Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-25
DIXIE LOOP STARS
PRAISED BY SMITH
Rookie Catcher, InfieIder
Seen in Race for Berths.
Tampa Drills Start.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
Sports Editor. The Star.

problems of Walter Perry john
son In his managerial venture
i with the Washington ball club
this year may be considerably
lightened if information furnished by
Col. William B. Smith proves we'll
founded Walter. who today led size
able squad of batterymen onto Plant
Field to inaugurate training for the
1929 American league campaign, was
informed en- route here from Washing
ton that in Albert Bool, the sturdy
catcher purchased from Nashville Of
the Southern Association, and Charley
Gooch, infielder drafted from Little
. Rock of the same circuit, he has pair
Of rockies who will gladden. his eye.
Col Smith. who is assistant secretary
of the Nationals, and who In bygone
years displayed such talents Of leader
ship that he bagged several remnants
in the Dixie circuit. got his dope from
former colleagues, who are in position
to accurately appraise the worth of
athletes in that loop.
They tell me-" asserted William
shat once Bool gets chance to DEM
onstrate what he can do there will not
be any question about the identity OF
one of the three men who will comprise
Washington's catching staff next season.
Menace to RueI.
"Bool is only about &c years old and
Is as big and strong as Goslin. Bigger,
in fact, for he's a six-footer. The records
show he batted 344 last year, good
mark for a catcher in any league, but
it's his defensive play that so impressed
my friends They say he shoots that
ball around the bases like rife shot
and that when runners crash into him
at the plate they bounce OF like india
rubber.
"One of them even went so far as
to predict Bool would just take that
regular backstopping job right away
from Ruel, regardless Of how well
Muddy's questionable throwing arm
responds to the new treatment he has
given it this Winter. OF course. that
sounds like a strong statement, but
with all the high praise given him by
men who know thing or two about the
game I figure the young man must be
pretty good"
Gooch, the other athlete on whom
Smith obtained what he believes is the
real low dowp" also IS a husky speci-
men, having 100 pounds to show Tor
his feet 10 inches Of height, and Is
one of the youngest on the roster, being
lust %. According to the sharpS in the
Southern, Gooch fully earned the 1857
sticking average he hung up in 1923
with the Travellers and is one of the
most promising young infelders to 80
up from the Southern in years.
Another Rival of Hayes.
It was at third base that Gooch did
most of his work at Little Rock, but
s if he displays the aptitude that reason
ably may be expected OF performer
SO young he may figure prominently in
l the scramble for the post left vacant
sby Bucky Harris transfer to Detroit.
Assuming Buddy Myer is a fixture at
the far corner and that OSsie Bluege
makes good in the shift back to his
original position at shortstop, there is
a possibility that Gooch may compli-
cate the struggle for the job of regular
second sacker, which popularity Is sup
posed to be between Stuffy Stewart and
Jack Hayes.
The latter, a good fielder, but lament
ably slow and weak batsman, Is Que
: to get keen competition from Stewart,
. an average hitter and flash on the
bases. If Gooch should prove he COM
bines in fair measure the best qualities
of both they may find the battle for the
second base Job three-cornered AFFAIR
with the little-known Pete Voter, bought
from Minneapolis, yet to be heard from.
1t wasn't much of drill, the initial
practice of the Griffmen today, but
was on a par with other training in
augurals The boys got out on the run
ming track in front of the recently en-
larged grandStand and tossed base balls
for while, fielded some bunts and after
a brief session Of heaving the heavy
medicine ball took a jog around the
= field and called it day.
Martin in Charge.
Trainer Mike Martin. on whom john
son is depending for the proper condi-
tioning of the players, wanted them to
start off in easy fashion, so after they
worked up good sweat they were
shooed to the newly provided locker
rooms to enjoy the modern shower
facilities installed there.
The diamond, now in the process of
being rebuilt, under the direction of
Groundkeeper Emil Haisman, isn't much
to look at, apparently being about half
completed, but assurances are given it
will be ready for cavorting on when the
first of the infielderS check in a week
from today.
Bool was on deck for the evening meal
yesterday as the sole representative Of
the catching department with Cliff Boil
ton due. The pitchers at hand in
cluded Brown, Burke, Campbell, Can
trell, Hopkins, Liska, Weaver and Had
ley, the latter contriving to make the
grade after missing his train at Jackson
vile. Mccullough wired he was sick,
but expected to start from Washington
today, and Ruel sent in word he would
be delayed until tomorrow.
, May Stir Jack.
The first shot in the annual battle
b with the hold-outs came from Prexy
Griffith to the effect that If Hayes
doesn't get in line by the end of this
week Stewart will be summoned to re-
port in his place next Monday instead
of week later. Maybe thattll stir
Jack into action.