Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-27
CLUB TRAINER BOSS
OF FIRST PRACTICE
Thirteen Players Participate
in Initial Drill of the
GriffS at Biloxi.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.


- This was Mike Martin day
in Biloxi and the veteran
- trainer of the Nationals
made the most of it. There's
nothing Mike likes more than
to make his charges groan and
moan, and this he did this morn
ing, when flock of Washington
base ball players was sent through
the first workout at their new
training camp.
Thirteen players, nine of them pitch
ers, participated in the initial drill Of
the year on the spacious base ball field
here and not one had been at work any
great length of time before he was
ready to call It a day. But Martin
always found just little more for each
OF the faltering ones to essay. OF
course, nothing really strenuous was
attempted. 1t was as mild a workout
as any of the players will get during
long Winter and the boys were surprised
to discover how many kinks they had
developed in their muscles.
Irving Hadley and Paul Daugert
pitchers. withstood the tedious journey
from Washington to this Mississippi
town well, but there was no pleasure
in the trip for Don Savidge, rookie
hurler, and Gordon Phelps and Nelson
Jester, kid receivers lately picked up by
the club. Savidge is rather hefty these
days while Phelps is something of a
young elephant, and the stuffy train was
none too pleasant for them. Jester early
developed a severe case of inconsistencies
and still has it.
Jones Joins En- Route.
When the train reached Montgomery,
Ala, at noon yesterday the squad that
toured from Washington was joined by
Sam Jones, who looks in the best Of
health. Sam had journeyed from his
Woodsfield, Ohio, home.
Awaiting the boys at Biloxi were Fred
Marberry, Carlos Moore. Lloyd Brown.
Burke, pitchers, and Muddy Ruel.
catcher. Herbert Pyle, another pitcher,
was expected to check in today.
Whether Benny Tate and Roy Spen-
Ger, recalcitrant catchers, will be here
soon is not known. President Clark
Grifith has had no word from either
lately since stating the salaries the
them. The catcherS evidently do not
care for the terms offered, but Grifith
declares they'll have to like them or
stand suspended and risk the chance of
mourning fine.
It develops that every one here is
SikIlGu 10 Eu NIIdIIlGy,
who had been reported as holding out
is in good standing with his club. Ed
says he received a contract some time
ago at his Beloit Wis, home, chucked
it into a desk drawer, then, because Of
business pressure, practically forgot
about the paper. None was more sur
prised than he when he read he was
considered a hold-out. Ed says he
then lost no time in resurrecting the
contract. signing on the dotted line and
forwarding the paper to Griffith.
Charity, by the way, has signed a
players contract, although more than
likely he soon will be transferred to a
coach's status. It will be recalled that
for time last season Charity worked
under a players agreement, then was
switched to another standing.
Charity, with Nick A1trock and AL
Schacht, had plenty to do today. They
were on their toes all the time carry
ing out the orders Of Manager Walter
johnson in handling the mixture Of
veterans and rockies. Even the vets
have to be watched in the early days
of the conditioning campaign. They
are about as eager as the youngsters TO
get the old wings in working order
quickly and have to be restrained.
Few Rules Are Made.
Few rules have been made by Mana
ger johnson for the training camp. He
expects to have but one session day
ard probably will not begin it particu- !
larly early AS to hours to be kept by
the athletes, it will be virtually up to
them Johnson expects his charges to
use good judgment in this respect.
They can golf while in training, too. !
But once the season is under way
thereIl be no golf for the Nationals
without danger of punishment. In
fact the contracts signed by the men
this year absolutely prohibit the play
ing Of the ancient Scottish game dur
ing the championship campaign in the
of such a clause in the contracts of
the entire club personnel is believed
something new in base ball. It's there
in the Nationals papers, though, and
Grifnth says the fellows will have to
live up to it, once the bell rings in
April.