The Washington times., 1929-03-04
HAWK
POL|SHES
BAT TING
By R. D. Thomas

By Il. u. Tnomas
TAMPA, Fla, March A.
"The little man with the big
bat" they re calling Spencer
Harris down here.
"If this fellow could hit" ran the
comment of Chicago baseball writer's
when Harris was sent back to the
bushes two years ago by the White
Sox, "he would be one of the great
est outfielders in either league.
Harris failed to hit anywhere
near 800 for the White Sox, in 1925
and 1925, so he was shipped to
Shreveport in the Texas League:
There he apparently found himself
as a hitter.
"Of course, there was a difference
in the class of pitching lots of dill
ference said Harris today, but l
found myself getting hold of the
ball better--swinging with more
rhythm-and getting more distance.
1t was natural that I'd hit the ball
more often in that league than in
the American butt finished the
season of 1927 with Shreveport with
an average of .354, the highest
had ever made in any league, and
it was encouraging.
'"They sent me to Minneapolis
In the American Association last
year. and the showing there got me
another chance in the bigtime.
What he accomplished with
Minneapolis was quite remark
able for a comparatively small
man. He weighs $50 pounds.
Spencer's average was 1927. He
led the league in home runs with 81;
had the most doubles, Al; scored the
most runs, 1873; went to bat most
times, 669; led in total bases; was
second in runs driven in with III,
one behind the leader; was third in
stolen bases with 25, and he drew one
batter's full share OF passes.
Quite a record, that, for a chap
whose offensive strength two sea-
sons before had been almost nil. In
cidentally, the American Association
is a set-up for no batsrnan.
During his trial with the White
Sox, Spencer was almost the class OF
the league as a ball hawk. On the
strength of his fielding ability and,
oddly enough his pinch-hitting PROV
ess, he was kept an extra year. In
1925 his general batting average was
around .2s0, but as pinch.sticker
1t was .3G0.
There are four players here
who were league mates OF
Harris last year and every one
Is a booster of him. kenna.
r Al. al
say he is an all-round efficient
ball player.
Granting that Goslin and Rice are
outfield fixtures, Harris rivals will
be Sam West, who. has first call on
the job because of his brilliant finish
last season, and Red Barnes, Whe
showed considerable class through
a large part of the campaign;
Harris would fit we'll in Walter
Johnson's scheme of developing the
fastest team afoot in the league. =
Twenty-Five players took part in
today's workout, which included
batting practice for the first time.
The players now here are: Pitchers
Lloyd Brown, Bob Burke, Archie
Campbell, Guy Cantreli, Irving Had
ley, Paul Hopkins, Adolph Liska
Fred Marberry and Jim Weaver:
catchers, Albert Bool. Ed Kenna
and Herold Ruel; tnfielders, Harley
Ecss, Joe Cronin, Charles Gooch
Jack Hayes, Stuffy Stewart md
Elmer Yoder, and outfielders, Rel
Barnes, Spencer Harris, Sam tice
ard Melbern Stmons.
The ten other members of the
club are due this week. They
are Ossie. Bluege. Joe Judge,
Buddy Myer. Goose Goslin. Sam
! West, Cliff Bolton. Benny Tate,
Garland Braxton, Sam Jones
and Paul Mccullough.
only. Sam Jones, the pitcher, and
GosliH femain unsigned Fred Mar
berry il the latest to come to terms.
President Griffith expects no Sc
r.ous disagreement with Goslin and
Jones. Harley Boss, Joe Judges
young understudy at first base,
showed UP with a bandaged hand.
He hurt 1t while repairing his auto.
Boss, who had his big league bap-
tism last year, is the youngest
Griffman. being only 20.
He and Judge are the only first
sackers on the roster, but in an
emergency Pat Charity could fill
in. Manager Johnson contemplates
switching Gharrity's status from
coach to player, He is a catcher
primarily
Pat is held in high esteem as a
coach He has the knack of putting
pep into players and of impartins
the stuff he learned as a smart
hallplsyer Charity is the champion
daddy Of the club. He has six young
sters.
Marberry reported in excellent
trim, thanks to a siege Of gymna'
sium toll. His best pitching weight
is 1sO pounds and he is within 10 OF
that.
'I wish.' remarks Pitcher Bob
Burke, s'that there was some way OF
transferring to my bones some Of
the weight these fellows are forced
to throw away" Bob is one of the
skinniest ballplayers extant. One
wonders how he ever earned dis
tinction as an athlete, being one
inch above six feet and weighing
eniy $50 pounds.
The Griffs are well fixed for
outfielders and catChers and
there are three dependable, II
not star lnfielders, In Judge,
Bluege, and Myer.
H. IL