Tuesday, August 31, 1954

                W  L  Pct GB
Yakima ....... 38 24 .613 —
Lewiston ..... 35 29 .605 1
Salem ........ 33 23 .589 2
Vancouver .... 30 23 .566 3½
Edmonton ..... 28 30 .483 8
Wenatchee .... 19 36 .345 15½
Tri-City ..... 20 38 .345 16

VANCOUVER [Skip Rusk, Sun, Sept. 1]—It was photo night at Cap Stadium Tuesday but the Vancouver Caps didn’t fit into the picture which was a double feature co-starring Herman Lewis and the Yakima Bears.
Lou Stringer’s Bears destroyed Bill Brenner’s Caps twice—5-2 and 5-4—to move into first place in the Western International Baseball League, four percentage points ahead of Lewiston Broncs. Salem Senators are a game-and-a-half off the pace, while the Caps occupy fourth spot, three-and-a-half games behind the leaders.
DIDN’T LOOK GOOD
The first 2000 fans—1500 attended the twin bill—received pictures of the Caps, courtesy of the management. And no matter how good Brenner’s boys looked in those glossy prints, they were out of the picture on the playing field.
Sandy Robertson started the seven-inning opener for Vancouver. He lasted three innings, during which time Yakima scored all its five runs. After Don Pries, former Victoria manager, singled in Des Charouhas in the first inning with Yakima’s initial run, Herm Lewis blasted a 350-foot homer over the right field fence.
Sandy managed to get through the second and gained new hope when Ken Richardson smashed a homer over the left field wall in the Caps’ half of the inning. However, the Bears bounced back in the third when Lewis whacked his second straight homer with Pries, who had singled, patiently waiting on first.
BRENNER LOSER
The second game started with Bears scoring three runs off Caps’ Bill Brenner, who was seeking his 23rd victory. They added single runs in the second and fourth innings, then withstood a late Vancouver rally to give John Carmichael his 19th win against 10 defeated.
Caps got one run back in the second, added another when K Chorlton homered in the seventh and had a real rally going in the ninth. First man up, Jim Clark, was safe on an error. He scored from first on Marv Williams’ double and Williams came in on Richardson’s single. Neil Sheridan singled to put men on first and second, but Dick Greco grounded to short, forcing Sheridan and the rally was ended. [Danny Rios pitched to the last two batters to save the game].
[WILFan notes: Brenner was victimised on the first batter he faced in the night game. Catcher Nick Pesut dropped a third strike on Des Charouhas. Pries, Len Noren and John Albini later singled that inning ... from Dick Beddoes’ column in The Sun after the game: The Vancouver Caps have particated in 41 baseball games this season which have been decided by one run, and have won 20 ... Ex Cap Manager Harvey Storey is getting $1,100 to play for the Lewiston Broncs]
First Game
Yakima ........ 302 000 0—5 7 0
Vancouver ... 010 001 0—2 3 2
Edmunds and Summers; Robertson, Bowman, (4) and Duretto.
Second Game
Yakima ......... 310 100 000—5  8 2
Vancouver .... 010 000 102—4 12 1
Carmichael, Rios (9) and Summers, Brenner and Pesut

LEWISTON, Idaho, Aug. 31—Edmonton Eskimos bunched four runs in the fourth inning Tuesday night to snap Lewiston's six-run winning streak with a 4-3 victory over the Western International League leaders.
The Broncs snuffed out an Eskimo scoring threat in the first inning with a double play and the game went scoreless until the fourth when Edmonton tapped Bronc hurler Guy Fletcher for four singles, which, combined with two Lewiston fielding errors, won the game. Only one run was unearned.
Lewiston countered in the bottom of that frame with one run on a double and a single, and in the eighth Larry Barton brought in two runs with a homer.
Edmonton starter John Conant was the winning pitcher. The two teams meet today for the deciding game of their three-game series.
Edmonton ......... 000 400 000—4 7 2
Lewiston .......... 000 100 020—3 8 2
Conant, McNulty ( ) and Prentice; Fletcher, Marshall (8) and Cameron.

WENATCHEE, Aug. 31—Wenatchee slammed out 13 hits off three Salem pitchers here Tuesday night to win 9-5 and even the series at one win apiece.
Jerry Green, Wenatchee lead-off better, slammed the first pitch of the game out of the park to start the winner's run parade.
Salem ............. 011 030 000—5 10 1
Wenatchee ..... 140 201 01x—9 13 0
Rayle, Roenspie (2), Johnson (4) and Ogden; Hodges, Romero (2), Waters (5) and Self.

Hemphill Released By Braves
KENNEWICK [Tri-City Herald, Sept. 1]—Tri-City doesn't play until Thursday when they journey to the Oregon capital for a four-game series there. Then Sunday and Monday, the same two teams come here for a season-ending series.
General manager Eddie Taylor said today the series here will be called "baseball appreciation nights." All passes for the two nights, except working press passes, naturally, will be canceled.
Taylor also announced that pitcher Jack Hemphill, who had a 4-8 record this season has been released.

