Evening star., 1927-03-29
VET TO BOLSTER CORPS;
BOB McCANN is RELEASED
Harris Will Precede His Teammates Home to Have
Injured Finger Treated-Myer, Reeves and
Cullop on Sick List-Play Tie With Robins.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

~ BY JOHN B. KELLER.
"AMPA, Fla. March 29.-George
Michael O'Neil was grabbed
from the Brooklyn Club, at a
i price not revealed by Clark
Griffith, because Manager Stan
ley Harris believed his Nationals
sorely needed another catcher with
= considerable experience in base bal!
of major circuit caliber.
And Mickey O'Neil. to use the moni-
ker by which he generally is known
in the game, is expected to add much
to the strength of the clubs receiving
department after he reports today.
He has been through the mill in the
big show, and close followers of the
National League, in which he has spent
most of his base ball career, assert
he knows his stuff
Although under 80 years of age,
( Mickey has been around base ball
I quite a while. Born in st. Louis on
April IL, 1898, Mickey Is years later
attained prominence in the diamond
= game, as a catcher in the Trolley
League, a semi.professional organiza-
ton. He was winning his spurs just
about the same time as Muddy Ruel,
his fellow townsman, who for several
seasons has been premier receiver of
the Nationals.
Got First Job i'm 1917.
In 1917 O'Neil became a member
of the Alton Club, in the Three Eye
League, but that circuit blew up In
short order and he was signed by
McAllister of the Western Association.
He remained with that club until
early in 1918, when it, too, faded out
&c kae H,.,l1 NJ
had caught we'll enough to attract
the attention of major league scouts
and about midseason the Giants took
him on, only to farm him to Nashville
of the Southern Association.
The Dixie circuit ended its season
early-1918 was a tough year for the
minors, for nearly everyone was in
terested in a bigger business being
conducted on the other side of the
Atlantic-so Mickey drifted to the
International League, where he played
with Toronto and Rochester before
being recalled by the Giants.
The following winter he went to
the Braves in big trade, but short
) ly after the start of the 1919 cam.
: paign back to Rochester he travelled.
] He did so well in the International
League, though, that he was with
the Braves again in 1920 and he re-
manned with them until after the sea-
son of 1925 when he went to the Dodg
ers in a trade along with Gus Felix
and Jess Barnes.
O'Neil never has been any great
, batter. His average for his eight years
in the. National League reads .241.
But he always has been reckoned a
fine receiver, strong thrower and a
catcher with a keen sense of his po-
sit h. IL L.
been a peppery player with a great
team spirit and that means much to
q club.
Acquisition Pleases Harris.
No one is more pleased by the
clubs acquisition of O'Neil than Har-
ris. 81 had wired President Griffith
from st. Augustine that our young
catchers We're none too strong and
that the staff needed boistering," said
the pilot this morning land request
ed that he get a receiver as soon as
possible. Now, with O'Nei1 at hand.
believe we are as well fortified be-
hind the bat as any other club in the
American League. / have great con-
fdence in his ability to handle pitch.
ers and look for him to share with
Ruel the clubs catching this year.
The purchase of O'Neil probably
means that one of the younger catch
ers will be sent to the minors and in
all likelihood it will be John Berger.
For time, Berger performed Inn
pressiyely and it was thought he
would get the call ahead of Benny
Tate. who has been with the Nation.
ais several seasons. But recently. Ber-
gers work behind the bat has fallen
off and his hitting has dwindled to
-. IT, -.
been quite reliable at bat and In his
recent games somewhat better than
Berger as a receiver, so he seems due
to be~retained.
Berger may be sent from the club
before it gets to Washington next
week.
McCann lis Sent Back.
McCann, infielder, bought from the
Columbus Club last Winter, was re.
turned to that outfit today, although
there is a slight possibility that he
may hook up with some other major
league club. The time limit for claim
ing Emmett by waiver expired last
night and as President Griffith has
heard nothing from either of the big
time circuits he let the infielder go.
Should a letter mailed before last mid
night, calling for McCann be received.
however, he would have to be given
up by Columbus.
For time, Manager Harris thought
of making McCann a substitute first
sacker and only recently announced
that he would be first choice for sub
stitute second baseman with the Ma
tionals. He was not particularly inn
pressive in his trials last week, how
ever, and the pilot decided Emmett
was not ready for major league job.
With McCann gone, Reeves, despite
his sore finger, will have to fill In
ct third base temporarily, unless Myer
can get back on the job ~
Mangum and Ogden to Go.
Two more of the flock OF pitchers
here are to leave the Nationals to-
morrow for minor league berths. Leo
Mangum. who came to the club with
Hollis Thurston from the White Sox
in exchange for Roger Peckinpaugh,
and Warren Ogden. who twice was
shifted to the Southern Association
after the Nationals got him by waiver
from the Athletics i'm 1924, have been
sold TO the Buffalo club of the Inter.
national League. They will join their
new outfit when it passes through
here from the training camp at Pal
metto. Both leave with no strings
attached.
Harris Starts Home Saturday.
Harris, by the way, will not accom-.
pany the Nationals on their North.
ward transforming tour with the
Giants, but will leave here Saturday
Tor Washington. He will have his in.
Jured finger treated there and ex.
poets to be ready to step intoahe ex.
hlbitions with the New Workers. i'm
Clark Griffith Stadium Thursday and
Friday of next week.
The injured and aiIing list of the
Nationals grows daily. Buddy Myer
now Is a sick man, having developed
temperature that kept him in bed
all 0f vaSfard0u Ira ..an.,