Johnny
Four Claimants
for 158-Pound
Championship
Wilion'i Crown It Forfeited
in Empire State and Rouen
burg Ii Arrlaimed
Title Holder.
By WALTER ECKERSALL.
Who ii th acknowledged middle
.! weight champion of the world?
! Thit it the question v hu h caue
' mort arguments around placet
! where boxing i di"i:cd 'han auv
other angle of puiilim. TheYe arc
! undisputed champions in all otlitr
. claes, till holders who are looknl
! upon a nprniie in ihcir diviMOt!.
but there arf at leat four claimant'
; of the JSH pound championship.
In fart there are four geographical
champions and ny one who wanti u
lay rlaim to one of these titles mui,
secure a fight with the claimant in
hit reipective territory Thia ia raih"
' an unfortunate condition nd, al
j though aome of the boxing eommi
' .ions are trying to determine the un
: disputed ehampion, it will never be
doug until Johnny Wilson ia knocked
out or lose a aecisiun in onis ai.
' where boxing it legalised. '
Commiah Rmova Wilion'e Crown.
,'. Jolt recently the New York Box
ling commission removed whatever
' claim Wilson has to the 158-pound
:j till in tha Empire state. Johnny
! was matched to meet Harry Grab m
New York, but for some unknown
reason Wilson pulled out of the
match. Greb afterward admitted it
i was doubtful if he can 'make the
; middleweight poundag of 158
i PCThe' commission then looked
around to find some Rood men to
.'hand the title to. It was finally it
jcided that Dave Rober !l
tough Jewish fighter of Brooklyn, i
I about the best in tha cUsa-in and
. around New York, w he h. been
1 acclaimed the middleweight eham
Uion No sooner had the crown been
awarded to Rosenberg than . num.
jiher of fighters, deluding Jock Mi
ll lone, are hot on h trail or , .match.
: Altnougn snorn '' ""."
i the Ernpi" "ate, Wilson , ,, , s.d
.mm ted as tne mit"'-
f V.l?;:-.. : m...,rhuetts. It was
- .nt. that lohnny won the
tie from Mike O'Dowd. WiliM
: fingpin of the middle, in hi. horn
i te. until ha is either knocked o t
i ,r lose, a dein Massachusetts.
Downey Be.ta Wilson,
i: After he had won the lr"J
! tVDowd and was reclaimed, the
! Middleweight champion. Wilson ,our-
i-ieyed t? Ohio to meet Bryan Dow-
lite cnampion
iiiirnan rnsr naciiv
WllSOn on , TV,p
1 eractically knocked his man out. The
, ..... ..inmKuon lmmeui-
iVilson on a toul atter ury .
-...-i - .tt rnmmiss on linintu
the
... i ....x.iri nwnrv ib
teiv retua;"'" . ;
world's champion, aitnougn inc
vet's decision went agamtt him.
Since that fight Downey has been
. okid upon as. the middlew.wht
,. champion by Ohioans at least and i is
; atill the champion as far as the state
of Ohio is concerned. Bryan is a
great favorite in his native land anQ
ill who saw the fight with AV.lson
claim the champion was defeated and
bir title saved by a friendly referee
Since that time Downey N
newspaper decision to Jock Malone
;! in Illinoia. wher. the St. Paul boxer
is looked upon as the middleweight
: title holder. Malone also won tne
popular verdict over Bryan m it.
Faul and thia wakes him the cham
pion of the Gopher state. On Labor
dav Malone will try to annex the
; mi'dleweight championship of Uhio
by meeting Downey in a 15-round de
::cision contest at the legitimate
poundage of 158 pounds at 10 o clock
on the morning of the mill, ims
- bout will be held in Columbus.
r; If Dave Rosenberg is sincere to ne
"; fend hi. gifted title in the Empire
state, ne win get picmy ui
- Most fiehters aitree a title won in
: rNew York is equivalent to the recog
inized world's championship and for
I this reason Dave will be a busy
iii fighter as long as he wins his fights.
:i' Jock Malone the Clasa. .
;- Of the four men looked on as lead
ers in the division, Malone is perhaps
"the most handicapped. Jock is not a
full-fledged middleweieht and he is
not a welterweight. When in shape.
; Jock will scale about 148 or 150
- pounds, which makes him too heavy
5: for the weiltcrweight class and too
'-Slight for the middleweight. However
Malone wants to mingle with the 158
- pounder and many believe him to be
:"i.the real clasa of the outfit.
