Evening star., 1917-09-09
WALDBAUER T0UTED
ASAP|TCH|NG PRIZE
Griffith Says Rocky Right
Hander Has All the Earmarks
of Coming Star.
TWO GAMES HERE MONDAY
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

A>dtiolldlS OH the SandlOtS OF
Richmond, Manager Griffith be-
lieves he has corralled a hurler
destined to make his mark in
major league base ball, and that
without the two or three wears
of bench warming and minor
league service ordinarily required
of youngster just breaking into
the big show. Waldbauer re-
ported to the local club last We'd
nesday on its return from the re-
cent road trip, and since then has
seen service in pitching to the
batters before the games. Mem
bers of the Griffmen, without ex-
ception, praise the showing he
has made, and the pilot himself
makes no effort to conceal his
jubilation over what he regards
as his good fortune in landing
such promising rocky.
Although nearly six feet in height
Waldbaurer still is growing, as he will
not attain his majority until next year.
Being under twenty-one years old. he
was not required to register for Army
service, and, in addition. is married.
which precludes the possibility of the
team losing his services by reason of
the draft. Waldbauer was obtained
from the Duplex club. amateur cham
pions of Richmond, which has played
Saturday and Sunday. games through
out the summer. In addition to his
diamond activities. Waldbauer has been
working steadily and is trained down
pretty fine. yet weighs about 176
pounds. With proper conditioning he
is expected to take on ten or fifteen
pounds. which would make him ono OF
the biggest players on the local roster.
Shows Polish in Work.
Despite his youth and lack of pro-
fessional experience, Waldbauer shows
considerable finish in his box work.
He is an intelligent fellow and is show
ing great aptitude in learning the finer
points of mound duty in which Griff IS
drilling him. His best asset is his
breaking curve that his fellow players
assert is very hard to gauge accu-
rately.
''Waldbauer has more stun than any
pitcher who has broken in with the
Washington club since Jim Shaw Joined
the team" Manager Griffith said yester-
day in discussing his find. He already
has fast ball that compares favorably
with that of the best speed merchants
in the league and he also possesses a
great curve. The best thing about him.
aside from his youth, is his rugged
physique. He is a big fellow, exceed
ingly strong, and is not fully matured
yet. He will. of course. need consider
able drilling before he is ready to face
big league batsmen. but right now has
more finish than a majority Of bushers
just breaking in. How well he can
field his position or how he will con-
duct himself under fire remains to be
seen, but as far as natural ability is
concerned he has 1t in abundance.
regard him is one of the most promis-
ing young pitchers L have seen in a
long time
It is Griff's intention to coach WaId-
bauer in the intricacies Of tho pitching
contest before the Nationals leave town
to play the last three games Of the sea-
son in Boston. In furtherance Of this
idea the pilot plans to play morning games
between teams selected from his squad
after all the double-headers have been
disposed of. in which Craft and Lynch.
his other young pitchers, and the other
players the team will acquire this fall
through draft. purchase or recall Will
figure AS far as is possible the helms
man will hold the ''spring" try-outs this
month. he expects to have with the
team all of the players who will be due to
show up next year, and is contemplating
cutting down the time usually allotted
for conditioning in the south.
Two Games Tomorrow.
Tomorrow the world champion Red
Sox will be the guests of the Griffmen
at the local park for three days In
addition to the three games scheduled
a postponed contest held over from the
last visit of the Boston crew is to be
played. and it will be disposed of as
a part of double-header tomorrow.
the first battle being due to get under
way at 1:45 o'clock Following the
Red Sox the Mackmen will make their
final appearance here of the year.
Single games with the Athletics are
listed for Thursday Friday, Saturday
and the following Monday.
Manager Griffith will not be on hand
for the twin sketch with the Barry
gans tomorrow, as he is billed to ap-
pear at the Polo Grounds in New York
to present base ball equipment to four
regiments of Empire state troops be-
fore the game between the Giants and
Dodgers The following Monday he
plans to return to the Gotham park
for Griffith day" celebration to be
held in conjunction with the game be-
tween the Yankees and Red Sox, at
which a collection will be taken up for
the ball and bat fund.
A Philadelphia scribe with a PEN
,hant for mathematics has figured that
If the players of the contesting teams
n the world series agree to contribute
per cent of their pools. the per cent
If the gross receipts of the 1917 title
other per cent coming
rom the shares of the club owners and
,ational commission-wil1 net the Clark
Griffith ball and bat fund approx
nately $4,000. Here is the way the
ledger puts it:
On the basis of last years receipts.
which were s3S5.590.50. the fund would
,e enriched to the extent Of s11.567.71.
3ut the receipts from this years games
ire sure to be larger than in 1915. as
he Polo Grounds. White Sox park and
Braves Field. where Boston would
,lay if it won. are the largest three
,ase ball parks in the country. In ad-
ition there is every reason to believe
yon in five games but may possibly
70 the limit of seven and most prob
bly, to six games. Therefore. assum-
nj