Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-18
HAVANA IDEAL
TRAINING SPOT.
WRITES CRAM
Veteran Player and Scrie S.,
Big League CLIO Would Be-
Wise in Going There.
By Sam Crane.

TAVANA, CUBA, Jan. 17.-H,v
ing survived a Havana Nd
Years Eve celebration-,,|
one in New York City has noth,,|
on the Cuban capitals idea Of DOLL
the thing in due and proper styls-
am strong advocate Of Havana a.
training place for big league CHM
from the United States.
The only possible objection "a ~.
there are too many attractions her. i
distract the attention of the plav.r
from the business they have in ham
But in any place in the stat.I
whether big or small, those plays1
who are so inclined can find ways \
handicap and hamper their trainirI
So l consider 1t is up to the playa1
themselves rather than to the place \
which they prepare for a champion
ship campaign.
If any player is disposed to plea,
ure rather than work he will inva
rlably find ways and means TO yrstl
~ 1t, no matter where his traininI
camp may be located.
Surely the hotels here are Of M
best, and the climate in March, 7 an
told, can not be excelled as regard
suitable conditions and pleasant daI
in successive regularity.
Park a Model One.
Alamendores Park is a model on(
being, as 1t is, turf covered on boil
inf1eld and outfield, a condition thd
exists on very few grounds in th|
Southern States OF our own land.
Club owners Of the two big leaguJ
count on an expense account I'd
spring training from $4,000 to GOOD
and consider themselves extremel]
lucky If they escape with an expen|
diture of the smaller sum In Hava
ma, though, | am confident they woulI
be able to return home with a b
balance on the right side Of TIL
ledger. have seen four game
played here between local clubs, and
although 1t is championship raca
still the Alamendores are making
runaway of 1t to a certain extent, AMI
still there have been crowds number
ing from 1900 to 5000 at every game
The Alamendores, Havana and r
clubs, the three that are contestinl
for the championship, would all jumj
at the chance to play any club from
the States during the training seal
son, and three games a week, includ
ing Sundays, would prove exceeding
~ profitable.
Conditions Ideal.
There is large American popula|
ton here, who, while not showinI
much interest in the local race, woull
take pride in club from their owl
country and turn out accordingly
Conditions, in my opinion, look per
feet for both the proper conditioning
Of American players and a prohtabI
financial return as well. If had tn
selection of training place for an
club from the States I would no
hesitate an instant in selecting Ha
vdna.
The trip home of the visiting play
ers could be taken as Ia now gener
ally-by easy stages. 1t is only
Key West, and cities like MI
GILL anu JdChSOIlN lie anu Cl-lC4 ~
ida cities that have clubs could cas-
lily be taken in on the way up 4
Southern Association, Virginia LeaguI
and International League cities.
Well posted baseball men, IN
Frank Bancroft and others, who nav
visited Havana frequently, have oeel
unanimous in their approval and al
vocacy of the city as a place RI
training, and their experience MAKE
their opinion of value.
It is said that the only oojectlol
raised to Havana by Manager NC
Graw was the too many attraction
offered the players, but there an
places near here where the player
could stop and be able to train ol
the local park as well and stil! nav
the benefit of country air and sur
roundings. .
| look to see an American cluo =
choose Havana as training spot !
the very near future.