Sports Notes
BY GIL GILMORE
[Tri-City Herald, Sept. 1, 1954]

One of those who has passed quietly from the Western International league baseball scene near the tail end of this season is umpire Lowell Fulk of Wapato.
Fulk was dismissed recently by league president Robert Abel and although no reason was given it is generally felt the dismissal grew out of a rhubarb between the ump and Salem's firstbaseman Harry Warner.
The ruckus, which happened in a game with Yakima, resulted first in a three-day suspension for Warner, which was later cut to one day. It was charged that Warner "pushed umpire Fulk" which, ordinarily, would have resulted in an indefinite suspension. And now it is voiced around that Hugh Luby, Salem general manager, and admittedly a power in the league, pulled strings that enabled Warner to return to active duty.
This, in itself, would indicate, that WIL pennants are not decided by play on the field but rather by "politics" in league circles.
And as further evidence, one has to but cite the statement shortly thereafter of Bruce Williams, president of the Salem club and league vice president who said bluntly:
"We've had the lousiest umpiring in the history of the league this season."
But despite this, and in effort to clear any cries of "favoritism," it can be reported that the dismissal of Fulk was in the making long before the Warner incident.
And since Tri-City and playing manager Edo Vanni had a hand in the matter, it might be well to start from there.
* * *
Reached Climax In Tie Game
Now through the season, Vanni had been having rows with Fulk. This in itself doesn't mean much, because you could substitute the name of any one of the other WIL umps for Fulk, and the statement would be just as true.
However, things reached a climax when Tri-City and Lewiston played a 12-inning tie game there July 24. In one of the later innings, Artie Wilson uncorked one that called over the leftfield wall.
Fulk ruled that the ball was foul, and this brought Vanni out with a roar. Again, that isn't unusual since any time a Tri-City batter hits one foul within 10 feet of the pole, Edo is going to come out shouting, "You can never tell," he contends, "maybe the ump might give you one."
But Tri-City has other players on the roster who are not inclined to debate close calls nor see things with a distorted vision. And all will contested Artie's blow was a fair ball. So we will mark it down as just an ump's mistake.
* * *
Edo Talked Way Out Of Fine
Anyhow, since this one really was fair, and eventually cost Tri-City a game, Edo was a little more violent than usual, received the boot and was in line for a heavy fine.
However, in the communications with the league office that followed Vanni fast-talked himself out of the fine and invited league president Able to come over and see Fulk in action.
Edo even went so far as to make the impossible promise that he would be on his good behavior and wouldn't be involved in any rows, rhubarbs or ruckuses.
Abel came to Sanders for one of the games during the Lewiston series to check on Fulk. He was also treated to the spectacle of several Lewiston and Tri-City ballplayers fist-fighting around second base. The fight was touched off by Lewiston shortstop Nick Cannuli, and naturally, Tri-City's Edo Vanni.
I have no way of knowing what impressions Abel got of Fulk's ability that night, although as it was commented here before, the fight was so obviously in the making that prompt action by the ump could have presented the entire incident.
But in any case, all this shows that satisfaction with Fulk, and the events leading up to his dismissal, started long, long before the Salem Harry Warner incident,
* * *
Umps Weak Spot In Game
This business about umpires is complicated to no end but the officiating is probably the biggest weakness in professional baseball.
First off, it takes some kind of a peculiar makeup to be an ump. For what ordinary person would subject himself to a life with almost no friends, and where it may be detrimental to even have casual acquaintances, plus the prospect of being insulted by strangers, for no more pay than the average minor league scale.
Even raising the wages isn't likely to up the standards of the profession because to the average Joe, you couldn't pay him enough to take the job.
You'll have to concede the men who take the job must love the game, and they are honest, but the field to select from is so narrow, it isn't always easy to find those who are competent.
Yet so much hangs on the decisions of the ump that only the very best, from the majors to the D leagues, should rule.
* * *
Jess Said They Get Worse
Jess Dobernic, Tri-City pitcher who isn't inclined to create much of a fuss over the decision of umpires, believes the situation gets worse each year and doesn't look for any improvement.
"How can there be?" Jess asks. "They've got the same umps they've always had. All they can do is" get worse."
Jess's solution: "The only thing would be some kind of an electric eye device back of home plate calling the balls and strikes."
* * *
Victorians At Funeral
Up in Victoria, some 40 persons attended the burial ef4he Victoria Baseball and Athletic company last week. The 40 were but a small part of the 700 or so who owned stock in the defunct enterprise.
* * *
Fletcher Pitch Solved
Vanni says he has solved the mystery of Lewiston pitcher Guy Fletcher's unorthodox pitch.
"Ya notice only Ed Garay catches when Fletcher pitches? You know why Clint Cameron doesn't catch for him? Because Cameron doesn't chew tobacco and can't work up enough spit in his glove. That's how they load 'em."
What about Edo? Every time he goes to the plate at Lewiston, some individual, always wants to check up and see if he is using a corked bat.

