Monday, July 19, 1954

                 W  L  Pct GB
Lewiston ...... 11  6 .647 —
Victoria ....... 5  3 .625 1½
Edmonton ....... 7  6 .538 2
Tri-City ....... 7  6 .538 2
Yakima ......... 6  6 .500 2½
Salem .......... 6  6 .500 2½
Vancouver ...... 4  6 .400 3½
Wenatchee ...... 4 11 .267 6

WENATCHEE, July 19—Lewiston's Jack Martin fired a five-hitter at Wenatchee Monday night for a 2-0 shutout that gave the Broncs undisputed possession of first place in the Western International Baseball League.
The husky southpaw was in trouble in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings but worked himself out of the jams and left seven Wenatchce runners stranded. The win evened Martin's record at nine and nine.
Lewiston scored in the third inning on a single and a double off loser Ralph Romero and repeated for the second tally in the seventh.
Lewiston ........ 001 000 100—2 9 1
Wenatchee .... 000 000 000—0 5 0
Martin and Garay; Romero and Self.

ONLY GAME SCHEDULED.

McGuire Released; Gordy To Outfield
[Tri-City Herald, July 21, 1954]
Bob McGuire, Yakima high school football coach who has played centerfield for the Tri-City Braves the last two seasons, has been released, General manager Eddie Taylor announced today.
Taylor added that Gordy Brunswick, acquired recently as a "pitcher," will play centerfield.
Meanwhile, the Tri-City Herald learned today that the Tri-City club plans to sell righthand pitchers Dale Bloom and Dale Thomason to Boise of the Pioneer league.
The possible sale of Bloom has been hanging fire since he came down with arm trouble nearly a month ago. Up to that time he had compiled a 5-4 record but since has lost one game in relief.
Thomason has a 4-5 record and has blown hot and cold in pitching this season. In his last start, he was the loser but then turned around and pitched a winning relief stint in the second game of a doubleheader.
The cutdown in the Tri-City line-up was expected since the signing of Brunswick meant that one player had to be released so the team could come under the 17-player unit. However, it was generally believed that a pitcher would be cut from the roster since Brunswick came to Tri-City with the stipulallon he would be permitted to pitch.
Taylor said today that Brunswick would still be given a chance to pitch "some."
"I can't help but think we have strengthened our lineup," he said.
Taylor said he feels the Braves probably have too much pitching.
"We can carry only 17 men," he pointed out, "and we can't be too strong in any one department." The release of McGuire reduces the number of players who were with the Braves last season to seven not counting playing manager Vanni.
McGuire hit .263 in 1953 and hovered near the .300 mark early this year. However, in recent weeks, his average dropped to about. 280.
Ironically, McGuire's career with the Tri-Cily Braves is deeply related to Yakima, where the Braves play tonight, and where McGuire makes his home.
McGuire came to Tri-City after he was released by Yakima early in 1953.
In addition, when Des Charouhas was sold to Yakima it was generally felt that McGuire was selected as the best bet of the two.
Meanwhile, Herman Besse, lefthand pitcher recently signed as a free agent, arrived and joined the team. He may pitch the seven-inning game of the doubleeader tonight against Yakima.

Sports Notes
BY GIL GILMORE
[Tri-City Herald, July 20, 1954]

Take it from the old man himself, this Herman Besse, the former Coast League pitcher Tri-City General Manager Eddie Taylor acquired recently, should do the team nothin’ but good.
“He’s got it up here,” Jess Dobernic said tapping his head. “He’s the guy I’ve been anting them (the Tri-City brass) to get.”
Jess, naturally, has known Besse for a long time — in fact, one gathers they are a couple of old baseball cronies, and good-old-days talk will flow rather freely when the two get together.
In discussing Besse, Jess also comes up with the reason why he has been able to start, complete and win, five of his last sjx games.
"Bcsse is just like me. He’s got good control and that's what it takes in this league. Heck, with no more stuff than I’ve got 1 shouldn’t be winning. But some of those other guys always get behind the batter and then have to come in there. No wonder they hit them.”
* * *
The Ball Went Elsewhere
Jess’s discussion concerning Besse came after he had pitched the three-hitter against Salem. One of those three hits was Hugh Luby’s double which later resulted in a run.
Jess explained that one this way.
“I know how to pitch to the guy. You give him anything high and outside and he is going to hit it. That pitch was high and-outside. The ball just didn’t go where I wanted it to go.”
* *
He Isn’t that Old
Any discussion concerning Jess and Besse eventually must center on age.
The other day, Sam Kanelos, former Tri-City infielder who has returned to his home in Sacramento, sent a clipping from the newspaper there which says:
“Old Jess Dobernic is still pitching baseball. He must be older than the hills by now.”
Well, not quite. Actually, Jessie is 36 which fact led one Tri-City Herald printer to observe;
“Heck, here I’ve been hearing everyone talk about Old Jess Dobernic and the guy is a year younger than I am. Time has caught up with me.”
When Besse comes to town, though, Jess will be strictly junior. Besse is 38.