The Washington herald., 1913-03-24
EGAN WORKING
HARD TO STICK
Semi-pro Catcher Is Putting
Up a Game Try for
Berth.
REALLY A HARD WORKER
Determined to Make Good in Base
ball-Joe Connolly Is
Rookie" Boss,
Charlottesville. Va. March

|
nth by Tom Downey. former in1eider or
the Cincinnati Reds. is rapidly working
himself into favor with his manager. and,
incidentally. has shown marked improve
ment in his playing since nrst reaching
camp.
Egan Is an earnest. hustlIng little cnap,
never afraid of work. and never COM
planning. He is determined to make good
in professional baseball.
Ever since 1 was a little shaver, said
| Egan Il had to hustle for myself. Up
to two years ago 1 had never been out of
bridgeport. 1 worked IN one OF the Zig
factories and picked up my baseball
knowledge on the back lots playing with
amateur teams.
| Last spring 1 was given a trial by the
| Albany club. of the New York state
| League. They didn't give me much oil a
| show, and 4 was sent back home. 1t
! broke my heart TO come back. All my
friends. cried. Hard luck, old man. and
imy enemies. the knockers, said. It's a
cinch that little runt will never make a
ball player as long as he lives.
| Il 40 not want TO work IN the rae
tories. / love the outdoor nfe. and would
rather play ball than eat. I'm down here
| to make good with the " ashlngton cIup.
II 1 possibly can. II Manager GrIintn
decides that l won't do, hope he sends
me to some minor league team where 1
can work every day and get lot OF ex-
perience MI Gritfith is a grand fellow
to work for: there rs something about
him. | can't explain what it Is. that
simply makes fellow feel like hustiIng
every minute. No wonder the Nationals
! finished in second place last season with
! such man at the helm.
| EEan has been bothered with boils since
/ he has been here. but has never shown
the white feather He is always the first
of the youngsters to be on the field and
the last to leave, and when he sees Grin
looking around for a catcher to warm up
one Of the veterans or TO go behind the
bat he grabs his glove and is johnny on
| the spot In minute The kids willing
ness TO work has made a hit with Grin.
| Egan also waIIops the ball hard and Is
fast getting down to first base.
! The youngster is suffering from
| badly split finger at present. and will be
out of the game for some little time.
| Little Joe Connolly. the outfielder
drafted from Montreal. amused the rook-
| les at the Hotel de Itch. they have
dubbed their lodging quarters, last night.
1 They sat up and took notice as he consti-
tuted himself their manager and in
high-handed manner disposed of all the
| recruits. He told them where they were
| to be sent. as follows:
Williams. I am going to farm YOU out
to the South Michigan League. ] want
YOU as far away from me as j can get
! you.
! "BoehlinE. you can go back 10 Rich
| nond. and ] don't want to see you again
Until you learn to talk English without
| dropping your RS.
Austin. first intended to sell you
| for an old bat bag. but have changed my
mind. It's the Canadian League for
| yours.
Morley. you're slated for Kankakee.
| wherever that is.
"Bickers you are sent to the Epworth
| League.
"As for myself. / am going back to
Pawtucket. r. l., live town. where the
Clan Ma Gaels hold forth and where
| wrestling matches are on the level"
| Connolly Is cheerful little chap ana
| is always pulling some witty remark.
| In action he reminds one whole 10,
of Larry Doyle. the New York Giants
second baseman
| Melville Gallia. the Texas finger is
! still minus his trunk. He had il shipped
! from his home to New Orleans, and gave
orders to have the trunk forwarded from
! the Louisiana metropolis to Charlottes
willie. Up to Sunday morning he had
neither seen nor heard from his long-lost
| piece OF DaSgage- ;
| Jacinto Calvo declares that the climate
here agrees with him famously. He has
| already taken on eight or nine pounds.
| The extra weight does not seem to handi-
| cap him in the matter of speed. for he
| gets down to first base like streak OF
| lightning.
! Manager Griffith himself has given Joe
| Boehling a lot Of pointers on the art Of
! pitching. Joe is working hard to over
| come a number of minor fauits.
Zach Erhards work with the New
| Haven club, of the Eastern Association,
| will he watched carefully. The former
Columbia University star has been order
ed to report April 10. the season opening
/ two weeks later.
Frank Laporte hasn't hit his true stride
as yet, but the former Brownie declares
ne will be busting that old pill'' when
| the season opens. Frank reported in
fine condition, and looks for a good year.
At the Saturday morning practice Gal
| liza was pitching to the batters when
\ welchonce hit one back at the Texan
| that nearly knocked of leg. The ball
struck Gallia Just above the right knee.
| Don't tell me that big fellow can't hit"
said Gallia, II know better"
Nick Altrock has apparently made
good his threat to get into shape, for
| the Cincinnati Dutchman is faithfully
| training, and in addition helps pass
away many a dreary hour in camp by
| his witticisms and outbursts of good
humor.
Billy Allen, THE Rose of Sharon" saws
| that a number of years ago Grove City
College. of Grove City, Pa, turned out
enc of the greatest baseball teams in COL
| lel-iate circles Frank Smith. the former
| ber of the team, according to Allen, and
Frank took only a baseball course lasting
from April until June.
Pitcher Jim Shaw has a nice. easy side
arm delivery, but as he has not touched
| a ball since last summer, will hardly
he in shape to show the kind of stuff
! he Possesses until about the time. for
| the American League season to open
There is just the possibility that Shaw
| will pitch part of one of the exhibition
games booked for National Park, but
| everything will depend upon what sort
| of shape he Is In.
Clyde Milan. who seldom gets away to
| a particularly good start in the spring,
| looks mighty good down here He Is
hitting the ball like a nend. and is ap-
parently just as fast on his feet as ever