The Washington times., 1913-01-14
WELCHONCE WILL
WORK HARD FOR A
JOB IN THE FIELD
Means to Make Shanks or
MoeIIer Give Way to Him
for Garden Berth.
SOUTHERN Lacquer
IS IN GOOD FORM
Batting Record of Newcomer to
Climbers Ranks Is His
Biggest Asset.
By SENATOR"


eff at first you don't succeed, try,
try again. is the motto of Harry Mon
roe Welchonce, of GreenviIle, Pa, slug
ging leader Of the Southern League last
season, who comes to the Climbers this
year for his third trial in the big show.
He means to make either Shanks or
Moeller give way before his rush, too.
When 1t is recalled that this chap
plunked the pill for .325 last season for
the Nashville club, ii will easily be seen
that he has chance to make good in
his desires.
Il am in good condition. says Wei
chonce in letter to the writer, land I
expect to make a hard battle for a
regular job with the Washington club.
If 1 get good show. and 1 haven't the
slightest idea that 1 shan't, L think
can do it.
Howard Shanks played his first pro-
fessional bail in the Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania League the same year i broke in.
In 1909. l consider him a good ball
player. but not so good that can't
beat him.
Connolly, of Montreal, i know per-
sonally and you will see some battling
for outfield jobs when he and l hit the
trail"
Is Real Slugger.
Welchonce is a real slugger, accord
ing to his record, and is certain of
getting a fair trial with the Climbers.
sluggers are very much needed in the
ranks Of the coming champions. He
has hit for more than 800 ever since
he entered professional baseball, and
IL he can keep up this stride in the
American League, his future Is settled
now.
The former Southern Lacquer has been
UP twice before, both times with the
Philifes in the days of the famous Ho-
tantic City hotel WeIchonce broke in
with the Steubenville. Ohio. club in
7soa He hit Tor so m 10 games and
fielded for 81 in the right corner of
the garden.
Attracted by his good work, the Phil
lies grabbed him and he got trial
the following spring. He unfortunate
ly injured his shoulder at the train
ing camp in Southern Pines. n. C., and
WAS sent to South Bend in the Central
League. There he rounded into good
shape and closed the season with
batting average OF -S15 for 25 games.
His fielding in right field was rated IS
.9e4. South Bend COPIED the pennant
that year and back went Welchonce 10
the Phillies.
Struck In Head.
welchonce looked pretty good in the
spring of 1911 and was considered GER
tain of making the PhiIlies when he
vas struck In the head by one of Earl
Moore's fast ones He was in the hos
pital for about ten days and wasn't any
good for three months. Horace Fogel,
thinking him done" as a big Lacquer,
sent him to Nashville to make room
for some other player.
The unlucky player played eighty-one
game with Nashville, hitting .3O4 and
fielding for 81 in the middle garden.
He was slowly recovering himself, 1t
may be seen.
Last year was WeIchonce's best since
entering the national game. He hit for
.32S in 125 games for Nashville and led
all the sluggerS in the Southern League.
His fielding average of -9Sl shows that
the game. being the third best out
fielder.
The New York Highlanders drafted him
for the coming season, but Manager
Griffith succeeded in obtaining him for
the Climbers. A right-handed thrower,
weichonce hits from the meteorological
side of the platter and has reputation
for pounding sizzlers down the first
base line. In playing condition he
weighs 175 pounds and stand feet l1k
inches. He should make a valuable as
set to the Climbers this spring at Char
lottesyil1e-
Manager Griffith arrived home today
from Charlottesville a happy man. He
has completed all necessary arrange
Jnents for his training quarters at the
Virginia college town, and will once
more act as manager. coach, and police
man for hts lads during their training
stunts.
A large fraternity house has been OBJ
tanned for the bulk OF the squad, and
the overflow will be accommodated in
adjoining houses. Mrs Samuel Saund- |
ers, who took care of the ravenous hun
gers of the players last spring, will do
T. IA
situated between the other two
The battery candidates will report in |
Charlottesville March l. Manager Grif- |
fifth and Mique Martin. the safe and |
sane trainer. will accompany this squad: |
A week later Capt. George Mcbride will |
escort the rest of the bunch to the |
training camp and work will begin in |
earnest. practice game with Virginia |
has already been scheduled for March |
II, but several other scrimmages will be |
in order any old time.
Williams In Line.
'GIoomy Gus" williams. the Browns !
right fielder, has signed his contract |
for 1913. He got a bad start last year, !
hitting for but 300 in his firt thirty |
tained a $50 clip thereafter finish |
ing with .290 for his mark in sixty-e!ght |
games He stole eighteen bases. and |
George Stovall expects him to star next |
summer. |
Some gink with a peculiar mind has |
doped out the tallest and shortest teams |
in the ajors. The Climbers have the |
.tallest shortstop In the American |
League. the shortest third baseman and |
in Milan one of the shortest outfielders. |
The peculiar person fell down, though, |
when he rated Gandil as one Of the |
shortest first basemen. Chick is a |
broad-shouldered six-footer.
Now comes "Chattering" Charley |
Murphy with a denial that he ever SLAM |
dered "Husk'' Chance. Throw him out! |
Willie Locke is scheduled to grab the 1
Phillie today He should make an |
admirable president of a big league /
club. and has the best wishes of every
body.
The kids are signing contracts for |
Connie Mack. Cottrell. Brady, Houck. !
shroi,1h q xyfff their sigma fttre u,trryf