Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-07
Ewes ON New Recruits for Nationals 0uteId PracGmg at A1an
THAT OUTFIELD PROPOSITION
IS STILL WORRYING McALEER
Youngsters Will Have to Be High Class
to Get on the Team -Lelivelt
Working at First Base.


they can't stand it,
Just how long Elberfeld will last in
base ball no one dareS to answer. He
is just as good ball player now as
he ever was, and he does not give the
slightest Indication of slowing up. In
fact, he looks faster every spring, and
the Kid is mighty near the thirty-five
mark, too. and has been in the major
If the kind of weather which has pre-
vailed here so far will continue during
the teams stay here there will be no
question about the players being in
condition. 1t was hotter here yester-
day than it was at any time during
the teams stay at Norfolk. What is
more, the grounds are in splendid shape
and are situated at hollow, so that
one seldom feels Il gust of wind. 1t is
a beautiful park and large enough to
left field without the ball going out of
the grounds. modern srandstand
and clubhouse help to- make things
comfortable and with a boiling sun
ton is only matter of a very little
time.
Dolly Gray and Mrs. Gray, a bride Of
five months, arrived yesterday after
noon. 1t was after working hours. but
Dolly insisted on going to the grounds
nevertheless for a workout Street went
with him. Dolly says he has been
wants to timber up every day to keep
in shape. He is at least ten or fifteen
pounds heavier than he was at any
time last season. and he will train
with view of retaining this weight. as
he thinks it will help his effectiveness.
Patrons of the game will remember how
| weak an effort John Henry made at the
| bat when he first Joined the Nationals.
He seemed satisfied only to touch the
ball, and made no effort to drive 1t.
though bat welded by his Immense
shoulders should be able to drive the
| sphere most any distance. Well. Henry
| has changed. He no longer pokes out at
| the ball. but takes hard. snappy swing
at 1t, and the result is that his hitting
| has improved perceptibly. The fact that
| Henry displays real nerve when facing
| the pitcher, together with. his improved
style, gives hope Of his becoming most
valuable hitter.
| Bill Cunningham is not taking any
chances in his training. He goes about
his work slowly, saves his arm when ne
throws, and seems to have made up his
mind that he has plenty of time to get
himself ready for the season. The only
place he let's himself out is in covering
ground at second, and he does this as he
did last fall without a flaw. But he only
lobs the ball around, and is not taking
any chances of hurting His legs by doing
too much running before his muscles
have been accustomed to the work.
For big man Swain is rather fast on
his feet. He can go down the first base
line fast enough to make the tnfielders
hustle and he covers lot of ground in
the Outteld. At the bat he crouches
low and takes healthy swing. Though
no longer as fleet Of foot as he was some
years ago, Jim McAleer can still give
majority Of these young fellows cards
and spades, and beat them fielding. he
has the knack of starting for the ball the
& Loo H. hat vNd han
just where to stop to make the catch. He
worked like Trojan yesterday morning
and the players stood by in establishment
watching the veteran covering ground
and making splendid catches. SenSa-
tional fielders such as McAleer was are
born, not made; they never seem to FOR
get the art. McAleer can detect an out
fielders fault the moment he sees him
start for a ball. He argues tnat out
fielders ought to be standing still most
of the time, when making their catches,
instead of being on the run. This can be
accomplished by getting quick start
and having the judgment to know where
to stop. When fielder is standing he is
not near SO apt to drop the ball as when
he is being Jared by running.
that of the champion heavyweight pugil-
list that Walter Johnson has so many in
quiries made for him by the colored pop
ulation Of Atlanta. There were any num-
morning asking If Walter Johnson was
| in town yet, and in every instance these
inquirers were colored. JOhnson's repu-
tation is widespread. and he will be fol-
lowed around on the streets here from
present Indications.
Charley Conway is one of the huskiest
of the youngsters. and, though he is
stockily built and heavy. he is fast on
his feet and good fielder. He hit well
in practice. too, and looks like young
ster who has chance to make some of
his rivals hustle to keep him off Of the
team.
Batting practice will start in earnest
when the Hot Springs squad gets down
to business. Johnson, Walker. Otey and
Hughes will all be in shape to let them
selves out bit, and this will furnish a
better opportunity to get a line on the
hitting ability of the respective recruits.
Three weeks spent at the springs should
have put these pitchers on edge. even
though they have not had much chance
to pitch, and the warm weather here
should have them fit as fiddles by the
time the team returns to it's own stamp
ing grounds.
That Charley Street is in as good phys
| ical condition this year as he ever was
in his career, and that he is absolutely
rid of the rheumatism which threatened
him for a while last fall. is shown by
about. Street Is working harder than
ever, He ran two miles and a half yes
| terday morning, and worked in the in
and out fields for nearly two hours. Street
is still under the impression that his
failure to do hard training last spring
on the advice of Manager McAleer was
not for his own good, and he purposes
to change his plans this spring.
Ainsmith hopes to catch at least half
! of the games the Nationals play the
coming season. He figures that he and
Street will alternate behind the bat dur
| ing the playing of the entire schedule.
II am always best when l get plenty of
| work, and l hope McAleer will give it
, to me-" said he II have taken on con-
siderable weight during the off season,
and l want to keep some of it so that
l can stand all the work they give me-"
Ainsmith Is throwing as he did last
/ fall. The ball travels with remal kable
| speed. considering the fact he uses hard
| ly any motion in throwing to the bases.
| The young catcher is also being taught
| to change his style of hitting. He no
, longer faces the pitcher. as he did last
! fall but hugs the plate and takes q long
| swing. The change seems to work sat
| isfactOriiy.
| JIMMY CALLAHAN /
| STARTS COMING BACK