Victoria ..... 32 14 .696 —
Spokane ...... 30 21 .588 4½
Vancouver .... 21 20 .512 8½
Lewiston ..... 24 25 .490 9½
Salem ........ 23 27 .460 11
Tri-City ..... 23 27 .460 11
Wenatchee .... 22 27 .449 11½
Yakima ....... 18 32 .360 16
VANCOUVER, June 9 — The Victoria Tyees, Western International League front-runners, blanked Vancouver in the circuit's only regularly—scheduled contest Monday night. The Tyees stretched their lead over second-place Spokane to 4½ games with a 3-0 shutout against Vancouver.
Victoria hurler Ben Lorino starred on the mound and at the plate for the Tyees.
Lorino gave up 10 hits but they were well-spaced. He scored Victoria's first run in the third inning and set up the last tally in the seventh with a double which sent John Treece from first to third. Treece came home on John Pries' long fly.
Victoria moves to Wenatchee for a series starting Tuesday night. Vancouver opens at Yakima, Salem at Lewiston and Tri-City at Spokane.
- - -
VANCOUVER [Keith Matthews, News Herald, June 10]—It was just after 4 o’clock last Saturday afternoon when the Capilanos scored their last run in a WIL baseball game.
After being humbled 2-0 Saturday night by Spokane, the Caps made it 18 innings in a row without a score when they fell before Victoria and Ben Lorino, 3-0.
Such things are not uncommon in baseball these days. But the way the Caps do it rates special mention.
GOT THE HITS
Last night, the Vancouver attack picked up 10 hits, yet failed to score. How many 10-hit shutouts in this game have you seen?
There were 10 runners left stranded, and a total of 19 by both sides in the game. The Athletics were hardly balls of fire with men on base, but the three runs—scored one at a time—looked as big as a house as each inning wore on.
Lorino, usually a fast ball and curve ball left-hander, got along on a lot of “junk” last night and did his job well. Every other pitcher he threw was either a slow curve or a change-up, but the Caps failed to adjust their sights to the soft stuff.
TRAN WAS SAD
One of the most pitiful sights was Len Tran. The Victoria outfield pulled a big shift on him, playing him as a pull hitter hitting to left field. It left a hole a mile and a half wide in right field and the field just about hollered “hit one my way.”
However, Leonard couldn’t do it and neither could any of his buddies with men on.
Pail Jones was the loser, though he didn’t pitch badly. It was his fifth straight loss with no wins on the other side of his card. Today, the young right-hander must be thinking this game of baseball is for the birds, for it was just a year ago that he toiled faithfully for Flint in the Central Legaue and wound up the season with three wins and 19 losses!
DIAMOND DUST—Bob Brown is making a road trip to Yakima with the Caps … There is a league meeting Wednesday when all clubs will vote on relaxing the “veterans” rule which only allows each team to carry nine veterans … Brown said he’s going to ask for two more, but he’ll be lucky to get one … The one will be Carl Gunnarson … John Guldborg (5-2) will go for Vancouver against the Bears tonight.
Victoria ..... 001 100 100—3 10 0
Vancouver .... 000 000 000—0 10 1
Lorino and Marcucci; Jones, Locke (8) and Ritchey.
WP- Lorino. LP- Jones.
YAKIMA, Wash., June 8 — San Francisco's Seals of the Pacific Coast League found the last place team of the Class A Western International League too much to handle as they lost to the Yakima Bears Monday night, 7-4.
The Seals of the Open (one notch above Triple-A) Coast circuit were outhit by their Yakima farm club 10-8. The hapless Seals had lost seven straight to Seattle in their last series.
Yakima stepped off to a two-run lead in the first inning off starter Bill Savage, added single runs in the fourth and fifth, a pair in the seventh, and one more in the eighth, Savage was relieved by Matt Zidich in the sixth.
The Seals were scoreless until the sixth when singles by Jim Moran and Bob Thurman produced a run. They got two more in the seventh on an error, a double by Hank Biasatti and single by Will Tiesiera, and finished with a solo run in the eighth on Thurman's single and Bill McCawley's double.
