Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-21
Early Practice of the Washingtons
to Begin Ere Long.
The PROPOSED LOCAL LEAGUE
Opposition to the Temple Cup
Games.
NOTES OF THE PLAY Frs

The Senators will soon be here to begin
active practice. 'Old Reliable" Jim Nc
Guire and wifsc have arrived. Mack is in
splendid condition, weighing less than he did
at the beginning of last season, and says he
feels able to duplicate his last seasons
work, when he caught 1872 consecutive
games. He has spent the winter in fishing
and outdoor exercise, and for the past six
weeks has been coaching college team at
his home city of Albion, Michigan. Upon
his departure from there Wednesday his
friends, headed by the college boys, accom-
panied by all the brass bands, drum corps
and other no!se-producing inventions Of the
place, escorted him to the depot. Some Of
the boys transformed themselves into an
improvised jinrickshaw, upon which Mack
was triumphantly carried, much against his
earnest remonstrance. Mack's mother died
this winter, in consequence of which he will
not return to Albion at the close of this
son, but will join Cartwright in a southern
sojourn.
President Hart of the Chicago club has
given it out that the coming season will be
the last for the Temple cup, and backs up
his assertion with reasons therefor that
reach the length of a column in a Chicago
paper. Washington will not be directly in
terested in the Temple cup for the next
couple seasons, but from an unbiased view
every reason advanced by Hart for the
abandonment of the series there are at least
a dozen why they should continue. The
chief argument advanced by the Chicago
man is that the games are liable to become
crooked, owing to the additional money that
would accrue, but that point seems almost
silly, as it is borrowing trouble, and rests
upon no foundation whatever. 1t Is also
claimed that this division of money was
what wrecked the brotherhood, while, in
fact, the league was the chief sufferer Of
the two every man in it losing money, while
AL johnson was about the only sufferer Il,
the brotherhood Harris argument about
the second club being bound to win the cup
is also fiimsy, base ball is too uncerta ain
to pick winners, and because games have
resulted the same way three times in sue
cesslon 1t is no 2-to-1 bet that the club that
wins the league championship will not win
the Temple cup also in '3e. The Western
League has been presented with a similar
trophy by Detroit newspaper. and little
extra money Will come the way of the first
two clubs in that organization. This idea
OF the players raking in about $3.50 each on
eXtra-season games has been unpopular
with several managers since the great sue
cess of the first cup series, and the financial
question is no doubt the chief mote il the
Chicago magnates eye. The best advice for
the magnates who oppose the Temple cup
series is not to borrow trouble. and to let
well enough alone They made consider
able money last year, but from present in
dcations will make more this, and should
look on the question in a generous way, and
not begrudge the players the little additional
remuneration they secure through hard
work in trying for the pennant.
clubs in the Departmental League. the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the
Light Infantry teams. that could draw
enough people to National Park to pay ex-
penses- MIR. Strasberger, who has secured
the option on the grounds with last sea-
sens experience staring him in the face,
refuses to sublet the grounds to the De-
partTnental League, and insists on a guar
artee. With the other department clubs
out, it would not be a departmental
league, therefore. why not call it an anna
teur league. take in the strong athletic
clubs and insure thereby successful sea-
son. Mr.. Strasberger has 10 objection to
Mr.. Sousa assuming the reins of manage
ment Of the new league. if he will insist on
the clubs Under him fulfilling their obliga-
tioES to the letter. The clubs last year APP
Feared at the grounds without suits, began
play so late that full game could not be
gone through with, and everything was
done in such slipShod way that the on
lockers frequently left the grounds in dis
gust and never returned. When an adj
mission is charged to see games, the pa
irons should be looked after, and if this
wise course cannot be pursued the coming
season. the grounds will be closed to ANA
teur clubs
Catcher thinner and Left Fielder Burkett
of the Cleveland club have refused to sign
contracts with that club for this season I'M
less they are allowed the limit-s2. 400
Without these two men the Spiders will be
weakened about II per cent as Burkett IS
the best batter in the country, and there
are none better than thinner in the CATCH
ers' class. These players have been offered
s2,1Gp, but are worth the limit if any one
is. Mr.. Robson of the Clevelands says he
will go no more. and charges the players
with inSratitude, because he gave them the
opportunity to play in the Temple cup
los ma To a he
Cleveland club cleared about $4,000 last
season, owing to the superb work of the
players, and incidentally got into the Tenn
pie cup series. Had the team finished, say
sixth, would the club have cleared that
nice sum? Now, because the players who
contributed about 10 per cent to last years
success demand an increase of 5000
reward for their good work, the Cleveland
magnate charges ingratitude. Both Bur
kett and thinner have more than fair
share of intelligence. and WILL no doubt
play for the salary offered rather than re-
main idle. but it is fair guess that they
will not put forth their hest efforts, but will
give exactly s2,10 worth of play, nothing
more, nothing less. Last year Childs' dis
satisfaction probably lost the Cleyelands
the pennant, as through his absence and
poor play fully a dozen games were lost.
With Burkett and thinner dissatisfied, 1t
Is a foregone conclusion that through lack
of unity the team will be lucky to finish
In the first division. Young and Cuppy
may pitch their arms off, but if they
haven't the proper support their good work
will go for nauSht. Instead of a case of
insratitude, 1t looks like ca Sc of non-ap-
probation.
From all the surface indications it an
pears as if the entire New York press has
taken it in it's head to drive Fred Pfeffer off
the New York team. The attacks made on
him are not open and above board but
break out here and there In little para
graphs to tie effect that 1t is becoming
evident day by day that Pfeffer will not do
at second and that he will have to CO. One
writer especially has had ii in for Pfeffer
ever since last fall and has kept up a con-
tinual bombardment of abuse ever since
The first game Fred played in Jacksonville
he had put outs, assists, 5 hits includ-
Ing two doubles, and 1 error. The one
error did the business. and he was ham
mered by this persistent writer, who is
with the Giants the trip to the SOUTH
In the games since then Pfeffer has more
than held his own and cannot but strength
en- the New Yorks where they were weak
last season He is undoubtedly one Of the
lest second basemen in the business taking
batting, fielding and base running into con-
sideration. Bid McPhee being about the
only man that can outpoint him. If Pfeffer
gets away from New York he will undoubt-
eddy go TO Chicago, and. if the hackers of
the latter club are not doing little mis-
sionary work in the way of Substituting the
New York base ball writer's to knock"