The Brownsville Herald from Brownsville, Texas • Page 8

MOB BROWNSVILLE 1W4 Mays Top Slugger In National Loop NEW YORK, Dec. the Giants out the fewest Kentucky, Minus Stars, Still Wins Willie of the Giants, guy who got the most mileage out of his hits, was officially crowned the National League's slugging champion Friday for 1954. times, 17. Richie Ashburn of the Phillies drew the most bases on balls, 125. Del Ennls grounded Into of the the Phillies most double plays, 23.

Frank Thomas of Pitts- The slugging title, not to be con-1 burgh was hit by pitcher most fused with balling title which times 10 Willie also won with a mark of I .345, is compiled on the basis i a player's total bases as compared! with his official times at bat. Mays had 377 total bases in 565; times up for a .067 figure. Duke Snider of Brooklyn had the most; total bases, 378, but he was up 5841 times and finished second In the' slugging column with a .647 average. Ted Kluszewski of Cincinnati was third with a .642 mark, followed by Stan Musial of the Cardinals with .607 and Eddie Mathewi of the Braves with the .603. Snider struck out the most Musial set a major league rec- times, 96, while at the other extreme, outfielder Don Mueller of Likes Pro Football GREEN BAY, Dec.

24--UP --Gene Ronzani, foumer head coach of the Green Bay Packers who resigned as an assistant coach with the i Steelers Wednesday, said Friday he would like to remain in pro football but might consider a collegiate offer. WilUeMayt Duke Snider ord by hitting five homers in a doubleheader against the Giants, May 2, while Joe Adcock of the Braves set a major league record for most total bases (18) in a gaitne ATLANTA. Dec. 14--UP--Star- maker Adolph Rupp of Kentucky Is working without a single "big- name" player this season, but there's still 110 indication the Wildcats' record-breaking string of 30 victories will snap anytime soon. The Wildcats, who are without 'their three big name players of last year--Frank Ramsey, Cliff Hasan and Lou Tsioropoulos, are sticking tight to their winning ways and this week presented Coach Rupp with victory No.

500. Although Kentucky hits yet to rack up its first Southeastern Conference victory of the season, few of the loop coaches now have much liope left of toping the Wildcats. Kentucky trimmed one of the league's lop contenders--Louisiana Slate--iji a game but didn't count as a conference meeting, and the Wildcats have hung out four other impressive victories. This week Kentucky ran its winning streak to 30 cents by beating Utah and LaSalle to claim the when he hit four homers and a Kentucky Invitational tournament. double a a i July Dodgers I wm over a was Rupp's 1 500th against just 82 setbacks, and a ajor league record when he committed four passed balls in a single inning against Cincinnati Sept.

10. Buster Transit says Season's Greetings from Hit entire personnel of VALLEY TRANSIT CO. and VALLEY EXPRESS CO. Valley Owned Valley Operated Kentucky is finding success this season with a well-balanced at tack. In toping La Salle for the invitational crown, Kentucky used a typical victory pattern.

Big Bob Burrow, a junior college transfer, worked u.Vcr the baskets and accounted for 18 points, Bill Evans-the only hold-over regular from last year--hit for 20 points from the outside and junior Phil Grawe- mcyer connected from the comers for 14 points. Kentucky won't put its Southeastern Conference title hopes on the line until late in Jo.nuary. The Wildcats have their first loop bat ile with Georgia Tech Jan. 8, bu the engineers are weak, and the Wildcats probably won't get a true test until they piay undefeated Vanderbilt Jan. 29.

Two other teams that could possibly give Kentucky some trouble, Auburn and Alabama, face the Wildcats in late February. does not meet Louisiana State in a regular conference jame this year. BUCKEYE BOBISLK--Ohio Slate's Robhin Freeman is a tangle of arms and legs as he loses the hall to California forward Larry Friend (8). Freeman has been averaging 42 points per game. (UP Tclcphoto) Whitworth On Hot Seat At Alabama TUSCALOOSA.

