Evening star., 1941-06-15
PofohI Deserts When Assigned
To Lookouts, Blocking Griff
Deal for Shortstop Loyne
Bv BURTON HAWKINS.

SnOrGSIOp Jimmy fOldIll QuiC Iilc
Mats in g huff yesterday and headed
for his Faribault, MINI. home after
refusing to report to Washlngton's
farm team at Chattanooga. Presi-
dent Clark Griffith. who paid the
equivalent of $4,000 for the little
infielder, said he viii request Pofahl
be placed on the suspended list.
The peeved pofahl, who was hit
ting tepid 1877. thus chucked a
sizeable wrench into Griffith's plans
to import Shortstop Hills Layne
from Chattanooga. Layne, batting
800 with the LookoutS, will be un-
able to report to the Mats until
Washington supplies Chattanooga
with another inf1elder.
Griffith, though, has Pofahl
stymied. Jeopardized is Jimmys
baseball career, for Pofahl must
report to the class A Chattanooga
club of the Southern Association or
be banned indefinitely His only
hope of playing in more highly re-
garded circles is to make a deal for
himself, if granted Griffth's per-
mission, that would be suitable to
Griffith.
Spurns Major Salary.
Pofahl preferred to jump the club
and automatically be stricken
from the pay roll-rather than be
denoted to Chattanooga at his major
league salary. Il told him I'd pay
him his full major league salary at
Chattanooga" advised Griffith, but
he refused to go.
You'd think the boy would well
come the opportunity to go back to
a minor league and establish himself
as a good player after what he's
shown with us, but he isn't thinking
straight and I guess that's why he
isn't much account as a player.
"Shucks, I could have sent him
to a Glass D league If I'd wanted.
All I'm required to do is pay his
major league salary and 1 can send
him anywhere l want, Bucky Har-
ris and l tried to tell him he'd be
better off to go to Chattanooga and
try to regain the form he had when
we bought him, but he wouldn't
listen to us"
Pofahl. obtained from Mime
apolis of the Glass AA American
Association for $4,000 and Pitcher
Harry Kelley, Outfelder Bobby Es-
talella and Infielder Frank Trechok,
was not in uniform as the Mats
took batting practice before rain
postponed a scheduled game with
Detroit. Griffith, however, still felt
Pofahl would change his mind and
report to Chattanooga.
Griffs Condemn Him.
NO. I'm leaving for home this
afternoon" said Pofahl, glumsy,
"and 1 think I'm doing the right
thing" What action he plans, if
any, or what he hopes to gain by
deserting remained hazy. Among
the Mats there was general con-
demnation of his deed, ranging
from sarcastic comment to pity.
I've roomed with the fellow"
said a veteran Nat, "and he be-
lieves he's great ball player. May
be he hasn't gotten over the big
ballyhoo he received when WASH
ington bought him, but you can bet
this will be an improved team with
out him. The morale of the club
will be boosted because pitchers will |
know he isn't going to be out there
booting plays"
Pofahl, who will be "a years old
on Wednesday, was purchased by
the Mats on the recommendation |
of Joe Engel, current Chattanooga
boss, after Scout Joe Cambria had
refused to okay him. He hit .302
with Minneapolis in 1889, but last
year with the Mats he batted .234.
In % games with the Mats this sea-
son he obtained only IA hits and
had gone hitless in his last Is trips
to the plate.
Pofahl's erratic throwing startled
both Griffith and Manager Bucky