Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-16
The Clever College Catcher to Be-
come a Senator.
NOTHING FROM JOYCE OR MERCER
Matters to Come Up at the League
Meeting.
FEW CHANGES IN RULES

Little Danny Cocgan. the catcher of the
University of Pennsylvania team who has
signed a contract to play with the Wash
ington club for the coming season, has
been seen here on several occasions with
the college lads from Penn" and he Is
unquestionably one of the best backstopS
In the country. looking at his career from
an amateur standpoint His contract with
the Washington club was negotiated some
time ago. but through an understanding
between Earl Wagner and Coogan. Presi-
dent Young was requested to withhold the
PRONUNCIATION Of the official announcement
until the 18th instant. Philadelphia, New
York and Boston all tossed out lines to
entice Coogan into their respective camps,
but IL appears that there Is q personal tie
that binds Coosan to Mr.. Wagner. While
Coogan was undoubtedly the star catcher
of the college teams. 1t remains to be seen
how he will pan out in the professional
ranks. He would have brighter prospects
for success ir he weighed twenty or thirty
pounds more. for experience has shown
that frail catchers do not last long under
the present conditions, when speed is the
principal requisite of a pitcher. However.
Coogan is promising lad and he may be-
come as famous in league company as he
Is today in college base ball circles.
When asked what he thought of the
young man. Mr.. Young replied that he had
been so closely occupied with league mat
tiers during the past few years that he had
found II impossible to watch the work of
amateurs to any great extent. He had,
however, heard Coogan highly recommend
ed by persons in position to know of his
ability.
Heard anything about Joyce and Mer-
cer?" queried the reporter.
mo" replied Mr.. Young. but you need
not lose any sleep on account of them.
When the season opens they Will he on
hand and ready to play. The Wagners
have been anything but ungenerous TO-
ward their men. 1 know this from official
papers in my possession. Mercer salary
has been raised $500 over the amount he re-
ceived last year, and that is as much as
any young man ought to receive at the
start The Wagners. in my opinion, would
be wrong IL they paid him any more. Mr.
Mercer is an excellent pitcher and perfect
gentleman. but he can't expect to jump to
the top of the ladder all at once.
'It Is claimed" continued Mr.. Young,
that we take advantage of the reserve
clause which statement Is absolutely false
That rule was made to prevent too great
competition. Base ball players are treated
as we'll If not better, than the majority OF
paid men in any profession, and they GER
tainIy receive better salaries than they
would were they engaged in other bust
ness IL you and possessed one-fourth the
amount of money that has been lost in
base ball we would be wealthy. In 1883 ana
1889 we made little money and that
started the brotherhood war. No the play
ers have no cause for complaint, and as
I said before. Messrs. Joyce and Mercer
will be In uniform when the first game or
the coming season is called
There was a perceptibIe revival of busi-
ness activity at league headquarters this
week in consequence of the preparations
for the meeting to take place in New York
on the 9th instant Mr. Young says the
principal contention will probably be over
the arrangement of the schedule He does
not anticipate any further talk about
changes in the membership of the league.
Cleveland and Louisville have gone ahead
and signed their men and are getting ready
to open the season. 1t is possible that some
of the sensationalistS may revive the old
chestnut" about Clevelands intention TO
sell out. but Mr.. Young says he does not
believe there IS the slightest prospect or
any change in the league membership dur
ing the next ten years. unless some unfore-
seen emergency should arise.
There may be some discussion over the
proposed changes I'm the rules. but there
appears to be n general sentiment In favor
of making as few alterations In the play
ing rules as possible. There Is likely to be
a lively contest between Brooklyn and Gin
cinnati for the services Of Pitcher Ad Gum
bert. recently released to Brooklyn by
Pittsburg. John t. Brush has filed long
formal protest against Gumberts contract
with Brooklyn, and he announces that he
will make the fight of his life to secure the
enforcement of the alleged contract which
he claims was entered into between Connie
Mack ard Buck Ewing, representing the
Pittsburg and Cincinnati clubs. respective
" Charlie Byrne OF Brooklyn is some
thing of a fighter himself. and he will meet
Mr.. Brush at every point and contest every
inch of territory with him to sustain the
deal made with Pittsburg for the exchange
of Kinslow for Gumbert. In any event.
some shrewd base ball politics Will proba-
bly, be played before the matter Is finally
disposed OF. *
There is also likely to be an interesting
debate over the proposition to reinstate
Fred Pfeffer. For several weeks past Pres
ident Touns's daily mail has been burden
ed with petitions from base ball enthusi-
asts from all sections of the country urg-
ing the league to give Fritz another chance
to figure in league company. Whether there
has been concerted action on the part OF
Pfefrer's friends or whether the movement
for his relief Is spontaneous Is question
to be determined by the league There is
undoubtedly a popular sentiment In FAVOR
of dealing fairly with Pfeffer, In view OF
the action Of the league In reinstating
Billie BarHie and Buckeuburger.
Petitions are also in order for the rein
statement Of Tim Hurst to the staff OF
league ump!res. Mr.. Young has received
large batch of personal letters ard petitions
from many Of the leading ball players In
the league urging the reappolntment OF
Hurst. II Is difficult TO ascertain just VINO
is behind the movement against Hurst, Tor
he Is unique stionably one of the best UNI
plres that has officiated In Washington
for many years. and he Is one of the few
men who have occupied that thankleSs
position who is not to be intimtdated by
Il 1ln yx-ilt