Evening star., 1935-09-03
YOUNG GR|FF STAR
FANC|ES 0UTF|ELD
Believes Job Might Boost
His Hitting, but He May
Be Tried at Short.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.
N ESTABLISHED big-league

A N ESTABLISHED blg-league
~ star at % years of age and
~ scarcely on the way to his
4 n ultimate rise. Cecil Howell
Travis today looked forward with
mingled optimism and puzzlement to
a new chapter in base ball career
begun almost while knawing on a
teething ring.
When, with mixed feelings OF an
ticipation and resignation, Joy and
regret, the Nationals returned home
today for closing, 23-game stand
in Griffith Stadium, Travis was among
those most to be envied.
Whereas to some it will mean flnis
as Griffs, to others an exacting final
test and to still others merely the bor-
ing end of disappointing season, Ira
while Capital fans, by the same token,
will witness one of the most interest,"
Ing experiments ever attempted by a
Washington ball club.
Within the next 10 days or two
weeks at most, the boy whose place
dIIlOllk IllC 1NdtAOIloio 10 90 ohAS &c
Clark Griffiths will try his hand at a
new position yet to be decided upon.
Lewis Arrival Starts Move.
WITH the arrival of 19-year-old
Buddy Lewis, third baseman
from Chattanooga, Travis will move
from third, temporarily. Presumably
1t was believed that Manager Bucky
Harris would straightforth switch him
to the outfield, but the National pilot
en- route home this morning, strongly
intimated that Travis might be tried
at one of two other infield posts
shortstop and first base.
Wherever or whenever he is switched
Travis will be found in complete &C
cord. While in late months he has
been widely heralded as the most i'm
proved third baseman in the Amer
lean League and has come to like the
post, Travis also finds himself looking
forward with some eagerness to try
ing the outfield and willing to do his
darndest at shortstop or anywhere else
Harris, dead sold on the kid as one
Of base balls future great hitters and
the coming spearhead Of the Griffs'
attack, will have him in the lineup
somewhere. depending entirely upon
young Lewis form and the play of
one or two others.
Bucky is expected to decide upon
experiment No. in the next few days
and then promptly drill Travis for
four or five days at the new post.
OutfieId May Help Hitting.
THE reticent Georgia youth, whom
= pitchers all over the league call
one of the toughest batters to figure,
believes a switch to the outfield will
help his batting.
After I get used to playing out
there" declared Travis. IT expect it
will be lot easier than third base,
where you've got to start and stop
with every play. Fellows who have
played both the infleld and outfleld
say it's easier in the long run
AS for shortstop, Travis welcomes
the extra bounce or two that this
player gets and the third sacker
doesn't. Only Cecil isn't sure he can
wind up what remains of this season
as an accomplished relay man, which
Is natural enough doubt
II used to play shortstop at high
school and on sandlot team" volun-
teered the youngster. II even broke
in with Chattanooga as shortstop,
but they shifted me to third right
away, and I've stayed there ever since. "
Travis has no experience whatsoever
at first base.
Kress Regains All Except Speed.
IF LEWIS should pan out as third
baseman and Travis should make
good at shortstop, one of base balls
little tragedies probably would center
around Red Kress, Boston Labor day
hero, who currently is playing shortstop
for the Nationals. Since being released
and rehired the same day by the
Griffs late in July, Kress has been
playing as good brand Of ball as any
shortstop in the league.
His play afield has sparkled, and his
big bat has been welcome addition
to the Griffian attack. From a lao
batter in part-time roles, Red jumped
to within few points of 800 and
seems sure shot to wind up the cam
paign in the select circle.
In short, Red has regained every
thing he used to have when he starred
for the Browns several years except
one greatly needed aSset-speed. Sev-
eral seasons of moving from one posi-
tion to another and sitting on the
bench have helped to take the toll
Kress now is one of the slowest runners
on the squad. excluding the pitchers.
First Base Switch Least Likely.
IF TRAVIS should be sent to the
outfield and make good there. it
would fit In perfectly with plans OF
the Washington board of strategy
which undoubtedly Is contemplating an
almost wholesale auction of the Ma
tional outflelders.
First base is the least likely position
at which Travis may be tested. AL
though Joe Kuhel has been q disap-
pointment at bat this season, the 1.-THE
first sacker still ranks high as a fielder,
and it requires rare combination
Of naturalness and experience to make
q good first baseman.
At any rate, when Lewis reports in q
week or so, YOU can look for Travis at
some other position shortly after
ward-and probably doing a good job
Of 1t.
nn no Il