Willie Mays May Bring Giants '54 NL Pennant
By OSCAR FRALEY
New York — (U.P.)— Reams and reams of adulatory stories have almost convinced Fearless Fraley today that amazing Willie Mays and an eight-man New York Giant supporting cast will win the 1954 National League pennant by July 4, at least.
Please note the "almost." Being leaped with concrete, Old Fearless still thinks it will be the Brooklyn Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves running one-two—and in that order.
But I have to admit that Willie must be the greatest .274 hitter in baseball history.
Because from all the reports out of the Giant training camp, Willie has "made" the club this spring. His very presence has all the pitchers throwing like Walter Johnson, every batter breaking windows two miles away and every fielder playing with mechanical precision.
Willie must be hailed as the greatest inspiration since Joan of Arc.
How else can you explain the praise of sport-shirt Bill Veeck of Giants now are a "threat" because of his spirit fomented by Willie's return?
Nobody can argue with facts.
Willie can run like a jackrabbit in a forest fire. He can catch a ball better than most kids catch the measles. And when he tags the ball with his trusty bat, it is due for a prolonged ride.
But come now, fellows, these "peons" of praise which you must write as part of the daily grind have a slightly familiar ring. The guy who wrote about hope springing eternal must have been a dyed-in-the-flannel Giant rooter.
Recall, if you will, the same starry-eyed treatment given a few years back to a veritable giant of a Giant named Clint Hartung. The question seemed to evolve around whether to make the "Hondo Hurricane" a new Grover Cleveland Alexander or permit him to play every day and break all the batting records in the book.
Clint, as in the case of Willie,
load all the Giants wondering whom
they would meet in the World
Series. He could, they said, throw
the fastest pitch ever seen, and run
back of the bat in time to catch it.
He could, they said, hit the ball
out of sight or be there waiting
for it to come down.
The difficulty was that under major league conditions the Hurricanes would eventually condition.
Sincerely, it is to be hoped that such is not the fate of the "amazing" Mays. Giant fans indignantly will point to his .353 mark at Trenton and his .477 batting average at Minneapolis.
All I can point to is his.274 mark
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Page 4
Rio Grande, Bevo Pull KC Disappearing Act
Tuesday, March 23, 1954
By CLARKE KEYS
Two weeks ago today the Daily Kansan reported, in a sports Trail by editor Ken Keson, the explosion of a myth that Clarence "Bavo" Francis of Rio Grande college was an extra-special player after his appearance in the NAIA tournament in Kansas City.
By CLARKE KEYS
Too we have another report on Rio Grande—only this time it pertains to one of the most obnoxious examples of conduct by grown men this reporter has ever witnessed.
More than 10,000 basketball fans bought tickets to see the East-West Shrine game in Kansas City Monday night, only most of them, for once, went early to see the preliminary contest. For it was a chance to see the fabulous Francis and his Rio Grande squad against mediocre Rockhurst college of Kansas City.
To say that Rockhurst was playing inspired ball would be an understatement. To say that Rio Grande was playing somewhat less ably than they did even in the NAIA tourney—when they lost in the second round—would be saying kind words. Nevertheless, it made for an exciting ball game and one that made the all-star clash that followed strictly anti-climatic, regardless of the fine talent.
That preliminary game was never finished. For Coach Newt Oliver called his team off the floor with slightly less than two minutes to play. But he didn't call the club off before he made himself one of the greatest fools who ever stepped on a basketball court.
The game had been tight all the way and Rockhurst had even led some of the time. Meanwhile, Francis was wallowing in his idea of basketball—score a few and let your mates take care of the rest—and not doing so good at it either. Rio Grande held a 50-49 lead with a little more than three minutes to play when Rockhurst decided to stall in order to get into the two free throw period.
That's when the fun started. In order to have the move stopped,
guard Al Schreiber fouled with 3:04 to go. Rockhurst hit the point to tie the score. Shortly thereafter, Schreiber fouled again and Oliver rushed onto the floor protesting wildly to both officials. When he refused to sit down (and who can contemplate what he may have been saying) the officials slapped a technical on him.
Rockhurt hit all three shots, got possession of the ball and Schreiben fouled again within 10 seconds. This time Oliver really put on a show. He dashed onto the court, threw a towel on the floor, stamped on it, chased the officials and then after being charged with another technical, walked to the bench, took off his coat and made a great act for the crowd.
Rockhurst hit two more of the shots and followed shortly thereafter with another to take a 58-50 lead. When a Rio Grande player was charged with a foul only playing seconds later, he threw the ball into the seats at the south end. Another technical was immediately called and Oliver did a little calling of his own—taking his team off the floor and into the dressing room.
Rockhurst stood around for a while, shooting baskets, until the forfeit win was official and that was that. No matter what the great college players in the second game, they couldn't get the crowd aroused again. They were just there to play basketball, not put on a floor show.
There is no place for Newt Oliver in basketball. This little man, in stature, and character, has risen from obscurity on the shoulders of a tall boy who can shoot baskets. And he likely will slip back into obscurity when "Bevo" leaves.
This action should certainly burst any bubble that might still persist about the "fabulous" Rio Grande team. "Bevo" is all right. We'd take him on our team. But there are likely 30 or 40 other players in the country as valuable, if not more so.
There is no one in the country more invaluable than Newt Oliver.
with the Giants in 1951, and that was over a reliable 121-game span. And to his .182 mark in the World Series, where he banged into three double plays in one game.
Willie is only 23 and, with his Army hitch behind him, should be ripe to make all the nice things come true. As a fielder he may make Country Slaughter look like Ernie
Lombardi and Stan Musial appear to the all-American out.
Lombardi and Stan Musial say to the all-American out. But there is a suspicion here that it will take more than inspiration to cure the aching backs of Sal Maglie and Larry Jansen; to make Davey Williams make a run at the batting championship, or to vastly improve Monte Irvin's 329 batting average.
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8 Teams Advance In Intramural Volleyball Meet
Sigma Chi and Phi Delta Theta won first round playoffs games in Fraternity "A" volleyball competition last night. The Sigma Chi's won over the TKEs in two games and the Phi Delts beat the Lambda Chi's in two games.
In Fraternity "B" play, DU beat SAE in two out of three and the Delta defeated the Betas in two games.
Beta I won over Phi Delt III and Beta III beat Phi Psi in Fraternity "C" games. Both winners won two straight games.
In Independent "A" playoffs, it was Jimmy Green over Sig Gap Ep two and one and Set-Ups 2, Liahona. 0.
Tonight's second round schedule:
FRATERNITY "A"
Robinson gym
6:45 (E) Beta vs. Phi Delt
6:45 (W) Gii Gam vs. Sig Chi
FRATERNITY "B"
Robinson Annex
6:45 (E) Phi Gam vs. DU
6:45 (W) Delta, Chi vs. Delts
FRATERNITY "C" Robinson annex
5:00 (E) Delts vs. Beta I
5:00 (W) Phi Gam vs. Phi Delt V
7:30 (E) SAE vs. Beta III
7:30 (W) Phi Delt I vs. Beta II
Alston Named All-Star Pilot
Miami, Fia.-(U.P.)—Manager Walt Alston of the Brooklyn Dodgers was named to pilot this year's National league all-star team yesterday by league president Warren Giles.
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The epic story of the 1953 American Alpine Club expedition to the Himalayas told by a member of the party
K2-THE SAVAGE MOUNTAIN (World's highest unclimbed peak)
by Robert Craig
Illustrated by Colored Slides and Movies
No admission
Wednesday, March 24
Fraser Theater
8:00 p. m.
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