Evening star., 1947-04-06
80 Rockies Earn
Slab berths in
Major Leagues
Eroutt. Ayers, Johnson.
Houttemon Rated
As Best Of Lot
By Joe ReichIer
.sseeiofed Pres. SsoH Wriss

At least 80 pitchers new to the
majors will be making their big
league debuts this season after the
championship campaign gets under
way April IA.
OF this number, about 10 will have
won starting berths, the rest to be
used either in relief roles or else
groomed for regular berths later on
| in the season.
From observation in the spring
training camps, right-handers Eddie
Erautt of the Cincinnati Reds, Bill
Ayers of the New York Giants and
Don johnson of the New York
Yankees and left-hander Art Hout-
teman, Detroit Tigers, look like the
best bets among the rookie hurlers.
A step behind this quartet come
Fred Sanford, st. Louis Browns;
Tommy Fine and Mel Parnell, Bos-
ton Red Sox, and Larry Jansen,
Giants.
Other Rookie Hurlers.
Other freshman hurlers who
appear to have made the big Jump
to the big time include Harry Dorish.
Red Sox; Earl Harrist, Chicago
White Sox; Lee Willis and Bob
Kuzava, Cleveland Indians; Walter
Pierce, Tigers: Frank Shea, Yam
KEGS: Joe Coleman, Ev Pagan, Bill
McCahan and Carl Scheib, Phil
adelphia Athletics; Clarence lott
and Glen Moulder, Browns; Glenn
Elliott, Boston Braves; Ed Chand-
ier, Harry Chandler, John Van Cuyk
and Paul Minner, Brooklyn Dodgers;
Doyle Lade and Russ Meyer, Chicago
Cubs; Mike Schultz, Reds; Earl
MCGOWAN, Giants; Kick Koecher,
Philadelphia Phillies; Steve Macy,
Pittsburgh Pirates, and AL Papai,
st. Louis Cardinals.
Erautt, brother of Joe Erautt,
rookie catcher of the Tigers, inn
pressed veteran -onlookers with his
poise and fine assortment Of pitch
ing tricks at the Reds training
camp at Tampa, Fla. The 22-year-
old native of Portland, Oreg.. who
led the Pacific Coast League In
strikeouts and shutouts last year
while winning 20 games for Holly
wood, is counted on as one OF the
big four by Freshman Manager
JohnilysaNeun. A well-built six-s
footer, Erautt has blazing FAST
ball which. he mixes with deceivI
ing change Of pace.
johnson Earns Praise.
& johnson, fast ballere with |
great deal Of confidence, who halls
from Erautt's home town, Is the
apple of Yankee Manager Bucky
Harris eye. Not only does Harris
believe johnson will be winner
with the Yankees this year. but he
is of the opinion that the 20-year-
old someday will be the clubs No.
pitcher.
Johnson has won praise from such
interested observers as General
Manager Billy Evans and Field
Leader Steve O'Neill of the Tigers
and Manager Joe Crorin Of the Red
Sox for his fine showing against
their teams in recent exhibition
games. The former Army private's
most recent effort was a two-hit
scoreless seven innings against the
Cardinals.
The Giants appear to have
plucked prize in Ayers. The big
right-hander set quite few marks
in the Southern Association last
year where he won 81 games for
the Atlanta Crackers. His earned
run average was 1876, best in the
league.
Shut Out White Sox.
Ayers also faced the most bats
men, pitched the most innings, the
most complete games and hurled
21-inning A tie against Mobile
His latest start resulted in six-hit
shutout against the Chicago White
Sox.
Houtteman, q product Of Detroit
sandlots and the discovery of Scout
Wish Egan, is expected to earn a
starting berth with the Tigers, who
it is generally believed possess the
finest mound corps In the majors.
The l9-year-old southpaw, who led
the International League in strike
outs last year, is counted on by
O'Nein TO take his place alongside
Hal Newhouser, Dizzy Trout, Fred
Hutchinson and Virgil Trucks. His
work thus far has made the half
dozen International League man
ayers who named him as the finest
young pitching prospect look like