Evening star., 1933-03-23
TEAM HAS POWER,
SPIRIT AND YOUTH
Finney and Higgins Expected
to Cause Fans to Forget
Released Veterans.
ey Stan Correspondent Of The Star.
TORT MYERS, Fla, March %.
r When Connie Mack blew
i the world series program of

L the world series program of
1882 askew by announcing
the outright sale of AL Simmons,
George Haas and the veteran
third sacker, Jimmy Dykes, the
aStounded base ball world pursed
lips and muttered with one &C
cord:
There 60 the AS back to the
second division. The old mans
breaking up his team again."
But Mr.. Mack was on the threshold
Of his 10th birthday anniversary and
his flftieth year in base ball After
an those Summers one ought to know
| what ones doing. Connie knew.
For In the Spring training period
he has brought forth ball club which.
unless all signs point wrong. will sur
prise the league. It may not win the
1888 pennant, but whichever club does
will have to give the Athletics a whole
| lot OF beating! 1t is team with a
world of spirit, enthusiasm and youth.
It trained like college bunch, as, in
deed, many OF the players came from
the campus. 1t won't quit and 1t won't
sulk like the club of 1892 1t should
be in the pennant fight from the open
ing game to the finish.
WHEN Connie sold his champion
w batsman, Simmons, he undoubt-
edly left big hole. Still he has
Jimmy FcxX. runnner-up for batting
honors in 1882 and successor to Babe
Ruth on the home run throne. In los
ing Simmons he still retains a big
1
Moreover, Mack had replacements Of
high order. In Louis Finney,
soft-spoken Buffalo, Ala. youngster, he
has man to take AIS place. Finney
played the last month with the AS in
1881 and made a fine impression. Last
year he helped Portland to pennant
and led the Pacific Coast League with
q batting mark of .35l.
Fmney has lived up to all predic-
tons. In mis- first series. against
Brooklyn. he batted 500, was a flash
on the bases, and felded as well as
summons. He also has an enthusiasm
tor the game that endures in good
going and bad, something Simmons
lacked and which contributed to AIS
comparatively bad season Of 1892.
Inc center fielder will be Roger
Cramer, who was good enough to oust
Haas from the position last year. Doc"
|
In the league, and an expert afield. He
WILL be placed in Haas No. 2 hitting
spot, the sacrifice hole A broken coll
lar bone put him out of the game in
mldseason last year, but the injury
has entirely healed. Cramer should
have big year.
Ed Coleman, another casual Of 1892
tbroken ankle), is back in right, and
will bat in Simmons No. position.
This big fellow was sensation last sea-
son until he tried slide In Cleveland
and was carried of the field. He has
recovered completely A left-hand hit
ter, he should get the range Of Shibe
Parks low right-field vol, and make
himself known to ALL
ITH entire outfield bats left-handed.
i however. which may provide op-
portunity for Robert johnson,
quarter-breed Cherokee Indian and
brother of the Boston Red Sox out
fielder. He, too, came from Portland's
club, where he batted 800 in addition
to playing practically every position but
catcher. Up with the AS in 1881. he
was turned back for more experience
and Coleman was obtained in this place
last year.
Now johnson seems ready. and not
only will be the fourth gardener, but is
capable OF playing first, second, or
even shortstop. That he will understudy
Foxx and Bishop seems certain.
Capt. Bing Miller, elevated upon the
resignation Of Eddie Collins, will play
little this year unless the left-handed
outfleld slumps before southpaw pitch
ing. Miller still Is able to shag all
drives and in hot weather will hit with
the best. A perennial, he seems bent
on remaining active as long as Zach
Wheat, Speaker or Cobb.
THE infield has but one replacement,
L but he is a gem Of recruits Mack
refuses to consider him a rookie,
for Frank Higgins has been ready for
the majors two years. At Texas Uni
versity he was a big Lacquer, and with
Dallas in the Texas League went well.
Last year he PLAYED 1873 full games for
Portland. hit 80 home runs and in the
words OF every scout and player who
watched him, would have taken Dykes
place had he been called back to the AS.
/ Higgins fitted into the new AS plan
at once. A fielding flash, he does not
have the famous Dykes rifle peg" to
first. but moves like shadow. On the
and Cramer and will contribute hits
where Dykes didn't. Mack is enthusi-
astic over him and says he has one Of
the brightest futures in base ball.
Eric McNair again will. play shcrt.
A recent Bridegroom, McNair seems
even better than the amazing fellow
who jumped into Joe Boleys boots last
Summer. He hit 18 homers for the AS
last year, despite his 155 pounds, and
has one Of the finest arms in the cir
cult
At second Max Bishop, veteran Of
the infeld, will do duty once more,
forming splendid double-play combi-
nation with McNair. Bishops pass
coaxing ability and dependability on
defense are legend in the league.
As for Foxx at first his fielding seems
to have improved this Spring But
whatever Foxx might lack afield his
murderous ability at bat will offset.
With mark Of So home runs IN 1882.
he aims this year to surpass Ruth's
record Of go.
MICKEY CoCHRANE will catch, and
4v1 that Connie depends on him for
the bulk OF 1t is seen in his reten-
tion only Of youthful Eddie Madjeski
in the role of substitute. The latter. a
heavy hitter, lacks experience, but will
get the call should Cochrane be hurt.
Dibrell williams. world series short
step In 1881, who failed to meet ex-
substitute along with the versatile John
son. Dib's natural position Is second,
but he can play short. Likewise, Nc
Nair can play third, as can Foxx. Thus
Mack's decision to carry only three
extras for infield and outfield duty is
not 50 radical as would seem at first.
Miller, johnson and Williams will be
the fielding spares.
This leaves room for plenty OF pitch