The Washington herald., 1912-02-25
GRIFFITH REFUSES
CATCHER CLARKE
Is Victim of Hold-up Game,
and Appeals to Ban
johnson.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
Foster Picked to Make Good at
Third-Advance Squad Leaves
Next Sunday.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
BY WILLIAM PEET.

In addition TO Catchers Henry. Ain
smith. and Williams. Manager Griffith
has Mig Clarke, former Cleveland and
st. Louis backstop, on his hands, and
Clarke may go to Charlottesville next
week, although it is more than likely
that the catcher will be sold 10 some
minor league club.
The Nationals boss was hot under the
collar yesterday morning when he re-
ceived a letter from President Hedges.
or the st. Louis Browns. notifying him
that Clarke had been turned over TO the
Nationals for the waiver price, 500, and
Griffith immediately telegraphed Ban
Johnson relative to the facts of the case
and received word that the ma tier would
be investigated.
II seems that two months ago st. Louis
offered to sell Catcher Clarke for $2OO0
and Grifitk said he couldn't see the
player at that price. Later, when the
Nationals manager attended the mid
winter baseball meeting in Chicago.
Hedges again broached the subject of
selling Mig Clarke. but Griffith refused
10 pay any such price as 5000.
Shortly after Griffith returned from the
meeting he received a letter from Hedges
ia which the latter stated that Clarke
could be had for $500. Griffith answered.
stating that the sum was still too high
and that he would not pay more than
Inc waiver price. ana yesterday
another letter from Hedges to the effect
that Clarke had been sold to the Wash
ington club for $3.50.
As Griffith has obtained Williams from
Boston. he does not need Clarke and be-
licVes that he iE the victim of sort Of
hOld-up game. Ban johnson has beer
notified of the facts. and if the league
president decides that Griffith must take
Clarke the local manager will have TO
bow to the inevita bic. but declares that
he will dispose of the player TO some
minor league team before the season
opens.
Baseball writer's familiar with the
workings of the International League
are picking young Foster to make good
with the Nationals during the coming
season.
Foster was considered about the best
little infielder in the Eastern League last
summer and it is figured that he could
bc developed into corking good third
SaCker
Manager Griffith does not know just
where he will try out Foster. but in
tends to give the kid every possible
chance in the world to make good in the
short field.
One week from to-day and the advance
guard of the Nationals will be on its
way to Charlottesville. This squad will
include the pitchers, catchers, and two
Infielders, Morgan and Cunningham Two
weeks from to-day the entire team will
bo housed i'm the college town and real
work will start.
Manager Griffith yesterday dropped
into one of the local sporting goods stores
and picked out two dozen bats, with in
structions to ship them to Charlottes-
vile during the coming week
When Joe Turner announced from the
Gayety Theater stage last Friday night
that he stood willing to meet any
wrestler of his weight in the world, he
vas not emitting a hot-air blast.
Turner during the past year has never
refused TO tackle anybody in the welter-
weight class. and has yet to meet the
man he cannot throw.
In the Middle West Gehring and Yo-
kels are to clash next Wednesday night
for the championship of the welter-
weight class, but before either can right
fully lay claim to the title they will have
10 give Joe Turner a chance.
A Milwaukee dispatch yesterday is of
interest to local fans. Here's the story:
There is nothing like outdoor exercise
during the winter time to put a baseball
George Mcbride, the crack shortstop of
the washington club in the American
League, during a tanning bee here to-
day There are many players who,
during the winter months take all sorts
of indoor games, such as basketball,
baseball bowling. and the like, to get
into condition for the playing season:
but I do not agree with them as to the
benefits derived from such a course. 1t
has been my experience that a ball player
who was outside all the summer season
gains great deal more by following the
same method during the winter time;
that is, taking exercise out doors, such
as skating. walking. and, in fact, any
thing along that line, with little pleas
ure connected with II. During the past
walking about the city and around TO |
the outskirts, and have also put in a great |
deal of time skating at the rinks and on |
the river. ] do little bowling now and |
then, but not with the heavy finger balls, |
as / think the strain is too much with |
that kind. ! bowl the pony ball, which !
is light and easily handled. and there is 4
no danger of overtaxing your throwing
arm in bowling that kind of game"
Deacon Jim Mcclure refuses to be re-
tired. He resigned the management of |
the Cleveland team last summer and |
finished the season as a scout. Now he
has shifted to the Detroit Club and will 1
double with Joe Sugden as inspector of /
young pitchers. The American League
takes care of the old warriors. Sugden 4
and Mcclure were two of the best catch
ers on that circuit ten years ago, when /
the league was an infant .