Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-09
HEDGES FIRST CLUB OWNER
TO TRY TO GET JOHNSON
President Moves Wires Emphatic Refusal to
Deal, and Makes Clear Clubs Position
Must Play Here or Not at All.

ing staff give indications OF doing much
more than they have heretofore.
So far as the players being in condi-
ton is concerned. there is nothing further
to be hoped for. Every man is reported
fit to do his best work right from the
outset and this will be quite q change
over the conditions which prevailed last
spring.
The team will have two days to spend
here before the season opens, and these
will be put in at hard work. providing
of course, that weather conditions are
favorable. The local field will be in
readiness by Monday so that IL the
weather permits the team can virtually
keep up the training pace 1t has set
while in the south.
While no definite selection has been
made as to which pitcher will work OPEN
ing day. 1t is a pretty safe guess that
Dolly Gray. the teams premier left-hand-
er. will be selected. That Boston club is
made up Of a lot Of left-handed hitterss
and going on the theory that a left
handler when facing left-hander Is han
dicapped, Gray is the logical man to OPP
pose them now that Walter Johnson is
not available.
The rest of the team will be made up
as have the Regulars in the south for the
past few weeks. with Henry on first base
and the same outfield which inaugurated
the season here last April.
Though the new stands at the ball
park are lar from COulploIeO, duO won [
be until the Nationals return from their
first western trip in May. there will be
more accommodations there "Wednesday
than have ever existed on local park
1t is estimated that there will be seat
ing capacity for about 1900. The left
and right field pavilions will not furnish
the seats that will eventually be placed
there. but under the circumstances no
one will have any complaint coming on
that score. Temporary chairs will be
placed in the grandstand. while the old
bleachers in right field are still intact.
There will be over 200 box seats available
and these will go on sale at Spalding's
and Whites Tuesday morning.
Work on the stands will cease Monday
morning. when the work Of cleaning up
for the opening game will begin. Consid-
ering that it was only three weeks from
Friday that the old stands were de-
stroyed. the work accomplished is most
remarkable. A grandstand which seats
three times as many as did the old and
is Of solid concrete and steel has taken
the place of the old frame structure.
while two pavilions have been completed
of concrete and wood, the latter a tenn
porary structure. All this has been &C
complished in little over three weeks.
If John Henry can keep up the pace he
has set in the south patrons Of the game
here will see most improved ball play
err in the young collegian. The very fact
that he has been selected to play first
base in the opening game proves him to
have made a splendid impression with
Manager McAleer. OF course. he may
change when the regular battles start,
but no one who has seen him perform
believes that Henry will fail to keep up
the clip. To begin with, he is as game
as a pebble and fears no one. Crowds
do not affect him. and besides having lots
OF natural ability he likes the game. In
fact. he has everything that goes to make
great ball player and he should develop
into one rapidly.
Now that Johnson is no longer on the
stan. it Is up to the fans here to de-
velop a man who can come somewhere
near to taking his place. Such a man
is member of the local pitching staff
and needs but the proper encouragement
to bring him to the front. The pitcher
preferred to is Bob Groom. Criticisms OF
Groom because of his nervous actions
have frequently appeared. in these
columns. They were made in the hope
that the tall pitcher would be shown the
errors of his way and mead them But
the system does not apply to Groom. He
cannot stand up under criticism, SO that
encouragement should be given trial in
his case There is no pitcher with more
natural ability than the Bellville boy.