The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-04-15
GROOM is SLATED
TO PITCH OPENER
AGAINST NEW YORK
Russell Ford Likely to Toe
the Slab for the
Highlanders.
KID ELBERFELD is SOLD
by WILLIAM PEET.


Nationals, departed with his team for
New York he announced that Bob
Groom would twirl the opening game
against the Yankees and that in all prob
ability Walter Johnson would work on
Tuesday.
Groom during the past two years has
been mighty effective every time he
faced the New Workers.. and as the lanly
finger Is in the best possible shape. all
that is needed is a little batting
virtually won.
As the Washington players lounged
around the Majestic Hotel in Philadel-
phia Saturday morning, one Of the
youngsters made the statement that If
Bob Groom only had a little more weight
ne would be great pitcher. Groom
overheard the remark, and good-natur-
edly said to the player:
I'm bet / weigh twenty-five pounds
more than you
The bet was snapped up. and every
body made rush for the scales To the
surprise of the audience, Sir Robert
tipped the beam at ia pounds.
II lose" solilcquized the .younEster.
Il thought you didn't weigh more than
$50. pounds" -
Groom certainly is a deceptive looking
twirler, and incidentally when he Is right
and his curve ball working properly, is a
stumbling bl- :: for any club in the John
sonian circuit.
The Nationals are going to ind the
New York Yankees a hard team to beat.
particularly right now, as the Boston
Red Sox have just cleaned up on the
Hilltop, landing all three games, and
Wolverton's gang is fighting mad. The
chances are that Russell Ford will pitch
for the Highland clan, and Ford is a
tough one for the Nationals any time he
goes into the box.
AS The Washington Herald stated this
morning. the next shift for Kid EIber-
field is Milwaukee. Manager Grihith
sent the following wire last night:
''wiIliHm Peet. Sporting Editor, Herald.
Eberfeh was to-day sold 10 Milwaukee.
"CLARK GRIFFITH"
Whether or not the Kid will report to
Milwaukee is another question, but Grin
will have washed his hands of the former
star II Hugh Duffey, the Milwaukee
manager, forks over the necessary coin.
II is understood that the money involved
for EIberteId,s release is S.500.
Had Elberfeld Joined the Nationals. II
would have been only a question OF time
before he would have been disposed Of,
as Grif intends to pursue his policy Of
building up a team Of youngsters and
using only the veterans he now carries
IN the club pay roll
II the weather in New York permits OF
three games and johnson is not forced
10 work out OF turn, the Kansas Cy-
clone will be in the box when the sea-
son opens in the Capital next Thursday.
II johnson should pitch in New York
Wednesday, he will not open here. Griff
does not intend to pitch johnson, Walk
er, Groom, or CashIon out Of turn
Yes; I guess we'll have to dope it out
that baseball is on the decline and head
ed swiftly toward the ash heap as the
great American sport. Only $4,000 per-
sons paid admissions into eight parks
to see the opening days games.
John J. McGraw, speaking of the
Yale team in the Yale Daily News,
says:
I consider this years Yale team one
of the best, If not the best, that the
Giants have ever played. It shows far
more promise than any nine OF recent
years, being in general well balanced
and not weak in any department. 1t
does, OF course, need a lot more practice,
but, in my opinion, will have very likely
q successful season.
Il should say that Scott is one Of the
best pitchers Yale has had His curves
broke well, but the great thing which
he now needs is slightly better control
The fact that he pitched nine full in
nings against our team shows clearly
that he is a pitcher OF more than or
binary ability. as never before in the
games In which the two teams have
played together has Yale pitcher gone
the whole distance. The catcher, too,
/ consider an exceptionally good man.
The infeld as whole plays a more
finished game than usual at this season.
The men think quickly and in general
handle the ball well. I should say that
the second and third basemen will be
the particular stars Of the infield, Ben
. nett showing up extremely well at sec
ond base