Evening star., 1940-02-26
Rangy Draftee
Looks Helpful
To Bengough
Coach Likes HurIerfs
'Sinker'; Reds Would
Buy Buck Paul
By . Staff Correspondent of The star.

By Staff Correspondent OF The Star.
ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 26.-Big
Paul Gehrman flung a final pitch
into Coach Benny Bengough's mitt
and walked from the Sidelines to
throw a round Of batting practice
in the Nationals training camp.
Bengough took of his glove and
studied his left hand.
That fellow" he said, throws
one Of the heaviest balls I ever
caught. Look at this meat hook, viii
you?"
The old Yankee receiver extended
his hand. 1t was red, raw and angry
looking and Gehrman hadn't even
been cutting loose.
III he's got a curve ball." Ben
cough said, she ought to be a big
help. Gehrman's one of those pitch.
ers whose fast ball, when it's kept
low, sinks instead of rising or riding
into the catcher on a straight line.
He may be little bit helpful"
Reds Want Him Back.
Gehrman is large, burly fellow,
going on 26, who won IA games and
lost 13 for a weak Albany team in
the Eastern League. Before the
Nationals drafted him for $1,000 he
had belonged to the Cincinnati
Reds.
Indeed, the Reds apparently did
not want to lose this guy from
Bend, Greg, because after the Mats
landed him the National League
champions promptly put in a claim
for Gehrman in case he is not re.
tanned.
This means the Reds are willing
to give at least $4,000 for the return
of this fellow who had three trials
with Cincinnati, was found not
ready, and who was farmed out.
The way it works is like this:
Cincinnati farmed Gehrman to
Birmingham. its club in the South
ern Association. The Barons sent
him to Albany, where he fell into
the draft. It is believed the reason
he was sent to Albany was to escape
the draft which claimed him.
The draft price in class A league
like the Eastern is $4,000. If he
fails with the Mats the Reds, who
claimed him, will get Gehrman back
and President Clark Griffith will
get back $4,000 of the sum he paid.
This is baseball law.
Baker Flop Haunts Mats.
Gehrman will be one of the pitch
ers whose exhibition game perform.
ances will be watched keenly. If he
ever is going to stay in the majors
this would seem to be his chance.
Outside of Dutch Leonard, Joe
Krakauskas, Ken Chase and Joe
Haynes there are no hurlers whose
jobs are conceded. Gehrmans
chances are as good as anybody's
back of these four.
A hangover from the 1889 camp
season, however, is the case Of
Pitcher Tom Baker. This still
rankles in the minds Of Grifnth
and Manager Bucky Harris.
Baker, it may be recalled, Is q
young right-hander who apparently
was procured by the Mats against
the wishes of the Giants. When
Washington sold Zeke Bonura to
the National Leaguers Griffith de-
manded, in addition to $4,000 in
cash, the services of Baker.
Terry Raised a Protest.
Bill Terry created fuss. He in.
sisted that he wanted to keep Baker.
When he finally turned title to
Thomas over to the Mats he told
Griffith:
you've got one of the pitchers I
was going to start every fourth day"
Grif wishes now that he hadn't
been so persistent because Baker
was grade A f1operoo who didn't
last through the training grind He
was shipped to Springfield, where
he was no ball of fire.
Now comes Gehrman, another ex.
National Lacquer. Like Baker he
is big boy and he has q fast ball.
The Mats are hoping that all re-
semblance ends there.