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

llEst 1utl season on the JOD ana with
a new skipper imported to fit 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 is
coming. This much is definite. At
least two players will be turned over
to 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 NJ 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
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 Is or
so per CEN stronger than it was last
season. IL still doesn't have the re-
sembiance of a pennant c~ontending
outfit. IL il is the league has slipped
back as far il not farther than the
Dallas club has improved.
Catching Uncertain
To say that the catching staff has
been strengthened il Z 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 man
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
last season here and IS now on the
White SoX roster, is a cover up"
and he will be back. So will the
veteran Josh Billings while another
hold-over. Oscar Siemer. is on the
market and will not be asked 70 re-
port 20 training camp.
Aside from a flock Of rockies are
strong uncertainties, whatever
strength that has been added to the
pitching staff must be in the ancient
wing Of Joe Martina bought from
New Orleans and Charlie Barnabe.
who southpawed 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 Ne probably had
more help behind the bat az Waco
than he'll have here. And Charlie is
Enthusiastically a front runner. II
the club gets off TO a flying start.
he may prove a sensation. If IL slips
into a rut he may go with il. Taking
as they are now, however,
Martina and Barnabe are no cinches
equal, let alone better the per-
Of Charlie Robertson and
Homer B~lankenship Of the 1928 staff.
Flashkamper Strong
In giving up Jim Oglesby 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 q standoff. The same is
true Of third base. where Bill Huber
will succeed Jodie Tate. Second
base will be in the hands as las.
year with Hap Morse on patrol duty
unless Milton Stock. the new skip
per. takes the job away from him.
At any rate. one viii play the bag
and the other will serve as utility
man. In the event Morse is the reg
ular In the lineup. TIE comparison
Will simmer down between Stock as
a manager. utility player and pinch
and Bert Ellison. last seasons
Bert was . fairly dangerous
himself. perhaps more 80 than
The latter may have an edge
in the field.
The greatest improvement made IN
the Dallas club has been a shortstop.
Raw Flashkamper. late Of San
and generally conceded the
standout IF the league at the posi-
ton in 1923. has no competition.
M comedies that Turkey
Gross was at his best when he came
back from Minneapolis in 1926, Flash
Is the first real shortfielder Dallas
has boosted in ten years, If not
81 Rosenthal is the only hold-over
for the outfield and he hasn't sign
ed his contract. Another certainty is
Jim Moore, a big fellow who hit 800
with Kansas City last year and who
comes here tagged as the sheik Of
baseball. The third mar no doubt
will he Randy Moore. now with the
White SoS and last year with Waco.
Also there's a chance Of getting
Watwood from the Hose. Both of
would give the Herd a well
balanced outfield with considerable
strength. The outfield
seems certain 10 be stronger.
Pitching Needed
The club still needs pitching-at
two men who can he counted
mon TO win. The middle Of the in
field and the outfield are accountable
but first and third base and the
catching department could stand
strengthening and Stock has vet TO
his managerial ability in the
Texas LEAGUE.
In the face ~ what appears r. ne
an unusually well fortified club at
Wichita Falls and the vast
Df the Houston Bluffs as a part Of
the st. Louis Cardinals chain. one
conscientionsly pick the Steers
than third place now and 10
d. that might he undertaking five
other clubs which are equally as in
tent on winning as is Dallas. Summed
up. the club looks better. AS II
now il isn't a first division
certainty and only the future will
ell what will come from the Sox
md Pirates.