Team W L Pct. GB
Tacoma ..... 25 8 .758 —
Salem ...... 20 13 .606 5
Wenatchee .. 19 15 .559 6½
Yakima ..... 17 18 .486 9
Tri-City ... 16 20 .444 10½
Spokane .... 15 21 .417 10½
Vancouver .. 14 20 .412 11½
Victoria ... 12 23 .343 14VICTORIA, [Colonist, May, 26]—Baseball annals are loaded with tales of players who have been released or traded and the come back to plague their former team-mates.
Third-Baseman Joe Kronberg, recently signed by Victoria Athletics after being released by Spokane, must have enjoyed a quiet chuckle or two after reviewing last night’s thriller at Athletic Park in which the A’s dumped the Indians, 6-5, to chalk up their fourth straight W.I.L. triumph.
A ONE MAN SHOW
All the peppery Kronberg did was to stroke a two-base blow in the first inning, rob Eddie Murphy of a sure double in the second frame and then wallop a double off the fence to drive in Victoria’s first run. He walked for the second time to load the bases in the wild seventh inning and then scored the winning run while Spokane was in the process of executing as weird a triple play as any baseball fan could ever hope to see.
The Vics scored twice without the benefit of a hit in that hectic inning to come from behind a 4-5 deficit and earn the decision for Joe Mishasek.
MOHR HAS TROUBLE
Leon Mohr, who came down from Seattle’s Coast League club to take over Kronberg’s former position probably added to the Athletics’ satisfaction. Mohr was a key figure in the fatal seventh as he earned the dubious distinction of committing three errors to aid the Victoria cause.
After Spokane had marked up three runs in the top of the seventh to go in front, Junior Krug opened the Victoria half as a pinch-hitter for Mishasek. Krug was thumped in the ribs with a pitch by starter Dick Bishop and moved to first base.
Edo Vanni dumped a sacrifice bunt to the left of the mound and, when Mohr’s throw to first bounced off Vanni for an error, Krug scampered to third. Kronberg walked on five pitches to load the hassocks, and Bob Roberts came in for Bishop.
THE LAST WORD
Mohr failed to come up with K. Chorlton’s hot ground smash and then threw to the plate too late to nip Krug sliding across with the equalizing run. Catcher Joe Rossi, after failing to with an argument over the play, disgustedly heaved the ball into right field and was himself tossed out of the game by base umpire Iacovetti. Manager Alan Strange came within a whisker of joining Rossi in an early shower as he argued lout and long over the decision.
Then came the triple play and the winning run.
ONE FOR THE BOOKS
Big Gene Thompson lined a curve ball into Mohr’s glove, the third-sacker stepped on the bag and belatedly threw the ball in the direction of first base as Chorlton hustled back. Sol Israel scoope up the errant horsehide as it bounced into right field and threw wide of home plate as Kronberg hurried across the plate with the big run. Mohr finally retrieved the ball and tossed to Bob Courage, who had replaced Rossi, to nip Chorlton and complete the three-ply killing.
Aldon Wilkie unlimbered his left arm for his second relief chore in two days and effectively throttled the Indians’ bats over the last two heats.
MOORE FINDS RANGE
Jimmy Moore was good for three bingles in four at bats. Thompson and Jim Wert slammed successive home runs into Pembroke Street in the fourth inning.
It was the first decision for the Athletics in eight outings against Spokane. Five of the losses were by a single run and the others by a two-run margin. Manager Marty Krug intends to send southpaw Jim Hedgecock to the mound tonight in an attempt to extend the victory skein to five games in the second contest of the four-game series.
Strange will probably give the job of stopping the rejuvenated Athletics to right-hander Ward Rockey.
Spokane ......... 000 200 300—5 8 3
Victoria .......... 001 201 20x—6 10 3
Bishop, Roberts (7) and Rossi, Courage (7); Mishasek, Wilkie (8) and Ronning.
WILFAN note: The story above is taken from a CP write and Colonist reporter Jimmy Tang's piece in The Sporting News of June 7/50. It varies from a version that was in Frank Vaille's WIL Roundup on the AP wire after the game. He had two runs score before the triple play, not one (which doesn't match the linescore). As Tang was at the game, and Vaille was simply re-writing off the wire, I'm going with TangTacoma 7, Tri-City 6.
By DON BECKER
To a pending lawsuit, sickness, injuries, and sore arms, the Tri-City Braves last night added their third straight defeat. The 7-6 loss set a couple of records for the current season.
It marked the first time that the Braves have failed to win at least one game of a series, and their longest losing streak.
Stranded ball players. That's what cost last night's game. Of the eight Braves left on bases, six of them died in scoring position, three on second base and three on third. The Tri-City team hit all right, but inability to produce in the clutch hurt.
