Evening star., 1939-03-10
RookHutchiinson
Makes Big Hit
With Pilot
Rowe's Arm Appears
Strong Again.; Hole
At Third Filled
BY GAYLE TALBOT,
Associated Press Sports Writer.


LAKELAND, Fla, March 1O.-The
Detroit Tigers, hottest club in base
ball for the last several weeks of the
1888 race, hope to go right on from
there in the coming campaign and
give the Yankees a real argument
all the way.
Manager Del Baker almost Ger
tainly has the most improved team
in either league, at least on paper,
and with fair share of the breaks
his club might finish a strong sec
and to the Yanks. That is about as
high praise as it's safe to give an
American League entry these days.
Except for the batting weakness
OF their outfield, which is compen-
sated for by the slugging of Hank
Greenberg, Rudy York and Charley
Gehringer of the inner works, the
Tigers are a powerful outfit in every
respect. Their glaring weakness at
third base last season was corrected
by the deal that brought them
Frank Higgins from the Boston Red
Sox.
ITS good club" admitted Baker.
ut might even be a great club if
Schoolboy Rowe comes back to pitch
like he used to and Fred Hutchinson
lives up to his promise. A team can
go long way with pair of really
good pitchers
Hutchinson Makes Impression.
Hutchinson, OF course, is the prize
exhibit OF the spring camps He is
a husky kid pitcher who won 25 and
lost seven for Seattle last year and
cost the Tigers $4,000 cash and sew
eral players. Scouts of rival clubs
have been running the youngster
down, saying he wouldn't be able to
cope with big league batters without
a fast ball, but he's made a great
impression on Baker.
I've seen enough of him already
to know he's real ball player" he
said. Hes about the coolest one
ever saw break in. It's remarkable
that boy of 10 could be so far de-
veloped. Maybe his fast one isn't
quite like Walter Johnsons, but
don't ever let him hit you with it."
Rowe, who came back to win 70
and lose only 2 for Beaumont after
being shipped out of Detroit with
sore arm last season, believes his
wing is as good as ever. I saw him
cut loose with a dozen pitches that
looked as if they might dent armor.
He firmly believes he will prove him
self one Of the games great pitchers
again.
With him from Beaumont Rowe
brought another right handler, Paul
Trout. who looks as if he might give
the Tigers terrific mound staff.
He won % and lost 6, and in Texas
they declare he's better than Rowe
He had an earned run average of
ZIG per game against RoWe's 2.25
and Hutchinson's 2.4O.
One Infield Job in Doubt.
If these three should come
through together the Tigers wouldn't
need a great deal more pitching
But in case of emergency they have
such proved performers as Tom
Bridges, Vernon Kennedy, George
Coffman, George Gill, Harry Eisen-
stat and Archie McKain to carry on.
McKain was obtained in the deal
that brought Higgins from Boston
in exchange for Elder Auker and
Jake Wade.
With Greenberg, who poled So
home runs last year, planted on first,
Gehringer at second and Higgins on
third, only one infeld post is in
doubt. Billy Rogell slowed up con-
siderably at shortstop last season.
and faces dangerous rival in Frank
Croucher, boy who looked great
with Beaumont year before last, but
who broke an ankle last spring and
was out for the season.
Rudy York absolutely is through
trying to play the outfeld, and will
divide the catching with George
Tebbetts.
Ihefes no use making it a secret
that our problem is in the outfield,"
said Baker. I'm sure of only one
thing, that Erwin Fox will play right
field. The other two spots are wide
open between Fred Walker, Roy Cul-
lenbine, Chester Laabs, Barney Nc
Coskey and Frank Secory."
Secory, another of the Beaumont
imports. looks as if he might help
A tall 2OO-pounder, he hit 1928 last
year In the Texas League and fielded
efficiently, they say.