The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-23
DIAMOND DUST

Setback is using a big mitt to protect
his left hand, which is still sore from tbs
burn received last winter.
This will be Johnny 0'Brien's best yea
If good condition presages anything. The
Boston boy was never in better physica
form.
During the practice at the park the gates
will be closed to visitors, as such crowd
would collect as TO interfere with the
players.
Is it sign of good luck for the Senators
| that they had perfect day-regular Nc
Kinley weather it was-for their first
practice? IL is TO be hoped So
The Columbian University baseball team
| have secured grounds at Seventeenth and I
| streets, near the old Van Ness mansion
/ and practice daily during this fine weather.
| Mr. Wagner had signed a young pitcher
by the name of Williams, but on securing
| kimbles name TO a contract yesterday
he decided to ship Williams To the Toronto
| farm.
| The Catholic University Club, Tom
Browns proteges, will probably play a
| tional Park when it is not in use by the
| leaguers.
DeMontreville was the first player TO
| dress and run out on the diamond. Gene
| was full OF frolic and fun, and commenced
| jollying the other players just as on us
the ball was put into play.
Wrigley is a Datural-born ball player.
He seems TO love the sphere wrapped in
horsebidc. When not al play he fondles the
ball and trundes il about, and never seems
happy unless talking about the game.
Counting on Maui and King, the Senators
will start the season with nine pitchers
the above two and Mercer, McJames, Nor
ton, German. Ashe. SWAMI and Kimble.
And if two of the youngsters should prove
winners. the Senators can be counted ON to
cut d swain toward the first division
The Canterbury Club has organized for
the season with the following players:
Hussey, Loveless, Warren, Hurley, Ats,
Flatherty, Williamson, Buckingham, Quinn,
Bisbee, and Williams, The Canterbury's
proved themselves one OF the strongest
amateur teams in the city last season and
fully expect to equal the record this year.
Pitcher A she's batting average in the
New England League last season was 1851.
II he can hit within fifty-seven points of
those figures in the big league, he will
prove jewel. Mr.. Wagner says that Ashe
at the bat reminds him of "8oaTing Bill
Hassamer. He cracks the bali square on the
nose, and has a faculty Of pushing it TO
safe territory.
Joyce, il is said, will try to train one
OF his young pitchers into catcher. And
yet ''Scrappy'' has repeatedly stated that
he had catchers enough and TO spare.
Eventhe addition of Rusie, with the Giants
poor stock OF backstop material, would not
strengthen the club very much. Scrappy
has got TO get a good man for the mask and
gloves, else wobble along in the second di-
vision and not too near the top at that.
Capt Ewing thinks ''fungo" hitting is
one of the very best kinds of exercise for
a ballplayer he says it strengthens al
most every muscle which player needs,
and the fact that a man cannot hit them
out for more than twenty or twenty-five
minutes without getting very tired is the
best evidence OF the worth OF this kind of
work. Billy Rhines said on the same sub
ject:"I quite agree with Capt. Ewing, and
| think that pitchers should not he made
TO bat TO the fielders before pitching a
game. If the weather is warm the work
takes all the starch out Of a man."
Hoy introduces many praiseworthy fea
ture into the Reds training, and most of
them are readily adopted by Ewing. The
other day while the men were taking turn
about at the bat after hitting the ball
they would step back and rest, but Hoy,
every time he hit, would break for first
and circle the bases. Everybody gave him
the laugh, and somebody said: The Dummy
is trying to make himself believe he is
making home runs" Buck" however.
soon saw the usefulness OF the work, and
had every one Of the batters breaking for
first after his hit and now il is a regular
feature of the days work.
Mr.. Wagner is throwing bouquets at him
self over piece OF good luck that hap
pened his way In the deal for Ashe. He
had already agreed to pay thedTaft price of
the New England League, which is $500,
to Newport for the young pitcher, and
was on the verge OF forwarding the money
when he received letter stating that he
could have Ashe without pay provided, in
case he didn't suit, or wasn't needed, he
would be returned TO Newport, the Wash
ington Club to still have his reservation.
Mr. Wagner didn't write-he telegraphed
his acceptance of the offer. In this coDnec-
ton it will be remembered that Mr.. Wagner
secured Swain on the same "easy terms,''
and yesterday in telling of the Newport
arrangement, he laughingly repeated TIE
adaCe that when it rains it generally
pours.''