Jim Olsen, who started on the mound, was derrlcked in the sixth for Gene Roenspie. Olsen reported for practice this morning with a sore arm. Vic Buccola, first baseman, was still out of the lineup with flu and second baseman Al Spaeter, who got badly shaken up in a collision at second base, reported to the club on the sick list.
JOE THROWS TONIGHT
With the hard fighting Salem Senators due at Sanders Field tonight, Brave manager Charlie Petersen gave the nod to "Bullet" Joe Orrell (3-3) tall right hander, Petersen added that he could start Cy Greenlaw and Lou McCollum in Saturday night's double-header.
Once again a ninth inning rally for the Braves failed when reliefer Bob Kerrigan forced Jim Warner to hit into a double play with the bases loaded. Pinch hitter Jim McKeegan scored on he play but Neil Bryant followng Warner lifted a high fly to enter field to end the game.
Spaeter was injured in a double play when Red Fisher, Tacoma catcher charged into the Brave second baseman as Spaeter was firing the twin-killing ball to Cy Greenlaw at first. The blow knocked Spaeter flat and temporarily out of the game. However, after a 10 minute wait the fiery little infielder was back on his feet.
PLENTY OF HITS
There was a rash of extra base knocks in the series finale. The Braves collected five doubles, two of them going to Bryant, with Greenlaw, Dick Faber, and Nick Pesut filling out the quota. Dick Greco, Tiger right fielder, hammered a triple in the ninth to score the deciding run, and also get long ball honors for the evening.
The Braves opened the scoring in the second when Greenlaw's double scored Bryant from second with two outs. But Tiger hurler kept the Braves cooled off until the sixth before they once again were able to get a run across the plate. Pesut scored Clint Cameron with a double and Artie Wilson, third baseman, rifled out a single to bring Pesut into pay dirt. Warner and Cameron each drove in a run in the seventh on three straight Brave hits with Spaeter leading off.
Both Olsen and Roesnpie were charged with balks last night. But it was an error in the fifth with two Tigers away that did the damage. Two runs scored after the error was made enough to insure the Tacoma victory.
- - - - - -
KENNEWICK, May 25 (AP) — The front-running Tacoma Tigers moved five games ahead of second place Salem in the Western International league Thursday night with a 7 to 6 decision over the Tri-City Braves.
A timely ninth inning double play broke up a late Tri-City rally and earned the Tigers a clean sweep of the three-game series.
Jim McKeegan hit a pinch single. Al Spaeter followed with another single and Dirk Faber was safe on a fielder's choice to fill the bases in the ninth for the Braves.
Then reliefer Bob Kerrigan forced Jim Warner to hit into the double play, McKeegan scoring with the sixth Brave run. Neil Bryant flied out to end the threat.
The Braves scored first but pitcher Don Carter doubled to drive in the tieing run in the third and from then on, the Tigers took command.
Dick Greco's triple with one on in the ninth proved to be the deciding factor for Tacoma.
Tacoma ...... 001 022 101—7 13 0
Tri-City ...... 001 002 201—6 11 2
Carter, Kerrigan (9) and Fischer; Olsen, Roenspie (6) and Pesut.
SALEM, May 25 — Wenatchee's Chiefs sprayed 20 hits about the premises Thursday night and in the process routed the league's top hurler, John Tierney, as they emerged with a 12-3 victory over the Salem Senators. The win gave the Chiefs the series, two games to one.
The Chiefs got all the margin they needed in the initial two innings as they tallied seven runs.
They chased Tierney in the second with a four-run blast, giving the Solon twirler his first loss in eight starts.
Wenatchee ......... 340 004 100—12 20 6
Salem ................ 002 100 000— 3 7 2
Ragni and Fiscallini; Tierney, Waibel (2), Wyatt (8) and Beard.
VANCOUVER, B.C., May 25 — Yakima Bears looked good on the mound and at the plate Thursday night as they hammered the Vancouver Capilanos 7-2 in the first game of a four-game series.
Lloyd Dickey had things well in hand all the way. He struck out 10 and walked three for the win. Yakima teed off on Bob Costello, the loser, for three runs in the first inning. Jim Westlake homered with two aboard. Bob Bruenner relieved Costello in the second inning after Costello had given up a double to Dickey and two walks.
Yakima ........... 300 031 000—7 13 1
Vancouver ...... 002 000 000—2 7 2
Dickey and Tiesnera; Costello, Brunner (2), Gunnarson (7) and Brenner, Heisner (8).
Zaby to Spokane For Memorial DaySPOKANE, May 25—Paul Zaby, one of the Western International League's leading hitters in 1949, will join the Indians here for the Memorial Day doubleheader against Wenatchee, the club announced today.
