The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 6

FAGBIDt BLYTHEVILLE (ARK.) COURIER NEWS TUESDAY, APRIL M84 Opening Day Schedule Is Different for 1954 By BEN PHLEGAE AP Sports Writer President Eisenhower, is having a tough time with the traditional presidential job of throwing out the first pitch of the baseball season. Last year he begged off to play golf only to wind up pitching anyway when the Wash- oDener was delayed bv rain until late in the first week of the season. This year he agreed to make the first pitch April 13. But it will be the first pitch only in Washington. Weather permitting, the rest of the major league teams will be off and running before then.

Guess Everywhere Instead of scheduling a separate opener in the nation's capital a day ahead of the rest, the majors this season designed a full round of activity for the first day. And in Washington the game with the New York Yankees won't start until 3 p.m.—a full 30 minutes later than any of the other seven games. The first action in a major league park comes tomorrow in Washington when the Senators play host to the Brooklyn Dodgers in a night exhibition. Bobby Shantz of the Philadelphia Athletics was the shining light of yesterday's nine exhibition games. Although he was beaten, 1-0 by the Pittsburgh Pirates on a home run by Frank Thomas, the little left- hander gave up just three hits and struck out nine as he went nine innings for the first time this spring.

Purkcy Gets Shutout Bob Purkey, a. 24-year-old right- bander up from New Orleans, went the distance for the Pirates. He scattered six hits and didn't walk anybody. There were two other shutouts. Clem Labine, Jim Hughes and Erv Palica combined to hold Milwau- k-ee scoreless as the Dodgers whipped the Braves 6-0.

The Chicago Cubs edged Baltimore 2-0 on the four-hit pitching of Johnny Klippstein and Jim Brosnan. Bobby Hit Again Robin Roberts continued to take a spring pounding as the Detroit Tigers jumped on him for seven hits and five runs in five innings. The Tigers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-2. Cincinnati hit five home runs in whipping Washington 9-4. Lloyd Merriman got two and Jim Greengrass, Wally Post and Ted Kluszewski one apiece.

A three-run homer by Jim Hegan with one out in the ninth gave Cleveland a 10-8 decision over the New York Giants. The Chicago White Sox pounded Gerry Staley and Joe Presko for 10 hits in six innings in defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2. Memphis of the Southern Assn. tripped the Boston Red Sox 6-5 and the Yankees trounced Charlotte of the South Atlantic League 12-3.

Cardinals Aren't Bemoaning Loss ST. LOUIS (AP) St. Louis Cardinal General Manager Dick Meyer, satisfied that money spent will improve the organization, says club officials aren't worried about a $700,000 operating deficit last season. The operating loss for the Car- dinal organization including farm made public yesterday. "We're hopeful of reducing that loss somewhat this year," Meyer said "We're not complaining, its that we're going to try to operate on a businesslike Dasis-" Seek Improvement Meyer said the club wasn't expecting a large loss this season "if we can improve our posi- 'tion in the standings." The Cards tied for third last season with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Emphasizing that the $700,000 deficit covered all phases of the organization, including farm clubs and teams with which the Cardinals have working agreements, Meyer said: "That's the entire operating cost, and although some minor league players are included, they're not the cause of the loss." No Breakdown There was £0 breakdown in losses in the brief announcement, but it was noted that the deficit did not include the cost of remodeling Busch Stadium, Cardinals' home field, which was reported at more than one million dollars. Meyer, noting that only Houston THE MAN AT a late starter, Stan Musial is off to a roaring start this spring in quest of his seventh National League batting championship. But the Cardinals' star is taking nc chances, so works in the batting cage and at bunting. (NEA) and Rochester made money in the club's farm system last season, said: "We haven't set a specified goal in dollars for this year, but we don't want to go on losing that kind of money, either." Trout Aplenty MADISON. Wis.

old lady who lived in the shoes didn't play in the same league as lake trout. Wisconsin fish managers collect- ng spawn for hatchery operations got quarts of poten- ial of 300,000 young lake rom 50 female fish. That's 6,000 each. Tiger Jones After Olson Scores Victory Over McNeece BROOKLYN, N. Y.

