New Britain herald., 1926-03-27
(BY BILLY EVANS)

Ft, Myers, Fla, March 37.-Ihc Philadelphia Athletics lost the American league pennant last season because they faltctrcd in the stretch due 10 lack Of poisc. , The Athletics comprise great ball club. Any team that beats the Mackmcn out this year is going to be mighty close to the top. As l watched the Athletics pre-. pare for the coming grind that ! Connie Mack hopes will bring him his ilrs. penrant since 1910, the actions Of one athlete stood out He struck nr as the most valuable ad- ! dition of the winter to the Athletics. 1 I have in mind that youthful rookie, William Kid" Gleason, age e. as spry as any man on the field and, as Al Simmons remarked 10 mo:
 "FIe can trim anybody on the ball club Al had reference to physical proWesS,
 "kid's" Work Already Apparent I look for Kid" Glcasonito work a marvellous change for the better in the morale of the Athletics. As 3 matter ot fact, it is already appar- tnt.
 Gleason Is one Of basehalIs mos; colorful characters. H" under stands men He caters to a players disposition and temperament. He gets the most out of him. Kid" Gleason is making the 1 Machmtn believe in their greatness. On each individual he is imprcssing the fact that there isn't better ball club in the laagne than the As, Likewise, he is strt ssing the impor- tanco of the work of each player in bringing about q desired rcsult-the winning of the pcnnant,
 Any ball player who has ever worked under "kid' Gleason is strong for him. The Kid" has no greater admirer than Eddie Collins, who played under him as White Sox---Was his captain.
 Gleason will work wonders with the Athletics" remarked Collins to me when I looked over his team at Shreveport. Gleason is the great est singieinfluencc Tor good l ever saw on any ball club. He inspires you"
 With Connie Mack supplying the strategy and "Kid' C;lraSon the in- spiration, the Athletics have just about the best combination possible in baseball.
 Has world of Stufr
 In tho ranks Of the Athletics is q . pitcher who, aside from Gleason, , just about holds tho destiny of the , club in his hands. I am speaking Of Lefty" Groves. , If Lefty Groves can win % ball , games the Athletics will be tough 10 beat. If he can turn in 25 vic B tories the team will be all inc
 tougher.
 E l watched Groves pitch five in, , ninFs against the Philadelphia Na, , tionals at Bradentown. l. was tn, g moet impressive spring pitching
 have seen.
 Groves retired nine of tho l5 bat
 tcrs on strikes. It seemed as l. . he had two strikes on every mar
 that faced him. He allowed onl, , four hits.
 n No pitcher in the n7arors has nor' , stGff than Groves. Lack Of contro las been fatal
 
 Lefty" Groves are tho high sro's il
 the Athletics. Gleason will suppl, the team with much-naeded poise = Can Groves give it the added puncl 1 that may mean pennant? 70 All simmons is all set on sddinJ ,I 'o his laurcls this year by leadinl N tho American league in batting. De
 spite his freak stance at th d rla'e, Simmons is one of the grea,cs !. hitters in the game, n Lefty" Groves has developed slow ball. This should greatly in
 crease his effectiveness if he ca IS control it, Failure 10 control speed ie curves or a slow one has been hi e only drawback.
 'f Max Bishop is l5 pounds heavic n than at any time last season, whe
 he suffered much as a result Of poo
 health. He feels that his game wi
 bo much more efficient as a resul @ Of his far better physical condition Q. One Of inc daily tasks Of Slim 't Harriss is 70 spend about 30 minute T fieliing hunts and slow-hit balls