| Show I of Baseball II Series Chicago Cubs Count on Their Sophomores r a Is It the th frt first 0 of A series sulu ere ef of rii s I r lh the prospects of ef alor lor league baseball clubs MESA Ariz March larch 19 Ui fhe he Chicago Cubs in the best I Pring condition in years will wille e counting on the ball long lilting potential of a rookie and a flock of soph- soph l more ore slab talent to lo pull lull them Ul tut It of the National Le League l uc celar cel- cel ar in 1052 1952 ELeon Leon a year old hird haseman baseman who crashed 25 lomers for Los An Angeles eles of the aci ic Coast League last sean sea- sea n is being converted into inton in n outfielder Bob Rush the elongated hander who was the wina win- win a Cub pitcher in m 1951 ith 11 victories is believed rd ed by Cub pitching coach Charlie Root oot to lo beon be on on the verge veree of 01 rOl achieving in greatness He posted a 3 79 earned run average In 37 games last year Its It's up to the rest of the youngsters to prove themselves them them- selves Last years year's experience ma may bring results Without very much new talent talent tal- tal ent enl manager Phil Cavarretta's main mam hope of mak making nt a better showing is that he can instill more mole hustle into his shaky lineup of eter veterans and young oung Phil a year old first baseman baseman baseman base base- man took over o from rom Frankie Frisch at the midpoint of last season At least he has a running running running run run- ning start this season Cavaretta Ca expects to play 60 to 70 games himself If Dee Fondy proves himself a major leaguer Phil will be he able lo to to-do to do h less playing Fond Fondy a good I man in the field who hit for or Los Angeles after being sent down by the Cubs last season is getting a another n not o t h her e r chance to make good I IThe The Cub infield will have I plenty of or experience with I either Ransom Jackson or Bill I Serena at third the veteran I Roy Hoy Smalley at tit short and the i i ex Brooklyn handyman Eddie l at second Smalley is rapidly recovering recovering recovering recover recover- ing from a bad ankle that kept him out of action most of 1951 l who hit well a after ter being traded to the Cubs in n the Andy PaCko package will be the infield infield in infield in- in field spark lIes lIe's only 25 but already a big league veteran I Ron Icon Northey the former StLouis St S1 Louis Cardinal Cincinnati Red Hed I and mcl Philadelphia Phillie could help the Bruins i if his knee I holds out Always a long ball hitter hitler Nor Northey they was voluntarily ily retired last season for an operation on his left knee He says hes he's ready to nail down the right field berth Hammering Hank Sauer Bob Usher Bob Addis Gene Her Her- manski Hal lIal Jeffcoat rookie Harvey Gentry Brinkopf and imd White While Sox ca castoff torr Jack Wal- Wal lacan are all battling for garden garden garden gar gar- den spots In the catching department the Cubs have the veteran Bruce Edwards formerly of Brooklyn John who was acquired from the Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cin Cin- Reds in the of off seaon season and a pair of rookies Maurice A Atwell up from Montreal and Harry Chili who got tot into nine games for the Chicagoans last season |
