Evening star. [volume], June 19, 1937, Page A-10, Image 10

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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A—10 *WASHINGTON, D. G, SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1937.
N
Nats Brand Hildebrand “Beaner” : Strategy Out, Says Dempsey
- A —__ A
OUT THE WEEKS
Protest by Griff to League
Head Due—Fists Fly as
Bux Are Blanked.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.
AFRESH anti-bean ball move
ment, aimed chiefly at Pitcher
Oral Hildebrand of the Browns,
was in the process of accelera
tion today.
His suspicions stirred by Hilde
brand’s pitch that chipped a knuckle
and broke a bone in the little linger
of Outfielder A1 Simmons’ left hand,
President Clark Griffith of the Na
tionals threatened this morning to
appeal to President Will Harridge of
the American League.
• I’ll first seek the opinions of my
ball players,” disclosed Griffith, "and
if their verdict is that Hildebrand
makes a habit of knocking down and
hitting batters, I’ll ask Mr. Harridge
for action.
'All I will want of Mr. Harridge is
that he emphasize to his umpires the
obvious need of watching Hildebrand
more closely. Then, if he continues
to throw at hitters, to take action
and punish him.
"I’ve noticed Hildebrand for some
time. At first I thought it was acci
dental and then last year I saw him
knock down Johnny Stone and I be
came suspicious. By sin, I believe
he's hit Simmons a lot of times be
fore, too.”
Hit Six Times, Says Al.
42IMMONS, whose broken Anger and
^ knuckle will be encased in a cast
today, had a spirited piece to speak
on Hildebrand. "Ever since he came
Into the league,” declared the Wash
ington outAelder, “he’s been throwing
at me. I think yesterday was the
•ixth time he’s hit me.”
Griffith almost certainly will And
that most of the Nationals believe
Hildebrand guilty of "dusting off” hit
ters. In addition to Stone there are
others who have been forced to hit
the dirt in order to evade a pitch. Joe
Kuhel was one. Last year in Cleve
land, Kuhel accused Hildebrand of
throwing at him and he went after
the pitcher with a bat. later Joe
attempted to spike him after bunting
and forcing Hildebrand to cover Arst
base.
Most of the Nationals do not hesi
tate to charge that Hildebrand Is de
■berate in his beanlng tactics.
“I'm not speaking only of Hilde
brand,” said Griffith. “I think any
pitcher who hits an unusual number
•f batters ought to be watched
felosely. That's too dangerous a prac
tice.”
In the case of Simmons it was a
•tost expensive pitch that struck him
In the fourth inning yesterday while
his Angers were wrapped around the
bat. Ex-Rays, taken shortly after
ward, disclosed the extent of the
Carnage and it now is estimated that
Al will be out of the game for ap
proximately three weeks.
Hill Inherits Al’s Jab.
•C'HIS is a staggering blow to the
1J Nationals. In the last six weeks
Ihe big slugger had been wearing the
ball out, playing the best defensive
ball of any outAelder on the club and
driving across runs.
Manager Bucky Harris, dismayed at
Ihe prospect of going along without
pimmons, has announoed that Jesse
Kill will inherit Simmons’ post, al
lhough Fred Sington may step in
should Hill fail to deliver at bat Jesse
Is a far better ball hawk than Fred
bnd with Washington’s pitching as it
Is. somebody who can gobble up long
drives is very necessary.
Simmons' injury cast a pall over
Hie entire club, some of whose mem
bers were getting ready to look upon
ihe Simmons-Bill Knickerbocker bat
lit of fists yesterday as a good omen,
fcfter he was struck by Hildebrand's
pitch Simmons accused the pitcher of
throwing at him and made a pass at
toral. The pitcher ducked out of
reach and Umplre-ln-Chief Cal Hub
bard had to escort Simmons to Arst
base so as to keep him from chasing
Hildebrand.
Knickerbocker, resenting Simmons’
threat to punch Hildebrand, delivered
a few uncomplimentary remarks and
Al'a rage was redoubled. Then Cecil
J'raris, next up, bounded to the box
and Hildebrand threw to Knick to
force Simmons.
an it i b»uk.
jfN PAIN and beside himself with
■ rage, Simmons launched himself
Into a high, spikes-flrst dive at
Knickerbocker as the shortstop caught
|he ball and prepared to throw for a
double play. The Brownie was
knocked sprawling and when he re
gained his feet he charged Simmons
and they fought.
