The Washington herald., 1912-03-12
NATIONALS HAVE
FIRST REAL WORK
Boss Griffith Sends Squad
Through Two Sessions on
Lambeth Field.
MATHIS AND SHEER ILL
BY c. w. SWAN.

BY c. w. SWAN. q
Charlottesville. Va, March 11.-For
the first time since hitting the training
camp, the Nationals had two good
workouts to-day. on Lambeth Field,
in the morning and in the afternoon.
II is true that the going was bad and
the air cold. but for all OF that Man
ager Grifiths hired men enjoyed the
work on the sod.
Griff had the boys hitting a few,
with the youngsters in the box. The
squad was divided into two sections,
one reporting on the field at 10 o'clock.
and leaving when the second crowd
was ready TO take the field about IL
o'clock.
Grif was on hand. working like
Trojan, and sticking until the last
man was ready to jog to the gymna-
stun. Leaving Hotel Griffith about
9:15 Manager Grifith reached home
again at 1880, ate hurried lunch, and
beat II back to the field. sticking there
until close on to 4 o'clock.
OF the newcomers, Jack Flynn and
Dan Moeller were easily the star slug
gers. time and again this pair lifting
the ball over the fence, and cracking
out good. clean drives that were
labeled hits. While the pitchers were
using only straight balls. the lads
show that they can pickle the old pill,
and Griff's eyes shone with delight
whenever one of the boys would meet
the ball on the nose.
While the first days work cannot
be taken as criterion of the entire
season, the pep" and dash displayed
to-day augers well for the success OF
the Nationals. II is seldom that
squad of ball tossers comes out the
n. . ~
bases. hit the pill on the nose, and In
every way show that their hearts are
in the game from the start. Lambeth
Field rang with the shouts and good
natured kidding" that Ainsmith, Will
lIams, Cashion, Tom Hughes, and the
other sphere beavers were guilty OF
creating.
1t was plain TO be seen that the Ma
tionaIs were not to be denied the spec
tators. as 800 college students. townsmen.
and hangers-on were on hand to shout
TO the big leaguers. and many were the
remarks heard when Walter johnson first
stepped on the field. Walter is the idol
of the small boys of Charlottesville. and
whenever he shows himself. a crowd OF
urchins attach themselves to him.
Howard Shanks is another lad who
entirely too soon to say anything. The
youngster hit the ball nice, and has a
free, easy stride around the bases. Ray
Morgan. the -~Ginger Boy" was another
who picked the old pill in midsummer
style. Ray Is the real ''peppery" lad. and
Il is this youngster who Is arousing all
the good-natured kidding and noise, to-
gether with Alva Williams and Cyclone"
AinsmIth.
At both sessions. when the hftters had
swatted enough TO suit Boss Grin. he
had the infeId, composed of Ray Nor
gan on third. Capt. Mcbride in short,
Mild Bill" Cunningham holding down
second, and ''Clouter" Flynn on first
working hard. Ainsmith and williams
devided the work at the plate. and the
ball was sent around at a fast clip.
Speedy fielding was almost out of the
question, as the diamond was soggy, and
the ball stuck. But Grif managed to
get a half hours good work out OF the
boys, which pleased him, indeed.
Mcbride showed that he is still there
as a shortstop by stabbing several hard
drives in the old way, while Cunningham
and Morgan displayed the same dash
tBey have been showing in the gymna-
sium. The work of Jack Flynn on the
initial sack stamps him as being a lad
who will make them all fight for that
job and unless something Unforeseen
happens, Jack will be right there when
the first game is called in the Quaker
town.
Red" Spencer hit the ball hard. as did
Ainsmith, John Henry. and the other
regulars. The old boys showed that they
could still handle A club. and when the
real work starts, they will be right on the
job.
hard. Boehling. Engel, Walker, Cashion,
Walter Johnson. Guy johnson. Musser.
Akers, Allen, Tom Hughes. and Buck"
Becker all pitching TO the batters, and
as the twisters were on the taboo list the
boys contented themselves with shooting
the pill across the pan.
The catchers all took turns at the work
behind the bat. AS the boys all worked.
wrapped up In big sweaters. no real fast
speeding around the bases was attempted.
Griff simply wanting them to get a good
start, and this they did.
n Joe Engel, the Washington sandlotter
who is putting up a game fight for a
place on Griffith's pitching staff, is nine
teen years old tomorrow. and the boys
promise him a royal good time. Joe has
been receiving about two-thirds of the
mail addressed to Hotel Griffith, and the
boys are beginning to wonder why. HIS
birthday explains 1t.
Gagnier. the shortstop from the Lincoln
club. had to be content with a cap that
just barely sat on his head. But the
old boy was on the Job, and using a
knife made the bonnet 1T.
Two workouts are promised the boys
tomorrow by Menager Grifith, as the
weather Is sure to become warmer, and
Old Sol should come out from behind
the clouds for the afternoon, at least.
With the air just a little warmer, Boss
Grin will have his athletes working like
real ball players. and then the fun will
start
Cyclone" Ainsmith and Johnny Allen
again chased a rabbit around, this time
falling to grab brer' bunny. Eddie nut
up game chase. but with no snow 10
hinder him the rabbit found II easy 10 |
make his getaway.
Charley King will also make the
sweaters for the Nationals, Manager
Griffith deciding to order blue sweaters
trimmed in gray. with a gray w on the
left breast. Mr. King will personally
superintend the making of the uniforms.
going to the factory in New York to-
morrow. where he Will , have compIete
charge Of the making of the glad rags
OF the Nationals for the coming season.