The Washington herald., 1911-03-26

to introduce you to the most promising
young ball player the American League
has seen in years" This, of course drew
a large sized shout from the other men,
bers of the Nationals.
!. Tom Hughes warmed up this morning
and declared that his arm felt great
I'll have the old boy back in shape by
Monday he exclaimed.
The New York Yankees are expected
here carly tomorrow morning. They
are scheduled TO play Atlanta Monday
and Tuesday. During the next four days
the New York Giants are booked.
Big Chief Swain was under the weather
to-day suffering from a severe cold and
did not get into uniform.
One of our leading winter dope writers
came across with a story couple months
ago TO the effect that all left-handed twirl-
ers were more or less crazy, citing Rube
Waddell as a glowing example and this
subject was brought up at tanning
I bee after dinner last night. Dolly Gray
happened to be included in the circle,
and most of the remarks were uttered
for his benefit.
Finally something was said that got
after being mixed up with some of these
riGht-hand pitchers since we have been
in Atlanta. I'm glad I'm crazy
The writer introduced Walter Johnson
to Chubby Charles Murphy, owner
of the Chicago Cubs, last Thursday noon
just before the Windy City bunch started
to the ball grounds for their game
against the Atlanta Crackers
Il am delighted to have the opportunity
to shake hands with Mr. Johnson said
the rotund leader of the Cubs.
Il have seen you pitch several times,
! Mr.. Johnson he added, "and back Up
all the good things the American League
| baseball writer's say about you
| Johnson in his usual modest way
thanked the magnate and told him
Chicago had great ball club. and that
he hoped the Cubs would win the Ma
| tional League pennant again this sea-
| son.
They don't hit em as hard these days
as they did fifteen years ago. do they
Billy" asked Manager McAleer of the
veteran Billy Hamilton, who is here
IscoutinS for the Boston Nationals.
Il should say not, Jim," came the
reply. We had to face just as good
pitching then. and our heavy hitters were
far above those of the present crop"
In explanation of this, Manager McAleer
cited the time when he was with Cieve-
land. and stated that in his day hardly
! a game took place on the old Cleveland
grounds but that some player waiioped
the ball over the left field fence.
But they don't do it these days,
McAleer commented.
I should say not echoed Billy
Hamilton.
Hamilton and McAleer swapped stories
for two solid hours in the hotel lobby
last night. and nearly every member of
the Nationals stood around in a circle
! three deep listening intently.
How those old boys can throw bouquets,
First Hamilton would recall some
game where he hit ball a mile and
! thought a sure home run would result.
but there was Jimmy McAleer waiting
for it, and it was all off.
! Then McAleer would start, II used to
think you were the greatest outfieldcr in
| the world when the old Clevelands
played the Bostons,' vouchsarec
| the Washington boss
Hamilton would come back with, Il
thought l was pretty good. too, Jim. but
l did not have thing on you
Billy Hamilton, the Boston Nationals
scout. who will be in Atlanta for a cou-
Pile of weeks looking over the youngsters
Carried by the big league clubs which
lay the Atlanta Crackers, has been in
the New England League as manager
for the past four years. Last season he
was at the head of the Lynn club which
finished second to New Bedford, the lat
ter winning the championship.
In speaking of Catcher Ainsmiths abil-
ity, Hamilton said: II Always regarded
Eddie a big league possibility and
| tipped him off to several major league
clubs but they all wanted the youngster
| to develop a bit before taking a chance
with him. Washington jumped in and
grabbed him at the right thine. and |
| believe he will be one Of the best in the
| business in u few years
"Ainsmith had one had fault in the
New England League Hamilton con-
tinued and his record suffered on that
account. Although he possesses a beau
tiful arm, he had lot of stolen bases
! charged against him. and most of these
because he dropped many pitched
balls IL he has gotten over this bad
| habit there is not a man in the Ameri-
can League that can steal on him.
Ainsmith was asked about this, and
said: II know / dropped a great many
balls while with the Lawrence team, but
| lndl was On dCCOurh OIL the pltCnerS, tney
| never gave me a. waste ball and invari-
ably crossed my signals. We had a rot
ten bunch of twirlers. That's the reason
] looked so bad at times"
| The young catcher declares that with
the Nationals things are and always will
be different, for the reason that the
pitchers are always on to their jobs and
ever ready to help out a catcher.
Clyde Milan pulled a rich one the other
/ night.
Sarah Bernhardt was playing at one of
| the local theaters, and Milan locked arms
with Joe Quirk. pulling him on to one
corner of the hotel lobby.
Say, Joe, KANT you fix II up so you
and can go to that show tonight. I'd
ike to powerful well"
why. do you mean to tell me. Clyde
that Bernhardt has never played In Lin
den, Tenn. % Quirk inquired.
mo; she never did. Joe, and I have
| heard SO much about her want to 20
tonight and hear her sing" was Milan's
| reply.
| oulrk with difficulty kept his face
straight and murmured: 'She won't sing