garden recently
when Rice set a new record for first hondrs. The New Orleans feature is part of a Finnish Relief Pund benefit athletic carnival, It will mark Maki’s seventh appearance on his cross-cour.try tour under auspices of the fund. To Maki and his friend and countryman, Paavo Nurmi, the contest is more than just another race because Nurmi is leaving Sunday night for New York and Finland. Nurmi, the Flying Finn of a decade ago, is billed to run an exhibition lap or two for the spectators who didn’t get to see him at his peak, back in 1925.
Baseball at a Glance
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION . ‘WW — INDIANAPOLIS ..... seseess 1 Milwaukee Louisville Toledo ....... vesssenensrins
1 1 Kansas CHY ,..0use0cieeree. 1 0
ik -w—-oo @
Cleveland Boston
Philadelphia ssssnsnessssees St. Louis Detroit Chieage™ ............ sehsaee Washington
NATIONAL LEAGUE w
CO et 20 2) eB
Cincinnati Brooklyn Philadelphia .....,.... Pittsburgh Chicage Boston
tenes sssvessseses 1 esseensesovssesssscs 1
sesevecsssssscs 0
VWu=we ooo
(Cleveland Dray Biggest Crowd
NEW YORK, April 20 (U. P.).— Attendance figures at yesterday's ‘second opening day games: NATIONAL LEAGUE New York at Brooklyn....., 24,741 St. Louis at Chicago........ 5,029
Total ......... «« 33,770
J AMERICAN LEAGUE . Philadelphia at Boston— (Morning) aves Philadelphia at Boston— ( oon) . seas 26,500 Ww ngton at New York... 15209 Detroit at Cleveland........ 26,529
Total ............:... sess 115,428 Total ;
vessesrens
7,100
‘both feagties Total. for frst openers, April
90500000000 0000000000004
GAMES TODAY
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
St. Paul at Indianapolis. Minneapolis at Louisville, Milwaukee at Columbus, Kansas City at Toledo.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Philadelphia at Boston. ? Philadelphia at ew York (rained out).
roit at Clev h at St. Louis. :
NATIONAL LEAGUE New York at Brooklyn grained ont). Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (rained out). Boston at Philadelphia (rained ont). St. Louis at Chicago.
RESULTS YESTERDAY AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 4 000 000 0 § ° Bonham and Riddle: Cole and Mackie. Other games rained out. NATIONAL LEAGUE 000 000 000-0 9 1 Br y 000 171 36x12 12 1 Schumaker, Melton and Danning;. Casey and Phelps, Manéuso. & Louis .. 000 000 000— 0 6 2
hieage ............ 021 001 10x— 5 9 3 Cooper, T. Russell and Owens; French
New Yi ookl
and Todd. ~~ Other games rained out.
AMERICAN LEAGUE (Morning Game)
Caster, Besse and Brucker; Heving and Desautels, Peacock. (Afternoon Game)
300 000 000— 3 5 1 000 100 000— 1 5 1
x5 8 0 Chase, Hollingsworth and Ferrell; Gomez, Sundra and Dickey. Betrolf ............. 000—0 3 © Cleveland 000 00k 00x— 4 7 0 Pippen, Hutchinson and Tebbetts: Allen and Hemsley. :
Chicago at St. Louls. wet grounds.
College Baseball
Purdue at Indi . Louisville at A my,
,902 Ind
: Indiana Pinman
In Sixth Place
DETROIT, April 20 (U. P.).—An attack on the leaders in the minor events of the American Bowling Congres was expected today as nationally known bowlers competed after being baffled in the flve-man trials last night. : While the unheralded Menni-
grodes of St. Louis were posting the only change among the fivem leaders in more than a week a 10th place 2925 series, more widely acclaimed quintets were unable to post totals threatening the high scorers. The Chicago Pabst Blue Ribbons stopped on 2784 with national match champion Ned Day scoring only 550. Linsz * Recreation AllStars, winners of the elimination for the right to meet the five-man national match titleholders, hit only 2759. Rosenblums, another Classic League leader from Cleveland, skidded to 2531 and Kansas City's major: threat, Dean Rubber, got
Field, the Flatbush faithful struck up thé old, familiar spring song, “This Is Our Year.” And it might be at that because Leo Durocher has put together a hard-driving, hustling gang with perhaps the best infield in the National League, The Dodgers have good pitching and if their offense doesn’t bog them down they might furnish the Reds their toughest opposition. "a
Giants Slashed to Ribbons
24,741 which braved a chilling rain, the Dodgers slashed the Giants to ribbons, Hugh Casey, scattering nine hits, had the Giants eating out of his hand. The Dodgers slugged out 12 hits off Schumacher and
Melton with Cookie Lavagetto leading the attack with two doubles and four runs batted in.
