Spring Training, Thursday, April 15, 1954

Pitcher, Red Tape For Caps
By CLANCY LORANGER
[Vancouver Province, April 15, 1954]
Bill Brenner might have himself quite a lefthander for his pro baseball Capilanos by the end of this week, provided the southpaw can untangle himself from a mess of red tape.
The leftie is Raul Galata, the Cuban Negro who’s currently besieging authorities in Mexico every day in an attempt to clear a passport that will let him travel into, and back and forth between, the United States and Canada.
GOOD NEWS
This passport mix up has been on the books for some weeks now, but there was a note of encouragement for Brenner Wednesday.
The Caps’ boss was talking to Manny Perez, who had been in tough with Galata in Mexico before he left, a few days before Galata, he said, was making progress with the authorities and should be along any day.
Perez, a veteran who has watched a lot of ball players, also informed Brenner that he was getting quite a pitcher. He had seen him pitch in Mexico, he said, and “man, that boy’s fast.”
If he can put the ball where he wants to—control is his big trouble—he will be rugged, Perez said.
CARDS MISS
Galata was signed through the offices of veteran baseball man Jack Corbett, right under the noses of the St. Louis Cardinals who had been scouting him.
DIAMOND DUST – General manager Brenner cut another man loose Wednesday at Clarkston, Wash., optioning catcher “Red” Whitney to Pocatello … Shortstop Jim Clark and outfielder K Chorlton will be in today, Brenner told The Province … they may see some action against Pocatello in today’s exhibition game.

