The Washington herald., 1917-02-04
Nationals New Shortstop Is
Touted Highly by Ivory
Hunter" of Indians.

Seldom. IL ever, has young ball player
come up from the minor league to the
big tent that has been boosted as highly
as Sammy Crane. the Harrisburg lad.
Crane last season played the short
field with Jack Dunn's Baltimore inter-
national League club and was easily the
fielding sensation Of the International
League.
Although a great ball player CT ne is
not exceptionally good with the sti < and
it was this weakness that came near
making him spend another year ! the
bushes. Three clubs had put in traits
for this youngster. while Connie dack.
of the Athletics, held an option on his
services.
Connie cut his string loose on Crane
during the middle OF last playing asoh,
and. although the Nationals did put
in bid for his services at the drafting
time, Grif considers himself lucky
devil to have his services in 1911, as
the three major league clubs that bid
for him by the draft route withdrew then
bids in favor of players that could sting
the old pill little better than the Ma
tionals' young short fielder.
Griff is all praise for the work OF this
youngster and Is confident that he Will
make good under the big tent. Every
player scout or fan who watched tins
youngster in action holds him high in
their esteem, but II remained for Billy
Rapp the former Washington catcher,
who is at present scouting for the Cleve-
land club. to put in the big boost for
Crane.
81 watched this youngster Crane In
several games last season and. take IT
from me, he is going to be some ball
player. 1 don't mean to say that he is
going to set the American League oil
fire this season. but II Grir gives him
a chance he will sure show enough to
warrant being kept around.
He Is not a Cobb or Speaker with
the stick but he seems to have everything
that a hitter needs and I Will not De
surprised to see him playing one OF your
regular infield positions before many
days.
AFTER watching this boy for quite a
few games 1 pped OF Dunn and Nc
Aroy, of the ,ndians,' to be sure ana
put In bid TO- him on the draft list as
1 figured that this was the easiest way
OF getting him, as did not expect many
OF the big league clubs would want MS
services because Of his weakness with
the willow.
'T was little surprised that the Indians
withdrew their bid on him in the draft
and was not a bit surprised to hear that
Grin had obtained his services. 1 am
sorry the Indians could not have OBJ
tained him, but am glad he has hooked
up with the local club as I know that
Grir will give him every chance in the
world to make good for the Nationals.
Cranes baseball experience is not OF
long duration as this viii be his fourth
year in the national professional pas
time, and he Is still under q years of
age After being one of the leading semi
pros of Eastern Pennsylvania, Crane took
a stab at the Professional game and re-
ported to winston-Salem team OF the
North Carolina State League late in the
month OF July OF 1914. Crane was shipped
in September OF the same year, but he
was not discouraged and in the spring
Of 1915 he Joined Jack Dunn's Richmond
Internationl League club.
This was the year that Jack Dunn was
run out Of his own home town, Balti-
more, by the Federal League. 'Kasty'
Dean and Tots" Long, two local sand
lotters. who have since made good in
the Blue Ridge League. were with the
Dunnmen at training camp. and 1t was
Crane who showed enough ability to run
these youngsters back to the bushes.
When Dunn moved his 'Ints" back to
Baltimore Crane was carried along and
last season enjoyed one Of the best years
that any youngster has made in the his
tory Of baseball in the Glass "A circuit.