The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-08-09

old and put McNeely in his place,
The Californian was playing in
Portland, Ore, when informed Of
his sale to the Washington Club.
He hurried to his home in Sacra.
mento, grabbed up a couple of clean
collars, the other cravat and his
Sunday clothes and was on his way.
1t required five days for him to
reach Chicago. On his arrival all
he asked was an immediate bath
and something to eat. Then he ad-
mitted, he would be ready. The
formalities of signing his first big
league contract and being intro
duced to Manager Harris, hardly
consumed ten minutes. Then he
leaped into his bath, shifted collars
and cravat and went to dinner with
his new manager.
McNeeIey says he is twenty.
five years old, is unmarried, lives
with his parents in Sacramento.
is East for the, first time in his
life, and hopes to make good.
He has a boyish way with him
that should make him friends
among the fans.
The new outfielder is about the
height and build of Bucky Harris,
though more tapering in the legs
than Harris. Below the waist he
Is built more on the order Of Sam
Rice. He lacks Rice's breadth Of
shoulders, though. He is II bit
thin in flesh and appears in perfect
physical condition.
II don't say he is another Ty
Cobb" explained Joe Engel. boy
scout, who caused Clark Griffith 10
unloosen the old bank roll to the
extent of $4,000 for McNeeley, "but
l do say he is the best prospect
I saw in any minor league this
season. He is as fast as Rice on
getting away from the plate and on
the bases. He Is a hawk on Il fly
ball in the field and has good
throwing arm. He Is not a finished
player right now, but this time
next year you will agree with me
that he is a real big Lacquer"
McNeeley entered professional
baseball last season, playing seventy
five games with the Sacramento
club before being afflicted by APP
pendicitis. He underwent surgical
operation and was advised to play
no more baseball until this spring.
When he quit he had batting aver.
age of 1893 for those seventy.fiv's
games, hitting safely seventy-one
times in 213 times at bat. He had
one home run and eleven two bag.
gers, while twenty stolen bases had
been chalked up for him. In the
field he had one error and an aver.
age Of .99SSgiving him second place
among the leagues outfielders.
When purchased by the Griffs
McNeeley was hitting for 1888 and
scouts from several big league
clubs were on his trail. EngIe
spent close to a month watching
him perform under many cOndi-
lions, finally recommending his
purchase.
McNeeley represents the $4,000
gamble Clark Griffith is making to
land the 1924 pennant. He will be
grievously disappointed II the new.
conner doesn't live up to Engel's pre-.
dictions. All season Engel has been
searching for good right.hand hit.
ting outfielder. Zeitmann. of New.
ark. attracted him, but it was dc.
clded he would not quite do the
trick in between Gosiin and Rice.
Then he got on McNeeley's trail.
Recommending him to President
Griffith. Engel dug for Texas where
ne had another prospect in mind In
case the McNeeley deal fell through
Learning that McNeeley had been
bought Engel hurried from HouSton
Icxas, to st. Louis and accompa MED
the team here to be on hand when
the Californian reported. The bow
scout departed last night for parts
unknown. He will miss McNeeIev's
1lrst performance in a Washington
uniform. o va"
TWO games are booked with the
White Sox today and one tomorrow,
ending this second tour OF the
West. Johnson's complete game
Thursday means that Harris has
plenty of pitchers for these three
contests and he will use them all
II necessary to land the three vic.
tories.
Since leaving home the Griffs
have wone five victories and SUI.
rered nine defeats. Ordinarily this
would mean tumbling down the
ladder, but so tight Is this pennant
race that the team is today but
few steps out of first place. A
clean sweep here may shake up the
league standings again. Three times
since leaving home the Griffs have
heen within half game of first