Evening star., 1926-03-27

limb in weakened condition, now is a
available for short-fcld service at any
Manager Bucky Harris is more than
pleased that the young ShortStop has
rounded into fine form as a result OF
the careful miniStrationS of Trainer
Mike Martin, for Myer has been sock
ing the ball SaVagely in the exhibition
games, and he promises TO be very
shifty man on the paths, now that the
strength has been SeStored to his leg.
Myers batting record for the IL eN-
hibition games i'll which he has par
ticipated this Spring is most impress,
siye. He has been at bat Al times, and
slammed safely Is times for an aver
age of .566.
Not all of Buddy's bingles have been
singles. In one game he Wllloped
two-bagger that drove home two runs
and in another a triple by him ac,
counted for d brace of markers. All
told, Myer has driven 8 tallies over In
his IS enga agements.
Takes Healthy Cut.
lie has scored five times himself
and has worked opposing pitchers for
five free passes to first. He also has
to his credit d sacrifice fly. Myer Is q
short, but husky boy, who takes a
good, healthy cut at the ball. When
he meets it--and he does so frequently
it tayels with plenty of speed. lie
is the best looking young hitter TO
come to the Nationals in some sea
sons.
Myers base bali development has
been remarkably rapid. He is just q
bit more than % years old, having
been born at Ellisville, Miss, March
l6, 1904. Buddy still calls that town
home. From the time he started seek
ing an education in the elementary
schools he played base ball at every
opportunity. But it was not until ne
entered the high school IN his home
town that he began acquiring the IN
side" of the game
lie always had played some ln1eld
position as youngster, but when he
got into high school he decided that
shortstop was his natural place and
set about to make the position. so
good was he that he filled the job be-
tween the second and third sacks dur
ing his four years as an upper Scho-
lastic, playing basket ball during the
Winter to keep himself fit for the dia-
mond in the Spring.
In September, 1921, Myer moved on
TO the Mississippi Agricultural and
Mechanical College, at Starkville, and,
after another Winter of basket ball,
went out for the nine. He made 1t in
a jiffy, and continued to hold the job
at shortstop until he left last Spring
to visit the Indians camp at Lakeland,
Fla Buddy was such a brilliant
player during his college career that
each year of the three he was on the
team he was named all-Southern col
lege shortstop by newspaper critics of
the section.
With Indians Six Weeks.
When Myer left college to Join the
Indians he had no contract with them.
But a Cleveland scout had seen Buddy
in action on the college diamond a
couple of years before, and, upon in
vitation, he spent six weeks with the
Tribe during the Summer of 1928. All
he did then was watch the big
leaguers work and endeavor to add to
his knowledge Of the pastime. Before
leaving he promised to see them later.
The Indians offered to sign Buddy
last Spring if he would agree to
being farmed to a team in Texas,
but the young fellow did not care
for that arrangement. So he Spurned
The contract and looked around the
Southern Association for chance.
shortly before the Dixie season
opened he joined the Pelicans at New
Orleans. They had a man they
thought could play shortstop, but
Buddy ousted him before the cam
paign was two weeks old.
Then he began his brilliant fielding
and hitting that attracted so many
big league scouts, but Joe Engel of
the Nationals was on the job and
landed the promising youngster While
the other boys still were looking him
over.
Last July, while with the Pelicans,
Mver did some fielding that set
if not for all leagues. In IA game
against Little Rock he accepted Is
chances. 9 of them assists. In this
busy afternoon he participated IN
double plays. That's plenty Tor
shortfielder in one contest.
Going Back to School.
After this Years base ball cam
naign is ended Buddy intends TO re-
turn 10 college for half-semester
work to get his 3. S. in business
and industry, the commercial course
offered ut Starkville. But before ne
returns 10 his books Washington
FANS are apt to see some tashy play
ing by the young Mississlpplan. lie
is an entirely different Myer from
The one who substituted Tor oSSle
Pluege in a few world series games
last Fall. Then Buddy stlii 1elI llle
effects of the infection IN ms kllee'
Now 1t is sound and fit as hudie.
sbana ranidlv, Myer is apt to get
tnfn a number of exhibition games
IN on the northward trip for a few IN.
,ires at a time. But Peck VIII get
+1rsf call. for Harris feels that ne
,rl must have experience as well as a6il,
itv in his lineup. at least during tne ,e
early part of the flag race, when hen,dtecs ne Is
bent upon batting off the AthleuSs, Loo
A red-hot game was expected here
today when Nationals and GlaIts
met for the second time TINS seasoi. se
Both teams are looking for DALI -.
roval on the wav nome anu ea.H
aogar 10 begin the trip with an al
r.a1taae. TO gain one, the Nationals
...e,,1a hive to win today and IN the