,": With Rosenberg installed as the
i Cbammon in New York, there is
.."bound to be plenty of action injhe
. middleweight division forthe remain-
der of the summer and well into the
' fall. The fans want to see an un
disputed middleweight champion de--Itermined.
and if pending matches are
- -i closed the situation will be clarified
4 to' a great degree.
.Portland" Wants $50,000
ti or Better for Twirler
u San Francisco specializes in selling
infielders and outfielders for high
prices. Portland's specialty seems to
- be pitchers. .
Indications are that President
"Klepper may make another deal
i along that line. Soon after purchas
ing the Portland franchise Klepper
: sold two young pitchers. Pillette and
"rjohnlon. lor $J5,000 eafh and almost
' enough players to "make" the Port
land team.
Now he has another deal onfor
George Walberg. his tall young
1 southpaw- or, rather, a number of
deals. The top offer to date for
Walberg. he say., i. $25,000.
"Nothing less than $50,000 will
j touch him," declares Klepper.
H Athletic Day at Canadian
1 Fair in Toronto Sept. 9
? Athletic day at the hig Canadian
- fir in Toronto will be held Satur-
day. Sptember 9. A diveraified bill
--2 of effi., including races fer boj-s
d i-w. will make the competition
hrisC. A 12-mile marathon will be
held em the track located Inside the
;:i tVEundj. .
Wilson's Middleweight Title Disputed by Fight Fans i
JOCK MA LOME.
Wray Brown Wins Recognition in
East by Playing Into Finals in
Intercollegiate Tennis Tourney
New York, Aug. S. (Special.)
The intercollegiate tennis champion
ship games at Philadelphia a couple
of weeks ago un
covered a new star
in the person of
VVray Brown of
Washington uni
versity. St. Louis,
3rown came to the
tournament merely
as the unheralded
entry of a new col
lege for the tour
nf v Washington
He immediately at-
fr acted attention,
which strew as he
progressed steadily
through the tour
ney to the final
round, bowling
over such men as James Davies of
Leland Stanford and Walter west
brook, the Michigan star.
Brown is no altogether a stranger
in the east. This is the third time
he has played in this section, the
other times being in Boston in in
tersectional matches. It is his first
appearance in the intercollegiates. He
is well looked upon in the west, be
ing No. 4 in the Missouri vallev rank
ing. On the showing of the col
legians, regarded as being typical of
the rising generation of tennis play
ers, Brown is close to being the most
impressive of the lot, according to
those who watched him go through
this tourney. He is possessed of a
more rounded and steadier game than
is usuflly the case with the younger
players. His defeat of Davies was
as much the result of his steadiness
under fire as anything else. He
simply ontsteadied the coast star,
matching Jiim with everything be had
to offer and still having enough left
Davis Cup Pilot
on Top of Game
New York, Aug 4. (Special Tele
gram.) -Much satisfaction is felt in
lawn tennis circles over the brilliant
playing of R. Norris Williams II,
former national champion and Davis
cup captain and competitor, in the
tournament on the turf of the Nassau
Country club at Glen Cove, L. I. The
No. 6 of the national ranking list
gave an excellent, account of his
most brilliant stroket in the opening
rounds. It was, his finely executed
ground strokes, played with free and
effortless style, that attracted the
greatest amount of attention.
The former Harvard star is, per
haps, the most representative stylist
in the matter of form that we have
ever had in this country. The ex
planation, may be discovered in the
fact that the foundations of his game
were laid in the tournament and on
the courts of Europe under the tu
ition of such able masters of lawn
tennis strokes as the late George
Burke and others.
Chinese Hockey Team
Coming to United State
A hockey team composed of China
men wants to tour the United States
and Canada, according to a letter re
cevied recently by W. R. Sexsmith,
president of the Canadian Amateur
Hockey association, from J. A. S.
Cameron, manager of the North
China lee Hockey league, Pekin.
The oriental stars, numbering 12
players, are preparig to reach Van
couver December Id.
Canadian Swimmer to Try
to Cross English Channel
Omer Perreault of Montreal in
tends to try the English channel
swim this summer. American,. French
and English distance stars are ready
for the plunge, accomplishing .which
means fame and fortune.
Chas. Paddock Too Busy to
Compete in A. A. U. Games
Charles W. Paddock, world's
champion sprinter, is so busy with his
newspaper work that he will not take
part in the A. A. U. championships
at Newerk September 8, 9 and 11.
