The Washington herald., 1913-12-28
STALLNGS To
watch CUBANS
Manager Of Boston Braves to
Give Eastern League Young
sters a Thorough Trial
HELPED LONG BRANCH
Angel Villazon Worked in Thirty-four
Games, Losing but Eight-Luque
Played in Every Position.

Much has been written about the new
Cuban wonders who will attempt to horT
their way into the major leagues mex
spring, but little or nothing has been re-
corded about the purchase by the BoStOr
Nationals of two Cuban pitchers from tho
Long Branch club. Of the Eastern tfOrm'
erly New York and New Jersey League
Angel Luque and Angel VIllazon are
the two young men who will be giver
the test next spring when the Brave,
convene in the South for their preliminary
training. and judging from the versatility
shown by the pair with the Long Brancf
club last season they will be carefully
watched by George Stallings-
Had it not been for VillazOn and Luqut
the Long Branch club might not have
won the pennant in the old New Yorb
and New Jersey League by a margin Of
nineteen games, for between them they
won a total of forty-two games. Pitching
vas supposed to be their regular voca.
tion. but both were utilized at other posi-.
tiOns, particularly Luque.
Versatility Their Forte.
VilIazon pitched in thirty-four games
winning twenty and losing eight, but
once when the Long Branch club made
a trip around the circuit with ten play
ers at the command of the club. this
youth was placed at various infield and
outfield positions, playing a total OF
twelve games as utility man.
Luque began the season at third base,
but before the season was finished, had
the distinction of playing every position
on the team. Early in June he began
pitching and won eleven straight games.
and before the end of the year his total
victories reached the twenty-five mark
During the year Luque played twenty
nine games at third base. twenty-eight
as pitcher. seven at first, four at second.
two at short. two behind the bat. three
in right, two in left and one game in
center field.
The Long Branch Club holds the record
for the number of players sent by one
minor league into the majors. in a single
season, contributing total OF five. One
of the players sold. ArragOn, was sought
by Connie Mack before he was sold to
Boston I'm midsummer. but this brilliant
young player met with an accident in an
exhibition game against Cincinnati, when
he tripped at second base and broke his
kEee cap. Arragon is still in the hos
pital. but delicate operation by eminent
surgeons will result in a perfect repair
of the damaged bone, and it is expected
that Arragon will be playing next season
as usual
As a team. the Long Branch Club led
the league in batting, with a grand aver
age of .3O9, while they were also on top
as fieIders with an average of .9i9 Con-
sidering the fact that seven Of the club
ha never played professional ball be-
fore last season, all being under twenty
one years of age, this was record to be
proud of.
Extensive preparations have been made
by the Long Branch Club for next season,
twenty players. all Cubans, having been
signed up already. Among the lot are
two pitchers and an outfielder of major
league caIiber who have been sought this
Writer by the many scouts now in Ha-
vana.
In the spring the team will come to
the United States by way of Florida,
and will play exhibition games all along
the coast. to be followed by a tour of
New York State and Eastern Association
cities. The season at Long Branch will
open May 3, and before the Eastern
League opens on May y. exhibition games
will be played at home with major league
clubs.