Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-03
INDULGE IN FIRST
BATTING PRACTICE
Morgan Looms Up as Having
His Hitting Eye in
Good Trim.
HOPPER SEEMS LIKELY
TOBE ONE OF REGULARS
Former Cardinal Displays Lot of
Stuff and Appears Ready
for Work.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


present rate. and general conditions re-
main the same. an abbreviated base ball
game between picked teams from the
squad of Nationals now in camp may
be played before the week is out. This
was the information given out at head
quarters after this mornings practice
on Lambeth Field.
The elements were sufficiently favorable
this morning to permit solid hour OF
practice, just about double the period
devoted to the work of the past couple
of days. For the first time some of the
men were ordered to batting practice.
1t was music to the ears of the players.
that old, familiar crack of the bat, and
a sight for sore eyes to see the horse
hide sailing over the field as of old
Only the veterans had part in this
end of the game. Ray Morgan, Eddle
Ainsmith and John Henry took turns
with the willow while Jack Bentley.
Harry Harper and Cy Ciarke served
'em over with full speed. Morgan. In
particular. seemed to find the ball with
comparative ease and sent 1t flying TO
all corners of the lot. The stocky little
second-sacker insists he's going TO
have big year with the stick.
Outside of the batting practice inter
est among spectators was centered IN
Louis Cardinal, who really looks as If
he is going to be a strong bidder for a
place on Griff's pitching staff.
Pop" Lannigan. Virginia's trainer,
and a close student of base ball. stood
behind the big fellow this morning and
was greatly impressed with his as
sortment. Hopper is in fine shape. and
for this reason has been given permts-
sion to put something on the balf'
occasionally. His knuckle ball is one
oP hi ,0ot Ina h a +
to the batter without revolving; in
fact, a bystander can plainly see the
stitches as the ball travels down Its
course The Tennesseean has vast
assortment, including slow ball,
which he says he uses considerably.
This afternoon the players will be
trotted out to the field again. Prac-
tice will probably last for an hour and
a half, for from all indications the
weather will be ideal
Ray" Morgan shattered the Char
lottesville duckpin record while rolling
at ..lwntown alleys here last night he
spil1ed total of 40 of the naples, and
his familiar signature is adjoining
blackboard in a conspicuous place of
the esta blishment. The feat means that
Morgan will PROBABLY be the winner Of
cash consideration offered for the
high score monthly.
v ,
tionals arrive, Morgan plans to organ
ize a team that will challenge a local
combination, said to be unusually adept
in maple Spllilng.
Shortly after the Nationals arrived
here it was rumored that well known
circus promoter was on his way to
camp with an object of PROSECUTING. A
certain ball player. said promoter had
been told, mad developed into one of
- oh.Gn hfxaf
ture.
When the Nationals worked out on
Lambeth Field yesterday afternoon the
strange visitor, 1t was rumored, was
numbered among the onlookers. And
at the completion of the days work
he was satisfied that Ray Morgan
would hardly do in the role of a part
ner for the proverbial fat woman
IL not many pounds overweight as
many have been led to believe. The
second sacker has spread out consider
ably, but did not seem to be overtaxed
when he was ordered to field duty at
the midway sack yesterday afternoon.
Despite the fact that it was his nrst
time out, he covered lot of ground
and 'scooped EN- up" as of old.
Morgan Is serious in his efforts
to get dc down to playing the condition
that he is in danger of losing his
berth is hardly apt TO help materially
in reducing his weight through the
medium OF dependency. On the con.
trary, he looks to big year. Morgan
IS in the best OF health and can see
no reason why a months hard work
in camp should not bring him around for
goou start.
Morgan has already been victimizeo
by the efforts of well-meaning Mike
Martin. He has been awarded the an
nual rubber shirt" distinction and in
a couple of days will be ready to con
TESS his discomfort, as have others VINO
have been forced to undergo the treat.
ment in past years.
1t will be recalled that Bill Cunning
ham, another former second baseman
on the washington club, reported over
weight some years back and was or
uered to don the extra ment. MANY
oplne that the severe treatment was di-
.ectly responsible for the players sud-
den downfall that saw him pass to the
minors IN comparatively short order
But such ideas are only ridlculed by
the Nationals trainer and others who
, nave seen the excellent results IN a
| great majority of otner cases.
Morgan also intends to neIp reduce
his weight by bowling in his spare
time after nightfalI. Bowling alleys
have been installed in charlottesville
recently, and although the rubper-band
pins that are being used are not exact
~ TO the liking of the Nationals star
pun ne Will content nImSelf with
the mere opportunity, regardless of
conditions.
There is comparatively little diver
sion here for the players between the
hours of and 1880, retiring time. The
only theater which offered anything
outside OF the moving picture line, for
merly known as the Jefferson, has been
destroyed by fire.
There are a number of moving pic
ture houses and several billiard rooms.
and the boys generally divide their
time between these places. Mike"
Martin hopes to arrange an evening OF
entertainment some time this week, the
program to be carried out by local
amateur performers Talent from the
University of Virginia and the town
of Charlottesville will be approached
with the object of assuring a card that
will be generally acceptable.
Past experience here has taught that
the ball players are rather hard to
please, and for this reason the enter
tainment committee" Is finding diff
Guilty In corralling attractions. The first
Of q series will probably be arranged
for next Saturday night.
Camp bosses are looking for the ar
rival Of Baldomero Acosta and Seiglie,
that highly touted second baseman
from Cuba, almost any day. Report has
1t that the youngsters are on their way
and that one of the scribes from the