Evening star., 1897-06-05
TOMMY TUCKER HERE
He Will Play With the Senators
This Afternoon.
SAYS he WILL Be IN ZEE GAME
Expected to Divide Honors With
SockaIexis, the Indian.
OTHER SPORTING MATTERS
SAYS he WILL Be n ZEE GAME
OTHER SPORTING MATTERS

OF base ball ginger, arrived In Washington
this morning Tom gave as q reason he
Gid not reach here yesterday that he had
not received word of his transfer to WASH
ir rgton until late in the afternoon the day
before. and That he had to 60 home Tor a
change of clothing. thereby missing the
last train out of Boston that night.
Tucker grasped the hand Of q Star re-
porter this morning like a 33d degree
Mason, with swing and q grip that spoke
volumes for the mans good feeling and
appreciation Of the fact that he believes
he has at last reached city that will well
come his energetic work. In speaking
about his transfer to the senatorial agsre-
CATION. Tucker said:
Il am glad to get to Washington and
also back into the game. Base bah is my
business, and 1 don't want to take any
chances by being out Of II too long. 1 have
been on the Boston team now over a month
and OF course. am liable to be a little
rusty this afternoon: but you ran rest
assured that l will be In the game all the
time. 1 hope 1 won't give the Washington
people too much OF my voice. but can no
more stop fighting for game than i can
stop eating. 1 never felt better in my life
than do today. and while don't want to
throw any bouquets at myself, / really be-
iieve that there is lots of good ball playing
Ia me yet and I with try very hard to
please the Washington patrons"
Manager Schmelz, Tucker and the re-
porter then indulged In a little shop
tax. recalling the old days Of Newark. Bal
t1more and Boston. and the manager gave
a good word for Tom. inasmuch as he ad-
mitted that he always feared the latter
when he went on the coaching lines In a
close contest.
Tom was given a full Washington uni
form immediately after his arrival at the
grounds this morning, and also assigned TO
an extra locker for his clothes. He will
play his first game for the Senators this
afternoon. and will ne doubt divide honors
with the great Indian ball player, Sockalex-
Is. who Will play right field for the Cleye-
lands.
The Series With Clexeland.
The Cleveland players arrived In town
aheut noon today. having taken the boat
from Boston to New York. In the game
this afternoon Mercer will mitch for the
senators and Cuppy will very likely do
the trick for the visitors. The Cleretands
bring with them in .Sockalexis one of the
best advertised bali players that ever trod
the diamond The red man has scored A
sensational success In the very fast COM
pany OF the big league, md with this sea-
sons experience promises to be one OF
the most valuable players In the land. He
Is splendid batsman. a wonderful throw
er. and an excellent fielder, and is fast on
the bases
Sockaiexis comes not from the wild and
wooily west, but from q civilized Maine
tribe. He picked up his base ball educa-
ton at college. and his playing ability has
been known to several managers for a long
time. John Montgomery Ward saws he
nrst discovered the Indian two years ago.
He made known his discovery to several
clubs. but it ives not until this year that
q National League club became Interested
in the wonder.
Manager Tebeau OF the Cfevelands went
TO the college, looked him over and de-
cloed that he was just the man he wanted
me Ieo man term was not completed
ara II required some persuasion to induce
him to enter the professional base bali
ranks The faculty warned him that If he
left he would not be taken back But he
sCccumbed to the temptation and has he
come famous.
1t Was a most lucky find for Manager
Tebeau. for the Indian has won MANY
games for the Cleveland team by his re-
markabie hitting. fielding and throwing.
AT the opening of the season the scores
showed Seckalexis to be winning Games
for Cleveland almost siagle-handed.
He has fallen off In his batting recently.
and 1t is attributed to the fact that the
pitcners nave discovered Just what balls
ne Is weak on. In game at Cleveland Ed
DoheEey OF the New York club made him
look like an amateur with his fast ball
and Amos Rusie. the greatest student of
batsmen, says that a fast curve ball will
fool Seckalexis all the time The Indian
won game from Rusie at Cleveland by
timely hit In the tenth inning, but Rusie
says 1t was merely because he was not
strong enough to work his fast curve at
that period Of the game.
Personally Sockalexis is a most attractive
young man. He has the racial features of
the redskin, but in his civilian clothes
passes as handsome fellow. He is we'll
educated and Of pleasant manners. Tall.
1.-the. straight as an arrow, admirably pro
portfoned. he is a most striking figure on
the ball field