Zaby, a right fielder, batted a lusty .341 for the Indians last season. He has been working at Los Angeles and only recently decided to return to baseball for the summer.
A left-handed hitter, he batted in 87 runs and socked 35 triples in 1949. His addition to the roster should be a shot in the arm to the Indians, now floundering deep in the WIL second division.
WESTERN INTERNATIONAL
BIG SIX
(Including games of Wednesday, May 24)
G AB H RBI HR Ave.
Stetter, Tac. .... 32 113 46 33 4 .425
Tornay, Yak. ..... 28 92 36 19 0 .391
G. Thompson, Vic.. 34 129 49 25 4 .380
Greco, Tac. ...... 32 117 42 24 2 .359
Chorlton, Vic. ... 34 143 50 28 2 .350
Hjelmaa, Wen. .... 32 118 41 22 0 .347
Runs batted in (top five)—Stetter (Tacoma) 35, Bryant (Tri-City) 32, Warner (Tri-City) 30, Quinn (Tacoma) 30, Chorlton (Victoria) 28.
Home runs (top five)—Rossi (Spokane) 6, Stetter (Tacoma), Warner (Tri-City), Thompson (Victoria), Mead (Vancouver), 4 each.ON THE INSIDER
By DON BECKER, Herald Sports Editor
[May 26 1950]
Ever hear of "ex post facto?" Well roughly translated it means 'after the act'. And to amplify it a little further it says that you can't make a law penalizing someone for something they did prior to the passing of a law to regulate such actions. This "ex post facto" business is illegal under the constitution of our country. But top this, if you can . . .the Western International league directors just got through voting, and balloted our Braves right out—that 9-8 curfew called game that took place here May 6. . .an "ex post facto" vote.
Here's the background to this amazing ruling. On April 17 President Bob Abel informed the league directors that the curfew law would apply in the league this year. This meant that on Saturday night games no inning would start after 11:50 p. m. and all play would cease at 11:59. Further the game would be resumed at the point halted the next time the two clubs met in the home team's park, or as otherwise agreed upon. Note that nothing was said about the number of innings played at the time the game would be called. This is important On May 12 league directors were mailed the following letter from the office of the league president. The letter calls for a vote on the curfew question. Also note that the letter is in the present tense, not the past.
BALL GETS ROLLING
Dear Mr. Abel:
It is the feeling of Mr. Soriano of the Yakima Club and myself that any tampering of the curfew law, other than to use this law to terminate the night's play, would be harmful to our league.
It is our feeling, as well as that of both team managers, that any game which is terminated by the curfew law be completed at a later date, only in the event that such game had a tie score; further, that in any game in which the home team was ahead providing at least 4 1-2 innings have been played, or that the visitors were ahead, providing at least 5 innings had been played be considered a contest if forced to end uhder the 11:50 o'clock curfew law.
I suggest that this procedure be adopted by our League and am asking you to poll the balance of the League regarding this legislation.
Sincerely yours,
GEORGE E. EMIGH, Jr.
General Manager
A GOOD EFFORT
On May 16, Dick Richards, general manager of the Tri-City Baseball club answered this call for a ballot with the following letter.
Dear Mr. Abel:
In answer to your letter of May 15, and in reference to the curfew rule I am inclined to go along as outlined by George Emigh, Jr. on his letter of May 12, however any changes on the curfew rule will have to apply with games in the future, and not to affect the game between Yakima and our club that is to be finished the next time Yakima comes to Tri-City.
Very truly yours,
RICHARD RICHARDS,
Vice-President and General Manager
THE BOMB EXPLODES
On May 25, the Tri-City Baseball club, and apparently all other league clubs received the following letter from the office of the league president.
ALL CLUBS
W-I LEAGUE
Gentlemen:
By a majority vote of the League, my ruling on the game played at Tri-City on May 6th between Tri-City and Yakima, which was called at the end of the fifth inning due to the curfew rule, is overruled. The game will stand as an official championship game.
The reported score at the end of the fifth inning, when the game was called, was Yakima 9, Tri-City 8. The official scorekeeper at Tri-City and the Howe News Bureau will so record it as such. Each team will so realease the game in its standings.
Very truly yours,
ROBERT B. ABEL
President
CAN YOU TOP IT
There you have it. Naturally the Braves front office is entering a strong protest over this action. And it's hard to believe that the directors of the league meant to create the situation they have. The only fair thing to do in this matter is to exempt the game in question from this ruling, or if necessary, vote over again with the proviso on the ballot as stated in Richards' letter and vote to Mr. Abel.
WESTERN INTERNATIONAL
