The Washington times., 1937-03-04
Veteran Down
To240, Best
Weight
BY FRANK BUCK" o'NEILL

~ GAHAANA DOON " @NNA@S
ORLANDO, Fla, March 4.
Look me over, kid: You saw
me with the Giants"
j. Francis "Shanty" Hogan
stretched himself on the rubbing
board in Mike Martins inner
room and grinned a wide grin.
He had the chest of Stranger
Lewis, and there was plenty of
weight to him, but this agent,
who saw Hogan come into the
National League some years ago
will vouch for the statement that
the big fellow is down to the
form of his major league debut.
He weighs 240 pounds now,
but 10 pounds of this ample
bulk will be shed before the
team breaks camp. The heavy,
binding fat that bound his
shoulders is breaking down un-
der the strenuous massaging of
Martin following the baths in
Hot Springs. Already Hogan is
showing marked improvement in
his throwing.
'I'm lighter now than when I
was with the Giants" doomed
the laughing voice of the SOmer-
set Irishman. 81 want about
five more years of this, and be.
Iieve me I'm going to work. No
more night league for Francis.
It's no good for you"
Mike Martin called in Bucky
Harris to look over Hogan.
"See how his shoulders are
responding to treatment" said
Mike. "That hard fat is break
ing down, and Hogan will be all
right"
Bucky Harris naturally is muchly
interested in such a development.
Cliff Bolton arrived in camp yes
terday ready to put pen to paper.
Bolton has been i'll and looks it.
He says that for the last little
while he has been all right, but
he shows the effects of his siege
with rheumatism. Whether or not
Bolton will ever regain his form
Of a few years ago is doubtful.
Ill Health Handicap
Now let's get the record straight
on that statement. The writer is
not consigning Bolton to the ranks
of the cast offs without giving
him a fair chance to make the
grade. He admits, however, that
i'll health delayed him in reporting
with the first bunch of battery
men. He admits that he is not
ready for stranuods work, and
that he will have to go along
slowly before he can gather speed
in his work.
Just face facts too, on the sub
ject of rheumatism it has driven
better ball players than Bolton
ever will be into retirement. 1t
may not check Bolton this year.
and the writer for one, is roofing
for Cliff to make full comeback.
But baseball is a game for young
men and sound men.
Pending developments OF the
training season, the catcherS must
be ranked at present with Hogan
the No. / man; Bolton No. 2 and
Walt Miles No. 8. Miles Is a
surprisingly good hitter, but he is
not the best catcher in the league
Hogan is the best receiver on
by any means.
the team, and as pointed out in
this space several times, Is a
powerful right handed hitter on a
team top heavy with southpaws.
Batting practice will start to-
day, and all hands are well
pleased. The pitchers have had a
few days of good weather to loosen
them in ten minute shifts, all
their arms, and Harris will work
hands taking their turns.
Hogan No, /
Frank Hogan, Walt Miles, Clltt
Bolton, Cecil Travis, Joe KuneI'
Ossie Bluege and Buddy Myer are
among the regular hit-smiths IN
camp, and they've been waiting
for a chance to crack the ball.
1T looks like baseball when
they start hitting" said Griffith
this morning, and Bucky Harris
agreed. "There'S something
a6out getting ahOld Of a good
fast ball that makes ball players
love to hit. 1 know that / loved
to hit"
"And you were not much of a
hitter" interjected Nick Altrock'
who was just waiting for such a
development.
''WelI, 1 remember a twO-base
hit / got off yOu," cOuntered
Griff, and the next 20 minutes
were a confusion of noises.
Griff seems to be taking the
hold-out of Newsom in stride
Griff goes right ahead trying to
develop a hurler who can beat
first-diviSion clubs, something that
was beyond the abilities of New
som, despite his lusty bellowings
to the contrary.
The probabilities are that New
som will drive into town from
HartSVille and come to terms very
swiftly If nothing happens to send
him to some other team.