The Washington herald., 1911-02-19
By WILLIAM PEET.

day, Manager James A. McAleer, of the
Washington baseball club, dropped into
town yesterday afternoon and announced
that he would be here for two weeks,
or until the main squad reported here
en- route to Atlanta.
Asked if he had made any change in
the programme mapped out by President
Tom Noyes, and published exclusively "a
The Washington Herald last Friday
morning, Manager McAleer replied in the
negative.
Several of the men will go direct to
Atlanta from their homes,'' said Manager
Jim. They are Pitcher Dolly Gray,
Outfielder Swain, who is now in Oakland,
Cal, and possibly Bob Groom, who lives
in Beleville, Ill. All the others, with the
exception of the Hot Springs bunch, will
meet in Washington at the Arlington
Hotel on Saturday week, and board the
plight train for the Georgia capital
Where do you think the Nationals will
finish this season. Manager McAleer
was asked, hardly before he had time to
catch his breath.
Now that's a fine question to hand
ME right off the bat. Where will we
finish? he unused. If 1 had my way we
would win the championship"
That is about all the satisfaction Man
ager Jim would hand out. He says it is
altogether too early yet to make pre-
dictions, that there are hundred things
liable to happen before the season is
a month old. ~. ~.
We are going % be up against some
awfully good ball clubs this year, and
don't you forget it," ne continued. ''rhe
Chicago club looks to me like a strong
one, and Cleveland may, also prove
troUble-maker, but we viii be there with
good, stiff argument, and unless things
break badly 1 think We will finish better
than we did last year"
Who are going to play on first base?"
he was asked, and replied:
Il am going to put Scmerlott there and
give him every chance in the world to
! make good. He is fine fielder and be-
heve he can hit. If he can show any bat
ting strength, he has the call
IF Somerlott falls down shall try
Jack Lelivelt and also John Henry, and
think among the three we will be able to
produce a man able to fill Bob Unglaub's
shoes.
''As for the pitching staff" McAIeer
continued, I'm banking my all on Tom
Hughes. If he don't make good then my
judgment in this case is wrong. Many
have advised me not TO take him, but it is
my own wish that he be given another
trial in the big league. ..
I also think Doc Meyer will surprise
the people this year. I saw him in
Youngstown a week ago, and he has
taken on ten pounds in weight"
Asked if he expected any trouble with
the so-called holdouts, Milan, johnson,
and Groom, Manager McAIeer replied:
We have no holdouts on the Washing
ton club. These men will all sign lust
as soon as 1 get chance to have a talk
with them. The salary question will be
easily adjusted
Manager McAleer says he is here in
Washington principally. to get acquaint-
cd with the fans. renew old acquaint-
ances, and look after the hundred and
enc details in connection with a spring
training trip He does not think it will
'~be necessary to go to Atlanta before the
team arrives, as quarters have already
been engaged at the KimbalI House, and
the Atlanta club has promised to have
the field in shape when the boys arrive
We will work out only once a day.
vouchsafed the manager 'AlI our dress
ing will be done at the clubhouse in the
ball park, and the only early games we
shall play before reporting in Washing
ton will be against the Atlanta club.
After the Nationals return to Washing
ton, March 81, five practice games have
been arranged-one with Georgetown on
April 1 and two each with the Boston
and Brooklyn National League clubs.
During the winter months Manager Nc
Aleer stated he had heard from all his
recruits and regulars through the mails
He says that Doc Gessler has written
several times and that GessIer has spent
practically all the winter in the open air,
so that when when he reports in Atlanta
he will be in fine condition.
Il have also heard from Charley Swain
the outfelder Cliff Blankenship signed up
for us in Vancouver. According TO
SWANS letters, he is the greatest bali
player in the world. ! certainly hope he
is, for ~e can use a hard-hittihg out
fielder all right" the manager COM
mented.
While in Chicago 1 had talk with
Wade Killifer," said McAleer He was
perfectly satisfied to join CantiIlon's Min
neapolis team, and said that he had no
kick coming from the treatment he re-
ceived here" McAleer believes Kiliifer
viii make a good man for Minneapolis
and predicts great things for the young
ster.
During the writer's talk with the Ma
tionars boss, one real good story cropped
out. II has TO do with Second Baseman
Cunningham. who was purchased from
the New Bedford club last summer. and
who played with the Nationals dur
ing the last Western trip. McAleer,s
story. in his own words. follows:
.'You remember when I gathered to-
gether my all-star team after the season
closed last year. took Cunningham
along with me. and kept him on the
bench. Ny reason for this was TO give
the youngster a chance to see how such !
men as Eddie Collins and Ty Cobb pulled 4
on big league stun. The kid was the
finest little ii5tener you ever set eyes on.
he took IN everything that was going on.
and believe learned a whole lot.
After one OF the games, as we were
leaving the Athietics park, walked be-