The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-06
THREE MEN SIGNED
indianapolis Gets a New Battery
and an 0utfielder.
Cross a1d Murphy, of Cincinnati, and
Henry, Of TOledo-Snyder and
McTammany TO Go.

Indianapolis has signed three new play-
ers, as promised a few days ago, and the
management is not yet through with the
good work of bracing up the weak spots.
The most important acquisition TO the team
is a new battery. and one that promises to
take rank with any in the Western League
Cross and Murphy. OF the Cincinnatis.
Both these men played remarkably fine
ball in the Southern League last season,
and Cincinnati signed them, but when Par
rOtt came around and accepted that clubs
terms. not long ago, it was deemed expedi-
ent 20 drop Cross, especially as Pittsburg
hit him pretty hard in a recent champion
ship game. He has not had much of a
trial with the Reds. and, because of lack
OF work. was wild. and so they thought
they could get along without him. With
plenty Of confidence, he will doubtless make
his mark in the Western League. Cincin-
natl signed him because Of his fine record
elsewhere. Con Murphy. his catcher, is
not only a fine backstop, but a good out
fielder and a strong hitter. Cincinnati would
not released him outright, but has a
string to him." though with Morgan Muir
ply and Harry Vaughan in shape it is not
thought he will be needed. He was signed
when the former was holding out against
the terms offered by Cincinnati, and has
shown up so well that the only way Indian
apOls could get him was on condition that
ne could be recalled anytime. Cross was
released to the Hoosiers outright Both
men will join the team at Grand Rapids
Monday and go right to work. 1t is no
disgrace TO be batted hard by the Pitts
burgs, and that cannot be laid up against
Cross. M~uryhy's hitting ability will come
in handy. for Indianapolis needs a few
good batters. In fact, if the team had
about eight hard hitters some Of these
errors could be overlooked.
The third man signed is Henry, of the
TOledos. The latter club is long on outield-
ers. and had to let somebody go, so Man
ager Sharsig made a deal for Henry, who
played twenty-one games with the Cincin-
natl team last season, and led the National
League outfelders, with a fielding average
Of $50. He had fifty putouts, six assists and
but two errors in the twenty-one games.
His batting average was .273, he making
eleven runs and twenty-three base hits out
of eighty-four times at bat. Toledo found
herself with too many high-priced ielders,
and so had TO dispose of somebody. INLAND
is getting pretty good money up there, and
the salary limit must have been pressed
pretty hard to induce them to let go OF
: Henry, who has always had the reputation
Of being fast on the bases and a good run
getter. These men were all signed yesterday,
though Cross and Murphy were virtuallys
secured the day before.
Catcher Snyder and center fielder Nc
Tammany will be released. The formers
habits don't suit the local management
and had a tendency to demoralize some of
the rest of the players. McTammany's
arm is not in good shape and he was not a
success as captain. A good shortstop will
closed with the right man, and other re-
leases will probably follow, It is likely
is as yet not wholly determined upon.
The management seems determined to
keep on strengthening the team until IL Is
up to the standard promised the patrons
OF the game in this city. No effort Is be-
ing spared in this direction. for the local
much there is at stake for them. They
have their money invested in the club, and
they don't want to throw it away. All
hands have been hustling for players dur
ing the past week. Manager Arthur Irwin,
of the PhiladeIphias. was willing to let
Hartman 90 with a string" and Indianap-
oils would have taken him. but be preferred
10 play at his home Aitoona), where he
players have been sought, but it takes a
little time, aDd the outcome OF the efforts
promises to be satisfactory; A good, fast.
strong-hitting in-fielder will do much to-
ward helping the team out all around, and
il is the intention 10 get just such a man.
It may be found necessary TO make other
changes in the in-held. If so they will be
made.
IL is unfortunate that Sam Wise or Cub"
Stricken could not have been secured. The
exhibition of batting and all-around good
playing by Fred Carroll, Caruthers, Pinck-
ltgs WuCtNoCh anu dcDISts III III htdSue
players. In the Grand Rapids games here
demonstrated the value of Old heads and
trained eyes TO n minor league team. Both
Wise and Stricken have been playing good
ball. the former asking for his release from
Washington because of a personal differ
ence he had with Manager Schmelz. The
talk about back numbers" and all that
sort of rot has been pretty well exploded
by the success of the old League men In
the Western and other organizations. Give
indianapolis a few such players and they
will put the team right back on the win
ming track.
While making chanees 1T would be well
TO pick out a good, aggressive. hard-kick-
ing captain. Such a leader is absolutely es-
sential 10 the success OF the team. 1t is
we'll enough TO have a "gentlemanly' lot
of players off the field, but a few solid
when the club is in action. The crowds
that attend ball games want the players,
OF course. to keep within respectable
bounds but. above all, they want them to
win games. The enemy must be fought
with his own weapons, and Indianapolis
could show a little more disposition TO put
on the gloves without losing anything. Pos
sibly the players took their cue from Capt.
McTammany. At any rate, they have not
been aggressive enough.
Indianapolis Plays at Grand Rapids to-
day and Tomorrow, and at Detroit Tues
day, Wednesday and Thursday. Next Sat
urday the club returns for three games
here with Toledo, and then starts West
to be absent until Decoration day, when
Milwaukee is to be here.
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LEAGUE.