The Washington herald., 1917-03-11
Richmond's Claim for $53.76
May Prevent His Playing
at Season S Start.
By JOHN A. DUGAN.


paw hurler that Grit recalled from the
Richmond club by the option route last
fall. Is again having his troubles with the
National Commission. Washington fans
will remember that "Humty'' reported to
Grin at Charlottesville last spring and
was farmed out to Billy Smith'S Inter
national League club. Humphreys work
ed In thirteen games for the Richmond
club. winning six and losing three.
In the seventy -four innings that he was
on the mound he allowed 1S3 earned runs
of his delivery, but during the early
part OF June he hurt his knee while slid
ing into second base and was useless to
the Richmond Internationals for the bal
ance of the season. Because of a mis-
understanding between the club authori-
ties and their physician, the Richmond
club refused to pay "Humty" for his
services. and he took his case to the Ma
tional Commission. The commission ruled
the case in favor of the little southpaw
and the Richmond club was ordered to
advance him a check for the balance OF
the years pay. The commission is now
on Humphreys neck, claiming that he
was overpaid to the extent Of $53.7S. In
informing him of the overpay, the COM
mission also states that he must forward
this amount to the Richmond club before
he will be allowed to play with the Ma
tionals.
The Old Fox has advised the little
southpaw to have a rehearing on the
case as IL the commission does not grant
him ruling before April II, when the
American League season opens, he may
not be allowed 70 work in any of the
scheduled games for the Nationals. Since
this new trouble with the commission,
Humphreys has put his case point blank
at Griffith. saying that II he is to be sent
back he would prefer going any place
but to Richmond.
1t Is a known fact that Billy Smith is
after the little southpaw. Griff is great
ly pleased with the showing this young
ster has made to date, and claims that
if he can show any improvement within
the next few days, Billy Smith or no
one else will get his services, as he needs
southpaws himself.
Fans throughout the country who have
watched the Washington team in action
have EARNED to appreciate Uncle Nick
Altrock. the veteran White Sox south
paw and comedian coach of the Capital
City warriors. Nick has won the con-
hdence Of the fans because of his ability
at tutoring Grifrs young pitchers. and
TO say that he is popular in each of the
Dig League cities is putting it mildly.
But think of a Washington ball club
without Nick" Altrock, Just how much
help Uncle Nick Is to the Old Fox and
the players would take columns to ex-
plain, and because of the prominent part
that the Players Fraternity played in
the stove league" season during the win
ter one real story was overlooked and
one that may have greatly affected the
Washington ball club.
As the story goes. Uncle Nick" AItrock
came close to not being a member of TIN
Nationals this year. The great comedy
team OF Altrock and Sawyer came near
pulling out of baseball in the big show.
ri ad hat i. L.
sider1ng staying in the movies, pasting
pies. while the veteran southpaw was
considering a proposition made him by
President Dixon. of the Central League,
TO manage the Richmond Und) Club.
Uncle Nick has all the makings of
one OF the best managers that ever
stepped foot on a diamond. as he has
that happy-go-lucky sort of a makeup
that gets more out OF young players than
ruling with an iron hand, but he could |
not consider this great offer, as he feels
that he belongs to Clark Griffith and
washington as long as either will have
him. Grin grabbed the veteran southpaw
from the Kansas City club when he was
about all in as a pitcher. and gave him a
chance to help develop his young players
The records of Grifs pitchers and
youngsters during the past few years
speak well for Uncle Nick" and his
value to the Nationals. and il he ever
passes under the big tent major league
baseball viii lose one Of its most popular
characters, as the Little German Boy
is liked and appreciated by magnates,
umpires, players and fans
The "Old Fox Is still carrying around
a frown tonight because Of the condition
of his star left-hander. Harry Harper
Although Harper claims that his south
wing Is feeling a great deal stronger this
spring than 1t did last fall. the "Old Fox"
Is worried. Harper is one of GrifT's de-
pendable moundsmen, and is rated by
baseball experts throughout the country
as one OF the best left-handed fingers in
the American League, and the "Old Fox
realizes what a setback it would mean to
the Nationals II the "Hackensack Junk
man" could not come through with his
share of the pitching duties during the
coming campaign.
Ten pitchers are now working out in
the morning and evening practices, as
johnson is still due to report and Baby
Grand" Berry has been switched to the
outfield on the Yannigans. Heretofore
Grin has always carried eight to nine
moundsmen and already these fingers are |
figuring on who will be sent back to the
minors. Eddie Flaherty will no doubt
make the transforming trip with the
regulars and leave the club in Cincin-
natl for Des Moines.
Whenever any OF the pitchers start to |
let up In their work Uncle Nick hands |
out the warning that some one is Min
neapolis bound Joe CantiIlon is alwaysI
anxious to grab of any Of Griff's pitch !
ing recruits. Minneapolis bound wasI
the main topic of a tanning bee tonight
and facts were shown to the effect that
Walter johnson and Doc Ayers were the |
only members Of Grifr's pitching staff
who had not been sent back to the minors
after reporting to the club. Harper,
Gallia- Shaw and Dumont, who are vet
Grams with the club, have each been sent
back for more seasoning, while Thomas, |
Humphreys and Craft are now facing
the summer Of minor league baseball
The "Old Fox" Is paying a great deall
OF attention to Jim Shaw, as he worked
him today for forty minutes, pitching to
the batters during the morning practice
and tonight stated that he believed Shaw
would be one Of his best bets this sea-
son.
Sam Crane, who set the International
League on fire last season with his SEN
sational fielding, does not seem to be any
great wielder Of the willow Griff spent
quite a littletime this morning with Crane,