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Tribe#s Mitchell After .400 Mark Cleveland Fielder Hits Em All; Bosox Al Papai Tosses Well# but No Team Support By MILTON RICIIMAN NEW YORK, N. Y., April 29 OJP.— There was a familiar clamor from Cleveland today about how this could be the year Dale Mitchell will hit .400. The husky Indian outfielder started the season as if he were ready to put sluggers like Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Mu-sial and Ralph KIner in the shade. He rattled off five hits in the opener against Detroits Fred Hutchinson and Art Houtte-man. Then he tapered off somewhat, .but through Clevelands first five games he banged out 12 hits in 24 tries for a fancy .500 mark. Tris Speaker," the old Cleveland outfielder, is convinced the 28-year-old Mitchell will post a .400 percentage before hes through. Closest Dale has come in four seasons with the Indians was the .336 he hammered in 1948. Al Papai, Bostons phlegmatic knuckle-ball specialist, doesnt believe the grass is always greener in the other fellows back yard. Papal lost a heart-breaking four-hitter to Washington last Monday night. He mowed down the Senators systematically and only lost because his infield suddenly disintegrated and became all thumbs. Video Relaxes Weary Hurler After the game, he watched a boxer take a sound trouncing on television. The battler reeled, staggered and did a pirouette around the ring until a vicious right hand uppercut put him out of his misery. While two teammates tried -to console Papai over his tough luck on the mound, the lanky hurler kept his eyes glued on the fallen warrior and muttered: "Some guys earn their money the hard way." To hear Leo Durocher talk about his new Giant outfielder Don Mueller, youd think hes discovered another Pete Reiser. The Lip, at least, hasnt been so enthusiastic about .a prospect since Reiser reported to the Dodgers in 194 Or "The kids got everything it takes." Durocher says. "Hes a natural hitter and it wouldnt surprise me if he became one of the best in the league. Big league pitching doesnt bother him one bit. He takes it all in stride." Mueller; whose father Walter "Heinie" Miller played with Pittsburgh 30 years ago, is a far better hitter than he is a fielder, according to the dugout gossip. Sid Hudson, Washingtons lanky side-armer, scoffs at reports that hes all through. "I had a little arm trouble this spring," Hudson said, "and the first thing I read in the papers is that Im all washed up and that I thinking of retiring. "Nothing is further from the truth. My arm has come around fine. I have more stuff now than I have had in a long time and Im confident Ill have a good season." If ever anyone deserved success, Its Hudson.