Friday, July 2, 1954

                W  L  Pct GB
Vancouver .... 39 21 .650 —
Yakima ....... 37 30 .552 5½
Edmonton ..... 30 27 .526 7½
Lewiston ..... 31 32 .492 9½
Tri-City ..... 32 36 .471 11
Victoria ..... 29 33 .468 11
Wenatchee .... 30 38 .441 13
Salem ........ 30 38 .441 13

VANCOUVER [Clancy Loranger, July 3]—You have to give major credit to the big bats of the Capilanos for the position of eminence they occupy today, first half champions of the Western International League.
But it was pitching—probably the most brilliant pitching performance of the season, by Pete Hernandez—that clinched the crown for them Friday at Cap Stadium.
Pete, in shutting out the second-place Yakima Bears, 1-0, and thus making it mathematically impossible for the visitors to catch the locals, gave up just three hits, all infield singles. One bounced off his glove, Ken Richardson slipped before fielding another, and the third was hit slowly to shortstop and beaten out.
But it was when he was in trouble—courtesy of three Vancouver errors—that Hernandez earned his accolades. In the seventh, consecutive errors by Jim Clark and Marv Wiliams put Yakima runners on third and first with nobody out. Pete, throwing what catcher Nick Pesut described as “the best stuff I’ve seen all year,” struck out the next man, walked one, then fanned the next two.
Pete, started the rally that scored the game’s lone run, too. His single, a beat-out bunt by Danny Holden, a passed ball, and an intentional walk filled the bases. Bob Wellman’s long fly scored the big one.
The Caps came mighty close to winning it all in the first game, another well-pitched thriller that saw gutty Ted Edmunds edge George Nicholas, 2-1. Home runs accounted for all the runs, but Yakima’s Herman Lewis hit his with one on. Bob Wellman’s 12th of the year came with none aboard.
Best crowd of the season, 2621 paid, saw the excellent double header, and most of them left without knowing the Caps had won the title.
Vancouver has six games left, including tonight’s pair against Yakima at 7 o’clock, and the Bears have just four, with single games at home Sunday and Monday. Even if the locals lost all six, including doubleheaders July 4 and 5 at Salem, and Yakima won their four, Vancouver would still wind up a half game ahead.
Sandy Robertson and Bill Brenner will pitch tonight for the new champs, and off last night’s efforts, they should pack ‘em in. (If it doesn’t rain.)
[Des Charouhas and Len Noren had the other Yakima hits in the first game, Charouhas scoring on Lewis’ homer. Danny Holden and Jimmy Clark had Vancouver’s other two hits. In the finale, Charouhas, John Albini and Charlie Mead were credited with Yakimas hits, while Holden, Arnie Hallgren and Clark singled for Vancouver.]
First Game
Yakima ......... 200 000 0—2 3 0
Vancouver .... 010 000 0—1 3 0
Edmunds and Summers; Nicholas and Duretto.
Second Game
Yakima ......... 000 000 000—0 3 0
Vancouver .... 000 001 00x—1 3 3
Carmichael, Edmunds (7) and Summers; Hernandez and Pesut.

VICTORIA [Colonist, July 3]—Victoria Tyees, with only a possible first-division berth at stake in the first half of the WIL schedule but pointing towards better things in the second half, made it two in a row over Wenatchee Chiefs at Royal Athletic Park last night.
Bob Drilling, going nine innings for the fourth straight time and notching his fourth successive triumph to boost his season’s record to 9-5, turned in a workmanlike pitching chore to emerge a 5-2 winner.
TYEES LOOK SHARP
Whether or not it was the return to dull-time duty of manager Don Pries, who stationed himself at third base, the Tyees looked their sharpest of the season in the two games against the Chiefs. They hit at the right rime, and for distance, and backed up good pitching with steady defensive play and hustle.
Last night, Tom Perez gave the Tyees a 2-0 lead in the second inning when he hit his 11th home run with Neil Sheridan, who had waked, on the bags. Three runs in the fourth, two of them on a two-out, bases-loaded single by Pries, gave Drilling his margin.
Drilling, working smoothly and showing take-charge ability when he got into trouble, spaced 10 hits over seven innings. Nine of the Wenatchee hits were singles and the 10th a double as the Tyees again escaped the long ball which has caused them so much trouble. And Drilling made no trouble for himself by issuing only two bases on balls.
Catcher Don Lundberg hit two out of the park and Perez hit his 10th home run. Second baseman Ron Jackson continued his batting surge, picking up four hits in five trips to boost his average to .341. The scrappy little infielder hit a double his second time up last night, then was tossed out of the game during his third trip when he tossed his bat in the air over a called strike. Steve Mesner returned to action as Jackson’s replacement and protected his teammate’s average by drawing a base on balls.
The current Tyee homestand winds up today with afternoon and evening games and the Tuees then move to Tri-City for doubleheaders tomorrow and Monday, which wind up first-half play.
All clubs get Tuesday off and second-half play starts on Wednesday with the Tyees hosting Vancouver Capilanos Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The clubs move to Vancouver for two games on Saturday and the Tyees return Monday for a full week at home with Yakima Bears providing the opposition.
Wenatchee ....... 000 011 000—2 10 1
Victoria ............ 020 300 00x—5  7 1
Bowman, Oubre (7) and Helmuth; Drilling and Lundberg.

