Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-22
M UDDY RUEL may have
mn to step on it this season
wv to prevent Roy Spencer,
4 "A the free agent recently

mn to step on it this season
w to prevent Roy Spencer,
l. n the free agent recently
acquired by the Nationals, from
breaking into sufficient num-
Der of contests behind the bat
for Washington to interrupt
Ruel's record Of catching in
more than 100 games every
season. That, at least, Is the
dope furnished by the Pitts
burgh operative to whom I ap-
pealed for a loW-down on the
ex-Pirate.
Ruel has been a century
plant" among backstoppers for
eight consecutive campaigns,
but my Smoky City agent
opines it will be not so easy for
him to hold Spencer back as it
has been to keep Charity,
Tate. SEVERED, Kenna and such
on the bench during his six
seasons as a Griffman.
According to this informant,
it was only because of the pres
ence of Earl Smith and Johnny
Gooch that Spencer was not
given a chance to work regu-
larly for the Buccaneers. When
he did break in he gave a
splendid account of himself in
hitting as we'll as backstopping,
and never would have been al
lowed to get away but for the
fact that he was suspected of
being too strongly In sympathy
with Kiki Cuyler during the
latter's estrangement with the
Pirate management the year
before last. The reason he was
dropped again last month was
because he refused to sign and
expressed himself as having no
desire to play return engage
ment in Pittsburgh.
Smart and a Hustler"
Spencer is a good catcher,
man of clean habits, and ought
to prove valuable to the WASH
ington club" asserts my West
ern Pennsylvania representa-
tive, who has had him under
observation since he broke into
the majors five years ago. He
adds:
Spencer is not a fancy re-
ceiver, nor one given to flourish
or flash, but he is smart, game
and a hustler behind the plate.
Unusually good at capturing
foul flies, he gets the ball away
quickly, is a fast and accurate
throWer and rarely calls for a
waste pitch. He scorns minor
injuries and thinks nothing of
tapping up a split finger or
spike wound and going back to
work.
pitcher Steve Swetonic says
his fine record with Indianap-
oils last year was due largely to
Spencer'S handling. Swetonic
was keenly disappointed when
1t was announced Roy would
not be a Pirate this season.
And a Pittsburgher, who is an
umpire in the American AssO-
citation, pronOunces Spencer
one of the best and steadiest
young catchers he ever saw.
Valuable as Pinch Hitter.
Spencer also is valuable as a
pinch hitter, being a strong
sticker, particularly when the
bases are occupied. He was
given more intentional walks in
the jams last year than any
other player in the American
Association except Reb Russell.
I'm his first year in Pitts
burgh, 1925, Spencer figured in
only ID games, and his batting
average was but .214, with a
fielding mark of .905, but in
1926 he batted 1876, the highest
average in either of the major
leagues that year. He made II
hits in 43 times at bat in %
games, his safeties including
three doubles. His defensive
record was 90 putouts. 3 as
sists and ! error, an average of
$40.
I'm 1927 Spencer hit 1888.
with 26 blows In 90 times at bat
in 38 games. Three doubles
and a triple were included. His
fielding record showed SO put
outs, Is assists and 3 errors, for
an average of .974. He was