Evening star., 1935-11-10
50 SPRING T|[TS
ON TRAINING BILL
First Half of "Grapefruit"
Program to Find Club
Touring Florida.

BY FRANCIS E. STAN.
~ RESIDENT CLARK GRIF-
- FIFTH, who for two years has
listened to wall of half
L trained ball club" by both
Washington fans and players, an
swered his critics today with the re-
lease of half of one of the most pre-
tentious Spring exhibition schedules
In the history Of the Nationals.
AS early as March IA the Nationals
will see formal action in the Grape
fruit League" and before the month of
March is ended Bucky Harris ball
club will have played in II games,
weather permitting. Most of the
training tilts this year, as contrasted
to those during the. preseason ses-
sions at Biloxi. Miss. will be against
other major league clubs.
Lodged in Florida training camp
for the first time since 1929. the
Nationals will make an extensive tour
Of the Gator State during March
and indications are that when Grif-
fifth completes his schedule the 1886
Washington club will be slated to
engage in more than 80 exhibition
contests before the curtain rolls up on
the American League season next
April. From March IA to April IA,
inclusive, a game day is To be sched-
uled according to present plans.
Gives Kids Chance to Pitch.
IN RECENT years. especially dur.
ing the past two seasons, Washing
ton pitchers have been known to muir
rnur against the comparatively light
Spring training schedules booked for
the Nationals. Griff1th's answer to the
protests of his players was that they
were using this charge as an excuse
to cover their own ineffectiveness
Nevertheless. the fans took up the cry,
especially after the championship 1888
club folded up early the following sea-
son.
The heavy schedule booked for next
Spring constitutes not so much an an
swer to Griff1ths critics, however, as
it does determined move to develop
q formidable hurting staff. Probably
the weakest curving corps In the
league dragged the Nationals through
the mire last season, and obviously,
with rival clubs naturally reluctant to
part with any of their seasoned hurl-
ers, the solution is to develop young
sters.
Thus does the most extensive of re-
cent Washington preseason schedules
fit in with the Griffith Harris develop
ment program, affording, as it does
ample opportunity for the flock of kid
hurlers which Griff already has desig-
mated to report at Orlando to show
their wares under fire.
To Open Against Red Sox.
g.. THE Boston Red Sox, who may be
- installed as pennant favorites If
rumored proposals to the Athletics
materialize, will help Washington open
its formal competition next Spring.
Joe Cronin will lead the Bosox against
the Nationals on March IA at the
locals training base.
Three other major league teams, the
Phillies, Tigers and Browns, also will
invade Orlando for exhibition games
during March The Phillies and Tigers
will be played once, while the Browns
are dated for two games.
Four more games at Orlando also
will be played with minor league clubs
So far Montreal Is the only team def
nitely slated, but three dates are open,
and they probably will be filled
by Washington's two high-ranking
farms" Albany and Chattanooga.
On foreign fields during March the
Griffs will oppose Cincinnati at
Tampa, the Cardinals at Bradenton,
Baltimore at Kissimmee, Chatta-
nooga at Sanford the Red Sox at
Sarasota. the Phillies at Winter
Haven and the Tigers at Lakeland.