The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 25

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1957- THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR PAGE 25 Sports Editor Rain, Miller, No Hits Nip Tribe RYING TO play baseball in Indianapolis during April is foolish. And, it is costly foolishness, too. The management of the Indians recognizes this fact and has tried to do something about it but to no avail. v. 1-0 Tilt Halted After 6 Frames By MAX GREENWALD Rain and no-hit pitching by Stu Miller put a damper 1 1957 opener last nignt 0 Yankees Defeat Nats, 2-1 New York (UP) Andy Carey's ninth-inning single with the bases full gave the New York Yankees a 2-1 opening day victory over the yashington Senators yesterday and bore out Manager Casey Stengel's pre-game warning to the World Champions that "no one is going to hand you the pennant again on a platter." The defeat for Washington left-hander Chuck Stobbs was a heartbreaker inasmuch as he had held the Yankees to four hits until the ninth.

Yogi Berra, whose homer into the right field bleachers had tied the score at l-l in the bottom of the seventh, led off the ninth with a single to left and scampered to third when Gil Mc-Dougald doubled to left with one out. MANAGER CHUCK Dressen of the Senators then walked to the mound and instructed Stobbs, a 15-game winner last i vw I TOUGH RUNNING Shortstop Don Prohovich of the Indianapolis Indians finds the going tough as he slushes through the mud along the first base line last night at Victory Field. He had tapped to Minneapolis Pircher Stu Miller who tossed to Orlando Cepeda at first for the out in the second inning. The Tribe lost the opening game of the season, 1-0, as rain halted it after six innings. Umpire is Bill Kinnamon.

(Star Photo by Frank H. Fisse) Miserable Night For Tribesmen year, to walk tlston Howard intentionally, filling the bases. Woshington New York AB Al AB A luttrell.ss Plows, 2 Runnels, 1 Sievers.lf Herzog.cf Lemon, rf Ftzgrld.c 2 I Bouer.rf 4OI0 0 1 Martin, 2 4 0 1 .1 5 0 Mantle.cf 4 13 0 0 51 Berra. 4 2 7 0 3 0 Skowron.l 4 0 9 0 0 O.McDgld ss 4 3 2 3 3 0 Howard, If 3 0 2 0 8 2 12 1 4 0 Ford.p 3 0 0 2 0 0, Olson, cf. If 3 I Stobbs.

3 0 Totals 33 6x 25 51 Totals 32 7 27 9 x-One out when winning run scored. Washington 000 000 1 00- 1 New York 000 000 1 01-2 E-Lemon, Mantle. RBI-Stevers, Berra, Carey, 2B-Mantle McDougald 2, HR-Sievers, Berra. DP-Ford, McDougald and Skowron. LEFT-Washington 6.

New York 8. 6 Ford 1. Stobbs 3. SO-Ford 7, Stobbs 7. and ER-Stobbs 2-2, Ford 1-1.

WP-Stobbs. W-Ford 11-01. l-Stobbs (0-1). U-Rommel, Stevens, Napp, Rice. 2: 1 2.

We have long contended and will continue to do so until remedial actijn is taken that the American Association schedule should not begin before May 1. Ray Johnston, general manager of the community-owned baseball club, estimated yesterday that Indianapolis lost between $20,000 and $25,000 during the two weeks of April last year. The inescapable fact, which can be proved by consulting the records down through the years, is that Hoosier April weather simply is too fickle to permit baseball to be played. WHEN YOU try to play during April, one of two things happens. Either the weather is so cold and wet that only a few hundred fans show up for the games and the team takes a big financial loss.

Or, the weather is so foul that games have to be postponed entirely, stacking up doubleheaders during the latter part of the season, which row tiresome both for players and fanj. What to do about it then? There are two possibilities. The most sensible calls for reducing the Association schedule from 154 games to 140 with each league club playing every other team 20 times instead of 22. This would permit the league to open for business May 1 with no later closing date for the season. Such a schedule plan was strongly advocated by Johnston at a recent Association meeting, but he got nowhere with the suggestion.

