, 1876-08-20

the hands Of j. Mason GraIen, who has done I m
very well; but I am informed that
there II! is some idea of getting Harry
"Old Man' would look will, favor upon IN
offer, not that hi wants to leave Boston, but
ttlat the condition nf his health is such that he
would bc{nuch better away from the seashore.
# Capt. Harry could come it would be help to
the game, for am persuaded he would have
authority enough over his ulen to prevent kick
ing or recriminatiou, on the field at least.
The players OF next years team are many Of
them selected, While others are in doubt. Those
who have signed contracts about which there
can be no doubt are Clapp, the plucky. and
graceful catcher; Dehlmal,, who only lacks
now with the Athletics; and Rcn,serl, Of the
Hartfords. There is little doubt that AtcGcary
will be retained to play second base.
Beside these: Nichols. now Of the
almost immediately rcpented, saying: that he
doubted his own ability to fill the bill, aud
would like to be released. It is my opinion that
be will be.
Concerning the other places in the nine there
is curious tapgle, which will unravel as best
East at all an attempt was made to engage
Bradley for 1877, but the terms: or something
else, displcasel him, aud no contrnct was made,
bu: it was agreed that he should make no con-
tract with any one else without giving them a
chance. Some time after the return Of the club
another attempt was made, and 5000 offered
Bradley, but he put it away, and the lirst thing
the management knew they received notice Ut
the engagement OF Dattln aud Bradley by tile
Athletics.
into that frame Of mind where they are sorry
they signed, and would he well pleased to re-
main where they arc. AS concerns Battin, 1t is
claimed that he signed with the Athletic mana
ger with the express and written understanding
that the contract should not be binding unless
Deylin, Snyder, and Fulrncr also signed: also,
that his contract mad but one witness. The last
teclnicality evidently has no force, provided he
signed q notice to he sent to the Secretary OF
the League acknowledging the engagement. AS
opposed to the aforementioned claim, it is said
that the proyiso about Fullner, etc, was merely
q verbal one. | have no means Of knowing
about the matter either way.
AS far as bradley is concerned, the St. Louis
Club would be 10th to lose him, but it does not
appear how they can keep him, provided tho
Athletic Club lives, and moves, and fulGlls lis
engagements. Il is said here that there is not
much chance Of the Philadelphia organization
going through the year and fulfilling its con-
tracts, in which case the discipline of the
League would be enforced, and there would be
no Athletic member thereof. But still another
idea is more generally adopted, and that is that
the Athletic Club viii die and suhsidc OF its
own weight. There seems little doubt that st.
Louis wil1--to use the plainest English--tio
what she can to break up the Club which fsus
contracts from the men she wants. For be it
understood that we want Hall for left field,
and eau get him If he can get away from Phla-
tclphia That would help us considerably, and
it is easy to sec how much depends on the event
with st. Louis.
While these doubts hang over the heads Of
Bradley, Dattin, and Hall, some Of the present
team are loking out for the future. Mack has
sipnpt1 with tht. IndiauaDO1is Club, and RlOng is
expected to do the same while Pike goes to
Cincinnati. This leaves only Pcarcc and Cuth~
bert unproyided for. n. G.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
And yet Chicago holds the lead, though not
to the extent Of a week ago. St. Louis is doing
remarkably well, and it IS now almost even up
between that club and Hartford for second place
Games will be played thick and fast from now
on, a1li it looks as il the different series would
ali be plaved, something that has not happened
since the championship Qennant was first fought
for The figures follow Of games to date: