Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-21

training. Godfrey Brogan and Give
1t is we'll known fact that great
adorn the batting orders of big leag
fielding feats or punching powers
superior ability along other lines ha!
Ruth and SiSler probably are til
been southpaw pitchers of class be
into an outflelder and George into
lineup every day instead OF merely I
THO Nationals themselves have in
sam Rice an example of the same
thing. for ii was rs pitcher that
the fleet Griffman first attracted at
1ention while in the Navy. and
starred in the Virginia League be-
fore being purchased from Peters,
burg in midseason Of 1915 for a re-
ported price of $500. Even the one
and only Hans Wagner, generally re-
Sarded as the greatest shortstop the
game ever produced, was a catcher
1T the outset of his career and
played in the outfield for the Louis
Vile and Pittsburgh clubs before it
was discovered that he really was
cut out to be an infielder.
Shifts Sometimes Forced.
Outlines the needs Of club die
tate what use shall be made of a
player. Ossie Bluege. for instance,
is IA natural shortstop. but because
Of the presence of Peckinpaugh
and the lack CO third ia seman
The Chicago young; tcr has been e.-
saying to lover the far corner of the
Nationals. Several seasons some
times ar" required for Il player to
ind the job hr is best qualified for.
When once he is properly located he
may develop overnight into a star.
Judged by their physical attributes
and their records in the minors, Dud-
ley and Brogan would seem to have
d better chance than any of the
other young pitchers with the Ma
tionalS to become useful in SOME line
other than box work. The latter
used his southpaw Slants to such
good advantage in the South Atlantic
League in 1922 that he compiled an
average of .667, representing eighteen
victories and nine defeats chalked up
in the thirty-five games he figured
in as a boXman. He was such an
accomplished hitter, however, that
ehe was drafted for service in twenty
mine additional contests and had the
distinction of leading the league with
a batting average Of .346.
Br0Snn Out in 1879.
Brogan played no base ball at all
last summer. 1t will be recalled that
when he was purchased by Washing
the fall he refused to report because
the Charleston club refused his de-
mand for part of the purchase
price.
He. was placed on the suspended
list as result and remained inelesi-
bile for the season, when it was i'm
possible for him to play ball anyhow
beca use of an operation that required
several months for recuperatlon, ana
having entirely recovered his health
Il - Il. OF RI yy1S n
organized base ball this winter and
now is seeking to resume the career
that was interrupted for an entire
season.
Brogan is bantam in size. weigh
tnK no more than 40 pounds, but the
fact that lack of size in itself does
not necessarily bar the pathway 70
success OF Z; boXman was amply
demonstrated in the case of DICK
Kerr, who was Il real star with the
;ntund boss of the Giants. weighed
even less when he was making MS
tory as Il third baHenlan with the
old Baltimore orioles.
In action and size, too. Brosan great
Is resembles Charles JAMESON, at
present one of the best outfelderS
in the business with the Cleveland
Indians and who. it will be remem-
bered. failed to stick with either tine
Mackmen or Nationals before ne dis-
---~-
was in the garden rather than on
the mound. 1t should occasion little
surprise if the youngSter VINO makes
his home in,New York city, is iookeo
over with an idea of converting MN
into a f1ychaser before this train
ing trip ends.
Dudley Is Youthful.
Dudley. who has been the property
of the Washington club for a year.
hut performed for the Raleigh CRUZ
last season, is one or the younsest
members of the, squad. and thus 1ar
has essayed nothing in a base pail
way but pitching, which means that
he will not be handicapped by nay
ing bad methods to unlearn in the
went that it is decided to inspect MIN
in the role of an ,infielder.
Although he is 4 big chap. Weighing
about $50 pounds, he i: Of the TIM
legged type best adapted for SPEED
III ground covering. and his 1919
pitching record of nine games won
and ven lost furnishes food for
thought in connection with his punch
inc. prowess. That he wields a mean
mace is indicated by the fact Pied
mont League hurlers suffered at his
hands last season to the extent Of a
.a13 average. one that is not to be
$coffed at. no matter in what com
pany it is registered. If Dudley dis.
plays any aptitude at all for infield
work he. is likely to be seen ire
the diamond during the spring
practice. - p.
Richbourg RepOftk.
The advance squad was completed
today by the arrival right on sched-
ule time Of Lance Richbourg,' who is
expected to contend with George
Fisher, Carr Smith and Memo Eeibold
for the untitled post in the outfield.
Richbourg came here from Gaines
vile, Fla. where ne was first hscov-
cred several years ago by McGraw
when the Giants trained. at the seat
Of the University of Florida. In
those days Richbourg was an inficld-
err. and it was as u third baseman
that he was tried out with the New
York club.
Lacking the polish necessary for
the majors at that time, he was al
been acquiring it in the sticks. With
Nashville Of the Southern Associa-
ton last season Richbourg compiled
a batting average or 1913 before d
broken leg put him out of commits
sion. He asserts his prop is as good
very fast runner, is expected to- prove
formidable candidate for regular
job with the Nationals.
Rain that fell all Tuesday night
as something of novelty to members
Of the Washington club who have
spent the last four springs here.
The moisture. had little effect on
the sandy soil OF this section. how
ever. and has. interfered. in no way
with the athletes getting their usual
quantity Of exercise.
Using Medicine Ball.
An innovation for training so far as
the Nationals are concerned, although
familiar in the camps of other big
league clubs, were the medicine balls