The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-06
GROVE, MARANVILLE,
COMBS AND GILBERT.
HIT MIRACLE TRAIL
Lefty and Rabbit Are Two
Big Question Marks in
Camp Of Red Sox
sHoRTsToP holsters CARD
Yanks Missed Their Veteran
Garden PatroIman Both
in Field and at Bat

Shrine Of Baseball has been the scene
Of miracles since old Abner Double
day instituted the great American
game. But none Of them Is Is sen
sational as that expected to happen
this season, when about . dozen Of
l934's cripples will discard their
clutches and attempt comebacks.
Outstanding among these players
are Lefty Grove Of the Red Sox, Earl
Combs Of the Yankees. Charlie GEL
bert Of the Cards, and Rabbit Mar
awhile Of the Braves. On the sue
cessful return to form Of this quar-
tet rests in some measure the fate Of
their clubs.
Grove and Maranville give Boston
two questions. Hot Stove League con-
versation in Beantown all year has
been centered on whether Moses all
ing left flipper again will round into
the shape that made him the talk Of
the American League while heaving
from 20 to 81 victories a year for the
Athletics from 1927 to 1882, and
whether Maranyille. sparkplug Of the
Braves infield. still can cavort with
his old-time abandon after that leg
break he suffered during spring train
ing last season.
Red Sox fans are dubious about
their teams chances, citing . glar-
ing weakness on the right side Of the
infield. But II Grove can whiz that
smoke ball Of his across with halt of
his old-time skill-and he states his
arm IS in shape for at least 20 VIC
torieS-the Red Sox won't even need
a right side in their infield.
Can't Keep Rabbit Down
Even with an ailing arm, Lefty
didn't do SO terribly last season, split
ting even in is games. There's every
reason to suppose that, with the gen.
tie care he has been giving his whip
this winter, he can cause Joe Cronin's
Irish pan to split in q wide grin Of
satisfaction before the season is over.
It's going to be tough for the Rab-
bit to negotiate his return. Bones as
aged as his repair slowly and, more
often than not, imperfectly But the
little fellow is confident that he'll be
there at second when the first ball IS
thrown.
He has been dancing and taking
other exercise to gain strength in his
leg, and states that he's ready to GUST
the younger sprouts who filled in for
him.
The case Of Charlie Colbert Is q
lesson in heroics. The former Card
inal shortstop accidentally shot him
self in the foot two years ago and has
been on the sidelines ever since. Re-
peated operations on his injured hoof,
Charlie states. finally have healed 1t.
He has been working out In q
gymnasium, practicing sprinting, and
1t is said that he has recovered to q
point where he can do the 100 in IL
seconds.
II he again can win back his short
stop post alongside Frankie Frisch at
second base. the Cardinals attack
and defense will be even better than
last year, for Charlie and frankie
made one Of the best middle sack
combinations In the majors q coupe
Of years ago.
Yanks Welcome Combs
The Yankees missed Earl Combs
last season. When the gray.haired
center fielder ran into that wall in
st. Louis chasing fly. he was hit
ting $40 In So games, more than any
Of the outfielders playing for Marse
Mccarthy hit at the end Of the year.
The fractured skull he got out OF
the collision kept him out Of the game
for the remainder Of "a, and no mat
ter who Mccarthy put in his place
Chapman. Hoag, or Byrd-the attack
and defense Of the Yanks suffered Is
l. result.
Combs has stated that he has re-
covered fully from his accident and
Is ready for regular duty again. II
he Is, genial Joe will revive from the
attack Of filters to which he sue
cumbed when Earl was injured.
Among the others who win be com.
ing back from the ranks Of the incap-
acitated are Luke sewell. ono Of the
Senator'S casualties last year, now
ready to catch for the White Sox:
Johnny Stone, who suffered q brok-
en- ankle while on duty with the SEN
ators in 1884: Joe Kuhel. Senators
first sacker. who broke q leg and put
Washington In q bad way: Bill Dick
ley. Yanks' catcher. who broke his
hand, and Dixie Walker. another
Yankee cripple who sat on the bench
with an injured shoulder most Of the