The Washington herald., 1912-02-29
.A|NSMHTH IS HERE
READY TO START
Nationals Young Catcher
Looks for Best Season
Ever-Is Heavier.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
Groundkeeper Fitzgerald May Grade
Outer Gardens During
the Summer.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
BY WILLIAM PEET.

Edward Ainsmith. the Nationals young
catcher, breezed into Washington yester-
day morning and paid his respects to
Manager Clark Griffith. with whom he
chatted for the first time In his life.
Tomorrow Catcher John Henry will
be in town, and probably several others.
and by Saturday IL is expected that every
member OF the advance guard scheduled
to leave for Charlottesville Sunday will
/ be here.
Ainsmith has tGken on little weight
4 this winter, and feels confident that he
will be able to deliver the goods to Man.
ager Griffith's entire satisfaction.
In Atlanta last spring Ainsmith was one
of the real '1ive ones Of the Washington
party. The youngsters enthusiasm,
witty sayings. and brilliant work on the
ball field furnished plenty Of copy" for
the feature-seeking war scribes.
The second day in Atlanta Ainsmith
was the victim OF a sneak thief, who
robbed him OF a gold watch and chain
presented to him by Cambridge. Mass,
| friends II was a valuable timepiece,
and was never recovered. although
big reward was offered.
Manager McAIeer doubled up Ainsmith
and Henry, assn ming them to the same
room. The two became fast friends. and
season.
The writer remembers one morning
when Scout Billy Hamilton, OF the Bos-
ton Nationals, was in Atlanta. Ainsmith
was catching for the Yannigans against
the Regulars, and every would-be base
stealer was thrown out q mile.
''GeeS cried Hamilton, nobody in the
world should be able to steal a base on
that kid. He has the best arm OF any
body / ever saw
Ainsmith's record last season did not
set tine world on fire, as he was too
erratic. but you cannot find a manager
in the Ban. johnson circuit who would
not ray a big price for the youngster
right now.
That the youthful catcher cannot hold
Walter Johnson's speedy shoots is alb
surd. He has on several occasions DEM
onstrated his ability to take care OF the
Kansas cyclone.
, Groundkeeper Fitzgerald arrived in
town yesterday and started work on the
infield at the National Park within an
hour after his arrival
1T lie going to be a hard job to get the
place in shape" says Fitzgerald. but i
! feel sure / will have the iniield ready by
the time the boys return from Char
lottesVille.'
According to Fitzgerald. II is just pos
sible that the work Of grading the out
field will be started this season, during
the Nationals first Western trip. He
believes the gardens can be filled in and
IeveIed and may go ahead with the work.
Manager Grifhth some time ago stated
that this would not be attempted until
next fan.
Trainer MIKE Martin left bright and
early this morning for Charlottesville.
where he will make all preparations for
the advance guard of the Nationals Sun
day.
This story about the diamond at Char
lottesvilIe being plowed up is a little far
fetched, as The Washington Herald is
in receipt of a telegram from Umpire
Rigler the Virginia baseball coach, to
the effect that the field will be in tip
top shape by Monday.
4 sport writer on the New York Press
who has nothing to do but work seven
teen hours a day and draw a weekly
salary, hands out the following bunch Of
don'ts, which We could not resist pub
l.shing Here they are, and please bear
each and every one N mind:
l-Dout steal second with the bases full This is
exclusively John Anderson's stun.
2-Dout fail TO touch second.
3-Dout wait until you are just about to duck un-
der the players bench before removing CAP af
ter making home The public pays to see your
blushes
-Dout have a small telephone number. George
Bell never could hit OTrr his-.l2i.
5-Dou't be afraid to hit EN- the fence. The
small boy outside will gladly return the bAll-up 10
the seventh inning.
s-Don't hold the ball too long after catching
fly. Lefty Davis did this In Brooklyn. and wss let
out. In Pittsburg he did not hold them long enough
and was decorated
Don't insist on half the purchase Price. Rube
waddeI did this in Pittsburg and received a box Of
stogies from Barney Dreyfuss-
s-Don't fail 10 nun out innefd hitS Even Hal
Chase and Jake Daubere> have been known TO drop
9-Don't oppose the sufr1gette movement too
strongly. You may be transferred TO the Cardinals
JO+Don't use the harsh pedal too often on the
umpire Billy Klem or Silk oLoushlin may be
your manager ne1t year.
A busy statistician has figured out some
interesting dope. Below is printed the
list of National League players credited
with knocking out home runs last season
when the bases were full
May I-wsgner Pittsburg. OF Hean. Sc. Louis
Hearu had just relieved Laudermik, and Hans hit
the first han tho newcomer served.
May e-Beck. Cincinnati, OF Tyler Boston.
june 5-schulte. Chicago. OF Maruuard. New
York.
June 4-Grant, Cincinnati. of Parson. Boston
July 4-Schulte, Chicago, od Keefe. Cincinnati.
July B-Tinker, Chicago, OF Mattern, Boston
July ls-Sehulte Chicago. OF Tyler. Boston.
July 3-Euin. Brooklyn. OF FTumme. Cindn-
August ls-schulte. Chicago. of Brown. Boston.
September Leach, Pittsburs. Of Geyer. St
Louis.
September Io-HOblitzeli. Cincinnati, Of Richie.
Chicago.
September a-saier. Chicago. OF Chalmers. Phil,-
delphia-
October s-Houser. Boston. on shuitz. Phisdel-
phia-
Look for these soon:
Pitcher Lemon looks the goods. but he
will be farmed out to Sauawktown for
further seasoning.
Wagner and old cy Young are to quit
sne game.
Matty's arm is cracked.
The Brookyns are going. to win the
rennant
Charles Webb Murphy picks the Cubs
to win the pennaEi. So do Bresnahan.
he Rajahs. ct al
From the reports cf Scout Sadie Nc
Mahon. McGraw. of the New York Giants.
banks on developing good. twirler In
Robertson. the college boy who burned
up the .Tidewater League last summer.
l. T.. =