The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-02-12
BY SID C. KEENER.

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 12.-Walter Ger
Der will be a member of the Browns
training troupe at Bogalusa, La,
next month. For a time there were
serious doubts as to Walters appear
ance at the camp this spring. De-
veloping into the best shortstop in
the American League last season,
Gerber was not satisfied with the
first contract received from Bust
ness Manager Bob Quinn, and it was
feared that the breach was so wide
that Manager Lee Foil would have
to find his shortstopper from the list
Of recruits.
The suspense, however. ended today
when Miss Murphy who Is pinch hit
ting for Bob Quinn this week an
nounced that the morning mail had
deposited Gerber's signed contract.
A document from Pitcher Lukanovic,
a graduate of the Mobile club of the
Southern league, accompanied Ger
ber's contract.
From a mediocre shortstopper to
the best in the league was the rapid
stride made by Walter Gerber. And
this includes such sterling felders as
Roger Peckinpaugh. Everett Scott
and others.
Gerber really played phenomenal
ball for the Browns in 1920. In field
ing he had seventeen more assists
than Scott and in hitting he led all
of the shortstoppers with an average
of $50.
Gerber's fielding tricks extended be-
yond the limits of the shortstop post
ton for II must be remembered that
he had little support from the right
side of his station and frequently he.
had to dash over around third base
for slow hoppers to get the batter at
hrst base.
With Gerber in line the Browns in
field is complete. Sisler is tied to
, contract for four years, recruits Glea-
son and Ernest Lee have signed their
contracts and Earl Smith, who Is tab
bed for third base this season, for
warded his contract week ago.
GERBER IS LEAD-OFF BATTER.
Gerber showed a sharp improve
ment in his play at Sportsman's Park
the moment he was placed at the top
of the batting order. In 1919 he was
the weakest swatter on the club and
during the winter the Browns bid ex-
tremely high with the Boston Red
from the Hub Town.
Jimmy Burke also urged Quinn to
decker with the Tigers for DOME
Bush. That's how Gerber was rated
with the Browns officials.
=. Sighting a weak spot between sec
'opd and third, Burke and Quinn
sought to replace Gerber with Bush or
Scott. But their negotiations were
fruitless and Gerber appeared at short
last spring. Day by day the fans saw
his fielding and his batting improve.
Although Gerber is not listed with
the long-distance hitters, he Is re-
xarded as one of the smartest batters
in the league. He copied Joe Gedeon's
position at the plate for the hit-and-
run swing, as well as the sacrifice,
and with Gedeon absent Gerber now
probably will occupy this position on
the offense.
TWO CONTRACTS MISSING.
Two contracts are missing so. far.
Josh Billings has failed to come to
terms with the Browns and Bill Bayne
IL in the open account. Bayne Is ex-
pected to sign during the week. The
situation with Billings is a peculiar
enc
billings is a member of the winter
baseball colony out on the Pacific
coast and is quoted as informing the
tBrowns of expressing a preference to
california baseball. So far this In
formation has not reached the Browns
sffice and Quinn's only knowledge OF
such news is through the press.
IF Billings feels that way about
NJ said Quinn last week, II believe
we can satisfy him. However, I'd
rather not go into Josh's case until
ret the information from him direct"