Tom Carey, the Brown second base
fnan, prepared to Join the melee, but
Bucky Harris got there first. In what
amounted to three Jumps Harris
• raced from the third-base coaching
box and made a flying tackle to grab
Knickerbocker around the neck and
hurl him to the ground. Other play
ers, police, ushers, plainclothes men,
employes of the ball park office and
members of the groundkeeper’s crew
milled on the diamond until Sim
mons and Knickerbocker were led
away.
Umpire Hubbard declared, after the
game, that he will not recommend
drastic punishment for Simmons and
Knickerbocker, although the matter
Is entirely in the hands of President
Harrldge. In any event Simmons
gets the wont of it. He cannot play
for three weeks and Knickerbocker
probably will be suspended for only
three days, If that long.
If nothing else the ^Immons-Knick
arbocker scrap proved there is some
light left In the Nats, after all, but
Shat now is small consolation, how
ever encouraging at first.
.(Hi, yes. Hildebrand also pitched
two-hit ball and the Browns, won,
C-0, after hostilities had been halted
more than half an hour.
PEE WEES SEEK TWIN BILL.
The Brookland Dog era, a peewee
base bell team, has a diamond for
Sunday and would llkqftto book a
Aoublt-header. Call Mona 3474-J.
Hildebranded
„ 8T. LOUIS. AS. R. H. O. A. I.
Davis, 1b_4 2 1 12 0 0
West. cl. -5 2 4 2 0 0
Vosmlk, If_ 4 0 0 2 0 0
Bell, it_ 5 0 1 5 0 0
Clift. 3b. 3 0 0 3 4 1
Knickerbocker, ss_ 2 0 0 1 0 1
Hornsby, 2b- 2 0 0 1 3 0
Huffman, e-4 1110 0
Carey. 2b.-ss- 4 1 3 0 3 1
Hildebrand, p- 3 0 0 0 2 0
Totals -1.30 0 10 27 12 3
WASHINGTON. AB. R. H. O. A. 1.
Almada. ef.*_ 4 0 0 3 0 0
Lewis, 3b_ 4 0 1 0 2 0
Kuhel, 1b- 4 0 0 in 0 0
Stone, rf. _ 3 0 0 3 0 0
Simmons. If_ 1 0 l o 0 0
Hill. If- 2 0 0 1 0 0
Travis, ss- 3 0 0 1 A 0
Myer. 2b. _ 3 0 0 3 4 1
R. Ferrell, e- 3 0 0 0 0 0
De Shone. p.__ _ 2 0 0 0 2 0
Appleton, p- 0 0 0 0 1 0
Cohen, p.- 0 0 0 0 0 0
•W. Ferrell- 1 0 0 0 0 o
Totals_ 30 0 ~S 27 15 "T
‘Batted lor Appleton In elehth. •
St. Louis _ 210 001 200—fi
WASHINGTON _ 000 000 000—0
Runs batted in—Bell. West. Carey. Ollft.
Two-base hits—West (2). Huffman, Carey
<2>. Sacrifices—Vosmlk. Hildebrand.
Double play—Clift to Hornsby to Davis.
Left on bases—St. Louis, 7: Washineton,
ft. Bases on balls—Off Hildebrand 1!
off De Shone. 2. Strikeouts—By Hilde
brand. 1. Hits—Off De Shone. 8 in 0
innlnas (none out In seventh); off Apple
ton. 2 in 2 innlnas; off Cohen. 0 In
l innine. Hit by pitcher—By Hildebrand,
8immons. Losinr pitcher—De 8honr. Um
pires—Messrs. Hubbard Dlnneen and
Quinn. Attendance—4,000. Time—1:51.
SHADDOCK'S FIGHT
PLAN IS MYSTERY
Champ, in Training, Varies
His Attack—Gets Edgy
as Bout Nears.
by the Associated Press.
Grand beach, Mich., June
19.—Just how James J.
Braddock proposes to fight
Joe Louis in their heavy
weight title contest in Comiskey Park,
Chicago, next Tuesday night, re
mained the big mystery of the cham
pion's camp today.
Usually Braddock relies upon a long,
straight left to keep his man on the
defensive while he wades in and
punches away with his favorite
weapon—a right hand belt—but the
Irishman’s tactics in recent drills in
dicate he may have other plans in
the back of his curly head.
Last Tuesday and again on Thurs
day, Jim virtually discarded his left
hand safety valve to charge in and
wage an aggressive two-fisted war
against his five sparring partners.
Instead of staying mostly on the de
fensive while seeking openings for his
right, the champion has taken the
initiative and has carried the fighting
to his shock obsorbers.
Looks Better Carrying Fight.
INCIDENTALLY, it may be said that
in doing so he fared much better
than when following the lines of
caution he employed to outpoint Max
Baer for the title two years ago.
