Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-25
NO SOUTHERN TRIP
Local Base Ball NFsns" Disturbed
over Mr.. Sohlnsla's Decision.
ADVANTAGE OF PRACTICE GAMES
Proposed Organization Of Local
sc b
League.
be1y
BASE BALL GOSSIP

BASE BALL GOSSIP
The lovers of base ball and the real fol-
low ers and well-wishers of the local club
are a little bit anxious over Manager
Schmelz's determination not to take the
Senators south for early spring practice.
Last spring the Senators became en-
tangled in a rain belt in the vicinity of
South and North Carolina and Virginia,
and as result days went by without
bat or ball being touched by the anxious
that composed the aggregation
Manager Schmelz naturally became disgust
ed at the way "Old Probabilities was treat
ing him, and then and there gave it out
that he would go south no more. He has
evidently determined to stand by his as
sertion, as he has ordered the players to
report at National Park for early spring
practice. Every other club In the league
will go south, and there is no questioning
the benefits Of the trip If good weather
prevails.
The clubs that went into Texas, Louisiana.
Georgia and Florida were the ones that
caught good weather, and their start in the
championship race was such good one
that their treasury was benefited to the
extent Of many thousand dollars. Manager
S~1SSNANeNN
last years experience.
Suppose he stays at home with the club
and catches the same line Of weather that
fell to his lot in South Carolina? He will
then, when it is too late, realize the i'm
mense advantage the other clubs have over
his team. The weather this spring down
south may be good, as every other year
these conditions follow, and then the Sen
ators can start in with the same prepara-
tory training as their rivals. If the Sena-
tors fail to get a good start in the race
look out for the handy excuse of no spring
practice.
with the Bostons for a money-mking tour
of the south, and the players were prom
Used the profits, which never came. This
year let the Senatorial aggregation slip
lark in the south, play among themselves,
as they did in 1894, and the result cannot
help but be beneficial. not only to the play
ers, but to the treasury, as the followers of
the game like to see little hustling DONE
no matter what the final result may be.
A Proposed Local League.
The amateur base ball players of Wash
agta ting the idea of doing away with the
Departmental League the coming season
and in it's place substituting City League
Of Amateur Clubs The plan suggested is
that the organization be made up Of clubs
from the Light Infantry, the bureau Of en-
craving and printing, the Columbia Athletic
Club. the Georgetown Athletic Club. the
Shamrocks and the Nationals. This aggre-
cation embraces in it's membership the best
players in the city, and each has follow
ing of considerable proportions There can
be no doubt about great rivalry, and with
proper spirit displayed success Is assured.
There is. likewise, question about the
strength of each club, and the man that
can pick the championshipiteam out Of the
above six clubs must be possessed Of q
supernatural unders landing.
The City League of Chicago has ire
mendous following, SO large, in fact, that
the local league team tried to break into
its financial standing byY playing Sunday
games in opposition to 1t.
The heads Of the clubs mentioned are
bright fellows, and should be able to come
to an understanding as to the formation of
such league in this city. Last year the
and as a consequence considerable i'll feel
ing was aroused among the amateurs, but
with the league composed Of the above
clubs every part of the city would be rep
resented and good games and large attend
ance would surely result.
Farming Out the Extra Men.
1t Is foregone conclusion that several
Of the Virginia or Southern League clubs
will catch one or more Of the cast-off sena-
torial young blood. Manager Schmelz will
hardly carry the entire outfit. as now con-
stituted, through the season, and 1t Is hard
ly likely that he will release outright those
not wanted as regular players on the team.
They all have good paper" regulations.
which is as good as any player has COM
ing from the minor leagues, and should a
first-class man be developed the Washing
ton club should naturally reap the benefit.
Take the case of Rogers, the new first base
man from the Providence club He led the
first basemen of that league, but Is he as
good as Cartwright. The latter appears TO
be good enough for clubs that are stronger
than Washington and the local followers of
the game are under rating the big first
baseman and may appreciate this fact later
In the season II Ed Is allowed to go else
where. Local "rooters" have a proverbial
fashion OF approaching players that have
played with the Senators, when they are on
other teams. Our pitching corps is COM
posed of all young blood. with the excep-
ton Of Maui, and should good man de-
velop to help out Mercer, Anderson and he,
no complaints will be forthcoming. Local
patrons won't stand losing games through
the trying out process of new pitchers in
championship games, and a falling off in
attendance is always to be noted when the
situation gets down to this critical stage.
Consequently pitcher or two may be
EARNED out" also, and If unusual ability
Is developed they can be quickly brought
back to the senatorial fold.
McMahon's Arm
1t Is very interesting to hear the walls
| that are going up from the sure thing
Projectors. who have picked the Baltimores
for three-time champions, since Pitcher
Mcmahon has given out the startling news
that his good right arm has gone back on
him for good and that he will not be in the
box for the Orioles the coming season.
Mcmahon did little pitching last season, but
what he did was of the gilt-edge order and
came at time when the championship was
| trembling in the balance. Four and five
hits off of him were the rule at first, but
toward the last he was pounded consider
| ably and in the Temple cup series became
quite easy for the Cleveland boys. McMa-
hon has many friends in this city, and II
| Is to be hoped that the 'lost arm is case
OF bluff, and that he is only resorting to a
legitimate dodge to worm more money in
the way of salary out Of the Baltimore
nagnates In good condition Mac Is worth
| as much money as Rusie, iand it is safe tc
| say Manager Hanlon will not be backward
| IN giving 1t to him should circumstances
| justify it. :.
Advantage of Training Players.
One of the strongest arguments advanced
! by the supporters Off the, farming OUT
| system is that players who are farmed Out
are still paid according to their contraca
with the major leagus club. the latter or
ganization making good the difference II
salary. In other words. the farmed out In
dividuals playing in g. minor league receive