Thursday, June 29, 1950

              W  L Pct. GB
Tacoma ..... 40 29 .580 —
Yakima ..... 40 29 .580 —
Tri City ... 39 32 .549 2
Wenatchee .. 39 32 .549 2
Salem ...... 30 37 .448 9
Victoria ... 32 40 .444 9½
Vancouver .. 29 39 .426 10½
Spokane .... 30 41 .423 11

VANCOUVER, [Erwin M. Swangard, Province, June 30]—Vancouver Capilanos of the Western International League are probably the most unpredictable club in the entire league.
They looked like anything but the lowly team they are when the stopped the loop-leading Tacoma Tigers not once but twice at Cap Stadium Thursday night before an appreciate overflow crowd.
Sandy Robertson, the circuit’s top pitcher, gathered up his seventh straight victory without defeat in the abbreviated opener by relieving a very wild Kevin King and taming the Tigers with some difficulty.
THE GUESTS
Bob Snyder, in contrast, had no trouble whatsoever in the afternoon with the reputedly hard-hitting visitors.
Tonight, the Caps entertain Tacoma once more, if one can call it entertaining, and then Saturday the two teams clash in afternoon and evening games.
The seven-inning opener was a tense thriller. Caps gave young Mr. King a two-run working margin in the first inning but the youngster insisted on getting behind the batters.
SACRIFICES
Tacoma scored once in the fourth when Kevin hit Wimpy Quinn to open the inning. Dick Wenner singled and catcher Bill Sheets sacrificed the two runners to second and third. Mike Catron lifted a long fly to centre to allow Quinn to score.
Joe Boche [sic], Tacoma’s Cuban shortstop, opened the fifth with a single and rode home on Sol Israel’s single. That tied the game up an spelled the end for King—Robertson came in and retired the side, contributing a clever pickoff play at second to ease the pressure.
Caps belaboured starter Gil Loust in the fifth for two runs. All the tension, however, was preserved for the seventh inning after Tacoma had drawn to within one run in the sixth.
Ronnie Gifford flied to Dick Sinovic in centre but Dick Greco singled and Wimpy Quinn doubled. Dick Wenner was purposely walked and the bases were loaded with only one out.
SHEETS IN WIND
Catcher Bill Sheets flied deep to Sinovic. Greco raced in from third after the catch but was cut down cold by Sinovic’s tremendous and accurate throw to catcher Bill Heisner.
In the afterpiece the Caps really went to town on three Tacoma pitchers while Snyder, showing fine control, personally retired 10 Tigers with strikeouts.
Caps broke loose with base hit for four runs in the second inning and chased starter Gordon Walden. He was relieved by Keith Bowman who in turn worked a little more than an inning before giving way to Bobo Hunk Anderson. Hunk toiled with indifferent success the rest of the way.
First Game
Tacoma ........ 000 111 0—3-7-0
Vancouver ..... 200 020 x—4-7-0
Loust, Anderson (6) and Sheets; King, Robertson (5) and Heisner.
Second Game
Tacoma ....... 100 100 000— 2- 7-2
Vancouver .... 043 010 03x—11-12-1
Walden, Bowman (2), Anderson (4) and Fisher; Snyder and Brenner.

YAKIMA, June 29—The Yakima Bears pounded three Salem pitchers for 22 hits, including for by Pete Coscarart, and defeated the Senators 15-6 Thursday night for a sweep of their three-game series.
The Bears got away to a four-run lead the first inning. Successive triples by Reno Cheso and Jim Westlake were the feature hits.
Righthander Ernie Domenichelli, held the Senators scoreless in all but the eighth inning. During that eventful frame, there were singles by Wayne Peterson, Dick Bartle, Bob Cherry and a climax triple by Ludwig Lew, third Salem pitcher.
Pushing Coscarart for hitting honors were Cheso, Westlake and Frank Mascaro, each with three hits.
Salem ..... 000 000 060— 6-13-3
Yakima .... 423 002 22x—15-22-1
McNulty, Waibel (2), Lew (3) and Beard, McMillan (6); Domenichelli and Tiesiera.

