Evening star., 1941-04-17
Put in Glass IA,
Buddy Is After
Lower Rating
Has to Support Parents,
He Claims; Loss Would
Upset Shoky Club
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT.

BOSTON. April ia beWildered
Buddy Lewis today admitted he may
appeal the decision of his local draft
board which has placed him in class
Ia, available for immediate mill
tary service. The Washington third
baSeman and cleanup hitter prob
ably will attempt to obtain another
classification through contending he
is the sole support of his parents.
Buddy has received no official
notice of his classification by his
local board at Belmont, N. c., but
Chairman w. B. Crumpton has
stated Lewis has been placed among
the Army eligibleS. Under customary
procedure, Buddy will not be called
for induction until after May l at
the earliest.
The basis for Lewis likely appeal
will be the fact that his father has
a double hernia and is unable to
work. Ownership of a gas station at
Gastonia, N. c., which produces a
year-round revenue, may operate
against Buddy's chances of being
reclaSSitied. He already has passed
his physical examination and his
plea for four month deferment
has been denied.
Loss Would Be Blow.
Promoted to the number four spot
in the batting order this season, hit
ting 1886 and owner of WaShingtons
only home run of the campaign as
this was written, Lewis loss would
be a tremendous blow to the Mats.
who are having trouble enough after
absorbing their third straight lick
ing, 81, in II innings here yester-
day.
Manager Buck Harris has indi-
Gated the Weak-hitting Jimmy
Pofahl will be installed at third base
should Lewis be inducted, although
there is a possibility Jimmy Blood
worth will play the bag against
right-hand pitching, with Buddy
Myer installed at second base.
Against left-hand pitching the COM
bination would be Pofahl at third
base and Bloodworth at second.
A batting star for the Mats for five
years, Lewis for three seasons has hit
,314 or better. Washington would
miss his bat as much as its uniforms.
The likely successor to the cleanup
batting role would be, ,Shortstop Cecil
Travis. who has been tried there pre-
vionsly and found wanting.
Buddy Is Bewildered.
The net result of Mr.. Hitler's an
tics and the subsequent rearming
program doubtless means the Ma
tionals. will have to struggle along
without Lewis for much of this year
and some of next. Unless. of course.
Buddy can convince an appeal board
that he merits reclassihcation.
Buddy, in fact, may change his
mind about appealing. even though
he has an argument that deserves
consideration. Lewis. who will be 25
years old on August 10, is sincere
youngster who would like the idea of
year in the Army if it didn't leave
his parents in tough spot.
If Buddy senses public opinion is
going against him, he may chuck the
notion of appealing and head for an
Army base instead of third base.
Right now, he's leaning toward the
appeal idea, but he's bewildered by
it all and may change his mind on
short notice.
Lewis received the news in silence.
Informed by The Star of his classi-
fication, Buddy seemed stunned for
a moment and then said Thanks"
Previously he had said he thought he
stood "a very good chance" of being
deferred, or classified in a group
other than IA.
Boston Rallies in Ninth.
Buddy's la classification and the
Mats class D relief pitching had the
club on the sour side today as Steve
Sundra, the recent purchase from
the Yankees, attempted to bring
Washington its first victory in the
finale of the three-game Red Sox
series. The ancient Mike Ryba was
to oppose him.
The Mats again blew three-run
lead in the ninth yesterday and the
(See HAWKINS, Page D-2)