Wednesday, September 10, 1952

W L Pct. GB
Victoria ..... 92 53 .634 —
Spokane ...... 89 62 .589 6
Vancouver .... 71 67 .514 17½
Salem ........ 72 75 .490 21
Yakima ....... 69 78 .469 24
Lewiston ..... 69 81 .460 25½
Tri-City ..... 64 77 .454 26
Wenatchee .... 57 90 .388 36

VICTORIA [Colonist, Sept. 11]—Jehosie Heard, who failed in two previous attempts to notch his 20th victory of the season finally gained it last night and made it an occasion never to be forgotten.
Unperturbed by a shoddy defense in the opening inning, Heard set down Lewiston Broncs without a hit at Royal Athletic Park to pace Victoria Tyees to an 11-2 triumph and give then a 2-1 series edge.
The victory kept the league champion Tyees six games in front of the Spokane Indians, who edged Vancouver Capilanos, 4-3, at Vancouver last night.
INDIANS HERE
The Indians open a four-game series with the Tyees at Royal Athletic Park tonight to wind up the W.I.L. season. Bill Bottler will get the starting assignment for the Tyees with John Conant his likely mound opponent. It will be Radio Appreciation night with no radio broadcast of the game.
Heard began inauspiciously last night by walking Milt Smith to open the game. Snag Moore then grounded to Jimmy Clark, who threw into the dirt at first, leaving both runners safe.
Jake Helmuth then tried to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt but Heard could not pick up the ball, enabling Helmuth to take first and fill the bases.
Butch Moran grounded to Clark, who threw to Lu Branham at second to force Helmuth but Smith scored on the play. Branham attempted to complete a double killing at first but his throw was in the dirt, enabling Moore to score also. Moran attempted to go to second and was thrown out by Chuck Abernathy.
BIG MAN AT BAT
Heard also played a part in the Tyees attack. He hit three singles in four trips, was hit on the head with a pitched ball and scored three runs.
It was his first no-hitter and the first of the season in the W.I.L. Heard was unaware of his performance until after the game was over.
Heard struck out six to boost his season’s total to 210 and walked four. The nearest thing to a hit after the first inning was a smash in the seventh to Don Pries, who left the ball go through his legs at shortstop.
Tyees evened the count in the third when they tallied twice on singles by John Treece, Heard, Branham and Bob Moniz.
WINNING ASSAULT
They won it with a six-run outburst in the fourth. Singles by Abernathy, Ron Bottler, Heard and Pries, a hit batsman, and a triple by Treece chased Keith Bowman and brought in Larry Powell. Powell hit Granny Gladstone, walked Abernathy and threw a wild pitch to force in the final two runs before retiring the side.
First baseman Butch Moran took over the hurling duties for the rest of the game and did a creditable job except in the seventh when Tyees scored their final three runs. Heard was hit on the head, Moniz tripled and Gladstone followed with a double.
Lewiston .... 200 000 000— 2 0 1
Victoria ...... 002 260 30x—11 14 4
Bowman, Powell (4), Moran (5) and Lundberg; Heard and R. Bottler.

VANCOUVER [Keith Matthews, News-Herald, Sept. 11]—What is left of local baseball fandom is viewing with alarm what is happening to John Ritchey, who is striking to retain his WIL batting championship and is getting little but the aches for his troubles.
Wednesday, John went ought-for-four in his bid against a guy he usually hits like he owns. That would be John Marshall, a tough hombre for most but a first cousin to Mr. Ritchey these past two seasons.
John sort of evened up on Ritchey last night as he beat the Caps 4-3 through a combination of some heavy stick-work in the early innings and a little peculiar Capilano strategy in the late going.
HE’S SLIPPING
Ritchey struck out once, grounded out weakly and twice lined out. In two night he hasn’t shown a hit in six tries and the race against Walt Pocekay of Wenatchee is not showing the dividends Ritchey intended.
John says he’s tired, and it might be so. He has caught a lot of baseball and swung a lot of
35-ounce sticks. However, so has Bill Sheets, who last night caught his 145th game of the year and who will set a record in this department before he is through for the season.
Bob Snyder didn’t have too much as he tried to beat a club he rarely has any trouble with, and instead of coming up with his 15th win, Robert had to take his 13th loss on the chin. George Huffman and Mel Wasley each drove in a pair of runs to provide Marshall’s winning streak but Snyder might have gotten off the hook had it not been for the Caps’ peculiar eighth-inning rally, which fizzled.
ODD STRATEGY
With two out and Gordie Brunswick on first, Bob Duretto crashed a liner against the right field wall for a double. Brunswick scored the third Vancouver run but Duretto, representing the tying run, got the “come on” sign from third base coach Tom Lovrich and got himself thrown out from here to there trying to make it. After that Vancouver never had another scoring opportunity. It might have been that they didn’t deserve one, for they tossed away a pretty good try.
DIAMOND DUST—Instead of Popular Player Night coming this evening, it will be held Friday night and along with it, the Caps most valuable player will be named and honored … Lewiston and Bill Brenner will be in town this evening and for the rest of the week … It appears fairly certain that on Saturday night, Bob Duretto and Brenner will play every position on the diamond in a special sort of stunt which is almost unheard of in baseball … Both players will start the game by pitching … Brenner hasn’t been asked yet, but he’s never turned down a good gag yet … Bud Guldborg goes for the Caps tonight against the Broncs in a single game at 8:15.
Spokane ..... 101 020 000—4 11 2
Vancouver ... 000 100 110—3 8 1
Marshall and Sheets; Snyder, Whyte (5) and Ritchey.

SALEM, Sept. 10 — Salem, though held to two hits by Pitcher Bill Stites defeated Wenatchee 1-0 in Wednesday night's Western International League baseball game here.
Stites pitched no-hit ball for seven innings.
Wayne Peterson touched him for the first safety in the seventh and in the eight Bob Nelson's single to centre let in the winning tally.
Wenatchee ... 000 000 000—0 9 1
Salem .......... 000 000 01x—1 2 0
Stites and Robinett; McNulty and Nelson.

KENNEWICK, [Tri-City Herald, Sept. 11] — Another record was set at Sanders Field Wednesday night.
The 170 persons who were there—the lowest number in the history of the field—saw Ad Satalich pitch the Braves to a six-hit shut-out out over the Yakima Bears. Meanwhile, Tri-City picked up four runs off Yakima pitcher Jack Thompson.
Tonight the Braves will open end the series with Yakima. Then Salem will come here for the final series of the season. The final game on Sunday will be played at 2 p.m.
The scoring Wednesday night started in the second inning. Des Charouhas got a single—his first of three hits fro the night. Tommy Marier drew a base on balls and Vic Buccola's sacrifice advanced both runners.
Charouhas scored when Nick Pesut grounded out.
Marier scored in the third. He drew a walk and went to second when Buccola grounded out. Joe Scalise doubled to bring him home.
The fifth inning tallies came when Ray Hamrick was safe on a fielder's choice. He moved to second on a sacrifice and Marier walked. A double by Charouhas scored him. Marier walked and then Vic Buccola's single brought Charouhas home.
Satalich found himself in real trouble only once during the game. In the fourth inning, a double and two walks loaded the bases. Then Mike Donahue popped out. Pitcher Thompson was fanned to end the inning.
Satalich struck out eight, three of them in the eighth inning.
Len Noran, Yakima first baseman, got two for four to lead the Yakima hitting.
Charouhas' three for four paced the Braves' hitting. Don Lopes picked up three for five.
Hamrick, the Tri-City shortstop, was spiked in the forearm in the third inning. The injury happened when Thompson attempted to steal second.
Pesut's peg was good and Hamrick took the ball in a semi-horizontal position to tag Thompson out. However, the pitchers spikes raked Hamrick's forearm when pitcher slid into second.
Hamrick's arm was stiff Wednesday night but he is not expected to be out of the lineup.
Yakima ....... 000 000 000—0 6 0
Tri-City ...... 010 120 00x—4 10 1
Thompson, Shandor (5) and Donahue; Satalich and Pesut.

