The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-30
This sperti,,s World
Pleasant Surprise
BY JOHN A. CLUNEY

Talking over the good old days" one day last week, during 8 visit to Louis Kid Kaplan'S excellent bar and grill in Hartford, the former undefeated world featherweight champion told the story of his first bout with Waterbury's Johnny Shugrue, which was losing one.
 but none the less "gold mine" for
 the chunky Meriden boy who came lover the mountain" to box for pro-
 moter George Mulligan. He was
 promised $10 even if he did not box, Mulligan thinking that he might be
 needed. As things turned out, John ny ReiSer scheduled to box Johnny
 Shugrue was much too heavy. Denny McMahon, Kaplan's guide and best friend suggested to Mulligan that Kaplan was ready to go, and Mulli- gan took chance, Kaplan turned in 8 good fight, though losing the de- cision at the end of 12 rounds, and wound up with $250 instead of a "sawbuck" which he expected to collect. That was his first profess sional fight, and from there, he boxed Shugrue several times after ward, eventually going on to win the world title at 126 pounds, turned down $50,000 to "throw" the elinina- tion final bout with a guarantee of 8 return go with Danny Kramer within six months and later gave up the title when he could not make the weight, but could have made $50, ,000 in a final "title" bout before going into lightweight division. Great little guy, that Kaplan, none greater in ring history for my loose deuce.
 Communication
 Since he retired from the mound some thirty years ago, Waterville's Henry Wagner, who likes the ditty labeled Fireman Save My Chee-ild" because he was once major-domo with the Unionville Hose company No. l, manages to twirl a bit of baseball once 8 year since he fed his last 'home run ball" to 8 .195 hitter back in 1908. This week Sat- urday, he comes out of the moth- balls to handle a baseball in behalf of the Waterville Old Timers who will have their annual hook-up with the Chase Old Timers, managed by Patrick Emmet Shea, eminent three cushion billiard star, golfer and judge of good potatoes. Proceeds of the game at Waterville Park will go toward defraying medical ex- penses of an injured Waterville boy.
 Here's the inside" on the game. which attracts more than passing attention each year:
 Please accept my invitation to be among those present at the Chase Metal Works Old Timers vS Water vile Old Timers baseball game at Waterville Park, Saturday August 3rd, at { D. m. This old timers day is held annually the last Saturday in July. The proceeds from this years game will be turned over to a young Waterville ball player, who was injured recently. The spotlight of interest in this years game is focused on Henry "Heinie" Wagner, the former star pitcher of the 'Unionville Hose Go. No. 1" in the old red flannel days. 'Heinie" has been working out daily with his battery-mate trying to develop 6 companion curve of his famous Unionville hook. He reports con- siderable progress in his experiment and am banking on him to stand the Chase gentry on their heads. to ''Heinie" he has pitched at least one flil game each year since he quit playing ball regularly about 30 years ago. The opposition Is made up of long distance hitters and they figure on driving Wagner to the showers in the first inning. They say that after they get through belting Wagner's hook all over Waterville he will quit baseball for good. Never the less Wagner's pitch- lng effectiveness Is not in his can- non-hail delivery. but in using his bean and hooking the ball over the outside corners, like Lefty" Grove. Make them hit the bad ones" is his motto. Wagner hes been getting . lot of valuable pitching pointers 'rom eDiI" Graham. the old Coo Brass pitcher and should be in great