New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 18

r.l MoT ipf pi i 1 ft I cm 4 I 1 Sin 1 ri: Ml a i i I its i i fl iii'i: ui i. 1. Ji Ta Vi 1 1 hl VIA ft i I f. i VI 1 jtt ir i i. i if if it PI 1 THE PITTSBURGH COURIER SATOggAY" 1 r2 TACCH Of WUlici a ssws nftn rans to oponsur vuuu unaucr deceacy aad fair play, two inherent American characteristies.

AND NOW the real challenge faces Negro America! The challenge of taking this tremendous Victory la stride! The challenge to keep ear big mouths closed and give Jackie the chance to PROVE he's major league calibre! The challenge to conduct ourselves at these bell gasaes in the By WILLIAM G. NUNN, Editor. Th "Iron Cartala" which hai prevented (roes from pr tleipatioA la major leautf bMebmU hu dnaUy been Ufted! Jaeid BebtnsoB, 27 year old athlete with the mental and physical equipment necessary to make the rrade has been accepted as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball club. The Tents which have transpired since The Courier's Wendell Smith launched his first blast at aa un American practice back la US bare been epochal. This newspaper takes pardonable pride In the role It played in "UftWr the curtain" la bantshlnr for all time the Invisible "color line which made a monopoly of one ef the major business enterprises in the United States.

Organized baseball Is BIO BUSINESS make no mistake about It And one of the reasons Negroes couldn't make the grade, despite their ability, has been the money angle. Branch Rickey, God fearing, courageous, powerful, Influential head of the far flung Brooklyn baseball empire, has done his part like a real American. What he did. under terrific pressure and strain, merits the prayerful thanks ef mflOons ef Americans, white as well as black. I Jackie Koblnsen, UCLA graduate and former Army Uenten aat has deae his pari thus fax.

I He measured up to all that was asked ef him he proved en the ball field that he bad the ability, the researeefulness, the personality, the courage, te "come through" when the chips were dewn. Jackie's conduct oa and off the field gave Mr. Bicker the axe he needed to battec down the Iron curtain." The Pittsburgh Courier, who first mentioned Jackie aa a major league prospect and who followed his every move from the moment he first entered the ranks ef organised baseball has done Its part, thus fsr. The Courier Interviewed ball players and managers to try and convince ONE owner that the spirit of Democracy in Sports would be questioned unto Negroes were given the OPPORTUNITY to make the grade. The Courier fought Its battle along the lines of augns oe tiwi some, oecaune that ik i the maJora for keeos! nviainr wata he's made the grade! AU of ise things might distract hi, at him aad It's a uU tim.

he has Bather than "Jackie Robinson Dsy i be atmroprUto for dvio groups, leaders, v. Ll The challenge te NOT recognise the apnearanea of Jackie Koblasea as the signal for a Roman holiday, with the Psrcnansnsn orgy complex! The challenge to leave whiskey bottles at home er en the shelves ef the liquor stores and to leave ear loud talking, obscene language and Indecent dress en the outside of the ball parka. The challenge to learn something about the game In order that we will know what's going en out en the baU field, and wont humiliate Jackje by our lack ef knowledge! The challenge to stop our booing over some untoward Incident which might happen on the ball field. Remember that Jackie dirtduals to conduct Good Conduct" dm Bums appear. her today Negro America.

Robinson on trial! Mr. Rick Jackie's feet oils in! esft, rnp WH van ut wkethatr van I.V. 14 rv" inJf" you make fools of yourselves. Grays Black Yanks; Newark Cubans Point for M. Opene1 Reports From Courier Sports Experts Short, Snappy Comments and Opinions From Our Battery of Scribes on the Nation's Seething Sports Fronts RIC ROBERTS the Great WASHINGTON You get a line on Jackie Robinson's great gifts when you remember that he fielded a phenomenal .885 at a new position for him, second base, in 1946.

To baseball experts, this Is very significant because It means he is one of the "cleanest" fielders of baseball history; a fact made eloquent by noting that no Hall of Fame second baseman Collins, Hornsby, Lajole, Frisch, Evers have ever equalled It in any league, major or minor. Only the very best efforts, Melilo's for the Red Sox in 1934, and Bishop's .988 for the A's In 1932, excel Jackie's. Look In vain for any more, although Gehringer did twice equal this figure of .885 for Detroit, in 19S5 and 19S7. This, combined with Jackie's hitting and base running, could mean but one thing: he's at least the greatest all round athlete of this generation. Too big for bias, too terrific for prejudice he's Jackie the Great.

