University High School - Cub Yearbook (Oakland, CA)

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first base for the team, won two bats for being the best first baseman west of the ltlississippi. Vierra and Hardt, shotstop and pitcher, won a mitt and a gold watch respectively for their ability. The whole team was presented with knickers by the Denver branch of ltlontgomery VV ard ,Company. From Denver the team journeyed to Indianapolis to rest for four days before the little world series. They stayed at the Elkis Club as guests of Dan Sowers, and were surely treated wonderfully. From this f our- day rest the team went to Chicago to meet WO1'CCStC1i in the world series. The team winning two of the three games would be world champions of Junior Baseball. The boys won the first game 41-0, and VVorcester used their best pitcher that day. The next day the team battered the second pitcher for a 12-2 win and became the champions of the world. The reward for this was seeing the Wforld Series between New York and St. Louis which was still a month off in November. Here again the team was presented with knickers, sweaters, and other clothing by the Chicago hlontgomery VVard Company. The team then returned home in triumph and were given ban- quets and dinners for their wonderful iilaying. The Southern Pa- cific was scheduled to arrive in Oakland about three o'c1ock P.M., and there was a band and many people crowded at the station to acclaim the heroes. The train, however, was four hours late, and this put a damper on the well laid plans. During the two and a half weeks that the boys were here before going East again, they were guests at many dinners and honorary banquets throughout the East Bay. VVhen the train left Oakland, bearing the boys bound for New York, Captain VVeido Lancione was taken ill. By the time they had reached Chicago he was too weak to stand up, and twenty minutes after they had reached New York he was taken to the Lexington Hos- pital. He remained here for five days, sick with tonsilitis, bronchi- tis, and grippe. He lay in bed while the remainder of the team watched the two games played in New York, and when the team we11t to St. Louis to see the remaining games, the little captain re- mained behind in the New York hospital. VVhen he was well again, he continued on to St. Louis to join his team mates, with the expecta- tions of seeing at least one VVorld Series game. He arrived in St. Louis just after the game had ended, and joined his team, which lef' that night for home. i VVhen the boys were in New York they were presented with gold watches from the American and National Leagues. Kenesaw Lan- dis, connnissioneri of baseball, made the presentation. and was very interested in the team. VV hen the world-beaters returned home the second time, they

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tory meant that the team would play Santa Monica for the champion- ship of Califo1'nia. The game witn Santa ltfonica was the hardest game of the entire eighteen played during the season. For the first five innings not one man passed second base, and in the sixth Santa ltlonica scored one run. The champions then came back with three, and the game ended with the score still 3-1. The boys were now champions of California. Losing one game meant dis- qualification for any team from this point on, and the team was rather uneasy in these important games. The Nevada and Arizona champions Were with the Californians, and one team would draw a bye. Weido Won the draw, and California met the winner of the Nevada-Arizona contest at the Oakland ball park, Arizona beat Nevada and in turn was beaten by Cal' ifornia which made Montgomery VVards the area chanpions. This meant a trip' to Denver to play in the Western United States semi-finals with four other teams. The boys played Omaha in the first game at Denver and camie out ahead in a 14-1 game. This placed them in the finals with St. Paul, whom they defeated 4-0 in a close contest. The bunch of boys from St. Paul made a fine exhibition of good, clean youths, and surely deserved mentioning for their good sportsmanship. When the boys Won this game, they were nowr champions of the West of the lVIississippi River section, and Were now in the VVorld series with W'orcester, ltlassachusetts. This is the highest sei ies in Junior baseball, and the boys who play in this ser- ies are good. During their stay in Denver, several contests were held and four members of the World champs Won prizes. Weido Won a pair of sliding pads for being the greatest outfielder west of the ltlississippi River. He also Won a portable phonograph for being the most valuable player on his team. Whitney, who played

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If were greeted by thousands of cheering fans. A parade from First and Broadway to the City Hall was held in their honor. Mayor Davie made a complimentary speech, and the whole team. was treated with a wonderful reception. This is the general story of the teamls record throughout the season. It tells briefly how the team, captained by one of our own school and team, successfully and without hesitation swept through 8,200 teams throughout the United States to win the World title for ltfontgomery Wfards. There are, however, a few in-teresting facts concerning the team which can be set apart from the main story. The team won all eighteen games played. Fourteen of these were by shut-outs. The team had four out of nine on the All-Legion team. The awards won were: gold baseballs for winning the Oakland title, medals and certificates and the Howard Savage and Del How- ard Trophies for winning the California championship. Knickers were presented to the boys at Denver, and the indi- vidual awards were won there also. Medals were won at Denver for winning the VVestern area title. A complete outfit of clothing was presented to each member of the team at Chicago. A pennant and gold watches were presented at New York for winning the world title. Vfhile in Chicago, VVeido spoke over the radio at Hotel La Salle where the team was staying. At each city, Los Angeles, Denver, Indianapolis, Chicago, and New York, the team went on sight seeing trips as guests of the city. VVeido was in eighteen toss ups for last licks and he won seven- teen out of eighteen. He also drew three byes out of three chances. VVeido and three other members of the team are eligible to play in the league next year, but due to a new ruling made since last sca- son, they will be unable to play on the same team together. Four of the boys were watched by major league scouts, each being personally interviewed. VV'eido was interviewed by Bill Essex of the New York Yanks. Their record should stand unbroken for many years to come, for it is one that seems impossible to break. Our school should cer- tainly be proud of this boy, for it isn't every school that has the most valuable player on a world champion team. Do not think that this boy has reached his prime either, for before he has finished his base- baill career, his name will be written across baseballis hall of fame in capital letters. ltfaurice Eppstein.