Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19


greatly benefited by the
regular employment of more hit
ters of right-hand persuasion,
none of the present crop of south
side swatterS will be cast aside to
make room for right-hand base
ball bangor unless the right
handler clearly proves he deserves
the place.
George Loepp acquired by purchase
from Baltimore, Is not TO yank the
centerfield Job from Sammy West mere
" because he (Loepp) is right-hand
syinser and West bats from the other
side.
No. indeed Although West has been
struggling for several seasons to MT
we'll against big league pitching with
cut getting anywhere, SO to speak. tnoSe
in charge of the Nationals apparently
mean that Sammy will be the regular
occupant of the center pasture when
the training campaign gets under way
at Biloxi in March. 1t will not be a
case of West fighting to hold the posi-
ton, but of Loepp flghting to get it..
1t seems the offlcials of the Wash
ington club are sold on West. They
like him as fielder-and they should
and they still insist he will make
the grade as a big league batter. They
can't forget what q whale of q hitter
Sammy was with Birmingham of the
Southern Association before he was
''beaned" by one of Merle. Settlemire's
pitches shortly before he was purchased
by the Washington club. and they still
believe he will get over the shyness
he displays at the plate, especially
against left-hand pitching. and again
become q hrst-class swatter.
Leepp's Batting Record Good.
According to the oficial records of
the American League and the Inter-
national League. Loepp looms as bet
ter sticker than West. George hit for
an average of .313 with the Baltimore
club last season. Sammy hit at .267
clip for the Nationals. OF course,
George did not face the high class of
pitching Sammy looked over, but at
that any batter hitting above 800 in
the International League must be
reckoned n pretty good batter.
Loepp took part in 164 games with
the Orioles and grabbed ls7 hits In
$40 times at bat. West was at bat $40
times In 142 games with the Nationals
and managed to make 1856 hits. Loepp
averaged more than a hit game, West
less than q hit game.
Loops 1877 hits were good for $50
bases He made 40 doubles, 6 triples
end ~ homers- Now many OF the
parks are Joke" homers, especially most
OF those made at Baltimore. But one
can't laugh OF those 40 doubles cracked
by Loepp. They must have been good,
solid smacks
West Net Slugger.
with his 136 hits, West totaled lit
bases. He cracked is doubles, 8 triples
and 8 homers, O record not so inn
pressive as Loops with all his speed
Sammy is one Of the fastest runners in
the American League-the Washington
player managed to stretch but Is hits
into two-baggers. And West is faster
man than Loepp. too.
West was the better sacrifice hitter
last season. He made 20 smacks of
this variety, against 10 by Loepp. And
Sammy also did better at base stealing
for he pilfered nine sacks while the Bal
timore player in "a more games stole
only f1Ve mere bases.
Despite his weak hitting, West man
aged to drive over the plate IS runs.
Loepp batted over "a. He also scored
1913 runs, against so tailed by West.
The Oriole proved good waiter for he
drew % bases on balls. West got As
passes. West struck out Al times and
never was pinked by a pitched ball
Loepp was hit by pitches four times
and must have been a pretty free
swinger, for he whitfield 81 times.
Injury Checked OrioIe.
Loepp was a smashing hitter during
the greater part of the international
League campaign. He batted far above
the mark given him for the route. An
injury sustained late in the battling,
however. slowed him no. After he had
an ankle hurt he was not as strong at
bat as formerly. but at that managed
to stick right well. West never had
any good hitting streaks during the
Nationals season. Sammy got away
poorly and was unable to get his head
above water.
While Loepp made by far the better
hitting record, his work afield did not
compare with Vests. Sammy in 1879
games In which he worked in the out
field achieved a rating of .s7S. Loepp
felded at a 1852 pace in 1874 engage
Enents. Ofiicial statistics for the Amer
lean League show that West had 40
chances and accepted all but Q. Loepp,
according to the International League
records, had 45s chances and made IA
errors.
West made 45a assists. more than
Ioepp made. although he played afield
In rs less games than the Oriole. And
Sammy also figured in more double
plays taking part in g. while Loepp
participated In Z. Sammy is the better
fielder beyond doubt. But that boy
aoepp certainly appears to be a hitter.
Veterans Marking Time.
Responses to letters sent veteran
members Of the club concerning con-
tract terms for this year are not pour
ing into the club headquarters by any
aneans, President Clark Grif1th states.
However, the prexy is not annoyed by
this sluggishness on the part of those
he has corresponded with, he declares.
He expects to hear from several this
week and also to get the signed con-
tracts from q number OF his younger
players. The boys still have much
time in which to consider their papers.
Grifnth has announced he will retain
the three coaches who were with the
nationals last year. They are Nick
Altrock and AL Schacht, veterans In the
clubs service. and Ed Charity, who
csme back to the Nationals last year
after leaving his catching job with
them when the 1923 season ended. Al
Though Charity will have few young
pitchers with which to work he'll have
plenty to do. But this will not bother
iirul kLA mWaA a.