Vancouver ... 64 35 .646 —
Spokane ..... 64 35 .646 —
Salem ....... 51 47 .520 13½
Wenatchee ... 47 51 .480 16½
Tri-City .... 44 55 .444 20
Victoria .... 44 56 .440 20½
Yakima ...... 41 58 .414 23
Tacoma ...... 40 58 .408 23½
VANCOUVER [Don Carlson, Province, July 26]—Victoria Athletics debated Vancouver Capilanos out of first place in the Western International League Wednesday night.
The A’s conducted a prolonged debate with umpires Red Eiler and Nels Pearson in the closing innings at Capilano Stadium, just long enough to let Caps pitcher Sandy Robertson cool off and allow the Victorians three runs in the ninth, enough to win 6-4.
While the Brownies were blowing this one, Spokane was bowing 5-4 to Tri-City, with the result that Vancouver and Spokane are still tied atop the league.
BALK STARTS IT
The debate broke out after plate umpire Eiler had called the third balk of the evening in the eighth against the Victoria pitching staff.
The resultant Victoria protests, carried over two innings, resulted in Athletics manager Bob Sturgeon and first baseman Hal Jackson being banished from the game.
Jackson was ejected when he argued with Pearson in an angry burst of temperament, after which Pearson ordered the Victoria bench cleared [in the ninth]. The tactic left Robertson, pitching for his third win against one defeat, cooling off, and the Cap management blames this for the sudden letdown in the ninth.
CAPS LEAD EARLY
Caps appeared to have the ball game in hand after their early-inning lead. They scored three times in the second inning, batting around on Charlie Mead’s triple, successive singles by Charlie Abernathy, Jimmy Moore and Sandy Robertson, and Bobby McGuire’s double.
They added a fourth run in the third on Abernathy’s single and Moore’s double.
Victoria scored once on Ben Jeffe’s single and Gene Thompson’s double in the third, and got to Robertson for two runs in the seventh.
They won in the ninth when Bill White, the six-foot five-inch giant, whose identical twin, Bob White, is also a member of the club, hit for Jackson and drove the game-winning single into left field.
Caps Note: It’s a son for Reno Cheso. The Capilano second baseman became a father Wednesday when his wife gave birth to a boy in a San Francisco hospital. Cheso was with her for the event.
Victoria ....... 001 000 203—6-11-0
Vancouver ... 031 000 000—4 -9-2
Robertson, Gunnarson (9) and Ritchey; Osborn, Loreno (2) and Thrasher.
KENNEWICK [Tri-City Herald, July 26]—“That was my greatest thrill in baseball,” said a surprisingly calm Buddy Peterson in the clubhouse of the Tri-City Braves last night.
The young, powerfully built shortstop ran a comb quickly through his hair. “In the Texas league I once played in three consecutive extra-inning games but those 15 innings we just finished were the longest I've ever played.” He paused for a moment.
“I've always wanted to finish a ball game like that. . .with a home run to win a long tight game. . .guess every player hopes for that. Well, that was it tonight and if it never happens again this one has been well worth it.”
But Peterson had more than a 15th inning home run over the left field fence to be proud of in the 5-4 victory over Spokane last night. He had also rifled a single deep into left center field to “save” the game for the Braves in the bottom of the 13th inning after Spokane had gone ahead. And his two blows accounted for four of the Tri-City runs.
Even though he won the game pitcher Dick Stone wasn't happy. “I wish Cy Greenlaw could have this one,” said Stone. “He was out there on the hill for more than 14 innings and pitched a terrific game. I wish there was some way I could give it to him.”
CY WAS GREAT
And Stone was right. The big easy pitching southpaw had labored for 14 1-3 innings before he ran into trouble when Jim Wert doubled and Jim Brown reached first on a walk. Buzz Berriesford then came out of the Braves bull pen. He walked Bill Sheets to load the sacks and had delivered two wide pitches to Bob Roberts when Manager Charlie Petersen trotted in from his right field position and signalled Stone to the hill.
Stone's first two pitches to Roberts were low and wide and what would have been the winning run in the form of Wert was forced across home plate leaving the sacks still clogged.
But Murphy hit into a fast moving doubleplay that went Kanelos-Pesut-Buccola.
Clint Cameron, out with a pinched shoulder muscle, opened the 15th as a pinch hitter or Stone. He drew a pass from Roberts and moved to second on Al Spaeter's sacrifice. Buccola went down on strikes for he second out and then Peterson belted the ball out of the park to break up the ball game.
GOOD CLUTCH FIELDING
Both Greenlaw and Stone got beautiful fielding assistance in he clutches from their team mates. Buccola delivered two gems. In the 14th he grabbed Steve Mesner's hot liner down the first base line and rifled a throw to Kanelos at third to trap Murphy in a hot box. Kanelos fired to Murphy who tagged Peterson to still that threat.
Buccola's play on the 15th inning twin killing was another of the kind you read about but seldom see. He literally dug the ball out of the dirt right in front
of the oncoming base runner's feet. Buddy Peterson added his touch in the third when he tore up several yards of ground skidding on his chest as he dove to grab Edo Vannl's low hard hit liner. With Murphy on second on the play it would have been a cinch run for Spokane had the ball got past Peterson.
Manager Charlie Petersen also turned on a display that gave the fans a brief glimpse of how he could go get 'em 10 years ago when he raced deep to his right to haul down Ken Richardson's long fly ball for the third out in the eighth leaving an Indian runner to die on third. Charlie also got three hits in six trips Including a double.
LONGEST ONE YET
John Conant tolled on the mound for Spokane for 14 1-3 innings also before he was relieved by Bob Roberts who got charged for the defeat. In winning the game Stone pitched to but one man, Murphy, who hit into the double play. Roberts officially pitched to four to lose the thriller.
It was by far the longest game yet played in Sanders Field. Several others had gone 12 innings. . .Murphy, league leader in base stealing, was cut down by Nick Pesut in the first inning but got his 64th of the season in the third.
Spokane went ahead in the 13th, 3-1, on a double by Mesner, a walk to Richardson and singles by Wert and Brown. The Braves again sent the game into extra innings on Peterson's single that scored Greenlaw and Al Spaeter.
Spokane ... 000 100 000 000 201—4-12-0
Tri-City .... 000 001 000 000 202—5-14-2
Conant, Roberts (14)and Sheets; Greenlaw, Berriesford (15), Stone (15) and Pesut.
WENATCHEE, July 25—Bob Schulte, southpaw, pitched brilliant two-hit ball Wednesday night to lead Tacoma to a 7-0 victory over Wenatchee.
Both hits allowed by Schulte were of the scratch variety. He struck out 13.
A six-run fourth inning featuring Don Lundberg's two-run homer and triples by K. Chorlton and Mike Catron iced the game for the Tigers. Schulte struck out 13 Wenatchee batters.
Tacoma ........ 000 061 000—7-9-1
Wenatchee ... 000 000 000—0-2-2
Schulte and Lundberg; Gassaway, Kanshin (5) and Roberson.
YAKIMA, July 25—Sal De George put down a Yakima threat in the ninth inning Wednesday night to lead the Salem Senators to a 2-1 victory over Yakima in a Western International League baseball game.
The Bears scored their lone run in the ninth, by coaxing Phil Steinberg into hitting into a double play.
Salem ..... 001 000 001—2-8-1
Yakima ... 000 000 001—1-5-0
De George and McKeegan; Boemler and Tiesiera.
Pries Stays, Bob Goes
VICTORIA, July 25—Victoria Athletics are not likely to lose the services of hustling third baseman Don Pries.
He reported to Seattle Tuesday for his army medical. He reported that army doctors discovered his asthma half-way through their examination and ordered him to re-join the ball club.
The A's have also released outfielder-first baseman Bob White to make room for Ben Jaffey on the roster.
On the SUNBEAM
With JACK DE LONG [from Vancouver Sun, July 26, 1951]
Video Vibrations From Tacoma
Western International Baseball League President Robert Abel is a loyal citizen of the U.S.A. who wishes B.C. could annex his home city of Tacoma during the baseball season.
Reason: Some 5,000 Tacoma residents own television sets. Thanks to the CBC and the coast mountain range Vancouver has little television.
More Tacoma people watch baseball games than ever before but not from grandstand or bleachers. They see it in their living rooms, in cosy taverns or at the clubs. And Tacoma fans don’t want their own team play. They pass up our good Class B ball for triple A Pacific Coast League, via video from Seattle.
Science is playing an ironic game in Tacoma. Everybody thinks about baseball in Tacoma, but not about the baseball games in Tacoma.
• • •
The situation is anything but funny to the Tacoma Club, which has been put up for sale by the parent San Diego club,
Some solution will have to be found or many minor league clubs will fold, Mr. Abel says. He thinks a partial solution might lie in a kickback of the portion of television fees collected by clubs permitting games to be televised.
• • •
President Abel stopped briefly in Vancouver to confer with Cap business manager Bob Brown on WIL playoffs.
He had heard nothing new on the mooted entry of Calgary and Edmonton to the WIL next season. One thing is definite. The Tacoma club will be sold. It is still possible that it may be purchased by Tacoma sportsmen.
