Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-20

vi GCIl do MuOuy nuSl VI bCLllly L
How well Spencer can hit is not
certain. He has had no chance to
show what he can do as a batter
in the American League. Up but
few times in pinch roles, it
would be unfair to pass judgment
on him. But he did fairly we'll in
attack in the training season tits
and It's said he was right good
batter when with the Pirates in
the National League several years
ago.
Roy was with the Pirates when they
beat the Nationals In that soaking
series of 1925, but he was kept on the
bench. At that time the catching for
the National League club was intrusted
to the gabby Earl Smith and Johnny
Gooch. They made a go of it, but at
the time one of the Pittsburgh players
remarked to some of the Washington
club that Manager McKechnie had his
best catcher out of action. And the
eittsburgher meant Spencer.
Went Right After Spencer.
Spencer Travelled back and forth be-
tween Pittsburgh and indianapolis of
the American Association several times,
doing little receiving for the Pirates
>.
was the best Indianapolis had. This
shifting of Spencer at last attracted
Lands attention and the base ball
commissioner decided it was being done
solely to KEEP Roy under cover for the
Pirates, who own the Indianapolis out
fit. So, along dwith many others last
Spring, Spencer was lifted from Indian
apolis by the commissioner and de-
clared free to make place for himself.
k1A l. NJ
agent Spencer was with the Indian
apolis club in training at Sarasota, Fla,
not very far from the Nationals train
ing camp at Florida. President Clark
Griffith lost no time in motoring to the
Indianapolis base to make Spencer an
offer. Griffith saw Spencer on a Sun
day. and the following day the free
lance came to terms with the Washing
ton club. Now, after he has been on
the pay roll more than two months, the
washington club intends to make some
use of the catcher.
MyleS Thomas, newest member of the
Nationals, also Is to be used in the
series with the Red SoX, johnson says,
and as a starting pitcher, too. Thomas,
who came to Washington from the
Yankees by the waiver route only last
Saturday was held only good enough
for relief roles by the New Workers this
a better starter than some Of the other
slabmen now essaying that role for the
Nationals. johnson has not picked
Thomas starting game as yet. The new
member of the mound corps may so to-
morrow or in one of the games Of Sat-
urday's double bill.
Thomas a "COIIegian."
Thomas is a college-bred athlete,
Gro in
He was signed by Reading of the Inter
national League and in 1912 won but
two games and lost eight. The next
three years he pitched for Toronto of
the same circuit. In 1923 he won l3
games and lost Is. and in 1924 he won
Is and lest u. He had fine season
in 1925, however, winning % games
and losing but g.
This SO impressed the Yankees that
he was grabbed from the International
League. and in the American League
in 1926 he won six and lost six games.
In 1927 he pitched to seven victories
and four defeats. and last year was
credited with one victory only. AS relief
hurler this season, he lost two games
for the New Workers. Johnson, though,
thinks the change of clubs will prove
beneficial to Thomas and looks for him
to go well as a starter.
No others of the Nationals are con-
templating requesting rests" as did
Garland Braxton yesterday, Johnson
says, although some seem to need them.
Braxton was so depressed by his poor
showing lately that he was almost a
nervous wreck after being driven from
the hill by the Athletics when he tried
to check themf1 in Tuesdays game, and
Johnson gladly recommended that
President Griffith grant the pitchers
L3ENwz yWyf4 llrlN ~
pay that he might go to his North
Carolina home to recuperate. The
manager believes Braxton will be
helped greatly by the lay-off.