Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
FIRST GAME WILL
Be PLAYED TODAY
CantiIIon's Regulars and Colts
to Be Lined Up This After.
n0on-Hot Work at
Galveston.


Nationals enjoyed a splendid rest last
night and they all took the limit before
he last call for breakfast. Three success
to physical ease. and all Of he men were
abed by dusk. Not even the constant
for the bridge. at their doors.
by the giant grade-raising dredges, which
passed going and coming throughout the
night. disturbed them in the least.
Breakfast and 4 glance over the papers
where Cantillon worked the crew in per-
son for over an hour He made all the
pitchers take their turns at lobbing the
ball over the plate to the batters, Tho
made the fellows In the outfield chase
leather, or worried the infielders with
Sharp smashes. Then there was some
practice that finally wound up
with four turns around the park, every
body in joining the procession.
Hot Work on the Diamond.
1t was hot work, and Cantillon and
Freeman shed enough perspiration to float
a batlieship.
"Phew. grunted Jerry as he mopped
his flooded forehead: Just think of me-
going up against this after having dose
of 40 degrees below at Minneapolis half
the winter"
Jerry is stiff and sore, but he stuck
to his work as hard as the rest of them.
Some of the boys took hot water and
shower baths at the clubhouse, but the
majority preferred plunge in the surf
Then Rubber McNeal, who Is an artist
in massage. took them in hand with good
results. McNeal is an old Galvestonian.
and was once lightweight champion OF
Texas. He ran an athletic and physical
culture school here for years. until Can
rrnnt hIr,n1 nc ,,>I IA
him to take on with the Nationals.
The afternoon work lasted for about
two hours, and, as in the morning, the
PLAYERS enjoyed thorough sun bath. The
high sky, without speck Of a cloud in
the background, is bothering some Of
the youngsters, but they'll soon get over
it. One thing that Cantillon and Trainer
Eddinger do not have to worry over is
the players getting hurt by bad-bounding
balls, or injured in sliding or running
bases: AS has been said before. the field
at Athletic Park Is perfectly smooth and
hard, without pebble or rock on 1t, and
the running paths and the ground around
the bases and plate are packed so well
Tat 1t would be almost impossible for q
player to twist or turn an ankle or ac-
quire case of ''charle-horse." There
wasn't sore or lame arm or the slightest
ailment whatever among the players
when the Nationals left here last spring.
1t will be about the same this year, and
the war correspondent will have little to
write about in that respect.
The First Game.
Tomorrow afternoon at o'clock, taking
full advantage of the hot sun that will be
overhead at that hour. Cantillon will have
two teams lined up for a nine-inning
struggle, the players being sorted out as
Regulars-Hughes. Smith and Oberlin,
pitchers; Street. catcher: Freeman, first
base; Meinke or Delehanty, second base;
Altizer. third base: Mcbride. shortstop:
Ganley. left field: Pickering. center field;
Clymer, right field.
Colts-Cates. Burns and Patten. pitch
ers; Kahoe and Warner, catchers: Falk-
enberg, first base; Peterson, second base:
Shipke. third base: Keely. shortstop; Will
son. left field; Milan, center field; Kay.
right field.
Though they are still missing, Patten,
Delehanty and Warner are included in
both rosters, as they are due any hour.
Tony Smith or George Page, local pro-
fessionals, will umpire, as Cantillon pre-
fers to direct the work of both teams
from the bench or the coaching lines.
Captain Not Yet Chosen.
While earnest Bob Ganley is still act
ing as captain, there is no telling just yet
who will be made regular field director
for the season. Cantillon prefers waiting
a while until the men get working to-
gether in better shape. before making the
appointment.
Cantillon has settled his first dates with
His regulars will play ma
poleon's' veterans in Galveston next Sat-
urday. and in Houston next Sunday, while
the Colts. piloted by Capt. Thomas
Hughes. will have those dates reversed.
Joe is tryingsto get ''Muggsy" McGraw's
Giants down from Marlin for March 81
and - saturday and Sunday, but IL he
fails he will have another two-round go
with the Cardinals.
men on account Of the old
time rivalry between Galveston and Hous-
ton. and then there is only a ffty-mile
jump between them.
Warm Greeting for Pickering.
Pickering is due for a warm greeting
from the old-time rooters here tomor-
cow, for they remember him well. Back
n 1892 we had little league in the
state and McCloskey was managing Hous-
on. On opening day Galveston was there
md Pickering. who was then in his teens.
blew in on freight train from San
Antonio. looking like a tramp. and applied
o McCloskey for a job. Mac was short
Houston beat Galveston by a big one
sided score, and Pick was the hero Of
he day. He cracked out seven hits out
If as many times at bat-he was the first
player to ever accomplish that rare feat
scored lot of runs, ran bases like a
scared hound and made circus catches
galore. He was the white-h haired boy Of
he league that year but somehow he
vent back for a while and returned in
500. After that his climb upward into
prominence was steady.
Discussing the bacistop problem today.
Manager Cantillon said: Il haven't heard
rom Blankenship of late and don't know
what he intends to do. He is in Fresno.
al, and threatens to play outlaw ball
ather than return to our club. Maybe
lie will and maybe he won't-there's lots
# time yet for him to come to his senses.
About Roth I can't say much. Alleged
wise ones among the sporting pencil push
RS had already had him sold. released
md tied up tight to us. but he isn't as
ar as l know. Further [ cannot see.
Ne will not be weak behind the plate.
however. If my plans go right This
vitted lad. and there is whole lot or
rood work in Jack Warner yet"
There will be no practice in the morn
ng of course, as the boys Of Cantillon's
aith always go to church with him In
he forenoon and the others will scatter
O various places of worship.
Scott and Rovleston Win