Evening star., 1954-11-16

heroics from John Galbreath the Ohio State patron?
Anyway Marshall is comparing his contract with Jano-
wcz to that which he had with Sammy Baugh No baseball
only football" G. p M reiterates "Vic wasn't much ball
player anyway. Neither was Sammy"
AS A4 PIRATE ROOKIE last season. Janowicz wasn't
much hitter and his throwing was weak Truth Is
Vic noAquaned to up to the big leagues even
with the Bucs At Ohio State he played little any, base
BAH account OF the heavy demands OF football But II II
any to him. Vic is not the first grid star to mop IN
baseball.
Baugh who had The and good hands considered
hot article as college ball player The good curve stopped
sam and ST. Louis him to Rochester the
Texan willing to listen to Marshall and hang up his glove
SO many football have Topped in the other game
that space limitations prevent partial list For every
Chrsty Mahewson frankie Frsch Spud Chandler Mickey
Cocrane Dark Jackie Robinson there must have
been two who failed George Gipp was He was
Nore Danes legendary superman The word spread that
could play baseball experty football or pool 1t was
gross exaggeraon Charley Trppi and Ace Parker were
baseball hops
Jim Thorpe was better Until his DEATH Thorpe always
claimed his fuity against balls canard Maybe
he was right maybe had taken baseball more seriously
he might have lasted longer with the Giants
CLARK GRIFFITH BECAME disenchanted with ex-
football heroes ls2o and 1s3os This have been
secondary why he did not Paul Ge OF Mnne
sofa aydy money being the primary Gel who signed
with the Giants has yet to make good as has Harry Aggans
with the Red Sox incidentally, wouldn't they look good
in the Redskins or any other pro backdeld?
In 1928 Griffith signed Georgia Tech football player
named Bobby Reeves who had such terrnc arm tnat Fs
BaSean Judge used catchers mitt IN nred practce
to save his raw hand from punishment About the
tme pair Of Alabama fooballer Grant ellis and Red
Barnes were up with the Senators. e#
ellis and Barnes had made headlines along with Johnny
Mack Brown in the Rose Bowl game in which Bama beat
the University of Washington 20 to 49, in one OF Pasadenas
all-time thrilers.
None lasted any great length Of time although Grhth
was SO high that he almost made the mistake OF
his nfe Late July of 1928 rookie named Joe Cronin
joined Griffith couldn't see cronin for Reeves
REEVES THAT SEASON not only played shoTtStop but
was assistant left fielder to Goose Goslin whose
sore he couldn't Because Reeves had to run
toward Gosn on every hit to left field Manager Bucky
Harris termed Goose the only outelder in history with
caddy."
Griffith was SO impressed with Reeves that when Harris
began using Cron at short during one Western trip ne
dispatched wire to his manager Reeves will never be
ball player if you don't play him." it read.
Back came Bucky's reply: Neither will Cronn If we
don't play him."
The rest of the story you know should know Reeves
faded from the picture Cronin became manager as wen
as star won a pennant and sold for $25O,OOO
Griffith was less enthusiastic thereafter about football
players although he did not hold pgskin background
against fellow For instance, he became enamored OF
big outfeder named Sngton who had played tackle
at Alabama and won Al-American recognition
FOR LARGE MAN. sngton could run pretty well and
he hit minor league pitching At time Griffith envsoned
him as that rghthanded long-bal hitter he is eternay
seeking
But the big league pitchers cooled off sngton They
him chasing their breaking stun and when they nreo
fast balls tight Freddie the big couldn't get his bal
around in time Sngton didn't have the good arm either
because his too tied after years OF football
Could be that more ball players would have made gooe
in football than pigsknners who succeeded the diamond
George Case for instance bore of swift half
back Before he hurt his knee Mickey Mantle nad all tn
qualifications speed size and good hands. And don1
forget Willie Mays, who might have been one Ct the rea
good football players.
n