Evening Star Newspaper, March 11, 1932, Page 41

Sports News L i The Foening Star, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1932. PAGE D—1 Judge Shows Much Speed at First Base : Browns Are Building Young Ball Club ETERAN PEPPERY. WHILE KUHEL ALS Eye Trouble Handicapping ! XYoungster—Extra Weight Pleases Manush. BY TOM DOERER. ILOXI, Miss, March 11.—In B the Spring a young man’s| fancy — well, fancy that| diminutive veteran initial | sack custodian, Joe Judge, burn-| ing with such speed and desire this morning that he is in the top position in his race with Joe Kuhel, the Kansas City kid, for the Washington club’s first-base Job. This is Spring, and you can never tell what & boy in love and a man in base | ball is going to do from one day to an- other. Joe stands out for the first base Jjob today like the lighthouse before my window does at night to those lug- gers coming up the gulf with their shrimp cargoes. In the main, little Joe has won the grip he has on first base. But some of his success is due, too, to the physical condition of Kuhel, who reported to | camp with a bad sty upon his eye.| The optic has become worse, and yes- terday afternoon I met Joe and the missus treking off to an eye specialist | down in Biloxi. | It may not be a serious situation. The tall, very swell kid from K. C. ought to have enough snap to come through and go get that veteran before he hauls out too far in front. But the situation now is that Judge is burning up with Spring speed. And that speed is being backed up by the best physical condition the oldster has been in, in years. I'm telling you the truth. The little fellow is hot. ~And ghe young man does not appear to be in any real shape at all. That's too bad. But a fight's a fight, and this one may be a very sweet one, lasting farther into the caléndar than is good for either cne of them. But it will be good for your ccn- tented uncle, Clark Griffith. The small, gray man will not lose in the struggle, Ior a scrap at one corner always causes a battle at another and that keeps the whole club at high pitch. T big boy, Heinie Manush, is weighing—well what do you think? Exactly 208 pounds. That's 23 pounds more than he weighed last year when the boll wevils and the moths and what-nots just ate them- selves silly into his batting. But here's & fellow screeching hap- pily because of excess weight when the rest of the camp has had me goggle-eyed writing about loss of weight, until I felt I was working in a grocery store or a beauty parlor. And I've dug a| hunk of news, too. I'll tell you why he | did not want to report to Biloxi on time. | It wasn't dear old Biloxi's air nor its | sea food nor anything of the sort. It was because Heinie felt that he was burned out last Spring by too much, and too constant training. Upon last Spring’s workouts he blames the shrink- age in his batting percentage. So it wasn't boils. It was dissention. It wasn't the heat. And it wasn't any of those things the experts were telling about at all. Take that from Heinie imself. It wasn't that he was so peeved at Uncle Clark’s whack at his pay envelope that kept him balking, but i)ult because he did not want to quit is loafing down there in Florida. “‘Overweight?” says Heinie. “No, 200 | pounds belongs to me to feel right. | Imagine me around 184 and 185 last | Summer.” You know that Heinie spent six weeks at Hot Springs before coming down here last year. And do you know that he just piled on beef and power down there in West Palm Beach all Winter? We'll see what this is all about when the cows are in the meadow and lilacs bloom on the porch next door. T is & beautiful morning down here, and it was a very elegant afternoon yesterday. Too nice to sit indoors and write yarns and draw pictures while other guys loaf out on the sand. Maybe they saved their money. And when the boys get off the beach Tl go and pry info their business to learn about that aunt back in Topeka, | worry Walter Johnson and annoy Unch“ Clark with a lot of silly questions. But Uncle Clark did tell me that this is a swell spot here because he has not missed a day’s training in three years. With ball clubs all around us suffering frost-bitten toes, numbed ears