Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-18
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
speeia, Dispatch to The Star.

D
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. April 1S.-Sam Rice is
sporting a bruise as large as an over
size bunion plaster on his left leg as
the result of stopping one OF Russeii
spitball hooks with that bony but not
impregnable portion of his anatomy
Just how serious the injury is Will not
be known for day or two. The Dali
was travelling fast enough to produce
any hne OF many things. including a
bone 'bruise or floating cartilage. not
to mention a fractured leg; but the only
pre-inventory dope concerns the erect
which is the same as that superlnduced
by housemaid's knee-merely another
way of saving that sam 5 pest Shie -
day is hobble.
Fear might be expressed that sam
will be laid up for an INDEFINITE periou,
but the case of one j. Franklin pa Ne.
begets caution. Reports SATURDAY iau
the well known slugger out OF the
game for month with a broken niger.
Saturdays announcement was that ne
might be back in ten days, as the m
jury was not as serious as had peeu
thought Monday 1t developed that
there had been no fracture, but a slight
dislocation, and reporting time was re-
duced to week
Yesterday Baker proved that some
thing more than thumb has TO De OUT
of kilter before he will submit to duty
on the bench, by stationing himself az
his favorite haunt on the far corner ana
playing through the game with no out
ward indication of having been hurt at
all. Therefore. Sam may either go 70
the hospital for an operation or be out
in right field again today, as usual II
Rice has to remain idle Mike Menosky
will draw the gardening assignment
Mike is ready.
Cranes debut at the short-felding job
was occasioned by the indisposition or
George Mcbride. Mac ate something
that didn't agree with him. the prepon-
derance of testimony tending to show
that that something was spaghetti
When an Irishman who is German by
environment picks an Italian restau-
rant at which to dine, almost anything
can be expected to happen. 1t isn't neu-
trail The suave captain is feeling fit
again today, however. and probably VIII
get right back on the job. He will be
especially welcome If Manager Dono,
van has any more twirlers as we'll
primed as Russell was. for Mac has
been hitting hard and often.
This Russell is one of Jack Dunn's prod
ucts. having been obtained by the Yam
KEGS from Richmond of the international
League, where Dunn held forth two years
ago. He is a brother of Lefty Russell,
former Mackian hurler, who now is first
basing for Dunn with Baltimore. He
one period of distress outside of the ninth.
this being in the fourth round when two
passes and a single filled the bases
Crane wasn't ready to deliver. however.
and Russell escaped unscathed.
More ceremony will mark opening day
festivities in Washington this year than
ever before Manager Griffith is nothing
H-l~ MAJ fha drxy
and age. there will be decidedly mill
tary tinge to the proceedings with the
Mackmen at the Georgia avenue park
Friday. AS usual there will be music
furnished by bands. Not band. but
bands Formerly one organization of A.
+. Of NJ. thermometers sufficed for the oc-
cAsion. but not SO in this year of re-
q wise and brainy base ball manager.
He also is an adept at the art of feeling
the public pulse. Having performed his
delicate bit Of research work with all the
nnesse Of an expert diagnostician. he con-
Guided one band would not be enough
properly to meet the requirements of the
situation; only half enough. in fact, so
there will be two of 'em whooping it up.
one already military, and another that
may become so II the universal service
bill goes through.
The musical program will start prompt
N at l o'clock. when the gates will be
opened. After being RECALLED with melody
for half an hour, early arrivals will see
the washington WALLPAPERS practice bunt-
ing to the outfleld for some twenty min
utes. when the Mackmen will indulge in
batting practice for similar space Of
time. Each team then will be given ten
minutes Of fielding work which will make
the hour 2:30. when the center field gates
will be opened and in will mark 800 reg
ulars from Fort Myer. headed by the mill
tary band referred to above, who will
late cfr ,f xt<
before taking their seats in the stands.
Business Of raising the flag on the new
pole to be erected-in- time without fail in
center field then will be undertaken by
and Commissioner Newman will do the
actual hosting. provided the head OF
the District board doesn't find it impos-
sible to be among those present. With
Old Glory unfurled to the breeze-Grif-
nth has ordered a mild zephyr especially
for the occasion-the Washington play
ers will march back to second base and
be put through a military drill for the
edincation OF those of the fans who didn't
know it was in them
If press of business does not prevent
President Wilson from attending, it is
expected the chief executive will throw
out the hrst ball as the cameras click
but II not. Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood.
commander of the Department of the
East. U. s. A, may perform in this ca
pacity. Then j. Lawrence Phillips, the
megaphone artist, will announce the
batteries. and the first home game of
the 1917 season will be on.
Against Gallia. whom Manager Grif-
nth plans to use in the box today. may
be pitted either Caldwell or Shocker
The latter. like Russell. is a spitball
pitcher, and is declared by competent
critics to have bright future before
him.
Joe Leonard contributed the fielding
feature of the day yesterday with a
one-hand pickup and peg of a slow
roller from Russelrs bat
Barry Mccormick. the graduate OF
All TT AyT w