The Washington times., 1937-03-17
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Editors Note.-ThtS Is the sec
ond In q series OF articles on the
1887 prospects of the major league
baseball teGms.J
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, March
II I.N.SJ.-'WhiIe I think the
New York Yankees will be the
club to beat in this years Amer.
lean League penant chase, you
can put this down to remember:
NObOdy's. going to be asking if
the Browns are still in the
league"
That's the double.barrelled pre-
diction of Rogers HornSby, man
ager Of the st. Louis team, at his
spring training camp here.
And when the 1887 edition of
the Browns trots out on the field
opening day, don't be surprised to
see the Rajah himself, as well as
another of baseball's "old timers"
Sunny Jim Bottomley, taking two
OF Cne nIlelQ pOSGS.
Bottomley has been playing a
lot of first base at training quar-
ters here, while Hornsby still takes
a lusty swing at the plate besides
doing the master-minding for the
Browns new owners and covering
a big circle around second base.
Probable Lineup
The Browns probable starting
lineup, not in batting order, will
probably include Rollie Hemsley
behind the plate; Bottomley or
Harry Davis at first base; Gerald
Lipscomb at second, if HornSby de-
cides not play; Billy Knicker-
booker at short; Harlan Cliff at
third; Joe Vosmik in left; Sam
West in center; Beau Bell in right.
if he signs, and if not, either Ed
Coleman, reserve outfielder, who
aSpires to be a pitcher, or Mel
Mazzera, flash with the San An
tonic Missions of the Texas League
last year. Ethan Allen, former
Philly and Cub reserve, is also on
deck and ready for outfielder's
duty.
Hornsby really doesn't expect to
play much second base this year,
but will hold himself in reserve as
utility infielder and pinch hitter,
Of which there are few better. If
he gets to play 80 games and belts
a few out Of the park, Hornsby will
be happy.
Bottomley, listed on the roster
as first baSeman and coach, can
o1thit Davis, but Harry is younger
and covers bit more ground these
days. Hornsby expects Bottomley
to play at least 40 games.
Hitting Dissaisfies
Tommy Carey is rated better
double play man at second base
than Lipscomb, but his hitting
hasn't satisfied Hornsby, who ex-
poets every man on the club, in
cluding the pitchers, to smack one
now and then. Carey was OBJ
tanned by the Browns from the
Cardinal farm at Rochester in
1884. To hold the second base job
this year, he will have to hustle
to beat out Lipscomb, who IS re-
garded as the most promising
rookie in the Brownie camp.
A change Of scenery from the
Cleveland to the st. Louis Park
may be the making of Joe Vosmik,
who has been rattling the fences in
spring training. Mel MazZera has
also been warming Hornsby's
heart with his slugging. Bottom
ley has spent a lot of time with
the youngster, changing his bat
ting stance. Billy Knickerbocker,
rated by some as the most prom
Using rookie in the league several
years ago, must make good for
the Browns at short because there
isn't another man in camp so far
that could hold down the position.
No. Pitcher
Oral Hildebrandt, obtained from
Cleveland by the Browns in a
swap which also brought Knicker-
booker and VoSr1ik to st. Louis,
will be the No. / Brown pitcher.
Elon Hogsett, former Detroit Ii.
ger, will also be ranked high if he
keeps on going the way he has in
training. Earl Caldwell and Jim
Walkup are also expected to come
through as starters.
Fred j. (Sheriff) Blake, Sig.
mund Jakucki, Jack Knott, Al
phonse Thomas, Leslie Tietje and
Russell Van Alta should make the
grade and Hornsby believes they
will.
Jakucki was purchased from
Galveston, of the Texas League.
late last season, and didn't get a
chance to show much. Thomas
won II games in 1886 after being
signed as free agent by Hornsby.
Blake was also signed as a free
agent during the winter. He
pitched for the Baltimore orioles
last year, winning IA and losing
Is.
Hemsley, one of the fastest
catcherS in either league, is ex-
pected to do big things for the
Browns again this year. Tommy
Heath, obtained from the San An
tonic farm a couple of seasons
back, is held in high regard by
Hornshy and may see considerable
service this year behind the plate.
Bell is the only holdout the
Browns have to contend with, and
he is expected to sign at an in
crease in salary in a day or two.