Evening star., 1936-02-27
VETSARE SEEKING
COMEBACK TRAIL
Colbert, Marberry, Traynor,
Manush in Lot Hopeful
of Renewed Worth.
BY ALAN GOULD,

=
n YEW YORK, February 27.-
nj Three irreplaceables, Babe
" Ruth, Walter johnson and
Rabbit Maranville, are con-
spicuously missing as the major
league clans gather along the train
ing trails from San Juan to Santa
Catalina, but the first few touches
Of Spring meanwhile have aroused
comeback hopes among the old
guardsmen of base ball.
Mingling with the dulcet tones of
Charley Grimm's banjo is talk of a
return to active duty by the Chicago
manager. 1t may be the climate, but
Grimm says he is getting in shape
to play first base if and when young
Phil Cavarretta, who won the reg
ular job last year, shows any tend
ency to slip or recurrence of stom-
ach trouble that bothered him be-
fore. To prove his back does not
ache any more Grimm stepped up
and whaled the ball out of the park
in one of the Cubs first workouts
at Avalon, Calf.
Charles Chick Hafey, who dropped
out of the game a year ago be-
cause Of illness and retired to his
California farm, also has Spring fe-
yer. The one-time king of National
League batsmen is only 80 years old
and thinks he can return to compe-
tition. He prefers to try his luck in
the Coast League, however, before
seeking major league job again.
Giants Look to Vet Hurlers.
MUCH of the Giants pitching hopes
~ for this year rest upon the
comeback ability of Freddy Fitzsim-
mons, burly knuckle- baller, and Fred
tFirpo) Marberry, the former king
of American League relief pitchers,
who is back on the firing line after
a tour of umpiring duty. Fitzsim-
mons, laid up most of last season
with bad arm, was among the first
to report to Manager Bill Terry at
Pensacola.
The comeback of Charley Colbert,
who almost lost a foot in hunting
accident three years ago, appears con-
vincing enough to solve. the Cardinals
chief infield problem this year. Gel
bert is expected to win the regular job
at third base, now that Pepper Martin
has been shifted to the outfield Char
ley's leg stood the strain of frequent
utility work last year and he says it's
as sound as ever this Spring.
The Pirates have lost Lloyd Waner
for the early stagesEof the season, but
their chances will soar if Manager
Harold Pie) Traynor RECEIVERS from an
ailing throwing arm sufficiently to take
his old stand at third base. The Bucs
could use the steadiness and added
punch that Traynor's regular presence
in the lineup would mean.
Tribe Needs Pytlak.
CLEVELAND hopes its catching
problem, acute most of last sea-
son. will be solved by the return to
health and duty of frankie Pytlak,
diminutive Buffalo product. Pytlak
was forced to quit last year, but early
reports say he is ready to take over
the No. l receiving job again.
The Cubs hope that the signs Of
Chuck Klein's comeback as cleanup
clouter, manifest in the last few games
of the 1885 world series, will develop
to full bloom A return to his Phila-
delphia hitting form would make life
so much the merrier for Grimm'S
merry men.
New surroundings and the stimulus
of being shifted to pennant-holding Or
pennant- -contending outfits are de-
pended upon to bring about the batting
comebacks on the part Of two others
who have held the hitting heights
al Simmons. now with the Tigers, and
Heinie Manush of the Red Sox.