Evening Star Newspaper, March 3, 1933, Page 19

SPORTS. Rice Waves Clu o CAST RULES ASIDE FORBATTING DAL Even Uncle Clark Mixes in Riot That Marks First Clout Practice. B his very gocd man, Friday, Battling Joe Cronin, the peppery helmsman, were scurry- ing around the pennant-going craft, Nationals, this morning BY TOM DOERER. ILOXI, Miss., March 3.— Uncle Clark Grifith and with a full sized mutiny upon| their hands. Griffith cantered over the Biloxi play- ing field waving, gesticulating and giving unheeded orders in a din of cracking bats and enthusiastic shouts, while his head man, young Jos, was vainly patting backs until his mitts were as sore as a winning county poli- tician's on election day, and his plead- ings were pitiful to hear. All because those National battery- men had smelled meat. They roared and demanded to be fed. An enemy had come into their midst. They had been challenged and had accepted. . That meat was old Samuel Rice, the lean, long-striding outfielder, who defied the batterymen's rule that no hitter be near them until they had rounded into shape. Sam had come into the enemy’s territory and the boys were going to smack the rules into the Duke of Wash- ington’s hat. “Sam,” wept Mr. Cronin, “you should have stayed in the lobby in hiding for a few days. Your presence has my batterymen berserk. They want to carve | you up with some curves. “Bring on your peashooters,” said Sam, strutting up to the platter with one of his favorite long-hitters in hand, “I'll show you how much good the Biloxi sunshine has done for them.” HEN things happened. and catchers took up a full-throated war cry, grabbed bats and the most spirited batting practice any of the vets claim to have seen in many years took place down here. Succumbing to the mutinous urge of his mauling minions, the ruddy gray man from the cow country—Uucle, him- self—stepped upon the bridge and roared a few orders. He sent for the catching backstop, he crdered bats to be brought out, catchers’ mitts and fielders’ gloves to be unwrapped and told the flock that all rules were off for the time being. And what a sight gentlemen, what a picture. Even the small gray leader of the pack, made skittish by the burn- ing sun, the enthusiasm of his players, went back 30 years in perkiness, and grabbed the biggest war club he could nab. “He's going to knock the heads off these guys for breaking the . rules,” cried Schachi. But Uncle did not. He played in a game of pepper, bunting them to the boys, reachung out Ior pitches to rap them back sharply to the waiting line of players. He hopped about from one group to another, his cigar leaving a long swring of smoke, like a fast fiyer in a hurry. He showed young pitchers how to stand, how to deliver the ball, and then put Nick Altrock, tongue draging, in charge of further tutoring. He took hold of Johnny Burrows, the Arizona strike- out king, and told him how to get his | foot in the air. 'Then he cailed for a lieutenant to carry on. Cronin was qver at the other end of the field doing lkewise. WNJOW,” said Uncle after the pre- liminaries, “Let me see you bat, if you are feeling so tough.” Sam Rice went up and belted one, a sner to centerfield off Bill McAfee. Others followed, taking healthy cuts and still more vigorous pitching. All available hands, including the press representatives, were sent to the out- field to shag 'em. Tony Ragusin, camera in hand, with a string of chamber of commerce literature stream- deep left. Cliff Bolton, with the “look of eagles,” in his eye banged one to the skies and his bat dropped, broken in half. “You're holding it wrong,” shouted Uncle. “Take it this way.” And he showed CIliff how to hold the bat so that the tradmark upon it would be facing the pitcher. “Bam,” Johnny Kerr followed. And broke ancther weapon. Cronin showed him that he, too, was over-anxious, and wielding the war club incorrectly. Stewart, Whitehill, Russell and a crew of rookies, went up to the mound in turns in an attempt to stop the heavy slugging. Bill McAfee, the relief man, began bearing down on the hitters. Berg took a long one off him, Cecil ‘Travis got another. “There's a natural hitter,” Uncle said of Travis. Moe Berg donned a mask and pro- tector for the first time. This was real business. Cronin hopped from batters