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\s fishermen up and down the coast—sport and com mereial—give vent to their feelings as the fish refuse to j conic into shore, Morehead City gives out with the word that 35 sea mullett, first of the season to be taken on hook arj line, have been pulled from the water by Capt. Joe Fulcher, skipper and Lu Alma and Willie Fulcher. They averaged one and one half pounds each and were taken on shrimp bait in the channel adjacent to Fort Macon. This lead item is not written to call attention to a lack of fish in local waters but as all Waltonites know the fish are more than a month late in movement in the Southeastern area. The management of Ft. Fisher pier reported a fair run 0f mullets as the quay opened for business yesterday after j being closed during the winter. Telephone communications have made it im possible to get last minute checks on Kure and Luna but it is understood those quays will not be open today. Of course do not take this word as being exact for the owners may have changed their minds over the night. At Wrightsville Beach Johnny Mercer’s Atlantic View facility will open today although Johnny warns “they are not running too strong as yet.” Incidentally a wheel chair has been donated to the pier for use by disabled veterans who will be guests on fishing parties. The chair was donated following read ing Ihe column’s request by a Wrightsville Beach resi dent who has asked to remain annonymous, but shucks, such a gesture is worthy of mention. We say, thanks to Mrs. R. L. Benson, wife of the resort’s town clerk. Check us if we are wrong, but word comes from Camp Davis that Sam Davis, employe of the Kellex company, landed 10 black drum averaging three pounds from the drawbridge at Snead’s Landing. In the same instance the Kellex organization has closed Topsail to all strangers—including fishermen— effective April 15. The Navy is testing secret weapons on the spit and for that reason “keep out” signs have been posted. Party craft moving along the inland waterway have brought reports of “bad fishing” in Florida. Hope the same is not true here come September when the 1947 Fishing Rodeo gets into full swing and boat owners will have to say “fishing is bad in the Southeastern area of North Caro lina. We want it to be good. . _ When baseball enters a fishing column it is really taking the sport pages to the edges of extremity but the “fishermen” of Seagate have organized a ball club and are out to raise money for uniforms. They are sponsoring an oyster roast at Browns Service station April 25 at which time several Wilmington civic lead ers and sport writers will speak. Tickets are on sale at Browns’ and by team members. The only thing that worries this corner is mar some one will be asked to throw out a salted mullet at the open ing game in place of a baseball. The fresh water enthusiast will be out in droves today going after goggleyes and if advance reports are true many cf them will be fishing Black River cove in search of the tasty specie. , . Not to be outdone by the heavy catches of stnp ners reported during the last several weeks, D. B. Stokes went forth in search of a ‘daddy’ during the week and came back with ‘grand-daddy.’ His catch hooked in the Northeast river, weighed 49 pounds and 10 ounces when weighed in several hours later. It was 42 inches long, 34 inches in girth and was bigger than the record established in 1929 by L. J. Zibelin. The New Hanover Fishing club’s record fish was a 3o pound and two ounce specie. Incidentally, Stokes was not a member of the club and could not enter his catch. Have you purchased your membership._ SEMI-PRO LOOPS READY FOR BELL Remi-pro teams in the Cape Tear loon resume practice drills today, with the Pepsi-Cola snuad holding a workout at Legion stadi um at 2:30 o’clock, and the Acme Delco Atomics taking their pre aeason whacks at the high school diamond at 3:00 o'clock. Meanwhile the Eastern State loop gets underway today, with Maeonboro’s defending champs playing the Whiteville AH-Stars on the diamond at 13th and Ann BICYCLES —Sales and Service— ACCESSORIES ANDERSON’S SPORTING GOODS 221 Princess Di'al 2-2442 streets, instead of at Masonboro as earlier reported. Elizabethtown clashes with Bladenboro at Elizabethtown in the other league battle. In the Cape Fear circuit the Acme - Delco team may be the darkhorse favorite, when the teams open play. Built around one of the fastest infields in semi-pro history here, the Atomics