W. ROUO WILSON Billy Fox Starts Anew PHILADELPHIA Billy Fox, home pride, winner of forty three straight fights by knockouts and undefeated until he was stopped by Qua Lesnevich last February, has started a new kayo strinsr. His bitter battle at New York's St. Nicholas Club last Friday night will never be foreotten bv those who saw it. Gettine off the floor alter a first round knockdown, he flattened George Kochan for keeps in the seventh.

In this city he had kayoed Kochan in six. Seven stitches were required to cose a cut over Billy's eye, blood from which had drenched boxers and referee. For my money, he is one of the gamest gees in ring records. If the boy could only box HERMAN HILL Real All America Teams L03 ANGELES By the signing of one or more Negro players to nearly every team in the league, for the coming season, the All America Professional Football Conference is; proving itself to be "All American" in every respect. The star studded list of sepia grid greats Includes Buddy Young and Archie Harris, New York Yankees; 'Marion Motley, Horace Gillom and Bill Willis, Cleveland Browns; John Brown, Los Angeles Dons; Bernle Jefferson, Chicago Rockets; Bill Bass, Baltimore Colts, among others.

Pigsldn interest should be at fever heat. Never before in history have so many of our boys been afforded such a democratic opportunity to make good in pay for play major league footbalL The All America Conference Is to be sincerely congratulated. We fans can show' true appreciation by turning out en masse and supporting the loop. The cost of operating pro football teams runs Into the thousands of dollars every season. The challenge Is ours and we can 111 afford to muff this golden opportunity.

JACK MARSHALL Buckeye Bowlers Break Precedent a 50 year old precedent in that sport will be broken the Clevelanders, nosts or the occasiom. will let the visiting participants bowl first. Throughout the country bowlers view this actual demand on the part of Cleveland's bowling last, as bad sportsmanship. It is argued that in respect to visitors the home players should break the alleys in as congenial hosts have done in the past thus actually Riving out of town players that much advantage as a matter of hospitality. Neither owner of the United Recreation Alleys, Price or Pierson; nor the operator of them, Elmer Reed, are responsible for this situation.

These men, however, are responsible for the Na Two weeks ago The Pittsburgh Courier carried the following Headline: "Jackie Robinson to Plav First for Brooklyn." This was another Courier scoop of the biggest sports story of the year the bringing up of Jackie Robinson from the Montreal Royals to the Brooklyn Dodgers. To get sports news first and accurately, follow The Courier! 1 pion or Baksi. SOLD EVEOYUHEOE. FOB FQEE 8AUPLE WOITE UEWDBO, ATLANTA, OA, IN UNIQUE ROLE HiV CKampien Jo Lours in a brand nsw rola rafaraaing a world's haavywatqht wrastling matck bafwaan title holdar Enrique Torras and Sandor Sxabo at Olympic Stadium in Los Anqalas racantly. Torras retained his Champs in Lidlifter, April 27 NEW YORK The Newark Eagles and the New York Cubans, the two top teams in the Nesro National League in 1946.

will eive the New CHICAGO When the National Bowline Tournament is held In York fans a pre season Une Cleveland, Ohio, Friday. Saturday and Sunday. April 18. 19 and 20, 'on the eominer TJennant race when they clash in an ex hibition game at the Polo Grounds, Sunday afternoon, April 27. The perennially strong Cubans, who finished a close second last season behind the Eaples.

have added strength with which they hope to assume leadership in the tional Bowling Association Tournament being held in Cleveland at'NNL. The Ragles, who went on to a cost already of $40,000 to knock over the Kansas City Mon it it it archs for the world championship, most of their championship XHS' WASHINGTON Exposing Joe's Datebook ssuad back pn ar; the iof many expewta to repeat this Barring a fall fight, it's easy to figure out where Heavyweight 'season. vnampion ioe xouis will spend tne month of August. Just study the following schedule: August 5 8, Pittsburgh Courier Yorkshire Golf Tournament, Pittsburgh, Pa. August 13 14, Cleveland Open Tournament, Cleveland, Ohio.

August 16 17, The Toledo Open, Toledo, Ohio. August 19 21, Joe Ixmls Open, Detroit, Mich. August 28 29. Nationals (UGA), Philadelphia. Fa August SO September 1.

