Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22


to the athletes.
1t was an augmented squad WhlC
the dozen already listed having bee
makeshift teams could be put on tn
them on.
But there is no such thing ye1
available and for at least week
longer the performers Will have TO
do their drilling on the race track
in front of the grandstand, the trainer
of the champions having set next
Monday as the earliest date on which
the new diamond he is constructing
cnn be used.
Most notable of the new arrivals is
Walter Perry Johnson, at the age OF
81 still one of the greatest pitchers
in the game and except for L. Kay
rnond Cobb, the dean of all American
League players. Although Barney
now is entering upon his twentieth
season as a national and this Spring
training is an old, old story with him,
he says he still feels a glow of an
ticipation as the time approaches for
another campaign and feels confident
he will be able to carry on and DO
his share toward landing third
straight pennant for the Griffmen.
johnson in Fine Fettle.
Johnson has spent the Winter at
DaElOnd, WHERE lie NdS toiiiiCSlCu
with a real estate development, and
asserts he is feeling fine as a result of
much time spent out of doors. AL
though there has been no base ball OF
any sort on the program, he has done
considerable hunting in the last few
weeks and declares he seldom has
been in better health at reporting
time He came on by himself, but
plans to send for his family after he
hing that
is not as easy to do in Tampa as II
used to be.
Next in Importance to Walter among
the arrivals of yesterday is Alex
Ferguson, the former Red Sox and
Yankee, who was obtained in the thick
OF the flag scrap last season and who
is looked to for ffrst-string service
throughout the coming campaign.
Ferguson has spent the off season at
his home in Bloomfield, N. j., and
while a bit pale in appearance, is
otherwise apparently in good trim.
He was signed Immediately by
Harris for service on the volley ball
team that Bucky bosses in the daily
drills, the manager magma nimously
permitting Al Schacht, who leads the
opposing outfit, to have Johnson.
Casual inquiries disclosed that Fer
guson is a veteran basket ball per-
former, a fact of which Harris was
we'll aware. This probably means
that the substantial lead in the net
game series already attained by STAINS
gang will be still further increased.
Another of those to check in yester-
day was Herbie Young, the Washing
ton lad who has been familiar figure
at the Georgia avenue stadium for
the past two or three seasons since
he first established an official connec-
ton with the club as bat boy. Young
old hoe, oil hn
actions Of a real ball player, and his
boosters are confident he will make a
name for himself on the diamond
some time.
On just what job he will concentrate
has not been decided, however. He
has shown to fine advantage with the
''2 o'clock intield' at home, but it is
believed that he will accomplish more
If he specializes in pitching.
Hadley Gets Trial.
The only stranger to Washington
fans in the new group is a young
man OF pitching propensities who was
christened Irving Hadlcy when he
was born at Lynn, Mass. 81 years
ago. Iiadley was recommended to
President Griffith by Jack Chesbro,
the famous old pitcher of the High
landers, as the New York Club was
known when the American League
first invaded Gotham back in 1908,
and who acted as coach of pitchers
for the Nationals year before last.
Hadley attracted some attention by
his work as a schoolboy with the
Mercersburg Academy team, and last
wear was a member of the freshman
nine at Brown University. For the
past couple of years he has played
with the twilight leaguerS in and
around Boston and made quite rep
utation. Hadley is a Highlander,
feet 101a inches in height and almost
as broad as he is tall. He admits to
weighing 1913 pounds, and has been
added to the reducing squad, which
has Curley Ogden, Larry Schacht
and Fred Marberry as its most prom
inent members.
This was the last day of grace for
Walter Ruether. who must either
come to terms with the Nationals to-
day or be officially listed as a hold
out Ruether was in Tampa Satur-
day, but apparently made no effort
to get in touch with Griffith. At last
accounts Ruether and the boss were
no nearer an agreement than they
ever have been.
MAY Not Use Ruether.
Little likelihood exists that Ruether
will figure in any kind of a trade.
for while none of the American
League clubs seem wiling 10 get MIN
out of the circuit there are good rea-
sons for believing that he will not be
on the roster of the Nationals this
season. If he is, but delays beyond
today in reporting, it will be at terms
less attractive than those originally
offered him.
Golf still is claiming a great share
of the attention of President Griffith,
who journeyed over to st. Petersburg
yesterday to see the Bobby Jones
Tommy Armour team take the Walter
Hagen-Bill Nicholas combination into
camp. Today Griff is at Lakeland
the training camp of the Cleveland
Indians, where he will team with
Johnny Farrell in the pro-amateur
event being staged there.
Buddy Myer reported at the train.
ing camp this morning. He arrived
from his home in Ellisville, Miss, at
an early hour and lost no time in get
ting to Plant Field with the remainder
of the Nationals. The youthful in
fielder apparently wintered well, for
he looks in fine physical condition.