Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-08
LEAGUE SHOULD
PLAY BETTER BALL THIS YEAR
Code More Lax and Teams Are
Signing Good Men-Two Leagues
Have Adopted Schedules,

Despite the fact there was much said
concerning the idea that the Departmental
League would not be in existence this
season. it now appears from the way the
managers Of the different teams are go
ing after players that there will be
better article of ball shown down on the
White Lot this summer than last. AL
most every one Of the managers or the
different departments is trying to secure
good men to bolster up his club.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
was the first to begin to build up q good
combination of ball tossers when 1t Sc
cured ICY" Mcdonald and Billy keane,
the first mentioned to captain and hold
down the first bag and the latter to play
the outfield. In their respective positions
there are few, If any, players IN this Sec
ton who outclass them. There was no
first baseman in the league last season
who could compare with the ex-George-
town star in either his work around the
initial sack or with the stick, and 1t is
| certain that Billy Keane is just as good
an outfielder as any who played in the
clerks circuit.
1t was only this week that the Agricul-
tural Department signed two men VINO
fare sure to strengthen it's club. The two
referred to are GrasOn and Shipley, both
of the Maryland Agricultural College.
Grason is one of the best college catchers
in the country, while Shipley Is short.
stop far above the average Of those found
in the colleges. The Agricultural team
was undoubtedly weak behind tho bat
last season and Grason's presence will do
much toward giving that team better
chance for the pennant. Shipley, while he
will hardly be an improvement over
Trowbridge at short, will not fall far be-
low that individual. except in experience.
Trow bridge however, will not be lost
to the league. as he has been transferred
and will play with one Of the other de-
partments. Besides Trowbridge one or
two other men have been transferred ana
will play on other teams in the same
league. 1t is inferred by those in charge
of the teams which have thus lost men
that their places will be filled with even
better men.
There seems to be just as much rivalry
in the league this season as ever IN the
cation had all its preliminary business
transacted long before any OF the other
leagues had thought of being ready to
start the season. This alone would teno
cult and certainly indicates solidity not
looked for by those who seemed confident
that the league would go under.
The rule allowing the teams to recruit
new material from the outside this year
will help them to a considerable extent
in that it will allow them to get together
a better aggregation Of ball players and
thus assure the patrons of the game
better article Of ball and also assure the
| members of the league that the race will
not be- a runaway for any one or two
teams.
If Jimmy Donnelly, the former Business
High School second baseman, keeps up
the work at the bat which he is showing
at Georgetown, he will prove q mighty
valuable asset to the Agricultural team
this season. While Donnelly is being
played out of his regular position on the
Blue and Gray team. he is putting up
good game, and is cracking the ball for
long hits regularly.
Ond when he begins work with the Agri-
cultural Department. and as that Is his
regular position he should be able to give
a good account of himself in the Depart
mental League. AS he will probably not
be up against any better pitching when
he joins the Agricultural nine. he should
be able to hit just as we'll or better than
he is doing now with Georgetown.
Bob Murphy. who played with the
Agricultural Department and the Alloy
sius clubs last season, will leave Monday
for Wilmington, Del. where he will be
tried ont for third base on the Tri-State
League club in that city.
Murphy hit we'll in both the Depart
mental and Cipital City leagues last year,
and there is no question that il he can
hold his own with the stick he will make
good in the Tri-State, as fellows who can
club the ball are the kind of ball players
who are wanted in that circuit.
Georzetown's victory over the Cornell
University team yesterday afternoon was
a great surprise even to its most ardent
supporters. From the first the nine has
not showed much form. and last week
it lost to a team that was supposedly
much it's inferior. and there were few
who thought that it would have much
chance to win against the Ithaca crowd.
especially when only one days practice
had been had since the defeat at the
hands OF the American Security and
Trust Company. The victory shows the
Inconsistency Of base ball. A club get