Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
Tigers, St. Louis
Refuse TO Deal
ForCash Only
Veteran BIuege Apt
To Start; Air Base
Beaten Easily
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star STAFF Correspondent.


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, April q
Searching for spot to place con-
siderable coin is President Clark
Griffith of the Mats, but teams with
which the aWning-eyebroWed gentle
man would relish depoSiting his coin
prefer to barter He is willing to
hook his last Stogie to obtain a repu-
table third baseman but not at the
expense of parting with his pitching.
Everybody wants my pitchers, -
fuses Griff, but they amt a gonna
get EN-. I want to buy but every
body wants to trade and I amt
having much luck trying to do
business. Maybe we'll have to go
along with Bobby Estalella at third
and Frank Croucher at second.
Il think Estalella and Croucher
might go all right, but I'd like to see
them work some We haven't had
our regular infeld together this
spring. I'd like to see how they'd
go because I believe they might be
pretty good, but Estalella has been
sick and Croucher's arm still isn't
right"
Griffith dispatched Scout Joe Cam
bria to the St. Louis Browns train
ing base at Deland yesterday in an
attempt to pry Third Baseman Har-
lord Cliff from that club, but Joe S
journey didn't eliminate in i'm
mediate success. Griffith also has
been dickering for Eric McNair of
the Tigers and Lew Riggs of the
Dodgers, among others, but thus far
has been butting his Silvery head
against wall of refusal.
Frequently labeled the miser of
the majors and the employer of
"Coolie' labor, Griffith is ready to go
high for an infelder and a right
handed hitting outfielder to sup
plant the veteran Bruce Campbell
against southpaw pitching when the
weather becomes whiting.
Could Create Trouble.
In his team, with proper fortifi-
cations, Griffith emissions a club that
could wedge its way into the first
division. He is equipped with what
may develop as the leagues best
pitching staff, a tolerable outfeld
and pasSable catching, but that in
field problem stymies him.
This is a year in which a credit
able club could pack patrons in
Griffith Stadium. The crowded
Capital is teeming with folk who
would relish following a good team
and Griffith is realizing it, but he
is having difficulty plugging the
gaps.
Griffith is making an honest eff
fort to bolster his outfit. He is
prepared to go high for suitable
material and is compiling a noun
famous telephone bill in an effort
to exchange money for material, but
the ancient law of supply and de-
mand is blocking him.
The Mats may constitute no pen
nant contender with the Yankees
still functioning but the remainder
of the league isn't awe-inspiring.
Cleveland is minus the Teller that
was more than a friend, Boston S
pitching and catching remain du-
bious and Chicago's batting depart
ment is weak. The Mats have a
chance to do very we'll for them
selves in what may be a freakish
sort of season.
Should Croucher's arm respond to
treatment, one of the Mats more
pressing problems would be solved.
Croucher strikes no fear in opposing
pitchers but his fielding is polished.
He has seen only sporadic service
in exhibition engagements, how
ever, and although he currently is
playing, his throwing arm still is
ailing.
Bluege Still Effective.
The man who may open the sea-
son at third base for the Mats
easily could be melloWing OsSie
Bluege. who has demonstrated he