The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 16

SHERRY MAKES GOOD Sherrod Smith, former Dodger and Cleveland pitcher, haa been appointed captain of the guard In the Georgia State pen. The fact that ol' Sherry haa made good aa a prison guard is no surprise to those who recall how used to keep runners glued to first base. Brooklyn Eagle Sports ED.HUGHE5' COLUMN 16 BROOKLYN, N. THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1910 Ill Dodgers Open Exhibition Schedule Tomorrow Puncher From Texas Lew Jenkins, wiry lightweight menace from Texas, and Tippy Larkin. talented Jersey lightweight, slug it out for 15 rounds at the Garden tomorrow night.

It should be an interesting and likely an exciting fight-whue it lasts It's an elimination thing, the winner to get his shot Dy Ed Hughes Iliii Flock to Oppose Reds At Tampa in First of 34 Pre-Season Tests TOMMY HOLMES Staf Correspondent of the Brooklyn Eagle Clearwater, March 7 With the 34 exhibition games scheduled opening against the Reds at Tampa tomorrow, the Dodgers will swing into the second stage ol their 1940 training for the National League pennant race. Following three weeks of preliminary training preparation, the games against stronger opposition will furnish an opportunity to observe just how much improvement Manager Durocher may expect with his new players. The intramural games thus far have, of course, given some Looks Like TooK ACE. 15 VEARS To a indication that the anticipation of Improvement among the old and new players is not groundless. One incident in yesterday's five-inning practice game was an occasion for some optimism in the batting improvement of Ernie Koy, who included two home runs over the right field fence among the four hits he had for the day.

Year TiMC CRACK. CrUCKvAJCEto A S-aLaran S6MSATtoA It, Lew Ambers' lightweight crown. Larkin is fast and a neat boxer who can punch, too. Jon-kins is a lair boxer but his chief claim to prominence is an explosive right-hand knockout wallop and a flaming lust for battle. The Texas youth on the skinnv side but his spare body is ail leathery toughness.

He has a long, hard, wolihte face. Lew is a mean, merciless proposition in the ring, and is as dangerous as a spluttering tick of dynamite. Jenkins has done very well in his few New York appearances. His recent stopping of Billy Marquart in the Garden was an eye-popper. Not a sparkling boxer, Jenkins is agile, aggressive as a tax collector, and a lightning as well as deadly puncher.

If the wolfish Texan gets bv Larkin there will be plenty of interest in a championship til', between Ambers and Jenkins Ambers would be in much the same position as when he faced Al Davis. That is, carefully maneuvering his chin out of the traffic of brain-jangling blows. Good Company Should Jenkins ever win the title the power of his punch wilt turn the trick. However, if the Sweetwater thumper doesn't get there it won't be any special disgrace. He will have had the company of a young army of terrific clouters who failed to park their somniferous sock on a royal chin.

Most lightweight champions have had to fend off the attactt of killing punchers to retain their crown. And some of then were kept pretty busy with these "sudden death" foes. Among the lightweight the chief tamer of the crushing sockers was Freddy Welsh, masterful defensive boxer, but a weak hitter. Welsh engaged in a monotonous string of no-decision scraps when he held the title, thereby earning the sobriquet "Safety-First Freddy." However, there was another reason for the term. He had a real genius for keeping his chin out of serious trouble.

The Welsh boy let the hardest hitters of his day take their shots at him. And none of them could ring the bell until young Benny Leonard, finally keeled over the fading veteran and in a no-decision brawl at that. Consider the pirate crew that heaved their soporific raps at the slippery Mr. Welsh Joe Shugrue. one of the two scrop- pers to flatten Benny Leonard until the McLaren business; Charlie White, Willie Ritchieo.

Ad Wolgast, Ritchie Mitche'i and Johnny Kilbane. White, neadlieat lett-hooker of modern lightweights, actually took three tries at Welsh's crown. Two of them w'ere no-decisions at ten rounds, the other a bona-fide 20-round title disorder. Ritchie Mitchell, another dangerous lett-hooker, twice fallen to make a dent in the regal Welsh armor. The Mihvaukeean, you'll recall, gave Leonard his most fensational championship quarrel.

