Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-10
HARRIS lone GRIFF
MUCH TOO FLESHY
Gardener Must Train Off 19
Pounds-InfieId Gets
Brisk Workout.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,
sports Editor, The Star.

of them-have been seen In
action, it is found there are only
four in the lot who will have to
work particularly hard to attain
proper playing condition because
of too much weight.
One of these, Bump Hadley, isn't
actually burdened with much super
fiuous poundage, but will have to keep
busy to avoid taking it on. Fred Mar
berry, the fiery-tempered Texan who
gave the appreciative war correspond
ents something to write about for a
couple of days by bandying adjectives
with Manager Johnson, is not so well
of, and neither is Red Hargrave, but
both are in the proverbial pink COM
pared with Dave Harris, who displays
q torso qualifying him to compete with
some of the more mammoth Of Daddy
Joe Turner's pachyderms.
Come to think of it, Dave ought to
10 pretty well in the raSSlin' racket,
S,r in addition to the requisite tonnage
4 possesses two other essential attri-
yItes. This was disclosed when ne
made his first appearance in the hitting
practice and promptly broke bat with
q lunge that was accompanied by
grunt so hearty and forceful it would
have made Chief White Feather
envious. And. the impact stung his
hands so severely he grimaced with
balm, which proves he can qualify in
the all-important side line of making
faces so 1t would seem he has only to
harn q few "holts" to make the grade
for a billing at one of the Washington
Auditorium's Thursday evening shows.
The "deteckatiff" business for Harris
at that dear Greensboro, N. c., must
have been good this winter, for he ap-
pears to have been well fed, SO gen.
erously, in fact, that he makes the
indicator on tn scales run up to the
209 mark when 1t should stop at 100.
The excess avoirdupoiS is well distrib-
uted over his generous frame instead
of being concentrated around the mid
riff" however, which should aid him in
prepping to defend his laurels as
pinch-hitting champion of the Amer
lean League.
ttTALA" will be teamed up with its
~ word-mate, occasion" If the
plans being made by the cit
henry Of Biloxi and its nearby neigh
Dor, Gulfport, for next Thursday do
not 60 awry.
It win mark the first base ball game
Of the season for these parts and will
bring together the Nationals, Spring
residents of this charming municipality,
and Baltimore's Orioles, who are doing
their training for the first time this
year in the town some 10 miles farther
along the coast.
The respective mayors, at the behest
OF the chamber OF commerce OF one,
the board of trade of the other and
the Retail Merchants Associations Of
both, have oficially promulgated or
ders for q half holiday and there Is TO
be q parade with band n everything,
by gum.
The arrangements Of both teams have
announced the regular line-ups are to
be used and they will, too, for an in
ming or 80, but before the iousting ends
the boys In the press box are expected
to have a merry time trying to keep
track of the rockies who will horn
into the box score.
CPEAKING Of recruits, the two
- chaperoned here by Joe Cronin
from San Francisco Outhelder Leo
Burns and Inflelder Charlie Montague
both handle themselves as If they
knew what it was all about.
Burns, title to whom Is somewhat
doubtful because of a claim the Los
Angeles club has put in, Is slim chap
of only average height, who appears
to be quite fast, and Montague, a more
sizeable athlete, gave a good account
Of himself In fielding drill at shortstop,
while both displayed considerable power
at bat In their initial wand drill.
Just what these youths possess in
the way Of class must await subsequent
disclosure, but both looked promising
at first glance.
They had better be good" Cronin is
being warned by his mates, "or you'll
have to foot the bill for hauling them
from the coast"
TOE himself stepped right into short
field and proceeded to dig them out
Of the dirt just as he did last sea-
son when he was adjudged the most
valuable man TO his club in the circuit
In fact the entire regular infield, with
Oss Bluege at the far side, Joe Judge on
6rst and Buddy Myer at second, where
gave q fielding exhibition that was an
eye-opener for the enlarged aSsemblage
of natives which had gathered to take
in the initial workout of the entire
squad Of Nationals.
They judged Founders and speared
throws in mid-season form, taking 1t
easy only in the matter Of throwing,
necessary precaution until their wings
get strong.
THERE was plenty of work for the
II other newcomers. too. Joe Kuhel,
Judges understudy, gave charac-
teriStically fiashy exhibition around the
initial corner, and Baxter Jordan, who
Is listed at league headquarters as a
third baseman but is carried on the
Washington roster as first sacker and
is scheduled TO perform this season as
an outfielder, displayed lot OF poise,
while Tom Gilligan, the Harvard varsity
product, II he lives up to his size and
pugnacious-looking jaw, should make
good in big way.
Wally Dashiell. the keystone sack
specialist obtained from Chattanooga,
TO which club, by the bye, young Tom
Clark Of Washington has been assigned,
didn't get much chance TO display his
wares. He hurt his right leg shortly
after practice got under way and limped
to an early shower but Is expected 10
carry on actively following a day or
two of rest.
GSHE accepted my terms" says Griff,
i while I'VE compromised" is Jack
Hayes version of the signing
late yesterday Of the infelder. Not until
the deadline was about to fall did the
club president and the utility player get
together on a contract, but everything
was amicably adjusted.
II didn't get what / wanted" Hayes
manfllly admitted, but wouldn't take
q thousand dollars for those interviews
with the boss They enabled me to get
really acquainted with him, and he's a
great guy sure enough.
'It wasn't a question of salary, for
that was all right, but simpy matter
of protection for me IN the way Of a
bonus in case I'm lucky enough to win
q regular Job or play all around that in
field again. We didn't have any cross
words and are the best Of friends.
I'm thoroughly satisfied 10 leave
? AAgythinS 70 him"