The Bismarck tribune., 1934-04-02
BOBO'FARRELL ONE
PILOT WHO SEES NO
PENNANT FOR CLUB
Men Too Young or Too Old But
Manager Feels Nine Will
Leave Cellar Position
Chick Hafey, Former Cardinal,
Only Outstanding Ball
Player on Roster
BY BILL BRAUCHER
(NEA Service Sports Editor)

(NEA Service sports EdltOf)
Tampa, Fla, April IA catcher
named Bob O'F'arrell faces the great
est problem in the major leagues this
year. It is Bob's job to manage the
Cincinnati Reds, chronic cellar cham
pions.
Some Of O'Farrell's men are too old
Most Of the others are too young. On
the whole roster, the only outstand-
ing ball player (and he's getting along
in years. tool Is Chick Hafey, formerly
Of the Cardinals.
OFarrell has q pitching problem,
an infield problem. an outfield puz-
zle, and he isn't quite sure about the
catching, either. But O'Farrell, with
typical catcher's temperament, faces
his troubles with fortitude.
We are nowhere near pennant."
O'Farrell broke down and admitted to
me as We sat watching his athletes
going about their gestures. What we
will do this year, though, Is to finish
out Of that cellar. And we're building
for the future with these young fell
lows"
Elders Are Evident
Dazzy Vance, 4l-year-old finger,
passed by. In a pepper game was
none other than Sparky Adams, 36 or
older. Larry Benton, a pitcher dis
missed by the Giants years ago as be-
Ing through, was warming up. On
the premises also were such veterans
- Mark Koenig. Joe Shaute, Clyde
Manion, Jim Bottomley, and "Sher.
If" Blake.
It was an ironic touch. It appear
ed that all the old men in the world
suddenly had appeared in Reds uni
forms. But O'Farrell went on:
Il figure couple Of trades helped
our infield. We have Bottomley for
first and slade, from the Cards, for
short. Tony Piet. from the Pirates,
will be at second. Third base Is
tossup between Les Mallon. from Tor
onto: Joe Morrissey, brought up in
1888 from st. Paul: and Sparky
Adams. also from the Cards. OF
course. one Of the other young infield-
ers may come through for u.s."
There are so many infielders in
the Reds camp that there isn't
enough room for all their names on q
roster. Most of them, Of course, will
be sent to farm teams.
Among the number are Walter Botl
from Rock Island: George Wise, from
Topeka: and Tom Robello, also from
Rock Island. These three are barely
81, and are In the class that needs
seasoning"
Hafey Outstanding
Hafey happens to be the only first
rate outfielder. He Is the only one
Of the outfielding Reds who was able
to hit 800 last year, his average be-
ing .302, barely above the figure below
which outfielders are supposed to pay
their way into the park.
Johnny Moore. from the Cubs;
Harry Rice. from here and there;
and Adam Comorosky, who hit .284
for the Pirates last year, are the
others. A young Washington chat
tel named Johnny Gill, formerly Of
Chattanooga and Cleveland, is the
rookie. and II he can hit he'll stay.
Some 20 persons who answer to the
charge Of being pitchers are among
the chorus Of so or more Reds and
would-be Reds who practically fill the
little bali park here. Those figured
as starters, besides the ancient Ben
ton, are Paul Derringer and Sylvester
johnson, Cardinal castoffs; 81 john
son, Ally Stout. Dazzy Vance, John
Blake. Ray Kolp, Jimmy Pattison.
Jim Lindsey, Al Hollingsworth, and
Benny Frey. # there are some among
that number you don't know you have
nothing on mel don't know them
either.
Good Crop q Rockies
Don Brennan, former Yankee prop
erty. who won IL games while losing
four for Newark last year. Is one Of
the more likely rockies. Hilcher, who
toiled In Minneapolis last year, is fig
ured to have . good chance to stay.
Hollingsworth, who won Is for Rock
Island, also Is well liked by Manager
OTarrell. Lee Grissom, from Los
Malinos, Calf. who has been pitching
In the Sacramento Valley for q few
years. has demonstrated what appears
to b effective stuff.
There Is no hitting strength in the
catching department unless Lombardi
finds that lucky bat which he seems
to have lost last year. OFarrell only
hit 40 himself In 1883. Manion hit
.167, and Jack Crouch smacked the
pin for . puny las.
Our Job" says O'Farrell, ''is one
oS building for future years. We can't
expect immediate results. It's not such
m easy matter to develop . winning
bali club. We have to have patience." !"
Patience? And how!