Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-14
INDIANS ARE RATED
FLAG CONTENDERS
Return of FonSeca Assures
Tribe of Power to Battle
AS and YankS.
BY RALPH WHEATLEY.
Associated Press Stafr Writer.

n JEW ORLEANS, March IA
nj The Cleveland Indians are
on the march and their
whoops should be heard up
around the top Of the hill when
the 1880 season closes.
Chief Roger Peckinpaugh is
whipping a powerful squad into
shape at Heinemann Park. While
they may not have enough power
to fend of the Athletics and
Yankees, they should be giving
somebody a tuSSle for the flying
banner when the season closes.
The Indians are fortunate in having
the backbone of their team made up
of men old in base ball but young in
years. In addition they have promising
bunch of huskies itching to step into
the shoes of the regulars. Out OF the
squad of AZ big men, 35 may be con-
sidered well beyond the raw stage.
Last year the Indians finished In
third place and were playing ball like
demons when the season ended. II 1t
were possible for the Indians at the
start Of this season to hit their stride
of the last month of the 1929 season
they probably would go rough shod over
anything in sight.
No Drastic Changes.
There will not be any drastic changes
in this seasons lineup over last
Charlie Jameson may be forced to
function as utility outf1elder as his 81
years have placed him in the twilight
of base ball. 1t will be hard for him
to hold his regular post against such
men as Bib Falk, Earl Averill and Dick
Porter.
The Indians had the fright Of their
lives when 1t looked as If scarlet fever
would keep Lewis Fonseca on FIRST base,
but all is hunkidore now for word has
come from California that Fonseca Is
up and about, is even taking light
training on the Coast and will be f1t
for the start of the season.
The Indians would have been IN
sad pl:ght if they had lost this man,
who led the American League in batting
honors last season and snapped into 1t
on first base as naturally as a duck
taking to water. They were drilling
Henry Bonura and Alex Hooks for the
job but they showed nothing to make
merry over, particularly in comparison
with Fonseca.
The shortstop billet is creating lots
of excitement with three lads, Carl
Lind, Ray Gardner and John Goldman,
competing for it. Lind is making q
drive to get back with the regulars after
being routed off of second base by
Urban Hodapp. Hodapp has second
clinched about as much as Joe Sewell
has third. Luke Sewell and Glenn
Myatt as usual will carry the bod be-
hind the bat.
Pitchers Are Giants.
The pitching squad is something to
behold. Only one of them stands under
feet and only one of them is in the
thirties. They are II veritable giants
right-handers and southpaws. with
Terrell the top hand, but with Hudlin,
Miller, Holloway and Shaute not far
below. Others with more than passing
ability are Clinton Brown, Milbern
Shoffner, Mel Harder and Peter
Jablonowsd.
The main weapon possessed by the
Indians is their hitting power. Every
man of the regulars can pound the ball,
the lightest hitters being among the
shortstop candidates and the pitchers.
With Fonseca setting the example and
an all-star hitting outfield. and such
batsmen as Joe Sewell, Luke Sewell,
Hodapp, Terrell and Shaute. a lot of
trouble is ahead for opposing pitchers.
With such strength it stands to reason
that in a season or two, If not this sea-
son, the Indians will make a serious
stab for the high nag.