Longwood Cricket Club
to Construct Stadium
Longwood Cricket club near Bos
ton contemplates constructing a
modern bowl in which to accommo
date the growing number of fans.
It is proposed to construct a stadium
adjacent tp the present headquarters.
1-1
U. " I
TERRITORIAL CHAMPIONS
BRYAN DOWNEY.
to outlast his opponent. Hi. service
created' a great deal of talk. It is
most powerful, with a strong re
verse twist and opened up hole after
hole .tor him in .this tourney. His
drives have strength and accuracy
and come across at an opponent in
- i- r i . Y I
a ncaviiy luppcg iatnion.
Against both Daviea and West
brook. Brown indicated an ability to
play both the base line and the net
witn gooa results and prpper instinct
in choosing, his type of play.
EBUGS"
BAER
F
IRST sign of insantity is
standing on chair and looking
into Swiss cuckoo, clock for
eggs. ,
Next more accurate sign is try
ing to make bathing kewpies wear
more clothes when swimming.
Some carelessly elected senator
tried to establish bill compelling
aand chippies to take off those one
piece frocka. They stopped him
in time.
When it comes to flappers' surf
trousseaux, wc must turn in minor
ity report.
Always noticed that only time
Mr. Dibbdabb is horrified by one
piece frocks is when he has Mrs.
Dibbdabb along. Mrs. Dibbdabb
is one of those thimble-nosed dow
agers who can talk lids off iron .
pots.
Naturally Mr, Dibbdabb agrees
when she concentrates her lorg
nette on seashore mervamps and
squawks that it is awful. But iust
as quick as Mrs. Dibbdabb skee
keeboo. back to New York Mr.
Dibbdabb secures option en horn
rimmed telescopes and looks him
SeU silly.
' ' ,
First seven waves of ocean al
ways bring big prices to ticket
speculators. .Reformers who moan
loudest are birds who always take
their opera glasses to beach- They
train their range-finders on surf
debs and go on optical jag.
First thing we know reformers
will be making us use Atlantic
ocean one by one, just like family
bathtub,
Be fine when oolice radio reauests
. gentlemen in Ocean Paeific to step
out because lady is using ucean
Mediterranean.
One-piece bathing gowns are im
modest only to one-piece minds.
You can't arrest modern girl for
wearing indecent fparn, gown, be
cause when you went to look for
her frock you would have to dis
charge her for lack of evidence.
Of course, these girls don't go
into water. They might as well
wear their bathing wardrobes on
their big toes, so far as swimming
is concerned.
No Wonder the Boys Are After
Jack Dempsey, king of the swat
depicting a pleasant time being had at
THE SUNDAY BEE: OMAHA, AUGUST 6. 1022.
JOHNNY WJLSON. ,
This Was No Job for
One-Armed Referee
The referee of a boxing con
test at Grand Junction. Colo., was
forced to use both hands in count
ing out the principals in a bout
there, according to a dispatch.
Jack Bowens, who was trading
punches with Whitey Hutton,
got behind in trading and re
ceived a blow on the point of the
chin. As he started his dive to
the mat, however, .he completed
the haymaker he had started for'
Hutton s stomach. It landed. Hut
trn .nil nnurrti rntlanCikH An flip
mat at tne same ume ana xne re-
C1CC cuuiuiu uuin men uu..
Few Coast Stars
W Go to Majors
There will be no bumper crop for
the major leagues in the Pacific Coast
league this year. With the exception
of Jimmy O'Connell and Willie
Kamm, the two highest priced minor
leaguers ever sent into the big show,
the P. C. L., which has ever been a
prolific field for the majors, wil
yield little.
Last year the Coast league sent 10
men to the majors, all of whom are
still subsisting on coffee and at
the expense of major 'league club
owners. Which is by way of a fair
$core ot record. J. he year betore
there was even a larger crop, most
of whom are fittures in the main top.
Among those are Lew Blue, Earl
Shields. Ernie Johnson, Johnny Bass
ler, Bill Pertica, Kiag Cole, Walter
Mails and Eddie Mulligan.
The 1921 crop is composed of
O'Doul, Caveney, Couch, Pinelli, PiU
lette, Johnson, Statz, AJdridge, Gu
isto and Miller.
A survey of the present crop shows
that there are few P. C. L. pastimers
who will be sought by the majors.
