Evening star., 1939-07-31
Antilles sLeague
One Of Fastest
In Baseball
Case Seems Misplaced
In Right; Krokky's
Control MusterfuI


Nestled somewhere in the Pearl OF
the Antilles-maybe at Havana, per-
haps at Almadares or Cienfuego or
Santa Clara-may be located the
Nationals newest farm team.
Uncle Clark Grifith said so today
as he unused disconsolately over his
outfield setup and wished for a pair
of hard-hitting, right-handed and
strong throwing youngsters to play
left and center fields.
The Washington club, he was say
ing, may come up with them over
the winter if Judge Kenesaw Noun
tain Lands will allow Griffith to
send Outflelders Roberto Ortiz and
Alexander Pitko to the Cuban
League for a period of out-of season
seasoning.
Ortiz. the 6-foot 2-inch Cuban who
made Griff. Manager Bucky Harris
and Scout Joe Cambria scream fast
as Feller" during spring training, is
mending down in Carolina from
fractured skull. Not long ago he was
converted into an outfielder and, ac-
cording to Griff, was just beginning
to knock home runs when an in
flelder's throw put a T-shaped frac-
ture in his Uranium. So Roberto
probably won't be able to play any
more this summer and, with his
limited experience, he won't be ready
for big league trial next spring.
Loop Is Melting Pot.
Pitko is a brawny young man who
is playing in the outfield for Green
vile. the Sally League farm of the
Nationals. Hes batting $780, says
Griffith, land with little more ex-
perience in a faster league he ought
to be able to help us. I'd like to see
Ortiz come up as our center fielder,
because he can throw better than
Di Maggie and I'd like to have Pitko
in left field"
The Cuban League is outside of
organized baseball. This, plus the
rule that major league players can
not play ball after 10 days of the
close of the regular season, makes
it necessary for Griffith to seek
permission. Ortiz and Pitko are
something less than major leaguers,
of course, but they are the property
Of the Washington club and Griff is
afraid this is technically important.
The Cuban League is composed
largely of American Negro stars,
Cubans and South Americans, with
a smattering of minor league play
ers from the States. Harry Davis,
the former Detroit and ST. Louis
first baseman, served at least one
winter in the Cuban circuit and at
the time he was the property of the
Browns. for he packed up and quit
In February so as to join the st.
Louis club at its training camp in
Texas. So apparently it can be
done.
Esty No Star in Cuba.
1t is one of the fastest of all base
ball leagues. The writer saw several
games in Havana a few years ago
and was impressed with the caliber
OF play. The league ranks with the
class A circuits in the States. Bobby
Estalella has played in the Cuban
League, but never starred. Alexandra
Carrasquel. the Venezuelan pitcher
OF the Mats, also performed in Ha-
vana last year. He was considerably
more OF a success than Estalella,
who never batted 300.
"A lot of people still claim that
Ortiz Is pitcher" said Griff. For
instance, Calvin Calvin Griffith, his
adopted son and manager of the
Charlotte club, says that he ought
to be a pitcher. But that fellow is
fast as sin on his feet and he can
give us that long hit that's so i'm
portant. I know I can get Ortiz
to play winter ball in the Cuban
League. Whether Pitko will be will
ing is something I don't know"
Estalella says it is difficult to rate
the Cuban League. She's as guide
as the internationally" repeated
Roberto. Me can't tell. In Cooba
we play two, three games a week.
over here we play every day. She's
a-different."
Since the acquisition of Bob
Loane, outf1elder from Springfield,
George Case has been moved from
center to right field. This seems to
be a queer spot to place a fellow
whose arm is supposed to be too
weak for center-field play because
in right field one of the important
qualifications is a strong arm. But
obviously the order to put Case in
right came from the front Office,
because Griff was talking about it
today.
Wright Goes to Left.
Somehow Case doesn't like left
field said Griff. "He seems to
belong there, because the throws are