European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 22, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse " a so a Mill 71st envision Veteran Blackwell strikes pm out today for Cincinnati reds by William Stuyvesant Cincinnati s Ewell Blackwell Heads a Long list of big league ballplayers who starred on i diamonds in 1945 i ,. New York in perfect whiplash form Ewell Blackwell sent la final strike whirring across the plate wiped his sleeve happily Over his brow and walked off the Pitcher s Mound with a two hit 5-0 Victory. He had held his chances for a no hitter until the seventh in Ning and 30,000 fans groaned almost in unison when outfielder Carvel Bama for Blackie by beating out a poor Man s single to shortstop. This performance might have been recorded from the press Box at Cincinnati s Fosley Field where Blackwell triumphs have become an impressive Rou Tine of the National league baseball race. It might have been except that the game played in a nazi built stadium at Nurnberg late in the summer of 1945. At that time the name of Blackwell did t a Fig Joy to the supporters of the Cincinnati reds and fear to the hearts of opposing batters. It was known vaguely to the management of the Cincinnati club As belonging to a six foot five bean pole who had had a successful season with Syracuse of the International league in 1942 and had probably earned a crack at a big league pitching was somewhat More familiar to the clerk who made out the morning report for a company of the 71st division. Blackwell taking temporary duty away from his regular Job As a i mess sergeant in the occupation army was dishing out a tangy assortment of curves and fast balls for the 71st in the Battle for the championship of what was then known As the european theater. Since that time Blackwell has found it Worth his while to stay away from a i Kitchen Range and take up bal playing on a full time civilian basis. His 1947 record of 22 wins against eight losses with the reds included a record tying string of 16 consecutive Vic tories one of which was a no hit no run game. Now starting his third season with the reds he is Gener ally rated As the Best Pitcher in the big leagues. The few who take Issue with this judgment Are sup porters of Bob Feller and second place to Feller is pretty High rank in by Book. Schoolboy Rowe Dean of National league pitch ers and a pretty fair Man with the stick describes Blackie s terrifying Sid Eann motion As a Buzzsaw slicing at your stomach if. He Ever misses the plate and hits you Rowe remarked after vainly trying to stand up against the Blackwell delivery the Ball will bore a Hole right through when Blackwell first showed up at the reds training Camp As a Job Hunting Veteran in the Spring of 46, some wag took one look at his incredibly meager Frame and referred to him inevitably As death takes a National league batsmen have since altered that to sure in response to admiration of this sort Blackwell himself a quiet serious Young Man of 25, just smiles. I be had pretty Good Luck so far he says and i work hard to hold onto in the opening game of the 1948 Campaign against Pittsburgh,.Blackie s mates made things rough for him by flinging the Ball rather generously around the unprotected parts of the Wallfield. Blackwell toiling persistently against1 this Handicap kept choking off pirate scoring threats and finally set. His opponents Down with Only one run winning 4-1. ,. As much Effort As he puts into every pitch with that energetic. Buggy whip motion of his Blackie claims that he works no harder now than he did Iri his i Kitchen Back with the 71st. I d never boiled an egg in my life he recalls and where the army put me in the Kitchen i had a -,1 continued on Page 22. 5
