Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 14

Mirrors of Sport Green to Captain Army in 1945 "West roint, N. Dec 4 (AP) John I. Green of Shelbyville, was elected captain of the 1945 United States Military Academy foot-ball team today. Green, a guard, succeeds Quarterback Tom Lombardo of St. Louis.

irwn earned his varsity as a reserve last year ami was outstanding in all Army games this season. Dy Havey J. Boyle Poat-iaMU apart Editor The Departure of Griggs TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 5, 1944 While Johnny Grigas' presence in the lineup might have brought victory instead of defeat in the Steelers' final game of the season with the Chicago Bears, his leaving the club just before the game was tion it would have been had ill the way and the pennant, Tech Cagers- Play Geneva Toni Indeed, judging from the note of apology Grigas left oefore he quit, the fine ball carrier and main cog in the ocal machine, might not have Geneva's Passers Get Pre-Game Instructions iction had the team's fortunes been better. Outside observers will go a little slow in putting the backfield star in the grease as a result of his action for certainly the tone of his letter indicated that whatever his physical condition for the final contest he was not geared psychologically to give out with his best. On the side of maintaining discipline his leaving may lemand some drastic action by the league authorities, but Covenanters Set To Test Youthful Tartan Quintet Stajje Contest at Beaver Falls: Westminster Opens Campaign With Slippery Rock Quintet By Jack Sell Victorious by only two points at 27-25 over the Slippery Rock Teachers in their opening game of the season the Car.

lere, too, it might be well for rround of the whole situation is one that is set out clear Terhaps the proper cue temperament of the men in I 1 1 luuwrmns unsns uuRe ut "cuiiij, suu yx me, nut casny auuie i His leave-taking was not a A 1 tad the general course oi ine eason. negie iecn Tartans win 'J Js Hf 1 fit St -t5 I TriJ 4 i I NrrH jJLa against much tougher competition tonight when they meet the Geneva College Covenanters in the Beaver Falls Hih school gymnasium. The first tossup will be at 8 :30 I Cllie ill Come It will be interesting to see whether the new American Professional league will attempt to make capital out of Jrigas' defection. There is a report bouncing around that ne oi me new league rams ia icauj uia.n.& Iteeler-Cardinal player an offer. What happens, then, will ffcr-a clue as to whether there is to be peace or war be- ween the established circuit and the new loop.

For if the new league decides it will offer a haven for layers of the old league who want to make a change there ri be only one choice for the National League and that will be to adopt counter measures to raid the new league or luaiwidi. II experience in oaseoau will be no peace until both selves in fevered bidding for ii The National Baseball League was raided merrily Wylll" he American when the latter BACK FROM LAST SEASON, these four basketball players who make up the nucleus of the Geneva College squad will do their best to make life miserable for Carnegie Tech tonight when they entertain the Tartans at Beaver Falls. Getting a few last minute instructions from their coach. Dr. Harold Bruce, the quartet of returning veterans are (left to right) Forward Dave Pod-bielski.

Captain and Guard Bill DeVenzio, Forward Elmer Lipp (kneeling), Bruce, and Guard Bob Neisslein. Lipp and Xelssleln are sophomores from North Catholic as not until both leagues realized they were impoverish- ng themselves that they finally came to a peace arrange- l.iu nCk-rT nrrtrn Tiipnon nnr cuTicrarinr i in iiiiin i iliifc niuvji mi.ivv wui. uol.u.vwv..v Nelson Wins 'Frisco Open Golf With 281 When Ferrier Falters Tf ir ffHoll leatniP Irigas' defection the gain is 11 vut- iiv ti awi.vu.ki vcww lder circuit will not wait -wise from his moorings but emptation to do so is put in t3 tnriiifr ine new iracuc hard way is up to it. The hard way. lofier Hresnahan Dies his Roeer Bresnahan.

who died aseball knizhthood was in flower and even in such gaudy nmnanv was rntprl hv manv he plate. His gifts were many as Golfer Pulls Billiard Shot San Francisco, Dec. 4 (UP) A slight knowledge of the game of billiards came in handy today for Sergeant Jim Ferrier in the $14,500 San Francisco Open golf tournament. Ferrier's tee shot on the second hole of the last 18 headed Into a clump of trees. It hit with a thump nd stuck between two limbs.