Capital City Open, Washington, D. C. Not only Is golf Joe's favorite hobby, but he'd walk simile to get a chance to walk five miles (over the rolling fairways) any day. The champ has learned how to put a lot of his terrific hitting power into his golf swing and can really sock 'em. Now shooting consistently in the "seventies," he deserves to be rated as an exceptionally good golfer.

Louis once shot a "67" on the long Rickham course in Detroit and once drove one that traveled close to the "400" mark. Including the roll. Once in Pittsburgh, after Joe outdrove a local "pro" on almost every hole, the club tutor turned to the champ and said: "Say, Joe, did it ever occur to you that you might be in the wrong game?" HE MADE IT! Rogers Sails to Seek Opponent for Louis NEW YORK (NNPA) Nat Rogers, matchmaker for the Twentieth Century Sporting Club, left LaGuardla Field last Tuesday aboard the Pen American Airwavs dinner Great Renuhllc for London in search of an op ponent for Joe Louis. He was to attend the Bruce Woodcock Joe Baksi heavyweight fight April 15 and hoped to sijrn the winner for a world's heavyweight title bout at the Yankee Stadium on June 26. Louis has quoted as having said he was interested In fighting either the British cham y.

xi 4: title by copping 2 out of 3 falls. Photo shows tha Bombar watches slowly as Stabo puts tha pressure on his opposant in an effort to pin his shoulders. Earl Griffin Photo. Jackie Robinson Says: By JACKIE ROBINSON BROOKLYN, N. Y.

Next time I go to a movie and see a picture of a little ordinary girl become a great star, I'll believe it. And whenever I hear ny wife Gee it seemed big. Twice as big read fairy tales to my little boy, as the day before. I sat down I'll listen. i in the Brooklyn dugout and started I know now that dreams do come to think all over attain.

The game true. started and I found myself at first I know because I am now play ing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in' the bie leagues! Dase. i was the Brooklyn nrst baseman. The day before. I had Montreal's first baseman.

wnat a mnerence a day makes. L. a 1 i B1U KM IMYOCH. When the umpire said: "Play tell Myself: will vo'u1 Yoru'ryeUa Neg Negroe godjers; that I had mad. the been in the big leagues.

S.me Ic ues da" they will be. But you won't REALIZED RESPONSIBILITY be the lucky' miy." i When I realized that, the thrill Then last Thursday. Mr. Rickey, was gone. I knew that from then! called me to his office.

He said: on I'll have to play like the "Jackie a bijf leaguer now. devil. So now I trying my best. I walked out of his office in a trance. I went from there to Ebbetts Field to play my last game with Montreal against Brooklyn.

I don't think I was too impressive in that last game with Montreal. But that was because. I guess, I couldn't keep my mind on the game all the time. Every time I look at Pee wee Reese or that I'm Bruce Edwards, or Ed Head and by the oy me the other Dodgers, I'd start think ing. "Just think." I'd say to myself, "tomorrow I'll be with them.

I'll be wearing a Brooklyn uniform. And then I'd look at the big park and realize that I would be here this year playing in major league park before big crowds and righting ior a pennant. At noon iriday, I Go these firs is for me make food. nggfll FREE toea pot wn a cataioo I CAPS (iKtro Wide) $TjS very. You re going to play with theI don't know how successful I'll Dodgers and we're announcing it be.

but you can bet that I'll give to the world today." Imv level best. I think I can do IN A TRANCE good enough job to stay up here and face such teams as the Cardinals, Pirates, Giants and the rest. I'm new and have a lot to learn, but I've found out that there are fellows on the club willing to help me. Ed Stanky, a great ball player, helped me the first day. Others have advised me and coached me since.

I know by that experience not alone. I also know applause Ave. received in st frames mat tne pumic and wants to see me I will never stop trying. I hope I'll get better and better every day and help bring a pennant and world series to Brooklyn. Beinr up here is absolutely wonderful.

That's why I'm a believer in fairy tales now. You see. it walked Into actually hanoened to me. the Brooklyn clubhouse. When li ME MADE IT1 opened that door I walked into the major leagues, and a few min utes later I was dressing with big league players and getting ready to play against the famous Yan kees.

Then we went out on the Memphis Wins 2 Out Of 3 From Cincy MEMPHIS. Tenn. Memohis field, won two out of three games from Grays, Asheville Play to 6 6 Tie ASHEVILLE, N. The Asheville Blues rnd the Homestead Grays battled to a 6 6 deadlock here Tuesday night before the game was culled at tne end of the eleventh inning because of rain. Highlight of the game wss the performance of Robert Bowman, Blues ace, who relieved Will Thompson in the second inning.

