The Washington times., 1913-03-04
CUBAN PLAYERS ARE
PRAISED BY WRITERS
Acosta and CaIvo Do Not Speak
English, But Are Welcomed
Into Climbers Fold.
By SENATOR"

CHARLOTTESVILLE Va, March f.
II good words count for anything, the
Climbers have found two wonderful
performers in Jacinto Calvo and Bal
domero Acosta. the two Cuban youths
VINO are candidates for the outfield at
Florida avenue this season. They were
already at the teams headquarters
when the vanguard under command or
Gen. ]. Ryan arrived and they lost no
time fraternizing with the lads from
Washington
Calyo. who has finished the winter
season in Havana with a batting aver
age of .351, attracted the most atten-
ton from the newcomers and his modest
demeanor made decided impression
upon the other candidates for the team:
He smiled and shook hands and smiled
again, his command of English not yet
icing of the best. But his smiles look
good and he is now one of the boys.
Acosta who has just passed his six
teenth birthday, his father. being mayor
of Marinao, Cuba, declaring a holiday
ON that account. reminds one of
diminutiye Hal Chase. He has some
what similar features. slightly darker
from the caresses of the tropic sun,
and moves around just as nimbly.
AS a bodyguard the two islanders are
accompanied by Victor Munoz, the Tim
Nurnane of baseball in Havana, and
Joe Massaguer. another expert writer
on our great national game. Ihese Two
estirnable gentlemen act as interpreters
for the two young players ana aiso SEE
that their praises are sung In, the right
tone.
Impressive Chap.
However, these two young Cubans are
impressive They throw from the on
side and bat the same way. Each IS
sen at once to be intelligent to high
degree and their excellent lineage can
lot be hidden. They are hlsh grace
lads in every, particular
The first thing Calvo and Acosta did
on arriving at the camp was to ask to
look over the array of wagon tongues
sent down here by MiQue Martin. safe
with the healthy-looking drivers in the
bat bag and tried them all, each pick
irg out one or two for use on Lambeth
Field. l-rf ,
Calyo Uses an unusually long bat, but
likes It to be light, Acosto wants
light stick, but 1t may be a trifIe short
er. They swung a few around In an
impressive manner, to the great eoifica-
ton Of Jack Ryan. whose experienced
eye saw considerable in their business
Ike style with the bat.
"Calvo speaks a little English, but not
much" explained MunoZ. However,
he is intelligent and by the end OF the
season should be able to talk IL as well
as he GOES his spanish. lie mas Soou
education in his own tongue.
Talks With Signs.
LAS for Acosta, he is still mere boy
and can't talk more than a few words
of English. But mixing with the other
players will teach him plenty for ordi-
nary use. He can make out what he
means, anyway. with the sign language,
which is universal, as everybody
knows"
Then Munoz and Massaguer told all
they knew OF their two youthful pro-
teges. explaining how they work with
veteran players on the base lines, how
they soak the pill on the elongated
proboscis, how they cover acres and
acres Of ground in the field, and how
they are today the most promising
young players on the island TO the south
of us.
"Marsans is responsible for Calvo,
explained MunoZ, 'and Almeida brought
Acosta from the amateur teams to the
professionals in Havana. They will fol-
low the doings of these boys from the
start to the finish. Griffith is responsi-
Bile for the Cubans I'm Cincinnati enter
ing the big league. and they feel that
they cannot do enough for him. In re-
turn. as a partial payment. they send
him Calvo and Acosta, feeling certain
that the Old Fox will give them thor
ough trials"