Dec. 24 Whrtworth, who earned the nick- NAY YOU HOLM BE MY, MY, 01... Mai all Christmas Joys dance tkroigb FROM THE ENTIRE STAFF OF Return Of Stanfel Gives Lions Boost DETROIT, Dec. 24--UP--Coach Buddy Parker said Friday the re- lurn of guard Dick Stanfel to the lineup will give his Detroit Lions a big boost Sunday in their bid Jor an unprecedented third straight National Football League championship against the Browns at Cleveland. Stanfel, an agile 240-pounder, has been sidelined for the past five weeks with a wrenched back.

he's', ready to return to his post on the offensive line for the title game. "He's the best blocking in football," Parker said. "With Stanfel back in there, our running game is going to pick up. Our passing game will improve, too." Parker explained that successful running game draws in the de- fense of the opposing team and paves the way for a strong passing gamie? "We'll be at full strength for the title game," Parker said. "This is the first time in almost two months we haven't had at least one player on the injury list." Parker, who is one of football's most superstitious coaches, surprised the Lions when he announced he was cancelling a scheduled i a morning workout.

i Superstition usually leads Par-! ker to follow a set "routine when 1 he Lions are winning and holiday norning drills preceded Detroit over the Browns in the past two championship games. Cleveland has met Detroit eight 'i imes during the four years Par- has served as head coach of he Lions and the Browns are still I looking for their first victory. The i httve finished on top seven times and the other game ended in a 24-24 draw. --UP--A driving fundamentalist named Jennings Bryan Whitworth sits in the Southeastern Conference "hotseat" with the tough jot of developing new life in the stag ing Alabama fiotball team. This hard-working disciplinarian lias been head coach for the pas five years at Oklahoma AM.

He was hired this month to replace the aging veteran, Harold (Red) Drew, whose contract was not renewed at Tuscaloosa. Alabama fans are accustomed to Jig things. The Crimson Tide boasts one of the best won-los' records in the nation. Under several coaches, including lie great Frank Thomas who iiughl Whitworth to play football, Alabama teams have performed in all four of (he major bowls. The and ammnl couldn't adjust to a mediocre team last eason, even though Alabama won four, lost five and tied two on a back-breaking schedule.

The yell or a change went up. So the university went far out Stillwater, name "ears" for obvious reasons, first decided an offensive formation change was necessary. "It will be the split-T all the way," he said. "Alabama used the and split-T both last season but we'll operate strictly from the split." Whit, whose first coaching job was. in 1932 as an assistant at Alabama, said he looks for plenty of competition next season.

His Crimson Tide plays two Southwest powers, Rice and TCU, takes on six SEC teams, and must meet one of the nation's top independents, Miami. Comparing the SEC With the nation's other top conferences, Whitworth observed, "I think they play just as good football in the Southeast as any place in the country. Our good teams could play the top teams of the Big Ten and make it a fine ball game." Whitworth at 46 is a veteran of 6 years In the coaching; profession. Williams Hasn't Decided About Playing Next Year By OSCAR FRAIIJW NEW YORK, Dec. 24-UP- Pearless FYaley's facts and figures from under the fir tree: is guessing as .0 whether Ted Williams will play Jaseball next season because the 'act is that the great outfielder of the- Boston Red Sox still hasn' made up his mind himselft.

