Evening star., 1945-07-31
Jake, Veteran Of Wa
In Europe, Headed
For Pacific Area
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

Tonight's Buddy Lewis night" at
Grifhth Stadium, but there may be
a double ceremony to honor, Mats
who distinguished themselves in the
armed services Of the United States.
Although the program has been
drawn to pay tribute to the ex-Army
flyer, who has just come back to the
Mats, there is possibility it will be
extended to include testimonial
to Jake Early, former Washington
star, who recently returned to this
country after heavy duty with the
infantry in Germany.
Early. stout catcher and strong
hitter with the Mats prior to enter
ing the Army year ago last March,
telephoned from his home in Kings
Mountain, N. c., yesterday, telling
Clark Grifith, Washington club
president, he hoped to be on hand
tonight.
Jake now Is on furlough, but the
force to which he is attached is
destined to see Pacific service, and
he told his old boss he wants to see
the Washington ball park and his
pals on the club before he leaves the
country again.
Ceremony Starts at 6:l5.
The ceremony planned in honor OF
Lewis, who rose to captaincy in the
Armys Air Transport Command
and did a deal of plotting over 'the
Hump" in his nearly four years in
service, will start at 6:15, just Is
minutes before he and others of the
Mats plunge into a twilight-night
double-header with Philadelphia
Athletics.
There will be home-plate speech
making by Maj. Gen. Elwood Que
sada. Washingtonian, who headed
the 18th Fighter Command in Africa
and the 9Th Tactical Air Command
In Europe from the day Of the in
vasion to the finish; Senator A. B.
Happy" Chandler, commissioner of
baseball: Connie Mack, venerable
president and manager OF the AS,
and Griffith.
The Washington club president
also will present to Lewis a gift from
his clubmates.
For Lewis, 1t will be a homecom-
ing party, for tonight he plays his
first game of baseball in Washing
ton since the 1941 season. He was
in three games with the Mats in
Boston, and at bat gave promise of
rounding quickly into the form that
made him such a valuable hitter to
his club before he entered the
Army. He hit at $50 clip and
also drew four passes.
Buddy played in right field
against the Red Sox, position he
filled briefly in his last season with
the Mats. Although no star defen-
sively in Boston, Lewis will improve
afleld rapidly. Manager Os Bluege
believes. Buddy was slow in break
ing for drives to the depths OF his
territory, but few more games
should find him at home in the out
field.
Leonard, Wolff to Hurl.
With the Mats in third place and
just a swhisker above the Red Sox,
oIuCSC W4h JdhC AO ClldIlSCo WiIli llLo
pitching tonight. Despite the 10
ames-in-four-days schedule faced
by his club, Os will throw Dutch
Leonard and Roger Wolff, best of
his slab corps, at the AS.
Russ Christopher. highlander who
has beaten the Mats three times
this year, practically is certain to be
one of Mack's pitching choices. The
other hurler for the AS likely will be
Jess Flores.
Bluege plans q slight change In
his batting order to tackle the
righthand hurting. Joe Kuhel, left
hand swinger who has been batting
fifth, will swap places with Harlond
Cliff, recent fourth-place occupant.
Kuhel is hitting .267 to Gifts .23l
and has had much more potent
punch with mates on the bases.
And some one to drive over runs
is lust what the Mats need.