Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-06
SPRING TRAINING CAMP BRIEFS
Hodges Alters Stance;
TIGERS Start Rockies

divided among Jim Wilson, Ray
Moore, Erv Palica, Bill Wright
George Zuverink and Harry Dor
IiSh.
MESA, Ariz.. Mar. 6 (P.-
Gene Baker. the Chicago Cubs
regular second baseman, joking
lily announced he'll have to sharp
en- up his spikes land get rid of
some of these guys" after watch
ing three rockies battle for his
job.
Although Baker is firmly en-
trenched at the position, it's no
joke that the three hopefuls have
looked especially good.
Ken Wise and Ben Banks
brother of Ernie, definitely need
more experience, but a rookie
who might be around all summer
is Bob Mckee.
There's no doubt he could dc
the job defensively in the majors
right now" Manager Stan Hack
said, "but whether he can hit re-
mains to be SEEN"
Mckee batted .278 for Des
MoineS. He hit IA homers and
drove in II runs
FIT. MYERS, Fla, Mar. 6 up.
The catching situation shapes
up as the first big headache of
the season for Manager Bobby
Bragan Of the Pittsburgh Pr
rates.
The Pirates have only four
physically fit catchers left on
their roster-all lacking either
big league experience or proven
hitting ability.
The club has lost two catchers
in the past two days-Jim Man
gan went to the New York Gil.
ants yesterday for the $4,000
waiver price and Harding Peter
son was reported lost for at least
half the season because of ar
arm injury.
Jerry Lynch, an outfielder.
catcher. will be unable to play
for several weeks because of &
shoulder injury.
The spotlight is now on Bill
Kravitz, up from New Orlean.
where he hit .298 last year. Othel
catchers on the roster are Jacl
Shepard, who hit .239 in 81
games with the Pirates last year
Toby Atwell, .213 in II games
and Bill Hall. .257 with Holly.
wood.
| CLEARWATER, Fla, Mar.
I(P1.-Frankie Baumholtz is just
as glad to be with the Phillies
this season as the club appears
to be in having him. Both have
good reasons.
No small factor in the Phillies
decision to buy him from the
Cubs last year was Frankie's
tpinch-hitting achievements. Ir
40 such trips to the plate. Baum
holtz averaged .405.
AS for frankie, he put it this
way:
Il won't have to bat against
Robin Roberts and Curt Sim
mons any more"
BRADENTON, Fla, Mar. 6 up
Red Murff, an exponent Of
slow, clever pitching, is SLATED
to start the Milwaukee Braves
third squad game of the season
today.
The Braves repeatedly paic
$4,000 to get the 33-year-olC
veteran who made a name fol
himself last season in the Texa.
League with fine control and g
bewildering assortment of curves
Also slated for mound duty
are Charley CORN. Dick Grabow
ski and Jack Hannah. Each
hurler will take the mound fol-
both sides of two innings.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.
Mar. 6 R.-Joe Astroth, who
has been catching for the Ath.
letics ever since Bobby Shantz
Joined the club, has Joined the
chorus that says the little left
handler looks like his old sell
this year.
Astroth says Shantz, who ha,
been plagued by an ailing arm
is throwing loosely and has fine
stuff. He adds that Bobby's
mental attitude is 100 per cent
improved over last spring.
Baseball Meeting Set
The Columbia Heights I'M
limited baseball team will meet