will open with Eullock at first, Clayton at second, Wehrhaher at short, and Marks protecting the hot corner. Outfielders will be named from a group consisting of: Marks, Wooten, Allen, Gainey. Bullard, Bordeaux, and Billy Wehrhaher. LATE SCORES At Salisbury: Catawba 5: Guil ford 4. At Gastonia: Rex Mills (Ind.), 7, North Carolina 6. At Raleigh: Raleigh (Cartlina League) 5, N. C. State College 0. At Wilson: Atlantic Christian 6, Elon 2. • Here at laet it the tasting rod with the durability of solid steel but the action of fine bamboo. Sounds unbelievable but you 11 know it’s true the minute- you make a few practice casts with Action rod. You’ll feel what J 6 years of research and development have done to give Actionrod the right kind of action, in the right amount, at the right place- Come in pre pared to get a real kick out of this really new rod. . , Actionrod is available in both found and square models in three lengths. Complete with slotted wood protector and waterproof ^frying case. y r/< w Micrometer reel lock Notched blade lock Name-plat# disc £ 5PM0MIO Dial 6022 - 114 Market St.. WILMINGTON,_N. C. aV Big Leagues Draw Curtain Tomorrow 1 1 Yanks Meet Senators; Cards, Red Sox Favored; Robinson Facing Test By GAYLE TALBOT NEW YORK, April 12—(TP)—An important hunk of baseball his tory, from whicn will date the entry of the American Negro into the big leagues and the inaugura tion of a pension plan to protect over-age players, will be written in the 1947 campaign opening to morrow at Washington. Commissioner A. B. (Happy) Chandler having tossed out the first manager, President Harry Truman, a southpaw, will open the playing season proper when he cracks up and heaves out the tra ditional “first ball to the Wash ington Senators arid New York Yankees going in the capital. As customary, that will be to morow’s only contest. The remain ing 14 clubs in the two major leagues will stand by impatiently to open general hostilities on Tues day. For a number of reasons, the coming campaign promises to be one of the most colorful and in teresting on record. After months of conjecture, Jackie Robinson, a swift Negro in fieder who led the International League in bat ting last year has been signed to a Brooklyn contract and is expected to appear in the Dodger line - up against the Bos ton Braves at Brooklyn on Tues day. Hal Newhouser Never before, since the modern National and American leagues were organized, has a Negro ap peared in a big league uniform. The nation’s fans will watch with great interest Robinson's effort to prove he can hit major league pitching. If the speedy U.S.L.A. graduate can clout anywhere near his .349 mark of last season at Montreal he will be a godsend to the Dodgers, who badly need a first-baseman. Also, if Robinson can stick in the big show for five years he will become eligible, under the new pension plan, to draw $50 monthly upon retirement. The pen sion fund, to which players and clubs subscribe, provides for in creased payments depending upon length of service after the fifth year. The nation’s experts amost unani mously have picked the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox to repeat their triumps of last year in the National and American leagues, respectively, and to stage a renewal of their dramatic world series struggle. If anything, the world champion Cards are a more compact and confident outfit than last year, and the Red Sox have taken on added pitching strength. Brooklyn, generally picked to Bob Feller finish second to the Cardinals, suffered a serious blow when its scrappy manager, Leo Durocher, re ceived a one-year suspension from Chandler. It re mains to be seen ^whether another spilot, unfamiliar with the Dodgers’ strange assort ment of age ana extreme youm, lean duplicate the Durolher magic of ’46. Disturbing reparts have been heard recently about the Detroit Tigers, who finished second to the Red Sox last season and who fig ured to give Joe Cronin’s club its nost serious competition again. De troit observers say the team has come back north poorly, and that so far no Tiger has shown any symptons of taking up the hitting slack created by the departure of Hank Greenberg. Hank, who knocked in a wagon load of runs last year and led the American League in homers with 44, went to the Pittsburgh Pirates during the winter in a sensational deal. After first announcing his retirement from the game, the big Bronx slugger finally agreed to play with the Pirates at what is believed to