Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-08
SPENCER GIVEN Up
FOR CATCHER, COIN
Fourth Trade in Month Gets
Washington Long-Hitting
Right-Hander.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.
FTER a new deal all around

~ Clark Griffith yesterday
jumped into the base ball
trading ring for the fourth time
in less than a month and did some
more swapping with Billy Evans,
general manager Of the Indians.
The latest transaction involves
a shufiing Of catchers, Luke Sewell
coming from the Cleveland club
to Washington in exchange for
Roy Spencer.
According to Grifith's announce
ment, Cleveland sends along with Sew
ell an mrevealed amount of cash.
When the deal was first conceived. the
Nationals were to get with the catcher
George before, an infielder. Cleveland,
though, was compelled to ship before
to the Toledo club, so substituted money
for the player.
The swap was made with the full
knowledge and consent of Joe Cronin,
the boy manager of the Nationals, says
Grifhth. The young pilot talked over
the deal with the club prexy here last
month. it seems.
The trade was some time in the
making. When Griffith was swapping
players right and left in New York last
month there were rumors of Spencer
for-Sewen deal, but the Washington
president then denied he was making
any effort to dispose Of the catcher, who
had been with the Nationals through
four seasons.
However, Cleveland club officials were
not so secretive in the matter. In fact,
they openly admitted they would like to
get hold of Spencer.
TOLD figures indicate the Washington
~ club got the better of the deal. 1t
gets in Sewel player a year
younger and a harder hitter than
Spencer. Sewen also is a clever, steady
receiver, certainly as capable behind
the bat as Spencer He has thrown as
well as Spencer, too, and has been
faster afoot. Then there's the bundle
of cash that comes from Cleveland along
with Sewell That's more than mere
something these days.
During his service with the Indians,
Sewell, a right-hand swinger, batted at
a better clip than did Spencer in his
term with the Nationals. In a dozen
campaigns with the Cleveland club,
Luke pounded for a career average of
ESQ. Roy in his four seasons with the
Washington club elouted for just Isl.
During the past season, too, Sewell
excelled Spencer in attack. In is
games less than Spencer, Luke snacked
for an average Of .253, while Royis best
was .246. Sewell was by far the longer
hitter in 1882, collecting 20 doubles, 2
triples and 2 homers. Spencer helped
himself to nine two-baggers and one
homer, but failed to connect for q
three-baser
Sewell's batting meant more to the
Indians than did Spencer's to the
Nationals In his 81 games, Luke bat
ted in So runs. Spencer In 102 games
drove across Al. Sewell worked OPP
posing pitchers for 38 passes, while
Spencer walked just "a times. Luke,
though, struck out "a times, 9 more
than did Roy Perhaps he was swing
ing a bit more freely.
Afield the past season, both toiled at
the same clip. Each finished with a
fielding average of 1913, which didn't
place them so nigh among the American
League receivers in that respect.
6pC1iNCA 4Cb AOuA ktAOShCo ECk away 41OuA
him, while Sewell was charged with two
passed balls.
II IKE SEWELL comes of an Alabama
- base ball family His elder brother
Joe, now with the Yankees, made
his big league debut with the Indians
after getting his start in organized base
ball at New Orleans. Last year a
cousin, Truett Sewell, had a pitching
trial with the Detroit Tigers, and is due
TO get another in the Spring
Luke was born in Titus, Ala, on
January IS, 1901, so he will be 80 years
old next Sunday. He is a sturdily-built
athlete. standing nearly 5 feet 10 inches.
and weighing around ITO pounds when
in playing trim.
Right from the University of Ala
bama, where he starred in several
sports, Luke jumped to the Indians.
He Joined the Cleveland club IN the
Summer Of 1921, but was behind the
bat in only three games that season.
Not until 1924 did he toll right regu-
jarly, and then he entered just SO en-
gagements. In 1925, though, Luke was
made the Tribes first-string receiver
He participated in 126 games that year
and in each Of of the Indians cam
paigns since was In more than 100
games.
Luke never has been 300 hitter, but
back in 1927 he scared to .293. His
best year since was 1881, when he hi
for an average of .275.
The past season Luke had a bont
or two in his right hand broken dur
ing a game with the Nationals IN Cleve-
land and was forced out of action sew
eral weeks. The hand mended well
however, and after his return to thu
lineup Luke experienced no dithcult!
in handling base ball.
CPENCER hooked up with the Wash
~ ington club while it was in training
at Hampa in 1929. and he did Sc
IN big way for himself.
With several other players, amonG
them some Nationals, Roy had beer
made q free agent by Judge Lands
The Judge had decided the big league
clubs were juggling the players in VIC.
lation of rules and he let them out II
shift for themselves. At the time
Spencer was with the Indianapolis clul
in training at Sarasota, Fla, and Presi
dent Grifith lost little time in motoring
10 that place to talk turkey with TIT
cacher. The confab ended with Ro.
selling himself to the Nationals TO
$4,000.
Before that time Roy nad moVel
about considerably. He started witt
Raleigh Of the Piedmont League bacl
in 1921, was bought by the Tigers AM
shipped to Omaha Of the Western
League, then transferred to Denver AM
swung back to Augusta in 1923. Birm
ingham took him over then the Pirate
grabbed and held him three season
before moving him to Indianapolis.
Born in Scranton, N c.. on Febru
airy %, 1900, Roy will be SO years oil
next month He is about the sam
height and weight as Luke Sewell.
Once as big Lacquer Roy hit 70
1876. He did that in % games wit
Pittsburgh in 1926. But his best bat
ting for the Nationals was in 81, whel
ne hit for .275.