St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 26

2B ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH SUNDAY MORNING. APRIL 3, 195f ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATGK Herb Score Helps Beat Giants, Gives One Hit in Four Innings ma Knights of the Road IF ASTIGMATISM AND CRACKED KNEE DIDN'T STOP BILL VIRDON, WHAT CAN? Bob Grim First Yank To Go Nine I 3 UW (ALL THOSE PITCflERsX -v ui II 111-. I IV, I I "I II Jl I I Virdoi.

has one of the most impressive physiques on a young ball club that has more than its share of well-constructed athletes. He credits his powerful foreaims and biceps to gymnastics and summer jobs of toting full 24-bottle cases one to each hand for a soft-drink company in West Plains. Bill's parents are native Mis-sourians. His father, Charles Virdon, born near Sikeston and his mother, the former Bertha May Marley, on a farm close to Poplar Bluff. However, the ballplayer and an older sister were born at Hazel Park, a Detroit suburb, during the years the senior Virdon was an automobile plant machinist there.

Vlrdon's wife also is a Mis-sourlan, full-tledged. The former Shirley Laverne Shemwell of Neelyvllle.w.s a school teacher at West Plains when she met Bill. They were married in the fall of 1951 after his second pro season and have two daughters, Deborah Ann, 21-5, and Linda Sue, 9 months. Versatile Point Winner. Charley's feet itched for the Show-Me State, though, and the Vlrdons returned when Bill was 12, settling in West Plains, a community of some 5000 population in south central Missouri, just this side of the Arkansas border.

Bill didn't like it at first because his friends and his favorites the Detroit Tigers and homcr-hltting Hank Greenberg were left behind. A "natural athlete," as Stan Musial termed him, Virdon was a split-T foorball quarterback, basketball forward and represented West Plains High School in fivo track events the 100-and 200-yard dashes, pole vault, shot put and relay. "That's all they'd let me take part in," he recalled, a bit sadly, "just five events." He played only softball In high school except for the one game his coach, Orvis Sigler, now varsity basketball mentor at West Point, arranged against Houston, Mo. Bill, who had been playing with a town tam, had "4 for 4," including a homer for West Plalns's only run, but was a red-faced pitcher In a 13-1 rout. "I'll be all right," said William Charles Vldon frankly, "if I can hit all the lcft-haaders I see in my dreams." BOB BROEG.

HOUSTON. April 2-Wllliam Charles Virdon, who'll be the Cardinals' center fielder if his bat can come anywhere close to matching his arms and legs, has overcome astigmatism, a cracked knee-cap and a gqod-field, no-hit rap to reach the major league threshold with the Redbirds. The fast-flying, hard-throwing Virdon, recently installed as the middle man to have and to hold the pivotal outfield job as long as he'll hit something, is a prime example of the quixotic nature of baseball fortune. As related by Neal Russo in the Post-Dispatch some time ago, the sturdy, well-knit virdon became a standout minor league hitter as well as fielder only because his Kansas City man ager, Harry Craft, ordered him two years ago next August to wear on the field the glasses he used part-time off it. "Funny thing." said the Red-bird rookie, "I didn't know until I read it that Craft got the idea while watching meead a paper.

The way I wasn't hitting, he knew I had nothing to lose." Yankees' Bad Guess. A Kansas City doctor to whom Virdon was sent diagnosed his visual Imperfection as astigmatism in the right eye, the eye closest the pitcher for a left-handed hitter. Astigmatism plays tricks On judgment of distance and depth perception, so important to anyone trying to earn a living sighting a small white spheroid thrown at close to 90-mile-an-hour speed from only 60-feet 6-inches away. ine new glasses helped my fielding at once, my hitting shortly," Virdorf explained, smil. ing.

"But the improvement didn't come until I was sent to Birmingham and some Yankee organization men decided I'd never hit." He did hit at Birmingham, playing a second time for Mayo Smith, new manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, but on the last day of the Southern Association playoff, sliding into a baseman's unyielding shins, he cracked his right kneecap. The knee was In a cast six weeks at his West Plains (Mo.) home. "The knee bothered me at spring training last year with the Yankees," Virdon quipped, "but so did the pitching. I went 0 for 19 in assorted tries, playing behind a young center fielder as good as Mickey Mantle, I knew In advance I wouldn't make it." Moved in SUuchter Deal. Then things happened quickly.

