Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-19
GOOD INITIAL BASE
SUB HELD NEEDED
Griffmen Unfortunate With
Prospects-HurIers Also
viii Be Hunted.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.


first base material, according to
information coming from source gen.
orally reliable With young Harley
/ Boss, the tall initial sacker picked up
last year at Little Rock, surely out OF
commission for this year and perhaps
i, for all time as a result of an attack OF
influence the past Winter and Charley
Gooch, the draftee from the Southern
Association Club that produced Boss,
only fair underStudy to the aging Joe
Judge at best, President Clark Griffith
is more than eager to procure likely
looking lad for the first station in the
4 infield of his club.
1t probably will not be long before
the veteran Judge will be unable to fill
the position adequately. This must not
4 be regarded as any reflection on Judges
capabilities at present but player lasts
only so long in base ball and Judge has
been around the game some time for a
first sacker, and Griffith wants to mend
fences now. !.
For years his UNDERMINING lacked
soundnesS to such an extent that Joe
was unable to give the Nationals full
service Not until last season did he
play through virtually full schedule.
Judge started the present campaign IN
quite good physical trim, but President
Griffith wants to take no chances. He
realizes Washington soon will have need
of another first baSeman and he wants
one around now that the candidate may
be well groomed for the job.
To Seek Pitchers Also.
So out into the bushes Engel will
trek shortly. Whether he will be sue
cessful in digging up something worth
while in firSt-basing way this early
in the year is rather doubtful. For one
thing, many minor clubs still are in
the formative stage and are unwilling
to give I'D material until they know
lust what they may expect OF 1t. For
another, a minor club having likely
looking prospect isn't so eager 10 part
with it right off the reel. In these days
of high prices for ball players. the
rshrewd minor club owner clingS to his
nrize until he has several big league
clubs bidding against each other LOT IT,
Naturally. the minor owner wants to get
the most from the sale.
The poor showing the Nationals
pitchers made in the first two games
of the season undoubtedly will add to
EngePs task during his first round OF
the minor aggregations. OF course,
GOOD base ball scout always Is on tne
lookout for mound material, out this
time President Griffith VIII WanG nus
ivory hunter to keep an eye peeieo
for Tnoundsmen who may be able to do
more than throw ball and last at
least five innings under fire. AIreaoy
a weakness in the Washington stan
is noticeable The club has some COCO
frst-stringers but there is lamentaple
lack of reserve boxmen and something
must be done quickly to remedy tiiiS
situation. ,.,-;,,,
So Engel will be busy scout during
the next few weeks: ana ntVle h my
come of his quest. He had a good look
at many of the minor clubs during the
training period and saw nothing par
ticI,Iarly desirable. Nor did ne nno
anvthing attractive while making the
ro,ind of the colleges in the south.
IT probably is too late 70 COMP tne
colleges again, and besides Presloent
Criffith seems to be "fed up WIN cor
. 1eoe PLAYERS for the time oeing. ne
has three of them IN ms regulat . iii
40 hit when it comes to first basemen
and nitchers the Washington boss pre-
fers nlayers with minor league e@pe-
rience.
No Help in Waivers.
Tn the quest for a first-sacker WASH ~,
ington cannot expect to get muc H., ps
the waiver route. Before long el ~
probably will be several ciuns pelo" cra
Nationals
tbis would handicap the local oWner-
Shin in claiming initial base guarolans
other clubs may endeavor- 10 SeLo ou'
of the American League. ,.,.,.
Then the so-called "gentlemenS
aoreement" that Judge KeneSaW LanoiS
;s irving to eliminate from base pail
barOaining enters into this matter OF
nrocrIring player through waiver;
frequently good players are permitIeo
to get out of the league because rIVais
are willing to protect clubs interests
in return for promise OF protectioh
when they desire it.
II will be recalled that Earl Shelly,
who first-based some years Tor the
white Sox was let out when he still
had a good deal of major league base
ball in him and undoubtedly was better
than first basemen several clubs were
employing.
Washington has tried many first
sackers since Judge has been regular
guardian of the station. Some time ago
it had a young fellow named Elmer
Bowman, who looked pretty good in the
field, but he was not quite the class and
was shipped to New Haven of the East
, ern League. Jack Blair, who came OUT
Of Tennessee, was tried, but he, too,
failed to measure up, and for time the
club hopedto do something with Emmett
Mccain, mainly second baSeman,
around the first sack. The Nationals
experimental with Iris Speaker, but
iris was no shining success.
Then there was George SiSler Bought
from st. Louis, George was regarded a
fine pickup and for time last Spring
it was thought he would displace Judge.
But when the 1928 season opened Judge
again was at the first corner and Sisler
soon faded from the league. John
Brewer was yanked from Georgia Tech,
but John never got nearer the Wash
ington club than Union Station. There
Scout Engel met him and handed him
a ticket to WilliamSport, town in the
New York Pennsylvania League.
For some time 1t was hoped Mule
Shirley. who came to the Nationals
fresh from the University of. North
Carolina, would prove good under
study to Judge and ultimately become
washington's regular first sacker. But
Mule couldn't hit when he first came
lid and was shifted to various farms.
Finally, he seemed on the. verge OF
making the grade while playing for
Birmingham, but. something happened
and Mule isn't going to wear WASH
ington uniform again. Boss came TO
the Nationals from Little Rock SPLEEN
did prospect, but Illness cut him down
and now the club is left high and dry
in SO far as first base reserve material
is concerned.