W L Pct. GB
Salem ...... 5 1 .833 —
Spokane .... 3 2 .600 1½
Yakima ..... 4 3 .571 1½
Lewiston ... 3 3 .500 2
Vancouver .. 3 3 .500 2
Wenatchee .. 3 3 .500 2
Edmonton ... 3 3 .500 2
Victoria ... 3 3 .500 2
Tri-City ... 2 5 .288 3½
Calgary .... 1 4 .200 3½
VANCOUVER [Clancy Loranger, Province, May 5]—People keep telling Bill Brenner that he has a good hitting club this year, and there are times when he believes them. But when Bill’s pitching, his boys act like they’ve been studying the book on “the hitless wonders.”
Brenner said after Tuesday’s game at Capilano Stadium that his crew had promised to get him three runs his next time out. He accepted their offer. That would be a new high for the year.
On Brenner’s first time out they managed one big run and Bill lost, 3-1. Last night they doubled their production, with the help of a Salem error, and got two. Brenner fooled ‘em—he pitched a shutout to earn his first victory of the year, 2-0, and end Salem’s winning streak at five games.
BREAKS, TOO
Brenner, who had trouble with his knuckler in spring training, warned the fans in Lewiston “to have your fun now, because it will be different when the bell rings.” It’s been different. Brenner has looked like the 22-game winner he was last year, especially last night.
He allowed just six hits, never more than one in any inning, walked just two and struck out six. At that, though he needed a break to preserve his shutout, the second straight for the Caps but their first of the WIL season. Bob Roberts blanked Seattle the night before.
Brenner gave up two triples among those six hits. The first, by Gene Tanselli, came in the opening inning. But there were two men out, and Brenner got the next man.
But in the fifth, Salem pitcher Jack Hemphill tripled to deep centre with just one out. He was erased, however, when Jack Bukowatz sent a grounder down to Ken Richardson at third, and that worthy ran Hemphill off the bag, chased him and tagged him out.
THE WINNER
Hemphill did an excellent job for Salem, one that would have won most games. Jim Clark scored what proved to be the winner in the very first frame when he singled, went to second on an infield out, and scored on Richardson’s single.
Richardson scored the insurance run in the fourth when he got a life as Hemphill dropped a fly ball, then singled. He took third on Nick Pesut’s single and scored on a fielder’s choice when catcher Floyd Ogden dropped the ball at home plate.
Salem winds up its stand here tonight after this afternoon’s game at Cap Stadium. Manager Harvey Storey was planning to pitch Jim Briggs today against George Nicholas, with Jim Petersen scheduled to go tonight at 8:15 against Bill Franks.
DIAMOND DUST – Brenner said he had a deal all set to go with Dewey Soriano yesterday morning, but got a call from Seattle later saying to forget it temporarily until he heard from him … Pete Younie, local lefthander, turned up as batting practice pitcher for the Caps … Baz Nagle reported he’ll be going to Calgary to play football for the Stampeders … He’s been traded by the B.C. Lions for Brian Halpern, he said … Province stars: Brenner, whose ball was really jumping … Ken Richardson, for his two hits and stellar play at third … and Hemphill, who deserved a better fate.
- - -
VANCOUVER, May 5—Vancouver Capilanos handed Salem Senators their first loss in six tries Tuesday night when manager Bill Brenner shackled the visitors 2-0 with six hits—never more than one in any inning.
It was Brenner’s first win against one loss. He struck out six and walked two.
Jack Hemphill, Salem’s big right-hander, allowed only six hits also, all in the first four innings. In the last four, he retired the side in order.
Jim Clark scored on Ken Richardson’s single in the first and in the fourth Richardson came in on an error by catcher Floyd Ogden who dropped the ball. Gene Tanselli tripled in the first with two out and died on third. Hemphill tripled in the fifth, but was caught off third.
The loss was the first for Manager Harvey Storey after 14 consecutive wins. Storey had a run of nine consecutive wins as manager of Vancouver to close the 1953 season.
Salem ........... 000 000 000—0 6 2
Vancouver ..... 100 150 00x—2 6 0
Hemphill and Ogden; Brenner and Pesut.
VICTORIA, May 4 — Victoria Tyees made it two in a row over Tri-City Braves here Tuesday night, pitching across a run in the ninth inning to take a 9-8 decision in a Western International Baseball game played before 100 shivering fans.
Never ahead, Braves came close to pulling it out of the fire in the late innings after being held hitless until one was out in the fifth, when they scored their first run on scratch hits, a base on balls and an infield out.
Victoria starter Hal Flinn, however, tired in the late innings and the Braves scored three in the seventh, one in the eighth and three in the ninth to tie it at 8-8.
Tyees rushed in two relief pitchers and managed to leave seven Braves stranded in the last three innings to keep Tri-City from taking the lead.
Dain Clay beat out a bunt to load the bags and Larry Richardson walked Milt Martin on four pitches to force in the winning run.
