Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05
NATIONAL LEAGUE
CLUBS TO PLAY HERE
Washington Team May Take
on the Pirates for Spring
Practice Games.

Of March. continue there month and
then return to Washington for about
fifteen days previous to the opening of
the American League season for 1910
In seasons past the first glimpse the
local fans have mad of the Nationals has
been on the opening day. If everything
goes well next spring the Nationals will
play many interesting games between the
1st and the 18th of April on the local
diamond, having as opponents several OF
the National League clubs. and perhaps
one or two members OF the Eastern
League.
The enthusiastic admirers of the Ma
tionals have been writing to President
Moves and the sporting writer's of the
city, urging that such games be arranged,
and the officials of the club will more
than likely fill out schedule covering
all the available days in April
The Phllies, the Brooklyns the Bos-
tons a-ll Giants are almost sure attrac-
lions, while there is a possibility of the
Pittsburg champions coming here for at
least one game before returning home
from their training grounds In addition
10 seeing the Nationals have good try
outs, the novelty of witnessing the play
of the opposition league clubs will as
suredy draw out big crowds There Is
nothing sure about the Pirates coming,
but President Dreyfuss is very friendly
toward the Washington club, and if the
arrangements can be made Fred Clarke
and his bunch of stars will be here. 1t
is little early for the National League
teams to arrange for spring games, but
the chances are that Manager McAleer
and President Moves may make complete
arrangements at the meetings of the two
organizations in New York next week.
Several OF the Eastern League clubs,
notably the Baltimores. Newarks and
Jersey Citys, will take their spring prac-
lice in the Virginia League cities, and
dates with them can be easily arranged
on their way north.
In arranging such games Manager Nc
Aleer has figured that should the weather
in March turn out bad the fifteen days
play with strong National and Eastern
League clubs will give the Nationals
about all the spring practice they need.
1t is almost the universal opinion that
the shrewd Connie Mack has once more
put over good one when he secured Out
fielder Goode for Infielder Nioholls- Man
ager MCGUIRE of the Clevelands acknowl
edges that he needs infielders, but why
let out such a star as Goode? Last
year GOode looked about as good to the
Clevelands as Chris Speaker did to the
Bostons the past season. He fell off
somewhat in hitting, but he certainly had
everything else that goes to make up
first-class player. The lucky Mr.. Mack
has needed a first-class outfielder for the
past two years and Goode will At in very
nicely.
Simon Nichols Is a good player, but
erratio, his chief fault being a tendency
to fall down on easy chances. His light
-nrlr In, l0ir, r1cf} f,,fa I1,fry
Athletics may do him a great deal of
good, and 1t is hoped he will come back
Into the form he first displayed when he
joined the Quakers.
A better trade. whereby both clubs
would have been benefited would have
been Goode for EIberfeld. Norman may
have been persuaded to go that far west
and as an inf1elder there is none better
in the business He would have filled
up the gap created by Turner's back
ward slide. and perhaps the little Tobasco
Kid can't hit! The Athletics were plenty
strong enough without Goode. but New
York could have used him to advantage,
as could the Clevelands Eiberfeld.
Unless all signs fail, there will be large
ioings when the big leagues come to-
gether for their annual confab In New
York on the 18th instant. At present it
looks as though the Nationals were dead
locked over the presidency, although it
is doubtful if Murphy and the magnates
associated with him for the purpose of
tossing John Heydler will endeavor to
force Ward into the chair, which would
be a direct affront to President Johnson
Then there's the new magnate. Horace
Fogel. He's bound to spring something
calculated to add to the gayety of the
nation, if it's only the announcement of
the names of the gentlemen who are be-
hind the financial guns of the Phillies.
There's bound to be doings-large doings.
And that's what the Industrious mem
bers Of the Fourth Estate want to justify
their annual trip to old New York town.
The base ball fraternity was very much
In evidence at the Jeffries-Gotch exhibit
ton at Convention Hall last Friday night
Jimmy Callahan made a ringing speech in
presenting the big boilermaker to the
speech, while Arthur Devlin, tho best
third sacker in the world, acted as time
keeper for the wrestlers. Both players
had on their glad rags and reflected
credit on their profession. Then there was
Joe Qulrk. acting as trainer for all the big
fellows, as he will for the Nationals
next season. In the audience could be
counted every ball player who calls
Washington his home.
4
Manager McAleer will come east lust
previous to the American League meet
ing In New York and with President
Moves Join the gathering in Gotham.
There Is little chance of any trades being
pulled on. but there is possibility of
Norman Eiberfeld being purchased from
the New York club. Elberfeld wants to
play here in Washington on account Of
MIS- home being at Kensington, and Man.
ager Stallfngs has about concluded to let
the little 'tobaSco kid out but wants to
make the best bargain possible. Hereto
fore Stallings has demanded the best on
the roster OF the local club in exchange
for Elberfeld. which blocked the deal.
McAleer would like to have Elberfeld,
believing that there Is lot of good ball in
the little fellow, especially in the matter
of hitting. II Stallings will put a fair
price on Elberfeld the Washington club
will buy, if not. the locals will do their
best without him. President Moves has
made the positive statement that no play
er or players will be given for Elberfeld
and McAleer Is with him on this point
y X
No better evidence of the tremendous
strides taken by base ball in the past
thirty years can be had than that fur
aiShed in the details of the deal which
was consummated by which the Phila-
delphia ball club passed out of the hands
of the Messrs. McNichol and Wolf and
the estate of the late Senator Durham
for a consideration said to be S350OOO 1t
must be understood that no real estate il
conveyed by this deal-merely the right to
use the equipment at Broad and Hunting
ton streets. the National League franchise
and the players under contract to the
club. Just think of that. Three hundred
and fifty thousand dollars for one base
ball club. Why, that amount of money
would have purchased an entire league q
quarter of century ago
Pratt Institute Beats Tigers.