| Show Athletics Show I Best P Prospects Since Early NEW YORK April 8 UP uP- uP The Philadelphia Athletics had prospects today of turning from stumblebum to star In one hectic year From eighth place to first place is the dream of venerable Connie Mack their year old pilot anc and it would seem like a nightmare for fora a club that has been in the second division since 1934 finished last in seven of the past 10 years and last season tied an American league record by losing 21 consecutive consecutive consecutive tive games Better Than Usual But In a season in which every team has been shaken by the draft and players retiring to jobs in inessential inessential inessential essential industry Mack has a comparatively strong squad well well- seasoned with veteran 4 And hes he's higher on Its chances than of any club since his championship years of 1929 30 and 31 Never since those golden days has Connie felt strongly enough about his chances to talk optimistically optimistically optimistically being content merely to hope for one more pennant But now he admits that this might be bethe bethe bethe the year And In hi comparison with the theother theother theother other clubs it might be His pitching pitching pitch pitch- ing staff shapes up as one of the best In the league with wit seven experienced experienced experienced ex ex- ex- ex starters Added strength is found in Buck Newsom obtained from Washington in a winter deal anc c Luke Hot P Potato tao Hamlin I up irom Toronto in me Lae ne international league Newsom scored nine wins for Brooklyn last season before being traded and wound up the season with a 13 mark ark Hamlin who has pit pitched b d fo for Detroit t Brooklyn and Pittsburgh won 21 for Toronto in 1943 The As A's also have holdover holdovers holdovers hold hold- overs over in 4 Talmadge Abernathy and Russ Christopher and As 1 in Don IDon Black Luman Harris and Jesse Flores Four Catchers Four catchers are on hand with Frankie Hayes and nd nd Bill Mills in F 4 Hal Wagner In B 2 and Lou Parisse the only A. 1 Joyner Jo-Jo Jo White and Bob Estalella are back in the outfield with Jo-Jo Jo F 4 and Estalella expecting expecting ex ex- a midsummer army call Two capable replacements however however however how how- ever are Bill Burgo and Elwood Wheaton minor leaguers from whom Mack expects much Then toc too there is veteran AI Al Simmons Old the Ute perennial youngster has made his usual spring college try and will be available for relief duty and pinch- pinch hitting |
