WARNEKE TRADED TO MONTGOMERY
AP - MONTGOMERY (AL): The defending Southeastern Division champions have announced the completion of a trade with the Pawtucket Flying Dutchmen that will bring ace pitcher Lon Warneke to Montgomery.The price tag for The Arkansas Hummingbird was a fairly steep one, but it is one that Burns management feels will put them in immediate contention to repeat in 1933 and contend seriously through 1935. Pawtucket will be receiving the Burns #1 draft selections in 1934 and 1935 as well as pitchers Willis Hudlin & Russ Van Atta and outfielder Lloyd Waner.
Warneke, 24, has been a minor disappointment in his DBS career, going 8-10 in 1932 but with an exceptional 2.85 ERA. Most experts agree that he has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the league and solid seasons are still ahead of him. Warneke will immediately assume the top stop in the Burns rotation, joining Tex Carleton, Fred Marberry and Tommy Bridges.
Original Burns Willis Hudlin and Lloyd Waner, both 27, both have a strong upswing to them. Although both were key members of the 1929 World Championship team, neither did not figure much into the Burns plans for 1933. Hudlin appeared in a DBS-record 101 games in 1929, and has 34 career saves and 52 career wins. He can both start and relieve effectively. Waner led the DBS in steals in 1928, but saw progressively less action last season. He was benched earlier in mid-season 1932 in favor of Smead Jolley and never returned to the regular lineup. He is however, a career .292 DBS hitter and potentially has many fine seasons ahead.
Van Atta, 27, was the Burns 3rd round pick in the recent 1933 draft and can be used out of the bullpen or as a swingman.
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