The Washington herald., 1911-04-23
By {. w. SWAN.

By c. w. SWAN.
One week from tomorrow all the
amateur leagues Of the District of CO.
lumbia will be under way.
Tuesday the Bankers League opens
its season with the American Security
, and Trust and the Washington Loan and
Trust the contesting teams.
President William H. Taft will throw
out the first ball on this suspicious oc-
casion. This will be the first time in
the history of amateur baseball in
Washington that the President of the
United States has ever opened an anna
teur season. The Bankers League this
year will present a much more formid-
able circuit While American Security
and Trust is conceded by all TO be the
premier aggregation of the bank clerks
organization, the Washington Loan and
Trust Company strengthened their team
materially since the close of last season,
and is confident o. giving the Fifteenth
Streeters a run for the bunting. The
remaining three teams are composed of
some of the best ball tossers in the Dis
trict. and this league will furnish the
White Lot fans a classy article of ball.
League will inaugurate its opening of
the league grounds at Fifth street and
Florida avenue northeast. The hustling
president of the league, Mr.. W. r. Bond.
has done much to make this league one
Of the strongest OF the best conducted cir
cults of the District
The Baltimore and Ohio nine and the
United States Express team have been
clubs, in addition to the crack teams Of
last year, a much better grade of ball
will hold sway on the Florida avenue
diamond
The games will be in charge of the
well-known local diamond official, Mr..
Joseph Eandiboe. and well-conducted
contests are assured
May Is the date set for the opening
of the remainder of the amateur leagues.
The Departmental League will inaugu-
rate its season on the White Lot Ellipse
when Fost-office and Interior meet. Post
office has been considerably strengthened
and the Mail Clerks are confident of
being returned the winner. Interior will
present a formidable lineup and will
contest every inch of the game.
When the times for organization rolled
around there was much apprehension felt
in departmental circles as TO whether the
league would be in existence during the
coming campaign, but through the CO
operation of several Jealous officials re-
organization was affected and a success
1ul season is anticipated. A new presi-
dent, in the person of c. c. Clark. has
been elected TO succeed Merritt O.
Chance, who was greatly responsible for
the popularity the league has attained.
The familiar face of Billy Belts will be
missing, he having Joined the forces Of
the Capital City League. Charley Abbey.
an old Washington player, will handle
the indicator and should make the league
a competent umpire.
The District League will be launched
On the local sand lot seas a week from
tomorrow. and judging from the make
Up of the six teams comprising the new
Lorn circuit, the cream of amateur bail,
and simon pure al that, will be offered
at the newly constructed Gonzaga Park.
First and NJ streets northeast
The league is made up of three pen
nant winners in various other organiza-
tons of a year ago, namely, Commits
siOners. from the Departmental: Column
bia lOl, from the Marquette, and Adams
Express Company, from the Railroad Y.
", c. A. together with Aloysius Ath-
letic Club, which made desperate fight
for the Capital City League flag last
sumner. and newly organized mines rep
resenting the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing and the Congressional Athletic
Club.
Aloysius and the Commissioners will be
the opposing teams in the opening game.
and judging from the line-ups of these
mines. battle royal should result.
One week from tomorrow hostilities
will again be resumed on the Sunday
School League grounds. at Thirteenth and
D streets northeast, Ninth Street Chris
tian and Hamline Methodist clashing in
the opening contest. Last season Ninth
nosed out Paddy Holmes pets in a neck
and neck finish. hut the Methodists are
confident that they will gather In the
wool from Ninth and the other competi-
tors in the Church League this summer
Three new teams will be launched in
the circuit next week. Ingram Memorial
North Carolina Avenue Methodist Prot
estant, and the Sherwood Presbyterian of
Langdon. the latter organization taking
up the franchise of the Langdon Episco-
pal at a meeting last Monday. w R.
Love, who plotted the Langdon Episco-
pals during several seasons past, will
the Sherwood nine, and he prom
ises to spring A number OF surprises on
the northeast sand lot with his new ag-
gregation. Manager Frank Adams says
that Ingram Memorial will be one of the
all through the season, and
he wouldn't be surprised In the least II
his team should run away with the flag
from the start. North Carolina Avenue
Methodist Protetants will be governed by !
r. NJ. Yost, who likewise hopes 20 keen
his team in front.
A departure from the usual order of |
amateur leagues will be seen when the !
capital City League gets under way on |
May l. This season it will be a four
club circuit the first time in the history |