Evening star., 1898-03-12

Thomas Brown, Manager-Captafn.
1illng the place acceptably, than any
other position on the team. is ample
proof that this estimate is correct. No
less than five of the twelve clubs in the
National League were the past season,
and are now, in a quandary about fill
ing third base. ''Scrappy' Joyce didn't
play the bag either to his own or any
body else's satisfaction with New York
last season. Donnelly, who took Joyce's
place. Tade Just about as bad mess of
it as the manager-captain. Nash of the
Phillies didn't play the bag in a way 20
create enthusiasm He and Cross have
taken turns about playing the bag for the
Quakers the last two years. Denny Ly-
ems didn't suit the Pittsburg club at third
and they switched for Donnelly, it being
a case of out of the frying pan into the
fire. Then Hoffmeister and Davis took
turnc stirring up the dust around the third
corner, with varying success. Chicago
tried Everett at third, then Mccormick,
then back 10 Everett again. but only with
poor success. The Washington club once
thought well of Charley Reilly as a thirl
baseman. but finally weakened on him
and gave him his release. Before mis- ten
days notice had expired the local man.
agement came to the conclusion that Rail-
ly was better than any one they could get
in his place, and retained him for the bal
ance of the season. 1t was a wise move
Il
start off in that position, and many propn-
cts believe he will fill the bill. There is
no question that his work at third
will be improved fully forty per cent if
ne Will listen to the advice given him from
time TO time by his manager Leahy GER
tainly played third to the queens taste in
Baltimore during the closing series of last
year, and 1t sll came about through coed
advice from Capt. Brown. For two years
the Louisville club has been threatening
to release Bill Clirgman. The clubs fault
finding lies in the fact that Billy doesn't
hit hard enough to suit them, but Billy
goes along holding on to his job. He may
not hit up with the top-notchers. but he
is one Of the finest fielding third basemen
in the league. st. Louis has changed third
basenen every year for the past three or
four seasons. Boston has always had a
grand third baseman. AS long as Billy
Nash was with the Bostons he was con-
sidered the king of third basemen. AS
soon as he began to fail the club secured
Collins, and there are many who think
that he Is entitled to the crown that Nash
wore so long. When you run over the
names of Collins, Wallace and Irwin you
have the pick of the National League.
McGraW may come again this year, but
the chances are that he will never dc the
great work he did in %. For the good
of the game it is to be hoped that several
first-class third basemen will be added
10 the list the coming season.
Last season the Toronto club was in the
last position in the championship race on
June 4. On August 81 the club was leading
the procession. The squirt was a wonder
full one, and writer from that city says
that, while commendation is due each and
every member of the team for that bril-
liant brace, special praise is due William
Dinneen, their crack twirler, and without
doubt the star pitcher of the Eastern
League last season, for his excellent work
in aiding the Canucks to the proud posi-
ton the team held at the end of the season
To prove that Mr.. Dinneen was the star
pitcher of the Eastern League, the writer
says that he has only to mention the record
of his pitching featS, commencing with
June l, during which time he officiated in
eighteen contests, winning seventeen and
losing the solitary one to Syracuse, the
champions last year, in a brilliant game, by
one run. Dinneen also succeeded, during
last season, in holding the Cleveland team
down to two hits and no runs in five in
nings, striking out four batters. Captain
Tebeau was on the coaching lines during
the game and tried in every way to rattle
the youngster, but Dinneeu was as cool
as a cucumber, and finally he was left
alpne, as his fine work won the admiration
of the Spiders.
Gossip.
Mercer wants to correct the item pub
lished last Saturday coming from East
Liverpool about his name win" says his
full name is Winifred Boagley Mercer, the
abbreviation being the natural result when
he struck the base ball ranks.
The Columbia Athletic Club has done a
clever act by throwing open it's gymnasium
for the use of the Washington players
whenever they desire inside exercise. Man
ager Brown and Mercer received their in
vitations during the past week, and the
other players will get theirs when they
arrive in town.
National Park at present looks almost as
well as it did any time during last season.
The grass is beginning to sprout, while the
base lines have been scraped and straight
ened up. The changing Of the players
present location is hard to Improve on.
Magnate Freedman may have been
euchred out of Rusfe's services for sea-
son, but he finally came out on top. The
same can apply to Earl Wagner and Jack
Doyle. The Chicago people can throw all
the CON they want to into Jack, but he
will play in Washington or not play at all.
To say the least, the actions of President
Hart and Manager Burns in this matter
have not been very dignified. to shun a
harsher word.
It is more than possible If this fine
weather continues that several of the Sena-
tors will indulge in light practice at Ma
tional Park next week. Several of the
boys should arrive in Washington by next
Monday or Tuesday, and the desire to get
hold of a bat and ball Will be hard to hold
in check. Manager Brown says he will be
on hand early and late to see that the
boys do not overtax themselves at the
start Off.
We still want Doyle, but we can't have
him. for Washington has certainly set too
much upon this great player to now let
him go. Burns was willing to make ex-
actly such q trade as I outlined In this
column some time ago-Briggs, Decker and
81 500 for the dazzling Doyle. The inten-
ton was to put him behind the bat, and