Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 March 1941 — Page 6

SPORTS

By Eddie Ash

~ GIVING THE Boston Bees the once-over, Maurice Sheviin of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat dwells upon what

he suspects is another “noble

experiment” by Bee Prexy

Bob Quinn and his astute manager, Casey Stengel.

Covering the St. Louis Browns’

camp at San Antonio, Shevlin

took time off to observe the maneuvers in the Boston Beehive. .

The Bees transferred their training

base from Florida to Texas this

year and are sharing San Antonio’s hospitality with the Browns. Incidentally, for the first time since they started training in Texas several years ago, the Browns have major league company in

San Antonio.

. Two years ago the Phillies trained at’ New Braun-

fels, Tex. a few miles away, but they moved back to Florida at Miam

Beach.

So far little has been said about the Bees, but it is worthy of note, Shevlin points out, that they are trying a new building program, one which will be watched with interest and one. that may help the

club considerably.

After a survey of the Boston roster and camp, Shevlin says. in

part:

“In camp with the Bees at the present time are three American League castoffs—Babe Dahlgren, first base; Wes Ferrell, pitcher, and

Earl Averill, outfielder.

Their presence has caused one and all to

wonder whether the Bees are changing a policy they inaugurated two years ago, whether they are grasping at straws, or whether the performance of one player last year gave them ideas. “Some seasons ago Bill McKechnie sparked a hapless Boston outfit by producing two veteran minor league hurlers, Lou Fette of

St. Paul and Jim Turner of Indianapolis.

They boosted the club in

the race and made it one of the most troublesome outfits in the

National League.

Haul In Youngsters By Carload

“AFTER McKECHNIE departed Boston and Stengel took over, Fette and Turner slipped. Fette faded out of the picture completely, McKechnie rescued Turner, who was of considerable service to tne

Cincinnati Reds last season.

“After vainly trying to find more Fettes and Turners for a couple of more seasons, Manager Stengel and President Quinn went to the

opposite extreme.

They began hauling in youngsters by the carload.

“Some few of them have come through, notably Carver Rowell and Chet Ross, but in the main the rookies have indicated all too prominently that they need more minor league work. The team

lacked polish. ” ” o

“THE NUCLEUS of an excellent

” on ” pitching staff, led by Bill Pose-

dal, Jim Tobin, Manny Salvo, Dick Errickson and Nick Strincevich is there, but the club has long lacked a punch. Max West has provided the slugging with Buddy Hassett, Eddie Miller, Rowell and Ross

to help out. “But the surprise hitter last year

was 40-year-old Johnny Cooney

who hammered out enough singles and doubles to produce an excel-

lent 318 batting average. ideas.

That may have given Quinn and Stengel

“At any rate, without putting out much cash they have conie up with two players who can give the squad’ additional punch and

stamina,

Couple of Long Distance Swingers “Dahlgren, who made the mistake of holding out with the

Yankees, was obtained presumably for $7500, the waiver price.

Fer-

rell, out of baseball after a brief trial with the Dodgers last spring, and Averill, released by the Tigers to make room for Walter Evers,

were obtained for train fare. “Both Dahlgren and Averill may tance hitters. may be of some help. “Dahlgren’s presence, naturally,

add punch. Both are long dis-

Ferrell, of course, is a distinct question mark, but he

makes the Bees top heavy as

they have West and Hassett available for first base duty. Babe, however, has demonstrated in the past that he can play third base with equal facility and he may fill the gap that exists there. Other

wise a trade may be arranged.” #” un 2

# ” #"

PHIL RIZZUTO, up from Kansas City, is a fixture at shor ptstop

for the Yankees, says Manager Joe McCarthy.

. The New York

World-Telegram reports that Frank Crosetti, the incumbent for nine years, is battling valiantly to recover his job, but the manager is letting him do all his fighting on the sidelines in training camp.

Quoting McCarthy:

“I expected a lot of Rizzuto and he hasn't

disappointed me in any particular. His disposition is wonderful. Just

watch him come through for the auiograph fiends.

there for an hour.

“Speed around short and in dashing back

He'll stand out

fly balls, punch

at the plate, a fine arm and co-ordination Pas wh Priddy at second have impressed me most so far. He just cannot miss.’

