Evening star., 1932-12-18
NEW NAT CAPABLE
! DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Speedy, Judgment Good and
Arm Sound-Ever Serious
Threat at Plate.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

BY JOHN b. KELLER.
LARK GRIFFITH'S torrent
of trades that flooded the
~ Winter conclaves of the
major leagues in New York
apparently satisfies Washington
fandom in all particulars except
ing one. This has to do with the
exchange of centerielders by the
Washington and st. Louis clubs.
Sam Vests brilliant defensive
play got him in strong with the
crowd that pays the freight here
and many are wondering whether
Fred Schultz will be able TO fill
the sterling gardeners shoes &C
Ceptably.
Although Schultz has been with the
Browns the past six seasons. playing
right regularly much of that time,
Capital fans either have overlooked him
Or paid 50 little attention to him that
they seem unable to rate him fairly
About all most of them recall OF
Schultz is that he is the boy who made
q questionable catch in Sunday game
here some years ago and thereby
brought up a discussion that resulted
In the elimination of the 'momentary
catch" from the code Of base ball.
Few seem to know that for the last
two or three seasons Schultz not only
has been regarded by base bau men as
a dangerous batter, but also smart
base runner, a good ball hawk and gen.
erally an outfielder well above the run
pi-the-mill type.
Schultz certainly has revealed all the
earmarkS Of a capable gardener in his
performances for the Browns against
the Nationals.
DOTH defensively and extensively,
ID Schultz was much Of nuisance to
the Washington ball club the past
season. He was opposed to the Ma
tionals in 81 Of the ~ games mes tney
blayed with the Browns in the 81 cam
paipn and went through that lot OF
engagements to q right respectable
record.
He batted .294 against the Washing
ton pitching, which is exactly what he
batted for the entire season. Ooo!y,
schultz did his best batting in the
tussles with the Nationals In the Browns
park in St. Louis. Perhaps that Is one
reason why 1auS mere d1C SoAAAS '" AAeA '
kkeptical Of his value.
In Sportsmans Park, the rangy Schuite
clouted for the neat average OF 343,
helnine himself to q dozen hits In 10
games. In Grifith Stadium here he
GOT IS hits in II games, but his Wash
inrton batting record was only $50.
Schultz collected of Washington
pitchers 10 singles, 4 doubles, l triple,
and l home-run He scored 18 runs
and his batting was responsible Tor the
scoring of other st. Louis tallies. ne
actually stepped up to the plate 80
times against washington and a,;Ea reached ned
first base SO times. That's making the
runway at q .375 clip. Not bad.
In u of the games, Schultz was the
Browns lead-of batter. He was in the
sscond batting position in three games
and in the fifth in four. Twice he was
sent up as pinch-batter and each time
he singled.
NOV for some facts about Schulte's
IN f1elding, something WASHINGTON
fandorn seems hazy about. In 10
of the 2l games Fred played against
the Nationals this year he patrolled
center field. In three he was used at
first base because Irving Burns. regular
initial sack guardian, was nursing m
juries. As Schultz is coming 10 WASH
ington as an outf1elder, only the ngures
on his center field work Will De con-
Sidered.
He had So chances in the Is games
and accepted 50. That's an average OF
3.3l chances per game, plenty OF work
day in and day out for a middle
Rardner. OF the chances accepted 81
were put-outs and Fred's lone assist IN
the battling with the Nationals ngured
in double play.
The center field in Sportsman's PARK
Is spacious territory and Fred had
to roam over much ground to get TO
his plays. He isn't the great ball hawk
West is, but few. very few. are HOW,
ever, he has deal of natural speed ana
breaks at the crack OF the bat with
!;keen Judgment. Schultz has shown
fhimself to be wise position player,
fSwith respect to the individual attributes
. Nof the batter. Such player makes a
irhigh-class outfielder and 1t appears
Schultz is of this type.
schultz. who will be % years old the
thirteenth day OF next month, Is a
strongly-built athlete, standing six feet
two and weighing around l80 pounds In
playing trim He swings sturdy bat
from the right side and has plenty OF
power Ill lllS llSliU aim w AoNAAA $1,000
out as a ball player well qualifled TO
care for the Nationals center field
berth.
TOE JUDGES chances to hook up
with the Brooklyn club Of the Ma
tional League were frightened yes
terday with the departure OF Manager
Terry of the Giants for his Memphis
home without making any effort to
ship to the Dodgers the young first
baseman, Sam Leslie, who early last
week had been offered in trade. The
veteran Washington initial sacker now
has a favorable opportunity to SELL
himself to Manager Max Carey.
I Late yesterday Judge said he believed
he was nearer a job with the Dodgers
than he had been at any time since
beginning negotiations with them early
last week. He also expressed his ap-
1preciation Of the leeway to treat with
Brooklyn given him by Clark Grimth,
Washington president. From the start
he has placed no obstacle in my way,
Judge declared. He told me to go
right ahead and make the best terms
I coulc for myself and that he would
1 gladly grant me an unconditional re-
, lease when bargain was struck. Now
/ I am more than hopeful that may
tie up with the Dodgers"
T1CKLED pink by the rebuilding OF
~ his Washington club that has been
accomplished thus far, Joe Cronin
! the boy manager, entrained yesterday
for his San Francisco home.
II must be there for Christmas,
kaid Joe with q smile. Never miss a
Christmas at home. Christmas began
almost week ago for my ball club
, though" he added 80 III simply be
: continuing the merry season"
s. YANKS RELEASE WEAVER