Evening star., 1948-06-16
|5fewart's SIugeing
Plus Spirit Makes
Him Nat Sparkp|ug
By Burton Hawkins
StoY Stoff corrsspordent

ST. LOUIS, June 16-The Mats
most feared and respected athlete
at the moment Is trim, wavy-haired
Ed Stewart, a never-say-die guy
who has brought a sorely needed
touch of aggressiveness to the club.
Washington's cleanup hitter has
been mopping up indeed in his last
10 games. batting at .355 clip.
Stewart rapidly is fashioning .
reputation as a dangerous clutch
hitter. In 10 days his batting aver
age has mounted 80 points to .273
and there Is every indication he'll be
topping the Mats In extra base hits
and runs batted In when the season
ends.
A former U. c. L. A. athlete. Ed
has transported the college try to
the majors with him. He's fellow
who sprints at top speed when he
hoists a pop fly to the infield or
hits a routine grounder.
He has run doubles into triples
and singles into doubles by capital-
izing on the laxity of enemy OUT
fielders.
Stewart swings emphatically, As
If he desired to give the. ball
lengthy ride. He's no peck em here
and there fellow. He swishes that
bat with all the muscle in his 158
pounds and it's paying on.
His Spirit Pervades Club.
Ed has been dispatched to the
plate less than half as much as
most the Mats regulars, yet he has
belted as many extra-base blows AZ
Mickey Vernon, who has been at
bat 103 more times. Twelve Of
Mickey's 81 hits have travelled for
extra bases. Stewart has only ~
hits, but IL have been for extra
bases. Significantly, he has batted
across 18 runs to Vernon's 81, de-
spite decidedly less opportunity.
Stewards up-and-at- attitude
may become infectious, Manager
Joe Kuhel hopes, on club too in
clined to accept defeat calmly Ed
doesn't relax If the Mats are lead
ing, ILL, or trailing by tre-
mendous gap His every action
seemingly would indicate that the
score Is tied and the pennant
hinges on the result of what he ac-
complishes.
That sort of spirit, In the short
span of a month, has made Stewart
the favorite player of Griffith Sta
dium customers. Stewart has inn
pressed them as player who oozes
determinations man who won't
quit. no matter how apparently in
surmountable are the odds.
| A 1858 hitter with Kansas City
last year, Stewart is qualifying as
the best player trapped by the Mats
| in trade in recent years. For Out
fielder Leon Culberson and an out
lay of cash estimated at $4,000
Clark GrSflth obtained Stewart
fronf tic New York Yankees, who
sent Culberson to Kansas City.
Thirty-two-years old yesterday.
Stewart was a Los Angeles high
school physical education instructor
who is edging toward the end of his
major league career. He isn't calcu-
lated to have more than two or three
more years OF top-flight baseball in
his slender frame. but he'll play out
the string to the best of his ability.
Hudson at Crossroads.
Idle last night due to rain and
wet grounds. the Mats will attempt
to fracture their four-game losing
streak here tonight against the st.
Louis Browns. with Mickey Haefner
slated to pitch.
! Kuhel, incidentally, has instructed
Pitcher Sid Hudson to blend over-
hand pitches with his sidearm de-
livery. It's the crossroads of Sids
career, for he has demonstrated he
can't get by strictly as a sidearmer.
yet he is apprehensive about throw
ing overland for fear of aggravating
an old shoulder injury.
II don't want Sid to throw over
hand too much" said Kuhel, but
he'll have to mix some overland
pitches with his sidearm stuff in an
attempt to fool the hitters. 1t has
reached the point where he'll have
to take the chance of throwing over
hand to stay in the majors"
Kuhel says he will employ Rookie
Dick Welteroth in a starting rols
Sunday and is hoping for an early
return to duty Of Tom Ferrick. the
Mats No. reliever who has been
inactive for a week due to a sore
arm.