The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-04-07
BaUPark
Bristles
Again
By KIRK MILLER


The mild days are upon as
= wherein one instinctively turns
his footsteps toward the ball
park, if only to pick up an
opening day reservation or two
and perchance stumble across .
news item.
There was a great clatter Of
hammers and saws and other
implements of the trade union
lists to be heard as one ap-
preached from Brightwood
Avenue. An overalled crew Of
artisans is at work Scraping and
painting and repairing and gen,
orally making ready for the grand
opening q week from this very day.
Making Ready for Opener
Tinkerers of all types are on
hand rehabilitating the scene from
the ravages of one Of the most pro-
longed freezes ever to linger here
abouts. Snow and frost and ice
take q heavy toll Of any exposed
improvements, and q baseball
stand, as well as the couple OF
acres Of playing surface, are vul'
nerable to natures furies.
Principal among the physical
changes at the ball park over the
winter land after q manner this
might be interesting to the public)
is the new press box which will
take care Of some two-doZen writer's
and telegraphers. They are taking
we typewriter technicianS off the
hurricane deck and putting us in
the upper grandstand, which was
our assigned abode previous to the
1888 world series.
And, since our functions previous
to '33 were often the subject Of the
curious gaze Of the denizens OF the
upper seating reaches, judging by
the number who ever paused to
see and hear our operations, I say
the fact Of our return to fan vtSi.
bility, from the roof, might be Of
common interest.
That Press Menagerle
Truth is, I have often thought
tome of our number constituted q
good show among themselves. II
you've never seen Bashful BUCK
O'Neill root runner home from
third base, pounding the type
writer bench until the tiny port
ables literally fell in the laps OF
their users, you have no idea OF
what we call in the profession Q
fan writer.
Then there is Bob Considine, the
Connie Mack of the local baseball
writing crew, tall, lean, and tao
itun. Considine might pose for
those mems fashion depicted in
such as Esquire. His personal ap-
pointments are not only up to the,
minute, they are sometimes way
ahead Of it. Any time there Is q
question as to what the well dreSSed
young man is wearing this season,
Of next, get a load Of Robert in
our press box. He's almost q daily
exhibit.
The Tennessee Clan
Then this year we are going to
have in our bureau Of public in
formation one Arch Mcdonald,
not of the clan Mcdonald Of
Scotland, but Of the Tennessee
tribe. Last year Umpire Billy
Summers, I believe it was,
thumbed Arch out Of the players
dugout, from whence he was &C
customed to making his booming
announcements of player changes.
He was chased back into the
stands in q box seat near the
washington bench. This year
they are routing him up stairs.
solnbrero, brogans and all, where
he viii be on display along with
the press box curioS.
Arch has q different set Of
shoes for each day In the week
and he is just as likely to step
out in white kid lowers in April
as he is in high laced uppers in
July. Yea, we have our own
little menageries in our local
press box and If the ball players
grow dull, you can still get your
moneys worth by just looking
around.
A Living Cameo
And I ran onto q piece Of
news at the ball park-bad news,
too.
A lot Of people who have been
ticket purchasers and visitors to
the business office Of the Wash
ington team are going to be
sorry to read that lady who
! expect for Is or 20 years has
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