The Washington times., 1926-02-15
BIC RAIN
To REPORT
HEAL. THY

TAMPA, Fla, Feb. 15.-Despite
previous rumors Walter Johnson,
Washington's grand old man Of
the mound has not yet appeared
here to begin training for the
coming season. Indeed, he is not
likely to reach this city for ten
DAYS or so. He had found it inn
possible to clean up his business
at Daytona Beach, where he has
been selling real estate since the
close of the 1925 campaign.
However, President Clark Griffith
Is satisfied. He doesn't care to
have johnson training too early.
Walter isn't one of these kids
who loaf and eat all winter. ex.
planned the ancient Washington
magnate. ssFIe takes the best care
of himself all the year around and,
when he shows up here, he'll be
In perfect health. Just right 10
begin training Ny worries would
amount to nothing III all my play.
ers took as good care of themselves
as Walter does.
Right now President Griffith is
worrying over the silence OF his
veteran southpaw pitcher, Dutch
Ruether, who is selling real estate
down at Sarasota. Ruether visited
Washington this winter. told his
boss he didn't like the salary terms
IA the contract Offered him and |
returned to Sarasota. Since then
nothing has been heard Of him.
81 don't rate RuetEer = hold
cut, explained President Griffith
today. He isn't due to report
here for q week yet. ThereIl be |
plenty Of time to talk Of his hold
ing out when his reporting date
comes along and he isn't here.
II don't know what Ruether will |
DO. / hope he acts sensibly and
decides to come IN out of the wet.
This real estate business may be |
All right for BAH players in the |
winter but in the simmer they |
ought to be playing ball.
.Ruether pitched good bali for |
eur club last season and ought to |
have at least another good year /
ahead OF him. know Stanley Har-
rfs is counting on having him and |
4 believe Ruether win eventually |
fall into line.
Trainer Mike Martin had 4 busy
morning today, sorting the uniforms |
and finding approximately proper !
sizes for the handful of athletes |
now in camp. In addition to that |
Martin was acting as foreman Of . /
gang of darkhued workmen who |
were trying to fill in the holes in |
the ground where the diamond Is |
supposed to be. In addition to that /
Martin was supervising the choice |
of grass seed to be spread upon
the diamond. In addition to that
Martin was keeping a weather eye !
upon his ambitious youngsters,
warning them against OVERRIDING |
things the first day. In addition to /
that Martin was talking about his |
IMMINENT business. In addition to /
that Martin was discussing golf |
with Uncle Nick Altrock. In addi |
ton to that Martin was comforting
with Manager Harris on the pro
gram to be followed here. Martin !
admitted this was his busy day.
Only the lightest work was
scheduled for the players here
today. The pepper game" In
which one man knocks hunts TO
half . dozen, got into action
rapidly, putting them all i'm q
fine perspiratiOn. This Is a pOpu-
lar sport at all training camps.
The medicine ball was used. es-
pecially by the fat boys like
Curly Ogden, Uncle Nick Altrock
and Benny Tate, the pudgy catcher.
When really warmed up the
pitchers tossed few easy ones to
Benny Tate. Trainer Martin seeing
that no speed was used. That was
followed by a slow jog around the
haf-Tnile track and the days work
was done.
For the remainder of the week,
according to Trainer Martin. the
players will be held In check lest
sore arms develop. Each and every
one will get all the exercise he can
stand, but there will be no real
baseball. That will come later
when Trainer Martins diamond IL
smoother and some infieIders show
mp.