The Washington times., 1914-03-21
Young InfieIder Fails to Make
Good With Big Leaguers and
viii Return Home.
DENIES THAT CUBAN TALE
Griffith Says He Has Not De-
cided to Visit Queen of An
TILES to Train.
Bv THOMAS KIRBY.

UNIVERSITY, Va, March 21.-
Leo Martin was today informed b!
Griffith that his services to the Ma
tionals would be ended upon arriva
in Washington.
Martin is an infielder recommend
ed by New York friend of Griffith
but the player failed to impress ant
his early departure was forecast il
these columns earlier in the week
Martin returns to his home in Tene
fly, N. j., free agent.
81 have not decided to train il
Cuba or any place else," declared
Griffith today as he denied the per
sistent reports that have been sen
back to Washington. "The Cuban.
want US so do the people here, il
Texas, Georgia and on the Pacific
coast. At present it appears a!
though we will return here, but / de
not intend to commit myself nearly
. year ahead. That's ALL"
Disorder and turmoil made up the
characterization that reigned in the
tfouse Of Griffith today as the athletes
under hurry orders. prepared to beat q
hastJ retreat from this vale OF storms
to what promises to be more con-
genial and friendly atmosphere to the
city whose nag they hope to carry to
basebaIrs summit.
To tell q baseball player to pack
quickly is not calculated to bring sorth
smiles. still. the consolation of gYttins
home after a month Of isolation in
Albermarle county has served to bright
en- spirits as the men packed thfir be-
longings and kept the eXpressulan on
the hot step grabbing baggage to be
piled aboard the rail burner thJt will
carry the contingent to Wsshinston-
Late this afternoon the start Is made,
and IL the party Is lucky. the -Nluable
consignment will be delivered at North
Capitol street and Massachusetts, ave-
nue. at 7:4s o'clock this evening. Trains
from the South are proverbiaIly slow
and late. 50 II may be some minutes
later than the appointed time when
the sir brakes are applied for the
last time.
The party that breaks camp today
numbers forty-two players. managers.
coaches and war correspon ients, who
will run the gauntlet of the fans who
desire to assemble in the l.. S. this
evening to see how their favoritec ap-
pear in undress.
Johnny Mumford, graduate of the
amateur fields of Washington, is sched-
uled to pitch against Georgetown In the
opening game Of the home set of ex-
hib.ttor contests, while ]. Pastel Shaw
will be seen in action in the first meet
ing with the Philadelphia Nationals on
next Thursday.
Cart. Douglas Neff. of the University
Of Virginia team, was closeted with
Griffith last night for about an hour.
and the impression is that an agree
Inent was reached whereby the COL
legian will become National in June.
Neff is one OF the fastest shortstops
IN TIC collegiate ranks; and his. work
here has impressed Griffith most favor
ably. The Philadelphia Nationals were
anxiou; to land the player. but they
we're working under the drawback Of
having to compete against Jack Ryan,
a Gr:ff THAN henchman, who is coach,
and who wtelds great influence over
his baseball pupils.
Nef Is not only a good fielder, but he
has always batted well. and should At
in nicely as an understudy to the men
who have earned title to the infield
positions during the past couple Of sea-
sous.
The leader of the Virginians i. an
engineering student. and graduates in
Juns. To admit that he has signed at
this time might involve Nef's elig;bil-
ity here. So 1t is decidedly unlikely that
any official announcement as to his
plans will be made until after he has
received his degree in the spring.
]. J. F. Boehling yesterday passed
his twenty-secord milestone in the
raoe of life. This makes him slightly
less than year older than J. s. A
EngeI.
Father Rankin pastor of d church
here. visited the camp yesterday and
met all the athletes. He was intro
promised that there would be many
a VirEinian pulling All next summer
for the Nationals to finish in the van.
Victor Munoz had a long talk with
Griffith yesterday. pointing out to the
chief the advantages that Cuba would
offer as training place for the Ma
uonals next spring.
Griffith was an attentive listener
and promised to take the matter un-
manager reiterated his declaration
that he still favors Charlottesville,
and his present intention is to once
more train at this place.
Probable weather conditions are
always d gamble. and Griffith feels
that his chances of heing fevored
are good here as anywhere else.
In addition the appointments arc
satisfactory. the men arc comfortably
quartered in a spacious house, and
the meals are perhaps better than
those furnished men in other camps
who have to live At small hotels or
eat and sleep on PuIlmans.
Tossing and bunting the ball in the
Faywether gymnasium was all the Ma
ticnals could do yesterday. In the aft
ernoon the sun melted much OF the
snow but even under the best condi-
ticns. Lambeth field Is not likely 10 be
fit for baseball before next Monday.
Griffith decided early this morning
10 quit here today and even the stories
OF similar conditions I'm Washington did
not shake his determination.
Whenever the diamond at National
park is wet. the players will workout
under the grandstand. The plan to 2et
home is in order that the men MAJ get
nore batting practice than II has been
possible to obtain here.
There will be work mornings and
afternoons until April II when the start
= Is made for Providence. where a stop
oft will be had for a couple of engage
meLts with the International LcaEuers
before continuing on to Boston for the
real ooehink.