St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-02-20

Holdovers on the club include
Roberto Clemente, the fine Puerto
Rican outfielder; Roma Mejias,
another outfielder, and Gene Baker,
a utility fielder.
Need Bench Strength
Baker performed for the Chicago
Cubs three full seasons before he
was traded to the Pirates in 1857.
He is a skillful fielder and hits
with some power. One of the Pr
ates' weakness in the last half
of the 1858 season was the lack of
bench strength for the left side of
the infield.
r. C. Stevens was with the
Pirates for SO games last year,
batting .267. He spent the remain
der of the season with Salt Lake,
ending the year with .276 aver
age in "a games in the AAA COM
petition. r. c., a power-hitting
first baseman was something of
a sensation in the early season,
breaking several games with home
runs. But when his overall batting
tailed off, he was sent to the min
ors when the publicized Dick Stu
art was called up.
Jim Pendleton, another utility
performer, and Bonnie Daniels, a
pitcher, both spent part of the 1858
season at Forbes Field.
Two Newcomers
Strictly newcomers to the Pr
ates' roster are Alvin Jackson, a
pitcher, and Joseph Christopher,
an outfielder.
Clemente, whom the Pirates
practically stole from the old
Brooklyn Dodgers in the draft
after the 1854 season, is the best
known of the tan players. Glenn
ente, an outstanding fielder and
fast on the bases, batted .289 last
year His shotgun arm has cut
down many runners trying to take
an extra base.
In his sophomore MI season,
Clemente batted 81. A batting
average approaching that this sea-
son will enhance the Pirates chan
ces. But the Puerto Rican will miss
spring training because he is cur
rently on a six-month military stint
with the marines.
Baker Will Steady InfieId
Majias, who has been with the
Pirates off and on since 1855,
batted .26S last year. He has been
particularly valuable in filling for
ailing Pirates regulars in the out
field.
The other tan outfield aspirant
is a 23-year-old native of Virgin
Islands. Christopher, signed after
he participated in the National
Baseball Congress tournament in
Wichita, Kans., in 1854, has grad
ually moved up the ladder in the
Pirates chain.
Last season, he played for Salt
Lake in the Pacific Coast League,
batting 1927 in 1872 games.
The Pirates infield should be
strengthened this season with Bak-
err, the veteran utility player, re-
turns to full duty. Baker was side
lined after the mid-195S season
with torn ligaments in the knee.
Pendleton played with Columbus
of the International League, bat
ting .312 in % games. A handy
andy, Pendleton plays the infield
or outfield He is also a threat as
a pinchhitter. The 33-year-old Pen
dleton is a veteran of several sea-
sons in the majors, mainly with the
Braves.
Bucks High On Rookie Hurler
The Pirates are counting on
Daniels to come through in a big
way this season. He started last
campaign with the Pirates, but
was belted rather freely. He went
to Columbus, however, and turned
in a 14-won-6-lost record. His
earned run average was 2.31.
Pittsburgh writers believe that
Daniels will make up for his fail
ure when the bell rings for the
1853 season.
Jackson is trying to make the
jump from Glass A Lincoln of the
now defunct Western League. He
won 10 and lost nine in leading the
league with a 2.07 earned run
mark. A southpaw, he struck out
1872 batters in 81 games, including
20 starts.
The Wiley college product was
signed by the Pirates in 1855 and
since that time has pitched mainly
in the Mexican League. He was the
most popular Lincoln player in
1858.