Evening star., 1939-02-19
5a||yLoop.Grad
Reveals Power
As Line Hitter
Jimmy, Another Find,
Of Combrio's S, Also
Is Flash AfieId
: BY FRANCIS E. STAN,
Star Stan Correspondent.

ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 18.-Life IS
full of surprises these days for Man.
ager Bucky Harris and President
Clark Griffith of the Nationals and
most of the time the man who is
behind them is little, chubby Myste-
rious Joe Cambria.
The current training camp sensa-
ton, outside of the Cuban speed
baller, who is Roberto Ortiz, is a
rangy first baseman named James
Vernon, who batted 1886 for Green
vile of the Sally League last year
and who may make trouble for jim
my Wasden this year.
Vernon, inches taller than his
stocky rival, has made Harris feel,
to quote the one-time boy manager,
like kid with a new toy. I neve,'
expected him to show me much and
now all I've got to say is that l.
Wasdell makes any mistakes this
kid may wind up on first base. Hes
got plenty"
Ready for Majors Right Now"
In the last three days Vernon haT
given plenty Of other onlookers res-
son to believe that he has plenty.
At bat, regardless of whether right
or left-hander is pitching, Jimnl"
has been getting his hits. In the field
he is something of defensive mar
vel, performing much in the manner
that Joe Kuhel did when he first
came to Washington from Kansas
City.
Wasdell, according to the well-laid
plans of Griffith and Harris, was to
be given the first base assignment
Vernon and Bob Pritchard. up from
Charlotte, were to have worked out
and departed, willed to some farm
team in the minors.
Whatever competition that Prit-
chard was to have offered will not
bother Wasdell, for the Charlotte
first baseman will not be in camp,
due to illness. But Vernon is new
and a surprising threat
He'll make Wasdell look out for
his job" prophesied Scout Cambria
today. Il didn't bring him down
here for nuthin'. He's ready for the
majors right now" 1t might be
added that people who know Cam
bria still are looking for a find
Of Joe's who isn't ready for the
| majors right now"
Hits Ball on q Line.
But this Vernon has something on
the ball, it develops. Cambria
picked him up when Jimmy was
a freshman at Villanova College.
He sent him to Easton of the East
ern Shore League for two weeks and
then transferred him last year to
Greenville, where he was the hit
ting sensation.
Vernon isn't hitting particularly
long ball at present, but it is a crisp,
line drive that he is knocking out
every time he comes to the plate
He made talk in camp today when
he faced the left-handed Ken
Chase. who is the most advanced
hurler on the squad. and raped
his offerings to all sections of the
diamond
Il knew he could field all the
time" recalled Harris HE worked
out with Washington for about two
weeks last season and he is q real
Fancy Dan. But never gave him
much Of tumble as hitter until
now If Wasdell falls down this
kid is going to get his job In a min
ute"
Bucky Likes New Infielders.
Wasdell, to hear Harris, is going
to receive the big play. Wasdell
will open the exhibition season as
the Mats regular first baseman, but
the 19-year-old Vernon is going to
get plenty of opportunity.
Harris, at the moment, is like the
old woman who lived in a shoe.
Hes got, in short, so many good
looking rockies he doesn't know what
to do.
Vernon quoth Bucky, belongs
right up there as a prospect with
Ortiz. Walter Masterson, Estalella
and the rest. Incidentally, there's
another rookie, an infielder, like
a lot.
He" concluded Harris, is this
Morris Aderholt from Wake Forest.
Hes the closest thing to a modern
Charley Gehringer I've ever seen.
He's sure to make it in a year or
two and the chances are we'll have
vernon, Aderholt and Buddy Lewis
In the same infield in a couple of
years."
Meanwhile, little Joe Cambria, the
Lonesome Scout who discovered
most of them. sits back and chuckles.
Little Joe dragnetted a flock Of
good-looking rockies. The only
drawback is that they'll need a few
years of experience.