Saturday 15 December 2007

Charlie Mead Gone; Len Tran Back?

Eric Whitehead’s FAN FARE
[Vancouver Province, Feb. 14, 1952]
News Item (Transcribed last September for release at this more convenient time): Charlie Mead, popular Capilano outfielder and five-year veteran, has received his outright release, and is now a free agent.
This item which dates right back to the end of the 1951 ball season, constitutes one of the best-kept secrets of the winter, and was divulged locally in a recent letter from Mead, who is now playing [unreadable]
Old slow-foot—who has watched many a lusty double shrink into a single while plodding down the first base line—is, along with Bob Snyder, the last of the first post-war Capilano team of 1946. Snyder, last-year’s 28-game [sic] winner has, of course, gone to the Memphis AA club in the Southern Association.
Cholly, always a favorite with local fans, expects to join forced this spring with another ex-Cap favorite—Bill Brenner, manager of the new WIL Lewiston club.
New Deal For Sinovic, Snyder
Although the Caps will miss Mead’s annual 100 RBI output, it doesn’t look as though the local 1952 club will suffer from malnutrition of the lineup. Recent acquisition of Negro pitcher Ed Locke of Kansas City Monarchs indicates that business boss Bob Brown intends to stock the local Class A entry with some pretty fair talent.
This almost complete break-up of last year’s second-place club will require a big rebuilding program by manager Bill Schuster. Of last year’s club, Gordie Brunswick, Pete Hernandez, K. Chorlton, Vern Kindsfather—all Seattle property—will be at the Suds’ spring camp at Palm Springs, trying for permanent spots with the Rainiers.
Snyder is in the Southern Association, where he will be fogging ‘em to another old buddy of the ’51 Caps: outfielder Dick Sinovic, now with Chattanooga.
Another old Capilano favorite, second-baseman Len Tran of the ’47-’48 club, will be back at Palm Springs for another crack at a Seattle berth after but moderate success in the Eastern League and Southern Association.
Len May Stick This Time
Bob Brown, always a great admirer of the fiery young redhead, feels that Len may click in this his third try with the Rainiers.
If he does take over the Seattle keystone spot occupied last season by Wes Hamner, Len will be operating between a pair of great colored ballpayers: shortstop Artie Wilson and first-baseman Bob Boyd.
Wilson, with the Giants last year, languished in the shadow of the Giants great Alvin Dark and came to Seattle in a player deal that gave the Giants first option on the services of K. Chorlton. Boyd came in a trade from Sacramento, where last year he clubbed a lusty .342, right behind the PCL’s big stick, Jim Rivera.

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