The Washington times., 1931-05-09
SPEAKS
HIGHLY Of
JUDGE

BY BABE RUTH

DJ OEASN AeN "a
CHICAGO, Ill, May 9.-That
was a tough break that Walter
johnson got when Joe Judge was
forced out of the game by an
attack of appendicitis. In one
way, Walter was fortunate in
having a good substitute for the
position which Judge plays, and
! am quite sure that Joe Kuhel
will do a first-class job until
Judge is ready to play again. But
there is something more than
playing ability to be considered
in case like this.
Judge means a lot more to the
Washington club than can be
shown in the put-outS he makes
at first base, or the hits opposite
his name in the daily box score.
Joe is something of spark plug
to this team. and also a steady
ing influence on an infield of
younger players. He is the handy
fellow, too, when the pitcher
needs a little advice out there
on the mound.
SmdEG OdlpAdyeF
Joe is one of those ballplayerS
whose value to a ball club is
never fully appreciated until he
is out for some time. He plays
smart baseball all the time,
whether in the field or up at the
plate when a pitcher is trying to
outgueSs him. They tell me
Kuhel is one of the best looking
young infielders to come into
the league in years. but it is
not to be expected that he is
another Judge. Not for awhile,
anyway. It takes years of play.
ing in the majors for a player to
reach Judges all around value.
We were all sorry to hear of
JOe'S illness, and everybody is
anxious to see him back in the
lineup, even if he is poison to
most of the other clubs when
y they are playing against Wash
tngtOn.
This has been rather an unfor,
tunate spring for first pasemen
Mickey Heath, who was making
his big league start as first base,
man for Dan Howley's Reds, suf,
fered a fracture of the wrist 10
days after the season opened, and
there is no telling when Re will
be able to play regularly. Jimmy
Fox, of the AS, injured his leg III
the second game of the year. AMI
he spent the next two weeks on
the bench.
Muscles Grow Flabby
1t isn't only the time out of the
game that counts in injuries and
operations The layoff throws a
player out of action and allows
the muscles to get soft and flabby.
Then when a player is able to get
into uniform and play ball again
he has to spend so mucn more
time getting into the prooer con-
dition. You will often notice that
q player is able to WORK out in
batting and fielding practice, but
he has to wait awhile before he is
sent into game.
Losing ballplayers when they
are needed is tough on man.
ayers. Last year Joe Mccarthy
had four and five men out of
the lineup at one time. HOrnSby
had an operation, Root was sick.
Stephenson had a bad leg. and
finally Carlson, one of his pitch
ers. died. This year, Joe also
has been having more than his
share of accidents and sickness.
At one time, Cooke, HOag,~ Ruff
fling and myself were all out at
the same time. He started the
season with five Outfielders. and
in less than three weeks three
were out of the lineup.
Unclo Wilbert Robinson also
has haG his troubles and the sea
son is less than a month old. He
had to start the season without
the services of Luque, who
smashed a finger during one OF
the practice games. Then Glenn
Wright was taken down with the
fiji and Fresco Thompson injured
q hand so badly that he couldn't
play ball. Finally Dazzy Vance
was called away by a death in the
family. 1t is quite handicap for
a team to have regulars out Of
the lineup this way.
The loss of Heath was not the
only hard luck that Dan Iowley
suffered. The illness which kept
Harry Heilmann from joining the
club this season was another real
blow to the Reds. Harry is no
longer youngster. but he still
can hit and he was the leading
slugger of Howley's team last sea-
son. Any ball club would suffer
If deprived of such hitting power,
and the loss is particularly stag
gering to the Reds, who are nor
FS~E@ ~