KENNEWICK, June 30 [D. Becker, Herald] — The triumphant war-whoop of 1,630 Tri-City fans was still thundering in the ears of the scalpless Wenatchee Chiefs as they boarded a bus for series with Yakima last night. A Brave newcomer, Joe Nicholas, had them beating the air with giant strokes, but allowing only four small singles as he shut them out, 8-0, to take the deciding game of the series. The 24-year old sidearm artist got into trouble a couple of times, but he kept cool in the hot weather to turn back the invaders. The victory put the Braves in a tie for second.
It was a magnificent debut for the ex-Gem hurler from Klamath Falls. And he had errorless playing behind him as the Braves engineered four twin-killings to choke off any rally the Chiefs tried. Evenly spaced, the double, plays came in the third, fifth, seventh, and ninth innings.
Tonight the Tri-City team opens a four-game series with Salem. Then they return home on July 4 for a week long stand against first Yakima, and then Salem, Lou McCollum (9-7) will work the mound tonight, with Joe Roenspie [sic] most likely to get the nod from manager Charlie Petersen for the other three.
WARNER BLASTS THREE
Only one Chief reached third base last night. That was Bud Hjelmaa, who got there in the second on a walk and a single by catcher Ray Spurgeon. Meanwhile the Braves were tearing the cover off the ball as they sent starter Tom Breisinger to the showers in the third on a seven hit assault that garnered six runs. Reliefer Al Treichel held the Braves in check until the sixth when Jim Warner broke loose with his second double of the game to drive in two runs. The burley centerflelder for Tri-City was feeling his oats last night as he belted three doubles to drive in four runs.
Buddy Petersen, Brave shortstop, got the Tri-City nine off to a rousing opening inning by driving in two runs with a ball hit to Larry Neal, Chief shortstop. Al Spaeter and Vic Buccola scored on the play.
FABERS CHEAT PLAY
Fielding honors of the evening must go to Dick Faber as he went high into the air back rear the left field fence to spear a cinch double off the bat of Jerry Ballard. Al Spaeter came up with a mental miscue in the sixth that he won't soon forget. With one out Don Fracchia hit a grounder to shortstop Peterson. He fired the ball to Spaeter at second to force Arnerich, and then Spaeter turned around, tossed his glove out on the grass and started trotting to the dug out. Thus the potential fifth double-play of the game went by the boards.
From then on when there was one out and a Chief on first you could hear the fans shout, "remember Al, there's only one out." Said Spaeter, smilingly, after the game. "The thing to do is keep your mind on the game. But that's mine for this year, you can depend on that."
- - - - -
KENNEWICK, June 29 — Joe Nicholas, a side-arm right hander who joined the Tri City club four days ago, blanked Wenatchee 8 to 0 on three hits Thursday night in his first Western International League appearance.
Nicholas, acquired by the Braves from Klamath Falls of the Far West league, was helo'd along by four double plays and only one Wenatchee runner reached third base. All three hits off him were singles. He fanned three.
The Braves scored enough runs to win in the first inning when Al Spaeter and Vic Buccola singled, moved along on a base on balls and scored on a fielders choice.
Tri-City's Jim Warner was the batting star with three doubles that drove in four runs. His two bagger in the second accounted for the first two and game off Wenatchee starter Tom Breisinger. He brought home another pair off reliefer Al Treichel in the sixth.
Wenatchee .... 000 000 000—0-4-3
Tri-City ......... 231 002 00x—8-13-0
Breisinger, Treichel (3) and Len Neal; Nicholas and Pesut

VICTORIA, June 29—VICTORIA, [Colonist, June 30, 1950]—Maybe things are looking up for Joe Mishasek, the hard-luck member of the Victoria Athletics’ pitching corps.
Often the victim of shoddy support by his mates while dropping seven decisions this season, the knuckle-balling right-hander found the shoe on the other foot last night at Royal Athletic Park. Cheered by some brilliant feats afield by his mates, Mishasek tossed a neat seven-hitter at the Spokane Indians for his fourth triumph as the A¨s came from behind to mark up a 6-3 victory.
GREAT CATCHES
The spotlight shone squarely on Marty Krug., Jr., last night. In addition to collecting two singles and three passes to first base in five trips plateward, Krug came up with three great catches from his right field position.
He made a diving catch of Glen Stetter’s sinking liner for the third out in the fifth inning. He came far in for a shoe-string grab of Eddie Murphy’s short fly ball for the second out in the next frame, then electrified the crowd with a sensational, over-the-shoulder catch against the fence on the next pitch to rob Norm Grabar of a probable triple.
With Edo Vanni on second base in the seventh, Jim Wert made a sliding backhand stab of Leon Mohr’s ground smash and won the race to first base to retire the side.
ELEVENTH HOUR
Gene Thompson wielded the big bat in Victoria’s 12-hit attack. The big right-fielder walloped his 11th home run on the third and added a double and two singles in his five times at bat, scoring three runs and driving in a pair. His circuit smash tied him for the league leadership with Spokane’s Joe Rossi and Dick Greco of Tacoma.
Glen Stetter and Edo Vanni proved the most troublesome of the Indians for Mishasek. Stetter drove in all of Spokane’s runs with a first-inning home run behind Vann’s double and again drove Vanni across with a double in the third to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. Vanni returned to Athletic Park to plague his former teammates with three doubles.
CHASED HOLDER
Victoria went ahead 4-3, with a two-run surge in the fifth and chased starter Jim Holder to the showers in the following frame. Reliefer Murray O’Boyle, making his first appearance for Spokane, was touched for the final tally in the seventh.
Although he struck out only six batters during the contest, Mishasek came through with three strikeouts in the eighth to snuff out a potential Indians rally. His victims were three of the most feared of the Spokane sluggers, Joe Rossi, Frank Matoh and Eddie Murphy.
Warren Noyes will carry Manager Krug’s hopes for a second triumph in the four-game series with the Indians. Rival pilot Alan Strange will reply with eighth Ward Rockey or Dick Bishop.
The clubs conclude with two games Saturday.
Spokane ... 201 000 000—3- 6-1
Victoria .... 002 020 11x—6-12-4
Holder and Rossi; Mishasek and Ronning.

