Evening star., 1936-12-06
Harris Starts Angling.

THE Washington club, admits Grif-
fifth, needs a flrst-string catcher
and at least one pitcher. For almost a
week now Manager Bucky Harris has
been hobnobbing with other American
League managers and owners, both at
the minor league meeting in Montreal
and in New York, where he today is
awaiting the arrival Of Griffith. So
far, at least as far as is publicly
known, Harris has accomplished moth
ing definite, but those close to the
Nationals feel that Harris may well
have laid the groundwork for deal or
two and that he and the Old Fox will
complete at least one trade.
: All signs to date point for Wash
1ngton's would-be traders to concen-
trate on the Western representatives
in search of player talent. If any
thing, the Nationals catching situa-
ton Is more acute than the pitching,
and popular rumor has it that Grif
and Bucky will seek out Rogers Horns
by Of the Browns and Steve ONeill
of the Indians in an attempt to lure
Q catcher.
: Grifith and Harris last year at
tempted to lure frankie Pytlak from
Cleveland and failed. Actually the
deal fell through by only the mar
rowest Of margins, and If they reopen
negotiations for the little Tribe back
stop with the same vigor 1t Is felt
there Is chance for Pytlak to wind
up in q Washington uniform.
Rollie Hemsley Of st. Louis seems
to be the only other flrst-string CATCH
er whom Washington has chance to
land. Griffith is not too keen on
Hemsley because of his extra a-curricu-
lar activities, but the fact remains
that when Rollie feels like playing
ball, which never seems to be for a
sustained stretch, he is rated by fel-
low ball players, at least, as the best
In the American League.
Bolton on Block.
CLIFF BOLTON, the regular Nat
catcher, definitely seems to be on
the trading block. Tle stocky Tar
heel never has been forgiven by Griff
. for taking powder" last September
were in the thick Of the fight for Sec
ond place. Whether any other club
wants to gamble on Bolton doing the
same thing to it remains to be seen.
It is doubtful
Carl Reynolds, Jesse Hill and Buck
Newsom probably will be the other
local names to figure most prominent
ly in trade talk and in rumors. Only
in the outf1elding department are the
Grihmen well stocked and able to
spare player. Newsom, claims Griff,
Is not going to be waved under the
noses Of other managers and club
owners, but if anybody makes a rea-
sonable offer for the big South Car
Gilman, it will be weighed carefully.
When Griff and Harris start look
ing for pitchers, they are likely to
drop Cleveland and seek somebody
from the Browns. Tigers and White
6ox. Jimmy Dykes of the Chicagos
wants to trade Johnny Whitehead, and
has said so. Griff so far has refused
to comment on how the prospect Of
grabbing Whitehead intrigues him.
Dykes will want an infielder for
Whitehead, in all probability.
There is no telling who among the
Tiger staff is on the block, at least not
at this early date. AS for the Browns,
you generally can have anybody you
want. It's just a question of handing
across the price that Hornsby de-
mands. Usually Rogers is very glad
to give up somebody like Russ Van
Alta or Ivy Andrews or Jack Knott
for the small total of a catcher, two
infielders, an outfielder and half in
terest In Grifiith Stadium. He Is like
Grin that way.