The Washington herald., 1914-03-12
Youngster Says He Is in Good
Condition-Also Praises
Cleveland Maps.
PRACTICE IN THE GYM
BY WILLIAM PEET.

BY WILLIAM PEET'
University, Va, March IL
Henry L. Collier, the University
of Georgia twirler, who re-
Gently accepted the terms offered
BY Manager Griffith, arrived in
camp early this afternoon, and
hooked to be in shape to enter the
box and pitch nine innings.
Il left Athens, Ca, at z O'Clock
Yesterday morning. The sun was
out bright and it was fine and warm.
q, thought / had reached the North Pole
when the conductor on my train called
cut Charlottesville" said the latest ad-
dition to the Climbers twiriing corps
making an even dozen pitchers In all,
who will bid for the eight jobs Grin has
open, for the Old Fox has intimated that
he will likely carry this number during
the fast approaching season
Collier weighs, stripped. 16s pounds, and
stands six feet one and one-fourth inches.
He says that he mas worked out during
the last three weeks. and although he
has thrown very few curves, declares he
could pitch tomorrow il Griff said the
word. II am going to try mighty hard
to make good" Collier, With a typical
Southern drawl. told the writer. Il have
only knownNthe boys here few hours,
but I like them already. II Mr.. Griffith
. gives me a fair show, that Is all ask.
Collier has watched closely the work
of the Cleveland Maps during the past
two weeks This club is training in
Athens, Ca. where the young pitcher
has been attending college. Collier says
that Manager Joe Birmingham has un-
der mis- wing a number of promising
youngsters. including a third baseman
named Baker, who can hit 'em a mile.
OF course. all this was encouraging
news 10 Clark Griffith, who has been
forced TO use a gymnasium in developing
his players most of the training camp
season.
Il don't care how good the Maps look
now" snapped the Old Fox. They have
got to show us on the ball field, where
every game counts. The weather has
certainly been against us here. but give
us a few good days and we'll be ready
for all of them"
Training camp conditions in University,
Va. this spring seem to be one darn
snOwstorm after another. 1t started
showing early this morning, and as these
lines are being written the ground is
covered FIVE inches deep with the So
called beautiful" a misnomer. II ever
there was one according to the Old Fox.
There is this consolation: The snow
down here disappears almost as quickly
as it comes, and if. perchance, Old Sol
comes out strong tomorrow morning
there would be little left~when the sun
set gun booms
Griffith was again forced TO seek the
shelter of Fayerweather gymnasium
To-Day instead Of lining up against the
University of Virginia boys for a prac-
tice game, as per schedule.
The pitchers are so far advanced
that the Old Fox decided to let them
throw a few. curves, and the eleven
husky twirlers made life miserable for
our three star catchers owing to the
fact that overcast skies put the big
gymnasium in semi-darkness.
For the regulars and recruits, ex-
elusive of the battery candidates, there
was nothing doing, except tossing the
medicine ball. swinging Indian clubs
and dumb-bells: in fact, any exercise
calculated to start the perspiration was
indulged in. The same program more
than likely will be on the boards for
tomorrow. 8 there is little likelihood
of regaining the use of Lambeth Field
before Saturday at the earliest.
Mrs. Chick GandiI and Mrs. Daniel
Moeller arrived on a late train this
afternoon from Washington, and were
greeted by two homesick husbands
The ladies will stop at Charlottesville's
leading hotel for a couple of days. as
Griff has barred all women from the
training camp.
Jack Ryan, who is Grifrs right hand
man. made the statement today that 1t
could snow all il wanted down here for
in his opinion tn Nationals regulars
needed only four or five warm days in
\ April and they would be ready TO start
the season.
AS for the pitchers" declared Ryan
they have been down here long enough
now to get all the kinks and soreness
out of their arms. We have nothing to
worry about even IL the camp is showed
under for a week or two"
Manager Griffith is not so optimistic
and would like to ask for waivers on all
this snow.
II the young southpaw pitchers, Bent
ley and Harper, are to be taken serious
ly, too much praise cannot be showered
upon the curly head of Nick Altrock. the
veteran portsider, and Grfn evidently
knew what he was doing when he re-
fused to let the comedian go to the Pa
cific Coast last fall.
Both, Bentley and Harper stated that
Nick has taught them more about the
art of pitching during the short time
they have been here. than they learned
during the course of their sweet young
lives. Nick does not say much, except
to hint that it would not be at all sur
prisinE IL the Nationals flashed a couple
of likely-looking lefthanders on the base
ball-loving public during the coming sea-
son.
II il stops showing tomorrow Griff
will have another gang of workmen clear
ing of the snow on Lambeth Field
Billy Lee stands up TO the plate nicely
ami meets the ball squarely. Lee is one
of tn most promising OF the youngsters.
TO PLAY BASEBALL ON HORSE.