Thursday, August 10, 1950

              W  L  Pct GB
Yakima ..... 71 47 .602 —
Tacoma ..... 67 46 .593 1½
Wenatchee .. 66 51 .564 4½
Tri-City ... 64 52 .552 6
Vancouver .. 50 64 .439 19
Victoria ... 51 68 .429 20½
Salem ...... 48 67 .417 22½
Spokane .... 46 68 .404 24

TACOMA, Aug. 10—The league-leading Yakima Bears were handed their fourth loss in a row, as the Tacoma Tigers shut them out tonight, 6-0.
Tonight's victory was decided in the first inning when three walks, Dick Greco's double, Dick Wenner's single and an infield out chased over three Tacoma tallies. Wimpy Quinn homered in the seventh.
Bob Kerrigan gained his second-shut victory in four days over Yakima.
With less than a month before Sept. 10 closing date, Tacoma's challengers appeared to have both a psychological and schedule advantage over Yakima's 1949 titlists. The two clubs meet once more—a three-game set opening in Yakima Aug. 29.
Other than that, Tacoma plays only five more games against first division foes. All are with Wenatchee in Tacoma. Yakima not only must toss off the effect of its recent skid, but must play Wenatchee and Tri-City each seven times, in addition to its Tacoma series.
Yakima ...... 000 000 000—0 7 0
Tacoma ..... 300 100 20x—6 11 0
Larner, Savarese (7) and Tiesiera; Kerrigan and Sheets.

SPOKANE, Aug. 10—Wenatchee's Al Treichel and the Indians' Jim Holder dueled scorelessly for 12 innings tonight before the Chiefs broke open the game in the 13th and picked up a 5-2 victory over Spokane.
Both clubs scored one in the 13th and then Wenatchee lowered the boom for five hits and four runs in the 14th. Holder had given up only three hits when he faced Jay Ragni to open to the fatal 14th.
Treichel was hit safely 14 times and walked ten men but scattered the hits enough to keep out of serious trouble most of the way.
Wenatchee ........ 000 000 000 14—5 8 0
Spokane ............. 000 000 000 11—2 14 1
Treichel and Neal, Billings (13); Holder and Rossi.


VANCOUVER, Aug. 10—Tri-City remained six games off the pace with a 6-5 edge over Vancouver on Thursday night.
Tri-City pushed over its one-run edge against Vancouver with three in the ninth. Jim Warner's drive down the third base-line was the payoff blow—in more ways than one. Even Warner thought it was foul and didn't run until umpire Dutchy Bergmann ordered him to. A similar decision by Bergmann last Monday night prompted Vancouver manager Bill Brenner to ask league president Robert Abel to transfer the arbiter elsewhere,
As a rsult, Bergmann will be officiating at the Yakima-Wenatchee series in Yakima today.
Tri-City ........ 000 300 003—6-13-4
Vancouver .... 012 010 001—5-12-1
McCollum, Olsen (9) and Pesut; Snyder, Gunnarson (9) and Heisner.