Johnny Allen sent Cleveland's
stock skyrocketing when he pitched the Vittmen to a 4-0 victory over Detroit. years Allen held the Tigers to three hits, all singles by McCosky, Campbell and Gehringer. 26,529 attended, the largest attendance of the majors’ second opening day. Lou Boudreau’s singlé, Chapman’s double, Trosky’s walk and Heath’s homer scored Cleveland’s four runs off Henry Pippen in the sixth.
Showing his best form in
A crowd of
Before an opening day crowd of |.
only 2757. Jack Black, a 35-year-old printer, from Ft. Wayne, Ind. accounted for the only change among the minor events leaders with a sixth place 714 series in the singles on games. of 264-233-2117,
| Chaser 5-Man Team |Detroit-Bound
A five-man Chaser bowling team
sponsored by Klee & Coleman, distributors, was to leave Indianapolis via the air today for the American Bowling Congress at Detroit. Considered one of the city’s better young teams, the members’ average age is 24. It is composed of Tom Casserly, Leonard Chase, Ed Gallema, Norbett McAtlee and Roy
The Yanks staged a four-run uprising in the first inning off Ken Chase, and pulled through to a 5-3 victory over Washington before 15,299, smallest Yankee Stadium opening crowd in years. Joe Gordon’s homer with a man on was the big punch. Bucky Harris and the Senators yelled long and loud that Gordon’s blow was foul but to no avail. Lefty Gomez, who started for the Yanks, had to retire after five innings because of the recurrence of an old injury to his back.
A’s, Boston Split
Johnny Babich, Kansas City
rookie, stopped the Red Sox in the second game of a doyble-header
after Boston had beaten the Athletics, 7-6, in the opener. Babich gave up only five hits to win, 3-1. The A’s made all their runs in the
10 001 010— 3 7 4} 203 096 o1
Wischmeyer.
Pak
0
020 002 002— 6 8 27 Wilson. | &
Little Patty Aspinall, 13-
its new pool in t championship
y Strikes Out to Break Her Own Record
year-old Indianapolis
first frame off Emerson Dickman.
be represented,
Bobby Doerr’'s bad throw to the plate let in the first run and then Bob Johnson hit a homer with a mate on. Dom DiMaggio’s double, driving in two runs, and Jimmy Foxx’s second homer featured the Red Sox victory in the morning opener, After dropping two 2-1 games to the Reds, the Cubs scored their first win, a 5-0 shutout of the Cardinals by Larry French. The Cubs’ southpaw won his own game with a double with two mates on in the second off Morton Cooper. Cubs’ rookie shortstop Bob Sturgeon lashed out three hits (one double)
but made two errors for the second. straight day.
But He's Still a
NEW YORK, April 20.—Every
Roman, Middle Derby.
