The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-04-17
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1859 Jets Appear
Tougher Than Ever

The Columbus Jets the 1859 edition is the
strongest squad to come north from the spring train
ing gardens of sun-kissed Florida in the ~five-year
history of the club.
Certainly stronger than last years team, the 1859
Jets appear to be the best Columbus baseball team
since 1850 when the Red Birds finished third In the
American Association and went on TO win the Little
World Series"
with the International League pennant. 1t doesn't nee.
eSsarily mean that they will improve upon last years
fourth place finish.
However, it does mean that the Jets will provide
q flasher, more interesting and consistent brand of
ball than in the past four and perhaps the past eight
years.
It also means that their CHANCES of finishing
higher than fourth are better than they have been in
the past eight years.
What may Tip the scales in the other direction is
The fact thar several other IL teams also appear much.
stronger and are rated as hot eonienders.
Figured to be ,~top-flight first division contenders
are Richmond, Buffalo, Montreal and Toronto as well
as the Jets. Teams to watch closely are Richmond and
Buffalo.
Richmond figures to be much tougher because of
its improved working conditions with the New York
Yankees. Buffalo has been taken under the wing of the
Philadelphia Phillies and therefore is in line for better
baseball material.
Montreal and Toronto finished first and second,
respectively, last season, which is a good talking point
for those two clubs.
Getting back to The Columbus JETS, Manager Cal
Ermer has . team which shows promise. All but four
OF the rs candidates have TripIe-A baseball back
grounds.
The Jets are stronger defensively, have more
power and speed and have more left-handed hitting.
The only question mark - and it's a big one - is
the pitching, which appears to be a bit lean. However,
much better fielding and stronger hitting should COM
pensate.
Looking at the Jets defense, Manager Ermer
has mighty regarded Leo Rodriguez on third; fielding
expert Ken Hamlin, who is in his second wear of pro-
Iesslonal baseball, at %shortstop; he has two second
Dasemen Manuel Julian Javier and Spook Jacobs:
and Nino Escalera on first.
Tom Burgess, Jim Mcdaniel and Joe CHRISTOPHER
provide the Jets with a fine defensive as well as often
Sive outfield.
Highlytouted Bill Hall leads a trio of catchers.
Inc others are Bill Onuska and Danny Batch.
Leading the Jets attack will be Mcdaniel. who
blasted out 81 homervns for Salt Lake City to lead
me Pacific Coast League last season. He also bstted
:z'3 and knocked in 100 runs. tying him for the league
leadership in that department.
christopher hit 1927 for Salt Lake last season
Whlie burgess r1fled out 10 hOmeruns and hit .276 for
rochester In 1858. Left-hander Escalera is expected to
give the Jets some power punch. He batted 1853 and
MT nine homerunS for Havana last season. Hall. who
hit .344 In 40 games at Salt Lake and .284 in 81 games
at pittsburgh last season, figures in the Jets offense.
lnfleld hitting appears good when looking at last
years figures. Rodriguez hit .277 for Columbus while
Jacobs finished with a .292 average. Hamlin hit .295
In 81 games for the Jets.
The pitching staff is led by Lynn Lovenguth, who
mad a ll-13 record last season. Others are Art Swan
son, Chol!y Naranjo, George O'Donnell, Joe Gibbon,
Jim Harrison, Don Williams, AL Jackson, Dick Lines
Don Corella and Curt Raydon.
How these players will perform this season GER
fsiniy can't be predicted. However, they are quality
players and therefore should fare well.
Jet fans may have to wait another year or SO be-
fore they'll be treated to a pennant winner, but they
don't have to wait another year to see a quality bail
club. Columbus has that this wear -