THE MICHIGAN DAILY FRIDAY, A Swimrne Fisher's Pro Ninth Crown Hirsch, Iowman IHrI Copference Victories; )y BILL MULLENDORE Backed by a tradition of eight Western Conference baseball crowns in the brilliant 23-year tenure of Coach Ray Fisher, the Wolverine diamondeers made it nine out of 24 last spring to continue their domi- nation of the Big Ten baseball scene. Fisher's men swept through a ten- game Conference slate without loss, although held to a seven-inning 4-4 tie by Illinois in a game that was cut short by rain. Michigan didn't fare quite so well against non-Con- ference opposition, but still managed rs and teges Win C in 24 Years W lveri*es to Ten WiesIse eds I itters ine Dominate Re spe tive Fields of Play Tankmen Regain Conference Title From Ohio; Lose to Yale in NCA A talent will greet him on opening day in 1945. Knowing Fisher, however, it is almost safe to predict that the Wol- verine aggregation will be another strong one, entirely capable of carry- ing on the fine Maize and Blue dia- mond tradition. The steady influx of freshmen, returning veterans and armed forces personnel will provide the basis for the defense of this year's crown. Bowman and Lund Will Return At least two of this spring's start- ers will be on hand to form a nucleus for the '45 outfit. Southpaw Bo Bow- man, who divided the mound duties with Elroy Hirsch, will be bending 'em in again, and Don Lund, steady and reliable centerfielder, will be seeking his third baseball letter while patrolling in the outer garden. The other positions will depend on re- serves and new material. Such a rebuilding job is a chal- lenge to any coach, but Fisher can do it if anyone can. Backed by sev- eral years as a pitcher in the big time, the "Vermont schoolteacher" has demonstrated many times that he can get the most out of little. Two Top Pitchers Last spring, for'instance, the Wol- verines were faced with a shortage of pitchers. Not one of the prospec- tive hurlers in camp had had any experience at all in college ranks. But before the season was over, Michigan boasted the two top fling- ers in the circuit in the persons of Bowman and Hirsch. Bowman had been a high school star, and his development was ex- pected; Hirsch had never so much as surveyed a batsman from the hill. These two raw recruits hurled the Wolverines into a championship and one of the better records amassed by a Michigan team in recent years. Bowman Hurls 3-Hitter Bowman opened the campaign by throwing a three hitter in the first of a twin-bill, and two reserve pitch- ers came through with a seven-hit jobwhile the Wolverines were poun- ding the Hawkeye moundsmen for 20 runs. The scores were 7-0 and 20-2. Hirsch made his first start the next week-end, facing a powerful Notre Dame club. The Irish man- aged four runs in the early frames but were stopped cold thereafter while Michigan suddenly came to life to take the gaie 5-4 in a real F~ank Merriwell finish. Bowman gave Notre Dame only five hits the next day to win 7-2. Hovanec Spoils No Hitter The next week-eid Western Mich- igan came to town and was treated to some spectacular hurling which must have left them slightly dizzy. Bowman opened in the first tilt and held the Broncos scoreless for eight and two-thirds innings before first baseman John Hovanec spoiled his bid for no-hit fame. Hirsch gave up only two infield hits in'the nightcap as Michigan swept both games, 9-0 -and 2-1. Riding the crest of a six-game winning streak, the Wolverine bub- ble was burst by a spunky Camp Perry outfit which turned some fan- cy base-running into a 3-2 win. But when Ohio State came to town it was the same old story, a four-hitter by Bowman and a one-hitter by Hirsch as the Bucks went down fighting, 2-1 and 5-0. A win over Grosse Ile Naval Base and a four-inning rain-shortened contest with the same club paved the way for the supposedly crucial twin-bill with Illinois, but again the weatherman interfered. Just for practice, a pair of reserve hurlers then combined to hold Fort Custer to two hits a few days later, winning 1-0. Irish Gain Revenge Indiana next felt the Wolverine power, falling 14-3 and 12-1 as the (Continued on Page 5) Big Ten Title Is 14th Win in Mann's Career By BOB CLINTON The Wolverine swimming team kept pace with the