Jimmy has Insisted all along he
detected weaknesses in the Bomber's
attack and defense and this new style
of battling may be in line with what
he feels is the best plan of strategy
for the first defense of his title.
Time and again during his two most
recent workouts, Braddock has stood
flat-footed and deliberately let such
lusty belters as Max Roe&ch, former
Southern Methodist foot ball star, and
Jack McCarthy of Boston smash him
with licks to the jaw. He’d shake
them ofT, then rush in and run the
erstwhile sockers ragged.
Develops Mean "Edge.’'
THE champ went to work today after
a 24-hour lay-off during which he
took a walk in the woods, played his
portable phonograph, read a mystery
story and developed one of the finest
LOUIS' PREDICTION
Joe Says He’s Learned Lot
Since Loss to Schmeling
One Year Ago.
Bj the Asioclated Frees.
Kenosha. wi»., June is.—joe
Louis observed the first anni
versary of his knockout defeat
by Max Schmeling today with
the very unwilling prediction that he
was confident he could knock James J.
Braddock kicking within one round.
“I think I can get Braddock in one
round,” drawled the dark angel. "I
feel a hundred per cent better than I
did a year ago; I've learned a lot and
punch as hard or harder than ever.”
A few minutes later, Joe, so It was
told, said he didn’t want to be quoted
on this round stuff because he thinks
it's unlucky, but he said it. Braddock
and his noisy manager, joe Gould,
who have been waiting for the usual
prediction, can rest easier now.
If Louis makes good In his predic
tion, he will smash all records for win
ning the most coveted and valuable
prise for a monetary basis in sport. No
man ever has won the crown within
three years of campaigning, and no
man has succeeded in dethroning a
champion within three minutes.
Lsuis to Crowd From Start.
\'106T experts seem convinced Louis
will have to polish off Braddock
within one to four rounds or not at all.
In the few fights louts has been forced
to work overtime, he has appeared
listless and slow. Bob Pastor might
have scored a victory over the Bomber
in their track meet because Joe was
tired and missing like a 1906 steam
engine from the sixth round.
Up here, where Louis is reaching
his peak with perfect timing, the
belief is that Braddock, always a
shaky starter and a grand finisher,
will try to stall and spar over the
first four rounds and then open up
if he lasts that long. So, Trainer
Jack Blackburn expects to send the
Bomber out swinging.
"Joe’s going to watch his defense,"
said Blackburn, "but he’s going to
crowd right in. I always said any man
can get licked with one good punch
and our idea is to have Joe get in the
first lick.”
Joe Brighter, More Alert.
A YEAR after the big Schmeling
upset finds Louis a far different
youngster in many ways.
He eats less and sleeps less. It
was nothing for him to sleep from
16 to 20 hours a day. and that’s the
real McCoy. These days, by the help
of more talkative camp mates, a player
piano and other sports gadgets, Louis
is satisfied with from 8 to 10 hours.
Also he has learned to talk and
to smile. A year ago he was just a
mean man. Today, he’s a pleasant
young fellow.
Maybe Joe is softening up. It is
hard to say. because he looks great
with the fight only four days away.
He’s got everybody guessing—even
Braddock.
‘‘edges’* of any heavyweight in recent
years.
He flatly refused to pose for photog
raphers, snarled at his attendants and
otherwise made himself disagreeable.
His trainers hailed the sudden
change with unconfined joy. They
now feel Jimmy is in exactly the right
mood to give the best account of himr
self against the hard-hitting Louis
next week. '
Pour rounds of boxing and a little
bag punching was today’s schedule.
The last boxing session will take place
tomorrow.
Two Pretty and Capable Athletes Gain Spotlight
MARION MANSFIELD.
1936 low-board, diving champ, who has turned professional, at
Miami, Fla., preparing to sail for Europe for a four-month exhibi
tion tour. She was chosen “empress” at the recent Northwestern
University navy ball. —A. P. Photo.
I
^ W J I. m ■ i ■ ■ .. » III n
Xtf/rX LIZANA,
Chilean girl, who defeated Alice Marble. American champion, in
the final of the recent Middlesex tennis tournament at Chiswick,
England. —Wide World Photo.
>-‘
CARDS AND BOSOX
STAGE HOT SPURT
St. Louis Wins 11 of Last
13, Boston 6 Out of 7, to
Climb in Race.
BT SID FEDKR.
Assotlstea Pres* Boon* Writer.
THIS base ball business gets
funnier and funnier. For
weeks, a club will stagger
along with a pitching stall
that's a •'cousin" to every other out
fit in 'the league. Then from the
same set of elbowerg, the same club
will come up with a group of starters
who are murder to the opposition.
