Evening star., 1946-02-19
Lefty Always Winner
In Minors, With Navy
In Pacific Area
By Burton Hawkins
Star St1H Correspondent

| Sfof Sfoff Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 19.-Maxie
Wilson is little man with big ideas
and the novel notion he has at the
moment is that he's going to win q
starting berth on the Mats pitching
staff. Makes plans seem a bit
ridiculous to those who haven't seer
him labor, but the Mats have seen
him in action and are inclined to
string along with the 5-foot 7-inct
l60-pound lefthander.
On squad which includes such
recognized talent as Sid Hudson
Roger Wolff, Dutch Leonard, Mickey
Haefner, Marino Pieretti, Walter
Masterson and Johnny Niggeling
Wilson'S ambition may be a notch
above his ability. Catcher AL Evans
and Masterson have played with
and against him enough, however,
to appraise his value and they relish
what Wilson has shown them.
HE can drop that ball into tea
cup" enthuses Masterson. Honest
he has marvellous control. That's
his greatest asset. But he has a
sneaky fast ball. He knows what
It's all about and you can bank on
him not throwing any games away
due to wildness."
Has "Know- How" Evans Saws.
I caught him when we were both
playing at Oak Ridge Military Acad-
emy," says Evans, land I'll neye,
forget the day he struck out IS men
We were playing Wingate Junior
College and the only men who didn't
strike out lifted easy fouls to the
third baseman and myself. Later ]
was stationed at Norfolk Naval Ali
Station and played egainst him. ]
had even more respect for him when
ne beat US four straight times, be-
cause he had a good club. Wilson
mas more stuff than lot of fellows
IN the major leagues. He really
knows how to pitch"
Patterned along the same lines as
Haefner and Pieretti, Wilson lacks
none of the confidence of those
mighty mites. 1--WE always been q
starting pitcher" says Make, "ano
I think I'll be better as a starter. ]
have great control"
A stranger to major league fans
wilson is not regarded as raw re-
cruit by many major leaguers
against whom he has played in the
service. Against the American
League All-Stars at Oahu last sea-
son, for instance, Make came ur
with a 1-hit game against such per-
formers as Ted Williams, Dick
Wakefield, Rollie HemsIey and John.
ny Pesky. Pesky's second-innine
single to right was the only safety
registered against Wilson.
Record in wilson's Favor.
Once the property of the Cleve-
land Indians while performing with
Wilkes-Barre, Wilson feels the Tribe
lost interest due to his small stature
After experiencing such tremendous
success with 5-foot, 8-inch Haefner
and 5-foot, 7-inch Pieretti, Presi-
dent Clark Griffith nurses no such
qualms. The addition of Wilson to
Washington's staff may present the
Mats with the tiniest twirling trio
In organized baseball-all south
paws, all self-assured and, if re-
ports on Wilson later are verified
all clever pitchers.
Certainly Wilson's record is in his
favor, for the 27-year-old native OF
Haw River, N. c., never has been a
loser. In fact, he has been bic
winner consistently since he started
pitching for Oak Ridge M. A. at 19
With Portsmouth in the Piedmont
League he had 20-10 and 1873 sea-
sons after a 1910 one at Wilkes
Barre.
Into the service went Wilson in
1912, much to the regret of service
sluggers. At Norfolk in 1912. Make
got 81 victories and dropped only
two decisions. In 1943, still at Nor
folk, he came up with an 1876 and
in 1914 at Bainbridge he won 16
games and lost seven.
Star Against Big Leagues.
Serving Is months overseas at
Honolulu Naval Air Station, Wilson
rolled up II triumphs against 10
defeats in 1945 and that record is
impressive because he was facing
recognized major leaguers day after
day. Make was no minor Lacquer
to the major leaguers he pitched
against and tho foct thof he x,o -
so successful hasn't harmed his
confidence.
Bluege has been banking on the
man in boys clothing to form a
formidable relief staff with Rae
Scarborough and Bill Lefebvre. It's
nice for a manager to have some
body around who can locate the
plate without the aid of a SEEING
eye dog, particularly in rough situa-
tions that usually harass relief
pitchers. Wilson's speciality is con-
troll and Bluege doubtless will swing
the lefty around to his idea that
as a relief pitched Wilson will be
more valuable to the team.
In the meantime, Wilson has
focused his eyes on a starting Job
He may not be blessed with enough
talent to oust such as Hudson, Wolff
Leonard, etc., from regular turn on
the mound, but those who know him
best say he'll be extremely valuable
to have around as a regular OF
reliever.