other varsity squads by regaining the Big Ten championship lost to Ohio State last year and then went on to lose the NCAA meet by one point to Yale and wound up the season by finishing second te the strong Great Lakes squad in the NAAU.I Under the direction t4 Coach Mati Mann the Wolverines swept to their 14th Western Conference title in 19 years. It was a very decisive victory as the natators finished with a 30- point edge over Northwestern, who was runner-up. In amassing their total of 72 points, the Wolverines captured five of nine firsts, six sec- onds, as well as additional third and fourths. Mert Church and Charley Fries led the way by taking firsts and seconds in the 50 and 100. Heini Kessler won the Big Ten breastroke championship and the medley and freestyle relay teams took fiist places. Paul Maloney was second in both the 220 and 4401 losing to Keo Nakama of Ohio State in- both events. Diving was the only event in which Michigan failed to place a man. Ford Foils M Led by Alan Ford, the Balboa Bul- let, Yale edged out Michigan by one point, 39-38, in the National Colleg- iates held at the Yale pool. Ford became the first triple crown winner in the collegiates since Jack Medica did it in 1936 by Winning the 50, 100, and backstroke. In winning the cen- tury in :49.7, he equaled his own world's record for the event. The Wolverines 44-yard freestyle relay team of Church, Fries, Bill Kogen and Gordon Pulford gave Michigan its only first at the meet. However, due to Naval restrictions, Bainbridge Naval Training Station. Coach Mann was only able to take a Keifer cut his world's record time seven-man civilian squad to New in the individual medley and then Haven. Lose iBU'scame within a fraction of a second of On March 31 and April 1, Michigan doing the same in the backstroke. played host to the best divers and Drop Two to Sailors Ghe natato:, d o moet0 only to C-- tLkeinda et competi- ion, .started the season off by run- ing way with the Michigan AAU meet here in Ann Arbor. Michigan Lthen cdgcd cut Nrthwestern, 46-38 in the first dual meet of the season, \::;::.:::The next night Michigan met Great Lakes and received their worst defeat in two years since Yale drubb- ed the varsity, 59-16, when the Blue- jackets beat them, 60-24. Later in the season, Great Lakes came to Ann ; '1Arbor and again defeated the nata- tors 46-38. Ohio State was next on the list for the Wolverines, and Michigan de- feated last year's Big Ten title hold- ers, 57-26. Keo Nakama who cap- tained the Buckeyes was the only holdover from last years champion- ship team. In the last dual meet of the season Michigan swamped Pur- due 63-21 as the Boilermakers took 1M[ATT MANN only the diving and gained only one second in the other events. Ace Cory, swimmers in the country at the Na- Bill Cooley, and Achilles Pulakus tional AAU meet. Great Lakes pow- were other members of the squad erful aggregation, led by Bill Smith who were consistent point getters, BO BOWMAN-Wolverine ace southpaw who helped hurl the baseball squad to the Big Ten title with a record of six runs and two defeats. Included in his feats was a one-hitter against Western Michigan, the lone bingle coming with two out in the ninth. ALL-AROUND ATHLETE: Elroy Hirsch Is First To Win Four Maize and Je Letters RUCE BLANCI;IARD to win five and lose four, for a total season's record of 15 wins, four los- ses and a tie. Plenty of Veterans As most of the starting nine was made up of V-12 trainees who have since left the campus for other sta- tions, Fisher will be faced with the task of rebuilding almost from scratch come next spring. This sea- son, he had lettermen at almost every position, but no such array of Four Residence f4115s To Eang ge In Rasketh This year as in past years, the in- tramural athletic program will carry on a program of competitive athle- tics between the various men's resi- dence halls. Although there are only three or four houses participating, the basket- ball slate may probably have five or six teams in the league. The resi- dence halls during this next seme- ater will be two houses in the "West Quad," Fletcher Hall, and 1000 Hill Street. Last year's champion, Chi- cago Lodge, will not have the chance to repeat theiraccomplishment, as this house will not be