Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-14
BY JOHN h. FOSTER.

Six hundred and more players of
the major leagues and several hundred
@: the minor leagues are bringing out
their carpet sacks and packing them
preparatory 70 the long ride 10 tn
training camps which will begin for
them very soon
Major teams that will be earliest IN
the field arc those of Pittsburgh and the
Chicago Nationals. Both of these teams
10 be in the thick OF the fight this
con,ing year and they arc being sent
away early-not few OF them. but all
Of tlem-to prepare for National
League race that is expected to D.
close and vigorous.
Another team that will start earlier
than was the original intention is the
New York Yankees. who go TO 81.
Petersburg. Fla. that Manager Hug
gins may thoroughly condition his men
for the season TO come Higgins takes
his early start because he realizes that
1t is TO be one-club fight agalnS'
seven others al! OF this next base ball
year.
There - general belief that the YAM
KEGS eW strong enough as they stood
last year TO wage war against every
thing that can compete against them.
Occasionally in the past a team with
the tremendous strength OF the YAM
KEGS has been known 10 have its severe
trials before il pulled through TO
pennant. even If it won one, Accidents
70 players can happen in very stron,
team, as vel! as III one not so strong.
and accidents are the poison that gets
into veins Of clubs and sticks there
despite all efforts 10 eradicate 1t.
Ruth. Gehrig Eager to Start.
Ruth and Gehr,g. the heavy hitters
OF the Yankees. are eager TO make sn
early start. as both are anxious to re-
peat their successes of 1927 and i'm
prove upon them If they can.
Joe Mccarthy. manager OF the Chi
cago Nationals. is so bent upon getting
his team in proper condition that he
is ALREADY on his way to Catalina
Island TO have everything n tiptop con-
dition for his players when they arrive.
As usual. the Pittsburghs and Chi
Cages 60 fartheSt TO get IN condition.
Pittsburgh resuming training at Paso
Robes, Calf. and the Cubs al Catalina
Island. The next farthest West point, at
San Antonio. Tex. has been selected By
Detroit. and a nights ride TO the north
east are the Chicago Americans at
Shreveport. while another nights ride
away from them to the southeast. at
New Orleans. is Cleveland. which has
deserted Florida for the heat of south
ern Louisiana.
The Giants are farthest away from
the center this year. al Augusta. Ga.
although a part OF their training sea-
son viii be spent by an expedition into
Florida with ST. Augustine as mead
quarters IN that State.
In Florida will be the St. Louis
Browns, fsrthest South Of all. on the
east coast at West Pain Beach. and
directly across from them on the west
coast will be the Athletics a. Fort
Myers. The Boston Nationals and the
Yankees 90 back 10 ST Petersburg. Fla.
The Brooklyns are an hours ride north.
ut Clearwater. and the Washingioas
few minutes across the bay. al Tampa.
Red Ssx TO Try~Flarida-
The Cincinnatis go back 20 their de-
ligntfui little park at Orlando and the
St. Louis Nationals 10 Avon Park, where
they did so well last year. Phiiaoe!-
p,1ia Nationals have a new camp In the
center OF lakes and orange groves at
Winter Haven and the Boston Ameri-
cans are trying Bradenton. taking the
place left vacant by Philadelphia. II
L. the first time In years for the Boston
Americans 10 venture into Florida.
Al many OF the camps the trained
grounokeepers OF the North are Eow
working on the fields 10 get them in
condition for the teams As d rule the
playing grounds Of Florida are a vast
improvement over what they were come
years ago before il became the popular
style 10 90 10 Florida 10 train.
Major league umpires will be ap-
pointed 10 handle most Of the exhlbi-
tion games. not only 20 provide nigh
class Gnparing but 10 get the un1pires
yeacF for their season as well as the
PLAYERS.
The actual number 81 men vino move
!n these training camps is nearly 900.
which includes players. writers and the
various club officials vino take care OF
Business while the teams are sweating
OF tne:. fat under the v!olet, red anc
rink rays % Southern sun.
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