Local Bowlers, Quarterback Enjoy Annual Banquets

THE ANN ARBOR NEWS, ANN ARBOR, MICH.
THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1955

Local Bowlers, Quarterbacks Enjoy Annual Banquets

Tiger Rookie Steals Show At Barton

Voices Political Views; Briggs, Oosterbaan Are Among Speakers

By Dave Tefft

It was a sports-lovers’ affair in which the talk ranged generally from circuit clouts to power plays to outside nines and the laughter was loud and sometimes aimless. But there remained time and a startled silenced for a brief skip from athletics to political philosophy during last night’s spring outing of the Ann Arbor Quarterbacks Club at Barton Hills.

Youthful Bob Miller, who may be Organized Baseball’s most erudite character since many-tongued Moe Berg was catching for Boston and others, happily accepted a dare from Sportscaster Van Patrick and responded with a “few remarks” that belong in the “unique” file of athletic utterings.

The 19-year-old Tiger bonus baby, who may become a fine pitcher after he has had opportunity to learn “out in the sticks,” was not adverse to sharing intellectual gleanings picked up during last summer’s trip to Germany.

Voices Political Beliefs

A couple Millerisms which may or may not find favor with the political scientists:

“Germany is not ready for either democracy or capitalism because the common people are not interested. They prefer security and the old order to the free ballot.

“Governmental success, as Plato once noted, is founded more on precedent than change. The Germans are not ready for the swing to our form of government.”

There were other statements which indicate Miller might turn easily from baseball’s halls to those of learning should he hit a snag in his diamond career.

Otherwise, the pattern was routine.

Al Kaline, the sensational Detroit outfielder, noted in front of his boss, Spike Briggs, the Tiger owner, that he wasn’t entirely in sympathy with recurring suggestions of moving him from right field to second base but that he would accept the idea of such a shift if necessary.

Briggs stated Kaline would remain in the outer garden spot and went on to reveal that J. W. Porter, Detroit’s heralded rookie outfielder in spring training, has been sent to the minors at his own request to learn to play first base.

Coaches Take Bow

Michigan coaches generally were confined to taking a bow but Grid Mentor Ben Oosterbaan stepped to the microphone for a few shoulder-shrugging sentences indicating his complete awareness that the 1955 Wolverine football team will have favorite’s rating wherever it plays.

“Everyone knows we’re going to the Rose Bowl,” Oosterbaan grinned, “so who am I to quibble?” Knowing it to be a hopeless cause at the moment, he didn’t bother to mention the prospect of nine tough football games – seven against feared Big Ten opponents – to be faced before December.

As usual, the crowd was good sized, happy, and noisy. Tigers Kaline, Miller, Steve Gromek, and Ray Boone were pleased because of the afternoon’s 9-0 victory over Washington. So were Sportscasters Patrick and Dizzy Trout, Owner Briggs, and Scout Don Lund, the not-so-old Michigan nine-letterman. Quarterbacks Secretary Bob Ufer and his chief helpers, Co-Chairmen Russ O’Brien and Howie Wikel, had broad grins after counting the crowd.

All in all it was a good outing. And young Mr. Miller’s lecture made it one far removed from the ordinary.