be the record salary of approximately $90,000 a year. Thus, for the first time in many a year the National League will boast a higher salaried player than any in the rival circuit. Hank’s stipend almost certainly surpass es those paid Bobby Feller, Hal Newhouser or Ted Williams, the most richly-rewarded young men in the American League. As added insurance that they will get something approaching their money’s worth out of Green berg, the Pittsburg owners have installed a fine, commodious bull pen out in left field, known as "Greenberg Garden,” into which Hank will be encouraged to drop numerous home runs. It reduces the distance to that barrier to 385 feet. Williams of the Red Sox, who came close to be ing the official goat of the world series — he was deprived of the distinction only by Johnny Pes ky’s strange lapse in the final game —wintered well, as the saying goes, and aP‘ pears to be ready for a big season. Ted Williams wo clTubs ill the American ana three in the National start out bright and fresh with new man agers. Muddy Ruel left a soft job as Chandler’s assistant to straw boss the rebuilding of the St. Louis Browns, as Bucky Harris got back in uniform to pilot the Yankees. In the National Biily Herman has succeeded Frankie Frisch at the Pittsburgh helm and nod add his still-potent bat to a slugging array which includes Greenberg ?nn Ralph Kiner, who led the league in homeruns last year, oo-nny Neun, former Yankee co:ch, has taken over the unenvi Hank Greenberg able job ol trying to boost Cincin nati out of the second division. Durocher’s suc cessor at Brook lyn had not been named. The general ex pectation is that the big leagues will return this year to their pre war class. No one pretended that play as a whole was quite up to standard last sea son. Many stars, just out of uni form never did succeed in regain ing their form. Managers say they detect a big improvement in the ex-servicemen this spring. By far the most publicised rookie is ClintHartung.as omewhatfabu is Clint Hartung, a somewhat fabu ibus character with the New York Giants. He has been whaling the 1 all into adjoining townships, and in that respect, at least, appears 1d be everything claimed for him. As an outfielder he is said to be a trifle rough around the edges, though possessed of a terrific throwing arm. Let’er go, Mr. President. BEVENS, NEWSOM, MAY HURL OPENER NEW YORK, April 12—<m—Prob able pitchers for the opening day games in the major leagues (won and lost records for 1946 in paren thesis) : MONDAY American League New York at Washington—Bevens (16-13) vs. Newsom (14-13). National League No games scheduled. TUESDAY American League Washington at Boston—Wynn (8 5) vs. Hughson (20-11). Philadelphia at New York—Mar childon (13-16) vs. Chandler (20-8). Detroit at St. Louis—Newhouser (26-9) vs. Galehouse (8-12). Chicago at Cleveland—Lopat (13 13) vs. Feller (26-15). National League St. Louis at Cincinnati—Munger (2-2) or Dickson (15-6) vs. Black well (9-13). Boston at Brooklyn—Sain (20-14) vs. Higbe (17-8). New. York at Philadelphia—Voi selle (9-15) vs. Rowe (11-4). Pittsburgh at Chicago — Sewell (8-12) vs. Borowy (12-10). Gerald (Gee) Walker (above), former major league outfielder and ex-football back field star at the University of Mississippi, will manage the Columbia (S. C.) Beds In the South Atlantic Baseball League this season. A native of Gulf port, Miss., Walker played with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Beds. (AP Photo). How Come? Duke Diamond Coach Missing From Hall Of Fame Annals DURHAM, April 1* — (Special To The Star-News) — Those who select the members of baseball’s official Hall of Fame have missed Duke University’s baseball coach John Wesley Coombs and in the opinion of thousands of fans sports writers, sports commentators and other experts, they have missed a man who has one of the most out standing claims to the honor. Jack Coombs is one of baseball’* greats for three reasons: 1. He was, as a member of that famed triumvirate of Bender, Plank, and Coombs, one of the greatest pitchers of tire early 1900’s. 2. He is starting his 27th year of coaching college baseball teams at Williams, Princeton and Duke, Mr. College Baseball in person. He has sent scores of boys to the ma jors including such stars as Bill Werber, Harold Wagner, and many others. 