Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-22
A|exCrespo, 36,
Joins Fight for
Rightfie|d Job
Dresser Will Sturt
His Best Lineup in
Dodeer Come Today
By Burton Hawkins
Stor Staff Correspondent

ORLANDO, Fla, Mar. o.
Alex Crespo. 36-year-old hard
hitting Cuban Negro outfielder
whom the Senators have sought
to acquire for 10 years, will join
the club here today and promptly
will be plunged into battle for
a regular job.
Crespo, a righthanded hitter
who has followed the sun, play
ing in Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico,
the Dominican Republic and
Venezuela, finally succumbed to
the entreaties of Scout Joe Cam
bria and will make his first in
vasion of the United States.
Hitherto reluctant to play in
the United States due to the tax
situation-Cubans pay only l per
cent on their earnings there and
80 per cent on money made in
the United States-Crespo sup
poSedly is coming in to prove to
himself that he can make the
grade in the majors.
Another Cuban Negro, Pitcher
Vince Gonzales, will arrive with
Crespo. but all attention will be
focused on the outfielder who
once was regarded as highly as
Orestes Minoso, the aggressive,
talented White Sox outfielder.
Hit $40 in Winter League
Whether Crespo's cunning has
vanished with the years remains
to be determined. He repeatedly
batted $40 in the Venezuelan
Winter League as his latest &C
complishment.
Julio Becquer, Cuban Negro
first baseman. says he hasn't
seen Crespo play for two years
but ventured, Hes wonderful
hitter. All the time $40 or bet
ter. In those other countries he
play only three or four times a
week. good salary, all expenses
paid"
We've been trying to land
him for 10 years." Vice Presi-
dent Calvin Griffith said, but
I understand he's been making
SIS, 900 to $4,000 a year in those
other countries and paying prac-
tically no tax. He was salts
fed that way. but Cambria
finally talked him into coming
over here"
Crespo will accompany the
club on its four day journey to
st. Petersburg, Clearwater,
Tampa and Lakeland starting
tomorrow. The Senators will
meet, in . order, the Yankees,
Phillies. Redlegs and Tigers.
Anxious to Beat Dodgers
Meanwhile Manager Chuck
Dresser, clashing personally with
the Dodgers for the first time
since he was released by them
following contract hassle after
the 1853 season, is anxious to
deal Brooklyn a beating here to-
day
Dresser will start a lineup
which conceivably could be his
opening day batting order against
the Orioles April II, with the
exception of Ted Alternately,
rookie righthanded pitcher. His
batting order against the Dodgers
today will be Eddie Yost, third
base; Jim Busby, centerf1eld;,
Mickey Vernon, first base: Pete
Runnels. second base: Roy Sic
vers, leftfield: Tom Umphrett,
rigtf1eld, Ed FITZGERALD. catch
er, and Bob Kline. shortstop.
But Chuck also is on the prowl
for more batting power. If
Crespo can provide some sock,
he could edge Umphlett and Tiny
Ernie Oravetz for the rightfield
post. Implicit has tailed of
badly in recent games. Oravetz
has remained steady, but he's a
single slapper and Dresser would
welcome more punch.
The Senators, hoping to snap
a two-game losing streak today
are confronted with 20 exhibit
lions without a break which will
carry them down to opening day