The Washington herald., 1913-03-09

Bob Groom jumped on the scales las
Wednesday morning he discovered thai
he was about six pounds under his nor
ma, playing weight. and Trainer Martin
prescribed only the lightest kind of ex
ercise for the lanky finger until he sur
rounds his frame with more meat.
Groom enjoys almost perfect healtf
and looks for q banner year this com
ing season. He cannot account for los
ing weight. He says he did little or nC
work at his home In Belleville, ILL.,, thu
past winter. and also that he had nc
troubles Of any sort over which to worry
AS Griff keeps strict bachelor hall ano
there are no social functions for the boys
TO attend, Bob Groom. Tom Hughes
Germany Schaefer. and several Others
have decided to let their boards grow
during the time the club remains ir
camp. Schacfer has about made up his
mind TO grow a pair OF side whiskers
and keep them on during the coming
season He believes the novelty OF a
coacher sporting lace curtains will be
unique In the annals of the national
game. The boys have dared him tc
make good this threat.
Ciyde Milan's brother Horace, who
Joined the Nationals for try-out during
the fag end of the 1872 season. ha:
signed a contract with The Norfolk clut
of the Virginia League. according t
Clyde, and win report about April 10.
AT first my brother was opposed tC
starting out in a small league like the
Virginia circuit said the Nationals
speed merchant, but ! advised him tt
go, for believe the kid has the makings
of a good ball player and can show
enough ability to. warrant n promotion
into a higher class league next year.
Horace Milan is about CIyde's height
but looked last year TO be trii'
heavier. He Is a speedy kid, and pos
sesses a good throwing arm.
During one OF the exhibition games
scheduled between the Nationals and the
University of Virginia team an effort
VIII be made to have Eppa Rixey. the
lanky southpaw under contract with the
Phillies. TO pitch for the college boys. II
this can be arranged Griff's club will
face some real pitching. as RiSey Is said
to have improved e5 per cent since ht
was In college last spring.
Rixey is still a hold-out. He has re-
fused to report to Manager Doom unti
change has been made in the contract
figures.
Friends of the big southpaw down II
Charlottesville declare that he made the
mistake of his life by not signing with
Griff when the Old Fox offered him Jus,
as fat a contract as did the Phillles last
March. Rixey's friendship with Cy Rigler
the umpire. who coached the university
boys in 1872, landed Eppa In the National
League.
Joe Gedeon is an ambitious youngster
and anxious to learn all he can Of big
league baseball. how the Nationals reg
ulars handle themselves and in fact
everything he can pick up. For instance.
last Thursday morning after the young
sters had worked out and been chased TO
the gymnasium. Gedeon instead of hiking
back to headquarters after ne had
changed his Clothes drilled over to Lam
beth Field where Griff's first string
players were trying desperately TO keep
warm by means of batting pra ctice. The
wind whistled across the field at the rate
of fifty miles an hour and Gedeon sat on
the bench and shivered until the last
man had left the field.
II want TO see for myself how these
fellows do things" the Coast recruit
said. you can learn a whole lot some
times by watching them. I am on East
here TO make good and IL don't make
good and II I don't stick 1t will not be
because I have not done my best
This Is the kind of spirit Grif likes.
An ambitious ball player makes hit
with the Old Fox, and Gedeon's chances
have been boosted a whole lot by the
players willingness to learn and his dis
play Of interest in his work.
In Griffith Hall a piano has been in
stalled, for the entertainment of the
players TO help pass away the dreary
hours With such a large batch of re-
cruits 1t was thought that at least one
OF them might be able to play, but MOTH
Ing doing. Dent can pick out "Home
Sweet Home with one finger and he is
the nearest approach to a piano player
among the bunch. Mike Kahoe the well
known scout, is being blamed by the
music loving members of the club for
not digging up a regular professor
1t is understood that an impromptu
concert of some sort has been arranged
for Saturday night and that some of
I"arlottesville's best talent will appear
for the amusement of the Washington
ball players.
The impression at this stage of the
game seems to be that both Gedeon and
Bill Morley, playing shortstop and sec
ond base. respectively. on the Yannigan
team. will be retained by Manager Grif-
fifth until May 20 the time when he is
>''hpShSN W ebt uo"H iiS stlhu "
twenty-five men. OF course, Griff is not
telling any of the war correspondents
his plans-he never does-but this Nor
ley person plays bang-up game at
shortstop. and IL anything should hap
pen to George Mcbride, the Nationals
would have a corking good substitute.
Morley's ability to rake in difficult
grounders and the quickness with which
he lets fly the ball. caught Griff's eye
the first time he looked over his young
men. The Knoxville recruit meets the
ball with healthy swing. and, for a
big chap, is wonderfully fast on his feet.
During the past winter Morley has
been playing basketball with a small
college team in Arkansas and reported
as hard AZ nails. The freezing winds do
not seem to. affect his throwing arm, for
he cut loose during Thursdays game
with vengeance. while some of the
others simply wished the ball over to
first base with half swing, using the
b6dy 60 help out the arm.
Dutch Hunch and Jack Egan. rival re-
crib catehers. are great friends and all