April •10, 1942

THE JEWISH NEWS

JEWS on the DIAMOND

An Interview With Ford Frick, President of

the National League

By AL LURIE

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The baseball season begins
on April 14. More recreation

is the order of President

Roosevelt, as the nation

turns to its favorite pastime.

Al Lurie, outstanding sports

commentator, re mind in g

America

that Jews are part

of every fiber of her being,

recalls some of the great

baseball players stemming

from that people.—The Ed-
itor.

•

7.

• •

Baseball is America's national
pastime and Jews are as much a
part of the game as are hot dog
and pop. The diamond sport is
replete with Jewish stars such as
Hank Danning, Hank Greenberg
Johnny Kling, Buddy Myer and
others who, through the years
have hung up great records. They
have made clear that baseball is
a spot open to all corners if the
aspirant has a rifle arm. a keen
batting eye. speed afoot and
plenty of hustle.
On April 14 the major league
baseball season begins, 16 teams
go on the prowl of two pennants—
and all America. war or no war.
will follow the contests with mated
breath.
Ford Frick. president of the Na-
tional League. reiterated to me:
"There was no time in the history
of modern baseball when Jews did
not sparkle in the major leagues."
The popular prexy of the senior
circuit knows whereof he speaks_

IN THE LINE-UP

Although the greatest Jewish
baseball player in history. Hank
Greenberg. is a soldier in khaki,
there are a number of Jewish lads
now cavorting on the ball fields of
major league clubs. One of them
may become as fine a player and
as honorable a citizen as Green-
berg. Hank was one of the top-
notchers. But the opportunity is
there.
Here are the boys on major
league teams as the 16 clubs line
up at the post:

New York Giants of the Na-
tional League: Harry Danning,
veteran catcher; Harry Feld-
man, yearling twirler.
Chicago Cubs of the N. L.:
Seymour (Cy) Block, husky key-
stone sacker, who has a brilliant
future before him.
Cleveland Indians of the
American League: Harry. Ej.i-
enstat. veteran southpaw
pitcher.

ow) ■i rm r mqiimi r owir ■Vmelmo )■ ) ■ )■).=

ably the outstanding right-
handed slugger in the history
of the game, barring possibly
Jimmy Foxx and Rogers
Hornsby. Hank has had a sea-
son in which he hit 58 homers.
(Babe Ruth won immortality
when he slammed out 60
round-trippers in one year;
and Babe was a southpaw
hitter, which means that
Hank's feat was a harder one,
for baseball parks are so con-
structed that lefties have a
comparatively easy time wal-
loping them over the fence.)
Hank has also driven in 183
runs in one year, which makes
baseball veterans blink in
amazement. Hank ranks with
such right-handed hitters as
Rogers Hornsby, just elected to
the Han of Fame, and Hack
Wilson, who startled the base-
ball world when he drove out
56 homers in 1930. Hans Wag-
ner, peerless Pirate shortstop,
a rightie bander, led the Na-
tional League in batting for
eight years. Hank has been a
one-man team for the Detroit
Tigers for so many years that
when he got into the Armv
the Tigers just fell apart at
the seams.

And Hank was a hu.stler. First
an initial sacker. he shifted to the
outfield when team policies dic-
tated the move. Without com-
plaining he made the hard switch
—and was voted the best outfield-
er in the league that year. Al-
though Greenberg
continues to
state in the public prints that he
will never play ball again--hope
ever springs eternal in the-- base-
ball fan's heart. Some day Hank
may lead the Tigers to another
flag.

A COMPLIMENT TO MOE BERG

Another former star who re-
cently won the praise of all Amer-
icans is Moe Berg. erudite catcher-
coach of the Boston Red Sox. Moe.
never a first-class ballplayer. was
so well thought of by the Wash-

ington administration that he was

asked to take a leading part in ce-
enting the good-neighbor policy

H

between the United States and the
Latin American nations. That's a
compliment to Moe. to baseball
and. indirectly. to the Jewish peo-
ple.

In talking about the National
League players, Frick emphasized
that there is no need for Jewish
apologetics. "Jews." he said. ''are
as good as any one. There's no
need to walk• around with a chip
on your shoulder," was his way of
putting it. "Why, there isn't a nicer
fellow than Harry Danning or a

That's the current list. Nearly
all of them, except for Danning better American than Hank Green- .
and Eisenstat., are in the rookie berg. Just keep writing about the
stage. "Stardom will come to many Jewish players as though they are
of them," Prick pointed out. add- American athletes—for that's what. !
ing: "And that's to be expected, they are. And," he smiled, "we'll
for they will only be following be grateful for any other Jewish
tradition."
major leaguers."

