The Washington herald., 1910-05-01

On six different lots around the city
the merry crack Of the ball against the
bat tomorrow afternoon viii blend har-
moniously with tine hearty. piercing
cheers Of the fans as they watch their
favorites battle for supremacy in the
greatest American game-bsseball-and
the amateur season in Washington will
be launched I'm earnest Already three
Of the nine leagues have played sched
uied games, and when the other six open
up the baseball enthusiasts viii be FUR
nished with class OF sport that should
Guido the games Of previous years.
The interest IN baseball to-day is
greater than at any time since its incep-
ton. and the loyal followers OF the
game are among the rich and poor the
intelligent and the unintelligent. and are
countless From san Francisco TO New
York. from Montreal in Canada, 20 the
soft. warm climate of Texas can be
found players Of all ages and sizes who
swear allegiance to the little god Of ball
and bat
Washington ranks high among the
cities OF the United States as center
of baseball interest, although we have
not had q winning professional team
here for ages. but one has only to watch
the government clerks hanging Ike flies
and monkeys TO the street cars on NICE
day on the way 10 the park 10 be con-
WINGED that as a real. live city OF fans
Washington can hold its own.
Commission Should Help sport.
Under the amateur commission the
amateur games this summer should be
cleaner better, and harder fought than
in other years, as governing body for
the amateurs has been desired FOR many
moons and only realized this past win
ter Many there are who contend that
there are not enough good players to MI
the ranks OF the sixty or more mines IN
the different organizations and that the
races suffer because Of the fact trat
two or three teams set at the top, corner
all the star performers. and can not be
GIslodged by hook or crook. While this
argument smacks Of intelligent though,
it has been repudiated in the past in
certain instances. and hardly detcrs
those interested I'm amateur baseball from
organizing the independent teams iuto
leagues.
Only this season we have with MS a
newcomer. the Commercial League,
which promises 70 furnish excellent sport
for the business man, from the store
clerk TO the owner himself.
For awhile it was thought that this cir
cult would be composed OF six teams. but
one OF the proposed members Of the
league backed water, and the other FIVE
clubs decided to have il alone. The teams
comprising the Commercial are the r. =.
Andrews Paper Company. Hecht & Co..
Berry K Whitmore. Washington Herald.
and Brentano's The league grounds are
at Georgia avenue and Kenyon street.
Ex-Commissioner Henry L. West will
throw out the first ball at the game be-
tween Berry d Whitmore and the An
drews team tomorrow.
Suburban In Good shape
The Suburban League. although COM
parativcly young in years, starts the sea
son in very prosperous condition. and
Brightwood. rnners-up In the race last
year viii start the ball rolling with
Woodburn al Petworth. President Fred
w. Page has been delegated 20 toss out
the leather. while the other officers OF the
league viii he present in a body TO watch
the organization get under way. Thu
Suburban League has q field all TO Itself
and draws an immense crowd thai
stretches around the field at nearly every
game. The gathering OF northwest fan!
anticipated for the first contest is ex
pected 10 scatter all records for attend
Bnce.
McDevitts Field has been for years thC
scene Of athletic contests. where The
youthful forces Of the neighborhood have
gathered time and again 20 do battle or
thu diamond and gridiron. and at IN,
present time the grounds are i'm exceIlen
shape for the first game of the Independ
encc League schedule between Manhattan
and Twiniug Twining is decided favor
ite on the HILL and whenever the New
York avenue aggregation travels L,
Bloomingdale to play ball they Away
draw a go0d-sized following Har!
Burke Twiulngs star pitcher of las
year. VIII toe the slab. with HinIde be
hind the bat Hinkle was last season wit
the Grand Rapids O1IchJ profession
team. and mis- work vii, be watched wit
EdIeG interest for this reason It Is no
known who viii be selected 20 do N
heaving for Manhattan but Kraft seem
20 be the logical selection. Presi1en
Harry +. Morley will throw out a.
horsehlde and make his usual opening-da
speech.
Marquette League booming.
With the Rev. Eugene Hannah. OF s
Martins Church. 20 throw the ball {
start the summer campaign under aus
picious circumstances. Father Hanna
organized the Marquette League son,
years AGO as a Catholic organization 70
Young boys. and for several seasons wa
She president, until his other importar
duties made & impossible for him {
remain longer o. the helm. IT was largel
due to his enthusiasm and executiy
ability that the Marquette has prospere,
To-day the league stands on an equ;
footing with the other circuits and ha
some OK the city's strongest mines in il
roster The game tomorrow will De b,
tween the Columbia printers and n
HYGIENE laboratory. and will be Gale
at $50 o'clock sharp, with Woods uu
piring.
Ninth W.. Hnmlinc.
Wheu Ninth lines UP against HamIr
on the old Sunday School Leagl
grounds. a. Thirteenth and u stree
northeast. tomorrow afternoon. the di
should ny. as Hanline has much bett'
team this season than last and is OF
Tor scalps. not being particular who
hair is pulled. while Ninth is said 10
the same strong club that fought Bet
.,.,,. 18th and nail far the remnant In