Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-19
Rocks Do Most Hitinq
As Vets Win; Shepard
Returning 10 Club
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

| ~ SOAAAS - AAAAA<AAss
Extra hours of batting practice
are to be given the Mats this week
that they may be ready to plunge
into the exhibition string that gets
under way next Sunday with the
Coast Guard at Curtis Bay. After
yesterdays intracamp game in
which each side made only six hits
with rockies doing most of the hit
ting as the Regulars beat the Yam
nigans, to !, in six innings, Man.
ager Os Bluege is convinced his
athletes must do lot of swinging to
develop a punch.
The Regulars got all their six hits
off the offerings of Dutch Leonard
and Dutch in the last three innings
! like Roger Wolff, who pitched the
first three for the Yannigans, was
putting plenty on the ball after 10
days of intensive training. But half
the hits off Dutch were somewhat
tainted for on a smoother field bet
ter defensive tactics probably would
have made them outs.
The Yannigans did their clubbing
at the expense of Luis Aloma. fresh
from Cuba, and Al Rossi, a batting
practice pitcher. The crowded
stands at College Park, however,
were disappointed in not seeing 1t.
Bert Shepard, the one-legged mar
vel from Walter Reed Hospital, take
the hill as had been advertised.
Armv Changed Plans.
The War Department had other
ideas about it, for after all 1t. Shop
ard still is in the Army. 1t sent the
southpaw, who had been working
out with the Mats at the University
of Maryland the past week, to At
lantic City to display his amazing
talent before group of wounded
soldiers and did so at the request
of Col. Larry MacPhail, dynamic
new boss of the New York Yankees.
He was to return to the Mats today.
Clark Griffith, president of the
Mats, hadn't been informed by the
War Department that Shepard was
to participate in the Yanks' practice
and said unkind things about Mac
Phail, believing the colonel had vio-
lated baseball ethics in raiding a
camp in his own league to grab a
spotlighted performer. The matter
was smoothed over later in the day,
however, when Griffith learned the
real reason for Shepard's departure.
There was no effort made by
MacPhail, though, to let the WASH
ington club know he intended to-
have Shepard take part in the ex-
hibition at Atlantic City. 1t was re-
vealed last night that arrangements
had been made with the War De-
partment by MacPhail early Satur-
day, although Shepard knew moth
ing about them until shortly before
noon yesterday when he was flown
to the Yankees camp under Army
orders.
MacPhail Sent Vet to Mats.
1t also was revealed that it was
due to MacPhail that Shepard
first came to the Washington camp
at College Park. The colonel sug-
gested to War Department authori-
ties it would be a good idea for the
one legged flyer to return to base
ball as an inspiration to other con-
valescent wounded veterans. Grit
fifth had known nothing about this
angle.
| Whether Shepard will take a job
with the Washington club Is I'M
certain. Griffith, who would like to
have him, is endeavoring through
President Will Harridge of the
American League to ascertain the
status of the flyer, who before his
entrance into military service was
member of the Chicago White Sox
farm system. Shepard, though, says
he is free agent. If so he may
sell his services to the highest bid
der. But the Army comes first. He
still has to be discharged.
Jim Langley, rookie first sacker
who played in right field for the
Yannigans and made a real show of
it, and the Cubans provided the
high lights of the intracamp game.
Jim made circus catch of a foul
and also cracked double that led
to the Yannigans' score off Aloma
ne was SENT across Dy Single OH
the bat of Hector Arago, likely
looking second sacker from the is
land.
Regulars Score Off Leonard.
The Regulars tallies were regis
tered by Cubans. Pedro Gomez, in
fielder who was around last year
with the Mats, hit healthy double
off Leonard and stretched it to a
triple by the kindness of Base UNI
pire Cal Griffith. A single by George
Wyatt sent him home. In the next
inning Leonard had a wild streak
and filled the bases. Jose Zardon
then pulled the speciality that made
him popular with the Eastern
League fans at Williamsport last
IL L.