Buy-The-Braves Backers Facing Time
Need Mass Effort To Purchase Club
[Tri-City Herald, September 11, 1952]
Backers of the Buy-The-Braves drive are racing against time today to get enough pledges of financial support for the purchase of the ball club.
Pledge sheets are being distributed to more people. The sheets say the amount pledged will be due six months after Oct. 1.
Thursday officers of the Tri-City Athletic Association clarified their role in the proposed purchase. They said they were sponsoring the drive for money because they were the logical organization to do so.
They said that if the drive is a success and the stock is sold, a success and the stock is sold, a meeting of all stockholders will be called to determine organization policies. The association will still control their one-seventh of the club.
The officials emphasized that none of the money pledged need be paid now. The minimum amount for a share is $50. The backers assert it is obvious that the support must come from all levels. They are depending on a mass response to put the drive over.
It is their hope to get a sufficient number of pledges by Sept. 26. That is a date for a meeting of the Western International League board of directors.
It is the intention of those behind the drive to take the pledges to the meeting to show that the Tri-City area wasn't to keep the club.
If the backers fail to get the needed pledges, the board will probably permit the franchise to move elsewhere.
It is expected that about $60,000 will be needed for the purchase of the club. The present owners are Dick Richards, Arnold Sanborn, Del Kidder and Vern Johnson.

SPORTS NOTES
By Gil Gilmore
[Tri-City Herald, September 11, 1952]

The drive to buy the Tri-City Braves has started and the initial response has been good. Now's the time to get set for the long pull.
Officially, there is no deadline on the drive. But unofficially, you can set Sept. 26 down as the day of decision. Here's why.
On that date the Athletic Association officials will journey to Seattle to attend the Western International League board Of directors' meeting. At that meeting, important decisions will be made concerning the Tri-City franchise.
If the Athletic Association members go there showing pledges and other responses indicating tnat the people of the Tri-Cities are interested in keeping the club, then the possibility of permitting the franchise to move is very small.
However, if the Athletic Association officials have little to show, the directors may be inclined to agree with Dick Richards — that the Tri-City area is not a good baseball area—and Richards will be permitted to sell his shares elsewhere.
A good indicator of a town's importance is the size of the ball club. We have a peculiar situation here in that there are three—or better yet four—towns which
by uniting behind the club make up one. And a class A area like the Tri-Cities and Connell deserves to have a Class A club.
It is going to take cash to keep the club here — cash in $50 lumps. So if you are interested in buying a share of tha Braves, contact Harold Matheson of Pasco, Kit Campbell and Bob Philip of Richland; Clarence Hayes and Steve Johnson of Connell, and Howard Beste and Harry Owens of Kennewick.
All of these men have pledge cards and they are looking for people to fill them out and sign up.
JOB WANTED
Is there anyone in need of some help during the last couple of weeks of this month.
I have one baseball pitcher with a 16-14 record who will need a temporary job. He is Ralph Romero, Tri-City Braves hurler, and if possible he would like to get into some type of recreation work. If not, he will take anything.
Normally Ralph would leave for his home in San Jose, Calif. when the season ends Sept. 14. However, Ralph recently became a father and he intends to hang around 1he Tri-City area for a couple of weeks so his wife and child will be in condition for the trip.
Baseball players' salaries end with the season. Therefore, Ralph would like to have a job for a couple of weeks beginning about Sept. 15. If you have anything you can either contact me or see Ralph.

Tuesday, September 9, 1952

W L Pct. GB
Victoria ..... 91 53 .633 —
Spokane ...... 88 62 .587 6
Vancouver .... 71 66 .518 16½
Salem ........ 71 75 .486 21
Yakima ....... 69 77 .473 23
Lewiston ..... 69 80 .463 24½
Tri-City ..... 63 77 .450 26
Wenatchee .... 57 89 .390 35

VICTORIA [Colonist, Sept. 10]—Bill Brenner, likeable manager of the Lewiston Broncs, is one of the most remarkable figures in baseball.
A catcher throughout his playing career, and a good one although often hampered by injuries, Brenner took up pitching at a time in his diamond career when most players are ready to call it a day.
Managing at Yakima last season he got into 41 games behind the plate and started to try his luck on the mound. He appeared in nine games and managed a 2-4 record.
Moving to take over at Lewiston this season, he became a full-fledged pitcher and his is the success story this season in the W.I.L.
Last night at Royal Athletic Park he appeared in his 41st game on the mound and he became the season’s second 20-game winner by pitching his club to a 5-3 victory over the Victoria Tyees. The man he defeated was Ben Lorino, the league’s first 20-game winner, who was seeking his 26th triumph.
GOOD CONTROL
Brenner has pitched 20 complete games and 264 innings and figured in 30 decisions. His pitching is a lesson to aspiring youngsters. He is not fast and has no great repertoire, but he has head and heart and control. He walked only 66 men in his first 237 innings and he improved that last night by issuing only one base on balls.
Brenner held the Tyees to five well-scattered hits for seven innings while his team gave him a 5-0 lead. He faltered in the eighth inning, when he gave up four of the 10 hits he allowed, his lone base on balls and the Tyees’ three runs, but he pitched coolly out of the jam to save No. 20.
His win kept his club safely in sixth spot and retained for him a chance to lead it into the first division. The Broncs trail fourth-place Salem by three and a half games.
ERROR COSTS WIN
Lorino, who had a bit of a rocky going in the middle innings, lost it, as it turned out, on two unearned runs in the third inning. An error by Don Pries set the stage for the rally and the Tyees could only get back the single run scored by Lewiston in the fourth, fifth and sixth.
The series concludes tonight with either Bill Bottler or Jehosie Heard due to pitch for the Tyees. One of the season’s better crowds is expected with the appearance of Johnny Price, baseball’s leading one-man act, as an added inducement.
DIAMOND DUST—Don Hopp, the 19-year-old righthander recently signed by the Portland Beavers, is with the Tyees and has been getting a workout in the bullpen during the last two games. Recently voted the outstanding semi-pro player in Oregon, he will likely get a chance to show his wares before the season is over … Infielder John Treece rejoined the Tyees when they returned home Monday with all differences settled … Tyee players report that Cal McIrvin is to be sold to the Spokane Indians at the end of the season … With Ron and Bill Bottler, Dwane Helbig, LeRoy Han and Hopp almost certain to be here next season, the Tyees can look forward to a good club again. There is also every chance that the other Portland-owned youngsters such as Frank Chase, Adolph Satalich and Dick Waibel will be sent here. Granny Gladstone and Jim Clark came up with fine defensive plays last night.
Lewiston .... 002 111 000—5 10 0
Victoria ...... 000 000 030—3 10 1
Brenner and Lundberg; Lorino and Bottler.

