The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-30
NATIONALS PLAY PHILLIES
IN OPENING GAME TO-DAY
McAIeer'S HOpefulS Arrive Home from Norfolk Are
Confident of Winning Walker to Pitch.
BY WILLIAM PEET.

By WILLIAM PEET.
The Nationals arrived home from their
twenty-one days training trip last night
and are primed for the first home exhibit
ton game this afternoon. The Philadelphia
National Leaguers viii be the opponents
and according TO the present dope the
game should be close and exciting.
Dixie" Walker viii start in the box
for McAleer's braves, with Oberlin and
Gray in reserve. Manager Frank Doom
VIII use Billy Foxen, his prize south
paw. and have Ewing on hand if he is
needed.
Manager. McAleer, with Mrs. McAleer,
together with the other members Of the
squad, reached town from Richmond at
1870 this morning. the train being more
than one hour late. The manager was
seen for few minutes before he retired.
and said that the Norfolk experiment had
been a great success, and that, with the
exception of Reisling. all the men were
in good shape, ready to start right of on
the American League schedule If neces-
sary.
tirely recovered from his twisted ankle,
McAleer expressed considerable satisfac-
ton. and announced that If Dixie" was
all right he would start him in to-day S
game.
Dixie is right, all right, as the writer
will testify.
Doe Reisling is still under the weather
suffering from quinsy sore throat, but a
few days of warm weather will bring
him along in good shape,
The players were enthusiastic over the
prospects this season, and expressions OF
confidence and good win toward McAleer
were heard on all sides.
McAleer has won them all over. They
will work their heads off for him. The
team is simply one big, happy family
everybody batting 300 in the harmony
league, There isn't a sore head or dis
gruntled man among the lot.
1t seems to be the general impression
that Clyde Milan is launching forth into
the best season of his big league career
as hitter. Doc Gessler, Jack Lelivelt
and others said last night: You ought to
see the way Milan is singing the ball.
and will be the big sensation of the Amer
lean League. Just watch him"
Elberfeld and Schaefer seem to fit in
nicely with the rest of the bunch, and If
the pitchers only get going good, there is
enough hitting strength. according 10 Kid
Elberfeld TO make at least five runs a
game against any twirler in the country.
McAleer's hOpefuls are cOcksure OF
taking the measure of the Fhillies this
afternoon. They cannot see where the
National League men have a chance in
the world.
When told that Manager Red" Doom
would put in Southpaw Foxen at the
start of to-days game, Clyde Milan
who is a left-hand hitter, said: They
have been working left-handers against
Us during all our games in Virginia, and
we find them easier than right-handers. d
Manager Doom figures that with Leli-
Welt Sehaefer Milan, and Gessler al
batting left handed Foxen will be able
to hold the bat music down to soft pedal
He may be mistaken. Who knows?
Horace Fogel, the veteran Philadelphia
newspaper man. now president of the
Philadelphia Nationals, together with
Manager Doom and the entire Phnnes
squad, arrived IN Washington at 10 O'Clock
last night from Baltimore. where they
have just handed the Orioles a double
trOuncing Monday and Tuesday.
Ten runs or no count" said Doom tC
the writer last night. I'VE have beer
piling up big scores against all the teams
we have met so far this spring, and 1 see
no reason why we should stop in Wash
ington."
The confidence in the Washington camI
isn't a marker on the feeling which ap-
pears TO exist among the Phillies, from
Manager Doom down the line They can.
not see McAleer's bunch for a minute
and are going to show the Quaker City
fans how badly the Washington Ameri
cans look alongside of the Philadelphia
Nationals
Joseph Estocle, of the Philadelphia Bull
letin. one of the newspaper men witt
Dooin's team. says that the club look!
stronger this season than it has for fiv,
years. He predicts that the Quakers vii
upset all National League dope before
the final curtain drops.
Washington fans will turn out IN bis
numbers for to-day's game, just 10 get q
peep at the men McAleer has been tutor
ing down in Norfolk. There seems to be
feeling here that the club is going tC
do much better than it has for some
years past. This feeling win not down
either
Handiboe will handle the indicator and
he is warranted to be better than Harry
Mace, who was in charge of the las
three exhibition games in Norfolk anC
Richmond
The Phillies are TO be here on Thursday
also and Cornell plays the National!
Saturday.