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

II ing SS survived SsDs, ' Havana 'S New
Years Eve celebration-and
on the Cuban capitals idea of doing
the thing in due and proper style-I
am strong advocate of Havana as a
training place for big league clubs
from the United States.
The only possible objection is that
there are too many attractions here to
distract the attention of the players
from the business they have in hand
whether big or small, those players
who are so inclined can find ways to
handicap and hamper their training.
So | consider 1t is up to the players
themselves rather than to the place in
which they prepare for a champion
ship campaign.
If any player Is disposed to pleas
ure rather than work he will inva-
riably find ways and means to graft
fy 1t, no matter where his training
camp may be located
Surely the hotels here are of the
best, and the climate in March, am
told, can not be excelled as regards
suitable conditions and pleasant days
in successive regularity.
Park a Model Ono.
Alamendores Park is a model one,
being, as it Is, turf covered on both
tnfield and outfield, a condition that
exists on very few grounds in the
Southern States OF our own land
Club owners of the two big leagues
count on an expense account for
spring training from $1,000 to $4,000,
and consider themselves extremely
lucky II they escape with an expen-
diture of the smaller sum. In Hava-
ua though, | am confident they would
be able to return home with big
balance on the right side of the
ledger. ! have seen four games
played here between local clubs, and,
although 1t is a championship race.
still the Alamendores are making a
runaway of 1t to a certain extent, and
=, still there have been crowds number
ing from 1000 to 5000 at every game.
| The Alamendores, Havana and Fe
| clubs. the three that are contrasting
for the championship, would all jump
at the chance to play any club from
the States during the training sea-
son, and three games a week, includ-
ing Sundays. would prove exceeding
| ly profitable.
| Conditions Ideal.
There Ia a large American populs--
| ton here, who, while not showing
much interest in the local race, would
take pride in a club from their OWE
country and turn out accordingly.
Conditions, in my opinion, look per-
foo 90, hot hn ftNax
of American players and a proHtahls
| financial return as well. If ! ha4 tlis
selection of training place for any
| club from the States l would aot
hesitate an instant in selecting Ha-
Vana.
The trip home of the visiting plA<~
ers could be taken as is now gener-
ally-by easy stages. 1t ~ o,aly
seven-hour voyage from Havana &c
Key West, and cities like MI
| ami and JecssonviHe and other Flor
| ida cities that have clubs could cas-
| lily be taken In on the way up to
| Southern Association, Virginia League
and International League cities.
Well posted baseball men, like
Frank Bancroft and others, who have
visited Havana frequently, have been
unanimous in their approval and ad-
| vocacy Of the city as a place for
training, and their experience makes
their opinion OF value.
1t is said that the only objection
raised to Havana by Manager Nc
Graw was the too many attractions
offered the players, but there are
places near here where the players
could stop and be able to train on
the local park as well and still have
the benefit of country air and sur
| roundings.
look to see an American club TO
| choose Havana as a training spot in
| the very near future.