The Washington times., 1931-03-23
EMS PICTURES
PIRATES AS
|NRACE

IVlHUL
(This is one of a series OF
stories couering the 1881 prospects
of National and American Base
ball League teGnrSJ
BY CHARLES J. DOYLE
International News Service Special
Correspondent
SAN FRANCISCO, March %.
Although he realizes the signifi-
canoe of the question mark in his
catching department, Manager
Jewel Ems, of the Pirates, makes
the positive announcement that
his club will be a big factor in the
coming flag race in the National
League. Ems, by the way, looks
for another five-cornered scramble
for supremacy, with possibility
that Bill McKechnie and his
Braves will horn into the mix-up.
The fair-haired pilot Of the bold
Buccaneers is convinced the race
will involve the Cardinals, Cubs,
Giants, Robins and Pirates.
Ems is deeply concerned, but
not unduly worried, about his
catchers. He appreciates he has
no Hartnett or Wilson, but in
Eddie Phillips, former Boston Col
lege grid star, who starred for
Toronto last summer, Jewel be-
lieves he has a smart receiver who
can hold up the pitchers. Then,
he has Rolly Hemsley, who owns
as much native ability as any back
stopper in the Heydler circuit.
Jack Mealey, Wichita graduate,
and Hal Finney, a corking recruit
from Columbia of the Sally
League, complete the receiving
division.
The Pirate skipper has given
much time, and thought to
Phillips, who is no rookie. Ed
die has been with several major
league teams, and he is nearing
the 3Oth milestone in life.
Two years ago he jumped off
for the Detroit Tigers, in a blaze
Of splendor, but after catching
about so games, during which
time the Tigers we're very impress
sive, he went down with
busted" shoulder. Phillips is a
big, smart fellow, who appears to
be at his best in jockeying with
the hitters. In the camp games
at PaSo Robles, he showed a fine
throwing arm, and plenty of
power at the plate.
Pitcher SwetOnic Disabled
Ems mourns the temporary
loss of Pitcher Steve Swetonic,
who is through for something
like two months with a disabled
pitching elbow, yet the Pirate
manager is sure his slab staff will
stand the grind. He will show
you host of righthanders, and
lefthanders, who he thinks win
consistently.
More or less in the order of
their Importance the sharpshoot-
ers are Remy Kremer, Erwin
Brame, Heinie Meme, Larry
French, Charley Wood, Glenn
Spencer, Claude Willoughby, and
George Grant. Swetonic is con-
sidered a big asset to the club,
but his status cannot be defined
at this time.
Kremer is one of those gents
whom you can count upon for
something like 20 victories a
year. Brame won IL games last
year, and he was out 10 weeks
with sickness.
Meme left the club in mid-sea-
son on account of illhealth. He
is in fine form again. French and
Wood are two clever southpaWS.
Spencer is a faSt-ball star of much
promise. Willoughby pitched bril-
liantly for the lowly Phillies at
times. Grant, late of Rochester,
is a righthander, who has done
we'll in the preparation season.
Pleased With Regan
Ems expects to show National
League fans a fine infield when
Suhr, Grantham, Trevenow and
Captain Traynor do their stuff.
It's a fine foursome, and Jewel
has lot of fine reserves for in
field duty. He is tickled over the
ability of Bill Regan, erstwhlle
second baseman of the Boston Red
Sox. In shortstop Ben Sankey,
he sports a valuable lad, who may
be on the way to do big things
and he has a sturdy performer IN
Stuart Clarke. Another very
promising recruit is Tony Plet,
the Polish infielder from Waco,
of the Texas League.
The Pirate outfield, composed
of the Waner brothers and Com.
orosky, speaks for itself. 1t would
be hard to duplicate this fleet,
hard-hitting trio. But Ems also IS
fortified with much secondary
strength in the pasture. He will
choose two extra flychasers from
Mosolf, Jensen, Dugan and NC
Clanahan, all of whom are i'm
| DreSSiVe.