The New York herald., 1921-03-08
RAPP PLAYS THIRD
IN SPLENDID STYLE
Work of Giants $4,000 In
fielder From st. Paul Sur
prises McGraw.
by DANIEL.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas. March 7.-For
the first time since they started work
here there was a note OF genuine buoy
ancy In the camp of the Giants to-day.
They had been going along like a
youngster whistling his way through a
graveyard in the dark. but with the ar
rival of Davy Bancroft, Earl Smith and
Joe Rapp this morning and Rapp's splen-
did showing at third base this afternoon.
faces became brighter and real laughter
rang through the ball park.
John McGraw did not permit Rapp to
waste any time In preliminaries. He
wanted to get look at the young re-
crutt in action as soon as possible. and
somewhat to Rapp's surprise he was or
dered to cover third base for the regu-
lars. or Tortillas, In the first intra-club
game. Frank Frisch was shifted to Sec
ond base and in the absence OF Bancroft,
who still Is a bit under the weather.
Herb Hunter took care of the short field.
Judging from the way Rapp behaved
in the SIX inning tussle he will open the
National League season on third base,
with Frisch back at the midway posi-
tion in which he relieved Larry Doyle
when he made his debut with the New
Yorlis. A short practice test IS not cal
culated to give a reliable line on any
player, but Rapp handled himself like a
third baseman OF undoubtedly high
calibre. He proved sure man on bad
bounders and took them on either side.
Everything which usually Is said
about a good looking rookie may be said
about this young addition from st. Paul
he H,1 L..
noodle" may be inferred from the fact
that he had been holding out for share
Of the $4,000 which ST. Paul got for
his release.
Bancroft Hopes to Regain Strength
Bancroft looks a little bit rocky. but
he thinks he will be ready to play by
the end Of the week. His normal weight
is 145 pounds, but when he stepped on
the scales In the club house this after
noon he tipped the beam at only 122
pounds. He Is not exactly in shape to
play hard game at shortstop and he
admits it, but he is chocll full of conf
dence in his ability to regain his strength
and resume his position.
II am on a diet and am under weight
and not very strong just now," the in
fielder said. as he got into a uniform
'.but feel that I will come around all
right. / cannot eat any solid food. II
do get dizzy spell. My stomach IS
not in shape. but my heart seems to be
fit. However, am not In much worse
condition than was last September
and ] managed to play pretty good ball
then"
Bancroft loued about In the hot sun
most Of the afternoon and took part ir
the batting practice which preceded the
game. Smith. the catcher. lives in Hot
Springs and he explained that he had
waited there until Bancroft was ready
to make the trip South. Smith stepped
right into uniform, too, and toward the
middle of the afternoon was winging
them down to second with rife shot
speed.
Early afternoon interest at the bal
park centred in Bancroft, but as soor
as the game was started It shifted
pronto to Rapp. The contest had not
gone two innings before the faces OF Nc
Graw and jennings broke into smiles
This boy will do. or / do not know q
ball player remarked Hughey. while
Mac" was content to look on In silence
and reserve lis decision for another day.
King on n Batting Rampage.
However, even the unc Work Oh hdpp
and Frisch did not suffice to win for
the Tortillas. The Enchillados won by
a score of to 2, and for this they had
to thank Lee King. who played right
field for them. King went on ram
page with the bat and hammered out
three husky swats-a single, double
and a home run. And II was his homer,
which came in the third, which account
ed for three runs and put the game In
Chill for the Enchillados.
1t happened this way: Eddie Brown
went to bat for Rube Benton and hit a
single to centre. Monroe followed with
another single at the expense Of Olin
Voigt. but then the right handler tight
ened and Spencer and Walker were re-
tired Up came King. and he took a
cruel cut at the ball. He sent II out
into left field, right through George
Burns, for o home run. two base
error by Frisch helped the Enchillados
to run In the first.
The Tortillas got both of their runs
against Benton In the first and third
rounds and found the Rube for four hits.
Benton was the second of the veteran
pitchers to work, the first having been
Phil Douglas, who faced the San An
tonians for three innings yesterday.
The Rube did not try to put anything
on the ball, and he succeeded. The line
up:
ENcHrLLADos. ToRTILLAs.