Eddie Lake rapped out four safeties and drew a walk for a perfect night at the dish for Victoria.
- - -
VICTORIA [Tri-City Herald, May 5]—When the Western International league top brass meets in Spokane Saturday to discuss the fate of the Lillard Stampeders, Tri-City representatives maybe should be strong for keeping them in the league at all casts.
The way things have been running for the Braves lately, the Stamps may be the only team we can beat.
Tri-City dropped its fourth game straight, again to Victoria, 9-8, in a game which featured a walked-in tying run to the benefit of Tri-City and a walked-in winning run to the benefit of Victoria.
Tonight playing manager Edo Vanni will probably start righthander Don Robertson who has won the Braves’ two lonely victories so far this season. The game will be the last against Victoria in the current series.
The linescore from the game Tuesday night reads as if the Tri-City Braves barely failed to overtake the Tyees after a series of rousing rallies in the late innings.
But the Braves received considerable co-operation from outfielder Joe Joshua and second baseman Ron Jackson to stay in the game.
Trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Tri-City scored three times when Joshua let Ted Savarese’ base hit go for extra bases which in turn allowed Des Charouhas to score. Jackson’s boot put Terry Carroll on and both he and Savarese scored on Len Tran's clean single.
A Joshua error put the man on bases which eventually led to Tri-City’s eighth inning run.
But what happened in the ninth shouldn’t go in the record books.
It started with Vic Buccola getting a clean single and Len Tran and Jack Warren walking to first Bob Cassidy became a substitute runner for Warren. Then Rube Johnson rapped out a sharp single to score Tran and Buccola.
Des Charouhas’s sacrifice moved the runners to second and third and Bob Moniz was walked to load the sacks again.
But with one away and the bases loaded. Tri-City managed to score but once again and that was with the run being walked in. Ray Tran filed out to right field — too short for the runner to score from third.
Pinchitter Ernie Hockaday got the game-tying walk but Terry Carroll grounded out to end the inning.
In the bottom half, no team had ever moved no close to victory and found its hopes exploded so soon. Eddie Lake singled and Joshua was safe on relief pitcher Larry Richardson’s error. Dane Klay beat out a bunt to load the bases.
Then catcher Milt Martin walked to force in the winning run.
Tri-City ....... 000 010 313—8 11 3
Victoria ....... 040 110 021—9 13 4
Savarese, Richardson (9) and Johnson; Flinn, Kanshin (8), Hodges (9) and Martin.
LEWISTON, Idaho, May 4 — Strong hitting and alert fielding gave the Edmonton Eskimos a 10-8 Western International League baseball victory over the Lewiston Broncs Tuesday.
Edmonton snuffed out attempted Lewiston rallies, halting three of them with double plays. The Eskimos tapped John Marshall for 10 safe blows including John McKeown's two-run homer in the ninth. Lewiston collected eight hits off John Conant.
Edmonton ........ 100 100 012—5 10 2
Lewiston ......... 000 001 010—2 8 1
Conant and Self; Marshall and Cameron.
WENATCHEE, May 4 — Yakima capitalized on Wenatchee's seven errors and the wildness of a rookie pitcher Tuesday night to win a Western International League baseball game, 9-4.
Ron Berdrow was sent in to relieve Frankie DeCarolis in the eighth after the latter had given up four unearned runs.
Berdrow hit the first man to face him und the next two rapped out safe bunts. Two scored when Berdrow threw the ball away at third. He walked in the next batter and the next was safe on an error. Two more runs came in on Dick Briskey's single.
Yakima ............. 000 020 340—9 12 2
Wenatchee ....... 010 001 101—4 10 7
Edmunds, Wulf (7), Carter (9) and Summers; DeCarolis, Klein (7), Berdrow (8) and Jenney.
Calgary at Spokane, postponed, rain.
WIL Now Considering Butte For Team Site
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS [May 4, 1954]
The Western International League, now operating in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and two Canadian provinces, looked tentatively toward Montana Wednesday as the search continued for a place to locate the franchise surrendered last week by Calgary.
The city of Tacoma, a WIL strongpoint until 1951, was rated as the top prospect but league officials showed interest in a report that Butte, Mont., might be entered into a loop. Addition of Butte would mean another long jump for the players but officials indicated they would prefer that to dropping to nine teams.
Lethbridge, Alta., also was listed as a possibility. The Canadian Prairie city would provide a break in the jump to Edmonton, the league’s farthest north entry and its best drawing club last year.
Fate of the dropped franchise will be settled at a meeting of league directors at Spokane Saturday.
They will decide whether to move it another city, suspend it permanently and draw up a nine team schedule, or make the former Calgary team a permanent “road” club.
WIL president Robert B. Abel withdrew the Calgary franchise last week, charging the owners had “abandoned” the team.
