Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-25

his captains ability to get over the ground
better than Patten. and rightly decided
at the plate. The play in that inning really
decided the contest Had Ganley scored.
Delehanty would have been third to
come home on Clymer's hit. and with a
start of two runs on the Browns the Ma
tionais would have Fingered up, while the
visitors would have had great big handi-
cap to overcome. 1t is good thing for the
Nationals that these little defects are crop
ping out now SO that Manager Cantilon
will know exactly where he stands in the
spring and be ready to head off just such
stupid work.
Ollie Pickering has been playing ball for
many years. but it Is doubtful If he has
ever performed as we'll as this year. He al
ways plays well in Washington. but yester
day he was certainly matchless in the field
and on the bases. When he would touch
the ball he off like flash for first.
and twice beat out infield rollers. In the
field he made catches off Atizer. O Brien
and Ganley which were simple robberies
and nothing else. Had either one of the
three flies sent out to right gotten away
from Pickering the Browns would not have
had look-in. 1t would have given.the
locals the first break, which meant great
deal to Pitcher Johnson and the men sup
porting him. When Manager McAleer
signed up Pickering last fall We were of the
opinion that he had lit on a dead one. but
we take it all back and now pronounce
Ollie one of the best in the business
While we dislike seeing the Nationals de-
feated and good work like that of John
sons go for naught, the experience will do
Walter good. as he has been lauded to the
skies and had doubtless come to the con-
cluslon that he could win games without
assistance. Johnson pitched remarkably
fine game and the plucky kid stuck to his
work manfully, even when he was getting
all the worst of the breaks. but 1t easily
noticeable that his great drop ball was miss
ing in the last two innings. which enabled
I, I, Lal r1.,- J,l,a
experience will do Johnson world of good.
any twrler pitch finely under favor
able conditions. but it takes a craw full of
sand to deliver the goods under adverse cir
Gums tanceS. There were no bells on Walter |
yesterday, but just the same he is a grand
pitcher.
Umpire Hurst failed to notice that yes
terday's game was to be started at 80 and
did not get to tne grounds until four in
nings had been aged. Players Blanken-
ship and Dinnecn did the umpiring until
Hurst arrived and both performed their
work well. BLANK" behind the bat and Bill
on the bases. While 1t is always best to
have a regular umpire officiate it is to be
regretted that the regular arbitrators are
not able to work with the degree of accu-
racy of the players. 1t may b. that UNI
piring every day makes the umpires some
what careless. while the players going In
very seldom have novel experience and
pride themselves on getting every play ex-
act.y right.
President Johnson witnessed yesterdays
game from a seat in the grand stand and
he doubtless went away with the impress
sion that he has nothing to fear from the
Nationals next season. Should the Ma
tionais get into the first division at the
opening of the season and stay there 1t
would certainly upset the calculations of
the other magnates, as well as the league
president The fact that the Nationals
have been spoken so we'll of and frequently
of late doubtless had more to do with
Yat,. no.
thing else. and yesterdays exhibition may
result in great good for the local aggrega-
ton.
Manager Cantiilon shifted his infield a
little Yesterday. but it failed to show an
Improvement the old lineup. OBrien
went to third and played splendid game.
but little Shipke at short was over his head.
Pete made a and stop in the second in
ming off Pickering. the ball being captured
back of the third sack and good throw
headed of the batter. 1t had to be fast
work to stop the fleet footed Pickering.
Shipke at short seemed to be afraid of
himself and didn't come in on the ground
ers like Tony Smith has been doing. For
this reason several grounders had to go
as hits which Smith would have simply
eaten up.
Tom Brown, the local umpire will doubt
less help Hurst this afternoon and his
work will be watched with unusual inter-
est Browns friends here have been try
for the past couple OF years. but the
Pittsburg influence has been too much to
overcome. Browns work in the Tri-State
has been unusually good the past two
years and his friends have at last per-
suaded Mr.. Johnson to give him trial.
Should Brown prove satisfactory this
fall he will be regular member Of Presi-
dent Johnson's staff next season. Brown
has a style of getting over the ground
and being on top Of each play that cannot
help but please the spectators and players.
and his appointment Is simply case of
not being able to keep a good man down.
The Eastern League season came to an
end yesterday. Toronto won the cham
pionship by a big margin. with Buffalo.
last years champions. second. and the
Providence Grays third. Newark Is tied
with Jersey City for the fourth position.
with Baltimore, Rochester and Montreal
bringing UP in the rear in the order
named
The winning of the pennant BY Toronto
was mainly through the good handling OF
the team by Joe Kelley. the manager. who
brought 1t up from the rear. and in two
weeks was in first place. which position
the team has held ever since.
Toronto and Columbus champion of the
American Association, will play q post
series OF games, beginning next week.
Defeat for Cleveland.
NEW YORK. September 25.-In seven