June 28, 1952 FILIATRAULT Very tall youngster, arm looked good enough and he can run. I don't know what he may come to in the years to come as a hitter, but he certainly cannot hit anything now. He certainly looks terrible at the plate. Big enough to hit the ball over any fence, but has no power whatever, and I don't think he will ever have any power. B.R. Bristol-Pulaski June 27, 1952 June 28, 1952 FILLIBEN No power at the plate and I do note believe he will ever hit. B.R. Bristol-Pulaski June 27, 1952 June 28, 1952 FRANK GAETA This fellow can throw the ball hard, but it goes everywhere. He has no curve ball of any kind. Might acquire a slow curve, but it would be a long time before hei would locate the plate with it. He has no change of pace. In the course of time, - probably a long time, he might become a pitcher. He can really throw the ball hard. Under our present circumstances he would get his unconditional release immediately rather than pay one cent of bonus. Wire Sam Davis to give him his unconditional release. B.R. June 28, 1952 HALL A slightly built fellow, - very active and quick. As catchers go, he is a good runner, fair arm, good enough - a pretty good receiver, left hand hitter without much power. Strikes out very seldom. This boy hustles all the time. Not a set-up at the plate. He was very unimpressive at DeLand in the Fall of 1951, but in this year, 1952, at Charleston, he pleases much more. If his hitting should improve, he could go higher, certainly AAA. He might be considered for placement with Hollywood this Fall. B.R. Charleston-Columbus San Bernardino, Cal. February 23, 1952 HENSON, DON. A Chinaman named Don Henson. His father is Chinese and his mother a Phillipino. 6'2", and as green as a gourd, Throws a heavy fast ball, pretty good speed, slow rotation on it, has nothing else. A broad hand, but his fingers are not too long. Has no curve or anything that pretends to be a curve, and he will not easily learn anything else. No change-up on anything. It will take quite a while his ability to throw the ball hard leaves him in the possible, of course. Right now, Pittsburgh need not bother with him. The chap wants and expects a bonus and we can put our money somewhere else where it will bring us quicker results. June 16, 1952 HICKMAN, John R. Not a great arm, but accurate and throws correctly and right now. Should be very accurate. Should be able to catch as far as catching is concerned. Big boy, about 6'1", 180#. Hitting form is not too bad, not good like Shepard and Roarke. Almost never gets the bat and ball together. Not a bad runner. I think we ought to follow up on him. BRANCH RICKEY July 1, 1952 HOLLERAN Tall, right hander. Pretty good fast ball, - not great. Pretty good curve ball, not great, and can and does throw change-ups. Shows spirit, - aggressiveness, - wants to beat you. I believe intelligent. Shows nervousness, anxiety, never completely relaxes. Seems tense all the times while working, all of which may account for the fact that his boy does not have dependable control. He would have to impress me very differently before I would remove his name from the New Orleans list for the draft. B.R March 21, 1952 Bill Jacobs: Our only left hander in this camp. Lives down in Virginia. Fairly finished as a pitcher, but he has had two years experience. He is now 19 years of age, and left camp to take his physical examination at his home in Alexandria, Virginia. If he passes, he intends to enlist immediately at Fort Eustis, Va. If he doesn't, he will report back for baseball duty. June 9, 1952 Frank Sononika brought in a pitcher named Powell and also an outfielder named NORMAN J. KARLIK. Not a great runner and certainly not a great arm, - in fact, he has an infielder's arm. No carry to the ball whatever. The best thing he does hit, and I will bet he hit plenty in high school, and he ought to hit anywhere, but not with power. If you could sign him to a '53 contract and take him South next winter, I believe I would do it. BRANCH RICKEY BR/b June 28, 1952 KINNAMON Let him go to draft at Charleston. B.R. Charleston-Columbus June 28, 1952 LEFEVRE Right hand hitter and thrower. Running, hitting, and throwing all shy of greatness, but he tries hard. Might become a very good hitter and with sufficient power. Should be left with Charleston for the draft. B.R Charleston-Columbus June 9, 1952 LEWIS, Joe Right hander from Duke University, 170 pounder, only fair fast ball, fair curve, fair change of pace on his curve. Just learning change-up on fast ball. Should get it. Nothing to rave about. Control not too good. This boy belongs in the class of possibilities, - only that. BRANCH RICKEY br/b July 1, 1952 LONG, Dale Nice boy, - good looking. Arm good enough, running