The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07

| and each is strenuous In the declaration
| that he has been in constant practice for
| the past month or so, and will be in splen-
| did ADDITION when called upon to don his
7 uniform, which. by the way. were de-
I livered yesterday. The-home suits will
I be of white. with black trimmings. while
on the road the Washington men will
wear grey, with trimmings of black The
| combinations are decidedly neat and are
in keeping with the modesty that has
thus far characterized the works and ut
terances of the men who are responsible
| for giving the Capital City an opportunity
to enjoy the national game this season.
Out at the grounds. the work of erect
ing the stands is being pushed as rapidly
as could be expected. and the chances
are that everything will be in readiness
| by the time the umpire calls Play BALI
| at the initial game.
! Win" Mercer was compelled to go
through New York City on his way to
| Washington. and while in Gotham, very
\ naturally went around to the headquar-
| tiers of the Giants. A half dozen of the
| team were hanging around the rooms
| swapping yarns of the great plays they
| had made before tabs were kept on their
work, of the wonderful games they would
put up this year. and the numerous other
evidences of smoking pills usually In
dulged in by ball tossers prior to COM
mencing their regular work. The glad
hand was extended to Winnie and the
most alluring inducements were held out
TO him to become member OF the New
YORK team. Andy Freedman was lunch
ing at the Manhattan Club at the mo-
Inent, sending cablegrams to his friends,
Mr.. Richard Croker and Edward VII
Rex, regarding the promises made by the
dfiferent Giants to play the game of their
lives this year. and cause New York to
occupy a place on the baseball map. The
men all wanted Mercer to stay over a
train and see Freedman, promising that
there would most certainly be something
doing.
in my vicinity" the twirler replied. as
he picked up his grip and bat bag. Lit
tie Winnie's off for Washington" were
his parting words.
Bill CoughIin, who will hold down third
base, is expected to get in from his home,
Scranton. Pa, some time today. Cough
lin reports that ne has been practicing
In one of the gymnasiums in his city and
assisting to arbitrate the difficulties be-
tween the coal miners and the million
aire anthracite operators. He claims the
course he has pursued is enough to get
any ball tosser in the pink of condition.
Coughlin will undoubtedly prove to be one
of the star third basemen of the Ameri-
can League Those who are familiar with
his work know him to be an adept at
handling hard ones. a rafting base run
ner, and a good strong sticker. usually
coming up to the requirements when a
hit is necessary to bring in a run. Cough
Inns style of play is much like that of
Hughey Jennings when he, too, played on
the lots in the vicinity of Scranton ten
years ago. and when he was known as the
Pride of Avoca." long before he bios
somed out as star with Louisville.
Ban johnson is quoted as saying to a
Chicago reporter:
II see by the papers that Dineen has
jumped back to the Boston National
League club. This contract jumping is
getting bit monotcnous, and one of
these days they will find it isn't the fun
it's cracked up to be. Bill Dahlen once
jumped a contract and was sued before
Judge Brentano for the return OF the
money paid him in advance. After hear
ing the evidence the court said that Dab
len ought to have been charged with OBJ
tanning money under false pretences. Sim
ilar action may be resorted to by the
American League. We don't want any
contract jumpers to play with US, but We
won't be made suckers. An example will
be made of some one SOON.
Outfielder Jimmy Slagle may be lost to
the Washington club. but he appears to
be the only one who is causing Manager
Manning any uneasiness. Slagle signed
an option, which was drawn up by
prominent attorney, accepted expense
money. and is not only morally but legally
bound to play in Washington. Ii is not
likely. however, that fight will be made
for his services, as the policy of the
American League is to pass such men by
for all time.