"It fell on deaf ears," Johnston lamented yesterday, "nobody else rose to the occasion." Johnston sees two major reasons for failure of his suggestion for a 140-game season to win support: (1) inclination of baseball men to go along perpetually with the status quo and (2) problem of what to do with the players sent down by the major leagues during the interim, should the Association season start two weeks later. The Tribe's general manager believes, however, that there still is hope that the shorter schedule, starting in May, will be adopted someday. "If we get back to a situation where a majority of the clubs are owned independently, we would have a chance lor it," Johnston maintained. The other possibility is to play 154 games and extend the season later. At one time, all the eight Association clubs were owned by major league outfits, so the managements in this league were virtual puppets.

Now, the pendulum is swinging the other way and three of the eight clubs Indianapolis, "Louisville and Denver now are independently owned. So, it would take the purchase of two more of the clubs by independent groups to achieve the situation which Johnston believes is necessary for adoption of the -curtailed schedule. It is established clearly that fans are not going to pay for the privilege of shivering and soaking to see Association baseball during April. Here's what happened here last year: The opening game, a day affair, was played despite cold, damp weather and drew a turnout of but 1,996 fans, one of the smallest in history here for an opener, THERE WERE six other home dates scheduled during 2 Novis Are Entered In '57 500-Mile Race 1i rr stant rain which fell throughout the game were bad enough. But.

wnen tne Indians wound up not only the losers by a 1-0 score in a game lim ited to six innings by the rain but also the victims of a bob- tailed no-hitter, that was real ly awful. Indianapolis got a topflight pitching job out of Barry Lat man, the 20-year-old rookie righthander. As president Ownie Bush said after the game, Latman "threw only one bad pitch." But, that one was a high curve which Minne apolis outfielder Carlos Paula blasted for a double to drive in the only run of the game. Still, Latman's mound chore had to be ranked as definitely second best for the evening to the job done on the Indians by Stu Miller, the former St Louis Cardinal star. ANOTHER righthander named Phil Bayt formally launched the American Asso ciation season by throwing the first ball not one time but six so that every photographer could get just what he wanted.

The mayor's first pitch was low and got away from Dick Stackhouse, Junior Chamber of Commerce president. The second way wide while the third was a genuine wild pitch in anyone's league. Then the mayor settled down and threw three straight "right down the middle," striking out Mr. Mythical. Latman had much the same kind of pattern -in the third inning.

He loaded the bases with no one out, then proceeded to throw eight consecutive swinging strikes, fanning two batters in the process and getting the final one on a force-out. Bayt presented a king-sized key to the city to Manager Andy Cohen before the game. Andy doubtless wished some of his batsmen were using it at the plate before the action was over. DEFENDING champions of the Association and Little World Series champs by virtue of inheritance from the former crop of Cleveland farmhands, the new Indians still will be looking for that first hit tonight when they play the Millers again at Victory Field weather permitting, of course. Because, last night's sad and sodden debut was just plain miserable any way you look at it.

If you stayed home, you displayed commendable wisdom and foresight. College Track Indiona Central 7116. Andrtn 51 73's O.troit 41 CCNY II, AdHphia 60. Safety for Savings For Over a Third of a Century The hit was off a hanging high curve. There were only two base runners off the crafty 29-year-old Miller.

Ted Beard walked in the first and Don Prohovich received a pass in the fifth. Prohovich was the only Tribesman to reach second, advancing on an infield out. Miller's performance will not go down as official in the record books as a no-hitter as this honor is accorded for only nine-inning or longer jobs. MILLER PITCHED previously in the association with Columbus and Omaha while in the St. Louis Cardinal chain.

He was with the Philadelphia Phils last season, getting into the Giants' organization this year in the trade for Pitcher Jim Hearn. Latman also put down a threat in the sixth, Paula leading off with a single off the pitcher's glove. Paula stole second and stopped at third on Jim Davenport's ground singl into left. Felipe Alou's ground ball to Third Baseman Charlie Williams resulted in a side-retiring double play. Latman set up his trouble In the third by walking Miller and Ed Bressoud.

