The Washington times., 1917-03-21
NAVY MAY CLAIM
! 0UTFIELDER RICE
Griffmen'S Star BatSman Ex-
pecting Word Any Time to
Join Reserve.
NO HITCH IN CRANE DEAL
Williams Holding Out Makes
No Difference Between Old
Fox and Orioles.
NO HITCH IN CRANE DEAL
ny LOUIS A. DOUGHER.


AUGUSTA, Ga, March 21.-Sam
Rice, who is q member of the Naval
Reserve, is awaiting word daily to
report at the nearest recruiting sta
tion for duty in the navy. The Wash
ington outfeIder has been out Of the
navy only a little more than two
years and has kept the Navy Depart
ment informed of his movements ever
since being mustered out. He was on
the battleship Tennessee at VerS Cruz.
'Ill get a letter almost any time
now" said Rice today. 'Tll have to
say good-by to the boys for a while
when the call comes and report to the
nearest headquarters for service. The
drill we have had here won't hurt
me much, will it?"
Would BE Missed.
II Rice is ordered to leave the team,
Manager Griffith will be hit hard,
for the reformed pitcher Is the best
batsman in the squad. Last year he
hit for .299, and is expected to better
that mark before next October.
Manager Griffith took occasion to-
day to deny a story reaching here
that the failure of Alva Williams to
report to Baltimore would hold up the
acquisition of Sam Crane. When that
trade was made, no one of the players
involved had signed and both Griffith
and Dunn took their chances of land
ing them.
Doubtful About Augusta.
Manager Griffith will make no ar
e. ~ LIB
concerning a possible return of the
Washington club to this city next
spring until the 1917 season is con-
cluded. He feels that Augusta has
proven itself a perfect spot for a
major league club to visit for train
ing purposes, but other plans are
hanging in the air and he does not
wish to disturb them.
Suggestions have been made for the
Griffmen and the New York Giants to
go to Panama next spring for the
training season, playing q series of
games In the Canal Zone. Manager
McGraw has decided to take his club
from Marlin. Tex, owing to the cold
winds prevalent there. and is said to
be more than willing to go to Pan
ANA
Trip Is Expensive.
1t costs considerable money these
days to ft a major league team for
the season to come and IT would
hardly pay one club to make the long
trip, to the Canal Zone. But it might
prove a money-maker to have two big
league clubs train there, playing a
series of games before fans, all eager
TO see big league baseball and many
rfN ~
large circuit.
President Kalbfieisch, of the Au.
gusta club, is anxious to come to an
understanding with Manager Griffith
concerning the return of the club next
spring, but the Old Fox will make
no definite decision in the matter.
The Panama trip with a bullying
treasury looks good to Griff right
now.
May Retain FIaherty.
Big Ed F1aherty, the Washington
sandlot Finger, may not go to Des
MoIres, after all, His work here has
been such an improvement over that
Of lest season that. the Old Fox may
decide to send some other pitcher to
TIE Western League in pay niant for
Claude Thomas. Des Moines simply
and some other performer may toll
there in the coming summer.
Flaherty, however, seems to think
that he could do better work in some
other city than Washington. He be.
longs in the capital and he thinks
that home boy is never given fail
treatment by the fans anywhere
He points to Joe Engels case with
the Griffmen, and is willing to break
in with some other club. He looks
good enough now. though, to be re.
tanned by Manager Griffith.
Wants to Pay Ball.
Mike Menoskey has informed Man
ager Griffith that, If he has any
choice between warming the Wash
ingtOn bench and playing with Min
neapolis again, he prefers going to
Minneapolis.
81 want to play ball." says Mike
81 know 1--we a lot to learn, but
don't think I'll learn IL on the bench
so well as ! will playing every day
Just what Manager Griffith will dc
with Menoskey is undecided. but II
looks now as il he would keep the
yourgster all season.