and calling off practice, this Na- tional outfit goes through its daily mo- tions as smoothly as a well oiled car. Maybe that will tell during the early part of the season. Griffith believes it will and he also believes that his hurling is going to function. HICH reminds me that Wllwll Johnson says that Carl Fischer | may shoot at 20 games this year —maybe more. That's_hot news. Carl pulled in 13 last year. Remember when | he had nine and could not get that tenth without the help of the Hyatts- | ville Fire Department and the Chevy | Chase Band? Listen to Walter: “PFischer was a| rather hard pupil for a while. I do not believe it helped him—that is hs attitude toward instruction. But this young man is blazing now, he has picked up a nice change of pace and has developed a pretty slow ball. It is not too far fetched to say that he will get 20 games this year, with the atti- tude he has assumed.” That's facts, too. Carl mixed them up this moming like a fancy cake- baker. He just came in here to the room to fan and he is not at all peeved at what Walter said. “He's right,” he grins. “But I was tired last | season. They worked me too hard in | the early games. t was not any one's fault. t circumstances. Watch me €0 now | And there you have the news of the camp this morning. You know as far| as I know. I could kid you, but that would be nonsense. Fistic Battles By the Associated Press. PHILADELPHIA —AI Trainor, Phila- delphia, and Baby Joe Gans, California, | drew (8); Billy Constance, Philadelphia, | outpointed Elmer Bezenah, Cincin- | nati (6). | FLINT, Mich—Battling Gizzy, Pitts- | burgh, outpointed Cowboy Eddie Ander- | son, Wyoming (10); Ernie Maurer, Cin- cinnati, stopped Ralph Quatrenen, To- Jedo (2). SAVANNAH, Ga.—Joe Lohman, To- Puzzles Himself Well as Batters By the Assoclated Press. T. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 11. —George Pipgras has discovered the secret of Vernon Gomez's sensational success with the New York Yankees last season. “The catcher,” says Pipgras, “gives Gomez the sign, but even then he doesn’t know what Lefty is going to pitch. ' “The batter doesn’t know what's ing. O Gomez doesn't know where the ball is going. “The umpire doesn't know what to_call it. “Thus_everybody's fooled and vic- tories pile up.” EVANS SEES TRIBE PN FLAG CHSE “No Worse Than Third,” Says Indians’ Boss—Chisox Hunt Hitters By the Associated Press. EW ORLEANS, La., March 11.— Watch out for the Cleveland Indians this year! In the opinion of Conservative Billy Evans, the Tribe's general manager, the Cleveland team will finish 1932 “no worse than third.” And if just one more good pitcher is developed, plus reasonably short- stopping, Evans believes, the Indians will be pennant contenders. He pre- dicted every player of last year's squad will be better this year and that among the recruits he has several aces up his sleeve. A practice game between the Tribe and the Toledo Mud Hens was sched- uled for today. SAN ANTONIO, Tex., March 11.— Any member of the Chicago White Sox squad who shows signs of being able to hit, is likely to be carried a long time this season. From the 1931 club, which finished last in the American League, only Lu Blue and Lew Fonseca, among the regu- lars, reached or bettered .300. Smead Jolley, the embryo catcher, also notched .300, but was used only as a pinch- batsman. Where the Sox punch, if any, is coming from, no one knows, and efforts to locate it have been retarded by un- suitable base ball weather. AN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 11.— It was just a n:tnkcld:nc‘; l:h“ last year’s regulars broke tral g camp at Palo Alto and joined the main body of Detroit Tigers here the day the Bengal recruit lost a 6-to-5 dec’sion to the Pacific Coast League Seals. Manager Bucky Harris said, however, he would insert some regulars in the line-up now that the squad is together again. The recruits twice defeated the Seals before dropping yesterday's 10- inning thriller. FORT MYERS, Fla, March 11.— only exercise George pa. He said it has been too cold for the two Mackmen to work out with a base ball. IAVANNAH, Ga., March 11.