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Show THE MIDVALE JOURNAL Friday, July 26, 1929 Perennial Razz for Lively Ball P RESIDENT JOHN HEYDLER, a pleasant conversationalist and usually a willing commentator, Isn't very chatty on the matter of the liYely ball, which at present Is up for tlte perennial razz. The other day we asked the Nationals' prexy e.x:plicitly what was , being done about quieting down the ball, if anything, and all he would say was that be had torn open hadn't baseballs and s•lYeral found any proof that the pr·esent ar ·cle Is any different from the good nld-fashloned type, writes Ed· ward l~urns in Chicago Tribune. "You'ij see few~r homers by the SN'ond string hitters when the pit~(her& get a little more hot W(•nther," said President Deydler. "The hatters at ways have been out Jn Cront of the pitchers, and each y~ar it'~ t>lamed on the rabbit ball. llfuny of the complaints about the tJn 11 come in the form of alibis Crom the pitcllers.'' . One of the standard e:s:amples In atta~ks on the rabbit ball is Chuck hlein or the hard bitting Philadelphia NatioJJals. It is pointed out that Klein was a Central leaguer last yenr and has no moral right !( to come up to the majors and <S smack homers in wholesale lots. Klein Is a good, bard swinger, Pre:;ident Heydler. and he's going for the long bits all the time. 'Ye fail to see why the Central lea;,rue and the makeup of baseballs should be blamed for his showing. Those who go in for homers are willing to sacrifice their batting av ages on cowtail swings. They know they won't hit so often, but that when they do connect there is a chance for things to happen in a great big way. Hack Wilson, who tied Jim Bottomley for home run honors In the National league last year, Is a case In point If you have tired of using f:ahe Ruth as an lllustratlon of this fact. Ilack led the league with 95 strikeouts during the year. Page Five PITCHING DAYS OF WALSH AND SON JIM McLEOD ALLAROUND ATHLETE Trainer Buckner of \Vhite Sox Spins Yarn of Hurlers. Arkansas Rookie Signs to Play With Washington. I g I g S Football Players Find Baseball Pastime Hard To Design Defender Mr. C. Sherman Hoyt, who has been name(l to design the yacht with which the United Stutes will defend her yachting prestige against the invasion of the Dritish as represented by Sir Thomas Lipton. The races wlii take place tn ~eiJtember, 1930, over a course yet to be arranged off Newport. S ortNctes Release of Larry Bettencourt by the St. Louis Browns to Mllwaukee, of the American association, removes another great football player, at least temporarily, from the major league. Bettencourt has had difficulty In de· termlning what position he should play. He came up to the majors as a catcher, but the ball t>layers said he was a "boxer," a term applied to catchers who fight the ball. Then he tried third base and later had a fling at the outfield. '.rhe St. lllary's star started out hittiJjg at a terrific cUp, but !ell away to a final a\·eruge of .283. With Mil· waukee he moy find himself, and with steady play at one position will have a chance to again try for the top. Football players have not had a great deal of luck in baseball. Flrnle Nevers was sent to the Pacific Coast league uftcr a trial with the Browns, and Bruce Caldwell, the great Yale back, was a dismal failure with Cleveland. The case of Jim Thorpe stands out. The sturdy Indian, generally accepted as the greatest football playtime, was always on the er I vergeof ofall makinp: good in baseball. If the curve ball had not been invented the Sac and Fox star probably would have found his problem easier. Bob Alder, a New York basket ball referee, officiated In 67 cage games during the last winter season. • • • Wtlliam (Pete) Leaness has been .-e-eleeted captain of the 'l'emple unive~;sity baselJUll team for next season. ..t • • • Golf Is maldng rapid strides In J apan s!nce the emperor and members 'Of the royal household took up the game. • • • Uurry Griswold, Cambridge, Wis., bus heen elected captain of the University of Wisconsin freshmen baseball team. • • • "Cat" Thompson, one of the greatest cnllel?;e b:1sket ball players, w!ll captain the !