Truthfully, Roman still is a dark horse because he never has gone a distance. His future book price opened at 30 to 1 and there it has stayed. His name didn’t figure prominently in the news until this week-end, when he worked a half mile on a sloppy track handily in the amazing time of :47 flat. This is little more than a second off the world record. :
The bay son of Sir Gallahad III is not impressive looking. For that reason he went to Florida in 1939 with the second division of the Widener stable. He made the top division in a hurry, and today there are few contenders for the bluegrass classic who can match him on consistency, Roman graduated from the maiden ranks on the very first attempt and went on to finish the year with a record of six victories and two seconds in nine starts. He fine ished out of the money only once,
school girl, will attempt to break her own American record in the 200-yard women’s breaststroke this afternoon as Indiana State Teachers cour Lhcrican, he Student Union Building at Terre Haute, Ind. She will jn which nine Midstates will
and on that occasion he ran fourth
i |mont, in New York, as well as the
|Evened Up
Roman Is Tops in Midwest
(Editor's Note—Following is the sixth in a series : contenders for the Kentucky Der
By JACK GUENTHER United Press Racing Editor
looking horse will flash talent which belies the rather ordinary future his owner has mapped out for him. Such a colt is J. E. Widener's who started as a second-stringer and now appears the strongest Western challenger Bimelech will encounter in the Kentucky
other eligibles, He is not eligible ¢ [for the Blue Grass, but has been
K. C., Toledo
By UNITED PRESS KANSAS CITY and Toledo today were right back where the argument started, In the only American Association game playable yesterday, the Blues won a ‘ 4-to-0 victory over the Mud Hens, avenging an opening day defeat. Other games in the Association were rained out. Big righthanded Ernie Bonham mowed the. Mud Hens down on their home diamond. Only Mark Christman, Toledo's shortstop, was able to hit him. Eddie - Cole pitched good ball, and it was the home run of the Blues’ outfielder, Russ Derry, that proved his undoing. With a mate on base in the. fourth, Derry smashed his homer over right centerfield fence. The Blues scored single runs in the fifth and ‘seventh, getting a total of eight Mis Both teams played errorless all.
You Know Why
Howe High School's ‘track meet with the Silent Hoosiers, originally scheduled for yesterday, will be run off May 14.
Dark Horse
of Jisgatones highlighting the top
once in a while a rather ordinary
while suffering from a weak knee. The knee bothered him in several ‘races.
Despite the affliction, Roman won the Lafayette, Bashford Manor and Hyde Park stakes for the best speed record in the Middle West during’ the summer. But he was out of action from early July until late October and hasn’t raced in competition since. His seconds were scored in the Juvenile Championship and Seminole Stakes, both at Hialeah, and he ended the year with earnings of $13,155. . There ‘are several points about| Roman that the horsemen definitely like. He can—and has—run even better in the mud than on fast footing. ‘He can—and has—carried high weight. But he has his weaknesses, too. The major one is that he hasn't gone a route. The minor one is that he didn’t face the real topnotch horses. But it is good to remember that he likes an off track because it often rains in Louisville on Derby Eve and Bimelech likes his footing strictly fast. T Roman has wintered at his owner’s Elmendorf Farm in Kentucky. He has received little publicity. In fact, his most recent work is the only one that has been made public. That one, however, is proof that his training is well advanced. It was as good as anything turned in to date. ; ‘ The colt will take his first tune-up at Keeneland today against three
named for the Withers and the BelDerby. Seeks 7th National Handball Title
DETROIT, April 20 (U. P.).—Joe Platak of Chicago seeks his seventh national A. A. U. handball cham-
2 be meeting Clements in for the third time.
| field.
on balls:
‘seven of them had enjoyed times at
yapping concerning the downfall of the Yankees. Let’s change the motto
“Break Up Mr. Griffith.”
liked to hear Caruso sing every day in the week.
3-Way Cinder Meet
Times Special
DePauw, Central Normal and In diana Central was scheduled he this afternoon. ' : :
By HENRY
He had come, there high in the Yankees disintegrate before the irresistible attack of his mighty Washington Senators. There was a smile on his face, a gleam in his eyes when such Washington warriors as Wasdell, Pofahl, took to the
Here Were His Men
Thesp were the men, his men, on whom he counted to make proud his boast that the Yankees were over-rated and could be taken by a
team that was smart, alert, full of hustle, and blessed with a will to die with its spikes on. Hadn't they proved to Griffith, in their first two games of the young season that they weren't quitters? Yes, indeed. Through two full games against Boston they had battled, and the fact that they hadn’t been: able to score a run in losing both games had not driven them from the field of henor. At the titans took their places in the field Griffith, who is known
“The Old,” and sometimes simply as “The,” must have felt pleased that half a dozen times in the past two years he had prophesied the collapse of the Yankees. Now, right in their backyard, he was about to match ‘the fulfillment of his forecast.
