Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-05
He MIGHT EXPLODE,
THOUGH, UNT|MELY
Babe Great With Willow, but
Is Uncertain Performer
in Other Respects.
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS.

~ HlCAGO, December 5.-The
Chicago Cubs have OBJ
4 tanned an a No. l buster
up" ball player in Floyd
Caves Babe Herman. They
suffered from the lack of bus
ter-up" player last season during
the world series with the New
York Yankees.
The Yanks had two elegant busters
up in Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and
the outcome of the series was so tragic
that the Bruins Immediately went to
work to get Herman from Cincinnati.
Chicago had a first-rate breakup
man for several seasons in Hack Wilson.
But the old Hacker at his best was not
the versatile performer that Herman
has proved to be. Wilson could bust up
ball games with his big bat, but he
became so adept in busting training
rules that the Cubs shipped him away.
A S a man to upset ball games Herman
"A has few equals. A great batter, he
is likely to turn the tables with
long smash to the outfield or over the
fence. But at the same time he is
likely to bust up the game by running
past two or three of his mates on the
base line or catching a fly ball with
the top of his head. The uncertainty
Of Herman's performances in a game
has made him popular fayorite around
the National League. He takes the
deadly seriousness out Of many a game
Babe was here and there around the
base ball universe for four seasons be-
fora hn f11o1lu k,ax
Wilbert Robinson and the BROOKLYN
club. He was a greater batter from
the day he left a California high
school, but his fielding preventing him
from remaining with any team for
more than a few pay days. Managers
were afraid he might be killed any time
he went after fly ball and none of
them wanted to face charges of in
voluntary manslaughter.
Uncle ROBBY finally bought the
~ Babe for Brooklyn. He probably
figured that the addition of Her
man could not make the Dodgers
any more ludicrouS than usual, and he
Gid improve him as an insurance risk
when he transferred him from first
base to the outfield
Herman rewarded Brooklyn by be-
coming one of the best batters in the
National League and 1890 made 241 hits
for an average of 1893 Had Uncle
Robby remained with Brooklyn it is
doubtful If Herman ever would have
been traded to Cincinnati
Bill Veeck increased the Cubs
strength immensely when he acquired
the Babe at the price given the Reds
The new Cubs fielder always has liked
the Wrigley Park with its short right
Held wall, and many is the time he has
poled the ball out of bounds to the dis
comf1ture of the home forces. In recent
years, Herman also has become a first
rate fielder. He has a great throwing
arm and is very fast.
IT seems to the writer that the Cubs
i gave very little to get this new
player. There had been talk of send
ing OCtfielder Johnny Moore back to
the Los Angeles farm; Lance Richburg
spent most of last season in the Inter
national League, Bob Smith was of lit
tic use to Chicago in 1882, while Hens
ley detracts from his great ability as
catcher by the uncertainty of his
habits.
So actually. Chicago gave up no play
CT that 1t needed, except Hemsley and
now his passing will still rumors Of
Gabby Hartnett going away from Chi
cago.
Cub officials want another outfielder
and left-handed pitcher. If they get
them the Bruins will be sitting pretty
In 1888.