In the first round Mitchell's left found impact on Benny's chin and the champion sat down for eight. The great Joe Gans took some chances with the "third rail' walloper, too. Gans, when on top, eluded disaster from such hitters as Willie Fitzgerald, Jack Blackburn and Willie Lewu. Fitzgerald, the Fighting Harp, was a Brookiynite and a near-champion. The Old Master later declared Fitz had been his toughest opponent.

Fitzgerald was a good boxer and a dangerous gambler with knockout swings. Gans declared he never ducked so many potential kayo blows in his life. Fitz was knocked out in the tenth though. They Failed Ad Wolgast's tough chin weathered some terrific shots, too. He gave a sensational California walloper, One Round Hogan, a chance to capsize him, along with Owen Moran, Mexican Joe Rivers and New York's popular Knockout Brown.

None grabbed Ad's title. Three stiff hitters failed to upend Willie Ritchie Charlie White, Leachie Cross and Harlem Tommy Murphy. Leonard gave the clouters their innings, too, in meeting Charlie White, Willie Richie Mitchell, Lefty Lew Tendler and Rocky Kansas. White, Mitchell and Tendler each had the champion in serious trouble. White's crushing left hung Benny on the ropes half out of the ring.

Charlie was near the title when, at the moment, Leonard's brother stepped Into the ring a palpable foul. Leonard won in the ninth, however. Billy Petrolle and Kid Chocolate, knockout punchers, couldn't unsaddle Tony Canzoneri when Antonio was king. The devastating punch doesn't always claim a title. a.s you see.

But it's something with which no smart champion lets his chin become too familiar. VxhMfir-Wo ih PainI has suifTeD TH ARAv.To 6AGK Ullrt 2-0 WEAR 1 r'KAm Who HAS TfrjRD A WAV To SW AULTHRo A AtfOooteR-TbLr Ust ear- Has Movl HABTtoF HiTiMfilriro PLAV5 Witek Challenge Spurs Whitehead Giants' Problem ChiM Shows Plenty in Bid To Hold Regular Job Winter Haven, March 7 Originally it was thought that the chief battle in the Giants training camp would center about third base where a yawning gap remains to be filled. However, at this stage of Riggs Mediocre Champ Tilden Rice to Offer Maki a Battle? Answer to That One May Be Coming Up In K. of C. Two-Mile Bv RALPH TROST The idea of the United States havintr a truly great distance run ner has become almost confusing.

Until Greg Rice started pushing those little legs around in indoor i record time, distance running was something no one in America had I to worry about. That was a problem for the Poles and the Finns. They had the runners and the ords. But now we have the 5-foot-6 Gregory Rice, who proved, In his last two meets, that the distance between first and second grows greater and greater. Suddenly we have a man who not only can win but may break records.

Without benefit of competition, either. Judging bv what the little fel low from South Bend showed in the yoiK a. v. meei ana uie A. A.

U. championships, tne two mile run on the K. of C. program I at the Garden Saturday night will 1 b' an exhibition, mats tne only way one can figure when recalling. 5P0RTQPIC5 9 Jimmy Wood Sports Editor VWHA 6rRFlrM BEEfA-l Meeoecs Will UiHipcracvcer.

To AAK Ae oowp. PlAS SAU- vNoT fUeoY-TUATs AVE Wear. v. Thinks Budge Is Best Of All Time; Sees Crisis in Net Game be in there trying. He has whacked Don twice in eight starts to date.

And at 48, it's amazing to think that this man can boast and keep his boast that hell take a set from any living player. Bruce Barnes, who beat Tilden the other night on the Duke University courts at Durharo. confessed yesterday that he was "dragging" off the court after the match, while Bill was fresh. Barnes will start Sunday night program at 8 jfi'clock with a one-set singles match against Berk Bell. Vines will then play Perry two out of three sets, Tilden will then play Budge two out of three, and in the fourth match, Tilden and Vln Richards, the old doubles kings, will battle Budge and Bell.