to pitchers, urging them to slow down, and a movie outfit began pumping away at the scene of action which, however, was never meant for the fortunate camera boys. OT until old Samuel Rice was ushered out of the picture by Griffith did the heavy firing cease. then attention turned to prepping the hurlers in catching runners off first. Al Thomas had a few minutes drilling in this department with Joe Cronin doing the coaching. Pitcher Walter Stewart, boasting a Infielders | Big Train Tries Again Tomorrow ALTER JOHNSON, still hopeful of taking over the Jersey City franchise in the International League, will go to New York eg2in tomorrow to eonfer with circuit of- ficlals after a “desperation” meeting in which they are determined to settle the Skeeters’ muddled affairs. The former star pitcher and man- eger of the Nationals and his fi- nancial backers had expected to get the club yesterday, but p'ans went awry at the last minute when one of the Jersey City stockholders ra- fused to accept terms that had bzen voted sztisfactory to all other parties concerned. Should the Jersey City franchise ‘b2 shifted to Providence, which it is rumored may be done, Johnson said today he and his backers still would be in a favorable position to assume control of the club. BARTER FOR VANCE BY CUBS UNLIKELY Club Is Well Stocked With Right-Handers—Might Put Over Southpaw Deal. BY FRANCIS J. POWERS. HICAGO, March 3.—There does not seem to be much sense to the yarn that Dazzy Vance may start the 1933 sea- son pitching in the regimentals of the Chicago Cubs rather than the gaudily trimmed uniform of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards may be willing to barter the old dazzler, but just why the Cubs should want him is another question. They have a good collection of right- handers and unless Vance stages & large-sized comeback he would add little or nothing to the effectiveness of the Chicago staff. Charlie Grimm probably would hesi- tate quite a while before taking on an- other veteran right-handed pitcher at the cost of some player now on_the Cub squad. The Bruins snared Bur- leigh Grimes last year and he was of little or no value to the team. Grimes has had himself repaired over the Winter and is attempting to make a comeback. He is almost as good a gamble as Vance would be. With Bush, Malone, Root, Warnecke and Tinning around, the Cubs are well sup- plied with righthanders. However, there is a chance that Chi- cago may make a deal with St. Louis for a left-handed pitcher. The Cards have three good southpaws in Hallahan, Walker and . Mooney. It is_ unlikely they will need all three of them and might be induced-to part with one, provided the inducement were suf- ficiently large. RICHMOND SIGNING ’EM Manager Onslow and Two Hurlers Affix Signatures. RICHMOND, Va., March 3 (®).— Paul Folliard, former pitcher at Wash- ington and Lee and later a consistent mingr league winner, has been signed | by the Richmond Colts. Another young hurler, Johnny Har- wood, from the Eastern Shore, also has been signed. Both are right-handers. Jack Onslow also has signed as man- ager. > SIS DUKE GETS A TRAINER Chambers Also to Teach Physical Education, Aid With Track. DURHAM, N. C, March 3.—Robert L. Chambers, former athlete at Illinois and later assistant on the staff there, ing from his pockets, scurried out to| Pl foli ke Dk s teorpe nexk ATl | education and be assistant track coach. He will be trainer, teach physical | new tan, practiced fielding bunts, Nick | Altrock laid them down and Cecil Travis, playing third base, went after those in his territory. Catchers John- son and Bolton were getting high fouls. Paul Lines, the submarine slanter from Idaho, tried to fool the regulars with his “inner.” But Cronin made his “inner” an “outer” when he whistled the ball to centerfield. “Get that leather down lower,” said Joe. “Umpires would be calling on you.” “Not where I played,” said the kid. “They give us the shoulder out in Idaho.” “The cold one” said Comedian Schacht, as Cronin banged his center- field hit off the astonished rook, who had claimed that nobody ever had hit his “inner” for a homer. So that's what was happening down here in Poneland on a day set aside by uncle and his helmsman for pitching instructions, some volley ball and a little | canter around the park. Mike Martin, the trainer, sat at lunch looking out into space with a worrled and puckered brow. “Woe, and more woe,” Mike was say- ing, “I hate to think what I'll have to do within the next few days if some- body does not stop this mutiny. There will not be enough liniment in camp to take care of the casualties.” Gentlemen, let me reiterate. It was some day. