davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20

suffered on Guadalcanal. He re- ported for baseball in April, and made good almost immediately.
 Joe Bedenk, Lion baseball coach for the last IS years, spotted him the first day of practice. His hit ting, of course, was his major forte. His fielding was below par, but Bedenk takes full blame for that.
 He's a natural outfelder," ex- plains Bedenk. He's fast, he re- fexes are amazingly quick, he has a good arm. But needed third baseman. He didn't want to play there, but I had nobody else for that spot. And he's switch hit ter"
 But his fielding was almost completely forgotten when he poled out a 33o-foot home run one of the longest ever seen-on the Penn State diamond. He add ed two more homers, two doubles, and two triples before the season ended. His average for ten games was a resounding .5oo-"not bad at all for college ball." adds Bedenk.
 His big bat soon attracted major league scouts, and more than a half dozen turned up in the grand stand at home games. Others wrote and asked about this new boy, Tepsic." But none of them made much headway.
 T want my degree before I consider baseball as career" says Tepsic, who figures a fellow needs a college education to get along these days. Then, too," he adds, rather pointedly, T want a couple of years of football be- fore I throw in the sponge. All these baseball scouts tried to talk me out of football"
 Tepsic, who still, bears the marks of Jap bayonet on his left arm and shoulder, was an all-round athlete in high school, then went to Waynesburg college for one semester before he enlist ed in the Marines. He was in the service for more than two years, spent the last 15 months overseas.
 For a time, he feared his ath- letic career was ended. Physicians thought he'd never use his left arm again. But it came around slowly, and he was delighted when it felt good enough to try baseball. One day, while rounding second base at full speed, he ran head-on into a teamnate, picked himself up out of the dirt, and exclaimed:
 ''Ill be able to play football, too"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.) BY JACK CUDDY
United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, June 20-CUP)-The time was ripe today to give out with cheers instead of tears for the courageous comeback of Joe Cron- in's Boston Red Sox.
 Just in case it hasn't been no- ticed, the bat-happy belters from Beantown are playing the best base ball of any team in either Major League since that day in April when they won their first game of the season after dropping eight straight.
 Everything went bad from the start for Cronin's clouters. In the midst of that losing streak he snap ped an ankle bone in a slide at Yankee stadium and as he was car ried away it appeared a.s if the Red Sox pennant chances were being totes out along with him. In addi- ton to being probably the best in- flicker in the American league, he was dependable hitter and as the teams pilot was needed so badly he couldn't be spared even until he SOulu IlOUUle WlIIl cane WltQOuC hurting it's chances.
 So 1t was no surprise that the Red Sox floundered badly at the start, but it was pleasant to learn today that no team in either cir cult, not even the amazing Dodgers, have won as consistently since April 28, the day that losing streak ended.
 The Red Sox, unlike Nylons, are better when there are plenty of runs in them and they have been getting enough to win lot of ball games 28 against Is defeats-since that al- most fatal start.
 They are leading the league in hitting with 266 mark, which isn't unexpected since in recent years they have depended on punching in- stead of pitching to get along. But what is an innovation is the fine brand of mound-work being turned out along with the slugging and without the usual help from mil lionaire owner Tom Yawkey's over- stuffed pocket-book.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20