Terwilliger sacrificed and Ron Jacksons gambled on a throw to third but his peg was late, filling the bases. Rookie Glen Rosenbaum got busy in the bullpen but Latman had the situation under control. Pitchers tonight probably will be Al Papai of the Tribe and Al Corwin. MINNEAPOLIS Al 2 1 3 3 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I Iressoud, ss Terwilliger, Thompson, If Paula, rf Cepeda. lb Davenport, Jb 3 Alou.

el 3 Jenkins, 2 Miller, 1 Totals 11 INDIANAPOLIS Al 3 3 I 2 1 2 Moans, If Garcia. 2b leard, rf Jackson, lb Prohovich, ss Delsing, cf Romano, 2 Williams, 3b 2 Latman, 2 ratals II Minneapolis 100 OOOI INDIANAPOLIS 000 000 0 Jackson. ftll-Paula. 21-Paula. SI Paula.

Terwilliger. DP-Williams, Garcia and Jackson. left-Minneapolis Indianapolis 2. Pitching Summary IP I El II SO WP Latman 4 1 1 3 0 Miller I 0 0 2 7 0 Winner-Miller (1-0). losor-lalman 10-11.

U-Doylo. Kinnamon and Van Keuron, 1:35. Box of 50 from $5.95 on the Indianapolis Indians' The Tribe lost to Minne- apolis, 1-0, after playing six innings in the rain and 49-de-gree cold which limited attendance to 3,347. The downpour continued with such intensity that the umpires halted play after the sixth. They waited 50 minutes before decreeing play was ended for the night.

IN DEFEAT, young Barry Latman made a fine impressio in his Indianapolis debut. The 20-year-old righthander allowed four hits and struck out five batters but his work wasn't up to the Miller's calibre. Miller whiffed seven as he mixed his dipsy-doodle offerings well, then came in with an occasional fast one. Latman was depending almost entirely on his fast ball and drew the applause of the crowd with a stout-hearted performance in the third inning. Minneapolis loaded the bases with none out before Latman blazed by eight consecutive swinging strikes against the strongest part of the Millers' batting order.

HANK THOMPSON and Carlos Paula were strikeout victims in this stretch and, after two strikes, Orlando Cepeda grounded into a force play. The only run of the tilt came in the first inning on what Tribe Manager Andy Cohen called Latman's only bad pitch of the game. Wayne Terwilliger, who had walked, went the rest of the way around on a two-out double tojeft center by Paula. Cubs, Giants Make Trade Chicago (INS) The Chicago Cubs and the New York Giants completed a four-player trade yesterday just before opening their 1957 season. The Cubs obtained left-handed Pitcher Dick Littlefield and Outfielder Bob Lennon for Infielder Ray Jablonski and Catcher Ray Katt.

Littlefield gives the Cubs another southpaw hurler to augment their left-handed staff which up to now consisted only of Jackie Collum. Lennon played 28 games for New York last season, hitting .182 and finished with Minneapolis of the American Association where he batted .266. hell love Two Novi Automotive Air Conditioner Specials with supercharged engines were included among six official entries received yesterday for the 41st annual 500-Mile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 30. Coming close on the heels of four other entries received earlier in the day by Speedway President Tony Hulman, the latest nominations increase the official field to 52 cars and there is a distinct possibility that one or two others may be in the mail. All entries postmarked prior to last midnight will be eligible to compete for starting positions when time trials get under way May 18.

THE NOVI ENTRIES came from Lewis W. Welch of the Novi Racing Corporation at Burbank, Cal. No drivers were listed on the official entry form, but reports circulated by members of the racing fraternity indicate that Paul Russo and Tony Bettenhausen are in line for the assignments. Russo crashed while leading the field in one of the Novis at a record-breaking pace last Scoreboard AMIHiCAN ASSOCIATION Pet. CI Minneapolis 1 0 1.000 Denver 0 000 louiiill 0 .000 Vi Omaha 0 0 .000 Vi Charleston 0 .000 Vi St.

