The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-16
GOOD NEICHBOR AIDS SENATORS
 ON THE MOUND
Venezuela's Alex H clip s Bucky Harris in
 Big Way
BY JULIUS c. EDELSTEIN United Press Staff Correspondent

Washington, June 16.-(UP).- Alejandro Carrasquel, venezuelas picturesque contribution to the pitching staff of the Washington Senators, wants to show the world that the Good Neighbor policy is applicable to baseball as well as to international diplomacy.
 CarraSquel, who is listed as just Alex Alexandra in the lineup is the husky finger who so far this season, his first in the United States, has stood the mighty Yan- kees on their heads on two occa- sions as a relief hurler, and fol- lowed up with full-route pitching gems in games with the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. Manager Bucky Harris, who is beset with many baseball ills, is ready to thank Heaven for Latin America. Harris started the sea- son with rather a full representa- ton of Latins on his team, but the huge unheralded pitcher from Venezuela turned out to be just about the best of the lot.
 Cuban on Squad Also
 Roberto Estalella, of Cuba, has current title to one of the Senate outheld posts, but his play has been somewhat less than spotty.
 Pitcher Carrasquel Cor Alexan- dra), however, looks to be the goods. He wants to be star, he says, to help cement the ties be- tween Venezuela and the United States. There are many more good baseball players down in South and Central America, he thinks, who would make fine additions to big league teams here.
 Alex had never set eyes on the United States when he landed in Orlando, Fla, and was signed for a Washington try-out by Joe Cam bria, Nat scout, who saw Alex pitch in Cuba.
 Although he has been named Sphinx" by some of his team mates who think he has altogether too little interest in conversation. Alex was ready and willing to talk to a reporter through the medium Of an expert in the Latin tongue, Alex says he has been somewhat maligned in the press" because re- porterS are generally 8 little weak in Spanish. Rather than argue about syntax. grammar, or mean ing, Alex merely mods his head in assent when he doesn't get the idea. His English is confined to T like eet very goot," which is his reaction to everything American.
 Didn't Throw Coconuts One of the false reports about Alex is that he learned to play baseball by pitching coconuts at monkeys. That is not true, said Alex, because, as he explained, coconuts are too heavy to pitch, and besides monkeys are not cone- mon in Caracas, capital or vene- zuela, where he was born and reared.
 Alex learned to play baseball on the Latin equivalent of sandlots. By trade he was mechanic, and can repair automobiles, motor. boats, airplanes, and baseball teams, His uncle has a mechanic shop in Caracas, where Alex's brother. who is no baseball player. still works.
 At the age of IS he was taken on as a substitute by the Royal club of Venezuela, and soon after signed with the Concordia club. owned and managed by the son of the late dictator president of Venezuela. General Juan vincente Gomez.
 For his first full season of base ball he received 600 bolivares, which counts out to something like sI6O, His salary rose very rapidly after that, and he was iii a position in 1883 to refuse an offer from Angel Miguel Gonzales, scout for the st. Louis Cards.
 He has played baseball in Puerto Rico. Cuba, and santo Domingo.