UK Bobo Olson had another challenger after his middleweight title today. Latest in the long line is Ralph (Tiger) Jones, the No. 4 contender, who freshened his credentials with a fast punching 10 round televised triumph over young Billy McNeece last. night. Jones looked rugged and sharp against the durable paratroop veteran but still several notches short of championship caliber.

McNeece, beaten only once before in 11 pro bouts, rocked Jones in the fourth and was still strong at the finish although bloody from a inch cut over his left eye. The victory was No. 32 for Jones in 39 fights. He won eight rounds on one scorecard, seven on another and six in the opinion of Referee Barney Felix. The AP gave him the fight 8-2.

Cords Play In Memphis SHREVEPORT. La. Eddie Stanky's St. Louis Cardinals go after the Chicago White Sox here today in another exhibition game on a barnstorming trip north. The Cardinals and Sox play at Little Rock.

tomorrow and Memphis, Thursday before parting company and heading The Cardinals take on the Baltimore Orioles in St. Louis Saturday and Sunday in a pre-season series. Sports Bums, Braves, Giants, Cards By GAYLE TALBOT NEW YORK (AP) It will take a far braver man than this returnee from the training camps to pick against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the coming National League race. Likewise to predict that the Milwaukee Braves will not again finish second and make a show of the field in attendance. The only clearly defined hunch contracted in the sunburn belt is that the distance between the No.

1 and No. 2 teams at season's end will be much less than the 13 games it was last fall. It might be a fairly close finish if Bobby Thomson's broken ankle heals rapidly and he is back in the Braves' outfield by a month from this date. League Tighter There seems little doubt that the entire league has tightened up to SEATTLE Booster teams from Payette, Idaho, and Yakima, stole the spotlight in American Bowling- Congress competition last night. Evans Motors of Payette rolled a sparkling 2779 to take third place among the boosters and Macs Fruit of Yakima was right behind with 2758.

A major shakeup is expected in the open division tonight when 29 Class A teams take the drives. Among teams scheduled are several 1000 average lineups. Also scheduled are King Louie Shirts of Kansas City, anchored by Frank Benkovic, and Madys Lanes of St. Paul, both 1000- average outfits. some extent, at least down through the Cincinnati Reds, who finished sixth last year.

The Dodgers do not believe that the Pirates will lose 104 games this time. Here is this corner's best guess: (1) Brooklyn. (2) Milwaukee, (31 New York, (4) St. Louis, (5) Cincinnati. (7) Chicago, (8) Pittsburgh.

One Change This is not especially sensational, for there is only one important change from the order of the 1953 finish. The New York Giants, who wound up a disorganized fifth last year, are jumped over the St. Louis Cards and the Phillies, who tied for third and fourth. Reports from the west and from the exhibition trail shout the news that the Giants look like a different outfit since their fabulous young Negro outfielder, Willie I Mays, returned from the Army. i They say.

in fact, that Leo Duroch- Raschi Con Hit NEW YORK Vic Raschi, Yankee pitcher now with the Cardinals, always will remember Aug. 4, 1953. No, he didn't hurl a no- hitter. That is the day he set a major league record for a pitcher, by batting in seven runs during one game. Against the Tigers Vic blasted a home run, a double and two singles.

WHITE SHOULDERS The Perfect Fragrance For Your Easter Parade! The Gift Shop ON MAIN er's club looks much like the one that Willie led to the '51 flag. Selling PONTIACS NOTICE Hyde Park BEER 2 $3.25 AH Brands 25c Phillip Applebaum Liquor Store 110 So. Fifth Phone 9641 Phillies' Kazanski Is Hitting .400 But Is 1-A With His Draft Board SPARTANBURG, S. C. (AP) "All I know is I'm 1-A and hitting the ball," says Ted Kazanski the good field, no hit shortstop of the Philadelphia Phillies who currently is clipping the ball at a .417 pace.

