The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1961-07-29

The Philadelphia Phillies tap
ped the rich vein of Negro talent
in the Detroit area again last
week and signed Northwestern
Highs Alex Johnson to a hand.
some 1862 contract.
An l8-year-oId outfielder, John
son was signed by Phillies scout
Tony Luccadello and will report
to the Des Monies team in Class
B Three League next spring.
Exact term of the contrac!
were not revealed but Johnson
may have received as much as
$4,000 according 10 rumors. II
they are true. il was the highest
bonus ever received by a major
league baseball player from the
Detroit area.
A muscular six-f0ot, 205-pound
youth. Johnson graduated from
Northwestern this past January
and won two letters each in foot
ball and baseball. He was mem
Der of Northwestern's 1859 City
League championship team along
with the much-publicized Willie
Horton and Matt Snor.on. the two
sluggers who clouted prodigious
home runs in the title-winning
game against Cass Tech
Johnson presently is starring
for Valleys Standard Service in
three sandlot leagues in the De-
trolt area. He was impressive
300. .450 and ASS averages and
has hit seven homeruns in two OF
the loops.
Upon signing the Phillie con-
tract, Johnson had to give up a
full four-year scholarship TO Mich
igan State University where he
was to play football this fall.
Johnson lives at 1926 Montgom-
cry with his parents Mr.. and Mrs.
Arthur Johnson.
Several days after the Phillies
announced the signing of John
son, the parent club brought up
anOt h er former Northwestern
High athlete from the minor lea
CUES. Second baseman George
Williams, who was linked by Luc-
cadell0 four years ago while play
ing with A. G.. Wright in Glass
DABF, made his major league
debut with the Phillies Saturday
Villains had compiled 1903
average at Dalas-Ft Worth in
the Class AAA American Associa
ton and was named TO the Lea
CUES all-star team prior to re.
porting TO the Phlllies.
Williams playing baseball and
basketball at Northwestern in
1857 and '58.
Local Negro baseball writer.
are playing up Willie Horton. tn,
18-year-old former Northwestern
High slugger. as being the best
prospect playing on the sandlots
today. He catches, plays first
base and outfield for Browns In.
stallation and Citizen Mutual in
two different leagues.
The Detroit-Port Huron Raiders
who will switch from Ontario
Ruady Football Union to the
American Football Conference
next fall, will hold player tryouts
soon, Manager Ben Benton has an
nounced. Coach by former Norte
Dame player Gus Cifelli, the Rad
iers joined the eight-team AFC
last week when the Canariad lea
que folded. Players with college
or pro experience may secure a
tryout by contracting Benton al
2ll64 w. McNichols, Detroit 10.
. y =
The pro football teams are cloo
ging the mails with notices and
notes on their activities all
training camps are open.
A California source says that
colored fans in Los Angeles have
IL within their power to throw
up boycott that would be 100
perez effective against the
Washington Redskins and their
lily-white pro eleven, but they
hesitate to move against this pro-
motion because it is a charity
affair which benefits, among
others, an all-colored project
Life is full of its little ironies.
Brock Brockenbury. a highly
efficient West Coast columinist,
discloses that coash Sid Gilman
- san Blc1, flsr9 Z,
the American Football League is
beaming over the prospect OF a
powerful defensive line this fall.
Brock quotes Gilman: with 290-
pound Ernie Laid from Gramb-
ling at tackle, and bruising Earl