Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Seeks Third Stacker
Casey StengeI Said
White Sox Needed

~ tHe NSsoeiofeu tToSS
CHICAGO, Feb. 6.-Now that
Johnny Groth has made the
Chicago White Sox outfield the
leagues fastest" according to
Frank Lane, the White Sox gen.
eral manager plans to besiege
the New York Yankees-"hat in
hand"-for Third Baseman Andy
Carey.
Carey is the man we need"
Lane said after announcement
Of yesterdays straight player
trade with the Baltimore Orioles.
The White Sox obtained Groth,
a Chicago boy, and Infielder
Johnny Lipon for Outfielder Sam
Mele and Infielder Neil Berry.
Lane apparently Is satisfied
that the addition Of Groth gives
the White Sox an outfield with
real authority.
It'd say we have right now the
best outfield we've had since I've
been with the Sox." Lane said.
He spoke glowingly of the speed
of a combination that might i'm
clude Groth. in right field, Jim
Rivera in center and Minnie
Minoso in left-"with big Bill
Wilson, up from the minors,
making them all battle"
All Have Speed.
"All of them have terrific
speed" Lane marveled, land
they're all top throwers. You
couldn't say any is a power hitter
but they all can hit that long
ball."
The White Sox overseer then
turned to Carey, the 22-year-old
infielder who has been in the
Yankee system five years as a
shortstop and third baseman,
playing with Syracuse and
Kansas City.
II don't have to tell anybody
that we want that young man
and intend to go after him."
Lane said. Our latest infor-
nation from the Yankee or
ganization is that he can be had
for an attractive offer.
IF that means the line forms
to the right, We'll be there, hat
in hand"
At this point Lane took no.
tice of last weeks verbal ex-
change between himself and
Casey Stengel, the Yankee man
agter. Stengel said, among other
things, that Lane has tried out
Is third basemen since joining
the White Sox organization land
he's still looking for one"
Groth and Mele Key Men.
Il have to admit he's right
now I'm willing to let him sup
ply the third baseman we need"
Lane said.
Groth and Mele were the key
men in yesterdays deal. Both
the Orioles and White Sox
seemed to think Of Berry and
Lipon as inf1eld insurance.
Lane said he was sure Groth
would do better than last season,
when his batting average dropped
to 1858 with st. Louis. In four
previous years. with Detroit, he
batted .293. .306. .299 and .284.
After all, the Browns were
something less than inspiration
for a young ballplayer," Lane
noted.
The Orioles general manager,
Art Ehlers, also appeared salts
fed with the deal. He said Mele,
81. and a .274 hitter, "can run
like the devil. is a pretty good
RBI man and can throw we'll"
Groth. 81. played under Man.
ager Paul Richards of the White
Sox when both were with Buffalo.
Paul always has been high on
Johnny" Lane said.
CHICAGO. Feb. 6 (P.-Out-
f1elders Johnny Groth and Sam
Mele. principal figures in yes
terday's four-player deal be-
tween the Chicago White Sox
and Baltimore Orioles, are sat-
isfied.
Said Groth, who came to the
SoX from the Orioles:
Its really great. The Sox
have a terrific chance for the
pennant this year. With a little
luck we could go all the way.
can hardly wait to get started.
II know I'll do better than I
did last year."
Said Mele, who left Chicago
for Baltimore:
II had a good time in Chi
cago and they treated me fine.
I hope I do as well in Balti-
more" He added the trade
comes as a big SURPRISE" but
he believed it "even up"