Evening star., 1948-07-11
.Griff Joins Blast;
Williams Hurt,
Di Mag Lame
Nuts' Chief Declares
Tribe Stor Bound by
Contract to Appear
By Burton Hawkins

py puftOV tluWNHUS
An unprecedented withdrawal by
Rapid Robert Feller of the Cleve-
land Indians. plus injuries to Joe
DiMaggio and Ted Williams. not
only severely weakened the ALI
Star game chances of the American
League yesterday but touched off
the temper. of Stanley tBucky)
Harris. who will lead the junior
circuits squad against the National
League in st. Louis on Tuesday.
Through a spokeman for the
Cleveland club, Feller suggested that
he be replaced, presumably be-
cause he was due to pitch today and
felt he wouldn't be of any help to
the American League club. Advised
of Feller's action here Yesterday,
prior to the Yankee-Nat game,
Harris put the blast on the Cleve-
land fireballer.
las long as I'm connected with the
All-Star selections. Feller never will
be named again" Harris said. Feller
was named to the squad by Harris.
who chose all American League
players except the eight starters
selected by the fans.
Harris named Joe Dobson, leading
pitcher of the Boston Red Sox, in
Feller's place.
Feller Is Bound. Griff Says.
Clark Griffith. president of the
Washington Club, shared Harris in
dignation. The commissioner of
baseball "a. B. Happy" Chandler
or the American League president
(Will Harridge) could force Feller
to make an appearance" said
Griffith last night. "If he's not in
jured. Feller's bound to play in the
game. It's in his contract and in the
contract OF every other player"
Harris told reporters yesterday
that he was informed of Feller's
withdrawal by Earl Hilligan. Ameri-
can League publicity chief, who tele-
phoned him from the Chicago
headquarters.
"Hilligan said Feller failed to offer
any alibi," said the Yankee man.
ager. HE simply said he wouldn't
play Tuesday. He won't play next
year, either, If 1 have anything to
do with it,"
Harris own star. DiMaggio, sat
on the bench yesterday as the YAM
KEGS whipped the Mats In extra in
1nings. DiMag pinch-hit and singled.
but was replaced by runner. He
is suffering from leg trouble.
DiMag Will Appear.
'DiMaggio's heels are bothering
him and they've made both knees
sore" said Harris, but I believe
he'll be able to play one inning or
perhaps pinch-hit in st. Louis.
don't think 1t would be fair to ask
him to hobble through more than
one inning"
DiMag definitely will make the
trip to st. Louis, Harris said, II
only for token appearance.
Meanwhile, at Philadelphia, Will
liams also rode the bench with q
pulled cartilage in his side. Whether
the American Leagues leading slug
ger will be able to play Tuesday is
problematical.
With Feller. DiMaggio and Will
liams either declared out of the
game or. in the cases of the latter
pair, available only for limited duty,
National League stock scared last
night as Harris, Griffith and pos
sibly other American League figures
stewed and fumed.
Not mentioned, but possibly in the
minds of Harris and the pennant-
contending Red Sox and Athletics.
was the thought that Peller was
saving himself for the tests ahead
in what promises to be one Of the
closest American League races in
many years. Pitchers in the ALL
Star game are limited to three in
nings of duty and whether Feller
even would have been called upon
might have rested on developments.
| Bob Lemon, who was the second
choice from the Cleveland mound
staff, also is scheduled to pitch to-
day. but he will join Manager Lou
Boudreau, Joe Gordon and Ken
Keltner as the Indian representa-
tives In the studded affair.
Lemon. who has won IL and lost Z.
will appear In the classic for the first
time.
Vernon TO Relieve McQuinn.
Harris said the Mats Mickey
Vernon would supplant New York's
George McQuinn at first base after
Az innings and that Washington's
Walter Masterson might" see ac-
ton. II would have used Masterson
in Shining turn" said Harris, but
with him pitching against us Sum-
day he won't have enough rest
The injury to williams may rob
the 18th annual game Of Its main at
traction-the batting duel between
williams and Stan Musial of the st.
Louis Cardinals, the National
Leagues top hitter.
williams has batted 500 in five
All-Star games. In 1916 at Boston's
Fenway Park he hit two home runs
and batted In five runs during 12-
0 route Of the National Leaguers. In
1871 at Detroit he broke ilp the game