Evening star., 1928-05-31
SEND VAN ALSTYNE,
G|LL|S TO M|LLERS
String Is Kept on Pitcher
Hugh McMulIen Shifted
Back to Louisville.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

By JOHN B. KELLER.
NEW YORK, May 31.-Eddie Kenna,
first-string catcher for the Minneapolis
club OF the American Association since
the start OF last season. has been ac-
ouired by the Nationals and will report
to them when they reach st. Louis the
end of the week.
This Manager Stanley Harris an
Y,ounced this morning and he also said
that in exchange for Kenna. the Millers
Ei1i get Grant ellis. inflelder, and Clay
ton Van AlStyle, pitcher. Giils goes
TO the Minneapolis club outright, but
the Nationals viii keep string on Van
Alstyne. These players VIII head for
their new organization tonight.
Kenna Will take the place on the
clubs catching staff vacated yesterday
by Hugh McMullen, who has been re-
turned to Louisville of the American As
scciation from which he was drafted last
Fan.
AfcMullen was told of his transfer to
the ColoneiS Immediately after the sec
ond game was called of. He left last
night for Washington and will join the
louisville club within few days.
The Nationals new catcher is said 10
be about Muddy Ruels height, but Of
somewhat stronger build than the clubs
veteran receiver Kenna is around rs
years old. according to the best infor-
nation to be obtained here. and has
been in professional base ball some time.
HE halls from the Pacific Coast.
Hit sac Last Season.
Last season with Minneapolis he hit
AZ $40 rate IN 90 games. He Socked
81 hits, "a Of them doubles. of them
triples and 10 Of them homers. He
scored 46 runs and was responsible for
% runs going over. He was behind
the bat in 81 engagements and finished
the season with fielding record OF
.eSs. making errors.
Kenna vas with the Nashville club Of
the Southern Association In 1925 and
with couple of clubs In the Eastern
League the year before. Clyde Milan,
National coach, says Kenna hit well
u both circuits.
ellis, Van Aistyne and McMuIlen
leave the Nationals after being carefully
looked over The infielder's efforts were
watched closely during the training
period and after the season opened
ellis was tried at shortStop and sec
end base and had few days Of filing
n at third base. he started wen at
short, but his work soon fell OF and
at second be was far from being a
success.
Il was not that ellis was erratic in
his play, but he failed TO cover sufficient
territory TO make him q major league
3n1ekier at present. II was thought
when he was purchased from Birming-
ham last year that he would make the
grade with a bit more grooming. He
appeared 70 advantage IN the few games
he got In a. the fag end Of the 1877
campaign. but nOw II appears ne has
mach more 70 learn before he may
hope 70 stick In the big show.
ellis Average .253.
He revealed 10 great batting strength
& his trial this season. In "a games
he vent 70 bat 81 times and got y hits
FIR an average Of .z53. His fielding
figures were ef4 for 10 games at short
6s1p. 30 tor 8 games az second base
ard 1000 xOE 3 games at third base
Grant YES shifted from short 20 sec
end base after tn- first week Of this
xaontn and was al the new position
bit tao days when his nose was broken
by 2 throw from Wally Schang The
1asury kept him Idle only short time.
bsIt shortly after he returned 70 the
game-Azzy ie. TO be exact-he ceased
20 be regular sn the lineup.
With GzitS gcne. Harris is the only
an1eider with The cub aside from those
performing regularly, and he k far
from being physically Ct for duty. The
Nationals may " dsckerfng for another
8aner Gordon n1sn. although the mana
Erg has nothing 70 say regarding such
. possibility zhOuId any accident be-
xzG OsSse RIzege. Bob Reeves or Jack
Hayes present, however, Eucky
wO1ld have TO get into the lineup.
breken finger. sore foot and ali
Ven Algtyneis departure leaves the
Nationals vita FIST nine pitchers, but
from the g1se the club has made Of Van
this season y VII not nalsE him. This
ability. Far from that Manager Harris
beslegeS that With another year Of ex-
persence 5n the minors Van Aistyne VIII
degesop fsso q u.ascr Lacquer. But ne
~sss an only four ganaes this season. and
Iaen sose5y Is . relief hurseT.
Van an Eastern Lacquer.
van was purchased from Albany Of
kse Eastern Lezgaze. sfteT the SeA6on Of
1925, s16 befose the Nationals broke
sAelT 1871 training camp be Was farmed
70 Birmingham. where ne nusAed weaL
EecSgled Last August he had 10 chance
10 ssksw hss wares ln the big show. for
~ Kszrs EslS left ess1GsdeT 10 faU ia
Cnaca2o He Was expected " deTeloD
into Z frst-cLAsS augsex at training
cznaD fhGS year, Dv9 failed, Of0clals 81
1sse club think 100 nascn of his posi-
baat&s. though, 70 have sent a1n 70 the
gFs91ess outright.
As q rszsg1-Scg9az catcher kcNslaen
Eaz1 sasrse 20 CO for me Nationals ex~
eept serve &s = NaFyn-saD partner iof
xzsNEaegs. Hugh Wa nCs even of Use -
:. pszea -b2tteg, his hitting gtgengsa be-
10 sfsglas He hr0Ee 3ns0 0n1y one game
"a TIE eEazmps0usEaED season wien De
kmA4ec sn place of pitcher ard famed.
he car psZ TIE DG4 wei, Dzs 80 can
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<9sfaeYs ezx soGk ts3e syz-. TOO. 20 there
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