Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-02-28

Walter Johnson was striking ex-
ample Of how incompetent at fielding
q majority OF hurlers are when they
break In, as those Of the fans who
saw him beaten on the occasion Of his
debut in. Washington back in 1907.
when the Tigers. made to look fool
ish by swinging at his fast ball,
switched their tactics to just meeting
S-to.a victory by bunting him to
death: Walter gradually improved
In this respect, and now is a most
accomplished fielder, but 1t was years
before he attained proficiency.
VIII BE Daily Stunt.
Grin today decided to speed up the
acquisition of fielding ability on the
part CT his rookie pitchers by insti-
tuting daily workouts for them. They
accordingly were assigned TO posts
bout the infield and put through the
same drill as the regular guardians
except that all throwing was elimi-
mated, because it was not essential
to the object sought and because 1t
also would raise havoc with wings
straight pitching, much less snap
throws. For fifteen minutes or more
the hurlers tussled with Founders.
swimmers, rollers and dribbles, and
them to plainly show while working
IN the box the benefit of the expe-
tience they will have gained in judg-
, Ing the hops of grounders.
Some OF the boys presented an
amusing spectacle, especially Nc
Grew, at short. and Digges. at second
they have SO far to go to reach the
ground-but they bent to their tasks
without complaint, although all were
welded the bat for this drill and
gave them some valuable pointers.
Nick is a well qualified teacher. too,
Tor he was known in his day as one
of the best fielding pitchers the game
ever produced.
If height gets pitcher anywhere
and il generally is conceded that it
does-the Nationals this season may
be accounted fortunate. OF the fif-
teen hurlers on their roster eight are
giants in inches, although many of
them have yet to demonstrate they
deserve the term in reference to their
mound prowess. OF the lot Walter
McGrew, who halls from the Texan
town founded by the original Soakem
Yoakum, towers highest, and with his
six. feet five and q fraction inches
will contest with Bryan Harris OF the
flackmen for the distinction Of being
khe American Leagues 1oftiest.
Next in line comes Ed Digges, the
caiipn of Clarendon, who at six feet
three, has slight margin on Harry
-
includes Walter johnson. George Mo-
gridge. Tom Phillips and Ray Fran
ces, Olaf Erickson being the pygmie
of the altitudinous class with an even
.seventy-two inches.
There are others on the roster who
are by no meana dwarfs. Zachary.
G1ea son and Miller lacking but little
of the stretch Of frame necessary to
rank them as long boys, and since
jose Acosta has departed for Chicago
by way of Philadelphia there are no
contenders among the fingers in the
bantam division. Jehosophat Besse-
lievre Brillheart probably Is the
shortest of the lot and being just
young Teller Jehos may outgrow 1t.
Not MI successful pitchers have had
unusual stature to aid them in their
quest for fame. Far from 1t. Clark
Griffith himself, who, when in the
heyday of his career as an active per-
former was regarded as one of the
most effective fingers in the business,
frequently was referred to as runt,
and there have been many other
notable exceptions, including Jack
WARRIOR. George Dauss and the still
formidable Dick Kerr. There have
been, however. possibly three top
notch pitchers possessed of unusual
height for every one below the aver
age. and IL this ratio holds good with
the Griffmen this year 1t will not be
for lack of qualified material that