Evening star., 1939-02-08
Lewis,.D.C.B Boy,
Only Is, Rated
Great Find
Mosterson, Semi-Pro
Star, Brewer, Lefty,
Also Please Pilot
BY FRANCIS E. STAN,
Star STAFF Corresnondent

BY FRANCIS E. STAN,
Star STAFF Correspondent.
ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 8-There
is one-year contract to manage
the Nationals tucked away in Bucky
Harris strongbox, but today the old
hoy wonder" was wishing it was
four-year lease. Because that, you
see, is the length of time Harris is
setting as maximum for $4,000
worth of pitching ability, wrapped
up in three rockies, to develop and
ripped for major league use.
Il see three kids out there" said
Bucky. nodding toward his group of
II pitchers in spring training, who
ought to be worth from 40,000 to
$50 900 to any major league club in
about three years. If they don't
make the grade. eventually, don't
know the first thing about judging
ball players"
A slim, blond boy, 16 years old and
hailing from Washington, D. c., is
one of the trio. He is Joe Lewis, a
right-handed pitcher, who grad
uated from Lu Blues baseball school
In Ballston, Va, last summer. An
other is Walter Masterson, 18-year-
old semi-pro from Philadelphia, and
also a right-hander. The third is
Forrest Brewer, pale, hungry-look-
ing southpaw, who is 18 and fresh
from St. Augustine of the Florida
State League.
Lewis is Ranking Prospect.
"Masterson is the only one who
may be ready now" explained Har-
ris. "He is far ahead Of the others.
But all three of them are going to
make 1t and I'd like to be managing
the ball club that has those kids
arrive at the same time"
Bucky is placed in peculiar
position this year. He sees water.
water all around, but not drop to
drink. Well. maybe not that bad.
Bucky sees talent on all sides of
him when he reviews his rookie
forces. but there isn't much Of 1t
he can use Most of them, like Lewis,
and Brewer. are too green.
Lewis, at 16. is the baby" of the
camp. To hear Harris he is the
ranking prospect, rating over Mas
terson, even. He has fine delivery
and remarkable control and poise for
his tender years.
We'll have to drop him back
few notches," predicted Harris.
We'll have to start him with st.
Augustine, maybe. But in another
year he'll be ready for Charlotte and
after that he'll be ready for the
majors. And he'll develop into a
sweetheart of a pitcher. Three years
from now he'll be worth $4,000 on
any market or at least $40 900.
That's what the Tigers paid for
Hutchinson, wasn't it?
Mats Have Infield Find"
Brewer" continued Harris, lis 60
ing to make a darned good left
handler. Like Lewis, he hasn't begun
to get his real stuff on the ball. That
will come when he acquires full
physical development. But he's got
plenty right now and he'll be with
Washington in two or three years at
the most, watch and see"
Masterson may be retained, ac-
cording to Bucky. The tall young
right-hander pitched against some
pretty high-class semi-pro clubs
around Philly and from what he has
seen of major league ball in that
town (no cracks, pliz), he has
acquired more than average polish.
without trying to make myself
sound silly" concluded Harris, II
want to say these three kids will be
worth $4,000 apiece, or $4,000 for
the three Of them. in three years.
have a hunch, too, that you'll see
second baseman in camp who will
be right up with these fellows in
value. too. His name is Morris
Aderholt and Griff picked him up
from Wake Forest last summer.
saw him work for three or four
days and he's a dead ringer for
Charley Gehringer i. :. when Charley
first broke into the majors He's
built like Gehringer and hits some
I
thing like him. If there's anything
against Aderholt it's his arm. It
could be better"
So good do Masters Lewis, Master
son, Brewer and Aderholt look to
Harris that Bucky is tempted to
turn free lance scout. Better STILL"
he added, I'D like to own a class B
ball club. With a little industrious
scouting fellow ought to be able
to dig up few of these kids each
year, develop them, and make plenty
of dough selling them to the
majors"
The only drawback, and it is a big
item, is that Harris can't figure on
them for 1899. It may be that
Masterson will help out as a fll-in
pitcher, although he should be
farmed out to a club which will use
him regularly. But the others will
work all of their wonders for some
farm" team and that won't help
the Mats very much in the American
League flag chase.