Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-30
ROY WITHERUP EXPECTS TO
JOIN NATIONALS IN SPRING
Pitcher Has Hope of His Arm Coming
: Back Would Greatly Strengthen
McAleer's Staff-Base Ball Gossip.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

From his home at Mount Hope. Pa:
comes report that Pitcher Roy With
erup expects to be able to report to Man
ager McAleer next spring for a final trial.
1t is the first word received concerning
the Nationals tall tWirler since he left
the Norfolk training camp last spring to
consult Bonesetter Reese at Youngstown
regarding his injured pitching arm.
Witherup's experience with the Ma
tionals has, indeed, been sad one. No
pitcher the local team had on it's staff
in the fall of 1899 gave more promise
than Witherup. who had been out of the
game nearly all season with illness. So
impressed was Manager McAleer with
the young pitcher. who had worked sew
eral games against his st. Louis team,
that he figured on his being of great help
to the Nationals last season. To get
him in perfect fettle he sent Witherup
with the squad to Hot Springs, Ark, last
spring. where he got himself in fine con-
dition. The day he reported at Norfolk
he looked ready to pitch midsummer ball.
He worked out one morning for about
fifteen minutes and the batters could not
foul him. That was the last time he
had ball in his hands. That night a
swelling appeared near his elbow. from
which he suffered eXcruciating pain and
he started at once for Youngstown to con-
suit BOnesetter Reese. Nothing was heard
from him after that. further than that
he had gone home in disgust But his
name still appears on the Washington
clubs reserve list, and according to
latest advices he believes that his arm
has entirely healed and that he. will be
able to pitch next season.
ShOII]d this he true. Nc AipnrS Ditchlng
staff will be materially strengthened, for
there is no doubt about his ability.
Tn the fall Of 1905 Witherup pitched
brilliantly for the Nationals. That was
the year when Cleveland looked to have
the pennant won, and had it not been
for the many games the Cantillonites beat
the Maps that year they would have
walked away with the flag. Witherup
played an important part in that cam
paign.
He pitched his first game at Chicago
and won it and after days rest was
used at ST. Louis, where he shut the
Browns out for eight innings, and then,
after couple of errors in the ninth, was
smothered under a fusiIlade of base hits.
Two days after that the Nationals
appeared in Cleveland. The Maps were
then within half a game of the lead.
Just before the game La joie and Cantil-
Ion were called to the plate to announce
their batteries to the umpires.
who are you going to pitch?' asked
Lajoie of CantiIlOn.
"Oh. big busher named Witherup, who
was beaten by St. Louis the other day."
was the reply.
Thank you, joe. was Lajoie's re-
joinder as he started for his position,
smiling in anticipation of another vic
tory.
Witherup pitched and the Maps We're
beaten l to o. putting them back in the
race and killing their chances for the
pennant.
eff l had anything to say about base
ball rules l would do away with the sac
rifice hit says Jack Doyle. the catcher
who held Amos Rusie and Cy Young ten
years ago. II think it is kids game:
A sacrifice hit is always anticipated ana
fielders know just, where to play Tor FOL
either a Highlander or left-hander.
The neople in the stand like to see plenty
of good fielding and batting. but this is
impossible when man is sent up to sac
rifice 1t kills lot of chances for
double play, and what is more spectacu-
lar than fast double, say from snort