The Washington times., 1934-03-17
nv I'M GALLAGHER

BY JIM GALLAGHER
PASADENA, Calf, March II.
Beware the White Sox!
For the first time since 1920 it
looks as if Chicago's American
Leaguers are going to emerge from
the second division.
You don't hear much pennant
talk as the Pale Hose go through
their daily chores here. But you
do observe a very obvious conf
dence that the White Sox will be
q dangerous ball club this year.
On Four Factors
This confidence is based on four
factors:
/. Acquisition from the Ath-
leticS of George EarnShaw, for
years one Of the leagues great
right-handerS.
2. Purchase of Zeke BOnura,
. powerful young giant who
played first base for Dallas IN
the Texas League last summer.
3. The trades that brought
CatcherS Mervyn Shea an
Johnny Pasek to Chicago.
4. The promise shown by Lee
Slime. Paul Gregory and Les
Tietie. rookie pitchers, and Joe
Chamberlin, youthful shOrtstOp.
The White Sox, who finished
sixth in 1898, weren't a bad oall
club. They suffered from three
deficiencies, however.
After Lew Fonseca injured his
ankle at the start of the season,
the first basing offered by RED
Kress and Earl Webb was woe
full to behold.
The catching, as exempl1tled oy
Charley Berry and Frank CRUDE
was mediocre.
And the pitching staff, once
Teddy Lyons lost his stuff, and
Ed Durham hurt his arn' was
simply awful.
The first base problem seems
to have been solved by Bonura.
The New Orleans Italian is 6 feet
tall and weighs 210 pounds. He
looks like a wrestler and hits
like Jimmy Foxx. He's no Hal
Chase for grace around first out
he's surprisingly agile, knows how
to handle his feet, and has q
great pair Of hands.
Feels Confident
Fonseca feels confident his
catching will be far better. He
traded CRUDE to st. Louis for
Mervyn Shea, a smart receiver
and a good handler of pitchers.
Shea never has been hitter,
but his .242 average in 1888
wasn't far behind Berrys .255.
Earnshaw is one Of the Sox's
chief hopes. Out of shape all last
season, he reported to the Sox 20
pounds lighter than he was at any
time in 1888. He's been a willing,
hustling worker in training camp.
Sox players and officials alike are
counting on him to win aE least
20 games this season.
Ted Lyons, long one of the
greatest pitchers in the league, is
expected to do a comeback, and
Ed Durham reports he's in shape
once more.
Other veteran hurlers are Sam
Jones, still a great spring and fall
pitcher at AZ years; Joe Heving
and Whit Wyatt.
Three rockies also show much
promise. There's Les Tietje, who
came up from Dallas at the close
Of last season and beat the YAM
KEGS and the Browns handily; Lee
Stine, a 20-year-old youngster, and
Paul Gregory, who was brilliant a
year ago in the spring, but faded
when the season started.
Rookie Looks Good
Another rookie who has made
almost as good as impression as
.Bonura is Frenchy Unalt, a speedy
.outfielder from Oakland. He's sure
to be carried as a reserve out
fielder, and may even force Mule
Haas from centerfield because of
his great speed.
The Sox will line. up with an
outfield second to none in AL Sim
mons, Haas or Unalt, and speedy
Evar Swanson. Milt Bocek, Chi
cago youngster picked up from the
University Of Wisconsin last fall.
Is the fifth outfielder.
The infield will have plenty of
power, with Bonura, Luke Appling,
Jimmy Dykes and Jackie Hayes.
Pitching will decide the White
Sox fate. Let Earnshaw come
through, and one or two of the
=. rockies develop as expected, and
the Sox will be tough for any club
In the league.