VICTORIA, Aug. 10—Victoria's John Marshall tried an iron man stunt against Salem and was halfway successful.
After winning the seven-inning opener, 12-3, he got no decision after starting the second game that Salem won 4-3 in the 12th inning on Mel Wasley's two-out homer. He was relieved by Ron Smith in the tenth.
Marshall ran into tough competition from John Burak in the night game. Burak went the distance, scattering ten hits over nine innings but allowing the tying run in the ninth. Bill Dunn singled with one out and Al Ronning just failed to clear the fence left-centre which fell for a single. Dunn went to third and Hal Danielson batred for Marshall. Danielson fly to Al Drew in right. Dunn, for some reason, started for home, but had to go back and tag up. He just barely beat the throw to the plate.
Smith then came in and lost his second game in two nights when he tried to give an intentional walk to Wasley, but didn't keep the ball far enough away.
Marty Krug Jr. led off the Victoria 12th with a single and went to second as Lou Novoikoff grounded out. Gene Thompson banged a line drive at shortstop Wally Scott and Krug was doubled off first.
Novikoff and Thompson lef the A's in the first game. Novikoff batted in four runs with a single and a bases-loaded double, while Thompson connected for his 21st home run with two men on in the fourth.
Marshall worked easily in both games, pitching only six innings in the first when manager Marty Krug let Johnny Brkich finish up. Brkich set the side down in order in the seventh, whiffing Al Drew and Al Spaeter.
Only two of the runs off Marshall were earned and he had a total of 10 strikeouts in the 15 innings he worked.
First Game
Salem ......... 010 020 0—3-7-3
Victoria ...... 104 340 x—12-11-2
Costello, Lew (4) and Beard; Marshall, Brikich (7) and Ronning.
Second Game
Salem ........ 000 020 010 001—4-12-0
Victoria ...... 020 000 001 000—3-10-1
Burak and Allison, Beard (11); Marshall, Smith (10) and Ronning.

Chief's Catcher Hurt
WENATCHEE, Wash., (UP) — Larry Neal, Wenatchee's regular catcher, will be out of action for at least two weeks as a result of injuries he suffered at a team picnic Monday, it was disclosed yesterday.
Neal suffered a broken rib, a head cut and bruises.
Utility infielder Hank Sciarra also was sidelined when he stepped on a nail at the same picnic.
Left fielder Walt Pocekay is playing third base in the juggled Wenatchee infield.

Tri-City Braves Recall Michelson
KENNEWICK, Aug. 11—Kenny Michelson, Pasco, will report back to his home club, the Tri-City Braves early next week.
Dick Richards, general manager of the Tri-City team, in making the announcement added that Michelson would probably make his first mound appearance in an exhibition game against the Walla Walla Bears, Aug. 21, against Gene Conley, signed yesterday to a pro contract by the Boston Braves.
Michelson, who was signed by Tri-City at the start of the current season, has been pitching for Marysville of the Far West Class D league where he has compiled a very commendable record.
Richards said that Michelson would probably take his regular turn with the Braves pitching staff for the balance of the season provided he was able to fit into the class B Western International type of baseball.
"But we feel confident that Ken will be able to turn in a fine a job here as he has been doing down there," the club general manager said.
The matching of Michelson and Conley in the Aug. 21 game promises a record breaking attendance. The two boys were keen rivals throughout their respective high school careers and a duel between them always brought out a large crowd. Now with both athletes playing and signed to professional contracts experts are predicting a new record for Sanders Field.
Michelson was one of the greatest athletes ever coming out of Pasco high school. He lettered four years in baseball and football. He interrupted his college career last spring to sign a contract with Tri-City.

WESTERN INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE LEADERS
including games of Wednesday, August 9
                    AB  H  RBI HR  Ave.
Stetter, Spok. ... 376 140  82 12 .372
Greco, Tac. ...... 431 153 115 27 .355
Vanni, Spol. ..... 357 118  48  3 .350
McCawley, Yak. ... 283  97  52  4 .343
Rossi, Spok. ..... 383 126  81 17 .329
Home runs—Greco (Tacoma) 27, G. Thompson (Victoria) 19, Rossi (Spokane) 17, Warner (Tri-City) 15, Mead (Vancouver) 13.
Runs batting in—Greco (Tacoma) 115, Warner (Tri-City) 93, Westlake (Yakima) 92, Cheso (Yakima) 91, Quinn (Tacoma) 88, Mead (Vancouver) 88.
Pitching—Robertson (Vancouver) 12-0, Greenlaw (Tri-City) 8-2, Kerrigan (Tacoma) 17-6, Ragni (Wenatchee) 15-7, Olsen (Tri-City) 8-4.

