The Washington times., 1911-04-11
ALL IS READY FOR
OPENING BATTLE
Workmen Are Putting Finishing Touches the Park
Red Sox Arrive Tonight and the Nationals Are All on
Hand Except Johnson.
By SENATOR

All is in readiness for the opening Of
the baseball season in Washington.
Workmen are putting the finishing
touches upon the park, and the box
seat tickets are going like hot cakes.
Walter Johnson, the Incompatible
finger. is on his way East, and the
fans are busy scraping together the
necessary coin to be out TO the gala
day. The weather sharp. to be the
most popular man IN town, has only to
give us a clear day. The fans Will do
the rest King Baseball is about to be
crowned.
The Nationals are in excellent con-
dition for-the opening Of the campaign.
Not a man OF them is lame or sick, or
In any way incapacitated. At their final
workout today at Georgetown Field they
displayed all the ginger and pepper
noted at Atlanta, and from the veteran
Herman Schaefer down to Charlie Con-
way. the Youngstown heavyweight out
fielder, all are eager for the leash to
be unslipped
McAleer Up Early.
Manager McAleer was up early today
and out with his boys. He insisted that
they put plenty Of snap and life into
their final work, and the boys respond
ed in fine shape. Nothing but batting
and fielding practice was indulged in,
but there was plenty of that. Every
man was sent against the best pitching
the team possesses, and the way Bob
Groom and Dolly Gray smoked 'em oyer
was a caution. No better hurting will
they meet in all the season, and 1t was
the best of practice.
Bill Cunningham, the Schenectady boy,
is about down to playing weight, and
says that in another week he will be
tipping the beam at 172, his right weight.
Manager McAIeer kept him a little
later than the rest today, driving hard
grounders In his direction in order to
make him travel with all his speed. At
the conclusion of the workout McAleer
said, IT guess Bill Is all right now.
That rubber shirt and plenty Of work
in that hot weather down at Atlanta
fixed him up. The boy is ready, and he
was the only one of whom l had any
doubt
Cunningham has taken off his rubber
shirt now, and is ready to harden up.
He says the shirt forced him down from
lS7 pounds to 172, and that he is still
little weak from It. In a week." says
Bill, Il ought to be stronger, and then
I'll be at my best. want to make good
this season, my first real season with
the team, and shall do my best to hit
around among the 300 boys. There $
nothing like being 300 sticker to hold
your job in the big show"
Conroy and Street Here.
"wid'' Conroy and Gabby Street were
on hand today. They were allowed to
visit their homes by Jimmy McAleer.
and arrived in town yesterday too late
to Join in the practice. "I thought the
practice was to be at o'clock" ex-
planned Conroy, land that's how didn't
get into it. We young fellows, you know,
have to keep on our toes or the old fel-
lows will beat US out for the places with
the team"
Conroy Is in excellent shape for the
start Of the season, but will hardly be
used unless there is hole to fill in the
infield. Jimmy McAleer will not use him
in the outfield this season unless forced
to do so by injuries to other men:
Schaefer Is the substitute outfielder. and
Conroy will hurl them around the inner
square.