The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
DOLLY GRAY'S APPEARANCE
PROVES REAL SENSATION
Big Southpaw Works Hard All Winter and Reports in
FirSt-CIaSS Condition.

three to the left field fence in practice
Tnis morning.
George Mcbride says that Walter John
son bids fair to be the best hitting
pitcher in the American League. In
Hot Springs" added Mac, every ball
Johnson hit on the nose went for a
home run. OF course the twirlers were
not putting everything they had on the
ball. but at that Walter showed he had
his eye with him this year.
Manager McAleer jumped into the air
and pulled down a smoking liner from
Doc Gessler's bat this morning that
made the youngsters gasp. Manager Jim
worked just as hard as his recruits, and
the old boy convinced everybody that
he has forgotten nothing. His coaching
Of the young outfielders will be invalu-
able to them, for in the old Cleveland
days McAleer was regarded as the best
in the business.
Charley Swain and John Henry settled
a dispute as to which was the better man
in a 1ifty-yard dash. Both got away to a
perfect start, and Swain won by about
two inches. For a big fellow Swain
is a wonder when it comes to covering
ground in the ouuield.
AS yet nobody has put the ball over
the right field fence, but Doc Gessler
came "lJHln dn ace OI uOlIS 81 IulS
morning. He swcars he will pull on
the trick before he leaves town That
right field fence here is about thirty
yards farther away than the one on the
Washington grounds.
OF the new recruits only Corbin and
keefe are left-hand hitters. Corbin
had trouble in hooking up with Dolly
Gray's lcft-hand curves, but heefe
Strengthened out a couple
If Bussey ever decides to quit pitch
ing he would easily make crack third
baseman for some minor league club.
The way he dug them out of the dirr
in fielding practice to-day was a eau
tion.
Mike KahOe has already taught
Pitcher Sherry a lot about the twirl
ing game the latter did not know.
Sherry is Il willing worker with an easy
motion and a world of speed ENperI.
ence alone is lacking and kahoe is one
of the best in the country to handle
young twirler.
Catcher Eddie Ainsmith fooled the
whole bunch. Instead of being crippled
and unable to walk without a pair OF
CrutChes. as it was predicted he would
on account of his hard work yesterday.
the young receiver was right on the
job to-day and full of pep" shooting
the ball around as if nothing had hap
pened.
\ curious crowd of Atlanta fans
watched the boys at work to-day. They
picked out big Swain as the real star,
and one youngster remarked: Say. dat
guy would make a great center on some
football team"
II is barely possible that the Nationals
will challenge the Atlanta Athletic Club
basketball team for game some night,
as it has been learned that. in addition
TO Cunningham and Ainsmith. Bunting
and Conway have played the indoor
game. while Bill Otey and Bob Groom
also know something about playing CEN
ter. This would give the local club a
team composed of Bunting and Ainsmith,
forwards: Groom or Otey, center, and
and Conway, guards.
\ good one was pulled off in the hotel
this morning. The writer happened to
be sitting at a table with one of the
Atlanta newspaper men, when young
who is out for third base, ap-
peared. He was introduced The At
lantan Immediately asked: Are you a
Senator, Bunting"
WELL" replied the young fellow, I'm
sort of elected. but it will be several
weeks before I'll know whether I'm a
regular LOrimer or not"
Kid ElberfeId has arranged to take the
entire bunch of Nationals through the
Federal prison next Thursday, and an
interesting trip is anticipated.