Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 25

1 MORE NIGHT GAMES IN '57 Trucks a ise Prices Harris Predicts Pennant Bucky Likes Tiger Future i igers Near End Of Trail Tiger Veteran Eyes Retirement Cr In an hour-long paperwork session at the National Bank of Detroit, the group turned over $3,200,000 in cash and $1,300,000 worth of notes to consummate a deal ownership as an 11 -man syndicate completed purchase of the Tigers and Briggs Stadium in what was called "the biggest transaction in American sports history." BY HAL MIDDLESWORTII More night games a boost in ticket prices a winning team but no baseball circus. That was the program laid down Monday by a new 9 It was the end of a season for the Tigers Monday but perhaps the end of a career for pitcher Virgil Trucks. The 37 -year -old righthander who hurled two no-hitters in 1952, is thinking about retiring and right now is casting about which began Aug. 1 with a $1,000,000 payment. THE $5,500,000 purchase from the heirs of the late W.

O. Briggs, ended a 36 year dynasty of the Briggs family although W. O. (Spike) Briggs, will continue with the new owners as chief operating officer. All but one member Big Crosby of the movies was present as the syndicate completed the mammoth transaction.

In a press conference which followed, the new owners outlined their plans. John Fetzer, Kalamazoo radio magnate who will be chairman of the board; Fred XOW FOR THE BUMS Mickey Mantle is "frowned' by Yankee manager Casey Stengel to celebrate the slugger's triple conquest in the American League batting race. Casey Shuns 1 1 miT -rTrr-inwiimiM-iti'niT fnmmltrfitTiltliriiiiiiUfm-n'ir nirni i mnnif uiTid'hh n'rn mu'viiii 1.JeJ:i--,.H.t,...a.. X.t A iiog. 4 ets Field tor a job as a baseball broadcaster.

He pitched only 120 innings for the Tigers this year, for a 6-5 record which gave him career total of 166 victories and 126 losses. BEFORE HANGING them up. however, Trucks will head a barnstorming unit through northern Michigan, with Earl Torgeson, Frank House and Charley Maxwell planning to join him. Frank Boiling also will tour with another post-season team put together by catcher Clint Courtney, of Washington. There also will be more baseball for Jim Bunning in Cuba and J.

W. Porter and Duke Maas in Puerto Rico this winter. Three of the younger Bengals will answer school bells Jim Brady at Notre Dame, Jim Small at San Jose State and Reno Bertoia at Assumption Col- BY HAL MIDDLESWORTII Twenty three years ago, Bucky Harris was forced out of. managing a Tiger team which immediately won two straight American League pennants. Monday, he relinquished the reins for the second time firmly convinced in his own mind that the same thing is going to happen again.

"I can say only good things about this team," said the 59-year-old Harris as he, ended two-year stewardship of the up-and-coming Bengals. "It is a pennant winner. If not next year, then soon. I'm only sorry that I won't be here to have a hand in it." HARRIS BELIEVES two things are responsible for the Tigers' fifth-place finish and his departure. "If we didn't have all those early season injuries to so many key players and if we didn't go into that 10-game losing streak in June," he said calmly, "then the Tigers finish serond, I am back next season and everyone in Detroit is happy." Harris, reported headed for a front office job with the Boston Red Sox but noncommittal about his prospects, pointed out that a matter of only six games separated the Tigers, in fifth place, and the Cleveland Indians, in second.

IN SPITE OF their sixth straight second-division finish, the Tigers have much cause for optimism, Harris insisted. He pointed out that four regulars topped the .300 mark in hitting Harvey Kuenn .332, Charley Maxwell .326. Al Kaline .314 and Ray Boone .308. The team equaled its record of 150 h(tme runs for the season, with Maxwell setting a mark for left-handers with 28, Kaline equaling his 1955 total of 27 and Boone rapping 25. Kaline's 128 RBI were second Turn to Page 28, Column 6 BY LY'ALL SMITH Free Press Sports Editor NEW YORK Casey Stengel, a manager with memories, isn't going over to Ebbets Field in Brooklyn until he has to.

That wlil be Wednesday when the 1956 World Series tosses his New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers for the fourth time in the last five years. Stengel was invited to work out the Yankees in the park of the Bums. He declined. "We know what it looks like," he said Monday after the American i 'League titlists had run through two-hour batting drill in their BOB WILSON will resume his! own backyard. Fred A.

Knorr Spike Briggs Harvey K. Hansen John E. Fetzer Spike Hands Briggs Stadium Keys to New Tiger Heads Lyall Smith Chief Scorer jod as assistant treshman foot- Pressure for Pur ity Mounting on Coas badl coach at Wisconsin and Jim Brideweser will become a classroom teacher in California, his regular off-season pursuit. Ned' Garver is going hunting in Wyoming before a winter on the farm at Ney, O. Bob Kennedy and Al Aber ill take up selling jobs in Cleveland, as in previous years.

