The Washington herald., 1913-02-28
WILSON TO Open
AL. SEASON HERE
Griffith Will Ask President
elect to Throw Out
First Ball.
JOHNSON ON HIS WAY
Tom Drohan Surprises All with His
Slow Ball in Yesterdays
Workout.
JOHNSON ON HIS WAY
By WILLIAM FEET,

President-eIect Woodrow Wilson will b,
asked by Manager Griffith to throw on
the first ball when the Nationals ant
New York Highlanders clash here on tht
afternoon of April 10 for the opening game
of the American League season.
Il hope Mr.. Wilson is a baseball fan.
said Grif. for there will be a nice com.
Portable chair ready for him in the Presi
dental box. and he will be made welcome
at every game. | shall ask him to helr
start the American League season
with a victory, by tossing out the first
ball
Just what sort of baseball fan Mr.
Wilson happens TO be is not known. His
views on the sport have never been learn
ed. but during his stay at Princeton as
head of the university he always took a
keen interest in college sports. and Grifi
hopes TO convert him into a thirty-third
degree fan.
Tom Drohan. the husky Kewanee re-
cruit. loosened up bit in the Y. NJ c. A.
gymnasium yesterday and opened the
eyes of Catcher Williams by showing him
a slow ball. pitched with the same motion
his fast one.
Manager Griffith has always maintained
that unless a pitcher has a good change
of pace. he will find II hard shedding in
the ma jor leagues. Griff's great success
when the Old Fox was in the game was
his change OF pace, and included was a
pIIzzling slow ball.
Drohan says he worked his slow ball
effectively out in his league last season.
Jean Dehuc, the Detroit finger, one OF
the sensations of the 1872 season. is a
past master in the art of using the
slow ball. so II Tom Drohan has master
ed this bit of pitching strategy, Manager
Griffith may have picked up young
man who will turn out to be a useful
citizen.
Catcher Eddie Ainsmith did not don
the big NIT and baseball spangles in the
Y. NJ. c. a. gym yesterday. but watched
the others practice. They don't want
me to do any work until l get to Char
lottesvile," laughingly cried the young
catcher. so I suppose I've got to be on
the outside looking in. but I sure would
like TO be out on that floor"
Ainsrnith believes he is going to have
a good year with the stick during the
coming season. He figures that bis poor
physical condition kept him back last
summer and that his batting aver4ge
suffered in consequence.
II was reported at the Hotel Dewey.
where the Nationals are living until the
time set to report in Charlottesville, that
his way East. and would be in the
Capital some time to-day.
Clyde Milan and Carl Cashion are also
expected to-day or Saturday. while
Griff-s new recruits will also drift in on
every train 10 assemble for the start to
Charlottesville Sunday morning.
Eddie Ainsmith. has decided to go to
charlottesville with the first batch Of
recruits Sunday morning. He says he
does not care anything about the inaug
ural parade and is anxious to start play
ing ball. He has Griff-s permission TO
accompany the youngsters.
Al Williams. the big catcher has not
signed up as yet. did not see Manager
Griffith yesterday. but A conference is
slated AT headquarters either to-day or
Saturday. As Williams has telephoned
for his wife to come here and she is
expected Sunday. IL would look to those
the inside as if there would be no
hitch about the contract when he and
Griff get down to business.
Tom Hughes was an interested spec
tatOr at the big wrestling match last
night and found time to talk baseball
Long Tom refused to make any pre-
diction as TO where the Nationals would
finish during the coming season. He
said:
Il am no prophet and never have told
folks what j thought my club would cd.
l shall be on the job from the start
willing to do my best to win. Let the
manager and others tell what they theink
of the clubs prospects. l refuse
Hughes has taken good care of him
self during the past winter and will be
ready to take his turn in the box when
the season opens.