Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-01
NATIONAL ROCKIES
IMPRESS JOHNSON
Rice, Judge and RIuege Due
to Reach Training Camp
at Biloxi Today.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

III OxI, Miss, March L.
x Three of the new Nationals
going through their Spring
course of sprouts here
surely have plenty of heft. For
general all-around bigneSS, Carlos
Moore, the pitcher purchased
from Birmingham; Herbert Pyle,
hurler drafted from Chattanooga,
and Gordon Phelps, catcher
picked up from the SandlotS of
Washington suburbs, stack up
well.
Both Moore and Pyle stand well above
6 feet and each weighs in the neigh
borhood of 165 pounds. Phelps just
about reaches the 6-foot mark and car
ries a lot of weight with him. He
modestly admits tipping the beam at
205 pounds, but when the Mike Martin
official scales are set up in the club
house at the ball park, it is likely Cor
don'S tonnage will figure higher.
1t is too early yet for johnson to get
a line on the two pitchers, although
Walter now says their size and action
impress him. Not until they are per-
mitted to cut loose with some speed,
which will not be until next week, will
Moore and Pyle really be sized up.
Both are rather new in pro base ball
This is only the third season for Moore,
who broke in with a bang with Pen
Sacola of the Southeastern League in
1928 and last year performed better for
the Birmingham Barons than his rec
ord of five wins and seven losses indi-
Gates.
Pyle started in the pro ranks in 1927
with the Mission team of the Texas
Valley circuit and in 1928 was with
Chattanooga. The LookoutS sold him
to the Giants, who returned him to the
Southern Association club. Last year
he won 8 and lost II games for Chat
tanooga. After getting away to a good
start, b. was unfortunate to drop a
string If contests in which he yielded
lew hits, poor support hurting his
cause.
Phelps Good Natured.
This Phelps is a fine-natured fellow
always smiling and willing to carry out
orders. He's built along the general
lines of horse and apparently can
work like one, too. Already he's a
great favorite in camp. His general
disposition has won him many friend
ships and his willingness to toll has
interested Johnson greatly.
OF course, Phelps lacks a deal of
polish as catcher. but johnson de-
clares he is ready to gamble with Ghe
young fellow, who halls from Odenton,
Md, to great extent.
Mark my words" says the Wash
1ngton pilot, Phelps will be a real
catcher, I might say a great catcher,
before long. This doesn't mean that
he is going to jump to the forefront
this year, but it won't be long before he
is heard from
81 like the way he handles himself,
despite his bulk. He's quite agile for
such big fellow. He has fine pair
OF legs, not the pudgy kind that usually
prop such stout men, and does not lack
speed. Phelps can throw we'll, he seems
to have a fine idea of what a catcher
should do and above all I believe he
will sock that ball. I hope we don't
lose sight of Gordon. He may be ready
Tor the big league this year, but I
think Washington would do well in
keeping a string on him."
Veterans Check in Today.
Some time today Sam Rice. veteran
gardener, and Joe Judge and Ossie
Bluege, longtime figures in the WASH
ngton 1nneld, are due to breeze into
Biloxi. Rice notified President Clark
Grlfnth yesterday by wire that he was
on his way South from Hot Springs.
ARK, where he took the baths and
tramped the OZarks several weeks.
Judge and Bluege are expected to check
IN about supper time this evening. Sam
West and his new bride also may reach
mere today. lis reported they are in
New Orleans now. The newlyWeds
though, may remain in the Crescent
City until after Mardi Gras next week.
With the addition of Rice, Judge and
biuege TO the squad, Manager johnson
plans to start batting drills Monday.
There will be bunting practice-lots of
1t-for the pitchers, says Walter. while
Rice, Judge and Bluege immediately
VIII endeavor to line em out. johnson
especially wants Judge to get an early
start to clearing his batting eye this
year Joe's SluggiShness in attack in the
early part of the 1929 campaign hurt
the Nationals no little.
Ihere's no one working harder to get
INTO trim that johnson these DAYS. The
big fellow came here with a pretty good
coating Of fat over his frame. but he
hopes to rid himself of much of it
within week or two. Walter intends
10 do great deal of the pitching to
batterS in the drills here. In fact
ne plans to take the hill Monday when
the pitchers open the bunting drill
With such small mound corps at hand
Walter wants to fit himself for the bulk
OF the hurting in practice, once the
exhibition games get under way.