The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-03-20
FIRST BASE AND LEFT FIELD
POSITIONS STILL IN DOUBT
Manager McAleer Unable to Name Players Who Will
Hold Down These Important Jobs.
By WILLIAM PEET.

will hold down first pase or play left
field for the Nationals when the Ameri-
can League season opens on April L.
The writer tried to pin down McAleer
to-n night as to the final selection OF his
team and was told that this would De
impossible. I'm the first place" said
the Nationals boss, John Somerlott has
not reported, and you can bet his work
will have a bearing on the initial sack
position. AS for left field, Germany
Schaefer looks pretty good now. but one
of my youngsters may come along at
fast clip and l may decide to play him
there"
MCAleer also intimates that Doc Cess
Ter may not look as good early in the
season as one of tine others and hints
that Bill Cunningham will have to get
into shape or Wild Conroy NAV be showed
into second base as Conroy has reported
in fine condition, and during the prac-
tioe games plays much better all-around
baseball than does Cunningham
Somerlott is expected about the mid
die of the week. and then will come the
real fight for first base. Both Henry
and LelIvelt have been doing so we'll on
the initial corner that Snmerlott's work
is sure 10 suffer by comparison for the
first few days at least
SomerIott Is Good Fielder.
The fact remains that Somerlott. when
right. is a better fielder than either
Henry or Lelivelt. Kid Elberfeld says
that Washington fans have no idea of
Somerlot:'s ability, as the latter did not
begin to show what he could do in the
few games played at National Park.
when we were on the road said
Elbtrfold. ''Scmerlott played first base
just as good as any man l have ever
seen. not excepting the great Hal
Chase"
George Mcbride vouchsafed the infor-
nation that Jimmy Burke, an old friend.
who managed one of the Central League
clubs last year. told him recently that
Somerlott was the best pinch hitter in
the circuit last summer. and that II
given a fair trial he would turn out to
be as good a man as the American League
could produce.
As for left field. there is still Jack
Lelivcit to he considered. for Lelivelt
during the practice games here has hit
the ball harder than any OF the outfielders.
with the possible exception OF Milan. So
it can easily be seen that the makeup
Of the Nationals is still far from set
tied
A heavy rain set in early this morning
and continued until late this afternoon.
The majority OF the hall players accepted
an invitation 20 visit kimbailviIle farm.
four miles from Atlanta and owned by
one Of the proprietors ri the kimhal u
House. where the team is stopping. An
Old-faShoned ba rheCue dinner was the
attraction. and despite the rain every
body had a good time.
Indications point to A clear day to-
morrow, when the practice games will
again be continued and the Regulars and
Yannigans are to go nine full innings.
The early work will consist mainly
OF batting practice. with a short period
set aside during which Wild Conroy will
have the new recruits pracucinS how to
slide to bases properly.
Nobody knows here whether or not the
team will he ordered back to Washing
ton on the 1st of April. the date origi-
nally planned. Manager McAleer is anx-
iOuS to remain ten days more in At
lanta, but the majority of the players
want to get back TO Washington.
Cost of Spring Training Heavy.
If the club stays here there will be no
chance to get back the money expended
I
will cost the Washington baseball man.
agement $500 for the stay of twenty-six
days in Atlanta. If the five or six prar-
tice games are to be played in the Cap
ital. considerable of that amount would
he gotten back before the regular sea-
son starts, and this argument it is be-
lieved. will prevail in the end.
Manager McAleer's objection to going on
to Washington April is that the climate
would put the boys back. and that neither
Georgetown Field nor Union League Park
is suita BILE for practice. the former be-
cause of a skinned diamond and the lat
ter because of its poor accommodations
in the matter OF dressing rooms.
Every member of McAleer's family is
in the best of health and spirits. Man
ager Jim said that he was not anxious
to play many more exhibition games
against the Atlanta club, for he declared
that his team could get better practice
playing between themselves. He said:
said: BY playing among ourselves every
man gets chance to show what he can
do; the boys are up against better pitch
ing. and in the long run the benefits de-
rived will be greater. If We stay over
here ten days in April I may consent to
play the Crackers a couple of games,
for they should be in better shape then,
but right now they cannot give US good
practice"
There is one reason why the Nationals
recruit pitcher. Harvey BusSey, stands
a poor chance of making good in the
major league. His weight and height do
not stack up favorably against such men
as Ed. Walsh. Jack Coombs, Addie JOSS,
and many other successful twirlers.
Managers throughout the country are
on the hunt for huge, husky slabmen.
Many even are attempting to develop
players of behemoth proportions with
the slightest throwing ability into hurl-
ers. This craze seems to be prevalent
throughout the land, and Jim McAleer,
like the others. favors the big boys.
Bussey stands about 5 feet 10 inches
and weighs right now 153 pounds. He
puzzling curves. but down here thus
far has not shown anything out Of the
ordinary.
McAleer has not decided whether or
not to hold on to Bussey, but unless the
twirler soon gives evidences Of something
good he will never see the Capital.
The average professional ball player
usually pokes a lot of fun at college
stars, and members of the Washington
team are no exceptions. Already John
Henry, Doc Meyer. and Ralston have
forgotten they ever worked their heads
off for their alma matters, while Doc"
Gessler can scarce remember the old
days when he played with the University
of Maryland team in Baltimore.
An incident to show how strong is the
feeling against collegians cropped out