The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-11
MANAGER BILL SMITH
MAKING PLANS FOR
COMING CAMPAIGN
Several Seasoned Players Have Been Gathered In the Fold
While Number of Recruits Have Attached Signatures
to Richmond Contracts Yankees Promise Vir-
oinians Two Pitchers, While One May Be
Secured From Senators.

VIII ne sent mere nefore they break
camp at Macon and turn their eyes
toward the Gotham city. The Viz
ginians Will take no players with
strings attached who are subject to
recall before the end OF the season.
The International league clubs got
enough of that last year and the re-
call OF several players caused them
no little worry.
The Virginians have not given UP
hopes OF landing Lefty Humphries,
despite the fact that whom they last
attempted to purchase the pitcher
Manager Clarke Grimm. Of Washing
ton, asked an exorbitant price for
him. The local club does not mind
paying a good sum for the player.
but they want the "Old Fox" to guar
antee that his knee lie all right and
that he will be able to work through
out the season. II will be remem bered
that he was hurt here last season and
had to return to his home In Georgia
Ho is q good man and the local en-
thustasts would like 20 see him re-
turn.
New Players Are Signed.
! Following is list OF new players
who have attached their signatures
to Richmond contracts and who will
be given tryouts with tho virginians
this spring
Pltchers-Frank Baker, w. H
Chappelle. George w. Miller, r. l..
McNath. Walter Geyer and Emmett
Dozier.
Catchers-Russen Le1bs and Bill
Talbot.
nfelders-Harry Hartzel, J. D.
Monroe and j. IL Breeder.
Outflelders--9eorge Distell. Arnold
Morris. Graham Bruce and F. b
Bruce.
Many Of tho players who have been
signed this winter by Manager Billy
Smith and President Alvin M. Smith
are fellows who have had experience
In the professional ranks. A few OF
them are fresh from the sandIots, but
they all come well recommended and
Manager Smith believes that he will
get two or three on whom he can
place strings for future use
Three OF the six young pitchers who
have placed their cognomens TO Rich
mond contracts have played pfofes-
stonal baseball. they being Chappelle
Miller and McMath. all three of whom
win come to Richmond with a string
OF recommendations. Chappelle has
been performing IN the Interstate
league. and he is said 10 havo the ear
marks of star. Both McMath and
Miller are also said TO havG made
names for themselves
Both OF the new cAtchers signed
have been drawing money for their
services. Leibs a Richmond boy. and
who is better known in the baseball
= world as 'Cheesy." has performed in
the Virginia State league with PoSts-
mouth, Roanoke and Suffolk. While
performing with the Magic City outfit
the Richmond boy hit more than
800, while he caught most OF the
games, Just why Cheesy'' didn't re-
main in the Virginia league Is not
known. but some say that II was be-
cause that the local boy has such an
enormous appetite the clubs, couldn't
afford to permit him to remain on the
roster. Richmond wants good ball
players, regardless OF whether they
have large appetites or not, and If
"Chee@y' shows that ne Is good
enough for International league COM
pany the local management is not go
ing to kick on him eating.
Manager Smith traded George
Kireher for Catcher Talbot This fell
low Is still youngster. but Manager
Ray Ryan declares that he is going to
make good with the Richmond club.
He was sick Il portion OF last season.
and at times was unable to put up the
exhibition OF which he was capable
He Is said to be the possessor of a
good baseball head. can hit with most
any minor league catcher, and has
great arm,
/ Hartzel Is Good Man.
Harry Hartzel who will be given a
tryout at second base, performed with
the Norfolk club last season and man
aged the team the latter part of the
year succeeding DR.. Buck" Presley.
H. q i. ill
present time is in charge OF athletics
/ at A. & NJ college. of North Caro-
Ina He played a good game for the
Mary Jane crew last season. and base
bali critics around the state circuit
declare that Harry Is ripe to break into
faster company. The other two in
folders Breeder and Monroe. are
Richmond boys. and they are just
about as good as has been turned out
on the Richmond back lots in sew
eral years, Monroe is a third base
man. white Breeder guards the initial
sack Both of the youngsters are sen
sational nelders. while both are con-
s!dsr-d good httters.
OF the four now outnelders signed,
two have played professional base
ball. Distetl has performed In both
and ts said to bs ono OF the fAstest
ner in the neid and on the paths in
the minor organizations Dfstsii n q
I 500 hitter. while ne can field with
most any OF them. r, p. Bruce IL the
former Virginia Polytechnic star. who
performed IN left field for the Nor
fox Tars last season. He is consid-
erred the best hitter ever turned out
IN the Blacksburg institution. and was
signed by Washington before he fin
4ahod his college baseball career
While with Washington he hurt his
knee, preventing him from being given
n good tryont with tho Senators sea-
son before last Bruce went TO Nor
folk in the deal for Lefty Ifumphries
who we farmed out with Richmond
Lev tn" Senators last year. When the
Norfolk management failed to pay
; the salaries OF the players. Bruce, as
well 81 several others. was declared
= q free agent by the national commits
= sion shortly after this happened
r Manager Billy Smith succeeded in
getting his signature TO a Richmond
: contract. Two years ago several big
8 league clubs were trying TO land
Bruce. and Washington and Cleveland
rad n nice little scrap over him. the
Senators finally winning out. Jack
] Dunn also made several attempts to
p land the Chester hoy. Graham Bruce.