average. Tremendous power. Has a definite blind spot much larger than most power hitters. Any good fast ball well above the knees and below his eyebrows, pitched inside, will strike him out with great regularity. I would say that the space is 20" high and 10" wide. He simply cannot hit the pitch. He swings through it whether the ball comes from a right hander or left hander, overhand or sidearm. If the pitch has speed and is within the space as above described, Long simply cannot put the bat on the ball. A .250 to .275 hitter in the Southern League. Let me go to the draft at New Orleans. B.R. March 21, 1952 Jacky Maddy: A right hander with a good fast ball and fairly good control. His change-up on both his fast ball and curve is not slow enough. He is working on it. He is a very intelligent young man. Pitched for Modesto in 1951, his first year. He is a college boy and shows it properly. He is now with Hollywood and may stay with that club. This chap happens to be the smallest pitcher in the camp with the exception of Pitcher Salgado. Maddy is only 5'11" and weighs 175 pounds. I think he will go major league. June 16, 1952 SOUCHOCK, Stanley Has a quick arm, a good arm for a little fellow. Shows brash inexperience. This boy would have to run well, hit surprisingly, to be major league prospect. BRANCH RICKEY June 28, 1952 PASSINEAU Sensible, intelligent boy, fast afoot, fair hitter and only fair arm. This chap has been in doubt about the advisability of continuing in professional baseball, and insofar as a major league career is concerned, he should give up playing the game. He will not make it. He is a good man for Charleston, might even go a bit higher. B.R. Charleston-Columbus June 9, 1952 MALCOLM, Charles B. 6'1", 180 pounds. Will be 18 in January and comes from Huntington, West Virginia. His father is dead and his mother Alice is a secretary for some big company. His older sister is unmarried and works. Younger sister 16. This boy has a pretty good fast ball. Has an easy rhythmical delivery. Curve ball so so, - not too much on it. He will learn a change up on his fast ball readily. If this boy would go out without a bonus, I would like to sign him and send him to a Class D immediately. He is a good kid and might become quite a pitcher. BRANCH RICKEY BR/b June 16, 1952 McMATH, Robert C Ordinary runner, - 150# boy. No prospect. BRANCH RICKEY BR/b June 16, 1952 McQUIRE, Walter E. Cannot imagine his "ever" being in the major leagues as a slugger. However, he is a fair runner. He can throw like a son-of-a-gun from the outfield. BRANCH RICKEY BR/b June 9, 1952 MONAHAN, Jim 195#, 22 year old boy, just out of some college. Probably in the army. Scouted by several major league clubs. Probably in the high bonus class. This boy can run, - well above average. He has power at the plate, - plenty of power, and his form is good. He should become quite a hitter. His arm is just normal, not at all great, and he doesn't know how to throw. He takes a double step and throws the ball high. Both of his faults are correctible. Definite prospect. I would like to have him, and we should find out what it takes. Jim is a right hand hitter and right hand thrower. Branch Rickey BR/b July 1, 1952 Montemayor A tall, 21 year old Mexican outfielder, - left handed all the way. He can hit with power and run exceptionally fast, and has a great arm, and probably from a major league standpoint not worth a nickel. He knows how to throw, and he knows how to run and he knows how to hit, although he stands very far, - perhaps too far away, from the plate. He has no adventure in him and no competitive spirit. I cannot imagine him shooting craps even with his own loaded dice. He would not take a chance to win even if every conceivable thing were in his favor. It is a safe bet that he never made a dive for a low ball in his entire life, either in front of him or sidewards. If the game goes long enough, he will lose it for you. Chicken-hearted, pussy cat, a softy. If you were to push your finger in his belly the hole would not fill out for several minutes. I don't think he has a gut anywhere. His very unusual physical set-up and ability may enable him to play acceptably in AAA, and somebody, sometime may give him repeated trials in the majors. If so, I am sure he will be on many teams. No one will keep him very long. He is not draftable at New Orleans at all until the end of another season. Therefore, leave him at New Orleans. B.R. June 28, 1952 Moore Big man, left hand hitter, looked like he had power and looked like he had fair running speed. I do not know anything about him. B.R. Bristol-Pulaski June 27, 1952 July 7, 1952 Morton Tall, thin right hander from Rutgers. Inclined to be argumentative. Has