Evening star., 1946-02-10
Griffith Announces 1S
HurIers, a Catchers
Now Are in Line
BY FRANCIS E. STANN.

Only four players who figure prom
inently In the plans of the Wash
ington ball club for 1946 still are
unsigned, it was disclosed yester-
day as Secretary Edward B. Eynon,
jr., via President Clark Griffith in
Orlando, Fla, released the signing
of 18 pitchers and catchers.
The unsigned are Pitcher Dutch
Leonard, 17-game winner in 1915;
Outfielders Stan Spence and jeff
Heath and Second Baseman George
Myatt. None, Eynon pointed out,
will be considered as holdouts un-
less he fails to report to the Or
lando training camp on the date
designated by Griffith.
simultaneously Washington's of
fetal 1916 roster was submitted for
publication yesterday, and it dis
closes that As players will report
for spring training. Since being
sent to the printer, however, some
changes have been made. Mike
Kreevich, listed among the out
flelders, has announced his retire
ment from baseball, but three other
names have been added, making
total of Al as of this date due to
don uniforms some time during this
month.
Ferrell Signed as Coach.
A wire from President Griffith
announces that, with the exception
of Leonard, every pitcher on the
roster is signed. These include Pete
Appleton, Roger Wolff, Mickey
Haefner, Johnny Niggeling, Walter
Masterson, Sid Hudson, Maririo Pie
retti and Rae Scarborough, as we'll
as lesser lights such as Larry Brunke,
Caspar Del Monte, Wilfrid Le-
febvre. Horace Lovelace, Phil Nc
Cullough, ROLAND Miller, Max Will
son, Bill Kennedy, Louis Bevil and
Vernon Curtis.
All of the catchers are signed ex-
cept Mike Guerra, the Cuban back
stop. Rick Ferrell has agreed to
coach, although he's not listed
among the five coaches on the roster,
and there's possibility the veteran
will catch few games. Jake Early
and AL Evans are lined UP, as are
Rockies Ted Madjecki and Danny
Reagan. AS for Guerra, a .210 hit
ter last year, his possible absence
will not be noted with alarm, ac-
cording to Griffith.
With only Leonard, Spence, Heath
and Myatt unsigned, Grifhth's
troubles at this time seem mild. If
the Mats have trouble with any of
this foursome the most serious may
come from Leonard, who has been
reported on the trading block.
DutchA a consistent winner for the
last several years, was advised to
take the baths at Hot Springs, Ark,
some weeks ago, but declined.
Travis Reports Bath Benefits.
Another part of Grifith's mes
sage to Secretary Eynon concerned
one of the Hot Springs bathers.
He was Cecil Travis, the ShortStop,
who relsyed the word that he is
ready X play baseball. Others TAX
ing the baths were Hudson, recent
ly discharged pitcher. and Early,
nominal No. / catcher.
On9.wee from today all pitchers
and catchers are due to report to
Orlando, If Leonard and Guerra
are not among this group they will
be regarded as holdouts, which still
leaves them one week to sign up.
All others, meaning infielders and
outfielders, are due to report on
February "a and work out the fol-
lowing day.
The latter group will not have
too much time to prepare for the
Grapefruit League season. for on
March 7 the Mats so-called "B"
team will open against the World
Champion Tigers while the So
called "a" team will be en- route
to Havana, Cuba, to open seven
game schedule there which will not
terminate until March II.
Following the final Cuban game,
the Mats will reform. become one
squad and play few more exhibi-
ton games before heading north
ward. En- route they will stop at
Savannah, Charleston, Columbia,
Charlotte and Richmond before
playing host to the Baltimore
Orioles on April 13.