Evening star., 1912-11-20
A|NSM|TH'S HEALTH
BETTER THAN EVER
Word Comes From San An
tonic That Young Catcher
Has Recovered.
INTENDS TO STAY IN
TEXAS REST OF WINTER
Sheer to Be Given Trial in
Nationals 0utfieId-Base
Ball Gossip.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

| Eddie Ainsmith. the Nationals crack
| catcher, who suffered from a physical
and nervous breakdown last summer, as
result of which Manager Griffith sent
him to San Antonio. Tex, for the winter,
| has, according to reports, entirely re-
covered his health The following special
from San Antonio is self-explana tory:
| SAN ANTONIO, Tex. November 90
Eddie Ainsrnith the Washington catch
| er. who has been here since the season
closed In the big leagues, seems to have
| entirely recovered his health. He has gain
| ed fifteen pounds in weight and is in
better condition, according to his own
statement, than he has been in years.
Ainsmith is taking long walks every
day.. but he is not indulging In any other
exercise. He says that he will be fit to
do his share for the team by the time
| 1t reports for practice early in March.
| He does not intend TO leave here until
| then.
| Ainsmiths improved condition will be
particularly pleasing to Manager Griffith
and the patrons of the game here. Ain
| smiths condition at one time last fall
was such that it was questionable
| whether the team could depend upon him
as one OF its regular catchers. 1t was
because of this that Manager Griffith de-
cided to have Ainsmith winter in the
Texas health resort. and the plan from
all accounts seems to have been success
| full. Ainsmith when he is in good con-
! dition is one of the best catchers in the
American League, and his absence from
the team would have been a serious blow.
Sheer, the young infelder who trained
with the Nationals last spring, but did
not show to good advantage, being re-
| turned to Youngstown, is said to have
developed into a first-c!ass outfielder.
position which he played during the
l or p$crs rn9pf of lsrtS iss for "a
outfield that Sheer will be tried next
| spring.
| There has never been any doubt a. to
| his aility as d hitter, and if lie has
| learned the art of catching flies there is
a chance for him to get a regular place
| on the team. The outfield. in fact ap-
| pears to be the only department on Grf-
| fith's team where he will do any expert
menting. He figures that if he can i'm
prove the batting strength of his garden
| ers that he will greatly increase his
! teams chances on the race. There will
| be at least four or five candidates for
| these positions not to speak of the trio
| which held those positions down last
year. Sheer. Welchance Connolly, Allen
and the Cuban. Jacinto Calve, are expect
| ed to make Shanks and Moeller hustle for
| their places on the team. Milan. of
course, is figured as having a cnch on
/ center field.
/ Since the report that Pittsburgh wants
the eX-Candinal manager base ball fol-
/ lowers of that city are discussing prob
! able changes in the team in case Bresna-
| han secures a job on it. One writer says:
| What changes will be made in the
| Pittsburgh club after Roger Bresna han
| has been signed Pirate? Manager
Fred Clarke has notified President Drey-
/ fuss that the former Cardinal manager
| is wanted. and this means that if money
will bring him the Rajah will wear a
black flag uniform next season.
"Assuming that Bresnahan becomes a
| Pirate, what change will this bring about
in the club? Will it mean the release
] of one of the present catchers or will it
mean that efforts will be made to break
| Billy Kelly in at some other position
| first base or center field, for instance?
There will be no need for four catchers-
| ordinarily two good men are enough, and
it's a cinch that Manager Clarke isn't
going to carry Gibson, Simon, Kelly and
Bresnahan.
Should Kelly be placed at first what
! would become of Jack Miller? Few faults
| could be found with the kearney boys
| work last season, and if he were to be re-
| placed by Kelly, what would become of
| him?
| President Dreyfuss. Manager Clarke
! and Secretary Locke believe that in Artie
| Butler they have discovered "a coming
| star at second base. 1t is announced that
| this youngster will be continued in the
| regular lineup: so this. it appears. would
| preclude any possibility of Miller being
sent back to his old station.
! Now that Clarke has announced that
he wants BresnaEan, there is small doubt
as 10 where Roger will play next season. -