New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 14

1 I 5 Saara on Tfcflo iWifth Braves' ''ZeircBflDY Foofted Jet (Special to the Courier) NEW YORK This fellow Sam Jethroe is'downrlght amaz awarded the Dodgers' star home plate and with what looked like the winning: run at the time. A tremendous furor resulted, but it was to no avail and defeat stared the Braves right In the eye In the ninth. Inning. Clyde King was working effectively for the Idgers after relieving Don Newcombe, who came up with a sore arm. Ebba St.

Claire, a pinch hitter, walked to open the ninth and was sacrificed to second by Bob Addis. Roy Hartsfieid was called out on strikes and thrown out of the game by Lee Ballafant when he protested too vigorously. This meant there were two out and the tying run on second. That left it up to Jethroe. i He and King battled until the count was two strikes and two balls.

The second strike was high and inside and Sam made one of his rare complaints to an umpire: Manager Billy South rushed In from third and yelled something to Sam. The next pitch was a high, curve ball which Jethroe hit on the nose and sent sailing over the high rightfleld screen fo his fourth home run of the year to clinch the ball game. South worth was asked later what he said to Sam. "I knew he was upset by that called strike so I went In to give him a little encouragement. Come on.

Sam, hit the ball out of the park. You can do It. WelL he did. and that's what I call following orders." The man who scored ahead of Jethroe was Luis Marquez. who went In to run for St.

Claire. Luis said of Sam: "Just call him Babe Ruth Jethroe. He's one good hitter. i Jethroe 's two run homer, needless to say, broke the Dodgers backs and gaves the Braves a tremendous lift both in the standings as well as morale. Friday night against the Giants he continued his home run hitting.

It was a tight ball game for eight lnniugs against Sal Maglle. In the eighth the Braves got three runs In thr Roy Harttfleld hit a tremendous lnslde the park hoIA and Sam followed with a line shot Into th richrfL. ing. The season is only twelve games old and all ready the speed boy has hit live home runs and appears "headed lor his greatest home run production ever. I Not only, is Speedin' Sam hitting home runs, but he Is hitting them in the 'clutch and he still has his teammates talking about his Frank Merriwell performance against the Brooklyn Dodgers last Wednesday night.

7 It will be a long time before forget about that one Here's what happened: The Braves and Dodgers were deadlocked 4 4 In the eighth Inning' when Umpire Angle put the Braves right behind stone wall by declaring: an obstruction play on Jackie Robinson In a run down play at third base and Liva Of his five home runs, Jethroe has hit four of tbem LIT handed. Look at his batting mo far. He has tune hit an4 of them have been homers. One has been a triple ar double. He has ten runs In and leads the league in tkk il partment as well as home runs.

Jethroe. was being kidded by his teammates, tv. asking; him what happened to his stolen bases. sirr 1 IV f. i i ZM mu iww iu urc ct.

a km auianc Ui4i Can I Steal when all he hits is home runs. Luis Marqulez has been assigned the role of pinch t' and defensive outfielder. Manager Billy Southworth It this exceptionally fast outfielder and allowing him tVTl opportunity to see the National League before in him an asalminent. Bit's 4 m. mim 11 mVl tlegro American League Deserves Fans' Support The contribution baseball has made to the national pastime, the major leagues in particular, is one of the great sports, stories of the past decade.

I I Ten years ago there wasn't a Negro player in organized baseball. At that time yon could have wagered 1,000 to 1 that there wouldn't be a Negro player in the majors for another ten years at least. In fact, if anyone had stood up in public five short years po and predicted that in the very near fuutre there would 1 2 enough Negro players in organized baseball to man an r'l star team capable "of hodling its own against the best I erformers in the business, he would have been considered a leading candidate for the mad house. I Cut, thanks to a far sighted man like Branch Rickey, the barriers are down today and it is possible to pick an all star team of Negro players good enough to hold its own in every respect. I There are now thirteen Negroes playing in the majors twice that many in the minors.