Tyees Launch Spring Training As Pries, 12 Players Work Out
[Victoria Colonist, April 15, 1954]
Victoria Tyees opened their 1954 spring training season at Royal Athletic Park yesterday morning with manager Don Pries putting an early contingent of 12 players through their paces in a workout which lasted into the afternoon.
Big news of the day was furnished by the weatherman, who came up with the year’s balmiest day, which could be taken as some sort of omen for the coming season.
On hand yesterday were catcher Milt Martin, and pitchers Bob Drilling and Berlyn Hodges from last season’s club. Newcomers were infielders Ron Jackson, Pepper Wesley, Primo Santini and Jerry Parker, Victoria youngster who is trying out; outfielders Tom McKeough [sic], Armando Sanchez, Art Seguso and Jerry Kane; pitcher Mike Kanshin. In town, but not for the workout, was holdover righthander Bill Prior.
Numbers should be swelled before the week is out. En route are third-baseman Steve Mesner, shortstop Eddie Lake, infielder Merlyn Anthony and outfielder Dain Clay. Nothing has yet been heard from Hal Flinn, the righthander sent by San Francisco Seals, but there is so far no reason to believe he won’t be here. Holdout southpaw Earl Dollins has not yet agreed to terms.
Further help is expected next week from Portland Beavers and San Francisco Seals.
Yesterday’s action was confined to running, throwing and pepper games and a short and easy infield drill. Today’s workout will again start at 10:30 and will include hitting. Pries hopes to play his first inter-squad game on Saturday and the Tyees will play the first of several exhibition games next Monday, when they meet Farmers Construction at Royal Athletic Park at 6:30.
SPEED, YOUTH
Although light, yesterday’s workout left the impression that the Tyees will be keen and speedy this season if the first turnout is any criterion. And there is youth, too. Counting Pries, the average age of the 13 players in uniform yesterday is 24, although nine of them are married and have a combined total of 15 youngsters. Martin and Sanchez share the distinction of having the largest families, each with three youngsters.
Thumbnail sketches follow:
BOB DRILLING (26, 6’, 190 pounds)—Tulare, Calif., is home town … married with two children, Stephen (3) and Robert Jr. (2) … started pro ball with Yakima in 1948, was with Yakima and Salem in 1949, with Portland Beavers in 1950, 1951 and 1952, won 14 games for Tyees last season … played winter baseball in Mexican Coastal League … looks ready to return to form which left him in the Coast League for three seasons.
ARMANDO SANCHEZ (23, 5’ 7”, 170 pounds)—from Laredo, Texas … married with three children, Armando Jr. (3), Jesse (2) and Elva (2 months) … played in same winter league as Drilling, who recommended him to Tyees … hit about .350 and reportedly is a good hustler and extremely fast.
BERLYN HODGES (21, 5’ 11”, 172 pounds)—Victoria youngster who got into 26 games as pitcher for the Tyees last season, winning three and losing five … gained about 25 pounds in the off-season while acting as trainer of Victoria Cougars … second year as pro … played two seasons with Moose Jaw in the Western Canada League.
TOM KEOUGH (22, 5’ 10”, 165 pounds)—Home town, Pomona, Calif. … married with two children, Michael (2) and Karen (1) … played four seasons with University of California, where he was all-conference outfielder in junior and senior years and all-America college outfielder in his junior year … batting average last two seasons .400 and .396 … very fast … brother of Marty Keough, who reportedly received $100,000 bonus from Boston Red Sox and is now at Louisville …. Also played three years of University football as half-back … did Bears’ kicking in last season and played in Rose Bowl game against University of Michigan in 1950 … bats and throws righthanded.
MILT MARTIN (25, 5’ 11”, 190 pounds)—Lives at Vancouver, Wash. … married with three children, Greg (4), Vickie (3) and Stephen (2) … starting fourth season with Tyees … had best season in 1953, hitting .307 and getting into 125 games … trained with Portland this spring and just missed staying in the Coast League.
RON JACKSON (23, 5’ 10”, 162 pounds)—pepper-pot second baseman who comes from Oakland … single … started in organized baseball in 1948 with Reading in the Far West League, was with Salinas in the Sunset League in 1949, and in Sooner State League in 1950, spent 1951 and 1952 in U.S. Army, and was with Charleston in Class “A” Sally Leaue last season, where he got into 91 games and batted .241.
JERRY KANE (222, 6’ 3”, 200 pounds)—calls Revloc, Penn., home … married … starting first pro season after playing semi-pro baseball in Fairbanks, Alaska last year … played high school and semi-pro baseball in Rastern U.S. … can catch as well as play outfield … bats and throws righthanded.
MIKE KANSHIN (24, 6’ 1”, 175 pounds)—Lives in Los Angeles, married, with 11-month-old daughter Kathleen. Started pitching pro baseball in 1948 with Riverside in Sunset League, moved to Medford in the Far West League in 1950 after training with Seattle Rainiers. Player for Wenatchee in 1951, missed 1952 season, and compiled 10-2 record for Saskatoon in the Western Canada League last season.
PEPPER WASLEY (20, 6’, 185 pounds)—Lives in Oakland, single, regular outfielder with Captain Bill Erwin Post team which won League Junior championship of U.S in 1950 and 1951; batted .390 last year; regular third baseman with Santa Rosa Junior College team last two years. Bats and throws righthanded.
ART SEGUSO (26, 6’ 1”, 195 pounds)—Calls Tuckhoe, N.Y., home, married with two children; Ricki, 5, and Ellen, 11 months. Started in New York Yankee chain with Butler of the Mid-Atlantic League in 1948, went to Manchester in New England League next season and to Meridian in South-Eastern League in 1950; hit 31 home runs in good season and was drafted by Mobile of Brooklyn Dodger system at end of season; played with Elmira of Class “A” Eastern League in 1951, and Ashville in Tri-State League in 1952; received free agency and played in strong Southern Minnesota semi-pro league with Mankato least season, hitting 20 home runs and batting in 52 team-mates in 44 games. Bats and throws righthanded.
PRIMO SANTINI (23, 5’ 10”, 170 pounds)—Lincoln, Calif., is home, married, with one child, Primo III, aged 14 months. First season of pro baseball; played three years in U.S. Air Force with Mather Field and part-time with Maryville semi-pro; discharges from services in November; played two years with Sierra College before joining services; bats and throws righthanded.

THURSDAY'S GAMES

LEWISTON, Idaho, April 15 — Jose Bache clubbed out a pair of double Lewiston's 9-5 exhibition baseball victory over Tri-City Thursday. Both are Western International
League teams.
Bache drove in four runs, three of them on a three-run double in the sixth.
Pitchers John Marshall and Jack Martin limited Tri-City to six hits, the longest being Vic Buccola’s double.
Tri-City ...... 010 000 040—5 6 3
Lewiston ..... 002 014 02x—9 12 5
Bloom, Richardson (6) and Warren; Marshall, Martin (7) and Garay.

YAKIMA, Apr. 15 — Manager Lou Stringer’s Yakima Bears teamed the five-hit pitching of Ted Edmunds and Vertis Elmore with seven extra-base blows Thursday to win their fourth straight exhibition victory, pounding the Salem Senators, 10-1.
Edmunds limited the Senators to a pair of singles in working the first five innings and Elmore gave up three in the last four.
The Bears bombed pitcher Larry Borst from the rnound with seven hits in the first three frames with six of them going for extra bases. Leading the attack was Len Noren, holdover first baseman, who slammed out a triple, double and single in three at bats.
Jack Hemphill replaced Borst in the fourth and effectively halted the Bears’ batting spree by holding them to a single hit in the last inning.