Wednesday, July 26, 1950

S T A N D I N G S
              W  L Pct. GB
Yakima ..... 61 39 .610 —
Wenatchee .. 60 43 .583 2½
Tacoma ..... 57 41 .582 3
Tri-City ... 54 47 .535 7½
Salem ...... 41 55 .427 18
Victoria ... 43 58 .426 18
Vancouver .. 42 58 .420 19
Spokane .... 42 59 .416 19½

SALEM, July 26 — Yakima's Bears, leaders in the Western International league chase, reached three Salem Senator hurlers for 13 hits Wednesday night to gain a 9-5 victory over the Solons. It was the Bears' second straight win of the clubs' current series.
The Bears counted three times in the first two innings and routed starter John Tierney. Salem tied it in the fourth on a bases-empty home run by Bill Spaeter but Yakima tucked the game away with three-run bursts in both the sixth and seventh innings.
Bill Bradford went the distance for Yakima, giving up nine hits.
Yakima ........... 210 003 300—9 13 0
Salem ............ 000 300 200—5 9 21
Bradford and Tornay; Tierney, Valentine (1), Lineberger (7) and Beard.

VANCOUVER, B. C., July 27 — If Charlie Dressen manager of the Pacific Coast league's Oakland Acorns needs some pitching help in this week's 10-game series at Seattle he might look over Tom Breisinger.
The young southpaw, an Oakland chattel assigned to Wenatchee, pitched and batted the Chiefs into second place in the Western International league tonight, shutting out Vancouver 1-0 on three hits and scoring the game's only run with a mighty clout over the right field fance in the sixth inning.
The blow, combined with Wenatchee's 7-2 win in the seven-inning opener, pushed the Chiefs a bare percentage point ahead of Tacoma.
Breisinger's blow gave him the edge in a sharp pitching duel with Vancouver's veteran George Nicholas. The Cap hurler gave up only five hits in one of the finest pitching matchups in Capilano Stadium for many years.
Wenatchee left only one man on base at the Caps supposed Nicholas with three double plays. The game lasted one hour and nine minutes
In the first game, the Caps were handicapped by the absence of Reg Clarkson and Jim Robinson. Clarkson returned in time for the second game
It was featured by spectacular fielding on both sides. Perhaps the greatest play of the night was turned in by Walt Pocekay of Wenatchee. Jim Keating, the Vancouver power-hitter, blasted a tremendous drive to left which carried on a line to the left field wall. Pocekay raced back, twirled into the air and caught it with his back touching the wall.
Meanwhile, an official complaint has been sent to WIL President Bob Abel by the official scorer. Manager Rupert Thompson of the Chiefs refused to present the scorer with the batting order in the second game because the scorer had declined to change three Vancouver errors of Tuesday night and Wednesday night to hits for Wenatchee.
The complaint is against Thompson for the refusal and against player Don Fracchia for using abusive language.
First Game, Seven innings
Wenatchee ........ 103 030 0—7 7 2
Vancouver ......... 200 000 0—2 5 2
Dahle and Len Neal; Snyder, Gunnerson (5) and Brenner.
Second Game
Wenatchee ........ 000 001 000—1 5 0
Vancouver ......... 000 000 000—0 3 0
Breisinger and Len Neal; Nicholas and Heisner.