3. He has, by writing the book “Baseball.” probably helped more young players and coaches to a eetter understanding cf the game than any person alive. “The Old Man,” as he calls him self, tyili b« 64 year* of age in November, having been borne at Legrane, Iowa, November 18, 1883. His family moved aary to Maine where he learned hie baseball and he attended Colby College in that state. He was one of the firet college players to make the grade in the majors. Connie Mack, then a young manager, heard of Coombs at Col. by, scouted and signed him him self, and he bowed into the ma jors in 1906. He won his first game and in that season he firmly es tablished himself in the majors by pitching and winning the longest game in the history of the Ameri can League, 24 innings for the A’s against the Boston Red Sox. With Bender and Plank, Coombs helped the A’s to three World Championships. He is one of the few pitchers ever to win three games in a single series and he is a member of an even more se lect groryi which have won five world series games without a de feat. At Duke, where Coombs is start ing his 19th season, his teams have won 277 games and lost 99. His teams have won championships for jaany years and have always been “the team to beat” lor the title. Rival coaohes consider the season well-done when they are able to take “the old man.” FLORSHEIM SHOES For Mom! Exclusively Yonrs Af Cinderella Boo ter ie Wilmington Keglers Entered In National Bowling Match * Durocher After His Suspension Leo Durocher (left), manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, sus pended from baseball for the 1947 season by Commissioner A, B. Chandler, sits with arms folded as Dodger President Branch Rickey puffs on a cigar during a press conference in Brooklyn after news of Chandler’s decision reached them. Rickey said he is not ready to name a successor to Durocher. JAP Wire photo). _ Babe Zaharias Choice In North-South Tourney PINEKURST, April 12.— (IP) — i Babe Didiickson Zaharias shoots for her 15th straight tournament triumph and a clean sweep of the winter and spring competitions in the 46th Annual North and South Women’s Golf championship start ing here Monday. The Babe, Mrs. George Zaharias of Denver, has triumphed in ev ery tournament she has entered since she won the National Wom en’s crown at Tulsa last summer. This is a performance unequalled in golf history. A fortnight ago she bagged the women’s titleholders tournament at Augusta, Ga., and, ofter the North and South, she’ll go to England for British Women’s championship June 9th. Her competitive record and her comparatively tremendous length off die tee has established Mrs. Zaharias as tile favorite here but she may find serious competition from Mrs. Estelle Lawson Page of Chapel Hill, and Miss Louise Suggs of Lithia Springs, Ga. Mrs. Page, former national champion and seven times North and South winner, knows and likes this Pinehurst No. 1 course almost as well as her home layout in Chapel Hill. She has bettered women’s par of 76 many times in competition over this 6146-yard test. The diminutive Miss Suggs won here last year. UNC Tracksters Win Over Georgia Tech ATLANTA, April 12.— (A>) —The University of North Carolina had the wind and weight today, and defeated Georgia Tech in track and field events at grant field, 66 1-2 to 64 1-2. The Tar Heels clinched their vic tory in the next-to-final event, by grabbing a vital one point with third place in the 220 - yard low hurdles. North Carolina’s Chuck Simmons won both hurdles, while Bob Seligman of Carolina won shotput and discus. Jack Milne of North Carolina won the mile run, and tied for first with two team mates and the two-mile event. George Bailey of Griffin, Ga., discovered in a Tech intramural meet last year, beat his brilliant teammate. Buddy Fowlkes, in the 100 and 220-yard dashes. His time was 9.8 seconds in the 100, and 21.8 in the 220. Bobby Renshaw of Marietta, Ga., running his second outdoor race for Tech, won the half-mile in 1:50.1 minutes, breaking a Tech freshman record of 2:00 minutes which was set in 1915 by Willis Battle of Columbus, Ga. 100-yd dash; Bailey (T), Fowlkes <T), tie between Queen (T) and Shultz (NC). Time: 9.8 seconds. 220-yd dash: Bailey (T), Fowlkes IT), Weigle (T). Time: 21.8 seconds. 440-yd dash: Nelson (NC), Cady (T), Anderson (T). Time: 50.6. 880-yd run: Renshaw (T), Burham (NC), Hollander (NC). Time: ):59.1. ; Mile: Miller (NC), Milne (NC), ©or-I rlden (T). Tta*e: 4:28 6. Mile: Hires - way tie, Miller, Milne, McGill, all of NC. Time: 10:03. 120yd high hurles; Simmons (NC). Forward (T), Fleming (T). Time: 14.6 seconds. 