Evening star., 1928-03-30
BY JOHN II. KELLER.

~ BIRMINGHAM Ala, March So
Almost from the start OF the
Nationals training season George
Sisler. bought from the Browns
last December for as little as
$4,000. has been regarded as having
clinched the first baSing job with the
club. but the poor condition OF the legs
az the once great star at present makes
his positive selection for the position
rather doubtful
Manager Stanley Harris still viii
send sister to the station he has been
filing for more than three weeks in
the Spring exhibition contests. but un-
less George develops more speed before
the club finishes its northWard trek
home. Joe Judge may be seen at the
initial sack when tho Nationals enter
the championship campaign on April 10,
In recent contests, especially against
major league pitching. SiSlcr has not
been hitting al the fast clip he Travelled
early in the training season, nor has
he bern showing much foot on the run
Nay or around his station.
For a time il was thought that SlSler
vas protecting himself when lie failed
to move at the pace he followed for
nerIy over the rought ground at Tampa
and other fields where the Nationals
performed fearing TO wrench his limbs
Ii has developed however, that his
underpinnng is far from being as sound
es IN past seasons and his lack Of con-
oition has George worried considerably.
Trying to Strengthen Legs.
Sislcr is doing al he can to i'm
prove his props. exercising carefully
each day under Trainer Mike Martins
direction. but thus far there has been
raF1
the Browns is hoping the smoother
fields the club VIII play on during
the remainder of the transforming
trip viii enable him to increase his
speed. but as he has been going this
week probably more than better grounds
will be necessary to restore the spring
and strength to Georges legs.
In the meantime, Joe Judge, who
has been adorning the bench most OF
the time in games since the club came
South. is keeping quite tit 10 assume
the first base berth whenever called
out by Manager Harris. Judge Is
physically trim right now and has been
fielding in his usual fine fashion when
ever he has had opportunities under
fire and batting well.
1t is quite apparent that the man
who has been with the Nationals for
Is seasons is far faster at present than
the man who has been given preference
over him ia the exhibition engagements.
II also is plain that Manager Harris
is far from satisfied by Sisters recent
showing and there IS a great chance
that Judge NAV be doing business at
the old stand before long.
The Nationals breezed into Birming-
ham shortly before noon today with all
hands free from injury excepting their
manager. Sam Rice and Bob Reeves.
Harris still is nursing very sore left
foot and Rice has had the right thumb
that was spTained shortly before he left
Tampa encased In splints. Neither OF
these veterans may get into the line
I'D here in the games due this after
noon and tomorrow with the Barons
and on Monday with the Giants.
Reeves Leg Is Injured.
Reeves got a bump on his left leg
yesterday IN coiliding with Pitcher Dave
Mckinney when running out a sacri-
fetal bunt In the game al Jacksonville,
In which the big leaguers trouuced the
jacksonville Tars Of the Southeastern
League. - TO 6. Reeves hurt may keep
him out Of action for a day or two, but
he survived the collision much better
than the Tar hurler.
Mckinney, diving into first base
ahead of Bob, took the latler's leg full
on the head and vas knocked colder
than an iceberg He vas carried from
the field and not until two hours later
cid he regain consciousness. The full
extent Of McKinney's injury vas not
known when the Nationals left Jack
Sonville last night
Immediately after arriving In Jack
souyille yesterday Assistant Secretary
Billy Smith. Zeb Milan ana al Schacht
called On Walter johnson, until this
season one Of the great figures in major
league base bail. at the sanitaTium,
where he has been undergoing treatment
for an ailmeut that has had him inca
pac1tated most Of the time since early
February.
They found the former Washington
star pitcher In good spirits. but fear
fully ROrn By his illness and still un-
certain IL lfE nature Johnson left
Jacksonville last ni28t with President
C5rlG5th party for q visit ~ Johns Hop
ksnS Hospital !n Baltimore for another
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