Among those looking for work is Al Kaline, who also plans to buy a home here and become a permanent resident of Detroit. Paul Foytack will go to work in a meat packing plant in Thomasville, while Harvey Kuenn will do public relations work for a bank in West Allis, Wis. NEW YORK (P) Lyall Smith, sports editor of the Detroit Free Press and president of the Baseball Writers' Association, was named chief scorer of the Brooklyn-New York Yankee World Series Monday by Ford Frick, Baseball Commissioner. Jerry Mitchell, of the New York Post, and Gus Steiger, of the New York Mirror, were named associate scorers. teams have won nine out of the championship, three other games 10 contests, BACK IN HIS mind, Stengel must remember last year.

He took the Yanks over to Brooklyn for drills. They promptly lost all three games they played. The Yanks seemed loose and relaxed as they awaited the call which sends them against the team which bumped them in seven games one year ago. They still didn't know for sure who would be pitching for them, or against them, in the opener. But like everybody else, they figure it will be southpaw Whitey Ford vs.

Sal (The Barber) Maglie. Neither Stengel nor Walter Alston, of the Dodgers, would make such a lineup definite. But Stengel appeared to be playing it cosy while the taciturn Alston said he frankly didn't know. "It all depends if Maglie will be ready after only three days rest," he said. "He usually works better with four days of rest.

BY TOMMY DEVINE The long- romance between the Big Ten and the Pacific Coast Conference is beginning to cool. A prominent Coast Conference official reviewed developments of last weekend which saw Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois and Minnesota sweep intersectional games with Coast rivals. "The time isn't far off," he said gloomily, "when the two Conferences either have to bring their football philosophies together or keep their teams i pit Big Ten teams against Coast teams. The Big Ten figures to gain another sweep with Ohio State favored over Stanford, Wisconsin the choice over Southern California and Illinois favored to beat Washington. Regardless of what path the Coast Conference elects to follow the break with the Big Ten will not be immediate, however.

Schedules already have been made through I960." "As long as the Conferences had relatively the same policies the intersectional play was a healthy thing," a spokesman said. "But now the Coast is hopelessly outclassed. It will be foolish to try to keep the rivalry going." THE GLOOM of the Coast schools likely will be increased this week. While Michigan and Michigan State meet at Ann Arbor in a game that will have a vital bearing on the Big- Ten BOB MILLER also is planning on public relations job, perhaps in Detroit, but also will pursue his education by correspondence at DePaul University. Steve Gromck is becoming a real estate man and Bill Tuttle will try his hand at the lumber business back home That's because his arm stiffens I up a little.

STENGEL SEEMED to be talking himself into using Ford, Turn to Page 26, Column 3 Knorr, young Detroit radio station owner who will be president, and Briggs answered most of the questions. Fetzer announced there will be 21 night games in 1957 at Briggs Stadium, where 14 has been the rule. AS YOU can see, the directors are running the club," quipped Briggs, who fought for years to hold the entire American League to a limit of 14 night games. Briggs said he would recommend a "nominal" increase in ticket prices and expected it to be approved. "After all everything else has been going up the price of autos about 220 per cent," he pointed out.

Baseball hasn't and it's about time." Both Fetzer and Briggs expressed optimism about the Tigers' future and said they expected to disclose the team's next manager soon after the World Series, which all members of the syndicate will attend. "We are setting up a substantial budget to produce a winning team' Fetzer said. "Every man among the directors is used to winning in his own right and they want the same kind of team. "WE ARE impressed by the good spadework which already has been done and we believe a winning team can be built not bought." Briggs, who has spent most of his 44 years around the stadium in one capacity or another and was president since 1952, gave the new owners a pat on the back. "I have great confidence in the future," he said.

"Whil I have known these men with the exception of Fred (Knorr) only briefly, I feel this is the chance to bring Detroit back to where it belongs in baseball." As for a manager to succeed Bucky Harris, who resigned last week after a two-year reign, Briggs said he has a list of prospects to be discussed with the new directors. "There isn't a 'stranger among them," he disclosed, indicating all names have been already mentioned. That would include coach Jack Tighe, believed to be No. I choice, and Al Lopez, a late starter as a result of his resignation at Cleveland Saturday. ASKED ABOUT the requirement cf a "fiery, fighting" type manager, die of the new owners suggested: "Let's say we want a winning type manager." Briggs amplified "We feel we need someone now to lead or push our kids.

They are about dry behind the ears and ready to go. Bucky did a wonderful job of bringing them along but we feel they are about grown up." It was Fetzer who put his foot down on special celebrations in connection with baseball at the stadium. "We are not addicted to circuses," he said. THE ABSENCE of Negro ms AS of TODAY at Farmington, 111. Who said it's an "off-season?" 25 Tuesday, October 2, 1956 35 Same Old Characters In Baseball Drama BURNISHED BROWN A BYLYALL SMITH" NEW YORK apart." THERE IS a widespread feeling among Coast officials that strong administration pressure is being applied to de-emphasize football.

The scandals of the past few months have pushed university faculties into the picture more prominently than ever before. The powerful University of California's Academic Senate, the governing group of the school's 1,100 faculty members has projected itself into the football situation for the first time in history. The California Academic Senate has formally presented Dr. Robert Sproul, the University president, with a "statement of policy." It is a plea for a return to amateurism rather than continuation of the high-powered recruiting and subsidizing policy which has been followed in recent years. THEY'RE DIGGING UI the old one along Broadway right now.