Thurman was the game's batting star with four hits, including a triple. Tom Del Sarton, a 19-year-old Yakima southpaw, was the winner and Savage the loser.
San Fran (pcl) .... 000 001 210—4 8 3
Yakima (wil) ..... 200 110 21x—7 10 2
Savage, Zidich (6) and Tiesiera; DelSarto, Donley (4), Monahan (7), Shandor (8) and Myers, Pannell (8).
Bouchee Signs With Spokane Indians
SPOKANE, June 9—Teenaged first baseman Ed Bouchee has signed a professional contract with the Spokane Indians of the Western International League.
This leaves the semi-pro Walla Walla Bears without a regular first baseman for their season opener Friday night.
UNDATED, June 9—Mel Wasley, Spokane, is the new batting leader in the WIL according to weekly averages compiled by Howe News Bureau.
Wasley, third last week, leads with a .371 average. Cecil Garriott, Victoria, last week's leader, now is second with .359 and Walter Pocekay, Wenatchee, has dropped
from second to third with .358.
[note: figures below are the best I can make out from a faded TSN microfilm].
BATTING G AB H HR RBI Pct.
Wasley, Spo ..... 43 159 59 2 49 .371
Garriott, Vic ... 39 145 52 3 32 .359
Pocekay, Wen .... 42 165 59 3 23 .358
Andring, Yak .... 42 177 61 1 14 .345
Moniz, Vic ...... 39 169 56 1 27 .342
Luby, Salem ..... 39 154 51 0 15 .333
Schmidt, Sal .... 29 77 26 0 12 .333
Perez, Lew ...... 43 163 55 2 29 .333
Klingler, Yak ... 43 156 52 2 29 .333
Pries, Vic ...... 39 157 52 1 26 .331
Charouhas, T-C .. 43 172 56 0 20 .324
Smith, Lew ...... 42 155 59 3 21 .323
Abernathy, Vic .. 28 103 33 0 34 .320
Ritchey, Van .... 36 116 37 1 25 .319
Monroe, Wen ..... 33 112 34 0 15 .313
Lundberg, Lew ... 26 84 26 0 12 .310
Nelson, Salem ... 43 149 46 0 39 .309
Murphy, Spo ..... 42 169 52 0 19 .303
Duretto, Van .... 38 138 41 0 14 .297
Adams, Wen ...... 42 162 48 0 17 .296
PITCHING G H SO W L Pct.
McIrvin, Vic ..... 7 59 37 6 0 1.000
Gard, Vic ........ 3 27 22 3 0 1.000
Conant, Spo ..... 10 68 37 6 1 .857
Fletcher, Van .... 9 67 36 5 1 .833
Guldborg, Van .... 8 54 37 5 1 .833
Edmunds, Salem .. 12 48 25 5 1 .833
Oubre, Wen ....... 7 40 21 5 1 .833
Lorino, Vic ..... 13 88 56 7 2 .778
Brenner, Lew .... 11 75 27 7 2 .778
Romero, T-C ..... 10 69 50 6 2 .750
Schulte, Lew ..... 8 47 47 3 1 .750
Wisneski, Vic .... 7 33 5 3 1 .750
The Sports Herald
KEITH MATTHEWS
[Vancouver News Herald, June 10, 1952]
Some baseball managers insist that 20-game winners do a pitching staff no good. On the face of it, their reasoning may seem to be silly, but when you grope around a bit, you must admit the thought has something.
It is explained, for instance, that the average 20-game winner these days is the “ace” of the staff. Therefore, the gentleman in question is called upon to pitch more often than anyone else and by season’s end, let’s say he hands in a 21-14 record.
Branch Rickey insists this doesn’t make the pitcher a 20-game winner. “In my book,” the Deacon explains, “the man is a seven-game winner, having won seven more than he lost.”
In other words, according to Rickey’s beliefs, 20-game winners in baseball would be the rarest of articles.
Back 10 years or so, Joe McCarthy used to preach must the same gospel in his reign as manager of the Yankees. It must have been good gospel because the Yanks won four straight championships, and nobody else in the history of the game can make that statement.
