Evening Star Newspaper, April 10, 1929, Page 31

REVANPED INFIELD IS CHIEF FEATURE Club Generally Rated Now as . Contender—Again Defeat McGrawmen, 7 to 3. C an opportunity to glimpse the 1929 edition of the Nationals in action on the home lot for the first time this year. Eayly in the morning the nmew club will roll into Union Station at Washington and about as soon as the players lose their train legs they will report at Griffith stadium for grooming before entering the fourth game of their annual exhibition series with the Giants. And when it takes the field for the contest Washington fans will see a club rated by all who have watched its performances during the training season a_real contender for the American League: championship. Before the Nationals began training at Tampa late in February there were few base ball critics outside of Wash- ington who held them likely to be in the battling for the flag this year. Even ‘Washington critics accorded the club only an outside chance. But in the more than six weeks of training the Nationals have forced critics to revise their opinions. Under the capable direction of a new manager a sturdy team has been developed, a team that has traveled at a speedy pace through its exhibition schedule and one that should carry on in fine style in the titular campaign. Practically New Infield. ‘There should be much about this new Washington club to interest its fol- lowers tomorrow afternoon. First, they will see virtually a new infield. The players will be familiar figures, but not placed as formerly. They are apt to find Buddy Myer, procured from the Red Sox in exchange for a flock of talent, a far better third sacker than he was last year with the Boston club, and he was good then, and in Ossie Bluege they will see a shortstop who actually seems better than he was as a third sacker last year, which was one of his best at the hot corner. Jack Hayes, who looked nothing more than an average player last season, should impress observers as a_ vastly improved baseman. At first, the veteran Joe Judge will be found as smooth a per- former as ever. The first thing about the outfield the fans will notice will be the absence of Sam Rice. This veteran campaigner, still with a lot of base ball left in him, is watching the games from the side lines these days. Youth has won over age in the battle for the right field berth, so in the garden where Rice was such a familiar figure for years Red Barnes now cavorts. d he's cavorting in great manner, too. The remainder of the outfield is the same as last year so far as the person- nel is concerned. Sam West looks bet- ter as a gardener than he did in the past season, but the voung center fielder still has to show real worth at bat. In left Goose Goslin is going about his work well and seems to be carrying a rejuvenated arm this year. Some Other New Faces. The fans probably will see some new pitchers in action while the Nationals are home for their two-game stand against the Giants, and very likely a new catcher, too. Ad Liska, $20,000 urchase from Minneapolis, may show gl.s submarine delivery; Arch Campbell, drafted from St. Paul, is apt to crash into one of the contests, and Paul Hopkins, recalled from Montreal, has a chance to show his stuff an inning or two. Roy Spencer, catcher recently signed by the club, undoubtedly will go behind the bat for a time during the home stay. Washington will see in the Nationals a team that has trained well, knows its base ball and can play it, too. It will see an up and doing team in which youth predominates, one with a well developed winning complex. It will see a harmonious combination working earnestly for a manager revered and respected by every individual in the combination. All told, the Capital will see the best looking ball club it has had since the Nationals were winning pen- nants back in 1924 and 1925. Again Defeat Giants, ‘With a fat second inning, the Na- tionals made it two in a row over the Glants yesterday at Augusta, winning 7 to 3. It was a six-hit inning at Fred Fitzsimmons’ expense and netted six runs. Among the safeties was Goose Goslin't first homer of the year, a ter- rific drive over the fence back of right center field. It was the Goose’s day at :‘t, for he got two more hits during the Y. All told, the Naticnals collected 11 safeties, 10 of them off Fitzsimmons in seven sessions. The other clout was handed to Harry Kelly, who once wore & Washington uniform. Sad Sam Jones started for the Na- tionals and allowed the Gisnts but two hits and three passes in six innings. He was in superb form and but one Giant passed second base whilc he was on the hill. Arch Campbell was not so good in the seventh inning, when he was reached for a single, and in the eighth he had to be relieved by Ad Liska. The Giants had found him for three hits and as many runs before he passed from the scene. Liska came in with two on and one out and a single off him immediately filled the sacks. That was all the New Yorkers gleaned off him. ‘The entire Washington line-up had a BY JOHN B. KELLER. HARLOTTE, N. C, April 10.