The Washington herald., 1913-02-03
why GRIFFITH
CARRIES ENGEL
Local Boy Picked by "0ld
Fox" to Be One of the
Regulars.
RUMORS ARE SPIKED
Youngster Is with Nationals Because
He Shows Class-0ther
Sporting Gossip.
By WILLIAM PEET.

During a recent interview, Manager
Griffith, of the Nationals, frankly ad-
mitted that the success of his ball club
during the coming season depended a
whole lot on what sort of twirlers Carl
Cashion and Joe Engel turned out to
be.
The Old Fox knows he cannot land his
club up near the top with only Johnson,
Groom, and Hughes. He realizes that
it is absolutely necessary to develop
at least one more dependable finger, and
he will be a disappointed manager if
either Engel or Cashion does not deliver
the goods.
So much has been written about Cash
ion and what a great boXman he would
be once he gained control, that there is
little to add. II seems possibly a bit
strange 10 many that Griff should pick
Joe Engcl as the youngster likely to be
p big help and right here it would not
he out OF place 10 spike several dis
Crediting rumors anent the local sand
lot finger
During the 1872 season. and since the
worlds series, at least half dozen fans
have approached the writer asking such
questions as these:
rs it true that Joe EnEels salary is
paid by his father who prevailed upon
Griffith to carry the boy with the ball
club just for the sake OF notOriety?'
rs IL true that on account Of the
friendship between Griff and Engel, sr.,
that Joe was given a place on the Ma
tionals' roster. crowding out more de-
serving younEster?'
Has this young Engel got anything at
all besides a motion ard a prayer"
Such questions and others of a similar
nature are absolutely silly, and would
never have been uttered had the person
ever met or talked with Manager Grif-
fifth.
In the first place, Griff is not a phi
lanthropist. He has often staked an old
time ball player to square meal. and
always chips in dime when a Salvation
Army lassie passes the tamberine, but
he does not carry around with him ball
players because they happen to be nice
looking young men, or because their
iaddies are his own personal friends.
Baseball is a business with Griff Last
winter he signed up Joe EnCel upon the
reCommendation of a local sporting editor,
and tried out the youngster in Charlottes-
Vile. The figures on EngeTs contract
would not permit of many luXuries, but
the amount was all the young man was
worth at the time.
EnEel had the physical requirements OF
1 major league twirler with the possible
exception of weight. and it must be born
in mind that the boy had not attained his
full growth He also had something else
which caught the managers eye-a lot OF
stuff on the ball.
Griff figured that EnSel would develop
n kept on the bench and worked in prac-
tice each day. He saw possibilities in
the Young man. and proposed to do the
teaching himself
Joe did not finish every game he pitched
last year. but he did fairly well. at that,
and when he put all he had on the ball,
such sluggers as Sam Crawford, Ty Cobb.
TINS Speaker. and others could not hit
him with any degree Of success A tWirler
who can fool this bunch is worth holding
on to for while, and the Old Fox pro-
poses to carry Engel with the club again
This season.
EnGels father. a well-to-do merchant
does not pay GriT real money in order
TO allow his son to play with the Ma
uonaIs: furthermore he insisted that his
son use the salary handed him twice a |
month toward keeping himself. intimating
that as Joe has chosen professional base |
ball as career, he must stand on his |
own feet and that allowances each !
month are not TO be forthcoming in the |
future.
The writer believes that Joe Engel. in |
two or three years. will be one of the |
oest twirlers in either big league.
Paste this in your hat and see how
he prediction comes out.