Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-03-28
|Hard-Hitfing Recruit
Keen Player al All
InfieId Berths
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

clark Grlmth. president, and OS
Bluege, manager, were wearing out
their feet running around in search
of an extra infielder for the Mats at
baseball'S winter sessions in New
York last December when they had
one already at their command.
They didn't know it, but, Eddie
Butka apparently was just the man
they wanted. Tabled then merely
as a first baseman, it comes out at
the training camp at College Park
that Eddie has played everything
from first base to third base and
has looked pretty good at all the
positions.
The hefty 25-year-old, who stands
6 feet 3, fields deity, has a rifle
arm and a wicked swing at the plate,
has been more than dabbling in the
game for 10 years, the last five in
the pro division. He's learned a lot
about it, too, and last year socked
a slick .298 for Springfield in the
New England League.
Prefers Shortstop Post.
1t wasn't until a year ago, though,
that Butka really took up first bas-
ing seriously. Then he made such a
good job of it that the Mats. who
long had been hunting for strength
at that post, signed him and brought
him up for brief glimpse near the
close of last season.
But Butka says he broke into pro
baseball as a shortstop, then shifted
to third base before taking a turn
at the second sack. Of the four
positions, Butka says he prefers
|shortstop. 1t so happened, however,
that when the best opening came
Ialong it was at first base, and there
Butka settled before being grabbed
by the Mats.
Butka is a discovery of Griffith's.
The big boss of the Mats took him
from Canonsburg, Pa, to Orlando,
where Washington was training, in
1910. There Eddie showed so much
promise that Griffith placed him in
a minor job, and from then on the
big Pennsylvania began to go
places. When he hit at that fine
clip in Springfield, the Mats prexy
decided it was time to haul him in.
In Line for Job.
Now that Bluege knows Butka can
field at other spots as we'll as first
base it looks as though there is a
steady job for him with the Mats.
Especially when he socks that ball
the way he does.
Stan Spence got into his first ses-
sion at training camp yesterday
after arriving late Sunday night and
looked as though he had done a
deal of training at his Kinston,
N. c., home before reporting. The
outfielder said he had worked out
with a high school team in order to
get his legs in trim and also had
done much walking on hunting trips
during the winter. A few more DAYS
OF conditioning apparently will have
him at top shape.
Three of the Cuban players-Gil
Torres, Roberto Ortiz and Fermin
Guerra-missed practice yesterday.
They had business at the Cuban
Embassy and did not return to camp
until late in the afternoon.
Coach Milan was on his feet again
after a days illness, but didn't don
a uniform. He is expected to be on
the job tomorrow, however.
Weight Bothers Wynn.
All of the Mats pitchers are down
to or near their playing weight ex-
cepting Early Wynn. The big
North Carolinian reported we'll over
his customary poundage and has
had difficulty getting the extra meat
off, although he has been one of
the camps hardest workers. Man
ager Bluege isn't worried about him.
however An abundance of work in
the exhibition games soon to start
should peel off the pounds.
If Hills Laynes leg can stand the
strain, he will be seen often at
third base in the spring tussling.
He fields the position we'll and looks
strong hitter.
Rain curtailed the Mats practice
yesterday, but they managed to do
all their toiling out of doors. The
pitchers got in good throwing drills,
then took turns about the cinder
track in Byrd Stadium. Others of
the squad went through long pepper
sessions.
With two more camp games
slated, sessions through Friday will
be longer. The Mats should come
up to their first exhibition, that
with the Martin Bombers at Col
lege Park on Saturday, ready to go.