aol 0 .000 Withno 0 0 .000 INDIANAPOLIS 0 1 .000 1 AMERICAN LEAGUE I Pet. CI lotion I 1 000 ChKage 1 I 000 Kamai City 1 1 000 New York 1 0 1.000 laltimoro 1 1 .300 Vi Cleveland 1 .000 1 Detroit 1 .000 1 Wathinoton 0 2 .000 1 NATIONAL LEAGUE I Pet Gl Milwagkeo I 1 .000 Pimburgh 1 1.000 St Louie 1 1 000 Brooklyn 1 0 1.000 Philadelphia 1 .000 1 Chicago 1 .000 1 Cincinnati 1 .000 1 New Yotk 0 I .000 1 Yesterday's Results AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Minneapolii 1, INDIANAPOLIS 0 (6 in- ningt, ratnl. Denver at Louisville, rain. Omaha at Charleston Irain). St.

Paul at Wichita, rain. NATIONAL LEAGUE Pittiburgh t. New York 2. Milwaukee 4, Chicago 1. St.

Louie 13, Cincinnati 4. rooklm 7, Philadelphia 6 (1 inningil. AMERICAN LEAGUE Chicago 3, Cleveland 2 01 innings) New York 2, Washington I. loston 4. laltimoro 2.

Kansas City 2, Oetroit 1. Today's Games AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Minneopolii at INDIANAPOLIS. 7 45 p.m. Denver at Louisville, night. Omaha at Charleston, night.

SI. Paul at Wichita, night. AMERICAN LEAGUE Detroit at Kansas City-lunning 15-1 1 vs. Carver 10-2). (Only gam scheduled) NATIONAL LEAGUE New York at PittsburghGomet (7-17) vs.

Arroyo (33). St Louis at Cincinnatl-Dickton 113-11 vs. NuKhall (13-111. (Only games scheduled) Little League Bovs interested In Dlavmcj in the Flanner House Little League this season are asked to register with Paul E. Terry at Flanner House from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., daily This Easier VTT "Just to settle an argument in the dugout.

Lefty Was that last one a wild pitch or an attempted pick-off throw to first?" April. Two of these games had to be postponed. For the other four which actually were played, the paid attendance figures were: 955 and 165. Obviously, a ball club is wasting its time playing before such dismal turnouts. That is to say nothing of all the potential damage done to the arms of high-priced players coming from the delightful Suntan League weather of Florida into Indiana April.

Wouldn't it be a whole lot better to start spring training two weeks later, leave the club in the Southland two weeks longer and then start the season on or shortly after May This early start gets the whole operation off on the wrong foot and is almost sure to result in early discouragement by the players who must gaze at all those empty seats. The situation is much the same all over the league and it's time for something to be done about it. Others have raised the question of what the players sent down by the big league clubs would do while waiting for the Association season to start. Why coudln't they join the Indians or other AA teams in training camp when the big- league season starts ana use that two weeks to work into the Association combinations? Johnston believes the new earlier "cutoff date" which required the majors to send their castoffs down to this league by season's opening will be of substantial benefit to this league. "Ball clubs in the Association were never more set for opening day than this year," he said.

-'The most any club can hope to get from now on is three players and they must get these by May 16.. It should make for a better brand of early baseball." The Indianapolis club is planning to exploit the fact that it is community-owned to the fullest advantage this year. New Indianapolis uniforms bear a shoulder patch with the significant figure "6,672" which is the number of stockholders in Indians Inc. "We're going to tell the world," said Johnston of his plans to advertise the community-owned aspects of the club as thoroughly as possible. RAY CROWE, Crispus At-tucks basketball coach, will receive a plaque in recognition of his service to youth of the community at the weekly dinner meeting of the Y's Mens Club at 6:30 p.m.

today in the Central YMCA. Charlie Brockman, sports director of WIRE, will make the presentation. start on his own major league record of 46 in one season which he allowed last year. Cimoli's homer with one out in the 12th made a winner of relief pitcher Clem Labine who came on in the seventh for starter Don Newcombe who never won an opener for Brooklyn and who previously bowed twice to Roberts in season starters. The game drew a crowd of 37,667, an opening game record for the Phillies, surpassing the old mark of 29,074.

