Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-20
SPORTS IN GENERAL,
What is Going On in Turf, Base
Ball and Pugilistic Circles.
ALMOST TIME FOR "PLAY BALL"

Will Report.
week from today the members Of the Wash
ington Base Ball Club are expected to report
here for preliminary practice. The first game
scheduled is to take place two days later when
the new team plays tie Georgetown University
nine. Jim o Roarxe, the new captain manager
Of the team, is expected the latter part
Of this week. The Washington club
Is not in the best possible con-
dition. In fact. few of the clubs are
as far advanced is usual at this time Of the
wear. The decision Of the board of control
that reserved minor league PLAYERS must be re-
turned or equivalent given hits Washington
hard. We have Inks. Gray and the two Sulli.
vans, besides Wise. who was reserved by the
Eastern League. Claim to Wise has been given
up, but not to the other players. The terms OF
Jack MIlligan have been accepted. hut Baltimore
claims him. and he has gone south to practice
with the Orioles. President Young is reported
saying that Baltimores claim to him is
equally as good as Washington's. Mcclure.
who is expected to catch, has not signed.
Neither has kilen. who is not satisfied with
the terms offered. He is represented as saying:
Its an outrage to offer me but 81 SEQ per year
and tell me that il is the limit paid to frst-class
men in the league. Why. told Wagner that
there were seven men i'll the Pittsburg club
who got 81. 400 Besides. ! feel certain that
there are men in tie Washington team who
get more than $500. Wagner in his
second letter said that if / could play
in the field ike Stivetts I would be
worth more money. Well, that is funny. l
will not play for a cent less than the terms l
sent in: not a nickel less. / am not afraid of
any threats. | pitched ifty-three games last
season. won thirty. and with the team as l. was
made up several times. think that is petty
good record. | went in whenever asked. and
this is what get for it.
Eiilen musl have been misquoted. The rec
orc.s show ma. he pitched in sixtv-four games
last season. and that only one man. Hutchinson
of Chicago. pitched more-seventy-Hve-an
only one other. Rusie. pitched naay. Kill
len always ready to work. Ever one will
admit that. joyce, Mulyey and Hoy have not
signed and there is no telling when they will.
Lsrkin. Wise and Radford have. There will
have TO be some lively work for the next week
to get the team here by Monday. 1t is hardly
likely that Brooklyn will let Washington nave
joyce unless it gets Dan Richardson. and yet
Mr.. Byrne doesn't want 20 give Dan the $4,000
his contract calls FOR. He says that that ia a
matter for Washington TO settle. 1t is. there
fore not among the impossibilities that Rich
aTdson will play here.
Those who have been rejoicing wildly over
Joyce's replacing Richardson do not seem TO
be aware that Richardson eQualed Joyce at the
bat last season. Dams percentage was .239,
having played in 143 games. joyce had the
same percentage. playing in Hinety-seven games.
As a third baseman Joyce ranked below even
Yank Robinson, whom the local management re-
leased Secause he wasn't good enough
As to the other clubs. Pttsburg and st.
Louis are already playing games in the south,
and Baltimore on Saturday left fer Charleston.
where they will unpack their grips and loosen
tie buckles on their bat bags for the first time
since the cold weather set In last fall. !
New York, Cincinnati and Cleveland are
ready to put nearly their entire team on the field
a. twenty-four hours notice. Boston. Louis
vile and Chicago have some of their players
under contract. but several of the nen still per-
sist in holding out. to the disgust Of the man
ayers OF the clubs.
Brooklyn will have to do some tall hustling
to get all into line before the bell taps on April
"a. Nearly all are in better condition than
the Phiies. although some of them have not
signed more than half their players.
What the Philadelphia Base Ball Club is do
ing is mystery, says the Philadelphia Times.
As yet the fruits OF their labors have not begun
to assert themselves. Less than fortnight re- |
mains before the team will take the field to |
begin their practice games. the players have
but few days remaining before the last bugle |
sounds. Meantime Messrs. Reach. Rogers |
Wright and Shettsline will have to bestir them 4,
selves they will be left In the rear of the
league procession before the first month CT the /
season has passed into history.
Manager Ward said yesterday that he ex-
pected to have the New York team complete !
before the end of this week. A contract has
been sent 10 Mc1iahon, and it is expected to be
re turned signed Tuesday.
Rusie. VINO has been holding of for more
money, has informed the New York club that he
will sign at the figures offered him.
Nike kelly has agreed to the terms offered.
Kelly wanted to report for duty after April IL.
claiming that ne had a theatrical engagement
in Chicago which would mot close until that
date. He informed. however. that he
would have to be ready to start practice on
April /. and will doubtless cancel his theatrical
engagement.
This also promises to be q lively week in the
affairs of the BROOKLYN club. The Brooklyn
men have not accepted the clubs terms SO rap
idly was expected. but c. II. Byrne. the pres
ident of the club. when seen at Eastern Park
yesterday said that he expected most Of his
players to report this week. Only four men
are under contract at present Foutz, O'Brien,
Burns and Haddock. The report that the club
would make no further effort to secure Cor
eorsn Is ridiculous. As Brouthers has not &C
cepted the clubs salary proposition 1t Is uncer-
tain vet whether Foutz will cover first base or
take his regular turn with the pitchers.
Fred Pfeffer has permanently retired from
base ball. He said the other afternoon that he
would dispose o: his interests at Louisville the
first OF the month and go to Chicago. where he
and Col Jack Chinn, the Kentucky turfman,
will engage in the restaurant business. Since
Pfefer il to retire from the team, it is prob
able that Whistler will be played at second base.
Manager Barnie telegraphed that he would
reach Louisville today and would remain until
the opening of the season.
The Chicago team. under the direction Of
the excitable veteran. Arson. will leave Chicago
for the south today. Arson is said to be feel
ing his age and the chances are that he may
not play regularly at first base this season.
Followers of the game in Brooklyn are
anxlousiy awaiting the closing of the deal
between Boston and Brooklyn for the exchange
OF Lovett and Stivetts Lovett does not want
TO play in Brooklyn Stivetts is q remarkable
pitcher and also a clever fielder and is the best
batting pitcher in the country.
SOME GOOD SPARRING.