Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-17
JOE NOW NEARING
STARDOM CLASS
Greatest Young Shortstop in
Maiors-Griffs Again
Defeat Red Sox.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

BY JOHN B. KELLER.
~ OSTON, April 17.-Any one
x looking for reason why
the Nationals are likely to
do better this year than last
would do well to consider Joe
Cronin. This young fellow, who
comes from the vicinity of Tele-
graph Hill, in San Francisco, is
Of the type of ball player helpful
to any club, and every one closely
associated with the Nationals is
pretty sure Joe will do more than
his share toward boosting them
in the American Leagues 1880
campaign.
What's more, not only those closely
associated with the Nationals, but base
ball men In general who have seen the
Washington Club in action in exhibit
ton games or its few championship en-
gagementS, are convinced that stardom
Is just around the corner from joe
Already. he is regarded the outstanding
young shortstop of the majors, and in
another season is likely to be hailed as
the leader at his position.
Cronin's advancement has been fast.
While he was held fine prospect When
the Pirates dragged him out of his San
Francisco high school in 1925, when he
was in his seventeenth year, Joe did lit
tie more than sit around and look on
when wearing Pittsburgh uniform. He
could field well, but he was no wonder
at bat. And it was hitter as well as
. fielder that the Pirates management
wanted. At that, Pittsburgh kept a
string on Joe until early in 1928, when
1t shipped him to Kansas City.
Learns While on Bench.
II was with the BUGS that Cronin
showed he had prof1ted by observation
while sitting on the Pittsburgh bench.
Given q chance to play regularly, Joe
quickly demonstrated he knew all the
tricks Of playing anywhere between the
second and third bases and he did not
look so bad at the plate as he had Even
then, he was comparatively an unknown
when the Nationals picked him I'D in
midseaSon In 1923, but he was not with
Washington long before those in charge
OF the club began to suspect they had
. ind" Now they are certain they
have.
Though the youngest in years, and
with less experience than the others In
the Nationals inner Gordon, Cronin is
the handspring of the infeld. It isn't
1nneld mates, but it is noticeable that
the youthful shortstop is more inspiring
than any Of the others. Let pitcher
SHOW signs OF faltering, and no one Is
quicker with words OF announcement
than Joe. Let teammate err in play
and Joe is the first with the pat on the
back and the cheering remark. He's
the drive Of the inner defense, keeping
all on their toes.
Improves by His Play.
Joe inspires with his fine play. too,
a sparkling shortstop last season, he is
more brilliant this. He seems to have
overcome the one great fault he had
last year, that Of overcharging drives
straight at him. These he now SCOOPS
up cleanly, as a rule, and he's covering
more ground than, ever. Cronin made
many errors last year, but no shortstop
in the league had more chances than
the Washington shOrtfielder. His arm,
too, seems stronger. He gets the throw
away fast and pegs accurately.
AT bat, though, Cronin shows the most
Improvement. Heavier and stronger
than before, he puts deal Of drive into
his swing and this is getting results
Joe has changed his stance at the plate
standing with feet well spread and his
body facing the pitcher almost squarely.
This apparently gives him better bal
ence, and more free swing than he
had standing the way he did. It's
something like the stance Heinie Groh
had when he struck terror into the
hearts Of the National League pitchers
some years back. And Joe Is likely to
make many afternoons miserable for
the American League hurlers this year.
AZ PhiIadeIphia Tomorrow.
Tomorrow the Nationals open a two
day stand against the Athletics In
Philadelphia, trusting they win make
Q better start against the AS this year
than they did last. In 1929 Johnson's
band virtually kicked the Athletics into
. commanding lead early in the flag
race, when they lost 10 Of is games
played with Mack's maulers before
July /.
This time the Nationals likely will
so into battle with the world champions
somewhat stronger than they were last
year, however, at least, to date they
have been more impressive than they
were early in the 1929 campaign.
Hadley Displays Form.
m giving the Nationals their sec
ond straight victory in the 5-4 game
yesterday, Irving Hadley showed enough
to warrant that he may be counted
upon TO have a good year. True, he
faltered slightly, due, perhaps, to over
confidence, after his mates gave him
what appeared to be a commanding
early lead, but he was always in there
bearing down, and was unfortunate In
that practically all of the seven hits
he allowed came at inopportune mo-
ments for him.
He kept the Sox hits fairly well
scattered, appeared to have plenty at
all times and was never actually hit
hard, two safeties being the most he
granted in any one inning. He famed
I'VE during the contest and walked but
one, but 1t so happened that his solitary
pass cost him a run in one frame, a
long sacrifice fly netted a second Sox
error by Bluege played it's part In the
final Boston rally in the fifth. From
then on but one alien was able to get
on the sacks, Rothrock singing in the
eighth only to become a double-play
victim after he had been sacrificed to
second. Milton CASTOR, former wearer
OF washington livery, also frightened
after q miserable start. He allowed
1ive hits, including homers by West and
Bluege, and double by Cronin and
gave three walks in the first three
frames. This netted the Nationals all
their runs. Then he stopped them dead
in their tracks. He set down the Ma
tionals in order in the fourth, fifth and
sixth frames, and one man was the
most they were able to get on base In
each Of the last three, although 1t took
a fine catch by Rothrock to rob West
Of a hit and the Nationals of q run
In the ninth after Bluege had singled
and stolen.