— Tomorrow afternoon the Capi- tal's base ball fans will have gan the attack by slashing a single to midfield. He pulled up at second when Judge rified & one-baser-through Terry. Then’ came & fine bit of “inside” base ball by Hayes. ‘The youngster made & swinging bunt that sent the ball by the Giant pitcher. and between the first second basemen to right field for a clean single that tallied Bluege. Jones Gets a Double. Spencer_ followed with & sacrificial and Jones shocked the Giants by ill See Snappy 1929 Edition of Griffs Play Giants Tomorrow . GIANT LUMINARIES WHO PLAY GRIFFS HERE TOMORROW AND FRIDAY TRAVIS JACKSON- /V\‘ANAGF_R JOHN MCGRAW - FRED LINDSTROM- 3Ad Base THE SPORTLIGHT y GRANTLAND RICE ‘Who Wins? T almost every fight that is reasonably close the division of opinion—even expert opinion— is startling. In many of these contests there has not only been a sharp division of choice, but even those picking the same man were wide apart on rounds won and lost. Among those qualified to judge a fight through experience and training. there has been a rift wide enough to include 8 out of 10 rounds for one man and % out of 10 for the other. Even where referees and judges pick the same winner, they are frequently totally apart in summing up the evi- dence round by round. I recall one fight where many of the experts gave 12 out of the 15 rounds to one fighter and several others, equal- 1y able to judge, gave 11 rounds to the other man. It would be like watching a ball game where half the scorers and half the fans figured the Yankees had won, 7 to 3, while the other half had named the Athletics as winners by the score of 6 to 4. You can fig- ure what a fine tangle that would make. ‘Why is this wide divergence of opin- jon so pronounced? Punches or swings delivered at different angles look en- tirely different to different eyes. There is also so much tugging and, hauling and wrestling that most of the picture is obscured. ’ ‘The best test and the only true one is to pick the man who has inflicted the most punishment by the end of the fight. That, after all, is what they are supposed to be out there for. > Why Stars Last So Long. . you ever happened to check the matter over you will find’ in. base ball that most of the leading stars have | been able to keep going for many years —Cobb, Wagner, Young, Anson, John= son, Mathewson, Speaker, Lajole, Alex- ander, Carey, Ruth, Pennock, ete. . ‘This isn’t a matter of mere chance. It isn’t so much a matter of stamina. ‘The answer is fairly simple. The star usually, nearly always, works with hleeondmlfln picking upmm gss # i grounder. The Giants had two on with g ; i i 2 § sEE“ g > g 8 3 i .g 1 " g §i§; qi ] i E i h | £ | &%, gk 2| 3 i ; Hi gi g § i 8 i | E H Egg g el i 1 high degree of form. So the wear and tear on his nervous system is lightened. He isn’t working against himself. He is more a master of balance and ease in execution. There is much greater smoothness to his method. That is one of the reasons why he is a star.. The same factors that help to make him a star also make the game easler and add to his span of activity. Johnson had the greatest pitching motion base ball has ever known. It was for this reason that he could pump that fast one through for over 20 years. The fundamentals of correct pitching were always working with him—not against him. It is for this same reason that Vardon, Taylor and Braid are still fine golfers around the age of 60— after 40 years of hard campaigning. * Some Philosophy, of Spott. “You can’t get no base hits with your bat ot your shoulder.”—Lord (Umpire) Byron. “Never mind about trying to cheat the wind in golf. Pirst’ be.sure that you don’t cheat yourself.”—Walter Hagen. iR “The hardest man I ever liad to mas- ter was Gene-Tunney.”—Gene Tunney. “The only important stroke in golf is the next one to be _played.”—Jerry ‘Travers. E ’ Something for a Scientist. IOME scientist could do a great job by inventing a serum that would make a few modern fighters start winging & few rights and lefts and for- get the pleasures of the dance. The slogan of most modern fighters- in facing some opponent is “the skin they hate to touch.” ‘About all they have proved is that the public can take a lob more punishment il i i | the District Building. Tomarrow +| . At Atlanta—Brooklyn (National) Capital City Insects, Juniors Meet Tonight to Make Plans - Representatives of' teams planaing to enter the insect and junior sections of the Capital City Base Ball League will meet tonight at 8 o'clock in room n{( g{ at the same time and place a meeting for the preliminary organization of the Capital City League senior and unlim- ited sections will be mw'ol 4 Following_ a gathering of represent- ?