Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-07
Rain Prevents
First Exhibition
With Athletics
First Bosemun Gets
Second Highest Pay
In History Of Club
Bv Burton Hawkins
By Burton Howkins
Stor StoH Correspondent


By Burton Howkins
Sior ssoff Correspondent
ORLANDO. Fla, Mar. g.
Vernon ended his hold
out seige tonight after con-
ference with Vice President Cali
vim Griffith. signing with the
Senators for an estimated
$50, 900.
Thus the day wasn't q total
loss for the Senators, who were
Tained out Of their opening ex-
hibition game with the Athletics.
The clubs will clash tomorrow,
and WaShingtons WWDC will
broadcast the game at 2 o'clock.
Vernon, the leagues leading
hitter, is believed to be the sec
ond-highest paid player. exclud-
ing Player-managers Bucky
Harris and Joe Cronin, ever to
perform for Washington. iris
Speaker received SIS, 900 with the
Senators in 1927, but part of
that sum was in the form Of 0
stable bonus.
"Amicable Settlement"
The $4,000 was a compromise
between the $35, 900 demanded
by Vernon and the previous top
offer of $4,000 by the club.
Young Griffith said he and the
tall first baseman reached IAN
amicable settlement"
Vernon led the league last
season with 1877 batting aver
age, becoming the first WASH
ington player in history to top
the league twice. He also was
the legaue's leading hitter in
1916. when he batted 1853.
Mickey. who last year became
the first Washington player
since 1886 to bat across as many
at lis runs. thus received an
$1,000 boost over his 1853 SAL
airy. 3.
Vernon has been working out
with the Rollins College baseball
team for several days and Man.
ager Harris said, Hell be ready
to play in a short time. Mickey
keeps himself in fine condition
and / have no worries alone
that line"
The club threatened earlier in
the week to trade Vernon, but
abandoned those plans when
chats with four clubs produced
no tempting offer for Mickey,
who will be SO years old in April.
Sievers Back to Outfield.
The signing of Vernon ends
the Senator's first base problem
and relegates Roy Sievers to the
outfield. providing x-rays of his
lame shoulder taken yesterday
indicate he can throw well
enough to hold down a job.
DR.. George Resta, team ply
sician. is due here next week to
examine x-rays of Sievers' shoul-
der. If it is determined that
Sievers can't patrol the outfield,
he will be employed as a pinch
hitter and as possible occasional
relief for Vernon.
The pickering between Vernon
and club officials became bitter
at one point when Mickey's
demands were misinterpreted.
Vernon didn't quote a salary
demand in early talks with
Calvin. who assumed from
Mickey'S vague conversation that
the first baSeman wanted $40. 500.
Vernon later denied he wanted
that much money, leading to
resumption of negotiations.
Rain Follows Cold.
Rain, accompanied by a cold
win, forced cancellation of to-
days exhibition game with the
Athletics after both clubs waited
gloomily in their clubhouses.
hoping in vain for a break in
the weather
Temperature in the 4Os threat
ened to freeze out the game in
the morning and when rain
later blended into the unseason-
able atmosphere. the contest was
called off. Only a handful Of
hardy spectators were present
for the obvious announcement.
The clubs will try again to-
morrow. with Larry Clark, Bob
Ross and Harry Beifull facing
the AS. Manager Eddie Joost
will counter with Arnold Porto
carrero. Walt Kellner and Ed
Monahan.
Harris has lined up his pitch
ing for the Senators first three
games. He'll employ Ed Moeller.
Dick Hagen and Dick Hyde
against the White Sox here Mon
day and will use Dean Stone.
Bunky Stewart and Johnny
Schmitz against the Yankees at
st. Petersburg Wednesday.
Bucky is seeking BELIEVERS from
his rookie crop to back up
highly regarded starting staff of
Bob Porterf1eld. Spec Shea.
Maury McDermott and Chuck
Stobbs. He regards Ross. fresh
out Of the Army. as a cinch to
stick. and plans to utilize Connie
Marrero and Johnny Schmitz as
bullpen specialists. but three jobs
are open and Harris is search
ing for somebody to fill them.
Harris is particularly eager to
take a peek at Hagen in compe-
tition. He's an unheralded left
handler who won two games and
lost one with Charlotte last sea-
son after emerging from the