Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-10
Nationals Arrive Home From
Their Prs2,ioe Trip.
ALL ARE Iii GOOD SHAPE
Seascn Opens TomoTrow With the
New YCrk Yankees.
TOM HUGHES WILL PITCH
Favorites Split the Card at Benning
Yesterday-Going Was Muddy
Gold Cup Case Settled.
TOM HUGHES WILL PITCH

Manager Cantillon and his band of Ma
tonaIs arrived home this morning at S:31,
and every one in the crowd is In frst-class
condition for the opening game tomorrow.
"A more enthusiastic group of ball players
would be hard to Ind than those represent
ing the Washington club. Every man is
chock-full of confidence, and to listen to
the different ones talk, a person would
be led TO believe that they had won the
pennant last year and were out for another
trophy this season.
Manager Cantillcn is a hard man to in
terview as he believes in showing off on the
field and not in the newspapers. but when
seen this morning by a Star reporter, he
said that he was highly pleased with the
team as whole.
The boys have had q wonderful success
full srriag practice" said the manager. and
they are in shape to play for their lives My
pitching staff is exceptionally strong, and
every man it is in splendid shape.
Il think Graham will be of the stars
of the American League this season, and
have never seen kitson, Hughes or Patten
in better shape.
Hickman has been satisfactory at first.
and when l say satisfactory | mean that
he was filling the 54il in every particular
anu at tNe present moment NOhlu not
trade the big fellow for any first haseman
i'll the business, outside of the recognized
stars. Hickman had the bad luck to have
his knee hurt, but ! will play him tornor-
row If there is any chance whatever. He
is anxious to play, and | know him well
enough to understand that with a little
jollying he will forget his injuries and get
into the struggle in dead earnest.
With Anderson in left, AitiZer in center
and Ganey in right, l believe | have a
pretty tidy outlirId. :ery man beirg able
TO field well and hit strongly.
''Blankenship, behind the bat, is one
grand player and the work OF Warner and
HeydOr has been up to their standard. In
fact ! don't know of position OF our
team that looks the least bit weak. and in
George Nil | have prize as a utility
man.
This cold spell is very disappointing to
me. as I wanted to start the season in good
shape, and I'm afraid the damp grounds
may knock out several of the men. as the
weather was simply perfect until We struck
Kansas City. Should the sun come out
tomorrow | will send Tom Hughes out
to the firing line, as the big fellow Is
anxious to work the opening day. an'!
/ know he is fit as a fiddle.
As soon as the players had reached the
Dewey this morning and taken breakfast
majority of them cut bee lin" for iiick-
mans store. where each one picked out at
least half dozen bats While this was
going on there was a great kidding match
from every one about slugg.ng the ball and
how they would 81 nS out the doubles ana
tTipletS the coming season. AltiZer, Hey
don. Case Patten. kitson and John Ander-
son took part in the fun, and several
fans who were present enjoyed the sport
hugely,
If the sun will shine tomorrow American
League Park will be in fairly good con-
dtion. y reporter of The Star was out at
the park this morning. and everything is in
prime shape for the opening. Repairs have
been made to the stands and fences by
Groundkeeper O'Day. and the park presents
a busness-like appearance.
The gates will be thrown open at l o'clock
tomorrow and the game starts at O'Clock.
A band will be present to enliven the occa-
sion and altogether the opening of the
season promises to be one of the biggest
on record.
All the players journeyed to the park
this afternoon, and while the grounds were
somewhat slippery considerable work was
done in the way of limbering up.
The uniforms were received only this
morning. after tantaliZing delay, and were
given to the players this afternoon at the
park The home uniform will consist of the
regulation white, with black trimmings.
cap. belt and stockings On the road the
team will wear black uniforms with white
cap white belt and black and white stock
ings.
Jack Dunn. manager of the Baltimore
Eastern League team, was caller on Man
ager Cant!llon this morning, and after
lengthy conference the news was given out
that Pitcher Harry Hardy. the little left
handler. had been sold to Baltimore Hardy
should have little trouble maxim good in