National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-07-26
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS.
ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS OF THE M
PROVED NATIONAL NINE.
Game with tho New Works To-day
scanlon's Featherweight Mndigan-
Amateur Base Ball - Aquatics and
other Interesting Sporting Items,

Certainly local base ball enthusiasts can
not complain Of the work done by the Ma
tlonals on the home grounds during the
past week, as the two games played at
Capitol Park in that period Of time have
been recorded as victories for tho States
men, and the defeat administered TO the
famous New York Giants on Saturday by
the score Of to is very encouraging
sign. The local organization, after many
difficulties and misfortunes, now appears to
be getting into proper playing trim, and It
may be anticipated that more victories and
less defeats will be the order hereafter.
This idea is suggested from the fact that
the local team have fairly good contingent
as regards batteries. Shaw's arm is now
all right, and the wizard will puzzle the
best Of 'em with his peculiar delivery. Barr,
who was threatened with bone felon, has
happily escaped that afiliction, and to NOR
row will be able to show his many friends
that he has not lost his cunning In the
pitchers box. The record OF Tony Madi-
gan, Scanlon's phenomenon, as the Boston
papers call the little feather-weight pitcher,
Is now well-known to the public, and the
"kidn is in excellent condition and ready
and willing to do good work for the home
team. In catchers, the ever faithful Gilt
gan heads the list, aud henceforth "Gillyn
and Shaw will work together as battery.
oldfeld, another OF the recent acquisitions
to the niue, will back Madigan up, while
Barr will have as his backstop Jack Hayes,
who was on the Plttsburgs in 1884, the
Brooklyns In 1885, and who has this season
been playing n great game behind the bat
for the Hartford club. Hayes Is quite
heavy hitter and his work with the ash has
always been flrst-class.
Besides the additions in the pitching and
catching department the Nationals have
added to their playing strength by the en-
gagement OF Jack Farrell, who Will play
second base.., Farrell was released last week
by the Philadelphia to the Nationals, but
owing to some misunderstanding did not re-
port for duty. To-day or tomorrow, how
| ever, Jack will don the uniform OF the Ma.
tionals and guard second base for the local
nine. Knowles will then go to third base, and
faithful Jim will, without question prove
| that he Ia fully capable OF taking care OF
that important position. Force aud Baker
will remain at shortstop and first base re-
spectively, and the out6eld is likely to be
| Carroll, Hines, and Crane or Corcoran.
This nine, II they display any effectiveness
with the bat, should certainly prove a
stumbling block TO all corners, and out OF the
twenty-three games that are to be played
| before the club takes its last western trip,
on Aug. 25, they should win at least ten OF
them, and better returns may be reasonably
expected of our boys when they next 60
away from home.
This afternoon at $3.50 O'Clock the New
Yorks and Nationals will meet again, and
In view OF the fact that Saturdays CANT
between these two mines was 30 exciting
and interesting, there is no doubt but
large crowd will be on hand. MadigaI
and Oldheld will be the homo battery
while Keefe is likely to pitch for the Wis
itors.
The standing in the League and Amerl
can Association follows: