The Washington times., 1936-02-14
First GriH
Squad Off
Feb. 22
By KIRK MILLER
Times Sports Editor


bestir itself out Of the snow
bound stage q week from TO-
morrow when the first detach-
ment of Washington prospects
will entrain for Orlando, the
new spring training grounds
Of the Washington Griffmen.
A little band Of eight in
trepid souls embarks from
Union Station with Manager
Bucly Harris at the helm. In
such a modest way, the season
starts, insofar as fan interest is
concerned, for on the following
Monday morning the group will
be given balls and gloves, but
hardly bats yet awhile, and told
to 60 forth and prove their mettle.
If there be a jewel or two In
that corporal's guard, the fans
will have much for which to be
hopeful. Since Washington is in
the midst of a rebuilding stage,
promising material, particularly
among the young pitchers, will
help complete the transition.
Washington needs pitcher
badly, and while some Of the
prospects being taken into their
first major league camp may not
be ready for immediate utility,
an uncut diamond found here or
there, would be a distinctly en-
couraging sign for the future.
No ball club can look too far
ahead for men to fill the falter'
ing veteran ranks, most especially
In the pitching department.
Many Kid Hurlers
In the initial shipment Of
talent to Orlando will be found
largely kid hurlers. These include
Henry Coppola, reporting to his
second Washington camp. Last
year this highlander, who re-
ceived his early baseball training
in New England, made an auspi-
eious major league start by shut
ting out the Red Sox in q five
hit game. The lads arm later
developed considerable soreness,
which in the meantime he re-
ports to be completely remedied.
Southpaw Dick Lanahan. the
local product who shone bril-.
liantly at Eastern High school be-
fore essaying q professional Ca
feer q year ago, will be aboard
that train . week from tomorrow,
as win a newcomer to the Wash
ington ranks, Kendall Chase,
sent along to the Griffmen by
President Joe Engel Of Chatta-
nooga.
Trio Of Rockies
Then there will be Joe KrakauS-
kas, out Of the wilds Of Canada,
highly recommended by Joe
Cambria and other International
Leaguers who have seen him
pitch q baseball. Two other new.
Comers will also be taking their
first major league ride in the
persons Of Jack Hudson, a pitcher
who has made quite a name for
himself around Alexandria, and
Ed Rosenberg, a hurler out Of
New Freedom, Pa.
A kid catcher by the name Of
Alex Sabo, from Highland Park.
N. Y, completes the party leav-
ing from Washington, but no
sooner than the train reaches
High Point, N. c., Cliff Bolton
will climb aboard.
BY Sunday night this skeleton
crew will have arrived in Orlan-
do, where Owner Clark Griffith
has been for nearly a month,
preparing the way for an auspi-
ciouS start for the youngsters Of
his house.
Weaver to Try Again
Going directly from their
homes and reporting to Orlando
for the opening Of practice on
the oath of this month will be
Monte Weaver, Harry Oates,
James Hutchinson, Floyd Pretty
man, Dee Miles, Cecil Travis and
Roberto EStalella.
Weaver, you know all about.
He's been with or near Wash
ington since 1881. Last spring
he was released to Albany on
option. He has shown flashes Of
major league pitching form on
many occasions, but q stomach
disorder has kept him in uncer-
tain physical condition. Word
has come along that he has built
himself up into good shape and
is again ready for a desperate
effort to take his proper place
IN the Griffmen pitching routine.
Young oates came to Washing