The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-23
RUMOR[D BASEBALL DEAL
Cleveland May Be Transferred
to ST. Louis.
DETROIT READY TO RE-ENTER
President Robson Said to Have Taken
John I. Brush AS Partner In the
acknowledgements Are to Realize
Very Handsome Profits In he Town
of Won der Abe.

Pittsburg, Jan. 23.-It is credibly an
| nOunced Lere today that big baseball
| deal is about completed. President RoL
ison Of the Cleveland club has about fixed
| up Il deal which Brush OF Cincinnati is
/ sad to be IN, 10 buy out Won der Ahe's
| ST. Louis outfit, franchise, bag and bag
! gagc. Then, according 10 the story, Rob
| isoD Will disband the Browns to replac'
| them with the Cleveland club. Cleveland,
| owing TO its being POOR baseball town,
| is 10 be frozen out of the League and its
place taken by Detroit, which is much
| better ball town and now has a good
| club in the Western League.
Frank Robson, John Brush and other
| League ma gnates have considered this plan
| a long time. Robson is now in the East
fixing up the deal. He passed through here
last night on his way East and made tina t
$4,000 offer for Hawley. Robson stated
publicly some time ago that unless his
team received better support in Cleveland
he would take il to some other town.
1t is stated that Robson asked Won der
Abe his price, which was named and ac-
copied. provided the other league niagnates
agreed TO tie change involved. 1t will re-
quire the consent of every club in the league.
but it is rot Il ought likely that there will
be serious objections, as Cleveland has
not been a source of much profit to visit
ing clubs.
Detroit is said to he ready and anxious
to break into tie big league. Its grounds
are well located and arranged. 1t is not
thought Iikelv that Robson would have
Offered $4,000 and two players for
Hawley to take him to Cleveland.
Hawley before Joining the Pirates was
one of the most popular pitchers is st.
Louis and would be a great card for that
town. 1t is thought that tie figure in
VOWED in the deal is close to 100000.
He could clear that amount in two years
at ST. Louis easily with the present
Cleveland Club.
Hanlon is reported TO have said that Nc
Mahon's arm will never regain its full
strength, whereupon an amazingly persp!-
cacious critic announces that Baltimore's
chances for the pennant will Toe jeopardied
unless the great pitcher gets into the game
for the Orioles.
This is amusing in the light OF last sea-
son's events, remarks the New York Tele-
gram. Mcmahon never pitched a ball for
the champions till August 20. up to which
time Hoffer, Hernming and Arthur Clark
son hal done all the work in the box.
In any other team that would be con-
sidered weak pitching department, but
the Orioles won games on their niagnfi-
cent ali-around work. Mcmahon pitched
eight or ten games on the wind-up of the
season. anu did some pretty work; but if
the champions could win in 1898 without
his services it is absurd TO hold that they
caunot d" the same in lSS6.
This is especially true if Hanlon is sure
of M,MaiuL's weakness, for the shrcwd
manager will have another good pitcher
before the season opens.
"Did you ever hear about the time Arson
made a home run on a strike-out?' asked
Sam Mckee of Baltimore reporter. the
other night. No? Well. it happened the
night of the first production of A Runaway
Colt at Syracuse. Everybody. of course,
was terribly nervous, ard nobody more so
than Arson and farke Wilson, who for the
time being took the part of a catcher for
the Baltimore team. In the last act of the
play, when the score is to in favor of
Baltimore. Arson comes to the bat, and,
after getting two strikes and three balls. is
to hit the ball for a home run.
On the night i'll question everything went
all right up to two strikes and three balls
on Arson. TheOldman then began to shuttle
uneaSily and grasp his bat firmly. TheneXt
ball. delivered by the pitcher in the wings,
came whizzing up to Arson. who swung at
ii with all his might and immediately started
for first base. He had not hit the ball. how
ever but Wilson caught it, and, not being
adept to the business. he did not know how |
TO hide it from the audience. There lie |
stood with the bail in full view. while Arson |
was trotting around the bases ma king a |
home run on the strike-out. After that &C. |
currence it was decided that the ball |
should not be pitched for the third strike. |
President P. T. Powers of the Eastern
league issued his Official batting and field
for the scasonof sos yesterday.
The champion b5tsman is F. A. Jones of
Springfield. who has been drafted by the
Club. He Las an average of 1853.
w. j. Murray of Providence leads in base
running, with "A stolen bases. Sbearon of
Buffalo, who has Lecn drafted by Clcve-
and, is the leading run getter, having
scored 131 runs. Dowse leads the catchers
n fielding, with an average of .9T7.
IcGinnis OF Buffalo is the best fielding
pitcher, with 1000 per cent for % games.
Clark of Scranton, now OF New York,
eads the first basemcn, with 1856 for "a
Games. He is also second in batting. with
IN average of 1871. Rogers of Providence,
owever. really leads the first bascnen. for
u 10 games he has an average of 1854.
Dan Shannon of Wilkesba is the
eading second baseman, with .946. Bas-
EFT OF Providence is first among the third
'asemen, with .932 in ia games. Cooney
# Providence has the best shortstop average
1914 in 116 games. Lyons, also of Prov
ience, leads all of tie outfielders, with
966 in 116 games.
In speaking Of Breitenstein's refusal to
lay bail for Won der Abe, Manager Mack
avs:
"von der Abe made a big blunder when
e declined the offer of the Pittsburg Club
)r Breitensicin. Why, We offered $1,000
, cash and two players for the pitcher
st summer.
These players were easily worth ST.
90. At least, believe We could have sold
lem for that amount. ] paid a special
lip 10 st. Louis just to make the offer,
1t Won der Abe wouldn't sell under any
IN bet that he has often regretted not
&C, pting my proposition. suppose if we
al secured the man we would have I
cared off at least half of the purchase {
oney last fall. am sure We would"
CHIPS FROM THE DIAMOND. I
Tbap Dam ,cx-1,- 10 f,t 7 | q