Evening star., 1945-03-15
Baseball Vets Rush
To Camps Is Easing
Manpower trouble
By JOE REICHLER,

Associated Press sports Writer.
Major league baseball's greatest
problem, manpower, appeared to be
solving itself today as big league
spring training camp squads are be-
ing augmented by new arrivals, in
cluding many regulars of last years
teams.
Club owners and managers, openly
concerned over the unwillingness of
some players to leave their winter
jobs to return to baseball, were
greatly encouraged by announce
ment yesterday of several of the
games outstanding stars that they
intended to play ball this year.
Ken Keltner, who left a war job
. year ago to play with Cleveland,
has again quit his winter job to re-
join the Indians. Baseball is my
business. If the Army wants me, it
will find me working at it, the
heavy-hitting third baseman was
quoted as saying a year ago.
Pitcher Jim Bagby, teammate OF
Keltner, also will join the squad to-
day, having resigned his job at a
war plant.
Others Resume Baseball.
Among other players who an
nounced yesterday they would join
their teams were Don Gutteridge of
the st. Louis Browns; Pete Fox, Red
Barrett and Rex Cecil of the Boston
Red Sox; Thornton Lee, Vince Cas-
tino, Dan Reynolds and Joe Orengo
of the Chicago White Sox; Andy
Pafko and Roy Hughes of the Chi
cago Cubs and George Kell of the
Philadelphia Athletics.
Roundup of training camp items:
Philadelphia Phillies-Rookie Lou
Lucier, who pitched for Louisville
and San Diego last year. signed his
contract to boost signed player total
to 20. Inf1elder Charley Letchas
has been called up by his Thomas
vile, (Ga) Draft Board for induc-
ton March %.
Cleveland IndianS-18 Indians, 10
of them pitchers, in camp, although
Manager Lou Boudreau still absent.
Pat Seerey slams first ball over
fence. Rookie Inf1elder AL Cihocki
stands out in early fielding sessions.
Derringer 14th Cub at Camp.
Chicago Cubs-Arrival of Paul
Derringer, 38-year- -old veteran
hurler, at camp raises squad total
to IA active players.
New York Giants-Van Mungo's
hurting and Ernie Lombardis hit
ting feature drill as squad is in
creased to 26 with arrival of Pitch
ers Harry Feldmand and Ewald
Pyle and Infielder Roy Nichols.
Brooklyn Dodgers-Eight players
entrain for Bear Mountain as Man
ager Leo Durocher is cheered by
news of the signing of veteran
Frenchy Bordagaray and Rookie
Catcher Stan Andrews. Youthful
Eddie Basinski to remain orr war
job in Buffalo.
Pittsburgh Pirates-Twenty play
ers on hand as team, led by
Catcher Spud Davis, in absence of
Manager frankie Frisch, opens
camp at Muncie, Ind.
NCW L Oih 1d1lkeeS-MdndRer Joe
Mccarthy expressed worry over his
infield with three-quarters of last
years regular innerworks still
missing. They are First Baseman
Nick Etten, Second Baseman George
Stirnweiss and Shortstop Frank
Crosetti. Arrival of Pitchers Joe
Page and Walter Dubiel increased
squad to II.
Cronin Ready to Play First.
Boston Red Sox-Manager Joe
Cronin ready to play first base this
season, although Outfielder George
Metkovich, who is expected to play
the initial sack this year, signs
contract.
st. Louis Browns-Veteran Sig
Jakucki shows fine form on mound.
Team prepares for first exhibition
game with Toledo Sunday.
Philadelphia Athletics-Arrival of
Third Baseman George Kell at
camp rounds out regular infield.
Outfelder Hal Peck, purchased for
$4,000 from Milwaukee, another
arrival.
Chicago White Sox-Squad of 18
moves at top speed in two-hour
drill. George Gray, 17-year-old
southpaw, reported.