And the Wind Blew Cold
The rain was a-comin’ down, and the winds were cold and sharp, but Brother ' Grifith paid no mind. Then, as is customary in well-run ball: games, there came a first inning. The first half of it didn’t amount to anything because Washington was at bat. This lack of punch on the part of his boys didn’t particularly fret Griffith, for he is accustomed to watching his team go weeks without so much as a base Besides, he felt that the Senators would bottle up the Yankees with an inpenetrable defense. As a man who likes to draw the veil of kindness it hurts me to tell you what started happerjing then. Before the Yankees were retired
bat and four runs were across the plate. The major blow in this typical Yankee rally was a home run by Joe Gordon with a man on base. The Washingtons, to a man, swore that this place kick of Gordon’s was wide and they called upon the referee to uphold their relief,
Harris’ Word Turns Hot
The umpire listened as patiently as he could be expected to and then declared the home run a fair hit. At this point the Washington manager, Bucky Harris, drew on John Steinbeck for a few choice phrases before being chased from the game. We had our glasses on Mr; Griffith during this storm and he was as unconcerned as a guilty defendant awaiting the jury’s arrival. As far as the final result was concerned, this first inning ended the game. I don’t want to ask too much, but I hope it ended Mr. Griffith's
from “Break Up the Yankees” to
Personally, I wouldn’t even have
DePauw Host to
GREENCASTLE, Ind., April 28.—
A triangular track meet involving|
to his intimates as the “Old Fox,’
Graying Griffith Sits Silent As Yanks Smear His Senators
M’LEMORE
United Press Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, April 20.—Into each life some rain must fall, but isn’t Clark Griffith getting more than his share? Ls i There he sat at the Yankee Stadium yesterday, no longer young, no longer hopeful, perhaps, with the gray of the years showing in his hair and the gray of the April rains drawing beads on his huddled shoulders.
bronx, to watch the world champio
ity
Butler Netmen Meet I. U.
Butler Universtiy’s once-beaten tennis team meets another Big Ten opponent, Indiana University, this afternoon on the newly constructed clay courts in the Fieldhouse. Purdue handed Butler a 6-to-1 defeat in the season’s opener for both schools here yesterday. Wilbur Schumacher, Louisville sophomore, was the only Bulldog winner, defeating Bill Berg in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Other results were: Singles—Herbert Fuente defeated Arthur Mundt, 6-0, 6-1; Jim Hebbeler defeated Bob Dietz, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1; Bob Anderson defeated Harold Howenstine, 6-0, 6-2, and Ray Luckt defeated Chester Robinson, 7-5, 4-6, 9-7. i Doubles—Fuente and Hebbeler de< feated Mundt and Wilbur Downs, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, and Andersoh. and Berg defeated Howenstine and = C, W. Lambert, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. Other athletic contests scheduled for Butler today were a baseball game with St. Joseph’s College at Rensselaer and a track meet with Miami University at Oxford, O.
Southport Relays Postponed
THE SOUTHPORT RELAYS, the 15-event track and field car-
nival scheduled this afternoon at Roosevelt Field, were postponed this morning because of cold weather, Doyal Plunkitt, Felays manager, said the meet would be held in the afternoon of April 30 or May 1. More than 350 athletes from 22 high schools were entered in the relays. ; :
Studeliaker, Auto :
Ab Jenkins, the raving mayor of Salt Lake City will drive the pace car, a Studebaker Champion, at the annual 500- race Memorial Day, Speedway officials announced . today. i _ Jenkins holds every speed mark from one hour to 24 hours and has 143 speed records sei; on the 121 mile track at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. ‘ The Studebaker pace car will be a deluxe sedan and will be the first closed car ever to pace the “500.”
Spring Indeed! It was rainy and cold yesterday, as you know, and so a golf meet
High School on the South Grove course was postponed. The meet may be played Monday 3 :
College dedicates Swim during an 4. A. U. indoor
between Manual and Washington
To Set 500’ Pace
8
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