South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-25
BOWLING
Year Of 1915 Has Been Busy One for Athletes;
Much Fan Fodder Was DiShed Out in II Months

| by the Giants in their record break
ing. steam rolling string OF wins
lent interest TO the chase for the
flag.
The seasons close found the Bos-
ton Red Sox worlds champions,
after a comparatively easy series
against Brooklyn Ii found condi-
tons in baseball indicative of a
brighter future than the game has
ever known before and the process
of building up the props that had
been torn down in the war with the
Feds much faster than had been ex-
pected.
The various races in the minor
Leagues were thrilling. and although
/ minor leagues had the usual amount
Of trouble in some quarters, several
leagues going to the wall, the mi
nors. through their actions at the
annual meeting which was held at
New Orleans in November and
through their requests TO the ma
jors, show that the spirit Of progress
is uppermost, and shat they are
striving to create better conditions.
That the major and minor leagues
will be more closely related insofar
as mutual interests are concerned is
the prediction made fer 1917, and il
had its incentive in the events that
were brought about during the year
just closing.
The naming of Fred Mitchell as
manager of the Chicago cubs, to-
gether With legislation toward al
tering the rules of the game and the
handling of the worlds series
marked the winding up Of the year
for the major leagues The minors
with the prospect Of getting equal
representation in cases which con-
Germ them. can truly look ahead to
better things
PugiIists Hold Titles.
In the realm of right and left
jabs and uppercuts no champion
ships changed hands. although the
title of bantamweight champion
was clouded when Johnny Ertle of
st. Paul, was awarded a decision
over Champion Johnny Williams of
Baltimore, on a foul. Williams, the
least of all the champions in size,
is generally credited as the cham
piOn still
In the featnerweight division
Johnny Kilbane of Cleveland, stands
out supreme. His only battle of
championship calibre, against
George CLANCY, at Cedar Point, o..
on Sept. 4. resulted in an easy vic
tory by the knockout route i'm the
third round.
Freddie Welsh was the busiest
champion Of them ALL for he took
part in numerous 1O-round no-deci-
sion affairs. In two bouts in New
York, against Benny Leonard, Welsh
was credited with one victory and
one defeat, but neither was 10 a
decision and there was merely
question of awarding points on
which 10 base the popular decisions
rendered. on Labor day. at Colo
RADIO Springs. Welsh was awarded
the referees decision over Charlie
White Of Chicago. after % rounds of
comparatively tame milling.
AS has been the case for several
years. neither the welter nor middle
weight championship rests solidly
upon any one brow. In both di-
visions there are many claimants.
though general sentiment and the
combined opinion of experts award
the best claim among the welters 10
Jack Britton. and that among the
middleweights TO Mike Gibbons.
Both boxers took part in a number
OF widely advertised battles and
Britton made a commendable show
ing. while Gibbons. although not de-
feated, was far from his former
self.
Jack Dillon and Battling Levinsky
ere disputing the claim 10 the light
heavyweight championship. Dillon.
was rated as the peer i'm this di
vision by boxing auth critics early in
the year. but a defeat by Levinsky,
in Boston. last autumn. shaved his
claims to a certain degree in the es-
timatiOn OF some experts. However,
Diuon's defeat of Tom Cowler,
whom he knocked out in two rounds
and his easy victory over Frank
Moran in New York. June %. which
followed by his Knockout of Jim
Flynn. at Dewey. Okla. on July 4.
give him a margin over the New
York contender.
Standing alone among the heavy
weights, Jess Willard spent a year
OF practical inactivity. His bout
with Frank Moran, which he cap
tured in a decisive manner in a New
York ring. March 25. left his title
untarnished. Spending the sum-
mer as a circus attraction. willard
made his title a profitable one.
In the realm OF boxing. therefore.
il remains for 1917 to see the un-
seating OF the champions, and. with
dozens Of good boxers springing up
all over the country, and interest in
the game being carefully fostered
everywhere. the future OF the manly
art looks bright enough. Consider
ing the restrictions that have been
placed upon il in many parts OF the
country, boxing has thrived.
The wrestling fraternity. which
had hoped for the return or Frank
GOtch. the Humboldt. Ia, terror.
from retirement, was disappointed
Gotch has declared himself through