Take the recent cases of the St.
Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.
Only two weeks ago, the Gas House
Gang, with Diasy Dean doing most of
the heavy duty, had dropped to fourth
place. The Red Sox, with Lefty Grove
slowing up and Wes Ferrell faltering,
were under .500 per cent and deep in
the second division.
Suddenly, both clubs have become
> the hottest in their respective leagues,
all because of the mysterious coming
to life of a pitching "big three" on
each outfit.
Ion Warneke hit a winning stride
and Rookie Bob Weiland uncovered
. lot nf SMitUnaw, akilitn to Vtolo TUan
As a result, the Cards have won 11 of
their last 13 starts and now are in
third place, only a game and a half
back of the faltering second-place
Giants.
At the same time, the Red Sox have
taken six of their last seven#games.
They shot into fourth place yesterday
with a 5-4 win over the slipping Cleve
land Indians.
Only Two Cards Falter.
IN THE Cards’ 13-game streak, only
two pitchers have failed to go the
route. Dean finished three of four
starts, winning three: Warneke went
nine innings twice out of three times
out, winning two; Wetland wrtit to
the post four times and finished on
each occasion, dropping one and win
ning three.
He maintained his record yesterday
with an eight-strikeout performance
as the Gas House Gang clubbed the
Boston Bees 5-3.
The Red Sox Singers stopped the
enemy with 43 hits and 35 strikeouts
in their six games preceding yester
day’s clash. In that engagement Fritz
Ostermueller was unable to follow his
predecessors, bowing out in the sev
enth inning, but the Sox came from
behind anyway to win their fifth
straight.
The Cincinnati Reds drove Carl
Hubbell from the hill in leas than
three Innings for a 5-3 win behind
Lee Grissom. This setback sank the
Giants to a full game back of the
National League leading Cubs, whose
ninth inning rally beat the Phillies
8-7.
The Pirates whipped Van Mungo
and the Dodgers 6-4. Oral Hildebrand
■ mm a. m a m a a mm a ■ afe. mmm m a mm m a
L
Gehrig and Medwick Alone
Survive Turnover for
Week in Majors.
B? the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. June 19—The
batting turnover was terrific
on both sides of the big league
front this week, with only the
two leaders, Lou Gehrig and Ducky
Medwick, escaping the virtually com
plete change in the pace-setting
groups.
Gehrig, collecting 10 hits in 31
chances during the week, boosted his
American league leading average to
.394 and increased his pace-setting
margin to 27 points over his nearest
rival, as Beau Bell of the Browns
climbed into second place with ,367.
Medwick hit safely 12 times in 29
chances to retain a .413 mark at the
top of the National League list.
Otherwise, the old leaders slipped
considerably to make room for tlte new
contenders.
Chuck Klein, brought ofT the Phil
lies' bench at last, traveled at a .586
pace for the week to sky-rocket into
second place in the National League
with .380, while Arky Vaughan of the
Pirates and Buck Jordan of the Reds,
tied for second a week ago, dropped
w ™*HU Oiiu lUUU, * TCIJ.
Lyn Lary of the Indians dropped out
of the American League first 10. mak
ing room for Sam West of the Browns,
who took tenth place.
Five of the National League leaders
of last week—Heinie Manush, Brook
lyn; Dolph Camllli, Phillies; Ken
O’Dea, Cubs; Oil Brack, Brooklyn and
Lloyd Waner, Pirates—fell out, with
Klein, Johnny Mize of the Cardinals.
Billy Jurges of the Cubs, A1 Todd of
Pittsburgh and the Reds' Ernie Lom
bardi moving in.
Standings of the first 10 in each
league;
tairlun Lassie.
Pl»V*r. Club. G. AB. R. H. Pet.
Oehrig. New York-60 188 39 74 .394
Bell. St. Louis-51 207 33 76 .367
Travis, Washington_ 29 101 12 37 .366
Greenberg. Detroit-52 201 61 73 .363
Walker. Detroit-52 222 41 80 .360
Dimaggio New York-44 189 41 66.349
Cronin. Boston-45 176 36 60 .341
Oehrlneer. Detroit-41 163 36 62 .340
Bonura. Chicago-51 204 38 69 .338
West, St. Louis- 40 145 26 49 .338
Natlanal League.