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRASER FITNES 1Y TOWHITE S Hurler, Who Slipped in 1931, Regains Health—Grimes of Cubs Is Ill. By the Assoclated Press. ASADENA, Calif, March 3— About the most pleasing item in the Chicago White Sox training developments to date is the ap- parent return to health and form of Vic Prasier, young right-handed pitcher. Prasier, a star in 1931, last year lost his effectiveness and was batted out of action nine times in & row. An exami- nation after the season revealed the presence of malaria germs. Treatment eliminated the ailment and Frasier re- ported in excellent shape and has made the most rapid progress of any of the Sox hurlers. AVALON, Calif,, March 3 (#).—Bur- leigh Grimes’ plans for a hig comeback with the Chicago Cubs this year already has received a setback. The veteran spitball pitcher was in the hospital to- day with an attack of influenza. Grimes, hero of the 1931 world series while with the Cardinals, had all man- ner of bad luck last year, what with mfluenu1 uasnd bflt{mmal":h Hemhu‘}v ‘;n appendici cperation ng the - Lg‘pelnd was fil set to bear down, only to have illness delay him again. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, March 3 (#).—Marse Joe McCarthy, pilot of the New York Yankees, is seriously con- sidering the dispatch of a posse in search of Vernon Gomez and Wilcy Moore, both of whom are A. W. O. L. The two pitchers both have been re- ported en route to the training camp, where they were due on Wednesday. Nothing has been heard from either since then. | AMPA, Fla, March 3 (#).—Maybe the ease with which he knocked down sizzling hot grounders had nothing to do with it, but at any rate President Sidney Weil came to a con- tract agreement with Inflelder Joe Morrissey while he performed in a Cincinnati Red uniform and Morrissey stood around in “civvies.” “Sunny Jim” Bottomley, the first baseman recently acquired from St. Louis, also came to terms, leaving Pitcher Larry Benton the only player unsigned today. Bottomley was believed to have accepted scmewhere between $10,000 and $13,000. CLEVELAND, March 3 (#).—Tennis, says Eddle Morgan, Cleveland’s first sacker, is a great conditioner for base He played a lot of it during the Winter and joined 11 other Indians here looking anything but the “washed out” chl&nwhu reported last Spring after working in his dad's box factory. “Tennis has improved my starting,” he said today, “got my legs in shape, and my wind O. K. I believe my hitting will be better because of the quick eye gained in tennis.” CORAL GABLES, Fla., March 3 (®). —Jack Quinn went to his first base ball training camp 24 years ago, but the old boy still is a handy fellow to have around. Pitching against the Brooklyn Dodger batters yesterday, Quinn, who bas been limbering up at Hot Springs, appeared in fine condition, much further ad- vanced than other members of the Dodger hurling staff. OS ANGELES, March 3 (#).—Smoky * Joe Martin appeared in the New g York Giants’ training camp roster as an outflelder, bit already Manager Bill Terry has decided he'd look better | at _third base. ‘The Winston-Salem pookie was given a thorough workout at third base yes- terday and did a pretty good job. He kicked around a few grounders, but made a number of spectacular plays | and uncovered a strong throwing arm to boot. He batted .302 with Winston- Salem last year. PASO ROBLES, Calif., March 3 (#)— | President William Benswanger of the " | Pittsburgh Pirates base ball club, in Spring training here, may move the fence of his practice field farther away | from the plate. So many base balls have sailed over already the matter is becoming serious, he sald today. Gus Suhr walked up to the plate yesterday, his first time at bat this Spring, and smacked the first pitched ball over the screen. A minute later Forrest Jensen duplicated the feat. Paul Waner twice missed by balls | inches. HURST