The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-01
ARN0VlCH ASKED
NOT TO ENLIST
Terry Says He Prefers f or
Player to Wait for Draft;
Says Reds Best Club
BY JUDSON L

BY JUDSON BAILEY
NEW YORK, Jan. 31.-R-The
question of military service for
Morrie Arnovich. the New York
Giants new outfielder, came up
for airing again today with Man.
ager Bill Terry expressing opposi-
ton to Arnovich enlisting immedi-
ately as President Horace Stone
ham had suggested.
Terry was one of several base
ball notables who arrived in town
today for the annual banquet of
the New York baseball writers
Sunday. Manager Leo Durocher
and Outfielder Joe Medwick of the
Brooklyn Dodgers and General
Manager Branch Hickey of the St.
Louis Cardinals also were among
the early arrivals.
Terry held a big press confer
ence and said his outfield depend
ed almost altogether on Arnovich.
He was asked if he agreed with
the proposal to have the 26-year-
old Superior. Wis, player volun.
teer for Army duty now instead
of waiting until he was called in
the draft-which has been predict
ed for June.
I'm not in sympathy with ask
ing anybody to enlist" replied Ter
ry. "I'd like to have all nv play-
ers as long as I can and I'd be
glad to have Arnovich for half a
season if I can't get him for all
of it. He is a fast starter in the
spring and might be able to help
us get away to a good beginning"
Later in the conversation Terry
unused, Who knows, by the time
July comes around, if a player
isn't taken. a draft board might
agree to defer his being called for
another month or So. Take a
player like Hank Greenberg, the
income tax he would pay for a
full seasons play would help pay
for some of those defense prepar-
atoms"
Terry said the key to the Giants
chances in 1941 was shortstop. IF
Bill urges can play my infield is
set. If he can't, well . we
were a game and a half away
from first place he got
beaned last summer and we fin
ished sixth.
We've added three or four fell
lows who'll help us. I think. I'm
counting on Joe Orengo for third
base, Arnovich for left field, Bob
Bowman as a starting pitcher and
Gabby Hartnett to do some catch
ing.
eff he can get into shape for
the early games I'm going to let
Hartnett handle some of the pitch
ers like Cliff Melton who didn't do
so well last year"
Terry said he didn't know who
would win the National league
pennant, but 'it looks like Cincin-
natl is in better shape than any
other club in the league. St. Louis
has a good bunch of kids and
Brooklyn will be stronger. Brook
Ign has the best balanced infield
In the league and has added n
good starting pitcher. Kirby Hig-
be, whom I was mighty disappoint-
ed l couldn't get"
Durocher also declared ."The
club to beat is Cincinnati" and
rated Pittsburgh as very tough"
but said St. Louis had too many
question marks.
He held a long conference with
Dodger President Larry MacPhail
out of which came the announce
ment that Paul Waner, 37-year-
old outfielder released by Pitts
burgh in December, would be
signed.
Durocher said he was figuring
on young Pete Reiser for right
field, but admitted he was fearful
Third Baseman Harry Lavagetto
might be called in the draft, in
which case Reiser would move to
the hot corner.
Waner played Is years for the
Pirates, led the league in batting
in 1927, 1884 and 1886 and was
voted the most valuable player in
1927. He was not given a bonus
for signing, but was believed to
have been promised a $12, 500 sal
ary.