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Show . SPORTLIGHT . Large Plans for Pete Reiser By GRANTLAND RICE 1 n YEAR AGO a hustling second baseman by the name of Eddie Stanky asked the Brooklyn management manage-ment for an increased stipend or paycheck. Brother Rickey promptly traded him to the Braves and thereby there-by helped move the same Braves Every team in our league is stronger. At least most of them are. For example, the Cardinals and Pirates will be better, and the Dodgers, with all their fast kids, is no club you can ever loaf against. into first place. Stanky did more than his share in whipping Al Dark, a fast, intelligent, iipip natural ballplayer into pennant form before Eddie was hurt. The Braves left the Stankyless Dodgers far in the rut. There is now a chance that Branch Rickey is pulling a repeater. He is on "But I still honestly believe we have enough to win for Boston again. If I didn't think so, I certainly cer-tainly wouldn't say so. But this is going to be a scramble." - The Most Improved Team The most improved team in either league, probably is part of the Philadelphia Story. The Philadelphia Philadel-phia Story in baseball has been a rather sad one for some time. But Connie Mack revived old dreams last season, and not only the veteran Connie but many so-called so-called fairly-smart people believe his Athletics have a pennant chance this' new season. Not second not third not fourth but first. Just as big a story is the chance the Phillies have. They are too young to win any pennant. pen-nant. But smart baseball people peo-ple tell me they can finish second sec-ond or third. They probably won't. But they look like a big league ball club on a rampage. ram-page. They have a better outfield than either the Braves, Dodgers or the Cardinals in Del Ennis, Richie Ash-burn Ash-burn and Bill Nicholson. They have one of the best infields in either league with Eddie Waitkus at first, plus Puddinhead Jones at third. Their catching is only fair. The Phillies represent the story of the new National league. They can finish second or seventh. They can finish seventh sev-enth and still be almost as good as the 1949 pennant winner. They deserve support from their fans, for here is not only a good ball club, but an interesting one. I had a long talk today with my favorite pitcher. His name is Ewell Blackwell 6f the Reds. In 1947 Blackwell was far and away the best pitcher in the game not barring Feller, Newhouser or anyone else. Working for the lowly Reds, he won 16 straight games. He ' pitched a no-hitter and came close to another in his next start. Working with the Yankees or Dodgers Dodg-ers that same year, Blackwell would have won 30 games and lost three or four. He might have won 35 games. r iij , his way to being Grantland Bice j; ., ,, , Billy Southworth s "cousin." Some time back, Rickey sold another Dodger star, Pete Reiser, to the same Braves. Reiser is jubilant. So is Southworth. "I don't think I ever felt better," Reiser told me the other day. "My legs are fine again and so is my arm. I'm running into no more walls. I'm up to full weight 180 pounds." It might be noted that Reiser was only 30 years of age on St. Patrick's day, sharing this date with Bobby Jones. Reiser is in his prime. I saw him play third in a recent spring training game and make four beeline throws to first, even rocking the stalwart first baseman, base-man, Earl Torgeson. Pete was burning the ball across. "I have big plans for Reiser," Southworth told me. "I mean if his arm is O.K. I'm not worried about his legs or health. He is not only a fine ballplayer, but a great hitter and a natural competitor. He can help us more than you might think. Pete has known more than his share of raw luck. The tide is about due to turn the other way. If it does, the Braves will look even better than I think they are and I'm not selling them short. "Watch that Torgeson at first. He might be the best first baseman in either league this season. Sain and Spahn are my stand-bys, but Vera Bickford has improved sharply and Bill Voiselle will be quite a help. Stanky is again in top- condition. His cracked ankle is O.K. I have a fine-looking young catcher in Paul Burris. "My club is much better than It was last year. It has to be. |