Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-17
GIANTS OFF EARLY
McGraW and Party Left for
Marlin Yesterday.
FIRST MAJORS TO START
All Youngsters in the Bunch, the
/. Veteran Players to Join
Them Later.
FIRST MAJORS TO START

NEW YORK, February 17-"Good
luck. boys shouted a crowd Of loyal
Giant rooters at the Grand Central sta
ton yesterday afternoon as the South
western Limited pulled out at 4 O'Clock
for st. Louis. Manager John McGraw
was in charge of the party, which in
cluded Coach Wilbert Robinson, Court
Jester Arlie Latham. Outfielders Burns
and Luby. Infie.ders Gardella, Groh and
Mcdowell; Trainer Mackall and several
newspaper writer's. Arriving in st.
Louis this evening. McGraw will pick up
more recruits and will then proceed d.
rectly to the Giants training camp at
Marlin, Tex, where Ground Keeper Muir
ply has been busy for several weeks.
I'VE have no fear Of the meningitis
epidemic" said McGraw. I'VE have
been informed that the worst is over and
there is no longer any danger. Murphy
wires that the weather conditions are
ideal and that the men can begin hard
work as soon as they reach the camp.
They will first go through hot water
treatment at the springs and then the
work of taking off winter avoirdupois
VIII begin. II will require not more than
week to work up sufficient speed to
enable the youngsters to begin lively
practice, and as soon as the veterans ar
rive. about March I, We will inaugurate
practice games. which are usually benef-
cial.
When all hands have reported there
viii be nearly forty men in uniform,
including Robinson and Latham Be-
fore We arrive home it will be de-
termined what players are worth
keeping. | do not intend to carry too
many players after the championship
season opens. so that some of the
young fellows will be on the market.
My chief aim is to have the Giants on
edge to make good start. This
years race will be a redhot affair al
the way and We cannot afford to be
caught mapping. If luck is with us
think you'll see the Giants fighting for
the lead before the hot weather sets In.
We had good ball team last year and
we hope to improve upon il this year
But In order to win another pennant
the men must fight for all they are
worth from April IL to October g."
The Giants are the first major league
team to start south. McGraw did the
same thing year ago and produced
excellent results. Next week the vet
Grams of the team win go to Texas
Matty. Marquard. Ames, Wiltse Gran
dali. Drucke. Meyers, Wilson, Hartley,
Nerkle. Doyle, Fletcher, Devlin, Herzog
Devore. Snodgrass. Murray and Becker
Then there1l be real action.
From Chicago comes a yarn that In
order to block future outlaw movements
the American Association will be increas-
ed from an eight to a twelve club cir
cpit next fall, placing clubs in Detroit.
Cleveland. Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. with
the use of organized base ball grounds in
those cities. II Is asserted that the own.
ers of major league clubs in those towns
believe that a friendly invasion Of the
american Association would Increase
popular interest and also would prevent
the formation of outlaw clubs there A
trelve-club circuit. however, is unwieIdy
u was a failure when the Nationa
League operated one In the '90s for the
simple reason that there Were too many
teams out of the race after midseason.
Just keep Your eye on me this year,
said Hal Chase. the Highlanders' star
first baseman. recently. I'm in training
now. taking long walks, and I'm goini
10 report as fit a fiddle. Just say for
me that Manager Wolverton is a fine
fellow and will be a successful manager
capable leader. He will get all 1 have.
When Billy Marchant, the English
boxer, arrived here we We're told by his
manager that he possessed the skill OF
the Incompatible Jem Driscoll. Marchan,
was closely inspected by the sharps when
he faced Louis de Ponthieu Thursday
night, but he did not set the world on
fire. The Englishman showed remark
able cleverness in long-range boxing and
in footwork but he did not begin to
compare with Driscoll in defensive tac-
tics. II Driscoli had been the French
mans opponent it Is doubtful whether
the latter could have landed clean