220-yo low hurdles; Simmons (NC). Fowlkes (T), Shultz (NC). Time: 24.S seconds. High jump: Moody (NC), Loynor (NC), Simmons (NC). Height: 6 ft. Broad jump: Fowlkes (T), Moody (NC), Terrell (NC). Distance: 21 ft. Pole vault: McLeod (NC), tie for sec ond, Dykes and Hosier, both of Tech. Height: 12 feet. Shot put: Seligman (NC), Bergman (Tl. Distance: 124 ft. 5 in. Javelin: Nolan (T). Bowne (T). Bowne (T). Kirk (NC). Distance: 186 ft. 1 in. 880-relay: won by Tech (Queen, Lan sing, Anderson, Bailey). Time: 3:26. Catawba Indians Defeat Guilford SALISBURY, N. C.. April 12—W —An eighth inning single by Short stop Charlie (Red) Richardson scored Catcher Lamar Dorton and gave the Catawba Indians a 5 to 4 decision over Guilford in ,an im portant North State conference con test here today. Chatham, youthful Guilford first sacker, drove out a home run with two mates aboard in the fourth in ning, a blow that gave the Quakers a temporary lead in the see-saw contest. . _ _ Guilford_000 310 000—4 8 0 Catawba _ 002 100 011—5 9 0 Winner and Davis; Taylor, Coon and Dorton. __ Plans For City Tourney Formed A Wilmington team of Duck-pin stars will perform before specta tors today at 2.30 in the National Duck-pin tournament in Bethesda, Maryland, a report from Ingrams' bowling center declared last night. Taking part in the record en try this year will be a team com posed of F. E. Stanley, Roscoe Houghton, Bob Justice, Ellis Simpson, and Archie Ingram. With over 550 teams entered for the nations’s championship, the tourney will last a month! One thousand singles entries have been listed, with 633 doubles also scheduled for competition. After playing as a team, the Wilmington colors are expected to enter singles’ play_ with at least Simpson planning to seek individual honors. Meanwhile, plans for the Wilmington City Duckpin derby are taking shape. The tournament starts May 19 and will run until the 26th, with deadlines for en tries set at May 15. The tourney will run in conjunction with the City Ten-pin tournament. Named to t h e trophy commit tee were: F. E. Stanley, Harry Kirk, and Miss Pegg Barker. The entry committee consists of. Bob Justice, Marvin Shinn and E. L. Warner. A publicity commit tee was elected and Tom James, Ellis Simpson, and Gil Smith will serve. Bowling leaders here are plan ning a huge Kegler’s banquet af ter the city matches, and elected to serve as a banquet committee were: Miss Winifred Woodited, Miss Lucille Gornto. and Pluto Grimsley. Further news from Ingrams’ SI! DAY SCHOOL j iAGUE PLANNED 5 Organization of a new Sunday school softball league will be dis cussed at a meeting of the YMCA " Eoard of Governors tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock. e. At the same time, the Y an nounced the doubles handball championships will start Tuesday with two divisions battling for the crown. MacMitchell Wins Broadwalk Mile Run ATLANTIC CITY, N. J„ April 12. —(A*)—Leslie MacMitchell of the , New York A. C. won the first run ning of the boardwalk mile today •< in 4:14.8, breaking the tape on the i staightway course 20 yards ahead • of Tommy Quinn of Elizabeth, N. J. * A crowd of 25,000 persons lined “ the route, hoping to see a four-min ute mile, but wind, a faulty stop watch and tne hardness of the boards worked against the runners. indicate Wilmington will be rep resented at the Southeastern Duck - pin tournament starting May 10 jn Columbia, S. C. The report said no teams have been named to enter, but it is expected at least five teams will play. Again on the local keg front, the Fire Department team in the „ Independent T e n-pin wall play a championship play-off with the ^ Spare-boys, after the two teams ended the season in a deadlock Friday night. The game will be held this week. CAR and TRUCK OWNERS Why not lake advantage ol the free service that we oiler on our modern motor analyzer? Our service manager, Mr. J. N. Jol ley, will give you absoluiely free a irue analysis of anything necessary to bring your ear up to new car performance and give you more economical operation per mile. We are happy to render you this serv ice without any cost or obligation on your part but the time it lakes you to bring your car in to us. Our factory proved service shop is ready and equipped to take care of any service yon may need on your car or truck. Have Yoar Wheek Checked And Aligned To Secure More Tire Mileage WE SPECIALIZE IN Body And Fender Work The ONE STOP Service Station “Where Your Car Is Among Friends" All! mlllB >16 No. Sceowd IA Mona 7fJ4«dtf*