Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-20
"Colts" and "Regulars" Will Play
at National Park.
THEY Will TAKE NO SOUTHERN TRIP
Washington's Manager Promises to
Beat the 'o5 Record.
WHO WILL BE THE CAPTAIN

Manager Schmelz of the Washington Base
Ball Club is out with his annual prediction
as to the position the Sena tors will occupy
at the close of next seasons pennant race.
AS the roster of players signed by the
local club is now complete Mr.. Schmelz
is somewha. earlier than usual in placing
himself on record. His prediction is along
more conservative lines than that of Jack
Crooks, who recently bobbed up as an avow
ed candidate for the captaincy of the team.
Crooks, who claims to have devoted consid-
cradle time lately to consulting the base
ball horoscope, can see nothing less for
Washington than a place among the first six
league stars.
Manager Schmelz however, will feel sat
isfied to land the club a notcn or :wo above
tenth place--anything but an easy task
considering the fact that at least seven
of the National League clubs will be strong
er than last season.
The signing by Washington of he Monlre-
Vlile, Lush, McAuley and Rogers-coaSeded
to be the strongest quartet of PLAYERS in
the Eastern league-Mr. SchmelZ believes
will add untold strength TO the local club
ana so much faith has he in its ability to
that he recently eXoressal himself in a
letter to this city, as being positive that
we are going up higher than we finished
last season.
Spring Program of the Club.
The program of the spring work of the
club has also been decided upon much earlier
than in former years. That the club will
play another season at National Park is
fow insured though the Wagners have
all out completed arrangements for another
square, which will be converted into a base
pan park, equipped with a modern steel
grand stand etc, just as soon as the
progress OF street extension drives them
from their present quarters.
mere WIZ be no southern practice trip
LOT the players next spring, consequently
there Will be almost three weeks of base
pall at National Park before the opening
OF the regular championship season.
Inc players will report in this city March
so, and, beginning about April l. there will
be series of five games between the
regulars and the new members of the
club; The regulars" will have Mcclure
catcher: Maui, Mercer Of well enough,
Anderson and Mullarky, pitchers; Cart
wright, Crooks and Joyce infielders; Schel-
beck, shortstop. and Selbach, Brown and
Abbey, outfelders.
The colts will line up for the first con-
test as follows: McAuley, catcher; James,
pitcher; Boswell first base; Boyd, second
base; Rogers, third base; De Montrevile,
shcrtstop; Molesworth left fielder; Lush,
center fielder, and Gilroy, right fielder
OF the half dozen new men all but Nc
Auley and Rogers have been seen here in
a Washington uniform. McAuley, who was
considered the pest catcher IN the Eastern
League last season, is a tall, well-built
athlete. and a strong thrower and hitter.
Rogers comes with a reputation of being
one of the most brilliant fielding first base
men in the country and a daring base
runner. Both men were drafted from the
Providence, r. l., club.
What the Games Will Show.
The games between the older men and
the new members of the club are expected
to give the management the opportunity
of sizing up the new men, and it is proba-
BILE that several will show themselves fast
enough for the regular team, and will
thereafter play in all the practice and
league games. The former will consist of
contests with college, Virginia League and
Eastern League clubs, beginning with the
weaker teams and finishing up shortly be-
fore the opening of the championship sea-
son with one of the strong Eastern League
clubs.
The question of who will be the Senator's
field captain will be decided by vote of the
players. Joyce and Crooks the two st.
Louisans, are the leading candidates, though
the latter's hGnkering after so responsible
a position is looked upon as joke.