So Says Lacey
Stamps Will Stick It Out in Calgary
By TOM HARRIS
[Lethbridge Herald, May 5, 1954]
Any chances, of Lethbridge baseball interests obtaining a franchise in the Western International Baseball League this season were squelched in Calgary last night when Calgary Stampeder president Norman “Bus” Lacey announced that the club will carry on operations at Buffalo Park for the current season.
In a telephone interview with this writer last night, Lacey said that the club had ironed out financial difficulties at home and with the league to such an extent as to insure operation in the league for another season.
When asked under what financial changes had the WIBL reconsidered Calgary interests Lacey said, “Well, we were never really out. It was just one of those unfortunate misunderstandings but everything is settled now and we will definitely
be back in their pitching again this year.”
The league took over the Stampeder franchise when playing manager of the club, Gene Lillard, reported to league president, Robert Abel, that he had received no money whatsoever on which to pay expenses of the club incurred in spring training. Abel immediately demanded Calgary post a bond with the league for $10,000 to ensure their position and when Stamps refused, he ordered them to surrender their franchise.
The league, a regular 10-team setup, tried to locate a suitable place to shift the franchise and Tacoma, Washington, Eugene, Oregon and Lethbridge were all mentioned as possible sites. Lethbridge entered the picture yesterday morning when a group of local businessmen stated their interest in obtaining the franchise.
The Herald contacted Mr. Abel in Tacoma by phone and asked what chance Lethbridge had of gaining entry. “There is every reason to believe that Lethbridge would be an ideal league team,” said the major domo of the wide-spread loop. “It would be just what the doctor ordered in that it would help us eliminate the terrifically long hop from any of the coast or U.S. cities to Edmonton,” he continued, “and from what I hear it would be a hotbed for our Class A calibre of ball.”
However, The Herald contacted Mr. Abel before Lacey announced that Stampeders would continue to operate in Calgary under their original franchise.
A meeting has been called in Spokane Saturday morning to discuss the final details and at that time official recognition of the Calgary re-entry will be made.
>The Sports Herald
KEITH MATTHEWS
[Vancouver News-Herald, May 5, 1954]
The Disaster Was Avoidable
The Western International baseball league, show to be in part as an unstable, teetering company through the Calgary demise, made its own bed last November.
We who had been on the baseball scene long enough to recognize imminent disaster, warned there would be trouble when Bob Brown was denied re-election as president and Bob Abel inserted in his place. Abel ran this league before. The record is there for all to see.
Last January, at an important league meeting in Lewiston, Calgary was not represented. Surely the attendance failure here must have been an indication that all was not well in that prairie station.
Abel’s position at that point was clear. The matter demanded investigation, not by telephone or telegram, but by personal appearance.
He would have leaned then what he found out last week—all too late to correct. The park situation there is an incredibly complex deal wherein a brewery owns the property, rents to a second party and the latter sub-lets to the baseball club.
The Time Has Long Passed
Appreciate, for the moment, the ridiculousness of such an agreement. The ball club recognizes a need for park improvements and appeals to its landlord, who is but a middle man. The latter passes on the request to the brewery. It is filed for future reference. And so is forgotten.
Abel would have learned at the time that ear year Calgary paid $26,000 for purchase of players. Purchases which would have been cut in half had the buying agent possessed the understanding of the material value.
Abel would have learned, just as we have come to believe, that Calgary never had any intention of playing a full baseball season in 1954. By baseball law, the franchise had a $1150 guarantee filed in National Association president George Trautman’s office. That money has footed spring training and opening season expenses for the Stampeders. Now that it has been used, no more is forthcoming. Calgary is out.
Abel has condemned Bus Lacey, the general manager there, unmercifully for his actions, or lack of them, in allowing the franchise to slip into a state of bankruptcy. There is, in fact, a telegram in circulation, signed by Abel, which says that Lacey will never again be allowed within the hallowed precincts of Organized Baseball.
In his attempt to lay the blame in an obvious lap, Abel has been effectively oratorical. The president could have for gone his power with the adjective and the flowing gesture. He could have corrected this unsavory situation last January in a choice of two paths.
New Feuds Will Be Discovered
Tacoma wanted back into professional baseball then, just as they appear to now. A franchise shift at that time would have made good copy, would have allowed the schedule makers to entertain the lone prairie outpost, without last second juggling. And Tacoma would have had the time to herald its baseball resurrection with a team of its own choosing.
That, obviously, was the easiest solution.
The other was not as smooth, but the possibility remained. When Lacey failed to attend the Lewiston meeting, he confessed without words that he neither had the time nor the patience for baseball. Someone else, with the interest of the game and the initiative to promote it, might have overcome the financial ills and put the franchise in a state to ensure its continuation in the league for the entire season. If that proved impossible, the league at least would have addressed at the right time that a new site had become imperative.
Saturday’s meeting, unfortunately, will prove nothing but new feuds. Lacey is sore at Abel and the vice is versa. A fight promoter should have such a natural.
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