Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-01-13
CLYDE MILAN HAS WITNESSED
DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONALS
Out6elder Joined Team In 1907 and Is
Oldest Player In Point of Service,
Johnson Alone Excepted.

timers. who had seen better and more
1907, after the season had been in full
swing. was made up of Jake Beckley
at first base. Otto Kruger at second,
Jimmy Burke (manager) at third. and
Mcbride at short. 1t is a singular fact
that every member of the infield was at
different times with the Pittsburgh
team. and every one left the Pirates
as a factor in a deal. Beckley. in 1896,
Davis. at present with the Athletics;
Burke. in 1903. was traded to the St.
Louis National League club for Otto
Kruger. and Kruger: in 1905. with Kit
was traded to the Phillies for Del How
ard. How Mcbride left the Pirates has
been related.
In 1910. Jim McAleer having succeed
ed Cantillon as manager at Washing
ton, Milan saw the arrival of John Hen
! ry and Edwin Ainsmith. now the main
stays of the Washington team behind
the bat. Henry came direct from Am
herst College in July, while Afnsmith
joined the team a month later, his re-
lease from the Lawrence team costing
the club $4,000. Charley Street was
then the premier catcher, assisted by
Jack Hardy and later by Jesse Becken-
dorf. These were gradually forced out
in favor Of Henry and Ainsmith. Hen
rvs start was not very suspicious. A
week after he reported he was uncon-
ditionally released; but happily the re-
lease was recalled, and so Washington
avoided making a costly mistake.
Leads Base Stealers.
Milan at this time began to display
remarkable speed on the bases. In fact,
Ty Cobb was the only man superior to
him. according to the figures. In 1912.
however, Milan outstripped all COMPETE
tors for base-stealing honors by pur-
Joining eighty-eight bases, the record
in the American League. In 1913 he
again led the base stealers, requiring
only seventy-four thefts to gain the
honor
But before Milan made his record in
base stealing, another link in the pres
ent inf1eld was welded. In August of
1911. Washington obtained Ray Morgan
from the Danville club Of the Virginia
State League, and he was placed on
third base, succeeding Norman (hid)
Elberfeld. In 1912 he was shifted to
second base, now his home position.
Morgan did not have altogether easy
sailing, but managed to hold his Job
against all competitors, and he en-
countered few tough ones, the tough
est, no doubt. being Frank Laporte.
In 1912 Milan, undoubtedly much to
his satisfaction, saw the team nearing
perfection in all it's departments. The
present infield and outfield were then
completed. In that year, with Clark
Griffith in charge, two deals We're made.
which, in addition to draft from the
minors, strengthened the team to such
an extent that it finished the season IN
second place. somgtning a ahPr heeana
finished machine by the acquisition OF
Chick Gandil and Eddie Foster, and the
outfield was made perfect by the addi-
ton of Dan Moeiler and Howard
Shanks.
BEFORE the season of 1912 opened the
washington club gave the Rochester
IN. " club Wild Conroy and Jack
Lelivelt in exchange for Moeiler and
Foster. and drafted Shanks from tne
field was completed, and the inf1eld,
with Foster placed at third base. was
weak only at first base. John Flynn
began at that station, but was released
in May to St Paul. Jack Knight took a
hand at playing the position, and so
did Herman Schaefer. knight presently
was let go to Jersey City for Roxle
Roach, who played few games at
short, subbing for Capt Mcbride. and
then was sent to Baltimore after
months service.
Gandil Completes 1nfield.
Near the end of May a deal finally
, brought first baseman to Washing
ton. The club gave three players to the
Montreal International League club for
Chick Gandil. The players were w.
Cunningham, second baseman. and Earl
| Akers and Charles Becker. pitchers.
In the meantime, by slow degrees. the
pitching staff was made formidable.
johnson was the foundation, and he
strung along with many side partners
| too numerous to mention. From 1907 to
| 1912 the best were Bob Groom and Carl
Cashion. In 1912 Joe Boehling, Joe
| Engel and Bert Gallia were added
Boehling was in hard lines. maybe be-
cause he was 1eft-handed. Drafted
| from Richmond, Va, he was soon sent
to Chattanooga, where they didn't think
much of him and sent him back in
June. Then he was sent to Worcester
Mass, but returned in September In
1913 he did fine work for the Nationals
one of his feats being the winning OF
\ twelve games in succession. EngeI was
a college pitcher, and, being a Wash
ington boy, he Glove to the Nationals
until they discovered his worth. Gallia
was obtained late in the season from
Kansas City. which team got Jim
Vaughn. now a star with the Chicago
Cubs, and Tillie Walker in exchange.
In 1913 Yancey Ayers had some trou-
BILE breaking into the Washington
| ranks. He came from the Richmond
| (va.) club, and was sent back. re-
turning to finish the season with the
| Nationals.