McCarthy operated his pitchers on a particular theory. He would rather have four fellows who won 15 and lost three or four than have two ‘big’ 20-game winners.
Going on the theories of Rickey and McCarthy, we investigated the 1951 averages and find, once more, that a fellow named Robert Snyder had an almost unbelievable season. He won 27, lost 7, which makes him a 20-game winning in my book, yours, and Mr. Rickey’s, too.
This fact is not meant to throw any dirt in this new theory, though. It must have something because Cleveland owned three pitchers who all won 20 or more games in 1951, yet they watched the World Series from the bleachers.
Strike Zone Is Getting Smaller
However, the way things are going in baseball these days, no matter which theory of pitching you believe in, it will go for naught.
This “new age” has presented pitching with a great problem than it has seen since the inception of the “rabbit ball.” We would like to call it the era of the “shrinking strike zone.”
Once upon a time we used to feel that a batter’s strike zone covered a vertical distance between knees and letters and a horizontal distance the exact width of home plate.
However, this is 1952. We are in changing times and some of our umpires are new. One some nights, we have noticed the latter gentlemen reducing the size of the zone to the diameter of a ten-cent piece.
It is laughable, these days, to hear managers complaint about the lack of control of their pitchers. As far as the WIL is concerned, if you can’t get a baseball through the eye of a needle, you’re a wild man. Brother, it’s murder!
As a result, the average 1952 WIL baseball game is a weary, drawn our item which invariably turns out to a be a battle of profanity between manager and umpire.
It wasn’t so long ago that “our” umpires made their mistakes right along with the rest of the baseball trade—and they got away with it without having to declare a filibuster, a short difference of opinion—yes, that’s a part of the game, but not a sitting of the legislature on home plate.
When Everyone Will Celebrate
Once, we recall our good friend Tim McCullough tried his luck as an umpire. He had been—and still is—the top baseball official on the Pacific Coast and it was Johnny Nenezich who figured Tim would make out all right in baseball.
One evening, with Nenezich behind the plate and Tim on the bases, there was a hair-line decision to make at first base, and he made it by declaring, “yrrrr out, I think.”
There was also the time—and this only last year—when a Spokane outfielder was having a terrible night at the plate. He had struck out twice and was working on number three.
The first pitch on their trip was high and mighty wide, but Ev Pearson, the umpire, bawled a loud “strike one.”
As soon as the words were out, Nels knew he had booted it. “Gee, kid,” he said to the batter, “I don’t know how I missed that one.”
“Don’t worry, ump,” the outfielder came back, “I know how you feel. I missed the first six.”
In those days of course, the umpire gave up a good hustling job and tried to correct their deficiencies. The ball players appreciated it, and accepted the mistakes as one of those things.
Today, if an official gets by one batter without a hint of an argument, somebody should break out the champagne!
ON THE INSIDE
By DON BECKER, Herald Sports Editor [from June 10, 1952]
LOOK ALIKES IN BASEBALL RACES
It is explained, for instance, that the average 20-game winner these days is the “ace” of the staff. Therefore, the gentleman in question is called upon to pitch more often than anyone else and by season’s end, let’s say he hands in a 21-14 record.
Branch Rickey insists this doesn’t make the pitcher a 20-game winner. “In my book,” the Deacon explains, “the man is a seven-game winner, having won seven more than he lost.”
In other words, according to Rickey’s beliefs, 20-game winners in baseball would be the rarest of articles.
Back 10 years or so, Joe McCarthy used to preach must the same gospel in his reign as manager of the Yankees. It must have been good gospel because the Yanks won four straight championships, and nobody else in the history of the game can make that statement.
McCarthy operated his pitchers on a particular theory. He would rather have four fellows who won 15 and lost three or four than have two ‘big’ 20-game winners.
Going on the theories of Rickey and McCarthy, we investigated the 1951 averages and find, once more, that a fellow named Robert Snyder had an almost unbelievable season. He won 27, lost 7, which makes him a 20-game winning in my book, yours, and Mr. Rickey’s, too.
This fact is not meant to throw any dirt in this new theory, though. It must have something because Cleveland owned three pitchers who all won 20 or more games in 1951, yet they watched the World Series from the bleachers.
