The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-27
BY WILLIAM PEET.

ington is on. Manager Jimmy McAleer
looking the perfect picture of health after
a vacation covering the winter months
spent in California. reached the Capita
yesterday morning and registered at tht
Raleigh.
I'm glad to be back in harness again,
said the veteran. in President T. Noyes
ONCE this morning. He continued: =
am not making any championship claims
not even saying that we will finish II
the first division, but l viii say that the
team is gong 10 show some fighting
spirit and when the other clubs hit
? Washington, you can gamble they won
say to themselves Well Wen get thres
out of four from this bunch and that vii
help some.
Alright InfieId.
Look at that infeld with Unglaub
Schaefer, EberfeId, and Mcbride. Schae-
fer and Elberfeld viii add just what e
my way of thinking Washington has
lacked for a number of years, lot OF
pepper and fighting spirit
Manager Jim declares that il the team
IS able to get off with an even break Of
luck, they will do a lot better than last
season. and backs up his argument By
pointing to his pitching staff, adding, OF
course, if Walter Johnson is right.
johnson, Gray, Groom, and Witherup'
said the manager, can be depended upon
10 twirI first-class early season ball. This
fellow Walker looked awfully good to me
last season. while Doc Reisling's record
was not to be sneezed at for minute.
There is another tWiTler who local sport
writer's have paid little attention 10 lately,
Hovlik. the big chap from Peoria. H.,
who, It will be remembered, Joined the
Nationals in New York last August, but
who never saw Washington, as he was
turned back for a little more seasoning
Pitcher KOVIik I'm Line.
Hovlik has signed his contract and will
report at Norfolk next week. The Peoria
club recently put in a claim for this man S
services and asked tae national commits
sion TO settle the case. The commission
did so in short order. awarding the young
man TO washington.
Mr.. Noyes was asked for a statement
regarding Hovlik and replied: This
pitcher was bought for 81 800 from Peoria
last summer, upon the recommendation of
a personal friend of Joe CantiIlon. At
Hovlik's own request he was turned back
for a little more experience, and was re-
served by the Nationals after the season
closed"
Mr. Noyes sent on the facts of the
HovlIk case to the commission, which
body promptly decided that Peoria Mad
no kick coming, as it has been clearly
shown that Hovlik was the property of
the Washington club.
In view Of the reason that Peoria wants
this young man. and tried to work a
bluff to hold him. is enough TO convince
as all that Hovlik is pretty fair sort OF
a twirler
Manager McAleer thinks a whole lot of
Clyde Milan. and to the writer said: L
can see no reason why Milan should not
hit this season. Just think of II, If that
boy should start in to clout the ball, he
would be ranked with Stone, Speaker,
Hooper, and others, and would prove an
important factor in winning a great many
games for US.
Nearly every minor league manager
in the country has either written or
talked to me about Milan, the American
Association and Eastern League would
pay a good, stiff price for him. but you
can take It from me. Milan will not be
let out. because believe he is going to
do something this year
MiIan's Great Trouble.
McAIeer is a pretty shrewd judge of a
ball players ability, and is of the opinion
that Milan's trouble was his frequent at
tac.ssz of dependency. "The boy gets dis
couraged too easily" he said, but If he
played on club that was out fighting
hard for every game and getting away
with more than its share of them, I be-
leve Milan would play s5 per cent better
ball.
Asked how he thought his catching de-
partment would shape up. the manager
replied: Street, as everybody knows. is
one of the best In the American League.
and 1 have made number of Inquiries
about this fellow Rapp. and, while 1
don't ever remember having seen him
work, they all tell me he is sure to make
good.
II saw Jimmy Collins, the Minneapo-
rs manager. last year." said McAleer.
collins and I are old friends, and put
Il right up to him. Jimmy. do you think
am making a mistake in taking Rapp
on for a trial?' Collins came back strong.
Not for a minute Jim. Take it from me.
Rapp Is fast enough for the big leagues.
and I know ne will make good. I have
watched his work carefully during the
season, and he made a big hit with the
Minneapolis fans. You are making a
mistake If you don't grab him."
The infield for Washington this season
is settled. but there promises to be a
merry fight for the three outheld Jobs.
Gessier, Browne, Lelivelt. Milan. Conroy.
and killifer are slated for the outer
patches. Much VIII depend on what sort
OF work these men do at Norfolk and in
the early season games, on the final Sc
leciions
In speaking of his visit to Santa Anna
this winter, and his talk with Walter
Johnson. MeAleer declared that the big
fellow was much better off out there
than he would be at Norfolk for spring
afraining.
Il will be remembered that Johnson
yas taken sick during the training trip
ast spring. and was shipped into town
a ssretcher, spending the first ten
LAYS Of the season in bed suffering from
severe cold, which threatened pneu-
sEnenia.
Johnson viii not take any such chances
this year. He is working out with a