In practically every league, whether major or minor, it is possible to find an outstanding Negro player. The lone exception has been leagues situated in the deep South. But even there the rt)Soibility exists now. Down in Lamesa, Texas, for instance, there is an iri ielder by the name of V. Wlngate of Beaumont, praying regularly.

He is the first. Negro to play on a team in organized baseball below the Mason Dixon line. tlegro League Grooms Future Stars It is, indeed, gratifying to see the doors of baseball opening on all fronts "now.u It is a sign of the times and an indication that before long' the entire sports scene will be fr3e of racial Baseball, the "Great American Game" is leading the way. But all of this prohaMy would not have been possible it not been for Negro There certainly have been as many Negroes in organized base call today if 2Vegro baseiau had not existed. te of either the Negro American or National Leagues nety per cent of the Negro players in the minors also me from those two circuits.

In other words, in the space six years the Negro leagues have sent a million dollars orth of ebony talent to the majors and three top minor Since having made this great contribution, one of the two Negro leagues the" National has disappeared. There is now one league of eight teams, the Negro American. The 1951 season starts this week and all eight clubs are rimed and ready for a gruelling Most of them are aded with young, ambitious players who aspire to follow i the footsteps of the Robinsons, Dobys, Newcombes, ampanellas, etc. They are getting their first opportunity in the Negro American League. Some will go all the way to the majors, others will wind up in the top minor leagues.

There will be some, of course, who will never advance. But the fact remains that the Neirro American League providing opportunities for these youngsters, ready to send more Negro stars on to fame and fortune. Teams Cannot Exist Without Patronage I Despite the fact that most leagues in organized baseball now accept Negro players, no oner can deny that the Negro American League is still the garden spot for future Negro talent. I That is why it is imperative that the fans around the country give this league their utmost support. If these eight teams cannot draw fans to the parks they cannot exist Nor can they develop replacements for players like Robinson, Doby and the others.

If this league folds, a wealth of Negro talent will disappear. The players willbe scattered hither and yon, and it will be almost impossible for big league scouts to track them down. Negro fans battled for years to remove the barriers that kept their players from the big leagues. When it final ly happened, they were hilariously happy. They became, ana sun are, tne most rabid fans the baseball world.

They now flock to the big league parks to see their stars perform. But they must not forget where these stars came from. They must realize, too, that there will be fewer Negroes performing in the majors in the future if the Negro American League folds because of the lack of patron ag Dr. J. B.

Martin, president of the Negro American League, says: i "There was a time when Negro baseball was a novelty and people came to see our teams play because they had no other alternative. But now, they must come to see us play because we are developing young players who win replace the Negro players now in the majors. We are developing future big league talent, i "But we can't do it unless the fans suDDort us and make it possible for us to pay the salaries of these young pros pects. i i. Each Player Eyes the Big Leagues The eight teams in the Negro American League are, the Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago American Giants, Birmingham Black Barons, Philadelphia Stars, Baltimore Elite Giants, New Orleans Eagles, Memphis Bed Sox and 'Indianapolis Clowns.

Each team is concentrating on rookies this year. If these youngsters develop, they can be sold to bie leaeue clubs. The prize rookie of the league last year was Willie Mays, a 19 year old outfielder from Birmingham. He was HAL PehhahfChase Getting' Under Way Second Sox Scout at Grambling RAMBLING, La. (Special) The Chicago White Sox of the American League sent a second scout to Grambling College last Thursday to get another "look" at a trio of Tiger stars.

Jim Donaldson, first colored scout in the Major Leagues, arrived on the campus around noon on his initial Southern trip since joining the Pale Hose staff three years ago. Donaldson told newsmen he will remain in Grambling about a week to really get a line on the baseball talent you have here. From what I've heard, several of the fellows look very promising. He was sent here after Doug Minor, another Sox scout, filed a report on outfielders Crawford Neal and Frank Ensley. and shortstop Eugene Elliott.

