Evening star., 1946-02-18
Griffith Not Worried
By Delay in Signing
OF Heath, Spence
By Denmon Thompson
Star Sports Editor.

s. ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 1S.-The
signing of Dutch Leonard, veteran
butterfly ball specialist, today left
the Mats with only Outfielders Jef1
Heath and Stan Spence as vital
members of the team who have re-
fused to agree to terms.
Leonard, 1g-game winner last sea-
son, reported here yesterday and
promptly conferred with President
Clark Griffith. One hour later, Grit
fifth and Dutch emerged from tbs
confab in complete accord.
Despite his 17-7 record last year,
Leonard reportedly signed at ths
same $4,000 salary he then earned.
Figuring prominently in the pay
chatter was the fact that Dutch fin
ished only nine games in 1s45.
Griffith attaches no Importance 10
the fact that Spence hasn't signed
contract. Hes superstitious.
smiles Grif1. "One year he didn't
sign his contract until, he came
South, and then he had q great
season. Now he wouldn't do it any
other way. He's told me he never
will sign a contract until he gets to
training camp, so I'm not worrying
ABOUT him"
Griffith also refuses to become
alarmed over Heath's reluctance to
sign. He doesn't become holdout
until he fails to report for practice
next Monday" says the Mats boss,
"and I believe he'll be out there with
the other boys" Reports that Heath
was offered and rejected an $1,000
contract are, says Griffith, way
Off"
Outfelder Gil Coan is among the
Mats who have been classified 4-F
at one time or another and therefore
conceivably could be considered a..
an occupation duty candidate by his
draft board, but Coan is a father
and it is unlikely he will be sum-
moned.
Roger Wolff, whose trademark Is
the knuckle ball, advises youngsters
with pitching ambitions to shun
that toss. Its all right for pitchers
who have been around a long time
and who feel their fast ball and
curve aren't what they used to be-"
explains Roger, "but throwing a
knuckler stiffens the wrist and that
will damage young pitcher"
II the Mats boost their prices this
season after the opening game. onlv
general admission and box seats will
be affected, with bleacher, pavilion
and reserved grandstand seats re-
manning at their present price. The
Mats officials now are studying
ticket price lifts which would raise
general admission from s120 to
SIPS and box seats from s1.so to
$500.
/ Abandoned. for the immediate f1I-
ture is plan to convert the right
field pavilion into grandstand seats
from the present planks That may
materialize if we remodel the park
in future years." says President
Clark Griffith, but not before"
The Mats will hold only one work
out a day until the arrival Of the
second squad, comprised of infielders
and outfielders, next Monday. Man
ager Ossie Bluege then will divide
the squad into two groups and stag
morning and afternoon practices.
| Bluege is not disturbed that the
Mats will be presenting a lineup
j loaded with lefthanded hitters this
season. After ALL" reasons Os,
Spence, Travis, Lewis and Heath
are established 300 hitters and by
this time they aren't bothered too
much by southpaw pitching. l
never could string along with the
idea of juggling a lineup according
to the opposition's pitcher. Good
hitters will hit lefthanded and
righthanded."