Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-07
CATCHER STREET IS
INSIDE bREASTW0RKS
. Great Backstop Sends His
Signed Contract to
President Noyes.

IN important document arrived this
morning in President Moves mail in the
shape Of a signed contract for the sea
son of 1910 from Catcher Charley Street.
This is the PLAYER over whom there has
been SO much talk the past couple of
weeks and "Gabby'' cuts off further
argument by getting inside the breast
works with the early birds. In his let
ter accompanying the contract Street
says:
Enclosed please find contract for 1910
which l have signed. II is satisfactory
10 me in every part. and ! want to make
the usual spiel Of doing my best for the
team. / don't think amy one can ques
ton my interest in the Washington team
after the hard season | put in last Year.
but I'll promise the fans to even Guido
this record the coming summer.
Il am taking plenty of exercise. eitheE
skating or hunting. around WiIliamsport
and I'll be in grand shape by the time
start for Norfolk.
Glad TO hear many of the boys
ire going out to Hot Springs for a
couple weeks boiling out, as it will place
them on equal footing with the kids and
most decidedly help the team get start
at the opening of the season that will
make itself felt further along in the
warm months.
l.
the team, and you can't get too many
catchers to help me out, but I'll promise
YOU they will have very little to do this
season. as I am conditioning myself to do
III the work behind the bat
Street is surely glutton for work and
will go in every day as long as he is able
TO stand up, but Manager McAleer has
ideas of his own about playing his men,
and 'Gabby'' will not go stale this year
Charley will always catch Walter john
son and Bob Groom, as he can coach this
pair better than any one else, but REFS
ling, Gray and Walker can take care of
themselves. When the latter group works,
Bill Rapp or Killfer will most likely do
the receiving and Street will be greatly
strengthened by the short rest.
On an average of ninety-nine fans out
of hundred, in discussing the Washing
ton team for the coming season, will say
that the intield and pitchers look very
strong, but that they are afraid that the
outfield won't do. For the sake of an ar
gument place LeliveIt, Milan, Browne,
Conroy and Gessler on the market. Three
of the five would surely cause some tall
bidding for their services and the other
two would be in demand While neither
player classes up with Cobb Crawford
or Speaker, where is there player avail
able who is better? Doc Gessler looked
very sweet when he used to come
here in Boston uniform, and when right
he is but few steps back of the great
trio mentioned. There is no question but
that he will be in line when the season
starts, and Manager McAleer is the one
TO get the best game of his life out OF the
big fellow.
OF Leliveie there is no doubt. He was
on the improve at the close of last sea-
son and Will go better this year than
ever.
This brings the situation down to center
field, with Milan, Conroy and Browne
working for the job. Conroy is player
IF the sterling type. and can always be
sl-Il
outfield as he bats better while there. and
lie will do his best to catch McAleer's
eye in the early work at Norfolk. Wild
knows the game from. every angle and
can be depended upon to do the right
thing at the right time.
Milan writes that his bad ankle is once
more all right and is positive he will show
his old time form this year. With Clyde
right he can't be kept out of the game. as
he is star of the first magnitude
George Browne is the only one of the
five over which any argument can be
had The Georgetown lad has been fast
for SO many years that he is about due
10 take a slide. but the flashes he gave
last season demonstrated that he can yet
do a great stunt on the bags and in the
field. and will be the utility man.
Georges underpinning is not of the best.
and in giving him short vacations in the
utility role he will be very valuable to
the team.
AS matter of fact the ontfield of the
other clubs of the American League. and
there is no way by which it can be
strengthened Magnate Taylor would
probably trade iris Speaker for Walter
Johnson. but the local fans would
surely not stand for such a transaction
and so it stands. Manager McAleer is
given credit for having more than the
usual base ball wisdom. and he has re-
peatedly said that the outfeld is all right
The Washington fans. will let il go at
that and not miss any sleep over their
Judgment.
When Manager Mcclure decided to shift
l@aJole to first base he turned trick that
viii he of great benefit to his team and
more than likely put the Blues I'm the
running for the pennant Big Larry can
play first as cleverly as Hal Chase and
this assertion will be verified once the
present generation sees the big fellow at
work around the initial corner He
played first base for Philadelphia one sea-
son. but at that time he was thought to
be too good for the job and was shifted
To Shortstop. Larry covers more ground
IN going after flies than Chase, and he
VIII demonstrate that on grounders he Is
at least the Californian's equal At the
hat Lajoie is the better of the two
BY moving Turner to second a natural
500 hitter. and with Nichols at short and
Bradley on third. the infied will be very
strong at the bat. Brad being about
the weakest. and he isn't $50 bad
Cieveiand's outfield won't class IN with
Washington's, but there is no telling how
he new men will turnout.