Evening star., 1947-03-09
Big Loops Start
Sizzling Tests
For Rockies
All Except Two Of l6
Clubs PIunging Into
Exhibitions Today
By Jack Hand
Associoted Press SCOTS Wri,er

| TAMPA, Fla, Mar. 8.-Rookies
must shelve their clippings and
produce on the ball field starting
tomorrow when IA of the 16 major
league clubs swing into action in
the first full dress exhibition
scheduled of the spring season.
| Although there has been scattered
firing in Puerto Rico, Venezuela
Havana and Miami, most of the
teams have confined themselves to
pepper games and calisthenics.
Barring injuries, the world cham
pion st. Louis Cardinals should
field an all-veteran team with their
ho.dover title infield of Stan Musial
Red Schoencienst. Marty Marion
and Whitley Kurowski. heft field is
the only question mark and they
have Erv Dusak, Harry Walker OF
Dick Sisler to join Terry Moore and
Enos Slaughter in the garden.
A recruit catcher does have q
chance to break into the st. Louis
club behind Joe Garaoiola and Del
Rice, currently sidelined with a
shoulder separation. Del Wilbur
probably is the answer.
Cards to Play Wednesday
None of the Redbirds gets a
chance to show his stuff until
Wednesday when the club dedicates
AL Lang field at st. Petersburg by
playing the New York Yankees.
However, the Cards and the
Philadelphia Athletics are the only
big leaguers who will ,sbe idle to-
morrow.
The Boston Red Sox, defending
American League champs, will open
long training grind by opposing
the Philadelphia Phillies at Sara
sofa. Several promising FARM club
grads have crowded into' Joe
Cronin's camp, angling for the wide
open third base and right field posi-
tionS.
Frank Shoffner, a 305 hitter at
Louisville, and Rup Russell of the
1916 team, lead the fight for the
hot corner job. Sam Mele, Eastern
League batting champion at Scran-
ton with .342 mark, is waging a
battle with holdovers Leon Culbre-
ron ana Tom Mcbride, Pete Layden,
who hit .327 at New Orleans and
Bill Goodman, the $4,000 buy from
Atlanta. for right field.
Detroit, Reds to Battle.
Detroit starts its game schedule
in Tampa against the revamped
Cincinnati Reds. Manager Steve
O'Neill Of the Tigers has a first
base and right field problem. The
rest Of the club is about the same
as last year. Roy Cullenbine is the
likely successor to Hank Greenberg
at first unless Rockies Jack McHale
Lor Bob Meyer shows too much home
run power. Pat Mullin and Vic
Wertz, q .301 hitter at Buffalo, fig
ure in the right field argument.
Cincinnati presents the golden op-
portunity for the major league pros
pect with shortstop, first base, CEN
ter field and right field open for
questions.
Now that President Warren Giles
has indicated the Reds no longer
are concerned about Eddie Miller's
future plans, Benny Zientara, Ker-
NIT Wahl and Claude Corbitt are
in the siaortstop fight.
Ted Kluszewski, the big football
player from Indiana who hit 1852
in Glass A at Columbia, S. c., his
first year out, may oust Bert Haas
from first base. Only Augie Galan
is set in the outf1eld where Frank
Baumholtz, the Cleveland Rebels
basket ball star, and holdover Eddie
Lukon good bets for the other jobs.
Fist Base Worries Yanks.
The Yankees and Brooklyn Dodg-
ers continue their rivalry in Havana
with the New York first base situa-
ton still unsettled. Tommy Hen
rich has been used on the bag with
Bobby Golden Boy) Brown in right
Nick Etten and George McQuinn
also rate in the first base discussion
Brooklyn probably won't be set
until the opener, depending on the
ability IF Arky Vaughan to come
/ back and the play of Rookie Lou
Ruchser around first. Nobody, will
break up the outer combine of Pete
Reiser, Carl Furillo and Dixie
| Walker.
The Boston Braves, who play the
Yankees second squad at Fort Lau-
derdale, will go with at least one
Rookie-Earl Torgenson, on first
base. Outside of a shortstop ques-
ton between Dick Cutler and Sibby
Sisti, the rest Of the team appears
set.
The Phiilies open against the Red
Sox with Willie (Puddinhead) Jones
the SIG, 900 bonus player, bidding foI
the only open job, shortstop.
Clint Hartung, the fabulous New
York Giant Rookie, was due to make
his bow against Cleveland today at
Tucson. Manager Mel OFT also has
been given plenty of attention to
Freshmen Jack lucky Lohrke and
Bob Thomson at third.
Tribe Likes Outfleld Rookie.
An outfleld recruit named Dale
Mitchell, who hit 1877 at Oklahoma
City. has been drawing raves from
the Cleveland Indians camp where
the outfield is the main problem.
Chicago's Cubs are expected to &C
with the same club as last year
barring another epidemic of injuries
They met the Chicago White Sox al
Los Angeles today.
1 Pittsburgh, which faces the st
Louis Browns at Miami Beach, has
q wealth OF new talent including
Hank Greenberg. However, most Of
the newcomers have had previous
major league experience.
Nothing is sure about the st. Louis
Brownies, who are starting new
regime under Manager Muddy RueI
/ Dodds Does 4:N.1
/ Mile in K. C. Race
BY the Associated Press