Evening star., 1933-02-19
EARLY SQUAD Of IS
ORDERED TO BILOXI
Few in Lot to Leave From
CapitaI-PIayers May Go
in Boken Deal.
RY John b. KELLER.


~ the American League, the
Nationals get down to the
business of base ball in big
way this week.
First call for training will be
sounded Thursday morning at
Biloxi, Miss, with nearly score
of players responding, mostly
pitchers from whom it is believed
will be built a hill corps capable
of making the going in the flag
race exceedingly rough for the
world champion Yankees as well
as Washington's other rivals.
Eighteen players have been ordered
to be at hand for the beginning OF
training Thursday. the lot including
Manager Joe Cronin, 3 catchers, 13
pitchers and l lnflclder. With them
will be Nick Altrock and Al Schact, the
Nationals veteran coaches. Everything
will be in readiness for the squad to GO
to work Immediately, for Trainer Mike
Martin and his assistant, Frankie Bax-
ter, left here yesterday that they might
have sufficient time to make the Biloxi
camp snug and tidy.
Only a small lot will entrain here
Tuesday afternoon for camp, as most OF
the early squad will go direct from
home to the Mississippi town. Leaving
Washington, in charge OF Aitrock, VIII
be Johnny Kerr, infielder; Moe Berg,
catcher; Bob Cassell, pitcher. and
Schacht. On the way Bud Thomas,
pitcher, will be picked up at Charlottes-
vile: Al Crowder, pitcher, will get on
the train at Greensboro, N. c., and Chm
Bolton, catcher. will climb aboard at
High Point, N. G.
Al Thomas, Bill McAfee, Ed Linke
Bob Burke and Ellsworth Hazard,
pitchers all, will leave from chicago.
Thomas left his Baltimore home yester-
day for a brief visit to the Windy City
before proceeding to camp. Earl White
hill. hurler, will move on from Hot
Springs, Ark where he has been doing
some early training.
Two other slabmen-Walter Stewart
and Jack RuSsell-will go to BILOXI
from their homes in Crossville, Tenn,
and Gainesville, Fla, respectively;
Monte Weaver; pitcher, VIII Will proceei1S pocsiS
the new catcher, from his Akron, OHIO,
home. Bob Friedricns, young MOUNDS
man. will entrain at Cincinnati.
Manager Cronin will be at hand to
greet the boys as they arrive, Tor ne Is
expected to reach the training site to-
morrow or Tuesday afternoon.
AICTHING more than general condi-
IN ticnlng work will be done by the
squad until some time next week
Some of the overambitlous young hurl-
ers may feel an urge to cut loose few
fast ones, but Mike Martin Will be on
the lookout for them, and once an carry
bird is discovered he'll quickly be told
what's what A sound arm in the tu-
ture means much more than last one
at present. ~
hand. there'll be more than enough Ior
the meager catching squad Of three to
handle. This means that Schacht Kerr
end even Manager Cronin will have to
lend a hand on the receiving END 1or
time. This will tickle Cronin, for hes
of the active sort that wants to be mere,
there and everywhere at one time.
Kerr is reporting early at the man
ayers request Cecil Travis, the ~
year-old third baseman bought frcm
Chattanooga, also is to report at camp
ahead of the regular infleld ana OUT
field squads. He's due at BnoX March
i. Those in charge Of the Nationals
like to have Travis in the lineup regu-
larlv from the start of the season.
Perhaps Kerr is being called to camp
earlv that he may fit himself physical!y
to assume the role of pers-n nal coach 10
the Chattanooga youngEter. Ihe ciup
could 90 farther and fare verse, Tor
Johnny knows his base ball. and par
ticularly the Unfolding business.
With such a sizable early squad re-
mir Nationals
due March 5, when the full cluo Is 10
be assembled st Biloxi.
nLAYERS instead of cash probably
will be turned over to Kansas City
for Bob Boken, infielder recently
acquired by the Nationals. 1t develops.
Very likely brace cf young pltchers
will be sent to the Blues before camp
is broken at Biloxi 1t is too early 10
speculate. though on the yourg gsters apt
to be shipped.
This Boken, by the way, is rangy
ball player standing feet inches
and weighing more than ITO pounds:
He's "a years old and has been around
professional bare ball for four years,
He was born in Maryville, Ill, Wnere ne
now resides.
He was in the Lone Star, West Texas
and Texas circuits, playing all the way
from SecOnQ 10 lHlIu Udoe uoioiC ~
finally looked good with Joplin IN the
Western Association. From Joplin he
went to Kansas City of the American
Association in 1880 TO fill utility roles
In the infield.
Although he has a career batting
average of .308, he hit only .280 with
the Blues last season. However, he
seemed able to hit in pinches, for he
was credited with driving across lib
taIlies. Reports from Kansas City OBJ
servers say he has large pair Of hands,
a strong and accurate throwing arm and
that he can drive ball good distance.
Critics who watched him the past two
years state he was not an outstanding
player with Kansas City, but revealed
enough to indicate he should be first
class performer in another two or three
seasons. He is rated best at third base.
His greatest drawback, they claim, is
lack of self-aSsurance.
NNE Burrows, who lives somewhere In
" the West, has volunteered to show
his pitching wares at his own eX-
penas at the Washington camp in Blc%i.
President Griffith tcld Burrows he might
show up for trial, but advised him to
buy a round-trip ticket.