Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-14
MeIe's Play 10 Decide
Wisdom OF Barter
With Boston Club
ey Burton Howkins

just himself after a mediocre
season will the wisdom Of the
Mats latest trade be determined.
The 26-year-old outfielder, given
a mysterious brushoff by Manager
Joe Mccarthy at Boston after a
highly successful rookie season In
1947. still is regarded as prime
baseball timber in many quarters.
That Mele will be granted more
opportunity to sparkle with the
Mats has been promised by Man
ager Joe Kuhel. who plans to en-
ploy the sturdy right-handed hit
ter any time a left-handed pitcher
confronts the Washington clue.
"Mele is one Of the best ball
players I've ever SEEN" said Sam
Dente. the Mats shortstop. when
informed of the trade which
brought Mele and Pitcher Mickey
Harris to the Mats and sent Pitcher
Walter Masterson to the Red Sox.
A teammate of Mele's on the
1946 Scranton team. Dente said.
Hes the kind of a fellow who
needs kind word once in awhile
He's inclined to get discouraged
occasionally. but a pat on the back
brings him out of it. He didn't
get that sort Of treatment under
Mccarthy"
Tried to Get Mele in 1947.
Vice President Calvin Griffith
revealed the Mats attempted to
land Mele two years ago when he
was in the process Of batting 1902
In his freshman year at Boston.
Joe Cronin. then plotting the Red
Sox, stated Mele was unavailable
Despite his fine first year and
Cronin's high regard for him. Mele
never clicked with Mccarthy. En-
ployed in only Sc games last year,
he slumped to 1888. He virtually
was ignored by Mccarthy this
season.
Mele will be one of three new
faces in Washington uniforms at
Griffith Stadium tonight when the
Mats open a three-game series
with the st. Louis Browns. Also
making his debut here In Wash
ington livery win be the 31-year-
old left-handed Harris and Is
|year-old Lloyd Hittle, red-haired
southpaw pitcher obtained from
Oakland of the Pacific Coast
League.
The Mats bosses have indicated
more bolstering of the club will
be forthcoming. Washington ex-
|ecutives now are dickering for an
|infielder with Portland Of the Pa
cific Coast League and a Cuban
pitcher performing for Havana Of
the Florida International League.
Harris Expected to Improve.
Washington officials feel that
Harris will be an improved pitcher
In Griffth Stadium's large area
and they display no great sense
Of loss in parting with Masterson.
Despite sporadic flashes Of bril-
lance, Masterson never won more
than IL games a year since join
ing the Mats in 1889. Only once
over that stretch did he ever have
a winning season, when he won
four games and lost three in 194l.
MaSterson at times was an ex-
ceptional pitcher. In 1947. for
instance, he compiled a string of
80 scoreless innings. Slugger Ted
Williams called him the leagues
most improved pitcher. but he
won only IL games and lost 16
that year.
Harris, who broke in with the
Red Sox in 1910, reached his peak
in 1916 after spending four years
in the Army. That season he
won II games and lost nine. but
lost two World Series games to
the st. Louis Cardinals. In l947,
he was afflicted with a sore arm
from which he never has recovered
completely.
Harris won only five games In
1947 and last year he captured
seven games and lost 10. This
season he won two and lost three
with the Red Sox. the reverse rec
ord of Masterson with the Mats.
Still only 61a games of the
pace of the league-leading New
York Yankees, despite losing five
Of their last six games, the Mats
will be shooting for their seventh
straight victory over the Browns
tonight.
Mickey Haefner. still firing for
a sixth successive win despite be-
ing hammered from the mound
by Cleveland in his last start,
will be Kuhel's choice to face
the Browns.
NAT NOTES: The Mats out
slugged the Pittsburgh Pirates to
capture an 81 decision in an ex-
hibition game yesterday at Coop
erstown. N. Y. Among Wash
ington's Is hits was Clyde Voll-
mer's 2-run first-inning homer. :.
Ed Stewart contributed double
and two singles, while Gil Coan
three singles. Wally
Westlake, Eddie Bockman and
Dixie Walker slammed homers for
the Pirates.
Dick Weik remained the route
for the Mats, allowing nine hits.
Outfielders on both clubs were
surrounded by hordes of auto
graph-seeking youngsters every
time they trotted to their posi-
tons. Installed In the Hall OF
Fame in pregame ceremonies were
plaques dedicated to Infielders Pie
Traynor and Charley Gehringer
and Pitchers Kid Nichols, Herb
Pennock and Mordecai Brown.
1t was Mele single which
launched q thrilling climax against
Boston here earlier this sea
son. The hit seemingly
was destined to score Tom O'Brien
from second base. but Rightfielder