Evening star., 1951-12-21


with the Yankees during his peak years. The f ''ahn
Red sox and the Cincinnati Reds got of
Werber's deering-do
WERBER SCARCELY had Duke before Parker came on
that was werber the
boy from Berwyn Nd but he good player
andbes of all from Dukes sandpont-an AlAmerca
field man.
Aces big league baseball to two years
member of the Athletics He hit much but unlike
Werber he didn't concentrate on baseball At time
playing three different sports in many major leagues
When he wasn't at shortsop second Mack
Brooklyn Dodgers No. boy and al-league
quarterback between these played
in the American Basketball League present
NBA.
Now Groat who they say going Grade-A
big league shortstop legitimate fuedged two-sport
AAmerica for last year resoundng by
College Baseball Coaches Association.
UNTIL MODERN BASKETBALL placed such premium on
height and the largely turned
awkward young standing feet inches taller
natural affinity between baseball and basketball Many
court star found that baseball naturally
to him, although few played baseball well basketball
easier game
Werber of the few. Boudreau star at both
sports at Illinois, possibly exception played
baseball better than basketball Jackie Robinson
and the Brooklyn Dodgers starred at all three major SPORTS
including football in the of Parker at
difficult to tell at which game he was best.
Maryland, like Duke periodically up with baseball
basketball stars During Werbers time, former teammae
Tech High named Louis Boze) Berger AAmerca
American League where he spent eight with the Indians
White sox and Red sox playing ned position
near-fawless fielder but weak the good
RIGHT AFTER WERBER out at College Park came Charley
Keller. Here now exception who than even
Boudreau better at baseball than that
Keller wasn't expert the court regular fact
star But for Yankeea member of the DMaggio-
Keler-Henrich outheld-Charley outstanding had
eveythngan speed fielding ability and that swishng
bat that hit the long ball. often in the clutch
Keller at basketball as Boudreau
and Werber but in baseball he dangerous hitter
his peak before spinal ament slowed him down finally
forced him to retire few months ago.
night Princeton brought basebal-basketba star to
town in Dave Sister, of the fabulous George
earnedrun of o99 pitcher
tonight there Groat But by large many modern
couren make the big leagues giraffe days of
basketball And don't forget neither
played game of professional ball.
WHEN THE OLD American Basketball League was in OPERA
tion number of coumen found way big league
baseball uniforms Most didn't nger star Harry Riconda
lasted few with and Frank Bruggeee
who played under the of Bruggy parts
with the Phis and Reds a catcher
Carl Husta, an outstanding pro basketbaler the
Cleveland Rosenblums and original Cec cup coffee
In the majors playing six for the 1925 Athletics Rusty
Saunders of the George Palace team
had hvegame fling with the and the late Ralph
Miller had short ride winding up as an almost forgotten
figure in the 1924 Senaor-Giant World Series Miller who
played his bigeague basketball with Wayne one of
the roughest of players
Most OF these were not college like Boudreau Werbe
Keller Parker and Robinson There college men,
anyway In those days and most veteran observers admit
there were good better major league players than
today They had tough hoethoSe basketball
pros-when they tried to burn the candle at both
ONE OF THE BEST of all the baseball basketball who
didn't go to college Bucky Harris of the
Clark Grihhs alime second baseman Like Boudreau he
exceed in both sports that Boudreau played resraney
at Illinois whereas Harris bigger than minute played
rough tough ball of the Pennsylvania mine region
Bucky weighed approximately pounds in those
and ofttimes the court screened going
out OF bounds and the spectators from cobbeng players
This before and during the time bought by the
Washington club.
Griffith rowned Buckys off basketball and de-
manded that he quit This in 1923,
youngster who still felt he had to make good.
II sort of promised ri I'd stay away basketball in
Pennsylvania that winter Bucky But needed
the money" One night got real shner-ths Just
before was to appear in Washington Gri
saw It, He raised the roof thought he going to ask
waivers.
Instead Grf told me going trip to TAMPA
Fla under the charge of Mike Martini trainer nights
later the phone in hotel rang and he was
offering me the managers job Washington My eye still
blue black when I accepted.
Fort MYer Favored 10 Beat ST. Francis Team Tonqhf
To