The Washington herald., 1916-12-24
NATIONALS FINISHED
IN THE RUCK IN 1916
Better Prospects Are Looked for This
Season-Local Boys Show
Good in Minors.

Baseball. which Is the one big exception
in professional sport, had quite a bad
year last season, In this city. and the
Capital team ran true to form OF profess
sional baseball in general
The Nationals finished away down in
:he rut. due to the fact OF costly injuries
and the heretofore dependable players
not coming up to expectations.
Trainer Mike MARITIME and Nick Altrock
hustled a bunch Of young pitchers and
catchers to Charlottesville early LAST
March and reports of the promising ma
terial that the 'Old Fox" had collared.
found new hopes in the breast of the
local fans.
The reports OF the talented crew which
the 'rOld Fox had in tow at his Vir-
gtnia camp handed out by the eagle
eyed newspaper scribes slowly melted
away as the hot months Of the summer
gradually came around In all the crew
that the "Old Fox hustled Off to the
Virginia camp in March but three gave
any promise. these being Bert Gailia who
was recalled from the Kansas City club;
Eddie Charity. OF the Minneapolis club.
and Georg1e Dumont, OF the Fargo club.
Ciallia had a great season and is one
OF Grifrs sure bets for 1917, while Eddie
Charity in the few games in which he
was working at first base and catching
give a great deal OF promise and looks
to be a sweet young ball player. George
Dumont. who was shipped out to Mime
apolis during the month Of August. is
one Of the best youngsters that the ''Old
Fox" has gathered IN a long time and
will be recalled to show his worth this
season
With the development of this trio
of players its appears as II old 1915
has been pretty kind TO the ''Old Fox"
The local club failed to make any
big money during 1915. but they were
one Of the major league representa-
tives that broke above the margin.
Things appear bright and rosy to start
the club on down Augusta, Ga. next
march and here is hoping for a real
season in the old. old saying of Wait
Till next season"
A great number OF Washington boys
figured in the ranks of professional
company during the past campaign,
Joe Engel hooked up with Mike Can
one Of the local products that made
good in the class AA minors.
Freely Heck was with the Raleigh
Club while Bus Hager caught for the
Asheville club. Country Morris man
aged the Martinsburs team and had
under his wing such local talent as
Tots" Long. "Catsy'' Dean. Monk"
Walters and ''Reggy" Rawlings.
Mickey Killiher hooked up with bill
ly" Smith down in Richmond and was
shifted to the outield for his hitting.
Mickey had the best season Of his ca
reer and gives promise once more of
Climbing the ladder to the majors.
Johnny Beall is with the Milwaukee
club Of the Association and will be
back with the Brewers next season.
While naming the boys in the high
er ranks of organized baseball some
of the old time sand lots and major
league fans would be offended if Bill
ly" Rapp, the scout for the Cleveland
Indians. was not named in this crew
as "Bin' is Jimmy Dunns real and
only ivory hunter.
Johnny Mace and Johnny Priest saw
service down in the Virginia League
along with Bernie Cleveland. Lem Owens,
Rooney Vernstein, Clyde Richmond and
Fred Berger.
Austin Howard. who set the Federal
League on fire in the early days of 1915.
was with the Lowell Club of the Eastern
Association, and was the same old speed
demon Of old. Dutch Sturger, the local
veteran player. had another great season
with the Columbus club Of the Ohio State
League, while Dutch Munich went at a
great clip with the Des Moines Of the
Three 1 League.
Dick Robinson was the mainstay on
the slab for the Memphis team of the
Southern Association. while his famous
playing partner, Al Handiboe, stiIl held
down the left garden position for the
Savannah team. Otto Won HerbulIus, Of
Clarendon fame. fell by the wayside
with the Lancaster club of the defunct
Interstate League. Mike CantwelI, the
Georgetown southpaw hurler pitched
great ball for the Cambridge independent
team over on the Eastern Shore and was
given a short trial last season by the
New York Yankees. Mike will report AT
the training camp this spring.