Evening star., 1938-03-13
Bluege, Overcoming Game Leg of Rookie Days,
Still Infield Marcel In His 18th Campaign

stop and second baseman in the game.
He can field rings around Cecil Travis,
the current shortstop, and, to listen
to Manager Bucky Harris, he was q
better man at the post than even
Roger Peckinpaugh.
Kept Away From Short.
But when Ossie first came to Wash
ington the Mats needed third base
man. They had just acquired the vet
eran Peckinpaugh in trade from Bos-
ton and Peck wasn't doing we'll that
year. Ossie probably would have won
the job had not young and promis-
ing third baseman named Leonard
been stricken with appendicitis.
Leonard was being groomed for the
hot spot. but his appendix ruptured
during train jaunt and he died.
So proficient did Bluege become at
third base that his very perfection
kept him from realizing his ambition
of playing shortstop regularly When
Pecks days were over the Mats tried
flock Of shortstops. Finally iris
Speaker, who served a one-year stretch
with the Washington firm, advised
Griffith that Boston had the shortstop
the team needed to win another PEN
nan. Grif traded for Topper Rigney.
the choice of Speaker, but Rigney
could not do it.
Walter johnson came along to sue
ceed Harris as manager in 1929 and
nominated Bluege as his shortstop. At
last Oss was to get his chance! But
that year proved one of his most dis
NAL. He injured his knee and played
only 81 games. When he recovered
a lantern jawed lad from the Amer
ican Association had muscled his way
into the lineup. So OSsie shrugged
off his disappointment and played side
by side with Joe Cronin. Never in
history did Washington have a left
side OF the infield 50 strong as during
those days when Cronin was great
and Bluege, the specialist, was at his
peak.
Great Double Play Man.
Harris always maintains that Bluge
was the finest shortstop with whom
he ever had played. A great double
play man was Bucky. Teamed with
Bluege the duo was unmatchable.
Il realized how great he was as
long ago rs 1922" says Harris. "Oss
had just come up from Peoria and
one day he started at shortstop in
an exhibition game in Leesburg. Fla,
against the Phillies. We reeled of
five double-plays so fast the hitters
turned back after getting half way
down to first base"
Bluege never was 4 great hitter.
Disappointment No. of his career
was his failure to hit 300 as a ma jor
Lacquer. Year after year Bluege set
the 800 mark as his goal, but he never
made it. When he first came up he
was weak on curve balls. This weak
ness he overcame, but Ossie, never
weighing over 160 pounds, lacked the
power Of the more successful hitters.
He stands eighth among active Ameri-
can AeaGQerS, however, IN numper OF
hits. His total is 1894.
Only once as . major and minor
Lacquer did he ever bat more than 800.
This was 1922, when he played with
Minneapolis after being farmed out
by the Mats. In a games he batted
.315. With the Mates he came close
many times, particularly in 1928 when,
playing in LAG games, he finished with
.297 average. He had 4 chance,
right down to the final day, to hit the
coveted 800 class and all Washington
was roofing for him.
For years Bluege's was the reputa-
ton of q silent man. He Is quiet, but
not altogether silent, this 1.-the veteran
with deep-set eyes. In 1884, after
winning honors as q member Of the
1888 winning team. Bluege
was notified by Cronin that Rookie
Travis was going to inherit his Job.
At Biloxi that spring Ossie volunteered
to teach Travis the dner points Of