The chronicle=news., 1913-02-01
GRIFFITH MeNs ls:YEAR
OLD CUDAN RAIL PLAYER

1Eer StttIlth. The tuct tnat ne u
Cuban II not his only distinction.
however, for tho chances are that he
Is the youngest player who has ever
been asked TO put his signature I"
ma Jor league contract.
Hts name Is Baidomero Acosta. IT..
and he is but lG years old. Tho fact
thuia he had joined the National
fold rame TO Griffith yesterday. when
he received Il letter from his Cuban
agent. Victor Muncz. inciosIns the
following clipping from tn" Havana
Daily Post.
"Daldomcro Aco.ta. Jr.. the won.
derful young fellow who has been
showing such class with the Reds.
has been signed by Manager Griffith
OF the Washington American league
club. who wants to try him out his
Epr!ny TO sec Just what can bc cN-
pected of him: then to farm him out
to somc minor league club for season.
ling. lie will have good man In Two
years or before
During the world series Griffith
was uppriscd OF the ability OF Acos'a
and sent u contract to him. The
contract. however. has not been re-
turned, and tho first word that he
had TO the effect that the younEsicr
had signed was yesterday. when he
received the newspaper clipping
which Is reproduced above.
Acosta IL un outficlder. and accord
ing TO reports Is the most remarkable
performer the game has ever dcvci-
oped fhen his age IL taken Into con-
sidcraiion. Being hut Is years old.
he ix, of course, far from maturcd.
but he Is described rs being fast rs
Cobb and has lot OF ability NJ the
bat, being particularly efficient when
\ Il comes TO bunting.
While Griffith Originally intended
to have u look AZ aim during the
training period and then make an cs-
fort TO farm him out. be has since
|chapeed his mind. II the youue1ief
shows any such form ~ u preNtct'
ed he proposes to carry him Win tho
team all season even though he does
not play In n game. lie Figures that
he would be quite m attraction 10
show In practice before the game.
Acosts Will be ordered TO report Win
the other players n, Charlostesvtl's
and he will he one OF the attractions
lof the training camp because OF his
youth.
Jacinto Calvo. the crack outficlder
of the Almendarcx. the crack team
lof Cuba, who Is under contract to the
lSatiousis, seems TO have good
chance to make good here. Calvo Is
playiug In Cuba this winter and Is
showing remarkable form. He at
tractcd attention by his good work
aginst the Athletics when they were
playing u series OF games there. and
Isince then has easily proven himself
the sensation Of the Cuban league.
In a game the other day he not on
lly made three hits. but he stole four
bases and is given credit for having
played q beautiful fielding game.
Billy Smith. the manager OF the
Atlanta team and personal friend
lof Griffith, saw Chief Bender In At
Ilanta the other day aud asked him
what be thought OF Caivo. This is
what Smith wrote Griffith aout his
interview with Bender:
Bender, In speaking Of Calro.
said: i never saw n faster youn 4ster
in my life. He can hit. too. and
looks for all the world like IA high
elass ball player. lle'is green about
some things. as is to be expected. but
with a little experience he ought TO
make o wonderful player. If'Griffith
has signed him he will never regret
II. for there Is no chance for him 10
be failure"
This was pleasing news 10 Griffith.
and II Calvo comes anywhere near 10
Expectations he is sure to have Il reg
|ular berth with the Nationals the
coming season. though he may not be
played regularly.