The Washington times., 1928-02-14
TATE HERE
TO START
SOUTH
BY Louis A. Dougher

Benny Tate, understudy to thai
rsdoubtable backstopping machine
Hsrold Muddy Ruel (yes, that's
right-Herold, not Harold, Is due
here today or tomorrow after motor
ing across lots from his home in
West Frankfort, Ill. He Will heir
swell the first party of GTiffmen
leaving for Tampa, Saturday after
noon. But his name does not ap
pear vet on the list OF those having
signed their 1928 contracts.
Tate is an ambitious young man.
Last year he chafed considerably
because he could get into but S9
games behind the bat. He wanted to
share and share alike with Muddy
1Ruel. Benny is no shiTksr. He
thrives on work in the hottest OF
weather. Yet, he had to SIT on the
bench and watch Muddy toll
through 128 contests.
The young catcher came to
the Griffs after a year with the
Memphis Club, i'm the Southern
Association. so that practically
al his work has been vita The
Griffmen. It has been his Ill
fortune to find such player as
the chilI-steeled Ruel sitting on
the job.
In 1925. when the Griffs Won their
second successive pennant, Tate es-
tabIished a batting average or .46I.
But that was in only in 16 games IN
which he went to bat q times to
get Is hits, totaling is bases. He.
naturally, expected to get a lot OF
work the following season.
In 1926. the chubby backstop got
into SO games and his batting aver
age dropped down to .261. he
caught As games, being used as a
pinch-hitter in IA games. That may
explain why Ruel was used so
much last year.
This sitting on the bench is get
ting my goat, Tate said one day
to this writer. Il want to get In
there and hustle. Then, as soon as
l get the right feel OF things. I'll
begin to hit some. You cant 90 IN
there cold and hit right. You've got
to be in there a while.
Tate was used as a pinch
hitter in - games last season
and was responsible for "a runs
IN the 81 games in which he
went to bat. When the cam.
paign was ended it was found
that the yOungster had batting
average Of .313, being headed
only b. GosIin, Speaker, Camel.
johnson. and Hollis ThurstOn
among the Grfffs.
When he departed for home last
October. Tate made no secret Of the
fact that he was dissatisfied with
things here. He wanted more work
behind the bat, not any softer
treatment. He likes plenty Of work,
il but to keep off too much pound
age. Though he is said to weigh
l55 pounds, according to the Of
fetal 81 figures published by the
club. Tate weighs closer to 185
pounds when in shape. Idleness
does him no good.
1t is possible that Tate is bring
ing his signed contract East with
him. 1t is also possible that he
may not actually put his name on
the dotted line until he has con.
ferred with President Griffith per-
sonalIy at Tampa. Bucky Harris is
here and he may convince the
young catcher that all will be well
before Saturday afternoon.
The catching outlook for the
Griffs is fair enough to suit any.
body. Muddy Ruel has few peers
in this league. He is classed among
the brainiest catchers in fast COM
pany. He is flawless in his han
ding of young pitchers. His arm
bothered him late in 1925 and again
last spring, but he was throwing
well enough by the time hot
weather came along. His hitting.
while not as hard as it might be,
is most timely. In 131 games IN
1927 he drove in 81 runs, being sur
passed only by GosIin. Speaker,
Judge, Biuege, Rice and Harris.
Al Cooper, coming up from
Birmingham. hit for 1876 in that
circuit last year. I'm rs games
he drove out 81 hits for a total
Of 80 bases, IL doubles. 2 triples
and 2 hOmers figuring in his
totals. He was used as a pinch
hitter in Is games with good
success.
Cooper is said to have good
arm and real baseball sense behind
the bat. 1t was his handling of wild
hurlers that impressed President
Griffith last summer when down in
Dixie looking at ellis and CAMEL
in action.
Hugh McMullen, standing an inch
above the six-foot mark, failed with
the Giants in 1925 because of light
hitting. In other ways he looked
the part of a major Lacquer. Last
year he hit for 1853 with Louisville
and will have to do better than that
TO stay with the Griffmen. How
ever, he is only Is years old and
this may be his year to make the
grade.
Miller Higgins, Connie Mack, Ty
Cobb and one or two other baseball
wiseacres have already expressed
themselves as believing Washing
toms batterymen are quite the goods
and there is no reason to believe
that the lads won't deliver this
year,
pnonnnn A. n C,,-.,.~n