Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-20
PHILLIES See
BRIGHT HOPES
IN FLAG RACE
New Pilot and Gen
eral Shakeup Puts
Pep Into Tailenders
OF Last Year

PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 20.-CPl-
With q raft Of new players. a season.
ed first baseman and additions to
the pitching staff, not TO mention the
inspiring influence OF Burt Shotton,
the new manager signed for two
years, the Philadelphia nationals
face the 1928 baseball campaign
looking through rose-tinted spec
tacles.
Winding up in eighth place last
season, the Phils switched managers
during the winter, made a few ad-
vantageoCs swaps, shook up their
personnel, changed training quarters
and announced spring practice would
start We weeks earlier this year.
The most notable addition to the
team is First Baseman George Kelley,
bought from Minneapolis, although
he played at Newark, ". j., last year.
Kelley has been q successful minor
league first sacker for five years and
compiled ~ homers two years ago
with Buffalo.
Thompson on Second
Despite conflicting reports, Fresco
Thompson will be back on second
base. he is one 90 the most agile
keystone tenders in the National
league. The veteran Heinie Sand will
return TO his old position at short
stop. Hal Dietrich Of Portsmouth,
Va, will be Sands understudy.
A struggle for third base viii take
place between Barney Friberg, q
near veteran, and A. q. (Ace) Whit
ney, erstwhile New Orleans player
and voted the best infielder in the
Southern association last year.
Whitney comes highly recommend
cd to the Pills. He sports a 1888 bat
ting average. IL a base stealer and
sses a rifle throwing arm.
One of the best all-around utility
men in the National league. Roggy
Wrightstone, a handy man with the
bat, viii be available FOR emergency
duty in almost any position and Will
act as pinchhitter.
Twirlers Better
At the last baseball meeting, the
Phillies disposed of OutfIelder John
nv Mokan, Catcher Bubbles Jonnard
and Shortstop Jimmy COoney in ex-
change for Pitcher Jimmy Ring and
Catcher John Schultz. Ring was
eager to play in the East and his ex-
~perience should be an asset 10 the
Philadelphia team.
The twirling corps is stronger than
in recent years. IL consists Of Frank
UlEich. a right-handed ace; Claude
Willoughby, Alex Ferguson, Art De-
catur, veteran right-handed singers;
Clarence Mitchell, Herb Pruett and
Lester Sweetland. southpaws.
There is a flock Of impressive new
corners. Walsh and Tarer from the
Eastern league; Benge fro mWaeo;
Greene of Portsmouth, and many 9TH
er lesser lights. At least four Of the
rockies are said to posses enough
stuff TO remain in the big league.
Hitters in Field
In the outfield, Cy Williams, who
tied with Hack Wilson for home run
horors last year with so. probably
will alternate with Denny Sothern, If
he does not care 10 play through the
entire season. Cy is a real veteran
but he still retains the knack Of
clouting homcrs.
Center field will be guarded by
Fred Leach. n deadly hitter in the
pinch. while Dick Spaldlng will hold
forth in left. Both led the league in
fielding their positions last season.
All Nixon and Holman viii be sub
~stitutes, giving the pills two out
fields.
The catching department is led by
Cant. Jimmy Wilson, with Schultz
and O'Donnell in reserve.
Manager Shotton Will be assisted
BY Fred Hunter. formerly Of SYRIA
cuse. The pitchers and catchers Will
arrive in camp. Feb. 20. This year
the Pills have shifted their training
site 70 Winter Haven, in Central
Florida. Seventeen pitchers VIII
take the spring conditioning jaunt.
assuring the Phillies plenty Of bat
ting practice.