—Shano Collins’ Red Sox today make their third attempt to hold a nine-inning practice game. Trainer Bits Bierhalter reports every one in excellent condition with not even a sore arm in the camp, despite the Wintry weather that has halted two previous attempts at a yannigan- YOUNG GIBBONS OFF T0 PROMISING START Son of Old Fighter Wins Opening Bout in Amateur Tourney. Both Hands Effective. By the Associated Press. MINNEAPOLIS, March 11.—Another Cibbons has started a ring career that may follow the famous path blazed by Mike Gibbons, the Phantom. ‘The latest aspirant seeking to bring fame to the Gibbons clan is Jack Gib- bons, 19-year-old son of Mike. Com- peting in the second annual Northwest Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament, which started here last night, young Gibbons won a three-round decision over his first opponent, Bernard Wood, Henrietta, Minn., in the middleweight division. It was the same class which Mike fought two-score years ago. Jack displayed an efficient left and a straight right to the head. If Jack should win the Northwest middleweight golden glove title he will be eligible to compete in a tournament at Chicago, where boxers will qualify for the American Olympics boxing finals in New York. U. S. GOLFERS DOMINATE Three Americans, One Canadian in Bermuda Semi-Finals. HAMILTON, Bermuda, March 11 (#).—One lone Canadian remained to dispute the Bermuda amateur golf champlonship with three Americans to- ay. Nicol Thompson, jr., of Toronto, was paired against Lecnard Martin of New York in one 36-hole semi-final-round match at Riddells Bay Club. The other sent George Voigt, heavily favored to win the title, against Clive Alvord of Greenwich, Conn. Hot-Water Bottle Aids Her on Links By the Associated Press. ANDY LODGE, England, March 11.—Bett Dix Perkin, a London girl golfer, has added a hot- water bottle to her equipment for golfing “I'd rather play without my nib- lick than my bottle,” Betty said, as she won her third-round match Foursomes. ledo, outpointed George Meron, Greece | dies’ , N. Dak.—Britt Gorman, lis, outpointed Frankie Wolf- Ad Kuhlow, De- Louls Fettlg, Grand Towa.—Kid Leonard, East Moline, and Young Stuhley, Ke- wanee, drew (10). e ‘warm. “They all laugh at me,” she said, but they all want to borrow my bottle. One can't play cold fingers. My i:l’ul Sy READY FOR HIS 18% SEASON~STILL THE MONARCH OF BATTING STyLISTS W STiLL ONE OF THE BEST FORM BATTERS I'VE SEEN"~ CLARIK GRIFFITH HE TAKES AS MUCH CARE OF HIS PINS AS A FoLLES GAL . . 5 ¥ THATS WHY HE'S STiLL STICKING AROUND — MIKE MARTIN, TRAIN FOR 15 yEARs SAmM HAS BEEN GETTING AN HITS PER SEASON -AND FOLLOWING BASE BALL’S POP TIME. HE'S UNusUAL~ WHEN HE GETS NTO A HITTING SLUMP HE GOES 0UT 10 (HE GOLF COURSE AND DRIVES PILLS UNTIL HI5 BATTING EVE RETURNS ! "1 ALVAYS THREW MINE AWAY " — SAYSs EOOIE AINSMITH ... SCAT,You OLDO RASCAL« DANGEROUS HiITTER™ = WALTER JOKNSON AVERAGE OF NEARLY 200 How HE LOVEsS A sSMACK Aowll Rice Has Years by the Ears BY TOM DOERER. ILOXI, Miss., March 11.— B There was that shrewd- | looking, angular Hoosier, | Edgar Charles (Sam, boys, | Sam) Rice, taking his click at the pumpkin the other morning down on Biloxi's rye-grass ball orchard. | And there was the background | of ball players running, playing pepper and waiting for turns at the plate. “Do you know,” said Clark Griffith, the gray pilot, “that Sam is about the sweetest-looking hitter up there as you would want to lay an eye upon? He stands as straight as one of our old cowboys back home used to stand when the camera folks came around.” And there is no doubt but what Sam has about the finest batting form around the pastime. He might have been a greater hitter, a faster runner and packed a mightier punch in other days, but surely he stands up there down here these mornings as well as any smart hitter you might see in a long, long while. Sam_ stands up there as straight as an Indian, cuts with a beautiful golf- ing cut at the ball and follows through with all the rhythm and grace fl,”?fa" experts say a good golfer ought Ve, And when he is hitting, the balls are hit sharply and smoothly. His hitting technique is so different, so well timed and so graceful in comparison to that of the slugging youngsters of today that | in | it is a treat t> a