Evening star., 1939-07-15
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star Stai Correspondent.

ST. LOUIS, July 15.-This doesn't
follow the blueprints of success
stories, for the Mats Johnny Welaj
was forced to reach the point of
giving up on himself before he be-
gan to resemble a major league hit
ter. With nothing more sensational
than an Indifferent attitude, the
Polish outfielder rescued himself
from the minor leagues only a few
hours before he was slated to hop a
rattler for Springfield, Mass.
Johnny, of course, still hasn't
qualified as a crack outfielder or
even as a recognized regular with
the Mats, but since July 2, the day
on which he decided ito heck with
1t all" Welaj has been whacking at
a 1853 clip, has swatted four doubles
and triple and batted in II runs.
1t all revolves around the art of
relaxation, which Welaj acquired
only after being informed he was to
be shipped to the Mats Springfield
farm. Johnny admittedly quit on
himself-and as result now appears
more polished than at any stage of
his diamond career.
He was told, prior to.Washington's S
double-header with Philadelphia on
July 2. he was to be sent back to
the minors. Springfield requested
his services and Johnny, hitting
about .230 at the time, hadn't dis
played enough to warrant his reten-
ton by the Mats.
Spurt Saves Job.
The announcement took the
heart out of him and therein lies
an amazing yarn. Because Man.
ager Bucky Harris didn't regard
Sammy West as rugged enough to
play both games Of double header,
he stuck Welaj in the second game.
Welaj Immediately proceeded to
thump brace of doubles and two
singles and drive in six runs.
With that sudden show of power,
Johnny's trip to Springfield was
cancelled. 1t would be nice, but
stereotyped, to say Welaj merely
gritted his teeth, choked up on his
bat and went to work to stick with
the Mats, but he didn't. He quit
cold and became success.
When I went into that game.
informs the slight outfielder, 81
really didn't care whether I struck
out four straight times. 1 was down.
hearted and just didn't care about
anything. So I just walked up to
the plate nonchalantly and got
lucky.
Il guess it wasn't too much luck
at that because I was relaxed for
the first time since I've been with
the club. I think my trouble before
was that was pressing too much.
straining for hit every time I
walked up there.
Learns to Relax.
II discovered how to relax in that
game and all just because they had
given up on me and I thought they
were right. Now I'm using lighter
bat and getting it around faster.
At least I'm not the sucker I used
to be up there"
Johnny has stamped himself as
anything but a soft touch since that
time. In his last nine games he has
collected nine safeties in "a trips to
the plate and buoyed his season
average to .279.
Welaj, in fact. is due to linger
in the Mats outf1eld for some time,
for Manager Harris today was
threatening to bench George Case
for an indefinite period as disci-
plinary measure. He hasn't rel
ished the manner in which Case
has been handling his left-fleld Job,
feeling George is inclined to loaf.
Case still fancies himself as a
center fileder, but Harris is con-
vinced Georges weak throwing arm
never will allow him to make the
grade there. With the thought of
favoring his arm, Bucky shifted him
to left, but George Hardly has been
satisfactory there. He probably will
wind up in right field, but only
after viewing few games from the
bench.
Several times yesterday the Mats
were only one strike removed from
skidding into seventh place, but with
two out in the ninth Washington
produced a six-run rally to wallop
the lowly Browns, 11-9.
st. Louis entered the ninth with
9-5 lead which appeared the safest
security in the world when Jimmy
Bloodworth famed to launch the
inning. Charley Colbert walked, but
Rick Ferrell popped out and the
Mats still were four runs from cre~
ating . tie.