Evening star., 1941-05-07
Vernon Winninq
Silent Duel for
First Base Job
Shows More Pep Than
Archie, Fellow Sphinx;
Griffmen Halt Tribe
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star Staff Corresnnndent.

DETROIT, May I. - Slim Mickey
Vernon, the oose-jointed lad who
was outpointed in early skirmishing
for Washington's first base job. now
is delivering knockout blows in the
most silent battle since Gal
laudet's last intramural boxing card
MickeyS non-articulate argument
with fuzzy-headed George Archie is
entering the final round with Ver-
non in commanding lead.
Conversational conStructioniSt is
Mum Mickey, but compared to the
sphinx from Seattle, he's a sparky
specimen. Archie has as much play
ing personality as an oyster and
while Vernon is stingy with his sem
tenceS, Mickey nevertheless is i'm
pressing as the more aggressive per-
former.
Manager Bicky Harris hasn't been
fascinated by Archie's funeral par
lor department on the field and
neither is he impressed with Ver-
mons lack of an up-and-at- 'em at
titude. Whatever edge there is in
the distribution of verbal encourage
ment afleld belongs to Vernon. More
important. Vernon also is outfeld-
ing. outhitting and outrunning Mr..
Archie.
The present plan dictates Vernon
be employed against righ-hand
pitching, with Archie viewing ac-
ton against southpaws. Mickey is
mauling the right-handers more fire.
quently and with more emphasis
than George is treating left-hand
hurting, so the next logicla move is
for Harris to inform Vernon the first
base job is his against both types of
pitching.
Injury Hampered Mickey.
Vernon'S stamina has been queS-
toned, but actually never given a
fair test. With Jersey City last year
he was off to sensational start and
tapered off to final .290 batting
average, but it wasn't because his
lean frame couldn't stand up under
the heat of July and August. Mickey
damaged his left shoulder badly
while sliding and that chiefly was
responsible for his skidding average
The 23-year-old Vernon is show
ing his mates an amazing amount
of power is impacted in his thin
body Mickey is hitting a hearten-
ing 1857 and of his 10 hits two have
been homers and two more have
been triples. He whacked another
home run yesterday at Cleveland as
the Mats snapped the Indians IL
game winning streak, So.
Harris is confronted with the
problem of delaying Vernon's de-
velopment while favoring his stam-
ina or playing him daily against
all types of pitching and perhaps
seeing Mickey wilt physically. Then,
too, he hasn't given up entirely on
Archie.
The postponement of Vernon's de-
velopment naturally would be a
small calamity if Mickey actually is
ready for the test. The wiry guy is
certain to increase his current ITO
pounds in another season or so and,
with the added heft should come
more power. He is calculated to i'm
prove.
Should Mickey continue his swat
ting of right handlers, Harris no
doubt will insert him against south
paws, granting him occasional rests
if Vernon shows signs of tiring.
Meanwhile, the sharp-faced young
ster very adequately is doing what is
requested of him.
Leonard Stops Indians.
Vernons home run in the first in
ming, scoring Doc Cramer ahead of
him, sent the Mats into a 20 lead
which Dutch Leonard protected un-
til the sixth inning. In that Ses-
sion the Indians tied the score, but
the Mats spurted into a 4-2 lead in
the eighth when Third Baseman
Ken Keltner allowed Ben Chapman's
easy grounder to roll by him at a
time when the bases were loaded.
Cleveland produced run in its
half of the inning when Roy
Weatherly doubled and scored on
Hal Trosky's single, but Vernon
offset that in the ninth when he
singled to score George Case, who
had beaten out a bunt, stolen his
first base of the season, and moved
to third on Cramer's infield out.
Case, incidentally, came out of
his batting slump in a rush. Twice
he was robbed of hits when Keltner
shared liners, but George contrib
uted a double in addition to his
bunt. Until his double in the fifth
inning, he had gone hitless in 27
consecutive trips to the plate.
Leonard, in winning his second
straight game after losing a trio
to the Yankees. allowed the Indians
only two singles in the first five
innings. He gave up eight hits in
the final four frames, but hung on
to snatch the decision, tanning
Pinch-hitters Soup Campbell and