Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-02
CONDITION OF CLUB
LIKED BY JOHNSON
Pilot Expects Improvement
in Hitting in Baron and
Lookout Games.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor. The Star.

IN LOXI, Miss, April 2.-It's a
X we'll conditioned Washing
- ing ball club that will start
the trek back to the Capital
tonight, with Stop-overS at Biz
mingham and Chattanooga. After
more than a month of training
in this beautiful spot on the shore
of the Gulf of Mexico, the Nation
ais begin the hike homeward,
where they are due next We'd
nesday, in generally splendid
physical shape and with the
prospect that in the close to two
weeks remaining before the cur
tain rises on the American League
campaign all hands will attain a
fine edge.
Following the final drill here today
Manager Walter johnson expressed
himself as eminently satisfied with the
results attained and asserted that per-
sonally he would welcome returning
for the preliminary exercising next
Spring
mo decision has as yet been reached
regarding a camp for next year." the
pilot asserted, but so far as am con-
cerned Biloxi fills the bill to a nicely.
The air here is good, the weather not
too warm and all the early competi-
ton that is necessary has been avail
able.
There has been some talk of the
Louisville club also pitching its camp
here next Spring and if it does we
should benefit at least to the extent Of
getting more variety in our opposition,
as many contests as we needed.
with one or two exceptions, notably
Marberry, who is bit slow in coming
to hand, all the players are in pretty
good shape, and if we don't run into a
streak of bad weather between now and
the opening Of the season We ought to
be ready when the bell rings.
'Some of the boys haven't gotten
their eyes on the ball yet, but I think
you can look for great improvement In
that respect as result OF the games at
Birmingham and Chattanooga.
Thus far the players have not been
eXerting themselves very much, but as
the time approaches for the pennant
race to get under way you can look for
them to snap into it and begin to bear
down. We ought to be ready to get on
to flying start
WHEN the Nationals pull up stakes
w tonight it will be in two squads,
some of the players being billed to
proceed direct to Chattanooga and
there await the remainder, who will be
occupied for two days at Birmingham.
Those who win eliminate the stop-oh
in Alabama will include, in addition TO
Coach Pat Charity, official chaperon,
Wally Dashiell, Baxter Jordan, Dave
Harris, Sam Jones, Ad Liska, Art Fidler,
George Grayson and Charlie Montague,
and until caught up with by their team
mates will work out at President Joe
Engel's Stadium in the Tennessee
Mountains along with the dozen and q
half near Nationals who already have
been assigned TO the Washington farm.
For at least four of the Washington
tourists Birmingham will seem some
thing like home, for they formerly
strutted their stuff at Redwood Field.
This quartet consists of Sam West,
Bump Hadley, Bob Burke and Al
Crowder.
It was in Birmingham, back in 1926,
threatened to end his career on the dia-
mond. The severe beaning he suffered
from ball pitched by Southpaw Merle
Settlemire made him bit bat-Shy for
q long time when facing left-handers
and 1t was only last season that he
finally regained his confidence.
Sammy, who will hold forth in center,
and Al Crowder who will start tomor-
rows battle, will be the only members
OF the foursome to get into action
against the Barons, unless Burke and
Hadley are called on for relief purposes,
as Marberry is listed to hurl whatever
part Of the opener Crowder wills to him.
while Lloyd Brown is scheduled to 60
the route against the Barons in the
second game Saturday.
THE wind-up game for the Nationals
Il here yesterday with the House Of
David nine providing the opposition
proved little more than burleSque on
the national pastime, although it afford
ed plenty of amusement for a crowd Of
about 300, including tn first lady Of the
stage, Miss Ethel Barrymore, her son.
daughter and other members of her
company who are enjoying a rest here
Schacht and Altrock.. wearing false
~hiskers Of flaming red hue. started
on IN the capacity of umpires, but
wound up with Al in the pitchers box
and Nick playing first base.
AS closely as could be figured out.
the Nationals finished on the long end
OF l9-to-8 score, one of the TALES ac-
cruing off Jones. who yielded two hits
in the first five frames; another of
Liska, who walked three and hit a bats
man before he was withdrawn on ac-
count Of sore arm, and the other six
tallies and eight bingles of the deliv-
cry Of the coaching clown.
For the Griffmen the trio of throwers
presented by their bearded opponents
proved just what they have been look
ing for all Spring. In their eight bat
ting turns they piled up something like
% safeties.
Manush, Judge and West achieved
homers and the latter also collected
three other safeties
Wearing mourning bands on the
sleeves Of their shirts, the Nationals
stood at attention for one minute prior
to the start Of the game as a mark OF
respect TO the memory Of the late Pres
idant E. S. Barnard Of the American