\fontana State basket ball team next season. • • • George D. Crosier, of North Adams, Mpss., bas been elected captain of the n\irtmouth track team for ne:s:t year by the letter men. • • • • Lint Gay was recently elected cap· taln of the Lacrosse team at Georgia fo , next season and his brother, Jim, was chosen alternate. • • • Tommy Harrison, of the Broadway Y.• M. C. A. in Toronto, Is a star of both the intermediate and senior basket ball teams nf the association. • • • Mails' Hot Retort Cause of Laugh at Pittsburgh Walter lllails caused a laugh in the eighth hming of a ~pring game with the Pitt•' hurgh Pirates. Larry French, Coast lengue star with the Pirates, had just completed a fine job of fan· ning .\Jails. l\ext inning up came French and hit a hot liner to the center fiehler. "Aha, Du;:ter." yelled a fan, "he struck you out, but you couldn't fan him.'' "That's all right," retorted Malls, In a jiffy, "he's in the big league and I'm not." Stiff Digit Big Help to Coast Loop Pitcher Edward "Buzz" Wetzel, right-hand pitcher of the Hollywood club, boasts 1one of the best-breaking curves in the Pacific Coast baseball league. He attributes his success to momentary loss of a digit when he was a year old. "Buzz" wos playing around when his index tlnger was chopped off by a brother. The finger was grafted to the stump, but Is stiff. Wetzel says his curve gets its spin off his middle finger, then a little added "stuff" when it strikes the unmovable digit. l Weston With Braves Such is the hu an impulse to excel tJ.lUt we wouldn't be surprised, much, 1f a nut imrnt;'lliately decided to roll a watermelon up ltverest, with his 'lose. gram. APICK·UPS Frank Gllhooley has resigned as manager of the Jersey City Interna· tiona! League club. • • • Bobby Smith of the Braves can hit as well as pitch. In beating the Giants recently he hit a homer, double and single. • • • The smallest league In baseball In point of population ill' the West Te:s:as. The si~ little cities total 32,027 In population. • • • Forced to surrender his catching position because of a sore arm, "Gabby" Hartnett Is capably filling a pinch-hit· ter's role for the Cubs. ..... • • • The average yearly expenses Incurred by the major league baseball clubs total $300,000 and at least two of them are involved to the extent of $450,000 each. • • • Several managers In the Pacltlc Coast league are shouting over the fact that the lively ball has ruined the game. Among them Is Manager Oscar Vitt of Hollywood's Stars. • • • The Reds' star pitcher Is called "Old Pete Donohue," but he is only twenty· eight years old. Travis Jackson, with seven years of big league ball under his belt, is only twenty-five years old. • • • Uncertainties of a baseball player's career are reflected In the fate of members of Dallas' 1!:>26 Dixie champions. Only one, IIap Morse, is still with the club, and only tlve remain in the Texas league. George V. Blalte, Teteran referee, ' who was in charge of all United States army boxing Instructors during the war, ls one of the few living persons accepted as an authority in ring matters. • • • • • • AI Weston of Needham, Boston college baseball and football star, has just signed a contract with the Boston Brave!'!. Weston was recommended by Jack Slattery, former B. C. coach. Charles Ebbets III, son of Charles Ebbets II, former secretary of the Brooklyn Baseball club and grandson of the late Charles Ebhets of the Brooklyn Baseball club who plays first base on the Princeton varsity team. Young Ebbets Is 6 feet 2 Inches and weighs 186 pounds. He bats and throws right handed and Is said to resemble the late Jake Daubert in his manner of playing. Hetp from Pittsburgh enabled Indianapolis to win the pennant last year. This year the Bucs have sent l\Ieadows and Stroner. • • • George Lott, third ranking net star of the United States and Big Ten sin· gles champion. has been elected captain of the University of Chicago's 1U30 tennis team. Fort '" orth Pilot Sets Mark for Long Service • • • What Is believed to be the record dlst:lnce which a baseball has ever been thrown was made by R. C. Campbell of North Adams, Mass., in 1887, when he tossed a ball 381 feet 2lf.a