Evening star., 1949-03-03

SluD OnuuIy AIurmeu
Over Condition, Says
Hopkins Surgeon
Given an okay by DR.. George
Bennett Of Johns Hopkins Hos
pital, Joe Di Maggie headed back
to the New York Yankees train
ing camp at st. Petersburg, Fla,
today to give his aching heel an
other trial.
The star outfielder arrived at
Washington National Airport late
yesterday afternoon, and went i'm
mediately by train to Baltimore
for the examination. From there
he went to New York, and today
is flying back to camp.
Obviously not as worried today
about the heel as when he ar
rived in Washington. the star out
fielder still showed much concern
over it. Evidently he won't be
satisfied everything is okay until
the heel stands up under the
heaviest punishment.
DR.. Bennett, who removed a
bone spur from his right heel last
November Is, told Joe nothing
was seriously wrong and that he
needed no medical attention at
this time.
II believe he and the Yankee
officials became unduly alarmed
over the reaction to the first
workout" said the doctor. The
doctor advised special care but
told the Associated Press he was
optimistic about Di Maggio's s
chances of being in good shape in
time to open the season.
Ailments Often Bother Joe.
Only three times in the 10 sea-
sons he has played with the Yam
KEGS has Di Maggie been available
on opening day. He's had al
most every ailment imaginable
knee trouble, eye trouble, stomach
trouble. tonsilities. arm trouble
and heel trouble.
Two years ago he had a spur
removed from his left heel. 1t took
a skin-grafting job to put hin
back in shape. Last year he wa!
recovering from a bone-chip op.
Grafton on his throwing arm when
opening day rolled around.
II don't know how serious it Is,
the famed centerfielder and slug
ger told reporters at National Air
port. Il thought I might as we'll
give the heel a good workout the
first day and find out about 1t
quick. I did moro running and
standing on it than you usually do
the first day"
Before the twin session of field
ing and hitting drills was over
Di Maggie felt pain in the heel
Yesterday morning when he arose
the heel was stiff and sore for is
or 20 minutes, he said.
When we saw the heel was in
famed, Weiss and I decided &c
see DR.. Bennett right away" d
Maggie said. II don't know
whether it will take a day or some
time, but I love that little doc and
have lot of confidence in him."
Feels Fit Otherwise.
DR.. Bennett also removed the
bone chips from Di Magio's
throwing arm before last season
and made it as good as new, Joe
related.
The black haired star said he
felt fit otherwise, though he would
like to tack S pounds more on his
present 1913 pounds.
Asked about the 100000 he re-
putedly will draw from salary and
bonuses this season, Joe said that
figure was "close enough"
Di Maggie denied recently pub
lished reports of serious interest
in a Mexican professional dancer
with whom he was photographed
while vacationing in Acapulco.
THAT girl is married to the
other half of a dancing team. -
Joe explained. Part of her act
was getting customers to do a
quick rhumba with her on the
floor. She was getting some of the
old fellows to dance with her for
a laugh and when she asked me.
what could I do? You have to
be good sport"
AS a matter of fact, he doesn't
even dance, Di Maggie said un-
smilingly.
"The picture was made by some
night club photographer and I
didn't even know about it until
somebody said it was in the
papers"
Pleased by Fishing Exploit.
He was more excited about a 10
foot 2-inch, 128-pound sailfish he
shared. giving him first place so
far in d fishing contest.
He found the Yankees, hypoed
by a bunch of lively youngsters
showing more spirit the first day
of their st. Pete workouts and
considered their chances good
against a Cleveland team he
thought was too lucky about get
ting all the breaks last year.
When Manager Casey Stengel OF
the Yankees heard of DR.. Ben
nett's report he said, Nov I can
get up off my knees" the Asso-
ciated Press reported. IF he
doesn't want to play for a month
it's okay with me, just so long
as he Is all right"