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Ted Williams Back in Harness Today Bosox Need Punch In Batting Attack Famous Slugger Scheduled To Take Over Post in Left Field, Also Cleanup Hitter BALTIMORE, Md., May 14 UP. Ted Williams begins his fourth major league comeback attempt Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles when he returns to left field in an effort to put some punch in the Boston Rer Sox sagging batting attack. Manager Lou Boudreau announced today that the slender slugger, sidelined since March 1 because of a broken collarbone, will bat in the number four spot "to take some pressure off some of the other fellows in the line-up." "Just how long Ted plays in his first few games will depend upon how he feels," Boudreau said. "I may take him out after the fifth inning or so if he feels tired. Unless the weather becomes considerably warmer, though, he wont play in any night games for about another week." The 35-year-old Williams, whose major league career has been interrupted twice now by combat service as a Marine fighter pilot, and twice by injuries, broke his collarbone after his first 15 minutes of spring training this season at Sarasota, Fla., on March 1. Without him in the line-up, the Red Sox won only six of their first 17 games and currently are last in the American League pennant race. Several of their games have I been postponed by rain. Hopes for Set Line-Up "I hope now well be able to play with a set line-up and batting order," Boudreau said. "Thats what a club must have to make any progress in the race. With Ted in there every day, it should make better hitters out of a few other fellows in the line-up." Williams made a remarkable comeback last season when he returned from Korean combat duty in August and batted .407 in 37 games. That was the third comeback of his brilliant major league career. The powerful left-handed swinger, named the American Leagues most valuable player in 1946 and 1949, first interrupted his career after the 1942 campaign, when he entered the Marine Corps for three years of flying service. After his discharge, he came back to hit .342 in 1946. Williams suffered his first serious injury in the 1950 All-Star game at Chicago, when he crashed into a wall while chasing a fly ball and broke a bone near his left elbow. The injury bothered him and hampered his swing when he returned to the line-up late that season, but the following year, he once again was one of the most-feared batters in baseball with a .318 mark, 30 homers and 126 runs batted in. He was called back into the Marine Air Corps on May 2, 1952, and served until July 28, 1953. Williams, himself, had doubts about his ability to come back last season until he dispelled his own qualms with a terrific hitting streak. Boudreau said Williams return would bring about two other important changes in the Red Sox batting order. Rookie first baseman Harry Agganis, who has been hitting close to .300, will be moved up from fifth to second, and third baseman George Kell, who has been hitting cleanup, will be dropped to fifth.