VANCOUVER [Dick Beddoes, Sun, Sept. 10]—Edo Vanni removed his working clothes at Cap Stadium Tuesday night and said, cautiously; “Looks like we’ll finish a good, strong, raging third.”
The Vancouver Cap manager has learned to be cautious in his forecasts about Vancouver’s final position in the Western International League. In earlier prophecies Vanni had ‘em finishing a good, strong, raging first, and, later, a good, strong raging second.
Even now, in the last week of the season, Vanni could be wrong. Salem Senators are still threatening Caps’ third place, acting like they want Vancouver to finish a good, strong, raging fourth. Perish the thought!
Both teams won last night, Vancouver clipping Spokane Indians and Salem sinking Wenatchee Chiefs. Scores in both games were 2-1.
Results left the Caps ahead by 4½ games with each club having five games to play.
Caps hustled, too. Especially pitcher Ed Locke, who earned his 10th win of the year after batting Dick Bishop for nine innings. Locke struck out eight, walked one and gave up six hits.
Otherwise strong pitching dominated the fine, fast game—fastest game of the year locally at one hour and 40 minutes.
Bob Snyder pitches the last Spokane game tonight, beginning at 8:15. Lewiston Broncs arrive Thursday for a four-game series, which concludes Saturday with an afternoon-night doubleheader.
FROM OUR TOWER—Bob Brown does not fancy stunts but he may resort to one during the Vancouver-Lewiston series which seals off the season this weekend at Cap Stadium. He would like one player from each team to play one inning at every position, making it rough on scorers but entertainment for fans … Nobody but Bob Duretto could handle it for the Caps, and Bill Brenner would be a logical choice for Lewiston … Brenner has gone especially well at one position this season, namely pitching. Last night, in Victoria, he won his 20th game.
- - -
Gordie Brunswick was the big gun in the Vancouver attack as he cracked out his 12th homer of the season in the fourth and later scored the winning run after getting
aboard on a walk and coming home on Jim Wert's long triple.
Spokane ....... 000 100 000—1 6 1
Vancouver .... 000 100 01x—2 7 0
Bishop and Sheets; Locke and Ritchie.

SALEM, Ore., Sept. 9 — The Salem Senators scored two runs in the 11th inning to defeat Wenatchee 2-1 in a Western International League baseball game here Tuesday night.
After Wenatchee tallied its lone run in the top of the llth, Salem came back with the game-winning rally. A single by Catcher Bob Nelson scored Dick Bartle. Then Wenatchee Pitcher Frank Dasso walked Art Thrasher and Gene Tanselli to force in Jim Deyo with the winning run.
It was Dasso's 26th loss of the season. Bud Francis, who went in for Salem in the 11th, was the winning pitcher.
Wenatchee scored after singles by Lyle Palmer and Walt Pocekay and two bases on balls, forcing in Palmer.
Wenatchee ..... 000 000 000 01—1 7 1
Salem ............ 000 000 000 02—2 11 1
Oubre, Dasso (7) and Pocekay; Collins, Francis (11) and Nelson.

KENNEWICK, [Tri-City Herald, Sept. 10] — Ray Hamrick's bases-loaded homer sewed it up good Tuesday night while Bob Greenwood twirled a three-hit 8-0 shutout for the Tri-City Braves against the Yakima Bears.
Only twice during the game did the Yakima Club get a man in scoring position. The first time came in the eighth when Ernie Sheurman hit and moved to second on a sacrifice.
In the ninth Len Noran hit and moved to second when John Albini walked. Both then advanced on a wild pitch.
Then Greenwood struck out former teammate Frank Mataya to end the game.
The Braves led off with the scoring in the first inning. They picked up two runs on Don Lopes' walk, another walk, this time Hamrick, and a single to Des Charouhas.
Another run was scored in the fifth. John Kovenz singled and came home on Vic Buccola's double. Then came the clincher, Joe Scalise got a hit. Greenwood walked and Lopes got a hit. Hamrick came up and poled the ball over the left field wall for a grand slam.
The Braves picked up another run in the eighth. Des Charouhas led off with a triple—his 15th of the season—and scored on Buccola's long fly to right field.
The game was played before 219—the smallest crowd in the history of Sanders Field. Low temperatures kept many people home.
Greenwood always had control of the game. Although he was playing with a slight leg injury, the lanky hurler fanned five, and walked but three.
One of the hits was a scratch single.
The Bears used two pitchers, Ken Wright, who was touched for Hamrick's homer, and Stretch Garrott, a tall boy wiyh a breaking curve.
Yakima ...... 000 000 000—0 3 0
Tri-City ..... 200 014 01x—8 10 0
Wright, Garrett (7) and Donahue; Greenwood and Pesut.

Ball Club Purchase Drive Underway
Richland Man Pledge $1,700
[Tri-City Herald, Sept. 10, 1952]
The drive to obtain money to purchase the Tri-City Braves is under way and $1,700 in pledges were raised in the first two days in Richland.
Dwight Hendricks, Richland businessman and baseball enthusiast, who announced that amount had been obtained, said the response had been overwhelming in Richland. He said if Pasco and Kennewick get the same response, the drive should be a success.
The drive is being backed by the Tri-City Athletic Association, owners of Sanders Field, the home of the Braves. The Association also owns one-seventh of the ball club.
The other six-sevenths of the club, owned by Dick Richards, Arnold .Sanborn, Vern Johnson and Del Kidder of Seattle, was put up for sale last Wednesday after the owners announced they could no longer lose money caused by the small attendance.
The Athletic Associaton has an option to buy the club before it can be sold to anyone else or moved elsewhere.
Harold Matheson, president of the Athletic Association, said the bulk of the present stockholders in the association have said they will be hippy to maintain their stock interests if a new organization is formed.
This means the association has an initial pledge of from $40,000 to $50,000 toward buying both the field and the club. Most of the money invested in the field comes from bonds, which will be affected by the sale.
The association feels it is necessary to raise about $60,000 to purchase the club and have necessary operating capital.
Since the Tri-City Herald, which supported the plan of bringing the Braves to the Tri-City area, feels that the retention of the club will be a definite asset to the Tri-Cities, the paper will support a drive.
As part of the support, the Tri-City Herald will publish the names of all those who purchase stock in the organization. The following persons account for the $1,700 in pledges:
Russell Blakeny, C. G. Neilson, Dwight Hendricks, Robert Davis, Lee L. Azure, E.W. Brien, Otis Low, Fred Koker, Keith Pulliam, D.L. Smith, Connie Phillips, D.M. McElrath, Ira Linn, E.C. Smith, B.J. Bennett, W.O. Warder, J.L. Rogers Jr., L.C. Goodwin, J.R. Pareill, G.R. Hasack and M.D. Hogue.

