New-York tribune., 1918-03-08

oilSu IiiIo ciiE. II was al JHIee-tOflIt
fence buster to these parts. New Y
the services of First Bascman Geo
Burns for Bodie.
This deal, it has been learned. has
not seriously affected Huggins's ne
gotiations for Tillic Walker, recently
traded by the Red Sox to the Ath
letics. Walker, in ali probability, will
be stable mate of Ping before open
ing day rolls round.
The presence of BndIe in Yankee
uniform should furnish many a merry
quip for the metropolitan journalists
who recount baseball anecdotes. Ping
is a temperame cusS, like most
geniuses. If he were only south
paw he might be considered "queer"
as the nut" brigade usually is Ger
tainly he is quite as experienced as
any of Huggins's outfeld candidates.
He served number of terms with
the Chicago White Sox under Jimmy
Callahan.
Bodie came from the Coast League
as highly recommended as Gavvy Cra-
vath for wall breaking proclivities,
and for time lived up to his repu-
tation. But Ping couldn't stand the
gay life of the stockyards and fell into
evil ways.
Boards Big Sprinkler
Shuated back to the Coast, the native
son clambered aboard the Big Sprink-
Ter and began once more to usurp the
scareheads of the sporting extras. He
was allowed to vegetate in the state
Of perpetual sunshine for two seasons.
Connie Mack rescued him by draft in
the fall of 1916. beating out about a
dozen rivals who had put in claims
godie, despite Sis depressing sur
roundngs with. the Athletics last sea-
son, more than upheld major league
tradition. He proved one of the most
. dangerous hitters of the Mack clan,
driving IN approximately seventy runs.
lie was serious, at least, in his en-
deavors and campaigned throughout the
year pounds lighter than he had been
as a member of the White Sox.
Bodie is not the fleetest baserunner
afoot or the greatest ground coverer
extant Except when he falls), but he
packs real wallop, such as might
have covered a multitude Of Yankee
shortcomings in 1917. In case the
younger and speedier generation which
Huggins will have in the South should
crowd Ping into a bench warmers
position, he still will be of inestimable
service as a pinch hitter.
This commodity, with the Yankees,
has been painfully conspicuous by it's
absence since Hector was pup. Bodie,
moreover, is right-handed hitter.
which should help greatly. Last sea-
son the Yankees ran so heavily to left
handed hitters that the rival managers
simply "southpawed" them to death all
the way.
Huggins was further reassured, ON
the eve of his departure for the train
ing camp at Macon, Ca, as to the out
field situation by the arrival of the
signed contract of little Hughie High.
This midget, who handles the wicked
mirable style, was away off form all
of last season. His hitting was la
mentally weak. But in 1916 High
showed promise of real greatness.
Huggins is hopeful that in. his case,
as we'll as in the cases of most of the
other Yanks, 1917 may have been an
oft season.
The first squad of Yankee players to
go into spring training will leave this
morning under the personal care of
Manager Miller j. Huggins Besides
the newspaper men, Coach Pat O'Con-
nor, Trainer A. A. Woods and south
paw Herbert Thormahlen will leave
this city from the Pennsylvania Sta
ton at 9:l5 a. m. Second baseman
Wilson Fewster will entrain at Balti-
more and outfelder William Lamar
Will be picked up at Washington.
The following players will report
direct from their various homes in
time to begin active training Monday
scouts Joe Kelley and Bob Connerv,
catchers Truck" Hannah and Harold
Ruel, pitchers Slim Love- Ed Monroe
and Bob McGraw, outfielders Sam Wick
and Howard Camp and infelder Aaron
Ward.
Clarence t. Mitchell, the southnav
secured from Cincinnati by waiver this
wifh the Brooklyn National League
clnb ~
Uncle Robbie has hopes Of bringinp
the young man back from Hot Springs
rip-roarlng portsider. During his
three seasons in Cincinnati Mitchell
never carried his early spring promise
through to July. but was ALWAYS q wolf
IN the early weeks, before the veterans
got Jerry to his hooks. Last veal
Mitchell allowed 1922 earned runs 8
game OF nine innings, which is rathe,
ihbtuh iONo. but ne showed some yer
sati.ity and on occasion ambled in The
pasture when not engaged in the box.
In forty-seven games Mitchell
slapped the horsehide for 278. Man
ager Wilbert Robinson, who is Il wizart
At developing pitchers, believes Mitch
ell will come into his own with bi
of proper coaching.
The first squad of Robins will no
go to Hot Springs, Ark, so early a
had been planned. The orgiaa
scheme was to set out next Monday
The departure will be delayed til
Wednesday.
Manager Ed Barrow Of the Bosto,
Red Sox is back in town packing u
for the spring jaunt to Hot Springs
Ark. Hi& team will mobilize for tn
Southern invasion tomorrow Most o
the boys will go direct from thei
homes to the training camp.
Fielder Jones has signed the vctera,
pitcher Ed Walsh to initiate tn
Brown pitchers into the mysteries O
the spitball. Walsh, who has attempte
"come-backs" half dozen times. mad
his last major league appearance Wit
The Braves last year No man bette
than Jones realizes the greatness 0
Walsh in his prime. 1t was undc
Fielder's management, back in 1906
that Big Ed rose to nation wide fam
by clinching the American Lcagu
pepnant for tho White Soy and e+o,,