The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], December 31, 1924, Page 11, Image 11

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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ALABAMA PLAYS
PiETINRiM
Dent Represents Birming
ham At International
Motor Meet
Alabama, with its half-dosen tracks
•v«r which motor contests have been
Wi stated during the last year, figured
prominently among the states that es
tablished auto racing first among Amer
ican sports, according to statistics com
piled by International syndicates in
Chicago. While the attendance at motor
races in Alabama in 1924 was large,
the total was somewhat lessened over
previous years when the big mile oval
at Birmingham was used for speed
contacts. In 1925 this track will be
back in operation and sanction board
officials predict that Alabama Will then
rank among the leading states of the
utiinn contributing to the popularity of
automobile racing.
Interesting points pertaining to the
• gasoline! sport, brought out at the an
final Dieting of thfe International Motor
k Contest association, at which Alabama
wss represented by J. It. Dent of Bir
j.ingbam and Mort U. Bixler of Mont
gomery, stressed the fact that more poo
pi* witnessed auto races‘ in the United
State* and Canada during the last year
than attended either major league base
ball games or the world series or all
collegiate and professional football
games combined. Baseball and football
wer* the only sports bidding for su
premacy in public favor against auto
racing.
Not Too Dangerous
While to the average speed fan automo
bile racing is considered a simple form
of suicide, the past year has again
revealed the fact that the sport is hardly
more dangerous than even horse racing,
a sport which claimed the lives of
many jockeys and veteran reinsmen, in
cluding Hinds and thf beloved Pop
Geers. u'.
It is true that Dario Rests met death
on an English speedway, but his crash
came while attempting ,to establish _ a
phenominal speed record and not while
in actual competition. Then Joe Boyer,
the Detroit millionarie, went to his
death at Altoona, a count agrfinst the
sport, and when the popular Jimmie
Murphy was gathered in by the un
welcome gent with the sythe, motor
racing felt the loss and some writers
opened a campaign of condemnation of
the sport.
Morphy In Wrong
Few (topped to analyze these ac
cidents, however, for motor critics say
that Jimmie Murphy had no more busi
ness racing on a dirt track than Barney
Oldfield would have making a para
chute jump from a balloon. Murphy
received his driving education on the
paved courses and won fame there, but
ho knew little or nothing of the dirt
track gatne. The limited number of
t speedways in the country and the few
events staged each year on the big
paved or board courses caused Murphy
tXi tgf* sensational dirt
tracks where the gold was flowing
way, a dirt course, was caused by an
amateur driver, and Rocky Kansas, the
second victim on that course, had but
little experience as a speed demon.
That covers the list or professionals
who died at the wheel during the last
year, but naturally it does not account
for the half score or more of inexperi
enced amateurs who sacrificed their
lives on the altar of ambition to be
a knight of the heavy throttle without
first serving an apprenticeship as a
mechanic or relief driver.
Sanction board officials point out
that in every city in the United States,
and particularly in cities where auto
races have been staged, there are speed
bugs, mechanics or wealthy youths with
a lust for thrills, who believe that the
experienced professionals who partici
pate in the speed classics of the coun
try, possess only a heavy foot and an
automobile and that experience and
the ability of the man at the wheel
* are mythical assets. That belief has
been flouted repeatedly and has cost
many lives, but because some promoters
continue to listen to the arguments of
amateurs, motor racing has suffered
more from public criticism than any
other sport.
With faster motors being developed
and with tracks everywhere being im
proved, sanction board officials hnve
gone on record to tighten the ruling*
that will protect the sport and increase
ila popularity. According to Secretary
A. R. Corey of Des Moines, an inex
perienced driver has no more business
driving on to a track and expecting
to compete against professionals than
ha would have walking out on to the
baseball diamond at Cubs park and
demanding that he be permitted.to
pitch against the Yankees.
“Let the amateur have the same
chance in auto racing as he has base
ball-prove his worth first," says Mr.
Corey, speaking for the sanction board.
other speedway monarchs
Many Amateurs
COONEY MAKES
FIELDING MARK
Cardinal Shortstop Bests Tink
i. er’s Average Of .968
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 30— Jimmy Cooney,
who is expected to hold the shortstop
position with the St. Louis Cardinals
I again in 1925, set a new fielding record
in his department last season with a
percentage of .969, it was announced
here today. • ......
