The Washington times., 1923-03-05

President Griffith yesterday at n
Then he asked to go to his home
case and general belongings. :.
"What time will you be back?'
"The train is due here at 3:4O,"
.'M-m-m-too bad" unused the
work will be all over then. 1t Wi
can you give this fellow a worko'
manager and trainer, both Of wh'
Sure" came back Bush. "Well
be there and see that he gets all
the work he can stand. Soon as
yoM get into town, come right here
to Hawkins: "I'll see that you get
away to a good start
So that's how Dad Hankins, who
pitched for Tampa last season with
fair success, hearing that he was
supported by weak ball club,
left for home yesterday. Today,
around o'clock, he will warm up,
engage in the proper drill ana
probably have a run around the
race track all by himself.
Manager Bush will be there to
watch him go through his PAGES,
and Trainer Martin will be there
to see that he doesn't OverdO his
first days exercise. The young
ster will have his own private
drill, with a manager and trainer
all to himself. 1t is doubtful II
any other rookie ever was SO
treated in any major league
camp.
This Hawkins promises to be an
interesting cuss. Not yet of age,
he is a deputy sheriff. Instead Of
signing his 1923 contract, he had
an attorney write the Washington
club a letter filled with questions
and no answers. Then, calling on
President Griffith, the youngster
argued for more than two hours on
Saturday night, refused to sign
and faced suspension.
However, Hawkins is most anx-
lous to make good in the big
league. He thinks he can pitch
well enough, but he has been
around courts just enough to think
he was merely protecting himself
when he demanded various changes
made in his contract.
Saturday night, before he could
get out of town, Hankins had n
talk with one Of the Tampa clubs
officials, man who is most anxious
for the lad to make good. The Of
fetal explained to Hankins the
folly of his position and warned him
that he was risking fine chance
TO break in with a major league
club.
''YOu say You want to pitch in
the big league" Hawkins was told.
Sand here you are facing sus-
pension. Furthermore, no other
major league club will take a
chance with you after you get
into trouble with the Washington
club"
Hankins slept on this advice, and
yesterday morning telephoned to
President Griffith that he wanted
to see him again. Inside OF ten
minutes the youngster arrived at
the hotel and in less time than
that he had signed.
Hawkins is an intelligent looking
young man. Indeed, he looks the
exact opposite of Potter, the
Kentuckian, who ran home after
being in camp one day. Hanklns
lives in Florida, but he comes from
INDIANA and he has been around a
BIT. He is not afraid of electric
cars, for instance.
The Tampa twirler is taller than
six feet, but he will hardly weigh
$50 pounds. He is OF the Wtry
type e Bob Groom, the old Wash
ington pitcher. He moves around
quickly and looks like an athlete.
According to Tampa fans, Han
kins should eventually make a big
league pitcher. He is admittedly
green and lacking experience, but
he showed so much speed last year
that more than one scout watched
him. It was known that the Wash
ington club had an option on
him and so no offers were made.
But the scouts all reported him
worth trial.
"He looks like a race horse to
me- said George Gibson. He's
sure trained down pretty fine. I'll
take a look at him and see what
he's got"
Dangerous Dan McGrew, the
tall Texas Lacquer, is due to re.
port here today. That will leave
only Walter johnson and George
Mogridge of the pitching staff
up before the week goes, but Mo-
gridge is not due till next Mon
day. The veteran southpaw is
getting preliminary work at Hot
Springs, Ark, in company with
Roger Peckinpaugh.
Sore arms may be looked for this
week. Three days under the hot
sun have failed to bring them out;
but the daily drills are to be tight
ened, beginning today. with empha
sis placed on pitching. Naturally
there will be some lame whips in
camp, possibly tonight.
The batsmen are coming to town
this week. This means that there
will be batting practice by Thurs
day at the latest. Today Charity
Rice and Harris may play their
last golf until next fall, for all three
will be in uniform tomorrow. Char
fity has been working out ever
since coming here, but Rice anC
Harris are yet to Climb into a uni
form.
The batting class will includ,
Manager Bush. Hargrave. Japan
Iharrity. Judge, Harris, Lamotte
Gagnon, Bluege, Conroy, Rice, Cos
lin, Fisher, Wade and Mcnamara
Ruel, Johnston, Mogridge and Peck
ingpaugh will be the last to report
coming next Monday. Evans is no