Transfer of Rev. Francis Barrett of the Church of the Blessed Sac rament to St. Patrick's in Bridge port surprised great number of Waterbury people, to whom never occurred the thought that such a grand person and priest would be assigned to another parish in an- other city. The youngsters will miss him most, perhaps but then again his friends among adults, Catholic and non-Catholic were legion. He liked to play golf, when he could, so that he put together very credit able game; good enough to defeat most of his opponents; including Chick Kelley, even if MT. K used TWO clubs instead of his single, mongrel, out-of-this-world SILL LALAH that can be used by right AND left-handed swingers such as the handball champ of Printers Court. As for Father Barrett, he won't be among strangers long, as with the A-16 coupons upped to gallons each this week; more than a few of his Waterbury friends will manage to drop in on him. AS one of many honored by his friendship, l would like to take this time to wish him Godspeed, continued good health and happiness in his chosen field as man of God and a man among men .. If West Haven High has signed Plainville's very successful coach, "Whitey" Piurek as reported, it is a sincere tribute to his ability as a player, coach and handler of boys, whose record is such that it could not have been overlooked very much longer :. Another coach not far away with plenty on the ball' is Southing- tons Joe Fontana of Lewis High. '. Another of those pleasant voiced Old Timers has passed on in the person of Bristols Joe Dutton, former mayor and a one-man cheer ing section for anything from Bris- tol, Connecticut whether it be a Basketball, football or bridge team. He had a knack of making friends as soon as one shook his hand and was fine company among any group Of men .. All of the east end, Mill Plain section in particular, is root ing for Denny Reardon's lad, John- ny, to make the grade with the Yankees and with a .370 batting average for Crosby this season, there's plenty of reason to feel that he will do OK, for the boy has good head on his shoulders sur rounding ar alert mind, strong arms and lightning muscular reflexes that instinctively make him do the right thing at the right time."
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
Z ALL AMERICA
 AMATEUR MEETS IN AUGUST. SEPT.
Special to The Democrat)

Special to The Democrat) Baltimore, June 20.-Dates for the AAABA Tournaments in both the Open Amateur and the Limited Division were set yesterday at a meeting of the Board of Directors at the Hotel New Yorker in New York City. The Limited Tourna- ment, for youths IS years of age and under, will be held on August 24-25-26, while the Open Amateur section will compete for National honors on September 14-15-16.
 The sites for each tournament will be announced by Glenn L. Mar tin, chairman of the Board of Direc- tors, after the board has completed survey of the several cities that have entered bids for the National Event.
 Franchise applications from anna teur baseball bodies in Pittsburgh, Pa: Clarksburg, w. Va; Teterboro, N. J.; and Elkton, Maryland were approved by the Franchise Com mittee Other cities now holding franchises are: Baltimore, Md; Washington, D. C.; Bristol, Conn.,; Middle River, Md; Butler, Pa.; Cleveland, Ohio; Elmira, N. Y; Philadelphia, Jam;Ja. N. Y; New Bedford, Mass: Schenectady, N. Y.; Zanesville, Ohio; New York city; Bessemer, Ala, and Waterbury, Som.
 we have approximately three thousand teams enrolled under the AAABA." said MT. Martin following the meeting. These are divided into two sections-the Open Anna teur and the Limited. The Open Amateur has approximately five hundred teams in operation, while the Limited Division easily has twenty five hundred.
 Tn Philadelphia the Connie Mack Association is conducting a pro gram which will embrace 10000 sandlot athletes. William J. Dug gan, President of the Cleveland Amateur Federation, has more than $50 youngsters playing ball all the time with equipment furnished oy the Amateur Federation. Elmlra, N. Y, is sponsoring sandlot base ball under the guidance of the YMCA, and in Washington, D. C., the Amateur Association under the direction of Vic Gauzza is making rapid strides, having more leagues this year than ever before Balti- more, Maryland, with more than 400 teams playing ball every day has one of the largest groups along the eastern seacoast, while Butler, Pa.. has branched out into the Open Amateur Divistion as well as the Limited Division"
 Owing to the geographical loca- ton it may be necessary to stage state or regional tournaments this year, and if this procedure is fol- lowed, it is believed that the Ma tional Tournament will represent at a conservative figure more than fve-hundred different baseball clubs. The sites for the tournaments will be announced at special meet ing to be held in July, and as the meeting will be held closer to the tournaments many important de- tails will be concluded with i1nal- ity.'
 The officers of the AAABA are not only pleased with the great ir- crease in the number of amateur
 baseball clubs playing under the | AAABA rules and regulations, but are thoroughly aware of the 1m- portance of properly managed anna telr baseball as the best aid to vital physical fitness and character build ing fo rAmerican youth during this critical period in the nations affairs.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
BfdSScos VS. Meriden Sot.

