Evening star., 1940-07-22
Sale Forces Mats
To Rely on West
AT First Base
Zeke Cost Griffs
Star in Kuhe|;; Chicago
SoreIy Needs Sucker

Dellghtfully daily Zeke Bonura,
Washington first baseman who re-
Gently incurred the wrath of local
fans by his weird fielding antics and
light hitting, today was sold to the
Chicago Cubs of the National League
for $4,000, it was announced by
President Clark Griffith of the Ma
tionals. Zeke is to report to the
Cubs in Boston tomorrow.
Waived on by other American
League clubs several weeks ago, Bo-
nura was hitting a mild 276 for the
Mats. His return to Chicago-he
played with the White Sox for sew
eral seascns-was predicated on the
Cubs desperate need for a first
baSeman at this time
Glenn Russell is recovering from
an appendectomy and Phil Cavaretta
last week broke a bone in his foot,
leaving the Cubs without an ac-
ceptable first sacker. Bonura is ex-
tremely popular with Chicago's
large Italian colony.
Must Wait for Vernon.
Sammy West, a veteran outfielder
who played first base for the Mats
for a short spell last season, will
replace Bonura at first base for
Washington, Griffith revealing he
will be unable to import Mickey
Vernon from Jersey City due to a
verbal agreement to allow the Inter-
national League club to retain that
highly regarded Nat chattel for the
season.
An inkling of what was material
izing was afforded local fans yes
terday at Griffith Stadium when
West replaced Bonura at first base
in the second game Of a double
header against the st. Louis Browns.
Sammy smashed a home run to win
that game for the Mats.
Washington now has no recog-
nized first baseman with the club.
West gained his greatest measure
of baseball fame as an outfielder,
while the only reserve capable of
playing the position is Ossie Bluege,
a veteran third baseman who also
played several games at first base
with the Mats last year.
West Years Third at Sack.
West becomes Washington's third
first baseman of the 1910 campaign,
following in the spike impressions
of Jimmy Wasdell, since sold to
Brooklyn, and Bonura.
After four years with the White
Sox, with whom he drove across
440 runs, Bonura came to Wash
'ington in 1888 in exchange for Joe
Kuhel 1t was one of the worst
deals Griffith ever made. Kuhel has
filled the bill at Chicago ever since
while Zeke has been failure at
Washington twice and once with
the New York Giants.
From a financial standpoint, how
ever, Griffith did not fare poorly
with Bonura After the 1888 cam
paign, in which Bonura failed to
distinguish himself as an offensive
threat in the vast local ball park,
the big New Orleans fruit peddler
was sold to the Giants for a re-
ported sum of $25,000 and two
rockies, both of whom are playing
for Washington farm teams.
Bonura played most of the 1889
season with the Giants, but failed
to please Manager Bill Terry. When
the present season opened Bonura,
a holdout for several months during
the winter and spring, was resold
by Terry to Washington. The price
reputedly was only a fraction Of
what the Giants gave for him.
Job Here Only Temporary.
Zeke got his second chance with
the Nationals because Wasdell, the
perennial rookie, failed at first base
again. At no time did Bonura play
under any illusions. 1t was estab-
lished that when Vernon's year at
Jersey City was up the fancy field
ing youngster who is the property
of the Mats will take over the regu-
lar first base job. Bonura simply
was wearing a Washington uniform
on borrowed time.
Zeke is likely to be more popular
figure with the Cubs than he was
here and in New York. When the
White Sox turned him loose after
those four heroic years Chicago fans
raised a hue and cry. 1t was ru-
mored at the time that an agree
ment had been made with Griffith,
who was not to sell or trade Bonura
to the White Sox's North Side rivals,
the Cubs. If there ever was an
agreement, it was long since dis
carded. Club owners have discovered
that having Bonura is only part of
the problem. Another part is look
ing around for spot to unload him.