Requested by the Cardinals from the Yankees in the Enos Slaughter deal, Virdon reported xvwiicster, snooK on a pulled leg muscle, an aftermath of i i LL Li ii, iv.ir;ar.-:7""7.'V Dorrill Photo. BILL VIRDON favoring the knee that had mended, and then ripped International League pitching. He led the league with a .333 average, hammered 28 doubles, 11 triples, 22 homers, drove in 98 runs and won promotion to the Cardinals. Did he think he wouldn't make it this time, too? Virdon shook his head. "This." he said, "was different, but 1 knew I'd have to beat out the first baseman, not an outfielder." And it came to pass, as Bill had hoped, that Manager Eddie Stanky decided he'd rather have the versatile Virdon in center field than either Joe Cunningham or Tom Alston at first base.

Stan Musial's return there just before the Cardinals broke camp earlier this week at St. Petersburg. was the most exciting development of spring training thus far. What of young Virdon who could become the Cards' best center fielder since Terry Moore? Sturdily-Built Athlete. He's 23 years old, blue-eyed, ruddy-cheeked, square jawed and with close-cropped hair that can't decide whether it's blond, light brown or dish-water.

He wears his steel-rimmed specs only on the field, while reading or at a movie and, therefore, is without them most of the time. The result is startling and he's facially two different people. "So help me," said Trainer Bob Bauman, chuckling, "I saw him on the field with the glasses at St. Pete, then in the clubhouse without 'em and for three weeks thought the 'second guy' was Ronnie Plaza!" An even six feet, his weight up to 180 pounds or so since he quit smoking last Season, a. aOj.

Reggie Grabowski Dies; Former Pitcher SYRACUSE, N. April 2 (UP) Reginald (Reggie) Grabowski, 46, a former major league baseball pitcher, died today of a heart attack. Grabowski, a native of Syracuse, pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1932 to 1934. He also played at various times MODERN AND ANTIQUE FIREARMS SINCE 1906 'Mechanical Age Makes Softies of THE belief that this nation's youth movement no longer includes using the legs lor what they were Intended, is tending to make our athletes softies, is now official. At least you get that Idea after reading the testimony of Coach Pappy Waldorf, of the University of California, and Trainer Eddie Wojecki of Rice Institute before a Los Angeles convention of doctors recently.

"Young men today don't get enough exercise in everyday life," both men agreed. "They ride everywhere in machines that haven't even a clutch to press down. They even ride to the gymnasium." This, it was pointed out, reacts unfavorably on the knees. "Athletes, as one result, have to work hard to overcome the lack of exercise they normally would get by hoofing it," both athletics authorities argued, BUT don't let them sell you that idea too seriously, at this time. Our athletics stock, as of the Pan-American Games showing, was never higher than today.

rAnd as for our football players, the chronic pessimists are even referring to the game today as "brutal." What the situation will be a couple of generations hence may be something else, if we continue to neglect the transportation equipment nature provided us with sometimes called "shanks mare." Suppose the kids continue to use the auto to ride to the corner soda fountain. And games such as "run sheep run." "old man's out," and "conquer leader" remain obsolete. See what we may be coming to? Maybe the boy of the future will move from class room to class room, to trie lab in a wheel chair. It's nice to think that we won't be around if and when that happens. The processes of evolution are estimated in eons.

It has been ages since "I was a tadpole and you were a fish," for example. Another Way to Prove Rocky Is Ail-Time No. 1. ITS ADMITTED that no world heavyweight champion except Marciano ever had such a winning record as Rocky Marciano undefeated and untied, winning 47 fights, 41 of them by knockouts. On purely a record -book basis it's all right to say he's the greatest heavyweight fighter, of all time.

Of course a lot of objectors will throw Dempsey, Jim Jeffries, Joe Louis, Jack Johnson and what have you at the all-time, greatest ever argument. But there's one guy who has his own approach to proving Rocky's right to the top place of all. He's the publicity director for Marci-ano's fight with Don Cockell of England, to be held at Frisco, May 16. He too falls back on the records but in another way. Here's what he gives off in a release this week: THERE'S a way of proving that Rocky was better than Dempsey, Johnson and Jeffries and all the intervening champs as well.

Of course, this formula might not withstand a Kefauver investigation. But just for the fun of It: "Marciano knocked out Joe Louis; Louis massacred Max Schmeling; Schmeling stopped Mickey Walker; Walker daked Tiser Flowers; Flowers twice over Harry Greb; Grrb was the only man to beat Gene Tunney; Tunney took the title from Jack Dempsey; Dempsey pulverized Jess Wil-lard; Willard knocked out Jack Johnson; Johnson stopped Jim Jeffries; Jeff knocked out James J. Corbett, twice; and Corbett, of course, won the title from John L. Sullivan." All right, Q.E.D. But he's kidding.

