Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-28
Pearson Must
Prove Himself
All Over Again
Able Bucks Lemon,
Allison for Job;
6 Players Leaving
BY BURTON HAWKINS
star stan writer


BY BURTON HAWKINS
star stan writer
ORLANDO. Fla, Mar. a.
Abb Pearson. who all his life
has been battling the odds in
overcoming size and weight
handicaps. proved he could
mingle with no apologies in the
American League last season.
Today, In q delayed spring
debut with the Senator'S, he's
forced to 60 about proving 1t
all over again.
Sidelined by injury during
the Washington clubs first II
exhibitions. the Am erican
Leagues 1858 rookie-of the
year has nine games remaining
to convince Manager Cookie
Lavagetto he belongs in the
opening day lineup instead OF
Rookie Bob Allison or gangling
Jim Lemon.
Pearson, handicapped by a
slight hernia. may have to
excel right from the start to
make his point, for the COM
petition is fierce. Lemon is a
.345 hitter at the moment. while
the muscular Allison has been
batting at a less torrid .26l
pace. However. Bob, an ex-
football star at Kansas, has
shown his bosses a throwing
arm they can admire.
Able Finished Well
Albie batted ATS last season
and the most encouraging
aspect of it was the fact that
in his last 80 games he was a
800 hitter. The conclusion
leaped to by many was that the
5 foot AZ Inch Californian
had solved major league pitch
ing in the waning weeks Of the
campaign.
Then Albie played in the
Cuban Winter League and
batted a mere .252. Doubts
naturally materialized. Once
again, with Allison and Lemon
clicking. Pearson is under pres
sure. A slump at the outset could
mean a Roy Sievers-Allison-
Lemon outfield when the season
starts. Able is we'll aware OF
this.
Il have to fight my way
back, that's ALL" Pearson said.
Allison has been doing ex-
tremely well. and so has Lemon.
Nobody's going to get Sievers
out of the lineup. so II I'm
going to play I'll have to show ]
deserve to be in there. I'm
out to show EN-"
Pearson, a mere l38-pounder
stacked against the 2l7-pound
Allison and the 204-pound
Lemon, also must avoid ag-
gravating the injury which has
kept him idle. If he's forced
into additional inactivity at
this point his exclusion from
the opening day lineup could
be automatic.
Dispose Of 6 Players
Meanwhile, the Senators
trimmed their squad by dispos-
ing of six players. Outflelder
Len Tucker was sold to Miami
of the international League
and Pitcher Ted Alternately
was optioned to the same team
Outhelder Dan Dobbek and
Pitcher Ralph Lumenti were
sent to Chattanooga on option
and Shortstop Zoilo Versailles
and Pitcher Silvio Castellanos
were dispatched on option to
Fox Cities Of the Three-Eye
League.
Lavagetto is convinced that
Lumenti, Dobbek and Versailles
ultimately will rise to shine
with the Senators. "Lumenti
has the best arm Of anybody
we had in camp" Cookie said,
but he has to learn to get the
ball over the plate. When he
does, he'll be something special
Versailles could be the slick
est fielder in the business, but
he's too green in all other
phases. Give him two or three
years and he could develop
into a standout. Dobbek needs
Ito look at more pitching. He's
been in the service for two
years and hasn't been able to
catch up, but he looks good
for the future"
Play Pirates Today
With Ron Sanford nursing
q charleyhorse in his right
leg, Jose Valdivielso will take
over at shortstop today, with
Reno Bertoia playing second
base and Harmon Killebrew
remaining at third against the
Pittsburgh Pirates. 1t will be
Sievers, Pearson and Lemon
in the outfield, with Jay Por-
ter behind the plate and Hal
Griggs and John Romonosky
on the mound.
The Senators will play Kan
sas City, Philadelphia, Balti-
more and Cincinnati success
sively here, starting tomorrow
Before journeying to Braden-
ton to meet Milwaukee Thurs
day. They'll battle the Braves
here again Friday, then break
camp Saturday. The Chicago
White Sox will be their OPP
ponents at Charleston, S. C..
and Charlotte, N. c., en- route