Three pitchers will probably gradu
ate Mitchell, Dumovich and Huzz
Arlett. There is but one first base
possibility Bert Ellison of the Seals
and not one backstop.
Heine Sands and Rav French,
shortstops, are likely to get the call
trom higher up, and it may be that
Hal Rhvme. who reolaced limmv
Caveny at short for San Francisco,
may go if the Seal management will
cut loose with him.
Former Star Pitcher Now
Sensational Shortstop
George Foster is back on the lot.
Foster, the hero of the Boston
Americans when they won their last
world series.
George quit the game after that
memorable series because he couldn't
agree on salary. He was theh sold
to the New York Yankees and again
refused to report, for the same rea-
n.
He has been out of the game until
about three weeks ago when he broke
in as a shortstop with Henryefta,
Okl., in the Western association
and he has been going like a house
on fire.
He is fielding and hittinar in a most
sensational manner. Although his ca-
Lreer so far has been brief, he has at
tracted the attention of the big league
scouts.
world, has sk 11 in choosing queenly
Santa Monica Beach, Cal., with Ruth
Kansas City to
Dedicate New
Auto Speedway
Jimmy Murphy, Tommy Mil
ton and Other Speed De
inons to Compete in First
Rare on $300,000 Track.
Entry blanks for the first 300-mile
international speed classic which will
dedicate the new $500,000 Kama
City speedway September 16 are be
ing mailed to the foremost racing
drivers of the United States and
liurope.
The action is virtuatly a formal one,
as-all of the most successful pilot,
have signified their intention of com
peting on the new track for prizes
that will total more than $30,000.
Among these are Jimmy Murphy,
1922 .peed champion of the world;
Tommy Milton, last year's "ace:" the
veteran Ralph De I'alina, Harry
Hartz, Joe Thomas, Roscoe Sarles
and a dozen other, whose names are
synonymou. with terrific motor ear
speeds. '
Promts 120 Miles an Hour.
With a track, the builders of which
premise will sustain a spedd of 120
mile, an hour and such a notable ar
ray of driver., many of them piloting
new speed creations, it is a foregone
conclusion among authorities that all
speedway records will be broken.
Assertion, are freely made by driv'
ers, manufacturer and others inter
ested in motor car racing, that an
average of 115 miles must be main
tained by the winner of the big JUU
mile event.
President Invited. '
One of the features of the race will
be the actual dedication of the track.
The American Legion of Missouri
and Kansas has- been intrusted with
the dedicatory ceremonies and for
the event the legion committee has
nat!on.s most noUbie personages,
U;AaA K Pr.clJ.nl Hi,J Tk in.
vited guests include the secretaries
of War and Navy departments, Gen
erals Pershing, Crowder, Harbord
Admirals Coontz, and the senators,
governors and congressmen of Mis
souri and Kansas.
Plans are being made bv the of
ficers of the Kansas City Speedway
association for an attendance of 75,
000.' Word has already been received
here from a score or more of larger
towns in Missouri. Kansas and sur
rounding states that special trains
will be operated to the Face.
Bike Sulky Has
Lowered Records
Thirty years have elapsed since
Sterling' Elliott attached a pair of
bicycle wheels to a sulky frame. It
made a crude looking vehicle, but
sine? the bike has been in use, over
10 seconds have been cat from the
worlds records for trotters and
pacers.
At the close of 1891 Nancy Hanks
had a record of 2.09. The following
year tb a bike she trotted in 2:04.
From that point to even time the
progress was rapid, while the aver
age rate of speed at meetings over
both mile and half-mile tracks be
came lower each year.
The pacers carried this banner of
progress into the two minute list.
Their representative was Star Point
er. In 1897 he made a trip over
Readville in 1:591-4. In 1903 Lou
Dillon, 1:58; Major Delmar, 1:59 3-4
and Prince Alert, 1:59 1-2 made their
records. They performed behind
pacemakers.
' In 1905 Dan Patch paced in
1:551-4 in the -same manner, while
Audubon Boy made a record of
1:591-4 in the open. Five years
elapsed before another name was
added to the two minute list. It was
Minor Heir, 1:581-2. In 1912 Uhlan
reached his limit when he trotted in
1:58. v
Theae were eight names in the two
minute list when Thomas W. Mur
phy began makinsr additions. His
first contribution, Frank Bogash, jr.,
crossed the line in 1914. He paced
in 1:591-4, and was the first horse
to race into it.
