Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-21
Third HonleRun
In 7 Days Seals
Bengal Victory
Johnny Shows 5 Hits.
RBI for Spon; As,
Braves Still Win
By Jock Hand
A,soeiatsd Press Sports Writer

by JOCK nono
Associated Press Sports Writer
Johnny Groth looks like the hot
test rookie to hit the majors since
Joe Di Maggie. Ted williams and
Stan Musial.
Sure. it's too early to tell. Two
days don't make a season or a
career. But what a two days this
22-year -old Detroit freshman
has had.
Three home runs, five hits and
seven runs batted in. That's a
flashy showing that need take q
back seat to nobody.
The $35.o00 the Tigers shelled
out as a bonus to Johnny when
he got out Of the Navy at Great
Lakes may have been their best
investment. At least. q $50, 900
product. Dick Wakefield, is riding
the bench these days.
There never was any doubt In
Manager Red Rolfe's mind about
Groth. He assigned center field
to him before spring training
started. Each of his three poten-
tial outfleld combinations pivoted
around Groth at center.
Not Upset by Publicity.
Even a year ago, the word was
out that Groth was to be the
Tigers centerfielder in 40 with
Hoot Eyers moving to right or
left. That was the understanding
when Steve O'Neill. then Detroit
manager. sent Johnny back to
Buffalo last spring.
A $40 season at Buffalo and
a All batting average at De-
troit in the final six games of
the season cemented Groth' S
claim to a regular job.
At Lakeland, Fla. there was
some apprehension about the ter
rife buildup Groth was getting.
They feared too much pressure
might hurt the kids chances
that the fans would expect too
much from q first-year man.
Groth, a quiet, intelligent
youngster who would be a Yale
undergrad If 1t weren't for base
ball, wasn't upset. He knew the
heat was on him. but he took
that in stride.
IN do my best. that's all I
can do" he said. 1t was trite,
but true. So far. 1t has been
enough. fs ~
Grand Slammer Talk.
Groth exploded a chorus of hur-
rains Tuesday with two homers off
Chicago's AL Gettel. That over
Swallowed Hal Newhouser's fine
three-hitter. e
Yesterday he almost blotted out
Virgil Trucks four hitter with a
grand slam homer that gave
Detroit So edge over the White
Sox.
Randy Gumpert, the ex-Yankee,
held 2-l lead in the last of the
eighth when he lost his stuff. A
walk to Aaron Robinson loaded
the bases. bringing a conference
between Manager Jack Onslow and
his pitcher. Onslow decided to
stick with Gumpert. Seconds later
he wished he had another chance,
Gumpert threw two wide pitches
to Groth and then got one over.
Groth hit 1t $50 feet into the left
centerfleld stands to clean the
bases. Earlier Groth drove in
run with a double.
Incidentally Groth revealed yes
terday that he would be married
after the end of the baseball sea-
son to his high school sweetheart.
Elizabeth Ann Stoll of Chicago.
As Go to Tenth for Win.
The Boston Red Sox were beaten
by the Philadelphia AS yesterday
for the second straight day. So.
in 10 innings.
Cleveland. although disturbed
about Bob Feller's shoulder
trouble, knocked out three pitchers
in humping the st. Louis Browns,
7-3. It was the first victory for
the world champs with Bob Lemon.
a 20-game winner in '48, going all
the way, despite homers by Dick
Kokos and Rookie Jack Graham.
Karl Drews was the loser.
Puddin' Head Jones, the Phila-
delphia Phillies' rookie hot shot,
tied q modern major league rec
ord with four doubles, but they
couldn't keep the Phils from q 6-5
beating. Bill Nicholson of the
Phils and Earl Torgeson Of the
Braves homered in q free-hitting
contest that saw Reliefer Nels