OF PHILS BALKY First Sacker Insists Club Must Agree to His Terms. WINTER HAVEN, Fla., March 3 (®). —Don Hurst emphatically declares he is a holdout from the Phillies and will r;m:ien 50 “until the club sees my point of view.” ‘The Phils’ big first baseman, setting up headquarters in a different hotel than that in which the club is located, informed President Gerald Nugent he felt he was entitled to more than his new contract calls for. He cited his “great season” last year. He said, how- ever, he was here to “keep in condition in case I sign up at an early date.” Hurst is the only member of the squad in Winter Haven who has not yet put his name to a contract. JONNSON IS DOWA HERE AFTER. BIG CAME... Aue EASTERN LEAGUE BLe ARE BRINGING DOWNA H\s K POUNDAGE.... W UP 1N IS FACE, MAKING HuA UOBLESS e /4 AR o 00 SOMETHWG WiTH THE PiLL POUNDER, ‘Johnson’s Fate Rests on Bat Fancy Stick Work Might Get Big Rookie Catcher a Job With or Near the Griffmen. BY TOM DOERER. ILOXI, Miss., March 3.—Make it Willard Earl Johnson, Mr. Printer, and not “William” as everybody here insists it is, and 50 hails him. Willard is the burly, rugged Mr. Johnson's name and he ought to know all about it, ‘despite the disturbance it will cause the experts who have been writing to the home folks about “Willlam.” However, Willard is a confident catching rookie down here, a former maskman with Greensboro, in 1930, had & trial with the Cardinals at Braden- ton in the Spring of 1931, played with Raleigh of the Pledmont League in the same year and managed to get into a | get! few games with Richmond of the East- ern League last season, just befcre it blew up in people’s faces, including Sir ‘Walter Johnson, the former Griff man- ager, who, they tell me, had some stock in the vent Willard Johnson is 22 years of age, weighs 180 pounds, is a native of Richmond, Va.. and can wield & nifty war club. lar claim to fame, which P Dizzy Dean, the Cards’ whirling pitcher. ;l:nthwmmhn;i;;mthe tterymen to catc! 3 re- fused to permit the cocky pitcher to ride him, with the result that he was shunted from camp for his set-to with the hurler. 14 Which did not seem to worry the| rugged-looking young man who came here to Biloxi one Gee! Wweek ahead of everybody to look ~ P things over. *Washington is my ball clud,” says this confi- dent young man. “I have wanted to play for this outfit ever since I could catch a ball without burning my fingers. “You know kid players always pick out their club, most of them never ting anywhere near it. But it doesn't hurt a kid to wish, does 1t?” Now that Willard is here with his favorite ball club, his chances of stick- ing do not fook very promising as Moe Berg, Luke Sewell and Clif Bolton skip around catching them with islon for & team that can pack only three catchers. When you it will have nine pitchers, six lders and five outfielders. However, an injury to Fred Jelick at Chattanooga, who assisted CIif Bolton behind the bat last year, may give Johnson a chance in that loop. the Lookouts of Catcher Howard Maple, a rookie here in 1932, may disturb that situa- tion for Willard, too. But there is not going to be any one to_shake Johnson's confidence in him- self. He has plenty of it. Al Thomas Gets Repaired Arm Doctored for Heavy Hurling Duty Daily Massages Given by Trainer Martin—Crowder Joins Sneezers—Big Four Prepping for Pinochle Wars. ILOXI, Miss.,, March 3.—That B Joe Cronin is going to place pitcher’s salary whip is evi- denced by the care which is being Both Cronin and Uncle Clark Grifith have said that they will shouldered right-hander's pitching to get up in front this year. Not on several occasions that Thomas is a great pitcher with a lot of good been repaired. Accerding to information gleaned daily massaging while at camp under the careful manipulation of charge of the whip tomorrow and from then until the bell hits he will Martin believes that Tommy's arm is as good as ever, but should get the operation of last Winter. He believes that m: the limb next Summer. , by the way, says the prog- raining down By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. more than usual hopes on a planned for Hurler Al Thomas’ arm. rely & great deal upon the broad- only that, but they have both said pitching left in the wing which has here, Thomas’ arm will undergo Trainer Mike Martin. Mike will take prep it for the flag flight. special treatment and care following assaging daily will put it in top snape for ‘Martin, Tess of the ti here is the best he has seen since he en- tered base ball as a trainer with the New York Yankees in 1904. : er was none too enough dr shape, but not so much good weather that they had an opportunity of overdoing the drilling. It was just the right mixture, something I would have ordered had I control of the weather.” The spirited drills of yesterday “and today have left Mike looking groggy. He was ever ready to dash for the liniment bottles and the bandages every time a pitcher went mrgfi across center field after a fiy ball. ‘With the kid pitchers’ legs still coltish and the infielders’ eyes mnot yet attuned to lashing unem dflml, e . mine turns to what is going to g:ppen when he gets a charley orse.” ‘ General Alvin Crowder, the “old master” of the hurling flock, is down with a cold, It did not pre- vent him from getting in practice, but it did retard his enthusiasm. “Mother, I'll soon be some; they are the famqus base story to the late Boze Bugler—will soon be here. Within a week the boys will be concluding their prepping for the exhibition games. On Saturday, March 11, war will begin with At- lanta at Mobile. “But the better part of our drilling will be in these exhibition games,” explains Griffith. “So the boys will not have to begin writing home until we get in a week or so of these scraps.” Joe Cronin is constantly talking There is not a hold-out, for signatures are in. The lack of dis- turbance here this year has the press men running in circles try- ing to find something to write back to their papers. Crabbing parties are under way these warmer days. The outfit wanders down the pier in front of the hotel, tosses over a chunk of meat on a string, and the crabs fall I{or the l'rk‘lme-upA A “It's a sucker game,” sa) loe Berg. “None but left-han ed” pitch- ers would play tricks on unsuspect- ing crabs.” Grifith, Frankie Baxter, Mike Martin and Billy Smith have formed a Zuwchle combine to beat the ‘They to meet the forces Which will be marshaled by Roy Van Graflin, the roly-poly umpire, who will be at camp very shortly. * The four horsemen of pinochle now practice nightly, and even Griffith’s rsol! is being slighted drills. in favor of ca Social life at camp is practi nil this year. It'lnllnu?d“i ‘There are few bridge affairs in the hotel sitting room, little radio oper- ation and no Saturdey night songs. Only the Mardi Gras broke up what would have been a first week of slow and comes over the plate high, so high that it would be a ball in any loop. Paul will be tutored in getting the leather down a little lower, and thmhemflbemutlorm;mg— e gggg o 8 gee : i FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1933 b, Griff Hurlers Mutiny : Cronin Banks Heavily on Portsiders STick ‘Em VP, BEAR, ‘M CLosIN' 1N " s mntn s W/L-LIAN QOHWISON WHO IS5 AFTER A CATCHINGE BERTH DOWA RERE —A TOUGH SPoT TO CRACK-BUT BILL . .AAS A STROANG ARM PLus A WISE. HEAD. SPORTS. —By TOM DOERER Y, " Ao DOERER. BILoXI, MISS LONDOS, STECKER MEET i | | 20,000 Expected to See Chicago Mat Struggle Tonight. CHICAGO, March 3 (#).—As its first | offering, the new Chicago Stadium Operating Co. tonight will present a match in which Jim Londos | will risk his claim to the world heavy- | weight, championship against Joe | Stetcher, the veteran scissors expert from Nebraska, probaifly before a crowd of around 20,000. ‘The Operating Co., organized after the stadium corporation went into equity roceivership, has .Joseph Foley | as promoter. Londos and Stecher re- | cently tugged and hauled to a draw in | an hour-limit match at the Coliseum. TO RACE IN ITALY. John Wanamaker of New York is to ship his Gold Cup motor boat Louisa to Italy and drive her in the interna- tional regatta at Gardone, on Lake Garda, beginning 5. | Fights Last Night By the Associated Press. INDIANAPOLIS—Tracy Cox, In- dianapolis, outpointed Jimmy Alvarado, Detroit (10); Willard Brown, Indian- apolis, outpointed Jackie Purvis, In- dianapolis (10). A SAVANNAH, Ga—Pat Flaherty, Sa- vannah, and Baby Kiser, Tulsa, Okla,, drew (10). Mat Results By the Associated Press. CAMDEN, N. J—Ed (Strangler) Lewis, 238, Los Angeles, drew with Sam Stein, 202, Newark, 90:00. ‘TORONTO, Ontario.