The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-03-20
PIRATES GET
DOWN TO work
Pie Traynor Bans All
Night Life And Frivoli-
ties For Club

SAN DER1NtAINGn4NN
March 20. (UP)-This time last
wear Harold (Pie) Traynor was
only the third baseman on the
Pittsburgh ball club. Today he's
the manager of the Pirates as
well as the third sacker.
TraynOr succeeded George Glib
son as manager June % last sea-
son. Under both Gibson and
Traynor the Pirates floundered
around, and eventually finished
in fifth place, one of the years
disappointing teams.
4 great change has come over
tho Pirates in their spring train
ing activities Traynor has pan
ned night life and frivolity, which
occmied so much of the Pirates
timn last season. Some of the
nIovers were almost too busy last
season to devote any time at all
to ball playing.
- BaII-piaving is going to come
first under Traynor's regime.
Travnor means business as Illus
trated bv the fact that he or
dercd one of the Pirates star
nIayers out of the tap room at
the Pirates headquarters. Inc
Arrowhead Springs hotel Inc
athlete obeved Quickly. l n a
stroke helped make Traynor.
The Pirates outlook is sur
rounded by "ifs." They might
win the pennant if ali of the
doubtful players came through.
They might even finish lower
than last years fifth place berth
if. several of their athletes collap-
sed.
Traynor believes the big I'M
provement will be in the pitch
ing staff.
IL came to camp expecting the
pitching staff to be the weak
link" said Traynor, "but | now
find that the hurting department
gives every indication of being
the teams strongest asset.
Traynor tabs his first line of
pitching strength as Guy Bush
and big JEAN Weaver, the tallest
pitcher in baseball at feet. 6
inches-both with the Cubs last
season-Waite Hoyt, ex-choolboy
phenom, who has gained new
lease on his pitching life at 35,
Ralph Birkhofer. a Southpaw, and
CIV Clanton, strikeOut KING of
the international league last
year.
Backing up the big flee" will
be Red Lucas, who came to camp
in much better condition than
last year, Bill Swift, who won
II and lost 13 last year, John
Slaveson, obtained from the
Giants, and Hal Smith or Wayne
Osborne, the latter Coast
League rookie.
One of the Pirates big prob
lens is whether the team can
stand up against southpaw pitch
ing with its lift-handed batters,
not including the pitcher. The
only two right handed hitters in
the regular lineup are TravnOr
and Cookie Lavagetto, provided
the latter makes good at second.
Traynor is attempting to make
a first string catcher out of Tom
Padden to give the club another
right-handed hitter.
All four outfielders, Paul and
Lloy Waner. Babe Herman, OBJ
tanned from the Cubs, and For
rest Jensen are left-handed hit
tiers. Herman who disloked to
hit in Wrigley Field, Chicago.
might come back with a good
year, which would boost the Pr
ates' attack considerably. Paul
Waner, last years National league
batting champion, is set for an
other big year, but his little
brother, Lloyd. is an uncertainty
because of physical ailments
which bothered him last season.
His batting average dropped to
.283 and he was ailing most OF
the year. He looks frail this
spring. -,
The only doubtful place in the
infield is at second base, where
Lavagetto, last years rockies,
will be given first call. If he
fails, Tommy Thevenow will get
second chance. Wilbur Brubak-
err and Floyd Young also may
get a whirl at second if trouble
develops there as appears prob
able. Gus Suhr, until recently
a holdout, will again be at first.
with the hard-hitting "Arky"
Vaughan. ranked as one Of the