The Washington times., 1930-06-27
AND BAD
TYPES IN
GROUP
BY GARRETT WATERS


Nobody likes to be a utility
man on the sandlots. Yet every
team must have one or two to
fill m when supposed regulars get
hurt, don't show up or fall down
in their play.
A good utility player is an asset
to every club regardless Of
whether it is sandlot ball, big
league ball or school competition.
And to have a capable reserve
around makes that club all the
more balanced and dangerous.
The utility man on the
sandlOts holds his job as q
hapIeSs one because in most
instances he doesn't get in
enough games to satisfy his
anxiOusness to play.
In the big leagues it's not so
bad because when utility man
is not playing he's sitting on the
bench watching game between
players and teams of the best
class and there is an air of fas-
cination about it, to say the least.
But, on the Sandlots, it's just
q case Of showing up, maybe trav-
cling miles to get to the game,
then sitting around waiting for a
regular to break his leg, make
more than three errors, or get in
dutch with the manager for dis
obeying Of orders, etc.
Lots of times a start of game
is held up until the regular ap-
pears, with the utility man al
ready there, gnashing his teeth
and uttering unnice words Of
praise to the manager because he
won't put him in and let the
regular go run up a tree or some
thing worse, for all he cares. g
The utility man on the
sandlots in most cases is just
an extra player the manager
can't get rid of, but there
are several who come under
the class Of utility men, and
real ones at that. These be-
long to an order of the select,
for they are, indeed, cOgS in a
baseball machine that can't
be done without.
These utility men are players
who play day in and day out, but
at no one position. When a
utility man comes under this
class. tn ~ is it a delight to be
known as reserve because of the
complete satisfaction he is to him
self, the team and the manager.
The sandlots have many of the
extra utility" class, but few of
the real reserve class. Yet these
few are so outstanding that they
can't help but exc their way into
the records Of the sandlot books.
Doc HeSsler. of the Takoma
Tigers, is one of these mortals.
Here Is . player who has been
about the whole Takoma team
this year in the playing Of every
position in the field but catcher
A1LO PlGCI16rs
HesSler has no regular job,
but is in every game because
Of his ability to produce in
every department Of the
teams makeup. And the
best part Of it he plays those
many positions well and could
not be done without.
Johnny Bleir, that redoubtable
old timer, is another while there
are others which space won't al
low to mention at this time. Bleir,
plays left field, center, right, first,
second, third, short and even
catch for the G. p. o. tosSers in
the Government League and who
knows what else for teams that
play Sunday ball.
These types Of players are
the utility that balance the
sandIOt team. If there were
more, just think how many
better teams would be play
Ing on the SandlOtS today.
Morale: The extra, can't get
rid of" type Of utility men perk
up and make themselves valuable
for more than just filling in
when the regular is forced out,
doesn't show up, makes those
three errors, or gets in dutch
with the manager, etc.
Ell McDmcM prov