Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-04
MANAGER McALEER
REACHES WASHINGTON
Holds First Official Conference
With Directors of
Local Club.


ington base ball club reached this city
this morning and registered at the Ra-
leigh he had but time to reach his
room and spruce up a bit before he was
besieged by the newspaper boys and had
to stand a bombardment of all sorts OF
questions.
There is no deal or sale of any sort
now under consideration" said Mac when
allowed to reply to the fusillade of in
terrogations. II will have to go slow and
see every man on the team work out and
work with them before any decision can
be reached as to their worth to the club.
Il think you have . splendid ball club
here right now, but of course I want to
get in touch with the owners before 1 can
say anything definite. While they will
give me free rein to do as 1 please,
they have the right to express their
wishes. and then it will be UP to me to
carry them out. If such thing is posi-
BILE.
LAS to the training trip in the spring,
! would like to take the club far enough
south to get away from the snow belt.
l have been corresponding with several
owners of grounds in the southern coun-
try, but nothing definite has been ar
rived at.
ION a guess / would say tat the team
will start south about the first week in
March, and, should the season open the
middle of April, come home about ten
days previous thereto, and play the East
ern League teams here. This would give
the boys a chance to get used to the
Washington climate and be In good shape
for the opening battles / would like to
get the Nationals of In good shape the
coming spring, and, unless the owners can
show me better plan. my program will
go through"
The new manager was then put on the
grill as to reports about bringing Hobo
Ferris here from St. Louis and the pos
sihle trades of Walter Johnson and Char
ley Street. This information was all
news to Jim. He merely had to laugh,
and said
II have positively not considered a
change in the makeup of the Washing
ton club in any way. l don't think Con-
roy played up to his mark last year. but
] will have to go slow about pushing
another man on third base. Wild has
always had a soft spot in my heart. as
know he is earnest in his work and will
always do his best for me-
This boy Downs. who played with
Minneapolis last year. has been tipped on
to me being splendid player. He
didn't need much improvement when he
was with Detroit. but 1t seems he has
picked up a great deal in the American
Association, which certainly makes him
look a great deal better to me. Then
there is Schaefer to look after. and he is
one of the best infielders in the business.
Altogether. / think / will have wealth
of material, and my chief concern will
be to hook them up right.
THAT man Walker looks almost as
good to me as Walter Johnson. and with
Groom forms a trio that any manager
should be proud OF.
Charley Street right now is the equal
of any catcher In the business. and he
will be still better as he gets older. Be-
hind the bat Is one position in which a
player increases his value with age.
Street has everything but experience. and
about one more year will make him stand
out like a chalk mark on a blackboard.
Where is the team going to finish next
year?' was then fired at the new man.
ager.
Il only wish l knew" replied Jim. MY
sole ambition will be to get the Nationals
out of last place, and ! am almost willing
to bet an arm or a leg that can do this
Some other club will have to carry the
water bucket for the American League in
1910 and 1t doesn't matter to me which
team drops into that honor"
Manager McAleer was in unusual good
health and spirits and seemed particu-
larly elated over the fact that he had
helped to elect a new mayor for the city
of Youngstown.
Jim says he like Washington very much
and admitted that IL he was fortunate
probably become a citizen of the District.
After the meeting with the newspaper
men. Manager McAleer met President
Moves and Treasurer Rapley in long
conference in the formers Office, at which
all the details as to the players and
spring trip were gone over.
Just what decision will be arrived at
on the location of the Washingtons for
spring practice will probably take a.
couple days to settle. and IL is probable