The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-18
OH Smiths Pugilistic Activ-
tiles Help Build Up En-
mitv of Boston Braves;
Get Pittsburgh Seems to
BE Their Slogan Now
By BILLY EVANS

Will left hook to the jaw cost
the Pittsburgh Pirates the 1927 Ma
tiOnal League pennant?
If either the Chicago Cubs, St
Louis Cardinals or New York Giants
nose out the Buccaneers, it will be
only fitting and proper that the sue
cessful manager Of the victorious
club extend vote of thanks to
Catcher "OiW Smith for his pugilis.
tic activities on the diamond.
1t will be recalled that late ir
June there occurred at Forbes Field
in Pittsburgh, a One-rOund argument
between the Pirate backstop ant
Manager Dave Bancroft Of the BOs
ton Braves.
Bout One-sided
The bout was one-sided affair
the lighter Bancroft proving M
match for Smith, who won as h,
pleased, a left hook to the jaw, fol
lowing a series of punches to thu
stomach, sending Bancroft down fol
the count.
That impromptu ring affair. which
resulted in Pirate triumph, may
eventually cost Pittsburgh the pen
nant and the right to share in tn,
rich spoils Of world series.
There are two Strong reasons fol
such belief.
First, President Heydler of tn,
National League handed down a sus
pension that deprived Pittsburgh o
the services of Catcher Smith for 81
days. While Smith may have hi
peculiarities, there is no gettin,
away from the fact that he is
mighty valuable catcher. The ri
rates missed him over that lonl
stretch Of suspension. Had Manage
Bush been able to call on him in
number Of the close score game
that were lost, the results might hav,
been different.
Feud Develops
J More important to the chances o
the Pirates, however. has been tn
feud developed between Boston an,
Pittsburgh as a result of the figh
between Smith and Bancroft. 1t APP
parently stirred up an ill-feelih
among the Boston Braves, for Pitts
burgh that threw d monkey wrenc
into the smooth working Pirate ma
chine . 9
| -Get Pittsburgh" seems to hav
been the inspirational slogan of tn
Boston Braves ever since the -da
Smith so ANONYMOUSLY knocked on
their manager, Dave Bancroft.
Since. that time, the Pirates an
the. Braves have FLASHED in eigh
games and the results have been 81
victories for Boston and two 70
Pittsburgh. In. more or less spiri
of revenge, seventh place clu
arose to dizzy heights and defeate
the league leaders six games out
! Cutting the lead Of the Pirates
matter Of four games caused tn
club to drop out Of first place an
since that time it has been trailin
by just about the margin Of suprem
acy-. the. Braves registered in tn
eieht-game series between the tw
Greenfield Aids Setback
| Kent Greenfield, ,erstwhile Clan
who recently went to the Braves
a trade for Pitcher Larry Benton
played the leading role in The Sc
back administered to the Pirates.
4 On July FL, Greenfield opened
J five-game series in Boston agadni
Pittsburgh. He beat the Pirates, g
allowing only five hits. With onl
one days rest, figuring Greenfield
II was ink 20 TlCLSDurgns M8udSt
i Bancroft sent him back and he just
flied the confidence, by 6-3 victor,
\ Boston won three Of the, five games
i On July 80, the Braves invade
i Forbes Field for . three-game serie
with Greenfield's success ahain'
i PittshArgh fresh in his memor,
/ Manager Bancroft started him, d
isbite the fact he had only two day
[Sest. He held Pittsburgh to tn
runs in eight innings, when he WI
,lremoyld for q pinch hitter, Gem
4 wich Eventually winning for Bosto
dir He extra sessien.
II TN days later, Bancroft played
hunch and used Greenkiel6 agai
q Dane rortnpt jmiied- on him ONT
.imeto WITH y sc victory. The Co
7 de- N Rsvsnle for the sixth tin
IN siS1t games had besn%kiNd to Il
lpiIot 61 ne Braves. His knocko,
\ ~ ptth ~ bee1f avenged.
Il ~ allupst I s4ertaint$ that q
nSn3n ofsvittofy n IN psnnan
Ri It'll team IN til Nationat VI
D6e thea fsqF eaase.. Mhis
q - - 49, Nv 49,