USS Helena CA-75 Sports and Recreation
Page #5
All pictures and comments copied from the USS Helena CA-75 1949 Cruise Book
Donated by Kent Stufflebeam, RD3, King Division, USS Helena CA-75, May 1950 - July 1951

While the weather during our stay in Japan was definitely not baseball weather, the "baseballers" of the HELENA managed to get in one game with the USS ORLECK (DD-886) and despite the cold weather and lack of practice the men of the HELENA won 8 tp 5.

EDRICK BM3 on bases; Catri, coaching


Left to right: Standing: CHBUN Cross, McCabe, Turpen, Burguieres, Baker, Robinson, Catri; kneeling: Hicks, Richardson, Drews, Edrick, McPherson

BOXING-SANGLEY POINT, P. L

While at Sangley Point, the Helena's boxing team was challenged by a team from the U.S.S. Anderson (DD-786). The Helena's team com­posed of Carney, 5th Division; Clenimons, 2nd Division; Brothers, 2nd Division; Ruelas, 7th Division; and Quinlan, S-1 Division was only too glad to oblige and meet the Anderson's team. So one warm evening a smoker was held on the Helena's fantail. There was standing room only as a crowd of some 250 persons from the 2 ships watched the boys from the Anderson win 3 fights, 2 by decisions and one by a foul, to only 2 wins for the Helena. Big Joe Quinlan and Eddy Brothers were the win­ners for the Mighty "H." Clemons knocked his opponent out but the decision was given to his opponent when Clemmons was found to be guilty of a foul.

As an added attraction there was a free-for-all consisting of 4 men from the 5th Division who were blindfolded, put in the ring and told to slug it out. The boys put up a good fight and gave everyone many laughs as they groped their way about the ring swinging wildly at everyone and anyone.

The basketball team played a few games while at Sangley even though it was definitely not basketball weather. The team scheduled games with other ships there and with the base teams, breaking about even in the won and lost column.

Also at Sangley an extensive intra-divisional sports program was put into operation. Everyday around 1300 the sports teams from the different divisions would leave the ship, go on the beach and compete with one another for the titles in the different sports which included softball, bowling, basketball and volleyball. While in the Philippines it was not uncommon to hear a conversation running something like this: "Well maybe you beat us in bowling, but look what our softball team did to yoursl"

Yes, there was always time for play, and play we did. The old say­ing, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," certainly did not apply to the men of the Helena for the Jack's of the Mighty "H" were definitely not dull boys.


(l to r) Seymour, Preston, Huckaby, Russell, Shannon, Trueblood, Newsome, Martinez, Sego.

While at various ports the ship participated in many sports. Here we see the basketball team at a practice game.
The boxing was done aboard the HELENA against the ANDERSON.
We Lost.




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