The Washington herald., 1911-04-02
By WILLIAM PEET.

Atlanta, Ga, April Clyde Milan, the
leading citizen of Linden, Tenn, and for
five years a member of the Washington
baseball club, threatens to tear things
up in the American League this season.
and unless all signs fail the little speed
merchant will be spoken of in the same
breath with Tyrus Cobb, the Detroit star.
and Iris Speaker, of the Boston Red
Sox.-
Milan virtually led the Nationals at the
bat last season. and easily scored more
runs than any two members of the club
Just watch him this year, you Capital
fans.
In previous seasons the little outfeldcr
has been Handicapped by a bad start.
but the way he has been hitting the ball
in practice down here, running bases, and
covering ground in center would tend
to prove that he will break into the 1911
campaign with a flying start hit over
the 800 mark and stick up there until
the final bell rings.
Visiting players and others who hike
out to Ponce de Leon Park here in the
morning for the purpose of watching the
Nationals -Shamrocks' battles, have al
ready gone wild over the work of Milan,
and all one can hear is .TMilan's up now;
watch him, Look at the perfect bunt-
Not chance in the world to catch him.
Or. There goes a three-bagger-no;
Milan's after il. He's got it! They don't
get away from that boy"
Manager McAIeer builded rather better
than he knew when he granted permis-
sion for Milan to spend three weeks at
Hot Springs before reporting in Atlanta,
for the baths at that famous watering
place worked wonders for Milan. His
work here has shown it, and unless he
is injured before the season starts, he is
going to be one of the American League
SenSatio
fielders do not show much class, is on
account of Milan's great playing. They
suffer niserably by comparison.
The writer predicts that if Milan keeps
up the pace he is setting down here.
neither Ty Cobb nor Speaker will have
anything on him next October.
Trainer Joe Qurk, who has timed the
little outfielder in several speed trials from
the plate to first base, states that Milan
is about three seconds faster than at any
time last year, and. goodness knows, he
was fast enough then for any ball club
in the world In the outfielu he is the
same deadly thrower. and a ball has to
be hit mile high to go over his head:
but it is with the stick that great things
are expected of the outer gardener. In
the twelve practice games played here
in Atlanta, Milan has batted over 400
hitting left handlers just as easily as he
does the others, and the twirlers work as
hard in these contests as they do in any
league game. Milan has never before
been able to hit much in the early spring.
an ig Of NJ ShA A,x-ir p
down here that the writer predicts great
things in the games which really count.
Keep your eye on Milan you baseball
fans Of the Capital: see for yourselves
if the foregoing does not prove to be the
right dope.
AS the training season in Atlanta comes
to an end, the impression grows that
John Someriott. who was tardy in re-
porting on account of two bum lamps,
will be the man to hold down first base
when the umpire says Batter upr' at
National Park on April T.
Collegian John Henry is certainly CIV
ing the veteran a battle royal for the
job. but Henry is not hitting the ball
quite hard enough to suit Manager Jim.
Up to date, Somerlott has shown moth
ing alarming in the bat swinging line,
but he improves steadily. while Henry
seems to be dropping just few steps
behind
At that you never can tell. Henry
may come through with a burst of speed
at the last minute and upset all the
dope.
Every time Manager Otto Jordan of
the Atlanta Crackers strolls onto the
field at Ponce De Leon Park Manager
Jim suddenly switches Sam Ralston into
the line up, and whenever Ralston steps
up to bat the Nationals boss greets him
with words of encouragement. II is evil
dent that il McAleer has his way, Ral-
ston will be left behind and the Atlanta
Club will come across with 5000. severing
the ties which at present bind Ralston
with the Akron club of the o. and p.
circuit
Dixie Walker was boastins at the din
ner table last night Of how many games
he had won last year, when one of the
boys butted into the conversation and
said: You mean how many games Kid
Elberfeld won. for. had it not been for
Kid. you would be back in the bushes,
from where you started"
Cruel words, but quite true, fo-
tell Dixie what to pitch to the various !
American League twirlers, and the pep
perry third sacker comes pretty near
the weakness of each son Of
swat.
Young Dave Bunting is rapidly worm !
ing his way into the good graces of
every member OF McAleers family. both |
and recruits. The youngster |
always minds his own business, never ex-
presses violent opinions of -his iown, and |
has CHEEKY word and smile for every |
,ody. Incidentally. the collegian is rap
idly learning how to play third base
n the most approved big league man |
ner, through the tutoring OF Kid EIber- !
field. Wild Conroy. and Manager McAleer !
He is quick to catch on and is rapidly |
his faults.
Bunting will likely be carried with the |
Nationals all summer and played on the |
,ench, just as Connie Mack treated Eddie |
Collins before the youngster made his
mark. Bunting continues to stand up at |
he bat In fine shape and Is particularly
rood on hard ground hit balls.