Evening star., 1932-02-21
SPENCER, CATCHER,
MARbERRY KICKING
Roy Appears Essential to
Clubs SucceSS-Pitcher
SOreIy Needed.
BY JOHN b. KELLER,

BY JOHN b. KELLER.
q PRING is right around the
- bend, but many high-class
~ ball players are sitting back
placidly with big league
owners anxiously looking to them
for help in bringing the major
craft to the starting line of the
championship regattas in smart
order.
With pitchers and catchers
ordered to assemble at the va
rious training camps, battery
hold-outs begin to trouble the
bosses and Clark Griffith, presi-
dent Of the Nationals, Is among
those affected.
Tomorrow the Washington squad Of
hurlers and receivers is to begin condi-
tioning work at Biloxi, Miss, but 3 Of
the II pitchers and 2 Of the catchers
are as yet unsigned. And among them
al { AC0 43oA oCo4A "a eAAC AAiOoA4A
corps and rated one of his clubs pitch
ing aces, and Roy Spencer, the only
able catcher on the Nationals roster
That Bob Burke and Bob Friedrichs,
slabmen, and Howard Maple, receiver,
haven't signed may not mean so much
to the Washington club and Griffith.
But with Marberry and Spencer, par
ticularly the latter, baking at terms
aF ho cI7 has q
problem to furrow his brow.
THIS Spencer always has been an OBJ
i stinate person to deal with in
contractural matters. Even when
he had some real opposition on the
catching staff he indulged in consider
able argument before seeing things the
boss way. Now that Spencer realizes,
as does every one else who knows any
thing of the Washington club, that he
Is virtually indispensable to his organi-
zation, he probably will be more difh-
cult than ever to bring into line.
No matter how good clubs pitching
staff may be, it wouldn't be likely to go
far without proper support back of the
bat. At least one good catcher is es-
sential to clubs success. From what
he has revealed it is evident the Wash
ington club may expect little Of Cliff
Bolton Nor can Ed Charity. al
though once sturdy catcher, be eX-
pected to prove of much help. Maple.
the rookie with one brief big league
trial behind him, is not to be rated
| highly.
In every way, therefore, Spencer
seems to have the edge on the Wash
ington club in his argument.
griffith said not long ago he did
" not believe he would experience
much trouble coming to terms
with the baking catcher. A salary in
crease was given Roy, the president
stated, and there was no real reason
for the catcher to hold out. Evidently
Spencer thinks otherwise. And when
he does so, changing Roy's mind IS
nothing easy.
Back in 1880 Spencer spurned terms
offered. and never showed up at the
Biloxi training camp. Not until the
day before the season opened did the
catcher report to his club and sign.
And then President Griffith suspended
Spencer until the catcher could satisfy
Manager Walter johnson he was in
proper trim to go behind the bat. Roy
had done considerable training at his
Augusta home, so his suspension was
brief.
With the Nationals needing him so
badly, affairs between Spencer and the
club soon may be adjusted, with the
club yielding substantially. Otherwise
nothing may be seen of the catcher at
this years training camp.
AfARBERRY spoke his piece not long
1v1 ago. In an interview at his Cor
sicana. Tex. home he declared
he was not satisfied with the contract
offered him, contract which he said
called for a salary reduction, but that
he would report at Biloxi with the re-
mainder of the pitchers and take up
the matter of terms with President
Griffith in person.
Thereupon Griffith in his Office here
spoke his piece No one was to report
for training without having previously
signed. No. sir. And he would be in
Biloxi once the time the player had
been ordered to report for training had
passed.
Perhaps Marberrys little speech may
mean more than Grifith'S. Anyway,
several times before Marberry has wait
ed until he reached training camp to
confer with the prexy before signing
and never missed a day of training at
that. Griffith before this has announced
emphatically that no player need report
before signing. only to relent and
smooth over affairs.
With the Nationals needing Mar
berrys services so sorely and any day
of training missed by the big fellow,
always difficult to round into condition,
counting so heavily against him, the
pitcher probably will be out there work
ing with the other batterymen shortly
after if not from the start.
Which doesn't mean, though, that
Fred is apt to win the money end Of
the argument with Griffith.
WHY the other hold-outs is something
w hard to understand. Friederichs
and Maple. coming up from the
minors, seem to have no reason for
baking. Salary increases have been
offered them, according to Griffith as
is customary in the cases of players
graduating to the big league, If only
for trial
Maybe Burke thinks that no-hit game
against the Red Sox last August makes
him much more valuable than here
| tofore. True, Bob has something on
the average youngster coming up from
the minors, for he has been around the
big show long enough to learn much.
He still has much more to learn, how
ever, before winning his spurs as big
| Lacquer.
1t probably will not take Griffith long
to convince Burke of this, once the two
get into conference.
STILL "HARD LUCK HANK"