Evening star., 1956-08-31
Redskins Head
East for Game
AT Little Rock
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON
Star star Correspondent

BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON
star stan Correspondent
EN- ROUTE TO LITTLE E
ROCK, Ark, Aug. 31.-The Red
skins may lack a scoring punch
against the Chicago Bears at
Little Rock tomorrow night, but
relief may be in the offing If
young Jim Hagerty goes as wen
in a game as he looks in prac-
tice.
What may have seemed to be
a bad break for the Washington
State rookie could be the luck
lest thing that ever happened to
him in football. The 22-year-old
youngster got less attention at
the Los Angeles Rams camp than
a newsboy on F street, but as a
hale and hearty left halfback
with the Redskins he is a fea-
tured performer.
Jim was lost in the Rams
army of gridmen, and the fact
that Coach Sid Gilman didn't
have much time to spend on any
one rookie paved the way for his
trade to the Redskins for a 1857
draft choice.
II was drafted as an offensive
halfback," said the 6-foot-1, 18S-
pound Hagerty, who Stammers
slightly when excited. But the
only chance I had to carry the
ball I started too fast and Bill
Wade hit me with it on the hip
and we fumbled. That was the
only chance I had on offense.
From then on ! was a defensive
back"
Kuharich Impressed
Coach Joe K u h ariel h likes
Jim's spirit and hustle. One of
the factors in the deal was
Hagerty's speed and love of the
games The Redskins originally
had their eye on little Tommy
Runnels of North Texas State,
who is battling Touchdown
Tom" Wilson for a job. But in
looking at films of the Redskins
1921 victory over the Rams, the
coaches saw Hagerty chasing
and gaining on Scooter Scudero
on his 99-yard punt return. The
sandy-haired kid from Washing
ton State had to come almost the
length Of the field before Dick
James blocked him out, but the
effort made a lasting impression
on Kuharich and his aides.
"The boy wants to play foot
ball." Joe observed, land he's in
shape and can run. Well give
him q good chance to prove him
self.
Hagerty may get his first
chance with the Redskins on de-
fenSe against the Bears tomor-
row night. He's not too familiar
with the offensive formations and
Kuharich figures the team will
have enough cement mixers"
without adding a brand-new man
to the confusion.
Jim catches passes well in
but it's what he does in
the games that will determine
whether or not he stays. The
deal with the Rams was on an
'if" basis, with Los Angeles get
ting a draft choice next winter
If Hagerty makes good.
Father Played Pro Ball
Hagerty, whose father played
a couple of years of pro football
with the old Brooklyn Dodgers,
said the Rams rockies were not
involved in the recent threatened
strike for exhibition game pay.
That move was instigated by
certain veterans who gave the
rockies orders to sit tight and go
along with the crowd. All Jim
wanted was a fair shake as an
offensive back.
Some improvement was noted
on offensive work yesterday as
the Redskins went through their
final workout at Sonoma Mis-
sion, Calf, and rookie Don Bal
ley is determined that his quar-
terbacking against the Bears will
be better than it was in the 200
defeat by the Forty Miners. Bal
ley's play-calling was satisfac-
tory to the coaches, but they'd
like to see a better brand of
passing.
NOTES-Rookie Ron Zatkoff
left for his home in Detroit yes
terday to be with his wife, who
is sick. He probably will re-
join the team in Winston Salem,
although he can't play because
Of his ailing knee. Sam Baker
ended up in the pool, clothes and
all, yesterday when his horse
play aroused Dale Atkeson and
Nick Adduci. Sam grabbed
the cue ball and broke up their
pool game.