The Washington times., 1929-03-08
SAYS GAME
EXHAlJSTS
PLAYERS
BY James L. Kilgallen
international News Service Staff
Correspondent

ny James IL. A1lSdA1Su
international News Service Staff
Correspondent
TAMPA, Fla, March SIT
have learned a few things
about running a ball club. I
don't expect to have the
trouble managing Washington
than I had handling Newark
!, in the international League
last year. I guess | was too
easy
Walter johnson, formerly the
greatest pitcher in the American
League and now manager Of the
Washington Senator's, made this
statement to the writer today as
IA stood back Of the pitching box
IN the Tampa ball park and watched
his rockies swinging at fast ones
and curves. He was ever ready
with word of encouragement or
complimentary remark. And the
players seemed to like him.
81 was green as q manager
when I took Newark over last
year." said johnson. 81 had
some pretty hard fellows to deal
with. Now. / don't like to
bear down on anybody, and Pm
not much of driver of men.
So I suppose was too lenient
and several on the Newark
club took advantage of my atti-
tude. Three Of the Newark
players were on the suspended
List when the season closed.
II want to, be one of the fellows
as far as the Washington club is
concerned. 1 am not going to
drive my men because dont think
that is good policy in baseball or
any line of endeavor. I know
some OF the greatest managers were
known &s drivers but they would
not have been successful had they
not had the ball players. The place
to win ball games is on the ball
field, not in the clubhouse or any
where else.
I'm not going to set up lot of
rules and tell this club they can't do
this or they can't do that. want
them to be men and give their best
efforts to the team.
IF they don't they will find that
I'm not going to stand for any
monkey business. / think my New
ark experience is going to help me
lot. This year am not going to take
as much as did last season."
IL
of ball players going in enthusiast
cally fer golf. Johnson replied:
ITS got to be baseball first.
ana not going to stop them
from playing golf but IL find
that golf is interfering with their
baseball viii. Why, I've had
couple of ball players who had
taxi waiting during morning
practice and, after they tossed
ball around for 10 or Is minutes,
they raced for the golf course.
That had to be stopped.
II like to play golf as we'll as the
next, but I don't like golf as well as
baseball. I have morning practice
during the spring training season
and If any Of the fellows want to play
golf in the afternoon am for it. ]
think it is much better than other
things they might do.
s.But once the regular season
starts I will forbid morning golf.
/ don't want my players tired when
they show up to play baseball in
the afternoon"
johnson, q big, rangy man
with powerful shoulders, seems
to be i'm splendid physical con-
ditiOn. Asked if he contemplated
pitching any games for Wash.
irlgt0n this year he said he had
not been planning to but that
he viii be in shape to twirl
few games If amy emergency !
arises.
He said his arm, once the great
est in the league, If not in the
history of the game, feels fine.
He whizzed some across the plate
to the rockies and they were plenty
fast. The old hop on the hard
one is still there.
~ YNT~IIT