Steve Donoghue Leads
List of English Jockeys
Steve Donoghye, leading English
jockey, promises to top the list of
winners for the ninth consecutive
year. He has piloted horses over the
finishing line first in no less than
1,022 races nn England and Scotland.
Jack's Title
champions, as witness this photo,
Roland.
Cotiqucror of
" J 'fc W TT ,
T
L4
At Wimbleton two years ago Francs T. Hunter (above),
national indoor aingletf champion, -as defeated by Gerald
Patterson, Australian 6tar. Recently he took revenge by
defeating the Anzac Davis Cup captain by straight sets at
the Seabright tournament.
Prohibition Director Blames Golf
for Much Crime; Says Game Not
Meant for Anyone Under 55
Golfer, all over the country are
indignant a. a result of a statement
made by S. B. Quale, federal director
of prohibition for Minnesota, con
cerning the evils of golf. According
to this man, strong drink may be
raging, but the game of golf, which
has always been considered as safe
and harmless as anything could be, is
a close second when it comes to caus
ing crime.
"Golf is had," quoth the prohibi
tion agent, "because it encourages
idleness and creates a desire among
youths to do something they cannot
afford to do. I do not believe it was
intended for any young man or any
one who has not arrived at the age
of 55. One can ect just as good and
healthful exerciie by using the hoe
as he can by using the golf club."
A prominent eolfer in this section.
when asked his opinion on the sub
ject, "said: "Why, it's ridiculous to
discuss it. Is Mr. Quale in favor of
abolishing the automobile because it
sets a bad example to vounc people
by encouraging them to idle around
in something they cannot afford to
drive? There can be over-indulgence
in anything, even work yet it would
not be wisdom to advocate the abol
ishment of work just because a few
individuals sro to the hospital and
grave from too rnuch business,"
On veteran trolfer went on record
as saving: If golf breeds crime,
then I suggest we get detectives to
watch President Hardinar and Chief
Justice Taft, for both are ardent
golfers. And as to only old men olav
ing the game, look at Walter Hagen,
who won in England; look at Bobby
.Tones, Francis Ouimet. Charles
Evans, Max Marston, Jesse Sweer
ser, and so on. Instead of golf eays
insr crime it has the exact opposite
effect. The class of men playing
the game is better than in any other
rport."
The Rev. Dr. Aquilla Webb of
Wilmington, Del., one of the most
prominent members of the Seniors!
Golf association, waxed indignant
Evers Tells of Triole
Play He Was m
Triple plays are scarce, and when
ever one bobs up, whether in the
majors, the minors, or the sand tots,
there is considerable talk by those
who witness its execution, some tell
ing of one they saw at such and such
a time when "who's it, what's his
name, and the other fellow" com
pleted the triple killing.
Johnny Evers, aid to Kid Gleason,
manager of the White Sox, took, a
few White Sox players for a taunt
one Sunday afternoon recently while
the club was in the east and came to
a diamond where two amateur teams
were playing a baseball game. The
party, unnoticed by the players, be
eame interested telling of the promise
of this and that player, when sud
denly a three-way killing took place.
The players gasped, then Evers
broke the silence: "I've been in one
of those things," he said, "but as a
base runner and not as an engineer."
Evers, who was the middle cog'in
the famous "me-to-you-to-him" Com
bination of Tinker to Evers to
Chance on the old Chicago Nationals,
said that in all the years he had been
in baseball he never had handled any
part of a triple play except in the
instance named.
Leonard-Tendler
Gate Third Largest
in History of Ring
Receipts from the contest between
Bnny Leonard and Lew Tendler, es.
timated at $450,000, set a record for
fights of this class. In fact, the gate
is the third largest in history.
Leonard received more for -his end
than any other fighter in history ex
cept Jack Dempsey and Georges
Carpentier, while Tendler's $90,000
bit as challenger is, next to Carpen
tier's,1 the largest share ever paid
to a challenging boxer.
Receipts taken in at various bouts
of note follow:
nTtipT-crp!tlr i, :.
PemrwT-WHUrd 462.622 1H
LMard-TmJltr 4(1.K,.I)I
Jeffrt-Jnhnwn J70.7TS I0
Tmpsry-Brennft!! 1SJ.76Q.2
WtllaTd-Moran 15I.MK.8S
J,?nrJ-imchf'l IH.40S J
Brittm-Lflar4 131.lll.tt
Ltoiurd-Kanua 1!.77.75
Grb-Qisbona 11.T1 15
Wilaon-O'PoM 10,1M
Estimt4.
