Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
WHAT BASE BALL OWES TO
THE LATE senator GoRMAN

order to introduce the game here in Its ma
tional character Mr.. German arranged for
visits TO the capital by the Arlantics and
Exceisiors of New York. the Athletics OF
Philadeiphia and the Maryland and Pas
times of Baltimore. and these visits caused
a great interest In the game
In 1866. Mr.. German conceived the Idea
of northern trip for the Nationals, and
this tour presented the club. It's players
and their president. in the most favorable
light before the whole northern fraternity.
The reception given to the champion
Club of the South title thrust upon the
Nationals. was noteworthy in the history
of the game. So strong an impression did
this visit of the Nationals make that at
the election of 1857 Mr.. German was unani-
mousiy elected president OF National Assoc
citation OF Base Ball Players. In speaking
of that election the leading base bah sheet
of that time-Base Ball Chronicle of New
York-Henry Chadwick. editor. said: "A
better man could not have been selected.
or a more judicious choice made. An ar
dent admirer and most liberal supporter
of the game. familiar from his years of
service at the Capitol with parliamentary
rulings. personally esteeruea by all his ac-
quatntances. and warmly regarded by his
friends no man occupied a more popular
position or exercised more Influence in the
player too. and a lover of fair and manly
conduct In the field. his example has al
ways been one having potent influence
for good on all of his companions.
The Great Western Trip.
1t was President Germans idea that
prompted and carried out the visit of the
National club to the west in 1867, the
first time in the history of base ball that
such long trip was ever made. and which
many regarded at the time as the height
of folly. Under his guiding hand the west
was aroused to base ball and the height of
folly is in evidence today. The Nationals
at that time IN nf .sE2il1v''
lfams, p: Berthrong. c.; Fletcher, h.;
George Wright. 3D.; Fox, 3d.; Smith S.;
Parker. H.; Studley, CT; and Mclean. RI.
and they made the entire circuit of the
west winning twelve victories and losing
only one game to the Forest Citys of Rock
ford. III. On returning from this western
trip President German and his entire team
were given a, royal street parade and vel
come. ending with banquet at Wizards
Hotel.
The White Lot Ampitheater.
The White Lot in the meantime had
been converted into a mammoth ampithe-
alter and a seating capacity .or 1900 per-
sons was arranged On that historic lot
in the years 1857 $50 some of the great
est games in the history of the sport were
played, the great Cincinnati Reds, Mutuals
of Morrisana. Atlantics of Brooklyn, Ath-
letics of Philadelphia and the Excelsior of
New York being among the clubs, Mr.
German being the master mind In all
the games. and he was usually seen at
the contest In company with President
Johnson, as the chief executive was a
devotee of the game Mr. German retired
from the presidency of the National AS
ISOLATION in 1869, and mis- successors have
been in turn Messrs. A. G. Mills, w. II.
Hurlbut, N. E. Young and the present
head, President Pulliam. Though he retir-
ed from active participation in that year.
he never lost an interest IN the sport and
was often the on ar No
tional Park, while many times last season
he used to walk down to the White Lot
to look at the games and-recal to those
fortunate enough to be in his company the
incidents of nose halcyon an. thrice happy
days of the past. The present National
club Is therefore but a continuation of the
club Arthur Pue German organized back
in 1850.