Only game scheduled
Stetter Gains During Week
TACOMA, Aug. 15—Glen Stetter further fattened an already healthy batting average at the expense of Wenatchee and Tacoma pitching last week, climbing 11 points on the strength of 11 hits in 18 official trips to the plate, and the resulting .380 mark put the pudgy Spokane outfielder far ahead of all pursuers in the Western International league willow chase.
Runner-up among the eligible for the batting crown—a player must have appeared in two-thirds of his team's games and must have been at bat 400 times at the season's end—is Tacoma's Dick Greco, who dropped five points during the week to .354.
Despite his mild slump, however, Greco clung to his league leadership in runs-batted-in. with 120, and in home runs, with 27. He drove six tallies across the plate during the week, though failing to augment his four-master total.
Jim Warner, slugging Tri-City outfielder, continued his late-season splurge by hammering out 11 hits in 27 times at bat to raise his average six points to .317—he was hitting .303 just a fortnight back—and took over the runner-up berth in runs-batted-in with 97, up six from last week. Yakima's erstwhile runner-up in that department, Jim Westlake. not only dropped to third but was forced to share that spot with a teammate, Reno Cheso, both with 94.
Victoria's Gene Thompson loomed as a possible contender for the home run crown when he belted four round-trippers during the week for a total of 21, breaking out of a second-place tie with Spokane's Joe Rossi, who failed to add to his aggregate of 17.
The leading averages, as released today from the office of Robert B. Abel, league president:
AB H RBI HR Ave.
Stetter, Spo.. 389 148 84 12 .380
Greco, Tac.... 449 159 120 27 .364
McCawley, Yak. 288 97 52 4 .337
Thompson, Vic. 455 149 95 22 .328
Warner, Tri-C. 432 141 97 16 .327
Rossi, Spo.... 403 130 85 17 .323
Vanni, Spo.... 378 122 50 3 .323
Gifford, Tac.. 410 132 50 3 .323
Clarkson, Van. 468 150 62 8 .321
Zuvella, Yak.. 282 90 54 3 .318
Hjelmaa, Wen.. 421 133 66 0 .316
Cheso, Yak.... 448 141 94 5 .315
ERIC WHITEHEAD’S FAN FARE
[Daily Province, Aug. 15, 1950]
After a long chat Monday with larruping Cap outfielder Reg Clarkson, we asked: “Is there any special comment you’d like to record concerning yourself?”
“Yes,” Reg said eagerly, “there is. You can tell ‘em I’m very proud of my family.”
There is little doubt, but that the family returns the compliment. For in this quiet, handsome and level-eyed chunk of athlete, Reg Clarkson, Sr. of Liverpool and the former Mary McDonald of County Cork, Ireland, have presented us with one of the finest all-round athletes and gentlemen ever to treat the good sward of this evergreen playground.
Talk Clarkson to any of the many who know him and you get the same consensus: “A great competitor . . . a great team-player. . .”
Reg will be 25 next week. But for an ailing right arm, he would perhaps be spending this anniversary a little closer to an old buddy named Preston Ward. Monday in Chicago, Ward wrapped out a ninth-inning single to ride the Cubs to a 7-6 victory over the Cardinals. Three years ago, Clarkson and Ward, playing with Pueblo’s Class A ballclub, were both ticketed for promotion. Ward made it. Clarkson burned out his arm, didn’t make it.
Reg Starts In Early
Born in Victoria, Reg was hardly in long pants before he helped Victoria’s St. Louis College to two B.C. soccer and one B.C. basketball titles. In the hoop series against Penticton, he scored a record 37 points
Shifting next year to Vancouver, Reg moved into the fast Vancouver College grid backfield, switched come winter to basketball, led the prep scoring race. In ’44 and ’45, the young swifty took his first real nip of baseball, going to the Vancouver Arrows under the sponsorship of Bob Brown. In the spring of ’46, he moved to the Cap training camp, made little or no impression on the pros, and but for the faith that kindled in the heart of Mr. Brown, he would have been shucked off like an ill-fitting shoe.
Only at the insistence of Ruby Robert, Clarkson started in centre field for the Caps, vindicated all concerned by hitting a lusty .333 for the season and fielding to suit. In ’47, Brown sold him to Fort Worth of the Texas League, he went to Pueblo for seasoning, belted .335. Came then a slight cold in his right elbow—and a permanent deadening of that valuable throwing limb.
Next year, a short stint with Mobile, Ala., then to Santa Barbera. In ’49 Clarkson stopped off in Edmonton, played ball to the tune of a .386 batting average and a runaway in every offensive department. So then this year—at the behest of Bob Brown—back for another playoff with the local club.
Oh yes. Back in ’46, Reg attended UBC long enough to spark the ‘Birds to a great Canadian football Hardy Cup win over U. of Alberta, and was latter tagged by ex-All American UBC grid Mentor Greg Kabat as a “great football player.” It was Kabat’s high recommendation that got Reg a post with the Edmonton Eskimos for a successful whirl at pro football in 1949.
In ’46 and ’47, Reg played brilliantly alongside Norm Baker, Doug Peden, Richie Nicol, Art Chapman and Porky Andrews on that fine Vancouver Hornet basketball club.
Teaching Career Ahead
Whither now? Back to UBS for the fall term for his B.A. There he hopes to play (pending eligibility approval) football and basketball. After that—his teacher’s degree, a couple more years’ ball, then a teaching career.
And about that family: athletes all? “Practically all,” grins Reg. “Except Mom. She thinks all games are kind of crazy. But she loves ‘em because we do.”
Oldest brother Frank (28) is a local contractor, a three-handicap golfer. Vince (25) played soccer with Victoria. Bernie (21) play ball awhile with Victoria A’s, then El Centro. Johnny (20) now studying in a Catholic order in New York state, played B.C. Inter A championship basketball. Joey (18) plays ‘em all, but is now ill with a nervous ailment. Fred (13) is the family heavy (165), already a boxer and ball player.
Reg’s greatest fan? “My sister Theresa. (Mary Benedicta of Sisters of St. Anne). Follows all the games, knows all the averages. So do most of the sisters of the Order.”
The other sister, Rita, is happily married in Bellingham [unreadable line about Reg Sr.] —still boss of the brood. Although not as fast as he used to be.
“Pop could move,” Reg says proudly. “He was a pro sprinter in the old country.” His boy, Reg Jr., is now a fine professional acquisition on all counts in the new country.
[Daily Province, Aug. 15, 1950]
After a long chat Monday with larruping Cap outfielder Reg Clarkson, we asked: “Is there any special comment you’d like to record concerning yourself?”
“Yes,” Reg said eagerly, “there is. You can tell ‘em I’m very proud of my family.”
There is little doubt, but that the family returns the compliment. For in this quiet, handsome and level-eyed chunk of athlete, Reg Clarkson, Sr. of Liverpool and the former Mary McDonald of County Cork, Ireland, have presented us with one of the finest all-round athletes and gentlemen ever to treat the good sward of this evergreen playground.
Talk Clarkson to any of the many who know him and you get the same consensus: “A great competitor . . . a great team-player. . .”
Reg will be 25 next week. But for an ailing right arm, he would perhaps be spending this anniversary a little closer to an old buddy named Preston Ward. Monday in Chicago, Ward wrapped out a ninth-inning single to ride the Cubs to a 7-6 victory over the Cardinals. Three years ago, Clarkson and Ward, playing with Pueblo’s Class A ballclub, were both ticketed for promotion. Ward made it. Clarkson burned out his arm, didn’t make it.
Reg Starts In Early
Born in Victoria, Reg was hardly in long pants before he helped Victoria’s St. Louis College to two B.C. soccer and one B.C. basketball titles. In the hoop series against Penticton, he scored a record 37 points
Shifting next year to Vancouver, Reg moved into the fast Vancouver College grid backfield, switched come winter to basketball, led the prep scoring race. In ’44 and ’45, the young swifty took his first real nip of baseball, going to the Vancouver Arrows under the sponsorship of Bob Brown. In the spring of ’46, he moved to the Cap training camp, made little or no impression on the pros, and but for the faith that kindled in the heart of Mr. Brown, he would have been shucked off like an ill-fitting shoe.
Only at the insistence of Ruby Robert, Clarkson started in centre field for the Caps, vindicated all concerned by hitting a lusty .333 for the season and fielding to suit. In ’47, Brown sold him to Fort Worth of the Texas League, he went to Pueblo for seasoning, belted .335. Came then a slight cold in his right elbow—and a permanent deadening of that valuable throwing limb.
Next year, a short stint with Mobile, Ala., then to Santa Barbera. In ’49 Clarkson stopped off in Edmonton, played ball to the tune of a .386 batting average and a runaway in every offensive department. So then this year—at the behest of Bob Brown—back for another playoff with the local club.
Oh yes. Back in ’46, Reg attended UBC long enough to spark the ‘Birds to a great Canadian football Hardy Cup win over U. of Alberta, and was latter tagged by ex-All American UBC grid Mentor Greg Kabat as a “great football player.” It was Kabat’s high recommendation that got Reg a post with the Edmonton Eskimos for a successful whirl at pro football in 1949.
In ’46 and ’47, Reg played brilliantly alongside Norm Baker, Doug Peden, Richie Nicol, Art Chapman and Porky Andrews on that fine Vancouver Hornet basketball club.
Teaching Career Ahead
Whither now? Back to UBS for the fall term for his B.A. There he hopes to play (pending eligibility approval) football and basketball. After that—his teacher’s degree, a couple more years’ ball, then a teaching career.
And about that family: athletes all? “Practically all,” grins Reg. “Except Mom. She thinks all games are kind of crazy. But she loves ‘em because we do.”
Oldest brother Frank (28) is a local contractor, a three-handicap golfer. Vince (25) played soccer with Victoria. Bernie (21) play ball awhile with Victoria A’s, then El Centro. Johnny (20) now studying in a Catholic order in New York state, played B.C. Inter A championship basketball. Joey (18) plays ‘em all, but is now ill with a nervous ailment. Fred (13) is the family heavy (165), already a boxer and ball player.
Reg’s greatest fan? “My sister Theresa. (Mary Benedicta of Sisters of St. Anne). Follows all the games, knows all the averages. So do most of the sisters of the Order.”
The other sister, Rita, is happily married in Bellingham [unreadable line about Reg Sr.] —still boss of the brood. Although not as fast as he used to be.
“Pop could move,” Reg says proudly. “He was a pro sprinter in the old country.” His boy, Reg Jr., is now a fine professional acquisition on all counts in the new country.
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