EDMONTON [Tri-City Herald, July 4]—The Tri-Clty Braves close out the first half of the season today [Sunday] and Monday with two injured players and another pitcher added to the roster.
The new pitcher is Jack Hemphill, righthander who won 15 and lost 12 with Salem last season. Hemphill came down with a sore arm this year and was released by Salem.
However, when the Braves' played at Salem last week, he threw batting practice and playing manager Edo Vanni saw possibilities that his arm may come around.
General manager Eddie Taylor said Hemphill agreed to terms Saturday.
If Hemphill is signed, it will present a player limit problem for the Braves which may lead to either Dale Bloom or Bob McGuire being put on the sick list.
Vanni called from Edmonton Friday night and said Bloom's arm was giving him trouble again and McGuire has a charlie horse in his leg.
Taylor said today that he would be reluctant to put either on the sick list if their injuries are not serious because it would mean the Braves would be unable to use them for 10 days.
He said he was especially worried about the extent of the soreness in Bloom's arm. Bloom is considered of value to the club not only because of his pitching ability but partly because of the possibility of a profitable sale.
Meanwhile, the Braves Saturday were making the long haul through Fourth of July traffic to Tri-City from Edmonton. The Braves closed out the five-game series there with a 5-4 win [Friday night].
It gave them two wins against three losses.
Don Robertson won both of the games there. He took his tenth victory of the season when he went in during the sixth inning and stopped an uprising by the Eskimoes.
The home team had scored three runs off Bill Tompkins in that inning and one in the third to lead 4-3. Then Tri-City scored once in the eighth and Artie Wilson homered in the ninth for the winning run.
Wilson was having one of his best days at the plate. He doubled home two runners in the second for Tri-Clty's leadoff runs.
Tri-City's foe for the two double-headers over the holiday weekend will be Victoria.
The Tyees will bring one familar face here in the form of Joe Nicholas, sldearm hurler. Nicholas, once with Tri-Clty, then late with Salem, was sold to Portland this season. He was later optioned to Victoria.
Victoria also has Neal Sheridan, former Coast league slugger who has joined the team since the last time Victoria played here. Sheridan once offered his services to Tri-City at a price which exceeded the Braves' self-established salary limit.
The two teams will play a doubleheader tonight beginning at 7 p.m. Reserve ticket sales indicate a large turnout may be expected.
In between games, the club will have a fireworks display.
Monday, the two teams will play a split doubleheader. The first game will start at 2 p.m. and the second at 7:30 p.m.
Prior to the Sunday night game, the American Legion color guard from Pasco post 34 will raise the colors. Members are Fred Huston, past commander, Ralph York and W. E. Farris. Paul Schlagel will sing the National Anthem accompanied by Mrs. W. H. Willetts on the organ.
Tri-City ......... 021 000 011—5 12 1
Edmonton ...... 001 003 000—4 12 1
Tompkins, Robertson (6) and Warren; Manier and Self.

SALEM, July 2—Salem scored five runs in the seventh inning Friday night to defeat Lewiston 6-3 in a Western International League baseball game.
All Lewiston's runs came in the eighth inning and were unearned.
The inning started with an error, then Eddie Bockman was walked. Don Hunter doubled in one run, another came in on a wild pitch and Ed Garay singled in a runner to end Lewiston's scoring.
Highlight of Salem's five-run inning was Harry Warner's triple with the bases loaded.
Lewiston ...... 000 000 030—3 4 0
Salem .......... 000 100 50x—6 10 3
Yaylian and Garay; Rayle and Ogden.

WIL STATS
(Including games of Monday, June 28, 1954)
TEAM BATTING
Tri-City, .308; Vancouver, .306; Wenatchee .290; Yakima, .278; Victoria, .278; Edmonton, .276; Salem .274; Lewiston .274.
TEAM FIELDING
Yakima .969; Vancouver .968; Edmonton, .968; Lewiston, .962; Salem .961; Victoria .961; Wenatchee, .959; Tri-City .953.
BATTING LEADERS
Percentage, Marv Williams, Van., .394; Hits, Joe Unfried, Wen., 94; Two Base Hits, Bob Moniz, TC, 22; Three Base Hits, Herman Lewis, Yak., 6; Home Runs, Charlie Ruddock, Spo., 14; Stolen Bases, K. Chorlton, Van., 17; Bases on Balls, Eddie Lake, Vic., 58; Runs Batted In, Joe Unfried, Wen., 63; Runs, Williams, Van., 62; Total Bases, Joe Unfried, Wen., 152; Sacrifice Hits, Vic Buccola, TC, 13; Strikeouts, Charlie Ruddock, Spo., 52.
PITCHING LEADERS
ERA., Bill Brenner, Van., 1.72; Wins, Ted Edmunds, Yak., 11, Losses, Bill Prior, Vic., 8; Strikeouts, Jon Briggs, Sal., 111; Bases on Balls, Jon Briggs, Sal., 84; Complete Games, Bill Brenner, Van., 12; Innings Pitched, Bill Brenner, Van., 140; Home Runs Allowed, John Marshall, Lew., 14.

