Show RT LIGHT This Is a Season of Comebacks By GRANTLAND RICE plus TIUS GALA SEASON of 1950 In some ways at least is still adding add add- ing to its comeback record It began with Ben Hogan and add almost registered tic with Citation who ran swiftly but not quite fast enough Hogan was away 11 months and Citation Citation Cita Cita- tion 14 months Another arrival was Billy Southworth South South- worth who had to last summer More than a few thought the Braves manager would never report again He not only reported but he has his ball club in the frontline trenches with a good chance to win again Southworth has done one of his best lobs Jobs after almost a complete collapse collapse collapse col col- col- col lapse last summer The Cubs and Frank Frisch looked to be sunk again at the start of the season Frank had been away from the game for some time when he be took over the Cubs lie Ile couldn't help them much In 1949 but he be has a different dif dlf- ferent terent club working In 1950 and he will have a better club ready for tor 1951 Then there Is a young fellow by bythe bythe bythe the name of Johnny Mize Johnny was on the raw edge of falling over the precipice He w was a s rated all aU through rough tl His own league let him go when the Yankees took a last stand Then Georgia Johnny was sent to Kansas City His big league days were over But further Yank Yank- Yankees Yankees ees Injuries gave Johnny another chance The famous hitter came back to life lUe again using a piece of ash ISh for this purpose In the Yankee irive recently with such stars as DiMaggio and Henrich out of action It was Big John who resumed his old habit He was the star hitter of the club through an important stretch Mize l as a R rule either hits a single or a home run IUD It has always been said that the batting batting bat bat- ting eye Is the last Important factor to leave First the armor arm armor armor or legs begin to give out As AsTy AsTy AsTy Ty Cobb once said You get your first leg Ie warning In start start- Ing tag Once under UDder way you yon can run practically as fast last as ever But nut you cant can't start as fast I But with arms and legs fading away the batting eye retains its time old-time glow The good hitters keep on hitting long after the pitchers pitch pitch- ers and fielders wear out This has been one of the best of all the comeback comeback come come- back seasons There may be other athletes to report on before the first snow falls You Cant Can't Buy Pennants One of ot the major faculties in baseballs baseball's baseballs baseball's baseballs baseball's base- base balls ball's stability is the fact that no one can buy a pennant Tom Yaw Yawkey key y has proved that The Red Sox owner has spent a aleast at t least In the last few years year s to get the best talent but this talent has won only one pennant since 1918 That was in 1946 1948 making it a little e matter of 28 23 years between n cham The wealthy Mr l WrIgley hasn't has has- nt been able to buy a pennant for his bis Cubs since 1945 1915 They have been settling for tor la las las' place In 1948 and 1949 1049 but should fare better this season The latest case is the Pirates Pirate's new ownership The They raised enough money to Invest as much as in new talent The They even turned loose for an an year old school high star who has yet to prove he 00 Is worth 18 The at the end of three years has left lett the Pirates in a desperate struggle to finish out of the cellar The cellar is where they'll probably probably probably ably finish In manager Meyers the Pirates have one of the smartest leaders in baseball That didn't help either It was certainly not Meyers' Meyers fault It wasn't the owners' owners fault They spent their cash lavish lavish- ly In 1948 it began to look as if U the Pirate owners were going to buy a flag They made a strong showing They Ther looked so good in 1948 that many picked them to finish 2 1 in 1949 The owners spent new money for 1949 but 1949 but the Pirates took a dizzy dip They spent more money for l 1050 and 1050 and took an even deeper slide No wonder owner Frank McKinney McKinney McKin- McKin ney decided to bolt the scene When you buy a pretty fair club and put extra Into it and drop from the first division to last place it is about time to retire Which goes to prove you cant can't buy a pennant Top Fighters Humbert Fugazy one of the promoters promoters promoters pro pro- of t the h e Ray flay Robinson Charlie Fusari welterweight championship championship cham- cham for the Damon Runyon can can- cancer cancer cancer fund ranks Robinson with the time all-time greatest Certainly U if any anyone one man now righting fighting deserves this nomination It is Robinson He lIe is an excellent boxer and a punishing puncher He can also handle his share of punish punish- ment It would be difficult to rank the greatest 10 fighters of all time Jack Dempsey would be in such a list So would Joe Gans Cans So would Jim Corbett Gene Tunney and Joe Louis Then there are Harry Greb Stanley Ketchel Denny Benny Leonard Jim Jeffries and Sam Langford But what about Bob Fitzsimmons Jack Johnson Mickey Walker Jack Blackburn and the original Wal Wai- cott colt |