Evening star., 1926-03-17

top, and Ossie Bluege. third base, CO
he order mentioned, Joe Harris, ;
lewcomer, McNitf.
The first three Second-stringerS
apab,e of stepping into the shoes O
ng. 1t now remains for McNltt to
:orner job should Bluege be forced {
10Y produce. Manager Harris certain
McNiff indulged in base ball
yesterday for the first time
his season. and. of course, he Will
rave to undergo a deal more OF
raining before Judgment may be
'assed upon him. But he joined the
with two points in his
avor-a good playing record and ex-
client physical condition.
This playing record was establish
4 in the Eastern Shore and Virginia
eaGues and on the Independent dia-
'onds OF Wilmington. Del, and the
ennsylvania coal region. Little is
card of the Wilmington sandlOts,
It the PENNSYLVANIA anthracite ter
tory is noted for its production Of
le ball players as we'll as the pre-
Gus fuel.
. This hard coal section has been
ndinG remarkable ball players 70
big leagues from the. early days
organized base ball to the present,
most famous of the current crop
ling Bucky Harris. boss of the
nerican League champions. Only
ayers of high class appear to be
lie to break into the independent
nks in the coal region. Those
>nnsylvania miners know the game
ID they want it we'll played when
ey are paying the freight.
Good enough to show his wares
fore such a critical lot Of fans,
cNiff perhaps is good enough to
a thorough trial with the Ma
mails. And as keenly as Manager
iris desires an understudy for
uege, 1t seems certain the former
al field player will get real
ance to make good. Should the
ungster succeed in making the
ade he will raise to four the total
graduates Of the Pennsylvania an
: racite region diamonds now with
Nationals. Those already firm
established are the Harris boys,
icky and Joe, and Stan Coveleskie.
That McNiff was able to participate
a workout somewhat strenuous for
i,e first of the season was due to his
II team. He played the court game
1 Winter, and was as At as the
overbial fiddle when he landed here
onday evening.
Legs in Condition Already.
He will need no conditioning to get
legs ready for the base ball grind,
t must wait a few days before he
n do much throwing. Basket ball
es not call upon the arm muscles
such an extent as base ball does.
| the pep drill, however, McNif ap-
ared to advantage, jumping about
d STOPPING easily to get the ground.
:. some Of which were not tapped
gently.
He took his turn with the recruits in
3 batting practice, and, considering
at it was the first time he had over
Dked any pitching since last sum
4r, his port-side pounding perform
,ce was impressive. Irving Hadiey
/ the serving to the rockies, and
adley was faster than in any pre-.
Gus workout on the hill. He heaVed
o fast ones and a sharp curve 70
'cNiff, and the new man met each
tch soIidly. Two of the smasnes
ere to left field and one to right.
at bunt and scurry 20 hrst base. lie
as not lacking in speed.
Nc\iff's progress will be watched
,selv bv Manager Harris. for the
tier is bent upon procuring some
le 20 be used at third base shouid
iueSe be incapacitated. Although
,od in their regular positions,
,ither Buddy Myer nor Stuffy Stew
+ has revealed any aI--ude as not
,rner guardian.
Bucky D(.lling at Third.
This lack of a we'll qualified substi-
no for Bluege has caused BOSS
l,cxv himself to do some practlclne
round third. If McNlff fails TO meas.
re M to the Job and no other third
acker is found, Bucky prooaoly
,o,,ld turn over his seCond-sackin8
ask to Stewart and assume the po-
ition at third should Replacement
{ the fashy young regular at the
AZ base be necessary.
Rucky intends to send McNl1 lilto
game within a short time. lie Is
nyious TO discover Just what the
athlete can do under nre.
he newcomer. however. is not apt
% break into the line up before the
after part of next week. In the mean
,hile Alfred Joseph will be carefully
roomed for his debut.
The regular National crew was 10
ackle the Buffalo 1nternationalS mere
oday and will be sent against the
,hillies at Plant Field tomorrow. II
a likely that a number OF second
tringers will get a crack at the III
ons. too. The tentative pitching pro
ram announced this morning Tor the
wo games calls for Kelley. Joyce and
Thomas TO face the Buffalo bunch,
nd Ferguson, Lyle and Hadley to DO
he hurting against the big leaguers.
Walter johnson will not be used IN
nv Of the games this week, although
fanaser Harris had intended to start
i'm. The smoke-ball veteran, while his
r-,n seems OF be in fine form, has
sked for a few more days In which to
id strength to his legs before he toes
he slab in a contest. Walter declares,
Iowever he will be quite ready to go
o the mound next week.
Young May Stay I'm Florida.
Herby Young. Washington boy who
ose from a batboy to clubhouse as
istant at Clark Griffith Stadium and
Tho was brought to training camp
his year for the first time. may re-
main In Florida to start the season
cfth a State league team. Several
'lorida clubs think we'll of Herby as
prospective infinlder and would sign
i'm. He now is trying to decide
vhethnr to accept a contract with
'ampa or Sarasota.
Warmer weather than had prevailed
{ camp this season greeted the atb-
stes when they trotted onto Plant
Held yesterday. and they indulged in
three hour drill. the longest Of the
urrent conditioning period. Golf and
shing parties were organized in the
.fternoon. The anglers had little luck,
,or did Sam Rice and Walter johnson,
vho essayed to take the measure of