The Washington herald., 1918-04-21
OLD FOX SIGNS
new RECEIVER
Jack Stroh, Of Semi-Pro
Ranks, to Be Given Chance
with the Nationals.
BY JOHN A. DUGAN.

Foxy Griff win take slant at an
other young catcher this week, when
Jack Stroh, a semi-pro from the
sandlots Of st. Louis. will report here
for a try-out. Jack Dunn, manager
Of the Baltimore International League
club. has Stroh on his reserve list
and 1t is he who Is recommending
him to the, Old Fox
Grin Is somewhat short-handed on
catchers and, like a drowning man.
Is grabbing at any straw that is
floating upon the surface of the pond.
Even Jack Dunn does not know the
value of this young semi-pro, as
he was recommended to him by tho
veteran southpaw, Eddie Plank.
Ybung Stroh is claimed by Plank
to be ore Of the best young re-
reivers he has ever seen In the anna
teur ranks. and 1t was with this
two-ply recommendation that the Old
Fox agreed to look him over.
Dunn was u visitor here Friday.
and was after Griff's spare material,
but the main fact of the matter is
that Grin has not any spare ma
terial to cut loose. and Dunn jour
neyed back to the Monumental City
empty-handed.
The Oriole managers main venture
in this journey was the attempt to
get the Old Fox to cut loose the
strings on MerIto Acosta, the little
Cuban, but Merito Is not on the mar
ket as far as Griff Is concerned, and
/. il will be some time before the Mon
umental City will once more see
him in the uniform OF the Birds"
Stroh is a highly touted youngster
and II may mean that Bob Berman,
the college receiver now with the
Grf1men. will be released OF hig bull
pen duties within a short time. Grihr
is well satisfied with what Berman
has shown him to date as this little
New Yorker gives promise OF devel-
oping into a real big Lacquer, but
Stroh may prove to be a diamond in
the rougn and outshine Bobby at
every angle.
At any rate it will take a real good
semi-pro trooper to beat Derman, as
this youngster demonstrated enough
natural ability at the Augusta train
ing camp and during the transforming
! trip to warrant him a thorough trial
and Foxy Griff's eyes have not been
| cast amiss while this youngster has
! been working.
A heavy downfall -sprinkIed every
thing in this vicinity yesterday
! to such an extent that it was early
seen the ball game between the Macks
, and the GTiffmen yesterday would be
postponed to a later date. Just about
the noon hour both the Old Fox anc
Connie Mack agreed that duck hunt
Ing would be more appropriate and
the athletes OF both clubs were al
lowed to rest until tomorrow.
With this rest Grif expects to have
his hired men. especially his pitchers,
IN working order by next week while
Mack welcomes the relief as he has
been juggling his youngsters and ad-
| mits the chilly winds Of Cape Cod
and the cold and rainy weather OF
this Mason aud Dixon section have
set his crew back to such an extent
that he does not know Just who's
who on his pitching stan that Is
ready TO do box hOnors. Guessing
over the next twenty-four hours a.
appears that George DuMont. of the
Nationals, should draw the assign
ment against -hief Myers. OF the
sunderland crew.
Connie Mack's tribe are not going
10 take great ADVANTAGE of this
days rest as they will hike of early
TINS morning to Baltimore where Jack
Dunn's nonconstructed Orioles Of the
New international League will be
played at the Back River Park. Mack
VIII present his regular line up in
thls. fray but Jack Dunn is com
PEELED to call upon two of the kabki
KAN tribe from Camp Meade to helm
MIN over the burden as Jack Bentley
IS slated TO play first base and Jack
Dunn jr., in the outfleld.