TACOMA, July 26—Tacoma defeated Tri-City, 3 to 2 in 10 innings here Wednesday night to go two up in their three-game Western International baseball league series.
Tacoma's winning run came on a walk to Mike Catron, a sacrifice,fielder's choice and Buddy Peterson's error on Sol Israel's grounder.
Tri-City's two runs came in the fourth on a home run by Clint Cameron into the Greco gardens in center field after Jim Warner had singled.
Tacoma tied the score at 2-all when Israel hit into the same garden in the eighth.
- - - - -
TACOMA, July 27 [Herald]—The Tacoma Tigers assured themselves of the edge in their three game scries with the Tri-City Braves by capturing the second game 3-2 in 10 innings.
And it was a costly boot by Tri-City's shortstop, that sent Mike Catron scooting home from third base. Catron had reached first on a free pass from loser Joe Nicholas. A sacrifice and a bunt moved the Tiger third sacker around to the pivotal bag of the game.
Clint Cameron's home run in the top of the fourth accounted for all the Brave runs. Cameron's four-master drove in Jim Warner who had singled ahead of him.
Tacoma collected a home run also when Sol Israel dropped one over the fence to knot the count 2-2 and send the game into extra innings.
The two teams olose out their series tonight, with Tri-City moving over to Salem Friday.
Tonight's broadcast of the game will start at 8:45 p. m. over KPKW with Arnie Sanborn doing the sportscasting.
WINfan note - the radio game is a re-creation.
Tri-City ............ 000 200 000 0—2 9 1
Tacoma ............ 010 000 010 1—3 5 0
Nicholas and McKeegan; Kipp, Anderson (9) and Sheets.

VICTORIA, B, C., July 26 — Spokane Indians salvaged the final game of a three-game series with Victoria Athletics here Wednesday night, winning 5-4 in 10 innings before a "ladies night" crowd of 2,500.
Glen Stetter was the big wheel for the Spokes. He crashed out a two-run homer in the 10th to score Leon Mohr, who had bunted safely, and break a 2-2 tie. Stetter scored as the throw from the outfield got away. Frank Matoh followed with another triple and scored what proved to be the winning run on Edo Vanni's single.
Gene Thompson batted in the first two Victoria runs, one with his 18th homer, to force extra innings. The A's made it close in their half when pinch hitter Al Ronning led off with a single and scored ahead of Bob McGuire as the young outfielder smashed a long home run.
Spokane ........ 200 000 000 3—5 15 1
Victoria ......... 000 101 000 2—4 10 1
Bishop, Conant (10) and Rossi; Smith and Danielson.

Alf Cottrell
[Vancouver Province, July 26, 1950]
Larry Neal stretched out in a chesterfield chair in the hotel lobby, his lank frame fitting where it touched. He looked relaxed and sad.
Here was slimmer than I thought, and younger. You wouldn’t have taken him for the big fellow who plays shortstop for Wenatchee. But there were other Wenatchee players around the lobby, and he is the club’s only colored player.
He said he wasn’t sad, really. He was 19 years old. He had read the column I had written from Penticton, in the spring, where I told how the Vancouver Capilanos, in a private survey, voted 9-2 in favor of colored players getting a chance to play in this league.
It had made him feel better, he said. He wouldn’t have seen it except one of the fellows on the club brought it to his attention.
• • •
Fresh out of high school, he didn’t know a thing about baseball when he reported to the Oakland training camp this spring. He had just played American Legion baseball with fellows like Jimmy Moore and Mansell Travis, who were with the Capilanos early this season. I said Travis had been sent to the Pioneer League. “How’s he doing, did you hear?” he said. “That’s where I expected to be sent.”
I had noticed that where his throws, the first trip Wenatchee was here, would go into first base with an explosion, they sneaked in there with a whimper now. “I can’t throw hard,” he explained. “I hurt my shoulder going into ‘the hole’ on a play. I had been over .300, but I went into a slump as soon as I started throwing badly.
He said, “That Sandy Robertson is smart enough out there. I golfed some hits off him that I wasn’t entitled to. One off a knuckler that broke to my shoe tops. He just lets you look at his fast ball, then kills you with the curve.
He had reached the season’s half-way mark and was still around. Was he happy?
“Everybody, no matter where, has been so nice to me,” he said. “I couldn’t be any other way but happier.”

Chiefs Sign Catcher
WENATCHEE, July 26 — The Wenatchee Chiefs of the Western International league signed Arthur Billings of San Diego, Calif, as a second string catcher. Billings, 21, has three years of lower minor league experience.

