Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-07
Hicks Believes
,,.'eWasHe|ped
By Winter Ball
BY MERRELL WHITTLESEY
Star staff Writer

Star staff Writer
POMPANO BEACH, Fla, j
Mar. Joe Hicks is a quiet,
reserved, college-educated ball
player who never would admit
that 1t must have hurt down
deep inside when the Senators
obtained Jimmy Piersall in the
Cleveland trade last October.
It's not that Joe has any
thing against Piersall, but the
handsome, 28-year-o ld out
fielder from Charlottesville,
who attended the University of
Virginia on an academ c
scholarship, had his eyes on
centerfield this season. He has
played right and left, but
prefers center.
Three years ago Manager AL
Lopez of the White Sox was
high on Hicks, but the Sox re-
gained Minnie Minoso and
Hicks couldn't break into the
outfield of Minoso, Jim Lands
and AL Smith. just as center
was opening on the Senators,
they came up with Piersall.
Suffered Broken Hand
The White Sox optioned
Hicks twice, w S hin g o n
optioned him last year, and if
the Senators don't keep him
this time they'll lose the $75,-
900 they paid for him in the
first major league draft.
Joe had one of the top bat
ting averages in the Grapefruit
League last year, but he hit
only four singles and a home
run in 20 times at bat early in
the regular season and the
Senators optioned him te
Indianapolis.
Joe was hitting .278 for
Indianapolis, with IS doubles
and eight home runs among his
80 hits, when he was hit by a
pitched ball and suffered a
broken left hand. He was
through for the season.
For the fifth consecutive
year Hicks went South of the
Border to play winter ball in
Nicaragua. "It's pretty much
of a pitchers league" Joe said
you only play three times a
week, but I believe it helped
me-"
Troubled by Southpaws
They say Hicks can't hit left
han pitching, and this is what
has slowed his progress with
the White Sox and Senators
Some of them do trouble me-
Joe said, "but I believe I could
hit them If I played regularly.
Right now Hicks fits inte
the Senator'S plans. Manager
Mickey Vernon claims he is 60
ing to carry all six outfielders
but on the May 9 deadline fol
cutting down to Is players, one
of them figures to be a border.
line case.
Vernon says he is going to
carry eight infielders, including
Harry Bright, who will be the
No. 3 catcher. With eight in
fielders. six outfielders and two
catcherS, that only leaves room
for nine pitchers. And Mickey
probably will carry at least 1C
and probably II pitchers. So
somewhere in the final Jug
Cling, one of the infielders OF
outfielders will have to go.
Hicks has been at bat only
1873 times in the majors with
Chicago and Washington anc
has II hits for a .205 average
But the Washington manage.
ment, like Lopez, points to joe:
1859 season in Triple-A ball al
Indianapolis where his .314
average included 20 doubles, II
triples and II home runs.
NOTES-Piersall and Gem
Woodling chatted in friend!
. fashion in the dressing room
yesterday, neither holding an.
grudge over Weddings CLAIM
that Piersall was being shown
favoritism by the management
Vernon held a brief squat
meeting in centerfield and tolc
the squad to play baseball ant
forget petty little gripes
|. Everybody will be treatec
equal" Vernon said. Mickey
said the furore of the previou.
day was uncalled for and un.
necessary.
Vernon said it would have
been useless to hold batting
practice against the cold, brisk
, West wind and the workout
lasted less than 80 minutes.
, The Senators will leave for
Fort Lauderdale Airport at $3.50
Saturday morning for Fort
Myers, where they meet the
Pirates Saturday and Sunday