The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-09
Sport Snap Shots
BY JACK KEENE.

Grover Cleveland Alexander, for
mer Cub pitcher, was alive and well
four days before the armistice was
declared, and at that time expected to
be back in Gods country in time TO
make the 1919 spring training trip
with the north side club. Alexander
regiment, however, is with the Amer
lean army OF occupation In Germany,
which may delay his return until the
middle OF the season.
This information was sent to Cub
Headquarters recently in letter from
Mrs. Alexander, who is wintering in
Newport, Ky. She wrote that she
had Just received word from her hus-
band, dated Nov. 7. that he was safe
and sound to date.
He wrote that he was on the firing
line at the time, however, and the Cub
officials will not feel sure OF the pitch
ing prowess Of Alex the Great for the
next pennant race until soemthing Is
heard from him after the armistice
date.
One Of the greatest all around foot.
ball players of recent years was Ar.
thur Bluethenthal, 10, rowing center
of the Princeton team Of 1911, and ALI
American center. Bluethenthal volun-
teered for the ambulance service be-
fore America got into the war and
won the French War Cross for his
bravery at Salonica He transferred
to the French air service and was
shot down and killed while on
bombing expedition.
Just what a prominent part the Cub
pitchers played in the bringing OF the
National league pennant to Chicago Is
shown by the twenty-three shutouts
registered by Chicago pitchers during
the season. OF this number eight
kalsominings were performed ny
Vaughn and seven by Tyler. Vaughn
is tied with Burleigh Grimes OF the
Dodgers for shutout honors In the
National league 1t speaks well Tor
Grimes, who, pitching for second d.
vision club. achieved as many shut
outs as was registered by Vaughn
with the league leaders.
Jimmy Clabby, now an Amaze cor
poral recently arrived in Italy with
his regiment. having sailed from sgd
new n. S. w, on Octobed 10. 1t Is
probable that he did not reach the
fighting, as the troopship on which
he sailed was due to reach the shores
of Italy about the date Of the signing
of the armistice.
The fact that he was prevented from
taking a hand in the actual fighting.
of course. does not detract from the
glory of the American boxer, who cast
his lot with the fighting Australians.
His decision to enlist with the AnZac s
came about as result OF the excel
lent treatment accorded to him by the
fight fans in the Antipodes, where he
has spent so much Of his time in re-
cent years A day or two before he
boarded the transport a dinner was
rendered to him by few of his many
friends IN Sydney, and he was pre-
scented with wrist watch, silver
cigaret case and wallet stuffed with
bank notes.
Unless all signs fail the Yankees
will do their 1919 spring training In
Florida instead Of Georgia. Since the
DAYS when Clark Griffith directed the
work Of the Yankees on the old Hill.
top grounds Georgia has been the
favorite state for this teams training
In sixteen years no less than thirteen
Yankee teams have been taken TO the
Cracker state. Griffith, Stallings,
Chase, Wolverton. Donovan and Hug
gins have taken their teams to Geor-
gia. the list Of training cities includ-
ing, Atlanta. Augusta, Athens and
Macon.
Two years ago the owners OF the
New York club fitted up a clubhouse
close to the Macon park and it is
barely possible that the team may
return there next spring. but indica-
tions point otherwise. Under a con-
tract signed in 1916, the New York
club has tho refusal of the Macon
park for training each spring for a
period of five years, but must give a
definite answer before December 81
preceding 1t Is thought that Hug
gins will decide this year against a
return TO Macon. The hotel accom-
modations are good and the ball park
leaves little to be desired. but the
Yankee leader Is inclined to favor a
warmer cline for training his ball
tossers. He looks with favor on Flor.
Ida and It is likely that the Yankees
will go there. Three or four cities
are under consideration at this time,
but the final decision will not be made
until early IN the new year. While
managing the Cardinals Higgins al
WAYS trained at San Antonio and the
weather which his club encountered
at Macon last spring was Of some
what cooler brand than he had been
Accustomed to get for the early train
ing