The Washington herald., 1912-03-04
PITCHER HUGHES
ONLY ONE LEFT
Was Member of 1905 Nation
ais Which Trained in
Charlottesville.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP
Throng of 500 Fans at Station to
Wish Grifith's Players
Good Luck.
By WILLIAM PEET.

BY WILLIAM PEET.
1t is singular coincidence that Long
Tom Hughes is the only present member
of the Washington baseball club who
trained in Charlottesville with Jake
Stahrs Nationals in 1906.
Yes; Tom was there seven years ago
with that never-to-be-forgotten team
which started he season In whilrwind
fashion, burning up the American League
with a vengeance until the drop from
first place to the bottom of the ladder
came with dull, sickening thud.
In talking with the writer yesterday
just before the recruits left for the col
lege town, Hughes said: I'VE did not
find conditions any too favorable In
Charlottesville in 1906. In fact. We en-
countered lot Of cold weather and sew
eral billiards. After the first two weeks
five OF the pitchers. including myself.
were packed OF 20 Hot Springs, as We
could not get into shape in CharIottes-
Vile"
Is history going to repeat itself. or
will the present cold snap soon break
up and real spring weather appear?
The trip TO Charlottesville this season
is very much OF an experiment. and un-
less good results are obtained. Manager
Grifrth viii in all probability lay his
plans for a training camp farther south
next year.
That Washington fans are thoroughly
aroused and taking a greater interest in
the club that ever before was evidenced
by the fact that 500 persons thronged
Union Station yesterday morning to catch
as they assembled preparatory to board
ing the express for the training camp.
Among the big throng were noticed
two dozen or more who came up from
Alexandria and parted with the price OF
a ticket In order that they might ride
on the same car with Griffith's hopefuls
back as far as Alexandria.
Mike Donlin tells this one on Patsy
Donovan, former manager Of q list of
clubs too numerous to enumerate. The
tale dates back to the time when Held
rick, Burkett, Donlin, Wallace, Padden.
and several other stars comprised one
OF the best teams that ever represented
st. Louis. Most OF this aggregation
stayed at the Normandie Hotel. IN the
Mound City, and the night festivities
were one Of the features OF the season.
but in all instances Patruchio would take
smoke. After four or i've of the ath-
letes would pay for a round and II came
Patsy's turn to purchase he would turn
to the gang and say: It's getting close
In here. lads; let's have q little air"
Victor Safer, the twenty-year-old first
baseman OF the Chicago National Cubs.
certainly has caused enough commotion
in the National League to satisfy one of
his years.
Safer came heralded as a sensation.
And he has been causing one about. every
time that he turned around
Here is what that young man has done
In his brief life:
Jumped direct from a high school team
to the Chicago Cubs and at n time when
that team held the championship OF the
National League.
Stepped from the bench to first base
when he was but twenty years Of age
and at a time when the Cubs were In a
hot fight for the pennant
Made good In the eyes of Fred Clarke
and Roger Bresnahan, but not in those
OF Frank Chance.
Was offered for trade In the biggest
deal ever attempted at the annual meet |
ing OF the Natiinal League.
And finally was the cause of the row
which resulted In Roger Bresnahan fling
charges against Charles Webb Murphy. |
Can you beat that for a twenty-year-
old chap? Many a man has played base
ball a lifetime without having caused
half the commotion.
A New York sport scribe has Jumped
from the choosing Of truly great stars !
to the picking of boobs In sports and I
here it is. the twenty greatest blunders
In baseball:
When Cincinnati traded a kid named |
for a great pitcher named |
Rusie.
When st. Louis traded Three-fingered |
Brown TO Chicago for Jack Taylor.
When Charles Webb Murphy stood in !
the lobby Of the Waldorf and called Ra- |
tah Bresnahan a policeman.
When John Anderson stole second with |
three on.
When Jack Chesbro lost a worlds
on a wild pitch.
When Merkle .ailed to touch second |
and lost a pennant.
When Matty grooved one for Baker.
When Marquard grooved one for Baker. !
When Charles Webb Murphy panned |
the national commission.
When Clark Grifith allowed Miller |
Higgins to leave Cincinnati. -
grounder TO Bobby Wallace at st. Louis, |
October 4. 1905
When Sherwood Magee belted Finneran /
on the bugle.
When Pittsburg and Detroit passed up !
Grover Cleveland Alexander.
When Cincinnati allowed Marty O'Toole |
10 get away without a trial.
When Hughey Jennings underestimated |
Babe Adams in 1909
When Cleveland let Ed Kniian go to
Detroit
When Bresnahan made faces at Um-
pire Billy Klein.
When Horace Fogel switched his ia
nous Hermann Murphy letters.
When McGTaw parted with Mike Donlin |
prior to the 1911 worlds series.
When Lou Criger touted Ty Cobb as q
bonehead.
The Philadelphia Record says:
Everlasting greed for the almighty |
iollar may induce the Athletics and /
Giants to repeat the worlds series In
Texas this month. as q grand finale to /
he spring practice work In the South.
That 1t would be a mistake to play such
/ series, looking at the matter from the
piewpoint Of the general good of base-