Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-28
GR|FF LIKES SPIRIT
Of |NF|ELD ROOKIE
Latest Player to Sign to Fill
Utility RoIe-Camp Site
Held Ideal.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


self-confidence have any bearing
Il upon ball players making
good. then Joseph Cronin, Wash
fr1gton infielder, whose signed contract
was received today by Clark Griffith at
the training headquarters here, already
is assured of permanent place under
the big tent of base ball. Cronin Is the
sixteenth of the 80 Nationals in reserve
to sign.
In a letter to his boss, which accom-
panied the contract, Joe gives assurance
that he will give his utmost the coming
season toward advancing the Nationals
In the pennant race. But, what is more
to the point in the players favor. his
employer has unbounded faith In both
his ability and his spirit.
There Is a ball player you Just cannot
keep from making good" said Griffith
here this morning He Is young yet
Just past 2i-and he may require bit
more seasoning before he attains his
proper place in his chosen profession,
but he will be accorded every opportun-
ity to attain that proficiency right here
with the Washington club, for it is my
intention to see that he is retained by
the Nationals. and, while he may have
to fill a utility role for while, a ball
player with Joe's slant on the game Is a
sure thing to break into the lineup as
q regular at an early date"
Eynon Backs Boss.
Grifith's opinion of Cronin was shared
with equal enthusiasm by Ed Eynon, the
clubs secretary, There is ball player
as clean as they make EN-" says Eynon.
HE ranks right near the top where men
of high standards or morals and charac-
ter are concerned, and with the ability
he has shown, he will surely make the
grade. He has a fine arm, throws true,
and his hitting should improve over his
.243 average compiled last year with
our team. I predict that Cronin will
IN time become one Of the prime Ia
vorites Of the Washington fans
This appraisal of Cronin's worth as
eures him steady job Nith the Nation
ais, but It does not mean that he Will
be assigned an infield position at the
seasons start. On the contrary, 1t is
now about definitely decided that the
infield combination for the approaching
season will be Judge at first, Hayes at
second, Bluege shortstop and Myer at
third This was the tentative lineup
as conceived by Walter johnson when
he lent his Offices toward securing
Buddy Myer from the Red Sox, and this
combination will be thoroughly tested
before there is any thought OF change
Joe Cronin will have TO get his lmme-
diate seasoning from the training games
and in filling such utility Jobs as are
presented, but the fact that he stands
In such high esteem with his employer
and manager and that he is destined to
become fixture with the Washington
club will mean much to the spirit OF
the youngster while he is awaiting his
chance to earn q regular place on the
team.
Looms as Fayorite.
Cronin was purchased from Kansas
City last June on the recommendation
of Joe Engle. The San Francisco youth
was a member Of the Pittsburgh team
the last time the Pirates Won the pen
narlt, being then but ID years OLD, but
he spent most of the time on the bench.
City and played with that club until he
was purchased by Washington at a price
said to be $500.
In the So games he played last year
with the Nationals Cronin batted .243,
being at the bat 227 times and making
SIS hits, 10 of which were doubles and
four triples. Cronin walked % times
and struck out 81 times. He drove in
Is runs.
His fielding average of 1858 put him
third on the list Of Shortstops, being
topped only by Joe Sewell OF Cleveland,
with 1853, and Hayes Of Washington,
who fielded .e55 in the Is games ne
played at short. Cronin Is 5 feet IL
inches tall and weighs ITO pounds.
Secretary Eynon spent yesterday
motoring to .Sebring and other Florida
towns in and about that section and
visited several Of the places to be used
later by other ball clubs as training
headquarters. THE more one sees of
other places where the clubs get into
condition for the seasons play, the more
Tampa asserts its right to be classed
superior to them ALL" declares Eynon.
II say this advisedly and with all things
taken into consideration.
THE hotel. with its spacious porches
for recreational facilities for the play
ers, the proximity OF the park itself,
just few minutes walk from the hotel;
the opportunities for amusement afford
ed by the city proper and its immediate
environs-all these factors tend to make
Tampa great spot for training pur-
poses. And the weather, with its record
Of but single game postponed because
of rain In the nine years Washington
has trained here. should be the deciding
factor in stamping the present spot as
very close to ideal"
City Welcomes Club.
Another angle Of the attractiveness
of Tampa, and point not raised by
the clubs secretary. is the attitude OF
the city oficials and its residents gen.
orally toward the Nationals. From
mayor down to the lowliest fan, the
members OF the Washington club are
made to feel they are in truth guests OF
the city, and there Is never an oppor-
tunity missed TO extend courteSieS OF
every conceivable nature to the CLUB.
Tampa probably will be the training
camp of the Nationals for long time
to come. And that the city is always
so anxious to have the Dub return here
each year also speaks vRry well for the
conduct Of the players. They have,
apparently, never worU out their well
come.
The South Florida State fair opens
here tomorrow, and the first real test
of the new grandstands will be af-
forded. The automobile races and
other attractions draw large crowd
to the park and the increased seating
space will be welcomed.
The usual diving tank hole, which in
the past has been dug in the base ball
diamond has not been sunk this year,
This will be good news to Mike Martin.
Mike always regards the fair as a di-
rect personal affront as anything tend
ing to mar the diamond on which his
athletes train ruhs him the wrong way
The Nationals trainer Is due here the
In(% ,k Of he