South Gate Press from South Gate, California • 7

I SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 1970 INDUSTRIAL POST BELL GARDENS REVIEW MAYWOOD JOURNAL' SOUTH GATE PRESS SECTION PAGE ONE The Russian Struck Out Enroute to Hospital i South Mad Russian whose rollicking and many times comical manner of play in professional baseball during the late and early made him both the delight and dismay of fans and managers died Wednesday enroute to St Francis Hospital after a lengthy bout with a lung disease Lou Novikoff 54 was laid to rest yesterday in Russian ceremonies almosts as colorful as his career which spanned both softball and pr baseball Hie Russian Molo-kan rites began in the Pierce-Gulick Mortuary in Los Angeles at 3 pm Friday when a minister of the First Prochladnoye Church of Los Angeles and mourners ar-d Lenghty Rites As chants were recited and near like playing hardball a claim they later came to rue Chicago sent him to the old Three-Eye League then promoted him by sending him to Tulsa in the Texas League He was a sensation in both leagues as he had been in softball and when he hit Tulsa he was too good for them This led eventially to a contract with the Tri-ple-A club in the Pacific Coast the I os Angeles In the late he became the biggest boxoffice draw in the history of minor league baseball Unbelievable Plays The pitches he swumg and hit most of the time out of the ball park and his adventurous catches in the outfield bordered on the unbelievable The fans loved every minute of it while managers stood on the sidtlines and prayers said the body was placed Mb casket' A procession 'made its way to the church at 1074 Rowan Ave and chants prayers and spiritual rites continued until nearly 1:30 pm Saturday1 Novikoffs remains were then given special escort the New Russian Cemetery of Los Angeles for final rites Novikoff who for the last 15 years was a Longshoreman employed by the Pacific Martitime Association in Wilmington was in the mid-to-late a nationally ac-' claimed softball star excelling as a pitcher and batter He led every softball league in batting Experts Laughed Baseball experts laughed when the Chicago Cubs org- anization signed Novikoff to a contract- They claimed playing softball was no where pulled their rapidly growing gray hair In 1940 he won the Pacific Coast triple crown with the Angels He had a 363 average and was credited with 41 homeruns He also won three other batting crowns in the minor leagues In 1938 with Moline in the Triple-Eye League in batted 367 in 1939 with Tulsa in the Texas League in hit 386 and with Milwaukee of the American Association League during 1941 he hit an astounding 371 Colorful Signing manager Jimmy Wilson signed him to a big league contract in 1941 with great fanfare and ceremonies as the man himself Novikoff spent the next four years with the Cubs and the Philadelphia Hollies His to hard for fans to pronounce or remember so he changed it when he entered the Soft-ball leagues to Louie Neva At Ponca City the story goes softball ers challenged a bunch of hardball nuts to a game Softball people in those days maintained vehemetly a good softball team could beat a hardball team in a game of softball A showdown was called and a sizeable betting pool was made Of course everybody had heard of Louie Neva but they had heard of Lou Novikoff Playing under his real name Neva made out of the hardbal-lers by shutting them out Arizona Native Louis Novikoff was born Oct 12 1915 in Glendale Arizona to Alexander and ulia Novikoff Russian emigrants He had several broth average failed to equal his minor league record but it was still a respectable 282 higher than many major league players today Perhaps his greatest moment or at least one that many Southeast baseball fans remember happened in a game at Wrigley Field when ace pitcher Claude Passeau of the Cubs had a no hitter going The whose name has since been long forgotten-cracked what looked like an easy pop fly and out to Novikoff Lou lost it in the Sky and it conked him on the head or possible shoulder lowing the man to get on base The man later scored and Passeau lost his no-hitter Heard id Him Novikoff always known by his real name At one time he figured the name ers His early years were spent in the land of the Phoenix In 1932 when Lou was 18 the family moved to Kara County Lou graduated from Kern County High School in Bakersfield He was a hand-some youth then moon-faced and a very -muscular type Not too much is known of Novikoffs person nal life A spokesman for the Pierce-Gulick Mortuary said that Novikoffs surviviors include his wife Tanya of the home at 10324 Washington Ave South Gate a son and two' brothers A family friend