Evening star., 1939-05-06
Foul Tip Hoodoo
Gives Ferre||
Short Rest
Finger Hurt, Expects
To PIoy Tomorrow;
Homer kips Mats j..
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star Stan Correspondent.

BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star Stan Correspondent.
CHICAGO, May 6.-Catcher Rick
Ferrell, a calm, methodical individ-
ual, who is content to let Vesuvius-
tempered brother Yves of the YAM
KEGS do the squawking for the. fam
lily, today was missing from the
Washington ball clubs lineup. And,
like q collar button, air or food,
32-year-old Rick isn't noticed until
he's absent.
Rick had the misfortune to have
his right forefinger in the path of
foul tip yesterday as the Mats
dropped a 81 decision to the White
Sox and, as usual in such instances,
the foul tip won. The finger was
swollen today, but Ferrell expects
to play tomorrow when Washington
invales Clevelands vast municipal
stadium.
The tip which benched him top
ped series of minor accidents to
Rick since the Mats hit the road
In st. Louis he was hit on the hand
by foul tip but continued playing
The next day against the Browns
he was clipped on the muscle of the
left arm by another foul tip and.
when he came to the plate after
rapping out four straight hits, he
was bruised badly on the lower left
arm by one ,of Johnny Marcum's
fast balls.
Washington was dealt what was
feared to be severe blow two days
before its scheduled opener when
Rick had another collision with a
foul tip which split the fingernail
on the same finger which currently
is damaged. BY the time the Mats
finally saw sunshine and their first
game, however, Rick had recovered.
Light but Steady Catcher.
Never a sensational hitter, but
feared one, Rick has earned the
praise of the baseball world for his
smooth catching and ability to alb
sorb punishment. With only 100
pounds spread over his slight frame,
Ferrell is the lightest regular catcher
in the major leagues.
The ordinary wear and tear he is
subjected to every day takes its
toll, but Rick, whose diamond years
are numbered, offsets much of that
by taking perfect care of himself.
Extremely we'll liked by his mates.
the semi bald receiver makes the
most of his talents.
With the possible exception of an
occasional fan-tan game or movie,
Rick avoids extracurricula activi-
ties. While other players lounge
around a hotel lobby after train
ride, Ferrell takes a lengthy walk,
and it's rare night when he isn't
between the sheets by 10 O'Clock.
1t is possible. but improbable, the
Mats may lose Ferrell's services
some time this summer. Lately he
has been suffering appendicitis
pains. but is swigging olive oil on
doctors orders and hoping he can
avoid an operation until the season
is over.
Only One Steal OF Rick.
Not until yesterday did a player
steal a base on Ferrell and Marvin
Owen got away with that chiefly be-
cause Joe Kuhel all but rammed the
bat down Kicks throat in tanning
as Owen flew to second.
Until he was forced to leave the
game starting the Sox fifth inning
Rick shared with George Case and
Buddy Myer the honor of being the
only Mats who have played every
minute of every game this season.
Meantime, Manager Bucky Harris
was to take a brief peek at the
catching of Angelo Giuliana, the self
styled "bulb-nosed" Italian. whose
retention through the year still is
doubtful but who hardly harmed
his chances of sticking yesterday
when, in his first time at bat, he
rammed a triple to right field with
one out in the seventh.
That. though, was wasted, for Joe
Krakauskas grounded out and Case
famed to end the inning. That was
the Mats last real threat and
Krakky, who pitched highly cred
liable game. dropped tough de-
cision to an equally impressive
Thornton Lee. Each yielded only
eight hits.
Welaj's Error Costly.
The Mats had spurted into a 10
lead in the fifth, when Ferreu sin
gled sharply to center and moved to
second when Eric McNair fumbled
Krakky's grounder. Lee, attempting
to pick Krakky off first, threw wild
past Kuhel and Ferrell scooted home
and Krakky to third, where he was
stranded.
Rookie Johnny Welaj, replacing
Taft Wright, whom Harris felt
needed a rest, then fumbled Chicago
into a run. He dropped Kuhel's
easy fly and Joe raced to second,
continuing the round trip moment
later when Gee Walker drilled a
crisp single to right.
That tied it up, but the Mats were
beaten for the second successive day
by the margin of q home run when
Larry Rosenthal pumped a tremen-
dous drive into the lower tier of
the right centerfield stands with
one out and the bases empty in
the sixth.
Third Baseman Buddy Lewis, who
hasn't been feeling up to par lately
was replaced by Ossie Bluege, but
Lewis was expected to be back at
his post today as Jimmy De Shong
sought to snap the Mats losing
streak.