The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-26
Virginia League
Candidates Begin
Annual Scramble
ny GIIS lIAIDIIItT.

Really, it Is good not to DO super-
stitious The fellow Who wouldn't
walk under a ladder. or who studi-
ously avoids treading on the cracks as
lie walks over grano!ithic blocks,
would shudder and quail were he in
steve Griflin's boots. Just thirteen OF
MS recruits reported for duty at the
hall park yesterday. Can you beat III
AT the very beginning OF the season
comes Mr. links ana plants himself
with devil-may- emile out In the
broad street lot, bringing along that
dlreful, baleful and woeful thirteen.
Here they are, SO count EN-: McCabe,
tlournoy and Coates in the outfcld;
Baker. Griffin, Cable ana Raley In the
inhe!d; Hinton and Lucia behind the
nat; Neroout. Musser, Drenninger and
the Unknown" on the slab
IL 1T weren't for the fact that Stove
Griffin is impervio<s to the tricks OF
fate. he might be little dubious as
10 MS pennant-w winning chances But
steve is made of that heavier material
which scouts such things, and the OBJ
Nous thirteen never teazed him. The
Unknown" variously dubbed by the
popuiace in attendance ms Frank Mcr-
riwell. Dippy from Dopeville, and other
such Joyful cognomens, after being al
lowed to pull cotton for n few min
utes was sent to the club house and
allowed TO pack his shoestring and
make a quick getaway, thereby rcduc-
Ing the number to twelve But the
hoodoo continued, for soon after all
of this had been set&4ed, and the
happy family reduced 10 twelve. who
should make his appearance blu, Parry
Thackera. the catcher from the O-p.
League. and here II was again-that
omlnous thirteen.
The elongated Individual who han
died q bat just as gracefully as some
people handle n scythe. measured six
feet five Inches In hts socks. He may
be n very clever young man. and very
probably was the hit of his ncIrhhor-
hood. but 1t was very .vid ent that
most of his baseball experience came
from handling hoe Anyway he Is
going back to home and family. and
should he consinus to grow may de-
velop into--a very good hand on .he
farm
The practice yesterday was merely
preliminary still there Will be many
sore arms to-day Willie Baker start
ed out like It was the middle OF tho
season. lie was smiling and happy,
and looked exceedingly natural. With
Raley on irst and himself on third.
he heaved the leather 10 and fro with
u wing which will earn him his place
II he can keep up the pace. Harold
Gable, working out in short, took
things easy, and Il was Impossible to
get line on him. AS a matter OF
tact' al! OF the boys looked good. They
are clean. healthy lot, with enough
or That NAM
estlng
Ph!l Hinton was at third for short
wniis' and almost looked like an In
heider But the hit OF the afternoon
was Fred Lucia at second Fred isn't
as heavy as ne was reported, and he
handled himself in mighty good shape,
Johnny Neriout and Drenninger hurled
Few TO Hinton just by way OF warm
ing up towards the close OF the prac-
tice period. Neither cut loose. as they
had Instructions to take 1t easy.
The thirteen viii be inorenBed to-
DAY Arrivals will be on hand early.
Musser and McCaba were out al the
PARK. but neither donned @ uniform
McCabe is looking years younger than
ne dld when no left here last fall. He
had then been sick, but has now en-
tFeiy recovered and anxious to stu TT
Tho Unknown" after much per
Suasion' finally confessed to the name
Gabriel. Stanley BiGbie. who leaves
to join Charlie ShaTer's squad to-day,
remarked. III his names Gabriel he's
sounded his last toot." Which was
pretty near the truth.
irii'ih's trade of Wallace for Mace
looks good Mace needs somebody like
steve 10 handle him. and the boy will
nrlhE money ono of these days. He
IS young. can catch. and. with q few
faults corrected. VIII make one of the
best backstops in the lcaguc. Bring
Ing Mace here. however. makes four
catchcrH on the ist--Mace. Thack era.