Evening star., 1949-06-07
Top Slab Season Seen
For Haefner, Slated
To Face Tribe Tonight
ey Burton Howkins
Saos Sasfs Cerrsseeacsns

CLEVELAND. June THREE
years ago stubhy Mickey Haefner
said. I've got two or three years
Of pitching left" Now. at the
mellowtng baseball age Of %.
Mickey would prefer to call 1t q
career. but he currently is involved
In what may be his most successful
season.
I'D like to quit" says Mickey.
who viii pursue his sixth straight
victory here tonight against cleve-
land in the opener of a two-game
series. y
The Mats. though idle. moved
into a second place tie with De-
troit yesterday.
Travelling is all right when
you're between 20 and 30
years old. but then it becomes a
grind. I'm not seeing enough OF
my family.
I'D hang up my glove right nov
IL I could. but / can't make big
money in anything except base
ball, Besides, it's a pleasure to
pitch for a club like we have this
year. The boys are hitting-we're
likely to come up with a big inning
at any time-and our defense Is
better"
Haefner, whose sis record last
year got him a sizable salary slice.
will be awarded q bonus this year
| II he produces what Boss Clark
Griffith figures Is a good year"
Mickey is headed for fine season
In anybody's estimation with his
81 performance thus far.
Sparing With Knuckler. II
Mickey feels he'll get better as
the season rolls along. I've al
ways improved In hot weather.
except last year. when I was sick
most of the time" explains Haef-
ner. II haven't got too much
speed and so I have to throw q
lot of breaking stun. Well. later
in the year the hitters get worn
down a little and can slip my
fast ball by EN- once In a while"
Haefner says he uses his
knuckler about 25 per cent Of the
time. depending on the park In
which he's pitching, the opposi-
ton and the score. II throw 1t
less when we have a commanding
lead because / can control my
other stuff a little better" says
Mickey.
I'D like to see lineup OF nine
right-handed hitters." continued
Haefner. My knuckler breaks in
toward a right-hander. but I can't
throw it too much to left-handed
hitters because I hit 'em In the
ribs. I've been walking more than
should this season, but my con-
troll will improve"
Haefner's lone loss this season
| was q 10 five- hitter to Philadel-
phia. On another occasion he
pitched four-hit ball against New
York. but left ut the end Of seven
innings with q 20 deficit. The
Mats ultimately won that game,
4-3.
| After 18th Win Over Tribe.
Mickey, who has whipped Cleve-
land. 10 on one hit and 5-4 on
seven hits this season, will be
shooting for his 18th victory Of his
career over the Indians tonight.
Haefner has lost only eight games
to Cleveland during his major
league stint. despite playing with
numerous weak Washington clubs.
NAT NOTES-Paul Calvert will
try for win No. 7 against the In
dams tomorrow night. Ray Scar
borough originally was slated TO
work here. but Manager Joe Kuhel
was forced to employ him In relief
to rescue q game at Chicago.
| The Mats are not thrilled at the
prospect Of. obtaining Outfielder
Roberto Ortiz, reinstated former
Mexican Lacquer. The Mats need
talented right-handed-hi
outfielder desperately. but do not
envision Ortiz as the answer to
their problems. What the Mats
would like to see more than any
thing else is q relief pitcher.