the reputation of being intelligent. Has a fine record. I have never worked him out but from observation at a distance I judge that he is the most effective pitcher at this time on the New Orleans club. He will be considered for Pittsburgh sping training, - without assignment papers. B.R. June 16, 1952 NARDULLI , Frank J. Doesn't look like he will hit. BRANCH RICKEY March 21, 1952 Ronald Necchiai: A smart kid, - may be too smart, knows everything, wants to run everything, and I wrote about this boy three or four days ago for the record as follows: "About 6'5" tall, very slim, will not weigh more than 180 pounds. A nervous boy, inexperienced, very young, perhaps more speed than any other of the pitchers. Has a beautiful change of pace on his curve ball. Fairly good control of that pitch. Has a very great future and if we can get all of the "selling platers" off the club, this boy can very well be retained. He might "settle" by late mid-Summer. He will be unhittable." He will be difficult for the manager in the years to come, but he can pitch. His sidearm fast ball has perhaps greater velocity than any other pitcher can produce. He is only 19, but he has some pitching skills. June 28, 1952 NOVOTNIAK He has a good cut at the ball. Looks like he has power. He did not give me a chance to judge his speed. Played third base and on the two or three plays he had during the game the arm looked alright. B.R. Bristol-Pulaski June 27, 1952 July 7, 1952 O'NEIL 32 years of age. Right hand hitting infielder. Smart chap, but never profound. Cannot hit, cannot run, and cannot throw, but he is tricky and very aggressive. Might manage and I am willing to have his name placed on the manager's list. He is to be left on the New Orleans roster and placed on the unrestrictive draft list. B.R. July 1, 1952 PAEPKE Not at all a great receiver, and not at all a great catcher in any respect. He has a strong arm and he runs very well. Has enough power in hitting but most of it is in the air. If he were a .350 hitter, he could go to the major league, but at .275, he belongs at New Orleans. Let him go to the draft at New Orleans. B. R. June 16, 1952 PELLEGRINI, Robert F Doesn't show much body control. Seems quite awkward. Doesn't look to me that he can cover any ground. Doesn't look like a good runner, although I have never seen him run. BRANCH RICKEY BR/b March 31, 1952 DeLand, Fla. PELLARIN, TONY This fellow has more than most new pitcher, - a fair fast ball, - good enough, and he can get control of it. Seems intelligent. About 6' tall and weighs about 180 lbs. He has a fair curve ball and he has a slow curve ball, both useable, but he has a change up on his fast ball which is a "darb". It deflects somewhat like a curve, but it is identical with his fast ball delivery and it really does change-up, - and he has control of it. Right now, he is a much quicker prospect, - indeed a much more finished pitcher than Beane. I would say that Tony should be signed up. I like him. This boy should start low depending on his control. It is my judgment that he has enough stuff to start in "B". He is not going to be an easy babe to hit by any minor league ball player. On the basis of the usual bonus paid to prospective pitchers at this time, this chap is worth some money. I hope the boys can sign him up. June 9, 1952 POWELL, Duane Seventeen year old boy, about 6'1" or 6'2" tall, weighs 170 pounds, right hander. Good fast ball. His so-called fast curve breaks, - not too much, but does break. His slow curve is so so. Not too much between his fast curve and his slow curve. Never has thrown a change of pace on his fast ball. Learned it fairly quickly. Did not get it too good, but will get it. This kid could easily be a prospect. Should go to Class D under a manager with some patience. If this kid could be signed at no bonus, I wish you would do it. BRANCH RICKEY BR/b P.S. He mumbles when he talks. He has to repeat everything to know what he said. June 16, 1952 RASCHIATORE, Felix A. If this boy can hit, he should be given further consideration. This fellow doesn't look like he can get the bat and ball together. Is a head swinger. He would do a lot of striking out, but he is a big, strong boy, and very young, and one cannot afford to dismiss simply because he doesn't hit at the present time. A couple of years from now he might look very different at the plate. Not a bad runner. I think he should be followed up. BRANCH RICKEY July 1, 1952 RICE, Eugene James (Jim) Runs above average, arm slightly below average, - a pest hitter. Gets a piece of the ball. Not great power but enough to enable him to become a .300 hitter. He should be watched, and observed thoroughly before the draft list is made up. B.R. June 16, 1952 