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YANK The Army Weekly • JUNE 18

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NOVIKOFF SIGNS WITH CUBS SPORTS: AFTER A 61-DAY FURLOUGH By Sgt. DAN POLIER

4- *.- «•»«* ,^"».ai HERE are a lot of latrine rumors going around the major leagues concerning the Texact amount of money that the paid Lou (Ceiling Price) Novikoff to shake hands and make up after his 61-day hold-out. The Mad Russian himself is doing fcS^»^ . • .JS his best to make the public believe he got what he wanted—not a sou less than $8,500. This, of course, wasn't the original figure the Stubborn Slav was demanding. He want­ ed $10,000 worth of Phil Wrigleys chewing- gum wrappers and the Cubs were standing pat on $6,000. If, as he says, he got $8,500, Lou undoubtedly figures he won. "I never expected to get the 10 grand, any­ how," Novikoff admitted. "I know the Chi­ cago Cubs. They wouldn't pay Timoshenko $10,000 to bat against Rommel in a Suaday -header." James -Gallagher of the Chicago manage­ ment has flatly refused to discuss the Novi­ koff capitulation one way or the other. He"s letting Lou do ail the talking. Any query about the Novikoff contract will only prompt Mr. Gallagher to go into this announcement: "It is not our policy at this time to discuss Here's lou Novikoff in the uniform of Ifte Rosabeff Plumbers, a Long Beach (Calif.) semi-pro team. Lou contracts or how the Cubs are doing." played witit the Plumbers until the Cubs ordered him to quit. Then he coached the team from the bench. It's no secret how the Cubs are doing. The so-called National League dark horses have •"Hey, Ott. ' WiLson yelled across the diii- knocking off his Cubs like clay pigeons in a turned a tattle - talc gray while kicking mond. "What will you offer for Novikoff^" shooting gallery. He needed Novikoft's power around in the cellar. They completely missed "Mayor LaGuardia. and we'll throw in badly and finally persuaded Gallagher to the boat when they started the season with­ Babe Barna'" was the reply. strike a compromise with Novikoff. out Novikoff in the line-up. He was one of Naturally, the deal never went through. Gallagher didn't handle the transaction their two .300 hitters, and they needed him. The Cubs have always been lousy traders. himself. He pushed the job -off on Clarence But Mr. Gallagher didn't think so. He .said he While Mr. Gallagher was in New York stir­ (Pants) Rowland, manager of the Chicago- never could see Lou as a major-league play­ ring up trade talk, Lou was busy playing owned Los Angeles club. Rowland quickly er, which was all right with Lou, who said he semi-pro in Long Beach. Calif. This brought Novikoff to terms and within a few couldn't see Mr. Gallagher for a cent less infuriated Gallagher, who had hoped that Lou hours Lou was standing at the station kissing than 10 grand. was brooding himself to death. He immedi­ his wife and kids good-bye and assuring Mr. Gallagher, in fact, didn't seem to care ately got Novikoff on the phone. Rowland that he would start the Cubs on a what happened to the Cubs as long as he "What's this I hear about you playing semi- winning streak. could slip a mickey into Lou's vodka. He took pro baseball?" Gallagher asked. There's a chance that Novikoff might do it. his wrath out on Lou by dreaming up all "That's right," Lou said. "From all I hear too. Last season he started himself on one of kinds of trades with the Phillies, Dodgers and it's just like playing for the Cubs." the most amazing .streaks in baseball. In less Giants. At one stage in Novikoff's 61-day "That's an obscene lie." Gallagher shouted. than two months he lifted his batting average furlough, there was strong talk of Gallagher "Either you cut out your adventures with from .207 to .316. His formula was as simple trading the Mad Russian to the Phillies for that semi-pro outfit or I'll report you to as this: Danny Litwhiler. At mother stage. Branch Judge Landis. " "1 found out I was thinking too much. I Rickey of the Dodgers said he would take "If that's the way you feel. 111 quit playing cant when I'm thinking. So I just stopped Novikoff and cash for Ducky Medwick. Even and start coaching the team." Lou said and thinking." Manager Jimmy Wilson sounded the Giants hung up the phone. That seems to be Mr. Gallagher's trouble, out on a trade for Novikoff while coaching By this time Jimmy Wilson was in a des­ too. He was thinking so much he forgot to get from the third base line at the Polo Grounds. perate way. The Phillies and Giants were the Cubs out of the second division.

LOT of fellows won't believt it, bul leo Du- the Yank approached them, he noticed they were rocher's brother. Pvf. Armond Durocher, is an wearing American uniforms but was suspicious. umpire down in the Caribbean aroa. . . . BiJIy He asked them a few phony baseball questions, •^ ASouthworth , the Cardinal manager, keeps up a such as how many liome runs had Jim Londos steady corrospondonco with Enos Slaughter, Frank hit for the Dodgers and how well was Connie Crespi, Terry Moore, Johnny Beazley, and. of course. Mack pitching this year. When tliey told him Billy Jr., who is a Fortress pilot on thi- Berlin they hadn't heard these latest news flashes over milk run. . . . Joe Platak, who hadn't even looked the shortwave, the Yank promptly grabbed at handball for 11 months, went straight from his Ihem They were Germans. . . . The GIs on New-, ship to the National Handball Cliampionships at Guinea have taken time off from killing Japs San Francisco and won the singles title. Joe is to carve a regulation bowling alley, complete a Navv cook. ... In a handball tournament at with pins and balls, out of the jungle and claim McCleilan Field, Calif., Pvt. Walter Judnich, for­ it to be the only bowling parlor on any fighting mer St. Louis Brown outfielder, won the cham­ front pionship, knocking off a captain in the finals Ensign Corny Warmderdam, the pole-vault cham­ The Hospital Detachment baseball team, oper­ pion, must be a first cousin to a kangaroo. During ating along the Alcan Highway, wants to thank the Duke University-North Carolina Pre-Flight Ed Barrow, president of the New York Yankees, track meet, Warmderdam, who had never tried for the he sent up and to assure him it before, found out that he was a better-than- they were used in the most approved Yankee avcrage high hurdler. He won the event. ... In fashion. The Medics report they won 14 games. Australia, the GIs swear by M. C. Gilley, the suffered no defeats, and did it all after working country's leading lumber king and an old-time Portland (Oreg.) baseball player. Gilley has en­ 10 to 12 hours. . . . The Army is beckoning tertained the boys with genuine American ham­ Babe Dahlgren just when he seems to be finding burger and coffee, and has donated equipment, himself as shortstop for the Phillies. . . . Babe secured playing fields and umpired a game every Young, former Giant first baseman, ^is at the Sunday for more than a year. The bovs are Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., wondering if that isn't an all-time high for um­ and plays first base for the Coast Guard Dolphins. piring ... A late count shows a total of 154 Looking over draftees like Babe Dahlgren, Phillie During the North African campaign, an Amer­ American Leaguers in the armed forces. The shortstop, is old stuff for Dr. J. Wesley Anders. He ican infantryman sighted two paratroopers float­ Army has 86, the Navy 58. the Coast Guard seven, examined Spanish - American war volunteers, too. ing to the ground behind the Allied lines. When the Marines one (Ted Lyons) and the CRAF two

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I'Hl YANK'S regular feali Aiiitversary Issue • On Sjamfwcf Friday, June 18

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