Medwlck. St. Louis_49 189 44 78.413
Klein. Philadelphia_33 108 23 41 .380
Vaughan. Pittsburgh_50 200 32 74 .370
Hassett. Brooklyn_34 137 20 50 .365
Jordan. Cincinnati_40 132 21 48 .364
Mlse. St. Louis-43 159 26 57 .358
Jurges. Chicago- 46 145 17 61 .352
P. Waner. Pittsburgh— 50 202 39 70 .347
Todd. Pittsburgh_49 188 21 65 .346
Lombardi. Cincinnati_38 100 12 34 .340
posted a two-hit shutout, pitching the
St. Louis Browns to a 6-0 win over
Washington. The White Sox-Yankee
game was rained out and the Tigers
and Athletics were not scheduled.
COASTAL PLAINS.
Kinston. 2: New Bern. 1.
Goldsboro. 6: Snow Kill. 5.
Wllllamston. 7: Greenville. S.
Ayden-Tarboro. rain.
I I
I
Simmons Voices His Regrets.
i
HIS left hand swatched in bandages, A1 Simmons sat in his apartment
and pounded an able right hand on the table in a gesture of violent
regret. "Why didn't I hit that guy?’’ he was asking himself, loudly
and accusingly. "Oh, why didn't I hit that guy. What a fool I
was . . . waiting three years for a chance to take a poke at him and then
muffing it.”
It will be recalled that Mr. Simmons did some swinging at Griffith
Stadium yesterday. Just behind second base, treading on the very footprints
left by Ben Chapman and Buddy Myer in their remarkable battle in 1933.
Simmons and Shortstop Bill Knickerbocker of the Browns squared off and
flailed away with bare fists. But A1 wasn't speaking of Knickerbocker. He
holds no grudge against him.
Vae victus! Vendetta! The feud of Pitcher Oral Hildebrand versus
the Washington ball club is on again and now with renewed bitterness.
em_m_1 -i.__l._.4_1-_a_
1 Okl W n tmo WVVil ObOVOV-Vt XII
the camel's back. “Bean bailer!” the
Nationals are shouting at Hildebrand.
They couldn't prove it in legal court,
of course, but ball players set up a court
of their own now and then. The Griffs
in fact, did it last year in Cleveland.
Hildebrand was pitching for the
Indians and he knocked down Johnny
Stone. Then he knocked down Joe
Kuhel, who started after him with a
bat in his hand. Umpires dissuaded
Kuhel from taking this kind of meas
ure but they did not keep Joey from
dragging a bunt to the first baseman.
This, of course, forces the pitcher to
cover the bag and Hildebrand did.
High, vicious and gleaming,
Kuhel's spikes lashed out toward
Hildebrand’s legs. He was lucky
to escape.
Feud Aflame Again.
'T’HE feud of 1938 cooled thereafter
and now it is aflame again. The
whole unpleasant business at the ball
park revolved around the pitch by
Hildebrand that struck Simmons on
the little finger of his left hand,
chipping his knuckle and cleanly
breaking the bone above the Joint.
“I walked up to Hildebrand and ac
cused him of throwing at me again,"
Simmon* was saying. “ ‘You threw at
me, didn't you?’ I asked, ‘and you've
been throwing at me tor years.’ The
guy didn’t have the nerve to say any
thing and Knickerbocker, probably
feeling sorry for Hildebrand, stuck his
nose in the thing.
“What the heck ... it was like that
at Cleveland.
“When Hildebrand was pitch
ing for the Indians it always was
Pat Gharrity who was taking op
for him.
“Gol dam It, I should have
whammed the guy then and there In
stead of fiddling around and getting
into a fight with Knickerbocker. I
haven’t anything against Knick.
“Why don’t the umpires oall Hilde
brand for throwing at hitters? Be
cause they take the easy way out.
Why, that guy has been dusting off
hitters ever since he came into the
league. I was talking to some of the
Athletics the other day and they were
hopping mad about the same thing.
“When I was with the White Sox we
hod trouble with him. I remember
that he knocked Mule Haas down one
day and there was a big fuss.
limps Take Easiest Way.
"'T'HAT Hildebrand ought to be
marked by every umpire in the
league. But will he? No. The umps
won’t aay they think he is throwing at
batters and recommend punishment.
Naw, it’s easier to overlook it.
“But then, in the and, some
body gets hit on the head and
there's a tragedy like what hap
pened to Mickey Cochrane.”
A family newspaper must refrain
from quoting Mr. Simmons further,
but, at any rate, he is a most irate and
bitter gentleman today. For that mat
ter, so are all the Griffs. There will be
safer places for Mr. Hildebrand in the
future than in the box against the
Washington club. From Clark Griffith
and Bucky Harris down to the club
house boys the local firm has Hilde
brand marked and they, at least, do
not doubt his guilt.
Base ball club owners usually
relish, deen down Inside, a fracas
suoh as th&pf yesterday. F’rinstance,
it will msft* -Increased attendance to*
day and tomorrow, when the Browns
will carry on with the current series.
