W L Pct. GB
Spokane .... 5 2 .714 —
Salem ...... 5 3 .625 ½
Tacoma ..... 5 3 .625 ½
Wenatchee .. 5 3 .625 ½
Yakima ..... 4 3 .571 1
Tri-City ... 4 4 .500 1½
Vancouver .. 2 6 .250 3½
Victoria ... 1 7 .125 4½
YAKIMA, April 25, — Skidding under the impact of an 11-hit Yakima assault and 10 walks given up by their own pitchers, the Tri-City Braves dropped from second to sixth in the Western International League standings. The Bears moved ahead in the second inning and went on to win easily, 9-5, in the 1950 opener at Parker Field.
Two Tri-City portsiders opened against Yakima, but it was a right hander, Ken Kleasner, that finally had to go in and cut off the free-swinging, hard-hitting Yakima team. Bob Felizzatto opened on the mound for the Braves but had too much trouble finding the plate. After walking four and giving up a hit, Manager Charlie Petersen sent in big Chuck Steglich. Steglich put the ball in there, but the trouble was, that Yakima was hitting it. Singles by Al Spaeter, Vic Buccola and Jim McKeegan, and a double by Neil Bryant featured the Braves' first inning drive.
Kleasner took over in the fourth and shut the Bears out until the eighth when they scored their final two runs.
Yakima scored three runs in the first and two in the second to go ahead and thereafter little Teddy Saverese, Yakima lefthander, kept the Braves under control. Among the eight hits off him were a triple by third baseman Artie Wilson and a double by shortstop Neil Bryant.
Jim Westlake, Yakima first baseman, hit two singles and a double to lead the Bears' attack.
The big bat of Clint Cameron was silent for Tri-City again tonight as he rode the bench resting a groin and heel injury. Nick Pesut, the front line Brave catcher, got a split finger in the sixth on a foul tip and had to leave the game. Jim McKeegan came in from his right field post to do the backstopping and manager Petersen went to the outer garden spot.
A temperature which hovered around 37 degrees kept the attendance to 2,450, smallest opening game gathering here since the league was revived in 1946.
Tri-City ...... 400 100 000—5 8 2
Yakima ....... 321 100 02x—9 11 0
Felizzatto, Steglich (1), Kleasner (4) and Pesut, McKeegan (6); Saverese and Tornay.
VANCOUVER, B.C., Apr. 25 — The masterful two-hit hurling job of Wenatchee's Tom Breisinger Tuesday night curbed Vancouver Capilanos 4-0 as the left hander's mates pounded three Cap pitchers for 12 hits.
Breisinger was in control throughout, wavering only slightly towards the end of the chilly league opener here. He struck out 12 and issued six walks. The teams meet again Wednesday night.
A four-run outburst by Wenatchee in the third inning accounted for all the game's runs. The big blow was Bob Goldstein's double off Mike Kanshin.
- - - -
VANCOUVER [Erwin M. Swangard, Daily Province, Apr. 26]—Oakland Acorns of the Pacific Coast Baseball League must have a pretty efficient pitching staff if they can’t find a spot for 22-year-old Tom Breisinger, a lefthander will all sorts of skill, and courage to match that spill.
As far as the Vancouver Capilanos of the Western International League are concerned, Oakland can recall young Mr. Breisinger any time from the Wenatchee Chiefs.
If Oakland promises to keep the youngster, the Capilanos may even be willing to help with the transportation.
Tom was an unco-operative boy at Cap Stadium Tuesday night. He thoroughly spoiled the season’s opener for the aforementioned Capilanos and some 2500 faithful who defied the cold to see their favorites in action.
They say them in action all right, mostly swinging from the hip and connecting with little more than thin air.
Tuesday night, Breisinger had everything and even Robert Brown, director-general of the Capilanos, who is a fierce competitor and takes a dim view of young men who makes things tough for his club, had a lot of praise for the young pitcher.
