Evening star., 1925-02-18


that deal of oratory will be indu
of Walter Ruether" is imposed in
of a flduciary instrument.
The performances of Zachary and
Mogridge in the world series left no
doubt as to the necessity of having
them on hand If the Griffs are to start
the coming season as well fortified
in the box as they were during the
epoch making campaign of 1924. One
of them. Zach, is scheduled to check
in at Tampa tomorrow to begin train
ing activities, although his fellow
portsider is not due there till the first
of March.
Two Newcomers in Line.
OF the four performers whose ac-
quisition was regarded as having add
ed undisputed strength to the Ma
tionals in their effort to repeat as nag
winners. only Pitcher Stanley Cove
ieskie and Utility Infielder Mike Nc
Nally are assured factors thus far
Both Of them, duly signed, are men,
bers of the squad Pilot Harris is di-
recting in preliminary training here.
AS has already been recorded in
these dispatches, it may be consider
ed extremely doubtful whether Gregg
ever joints the Washington club, as
the dope indicates he will remain the
property of Seattle under an arrange
ment mutually satisfactory to the an
cient southpaw and the Pacific Coast
League team.
Like McNally, Coveleskie, Goslin,
Judge and Marberry, Reuther also is
taking orders from Harris here, but
he is not yet actually on the roster
of the world champions, and judged
by information from an unofficial but
authoritative source, considerable diff
hculty will be encountered before he
is made eligible for service in cham
pionship games.
Harris Not Worried.
Ruether himself, while admitting
he has not signed, simply asserts that
he expects to after he has had an op-
portunity to confer with Griff at
Tampa. In only rare instances are
Washington players given permission
to report for Spring training before
they have accepted terms, and the fact
that an exception to this rule was
made by Griff in the case of Ruether
proves the prexy shares with Harris
the belief that the National League
graduate will prove a valuable addi-
ton to the club'c curving corps.
Harris apparently is not at all con-
cerned over. the possibility that any
trouble may be experienced in getting
Ruether into line, but he is outspoken
in his opinion that the former star of
the Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn
Dodgers is potential tower of
strength for his box department.
Ruether Like Rookie.
"Ruethe, reminds me for all the
world Of youngster just starting
out on MIS- base ball career" said
hod
talk with him and he is as enthusi-
astic over his shift to Washington as
a rookie coming to the big leagues
for the first time. For some reason
or other he was not satisfied with his
berth at Brooklyn, and you know
disgruntled player never is able to
show to the best advantage.
1T is assured he will not be labor
ing Under any such handicap with US.
Yes, he had trouble with his arm last
year, but 1 do not feel any appre-
hensfbn on that score. His wing
rounded into shape near the close of
the campaign, but he says he was
denied the opportunity of working,
although he turned in real classy
exhibition in the one September game
he was permitted to start.
The general impression seems to
be that experiencing trouble with
IA
career for any pitcher who has
passed the 30-year mark, such as Rue
ther, but this is far from being the
truth. How many pitchers OF estao-
lished ability can you recall whose
big league activities have been ter
minated by a sore arm?
There have been sveral instances
Of wings going lame right on our
own base ball club within my recol-
iol,
didn't mean anything. Some four
or FIVE years ago Johnson had mys-
terious arm ailment never definitely
diagnosed, which it was freely con-
tended meant that he was through,
but he came back practically as
strong as ever. and last year led all
tho league hurlers, and was voted the
most valuable player in the circuit,
while pitching the Nationals to the
only pennant a Washington club ever
won.
Zachary and Mogridge, to mention
a couple of other veterans. also have
had serious trouble with their wings
in the last couple of years, but fully
recovered and are being looked to for
work as regulars this season.
Says Arn is o. X.
'There is no evidence of trouble with
dulge in daily during our hikes over
the hills, although mere lobbing Is
no test, of course. He says it feels
strong and that he is looking forward
to having a fine season. From what
I know and have seen of him, I be-
lieye his optimism Is fully justified,
and l will be surprised as well as dis
appointed II he doesn't prove an add
ed asset to the club
Fred Marberry today Is recovering
from nasty spill he took while on
the trail with his teammates yester-
day. He had covered several miles of
tough going, when challenged to
sprint. Fred gayly essayed it, but
when he sought to check his pace,
found he had lost control of his
wobbly pins, and took a header. The
mastodonic moundsman plowed up
several yards Of mountain path, with
resultant numerous scratches and
bruises.
A physician determined that one
badly skinned hand was his most Sc
rious injury, and this will not inter-
fere with his daily routine, except
that he will have to eliminate tossing
from the program for a day or two.
Fritz has been taking off a pound a
day, and now hasn't very far to go to