The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1943-03-02
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HI5W0RRY
KEY Men
Uncertain Status Of Dodeer
Players Disfufbs Big
Mans Sleep
BY DILLON GRAHAM
APP Features Sports Editor

5rf
BROOKLYN Branch Hickey
isn't worried over the certain losses
his Brooklyn Dodgers have suffered
it's the uncertain status OF half
dozen key players that disturbs his
sleep.
The cigar-puffing general man.
ager, taking over in Flatbush al
ter many, many years with the st
Louis Cardinals, knows he isn't 60
ing to find suitable replacement
for Pete Reiser, center-fielder and
Just about the best young hitter in
the loop. Reisers just aren't plucked
from any old rookie crop.
He knows the Dodgers will miss
utility infielder Lew Riggs and out
fielder Johnny Rizzo, and pitcher
Larry French. These are in mill
tary service along with a dozen
good minor league prospects, in
Guiding clever Claude Corbitt and
Larruping Lester Burge.
Branch is taking their loss in
stride, but he's fretting about the
others. With spring training only
a few weeks off, Hickey would like
to know:
/. Is he going to have his man.
ager? Is The Lip going to be around?
Leo Durocher has been instructed
by his draft board to get ready fol-
Army tests and there's no telling
what will happen.
Q. Is Dolph Camilli going to be a
year-around rancher? The veteran
first sacker, strong on runs batted
in, says he's needed down on the
farm. Maybe that's just come -on
talk for a salary hike and maybe
Dolph means it.
8. Can Augie Galan be counted
on? Augie is IA.
4. And how about Alex KAN
pouris? Alex is a fireman in his
California home town. and reports
he sort of likes the trade.
S. Will Pee Wee Reese, the crack
shortstop, be available?
6. Can Dixie Walker be persuad-
ed to give up his athletic director
job at Sperry Gyroscope Company
factories? Walker says he's happy
there and that job holds a better
future for ball player of Dixie's
iage than does baseball.
The Dodgers situation is defin-
itely indefinite, until answers have
been provided. But, figuring those
chappies are back in the Flock, the
Brooklyn outlook isn't too bad.
Hickey would have his entire in
field back-Camilli at first, Billy
Herman at second, Reese at short
stop, and Arky Vaughan at third.
with Durocher and Kampouris as
utilitymen.
With Mickey Owen and Billy Sui
Ivan around, there aren't any back
stop problems. And the pitching
shapes up pretty well, too, for
Brooklyn has Whit Wyatt, Curt
Davis, Ed Head, Walter Higbe,
Hugh Casey, Newell Kimball, Max
Macon, Buck Newsom, Lester Web
Der, Schoolboy Rowe. and Rube
Melton, bought from the Phils.
The outfield will be hard-hit if
Reiser, Walker. Galan and Rizzo
all go. Joe Medwick will be the only
regular left. But Brooklyn has Stan
Bordagaray, plus the recently signed
veterans John Cooney and Paul
Waner, plus rockies Harold Peck,
who hit 1888 for Milwaukee and
Louis Dino from Puerto Rico, who
batted 1888 for Richmond, Va, in
1912.
A couple of rookie hurlers-Chet
kehn, a ight-hander, was up
kehn, a -right-handed, was up
awhile last year. He has good
curve ball, and is aggressive. Kraus,
a lefty, won ~ and lost nine.
Both were with Montreal. Bob
Chlpman and Glen Moulder are
other pitching prospects
With any player likely to be
GRATED. Hickey believes there is
safety in numbers and that quaint
ity is perhaps better in wartime
than quality. AS he said some time
ago. he thinks the Cardinals have
an edge in the appointing flag race.
but assures you there will be the
usual noise from F1abush.