inches. • • • Fleet army ponies from the remount station at Fort Heno have t·eplaced draft horses with cowboy sad1lle~> on the Unh·erslty of Oklahoma's team. Oklahoma was the first school In the conference to play polo. Students started the game by playing on work horses. Now regulation polo equipment is used In polo classes as well as by squad members. The University of lllissourl and Iowa State, following Okluhoma's e:s:ample, also have begun Instruction in polo. Major E. P. Parker, commandant of the R. 0. T. C. at Oklahoma, conch of the Sooner players, believes polo soon will become a regular Big Six sport. VDIAMDNDX • • • • • • Big Six Conference Is Strong for Polo Game Polo as a collegiate sport In th1• southwest is pushing Its way toward 11 place on &he Big Six conference pro- The world record for chances aeceptert by an outfielder was equaled recently by "Pete" Ca!!hlon of the Shreveport club In the Texas league, when he caught 12 fly balls in a game. Peter A. Rasmus, Ashtabula, three times champion of the Big Ten in the discus throw has been elected honorary captain of the 1920 Ohio State track team. Greasy Neale, former Virginia coach, says t11e new football rule for· bidding a defensive team from runDing with a recovered fumble is a poor rule. "There's no penalty to tumblln~." he el:pJall}'J. Ebbets at Princeton Heinle Groh used a bottle-shaped bat and stood with both feet pointed to the pitcher. And he hit well. Rogers Hornshy stands far back In the far corner and at an angle. And he bits as hard to right as other right-hand hitters are able to hit into left. New York fight experts liken l!'idel La Barba to ·Packey Mcl!'arland, of Chicago. McFarland was a light· weight.. .Takey Atz, Fort Worth's baseball pilot, probably hol1ls a record for continued manng2ment of the same minor league club. He came to the Panthers from Chicago in 1918 and has won !'ix Texas league permants, the lust In 102:i. Like the courthouse clock, Atz bas become a fi:s:ture in Fort Worth. He has not bothered to sign a contract for several years. When spring trainIng time arrives, he drives to Fort \\·orth from his New Orleans home, and when the season closes he returns there. Boy Rifle Champion S. J. McLeod, whom home folks call "Jimmie" for short, will go up to the big time next full with the good-will and interest of all tlte state of Arkan· sas, for Jim Is an "Arkansas boy.'' Born in the shadow of Kavanaugh field, the home lot of the travelers, Little Rock's Southern association team, Jim McLeod just grew into buseball. He is nineteen years old. quit his high school education and refused to make a special trip to Chicago to rep· resent his state in the interscholastic track meet, just to get his first tryout with the Arkansas Travelers this year. And he has made g.ood, for the sale of the boy to the Washington club ls said to have In vol ve<l $12,000 cash, says a Little Rock special to the Wash· lngton Star. The bo_y thought enoul:h of his abll·· lty to quit school in order to have a chance to "make" the 'l'nwelers, and his sale thus vindicates his jud~ment and the jud~ment of the Traveler offi· cials. With the local club he hns been batting about .200 and his fielding has been sensational and steady. McLeod was known to the boys In school as "Father '.rime" and "Daddy," because he was slow about getting out to practice. He Is an all around nth· Jete. He made all-State end In football and played center with the chum· pion high school basket hall team, and made his letter In track with the ells· cus. Refusin.; to attenJ the Chicago track meet caused him to be soundly panned. but when he started making a roark with the Travelers his critics became his strongest boosters. The shortstop who has meant so mucl1 to the local club this season prob· ably wlll become known as the "l'ountry boy" when he joins th(. Grilfmen. for he Is just a well built, husky. sandy-haired boy-"a second Travis .Jackson," some say, around Arkansas. McLeod plays the game every minute and fnnu about as often as he hits, but when he does hit It usually is for extra bases. Manager Jack Steele and President Fldgar ' Allen of Little Rock liked the way he handled himself on the diamond from the outset, and, despite his youth and inexperience, counted him as a regular before the first week of spring practice was ended. Whatever !llcLeod does in the big show, his work probably will be watched with greater interest than any athlete who has "gone up" from Arkansas In many years. With the exception of one year in semiprofessional baseball In the "bush leagues of Arkansas," McLeod has had no more experience in ullSehall than he has In other lines of sports. Out Arkansas way he Is regarded as "just a born athlete.'' BASEBALL NOTES 'oootA.