Evening star., 1947-12-25
Vengeance Spurs 'Bama in Bowl Battle With Texas
Rockies GET Chances
AS Majors Undergo
Drastic Shakeup
BY the A.soeiotad Pre.a

NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-Since the
1947 baseball season has been
wrapped up and put away for good,
the major leagues have done such
an amazing, overhauling job on
their personnel that were it not
for their familiar uniforms, the
home fans hardly would recognize
them.
OF the $40 players on the reserve
lists on the Is clubs, about 275, or
nearly half, are newcomers. OF
these, more than 100 will receive
their initial chances under the big
tent next season. The others have
had brief big league trials, but some
were unable to progress further
than a spring training tryout.
In addition, some II trades have
resulted in so players changing uni
forms. 49,.
The Pittsburgh Pirates alone have
acquired % new players, 8 from
other big league clubs. The Browns
trades with the Boston Red Sox
and the Cleveland Indians have
brought the American League club
Is new faces. In addition to those,
they have 20 youngsters coming
up from their farm teams. Even
their manager, Zack Taylor, will
be new.
The Chicago Cubs, who have
handed outright releases to such
old standbys as Stan Hack, Claude
Passeau, Billy Jurges and Bill Lee
since the close of the season, will
present IL freshmen who never
have been to big league spring
training camp before.
New Faces on Bucs.
The Pirates are expected to show
at least five new players in their
starting lineup, exclusive of the bat
terry. Three-quarters of their inf1eld,
Ed Stevens at first, Monty Basgal
at second and Stan Rojek at short,
are newcomers. Except for Ralph
Kiner, the regular Buc outfield prob
ably will be new. Dixie Walker, OBJ
tanned in a trade with the Brooklyn
Dodgers, seems set for right field,
and Johnny Hopp, eX-Boston Brave,
probably will get the nod in center.
The Browns. of course, with Junior
-tephens. Wally Judnich. Billy
Hitchcock, Johnny Berardino, Jack
Kramer, Ellis Kinder and Bob Mum
Grief gone, hardly will be recognized
by their own fans.
Every team will have at least one
new face in the opening lineup ex-
cept perhaps the New York Giants.
who are pretty we'll set except for
pitchers. Carroll (WhiteyD Lock
man, highly regarded youngster. who
broke his leg in spring training last
year, may take over the regular
center-feld post for the Polo
Grounders provided his leg is fully
healed.
Vets Drew Releases.
No fewer than Is veterans have
been handed their outright releases
to make room for the younger crop.
The National League let Is go and
the American League dropped nine.
In addition to the quartet released
by the Cubs, the Pirates dropped
Veteran Pitchers Roger Wolff, Jim
Bagby and Rip Sewell, Catcher Billy
Sullivan. big Hank Greenberg and
Manager Bill Herman. The st.
Louis Cardinals gave Joe Medwick
his release. the Braves let loose bat,
terry 81 johnson and Ray Berres.
the Reds dropped Catcher Hugh Po-
land and the Giants Catcher Ernie
Lombardi. Even Manager Mel OFT.
who had served the Giants % years,
decided to call 1t quits as a player,
In the American League, the Red
Sox handed ancient Johnny Muir
ply. Ed Smith and Bill Zuber their
unconditional releases. The Indians
dropped Al Lopez. the Senators
Cecil Travis and the Chicago White
Sox Red Ruffing, Johnny Rfgney
and Thornton Lee