Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-02-20

hViuuNefs on the C&Up inClNde
Roberto Clemente, the fine Puerto
Rican outnelder. Roma Mejiaz.
another outnelder and Gene Baker.
a utility fielder
Need Bench strength
Baker performed for the Chicago
Cubs three fun seasons before he
was traded 10 the Pirates in 1857
He is a skillful fielder and hits
with some power one Of the Pir-
atos Weakness In the last half
OF the 1855 season was the lack Of
bench strength for the left side OF
the inficld
r. G 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 275 aver
age in 81 games In the AAA com
petition Il c. powcr-hitting
first baseman was something OF
sensation In the early season
breaking several games with home
runs hut when his overall batting
tailed of. he was sent To- the min
ors when the pubucixcd Dick stu
art was called up
Jim Pendlcton another utility
performer and Bennie Daniels a
pitcher, both spent part of the 1855
season at Forbes Field
Two Newcomers
Strictly newcomers 10 the Pr
ates roster are Alvin Jackson, a
pitcher. and Joseph Christopher
an outhelder
Clemente, whom the Pirates
practically stole from the old
Brooklyn Dodgers In the draft
after the 1884 season, is the best
known Of the tan players elem
ente an outstanding fielder and
fast on the bases, hatted $50 last
year His shotgun arm has cut
down many runners trying 10 take
an extra base
In his sophomore MI season,
Clementc battcd 3ii A batting
average approaching that this sea
son viii enhance the Pirates chan
ces But the Puerto RicAn win miss
spring training because he is cur
rently on a six-month military stint
with the marines
Baker WIN Steady Iufield
Maiias, who has been with the
Pirates on and on since 1855
batted 2ss last year He has been
particularly valuable in nlllng Tor
ailing Pirates regulars In the out
field
The other tan outncld aspirant
Is a 23.year-old native ~ Virgin
Islands Christopher signed after
hc participated in the National
Baseball Congress tournament IN
wichita Kana In 1854 has grad
tially moved up the ladder in the
Pirates chain
Last season, he played Tor Salt
Lake IN the Pacific Coast League
batting ST In 1872 games
The Pirates infieid should be
strengthened this season with Bal
tr. the veteran utility player, re-
turns 20 full duty Baksr was side
lined after the mid 1868 season
with torn nEamcnts in the knee
Pcndiston played with Columbus
n the international Leafue. bat
ting 3i2 in % games a handy
andy Pcndieton plays The infield
or outfisld Ho Is also threat as
a plnchhlttsr The 33-year-oid Pen
dieton u a veteran uf several sea-
sons IN the majors. mainly with The
Bravea
Bucks High ON Rookie HDrier
The Pirates are counting on
Daniels "a come through IN a big
way tins season He started iasi
campaign with the Pirates bat
was bsite9 rather freely He went
20 Columbus. however and turned
in - VOn-s-logt record HiH
earned nun average vas ri
Pittsburgh writers believe tha,
Dauieis win make Bp for his fail
urs vhcn me bell rings Tor The
1859 season
Jackson IL fryirg 20 make the
jump from Clazs a lincoln ~ The
nov defunct Western League Ne
won n and lost nine IN leading The
leaRls with a 2O7 earned run
marx a solthpaw BE- struck out
isz batfers IN u gaines including
10 starts
Tht WHEY college product YEA
signed BY ths Pirates In 1888 snf
SIEGE that time has pitched mainly
ir tn Hexlean League Hs Was tn
rnos' popular L4nooin player N
1868
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