THE HEADLINERS

MASK-AND-MITT MAN

"The really and truly first great
Jewish ballplayer," the National
League chief declared, " was
Johnny Kling. The brainiest catch-
er in an era which featured inside
baseball, Kling starred on the Chi-
cago Cub teams of Tinkers-to-
Evers-to-Chance fame. He later
became a well-to-do baseball club
owner. But he is remembered for
his brilliance behind the bat. And
Kling opened the field to other
great Jewish stars," Frick said.
Benny Kauff was another Jew-
ish headliner. Popular New York
Giant player, Benny was one of the
leading batters of this day. Which
brings to mind the sterling quali-
ties of Charles Solomon (Buddy)
Myer. Washington second-sacker,
who was one of the American
League batting kings.
Another of the Jewish stars
who is finished in the Big
Leagues is Hank Greenberg,
who deserves a paragraph to
. himself. Hank has been writ-
ten about so much that it is

Frick, a former sports writer
who worked his way up to the top
of the baseball heap. stressed the
Jews now active in the National
League, Harry Danning, he point-
ed out, is the best of the Jewish
guys in the game. "Harry." he said.
"first won acclaim when Carl
Hubbell, one of the greatest pitch-
ers of our era, asked that Harry
receive his slants. That sold Bill
Terry on Harry the Horse, as he
is affeCtionately called. Now that
Mel Ott is the Giant pilot, Harry k
is in more strongly than ever, for
Mel thinks that Harry is the best
mask-and-m.1tt man in the league."
Frick explained.

kind of wasteful to harp on his
diamond career when he is do-
ing all he can to be a good sol-
dier'. But it is only just to
point out that Hank is prob-

Another Giant Jew is Hank
Feldman, up from Jersey City, who
has a classy assortment of hooks.
curves, slants and what have you.
Hank pitched a shut-out in his
first complete game with the
Giants last September. Ott re-
members that game. Consequently,
Feldman has survived the first
paring—and seems a likely pros-
pect for the entire season.

Cy Block of the Cubs is, accord-
ing to the N. L. boss, "a great boy,"
which makes it apparent that Cy
has somehing on the ball. A smash-

Sports

Calendar of Events

Bengals Champs
by 28-18 Score

April 12—Operon• dinner of Junior Service Group Allied Jew ish
CaMpaion, at Jewish Center. Speaker: Marvin Lowent :al.

Apr.l 12—Fifth anniversary afternoon session and clinner-rneetuig c f

The Bengals won the champion- Jewish Community Council of Detroit, at Tempi: Beth ,
ship, Sub-Senior division, of the

Jewish Center basketball league last

,Sunday by defeating the Modern-
. aires, 28-18. Undefeated throughout
the regular season, the Bengals met
little opposition in the second half.
after it seemed that the Modern-
aires would cause some trouble.
Stein. of the victors, led the scor-
ing with 14 points, while Koropkin,
of the losers, tallied 9.

April 13—Rally of Women's Division of Allied Jewish Campwoo.
Speaker. Marvin Lowenthal

April 15—Dinner in honor of Dr. Abba
Sil‘er. national ch.::: --
man of United Pa;e s inc Antral, at Bock-Cadillac Hotel.

April 20—Address by Mrs. Archibald Silverman at meeting of Womyt. s
Division cf American Jewislt Congress. at Masonic Tf