Night baseball returns to Water bury Saturday night at Municipal Stadium with a new lighting sys tenn and a popular meeting, the Brasscos vs. Meriden Contelcos at 8:30.
 Mgr. Fred Davi planned to show the Coast Guard Dolphins but when several of the Dolphins begged off the Waterbury engagements because of scheduled furloughs, the contest was shifted to next Wednesday night, the Contelcos exchanging dates. Both teams rate with the best in the state, he ConelcoS being particularly successful against the Brasscos the past two seasons.
 Waterbury will have the same team which won the first two Sum- day double-headers at the stadium, and it will be bolstered by the addi- ton Of outfielders Hank Gagain and Johnny Taylor.
 The Contelcos won their third game in five starts last Sunday, turning back the Florence Stove Co. at Gardner. Mass, 10-1. Albie Cur ske scattered nine hits.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
Porochial
 7itIe oday

Hoping that similar result will not be forthcoming, in which their opponents were unable to get a single hit yet won the game; St. Joseph schoolboys of the Parochial baseball league went after the championship today at Hamilton Park in a 4 PM game with Sts. Peter and Paul. The east end entry needed a win and then another playoff win of a postponed game with St. Francis to take the title and earn a chance from Mary Ab- bolt school. On the other hand, St. Joes, having won 12 games and lost but one, will take title and meet the MA boys next week if they can square the series with Sts. Peter Paul today by wining the game. The result seemed to hinge almost entirely on the pitching effort of Dick Januska Mlo pitched a mo- hit game against Hank O'Dea's lads last week, but walked Il batters. A crowd of several hundred was ex- pected to see the anne, if rain holds off.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
STANDING
Down Twice, Cool "ChiIIs" Jerry ZuIIo

New Bedford, Mass, June 20 - UPD-Knocked down twice John ny Cool, 134, of Worcester came back to technically knock out Jerry Zullo, 133, of Chelsea in the fifth round of their scheduled 10-round feature bout at Sargent Field be- fore 2,000 fans last night.
 In preliminaries: Basil Mazerak, 1853, of Cambridge technically knocked out John Harrington, 150. Boston CD; Walter Tomes. 140, New Bedford stopped Jose Fernandes, 140. Duxbury CD: Jce Comes. l35, Providence unanimously decisioned John Mangar. l31. Boston (G: Gene La Blarc 136, Providence. R. l.. technically knocked out Bud Cor nan, 135, Boston (0.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
Time, SERA Girls Main Go

The largest crowds of the season turned out last Thursday night at Fulton Park to watch Benrus take on Waterbury Mfg. in a fight for sole possession of first place in the I. R. A. Girls Softball League. It was nip and tuck battle all the way with the defending champions from the North End coming out on the long end of to score. Two errors on the part of the Benrus lassies in the second inning, allow ing three Mfg. runs to be scored, perhaps lost the ball game for Pat Quilter's charges. Marge Connors of Mfg. was the outstanding ball player of the game allowing Benrus only 2 hits from the mound, while collect ing total of hits herself at bat.
 The feature game on Thursday nights slate will be played at Wa terville Park between Joe Cava- naugh's U. s. Time Bombardeers and Ray Ouimet's s. E. R. A. Flu settes. Both clubs won their game last week by decisive margins, Sco- will beating Chase by an II to score while Time swamped Rubber to a IT to tune. In an exhibition game at Hamilton Park on Sunday, Time defeated Benrus by 6-2 score. The two teams were early season favorites in this years pen nant scramble but after getting off to slow starts they are just now rounding into form. Ann Sonder- man will be on the mound for Time while Flo Reynolds of bowling fame will be throwing them in for the s. E. R. A. Both girls are first year pitchers but already are showing signs that they will have to be rated with the best before the years hos tilities cease.
 Two Rounds
 The first round of league play will come to an end on Thursday, June 23th. The second round will com- mence after the 4th of July. Ed Mo- Grath, league supervisor, last week announced that there is room for one or two new teams to participate in the second round. Any new team desiring to play in the league should turn their entry into him before July 1st.
 The complete schedule for tomor- row nights games is as follows:
 Fulton Park, Chase Brass & Cop per vs. U. s. Rubber, Mastrianni.
 Waterville Park No. l, U. s. Time vs. Scovill, E R A., Jones.
 Waterville No. 2, Waterbury Mfg. vs. Scovill w. E. R. A., Stance.
 Benrus-bye.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
odoy's s Sport Parade

