Evening star., 1953-08-07
Mats Highly Pleased
With Sparkling Play
OF Little DavaIiIIo
By Burton Hawkins

facsimile of dashing Phil Riz-
zuto in their midst. Bucky Har-
ris is beaming, the Mats are
fascinated and the customers
are captivated by the alert,
nimble Pompeyo Davalillo, lit
tie shortstop who has frightened
the clubs defense and perked
up its offense.
Comparing the little Vene-
zuelan to the Yankees accom-
plished Rizzuto may be prema-
ture, but Harris is tickled over
the miniature addition to his
club. He has baseball sense, -
Bucky said after the Mats Al
victory over the Indians yester-
day, land I think he'll improve
over what we've seen of him.
He's quick to catch on. If he
can hit ,265, he's going to be
a drawing card"
At the moment Davalillo is a
$50 hitter. a f1aWleSs and spec
tacular fielder and headS-up
base runner. That's after play
ing only two full games and
part of another in major league
surroundings. He has made a
quick favorable impression on
everybody, but nobody knows if
he'll hit we'll enough to stick.
1908 Hitter at Charlotte.
Davilillo was 1903 hitter in
Glass B company with the Mats
Charlotte farm club. That's a
respectable figure for a tiny fell
low playing his first season in
organized baseball and Dava-
lilo has become a respected
figure in his brief experience
with the Mats.
Jackie Jensen already has rea-
son to be grateful to Davalillo.
who has acquired such nick
names as Popeye and Yoyo.
Jensen was trapped off first base
in the eighth inning yesterday
when Davalillo was on third.
Yoyo took Jackie off the hook
by scooting for the plate and
making it, enabling Jensen to
get to second base in what
turned into a double steal but
didn't start as one.
Davalillo got two of the Mats
nine hits. scored two runs and
helped to score another. He
doesn't speak English-he plans
to study the language this VIM
ter in Venezuela-but his spry,
aggressive play is knocking down
that barrier.
Says He'll Make Grade.
Yoyo has a ready laugh for
those who can make themselves
understood. He isn't chesty
about his ability, but neither is
he shy. He says, through inter-
prefers, that he's going to make
the grade and off what he's
shown yesterday everybody likes
his chances.
There's some doubt about Da-
Valillo'S size. On a routine ques-
tionnaire sent to all the Mats,
Yoyo stated his height as s.
foot-7. He may have been giving
himself an inch or two the best
of it. Some of the Mats wanted
to measure him yesterday, but
couldn't locate a tape measure.
With the Browns here tonight
for the opener of four game
series, the quick success of Da-
valillo may draw few more
customers than would attend
otherwise. The Browns will be
here for a night game tomorrow
and double-header Sunday.
Chico Marrero will pitch for
the Mats. with the veteran Harry
Brecheen due to fire for ST.
Louis. Marrero hasn't pitched
against the Browns this season.
Shea Scores Ninth Win.
Spec Shea finally notched an
elusive ninth victory yesterday
with SiX-hit effort. Spec might
have pitched a seventh success
sive Shutout at Griffith Stadium
if Pete Runnels had fielded
Larry Doby's grounder cleanly in
the eighth inning. Bill Glynn
had singled with one out when
Dolby grounded to Runnels. Pete
bobbled the ball, couldn't make
the force at second base but re-
tired Dolby at first. Al RoSen
got Glynn across with a single
to left.
The first of Jensen's three
singles, following single by
Davalillo and a walk to Mickey
Vernon, pried a run from Bob
Continued on Page Alb, Col. S.