real base ball enthusi- ast to watch him at work. | When you sec this veteran out- | fielder lay the’ willow across his | shoulder you are seeing something | about which the books on batting | try to teach. And when he follows | through it has been the last word in | beautiful cutting. | ND, maybe, after all, that golfing grace really comes from golf, for I watched Sam and Griffith out on the Biloxi course the other afternoon and his golfing attitude and his batting stance were kin. And that they are is backed up in & measure by the fact that when Sam goes into a batting slump during the| off season he treks out to the golf| course and spends hours on the tee hitting dozens of balls. He does not play a game, but merely clouts those tiny pellets until he feels he has gained not his batting eye, but his proper stance. And do like that? Sam’s plan would scare the shoes off the average manager. But Wal- ter Johnson, a great believer in golf at training camp, knows that if Sam does not know what is good for him there is no one else ;around the plantation who does. Here is Sam down here among the sea gulls and the date palms prepping | those sturdy legs and those piercing | eyes for his eighteenth year of slapping the leather. And there has got to be| tough opposition from any kid to dis-| lodge this old-timer from his perch as | a utility player and pinch-hitter. And {1t would take a real smart one to beat | | him for a year of constant action. Last| year Sam got into 120 games, and that's | more than a hatful to hit for .310. | Sam is 40 years of age. That's & lot | of years for a pair of legs to be packing Griff Veteran May Be 40, but He Doesn’t Believe It. “Sam is a smart hitter, a danger- ous one and good for some years in the game. He has taken splendid care of himself, and his living methods should be a guide for young ball players.” That comes from his manager, Walter Johnson. AM came to the Griffs back in 1915 as a pitcher. He had played for twq seasons with the Petersburg team of the Virginia league. As a pitcher for the Washington club during his first year he was a better batter, hitting .375 for four games. In 1916 Sam got in 58 games as an outfielder and pitcher and clicked for -299. In the following year Sam was strictly an outfielder and his batting mark began to soar, reaching its peak in 1930 with a percentage of .349. Sam’s hitting was never sensational nor streaky. Nor is it today. It is of that t‘:e which is constant and telling in long run. For 15 years this gentleman, who looks like a composite picture of the average American citizen, has secured his slightly less or more than 200 hits per season. That is a long while and a nice collection of blows. Put them end to end, and you get a smile from Sam. But what I wanted to say was that Sam is down here chasing that old Pop Time person into a Dixie frazzle. He is way out in front of that venerable bird and is going to stay there until those pins begin to wobble and splutter. And there isn't a creak to be heard this morning. LISTS DISTANCE RUNS Knights of Columbus to Hold Pair of Events on Sunday. Two runs, one at 5 miles and the | other at 31, will be held Sunday by the Knights of Columbus in launching a series of distance jaunts, open to all runners. ‘Those wishing to compete should call Charles Reynolds at Metropolitan 9619 this evening between 6:30 and 10 o'clock or tomorrow between 9 a.m. and 3 pm. —By TOM DOERER Down Hege IN DIXIE HE s CHASING THE OLD FeLLow, WiEH THE Vim o A wio{ 'RIVAL FOR PORTNEY Jacobs Hurts Lip and Is Unable to Take Part in Ring Show at Alexandria. Following an _announ Stumpy Jacobs, Hopewell, weight boxer, because of a cut lip suf- meet Jack Portney, Baltimore left- | was to feature Tuesday’s program at | Portner's Arena, Alexandria, efforts were being made today to line up an- | other opponent for Portney. Should | it be impossible to get a suitable sub- | stitute, two other battlers will be | booked, according to plans. | Young Van middleweight of this city, who was to meet Jack Freidman of Baltimore, will be unable to com- pete because of an attack of grippe. A match between Jesse Belt, District welterweight, and Bob Golsby, Third Corps Area