The Washington times., 1912-04-07
Seeks Permission to Catch
Ball Thrown From
Height.
SPENCER GOES BACK
DORCHESTER CLUB
McBride's Injured Leg Is Slow
! to Round Into
Shape.
BY SENATOR"

Johnny. King, once known as the
! greatest catcher alive, when Identified
! with the champion Chicago Cubs, and
now the. peppery manager of the Bos-
ton Nationals. who broke even with
Clark Griffiths youngsters here last
week, will make an attempt to catch a
ball thrown from the window in the
/ Washington Monument as soon as he
! has received the necessary sanction
from Col. Spencer s. Cosby, Of the pub
lie buildings and grounds department OF
the District He has already received
letter. from the District Commission
ers and hopes to make his attempt at
this difficult feat as soon as he gets
permission.
1t was Kings intention to make his
attempt yesterday morning, but delay
in the negotiations resulted in the post
ponement and he accompanied his team
to Baltimore, where they played Jack
! Dunn,s Orioles yesterday, incidentally
shutting them out to 0.
If Killing succeeds in catching a ball
tossed from the Monument, he will be
me the third to, 90 SO. "Gsbby" Street
now a. member of the New York High
landers, was the first player to electrify
the country by catching a ball dropped
from the window in the stone tower
1903. He then became known as the
Monument Baby all over the Ameri-
can League circuit.
'Caught Three Balls.
In August Billy Sullivan, the White
Sox stellar backstop, caught three balls
thrown from the window close to the
top of the Monument. Since then no
player has tried to do this stunt, though
i,,R al IlAr
with the Nationals last year, intended
trying It with small fielder's glove,
thus establishing a new record.
The window from which the ball is
thrown Is 5i2 feet from the ground
and the ball when caught in the catch
er's mitt is travelling at the rate of Isl
feet a second. II the would-be catcher
were to be hit by the ball. his injury
might be fatal, and none but an expert
can receive sanction to try the expert
| ment. However. Killing Is one of the
and should have little trouble In getting
the necessary permission.
/ Chester Spencer, the first basemar
from Rochester, has lost out In his
struggle with Jack Flynn for per.
manent position at first base with, the
Nationals and has been sent back to
John Cancels club for anutber sea
sons polishing. This action is favor
! to CAMEL. who, losing Dolly Gray: be-
lieved himself pretty much OF lose'
and Eddie Foster to the Capital.
Shy With Willow.
Spencer Is a beautiful fielding first
baseman, but is still bit shy with the
willow, Jack Flynn's strong point. II
Spencer had been as hard hitter al
Flynn, he might have won the place
but the necessity Of having a powerful
swatter in the lineup swayed Manager
Griffith toward Flynn.
Allan Scheer. the little second base
! man, has departed for Youngstown
Ohio, where he will have little trouble
IN holding his job this season. Scheel
is a powerful hitter. but has plenty o.
time ahead of him to learn the fine
points of the game. On his showing
with the Nationals 1t would not be sur
prising to find him bobbing up for an
other trial with some major league team
next season.
George Mcbride has a drain applied tc
his wounded leg. and is in hopes o.
being able to face the Brooklyn, Su
perbas tomorrow. The veteran short
stop Is seldom out of the game througi
accident, and is anxious to don his Uni
form and get the needed practice before
the opening of the season.
Close This Week.
The spring exhibition series of th'
Nationals comes to a close this weel
with contests with Brooklyn tomorrow
and Tuesday. Wednesday will be a da!
of rest for the athletes, and they will
leave at 7~o'clock in the evening fo
Philadelphia, where they will open th'
season against the worlds champion
Athletics on Thursday.
The Nationals have lost five of thei
twelve exhibition games played thus fa,
this spring. which Is not bad consider
thg the experimental condition of th'
tssm. Following Is the record of tn,
Series:
Nationals, g. Virginia. 5.
Nationals, Ii; Virginia, l.. - ..
Natioools .. yIrrinin