Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-15
BY ALAN GOULD.
Associated Press Sports Editor.

ASSOcihCeQ EISSSN0pOEbS
WINTER HAVEN, Fla, March
15-The gaunt, weather-tanned
figure of one of the finest right
handed pitchers of all time and
the greatest array of slaShing
young hitters than any major
league club ever has had fur
nished the principal drama in the
1880 projects of the Philadelphia
Nationalist longer foolish or
futile but now the ferocious
PhilS.
Back on the same club he helped
pitch to its last pennant under the late
Pat Moran in 1915, 43-year-old Grover
Cleveland Alexander will attempt to
contribute some of the hurting help that
the Phillies require to make their ter
rife long-range firing effective in the
games won" column. The Phillies
smashed their way to fifth place last
year despite mediocre mound work.
With Alexander as a valuable coach and
aid to Manager Burt Shotton in the de-
velopment of the new twirling talent,
whether or not HQld Pete" wins many
games himself, the club has high hopes
of crashing into the first division.
Might StiII Take Turn.
st still think can win quite few
ball games" declared Alexander, "espe-
cially with these boys hitting for me In
stead of against me. That's break, at
least. I've been around a long time, but
never saw team that can wallop the
old ball or the new one the way these
lads do. I've never had sore arm in
my life, you know, and maybe can
take turn in there"
AS whole, the PhillieS easily present
one of the most interesting prospects in
either league because of their array of
sensational hitters. Last year, they led
the clubs of both leagues with batting
mark of .319, besides shattering the
team marks for most total bases. most
long hits, most extra bases on long hits
and most home runS-153.
In addition Frank j. Gefty) ODoul,
the individual batting king for 1929,
set up a new record with a total of
254 hits, while his outfleld mate, Charles
H. (Chuck) Klein, in his first full
major league season, broke Rogers
Hornshys home run record with total
Of 43.
One Regular Below 800.
The Phillies have 800 hitterS in every
regular post except shortstop. where
ability to hit in pinches offsets any
lack of smuggling talent. Tommy's in
fec mates, Arthur Whitney at third,
FreSco Thompson at second and Don
Hurst at first, will help the outfield
combination of O'Doul, Klein and
Sothern take care of the hitting. If
Denny Sothern, great center-field ball
hawk, or any other gardner needs q
substitute, there Is handy man ready
in husky Trip Sigman, who hit 20
home runs with Canton (Ohio) last
season and then finished the season
with the Phillies by batting for q mere
OF. Sigman Is perhaps the longest
range walloper on the squad Of toe-hold
sluggers and it may be dii11culC to keep
him out of action.
Along with the punch, the Phillies
nave developed a keen spirit Of con-
f1dence under Slotton. The camp at
mosphere radiates a belief that boys
who perform such stunts with the stick
are going somewhere. Just where re-
mains to be seen, but these Phils are
distinctly threat to the remnant hope
Of any outfit.
Up to the Pitchers.
The clubs progress win rise or fall
on its pitching. Shotton has confidence
that Lester Sweetland and Claude Will
loughby will repeat their good work Of
1929, and that Ray Benge, winner In
1928, hut the victim of sore arm last
season, will stage big comeback. Phil
Collins minus his tonsils, may improve
on a better than 500 record last year.
Harry Smythe, southpaw, who made
an impressive debut last season, is ex.
pected to be poison to few clubs, in
Guiding the Pirates. Sam Daley, OBJ
tanned from Des Moines last year; Earl
Coiiard, once with Cleveland, secured
from Shreveport; Harold Elliott and
Lou koupal, holdovers, are counted
upon Tor right-handed assistance. Aid
ing them is the wise old head and arm
OF odd Pete" Alexander
Behind the bat the Phils lose a fine
catcher in Walter Leria, who died after
an auto accident in Baltimore last FaIl.
virgil Davis, Woodworking giant. who
hit .342 last season, is ready to handle
the bulk Of the backstopping, but al
Cooper, from Birmingham, and Harry
McCurdy, in the big time again after
playing with Toledo. are also available.
Cooper'S Southern Association mark Of
.426 at bat fits him into the PhiIIy
smuggling scheme of things.