The six-foot, two-inch artilery man, who weighs 214 pounds, surveyed the situation In true army style then shinnied up the tree, called for a putter, used the handle as a cue and knocked the ball 15 feet out into the clear. He shot a double-bogie six for the hole, against Byron Nelson's par four. ant receiver, but he was good enougn on tne onensive to ct as load-off man. His reputation was not dimmed any the fact that as a Giant i.u uwijr iatvnov. He was a part of the romantic period of baseball when he issue on the diamond was iter periods.

Rivalries seemed sharper and personal en- ounters among the contestants were more frequent. something less than the sensa the Steelers been "up in there" say, depended on his presence, been driven to his surprising the bosses to study the back before treating Grigas' case either all black or all white. is to trust to the judicial position to make a decision cr thcr will davo tflA nM uie the shock it might have been A. ask a I I ateeicrs Qeen smwuier au I -u: IU counts lur aujuuug mc sides have expenaea men talent. first set up in business and it wnnlH cpplr nrivflntace from i bound to be fleeting for the until a player decides to cast will take steps to see that way.

is icaui laivutj, guess here is it will take tne yesterday, flourished when the best of his dav behind for he not only was a bril- he was coupled with tne one more personalized than in in a world where players Greenlcaf Cue Leader Defeat? Joe Procita In National Tourney New York. Dec. 4. Ralph Greenleaf of Detroit, veteran cue master, took a temporary lead in the national three-cushion billiard tournament today by defeating Joe Procita of Gloversville, N. 50 to 18, in 28 innings.

Greenleaf. who now has two triumphs without a setback. opened with a six and got another six in the sixth Inning. Procita, who replaced the ailing Johnny Layton of St. Louis, naa a nign run of three.

In other matches today, John Fitzpatrick of Los Angeles defeated Arthur Rubin of Brooklyn, 50 to 37, in 44 innings and Jay Bozeman of Vallejo. trimmed Miquel Marquer of Mexico City, 50 to 23. in 36 innings. registered. One of the four new entrants in the circuit makes its appearance tonight in the person of Ford Seibel's Ray Miller Club, a Homestead entry, which tackles the Pitt Army Unit team Coached by Dr.

William Ruhe, in the second game. Two holdover clubs from last season clash in the lid-lifter and rangy Center Avenue piloted bv Pom Fountain, meets Herb London's youthful YMHA quint. The league will offer double headers each Tuesday and Thursday. On Sundays two twin bills will be staged, one at 2 o'clock and another at 8. For Bresnahan thrived Pro Gridders Draw Checks, Go Home Steelers' Poorest Season Ends With Extra Blow by Grigas With the exception of their van ishing fullback, Johnny Grigas, members of the Pittsburgh Steeler team drew their pay checka yesUrday.

and 8tarted scattering to their homes through out the nation. Thus ended the unsuccessful wartime merger of the Steelers and Chicago Cardinals while owners of both franchises solemnly resolved to go it alone egfbIne dr0pped ail 10 of us Football League starts in addition to a pair of exhibition games with the Philadelphia lyiJ'tii' SovS York Giants at Forbes Field. Since that existing afternoon the Goth- m.clVb hs fu1 ts wy into first place in the Eastern division and seems a good to take the division championship. Grigas' Leaving Blow next-to-last blow for the stacppr- ing steelers. Final sock was the 497 licking administered by the Chicaeo Bears that sftcmnnn wnrsf setharb- rs? tV.o 7.

"Ja Hon hji wp a Tnp tynocr ai'nw recorded by the Bruins in their au-ume series with the locals. Grigas was one of the highest- In7ddltn Vhl, Cd cho7es Tr rl vmamW.m ne worked rerularlv at an indns trial plant in Ambridge. When the club played abroad train reservations were always made so that Johnny could get back to his job even when the rest of the squad 70 only teammate employed the same place with Grigas and he has t0 his home in in iron Man Role i type or gridders who piayed almost the entire dis- tance in everv contest this nast season, a quiet chap, he rarely Ji; 5 7 mates while onviT varloUS SS" Apparently he was giving a great deal of thought to the Steelers troubles as evidenced by a ram bling letter he left in care of hia roommate, End Don Currivan, in Hotel Webster Hall. The text of this farewell note follows: 'Dear Management and Coaches: action, for what I just did, may not be the best in regard to good, ethical business. Think what j-ou may of me, but I sincerely believe that in all justice it is for the best.