Sports Notes
By Gil Gilmore
[Tri-City Herald, Sept. 10, 1952]

I wonder what happens when the two Western International League Canadian teams play each other. Vancouver and Victoria fans must show up at the games equipped with camping equipment and a stock of food.
With Cecil Garriott trotting in from center field and Edo Vanni loping in from right four or five times an inning, the Canadians are a patient lot.
In the there-oughta-be-a-law department, I suggest (1) limiting managers to infielders, pitchers and catchers; and (2) penalizing a team for too many time outs in one inning.
MARATHON
Seems as if every time the Braves have a special night they have a marathon game out at Sanders. On Eagles night, it ran up to midnight. On Elks night, things were worse. In the first game of the double-header, the pace was two innings an hour for the first three frames.
Then things picked up but it still took 2½ hours for a seven-inning game.
Of the 914 fans who started out to see that double-header, only the 14 were left when the second contest ended the following day. The ball club should give those hardy individuals an "I'm-a-Braves'-Fan-to-the-Bitter-End" certificate.
The second game moved along a lot faster. But in the second, Vancouver hurler Bud Goldberg gave up only eight scattered hits and never was in hot water. Consequently, there was no five-minute delays after every pitch while Vanni made the long march in from right field.
BICYCLE
Between games, the Elks gave away several gifts to boys including a new bicycle. For a while, the officials couldn't find the lucky winner. Finally one fan, thinking of the Vancouver manager's trips in from the outfield in the first game, quipped: "Give it to Vanni!"
Vanni didn't get the bike. But Edo, who can enter into the spirit of horseplay, got on and tried a short ride.

Monday, September 8, 1952

W L Pct. GB
Victoria ..... 91 52 .636 -
Spokane ...... 88 61 .591 6
Vancouver .... 70 66 .515 17½
Salem ........ 70 75 .483 22
Yakima ....... 69 76 .476 23
Lewiston ..... 68 80 .459 25½
Tri-City ..... 62 77 .446 27
Wenatchee .... 57 88 .393 35

VICTORIA [Colonist, Sept. 9]—Winning it as champions should—with steady pitching backed by solid and timely hitting and errorless defense, the Victoria Tyees last night became champions of the Western International Baseball League.
Playing before less than 500 fans, only 326 of them paying customers, who sat huddled under the roofed grandstand, the Tyees trimmed the Lewiston Broncs, 11-3, at Royal Athletic Park last night to put it beyond mathematical doubt. No matter what happens in the remaining games this week, Spokane Indians can come no closer than two percentage points.
The Tyees have six games left, two with Lewiston and four with Spokane. The Indians are due to play three against Vancouver Capilanos before moving in here on Thursday to complete the season. They were rained out at Vancouver last night.
HAN HURLS CLINCHER
To Leroy Han, 18-year-old rookie righthander not long out of Vancouver (Wash.) High School, fell the honor of pitching the pennant clincher.
Han, who had added incentive in the person of a cute Yakima visitor sitting in the stands, turned in what was probably his best game of the season as he recorded his third win in four decisions.
He walked only four Broncs, struck out six and spread eight hits over five innings, never allowing more than two in a single frame. He was in trouble in the first, third, fifth and sixth but bore down each time to get the last two outs, once with the bags loaded and three times with two runners aboard. He set down the last eight men he faced in order.
BRANHAM STARRY
The Broncs jumped into a 2-0 lead. Lu Branham, who was to enjoy his biggest night of the season with five hits and a walk, sliced the margin in two with a third inning home run and then the Tyees sent Sal DeGeorge packing with a six-run fifth inning.
Branham started it with a walk. Bob Moniz singled and Don Pries bunted the runners along. Granny Gladstone scored them with a looping single to left. Chuck Abernathy singled, Dwane Helbig doubled, Jim Clark was walked intentionally, Ron Bottler singled and Branham followed suit after Han had struck out.
The Tyees jumped on Larry Powell for four more runs in the seventh just to make it certain.
QUIET ELATION
There was only quiet elation in the dressing room after the game as the Tyees received congratulations from fans and club officials. Despite the late Spokane drive, the lengthy Victoria lead had made the pennant only a matter of time and the players took it in stride although there was evident relief that it was now definitely theirs.
Club officials are hoping for better weather so they can wind up with better crowds for the six remaining games of the season.
BIDS FOR RECORD
Tonight there is the prospect of a fine pitcher’s battle. Ben Lorino, who can tie the league record for victories with two starts left and may break it if he gets a chance in relief in a close game, will go after his 26th win tonight. Opposing him will be Lewiston manager Bill Brenner, who, somewhat amazingly for a retired catcher, will be seeking his 20th triumph.
Tonight there will be Johnny Price and his matchless baseball act, a must for all baseball fans. Thursday is “Radio Appreciation Night,” Friday will be “pennant-raising night” and Saturday night it will be “Player Appreciation Night.”
Lewiston ...... 101 001 000— 3 8 2
Victoria ...... 001 060 40x—11 17 0
DeGeorge, Powell (5) and Lundberg, Helmuth (8); Han and R. Bottler.

Spokane at Vancouver, postponed, rain.

ONLY GAMES SCHEDULED

Schuster Was ‘No Surprise’
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8—It wasn’t exactly an accident, or a last minute decision.
So said Manager Fred Haney of the Hollywood baseball club in telling Monday about the surprise appearance, and game winning pinch hit, by veteran Bill Schuster for the Stars against Portland last Saturday.
Schuster, gone from the Pacific Coast league for two years, suddenly bobbed up in a Hollywood uniform and won the game.
Haney disclosed that he warned Schuster 10 days before that he might be called for active service and Schuster spent the time working out here while Hollywood was on the road.
Then came the day for Bill to sign, and next day came the moment for his surprise appearance. “Call it luck, call it anything, but it paid off,” Haney said.

Sunday, September 7, 1952

W L Pct. GB
Victoria .... 90 52 .634 —
Spokane ..... 88 61 .591 5½
Vancouver ... 70 66 .515 17
Salem ....... 70 75 .483 21½
Yakima ...... 69 76 .476 22½
Lewiston .... 68 79 .463 24½
Tri-City .... 62 77 .446 26½
Wenatchee ... 57 88 .393 34½

SALEM, Sept. 7 — Victoria and Salem split a Western International League doublehender here Sunday. Victoria winning the 11 inning opener 7-4 and Salem bouncing back to win the second game 3-1.
Victoria took the five game series 3-2.
Singles by Carl Gunnarson, Cece Garriott and Bob Moniz, a sacrifice and a walk, all off Salem Pitcher Vince DiBiasi accounted for the three 11th inning runs in the first game.
Granny Gladstone homered and doubled in six tries at the plate and brought in three runs, while Jim Deyo had three RBIs for the losers.
Salem won the second game on three Victoria errors in the fourth inning when three runs were scored.
Ted Edmunds struck out ten in going the distance for the win, walking four, and allowing an unearned run on a ground out by pinch-hitter Jimmy Clark in the seventh. He also singled in a run.
None of the runs in the game were earned.
First Game
Victoria .... 010 100 020 03—7 14 1
Salem ...... 010 200 001 00—4 8 2
Prior, Gunnarson (9) and Martin, Bottler (8); DeBiasi and Nelson.
WP—Gunnarson.
Second Game
Victoria ..... 000 000 1—1 3 3
Salem ....... 000 300 x—3 7 2
B. Bottler, Gunnarson (4) and R. Bottler; Edmunds and Nelson.

SPOKANE, Sept. 7—The Spokane Indians celebrated their last home game of the season Sunday night by crushing the hapless Wenatchee Chiefs, 11-4, in a Western International League baseball game.
While the Indians were treating themselves to a 16-bit slugfest Frank Chase handcuffed the Chiefs with only three hits. It was his 16th win of the season against 12 losses.
The Chiefs opened the scoring in the first inning but Spokane came back with a run in the second to tie the score. The Indians pulled one run ahead in the third and engthened it to three in the fourth.
The Indians erupted for five runs n the fifth inning on doubles by Ed Bouchee and Sam Kanelos, singles by Bill Sheets and Eddie Murphy, and three Wenatchee errors.
Wenatchee ... 100 000 003— 4 3 3
Spokane ...... 011 251 10x—11 16 2
Dahle, Stites (5) and Pocekay, Robinett; Chase and Sheets.

