Evening star., 1935-06-24
ROOKIE RECEIVER
BEARS OUT GR|FF
Ugly Duckling of Biloxi Now
Is Well Feathered-Had-
ley Goes Route.

10 VVII ! O0tttVi Ou ttud
ley Goes Route.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.
etaf Correspondent Of The Star.
~ ETROIT, June 24.-The COM
plete absence of news stories
relating how Bucky Harris,
~ in spasms of righteous rage,
raped Washington pitchers over their
heads with fungo bats must have con-
vinced folks that Boss Bucky is a
pretty patient sort of guy.
He is. His patience is not to be
belittled. But 1t must be reported
that amid the crashing thunder Of
base hits during this terminating tour
of the West there have been few
streaks of silver lining aiding the
Mats skipper to present his commend
able show Of tolerance. In fact Harris
pointed to a siseable shred of it today.
The object of his affection is a
piano-legged young man named James
Marbury Holbrook.
To some who recall the notices Of
the war correspondents at Biloxi last
Spring, this may come as something
of a surprise, for in training camp,
Sam-that's what Holbrook calls him.
self-Was just about the worst look
ing rookie in the field He was bitter
disappointment to Bucky because
Uncle Clark Griffith had touted the
22-year -old Mississippian as a bright
prospect.
No Longer Ugly Duckling.
THE Cubs had wanted him, so Griff
said. and at Chattanooga the year
before Holbrook had conducted him.
self well. But Harris couldn't see it
with a telescope. So Cliff Bolton
blissfully retained the regular back
stopping berth, while Jack Redmond
stole the No. 2 catching job from
under Sans schnozzle.
But that was in the Spring. The
ugly duckling Of Biloxi has undergone
a metamorphosis and nobody is steal
ing anything from Holbrook now.
Bolton is splitting on his hands and
putting forth all effort to hold his
job. which from now on will be
shared with Holbrook when the Griffs
face left-handed pitching.
In reality, Holbrook is a sort Of
happy medium, as far as Washing
tons catching is concerned. Bolton
still is regarded as the most dan
gerous hitter. Redmond still is con-
sidered the brainiest backstop, the
best handler of pitchers. But Sam
seems to be at least as good catcher
as Bolton and better hitter than
Redmond. He appears faster than
either on the bases and seems to
own the strongest arm.
Inasmuch as Holbrook Is the only
right-handed batter of the trio, he
comes in handy. This much he Is
showing Manager Harris right now.
Bucky finally gave Sam his oppor-
tunity on this trip and the youngster
seems to be showing his appreciation
in a manner that has surprised no
one more than Harris.
All Griffmen Hit.
CTARTED behind the bat five times
during the swing Of the inland
crcuit-each time when O portsider
opposed the Griffs-Holbrook has
socked at a .353 pace. Up II times,
he has connected for hits. But
these are not Sll Of his recommenda-
tions at the bat. Sam has a good
eye. as evidenced by the seven bases
on balls he has drawn, and when he
leans his 100 pounds behind the ball
generally it travels. Half Of his six
hits have been for extra bases. Two
were home runs and another triple.
He batted across as many runs as
he batted out hits and also scored
half dozen times himself.
All In all his work more than justi-
fed Harris gamble in sticking the
peppery youngster behind the bat
Holbrook was one Of the leaders in
O l4-hit attack yesterday that enabled
the Griffs to end their losing streak
at four in q row and down the Tigers
in the third game of this series, II to z.
Every player in the Washington
lineup connected for at least one hit
and a trio of Detroit southpaws
walked II, but in spite of all this the
game was anything but a walkaway.
For the first time in his major
league career, Irving Hadley went the
route and won game on Navin Field,
but he was faltering badly toward the
end. In the ninth inning Harris fran
tically signaled his weary relief
pitchers to warm up again after Hank
Greenberg had clouted his nineteenth
homer with the bases loaded, but
Bump finally retired the side without
any further damage.
Thus he bacame the second Wash
ington pitcher in the last II games to
60 the distance and finish q winner.