Week’s Work
By Clancy Loranger
[Vancouver Province, July 3, 1954]
MONDAY—Now that the Capilanos have made it official, and won the WIL’s first-half championship, I just happen to have a handful of bouquets here that have been standing in water since late May, just waiting to be handed out…
First three to a trio of pitchers who handled most of the victories, with the odd hand from a fellow named John, or Tom, or Rod … Biggest one is Bill Brenner, who combined the job of general managing and field managing with his pitching, and still managed to compile the league’s best earned run average … George Nicholas and Bob Roberts carried most of the load … They’ve got some help for the second half, with Pete Hernandez, Bud Beasley and Sandy Robertson on hand now … And there’s a mysterious left fielder lurking in the wings, too, who should be along soon … The league batting averages show that the other eight spots on the club were well filled, with special accolades to Marv Williams and K Chorlton for all around perfection, to Bob Wellman, playing out of position at first base—and Ken Richardson, having one of his best years at the admitted age of 38 … Cacthers Nick Pesut and Bob Duretto, steady Jim Clark, rookie Arnie Hallgren, handyman Danny Holden all contributed, too … And so did the departed Dick Greco, the Caps “big man” in their early surge … That covers everybody except trainer Harold Younker and we’re saying [unreadable] road…
WEDNESDAY—Bob Brown will be 77 Sunday.
FRIDAY—Baseball has a lot of good golfers, and that list will have to include Salem’s Hugh Luby, who showed me something in touring Marine Drive in 75 strokes this week … “Best greens I ever saw,” said Luby, who was also greatly surprised when I told him the little fellow he met was indeed B[unreadable] who hit the ball THAT far … Incidentally, they have quite an idea in Salem … Play a split double-header, with a picnic on the outfield grass, everybody invited, between games … Have to bring your own ants, though.

Tuesday, June 15, 1954

                W  L  Pct GB
Vancouver .... 30 16 .652 —
Yakima ....... 27 22 .551 4½
Edmonton ..... 21 18 .538 5½
Spokane ...... 25 23 .521 6
Wenatchee .... 26 24 .520 6
Lewiston ..... 23 24 .489 7½
Tri-City ..... 22 27 .449 9½
Victoria ..... 20 25 .444 9½
Salem ........ 22 28 .440 10
Calgary ...... 16 25 .390 11½

VANCOUVER [Clancy Loranger, Province, June 16]—Despite what you hear, you CAN have your cake and eat it too. Figuratively anyway.
Bill Brenner’s Capilanos proved that Tuesday night at Cap Stadium.
After modestly accepting the plaudits of the crowd that turned out to celebrate the stadium’s third birthday, they proceeded to chomp up all the goodies in sight. Victoria Tyees made the mistake of being in sight, and they got chomped up twice.
Besides scoring their fourth and fifth straight winds, by scores of 2-1 and 4-1, the Caps showed the some 1500 fans who braved the early evening showers enough off-beat entertainment and histrionics to bring the Avon Theatre scouts to attention.
A “quartet” that included five Caps and a visiting horse (which didn’t sing, some professional clowing by K Chorlton, expert throwing by Danny Holden and Arnie Hallgren, and a rousing speech by Bob Brown sent the folks home happy.
The two wins helped, of course. The Caps had to win the first one the hard way, coming from behind a 1-0 deficit to tie it in the fifth and win it in the sixth on Marv Williams’ single, a passed ball, and Dick Greco’s blow through the box.
George Nicholas got credit for the win, his ninth against three losses.
Bob Roberts picked up his sixth against three setbacks in the nightcap, which featured a two-run homer, no. 9, by Bob Wellman.
DIAMOND DUST—Localite Sandy Robertson makes his pitching debut tonight as the series with the Tyees winds up with a split doubleheader … Bill Brenner was scheduled to pitch the afternoon game … Bud Beasley won’t pitch in this series, but he gave out with a recitation of “Casey at the Bat,” and coached in his own inimitable style at firs base … Tom Lovrich has been assigned to Yakima by Seattle, and Jack Hemphill drew his release as Brenner made room for the two new pitchers … Province Stars—Bob Roberts, who missed a shutout courtesy of two infield hits … Bob Wellman, with a home run and a double … and K Chorlton, the Caps’ answer to at least three of the Marx Brothers … (And he can hit, too).
- - -
VANCOUVER [Victoria Colonist, June 16]—Victoria Tyees haven’t been getting much pitching this season but last night at Vancouver they wasted two pretty fair mound performances as they lost both ends of a double-header to the Vancouver Capilanos, 2-1 and 4-1.
The double defeat practically ended any lingering hopes that the Tyees might yet come to life and snaffle the first-half WIL title and it also focused attention on the schedule-maker, who, in the interests of economy, listed a total of 26 games between the cross-strait rivals.
That piece of scheduling might wreck Tyee hopes in both halves for the Capilanos have lived up to pre-season billing as the club to beat and their victories last night were the fifth and sixth in eight games with the Islanders.
Victimized last night by the lack of hitting support were Berlyn Hodges and Bill Prior. Hodges, who has been the club’s steadiest pitcher in the limited opportunity he has had, held the Caps to six hits in the seven-inning opener. Prior lost one of his better-pitched games over the full route, scattering 10 hits well and giving up only three walks.
AT LAST
Also worthy of note was the fact that Hodges didn’t give up a home run in his game, the first time in 12 games Victoria pitchers haven’t been touched for a four-base wallop. Prior yielded only one, to Bob Wellman in his game.
But the Tyees could do nothing with either George Nicholas, who won his ninth game, or Bob Roberts, who won his sixth. They picked up only three hits off Nicholas and seven off Roberts and a double by Eddie Lake was their only extra-base hit.
To further highlight the last [sic] of plate support, Prior picked up three of the Tyees’ seven hits in the second game.
The teams continue their eight-game week today with games this afternoon and evening, then move to Royal Athletic Park for four games starting tomorrow and ending with the usual split doubleheader.
First Game
Victoria ........ 100 000 0—1 4 1
Vancouver .... 000 011 x—2 6 0
Hodges and Martin; Nicholas and Duretto.
Second Game
Victoria ........ 000 000 100—1  7 0
Vancouver .... 001 200 01x—4 10 1
Roberts and Pesut; Prior and Lundberg.

