The morning times., 1896-03-15
OPENING Ball GAMES
Strong Minor League Clubs Will
Play the Senators.
SYRACUSE STARS COME SOON
Treasurer j. Earl Wagner Writes
The Times About His Preliminary
Arrangements-Geo eorgetow College
Has "a Date-Schmelz Thinks Nc
james IA Second Rusie.

Seventeen days from today the pre-
liminary baseball season VIII he inaugu-
rated at National Park.
Treasurer j Earl Wagner. Of the Sen
ators, in letter written TO The Times
from Philadelphia. states that he will ar
rive In Washington on the 23d instant
to take charge OF the repairing and ini-
provements at the park and to assume the
managerial duties Oh the club until Schmelz
puts III appearance, which will be several
days later.
Mfr. Wagner says several OF the players
Will report by March 20, and that all Of
them Will have arrived i'll Washington by
the 26th. Team practice will commence
March 80.
The preliminary schedule has been made
out and is as follows
Vets. VS.. Colts. April l, 2, 8, 4.
Ted suIIvan's Texas Steers" of the
Atlantic League. April g. Z.
Georgetown College, or Rockville, April
8, 8.
Syracuse Stars of the Eastern League,
April 10.
April IL.
Toronto. Canada. Club of the Eastern
League, April 13, Ia, 10.
Mr.. Wagner ays he will repair the stands
and seats to make them do for this
season, as he and his brother, Mr.. George
WagnerS president OF the club, did not feel
warranted in cxpendng S30 900 for the
erection OF a new grandstdnd, aud then
be ordered by the Commissioners to allow
streets to be cut through the grounds. The
Commissioners have stated that they would
not extend Sixth street through the park
this year. but have advised the Messrs.
Wagner that it would be well for them TO
secure other grounds for succeeding seasons.
They have not made a definite selection
for a new park as yet, but have several
good locations in view. with an option on
one of the most desirable.
NEW GRANDSTAND NEXT SEASON.
On selecting a new ground at the close of
this season they will Let a contract for the
erection of grandstand to cost $4,000
Such was thcir intention for National Park
last year. but the order OF the Commissioners
caused them 70 abandon the plan for the
present.
In his letter Mr. Wagner states that he
has had splendid reports from all the
players. He places great confidence in
his new men, especially Rodgers, McAuiey.
and Lush. As to De Montrevilie, he says
local patrons witnessed his splendid work
toward the close of the season, and know
what 10 expect of that fast young player
this year.
He saws that Lush. with a little season.
| ing, will prove TO be one OF the best
| fielders In the business. Another young
| player, of whom he says he expects gilt
edge service, is Jimmie MCJames, the
| pitcher drafted from the Virginia State
| League Mr.. Wagner says SchmelZ thinks
McJames Will be another Rusie. He is a
| robust young fellow and very ambitious.
| Mana ger SchmelZ, in a recent letter to
10 bp
| Norfolk club. offering $500 for McJanIes'
| release Mercer has written Mfr. Wagner,
| stating that he never felt better In his
/ lite, and Deacon Mcfiulre informs him
| that he is in good condition already, by
reason of his daily work with Michigan
| college club.
"Al Maui, YOU may SAY in The Times, has
| fully recovered the use of his arm, and is
| going through a regular system of train
| ing every day here in Philadelphia. AL is
| the best dressed man in town, aud has more
| diamonds than comic opera singer
THE reports l get from Tim Murphy's
| Texas Steer Company, which we put on
the road la st fail, continue to be exceed
ngly satiSfa ctOry. Manager SchmeiZ says
| that the show was cordially received and
properly understood by the people of Texas,
| through which State it recently played a
number OF profitable enga gements. The
company is now playing the Pacific slope,
and will return East next month, wnen
Manager SChmelz will leave it to take
| charge of the Sena tors.
! CLUB BETTER EQ UIPPED THAN EVER.
s'Our ball club Will be better equipped this
| season than ever before, in the matter of
| reliable players to put in in case of acci-
| dents, such as overwhelmed and nearly
! ruined us last year. We viii start with two
| catcherS. eight pitchers, six infielders, and
| four outfielders. All of them will be re-
| tanned except two OF the pitchers.
Free admission days for ladies hold
| ing the little books will be in vogue again
| this season at National Park. The books
| will admit the ladies without charge
on Tuesdays and Fridays except holiday
! should fall on one of those days. AT the
| last meeting OF the League some effort
| was made to do away with free days for
the ladies'. but / am glad TO say it proved
| unsuccessful. The lady audiences at
| Washington are by far the prettiest in
the League, as is readily granted and Otter
asserted by visiting clubs, and | feel
sure that ladies' days the coming season
will prove more popular than ever.
THE little hooks will be ready wher
] reach Washington and applications 70
| them addressed to me after the 23d, care
OF National Park, will receive prompt at
|