The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-15
Tn THE BASEBALL WORLD
Manning's Players Rapidly Round
ing Into Shape.
Men Practicing at Hampton. Vn.-Joe
Quinn Expected to Join the Team
Tomorrow - First Game With
Georgetown on Next Saturday.


Georgetown on Next Saturday.
Reports from Hampton, Va, where the
members of the Washington American
League team have been practicing for
the past week, are to the effect that the
men who will be under Jimmy Manning s
supervision for the next six months are
rapidly getting into splendid condition
During the week the entire team, with
the exception of Second Baseman Joe
Quinn, have been hard at work getting the
stiffness out of their joints, consequent
upon the winters idleness. The players
have shown up wonderfully well, and
while Manning does not care to indulge
in any of the customary ante-season
claims for the pennant he says he is sat
isfied that he has a good collection of
players, ambitious men who will make
good showing and will make some of the
other teams hustle if they beat them out
in the race for the rag.
Secretary 30 Needham is at Hampton
looking after the comfort of the men, in
conjunction with Captain Everitt, and
writes to The Times that everything is
getting along in fine shape. The men
have entered upon their practice with
spirit and determination that should
duSbi WILL it PiANitiS +AAI ii'Ai1NAiA',
up arms that have not been used a great
deal since last fail, the fielders are prac-
ticing getting under fly balls, and the
whole team are taking a hand at batting.
So far not much attention has been paid
to team work, owing tC the absence of
Joe Quinn, but he has notified Manager
Manning that he will be in this city to-
morrow, and he will at once be shipped
for the Virginia training quarters Upon
his arrival the club VIII be complete, and
the remainder of the week win be devoted
to the hardest sort Of practice, in which
signals and team work will play an impor-
tant part. Everitt expresses the belief that
he has lot of hard working men and
thinks he can get the very best work out of
them, all of which means that the players
like their captain and will do anything
under him that he may command with a
willingness and cheerfulness that cannot
help but result in success.
Bill Coughlin, the Senator's third base
man, has made a strong impression upon
all who have observed his play. He has a
great style and Will undoubtedly become
a hot favorite with the fans who like to
watch the game from the vicinity OF the
third bag. Billy has been hitting the ball
on the nose during the weeks practice,
and evidences a quick eye and a power
behind the stick that have already won
for him the reputation of being a rafting
good hitter. His fielding is almost fault
less. He gets in front of the hardest sort
of balls and handles them cleanly, while
on slow ones he pushes the sphere over to
first in cyclonic shape. Win Mercer, too,
is showing up exceptionally well at DraC-
tice. He has let out his arm on one or
two occasions and has astonished the
other men on the team by his wonderful
steam. He has officiated around second
IN the practice games on account of his
familiarity with infieid work, but with the
appearance of Quinn he will confine him
self to getting his arm in the very best
of shape, although he says if the season
were TO open tomorrow he could go in
and pitch good game. He retains his
well-known command Of the ball, while
he promises something new in the way Of
a SLOW ball which, he believes he has suf-
nc1ently mastered during practice in a
gymnasium this winter to permit of his
using 1t in the earliest games. According
TO the popular twirler, if his calculations
are anywhere near correct opposing bats
men will find Winnie a hard proposition
this season.
Carrick and the other members of the
pitching corps are ali in good shape. and
anxious to do some regular work, while
Grady, behind the rubber. has showed up
in great shape, and has proved that his
arm is still clever enough to get the ball
down to second in time to head off base
runners. The work of Clingman at short
has been excellent and he has displayed
the freshness of an ambitious minor
Lacquer, making his first appearance after
season rest. His stick work has been
unusually strong. Bill Clarke has been
getting into form, while coaching the
Princeton varsity team, so the big catch
er may be relied upon to get into the
game ready for hard work The outfeld
appears to be all right, especially from a
fielding standpoint so that, all in all,
after another weeks practice the Sena-
tors promise TO give good account of
themselves.