The Washington times., 1913-03-07
LEFT FIELD TRIAL
|. FOR HOWARD SHANKS
If Better Hitting 0utfieIder Is
Secured, He viii Be Given
InfieId Chance.
By SENATOR

CHARLOTTESVILLE Va. March =
Even If he fails to hold down his OLD
place in left field again this year, How
ard Shanks, the Monaco Marvel, will
not be dropped from the Climbers with
out further trial. Manager Griffith ad-
mires the youngster so much that he
will give him trial at second base be-
fore deciding that the team is too fast
for him.
'Shanks is good ball player" says
the ''Old Fox" and I'm not letting him
go without trying to fit him into my ma
chine somewhere. / have never seen a
player with a better pair Of hands than
he has, and he knows Just what to do
at all times. No, indeed, he's not going
to drop out just because some slugger
comes along to play left field.
Furthermore, Shanks hit in poor luck
last season. In the spring he was hit
on the side of the head and put out of
the business by Joe Engel. Many young
sters would have been bat-shy after
that, but not Shanks. He came right
back and was up there croRding the
plate in the same old style. / kil you, it
takes lot Of nerve to do that.
Later in the season he Vas again
hit on the head. one Of Mullins fast
ones humping him to the sod. After
the resultant headache had left him,
he was out there at the plate again,
doing as we'll as he had before.
May Hit Better.
THE boy may hit better this year.
He drove many hard ones straight at
fielders last year, thus losing many hits
This can't go on forever; he's bound to
get the breaks some time. and this sea-
son may be the right one for him.
know that playing the infield will not
be so strange thing for him. Last
season he used to practice at third and
second, and he handles himself very
well. Indeed, l think that's one of the
reasons for his good fielding, his knowl-
edge @ OF playing the infield. where the
ball comes at you so hard and fast.
There isn't better left fielder in
the American League than Shanks
Some of his fielding last season was
truly marvellous. He made all the other
left fielders look like selling platers, and
league. too. Now. do you think I'd be
wise in letting such a good looking
youngster go without trying to find a
place for him.
Shanks has reported in excellent
shape. He loafed through the winter
on too much weight. His skin is ruddy
and his eye clear. As soon as he has
been practicing long enough, he will
show his skill against the best out
fielders in the squad.
Is Quite Confident.
wait till I've been working out a
while longer" says Shanks. land I'll
show folks whether I can hit or not.
i know i can hit. l never saw a pitcher
who could drive me away from that
plate for very long l lost lot of hits
iast season that / should have had. /
certainly landed on the ball nard enough
to drive 1t a mile, but some long-legged
third baseman or shortstop would 60
up into the air and pull II down. It's
about time my luck turned
A rumor was heard some time ago
the the Monaco Marvel contemplated
matrimony and had been ordered to
adhere to single blessedness until next
tail by Manager Griffith. This whole
tale is denied vehementIy by ShanKs.
That's a fine pipe to write about
me-" laughed ShaaKs. Il never had the
slightest intention oil getting married.
The first j knew of 1t was when / read
II in a sporting paper. Gee. didn't l
laugh?
No. you can say for me that
haven't any desire to get married, at
least, for a while yet. 1 IN going to see
few things before | tic my sell down.
This goes, TOO