The Washington herald., 1913-03-25
ATLANTA CLUB
GETS WELCHOMCE
Maps Withdraw Option, and
Outfelder Goes to the
Cracker Team.
TEAM HOME TOMORROW
Ball Players Leave Charlottesville at
3:37 o'Clock-Other
Gossip.
By WILLIAM PEET.

Charlottesville. Va. March i-Harry
Welchonce. leading slugger in the South
ern League last season, was to-day sold
to the Atlanta Club of that circuit. and
left for the Georgia city on late train
tonight. All the clubs in the major
leagues waived claim on Welchonce. The
Cleveland Maps had a ten-day option on
the player's services. but withdrew their
option this afternoon.
welchonce made the statement when
the rumor first became rife that he did
not want to play in Atlanta and prefer
red TO go back to Nashville, whence
Griff drafted him. When the Old Fox in
timated that the Crackers would pay him
considerably more money than he could
expect to draw i'll Nashville II did not
take him long to make up his mind that
a ticket to Atlanta would be acceptable.
weIchonce was greatly handicapped down
here He could not get himself into con-
dltion. and looked like "A poor hall player
in comparison with such men as Moeller,
Milan, and Shanks.
Manager Griftith has made arrange
ments to split up his squad when the
recruits and regulars reach Washington
late Wednesday nlEst. The Ehbltt House
will lodge Ainsmlth. Groom. Cashlon.
Foster. SChaefer, Rebel Williams. Mocller.
and Shanks.
Al the Dewey will he quartered Henry,
who Is already IN the Capital; Egan.
Johnson. Drohan Boehhng. Austin. Sulli-
van. Bickcrs. Lcporte. McBride. Morley.
CaIvu. Acosta. Connolly. Scneer. Alien.
and the Havana baseball writer. Senor
Joe Massaguer. Jr.
Engel Barton. and Munich will 90 di-
rect to their homes, as will Gandil. Tom
Hughes, and Al Williams The squad will
leave here on the 3:37 train Wednesday
afternoon. Manager Griffith has arranged
for a dining car to he attached 10 the
train for the convenience of the ball
players.
Virginia la sehail team. stated this noon
that he had obtained the permission Of
big Epna RiNcy TO pitch for the col
legians in the final game Of the Washing
ton series on Lambeth Field tomorrow.
and Mackay asked Griff II the Old Fox
would oppose RiXey with johnson. to
which GriT readily gave his consent.
There is a possibility that RiXey will
not be permitted to : aSaiust the pro-
fessionals. first. because. i he is placed
on the ineligible list for refusing TO re-
port to the Phillies. the Nationals may
get into hot water with the baseball COM
mission and lay themselves open 10 a
fine: secondly, Coach Ryan declares that
:e would much rather try out some Of
his youngsters than to have RiNey work.
as he has not been able thus far to get
Il good line on all of his material.
As this is prom week down here and
the town is filled with visitors. a big
crowd is expected to attend the batt
game tomorrow.
Walter Johnson has made preparations
Ia engage in that long-look for fox hunt
tomorrow morning and plans TO get away
with sunrise. 1t was learned today that
Manager Griffith has openly opposed the
prop si;ion. but johnson declares he has
completed all plans and will go through
with the proposition. The local hunt club
has assured Johnson that there will BE-
onlE smooth riding; no fences or brooks
to leap over in pursuit Of sly Reynard.
1t iS barely possible that before the time
set to start the great pitcher will change
his mind.
Although number Of the Youngsters
now with tn" Nationals are slated to he
farm"d out by Manager Griffith the
Washington fans will be given All oppur-
tunity to SCI, them all in action. with the
exception of WelchonCe, as the remainder
OF the squad will be at National Park
bright and carly Thursday morning for
Practice.
WeathCr permitting. the field day for
the youngsters will lie held lmmedia tcly
after practice tomorrow morning. The
events to be contested will be: THROWING
for distance. cirCling bases. running from
home to first base. bunting and fungo
hitting. Trainer LanniSan. of the Cni-
versity of Virginia, and Mike Martin, the
Nationals trainer. will be in charge of
the events.
Coach Billy Dwycr. of the Holy Cross
team, and a number of the college play
erS were guests OF the Nationals a Grif-
fifth Hall tonight.