Evening star., 1946-06-10
Bargain Buy SparkIes
As Double Bill With
Chisox Is Split
By Burton Hawkins

4AA " OuoC, WlllCil Aldo UCClI d oOlc
subject with Washington base ball
clubs since Ossie Bluege deserted
the post. no longer represents a
problem to the Mats. They've come
up with their smoothest third base
man since Bluege in Billy Hitch
cock, who has solved an annoying
situation not just Temporarily, but
for years to come.
Since 1886, when Bluege racked up
as the Mats steady guardian at
third base, Washington fans have
been awaiting the arrival of a de-
pendable performer there. The pa
rade of those tested and found lack
ing included Buddy Lewis, Cecil
Travis, Bobby Estalella, Ellis Clary,
Harlond Cliff, Sherry Robertson,
George Myatt and Gil Torres
most of whom Bluege could outfield
with a dishrag wrapped around his
hand
Now the search is ended. Hitch
cock, 6-foot 1-inch specimen with
considerable cat" in his system, in
the short span of six games has
shown Manager Bluege more adept
third base play than he's seen since
he grasped the Mats reins in 1912.
A former Army Air Force major,
Hitchcock came to the Mats less
than month ago from the Tigers
at the bargain basement price of
$4,000.
Grasp on Job Is Firm.
Labeled merely "infield insurance"
at the time of his purchase, Hitch
cock is beginning to justify the
$4,000 tag placed on him when De-
troit bought him from Kansas City,
wher1 he had played with Gerry
Priddy of the Mats and Phil Riz-
zuto of the Yankees.
Hitchcock's chance came last
Thursday when Myatt was forced
out of the lineup with a twisted
right knee. He's made .good so
spectacularly that Myatt is out of
job. Billy is handling third base
.ashionably enough to remain in
the lineup for years even if he hits
200.
1t is incidental that Hitchcock
at the moment is batting .342. He
isn't that good a hitter-unless nu-
merous baseball men are wrong
but Bluege was no great walloper
himself. Hitchcock is the type of
player who could get a hit every
other day and still help the Mats.
Hitchcock has amazed local fans
with his fashy fielding-but there's
no indication he's a flash in the pan.
He goes to his left brilliantly, whisks
in for bunts speedily and has a
rifle arm that is accurate. When
he streaked to MS left yesterday to
stab Cass Michaels' bounder, then
whirled in the air and whipped him
out with a fine throw, he was giving
the customers a sample of what
he can do.
Billy brings another alert brain
to the Mats infield. With Priddy.
he'll keep the Mats on their toes,
and it may be significant that both
are products of the Yankee farm
system. Baseball savvy is part of
their stock equipment.
Stars in Double header.
Hitchcock also was producing
some satisfactory swatting yester-
day as the Mats split a double
header with the White Sox, win
ming the first game, II, and drop
ping the nightcap, 81, before a.
III fans-a crowd which boosted
Gftfdth Stadium attendance over
the 100000 mark. Billy dashed
three singles and a double In the
opener and added a double in the
second game.
The Mats clipped Joe Haynes,
Leonard Perme and AL Hollings-
worth for Is hits in the first game.
as Mickey Haefner coasted to
five-hit triumph and Washington's
sixth straight win. The Mats COL
iected only four hits off Ed Lopat
in the second tiff, with Lewis Civ
ing them their only run with an
inside the park homer in the sew
enth.
Dutch Leonard and Max Wilson
were hammered in the second game.
with the White Sox mailing Leon
ard for five runs in the fifth and
adding three more off Wilson in
the eighth as Leo Wells homered
The victory was Chicago's first over
washington in nine games this sea-
son and its first win over Leonard
IN three years. It also snapped
White Sox losing streak of nine
games
Roger Wolff will try for his fifth
triumph tonight, when the Browns
invade for the opener for a three
game series. st. Louis is the only
club undefeated by the Mats this
year, having won both games the
teams have played.
Mats, ~; Chisox, 1-8