Bowman fanned the first six men to face him. chalked up six additional strikeouts Hnrnr th mainder of his tenure on the hill. Kaiser. Gray pitcher, with three hits in five times at bat and Buck Leonard, with two nut of fnnr were the leading hitters for the visitors. Nathan Brannon and Fred Worthy, with three for six, paced the Blues' attack.

sine ag fmm wn wauh 'M Grays in Opener, April 20 NEW YORK (ANP) The New York Black Yan kees will officially open the 1047 baseball season of the Negro National League in New York City when they appear against the Homestead Grays in Yankee Stadium here Sunday afternoon, April 20. According to Manager Marvin Barker, the Yanks have the most formidable array of pitching tal ent of any team in the league, and with the supporting players, ex oect to wind up the season well in advance of other member clubs. The pitching staff will include Bob Griffith, Alexander Newkirk. Bud Barbee, John Fallings and the veteran Jtobn Stanley, all of whom have piled up reputations as experts on the mound. In addition, the team has three newcomers to round out the staff Alpheus Deane, Benjamin Taylor and Albert Preston.

HE MADE IT! Fox Scores T. K. 0. in Seventh NEW YORK (NNPA) Billy Fox, Philadelphia lighthtavy, got up off the canvas in the first round and slugged his way to a seven round technical knockout of Georgia Kochan here last Friday night before 3,942 fans at the St. Nicholas Arena.

Downed for a count of nine in the first frame. Fox got up and had fought the New Yorker to a standstill by the end of the fourth round in a slam bang slugfest. In the fifth, the Philadelphian took command, and from that time on it was just a matter of time for Kochan Tnhnnir Rurni airhnrtssri Cincinnati. winning Saturday's game. 13 to 3, and the first game Sunday, 3 to 0, then lost the second.

1 to 0. Jones and Boyd hit homers Saturday. Boyd connected for another homer in the first game Sunday. HBob. WilMannus has switched to Calvert because Calvert is milder 9m srssvy Dsks 14.91 The lilliMf J.tSes.

Tie A Measlerdilef Sets. LSI sH Kalttsd Ties 1.0 se, ORDER BY MAIL Ym MM indue k4 We Shia tvsryitnia. 0 I nr nnrvr, 1 mt enroll! By WENDELL SKOThJ Fans Plead for Jackie Autograph BROOKLYN The Brooklyn Dodgers had just Uri xoric xanKees, i to o. wri oi mree jam exSis, Branch Rickey merely waved his fast, hairy hand like mother and transformed him from a "husher" to the tig Was he and now th players on both teams were rushing nudwTi spective c'ubhoiues avoid the maddening throng out of the Ebbets Field stands and onto the playing fJ. off with the hordi of Erooklyn idols was a po rfa2jw There was a gin on his bronze face as he reached tht sf disappeared thrcugu the tunnel that leads to the crtaa.

"Grab Jackie Robinson." cried a hysterical on top of the Dodger dugout "Don't let htm pet ir his autograph." Now the maniacs were leaping over rail and trying to force their way past a squadron of were Diocaing xni inirenct iu me uugouv tunnel, rl go tnrougn, Deggea a ruaay iacea youngster i csutt Id bring home Robinson autograph." But the oi? im or policemen reiused to rudgt. TVr, line, and now Jackie Robinson was safe in the rlubhowvs of the Dodgers. Aftr a short wait, the guardian oT door pulled it open and a battery or newspapermen and swarmed into the room. The wave of heat from the ibovt them full in he race as they marched thiough the ie of ing out of the showers. Jackie Robinson was shoe was already off and both stockings roller! to the as smiling Happily and wiping his copper colored hrow towel "Well." asked one writer, "how docs it feel to be t.

Robinson dark brown eyes danced napry and almost gratefully when he replied: "Gee. fellows. writers smiled Knowingly ana in a bit closir. answer wss an old one. He had said just what all rooba first day against major league competition.

And they they all seem just a Mt awed at the thought of it "Were you surprised," another reporter asked. nounced that you would play today the Yanks" that was an absurd question. Only twelve hours before skinned kid from Pasadena. Calif, had been a minor had been playing first base against the Dodgers. Only ts his skin and th possibility that he might become a big day made him any different than any other miner suddenly he was no longer a minor leaguer.

