The Washington times., 1924-03-01


amusing and hilarious than the
antics Of a lot Of old fellows tripping
over their boards in fielding, and
gpraining their rheumatism running
bases?
An elderly version of baseball
would eventually lead to the major
leagues being crutch and cane and
wheel chair circuits, than which
there could be no "whicher' out
side the burlesque stage. There
would be a market for such diamond
frivolities, for in this intellectual
age there are many fans who yawn
at the inanities Of serious minded
professional sport and would much
rather attend burlesque games than
real games. However,
Gas q matter of fact" said Col.
Rupert, 81 am not seriously con.
Cerned about any Of our young
men. know they will all come
y to terms eventually. But even
II not a one of them had come to
terms / would have assembled
team somehow and played the sea-
son even If we finished in last
place. I'm in baseball to stay, no
matter what obstacles. I'm amused
more than anything else at the at
tltude Of some ball players. They
like to say that they could get
more money outside Of baseball il
they didn't sign up. But you OBJ
serve few ever actually retire from
the game to reap the rich rewards
Of business vOcatiOns."
The Colonel is right. Take, for
instance the case of a certain star.
He worked in an automobile place
during the winter and threatened
to stay there unless certain mag.
mates met his demands. He said
he would be better off in the digni.
fled motor car profession. AS a
mater Of fact this player was get.
ting about 5000 q month with the
auto company, while his monthly
stinand Kpn the diamond was near
81 ,506. Naturally he signed up very
nimbly NrRut ne wouldn't have been
~ ball player had he not made the
Tboasting threat to the bosses. Such
gestures are as much a part Of ma
jor league winter maneuvering as
is the infield practice that precedes
the games in the summer.
Colonel Rupert says that the re.
probabilities of running world
championship ball club are worse
than those Of a man in Congress.
He says in the old days when he
was a solon sitting around under
the dome Of the Capitol he had lots
more fun than he gets sitting in the
vast Yankee Stadium and worrying
about this or that high priced deli
cate athlete. Colonel Rupert was
o Representative for four terms,
representing the old fifteenth (now
thu sixteenth) district in Washing
ton, However, the Colonel admits
that in these oily days being sta
toned in Washington Is not such a
merry lot.
Perhaps people wonder why a
millionaire brewer should sigh en-
viously at the easy lot OF his
hired ball players. In these prohi.
bition days a brewer apparently
should have it pretty soft himself.
However, Colonel Rupert Is at his
desk at $50 every morning and
puts in a full eight hour day. No
winter off for him. His brewery
makes near beer, and in making
1t has to go through q double
process.
First, the regular, old fashioned
3 per cent brew is made and then
Il has to be cooked" over again
to boil out the ILLEGAL amount of
alcohol so that the finished product
energies as "half per cent. OF this
fluid about 100000 barrels a year
are turned out at the Rupert
"Knickerbocker" pant, compared
to 100000 barrels Of real beer in
the old days.
All this keeps the dapper Colonel
pretty constantly ON the job. H.
will be unable to arrange his at.
fairs to permit him to enjoy more
than the final week Of his play.
ers' New Orleans training camp.
Discussing the coming season, Rup.
pert said:
'Why to be sure, / expect
another pennant this year." said
Che Yanks' pennant. Sure thing
wen make 1t four in q row II
the pitching holds up, and It
ought to. Combs and Dumont
have strengthened the club. (Out-
fieldeE Earle b. Combs was pur.
6ased from Louisville, where he
MT $3.50 and stole fOrty.twO bases.)
pitcher George HI. DumOnt was
purchased from Atlanta. He
won sixteen and lost eleven
Games I'm 1923. Everett Scott
will be an improved player. He
has laid off basketball this Win
Ter.
"Ernie Johnson is q wonderful
utility infielder. Hoyt seems to be
taking himself more seriously and
babe Ruth will continue to do so
this year. Holman Is getting to
be- a fine catcher. All the boys
AZ Hot Springs are throwing them.
Alves into the preliminary train.
& in fine spirit. They have team
hesion and cockiness enough to
ght through to another triumph
'But it will be a tough, close race
khis year. / expect Detroit to give
rs much trouble. The athletics and
Cleveland will also be in the run
ming. The Red Sox are a coming
crowd, and the Browns will be Is
per cent stronger II Sisler returns
to active duty"
OF the thirty-six listed on the
Yanks 1924 roster only seven i'm.
portant names have not yet been
affixed to contracts. These are
Tomos. Pennock, Shawkey, Meusel,
WIT, Ward and Pipp. The reason
for delay in several instances II
that some Of the contracts were