said that Novikoff a World War II veteran had livtd in South Gate many years Rams Demolished Bell Wins 13-8 Player of Week tab Jim Person they were able to roa back in the fourth far a ID nuking the final score 13-8 The Eagles are touted as possible league spoilers this "-eason and their apparent come-from-behind force may make them just that Western Harness Racing to Mark Its 25th Anniversary Jim Person 22-pound I offensive tackle and a fretfh-man from South Gate has been named one of the players of the week for the Mon- tana Tech Orediggers Person was nominated for I honors after the Sept 26 clash I of the Orediggers and Fort Lewis College Raiders which Montana made off with an I easy 27-7 victory In a special release to this newspaper head coach Bob Riley said felt Jim was the outstanding offensive lineman in the Fort Ltwis game an outstanding job of ug and opening up iles He was also very effective in his downfield blocking has been showing steady improvement throughout the Riley continued we feel he will beoome one of the works and Bourbon Street decorations are included on the bill of fare Country and Western Night featuring top and performers climaxes the special promotion schedule on Dec 4 with free hats and reduced food prices on tap Highlighting the 1970 racing schedule are the two $100000 American Classics and the newly created $75000 Shapiro Stakes cents and beer for 25 cents Music will be provided by the Firehouse Five Plus Two as well as two other roving dixieland bands Fireworks and free straw hats are also part of the gala program Mardi Gras Night Mardi Gras Night follows on Nov 13 with Hirt scheduled for both a pre and post race concert as well as providing New Orleans style music throughout the evening Reduced food prices fire Hie South Gate Rams really know what was happening in their tilt with Eagle rock and were smashed 34-0 Eagle Rock termed one of the finest squads in City ag-gretion posted a convincing victory scoring twice in the frot quarter twice in the third and once in the fourth The Eagle Rock offense waltzed past the Ram defense on many plays and touchdowns were scored by Cheney Mayoock Stevens and Marianna The Rams who it was thought would bull their way into title contention this season appear to be only warming up their motor for now New coach Bob Schnyder warned before the season that one of the problems his squad would have to face would be manpower because South Gate la a small school The Rams face Belmont at home next week Bril Wins Bell jumped out in front of San Pedro early in the first quarter to take the lead 7-9 but were shocked in the second when San Pedro scored eight points But this block the young Eagles BASEBALL STAR Johnny Bench Cincinnati outstanding catcher will appear in a different uniform on Mission Impossible series this fall He will play a military officer of a Latin-Amerlcan nation on one of the shows Kfl Radio Broadcasts Playoffs KFI Radio will broadcast the National League playoff games between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds Games will be broadcast live The playoff for the National League Championship will be a three-out-of-five series beginning in Pittsburgh Sunday Oct 4 KFI Radio will broadcast the gams at 10 am and Monday Oct 5 the series will move to Cincinnati beginning at 11:30 am If needed the playoffs will continue Tuesday Oct 6 and Wednesday Oct 7 with broadcast times at 11:30 Western Harness Racing Inc is celebrating its 25th birthday this fall at Hollywood Park with many new wrinkles' and special promotions planned for the 13-week night harness season continues through Dec 21 with racing conducted Tuesday through Saturday nights with first post at 7:45 pm Additionally five Saturday doubleheader programs are on the calendar beginning Nov 7 Four Special Nights Four special promotion nights have been scheduled for the 1970 season highlighted by March Gras night Nov 13 featuring the trumpet of A1 HirL Fireworks free birthday cake cut from a 60-foot special cake and free souvenirs will highlight the opening night program Roaring Night The second annual Roaring Night is scheduled Oct 2 with food and beverage prices of the old days prevailing Pepsi will be served for a dime hot dogs for 20 5 Dragsters Ignore Death Dangers JIM PERSON Player of Week Falstaff 300 Stock Car Race Mapped The richest sportsman stock car race in California history is planned for the San Gabriel Valley Speedway in Irwindale on Oct 9 and 10 Race Officials Tabbed By Fair sss writes the conditions for the quarter horses and Gilbert Thompson secretary for harness racing The cars used in drag racing are usually somewhat adapted to the changed driving conditions of the