The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-19
GOOD HARD PRACTICE
GIANTS GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS
FOR FIRST TIME.
GROUND SUFFICIENTLY DRY
TO ALLOW THE USE OF DIAMOND
AND FIELD.

Bases Were Filled and the Players
Alternated in Turns mt the Bat,
Taylor, MathewsOn, Miller and
CrOnin Doing the TwirIing, But
Not Cutting Loose-Game With
Fort Screven VIII he Played Sat
urday AfternOon-GeOrEe Davt.
Coming to Practice with the
Team-Other Players Will be Here
To-day.
The Bolton street ball grounds were
sufficiently dried out yesterday to al
low the New York giants to put in the
first good days work they have been
able to do since starting practice Mon
day morning.
Although still wet and quite muddy
in places, the men were placed in po-
sition on the field at both the morning
and afternoon practice. The NORM
ings work was batting, base running,
and pitching. After the practice the
members of the team, both collective
ly and individually. were photographed
by an artist of the New York Journal,
who has been sent here for that pur-
pose. The individual photographs
were taken with the subject in some
pose of play ball"
In the afternoon the field was filed
and Dummy" Taylor put in the box
with Warner, catching, while the 9TH
ers batted and ran the bases the same
as in regular game. Taylor worked
about fifteen minutes in which he did
not cut loose to his full extent, though
occasionally a hummer" was sailed
across that had "whiskers" all over it,
and usually found a resting place in
the catcher's nit. Mathewson relieved
Taylor, and those who had been at bat
relieved those in the field who came
in and took a turn at the stick. Ma
thewson did not exert himself at ALL
but lobbed the horse hide across with
sufficient speed. curves and shoots to
cause holes in the bat of several
stickers Cronin and Miller also took
their turn and lobbed in few fool
ers' of the first order. All four of the
pitchers are getting their wing in
shape, and Manager McGraw is well
satisfied with the progress they are
making.
All of the other players are getting
down to condition and improving both
in speed and skill. The new men,
Gilbert and Babb, are doing nicely.
Both are left handed batters and good
strikers. Gilbert is the speediest man
on the team and great ground COW
erer. He is also the smallest man
in the aggregation, which probably
accounts for his agility. Babb is long
lanky youngster, awkward in his
movements, but he manages to "get
there" with every effort he makes.
Lauder, the infielder, who will prob
ably play third base, arrived yes
terday from the Indian Territory and
got in the game with the boys. He
is likely looking, player and McGraw
| has great faith in his ability to cover
any position on the diamond. The
five remaining players still absent are
expected to arrived to-day without
fail. They were due yesterday but
did not show up.
George Davis the great short-stop
and baseman. who wants to play ball
with New York and not with Chicago,
through his counsel, John M. Ward,
has notified manager McGraw that he
will hold the team to the two years
contract with him, Notwithstanding
The ACTION OIL the HedCe COMMISSION In
assigning him back to the Chicago
American League team. This, of course,
means that Davis will not go to Chi
cago.
In answer to a telegram from Davis,
asking if there is any objection to his
rracticing with New York, he standing
his own transportation and other eX-
peEses, Manager McGraw wired back
for him to come on, and he is expected
to arrive tonight.
1t is not unlikely that Delehanty,
who wants to camp in the New York
pasture, will follow the same course
az Davis, in which event complications
will probably arise that will result in
New York getting both these star play
crS.
A meeting between Manager Nc
Graw and representatives of the army
team at Fort Screven, was held yes
terday morning, at which it was de-
cided that the soldiers will come up
Saturday afternoon for the game, at
Bolton Street Park. The soldiers are
said to have a very strong team and
fully expect to defeat the professionals.
The game will start at 3 O'Clock.
Davis and Mcrtes Arrive.
S. b. Mertes. the left fielder of the
last night from California, and will be
out this morning limbcring up with the
boys. He is at the Pulaski.
George Davis and wife also arrived
last night, and are at the same house
Mr.. Davis will get in a New York uni
form this morning, though, it is not
yet known whether he will be Giant
this season or not. Davis is short
stOn and infielder