THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1951
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
PAGE SEVE
Along the JAYHAWKER trail
By BOB NELSON Daily Kansan Assistant Sports Editor
E. C. "Ernie" Quigley, former K.U. athletic director, spent a most enjoyable Tuesday afternoon at Kansas City's Blues stadium renewing major league baseball acquaintances before the New York Yankee-Boston Braves' exhibition game. Ernie beamed with smiles as he made the rounds shaking hands with various old-timers traveling with the Yankee and Brave clubs. "Quig" spent considerable time talking over yesteryears with Yankee manager Casey Stengel and Bill Southworth, pilot of the Braves, in the clubhouse before the teams took the field in overcoat weather.
Today there are probably few, if any, that better know the problems that confront major league players, managers, owners, public relation men, and the press than does Mr. Umpire himself. "Quig" has served in nearly every capacity that exists in our national past-time. In 1936, he served as supervisor of National league arbiters and then moved to the post of loop public relations director until taking over the helm of the Kansas athletic fortunes in August, 1944. He served in that capacity until Arthur C. "Dutch" Lomborg took over July 1, 1950.
Quigley's conversation with Stengel and Southworth no doubt brought back many colorful memories of his long tour of duty as a National league umpire from 1912 to 1935. During his time he called balls and strikes in six World Series.
-K.U.-
Whenever baseball men gather in this area, you can expect to find Mr. Quigley in the middle of things. His first love—and the game he devoted nearly a full lifetime to—baseball, is always the No. 1 conversation with "Quig" if you talk with him for a few minutes on almost any subject.
Although Tuesday's exhibition was played in weather more suitable to football than baseball, it wasn't too hard to see why many American league experts have selected the World Champion New York Yankees to repeat in the 1951 race.
And we might add, we've never talked with anyone that can compare with "Quig" when it comes to telling human interest stories and about baseball rules—many of which he'll be quick to tell you, "Young man, I wrote that rule."
The Yankees appear to be knee-deep in reserve strength, especially in the outfield, behind the plate, and in the pitching department. This should come as good news for the Kansas City Blues' baseball fans.
After holding up the league—from deep in the second division —for several seasons, it looks like the Yankee's K.C. farm club will have something to say about who wins the American Association bunting this year.
We look for the Blues to have one of the finest minor league outfields in baseball when it comes to knocking the cover off the ball. Regardless of his natural hitting ability, Yankee Mickey Mantle will likely end up in Blues stadium soon after the big league pitchers get their full assortment of pitchers working effectively next month.
Add Nebraska's 1950 collegiate great, Bob Cerv, ex-Kansas Stater, Keith "Ki" Thomas, Bob Marquis, and maybe California's former all-American fullback, Jackie Jensen, and brother, you've got plenty of powerful stickers taking their swings at the plate.
Regardless, things are looking brighter for the Blues' manager, George Selkirk, and general manager, Parke Carroll, than they have in recent years. And of course, this means a rosy picture for the New York Yankees as well.
Wage Freeze Hits Baseball Players; Stan Musial's Pay Raise Affected
Houston, Tex. (U.P.)—Slugging Stan Musial, who never needs a pinch-hitter in a baseball game, found at least two men "going to bat" for him today against the government-ordered wage freeze.
Musial, St. Louis Cardinal star outfielder, was the most seriously affected individual when the wage stabilization board announced in Washington a limited "freeze" on baseball players' salaries.
The board said that no player can receive a larger salary for 1951 than the highest-paid player on his team received for the 1950 season.
Musial was the highest paid Card last year with $50,000, and he was all set to draw $35,000 for the coming season. But the W.S.B. ruling wiped out that $35,000 boost, along with lower raises received by some of the leading players on other teams.
Cardinal President Fred Saigh immediately announced here that he would do "all in my power" to get the raise for Musial.
Pitcher Fred Hutchinson of the Detroit Tigers, who is the player representative for the American league, said he planned to protest the ruling, too, although he believes it works a hardship "only in isolated cases."
Baseball Games Are Postponed
Friday and Saturday's baseball games here with Iowa State college have been postponed due to wet grounds, the athletic department announced this morning. No date has been set for the two contests.
Only about 25 per cent of the approved job training establishments had veterans enrolled as of Nov.1, 1950, according to the Veterans' Administration.
Garver Pitches No-Hits,No Runs