The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-20
RICHMOND ACQUIRES
TWO NEW FASTENERS
e. Ray Eh Who Trained With Giants Last Year. and W. B.
Futreu College Catcher, Secured by virginians-To
Get TWO Pitchers From New York Yanks
BY ERNEST POLLARD.

Another outnelder who promises to
make the other gardeners on the
Richmond roster hustle for their Jobs
this spring was gathered In the fold
yesterday afternoon, when r. Ray
Fish, youngster who halls from
Pennsgrove, N. r.. attached his Sig
nature to Richmond contract.
This II not Elsh's debut in the pro-
fessional ranks. although It IL the first
time he has ever signed his real cog
nomen to . contract He hts been
playing professional baseball for three
years, but owing to parental objec-
tons he hss been cavorting around
the diamonds under an assumed
name. Fish was formerly a college
star, and his father Is said to be well
ffxed with tho worldly goods. Papa
Fish didn't mind him playing college
baseball, but when the young fellow
announced his intentions Of going into
professional ranks, Mr.. Fish. ST., let
out howl Of protest. But the lure
OF the game was too strong for this
New Jersey lad and he decided to
play in spite Of the parental objec-
tions. However, ne decided not to
use his fathers name and has been
playing under a. fictitious one. But
HOW tI1dt sun RAY HdS SHOWN tIidl
he can play professional baseball. the
objection to the use Of the family
name has been withdrawn by father
Fish. and II was under this name
that the young fellow signed a Rich
mond contract yesterday.
Started In 1914.
Fish broke into professional base
bail In 1914, playing with Whining
ton in the Atlantic league. which or.
Hanization Is no more. He then had
a longing to display his baseball
prowess before the high-brow fans
and fannies Of the Delaware County
league. which was run by mil!ionaires
who had grown tired Of spending all
Of their time on the golf links. Fish
played In this organization with
Frank Bakers Upland club. When
1t became known that Baker was to
play third base for the Yankees last
season, Fish decided to also quit the
-elut.A4 He was given a trial last spring
by John McGraw and tho New Jersey
pastimer accompanied the Giants to
Marlin, Tex. New York later dis
posed of him to the New London
club Of the Easter league. Fish
signed with the understanding that
he was to become free agent at
the end Of the season. The Virgin
ians have been seeking this fellow for
some months. and yesterday he sent
in his signed contract.
E1sh In twenty-three years old.
stands Ave feet. eight inches in his
stockings and weighs 40 pounds. He
will report here with the rest of the
players.
w. r.. Futreli. catcher. who is
we'll known in the college circles OF
Virginia and North Carolina. has also
signed Richmond contract, The
signed document arrived at the office
yesterday.
rutrell formerly caught for Gull
ford college. of North Carolina, and
{ handled the benders Of Ernest Shore,
OF the Boston Red Sox. when Ernie
WAS steaming them over the platter
under the Guilford colors. Shore
s,ys that he is good catcher and
should make any club in the Inter
national league good man. Last
YEAR Futreil caught for the Bishop
vile club, a semi professional team.
and several teams have made efforts
to get him to sign. At the present
time he has a position at Hopewell.
hut viii leave when the spring train
ing season opens here.
Futrell II an ambitious ball player.
and ne declares that II he does not
land one OF the catching Jobs the
other fellows who aspire to these po-
sitions on the Richmond club will
know that he has been around.
According to word received from
Manager "wild Bill" Donovan. Of the
New York Yankees, the Gothamites
will turn over two pitchers to the
Richmond club this season. This news
will doubtless be welcomed by the
Richmond fans. Just who the pitch
ers arc Manager Donovan does not
know At this time. Efforts have been
made to again secure the services Of
Rebel Ross. that clever little left
handed. but Manager Donovan has
left the local owners under the Inn
preston that he Is going to keep the
Tennessee boy with him throughout
this season. Donovan is very much
impressed with the portsider and 1t
Ia hardly probable that he win be
farmed out this year
Three other players who were with
Richmond last season win doubtless
be held this year by Manager Dono-
van. They are Angelo Arfagon. Tim
Hendryx and Everett Bankston. I'm
less ARA gon shows sufficient form to
Dust 0edecn from the keystone sack.
there 10 = strong probability OF the
little Cuban figuring In q trade which
the Yankees are contemplating. Rich
moud fans would welcome tho re-
turn Of this boy from the tropical re-
xion. but the chances at this time arc
very slim. while neither Hendrix nor
Bankston are expected to win regular
berths on the Gotham outht this sea-
son, II II understood that they will
be retained for pinch hitting and utili-
~ purposes. Both are good hiftcrs.
and they should be able to render some
GOOD services to tho Yanks while APP
bearing In these roles. Bankston IS
a natural hitter and X he ever sue
ceeds In getting that ivory out Of his
dome and in1ects some inside baseball
in II he will become q regular with
the Gothamites In season or two. He
is one of the most consistent batters
in the country and Il always made the
fans feel good when this Georgian
came mp in = pinch out At tho West
End pastiming grounds last season.