Evening star., 1927-03-30

"AMPA. Fla, March S0.-Mana'
ger Stanley Harris evidently
was a shrewd bargainer when
he procured Edward Garland
Braxton. left.hand pitcher. with
Henry Cullop. infielder and outfielder,
from the Yankees late last season in
exchange for Pitcher Walter Ruether.
Many base ball sharps were sur
prised by the Washington pilots move
then, but now it seems that the i'm
pending American League champion
ship campaign will prove Harris a
regular David Harem.
Harris, of course. realized that
Ruether. while still possessing great
possibilities as a pitcher was of no
great value to the Nationals in that
capacity. And now it appears that
he also realized that BraXton, not so
highly regarded by the Yankee man
agement was a most promising port
side hurler. For this slim slabman
right now is one of the best bets
of the Nationals new mound corps.
and is expected to bear considera BILE
part Of the pitching burden of the
club'when the flag race is under way.
Mows Down the Cards.
Braxton continued his fine work of
the Spring training season yesterday
when he moved down the Cardinals
that Miller Higgins dared not send
him against in the world series last
Fall in the first six innings of game
that the Nationals grabbed by 3-to-2
count. During his term on the hill,
the slender southpaw was master of
the situation at all times. He
showed a good fast ball, fine change
of pace. battling curve and control of
high order, a mixture that had the
world champions eating out of his
hand.
But four Cards got on the runway
while Braxton was in action. Waite
Holm, first at bat in the game, drew
q pass. the only one issued by the
portsider. Wallie Roettger sacrificed
Holm to second. and there the latter
remained, for the next two batters
became easy infield retirements.
In the second round, after Les Bell
had famed and Chick Hafey had sent
a harmless roller to Ossie Bluege, Bob
O'Farrell lined a two-bagger to left.
That never faxed Braxton. The best
Tommy Thevenow could do was bound
the ball to the pitcher.
Holm Trapped OFF First.
I Art Reinhardt was out of the way in
the third when Holm made a single
of roller past Joe Judge. But Wat
tie was trapped off first and run down.
Then Roettger gave Ollie Tucker a
soft chance in right field frankie
Frisch and Jim Bottomly, hard hit
ters. could not drive the bali through
the infield in the fourth, and Bell
iooped lazy fly to Goose Goslin.
Hafey had been retired in the fifth
when O'Farrell got a single with a
grounder that took a mean hop over
Bluege's head. Bob never left first
base, for Thevenow hoisted to Earl
McNeely and the pitcher took care of
Reinhardt when Art bunted
< In the sixth session Braxton pitched
his second and third strikeouts of the
game following Holm's weak tap to
Bluege. Roettger and Frisch were his
victims, both waiting for the third
strikes. In 81 visits to the plate the
Cards had knocked the ball beyond
the infield only six times. It was
real pitching treat.
In addition to possessing mechani-
cal ability, Braxton seems to be a
heady hurler. Evidently he has
learned much of the slabbing art in
his seven years in professional base
ball. Braxton started his diamond ca
rer in his native State, North Caro-
lima. He was born June 10, 1900, on
farm about five miles from Saxapa-
haw. in Aiamance County, where he
still makes his home. After pitching
a couple of years at Spring High
School, he got a job with the Greens.
boro club of the Piedmont League in
1920.
Joined Braves in 1921.
:, The next year he went UP to the
Braves and remained with them
through 1922. The National League
club sold him to. Worcester of the
Eastern League, where he played in
1923. In 1924 he was sold to Spring
field of the same circuit and remained
with that orga nization until August,
1925, when he was bought by the
Yankees.
While with Worcester i'm 1923 Brax-
ton won II games and lost Ia. In
Springfield in 1924 he reversed this
record, winning Ia and losing II. Be-
fore going to the Yankees in 1925.
however, he won "a. games and lost
10 for Springfield. With the Yankees
last year he worked mostly as a re-
lief hurler and he was effective enough
to gain second place in the pitching
ratings based on the percentage of
runs earned by opponents per nine
inning game. His rating was 269
runs per game.
He participated in 81 games for a
record of five wins and one loss. IN
the 81 innings he hurled, the opposi-
ton made II hits in 25S times at bat.
He issued 10 passes, was reached for
sacrifices and struck out 80 batters.
He made no wild pitches and hit no
opponent.
Braxton has worked in four exhibit.
ton games this Spring with the Ma
tionais and is credited with two vic
tories and no defeats In Is innings
he has been scored against twice, but
only one of the runs was earned. He
has allowed eight hits, passed four
batters and struck out IA. 1t GER
tainly appears that the club has
picked up a very capable Ieft.ha nd
mound artist.
Hadley's Control Poor.
After Braxton finished his turn YES
terday Irving Hadley went to the slab
and 1t was his lack of control that
forced the Nationals to go to the ninth
inning for victory. Bump was bumped
for a triple and a single after pa IS.
"a -
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