champ, has been arranged to fill this spot. OXFORD CREW IS FAST LONDON, March 11 (#)—Oxford University’s eight, training for the historic boat race with Cambridge March 19, rowed a full course trial from Putney to Mortlake in 19 min- utes 57 seconds. This is six seconds better time than the Cantabs made in their trial Saturday. Oxford has been showing good form and their work has raised hopes for a victory over the Light Blue, which are | the pre-race favorites. Cambridge has won the last eight races. Shibe Sees Hot Race for A’s Boss Picks His Club to Win, but Admits Prospect of Struggle for M IAMI BEACH, Fla, March lieves that the Athletics race in the American League and “There is more excitement for the there is more money in it for the BY WALTER TRUMBULL. 11.—John Shibe of Phila- delphia is here and be- will have another sunny season, but he also thinks there will be a good admits that it cannot be too close to suit him. fan 1n a close race,” says the Phila- delphia magnate, d certainly club owners.” Shibe picks the Athletics, Wash- Flag Is Pleasing. itchers need is true, but even hfl:od some hitting behind them to win. “No, I don't know much yet con- | | | | | NOW BEING SOUGHT| 'ment that | Va., light- fered in training, will be unable to | | hander, in their scheduled match that | Ran Is Favorite Over Battalino By the Assoclated Press. EW YORK, March 11.—Despite his substitute’s role, Eddie Ran, Polish welterweight, has been installed a favorite over Christopher (Bat) Battalino of Hartford for their 10-round scrap in Madison Square Garden tonight. Ran took the match only three days ago when Battalino's original opponent, Billy Petrolle, turned up with a stiff neck and had to ask for a postponement. The betting odds today favored Ran at 7 to 5. Quinn Disclaims I Polish Ancestry ’ LEARWATER, Fla,, March 11— If old Jack Quinn of the Brook- lyn Dodgers should stick around the majors another 20 years, all the mysteries that surround him might be cleared up. Nobody—perhaps not even Jack himself—knows how old he is, but it finally has been learned that he is not Polish. Quinn says: “I'm lish with just | seasoning to } | By the Associated Press. | enough Irish and Wel make me spicy.” DODGERS MAY GFT TIWO BALKING REDS Cincinnati Club Ready to Swap Holdouts—Braves Get Track Work. By the Associated P: AMPA, Fla., March 11.—Dicker- ings with the Brooklyn Dodgers involving Holdouts Stripp and | | Cuccinello of the Cincihnati| | buzzed about camp that Norman Perry, owner of Indianapolis of the American Assoclation, again is seeking to buy the | Reds. Stripp and Cuccinello were the best | hitters for the Reds last year. But, | wearied with bickerings with them, the Reds' management is talking over a| | swap for Third Baseman Wally Gilbert | and Outfielder John Frederick of the The sale report was that the Central | Trust Co. of Cincinnati, a major stock- | holder in the club, had sent a repre- | sentative to interview Perry, who has | bid twice before, but been refused. LOS ANGELES, March 11.—With the | player limit cut to 23, John Mec- | Graw of the New York Giants is worrying most these days about what to do with surplus material. In addition to his regular infleld, | McGraw has a second complete set of | ! inner defense men and two sets of out- flel WINTER HAVEN, Fla, March 11.— The Phillies’ regulars, who shut out the “B” team by the tight score of 1 to 0 in a practice game yesterday, will be used against the Cardinals at Braden- ton tomorrow. Reg Grabowski will pitch the first three innings, with Roy Hansen han dling the middle three and Homer Dud- | ley finishing off. | ST. FETERSBURG, Fla., March 11.— | ™ The Braves have turned to track for | their competition in these days of | bad bose ball weather. Wally Berger | | has yet to be beaten in the 60-yard | dash that is a part of the day’s train- | ing session. Ben Cantwell runs away from the pitchers, Bill Akers is the infleld star and Al Spohrer gives his catching rivals & handicap and still holds the honors. LOS ANGELES, Calif, March 11.