The final match will pit the winner of this tilt against Vines and Perry. AT CROSSROADS But back to Tilden, who's still-listen broadcasting "Amateur tennis Is at the cross roads, and the only thing that can save It from going on the down grade now is an open tournament. The best young "comer" we have in the amateurs today is Ted Schroe- der, the Junior champion, who's a fighter and carries hard hitting Into every stroke of his game. Van Horn? Two much ego (Fancy Tilden accusing anybody of having too much Welby has an Idea since the nationals that the other boys Just have to bow to him. Watch Schroe-der it's my guess hell be national champion In a few years, maybe sooner." "If I were to pick one man right now as a valuable addition to pro tennis it would be Bltsy Grant.

It would have been Bltsy five years ago, and It still is. He's a fighter He should have turned pro and made, a pile years ago. Never un- derestlmate that boy." three catchers, six infielders and five outfielders. Thirty-one players have reported at camp and others are expected momentarily. Two Infielders, Gus Suhr and Roy Hughes, are negotiating with President Gerry Nugent wor more money.

Orlando, Fla. The Washington Senators see a chance of reviving a deal with the Detroit Tigers that would send Shortstop Cecil Travis to Detroit for either Hank Green-beerg or Rudy York now that Charley Gehringer is ailing. The veteran Tiger infield star is suffering from a strained back, Pasadena, Cal. Manager Jimmy Dykes is toying with a batting order he says would give the Chicago While Sox as much power as any team in the American League except the Yankees. He plans to lead off with Jackie Hayes, if the second sacker overcomes his knee trouble and follow with six poten- I tlal .300 sluggers Joe Kuhel, Mike Kreevlch, Taft Wright, Luke Appling, Julius goiters and Erie Br Among Other Calculations Time will soon come to chalk up another set of selections for the impending big-league pennant races.

This involves heavy-duty deliberating on the part of the experts and excessive wear and tear on the various sets of calculations employed to arrive at printed conclusions, tr the game the heftiest tussle of all is OI lne oluer lrien when the season starts. Durocher being waged around second still determined that he will start Burgess Whitehead, one of the best1 Joe Vosmik in left but the other second basemen in the business' two Placps are wide open. Koy's mat Kice won me rao-miie ewjmatch Davis Cup lnlerzone York A. C. race by 60 yards and the final Qf 1937 was tne greatest I ve Flashes From Flock Clearwater, March 7 Umpire George Magerkurth is the latest victim of the epidemic of colds In camp and will be out of action a few days Larry Goets will work the games for the next ten days Durocher is still having trouble with his right arm and had to take it easy yesterday when he played second base for a few innings The Dodger manager doesn't believe that he will be able to play in the All-Star game at Tampa, March 17, unless the arm shows marked improvement The team under Charley Dressen's banner had been cleaning up In the camp games until yesterday when the Durocher forces reversed the usual order and won 11 to 2 Lou Berger was nipped on the wrist with a pitched ball and had to retire in favor of Durocher There Is talk that the Dodgers may do part of their training in Puerto Rico next year.

HOLMES. Koy has made some changes In his method of hitting and it begins to look as if the revision of his style was going to bear The Chief has dropped his habit of bat waving and has steadied his swing. While there is nothing unusually impressive about training camp homers over short-right field fences, the fact that Koy is meeting the ball better and with improved timing Is encouraging. Not only did Koy show Improvement in his batting but he made an unusual running catch of Pee Wee Reese's fly In short center, another indication that the stiff competition under way in camp among the large collection of outfielders Is bearing fruit. One of the liveliest topics in camp is the outfield problem and a lot of 'guessing is going on about the pos- work shows that he is determined make a strong bid for one Qf lne places with Roy Cullenbine and Jimmy Ripple both working over- llme ln lne raee amonB tne oul fielders, The hitting enthusiasm of Koy yesterday somewhat overshadowed a similar outbreak by Johnny Hudson, who also had two home runs ln his collection of four hits.