ROARKE, Michael T. He can throw, - very good, - strong arm. Has a fine build. March 21, 1952 Ramon Salgado: A Puerto Rican, 23 years of age, 5'9" tall, and weighs 165 pounds. A right hander whose contract was purchased from Texas City of the Gulf Coast League last Fall for $7,500. He will be with New Orleans. He cannot speak a word of English and cannot understand a word of English. As a matter of fact, he knows very few words in Spanish. He states to an interpreter that he has never had time to learn to read or write very well because of his interest in baseball. He said he did not have time to go to school because of the necessity of practising baseball. His expense account from Puerto Rico to San Bernardino included a "woman." Upon further questioning and some investigation, Salgado agreed to "settle for half." Eventually I found out that the woman was probably his wife. Anyhow we paid him in full. He can pitch. He can strike men out, but he can walk them too. He is a cutie, - tricky, skillful, can field his position, and has a rather complete repertoire of pitches. Salgado is a showman, and takes over the crowd immediately. This chap is undoubtedly worth the purchase price and may make a major league job, but not this year. July 7, 1952 SALGADO A Puerto Rican right hander with a convenient Ferociously aggressive, - adds respectfully to the physical security of the batsman. Has a curve and a pretty good fast ball, and a dipsy-do for a change. Head strong, - very positive. He is an animal. "[Cannot]Could not learn to speak or write Spanish because he had to play baseball". Therefore, he is illiterate. Might be a major league pitcher. If he could really learn how to pitch this summer, he should be taken with the Pittsburgh club next Spring for training. His judgment is not controlled by his brains. B.R. June 16, 1952 SHEPARD, JACK KNOWS how to throw, but has only a fair arm, - not at all great. If he becomes accurate, the arm would be good enough. I think he is a great prospective hitter, - with power. Form perfect. Reminds one of Joe DiMaggio very much. BRANCH RICKEY June 28, 1952 SMITH, Dick His work with Charleston will determine whether or not Pittsburgh will dispose of him at the end of the season. The probability is that he will be placed either at New Orleans or Hollywood. for draft. B.R. Charleston-Columbus March 21, 1952 Jack Smith: University of Oregon boy. Smart fellow, president of his fraternity -- holds a prominent campus office, elected by the student body. Height 5'11", 195 lbs. He can run and he has power and he throws very quickly and without double stepping. He graduates from Oregon in June and will be available for the balance of the season. He is signed with Waco (Class B). He will make good wherever we send him, -- Waco or above. His bonus was $10,000 payable as follows: $3,500 on contract approval, $3,500 on January 15, 1952 and $3,000 January 15, 1953. Salary $250 per month. Jack hits right handed, and he hits! July 1, 1952 SMITH, Paul Wear a 6-1/2 hat. Reminds me of an egg with a piece of chewing gum on the little end. No neck, - no size. Cannot throw very good. Has a firm habit of putting trajectory into every throw. Not one of the great runners but above average. Takes a good lead and constantly jockeys for the break. Can run bases intelligently, and does. Hits to all fields, - left handers do not bother him. Treacherous, tricky hitter, - knows the strike zone. Likely to hit around .300 wherever he goes. His draftability should be investigated at once. Player will go to Spring Training camp with Pittsburgh. B.R. March 31, 1952 DeLand, Fla. SMITH, TOM He is a tall, slim, bespectacled left hander from Wilmington, N.C. I would say he is 6'2" tall. Tom started his work with me with a jerky motion, no freedom in his pitch at all. After sometime he became free with it. During the course of his workout someone told me that his arm had been ailing. This information explained everything. The boy has some pain in a bad spot when he bears down. I believe that he has a good fast ball in he is scheduled to work again with me tomorrow morning. He should not be given very much throwing exercise while his arm is lame. He told me it is very much better. I will see him again tomorrow. March 29, 1952 New Orleans, La. ST. AMANT, LARRY He was ailing. He had pitched four innings last evening and he had a kink in his back and I did not work him very much. He weighs 168 lbs., and is 5'9", - good action, looked like he would have a good fast ball and good control of it. However, he has comparatively short fingers, stubby hand, holds every pitch, curve, fast and change of pace, - exactly the same. Intelligent talking boy. His curve ball repeats rotation