Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-25
ROBSON IS RIGHT.
The Cleveland President Strongly Objects
to the Sales System Because 1t Hurts
Weak Clubs-Johnson and Brush to Set


Weak Clubs-Johnson and Brush to Set
tie Matters.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM To THE DISPATCH
CLEVELAND, Jan. 24.-The leading sensation
in local baseball circles here during the week
was the pronounced way in which President
Frank Deli. Robson, of the Cleveland club,
came out in favor of a radical modification of
the sales system The gist of Mr.. Robison's re-
marks is that the weaker clubs have always got
the worst of it while this sales system was in
vogue. That is, the teams with greater patron
age and correspondingly greater gate receipts,
can afford to pay more for the players they
want and the smaller cities which need
strength at all times, are compelled to incur
great financial obligation to secure it, or. If
they do not secure IL. are poor drawing cards.
In either case they are bound to lose, and it
looks like a proper time to reform that condi-
tion of affairs in the baseball world.
The Cleveland club officials have been hust-
ling all week to secure players for next year.
With what result 1t is impossible at the present
time to tell The club wants another catcher.
another pitcher, second baseman and two out
fielders. For pitcher and catcher II has made
no choice as yet, but for second baseman there
is no secret in saying that 1t would like very
much to sign Childs, of last years Syracuse
team. No anxiety is felt, however, If the club
should lose that opportunity, for Stricken is
left. and Tebeau could probably play good
second base if he cared to. For outfelders,
nVe me are In view. any one OIL W0On WOulu
be a success. One who is wanted iii particular
is Wilmot. of Chicago providing satisfactory
terms could have been made with him. Cleve-
land would like to have had him in 1889. Davis
can play left field equally as well as right and
Wiimot would make a great man for center.
From what is whispered in baseball circles 1
this place there is but very little doubt that
John T. Brush and Mr.. A. l. johnson, of Cleve-
land, will cume to an agreement regarding the
Cincinnati club. johnson is TO srraighten up
matters with his Players League associates
and then both gentlemen will hold conference
at Cincinnati.
The Cleveland club will go South with the
Cincinnati club if suitable arrangements can be
made. Grounds will be rented at Jacksonville
and both teams take about three weeks of
practice. Cleveland is on the Schedule Com
mittee this year and an arrangement may be
made whereby Cleveland will open the season
in Cincinnati and PIttsburg In Chicago.
Cleveland would have been very glad to have
signed Connie Mack. whom Pittsburg thought
it had. but got fooled. 1t doesn't seem likely
that Prince will endeavor to hold Mack In de-
fiance Of the general understanding that all
players revert to their clubs under the Ma
tional agreement.
AT least five clubs in the Association and
League are anxious to get some of Cleveland's
surplus men. The club, however, is in no great
hurry to dispose of them, and President Robi-
son says he will not hasten matters nntil he
finds what the League proposes to do about
selling men.