The Washington herald., 1915-01-03
Neff Signs with Griff;
May Play Second Base
Ex-college Youngster In Line.
OutfeIder rom Rockville
to Be Given Trial.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
BY WILLIAM PEET.

BY WILLIAM PEEI.
Douglas Neff. of Charlottesville, former
captain of the University of Virginia
baseball team who Joined the Nationals
early last summer and finished the sea
son with the Griffmen. signed his 1915
contract yesterday afternoon.
NCff had no chance to show what he
could do with the Nationals and only
got his name into a few box scores. He
was recovering from an attack of
typhoid fever in June when he was sup
posed to report and was never really In
shape to do himself justice
That Gift has made no attempt to dis
pose of Nef gives rise to the theory that
he intends using the youngster as a sub
sibIe that NeT will give Ray Morgan
fight for second base hOnOrs, and may
start the season in that position.
Washington fans have frequently asked
the writer about Neff.
One well-known rOOter inquired-"Can
this chap Neff hit?''
Don't know was the reply, for the
reason that he seldom had a chance to
bat against big league pitching, even in
practice
This is the truth. too. for Neff Joined
the Nationals in st. Louis last summer,
and when a club is on the road the time
allotted for batting practice is so short
that Griff usually orders only his regular
players to go up and hit.
When the club returned home the
weather was so hot that morning work
outs were abandoned. and again Men had
no opportunity to show his worth as q
batter.
The writer has watched Neff during the
last three years OF his career on the col
Iege diamond at Charlottesville, and the
. v,.1
ball afield, but seldom missed a practice
game against the Nationals without get
ting base hit.
Neff last fall entered the Massachusetts
Institute Of Technology in Boston, Mass,
where he is pursuing a course of cleo
trical engineering. He was on his way
back to college from his home, when he
stopped over for a brief chat with Mana
ger Griffith.
The Charlottesville boy looks to be in
fine shape. He has taken on weight and
will report with the Nationals next March .
for spring training.
Manager Griffith also announced that |
he had signed q young Outfelder named !
w. H Lamar, of Rockville. who enjoys |
something of a reputation among the |
suburban independent teams.
Lamar weighs 1S5 pounds. is a left
hand throwcr. but right-hand hitter, and !
is said to be fast.
Bill Donovan has been made mama
ger of the Yankees, and every good |
fan will wish him luck Bill has the |
makings of a manager. because Of his |
personality, bis reputation, and his |
knowledge of baseball. but nc has |
tackled one Of the hardest jobs in the |
world. II he does not begin to de- |
liver the goods almost Immediately, he |
will receive the inevitable panning. |
with little or no consideration for the |
difficulties Of his position. Bill knows
he has no easy problem. and says that
il will be necessary 10 rebuild the team.
II Bill can accomplish that feat in
couple Of years he will be some arChi-
teCt.
wild Bill" now in his thirty-ninth
wear, bears the reputation of never hav-
ing take a drink in his life. For more
than twenty years he has been profess
sionaI athlete. and has always ranked as
a good fellow among good fellows.
Hugh Jennings, Ed Barrow. Ned HanlOn.
and others who have managed teams OF
which Donovan was member are loud
in their praises Of the new Yankee mana
ger for the good influence which he al
ways exerted over other players. II Don
ovan has only half the good luck that
will Be wished for him in baseball circles
alone it will not be long before the Yam
KEGS must be classed as winners.
Get on the nerves of your OppOn-
ent." was an axiom of Kid" Mccoy in
his boxing days. The Kid was cute
and counted much OF the success to his
brains Mccoy. however. had not hog =
Ced the limcIight in this stunt, as
developed the other day PaCkey Nc
Farland is the one who shares the
honOrs.
A New York rOmOteT told the story
and vouched for its truth. Packey once
worked the art on the TedOubtable
Leach Cross. The pair were in down
town newspaper office being weighed in
for a bout at the FairmOnt A. G, Cross :
got on the scales and the beam didn't
move. As Leach backed off the scales
Packey purpOsely got in his way, and
as a consequence they bumped into
each other.
What do you mean by showing me?"
yelled Packey with a furious frOwn. .
; 81 didn't mean to shove you. Packey,"
said Leach. thoroughly frightened. !.
You did, and you did it on purpose"
Crowlcd Packey.
you're mistaken" said Leach,
meekly.
How dare you contradict me?" a
roared Packey. Take that" and Leach q
was sent spinning against the wall I
from the force of left hook THAI a
caught him full on the chin. ~
That took all the spunk out Of Cross.
That night Packey had to actually
chase Leach, so frightened was the East
Sider Packey laughingly admitted aft
erward that the scale incident had been I
put on for the sole purpose OF getting a
Cross nerve. d
Tests Lincoln Highway.
of grsst interest to motorcyelsts y the test re-