Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-13
The Bostons and Washingtons Will
Meet at National Park.
OPENING TEE SEASON OF TEE LEAGUE
Senators Will Not Blame the Um-
pire for Defeat.
THE YOUNGER PLAYERS


enter National Park next Saturday they
will fihd that Earl Wagner has not been
making frequent trips to Washington dur
ing the early spring simply for his health.
The park has been greatly improved In
many particulars. The seating capacity
has been increased, some of the trees in
the field have been cut down. and the in
field has been leveled. The ground keeper
has also INDUCED in a little ornamental
gardening back of the foul lines. In the
grass plot back of the home plate, in front
of the visiting players bench, are the
words Welcome worked out in sod. On
the other side OF the plate, in front of the
home players bench. are. the words
washington B. B. c. If - .,a-t.'
+ President Nick Young says everything is
IL readiness for the opening of the league
championship season next Thursday. The
Washingtons open in Boston, and then they
turn Immediately around and jump back to
the capital city for two games with the
Bean Eaters. Gus Schmelz is not to be
thrown down by this arrangement of the
opening dates, but he has ordered his men
to New England for a weeks practice with
minor league clubs in that region, SO the
Senators may become in a measure ac-
cllmated before Friday afternoon. The
Washingtons do not play on Thursday, the
next day being Lexington day.
1t is understood that President Earl
wagner, in business letter to President
Young. expressed himself as being highly
pleased with the material in the Washing
ten team as now constituted and an
nocnced that the Senators propose to make
a bid for higher standing in the list than
they made last season. Mr.. Wagner added
that his team does not propose to make
progress by kicking against the unpires,
and Manager Schmelz and Captain Cart
wright have been advised to accept grace
fully and silently such assignments as may
be made for Washington. 1t will be a very
ditficuit matter to keep Gus Schmelz quiet
when he thinks his lads are getting the
worst end of the umpiring.
manager Schmelz wants his friends to
Keep their eyes on Coogan. Collins. Crooks
ana Malarkey. He says they are going to
astonish the natives before the season is
over. Crooks Is veteran, but the other
three men are youngsters. and they may
require little more time to develop. Mr..
Earl wagner tndorses these sentiments,
and II anything he is more enthusiastic
Schmelz.
1t will be observed that Joyce has not
forgotten how to hit the ball. in spite of
his backwardness in coming into the fold.
The great surprise of the preliminary season
Is the discovery that Roaring Bill'' Has
samer is a nrst-class catcher for an emer-
gency man. Since Mcclure came north to
coach Mercer. Maui and Stocksdale, Has
samer has been doing some pretty work
behind the bat. Bill has his Nebraska
eye" on the ball. and he is lining 'em out
In great shape much to the satisfaction of
his ''rooters'' in this city.
The assistant managers are already In
evidence. They have directed that Mercer
be scheduled to pitch In the opening game
on the home grounds. The suggestion Is
not bad one. providing the young man is
In condition that day. and it does not con-
dtct with the plans of Manager Schmelz,
The loyal local "rooter" suggests that
Manager Schmelz put in the pitcher with
whom he thinks he can win the game.
There is something encouraging In winning
fhn nfrey cfr erIA No.,
Buck Ewing's Signs.
Word comes all the way from Cincinnati
that Captain-manager Buck Ewing has
adopted code Of signals by which he d.
reefs the movements of his men on the
field. 1t is said that he does not have to
get on the coaching lines and shout his
commands to the players. as Comiskey and
Latham have done in years gone by. He
simply works string of signs something
after the style of the deaf and dumb lam
guaSe. If the reports are true. then Hoy,
the clever little mute" is eligible for the
position of assistant field captain. The pa
irons of the game in all the cities in the
east would rather hear Latham's chatter
on the lines than watch Capt. Bucks signs.
Some of us have not forgotten Arthur
Irwin and his sign system, which did not
work very well last season. Arthur is
great believer in the sign method of coach
ing, but it failed at critical point in a
game here last year between the Senators
and the Phllies. 1t was very close game
and the Washingtons were in the lead
The Phillies had the last inning and they
were struggling to get a run home to at
least tie the score. Cross had reached sec
ond base, with enc man out. An easy ball
was hit down to Piggy" Ward who was
playing at the middle bag. He retired at
first and made bluff to toss the ball back
to Pitcher Mercer. Cross. after touching
the bag. played well off toward third.
while Irwin and BOYLE were on the coach
ing lines appealing to Cross to score that
run. Suddenly Piggy made a dash to-
the base by two yards and the game was
ended. Piggy" had hived the ball in his
glove and the coachers had not noticed It,
Ward was great on that trick. He play
ed it successfully on some of the best base
runners in the league. Washingtonians
will miss his cheerful yell: That's all
right" to the man at bat when strike
was called on a local player. Then he had
a tantalizing laugh which greatly annoyed
visiting players. "Piggys" playing in one
of the minor leagues this season. He will
be star" in that company.
Sadie MOuck's Return.
"Sadie" Houck. the once famous short of
the champion Boston team, is in town
again after an absence of many years. At
one time Houck was the star shortstop of
the league. When he first went to Boston
the people at the Hub were afraid Sadie"
would not ill the bill. Some said he was
too light. Others said he was too short
In the opening championship game as a
Bean Eater the score was very close. Two
men we're on bases when Sadie came to
bat. 1t was a critical stage in the contest.
The "saueezers" sat on the bleachers al
most afraid to look at the Washington lad
who stood at the plate waiting to hit the
ball. Presently he picked out nice
straight ball and lifted it over the fence
for a home run. He trotted around the
bases, grinning and showing his big white
teeth as though it was an everyday oc-
currence for him to hit for four bags. That
hit made him a favorite in Boston.
Yesterdays Ball Games.
At Lynchburg-Washing q; Lynch
burg l.
At Observation-Disclosures, 0; Richmond. 2.
At Ianapolis-Indianapolis, 10; Terre
At incinnati-Cincinnat. II; Page Fence
At acknowledgements. %; Lancaster. 4.
At Newport News-Brooklyn, IA; Newport
At Chattanooga-Pittsburg. 10; Chatta-
At Schenectady-New York. IL; Science
tod