Any Washington-St. Louis series
i needs all the added ballyhoo it can get.
Fights Help the Gates.
TN 1933 the Chapman-Mver fight,
which later branched out into a
barroom clinch between Chapman and
Earl Whitehill. was a bonanza to both
the Washington and New York club
exchequers.
That was a tough financial
year for most clubs. 1933, and
the Nat and Yank owners
found the feud most helpful.
The recent Dizzy Dean versus the
Giants feud furnished another example
of how beneficial a good fight on the
ball field can be to the box office.
The "Battle of St. Louis" was
transferred to New York a week or so
later and the rival managers found It
convenient to pitch Dean against Carl
Hubbell again—duplicating the set-up
and atmosphere that marked the fist
throwing day In St. Louis. The result
was a tidy crowd of 64,000.
But the Washington club has reason
to rue its latest ruckus. Everything
would have been all right If the X
Rays had not shown Simmons to be
so badly injured that his services will
be lost for approximately three weeks.
Ouch! That really hurts. Capacity
crowds today and tomorrow cannot
remove wholly the sting that Sim
mons' absence is likely to create.
It means ball games lost that
might have been won and, in
the end, people pay chiefly to
watch a winner.
TEST FOR ANNE ELLIS
Anne Ellis, slender Chevy Chase
blond, was to seek her second major
upset in two days In the grand national
women's singles tennis championships
at Columbia Country Club, stacking up
against the talented Sara Moore, top
seeded entrant, at 2 o'clock this after
noon.
Mias Ellis created the first real upset
in the tourney yesterday when she
trounced Mary Ryan, seeded third,
6—2. 6—2, while Mrs. Dorette Miller,
seeded fourth, also advanced into the
semi-final round by trimming Lillian
Rixey, 6—4, 6—0.
Mrs. Miller and Prances Grimes,
seeded second, were to clash on the
same courts today at 3 o'clock. Wom
en's doubles competition also continued
throughout the day.
Flag to Nationals
If History Repeats
■PVSHEARTENED by the loss of
Outfielder A1 Simmons for prob
ably three weeks, the Nationals
could only hope today that history
would repeat In connection with
base bell brawls at Griffith Sta
dium.
Prior to the clash between Sim
mons and Bill Knickerbocker in
the fourth inning of Washington's
game with the Browns yesterday,
the last fight at the ball perk was
In 1933.
Ben Chapman, then with New
York, and Buddy Myer were the
participants. It was ladies’ day.
Washington was shut out in the
game. But the Griffs won the
pennant!
Yesterday it was ladies’ day.
An* Washington was shut out. 6
to^Jj Now all the Griffs have to
do u Fin Use pennant.
FIRST GOODS
LIKELY TO DECIDE
Mauler Does Not Believe
Science Will Play Big
Part in Title Go.
BY JACK DEMPSEY.
CHICAGO, June 19.—James J.
Braddock and Joe Louis ap
pear to be about on even
terms so far as physical con
dition is concerned, as they wind up
their training for the fight in Comis
key Park on Tuesday night. I'm sup
posed to compare the “strategy" of
the two men in this article, but, go
far as I can see, there “ain’t going
to be no such animal” in this fight.
When Jim and Joe face each other
it’ll be a case of catch-as-catch-can.
and the fellow who’s lucky enough to
get over the first telling wallop prob
ably will be the winner.
Let’s see how they stack up:
Louis—Palls for a feint: has good
sock in either hand; eay to hit with
right; susceptible to head punch:
is a bit punch shy; has youth in his
favor; has trained defensively; not
a good chaser, not aggressive; not as
good as he was.
Braddock—Doesn't fall for a feint;
has good right, pretty good left;
not so easy to hit with right; can
take a good punch on head; is not
punch shy; has more experience;
trained offensively and defensively:
can go after his man; can be aggres
sive; nearly as good as he ever was.
Thinks Schmeling Slowed Joe.
'J'HOSE are a few things that we
can set down for facts. So far as
these fellow’s have shown in their
training, except for infrequent spurts,
both have appeared sluggish in their
training. This may be better for
Braddock, for it means that he will
not “leave his fight in the gym."
When Braddock eased through his
training, it was apparent that he
wasn’t trying, but when Louis looked
sluggish somehow I got the impres
sion that he was trying to do better,
but just couldn't develop the pep.
I think the fight with Schmeling
took more out of Joe Louis than folks
think it did. Joe took a pretty good
shellacking in that fight, and those
who are close to him—but not finan
cially interested—assure me he hasn't
the zip and power that he showed
before the Schmeling fight.
