The Washington herald., 1912-03-02
Youngster Down to Weight,
and Confident of Max
ing Geod.
AKERs AND ALLEN HERE
Jack Ryan to Help Catchers.
Griffith Loses Pitcher Shankey.
Other Comment.
By WILLIAM PEET.

Besides Catcher John Henry. who ar.
rived in Washington yesterday morning
the late afternoon trains brought thres
more young hopefuls who will try for
permanent jobs this season with Clark
Grifith's N9dionals.
The trio are Bill Cunningham, second
baseman last season. and Pitchers Jerry
Akers, from Quincy, Iowa and Allen,
from Berkeley Springs.
One look at Bill Cunningham showed the
writer that the youngster had kept down
10 weight during the winter. Cunny Is
twenty pounds lighter than when he
showed up here last March, a fact eashy
observed at first glance. His face is
ruddy, eyes clear. and he is brimful of
confidence. Il feel sure l will stert the
season at second base" he vOuchsafed
to the writer, and what's more, will
play there in every game"
Il decided not to be caught mapping
this winter" the player continued, "for,
just as soon as the season closed in
October laid my plans for lot Of ex-
ercise both indoors and outside / took
long walks over the hills near my home
III Schenectady. n. Y, during the early
fall and in the winter started playing
basketball. 1 am in shape to get into
the game right now, and down to my
baseball weight, 167 pounds"
II will be remembered that last spring
Cunningham reported weighing nearly 100
pounds, and was forced to don rubber
shirt while In Atlanta in a heroic effort
TO take OF flesh. Many believe that the
youngster was In no shape 10 play when
the season started, and could not put
forth his best efforts. Later on, when he
was in condition Manager McAleer kept
him warming the bench.
II looks as If tie other aspiring infeld
candidates wou-- have to go at a mighty
fast clip TO beat out "Cunny' for sec
ond base; at least. he is physically fit to
start, and that is sure TO help whole
lot
Pitcher Jerry Akers. who last season
twirled for the Dubuque Qowa) club, Of
the Three-eye League, reached the Capt.
tai shortly before 6 O'Clock and regis
tered at the Dewey.
This young man has apparently taken
good care of himself during the winter.
He is a fine hooking chap, stands six
feet and weighs lS5 pounds. He has light
hair, blue eyes, and cheeks as rosy as
a dairymaid's.
Like the majority of westerners. Akers
talks right from the shoulder. He said,
you bet I'm glad to get a chance in
the big league, and under a man like
him. Fromme, who was with the Gin
cinnati Reds, comes from my town. and
swears by Griff.
Yes: ! had a pretty good record with
Dubuque last season, the official guide
only gives me credit for winning nine
teen games, but l won twenty-five, and
would have had a better record If they
hadn't worked me so hard Our club
only carried three pitchers. and I was
often forced to play the outfeld. am
sure Griffith will like my work, and so
have my heart set on making good"
Akers says that he is glad his old
friend Alva Williams is to be one of the
Washington catchers. He stated that
williaI comes from Carthage, Ill, only
thirty miles from Quincy, and that he
and Williams played BAN together when
they were kids.
Al1ers is a right-hander. and was OBJ
iained from Dubuque via the draft route
last summer.
The ofhar VOunp rUirler Allen froun