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The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, April 05, 1913, NOON EDITION, Image 9

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Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1913-04-05/ed-2/seq-9/

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GRIFFITH DEPENDS UPON YOUTH ANP SPEED
TO WIN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT
Washington, D. C, April 5. Youth
and Speed upon this - combination
Clarke Griffith depends tovwin the
American league pennant" in 1913
with the once 'despiseVTWashington
team, last year runner-up in the Ban
Johnson cross-country chase.
At Charlottesville", Va., where the
Nationals' trained, the "Old Fox"
worked day after day, .searching for
the combination that avouM- give the
team a cut in the world's series this
year.
While critics favor the Athletics
for the flag, with the Red Sox carry-
Jacinto Calvo.
ing odds for place, the "Old Fox"
is not bothering over the opinion of
the "experts." .
"I had a might good team last year,
didn't I?" demands Griffith. "Well,
I've got the same teamnbw. Further
more, I've picked up' some of. the most
promising players -I 'ever looked at.
They are young; and fast. That's what
I want Youth and .Speed! These,
with- whatTlinow about baseball, will
give me a chance for the pennant." ,
' Griffith's contention is sound. His
team today is the same that won 17
straight games last' year. Each play
er is improvcdjust'so. much as a
year's experience, gives confidence
and smoothness.
But one infield, place, second base,
is in doubt, and -the "Old. Fox" has
j one of the best-looking youngsters
ever seen m a major league uniform
in Joe "Gedeon, last year with San
iFrancisco, where he played the out
field. He threatens to oust Frank La
Porte, the slugging veteran, and Ray
Morgan, the fast fielding youngster.
Gedeon is 19, a six-footer, fast as
a cricket, a reliable batter, and he
has the nerye of a book agent. He
may not start the season at second,
but will be there before the leaves
begin, to fall. (
The other promising infield mate
rial consists of "Rebel" Williams,
from Newark, 0., and Morley Jen
nings, last year Knoxville's short
stop.. Williams is 19, has speed, can
hit. and has baseball brains.
Nine outfielders reported to Grif
fith, lilt the odds have always favored
the.veterans Milan, Shanks and Moel-i
ler. Milan led the country in stolen
bases last year and has no competi
tor. Shanks, whose hitting was too
light, and Moeller, whose shoulder
bothered him last fall, have a fight
on their hands.
Prominent competitors are Jacinto
Calvo and Baldomero Acosta, Cu
bans; Calvo hit . 356 in the Cuban
league, punishing Bender and
Coombs last fall. He is 20, fast, and
hits with the best men on the team.
Acosta. is" 16 and led the squad at bat
in training camp. He acts like a vet
eran and runs bases like Milan.
Also there are Joe Connolly, from
Montreal; Bill Allen' from Sharon,
Pa., and. Harry Welchonce, from
.Nashville; they can hit and came well

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