Evening star., 1933-03-03
CAST RULES ASIDE
FOR BATTING DRILL
Even Uncle Clark Mixes in
Riot That Marks First
Clout Practice.
BY TOM DOERER.


IL his very good man, Friday,
Battling Joe Cronin, the
peppery helmsman, were scurry-
ing around the pennant-going
craft, Nationals, this morning
with a full sized mutiny upon
their hands.
Griffith cantered over the Biloxi play
ing field waving, gesticulating and
giving unheeded orders in a din OF
cracking bats and enthusiastic shouts,
while his head man, young Joe, was
vainly patting backs until his mitts
were as sore as a winning county poll
ticians on election day, and his plead
ings were pitiful to hear.
All because those National battery
men had Smelled meat. They roared
and demanded to be fed. An enemy
had come into their midst. They had
been challenged and had accepted. =
That meat was old Samuel Rice, the
lean, long-striding outflelder, who defied
the batterymen's rule that no hitter be
near them until they had rounded into
shape Sam had come into the enemy's
territory and the boys were going to
smack the rules into the Duke of Wash
ington'S hat.
Sam" wept Mr.. Cronin, you should
have stayed in the lobby in hiding for
a few days. Your presence has my
batterymen berserk. They want to carve
you up with some curves"
Bring on your peashooters," said
Sam, strutting up to the platter with
one of his favorite long -hitters in hand,
III show you how much good the
Biloxi sunshine has done for them"
THEN things happened. Inf1elders
i and catchers took up full-throated
war cry, grabbed bats and the most
spirited batting practice any of the vets
claim to have seen in many years took
place down here.
Succumbing to the mutinous urge of
his mauling minions, the ruddy gray
man from the COW Countrywide, him
self-stepped upon the bridge and
roared few orders. He sent for the
catching backstop, he ordered bats to
be brought out, catchers' mitts and
fielders gloves to be unwrapped and
told the flock that all rules were of for
the time being.
And what sight gentlemen, what
picture. Even the small gray leader
of the pack, made skittish by the burn
ing sun, the enthusiasm of his players,
WeIlt pdCk oo years III clhAlcoo, olio
grabbed the biggest war club he
could nab
He's going to knock the heads off
these guys for breaking the rules"
cried Schacht.
But Uncle did not. He played in a
game of pepper, bunting them to the
boys, reaching out Tor pitches to rap
them back sharply to the waiting line
of players.
He hoped about from one group to
another, his cigar leaving long string
of smoke, like fast flyer in a hurry.
He showed young pitchers how to stand
how to deliver the ball, and then put
Nick Altrock, tongue dragging, in charge
OF further tutoring. He took hold of
Johnny Burrows, the Arizona strike
out king, and told him how to get his
foot in the air. Then he called for a
lieutenant to carry on. Cronin was
over at the other end OF. the field doing
likewise.
"NIOW," said Uncle after the pre-
~ Eminaries, Let me see you bat
if you are feeling SO tough"
Sam Rice went up and belted one, a
iner to centerfield off Bill McAfee
and still more vigorous pitching. All
available hands, including the press
representatives, were sent to the out
field to shag 'em. Tony Ragusin,
camera in hand, with a string of
chamber of commerce literature stream
ing from his pockets, scurried out to
deep left.
Cliff Bolton, with the look of eagles"
In his eye banged one to the skies and
his bat dropped, broken in half.
You're holding it wrong" shouted
Uncle. Take it this way" And he
showed Cliff how to hold the bat so that
the TRADEMARK upon it would be facing
the pitcher.
"Bam." Johnny Kerr followed. And
broke another weapon. Cronin showed
him that he, too, was over-anxious,
and welding the war club incorrectly.
Stewart. Whitehill, Russell and a
crew of rockies, went up to the mound
in turns in an attempt to stop the
heavy slugging. Bill McAfee, the relief
man, began bearing down on the hitters.
Berg took a long one off him, Cecil
Travis got another.
There's natural hitter" Uncle said
of Travis.
Moe Berg donned mask and pro-
tector for the first time. This was real
business. Cronin hoped from batters
to pitchers, urging them to slow down,
and a movie outfit began pumping
away at the scene of action which,
however, was never meant for the
fortunate camera boys.
MOT until old Samuel Rice was
~ ushered out of The picture by
Griffith did the heavy firing cease
then attention turned to prepping the
hurlers in catching runners off first
AL Thomas had few minutes drilling
in this department with Joe Cronin
doing the coaching
Pitcher Walter Stewart, boasting a