drag strip Careful drivers make sure that their cars are equipped with special safety devices Of course it is impossible to deny the existence of some risk to life One psychiatrist feels that although the racing driver may admit to the pos-siblity of injury or death he may still be convinced that it can never happen to him Death Fear Hidden It is very difficult for most people to both intellectually idea of their own death Deep MWHEflE Tab Two Blockbuster Races During October within himself the racing driver may feel fear but the challenge and thrill of the sport can keep his fear sup-pessed Special Busses to Holly Park Residents of South Gate and Huntington Park areas may take special Southern California Rapid Transit District buses direct to Hollywood Park in Inglewood during the Night Western Harness Racing season now through Monday Dec 21 The RTD provides local Line 54 service operating along Firestone and Manchester Boulevards and will connect with Line 5 Hollywood Park local buses at Manchester Boulevard and Market Street in Inglewood Racing is conducted five nights each week Tuesday through Saturday Post time is 7:45 pm each night Special holiday night racin gprograms are scheduled for Wednesday Nov 11 Day) and Thursday Nov 26 tkm for this type of event The second classic is slated for Saturday night Oct 24 and will be a National Championship Open Competition stock car race also slated for 100 laps A purse of $2500 has been posted This marks the first 1970 appearance of the NASCAR late model stocks on slick half-mile track Harold Morrison one of the leading racing offi-cils is presiding steward once again for the 14-day Los geles County Fair race Meeting which is now underway Phil Shepherd the secretary-manager disclosed this week in announcing the official staff approved by the California Horse Rasing Board Morrison whose racing background covers more than 30 years in various official capacities is being rejoined by Wilson Dunn and Barry Whitehead the latter the official representative of foe racing board to complete the board of stewards who will oversee file conduct of racing during the fair John Hartley appointed earlier in the year for another term as a' racing secretary Hr the thoroughbreds has en on the job here for several weeks Other racing secretaries both of whom have been associated with the fair in official capacities for many years include Don Smith who Prkldy Ronald Hartley Richard Valles Peter Tunney Lawrence McDermott Donald1 Two blockbuster auto racing events have been announced for October at Ascot Park versatile facility at 183rd and Vermont in Gardena it was disclosed today Stu Peters recently elected vice-president and racing di rector has arranged for his first auto racing events since he has taken over Primarily a motorcycle expert the two events are first venture in auto racing promotion and they are good ones Through arrangement with west coast field director for NASCAR Art Atkinson the first event is set for Saturday night Oct 17 It will be a National Championship NASCAR 100-lap late modtl stock car race with a hefty winners purse of $5250 Last Call for SC Women Interested In Volleyball League League play began Monday at South Gate Parks and Recreation Department volleyball courts Places on teams are still available If interested call 567-1331 Extension 278 and ask for Naomi Nixon or Paula Grimes recreation leaders Volleyball League Registering Registrations are now being taken at the JA House 9825 Walnut Ave (behind Diamond one for the new girls volleyball leagues beginning this fall Sign-ups began last Saturday and will continue Thursday Oct 8 weekdays 6-8 pm except Friday and 10 to 12 am on Saturday Registration fee is $5 which includes a team photograph insurance and trophies for the winning teams Girls interested in this sport must live or attend school in South Gate or Hollydale and be between the ages of 8 years and 15 years A brith certificate or similar document as proof of age is required Managers and coaches are needed Anyone interested should contact John Dudgeon or Russ Bakker of the SGJAA 567-4189 or call the office 567-9768 Ray Elder Enters Ascot 100-Lap NASCAR Event Ray Elder champion driver from Sacramento has entered Ascot 1970 Pacific Coast late model NASCAR stock car race set for Saturday night Oct 17 it has been announced Stu Peters racing director at- Ascot said that Elder will be putting his title on the line against toe onslaught of runnerup Jack McCoy of Modesto in a 1970 finish that should prove to be a veritable storybook end jHovhevs ABLED BODIED HELP FOR HEAVY WORK AT BAG PLANT Steady job available as bag 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