Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
INTERSTATE TEAM
MUCH STRONGER
Group of New Players Trans
ferred Who Will Make.
Club a Winner.

Owing to the excellent support afforded
commission base ball team by Manager
Stratton and Chief Clerk William A.
Connolly In bringing about the transfers
of several promising ball players from
other departments to the interstate. and
incidentally gathering together the best
base ball material in the District, this
department has bright prospects Of turn
ing out one of the strongest mines that
ever represented an institution, depart
ment or club In this city.
Both Mr.. Stratton and Mr.. Connolly, by
their earnest support. together with the
efficient coaching Of Coach Stern. were
largely responsible for the classy show
ing this team made in the departmental
series last summer, and the employees of
the interstate commerce commission
should feel very grateful toward these
men in bringing about the transfers and
employment of the following players. who
will undoubtedly put up last article of
ball for this department next season after
team work has been perfected by Coach
Stern.
Only four of last years team will re-
port for practice when the first call is made
in the spring-Mess, AL Handiboe, Hay
den and Balzer being the only players of
the 1908 squad who will represent the
team for the season of 1909. These men
will undoubtedly form the nucleus Of the
team, although all the players who Will
compose the nine have made considerable
regulations for themselves on the local
diamonds. Three star players from the
Commerce and Labor team have been
transferred to- the interstate commerce
commission in Kenney, Richmond and
Rapp. These players were the backbone
of the G. and L. team last season. and
will prove a valuable addition to the
interstate squad. Richmond was Com
merce and LaboTs star twirler, and did
considerable toward placing this depart
ment well up in the race by his clever
box work. while Kenney and Rapp sup
pably by their classy fielding and timely
hitting. Kenney played in the infield,
while Rapp performed in the outer gar
den.
Another heaTy-hitting outfielder has
been secured in Tansil, who will be trans
ferred from the Interior Department. He
was member of last years crack Brook
land nine and aided his team materially
by his all-around playing ability.
In Barnes and Callahan, former players
on the Post Office Department team,
Coach Stern firmly believes he has two
of the best infelders who played In the
Departmental League last summer, and is
confident they will perform some mar
velous stunts on the diamond for the in
terstate department this coming season.
The main object of these men in secur-
ing the services of the aforementioned
players is to supply the team with play
ers who are young, but at the same time
have displayed much class and ability at
the national game.
Manager Stratton intends to arrange an
extensive schedule with the strongest
teams In and out Of town, and is willing
to stack the team, when enough practice
has been secured. against Georgetown
University.
Taken all in all, and Judging from the
past performances of the above-pen
toned players, Coach Sterns prediction
that the team will be about the strongest
in the District Is not much off color and
will probably be confirmed.