Cage Badgers

Are Favorites

MADISON, Wis, March 12 (U. P.).—Wisconsin, undisputed ruler of Big Ten basketball, became an early favorite today to capture the National Collegiate Athletic Associations eastern tournament to which . it will play host March 21 and 22. The high-scoring Badgers, with 11 consecutive conference victories behind them; Dartmouth, No. 1

team of the eastern “Ivy” League; North Carolina, of the Southern Conference, and the University of Pittsburgh will battle for the right to represent the East in the NCAA playoff March 29 at Kansas City, Mo.

The Home-Floor Issue

Indiana won the Big Ten title last year and went on to sweep the NCAA championship. Wisconsin, winners in 17 of 20 games, has put the brakes on Hoosier ‘firewagon” basketball this year. whipping Indiana, Purdue (twice), Notre Dame and Butler. . Furthermore, in clinching its first clear Big Ten title in 23 years, Wisconsin’s smooth, deliberate offense piled up 536 points, 17 more than the 1940 record set by Indiana. Then there’s the question of Wisconsin’s home-floor advantage. Forrest (Phog) Allen, outspoken basketball coach at Kansas University, said it’s an “unfair” one. Harold G. Olsen of Ohio State, chairman of the NCAA tournament committee, disagrees with Allen. Wisconsin officials aren't taking Allen’s charge seriously. With playing conditions standard today, Olsen said, there “wouldn’t be much advantage when all competing are good teams.” Allen also _ denounced the NCAA as an “outfit of money grabbers,” willing to sell its fair play rights for gate receipts.”

Stars Are Plentiful

Whatever advantage goes with playing on the home floor, the favored Badgers will face stern competition in the tourney. Although Pittsburgh has won only 12 of 18 games this year, it is the only team which has beaten Wisconsin here. The game was played early in the season and the Panthers won, 36 to 34. Dartmouth is “Tyg” League champion for the fourth straight year. North Carolina’s Tar Heels won 14 of 15 regular season games, losing the Southern Conference tournament to Duke by ‘one point. Some of the finest collegiate basketball players will be here for the two-day tournament. Wisconsin boasts center Gene Englund, second high Big Ten scorer, and Johnny Kotz, brilliant sophomore forward; Pitt has Capt. Eddie Straloski, sharpshooting forward; North Carolina’s big gun is George Glamack, all-America Soa Dart-

Flat Feet

LAKELAND, Fla. March 12 (U. P.).—Hank Greenberg, the Detroit Tiger slugging outfielder, has flat feet. | Dr. Grover C. Freeman, refired U. S. Navy livetenant commander, gave Greenberg a physical examination for selective service yesterday and’ reported the ball player passed the test in “fine shape” extept for second degree flat feet. Whether the feet will keep Hank out of the draft Army remains to be seen.

$700 Purse Goes To Horton Smith

BELLEAIR, Fla, March 12 (U. P.)).—Horton Smith, lanky Missouri professional, came back into the front ranks of the golfers dor the first time this winter toddy after netting $700 first prize in the annual Belleair Open Champicmniship. Smith, one of the leaders several years ago, shot 33-35—-68 to defeat Byron Nelson by a stroke vesterday in an 18-hole playoff. Nelson, former National Open champion from Toledo, O., carded 32-37--69 and collected $450 second money.

Midget Race Meeting To Be Held at Muncie

Promoters and drivers of midget racing cars will hold a !'meeting Sunday afternoon in the. Roberts hotel in Muncie to discuss the racing season. ;

Harold Hurst, Muncie, president of the Mutual Benefit Raci ing Association for midget drivers, said that the cars would conipete on five tracks this season. They are at Muncie, Hamilton, ©., Cireenfield, Charlottesville and Columbus. Organization of the Iive-track circuit was completed at 4 meeting in Indianapolis last Sunday. Ted Everroade, Indianapolis, is vice president of the Association.

Ft. Wayne Catholic Accepts Tourney Bid

CHICAGO, March 12 (U. P.)— Four schools have accepted invitations to the 18th annual National Catholic Basketball Tournament, which begins March 26, athletic director John Connelly of Loyole, University announced today. Entrants are Tor Catholic of Ft. Wayne, Ind, the defending champion; Leo of Chicago, St. George of Evanston, and ‘St. John’s of Paterson, N. J. Twenty-eight other contestants will complete the tournament field.

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THE INDIANAPOLIS * TIMES .

