Evening star., 1942-03-22
Chicago Needs Hitting
Luke, Just Signed,
Should Provide
Pilot Believes His Club
Is Improved, but Fears
New York, Boston
By ROBERT MYERS,
Associated Press Sports Writer.


PASADENA, Calf, March 21.-
Having made a very thorough and
careful survey of the situation, Prof.
James J. Dykes has report to make
to his baseball admirers.
Prof. Dykes has been unable to
detect any signs that the New York
Yankees machine is coming apart
at the seams, or even showing evil
dence of decay.
What's more, the Chicago White
Sox pilot foresees trouble in the
coming pennant race from another
angle. meaning Boston. Which Is
odd, because Prof. Dykes saw the
same thing last spring. and lived to
see it materialize Also to regret it.
Since New York and the Red Sox
were the only two clubs Prof. Dykes
team couldn't stop last year, he's
picking them to be his toughest
opponents this season.
Appling's Hitting Is Needed.
DYKES has one important immedi-
ate problem to face. The sooner he
faces it the better he'll like it. Its
name is Lucius P. Appling, The
32-year- -old shortstop, second best
hitter on the club last year, has
after much argument just came to
terms with the front office. Luke
is leaving his Atlanta (Ga) home
for camp Immediately, but he has
missed the major portion of spring
training. Until he rounds into trim,
Luke will continue to be one OF
Dykes big bothers.
Lucious Luke is an important cog
In Dykes plans, and ambitious plans
they are. too. Dykes thinks he's
cot a good ball club, and so do many
other experts. At the present, Dykes
is stringing along with young Leo
Wells at short. but the rookie from
St. Paul, a pleasing fielder, is no
Appling at the plate.
Hitters were what cost the White
Sox second place last year. They
had most everything else, and prom
ise to have it again. In Taft Wright,
Wally Moses, the 300 slugger from
the Athletics, and Myril Hoag,
DYKES has a good looking outfield.
Wright belted 1922 last season.
Pitchers Look Good.
In Joe Kuhel he has good hit
ting, brilliant fielding first baseman.
Sophomore Don Holloway may BIOS
som into a real second baseman.
and if he doesn't. capable Bill
Knickerbocker is ready to step In.
Bob Kennedy. another second-year
man, and Dario Lodigiani take care
of third. Which leaves the main
infeld problem centered on the
dark locks OF Luke Appl!ng.
Mike fresh and Tommy Turner,
with George Dickey No. 3, COM
prise a good catching department
and the Sox have a better-than-
average pitching staff.
Thornton Lee, the 22-l1 winner
last year. heads the department, and
don't be surprised if he has an
other good year. The same goes
for Johnny Rigney, Eddie Smith, a
southpaw, Bill Dietrich and young
man by the name OF theodore
Lyons.
Rookie Edwin Weiland from
Waterloo has looked promising and
Orval Grove is making his third
try to stay as major league regu-
lar. A nicely built right-hander,
Grove won 16 and lost for $3.50
Shreveport club in the Texas League
last year.
Chisox Appears Stronger.
On paper, the SoX look stronger
than last year Moses was brought
in to replace the hit-faltering Mike
Kreevich, and the veteran Sam
West, the free agent from Washing
ton, was signed for outfield utility
use. He should lend bit Of power
hitting
Prof Dykes, then, has only three
real worries right now-the absent
Appling, Boston and those terrible
Yankees.