Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 26

26 Thursday. April 24, 1952 DETROIT FREE PRESS PLAYERS TAKE FULL BLAME FOR POOR SHOWING (ytos K0fe TFn) ooft TTDn i Tor our poor showing," Hutchinson said, "He is a good manager. He has been wonderful to all of us while we have suffered all this bad luck at the start of the season. Hutch Sets Record Straight "WE WANT TO REFUTE that story from he CHICAGO BY LYALL SMITH Free Press Sports Editor They didnt even let Manager Red Rolfe eat his breakfast Wednesday as the telephones jangled and bellhops paraded messages to his table. He finally gave up and pushed his half -finished meal away from him.

"Can't say I feel much like eating anyway," he explained. The Tiger manager was a beleaguered man when the Chicago newsmen sought his reaction to the story out of Cleveland, of all places, that the Tigers were at the rebellious stage. You can believe it if you want to. But it is simply not the truth. That was proved later in the morning when the team asked Rolfe to leave the clubhouse and held an- unprecedented players meeting.

It resulted in a unanimous vote of confidence for the Tiger manager. The outcome was reported by Pitcher Fred Hutchinson, who called Detroit newsmen into the conference. "We feel it is unfair for Manager Red Rolfe to be blamed Cain Beats Feller in One-Mil DueL 1-0 Triple, Muff CAN'T SWALLOW REBELLION STORY Ridiculous Scoffs Geliringer Particularly needed are young players with speed and hitting power. But there are few clubs in the league which would trade games," Gehringer predicted. He indicated that the club would try, as it has in the past, to get player personnel.

said. "If there is any blame for our showing, the players themselves are accepting it. We are for Rolfe all the way." By a strange coincidence the Cleveland story appeared Wednesday morning at the same time that readers of this column were told that Tiger players were behind Rolfe and with him as they never have been with him before. The adversity which has followed the team through the first disastrous weeks of the season has welded players and manager together in a tight, solid and harmonious unit. It became even more obvious after the Cleveland story first made headlines in the Chicago papers.

George Kell, Jerry Priddy and others walked up to Rolfe and told him in positive and forthright fashion that they were with him all the way. It was made even stronger than that as the team rode the bus from the hotel to Comiskey Park. The Cleveland story was treated as a joke, and the players laughed about it. "The only blowup we're going to have is hen we finally break out with some hits and murder somebody," insisted Joe Ginsberg. "You said it," added Vic Wertz.

"What are we waiting for." These, and others just like them, were not hush-hush conversations. They were out in the open where Rolfe could easily hear them. And he did. Players on the verge of a revolt against their manager don't talk like that. I know, because I've been with teams in the past which have broken, out in revolt against their boss.

Lack of Hits Tells Whole Story ROLFE MAY HAVE HAD some personnel trouble in the not too distant past. But he is not having any now. The players know why they are having trouble. They simply are not hitting the baseball. They were shut out in three of their first eight games.

Another time they scored only once, made two runs on two occasions and did manage to fashion four runs and then five in their other losing causes. That makes a total of just 14 runs in eight games, although they have made 53 base hits, including a pair of home runs, two triples and nine doubles, in addition to being handed 19 bases on balls. In other words, they have put 72 men on base but have scored only 14 of them. That they have had to face pitchers whose combined total major league victories last season stands at an impressive 112 also is a factor. Just what will happen if the Tigers do not break out of their hitting doldrums and start winning ball games is strictly conjecture.

To state that Rolfe's job as manager is in jeopardy, or is safe, is merely a guess. The Tigers face an exceedingly rugged job to climb' back up to an even .500 rating, let alone get up to a point where the air is fresher than it now is in the lower division of the standing. The team knows that. But it also knows that its losing ways are the result of the players' own weaknesses at the plate. They are mad at themselves now.

Their pride in their own ability as major league players is hurt. They are not mad at their manager. They said so. They are for him all the way. Rolfe Gets Vote of Confidence Tigers Back Red Chisox Final Called BY LYALL SMITH Free Press Sporti Editor CHICAGO Even the weatherman is getting into the act of delaying Detroit's first victory of the 1952 season.

The second game of a scheduled two-game series here with the White Sox was canceled by a soggy diamond and cold weather. So the Tigers, still trying to snap a losing streak which now stands at eight games, grabbed a train for St. Louis and a Thurs day night crack at the rejuvenated Brownies. BUT THE BIGGEST news of the short stay in the Windy City came out of the Tiger clubhouse. In an unprecedented meeting, called by the players, a unanimous vote of confidence was given Manager Red Rolfe as the Tigers themselves shouldered full responsibility for the disastrous start of the season.

