The Washington herald., 1911-03-09
BY WILLIAM PEET.


Special 70 The Washington Herald
Atlanta, Ga, March S-The Nationals,
twenty-six strong, hiked out to Ponce
de Leon Park this afternoon and put In
nearly four solid hours of the hardest
kind of work. With the exception Of
First Baseman John Somerlott every
member of Manager McAleers family IS
on hand
An old-fashioned thunder shower late
last night put the ball park on the blink
as far as morning practice was con-
cern, and arrangements were made to
have the boys out this afternoon The
weather, as on Monday, was ideal, plenty
of sunshine and balmy breezes, soft
field was the only handicap.
The boys from Hot Springs, Capt Nc
Bride, Walter johnson, Tom Hughes,
Germany Schaefer, Wild Conroy. Clyde
Milan. Bill Otey, and Walker. were on
hand for the first time, and easily
showed by their work that they had OBJ
tanned flying start on the others 1t
was in the batting practice that this was
most apparent, for Pitchers Otey, Tom
Hughes, and Walker had the young
sluggers guessing throughout
Dixie" Walker bids fair to be the
real works this season His twirling to-
day was a revelation, and tonight he
has the laugh on the entire bunch It
all started with Germany Schaefer.
Walker was in the box and the men
lined up to take turns at the bat
Bet you a cigar ring up a single" I"
shouted the Teuton-
You're on" replied Dixie, and then
whistled over two strikes so fast
Schaefer could hardly see the ball A
couple Of balls followed, then an out
curve. and Schaefers attempt ended in
a little dinky grounder to the pitchers S
box
do win the cigar" Walker followed
to McAleer. who answered. Yes, you
win it, but you don't get it"
Schaefer's back was up by this time,
and he started to get even by betting q
cigar with Dixie on every man who came
to the plate that the batter would drive
the ball safe. Everybody stopped and
looked on as the various Nationals faced
Walker. The big fellow was master OF
the situation, and only one man knocked
the bail out of the infeld, Ainsmith
sending a low liner in the direction of
short, and it was questionable whether
or not the third baseman could not have
scooped it in.
All the pitchers, Meyer Tom Hughes,
Dolly Gray, Bob Groom, Bussey, Otey,
Sherry. and Walter Johnson took their
turns in the box. shooting the ball over
TO the batters, while Gabby Street and
AInsmith were on duty behind the bat
TIE change in Tom Hughes is marked.
He is not the same man Washington fans
remember two years ago. II he has gone
back any his looks do not show it, and
now everybody has been brought around
TO Manager McAleer's way of thinking
that Long Tom is going to be one of
cur leading performers this season. The
way things look now, Tom Hughes is
not only coming back but has already
arrived
After the extensive batting practice and
a good hour spent in rapping out flies to
tho outhelders, Manager McAleer him
self. armed with a willow bat and a
brand new horsehide, called out the reg
ulars to take their places, and with
Henry and Lelivelt alternating on first
base, Cunningham on second. Mcbride
short, and Elberfeld third, lively half
hour Of snappy practice was gone
veb, sore arms have disappeared. Elber-
field and Cunningham slammed the ball
aroTnd in midseaSon form, and it was
treat to see them work
Henry did first-claSs work on the initial
sack. Jack LeliveltS lame wing handi-
capped him to some extent Manager
McAleer paid lot Of attention to Bill
Cunningham, who still has a few minor
faults, which he is correcting gradually.
Pitcher Dixie Walker blew In from Bir-
mingham this morning with his young
brother Ernest. The latter aspires to be
a big league first baseman. Brother
Ernest was out in a Washington uniform
this afternoon. and Manager McAleer
may decide to give him trial
outhelder Charley Swain is losing
weight rapidly. Trainer Joe Quirk says
that twelve pounds must come on before
the big fellow will be down to the proper
playing form, and in consequence this
afternoon Swain did little except chase
long flies over his head and run around
the outer edge of the ball yard.
The addition of Germany Schaefer
seemed to be just the tonic the bunch
needed He always has something witty
to say. and easily leads the league in
good-natured kidding. Nobody ever
takes offense at his remarks, and from
now on the usual drudgery of daily prac-
tice will be lightened considerably
Speaking of Schaefer, his presence may
solve the left field problem. for the vete-
ran looked a lot better than some of the
youngsters to-day.
Manager McAleer does not know Just
how many outside practice games he will
play here in Atlanta He usually ar