Evening star., 1942-10-22
Recreation Job
Is Sought by
Ex-Nat Pilot
Bucky Is Scheduled
To Get His Physical
Examination Today
BY BURTON HAWKINS.

Nineteen years major league
baseball manager and recently re-
placed by Ossie Bluege as pilot of the
Mats. Bucky Harris today may join
the long list of sports celebrities con-
tributing to the war effort. He has
applied for job with the Army Spe-
cialist Corps.
Harris, who will be 46 years old
next month, admitted he will take
his physical examination today and
If successful probably will be as
signed to the corps welfare and
recreation division. thus ending, at
least temporarily. baseball career
launched with Muskegon, Mich, in
1916.
Since severing connections with
the Mats three weeks ago Bucky had
been rumored as heading for man
agerial berths at Detroit, Brooklyn
and Boston, rumors he helped pro-
mote when he said upon leaving the
Mats, Il am acting at this early date
with the hope that if there is an
opening in baseball for me will be
free to consider it."
Bucky's application for admission
to the Army Specialist Corps comes
as no surprise to his friends, how
ever, for he had mentioned the DOS
slbllity two months ago. Apparently
he abandoned the idea but last night
in addressing the D. c. Umpires' AS
sociatlon annual banquet he ad-
mitted he soon will be in service.
Praises Bluege as Pilot.
III l pass physical examination
tomorrow" Bucky said last night,
turning to President Clark Griffith
OF the Mats, Il soon may be saluting
some of those fellows that have been
leaving you.
Il wish Ossie and Griff all the
luck in the world I believe Griffs
selection of Bluege to manage the
club is wise one and I know Ossie
will do a grand job if Griff gives
him little more help. I'll be pull
ing for Griff, Ossie and the WASH
ington baseball club
1t was learned a new job of gen.
eral manager of the Washington Club
would have been created for Harris
had he been unable to obtain a sat-
isfactory baseball position by spring.
When Griffith and Harris parted
company the Mats boss told him
he would have the job of supervis-
ing Washington farm teams, scout
ing and developing youngsters. if he
failed to land an acceptable job else
where.
Griffith. who spoke at the banquet
lauded Harris ability as a manager,
but said, I'VE agreed it would be to
our mutual advantage to make
change"
Meeting for the first time publicly
since they agreed to disagree. Har-
ris and Griffith displayed no ill feel
ing, and, in fact. we're quite chummy.
i want to wish you every sue
cess in your new job said Griffith
to Bucky, "and maybe when this
war is over I'll have a job waiting
for you"
Led Mats to Two Pennants.
Il can't say that there will be
baseball next year." continued Grit
nth, but we're going to try to 20
through with it in the belief we're
doing something worthwhile. IT
service officials tell US to give it up
that's what We'll do-the war comes
first-but I feel that in providing
recreation for workers and soldiers
who are able to attend games we're
contributing to the war effort"
Appointed manager of the Mats
in 1924 when he was q years old,
Harris proceeded to spark Washing
ton to the American League pen
nant and World Series victory over
the New York Giants that year. In
1925 the Mats repeated their pen
nant-capturing under Harris, but
dropped a seven-game series to
Pittsburgh.
After five years of managing the
Mats, Harris took over the reins at
Detroit and remained there until
1884, when he went to Boston to
manage the Red Sox for a year. He
| returned to Washington in 1885 and
remained as manager of the Mats
until three weeks ago.