Evening star., 1951-12-26

Washington 81 games and the nucleus i ~
that destined in 1888 the American
League flag gathered that spring in Biloxi
The Mats trained from through 1895 and finished
the first division only in the last years winner
place team and pair of third place
out of Biloxi before the tide changed and eventually Griffith
switched to the present training site at Orlando, Fla
HIS FIRST YEAR HERE Griffith began to sense the poen
taly of his Mats plan the deals which bring
pennant ball park.
Buddy Myer He sensed that in Joe Cronn he had his short
stop and-for all that's known here-hs future
third baseman Ossie Buege figured in his plans
Griffith had quite to go before he got all the personnel he
wanted.
Although Goose led the league 1928 with s7s
and played all with his that Shortsop Bobby
shortened his being assistant left
feldGrifth unoaded Gosin and obtained Henie Manush
of the Browns that year mdune he swapped Barnes
Alabama football player, Sheriff
Harris whose clutch hitting was to play an important part
later
This the season-1sso-that Griffith bought young
first baSeman from Kansas City, Kuhe reported
s65OOO already pair Judge wearing
and Art ShreS foam than beer in Grs estimation
Kuhe excellent purchase even for that big price
took him little time become adjusted
to become the final link in fine nfeldBuege Cronin Myer
and Kuhel.
THOSE WERE TRYING years for Walter Johnson
those years the trained Biloxi great
pitcher working for who him the managerial
job for Johnsons loyalty and record yet
that Griffith confidence his ability manage
Instead of getting better the Mats dropped third
place in 1881 and 1882 and plainly Johnsons Job hung in
balance Finally during the winter of 1882 Griffith took the
plunge. Without firing Johnson, he arranged for the Big
Trains transfer to Cleveland And he set the
baseball world its by choosing Cronin his
manager.
That winter may have marked Grths peak performance
than half century baseball He made brilliant
trades Lloyd Brown and Sam West went to ST. Louis for
Pitcher Walter Stewart and Outfeder Fred Schultz. He
swapped the Fred Marberry and the mediocre Carl
Fischer both pitchers for Earl Whitehll of Detroit.
Thl without carrying he practically stole Catcher
Luke Sewe from Cleveland exchange for Roy Spencer
secondstrng backstop all his life he only sewe but
Relief Pitcher Jack Russell.
THIS GROUP HE TURNED to young Cronin in the
spring of 1888 in Biloxi lot of the Mats hungry veterans
who'd played pennant winner and willing to
go down the line for real payday. Cronn lucky too
in that he blessed with notably talented rockies
Pitcher Monte Weaver and Infelder Cecil Travis
Biloxi is off the beaten path training camp. It's
full 80 miles from New Orleans and overnight rail jump
from Florida AS result the Mats of 33 less
overlooked by the writer's and their victory
startling to the Nation at large to the natives of
Biloxi who interested in canning shrimp selling
bootleg whisky than baseball.
AS American League champions the Mats somewhat
synthetic They had the pitchngA Crowder Stewart Russell
Whtehn and Weaver all winningand they had half dozen
300 httes in Manush Kuhel Cronn, Schultz Myer Cliff
Bolton. But the key old and their last fling
THE FOLLOWING SPRING at Biloxi found the American
League champions fat relatively prosperous
losers in the 3 World Series the Giants earned $30986
apiece in that depression but apparently they felt all that
needed to win again appearance.
1t of the worst springs in memory for Griffith
There too veterans with quick thss and appees
When the the Mats
of history by finishing next to last after winning pennant
But all in ALL Biloxi good to the Mats be good
to the Terrapin too. The is due January l.