The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
BLUE FOR NATIONALS
CantillOn Decides to Change
C0lOrs OF Uniforms
JACOBSEN LEAVES ON FRIDAY
Business Manager Of Training Trip
VIII Go 20 Chicago TO Join Club
Before Leaving for GaIvestOn-On-
SeHsOH Trades Have shifted Sew
eraI Players in Major Leagues.

Joe Cantillon will try TO change the
luck OF the Nationals during the coming
season by changing the colors Of the uni
forms that the players will wear while
on the road
a rule in the American League requires
that .its teams have white suits at
home. but while travelling the teams may
wear whatever colors they choose. For
the past two years the Nationals have
worn plain black suits, but the uniforms
looked so dismal when compared with
the white suits OF the opposing clubs
that Cantillon has decided TO brighten
things up this season by having navy
blue with white trimmings for suit and
cap.
CantiilOn spent the greater part OF last
week in Omaha attending the annual
meeting Of the Western League. in which
tho Washington manager has considerable
interest, being & part owner Of the Des
Moines club. The league decided 10 in
clude Kansas City. Kans.. in the circuit
for the coming campaign At first there
was considerable objection. as II was
claimed that the latest addition 10 the
circuit would be an encroachment on the
territorial rights OF the Kansas City. No.
club. but il was found later that the new
stand is the required five miles from the
city limits OF the old club
Clarence Jacobsen. who will attend to
the business end Of the training trip Of
the Nationals will leave here Friday for
Chicago. where he will Join Cantillon and
a squad OF the players.
Jacobsen had a letter yesterday from
Cantllon. in which the manager said
that practically all OF the players have
signed and that before the date set for
leaving Chicago he expects 20 have every
member OF the club IN line.
More than the average number OF base
ball trades were made by the American
League during the present oN-seasOn
Managers declare that II Is impossible 10
get a good player AZ any price. yet sew
erai classy performers in Ban Johnson's s
circuit Were sent 10 new fields by pur-
chase or trades.
This list includes Fred Parent Of Bos-
ton. who was sent 10 Chicago.aud Ferris.
OF the same club. who was traded TO St
Louis Via New York The latter team
turned over Laporte 10 Boston, while New
York sent Williams and Hoffman. along
with Ferris. 10 the Browns. in exchange
FOR Niles. HemphiI. and Glade New York
also purchased Jake Stahl
Washington swapped Jones 20 the
Browns for Pickering. Stiu. McAleer was
not satisfied. and he acquired Wadden of
the Athletics by purchase Cleveland took
Hickman on Chicago's hands. and the Sox
obtained Anderson from Washington. De-
troit's only deal of note was 70 buy Catch
er Thomas OF New York
Managers may stilI insist thst II is diff
cult 70 get star players at any price: yet
every season several toppy players figure
in deals
In the National League there We're few
er transactions, because its managers are
unwilling 10 make deal unless they get
dollar FOR a dime.
The biggest trade was between the New
York and Boston teams. New York get
ting Tenney, Bridwell. and Needham for
Dahlen Bowerman. McGann. Browne. and
Ferguson. PittsbUrE sold Third BaSeman
Sheehan 10 Brooklyn. which about com
pletes the deals in that circuit
The New York team is known as the
Giants" in the National League. The
nickname was handed the team when
most Of the players we're big fellows.
The New York team OF the present Is
hardly entitled 10 the title but the ST
Louis team. in the American League.
could be called the Giants. and Il would
be perfectly proper.
Every fan in the circuit knows the size
Of Spencer. the Browns catcher He is
often called Hackenschmidt after the IA
nous wrestler gube WaddeH. Jack
Powell. and Bill Dineen are all six-foot-
ers. and weigh in the neighborhood OF 2oe
pounds. There are many critics who be-
lieve Bill Dineen TO be the best built fell
low in baseball Charley Jones +s a six
fOoter. Brown. the new first baseman.
is about the SAME size. and Jimmy Will
Jams and Hobe Ferris are not small by
any means What Jimmy and Hobe lack
in height 10 make them giants. they
make up IL width. Tom Jones Is a good
sized chap. and the rest OF the team are
all over the average. The only man in
the team who could be called small is
Catcher Stevens. When Stevie is catch
ing any Of the big fellows il makes quite
a contrast
In his bunch OF recruits AIcAleer has
a lot Of big fellows. and should any OF
them make good. il would make the
name al the more correct. The team has
not prOspered very well under the nick
name of Browns. which tradition has
handed down, so perhaps a shift to
Giants might help some.
Manager Griffith, OF the Highlanders.
after looking his veteran players over FOR
a few days. has reached the conclusion
that he can depend on the entire lot this
season. In a letter from Hot Springs 10
New York headquarters he discussed the
sOcalled has beens' in breezy fashion.
and expressed the belief that they viii
surprise the fans when the season opens.
Chesbro is one of the old-timers who
particularly pleases Griffith. and he pre-
diets that the former Pirate will be as
good this year as he was four years
ago.
Chesbro is much lighter than usual at
this time Of the year and viii not have
TO weaken himself by reducing. Accord
ing TO Griffith. the famous pitcher does
not weight within ten pounds of what he
did at this time lest season. and he is
willing and eager 10 work hard The
baths are doing Chesbro a great deal of
good. Griffith says. and he is likely TO go
through 10 the playing season without
any attacks OF soreness. Elberfeld is also
in first-class shape for this time OF the
year. and IS not down too fine. as in
previous seasons. Of Keeler. Griffith saws
ne looks and acts like his od SELF. and
the stomach trouble that thTe him back
last year has nearly disappe tTed. Light
work is still in order at the camp and
the squad is gradually growing fit for the
formal opening of the training season at
Atlant2.
The roster Of sport historians missed
a star entry when Tom Lawson passed
into frenzied finance. AS a delegate
from the anvil chorus. Thomas would
have made the worst knOcker the game
ever knew look like a wooden block
when II came 10 impart!ng the verbal
H..