TUES., SEPT. 29, 1942
T..CAL E MICHIGAN DAILY
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Wolverine
Nine
To
Make Strong Title Defense In Spring
The Cracker Barrel
By Mike Danu
DICK WAKEFIELD, the ex-Wolverine baseball star who was the sensation
of the Texas League this summer, wi llreturn to Ann Arbor Wednesday
to enroll in the University.
Big reason for Dick's return to school was his desire to enroll in the
Navy's V-7 program or the Army's Reserve Corps, for which a college back-
ground is necessary.
Dick left school a year ago last June when the Detroit Tigers dangled
a $50,000 contract before his eyes, but his close friends insist that the boy
wonder left because he wanted to miss his Economics 52 examination. Dick's
only remark on the subject was, "If I had known enough Ec to take the
examination I would probably have saved a lot more of my contract money."
Wakefield, by the way, led the Texas League in, hitting, runs batted in,
home runs, and was voted most valuable player in the circuit.
LITTLE DAVEY NELSON, the boy who played so much football and base-
ball for the Wolverines during the last three years, is going great guns
at the Iowa Naval Training station.
While playing on the Seahawks' diamond team, Nelson touched ex-Chi-
cago White Sox pitcher Johnny Rigney for two doubles and a single in one
game alone.
According to major league scouts who saw Nelson play this summer, the
mite will probably take to the higher professional baseball circuits like
Wendell Willkie takes to a camera.
When the Wolverines play the Seahawk football team next month,
Nelson will probably be in the Navy backfield.
IF CAGE COACH BENNIE OOST4RBAAN has any trouble with his teeth
this coming winter he won't have to take off time from his practices to
journey to a dentist's office. The reason: Morrie Bikoff aid Leo Boyle, two
Wolverine basketball stars, are now enrolled in dental school and before
long will be yanking teeth with the best of them.
DETROIT NEWSPAPERS have been playing up the angle that Michigan
may switch some of its football games from' Ann Arbor to the motor
city. But according to a wire from Joseph B. Eastman, Director of Defense
Transportation, to Athletic Director Fritz Crisler, there will be no change
whatsoever as far as the location of Maize and Blue football tilts are
concerned.
Crisler pointed oui that the Wolverine games played in Ann Arbor are
far more centrally located than if they were moved to Detroit. Last year,
the top crowd from Detroit was less than 15,977 people, a number that fails
to equal the Ann Arbor and vicinity representation at any game.
However, the Board in Control of Athletics did pass a resolution pre-
venting the University from trying in any way to induce out of town patrons
to attend the football game.
IRV "PRO" BOIM, the colorful Wolverine pitcher of last spring who
dropped out of school last June -because of scholastic difficulties has been
permitted to return to the University this fall.
This will probably give Michigan the finest collegiate hurling staff in
the nation, with Cliff Wise, Mickey Fishman and Boim all on the same
mound crew. (That's if we have baseball this spring.)
M * * *
H ARRY NEWMAN, the great Michigan quarterback of a few years back,
was out to a Wolverine grid practice last week. Newman, who has
always been known as one of Michigan's finest passers, was watching Tom
Kuzma pitch some long one, when a youngster near him said, "Just imagine
being able to throw that good.."
Newman turned to the boy and whispered, "They say Bennie Friedman
was good too." The kid looked put out with karry and sharply replied,
"That's the trouble with some of you guys, you never say anything
constructive."
Wise And Boim Will Head
Strong Crew Of Pitchers
Vernier May Take Over Boor's First Base Position;
Hope For Inprovement In Stenberg's Hitting
Last seascn Michigan's rampaging good this summer but like Don is
nine tied for the Big Ten conference weak at the stick. Improvement in
baseball title and won a total of 14 i{batting by Vernier may give him the
games in 21 starts. In the conference edge over Boor, but until then Boor
their record was 10 wins, two losses, might play first for thr Varsity.
Whether Michigan can repeat as Big The return of Cliff Wise, football
Ten champions and make as credit- and baseball star will make a great
able a showing next season depends difference in Michigan's baseball fu-
upon many factors: ture. In his sophcmore gear Cliff led
Will Coach Ray Fisher be able to the Fisher mound corps in victories,
replace the remarkable Bud Chain- blazing his fast ball past all opposi-
tion. Then last year Cliff left school
to take a job in a defense pl nt in
Jackson in order to make enough
money to come back to school.