Al Schacht, now known as a
he s•
StOn•
.
baseball clown. was a star
pitcher with the White Sox.
MANAGER DREYFUSS
But his sense of humor lived
of Barney Dreyf:••
f
down his ability as a baseball
th-
P. ales is int
by dancing and the awarding of
player. Today Al is a profes-
B:iney was known for k
the Sam Dictor division and team
sional funny man. Gone are the
mg black book, in win, ::
medals to the most valuable players.
memories when he'd slip a
maikecl off all •,:a• errors mad-
In an after noon game, Dubon-
third strike past a bewildered
iii j;la , •h. Wl;en the day of :e
nets edged out Bicor Cholem. 35-31.
batter. Jakie Atz. one of the
oniz.7 would con: , Barnoy's
in the semi-finals of the Senior
hitless wonders of the 1906 Sox,
dare yr,ulil ', rice
the u.
;loop. Beresh. of Bicor Cholem, top-
became a good Texas League
t Ika t e
a • Ill , : , -s.
Dre3".
!Ped the scorers with 10 points, while
manager. leading his Club to
one of the no ,t powerful ba
:1
Moss and Kosman of Dubonnet
six flags in a row. That's
men o:
day:
counted 9 each.
brains. if not brawn.
Judy, Landis tech
Barney
Dubonnet, as a result of their
Andy Cohen was a half-.season
victory, will meet the Otuiaws for .=park Jack Levy. Mose Solomon. his :•aut I:: :he :lands of loo
and h.-
Bill Ben. -,.
the Senior crown this Sunday.
and Phil Weintraub al: got try-
ger. who has re ..n.ed the Po
s
outs with the Gianes--anci each
with the 1:.r ::g of Frankie
one was not up to snuff. Jimmy
ing hitter. Cy is tall for a seo.ond-
as the team's no na , ••r. Judge
Reese born Solomon. came up to
sacker
a sixfooten: but he can
Fuchs used to own the B -)- 'on
the Yankees with Lyn Lary. but he
cover ground cleanly, which is
Braves. but tillf'n financial o.fli i
what is demanded of him. The wasn't good enough to stick. Max culties hit the Judge he had
Cubs need an infielder—and Cy Rosenfeld. Goody Rosen and Alta up the 2110 , !.
Cohen got shots with the Dodgers
can hit the bail.
- Sidney Weil. - Frick said. • on,•e
and couldn't make the grade.
the owner of the Cincinnati Reds
EISENSTAT AND OTHERS
Tarry Rosenberg of the White Sox.
Harry Eisenstat. a former high Ike Goldstein of the Tigers. Jonah when the Reds were in the c..:., r,
school phenono never realized his Goldstein of the Indians. Ed Fein- was a tough fellow. He took a lot
potentialities. A good relief pitcher. berg of the futile Ph011es were of punishment when he ran :he
he seemed to wilt with the re.st of other Jewish players who had a club. but he had to give up. The
• the Indians. come the dog days of moment of glory. but only a mo- struggle was too rnuf-h for hint
But Harry Grabiner, lathe:- cf
August. Still, he's a valuable man ment.
the movie actress June Tra•.:-. .s
to have around, as enemy batsmen
There have, however, been
the man ss'io makes the Chicago
, have already found out. He is par-
.lens's in other baseball activi-
White Sox tick- and those Pale
, ticularly effective at Yankee Sta-
ties. Ford Frick was quite elo-
Hose really do things out in •: -.e
dium in the beginning of the year.
quent about them.
- Dolly"
American League pastures.
Perhaps this season he'll hold on
Stark, one of the finest urn-
Frick :cursed back in his sea
to his effectiveness.
pires in the sport. has often '
repeated: "Get us some more J , .1 -
• There have been other Jewish
been acclaimed the most popu-
ish stars. We can use them. -
ballplayers in the Big Leagues_
lar ball-and-strike caller in the
That about sum-; it up.
circuit." A leg injury is hamp-
Morrie Arnovich. for a few years
Copy - ich t 1942 by Independ
ering, Dolly's comeback, al-
a good. hustling ballplayer. is now
Jezei , li Press Service,
though before the aggravation
in the Army. It looked. for a few
of his old injury he had been
years. as though he would be a
Send your Meant wishes for a r.ip;:l
assigned to active duty for this
star. But the pace was too quick
recovery to George Backer, who :..s
season.
for him . . . and by the time Uncle
.
been laid up for quite some tint-
Sam ra:led he was back in the
In the baseball industry there is And your congratulations on
minors.
a need for managerial brains. arrival of a son and heir to M. , .
Fellows l:k" Fred Sinoton Ala- Frick was proud that most of the F. Steingiass. who keeps the p•i'nx
bama All-America football player Jewish owners were in the Na- acquainted with the doings of the
and outfielder with the Washing- tional League. "Andrew Friedman United Palestine Appeal . . . Yeti
ton Senators and Brooklyn Dodg- was one of the pioneers in the will furthermore. no doubt be glad
ers. could hit fast balls. but never game. He was head of the New Lo know that the beauty editor cf
could learn how to handle curve- York Giants before the days of the the Associated Press has chosen
ball pitching Thai's the reason for Stonehams. He %V :AS active back in Dinah Shore. the Tennessee the -ash,
his rapid rise and speedier fall.
the days of 1895 to 1902. and then as the C•irl of the Month for Apr:1.

The game was played as part of
a Basketball Carnival held by the
sub-senior council, and was followed

Regulations
Do Not Affect
Quality

"Duration"

There are no - hardships -
the new reou:at;on ,: c-5tecting
men clothing. The ect.cnornes resulting w great'y a;d the
war effort. But there have been no restr:cron: on Smart
Ta;;cring, no prof-Oio'fions cn the use of *he auter..*;cally
styled imported and domestic woolens, fabrics we secured
for you through early p!anning. We Can serve
man who
is genuinely interested in clothes
Ireeping
the
Scholn:c.k tradition.

*

*

It is estimated that 3arings in fabric trill he nit-
ficient to tailor beyond 300,000 suits this year

Savings. totaling between one and
two Million Dollars will be secured
by the American Red Cross

IMPORTERS — CLOTHIERS

WASHINGTON BLVD. at GRAND RIVER