-'"'""' Bottomley Is becoming an artist at starting and finishing double plays. • • • l\Iel Ingram, Gonzaga · university baseball and football star has signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Ptrates. • • • The Yankees reached the 2:i-men limit by placing Floyd Van Pelt, tww· ty-one-year-old righthander, upon the voluntarily retired list. • • • The Athletics have a better pitching staff than the Yankees by far. 'l'he Cubs and Car(ls ha\·e good pitchers to boost their chanl'es this year. • • • Elbert F. (Eb) Caraway, Purdue, baseball star, who led the Big Ten In hitting during the season just closed, has been elected captain of the 1030 nine. • • • The record number of errors made in a single game by a !Jig league team Is attributed to the White Sox, who perpetrated 12 muffs against the Tig· ers In 1903. • • • Polo Is the most ancient of games played with stick and ball. There have been some 12 varieties of the game in Its more than 2,000 years of existence. • • • A bulletin from Commissioner Lan· dis' office makes record of an option obtained by ClenJiand on Pitcher lllilburn G. S<:hrofl'ner of the Jersey City club of the International league. • • • Fred Tarai, a newcomer to the jockey ranks, is the son of the late ])'red Taral, who was one of the greatest thoroughbred pilots that ever donned silks. • • • If Wilbert Robinson retires as man- • • • ager of the Dodgers he will retire also as the undefeated C'hampicm developer of pitchers. and the champion of all salve artists, his boosters, claim. • • • Grady McClung, pitcher with Augusta of the South Atlanta league, bas heen acquired by the C:hnrlotte Hornets in exchange for Tom McFall, Charlotte twirler, and Bogg~, an infielder. James Rowe, the dean of thoroughbred trainers, believes he has another Man-o'-Wa.r in Boojum, a son of John P. Grier and Elf, owned by Harry Payne Whitney. • • • Alex. Armour, older brother of •rommy Armour, once reeled oft' 12 consecutive holes, in three shots each, over the Braid's lllll golf course in Edinburgh, Scotland. • • • Art Fox, coach of the varsity base· ball nine at W!lllarns colleg-e anll former Brown university athlete, hns been engaged again by the Greenfield club of the Western Massachusetts league for the coming season. • • • Bobby Jones' nine consecutive rounds under 70, before the last Walked Cup golf matches, doubtless represents a low-scoring streak that bas never been equaled. • • • • • • The prime minister's job In England seems to be passed back and forth In a little group of two or three men, reminding us a little, In that respect, of a wrestling championship. • • • Fifteen of the lar;.:est high schools In North Carolina huve been placed In an athletic conference, seven in the westet·n section and eight in the east. Sectional winners will meet tor championships. George H. Whittlesey of Detroit member of the varsity rifle team of Culver Military academy, who won the 1!)29 national Individual rifle chamHis pionship for military schools. team holds the nntlonal military school championship as \lell as title honors tor Fifth corps area R. 0. T. C. Whittlesey made a score of 773 out of a possible 800. Hockey goal te11ders nre idle In tl1e summ~r time. and as long as a good one will stop an avera?;e of about fi4 shots cut of 5(), we don't see why the American league doesn't draft a few, in the emergency, a!'l !'lhortstops. • • • Pitcher Johnny "Jughandle" 1\for· rison has been sold outright by the Kansas City club of the American association to the Brooklyn club of the National league. Morrison formerly was with the Plttsj)urgh Pirates. |