The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
NEWS AND COMMENT AT HOME AND ABROAD IN WORLD SPORT

1873 with Nick Young's Washington nine:
in 1874 with the Nationals; in 1910 with
Childs' Washingtons. and in 1ST7 and 1878
with the Nationals. Holly is one OF the
most reliable players in the business and
although he rarely does anything excep-
tionally brilliant, he can always be de-
pended upon for good strong game He
is invariably cool and self-possessed. ready
for any emergency. and plays best under
circumstances calculated to rattle other
men. His style Of playing is extremely
graceful. and his popularity with the
audience unbcunded. IN his batting. Hol-
~ always goes in for safe, rather than
long hits. and in base running loses no
chances, Record: Batting. "a; nelding,
7g7.
Baker Tried Hard.
Philip Baker. center field is from Phil
adelphia. where he began with the Phila-
delphia club. going afterward 10 Altoona
and Auburn. and in 1877 TO the Hornells,
with which club he played in 1873. until,
on the disbandment OF the nine, he came
10 Washington and finished the season
with the Nationals. He is one OF the most
valuable men on the nine. A fine fielder
and good catcher, he plays. from the be-
ginning Of the hrsi 20 the close OF the
ninth inning. solely 10 win. regardless OF
his own record He IS one Of the few
players who viii go in for a sacrifice hit
TO advance runners on the bases, rather
than for a base hit 10 benefit himself.
and more than one game did he win for
the Nationals last year by his batting
BY his hard work Baker won many
friends. and his selection as captain OF
the nine for this year is unqueStioaabIy
a good one. As a center fielder he stood
last year next 70 the winner Of the Clir-
per prize. Record with the Nationals:
Batting. .279: fielding. s52
George H. Derby. right field and
change pitcher. comes from Welsboro.
Ia. He commenced wits the HGrnells OF
1871, and win be remembered as playing
right field for that club last year. and
afterward as pitcher for the Syracuse
Stars. He is a heavy batter good fielder
and base runner. and a very promising
pitcher. The Nationals could dc nothing
with his delivery last year. Record with
the HOrnells: Batting. pa: fielding. $50
Oscar Bielasld viii play substitute. He
has been playing ball so long that the
memory OF man runneth not to the con-
trary. Professionally. however. he began
with the Nationals OF Is72. playing IN 1873
with the Washington club. in 1874 with
the Baltimores. in 1873 and 1876 with the
Chicagos. and in 1871 and 1S7S with the
Nationals. always in right field. There
Is legend eXtant that about a thousand
years ago Bielask attempted to play
first base. but-well. he went back 70
right field.
Bie1aski Was Popular.
AS captain Of the mines OF 1877 and iS7S.
Bielaski did valuable work. and he is a
man whose services cannot well be
spared Always on hand. working ear
nestly 20 win. a good batter, fine thrower.
and base runner VINO cannot be ex-
eeIled in the country. his chief fault is
his unpopularity with the audience and
the cause of that is one OF those things
no fellow can find out. Record last year:
Batting. .305: fielding. 80.
'Mr. b. s Cross. who viii again score
for the club. has scored for the club since
its reorganization in 1877. His experience
with baseball dates from iss7. and his re-
appointment 10 the position is a deserved
compliment 10 his honest and Impartial
scoring. Mr.. Cross is well known among
baseball men. and has also hosts OF
friends outside Of the baseball fraternity
1T is folly 10 predict the future Of the
nine. but on paper II Is a strong team,
and deserves The support OF the public
Its future performances viii speak for
themselves. Already. such OF the men as
are IN the city are hard at work daily, in
the club gymnasium, getting ready for
business. while letters from those else
where say that they are impaJenily wait
ing for April Is"