Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-26
CUBAN, HIRED AS EXTRA,
SHOWS CLASS In ACTION
Crif Board of Strategy Admires Performance of
17-Year-Old Receiver, Who Is Helping to
Condition Recruit Pitchers.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

Sports Editc
TAMPA, Fla, February 2o.--This
training with Harris rookie ba
that it is not beyond the realm
roster of the Champions.
Lopez, who last season was one
team of the Florida State League, {
for the purpose OF assisting Benny
recruit fingers in preliminary practi
vantage that the club officials serious
As a result of observing him in
Field, President Griffith, Manager Ha
their praise Of his appearance. And {
hcations OF a bail player it must be &C
According to Martin, who dug him
up, Lopez is a mere youth, Mike plac-
ing his age at II. He is we'll set-up
youngster, strong as a bull, and IN
the opinion of the trainer, who is en-
titled to the rating of an expert in
such matters, Will be Il whoopinS big
chap when he attains his full growth.
Youngster Shows Class.
What first attracted the attention
Of the club leaders to lopez was his
manner Of receiving, the technique he
possesses being of the type that would
do credit to a seasoned mlttman
rather than a lad of high school age.
He has what is known in the par
lance of the sport as good action
but it was not until he started heaving
the pill around that the realization
of his possibilities dawned on the
strategical board.
Lopez has an arm Of steel and the
way he can shoot the ball at distances
a catcher has to use has been a reve.
VI (t,.,E
we'll fixed In the matter of throwing
catchers. Neither Ruel nor SEVERED
Is a strong thrower, and Tate. who
boasts the best whip Of the trio. has
no exceptional arm. Backstops who
can line a ball to any base with no
loss Of time and get 1t there so 1t
can be handled easily by the player
on the receiving end are far from
numerous, even in the big leagues,
and the Washington management evil
IDENTIFY figures 1t would be overlooking
a bet if 1t passed up a receiver OF the
promise of Lopez, who seemingly
needs but year or two of seasoning
to get in line for a regular berth back
Of the bat.
Being the property of the Tampa
team it would be necessary for the
Washington club to effect some kind
of a deal with the Smokers in order
to acquire Lopez, but as these teams
in the tall grass circuits always are
in need Of talent and the Nationals
will have several athletes to place
when the training season ends. there
should be little difficulty on that score.
Cubans Star in Game.
Lopez has had considerable school
Ink and speaks English quite fluently.
If he catches on with the Grifrs and
makes the grade he will be numbered
with small but select list of his
countrymen who have succeeded IN
the majors. 1t was Clark Griffith
himself who, as boss of the Cincinnati
Reds nearly two decades ago, brought
out the pioneer Of the Cubans to
reach stardom In base ball. His pro-
tege being Armando Marsans, for
years one of the first rank outtielders
of the National League. Marsans
came up with Alameda, a third base
man, but the latter lasted only one
season.
Baldomero AcoSta was the first OF
these swarthy skinned athletes to
wear a Washington uniform. Griff
unearthed the little outfielder shortly
after he assumed the reins in the Capt.
tai. Merito failed to last long in the
big show before drifting to the Ameri-
can Association, where he found his
level
Griff later picked up Catcher Ri
cardo Torres and Outfielder Jack
Calvo, neither of whom fingered long,
however.
Miguel Gonzales, now close to 40
years Of age, at last accounts still was
doing duty in the big show as a mem
Der of the Chicago Cubs after a check
cred career that included high-class
service as catcher with, first, the Bos-
ton Braves, then the Cincinnati Reds,
st. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants
and the Cardinals again. following a
term with st. Paul in the American
Association in % and %. In Adolfo
Luque the Reds now have a native
of Havana who is rated as one of
the most effective hurlers in the Ma
tional League at the age Of So, de
spite the fact that he started playing
professional ball Is years ago.
How Lopez shapes up as a hitter
cannot be determined for some time
yet, as batting practice will not be
started before next week, but he has
displayed enough in other departments
to make his swatting ability a second
airy consideration. In view of his ex-
IRENE youth, 1t may be several sea-
sons before Lopez is ready for serv-
Ice in the main tent, but the Wash
lngton officials are unanimous in pre-
dieting bright future for him.
The arrival yesterday of Hank SIEVE
reid has served considerably to relieve
the situation in regard to warming
up partners for the fingers in camp
here. burden which up to date has
been borne entirely by Tate and
Lopez. Severeid's midweek arrival
Is accounted for by the fact that there
was a misunderstanding in regard to
his reporting time. He originally was
scheduled to check in with the main
squad next week, but subsequently
was notified to report last Sunday and
was delayed several days at his home
IN Story City, Iowa, getting his at
eairs in shape.
Although well along in years, the
record book showing him to he IS,
SEVERED always has taken good care
Of himself. and his appearance cor
roborates his assertion that he is feel
ing fit. With Ruel slated to bear a
major portion of the work back of the
pa again this year and Tate desig-
mated as Muddy's chief assistant, it
Is unlikely SEVERED will be called on
Tor much backstopping, except in case
Of accident to one Of the others, but
he figures to make frequent appear
ances in the role Of pinch hitter, and
if his 1926 average of. 1861 indicates
anything, he should deliver the goods
handsomely in this capacity.