The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-11
OWNER
WORRIES OYER
WEAK INFIELD
Only Four Familiar Faces Will
Be Missing From Kansas
City Lineup
(This is the second Of a series
of reviews on the American As.
ISOLATION baseball clubs.)

Kansas City, Feb. H. (AP) -
Only four familiar faces will be
missing from the regular Kansas
City Blues lineup on opening day.
April 10, but the absence Of two of
these has caused an infield weakness
that on the eve Of the training camp
date still is worrying George Muehl-
bach, Blues owner.
Only one of the holes in the in
field caused last fall by draft. sale
and recall, has been remedied, and
Muehlbach is currying the lists Of
available players for a second and
third baseman.
Securing of these, together with a
capable southpaw pitcher, would re-
lieve the owners mind, and strength
en- his belief that the Blues would
finish as strong or perhaps stronger
than last year. The team landed in
a second lace tie with Milwaukee
last September.
Howard Freigau, third baseman,
was drawn by Brooklyn in the draft
and Joe HauseI, first baseman, Of
ten called the best first sacker in the
circuit, was recalled by the Athletics.
Ernie Smith, shortstop, and Luther
Roy, pitcher, were sold to Washing
ton.
Rigney Purchased
Dudley Brannon returns to Kansas
City from Philadelphia to hold down
the first plate, and Emery Rigney
has been purchased from Birnling-
ham for the shortstop position.
The third base job is still open,
however. with the possibility that
Ralph Michaels. utility player, may
be called on to fill that hole. In adj
dition a capable second baseman is
sought to back up Bill Wambsganss
at second base.
Hauser was one of last seasons
Blues stars, clouting out two home
runs on successive days over the
right field fence of Muehlbach
park. His home runs were the first
ever knocked over that fence in reg
ular play. Freigau's valuable ser.
vices were lost to the Blues at the
critical last moment through injur-
les which kept him benched.
The pitching staff is fairly COM
plcte with Jimmy and Long Tom
Sheehan, last years aces, Dixie
Davis, who went great after 4 late
start caused by an operation, Eddie
Setback, CIV Yarmouth, George Muir
ray and Lynn Nelson. Nelson came
to the club late in the season on re-
call from Lincoln in the Western
League.
Catchers Are Regulars
John Peters and f. E. Shinault
remain to work behind the plate. Ell
wood Wirts, purchased in the South
ern Association last year, is slated
to do some relief work if he shows
up well in the trxining camp:
The outfield remains intact with
Jim Moore, Frank MCGOWAN, Fred
Nicholson and Denver Grigsby back
in the field. Buster Chatham will
continue as utility player.
Edward dutch" Zwilling, whose
services as manager proved mutually
satisfactory last year to the owner
and the fans, has been signed again
to direct the team. Zwilling is .
colorful character of the diamond,
and was given credit for some fine
managership in keeping the Blues
IN q virtual three-cornered tie for
the leadership until the final day
| Of the season.
Fred Fitzberger Of Creenyille, s.
G.. and Brozovitch Of Dubuque, Iowa,
are among the recruits to Be given 4
tryout 1t the spring training camp,
which will be at Lake Charles; La.l
this year. y
Manager Zwilline will take his
| pitchers and catchers south about
February %, with the Remainder
Of the team joining the batterymen
about ten days later.