The Washington times., 1915-02-06
Jose Massaguer Writes That
Wee Cuban OutfieIder Is
Hitting Ball Like Major
Lacquer in Cuba.
Manager Griffith Pleased to
Learn That Youngsetr Is
Making Good and Predicts
Brilliant Future for Him.
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.


Merito Acosta, the wee Cuban out
fielder, is going to make strong
bid for a regular berth with the
Griffmen this season, If his work
this winter in Cuba counts for any
thing.
According to information received
here today from Jose Massaguer, the
baseball scribe, who visited Char
lottesville with Acosta and Calvo,
when they first Joined the Washing
ton Club, the midget is leading Ar
mando Marsans in the esteem Of the
Havana populace.
"Acosta is hitting like a real big
Lacquer" writes Massaguer, "even
better than Marsans, and his hits
sre clean, healthy line drives. l
think he is now about ripe for a
berth with the Nationals"
Acosta is playing with the Havana
Reds. winners Of the Cuban champion
ship. and Jacinto Calvo. who received
trial with the Griffmen. is a team
VI HE l ne ldtteT mas returned
unsigned his 1915 Los Angeles contract.
and does not seem to be crazy about
Joining the Angela next summer. Mas
sasuer says that Calvo il an improved
player since Washington fans last saw
him In action. He II faster. has more
confidence in himself. and has learned
Il lot OF inside baseball
Manager Griffith was glad to hear the
Rcod news today concerning his young
outfielder. whom he has carried for
two campaigns In the hope of develop
i.g him into star.
$50 down there" smiled the Old Fox.
and is leading Marsans think that
some day he'll be a better hitter than
Marsans' but not 70 fast on his feet.
,cen in the big leagues. If Acosta can
place. all right"
Massaguer is going to bring the
Havana Reds to this country this
spring. playing exhibition games as far
west as the Pacific Coast. if he can
hook up the necessary teams. While
there are many alleged Cuban teams
playing Independent ball in the United
States. most OF themare composed OF col
orcd players who never saw Cuba except
on the cover of cigar box. Massaus-
or $ OUTFIT will be composed of genuine
white Cubans, champions Of their league
iher" this season. Already they have
% amps el MaTehp S pay g. 'ae aed isnsG VIII sks Gu1s
brooklyn at Daytona, Fla. the Cincin-
natl Reds at Covington, La. and the
Ira rsGksrs ,fsrs at atlanta: 1t Is possible thai
sayucr has written Manager Griffith,
asking for the use of the ball park here
Y case the Griffmen happen to be on
Manager joe Birmingham, Of the
Cleveland American League club. will
have only twenty-seven in his party at
the spring training camp at San An
tonic. Tex. Tho list includes:
Catchers-ONeill. Egan, Devoyt. Bill
irgs and Fohl.
Pitchers-M Mitchell. Steen. Blanding,
Morton, Jones, Coombs, Walker. Bow
man. and Harstad.
Wambsganns. Chapman. Thomas. Tur.
ncr. aud Barbara.
Outliciders-Jackson, Lebold iraney
Smith. and Birmingham.
Emil Meusel. the young outtielder sent
to Minneapolis by Clark Griffith. is
holding out for 5000 more on the con-
tract rendered him by Joe Cantillon,
Meusel is wintering in FL Centro. Cal.
and thinks that he is worth $500 more.
He NAV come back to the Griffmen next
September, If he continues to show I'M
provement. He Is mere boy. not yet
twenty-onc years old. and has a bril-
liant future in front of him.
Hughey Jennings will take South with
Kim the following pla vers:
Pitchers--Boehler. Boland, Cunning
ham. Duhus Dauss. REYNOLDS. Ledbet-
ter. Cavet. Covaleskic, Oldham, Smith
son.
Catchers anage. Baker. Mckee,
Peters. and Yelle.
Infielders-B Fuller. Kavanaugh,
Burns: Moriarty. Wit, and Young.
Outfielders--Cobh. Crawford, Jacob
son, Nicholson. and Veach.
Bill Donovan. of the Yankees, has
made Joe Lannin an offer for Bau-
mann. young infielder who received
trial with the Tigers In 1913. and
played in Providence last season. Bau-
mann hit for ,.2S2 last year and fielded
for .94S at third base. Donovan says
that Raunann is verv fast man and
can do better than he did last year. II
rhe player Is signed by the Yankees
Donovan will take care that the deal
shall not go through on Friday.
This fellow is the most superstitiuus
PLAYER eve" knew explained Wild
Bill. He was handicapped all last year
hv the feeling that he couldn't make
good because he joined the club on IA
FridaN."
Jack Dunn. the Richmond Interna-
iIoual league mogul saws that he has
been UrOmised tire" q" four PLAYER for
his club in the Virginia "auital Two
are pitchers. and one an inh"lder. all
row the property Of American League
clubs Dunn has arranged two more
exhibition games. The New York