The Washington critic., 1890-02-09
WE WILL HAVE A CLUB.
NO INTENTION TO SELL TIE FRAN
CHlSE TO OUTSIDERS.
Fielding and Young to Fight in This
City--New Prize Fighting Rule
Gossip of the Diamond, Ring and
Sporting in General.


President Hewett intends to have q
League clubin this city, Notwithstanding
the statements to the contrary, the
rumored sales and the accumulations
of theories respecting Washington's
future as baseball town. President
Hewitt declares that there is to be
club and there is no reason to doubt
the truth of his declaration. To q
CRITIC representative yesterday, Presi-
dent Hewett said: There seems to be
a feeling Of doubt among the baseball
patrons of this city concerning the
future of the Washington Club. despite
my frequent assertions that the club was
to remain in existence as o member of
the National League.
"This doubt has been occasioned,
daresay, by the statements published in
outside newspapers, first respecting my
desire to get out of the baseball business
and afterward with regard to the sale
of the League franchise.
II have never contemplated the sale
of the League franchise to any organi-
ton outside of this city, but did think
at the close of the last season Of retiring
from the business. When the season
of 1850 closed the Washington Club
was behind, not only in the
race for the pennant, but also
financially. This was mainly due
to bad weather. We had lost almost
every holiday on account of rain, and
this with the other bad days that oc-
CURED during the season, brought the
club out a loser. Had we been able to
take advantage of the holidays, be-
lieve we would have been all right, but
as it was, the club was behind and de-
termined that ] would not run the club
alone another year. / announced this
openly, and when | went TO the League
meeting after the close of the season |
was still undecided as to what | in
tended to do regarding the Washington
Club.
"The other members Of the League,
| however, were so anxious that l should
remain in the organization, and the
| change in the percentage of receipts to
be given the visiting clubs gave such
improved prospects to the weaker clubs
| that l concluded, that, whether alone
or not, would keep Washington in
| the League. That resolution [ have
strictly adhered to.
"The managers Of the Baltimore club
opened negotiations with me with a
view to securing an interest in the club
in exchange for some of their players,
whom ] wanted, and a corresponding
interest in the Baltimore Atlantic
League club. ! did not, however,
contemplate selling the franchise to
Baltimore, and when the decision in the
injunction suit brought by the League
against the Brotherhood, rendered it
impossible for the Baltimore people to
transfer their players, the negotiations
between us were dropped.
"Since then I have not by either
word or act implied that the franchise
was for sale. The talk about sale to
the Detroit Club grew out of brief
conversation that occurred between
President Stearns of Detroit and myself
at the last meeting of the League. Mr.
Stearns asked me what would take for
the League franchise, and | mentioned
my figure. He did not make me an
offer, and if he did l would not now
accept the sum / mentioned then. You
will remain in the League If | can keep
il there, and / am certainly doing my
utmost with that end in view
uC SIuCCl1ly Vi NIL llCWcbb GC-
marks can be best appreciated by a
knowledge of what he has already
done toward securing team for this
city and making the other necessary ar
rangements for the approaching season.
He has secured lease for five years of
the new grounds between Sixteenth and
Seventeeth and L and U streets north
west, and has given to Mr.. A. Gleason,
the well-known contractor, the contract
for erecting the grand stand, club
house and other buildings. The grand
stand Is to be far superior to the one at
the old grounds, both in the matter of
comfort and general convenience, and
will be, as Mr.. Hewett says, zone that
a lady need not be ashamed to enter.
"The construction of the buildings
will be superintended by james Dunn,
who thinks the work can be completed
within three weeks. Work will prob
ably be begun about the 10th of the
month. With regard 10 securing play.
ers. Mr.. Hewett has given Ted Sullivan
his manager, permission to secure all the
young players he believes are likely tc
strengthen the team, and at present he
has obtained enough young blood to pu
the club on an equal footing with any
other in the League. excepting possibly
Brooklyn, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. >
The latest acquisition is Nicholas. a
catcher from the Interstate League, who
is said to have done remarkably goot
work during the last season. The othe
players who have been signed so far are
as follows: Riddle and Byrd, catchers
Mccoy, Maloney and Philips, all from
the Southern League, pitchers; Whis
tier, first base; Ben Hill, third base
Jordan, Baeder and Blackford, out
field, and Slower. all-round player.
These men, some of whom are know
, in Washington, have all demonstrated
considerable ability for youngsters, and
in the opinion Of Mr.. Sullivan, ar
likely to develop into as good players a
the League possesses.
, Baseball authorities throughout tn
city are becoming enthusiastic over tn
outlook for the coming season, and ar
now satisfied that the Washington man
agement is thoroughly in earnest w
G. McGill, one of the best known wri
tiers on baseball in the city, who ha
been thoroughly conversant with tn
details Of all Mr.. Hewetts negotiation
1 during the past six months, declare
/ emphatically that Washington's base
f ball prospects were never brighter l
| whatever way the League suits agains
i the Brotherhood terminates, Washing
ton will not be affected, and, as a natu
raj consequence, its position is one q
, uuquestionable strength.
: THE ATLANTIC ASSOCIATION.
/. A proposition has been considered b
a some of the members of the Atlanti
J. Association TO put n club in this city
I There is little probability of their doin
| so, however owing to the fact th'
9 with League club here the patronae