Spring Training, Monday, April 19, 1954

CAPS SPLIT
Mexico’s Marvin Impresses
By CLANCY LORANGER
(Province Sports Writer) [April 19, 1954]
KENNEWICK, Wash.—More than jumping beans come out of Mexico. They turn out a pretty good brand of second basemen, too, it would appear.
New second sacker Marv Williams, picked up by general manager Bill Brenner south of the U.S.border, saw his first action and was the standout for the Vancouver Capilanos as they split a pair of games with the Tri-City Braves here on the weekend, winning 4-2 Saturday and dropping Sunday’s game six to three.
Williams, seeing his first pitching in two months, looked like a natural-born hitter as he took the opposition apart for five hits in two games, including two doubles. Big and loose, Williams swings the stick with authority and hits to all fields. He’ll do.
Brenner was pleased with the fine pitching job turned in by Bill Franks, the red-handed right hander bought from Spokane, in Saturday’s game. Franks pitched five innings of hitless ball, walking three.
Brenner pitched Sunday, and didn’t have a thing when he started. He was racked for 10 hits and six runs in the first three innings, but stayed the route and got better thereafter.
DIAMOND DUST – The Caps are back at home in Clarkston, Wash., today and have a game against Lewiston, with Tom Del Sarto due to pitch, either Rod MacKay or Bill Tompkins will help. The Caps play Lewiston again Tuesday, have games against Larson Air Force Base Wednesday and Thursday. Friday they rest and tackle Lewiston again Saturday and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday they are in Yakima, then home for the opening game April 29. Brenner cut his squad by one more when he released pitcher Bob Hansen, who wouldn’t work.

Capilanos Still Trying To Avoid Clash With Games, Says Official
VANCOUVER, April 19—President Tom English of the Capilanos Baseball Club Monday denied any breach of faith with the British Empire Games committee and said the Capilanos do not want to play here during Games week.
He said charges by Games committee members that the Capilanos would take advantage of sports-minded crowds drawn to the city by the Games were unfounded. The Games would offer “too many counter-attractions,” for baseball to show a profit during Games week, July 30 to August 7, he added.
“We’re afraid to be here during Games week,” he said. “We may end up playing in an empty stadium.
ASKED LAST YEAR
English said that the Capilanos asked last year that the British Empire Games dates be taken into consideration when the Western International League’s schedule be drawn up.
When the completed schedule put the Caps in Vancouver—playing a series against Tri-City and Salem—the club requested it be changed but was refused by the league, English said.
“We have since asked them to reconsider their stand,” he added.
He said that other teams’ traveling schedules had to be taken into account in making schedule changes along with the fact that U.S. teams all played Sunday games, forbidden play law here.
“If we can arrange a swap with other clubs we’ll do it,” he said. “We have six weeks yet and we’re still working on it. If we can get out of town, we’ll be out.”

Vancouver Signing Bob and BBs.

CONTEST
Capilanos Seeking Bat Boy
[Vancouver, Feb. 23, 1954]
Want to be bat boy for the Capilanos baseball club?
If you’re 15, you’re eligible for the job, which the management of the WIL pro entry is throwing wide open. There’s a contest, more or less, to choose the bat boys for the Caps, the visiting team and a spare. And if you don’t make the “top three” you could still win yourself a season’s pass to watch the Caps.
Here’s how it works: All 15-year-olds in the audience are asked to write a letter to the Capilano Stadium, 4601 Ontario, stating their qualifications for the job. Take as many words at you need to present your case but there’s a minimum of 150.
Entries have to be in by March 25 and the top 20 boys will be chosen on the strength of their letters. Their names will appear in the papers on March 27, and they’re to present themselves at the Stadium at 10 a.m., March 28.
The winners will be chosen then and the runnersup will get season’s grandstand passes. So study up on your baseball bats.
DIAMOND DUST – Bob Hansen, the Bellingham right-hander general manager Bill Brenner has been negotiating with for some time, has agreed to terms … “He got a bonus,” said Brenner, “and a big one. I think it’s the biggest bonus ever paid in this league.” … “Biggest could mean around $3,000, and it could be an excellent investment on reports … Seattle Rainiers want Hansen at their spring camp … Brenner leaves next week for the Seattle camp at Palm Springs and en route will talk to John Kovenz, the speedy, hard-hitting outfielder Dewey Soriano tried to sign last spring … There are a few signed contracts in … Bill Franks, Danny Holden, Skip Kitsman, Nick Pesut and Bill Tompkins have signed their terms.

Two-Sport Star Sought By Caps

Caps’ Brenner Enters Bidding For Husky Bellingham Pitcher
By CLANCY LORANGER
[Vancouver Province, Dec. 22, 1953]
Bellingham, which has contributed John and Clarence Marshall, and various Zenders, to Vancouver baseball in the past, has another native son who could be a Capilano in 1954
General Manager Bill Brenner, back from a weekend jaunt south of the border, said today he’s trying to sign a giant of a man, six foot, six-and-one-half inch Bob Hansen, a pitcher.
Brenner’s in with some rugged competition in the scramble to sign the huge righthander, with Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox also interested in Hansen, whose baseball was confined to Bellingham Bells semi-pro team last summer.
Hansen isn’t a total stranger to Vancouver audiences. He was up here just last Friday with a Bellingham basketball team, and if he does as well at baseball as he does at basketball, he’ll do. He scored 28 points against Clover Leafs.
DIAMOND DUST – A report that Caps outfielder K Chorlton had been sold to Charleston by Dewey Soriano came as a surprise to Brenner, who said: “It’s news to me. I talked to Soirano on the weekend and the last I heard from him, Chorlton was still on our roster” … It’s rumored around Seattle that Dolph Camilli, the old major league first baseman, will turn up as Wenatchee manager … Date of the WIL’s January meeting has been definitely set … The clubs will gather at Lewiston, Jan. 29 … Brenner has lined up a c ouple of exhibition games during spring training with Tri-City Braves … the Caps will visit Kennewick April 17 and 18 … Brenner was also closeted with Eddie Taylor, the Braves’ g.m. and there could be a fairly big deal brewing come the new year … And all Brenner wants for Christmas—PLEASE—is a house he can rent in Vancouver.