used as a men s residence hall. But the same few members of last years squad will be 4t Fletcher Hall, thus giving that hall an added edge over its opponents. Thus the hard-pressed intramural athletic season will probably com- plete another successful semester, and it will add greatly to the enjoyment of the male students in these con- verted residence halls. Never in Michigan athletic history. has a man been able to win four let- ters during the course of one season, but during the year 143-44 Elroy Hirsch became the first Wolverine tor perform this feat. Hirsch earned his letters in foot- ball, basketball, track and baseball. Hirsch was a member of the V-12 program at Michigan and only stay- ed here one year. At Wisconsin as a freshman, he was an outstanding football player and came to Michigan, with only recognition in that sport. However, before he had gone very far, he was known in practically all sports for his iron-man feats. In teamng up with Bill Daley in the Michigan backfield last fall, Hirsch helped bring the Big Ten football championship back to Ann Arbor for the first time in 11 years. It was his sensational run of 67 yards on the opening play of the Minnesota game, that started the Gophers downfall and returned the Little Brown Jug to its rightful owners. Crisler Wasn't Looking Late in the football season, Hirsch injured his arm and was unable to play in the game against his old teammates. However, in the last quarter when Coach Fritz Crisler wasn't looking, he jumped off the bench and went in to kick an extra point and score against Wisconsin. At the start of the basketball sea- son he reported to Coach Benny Oosterbaan, and though he had nev- er played the sport before, he won the first string center position due to his fiery and spirited play. At times he would forget that he was on the hardwood and not on the gridiron, but his general all-around playmade him tops in the minds of Michigan court fans. Reports for Track Immediately following the close of the basketball season, Hirsch went to Chicago with the track squad. With very little practice he leaped far enough in the broadjump to place second as well as finish fifth in the highjump to aid in Michigan's record total of points. When the baseball season started, who should turn up in this new Michigan was short of pitchers, and role---none other than Hirsch. It was during the' baseball season that h performed his Frank Merriwell acts. The first of these was on May 13. The thinclads were having an impor- tant meet with Illinois and Coach Ken Doherty needed some extra points to insure victory for Michigan fans. Hirsch came to the rescue and proceeded to leap 24 feet, 2 inches on his first try to take a first in the brgadjump. One hour later he took up his duties on the mound and Kolesar ond Greene To Play for CJollege All-Stars Against Bea rs who won the 100, 220, and 440 as well as swimming on the victorious medley and freestyle relay teams, scored an easy 54 to 20 win over the Wolverines. In winning the three events, Smith tied Johnny Weismuller's feat 'of 1928. With the exception of Fries and Johnny McCarthy who placed third and fifth in the 300-yard indi- vidual medley, the varsity tallied all its points in the two relays. An- other highlight of the meet was the performance of Adolph Keifer of Bob Kolesar and Johnny Greene, two linemen from former Michigan football "squads, have been selected to play in this year's All-Star game Wednesday night, Aug. 30, at Chi- cago. Kolesar, who was a regular on the Wolverine tear of two years ago, has been working out with this year's squad in preparation for his tussle with the powerful Chicago Bear for- ward wall. In his last year at Michi- gan, Kolesar was named on most All-Conference elevens, and was se- lected by the Detroit Lions in the post-season draft before he entered medical school in an Army uniform. Johnny Greene, 1943 Maize and Blue left tackle, was one of the bul- warks in the hard-charging line that helped carry Michigan to its selec- tion as the third best team in the country last year. He was picked by the Green Bay Packers in their draft last year and may play with them this year because he has a 4-F draft classification. Also in the lineup for Wednesday's contest are Glenn