HAS EVERYTHING
The best the Caps could do against Tom’s delivery—which ranged from a nifty cross fire to some fine curve balling—were two hits, a solid triple by newcomer Everett Pearson and an infield hit by speedy Reg Clarkson.
Breisinger struck out 12 Caps, walked six and called on his courage a couple of times when it seemed he could have got himself into trouble.
Meanwhile, his team mates showed no mercy on three Vancouver pitchers. Mike Kanshin started off, showed a lot of stuff, but lasted only two innings. All four Wenatchee runs were charged against him. Along came Paul Spurlock. He toiled for another inning and then gave way to veteran Carl Gunnarson who tamed the Chiefs the rest of the way but, of course, it was too late.
Tonight the two teams go at it again and Caps have high hopes because their winningest pitcher, Bob Snyder, will take the mound. Behind Snyder, so say the Caps, things will be different. Jay Ragney [sic] opens for the Chiefs.
SHOWN NO MERCY
Let no one tell you, however, that Tuesday night’s game was not a good one. Considering the chilly temperature the fielding was superb. Charlie Mead, veteran right fielder, came through with a couple of circus catches in the late innings.
But the play of the night was provided by Larry Neal, Negro shortstop of the visitors.
With two on and two out in the ninth, Art Lucchessi, pinch-hitting for Gunnarson, blasted one into the hole between short and second base. Neal raced toward second, threw himself into the air, caught the ball and fell full length into the diamond. It was a breath-taking play.
THRILLING PLAY
All four Wenatchee runs were scored in the third inning. Singles by Walt Pocekay, Bud Hjelmaa and Al Drew, a ringing double by Bob Goldstein and a couple of walks fashioned the score.
Opening ceremonies were held to a minimum. The air cadet band entertained, acting Mayor Birt Showler and Bob Brown said their little pieces and the show went right on as scheduled.
So it’ll be Play Ball again at 8:15 tonight and if you want to enjoy it bring your blankets. The teams will do the rest.
Wenatchee ...... 004 000 000—4 12 0
Vancouver ....... 000 000 000—0 2 2
Breisinger and Neal; Kanshin, Spurlock (3), Gunnarson (4) and Brenner.
TACOMA, — Tacoma opened its home season by defeating Spokane 5-2 here Tuesday night before 3,133 fans.
The Tigers exploded for four runs in the first inning on five hits, highlighted by Wimpy Quinn's two-run double and added the other score in the seventh on three hits.
The win enabled the Tigers to cut Spokane's league lead to a half-game.
Spokane ..... 010 001 000—2 7 2
Tacoma ...... 400 000 10x—5 11 3
Bishop, Brock (6), Roberts (6) and Rossi; Kerrigan and Sheets.
VICTORIA, B.C., —Salem's John Tierney mussed up Victoria Athletics' home opener Tuesday night as his tight pitching and sound stick work paced Senators to a 5-1 league victory before 3,200 soundly-chilled spectators.
Tierney won his own game with a single and a two-run double.
Salem scored in the second, fifth and seventh innings, muffling Victoria's attack until the ninth when pinch-hitter Jim Olson singled home Jim Woods.
Salem ...... 010 001 300—5 7 1
Victoria .... 000 000 001—1 7 1
Tierney and McMillan; Blankenship, R. Smith (9) and Ronning.
Portland Sends Cherry to Salem
PORTLAND, April 25 — The Portland Beavers announced Tuesday that Bob Cherry, utility outfielder, was being sent to the Salem Senators.
General Manager Bill Mulligan said Cherry was told to report to the Salem team at once. The Beavers now are in Sacramento.
Cherry performed for Salem last year. His batting average for the Beavers was .222.
Indians' Scout Seeks Players For Local Club
Hollis Thurston, west coast scout of the Cleveland Indians, is attempting to secure, help for the floundering Tucson Cowboys.
Thurston was a spectator at last night's game and was today in touch with west coast contacts.
