The Washington herald., 1916-04-25
Ainsmith Is Again
Back on the Job
Peppery Catcher Handles
Johnson S Delivery in Fine
Shape-Fans Surprised.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
Boehling Slated to Pitch Against Con.
ME Mack's Athletics in Open
ing Game Today.

Eddie Ainsmith's appearance behind
the bat yesterday caused considerab BILE
surprise and no end of comment, for
1t was generally understood that Ain
smith would not be able to catch for
several weeks or more.
Ainsmith injured a nerve in his
| right eye some time ago and has been
under treatment ever since. He did
not accompany the Nationals to the
Charlottesville training camp but re-
mained in Washington under the care
of a specialist.
That the peppery backstop was able
to don the spangles yesterday and
in capable manner shows he is en-
tirely recovered from his recent all
ment.
1t is worth the price of admission
to see Ainsmith catch johnson when
Walter is going at his best and the
Nationals are ahead. Eddie's cheer
full chirp is contagious. He is always
on his toes and his Lets get this
fellow Waltah;" can be heard all over
the ball park.
Walters effectiveness against the
Yankees yesterday was due in a great
measure to Ainsmith being on the re-
ceiving end, for Walter pitched the
best game he has delivered this sea-
son.
Connie Mack's Athletics will be the
attraction here this afternoon where
a series of four games will be started
Joe Boehling will probably be as
signed to pitch for the Griffmen and
it will be Boehling's first game before a
home crowd.
The blonde south-paw beat the Red
Sox in Boston last week and is in fine
fettle. He is taking baseball serious
ly this season and Griff is counting
upon him to win a lot of games.
Just who will be in the box for the
Athletics could not be determined last
night. as the Mackmen do not arrive
in the Capital until noon today.
Tho crowd yesterday gave Joe Judge
big cheer when he walloped one of Bob
Shawkey's shoots to the centerfieId fence
for three-bagger in the second inning.
Judge is gradually getting back into HIS
stride and there is no telling when he
will start pounding the ball
The statement that Judges failure to
hit the ball safe is getting on his nerves
is a lot of bunk-to know Judge personally
would quickly disprove this Joe has not
allowed his batting slump to interfere
with his gilt-edge fielding; he is not the
sort that gets discouraged easily.
TN start hitting soon-see If don't;
the kid first sacker talked to the writer
the other day.
Frank Baker, the home-run sIugger.
got his first hit of the series in the sew
enth inning of yesterdays game Pre-
viously Baker had gone to bat sixteen
times. Bakers hit was cheap one at
that a sharp grounder near second base,
which either Mcbride or Morgan could
have handled. but which went safe for
the reason that Morgan shouted, TN
take it." and MCBRIDE replied Go
ahead" Morgan only got one hand on
the ball, which explains why most of
the scorers gave Baker a base hit.
Groundkeeper oDay had occasion to
spot man in the left field bleachers last
Saturday, who, after getting hold Of a
ball, slipped it into his pocket.
O'Day demanded the ball and was told
that he would have to prove that the ac-
cused had the sphere in his pocket.
The man was arrested by O'Day and in
police court was not only found guilty
Of petit larceny. but fined SIS and costs.
The baseballs used at National Park
are the property of the Washington ball
club and the man who tried to steal one
last Saturday deserved all that was com
ing to him.
Somebody turned loose stray BUDDY
during Yesterdays game and twice the
contest had to be halted while the dog
was chased to cover. The purp insisted
upon dashing out and making friends
with Maisel and High, the New York
outhelders, who promptly drove him
away.
Urban Shocker the pitcher who twirled
the last three innings yesterday, is the
young man the Yankees recently tried
to farm out to the minors BY obtaining
waivers, but one Of the National League
clubs refused to waive claim on shocker.
and for the present he is being carried,
WILLIAM PEET