The one about the two guys who decided to take in the championship wrestling match. They rushed to the arena, picked up tickets from scalpers and hurried inside. Just as they arrived, the champion turned his opponent into a pretzel with a freak hold. The two guys watched for a minute, decided to visit a bar next door. Two hours later, they wcaved their way back to their seats.

The two behemoths had been going at a terrific clip during their absence, had thrown everything in the book at each other, plus a few more things not included in their dress rehearsal. is Harry Suffriu's own new Fall color creation see it today in suits of mellow-finish flannel hand shaped by The statement says: "Victories and defeats are passing incidents in the life of a great university. It can take them in stride. An institution which has to depend for distinction uton its football team is a Just as the two buddies hit their 'chairs, the champion again turned his challenger into a pretzel with the same freak hold. spurious university.

"Shay, we shure are lucky," enthused one of the pals as "The functions of a university he fOCused his eves on the "We didn't mish nothing t-ll If It7 If jHm II xM are lO discover aim uisstruimaie knowledge. Obviously, the proposal that these rules be relaxed as a concession to realism is itself unrealistic. It's A Monopoly Austinjeeds SO IT WILL BE in the 1956 World Series. It's getting in such a repetitious rut that even Rip Van Winkle wouldn't find anything out of place if he suddenly picked up where he left off when he started his fabled snooze. The same teams will start out Wednesday at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn just where they left off one year ago at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

"So long as victory is a commodity worth buying, the bidding will continue to be competitive at whatever level set from year to year. There is no tenable middle ground between amateurism and professionalism." Coast circles say the Academic Senate at UCLA, one of the schools hardest hit in the recent "Purity Purge" will be the next to draft a policy paralleling that at California. The presidents of the Coast They'll be meeting for the heavy sugar, the blue chips, for the fourth time in the last five seasons the fifth time since Casey Stengel took over the Yanks in 1949 the sixth time in the last 10 years. players from the Tiger roster If that sounds like a near-monopoly for the rambunctious Austin Leeds has taken Harry Suffrin's new Fall color creation and hand-shaped the luxurious mellow-finish flannel into a suit that imparts permanence of fit and resilience of movement for the garment's entire lifetime. The silk trim imitation sleeve button holes harmonizing striped lining hand-stitched edges are but a few of the fine custom hand-details that give this suit a natural casual air achieved only by the most meticulous tailoring.

Regulars, shorts and longs. Bums of Brooklyn, then how about the Yanks. This is their to the opening of the season, was explained again Dy cnggs Turn to Page 28, Column 2 Speed Demon failed to agree whether the rules on recruiting and subsidizing should be tightened or relaxed. It also jnst happens to be their loth trip to the battle between major league champions in the last 21 seasons. Maybe it's a good thing that the courts have ruled baseball to be a sport and not a business.

CLEVELAND (JP) Box Trade clipped one-fifth of a second off the American record for the half-mile Monday at Uncle Sam has broken up smaller monopolies than the Turn to Tage 26, Column 1 How They Finished in Big Leagues with hand-stitched edges at S7950 el MIC 5 It 3 AL NL 4 "THERE WILL not be indecision much longer at the president's level after they see faculty policies like that formulated at California," an informant said. "The pressure for de-emphasis is growing and we may have seen the end of truly big-time football on the West Coast." There has been a tremendous increase in the athletic relationship between the Big Ten and the Coast Conference in the last 10 years. In regular season play over the last decade, the competition between the Conferences has been comparatively close. The Big Ten holds 38 victories to 27 for the Coast. The Rose Bowl has been quite another story, however.

Big Ten 5 5 FINAL STANDINGS FINAL STANDINGS 12 13 It 10 13 17 18 97 10 7j 9 11 17 17 17 88 9 15 1 8 13 13 13 14 85 8 13 14 9 12 84 12 11! 9 101 9 15 16 82! 57! .630 Brooklyn 66 .571 9 Milwaukee 69, .552 12 Cincinnati 70 .545 1S St. Louis I 10 11 16 13 14 13 16 12 13 13 10 17 14 13 11 9 13 11 14 17 16 I 6i 9 9 10 15 14 13 9 12 11 12 7 9 I 5j 8 7 1111315 New York Cleveland Chicago Boston DETROIT Baltimore Wash'gton Kan. City 93 611.604 92 62! .597 1 91j 63! .591 i 2 76! T8 .494 17 7l 83 .461 22 67; 87 .435 26 66 88; .429 27 60 94' 72! .532 15 85! .448 28 95 .383 37 9 5i 9: 6n3 10 17 69: 51 9131 7 10 10 159 Ph'delphia New York Pittsburgh Chicago State and Shelby Grand River and Greenfield GRAND RIVER STORE OPEN FRL, AND SAT. 'TIL 9 DOWNTOWN 'TIL 5:45 P.M. 9112 710! 9 6, 51 415 9 6, 9.131 5j 810; 6j 52, 102; .338 ,45 -1 I I.