Thurston says a big problem is that all class C teams are seeking experienced men whereas the parent clubs are interested in developing the rookies.
Tacoma, a class B club, is seeking players from San Diego, and Tucson wants men from Tacoma and other leagues of higher classification. This tendency, he points out, leaves the rookies out in the cold.
A major difficulty is that the fans in many places will not pay to see the youngsters in action. There is now a shortage of experienced players and a general lack of pitching material.
-Tucson Daily Citizen, Apr. 25, 1950
Alf Cottrell
[Vancouver Daily Province, April 26, 1950]
Manager Bill Brenner introduced the Capilanos in the traditional manner to the opening game crowd at the ballyard last night. And this year he remembered everybody, first names and all, proving that despite appearances, he has everything well in hand.
The pre-game lawn party was startling in its brevity. With the players in their dugouts after infield practise there was the usual pause for dramatic effect. A vacuum with nothing to look at but a half-moon riding the night sky, or the infield grass, as ever a preposterous green under the tower lights.
Then an RCAF band marched and performed convolutions, weaving and doubling like a pitcher under a high infield fly. They rat-a-tatted and oompahed briefly. Then they stiffened to attention as the smallest covey of dignitaries on record came to the home plate to do the honest thing by the new season.
General manager Bob Brown said this was the last opening, barring a calamity of Triple-A proportions, in the old ball park. He had built this one 38 years ago. And when he said he had built it he meant he had built it. He said that throughout the winter 38 years ago he had mucked in the mud with hip boots on and a stick of dynamite in each pocket.
Brown then introduced Acting Mayor Birt Showler. The latter took a nasty but no uncalled for dig at the temperature. He said that earlier in the day he and Mr. Brown had looked over plans for the new park which will be ready next year. He spoke of it in such glowing terms you felt that weather and similar details were well taken care of in the blue prints they studied.
Rookies Fire, And Fall Back
As advertised, Brenner elected to start rookie pitcher Mike Kanshin, a big kid with an appealing grin.
Kanshin’s first pitch went for a single and the first base runner cantered down the bridle path to first base. The season was on its journey.
Then the kid got a fast-ball strike over on the next hitting and Tom Weedon yelled, “Beauty!” That made it official. Kanshin walked a man with two on, a new pitcher started cranking in the bullpen. Still grinning, Mike got one man on strikes. The next batter grounded out. The following hitter walked. And then with the bases full a Wenatchee batsman grounded out and the nervous fans got off their first cheer of the new campaign.
It was likewise in the second inning. Kanshin got himself into trouble, then took a good hold on his bootstraps and yanked himself out.
The Gunner Takes Command
The ceiling collapsed on the kid in the third inning, when wildness overtook and threw him. Paul Spurlock, another rookie, came in at the height of the uprising, He blew some fast ones across the plate and seemed to have the trouble quelled. Then he too hit a wild streak. When the inning ended Wenatchee had four runs.
Spurlock had catcher Brenner leaping high and wide in the fourth inning. He put a couple on base. Then the boss man called for veteran leftie Carl Gunnarson and Spurlock, to another polite spatter of applause, headed for the used pitchers’ lot.
Gunnarson stopped them as if they had been hit on their respective heads. And kept on stopping them there, all with a minimum of apparent effort.
Meanwhile a little left-hander from Albuquerque named Tommy Breisinger was making the Caps sit up and do tricks. His elegant performance was scarcely marred at any stage. Not even when Ev Pearson splashed a triple into right centre, first time he came up.
The Wrong-Armer Is Poison
Pearson, the determined young man who now patrols the rugged landscape in Cap Stadium’s left field, died at third when the next two men waved harmlessly at Breisinger’s darting tosses.
The game wore on so peacefully that the chilled fans ran the new concessionaire, Jack Labelle, right out of fresh coffee. Spasmodically the Caps encouraged the mob. Whistling Jimmy Moore fielded flawlessly at second base. Likewise Ray Tran at short. And Reg Clarkson flashed some of his old speed, beating out an infield hit. Later he inaugurated a bristling double steal.