"I had that desire which you often mentioned in your lectures, but how long a person can have an3- desire depends upon the frame of mind under which he plays. The human mind Is the faculty of the soul, which is influenced by the human body. When your mind is changed because of the physical beating, week In and week out, your soul Isn't in the game. My mind has been influenced this past week and I tried to stick it out, but it has reached the stage where the mind is stronger than the will. In all justice to the management and mj-self, I am leaving because I couldn't play the whole game.

"I played every game from start to finish and never said a word because it was my job to justify my salary. Money was not my primary aim, but to play hall as a sport and have a little fun in a successful season. "I don't know what the fault was because it was difficult for you as for us we had a bad season. "I tried to win and worked hard, but the workhorse, as I was termed by the newspapers, Is almost ready for the stud farm. "In closing, all I can say is that I'm deeply sorry but these are things which can't be fully explained.

Good luck, and may the team win just this one. "Sincerelv, "JOHN GRIGAS." Steeler officials were reluctant toi make any puDiic statement on tne Grigas case as the player is the property of the Chicago Cardinals. While many fans sympathized with a star performer stuck on a losing club others pointed out that Johnny experienced just the same fate last year. In fact, most of the Cardinal cast have been in grid togs through 26 straight setbacks. Grigas Arrives Home, Declines to Comment Chelsea.

Dec. 4. (JP Johnny Grigas. star fullback of the Pittsburgh Steeler-Chicago-Cardinal football combine, arrived home today and declined to comment on his failure to report for yesterday's finale against the Chicago Bears. "I wrote the management a letter and I don't want to say anything else but what they announce," Grigas said.

strive ior tneir second strain At isew Wilmington the VfSt. minster College Titans start forty-eighth season of floor or.l petition. Slippery Rock wrj nish the rivalry in the ofV 19-game progra for Cr Starting Lineup CARNEGIE TECH Onughrrty Katselas Theodora Seioseia Klein Referee Monk Ketrhel. Rress. tEV4 lV.n Lmrii Grover Washabaugh's b' vs.

T-e former South High mentor opening his eighth season w.th Ve Blue and White. Geneva had an even split IS contests last winter. The Covs are coached by Harold Brurp. biology professor who never tutored a quintet before he took over the war-time emergency thre years back. However, he was an outstanding player as a Geneva undergraduate.

Four Lettermen in Lineup Four lettermen will be in th lineup of the Old Gold and White tonight. They include Captain Bill DeVenzio of Coraopolis. a junior guard; Forward Elmer Lipp and Guard Bob Neisslein, sophomores who prepped at North Catholic High, and Forward Dave Podbirl- ski, a sophomore from Beavpr Falls. Center will be entrusted to Freshman Dave McComb. who is the tallest member of the squad with his six feet, three inches.

Hp is a New Brighton High school product and holds a medical discharge from the army after one year's service. Coach Max Hannum has drilled his Skibo defense to keep a watchful eye of Elmer Lipp. The North-aider went on a scoring iampag5 last season in a game with the Tartans and set a Geneva individual record with 28 points. Westminster will be starting with bright prospects this season. Twelve of the 17 members of squad have served as cage captains.

Four veterans returning to the cage wars include Nob Jorgensen from Taylor High; Chris Wagner from On-nellsville; Fred Paine from and Don Bennett. of the Towering Titans last winter. Freshmen who led their high school quints include Ray Hal Freedom; Joe Cypher, St. Jarrf.5; Harry Raybuck, Merion Center; Alfred a 1 r. Homestead; Markowitz, Peabody; Dean Nc-son, Warren, and Alex Vsi-ich and John Kashlak, both of Duquesne (Pa.) High.

school and later freshman football at Penn before taking the head coaching job in 1938, making him one of the youngest grid coaches of a major school in the country at that time. In eeven seasons his Penn teams have won 37 games, lost 16 and tied six. 5 Olu Perm Alumni Honor School Head, Coach The Pittsburgh Alumni Associ ation of the University of Pennsylvania will hold a dinner in the University Club tonight honoring President George W. McClelland, Head Football Coach George A. Munger, and National Alumni Secretary Leonard C.