The 20-year-old Kazanski has 20 hits for 48 times at bat. He has at least one safety in each of his last 14 games. It's mighty strange carryings on for a .217 hitter renowned for hitting one hop grounders at infielders. Kazanski hit .217 in 95 games last year. Spring Flower? What's the answer? Is Kazanski merely a spring camp hitter? Will he be a weak stick again once the regular season starts? Or has he learned something about the art of hitting major league pitching? Manager Steve O'Neill Coach Eddie Mayor believe Kazanski has learned to hit; that he'll add at least 50 points to his 1953 batting average, maybe more.

"It's all a matter of his left said O'Neill. "It was too ar from the plate. We got him put that foot up closer to the plate and drop his right foot back little." Power Spat Coach Mayo took Kazanski under his personal wing this spring. He pointed out to Kazanski that there ire about two linear inches of bat urface that produce power. That important area is six inches from he end of the bat.

A ball hit on hat spot, said Mayo has got to travel no matter whether a 200- pounder ov a little guy is swinging. "Power doesn't come from the shoulders or from 200 pounds of mtter. It comes from the forearms, wrists and hands and from hitting the ball on some part of that two-inch area," Mayor told Kazanski. "All you have to do to be good hitter is to move closer to the plate and take a level swing." Kazanski followed instructions. "I merely did what they told me to do," Ted said, adding.

"I'm getting base hits. That's what counts." Kazanski's draft status is in the hands of his Detroit draft board. He expected to go last October but wasn't called. HUBERT POLSGROVE Hubert Polsgrove, who has had 20 years sales experience with Stratton-Warren Hardware and Childs Distributing has joined the sales staff of Noble Gill Pon- i tiac, Inc. Mr.

Polsgrore has been a resident of Blytheville for 9 years and is active in civic and church work. He invites his many friends to see him for a "real deal in a new or used car." Noble Gill Pontiac 5th Walnut Inc. Phone to 6817 WfcWELLER O'Connell Is Disappointing Former Buc Star Sees BA Nosedive CHATTANOOGA, luck of the a six-figure price serving Danny O'Connell pretty well this spring. Although Jack Dittmer, his rival for the Milwaukee Braves' second base post, is outhitting and out- fielding him, O'Connell seemed a cinch today to be in the starting lineup for the National League opener next Tuesday at Cincinnati. Manager Charlie Grimm continued his "I haven't made up my mind" routine.

But O'Connell mained his apparent choice for the opening role. Grimm admits, though, that he's disappointed in O'Connell's showing at the plate. In his last 58 times at bat OConnell has made only 11 hits for a dismal .189 average. The slump has shoved his spring mark down from .500 to -301 through yesterday's game with Brooklyn. Dittmer, in contrast, has been slugging at a brisk clip and boasts a .377 average over the same span.

A year ago O'Connell, playing third and second for' Pittsburgh, outhit Dittmer, who was the Braves' regular second baseman, .294 to .266. The Braves gave up six players and an estimated $200,000 cash to get O'Connell from the Pirates during the winter. In his rookie year for the Cardinals in 1953, Ray Jablonski played in all of his team's 157 games. Yots can get fhoujandi of extra from your car without overhaul expense! Install a Motor Rythm Lubricator on your engine for more power end pick-up and lew' engine Motor Rythm "top engine" lubrication worb from the top oil on the herd to reach upper engine parts, including valvej, pistons and rings. Top engine lubrication pays for itself many times, over.

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This first meeting will be brief, so that individuals preparing to attend church services will be out before 7:30. All sponsors who contemplate placing teams in either the "Bay Window" or the Commercial leagues should send representatives. Also, Individuals who would like to participate in either league should be present. There has been some talk relative to the formation of an adult church softball league. Players desiring to play in such a- league should be represented.

