Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
CAMPBELL,HO
SEND IN CONTRACTS
Fifteen Now Under Contract
Out of Total of 81 on
Roster of the Club.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


midWinter, several months before the
opening OF the ball season, is ridicu-
louS"
This was the answer today of Clark
Griffith, president of the Washington
ball club, to a query as to whether he
ClaSsed as "hold-outs" Goose Goslin,
leading slugger last year in the Ameri-
can League: Buddy Myer, obtained in
trade for five players from the Red
Sox, and Minter Hayes, prospective
second sacker the coming season for
the Nationals, because they were balk-
ing at the terms offered them.
Washington fans, the ball players
themselves, and especially the newspa-
per writer's, know that it is not the
policy of myself nor the ball club to
discuss the salaries paid the players on
our team. I have never done so. /
consider this question a matter solely
between the player and the club, and
nothing OF more than curious interest
to the fans. For this reason I shall not
discuss the question involved in the
specific case or GoSlin, Hayes or NTyer.
But to class these players as hold-outS
when there are II men on our team
who have not yet signed for the COM
ing season at once stamps the yarn as
unSCund
Fifteen Now Are Signed.
with the receipt of the signed con-
tracts of Archie Campbell the pitcher
obtained from ST.. Paul of the Ameri-
can Association on last Fall and Paul
Hopkins, recalled from Montreal, there
are IS players under contract for the
coming season. There are II others
who have not as yet sent in their con-
tracts. The list includes, in addition to
the players mentioned above, Harley
Boss, Joe Cronin, Charles Gooch and
Elmer Yates, infielders; Spencer Harris,
sam Rice, outfielders; Cliff Bolton and
Ed kenna, Gathers, and Bob Burke, Guy
CantreLl, Sam JONES' Adolph LiSka, Fred
Marberry and Paul Mccullough, pitch
ers. expect the contracts of the big
majority Of these men to be sent in
before they report here.
"One or two players may desire, as
has been the custom in the past, to
discuss their contract with me person.
ally here at our training headuarters
The flrSt squad does not report here until
February %. The season does not open
until April 6. 1t is, therefore, nearly
three months before the 'dead-line"
time for a player to sign his contract.
Does 1t not occur to you that the word
"hold-out" IS poorly used in the case
OF the above unsigned men? I think
so. Now, will we play golf this after
noon?" concluded the Nationals pilot,
in manner which conclusively proved.
to the writer that he is not giving the
slightest thought to so-called 'hold-out"
ball players on his club.
AS a matter of fact it is not believed
that Griffith has had line of corre-
spondence with Goslin in regard to his
Nh xala
with the apparent recovered strength
Of the Goose's throwing arm than his
boss, and no one has recounted with
more enthusiasm than Griffith of the
last time at bat in st. Louis when, with
two strikes on Goslin and a hit needed
to put him over the top as the leagues
leading hitter, he pasted out a safety
to clinch the honors.
Opening day at the Georgia avenue
ball park next April will find the Goose
patrolling the left sector of the field,
and the fans eagerly awaiting his first
throwing opportunity to see If that old
time rifle peg Is once more on the cham
pion hitter's repertoire.
Campbell Has Promise.
The signed contracts of Pitchers
Archie Campbell and Paul Hopkins were
forwarded to President Griffith yester-
Gay afternoon from the Washington
Office. Considerable promise attaches
to the former drafted last Fall from
st. Paul. Campbell was up In the
Spring with the Yankees, and particle
pated in parts of 13 games. Officially
he was charged with only one defeat,
with no wins to his credit. His only
claim to distinction was in being the
worst fielding pitcher in the league,
nf hi oh
for an average of TIA. New York
placed Campbell with the American
Association team and Griffith was
awarded the pitcher in the draft. The
Nationals pilot believes the boy has the
Tnakings of good pitcher. Hopkins is
destined to remain but a short while
with the local club. He is in need of
much more experience, and probably
will be placed with some club where
Griffith can keep an eye on him for
the future.
The Wintry weather of the North
has yet to have any appreciable effect
on the climatic conditions here, and
Grif1ith'S golf course is taking full
advantage of its opportunities.
In rebuilding the grandstands at the
Tampa ball park this year, step taken
for the convenience of the fans here
and much-needed move as far as they
were concerned, several problems at
fecting the training plans of the Ma
tionals were raised. The ball field
where the Washington players train, as
has been stated before in these columns,
Is in the infield, around which half
mile race track circles. This track is
used for automobile and other races
during the South Florida fair, held an
nually in this city. In fact, the original
purpose for the building of the Enclosure
was for the fair, rather tflan as a ball
field.
New Track Is Too Hard.
In the past much Of the training
stunts Of the ball players were engaged
in directly on the track in front of the
grandstand, including the pep drills
Volley ball games, a Warm-up OF the
pitchers and the bunting practice en-
gagged in by the battery men,
This will not be possible this season
The track has been remade and Is as
hard as concrete. The automobile rae
ing will be the better for this, but moi
the athletes. 1t would be direct in
vitation for a charleyhorse, the bane o.
an athletes existence, to 90 any rum
ming or quick stopping on this hardened
surface. Trainer Mike Martin surely
will chase his charges onto the grass
covered spaces in the outfleld.
Martin has other causes of annoy
ance awaiting him here. The new
grandstands are very fine for the spec
tators, and the seating space has beer
increased seven-tenths over the OLE
stands, but the locker space under
meath where the ball players dress j
much smaller than the old room. Ad
ditional toilet facilities for the patron
OF the fair have taken the space for
"
Offices have been erected in places which
might be used for the convenience o
the ball players. The matter is sure t
cause the Nationals trainer much con