New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-03
SUPERBAS PRY OFF
TIE BASEBALL LID
Zach Wheat Ratties a Few
Against the Fence in
Beautiful DaytOna.
From STAFF Correspondent Of Tie T-'brnel

from STAFF Correspondent, Of Tie Tr!bunel
Davtora. Fla. March 2.-Thc base
tall season Of 1918. so far as tho fans
Of Brooklyn and Daytona are concerned
started this morning at 10 O'Clock.
Il was at that hour that Wilbert
Robinson led the SuUerbas out on the
more or less principally less finished
diamond and fred the first gun OF the
campaign which will end in the cold
North and some time next October. %
course, the cautious may contend that
the season will not begin until April
Il. but to he real. dyed-ln-the-wool
baseball fan the season starts with the
spring trimming.
Thirty-five men, st2it regulars who
smiled al the recruits IN superior
sort Of way. seasoned players from the
international LEAGUE, the american AS
ISOLATION and elsewhere, along with
.ust plain buskcrs, were out llmberlng
w. The pitchers took turns lobnng
the hall over the plate and the other
men stood in and hit q few. Through
on: the morning session the merry
ring Of hickory sounded over the field.
and the shouts Of the players when
some one rang ore or the fence or
made some play worthy OF comment was
music TO the ears OF the spectators
who drove out to see the fun. Truly,
baseball Is IN Daytona.
The work vas of the ligh.est for sew
era! reasons, not the least of these be-
ing the condition OF the playing field.
The iniiel is not nearly completed. and
,he outer gardens. merely sand dunes,
make fast play impossible.
Work is being rushed with all pos
siblt sped, and it is hoped th.t By
next week. wneu the first games will be
played, all will be ready. Wilbert
Robinson hopes so, for he cunts every
minute.
But even If work was light, ere
were some players who stood out Tor
the day. Zach Wheat, the left fielder,
and Charley Ebbets pronounccs him
the best in eithe. league, took a special
delight IN laciug the bali of the fences.
Zach was without prejudice. lie hit TO
all dclis with a care-irce abandon.
Jake Daubert performed as Jake IS sup
posed to perform, and took few heal
thy wallops at the leather.
Some of the newer men. too, did
things worthy Of mention. Billy Zim-
norman, the Newark boy, who may
take tl' place OF JACK DaItOu, lald INTO
a few that shot by the intieiders with
The speed Of a mimic ball. lie, too, hit
10 all fields Schultz, the youn. in
fielder who played with the Rochester
team Of the international League last
season, i . no hit at 1916 clip for
l55 games, attracted the attention Of
Robinson. The lad is on fire with zap
and las' so, takes hold Of the ball in
a manner to warm the cookies of any
mana, RS heart.
Mack Wheat, brother of Zach. also
made his presence felt. He is a
catcher, and. although he hit only .237
IN fifty canes. is highly regarded.
Jack karst. who received his early
training under the discerning eye of
Connie Mack, IS making n bold bid for a
place m the iuheld. He can handle the
ball and gets il away nicely.
Appleton, one of the recruits, has at
trac,cd attention. not only through his
assortment Of curves and drops. but
because of the way he wears his hair.
Appleton comes from Fort Worth. Ap-
parently the tonsorial artist in that
city placed q nicely curved bowl over
his head and then let tie shears wan
der as they listed.
Jack toombs, the willy old veteran
Of the Athletics. quickly called off the
speed and told him 10 lob II up. re-
garLieas Of what happened.