Dill, Jr. Moving pictures of Penn's 1944 games will be shown. The affair starts at 6:30 o'clock with Kenneth C' Witherow, secretary of the local alumni body, in charge li Ti va- -lit i GEORGE MUNGER The Quakers won five games this season, from Dartmouth, Duke, William and Mary, Colum bia, and Cornell, and lost three, to Navy, Michigan and Army. Coach Munger was graduated from Penn in 1933 after playing on the football team as a back for three seasons. He coached DreD LI not yz: To Go fine Sam I WJfTO- 1 i if 'T ft it i iv ,4, 4 I 2 sharpened their spikes not to improve their running but to give their sliding and kicking a little more authority in the minds of the hapless fellows covering the bags.

An upper classman in the McGraw school, the late atcher's reputation was such that few moderns have been ompared with him. His arch rival in his prime was Johnny Uing of the Cubs; a latter day produced Cochrane and ickey and Hartnett. Different conditions and changing opposition always make impossible the final cataloguing of the great of baseball. It is a tribute to Bresnahan that over a span of some 50 years mention of his name brought favorable comparisons with the ancient and modern stars. Defending Champion Grabs Lead on 16th Hole to Win Out San Francisco, Dec.

4. UP) Byron Nelson jumped back into the role of "Mechanical Man of Golf" today to win the 72-hole San Francisco Open tournament with a 281 that nosed out the soldier links sensation, Sergeant Jim Fer rier or camp Roberts, by a single stroke Ferrier, lead er at the half Bj ron Nelson way mark after the third round, and at the sixty- third hole today, faltered on the final nine. It was only a momen tary slip but enough for the straight shooting rival who matched him in a man-to-man battle, the two being paired in the same threesome. Nelson Goes Into Lead Two shots behind when Ferrier chalked up his third successive agle 3 on the twelfth hole, Nelson gained back one at the thirteenth and squared the match on the fifteenth. He jumped into the leaa for the first time in the tourna ment at the sixteenth where Fer rier lost two strokes after driving out-of-bounds.

Ferrier picked up one at the seventeenth and the final hole was halved to give Nelson the major prize of the San Francisco tournament for the second straight year. Nelson, leading money winner of the year, added $2,666 in war bonds, making his total for 1944 above $43,000. Snead Ties for Third Sergeant Ferrier, former pro at Elmhurst. 111., before being inducted last March, picked up $1,866 in bonds. Sam Snead of Hot Springs, finished with a 68 and his total 287 gave him a third-place tie with Willie Goggin.

White Plains, N. Y. Amateur honors went to Ed Furgol, Detroit, with a 72-hole total of 296. Higgins Speaker At Triadec Dinner Coach Bob Higgins of Penn State College, was the principal speaker at the first annual banquet of the Triadec Conference attended by 230 people, including players, coaches, parents and sponsors from Carrick. Brentwood and Baldwin High schools in the Spencer Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church last night.

John Holohan, Brentwood councilman, presented the Triadec football trophy to Brentwood High for winning the title this season. Warren Graffam of Baldwin township, was chairman of the committee. Ralph R. Zahniser, Carrick High coach, was toastmaster. Basketball Results COLLEGE lo State 4i Minnesota Puerto Rico Star.42 Havana Drake 3 ltroit De Pan! 61 Chiraro Na-! .41 .38 .38 41 Valparaiso 52 Busker Hill MS Villanova 9 Lovola B.

28 kVasbbura 40 Kansas 35 HIGH SCHOOL St. Jos. M. 47 St. Marts Mt.

Oliver St. Jnsepo Wajnesbnrif 39 E. Washington. .31 RECREATION INDUSTRIAL. Porters 39 i.

