Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-02
BIZ DENMAN THOMPSON,

TAMPA. Fla, March 2.-Witf
Tristan Speaker on deck
along with Catcher Muddy Rue
Il and Infielder Stuffy Stewart
the squad Of Nationals in train
ting for the 1927 championship season
OF the American League today was
complete with the lone exception
Of Pitcher Joe Carroll, the tonsil pa
tent, whose status as Griffman has
Just about resolved itself into being
non-existent.
with his wife after q train ride OF
nearly 48 hours from his home State
Of Texas. Met at the station by a
reception committee consisting of
President Clark Griffith and Manager
Bucky Harris, he posed with these
WORTHLESS for the inevitable photo
graphers and then was whisked to the
hotel which will be his headquarters
for the next month while prepping
for the base ball campaign ahead.
Although close TO 40 and with a
thinning thatch Of hue that has
caused him to be termed the gray
eagle Of the diamond" Speaker has
the clear eye and rudy cheek Of an
athlete in superb physical condition,
and a glance at his powerful frame
makes understandable the fact that
he has been a big league star for the
better part OF two decades since he
broke in with the Boston Red Sox.
Ready to Start Work.
Gone are the facial lines and other
marks OF worry which developed as a
result Of the unsubstantiated charges
Of Irregularities made against him, Ty
Cobb and Joe Wood, during the past
fnAA k>,Rn Aol, n.6 nA to- hot.
place Is the keen, but kindly express
ing all the time he was making history
along with Duffy Lewis and Harry
Hooper at Boston as the keystone
figure Of what probably was the great
est outfield the game ever produced
and later as chief Of Cleveland's Red
skins.
Due to mental stress occasioned by
the trials and tribulations attendant
upon the accusations hurled following
the close Of last season. Speaker was
considerably underweight when the
day of his complete vindication came
with the now famous decision Of Com.
missioner Lands, but after several
weeks OF rest at the home of his
mother In Hubbard. Tex, he has pick
ed up Just enough poundage in excess
OF his best playing figure to allow for
the reduction that training viii entail.
Spoke has little to say about the
eventualities of the past Winter, the
only time in his SO years OF age that
his integrity ever has been questioned.
hut philosophically has concluded that
perhaps Il was all for the best.
-"I never would have realized other.
wise Just how many friends have"
he observed today.
Glad He Picked Grfffs.
II got a lot of comfort out Of the
food OF messages ] received voicing
confidence in me when that bombshell
first was exploded, and when I lined
up with Clark Griffith the kilograms
and letters Of congratulations which
poured In made 1t apparent had made
no mistake In picking my club"
iris took occasion to deny that he
had 5ockeyed around to get several
clubs to bid for his services and there.
by boost his price and also denied
that his conferences with Managers
Connie Mack Of the Athletics and
Miller Higgins Of the Yankees were
merely meaningless gestures because
he already was bound to the Nationals.
''I simply had assured Griff that I
wouldn't close with anybody until I
had given him a chance" Speaker
said.
when we had our decisive talk on
the phone he declined to make any
offer. but insisted that I name my
terms and when I did he accepted
them instantly. That's all there was
to II.
"It's unnecessary for me to say
that I'm glad to be associated with
Griff and Harris and to play in Wash
treated me fine. I intend to prove
my appreciation for their support and
friendship by giving everything there
1s In me out there on the field and
fully expect to have the very best
season of my career.