Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-01
All Seem Eager
ToSwap Buck
But Magnate
Browns Likely to Bor
Deal With Dodgers;
Reds 4-2Victims
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star staff Correspondent.

otaL Otaii correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla, April Every
body but President Clark Griffith of
the Mats appears to be eager to swap
Pitcher Buck Newsom. In news
papers across the country Newsom
is being handled like a hot potato,
being tossed across considerable
geography in print, but Griffith is
emphatic in denying he plans to
trade the restless Highlander.
II said it when I got him and
I'm saying it again. bought New
som to pitch for lis and not to trade"
fumes Griffith. That doesn't mean
I wouldn't let him go for Joe Di
Maggie nor in a similar deal could
I refuse, but right now I have no
intention of letting him get away"
Newsom has been rumored as
headed for the st. Louis Browns in
exchange for Third Baseman Har-
land Cliff. Griffith has attempted to
purchase Cliff but has been informed
by President Don Barnes Of the
Browns that Cliff isn't on the mar
ket. Barnes made a counter offer
OF Don Gutteridge or Don Heffner,
but Griffith processes neither would
solve his infield problems
Newson also has been reported as
ticketed to do his pitching for
Brooklyn. but the problem of getting
Buck waived out Of the American
League would be no minor battle.
The Browns still fancy the loud,
slick-haired Mr. Newsom.
There have been numerous sug-
gestions that Griffith won't be will
ing to pay Buck a stable salary. but
Newsom isn't complaining. If Buck
anticipates being shifted to another
club it isn't evident. He is one Of
Grifnth's pet players and not with
out ample reason.
Buck Okay With Grif.
Grifith Only has to recall two
incidents in Newsom's previous serv-
ice with Washington to believe the
big, colorful bloke is quite a fellow.
He may be excused for feeling the
stable Newsom Is as courageous
as a den of lions for Newsom has
demonstrated it to the elderly gen.
tlemari. ... .-..
Newsom has his flaws. He's tenn
peramental, conceited and generally
regards training rules rs something
to be followed by meek and less
important characters. At times he
Is q managerial nuisance but with
1t all he has courage-lots of it.
Griffith has been around when
Newsom has had his courage on
display. There YVES that opening
day in 1896, for instance, when
Newsom and Third Baseman Ossie
Bluege rushed to field Ben Chap
mans bunt. Newsom missed his
grab for the ball, but the gluey-
fingered Bluege scooped it up and
fired toward first base
The ball never arrived in the mitt
of First Baseman Joe Kuhel, for
Newsom forgot to duck. The ball
crashed against his jaw with a
sickening thud and plain-crazed,
believing Buck danced around the
infleld like a cannibal before a
carving. Before some $1,000 fans,
though, Buck remained on the
mound and proceeded to beat Lefty
Gomez and the Yankees, 10.
Back in 1885 there was an occa-
sion when Newsom exhibited more
moxie. That was when Earl Az
Grill ricocheted a meecap-shatter-
ing line drive of Newsom's leg in
the third inning. Newsom pitched
on that damaged leg for the re-
mainder of the game and lost a 4-3
decision, but he lost nothing in the
eyes of Grifith.
Would Fill Out Slab Staff.
Grifith can be forgiven for want
ing to retain Newsom. He injects
a note of color in an otherwise drab
outfit. If he works himself into
condition he may come up with a
fine season and the Mats would
own no poor pitching staff with
Dutch Leonard, Sid Hudson. Early
Wynn, Newsom and Jack Wilson or
Walter Masterson as starters.
If Griffith can locate a depend
able defensive infielder either to
supplant the screamed Frank
Croucher or replace Bobby Estalella
if the Cuban fails to click at third,
the Mats could surprise. Griffith
also is searching for reserve out
fielder and a third-string catcher,
but that's the least of his worries.
Down here the Mats have been
winning on creditable pitching and
little else. Mickey Vernon and Jake
Early, who are calculated to pro-
vide most of Washington's punch,
have been woeful f1ops in the bat
ting department, but the Mats never
theless have been winning.
There is reason to suspect Vernon
and Early will improve and that