The con centration of Durocher on batting" practice during the past few weeks of training bears out the early statements of the Dodger leader that his club this year needed more power in the outfield. Not only has Durocher Impressed upon several of his players the Importance of changing their stance and style at the plate but his advice ha extended to a change in bats. He is discouraging the tendency of using heavy bats. Yesterday's workout gave Whitlow Wyatt an opportunity to test his aU-lng left knee under pressure. There was no indication of a limp or favoring the injured knee, and while the pitcher was a victim of the hard hitting of Koy and Hudson, the fact that his first trial on the mound did not hamper his pitching style gave Durocher some reason for optimism about Wyatt's future.

He is confident that he will come through this season. liams ln left and Doc Cramer In center. to try him in all fields to see where he belongs," explained Cronin concerning Di-Maggio. San Bernardino, Cal. That title of captain must have been Just what Arky Vaughan of the Pittsburgh Pirates needed.

He slammed a homer ove. the right field fence yesterday to lead Mike Kelly's crew to an 80 victory over Jake Flowers' nine in a six-inning intrasquad game. Ace Parker booted three of his seven chances as a shortstop and Rookie Bob Elliott injured an ankle sliding into base. Bradcnlon, Fla. Another nine-inning practice game was on tap today for the Boston Bees with Strincevich," Callahan and Laman-na opposing Rucidlo, Earley and Roehringer on the mound.

Manager Casey Stengel has been pleased by the early work of his rookie hurlers and the coaches have been giving them a lot of I attention. Benefit Program The tennli matches for the Finnish Relief Fund will get under way at the 71st Regiment Armory Sunday evening promptly at 8 p.m. Bruce Barnes will face Berkley Bell in the opening one-set encounter and then Ellsworth Vines will meet Fred Perry and Bill Tilden will oppose Don Budge In the best two out of three matches. In the doubles Tilden will team with Vincent Richards against Budge and Bell and the winner of this match will meet the combination of Vines and Perry in the final competition of the evening. All of the doubles matches will be the best two sets out of three.

Hutton, that Cramm has gotten out of Germany to Italy." SPORTS' BEST TALKER The greatest tennlst of all time by all accounts and the best-known standards took another breath and was off again. It was a pleasure to listen to his fluent, emphatic talk. He's more articulate than any other sporta hero we've ever met. But to continue: "Don Budge? He's Just too good to believe, that's all. He manages to produce that same high grade of tennis 365 days of the year, which is the answer.

Budge's best days may be no better than Vines best, perhaps not as good, but he's so much more consistent Budge is the best the world has ever seen, in my opinion Bill paused a moment while talk buzzed around him concerning the tennis party at the 71st Regiment Armory Sunday night, when a full house will shell out to see seven leading pros and to help the Finns. For a few moments, he was the same old Tilden, flashing a flair for showmanship as he balked at going on in a doubles match before the "featured" singles match between himself and Don Budge. Bill hasn't any illusions about his ability to beat Budge, but says hell three-mile A. A. U.

title by more tnan iou yaras. cut oe most important exniDition Decau.se now that the little man has found himself, Don Lash's 8:58 record can be cracked. And with the cracking will come an opponent for the Finn, Taisto Maki, who holds the world's record. Frank Brennan, the man who dreams of the 4:04 mile a time no one has come within three seconds of equalling at any time this Winter, and the Winter times have been consistently fast might better line up his flock of pacemakers for the two-mile record of 8:58. There's a mark that can be toppled.

Big Bill Savs Cramm Is IVow Lone Great Amateur in Tennis By HAROLD PARROTT Mr. William T. Tilden talking: "Bobby Riggs? Why, he couldn't stand on the same court with some of the first 10 of other years. He has good legs and a good tennis headj but nothing else He has nn rsrwrt. for the eame the way ne jt Tries to take too mucn oul of lt without putting enoURh in ONLY great living amateur Cramm Tnal Cramm-Budge ever seen, and the only match I've aiever watched where two men began th cracked for one instant during five sets I've had a tip, through Barbara Finn Meet on 30th Plans were taking shape today for the final big track indoor party of the year the Finnish benefit Saturday night, March 30, at the Garden.

There will be 10 events, all finals, nn heats. All the big names are lined up, and each of the races will be aimed at a record. PARROTT. for him 1, All ai By the Associated Press Avalon, Cal. Gabby Hartnett, the Chicago Cubs veteran catcher-manager, is going into action sooner than he expected all because of the Finnish War.

