view raw text
Cards Get Westlake and Chambers Give Five Players To Cellar Pirates Pittsburgh Obtains Poller, " Wilks, Garagiola, Howerton And Cloe in Deadline Deal By RUDY CERNKOVIC United Press Sports Writer PITTSBURGH, Pa., June 15.— Branch Rickey, in his boldest move since joining the Pilttsburgh baseball club as general manager, today traded home run hitter Wally Westlake and southpaw pitcher Cliff Chambers for five St. Louis Cardinal players. Pitchers, a baseball commodity which Rickey said the Pirates lack, figured prominently in the deal. The Cards sent southpaw Howie Pollet and righthander Ted Wilks along with catcher Joe Garagiola, outfielder Bill Howerton and Rookie shortstop Dick Cole. Chambers, who pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Braves May 6, did not know about the trade ointil he was informed by a sports reporter at a local bank. "I dont know what to think about it. It came so suddenly," the big pitcher said. "At least, I dont have to worry about facing Stan Musial anymore. He got his share of hits from, me and more. But St. Louis is a fine team and I think Ill like working for Marty-Marion." The loss of Westlake leaves manager Bill Meyer without a third baseman and one of his best power righthand hitters. The California muscle man has hit 16 home runs, one more than his road roommate, Ralph Kiner, and leads the team in runs batted in with 45. Westlake broke in at third base early last month after playing the outfield since join-ing-the Pirates in 1947. He has pooled 97 homers during his big league career, seven of the grand slammers and has an RBI total of 378. The switch to third proved no deterrent to Westlakes batting power. He hit safely in each of his first six games at the new post, hit four homers and drove in 18 runs for a .400 batting average. Pollet, who appeared in 17 games with the Cards this season, has yielded 10 runs and 20 hits in 12 1-3 innings. He was charged with three losses against no victories. His name had been reported in an early season deal with the Pirates in which Stan Rojek was involved. The deal was never consummated but Rojek went to the Cards in exchange for Rocky Nelson and Erv Dusak last month. Wilks, once a competent reliefer, had been troubled with a sore arm this season and has given up nine runs and 20 hits in 18 1-3 innings of work. Garagiola, an effective left-hand hitter, will fill a need in the Pirates catching department. Clyde McCullough, who has been shouldering the backstop burden, -probably will be relieved by the new player when the Pirates face right hand pitching. The Pirate catching need was so pressing that Rickey ordered first baseman Dale Long, who throws left-handed, to try the position during spring drills. Baseball records show that it has been 44 years since a left-handed catched performed in the majors. While Rickeys strategy might be questioned, it was believed he might use the new acquisitions for trading bait for promising young minor leaguers. Only last week, Rickey, discussing the misfortunes of the Pirates, emphasized "believe it or not, out of quantity comes quality."