For the catching job Coach Fisher
may be faced with another problem.
Capain Dixie Harms, number one
backstop 'last season, has graduated.
Bud Jessop, Har'm's understudy, may
not go out for the diamond sport next
spring, devoting his time instead to
¢y his studying. Jessop, an equal of
Harms, defensively but a weak batter,
is an important cog in the Varsity
machine.
After several years, of battling the
other cellar occupants of the Big Ten
for the dubious honor of resting next
to Chicago, Michigan's basketball
prospects for 1942-43 are decidedly
on the upswing. With the Wolverines
again yearning for a breath of first
division air, perennial Conference
Kings had better beware.
Mandler Set Record
Last year's record of the Maize and
Blue was one of their poorest, but it,
nevertheless, was not without its
bright spots. For instance, Jim Man-
dler, six-foot four-inch center and
captain-elect for 1942-43, dumped
164 points through the hoops of
Michigan's Conference opponents last
season to set a new Maize and Blue
scoring record. Furthermore. the
Big Ten coaclaes rated Mandler num-
ber two pivot man in the Conference.
And since the rangy center has an-
other year left, Coach Bennie Ooster-
baan is banking on him to again hold
dcwn the all-important pivot post
for the Wolverines.
Teaming with Mandler will be two
cther battle-scarred veterans who
have been in the thick of the action
for the past two campaigns, Leo
Doyle and Mel Comin. Doyle, who
plays guard, showed Maize and Blue
rooters some classy ball-handling
during the past season while Comin,
performing at forward, was right
there pitching baskets when the go-
ing got toughest.
Gibert Back Again
Ocsterbaan is hoping, too, to get
plenty of good hasketbh2 from his
:cphomcres of last season. Ralph Gi-
bert is one first-year man w.hol ha~d
clinched a starting berth at forward
when old man ineligibility stepped ini
to deal him a knock-out blow midway
in the season. However, Gibert is ex-
pccted to be back there again this
winter dealing telling blows to Wol
verine opposition. '
Another of the court mentor's most
Returning Lettermen Boost Hopes
For ImprovedBasketball Record
4
XTOOKS-New & Used
L
Stenberg On Second
Bob Stenberg will again hold down
the keystone sack as he did last sea-
son. flis hitting must improve if he
is to benefit the Wolverine cause to
any extent, nevertheless. If Bob be-
gins to hit' next season then the Var-
sity's chances' of success will soar.
Don Robinson will play shortstop
next season. There is no doubt about
Robbie's ability. Last year he was
the leading Wolverine slugger, boast-
ing a .46'7 average, and defensively
Don is as good as they come so Ray
Fisher can sleep when the question
of shortstops is mentioned.
Also the right field spot should be
well taken care of with Paul White
again patrolling the outer garden.
CLIFF WISE
berlain? Will Don Boor's knee bother
him to such an extent that he will
not be able to play? Will Bud Jessop
play or will studies take un tco much
of his time? Will Bob Sten-
berg's hitting improve? If these and
many other questions could be an-
swered, then some predictions might
be made about the Varsity's chances.
Without the answers we must just
make guesses.
Chamberlain's Loss Is Great
Undoubtedly, Michigan's biggest
loss of, last year was the departing
from this institution of Francis
"Bud" Chamberlain, one of the best
ball players ever turned out at Ferry
Field. Chamberlain was a great de-
fensive man, but his true value to his
-club is recorded in the runs batted in
column. With men on base Bud was
as dangerous as a can of warm T.N.T.
Chamberlain won many ball games
for the Varsity with his clubbing.
Coach Fisher has no seasoned player
to replace this super third-sacker
Michigan's best bet is 'untried Bruce
Blanchard, a sophomore. Coaching
and experience may develop Blanch-
ard into a fair third baseman, but it
can hardly be expected that he will
be another Chamberlain.
At first base Michigan seemed fair-
ly well set until Don Boor injured his
knee sliding into third. As yet the
knee still affects Don, but by next
Spring it may be healed completely if
not sooner. Too, Boor may receive
considerable competition from sopho-
more Bob Vernier. Vernier has looked
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