This was a solid rebuttal to a story carried by the wire services out of Cleveland to the effect that Detroit players were refusing to play for Rolfe and that a revolt was imminent. "We are behind Rolfe 100 per cent," reported Fred Hutchinson, who was delegated to relay the result of the meeting to Detroit newsmen. "He is a fine manager. The fact that we have failed to win a game is our own fault, not his. We are with him all the way." Rolfe, who had been asked to leave the clubhouse, was genuinely touched by the vote of confidence.

"IT WAS A fine gesture by the players," he declared. "I deeply appreciate it. It is too bad that the whole thing had to happen. But when things go bad, that's the way it is." Rolfe and his players still are confident the club is not the type which deserves a spot in the American League basement. "We're just not hitting when the chips are down," Insisted George KelL "We've had some men in position to score, but we can't seem to score them.

It has to end coon. When it does, we'll do some good." The clubhouse meeting stands as one of the most remarkable in modern baseball history. Its only counterpart was the one held in Detroit back in 1947 by the Washington Senators when Manager Ossie Bluege was under fire. But that meeting was called by Bluege himself to ask his players for a vote of confidence. All gave it to him except Jerry Priddy, with whom Bluege had been feuding.

Turn to Page 27, Column 2 Br ones Ride Over Ohio Athletes KALAMAZOO (JP) Western Michigan's track team won its first outdoor meet this season, defeating Bowling Green of Ohio, 100 14 to 353. The Broncos took firsts in 14 of the 16 events. with the Tigers because most feel that just a very few changes in the line-up would make the team a top contender. Tiger Averages BATTING BY BOB LATSHAW General Manager Charley Gehringer summed up the now famous "Cleveland Story" about the Tiger personnel so hating Red Rolfe that they couldn't play winning baseball with one word: "Ridiculous." Gehringer, who has a working knowledge of baseball psychology from both a player and front office angle, said: "Whenever a team gets into a losing streak these stories are bound to appear. But there several things that make me doubt that such a thing is true.

"I TALKED to most of the players when they signed for this season. I tried to get as much background and personal thoughts from them as possible. "At no time did any one of the players indicate a rebellious thought against Rolfe. "Ons thing is certain. You will never get 30 players who will all feel the same way about any one man.

The three most hated men in baseball probably are Rogers Hornsby, Chuck Dressen and Casey Stengel, but they all get results." Taking the point of view of a player, Gehringer continued "If a player is unhappy and wants to be traded, he isn't going to lay down on a manager. He'll try his best and hope that it's good enough to get some other club interested in him. "THE PITCHERS are certainly not going to dog it they get paid on the basis of their performance. A good year this year is a fine talking point when it comes to salary talks next winter. "Frankly, I don't know where such a story would get started." Gehringer asserted that Rolfe is a sound manager, playing sound "percentage" type of baseball.

"These 'revolt' stories will all disappear if the club should win- a couple of National Open Lists Hogan NEW YORK (U.R) Defending Champion Ben Hogan entered the National Open golf tournament. The United States Golf Association said that Hogan's entry brought the total to 240, one of the largest early entries in history. The deadline is May 19 for the June 12-13-14 tournament scheduled at Dallas, Tex. GENE BARELY MAKES IT FREDDY HUTCHINSON MANAGER RED ROLFE Veteran Tiger hurler assures boss that team is behind him 100 per cent ON GRID TICKET PRICES Smith Whips Chavez for 31st Straight WASHINGTON (JP) Unbeaten Gene Smith, hard-punching Washington featherweight, ran his victory string to 31 straight Wednesday night with a narrow squeak decision over Fabela Chavez, of Hollywood. Smith weighed 129, Chavez 127 V2- Net Run in 1st Inning Rosen's Error Helps Browns Get AL Lead ST.

LOUIS (U.R) Southpaw Bobby Cain and Veteran Bob Feller staged one of the most sensational pitching battles in American League history Wednesday night, allowing one hit each as the St. Louis Browns nosed out the Cleveland Indians, 1 to 0. The lone safety off the Cleveland right-hander was a first-inning triple by Bobby Young, good for a run. The only hit off Cain was a harmless single by Luke Easter in the fifth I Tiir nrrnpv nut ti. in first place in the American League race with a 7-1 record.