KENNEWICK, Sept. 7—The Vancouver Capilanos swept a pair here on Sunday to conclude a Western International League series, winning over the Tri-City Braves 13-2 and 11-1.
In the seven-inning opener, which took two hours just to play the first five innings, Bob Duretto singled in three runs, while Edo Vanni and Jesse Williams had a pair of hits for Vancouver. Ray Hamrick had three for the Braves.
Duretto was a hitting star in the night game, with two homers and a single. Leavitt and Moore had two hits each, while Leavitt batted in three runs.
Winning pitcher Bud Guldborg struck out 11.
Ray Hamrick batted in the lone Tri-City run without a hit.
First Game
Vancouver ... 400 540 0—13 11 1
Tri-City ....... 130 003 2—9 9 3
Aubertin, Loverich (2), Snyder (7) and Ritchey; New, Satalich (1), Brittain (7) and Pesut.
Second Game
Vancouver ... 300 021 320—11 11 1
Tri-City ....... 001 000 000— 1 8 1
Guldborg and Leavitt; Romero and Pesut.

YAKIMA, Sept. 7 — The Yakima Bears trounced Lewiston in both ends of a doubleheader Sunday 7-6 and 6-4, coming from behind in both games with late-inning rallies.
A triple by John Albini after a man had walked and singles by Ted Shandor and Chuck Malmberg after two more walks in the sixth inning of the seven inning nightcap accounted for four runs and the ball game.
First Game
Lewiston .... 010 011 003—6 9 3
Yakima ...... 100 000 501—7 11 1
Clancy, Powell (7), Bowman (8) and Lundberg; Savage and Donahue.
LP—Bowman.
Second Game
Lewiston .... 003 010 0—4 10 0
Yakima ...... 020 004 x—6 5 2
Schulte and Lundberg; Shandor and Albini, Donahue (6).

Saturday, September 6, 1952

W L Pct. GB
Victoria .... 89 51 .636 —
Spokane ..... 87 61 .581 6
Vancouver ... 68 66 .507 18
Salem ....... 69 74 .483 21½
Lewiston .... 68 77 .469 23½
Yakima ...... 67 76 .469 23½
Tri-City .... 62 75 .453 25½
Wenatchee ... 57 87 .396 34

SALEM [Victoria Colonist, Sept. 7]—Victoria Tyees gained ground backing up last night and could arrive home tomorrow for their last two series as the 1952 W.I.L. champions.
Twice unable to hold three-run leads, the Tyees bowed to Salem Senators, 8-7, at Salem last night. But Spokane Indians also went down, finding the last place Wenatchee Chiefs too tough for the second straight game and losing, 4-3.
That combination of events left three as the magic number for the Tyees—on the presumption that each club has nine games left. Any combination of three Victoria wins or Spokane defeats would ensure the pennant for the Victorians.
COULD TAKE IT EASY
And so, if the Tyees could sweep today’s afternoon double-header from the Senators and Spokane should again lose to Wenatchee, the Indians’ pursuit would be over and the Tyees could take it easy during their last seven games. Even if they if they lost all of them and Spokane cleaned up in its last week, the Tyees would be in. That would wind them up with a 91-58 record. Spokane could do not better than 95-62, which would mean a tie in games, but a .611-.605 margin in percentage points.
And even if the Indians have a game to pick up at Vancouver it would make no chane. Winning that one would only bring them within three percentage points although they would actually be a half game ahead.
HEARD HAS TROUBLE
Jehosie Heard, who is having his troubles in attempting to become a 20-game winner, failed again last night although he escaped being charged with the loss. He had control trouble and was far from his best as he dissipated 3-0 and 4-2 leads before manager Cec Garriott hurriedly yanked him in the seventh in favor of Bill Bottler after he had walked the first batter and pitched one ball to the next.
As it turned out, Garriott may have been a bit hasty. At least Bottler was no improvement as he completed loading the bags and then gave up a three-run double to Hugh Luby to tie the score. He lost it in the ninth when Ben Lorino was unable to stop the rally started against Bottler.
TYEES LEAD
Singles by Bob Moniz and Garriott around an error gave the Tyees one run in the first. They went ahead, 3-0, in the second inning on singles by Dwane Helbig, Milt Martin, Lu Branham and Moniz divided around a sacrifice by Heard but lost a chance to add to their lead when Bill White cut down Martin at the plate.
Heard, hit hard from the start, ran into trouble with two outn in the Salem second when four bases on balls and a double plated two runs. Fourth-inning singles by Heard, Moniz and Pries made it 4-2 but Bill Spaeter’s triple tied it when the Senators got their turn in the same inning.
Granny Gladstone tripled in two runs and scored the third after an outfield fly as the Tyees moved in front, 7-4, in the seventh, but the Solons once more came right back.
HEMPHILL GETS WIN
Jack Hemphill, who set the Tyees down in order in the eighth and ninth, started the rally, which gave him the win, with an infield single. Luby bunted him to second and Lorino came on to relieve Bottler after Connie Perez had been intentionally passed.
Lorino walked Spaeter, unintentionally, to load the bags. He got Bill White to force Hemphill at the plate but Dick Bartle broke it up with a single.
Spokane fell victim to Bob Bauhofer, entering 3-16. Two-run ninth gave him fourth win. Four consecutive singles off John Conant sent the Spokane ace down to defeat.
Victoria ...... 120 100 300—7 15 3
Salem ........ 020 300 301—8 9 1
Heard, Bottler (7), Lorino (9) and Martin; McNulty, Edmunds (7), Hemphill (8) and Thrasher.

SPOKANE, Sept. 6—Spokane's "surge" turned into a slump Saturday night as the second-place Indians tripped over the Western International league's cellar-dwelling Wenatchee Chiefs for the second straight time as they absorbed a 4-3 loss.
Wenatchee's Bud Bauhofer, had been able to win only three iof 19 Prevlous starts, was helped into his fourth win on his teammates' ninth inning spluge.
In the fatal final inning, Bud Hjelmaa, Dick Adams, Larry Monroe and pinch-hitter Frank Dasso singled in succession to push across two scores and end Spokane's lead for good.
Center Fielder Eddie Murphy opened the game in style for Spokane when he sent a homerun ball over the 376-left field fence in the first inning.
Wenatchee Catcher Walt Pocekay scored both of the Chief's first two runs after getting on the base path with a single in the second and a double in the fourth inning. Monroe drove in the run in the second and Manager Adams the fourth inning tally.
Spokane came up with another home run in the fifth, when Jimmy Brown lined one over the wall.
Brown scored for Spokane again in the seventh when he doubled, moved to second on a wild pitch and came home on Bill Sheets' single.
John Conant made his WIL record read 17-10 by taking the loss.
Wenatchee ... 010 100 002—4 12 0
Spokane ....... 100 001 100—3 10 0
Bauhofer and Pocekay; Conant and Sheets.

