Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-13

err. the crowd feels that decisions are
given as they are seen.
Walter Johnson and Jim McAleer held
a conference last night, the result of
which was that the big pitcher affixed
| his signature to three-year contract.
Just what this contract calls for Is not
known. but it is a pretty safe guess that
it means that Johnson will receive 81 GOO
for the next three seasons. Both McAleer
and Johnson were much pleased with the
contract, for it means that for several
years there will be no Squabble about
salary between the club and its pitching
star Johnson worked out before the
game yesterday, and is expected to be
ready to pitch by Friday. He was in
perfect condition when he left Atlanta,
but for the past week had not had a ball
| in his hand. He promises to be ready by
tomorrow. however.
t :'Heinie Wagner, captain Of the Red Sox
and one of the best shOrtstops In the
league, had a miserable day of 1t. The
usual steady and reliable fielder had to
be charged with four errors and was a
from behind and win out. Even good
| ball player looks like novice when he
has one of those days when everything
breaks poorly. and Wagner was not an
exception to the rule
| The most gratifying exhibition that the
Nationals outf1elders gave yesterday was
their backing up of !nf1eld plays. There
then the art of backing up, and Milan
and Lelivelt gave perfect exhibition
of this yesterday. Once on a throw from
Gray to third which was wide, but which
Elberfeld knocked down, Lelivelt ran in
and was right behind the Kid, ready to
| get the ball if it got through him. On
another occasion Milan got throw in
tended to catch man mapping off sec
ond and prevented the runner from NOV
| ing up. A lot Of ball games are lost every
year by the failure of the outfielders to
back up properly, but it seems that Man.
ager McAleer has his men perfectly drilled
| in this art.
| When 1t comes to being cunning
Schaefer compares favorably with any
player in the league. He was apparently
| standing listlessly at the plate when he
was sent to bat for Leliveit in the sixth
inning. acting very much as If he in
tended to look over few balls before
taking a chance at hitting. karger saw
this at a glance and put one straight
over. but Schaefer was expecting this
and hit the first ball into right for a base.
There is never anything to wait for with
| men on the bases when a pitcher is in
clined to be steady.
Bob Groom is down to pitch for the
Nationals today. Groom needs en-
,, couragement. for should he start badly
l he will remember when he was openly
criticised last year, and repetition of
such criticism will not help him. Groom
has the making of great pitcher and
! 1t is up to the fans to help him. Once
he gets started we'll he will be sure to
| win a large majority of his games.
There were 16.34O paid admissions at
Yesterdays game, the largest crowd that
| has ever attended ball game here. There
is no doubt that there were in the neigh
play was called, there being lot Of
| complmentaries that were not figured in
on the paid attendance given.
There was much surprise and praise ex-
| pressed over the excellent condition of
| the stands and playing field considering
the fact that q little over three weeks
ago the old stands burned down. 1t was
conceded to be one Of the best pieces Of
hustling enterprise ever shown in Wash
ington and the club and the contractors
| were praised on all sides. That the new
park when it is completed will be one Of
| the handsomest in the circuit IS assured
| The grandstand will assume an impos-
| ing ASPECT when the upper deck and roof
are added and the pavilions in right and
| left field are of solid concrete and steel
The center and right field fences will be
moved back ninety feet and concrete
wall will be built around the entire park
| Another Innovation will be the elimina-
| ton Of all advertising signs from the
] fences which are to be painted green.
The diamond will be switched so that
| the center Of the grandstand. which will
bring the right field foul line along the
right field pavilion. while the bleachers
will be moved to the extreme right field
| ington will surely be able to boast Of a
modern base ball plant. .., .-,
| In selecting George Mcbride to captain
found a most capable assistant. Not only
J is Mcbride well liked by the other men,
bers of the team. but he is a thoroughly
| competent base ball man. knows the game
slightest ostentation. What is more. Nc
Bride is OF that disposition that the du-
!, ties Of the captaincy will not in any way
interfere with his playing as it does in
the cases Of so many players.
| Dolly Gray gets credit for yesterdays
victory. because the score was to 4
when Walker started to pitch True,
| fore the score was tied. Miller taking
| his place. but Walker did not get into the
game until the sixth inning was over
and the NatioLs0 we're then in the lead
Let the Nationals be blessed with good
| pltc0Ing tH1S year dnO tNe team IS SOiuS
| to cut more of figure than 1t vas given
| credit for doing. McAleer has team
ready to play its best game. and IT win
Improve considerably as the season adj
vances. While not hai4 hitting team
it IS nevertheless a dangerous one at
the bat. there being FIVE or six players
who are apt to break up a game at any
time they face the pitcher. y
! There is no need FOR worrying about
Cunningham. Having taken off fourteen
pounds in q few weeks has left the
youngster a bit weak, but he is sure to
recover his strength and when he does
II will make big difference in his play
ing. Surely that infieid looks good. and
the fact that both I.elivet and G,Ssler
are in much improved physical, condition
over anything they have been since they
have been members of the team gives
this pair chance to hold their own.
Milan is in better form than he has ever
been before and Street and Atnsmith are
q great pair Of catchers. This combina-
ton should win some bali games and, in
fact, II looks to be a better balanced
team than Boston pre- sented yesterday.
iris Speaker is far from being himself
His speed yesterday was nothing like it
will be when he is in playing trim, and
this fact caused him to fail to beat out
an infield hit on one occasion and caused
him to be thrown out at s'.ccnd on
another occas sion on a hit into right field.
(which under ordinary conditions he would
have easily stretched into twobaseer
l The nF w fOrred m him,