Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-10
GR|FF WON'T TRAIN
HIS TEAM At HOME
Will Decide on Spot Soon, as
It's Sure He Can't Stay
at Charlottesville.
WORK ON HIGHLANDERS'
NEW PARK Is BEGUN
Bresnahan and Murphy Were
at Swords Ends a Year Ago.
Trade Talk Foolish.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

With Charlottesville about out of consid-
Grafton so far as the Nationals training
grounds are concerned. Manager Griffith
is going to be busy man from this out
in search of a suitable place to prepare
his players for the coming campaign.
There are no end Of towns in the south
anxious to have the Nationals come
there, but something besides a mere well
come is required. To begin with, Griffith
does not want seaport and he insists
on grass diamond for his players to
work on.
There is, of course, plenty Of time to
make selection, for the players will not
report until early in March. Griffith is,
nevertheless, anxious to have the matter
settled.
1t has been suggested that the team
could train at home, but Griffith has no
such intentions. He figures that while
climatic conditions might be satisfactory
he does not want the players to be in
large city. preferring to have them In
some remote spot where there is nothing
to do but work, eat and sleep. Then, too,
it would not help the interest TO nave
the players train at home. Inc 1anS
season opens. =,
."There isn't any occasion for worry.
said Griffith. 1--WE will find place to
train in plenty of time and we Will be IN
just as good shape as we were iast yea !.
may still be able to make arrangements
at Charlottesville. but If l fail there are
lots of other places.
Howard Shanks and Joe Engel. two OF
the youngest members of the Washing
ton team. signed their contracts yester-
day. Engel called on Griffith at his OF
fee and affixed his John Hancock, while
Shanks sent his through the mail. They
both received a handsome increase in sal
airy.
Work has been begun on the new ball
park of the New York Americans at
Kingsbridge 1t is located at Broadway
and 2I25th street, but cannot possibly be
completed before spring 1914. In the
meantime it is believed arrangements Will
be made whereby Chances men Will play
at the Polo Grounds during the coming
season
There is considerable filing and grad
ing to be done on the site for the new
grounds. The work covers an area Of
100000 square yards. Farrell expects to
either league. The stands are to hold
5000 and are to be built along modern
lines.
The story of the deal which was to shake
the American League to it's foundation,
has been sprung by Christy Mathewson.
Here it is: Cleveland is to exchange Sec
ond Baseman Lajoie and Third Baseman
Turner to Chicago for Infielder Zeider
and Harry Lord, says Will Weart in the
Philadelphia Telegraph.
Mathewsons wonderful story missed
fire. Rumors of a deal between the Maps
and the White Sox have been flying
around for weeks. Recently stories have
been printed regarding the sending OF
Lajoe to Boston or New York.
III MatheWSOn cannot think or ANYTHING
more sensational than such deal as this
he had better give up the job of reporting
and stick to writing books. Such trade
would not even dent. much less shake.
such a solid institution as the American
League to it's foundation.
Lajoie has been playing in the major
leagues since 1897. and Turner began de-
Ginning some time ago. Zeider is COM
es OF brilliancy at times. Lord was
star third baseman. but his arm went
back on him last year, and he was trans
ferred to the outfield. Such a deal would
not affect the next pennant race in the
johnson circuit one iota.
Politics is not the only game which
makes strange bedfellows. Base ball can
point to something in the same line 1t
is only year ago that Roger Bresna-
han was appealing to the national COM
mission to get redress FROM Charlie Muir
ply of the Cubs. Last season Murphy
MADE another attack upon BreSnahan by
declaring that Roger might be inclined
through his friendship for McGraw to
give the Giants some undue assistance"
when the New York team played the St.
Louis Cardinals. Now we find Bresna-
han willing to sign three-year contra ct
to play with the Cubs under Murphy
Bresnahan has frequently been tainted
by Murphy. The pair had a run-in at
the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. New York, in
December. 1911. The short and ugly
word was passed and Bresnahan came
near taking a swing at Murphy's face
1t was statements alleged to have been
made against Bresnahan by Murphy that
| started the row. Later Roger appealed
! to the national commission for redress
The charges were not acted upon. as the
| commission had nothing to do with the
matter Bresnahan should have filed his
! charges before the National League s
| board of directors Now We find these
| two men willing 10 join hands. What s
the answer.