WENATCHEE [Tri-City Herald, June 16]—Tri-City righthander Don Robertson will be the probable starter for the Braves tonight against Wenatchee at Wenatchee when they try to even the series with the Chiefs.
The Braves lost the opener 2-1 in the tightest game played by Tri-City this season.
Dale Bloom absorbed the loss but only because Tri-City batters were set down by the two-hit pitching of Charlie Beamon.
The win gave Wenatchee a 1-0 edge in the series and evened the season total for the two teams at two wins each.
The Braves’ chances of winning are increased considerably tonight because of two things:
1. They have faced probably the toughest pitcher on the Wenatchee staff, and,
2. Ross McCormack, Wenatchee outfielder, has been recalled by Oakland.
On the first point, Beamon, who earlier pitched a one-hitter for Oakland in the Pacific Coast
league this season, is almost unbeatable when “he is on.”
In downing Tri-City Tuesday night, only Dick Watson, .242 hitting shortstop, and Bob Moniz, who may hit anytime, could get a base blow off him. He set the rest of the high-percentage hitting Braves down in order.
Watson was sacrificed to second after his single moved to third on a pass ball, and scored on Terry Carrol’s fly ball, to ruin Becamon’s bid for a shutout.
On point 2, the recall of McCormack will hit the Wenatchee batting lineup heavily. In the game Tuesday night, he got two base blows in three times up and drove in the tying run.
McCormack has been hitting .332 this season, has 13 doubles, two triples and five home runs.
But it was Beamon himself at the plate that beat Bloom. With the score tied, and two away in the ninth Jerry Green got the eighth hit off Bloom. Then Jake Helmuth walked to put runners on first and second.
Beamon hit Bloom’s first pitch for a single to bring in the winning run.
After tonight’s game, Tri-City will play Wenatchee Wednesday night before returning to Sanders Field for a four-game series with Yakima here.
Tri-City .......... 000 001 000—1 2 1
Wenatchee ..... 000 001 001—2 9 1
Bloom and Warren; Beamon and Jenney.

EDMONTON, June 15—A two-run homer in the tenth inning by Spokane first baseman Red Robbins gave the Indians a 7-5 win over the Edmonton Eskimos in a Western International League game at Renfrew Park on Tuesday.
Spokane ...... 104 000 000 2—7  8 0
Edmonton ..... 112 000 010 0—5 14 2
Lawson, Trautwein (9) and Dean; Conant and Prentice.

NO STORIES AVAILABLE ON THE FOLLOWING GAMES:
Lewiston ..... 034 300 110—12 15 0
Calgary ...... 011 001 140— 8 13 4
Marshall and Garay; Stites, Kapp (4), Owens (8), Whyte (9) and Luby.

Salem ..... 401 000 100—6 13 0
Yakima .... 000 000 001—1  8 2
Del Sarto and Ogden; Schaening, Carter (1), Machado (8) and Summers.

Charouhas Sold To Yakima Bears
Money Need Is Given As Reason For Sale
[Tri-City Herald, June 15, 1954]
Des Charouhas, fleet-footed outfielder for Tri-City the past three seasons, has been sold to the Yakima Bears, general manager Eddie Taylor said today.
The sale is subject to Charouhas reporting. However, Taylor indicated Charouhas would be released should he fail to report to the Yakima club.
The sale of Des cuts even thinner the list of players who have been with the Tri-Cily club since its changeover from the ownership of a private group to a community-owned club.
When the franchise and players were bought by the Tri-City Athletic association, only Vic Buccola, Tom Marier and Charouhas were considered of caliber enough to stick in Class A ball. Marier is on the suspended list this season and Buccola is with the club.
The sale came ahout partly because of the acquisition of Artie Wilson from Lewiston and the need for cutting corners in expenses, Taylor said. He said playing manager Edo Vanni has been taken off the inactive list and will fill in if there is an injury.
Under present plans, Wilson can play infield or third baseman Terry Carroll can play outfield.
The sale cuts the Tri-City roster to 17 players including manager Vanni.
Taylor indicated he was non-too-happy [sic] over the necessity for making the sale. Although Charouhas,who once led the league in triples, was never a long-ball hitter,
his defensive play in the outfield had gone far to helping the club.
Besides his speed, this season he had acquired an ability to second guess the hitters and play them where they were going to hit.
At the plate, he has been hitting .317 in 39 games this season. His total of 44 hits includes seven doubles and one triple. He has 17 runs batted in.
In another move, Taylor announced that rookie pitcher Chris Mezich was returned from Superior, Wis. in the Northern league and released.
Mezich won one game there against no losses but came down with a sore arm. He pitched in 12 innings, gave up 12 runs and 15 hits.