Braddock has not taken any ter
rific beatings. His lay-off of two
years hasn't been a complete let
down. He didn't go hog fat, and he
did keep in fair condition with light
work.
Louis is not a great boxer; neither
is Braddock. for that matter, but Jim
has shown boxing ability in aome of
his fights, better than LouLa has
showm.
Louis mast of the t:me had hi*
opponent scared when he went into
the ring. In most rases the other
fellow seemed to be licked even be
fore the fight started. The opponent
seemed to expect defeat.
Louis lacks Some Poor Ones.
DRADDOCK is not the scary type
He has the advantage of knowing
that Louis can be knocked out—that
he has been knocked out—and he be
lieves he has the guns to turn the
trick.
Louis knows that Braddock Is the
| kind of fighter that Is more danger
; ous when he is hurt than any other
, fighter he ever faced.
I don't mind saying I believe sev
eral of Joe's victims could have got
up if they'd a mind to after he'd
put them down. Braddock is a guy
who's shown that hard knocks are
no strangers to him. He's the kind
of do-or-die fellow who won't admit
he's licked. He won’t quit.
Both men looked pretty terrible
most of the time in their training
bouts. If a stranger, knowing neither,
happened to drop in at some of their
practice bouts he would have labeled
them both palookas. Only in rare
flashes did they show any class.
And gauging them on these work
outs, I'm forced to conclude chat
right now this is no better than an
even-money fight.
Braddock's legs are good, better
than I expected they would be. In
all his training not once has he
shown the slightest sign that his legs
are likely to fail him.
I say that Louis doesn't look as
good as he did formerly. But I also
say that while Braddock is—or ap
pears to be—in about as good physical
condition as he ever was, he still
isn't up to the fighting form he
showed in his training for the fight
with Max Baer.
Braddock No Open Target.
gOTH men have been socked clean
I rights to the jaw, but Braddock
has not been such an open target for
this punch as Louis—In their training
I bouts.
I Naturally, the fight in the ring
Tuesday night will be altogether dif
ferent than these camp set-tos, but
when those punches begin to fall
one of them Is going to be luckier
than the other. Can you figure which
one it will be? I’ll tell you what I
think about this later.
(CoDTriaht, 1RB7J
Sports Mirror
By the Associated Press.
Today a year ago—Max Sehmel
lng stunned booting world with
12-round knockout of Joe Louis
before disappointing crowd of
39.87*.
Three years ago—Helen Hicks.
United States champion In 1931,
turned “business woman” golfer;
Pie Traynor succeeded George
Gibson as manager of Pirates.
Five years ago—Laurl Lehtlnen
of Finland set world records of
14:16.9 for 5,000 meters and 13:50.6
for 3 miles In Olympic trials at
Helsingfors.
BASE BALL
Washington vs. St. Louis
4JWERICAN LEAGUE PARK
IfWif it. I i«k $ tJL
Swing of Experts' Sentiment
To Louis Strong as Rumor He
Trains Under Wraps Spreads
Br the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, June lfl.—Simul
taneous with disclosure of
somewhat fantastic plans for
heavyweight title activity for
the remainder of 1937, including a
July junket to Picadilly tor the fistic
forces, there was a pronounced switch
in expert sentiment today favoring
the chances that Joe Louis will lift
the heavyweight crown from the black
thatch of Jim Braddock next Tuesday
night.
It may have been purely a co
incidence but the unexpectedly rapid
development of a program calling for
the Louls-Braddock winner to engage
Tommy Parr, the British champion,
in London coincided with well-au
thenticated reports the Brown Bomber
has been "under wraps” during most
cf his public training sessions and
the fact that betting commissioners in
Chicago’s Loop rate the Negro a
3-to-l favorite.
The strong Braddock support in
evidence since the fighters pitched
camps has not abated, so far as
sentiment is concerned, but the cham
pion now is strictly on the short end
and backed mainly by the “hunch”
players.
Get Louis Bandwagon.
J<TGHT writers, more wary than
usual in forming opinions or con
clusions as a consequence of the
baffling records of the two principals,
have just about made up their mind.
to cast caution to the winds and join
what looks a Louis bandwagon.
Mike Jacobs may have his fingers
crossed, but it is likewise a coinci
dence, in connection with the talk
about ahlfting the next heavyweight
title scene to Kngland, that the New
York promoter has Louis under long
term contract, whereas the future af
filiations or tie-ups of Braddock, fol
lowing the outcome of Tuesday’s
match, may be subject to legal en
tanglements.