Young's triple' opened the Browns' first inning. Marty Marion then grounded to Third Baseman Al Rosen and when Rosen fumbled it, Young scored the only run of the game. It was Feller's 11th one-hit game and the only one-hitter he ever lost. The game was played in chilly weather before 7,110 cold but happy fans. The Browns eased Cain's task with four double plays.

Cain walked three and struck out seven. Feller walked two men and fanned five. Cleveland had only one man left on base, while St. Louis had two runners stranded. IRONICALLY, Cain was Feller's victim when Bob pitched his third no-hitter last year.

The Cleveland right-hander defeated Cain and Detroit last July 1, 2-1, holding the Tigers hitless. Cain allowed six hits. It marked the second time in modern baseball history that each pitcher allowed the opposition only one hit. On July 4, 1906, Mordecai (Thre e-Fin-gered) Brown, of Chicago, and Lefty Leifield, of Pittsburgh, permitted only one hit each as the Cubs defeated the Pirates 1-0. On May 2, 1917, Jim Vaughn, of Chicago, and Fred Toney, of Cincinnati, hurled a no-hitter each through nine innings.

The Reds, however, nicked Vaughn for two hits and a run in the 10th to win 1-0 as Toney hurled a 10-inning no-hitter. The former American League record for the least amount of hits by both teams in one game was three set by Washington (1) and Detroit (2) on June 10, 1913, and equalled by Washington (2) and Cleveland (1) July 27, 1915. VETERAN Ellis Kinder, helped along by the hitting of Rookies Jim Piersall and Ted Lepcio, hurled the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the New York Yankees. Kinder was nicked for a run in the fourth when Gil Mc-Dougald bunted safely, moved to third on Johnny Mize's hit and scored during a double play. But the Sox already had taken a 2-0 lead with Lepcio doubling and scoring on Sam White's single i -3 i i tii li doubling and scoring on vern Stephens' hit in the third.

They added another run in the seventh when Lepcio homered. CLEVELAND AB 4 1 SOI ST. I-OTJIS AB Yoiidc.2 4 1 Marion. Klvrra.rf 2 Wrisht.lf 3 Raop.r 3 fl 3 3 Court n' 3 Cain.D 3 Krlwr.tf 3 6 3 Kudter. 1 3 1 lit Koftrn.l Tt 3 0 3 Boone.

2 Trhtt.e SOS Frllrr.o 2 1 aAvlla ion Totals 2ft 1 24 8 Totals 26 127 11 Filed oat for Feller In ninth. Cleveland OOO OOO OO St. Lonla lOO OOO OO 1 Yonng. Roaen. 3B Youor.

TP Courtney and Yonnc: l'onnr. Marion and Goldtberry; Marion, Tonnr and Golds-berry. I.R Cleveland 1, St. Louis 2. BB Cain 3.

Feller 2. SO Cain 7. Feller 6. ft and ER Feller 1-1. Cain Ci-O).

1 Feller (1-1). 1:58. A 7.110. NEW YORK BOSTON AB AB A Klzzllto.S 4 1 4 Mantle.r 3 4 Miie.l 1 Honp.l 1 Wdinc.ef 4 Baner.lf 4 3 Brown Silver 2 aBr'weser Hnnkx eCerr 1 Rern'd. 8 dJensea 1 Piersall.

4 3 V.Kte'n.3 1 Pelcy.3 1 Dropo.l 4 Thrrrry.r 3 3 Whlte.r 3 O- Kinder, 1 Totals 31 fi 24 IS Totals 29 8 27 Ria for WiTera In seTenth. btValked for Coleman in ninth. eSlnrled for Bouk in ninth. dCalled nut on strikes for Reynolds In ninth. New York OOO lOO OO 1 Boston Oil OOO 10 3 MeDnncald.

Piersall. Leplro 2. RBI Wliite. V. Stephens.

I.epico. 2B Piersall 2. Lepieo. 3B White. HR Ienjrn.

SB Rinuto. DP Coleman. Risznto and Mlze; MrOont-ald. Coleman and Misa; MeDoncald. Coiemaa and Hopp.

I.B York 9, Boston 5. BB Kinder 6, Reynolds 3. SO Kinder 6, Reynolds 2. and ER Reynolds 3-3. Kinder 1-1.

