The Washington times., 1937-01-18
Y Yankees LIST
Contests In
Southwest
BY FRANK BUCK" O,NEILL

Although Florida remains the
spring concentration ground of
major league baseball clubs, a
position it is more than likely to
hold indefinitely, signs Of a drift
to the West are noted in the
spring training schedules Of the
big fellows. Texas and Oklahoma,
prolific sources Of rich gates in
pre-depression days are regarded
as being once more ready for
spring exploitation.
San Antonio, which will ever
stand as one Of the finest cities in
the land for conditioning a base
ball club is ready to quarter a
major league club. In fact, word
was received this morning from a
well-known baseball man in the
city of the Alamo that Washing
ton would be more than welcome.
He writes as an individual. and is
not now connected with any base
ball club.
Griff Sold On Florida
President Clark C. Griffith is
completely sold on Florida as a
training site. but Griff spent four
years in Biloxi, and might be per-
Suaded to 60 farther West if
proper persuasion were used. Many
years ago, back along in 1910 or
whereabouts, the washington club
trained at Galveston, but aban-
doned the gulf city for more proli-
fic fields.
The New York Yankees will re-
turn to the Western field this
spring, and perhaps this may be
interpreted as an indication that
the Rupert forces are ready to
abandon st. Petersburgh after
twelve years. Not since Ruth was
in his heyday have the Yankees
swung through the Lone Star
State, and the oil fields of Okla
homa. This year their schedule
will carry them through Fort
Worth, Dallas, Oklahoma City and
other principal cities Of the South
west.
The Giants, White sox, Cleve-
land Indians, Pirates and other
big league outfits toured Texas
and surrounding States, but when
the tourist hordeS descended upon
Florida to revel in the warmth Of
the Gulf Stream, the ball clubs
went to revel in the gold stream.
President Clark Griffith Is not
particularly interested in the
Texas field at the moment. He IN
tends to maintain Orlando as a
training base for an indefinite
period. Griff likes to spend his
spring mornings watching his
young ball players. and since Or
lando is within easy driving dis
tance of Washington, the proba-
bilities are that the local club will
not go West.
Has Advantages
The advantages of currently
training in Florida are many, with
a dozen clubs. major and minor,
working there. the distances De-
tween teams are short; there is
little shifting Of hotel quarters,
and many of the nuiSanceS &C.
cepted generally as part Of spring
travel are eliminated.
Griff plans to leave Washing
ton either tomorrow or Wednes-
day for Orlando where he will
oil UP his golf swing and prepare
for the coming of his victims. He
would have left Washington on
Sunday had it not been for the
death of Eddie Foster.
II is entirely possible that the
genial and much1y liked Ed
Eynon will go South with the
Washington Club this spring. AS
a matter of fact, Eynon is labor
ing overtime to set the local
organization in such order that
he can make his headquarters in
Orlando without disrupting af-
fairs at the ball park. In the
event that Eynon goes South the
social tone as well as the quality
OF the golf on the trip will be
enhanced.
Bucky Harris, manager of the
Griffs will leave here tomorrow
and will join the team in Or
lando on February %. In fact,
Harris will report at Orlando on
or about WaShington'S birthday.
His early departure for Florida
rather heightenS the prospect of
early spring trades. Harris will
visit the "ball players Colony at
| Sarasota this SnTiyoo0