Evening star., 1942-03-19
$4,000 Lemon
Showing Glass
As |nfie|der
Jim's Play Improves
Along With Throwing;
Myers Is Sought
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT

Star Staff Correspondent.
ORLANDO, Fla, March 19.-In-
dexed as excess baggage when the
Mats convened here several weeks
ago, Stumpy Jimmy Pofahl rapidly
has indicated he is tossing out past
performances and is harboring ideas
OF convincing Washington's bosses
he is capable baseball player.
Jimmy came here with two strikes
against him, thoroughly discred-
tied performer who hit .l84 for as
much of last season as he con-
sented to play. He was a 234 hitter
in 1910 and his throwing was painful
to behold No improvement was
noted in his throwing last season
and even his modest batting skidded.
For two seasons, Washington fans
have seen Pofahl ttoss soft f1oaters
from shortstop to first base. He al
ways has been able to come up with
grounders rather neatly but few
major league shortstop candidates
ever threw such an assortment of
trash" to first base.
From the moment Pofahl pulled
on Washington uniform, he has
been rldiculed. Purchased sight un-
seen by President Clark Griffith OF
the Mats for $4,000 and three
players valued at another $4,000,
Pofahl's stubby appearance repre-
sented the first dart of disappoint-
ment to Griffith, and Pofahl's sub
sequent behavior didn't improve his
status.
When Manager Bucky Harris first
viewed Pofahl's batting form, he
rated him no better than a 270
hitter. Bucky. though, was content
to stick with him provided Pofahls
fielding was adequate. When Harris
saw Jimmy throw. he realized Wash
ington had been sold lemon.
Hurt Arm in Accident.
It developed PofahlS throwing
arm had been injured when he was
thrown heavily against a taXicab
meter shortly after he had been sold
to Washington Certainly no major
league scout would have recon-
mended a player with an arm as
weak as Pofahl showed Nat bosses
in the spring of 1910. He had been
examined and approved by two ac-
credited judges of baseball flesh,
but that was before that taxicab
mishap.
For two seasons, Pofahl admit
tedly has "babied' his arm, fearful
of damaging it more. Now though,
he is putting all he has in his
throws and while they aren't epics,
they nevertheless represent i'm
provement.
I'm one of our first games Pofahl
came up with a slow roller and put
plenty of steam in his throw to
first" says Coach Clyde Milan. Il
cautioned him against throwing
that hard so early in the year. but
he said. Clyde, I'm through nursing
this arm I'm gonna give those
throws everything 1 have. I can't
lose anything by it and have lot
to gain"
Pofahl received somewhat of a
break when Frank Croucher, ticket
ed to be Washington's regular sec
ond baseman, suffered a sore arm
as the Mats entered their exhibition
slate Jimmy was assigned the Sec
ond base job and handled it ac-
ceptably while hitting a comfort
able 1888. He may not be a better
player than he has been in two
previous seasons with Washington,
but in the short stretch of exhi-
bition games he has revealed marked
improvement.
Jimmy is around chiefly because
the Mats are short of players of any
caliber In mid-June last season,
when Griffith sought to send him
to Chattanooga. Pofahl baked.
packed his bags and sat out the
remainder of the season at his Fari-
bault (Minn) home. Griffith placed
him on the suspended list. relenting
only this winter when the Army
beckoned many of his players.
Griffith After Cubs Myers.
Pofahl's first act after being re-
admitted to organized baseball was
to protest terms offered by Griffith.
Not until after the Mats opened
camp here did Pofahl sign his con-
tract. Despite his .184 batting mark
of 1941, Mr.. Pofahl had nerve
enough to face the boss and request
more money.
Jimmy now is back on the bench
again. Crouchers arm has mended
and Bob Repass' steady labor at
Pofahl's former shortstop job has
removed Jimmy from consideration
of that post. He's pretty much out
of things now but he hasn't lost
faith in himself. He made the best
of a brief opportunity in those few
days he was in the line-up-at least
enough to merit more respect from
his mates.
Meanwhile Griffith is attempting
to purchase Infielder Billy Myers
from the Chicago Cubs. Myers. who
refused to accept the $4,000 contract
offered by the Cubs this season after
receiving $4,000 last year, would be
sent to the Montreal Royals, with
Catcher Angelo Giuiani slated to
come to the Mats in exchange.
Myers said he would retain his job
as locomotive fireman rather than
return to baseball for $4,000 year
and thus far he has stuck to his de-
cision. Griffith faces the task of per-
suading him to change his mind.
The Mats we're to tangle with the
New York Giants here today, then
embark on a three-day trip to Miami
Beach and Miami to face the Phils