Strike Zone Is Getting Smaller
However, the way things are going in baseball these days, no matter which theory of pitching you believe in, it will go for naught.
This “new age” has presented pitching with a great problem than it has seen since the inception of the “rabbit ball.” We would like to call it the era of the “shrinking strike zone.”
Once upon a time we used to feel that a batter’s strike zone covered a vertical distance between knees and letters and a horizontal distance the exact width of home plate.
However, this is 1952. We are in changing times and some of our umpires are new. One some nights, we have noticed the latter gentlemen reducing the size of the zone to the diameter of a ten-cent piece.
It is laughable, these days, to hear managers complaint about the lack of control of their pitchers. As far as the WIL is concerned, if you can’t get a baseball through the eye of a needle, you’re a wild man. Brother, it’s murder!
As a result, the average 1952 WIL baseball game is a weary, drawn our item which invariably turns out to a be a battle of profanity between manager and umpire.
It wasn’t so long ago that “our” umpires made their mistakes right along with the rest of the baseball trade—and they got away with it without having to declare a filibuster, a short difference of opinion—yes, that’s a part of the game, but not a sitting of the legislature on home plate.
When Everyone Will Celebrate
Once, we recall our good friend Tim McCullough tried his luck as an umpire. He had been—and still is—the top baseball official on the Pacific Coast and it was Johnny Nenezich who figured Tim would make out all right in baseball.
One evening, with Nenezich behind the plate and Tim on the bases, there was a hair-line decision to make at first base, and he made it by declaring, “yrrrr out, I think.”
There was also the time—and this only last year—when a Spokane outfielder was having a terrible night at the plate. He had struck out twice and was working on number three.
The first pitch on their trip was high and mighty wide, but Ev Pearson, the umpire, bawled a loud “strike one.”
As soon as the words were out, Nels knew he had booted it. “Gee, kid,” he said to the batter, “I don’t know how I missed that one.”
“Don’t worry, ump,” the outfielder came back, “I know how you feel. I missed the first six.”
In those days of course, the umpire gave up a good hustling job and tried to correct their deficiencies. The ball players appreciated it, and accepted the mistakes as one of those things.
Today, if an official gets by one batter without a hint of an argument, somebody should break out the champagne!
ON THE INSIDE
By DON BECKER, Herald Sports Editor [from June 10, 1952]
LOOK ALIKES IN BASEBALL RACES
Notice the resemblance between Tri-City's and Seattle's spurt in their respective leagues. Both were in the cellar when they started winning considerably more than
they were losing. Result: The Braves are currently tied for fifth in the WIL, while the Rainiers have jumped to fourth in the PCL. Notice too, how both of them rearmed their teams so to speak, before the drives got started.
Ralph Romero with a 7-3 season record now, and a much improved team behind, figures to be one of the top hurlers in the league. . .if he can hold his current pace. Ever wonder what it must be like to have to face Romero's slants. Well, here's a word picture from Hugh Luby, manager of the Salem Senators and a ball player who has been around long enough to paint a good one.
"Romero has good control and a fine curve. He has a good fast ball, too, and doesn't always throw it with the same speed. The latter item is a great weapon for any
pitcher, for it continually has the opposing batters swinging while off balance and with bad timing. The combination of Romero's stuff has made him a right rough hombre to beat."
they were losing. Result: The Braves are currently tied for fifth in the WIL, while the Rainiers have jumped to fourth in the PCL. Notice too, how both of them rearmed their teams so to speak, before the drives got started.
Ralph Romero with a 7-3 season record now, and a much improved team behind, figures to be one of the top hurlers in the league. . .if he can hold his current pace. Ever wonder what it must be like to have to face Romero's slants. Well, here's a word picture from Hugh Luby, manager of the Salem Senators and a ball player who has been around long enough to paint a good one.
"Romero has good control and a fine curve. He has a good fast ball, too, and doesn't always throw it with the same speed. The latter item is a great weapon for any
pitcher, for it continually has the opposing batters swinging while off balance and with bad timing. The combination of Romero's stuff has made him a right rough hombre to beat."
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