Thursday, May 18, 1950

Western International League
By the Associated Press
Team           W  L  PCT GB
Tacoma ...... 19  7 .731 —
Salem ....... 17  9 .654 2
Wenatchee ... 15 12 .556 4½
Yakima ...... 14 13 .519 5½
Tri-City .... 14 15 .483 6½
Vancouver ... 10 15 .400 8½
Spokane ..... 10 17 .370 9½
Victoria ..... 8 19 .296 11½

KENNEWICK, May 19—Some weird happenings took place at Sanders Field last night.
Fans who streamed out of the park when the Braves were on the short end of a 7-4 count in the eighth inning got home in time to hear the Tri-City team win, 8-7. Apparently they thought the second game was going to be a repetition of the first when the Braves blew a 6-0 lead in one big inning to lose 8-6.
Just about everything happened in the ninth inning of the nightcap. Victoria used three pitchers, but the second one, John Marshall, did the damage when he uncorked a wild pitch to score Bob Felizatto from third with the tieing run. Marshall raced to the plate to take the throw from catcher Al Ronning and sprained his ankle when Felizzatto went into the plate underneath him.
The Braves pulled even in this game after two were out and with some of the fans on their way out of the park. Jim Warner singled with two out to score Al Spaeter from second for the first run. Then Clint Cameron singled to move Bryant to third and Felizatto came in to run for Cameron. Neil Bryant drew a base on balls to load the bags and that was all for pitcher Alton Wilkie. John Marshall, who won the first game for the Athletics, came in to pitch. He walked pinch-hitter Nick Pesut, Warner scoring. Then Marshall cut loose with his wild heave and Felizatto romped in to knot the count.
ROENSPIE COMES IN
Gene Roensple, making his first appearance in the Braves uniform, held the Athletics in check in the top of the tenth, but the game was nearly over. Jim McKeegan opened the last frame with a single and took second when Edo Vanni let the ball roll through his legs in left field.
Charlie Petersen rapped a sharp blow to the second baseman and the play [sic]. Then Al Spaeter's high fly to right scored McKeegan after the catch for the ball game.
A BIG BAD ONE
It was a big inning in the first game that cost the Braves what seemed to be a cinch win. Jim Olsen hurling his second game of the season had a two-hitter going into the sixth, but that's when everything happened at once.
Pinch-hitter Marty Krug, Jr., drew a free pass. Then Olsen gave up four successive singles to Vanni, Jim Moore, K. Chorlton, and Gene Thompson. Another free pass to Jim Wert and a double by Al Ronning brought the score to 6-5, with the Braves edge in serious danger. Vanni's double off reliefer Dick Stone cleaned the bases and won the game.
For the Braves Neil Bryant got his second successive triple in the opener driving in two runs in the first inning. Jim Warner added a pair of RBI's when he singled in Olsen and Spaeter in the fourth.
Manager Charlie Petersen said he would open against Wenatchee tonight with Cy Greenlaw. "Bullet" Joe Orrell will follow Saturday, with Dick Stone and Gene Roenspie on tap for Sunday's double-header.
- - - - - -
KENNEWICK, May 18 (AP)—The Tri-City Braves put on a late rally tonight to beat Victoria 8 to 7 in 10 innings and earn a split of a Western International league double header. The Vics won the opener 8 to 6 in seven innings.
The score tied at three Jim McKeegan scored the winning run for the Braves on Al Speater's outfield fly. He had opened the inning with a single.
Victoria scored eight runs in the sixth to win the opener.
The Braves' Jim Olsen had blanked Victoria on two hits and wascoasting along nicely with a 6-0 lead before the roof fell in with only one frame left in iie seven-inning opener.
Marty Krug, a pinch hitter, started the sixth for the A's with a base on balls. Then in rapid fire order, Edo Vanni, Jim Moore, K. Chorlton and Gene Thompson socked singles to score three runs. Al Ronning followed with a double and more were in.
Out come Olsen and in went reliefer Dick Stone for the Braves at this point.
The A's loaded the bases and with two out Vanni smashed a long double that scored three more runs and put Victoria ahead to stay, 8 to 6.
John Marshall got credit for the win although Ronnie Smith worked the last two innings for the A's.
The second game started at 9 p.m.
First Game
Victoria ......... 000 008 0—8- 8-1
Tri-City ......... 200 400 0—6-10-0
Marshall, Smith (6) and Ronning; Olson, Stone (6) and Pesut.
Second Game
Victoria ........ 030 000 040 0—7-11-2
Tri-City ........ 000 310 003 1—8-12-2
Wilkie, Marshall (9), Jensen (9) and Weatherwax, Ronning (8); McCollum, Roenspie (10) and McKeegan, Pesut (10).

