Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15


dams said in the training camp
at New Orleans last Spring.
1--WE have Lind on second, TaVener Tor snort
and we can move Joe SeWel over to third base,
he said referring to the new outhelders the
club had acquired. Pitching was his nam
concern, he added.
American League last year. He was destlheo'
smart base ball men said, to become one OF the
greatest second baSemen of all times. ana
1rayener a very good ShOrtStop, was secured
from the Detroit Tigers in trade Tor George
JJhle rated as one of the very best players Ill
base ball.
But the two positions in which the CleVe-
land manager had much commence turned
ont to be two of his greatest problems. Long
before mid-season had arrived Lind and raw
ener had been assigned to positions on the
bench Gardner, a rookie, was playing In
Tayener's place and Hodapp. veteran, was
playing second
This is a long way of getting around to the
subject that the star of one season may be
the bust of the next There flock OF ball
PLAYERS who were in the spotlight last year ana
who have been placed on the spot this year, as
they say in Chicago.
In the boxing racket you could call them
the "busts of base ball" but in the more refined
business of base ball it would be more delicate
to refer to them as the big disappointmentS.
of 1929
The failure of a number of players to follow
their expected form cost the New York Giants
any chance they had to win the National
League pennant In the Spring it looked as II
they had a very excellent chance to win the
pennant John McGraw, manager of the club,
thought the same thing. He is not man to
boast, but he said in San Antonio:
IT had a good ball club last year and it is
improved this year. The infield-Lndstrom,
jackson, Reese, Cohen and Terry-is set. The
~
Tony Kaufman He can hit. And the pitch
ing will be good Larry Benton will have an
other good year"
Isn't it true" we asked that pitchers sell
dom have two good seasons in succession?"
1T is true" he answered, except in the case
of great pitchers. Benton is a great pitcher"
But Benton wasn't a great pitcher this year.
He fell down. So did joe 0enewch. And so
did Freddy Lindstrom, who was one of the
greatest third baSeman in base ball last year.
CHANTY HOGAN. the big Giant catcher.
also Topped this year. He was a power in
the Giant attack last year and his aggressive
spirit was one of the most stimulating infiu-
ences on the club. This year his play fell off
so much that the Giant manager fined him
for errors on the field.
When the Giants decided, for a reason that
never has been made perfectly clear. to remove
Rogers Hornsby from their pay roll, he was
offered to the Cincinnati Reds
Jack Hendricks manager of the Reds, was
sent to New York to talk to McGraw about
a deal. McGraw wanted to know what the
Reds would offer for HornSby. Hendricks
shocked him when he said he wouldn't give
dime for player who is one of the greatest
right -hand hitters in the history of the game.
I've got a better second baseman than he
ever was" Hendricks said. He was referring
to Hugh Crtz. And he added wouldn't
trade Critz for Hornsby even up"
In the Spring training camp this year Hen
bricks spoke again of his great faith in Critz.
There's one spot that I don't have to worry
about he said.
Commenting more upon the prospects of the
Reds in the approaching pennant race, Hen
bricks said
we don't fear any club in the league If
Pete Donohue comes through and pitches as
he should We'll have to be beaten for the
pennant."
Donohue, for years, has been regarded as
one of the best pitchers in the league and he
looked good for a big season when he was
working out i'll the training camp at Orlando,
Fla.
Pete is going great and so are the other
fellows and I'm not crying like some of those
other managers are" Hendricks said.
Donohue didn't come through however and
Critz didn't play up to his last seasons FORM
The Reds found themselves in a battle to keep
out OF last place and the Cincinnati customers
started yelling for the scalp of the manager
and the whole club.
GENIAL Uncle Wilbert Robinson was asked
IN his training camp about the prospects
of his Brooklyn Robins
You came down here to laugh at my ball
club, 1 suppose" Robby said to party of visit
ing scribes. well, if you want to laugh laugh