regularly, and it is not bad, - in fact it is pretty good. He has a change up on his fast ball, also on the curve, and both are acceptable, and without coaching. From my brief workout, I would say definitely he is worth-while and I would like to have him too. These two boys whom I worked out on the field just before the game at New Orleans on Saturday, March 29th, are well above the average of boys who appear before me for workouts. BR/b P.S. Larry lives in a town called Narco, La., which is a short distance from New Orleans, La. cc- Harold Roettger George Sisler June 9, 1952 STALKER, Bob Middlebury college boy, 21 years of age, left hand hitter, 190 pounder, 6', right field hitter and with good power, and he is a good runner, - not as fast as Monahan, but still a good runner. Arm [*at least*] average. His hitting form is good and I believe he will become a good hitter. I know of no reason why he should not. Looks intelligent, acts intelligent, and talks intelligent. BRANCH RICKEY July 1, 1952 THIES Right hander, big enough, has enough speed, and a fair curve with fair control of both pitches. Did not use change-up either on fast ball or curve ball a single time during his game against Atlanta. Shows desire to beat you. If he has enough desire and aptitude to learn the change-up, pitcher might go some place. At the present time, I would say let him go to the draft at New Orleans. B.R. [*Watermark: Neenah OLD COUNCIL TREE ONIONSKIN ???*] July 1, 1952 THOMAS, Frank A big, strong, active right handed outfielder, - 21 years of age. Ambitious Home run hitter all the way from the left field foul line to dead center. Almost never gives the power stroke to right field. A cross fire right hand pitcher should never have any trouble with him, particularly if he throws a curve. Any sidearm curve if not pitched on the inside half of the plate fools him completely. It strikes him out. In fact, sidearm pitching of all description s from a right hander upsets him. Frank's youth, desire and practice may improve him. His running speed is fair, - certainly not above average. I have never seen him in a race, and the so-called timing of runners so current in the Pittsburgh organization is not at all dependable due to the condition of weather and running rack, inexpert starters and timers and inaccuracy of distance. (I just returend from California where I saw a race between two boys, - one with a 7.3 record in our books and one with a 6.8. I was betting on the 7.3 boy simply from observation, and he did easily beat the 6.8 chap.) The boys may be right in classing him below average. He can throw, and knows how to throw. He is a good fielder and he doesn't loaf. Danny Murtaugh thinks he can help the Pittsburgh club in 1953, - very positive about it. I have indicated his batting weakness, but this observation should be added. His right foot hugs the plate and his body is well over the plate. It seems to me he would have great difficulty handling the fast inside pitch, particularly the one on his hands. He will, of course, be given a thorough opportunity to make the Pittsburgh club next Spring. B.R. Feb 1952 HAROLD THOMAS - About 6'5", 220 pounds, right handed, and 20 years old. Has a lot of speed. Is wild, very wild. Should go to a little league where he could get by simply by use of his fast ball. He has a curve and it has good velocity, but he has no control of it. He has no changeups, either on fast or curve balls. He is a willing cuss and I think intelligent. Very small hands for so big a man. Quite unusual. If this fellow had control he would be a really good pitcher. Aptitude fairly nil but he tries hard. That is to say he keeps on trying. I would not give him a big bonus. In fact, he is somewhat in the class of Shinnick, insofar as the hazard of a bonus is concerned. It might pay off and it might be a very foolish expenditure. No good business man would give him a dime, but a damnfool baseball man might go crazy and give him anything. I don't know to which class I belong at the present moment but because I haven't got a nickel, I will be a businessman. July 1, 1952 THIES Right hander, big enough, has enough speed, and a fair curve with fair control of both pitches. Did not use change-up either on fast ball or curve ball a single time during his game against Atlanta. Shows desire to beat you. If he has enough desire and aptitude to learn the change-up, pitcher might go some place. At the present time, I would say let him go to the draft at New Orleans. B.R. March 21, 1952 "Dutch" Van Burkleo: Left hand hitter and thrower. A first baseman. Barely 18, 6'1" tall and growing. Weighs about 200 pounds. He has a very great arm and will have more sheer power at the plate than any player in the