Evening star., 1945-03-17
Rookie From Montreal
To Add Speed, Power
To Garden Squad
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

BY JOHN b. KELLER.
Washington's Mats won't be bad
off" for an outf1eld after all Even
though Stan Spence, top batter and
ace outfielder of the 1914 club,
doesn't show up-and he probably
won't-Manager Os Bluege should
be able to line up right fair trio
of pasturemen from the five he'll
have at hand.
Helping greatly to ease an outfield
situation that at the outset of the
clubs training was none too good,
is Clark Grifhth'S announcement that
Walter Chipple, drafted last fall
from Montreal of the International
League, has given up the idea of
remaining on factory job and for
saking baseball. Chipple, the clubs
president said, will join the squad
at College Park next week.
Chipple is expected to be an i'm
portant addition to an outfield group
already including the veterans
George Case and Al Powell, as well
as George Binks, a purchase last
year from Milwaukee, and Jose Ear
don, apparently we'll seasoned by a
campaign at Williamsport.
Chips Has Speed, Power.
Chipple-or Chips-is lanky lad
towering over 6 feet, but weighing
less than ITO. However, he has
power at bat and a good throwing
arm in addition to being a capable
fyhawk. This is vouched for by
Bucky Harris fromer Nat manager
now in charge of the Buffalo outfit.
Harris, who saw a lot of Chips in
International League play last sea-
son said the Royal player bothered
his Bisons no little.
He hits a long ball and has a
lot of speed, Harris found. Chips
batted .2o8 with the Royals last
season and punched across IS runs.
He entered pro ball with Batavia
in 1910 and that year hit six homers
with the bases loaded. He dupli-
Gated that feat with Grand Rapids
the next year. He is Highlander
all the way.
Binks, who had little chance to
show his wares for the Mats during
a brief stay last fall, is a former
first sacker who took up outfielding
with the Brewers in the American
Association In 100 games with
Milwaukee in 1914 he hit .374-
enough to make Manager Bluege's
eyes pop-and drove in 66 runs.
Ten of his extra-base clouts were
home runs. He has much foot and
he can peg 'em, too.
Zardon Much Improved.
Zardon-he wants ITO be called
that instead of Sanchez, which is
only part OF his last name-comes
back from a season with Williams
port a improved ballplayer.
Impressive in his fielding at Col
lege Park last spring. Zardon gained
in batting skill in Eastern League
work and wound up the season with
a .292 average. He was the base
stealing marvel of the circuit, pilfer-
ing home six times.
Case, as his repaired arm i'm
proves. should better the batting he
did last season, while Powell, always
likely to come through with a long
hit, could be handy man to have
around.
In all, the Mats appear we'll able
to produce an outfield up to war
time standard.
Today the Mats were to welcome
Capt. Buddy Lewis, former third
baseman and outfielder with the
club, who has been flying transport
planes in the China Burma India
area more than year. He holds
several decorations Lewis was to
don baseball uniform and work out
with the squad. He certainly could
be used this year.
Hidalgo SparkIes Afield.
A well-fllled stand looked on yes
terday as the Mats went through
their most interesting training ses-
sion to date. Batting practice was
vigorous with Joe Kuhel, George
Myatt, Chuck Beihl and Binks pol
ing long ones. The veterans Johnny
Niggeling and Roger Wolff took
lengthy turns on the pitching hill
and in few more days should be
cutting loose with artistic stuff.
In the inheld practice, Manuel
the Spanish Chinese,
the eye of Coach Clyde
Milan particularly The little ball
player from Cuba was all over the
shortfield Scooping up hot ones and
the speed and accuracy of his throws
the old Zeb. Chino looks a
ballplayer, maybe not good enough
yet for the big leagues but he could
do in pinch these days when
diamond talent is hard to find.
Griffith, who came out to see his
club in practice for the first time
this week, brought news that Larry
Burger has at last decided to play
ball this year and will join the
pitching squad next week. He also
said that Harlond Cliff, infielder,
was on the way here from his Wash
ington home by auto and that
Catcher Mike Guerra and Infielder
Gil Torres would check in probably
by Monday.