Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-19
BASEBALL NOTES.

John MeGraw has picked Jim
Thorpe to lead off for his first team.
The Cincinnati Reds will discard
those dingy, dark blue, red trimmed
travelling suits this season, and will
appear away from home in the now
almost universally worn gray.
The Mackmen are getting some real
practice this spring, playing games
with organized clubs rather than rely
ing on first and second team practice.
Connie Mack has his usual veteran
team and is looking only for a pitcher
or two and hard hitting utility man.
Otto Knabe is working overtime as
manager of his Federal League Ter
rapins. He is out every day in
rubber shirt and is fast getting down
to weight. He already is working up
his combination play with Mike Doc
Ian, formerly of the PhiHies.
Harry Williams, who seems booked
for first base with the II ankees. re-
ceived a gold watch from his friends
in Galveston, his home town. when he
went back to the old field as major
Lacquer.
Coaches and graduates will be barred
from the players bench of the Har
ward baseball team during games this
season. Dean lie Baron r. Briggs,
chairman of the committee on athlet-
les, made this announcement Monday
night, in his annual report. He said
that It was desired the team should
be thrown on its own responsibility
and resources. and that the exigen-
cies of the game should be met by the
captain instead of by coaches.
Arthur Devlin, now manager of the
San Francisco nine, in outlining his
future career. gives an interesting
sidelight upon the various stages in
the career of a professional baseball
man: LAS long as the pay is satisfac-
tory l shall remain a manager" he
said. "Then 1 hope to be a major
league scout and finally to wind up
my career as an umpire"
Jimmie Sheckard holds the record as
an oyster eater of Georgia. AT a big
oyster roast given by President Henry
Lance of the American Grocery Co. in
honor of the scout manager, the ex-
Cub etc by actual count 60 of the
roasted bivaIves. His nearest COM
petitor was judge. who slowed away
SO under his waistband. And yet Jim
morning and led his men a merry
pace.
Sandy Piez is practically assured of
careful development by McGraw if he
can hit. "PieZ can do everything
else" said the manager, II never saw
a better fielder and I admire his base
running. Piez has been troubled by
a bad leg, he tells me, yet he gets
good starts on the catchers and is a
beautiful slider. AS fielder he can
come through on low drives as good
as anybody | ever saw. He hasn't
shown much at bat, but believe he
can hit Last year at Richmond this
kid stole seventy-two bases, and the
latter part of the season he was out
of the game with appendicitis. Those
seventy-two steals on just fair bat
ting average look good to me. Piez
is discovery of my good friend, Ed
Lyons. and that's another reason why
I hope he develops. He's the best
youngster in camp right now
Joe Wood, the Red Sox pitcher who
is convalescing at Port Jervis, n. Y.
from an appendicitis operation, took
another five-mile walk Monday and
well enough to leave for the Red Sox
training camp at Hot Springs tomor-
row. DR.. F.. E. Gessner, Woods ply
stefan who is playing host to the speed
merchant, smiled and shook his head.
DIR. Gessner says that Wood will be
ready to indulge in mild baseball ex-
ercise April l. Wood attended ban
quet given in his honor by the local
lodge of Elks When called upon for
q speech Joe said that he couldn't
think OF much 10 say except that he
wanted to get back with the team
and with the boys.
Tom Bannon, well known In every
town in New England as baseball
player and umpire. says that he Will
not umpire this season, although he
has two fiattering offers to get back
into the old game. Mr.. Bannon Is
connected with the supply department
of the General Electric company in
Lynn and intends to stick to his job
with that company this summer. He