Reason: Some 5,000 Tacoma residents own television sets. Thanks to the CBC and the coast mountain range Vancouver has little television.
More Tacoma people watch baseball games than ever before but not from grandstand or bleachers. They see it in their living rooms, in cosy taverns or at the clubs. And Tacoma fans don’t want their own team play. They pass up our good Class B ball for triple A Pacific Coast League, via video from Seattle.
Science is playing an ironic game in Tacoma. Everybody thinks about baseball in Tacoma, but not about the baseball games in Tacoma.
• • •
The situation is anything but funny to the Tacoma Club, which has been put up for sale by the parent San Diego club,
Some solution will have to be found or many minor league clubs will fold, Mr. Abel says. He thinks a partial solution might lie in a kickback of the portion of television fees collected by clubs permitting games to be televised.
• • •
President Abel stopped briefly in Vancouver to confer with Cap business manager Bob Brown on WIL playoffs.
He had heard nothing new on the mooted entry of Calgary and Edmonton to the WIL next season. One thing is definite. The Tacoma club will be sold. It is still possible that it may be purchased by Tacoma sportsmen.
ON THE INSIDE
By DON BECKER, Herald Sports Editor [from July 26, 1951]
By DON BECKER, Herald Sports Editor [from July 26, 1951]
Whether he knew it or not an unnamed Tri-City Brave (for obvious reasons) certainly knew whereof he was speaking the other day. It was just an idle conversation speculating on when the drought of runs was going to end. That was just after Tri-City had counted but four in three games. Anyhow, our unnamed companion pointed out that the pitching which worked well through those three games, was about due to hit a slump. Sure enough, the batters go out and club 15 hits for 10 runs and we still get beat on Spokane’s 19-hit, 12-run total. Some days you just can't make a nickel.
This attendance problem takes odd turns now and then. For instance the Braves have played to more fans on the road this year than they have at home. True, part of that total comes from Spokane and Vancouver where those top teams are drawing exceptionally well. But the main truth of the matter is that fans in other cities like to see the Braves. On the road they are known as a colorful club. Yakima is a good case in point. The Bears aren’t going anywhere in particular this year. Yet when the Braves were there recently the series total ran well into four figures.
Joe Nicholas, who took a turn at the mike during Tuesday night’s game here, has decided to stick with pitching. What prompted his decision was his observation that “Ken Richardson slid into second with a stand-up double.” Anyway you look at it that isn't easy.
JOTS AND DOTS . . . HERE AND THERE
That home run Clint Cameron hit over the centerfield wall Tuesday night was as hard a hit ball as we’ve seen this year. The wind helped it some but even at that he certainly pickled Dick Aubertin’s waist high fast ball.
HOP, SKIP AND JUMP FOR JACK
Some of the players in the WIL who live in the Sacramento area are planning on forming a barnstorming team for a winter tour of California.
This attendance problem takes odd turns now and then. For instance the Braves have played to more fans on the road this year than they have at home. True, part of that total comes from Spokane and Vancouver where those top teams are drawing exceptionally well. But the main truth of the matter is that fans in other cities like to see the Braves. On the road they are known as a colorful club. Yakima is a good case in point. The Bears aren’t going anywhere in particular this year. Yet when the Braves were there recently the series total ran well into four figures.
Joe Nicholas, who took a turn at the mike during Tuesday night’s game here, has decided to stick with pitching. What prompted his decision was his observation that “Ken Richardson slid into second with a stand-up double.” Anyway you look at it that isn't easy.
JOTS AND DOTS . . . HERE AND THERE
That home run Clint Cameron hit over the centerfield wall Tuesday night was as hard a hit ball as we’ve seen this year. The wind helped it some but even at that he certainly pickled Dick Aubertin’s waist high fast ball.
HOP, SKIP AND JUMP FOR JACK
Some of the players in the WIL who live in the Sacramento area are planning on forming a barnstorming team for a winter tour of California.
NON WIL MINOR LEAGUE NEWS
Same Player In Games Far Apart
HOLLYWOOD, July 25— The name of Johnny [Spider] Jorgensen appears today in box scores for two baseball games played 2700 miles apart.
The odd circumstances came about this way:
On June 17, Jorgensen appeared as a pinch hitter in a game between the New York Giants and Pittsburgh, but the contest was called in the eighth inning with the score tied, and it wasn't completed until yesterday.
Since then Jorgensen to the Giants sent Oakland of the Pacific Coast league, with whom he performed here tonight.
WILfan note: Of course, Spider had a fine PCL career, and moved with the Oaks to Vancouver in 1956.
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