He hadn't planned to play until the Cuzs reached Kan Antonio, Texas, en route home, but agreed to appear along with eight other members of his team in a game at Los Angeles Sunday for the benefit of the Finnish Relief Fund. St. Petersburg, Fla. Manager Ray Blades split the St. Louis Cardinals Into two squads today for the first game of the training season, probably hoping the maneuver would take his players' minds off Joe Medwick's contract troubles.

Meanwhile both Med- wick (in St. Louisl and the man-I agement waited for somebody to make the first move. Lakeland, Fla. The Detroit Tl- gers are expected to start rookie 1 Dick Conger, Los Angeles police- man's son and ex-college star, on the mound against Brooklyn Brcucr Gfowds Chandler For Yankee Pitching Berth St. Petersburg, March 6 Spurgeon Chandler, red-thatched right-hander of the Yankees in training here on the spot.

And he knows it. Consequently he is hustling as never before. Spud, who had a bad ankle most of last year, will have to stage a comeback to remain with the World Champions. HLs status is questioned by two newcomers, Lee be forced to move on to make room ic i. when he is serious, no longer ap- pears to be Bill Terry's problem child.

Bureess looks like the star of old as ne goes aoour, ms woric to onset the serious challenge of Mickey Witek, a much heavier hitter, bought from the Newark club. Whltey appears to be as fleet as ever and has exhibited much of his old-time skill in fielding. Even his batting seems to carry more punch. Probably the presence of Witek, bidding for his job, was Just the tonic the doctor ordered to straight en out Whitey, who becftme rather eccentric last season, after returning to the wars from a long siege of illness. Whitey has looked so good thus far that Terry Is giving him ample time to re-establish himself.

If Burgess satisfies Terry that he is the same dependable soul he was before falling heir to an appendicitis operation, Mr. Witek will be forced to do his chores around third. The former coal miner from Luzerne, Is the Terry type of ball player, a real hustler with a good arm, who does a respectable Job i fielding and thumps the ball solidly The big question mark is, can Witek I play third? ll. McNair. Anaheim, Cal.

The Philadelphia Athletics probably are wishing major league pitching was like the variety they've faced in three exhibition games. They copped their third decision yesterday in a 123 17-hit splurge against Portland of the Pacifio Coast League. With Frank Hayes stiU holding out, Earle Brucker was again the Np. 1 catcher and contributed two doubles as well as a nice defensive performance. Tampa, Fla.

Vince Di Magglo finally has satisfied himself why Paul Derringer of the Cincinnati Reds is a great pitcher. "Gee," exclaimed Vince, "He threw me a change of pace when I was ahead of him two balls and no strikes." Sarasota, Fla. Manager Joe Cronin of the Boston Red Sox has startled some of the more conservative observers of his club by announcing he would rearrange his outfield In today's intrasquad game by placing Rookie Dom De-Magglo In right field. Ted Wil Triumvirate of the creates! figures in iport may be strutting in valedictory parades over the weekend. Tonight Eddie Shore, greatest hockey star of the age, nears the end of the trail withthe Anier-cans.

At 37 years of age can he come back for another season? Saturday night Glenn Cunningham. 30 years old, nears the end of hts career on the boards. The 4 C4 4 miler will start in the K. of C. meet in the Garden.

Sunday night Bill Tilden, at 4fl, may take hi.s bow on a tennis court in the Finnish Fund show at the 71st Regiment Armory. Tilden is really the marvel of modern sports history. He's still one of the most dangerous tennis for one match. Of course, he's not durable enough to withstand the rigors of tournament, piny. Tilden has come down through the years, down through the of Dempsey, Ruth.

Bobby Jnr.es. Tunney. Earl Sande and others who have ling since into retirement. Thv re all long out of action. Bill Big Bill still i.s the most dnr.cerous of all in his par-t'cular game in a man-to-man duel.

