Evening star., 1950-05-08
Boston Gets Vollmer,
O'Brien Comes Here
By Burton Howkins

AAN AN1e& "AAA AA0f$AaAg - AACS
second base combination tonight
when they oppose Cleveland's
Bob Feller. with Sam Dente shift
ing to second base and slick field-
ing Merrill Combs taking over at
Combs. obtained from the Bos-
ton Red Sox with Outfielder Tom
OBrien yesterday in exchange for
Outfielder Clyde Vollmer. will find
no stranger next to him in Dente.
They were a part-time second
base combination on the ls46
team which won the
Eastern League pennant by 22l7
games.
Dente played 20 games at Sec
ond base that season. his only
at the position. until
to third base to create
room for Al Kozar. Also on that
club was Sam Mele. Washington
Defense is Bucky's Aim.
In the slim. graceful. 6-foot
Combs. Bucky Harris hopes he has
the man who will tighten WASH
ington's infield. Bucky is un-
perturbed at the 30-year-old
Combs history Of light hitting. for
he's concerned with presenting
the Mats a more adequate defense.
With Dente transferring to
second base the Mats are expected
to own the most polished fielder
they've had at the position since
Jerry Priddy was unloaded to the
st. Louis Browns after the le47
season. Kozar and Sherry Robert
son shared the job last year and
were splitting the assignment
again this season.
Combs. who played two years at
the University of Southern Cali
fornia, is left-handed batter who
failed to make the grade with
Boston in four trials. With the
Red Sox. though. he was regarded
as a superb fielder who could fill
in nicely at shortstop, second base
or third.
Batted .2OS With Red Sox.
Combs, who batted only .208 in
Il games with Boston last year,
broke into organized baseball with
in 194l and after q
long service period was promoted
10 Scranton in l946. He played
IN II games with the Red Sox in
l947 and that season played with
Columbus. Louisville and Toronto.
.237. before transferring
10 Oakland in 194S. With Oak
land he was a .27l hitter.
With Bobby Doerr. Vern
Stephens and Johnny Pesky in
Boston's infield Combs had little
to crash the Red Sox
lineup. but Harris likes him well
to shift the highly ef-
fective Dente in order to create
room for him.
Dente isn't disturbed about
into virtually virgin ter
ritory and, in fact, welcomed news
Of Combs acquisition with He'll
help us. He's a terrific fielder"
Combs and O'Brien are due to
report here in time to face the
Indians tonight, but with Feller
toiling against Sid Hudson the
hitting O'Brien isn't
likely to see service.
O'Brien May Have TO Wait.
Harris has indicated O'Brien
may be slow to break into the
order. with Gil Coan likely
TO be inserted as a regular out
fielder against both right and left
pitching. Irv Noren win
remain in centerfield, Of course.
with Ed Stewart and Mele prob
ably dividing duty in rightfield.
OBrien. 81 years old, had pre-
viuos trials with Pittsburgh in
l943 and 1946 and got his chance
with the Red Sox last year on the
basis Of a successful 1948 season
with Birmingham. where he bat
led .359. A native OF Admission,
Ala. he attended the University
If Texas.
The deal is expected to be fol-
lowed by others within the next
10 days. May 18 is the deadline
FOR trimming major league rosters
10 Is players. The Mats. three play.
ers over the limit, are hoping to
acquire pitching strength when
other clubs cut down.
In addition, the Red Sox and
the Yankees are likely to renew
negotiations for Ray Scarborough.
II the right-handed pitcher leaves
the Mats 1t will be in a package
deal, with Washington obtaining
several players in return.