Evening star., 1909-04-28
OLD TIMERS STICK
TO THE NATIONALS
Washington Has Had Enough
of "Crocus" Teams Dur
ing Wagner's Regime.

The Nationals have been playing poor
ball this spring and have quickly drop
ped in the last position in the pennant
race but there are thousands of fans
In this city who still have faith in Can
tiilon and his crew. The class of en-
thusiasts who are roaring and moaning
over the showing of the Nationals are the
youngsters who have come In the
since the American League hit the
city. The older boys are sticking TO
the team
The interview published yesterday by
The Star in which Manager Cantillon
calls attention to the fact that he has
been in base ball quite a while and had
frequently witnessed the spurts made
by teams Of youngsters like the Boston
New York and Athletics this spring. at
tracted a great deal of attention among
the older enthusiasts. During the Wagner
regime the Washington fans went
through the excitement of the locals car
rying everything before them in the
first couple weeks of play and then fade
away to nothing.
If John Linney were here he would
agree with Manager Cantillon that the
ball teams composed of young players
will soon be distanced by the seasoned
players when they once get into their
Of the old-time ball players around
Washington, Uncle Nick of Johnny
Doyle, they will tell you all about him.
He used to play with the old Creighton
Club and was one of the greatest fans
Washington ever produced; and he knew
base ball and base ball players. Early
In the spring when Earl Wagner's bunch
of misfits would covart around the dia-
mand and snatch game after game from
stronger teams John Linnev would
mournfully shake his head and say,
They are only 'crocus' players. my
boy. Wait till the hot sun willis them
and they'll find their proper place" John
took no stock in "crocus'' players.
The rain of Yesterday afternoon pre-
vented the Athletics and Nationals get
ting together. and they will wind UP the
series this afternoon. On account of the
funeral of Dr. Powers. published in
last evenings Star the game scheduled
for tomorrow has been postponed, both
teams leaving for Philadelphia this even
ing. The funeral takes place early to-
morrow morning.
The Nationals will leave Philadelphia
tomorrow afternoon for Boston. where
they are due to play four games and then
finish up next week in the Quaker city.
Today's game will probably witness a
duel between Groom and Coombs. Coombs
has always been puzzle to the locals
and in their present shape will doubtless
repeat. This game winds up the Nationals
at home until the Goth of May, and by
the time the team returns 1t viii have
found itself and be ready to do business
on a winning basis.
Manager Mack and the Philadelphia
players very much appreciate the action
of the Washington club in canceling the
game set for tomorrow SO as to allow
them to attend the funeral of the lament
ed Powers. 1t means the loss of quite a
sum of money and the local team needs
the practice very much, but President
Moves was quick to see the fitness of
things and called off the contest.
Manager Mack of the Athletics said last
a handsome thing in agreeing to post
pone Thursdays game here so that we
could attend the funeral of Catcher Pow
ers i appreciate the act more than /
can tell for the boys would have been
heartbroken had they been obliged to stay
in Washington on the day of the funeral" !"
Two of the greatest pitchers in America
are outside of the fortifications of organ
ized base ball. both determined to desert
the diamond as a profession unless their
salary demands are appeased. Their
names are Mathewson and Walsh. But
their cases are hardly similar IL the pub
lie has been intrusted with the true facts
Walsh has absolutely refused to report to
the Chicago club until his differences
have been adjusted and has even gone so
far as to assume the part of an aggressor
in demanding his release from Comiskey,
alleging that he was not rendered a con-
tract on or before March 1 of this year,
as the national commission rules require.
But Wa,sh's position is not tenable. He
demands a salary of 81 800 for six months
work. He is not worth this sum, nor is
any other player in the National or