The last time the White Sox won the a.l. Pennant, baseball had no commissioner. In the 31 years between that season and this one, the sox posted just eight winning records. No starter has been better than starter Billy Pierce, who broke in as a wartime teenager. A crowd of 18,332 pushes season attendance to a team record 1,328,234 million.
The last time the White Sox won the a.l. Pennant, baseball had no commissioner. In the 31 years between that season and this one, the sox posted just eight winning records. No starter has been better than starter Billy Pierce, who broke in as a wartime teenager. A crowd of 18,332 pushes season attendance to a team record 1,328,234 million.
The last time the White Sox won the a.l. Pennant, baseball had no commissioner. In the 31 years between that season and this one, the sox posted just eight winning records. No starter has been better than starter Billy Pierce, who broke in as a wartime teenager. A crowd of 18,332 pushes season attendance to a team record 1,328,234 million.
Boston (Scarborough 6-8) at Washington (Hudson 6 -11), 8:30 p.m. Detroit (Stuart 9-7) at St. Louis (Garver 13-10), 8:30 p.m. (Only games scheduled) Notes on the Scorecard Groom-to-Be Kiner is Showered With Gifts CHICAGO The last time the White Sox won the American League pennant, baseball had no commissioner. Babe Ruth had more career pitching wins (89) than home runs (49). Billy Pierce hadnt been born. Tuesday night, Pierce went the route in a 6-4 victory over the Indians. Combined with Bos- tons loss Tuesday afternoon, it secured Chica- gos first American League flag since 1919 the one captured by players whose scandalous behavior compelled baseball owners to appoint a czar to oversee the best interests of the game. In the 31 years between that season and this, the White Sox posted just eight winning rec- ords and seven upper-division finishes. The current squad, led by rookie manager Paul Richards, overcame that legacy of futility with slugging first baseman Eddie Robinson, mercu- rial Cuban Orestes Minoso, the flashy keystone combo of Nellie Fox and Chico Carrasquel, and superb starting pitching. No starter has been better than Pierce, who broke in as a wartime teenager, and who had a career mark of 22-31 coming into this season. Pierce didnt record an out in his season debut, allowing four runs in a span of six St. Louis Browns batters. But like the rest of his White Sox team- mates, Pierce grew more resilient and more confident as the season wore on. Handed a 4-0 lead after one inning Tuesday, he never al- lowed the Tribe to pull closer than two tallies. With a crowd of 18,332 which pushed season attendance to a team record 1,328,234 million standing as one, Pierce retired the side in order in the ninth. The final out came on Birdie Tebbetts fly ball to Bud Stewart in left field. The win was Pierces 17th, one shy of the A.L. high of 18 held by Tuesdays loser Early Chicago 6, Cleveland 4 Washington 2, Boston 0 Detroit 18, St. Louis 2 Philadelphia at New York, ppd., rain Brooklyn 2, Boston 1, Gm. 1 Brooklyn 5, Boston 4 (10 innings), Gm. 2 New York 5, Philadelphia 4 St. Louis 8, Cincinnati 2 (12 innings) Chicago 5, Pittsburgh 0 Todays Probable Starting Pitchers Todays Probable Starting Pitchers Brooklyn (Newcombe 20-6) at Boston (Surkont 10- 14), 2 p.m. New York (Jansen 17-8) at Philadelphia (Johnson 5- 9), 8 p.m. (Only games scheduled) Major League Leaders AMERICAN G AB R H AVG. NATIONAL G AB AVG. R H Fain, Phi. 113 430 90 148 .344
Furillo, Bro. 148 644 .314 108 202 HR: Zernial (Phi.) 40; Robinson (Chi.) 29; Vollmer (Bos.) 27; Easter (Cle.) 25; Williams (Bos.) 25. RBI: Zernial (Phi.) 151; Robinson (Chi.) 122; Williams (Bos.) 121; Vernon (Was.) 107; Rosen (Cle.) 103. Wins: Wynn (Cle.) 18-12; Pierce (Chi.) 17-6; Lemon (Cle.) 17-13; Raschi (N.Y.) 16-9; Lopat (N.Y.) 16-10. Strikeouts: Raschi (N.Y.) 175; Reynolds (N.Y.) 139; Gray (Det.) 139; McDermott (Bos.) 134; Wynn (Cle.) 125 . ERA: Pierce (Chi.) 2.71; Kretlow (Chi.) 2.72; McDermott (Bos.) 2.74; Hutchinson (Det.) 2.81; Lopat (N.Y.) 2.84. HR: Musial (St.L) 38; Hodges (Bro.) 36; Snid- er (Bro.) 36; Kiner (Pit.) 34; Sauer (Chi.) 32; Thomson (N.Y.) 32. RBI: Musial (St.L) 145; Snider (Bro.) 125; Sau- er (Chi.) 117; Hodges (Bro.) 116; Gordon (Bos.) 116. Wins: Newcombe (Bro.) 20-6; Roberts (Phi.) 18-13; Roe (Bro.) 17-7; Jansen (N.Y.) 17-8; Hearn (N.Y.) 17-10. Strikeouts: Newcombe (Bro.) 176; Rush (Chi.) 139; Queen (Pit.) 137; Maglie (N.Y.) 134; Roberts (Phi.) 127. ERA: Newcombe (Bro.) 2.00; Jansen (N.Y.) 2.45; Rush (Chi.) 2.74; Roe (Bro.) 2.94; Wehmeier (Cin.) 3.09. Before the season started, I