Evening star., 1939-02-23
Better FootinQ,
Backgrounds
Help Rocks
Change to Give Ortiz
His First Chance to
Hurl to Butters
BY FRANCIS E. STAN,
Star Staff Correspondent


ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 23.-The
bush-league bearcats who would
play baseball for the Washington
firm finally will move out of a BUSH
league setting tomorrow and, for the
first time, fellow won't have to be
a pitcher to get tumble.
Handicapped at Exposition Park
by lumpy field, bad background,
lack of dressing room facilities and
other disturbing influences, Manager
Bucky Harris tomorrow will lead his
gawky squad of green peas" to
Tinker Field. regular training
ground of the Mats.
The Nationals are laying claim
to Tinker Field, named after the
famous old Chicago shortstop. after
having been showed to the back
ground by the Joe Strip Baseball
School, which got there first.
Harris Puts on Firm Bans.
The change promises to do much
for the peace of mind of Harris,
President Clark Griffith and Trainer
Mike Martin. Exposition Park is the
local fair grounds. The outfeld IS
full of gopher holes Or do they have
gophers in Florida? The infeld is a
big sand pile, more suitable for kid
dies with pals and shovels.
The pitchers heave the ball out of
a background of white buildings,
same color as the ball, if new. The
hitters and catchers have been COM
planning they can't see the balls and
the pitchers have been moaning
about line drives coming back at
them out OF an equally white back
ground osstone buildings.
So bumpy is the outfield and
treacherous the infield that Manage
Harris put a firm ban on infeld
practice, extensive fungo hitting to
the pitchers in the outfeld and on
Roberto Ortiz pitching in batting
practice, Result: Spring training to
date has been a swell. long diet Of
monotony.
Aderholt Promising Rookie.
The program will be different a.
Tinker Field. one of the better Flor
ida ball parks. Ortiz. for the first
time, will pitch to the hitters, sucn
as they are now. Harris believes it
will be safe enough for the ball
comes out of a background of wav-
ing green plans at Tinker Field.
The most important development.
however. is likely to be infield prac-
tice. The Mats have three likely
looking infielders in camp. Two of
them. First Baseman Jimmy Vernon
and Second Baseman Morris Ader-
holt, are brand-new. The other is
Jimmy Wasdell, the acrobatic heir
apparent to Zeke Bonuras throne.
Aderholt, tall, rangy lad from
Wake Forest College. looks to have
as good or better chance than any
OF them. At the same time he isn't
likely to get as much consideration.
The Mats are we'll fixed for a second
baseman in Buddy Myer, who is
good for at least another year Of
steady play. They have two fine
veteran utility men in Ossie Bluege
and Charley Colbert.
But Aderholt will be watched close
ly. Before he has been given a chance
to 60 after hot ones and work on
double plays he bears the official
label of "For Delivery Spring of
194O."
: Vernon Is Pleasant Surprise.
The move to Tinker Field will
set of one of the few real job fights
scheduled for this year. This is
Wasdell VS.. Vernon. First prize IS
first base. Second prize is a rail-
road ticket to Springfield of the
Eastern League. In other words
there is only one prize
Wasdell is the logical choice. He
is far the more experienced of the
pair and the longer hitter. But
Wasdell, except for one season with
Nashville, never has hit often. His
(See STAN, Page C-2)