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Show BILL RODGERS GETS JGB WITHOUT EFFORT Former Beaver Finds Nap Lajoies Ready to Be Put On. OLKrELAND, F'eb. 6. Bill Rodgers is one of the few recruits who ha'e come to the Cleveland American club without having hav-ing to battle for his position. With the release of Lajolo to Philadelphia, the i'ortland man pets the title io the second-base second-base b'rritory without any opposition, he being the only man to be considered by Manager Birmingham for the place. Few, indeed, havo ! been the other Cleveland recruits who havo Joined without with-out having to battle for their Jobs with several other ambitious youngsters or veterans who fought hard to retain their positions. Terry Turner was one, however. how-ever. Terry succeeded a bunch of mediocre medio-cre short fielders, and when he joined In Manager Armour simply handed the shortstop job to Cotton and said it's yours without a struygln. Almost ton years later. Ray Chapman received the same consideration, but even Chapman had to show that he was better than Olson and l'eckinpaugh before he had his plue.i cinched. W3ien Olson became a Clevelander he hud to fight it out with Knaupp before he was installed a regular, Manaui"'' McGuim giving Knaupp the preferonco at the beginning of the season. sea-son. Easy for Jackson. Joe Jackson, of course, was a regular regu-lar from the start. A man with his butting but-ting prowess simply outclassed his rivals and obliterated them from the field, .lack Uranev and Jeibold, however, were simply simp-ly taken on trial and both had to work hard before they earned regular berths. When Ioc Johnston reported, ho had to display sufficient ginger and ability to crowd" Art Grlgrga off the team. Good aa George Stovall was, he had a contest on his hands io keep his place every year he was a member of the club, and before ho left he had chased Bill Schwartz, Charley Char-ley Carr, Charley Hickman, Pete "Lister, .lake Paubert. Bill Hinchmau, Ed Ilolm-horst Ilolm-horst and others off the team. But Kodgers comes here and finds a vacs nt seat awaiting htm and no other players seeking the chance to sit down in ! it when Uodgers hus Ids buck turned. j The hunt for second baseman is a merry one and there are a number of big league ; managers who believe they could strength- 1 en their teams at the keystone sack. Of, course, the Whlto Sox are satisfied with Kddie Collins installed at second, but; Hranch Rickey would not object If he could pick up a better fielder than Per- ! rill Pratt. Need New Men. Connie Mack is fixed for tho present with iNap Lujole, and Clark Griffith thinks very well of Kay Morgan. New York, however, intends to depend upon Boone, n youngster who showed strong: last September, while Boston is forced to use Janvrin at second another year unless 1 lei tie Wagner recovers tho use of his arm. Iluphey Jennings thought he had a wonder In Mnrty Kavanaugh a year ago, but Marty blew and Jennings's hope just now Is that among his recruits he will find a man better than Oscar Vltt, who has fallen heir to the place. Anropos of the pleasant conditions which await the arrival of Rodgers it might be- mentioned t hat the principal reason that Bancroft of the Portland club did not become a Clevelander is that he saw lie would have to fight it out with Kay Chapman for a berth and feared he might lose and lie shunted off to a class AA club. Refusing to sign with Cleveland, Cleve-land, he waited his time and signed with Philadelphia, where he will be given the shortstop job without opposition. |