Evening star., 1945-02-25
Leonard, Wolff,
kuheI, Cliff Set
For'45Season
Case Reports Repaired
Arm Sound; FerreII
Made Slab Coach
By JOHN B. KELLER.

WOOe OIOD AOOCn
BY JOHN b. KELLER.
Four more Mats yesterday fell into
line for the 1945 baseball campaign,
and even thoughts Of what the man
power legislation might do to the
Washington club couldn't keep a
grin of Calvin Grif1th's face. With
the arrival Of the signed contracts
of Pitchers Dutch Leonard and Rog-
er Wolff, First Baseman Joe Kuhel
and Third Baseman Harlond Cliff,
the Mats vice president said he had
10 OF the clubs Al players in good
standing and ready to get going
when the training camp opens at
the University of Maryland at Col
leg Park 10 days hence.
All four newly signed are key
men In Manager Os Blueges plans
for getting the Mats out OF last
place, where they found themselves
at the end Of the 1914 American
League season, and perhaps three of
them will be at hand when the
pitchers and catchers report for con-
ditioning work on March 7. Cliff Is
eager to get an early start and is
expected to join Leonard, Wolff and
the others for the inaugural ses-
sion.
Gift, Wolff In Better Trim.
A failure last season because he
was unable to get into condition
after joining the Mats late in June
Cliff Is doing some preliminary
training at Hot Springs, Ark. He
has had his sore arm treated by q
st. Louis specialist and has written
Bluege that it Is sound again. Bluege
regards Cliff capable fielder and
dangerous batter when in trim and
will be happy to have him at camp
early.
Wolff, who pitched to the unenvi-
able record of 4 wins against II
defeats last year, also should be in
better form this time. The big
knuckle-baller while taking his beat.
ings never was able to get in gooc
shape, frequently being i'll. Thi.
winter he has had several trouble.
some teeth removed, however, ane
has told club officials he feels a.
strong as ever.
! Another Nat who promises to i'm.
prove greatly over last years show.
ing is George Case, outfielder, wht
never was anywhere near his usua
form in the 1914 campaign. A fire..
quently disjointed left shoulder Gu
heavily into his batting average
but George had it repaired last De.
cember and has reported a course ol
exercises has the arm normal once
more.
Case Wants Theft Title Back.
Case has been doing some run
ming, too, at his home in Morris
vile, Pa, just across the Delaware
from his birthplace In Trenton
N. J. He wants his legs right, fol
he didn't relish the loss to George
Stirnweiss Of New York's Yankees Of
the league base-stealing champion.
ship he had held for five successive
years.
| Bluege is hoping to come up with
another first baSeman in George
Binks. bought from Milwaukee latt
last season as an outfielder. Blink.
broke into organized baseball as {
first sacker and will get training a
the bag from the time he arrives a
College Park with the second squas
on March IA. Kuhel now rates a!
the clubs regular first baseman. bu
Joe Is getting close to 80 and Blueg,
figures Binks might be able to le
the veteran rest his aging legs oc
caSionally. Then Bluege likes tina
.374 batting mark Binks made will
the Brewers.
Catcher Al Evans, who was IL
town last week hoping to see Clarl
Grif1ith-he didn't because the clul
president was i'll at the time
probably wl.- be seen behind tn
bat frequently this year, Blueg
says. AL didn't do much last yea
as he joined the Mats after sieg
Of illness in Navy hospital an,
never got into good condition. Blu
he's well again and will have.to d.
some hard work at camp to TAX
off the extra Is pounds he is carry
ing.
Ferrell to Coach Pitchers.
Rick Ferrell again will be tn
first-string catcher, but therell b
other work for Rick and he probabl
won't see as much service benin,
the bat as he did in 1914. H
will be a coach as well as catche
and will assume full charge Of tn
pitching staff in training.
With Al players due In camp b
the middle of March, Manage
Bluege will split his forces int
two squads, one to train in tn
morning and the other to get IL
workouts in the afternoon. Man
power directives, though, may tax
some of the work of his hands.
1