Chiefs Release Player
WENATCHEE, June 30—The Western International League Wenatchee Chiefs today announced the release of rookie shortstop Bill Sibson of Vancouver, B.C.
General Manager George Clark said Sibson failed to make the grade while on option to Chanute, Kan., of the Class D Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri league.
He said the Vancouver lad has been offered another crack at job with the Chiefs in spring training next season.

ON THE INSIDE

By DON BECKER, Herald Sports Editor

[June 30/50]
Although the 34 hits the Braves and Chiefs totalled in their nightcap game Wednesday may sound like a lot of lumber being unloaded, it is still 10 shy of the Western International league record. That mark was set twice. Vancouver and Salem did it in June, 1940, while Wenatchee and Salem repeated in August of last year.
Last night's game with Wenatchee marked the halfway point in the league race. The old saying goes that the front-runners at this stage of the game usually wind up there at the end of the season. But don't go hotting any of your inflation minded bucks on that old wheeze. The race now is tighter than a wedding kiss among the top four teams. And you can't count out any of the others, based on their standing in the league. Remember when Tacoma had an eight game bulge on the rest of the league?
This is a good time to assess the league in general, and the teams in particular, Sort of a reexamination of the patient, you might say. Although Victoria is 11 games back right now we still like the A's as one of the strong clubs when the finish line nears. Marty Krug's team is a lot stronger today than it was when the seaton opened.
Their current series in Canada against Spokane could move them up a notch on the ladder.
Salem seems to have sought its own level. It just wasn't in the cards for the Solons to stay on top. They don't have that kind of a team. Tacoma is another that will be dropping down as the season goes along. They haven't strengthened themselves any while most teams in the league have.
THE BIG THREE
Aside from Victoria, we see Wenatchee, Yakima, and the Braves, as the one, two, three teams, and not necessarily in that order. Right now Yakima is up against the same thing that hurt us at the start of the season . . .injuries. They open a four-game series with Wenatchee tonight which may hurt them plenty.
One of the great assets of the Chiefs is their youth . . .and it can also be their greatest liability. They lack the few veterans it takes to steady a team down when the odds change quickly.
CAMERON IS STILL OUT
But speaking of injuries, the Braves aren't in good shape on that score yet. Clint Cameron's leg had him benched most of the Spokane series and he didn't even get into the just concluded one with Wenatchee. About the time the "Clinkers" leg begins to feel better he slides into a base, or steps on a rock in the outfield, and the whole healing process has to start all over again.
Cameron isn't the type of player that the Braves can afford to do without long if they are to stay near the top in the pennant race. True he hasn't been hitting this season like he did last, but he'll still get on base more than any other player because of the many walks he gets. The hurlers in the league remember that big, fat .380 Clint had for a hitting average last year. So, they're so careful when they pitch to him that they seldom give him a good ball. And by the same token he's an excellent defensive player. Merle Frick, who's been subbing for Cameron, has been doing a good job, but Frick is first of all a pitcher, not an outfielder. And as long as Merle is out in the pasture Charlie Petersen can't use him on the mound.
WHO WILL IT BE?
Speaking of pitchers the Braves now have quite a rosterfull, nine of them in all. That's more than half ot the league limit of 17 which means that two players must be carried on the suspended list for 10 days at a time, obviously this situation can't go on forever. Say it's a pretty safe bet that one or perhaps two deals will have to be made by the club in order to trim the list.And just as obviously the trimming will have to be done on the pitching staff. We're not going to venture any outright predictions on that score except to try and pare down the list to what whould seem to be the most logical. Eliminate Joe Orrell, Lou McCollum, Cy Greenlaw, (these three are veterans who will continue to get better as the weather gets hotter) Dick Stone, and Gene Roenspie. The latter two have records that will keep them here.