Minor spent several hours In Grambling two weeks ago after watching a game In Ruston between Centenary College and Louisiana Tech. Before leaving for a swing through Mississippi; Minor stated that he was im pressed" with the college stars. At the time, fcnsley, a brilliant fly chaser, was hobbled by an ankle injury. Donaldson, one of the all time greats of the Negro National League, was a stand out from 1910 through the early twenties. In 1913, he pitched 30 consecu hi.

ViUln.o I xnvcty. oiugie ixcgio piaycr tue uig xeaguca is a gia.u against the Kansas City All Stars. That same year, he hurled seventeen innings against Blar shall, and allowed but one hit while striking out 'twenty seven men. The late John McGraw tried to make i him a Cuban to get him into the National League as a member of his New York Giants. The cagy baseball observer, who isn't apt to condhde hastily about anything, admitted freely that the Sox are Interested in NeaL The fleet young fly hawk banged out fifteen homers last year and hit .485 In twenty eight games.

He has belted the ball at a merry clip this season and has drawn considerable attention with some high class fielding. Elliott and Ensley, like Neal, are good hitters and steady fielders. Th vmithful tpnnls star, nnw' a student at Florida A. and M. College here, will have as her sponsors for the trip, the Slazen ger Company, manufacturers of athletic equipment, and.

some of her friends. It is hoped that Miss Gibson will participate in a se ries of warm up matches in Eng land before the Wimbledon matches. The first of these is scheduled for May 28. ENGLAND AWAITS HER In England, tennis leaders have expressed great enthusiasm about Miss Gibson's trip. She has been urged to concentrate In grass court play so that she might better prepare for the test that awaits her In England.

so 1 Althea Gibson Invited To Play at Wimbledon TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Althea Gibson, the nation's top ranklne Negro tennis star, will add another first to her brilliant tennis ca reer this summer when she competes in the internationally famous Wimbledon championships In England. Miss Gibson's rise in the tennis world has been phenomenal. Last summer she became the first Ne gro to ever participate In the competition at Forest Hills. Since that time her acceptance in tennis' big tourneys has been almost breath taking.

Just recently the Harlem, New York, star broke precedent when she played In the Good Neighbor Tennis Tournament in 711 ami. Fla. She won the singles crown there and then teamed with Tony Vincent to take the mixed doubles. Miss Gibson has dominated play In the predominantly Negro American Tennis Association since 1943. purchased by the New York Giants and sent to Minneapolis, wnere ne is starring.

There will be many youngsters playing In the league this year who are alerady marked as future big leaguers. The Kansas City Monarchs, for instance, have John Head, outfielder; Miller Gnyton, infielder; Buddy Hicks, a second baseman, and Bobby Berts, a 17 year old pitcher. The Philadelphia Stars have a potential big league catcner ixjuis louaen, a slugging Cuban, and a 27 year old pitcher, Wilmer Fields, whom the scouts will be watch ing. Probably the most improved club in the league win be the Chicago American' Giants, now managed by Wlnfield Welch. When he piloted Birmingham, Welch always had formidable teams and developed players like Art Wilson of the Giants and Piper Davis, now with Oakland of the Pacific Coact League.

The Negro American League will have any number of players on the market this vear. If vou want to ret a ennd line on these future big leaguers, do like baseball's best, scouts follow the teams throughout season. rlrico OaIH Brooklyn's catcher, Roy VlOSe Oalll Carnpnella, it a liMlI late with his tag on the Bravts' Ray Mueller In Rally Lets Shaw Win RALEIGH. N. The Shaw University Bears came throuzh in the last of the ninth last week to defeat the Delaware State Hornets in Chavis Park, 5 4.

The last of the ninth was the big one for the Bears when the Hornets sent relief pitcher Brown to the mound. Brown 'was successful in retiring the first two batters, but failed as he walked the third batter, Malcolm Ford. After walking. Ford stole second and third bases, then came in with the tying run on an Infield error, The Hornet's pitcher then walked the next three batters, forcing In the winning run. The win was Shaw's fifth in six starts.

Victor Edmunds got credit for the victory. a recent Dodgtr Braras game at Ebbefs Raid. Mueller scored whan Warren Spahn grounded to first baseman Gil Hodges who tossed home. What They're Doing (Averages include games played Saturday. April M) AB.

