The Washington herald., 1911-03-09
Nationals Hot Springs Squad Shows Result of Early Practice
RAIN IN EARLY MORNING
FAILS TO STOP NATIONALS
Players Put in Four Solid Hours of Practice in the
Afternoon at Ponce de Leon Park.

ranges them as opportunity affords. The
Georgia Tech schoolboys are to be tack
led next Saturday, and some sort Of q
line on the new men can be gotten, as It
is planned to use almost all Of the re-
cruits in this contest.
If the present warm weather keeps up,
and the indications point that way, the
men will be in better shape to start the
season than has any Washington club In
years
Every member of the team Is feeling
fine, and there are only few lame arms.
Germany Schaefsr, late this afternoon.
suggested to Manager McAleer that he
be permitted to get up q team and play
the regulars full nine-inning battle each
day, starting in next Monday. and Mana
ger Jim has given his consent
Germany was as pleased as boy with
his first pair of pants, and Immediately
got busy signing up his men. Before din
ner he was able to announce his lineup
which is as follows: Ainsmith, catcher;
Johnson, Hughes. and Gray, pitchers;
Lelivelt, first base; Keefe, second base;
Conroy, shortstop: Bunting, third base,
and Schaefer, Swain, and GessIer, out
fielders. With this array of talent Ger
many declares he is going to clean up
every day. 1t is expected that q whole
lot of fun and also a whole lot Of good
experience will be gained when the teams
clash in actual battle
Manager McAleer has not talked with
Johnson, Gessler, or Groom about sign
ing up contracts. There is plenty Of time
for this, declares Manager jim and the
players themselves do not seem to be wor-
ryfng any.
Eddie Sykes, Of Chicago, whom Man
ager McAleer wanted to sign for a trial
last fall and who has been obtained by
the New York Yankees, dropped around
at Ponce de Leon Park to watch the
boys work out this afternoon. He was
on his way to Athens, Ga, where the
New Workers are hanging out
Looks like Jack Lelivelt will do some
hitting against the left-hand twiriers this
season., for thus. far he has had little
trouble connecting with the southpaw
shoots from Otey and Dolly Gray.
Kid EIberfeld, who trained here with
the New York Yankees three years ago,
knows Atlanta like a book. He evidently
made host of friends in this town, for
he has been busy shaking hands ever
since the club showed up. The kid" has
already piloted most OF the Nationals
around town. pointing out the many
places of interest
Probably the first line anybody will get
on the ability of the new recruits will
be either Friday or Saturday, when Man
ager McAleer selects two teams and puts
them through nine innings of baseball
BY that time it is expected the soreness
win have disappeared from legs and arms
and that the boys may cut loose without
fear Of disastrous after effects.
Bill Cunningham has at last let the
cat out of the bag. It will be remem-
bered that early last winter the writer
pointed out the possible harm that might
result if Cunningham and Ainsnith were
permitted to play professional basketball
during the winter, as it was known that
both were considered crack-a-jack play
ers.
Said Cunningham: when I asked Man |
ager McAleer's permission (Which was
grante0 to play basketball during the
winter it was before / learned 1 was to
be with the All-Stars in the series with |
the Athletics AS you all know, the ALL |
Stars pulled down $500 each for our share. |
i
cut out basketball during the winter-it |
certainly is a dangerous game the way |
we play it, and that 500 was more than |
enough to keep me during the off |
months"
This is the real reason why Cunning |
ham did not take any chances on the |
basketball court
Dolly Gray tells a pathetic story about |
.; ha fr1rirl
mended by Walter johnson. who Joined |
the Nationals last June, and was stricken
with infantile paralysis, lying in the
George Washington Hospital for two
months, where he was finally able to be
moved, and was taken to his home in
California, by Gray.
TT was a trip TIL never forget II
live to be a million" vouchsafed Dolly.
"Hinrichs was as helpless as a baby.
had to pick him up and carry him in my
arms when we changed trains. and he
required almost constant attention
1T was mighty hard for me to try and
cheer him up, telling him he would be
all right in a few months, when he
looked as II he would hardly live a few
weeks. but somehow or other I man
aged to get him safely as far as Los
Angeles, where his parents met US and
took charge OF him"
II looks as II the Nationals had picked
UP a mighty likely looking youngster in
Dave Bunting. who is trying for third
base, and who last year played that posi-
ton with the Fayetteville club of the
Eastern Carolina League.
Bunting is college boy and has al
ready finished three years at Ursinus.
When he reports back to the Capital
with the club 1t win not be the first time
he has pranced around at National Park.
Two years ago Bunting played full back
on the Ursinus eleven against George
when the Hatchetites were