Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-19
WORTH
BALL CLUB IS
YOUNG, WEAK
Unless Better Players
Turn Up Cats Seem
Doomed to Cellar,
Sport Writer Says

r N1@M4 E8UH CNWNNr EANANNsF
Written for The Associated Press
R1-Fort Worth viii be represented
in the Texas leagues 1879 pennant
race by a young team. II does not
necessarily follow that the team VIII
be weak. but at the present that IS
the prospect.
Other players may be obtained
and by the middle Of April. when
the teas0n opens. the Cats may loom
a formidable contender for the
championship. But with the pres
cnt material. the veteran manager.
Jake Atz, viii have to turn a mir
acle or two II he gets any place IN
particular.
It Is fairly certain the Cats will
get help. The business office has
connections with five IA and two
major league teams, and when the
cutting -down time comes late in
March and early in April. some Of
the surplus material from those or
Ranizations may find itE way here.
Team a Gamble
just o the greater part Of the
team is a gamble. The catching IL
uncertain. the pitching viii be all
right only II some youngsters con-
tinue to deliver as they did late last
eeason when brought in from Class
ID leagues. The infield IS a big
question mark. and Eddie Moore Is
the only sure thing In the outfield.
There are six men on the roster
ms catchers. They are: George
Bischoff, Joe Cobb. Del Baker, John
Alloway. George Rensa and Byron
Bowman. Bischoff and Cobb are
FOLLOWERS OF last season, and both
are slated for sale or trade. Baker
recently was bought from Oakland
Of the Pacific Coast league and
probably will be the first-string re-
celver. Rensa. from Toronto. and
Ailoway, from the Arizona State
league. are expected to battle II out
for the second-string job. Bowman
Is a rookie from the semi-pro ranks
Of Stkeston. NO.
The pitchers number an even
dozen. Jimmy Walkup and Paul
Wachtel ere tire veteran hold0vers.
Don S0nger is "a seasoned southpaw
who has had varying success Char
lie Sullivan has visited Detroit and
Seattle since he left Fort Worth In
1927. Buzz Phillips was with Beau
mont last year. Vincent Devaney,
Bill Golf. Noey Haynes. Ben Wea-
yer and Leo Fitterer are all young
hurlers who were here the latte.
part of last year. Rufus Meadows
trained with the Cats in 81 and -.
but couldn't hold on. Charles Kear-
ney is a semi-pro from Columbus.
Texas
Jim Riley's only competition at
first SO far Is Jim Dougherty, young
cousin Of Manager Atz who has been
playing independent baseball around
Washington
Andy Harrington. who PLAYED Sec
ond last year with q lame arm. Is
reported to be fully recovered, and
may play either second or third.
Karl (Nick) Urban. a veteran
from Rochester. is counted on 20
play short, but Fay Pierce. who was
with Fort Smith last year. viii be
given a trial.
Clarence Freitag, from the Three
II league, and John Smith. a star OF
the New Orleans winter league, are
the third base prospects.
Bill Ramage, a y0ungSter who
served aS utility infielder in %.
win be back.
Ia the outfield Eddie Moore. the
dashing little ball hawk who thrill
ed the Texas league with his feats
the last three seasons, Is a cinch for
the middle position. The others
are wide open. Harmon Cox, a
Southwestern University product
who came here from the Arizona
state league last August. will try
to retain his right field berth. Jim
Bryan and Herbert Kregel are two
hopefuls who played with Fort
Smith last summer. Clyde Howard
is q rookie from the amateur ranks.