WENATCHEE, May 18 — Southpaw Tom Breisinger pitched his second two-hit game in a row to lead the Wenatchee Chiefs to a 4-0 win over the Salem Senators here Thursday night.
Also for the second game in a row, the little lefthander didn't allow a runner to get beyond second base. He struck out nine and walked four men.
Salem's two hits were an infield roller by Hal Zurcher in the third and a solid double by Dick Bartle in the sixth. Breisinger helped his own cause by scoring once and tripling home another run.
The series, was completed at one game apiece.
Salem .......... 000 000 000—0 2 4
Wenatchee ... 101 100 10x—4 6 1
Stevenson and Beard; Breisinger and Len Neal.

TACOMA, May 18—Tacoma swept an abbreviated league series by defeating Yakima 5-2 here Thursday night behind the four-hit pitching of Bob Kerrigan. Only two games were
played in this series, Wednesday night's game being rained out, Tacoma winning both.
Three of the Yakima hits came in the first inning and accounted for the two Yakima runs. All the blows were singles by Reno Cheso, Al Jacinto and Jim Westlake, with a walk by Willie Tiesiera sandwiched in. Jacinto also got Yakima's other hit.
Successive runs by Dick Greco and Dick Wenner put the Tacoma Tigers ahead in the sixth. The win was the sixth straight against no defeats for Kerrigan, Tiger left-hander.
Yakima ..... 200 000 000—2 4 1
Tacoma ..... 000 103 10x—5 9 3
Bradford, Rial (8) and Tornay; Kerrigan and Sheets, Fischer (5).

Vancouver at Spokane, postponed cold.

Propst Rejoins A's To Bolster Mound
[Colonist, May 19, 1950]
Welcome news for disappointed supporters of Victoria's beleaguered Athletics was the announcement last night by Business Manager Reg Patterson that Jim Propst is rejoining the club.
Patterson disclosed that the slim southpaw had been purchased from the New York Yankees organization and would join the A's over the week-end. he will likely make his first mound appearance in one of the May 24th games at Royal Athletic Park.
Propst was sent to Portland on a "look" basis as part of the Yankees agreement with the Beavers. When cutting down time came in the Coast League, the Beavers sent him to the Kansas City Monarchs, who farmed him to Quincy of the Class B Three-I League. Propst expressed a desire "to come home" and asked to make a deal for himnself. Granted permission by the parent Yankees, he immediately contacted Patterson by phone. Patterson arranged his purchase through Joe Devine and the deal with approved by Lee McPhail last night.
IMPOSING RECORD
Propst joined the A's on May 31 last year and compiled an imposing record of 17 victories against six defeats in 25 starts, 20 of them completed games. He led the league with 192 strikeouts, gave up 126 walks and had an earned run average of 3.35 for 188 innings. In his first season with the A's in 1948, he appeared in 35 games, five complete, and posted a 12 and six won and loss record. His earned run average was 3.75 for 168 innings with 135 strikeouts and 107 walks.

