The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
Osse Harris Loses Decision In Detroit For Fourth Time
kUSS J. C0WAMS'
sport CHATTER

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HOT SPRINGS. Ark. - Twenty
years ago saw Willie Wells, con.
sidered by many Sports critics al
the greatest shortstop ever TO pull
on a shoe. make his league start.
Wells had Just come up from Texas
10 replace Eddie Holt as shortstop
for the St. Louis Stars, then under
the ownership Of Richard Kent, one
OF the fiery owners OF that period
Wells was a success from the very
start.
Last Thursday. while standing In
Martin Park In Memphis. with Reu-
ben Jones, manager Of the Memphis
Red Sox. I was watching . youngs-
ter cavort at third base. He was
going far and wide 10 haul In hot
grounders.
Watch that kid" said Reuben
Hes going to follow in the foot
steps Of his dad"
"Who is his dad?" l asked.
II forgot to tell you. but that's
Willie Wells son." Reuben an
swered. And the kid looks like
he'll develop into an infielder as
great as his father"
l later talked to Wells, who looks
very much like the elder Wells
and discovered that he played foot
ball with Sam Huston college, a
chunky halfback who could skirt
the ends, heave forward passes, and
do a good piece of broken field rum
ming if the interference could shake
him past the line of scrimmage. He
weighs 1917 pounds and stands
5 feet 5 inches.
Wells started his baseball career
with the San Antonio Missions In
1910. and played with them fol
three years. He Joined the Red
Sox in March.
Dad never gave me any instruc-
tons about playing baseball" young
Wells declared. in fact, he's never
seen me play. Every year when he
finishes the season with the Newark
Eagles, he usually stops In Austin
for q short visit before going "a
California, Mexico or Puerto Rico
for winter baseball. was down
In Mexico two years ago to see him
play.
II like football. but I also like
baseball, and hope some day that
I'll be able to play as good rs my
dad"
Manager Reuben Jones, crack
with the Birmingham
Black Barons. will have some vet
eran players in his lineup when the
season opens. And three Of the
veterans will be Ver-
dell Mathis, southpaw pitcher: Por-
ter Moss. veteran Highlander, and
Neal Robinson, Grand Rapids boy
who has been doing a good job in
the outfeld for the Red Sox for
the past seven years.
Mathis. considered the best south
paw in the Negro American League,
won IS and lost Ave last year. Kan
sas City Monarchs. Chicago, Cleve-
land and Cincinnati were the only
clubs able to win a game from him.
Mathis is % years of age.
Moss won 16 and lost four last
year. He has been tossing his SUBJ
marine ball up to the batters since
1885 when he started with the
Cincinnati Tigers. He has been
with Memphis since l94l.
Robinson has played in Ave East
West games. winning two of the
games for the West with homers
He broke in in 1929 with a Grand
Rapids team. and has been with
Memphis since 1888. He was with
the Homestead Grays for one sea-
son.
Edgar wild Bill, Chairman. while
a H-year-oId veteran, turned In q
brilliant performance against the
Cleveland Buckeyes Thursday night
In Clarksdale. Chairman started for
the Red Sox. holding the Buckeyes
TO three hits In the six innings
he was on the mound. The two
runs scored while Chairman was
pitching were unearned.
The big Highlander has plenty
Of speed, \ good curve ball. and Z
change Of pace that's bafYling.
Fred Bankhead. second baseman
is brother OF Sammy, with the
Homestead Grays, and Dan, now
in the army and formerly with the
Birmingham Black Barons. Fred
has been with Memphis since 1898
and will hold down the second base
job
Cowan Hyde broke in as an out.
fielder, but has been transferred Il
the outfeld. Other outfielders arc
Fred McDaniels and Nat Rodgers
the veteran who will also assis
Manager Jones.
Larry Brown and Clinton { Casey
Jones will handle the receivin.
end. Brown is serving his fifteenth
year with the Red Sox. Jones
a strapping big youngster OF rs
joined the club last year.
/ jim Canada has replaced jelly
Taylor, now in the army, at frs
base. Canada was with the clut
last season.
The Baltimore Elite Giants are
training in Hot Springs, and will
play the New York Black Yankee.
a series OF four games here thi:
week. starting in Little Rock on
Sunday, and finishing in Hot
Springs Wednesday.
Leroy (SatcheD Paige Is condi.
tioning himself here. also Newt AL
len. Paige was slated to leave thi.
week for New Orleans to pitch for
the Monarchs in a game Easter SUM-
day, but the big right handler 1.
still here