The Washington herald., 1911-03-31
Gabby Street Proves Hero of Game Getting Three Saees
NATIONALS DROP GAME
TO CONROY'S SHAMROCKS
Gabby Street Connects for Trio of Safetes in Contest
Marked by Heavy Hitting.

third sacker no sooner finds a club to
his liking than he hunts up the ground
keeper, borrows saw and rips three
inches or so of the end of the club.
The other players watch their pet sticks
with eagle eyes whenever the KID ap-
proaches.
On the Ponce De Leon grounds, left
field is the sun garden. and Fred Corbin,
who plays that position for the Sham
rocks, always wears smoked glasses. One
day last week, when the sun did not
show its face Germany Schaefer got
hold of Corbin's black goggles and wore
them for one inning, while holding down
shortstop AS a joke. the Dutchman
poked them down near the end Of his
nose, and every one OF the batters tried
to bang the ball in Schaefer's direction
SO anxious were they to hit one through
the comedian that three little pop flies
landed in Baby Bunting's outstretched
paws.
Scha efer always finds something to do
in order TO get a laugh out of the crowd
His many witticisms do not sound funny
on paper. but when the Dutchnan pulls
them off on the ball field everybody
screams.
One game last week, when Walter
Johnson was pitching and the regulars
could not touch him, Schaefer came to
the bench and said to the boys: Il guess
won't use our hit and run signs
against Walter this inning" Up to that
time six men had faced the great twirler
and nobody had even fouled one off.
Catcher Eddie Ainsmith is very much
like the little girl who had little curl,
for when he is good he is very, very
good. and when he is bad he's the limit
When Ainsmith is right, he turns back
would-be base stealers at second by six
feet but when Eddie Ainsmith has a
bad day he is liable to slam the ball
ever the center fielder's head
In the game between the Shamrocks
and regulars last Tuesday Ainsmith was
| clearly of on his peggiag, and slammed
three balls ten feet over second base.
During the progress Of the New York
Yankees-Atlanta Crackers game here on
Tuesday afternoon the writer happened
Walter johnson. Clyde Milan. and Kid
E1berfeld. when the subject of different
la tiers weaknesses came up.
Milan claimed that every hitter in the
American League had some weakness.
either a low curve. high fast one, or a
slow bah. Walter johnson declared that
there were two men who, if they were
weak on any kind OF pitched ball, he had
not as vet been able to discover what
kind it was. and entioned Iris Speaker
Of the Boston Red Sox, and Larry La
joie- of the Cleveland Maps.
Johnson saws he has tried everything
he has in his repertoire against these
gentlemen, but he cannot fool them con-
sistentty.
The general impression prevails in
camp here that the ball park at Florida
avenue will not be ready for the first
game against the Boston Red Sox and
that the Nationals will open the season
away from home, presumably Boston.
II have never considered Doc Gessler
4 possibility for first base declared
Manager McAlecr last night when his
attention was called TO a story in one of
the Washington papers. which, read that
with Somertott- Henry, Lelivelt. and
Gessler from which to pick, the first
base job should not bother McAleer this
season.
GesSler has played first base before
and made a ftzzle of it. McAlecr knows
this and has the good sense not to put
man where he cannot give the club his
best services.
The fight for first base honors at pres
ent lies between Henry and Somerlott
and the one whom McAlecr believes will
hit the best viii be found on the job
when the season opens.
Henry has improved so much in his
fielding this spring that he is only a
trif1e behind Somerlott. and if he had
shown the same amount of Improvement
in his batting the first base question
would now be settled. Some-iott hits
better every day in practice. and al
though Handicapped by lack OF practice
looks from here to be the logical man
for the place.
While Cunningham is still carving
around a lot of excess baggage, he man.
ages to pull off double plays in the most
approved style. Mcbride. Cunnfnsham.
and Somerlott figured in three lightning
doubles Tuesday morning. and it was
due to Cunninghams cat-likc actions
they were accomplished. His weight
does not handicap him in throwing.
that's a cinch.