New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-04
Pennant Bees
Buzz i'm Caps
Of Yankees
Wild Bill Donovan Blessed
with Lot of Hope
full Material
BY W. o. McGEEHAN

Considerable interest has been
aroused over the coming Of j. Franklin
Baker. the farmer Of Trsppe, Maryland.
Baker is rumored to have put IN several
acres in potatoes. and II is said that he
is wearing a real tubcr mounted IN
platinum as a scarfpin.
Leo Hoernschmeyer, professionally
known as Lee Magee, Is also expected
tomorrow, and should add color TO the
gatherings at the field. Peckinpaugt
Pipp and Nunamaker are due TO assem-
bic three abreast At the Hotel Dempsey
before the sun dips behind the rcd hills
of Georgia. Angel Aragon, the Cuban,
and Elmer Miller, the two missing out
fielders, will pop in at about the same
time.
The assemblage begins to look like
a body that could march considerable
closer 10 pennant than did the
wounded and invaded Yankees Of last
year. It's as promising a squad as ever
took the field anywhere in this balmy
Southland. Some Of the material which
will have 20 be abandoned when the
final wedding out takes place is going
to look like pretty good discard stuff.
Great BacksjOp Material
Take a slant at the material behind
the bat. for instance. Among the vol
unteers for the position of backstop the
Yankees have Alexander, Walters. Nun
amaker. Ben Shaw and Julian Olson.
The first three need no introduction ~
the vicinity OF the Polo Grounds This
bird. Shaw. who halls from this very
lovely little city, is mighty likely
vouncster, and ono who can do some
thing for his team and his city Wi'E
the bat.
Julian. who will arrive tomorrow. IS
said TO be a gifted young man, too. He
will have to have considerable talent
Cor il is an immortal cinch that the
player limit rule will not permit the
Ianks TO be dragging five catchers with
them as they tour the land
The outfield positions Will be the
bones of considerable contention. FOR
this particular branch of the service
Wild Bill Donovan has among his
troops High. MaGec. Gilhooley, Hen
dryx, Bankston and Miller.
Lee Magce will have 10 display con
siderable activity with this list of can
didates. The owners of the Ganks are
very strong for results this season, and
the gents who produce said results arc
going to get the regular jobs.
The infield is pretty well assigned TO
position. Walter Pipp will occupy trst
base: Fritz Maise will start at second.
according TO present plans; Roger
l'eckinpaugh will hold down short,
while the only J. Franklin Baker can
hardly expect much competition at
third while he keeps his health The
infeld understudies arc Arragon, Ma
gee, knapp and Dolly Stark. the boy
from the Bronx lots
The pitching squad is a promising
one. despite the absence OF Caldwell
and Triple II includes CullOp. knrght,
Fisher. Ferguson. Love, Mogridgc, Mon
roe. McGraw. Percy, Ross, Russell,
Shawkey and Shocker. II is not IN the
cards for the Yanks TO carry all OF
these. of course. But out OF this multi
tude there can be made some mighty
useful selections.
This is the material from which the
owners of the Nanks think they can
pick crew that will come pretty close
10 pennant grabbing. The confidence
microbe is IN the air.
William Piercy Makes Prediction
Young William Percy. the Native
Son pitcher. who travelled three thou
sand miles from the kind of hunting he
likes, put it this way:
~ didn't want 10 travel this way 80
much, but | figured surely that the
Yankees will be within the worlds
series dough this season, and you know
that considerable investing can be done
with the winners hunk Of that worlds
series change. The losers end is some
thing. too. but, shUcksi there rs no rcs-
son why the Yankees shouldn't have
the winners end
Echo answers, NO reason at all
Some time next week the Yankees
will begin to divide into squads i'm
the interests Of more spirited prac-
tice. II has been suggested that the
teams be called the DonOvans. the
Kelleys and the Farrells
"This method" suggests the author
Of this warlikc proposition. "will
surely make the connection hot:
When the Donovans, the Kcileys and
the Fsrrolls get into n thrcc-corncrcd
scrap the fur will begin TO fly
Wild William Donovan viii give
some thought 20 the proposal. He
does not want 20 start anything too
strenuous Tie still remembers the
devastation that spread through his
army last year.
And Cap Reads Horoscope
Captain Tllnghast L'HIommcdicu
huston is shifting the Southern air and
breathing some preseason defiance ia
strident tones.
I'VE will take them an in the Amer
can League as Napoleon took Aus
tria. IS Cesar took Gaul. as Fulton
took Weinert." said the captain; "un-
less" he added. somewhat more
quietly. "wc yet q run Of rotten luck
Ike the streak we had last year. But
that is hardly possible. That couldn't
happen twice running
The captain is dividing his time be-
tween the field and his military
library, which occupies ono Of his
trunks. lie is preparing 20 qualify as
an officer in the reserve corps and is
one Of the most earnest preachers Of
preparedness in the whole fighting
South"
Perhaps this optimism Of the team
IL infectious. but ! am inclined 90 say
20 the cyer-hopeful fans that this
has al the earmarks OF Yankee
year Not only are the New York
Americans due on the law Of averages,
but they have the stuff, despite the
slackeriam Of Caldwell.
/ know that the Yankee fans have
started the season full Of hope only
10 lapse into sorrowful silence tow
ard its end. This has happened until
the backers Of the Yanks seem 20 be
the original Pinks % whom 10 was
written: Hope springs eternal" etc.
But the ginks who keep on hoping
land some time or other Why not
this year.
The echoing croak Of the bullfrogs
In the creek seems 10 say:
"Why not?'