The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-03-07
AERO MUSIC
|SSPIJR TQ
GRIFFS /
RY Louis "A. Dougher

i ~
TAMPA. Fla, March 7.-Tbs
washington Griffs are the first
major league ball club to introduce
music into their training tactics.
Better than that, they are the fret
BAN club in the world to snatch
music from the very heavens the1n-
selva with which to put q truly
ETHEREAL spirit into the athletes toll
ing below.
The sun was hot on Plant Field "a
slow. lazy breeze from the Gulf 1T
Mexico crept across the Diamond.
The brlgh, blue sky fairly glaEed
down upon the Griffs. approaching
the end Of their drill.
Hark, what WAS that? Must
Off to the west appeared q biplaIIes
and from IL came the wonderful
strains DC heavenly music, the al
deep tones Of an organ.
Joe Judge, who was fast crufnblIng
under the urge OF the drill. perked
up. SO did Jack Hayes, who vas
tl1orougFly soaked in perspiratiSn an.
Ossie Bluege looked around. squinfed
up at the approaching plane. head
those wonderful notes floating
through the air all about him and
began pounding his glove, demand
ing action.
AS the plane approached ne ter
q strong, manly voice began singing
sfEigh, High In The sky. Senior
AL Schaclt turned handspring
Uncle Nick Altroclx tore off q new
chew and wl1aclSed a sizzMog
bOunder down to Judge The m
field drill that had been tottering 70
4 miserable fizzle took on new life
land dash.
The plane SCARED over Plant Field
and tMy Bue HEAVIER" came down
from it to cheer the tOiing athletes
/ Bang. came the hot grounders IL
be slung from hand to hand In xl1e
fashion, with the plans circlin
over the field.
Goose Goslin ran q quartes
OF 4 mile after drive to the
tune 81 'sShess NV Baby" Jack
| KlOza raced TO the FiglIt field
foul line and sIiagged q low
liner a. that manly vOlee
rendered 'sNTy Blue Heave1
with added variations.
Clark Griffith, al doIled up IN
his golf toys. smiled as he heard
i the music and saw the plane.
That's the way to put pep III
i the BOYS he commented. Give
'em music. Don't they always have
music around armies? That's 70
put pep in men. to make them
willing and able to stand all sorts
OF privations. It's wonderful what
q little music will do"
The plane. flying high in the sky
i turned loose a sprightly fox Lrqs
and AL Schacht and Uncle Nack
hoped to it, with various darhias
/ following their examples all around
the field. Really, no major leagpe
baseball drill was ever IKE i.
That's new stuff, isn't ita
remarked BucIxy Harris, staring
m at the plane and eyidentlx
enjoying the music. Wonder s.
Mr.. Griffith had anything toe
do with IL. Wouldn't be SURF
prised.o 49,
OF course, the answer had To
| come out; 1t did, too when sorae
/ bloke began telling all Tampa 4he
merits Of 4 certain cigarette N ls
Il words carrying clear as q bell
through the air to the playersTon
the field. nBa
'"That guy'n have to give as this
concert every morning" butted m
4 President Griffith. Did you notice
how everybody picked up and she
gan hustling as soon as they hears
| the music?" Ms
Anyway, the washington GrtffE
are the first to call upon the verW
heavens for musical entertainment
as they work to prepare themselves
for the approaching major league
campaign. Nothing like that has
ever been known before.