The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-09

NEW YORK. March s.-Four years
ago Uncle Wilbert Robinson surprised
the baseball world by winning the Ma
tional league pennant for Brooklyn,
Much of the credit for the 1916 VIC
tory Of the Dodgers was given to
"Robby," and justly so. His long ex-
perienee in baseball had fitted the
veteran catcher to take the helm. of
major league club, and he backed it
up with one Of the sunniest dispositions
in balloon, coupled with uncanny abili-
W IN haHuling men.
/ The dawning Of the 1920 season finds
Uncle WILDER hard at work with a big
squad of players at Jacksonville, Fla,
and with every Dodger eye looking
toward another championship.
Robertson has team of players the
majority Of whom have worked to-
gether for several years. He gets as
much or more team work out of his
men than any manager in the National
| league, and after looking over the
Brooklyn roster and comparing II with
those Of the teams that stack up as
likely contenderS for the 1920 pen
nant, it must be admitted that the
Dodgers have prospects.
Brooklyn finished at the head Of the
second division last summer, after get
ting away to a somewhat belated start.
Cripples among the players and an
often changed infield combination con-
The present training season finds
Robby confronted with a problem that
is worrying q good many managers
this year-that of lining up an infield.
True, the Dodgers havo apparently lost
good outfielder in Tommy Griffith,
who announced his permanent retire.
ment some time ago. But Robhy can
populate his outfield, and his pitching
and catching talent stacks up favorably
with that of his rivals.
Honey on First.
AS for the infield, Ed Konetchy
seems to be a fixture at first base.
The big fellow, after Robbyr got him
| from Boston, showed evidence of new
life, and played bang-:up ball in the
field. The fact that Robby has no first
basing recruits indicates that Honey is
glued to the initial bag.
Jimmy Johnston played a majority
Of Brooklyn's games at second base
last season, and he may be found COW
ering the keystone sack when the sea-
son opens. But Bobby may find II
| outfield, for unless Griffith changes
his mind and returns to the team, the
Dodgers will need an experienced
fielder and a capable hitter to COM
plete the gardening trio with Zach
Wheat and Hi Myers
way WIN was.
last, season and got into comparatively
few games, is a young second base
man of great promise. Both Manager
Robinson and President Ebbets are
expecting great things of him. Ivy
Olson, who has been having on and off
years for some time, is going to be
given chance to hold his place at
shortstop, and Chuck Ward looks safe
| enough as the guardian of the hot cor
ner. Brooklyn has two good infielders
in addition to these men. They are
Pete Kilduff, secured from the Cubs
last summer, and Douglas Baird. Kill
duff and Baird can be used at third,
short or second. Robby's worries, there
| fore, have nothing to do with a lack of
| talent. But how to line this Unfolding
| talent UP is the question.
| The Robin pitchers--Cadore, Grimes,
Mamaux; Marquard, MiUus, Pfeffer,
Mitchell and Smith--are mighty strong.
Aside from Marquard they are young
| fellows. Robby expects to see AL Ma
maux come into his own again this
year, and he looks for great work on
the part of Miljus. Galore, Smith and
Pfeffer also are due to have good sea-
sons, and the cole Rube" is still a
crafty and capable pitcher. The Brook
lyns have some youngsters too. Joe
| Conlan is a left-hander from Chicago
semi-pro ranks. George MOZART and
Paul Schrieher are recruit iight-hand'