Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-30
Nth in q SerieSJ

NEW YORK, Jan. 80 P.-
The st. Louis Cardinals, who
appear to have a corner on the
"rookie-of- the-year" m a k e t.
should have more than one
candidate for the 1856 award if
the boys live up to their press
notices.
In 1854, the Cards Wally Moon
was voted the National Leagues
outstanding rookie. Last year 1t
was Bill Virdon. with his team
mate. Ken Boyer, not far be-
hind.
Reporting to the Cards train
ing camp in st. Petersburg. Fla.
this spring will be a batch of
youngsters. including Second
Baseman Don Blasingame. the
American Association rookie-of-
the-year; Outfielder Jacki lie
Brandt, the international
Leagues rookie-of-the-y a r:
Outfielder Russell Rae, the Texas
Leagues outstanding rookie. and
Outfielder Gene Green, top first
year man of the Three-I League.
Brandt and Green are not on
the Cardinal roster but will be
given an opportunity to make the
club.
Most of the other newcomers
have been up before. although
Shortstop Eddie Kasko and
Pitchers Harry Hoitsma. Bob
Mabe and Billy Muffett will have
their first fling in big league
company.
Hoitsma, a 27-year-old right
handler with a 1873 record at
Houston. may, be just the relief
pitcher Manager Freddie Hutch
inson is looking for. He worked
In Sc games. most of them in
relief, finished IS of them,
walked only 48 in 100 innings
and had an impressive 2.64
earned-run average. Mabe. 26,
was 1910 at Houston with Is
complete games. Muffett. Is, was
drafted from Shreveport, where
he had a 1914 record. Kasko
was purchased from Richmond
where he batted .267.
Blasingame Highly Rated
Practically everyone who has
seen BIasingame has something
nice to say about the hustling
% year old speedster from
Corinth, Miss. A former short
stop, he was switched to second
base by Eddie Stanky, who was
looking forward to the time Red
Schoendienst will have to be re-
placed. A 1903 hitter at Omaha,
an excellent fielder and double
play pivot man, the scrappy
youngster may become a factor
in the battle for third or short,
since he is not likely to dis
lodge the talented SchoendienSt.
No one really expects Brandt
to make 1t this year. but the
Cards regard the 21-year-old
f1ychaser as a certain big Lacquer
in year or two. General Man.
ager Frank Lane believes the s.
foot-11. 175-pounder will end
the Cards search for a right
handed swatter. Luke Sewell,
who as manager of Toronto lastI
year was a ,first-hand observer
of Brandt. thinks the kid wasI
the No. / Major League prospect
in the entire league. Only in his
third professional year, Jackie
batted .305 at Rochester, beltedl
80 doubles. u triples and 12I
homers and drove in So runs de-
spite hitting in second slot. HeI
also stole % bases and showed
a strong arm in centerf1eld.
Rae currently is the sensation
of the Occidental League. Play
ing with the Pastora club. the
25-year-old outfielder recently
walloped four home runs in a.
game to raise his output to 10,
tops in the circuit. He also leads
with 40 runs batted in. At Hous-
ton last year, He batted .312,
smashed 81 homers and drove in
SO runs. Green whacked %
homers and drove in 80 runs on
a .3l5 batting average in 104
games with Peoria.
Flowers Suddenly Clicks
The Cards are convinced they
pulled a 1O-strike with the pur-
chase of Ben Flowers, 28-year-
old Highlander who turned in q
2,24 earned-run average at Buff
falo, completing II of 20 starts.
His record was 1873 with a light
hitting, second division club. He
walked only So while striking
out 1876 in l73 innings. A three
time failure in the big league.
Flowers credits his new-found
success to the development OF a
knuckle ball which has become
his payoff pitch.
Another veteran back for q