The Washington herald., 1912-03-03
DOZEN PLAYERS
And BOSS GRIFF
LEAVE TO-DAY
First Gun Is Fired in Spring
Training Trip OF the
Nationals.
LIKELY LOOKING LADS
Majority Are Young Giants-Mus-
ser and Guy Johnson on Hand.
Knight Will Report Late.
Likely LOOKING LADS
BY WILLIAM FEET.


MANAGER Clark Griffith with his squad
OF husky young Nationals. Will board
the II o'clock express this morning foi
the twofold purpose Of putting Char
lottesville, Va, on the baseball mar
and picking the club which will repre-.
sent Washington in the American League
this season.
The names printed in the foregoing
box show the men who were ordered "a
report here, and go 10 the training camp
under the chaperonage of Manager
Griffith: the others will report in Char
lOttesville. and will probably be on hand
when the Washington party arrives.
If ever a splendid looking set of young
men cast their lots with a big league
team, this crowd OF youngsters Corrallcd
by Clark Griffith IS the best, easily the
finest looking set taken on training trip
in the history of the sport here.
The majority of them are young giants.
One glance cOnvinCeS the observer that
the boys have lived clean lives: they
have ambition stamped on every feature.
and that Griffith Will probably have a
hard time selecting the best material
goes without saying.
Witt. the exception of Bob Groom,
every man ordered TO report in Wash
inSton was on deck yesterday. Groom
wrote last week a. king IL Manager Grit
nth would not allow him I few nf
grace. but the local boss replied he
much preferred :hc Iwirler to r1 At
once. and the chances are that the lanky
finger will be In Charlottesville Monday
or Tuesday.
Bi: Ava Williams. the catcher OBJ
tanned from New York in exchange for
Gabby street. called on Grin yesterday
morning. and after i short talk put his
name 10 a Washington contract
Williams looks 10 be in first class
shape. and declares that he will have the
lest season Of his career.
Tom Musser. the big twirIer secured
from the o. and T. League, was one
Of the late comcrs vest arday and looks
10 be q first rate twirler. Husky and
well built. Musser has the appearance
OF a veteran rather than a rookie, and
from all the good things heard NJ him
will he a valuable man for Gr!ff.
With Musser came Guy johnson. the
lad from Nedana, H. Johnson IS twenty
Years Old. weighs about 1T5 pounds. and
is fve foot ten. johnson is rather a re-
tiring youngster. but has the appear
anCe of being = ratt!ing good finger.
lie comes highly recommended 10 The
local o-tft.
The entire first squad assembled in
Grif's Office Yesterday afternoon about
o'clocE, with the exception OF John
Henry and Bn Cunningham.
Jerry Akers, the big twirler Secured
from the Three League via the draft
route, renewed old Zines with Alva Will
Jams. the big catcher who comes here
rs part OF the Street-Enight trade.
Williams and Allers played on the same
NJ in thEiv TnF in
nOis.
Ray Morgan, the youngster VINO played
;h:Td coward the close Of last year;
Buck Becker. the local southpaw; Joe
Engle. = product OF the Districts sand
lots. who will make one mighty attempt
20 land berth on the hurting staf: GuT
Johnson. the Illinois speed merchant:
Big JorrT Axes. Tom MUsse-. EDDIE
AinST0itu. john Alien. and AIva VIII
Jams composed the party in the club
headquarters yesterday. and after =
group picture was Strapped the party
h-oke up and scattered around tine city.
Several OF the ball tossers took in I
matinee, some went To the hotel, and still
another bunch dropped into Charley
Kings for 4 little chat
Jacl: Knight. the new inhelder obtained
by the Nationals in the deal with New
York, viii not take part in the preliml-
-ary practice at Charlottesville, unless
some sort OF ar understanding Is reached
between the playe- and Clark Griffith.
Enight wrote Griffith yesterday saying
that the thrcc-year contract he had with
the New York club excuses him from the
thirty-Gay practice period and. while
Griffith has not yet given up hope of get
t!r6 the lnfcider to change his mind, the
indications are that Knight viii not be !
he faay kka
exhibition series. |
Knight is studying dentistry at a col |
lege IN New York, and is practicinA
every day with the candidates for the |
Columbia University team. As much as |
this Will help, Griffith thinks knight |
would be n better condition n he worked |
at Charlottesville and he still hopes 20 |
get tie player to change his mind.
Knight says he is willing TO get here |
On April G, ana there the matter now |
rests.
Ray Morgan. the dashing little third !
sacker, is IL srea. condition. Judging
rom his appearance. Ray put up a fast |
article OF ball last fall and many OF |
the fans are expecting great things OF /
lin. Morgan and Buck Becker had
quite little confab At the gathering yes
erday afternoon.
Joe BoehlinG. tie Richmoad amateur
wir!er, signed b. Griffith, in a letter to
lie writer, stated that lie is in the best
iaape OF his life and Is ready TO make a /
ard fight for a regular place on the
pitching stan. BoehHng is only twenty |
Years old, weighs close on TO II5 pounds,
ind stands 5 foot Il in his stocking feet
The baseball writers OF Richmond are al
c"ntiuaeJ ON PAGE ., Column 4.