Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-05
GROOMING GRIMES
FOR |NF|ELD BERTH
0'Rourke Likely to Move to
Middle Sack, Brannon to
Bench This Year.
BY BRIAN BELL.
Associated Press Sports Writer.

w VEST PALM BEACH, Fla,
n March 5.-Manager Dan
NV Howley of the st. Louis
Browns believes that what
has been done in base ball
can be done again. Last season he
tossed two untried youngsters INTO the
very heart of his infield and they made
good, one brilliantly. Now he is seri-
ously considering repeating the expert
ment with still another lad who has
never heard the roar of big league guns
at close range. If he decides to gamble
again with willing but inexperienced
talent one of the young stars of 1928
will have to retire to the bench for
time.
Eddie Grimes is the boy who may be
given the acid test on his first trial. He
Is third baseman and batted 1874 for
Tulsa in the Western League last year.
If he gets the assignment for the
Browns, Frank O'Rourke, one of base
balls energetic performers, will move
over to the second base, temporarily
forcing Otis Brannon to the bench.
Grimes has shown that he can field. II
he can hit he is in.
The infield will be completed by Lu
Blue at first base and Ralph Kress at
shortstop. KresS was good last season
and will be better, this year, says How
ley. Kress and his colleague, Brannon,
after getting away to great starts, lost
some of the ground, but were still going
strong when the last curtain fell.
The Browns, who finished third in the
last campaign, to the surprise of the
base ball world, are confident that they
can do better, even in the face of the
strong American League opposition they
face. They base their optimistic pre-
dictions on increased reserve strength.
likely additions to the pitching staff and
a never-say-die spirit.
Outfield Material Good.
At this time last year the Browns had
only two outfielders, for Harry Manush,
of the league batting leadership, was in
jured. Now Manush, Schultz and Nc
Nicely are all ready with Frank Nc
Gowan, who finished in sensational style
with the club, threatening to make
regular place for himself. Morris Bad
gro, former University of Southern
California star, up from Tulsa, probably
will get his major league experience at
first hand. Another Tulsa recruit. Leon
ard Dondero, has chance to qualify as
an infield substitute.
Wally Schang, still a great catcher in
spite of the approach of the base ball
goblin "fat and forty" and Clyde Man.
ion, who hit home-run as pinch
hitter, although his batting average was
Insignificant, will tutor young Dick Fer
rell as the freshman member OF the
catching staff Terrell, who does not
look the ITO pounds with which he is
credited, has much to learn, but Is
willing.
The outstanding pitching recruit Is
Warren rip" Collins. a 32-year old
veteran with numerous major league
service stripes. The big Texan who had
great year In the International League
last season. seems certain to succeed IN
his comeback effort.
Likes Young Pitchers.
Manager Howley expects two Of his
youngsters, who did little active pitch
ing last year, to be ready to take their
turns in 1929. Dick Coffman and Ed
Strelecki worked less than a dozen
games between them in 1928, but every
indication points to more activity to
come. Strelecki did not win game but
he lost only two.
Alvin Crowder and Sam Gray, who
won Al games between them In the
Browns wild dash to third place. may
not do so well in the new season. but
Manager Howley hopes he will not have
to look to his two aces for averages
of 1903 and .625 respectively.
Walter Stewart, a promising left
handler for two years with the Browns,
was sick part of the last season and
has never reached the heights his
boosters claim await him. He has put
on much needed weight and may juSti-
fly the expectations of his friends at
any time. The only other left handler
in the Browns camp is Oscar Estrada
of Havana, who pitched for Shreveport.
The Browns cannot be classed as
great team, but few aggregations can
out-hustle them and they might be
right in their claim that a team that
will not be beaten can't be beaten In
Manager Howley and his two coaches,
Bill Killifer and Jimmy Austin, the
club has trio of great coaxers to ex-
ira effort.