thought that if we finished in the first division wed be well off, the 33-year-old first-year manager said recently. With the team that started the season, I dont think we could have done this well. Cards owner Fred Saigh seems content with Marion, citing as a mitigating factor the flu epi- demic that struck his club in May and forced the team to undergo another spring training. The Redbirds were two outs from absorbing a 2-1 loss Tuesday when Stan Musial singled home the tying run. Vern Bensons two-run tri- ple highlighted the 12th-inning uprising. Dick Bokelman (4-1) earned the win with two perfect innings of relief. Cincys Willie Ramsdell allowed six runs (all unearned) in the 12th inning and fell to 2-21. PITTSBURGH Ralph Kiner made a grand gesture Tuesday night after accepting numer- ous gifts from Pittsburgh admirers on his Shower Night. He said he would send a check to Childrens Hospital for the value of the gifts he received. It will amount to between $1,500 and $2,000. Kiner, in thanking the fans, said: I am the luckiest guy in the world to play baseball in a town like this. Among the gifts were a complete service of sterling silver, atmospheric clock, clothes drier, matched wallets for bride-to-be Nancy Chafee and Ralph from the veterans at Aspinwall Hos- pital, two leather chairs and a silver smoking box from his teammates. Dick Cole, another prospective bridegroom, also was presented a smoking box by his Pirate teammates. If Rogers Hornsby doesnt land a major league managers job, he may try to buy San Franciscos Pacific Coast League franchise. President Emil Sick of the Seattle Rainiers, the team Hornsby piloted to the Coast league pennant this year, said Hornsby is trying to interest eastern capital in the San Francisco franchise. AROUND THE HORN Elsewhere in the National League: Ralph Branca threw a four-hitter in the first game, and Duke Snider lined a two-run triple in the 10th inning of the second as the Dodgers swept the host Braves, 2-1 and 5-4. Branca improved to 11-7 in the opener at the expense of Warren Spahn (11-12). Snider swat- ted two triples in the nightcap. Andy Pafko had six hits in the twinbill. Jim Hearn became the Giants third 17- game winner, joining Larry Jansen and Sal Maglie, as New York beat the host Phils, 5-4. Turk Lown (10-9) twirled a four-hitter for his first career shutout as the visiting Cubs topped the Pirates, 5-0. The Cubs scored all five runs in the top of the ninth. Wynn. Pierces ERA of 2.71leads the loop. Robinson and rookie Jim Busby had two RBI each for Chicago, and Minoso lashed three hits. Wynn (18-12) was chased early, allowing five runs in 2 1/3 innings in his first try for his 19th triumph. Dale Mitchell and Larry Doby poled circuit clouts for Cleveland. The White Sox will meet the National League champion Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Se- ries, beginning Oct. 4 at Comiskey Park. AROUND THE HORN Elsewhere in the American League: Bob Porterfield (7-7) hurled a six-hitter as the Senators blanked the visiting Red Sox, 2-0. Mickey Vernon had four hits, including his 11th home run, for the Nats. The Tigers scored eight runs in the first in- ning and routed the host Browns, 18-2. Detroit leadoff man Johnny Lipon had four hits and scored five runs. It marked the fifth time in 1951 the Browns allowed 18 runs or more. CINCINNATI Grant St. Louis Cardinals manager Marty Marion one wish, and he would probably have trouble choosing between: 1) Start the 1951 season over; or 2) Make it last longer. Marions charges erupted for six runs in the 12th inning Tuesday, scoring an 8-2 win over the Reds and extending their win streak to eight games. In 11 days, they have moved from fourth place, 2 games behind Philadelphia, to third place, 2 ahead. They also have moved three games closer to first-place Brooklyn and the sec- ond-place Giants. Its mathematically impossible for the Cards to climb higher than third. But Marion could be forgiven for dreaming of what mightve been. Tom Yawkeys Troubles For the last six years Tom Yawkey has had the best team in baseball, taking in both leagues. From the time he started the Red Sox owner has put in something between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000 to get a winning combination and he has succeeded just once back in 1946. He has had such managers as Joe Cronin, Steven ONeill and Joe McCarthy. He has bought star pitchers from Lefty Grove on through a long list. He has had such ballplayers as Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio, Vern Stephens, Johnny Pesky, Bobby Doerr, Walter Dropo, Billy Goodman, Birdie Tebbetts, Clyde