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1941

Hey, Jedge, T hey’ re a-Throwing That F Softies

By JOE WILLIAMS Times Special Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 12—We don’t know what old Judge Landis and his Gestapo agents are going to do about it

but it develops the boys are still throwing the spit ball, and this demure little thing was legislated out of baseball years ago. True, they don’t make a practice of it but every once in awhile the ‘salvia slant,” as the word painters of 1915 used to describe it, makes its appearance. A notable and historic instance was in the last World Series when— but let us tell you the story. The Series was over and -Del Baker, the Tigers’ manager, none too jubilant, was splitting a

: beaker of suds with Jimmy Wil-

son, who had been drafted from the coaching line to catch for the Reds. “You know I can’t understand it,” said Baker. “We called every pitch Derringer threw out there

today and yet we couldn’t beat him.” “I won't say you didn’t call most of ’em,” answered Wilson, “but. there was one you didn’t, and I'm going to let you find that one out for yourself.” Baker is quite capable of calling every pitch before it is thrown, because he is generally accepted as the most gifted signal stealer in the game. In the light of what happened, however, he can be excused for not calling the pitch in question. How could he know that Paul Derringer was going to throw

a spitter to Earl Averill for the last out in the World Series. But that’s just what the amiable giant of the Reds’ staff threw in a pinch to put on the clincher. How many others he may have thrown he isn’t saying. As a matter of

. fact, he isn’t saying he threw the

classic one to Averill “If it was a spitter,” he told us today, “then my hand must have been sweaty or something.” The wink which followed was significant. Of course, it was a spitter and everybody in the Cincinnati clubhouse laughed about {it after the game. And they got another laugh when they heard what Baker had said to Wilson. Johnny Murphy, the Yankees’ fireman, was listening in on the conversation. “There's no telling how many spit balls are still being thrown,” he commented. “It's

my notion that a fellow could pitch a whole game throwing nothing but a spitter and get away with it, provided he was clever enough. “And the catcher was helping him out,” supplemented Derringer. “That's right, you'd have {to have the catcher working with you. He'd have to snap the ball back to you before the umpire could ask to examine it and by that time the air would have absorbed all the moisture.” Mr. Murphy blandly denied he had ever thrown a spitter in his life. Whether many of the young men cheat with the spitter or not, it must be fairly obvious that it's form of larceny which offers few difficulties. Just a dab of moisture is all that is needed to make the ball jump and sail and dive,

and that can be easily and secretively applied during the upward or downward motion of the windup. By the time the umpire calls for the ball, especially if it has been shot back to the pitcher immediately, all the incriminating evidence has disappeared. For years Johnny Allen, now with the Browns, and Claude Passeau of the Cubs have been suspected but gradually the protests have ceased. It is now agreed Allen’s baffler (if he still has it) is of authentic origin and that Passeau throws what is called a slider. The fight against the spitter was based on two objections: (1) It just wasn’t gentlemanlike; (2) it made handling of the ball by infielders uncertain. Neither objection carried devastating weight. The batters were

happy to see it eliminated. The pitchers weren't. There's an old-timer down here, Frank Shellenbach, coach of the

Boston Red Sox, who is leading a. one-man crusade for restoration’ of the spitter, He contends the offense in baseball is top heavy and a return to the spitter would effect a better balance. A What makes Shellenbach’s crusade note= worthy is that the spitter taboo kept nim from being an outstand= ing big league star. He had developed the best spitter in the game working in the minors and was poised for a brilliant big league career when the ban was applied. He never did get a chance to show it in fast company where he might have been ane other Bd Walsh, or a reasonable facsimile.

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Londos Takes Everything

For'Granite’, Including Gino

By ROBERT FLEETWOOD THIS IS THE tale of the follies in flesh and how an Italian with initiative was outmaneuvered by a Greek with a grip 5421 miles west of Salonika. And the moral that hangs thereby is never monkey with a wrestler—they take too much for “granite.” Only a department store clerk could withstand their

‘beatings, for they fall like blocks

from the pyramids but live to converse with friends in Section A intermittently with their groans. The aging Jim Londos, who looks. like he just stepped down from a Pericles pedestal, is still no “bust.” Last night the Athens Apollo defeated Gino Garibaldi at the Armory before a packed house of “stop - that - bloody - battle” shouters. They hit each other with everything but a vendor's coke case and touched all but second base as Londos, the hero with the hogin - a - field - of - acorns breathing, and Gino, the villian with his Academy Award dramatics, finally became tied in a knot with our hero atop after 35 minutes of muscle maneuvers.