YAKIMA, Sept. 6 — Rookie Chuck Donley set down the Lewiston Broncs with eight hits Saturday night to give the Yakima Bears an 8-3 Western International League baseball victory.
The win gave Donley a 3-4 record.
Yakima jumped on Lewiston starter Joe Nicholas for four runs in the first inning and was never headed. Nicholas walked the first man to face him and then gave up three singles good for two runs and a pair of outfield flies good for another pair.
Lewiston .. 001 020 000—3 8 1
Yakima .... 402 100 01x—8 10 2
Nicholas, Bowman (4) and Lundberg; Donley and Donahue.

Vancouver at Tri-City, postponed, high winds.

Murphy Picked Most Popular
SPOKANE, Sept. 7—Fleet-footed centrefielder Eddie Murphy of the Western International League Spokane Indians has been voted the team's "most popular player" by more than 15,000 fans.
Murphy was presented with a full set of golf clubs and bag during fifth inning ceremonies in the Wenatchee-Spokane game Saturday night.
The award was won last year by Edo Vanni, now manager of the Vancouver Capilanos. Murphy was also voted the honor in 1950.

Walt Pocekay Regains WIL Lead In Batting
Walt Pocekay, Wenatchee, has regained the batting lead in the Western International league, according to weekly averages compiled by Howe News Bureau.
Pocekay raised his average three points during the week to .355 while John Ritchey, Vancouver, who led last week, slipped four points tp .352 and second place.
Pocekay also continues to lead in hits with 183, in total bases with 256 and in doubles with 42.
Milt Smith, Lewiston, replaced Bob Moniz, Victoria, as the leader in runs 'tor the only change in jthe specialized departments. Smith scored seven runs during the week to Moniz' four. For the season Smith has 112 and Moniz 110.
Holdover leaders, besides Pocekay, are; Des Charouhas, Tri-City, 14 triples; Cecil Garriott, Victoria, 16 home runs; Grannie Gladstone, also of Victoria, 111 runs batted in, and Ed Murphy, Spokane, 43 stolen bases.
Ben Lorino, Victoria, the league's leading pitcher, racked up his 22nd victory during the week. He has only six losses.

TEAM BATTING
  G  AB   R   OR   H   TB   2b 3b HR  SH  SB  BB  SO  Pct.
Victoria
133 4478 749 647 1250 1692 237 29 49  85 125 716 585 .279
Lewiston
138 4657 747 772 1277 1777 219 37 69  77  88 674 595 .274
Vancouver
127 4235 636 541 1155 1501 169 57 21  90  92 599 447 .273
Spokane
140 4580 699 592 1236 1569 173 44 24 116 126 618 675 .270
Yakima
136 4358 700 729 1203 1636 205 54 40 106 109 700 702 .265
Salem
136 4474 574 570 1141 1504 188 53 23  66  87 587 633 .255
Wenatchee
136 4491 596 798 1110 1413 181 34 18  69  62 562 607 .247
Tri-City
132 4377 607 659 1081 1418 158 43 31  96 115 709 732 .247

TEAM FIELDING
               W  L T  DP TP PB  PO    A   E  Pct.
Salem ....... 66 70 0 152  0 17 3501 1604 157 .970
Vancouver ... 65 62 0 135  0 13 3291 1457 174 .965
Tri-City .... 59 72 1 105  1 18 3421 1310 186 .962
Victoria .... 86 46 1 119  0 17 3486 1405 198 .961
Yakima ...... 63 73 0 136  0 20 3524 1523 210 .960
Spokane ..... 81 59 0 151  0 10 3590 1551 223 .958
Lewiston .... 64 74 0 107  0 38 3540 1503 238 .955
Wenatchee ... 54 82 0 100  0 17 3472 1358 240 .953

Friday, Sept. 5, 1952

W L Pct. GB
Victoria .... 89 50 .640 —
Spokane ..... 87 60 .591 6
Vancouver ... 68 66 .507 18½
Salem ....... 68 74 .479 22½
Lewiston .... 68 76 .472 23½
Yakima ...... 66 76 .465 24½
Tri-City .... 62 75 .453 26
Wenatchee ... 56 87 .392 35

SALEM [Victoria Colonist, Sept. 6]—At an early morning hour this morning it appeared as if the Victoria Tyees had increased their lead to six games and practically assured themselves of this city’s first championship.
The Tyees edged past the Salem Senators, 9-8, in a knock-down, drag-out affair that went 11 innings to start a double header on the right track. They were leading, 8-2, in the fifth inning of the nine-inning finale with Ben Lorino well on his way to his 25th win and the Senators with their third pitcher in action.
STREAK ENDED
If the Tyees hold their lead, and they should, they will be six games ahead and 10 up on the losing side, a spot which would mean that their four-game series with the Indians next week will be meaningless if they can break even with Salem and Lewiston in their next six games.
Returning to action of Granny Gladstone, sidelined for two games because of a muscle injury, made the difference last night. Inserted into the line-up at shortstop as manager Cec Garriott benched Jim Clark when Salem opened with lefthander Bob Collins, Gladstone drove in the winning run and figured in two tallies.
He doubled in the second and scored the first run when Milt Martin followed with a two-ply blow. Gladstone started a two-run fourth with a single. A double by Dwane Helbig and outfield flys by Martin and Abernathy drove the run across.
HAN FINDS TROUBLE
LeRoy Han ran into trouble after three hitless innings and the Senators jumped ahead with a five-run rally in the fourth. Connie Perez tripled to start it. Han got two out, then walked Dick Bartle and Bob Nelson, gave up a single to Jim Deyo and walked Tom Galli. This brought on Carl Gunnarson and pinch-hitter Art Thrasher, who tripled in last there runs.
The Tyees stormed again in the sixth by scoring four times after two were out. A walk to Helbig started it. Then Abernathy doubled and Gunnarson, Lu Branham, Bob Moniz and Garriott singled.
Gladstone’s boot set up the tying runs for the Solons in their last turn at bat and forced extra innings. The Tyees went ahead in the eighth, Abernathy doubling and coming around on Gunnarson’s sacrifice bunt and Moniz’ outfield line drive. Again the Solons came through as manager Hugh Luby singled in the tying run with two out.
GLADSTONE ATONES
Garriott started off the 11th with a single, played for the single run by having Pries bunt, and second when Gladstone slapped out his third safety. The Senators threatened again with two out by loading the bags but Gunnarson got the dangerous Nelson to hit into a force play.
It was the 10th win of the season for the seasoned southpaw, who lost a tough 4-2 decision in Spokane Wednesday night.
First Game
Victoria ...... 010 204 010 01—9 15 1
Salem ........ 000 500 210 00—8 11 0
Han, Gunnarson (4) and Martin; Collins, Edmunds (5), Hemphill (6), DiBiasi (9) and Nelson.
Second Game 7 Innings
Victoria ...... 023 032 0—10 10 0
Salem ........ 002 000 2— 4 11 1
Lorino and Bottler; Francis, Collins (4), Hemphill (5), Rick (7) and Thrasher.

SPOKANE, Sept. 5—The surging Spokane Indians snapped their Western International League win streak at 12 Friday night when they tripped on the lowly Wenatchee Chiefs 2-0 after winning the first game of their double-header 4-0.
First Game
Wenatchee ..... 000 000 000—0 6 4
Spokane ......... 011 101 00x—4 8 1
Dasso and Pocekay; Palm and Sheets.
Second Game
Wenatchee ..... 110 000 0—2 9 0
Spokane ......... 000 000 0—0 5 8
Stites and Pocekay; Spring, Roberts (6) and Sheets.

