The Washington herald., 1916-03-08
claim RONDEAU
/. Will BE STAR
Western Fan in Capital De-
clsres Grif Made No Mis-
take Recalling Out6elder.
WALTER JOHNSON HERE
Nationals Big Twirler Arrives and
Looks Fit Now to Start
the Season.
BY WILLIAM PEET.

From the West comes a fan who has
followed baseball these many years. The
fan hands out the biggest kind OF boost
for Henry Rondeau. the outhelder tried
by the Nationals last spring. sent TO
Minneapolis and later recalled.
Not only was Rondeau the class Of
the American Association when it came
to fielders, but 1 cannot for the life Of
me see why Griff, whom I know very
well personally, ever let him 60" said
the Westerner, who asks that his name
be withheld.
The writer in talking with Rondeau's
booster ventured the assertion that the
Frenchmsn was too slow, could not hit
curved-balI pitching and was only a fair
minor Lacquer.
Nonsense" came the reply. TIL bet
some money that Rohdeau not only starts
the season with Washington, but that
he finishes in the 800 class. Rondeau can
hit. Don't make any mistake about that,
and he Will hit mark my words"
| In justice to Rondeau it must be said
that last spring he did not report here
in the best Of condition. His legs went
back on him and he was not in good
health
Grifith has evidently been tipped of
to the fact that it was to washington's
best interests TO recall Rondeau from
Minneapolis and this was done last fall
Whether the Frenchman makes good
what the Western fan claims remains to
be seen
! Walter johnson, the Nationals big
| pitcher. arrived in the Capital yesterday
and looked as II he was ready to start
the season. johnson passed the winter
at his Coffeyville, Kan. home, working
about the farm and living the simple life
| In the long list Of athletes who have
joined the colors OF the different belliger-
ents engaged in the war and whose COM
petitive worth in the field has been at
| tested none who has given himself over
! to the cause Of his country is better
known than George H. Goulding, the
worlds champion amateur walker, who
on Saturday night subscribed to the To-
ronto Sportsmen's Battalion, which is
enrolled for overseas service. Another
who responded to the call which was
made at a recruiting station in Toronto is
| Arthur E. Wood. holder of the worlds
| hfteen-mile running record. Both men
were born in England, but have lived in
Canada for some years. 1t is to be hoped
that no I'll befalls either OF these great
athletes
Because organized baseball. in settling
up the recent controversy, decided that
| there was no room in the major leagues
for the Baltimore Feds it is reported that
the latter soon will begin a suit for 800
| 900 against the so-called baseball trust.
| The big magnates, however, insist that
| they are not alarmed by this threat in
view Of the fact that they are prepared
to show that the Baltimore Feds lost
nearly $4,000 during the past two years.
| By these losses the magnates' attorneys
| are ready to show that Baltimore is not
a major league city and that it would be
injurious to their business interests TO
| include II in either the National or the
! American League. The additional fact
| that Jack Dunn, the owner Of the Bal
timore International League club has
purchased the Feds plant is used as an
| argument that the latter have been fair
| Iy treated under the terms Of the peace
| agreement.
Honus Wagner will lead the second de-
tachment OF Pirates to Hot Springs on
Saturday II may be the last training
trip for the famous Teuton, as he in
tends to retire unless his work is nearer
| to the old standard than IL was last
season. Three other wonderful veterans
may be taking their last journey. They
are Lajoie, Mathewson and Plank.
4
|
Sun: Willard has at least one fault, a
! lack of aggressiveness. He is a bit too
good-natured to be a prize fighter. It
| is necessary to arouse his temper before
he will show that he knows something
about merciless fighting. The champion
differs from John L. Sullivan and Tom
Sharkey in this respect. Sullivan was
both tough and hot tempered the mo
ment he got into the ring. He frighten-
ed many opponents with his fierce looks
and ugly growls. He appeared dangerous
at all times and never smiled. Sharkey,
Ike Sullivan, was so pugnacious that
he usually wasted little or no time in
sparrtng. He tore in with the aggTes-
siveness OF bulldog and had no mercy
for his antagonists. II Willard possessed
the aggressiveness and pugnacity OF Sui
Ivan and sharkey he probably would
win most OF his battles IN fig time. But
his good nature invariably holds him
back. He doesn't seem anxious TO in
hict severe punishment but IN time he