Evening star., 1933-02-22
NATIONALS, YANKS
ANDA'SARE NAMED
Griff Vets, En- Route to Bi-
l0xi, Foresee Neck-and-
Neck Flag Battle.
BY TOM DOERER.
I'm ROUTE TO BILOXI, Miss.

TN ROUTE TO BILOXI, Miss,
r. February pa season-long
IL dog fight between three
clubs, the YankS, Nationals
and Athletics, from the drop OF
: the barrier, is the view of the
1888 American League race by two
Griff veterans, AL Schacht, coach,
and Johnny Kerr, utility infielder
as this ice-breaking party OF
Griffs sped on toward Biloxi, the
prepping plot upon which the
Nationals will condition for their
mightiest flag effort since 1924.
"It will be man's-sized diamond
war between the Yanks and Nationals
from the opening day onward" says
Kerr. And add that the Athletics
are going to be in there clubbing al
the pair of U.S." says Schacht, a keen
base ball observer.
These two Nationals see no middle
season scrap, no heroic finish nor any
spectacular start by the three contend
ers, but neck-and-neck struggle from
the bell, with both the Yanks and the
Macks keeping their eyes glued on Uncle
= Clarks band Of inspired players.
Its in the air." says Kerr. "All OF
the players have talked to this Win
ter agree that the Nationals are going
to fight the other clubs off their feet. /"
THERE Is not much card playing OF
J. buffooning among this early squad
49, Nat Dat y, H. AL
ing flag and what to expect from the
Yanks this year.
Chaperoned by Uncle Nick Altrock
the Nationals speeding pathfinders con-
siN OF Schacht, Kerr, Luther Thomas,
rookie pitcher: Lloyd Cassell, a Vir-
ginia sandlot peashooter; Alvin Crowder
Uncle's hot-hand right-hander of last
season, and Cliff Bolton, rugged young
catcher, who hit and fielded well with
Chattanooga last year.
Thomas, who won 20 and lost 7 with
youngstown last season, was taken
aboard the special at Charlottesville,
: Va. Bud wiggles the beam around 1877
poundsE10 pounds over last years
mark. Crowder came aboard at Green's
boro, tanned and boasting of salary
whip which has had lot of loosening
up on warm days at Winsten-Salem,
= ~. ~, %-4o AioiAS toNH. oollOll, lookulS
sturdier than ever, met the train at
High Point, N. c., to complete the party.
Johnnie Kerr took Walter Johnson's
place as sparring partner for AL
Schacht, in the casino and pinochle
battles aboard the train At Salisbury
N. O., Schacht had Johnny about 90
games down and boasted that he would
have him groggy and out before the
train reached camp.
Young CAssELL, a 6-foot-21a " inch,
L 19-year-old, good looking base ball
prospect, got farewell party in
eight towns in Virginia.
As the train sped through Fauquier
County, his home soil, Lloyd hoped up
and waved to the people standing at
the stations. They waved back and
it gave. the big boy thrill. Also the
gang aboard.
MY kinsfolk," said the grinning,
happy kid. Eyes sir; all of them are
out to see me go away. That's my
dads dairy farm over there, down at
the next stop Uncle Wheatfeld Is the
station master. and will be waiting to
see the train go by"
Cassell Is rated as some kid pitcher
down here, the conductor says His
advance into the spotlight in Virginia
came when he pitched 2-2, 15-inning
game against Winchester last Summer
A scout saw him and urged him to
visit Uncle Clark, with the result that
he showed enough stuff at the stadium
last September to cause Grif to get
his signature. He starred at bat and
on the mound for Caverton High.
Ideal weather prevailed yesterday
and last night. and the boys were hop
ing that 1t would continue at Biloxi.