Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-08

L
II Washington ball tosSerS
who detrained shortly be-
fore noon today at Union
Station, where a small but en-
thuSiaStic band of fans was on
hand to welcome them. They were
happy to have behind them more
than a month of bush league dia-
mondS and meals, and hardy be-
cause of the climatic conditions
prevailing during the entire period
of their training in the Southland.
During the whole Of the conditioning
grind for the Nationals which embraced
four full weeks for the last squad to re-
port and covered stretch OF more than
six weeks for the early birds there were
only a couple of days when the weather
could be termed warm, while most OF
the time it was decided y cool, many OF
their practice sessions as well as games
being conducted under semi Arctic con-
ditions. Cloudy and threatening weather
was nothing unusual, still, chllllng
breeZes frequently were in ldence ana
there was plenty of rain ID contend
Win, the ldCh Vi SIlOW oAOhC A-ASNAAA
gushing conditions from the better days
prevailing here during this rather open
Winter.
Team in Trim.
But the Griffmen have by no means
been handicapped in their training by
the absence of consistently high tenn
peratures and the burning sun Florida
usually provided for them during the
decade they annually visited Tampa.
On the contrary, their exercising has
been done under practically the same
uncertain weather conditions likely TO
obtain during the early days of the
American League Championship CAM
paign which gets under way next Tues
day and so far as physical ntness Is
concerned it may well be doubted
whether any OF their seven rival teams
is better prepared.
Although still a bit backward In the
element of hitting the Nationals re-
Gently have shown ms OF gratifying
Improvement in tina. respect and it Is
reasonable to expect that with five prac-
tice tits remaining as a means for
tuning up they will be ready for the
issue when the bell rings a week hence.
In the first of these polishing-up
contests, scheduled for Grifhth Stadium
today at 8 o'clock. the starting time for
Sam Jones. in facing the Boston Braves
was to get his initial shot of the Spring
at a nine-inning tour Of duty on the
hill A test his fellow veteran fingers,
Al Crowder. Lloyd Brown, Bump Had
ley, Fred Marberry and Bob Burke al
ready have satisfactorily undergone.
Bump to Face Phils.
Tomorrow Hadley is to undertake his
second marathon assignment, with the
PhiIlies Of the National League as his
opponents. but thereafter only part
time mound duty is likely to be assigned
any Of the fingers until the curtain
rises on the pennant race.
In the exhibition at Baltimore Friday
box duties are likely to be split up by
Carl Fischer and Walter Tauscher, and
the following day, when the Orioles
come here for return engagement,
final workout preparatory to the initial
combat against the Philadelphia Ath-
IeticS probably will be assigned to Brown
and Crowder, one of whom is sure to
hurl in the inaugural with the odds ia
voring the former. For the last Of the
pre-campaign tits here on Sunday,
when the Rochester Red Wings, Inter-
national League champs, will provide
the opposition, Marberry, Hadley and
Jones all are likely to do bit of box
work by way of keeping their hippers
loosened up.
So lar as results are concerned the
Nationals have acquitted themselves
creditably in exhibitions TO date,
winning 10 of the Is played and losing
three in addition to victories over the
House of David and Spring Hill College
teams, while two Of their battles have
resulted in ties, one with Baltimore
and another with Birmingham. They
have licked the Orioles four times,
while losing twice, beaten Mobile and
Birmingham each once and Louisville
twice, Will. their three-day Soiourn at
Chattanooga produced two wins and
one setback.
Burke Pitches Well.
The final combat with the Washing
ton clubs farm hands at Chattanooga
yesterday saw Burke hurting in fine
style through nine rounds, in which ne
limited the Lookout to seven hits and
two runs while tanning FIVE and Issuing
only a pair of free tickets.
And taking advantage of the most
salubrious weather they have enjoyed
since they left Biloxi. the Nationals
re, both of whom formerly wore
THAN toggery, for IS safetieS and
lies, by far their biggest day on
K this Spring.
cnin, Bluege and Burke were
] ed to one bingle iece, but none
{ me others got less than three, while
Jack Hayes and Sam Rice each col
lccted five.
Heinie Manush led the entire pack at
tie business CT driving in runs, his
double and o singles chasing four