# ” »

THE DRAMA BEGAN with locked horns and 10 minutes of solo ballet with only the referee in the stag line and he refused to cut in. > During this time both boys dropped each other to the floor a couple of times, spinning a few wrists and biting an ankle for diversion. Which you can’t tell us doesn’t hurt. The tempo suddenly changed when Gino managed to shake hands with Jim,.only Gino’s hand was in the small of his back and James became rather angry. Pulling his head from between the Italian’s legs the Greek planted one leg in his opponent’s Adam’s apple and proceeded to pull his arm in the general direction of the floodlights. This proved very distasteful to Mr. Gino, and he countered with a few quick lefts to unscheduled spots. After another intermission for patrons’ discussion Gino scrambled toward the ropes and tied Londos’ right arm in the best Boy Scout fashion. The ref intervened and managed to make a good bowling loop out of his own upper appendages. » ” ”

THE BOYS NOW took their follies exercises, splitting each others legs amid cursory remarks on the health of the family and friends. But all good shows must end and as we noticed the regular cus- \ foichiy Soathes

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tomers donning coats and hats we followed suit and the match was over in 15 seconds. I.ondos put some kind of a press on Gino. So it was uncle or else. The trick of the evening went to Machaivelli Buck Weaver. Faking a broken wrist following a sojourn in the peanut row, he called the referee and Whitey Wahlberg to witness. Whitey looked and Buck jumped—it was curtains for the sleeping Wahlberg. In the other bouts Harry Kent, Portland, Ore., out-grappled Irish Jack Kennedy, Dallas, Tex. and Jack: Hader, Omaha, downed Cal Reese of Tulsa.

Bruin Six Gets Grasp on Title

By UNITED PRESS The Boston Bruins virtually clinched the National League hockey title last night by shading the run-ner-up Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2, in the only game scheduled. The Bruins scored three first-period goals and then fought off a late Toronto surge to run their current record to only one loss in 29 starts. Boston now needs only a tie in one of their three remaining games to retain the Prince of Wales Trophy. Toronto must win both its games, and Boston lose all three, to win the title. Woody Dumart, Roy Conacher and Eddie Wiseman scored for Boston and Don Metz and Dave Schriner for Toronto. The standings: T, 12

0 8 1 6 26. 11

Howe Fives to Dine

Honorary vaptains of the varsity, reserve and freshman basketball teams will be named at Howe High School’s basketball banquet Friday evening in the school cafeteria.

Tribe Pitchers And Catchers Go to Work

Boys to Get Noonday Snacks at Bartow

Times Special

BARTOW, Fla., March 12.—Opening drills were to be held today in the Indianapolis Indians’ spring training camp as Manager Wade Killefer assembled his pitchers and catchers and commanded the boys to get going. Workouts each day, except Sun-

day, will begin at 10 a. m. and continue until 1 p. m, or later, depending upon the number of hopefuls on hand. Time out will be taken for a noonday snack consisting of sandwiches, milk and coffee. The boys will remain at the park for “lunch,” which will be brought to them in the club’s station wagon. Last year there was no time out for a noon snack and some of the athletes said it worked a hardship going from breakfast to dinner without feeding the inner man.

Miller Proud of Setup

The club is operating its own kitchen and dining room at the Oaks Hotel and Secretary Dale Miller, who is in charge of this and of the Tribe's training, is proud of his setup. He says he is especially gifted in picking out thick, juicy steaks and defies any ballplayer to challenge his judgment. Western steaks were not served the players last spring and Miller has guaranteed to take care of the situation. The secretary said, “This dining room, like the ball club, is under new management and we do hope the boys will like it.” Other Tribe officials on deck: to watch the opening drills are OwnerPresident Norman A. Perry Sr, General Manager Leo T. Miller and Trainer Al Ritter. Players who had checked in at a late hour last night were Don French, Glenn Fletcher, Charles Moncrief, Jack Bastien, Bill Phoebus, all pitchers; Bob Prichard and Don Parrett, infielders, and Ralph Pettit, outfielder.

Roll in From West

Moncrief, Bastien, Phoebus, Prichard, Parrett and Pettit motored here in the club’s station wagon, that was purchased in California. The players took turns at the wheel and no mishaps were reported. Infielders and outfielders are not due in camp until Monday, but Prichard, Parrett and Pettit were permitted to report with the batterymen. Contained on the Indians’ roster are 15 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders and six outfielders.

