The Washington herald., 1913-01-20
'.IGHES IS sure
TO BE Big HELP
eran Twirler Should Not
Overlooked IN Discussing
:VationaIs' 1913 Chances.
0t0 WELLLAST YEAR
2 Tom Was One of Grifith's Main
tays-0ther Sporting Gossip
and Comment.
By WILLIAM PEET.

Considerable space has been filed with
OF Washingtons new youngsters slated
to be tried out in Charlottesville next
spring, and the cry arises, Give up one
more good pitcher this season, and the
Nationals will be right up in the race
from the start"
It's about time TO let up on the re-
cruits; they will soon be in training camp
where the local baseball writers can get
real line on their ability.
There is one twirler on Griffs staff
who has hardly been mentioned in the
papers since the season closed, and who,
by the way. did more than half the
fans here have any idea toward helping
the Old Fox land the Nationals in second
place. This pitcher is Tom Hughes, who
makes Washington his home and who
has camped right next to his own fireside
ever since the 1872 curtain Topped.
The official records for last season
show that Hughes took part in 81 games.
He won Is and lost 10, and was at his
best just when the Nationals needed
him the most, during the sensational!
whirlwind cleanup tour through the
West.
When the club returned home from
that ver-to-be-forGotten journey Walter
Johnson was sick in bed. The Nationals
to depend upon for two weeks, as Cash
ion was still trying to locate the plate
and Barney Petty reported sadly out Uf
condition from st. Louis. Hughes was
willing TO work every other day If Grin
so desired and kept himself in splendid
physical shape. The loss of that game
in Philadelphia, when Frank Baker
knocked the ball over the right field
fence. could not be blamed on Long
Tom no veteran pitched Shut-Out
ball that afternoon.
In 1911, when Jim MCAleer took the Ma
tionals down to Atlanta, Tom Hughes
was a member of the party. He was
previously signed up because Washing
ton had the pick of the Minneap polls 1910
club and Joe Cantillon wrote that Long
Tom was easily his star.
Many local fans believed that grew
Gus mistake had been made in recalling
hughes but they were forced to change
their opinions before the season closed.
Long Tom was a big help to the club
in 1911 and his work last season was
even better.
The fans in Washington have never
appreciated Long Tom Hughes. For
sOme unknown reason he was never ac-
corded the support from the stands
landed other pitchers, yet he gave the
ball club the best he had and his heart
was always in his work 1t is about time
Capital rooters woke up and showed a
little appreciation.
Tom Hughes will report with the other
pitchers in Charlottesville next March. He
will be in shape and ready TO take his
turn in the box when the season opens.
Griff will look over the youngsters one
by one; several perhaps he will hold
onto for a few weeks; one or two may
stick throughout the summer. but Tom
Hughes unless he falls down and breaks
a couple of arms will be numbered
among the regulars from the time the
opening bell rings, and there's a whole
lot of baseball left in Long Tom yet;
don't forget that. He's good enough
for any major league baseball club in
the world, despite the fact that he is a
veteran of long service.