Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-09
BIG SEASON LIKELY
FOR HUSKY HURLER
Bump, Within Three Pounds
of Best Playing Weight,
Tolls Earnestly.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,


- Nationals finally on the job
and starting work today fol
the first of their 20 preseason ex-
hibitions-that with the Baltimore
Orioles here next Thursday-Man-
ager Johnson has reason to feel
highly gratified over the results
attained toward prepping for the
American League championship
campaign, which opens Just five
weeks hence.
There is not an ailment worthy of
the term, not even really sore arm,
among the more than score of ath-
letes who have been toiling daily for
some time past now and whose ranks
today were. Swelled by approximately a
dozen more.
ALI Of those who have been on the
Job for q week or longer have progressed
in an erninently satisfactory manner,
but none quite so much as Irving Had
ley, who, with full fortnight of exer-
cising behind him now is adjudged to
be in by far the best shape he ever
before achieved during the whole length
of Spring training period.
JUST what this means can be appre-
ciated only when it is borne in
mind that Hadley, from the time
he made his first trip South with the
Griffmen in the Spring of 1926, green
lad of 81 years, plucked from the sand
lots of his native Lynn, Mass, by that
master spit ball finger, Jack Chesbro,
always has been an overly chunky chap.
Although not tall as ball players go,
falling short almost inches of the g.
foot mark, Hadley has a heavy frame
that naturally is well upholstered and
has a decided tendency toward becom-
ing overStuffed. It is this penchant
for packing on superfiuous pounds, as
much as anything else, that has pre-
vented him from attaining place high
among the pitching fraternity of the
national pastime.
IN the matter of natural ability, base
i ball wise persons are agreed he is
most generously endowed-in fact,
for sheer stuff, it Is doubtful If there
Is any performer in the game who is
his superior-but he never has been
able to capitalize his capabilities to the
fullest extent over any extended period
due to the fact he takes on weight too
easily.
Hadley always will have that bugaboo
TO contend with, for nature intended
him to be big man, but he has demon
strated this Spring that 1t is possible
Tor him TO get down to playing weight
well in advance of the start of the
championship grind, and once there he
can maintain the desired mark In
poundage provided he is not compelled
to idle for more than a day or two at a
time
At various times Hadley has tipped
the beam at well over 200, although 1876
is his best playing weight. Right now
ne crosses only 1873, which means he
has until April IA to lose the excess,
just nice margin for him to work on
And work is used advisedly, for We have
the word of Trainer Mike Martin to
support the evidence offered by our
optics that there is no harder toiling
athlete in camp than the smiling 90
year-old from down East.
A ND don't think these results have
IA been achieved without a deal of
effort and self-denial. for the work
he has been doing here Is merely a con-
Ginuation on an enlarged scale of the
program he has followed, indoors as
well as outdoors, all Winter, including
an attention to his diet that deprived
him Of many articles of both food and
drink, eschewed no matter how strong
the craving, because they are listed un-
der the head Of fattening.
For Hadley each work day involves
an enormous amount of strenuous exer-
cising, including everything his mates
do in the way Of tossing, bunt fielding,
shagging flies and track work, only more
OF IL, and also involves a long session
of special back-breaking drill with
heavy medicine ball. topped of with
ID or more holes of golf in the after
noon.
It is not alone what he does. but the
Vaynu n Iroe kank
an outstanding figure in the camp of
the Grifmen, however, for he not only
Is ready at all times to do anything
asked Of him, but performs his chores
with a spirit that Is contagious, his
good hundred willingness to punish
himself constituting a fine example for
the athletes who are toiling alongside
him.
IRON the way Hadley is shaping up
i 1t may develop that Manager
Walter johnson will have to look
no farther for that "one outstanding
pitcher" deemed necessary for the Ma
tionals TO cop the championship this
year. and If condition alone would
assure it Bump would get Martins vote
right now as the most likely candidate.
The club trainer is outspoke enthu-
siastic over Bumps great s. ~ Iing and
confidently predicts he will have a
great season.
i've seldom seen Hadley as trim as
he is now, even in midseason" Mike
beamed today Except for strengthen
ing his pitching arm he's practically in
shape and can coast along until the
curtain raises, provided we don't lose
any time on account of bad weather
He ought to have a big year"
WITH virtually the full complement
Wv of infielders and outfielders added
TO the batterylnen already in camp
activities at Biloxi Stadium today were
extended TO include defensive drills TO,
the base guardians as well as the fly
chssers.
For the latter ccack Pat Charity
did most Of the work of fungoing flies
70 be shagged while grounders for the
two sets Of infielders. one consisting Of
regulars and the other of rockies. were
furnished by Uncle Nick Altrock and
Pilot johnson.
All hands. of course, had a good ses-
sion Of batting practice.
WESTRY Su0E VIcTnP