Australian Star
i
over the question. "I have been
playing golf for 17 year., and I have
yet to see a dishonest golfer," said
the doctor. Golf is a great leveler,
and a man cannot hide hi. true char
acter and play the game. A dishon
est man cannot continue to play golf
for the game is predicated on per
sonal honor. It is a game feV gentle
men, using the word in the true
sense."
INTRODUCING for your ap
proval, Mr. William Uvick, new
manager of "Kid" Schlaifer,
Omaha's welterweight fighter.
uvick, who is
somewhat of a fis
tic performer him
self,, took hold of
the "Kid's" fight
business a couple
' of weeks ago. He
succeeds William
Miller, who in
turn succeeded
Johnny Creeley,
all having tried
their luck at man
aging Schlaifer'.
business at one
time or another.
Uvick is an
Omaha product,
and not 'so long
Billy Uvick.
ago, propelled a
wicked pair of mittens himself. Be
tore entering the army as boxing in
structor at Camp Funston, the
"Kid's" new boss battled from New
York to San Francisco, meeting some
the best middleweight fighters on
the western and eastern coasts. In
191 i, Uvick showed his wares be
fore New York city fans, meeting
Jimmy Carroll, Jack Powers and
"Sailor" Burke. Carroll and Powers
lost to Uvick, but the same can't be
said about Burke, for he stopped Mr.
"Billy" in the ninth round.
From New York Uvick went to
San Francisco. While out on th
western slope, Uvick battled such
boys as "Billy" Weeks and "Pat"
Cro;n.
Uvick was first managed by Carl
Marfisi, well-known Omaha sports
man, and later by Jack Hermann,
now manager of Stanislaus Zbysrko.
Uvik battled well under Carl's wins
until the pair blew into San Fran.
cisco, then all of a sudden the Marfisi
& Uvick Co. dissolved partnership.
Last year Uvick decided to stee.
clear oft the fistic game, so entered
the Omaha university, enrolling in
the law department.
As soon as he took hold of Schlai
fer's business, Uvick started angling
for bouts. He soon landpH a hot at
Denver with Heinie Schumaii, con
queror oi jack iJerry, but the bout
has been called off by the Denver
promoter.
Turf Weekly Sponsor
for Colt Futurity
C. Bernard Austin, president of the
American Trotter and Pacer, Inc.,
publishers of the National Trotting
iuri wecKiy, tne l rotter and racer,
announced today that the' journal
win sponsor a tutunty tor colt trot
ters, to be known as "The Trotter
ana racer stake. "
The first of this series of annual
events will he for foals of 1923,
ivincn means mat tne J-year-old di
vision will be contested in 1925 and
initial for 3-year-olds in 1926. In all
probability the stakes will be held in
connection with western meetings of
the Grand circuit and it is estimated
that the first event of the series will
be valued at $10,000.
4'Slim" Sallce All Through
,as a Baseball Pitcher
. Harry (Slim) Sallee, . former
pitcner ot the it. Louis and New
York Nationals, has been signed bv
Mount Vernon of the Missouri-Illinois
Trolley league. Sallee wa.
recently released by the Toledo
American association club.
Canadian Shoot August 14.
The annual Dominion of Canada
Rifle association prize shooting meet
ing will be held at Connaught
Ranges, Ottawa, beginning August
14. The prizesc include 30 trophies
and cash prizes of $9,646.
W v ',i ""vl
SS&fi Billy 1
" '
Colonels Can't
Be Blamed If
Yankees Fail
-
Rupprrt and Hutton ITve
Squandered Money Trying
to Nail FUg Dugan May
Not Bolntrr Team.
By I. E. SANBORN.
If the New York Yankees fajt to
win the American league pennant (hi.
ear it won't be the fault of the two
colonels who own the club nor of
Harry l;rarer, Lonon'p baseball
David 1 1. rum.
In spite of the deal !jt winter by
which the Yankees obtained three
such stars as Sam Jones, Joe Hush
and Kvereit Scott from the Ked Sox.
the blurtky Salaried outfit which
Kuppert and Huston handed Miller
Huggin refuted to function up to
expectations. There seemed to be
no reason why the team that won
the 1921 pennant could not repeat,
with (he addition of such a trio the
trade with Boston added to it.