Kinder (1-1). Reynolds 0-3). I 2:42. A 15,336. Illini Hold the Line CHAMPAIGN, 111.

f) There will be no increase in the price of University of Illinois football tickets next fall. That's the word from Athletic Director Doug Mills. "While our operating costs continue to rise," he said, "members of the athletic board felt we should hold the line on ticket prices. Reserve seats will continue to be priced at $3 plus 60 cents Federal tax, and season tickets for five home games will be $18 with tax included." Illinois home dates are with Purdue, Ohio State, Northwestern, Iowa State and University of Washington. The verdict was unbelievably Major League Standings AMERICAN LEAGUE ROBB IS FINED, TOO Pet.

GB St. Louis 7 1 .872 Boston 8 2 .800 Cleveland 7 2 .778 New York 4 4 .500 3 Washington 4 4 .500 3 Chicago 2 5 .286 4 Philadelphia 1 7 .125 6 Detroit 0 8 .000 7 Umpire 'Disciplined' for Pushing Stanky CINCINNATI, O. (U.R) Umpire Scotty Robb was fined and "disciplined" by National League President Warren Giles Wednesday for pushing Cardinal Manager Eddie Stanky during an argument here Tuesday night. WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS DETROIT at Chicago (postponed, rain). Boston New York 1.

St. Louis 1, Cleveland 0. Philadelphia at Washington (postponed, rain). THURSDAY'S GAMES New York at Boston Lopat (0-1) vs. McDermott (1-0).

Philadelphia at Washington (night) Zoldak (0-0) vs. Porter-field (1-1). DETROIT at St. Louis (night) Trucks (0-1) vs. Pillette (1-0).

(Only games scheduled). NATIONAL LEAGUE Frick, Giles to Decide Saigh's Fate Indicted Magnate to Be 'Guided' by Them ST. LOUIS (U.R) St. Louis Cardinal President Fred Saigh, indicted for income tax evasion, placed his baseball future at the mercy of Commissioner Ford Frick Wednesday. Saigh said he feels he will be "completely vindicated" of the charges.

But he won't wait for then to approach Frick and National League President Warren Giles about whether he should continue in the game. HE SAID he will place his case before them and "be guided completely by their recommendation and judgment as to what I should do personally" about his future in baseball. The game, he said, "is bigger than any individual or Actually, Frick is the key to Saigh's dilemma. As commissioner, he has the authority to expel anyone including club owners from organized baseball for "conduct detrimental to the game." Once in history a club owner was ordered to sell. The late Kenesaw M.

Landis, the game's first commissioner, put Philadelphia Phillies Owner William D. Cox out of baseball in 1943 for betting on his team's games. THE GABBY 47-year-old Saigh. who made a fortune in quick real estate deals and bought the Cardinals from the late Robert Han-negan in 1949, was indicted by a Federal grand jury Tuesday on five counts of tax evasion, totaling $49,620 for 1946 through 1949. Wednesday he issued a statement giving his stand.

He felt, he said, he will be "completely vindicated. I can only ask in ail fairness that the public withhold final judgment until that time." He said the amount covered in the indictment represents less than one-half of one per cent of fixes paid by his business interests during the last six years. Tops 143 Rivals ROME (JP) Chile's Capt. Ri-eardo Echeverria, riding Lindo-peal, won the Grand Prix of Rome in the 21st international horse show. The Chilean beat out 143 rivals.

close. Smith got the votes of Harry Childs, 97 points to 96, and of Charlie Buck, 96 to 92. But Referee Harry Volkman, who was closer to the boys than anyone, thought Chavez had won, 97 to 90. SMITH PROBABLY won because of his fast start and his fast finish. At the end Chavez was tiring badly and tended to hang on in the clinches.

Smith wbn despite a left eye that Chavez smacked solidly in the third and worked on steadily thereafter. By the fight's end, it was almost closed. The fight, broadcast and tele vised nationally, drew a crowd of 2.062 fans to Uline Arena. The gross gate was announced at with a net of $2,990.12. Chiefs Wins Derby Opener The champion New York Chiefs opened their 14-game Roller Derby series with the Brooklyn Red Devils Wednesday with a 31-23 victory before 3,204 fans at Olympia.

Gerry Murray and Mary Ciofani led the Chiefs, each scoring nine points. Loretta Behrens tallied five for the losers. The series will continue through May 6. Prep Meet Washed Out Water measuring five inches in depth in spots and covering a quarter of the track, forced post ponement of Wednesday's triangu lar track meet at Belle Isle. I St.

