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By LUCIUS JONES(SNS Sports Editor)THE FOUR outstanding Negro diamond stars due for a tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League, in accordance with a promise o? President William E. Benswanger, have been named. The selections were made just before the tenth annual East-West Baseball Classic,colored “dream game/’ in Comiskey Park, Chicago. All fourplovers named stood out in the thrilling contest won 5-2 by the East.The quartet of stars for Pittsburgh tryouts is Rupert (Josh) Gibson, catcher, and Sammy Bankhead, infielder-outfielder, both of the Homestead Grays, as well as Willie Wells, manager-shortstop, and Leon Day, pitcher-outfield-er, each of the Newark Eagles. The Grays and Eagles are members of the Negro National League.•BAD MAN” AT PLATEIn the East-West Classic, Gibsonhandled 10 chances without an error and, although purposely passed twice, still cracked out two hitsin his remaining three official trips to the plate. One of the hits drove across a tally for the East.Bankhead performed errorlessly although dividing his time between second base and centerfield. He also scored a run and batted in a run for the East in addition t-o getting two hits in five times atbat.SENSATIONAL PLAYWells got one hit in five times at bat, played errorless ball afield, and turned in the fielding gem of the day when he went far back of second base, made a one-handed pick-up of John O’Neill’s smash, and pegged him out at first by a hair’s breadth.Day, who is a dangerous hitterand is frequently used in the outfield by Newark because of his prowess at bat, proved the outstanding hurler of the game. He faced only seven batters and fanned five of the last six—the finalfour in a row.FANNED DANGEROUS CROWDDay relieved Barney Brown, southpaw of the Philadelphia Stars, in the seventh inning with twoaway. He got rid of Parnell Woods, manager-third baseman of the Cincinnati Buckeyes, to retire the side.In the eighth inning, Day fanned Ted Strong, forced Willard Brown to go out, and then whiffed James (Pig) Greene, all of the Kansas City Monarchs.Day struck out O’Neill of the Monarchs, Arthur Pennington of the Chicago American Giants, and Floyd (Bear Man) Davenport of Birmingham. That was “all she wrote” for the West sluggers.WOODS TO GET CHANCEIn addition to the four stars booked for tryouts with the Pirates next week, Woods, the Cleveland-Cincinnati pilot, has been promised a ‘‘look-over” by President Alva Bradley, of the Cleveland Indians of the American League, with thehearty endorsement of Manager Lou Boudreau, Indian, shortstop, who I played with and against Negroathletes during his school career.President Benswanger of tha Pirates said tryout of the four colored “dream” ball players would be under Bob Rice, Pittsburgh scout, who personally asked the Pirate boss for the opportunity to handle the workouts. Rice is not opposed to Negro stars being integrated in the ma jor league baseball industry.OTHERS DUE FOR TRIALWhen the Pirates and Indians yield trials to Gibson, Bankhead, Wells, and Day—and to Woods, respectively, it is regarded as certainty that the Philadelphia Phillies, through President Gerald Nugent and Manager Hans Lobert, will also give chances to Roy Campanel-la, catcher, and Sammy Hughes, second baseman, both of the Baltimore Elite Giants, and to David (Impo» Barnhill of the New York Cubans, who was winning pitcherin the recent East-West Classic that attracted 48.000 fans.What is more, many other Negro stars are almost a cinch to get tryouts if any of the firstbunch “makes good” and if the reaction, generally, is favorable following culmination of present developments.DOUBT STILL RAMPANTThere are still a load of pessimists. But you find plenty of “dark outlook” artists in everything nowadays. There was a time when it was vigorously contended a Negro daily newspaper was a “pipe dream.” But the fact it, such an enterprise has been going good since March 13, 1932—more than a decade.After Jack Johnson, the pessimists said we would never have another world heavyweight boxing champion. And if the pessimists are right, I suppose Joe Louis would be called the “world champion cotton-picker,” or something.
Newspaper Details
Phoenix Index
Phoenix, Arizona, US
Sat, Aug 29, 1942
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
AL, USA 30 Aug 2021
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