‘muol mld:er.flnn ien':'l“hltm appears that nines compete in the Americah Legion series, which will again bé conducted among teams of that class this season in the Capital City League. At least half a dozen nines are expected to compete in the other division of the midget loop. * Teams represented at last night's meeting were: Auths, Delano Post, Lin- coln Post, George Sislers, Sam Rices, Russells, North Capitol Savings Bank, Brookland Boys’ Club, Alexandria White Sox, Columbia Heights, Corinthians and All-Stars.. With the exception of Delano and Victory all these teams are seeking lmonmw?onnr them ‘in the series. Victory and George Washington Posts have announced that they will sponsor teams. town A. C. and A, B. & W. Busmen are to meet in a practice game on the Arlington, Va,, diamond Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Bennie Worms- ley, Pete Ball and Calvert Hull are pitchers expected to see duty for the Busmen. R. L. Martin manager of the Del Ray, Va.,, A. C. base ball team has a game carded for April 14 with some team | nim from the District, but he has not been able to get'the name of the nine. He would like the manager of the club to call him at Alexandria 1230-J. ~ A practice game for the Del Rays was: listed this afternoon at 5 o'clock. Pop Kremb's Liberty A. C. diamond- ers will hold a_ meeting tomor- row night at 7:30 o'clock at 718 Taylor street. ~ All ites, new and old, are asked to attend. Libertys will open their season Sun- day against the Johnny A. C. on the latter’s field at Bladensburg, Md. Games mm nwab;ny 12, "c’d‘l' xrembm' an e at Columbia - 4165-J ‘after 6 p.m. A meeting of National Press Building Cardinals base ball team will be Thursday night in suite 1170 of the I BIG LEAGUE BASE BALL | By the Assoctated Press. Today’s Schedule. At Birmingham—New - York ' (Amer- irmingham. hia—Philadelphia ‘(Na- tional). — Chicago * (American) " At Tulsa~-St. Louis’ (American) va. At Shreveport—Pittsburgh (Nationial) vs. Detroit- (American). Reading . (Int " At Louisville va. At Yot Wayhe—st. Lonts (National) ‘] vs. Fort Wayme. At_Houston—Chicago (National) vs. |of whom have diamonds available Sat- | the At Charlolte—New ‘York ' (National) {American). — Boston (National) - vs. [Eastern). A game held | sunday is Press Building. The Cards will meet Indian Head Cardinals Sunday at Waldorf, Md. Press Cards have two open dates dur- ing May for which they would like to book leading unl Coach Harrington will receive chal- lenges at Cleveland 4831. J. B. Owen, who last season played for Bond Clothiers and T. T. Keane teams, has been signed by the Cards. - ‘Two games are booked on the north Ellipse Sunday afternoon. Eastern All- Star Midgets will meet Lionels at 1 o'clock and Lionel Juniors will face Potomacs at 3 o'clock. Boys’ Club indoor and outdoor junjor and senior class base ball leagues will be organized at a meeting tonight at the club at 7:30 o'clock. Boys inter- ested in joining teams in either league are asked to telephone the club at Main 2394 or attend the meeting. Petworth Yorkes who plan to play se- nior ball this season meet tonight at the home of Manager Jerry Rich- ards, 4118 Third street at 7:30 o'clock. The team is seeking games preferably with - teams having - diamonds. Call Richards at Adams 4687-J. A game for Sunday especially is sought for Hartford unlimited division nine. Write 721 Fourteenth street or telephone Franklin 6764. Hartfords had a good season in 1928 and are hopeful of again doing well. Bill Flester is again handling the . Takoma Tigers are to hold a special business meeting tonight at the home of Garrett Waters at 7:30 o'clock. The ‘Tigers will drill tomorrow afternoon at 5 o'clock at Silver Spring and Sunday will meet Foxall A..C. Jefterson District, Va., Pire Depart- ment base ballers are to meet tonight at 8 o'clock in Virginia Highlands, Va. Auth Midgets are after one left-hand- ed and one righ-handed pitcher to complete its nine. The team was to 2?..5"’“ this afternoon at 5 o'clock on ument Diamond No. 10 and at the same time and place will drill Priday. with a junior class nine for sought by Comforter Juniors. Call Manager Kelly at Atlantic 1210- W after 6 p.m. Corinthians and Col- leglans are challenged. Maryland A. C. nine is after a match for Sunday with an unlimited division nine on its diamond. Telephone Cap- itol Heights 244. Addison A. C. nine will o] its sea- son Sunday against Dixie tossers on the latter's diamond. Stevens or Robert- son will start on the mound for Addi- noon for the Addisons, at 3 o'cloc! ‘Third street and Missouri avenue. Hess A C., which was to engage in a practice game this afternoon with Sea~ men Gunners at 5 o'clock.on Navy Yard _ nd. will meet tonight at "7:30, o'clock’ at 2210 Shannon street. Astecs are casting about for games for Sat )y and with unlimited cll-mm nupwma Lincoln 8624. —_— e ‘were Lionel Insect and Peewee nines, both -mmg‘ztowlnn urday, are after opposition. Call West 811, BROWNS RELEASE BUVID l limfted class “teams. AP. BILLTERRY- |st Base SIMMONS UNABLE T0 START SEASON Macks’ Leading Batsman Has Rheumatism in Ankles. Summa Gets Job. By the Associated Press. ELPHIA, ~April 10.