Evening star., 1945-03-07
Vet HurIers at Hand
For Initial Session
AT College Park
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

washington S NdLS QOnC KNOW
where they are going, but they're
on the way. At least some six OF
eight of them were to be before to.
days end at the College Park train
ing camp, first major league condi-
tioning spot opened
What with transportation prob.
lens delaying some of the players
land others excused from reporting
for few days, there was a deartf
of talent at the University ol
Maryland field this morning a.
Manager Os Bluege started class.
work at 10 o'clock. But in the little
at hand were several on which the
Mats apparently must rely to gel
anywhere in baseball this year.
First to report at the camp were
Dutch Leonard and Roger Wolff
veteran knuckle balling pitchers
who reached Washington yesterday
from their homes in the Midwest
Expected to join them before the
initial training session was over
were Larry Burger, Johnny Niggeline
and Santiago Ullrich, pitchers, and
Al Evans and Rogelio Valdes
catchers.
Also due to join Manager Bluege
and Nick Altrock, veteran coach
was Clyde Milan, the Mats othe,
coach, reported last night to be or
the way here from his Texas home
Niggeling Accepts Terms.
Niggeling, after a deal of dicker.
ing, has accepted terms and viii
sign contract shortly after ar.
rival, Clark Griffith, club president
announced this morning. With the
oldtimer in line, Rick Ferrell, catch.
er, remains the only really stubborn
Nat holdout. Griffith insists Rick
who could be the clubs most val.
liable player, is demanding an i'm.
possible salary and there seems M
disposition on Griffith's part to give
in to the baking backstop.
OF the lot due at camp today, only
Burger is newcomer to the club
He was signed during the winter
when free agent, but has played
semipro baseball extensively anc
once was with the Elmira club oi
the Eastern League He is a left.
handler, one of only two in the
Mats slab crew now that Bill Lef-
ebvre has decided to forego the
game this year.
Both Ullrich and Valdes, Cubans
were at camp last year, but were
shipped out before the champion
ship season got under way.
| Another likely to sign his con-
tract shortly after getting here i.
Evans, the catcher. In Washington
not long ago, Evans said it wasn't a
matter of salary that held him off
but a question of whether he would
have an opportunity to work fire.
quentiy. Joining the Mats in June
last year after medical discharge
from the Navy, Al never got into
good enough condition to 60 behind
the bat often. However, he is in
better health this, time and may get
all the toll he can handle.
Mats Have Catching Help.
| A scarcity of catchers might
handicap squad of pitchers larger
than the one at hand. But
with Handsome Fitzgerald, bullpen
catcher, again back to assist Evans
and Vaides and Chief Becker of the
Coast Guard expected to lend a
hand again, Manager Bluege ex-
poets everything in the catching
line to be cared for adequately.
AS the Mats led the way, other
big league clubs were hurrying
preparations for training. Chicago's
Cubs are scheduled to open camp
tomorrow at French Lick, Ind, with
16 OF their 81 players reporting and
& couple other clubs will get down
to work Sunday BY the end of
next week all will have their con-
ditioning programs going.
A last-minute rush to get into
good standing also is on among the
players New York Giants an
nounce they now have 13 signed
with First Baseman Phil Weintraub
Third Baseman Napoleon Reyes
Second baseman George Hausmann
and Shortstop Roy Nichols latest to
accept terms. Eight of the Brooklyn
Dodgers are ready to start since
Tom Brown, H-year-old shortsUop;
Second BaSeman Ed Stanky and
Mike Sabena, third baseman re-
Gently purchased from the Boston
Braves, signed yesterday.
AS Sign Two More.
In the American League, Phila-
delphia's AS have signed Jack Lee
Stewart, former college catcher
and Third Baseman Joe Burns
Jim Bagby. jr., has signed again
with Cleveland's Indians, but the
pitcher announces he won't play
this year unless the work or else
legislation gives ballplayers clear
ance.
Detroit's Tigers have traded
Pitcher Roy Henshaw and Short
stop Leslie Floyd to Buffalo fol-
Catcher Milton WEIGH and Outfield-
er Ed Mierkowicz, while the world
champion st. Louis Cards today an
nounced the purchase of Pitcher
Ken Burkhart from their Columbus
farm.
And to make baseballs 1945 be-
ginning official, Connie Mack, dean
OF the major losses who has been
wintering in California, has wired
he will join his AS as they oper
their Frederick CMd.) training camp
next Tuesday.