Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-05
SNOW |NTERFERES
WITH BASE BALL
Bad Weather Drives Griffith's
Rockies Into Gymnasium
at Charlottesville.
PLAYERS PROGRESS NOT
HAMPERED BY LAY OFF
Indoor Work Calculated to Keep
Athletes in Trim Until Con-
ditions Improve.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

ponents of the great national pastlme
who revere the name of Griffith.
Mother Earth is put to the blush be-
meath a thick coat of the feathery
white, for she, too, had offered hope to
the visitors. When the campers awoke
this morning: they looked up at leaden
clouds, and awaited the inevitable. 1t
came around about breakfast time. first
rain, then sleet. then hail, and finally
snow, yes, just about everything in
the repertoire of the much despised
storm gods.
had thought would hardly be needed
on this trip. the boys. headed by Bosses
Ryan and Martin, paraded in single
file to the gymnasium, there to indulge
in the first indoor workout of the
year Is.
Eddie Ainsmith and Joe Boehling
were the lone absentees. Ainsmith de-
veloped a heavy cold overnight, and
was excused from practice. His case
is not serious. but Mike Martin is de-
termined to stick to the same old
policy of playing safe. Boehling, as
has been mentioned before, limits his
work to one practice day, and will
have his inning this afternoon.
Development Not Hampered.
one was satisfied that the unfavorable
conditions on the outside had not in
terfered in the least with the great
progress gained in the week now fast
drawing to close. University Of Vir-
ginia boasts of gymnasium that is
just the place for such purposes. There
was basket ball plenty, medicine ball,
exercising with pulleys and dumbbells,
and plenty of room for the twirlers to
have their warm-up. Then as a final
feature to bring out those much-sought-
around the running track was the or
der
Doc" Ayers gave an exhibition Of
control during his warm-up this morn
ing that was highly pleasing to John
Henry, who worked on the other end.
Ayers always has possessed great con-
troll; he seems to have the knack of
putting the ball just about where he
wants it. This morning, with small
skull cap serving as a plate, the doctor
showed a gathering of onlookers just
what he is capable Of In nine chances
Of possible ten he directed the horse
hide waist high and directly across.
Ayers is coming around nicely, and his
name has been added to the list of
those who are going to trouble the vet
eran stickers when they come here
with Intentions of wrecking the walls
that surround historic Lambeth Field.
work outs, and this came within an
ace Of depriving the Nationals of the
services of their trainer this morning.
Some one Whizzed q fast one down the
hall that escaped the grasp Of the
would be receiver. and caught Martin
squarely on the head. He was daZed
for a minute, but recovered In time to
say a few nice things about south
paws who are overanxious to show
how much more speed they have than
the great and only w. J.
May Work in Open Tomorrow.
Pop" Lannigan has promised to
start a corps of workmen clearing
Lambeth Field Of the snow Just as soon
as there are signs of let-up. 1t real
ly looks as If the spell will be of short
duration. and the opinion seems to be
that Saturdays practice again will be
held in the open.
The Federal League was represented in
camp las. night. NO, 1t wasn't an agent
nor anything in the way of an unwelcome
visitor. Rath Warner, a first baseman
who is on his way to Shreveport, La.
where he will report to the Chicago Feds,
stopped off here late last night in order
to make train connections for the west.
He spent couple of hours in company
with Mike" Martin, but departed just
Jack Ryan usually is q; man of
comparatively few words In fact. one
who approaches him in search of en-
job before him. But somehow the
venerable one changed his tactics yes
terday and had a whole lot to say.
Jack is man of wide experience.
He has more than one tale up his
sleeve that would delight sport
hn 61rI hllf he
trouble seems to be that the veteran,
no matter however accommodating he
is. does not appreciate the value of the
stock he is wasting.
Now, no one has ever doubted
Ryan's value to the Washington team,
what it means to Griffith to have a
man of such long and varied expert
ence available to help in the develop
ment of young pitchers. one of the
veterans greatest assets is his ability
to steady pitchers who have often been
given up as hopeless tasks. Some one
was discussing the case of Joe Boeh-
ling yesterday when Jack suddenly in
terrupted with a story concerning Vic
Willis well remembered by the pres
ent day fan as a member of the pitch
ing staff of the Pittsburgh National
League club some years back.
There was a time said Jack, when
Vic was about as wild as pitcher
could be and still hold his job. 1T
playing on the same team with him in
Syracuse, which was in the Eastern
League circuit. AL Buckenberger, then
manager of the team, was beginning
to despond of Vic's chances to de-
velop into a consistent twirler. He
seemed to he pitcher of unusual abil
ity, had everything in the way of
speed and curves. But. do you know.
game never passed but what he
would dish out dozen or more passes
We'll. Buckenberger was ready to
give up. He had practically made up
his mind to put Willis on the mar
ket, when here comes yours truly to
the rescue. After whole lot of plead
ing Buck allowed me to take the
pitcher in hand l worked with him
every day. just as l do sometimes with
some of our own boys today. After
several weeks l came to Buckenber-
ger and reported that Willis was ready.
He laughed. but finally decided to give
him a chance. 1t had happened that
the Toronto club. then leading the
league with a margin to spare. was
due in our town Just about that time.
I begged Buck to give Willis a
chance. He did. And do you know
what happened?
We'll, Vic just stood EN- on their
heads, Billy Lush. Dan Mccain
and all the rest. winning his game. al,
lowing couple Of scattered hits and
passing but two men. Now l don't
want 10 talk about myself, but there