—Al Simmons, leading batsman, with HILAD] the Philadelphia Athletics, will not be in the game when the season opens next week. Rheu- matism in. the ankles, which handi- capped the outfielder last year, has again laid him low and he is definitely out for at least two weeks, probably longer. Simmons was so disgusted with his condition that he issued a statement sayinig he would go home for treatment and if his ankles did not improve prob- ably would retire from base ball Manager Mack talked him out of that idea, however, and Simmons will rest and take treatments here until the Athletics return from their first trip April 23. Summa will play in the out- field during Simmons’ absence. The Mackmen lost one and won one, it being announced that Joe Boley, regular shortstop, had gotten rid of his sl:ro dl.m and would be ready for open- g day. MEMPHIS, Tenn.,, April 10 (#).— Johnny Watwood, rookie outfielder ob- tained from Shreveport of the Texas League, has been hitting so boister- ously this Spring that he seems certain of a regular job with the White Sox. NEW ORLEANS, La., April 10 (#).— ‘The Cleveland Indians break camp to- morrow and head northward. The last game with the New Orleans Birming] at their home field are on the Indian home-bound schedule. 5 Tigers 3 bu;’bd! game ber;m tsburgh Pirates today before entrainitig for Detroit. e Donie ' Bush's - National Leaguers handed Detroit another trimming yes- terday, falliig- upon Prudhomme and Bamnes for a 10 to 3 victory. GETTING TO BE A HABIT ] . Smmmommn el Bl mmovsunuenns) *Batted Fitzsimme ¥Batted for Kelly in i WASHINGTON, West, ef. L] ook emoosmmomsumel ¥ eseesssssmmsssl Runs batted in—] nes (2), Goslin (2), *Bluege, Lindstrom, Oft. base hits—Jones. Goslin. Home run—Gosi Stolen bases—West. Campbell, 2; off hel, s—Off Jones, s, 11 in 7 innk iings; off Kelly, 1 4 innings. Umpires—Mes: Grafian. ‘Time of same— utes. Brenna v 1 hour and 48 mi GOWDY BACKSTOPS INOLD-TIME FORM Does So Well in Exhibition Braves May Use Him in Regular Season. . By the Associated Press. ORFOLK, Va., April 10.—TIt begins to look as if the veteran Hank Gowdy, who was a lead- ing major league catcher when he was with the Braves 15 years ago, might leave his coaching duties more than once to catch for the Braves this year. Yesterday Gowdy was behind the platter for the full nine innings, nursed Southpaw Ed Brandt along to pitch almost shutout ball, made two hefty singles and galvanized his despondent mates into playing real ball. ‘The sum-total of the afternoon’s play was a 13-to-3 victory for the Braves. SHREVEPORT, La., April 10 (#).— The Pirates were jubilant today over the showing of their two bespectacled hurlers, Carman Hill and Lee Meadows, against the Detroit Tigers. Hill and Meadows experienced diffi- culty in getting into shape the forepart of the Spring training, but in yester- day's 10-to-3 victory gave evidence of | veing in midseason form. EVANSVILLE, Ind., April 10 (®).—' After two de.é‘ of idleness the St. Louis | Cardinals 1éft for Fort Wayne for the | final battle before the city series here | Saturday and Sunday. Hal Haid and Bill Sherdel were men- tioned as_the probable starters in the opening contest against the Browns on Sunday. INDIANAPOLIS, April 10 (#)—The Cincinnati Reds were in Indianapolis ! today, trying to get out of the rain which for two days balked their efforts to play the Louisville Colonels a pair of exhibition matches. The schedule called for a game with the Indians here today and another tomorrow before the Reds return to Cincinnati Thursday night. HOUSTON, Tex., April 10 (#).—Joe McCarthy’s Cub machine, hitting on all cylinders, moves northward tonight after the most successful Spring exhibition season in years. The Cubs defeated Houston, 5 to 2, yesterday, running their season exhi- | bition record to 21 victories out of 26 games. Hack Wilson helped make it six| straight over the Buffs yesterday, bag- | ging a homer and a single. ATLANTA, Ga., April 10 ().