The Washington herald., 1911-04-20
NATIONALS IN NEW YORK
TO OPEN SEASON TODAY
Walter Johnson and Russell Ford the Opposing
Twirlers-McAleer Confident Locals
Will Win Gotham Series.
By WILLIAM PEET.

By WILLIAM PEET.
Manager Jim McAleer, of the Nation
ais, took his family of twenty-one ball
players to New York last night, where
a series of four games will start this
afternoon, opening the American League
season in Gotham. -
If the weather holds clear, to-days
game should be a battle royal, as Walter
johnson is due to twirl for the Washing
ton club, and Russell Ford. the sensa-
tional spitball pitcher, will be In the po2
for the Highlanders.
, With any kind Of support and contln-
uance of the strong offensive game dis
played by our young athletes during the
recent home games, the Nationals shoulo
win the opening contest. for the reason
that johnson is in better shape than
Fcrd-physically better to go nine innings
than the Yankee boXman.
Before boarding the train last night
Manager McAleer said he was confident
the Nationals would win three out of the
four games in Gotham. The worst ne
would give them would be an even break
Every member of the club is just as
confident.
and, although the sky was fairly bright
and II looked like it would clear up al
most any minute, old Jupiter Pluvius was
on the job for keeps, and the final New
York Washington game had TO be de-
clared of, and placed on the postponed
list
Groundkeeper OrDea and his helpers had
the diamond nicely covered, and the field
would have been in shape for a game
had the rain let up.
The Nationals got in some hard licks
yesterday morning, most of the time be-
ing devoted to batting practice.
That Manager McAleer intends to carry
Outfelder Warren Miller with him this
season is the opinion of the majority OF
the local ball players, and was further
borne out yesterday morning when the
Nationals boss ordered Miller to practice
sliding under the direction of Wild Con-
roy, who is about as clever as they
make EN- when it comes TO pulling off
the hook slide"
MiIler's weakness is on the bases and
in sliding. but he is quick to learn, and
If he continues his present hitting
streak it will be hard to keep him out
OF the lineup.
Miller will not be played regularly, but
will divide the games with Doc Gessler.
The latter never hits early in the season.
He is always a late starter, but once he
gets going he is about as dangerous a
man as can be found in the American
League. and he feels sure that he will
soon hit his proper stride.
This talk about Dixie Walker having a
lame foot and being unable to do him
self justice is all rot. Walker did hurt
his foot in Atlanta, and possibly it
does bother him little, but the true
facts are these: Walker has not shown
any great ability all spring, and unless
he pulls himself together soon he will
be found warming the bench.
Dixie is a queer combination. Nobody
seems to know just what is the matter
with him. He should be one of the best
twirlers in the American League, with
such a fine physique, but does not come
up TO the mark by long shot, and his
baseball future does not look particularly
bright at this stage of the game.
Utility Infielder Dave Bunting was
the only member of the Nationals to be
left behind last night, and he does not
expect to be in town when the club re-
turns. McAleer has kept the wires hot
trying TO place the Ursinus lad, and will
likely hear from some minor league club
any day.
While in New York the Nationals will
stop at the Hotel Marlborough. instead
of the Albany, where they have hereto
fore lodged. During the final trip last
season the team switched to the Marl-
borough. and the boys were delighted
with the change.
Walter Johnson says he will never be
interviewed by a newspaper woman again.
The great pitcher lost his dinner last
Tuesday trying to tell a woman repre-
sentative of one of the Washington pa
pers that the fair sex, as a rule, did not
understand baseball.
I'll bet she did not understand what
told her, anyway" the pitcher added.
Since John Somerlot took Germany
Schaefer out to Garrett Park on a motor
cycle last Sunday the boys have nick
named him Motorcycle" John. and the
name is sure to stick
The Washington fans were not half
as pleased with Tom Hughes work in
beating New York Tuesday as were the |
other players on the club. They were all |
pulling hard for Tom to make good.
'Hackenschmidt'' Conway declares that |
he can hit the big league twirlers just |
as easy as he did those in the o. and P. |
League last year; and as Conway cleaned |
up the 1910 season with batting average
of .30S Manager McAleer might do we'll |
to give the Youngstown recruit plenty of |
work. or at least keep him in the game |
as long as he continues to show clouting |
ability.
Washington Juveniles Win.
In a game yesterday on the Monument |
grounds, the Washington Juvenile Mid