— The next six days probably will de- termine the fates of certain Chicago Cub recruits, who must prove their rights to major league uniforms. Six battles with the New York Giants, | starting today, will give the youngsters | enough testing. Lonnie Warneke and Bud Tinning | | were nominated to do the pitching | against the Giants today, with the other youngsters. other than hurlers, | | certain to get into action. S A SO GOSLIN GETS IN LINE. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 11 | | (@).—"Goose” Goslin, outfielder and | slugger, was in the St. Louis Browns' fold today, leaving but four holdouts listed on the club roster. Goslin signed his contract yesterday. ] ST. JOSEPH’S IS EARLY. St. Joseph’s base ball team plans to open its season March 27 with a game | Reds moved on today while reports |ihe NO PENNANT HOPE IN ST, LOUIS TEAM Killefer Patiently Works to Creaie Better Morale in Speedy Outfit. (Note—This is the Afth of first-hand stories om major I prospects.) BY ALAN GOULD, Associated Press Sports Editor. EST PALM BEACH, Fla,, March 11.—The St. Louis Browns, best of the sec- ond division clubs in the American League last year, have a fast young outfit that shows distinet signs of improving. It has, quite frankly, no pen- nant prospects nor more than an outside chance of crashing the first division in a circuit top-heavy with the strength of four leading clubs, but the reconstruction pro- gram of Manager Bill Killefer is shéwing favorable results. Step by step, Killefer has patiently rid the Browns of dissension, developed young players, and, finally, eliminated “bonus system” that upset the club’s morale to some extent last sea- son. The players have nothing else to do now but concentrate on contribute ing the maximum to team play, in- stead of attempting to fatten the pay énvelopes by individual exploits. Have Hold-out: Troubles. Hold-out troubles have beset the Browns, in the absence of any other items of irritation. Killefer has been handicapped by the delay in signing such stars as Goose Goslin, Ralph Kress, Dick Ferrell and Wally Stewart. Meanwhile he has concentrated on the development of his young infield | “We tried the experiment last year of | installing most of the Wichita Falle infleld as regulars,” said Bill. “It gave me a few more gray hairs, but tnese boys have kept hustling and should all be better ball players this season. “Burns, at first base, should make a real star. He has gained confidence and he can hit. We will give Jim Levey another chance at short. He must set- tle down to keep the job, however. Os- car M;‘!uo s 1 take care of second , without giving me anything to iy o o ve to put Ral in right fleld regularly, mlrt:-d of shifting him around the way we were forced to do last season. He played three infleld positions and the outfield in 1931. Lin Storti will get every op- portunity to make good at third.” Bit Shy of Reserves. The Browns are a bit shy of reserves, | but Jithmy McLaughlin, former Pagific Coast League star, is a good third base prospect and Wes Kingdon, up again from Chattanooga, can fill in at short. There will be plenty of punch in an outfleld composed of Kress, Fred Schulte and Goose Goslin, but Killefer would like another good’ left-handed clouter !ol*thbemlu duty. pitching staff has a strong quar- tet in Stewart, one of the best south- found himself late in the season, when he hurled a one-hit game and then beat the great Lefty Grove in a duel that broke Grove's winning streak. Wally Hebert, the Louisiana school- boy who southpawed the Athletics into subjection in his first start, is the brightest of the young hurling pros- pects. Big Chad Kimsey, Bob Cooney from Wichita Falls, and Americo Polii. up from Milwaukee, all look good. With Dick Ferrell and the veteran Benny Bengough behind the bat, the club is well fortified. To develop more speed Killefer has had his boys w ing in a new sliding pit, a novelty in the “grapefruit circuit” and an indication of the return to old-fashioned methods. DATE OLYMPIC TRIALS. HAMILTIN, Ontario, March 11 (#). —The Canadian Olympic track and against the Everett Waddey nine in Richmond, Va. fleld tryouts will be held at Hamilton, probably on July 14, 15, and 16. The only change is a Smarter and Greater Range of Styles —at a Dollar Less! “HAHN SPECIALS” $550 *Open Nights Men’s Shops 14th at G 7th&K *3212 14th