Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-25

WTlCe around CIl6 Top VI
your list the name of
one Edgar Charles Rice, outf1elder,
with the Washington club. There's
q ball player for you. In his f1f-
teenth season as a big Lacquer
always with the NationalS-Edgar
Charles, or if you don't know him
by that name, Sam, not only has
since the start of his major ca
reer been a mainStay of the Wash
ington club, but also one of the
prominent figures of the game.
These days when managers wildly
grab at anything that looks as though
it may field some and bang the ball
more, Rice stands out a marvel. Young
sterS come and youngsters go, but Sam
still carries on at pace that keeps
him among the elite of the ball park
pastures. Old Man o. War he was dub
bed years ago and the name still hts.
been seen in action in the American
League outfieldS in recent years Rice
Is a stake horse among selling platerS.
Rice Is starting his fifteenth season,
but 1t Is his sixteenth with the Nation
ais. He served a greater cause In 1918,
going with Uncle Sans artillery instead
Of rif1ing pitchers offerings. That prob
ably made the hurlers of that year
happy, for Sam certainly punished OPP
posing moundsmen before that time.
Nor did his Army service take anything
from his batting eye, for he has wal
loped them since, and this year has
opened fire on the pitchers in way
that indicates another fine season Is in
store for him.
Hits in Every Game.
Rice has not missed getting one hit
or more In any of the seven games the
Nationals have played up to today. He
of 1855, seeking left-handerS as well as
right-handers. No matter what side
they pitch from, the pitchers do not
seem to puzzle this Southpaw Swinger
to any great extent. And Sam has been
shifty in right field, too. He has han
died % chances, an average OF more
than three per game. That's busy field
ing in right.
What a record has this player, who
was 80 years old last February 20. His
grand major league batting average Is
1922. Only in three years has he batted
below 800 and his lowest stick average
with the Nationals reads .295. That's
what he hit in 1922.
With major clubs now paying from
$4,000 to $4,000 for an ordinary OUT
field prospect today, just imagine what
when he took to outfielding in 1916
would fetch. Yes, 1t would be well up
in five figures. And Sam was bought
from the Petersburg club of the old
Virginia League for $500.
EoR some time last season second
i base on the Washington club was
something to worry Manager Walter
johnson. Not so now. Buddy Myer,
shifted from third to second during the
1929 campaign, was no shining light
there for some while, but he has devel-
oped into right good keystone sacker
this year. Buddy drilled earnestly at
the position during the training period.
He realized his shortcomings as mid
dle-station guardian and set about to
improve himself. For a time he was
handicapped by sore arm, but even
that did not keep him out Of play more
than few days. And, having doggedly
toiled for weeks, Myer reveals consid-
cradle class at his position. He has
made some remarkable stops in the
championship games, thrown well and
played heads-up base ball. Buddy seems
about to swing into good batting
stride, too. When he does, he'll be a
mighty valuable player to his club.
before long, Earl Webb, big left
- hand swinger, recently procured
from the Cincinnati Reds, may be seen
at the plate as pinch-hitter. When
Webb Joined the club in Boston last
week, he had not looked over much
good pitching in batting drills and for
that reason Manager johnson heSitated
to send him to the plate in emergencies.
Webb Is a free swinger and free
swingers are rather easy to fool when
they have not had much stick drill
Now, however, the new National has
had considerable practice at bat and
johnson declares he will not hesitate to
use him in pinch.
CANMY WEST has not hit often for
- the Nationals to date, but what
little hitting he has done has been
sound hitting. All told, West has clouted
safely only FIVE times, yet the flve
safeties netted IL bases. Among Sammy's
drives were a homer, q triple and a
double.
nURING the three-game series with
- the Athletics that was to open In
Grifith Stadium this afternoon, Benny
Tate may get a chance to show his
wares behind the bat for the first time
In the championship season. Tate, in
good trim, caught well during the train
ing period, but has been held back be-
cause Ruers batting eye was clearer
at the outset OF Tie nag race
WITH the AS likely to show the
w Nationals much left-handed pitch
ing during their stay, George Loepp
probably will have plenty of center
fielding to do for the johnson band.
Loepp covers plenty of territory in the
pastures and he swings a pretty effec-
tive bat from the right side.
TOO cold again yesterday for Ma
J. tionalS and Red Sox to play, so
there'u be some double heading at the
ball yard May 81 and 90, when the
Hub team is here again. 1t wasn't too
cold for morning practice, though.
Manager johnson had his charges out
for a two-hour batting drill that gave
every one fine workout.