For the record, both fans and players took the colored Wenatchee shortstop, Larry Neal, as a matter of course. And if the leftie-loaded Cap lineup gets to see many more left-handers like Breisinger, they’ll take to the fire escapes. Equally as a matter of course.
The pre-game lawn party was startling in its brevity. With the players in their dugouts after infield practise there was the usual pause for dramatic effect. A vacuum with nothing to look at but a half-moon riding the night sky, or the infield grass, as ever a preposterous green under the tower lights.
Then an RCAF band marched and performed convolutions, weaving and doubling like a pitcher under a high infield fly. They rat-a-tatted and oompahed briefly. Then they stiffened to attention as the smallest covey of dignitaries on record came to the home plate to do the honest thing by the new season.
General manager Bob Brown said this was the last opening, barring a calamity of Triple-A proportions, in the old ball park. He had built this one 38 years ago. And when he said he had built it he meant he had built it. He said that throughout the winter 38 years ago he had mucked in the mud with hip boots on and a stick of dynamite in each pocket.
Brown then introduced Acting Mayor Birt Showler. The latter took a nasty but no uncalled for dig at the temperature. He said that earlier in the day he and Mr. Brown had looked over plans for the new park which will be ready next year. He spoke of it in such glowing terms you felt that weather and similar details were well taken care of in the blue prints they studied.
Rookies Fire, And Fall Back
As advertised, Brenner elected to start rookie pitcher Mike Kanshin, a big kid with an appealing grin.
Kanshin’s first pitch went for a single and the first base runner cantered down the bridle path to first base. The season was on its journey.
Then the kid got a fast-ball strike over on the next hitting and Tom Weedon yelled, “Beauty!” That made it official. Kanshin walked a man with two on, a new pitcher started cranking in the bullpen. Still grinning, Mike got one man on strikes. The next batter grounded out. The following hitter walked. And then with the bases full a Wenatchee batsman grounded out and the nervous fans got off their first cheer of the new campaign.
It was likewise in the second inning. Kanshin got himself into trouble, then took a good hold on his bootstraps and yanked himself out.
The Gunner Takes Command
The ceiling collapsed on the kid in the third inning, when wildness overtook and threw him. Paul Spurlock, another rookie, came in at the height of the uprising, He blew some fast ones across the plate and seemed to have the trouble quelled. Then he too hit a wild streak. When the inning ended Wenatchee had four runs.
Spurlock had catcher Brenner leaping high and wide in the fourth inning. He put a couple on base. Then the boss man called for veteran leftie Carl Gunnarson and Spurlock, to another polite spatter of applause, headed for the used pitchers’ lot.
Gunnarson stopped them as if they had been hit on their respective heads. And kept on stopping them there, all with a minimum of apparent effort.
Meanwhile a little left-hander from Albuquerque named Tommy Breisinger was making the Caps sit up and do tricks. His elegant performance was scarcely marred at any stage. Not even when Ev Pearson splashed a triple into right centre, first time he came up.
The Wrong-Armer Is Poison
Pearson, the determined young man who now patrols the rugged landscape in Cap Stadium’s left field, died at third when the next two men waved harmlessly at Breisinger’s darting tosses.
The game wore on so peacefully that the chilled fans ran the new concessionaire, Jack Labelle, right out of fresh coffee. Spasmodically the Caps encouraged the mob. Whistling Jimmy Moore fielded flawlessly at second base. Likewise Ray Tran at short. And Reg Clarkson flashed some of his old speed, beating out an infield hit. Later he inaugurated a bristling double steal.
For the record, both fans and players took the colored Wenatchee shortstop, Larry Neal, as a matter of course. And if the leftie-loaded Cap lineup gets to see many more left-handers like Breisinger, they’ll take to the fire escapes. Equally as a matter of course.
