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Wide jhortd Photo BILLY SOUTHWORTH Southworth Quits as Braves Pilot PickTommyHoImes As New Field Boss Billy Gives Reason for His Action: Says Somebody Else Could Handle Team Better Manager Billy Southworth of the Boston Braves quit today for the second time in three seasons. But this time, both he and the Braves general manager, John Quinn, indicated Southworth was through for good. He will be replaced by Tommy Holmes, a former Braves outfielder and ndw manager of the Hartford, Conn., farm team. Holmes will take over as soon as he can join., the Boston team, presumably here, but Southworth will be through after todays game. It was indicated if Holmes does not arrive before tomorrows game, coach Johnny Cooney will handle the club. Quinn said that financial arrangements on Southworths contract, which runs through 1952 at 0,000 per season, have not been made. However, it was doubtful that he would be paid in full as he resigned, Quinn said, and was not fired. Southworth scheduled a closed meeting with his players immediately after todays game with the Cubs at Wrigley Field, and later planned a press conference at the Braves hotel. Southworth said that he quit because he "couldnt get the team going." "I think somebody else could do a better job," he said. Took Leave of Absence in 1949 Those were virtually the same words he used in 1949 when he took a "leave of absence" late in the season when his 1948 pennant winning club failed to make a strong showing in the 1949 campaign. He returned to his Sunbury, Ohio, home then and sat out the rest of the season but returned to the Braves for the 1950 race. Quinn said that Holmes would be given a contract for the balance of this year, plus the 1952 season. Southworths greatest teams were with the St. Louis Cardinals. During his stretch as manager, from 1941 through 1945, his clubs won three consecutive pennants, 1942, 1943 and 194.47 and won the World Series in 1942 and 1944. His Boston team won the pennant, in 1948, when they lost to the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. Southworth, now 58, did not indicate what he planned to do in the future. But it was likely he would devote his full time to various business interests in Ohio. His health has been bad for the past three seasons and even during the 1948 campaign, at times he was ill. The showing of his 1949 club, -which reportedly was affected by trouble-makers, caused illness which resulted in his leave of absence. ELMIRA. N. Y., June 19 UP . — Tommy Holmes, heading back to manage the club which once had his services as a star outfielder, said today it will be "difficult to fill the shoes" of Billy Southworth. Contacted a few minutes after the announcement that he had been named manager of the Boston Braves, the 33-year-old Brooklynite declared: "I feel just like a kid with a new toy. Im thrilled in knowing that Im going back to my old teammates." Holmes is scheduled to leave Elmira by plane at 6:03 p. m. EDT. He will arrive in Buffalo for an hour layover and then fly through to Chicago, arriving there about midnight. He will join the"" Boston club there tomorrow. y Holmes. 15-Year Veteran "Ill never be able to fill the shoes of Billy Southworth," he said when questioned about Southworths remark that he was giving up the post because he felt someone else could do a better job leading the fifth-place club. A veteran of 15 years in organized baseball, Holmes said he "will put together the little bit of knowledge" he has acquired in the game and combine it with the abilities of the players. "The team is iniact," he said. But the hitters do need help. The pitching is all right. The only way to get out of the slump is to swing our way out." Holmes said he was notified of the appointment about 2:45 from the. Boston front office. He said the deal had been pending about two days. It was believed he will receive in the| neighborhood of 2,500. Holmes took over this year as manager of the Hartford Chiefs and the farm club is one game out of first place in the Eastern League. He broke into organized baseball with Norfolk in the Piedmont League, and played with Binghamton of the Eastern loop and Newark of the International League before going to the Braves nine years ago. The Boston BraVes lost their last game under manager Billy Southworth yesterday taking a 3 to 0 licking from the Cubs. Bob Rush pitched a four hitter. It was the Braves second straight defeat by the Cubs, and gave the team a record of 28 victories in 59 games. The Braves players did not know of Southworths resignation until after the game, when he told them of his decision in the dressing room. Rush, who attained his fifth victory against three defeats, was at his sharpest under a dim, murky sky, which threatened rain throughout the game. No Boston player could get more than one hit and Willard Marshalls third inning double was the only extra base blow. Max Surkont, the Boston starter, was charged with all the Cubs runs and his reliefer, Dave Cole, kept the North Siders at bay the final seven innings, striking out four men in order at one time. It was Surkonts sixth loss against five wins. The Cubs tallied enough to win in the first when Hal Jeff coat walked, reached third on Frankie Baumholtz double and scored on Ransom Jacksons fly. Two more counted in the second when Eddie Miksis tripled and scored on Bob Ramazzottis single, while Ramazzotti came in on Jeffcoats single. The score by innings: RUE Braves 000 000 000 — 0 4 0 CUbs 120 000 OOx— 3 6 0 Surkont, Cole 3 Chipman 8 and Mueller; Rush 5-3 and Burgess. Losing pitcher, Surkont 5-6.
