Evening star., 1940-02-15
PofahI' S HoIdoui
Is Among Five
Irking Griff
Rook May Draw Fine,
Griff Soys; Walker
At Comp Early
BY FRANCIS E.. STAN,
Star Stan CORRESPONDENT.


ORLANDO, Fla, Feb l5-The
vanguard of the Nationals began to
trickle into town, Outfielder Gerald
Walker was on hand to discuss
salary and baseball for Washing
ton, nearly 1000 miles away, today
was under way.
On the belabored daily train from
the North this afternoon were
scheduled Manager Bucky Harris
and flock of rockies, most of whom
are unknown and uncounted upon.
They were to report officially and
tomorrow stage the first workout
at Exposition Park, temporary
training site.
The presence in town of Walker
was a surprise to President Clark
Griffith, who has yet to see the
fly chaser he acquired from the
White Sox in December in ex-
change for Outf1elder Taft Wright
and Pitcher Pete Appleton.
Sons Illness Worries Walker.
Walker, indeed, came to Orlando
a couple of days ago but stayed
away from Griffith's hotel. He
finally was spied by one of the
clubhouse boys. Geralds chief
concern now, however, is not his
194C salary as National His
young son is critically i'll and the
colorful slugger is staying close to
his bedside at the present time.
The Mississippi mauler, though,
is the first of Griffith's five main
"holdouts" to figuratively step into
the arena with the Old Fox. The
others, Pitcher Dutch Leonard,
Shortstop Jimmy Pofahl, Infielder
Cecil Travis and Catcher Rick Fer
rell, not only haven't been seen but
also have been unheard lately.
Each indicated dissatisfaction with
his rendered contract some time
ago.
Il don't know whether Walker
intends to work out tomorrow. >
Griffith said II haven't even seen
him but I understand his boy is
very sick and I suppose ne came
early to nurse the youngster back
to health. He wasn't scheduled to
report until March l.
Rookie Pofahl Is Stubborn.
If Walker wants to work out
right away I suppose it's all right, >
he added. I'm leave that up to
Bucky. Anyway, he isn't really q
holdout until his reporting date n
Griffith isn't precisely happy over
the refusal Of five of his key men
to sign their contracts. The silence
on the part of Pofahl is unusual
For the young shortstop, Griffith
paid the reported equivalent of
$4,000 in cash and players. Civ.
ing up Bobby Estalella and Harry
Kelley in the deal.
The expensive young chap from
Minneapolis, though, not only re-
turned his original contract, un-
signed, but has indicated that he
is determined to gain his point In
the salary argument. That is
Jimmy seems determined to make a
stab at it. These wage battles
strictly are the melarkey. When
the boys get hungry they always
come around. =
Hudson Only One to Report.
Still, Grif1th's spring trainine
plans may sustain setback il
Messrs. Walker, Leonard, Travis
Pofahl and Ferrell do not report
for duty on schedule. The old gent
was mildly piqued yesterday wher
only Rookie Pitcher Sydney Hud-
son, who won "a and lost four games
for Sanford of the Florida State
League, reported for action today
Griffith had planned to have his
first squad on hand for a workout
today but, apparently, he neglected
to reveal his plot to Harris and
other club attaches. Anyway, no.
body got off the train yesterday
and so the welcoming celebration
was postponed until today.
For the second straight year the
Joe Strip school of baseball will
force the Mats to start training or
the fair grounds here, instead o1
| at Tinker Field. The Strip con.
tract calls for five more days in the
big ball park and so Grifflth anc
Harris won't be able to move theil
talent there until next week.