This time Yawkey is getting his fine pitching at bargain basement" rates. The star of the cast and of the whole aMjor League show, Dave (Boo) Ferriss, was ovedlooked and under-rated before manager Memo Leibold of the Louisville farm club sent a nudging telegram urging Cronin to take this boy"
 Talent scouts for the Red Sox and other Major League teams who flock to Ray Dumonts annual semi pro clam-bake in Wichita, Kan, like ants to Sunday school picnic, didn't give Ferriss tumble when he appeared there in 1940 with the Mentor City, Miss, team. However, it was understandable because he lost his only game to the Natora, Pa, team and was rapped more solidly than by most of the Major League teams he has faced in win ming nine games and losing once.
 The latest star in the Red Sox Armament is Clem Hausmann, five foot, nine-inch sprite, who pitched his second straight three-hit Shut out last night, beating the Yankees to 0. It was his fourth straight victory and gave the Red Sox re- venge against Hank Borowy, the Yankee pitcher who tagged Ferriss with his only defeat. The only other consistent winner on the staff is Emmet O'Neill, who like Hausmann has won four and lost only once Ferriss, O'Neill and Hausmann have won r of Bostons 28 games and the rest of the victories are scattered among lesser lights.
 If that key trio can keep on win ming and the others can pick up a scattering of victories, the Red Sox may be heard from later on. Right now they are half game be- hind the Yankees in third place and they are playing winning ball. The Yankees aren't.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20

State College, Pa.-Football's next on the program for Joe Tepsic. Guadalcanal veteran who vowed major league baseball scouts by his hefty hitting at Penn State this spring.
 'This fuss is all new to me" says the 21-year-old ex-Marine, be cause in high school football was considered my best sport. Nobody ever said much about my baseball ability"
 Which all is very interesting to Hob Higgins, veteran Lion foot ball coach who visions Tepsic as a potential all-American If he's just one-half as good in football as he is in baseball"
 The Slovan. Washington county youth entered Penn State in March, after a year of hospitaliza- tion brought about by wounds
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
7aiLspin OF Ottmen Current Baseball Surprise
RADKE '0NE- MAN TEAM AS
 BENRUS WINS

One more performance as soft baller such as he turned in last night, will cause his employers to name a postwar 21 jewel, diamond studded Benrus watch after Willie the Red Radke, whose pitching and batting last night stopped Eyelet Specially 8-2. It was the sixth win in seven starts for Benrus, in the top spot of the IRA national divi- sion softball league. At bat, Pitcher Radke was something better than sensational as he walloped out trio of extra-base hits one better the other in the form of two- base hit. three-base hit and four base hit, commonly known in Brooklyn (N. Y.) as a HERMER. (Home run to youse, ChandlerD Two hits each by White and Con- nelly of Benrus were about as use- full as second tail on a COW as long as the red-head remained on the hill.
 Scovill-Waterville and United Chromium tangled in a game so tight that the score was a Mexican standoff at the end of eight innings: each team with two runs and too dark to go on. So they quit play ing; with a tie game to play off some day.
 Other Scores
 Bristol Company and c. L. and P. wound up 8 to 5 for the B" team in a good game; Lux doubled the score on Steel Ball 8-4; American Brass coasted against Farrel Foundry Il to 3; in other games played
 Prokop's prodigious poke for a grand circuit" homer good for four runs was a batting feature for Lux against the Steelers, who are now leading the league; if you turn the standing upside down. (In the eel lar, ChandlerD Kozen and Menillo were the 2-2 tie game rival pitchers for S-W and U-C who may meet again some day as each had plenty on the ball besides fingers. Scores: Benrus ...... o4O 100 s-S 10 I
 
 Radke and White; Desantis and Smith. Umpire: Stance.
 Brsitol . .... $50 900 o-s l2 4 C. L. & P. .... GOO 220 1-5 ' l
 Galullo and Kosmoski; Whitaker and Stone. Umpire: Lantz. A. B. Co. ..... 800 3O5 0-11 l3 2 Farrel .... Ol0 O20 0-S l
 Pelky and Marzanp; Beausolieu and Kulman. Umpire: Crichton. Lux .... 204 002 o. 8 10 Steel Ball ... POI o1o oe4 5 ;
 Denet and O'Loughlin; Franc and Stone. Umpire: Mayberry.
 scovill (w) .. 900 200 oO- ? 2 5 Chromium =. 100 900 10- 3
 Kozen and Holihan; Menillo and Garlona. Umpire: Mastrianni.
 Farrel Foundry and c. L. and F.; American Brass and United Chrc- mium will play of postponed games Thursday night at Stadium parking fields; weather permitting.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
NopoIis Win

