Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02
Manager Schmelzand the Senators
Again With Us
EXPECT TO DO BETTER THAN LAST YEAR
Plans in Case Joyce and Mercer
Will Not Sign.
IMPROVEMENTS AT GROUNDS

Manager Gus SchmelZ and the majority
Of the players who will represent Washing
ton In the mighty struggle for places in
the coming race of the National League of
Base Ball Clubs are in the city. The men,
bers of the team began arriving yesterday
morning, and they will leave at 10 O'clock
this evening from the 9Th street depot for
Charleston, to begin work preparatory to
the opening of the championship season.
The players have made the Randall their
headquarters. ard this morning a Star re-
porter found In the lobby Of the hotel with
Manager Schmelz the following players:
Mcclure. Krumm. Mullarky. Boyd. Ander.
son. Cartwright, Crooks, Nicholson. House.
man, Collins. Setback and Abbey. Maui.
Coogan and Stocksdale were expected to
drop in during the day. Hasamaear will
probably not show up for several days. and
a telegram has been received from Maho-
ney's physician, stating that that player
Is suffering from bronchitis. and will join
the team in Charleston as soon as he Is
able to do so.
Old reliable Jim Mcclure looked to be in
unusually fine condition. and there was a
glittering sparkle in his eye as he shook
hands with the reporter, and declared he
Hever felt more like playing ball in his life.
Staiwart Ed. Cartwright smiled in sug-
gestive manner when home runs and
"hne-'em-out" were mentioned.
There was an air of Impotence apparent
In the movements of Charley Abbey, and
he seemed to be anxiously awaiting an OPP
portunity to get on first base, and then
show the other fellows how to walk around
to third, and popular AL Setback balanced
an umbrella as though he wished 1t were a
bat. The new players are a fine-looking
set of men. Jack Crooks is well known to
the majority of base ball cranks here, and
he stated that he means to do his best dur
Ing the coming season. Houseman, Col
inc nd 1Ior Il
are all fine-1ooking and gentlemanly young
fellows. and the outlook is certainly prom
Using.
Manager Schmelz' Program.
Everything Is lovely. so far as I can
see." said Mr.. Schmelz. I'VE are highly
pleased with the schedule and with our
players, all OF whom, in my opinion, are
going to make names for themselves. No,
we have heard nothing from Joyce or Mer-
Ger. In regard to the latter, he certainly
has no cause to object to the terms offer
ed him. Last season was Breitenstein's
third year on the diamond. and he receiv-
ed but 81 $50. and 1t Is needless to tell you
of his ability as a twirler. This season
will make Mercer's second year, and we
year. That's all have to say In regard to
him.
I'VE will reach Charleston on Monday
morning. and Immediately begin hard
for a long tramp. and In the afternoon we
will practice on the ball grounds. We stay
In Charleston until March IL. and then go
to Savannah and play Brooklyn March II,
II and Ii. Returning to Charleston we
play with Brooklyn. March IA, Is and 10,
after which We settle for three days Of
routine work. opening up with Boston
March q, for three games. With Boston
We jump again to Savannah, and play
there March Is. Is and q, remaining In
that city to meet Pittsburg March s. %
and 80. We play with Pittsburg in Charles
ton April l. and 3. and are booked to
meet the Columbia team April T. the At
lantas April and 9; the Roanokes April
10; the Lynchburgs April IL and II: the
Petersburgs April ID. and the Richmonds
in Boston April 10, and jump back here
the next day, when the grand Fourth of
July, or, in other words. the opening Of
the season here, is booked to occur.
unless Joyce shows up pretty quick"
continued Mr.. Schmelz, II shall play Cart
wright on first, Nicholson at second, House
man on short and Crooks third. The lat
ter knows his business on third bag, too.
can tell you. 1 have never seen Danny
Coogan behind the bat, but all reports are
In his favor. Gus weighing has been pitch
Ing to him In the cage at the University of
pennsylvania for some time, and Gus in
formed me confidentially the other day
that Danny Is peach. The salaries of the
men will not begin until April 1, but Mr.
wagner has promised to divide the pro-
and If We have good weather the cash
taken in will be more than a little"
Mr.. Schmelz thinks that Baltimore has
out one chance In seven or eight of win
ming the pennant this year, and he does
not consider New York capable of doing
anything of startling nature. Philadef-
phia, according to the Washington man
ager. has first-class team, and will finish
means to close the season a few notches
higher than eleventh place.
the majority of the players witnessed
the performance of THE Black Crook" at
the Grand Opera House last evening.
Mr.. J. Earl Wagner reached the city
at noon today to see the team of for the
south He will 90 to Charleston on the
10Th instant.
The New Grand Stand.
The new grand stand will not be erected
until next fall as it was found that it
could not be completed this spring before
the opening of the season. Considerable
preparation, however. had been made in
anticipation of building the stand in the
near future. The big trees have been re-
moved and excavations made. The re-
movaI of the trees will prove a boon to
the right and center fielders. who hereto
fore have had great difficulty in discern
ing lily balls, because Of the dark back
ground. The new stand will be curved,
and feature of it is to be the absence Of
support posts, so that an unobstructive
be no posts, except In the rear of the ninth
row of seats.
Other improvements.
The new ground keeper, Murphy, Is now
at work on the field. which he intends shall
equal any in the league. From first base
to third large semi-crcle will be marked
off outward and from the space embraced
all sod Is to be excluded; the ground is
then to be made as smooth as billiard
table.
Mr.. Joseph Strasburger, who has again
secured the score card and refreshment
privilege at. the park announces that the
score card this year will be more hand
some in design than that of any other club
In the league. 1t will also have a column
of base ball cnat, which is to be changed
every three days. Mr.. Strasburger will
have printing press on the grounds, and
thereby will be able to have the batting
order of each game correct in every de-
tail AS was done last year. voting con-
test for the most popular player of the
Washington team will be inaugurated the
prize 70 be handsome solid silver service.
Mr.. Strasburger will also give so in gold
to the persons guessing how the first sec
ond and third clubs in the race stand at
the end of the season.