Evening star., 1945-04-12
Agreement 10 Trade
Him Ended HoIdout
OF Vet Receiver
BY JOHN b. KELLER,

debut behind the bat at Bainbridge
yesterday, will do his catching for
an American League club other
than Washington this year, accord
ing to rumor reaching here today.
1T is being said that before long the
Mats front office will complete a
deal with one of the Western clubs
of the circuit, whereby Washington
will get an infielder, preferably d
shortstop, in exchange for the vet
eran catcher and likely two other
players.
Which outfit in the Western sector
is interested in getting Ferrell hasn't
been revealed, but both Cleveland's
Indians and Chicago White Sox
could use another experienced re-
ceiver. What either might have to
offer in the exchange isn't known.
The story is out that Ferrell, who
accepted the Mats terms only last
Sunday, delayed signing for so long
because he wanted to be transferred
before the championship season
started. He finally signed, it is said,
only with the understanding he
would be sent from Washington
within a few weeks.
Ferrell naturally will not confirm
this, but when questioned today he
made no denialS. Il don't even
want to discuss it, said Rick
Calvin Griffith, vice president of the
Mats who is accompanying them on
/ the exhibition tour that brought
! them here today for a game with
| Philadelphia S Athletics said it was
news to him, and as is customary
the Washington front office emphat-
ically denied that such a transac-
ton is contemplated.
Desperately Need ShortstOp.
However, the Mats are in desperate
need of a shortstop and deal for
one will be made If possible. Man
ager Bluege is convinced the Shift of
George Myatt from second base TO
short can't be made successfully.
Nor does he believe Fred Vaughn, if
moved from second to short, would
be an improvement. Gil Torres,
regular at third last season, looks
better in the position than either
Myatt or Vaughn, but Torres still IS
far from being a polished player in
the job.
Johnny Sullivan, now in the Army,
had many an off day at shortstUp
last season, and weakness in the pO-
sition helped greatly to shove the
Mats to last place. But none of the
three shortstops given thorough
trials this season appears to have
even the class of Sullivan in 1914.
If a deal could be made, Ferrell
would be the logical player to put
on the block. The club as it stands
can't afford to part with any of its
few experienced pitchers. Rick is
the only other player that possibly
could interest any of Washington's
rivals. Ferrell's departure would
put the catching wholly up to Mike
Guerra and Al Evans. That wouldn't
give the Mats anywhere near the top
catching staff of the league, but i.
wouldn't be the lowest,
Lose Again to Bainbridge.
unable to do much against the
pitching of Luman Harris, right
handler. who toiled for the AS last
year, the Mats yesterday dropped
their second straight to the Com
modores at cambridge. This time
the count was to |. They got
eight hits off Harris, as many as the
Navy made off Johnny Niggeling and
Mickey Haefner, but they were well
scattered.
Washington scored a run in the
second inning on Fred Vaughn's
double, Walt Chipple's sacrifice and
Al Evans single. 1t gained the Mats
a brief tie.
Then the Commodores went on to
beat Niggeling before the fourth in
ming was over. Five hits were made
off Niggeling and three off Haefner.
One of the hits off the latter was
homer over the right-field barrier by
Dick Wakefield, sparkplug of the
Detroit Tigers last year.
NlSSCllllS llod q olol lily 1oti Al
nings, but only one of the three runs
the Commodores got off him was
earned. That went over in the first
inning after the first two batterS
had been retired. 1t came from Stan
Musial's double and Dick Sisters
single.
Gifts Wild Toss Costly.
Two Commodore tallies were reg
istered in the second due to wild
throw to first base by Harlond Cliff.
HOWE Moss singled as starter, but
Wakefield looked at the third strike.
Eddie Miksis was safe, though, and
Moss reached third on Cliffs poor
| throw and after Harris struck out,
| Harry Clements singled the two
runners home.
After stopping cambridge in or
der in the third Niggeling had the
bases full with none out in the
fourth when he walked two and
Miksis beat out bunt. A double
play got him off this hot spot.
Baltimore was to have been met
here today, but graciously gave way
to the AS. Vaughan was sent to the
short field yesterday to let Torres
rest an ailing leg, but Bluege still
plans to start Torres in the season
opener Monday. Spence couldn't get
into yesterdays game for Balm
bridge because of a series of shots.
Wakefield hadn't been hitting well
for the Navy until that homer in
the sixth. He drove it over the right
field fence at the 360-foot spot.
There's nothing wrong with Musail's
eyes. The Mats discovered the former
Card star hits to all fields, and