Evening star., 1953-03-21
Terwi|liger Gets Shot
Al Second as Harris
Gives Up on DietzeI
BY Burton Howkins
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S'S' S'S't See'eetSSs'oS"
ORLANDO, Fla, Mar. 2l.-
Starting all over again at second
base following the fiZzle Of
Rookie Roy Dietzel, the Mats
also are attempting to bolster
their catching by bidding for
Clint Courtney of the st. Louis
Browns.
Bill Dewitt. vice president Of
the Browns, arrived here last
night repeatedly to seek Mickey
Vernon. the Washington first
baseman. After conferring at
length with Calvin Griffith, the
Mats vice president. Dewitt
said he would remain here today
to continue the confab.
Although Wayne Terwilliger,
utility inf1elder with the st. Paul
club last season. was to take
over at second base today as
Bucky Harris temporarily aban-
doned hope for Dietzel, the Mats
officials expressed no interest in
any Of the Browns second-base
candidates.
Club Move Not Involved.
Dewitt denied he was here in
an effort to get the Washington
club to reconsider the squashed
proposal to shift the Browns to
Baltimore. That's Bill Weeks
department." Dewitt said, add
ing he was here merely to
scout" the Mats.
Veeck, president of the st.
Louis club, long has sought Ver-
non and tried many times dur
ing the winter to make a deal.
He was rebuffed repeatedly.
Courtney. bespectacled. ag-
gressive receiver, was voted
American League rookie of the
year after batting .286. Young
Griffith said the Mats also are
interested in Outf1elder Johnny
Groth, who batted .284 with De-
troit last season before being
traded to the Browns.
Griffith feels the Mats chances
of landing either Courtney or
Groth are slim and the Mats
may make a pitch for Les Moss,
the Browns second-string CATCH
er who batted .246 last year.
Courtney is a left-handed batter,
while Moss Is right-handed.
Browns Need Cash.
The Browns, pressed for cash,
may be tempted to peddle some
Of their players in a fight for
survival. Some American League
owners professed shock at Weeks
financial plight when the st.
Louis official made his fruitless
plea to move the Browns.
Terwilliger, who batted .312
with st. Paul last year-but who
batted only 1875 times in a reserve
role-will get a thorough test at
second base, according to Harris.
Bucky gave UP on Dietzel after
the lame-legged rookie struck
out and hit into two double
plays against the Dodgers Thurs
day night at Miami. After IL
exhibition games Dietzel Is hit
ting only .226 and three Of his
seven hits have been scratchy.
I'm sorry about it," Harris
said, "but Roy just isn't moving
around well enough and think
his bad leg is preventing him
from taking his normal swing.
He might need another year in
the minors to strengthen his leg"
Pain Hampers Dietzel
Dietzers right leg was broken
in 1851. He played only IL
games with Chattanooga last
season before it was broken
again in a slide at the plate.
Foot and ankle muscles also were
damaged and the promising
rookie has been in pain spo-
radically since training started.
Terwilliger, who failed in pre-
vious trials with the Chicago
Cubs and Brooklyn Dodgers, will
be given every opportunity with
the Mats.
II know what Mel Hoderlein
and Floyd Baker can do," Harris
said, 80 Terwilliger will see most
Of the action at second base for
the next few games any way"
Hoderlein and Baker shared the
Mats second-base job last season.
Wayne was to crash the Mats
starting lineup against the Phil
adelphia Athletics today as they
invaded for a two-game series.
Bobby Shantz, 24-game winner
last season, was to start for the
AS, with Chuck Stobbs due to
work for the Mats. The clubs
will clash here again tomorrow.
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