Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-10
WORK FOR CATCHERS
PhiIIies' Trio Will Have Their
Hands Full in the South.
PITCHING SQUAD is LARGE
Interesting Stories of Manager
Dooin's Early Experiences as
Backstop.
PITCHING SQUAD Is LARGE

| PHILADELPHIA, January 1O.-unleSs
Manager DOOM of the Phillies is fortu
| nate in digging up good catcher In the
next few weeks Charlie and his two un'
derstudies, Pat Moran and McDonougn
are going to have a hard time of it dur
| ing the teams southern trip.
| The indications are that the club VIII
! send more twirlers south than ever be-
| fore So many of the youngsters made
| fine records in their respective leagues
| last season that Manager Doom does no.
| desire to part with any Of them unit
after he has seen them in action.
According to present plans between
twelve and fifteen pitchers will be in the
squad which will be sent to Birmingham
Ala, the latter part of next month.
While there each twirler will have to DC
warmed up twice each day, which Wouio
give each of the three catchers now OH
the clubs pay roll an average OF four :ol
five pitchers to warm up twice daily.
Naturally, Manager Doom will not be able
10 devote much of his time to this kino
Of work, for he will have tc --eep ms
eyes on the entire squad, so That unless
another backstop is secured Moran a any
McDonough will have their hands full
trying to get the twirlers into condluon.
Should either of this pair be injured the
situation will he quite serious.
Under the conditions 1t Is SURPRISING
that thee lub parted with Catcher Jack
clubs officials doubtless now regret that
Fred was not kept with the club until
after the spring training trip.
Hard Time for a Player.
Doom is not likely to repeat the expert
ence that he had on the way south last
spring, when he mistook one of his new
players, ..Runt" Walsh, for reporter.
Charles mistake at that time was par
donable for it was his first trip In charge
of ball club. and he was naturally nerv-
ous
One of the most dreaded moments in a
players career is when he is called upon
to introduce himself to his new manager
such as Walsh was on this occasion.
Doom. though, had also been through ugh
the mill as a player himself. The first
time it occurred to him was when ne
reported to the manager of the club at
ST. Joseph, Mo. At that time Charlie mao
never played with a league team and as
he did not weigh more than 12O pounds
he naturally did not look the part of a
backstop. The st. Joe manager nearly
tainted when Charlie announced that ne
was the new catcher from Cincinnati.
Great Scott exclaimed the manager,
you a catcher! Why, you look more like
a bantamweight boxer or a jockey than
a ball player 1 think you had better
take the next train for Cincinnati"
Doom, though, had his nerve with him.
and he pleaded so hard for chance tnat
it was given to him. He made good from
the start, and a few months later his
release and that of Rudy" Hulswitt
were sold to the Phillies.
A Fleischmann Star.
Before he got his start at st. Joe Doom
spent a summer in the Catskin noun
tains. The Fleischmann family of Cincin-
natl has a magnificent estate at a place
called Fleischmanns-in-the- Mountains
and Max and julius, two Of the boys in
the family. who have long been stock.
holders in the Cincinnati club. DECIDED
that they would have ball club of their
own in the Catskills. Between Fleisch-
MAINS and the nearest town, place
called Grifflns Corners, they found Level
stretch of land big enough for a ball
park. and they laid out diamond and
The latter was a regular little toy. and
was capable Of holding just six people.
1t was built back of the catcher's posi-
ton, and was always occupied by mem
. Elmer Flick, who afterward played or
the Philiees, and several youngsters who
later made good in the minor leagues
formed the team. which played with the
various clubs from the nearby summer
resorts.
Mrs. Fleischmann, the mother of Max
! and julius. was regular attendant al
! the games. but her knowledge of base
ball was decidedly limited. One day when
Doom was warming up the pitcher near
the grandstand he heard Mrs. Feisch.
, mann say:
Julius, I don't think it right for you
and Max to play favorites."
"Why, what do you mean?" inquired
Julius.
Well relied Mrs. Fleischmann, there
you have that little red-headed fellow
Doom. catching all the time. Now. there
is that boy way out there in what do you
call it, right field? You say his name is
Donohue, Patrick Donohue. Why don't
you promote Patrick to play in front OF
the grandstand once in while?"
So, if Manager Doom gets very hard
pressed down south for catchers he might
promote" John Titus to work with the
pitchers near the grandstand Magee
wouldn't take the job. Sherwood tried II
for a minute last spring at Southern
Pines. and nearly had one of his fin.
gers swept into the next county.