Tall Ted recently back from catching a black mar lin at Cabo Blanco, Peru, is jus 'fishing and relaxing." But friends arc betting that come springtime ie'11 give it "one more year." Frank McGulre, the North Caro ina basketball coach, is cautious tbout assaying another coach's cam for fear of putting a fellow workman "on the spot." But he iround It rather nicely when asked bout rival North Carolina State. "I won't say it's the tallest team the country," Frank said. "But went to watch them the other night and had a scat right in back if their bench. I had to sit on three see over the boys who weren't playing." Happy Birthday: Friday, Bill Dudley 33 and Tony De Spirito 20; iaturday, Nellie Fox 27, Ned Gar- er 29, Ben Chapman 46 and Bitsy 3rant 44; Monday, Jim Tobin 42; uesday, Don Thompson 30, Tommy Bridges 48, Ted Lyons 54, Al Weill 61 and Terry Sawchuk 25; Vednesday, Jess Willard 71 and immy Hines 49. Ohio State apparently is looking orward to a highly offensive after- oon in the Rose Bowl game on ew Year's Day.

Before heading Vest, the Buckeyes bought 24 new footballs. which makes it possible, at long last, to "fill the air with footballs." Seldom being able to pick a winner, I'm one of those turf fans who has to be content with getting a kick out of unique names. One such is a colt at Hialeah by Eternal Reward out of Chaltrump. Owner R. A.

Cuddahy aptly named the colt: Blow Gabriel. Clarence (Biggie) Munn, Michi- Stato' saUiletlo director, has made quite a career out at (ootbull as both a player and coach but in never saw college gume until ho started for Minnesota as a sophomore fullback. The reason was that he spent lis freshman year parking cars in -he stadium lot. and, after looking at my fenders. I'm certain nost parking lot attendants are frustrated football National Hockey League Indicate fully that the Ice iport is virtually a Canadian monopoly when It comes to talent.

Out of 105 players in the league, only two are and It significant in the standings that both play for the lowly Rangers. They are Welshman Jack Evans and Ivan Irwin of Chicago. HARLON HILL PRO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR NEW YORK, Dec. in Canada but played his Harlon Hill, 22-year-old Chicago first NFL campaign this year. Bears end who caught 45 passes i Maurice a 11, Cleveland for 1,124 yards and 12 and Gil 'Detroit Lion tackle who in 1854, Friday was named the National Football League's rookie of the year in the annual United Press poll.

Hill turned in one of the finest Irst-year performances in NFL listory and won easily in balloting 3y 29 sportswriters who covered he games in the various league cities. He l-eceived 13 votes. Billy Wells, Washington Redskin lallback, and John Henry Johnson, 3an Francisco Forty Niner halfback, tied for second in the balloting with four votes apiece. Johnson Mains, played (briefly last season after being discharged from the service, each received two votes. Max McGee, Green Bay end; Art Hunter, Green Bay tackle; Paul Cameron, Pittsburgh halfback; and Jerry Norton, Philadelphia halfback, each drew one vote.

Hill, a six-foot, three-inch 198- pounder from Alabama Teachers College, woundup only one touchdown shy of the all-time season record of 13. Hill caught every pass he got his hands on until he hobbled one in the aelually had previous pro exper- final game against Detroit. Name Strader 49'er Coach SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 24--UPJ --Red Strader came back from the i construction business Friday to take over the helm as head coach of the San Francisco Forty Niners. Strader was appointed Thursday by owner Tony Morabito to sue- and BEST WISHES from GENERAL BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTORS INC.

With Good i Our Many TEXAS CAFE Market Squart ceed Buck Shaw, the veteran men- lis overall record as head coach for five years at Oklahoma AM close to the Aggies point out that second in si xout of nine years i is material wasn't the best line star and Rose Bowl performer, The Alabama coach ealizes he is "on the spot moved in quickly after signing leadership that should win a crown above the $11,000 the Aggies paid man we feel is best qualified for the job." will do all right," lie said. KEYNOSA TO MEXICO CITY S37.75 BROWNSVILLE TO MONTERREY FULl OUN TRIP IROWNSVIllE TO MEXICO the gleam of hope that the IDise ITlen followed, reflected in the shining morels of the Christmas Storq, brighten uour life this Christmas-time--and through the coming (jear. PAN AMERICAN STATE BANK BROWNSVILLE TEXAS May you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.