Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-11
ALL-AROUND STAR
! BIG Lacquer NOW
Just as. Clever in Track and
Soccer as Base Ball in
Juvenile Days.
BY n. D. THOMAS.

TT sounded like large order when
Richard S. Tennyson, the up-and-
at-'em playground leader, was asked
today to name the greatest kid ath-
lete he had seen in IL years OF eX-
perience with Washington juveniles.
But he delivered promptly.
Earl Clarke" said he, land I'll go
you point further. He was the great
est not only of my time but of all time.
The records will bear me out"
Young Clark-hes 21-today is an I'M
challenged regular of the Boston Braves
outfield. Anyway, he has been told so
by Judge Emil Fuchs, who owns and
manages the club.
Hit Too Well to Pitch.
At an extremely tender age Earl
aspired to be pitcher. but batted him
self out of the role. Not. however, be-
fore he had won distinction in the box
Tennyson'S attention first was at
tracted to Clark when the lad got
away with an iron-arm trick in a
graded school championship game. He
was the pride of Monroe School. Pierce
was its warm2st base ball enemy.
One day they battled for 18 grueling
innings without score and Clark went
the route. Pierce used three pitchers.
IT called that game" said Tennyson,
"to keep the kid from throwing his arm
away. 1t might have gone many more
innings without Monroe being able to
score. 1t hadn't even threatened in
the Is and Clark showed no sign Of
weakening"
Star in Other Sports.
Base ball was his favorite sport in
playground days, but Earl excelled
notably in others. Conspicuous in the
list of records on file at the playground
department is an all-tine mark of Is
feet IL inches for the running broad
jump. Beside it is the name of Earl
Clark.
That's by way of being a large leap
for mere child. But Clark's legs were
more than springy. They were potent
with speed. He established an all-time
record of IL seconds for the 100-yard
dash.
1t is question with Tennyson
whether Earl was best in base ball,
track or soccer, the three major play
ground sports. He captained the Mon
roe team to three city championships
in soccer and was its outstanding
player. ' a.
Declared ''Born Leader"
mot the least of Clarks qualities is
his winning spirit" continued Tenny-
son, land it is contagious. He is a
born leader Every team he played
with was full of hustle and confidence.
If he comes up to expectations in me-
chanical ability, I figure he'll be a
real help to the Braves morale"
Clark was ID years old when he got
his chance in professional base ball
with Richmond in the Virginia League.
He socked the ball and played we'll
afield and in 1927 the Braves bought
him for $4,000.
After the Spring training trip last
year he was farrned to Providence, in
the Eastern League, and was quite a
was the making of 10 hits in as many
consecutive times at bat.
He was brought back during the
1928 season and was hitting for an
average of Asst when appendicitis
knocked him out. He recovered in time
to finish the season. but wasn't in the
best of shape. His average for II
games with the Braves was .304.
Enthuses Judge Fuchs.
Earl played soccer all Winter and
went to training camp this Spring In
fine fettle. He has been a delight to
Judge Fuchs. He made five hits for
a perfect day against the Athletics re-
Gently and knocked homer in one
game in which the Braves got only
two runs.
CLARK apparently isn't happy unless
engaged in sport. During the base ball
off season he helps out Tennyson with
playground work. This Winter he
coached the Park View School team,
which won the city championship, and,
as fortune would have it, the team ne
had to beat represented his old school,
Monroe.
Tennyson received a letter from him
the other day, the last sentence OF
which reads: Don't forget to save me
q Job next Fall