He is living proof that time Is the true test of a real champion, the test of a champion of champions. Medn ich Stands Pat St. Louis, March 7 (UP Joe Meiluick idled around his suburban home today and summed up his salary war with the succinct statement: "If Mr. Branch Rickey wants to talk terms, he'll have to come to me." Meriuick, who is demanding S20.WK) from the St. Louis Cardinals fnr 191(1, left the Cards' training camp at St.

Petersburg, I and flew here been use Vice President Rickey illed to keep an appointment fcr a salary conference. "Of course I want to play baseball this season," he said, "hut not at the terms I've been offered. The next move Is up to the club." Unfortunately the tremendous mental effort-s of the experts often go for nix because factors are present that can't be included it) any set of calculations. Fir example, no expert can foretell that the star may come down in mid-May with a recalcitrant brace of ton-tils or a seething sinus condition. No one can foresee that the hard-hitting outfielder, the spearhead of the attack, may be spiked going into second base or twist an ankle circling back lor a long fly.

Then there's a most important factor that is almost, certain to come up at some time during the campaign and yet can't be spotted in any svstem of calculation. This is the slump, the dread of all managers. No expert ever could when a was going to set in. an individual slump or a team Eli imp. No one knows what happens to hall player when he becomes unable to hit the of Ins collar or what to a club when it blows up Bfer mnvhing the pare lor ('.

eral ir.Gh'll.s. All a manager knows it that club has suddenly slipped, K't the vital spark. He can call it s.alwess. tension or whatever he prefers. But he can't put his finuer on the trouble, and it's next to impossible to check the disastrous plunge.

The ju. a i art or in make it happens to be To of no' rur.fined to dejection the field alone. Thev carry over after the game, cirry through the night, when an entire club may tcms in its worried, nervous, grouchy nr.ri tightened lip over the prospn of dropping a fat bonus bundle -hat seemed to be within reach the yips had set In. All managers abhor slumps, of course. But they are frightened over a po.iuie slump ln the closing month nl a campaign.

Slumps are bai enough ln the early going, when there's still time for recovery. They're Ufuallv fatal going down the homestretch to the wire when the schedule is fast running out on a club. rfl.ft llnsnG 4 Hnin. 1 iiauiwi Aasuv Grissom, rangy southpaw, acquired' in a Winter deal with the Reds, and Marvin Breuer right-hander who won 17 and lost six for Kansas City ln 1939. The hurling corps Is pretty well established with Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez.

Oral Jlildebrand, Monte Pearson, Bump Hadley. Johnny Murphy. Atley Donald, Steve Sun-dra and Marius Russo, the Ozone Park portsider. That's a total of nine, and granting that all of them will be retained, two vacancies remain to be filled. Thus far, Grissom has showed a return to form appears destined to be retained.

I It looks as If Chandler must beat 'out Breuer to stick on the roster. Marvin is a big, strong lad with a side-arm motion reminiscent of Waltern Johnson's. Manager Joe McCarthy Is impressed with the stuff Breuer has exhibited thus far. iMarse Joe had planned to keep 'Marvin last year and reluctantly let him go when' the farm teams started cry for mound aid. I But there are other chuckers who refuse to be counted out.

They Include Tommy Reis, who turned in 17 triumphs against four losses with Kansas City; Ernie Bonham, Charley Stanceu and George Wash burn. McCarthy also tnuiKS a nn of Reis and one of the veterans may in their first exhibition game Sun day. Second Baseman Charles Gehringer probably won't play because of a lame back. Fort Myers, Fla. It might become confusing if continued, but the Cleveland Indians conducted their baseball practice yesterday on a football field.

Their training diamond was flooded by an all-night rain, forcing the shift to other quarters. Manager Oscar Vitt contented himself with pepper games and calisthenics. San Antonio, Tex. It has taken only two workout for George Mc-Qulnn, the St. Louis Brown's front rank slugger of last season, to show he still swings a big bat.

He has the camp hopeful he can lead the Brownies out of the American League cellar. Myril Hoag and Don Heffner, who also arrived late, are nursing sore muscles. Miami Beach, Ha. The Phillies probably will carry nine pitchers this season, Manager Doc Prothro has revealed, leaving room for.