The Washington times., 1894-03-18
OUR LOCAL BASEBALL MEN
Manager Schmelz Keeps on Improving
His Excellent Team.
BRIGHT FINANCIAL PROSPECT
The Public Kept Informed-Harmony and
Consequent Confidence - Players Con-
tracted for-Local Athletics-Ciabs Pre-
pairing for Summer Sports-News and
Gossip Relating to Racing-The Ivy City
Matter.

Manager Schmelz. OF the Washington ball
club, has always proved himself good ad-
vertiser, and his reputation in this respect
has been added to since coming to this city.
Not an opportunity has been let slip to keep
tho public informed of every move made in
regard to engagement Of players, to improve
ments at the ball park, or in the movements
OF the men. The new manager is a hustler,
and if he succeeds in picking out a winning
team from the players under contract he will
cover his past and present laurels with added
glory. Col. Schmelz is no newc conner in the
baseball arena, and he has lost none Of that
confidence possessed when he so ably ham
died the old Columbus Association club.
Nav he have similar success here.
For the first time in the history Of the
League the prospects for successful finan-
cial season were never so bright. All wars
and dissensions have passed; the old war
debt incurred in the consolidation of the
American Association with the League has
been wiped out; the extravagant salaries of
former days have been given the go by, and,
in fact, all the clouds are gone and the clear,
bright sunshine of prosperity beams benignly
upon the magnates. All that remains is for
the entire twelve clubs to finish first in the
race for the pennant and then there will be
twelve cities, all containing happy and de-
lighted people. .iwho will welcome their heroes
hcme and crown them with wreaths OF glory.
But alas this cannot be. and but one club
can secure the prize so that eleven others
will naturally be forced to occupy various
places lower down in the race. As Washing
ton has. much to the modification OF the
local baseball patrons. in past years has been
down at the bottom OF the list, there is, of
course considerable room for hope for better
luck this year As there are twenty-six
players on the home clubs roll, the manager
will have pretty hard task to pick out the
best material for permanentlositions; but
Mr.. Scbmelz has ample confidence in being
able to do himself and the club full justice in
the work cut out for him.
For the information OF the public. the
players under contract are as follows:
Catchers. Mcclure. Dugdale. Selbach and
McMahon; pitchers, Petty, Esper. Black
Mercer, Maui. Stocksdale. Egan Stephens
and NJ. J. Sullivan; iniielders Cartwright.
Hassamaer, Joe Sullivan. John Mcmahon.
Mulvey, Ward. Stricken, Joyce and Wise; out
felders. Tebeau, Abbey Radford and Cam
pau. Reference to the list of twirlers will
show there are Just nine. and ii will hardly be
over five. OF the whole number. Esper.
Stephens. Maui and Stocks iale played here
last season. and their preliminary work will
be watched with great deal of interest, to
see how they size up in comparison with the
new men. VI. J. Sullivan has done good
work for Cincinnati. and is a strong young
fellow. The others have made regulations in
minor organizations. and have yet to make
showing in the big league.
With respect to the catchers. Mcclure and Nc
Mahon are no experiments. and the same may
be said OF Dugdale and Seibach. both of whom
have done good playing in the past. The great
est competition will be Tor the inaeld positions.
The months practice before the opening OF the
championship season will determine the lucky
ones. The outfleid will be well taken care of
by three Of the four men on the roll and the
one failing TO give satisfaction will have only
himself TO blame.
On next Saturday afternoon the opening
practice game is scheduled, and an oppor-
tunity will then be afforded the public to see
what is in the veterans and youngsters
who will struggle for :. place on Washing
tons representative bail team. Preliminary
gymnasium and field work is now going on.
and all the men so far reported are in first
class health and are fast getting the kinks
out of their muscles.