Schoolmasters

A pair of oldtime baseballers, headliners of another day, stepped back into harness last week.

In Phoenix, Ariz., 54-year-old Walter ("Dutch") Reuther, great southpaw pitcher of the 1920s, marched out to the mound. His assignment: to make a pitcher out of the New York Giants' young Clint Hartung, who could put plenty of speed on a ball but not a wrinkle of a curve. Just a year ago in spring training, Hartung (then an outfielder) was hailed as the most promising rookie of the year; but when it became apparent early in the season that he couldn't catch a fly-ball, Hartung was converted into a pitcher. He wasn't very good at that either, winning only nine games for the Giants. Teacher Reuther, who used to befuddle batters with three or four different kinds of curves, hoped to show Clint Hartung a trick or two.

In Vero Beach, Fla., veteran George Sisler, 54, the greatest first-baseman who ever wore spikes, got ready to manufacture a new first-baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He had a talented and versatile athlete to work on: hard-hitting, fleet-footed Pistol Pete Reiser. After two weeks of private lessons, Teacher Sisler expects to have Outfielder Reiser (who seemed to be forever crashing into the concrete outfield wall at Ebbets Field) ready to replace Jackie Robinson at first base for the Dodgers.

Jackie Robinson, who arrived at the Dodgers' training camp at Ciudad Trujillo three days late and 15 lbs. overweight, will probably be switched to his old job at second base, now that Ed ("Walking Man") Stanky has been traded to the Braves.

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