Evening star., 1915-02-18
WALTER JOHNSON
TO REPORT MARCH |
Writes to Manager Griffith He
Is Anxious to Start
in Training.
SALT LAKE CITY CLUB
ACCEPTS JOE GEDEON
Emil Meusel Goes to Los Angeles,
Having Refused to Sign Min
neapolis Contract.
BY J. ED GRILLO,

Walter Johnson will report here
March or thereabout The Nationals
pitching star gave this information in
:, letter which Manager Griffith re-
ceived this morning. Johnson says that
he is anxious to get back in the game.
He says that he is ready to pitch right
nov, and that he has enjoyed splendid
health all winter
I'll be in Washington on the first of
the month or thereabout 1 am anxious
to get TO work. though I believe 1 am
ready to pitch right now. Hope we
will have good weather during our
training PERIOD" is the way johnson
expresses himself.
There is good sound to Walters
letter" said Griffith after reading it.
He is coming here anxious to show at
his best and that is the sort of spirit
which helps. I look for him to have
one of the best seasons OF his career.
and if he does we are going to be hard
to beat this year
Word reached here yesterday from
Cliff Blankenship. who is managing
the Salt Lake City club. that he has
accepted the Washington clubs propo-
sition for Joe Gedeon, and that he has
signed him to "A contract. Griffith ex-
peStS GedeOn to develop into a nlajo
Lacquer in another year.
Emil Meusel. the outfelder who did
much to help Wild Conroy win the PEN
nant with Elmira in the New York
State League last season, and was later
sent to the Minneapolis club in part
payment for Rondeau, has refused to
sign a Cantillon contract. Frank Dill
Ion, manager of the Los Angeles club,
is willing to take Meusel, so Griffith
has turned the youngster over to him.
It is freely admitted by the Feds that
players who have signed with. them
since last season will receive big in
creases in salary. Dalton, F!scher and
Allen of the Brooklyn team have taken
Cardinals. Ed Konetchy of the Pirates.
Charley Deal and Leslie Mann of the
Braves. Berghammer of the Reds, Mar
shall of the Phillies. Bender and Plank
of the Athletics. Haeerman of the In
dians and Bedient and Yerkes of the
Red Sox. 1t is roughly estimated that
these players will draw more than s70.-
900 for their services. The total sal
aries in the Federal League this year
will exceed 100000. it is said. This
missions-an average of 100000 for
each club at home.
Although the Cardinals may be with
gee, Perritt and Wingo. Manager Hug
gins is going ahead with plenty of
confidence. He believes he has a pitch
ing staff which will more than hold its
own. 1t consists of Doak. Sallee.
Griner, Perdue, Robinson, Niehaus and
several oungsters. Snyder. who was
real find last year, will do the bulk
of the catching, with Roche to do the
understudy stunt. Jack Miller, Hug
gins and Beck will cover the bases.
IL,
fighting it out for shortfeld. The out
fielders are Dolan, Cruise, Riggert and
Long.
The Browns have not been hurt to
any great extent by the Feds. Jimmy
Austin is theonly player the Browns
lost during the past winter and his
place should not be hard to fill. Hickey
has formidable pitching staf in
Hamilton. Weiiman, Leverenz. Baum
gardner. Hoch. Laudermilk and Mitch
ell Hickey has three crack backstops
in Agnew, Alexander and Severoid
Pratt may be shifted to third base to
take Austin's place. while Howard may
fill second, LaVan at short and Derrick
or Leary at first. Derrick is a brother
of the shortstop who is with the Cubs
Bert Shotten, Gus Williams and Clar-
ence Walker are slated for the out
field positions.
Billy Sullivan. recently released by
the White Sox, pays the following
tribute to the pitchers whose delivery
he has handled:
II have caught many great pitchers
during my career in the major leagues,
and in passing out / want to pay my
tribute to four l consider foremost
in their particular styles of delivery.
Kid Nichols of the old Boston Ma
tionals possessed the greatest speed;
Ed Walsh was the peer of the spitball
hurlers; Jim Scott tops Nall the curve
IN
and slow ball delivery there never was
a man who eScelled Doc White"