Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-16

~ OSTON, April 16.-When Joe
- Engel was promoted from
Washington scout to the
presidency of the LookoutS
and went to Chattanooga, Walter
johnson felt sad. There was none
left around the club with which
the manager might discuss fox
hounds. But Walter is happy
once more and Earl Webb, out
fielder, just procured from Gin
cinnati by the Washington club,
is responsible.
It seems that Earl-its really w.
Earl, but he will not tell what the in
itial stands for-had no sooner landed
at Fenway Park shortly before the Ma
tionals hung a 6-to-1 sinner on the
Red Sox in the season opener here and
thereby got sweet revenge for their
beating in. the home start that he let
it be known his favorite occupation be-
tween base ball seasons is rambling
across the Tennessee Mountains with
his pack of foxhounds. That got to
johnson quickly and was the start of a
beautiful friendship.
Webb has had opportunities to see
foxhounds in many sections of the coun-
try, for he has roaned some in his pro-
1eSSIOIldl CdIGGI. ne SIdIk6u All 1871
with Memphis, was shipped to Clarks-.
dale in the Mississippi State League
went back to Memphis and was sold
to the Giants. In 1923 John McGraw
sent Webb to Pittsfeld in the Eastern
League and two years later he landed
with Toledo In 1926 he was with Lou
sville, the next two years with the
Cubs and last season he was with Los
Angeles. The Reds drafted him from
the Angels last Fall.
Started Out as a Pitcher.
Webb started his base ball among the
coal fields of Tennessee He was born
in Bon Air about a hundred miles
from Chattanooga, on September II,
1899, and now makes his home at Pleas
ant Hill, a town near his birthplace.
He started as a pitcher and went up to
pro ranks as such, but says when he
was with Pittsfield, in 1924, he decided
he was entirely too wild to make any
Roadway as a slabman and turned to
outf1elding, which decision, it seems,
proved wise one.
The newcomer to the Nationals is a
stalwart. He is more than 6 feet tall
and weighs 1875 pounds. And he has
plenty of power in his shoulders. This
was indicated yesterday as he socked
the ball in batting practice. He got
this power from working in the Ten
nessee coal fields. He toiled in them
for IL years and liked it, he declares.
While Webb was procured primarily
for use as a likely pinch batter, he may
get trial in center field. johnson
will look over the new player carefully
in fielding and batting drills here, and
If he shows much ability, Sam West
will be lifted and Webb sent to the
middle garden.
Brown Starts Well.
A WIN in his first start does not
"A mean pitcher is in for a big
season any more than a warm day in
April means we will have a scorching
Summer. But that game Lloyd Brown
hurled yesterday against the Red Sox
in Fenway Park has Walter johnson
believing the left-hander is in for a
great year. The pilot of the Nationals
was lavish in his praise of Browns per-
Torrance after the contest and declared
he intends to give the sorrel-thatched
southpaw slabman regular turn here
after.
There was everything in Browns
pitching at that to elate Johnsno. Lloyd
showed splendid assortment of stuff
and, more important, he had fine con-
troll. In past seasons with the Wash
ingtoa club Brown frequently found it
W 4OCdNC bLlC even
though he had deal of speed and
curve that was bathing whenever he
got it anywhere near the batter. Browns
control was so faulty that Manager
Harris virtually gave up trying to make
use Of the pitcher, and last year john
son was somewhat doubtful about the
left-hander's chance to make the grade
in big time. There's no doubt in the
pilots mind now. Brown can go for
him.
The Red Sox are not the hardest
hitters in the game, but several in their
lineup always are dangerous at the
plate. Holding them to three safeties Is
no mean feat for a pitcher. Brown
hurled to only 81 batters. He struck
out but one, throwing a third one by
Jack Rothrock at the outset of the
home sides first batting turn. He issued
but one pass, that to Charley Berry at
the beginning of the third inning. On
other occasions Brown wasted little time
with batter.
But seven of Browns pitches other
than the hits were driven beyond the
inf1eld and five of the Red SoX got on
the runway. Russell Scarritt dropped
single in right at the start of the second
session and never progressed beyond
first base. Charley Ruffing got on by
forcing out Berry in the third inning.
Running got on again by doubling at the
outset of the sixth and he crossed with
the lone home tally as Otis Miller
singled with one out. That was all.
Displays Superb POise.
Browns poise was superb throughout
Two difficult fielding plays he was called
upon TO essay ruffled him not at all. He
had to dart to the right for Rulings
grounder in the third, then wheel for
his throw to force out Berry nothing
49,
sixth after the Red SoX had twice hit
him safely Tom Oliver sent a hot one
that Brown cuffed down, but as he did
so he fell. The pitcher recovered the
ball quickly, however, and throwing
from sitting position tagged his man
ct first.
Brown was impressive in every way as
a pitcher yesterday and it does not seem
his exhibition was a flash in the PAN
He looked very good during the Spring
training series. Then Manager Johnson
predicted Brown would pitch some sur
prising base ball in the championship
season. And yesterday Brown made
johnson look mighty right.
In turning the tables on the Red sox,
the Nationals effectively clustered their
nine safeties made off putting in the first
eight innings. They punched two with
pass in the opening session for a three
run getaway got brace in the third
for two markers and hit and sacrifice
accounted for the final run in the
eighth.
The big wallop Of the initial inning
was a homer driven over the clock on
top Of the left-fleld fence by Joe Cronin
after two were out Sam Rice, who had
singled and Buddy Myer, who had
walked, scored ahead of Joe.
Sammy West singled at the start Of
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