Evening star., 1947-12-18

II Clubs LIST
First Baseman
As Chief Need
Mats, With Vernon,
One of Five Teams
Set for Season
BY the Assoeioted Press

By the Assoeioted Press
NEW YORK, Dec. 18.-Top item
on the Christmas shopping list OF
II major league club owners is
first baseman. Only five of the
teams are "set" at this position after
the midwinter trading spree.
The Chicago Cubs are in the
happy position Of having both Phil
Cavarretta and Eddie Watkins for
the job, thus prompting steady
stream of trade offers into their
Wrigley Field Office.
Johnny Mize, off his 51-homer
season, is a New York Giants fix
ture for several years to come, and
Connie Mack is well fixed with
Ferris Fain, who was a first-year
sensation with the Philadelphia AS
after graduating from the Pacific
Coast League via the draft.
Vernon All Set Here.
Mickey Vernon, the 1916 Amer
ican League batting champ, has the
field all to himself at Washington
unless Owner Clark Griffith de-
cides to sell him to the New York
Yankees. Cincinnati is pleased with
the performance Of Babe Young,
acquired from the Giants in mid
summer, although Manager Johnny
Neun will have to take another look
at Ted Kluszewski after his great
hitting year at Memphis in the
Southern Association.
The field is wide open in Detroit
with a four-man fight in prospect to
determine the s''"cessor to Roy Cul-
lenbine, sold to the Phillies. Paul
Campbell, purchased from Louisville
on a conditional basis, may be the
best of the lot, although the Tigers
are high on George Vico, a farm
hand who spent the summer in Port
land. Jack McHale and Bob Meyer
are the others.
Cleveland has Eddie Robinson
who played most of last season, and
also has added Elbie Fletcher from
Pittsburgh. The Indians are in the
unsettled category along with the
st. Louis Cardinals who will, of
course, go with Stan Musial, if none
OF the others comes through. Man
ager Eddie Dyer wants to return
Musial to the outfield If he can dig
up a first baseman from Rockies
Mike Natisin of Columbus and Glenn
Nelson of Lynchburg, Va. Nippy
Jones, a second baSeman from Roch-
ester, who led the International
League in hitting, might be able to
make the switch and there's always
Dick Sisler who will get a thor
ough trial.
Browns Have Only Witte.
After unloading Walt Judnich to
the Indians, where he probably will
return to the outfield, the st. Louis
Browns have only Jerry Witte, who
Hoped last spring. However, they
Will bring up Chuck Stevens from
Toledo, their regular in 1916.
Joe Mccarthy will have Holdover
JAKE Jones at Boston, although the
Red Sox at one time talked about a
trade with Washington for Vernon.
Stan Spence, who played center field
at Washington, probably will see at
lease part-time duty at first in Bos-
ton. He was acquired last week for
Inf1elder AL Kozar and Outfelder
Leon Culberson.
Ch1cagos White Sox still have
Rudy York, but they bought Tony
Lupien from Hollywood of the Pa
ciflc Coast League.
George McQuinn remains the New
York Yankees first baseman, but
nobody knows how long he can
continue with the world champs.
Bucky Harris will have Steve Sou
chock from Kansas City, Joe Collins
from Newark and Jack Phillips. a
bright prospect who finished last
year with the Yanks and played
one World Series game.
Ben Chapman has surrounded
himself with number Of men who
have played first on occasion, but
the Phillies' regular will not be de-
termined until spring training.
HOWE Schultz, acquired from
Brooklyn last summer, did not
please Chapman, who now has Bert
Haas from Cincinnati, Cullenbtne
from Detroit and AL Flair from the
Red SoX's farm system.
Brooklyn's talent hunt is centered
around replacement for Jackie
Robinson with the idea of MOVING
the Negro star to second. So far
the Dodgers have not come up with
the man they want. They sold Ed
die Stevens to Pittsburgh, where he
probably will be the regular now
that Fletcher has gone.
The Boston Braves got along by
alternating Rookie Earl Torgeson
and the veteran Frank Mccormick
last season. Manager Billy South
worth will lean toward Torgeson
more heavily next year if the be-
spectacled home-run hitter can con-
tinue to improve.