IOOKIYN PHIIADUPHIA AB OA AB OA Giiliom.2 6 3 0 3 Ashbrn.cf 6 1 6 Cimoli.lf 6 3 2 0 Fmondi.ss 6 2 0 Fmondz.ss Bouchee.l Rpulski.lf ones. 3 Lcpota.c Bowmn.rf Kionski.2 Roberts. Snider.cf 5 1 3 0 Bouchee.l 5 1 11 Furillo.rf 4 15 0 Hodges. I 5 116 01 Jackson.3 6 1 Cmenllo.c 5 0 7 Zimmer, ss 4 2 2 6 Nwcmbe.p 3 10 1 Lobinej) 2 0 0 3 Totals 46 12 36 181 Brooklyn Philadelphia f-Gillian, Kazansk Totals 47 11 36 11 001 130 010 O01-T 010 320 000 000-6 BBI-Jonei 2, Zim. msr, FuriMo 2, Koianslct, Roberts 2, G.l-2B- ham, Cimoli 2, Bouchee, Hodge.

Jones, Snider, Furtllo, fiobrts. 38- Bovchee HR-Zimmer, Hodges, Omcii. Sf-Funllo. DP-Ashburn and Karonski. left-Brooklyn 8, Ph.ladelohia 8.

B5 New- combe lab-ne 2, Roberts 4. SO New- combe 9 in 7, labm 2 in 5 and ER-Newcombe 6-5. Labine 0-0, Robert 7-7. FG CampaneMg. Winner-labme (1-01.

Lcser-Robets; 10-1) U-Boggess Oo'mon, By JEP CADOU JR. Sports Editor Good pitch, no hit. That in a soggy nutshell is the impression which 3,347 loyal fans got of our Indianapolis Indians last night in the season's opener at Victory i-ield. To tell the painful truth, it was a miserable night all the way around. The 45-degree temperature and con- year.

Bettenhausen, a former national driving champion, also hit the wall later in the race. Russo has participated in 11 previous Indianapolis classics and Bettenhausen 10. Cal Niday of Pacoima, and Elmer George of Indianap olis, were nominated as drivers on two of the other four en tries. Niday is the choice of Owner Carl L. Anderson of St Charles, for the Trio Brass Foundry Special.

George was named on a car entered by Ernest L. Ruiz of Modesto, Cal. The Sclavi Amos Special entered by Fred Sclavi of Charleston, W. a new car owned by Ed Walsh of St. Louis, were the other entries both without drivers.

Four nominations yesterday morning included two Central Excavating Specials entered by Pete Salemi of Cleveland, Ohio. The others were the Peter Schmidt Special from St. Louis, and the Dunn Engineering Special from Detroit, Michigan. Johnny Baldwin of Los Ange'es, was named on one of Salemi's cars and Al Herman of Centerville, on the Dunn entry; the other two cockpits stil' are open. Indianapolii Tech-B ooni, Hamilton, Hancock, northern Marion, I i onaDolis Washington-Hendricks, Johnson, Shelby, southern Morion, Kckomo Carroll.

Cass, Fulton, Grant, Howa'd, Miami, Tipton. Lafayette Benton, Clinton, Jasper, Nev-ton. Puioski Tiooecanoe, Warren, White. Mishowoka-LaPorte. St.

Joseoh, Starke. Muncit Burns-B'ackford. Delaware, Jay, Madison, Randolph, New A I bany-Oart, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson. Jennings, Scott, Switzerland, Washington, Richmond Dearborn, Decotur, Favette, Franklin. Henry, Ohio, RiDeVi ftush.

Union, Wavne. Terre Haute Garfie'd Clov, Fountain, Knox, Montgomery, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo. Sectional assignments to track regionals: B'oomington Universiry-Bloomington, Evansville, New Albany, Terre Haute. Fort Wayne North S'de-Elkhart, Fort Woyne, Huntington, Kokomo. Mishawaka-Gory, Hammond, tafayett, Mishawaka Indianapolis Tech-Tech, Washington, Muncie, Richmond The county rssignments to golf sectiona'si Bedford Bartholomew, Bown, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Dubois, Floyd, Gibson, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Jennings, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Orange, Owen.