—Doug | McWeeny finally has turned in the kind | of pitching Wilbert Robinson has eome| to expect from his regulars. McWeeny, a holdout for some time, has been siow in rounding into form, but he was at his best against Atlanta vesterday. Pitching seven innings, he baffled the Crackers all the way except for the fourth inning, when Dave Ban- croft’s error paved the way for two Atlanta runs. The Robins won the game, 16 to 4. 2 BOXING TALENT SOUGHT BY DEMPSEY IN CHICAGO CHICAGO, April 10 (#).—Jack Demp- sey was in Chicago today. ostensibly looking for boxing talent for New. York boxing shows this Summer. Rumors that he was attempting to make some agreement - to promote matches in the new Chicago . stadium were neither affirmed nor denied. off | the hardest fought in ; | play,” Hickey said. . (in action during my training trip ex- THICKEY SEES KEEN MAGEIN A A LOOP Head of League Sure Six of Clubs - Will Be in Hunt for Gonfalon. BY PAUL R. MICKELSON. Associated Press Sports Writer. HICAGO, April 9—The chase ' for the American Association pennant, usually a thriller, will beeven closer this season, Thomas - J. Hickey, veteran president of the league, predicted. At least six teams—Indianapolis, St. Paul, Minneapplis, Milwaukee, Kansas 0—3 | City and Toledo—are certain contend- ers for ‘the flag, while Louisville and Columbus, whica finished last in 1928, have stronger teams and may surprise their rivals, Hickey said. “The erican Association pennant race usually is a fast, tight one, but I believe the 1929 edition will be one of its 29 years of “I saw every team cept Milwaukee and from their enthu- slasm and splendid 'condition every- thing looks bright for a fast race again. “We have two new managers this year—“Bubbles” Hargreaves, former Cin- cinnati star, at St. Paul, and Allan Sothoron, former St. Louis Cardinal coach, at Louisville. St. Paul had & good club last year and will be hard to beat this season, while Sothoron is expected to help the Colonels, who fin- ished in the cellar last year. “Indianapolis, 1928 champions, will have another lLeavy hitting team with some good pitchers, even though it lost Pitchers Swetonic, Yde and Leverette, Catcher Spencer and Third Baseman Haney. Several new and promising recruits will help the Indians. “Milwaukee suffered a_hard blow by losing Claude Jonnard by Commission- er Landis’ free agent ruling, but it, too, has likely recruits. - Columbus hopes to get some aid from the Cincinnati Reds for Joe Stripp, and if it does should haw;n : zood‘cxfiw. 80 it with all the clubs. Minneapolis, Kansas City and Toledo put strong teams in the field every year, although they are weakened often in the middle of the season with sales to the !‘nnalix:" tlgngu!es, l:o':ever, they are e stron| ams in agammmthuhyea;."m Hedse ough the American Association followed the example of the majors by scheduling the opening of its season on April 16, a week later than usual, mskey s worrying abonit-the weather. ‘We haven’t had good weather for our earlier games for the past six years,” he said, “and I hope the jinx does not pursue us this year. In 1928, :&:fi; d::s 50 col;:l and rainy that our ce mark was approximat TSmshy 0;1021" 7 i ey, who is enterin, - ';fi?‘:’, Jear as head of the uh!:b:fim ! e opening game Columbus and Mlnncn‘po‘lu. g YANKEES SHOW THEY CAN PLAY REAL BALL | By the Associated Press. R Ark., Apri - After clowning their way' thtough miost of the Spring training cam , the world champion New York Yankees se- lected Little Rock for their first real demonstration of first-class base ball. Playing the Little Rock Travelers yes- terday, the Yankees played a dashing game in the field and got some excel- lent pitching from Gordon Rhodes and George Pipgras to boot. The Yankee batters found Woolfolk. a left-hander, quite a puzzle, but eventually they got to_him for a 3-to-1 victory. Babe Ruth got one hit, a double, on ;X‘ic]:ehe n::hsequemly scored the first on an Hhei other double - by RED SOX DISPLAYING HIGH-CLASS DEFENSE By the Associated Press. SSICHMOND, Va. Apr X have been givin, unusually tight g their pitchers id support Eamee. -1 support in recent Reading yesterday got nine men on bases through eight hits and a dropped outfield fly, yet only 31 batters faced Charley Ruffing and Milt Gaston. Three of the four men who hit safely off Ruffing were cut down on the bases trying to stretch their bingles or caught in double plays. Two more double plays nullified an error and a_hit made after Gaston went to the mound, and, it was not until the ninth that the Interna- tional Leaguers could put a run across through ‘three bunched hits. Meanwhile the Bostonians hit the ball il 10.—The Red i lustily for 17 safe blows and 8 runs, PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE. Oakland, 6; Los Angeles, 1. San Francisco, 9: Sacramento, 3. Portland, 4; Hollywood, 3. Missions, 4.