The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-30
How the Clubs Stand.
AMERICAN LEAGUE.
NATIONAL LEAGUE.
Washington ;. baltimore >.

Washington >. Baltimore >.
AZ was a rousing opening yesterday OF
the local baseball season under the
auspices Of the energetic new American
league, and President Ban Johnson, who
is responsible for the league and who
came on to witness the first game here.
expressed himself as quite well satished
withthe result. quite well. however does
not anywhere near express the feelings
of the 10000 admirers Of the national game
VINO were at the new park to give Man
ager Manning and his team send OF
such as has rarely been accorded to a
Washington baseball aggregation. Every
crank present expressed the opinion that
the Senators will do, and If yesterday s
exhibition is a fair sample of the sort OF
baseball that local followers of the sport
will enjoy under the new management
there is no doubt as to the manner IN
which their efforts will be rewarded.
II seemed as if all roads led to the ball
park. The promoters of the American
League have adopted as their slogan,
Follow the crowd" Just why. il is quite
Impossible to say, but it applied very
a3tiy Yesterday. for to follow the crowd
meant to finally land at the park. The
gates were opened as early as . o'clock.
and even at that hour hundreds Of the
faithful. anxious to be on hand promptly
and not to miss any Of the preliminary
practice. trudged out to the grounds. BY
the time the game was advertised to
commence, 1870 O'Clock. the park was
found to be entirely too small to accom-
modate the throng that passed the turn
stiles. The bleachers on both sides of the
grounds were black with densely packed
humanity, while the grandstand was
crowded to a degree bordering upon the
uncomfortable.
1t was heterogeneous assemblage, too.
The out and oat crank was on hand.
boisterously discussing the prospects Of
tie team and Offering gratuitous advice
as to the changes that Manager Manning
should make before his club could hope
to whip Raltimore-for it should be under
stood more than half of those present
actually believed the visitors would get
away with the game. Prominent Of
fcials, too, were present in large numbers
They were headed by Admiral Dewey,
who looked upon the game from private
box under the eye of President Ban John
son and one OF the directors OF the local
team. Not a dozen feet away was ex-
Senator German, OF Maryland, who ac-
companied the team from his state and
did everything in his power to bring VIC
tory to his side. He yelled as Justify as
any of the blescherites, and ii was not for
lack OF his moral support that the Orioles
came out second best. There was large
proportion of women in the grandstand.
and no one seemed to appreciate the win
ming of the game better than did they
BY the time Umpire Cantillion called
Play ballr the crowd had overliowed
from the stands and was sprinkled along
the playing lines. a rope kept them of
the field. but the fringe of humanity
necessitated an agreement between Cap
tains Everett and McGraw that hit into
the crowd would be good but for two
bases, while ball thrown among the
spectators would advance the runner but
a single bag beyond the one for which he
was headed when the play was made.
Located in the grandstand was Haley s
Band, and during the warming up process
many popular tunes were played. The
Baltimores had their turn on the field
first and showed that sore arms were
things of the long ago with them, for the
manner In which McGraw and his side
partner, little Keister hurled the balls
over to first. where big Foutz took good
spectators reserved their real applause
for the local players. and when they
trotted out for their preliminary practice
they were given a welcome that made
them feel perfectly at home. The pitch
ers knocked balls around the bases and
gave the outtielders chance to get their
eyes on high balls and the crowd took the
keenest interest in this work. The men
all showed up well. the infielders handling
all sorts of hits with a facility that was
astonishing. particularly when it is taken
into consideration that the field is In any
thing but good condition.
During the afternoon. as the game wore
on and II became apparent that the Sena-
tors would win the contest, the crowd be-
came uncommonly demonst rative and
gave each of the local players a hearty
hand as he came up TO the bat or dis
tinguished himself by an especially good
fielding effort. Billy Coughlin. the clever
third baseman came in for a big share
of the applause for his fine fielding lie
seemed 10 be after everything that
started In his direction and the manner
IN which he handled hot ones and shot
them over 20 Everett caused the fans TO
realize that Washington has at last got
cracking good third base guardian.
Coughlin did not hit the ball effectively
yesterday; but this was easily overlooked
IN the light Of his splendid fielding
Farrell Immediately stepped into the
sfaces or the enthusiasts by his stick
work, throwing. and fielding. He is evil
'Niitte a lstili Pld9 Il AEhDi inc grass up.
and he led the team in hitting yesterday,
securing three rafting good singles
Big Bill Everett. who patrols the first
precinct. was not far behind Farrell with
hls club work. and on two occasions when
bieGinnity handed up seemingly impossible
bails the local captain stopped their prog
IsSs ana sent them flying In the direction
OF the centre field fence. where a number
% artists were painting a sign that ad-
Nlsed all baseball followers to eat the
kind of bread that mother used To make
one OF these smashes resulted in Everett
being credited on the official score with a
iwo-Dagger. Catcher Clarke also raped
out hit that landed him on second cfish-
Ion and caused the excitable and puRna-
cious Mr AcGraw large amount OF Wor-
~. Tor II sent In run for Washington.
and at this stage of the game runs were
exceedingly valuable. and every time enc
was chalked up to the credit OF a local
pisye: the Baltimore third baseman won
dered why he aud his companions in de
feat had strayed so far from home and
their loved ones.
But well as the entire lot OF the Sena-
tors handled themselves, a large bouquet