Joe Tinker held the old mark, fielding
.968 for Cincinnati in 1913.
LOBERT CLAIMS
HIS NOSE LARGE
CHICAGO, Dec. 30.—Discussing the
speed on bases of Hans Lobert, Dave
Bancroft, manager of the Boston
Braves, at the Chicago baseball meet
ing told how Lobert once used some
other part of his anatomy to claim
safety at home plate. In this case
Lobert used his prominent nose.
During a barnstorming trip, Bancroft
said, Lobm agreed as a joke to race a
mustang around the bases, the pony
being driven from the outside. Lobert, 1
by making the turns faster, led when
rounding third base, but the pony
caught up and at the home plate the
iudge of the race called “the pony wins ,
ly a nose..”
"How can that be, judge?” Lobert
exclaimed, “Look at mine.”
New Fast Train to Atlanta
Leave Birmingham on the Kansas
City-Florida Special 8:80 p. m., arrive
i Anniston 6:31 p. m., Atlanta, 8:40 p.
at. Observation car.
^Southern "Railway System
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
By Ripley
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Four Horsemen And Penn
Invade Western Territory
Walsh Will Play New Yeara For Notre Dame—
Quakers Get Big Reception
I _,_ -
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 30.—Stan
ford university’s football team is mark
I ing time, taking things easy until the
afternoon of New Year’s Day, when it
will defend western honors against the
best gridiron aggregation that the east
has produced this season, the Notre
Dame squad. Notre Dame will arrive
in Pasadena tomorrow.
Stanford's three coaches were in Los
Angeles swapping reminiscenses with
old friends at a meeting of coaches of
the Pacific coast section. None of the
players were winded in last night's
practice and Coach Glenn S. "Pop”
Warner sent them through a heavy
practice at the Rose Bowl this after
noon. Light exercises only are on the
schedule for tomorrow.
ROCKMEN WORK HARD
TUSCON, Ariz., Dec. 30.—Coach
Rockne yesterday put his Notre Dame
football team through the stiffest work
out the men have had since they left
South Bend, Ind., for Pasadena, Cal.,
where they play Stanford university on
New Year’s Day. ^
With Adam Walsh in his position at
center and the “four horsemen” in the
back field, the team scrimmaged for
about two hours.
Although the workout was confined
to straight football, the general public
was excluded from the field.
The impression among the players
was that Walsh’s hands were in con
dition to permit him to play the full
game against Stanford.
PENN ARRIVES
BERKELEY, Cal., Dec. 30— (By
Associated Press.)—An invading party
of some 125, consisting of the Pennsyl
vania varsity football squad, the
coaches and trainers, the campus band
and a number of fervid rooters, arrived
here today and made the final grim pre
parations for battle with the Unive
sity of California New Year’s Day.
More than five hundred California
students met the Quakers and cheered
them as worthy foes. The Pehns.vl
vania band led the march to a hot/
Coach Lou Young took the squad to
the California stadium this afternoon
and efforts were made to smooth out
the kinks of travel. The Quaker men
tor was not overly optimistic.
“We are going into the game not in
the best of shape,” he explained. “Our
regular ends and a first call tackle are
out with injuries. We have encoun
tered miserable weather since the game
with Cornell and have had practically
no practice since Thanksgiving Day."
He planned to give the hoys another
light workout tomorrow.
Coach Andy Smith of California sent
his men through a final easy practice
today. It was mostly drill in signals
with a little punting and passing.
From tonight until time for the kick
off the Bears program calls foi rest.
The coach is guarding against “stale
ness.”
The stadium was soggy today from an
an night rain. There was considerable
apprehension regarding the weather
Thursday.
PULL FOR NOTRE DAME -
CHICAGO, Dec. 30.—With less than
two dnys remaining before the Notre
Dame-Stanford intersectional football
game at Pasadena, the mid-west is pull
ing for Knute Roekne’s famous “four
horsemen” to ride rough shod over the
Californians, thus enabling the Notre
Dame eleven to finish 1024 with a rec
ord of victories from coast to coast.
In the eyes of middle west fans at
least the game overshadows interest in
the Callfornia-Pennsylvania contest, to
be played at Berkeley, also on New
Year's Day, because of the intersec
tions) reputation of Notre Dame, the
most widely advertised eleven in the
country has ever known.
