Evening star., 1952-11-30
Catcher Is Chief Need
With Draft Expected
To Be Of Little Help
By Burton Hawkins

players late today at Phoenix,
Ariz., with Vice President Calvin
Griffith on the scene to open ne
gotiations with other clubs which
could culminate in deals when
Manager Bucky Harris arrives at
the major league meetings there
later in the week.
Young Griffith, 83 = year old
Clark Griffith and Harris con-
ferred at length here Friday map
ping various trade possibilities.
Following that huddle, Calvin
headed for Phoenix with Ossie
Bluege. farm director, who will
try to draft help for the Mats from
the minors when the minor league
meetings start tomorrow.
I'VE don't expect to get much
from the draft" explained Calvin.
I'VE are eighth on the draft list
and the seven clubs picking ahead
of us figure to beat us to the better
players. We're concentrating on
getting a catcher in the draft"
Lollar of White Sox Sought.
The Mats also will concentrate
on obtaining a catcher from major
leagu4 sources and indications
are they'll try to pry Sherman
Lollar from the Chicago White
Sox. along with either Tommy
Byrne or Chuck Stobbs, both left
handed pitchers.
We're definitely in mood to
trade" Calvin said. We're after
catcher, an outfielder, a second
baseman and left-handedI
pitcher. We have a lot of possible
trades in mind. I'm going to try
to lay the groundwork for BuckyI
and have some definite deals for
him to pass judgment on when
he gets to Phoenix Thursday
afternoon"
Calvin wasn't optimistic about
dealing with the Cleveland In
dians despite an announcement
by Hank Greenberg, Indians gen.
eral manager, that he'll trade any
of his players except Pitcher Bob
Feller. Sure, we'd like to have
Larry Dolby Negro outfelder), but
we can't give up anything that
would hurt us to get him" Calvin
said. Il don't believe Greenberg
is serious about getting rid of
Dolby. Dolby has power and Green
berg loves long ball hitters, but
If Hank comes to us with a deal
that includes Dolby Well certainly
listen"
After Browns Nieman.
The Mats are hopeful of landing
Outflelder Bob Nieman, a right
handed hitter who blasted 18 home
runs and batted .285 for the St.
Louis Browns last season. Bill
Veeck, the Browns boss, is eager
to obtain First Baseman Mickey
Vernon from the Mats.
Lollar, who saw slight service
under Harris when Bucky was
managing the Yankees in 1947i
and l948. batted only .239 last
season, but he's regarded as
steady sort of catcher who could
share receiving duties with fiery
Mickey Grasso.
Byrne. recently traded to the
White Sox. won seven games and
lost IA with the Browns last sea-
son. Stobbs had a I'll record
with the White Sox. Either would
be highly acceptable to Harris,
who was forced to struggle along ,
most of last season without a
left-handed pitcher.
The Mats will be prepared to
unload Outfelders Ken Wood. :
Earl Rapp, Frank Campos and
Gil Coan and Pitchers Sandy
Consuegra, Randy Gumpert and
Don johnson. but if they make
a deal of major proportions it's
likely they'll be forced to part
with more highly regarded per-
formers. l.
Casey Stengel, the Yankees
manager. is an outspoken admirer
OF Eddie Yost, the Mats third .
baSeman. Yost, who has led the
league in bases on balls for three
seasons. has been termed "un-
touchable" by some of the Mats
brass, Any inclination to regard
any Of the Mats as indispensable
vanished last spring, however,
when the Mats made an advan-
tageouS deal which sent Irv Noren
and Tommy Upton to the Yankees
for Jackie Jensen, Frank Shea.
Archie Wilson and Jerry Snyder ,
The Mats will listen to propo-
sitions regarding Yost or any
body else.
TWenty-nine amendments to
the major-minor league rules and
18 to the National Association
agreement are on the agenda for
the conventions which start to-
morrow and end next Sunday.
Such controversial subjects as
televiSion. radio, night baseball.
! the waiver rule, the bonus law,
high school rule and player recall
will be up for action.
The New York Giants and
Brooklyn Dodgers arc expected to
battle for Warren SPAIN. south .
paw ace of the Boston Braves. The
Braves, Chicago Cubs and Phila-
delphia Phi!lles are likely to bid
for Ralph Klner. home run spe-
cialist of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The PhillieS also are reported to
be seeking Gil Hodges, Slugging
first baseman of the Dodgers who
was big disappointment in the
World Series.
Toronto Beuts Edmonton
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