The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-28
MANY ROCKIES
MADE GOOD IN
'43 BASEBALL

Spring training rosters Of Ma
tional League Clubs bristle with new
names this ACCOMPLISHMENTS MARI
shalled to fill the gaps in the bale
field lineups representing men gone
to war. Among the 70 rockies" are
men with minor league records re-
doubtable enough to guarantee that
1914 baseball in the National League
will be well worth watching.
New men come to camp every
year. Usually the National League
array Of tryouters goes above the
100 mark. This year, because Of the
war, there are more places to be
filled, so the Importance of the new
corners looms larger in the picture
than in peace years.
OF the 1913 rookie crop, 81 made
good, that Is, were rated as firstA
stringers by midseason. The qual~
ity Of play, closeness Of competitions
in individual games, Boston and
Brooklyn had l3 Of their "a sched@
uled games decided by one-run mar
gins), all the thrills that go with
baseball at its best, were there In
1913. The 1914 bevy Of newcomers
guarantees more of the same this
year.
StandOuts
Outstanding freshmen last year
were Luis Dino, Ray Mueller. al
Brazle, Harry Brecheen, Lou Klein,
Ed Stanky and some more. Neither
Brazle and Bracheen got into aS
many as 10 complete games (Brazi9
reported in July). but they ranked
one-two on the list Of pitchers who
figured in 10 or more games, ahead
Of men like Joe Beggs. Lonnie War
neke, Cliff Melton and others who's
status as big league regulars is ese
tablished.
No freshman won the battiu&
crown, as did Pete Reiser in 1e41s
but Tommy O,Brien of Pittsburgh
was well up above 800 and Woody
williams, Of Cincinnati, tied the all~
time National League record Of 10
straight hits. The batting champion
was Stan Musial, member Of til4
1912 war class Of rockies.
The 1913 requirements made good
There's the same stuff in the 1874
class to keep the standard Of play
up to big league standard this yeaHs
There's Andy Pafko, most valuabi9
player Of the Pacific Coast Leagu6s
who brings his Coast League battiuG
title along with him to the Chicago
Cubs.
The Cubs likewise have Ed Sauegs
from Nashville, batting champ and
most valuable player Of the South
ern Association. With John OstroWS
ski, the Coast League home run
champion, to put with these two
the Cubs can show q complete Ol1ta
field set-up Of 1913 miner leagu4
champs, together with Bill Schustexs
Los Angeles shortstop, the C0aso
Leagues leading run-Scorer.
The top 4 In the Southexn'S mugts
valuable voting are on National
League rosters. Back Of 6aIer cam
Bill Hart, New Orleans shortStcDs
who is with Brooklyn, Buck Fausett
Little Rock third-baseman, Wi1o
joins the Reds, and Andy Seminieks
Knoxville catcher, now with the
PhillieS.
Schuster ranked 5th In the Coast
League most-valuahle voting. Third
place went to Micky Burnett. Sac
ramento shortstop, who moved m
to the Cardinals.
These samples Of the 1914 Natioz1@
al League rookie crop indicate tA@
strong bid for regular positions -
the major league sun that WiA -
made by the regiment Of neWcc
ers. The fact that many of I'm
games top-flight players were Gezs~
ing their country last year di61'<
keep the men In baseball uI1ifcrEH
from setting the normal number a
new records. New men win Be el1QeE
ing at the sky again this year, FI
well as the ones who were around
Pearl Harbor.
Every year, from year to year, i4|
big league club rosters keep chang
ing. It's q constant process. men
men coming in. stars fading 414
passing from the picture. Xne can
Of the armed services has Stepped
| up the pace Of this normal p1ocz<.
as well as taking men who would
rank as regulars this year.
Since about 81 percent ck tns
tionaI League playing personnel, 81
OF Pearl Harbor, 3 10 the N3A|
forces, Is 81 today, It would - Itz
ish to say that the standard * N'|
this year VIII 81 100 percenk EN-
with what Il would y Nese q. ~