Abel to Seek Trautman Aid
SPOKANE, June 15 — George Trautman, boss of baseball’s minor leagues, will be asked to state the conditions under which a Spokane civic group can take over the Spokane franchise in the Western International League.
Robert Abel, president of the WIL, said he is asking Trautman to authorize the league to set down the terms under which the franchise can be taken over.
“So far as I know, that should not go beyond payroll, travel expenses and any outstanding hotel bills for the club’s recent trips,” Abel said.
Roy Hotchkiss, who has owned the Spokane Indians since 1949, stepped out this week, and the League agreed to keep the team going for a week.
A non-profit corporation to be known as “Save Spokane Indians, Inc.,” was set up Tuesday with Mayor Arthur Meehan as president, and the group said articles of incorporation will be filed immediately.

Spokane Civic Group Tries To Save Indians
SPOKANE, June 15 — A civic group acquiring Spokane’s Western International Baseball league franchise should be responsible only for the club payroll, travel expenses and any outstanding hotel bills for recent road trips, in the opinion of WIL president Robert Abel.
Abel said Tuesday, however, he will ask George Trautman, minor league czar, for the exact terms the league can set in authorizing transfer of the franchise.
A non-profit organization called “Save Spokane Indians, Inc.,” is being set up by civic leaders to acquire the franchise from Roy Hotchkiss, former owner who gave up the operation last Sunday.
Mayor Arthur Meehan, leader of the group, asked Abel to outline the terms, saying there is some question as to obligations and encumbrances any new franchise holder might have to assume before he could operate at Ferris Field, which is owned by Hotchkiss.
Tuesday there was talk here of moving the team from Ferris Field to Memorial Stadium football field.

IT BEATS ME
By Jim Tang
[Victoria Colonist, June 16, 1954]
“Why,” several puzzle observers have asked, “is it that these bankrupt WIL clubs are fighting so hard to “save” baseball in the face of the obvious certainty that there is no chance to get back money already lost and that minor league baseball can no longer pay its own way?”
Now, there’s a tough question to answer. It’s tough to answer because there’s no logical answer. Understanding is needed and it admittedly is difficult to understand something which doesn’t add up.
Professional baseball, like other professional sport, is show business and baseball men, more, perhaps than anyone else in the entertainment field, are dedicated to the belief that the show must go. Their business practices may not be the most intelligent or efficient, they may make the same mistakes year after year, they may argue and battle among themselves and cheat on the rules they make for themselves, but there is the faith that moves mountains in their abiding belief that the game must continue.
If that isn’t it, then who can explain, for instance, why Calgary Stampeders, so uninterested in their franchise they didn’t even bother about it this year until it was taken from them, stood shoulder to shoulder with Edmonton Eskimos to fight any attempt to jettison the two Alberta clubs?
Or why the Eskimos, already in to the tune of $200,000 or more and with scant hope they can get it back this season, not only fought the reputed ouster attempt but agreed to pay each of the six U.S. clubs $600 a trip to fulfil their Alberta schedule commitments and, on top of that, put up $800 to feed and house the Spokane club so it could make its scheduled trip this week?
Or why a fellow like Reg Patterson, who has turned down more lucrative employment offering much more in the way of security, keep battling to keep the Tyees—and the WIL—in operation?
Of course, behind that faith is desperate hope. The farmer who lived through the Prairie drought and planted his crops year and after only to see them blow away again, or the fellow who lost part of his pay-check in a poker game and, afraid to tell his wife, stayed in until it was all gone, would understand.
It doesn’t make sense? Of course not, but then faith and hope, and if you’re wry of mind, charity, are seldom logical to the business mind. I don’t know about the major leagues but the U.S. Supreme Court wasn’t out of line when it ruled baseball a sport and not a business.
Random Harvest
WIL directors, in session practically day and night both Saturday and Sunday, were so busy trying to straighten out the Spokane situation that they never found time to discuss the possibility of making any presidential change, although at least two clubs were anxious for it ... Babe Hollingbery, the Yakima official who wrote out a personal check for $7,000 to pay Spokane club salaries, was completely covered and in no danger of losing his money, but it didn’t look right for the league not be able to take care of the team it took over ... Victoria Tyees are still searching for pitching help and now that the WIL is apparently set for the season, some changes can be expected soon. After all, a team that scored 272 runs in its first 43 games should be better off than the Tyees, who have seen their pitchers yield 489 hits in the first 382 innings plus 237 bases on balls.

ALAN WARD
On Second Thought
[Oakland Tribune, July 16, 1954]
Financial troubles of the Western International League have Brick Laws of the Oaks worried. Laws’ concern has two origins. One, being devoted to baseball he dislikes seeing a league in such poor shape it might fold. Two, if the WIL flops there will be no Wenatchee, therefore no Northwest “farm” club for the Oaks.
Wenatchee isn't an official Acorn farm club, but a friendly agreement now sends rookie Acorns there for seasoning.
Long George Kelly, former Oakland coach, is the manager. A half dozen or more young Oakland players now are serving their apprenticeship at Wenatchee.
Should the WIL call it quits, and it might, the Oaks still would have two “farm” clubs for their youngsters. They are Albuquerque of the West Texas-New Mexico loop and Modesto of the California league. Neither loop is prosperous, although the California circuit is in the best financial shape.
Laws confesses to surprise that Spokane, in former seasons considered one of the strong links in the WIL chain, now is the weakest.
In the pre-war era Spokane, whose park was better than some in the Pacific Coast League and still is, drew big crowds. The Oaks often played exhibitions there en route to Portland and Seattle. Laws can't understand the present public indifference. Neither can other baseball men.
Until the WIL mess was aired it was thought by profound baseball thinkers that if the Coast League folded Seattle and Portland would become part of a new Northwest loop including Spokane.
Now everyone is confused.

