Evening star., 1932-02-25
UNSIGNED PLAYERS
CAUSING NO WORRY
Athletes Carry on Quietly as
Griffith GoIfs-Squad
in Fine Trim.
BY TOM DOERER.

K AS serene as the lazy, loll-
IL ing Gulf of Mexico, idling
along the coast line here
Is the atmosphere at the Nationals
preping plant as a half week OF
spirited morning drills came to a
conclusion.
Not even the fact that five con-
tracts still are devoid of the fine
Spencerian fiourishes of Bob
Burke, pitcher, and the fielders-
Joe Judge, Buddy Myer, Heine
Manush and Sammy West-per-
turbs the angelic countenance
and the pinkiSh glow upon the
face of your Uncle Clark Griffith.
Griffith smiles at the intimation that
he should be pertubed at the lack of
documents from a few of the tardy
young men.
For it is Grifhths very business
like contention that a player can do
what he may with the contract up
until the time that he is due to re-
port here in this haven of sunshine,
tranquility and very comfortable beach
chairs.
Then and here Griffith waggles those
silver gray eye brows until they as
sumo a slight bristle-and then, he
will have something to say.
Job With Griffs Up to Burke.
And he is having his say in the
matter of Bobby Burke right at this
moment. Your Uncle Clark has just
had telegram from Joliet, Ill, and
it was signed by the young man who
touched a monetary high spot in base
ball last year
Burke wants to Jog along to Biloxi
have Joust with a few portions of
this very juicy grapefruit down here
and sort of spar his way into a con-
verSation which would lead on to mat
tiers of the money
He will be here" says Griffith, strut
ting hither and yon upon Biloxi's play
ing field, when he agrees to my terms.
You may write the folks back home
that the air here is balmy, my golf
is getting better and that 1 have some
nice looking pitching prospects. About
Burke I have nothing much to report"
And just to prove that the shrewd
little man is taking things very quietly
as regards communications with his
peeViSh ball players, there sits none
other than the very petite Mildred Rob-
inson, secretary to Uncle Clark, sun
ming herself outside of my window, dis
cussing the affairs of the day with Mrs
Lloyd Brown and Mrs. Carl Fischer be-
cause uncle's business has slumped so
that there Is no need for her to be
writing snappy letters to tardy ball
playing persons.
So far as the status of First BaSeman
Joe Judge is concerned, according to
reliable front-office information he is
due to arrive here on March to make
a battle for his old birth. The De-
troit deal, kept simmering by Bucky
Harris and Griffith for days, has faded
out into misty nothing.
But is there something else In the off,
ing for Joe? Now, don't be foolish
Griffith keeps a lot of things under
that old golf cap and Just what business
Is going on between the Nationals and
another club anent Joe is still under
Griffth's chapeau.
Just how well conditioned were the
young men of this ball club when they
arrived is attested by time upon the
hands of Michael Martin, the trainer
Not a sore arm, not kink or an ache
has beset the outfit, though the training
is days ahead of what Griffith and his
austere board of strategy had planned
This board has suffered much from the
photogs since big Eddie Ainsmlth S
arrival Tuesday. They have been
herded together. showed hither, yon and
sideways to oblige the camera hounds
who wish to show the folks back home
how a great gathering of brains look
when grouped. Nick Altrock may be
made captain Of the coaching guards
having suddenly taken on a very i'm
portant and dignified air, fitting him
for the job
Fischer's Blister Only Hurt.
However, there is nothing more seri-
Gus after the few days Of training than
q blister upon the foot of Cliff Bolton
the grinning grapber of fouls, and Car
Fischer, the bean shooter. But you
cannot count Carl a real honest-to-
goodness base ball casualty. Not by
the farthest stretch of the imagina-
ton, because he gathered blister or
his heel while trying to dig up the tur1
with a number 2 iron.
1t is causing him to frolic about ir
baby-blue house slippers which match
his curly hair and pink complexion.
Does it not, Mrs. Fischer?"
1t does, because Mrs. Fischer, sitting
in a nice, shiny sedan here at the hotel
walk, agrees quickly.
And I've given you the tip-off to
what a dogs life these poor athletes
are leading down here Rocks, once
teetering with fatigue into camp, now
roar up to the hotel in smart cars
There's Howard Maple pulling in now
with Oregon tags On his nifty Spitz-
Doodle streamline eight t-cylinder.
These smart, well dressed, polished
rockies are taking all the kick out OF
training life You can't make 'en bite
on fake kilograms from Judge Landis-
or anything. They are serious young
men out to outsmart the other fellow
IN Oot