The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-03-07
by n. 4. wORLEY,

The Georgetown University baseball
club viii not have the services this
spring. of Preston J. Robertson, the spit
ball artist who was responsible, more
than any other single individual, for the
success of the Commissioners team in
the Departmental League last year.
Robertson will go to the Savannah club
in the South Atlantic League, and will
leave for that place March 16. For the
past three years he has been the main
stay IN the box of the BrightWood team
in the Suburban League, and one of the
best players in that organization.
AS the season was drawing to the close
hast year, he was the recipient of several
hattering offers to play professional bah,
and was induced to afix his signature 70
a contract with the Savannah club,
through it's scout IN these parts, r. Z.
Doyle. who upon numerous occasions had
witnessed his work and recognized his
ability.
When the can for battery candidates
was issued at Georgetown last month,
Robertson was among those who re-
sponded to the call, being undecided as
10 whether he would continue his law
course or fulfill his contract with Sa-
vannah- His decision to abandon his
studies VIII be a distinct loss To George
town, where he was fast rounding into
form While no regular star of pitchers
has as yet been chosen at that inStitu-
lion, it is safe TO say that he would
have been one of the number. Dick
has been working for the water depart
Tnent of the District government for the
past two years, and has made good.
When seen yesterday, he admitted that
he would go to Savannah and that he
would not be found in Georgetown's line
up tins spring. He believes he has the
ability to make good in fast society, and
proposes to work like a Trojan to de-
liver the goods. Mr.. Robertson said: Il
cannot study law with any degree of
satisfaction and hold my present job,
which requires me to be on duty a great
deal at night. Savannah makes me a
very tempting offer and am going TO
accept I feel that I can make satisfac-
tory arrangements for a leave Of absence
from my present position, so that, if I
fan to make good in Savannah, It will
be back to Washington for Richard
Has Excellent Record.
Last season Robertson pitched sensa-
tional6bal in the Departmental League
and he went against some pretty good
stickers. Those competent to judge de-
clare that his ball is about the best seen
in Washington for many moons. While at
time he has shown the tendency to be
come sulky when not given gilt-edged
support, or when he imagines the umpire
is giving him the worst of it. Robertson
Is one of the gamest little twirlers in
amateur circles in Washington.
Dick Woodward, an experienced
hackStop, is of the opinion that Robert
son has bright future, and only needs
some one to instruct him in the fine
points OF the game TO make him a star.
Robertson takes with him the best
1HyiGh Of ~ ne Frf h.
made during his sand lot career, for a
most prosperous and successful termina-
ton of the decision he has reached, and
when the season opens in the Suburban
League his absence will pc more keenly
felt than elsewhere, by reason of his
long utilization with that body. during
which time he has made himself exceed
ingly agreeable and popular with all
Coming at a time when things looked
particularly bright for the Hilltoppers
turning out an oId-time champion team,
Robertson's stated determination TO gu
South to play professional ball is a hard
blow to the Blue and Gray, as he was
looked upon to do much Of the pitching
in the big games this spring. However
coach SpTigman has a likely looking lot
of candidates from which to develop an
excellent pitching staff and only time will
tell how serious a loss has been suffered
by Robertson leaving college.
Yesterdays balmy weather brought out
a large squad of candidates for the
Georgetown team and the practice was
the snappiest INDUCED in by the Hill
topics this season. Competition for the
outfeid and infeld positions is particular
" keen and at the present time it is
hard to tell how the team will line up
for its first contest 1t is expected that
FeeTan will do most of the catching in
view of his experience and well-known
ability. Lanky Bob Evans is taking
a try at the first base position, and should
give them all a rub for the job if he
strikes his last years form. There are a
host of good men after the bags, but at
this time it is impossible to say how
the boys will show up when they get
into a fun game.
The White Lot resembIed a regular
circus with three teams practicing yes
terday. American Security and Trust
Company. Strayers Business College, and
a high school squad, getting the kinks
out of their system. The Trust Company
boys are showing up exceedingly well
for so early in the year, and should give
Georgetown a fine rub when they meet
on the Hilltop.
meeting of the Bankers League will
be held in the board room at the Ameri-
can Security and Trust Company to-
morrow night at o'clock. and there will
he much important business to be at
tended TO by the managers. For one
thing, the personnel of the league will
probably be decided and date set for
the opening game The general opinion
prevails that the league will open on
Monday, May /. and that the schedule
will be about the length Of that of the
other amateur leagues.
Tonight at O'Clock, at The r. P. An
drews Paper Company's store, in
Louisiana avenue northwest, the Com
mercial League viii gather to transact
current business and outline plans for
the coming season on the diamond
Strong pressure will be brought to
bear upon those interested m the base
ball teams m the various departments. at
to-day's meeting of the Departmental
League in the Office of President Merritt
o. Chance, to hold the departmental cir
cult together. Never has the outlook for
a league been so discouraging. With
the baseball element split in twain IN
the Post-Of1ce Department, the strong |
hold Of the clerks organization, the |
friends Of the employees of Uncle Sam
have practically given up hope of seeing |
the organization continue. Commerce and |