Telegraph offices in small mid-west
towns and cities, usually closed on holi
days, will remain open to receive the
returns. Every football enthusiast with
a radio, or those who know somebody
with a set, will have his ears glued to
the head pieces, starting at 4 :15 p. m..
central standard time, to receive a play
by play report which will be broadcast
by WGN, the Chicago Tribune station,
over special wires from the gridiron.
WALTER CAMP’S annual all
American selections form a wel
come climax to the deluge of
mythical teams that have flooded the
newspapers and weeklies for the last
six weeks. After all« there is but
one mythical team that brings more
than a few minutes’ attention and
that is the one selected annually by
Mr. Camp.
The all-America of Walter Camp is
a national institution. It is the parent
of all the all-star selections that we get
in baseball, basketball, soccer and other
sports. Mr. Camp is the father of the
idea and while he has thousands of imi
tators, he remains as the one recognized
authority. His annual contribution is
the most important in football litera
ture. He stands as the supreme court
of the game and his verdict is the final
judgment
• • •
There have been frequent criticisms.
There will continue to be. Certain dis
appointments are bound to be developed
by every all-America team. No selec
tion can ever be perfect and all are
open to criticism, but the fact remains
that Mr. Camp comes nearer to perfec
tion than any other man.
One reason for the weight of Mr.
Camp’s teams is that they are not the
choice of Mr. Camp alone. He simply
sits in final judgment. His teams are
selections based on the observation of
more than 200 trained experts. Most
of these experts consult others and add
their opinions. Each season Mr. Camp
receives full yad confidential reports
on practically all players of marked
ability. By comparing the various
opinions, checking and re-checking, he
arrives at his final conclusions.
Selecting an all-America football
eleven this year was a difficult task.
There were fewer outstanding players
than in previous years. Of the thou
sands that played football during the
1924 season not more than two were
nationally recognized as players that
stood alone. All were agreed that "Red”
Grange was again the best hack of the
year and opinion seemed fairly unani
mous that Stuhldreher was the best
quarterback the game has developed in
a stretch of seasons. Opinion was di
vided over the other nine positions.
Not one player in the line was na
tionally discussed, but that is natural,
as the lineman rarely gets into the
headlines. This year there was even a
lack of sectional fame clinging to any
of the forwards. Post-season glory
came to Garbisch, of the Army, but
only because he kicked four field goals
that enabled Army to beat Navy 12
to 0.
* * *
Consider Slaughter of Michigan,
whom Mr. Camp places at guard. There
was not much printed about Slaughter,
but he was still a great guard. He will
be recognized as one of the greatest the
middle west has seen. When the
coaches of the Western conference were
asked to cast a secret ballot at the close
of the season, nine of the,TO head tutors
declared Slaughter the best lineman of
1924. The reason tbs tenth coach did
•
JOHNSON TO BE
OM OF HELP
Derrill Pratt Confers
With Business Men
Over Plan
(By Associated Press)
ANN ARBOR, Mich.. Dec. 30.—A
conference was held here late today,
Derrill O. Pratt, former Detroit Ameri
can infielder, said tonight, regarding the
proposed plan for renewing negotiations
by Walter Johnson. Washington Ameri
can pitcher, for the purchase of the Oak
land California club of the Pacific Coast
league.
Pratt refused to say with whom he
conferred but admitted they were two
men from out of town. He said the
conference was in the interest of "get
ting conditions back where they were
when Johnson held an option” on the
Oakland club some weeks ago.
As far as known R. T. Dobson, Sr.,
wealthy Ann Arbor resident who vir
tually admitted today he was interested
in the deal, did not attend the confer
ence but his son, R. T. Dobson, Jr., had
a long talk with Pratt following the lat
ter's conversation with the men from
out of town.
Pratt asserted tonight he was inter
ested in the' deal only through his
“friendship for Walter Johnson.”
Although those interested in the deal
refused to make any definite statements
on the matter pending word from John
son, it was understood from seemingly
reliable sources that Johnson had been
offered approximately $400,000, under
certain conditions, provided he desired
to use it toward the purchase of the
Oakland club. A large part of this, it
was intimated, would be furnished by
Dobson.
not pick him was because he had not
seen him play.
