The Washington herald., 1911-02-26
RH WILLIAM PEET.


1t will be a case of Marching
Through Georgia" for. the Nationals
this week, for next Saturday after
noon a squad of seventeen players,
-chaperoned by Manager MeAleer and
Trainer Joe Quirk, will leave the Cap
ital for Atlanta. where the real early
spring workouts arctic be held.
Next Sunday. Capt. George Mcbride,
with his Hot Springs family, including
Walter johnson. Tom Hughes. Germany
Schaefer. Dixie Walker, Clyde Milan,
and Wild Conroy, will pull up stakes
and also head for Atlanta, going direct
from the Springs.
After a lot of correspondence, Man
ager McAleer yesterday closed with the
management of the kimban House, At
lanta's famous hostelry. for the Ma
tionals' headquarters.
Orders for the Washington clubs
uniforms were placed by McAheer yes
terday. A C. Spalding & Co. will make
the road suits of light gray and blue
trimmings. while the G. H. White Com
pany is to provide for the home toEs of
white flannel with blue trimmings.
Twenty-Five suits were ordered from
each firm.
In talking with Manager McAleer yes
terday, the National boss stated that he
had completed every detail for the spring
practice and was resting on his oars
until the players began to drift into town.
McAleer had no news to impart. as he
said he had notified all his men when
and where to report and would do no
more signing of new recruits unless some
thing good showed up.
There has been so much said lately
about the chances for the Nationals
finishing the 1911 season at the bottom of
. the first division or at the top Of the
second that little can be added.
Manager McAleer very wisely refuses
to make a prediction, Capt. George Nc
Bride and others are mum on the sub
ject, while the local fans have their own
ideas.
If the Nationals are to show first divi-
sion caliber. considerable more hitting
strength must be in evidence than was
demonstrated last year. As everybody
knows, Washington did not possess a
real 800 batter in the lineup.
Take the infeld as it will probably
line up for the opening game. Somerlott
on first, Cunningham second, Elberfield
third, and Mcbride shOTtstOp; the last
two mentioned are poor hitters. Somer-
lott gave very little indication of clouting
ability last season, but Cunningham looks
like natural hitter.
A first division ball club should pos
sess two hard hitting infieIders and also
couple of heavy hitting outer garden
erS. Now, if SOmerlott and Cunningham
deliver the goods and Doc Gessler comes
back into his own again, the club will
have the necessary batting strength to
break into the first division, provided, of
course, the pitchers work true to form.
The Nationals are well fortified behind
the bat, and also have d pretty fair
twirling staff, with Walter Johnson the
bright and shining light. In fact, the
twirling was good enough to win many
games which We're lost last season be-
cause a timely bingle was missing.
In view of all this, McAleer is banking
everything on the work of SOmerlott and
Cunningham in the infield and Milan and
GeSsler in the outer garden. Milan is
sure to hit around the .2S5 mark, and is
about fast a man on the bases as any
In the league, with the possible exception
of Cobb and Eddie Collins.
If these men come across with the
Ciouting strength McAleer expects, there
is no reason why the club should not
finish the race higher than has any
Washington team in recent years.
From a Youngstown exchange we
learn a whole lot more about young
Keefe, the Cleveland semi-pro Manager
McAIeer signed up last week for a trial.
1t seems that Keefe has played in
Youngstown and made quite a hit with
the fans there The following story
is from the Youngstown Telegram:
Another former local player is to be
honored by the major leagues. This
comes in the announcement that Andy
Keefe, who played right field for the
Steelmeu part of last season, is to be
given a tryout by the Washington
American League club.
After leaving here Keefe played
amateur ball in Cleveland for the bal
ance of the season. Shortly afterward
President Bin Terry. of the local club,
went 10, the Forest City on a scouting
expedition to look over some of the
promising amateurs there. He attended
what he thought would be the best
game of the day, and sized up the
players. OF the bunch there was only
one that made an impression on Bill,
and he was a youngster who could slam
a ball a mile and play the outfield TO
perfection.
THE last time the youngster came to
bat he raped out a three-bagger BY
George, I'm going to get that boy Bill
said TO himself, and after the player had
=