The Washington herald., 1912-02-24
AGAIN FOR
WASHINGTON FANS
Ground Broken for $4,000
Athletic Club Just Out
side Capital.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT.
By WILLIAM PEET.


Just over the District line in the State
lof Maryland ground was broken this
week for a big wooden amphitheater.
where II is proposed to conduct weekly
athletic carnivals, boxing. wrestling and
other sports.
It is estimated that the cost Of the
building when completed will reach SlS,-
900 and the money has already been sub
scribed. II present calculations do not
miscarry. the new athletic club will hold
its first show about March 10, the pro-
gram to consist of boxing and wrestling.
The purse offered for the main boxing
bout will be of such bulk that two first
class men will show their skill.
well-known Baltimore and Washing
ton business men are behind the club. Un-
ner the laws Of the State OF Maryland
boxing is tolerated. The club has al
ready applied for and has been granted
a charter and there will be no molesta-
tion by the civil authorities.
Complete details Of the new club Will
be published later in The Washington
Herald. The place Is less than four miles
from the heart of the Capital and can
be reached by the cars In twenty min
utes.
Washington will support such club
u bOuNc arc pEOptElg NOhubSNNNs dAN
from the caliber of the men behind the
project this is assured.
Capt George Mcbride. OF the Ma
tionals, was interviewed at his home in
Milwaukee last night and made the fol-
lowing statement:
You see. il Will be much better with
Clark Grifith on the coaching line the
coming season. remarked George. In
discussing the situation. "and for that
reason / have no objection to again
handling the reins. In fact, Manager
Grifith has written me In regard 10 the
matter. and have been holding on for
rome time in order that he might take
players II he should so decide. / have
every confidence in Manager Grifith's
ability. and know that he will make a
frst-class man. for Washington. and I
have every confidence that he will do
the right thing with all the players
Judging from his letter TO me, I presume
he will want me to captain the team
next season, but II he should prefer
Schaefer or any one else. why. / win be
only too willing to see them hold the
honor. II he finally decides that he
wants me to take hold, 1 will do every
thing in my power to work with him!
II have arranged to leave Milwaukee
for the training camp a little ahead Of
time this year, so I may stop over in
Washington and see some OF the boys
and my friends there. will leave about
March s, but not later than March !,
and will go direct TO Washington. and
vile. Va, where the rest OF the players
will join us. have been greatly inter-
ested in the acquisition of Jack Flynn,
the Pittsburg player, who was formerly
with the Milwaukee and ST. Paul clubs
in the American Association I have
never seen Jack work myself, but have
been talking with many OF the players
around here who have worked with Jack.
and they all tell me that there is no
question OF his making good in Washing
ton. All that he needs Is a little backing
up and the, knowledge that he win be a
regular man ON the team, and he will
deliver the goods without a doubt-the
players tell me. They also tell me that
he is Just as valuable at third base as
first base, and you know a club is pretty
lucky to have a man of that kind, for
there is always some one getting hurt on
the infield: and to have a player who can
substitute and play the position first
class is a great help to a club in these
strenuous baseball days.
Il have been looking over some OF the
young players who Manager Griffith has
secured, and two OF them who caught
my eye are Foster. the shortstop of the
Rochester club last year, and Ray Nor
gan. the third baseman of the Rich
mond club in 1911. ] watched these two
PLAYERS on several occasions last year.
and feel convinced that both Of them
will make good. Morgan is fine young
fellow. and can play shortstop as we'll
as third base. Foster certainly looks
good to me at short. The Nationals will
have a number of new men and young
ones. and believe Manager Grifith has
a correct idea In trying to build up the
machine from the bottom. the same as
Manager Chance did with the Chicago
Cubz. II hard work will help place the
Nationals a notch or two higher, I nm
sure all the players will be glad to lend
their aid with Clark Griffith the coming
go snr,