Evening star., 1926-03-24


The surgeon who has him in
charge says that Hauser might be
in good condition all of this season
and that there might be times when
he would become tired. The latter,
however, is not so extraordinary.
since there are a great many ball
players without split kneecaps who
are tired between May and Septem-
her. In the latter part of the season
they are very active because their
contracts are then under advisement
for the year following.
Playing Now as Well as Ever.
Right now Joe plays first base as
we'll as ever he did. That may be
hopeful for the future and 1t may
not, hut the fact is that he batted
the ball on the proboSciS and played
around the bag as II he never had
any thought of quitting, and 1t could
not be observed that he favored the
knee very much. Once he Jumped
away from the plate to avoid being
hit and he jumped in such manner
that If he had tried to wrench the
knee he could not have executed the
maneuver more handsomely, and yet
he did not seem to have felt IT,
After the game was over ana ne
had run bases In ana Out dllu S''u
and done everything that ball play.
or can hone TO do ne was asked
whether his knee panied him, and
he said it did not. That is very hope
ful for Mack and the Athletics. The
. knao may break down again, but
those who know Hauser hope 1t VIII
not.
The significance Of this about
IIauser is that four major league
managers have said this Spring that
the return of TIauser in perfect con
dition will mean pennant TOT the
Athletics Two of those managers
are National League men.
Situation Is Overemphasized.
That NAV be a wish which is father
to the thought, or something like that.
hut II does show how much impor-
lance is attached to Hauser. The
principal fact which intrudes itself Is
that the Athletics are considered 10
he q very dangerous pennant FACTOR
with Hauser and not quite so DANGER
Gus without Hauser.
Yet. as the writer has pointed out.
they have Poole, and for the life or
the prophet it can't be noted that they
suffered complete extinction last year
with Poole. .,,.-.. -. .--.----...
"A
10 he attached to this first base queS-
tion so far as the Athletics are con
cerned. They can win a pennant II
thew have Poole and good pitching,
and that is not the opinion OF TINS
particular commentator alone, pul
also that of Connie Mack.
In any event. Connie is more IN
rlined to think the knee will stand by
Tho team than to think it won't. When
Hauser first tried to play ball on 1t
he was delighted because it stood up.
He played a little moro and discov'
cred that it was yielding and weak.
That discouraged him a little and
worried Mack more. Then Hauser
began again after three or four days
rest. and this time he has found that
he manages 10 get along pretty well.
Poole Sure to Be Retained.
So for the moment everybody is
hopeful that Hauser will play first
base in 1926, although there is not
the remotest danger that Poole will
lie released or traded. Like other
teams, this sturdy bunch Of the Ath-
letics finds the first base situation
almost as acute as the real estate
situation seems to be to d lot Of per-
sons in Florida. With a good first
basenlan the firm of Bishop, Galloway
and Dykes is at its very best.
Without a good first baseman the
Athletics always appear to be a little
stunned.
Connie has been asked why he did
not take Pipp from the Yankees and
play the game safe for the Athletics.
He thought he was quite sure of
having Hauser and he knew he had
fN oil
ter his team up with first baselnen.
Pipp is in such good condition at
the moment that naturally it looks
as If any team getting him would
have picked up quite. a bargain for
the Spring marketing