ON THE INSIDE
By DON BECKER
Tribune Sports Editor
[April 26, 1950]
Anent all this discussion about those $100 home runs for the Braves. There are a few things that ought to be cleaned up. Biggest misunderstanding seems to concern where the ball must be hit to collect that century note. So here it is straight from the checkbook of Harry Owens.
In order to pocket the bills the home run ball must travel between two cross-arms that hold each bank of lights. That should answer some questions, we think.
"YOU'VE GOT TO, MEAT"
It seems that one subject just serves to bring up another today. A while back we mentioned big league scouts. Well, we've had one here too although few of the fans knew it. On hand during the past two home series of the Braves was "Goldie" Holt of the Chicago Cubs scouting staff. Holt has been watching our stellar centerfielder, Jim Warner. "Jigger" Statz, head of the Cubs West Coast scouting staff, covered Warner during the spring training campaign and Holt is doing the note taking now. It's hard to say how long he'll follow the fence-buster, sometimes the scouts just stay for a series or two and then again they'll cover a player for months But the longer they hang around the greater the likelihood that they'll eventually sign their man.
As long as we've mentioned Warner you might just as well get in on his latest laugh getter. The front office of the Braves is printing up a nice press book for member papers in the circuit and called in each of the players for a short biographical sketch. But the zany Warner's answers were so out of this world that the front office decided to write his their own way. For example when they asked the 1949 home run king what manager he enjoyed playing under most his answer was "Doc Wylder."
Wylder, it just so happens, is the trainer for the Braves. But as Jim says, "You've got to have those laughs You've got to."
WITHOUT CLINT-THEN WHAT
Now let's get down to brass tacks for a moment. Just how serious is the renewed Injury to Clint Cameron's heel a fan wants to know. Right now that's a toughie. This first road trip should pretty well answer the question though. If Clint can't hack it in the Yakima or Tacoma series he might be on the sidelines for a long, long time And without Cameron in the lineup the Braves' pennant chances are due for a swift drop, and quite possibly, a big one.
By DON BECKER
Tribune Sports Editor
[April 26, 1950]
Anent all this discussion about those $100 home runs for the Braves. There are a few things that ought to be cleaned up. Biggest misunderstanding seems to concern where the ball must be hit to collect that century note. So here it is straight from the checkbook of Harry Owens.
In order to pocket the bills the home run ball must travel between two cross-arms that hold each bank of lights. That should answer some questions, we think.
"YOU'VE GOT TO, MEAT"
It seems that one subject just serves to bring up another today. A while back we mentioned big league scouts. Well, we've had one here too although few of the fans knew it. On hand during the past two home series of the Braves was "Goldie" Holt of the Chicago Cubs scouting staff. Holt has been watching our stellar centerfielder, Jim Warner. "Jigger" Statz, head of the Cubs West Coast scouting staff, covered Warner during the spring training campaign and Holt is doing the note taking now. It's hard to say how long he'll follow the fence-buster, sometimes the scouts just stay for a series or two and then again they'll cover a player for months But the longer they hang around the greater the likelihood that they'll eventually sign their man.
As long as we've mentioned Warner you might just as well get in on his latest laugh getter. The front office of the Braves is printing up a nice press book for member papers in the circuit and called in each of the players for a short biographical sketch. But the zany Warner's answers were so out of this world that the front office decided to write his their own way. For example when they asked the 1949 home run king what manager he enjoyed playing under most his answer was "Doc Wylder."
Wylder, it just so happens, is the trainer for the Braves. But as Jim says, "You've got to have those laughs You've got to."
WITHOUT CLINT-THEN WHAT
Now let's get down to brass tacks for a moment. Just how serious is the renewed Injury to Clint Cameron's heel a fan wants to know. Right now that's a toughie. This first road trip should pretty well answer the question though. If Clint can't hack it in the Yakima or Tacoma series he might be on the sidelines for a long, long time And without Cameron in the lineup the Braves' pennant chances are due for a swift drop, and quite possibly, a big one.
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