You can use this same "comparative score" plan to prove that almost any champion of old was little more than a stumble bum all of them, with the exception of Marciano still undefeated! But he, too, would be open to question should he really lose to Don Cockell at Kezar Stadium. Cockell has been koyoed several times, once by Randy Turpin! East Not Yet Sold on Nashua, 8-5 Derby Choice, NASHUA is an amazingly short-priced Derby choice in the Caliente future book at 8 to 5. This in spite of the fact that the Nasrullah colt has shown observers he has about everything but a dependable disposition. Also, eastern horsemen are not too solidly behind him. Along with many others who keep track of pre-Derby wagering, the fourth quotation bulletin on the Derby cligibles last week puzzled this column.

That was because one eligible that had been quoted at 300 to 1 (Blazing Count) and another (Beau Busher) that had been listed at 50 to 1, were both quoted at only 6 to This seemed to mean that a plunge had been made on both which brought their potential payoff to a high level with the favored candidates. That the book operator just had to balance it in a hurry. A telegram to the book op-era'ors developed the information that the quotation re-icived here was a typographical error and that the real quotation against both Blazing Count and Beau Busher is SIXTY, not six to one. JOE MICELI of New York and LUTHER RAWLINGS, Chicago, have been signed to box one of the 10-round events on a program at Kiel Auditorium, Thursday, April 21. Miceli knocked out Rawlings in June, 1952.

The St. Louis Country Club polo team will oppose the Camden (S. Car.) Polo Club in an exhibition match at Camden today. Licht Heavyweight champion ARCHIE MOORE will undergo a physical tomorrow in an attempt to regain his California license, the California State Athletic commission announced. The Chicago Catholic Youth Organization basketball boys' champions will meet the St.

Louis C.Y.C. tllists in a triple-header Saturday, April 16, starting at 7 p.m., at St. Mary Magdalen gym. St. Louis representatives will be Cathedral (seniors), Epiphany (juniors), St.

Mary Magdalen (prep division). A total of 2684 teams will compete in the Women's International Bowling Congress tournament at Omaha, starting April 14. FRANKIE RIFF, New York, undefeated lightweight contender, will meet Globetrotters Win rom All-Stars Again' CINCINNATI, April 2 The Harlem Globetrotters defeated the College All-Stars tonight, 72 to 61, for the sixth Trotter victory in nine games on the basketball tour. The attendance in Cincinnati Garden of 13,321 was third high in the Arena's history. Only a crowd of 13,617 for a high school basketball game and a previous Trotter crowd of 13,521 topped tonight's throng.

Sweetwater Clifton hit 24 points for Harlem. Ed Conlin of Fordham with 14 and Tom Gola YEAR'S BEST SOCCER DALLAS, April 2 (AP) Southpaw Herb Score won his first game against a major league team today as the Cleveland Indians defeated the New Yort Giants for a third straight time, 7 to 4, before an overflow crowd of 14,854. Score blanked the Giants in the last four innings to run his scoreless string this spring to 13 frames. He gave up one hit today and has allowed only four in seven innings against the Giants and six against the Cubs. He has fanned 12.

Kiner was the hitting with a double that drove in the winning run, and his fourth spring homer later off Paul Giel. The victory gave the Indians the lead in the spring "world series," seven games to six. BIRMINGHAM, April 2 (UP) Bob Grim became the first New York Yankee pitcher to go nine innings today as he set down the Birmingham Bar ons of the Southern Association with seven hits for an 11-1 victory. The Yankees scored six runs in the first inning. Mickey Man tie and Gil McDougald hit homers.

St. Louisan Pisoni Hits 3 Homers and Single SAN ANTONIO, April 2 (UP) Dee Fondy drove in seven runs with a pair of homers to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 16-10 victory over the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League today before 994 fans. Fonda has collected 13 hits in bis last 16 times at bat. Ted Tappe, Hank Sauer and Ernie Banks all homered In the fourth for Chicago. Jim Pisoni of St.

Louis ciouted three hom ers and a single, driving In five runs for San Antonio. Sievers Singles Home Two Runs in 3-3 Tie COLUMBIA, S. April 2 (AP) A fielding error by Rookie Jesse Levan allowed the Cincinnati Reds to score the run that gave them a 3-3 standoff with Washington Senators in an exhibition game called today after seven innings because of rain and wet grounds. Levan fumbled Bobby Adams' sixth-inning single and Roy McMillan scored from first base on the error. Two Red errors in the third inning opened the door for the three Washington runs, all un earned.

The big hit in the frame was a single by Roy Sievers that scored Ernie Oravetz and Pete Runnels. Today's Schedule. Bftltlmnrr (Al vs. Pltl.hnr.h (VI at Ala. PhlladrlDhla (Vi Knulna (Al al Charlrstnn.

