The Washington times., 1923-03-06

little fellow warming UP Allen r.
club only few weeks ago wi
Piclnich, Shanks, and Eddie GoeI
There wasn't a chance to get him
from New York, not while the Bos
ton club had any players wanted
by the Yankees. Last spring Frazee
yelled murder when / made 8
proposition for Ruel. Only last
december he turned me down
though ] offered him as much as
$4,000 in cash for Ruel.
After the American League meet
ing in New York the deal was half
on, though Frazee still held off
Finally he called me up on the long
distance and agreed to let me have
Ruel if / would include Shanks in
the trade. / had been trying to keep
'Shanks, but ] had to include him to
dand Ruel. finally decided Ruel
would be of more value to me than
Shanks, and agreed on the trade
; ras it eventually went through"
81. Paul Shannon, the vet Boston
sports writer, was over here the
:, other day from st Petersburg,
where the Boston Braves have al
ready begun work. He chartered
pleasantly about Ruel's value to
~ the Washington club.
ut looks to Boston like a good
trade, said Shannon. Russell was
OF little or no use, while Ruel was
dissatisfied. RUSSELL in a new town,
may wake up and pitch good ball for
Bush, while Ruel ought to be the
first string catcher. He's not a great
hitter, but he is one of the prettiest
catchers behind the bat today. Fur
!. thermore, he is not hurt easily. He
s ought to be able to do lot of work
BSton figures Picinich a good
catcher, Goebel a fine prospect in
the outfield, and Shanks the handy
man able to play anywhere during
the period that Frank Chance is try
ing to make a winning ball club.
Therefore, with both clubs satisfied,
1T was a good trade. / feel sure
\ Washington fans will like Ruel, who
Y Is fine fellow in addition to being
q good ball player"
= The Griffs now have four catchers.
If Gharrity's throwing arm is slow
kin coming around or doesn't come
around at all, all four will prob
ably be retained. If Charity flashes
EDut in front with the start of the
egeason, one may be dropped and the
light against that sentence promises
10 be a hot one between Pete Japan
and Bill Hargrave.
~ Japan hit for 1876 i'm l42 games
1 In the Southern Association last
year and reached .324 i'm eleven
~ games with the Griffs. He is a
n peppeFy lad behind the plate. a
& hard worker, good pegger, and
"a apparently a good handler of his
n pitchers.
s4 Hargrave, unknown to big league
baseball, shapes up physically as a
strong competitor for a berth with
''sthe Griffs. Stockily built, this red.
ttheaded backstop has all the ear.
lnnarks of a scrapper in a ball game,
Seven to his funny haircut, which
dg1ves him bantam-cock aspect.
~ With New Haven, the Eastern
9sLeague champions last year, Har-
tgrave played thirty-three games at
ffhird base, nine at second, nine in
Eight field, and fifty-nine behind the
3Pat. He hit for .321 in 119 games.
1g9Nhen given a chance down here he
.sForks in the outfield and will prob
ably be playing one of the infield po-
tseitions in the fielding drills next
n~eek. He cannot stand still when
l4Anyone Is batting a ball.
~ There is practically no comparison
Isbetween the present catching staff
sAiharrity alone was awake in 1921
fsnnd 1922.
m Picinich was usually resting some
fEhere In the shade and Torres lacked
:5life and snap naturally, though he
was far from being a gutter. Now
Nrhere are four lively lads toting big
s3ynitts around Plant Field and the out.
sIlook is excellent.
f. Dad Hankins, the young right
i hand pitcher with Tampa last
Hsyear, made his baseball history
III yesterday when, on arriving i'm
n the afternoon from his home i'm
z ,BrOOkSVille. He took his first
= workout all by himself under the
Isl eyes of Manager Bush. Coach Glib
q. Bon and Trainer Martin. He was
~ too late for the regular drill, 50
ls he staged a private workout.
NJ Hankins is twenty years old
retands some six feet and hardly
.weighs $50 pounds. He is built OF
whalebone and has much of the
ftt4ooSe ACTON seen in George MOg
gsfidge. He was given half an hours
warming up and about the same
IAN a pepper drill before going tt
the showers. Manager Bush eemec
satisfied with the youngsters show
&1ng and from now on Hankins will
gsbe worked into condition for the
spring exhibition games.
~ Rookie infielders and outfielder,
z are expected to drift into town to
Mday and tomorrow until all are
Sshere, ready to engage in battins
Epractlce. Trainer Martin is slav
Ing to get the diamond in shape fol
15the batting practice.
u He promises to- have it ready by
sstThursday and the moment he say
Athe word, the athletes will star,
sEtearing it up with their spikes.
IKE George Fisher, a rosy checked
,s.young outfielder from st. JOSEPH
ss1n the Western League, has joinei
sl,Donie Bush's young men. He cam,
Fs4nto camp yesterday in time fo1
=, AVA RMAMM