The Washington times., 1936-02-24
Ed Linke
DOwn To
1876 Lbs.
By FRANK BUCK" ONEILL


ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 24.-Per.
haps the first Of the several prob
lens confronting the Washington
Griffmen who answered baseball's
reveille this morning is whether
or not President Clark c. Grif.
fifth made a mistake in compel.
ing Eddie Linke to make 1875
pounds.
Linke has made the weight all
right. He balanced the scales set
at the required poundage, but he
looks like a fighter who spent
hours before weighing in taking
steam bath.
Now this may be borrowing
trouble before a pall is pitched.
Maybe Linke will go right out
and take up the matter OF win
ming ball games where he left off
in 1885 after eight consecutive
victories. But the kid is down
fine; about five pounds too fine,
we would say.
Link was graduated from the
American College Of Physical Ed
ucation, in Chicago, just a few
weeks ago, winning his bachelors
degree. The school was strenu-
GUS. Eddie had to have reefs
taken in his clothing. He isn't
the roly-poly, deep-cheSted kid so
familiar to Washington fans. Be
tween the work of completing his
course and reducing to the pound
age required to make his contract
valid, Linke wore himself right
into the care Of physician.
Griffith Confident
President Griffith is confident
that Linke will be all right at the
weight.
"If he shows that he cannot
pitch at the weight set, l Will
agree to his weighing 200
pounds" Griffith said today.
'But that is the limit"
''Linke at 2O5 pounds was not
a good pitcher" Griffith said
in defending his inSiStence that
the player make weight. "But
he will be all right under 200
pounds. However, Pm not going
to permit . pound or two to in
terfere with the effectiveness of
a player who has shown that he
can pitch and win."
Another of the Washington
problem children is In camp with
the two dozen or so aspirantS. He
is Prof. Monte Weaver, who can
harness the power of Muscle
Shoals with his mathematical
formulae. If he can just come
back and harness the power CT
American League batSmen this
season he will be all right. Weaver
looks about the same as he did
when he packed up his glove and
shoes and extra shirt ana
meandered off to the 1nterna-
tional League. The change in his
strength and endurance, however.
will be noted, he says.
Faces Shine With Hope
The old scene that is ever as
young and as fresh as the coming
of spring grips this citrus city to-
day. The boys, their faces shin
ing with hope or set in grim
masks hike out the mile and seven
tenths to the ball park, de-
termined to launch a career which
they hope will be rewarded ulti-
mately with niche in Coopers-
town Hall of Fame. The veterans
whom the years are crowding are
fighting the age old battle against
the surging charges of youth.
It's a big squad and fine-look-
ing squad that makes the hike to
Tinker Field. There's Harry Oates.
recommended by Buck NewSon1.
Raw and uncouth. but 6 feet 4
and a husky boy. Frank Peticolas.
who was at Biloxi last year, is 6
feet 3 and looks more like ball
player than he did there. There's
plenty of size and reach in the
squad, and now if we can just get
a couple of good fast ball babies
who can last those last three in
ningS under fire, what a great
thing that will be.
Stanley Harris with the op-
timism Of a true baseball heart
thinks that he surely will be able
to discover those fast ball pitchers
without the least bit Of trouble.
Quest Not In Vain
Well, he's not altogether sure
that he will find the players he
wants. But he is quite hopeful
that his quest will not be in vain.
TITS . gamble we take year
in and year out" Harris said.
"It's the gamble that makes
baseball retain its hold on the
American public. Some of
these kids are going to prove
effective, and If we just get a
yOungster or two out of the
lot who looks as If he may de-
velOp for 1887, the trip will not
be in vain"
Jimmy Deshong - they called
him "Ching" on the Yankees and
that is his name here - was
around to make his bow as
starter. This is Deshong's year
if you ask him, or for that mat.
ter, whether you ask him or not.
He's fit as a fiddle and ready to
pitch.
Here's the list Of those who
are in uniform as you read this
issue Of WaShington'S best-read
evening newspaper: