Evening star., 1930-06-17
TRADES SPUR MATS
PENNANT CHANCES
Swapping of Braxton and
Tate for Shires Concludes
Series of BarterS.
Continued From First Page.l

NSOIlJlilueu from F1TSJ PaRe.I
who boasts batting record superior
to Goslin's, and Alvin Crowder, a sea-
soned pitcher Of established worth, and
Gaping 1t all was the startling shift
engineered shortly before the ban on
trades became effective last midnight
whereby Pitcher Garland Braxton and
Catcher Benny Tate go to the White
Sox in return for Arthur (self-Styled
THE Create Shires, a first baseman
whose playing ability bellies his % years
The extent to which the Nationals
have been bolstered by these deals, ac-
complished within space of four days,
remains to be seen, but fandom gen.
orally in the Capital has reacted favor
ably to all three of the transactions
and is disposed to regard them as
greatly strengthening Walter John
sons team for the bitter battle it now
is waging with the Athletics, Indians
and Yankees.
Harris Extra Base Hitter.
To the first of the deals there was
no divergence of opinion, as Barnes
had been of small value to q club al
a,
while Harris gives promise of proving a
decided asset, not only because he is a
right-hand batSman. but due to his
proclivity for getting extra bases with
his blows.
The Manush and Crowder for Goslin
transaction put through several hours
later Friday also struck q responsive
chord here. Two years ago. when the
Goose was battering all opposing pitch
erS with such effectiveness he won the
Swatting championship, no offer for
him would have been considered, but in
view of the slump he encountered last
year and his total inability to get start
ed this season fans generally welcomed
the acquisition in ManuSh of a hitter
fully his equal, on the face of the bat
ting averages, and whose capabilities
in this respect apparently are unim-
paired in addition to hurler capable
OF winning S8 games over the stretch
Of the last two seasons.
There will be more dissenting votes
cast among supporters of the Griffmen
anent the latest of the trio of trades
The passing OF Tate means little TO
them as he was able to approach the
status OF regular catcher in but one
OF his half dozen years Of service here
but they have a deServedly high regard
for the proweSs of BraXton as a relief
pitcher and are fearful he will be Sorely
missed in the role of rescuer with the
local mound corps in view of the fact
1t so frequently has needed an emer-
gency performer OF his attainments.
Need First Base Understudy.
The Washington management I'M
questionably regretted the necessity for
letting Braxton go, but 1t has a poten-
TALLY strong slab staff and took the
view 1t was imperative a capable un-
derstudy be provided for First Baseman
Joe Judge, who now is on the side lines
nursing an injury and for whom no sub
stitute was available except Jack Hayes,
handy man who Is needed for in
surance" against forced absence of the
other lnfielders.
The element Of "color" Washington
lost with the passing of Goslin Is more
than offset by the acquisition of Shires,
who In the last two years has furnished
reamS of copy for the sports reporters
with staggering attitude on the field,
bomhaStic utteranceS and generally
belligerent conduct which led to series
OF fist fights with the then manager of
the White Sox, Russell Blackburne;
number of costly fines imposed by his
club and campaign In the prize ring
in which he earned considerable money
as we'll as severe Scolding from Judge
Lands, the commissioner of base ball
whose ultimatum ended his career as a
professional ringman.
This season, under the management
OF DOME Bush, himself a forceful, two
flsted character, the fiery Texas youth
has appeared tanned, his only outbursts
coming in the form of hard playing"
on the field which resulted in numerous
run-ins with opponents, the most not
able OF which was a collision which
fractured the wrist of Lew Fonseca,
Cleveland first baseman. and gave
ShireS an injury TO his back from which
he Is just now recovering.
Better Batter Than Fielder.
Shires is a big fellow, standing 6 feet
] inch and weighing more than 1870
pounds, who has Indicated better sbili-
ty as a batsman than as a fielder. He
amsSsed all average OF .34l for SO
games In his first season with the
White SoX. and in 100 games last year
batted .3l2. To date this season he
has an average of .254 for 36 games.
This mark is far below what he is be-
lieved able to accomplish. He will get
chance to improve it starting at
Clark Griffith Stadium the day after
tomorrow when, strangely enough, his
former team will be opposing Wash
ington, and Capital fandom Is expected
to turn out in droVes to see how he
and the other new Nationals show up
In the struggle they now are making
for the title