In a StS Peter-Paul softball league game last night, Napoli's Neapoli- tans were 5-2 winners over Howells Hornets as Captain Al twirled his team to victory with six-hit game worthy of the Red Sox Dave Fer riss. Losers got two runs in the first inning, and were all through for the evening. though pitcher Napoli was in tight spot in the sixth innings; with three loaded bases surrounding him and Slugger Who Zis at bat. However, he was more than equal to the occasion, putting three strikes past the slugger, in the opinion of Umpire D. Klem Farrell.
 Thursday night, Larrivee and Howell teams are paired.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
CYO Schedule
 of Games Toniqht

CYO baseball games scheduled for tonight (6:15) in both eastern and western divisions include the fol- lowing schedule:
 Eastern Division Immaculate Conception vs St. Lucys, Hamilton NC. l, Monti. St. Francis vs SS. Peter and Paul, Hamilton, No. 2, Evon. St. Francis, Naugatuck vs St. Thomas, Naugatuck, LaChance.
 Western Division Mt. Carmel. vs St. Michael's, Washington, Quilter.
 St. Joseph's vs St. Johns Fulton, Barone.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
Chandler Works
 'Free' for BoseboII

Washington, June 20 = (U.PD = Senator Albert B. (Happy) Chand- Ter, D., of Ky, said today he had no idea of when he would leave his Senate post although he has "vir- tually completed the process of talk ing over as baseball commissioner" :"
 He said he started working May l on the Job of learning the routine as successor to the late Judge Kene- saw M. Landis and that only few matters remained to be worlVd out.
 Formal swearing in ceremonies are unnecessary and there will be none" Chandler said.
 Until Chandler leaves the senate he will collect only his sl0,000 year
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Fiqh+s Lost Night
fBy United PreSs)

(By United FfeSSb
 Hartford, Conn. - Private First Class Tony Falco, 14S. Middletown. decisioned George (Red Doty. 148, Hartford, dO; Dennis Brady. 130 New York, knocked out Julian De- jesus, 134, New York, (4: Bobby Polowitzer. 127. East Hartford, drew with Gabriel Rios, New York (6).
 Bangor. Me, June 20 - U.P) - Ralph Walton, 139. Of Montreal drew with Rene Cantero. 137. of Cuba in their eight-round feature bout at the Chateau last night.
 In preliminaries: Eden Germain, 132, of Portland, stopped Charley Wooster, 130, Frankfort CD; Young Gallant, 172, Skowhegan, decisioned Eddie Turner, 173, Bangor (D; An sel Green, 168. Bangor, stopped Dean Davis, 165, Bangor CD; Pat Mclaughlin, 123, Skowhegan. deci- stoned Johnny Marhar, 120, Bangor, (H.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
This Sporting World
Salute to Sid
By JOHN A. CLUNEY

Most of Connecticut's sportswriters who knew him were really grieved to hear of the passing of Sid Mercer, dignified and gentlemany dean of New York baseball writers. He was another Bill Slocum, a man who was always willing to help rather than hinder and an immediate friend and advisor of the youngster just breaking in" on the newspaper game. AS toastmaster for the an- nual NYBW dinner, "Sid" had no peer, for his very presence lent "class" to any occasion. His passing is OUR great loss, and by that I mean any one of the newspaper guys who were honored by his &C., quaintance, however slight.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-20
Harlow At Harvard After Now Hitch"

Cambridge. Mass, June 20 - GU. P) Richard c. (Dick) Harlow comes back to coach Harvard foot ball this Fall after a two-and-a- half-year hitch in the Navy but only an informal schedule of seven games is planned.
 The university announced last night that Harlow. who started his Harvard gridiron duties in 1885. was discharged from the Navy June l2 after serving as lieutena nt-com- mander in the Pacific theHsr.