Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-03-14
Hudson in Fine FettIe> Work Against Tigers Shows
Arm Healed, Sid Hur|s
With His Old Speed
In Mats Victory
By Burton Howkins
Stor Sfoff Cofrexpondent

|
| ORLANDO, Fla, Mar. 14.-There's
a breeze of optimism stirring in the
Mats training camp and in the
midst of such windy conversation
Sid Hudson's name is being men,
toned with more respect. The
6-foot 4-inch highlander has shed
the sore arm that handicapped him
last season and seemingly Is set to
establish himself as one of the
American Leagues top pitchers.
Last spring Hudson denied fatty
that his arm had been injured while
in the Army, apparently on the
theory that what the leagues hitters
didn't know wouldn't hurt them.
His arm had been damaged, how
ever, and all last season Sid was
fearful of cutting loose with every
thing he had on his fast ball lest
his career be ended suddenly.
That threat now has evaporated,
/ for Sid's arm has staged come
back. He has some steam on his
swift one and he isn't holding back.
Hurt by playing virtually every day
in the service-on the hill-in the
outfield or at first base-Hudson
appears recovered and ready to
capitalize on his ability.
Sid's Fast One Is Back.
| Sid pitched only three innings
against the Detroit Tigers second
stringers yesterday at Lakeland as
the Mats scored a 1915 victory, but
he retired nine batters in order.
His no-hit pitching wasn't as thrill
ing to President Clark Griffith,
though, as the sight of Sid Jogging
his fast one to Catcher Frank
Mancuso.
Last year Sid couldn't raise his
arm over his head" said Griffith,
but now his arm is as good as
ever. In addition to his injury,
Eudson's shoulder muscles were tied
up. I believe it was the result of
too much calisthenics in the Army.
Anyway, he looked better against
the Tigers than he has looked in
years."
Griffith also praised the pitching
performance of Marine Pieretti, who
restricted the Tigers to two hits
one of them tainted-in a three
inning appearance. Pieretti, who is
being groomed for an occasional
starting role, deserted the premises
with an 80 lead.
Mats Enjoy Big Inning.
That advantage developed as the
result of 7-run outburst in the
sixth inning. Rufus Gentry walked
six Mats and singles by Stan Spence,
Earl Wooten and Cecil Travis COM
pleted the damage. The Mats had
picked up a run off Walter Pierce
in the first inning on George Myatt's
double and Joe Grace's single. They
added two runs in the ninth off
Johnny Corsica on singles by Spence
and Priddy, plus an error by Third
Basen,an Jimmy Outlaw and a long
fly by Mancuso which fetched
Priddy across from third.
Less exciting was the pitching of
Milo Candini, who is supposed to
blossom as one Of the Mats depend
able hurlers this year. Candini had
reasonable support when the Tigers
clustered five runs off him in the
seventh inning, but he wasn't ex-
cused on that count by Griffith,
who said, "Csndini had nothing.
He looked worse than I've ever seen
| him."
Hudson gave no semblance of a
hit. Six of the batters he faced
lofted easy flies to the outfield and
the other three tapped meekly to the
infeld. 1t was Sid's( first start in
the citrus circuit and it has kindled
another spark of hope for the Mats.
Squad to Get More Pruning.
Sid never since has displayed the
form he reached in his first year
with the Mats. Fresh from the San
ford club of the Florida State Lea
que, Hudson won II games and lost
16 in 1910 after winning only two
of his first IL starts.
In 1941, Sid skidded to Is tri-
umphs and in 1912 he scored 10.
Then came three years in the Army
and Hudson returned as sore
armed specimen. He won only eight
games last season while losing II.
This year he could pick up much of
the slack in Washington's pitching
and Griffith is confident he will.
NAT NOTES: Pitchers Howard
Martin and Ed Kubski will be dis
patched to the Mats farm at Char
lotte, NJ c. on Monday =. . Charles
Hiden, Hyattsville (MdD youngster,
hasn't signed contract yet, but
if he does he also will be sent to
(See HAWKINS, Page CD