The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-04-01
Sports Parade
D, IACk GITNIHER


strangely out q step. Il H.
neither retoounE nor expanding.
Instead of preparing FOR a
healthy boom. Il Is battenlng
matches against depression.
The corporation referred 10 il
the Detroit Tiger baseball club.
a team which WI Join the 1912
American league race for the
sole purpose Of reaffirming the
law ~ gravity. Two years ago
the Tigers were up Last year
they started down Today they
are descending and unless para
ehutes are provided they may
drop out ~ sight
Detroit's factories are 30 busy
that old machinery - being
carted 10 vacant lots and aban-
dened for the duration 10 make
way for new projects. Well.
Owner Walter Briggs has given
the Tigers the same treatment.
He il busy with war orders -
he just handed the club over 10
General Manager Jack Zeller-
lock. stock. barrel and problem
child Bobo >eusom.
Zeller went 70 work with his
Ratchet Immediately. The club
tumhled from first to a tie for
fourth in the space Of year.
and Zeller has smputated sal
aries accordingly. Newsom was
slashed from S32 900 to Sl2.5O0.
Rudy York from $4,000 to
$4,000 and a possible bonus, and
the others dropped IN the same
proportion. Only Al Benton got
a raise
L'affaire Newsom is now set
tied by his sale 10 Washington
hut Bobo went IN camp un-
signed. asked $40 900 and was
fatty refused Zeller asked
waivers hut apparently few
owners were interested in a
pitcher who wanted $4,000
after winning only - games last
year. Washington finally picked
him up last night
The rest of the team l. AS
sembled and Manager Del Baker
IL engrossed with a rebuilding
program that would give pause
Ia the engineers who constructed
Boulder dam. Aside from his
pitching staff. which IL hardly
conducive TO sound sleep. Baker
ha. only four returning regulars
and at least two Of these cant
he considered on the upbeat for
1912.
The four include Rudy York
and Pinky Higgins, Al first and
third bases; Barney McCosky IN
the outfield and George Tebbetts
behind the plate. A major trade
with Washington provided Sec
ond Rasemsn Jim Rloodworth
and outfielder Roger Cramer,
capable enough operatives but
no DiMaHgios at the plate. The
other two posts must be plugged
by rockies.
Strangely enough, 1t is 4 new
conner who evokes one Of the
few CLEANS noted In the Baker
eye He is Billy Hitchcock who
is destined for shortstop. Hitch
came up from Kansas City
where he alternated at short and
third. He ia polished fielder
although his .2e6 batting aver
age could be upped with advan-
tage to the Tigers.
Don Moss, n California boy
acquired from Montreal along
with n $40 average, Il the lead
ing sspirani for the ontfieid va
esncy although Rip Radcliffe. who
came 10 Detroit last year from
NJ. Loui., Is battling for the
starting position.
As for the pitching. BENTON
was the only regular winner last
year. He collected is ti1umphs
sgsinst six defeats. Paul Trout
split even at nine and nine and
Schoolhoy Rowe won eight and
lost six. The others all lost more
than they won. Three new
corners, Virgil Trucks, Harold
White and Chuck Fuchs. are
rated a. possibilities.
With perhaps one or two
slight additions, you have the
Tigers OF 1912 The power has
seepei away, the pitching bull
wsrk Of the 1910 Newsom
is gone. and there is certain TO
be dissatisfaction in the ranks
since zeller began clipping the
payroll. II will be a tough war
for Detroit players and even