The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-11

Smith is going to have a good base
bali club here and II he can't make
a formidable machine out of the ma
terial signed he Will go to the big
leagues fer FASTENERS. He says that
the fans here are going to see the
best bunch OF players In action that
can be obtained.
Teams Arc Strengthening.
Al of the clubs in the international
league Will bolster up considerably
this year. and the race promises to
he one of the most holly contested
affairs in the history of the Barrow
organization. Tho clubs realize that
II they desire to compete with the
American association teams for the
class "A honors they will have to get
together a good bunch of FASTENERS,
and that's Just what they are doing.
Several new managers Will be in the
circuit among them being graceful
Napoleon Lajoie, with Toronto, Tom
Needham. at Newark. and Mike
Doolan with the Rochester Hustlers.
Much has been done during the
past few days at the new baseball
park in Scott's addition. Since Old
Sol put in his appearance, the work
men have been making considerable
progress and the grandstand will be
Grading al the park was completed
Yesterday. and the steam roller will he
SGT to work on the diamond and out
fcld Tuesday morning. While the
park viii hardly lac in condition by
the time the players report here. It is
thought that they will he able to do
some Of their training in the new
field
Letters have been received from
George D.steil. an outfielder. George
Miller, a pitcher. and James Curley,
AN lnheider, and all of them report
10 be II the best of condition They
are three of the players who haze
beeu signed by the NtrginIans within
the last few months. They ara said
to be good ones ana they promise
10 and permanent bcrths with the
local club.
Zinncll In Good shape.
Fred Zinnell. whose home wy in
baltimore. ana who was farm 81 out
hg the Richmond club last season -tlSo
writes that he Is in tho best OF con-
dillon ana expects to make the other
candidates for the outhetd positions
hustle for their jobs This Ct ill., der,
who swings from the left si4c OF the
plate proved n terror with tho viii
low last year, while he is a regular
speed demon on the paths. offering
more sacks than any other player In
he league. IT was reported short
while ago that hn was going to rold
out. but his signed contract has al
ready been received and II was ac-
eorHpanied by the letter. teliit OF his
condition.
owing to the fact that Billv f2ey-
nnlas runs a ranch near Covinston,
Ten. he may he "A little late in re
porting this year, but he will be on
hand before the first exhibition e. me
is played with the Washington : na-
tors. lie is fast Strengthening up his
affairs around th4 place. and Z is
thought that he wiil set out for Rich
moud by next Sunday Bobby Glenn
eus, who owns a farm at Marshall.
Mo. may also he tardy. He request
ed the Richmond club to permit him
TO report here the first of june but
Manager Smith couldn't SEQ it, and
ordered him to be in by the latter
part of next week,
Slim Mckenry. who halls from far
off California. has notified the Rich
mond club that he will be one OF the
first to arrive. He will set out from
the Golden state the irst part Of this
, week in order to be on hand when
| spring training is Anaugurated. Me-
, kenny did not do his best with the
2 NirRirians last season, but he prom
ises 20 make up for all that by pitch
| ing the best ball of his career this
summer. Mac says that he has a
lot 81 stuff In that old right wing and
he is going to get II out of his system
/ Just as soon as the season opens.
! Cooper Getting Ready.
! Rebel Cooper. the former IrOvl
dence and Buffalo pitcher, who WAS at
one time owned by the Boston Red
Sox, has already started limberinE up.
He was sick throughout last season
and was never able to get into coudi-
ton However, he says that he is now
in the best Of shape and is going 10
do everything in his power to come
, back strong with the Virgintans.
Cooper was one of the mainstays OF
the Providence club two years ago.
and If he has regained his strength
there ia no reason why he shouldn' t
be one of the Nirginians mainstays on
the mound. He has been wintering
in Richmond and has been working
out In gym for the past few days.
He says that his old wing is feeling
| immense and II he doesn't pitch some
good ball for Billy Smith this year he
will be the most surprised hurler in
the International league.
Lefty era bble. who was at one time
National league performer, and
who was procured last season after
the Hopewell team had tossed up the
| sponge. believes that he will be able
to show some real form this season.
AS a rule 1t taxes an old pitcher
some little time to get around In
good shape, but Lefty claims that
/ he is already in condition and that
he will he all right from the time
the curtain is hoisted until the final
game Is played nexts September Crab
> BILE has been on the vaudeville stage
4 this winter
May Land Charles Humphreys.
Richmond has lot abandoned the
hope OF landing Charles Humphreys
! from the Washington Senator's Ac-
cording TO reports emanating from
I Augusta Ga. where the Griffmen are
doing their practlcing, Lefty is round
1ng into great shape. Negotiations
were opened sometime ago for this
/ pitcher, but Griffith demanded n price
that was calculated by the Richmond
management to be exorbitant Rich
mond doesn't mind paying a good price
for the portsider, but they want
guarantee with the pitcher. Griffith Of
ferod 70 do this but not until he had
placed a prohibitive price on thet
young fellow However, IL he shows
that his knee IS n good condition.
! Richmond will he glad to purchase
fha al