Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-20
LOCAL AMATEURS
TURN PROFESSIONAL
Large Bunch of Clever Young
sters Graduate Into
Faster Company.

TO July equip two major leagues lie
large and tempting salaries pad, with the
added attraction of "A life of comparative
ease for six months OF the year, and with
an Unborn love OF the game, is the lure
which is attracting the amateur ball play
ers from both the college campus and tile
city sand lot, to say nothing of the viii
iaSc green
And the amateur ball player OF the day
is wise TO the opportunity offered, for he
Is taking the game seriously, knowing
that the life of the average ball player Is
about ten years during which time it Is
up 10 him To make ii sufficient quantity
OF hay while the sun Is shinlng so tha'
when the wintry blasts of age are drying
player no longer hndS himself fleet OF
foot and strong of arm he can SIT BACK
and denantiy laugh at the thought that
he has 10 go TO work
The college player is using the oppor-
tunity to provide himself win an educa-
ton which will afford him the means of
gliding down life easily, and Will not
make the task of keeping the wolf from
the door a too strenuous one. while the
country player is either knocking at, the
door of some large university or soaking
his scads in good farming land:
OF the many who yearly graduate from
the college campus. the city sand lot or
the village green. but few reach the major
leagues and their stay there is often
very short lived. for never did the saying
that many are called, but rev are
chosen" apply more aptly or with greater
force than in the major leagues. This
fact, however, does not deter the amateur
ball player. and every season sees most
of them going out with determlnatioil
to emulate Honus Wagner or Ty Cobb.
both as players and as gatherers OF the
golden harvest.
In this respect Washington is not trail
ing in the procession. but Is taxing
will contribute its usual quota OF aspir-
ing amateurs from the various leagues In
the city.
Prize in Big Cy.
To Bill Clarke, erstwhile catcher ON
the Washington team and now manager
of the Albany club of the New York
State League, falls. perhaps. the prize
package of the Washington crop. he
having induced "Cy" Mcdonald, ex-cap-
tain of the Georgetown University team.
10 afiix his signature TO a contract and
initial sack for the Senators scoopng
up the elusive grounder nabbing the
circling fly balls and digging up the
wild filings of his hustlins teammates.
.'Cy'' is a product of the high school
and college. He first butted into the
linelight as a member of the Central
High School team. where his ability TO
lanbast the leather helped a great deal
nant that season. AS a member of the
Georgetown University team "Cy' con-
tinued his batting proclivfties, and has
written his name we'll up in Georgetown
annals.
During the past two summers the big
fellow has performed at first base for
the Winchester. Va, club, and succeeded
in ensnrining himself in the hearts of the
fans of that place. He the idol of the
small boys, who still point with pride to a
spot on the fence which marks the place
where the ball went over for the longest
drive ever made in that humble burg.
McDonaid's speciality was home runs,
and II was considered poor game in
which he did not get at least one homer.
in mind "Cy's" record for the day was
TWO doubles and a single Two kids met
on the street and one inquired Of the
other his opinion of the game. "Oh. 1t
run" In Winchester "Cy'' has taken his
place along with Lee and Sheridan as one
of the heroes of the Shenandoah valley.
The best wishes of the local fans go with
the big fellow.
Sand Lot Product.
r. f. Curly Brown. erstwhiie third
baseman OF the Winchester club and a
teammate OF McDonald's. will try the
professional end Of the game this season,
making his formal debut with the Rich
mond cub in the Virginia League.
League season last year the Richmond
team played a series of games with the
Winchester team. Brown played in the
series and his good work attracted the at
fention of the owner OF the Richmond
team, who forthwith made him an offer.
Curly is a product of the sand lots and
graduate of the Capital City League
being at one time captain and second
5aseman OF the Aloysius team. When
the Commissioners formed a strong indie
pendent team Brown was given a place
with that club. and acquitted himself in
good shape. Curly has always been a
fast player. and In addition to possessing
good batting eye and a fast pair of feet
ne has capful of brains. He should cas-.
ily make good at Richmond
John Priest OF the Agriculture team of
the Department League has been signed
by Richmond and was to be given a try
out there. but has since been traded to
the Wilson club of the North Carolina
League. It is difficult to understand why
the Richmond manager shifted Priest
without giving him an opportunity to
show what he had in stock, for this play
er has ever been considered one of the
local stars. His work on the champion
Agriculture team last season was of a
very high order. and did much in bringing
the championship OF the Departmental
League To Secretary Wilson's bunch
There is no fear about his ability to fill
the berth assigned him. and it is a safe
wager that he Will not long remain in
tHo SdIOIlId League, out VIII be called
back to Richmond.
Under Norcum's Wing.
Another member of the Agriculture
champions who attracted attention during
the past season was Dewitt Murphy third
oasernan for the Farmers. This will be
Murphy's initial effort in the professional
end Of the game. but there is hardly any
doubt as to his ability to stick Manager
Norcum OF the Augusta team of the South
Atlantic League will give the young man
a trial Murphy possesses good batting
eye-that being. perhaps. his strongest
point-and is undoubtedly the fastest man
in the District getting down to first base
His speed and his ability TO clout the
leather made him very popular during the
post-season series for the local champion
ship. In securing Murphy. Manager Nor
cum has secured live one and is to be
congratulated
Manager Forden OF the c. p o. team
of the Capital City League speaks very
highly OF the star of his pitching staff of
last year. Bob Hummer who will be
given trial by Manager Mack OF the
Athletics: and while he does not think
that Hummer Will land a position in such
high company his first season out, Man
ager Forden thinks IL only a question OF
time before the boy will show in the big
leagues.