The Washington times., 1925-03-28
SET
DODGERS
ON TOES
Zach Wheat Tells Babe Ruth
of Squirt Which Put
Brooklyn Near Top
By BABE RUTH.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. March
2e.-Zach Wheat and I got to
talking baseball in the lobby of
our hotel here this morning. After
we had famed about everything
else the talk shifted to our own
teams. I asked him to give me
the real reason for Brooklyn's fine
squirt at the end Of last season.
He didn't hesitate a second. He
nodded toward a bunch of men
who were standing little ways
off, including WiIbert Robinson,
or "Uncle Robbie" as everybody
knows him.
There is the real reason" said
Zach. "Dazzy helped. Grimes helped.
There were many reasons for our
finishing second to the Giants. But
the real reason was Wilbert Robin
son.
Zach isn't much on talking. But
this time hit on a subject he
liked to talk about. let him do
Sure we played ball. I've been
around for some time, and I've
never seen a team fight 50 hard.
But who wouldn't play for a guy
like that?
I'VE fought like bIazes last
year and almost put il over. And
remember one thing, Babe. we are
going to fight some more this
year. There viii be q lot Of fun
before it's al over. We've got to
give Robbie q pennant for the bat
lie he put up against the Giants
I'm September and AGAINST pleu-
risy In the winter"
And that's the spirit that rules
the Dodgers camp. The Dodgers
captain wasn't speaking just for
himself. He was speaking for the
whole team. Not q manager in
either league-in the whole country
-is loved more by members Of his
own team ard by everybody any
more than Robbie. In that way he's
a lot like poor old Pat Moran.
He sure threw scare into all OF
US last winter. The reports from
his sick room in Baltimore were
dark. But somehow / felt all along
thai he would come through. You
can't put down man Of his make
up very easily. He's fat and good
natured but he's a fighter.
We've hooked up here and both
teams, the Yankees and Dodgers,
will make the trip north together
again. From what I've seen of them
80 far, the Dodgers are stronger
this year than they've been since
1920 when they won the pennant.
Vance and Grimes and hitters like
Wheat, Fourier, Jimmy Johnston,
and Brown has a chance to put up
several young pitchers who might
also make some trouble for National
League batters. RUDE Ehrhardt is
q little slow rounding into shape,
but Robbie is not discouraged about
him. Jimmy Roberts is another
promising young pitcher. 1 haven't
seen him. but Zach Wheat tells me
that he is the goods.
eff I get any kind of a decent
break" Robbie told . New York
sport writer, 81 expect to have
nice infield this year. / had q
lot of hard luck last year. Jimmy
Johnston got hurt and had to
stay out OF the game a good deal
Of the season. IL hurts to have
fine hitter like that on the sick
list"
The chances are that Andy High,
Johnnie Mitchell, Johnston, and
Fourier will start the season in
the infield. High had a fine sea-
son last year, the best he ever had.
T. he repeats and Johnnie Mitchell
measures up 1t will be a, nice in
field. The outfield will remain as
1t was.
Less than two weeks now and
we get back home ready to start
the season. This Brooklyn series
Is no joy ride. But think it will
help to put US into shape for the
real grind. Anyway, we are all
dead anxious to pry the lid off the
regular season the second Tuesday
in April
Copyright, 1925, by the Christy
Walsh Syndicate