Vollmer, lineups on copy paper that looked to be unbeatable. But they cant win pennants. Why? What about Tom Yawkey, the owner? Ive known Tom Yawkey many, many years. He is a hustler and a fighter on his own. No man in baseball ever wanted more to win. Yawkey gets no thrill out of finishing second in anything he starts. He is keen, liberal, aggressive. For years he traveled with the Red Sox, stayed with them in spring training, until he began to figure he Cardinals Streaking to Finish of a Disappointing Season All the News That Fits, We Print FINAL EDITION Including final results of all ball games On Page 1: Communist Officials Angrily Walk Out on New Peace Talks in Tokyo WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26, 1951 The Baseball Once-Upon-A Times. VOL. 1, No.164 FIVE CENTS AMERICAN W L PCT. GB NATIONAL W L PCT. GB Chicago 95 55 .633 --- Brooklyn 96 53 .644 --- Boston 87 60 .592 6 New York 88 63 .583 9 Cleveland 83 69 .546 13 St. Louis 82 69 .543 15 New York 78 70 .527 16 Philadelphia 79 71 .527 17 Philadelphia 75 75 .500 20 Boston 70 80 .467 26 Detroit 71 79 .473 24 Pittsburgh 67 84 .444 30 Washington 60 89 .403 34 Chicago 67 84 .444 30 St. Louis 48 100 .324 46 Cincinnati 53 98 .351 44 Major League Standings Tuesdays American League Results Tuesdays National League Results WHITE SOX WIN FLAG Pierce Notches Clincher With 6-Hitter RICE, Page 2
The Sportlight By Grantland Rice
THIS WAY TO BOX SCORES Page 2 WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26, 1951 Sc000 000 000reboard National League Boxscores RICE FROM PAGE 1 might be a jinx. Tom Yawkey is the type that would be a big help to his club. The charge has been made that he paid his men too much money, that no mem- ber of his team ever thought he had to hustle to draw his salary. Against this I know they had to hustle for Joe McCarthy, and even pennant-winning Joe could- nt turn the trick. Now Tom Yawkey has come to a spot that is rougher looking than anything he has faced be- fore. His team of stars is getting old. Most of them have been around from ten to 14 years, and this includes some of his best men. They are practi- cally all tired, worn-out veterans who no longer have the speed, drive and litheness of youth. He will have to rebuild almost an entire ball club in a day and time when real major leaguers are scarce. Looking to 1952 From the list of 16 major league ball clubs only a few can look to 1952 with any touch of cheer. In the National League six of the eight clubs are so far out of it, back of the Dodgers and Gi- ants, that they have little chance of getting close a year hence. This certainly applies to Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Chica- go. Most of these are minor league ball clubs. If the Red Sox drop from contention next summer that will leave the American League almost as badly off. The collapse of the Phillies and Tigers, ably managed, was one of the seasons upsets. No one has to make any alibis for Red Rolfe or Eddie Sawyer. The stuff simply wasnt there. The Cleveland pitching staff is young for the most part and the best in either league. That means Cleveland will be up there again. The other clubs all need help. Joe DiMaggio will be another year older and as brilliant as he has been throughout the years, time will take a cer- tain toll. Joe has been in baseball since 1932. The American League is now better balanced than the National although Detroit, Philadelph- ia, Washington and St. Louis are no great bar- gains, from 20 to 46 games away from the top. Apparently there are not enough big league ballplayers to go around. Even the leaders need bolstering. The Dodgers and Giants both need help, especially Dodger pitching. The others need a heavy flow of 1952 aid to fill the gaps now held by minor leaguers who will never be anything except minor leaguers. The old game can use about three times as much talent as it has today. At least. American League Boxscores Browns to Mix Baseball, Hoops ST. LOUIS, Mo. (AP) Bill Veeck is going to mix baseball with basketball next. His last place St. Louis Browns will wind up their American League season here Sunday with a baseball-basketball doubleheader. The Harlem Globetrotters professional team will meet a team of Browns and local stars. The game will be played on a portable floor set up on the infield. That will be the first part of the twin bill. In the aftermath, the Browns will take on the Chi- cago White Sox in their closing game of the season. Proceeds of the doubleheader are to be turned over to the community chest here, and at East St. Louis, Alton and Granite City in Illi- nois.