The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-22
SALEM TO THE FRONT.
A Club Practically Assured in
the Oregon Town.
GOSSIP OF THE LEAGUE TOWNS.
Barnes Getting Some Strong Talent Tor
Portland-Johnny Wards Letter
ON Advance Money.


member in good standing in the Pacific
Northwest League within the next few
days. Less than two weeks ago the town
was first proposed as a possible candidate
for franchise, and almost in the twink
ling of an eye the movement sprung into
formidable proportions. Several response
BILE young business men of determined
natures wanted baseball and decided to
have it. They did not content them
selves with talking, but set to work
to secure admission They at once opened
negotiations with President Rockwell
and began the work of organization. A
meeting was held and it was decided to
form stock company with a capitalize
ton of $4,000. Subscription lists were
started, and inside of forty-eight hours
$1,000 of the required amount was SUBJ
scribed. Tonight meeting will be held
to complete arrangements, which promise
to go through without hitch. So salts
fed are the hackers of the success of the
enterprise that they have already secured
the services of manager and have put
him to work.
The acquisition of Salem as a member is
source of congratulation to the League.
While not ranking with Portland, Seattle
and Tacoma in population. it is an old and
wealthy community, and its people are
able and willing to furnish abundant
financial support. The city ranks next to
Portland in Importance among the towns
of Oregon, and the rivalry between the two
clubs will be strong. The backing afforded
by the Salem ball public last season to
their team of amateurs is an earnest of the
good'backing they will give professional
club. In geographical sense Salem is all
that could be desired. 1t is but fifty miles
from Portland on the same line of rail-
road. If necessary on holidays the clubs
could play in the morning in one town
and in the afternoon in the other
The splendid reports from Salem are
supplemented by good news from Tacoma.
The support expected from the street rail-
way company is now assured. 1t is safe
to say that the large amount of stock held
by President Bushnell, who is retiring
from baseball, will be transferred this week
to responsible parties. Both Phil II. Ker-
shaw, popular young business man who
has been leader in amateur athletics, and
w. r. Dodge, who backed the Dodges in
the Puget Sound Amateur League last
year, are mentioned for the presidency.
The only news of players secured by any
of the clubs has been by Portland since the
announcement that John S. Barnes is to
manage the club. In his usual hustling
way he is getting together some strong
material. 1t is given out that he brought
with him from Spokane Baldwin, Stencil,
Turner, Polhemus and probably Klopf, the
five strongest players of last years
team. He is also said to have
secured Little Willie Mains, the
giant pitcher who was with the
Cincinnati and Milwaukee Association
teams last season. At last reports the
manager and "Jiggs' Parrott were dick
ering and it is quite probable that the
lanky third baseman will be signed.
Barnes also wants Motz for first base. For
second base he is figuring on "Moxie"
Hengle, who signed with Spo-
kane last season and received $1OO
advance, but failed to come out.
was signed by Manager Rockwell for
Seattle in August, 1890, and sent $3.50 ad-
vance money. He pocketed the money,
but did not show up IN Seattle. Last year
the Quincy club wished his services and
settled Seattle's claim by paying $50.
Fisher made fine record in the Illinois,
Iowa league, and Barnes thinks he would fill
the hole at shortstop. Pete McNabb signed
some time since, and if Klopf and Main
are secured this would fill out the pitching
staff. Wadsworth is we'll liked among the
patrons of the game for his steady work
last season and may be kept. This ar
rangement of the team probably means
that George, Abbey, Darrah and Jones, and
perhaps Wadsworth, will play elsewhere.
Pap" Lytle has already been released
to Salem. The Portland team, as the
cranks are figuring it, would look some
thing like this: Catcher. Baldwin; pitch
ers, McNabb, Mains, Klopf and Wads-
worth; first base, MOTT; second base,
Hengle; third base, Parrot; shortstop,
Fisher; left field and change catcher,
Stencil; center field, Turner; right field,
Polhemus.
Nothing new has come to light about
the personnel of the Seattle team. Man
aver Powell preserves a discreet silence,
and saws he will not announce the names
of his men until short time before the
season opens. A Chicogo paper, in an
nouncing the makeup of all the teams of
the city league, has Charlie Irwin put down
at third base for the Rivals, the club he
played with for several years before he
entered the professional ranks. This is no
sure sign, however, that he will not play
professionally or with the Seattle club.
The Rivals probably intend to play him in
case he does not go out again this season.
1t Is practically settled that Pap"
Lytle is to manage and play right field for
the Salem club. He has, of course, done
nothing definite in the gathering of
team, but it is not unlikely that he will
gather in some of last years Portland
players.
The Tacoma club has, so far as known,
taken no active steps in the signing of
players, and is still without a manager.
Likewise Snokape