The loss of Ruth and Meuiel
through suspension, in the first six
week of the season, wa. expected to
be a handicap to the Yankees, .Mill
they were thought by most forecast
er, to be .trong enough to drill along
within reach of the ton until the Sul
tan of Swat was eligible again, then
his mighty bat would make the rest
of the race a cinch.
Preaesson Dope Upset.
All pre-season dope was upset,
however, because the Yanks went
out in front without the help c(
Ruth or- Meusel. then began to tan
when the world', greatest gate at
traction began twinging hi. war club
again.
The ehief diagnostician, Hugirin,
decided that third base was the holt
through which games were slipping.
Raker was too slow on his feet and
Fewster. although faster, proved too
liRht. Upon being informed of the
ailment, the two Yankee colonel,
called Friend Frazee into conrulta
tion and the result was the addition
of Joe Dugan, the .oectacular in
fielder, and Elmer Smith. ome out
fielder, to the Huggin ranks in ex
change for material which the Yan
kees could spare.
Developments will be watched
with interest, to see whether Duean
strengthens or weakens Huggins'
hands. For Dugan is nolhing if
not temperamental and there are
svmptoms that one of the Yankee
r.itot's ehief dififcultie. this year ha.
been the presence of too much tem
perament on his team.
Htiggins may be able to handle
Dugan in spite of the fact that Con
nie Mack gave up trying, to some
time ago. Perhaps JJugan. like so
many other ball players, has been
hankering to play for the Gotham
fans instead of acainst them. But
he may find it difficult to live up to
his press agents there and if he does
not equal expectation, woe unto him
and unto Huggins.
Ruth a. a Warning.
There is the flight of Babe Ruth
a warnintr. Only a few days a?o
this former idol, for whom was coin
ed so mnav heroic names culminat
ing in "Sullan of Swat," was jeered
and booed by his former Polo ground
worshinpers because he missed an
easy flv and lost a ball game. Lat
vear when Ruth was whaling 59
home runs into the suburbs he was
iust as poor an outfielder as he is
this vrar. but nobdy noticed it then.
or if they did tlvv didn't dare sneak
of it for fear of being mobbed by
thp idolaters. '
Ruth's slowness and inexperience
in the outfield were overlooked whi'
he was dazzling th bareball world
with a new record for long; distant
swattinsr. He is no slower and
ought to he more experienced in the
rarden this vear, but he isn't hitting
them out of the lot everv other in
rt'"T or so ?nd that makes all the
different jn the world.
Deteriorating Rapidly.
From an asset of hich value. Ruth
bids fair to become a liability of con
siderable weight if he deteriorates in
the public's estimation as fa?t in the
next two seasons as he has this year.
For, you remember, he held out far
a blue sky salary last winter and
signed a contract at his own figures
good for three years according to
renorts. If the worst happens Ruth
will still have put more money into
the bank rolls of the New York
colonels, and of the other seven
American league club owners than
hi three-year salary will amount to.
The whole league has profited by
Ruth's phenominal ascent, but the
New York club will have to pay the
freight pn his decline. However, you
wont' see the Yankee owners ask
ing anybody to help them pay Ruth's
salary. And they worlt trade him
off because they can't after the oth
er fellow pets one look at the fig
ures in Babe's contract.
Italy Take. Up Baseball
as National Pastime
Baseball, encouraged by Pope Piu.
XI, may became Italy's national
frame, arcording to Edward L.
Hearn, European commissioner of
the Knishts of Columbus, who hag
just returned after inaugurating the
organization's welfare work in Rome,
The oooe is eager to have Amer
ican sport, introduced into Italy, Mr,
Hearn 'declared. "Italian young
sters," he said, are taking readily to
baseball. The Italian climate is made
to order for the sport, and it would
not surprise me if, with the start the
Kame will 'receive from the K. of C.
welfare efforts. America's national
pastime should also became Italy's
national gams."
George Cuppy, Former
Baseball Pitcher, Dies
George Cuppy, 54, contemporary
of Cy Young and Lou Criger of ma
jor league fame a decade or more
ago, died on hi. farm home near Elk
hart, Ind., from Bright's disease.
Since retiring from baseball in 1902,
when his pitching arm gave out. Cup.
py had been in the retail tobacco bus
iness. He played with the Cleveland
Americans, Boston National, and
Boston Americans.
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