WESTERN INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE
BIG SIX
Includes games of Wednesday, May 17.
                     G   AB H RBI HR Ave
Stetter, Tac ....... 25  85 35 22 3 .412
Tornay, Yak ........ 21  71 29 14 0 .408
Thompson, Vic ...... 25  94 38 21 4 .404
Bryant, T-C ........ 27 113 40 27 1 .354
Chorlton, Vic ...... 25 105 37 20 2 .352
Sheets, Tac ........ 20  72 25  9 0 .347
Runs batted in (top six)— Bryant, Tri-City, 27; Quinn, Tacoma, 26; Warner, Tri-City, 23; Stetter, Tacoma, 22; G. Thompson, Victoria, 21; Cheso, Yakima, 21.
Home runs (top six)— G. Thompson, Victoria, 4; Stetter, Tacoma, Mead, Salem [sic], Warner, Tri-City, Rossi, Spokane, 3 each.
Pitching—Tierney, Salem, 6-0; Kerrigan, Tacoma, 5-0; Loust, Tacoma, 5-0.

Alf Cottrell
[Vancouver Daily Province, May 19, 1950]

WENATCHEE—Taking a breather in this bustling little city Thursday night before resuming the drive to Spokane, it struck me that George Clark, the general manager of Wenatchee’s baseball club, is the Branch Rickey of the Western International League.
It was Branch who introduced colored Jackie Robinson to organized baseball and it was George Clark who this spring signed Larry Neal, the first colored athlete to play regularly in the WIL.
Coming down through high scenic Stevens Pass on Thursday, we had been talking about Neal, of how when Wenatchee opened the season in Vancouver, the 19-year-old had been given a friendly welcome at Capilano Stadium, and had then been accepted as just another ball player. Which is the way it should be.
But that was in Canada, which has no racial problems. How was it with Larry and the Wenatchee club management on their own side of the 49th parallel?
• • •
We had been in town long when we got our answer. In the lobby of one of the town’s hotels we ran into Buddy Hjelmaa, who plays second base to Larry’s shortstop every night.
“Neal? He’s hitting about .320 and you know how he can field,” said Buddy. “He doesn’t give anybody any trouble, and nobody gives him any, he’s just like the rest of us.”
That was a pretty big speech for Hjelmaa, who never was very vocal.
So we button-holed Clark, the general manager of the Chiefs. He is a well-built fellow with a squarely built face very young as front office officials go. He obviously has two useful qualities, personality and drive.
• • •
Has the presence of Neal on his ball club created any special problems?
“Quite the contrary,” he said, as if glad I brought the subject up.
“In the first place, he got along with all the players. In fact, he was one of the most popular players on the club, with fellow players and fans alike.
“When the club is at home, the kid stays with a colored family in Wenatchee, a family which is very well thought of in the town, and the family thinks highly of Neal.”
On the road, to date, he has stayed everywhere the club has stayed, Clark said. If any problems had arisen in that respect he has failed to notice them. And he would have noticed them quicker than anyone, aside from the party of the first part, Mr. Neal.
• • •
“There has been absolutely no segregation anywhere,” he said. He had heard of a lot of gloomy predictions, he admitted. But now, he sometimes wonders what all the shouting was about.
As for Neal’s brand of short-stopping, it was at least up to the best Western International League standards. Probably a notch above it, and at that he was just a teen-agers fresh out of Santa Monica Junior College.
Down there in California he had been a letterman in baseball, football, basketball and track. And he had been given one nice boost, the position of captain of an all-star all-southern California baseball team.
“He is happy about the way things are going, and I believe he is ambitious,” said Clark. I guess he never expected any carpet to be laid out for him to walk on in this league, he isn’t the kind of guy who would want one laid out for him. It is ready to make good the hard way.”
Clark, too, expected to walk a rough rode before his innovation was accepted. And like Branch Rickey in the case of Jackie Robinson, he is still supposed to find that what he told himself would surely be the outcome now is the outcome.