Evening star., 1949-04-03

Tex Hughson Appears
Set for Sox; Keller
Yanks' Top Problem
BY the Assceioied Press

- ST. PETERSBURG. Fla. April
2-The big stories of the spring
training season-Joe DiAiaggio.
Ewen Blackwell and Whitley Ku-
rowski-remain untold as the ball
clubs head for home.
In two weeks the season opens,
yet nobody can answer these .Ques-
tions without guessing:
/. Can DiMaggio play every
day for the New York Yankees2
. 2. When will Blackwell pitch
for Cincinnati?
3. How much will Kurowski
help the st. Louis Cards?
The DiMaggio story took q turn
for the better Wednesday when
the Yankee Clipper played six
innings against Cincinnati-the
first test of his tender right heel.
Confident He VIII Play.
1t appears fairly certain that
DiMaggio will open the season in
center field for New York. Not
long ago he thought he might have
to quit because of the pain in his
heel. But Joe now says he expects
to play every inning.
Blackwell's situation is much
more uncertain. So far he has
pitched batting practice once or
twice. Nothing more. Manager
Bucky Walters will not guess when
he might start THE Whip" in a
game. 1t seems certain he will
not appear in any of the exhibi-
tions.
The thin man reported 20
pounds under his normal weight
after serious operation. The big
test Is still to come.
Kurowski has been In and out
Of the Cardinal lineup. His arm
still is not right after the opera
ton last fall for removal Of 18
bone chips from his right elbow.
Manager Eddie Dyer has no as
surance that Kurowski's bat,
normally good for 25 to 80 home
runs, will be in there swinging for
the Cards every day.
Hughes Looks Ready.
DiMaggio, Blackwell and Ku-
roWski are by no means the only
Ifs" in the major league picture.
1t appears that Tex Hughson's
comeback for the Boston Red Sox
is authentic. Joe, Mccarthy still
is wrestling with one major de-
cision. He must make up his
mind whether First Baseman Walt
Dropo can hit big league pitching.
Johnny Groth, Detroit's highly
publicized rookie. looks like every
thing the press clippings say about
him. It's a good thing, too, for
Red Rolfe and the Tiger camp
needed a lift after the serious in
jury to Pitcher Art Houtteman In
an auto crash.
Peter Reiser. acquired by Boston
from Brooklyn during the off sea-
son. probably will be a big help to
the National League champions.
Despite his reputation as a brittle
athlete, Pete has been, playing both
outf1eld and third base.
Keller a Problem. f
Di Maggie is not the only worry
for Casey Stengel, starting his
first year as Yankee manager. He
has to decide on Charley Keller's
comeback chances. He, too. hasa
first base problem that probably
won't be solved until he moves
Right Fielder Tommy Heinrich in
to the infield..
Connie Mack has the same club
at Philadelphia. The AS figure
to get even better pitching than
last year.
Washington has added power
with the return of Outfielder
Buddy Lewis after a years retire
ment.
Brooklyn's baseball factory at
Vero Beach appears to have pro-
duced another top fight club.
Cincinnati is trying a new
faces" policy with Lloyd Merri-
man, the ex-Stanford football
player in center field. They've
been using q kid from Tulsa,
Johnny Lane, at second base, while
Jimmy Bloodworth has been side
lined.
The Phillies look like the most
improved team in Florida with
Third Baseman "Puddin' Head"
ZONES A stanjolIt.