L. Crucible 34 tttat 30 INDEPENDENT Benrock 2S Morean It Etna Pioneers ..70 AspinwaU I r- '4 1 i I or nets Meet in First li Two Games Special to tht Pituburgh Pot-Giett St. Louis. Dec. 4.

The St. Louis lyers and the Pittsburgh Hornets egin a two-night, two-game, ome-and-home hockey series here imorrow night. Then on Wednes- they'll tangle at Pittsburgh. The teams have met only twice lis season so far and each has ained a decision. The Flyers on.

3-2. in a game played here October 31 and the Halloween oblins must have gotten them fter that because their next vic-Dry over any team didn't come ntil December 2 at Hershey. Pittsburgh scored a 6-3 triumph 'hen the two sextets tangled at 'ittsburgh on November 25 for he Flyers' first appearance in his-ory in the Smoky City. Central Pin Lead Is Taken By Wallace By Phil Gundelfinger, Jr. Darwin Wallace has taken over the lead in the close high average race of the Central Pittsburgh Duckpin League, the latest figures giving him a level of 177 pins to l6 for George Remington, the previous pacer.

Doc Emery is third with 175 and De Luca and Bvkowski are tied for fourth with 173 pins. De Luca rolled the best triple last time, an even 600. Watkins, the runnerup team to Andersons in the team standing, set a new team high match total or (17 sticks last time. Copping two out of three games, the Doc quartet, composed oi Oeorge Atkins, Guy Jackson, Grace Sell, and Dorothy Haenel, took over first place in the Dopev uucKpin JLeague, composed of residents of Fineview. Larry Haenel, of the Happvs, had high game of 172.

High season leaders are Charles Hoegel, Grumpys, 231, and Ann Donaghy, 166, the women's leader. Games are rolled on the Liberty alleys, Downtown. R. H. Van Kirk continues to set a fast pace for Traffic and Transportation League keglers.

The last available figures give him an aver age of 157 pins Peg Brown's 507 score paced the Starlet Traveling League. Her games were 193-149-165. Retriever Trials End Wauconda, 111., Dec. 4 JP) Shelter Cove Beauty, a three-year-old golden retriever owned by Dr. and Mrs.

L. M. Evans of St. Cloud, won the national retriever trials which ended here today after three days of competition. rtrl JitrtU I.

iMt U. Ic, rrtUiirtk. ft Roff Bresnahan Dies in Toledo Served Organized Baseball 35 Years Toledo, Dec. 4. LP) The Duke of Tralee, one of baseball's most colorful figures, is dead Roger Bres- nahan, who came out of his native a lee, Ireland, to serve organized baseball for a third of a century as catcher, manager, coach .) of a heart at- I yS tack in his home.

ss Ll He was 64. Roger Bresnahan Bresnahan was the first-string catcher for the New York Giants from 1902 to 1908, playing in the 1905 World Series. He retired from baseball in 1931 ending a 35-year career that started as catcher for Lima in the Ohio State League in 1896 On Hoods' All-Time Honus Wagner, a contemporary of Roger Bresnhahan who died yesterday, said last night: "I picked Roger on my team of all-time greats because he was uch an all-around player. He could play the infield and outfield, and even pitch, besides catch. His hustling always stood out." Galento Flattens Suzek Wichita, Dec.

4. iJP) Two-Ton Tony Galento knocked out Jack Suzek of Chicago, in the third round of a scheduled 10-rounder here tonight. Suzek weighd 218 pounds and Galento 244. Fine Whiskey Since 18941 Hiliir it Vt'M Whisktf It I tmi 11 VHf.f Vlimy Floor League Opens Season With Two Gaines Miller CIul) Tackles Pitt Army Unit Anil Center Avenue Meets YMHA The Municipal Basketball League, ponsored by the Bureau of Rec-eation. inaugurates its sixth sea-on tonight at the Southside House Recreation Center with doubleneader beginning at 8 'clock.

Although tnroads on play-ng talent made by the draft have seriously depleted the rosters of ome of the entrants, league officials are confident that competi-ion will be keen and are optimis-tc as they look ahead to the oop's fourth war-time season. The names of numerous former college stars dot the rosters of various teams with many stellar former high school players also mitt.