Dobbs, former Tul- sa All-American and triple-threat star for last year's undefeated Rand- olph Mield outfit, Charley Trippi, for- mer running mate for Fireball Frank- ie inkwich at the University of Georgia, Pete Layden, 1942 star full- back at the University of Texas, and Ellis Jones, red-headed, one-armed guard from last year's Tulsa grid squad which played in the Sugar Bowl. A bit of color will be added to the game when Rudy Smeja, last year's star Wolverine star end, trots out on- to the field in the uniform of the Chicago Bears. He will be playing against two of his former teammates, Bob Kolesar and Johnny Greene. WestfalI Signs With Detroit To, Play Fullback' One of the greatest controversies in Wolverine gridiron history came to a close a couple of weeks ago when Bob Westfall signed to play football for Gus Dorais and the Detroit Lions. Westfall, a former All-American for the Maize and Blue in 1942, was discharged from the Army Air Corps last spring due to the recurrence of an injury obtained from falling off a horse. For several months he was undecided whether to play with Michigan or the Lions. Due to the wartime measuress to make up for player shortages, he was still eligible for college play. In signing with the Lions, West- fall became the first gridiron great from Michigan to decide to play pro ball. "KEEP A-I!EAD OF YOUR HAIR" Our personnel is ready to serve you with the latest hair styles and tonsorial services. You are welcomed. Headquar. ters for -the B.M.O.C. The Das ola Barbers Between state and Mich. Theaters ELROY HIRSCH shut out Ohio State on one hit, 5-0. Two weeks later he again performed in both sports but this time 120 miles apart. All over the Map He got up at 5 o'clock in the morn- ing and went by car to Champaign, Ill. when the tracksters were compet- ing in the Big Ten outdoor meet. After broadjumping in the morning round and placing third, he hopped into the awaiting automobile and journeyed to Bloomington, Ind. when he pitched the second game against the Hoosiers, and enabled Coach Ray Fisher's men to almost clinch the diamond title. Throughout the base- ball season, he won six and lost one. tA O & RECORD SHOP' EFINEST IN MUSIC SHOOTING THE BREEZE: Coach Ray Fisher Recalls His Professional Baseball Years tlC SttJt de' t t Unweridy w 4w- #~'i~i~9 P/Aue i By BILL MULLENDORE One of the most interesting ex- periences any sports-minded person can have on the Michigan campus is an old-fashioned bull session with Ray Fisher, veteran Wolverine base- ball mentor whose diamond lore dates back to the "good old days" of Major League baseball. Fisher learned his baseball in the best school of them all, while hang- ing up a pretty fair record as a hur- ler for the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds some 25 years ago. His mound experiences include duels with such greats as Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson, and he takes pleasure in reminiscing a- bout his feats in pitching to the Cobbs, Heilmanns, Speakers, and a host of other immortals. Pitches for Reds Although he won't admit it, the now-balding coach left the majors in 1921 with a better than fair reputa- would rather get a base hit than twirl a shutout. After taking a whirl at teaching school, where he remained only long enough to earn his nickname-"The Vermont School Teacher"- Fisher took up his coaching duties at Michi- gan and in his 24-year tenure has stamped himself as one of the best collegiate coaches extant. Figures don't lie, and the figures in Fisher's case tell the complete story of his success in the college ranks. His teams have won nine Western Conference championships, far more than any other Big Ten coach, or school for that matter, can boast over a similar span. No Squad Has Edge on Michigan Only three of his clubs have fin- ished the season under the .500 mark, and no team has an edge on him. Only Illinois has even dared to challenge his supremacy, starting a rivalry which has developed into one THE BEST THE LATEST I N POPU LAR I N CLASS I CAL At school the most complete way to enjoy your leisure time, to get the most from every spare moment, is to listen to good music and appreciate its full meoing. Make musie your happy-time hobby. at SSfide Riding Stables I I Il If l