St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-26
cent if he wins. Donoghue, being an
amateur, declines to become a~profes-
siOnal by accepting the offer.
BILLINGS' BLAST


BILLINGS BLAST.
The Secretary OF the Beantown
Base Ball Brigade Relieves His
Mind.
George B. Billings. Secretary of the
Boston Base Ball club, was among yes
terday's arrivals at the Merchants. and
spent the day in the Sanity City. Mr..
Billings has been making business
tour CT the West in the interest Of his
father, who is large wholesale boot
and shoe dealer at the Hub. and mem:
ber of the famous base ball triumylrate
of Billings. SOden and COnant. and his;
visit to st. Paul is fraught with no sport
ing Significance. "The Boston team is
on firm footing for the ensuing sea-
son." said. Mr.. Billings. s'and we will
undoubtedly be among the leaders next
fall. We have engaged Bennett, Can
zell. Brouthers and Richardson, of De-
troit, and without doubt this famous:
Quartetteo of ball stars will immeasura-
bly, strengthen our team. Despite re-
ports to the contrary, we made money
last year. The percentage system was
disadvantageOuS to US from financial;
point OF view, as the strong
clubs were forced to support the
weak ones. But l think Boston is
the best paying ball town in this coun-
try, and our new grand stand will be
taxed to its full capacity this season.
Was Kelly a failure? Certainly not.
The newspapers led the public to ex-
pect home run from him every time
he went to bat, and no living man could
prove himself equal to such exactlng
requirements. ke' is not a record
player, and the fact that ne would make
a half-dOZen errors in a game was no
indication of his general work. Tom
Brown also played good ball, and l
fancy will be signed again. The West
ern league is developing first-claSs men;
and Sowders, of this city. play ed excel
lent ball last year and is great favorlte
in Boston. The New Yorks were. how
Foster, as he could not hit balloon.
although he was a fair fielder. The re-
port that the Boston club is throwing out
its hooks for Pickett is unfounded.
He was simply recommended to us
by Frank Seeley as good man, but
negotiations were never opened with
him. | fancy there will be some
changes in the personnel OF the league
teams, but nOtuing definite can, be
known until after the annual meeting,
which takes place in Washington
March 5. There IS little doubt, how.
ever, that John Montgomery Ward. of
New York, will don a Boston uniform
this season. He is strong, earnest
player. and is dissatisfied at present.
What will become of Wise? Well, l
really cannot talk on that subject. but
New York and Washington want him it
we should release him. The former
city can afford to pay the price asked
for him, SO there is little doubt that it
he does 90 it will be to Gotham. Wash
ington wants Morrill,. but he is first
class. earnest player. and am not pre-
pared to say whether Mutrie's demands
will he acceeded to or not. Joe Horn
ung will probably look after the left
garden for the American association
team at Baltimore, but no definite az
rangements have been perfected In any
instance. You must not infer that there
are to be sweeping changes in the per-
sOnnel of the Boston club. for any or all
of the men whom have mentioned may
sign with us. We have a large numGer
of men under contract. and are de-
termined to secure the pen1ant it
money, energy and a united teams
work can do So"