Joseph, DeLaSalle and St. Bernard were to have participated in a Catholic League meet. All principals appeared but gave up any hopes of running. U. of M.

Golfers Conquer Titans Paced by Dick Evans' 71. the University of Michigai golf team defeated the University of Detroit, 19 to 8, at Red Rim Wednesday. Tony Novitsky and Bill Adams were low for the Titans with 70s. AB KBI BR Prt. Upon ft 4 1 2 Somhork lO 1 4 .400 Kollnwar 6 18 1 6 A .333 PrlddT 8 S7 2 .333 New-homer 1 3 1 1 .333 Mullln SO AO .300 Kell 8 29 1 8 9 Maim 4 15 1 3 1 1 Croth 4 8 2 2 A 4) Taylor ft 16 A 3 A Bcrrr 6 15 It 2 A .133 Ginsberg ft 8 A 1 1 .125 Hrrli 8 2 1 2 2 1 Gra.r 2 4 A A A A Lerrhen 3 3 A A A A Trout 1 2 A A Hoottemao 1 A A A Tracks 2 1 Swift 1 1 A A A Hatoh'toB 1 1 Team Averar .211 PITCHUfG t.

IP II SO BB F-rt. Honttc'n 217 16 10 Trout 2 1A 12 7 4 Nrwh'aer A 1 8 ft A 2 Grar 2 HVf, 8 2ft Trucks 1 3 7 2 2 Uttlrfd A 4Vi 5 ft 1 Hoeft ft 2 8 3 McLel'd OA 1 2 Stuart A A 1 1 A White l4 2 2 0 Pet. GB Brooklyn 7 1 .875 Cincinnati 5 2 .714 Vt Chicago 5 3 .714 iyt New York 6 3 .625 2 St. Louis 3 4 .429 Sy2 Boston 3 7 .300 5 Philadelphia 2 6 .250 5 Pittsburgh 3 7 .222 5J5 QL Umpires are seldom fined in baseball. But Giles, who witnessed the argument personally, was harsh in his rebuke to the umpire.

He fined Stanky $50 and player Solly Hemus $25. But he said the "sizeable" fine slapped on Robb was "much greater" than the total $75 levied on the Cardinal players. As a matter of fact, Giles said Robb would have been suspended had he been a player who committed the same offense. "While players should not be subject to a different standard of discipline than umpires," he said, "no particular purpose would be served by suspending the umpire in this particular instance. The suspension of a player has an entirely different disciplinary effect." THE IXCIDEXT came during the third inning of the Cards-Reds game with Giles sitting in the stands.

Hemus was called out on strikes. He flung his bat towards first base. Robb ordered him out of the game. Fiery Stanky, serving his first year as Cardinal manager, bolted from the dugout. Robb gave Stanky a vigorous push.

Stanky seemed ready to push back when Stan Musial jumped between the pair; Giles immediately summoned the pair to a hearing Wednesday. He listened for 45 minutes, then announced his fines. WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS New York 9, Boston 5. Brooklyn at Philadelphia, (postponed, rain). St.

Louis at Cincinnati (postponed, rain). (Only games scheduled). THURSDAY'S GAMES Boston at New York Spahn (0-1) vs. Lanier (0-1). Brooklyn at Philadelphia (night) Labine (0-0) vs.

Drews (0-1). St. Louis at Pittsburgh (night) Presko (0-0) vs. Muir (1-0). Cincinnati at Chicago Weh-meier (1-0) vs.

Kelly (0-1). Final Trials CHICAGO (U.R) Final tryouts for the 1952 Olympic men's swimming and diving team and the water polo squad will be held July 1-6 in New York. Knicks, Lakers Tied in Playoffs NEW YORK (P) Max Zalofsky fired in nine points in the last four minutes as the New York Knickerbockers defeated the Minneapolis Lakers, 76-68, to square the National Basketball Association playoff series at three games apiece. The deciding game in the best-of-seven aeries will be played at Minneapolis on Friday night. UD Netters Win The University of Detroit tennis team opened Its season Wednesday by beating Michigan Normal, 5 to 2.

PROUD POP Gerry Coleman (right), second baseman of the New York Yankees, shows Manager Casey Stengel a wlrephoto picture of his son born on Monday in San Francisco, The youngster will be named Gerry, Jr..