Slaughter, big and strong, quick, had
a faster charge than nine out of 10
guards in the game. He had range. No
lineman was quicker to size up the of
fense, none better at breaking up for
ward passes. He was always around
on end runs. He was quick to diagnose
plays and constantly went out of posi
tion. On defense no ground was gained
through him. He was exceptionally
good in general play besides his own po
sition play. He was intelligent add ag
gressive and an able kicker, although
seldom called upon to kick. With these
qualifications that set him apait from
others. Slaughter still lacked the pub
licity afforded an ordinary back. But
that is the fate of the men in the line.
• * «
Horrell, whom Mr. Camp places at
the other guard, is the California center.
He was the best lineman of the year on
the far coast, although his fame did not
spread over the east and south. McGin
ley of Pennsylvania and Weir of Ne
braska were undoubtedly the best
tackles of the year, but little was
printed about them.
The ends that Mr. Camp picked are
well known, for ends, like backs, do their
work in the open and share in the
"credit" columns. The public knows
them well. Bjorkman of Darthmouth
and Berry of Lafayette; Wakefield of
Vanderbilt and Lawson of Stanford:
Mahoney of Holy Cross and Frazer of
West Point, picked in that order, were
till well established.
• * *
Two of the backs were all-America
certainties. They have been mentioned.
The other two positions were open with
a wide choice. Mr. Camp did well in
selecting Koppisch of Columbia at the
other half and Hazel, of Kutgera at full.
Kappiscb has starred for Columbia
through three seasons and was always
regarded as one of the best backs in
the land. His Selection seems a fitting
reward for a brillant career. Hazel,
picked last season at end and who, with
Grange, gets the distinction of being
picked two years in succession, was gen
erally recognized this sehson as an out
standing player, although lie did not
become established last ytipr until after
Mr. Camp selected him as one of the
ends on his 1923 eleven.
Both parties profit by use of Age
Herald Want Ads. Sold before noon
is the frequent result of their use.
L t!
FOOTBALL HOLDS
ALL ESSENTIALS
Popularity Is Increasing,
Says Rules Committee .
Secretary
NEW TORE, Dec. 80.—Football to
day contain* practically every element
necessary to the highest type of sport,
in the opinion of E. K. Hall of New
York, chairman of the American inter
collegiate football rules committee, ex
pressed in his annual report today to the
national intercollegiate association.
On the whole, Mr. Hall says, the re
-sults from changes made in the rules of
1924 have been gratifying, but the com
mittee undoubtely will consider return
ing the point of kickoff to the 40-yard
line to eliminate the large number of
touchbacks which occurred during the
past season and at the same time re
turning to the game one of its most
thrilling play*, the run-back of kick
offs.
“Every year since the rules have been
in substantially their present form,"
the report says, "the game has in
creased In popularity and in its possi
bilities. Each year it seems as if the
interest in the game had reached a
maximum and the next year shows even
greater interest than before. I am sat
isfied that the reason for this is found
in the fact that the game contains prac
tically every element essential to the
highest type of sport”
Mike McTigue, who still retains the
world light heavyweight title by vlr
tue of a judicious sidestepping of all
good and second rate men within a
couple of classes of himself, has left
New York for Summit, N. J., to train
for his bout January 7 with Mickey
Walker, welterweight champion.
Financiers Offer
Aid To Johnson
To Obtain Club
RENO Nev., Dec. 30.—Walter
Johnson, Washington American
leahue baseball pitcher, who ac
cording to reports from the east today,
has been offered financial aid by two
An Arbor, Mich., men to help in pur
chasing the Oakland club of the Pa
cific Coast league, admitted today
that he understands such negotiations
were under way, but said he was not
in a position to discuss the matter.
HOWARDENTERS
NATIONAL BODY
One Of Two Southern
Colleges Admitted To
N. C. A. A.
Along with nine other colleges over
the country, Howard college was ad
mitted into the National College
Athletic association at its meeting in
New York Tuesday, according to dis
patches received by The Age-Herald
Tuesday night.
Dr. Dawson, president of the college,
and Dr. Ives, chairman of the athletic
committee at the local institution, did
not know of the admittance of Howard
to the collegiate body, and were well
pleased when informed of the Associa
tion's action.
