Evening star., 1940-02-27
Batting Worth
Seen by Harris
In MeIIendeck
Hoyo Due at Not Comp
Tomorrow Also Ruted
Clever OutfieIder
~ . star Correspondent Of The star.

ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 27.-Down
OF the Hilltop, following the path
well worn to the majors by Doc
White, Arthur Devlin, Del Bisso-
nette and others. comes Joe Mel
lendeck to the Nationals.
Georgetown University's great
triple-threat halfback of two years
ago, one Of the finest football play
ers in the history Of the Blue and
Gray, will arrive in the Washington
training camp tomorrow.
President Clark Grinith, making
the announcement, said that Mel
lendeck originally had not intended
to begin his professional baseball
career until his graduation in June.
But he wired me that he was ready
to report" Grifnth said, "and I told
him to come"
The Washington club refuses to
confirm it oflcially but Mellendeck,
who quit football in his senior year,
following a knee injury, and cre-
ated storm of speculation and con-
troversy, has belonged to the Mats
for two years. Scout Joe Cambria
signed him after watching his play
in Baltimore, but the deal was
hushed pending Mellendeck's grad
uation.
Griff, Bucky Go Overheard. -
Observers in camp cannot recall
the last time GrifIith and Manager
Bucky Harris went so far overheard
on a rookie ballplayer as they went
on Mellendeck when the announce
ment was made.
Hes going to be q great center
fielder" Griffith said. HE can't
miss. We had him working out last
summer. Even with his bad knee he
showed me that he had everything.
He's fast as sin, he's got great arm,
he can chase fly balls and he has q
great batting stroke
Harris nodded agreement. II like
him." he said. HE was favoring
that knee last summer, and yet he
still hit the left-field fence in bat
ting practice. Hitting an old,
scarred-up ball, too"
According to Griffith, the best
broken field runner in Georgetown
football since Jack Hagerty has only
one fault now.
HE is q little weak on curve
balls" said the Old Fox. 'It's Moth
Ing serious, though. Some fellows
never will hit curves. Mellendeck
will, but last summer, you see, he'd
been out Of competition for q year
and wasn't quite ready for the kind
our fellows threw, even in practice.
He'll make it. Maybe he'll need q
year or two In the minors and maybe
he won't"
BEST I Ever Seem"
Cambria pronounced Mellendeck
"the best young ballplayer I ever
picked up or SEEN" George Case is
the best ballplayer I've ever dis
covered" Joe said, modestly, ''but
this kid is the best prospect. At
Mellendeck's point in his career,
Case wasn't in his class. In the first
place. Case was pitcher when I
got him."
It is understood that Mellendeck
is to be groomed for the center field
job, which Case is supposed to play
this year. When and If Mellendeck
gets ready for the majors, Case will
be moved back to right field, which
he plays best Of all the gardens.
In Joe's favor is his right-handed
batting stance, his ability to hit
long ball on occasions and his
qualifications for center field. Case
is not q first-class center fielder.
Johnny Welaj and Sammy West
can play the position but against
Welaj Is his weak arm and against
West Is advancing age and lack of
stamina.
Hilltop Produces Plenty:
Georgetown has produced more
than one colleges share of major
league ballplayers, although in re-
cent years production has slowed.
White, the thin southpaw who now
coaches at Wilson Teachers College
in Washington, was a great pitcher
for the old 'hitless wonders" Of
Chicago and q teammate of Nick
Atrock.
Devlin went from the Hilltop to
become an immortal at the Polo
Grounds under John McGraw. Bis
sonnette for years played first base
at Brooklyn. Clyde sukeforth and
Paul Florence, both catchers, went
to the majors, and Don Brennan, .
pitcher, now is with the Giants.
Mellendeck Is the second George
town product Of recent years to turn
professional and gain attention of
the majors. Before him by q year
Was Harry Bassin, first baseman,
who now is being polished in the
Yankee chain.