Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-18
Steers Are Hopeful
Entering Flag Race
With Many Changes
BY GEORGE WHITE

q A<W 1htEEct AlPV4Acu 70 III Into
the housekeeping, Dallas has high
hopes Of going somewhere in the 1929
Texas league penasnt race after two
terribly disappointing seasons. At
this stage the local situation il sur
rounded By uncertainties. Help il
coming. This much is definite. At
least two players will be turned over
20 the Steers by the Chicago White
Sox and n will come here from
Pittsburgh. These deals are closed
with the exception Of naming the men
and the formality Of making the
transfers but inasmuch as the men
haven't been named as yet. too much
cannot be taken for granted.
There is no doubt now but that
the 1929 Steers will be stronger than
last years. The club already has
undergone enough changes bringing
in sufficient new talent that one can
safely predict better days. But, for
that matter, anything that could have
happened to he 1929 aggregation
would have been an improvement.
Frankly, the Herd looks about rs or
30 per cent stronger than IL was last
season. II still doesn't have the re-
semblance of a pennant c~ontending
outfit. II IL is the league has slipped
back as far II not farther than the
Dallas club has improved.
Catching Uncertain
To say that the catching staff has
been strengthened L. 70 assume that
the improvement will come from a
youngster who pastimed in Class B
last year, Don Benn, obtained from
Akron of the Central league, or that
the kick will be supplied by a mar
who probably has never put in 20
games behind the bat in his whole
career, Dusty Boggess, all-around
utility man obtained from San An
tonic. Jack Mealey. who finished
White Sox roster, is a cover up"
veteran Josh Billings while another
hold-over, Oscar Steiner. is on the
market and will not be asked 10 re-
port TO training camp.
Aside from a flock OF rockies are
strong uncertainties, whatever
strength that has been added 10 the
pitching staff must Be il the ancient
wing of Joe Martina bought from
New Orlesns and Charlie Barnabe.
who south paved for Waco last year
and has been obtained from the
White Sox. IL doesn't seem reason
able that Oyster Joe will improve
with age. Barnabe can pitch, as he
proved in 1928 but he probably had
more help behind the Dat at Waco
than he'll have here. And Charlie is
characteristically a front runner. II
the club gets off to a flying start,
he may prove a sensation. II il slips
into q rut he may 20 with il. Taking
things as they are now. however,
Martina and Barnabe are no cinches
10 equal. let alone better the per-
formances Of Charlie Robertson and
Homer Blankenship Of the 1928 staff.
FIashkamper Strong
In giving up Jim OElesby 10 take
Wilbur Davis from New Orleans. the
Steers have sacrificed proven defen-
Sive ability for uncertain offensive
strength at first base. At best il
looks like a standoff. The same is
true Of third base, where Bill Huber
will succeed Jodie Tate. Second
base will he in the hands as last
year with Hap Morse on patrol duty
unless Milton Stock. the new skip
per. takes the job away from him.
At any rate, will play the bag
and the other will serve as utility
man. I'm the event Morse IL the reg
ular in the lineup. the comparison
will simmer down between Stock as
a manager, utility player and pinch
hitter, and Bert Ellison. last seasons
boss. Bert was a fairly dangerous
hitter himself. perhaps more so than
stock. The latter may have an edge
in the field.
The greatest improvement made IN
the Dallas club has been a shortstop,
where Ray Flashksmper. late of San
Antonio and generally conceded the
standout of the league ut the posi-
ton IN 1928. has no competition.
Unless one comedies that Turkey
Gross was M his best when he came
back from Minneapolis in 1925, Flash
IS the first real shortfieider Dallas
has boasted in ten years, IL not
longer.
81 Rosenthai Is the only follower
for the outfield and Re hasn't sign
ed his contract. Another certainty IL
Jim Moore. = big fellow who hit 500
with Kansas City last year and who
comes here tagged as the sheik of
baseball. The third man no doubt
will be Randy Moore, now with the
White SoN and last year with Waco.
Also there's q chance az getting
Watwocd from the Hose. Both OF
these would give tire Herd = well
balanced outfield with considerable
offensive strength. The outfield
Gems certain 70 he stronger.
Pitching Needed
The club still needs pitchinF-aF
least two men who can he counted
nron 20 win. TIE middle Of the IN
field and the outfield are acceptable
but first and third base and the
catching department. could stand
strengthening and Stock has vet ~
rrove his managerial ability IL the
Texas league.
In the face or what arrearx r. Re
an unusually well fortified club az
Wichita Falls and the vast resources
cf the Houston Bluffs MS n rart 81
the St. Louis Cardinals chain. ore
can't eonscientionslv pick The Steers
better than third place now and 20
do that might be undertaking five
other clubs which are equally as in
tent on winning rs Is Dallas. Summed
M. the ciub looks better. As II
stands now n isn't n first division
certainty and Only the future win
tell what will come from the Sox
and Pirates.