Evening star., 1922-02-26
GOSL|N IS HIS ACE
AND GOEBEL A GEM
Declares He Has Quality,
Not Quantity, in Ranks
of Newcomers.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

estimate NOlCeu bN \. \ arm VII
between sporadic and more or less
successful assaults on stack OF
chips owned by J. Thilman Hendrick
in a Pullman Ell route for the spring
rendezvous OF the Nationals this
afternoon.
Our camp will not be cluttered up
with kids musrd Griff. who is shar-
ing with Nick Altrnck. king of
clowns the task ef chapc roning a
handful of them on the tw-.Ity- nine
hour rail- jaunt to Tampa. out those
we have rate unusually high IN
potential worth. All told. there will
be only aboui dozen who may be
classed as recruits. In former years
/ have taken twice that many south
at this time and | see where Il num-
ber of the other clubs are establish
Ing near records in that respect this
season. but / am thoroughly satisfied
to let them do 1t.
Wants Quality, Not Quantity.
TT has been my experience that
only a certain number of youngsters
reasonably may he expected to come
through for you in a training camp
and this seems to hold good regard
less OF the size OF the green squad.
In our case this year quality.
rather than quantity. Is the rule. and
from what j know of the ability of
the boys we have eorralled. both from
personal inspection and their records.
] think the assertion may be ventured
that no club ever gathered more
promising bunch.
why. there Is hardly one on the
list who may not prove Of service in
his first year, while about half of
them are almost assured of making
good. Take that fellow over there,
I'D,
eating the seat where Leon Gosiin had
his stalwart frame draped. viewing
the landscape and doubtless wonder
ing from the appearance of the houses,
why Americas unemployment prob
lem couldn't be solved by putting the
jobless to work selling paint. That
Bird is real ball player. or l never
saw one. He is inclined to run wild
on the bases and doesn't know much
about hook slides. but that will all
ball and throw one. and when it
comes to welding the wood. he's
bearcat. We're going to have to get
some special bats for that lad. none
wants Babe Ruth models and he can
swing em. too.
Is Prize of Flock.
"Goslin is by long odds the prize of
the flock. in Grif's opinion. sbut he
ranks Eddie Goebel at no great dis
tance in the rear. The boss even ad-
mits that so far as defensive ability
alone is concerned the Brooklyn boy
can hold his own with any fly chaser
on the roster and in his ability to
handle ground balls shades them all,
while his speed is such that 1t is doubt
full whether Sam Rice could best him
In a race around the paths:
Aside from LaMotte, with whose
capabilities the fans already are pret-
ty well acquaipted. and Catcher Dan.
of District
sand lots. the only other recruit who
harbors aspirations for fame other
than that obtainable on the mound
is Shortstop Bleuge. No first hand
diamond prowess. but the record he
compiled in the Three-Eye League
last spring, and the fact that he was
able to surmount handicap such as
the given name Of Oswald, would IN.
dicate that he Is of the stun tnat
major leaguers are made.
In addition to Johnson, Erickson,
Mogridga Zachary and Courtney
there are ten fingers on the list TINS
year who come under the class OF
veterans in the point OF years DE-
voted to the game. notwithstanding
that most of their service has Deen
confined to circuits Of lower classln,
cation than the American or National
leagues.
Developments of the next few
weeks at Tampa may necessitate re-
vision of the dope, but at this stage
of the game it would seem that Brlli-
heart, McGrew. Luther and Diggs
have a considerably longer route to
travel to make their mark in fast
company than Phillips. Francis. Mil
Ter. Gleason and Woodward.
Phillips is an experienced perform
ar of rather\ mature. years. and his
achievements with New Orleans, In
the Southern Association last season
would indicate that he is an even bet
ter prospect for delivering an ac-
Francis, who made a fine showing
with the weak Seattle team in the
class AA Pacific Coast League, but
lacks the polish of Phillips. aquira-
BILE only with years spent in the
game.
Gleason SerfOus-Minded.
Gleason is a serious minded. earnest
youth of the Zachary type that pro
duces steady rather than brilliant
pitchers, while Miller. with the IN
estimable advantage of a southpaW
who has acquired control at an early
age. may prove something of SEN
sation. AS for Woodward, he is a
question mark. Like Phillips. he is
no longer kid. admitting to twenty
seven summers, and he has had major
parts of three seasons with the Phil
lies and Cardinals. He seems TO
know what to do when he is on the
rubber. The debatable point being
whether he has enough stuff to fool
the wise sticksmiths he must race.
Luther, Diggs and Brillheart are
practically unknown quantities, but
McGrew, who is said to tower SIX
feet six inches in his socks. is credit
ed with having speed that fairly daI-
zles, although as green ana gaWky as
Walter johnson was when ne proke
in.
AS for the Turk, he may prove
dark horse in the event that he de-
cides to quit school and try for
the big league job offered him this
wear. Turk was teammate of Cos
lin with the Columbia club OF the
South Atlantic League last season,
and has a peculiar side-arm delivery
that makes him exceptionally eff
fective.
Calls Them Two Gems.
Grif today was assured by no less
an authority than Walter Hapgood,
part owner with George Stallings Of
the Rochester, International League,
franchise, that the Nationals have
gems in Goslin and Goebel. Hap
good talked himself hoarse trying to
get an option on Goslin after seeing
him play in Just one exhibition game
at Columbia last spring, but. without
success. He had plenty of oppor-
tunity to- size up Goebel, who was
was with Reading, in the Same cir
suit as Rochester, and is lavish in
his praise Of him.
only one player in the International
Easter than Goebel last year-Arch-
0eacon, who established new record
FOR circlfng the bases. Hapgood
$pines that if Goebel should hit at
only ESQ pace for the Nationals