Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-31

with the American League pennant at stake,
Lemon has got to figure #
So many good ball players started as
pitchers and shifted usually to outhed #
that full list would long Babe Ruths b M MM#WR
name, for instance, would mind M d
Immediately But how many up as
infeders outielders catchers and M
wound up top-fight pitchers? M
There Bucky Walters, a flop as an sMM@
infelder. Yet he transferred to pitching M
and won 1913 games Took Bucky some 16 r,, s,
years, but he did it. Lemon, no better an
nelder outeder hitter Walters is possibly an even
better pitcher judging by the has won 100 in
less than decade and he looks good as Walters if
not better, at the age of a. September o.
THE wELL-sTACKED Californian could be the best
pitcher in the business these days. although Robin Roberts
probably gets bigger Warren SPAIN stylish
and Bob Feler while going downh still rates lot of oohs
and aahs Lemon is especially spectacular but is on the
other hand workhorse Four times already led the
American League in innings pitched now has won 20
or more games in six of the last seasons
Or the active pitchers only Teller half dozen
seasons but they were spread out from 1889 through
iso IL u.s. OF course manesty unfair to judge Teller
this basis World nearly four years out of Bob
career Just at time when he at his physical peak
SPAIN has won 20 games five occasions and Roberts
four in with his 2O-game year quite likely to come
up But the point that Lemon already reached the
magic goal of 20 this when the are threatening
to snap the long reign of the Yankees.
The Tribe manager Al Lopez, is thinking that Lemon
stands chance of winding up the valuable player
although Lopez has two other hot candidates Larry Dolby
and Bobby Avila Lemon makes it, incidentally will have
become only the fifth pitcher years to win the award
Lefty Grove got the nod did spud and
Bobby shantz, while Hal Newhouser clicked twice.
LIKE HIS TEAMMATE, Feler as well as few other
stars Lemon bred for the leagues difference
was that Pop Lemon who had league shortstop
thought that his boy also destined ineder It
didn't to him that Bob might develop big pitching
winner.
Lemon himself not only didn't want to be pitcher but
to this day. according to close associates regards
self as the neder-outhelder who wasn't given
prove his ability He always was he had two
good glove hand and ability to hit.
He had spent five years minors playng the nfeld
and outheld and in the late summer of 1912 among
dozen or so farmhands called the Indians inspection
Cleveland baseball writer's overlooked husky young man
who had played Baltimore stamped as ready
as an infeder ouhelder-by less than Alphonse
lTonmy) Thomas, general manager and exWhite sox
Senator pitcher.
But those cribes who to interview Lemon did so
haheartedly and Bob wasn't help except to point
to his roommate rookie also from Baltimore Eddie"
tolo tnem speaking OF handsome first baseman named
Eddie Robinson, sis your He hit the home runs for
Baltimore and, BESIDES I'm in the Navy"
AS 1T TURNED OUT both Lemon and Robinson were
In the Navy before the 943 and spent full
years in the service. When they WELL nobody
had reason to foresee that donkey with
Lemon.
In the spring of 1916 the Indians Lemon in training
camp at Clearwater Fla, and Tommy Thomas still
sng that Bob could GUST of the regular nelders-
Ihlrd Baseman Ken Kener who ageing, even the
playing manager himself, Shortstop Lou Boudreau
Lemon horrible flop. He couldn't field and he
couldn't hit All he had going for him the bill of
rights He had to be given 30-day trial.
One day, playing center field, Lemon sensational
catch to salvage for Teller but he hitting and
Manager Boudreau not only benched him was ready to
give up when reports from Pacific began to reach
his ears.
BIRDIE TEBBETTS, NOW manager of Cincinnati but
then knowledgeable catcher said aloud only
that Lemon. He's great pitcher"
Boudreau, managing the Indians instead the Red Sox
as ne Is now made mental note Tebbetts' appraisal
Lemon played the ined oued pitched in the Pacific
There pretty fast league going there and Lemon
was getting out hitter like Mickey Joe Diaggo
well
IF you'd seen Lemon pitch for the Navy" Bill Dickey
told Boudreau, you'd think of using anywhere
except on the hill"
Boudreau convinced First Tebbetts and then Dckey
both standout cachers had put their stamp Lemon as
pitcher Never mind his hitting Unfolding or outheldne
Lemon pitcher.
CLEVELAND WON THE PENNANT in 1948 and Lemon
won 20 league and scored twice
in the victorious World Series He season.
mere II the following and then reeled wins in
So plus 81 in So And he's got 20 wins plus
else he gets before this
The hitters don't know how rate Lemon. His high
hard one isn't bad, but he isn't any Teller throws
slider and while it's good it isn't regarded best Lots
OF pitchers have that good better
control Is not Of the essence.
But the soandso gets you out" one of the Senators
was saying the other day. don't suppose you say
more than that, do your"
The reply is: No.