This meeting is designed to get an idea of the number of players interested in playing in a softball league of any kind during the approaching season. This will govern the number and the nature of the leagues to be formed for the summer. Wonder Boys Return RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. ansas Tech's "Wonder Boys," who won 25 out of 26 basketball games this year and led the nation in scoring with an average of 95.8 points per game, will be strong next season, too. Every member of the starting five is due to return for the 1954- warts, 6 feet 7 Don Sevier, is just a freshman.

Upsets Loom In '54 Masters Odds All Against It, But It Could Happen AUGUSTA Ga. (AP) There never has been an occasion when an unknown won the Masters golf tournament. But it could happen this year. The conditions of the Masters are all against the outsiders. To qualify for an invitation to this event, a golfer has to prove his merit by winning an important title or by finishing in the upper brackets of a major championship.

That's what gives the tournament its unique touch. More Unknowns But the big field for the 1954 80 or more starters out of 115 who received invitations includes more players than ever before whose names seldom have appeared in headlines as tournament winners. To emphasize this fact, tournament chairman Cliff Roberts asked four of the top players to name four newcomers who seemed to have a chance. The result was this: Littler Liked John Dawson, veteran amateur, tabbed Gene Littler as "the most interesting golfer I have ever watched." Gary Middlecoff picked Ted Kroll as a possible Masters winner; Ben Hogan, the defending champion, put in a strong plug for his assistant, Gardner Dickinson; and Byron Nelson put young Ken Venturi on top of his list. Littler is the 1953 national amateur champion who turned pro in January, just after beating the play-for-pay boys in the San Diego Kroll, a chunky, hard-bitten ex- soldier, the oldest of the four listed.

He's a tested tournament player who has won his share, but so far he hasn't displayed tfie big game needed to cope with the 6,900 yards of the expansive Augusta National course. Middlecoff argues that Ted has conquered that weak- Venturi, the young California amateur who shucked Uncle Sam's uniform to play in this tournament, caught Nelson's eye when he averaged under 70 in a series of exhibitions last year. Others, Too Dickinson, even leaner and slighter in build than Hogan, is the real dark horse of the quartet hasn't made the tournament swing this winter, devoting his time to teaching and practicing on Hogan's home course at Palm Springs, Calif. To these four names can be added such newcomers to the Masters field as Bob Toski, only double winner on the winter tour, low scoring Bud Holscher, Bob Rosburg, Jay Hebert, Frank Souchak and 'PGA Champion Walter Burkemo. Among the 22 amateurs are Mcrey, runner-up for the national title; and 1953 quarter finalists Don Albert, Bruce Cudd, Ted Richards and Angelo Santilli all unknowns in this event.

$600,000 Gate Is Predicted For Marciano NEW YORK Rocky Marciano signed yesterday to defend his heavyweight title against Ezzard Charles, the former titleholder, at Yankee Stadium June 17. Jim Norris, president of the International Boxing Club, estimated a gate of $600,000 and up for the match. Marciano gets 40 per cent No decision has been made yet on television but it is believed likely that there will be theater-TV but no home television. Somebody asked Charles if he was more confident about winning back the title this time than when he Walcott. "It wasn't lack of confidence against Walcott," he said.

"I didn't sense its importance at the time. It was just another fight. Now I know how much that title can mean." Kellogg Still In Critical Condition LITTLE ROCK. Ark. Kellogg, whose disclosure that he had been approached to shave points in a game helped uncover the 1951 college basketball "fix" scandals, remained in a critical condition today.

Kellogg, a 6 foot 8 member of the Harlem Globetrotters team, and four other Negro professional basketball players were injured near Pine Bluff, Friday night when their car overturned after a tire blew out. Kellogg suffered a severed spinal column and a dislocated vertebra. His physician held little hope for recovery of the Portsmouth, player. The condition of Boyd Bule, who suffered a hip injury, is good. Buie, also a member of the Globetrotters second team, and Kellogg are in a Veterans Administration hospital here.

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