R. II. IIR. RBL SB. Pet.

Robinson, Dodgers. 45 11 18 3 13 1 .400 lampaneiia, Dodgers 36 1 7 0 3 0 .212 Doby, Cleveland. SO 10 9 2 7 0 .300 Easter, 26 3 11 0 5 0 .423 Irvin, Giants 46 6 12 1 7 0 .261 mompson. 32 3 6 0 1 0 .187 Wilson, Giants. 7 1 2 0 0 1 JZS6 Marquez, 13 3 3 0 0 1 .231 Jetnroe, itoston.

46 7 8 5 10 2 .173 MInoso, 811 0 1 0 .125 Noble, Giants 10 2 2 1 2 0 .200 Mmpson, Cleveland. 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 rrrciiERs G. IP. II. B.B.

SO. W. L. Pet. Newcombe, Dodgers .3 15 11 6 10 2 0 .1000 i i era I I CalvtrtX CALVERT RESERVE BLENDED WHISKET B'ham Black Barons Pre Season Choice By WENDELL S3ITTH CHICAGO The Birmingham Black Barons are trv w.

niuciuca irague pennant at the Huh In thm far.fTitnv rtmrtt nm .1.1. nu rr in the isj nant chase. The curtain goes up on the Barons home soil Friday night when they tangle with the New Orleans Eagles In Birmingham. The other six clubs tee off The Chicago American Giants, launching their sixty fourth season, battle the Phila delphia Stars In a twin bin at Louisville, Kj. The Kansas' City Monarchs and SXemphls Red Sox are scheduled for a double session at Memphis, and the IndlanapoUa Clowns play two with the Elite Giants In Baltimore.

The pattern of the entire league this season will be an ac cent on youth. Every dub In the circuit will be trying to develop talent that can be sold to major league or top ranking minor league dubs. All eight dubs are primed and A reaay ior a bristling pennant chase, following at least a month of advance training la spring camps. Despite the fact they have lost a number of promising players to team in organized baseball, including Lorenzo (Piper) Davis, their 1950 manager, the Birmingham aggregation has enough talent left to cop the league title. The new manacer, Ed Steele, has come up with three pitchers who are tabbed as future stars, BJp Collins, ex Tuskegee ce; Len Collier, a small but effective southpaw, and Willie Price.

The Kansas City Monarchs are expected to give Birmingham the most trouble during the cara PIgn. The Monarchs, managed by John OTfeiL also have a number of promising youngsters. The Monarchs. who graduated tuch brilliant biz learuera Jackie Robinson of Brooklyn and nenry Tnompson of the Giants, have a host of newcomers, including two pitcher who are expected to be especially tough. Bob Landers and Bill BelL The Chicago American Giants with any back this year under tion of Wlnfield Welch.

tw acknowledged as the tTS ger In Negro baseball Welrh youth. He has timed t.l yearold first basenun br ft iname, Carl Cole. ran. tvJ Johnson, a lyear cld ed The PhlladelphU SUr i so expected to Manager (Hear ChuVito the best balanced piUrhteg U3 la the learue wit Joc Clnea, YUUe Gaines, WTfawr Harris, Bob Grifnth Cbesnut ready for rert2 duty. i wo dcsi league have gone, a fact tJ may encourage the pitcher SiH Halrston, who topped Le larj wxui a .424 aTrare.

Is with ramento this season, and Tri Davis, second with 3S3. Is tlr ins the outfield for the OaiUrl uaics. Kansas ry UU raj 4 Jegue'a best pitcher vt2t He is George Walker. Hynri ngninanaer. wr.o won htfl 4 nd lost three last season.

i earned run a erare cf liS i the best In Negro fcasetal The league seisoa zi' be played In halves. The l. half starts this week 1. 4 eii on July 4. This week's schedule: Friday: New Orleans at Ingham; Sunday: Kansas i Memphis (2); IndiarjpoLs Baltimore (2), and vs.

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