KENNEWICK, Sept. 5 — Vancouver threw away a Western International League baseball game Friday night as Tri-City capitalized on Capilano errors for a four-run eighth inning to win, 6-4.
Tri-City went into the eighth, trailing 2-3, when Des Charouhas walked with one away. Tommy Marier grounded to third baseman Ray Tran who threw wild to first. Vic Buccola singled to load the bases and Nick Pesut was hit by Cap pitcher Bob Snyder to bring in the first run of the inning.
The angry Tran charged in from third protesting the umpire's ruling. After a short shouting match, he returned to third. Joe Scalise hit another grounder to Tran and again the throw was wild — this time to home plate, allowing Marier to score. Bob Greenwood sacrificed Buccola home and Don Lopes ended the scoring with a single that scores Scalise.
Up until then, Snyder appeared to have it easy. He had come on in the second inning for Van Fletcher after the latter got him on the finger with a pitched ball by Bob Greenwood to bring in a run. Snyder came in to protect a 1-0 lead, later saw it tied 2-2, then led again 3-2 when Bob Duretto dynamited a 370-foot homer in the seventh.
The Caps got one back in the ninth, but Greenwood got the side out without further damage. It was his fourth win over the Caps this year against one loss and his 15th of the season.
Duretto and Jim Wert had three hits each for Vancouver.
Vancouver ..... 011 000 101—4 9 5
Tri-City ..... 000 101 04x—6 9 1
Fletcher, Snyder (2) and Leavitt; Greenwood and Pesut.

YAKIMA, Sept. 5 — Manager Bill Brenner of the Lewiston Broncs hurled five-hit ball Friday night to give his team a 6-2 victory over the Yakima Bears.
It was Brenner's 19th win of the season. He has lost nine.
Tagged with the loss was Kenny Wright, who took over in the first inning. He now has a 9-10 record.
Lewiston ....... 200 000 103 — 6 7 2
Yakima ......... 100 001 000 — 2 5 2
Brenner and Lundberg; Del Sarto, Wright and and Albini.

Thursday, September 4, 1952

W L Pct. GB
Victoria .... 87 50 .635 —
Spokane ..... 86 59 .593 5
Vancouver ... 68 65 .511 17
Salem ....... 68 72 .486 20½
Lewiston .... 67 76 .469 23
Yakima ...... 66 75 .468 23
Tri-City .... 61 75 .449 25½
Wenatchee ... 55 86 .390 34

SPOKANE, Sept. 4 — Eddie Murphy's 10th-inning single to left field drove in the winning run that gave Spokane its 11th straight Western International League victory Thursday, an 8-7 decision over Victoria.
It also gave the Indians a clean sweep of their three-game series with Victoria and moved them within five games of the league-leading Tyees.
Bill Prior took his third relief loss in less than a week.
Manager Cec Garriott elected to go with Bill Bottler to start and the rookie righthander wasted no time in losing the 2-0 lead Garriott’s single have him in the first inning. Nervous, he walked the first four men he faced and Prior came on with one run in, the bags loaded and no one out.
Bill Sheets greeted him with a two-run single but he settled down to retire the side without further damage.
A double by Garriott, an error by the usually-reliable Ed Murphy and a single by Dwane Helbig tied it in the third. The Tyees went ahead in the fifth when Chuck Abernathy walked for the third time with two out and Prior and Lu Branham, who had three hits, followed with singles.
Then the Tyees handed Spokane four runs in their turn. Jim Clark dropped Murphy’s foul fly and the centre fielder doubled. Don Pries booted another foul fly and Sam Kanelos stayed at bat to draw a walk. George Huffman bunted and catcher Ron Bottler, trying for the force at third, threw the ball into the dirt to load the bags.
Mel Wasley tripled in three runs and Bill Sheets singled in Wasley.
Fighting back, the Tyees tied it in the seventh when Chuck Abernathy connected for his third home run, aa tremendous 380-foot clout to centre, with Helbig safe on an error, and Bob Moniz, who had doubled, on the bags. That drove John Marshall to the showers but it proved to be a mistake. Frank Chase came on to blank the Tyees the rest of the way.
Prior breezed along until he got two out in the 10th. Then Ed Bouchee singled and Wilbur Johnson walked. This was followed by the big break of the game, a badly-hit “bleeder” down the third-base line by Chase which went for a single. Murphy more than made amends for his error by lining a single to left field on a 3-2 count to end one of the season’s finest series, decided by scores of 2-1, 4-2 and 8-7.
Victoria ....... 201 010 300 0—7 11 3
Spokane ...... 300 040 000 1—8 9 3
Bottler, Prior (1) and R. Bottler; Marshall, Chase (7) and Sheets.

LEWISTON [Vancouver News-Herald, Sept. 5]—The Capilanos got an awful lot of sweet pitching out of fireballing Dick Aubertin and an assist from the rain here Tuesday as they shut out the Lewiston Broncs, 2-0.
Aubertin, in winning his first game in a Vancouver uniform, allowed but four hits, the same as given up by Bronco Sal DeGeorge. However, DeGeorge was the victim of three early-inning errors by his teammates and the Caps picked up single runs in the first and second to win it.
It was the last Lewiston home game of the season and 1700 fans turned out to brave a game which was dampened throughout by drizzling rain.
It fell almost from the start and it seemed almost impossible for the clubs to get in even the minimum five innings. However they made it barely and the Capilanos, after losing the first two games of the series, salvaged the last and maintained their hold on third place in the WIL standings.
The Caps now move on to Tri-City where they play a weekend set of four games, one tonight, another single Saturday and two Sunday.
Then they return to Vancouver for their final stand of the 1952 baseball season.
They open the week against Spokane in what very well might be an important series for both clubs. The Caps are trying to stave off the challenge of the Salem Senators while the Indians are taking one last run at first place Victoria. The Caps win up the week, and the season, against Bill Brenner’s Lewistons.
Vancouver …… 110 00—2 4 0
Lewiston …….. 000 00—0 4 3
Aubertin and Ritchey, Leavitt (5); DeGeorge and Helmuth.

WENATCHEE, Sept. 4 — The Yakima Bears made it three straight over Wenatchee Thursday night downing the Chiefs 4-2 in Wenatchee's final home game of the 1952 Western International League baseball season.
The Bears went out in front in the first inning when Earl Richmond walked and was doubled home by Jerry Zuvela.
The Chiefs came back in the second inning to grab the lead but Zuvela tied it in the third with a home run over the right field wall.
The teams played scoreless ball until the eignth when Len Noren who had singled and reached third on a fielder's choice scampered home on Manager Dario Lodigiani's single to put Yakima ahead to stay.
Yakima ........ 101 000 011—4 6 2
Wenatchee ... 020 000 000—2 8 2
Del Sarto, Thompson (3) and Atwell; Oubre and Pocekay.

Tri-City at Salem, postponed, rain.

Broncs' Boss Is Promoted
LEWISTON, Idaho, Sept. 4 — Bill Brenner, player manager of the Lewiston Broncs in their return to the Western International Baseball League this season, Thursday was
named general manager for the 1953 campaign.
President James B. McMoningle of the Lewiston baseball club made the announcement.
He said a "substantial" salary increase was given Brenner in recogmtion of his greater value to the club and for the additional duties he will perform, McMonigle said.
Brenner has pitched 18 victories for Lewiston against 11 losses. He will assume most of the duties of business manager in addition to directing his club on the diamond.
Breaner, 31, will enter his 13th year of baseball in 1953 and will start his eighth season as a manager.

