Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-05
LARGE SQUAD GETS
BATTING PRACTICE
InfieId, 0utfieId Workouts
Start-Four More Report
at Florida Base.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
Sports Editor The Star.

"4.MPA, Fla, March 5.-Washing-
ton wasn't the scene of the only
Inauguration yesterday, for It
i was then that real base ball
training was instituted by the
players who will represent the Capital
in the approaching American League
flag hunt.
In the matter of weather, at least, the
doings here were superior to those
thirty-first President for balmy air and
a bright, warm sun provided almost
ideal conditions for the first full work.
out of the Nationals under the direc-
ton of Manager johnson and his corps
Of coaches, Zeb Milan, Nick Altrock, Pat
Charity and Al Schacht.
With all but handful Of the players
comprising the 1929 roster en- the
scene, there was action aplenty from be-
fore 10 o'clock until we'll into the after
noon and about the only form OF base
BAN activity not INDUCED in on the
newly constructed diamond was that of
base stealing, the athletes leg muscles
being adjudged a bit too tender for
such strenuous exercise on the first day
out for one thing, and the new pit
where the art of hook sliding is to be
practiced being as yet uncompleted, for
another.
Batting Drills Start.
These training sessions are much
alike. They differ but little from day to
day, save for the identity of those who
enact the roles. In the initial one, all
hands first warmed up through the me-
dunn of plain tossing and the fielding of
hunts and then the important and popu-
lar batting practice got under way.
For this Charity, Bool, Kenna and
Munro, the aforementioned a former
Washington Eastern High School ,um-
mary, who Is helping here, took turns
with the mask and windpad and backed
up by. the portable batting cage, re-
ceived the shoots of string of pitch
erS including Liska, Hopkins, Burke,
Cantrell, Campbell, Weaver and Brown.
Marberry and Hadley were excused
from performing in the initial session
at the behest of trainer Mike Martin,
who figured they could employ them
selves more. profitably otherwise-in
jogging around the track, for instance,
this being calculated to facilitate re-
moving the few pounds OF excess weight
each is carrying.
privilege of welding bludgeons in the
wand drill, In addition to those who
performed in receiving capacity, were
Ruel, Cronin, Myer, Rice, Stewart,
Barnes, Hayes. Harris, Voter and
Simons.
Infield Is Active.
Between their turns at bat the in
fielders cavorted about the diamond re-
trieving the balls knocked about and
the outfielders, reinforced by pitchers
not otherwise employed at the time,
chased around In the garden after flies
propelled by the fungo bat Milan
welded.
Following this there was an infield
drill, with Voter covering third base.
Charity on first In place of Young
Harley Boss, who was in uniform, but
permitted to do no work because of the
injury to his throwing hand in an auto
mobile accident asNeek ago: Croni1 at
short and both Hayes and Stewart At
second hase.ef7x. sss1s. - E
The latter pair both handled them
selves well as did Cronin. while Voter,
who previously had been inspected only
by Scout Joe Engel, proved adept. at
judging bounding balls, The latter is
q short, chunky ind tidual, almost bald
despite the fact thai he is but n years
old, and proved he knew thing or
two about early training by carefully
refraining from attempting any hard
throwing, as did the other infielders.
Inc Dan against GuttAg 4oOse WIN
their wings SIN was;sin force for. the
pitchers, Notwithstanding they had had
a week of preliminary conditioning.
They generally displayed very fair
brand Of control and as a result the
bat wielders connected for some healthy
drives. Myer, Barnes, Harris, Rice and
Bool being the leaders in this respect.
More Athletes Report.
Irfielder Charley Gooch was on hand
but unable to participate in the drill
owing to the non-arrival Of the trunk
containing his paraphernalia. It was
expected he would be in action today
along with Oss Bluege, Sam West and
Garland Braxton. who arrived too late
to get into initial drill.