—Joe Malcewicz, 199, Utica, N. Y., won in straight falls from Howard Cantonwine, 238, Iows. SAYS B—3 ISAYS FINEBACKING WILL INSPIR VETS Pilot Confident Whitehill and Stewart Will Shine—Sees Russell Big Help. BY TOM DOERER. ILOXI, Miss., March 3.—Tll B match the left-hand side of the mound department of the Nationals against any in the American League,” said the husky manager of the Griffs, Joe Cronin, as he paraded some of the fine achievements of Earl Whitehill, the former Tiger; and Walter Stewart, the ex-St. Louis pitcher, in a fanning bee. “With the exception of Bobby Grove of the Athletics and Lefty Gomez of th> Yankees, Whitehill and Stewart are the de luxe fork fisters of the league,” he added. Bobby Burke, the Nationals’ south- paw, who, Griffith and Cronin insist has not reached his real pitching form, is rated as being as good a relief portsider #s the next when his tummy isn't trou- bling him. But in Whitehill and Stewart Cronin sees the pair that is to make as much trouble for the rest of the league as it made for Washington time and time again. For a long while this pair has been a jinx to the Griffs. Beating it meant the Nationals had to be up on their toes and feeling in fit form. “And remember, too,” said Joe, “that in Jack Russell we have a right-hander who used to make plenty of trouble for us. When we played Boston the Bean- town boys saved Russell for us. And it was no picnic stopping him.” ITH good defensive work behind his left-handers next season, Joe fig- ures them to knock their last year's marks off the slate. And, added to better defensive playing than they have been getting at St. Louis and De- troit, Joe contends that the combined batting of Manush, Goslin, Schulte and himself ought to furnish enough of- fensive spark to give the hurlers some runs to start with. In last year's flight for the bunting, the Nationals fielded .979, 1 point lower than the Athletics, who marked up a season record for club fielding, But the Nationals fielded 10 points better than Cleveland, for whom Jack Russell toiled; 9 points better than St. Louis, Walter Stewart's former team, and 10 points above Detroit, for which outfit Whitehill had to do a season of hard work. And in the matter of errors, the Naticnal infield was as slick in keep- ing down the number of black marks 8s any club in the loop. The combi= nation of Kuhel, Myer. Cronin, Kerr, Bluege and the pitchers was supreme, General Crowder of the pitchers mak- ing no mistakes in 50 games. “Give Whitehill, Stewart and Rus- sell, our now moundsmen, some de- fense like that” Joe contends, “and their marks of last year will show something else again. “Then, remember, we are going to have more punch behind the bat with Bolton there. Plenty more if the utility infielders, Cecil Travis or Bob Boken, comes along.” UT Russell got good hitting with Cleveland in the latter part of last season. and be proved that he recognized it by hanging up a better record with the Indians than he did with Boston, with whom he played in the early part of the year. With the Beaneaters, Jack won one and lost seven. With a better hitting Cleveland club, he won five and lost seven games. While Cleveland, clouting .285, outhit the Nationals by 1 point last season, Joe feels that the new surroundings, better defense and more spirit will make Rus- sell a far better pitcher. Whitehill, toiling for Detroit, a club that pasted the pill for but .274 and was weak an defense, took it on the chin for 13 losses in hanging up 16 victories. Stewart, heaving for the Browns, who hit for .276, was bumped hard, getting but 15 victories and the mean-looking mark of 19 losses. In all, the trio of traded hurlers were whipped 46 times while bringing home 37 wins for their sides. Firpo Marberry and Lloyd Brown. who departed from the Griffs, won 23 games while losing 16 sessions. “Pigures,” said Cronin as the boys began to pop them up in this left-hand pitching discussion, “are O. K., but I'll wager that spirit this vear is going to tell the story and the yarn will be around tI reversed figures. Stewart and Whitehill are going to be a great pair to put with Monte Weaver and General Crowder, a great duet of right- | handers.” EDUCATION DO&Y/VT