Pittsburgh organization, and I include Kiner. He cost a bonus of $35,000 and right now he is worth every cent of it. He must play this year in a small league, say Modesto. He lives, eats, and sleeps and thinks baseball constantly. He is an agile boy, and not at all a bad runner, - indeed very good. He could be a regular on the Pittsburgh club in 1953. June 16, 1952 VIROSTEK, Conrad R. Cannot throw a lick. He cannot do anything, and he cannot move. Again I say he cannot do anything. BRANCH RICKEY March 21, 1952 Jim Waugh: One of the most expensive bonus players Pittsburgh has signed in the past year, - a total of $30,000, payable over a three-year period. This boy was signed to a Class D club last mid-July, ended up with New Orleans. I believe he will be one of our pitchers in Pittsburgh this coming season. A right hander, 6'4"tall, 18 years of age. The work at DeLand helped him a lot. Feb. 1952 STAN WILLIS - Red head. Big right hander, 18, say 190 or thereavouts. About 6'2". Is a boy. Fast ball straight as a string, but he has good control of it and it isn't a bad fast ball. It has above average velocity. His curve ball is a 'darb' and he has good control of that. He has a slow curve, throws it readily. It curves straight down, and he has decent control of that, too. He has no change up on his fast ball. He acquired it as to direction of spin and rapidity of spin, but did not acquire regularity in the velocity of it. About half the time it had the right speed. He will get it, however. Quick mind. Affable. Nice boy. Not a dummy. If he didn't make good grades in high school it would be simply because he didn't give a darn. His father and mother and grandparents on both sides were smart enough. He is the sort of fellow who is looking for new worlds to conquer. "Show me some-thing else you want me to do", is his continuous slogan. I like him. He is worthwhile as a pitcher. He would need to be sent to a careful manager. He could become a ladies man or a good drinker. He could go a long way in the professional game. He is worth a bonus, I wish we could sign him decently. This is a fellow that I think everybody would like personally. If he would run for political office, he would be a tough bird to beat. He would be elected by acclamation, and it could be true that he would be qualified for any job that he himself believed he could do. ADDITIONAL FOR WILLIS Very good speed and his curve ball breaks. I see no reason why he should not have good control. He is really relaxed. Nothing tense about him out there and he is as loose as three gooses. I like him very much. If he had changes he might be a tough boy to beat. Shows no sign of excitement or pressure. I could easily see this boy in the Majors some day. I would try to sign him right now and I wish I had the chance to work him out. I would not be surprised if this fellow is good all-round athlete. I would like to find out about him. July 1, 1952 WOLFE Tall right hander on option from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. Contentious. Always mistreated. Inaccurate narrator and an insincere prognosticator. Has a lot of speed and enough stuff to be a good pitcher. If Pittsburgh gets waivers on this fellow after the season is over, I would favor at the present time to let him go to the draft at Hollywood. He is a dry kettle on a hot stove. B.R. March 21, 1952 Ed Wolfe: A great fast ball. A right hander about 6' 3" tall. Has had two years experience. Doesn't have the poise of Waugh or Kline, bu he has a chance to stay with the Pittsburgh club in the 1952 season. He acquired a change of speed pitch at DeLand and he has a lot of ability. Stage fright may get him. No doubt that CAN be said about all these young players, but I believe that Wolfe is more subject to it than some of the others. July 1, 1952 WOLFE Tall right hander on option from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. Contentious. Always mistreated. Inaccurate narrator and an insincere prognosticator. Has a lot of speed and enough stuff to be a good pitcher. If Pittsburgh gets waivers on this fellow after the season is over, I would favor at the present time to let him go to the draft at Hollywood. He is a dry kettle on a hot stove. B.R. July 1, 1952 YOCHIM Left hander. His fast ball is a curve, and his curve ball is a change of pace. If he had perfect control, it might be that he could win in the majors, but Yochim, more than any pitcher on the Pittsburgh list, simply has to have perfect control. I doubt if he should be retained by Pittsburgh next Spring. Likely best to let him go to the draft say at New Orleans. We will watch him. B. R. Transcribed and reviewed by volunteers participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.