Evening star., 1933-01-15
HELD BIG Lacquer
AFTER LONG GRIND
Chattanooga Grooming Said
to Have Helped Hitting
Receiver Greatly.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.


4 back from Chattanooga,
~ will share with Luke
Sewell, recently procured
from Cleveland, the main burden
of the Nationals catching in the
next base ball campaign provided
he is as good as claimed by Clark
Griffith.
The Washington prexy thinks
the young receiver who has been
with the Nationals several times
in the past four seasons at last
is ready to come to the big
leagues to stick.
Perhaps Grifiths wish is father to
the thought, however. This Bolton now
seems q consistent hitter and a long,
range one, too. At least, his minor
league record gives him quite a repu-
tation as batter. And Griffith wants
nothing more than a powerful puncher
to stick in the lower end of the Ma
tionals' hitting list.
In his appearances with the WASH
ington club, Bolton was not so impress
sive as batter or a catcher. His
stance at the plate was such that ne
wasn't difficult to pitch to and few Of
the hits he managed to make were Of
the solid kind. Cliff was not at all
shifty behind the bat, his throwing was
inaccurate and he was q dismal failure
as a foul-ball catcher.
It's different with Cliff now, Grifhth
contends. This past season with the
Chattanooga club worked wonders with
the little receiver If you'll listen to the
washington boss. Bolton had to do
practically all the work behind the bat
for the Lookouts and it's reported this
heavy duty ironed out the kinks in his
handling of the position.
Griffith insists Bolton at the finish of
the Southern Association season was a
catcher of class. He held up his
pitchers in splendid style, pegged to the
bases with speed and accuracy and
handling fouls was for Cliff as easy as
eating his supper. A high-grade back
stopper in every way, Griffith Is letting
1t be known.
And hit. Well, this Bolton boy
simply stepped into all the pitching
Chattanooga's foes could muster against
him and belted the ball all over the
Dixie lots. That's Grifith's story and
also Joe EngePs. Engel, who digs up
ball players for the Nationals when he
isn't .presidentfng at Chattanooga. de-
clares Bolton one of the sweetest hit
ters he has looked upon in years.
Maybe Bolton at last has that GER
tain something he lacked when In the
big show before.
MYTH Sewen sure to be called upon
w for much of the Washington
catching and Bolton expected to
snow plenty Of improvement as a
catcher so as to be given much work
Dy Manager Joe Cronin, it looks al
though Moe Berg will have to be con-
tent with third-string Job with the
Washington receiving staff.
Berg proved handy man to have
around last season. The big fellow
picked up after Cleveland had cast him
adrift had many opportunities to work
behind the bat for the Nationals, what
with Roy Spencer having so many all
mentS and Blimp Maple In the early
part OF the campaigning regarded too
green for service. And Berg made good
in big way. Not as a hitter, but as
receiver. Those few hits Moe got.
though, were quite helpful to his club.
He did his punching when mates were
on the runway.
Moe should be in better trim to start
training this Spring than he was when
he reported at the Biloxi camp last
year. Then he was toting bundle Of
overweight and getting nd Of 1t proved
gulte q strain ON his underpinning.
Berg always had been slow sfoot, but
last Summer he was slower than ever.
This time, though, Moe will arrive in
Biloxi with spell Of hard work be-
hind him. Since the close of the LIST
campaign, Berg has been over In japan
teaching the young idea Of the island
empire what 1t wants to known about
base ball.
With the Washington club planning to
have staff limited to three catchers.
two now on the roster will have to be
shifted down the river. Blimp Maple
probably will be sent to the Nationals
farm at Chattanooga. Tank Horizons
fate Is quite uncertain.
JUST SO players now remain on the
Nationals roster for 1898. The lot
was brought to such proportions
yesterday when Johnny Gill, outfielder.
was sold outright to Chattanooga. How
much the washington club got for the
player was not announced by President
Griffith.
Gill, bought from the Baltimore club
late in the 1881 season, had a brief trial
with the Nationals, then was shunted
to the Chattanooga farm. Last year
he was regular with the Lookouts and
fielded and batted well. Gill was re-
called at the end Of the 1882 campaign.
but with such flock Of outfielders at
hand Grifhth decided to dispose of him.
The prexy peddled the player around
the Glass AA circuits, but could find no
takers So Chattanooga got a break,
for 1t wanted Gill again.
A LTHOUGH contracts for the 1888
n season were sent out by the Wash
ington club only yesterday, two of
the Nationals already are in line for
the big business ahead In a letter re-
ceived by Griffith yesterday afternoon.
Dave Harris, extra outfielder, expressed
satisfaction with the terms offered in
a communication from the Washing
ton president. The honor Of being the
tirst Washington player to accept terms,
though. fell to Alphonse Thomas,
pitcher, who drove over from his Balti-
more home to tell the club everything
was Jake so far as his pay was con-
cerned.