He became i is. "Sure I was surprised," Brooklyn's new first butsu was as surprised as I could be "Did you knov it before they announced it over the pei system, asked a repotted from The Associated Press "Oh. yes," Jackie said. "We had a meeting in the dr we were ail sitting tnere and Clyde Sukeforth girzj talk. He was saying that although this was an exhibiucs have to play just si hard as ever to win it.

because the a good team." The writer were scribbling madly now in their notebooks. Tney were taking down everything if stenographers st a big murder trial. www the scheduled rounder in 2 min jAsfcs About JdcJcfe ultra aim cwuus vi uie seventh round after Fox had knocked Kochan down twice for counts of seven in that round. Fox weighed 171H. Kochan tipped the scales at 1774.

'Sukeforth was talklnr about the Yankee." Koto tinued, "and telling as how to play the different hlnen.ai tho pitchers what to throw and what not to throw i hitters. The suddenly, out of a clear blue nky. he iteffJ looked over thu bunch of players sitting in front ef swM 'Robinson, how are you feelinr The queUoa vst; so fast I wm startled at first When I finally anweril felt fine. "Sukeforth said: 'Okay, then vou're pUing fir I One of the writers asked Jackie what he did thi you do?" the reporter asked. "That must have hers Not too many hours before that you had been playinj Dodgers and now you were roinr to plav with them.

Robinson thourht for a moment. He seemed be get his thoughts in order, like a nertton who has heeaai sleep and awakened suddenly. He draped the big wJ mrouna nis shoulders and burst out laughing. It hearty laugh. "Why.

I Just aorta' gulped," he said. You ulotd?" two or three bhVaH mt the tame time "Yeah." he said. rubMnr his throat if to happened. "I just gulped!" Robinson then sat down and started tie woolen stockings that all big leaguers wear "Where you frightened when you walked ou cn against the YmWmi "No. 1 wasn't," he said oulrklv.

"I felt tc cood game a numoer of thj Brooklyn players came up to me iaf hand. Fellows that I played with last year in Montreal taium, uixie iicwen and some others shook my nana ablated me. They aid they were glad to have mr on the teas. "Bet that made you feel good." someone said. "It sure did," Jackie replied.

"It helped a lot I i' and I lost some of tfrm rtmm e.i r.rmz tnt By this time the nrntncrr.nVi.r. wr. ta over rJC" to tut mrkf th i uuuuim dick on bo i i ick on so inai auKerorth, who has been directing cting Praised by Sukeforth es going he alright. Hr a rra Kll 1. think he'd forgotten them.

ago, waant it?" ji the team Mr.re Purof! fht." SukefoHh adored I will prove it win be PJ will pnnr i VJ rr axia cd. He can hit. run and field. He's a gr at all round can't miss." I Finally, some of the commotion died down and a raance to slip into the shower room and hathe. wards he was dressed mrf 1mv from the drinr room, he was mo hoed Wnea h.

v. hv fan stanainr ourln m.imki hn me WUM.S BCOre mA i acknowledrtid trn. MmmKrmi the ceas. mlrers who came up to him and said such things you remember mr. I'm Jim Smith from the Coast I nf you were at Ut LA." Although he only rememoerea wvn iuaM iii Mia TiaU.ei ku.n ftrin i wv WilDVUI.

SSSSL. BUST St w. Sure I do." he'd ay. That" 1 here seetnud (a indinr tureov that door. VYben he itentv tl.v rave deafeiunf orged upon him.

Despite the efforts of Police he was bsorbed in a sea of slapping hands and carried aura jj mfni muot were eipiw la fPdlty aad the whole world seemed to be soreamiaf "Jackie BoHnson!" ttit lie finally made his way to the car which was jfZM his hoteL But It was a hard struggle. They clothes off htm. They pushed him in all directions Jj ttra trying desperalely to get his autograph. They heUered like people who had escaped a concentrstioc i Plva on us feet and some begged him to m'rf" their directicu. insrt the price or fame." someone said nr Curisr Prot4.graplier Billy Rowe's automobile.

Jack! said with a deep sigh of relief. swamped me. dldnt they?" ju rw nig leaguer now, jscaie. rVn They're your fans aad the people who help "Yen." ttim RHMLin ei "and I dans one of 'em!" has the sjst ef nhinr s'r first day.