Evening star., 1946-02-24
Weaker P|ayerChose
Over Popular Myatt
For Trip 10 Cuba
BY Burton Hawkins
Stor Sfoff Correspondent

the glare OF highly important
struggle to become the Mats third
baseman has stepped Sherrard
Robertson, a seasoned stumbler in
pursuit of success. To Robertson,
a nephew of Boss Clark Griffith,
has been given the opportunity to be
Washington's regular hot corner
guardian, much to the chagrin of
many Griffith Stadium customers
Robertson has been a dismal
failure in previous trials with the
Mats. In 1941 he broke into one
game, threw his only fielding chance
into box behind first base and
struck out in three appearances at
the, plate. In 1943 he staged an
sdagio dance in short left field while
attempting to capture a meek pop
fly, which plopped to the turf and
presented the Yankees a vital game.
The string of Robertson's f1ub-
bing of opportunities is lengthy, but
today with the naming of the Mats
who will make the exhibition trip to
Cuba on March 7 it became appar-
ent to casual observers that the in
side track on third base goes to
Sherry. Robertson will travel to
Cuba with the Mats potential start
ing team, leaving his competitor,
George Myatt, at Orlando with the
second-string infielders.
Chance Taken on Robertson.
Griffith and Manager Ossie BluegeI
are stalking themselves to the possi-
bility of considerable heated dis
cussion by installing Robertson in
the first-String infleld. Myatt, a
favorite with the Mats fans as the
result of last seasons outstanding
labor, seemingly is being shelved for
fellow who never has batted better
than .215 against major league
pitching. but there's a reason.
Back from Hawaii, where Sherry
was stationed during the recent un-
pleasantness, came reports to Grif-
fifth and Bluege that Robertson rep
resented the most improved player
in the service. Veteran baseball
men dispatched word that Sherry
was sizzling against formidable op-
position. He was betting major |
league pitching over the fence and
fielding everything bopped in his
general direction. Five thousand
miles from Griffith Stadium he was
making good.
Griffith and Bluege are eager to
see for themselves. to determine if
leg injury suffered by Sherry after
his sensational play has harmed
him. They are aware of Myatt's |
capabilities, but if they finally have
come up with major Lacquer in
Robertson they want to know it, |
The 27-year-old southpaw sWinger
has power when he connects and
they desire to gauge those encourag-
ing reports against what Robbie
can show them in person.
Lineup for Cuba Chosen.
Robertson will be at third base in |
Cuba, with Cecil Travis at short
stop Gerald Priddy at second base
Inf1elder Eddie Lyons also will make
the trip and Gil Torres will meet
the team in Cuba. The Havana out
field for the Mats will be jeff Heath,
Stan Spence and Buddy Lewis, with
Bruce Campbell in reserve. Jake
Early will handle the bulk of Wash
ingtof'S catching in Cuba, although !
Griffith hopes Fermin Guerra will
ignore overtures from Mexican |
League officials and join the Mats in
Havana
Bluege has divided his pitching
almost evenly, with the hope of
presenting all his hurlers plenty of
work. Pete Appleton, Larry Brunke,
Mickey Haefner, Bill Lefebvre, Wal
ter Masterson, ROLAND Miller, Ma
rino Pieretti, Make Wilson and
Roger Wolff will make the Cuban !
trip, but remaining with the Orlando
outfit will be such standouts as Sid
Hudson, Dutch Leonard and Johnny
Niggeling.
With the Mats infielders and out
fielders slated to report tomorrow, .
Myatt and Robertson will launch a
bitter battle for third base, the
weakest spot in Washington's line /.
up. If neither measures up to /,
Bluege's hopes, the Mats bosses /
probably will concentrate on obtain
ing a seasoned shortstop, which
would enable them to shift Travis |
to third base.
Travis, smooth shortstop when |
he left the Mats for the Army, |
suffered frozen feet in the Battle
of the Bulge. He always has ex-
pressed preference to play third
base and is more polished at that
nnSitinn than at shnrtStnn