8.C. ttllcago (A) 81, Loull N) at Tra. (Irvrland (A) s. Nrw York (Si) it New Orleans, La. Detroit (A) Atlanta (SA at Atlanta, (.

ISfw (A) vi. Memphis SA at Mfnphu. Tenn. Kanias City v. Savannah (South Atlantic at Pavannah.

Cincinnati INI i. Washington (At at tharlotte. N.C. rrnnklyn Ol v. Milwaukee (M at Chattanwtga.

Tpnn. hlrain San Antonio (TD at Sn Antonio, Tft. Tnle! AAI t. Cincinnati (Ji at Tampa, Fla. Visitation and St.

Margaret Win C.B.C. Tourneys Visitation and St. Margaret won championships in the iinals of the two-division basketball tournament for parochial schools at Christian Brothers College last night. Visitation defeated Epiphany, 35-31, in the Purple final, and St. Margaret downed Cathedral, 43-32, for the "Did title.

Most valuable players and all- star teams were chosen for each division. John Smitn of Visitation and Bill Nordmann St. Margaret were voted the most valuable awards. The Purple team chosen was: Ernest Miller, Visitation; Sam St. Rose; Bob Trigg, St.

Paul; Phil Noser, and Dave Kroupa, Epiphany. The Gold team: Bill Eigel, St. Margaret; Charles Sapienza, St. Ambrose; Russ Kreger, St. Mary Magdalen; Jerry England, Corpus Christi; Pat Ferris, Cathedral.

Chuck Lammlein Has 1835 for Tenth Place In Men's Pin Tourney Chuck Lammlein, bowling on his own alleys, rolled an all-events total of 1835 to take over tenth place in the Greater St. Louis Bowling Association's annual city championship tournament last night at Bevo Lanes. Lammlein had 668 in the team event at St. Anthony and then registered 580 in the doubles and 587 in the singles at Bevo. College Sports.

BASEBALL Prlntlpla Cnll-e 11, Kdn 3. ta.lcrn Illinois 6. Waztiioftna 1'. J. Oklahoma A.

M. 10, Oklahoma S. Mhuonrl 27, Ft. Innard Wood 4. Cilorado 0.

Colorado A. M. 11, Ohio Mate 11-8. Piltuburith 3-1. Tcia A.

a M. 4, Bavlor 1. Mlrhltan 8. Grorrrtown 3. Tennmvf- 11, Vandfrhllt 8.

Manhattan 6, Columbia 6. Ujiantlro Marlnra 3. Akron V. J. JWoranka 10 8, Tuna 3-1.

Arkannai 9, Bn'na VI, (a (la.) Ioia (w Orltant) 21-11, Illinoll Hriltjan 4-9. TRACK. Mllllkla 84V4, Harrti (St. Louli) 46'. (irnrula 82.

Georjla Tech 61. Arliona lOOVi, Colorado 33. Mexico aS'. Oniry (Mo.) 93. Mljuoiirl Minn 8.

bprlnf field (Mo.) S. Heitmlniter 38. Wrestling Results. (AT ST. LOL'IS HOl'SE) Joe Mllllrh (2lfli.

Mt. I.u:, defeated Cnicn Graria (224), Thornlx, 10:01. Ralph Oarlhaldl HI. Txilila. and Killer Karl llavl.

(nlumbm. defeated Clyde Steeven (240), Wlnritnr. and Dutch Hefner (2401. Sherman, (no not of three fll. Carl-baldi defeated Hefner.

Hefner defeated (iaHbaldl, Davis defeated Mcee, 7:41. "Wild" Bill lonKvin (210). St. Louis, defeated Jack Hader (240), knur. itj 2 "Whinner" Hilly Wation (2.10), Ti-ronio.

(anada, defeated Barney (The tl'nn Kansai (Its, Bobhy Manatnff (2401. Chirafn. and La hint (280), Manchuria, 20-mln. draw, NATwllth Olive Uli in Person isiiiki ill. I WOULD FAMOUS BIG GAME HtMER ItOY WEATIIERBY Creator anil Builder of Weatherby Rifles YOU ARE INVITED TO MEET MR.

WEATHERBY IN OUR STORE, THURSDAY. APRIL 7TH, A.M. TO 8:30 P.M. TIRES on Time 1 oo DOWN 125 I WEEK GOO STORI Sarvlct (137 DELMAR PA. 1-1400 I o.ta Mday iw.

