Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-21
HURLERS CAN TOSS
TO BASE IN STRIDE
Barnard Tells Mats About
New 0rder-Get Few Hits,
but Score Win.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor, The Star.

X Two Of the biggest figures
II in base ball, Kenesaw
Mountain Lands and
Ernest S. Barnard, are in full &C
cord on one question of vital in
terest to all followers of the ma
tional paStime. Visiting hereabout
on the same day, although not
happening to meet, they individ-
ually asserted, opined, aSSeverated
and stated that the game is in for
a big season.
In voicing this belief the commits
sioner of base ball and the president Of
the American League simply were full
filling one of the duties of their exalted
Offices. They always point with pride
to what has been accomplished and
never view with alarm any situation
that may confront the sport so inter-
viewing them on the outlook for base
ball invariably has about as much news
as the story of the dog biting the man.
Barnard, who has been vacationing
in Florida. where he made his head
quarters at st. Petersburg, the training
base Of the Yankees. also looked in at
the camps Of the Browns at West Palm
Beach, the Athletics at Fort Myers and
the Red Sox at Pensacola and after
SPENDING few days here plans to visit
the Indians at New Orleans before re-
turning to headquarters in Chicago.
Finds All Optimistic.
The boss of the junior major circuit
said he found spirit Of optimism per-
vading the camps Of both the st. Louis
and Boston clubs and that the Phila-
delphia players seemed to feel confident
they would be able to repeat In the
race this year.
Referring to the champions, Barnard
voiced the belief they have been
STRENGTHENED back Of the bat. with John
Heving available for service in the event
anything happens to Mickey Cochrane
and with Phil Todt, also from the Red
Sox. as understudy for Jimmy Fox at
first base, but said that, as far as ne
can see.s they have added nothing in
the way of pitchers, which they need
more than anything else. Aside from
that, he gave no intimation OF his opin-
ion on the prospects for AS landing
their third consecutive pennant.
Questioned concerning the interpre-
tation given the new balk rule in the
bulletin he sent out to club owners and
managers. Barnard admitted that prob
ably too much stress had been put on
the necessity for the pitcher to step
toward a base before he throws, which
would have made thefts so numerous
base running would have become joke.
What was intended and the point that
will be enforced. Barnard said, Is that
the pitcher must first step toward
bag while in the act Of making throw
to catch a runner of.
Lands Hits Snappy 106.
Judge Lands was around for one day
only and half of that was devoted to
a round Of 1S holes of golf in which
~rAA aViv
against your correspondent and another
fellow who cnce broke 100. The
eminent former Federal jurist, who also
has been mentioning In Florida, got so
disguised with his game several days
ago that he shipped all his parapher-
MALTA back home, but with set OF
clubs leaned him by Grihlth and wear
ing a pair of spiked brogans belonging
to club pro he stepped around the
sporty Edgewater golf course, his shay
Nv white name ripping in the breeze,
and proceeded to bat out snappy l06.
He got of to a rather poor start with
on the par 4 first hole, but In the
urocess discovered a brassie he liked
among the assortment of sticks he was
using and contrived one par while never
utilizing more than Z strokes, although
he did this 1--WE times while going out
in "a and coming back in So. Thanks
despite a pair of rs. the 65-year-old
car of base ball had the satisfaction
for the first time in his 20 years OF
. golfng Of never losing the honor from
start to finish.
So enamored of that brassie did the
Judge become that Griff. after the
round was finished made him q pres
ent Of it, disregarding the TACT tn st
the bag and its contents were the
property of Col william A. Smith, as
sistant secretary Of the Nationals, who
priced that turf skinner above any I'M
plement in his kit If he can square
himself for that Grif will prove his
right to that tag of "Old Fox
HadIey in Debut.
Providing there is no interference
from the weather the Louisville club
will be encountered in the first OF two
straight games this afternoon at b.
loxi Stadium. with Bump Hadley max
ing his initial appearance OF the sea-
son on the mound for nve-nnlns
stretch and being followed by either
Bob Burke or Walter Tauscher.
Yesterday, before a mere handful Of
fans and under climatic conditions
that made overcoats feel comfortable
tn Mats entertained the Spring Hill
College nine and wound up with 4
to-3 verdict for the seven and hall
TOunoS WHICH StaIISu anu ShOCu AA
drizzle.
Art FidIer, making his debut In
Washington uniform, was warmly re-
ceiyed by the Snappy performing varai'
" lads, and was nicked right at the
outset for a triple and homer which
with a base on balls, Melted the col
legians their trio Of tallie5.
He turned them back handily during
the next four frames, however, anC
young Joe Smith. who finished out tn
string. did likewise All told the schoo
boys collected five hits, three Of which
the homer and two doubles, went t;
Shortstop Bellande. whom the Cleve
land Indians are said to have undel
cover
The National regulars in the two in
nings they played contrived to conec
only one run but the UNDERSTANDS Wit
relieved added six more tallies, thank
to some typicslly WOODY fielding on tn
part Of the rah-rah boys, who's
juvenile fingers held the big .eaguer
to a mere handful of bingles.
It would seem that the Gridmen thi
Spring can't hit even schoolboy pitch
ers.