Evening star., 1924-03-20

The Nationals drew into this
spring home OF Branch Rickey's {
motor to the scene of the conflict ,
midday meal This tilt will be the
McGraw for the Nationals since tn
lamentable battle of Jackson, Tenn.
the houses OF McGraw and Griffith
first between clubs representing NJ
American League i'll 1901.
Even though the weather bureau in
Florida has not reformed, Bhcky
Harris has contrived to send his
charges through some brief drills this
week and believes them ready to
struggle raliantly against both foes.
Harris right now is particularly in
lens affecting the composition of a
regular National nine one concerning
the disposition of the third base po-
sition and the other the selection of
ment is likely to remain uncertain for
a time. But the manager may make
some progress in solving the outfield
puzzle during his stay here.
Richbourg Ready for Test.
Lance Clayton Richbours, outfield-
er bought from Nashville of the
Southern Association last year. de-
spite that he had just fractured leg.
now seems ready 70 ra real trial.
surgical treatment after the accident,
President Griffith going SO far as to
have him in Washington that prog
ress in the case might be closely not
ed. Seemingly Richbourg's leg re-
sponded favorably to treatment, but
in the early days of training at Tam
pa this spring he pulled up lame and
virtually had to retire from the con-
ditioning drills.
Oddly. the soreness that affected
Richbourg was not about the point
of fracture, practically midway be-
tween knee and ankle of the left leg,
Richbourg was at a loss to account
for lameneSs, as he had done consid-
cradle work in gymnasium at Nash
vile, where he was employed during
the winter. to strengthen his leg.
Trainer Mike Martin, however, be-
lieves that Richbourg unconsciously
Favored the limb during those winter
workouts and failed to break adhe-
sions that probably formed in the
foot while the athlete was in the hos
pital. When the squad first reported
at Tampa last month, sprinting was
a part of the daily training. routine
and il was this exercise that lamed
Richbourg. But Martin has worked
over the outfielder faithfully and now
declares him ready for service.
Purchased From Nashville.
Richbourg came to the Nationals
from Nashville as the result of j
scouting tour made by President
Griffith through the Southern Asso-
OF the Washington club was so i'm
pressed by the performance of the
outfielder, both at bat and afield,
that when he passed through Nash
willie a few weeks later he took the
player from the Volunteers. even
though Richbourg was then out of
action with the smashed leg.
Richbourg was playing in his forty
al ~ Loo ,F = <l,a.
the accident occurred, the limb being
fractured as he was sliding into
base. But in those few games he
had walloped the ball hard enough
to get .3sS batting mark. the best
Of the year in the Southern Associa-
tfon. He also had stolen eleven
bases, scored thirty-six runs and
Knocked In twenty-nine. His field
Ing mark was bettered by a number
OF other players. but Richbourg had
established a reputation as a fielder
who covered a greater amount of ter
rltory and attempted many more
catches than quite a lot of those who
went through the campaign to bet
ter averages.
Richbourg, by the way. is one of the
few college, bred players in the Ma
tionals' squad. He was a year on the
nine of the University of Florida,
from which institution he graduated
with bachelor of science degree in
1922. But Lance began his base ball
career much earlier. At the age of
twelve years he was a member of
the town team of Defuniali Springs.
Fla, his birthplace. Before entering
college and in his season with the
FlQrida varsity. Richbourg' was an
inheider, playing generally at third
base.
He also was an infielder with a
team in the Navy, in which he served
curing the big war. incidentally
LANCE went into Uncle Sans sea
service before he was eighteen years
First job .Was. With Giants. :,
His first professional engagement
was with the Giants, after he had
tlniShed' his freshman year at Florida
in 1913. The, New York club tried
him as an infielder, then farmed him
TO the Oakland club of the Pacific
Coast League, but he returned to the
Richhourg in 1920, but loaned him to
Grand Rapids of the Michigan On
tario League for a time. Shortly
after he returned to Toledo, he was
repurchased by the Giants.
In 1921 Richbourg refused to re-
port to the Giants until after his
college term ended and McGraw sent
him to Dallas of the Texas League.
There he remained for ten days, then
went to the Phillies to sit on the
bench a greater part of the season.
Charleston of the Sally League had
Richbourg as it's first-sacker in 1922,
and he fielded well. but did not hit
so we'll. Then came the transfer to
Nashville and the outfield. and Rich
bourg made good, in every way.
And Manager Bucky Harris, need
ing an outffelder, hopes Lance will
repeat this year.