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. Dropos Big Bat Aids Bosox Wins Injury to Goodman Gives Walt Third Chance, and This Time He Looks Good By MILTON RICHMAN United Press Sports Writert NEW YORK, N. Y., May 4.— A broken bone in Billy Goodmans ankle may prove a big break for huge Walt Dropo and the Boston Red Sox. Recalled from Lousiville of the American Association three days ago, Dropo compiled a shiny 1,000 batting average as he helped the Red Sox to two straight victories in as many days. There was a mild panic among Boston officials last Sunday when it was discovered that First Baseman Goodman would be sidelined for some time because of an injury suffered in a game against the Philadelphia Athletics. Veteran Ken Keltner finished the game in Goodmans place. Then someone thought of Dropo, the six-foot, five-inch first sacker who had failed in two previous trials with Boston. A hurry-up call was put into Louisville and the burly, dark-haired slugger was summoned to Boston. In his first game against the Cleveland Indians last Tuesday, the Moosup, Conn., giant stroked a triple and a single and walked twice to drive in two of Bostons six runs. On Wednesday, he lashed a home run and a single, drew two more bases on balls and sent home three of the Red Sox seven tallies. The 215-pound ex-football star, who is built along the general proportions of Hank Greenberg, has a different outlook this time. Having failed twice previously he knows what it means to be disillusioned. This Time Hes Confident "This time," he says with unmistakable determination, "Ita going to make it. I have a lot more confidence and I know many things I didnt know before." One of the big things Dropo didnt know before was how to cope successfully with a curve ball. After a fast start last spring. Walt tailed off considerably, and the Red Sox optioned him to Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League on a 24-hour recall basis. That 24-hour recall turned out to be only a formality because Dropo remained with Sacramento from early May until the end of the PCL season. He didnt set that circuit on fire, either, winding up with a .285 mark. The Red Sox didnt even bother bringing Walt to spring training this year, sending him directly to their Louisville farm club instead. The Bosox couldnt hide their disappointment when the big fellow failed to make the grade last year. They figured they had a sure thing" when they signed him in P%*».1,?48.?°,had starred in baseball, football and basketball at the University of Connecticut and was considered a prize prospect. To go with the Red Sox. he spurned several tempting professional grid offers. There were those, and Dropo was among them, who thought that he received "too much" publicity in the spring of 1949, No rookie since Clint Hartung had been the subject ofso much advance buildup. But this time he came unheralded— and he may be here to stay.