Howard was one of two colleges in
the south to be admitted into the asso
ciation, which was quite an honor for
the local institution.
The nine college added to the asso
Albany T Barely Beats
Birmingham Blues, 34-27
Rally In Last Half, With Fred Hahn Starring,
Almost Gives B. A. C. Win
ALBANY, Ga., Dec. 30.—(Special)—
Albany Y. M. C. A. defeated the Bir
mingham Athletic club Tuesday night
in the best game of basketball played
here this season to date. The score was
34 to 27, and the game was closely but
cleanly contested throughout.
Birmingham jumped into the lead
early in the game through a greater
ability to register free throws and at
one time was leading by a margin of
10 to 2. The game had been in pro
gress 14% minutes before Albany reg
istered a field goal, so badly was the
local team missing both free throws
and field attempts. A rally during the
last few minutes of the opening half
sent Albany ahead by three points be
fore the halfway mark.
In the second half Albany ran up
what appeared to be a safe lend and
was taking it easy when Birmingham
sprang an offensive built around Fred
Hahn that sent the visitors within three
points of tying the score before Albany
cut loose again and Davis and Whiting
made goals that left Albany's lead snfely
intact.
Despite a heavy downpour of rain
which had continued all day and was
in progress during the game a large
crowd of spectators saw the game.
Albany plays the Mississippi Aggies
eiation increases the membersip to 230.
Besides Howard, those admitted were :
Notre Dame, Ohio University, Eton
college, N. C.; Susquehanna university,*
Pa. Pomona college, Cal.; Witteberg
college, Ohio, Niagara university, Nia
gara Falls, and Boston university.
here Friday night in what is expected
to he the hardest game of the season
thus far for the locals.
The lineup and summary:
Albany (34)—Hardy (11), right for
ward ; Davis (9), left forward; J.
.Smith (5), center; Grimes, right guard;
Whiting (5), left guard.
Birmingham A. CT" (27)—Anderson
(2), right forward; Hillbun (7), left
forward; C. F. Hnhn (11), center;
Mandy (7), right guard; Ferguson,
left guard.
Substitutions : By Albany, Hester (4)
for Grimes; by Birmingham: H. Hahn
for Hillbun, Duke for Ferguson.
Foul Goals—By Albany 8 out of 211
by Birmingham, 7 out of 11.
Field Goals—Albany 13, Birming
ham 10.
Score at end of half—Albany IB, Bir
mingham 12.
Rferee—Clement (eyler.)
PEABODffO sue
GIANTS’ BOSSES
NEW YORK, Dec. 30.—An action
in the courts against John J. McGraw,
manager of the New York Giants, and
Magistrate Francis X. McQuade, treas
urer of the National Exhibition com
pany, Which owns the team, is being
contemplated by William F. Peabody,
former police captain, it was learned
today. The threatened suit, understood
to be for $100,000, concerns acquisition
of a controlling interest in the team by
Charles F. Stoneliam in January, 1919.
Today--A Sale of 350
Men’s O’coats
Two Special Groups
You know the men's clothing department is soon to
move from the Corner Building. So, the stock MUST
be reduced—without delay.
Even at their regular prices these overcoats were
top-notch values, but at the sale prices they are abso
lute wonders.
, The man who needs a new winter overcoat need
wait no longer—here's your opportunity to save on
one like you’ve never saved before.
• •
f 12.5«
For Overcoats Originally
Priced $19.95 Up to $25
Good, sturdy overcoats that are equal to keeping
you warm on the coldest days—made of excellent
materials—many with plaid backs. All are in the
newest stylfes—with belts all around—with half belts
and some with the short back belts—also some extra
long ulster-style coats in the lot. Choice at 12.50.
17-95
For Overcoats Originally
Priced $25 Up to $35
Coats of the finest type—skillfully
tailored of the best materials—most of
them the plaid back type. Everyone of
these coats is a beauty—stylish to the last
minute as men’s coats go—and will give
the very best of service. If you want a
belted coat, it’s here—if you want a half
belted coat, it’s here—if you want a belt
less coat—it’s here—in all colors and
sizes.
We want you to come and see these—
we know you will pronounce them the
finest values ever at 1 7.95.
(FIRST FLOOR—CORNER BUILDING)