The Washington times., 1929-07-18
Al MOORE,
|C|F BARONS,
IS DlJE.
By Bob Thayer

p
ST. LOUIS, July 18.-That
al Moore, right-handed hitting
outfielder Of the Birmingham
Barons, may soon be acquired
by the Washington Griffmen,
was a report persistent today.
Moore, it is understood, has pulled
out of an earIy-season slump and Is
clouting robustIy for the Southern
Association pacemakers just now.
Ne is purported to be of the slug
gdng type, having collected quite a
few timely extra-d distance drives for
the Barons this year.
1t is understood that Scout Joe
Engel has spent much OF his tlne
giving Moore the once over recently,
and, If he reports favorably on the
player, a deal in all likelihood Will
be arranged.
Already a target for left-handed
pitching. the offense of the Wash
ington Griffmen yesterday was
dealt a sever blow when Ossle
Bluege, crack hot-corner guardian,
again twisted his trick left knee.
This happened in the sixth section
of the final Griff- White Sox struggle
when Ossie went to his left for
Kamm's hot grounder. Runners
were on first and second when
Ossie's spikes caught in the soil
and wrenched his knee, causing him
to tumble. Rallying gamely TO
force REYNOLDS at second with a
toss to Myer from a sitting posture,
was borne from the field while Myer
switched to third and Hayes trotted
out to second base.
Though Bluege recovered In the
locker room, that damaged knee,
which had buckled under him twice
previously this season, still was in
bad condition and on the advice OF
Trainer Mike Martin, he was dis
patched directly to Washington last
night. Scheduled to arrive in the
Capital today Ossie probably will
Immediately undergo treatment.
Though every effort will be made to
get him back into playing condition
as quickly as possible he will be
inactive for an indefinite period,
possibly for a month or six weeks.
In the meanwhile his right
hand hitting punch, which had
been conspicuous prior to yesteF-
days setback, will be sadly
missed by . team which has
Jared badly before sOuthpaWs in
its games to date.
In addition to being one of the
American Leagues smoothest de-
fensive men. Ossie's run-making
punch had, to some extent, atoned
for batting order top heavy with
left-hand clubbers, he being the only
one of the three Orthodox swinging
regulars to be clipping around 800.
Hayes, also a right-hand cutter,
can hardly be expected to match
Bluege's timely stickwork, while
Cronin and either Ruel or Spencer
must put on plenty of steam to take
his place as the king-pin of the at
tack on sidewinders. Weakened in
this respect, it is difficult to imagine
the plight Of the Griffmen against
portsider hurting.
PitifulIv weak at the best prior
h> Bluege's retirement, they must
IN some manner connect with a
righthand hitting outfielder to bai-
ance his loss. Such a move, it is
thought, may take place in the near
future. Faced with this state Of af-
fairs it is a certainty that Manager
Walter Johnson would overlook no
opportunity to connect with the
right man, and in the event his de-
sired player is located he probably
viii be snapped up on short notice.
Meantime it is feared Bluege
probably will never be able to bear
down strenuously on his weak knee
until he submits to an operation
for the removal of a damaged carti-
1age. This he intends doing during
the approaching winter unless he
deems it advisable to act earlier.
In any event the American Leagues
premier third sacker will be missed
In every department and until he
Asturns the Griffmen must rock
along as best they can without one
Of their most consistent and val
liable cogs.