FOUR ARE LEFT
That leaves "Fireman" Jim Olson, who seems to have settled into the relief role; Bob Felizzatto, Merle Frick, and Joe Nicholas. As we write this only Felizzatto has appeared on the mound. Bob went out Wednesday night against Wenatchee for just under two innings. Before, the quiet, left-hander's trouble was wildness but he didn't walk a batter and struck out one. Both Frick and Nicholas also have good records. Last year Frick won 12, while losing six, and was with a class A league before coming here. Nicholas has won five, and lost one pitching in class B and D leagues this season. So it's going to be a hard job when the times comes, to decide just which two of these four will stay. That's the time when it's nice not to be the team manager.
HOW LOW ARE THEY
And those last two words brings us around to a distateful subpect. Anonymous letter writers plague a lot of people in the public eye, and particularly athletes Lately someone has taken to writing letters with the apparent intention of breaking up Charlie Peterson's home. Let's put it this way. Should the writers be discovered, and the trail is by no means cold, they will he prosecuted to the full extent of the law. . .after Charlie personally turns them over. . ..we trust you understand what is meant by "after."
We've known the personable young manager of the Braves nearly a year now. It's regrettable that some people are so anxious to be in the eye of the public that they will go to any lengths. If this letter writing is part of a gag Charlie wants them to know it isn't getting any laughs from him.

ALF COTTRELL
June 30, 1950
Bud Beasley, the new Capilano pitcher with the old [], insists that he is 37 years of age. Or that 37 is his “baseball age,” anyway.
With cheerful guilt he also confesses he is more left-handed that most left-handers. In fact he is so left-handed he often throws a pitch right handed to further confuse the hitters.
*
He played pro ball when he was fresh out of high school. A football scholarship, donated by the University of Nevada, took care of five winters. He took care of the summers by playing semi-pro ball, and one summer he grew a beard and made the grand tour with Doc Talley’s House of David nine.
After college, athletic instruction became his life work. He dotes on it, and the teaching of kids. But wait a minute!
One year Earl Sheeley came through Reno, where Beasley was pitching semi-pro ball on weekend. Behind him were his five years at Nevada U., coaching spells at New Yor’s Columbia University and Stanford U., plus some seasons in large and small pro balls leagues.
Sheeley again talked with him and Beasley said, “I’m washed up.” Next spring, Sheeley was Sacramento’s manager. He beckoned to old Bud again. If he came for a week’s vacation he could have an expenses-paid trip. Then, if he made good, report in his summer vacation.
*
It worked out that way. By 1945 Beasley led the Coast League pitchers. In one game, Sacramento beat Seattle in 17 innings, with Beasley going all the way. Score, 8-5.
Came the last game of the season, with the Sacs finishing it in Seattle. Beasley needed a win to cinch the pitching lead. “But,” says Bud, “my arm was all loused up They had pitched me three times a week.” Sheeley said, “You work this game.”
He warmed up for ten minutes and then quit cold. Sheeley said, “Go back and work some more.” It came time to start the game and no one else had warmed up.
As the little guy went out to pitch, he warned them to have another hurler ready. So there were two pitchers warming up in the bullpen before he had even thrown a ball. Then fans got a laugh out of that.
*
His long suit was a knuckler. So he decided to throw slow knuckles. Nothing else. He got them out on about seven pitches the first inning. Ditto the next. Seattle hitters went crazy, trying to knock his fat floater clear out of the state.
Beasley’s catcher sat on his glove in the sixth inning and caught barehanded. And instead of just trying to hit the ball, or bunting, they kept trying to break the ball into small pieces. And old Bud won it, 5-1.
Sheeley went to Seattle. Beasley followed in a package deal that sent John Rucker, Charlie Ripple, Rex Cecil and Sig Jacucki to the Sacs for Bill Ramsay, Guy Fletcher, Red Mann and our Mr. Beasley. He stayed with Seattle a season or two, or such parts of seasons as he could get away from his Nevada athletic instructorship.
*
Last summer Sheeley tried to coax him to Vancouver. He said he was dead through, this time. They tried again this summer, and five days ago he agreed to hop a plane.
Beasley says the big thing is to keeps hitters off balance mentally. So he may wind up on either side of himself. He can throw dead underhand. Occasionally he heaves, as we mentioned, right-handed. And one day at Sacramento, as a changeup pitch, he threw the resin bag.
He doesn’t know how soon he can be in shape to help, if he can help. Possibly they just got him here as an attendance booster. All we know for sure is that fellow players claim hic knuckler, those days when he is real sharp, can weave like a snake on a red hot stove.