Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-16

1t is, he is assured OF having a man H.
can play there who will hit over 800 sn
Tor this reason cannot consiier l4n.stft
particularly weak thee
barring a surprise sdch as the Nj
t1onals pi owed last season. the race seems,
to be between Boston, Philade phia al
Washington and their re ative strength
Is not indicated by the manner in whica
they are named. In fact il IL shout
happen that Eddie Plank quits the Ath-
letics, Mack's chances would be decidedly.
SLIM
Boston is sure to have great bail
team In fact, it looks to be better folti-
fed than ii was last season for tho
reason that the pitching staff seems -
have been greatly strengthened Nv
Bedlent, who proved beyond doubt in
the worlds series that he is a pitcher
who will have to be reckoned with. There
were no weak spots on that Boston team
last year and there is no reason for be-
lieving that there will be any this year.
Furthermore, the team should hay =
more confidence than ever before as a
result OF It's victories last fall though
sometimes these world : champions suffer
by reason of their laboring under the
impression that they can win whenever
they feel Ike it,
The average follower of the game Will
tell you that the pennant is sure thin I,
for the Athletics If MaclsS pft will
come through, and there is no denyin :
that the team is the strongest i'm tho
league aside from its tuirling star. aua
this may show marked improvements
over last year.
So far as New York is concerned that
team, though it is now in competent
hands, does not deserve much considcra-
ton. If Chance can bring it up out Of
last place he will have accomplished
wonders.
But there is considerable strength
among those western teams. Detroit stili
has remarkable nucleus for q winner.
and if Jennings is fortunate enough 10
pick up n few good ball players he will
have chance To break into the select
division. Cleveland and Chicago may
prove surprises. This is particularly true
of the former, which picked UP some very
good material last fall and played splen-
did ball. Like Jennings, Callahan has Il
nucleus i'll Chicago, and if his youngsters
come through his team might be trouble
some.
Conceding that St. Louis has a brilliant
young pitching staff. the team lacks too
much in other respects to be feared.
though because of its good pitching, IL
is sure to make trouble for the leaders.
Walter johnson is not only given credit
for being a great pitcher, but his dis
position is considered one of the best a.
sets of the team he is with. There D.
not chance for "A player who happens
to make good and drops into the lime
light to become chesty So long as John
son is on the team. His modesty has
the effect of keeping all aspirants IL
fame in line. When a fellow OF john
sons ability and reputation can wear a
normal sized hat there Is not muClI
chance for some other player TO swell
up over his own accomplishments. 1t -
worth whole lot to the team to have
Johnson around, even when he is not
asked to pitch. He is loyal to his team
and never overlooks a chance to help lis
teammates.
Zach Erhart who has signed "A con
tract with the Nationals this season. Is
twenty-one years old. His height is close
to six feet and his weight about liJ
pounds. He is an infielder throws with
his right arm and is "A natural left-hand-
ed batter. He is a clean-cut athlete ~
appearance and youth of strictly cor
rect habits.
Erhart was picked up by Scout lTW Ia
of the New York Americans last sprlils
and trained with that team at Atidnte-
Manager Wolverton of the Yankees pre-
dicted bright base ball future Tor taa
youngster and sporting writer's on Inc
ground at Atlanta pronounced nm lh'
fastest man wearing Yankee uniform III.
When the team returned TO New YORK
at the opening of the season Erhart oo-
tanned his unconditional release from
Wolyerton in pr ference to being sent
away from his home city. During tho
past summer he put in the greater part
of his time in practice with the New
York Giants at the Polo grounds lie
was offered a contract by Manager Nc
Graw, which he declined for a chance
to get under Griffith's wing.
Zach is studying mining engineering n
Columbia University and should graduate
in 1914. He will be quite at home at
Charlottesville. the Nationals training
grounds, as he spent the first half OF
his freshman year at the University OF
Virginia.
During his last year in High School
Erhart captained the famous High
School and Commerce base ball club.
which won the championship of Greater
New York. At that time the New York
Herald presented him with an elaborate
gold medal for being the best all-round
player in the High School League The
press pronounced him the
ablest player ever graduated from ths
New York high schools. His batting
average in these games was over GNl.
while in fielding he scored above the 800
mark.