Huff to Captain ’41-’42 Park Five

Park School awarded eight members of its basketball team sweaters yesterday. Those on the receiving line were Capt. Steve Terry, Larry Gerlach, Frank Bixler, Hank Tinney, Jim Magennis, Herman Kothe, Al Huff, and Mike Keene. Huff was selected by his mates to captain next year’s bucket brigade.

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THE MEN BEHIND the scenes —the unsung heroes of the athletic world, the coaches—will have their big moments when their proteges take the track and field Saturday at the Butler Indoor Relays and garner their share of the the $1000 in trophies and awards, or perchance equal or break a meet record or a world’s record. Some athletes have natural “color” and crowd appeal, others learn the “tricks of the trade.” All reflect in’ greater or less degress the color, personality and ability of the coach. Several of the most colorful and able coaches in the nation will be behind the scenes at the Butler Fieldhouse Saturday, not least of whom is E. C. (Billy) Hayes, Indiana University’s track guide. A coaching veteran of 31 years with significant experience in football and basketball as well as track, winning teams are no novelty to “Billy” Hayes. At Mississippi A. & M. where he coached from 1911 to 1924, his gridiron and court teams were always up in the running, and after 1914 his track squads did not finish below third place in the Southern Conference and won several championships, including the 1923 and 1924 conference titles. ” o tJ

SUPPLYING MEN for the American Olympic teams since 1916, Hayes is proud of all his boys, but particularly so of the quartet of Don Lash, Tommy Deckard, Jimmy Smith and Mel Trutt, all of whom ran in past Butler Relays events, and whose picture hangs on Billy's office wall in Bloomington. “That's a remarkable crew for one school,” says Hayes of the picture. “Together they averaged a 4:12 mile and 9-minute twomile. You may not find four men like that at the same time again in one school.” And Hayes has another great group on his team this year, boys who many experts expect to garner enough points to knock the

bowling tournament,

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Butler Relays Athletes Mirror the Abilities And Personalities of Their Coaches

Indiana’s Billy Hayes

University of Michigan out of the Butler Relays championship it has held for seven consecutive years. They include Campbell Kane, Archie Harris, Roy Cochran and Wayne Tolliver. Another of Indiana’s own products who has reached top ranking in the coaching profession (Hayes was born in Madison) is Hermon Phillips, former Rushville flash, originator of the Butler Relays and now track coach at Purdue. A former Olympic star in the quarter mile event, Phillips not only annually develops outstanding colorful runners but possesses that characteristic rare among coaches, showmanship. Ray Sears, current Butler University thinlyclad coach and Relays director for the third consecutive year, also calls Indiana his home state, having run first under the colors of Greencastle High School.” Ray followed through by becoming an outstanding distance runner and winner of several world's records. He boasts the distinction of never having been defeated in his favorite event— the two-mile race.

(Reprint from Sunday Star March 9.).

FALLS CITY BEER IS CITY CHAMP, TOO!

FROM THE UNIVERSITY of Notre Dame comes William P. Mae honey, a tryo at the coaching proe fession but a man who already has demonstrated that he knows how to. develop winning track teams,

Mahoney came to Notre Dame from Phoenix, Ariz, as a hurdler, but a pulled muscle turned him into a quarter miler, from which position he captained the 1938 Irish team, running with the mile relay team that set an all-time record. Bill also boasts a law degree from Notre Dame and is a member of the Indiana and Arizona bars. From the University of Illinois comes Leo T. Johnson, another man who has earned an enviable record in other sports as well as track. A four-letter man at James Millikin University, he coached there for many years before becoming head track coach at Illinois. Himself a great broad jumper, Johnson this year has developed one of the more promising hurdlers for competition at Butler. Don Olsen has been come ing ahead fast and is expected to be with the best of them Saturday.

Kay Roberison, Joe Fulton, Carl Hardin, Lee Carvin and Leo Ahearn, Falls City Hi-Bru Bowling Team, who just rélled up a championship in the 35th annual city

Falls City Beer is a ten-strike, with

plenty to “spare”... . that’s why Falls City is champion for Hoosiers . . . here in Indianapolis and throughout

the state!

Remember, Falls City is always: ready for action . . . by the bottle, can or glass. So next time you want a real taste thrill send out ig-eall for.