Sports Notes
BY GIL GILMORE
[Tri-City Herald, June 16, 1954]
Back shortly after World War I in the U.S., when the post-war generation was pretty well convinced it was the “lost generation” and all the world should feel sorry for it, there sprang a school of thought known as debunkers.
These cynical groups used to make some frequently asserted and generally accepted political or social concept and tear it to pieces. Sometimes I think the baseball moguls in the minor leagues could use a baseball “debunker” or two around just to see if they are thinking in terms of “what the public wants” or just in terms of what they think might save them money.
For example, throughout the financially-pressed Western International league, these assertions arc commonly made and accepted:
1. Baseball fans don't like to see the old goats (that’s anyone over 24 years old.) They want to see young players on the way up.
2. All you have to do is get a working agreement to help pay part of the expense. Without one you can compete without spending yourself into ruination.
3. If the league drops to a lower classification, then expenses will be cut, salaries will be reduced, you will have just as good a game, and you will come out ahead.
Fact is, in most circles, these contentions arc so readily accepted the old baseball men look at you with suspicion should you make any assertion to the contrary or should you even hint that the thinking might possibily be along the wrong lines.
Has The Field Been Checked
It is a peculiar situation but baseball is probably one of the few businesses in the U. S. that doesn’t use some scientific soundings out to find out just what the public does want. By this I don't mean letters to the editor, questionnaires passed out at the game, or word-to-mouth-in-an-on-the street interviews consisting primarily of asking loaded questions.
But rather the type interviews conducted in much the same manner as the Gallup poll in which professionals do the job and get opinions from not only those who do go to baseball games but those who don’t as well.
Any successful firm marketing a product, including a newspaper, depends upon information gathered in that manner. Sure, the percentages are off some but the pollsters at least can get an approximate figure.
Well, Would They?
Now, without trying to prove things one way or another, but just to show you that some of the accepted contentions are questionable and would make a good subject for a poll, let’s bounce back to the three “accepted” facts listed above.
First of all, the idea “that the baseball fan likes to see young players on the way up.” Undoubtedly some baseball fans like to see young players on the way up.
But I always notice that when baseball promoters think of having a special night for a player, they always have it for one of the “old goats” because those special nights are held with an eye toward upping the gate. And I also notice that the gate increases around Sanders Field when some old codger such as Lewiston’s John Marshall is slated to pitch.
Personally, I think fans do like to see young players on the way up but they like to see certain ones of the old boys, too. Most of all, though, they want to see players who are familiar to them, whether the guy is 17 or 70
* * *
They Never Check Falling Gate
Secondly, “all you have to have is a working agreement.” Ah, yes, here’s one the baseball brass finds easy to accept. The figuring goes along these lines — without a working agreement, you pay $40,000 in salaries, finish in eighth place, and have a gate of $40,000. If the higher classification club paid part of the salaries, only a small part, you would break even, and better yet, the higher club will send you players of better caliber which in turn will up your position in the standings and you will make even more money.
Harold Matheson is on the committee.
Yet, everyone with a working agreement in the WIL is either subsidized or going broke and no one apparently questions the system.
Fact is, they don’t even check up to see if the gate began to sag the first season the working agreement went into effect.
* * *
That Drop In Classification
And now point three. At the recent league meeting, a committee was appointed to study the possibility of a drop in classification. There arc hundreds of fans, of course, that will be just as happy with Class C or D ball as they will with Class A.
Yet, in following the fortunes of our pitcher on option, Chris Mezich, I notice where the business manager at Superior. Wis., in the Northern league said the team will have to draw 20,000 fans in thc next 12 home dates or go broke.
Now that roughly is what Tri-City has to draw in its remaining home games.
Superior is in an area about the size of Yakima. The team currently is in third place in the standings. The league is Class C yet the team has to draw like Tri-City or go broke. How come?
* * *
Overhead Is Just As High
Probably because of this: Any saving by being Class C comes almost entirely in players’ wages. Overhead costs such as lights, telephones, bats, ushers, baseballs, printing and advertising, travel, laundry, taxes, park depreciation, legal bills, insurance, etc., etc. aren’t any cheaper in Class C than in Class A yet these items make up two-thirds of the cost of operating a club.
So whatever you save will be the reduction from Class A salaries to Class C salaries. This in itself would be a sizable item but balanced against it arc these factors.
Will he public pay as much to see Class C as Class A baseball. (The usual class C charge is 75-85 cents. If not, the theoretical saving is even less.
And will the public come out in sufficient numbers to see Class C at any price?
Maybe. But the average draw at Class C league fields last season was 50,000. At the same time, the WIL averaged 70,000.