The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-09
Royal Welcome Is Given
johnson at Camp Griffith
Team Mates Pleased to Have
Big Smoke with Them.
'Oh Fox" Names Lineup
of Second Club.
WORK ON LAMBETH FIELD
BY WILLIAM PEET.

BY WILLIAM PEET.
i Charlottesville. Va. March S-The wild
est kind of excitement prevailed In CAM
here this noon when Walter Johnson th'
Nationals great pitcher, stalked int,
III" lounGing room at headquarters un
announced.
''lIuIlah WaItah." shrieked his batter,
mate. Eddie Ainsmith Glad To see you
Eoomie." modestly exclaimed Zeb Milan
''WClComC to our league" shouted 4 cho
rus OF voices. Everybody wanted t.
shake Johnsons hands at once. The
. big fellow smiled all over and declared
that he was glad to be with the boys
again. Johnson came direct from hi:
! home in 'offeyVille. Hans. lie had cal
Culated on being here last night. but or
account of delayed trains in the Middle
! " est. Was DELAYED a few hours.
Walters appearance sets ut rest
all the wild runners that he had
changed his mind after all aud in
tended to play in the Federal
. League. He did not care TO dis
! russ the Federal League md the
writer saw no reason why he
! should he urged to answer a lot
of questions on "a subject which by
! this time is distastcful 10 him.
: Johnson did say that he was perfectly
/ sitlSl4t u win Il' tDllli act lie
had signed with Washington; that he had
returned the 500 advance money sup
! p!i-d by the Feds last December: that
, tIcy had accepted il. and that he did not
believe they had Il legal claim on his SER
vices
I according 10 Johnson's own statement
! H. is seven or eight pounds under weight
! hut he usually reports under weight in
the spring and adds flesh rs the trainin.
. Seas son advances. One thing IS certain
/ Walter will be ready 10 start the season
when the bel! rings. He has never vet
! failed in this respect.
Manager Griffith tonight an
! nounced that he had placed the
veteran Nick iitr0ck in charge OF
/ his second team and that be NouI.:
turn over the following pIa yers for
Nick 10 handle: Rippy Williams,
Charlie: Pick. NrritO Acosta. Daug-
| las NcT. Eddie Aiu>mith, Roy Mas
scy. Henri ROndeau, Bill Brown
and Lamar.
.i'trocl: will use Williams on first base.
. Fick At second. Nsff on short and Accsta
at third. with Ainsmith behind the bat.
Massey. Brown. R"ndeau. and Lamar
! will play the outf"ld. and the pitchers
will b.. later selected by Griffith
on paper this is the best-hittinc second
team the Nationals have ever assembled
in charlottesville, and the practice games
which wi! start either the latter part OF
this week or the first of next week should
be UNUSUALLY hard fought
The unexpected cold snap today made
it impossible for the men to work out
doors this morning. The squad was di-
Vided into two sections and the athletes
lInbered up in Fayerweather gym.
This afternoon Grin had his In
field candidates on Lambeth Field
rs the diamond WAS in fairly good
shape. The regulars. with AIva
Williams on first. Morgan second.
Mcbride short, and Foster third.
practiced for half an hour and
GriT later substituted Pick at
third for Foster and ordered NeH
40 relieve Mcbride ut shortstOp.
= high wind and coca siOnal bursting
Of the sun through the clouds cleared Off
all the rcma lining snow. and late tonight
the field was as dry as a bone. Unless
more snow. rain or real cold weather ep-
pears tomorrow the men will do all their
work on the college diamond.
No sooner had the players modified in
the fra tern;ty house after dinner tonight
than Griffith called them together for a
short talk. He laid down the rules of the
training camp. handed out good substan-
tial advice. and told the boys what he
expected Of them.
As there appears to be considerable
n!uSical talent in camp a minstrel show
was arranged for tonight 1t was a large
party and worth the price. The proceeds
OF the affair was turned over to one Of
the local charities.
Ii IL, of course. too early to VEN
turr any sort of prediction ms to
the worth of any Griffth's
young pitchers. OF the newcom-
Crs, Hopper and ThOrmahIen show
cd up well today. The real test
will come when the recruits are
called upon to face the batters in
the practice games.
Weather permitting. the Nationals will
tackle the University of Virginia team
in an exhibition game next SATURDAY.,
and the contest should be we'll worth
seeing for the reason that Virginia has
been out of doors for nearly a month
and the college boys are in fine condi-
ton
Joe Acosta. vice consul of the Cuban
Embassy in Washington, Is visitor
here. He will remain a. few days to watch
the men practice.
Walter Johnson was so fatigued with
his long train ride that he was excused
from practice this afternoon. Walter
Will be on the job bright and early to-
morrow morning.