Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-20

Il Il ~ upon Cne aplllLy Oh AuolpL
Liska and Paul Mccullough
young hurlers taken out of the Ameli-
can Association, to make the big time
pitching grade. If these youngsters are
as good as their association perform
ances during the past season indicate
and as their boosters think they are, the
Washington club ought to shine at least
on the hill in the 1929 campaign.
With two good young pitchers back
Ing the veterans Sam Jones, Garland
BraXton and Fred Marberry and the
comparative recruits Irving Hadley ana
Lloyd Brown, the Nationals should prove
troublesome to most of their rivals, II
not all. without such support, how
ever, 1t is doubtful whether the flve
hurlers carried over from last year will
prove powerful enough to cope with the
big Job ahead.
According to those who have seen
Liska and Mccullough in action. they
are lust about as clever as anything
that has come up from the minors
recently. But these observers may De
a trif1e biased in their views. President
Clark Griffith thinks they are good be-
cause he's the one who authorized their
purchase and he must say so now to
Justify his judgment. Scout Joe Engel
thinks so because he's the one who made
such glowing reports of them that
Griffith became interested. Mike Kelly.
who managed the Minneapolis team Tor
which the boys hurled last year, thinks
SO and it's easy to understand that.
But nobody is going to know much
about them until they show their wares
at training camp and have had their
baptism of fire in contest with CLUB
of big league batters. And both Liska
and Mccullough will get plenty chance
to show their wares. No one Is more
interested in what they may be aple 10
do than Walter Johnson, the Nationals
manager. and johnson will see that
these particular rockies are called upon
frequently in the exhibition series the
Washington club is to conduct IN
FLORIDA and other States of the South
before the American League champion
ship race gets under way.
Lislxa More Highly Rated.
More glowing reports have been re-
ceived of Liska than of Mccullough.
According to Griffith, who has seen Ad
pitch, the purchase from Minneapolis IS
about the best-looking young underhand
pitcher he ever saw. Grif insists that
Liska had a fine fast ball and excellent
control, but needs something more OF
curve than he has yet shown. In TACT,
Griff told the youngster to practice our
ing this Winter in an effort to develop
a good curve ball to be served under
handed and reports received here noi-
cate Liska is doing just that:
Liska. about medium build and
weight, is said to be strong young
fellow with a mild disposition and will
ing 10 learn. Already he has f1ne
knowledge of the pitching art, those
who have been associated with him IN
sist. He pitched to about the finest
record of any of the young FELLOWS III
the minors last season.
MCCULLOUGH is a pitcher Of type en-
tirelv different from LiSka. PAU, VINO
incidentally was the property Of the TO-
ledo Club of the American Association
although hurting for Minneapolis, IS a
stocky. strongly built chap. somewhat
similar in stature to Hadley OF tne
washington club, and is OF mucn tne
same style pitcher, according to those
who have looked him over. In IacC'
Scout Engel is inclined to believe NC
CllIlougil a better big league prospect
than Liska, but he finds few supporters
in this argument.
Liska and Mccullough, who nicKeo
the washington club treasury for
$1,000 each, are rated the best pros
pacts of the small lot of new pitchers
to DE tried by the Washington manage
ment at the Tampa training camp THIS
wear. If they fail to come through the
slab staff outlook will not be so bright.
But those who claim to know contend
the Nationals will have great pair OF
Youngsters to show when the curtain
goes up on the 1929 campaign.
Three OF the members of the Ma
tionals staff of five catchers now are
in line for this year. Al Bool, the Dig
fellow bought last season from Nash
Vile of the Southern Association, has
accented terms. as have Muddy Ruel
and Benny Tate. This Bool, by the
way, may become regular receiver
with the club. He is a powerful ana
accurate pegger, can put plenty into MS
swing at bat and Is hefty enough 10
make an excellent blocker OF the plate:
Although Johnson has seen nothing OF
Bool. he has heard much and plans 10
look this particular catcher over care
fully at the Florida training base.
President Griffith and his retinue de-
parted yesterday for Tampa and tomor-
row the Washington club VIII open a
temporary Office in the hotel which VIII
ing campaign. Accompanying the CLUB
prexy are Mrs Griffith, Miss Mildred
Robertson. personal secretary to Grit
fifth, and Edward B. Eynon, IT,, Secre-
tarv of the club. The last mentioned
expects to remain in Florida until the
middle of February, then Billy smith,
a major -domo Of the concessions al
Grifath Stadium and one OF the CLUB
field secretaries, will move to Tampa
for the remainder of the training sea.
son. Mike, Martin, veteran trainer OF
the club, hopes to leave for the city
on the Florida West Coast late this
week, while Manager Johnson probably
will go to Tampa about February 1!
a week before the first squad OF MS
charges are to report.
Looks as though Sam Rice again will
be with the Nationals, despite reports
that the veteran outfielder intends tc
retire from base ball. Recently con-
tract calling for his services this veal
was sent to San Diego, Calf, where
Sam is vacationing but it was tmprcp'
erly addressed. Not hearing from Rice
the club prexy wired and learned the
veteran had not received the paper. II
his reply, Rice said: Have not received
contract. Send another along. Wan
10 look at IL. Having me Time. NOV
Sam is looking over the duplicate SEN
him.. If he's that much interested, hei
probably interested enough to stick II
the game.
Before leaving for Florida, Grif1tf
endeavored to arrange terms with Coos
Goslin, National outfielder who last yea
led the American League at batting
Goslin was asked to come TO Washing
ton and confer with the club president
Not hearing from the Goose. Griff called
him at his home in Salem, N. D. Goslir
said he had been very busy arount
home this Winter and probably woul'
not be able to talk contract until h
he reached Hot Springs, Ark, where h
l. 70 do neneral conditioning work 70