British enthusiasts have assured
Jacobs a match between Parr and the
Braddock-Louis winner would draw
upward of £300,000 or $1,000,000—the
magic figure which only one "gate"
has touched since the due of the $3,
750,000 Dempsey-TUnneOBght in Chi
cago 10 years ago.
'T'HERE still arc hopes the Braddock
Louis affair will come olose to the
million mark, with a big pick-up in
sales during the remaining four days,
but the best guess is that it will be
somewhere between $700,000 and
$800,000. This will be “tope” for a
title match since the first Sharkey
Schmeling match in 1930 at New
York.
Just where New York, as a title
scene later this year, and Max Schmel
ing as a challenger, figure in the sub
sequent program remains to be seen.
Gotham’s fistic fathers have put an of
ficial ban on Braddock for scrapping
his contract with Madison Square
Garden to fight Schmeling. n»is
blanket of disfavor also Is ready to
cover Louis, for being an accessory to
the Chicago proceedings. Three set
backs in court have not cooled the
Garden's resentment.
“All I can say is that we are going
to keep the champion busy,” declares
Mike Jacobs, the ticket-broker who has
taken big strides in his aim to fill the
late Tex Rickard’s shoes. “We like
the prospects for a fight in London.
I would also like to put on a title
match in New York, late in September.
Both are entirely possible, whether
Braddock or Louis wins next week, but
I won’t have anything definite to say
until after the bout's over."
Braddeck Needs “Breaks.”
CRADDOCK'S chances, most critics
hold, depend upon the “breaks"
and his ability to spike the Negro’s big
punching guns. The champion’s status
as the under-dog hasn’t discouraged
his backers. Jim was a 10-to-l shot
the night he beat Max Baer for the
title. That was two years ago. Now
he’s facing a younger man and a
harder hitter than Baer.
They’ve been saying Louis may be
“right-hand shy,” as a result of his
knockout by Schmeling or that he will
have as much difficulty trying to “tag”
Braddock as he did the elusive Bob
Pastor, but the erstwhile Bomber still
carries high explosive in either hand.
He figures to win, on most every basis
of comparison, but that’s what they
were all saying Just %year ago today,
the anniversary of ■duncUng'n con
quest. -
Major League Statistics
JUNE 19* 1937.
i
AMERICAN.
RESULTS YESTERDAY.
St. Louis, ft: Weshlncton. 0.
Boston. 6: Cleveland. 4.
Chlcaco-New York, wet (rounds.
Other clubs not scheduled.
STANDING OP THE CLUBS.
lipi
Sr?, I|lii s £i
r i i i r 5 f i 1 1 ? 1
KYI—I 61 31 41 81 SI 61 61311181.6331 ---
Pet I 41—1 41 61 21 61 41 61301221.6771 2V,
Chll 41 It—I 31 61 61 41 61281231.5491 4
Bosl 21 21 61—I 31 41 21 61251221.5321 5
Clel 41 41 21 61—1 41 61 21261231.6311 6
Wnl 21 31 31 31 SI-—I ~31 4I21I30I.412I11
Phil II 41 41 01 21 41—1 31181291.383112
BtLI II 31 H 21 21 41 51—1181301.376112tk
L 1181221231221231301291301—I—I I
GAMES TODAY* GAMES TOMORROW.
St. L. at Wash../? St. L. at Wash.. 3.
Cleveland at Rc:5in. Cleveland at Boston.
Weago at Ohteaco at N. Y.
feotrofl si PhUaT Detratt at PRIM.
NATIONAL.
USULTS TESTE BOAT.
Cincinnati. 5: New York. 3.
Pittsburgh. 6: Brooklyn. 4.
Chicago. 8: Philadelphia, 7.
St. Louis. 5: Boston. 2.
STANDING OF THE CLUBS.
? s I s a i 5S:! • !
i r cr • i cr £t i i 5 i
i i •» i i s* i i i “ «
i i i i i « P • i i i i
Chi!—I 4 51 II 41 61 71 61321101.627 ~
NYI 41— 41 71 81 31 81 6I32I2XI.604 1
St Li 21 3—1 31 31 61 81 41291211.580 2H
Pltl 31 21 61—1 41 61 41 61281221.5601 gjfr
Bkll 21 21 41 41—I II 81 51211261.4471 9
Bosl 21 31 21 31 41—1 21 41201291.408111
Phil 31 31 11 31 31 Bl—I 21201321.385112tfr
Clnl 31 41 01 II 3131 Bl—I19I31I.380I12H
L 1101211211221201291321311—I—1~ I
GAMES TODAY. GAMES TOMOBBOW.
New York at Obic. New York at Cine.
Brooklyn at e!U». Brooklyn at Pitts.