M- Phont GA, 1-5300 Returning by Popular Requtit RIFLES I mtrmmm RALPH DUPAS of New Orleans, May 17 or 18, in New Orleans. LO.V SPURRIER, San Francisco, who set a new half-mile record last week, ran the 800 meters in 1:49.8, failing in his bid for a wcrld record at a meeting in Fresno, Calif. "Something's suspicious" In the stable fire at Aurora Downs that killed 13 harness race horses, the chairman of the Illinois State Harness Racing Commission said. It followed a similar fire, which killed nine horses, on' March 24. An investigation will be made.

Mrs. JOHN W. GALBREATH'S Summer Tan, second choice to Nashua in the Kentucky Derby winter book, will make its first 1955 start at Jamaica tomorrow. The New York assembly voted 77-63 approval for a flat track improvement program, including a super track for New York City. A bill which would have created a special building fund for harness tracks was defeated, 82-54.

The opening game of the Stanley Cup hockey finals will match the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens at Detroit tonight. lof LaSalle with 13 paced the (The Trotters and All-Stars will play at the St. Louis Arena Saturday night). Hockey Results. AMERICAN LKAfiVE PLAVOFFS Buffalo 3, ritt.hurth 1 (beat of seven aeries, tied 1-1 1.

INTERNATIONAL PLAYOFFS Troy 3, (Inrinnati 2 (aest-ot-srvrn series, tied 3-3). HIGHEST TRADES IN OUR HISTORY BARRETT WEBER PReipect 0707 Kinqjliigliwoy OF LOS ANGELES SEMIFINALS 114 houn sf fsit action Is Ihi worla't aeptflsr isTtf. 1 1 h.p. Alternate Twin Hurricana Engino Revors Coar end Noutral Ignition Xoy Starting Power to spare for runabouts, light cruisers and water skiing the world's lightest, most compact Seltet your mw WEATHERBY now. Take It with yon! Convesitst monthly poymtnh or.

rangtd to suit yon! Wtleomt GOODMAN'S beautiful tow storo all St. louli Is talking aboirt! Sot our outstanding display of WEATHERBY Rlfloi and Scopoi! IETS SWAP GUNS! TERRIFIC TRADES! SENSATIONAL VALUES AT GOODMAN'S! for Syracuse, Minneapolis, Montreal, Albany, Wilkes-Barre and Reading. He retired from or ganlzed baseball in 1845. Grabowski nd his brother, Al, claimed to be the only brothers in organized baseball who pitched no-hit, no-run games. Al pitched his for Syracuse in 1925, and Reggie turned the trick with the Albany club in 1941.

rlKENTUCKY DERBY SPECIAL TOUR ALL PULLMAN Derby Eve in Louisville Thurs. Night to Sunday Mornlnt RESERVED SEATS MAAAM Phon. Writ ar Cam in ADVENTURE TOURS Sit Ollvt Strttt MAia 1-U7J LKTliifc nail co. Weil-Known Brandt All Cenuln Fur Ftlt Up to $20 Valuta s2.95 7.50 Thousands of Hati to Seltct From Sf, EXCLUSIVE AGENTS FOR WEATHERBY at WALSH STADIUM-TODAY at 2:30 1200 Oakland wlfWo arsllmisory tamo at Ills p.m. Ftolsrs amo JOE SIMPKIHS THE "DANES" ILE, OF ST.

LOUIS U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP Tho Slmpilns oro indsfaotod tko Danes ors regarded at srronaof than tho "Scott" who lost to Kutii 2 to 1. Tho winner will play Now York tor tko United States championship. Free Towing Service) Admission $1.50 s. molt 02 IHi3J fft Hurricane ANY CA REGARDLESS OF MAKE, MODEL OR CONDITION f-a TeV rWE HAVE ALLOWED i IL-MF'T" Louis Motors Famous Trades LOW BANK RATES YOUR CAR IS THE DOWN PAYMENT Famous Specialists en Hand it All Tlmis WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW AS HIGH AS 650 on Pre-Wars 800 on '48-'47 Models 700 on '49 Nasties 1000 on '49 etc.

1050 on '50 fords, etc, 1050 on '50 Plymouths 1700 on '53 Chevs. 2000 on '54 Fords 5-MINUTE DELIVERY electric starting outboard. Easy to handle but hard to hear because complete engine silencing makes it super silent. Dyna-Float Suspension floats the engine on rubber shear mounts to keep vibration away from your boat. fj DE SQTO 1 1 3949 DE SOTO 3949 PLYMOUTH'S PLYMi tmn IZtmElL opm emM 1 Open Fridays Till 8 P.M.

ST. LOUIS SPORT SALES OIL. 2-5210 1 29C4 OLIVE JEfferieii 5-7100.