Evening star., 1950-04-21
Noren 'sShowinq
In Early Games
|P|easesH Harris
Nervousness Is Gone
Prize Rookie Says;
Haynes Faces Byrne
By Burton Howkins
Star SfoH Correspondenf

| oar Sron correspondent
NEW YORK, April 21.-Rookie
Irv Noren's understandable nerv-
BUSINESS at crashing the big leagues
had vanished today as the Mats
prepared to plunge into a three
game series with the Yankees. II
was scared before our opening
game" admitted Washington S
sturdy centerf1elder. "but that's all
over now."
After two games at home, Noren
lugged a 1893 batting average into
the New York series. Manager
Bucky Harris. less interested in the
average than in RVS form, said,
he'll be a better hitter than he's
shown.
Don't get me wrong" Bucky
continued. "Irv has done all right,
but in his eagerness to make an
impression he has swung at several
pitches he should have let pass.
He'll be more relaxed from now
on and he'll pick out the pitch he
wants."
Harris Well Satisfied.
Harris is satisfied that Noren
will justify his $4,000 price tag.
Hes solid sort of player. He'll
go to get ball in the outfield
and when it's necessary he'll get
of a whale of throw. I like
what he's done so far and think
he'll do better"
Noren had seen only one major
league game before he took the
field against Philadelphia Tues
day. when was II years old,
my dad took me to see a World
Series game" said Irv. "Sure, I
was nervous Tuesday. I had been
waiting all my life for the moment
when I'd play in a major league
game.
"Those packed stands, the Pres
ident being there. my anxiety to
make good-all that made me lit
terry. I was all right. though,
after I caught ball in the out
field, then made my first hit.
Now I'm settled. I hope"
Noren and the Mats were ex-
pected to play. before a crowd of
10000 in the Yankees home
opener today, with Joe Haynes
slated to pitch against Tommy
Byrne, a4left-hander who has a
6-3 lifetime record against the
Mats. Haynes overall record
against New York is s-11 and one
OF thestwo triumphs he posted last
year:Was at the Yankees expense
Mele and Vollmer Play.
ByTne's presence meant Harris
would put Sam .Mele and Clyde
Vollmer to work In the outfield
replacing Gil coan and Ed Stew
art. Bucky will continue to en-
ploy the two-platoori system in
the outf1eld, with Noren the ex-
ception. unless protracted slumps
dictate other arrangements.
Haynes 1850 debut was of ex-
treme Importance to Harris. Joe
was the Mats most ACCOMPLISHED
pitcher in spring exhibition games
and an acceptable performance
by him today would indicate to
Bucky that some of the slack in
his pitching staff might be taken
up by Haynes.
NO less vital Is the first appear
anee tomorrow of Steve Macy. the
Mats top draft choice. Harris is
counting on him to bolster the
teams weakest department and is
likely to get an early idea of his
value against the heavy-hitting
Yankees.
Rained out yesterday, the Yam
KEGS averaged more than II runs
a game in their first three con-
tests with Boston. Harris is hop
ing that Haynes, Macy and Scar
borough-Ray will pitch here
Sunday-can stop that sort of
socking.
MATS NOTES: The Mats will
face the Yanks six times and Red
Sox twice in their next 10 games.
Against the Mats last year Joe
Di Maggie was a $50 hitter and
Tommy Heinrich batted .289.
But Yogi Berra thumped Wash
| ingtOn pitching at a .339 clip
The last time the Mats won more
than two games a year at Yam
kee Stadium was 1916, when they
won 4, lost 7.
The Mats probably will take a
sizeable check out of New York,
but 1t definitely would be larger
if the Dodgers and Giants weren't
claShing at the same time.
Then there's the Wood Memorial
running tomorrow at Jamaica.