Perry, Pike, Posey, Sipley, Scott, Spencer, Sullivan, Switzerland Vanderburgh, Vigo, Warrick, Washington. Indianapolis Shortridge-Boone, Clinton, Decatur, Fayette. Fountain, Franklin Ham-ilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Johnson, Marion, MonTgomery, Parke. Pu'nom. Rush, Shelby, TipDecanoe, Union, Vermiliion, Warren, Wayne.

LnPorte Benton, CartoM. Cass. Fuiton, JasDer, Lake. LoPorte, Mo'Shalt Newton, Porter. "Pulaski, Starke, St.

Joseph, White. Fort Wayne South He-A dams. A Men, Blackford, DKnlb. Delaware. Elkhart, Grant, Howard Huntington, Jav.

Kosciusko. Lograng. Madison, Miami. Nobie, Randolph, Steuben, Tipton, Wabash. Wells, Wh.tley.

DRIVE A NEW CAR EVERY NO MONEY DOWN! FREE ICENSf INSUI4NCE MAINTENANCE We pay the taxes! s82 50 All tor Only mo. CALL HOWARD JUDAH LI 7-7261 IHSAA Sets Dates For Track And Golf Dodders Beat Roberts a Box of 25 (5 Fold-a-Pahs) from $3.00 Assignment of schools to 16 track sectionals and four golf sectionals were announced by the Indiana High School Athletic Association yesterday. The track sectionals will be held May 10 or 11, followed by four regionals May 17 and the state meet at Tech Field, Indianapolis, May 25. The golf sectionals will be played May 17 or 18, with three medalists from each to the state finals at Coffin Course, Indianapolis, May 25. The assignments by counties to the track sectionals: Bloomington University Bartholomew, Brown.

Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Orange, Owen. Eikhort-Elkhart, Lagrange, Noble, Steuben. Evansville Central Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Perrv, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Warrick. Fort Wayne North Side-Adams, Allen, DeKalb. Garv-lake IGarv, Columel Ho-bart Two.

northern Porter. Hammond-Lake lothersl. southern Porter (including Valoaratsol. Huntington-Huntington, Kosciusko, Marshall. Wabash.

Wells. Whitley. State Pacer Wins Yonkers, N.Y. (UP) Pearl Creed, owned by Delbert and Wayne Smith of Galveston, and driven by Hugh Bell, captured last night's featured $5,500 Bayside Pace at Yonkers Raceway. College Baseball Notr Dam 3, Central Michigan I.

Purdu 2, Indiana Stat 2 tinnins, i Taylor 12, Kentucky Stat t. 9 TONITE Your Indians vs. Minneapolis BASEBALL Gom Tim 7:45 M. Tom.rr.w St. foul al 7:45 Philadelphia (UP) Robin Roberts served up three of his trademark home run balls and the third, by Gino Cimoli in the 12th inning, gave the Brooklyn Dodgers a 7-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies and snapped Roberts' record of never losing an opener to the Brooks.

It was the Dodger outfielder's first major league homer and followed circuit blasts by Don Zimmer in the third and Gil Hodges in the eighth, which tied the score at 6-6 and sent the game into overtime. It gave the Phillies' ace a head at Lloyd's RENTATUX (or iny formal ittire) mm You'll lik our Fresh Stocks Fine Qualify Correct Fit Low Rotes All Accessaries Provided ma 2159 N. Meridian WA 3-8333 3 come jyjrJ for folder on Eh P110DUGT0 Whoever he is he'll feel so proud to receive El Producto. Rich, rich tobaccos slow-aged and quality inspected 17 times to give him the same satisfying smoke, cigar after cigar. Two beautiful gift packages to choose from.

Buy him El Producto. For Easter, he neier had it so mild! D-xon, Burkhart. T-3 10..