Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-08
LOOKING TO NEXT YEAR.
Amateur Ball Teams Already Pre-
pairing for the Coming Season.

The foot ball season having passed, the
followers of base ball have begun to sit
up and take notice of things that relate
to the season of 1908, and this is es-
pc cially noticeable in the movements OF
the amateur teams.
1t is we'll to remember that the past
season was the most prosperous one in
the annals of amateur base ball in this
city. Every league closed the playing
period with records that enthused its ad-
herents to a degree that augurs well for
the future.
Last season the championship question
was combated by the Marquette, Capital
City, Departmental and Church leagues.
though there were others who claimed
that they should have had chance at
the pennant, notably the winner Of the
Suburban League schedule and the
Brookland independent team. Now these
teams intend making it a certainty that
they shall be recognized by the commits
sion which conducts the championship
games, for they are hard at work cor
railing the players for the next season to
show that they are good enough to go into
the race for the pennant. Next season
the amateur commission may have to ar
range for a six-cornered fight before
local honors are finally decided.
The board composing the amateur COM
mission last season. although not holding
over for next year, has the success of
the teams at stake, and will soon issue
an address laying down the principles
that should govern amateur base ball
in Washington. and urging the need OF
cleaning shop in order to prevent any
a nj
arrange the contests as to prevent all the
pickering that prevailed during the cham
pionship games of the last season. The
commission is doing this work through
love for the game and the desire to foster
the sport among amateurs.
AS stated, the teams are already lay
ing pipes for the season of 1908, and es-
pecially is this true of the Departmental
League teams, who are determined to
make 1t the best in their history. Addi-
tional interest Is shown in the movement
in this league owing to the fact that the
Agricultural Department, which won the
championship in 1905 and 1905, and which
failed to place a team in the race in 1907,
will once again swing into the race with a
strong team. and the WAR Department,
after an absence of year, will also re-
turn to fight for laurels.
President Merritt 0. Chance, chief
clerk of the Post Office Department, Is
confident that the departmental teams
will be much stronger in 1908 than they
have been since their organization, and
that the winner of his league will also
land the pennant Of District champion
ship. This is based on the information
received from the rest Of the board of
governors of the league, mostly chief
clerks of the executive departments: each
claiming that he will put out the best
team in the race.
Presidents O'Shea Of the Capital City
and Capt. Edwards of the Marquette
also claim improvement In their associa-
tons. SO it will be seen that prospects
are now rosy for amateur base ball here
next year.
The Post Office team is banking on
turning out a strong battery in Hoffman,
who used to play in the south. and Ryan.
Back Bay player from Boston. These
two players got into few games last
year, but fright kept them out.
but as both eoeen doing stunts lately
they will go after record next season.
Connie Doyle, the local tennis expert.
will captain the Agriculture team. He
is one of the most capable players in the
District.