Braves Return; Four Pitchers Recalled
[Tri-City Herald, Sept. 5, 1952]
The up-for-sale Tri-City Braves returned home today to open an 11-game stand which will wind up the season. They will open a series tonight against Vancouver.
Whether the Braves are sold to jlocal inierests or move away, it will be the last time at Sanders for some of the players.
All four of the starting piichers have been recalled by their contract owners--Bob Greenwood and George New by Baltimore; Dave Brittain and Ralph Romero by the Phils. The recalls become effective at the end of the season.
The four players will report to assigned spring training camps. Their return here will depend upon decisions made then. It is believed that Greenwood and new are certain to move to triple A leagues.
The Braves recent road trip wasn't as successful as the last one. They won three games, dropped six, and played on tie--the only such games in the league this year.
Had the reams won the tie and the games they lose by one run, they would be riding a winning streak. They were defeated four of those six times by one run. Four games, including the tie, went into overtime.
Two games, including the one Thursday against Salem, were rained out.

Spokane Catcher Sets New Record
SPOKANE, Sept. 5 — A new Western International League record for consecutive games caught in a single season was set Thursday night by Catcher Bill Sheets of the Spokane Indians. It was his 141st.
Frank Volpi had held the old mark of 140, established 13 years, ago with the Vancouver club.

The Sports Herald
KEITH MATTHEWS
[Vancouver News-Herald, Sept. 5, 1952]
Problem of the Weakest Link…

There is but one week of baseball left on the WIL bill of fare, and nobody will boast it has been a successful year for the Capilanos. Or, for that matter, the WIL as a whole.
It has been a year of transition for the league in which they have unsuccessfully tried to tell us that this now is now Class A baseball that we are watching, If it has been, we will vote to go back to Class “B.”
No chain its stronger than its weakest link, it has been said, so following this line of reasoning, what is currently wrong with the WIL?
Some say it is Wenatchee and Tri-City and the small towns like them. It is bad, they say, to associate ourselves with these bush leaguers. Bring on Calgary and Edmonton.
Some say it is the crazy rookies in which each club is forced to carry eight limited service players. Bring on the veterans, the hand-me-downs from the Coast League.
Are these the weakest links in our chain? We hardly believe so.
Consider this question. Are we prepared for a real Class A league, even including Edmonton and Calgary?
On the basis of the past performance charts, which is what we must go by, we hardly think so. It appears as if the problems of the WIL haven’t changed a bit from those they had four years ago, and which have been popping up annually ever since. It is a problem of government.
Where is our Government?…
We point to the head of the class in solving the mystery of the weakest link and discover that after all is said and done the problem is so glaring that it has been overlooked.
Robert B. Abel was hired years and years ago to the presidency of the Western Interntional League. It is not a richly remunerative job—in other word if you had to depend upon it alone for your bread and butter, you’d have to slide it right thin.
However, Abel has been the WIL’s man, the WIL’s government.
Now we ask you to consider five points.
Why are the WIL’s umpires continually on the hot seat? It is an established fact that the WIL entertains more arguments and more fines in the period of the baseball season than any other league in captivity. Are we on the Coast so hard to get along with?
Why is it that Vancouver—and Spokane and Victoria, for that matter, too—finds itself cast into the same back yard as Wenatchee, Kennewick and Lewiston? Isn’t balance one of the duties of the league’s front office? Do the Yankees of New York find themselves entertaining Hoboken?
It would seem that before the WIL makes its first stride toward progress and proper “A” rating that it must appoint or elect a government that will give it stature.
It would necessarily follow that the president of the WIL would not be a fly-by-night affair where the salary could only demand part-time duties.
For once, baseball (at least in this neighborhood) could be worse than take a page from the Pacific Coast Hockey League’s set-up. The PCHL, or Western League if you will, hired Al Leader to be their chair many years ago, informed him he was to cast aside all other means of employment and paid him a salary where he could well afford to accept. This would seem to be a likely example for the WIL to follow.
Umpires still a nasty tumor…
It is Bob Abel’s claim and conviction that he has done as much as he could for this league on the time and monies which have been allotted to him. We aren’t permitted to know much about the workings of the WIL to argue this point.
However, the umpire question is prevalent. It has become a tumor to the WIL and it will have to be extracted.
Abel claims he has no time to travel around the country seeking out good officials. He gets what he can by telephone and on other people’s say-so. There is no argument here, either.
It is also Abel’s claim that there is nothing wrong with the umpiring in the WIL. Here, of course, is where we are brought to wondering about Mr. Abel.
In front of our tired old eyes we have see a baseball bounce off a fence and into an outfielder’s glove. We have watched for an umpire to signal for an “out.” We have watched umpires stand at right angles to the plate and claim they can give an accurate account of balls and strikes as they split the corners. We have watched too many boners to enumerate.
The WIL directors might well be advised to consider these points before they talk of expansion or improvement. Calgary and Edmonton, yes, and abolishment of the limited service rule as it now stands, certainly, but what about your government, gentlemen?
“A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.”

Sports Notes
By Gil Gilmore
[Tri-City Herald, Sept. 5, 1952]
It's up to the local organizations now. If the Tri-City area wants a Class A ball club someone should get busy and scout up the cash for buying up the Braves' franchise.
I've felt this is a good baseball area and maybe, with some kind of a local ownership, The Braves can again make a go of it here.
Off hand, I can think of no one better suited to buy the club than the Athletic Association. They already have a fairly good investment in the club and stand to lose the money they have invested in the park if the Braves leave.
The Athletic Association is playing the quiet role, though. They were to make the announcement that the club was up for sale a month ago but took no action. Consequently, the Braves officials decided to go ahead.
RICHARDS
Dick Richards is a man who says he is going to enjoy the rest of this season. Richards' reason: He isn't unaware that everyone is blaming him for the failure of the Braves to make a go of it here, in fact, some of them have a habit of calling him at odd hours and telling him so.
Consequently, Richards feels now the critics have their chance. The club is up for sale and they can buy him out.
It has often been brought up to me that if Richards would leave, attendance would pick up. I have some doubts. Few baseball fans have anything to do with the business manager of a ball club so it's hard to see how mat would affect attendance more than a couple of hundred.
And I have heard of business managers whose methods are a lot more unpopular with the fans than Richards, yet their attendance is high.
One thing about Richards. If a job isn't available when he moves into an area, he will create one. And there are few who can match his sign painting ability.
SANBORN
Arnie Sanborn is more than hopeful the Braves will stay here. Unlike many who are connected with the club, Arnie considers himself a local product and will remain in this area whatever happens. And as he puts it, he would like the club to stay here if for no other reason than to provide him a place to see a ball game once in a while.
Arnie also hopes that if a local group buys the club, that Manager Charlie Gassaway will be with the new owners. He said Gassaway as manager ups the chances of renewing the working agreement the Braves have with the Phils.
The men higher up in organized ball like Charlie's training of young players. This is the time for the shift in sports seasons and at least locally you could probably set the official date for Sept. 13. That's midway between the first local football games and the end of the WIL play.
The Braves return to Sanders Friday and they will be here until the end of the season Sept. 14. Scheduled are series with Vancouver, Yakima and Salem.