Evening star., 1933-04-23
LII IN NICK OF TIME
FOR D0DGER BERTH
D. c. Natives Volunteer Toll
at Brooklyn Camp Turns
Out to Be Profitable.
BY GEORGE CHADWICK.

n YEW YORK, April 22-Senti-
nj ment helps the great game
Y of base ball more than any
other one factor, and here
we are bringing up the name of
a player who has worked in the
ranks and done his stuff we'll, but
who never quite approached the
Stardom that surrounds so many
Ilustrious sons of the diamond.
The name is Lu Blue-Luzerne Atwell
Blue, born in Washington, D. c., in
1898, if you insist on the details-and
he comes back into the big league lime
light this week because the Brooklyn
Dodgers needed a good first baseman,
following the injury of Joe Judge in
q game at Philadelphia.
Blue, after playing for IL seasons in
the American League, had been handed
his outright release by the White Sox,
the third team he served in the circuit,
last Winter.
THE acquisition of Blue gives the
i Dodgers three first basemen, the
other two being Judge and Del
Bissonette. Judge, signed by Manager
Max Carey after being released last
Winter by the Washington Senators,
started this campaign as the Dodger
f1rst-String first baseman, but in the
second game he was spiked by Dick
Bartell of the PhillieS and in the same
mishap sustained sprained ankle. He's
now out of commission and will be for
several more days.
Bissonette was pressed into service
when Judge was injured, but because
of the leg injury which kept him out
OF the game all of last season his future
Is in doubt. Carey evidently has made
up his mind that Del will not be able
to serve the team well this year, not
even as Judges substitute. Otherwise,
he would not have taken on Blue.
Blue is the type of player that Carey
Is strong for. He's fast and Boss Max
wants as much speed as he possibly
can have on his team Blue is also a
good batsman. A turn-around hitter,
he compiled batting mark of 249 in
1l2 games with the White Sox last
season. and in 1881. his first year with
that team, he batted .304 in 155 games
His average for the IL seasons he put
In as an American Lacquer is .287.
A S an American League player Blue
"A was always an expert judge of
pl1SiiCO UdllS dllu III IlOTe LI1dQ
one season led the circuit in drawing
passes. Last season, while not playing
as regular-Manager Fonseca of the
White Sex covered the first turn in the
infleld when Blue was on the bench
the new Dodger drew 81 passes and
stole II bases. Because of his ability
to get on the base paths frequently
Blue always topped his teams batting
order.
II believe Blue is going to help us a
whole lot said Carey in discussing his
latest acquisition. Hes strong and can
play every day if necessary
his three first basemen after May IS,
the date the player limit of % men
goes into effect.
'sNIO. I don't" he replied. "on
~ May Is I'll have the % men
whom 1 think will do us the
most good. 1 can't say for certain now.
but on that date my first basemeh may
be Blue and Judge. Maybe I'll only
keep one of them"
Lack OF Spring training will not delay
Blues debut as Dodger. When the
Brooklyns were in training in Miami
last month Blue, out of a iob. showed
up in their camp and for three weeks
engaged in daily training drills in a
Dodger uniform. When the Dodgers
made trips to Fort Myers, Blue went
along with them and continued to
practice. He also followed the Dodgers
as far north as Washington and from
time to time there were reports cir
culated to the effect that the former
American Lacquer would be engaged by
Carey. If the Dodgers become a real
contender for the pennant, watch this
man Blue-a real money player.