Pitchers Eddie Plank and Bill Duggleby were joined by catcher Farmer Steelman aboard a train bound for Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where they would begin spring training. The players planned to spend the entire month there. Pitcher Bill Bernhard and utility infielder Clyde Robinson had planned to be on the same train, but their transportation to Philadelphia had been delayed. Pitcher Snake Wiltse was expected to join them on the 6th and outfielder Dave Fultz would travel to North Carolina directly from Leadville, Colorado where he was working as a miner. Second baseman Nap Lajoie and first baseman Harry Davis were in Philadelphia and were reported to be in good shape already.

The team hired a new groundskeeper: Joe Schroeder.